Part Seven
***
//stressed out in every way
i am sick and tired of being sick and tired//
Buffy felt his name escape her lips before she could stop it. The dreams had been reoccurring almost every night. Angel holding her. Angel loving her. She knew every morning when she woke, the nightmare would be reality and the dream...well, it was just that. She couldn't make her mind, her heart stay away from Angel. He just kept creeping in - phantom hands touching her body in sweet caresses, a ghostly voice whispering sweet nothings in her ear, strong arms holding her. Every night, the emotions boiled over and she wanted him so badly, needed the love only he could provide so desperately that she would cry out his name. Tonight was no different. Cringing, she scampered across the bed to protect herself before she even opened her eyes.
She fell off the bed in a heap, but it didn't stop her momentum as she scrambled away from the fists that would be flying in her direction in a tempest of jealousy and rage. Raising her arms to protect her face, she begged, "No, please. Nononono."
"Buffy," a soothing voice offered, while strong and gentle hands peeled her hands away from her face, "Baby, it's Angel. It was just a dream, love."
"No," she cried out, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Buffy," Angel whispered again, crouching before her on the cold floor, "It's alright, love. Look at me."
Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked at him. She stared, unable to believe it was him for a moment, but then dripping in slowly like molasses, she remembered. It was really Angel. She released a shuddering breath and crawled into the arms that were open to her.
"I'm sorry, Angel," she croaked, "It just keeps happening. I can't help it."
"Don't be sorry," he said, gathering her against his chest and taking her back to bed as he had every night for the past week. He thought it odd and a bit unnerving when she explained the dreams to him. Logically, he understood that it wasn't her fear of him that made her react that way, but it still kept him from making love to her. He couldn't stand the thought that his name had helped cause her rape, that her loving him was the cause of her pain.
Course, there was much debate about fault and how it belonged to neither of them. Rationality never really took hold though. They both felt equally guilty and could do nothing but hang on to each other in an attempt to make things right themselves.
"I'm ruining everything," Buffy whispered in the dark regretfully.
"No," he said, "You can't ruin us, love. Things take time."
"You make me feel safe," she added, "You do. I don't know why the dreams won't stop."
"They will," he said, kissing her shoulder as he held her tightly against him. The confidence in his voice was real. He knew they would stop eventually and that she would heal someday, but he couldn't stop from feeling helpless. She made him promise not to look for Riley and he had kept his end of the bargain. He didn't go out purposefully in search of the bastard, he hired Spike to do that. Although, he couldn't stop himself from scanning the entire area around him at all times just hoping to spot him somewhere, crouching in the bushes like a cat burglar.
Things were getting easier and harder at once. They felt more comfortable around each other every day and Angel couldn't imagine spending one night not wrapped around her little body, but keeping from touching her, maintaining distance, making sure their kisses didn't get out of control was becoming more difficult.
Buffy wasn't the only one who was dreaming. His were filled with the same fevered touches, the same needy moans and wandering hands. In his dreams, she was his and he wasn't afraid to kiss every inch of her healing skin. His brain couldn't compete with his mind, body and heart when his eyes were closed, when he was holding her. But when he was awake, he kept himself from making love to her, when all he wanted was to worship her body and make her see that sex wasn't what she thought it was.
He told himself there was plenty of time for that. They had started going back to classes and doing every day activities, which was helping, but Riley's absence was beginning to wear everyone down. Closure seemed so damn far away with him lurking in the shadows. Doyle suggested that Finn had skipped town to dodge the cops, but Angel knew he wasn't going anywhere until he had Buffy under his control again. Still, after a week of not seeing even a glimpse of him, it was almost worth hoping for, until Riley's friend, Forrest, appeared outside Buffy's Wednesday afternoon class the following week.
Thankfully, all the guys in the mansion had gone above and beyond the call of duty when it came to Buffy and it started to extend to Willow too, until neither female could leave the premises without *someone* jogging up to escort one or both of them to their desired location. Angel started to hear about the guys being late to their classes or missing them altogether just to keep the two girls safe. He knew he was going to have to reward them in some other way besides free rent when this was all over.
The truth was that the guys all had fallen in love with the two best friends over the short time they had moved in. They all even seemed to like Xander - the nonstudent interloper. Strangely enough, the mansion had slipped into a harmony, almost as if they were all trying to make up for the fear that hung around outside of the doors.
That Wednesday, as Buffy was leaving her class, she was musing at how she was alone for once. She didn't have anyone guiding her around and she didn't feel afraid at all. The quiet days that had passed had begun to convince her that maybe things were going to be okay. The sun was shining and a cool breeze brought a smile to her face. She was so intoxicated by the breath of fresh air she was having, she nearly bumped right into Forrest when he stepped into her path.
"Forrest," she said, tensing up immediately as she faced her ex's best friend.
"You look so innocent that I almost bought it," Forrest said bitterly, "All that crying and whimpering almost had me. You're almost as great an actress as you are a whore."
"Leave me alone," she said, trying to step around him, but he blocked her path.
"No," he said shaking his head, "We're not going anywhere, until you agree to clear Riley's name and tell the police you lied about him!"
"I didn't lie," Buffy said, stepping backward. Forrest reached out and grabbed her, squeezing her upper arm so hard she knew she'd have a bruise there when he released her - if he released her.
"Bitching and moaning about the abused girlfriend is one thing," Forrest snarled out, "But accusing him of rape? I can't fucking believe you-"
"Hey Buffy," Gunn said, stepping up beside her and glaring at Forrest, "Oh hey, Forrest. Almost didn't see you there. Guess it was the brute force that caught my eye. Wanna let her go?"
"Stay out of this, Gunn," Forrest ordered through gritted teeth, "This is between me and this lying little bitch."
"No," Gunn said, butting his hand against Forrest's chest. Gasping in surprise, Forrest let Buffy go and stumbled back a step. Gunn wrapped his arm around Buffy's shoulders, before continuing, "See, Buffy is a good friend of mine and if you call her a ‘bitch' that's like calling me a ‘bitch.' And damn, if that doesn't just piss me off."
"We're friends," Forrest countered, "You gonna take her side?"
"We *were* friends, until you sided with Riley," Gunn answered.
"So, you're jumping off? That's it?"
"Your best friend is a rapist and now you're attacking the girl he victimized," Gunn said, "So, that'd be a big yes. Back off. That's a friendly warning."
"Don't fall for it," Forrest shouted as Gunn lead Buffy away, "She's a fucking liar!"
***
//just another fucked up day//
When Angel got back from classes that afternoon, Gunn was waiting for him in the great room. He wasted no time in launching into the story of what had happened when Buffy was left unsupervised for even a minute. Cursing under his breath, Angel cradled his head in his hands.
"I should have considered that he'd send his friends after her," Angel said, slumping back in his chair once more, "Thanks for helping out."
"No problem."
"Is she okay?"
"I think so," Gunn answered, "She went up to your room. Been there since we got home."
"Guess I should mention to Spike that following around his friends could be the way to get to him," Angel added, "Can we get a list of the frat boys that live in Lowell house?"
"Willow territory," Gunn said, "I'm the muscle, she's the brains."
"Right," Angel said, smiling at his friend and shaking his head. Gunn could turn any situation into a way to compliment himself. Half the time, Angel didn't know if he was joking or not - most of the time he thought not.
***
//you are like the sun to me
all bright as liquid fire
i feel so powerless
hold you up above the world
yeah, you are quite a lot of trouble
for such a pretty little girl//
Angel walked into his apartment several minutes later to find Buffy coming out of the shower in a towel. Naturally, he was distracted by the nearly naked body in front of him still damp from her shower at first, but then his eyes focused on the bruise appearing on her upper arm where Forrest had grabbed her.
"Bastard," Angel muttered as he crossed the room and touched her arm, caressing the mark left there. Annoyed and angry, he wasn't sure what brought his attention to back to her body, if it was the sound of the damp towel landing on the floor with a thump or the perfect breasts appearing in his peripheral vision. He swallowed harshly and swept his gaze over her tiny, golden body before forcing himself to look into her eyes. He was expecting to see that same sadness and horrible expression as before when she offered herself to him, but this time it was different. The sadness was there, but it was lingering behind the love that outshone everything else.
"I love you, Angel," she said quietly, "And I know that-"
"Buffy," he said, barely trusting his voice as he interrupted her, "You don't have to-"
"Just let me finish," she said, pressing her fingers against his lips, "I know that you've been afraid to make love to me because of...what happened, but every night I dream of you touching me. We sleep in the same bed, we want the same thing and I don't want to wait anymore."
"Are you sure?" he asked, cleaving to his last shred of self control, even as he stepped closer.
"Yes," she answered, "I want you."
It was strange being completely naked before him while he was fully dressed. She couldn't wait to see all of him, but when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, plunging his tongue into her mouth, his hands moving over her bare back and rear, she forgot he wasn't naked as well. Threading her fingers through his hair, she mewled into his mouth, standing on her tiptoes to get more of him.
He swept her off of her feet and carried her to the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him. He laid her on the bed and pulled off his shirt as he toed off his shoes. She watched him intently as he stripped down to his boxers, taken with his hard, muscular body and growing more nervous by the second. She felt the fear coming even before he pulled her lips against his once more, carefully keeping his weight from crushing her small frame to the bed.
He felt her grow rigid beneath his lips as he made his way down her neck and stopped abruptly. Raising his head, he looked into her eyes with a silent question and waited a second before asking if she was okay.
"We don't have to do this," he said quietly, "I can wait."
"No," she said, biting her lower lip, "It's just that..."
"It's just what, love?" he urged.
"I want to please you," she said finally after a long weighted pause, "I can just...I'll just...I'll perform oral sex...for you."
"What?" he asked in surprise and confusion. She turned her face away, staring at the wall instead of looking at him. He was crushing her with those dark, intense eyes.
"Buffy," he said softly, moving to her side, "If you aren't ready, it's okay."
"That's not it," she answered.
"Then, I'm confused, baby," he said, struggling not to touch her, not to try to turn her face toward him, but he sensed that for some reason she couldn't look at him.
"I'm...I'm not good," she said, "R...um...I've been told that and-"
"God, I hate that useless bastard," Angel blurted angrily, not meaning to actually say the words out loud.
"He told me even before...even before he started..." Buffy sighed heavily, "This is so hard. I just want to please you, that's all. When we have sex you're going to be disappointed and I don't think I can handle you being disappointed. I've made you wait all this time and-"
"Buffy, Buffy," Angel said, reaching out and cupping her chin, turning her to face him, "I'm not going to be disappointed. You don't understand."
