The sounds of steady heartbeats and breathing filled the room, creating a warm cocoon around Angel as the two most important people in his existence slept. Shifting noiselessly, Angel peered at his bedmate. He wondered if she knew that she pouted slightly when she slept. Her lower lip protruding, teasing him to distraction. How did he ever think he could sleep alone at her side platonically? His mouth literally watered to take her lower lip into his mouth.
Platonic. There was a word that no longer applied to the way he felt about this young woman. Maybe at one time the term applied, but it had gone way beyond that. There was no one word that could completely describe the feelings that ran wild through his body. He wasn't fool enough not to know that he was deeply in love with Cordelia Chase, but the emotions he had for her didn't end there.
His entire body felt alive when she was near. Her endless faith in him made him feel as though he could do just about anything. How was it, that a person he once thought of as being the most self centered and needy human on this earth, turn out to be the one to turn his life inside out and upside down?
Reaching over and swiping away a stray strand of hair away from her face, he felt an electric current at his fingertips. He wondered if his entire body would feel that way if he pulled her up against him. Would their bodies fit as well together as they did in his dreams?
Cordelia broke the silence with a soft moan, as she moved languidly in her sleep. Preparing to close his eyes so not to get caught staring at her, he was surprised when one of her hands reached out to move from his shoulder down his arm. The tingle was there, making him bite the inside of his cheek. Her hand moved down to rest on his hip. Her pout gone as a whisper of a smile took its place.
He thought he was going to die when her body started moving toward his. Her bare leg making contact with his, the swell of her breasts pressed up against his chest, her head pillowed on his shoulder. This was too good to be true. It was like being given the one wish you always wanted but knew you couldn't have.
Relaxing as much as his traitorous body would allow, Angel worked hard to banish any sexual thoughts from his mind. But with every little movement from Cordelia brought another wave of sexual longing. Images of Cordelia's naked body withering beneath his, her eyes pleading as he touched and licked every inch of her delectable body. The warmth of plunging inside her, the tightness around... Taking deep breaths, Angel squeezed his eyes shut and prayed that morning would come soon.
~~~*~~~
"Come on Angel! Cordelia knocked on the bathroom door for the second time that morning. "Breakfast is in ten minutes." Angel emerged from the bathroom, a frown on his face. "Not that this really needs to be said, but you just aren't a morning person are you?" Holding a necklace out for him to help her clasp, she turned her back just in time to miss the glare her remark earned her.
"I didn't sleep very well." Angel muttered as his large hands fought to undo the small clasp on the necklace.
"I slept like a baby. I don't think that I've slept that well in ages. Maybe it's the big bed." Angel smirked. The tender cuddle from that previous night had turned into her draping herself on top of him. Not that he minded...much. But it was too much on his denied libido to attempt a second night. He had saved Cordelia the need to go on endlessly about how sorry she was about practically sleeping on top of him the entire night, by slipping out of bed around five when Conner stirred for his morning bottle.
Once the necklace was secure, Angel grabbed Conner's diaper bag as Cordelia picked up his son and nestled him close. "After breakfast we have swim class at eight thirty." Cordelia read off the itinerary. "Then we have a class on Strengthening the Family." Fighting the urge to roll her eyes she gave Angel a cheeky grin.
"What like exercise?" Angel became suspicious at her overly enthusiastic tone and fake grin.
"No, this will be a lot more painful." Cordelia answered. "It's where we get to spill our most painful secrets and listen to a stranger tell us how to make our lives better."
Angel made a face that was a mixture of uncertainty and fear. "Secrets huh?"
"Hey this was your idea buster." She reminded he as the reached the dinning area. "Oh gee, look who's waiving us over to their table." Cordelia mumbled as she put on her best Sunnydale smile and led a reluctant Angel by the hand.
~~~*~~~
Breakfast had gone by with relative ease. The right side of Cordelia's cheek was raw with all the biting she had to do. Not to mention the bruise that had to be forming on her right knee from Angel's hand when he'd give her warning to stay silent.
Now they were heading to their swim class. Angel held Conner looking around the swimming area for any windows that might cause him any danger, and was pleased to find that there wasn't a window in sight. "See you two in a few minutes." Cordelia headed in the direction of the locker rooms.
Watched helplessly as Cordelia disappeared into the woman's locker room, leaving him and Conner alone to figure out what direction he should go. Angel decided to follow the other father's to the Men's locker room.
Not knowing what to do with Conner, Angel looked around at the other father's and noticed that they were setting their children on towels as they got ready. Copying the other's Angel spread out a large fluffy towel that Cordelia packed on the ground, he set his son down.
