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"Buffy, we can always plan something else?" Angel wrapped his arms her and planted a kiss on her mouth.

Buffy pulled back a little "...not now" she kissed him again, her hands gripping on to the bottom of his shirt and tugging it.

They'd arrived home from the Police Department not moments ago; the past 24 hours had been an emotional roller-coaster. All she wanted was him. Angel allowed her to take his shirt off and unbuckle his belt, her fingers worked feverishly to undress him.

He spun her around gently and pulled her close "I love you" He tipped her head so he could kiss her again, she was the first girl he had loved since he was sixteen, he vowed he'd never give in to those feelings again but there was just something about her that made him weak.

Buffy bit her lip as he kissed his way down her neck, she could tell he was trying to slow her down which she was willing to accept, his touch albeit slow was enough.

"I love you too" she moved her legs wider as he yanked down both her bottoms and panties, letting out a moan as his fingers worked on her core.

She felt him press himself against her to let her know that he was ready, Buffy gripped onto the kitchen counter as he rid himself of his remaining clothes and thrust deep inside her. Her moans were driving him insane, Angel couldn't control himself.

It didn't take them long to reach climax, it was frenzied but was full of deep passion. Buffy leaned against his chest for support, her legs felt like they would buckle from the intense pleasure that was radiating from her.

Angel held her close, despite being a strong man he was worried. They'd worked out a plan of entrapment, it was risky but with Riley being volatile it wasn't a guarantee that it would run smoothly.

They slid down onto the floor, Buffy sitting between his legs "Angel, you don't have to worry" she adjusted her position so she could look up at him "once he's gone, it will be better"

Angel sighed, it would be better, she wouldn't be on edge and he wouldn't be concerned that she was in danger. He ran his fingers softly against her face and nodded in agreement.

oooooooooooooo

His eyes followed her as she built up speed and threw her body, executing a perfect round off back handspring. The fluid movement melted together into one big blur, it was hard to concentrate.

Riley rubbed his hands over eyes to regain his focus, the substance he had taken moments prior was making it all too difficult. He stumbled his way over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist "Buff"

Buffy jumped a little as she felt his embrace, she thought she was alone in the gym "Riley!" he caught her lips in a gentle kiss, his hands sliding down between her legs.

She pulled away from him feeling uncomfortable "Hey!" she turned to face him, his blue eyes were bleary, the smile on his face half assed.

Riley took a deep breath, he was growing impatient with her attitude, every time he went to make a move on her she would freeze and put space in between them. It had been months, he'd gotten nowhere.

"Come on" he stalked towards her, trapping her against the walls with his arms enclosing her. Riley inhaled her scent "It's been months, lighten up"

Buffy frowned, it was true they had been together for a couple of months – she had practically moved in with him so she wouldn't be alone in her dingy bed-sit but that didn't matter, she didn't feel ready to take things past kissing.

"Riley… I just don't feel ready"

He rolled his eyes but let her out of his grasp "Sorry, you just look so beautiful, it's hard to control myself" he placed a kiss on her lips again.

Buffy relaxed and kissed him back, he had a way with words. Lately her feelings for him were getting weaker, he'd sneak off with suspicious looking classmates and come back in a mood but when he said things like this she wanted to give him a second chance.

She nodded to signal she was ready to leave; Riley linked his fingers through his and pulled her in the direction of his house.

From the lack of noise in the house showed them they were alone. Riley pulled her close as they entered his room, if being direct wasn't working he'd have to ease her into doing things with him.

Buffy enjoyed the kisses he was showering upon her, it was different from earlier and the past few times he had tried to kiss her roughly. This was what she liked.

"You're beautiful… and you're mine" he pulled her down on the bed and settled on top of her. His head was still spinning from earlier; this coupled with his tongue down her throat was heightening the sensation.

Buffy placed her hands on his chest, their innocent kissing had spun out of control and he was now groping her roughly and grinding upon her. She pushed hard and he fell off the bed, knocking over the bedside cabinet.

