***********
Part 37
One month later
Friday, 5 pm
Buffy went to L.A. on Friday before Valentine's Day, which would be on a Sunday. He'd called her and asked her to take the week off and she'd managed it. She was looking forward to spending an entire ten days with him. Angel had planned to come to Sunnydale Friday but hadn't made it. His work had kept him in L.A. Luckily she had no slaying to do so Giles had agreed to let her leave Sunnydale for the weekend instead. She was kind of relieved that she'd be going to L.A. rather than have Angel in Sunnydale. Spending Valentine's Day with Angel in Sunnydale would have been a little too weird of a situation for her to handle, considering the fact it would remind her of the Valentine's Day when he'd been Angelus.
They'd spent every weekend together since her birthday. During the week, they talked on the phone. They were getting closer by the day and she felt much more comfortable with him. He was always the perfect gentleman when they were together. Though they'd kissed and necked and they held each other a lot, he'd never pushed their relationship the slightest bit further. She'd decided he had much better self-control than she did.
She'd decided that Angel was probably waiting for some kind of sign from her, so she'd just have to figure out what that sign was during the next ten days. Not that she was ready to make love with him yet, but she wouldn't mind a little more ... something.
She pulled up in front of the Hyperion and pushed those thoughts away. She walked into the hotel and found Wesley and Cordelia still there, apparently doing last minute work. "Hi guys," she said.
"Hey, Buffy," Cordelia said. "He's upstairs but I'm sure he won't mind if you go up there."
"I'm not that needy," Buffy said with a smile. "I can wait."
"Suit yourself," Cordelia shrugged. She turned back to Wesley. "Wes, where *is* that invoice?"
"On the desk," he muttered, his attention consumed by looking through the filing cabinet.
"Under which stack of books?" Cordelia sighed.
Buffy laughed and returned to the lobby to sit and wait. She didn't have to wait long, Angel came down the stairs a couple minutes later. "Hey," he said with a smile as he walked over to her. "How was your drive?"
She shrugged, "Not too bad." She stood as he approached and he kissed her. "So did you finish that work?"
"Just," he replied with a smile. "You look beautiful as always."
She rolled her eyes, "Uh-huh," she said. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a blue tank top. Comfort had won out over looking incredible. She'd intended to change at her hotel before she saw him, but he'd insisted that she come right to the Hyperion. "I mean, thanks?" she added when he frowned.
"So, you didn't check into your hotel, right?" he asked.
"No, you told me *not* to," she replied. "But I still don't understand--"
"It's a surprise," he said. "Trust me?"
"I always get nervous when people ask me that," she replied with a frown. "It's usually followed by... 'Jump!' or... something like that."
Angel laughed. "Nothing quite that drastic, I promise. So?"
She shrugged, "You know I trust you, Angel," she said.
"I'm always glad to hear it again," he replied. "So let's go."
"Go?"
"You said you trusted me," he reminded her.
"Yeah, but--"
"No buts," he cut her off. "It's a surprise, remember?"
"So you said," Buffy sighed but let him take her by the hand and lead her outside. He transferred her bags to his trunk and motioned her to get in.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" she accused once he'd started driving.
"You'll find out... when we get there," he answered with a grin.
"And how long will that take?" she wondered, digging for the slightest bit of information.
He shrugged, "You'll just have to wait and see."
"You're infuriating, you know that?"
"Am I?" he chuckled when she smacked him on the arm. "You still love me though, don't you?" he turned his best puppy dog eyes on her.
"Oh god," Buffy rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "That is *so* not fair," she protested as she scooted over to sit close to him. "I'm trying to be irritated with you but you're making it very difficult."
"Good," he replied, as he put his right arm around her shoulders.
"So..." Buffy snuggled closer to him. "Not even the slightest hint?" she said, nuzzling his ear.
He shivered but shook his head. "No, Ma'am," he said firmly.
Buffy sighed but gave up on the attempt to gain information for the moment, too content at just being with him to wonder too hard where they were going.
*************
A half hour later, they pulled up at a small airport, in the area where private planes were kept. "Okay, we're going somewhere?" Buffy hazarded a guess.
Angel nodded, "I was just thinking, yesterday, how strange it would feel for me to be back in Sunnydale during Valentine's Day. I mean, I wouldn't be able not to think about the Valentine's Day I was Angelus..."