Pulling out his new swimsuit Angel grimaced at the bright yellow Cordelia had talked him into. What had he been thinking? He hadn't been, his attention had been stunned by her brilliant smile. Now he had to pay the price by having to wear something so bright.
Looking down to where Conner was playing with his toes, Angel commented softly. "Now there's no laughing. Mommy picked this out for Daddy." Conner looked up into Angel's eyes and let out a long stream of babble making Angel chuckle. Quickly changing from his somber colored clothing and into the bright suit, he went back to the bag rummaged through it for the swim diapers that were inside.
Giving the yellow ducks on the diapers a questioning glance, he gave his son another look. "Sorry guy, but it seems that were stuck here. I promise not to laugh at you either."
~~~*~~~
"I dieted for weeks for this damn swim class." Cordelia stood in front of her locker, listening to the conversation around her. "How did you manage to get your figure back?" Feeling the attention on her, Cordelia gave a small shrug.
"Fast metabolism?"
"You're lucky." Denise answered shyly. "No matter what I do I can't seem to get my figure back." Cordelia felt like a fraud as the other mother's glanced enviously in her direction.
"It doesn't even look like you were ever pregnant." Kara came up from behind, an unattractive sneer on her face. There was no real answer to that, well none that would be appropriate. Waiting for the room to clear out, Cordelia looked down at the two piece bathing suit she was wearing and let out a groan.
Of course all of the other woman would be wearing one piece suits months after giving birth. Why hadn't she thought of that before letting her vanity run amok?
~~~*~~
Angel waited patiently as the other woman filed out of the locker room. He hoped he didn't have to wait long, the swim diaper didn't really protect against 'accidents' and he didn't really feel like being the one holding Conner if one should arise.
When he started to think that Cordelia was never coming out, he saw her turn the corner. A white towel was secured above her breasts, hiding her body form view. Giving her a questioning glace, he knew it wasn't like Cordelia to be so modest. Her face reddened slightly as she stepped forward to take Conner from his arms and join the rest of the class already sitting at the edge of the water.
"You know you can't take the towel into the water...right?" Angle leaned over and whispered into her ear.
"You know, I was thinking... Maybe I should just sit this one out." Angel gave a slight snort.
"I'm not doing this alone." Not understanding her odd behavior he went to take the towel from her and was surprised when she stepped away. "Cordy?"
"It's nothing...really. It's just...I-."
"Hello class, my name is Debra." The instructor stepped out from the small office and smiled at the small group in front of her. "Why don't we get started? Everyone to the edge of the pool, with baby on your lap. This way we can get baby used to the temperature of the water."
Angel looked expectantly at Cordelia, as she handed Conner back to him. Turning to the water expecting her to join him, he heard the collective intake of breaths around him. Looking in the direction the other males were gawking he nearly let out an outraged growl when he saw *his* Cordy standing there in the skimpiest black bikini he had ever seen. His nostrils flared in anger as he fought to control the urge to grab her towel and cover her up again.
Casting a quick glare at the other males who were practically foaming at the mouth, Angel sent each a silent message to each one. Mine. The wives were also casting their own heated looks at their husbands, with a promise that this incident would not be forgotten anytime soon.
Almost shyly Cordelia joined Angel and Conner, not looking into the vampire's eyes. There was no real need, she could practically feel the tension dripping off him.
"I don't even know where to start." Angel growled into her ear.
"Hindsight." Cordelia muttered, taking Conner off Angel's lap. She really hadn't meant to cause such a spectacle, at the time the suit seemed perfect. All she could think was the way it might effect Angel. Not a bunch of horny husbands.
"Go change." He gritted out between his teeth, still not liking the looks she was receiving.
"I don't have anything else to wear." Cordelia whispered back, getting a little frustrated at his attitude. It wasn't him that had to suffer the embarrassment.
Angel scowled.
The class went on, as everyone slipped into the water. Which proved to help the situation. With Cordelia in the water it hid most of her body, he would just have to keep them in the deeper parts of the water for the rest of the class. That and make sure all the other males stayed clear.
Conner, who was blissfully unaware of the situation, splashed and played with large squeals of joy. His little legs jetting out in rapid kicks, his arms flinging in every direction. His obvious delight soothed Angel's mood, until soon he was laughing with his son. Cordelia also relaxed, enjoying Conner's excitement of his very first swim lesson.