"Yes, you will," she answered, looking at him through unshed tears, "You won't want me anymore, so if I just please you then maybe-"
"I will want you," he said, gathering her close to him, all but forgetting their nakedness for the moment, "I do want you. Don't you see? He wasn't making love to you. He didn't love you...Tell me something. When I kiss you, does it feel the same way as when he kissed you?"
"No."
"And when I touch you, is it the same as when he touched you?"
"No."
"No," he said bitterly, "It's not. Nothing is the same. Nothing will *ever* be the same. Not like what you had with him. It was sick and twisted. It wasn't love and if you think I'm going to let you give me a...if you think that I'm going to let you please just me with you getting nothing out of it, you're wrong. I'm not him. I'll never be anything like him!"
"I know," she whimpered, scrambling to explain, "I wasn't saying that. I never thought that Angel, I swear. I'm just afraid. I'm afraid that I'll lose the only thing I've ever loved."
"You can't lose me," Angel answered, "This is about giving each other our hearts, our souls and our bodies, Buffy. It's not about being good or not being good. It's about love. That's all. Nothing more. Nothing less."
"You won't leave?" she asked sadly.
"No," he said, "And I'm not going to turn into the monster he was. It's not you, baby. It was never about you. It was about control and overcoming some sick inferiority complex."
"I want this," she said, "I do."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she said, "I'm not afraid of you, Angel. I never have been. The only thing that scares me is losing you."
"I don't want you to sleep with me because you think I'll leave," he said, "And I don't want you to *not* sleep with me because you'll think I'll leave. I've never loved another woman in my entire life, Buffy. I couldn't leave you if I tried."
Taking a deep breath, she nodded, meeting his eyes for a moment before leaning over to kiss him and urging him back into her arms. Never more determined to prove anything to anyone, Angel focused on kissing her for a long time, intertwining his fingers with hers with one hand and caressing her with the other. He waited until he felt her losing herself in the moment before he moved down to her neck once more, then sliding his tongue along her clavicle. He focused on each part of her, spending a long time just exploring her full breasts until she was arching against him, clamping her legs around his waist and breathing heavily.
He nibbled on her belly, lapping at her skin as he continued moving, making his way down one leg and back up the other before settling between her thighs. From the sound of her shattering moan of pleasure, he knew she was not expecting his exploring mouth to settle on her sex. Just as he had for the rest of his journey, he took his time, opening her and tasting her, memorizing the contours that made her uniquely Buffy. He took in the taste, smell and texture of her, dipping his tongue in her slick core.
"Perfect," he murmured as he teased her swollen bud, circling around it before flicking his tongue over it. She moved beneath him, writhing in pleasure as he slipped a finger inside her, relishing in the feel of her inner muscles tightening around the invasion before adding a second. He latched on to her clit as he moved his fingers in and out of her, suckling until she shattered around him, screaming his name as she trembled from his touch.
"Oh God, Angel," she gasped as he kissed his way back up her body. She gazed at him through sated, heavy lidded eyes, batting lust toward him as she recovered from the first orgasm she had ever experienced. She didn't shy away from her own taste on in his mouth as his lips covered hers once more.
He moved away for a moment to slip off his boxer shorts and then settled over her once more. After a moment's thought, he rolled them, placing her on top of him. She looked down at him in alarm and he smiled back lovingly, caressing her slim hips.
"I love you, beautiful," he said, "You're perfect...incredible inside and out."
"I love you," she echoed. Guiding her hand, he wrapped her hand around his cock and then moved away, waiting for her. He slid his hands over her body, caressing her patiently, until she positioned him at her moist entrance. They both hissed in pleasure as he filled her, stretching her tight channel to accommodate him.
"You feel so good...so perfect," he whispered, as she began moving. He did nothing to guide her actions as she rode him. He wanted her to have complete control and she glowed from it. He groaned in concert with her delicate mewls of pleasure as she kissed him sucking his tongue into her hot little mouth as she sped up the tempo at her leisure.
Losing herself in the feel of him, in the overwhelming sensation of love and inhibition, she washed all her fears and doubts away, drenching herself in Angel's love instead. As he felt himself nearing the edge, he slipped a hand between them and massaged her sensitive nub until she flew into her climax, pounding down on him. He joined her in release and they fragmented together, finding the missing pieces of themselves in each other.
***
Part Eight
***
//living isn't a simple thing, i know
no one said it's supposed to be//
Buffy couldn't believe how tired and sore she was when she entered the shower the following morning. She would have hoped Angel would join her, but she knew her gentleman would need an invitation at this early juncture in their relationship. She made a mental note to remember that next time. What she remembered now, however, was the feeling of waking up in the morning in his arms, the sensation of his hard naked body pressed against hers.
She shuddered under the warm spray at the memory of him touching her, making love to her, his grunts of pleasure, his hot breath on her skin. It was nothing like it was supposed to be and certainly not what she imagined it ever could be. She should feel dirty and yet, she felt happy, light and airy like she suspected other girls did when they were in love. Course, the other girls didn't have Angel.
Grinning to herself, she slipped out of the shower feeling somewhat superior for once in her life. Having the love and knowing the touch of an incredible man like him made her want to smile and never stop. She knew Angel had many lovers. He had shamefully admitted it more than once. He was strange that way. Other men proudly spouted about their former conquests and Angel made it seem like he was wasting time before he met her.
She sauntered into the bedroom, again wrapped in a towel, and was met with her half asleep lover, who was making his way to the bathroom to take over the shower she had just vacated. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly, delving into her mouth in a full passionate kiss that made her toes curl before he let her go.
"Morning, baby," he said, a smile spreading over his lips as he cupped her face, "Have I told you I love you yet today?"
"No, but I love you," she answered, returning his smile and letting her hand rest on his chest, while she felt the urge to drop her towel and say the hell with classes, "You look sleepy."
"Wide awake now," he said, tracing the top of her towel, just at the rise of her breasts. Glancing at the clock he groaned in disappointment, "You're gonna be late for class."
He headed for the bathroom and stopped at the door to watch her for a second as she flipped through the clothes they had finally put in his closet. He like the sight of her things mixed in with his. She didn't even keep her stuff to one side, but hung them wherever she found space. It was like everything else about her. She didn't mean to, but she just filled all the cracks that he didn't even realize were missing until she came along.
His train of thought faded as she dropped the towel and slipped on a pair of pale yellow thong panties, wiggling her ass slightly as she pulled them on. Suddenly hard as a rock, he couldn't tear his eyes from her as she put on a matching strapless bra and slipped into a sundress. If he had been able to form a thought at all, it would have been that he was glad that she was wearing something that she might have worn before her life turned into a nightmare. Lately, she had been prone to wearing oversized sweatshirts and other bulky clothes that hid her body.
His illusion of perfect happiness came crashing down as he watched her move to the full length mirror she had hung in his bedroom to see if any of her marks and bruises could be seen in what she was wearing. Regretfully, her still damaged legs peeked from the bottom and a large purple mark decorated the center of her back, rising up from where the material ended. He must have groaned out loud because she turned, unaware that he had been watching her.
"I'm sorry, Angel," she said, pulling the dress off and reaching for a trademark bulky sweatshirt, "I know it makes me look ugly but it'll go away."
"No," he said, unaware of his nakedness as he crossed the room and eased the sweatshirt from her fingertips, "Nothing makes you look ugly and you're right, they will go away. You don't have to hide your beautiful body in one of these shirts, besides it's 80 degrees outside. Wear what you want, sweetheart."
"Okay," she said, releasing the sweatshirt and leaving it dangling in his fingertips and moving back toward the closet, "But I can't wear that dress."
"Just wear *something,*" he said hoarsely, licking his lips as she rooted through the closet once more. Tossing the sweatshirt aside, he kissed the back of her neck, wrapped his arms around her, splaying his fingers over her belly and growled in her ear, "Or you'll never get to class."
As he walked away, toward the bathroom once more, she watched his firm, naked ass and the muscles rippling along his back until he disappeared behind the closed door. Damn, he was sexy. Taking a deep breath, she began rooting through the closet again, ignoring the dampness that was beginning deep inside, swirling want in her belly.
***
//happy hearts fall from shaky hands
i can't hide my sexual life//
"Hey guys," Angel said, nodding his head as he made his way through the great room. Seemed sacrilegious to attend class when he had finally made love to Buffy. He felt like he should be putting his money to some good use and sweeping her away to someplace exotic, leaving the police to deal with the mess that was Riley Finn.
"Hey," Spike said, nodding from one of the overstuffed chairs, "You're looking pretty...satisfied this morning, Peaches."
A snicker circled through the six other guys in the room and Angel's expression darkened, "What are you talking about?"
"Relax, Angel," Gunn said, "No need to get all worked up."
"Your lass just came through here," Doyle said with a twinkle in his blue eyes, "floatin' like she was on cloud nine, a little dreamy smile on her face...and looking hot as hell, I might add."
"She came through here in a pair of tight little jeans and...shit, we oughta get together and burn her sweats," another guy piped in, "it's a damn shame to hide *that* body."
"It's going to be hard to see it with both of your eyes swollen shut," Angel growled, taking a step toward his resident.
"Give it a rest, Nancy boy," Spike said, sticking his leg out to keep his brother from crossing the room to beat up anyone, "It's not like all the screaming coming from your room last night was discreet anyway. I thought these walls were supposed to be thick."
Doyle was sure Angel's eyes actually turned red with fury and he looked like he wanted to rip brother's lungs out, but instead he stepped back, realizing that Spike was Spike. Pretty much full time, unfortuntately.
"We're glad she's doin' better, that's all," Doyle added, "That girl's like a bit ‘o sunshine when she's happy."
"You don't have to tell Angel that," Gunn said, laughing, "He knows."
"Fuck off," Angel said, smiling in spite of himself as he headed toward the door.
***
//she wants a man who can take his time
she wants someone who can make her come//
The day was as ordinary as a day could be and since that wasn't the norm in any way, Buffy felt light and happy. She skipped through her day, enjoying her classes as much as classes could be enjoyed and couldn't wait to get home to Angel. As she was heading home, she saw him across the quad, chatting with a few people as he was coming out of one of the buildings. Three of them were girls and beautiful ones at that.
Tamping down her jealousy, she headed toward him, adding an extra swing to her step as she did, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulders, looking like a woman on a mission. It was as good a time as any to make sure every woman on campus knew that Liam Angelus was off the market. He had been landed and in a serious way.
Buffy smiled as she thought about all the women he had slept with - who would no longer have that opportunity. Granted, he was wonderful in bed, but she wondered how many of them used him for his money. Not that he flaunted the fact that he was rich, but no one could miss it, even though his car wasn't extremely fancy and his clothes weren't constantly new. It was the little things that gave him away - the way all of his clothes were of the highest line and the polished way he carried himself. Any experienced shopper recognized that the his worn jeans cost a fortune and his sweater was unmistakably Armani.