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, the thought crossed my mind, too," she admitted. "That's why I wanted to come here."
"But still," Angel replied, "I want our first Valentine's Day together after twenty years, to be about making new memories. And so I'd like to take you far away from any place that might remind you of the Valentine's Day we'd both love to forget. I actually made arrangements for us to go away for the entire week, which is why I asked if you could take off work."
"How long have you had this planned?" she wondered.
"A couple weeks," he admitted. "Of course it's up to you, though, Buffy. If you don't feel comfortable going anywhere with me--"
Buffy smiled, "Angel. I love you, I trust you, I feel safe and comfortable with you," she assured him. "I think it's a wonderful, sweet, romantic idea. Of course I'll go... where?"
"That part's the surprise," Angel said with a grin.
"Okay," she shrugged. "Can I ask a practical question, though? How can you afford this?"
"You'd be worth any expense," he replied. "But don't worry, I'm not going to go broke on this. I have a client who offered us use of his private plane, complete with crew, as payment for a job I did for him. The rest is doable on what money I have. So, shall we?"
"I'm beyond curious," Buffy said. "Let's go, already!"
***************
Fifteen minutes later, the plane had departed, though the captain and stewardess were careful not to reveal their destination. Buffy was impressed at the lengths that Angel had gone to, in order to keep this secret. She also was quite awed by the plane. They sat at a couch that had seatbelts, along one side of the plane. There was another couch on the other side. Next, going back along the plane, there was a bigger than usual sized bathroom. Then there was a smaller curtained off area in the rear area of the plane that had a bed.
They'd been given permission to remove their seatbelts, so they'd gotten more comfortable. Angel laid along the couch with his head in Buffy's lap as they talked. Four hours passed and Buffy wondered how much longer the flight would go. She'd given up on asking him, however, two hours earlier. They'd talked comfortably, about both unimportant and important subjects. Buffy was glad he'd thought to take her away during Valentine's Day and longer, but especially for that one day. It was easier this way.
"You know, you're way too good to me," Buffy said as she ran one hand through his hair, her other hand was in his and rested on his chest.
"I disagree," Angel replied. "I'd do anything to keep that smile on your face."
Buffy shook her head, though she couldn't get rid of said smile. "See, that's what I mean."
"I'm not following."
"Just don't put me up so high on that pedestal that I disappoint you too much when I finally fall," she explained
"You think that's what I'm doing?" Angel wondered. He sat up and turned to face her. "I admit, I tend to talk like..." he shrugged, "a hopeless romantic, when it comes to you. But I'm not trying to make myself believe you're perfect, don't worry about that. I know you're not, just like you know I'm not. But I do love you, all of you, even the very few, very minor imperfections." He smiled when Buffy laughed. "I love you, Buffy. And even if the rest of the world doesn't think you're perfect, I do, because you're perfect for me. You're my best friend, my lover, my soulmate. The only woman I will ever need in my life, today and all of my tomorrows."
Buffy smiled. "How do I even begin to respond to something like that?" she wondered. "Except to say... I love you too?" She shook her head, "That doesn't seem like it's enough."
"But it is," Angel said, placing his hands at her waist and pulling her into his lap. "...because those are the words I hoped that someday I would hear from you again. The only hope that kept me alive, all those years we were apart."
He leaned in for a kiss and she wrapped her arms around his neck as their lips met. He felt, as he always did, a moment of wonder: he was kissing Buffy. The woman he felt like he'd been born to kiss, to hold, to love. He darted his tongue out across her lower lip, savoring the little whimper she made before she parted her lips. He swept his tongue into her mouth, groaning at the taste of her. He felt the fingers of one hand playing with the short hairs at his neck and he shivered.
Buffy smiled when he shivered. She had to pull her mouth away to get a breath and when she did, he kissed down her jawline to her throat. He traced the scar of his bite with his tongue and it was her turn to shiver. His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. "Angel, I love you," she said, her arms moving around his waist to his back and shoulders.
Angel kissed his way up her jaw to her ear, "I love you, Buffy," he whispered before he sucked her earlobe into his mouth. He moved his hands to her waist, even though he ached to run them all over her soft, perfect skin. He bit down on her earlobe and she whimpered, arching against him.
Angel groaned as he felt her hardened nipples rub against his chest even through their clothes. He returned to nibbling and sucking on the skin of her throat and stifled a whimper when she pulled away. He saw her desire-darkened eyes staring back at him and he leaned in for another kiss.