Riley groaned in pain "Buffy! What was that for?" he pushed himself up wearily and dusted down his rumpled clothes.

"I… I said I don't feel ready" her heart was beating of her chest when she met his eyes, he didn't seem like he was willing to listen, they were cold and hard, determined on getting what he wanted.

She shifted herself up to stand but stopped as she looked at the little silver packets on the floor, all torn and empty. He wasn't using them with her that was for sure, so he must have been using them with other girls.

Riley smirked, the look on her face was priceless as she took in the mess then looked back at him "Come on Buff, you think I'd wait this long not getting any?!" he snorted as her eyes filled up.

Buffy choked back the tears, she didn't want to cry over him, she liked him a lot but the trust issues she'd been raised with made it harder to open up and give herself to him.

He walked towards her and pushed her flat on her back, his mouth attacking hers, hands rough between her legs. Buffy struggled under him, he had never acted like this before - it felt like he was possessed. She kneed him hard and ran across the room to give distance.

"Riley!" she wiped her eyes "I don't want to see you, ever again" she stomped her foot to emphasise her point, this was the last straw, his sweet words wouldn't make it up to her now.

After a pause, Riley stoop up then made her way to her and hut her hard. Repeatedly. It wasn't long before his parents returned and intervened, pulling their crazed son away from the crumpled body on the floor.

The cops showed up along with the ambulance, Buffy remained silent with shock. She couldn't believe what he had done to her and how he had snapped. Her skin, her muscles, her whole body ached.

Riley was placed in handcuffs and thrown in the back of the car, his eyes never leaving hers as they drove away from his house.

Once the car was out of sight Buffy let out all her emotions and screamed in pain, the dam had burst. The paramedics had to sedate her to take her to hospital as she wouldn't calm down; Buffy let the medication take over her body as she drifted into unconsciousness.

oooooooooooooo

Looking down on the crowd below he smirked, there she was sitting with the red head, her pert little nose scrunching up as she giggled.

Riley felt his jeans stretch uncomfortably at his crotch; his need for her was growing, he wanted so much for to be between her legs.

He downed his drink and made his way outside as he saw Buffy leave. She had been scarce around town lately but the past few days she had been out a lot more, as if drawing him out.

Buffy exited The Bronze, although she was showing face around town to make her presence known, being out with her friends good for the soul – she felt like she was finally settling in. Before she could get very far a strong hand grabbed on to hers, spinning her around almost pulling her arm out of the socket, she hissed in pain.

"There you are, ready to come home yet?"

She looked into his eyes and winced, that same look, the one he had that day he had turned violent against her was back. Worry crept its way inside of her.

Buffy yanked her hand free of his "I'm not going with you" she stood proud; if she was going to finally get rid of him she had to see this through.

Riley's jaw clicked with annoyance, he meant what he said that she was his and going back to LA with him, her insolence was ripping right through him. The mocking look she was giving him made his blood boil, his hand started shaking uncontrollably "Don't test me!" when she smirked he swung for her.

Luckily with the training that she had been doing with Angel, she managed to move just enough that he missed her face. It wasn't fast enough to avoid him completely as he caught the side of her head, knocking her to the ground.

Buffy let out a shriek; she wasn't expecting him to connect with her. She curled up in a ball to protect her head from any upcoming assault.

Riley managed one kick to her stomach but as he tried to swing his leg to boot her again he was tackled to the ground and someone's fist hitting his face. He grunted in pain but was surprised when there were no more hits.

"Riley Finn… you're under arrest for assault!" he was dragged to his feet, his eyes connecting with Angels glare; he was spun around and placed in handcuffs by the cop beside his enemy. Oz pushed him towards the cop car at the end of the alley, reading him his Miranda rights on the way to the vehicle.

Angel didn't take any notice of Riley been carted away as his attention turned to Buffy, he scooped her up off the ground, placing a gentle kiss on her pounding head.