She smiled brighter as she headed for him. He was so funny about those things. He probably had never been inside a Walmart his entire life. His mother had died in childbirth and his father and sister had been killed in a private jet over the Carribean when he started college, leaving him with a huge bank account and no family. He had started renting out the mansion then just to fill the empty space, all except for his sister's suite of rooms on the third floor. He kept them locked tight, kept just as she left them. It was the only room in the house that never saw the light of day.
Slowing down for the last couple of steps, she watched him look up at her as if he already knew she was approaching. Moving away from his entourage of female admirers, he didn't even notice their grimaces or flashing jealous glares as he pulled her close and kissed her gently. Rising on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and moved against his mouth more passionately, pressing her chest against his.
"You look great today," he said, as he pulled away and took her hand in his.
"So do you," she beamed. They made their way home together, chatting easily about the day's events and it felt so...normal and wonderful, like nothing either of them had experienced before. When they got home, it was late afternoon and the mansion was filled with most of its inhabitants, hanging around and milling about, talking about how to spend the evening. Both of them ignored the looks they received as they threaded their way through the crowd and went directly to Angel's room.
Book bags were discarded at the door and before the door was fully closed, they were at sucking at each other's mouths eagerly, battling with their tongues as their hands wandered. Buffy backed Angel up until she was able to push him into his chair and immediately dropped to her knees, going to work at releasing his already hardening cock.
"Buffy, we talked about this..." Angel said, his voice coming out hoarse and full of desire. The idea of her little mouth wrapped around his cock, made him grow harder. He could imagine her pink tongue licking him, those tiny hands cupping his balls. He moaned as she wrapped her hand around him and he fought with his own desire as he spoke again, "You don't have to do this."
"*I* want to," she announced, before dipping her head down to lick the tip of his straining shaft. Lowering her voice, she looked up at him and smiled, "So shut up."
He opened his mouth to continue with his argument, but only released a groan of pleasure as she sucked the head of his cock between her lips, swirling her tongue around him. Buffy moved down, carefully relaxing her jaw as she struggled to take more of his thick length with every down stroke, only to come back up and swirl her tongue around the tip once more. She closed her eyes as he threaded his fingers through her hair, caressing her with those big, gentle hands. She fought not to think of what Riley had done when she was forced to do this, how he forced her further down on him, nearly choking her. Angel kept still and let her do what she pleased with him and from the sounds he was making, enjoyed every second of it.
Urged on by the moans coming from him, she caressed his balls with one hand and kept the other wrapped around the base, squeezing and caressing the part him she couldn't take in her mouth. Every stroke, she moved further down until he was hitting the back of her throat. She felt her gag reflex coming on as he entered her throat and she swallowed, contracting her muscles and causing a loud groan of pleasure to come from her lover.
"Buffy," he moaned, as she moved deeper, attempting to take all of him inside her hot little mouth, "That's...so...so...good."
The sound of his voice, wracked with desire, filled with joy and determination. Relaxing her throat and jaw, she swept down deeper and deeper, sucking him harder until her nose met with his muscled stomach. Squeezing her eyes shut, she moved over his lap, focusing every part of her body on his pleasure, proudly taking him in and shocked that she could.
"Stop baby," he whispered, causing her to freeze, "I'm going to come."
Looking at up at him, she swept down again, earnestly bringing him in and out of her mouth until he came, spilling jets of warm semen in her throat, which she swallowed. Licking her lips, she smiled up at him proudly and started to move away. She was going to go to the bathroom to brush her teeth, since he certainly wouldn't kiss her before she did, but squealed in surprise as he pulled her into his lap and attacked her mouth, while his hand moved between her thighs to rub her denim clad sex.
She writhed against his hand, breathing heavily as he pulled away from her mouth to pull her little t-shirt from her body. He cupped her one of her breasts in his free hand, not bothering to remove her bra first, pulling her against him once more. Dipping his head, he peppered kisses along her upper chest before teasing kisses along the top of her bra. She reached around and removed the offending garment, tossing it away as she pushed her chest closer to his mouth. She ground against the hand between her thighs as she felt the heat rising in her body and prayed that Angel would suck one of her aching nipples into his mouth.
He avoided them however, knowing how badly she wanted it, working her up as he slowed the movement between her thighs. He smiled against her breasts as she groaned in frustration, glaring down on him as he kissed all around her painfully hard nipples.
"Please," she moaned, "Angel, please."
Teasing her even more, loving the way the desire was building up inside her, he licked the aureole around her nipple and then moved to the other, keeping his touch from straying to the pebbled points. Her breath was coming out in pants, her entire body stiffened with anticipation as he finally licked one nipple. She thrust her chest against his mouth, threading her fingers through his hair as he took mercy on her and sucked the flesh into his mouth. Rewarded with a shattering moan, she jerked her hips against his hand and came, tightening her knees against his thighs. He moved to the other breast, laving the neglected nipple as she trembled against him, recovering from her climax.
"I want you," he said softly as he kissed her again, sucking on her lower lip for a moment before pushing his tongue into her breathless mouth.
"Yes," she agreed against his mouth, "Please, Angel. Now."
She moved from his lap long enough to shed the rest of her clothes and he stood, shucking his before grabbing her hand and leading her to the bedroom. It was a strange feeling to want sex, to *need* it and to be anxious to give herself over to a lover, but she did. She laid back on the bed and welcomed his weight against her, opening for him as he positioned his cock at her dripping opening.
She moved her hands over his back, loving the feel of his corded muscles flexing with his movements, as he slowly entered her, stretching her tight, delicate walls to admit his intrusion. Surprising herself, she lifted her hips, pressing against him, needing more of him, all of him. He entered her fully and began moving inside her in a steady rhythm, keeping her eyes locked on his and nipping at her lips, kissing what flesh he could reach. As she lifted her hips to meet his thrusts, he slipped his hands under her, cupping her firm little ass and thrusting harder inside her.
As they moved together, rocking with each other, a banging sound came from his front door, which became louder by the second. Angel refused to move from her perfect pussy and kissed her deeply as she opened her mouth to suggest they answer it.
"Could be an emergency," Buffy panted, pushing up against him and he moved down.
"I don't smell smoke," Angel managed, "So it can wait."
The knocking on the door, however did not relent, and Angel finally stood, slipped on his black silk robe and prepared to murder the person at the door. His anger faded, however, when he saw it was Willow, looking embarrassed and sheepish.
"Sorry," she said, holding the phone with one hand covering the mouthpiece, "It's just that the downstairs line rang and it's Buffy's mom."
"It's okay," Angel answered, taking the phone, "Thanks Willow."
"Sure," she said, still red with embarrassment. Moving away, she thought about telling Angel that she gave Spike the list of Riley's fraternity brothers and that he was checking them all out, but with him very obviously naked under his robe and clearly aroused, she moved away and decided against it.
"It's your mom," Angel whispered, handing her the phone and noting the frown on her beautiful face. He wished there was something he could do to make she never had that look of unhappiness and misery again. Since there was no other choice, he handed her the phone and motioned that he was going to leave, but she shook her head and held out her hand, pulling him back into bed with her. She settled against him as she held the phone to her ear, "Hello?"
***
Part Nine
***
//we flame for all in plain view
and the laughing world will never forget//
"Hello?" Buffy said as she beckoned Angel back to bed. The sound of her mother's voice made her angry and miserably sad at the same time. Just the idea that her mother had dealt with mistreatment from her father for all those years and then refused to accept that she too was being abused made her feel conflicted and strange. She really didn't want to hear what her mother had to say, but as usual, she had absolutely no choice.
"Hi Buffy," Joyce Summers said, her voice trembling slightly. Buffy closed her eyes and tried to remain positive. This didn't have to be a negative conversation, even though she knew it would be. She intertwined her fingers with Angel's, lying back against his chest and paused for a second before she spoke. She had to remind herself that at least she had him, even if nothing else was going right.
"Mom," Buffy said sternly, "What do you want?"
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Joyce said quietly, "I know you've been avoiding me and you have every right to be angry, but please don't shut me out."
"Avoiding you?" Buffy shot back, "Yeah, I've been dodging all phone calls you've made to make sure I'm okay!"
Buffy took a deep breath as Angel caressed her hand and she realized she'd been gripping his hand so tightly in hers that his skin was turning red and her other hand was clamped on to his silk robe, crumpling the silk. Slowly, she unclamped both hands and started to move away from him. She was embarrassed at how needy she was. What was the difference between not fighting Riley and letting Angel fight all of her battles for her? Whimpering, she scooted away but found herself swept back in his arms and deposited on his lap. Having no choice and not wanting one, she relaxed in his strong arms and listened to the strident sound of her mother's voice.
"Will you...will you come over and at least let me talk to you?" Joyce asked quietly after a moment, "I love you, honey."
"Alright," Buffy forced out through gritted teeth.
"Tonight?"
"Fine," Buffy breathed.
"Are...are you leaving now?" Joyce asked, seeming to be more upset with every word that crossed her lips. Buffy didn't remember ever hearing her mother that upset and certainly never showed her full emotions that freely with her. In spite of her better judgement, she was curious as to what exactly was upsetting her mother so much.
"I'll be there when I can, Mom, alright?"
"You're with that man aren't you?" Joyce asked, a bitterness filling each syllable.
"Yes, mother," Buffy barked, sitting up in bed. So that was it! Her mom wasn't upset about what had happened, she wasn't upset about not believing her about Riley, she was mad because she was living with Angel! Buffy tamped down the urge to scream and sneered into the phone. "I'm with Angel. In fact, the reason I'm not coming right over is that I would rather screw him than talk to you! Is that what you wanted to know?"
***
//don't fall down now
you'll never get up
don't fall down now//
Angel hated the idea of leaving Buffy anywhere for any amount of time without him. Even her mother's house seemed dangerous. He strolled slowly back to his car and hopped in before driving several blocks down. Guiltily, he parked it and walked back, intending to lurk outside of the house until she called his cell for him to come get her. He knew that she would be angry if she found out that he had never left, but he preferred that to her being in danger. Course, he had no intention of letting her know that he had gone against her wishes and stayed.
As he was walking back, he looked around for a place to hide that had a good view of the front door and the side, but it was a mainly residential area. He didn't want the police to be called because he looked like a peeping Tom. He strolled casually up the street, hands in his pockets, looking around for a spot to hide when he began to see that there was a lot of movement around him for so late in the evening. Every house seemed to have shifting shadows and shaking bushes.