Their tongues entwined and this time Angel gave in, letting Buffy control the kiss. He sucked on her tongue as she thrust it into his mouth. She turned to face him fully, straddling his hips and he groaned when she slid forward so their bodies were pressing together. He was sure she could feel his erection and waited for her to pull away again.
He was amazed but grateful when she didn't. He almost forgot to breathe when she took his hands and slid them up, over her tank top, to her breasts. He broke the kiss and looked at her in surprise.
Her hands were still on top of his and she said, "Just touch me, Angel. It's okay, I want you to."
Angel took a shaky breath as he realized that she wasn't wearing a bra. He squeezed her breasts gently and watched her reaction. She moaned softly, "Harder." He complied and was rewarded with a gasp. When he brushed his thumbs over her peaked nipples she whimpered.
Buffy scratched her nails down his chest over his shirt and smiled when he whimpered. She repeated the action several times and soon had him panting for breath. Not that he hadn't gotten the same reaction from her. She could feel his erection pressing into her stomach and was pleased to know that she could still affect him this way.
He bit down on her earlobe again at the same time that he pinched her nipples roughly. She moaned as she felt a fresh jolt of desire run through her. Some part of her wanted him to take her, right then. But she knew it wasn't time, yet. She just wasn't ready for their relationship to hit that level.
And since that was the case, she felt like they needed to stop. She didn't want to be unfair to him or tease him. She pushed at his shoulders, "Angel, stop."
He pulled away immediately. "Okay," he said. He let go as she stood up, shakily. "Buffy, I--"
"Don't apologize," she interrupted with a smile. "You didn't do anything to apologize for. I just need... a minute. I'll be back." She walked back to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face, trying to gain control of herself again.
Angel was secretly pleased to see how he could affect Buffy. He had been relieved when she'd asked him to touch her. He'd been dying to do that, but afraid to make the first move for fear of upsetting her. He dreamed of the day when she'd let him know she was ready to make love with him. He hoped it wouldn't be too much longer, he'd missed her so much. But as he'd told her, he was prepared to wait. She was worth it.
He looked up when she walked back out. Her face was flushed but she seemed to have gotten her self-control back. Lucky her.
"I'm fine," she answered his unspoken question as she sat next to him. "No regrets, either," she added. She smiled when he looked relieved at that. "So... are we sleeping on the plane, or are we nearly there?"
"We'll be landing in an hour or so for the plane to refuel, but we won't be at our final destination for a while," Angel replied. "You can have the bed," he offered. "I'll take the couch."
Buffy frowned. "It's a big bed, Angel. I wouldn't mind, if you wanted to sleep there, too. Unless it would be too much of a temptation for you?"
Angel smiled as he thought her offer over. "I can control myself," he decided. "As long as you're sure you don't mind?"
"Positive," she said, stifling a yawn. "I trust you."
"Okay, shall we, then?" he suggested. "You look tired."
"Long day at work," she said as she stood and preceded him into the bedroom. She dug through her bag until she found a nightshirt and disappeared back to the bathroom to change.
Angel took advantage of her absence to get undressed to his boxers and lay down on the bed. He smiled as he crawled under the sheets and realized they were silk. Just his style. He looked over as Buffy walked in and caught his breath. She even managed to look sexy in a simple, white, oversized night-shirt. Despite what he'd told her, he had no doubt he'd get very little sleep. But it was more than worth it, just to spend the night in the same bed with her.
Buffy crawled into bed, avoiding Angel's gaze to keep her self-control intact. She was relieved when he turned out the lamp, leaving just the light from the other room beyond the curtain to keep the compartment from being pitch black.
She turned her back to him to try to forget that he was so close. She couldn't, though. She could smell his cologne.
"Goodnight, Buffy," he whispered from closer behind her than she'd thought he was.
She jumped slightly. "Goodnight," she said, trying to calm her shaky nerves. She jumped again when she felt a hand on her hip.
"Sorry," Angel apologized, pulling away. "I just wondered, if, maybe ..."
"I think I know what you're trying to ask," Buffy said when he didn't finish his thought. "And I'll make it easier on you by saying I think I'd sleep better if you held me." She could almost feel his smile, and then he moved closer, spooning up against her and wrapping an arm around her waist. She sighed contentedly and was soon asleep.