They had been keeping a tab on her movements; it wasn't a proper plan, they knew full well that Riley would go after her when she was alone. He felt like kicking himself as he knew that if he was a moment later to arrive then she would have been hurt so much more.

"Hey, hey, it's okay!" he murmured against her head, pulling her closer. Her body was shaking; he was proud of her for standing her ground but could sense this had opened a wound that was still raw for her.

Buffy let the tears fall, it brought back the emotions and pain she felt back then but only in relief. Relief that she would be free of him from coming after her again, he'd gotten away with it once and wouldn't now.

Willow came bounding out of the club in frenzy; she had heard some commotion from her place at the bar inside. Her heart dropped as she saw Angel cradle her friend.

"What can I do?!" she followed behind them as Angel headed for his car; she got into the driver's side when he nodded at the wheel and started up the engine.

Angel slid into the back still holding Buffy close to his chest; he didn't want to be away from her – even for the short distance that it was to the Police Department. His hand petted her head, rocking her slowly like a child to soothe her.

"Buffy, you ready for this?!" her face was struck with tears, the light in her eyes dulled by the crying. Buffy nodded at him, she didn't want this process to be dragged out. It had to end.

After a pause, Buffy rubbed her hands on her face and slid out of his embrace to make her way inside. Like the last time she made her way into the Police Department and prepared herself to make a statement about what had happened.

It was a long line of questions of how they knew each other, what had caused the assault and if it was the first time that something like this had happened between them.

Angel kept his hand linked with hers as they questioned her, he had never heard the depth of her injuries before today – she had given him a brief rundown before but never like this.

He squeezed her hand to show his support; it enraged him to hear what had happened, he would never conceive of treating any woman like that, he was there to protect and made a promise that he would protect her forever.

Oz walked in as the other officer left the room and stared at the pair "we have enough information…" he shifted his stance.

"Along with assault we also found illegal substances on his person and found out through some digging that he had spent some time in an institution when he was younger because of his lack of… emotional control, he's disturbed"

Oz finally smiled "he'll be going away for a long time; he won't get out as easily as he did before"

Angel laughed with triumph then pulled her close planting a kiss on her mouth. Buffy kissed him back; a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It felt good to relax.

"Let's get you home" she nodded in agreement and followed Angel outside, she curled up against him as they left the car and walked back to his house, enjoying the serene silence.

He ran them a bath and lit some candles in the en-suite bathroom, it had been a long day and this was a perfect way to unwind. Angel got into the tub then helped Buffy settle in between his legs. They lay back, letting the water envelope their bodies, relaxing their tense muscles.

Buffy closed her eyes with a smile, she felt safe and loved in his arms. His deep breathing was soothing her, almost as if rocking her to sleep.

"Buffy?" he whispered against her ear to see if she was still awake, he heard a mumble to let him know she wasn't asleep so he sat up straighter and leaned over to the unit beside his tub.

"I know it's a day early… you said you didn't know… what you wanted for your birthday"

Buffy opened her eyes and slid over so she could look at him; he was holding a small velvet box. Her heart started racing, the box was small and square – like a box that housed a ring.

Angel licked his lips and popped open the gift, inside was a dainty silver ring – hands holding a heart, adorned with a crown "This… is a sign of devotion, the hands represent friendship, the crown for loyalty and the heart, well, you know… if the heart points towards you, you belong to somebody"

He held his breath, he had never given anyone jewellery before let alone a ring, it wasn't a wedding ring – far from it but it meant something to give her it.

Buffy felt overwhelming emotion at the gesture she could only answer by kissing him, she stretched out her right hand to let him slip the ring onto her third finger – it fit perfectly.

Angel placed soft kisses on her mouth then trailed them along her neck; he wrapped his arms around her petite frame, holding her close. Buffy sighed contentedly; she laid her hands on top on his clasped hands to keep her beautiful present dry.