Alarmed, he turned quickly and headed toward Buffy's house. He didn't care if it was obvious or not, he was going to be in her yard if someone dared to try and attack her. He crept around the side of the house and then stopped, leaning his head against the wall and closing his eyes. He was becoming more paranoid every day. He wouldn't be surprised if he attacked some innocent jogger for coming too close to his lover. A rustling behind him sent his mind from his thoughts and he quickly turned around, preparing to peer into the night for the source of the sound, but instead the world went dark.
***
//someday i'll teach you to beg
yes, i live for the day when i can hear you//
Buffy was not looking forward to seeing her mother especially since she had just spent ten minutes arguing with Angel about him *not* staying there and waiting for her. Her mom already hated him! She was sure Joyce Summers would just love it if she looked out the window and saw him standing guard on the front lawn.
Buffy walked inside, lagging as much as she could to actually get inside and shut the door before she called out, "Mom?"
"In the k-kitchen, honey," Joyce called back. Wrinkling her brown in confusion at the tension in her mother's voice she went toward the kitchen feeling a deep sense of dread fill her. When she entered the room, she gasped in surprise and stumbled back a step.
"No," Buffy croaked, backing into the doorway.
"Stop moving, Buffy," Riley said, keeping his gun cocked and pointed at her mother's head.
"I'm sorry, Buffy," Joyce whispered with tears running down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry, honey. I should have listened to you. I should have-"
"Shut up, Joyce!" Riley roared, poking the cold metal into her temple with disgust. "Are all you Summers women the same? Whimpering and crying all the fucking time?"
"Riley," Buffy whispered hoarsely, thanking God she had made Angel leave, "Please put the gun down. You don't have to do this."
"Yes, I do," Riley snapped, "This is all your fault! If you hadn't been fucking your rich boy and hiding in his mansion, if you would have just let me talk to you then none of this would have been necessary."
"We can work this out, Ri," Buffy said, trying to make her voice sound convincing, "Please just don't point the gun at my mom, okay?"
"Nice try, baby," he said, "But the minute you became Angel's whore was when your ability to reason with me flew out the window. Hope you enjoyed spreading for him cause the only person you'll be fucking for now on will be me."
"Angel doesn't have anything to do with this," Buffy said firmly, keeping her voice from quivering even as the rest of her body shook, "and neither does my mother. Just deal with me."
"That time has passed," Riley said, "You could have stopped this from happening, Buff. Remember that later."
Riley's face brightened and a broad smile covered his face as a knocking erupted on the back door. He commanded that Joyce sit down before he went to open it. Buffy caught the scream before it came out of her mouth as she watched Forrest and Graham drag Angel inside and drop him on the tiled kitchen floor.
"Fucker's heavy," Graham said, slightly out of breath.
"Yeah," Forrest added, "He's been eating more than your girlfriend's pussy."
As Riley shot his friends a dirty look, Buffy scrambled toward Angel, breaking out in sobs, but she stopped moving when Riley shouted her name and pointed the gun at her lover's head.
"You touch him and I'll put a bullet in his brain," Riley said in low, serious voice.
***
//yeah, i used to be a devil but they never seemed to give a damn//
Graham left Buffy's house casually with Forrest and then explained that he had a date with a hottie freshman, laughing with Forrest for a moment as he described her to his friend. He waited until he was out sight of Lowell House before he took off in the direction of the mansion. He didn't knock on the front door, but burst inside.
In the great room he found who he was looking for. Spike, Gunn and Doyle all sat around the room drinking beers and laughing with some of the other guys. On Spike's lap perched a beautiful brunette woman, who Graham suspected must be his wife. He stared at her for a moment and found himself lost in her eyes. There was something mesmerizing and entrancing about her...and it scared the shit out of him, especially when she shrank back from him and whispered in her husband's ear.
"Oh, someone's been naughty," Spike said, after gently urging the beauty off his lap to face off with Graham.
"Look," Graham gasped, trying to catch his breath, "I know I told you to fuck off before, but we all thought Buffy really was lying about Riley. He's lost his marbles, man."
"Where is he?" Spike demanded. Gunn and Doyle hopped up from their chairs, setting their nearly full bottles of beer on the table with twin thunks.
"He's at Buffy's mom's house," Graham answered, "and he's holding them all at gunpoint."
"Pea...uh, Angel?" Spike asked.
"He's there," Graham said, "But he's more on the tied up and unconscious side."
***
//you know, i want to be the way you want me to
big hearted and tall enough to cover you
i would break in half if you said it loud
splinter out of myself just like mercury//
Less than an hour had passed but so much had happened, Buffy wondered how she was going to get out of this mess. She was tossed on her bed in her old bedroom and was helpless as Angel was tied to a chair across the room that they had drug up from the kitchen. Blood was dried to his temple and he wasn't moving. She tried to stop the tears that were pouring down her cheeks in a river of worry and tried to think of how to get him out of this, but she couldn't seem to think straight. If only she could get her mom and Angel out, she might be able to stop them from being hurt. She knew it was far too late to save herself as well.
Her mother was tied up in her own bedroom down the hall, tucked out of sight, and Buffy was thankful that at least her mom wouldn't have to see whatever Riley had planned with her. When Angel was tied up and secured to the chair, Riley bid his friends goodbye. Neither looked all that regretful of what they had done and seemed like they could care less than what might happen, or even that someone could die before this was all over.
"Riley," Buffy said quietly, "Why don't you let Angel and my mom go? I'll go home with you. I promise. We can talk about this."
"Nice try," Riley said, "It's way too late for that talk. The only talk I'm having is with your new guy here."
Buffy winced as Riley slapped the side of Angel's face and then followed suit several more times.
"Wake up, Angelus," Riley said, slapping him again. It seemed to take a very long time before Angel woke up and looked around him. He struggled with the ropes that tied him to the chair until Riley crossed the room and pressed the gun against Buffy's head.
"Keep trying to escape," Riley urged, pressing the gun harder against her head.
"Finn," Angel snarled, still trying to shake the fog from his head, "Do you really want to go to jail for murder?"
"Shut up, Angelus," Riley shouted, "Your only purpose here is to make sure that Buffy comes back to me where she belongs. And if you're lucky, you'll live long enough to miss her."
"Get away from her," Angel growled, keeping his hands busy behind his back, trying to free the ropes, but they were tied so tightly that his hands were beginning to numb.
Riley ordered Buffy to stand up and then lounged on the bed. Smiling at Angel gleefully for a moment, he looked back at her and demanded, "Take off your clothes, Buffy."
"Riley, please just let Angel go," Buffy said, beginning to sob again, "Just let my mom and Angel go and then you can have me. I swear."
"No," Riley said, "I want him to see what a slut you are. Now strip, bitch."
"Riley, we can-" Buffy began and then screamed, "Angel!" as Riley pointed at Angel and shot. The silencer on the weapon wasn't so silent, as the sound thudded to her ears. Angel groaned loudly as the bullet tore through his shoulder. She moved across the room, sobbing uncontrollably as she approached Riley. She gripped his arm and begged, "Please, please, Riley. I'll do whatever you want."
"Yes, you will," Riley said, pushing her back and smiling coldly at her as she stumbled.
"Please, Riley! He's going to bleed to death," Buffy continued.
"I'm okay, love," Angel groaned, wincing at the sound of his own voice and then meeting her eyes, he mouthed the word, "Run." She shook her head at him and looked back at Riley. She couldn't leave Angel there to die. She'd rather die herself first.
"Yeah, he's okay, *love,*" Riley mocked, keeping the gun on Angel but looking at Buffy, "You're both so fucking pathetic. Now, unless you want me to shoot him again, you'll strip."
Keeping her eyes away from Angel, tears rolling down her face, which was flushed red with shame, she shakily pulled off her t-shirt and then reached behind her to unhook her bra. He fought the urge to beg her to run and kept working at the ropes behind him, but each movement caused shooting pain to travel up and down his arm. The shame rolling off of her was more than he could stand and he swallowed the bile that forced its way up his throat. As her beautiful breasts came into full view, Riley smiled happily, waiting for the rest of her clothes to follow.
***
//i can see the future when she tells me how it's going to be//
"That's it. I'm calling the cops," Gunn said, heading for the phone but stopped when a whimpering scream came from Drusilla. They all stared at her but Spike was the only one to move toward her. Cradling his arms around her, he asked, "What is it, pet? What do you see?"
"See?" Doyle echoed in confusion. The scream brought Willow and Xander down the stairs, tramping loudly into the room.
"She sees things," Spike explained as Willow and Xander appeared in the room, looking around wildly for the danger.
"She's psychic?" Willow asked, looking over the woman she had grown to like over the short time she'd lived in the mansion. Drusilla was kind, although a bit odd most of the time. If she was psychic, it would help to explain some of the strange things she said from time to time.
"A bit," Spike said, nodding.
"What is going on?" Xander asked, "Where are Buffy and Angel?"
"Don't call," Drusilla cried, clinging to Spike, "Can't. They will all die."
"The cops?" Gunn asked.
"No," Dru shuddered, "Buffy, her mother and...my Angel...my Angel."
"What if we go, love?" Spike asked, holding her shoulders and attempting to looking to her eyes, "What if we try to save them ourselves?"
"I can't see," Dru answered, weeping her answer on her husband's shoulder, "It's dark, Spike. It's so dark."
"Alright, ducks," he said, smoothing his hand over her dark hair, "Everything is going to be alright."
***
Part Ten
***
//i don't wanna be your whipping boy//
Angel felt like crying just as hard as Buffy was and it had nothing to do with the bullet wound in his left shoulder. Her bare torso, still faintly decorated with Riley's abuse was bad enough without seeing the sick fucker looking her over like he couldn't wait to do it again. A very faint sound came from outside of the room, but he wasn't sure where. It was so quiet that he could have imagined it. He was sure Riley hadn't heard it. The bastard was too absorbed in demanding that Buffy take off the rest of her clothes.
Knowing he had to make noise and lots of it to cover whatever other sounds came drifting in, even if it was his imagination, Angel cracked his chair against the wall of Buffy's bedroom. Thankfully, the chair sounded like it might have broken someplace when he did it.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Riley demanded, "If you get free, I'm just going to shoot you."
"I'd rather die than see you hurt her, you sick fuck," Angel spat, meeting glares with the only real enemy he had ever known. Life wasn't perfect, but he hadn't ever hated someone so thoroughly before.
"Angel!" Buffy shouted and then lowered her voice, "Don't say that."
"I can oblige," Riley said, holding his weapon tightly, "But I'd rather you see Buffy's legs around me first."
"Big talk...coming from you," Angel shouted, scooting his chair an inch, just to make a sound, "You talk like there might have been even a second she enjoyed being with you. Denial is a sad, sad thing, boy."
"Oh?" Riley said, "I'm sure that's what she told you. Not that I care if you're willing to believe a lying whore like her."