***********
Part 37
One month later
Friday, 5 pm
Buffy went to L.A. on Friday before Valentine's Day, which would be on a Sunday. He'd called her and asked her to take the week off and she'd managed it. She was looking forward to spending an entire ten days with him. Angel had planned to come to Sunnydale Friday but hadn't made it. His work had kept him in L.A. Luckily she had no slaying to do so Giles had agreed to let her leave Sunnydale for the weekend instead. She was kind of relieved that she'd be going to L.A. rather than have Angel in Sunnydale. Spending Valentine's Day with Angel in Sunnydale would have been a little too weird of a situation for her to handle, considering the fact it would remind her of the Valentine's Day when he'd been Angelus.
They'd spent every weekend together since her birthday. During the week, they talked on the phone. They were getting closer by the day and she felt much more comfortable with him. He was always the perfect gentleman when they were together. Though they'd kissed and necked and they held each other a lot, he'd never pushed their relationship the slightest bit further. She'd decided he had much better self-control than she did.
She'd decided that Angel was probably waiting for some kind of sign from her, so she'd just have to figure out what that sign was during the next ten days. Not that she was ready to make love with him yet, but she wouldn't mind a little more ... something.
She pulled up in front of the Hyperion and pushed those thoughts away. She walked into the hotel and found Wesley and Cordelia still there, apparently doing last minute work. "Hi guys," she said.
"Hey, Buffy," Cordelia said. "He's upstairs but I'm sure he won't mind if you go up there."
"I'm not that needy," Buffy said with a smile. "I can wait."
"Suit yourself," Cordelia shrugged. She turned back to Wesley. "Wes, where *is* that invoice?"
"On the desk," he muttered, his attention consumed by looking through the filing cabinet.
"Under which stack of books?" Cordelia sighed.
Buffy laughed and returned to the lobby to sit and wait. She didn't have to wait long, Angel came down the stairs a couple minutes later. "Hey," he said with a smile as he walked over to her. "How was your drive?"
She shrugged, "Not too bad." She stood as he approached and he kissed her. "So did you finish that work?"
"Just," he replied with a smile. "You look beautiful as always."
She rolled her eyes, "Uh-huh," she said. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a blue tank top. Comfort had won out over looking incredible. She'd intended to change at her hotel before she saw him, but he'd insisted that she come right to the Hyperion. "I mean, thanks?" she added when he frowned.
"So, you didn't check into your hotel, right?" he asked.
"No, you told me *not* to," she replied. "But I still don't understand--"
"It's a surprise," he said. "Trust me?"
"I always get nervous when people ask me that," she replied with a frown. "It's usually followed by... 'Jump!' or... something like that."
Angel laughed. "Nothing quite that drastic, I promise. So?"
She shrugged, "You know I trust you, Angel," she said.
"I'm always glad to hear it again," he replied. "So let's go."
"Go?"
"You said you trusted me," he reminded her.
"Yeah, but--"
"No buts," he cut her off. "It's a surprise, remember?"
"So you said," Buffy sighed but let him take her by the hand and lead her outside. He transferred her bags to his trunk and motioned her to get in.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" she accused once he'd started driving.
"You'll find out... when we get there," he answered with a grin.
"And how long will that take?" she wondered, digging for the slightest bit of information.
He shrugged, "You'll just have to wait and see."
"You're infuriating, you know that?"
"Am I?" he chuckled when she smacked him on the arm. "You still love me though, don't you?" he turned his best puppy dog eyes on her.
"Oh god," Buffy rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "That is *so* not fair," she protested as she scooted over to sit close to him. "I'm trying to be irritated with you but you're making it very difficult."
"Good," he replied, as he put his right arm around her shoulders.
"So..." Buffy snuggled closer to him. "Not even the slightest hint?" she said, nuzzling his ear.
He shivered but shook his head. "No, Ma'am," he said firmly.
Buffy sighed but gave up on the attempt to gain information for the moment, too content at just being with him to wonder too hard where they were going.
*************
A half hour later, they pulled up at a small airport, in the area where private planes were kept. "Okay, we're going somewhere?" Buffy hazarded a guess.
Angel nodded, "I was just thinking, yesterday, how strange it would feel for me to be back in Sunnydale during Valentine's Day. I mean, I wouldn't be able not to think about the Valentine's Day I was Angelus..."
