Tangle
By: White Rain
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Genre: I call it HELLO WITH TONGUE. Yes it's a genre. I'm making it so.
Pairing: Buffy/Angel
Notes: Takes place sometime after Reptile Boy and before Surprise.
Summary: Control is a delicate thing.


Even though it was dark out, Buffy could clearly see that Angel's eyes were slightly darker than normal when he pressed her up against a tree at the edge of the graveyard she was patrolling in and kissed her.

Or tried to. Buffy dunked out of the way. "No hello?"

"That was going to be my hello," Angel said. At the quirk of Buffy's head, he added, "Not really in the mood for talking."

Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's shoulders and pressed her fingers into the back of his neck. "Talking is good."

"In some circumstances," Angel acknowledged as he set his hands on her shoulders in order to hold her still and leaned down to successfully press his lips against hers.

A few minutes into the kiss and Buffy pulled away. "Is something wrong?"

Angel tightened his grip on her shoulders slightly. "What makes you ask that?"

"Usually I'm the one who kisses while you are all business," Buffy pointed out. "Not that I'm complaining or anything, but - "

Angel shifted awkwardly. "It's the weekend. I thought you probably could do your homework later or..."

Buffy forced herself not to grin as she moved against him. "No Slayer business?"

"Not right now, no." He narrowed his eyes. "Are you playing with me?"

Buffy gave him a sweet smile. "Consider it revenge for - "

Angel cut her off by biting her bottom lip.

Buffy's response was to make a pleased sound in the back of her throat as she reached up to pull him closer to her. The bark of the tree scrapped unpleasantly against her back, but Buffy was only vaguely aware of the discomfort as her mind and body were all too aware of the body pinning her against the tree.

Angel dug his fingers into her skin as he moved to kiss down her neck. Buffy closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side to make it easier for him as she moved one leg between his and lifted her knee up.

Angel made a low noise and bit her neck and froze for a second before quickly untangling from her.

"Don't go," Buffy said before he could say anything.

Angel took a step back. "I can't be here. Not when I'm like this."

Buffy reached out and grabbed his hand. "I want you to be here."

"You have no idea - "

Buffy pulled herself forward and pressed against him. "I'm right here and we're both okay. Nothing bad happened." She looked up at him. "Besides, I'm the Slayer. Do you really think you could hurt me?"

As Angel set his hand in her hair and gently stroked it, he stared her down without blinking.

Buffy stared back and didn't blink herself. And slowly, some of the tension melted from Angel's body.