"Good. I'm glad you're keeping your little fantasy world intact, Finn," Angel said, shaking his head in mock sadness, "Cause it must be pretty hard on the ego to know that you can't even make the woman you supposedly love come. Buffy, my love, do you have a dictionary? Riley needs to look up a few words. Let's start with ‘abuse,' that's in the A's. Eventually, if we have time we might get to the O's. The word is ‘orgasm.' But since I'm bleeding to death because you can't stand competition, we really don't have that much time, do we?"
Angel scrunched his face like he was thinking deeply and then cocked his head at Riley, "Did anyone ever explain relationships to you, Finn?"
"Angel," Buffy begged, "Please, baby. Stop."
Angel laughed, spitting blood on Buffy's hardwood floor when the expected blow came. Riley hit him a second time and he just kept laughing until he managed to speak again, "You really think raping her will get her back? You don't have a chance. You never had a fucking chance with a woman as brilliant and beautiful as Buffy. You had to beat her into staying and now you have to shoot the man she really loves to keep her with you. You're pathetic!"
"ANGEL!" Buffy screamed as Riley aimed and unloaded another round in Angel's leg. She started to run to him and stopped when Riley looked at her.
"Riley," Buffy begged, covering her breasts, "Just let me tie something around his wounds. He's going to die."
"Shut up and finish undressing," Riley said, and then glanced at Angel, "Nice try, buddy. Diversions aren't your strong suit." He looked back at Buffy who was crying still and looking at Angel as well. Her chest was heaving with each breath and she had backed away to be as far from Riley as possible, which was farther from Angel as well.
"Go on, Buffy," Riley said, "I wanna see you shimmy out of those tight little jeans. Angelus looks worse for the wear, so I suggest you hurry."
***
//i'm all fucked up
and i'm ready to break//
Gunn, Spike, Graham and two of the others entered Buffy's front door quietly and heard yelling coming from upstairs. Buffy's voice was the most distinct as she screamed. They inched their way to the room where all the commotion was coming from when Graham nodded toward another bedroom. Joyce Summers was gagged and bound, lying on the floor near her bed. As they walked in, she was trying to scoot closer to the door.
"Mrs. Summers," Gunn said, kneeling next to her, "I'm going to take your gag off and untie you, but you have to be very quiet. Buffy's still in trouble. If Riley hears us, it'll give us away. Okay?"
She nodded tearfully and Gunn went to work on her gag, while Graham untied the ropes. Spike, on the other hand, was already tiptoeing down the hallway where his brother and Buffy had to be. Muffled voices came through more and more clearly as he made his way down the hall. By the time he reached the door, which was slightly ajar, he could hear Angel's labored breathing, Buffy's sobbing and Riley's voice.
Peaking in as much as he could, he saw that a surprise attack was in order. He slid back and made it quietly to Joyce's room when he heard a gun shot. Spike flinched and took a deep breath as Buffy screamed Angel's name.
"He's not dead," Spike whispered to his new friends as he stepped into the room. He closed the door as quietly as he could behind him and looked around the room defiantly.
"How the hell go you know?" Gunn forced out over the lump in his throat.
"Cause I fucking said so," Spike whispered harshly, "My brother is not dead, so it's time to plan his rescue."
"Spike," Gunn said quietly.
"He's not dead, godamn it. Dru said I could save him and I'm going to, so shut the fuck up, Gunn," Spike whispered again.
Gunn looked at Spike's clenched fists and tensed body. He had never seen Spike worked up about anything. Even when everything was at its worst, which was a lot lately, Spike always took things in stride, even made them into a joke. This time it was no laughing matter. Gunn whispered, "Alright, man. Alright."
***
//yeah my good lover is my one good thing these days
you help me keep it all from slipping away
i swear i'm gonna marry you someday
someday//
Angel thought he was seeing things when he spotted his brother's face just for a second out the window. He couldn't be there, could he? Angel shook his head, trying to come back to reality, but the loss of blood was starting to get to him. Buffy had taken off her jeans and was only wearing her sexy little panties now. Her legs were trembling and he could see the bruises on them which only made his temperature rise. There was no fucking way she was taking off those panties for that piece of shit.
No. Fucking. Way.
No one was ever seeing her naked again but the doctor and him if he had anything to say about it. Riley's voice slammed into his ears as the bastard demanded, "Take ‘em off, Buff."
"NO," Angel shouted slamming his chair against the wall again and loving the way it cracked, "You're not taking those off, Buffy. You don't have to be hurt by anyone ever again. I'll fucking kill him with my bare hands first."
With that Angel cracked his chair against the wall and it broke. His hands were still connected to the back of the chair, but the legs and seat fell away. He stood quickly and faced the point of the weapon, broadening his shoulders despite the pain he felt. He limped a step closer and glared.
"You're gonna die, Angelus," Riley growled, "And I'm going to enjoy watching it."
"I don't care," Angel growled back, "You're not raping her. I won't let you and if you have to kill me to do it, it'll be worth it."
"You think your dead body will stop me from getting between her thighs?" Riley demanded, "You're delusional!"
"Even if you manage to take her body, which you'll do over my dead one," Angel sneered, "You'll never take her heart. It belongs to me. It will *always* belong to me!"
Stepping back he stood in front of Buffy, blocking Riley from her. She worked on his ropes immediately, but was having a hard time because she was shaking so badly and so was he. Riley was clearly shocked and then after a moment, he raised his gun and pointed it at Angel's chest.
"Step away from my girl," Riley ordered.
"Nope," Angel answered, "Fuck off."
He cocked the hammer and aimed, demanding again that Angel step away and receiving silence as his answer. Buffy was able to get his hands free and Angel kept them behind his back, holding on to the part of the chair still connected to him for a second. As Riley began to squeeze the trigger, Spike crashed through the window and Graham and Gunn slammed through the bedroom door half a second later. Angel stepped forward as Riley squeezed the trigger and threw the wood. The bullet tore through the flying piece of chair in its way and Gunn crashed into him, knocking him to the floor seconds later.
Angel hobbled across the room and watched as Gunn punched Riley once in the mouth. Finn's lip split nicely, but that wasn't nearly enough for Angel. Glancing at the door, he told Joyce to call the police and then urged Gunn to move aside. Graham scooped up the gun as Angel pulled Riley to his feet with his good arm and winced as he switched, gripping him with his injured arm. Holding him there, Angel puffed labored breaths as he punched him directly in the nose with his good arm, then in the jaw and continued punching him. Riley fought to get away, but Angel held him there, dodging his opponent's blows when they came.
Everyone but Spike and Buffy stared as Angel punched him in rapid succession, releasing an almost inhuman roar as he did, as if every bit of bottled sadness and anger was being displayed on Riley Finn's face.
Spike yanked the comforter from Buffy's bed and wrapped it around her nearly naked body. She let him hold her for a second and then pulled away, blinking back her tears as she crossed the room. She stood next to Angel for a second, watching him deal out what looked like painful blows.
"Angel," she whispered, sliding her fingers over his shoulder. He stopped and pushed Riley away, before looking at her. Clutching the blanket around her, she stepped in front of Angel and faced her rapist. She clenched her little hand in a fist and swung, coming in contact with his face, which showed his surprise. Buffy let the blanket drop as she hit him again and again until she was nothing but a dervish of fists, a blur of blonde hair and a battle cry tore from her lips as she went.
Riley, regaining his senses, began blocking her punches and raised his hand to hit her back. Reaching over her shoulder, Angel caught the fist that came and wrapped his wounded arm around her narrow waist, quickly pivoting her away. Releasing her quickly, he blocked Riley's other arm as it came around to punch him. Angel swung, using all the force he had left in his body but deliberately missed only to fling his elbow into Riley's jaw instead. Buffy gasped loudly as she heard a sickening crack and realized as Riley fell to the floor that Angel had broken his neck.
"The police are on their way," Joyce said as she came running back into the room as Buffy scooped up her blanket and wrapped it around herself, refusing to meet her mother's gaze for a second.
"Ambulance too?" Buffy sniffled and her mother nodded. Stepping forward, Joyce stopped as Buffy flinched at her approach.
"Buffy, I'm so sorry," Joyce said, "I know this is all my fault."
"No," Buffy said, sitting on her bed and tugging Angel to sit down next to her, which he did. He wrapped his uninjured arm around her and held her tightly at his side, closing his eyes as Buffy continued. "Mom, this wasn't your fault, but how could you have not believed me about Riley? Where was the damn bodyguard Angel hired?"
"I sent him home this morning," Joyce admitted, "He followed me everywhere I went!"
"That's sorta the point," Buffy snapped, "I know you don't like Angel, but he hired that guy to protect you, so things like this wouldn't happen!"
"Is he...is he dead?" Joyce asked, looking down on Riley's unmoving body, which Graham was already crouched over.
"No," Graham said, "His heart's still beating."
"Thank God," Buffy breathed. She watched as Spike pulled one the pillows off her bed, peeled off the pillowcase and began tearing the material into strips.
"Thanks Spike," Angel said, groaning as Spike tied one of the strips around his arm. Spike nodded, clenching his jaw as he worked, looking more angry than upset. Finally, he glared at Buffy and forced out, "You're happy that bastard is alive?"
"Yes," she said softly, "Death is the easy way out, Spike. He needs help."
"He needs to pay!" Spike shouted.
"He will," Buffy answered, "But if he dies, he doesn't. This way he will. I want him to know what he did wrong. I want him to face a jury and have them tell him that he's guilty. I want him to see the inside of a jail cell."
"If he ever gets out..." Spike started, but stopped when his brother grabbed his arm and shook his head slowly.
"Don't say it, Spike," Angel said firmly.
"Why Peaches?" Spike asked, "You're thinking the same thing!"
"Because I don't want it repeated in court," Angel answered and then stood. He urged Buffy to gather her clothes and put them back on, then took his time hobbling down the stairs to meet the ambulance before he passed out. Graham and Gunn stood over Riley, almost daring him to wake up while they were standing there. Spike stood guard outside of the bathroom as Buffy put her clothes back on and Joyce followed Angel downstairs. She watched as he sunk down on the bottom step and leaned against the railing.
"Angel," Joyce said quietly as they heard sirens on the street. His opened his eyes and looked at her, not bothering to answer.
"I owe you an apology," she said, "I'm sorry that I didn't approve of you. I didn't see how much she loved you. I thought you were...something other than what you are. You saved my baby and I owe you my life...our lives."
"I love your daughter, Joyce," Angel said, "And I want to be with her more than anything. I won't step aside if you change your mind."
"I won't," she said as the door was flung open and the emergency crew flooded in.