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, the thought crossed my mind, too," she admitted. "That's why I wanted to come here."
"But still," Angel replied, "I want our first Valentine's Day together after twenty years, to be about making new memories. And so I'd like to take you far away from any place that might remind you of the Valentine's Day we'd both love to forget. I actually made arrangements for us to go away for the entire week, which is why I asked if you could take off work."
"How long have you had this planned?" she wondered.
"A couple weeks," he admitted. "Of course it's up to you, though, Buffy. If you don't feel comfortable going anywhere with me--"
Buffy smiled, "Angel. I love you, I trust you, I feel safe and comfortable with you," she assured him. "I think it's a wonderful, sweet, romantic idea. Of course I'll go... where?"
"That part's the surprise," Angel said with a grin.
"Okay," she shrugged. "Can I ask a practical question, though? How can you afford this?"
"You'd be worth any expense," he replied. "But don't worry, I'm not going to go broke on this. I have a client who offered us use of his private plane, complete with crew, as payment for a job I did for him. The rest is doable on what money I have. So, shall we?"
"I'm beyond curious," Buffy said. "Let's go, already!"
***************
Fifteen minutes later, the plane had departed, though the captain and stewardess were careful not to reveal their destination. Buffy was impressed at the lengths that Angel had gone to, in order to keep this secret. She also was quite awed by the plane. They sat at a couch that had seatbelts, along one side of the plane. There was another couch on the other side. Next, going back along the plane, there was a bigger than usual sized bathroom. Then there was a smaller curtained off area in the rear area of the plane that had a bed.
They'd been given permission to remove their seatbelts, so they'd gotten more comfortable. Angel laid along the couch with his head in Buffy's lap as they talked. Four hours passed and Buffy wondered how much longer the flight would go. She'd given up on asking him, however, two hours earlier. They'd talked comfortably, about both unimportant and important subjects. Buffy was glad he'd thought to take her away during Valentine's Day and longer, but especially for that one day. It was easier this way.
"You know, you're way too good to me," Buffy said as she ran one hand through his hair, her other hand was in his and rested on his chest.
"I disagree," Angel replied. "I'd do anything to keep that smile on your face."
Buffy shook her head, though she couldn't get rid of said smile. "See, that's what I mean."
"I'm not following."
"Just don't put me up so high on that pedestal that I disappoint you too much when I finally fall," she explained
"You think that's what I'm doing?" Angel wondered. He sat up and turned to face her. "I admit, I tend to talk like..." he shrugged, "a hopeless romantic, when it comes to you. But I'm not trying to make myself believe you're perfect, don't worry about that. I know you're not, just like you know I'm not. But I do love you, all of you, even the very few, very minor imperfections." He smiled when Buffy laughed. "I love you, Buffy. And even if the rest of the world doesn't think you're perfect, I do, because you're perfect for me. You're my best friend, my lover, my soulmate. The only woman I will ever need in my life, today and all of my tomorrows."
Buffy smiled. "How do I even begin to respond to something like that?" she wondered. "Except to say... I love you too?" She shook her head, "That doesn't seem like it's enough."
"But it is," Angel said, placing his hands at her waist and pulling her into his lap. "...because those are the words I hoped that someday I would hear from you again. The only hope that kept me alive, all those years we were apart."
He leaned in for a kiss and she wrapped her arms around his neck as their lips met. He felt, as he always did, a moment of wonder: he was kissing Buffy. The woman he felt like he'd been born to kiss, to hold, to love. He darted his tongue out across her lower lip, savoring the little whimper she made before she parted her lips. He swept his tongue into her mouth, groaning at the taste of her. He felt the fingers of one hand playing with the short hairs at his neck and he shivered.
Buffy smiled when he shivered. She had to pull her mouth away to get a breath and when she did, he kissed down her jawline to her throat. He traced the scar of his bite with his tongue and it was her turn to shiver. His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. "Angel, I love you," she said, her arms moving around his waist to his back and shoulders.
Angel kissed his way up her jaw to her ear, "I love you, Buffy," he whispered before he sucked her earlobe into his mouth. He moved his hands to her waist, even though he ached to run them all over her soft, perfect skin. He bit down on her earlobe and she whimpered, arching against him.
Angel groaned as he felt her hardened nipples rub against his chest even through their clothes. He returned to nibbling and sucking on the skin of her throat and stifled a whimper when she pulled away. He saw her desire-darkened eyes staring back at him and he leaned in for another kiss.
Their tongues entwined and this time Angel gave in, letting Buffy control the kiss. He sucked on her tongue as she thrust it into his mouth. She turned to face him fully, straddling his hips and he groaned when she slid forward so their bodies were pressing together. He was sure she could feel his erection and waited for her to pull away again.
He was amazed but grateful when she didn't. He almost forgot to breathe when she took his hands and slid them up, over her tank top, to her breasts. He broke the kiss and looked at her in surprise.
Her hands were still on top of his and she said, "Just touch me, Angel. It's okay, I want you to."
Angel took a shaky breath as he realized that she wasn't wearing a bra. He squeezed her breasts gently and watched her reaction. She moaned softly, "Harder." He complied and was rewarded with a gasp. When he brushed his thumbs over her peaked nipples she whimpered.
Buffy scratched her nails down his chest over his shirt and smiled when he whimpered. She repeated the action several times and soon had him panting for breath. Not that he hadn't gotten the same reaction from her. She could feel his erection pressing into her stomach and was pleased to know that she could still affect him this way.
He bit down on her earlobe again at the same time that he pinched her nipples roughly. She moaned as she felt a fresh jolt of desire run through her. Some part of her wanted him to take her, right then. But she knew it wasn't time, yet. She just wasn't ready for their relationship to hit that level.
And since that was the case, she felt like they needed to stop. She didn't want to be unfair to him or tease him. She pushed at his shoulders, "Angel, stop."
He pulled away immediately. "Okay," he said. He let go as she stood up, shakily. "Buffy, I--"
"Don't apologize," she interrupted with a smile. "You didn't do anything to apologize for. I just need... a minute. I'll be back." She walked back to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face, trying to gain control of herself again.
Angel was secretly pleased to see how he could affect Buffy. He had been relieved when she'd asked him to touch her. He'd been dying to do that, but afraid to make the first move for fear of upsetting her. He dreamed of the day when she'd let him know she was ready to make love with him. He hoped it wouldn't be too much longer, he'd missed her so much. But as he'd told her, he was prepared to wait. She was worth it.
He looked up when she walked back out. Her face was flushed but she seemed to have gotten her self-control back. Lucky her.
"I'm fine," she answered his unspoken question as she sat next to him. "No regrets, either," she added. She smiled when he looked relieved at that. "So... are we sleeping on the plane, or are we nearly there?"
"We'll be landing in an hour or so for the plane to refuel, but we won't be at our final destination for a while," Angel replied. "You can have the bed," he offered. "I'll take the couch."
Buffy frowned. "It's a big bed, Angel. I wouldn't mind, if you wanted to sleep there, too. Unless it would be too much of a temptation for you?"
Angel smiled as he thought her offer over. "I can control myself," he decided. "As long as you're sure you don't mind?"
"Positive," she said, stifling a yawn. "I trust you."
"Okay, shall we, then?" he suggested. "You look tired."
"Long day at work," she said as she stood and preceded him into the bedroom. She dug through her bag until she found a nightshirt and disappeared back to the bathroom to change.
Angel took advantage of her absence to get undressed to his boxers and lay down on the bed. He smiled as he crawled under the sheets and realized they were silk. Just his style. He looked over as Buffy walked in and caught his breath. She even managed to look sexy in a simple, white, oversized night-shirt. Despite what he'd told her, he had no doubt he'd get very little sleep. But it was more than worth it, just to spend the night in the same bed with her.
Buffy crawled into bed, avoiding Angel's gaze to keep her self-control intact. She was relieved when he turned out the lamp, leaving just the light from the other room beyond the curtain to keep the compartment from being pitch black.
She turned her back to him to try to forget that he was so close. She couldn't, though. She could smell his cologne.
"Goodnight, Buffy," he whispered from closer behind her than she'd thought he was.
She jumped slightly. "Goodnight," she said, trying to calm her shaky nerves. She jumped again when she felt a hand on her hip.
"Sorry," Angel apologized, pulling away. "I just wondered, if, maybe ..."
"I think I know what you're trying to ask," Buffy said when he didn't finish his thought. "And I'll make it easier on you by saying I think I'd sleep better if you held me." She could almost feel his smile, and then he moved closer, spooning up against her and wrapping an arm around her waist. She sighed contentedly and was soon asleep.
***********