***
Part Eleven
***
//when i fall, i always fall on you
face first, head down eyes closed
arms out to break my fall//
Angel awoke alone in a room he didn't remember and clawed at his memory for details of what had brought him there. He remembered being shot, beating Riley and walking down the stairs where he spoke to Buffy's mother. Beyond that, he couldn't remember anything. He didn't know how he had gotten there, what happened to Riley or where Buffy was.
Struggling with the bedclothes, his own bandaged body and the wearing aesthetic, he ripped the IV from his arm and plucked away the monitors that were attached to him. Even before he could climb out of the bed and go on a search for his lost love, a young, timid nurse came into the room and frowned at him.
"Mr. Angelus," she said quietly, "You just got out of surgery. You can't get out of bed. You're not strong enough yet."
"I'm strong enough to do whatever I want, " he snapped, but even as he moved, he knew he wasn't getting far. All he wanted was for Buffy to walk through the door and let him know she was safe, then he could rest there and heal. But he hadn't seen Riley Finn being carted from their house and despite the fact the boy was unconscious when he left, he didn't trust his foggy memory. After a few moments of struggling and vain attempts from the nurse to convince him to stop trying to escape his bed, a strong familiar voice rang in his ears.
"What do you think you're doing, Angel?"
"Giles," Angel greeted frantically, "I have to get out of here and make sure Buffy's safe. Where is she? What happened to Riley? Where's my brother?"
"Get back in bed and let this lovely young woman reconnect you to those…those machines and then I'll tell you everything," Giles requested, stepping closer.
"Don't treat me like a child, Giles," Angel demanded, narrowing his eyes, "Either Buffy walks in this room or I'm walking out of it! I'm not going to lay here and get my temperature taken when she could be in trouble!"
"If you don't want to be treated like a child, *Liam*," Giles chided sternly, "then stop acting like one. You know very well that your brother, irresponsible as he is, would not leave Buffy in danger and neither would Gunn or any of the others. She is perfectly fine."
"I want to see her or I'm leaving," Angel reiterated, not even slightly ashamed that he was in fact acting like a child just as Giles suggested. If he didn't see his girl in the next ten minutes, he was going to have more than a simple tantrum.
"As your guardian, I am telling you that I checked you in this place and you will not leave until I grant your release!" Giles snapped, causing the nurse to gasp and take a step further away from both men.
"I'm an adult and I cannot be held against my will!" Angel shouted back, "You *were* my guardian, but I've taken care of myself for year now! As much as I love and respect you, Giles, I have to know if she's safe. Now please don't try to stop me."
"I'll bring her to you," Giles acquiesced finally, "Just let this young lady take care of you, alright?"
"Fine," Angel said, laying back down and wincing when he attempted to cross his arms over his broad chest. He glared at Giles as he approached the young nurse and bent to her in his traditional gentlemanly, British way. "He's going to cooperate with you now, miss," Giles said quietly.
"He looks like he…might not," she whispered, attempting to keep her voice low enough for Angel not to hear. She was new to this position, having been on her own rounds on her own for less than two months and overbearing patients still made her extremely nervous. Liam Angelus, well known for being wealthy in a small town, was very intimidating. His large, powerful frame seemed capable of leaping off the bed even though he could barely move.
Giles smiled down at her patiently and nudged her in that direction, "Don't worry, dear. He's a nice person, even when he's trying to be difficult."
***
//i see you in the night
lying above me in the grass
i can't smile//
"Are we close?" Gunn whispered as he walked next to Spike through a dark alley in Sunnydale. Spike jerked his head in Gunn's direction with irritation clearly imprinted in his blue eyes despite the darkness. Gesturing toward his wife, who was walking lightly in front of them, swirling her velvet red dress around her body as she went along, almost dancing in the night, he whispered harshly, "My wife is leading the way, you ponce! If I knew the bloody location, I would be leading, wouldn't I?"
"Damn man," Gunn complained, "What crawled up your ass? I was just asking!"
"Three people were involved in the near murder my brother and bint he's fallen for," Spike whispered again, keeping one eye peeled on his night dreaming wife, fluttering down the alley in front of them, "Graham helped us, although he *will* be getting his ass kicked before this is all over. Riley is laid up in the hospital with his neck broken nicely and a guard outside his door. Forrest is the last one still walking around and I have no idea if he is out carrying on some other plan that the wanker had plotted out ahead of time. Until I find him and beat him so hard he wishes he was the one shot instead of Angel, I will be in a foul mood."
"There," Drusilla said when she reached the end of the alley, "He's there."
"That's the hospital, ducks," Spike said, shaking his head slowly, "Why did we walk around for this long if he was at the hospital the whole time?"
"He wasn't at the hospital the whole time," she answered, puffing up defiantly, "and tracking a person through their psychic signature is not easy, Spike."
"Alright, pet," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist, "I'm sorry."
"He's in the bushes," she said, lowering her voice, "Afraid. He doesn't know he's been misguided."
"He hadta know!" Gunn announced angrily, "How could he not know?"
"The boy," Dru whispered, "his lies have songs."
"Huh?" Gunn grunted looking at Spike for a translation.
"He's convincing," Spike interpreted, "Come on." Turning to Dru, he kissed her lightly, "Now, you head back home. Don't dance with the stars without me, love."
"Spike," she complained with a soft smile, "I never get to have any fun."
"Later, pet," he said, smiling suggestively, "I promise."
***
//we fall down
like a world of noise, we get lost
inside the length of our own time//
More than she hated hospitals, Buffy hated not being there with Angel. They promised they'd call her the minute he got out of surgery and as much as she fought, her mother, along with Spike, Willow and Xander had talked her into going back to the mansion for a little while. Part of it, she was sure, was because Riley was admitted at the same time and once he was secured, the police would be tromping in and out of the room, asking questions and prodding her into upsetting conversations.
She went home, showered and put on one of Angel's shirts rather than her own and a pair of old, worn jeans before trying to head back to see him. Every time she even inched toward the door, one or more of them would corner her and steer her away. Finally, she strutted to the exit, planning on busting her way out if she had to, when the phone rang.
It was Giles, which wasn't at all surprising, but she felt her heart pounding in her chest in anticipation what he would say. She was relieved and almost cried when he told her that Angel was awake and fine, although violently demanding to see her or he would storm…or rather, limp away in search of her.
Ten minutes later, after catching a ride with Xander, she ran down the hall and up a flight of steps to his room, not having patience for the elevator. She nearly slammed into the young and weeping nurse that was exiting his room.
"What's wrong?" Buffy asked, gripping the nurse's shoulders like she actually knew her, "Is he okay?"
"He's pulled his IV out again," she said in a quivering voice, "and when I tried to put it back in he yelled at me. He says he leaving and I should leave him the hell alone."
"Again?" Buffy echoed in confusion.
"You must be the girl he's been asking for," she said, "Even his father couldn't get him to stay in bed."
"His father?" Buffy asked, "You mean Giles? Stuffy British guy?"
"Yes, that's the one," the nurse said, smiling slightly as she sniffled. She already liked Buffy and could only hope this girl could calm down the terrifying patient.
"Oh, he's not his father," Buffy confided, "But he acts like everyone's father. Come on, I'll get him to calm down and you can put the IV back in, okay?"
"He won't calm down," the nurse said, fear returning to her eyes, "He's been like this since he woke up. We tried to give him a sedative, but he fought so much, I called the orderlies and then he punched one of them!"
"It'll be fine," Buffy said, tugging her along, "I promise."
The nurse looked at her warily, but followed her in, giving herself plenty of room to run away if Mr. Angelus started acting crazy again. She was surprised to see that he had managed to get out bed and was halfway into his blood soaked jeans when they walked in.
"Angel!" Buffy shouted, running toward him.
"Buffy, thank God," he said, wrapping his uninjured arm around her and pulling her close, "I've been trying to get to you but these people are keeping me prisoner."
"You should be in bed," she admonished, helping him back out of his jeans and into bed, "Are you trying to hurt yourself even more?"
"No," he said, caressing her face, "I wanted to make sure you were safe." She couldn't help but let loose a sigh that tears closely followed when she looked down at him. He looked so much smaller in this bed attached to machines and in a hospital gown.
"I was so afraid that you wouldn't be okay," she whispered through her tears and with his good arm, he pulled her close to him, hoisting her onto the bed with him. She wrapped her arms around him and sobbed, burying her face in his shoulder, forgetting to watch out for his wounds.
"I'm okay, love," he whispered, holding her and threading his fingers through her hair, "Everything is going to be okay now."
"I thought you were going to die," she admitted hoarsely, "I thought none of them would tell me if you did, that's why they were keeping me away."
The nurse watched the reunited lovers share a kiss that was rapidly becoming more passionate and finally cleared her throat loudly to remind them of her presence. They looked slightly embarrassed when they broke apart but didn't separate as she went to work, reconnecting his IV and the rest of the monitors for the third time that day.
"Thank you," Angel said, sitting docilely as she worked. He was thankful that her hands were no longer shaking when he inserted the IV in his arm and he hugged Buffy closer before saying to the nurse, "I'm sorry I upset you earlier."
"That's okay," the nurse blurted before hurrying from the room. Buffy turned to Angel and swatted him for his behavior before snuggling against him once more.
"You really scared the crap out of her," Buffy said against his chest, and realizing his wounds, moved away, "Am I hurting you?"
"No," he said, pulling her back down, "You're not hurting me, Buffy. I'm just glad you're here."
"Me too," she admitted, closing her eyes.
***
//i won't give in
I'm not like that
i won't give in//
Spike didn't expect Forrest to *actually* be in the bushes, but he was, crouching there watching the comings and goings of visitors, and, more than likely, the police. Drusilla had a tendency to get fanciful and dreamy when she was focusing on her gift, because of that, her phrases often could not be taken literally. In this case, she was right on and Spike wasted no time, kicking Forrest's legs out from under him.
"How are you doin'?" Gunn asked casually as Spike pressed Forrest down, crunching his boot down hard against his chest.
"Yeah, mate," Spike added, "Having a good night? There's been a lot of excitement around here."
"Fuck you," Forrest spat, "What do you want with me?"
"I know you helped Finn," Spike sneered, but then grinned as Gunn bent over to punch his former friend in the mouth. Spike waited until Forrest looked at him again before he finished speaking, "I know you knocked my brother out and dragged him into Joyce's house."
"Then you walked away to let him rape Buffy!" Gunn shouted, punching him again, "And he almost did."
"So, I'm thinking, before you get yourself in more trouble, we should talk about how you're going to help us," Spike said
"I don't know anything that happened," Forrest said, turning his head to spit blood out into the grass, "All I did was help him get Angelus, then I left."
"That's not what you're helping us with," Spike said, meeting Gunn's eyes for a second. They both hauled Forrest to his feet and began dragging him away, but he protested, twisting his body and kicking his legs out to escape. Spike wrapped his hand out Forrest's throat and squeezed, which forced him to remain still.
"Scream and we'll turn you in to the police," Spike said, "We have witnesses that will be more than willing to tell them that you helped Finn. Now quitting fighting and play nice and we won't crack you in the noggin like you did to Angel, got it?"
Nodding with a grim look on his face, he went along quietly.
***
//the laughing world will not forget
it's when you jam, that i jet,
i jet//
The young nurse looked in on Buffy and Angel sleeping in the small bed together, intertwined and embraced tightly. They looked almost peaceful in each other's arms even though they must have gone through something traumatic. The nurse taking over her rounds strolled up beside her and peered in the window, clucking her tongue in disapproval.
"Amy," the older, more seasoned nurse said, "You let that girl spend the night in that patient's room? It's against policy and-"
"I wouldn't recommend asking her to leave," Amy replied, worry covering her face immediately, "Believe me, just leave them be."
"She's a tiny girl," the older nurse answered, "I'm sure the orderlies could remove her if we need to."
"She's not the problem," Amy said, "He is. He made a huge scene earlier and scared me so badly I almost went home. I had to reattach his IV at least 3 times. Trust me. They're better together than they are apart."
"Amy, you can't disregard policy because you're afraid of a patient."
"Fine," Amy said, hurrying down the hall to gather her things, "If you're going to wake them up, just wait for me to leave. Hopefully, when I come in tomorrow, they'll both be gone!"
***
Part Twelve
***
//he knows if he ever lets her go
the pretty machine will swallow him whole//
Buffy woke in the hospital in the late afternoon and shivered, snuggling more tightly against Angel's warm chest. She smiled down on him and realized he was the only person who could keep her in a hospital all night like this, especially if she wasn't even the one who was sick. Spending the morning fighting off the nurses that tried to separate them and then answering the multitude of questions that were shot at them from the police detectives, they were both exhausted. She wanted to just stay in his arms for another couple of hours until Angel's check-up was scheduled to see if he could be released that day, but she knew there was one thing she had to do.
Sitting up slowly and moving his arm from around her waist, she slipped off the bed and gathered her shoes from the floor. She slipped them on without bothering with the laces and then left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
She approached the guard standing outside of Riley Finn's hospital room and spoke to him for several minutes before he allowed her in. Riley was sleeping in the narrow bed, a halo around his broken neck, a cast on his right wrist and his face was temporarily disconfigured with cuts and bruises. Reaching out, she shook him lightly and then stepped away, hoping he would wake up. Unfortunately, she was forced to shake him several times until he awoke and she felt like punching him to bring him to consciousness, but since the guard was peering in through the small window she decided against that route.
He finally blinked his eyes open and focused on her. When she didn't speak, he managed to croak out, "Buffy."
"I just wanted to tell you something before I leave the hospital," she said quietly, her voice rigid and her fists clenched, "I spent so much time trying to help you, Riley, trying to protect you from yourself. I always thought that I could keep forgiving you forever as long as I remembered that deep down you were a good person. Well, guess what I realized? You're not a good person. You're a horrible one."
"Buffy," he said, panting for breath, "I'm so sor-"
"If you say you're sorry to me, I will beat you to death," she snapped, "You *can't* be sorry. ‘Sorry' doesn't begin to cover what you did to me. You raped me once and it nearly killed me, but when you tried to do it again and in front of the man I love...there's no excuse for someone like you. I'm pressing charges, Riley and you're going to jail for what you did. While you're sitting in a little cell rotting away your youth, I want you to carry this thought with you - I never loved you. All you ever had of me was my pity and now you don't even have that."
"Buffy," he called out in a strangled moan as she headed for the door, "I loved you! I'll always love you."
"You don't know what love is," Buffy said, turning to the knob, "If have to have a heart to love someone."
***
//he'd sell his soul to make the monster dance
they can't hurt you unless you let them//
"Is he handsome when he's not all bloody?" Drusilla asked her husband as he and Gunn handcuffed Forrest to a chair in the basement. They had brought him in through the back and were thrilled that none of the current residents of the mansion saw them when they did.
Spike looked over at his wife and gave her a disgusted look, not bothering to answer her question. Gunn pretended he never heard her ask, but he had to hold in his amusement at Spike's irritation. If he didn't know better, he would almost believe that Drusilla had done that on purpose just to piss him off.
"What do you people want with me?" Forrest demanded for the fourth time since they dragged him down there. Once the ropes were secure, Spike and Gunn stepped back and looked at him.
"We need a few things from you," Spike said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation of the coercion, "Buffy'll need another witness and since you know Riley so well, I think you'll do nicely. Then there's all the details about his life that we need to gather. The more information about him you give us, the more ammunition my brother's lawyers will have to send him on a long vacation...with bars."
"He's my friend," Forrest answered, "I'm not helping you send him to jail."
"Alright," Gunn said, nodding his head, "We're just going to go upstairs and have a little dinner, maybe take a nap. Hope you don't get thirsty or hungry or have to go to the bathroom or anything."
"I'll scream and someone will come down here," Forrest said, "Someone will let me go."
"Oh good point," Spike said, strolling over to the shelf on the far wall and snagging a roll of duct tape from it, "Thanks for reminding me."
"Wait!" Forrest said as Spike prepared to cover his mouth with the tape, "Don't leave me down here!"
"Then you're gonna have to answer a few questions," Gunn said, leaning lazily against the wall.
They all glanced over when they heard the click of Drusilla's heels. She blew a kiss to Spike and smiled at him, "Don't hurt him too much, Spike."
"Just a little, pet. Kinda want to see him cry," he said before turning back to Forrest, holding the tape inches from his face, "Do you have some things to tell us?"
"What do you want to know?" Forrest asked quietly, ashamed of his own weakness. Spike and Gunn shared grins as they strolled back across the room.
***
//yes, i think they are diminishing
yes, i think that they diminish you and they diminish me
they are diminishing//
Subconsciously, Angel was aware that he was asleep. It didn't make the nightmare any less frightening though. It had started in Buffy's room, with her stripped down to her panties and Riley giving her the final demand to take them off. Angel knew he could break out of the chair, that he was supposed to, but it wouldn't happen. This chair had to be made of titanium, because he kept slamming it back and nothing happened. No cracking of wood, no loosening of the ropes. Nothing. All he could do was roar for Buffy not to completely disrobe.
The Riley in his dream was even colder, sterner than the real one had been and he pressed his gun against Angel's temple, pressing the metal in hard and demanded that she take off her panties or he would shoot. She obeyed and then fell to her knees when Riley commanded it, pressing the gun harder into her lover's skull.
When Riley unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, positioning himself behind her, Angel released a bellow of pain that he didn't even know he could make. He slammed the chair against the wall again and again so hard that the wall caved in behind him but he couldn't get free. He was breaking through the wall, pounding at it as Riley pounded into Buffy. All he could hear was her whimpers and sobs, her voice breaking as she begged him to save her.
He felt a warm liquid trailing down his arms, over his fingertips, dripping to the floor and he knew it was his own blood, but he couldn't stop struggling to free himself, couldn't look at his feet where the love of his life was being violated. Tears streamed from his eyes, coursing down his face as he fought with the chair and the ropes, but he knew he had failed. It was too late.
***
//see you roll your eyes
you know it makes me smile//
"Come in," Willow said, looking up from her desk curiously as someone knocked on her door.
"Hey Red," Spike said. He walked in and Gunn followed, both of them looking suspiciously guilty.
"What'd cha do? You're lookin' evil," Willow accused, spinning around her desk chair. She had to admit that despite the apprehension she had with moving in with a house of male college students, she loved it there. She liked the little family that had formed and she secretly was in love with the rolling desk chair that Angel had in the guest room. She sometimes rolled around the room and spun it in when no one was around.
"We don't have to do anything to be evil," Gunn said with one of his trademark wide grins, "We just are."
"Good point," Willow said, smiling back, "What do you want then?"
"Need you to look someone up for us," Spike answered, plopping down on her bed and leaning back on it.
"Who?" Willow asked, twirling back around and pulling up her favorite search engine in preparation.
"Lily Robertson," Gunn answered, "We think she used to be a student at Sunnydale U, but she dropped out a year or two ago."
"Found her," Willow said, not looking up from her laptop as her eyes scanned the information before her, "Why are you interested in her?"
"Cause," Gunn said, "She was Riley's ex and we think that he raped her too."
"How'd you find out about her?" Willow asked, spinning around and glaring at them, "What have you two been up to?"
"Torturing Forrest," Spike said, shrugging and then standing up, "You got an address?"
***
//you are like the sun to me
all bright as liquid fire
i feel so powerless
hold you up above the world
yeah, you are quite a lot of trouble
for such a pretty little girl//
Buffy sprinted down the hall from Riley's room when Angel started screaming like he was being beaten to death. The orderlies were ahead of her, along with the nurse but she squeezed through them and hurried to his side. He was thrashing in his sleep and had reopened the wound in his shoulder. Tears were running down his face and he kept screaming like he was dying. He sounded like he was inches from death.
"Angel," she said, shaking him awake, "ANGEL!"
"Oh God," he groaned, "No, please, Buffy. I can't stand it. Please."
"Angel," she whispered, climbing next to him and ignoring the staff inching the bed, "Baby, wake up. It's a dream."
When he finally opened his eyes, it was only for a second and he pulled her into his arms, squeezing his eyes shut again. He held her tightly with both arms, ignoring his wounds and whispered hoarsely, "I didn't save you. I tried but I couldn't get free. I'm so sorry I let you down, love."
"No, you did save me," she whispered, clinging to him and kissing his face, "You saved me, Angel. Look at me."
Finally, he opened his eyes once more and looked into her tearful ones, "We're here in the hospital. You saved me. See? We're okay. Everything's okay."
After Angel deciphered the difference his drugged sleep and reality, he demanded to go home. The doctor balked, as did Buffy and Giles, he was adamant. He started out, telling her that he knew how much she hated hospitals and that he would feel better if they were both at home, but Buffy suspected that wasn't the whole truth. Setting her fears aside, she actually tried to get him to stay but he flatly refused.
"I don't want you near him," He finally growled out, "That fucker is just a couple of rooms down and I won't stand for him to be in the same building with you. Not overnight, not ever unless it's a court room if I can avoid it."
After arguing about what was best for everyone's interests, they agreed to go back home. Actually getting him there, however, proved difficult. He was in an incredible amount of pain even though he was on heavy meds and could barely walk himself to the car. Once they reached the mansion, Giles and Buffy both agreed that Angel was in no shape to climb a staircase and then walk down a long hallway to his rooms. Buffy recruited a couple of the guys to pull out the sofa bed in the living room, then she went about giving the residents instructions on how they were to be quiet and stay out of the great room as much as possible for that evening.
Giles smiled as he watched her instruct the guys and nearly laughed out loud when they all shuffled away, doing as they were told like scolded school children. He made his way to the door when they were done setting up the room, chuckling to himself and proud of his almost son's choice in a mate.
Once everyone was gone, Buffy helped Angel strip down to his boxers, got him into bed and then ran around the house making sure he had everything he needed. As adorable as she was, her scampering around was making him nervous and it took nearly ten minutes to flag her down and get her to lay down with him.
"I'm not tired," she complained, as she climbed on the bed and sat next to him, clasping his hand tenderly, "Are you sure you don't need something? Are you hungry?"
"Buffy," he said, blinking slowly in an attempt to keep his eyes open, "I don't need anything but for you to relax and sit down for a second."
"Kay," she said, nodding and watched him for a second as he struggled to keep his eyes open and waited with him as he fell asleep. Checking the clock, she noted the time she would have to wake him up to give him more medicine and then hopped up to find Willow. All the sleep she had gotten in the hospital with Angel was more than enough until later on that night.
"You guys having a party in here without me?" Buffy asked as she entered Willow's room and saw Spike, Gunn and Willow all talking excitedly.
"It's not a party without you, pet. You know that," Spike said, winking as he headed for the door, motioning for Gunn to follow. Buffy watched them leave and then raised her eyebrow at Willow.
"What was that all about?" Buffy asked after the door closed.
"Nothing," Willow lied nervously, turning to quickly close the open browser windows on her laptop.
"You *so* suck at lying," Buffy said, leaning over her shoulder, "I know you weren't surfing for naughty websites with the guys, so what was that?"
"They said not to tell until we're sure," Willow answered, keeping her eyes downcast.
"Well, now you know you have to tell me," Buffy said with a sigh, "So just give it up, Will."
***
//i watch you in your sleep at night
reach out and touch your hair
i wanna make this world be just how you want it to be
yeah, you just don't understand
you are everything to me//
When Buffy made it back downstairs to check on Angel, she had a whole hour before he was supposed to take his medicine, but he was wide awake and staring at the ceiling with his brow creased in pain.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked, crawling in beside him.
"Hurts," he grunted, "I think the medication wears off way before I'm supposed to take it again."
"There's an hour left," Buffy informed him regretfully. "What can I do? Can I get you something? Want me to put in a movie or something to distract you?"
"You distract me," he whispered, pulling her against him, "Talk to me."
"Um..." she said, cuddling up against him and biting her lip as she tried to think of something to say. The only things that popped in her mind to say were about Spike and Gunn torturing Forrest to find out about Lily or about her little visit to Riley that afternoon. Both were topics she wasn't ready to discuss with Angel, but her mind wouldn't steer from them.
"I think you should sleep upstairs in my room tonight," he said after a moment, "I don't want you to stay down here with me."
"Why?" Buffy protested, sitting up so she could effectively stare him down, "You don't want me here with you?"
"Of course I do," he answered, "I just don't want the guys to walk through here while you're sleeping. Don't like them being able to see you in bed."
"Don't be ridiculous," Buffy sputtered, "I'm not leaving you down here by yourself. What if you need me? What if you have a bad dream? What if-"
"Alright," he said, shaking his head at her, "But you have to sleep in more than one of my shirts."
"Angel," she said, rolling her eyes, "No one's going to see my goodies. Get a grip, honey."
Angel's eyes lit up and then he frowned, turning head to look away from her. She waited for him to speak and when he didn't she asked, "What? What's wrong?"
"It's stupid," he said softly.
"It's not if it's bothering you," she said, "Is it about your nightmare today? Angel, just tell me."
"I almost...I almost touched you," he said after a moment.
"So? You touch me all the time," she argued.
"I mean...Buffy, I don't know how you feel about me touching you since...what happened with Riley," he forced out, "And I don't want you to feel like you have to let me if you don't want."
"Weren't you the one who argued with me about how you weren't him?" she said cupping the side of his face, "I love you, Angel and when you touch me, it's not even close to the same thing. Rape isn't sex, Angel, it's violence."
"I know," he said, "I just don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"I can't believe you're frisky when you're on all that pain medication," she said, smiling accusingly at him, "Especially, since you were talking about someone seeing me a minute ago and the next minute you were thinkin' about seeing my goodies for yourself."
"Drugs wore off," he said, smiling back at her hungrily, "And when I think about distraction...Well, what can I say? I want you all the time."
"You have me," she whispered seductively and leaned down to kiss him, "So, just what are you going to do with me?"
"We shouldn't," he said, becoming seriously, "As much as I want to..."
"I told all the boys they weren't allowed in here," she whispered, turning off the lamp on the side table, making the room almost completely dark. She kissed him deeply and focused on his face in the darkness, letting her eyes acclimate to the dim light. He watched as she slipped off her jeans, leaving her in his oversized shirt. He started to protest as she slipped off her bra underneath the shirt and tossing it on top of her jeans, but she paused to place a finger to his lips and then slipped off her panties before pulling the covers aside and straddling his hips, carefully avoiding the wound on his leg.
"Tell me what you want," she said, rubbing her sex against the silk of his boxers and enjoying the feel of the material caressing her. She unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing and he grabbed her hands.
"Don't," he said, "What if someone walks in?"
"I'll leave it on," she whispered, finishing off the buttons and then opening it but left it on her shoulders. She pulled his hands to her breasts and said, "But I want to feel your skin against mine. I want you to touch me."
"Do you?" he teased, ignoring the pain he felt at moving his left arm. Pressing her to talk to him in the dark, he added, "Why?"
"You know," she answered, knowing her blush was lost in the darkness. She felt his arousal rising beneath her as she rocked her hips.
"Tell me," he moaned as she rubbed harder against him, "I want to hear you say it."
"I like the way your hands look when they cover my breasts," she said, "I love the feel of them rubbing me, pinching my nipples, moving all over my body. You make me feel small and beautiful."
"You are small and beautiful," he said, cupping her breasts lightly and running his thumbs over the erect points over and over in small circles. She moaned as he pulled her down to his mouth and sucked one nipple into his mouth, tugging lightly on the other while holding her against his lips like she was a banquet of flesh just for him. She rocked against his silk covered sex as he moved from breast to breast, peppering kissing in the valley in between. He caressed her body, moving slowly over the planes of her skin, mesmerized by her soft, firm curves.
She met his mouth once more, sucking lightly on his tongue before exploring him deeper. Inside their fevered kisses, he slipped a hand between her thighs and groaned at how wet she was.
"Need to taste you," he said huskily, nudging her to move up his body until she lowered her dripping sex to his lips. "You're so wet," he whispered, "Love the taste of you...beautiful, so tight and hot." She gasped as his hands settled on the gentle curve of her hip with one hand, pulling her hard against his mouth. He plunged his tongue into her channel, lapping her inner softness. She braced her weight on the back of the couch as he flattened his tongue, licking her all over, leaving no place untasted. He carefully slid his free hand over his stomach, attempting to not bring pain for himself into the experience, and pressed one, then two fingers deep inside her as he circled her swollen flesh with his tongue.
"Angel," she whimpered, "Need you to...please don't wait."
Latching on, he sucked her engorged clit into his mouth, nibbling at it, then swirling his tongue around before sucking harder. He alternated, teasing her until she came, panting hard, her thighs trembling. She rocked her hips, pressing her sex against him. She languidly made her way down his body, feeling rubbery and pleased all over.
"Now what do you want?" she whispered, kissing him and tasting her own juices on his lips, "Do you want me to return the favor or do you want to be inside me?"
"Inside you," he said, his voice coming out almost as a beg. His cock was straining against the material of his boxer shorts and he felt like all the blood in his body was there, throbbing for the tight, slippery sex he had just tasted. She carefully pulled his shorts down and off, tossing them on her pile of discarded clothing before positioning his painfully hard cock at her entrance. She rubbed the tip over her clit and squeezed his shaft, enjoying the sound of his groan of pleasure.
"Please baby," he said, this time truly begging as she teased him, lowering herself just barely over him and flexing her inner muscles. She moved down so slowly, clamping over every rigid inch inside her and he was contemplating screaming.
"Buffy, love, please. All the way, baby," he pleaded. He gritted his teeth as she continued to take her time, lowering herself as slowly as she possibly could and relishing in every thick inch of his cock. Years could have passed for all Angel knew when she finally, began moving against him more slowly than he thought was possible. Her erect nipples scraped against his chest as she moved, gently making love to him. She sucked at his lips before kissing him deeply, speeding up only slightly.
"I want you to feel every part of me," she whispered, as he cupped the firm, round globes of her ass and thrust up deeper inside her, "I want you to have every part of me."
"I love you, Buffy," he answered, moving up against her and realizing that the slow pace was keeping him from feeling the pain of his wounds, "Everything I have, everything I am is for you."
***
//i tell you she was cool
she was red hot
i mean she was steaming//
Spike and Gunn interrogated Forrest a bit further when they went back downstairs. They did need to make sure they got every sordid detail out of him before they let him go, but Gunn suspected that Spike enjoyed torturing his former friend a bit more than he probably should. He didn't seriously hurt him, so Gunn kept his mouth shut. Spike reminded him of a big cat pawing at his prey and not understanding why when it stopped moving.
Spike was actually a bit disappointed when they let Forrest go. He didn't trust him. Not that he did trust many people, but he had a genuine distaste for him. He was sure that the day would come when he would regret letting the wanker go but he couldn't very well leave him chained the basement like a rapid dog. Course, later, from the look on Dru's face, he knew that she saw right through him. His occasional sadistic streak was showing more and more since they returned to Sunnydale.
Gunn and Spike made their way up the stairs and escorted Forrest out, or rather, tossed him roughly out the back door, snarling out threats to find him if he did anything remotely questionable. As they shut the back door, moans coming from the great room sent them both in that direction. They allowed themselves to be lured despite their better judgement and stopped just in the doorway as they saw Buffy and Angel rocking slowly together on the sofa bed. Buffy arched her back, her firm breasts outlined in the dark and her long blonde hair streaming down her back as she lost herself in her lover.
Taking shaking breaths, they backed out to head to their rooms. Honestly, they moved awfully slowly, keeping their eyes trained on Angel's exceptional lover. His hands looked huge as they moved over her little body, caressing her flesh and thrusting up against her. When they finally made it to the door, they heard her suck in a deep breath and release it with a hard, shuddering moan. Gulping, they ran up to their rooms with the sight of her imprinted in their minds for the night.
"Angel," they heard her whisper in the dark as they retreated, "It's time for your medicine."
***
TBC...
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