When the class was over Angel stalled, making sure they were the last ones to leave the pool. Once the last parent left the pool area to the locker rooms, he swam the edge of the pool to grab Cordelia and Conner's towels.
"Thanks." Cordelia reached for the towel, only to have Angel surprise her by wrapping it around her body.
"The suit..."
"I know, I know. I wasn't thinking." Cordelia bundled Conner into the dry towel.
"I know I don't have the right to tell you what you can and can't wear..." Angel broached the topic carefully, but when he saw one of the father's return for an item left behind, and the look he gave Cordelia..."Burn it." Angel said seriously, his eyes baring down one the other man. Honestly he never wanted that much of Cordelia's skin exposed for others to see, ever again.
Cordelia looked ready to argue, but instead a smile crept up on her lips. He was jealous. He was almost reeking of it. Angel was jealous of the looks she was getting from the other fathers. Perhaps buying the suit wasn't a total waste after all. Impulsively she stood on her tiptoes and pecked him on the lips.
Before he could respond, she placed Conner in his arms and hurried off. Angel watched in bafflement, not sure how to take the newest surprise she had given him. It wasn't until a wet warmth seeped onto his chest and trickled down that he moved. Looking down at his son's innocent face, Angel made a face. "Way to ruin a moment."
Platonic. There was a word that no longer applied to the way he felt about this young woman. Maybe at one time the term applied, but it had gone way beyond that. There was no one word that could completely describe the feelings that ran wild through his body. He wasn't fool enough not to know that he was deeply in love with Cordelia Chase, but the emotions he had for her didn't end there.
His entire body felt alive when she was near. Her endless faith in him made him feel as though he could do just about anything. How was it, that a person he once thought of as being the most self centered and needy human on this earth, turn out to be the one to turn his life inside out and upside down?
Reaching over and swiping away a stray strand of hair away from her face, he felt an electric current at his fingertips. He wondered if his entire body would feel that way if he pulled her up against him. Would their bodies fit as well together as they did in his dreams?
Cordelia broke the silence with a soft moan, as she moved languidly in her sleep. Preparing to close his eyes so not to get caught staring at her, he was surprised when one of her hands reached out to move from his shoulder down his arm. The tingle was there, making him bite the inside of his cheek. Her hand moved down to rest on his hip. Her pout gone as a whisper of a smile took its place.
He thought he was going to die when her body started moving toward his. Her bare leg making contact with his, the swell of her breasts pressed up against his chest, her head pillowed on his shoulder. This was too good to be true. It was like being given the one wish you always wanted but knew you couldn't have.
Relaxing as much as his traitorous body would allow, Angel worked hard to banish any sexual thoughts from his mind. But with every little movement from Cordelia brought another wave of sexual longing. Images of Cordelia's naked body withering beneath his, her eyes pleading as he touched and licked every inch of her delectable body. The warmth of plunging inside her, the tightness around... Taking deep breaths, Angel squeezed his eyes shut and prayed that morning would come soon.
~~~*~~~
"Come on Angel! Cordelia knocked on the bathroom door for the second time that morning. "Breakfast is in ten minutes." Angel emerged from the bathroom, a frown on his face. "Not that this really needs to be said, but you just aren't a morning person are you?" Holding a necklace out for him to help her clasp, she turned her back just in time to miss the glare her remark earned her.
"I didn't sleep very well." Angel muttered as his large hands fought to undo the small clasp on the necklace.
"I slept like a baby. I don't think that I've slept that well in ages. Maybe it's the big bed." Angel smirked. The tender cuddle from that previous night had turned into her draping herself on top of him. Not that he minded...much. But it was too much on his denied libido to attempt a second night. He had saved Cordelia the need to go on endlessly about how sorry she was about practically sleeping on top of him the entire night, by slipping out of bed around five when Conner stirred for his morning bottle.
Once the necklace was secure, Angel grabbed Conner's diaper bag as Cordelia picked up his son and nestled him close. "After breakfast we have swim class at eight thirty." Cordelia read off the itinerary. "Then we have a class on Strengthening the Family." Fighting the urge to roll her eyes she gave Angel a cheeky grin.
"What like exercise?" Angel became suspicious at her overly enthusiastic tone and fake grin.
"No, this will be a lot more painful." Cordelia answered. "It's where we get to spill our most painful secrets and listen to a stranger tell us how to make our lives better."
Angel made a face that was a mixture of uncertainty and fear. "Secrets huh?"
"Hey this was your idea buster." She reminded he as the reached the dinning area. "Oh gee, look who's waiving us over to their table." Cordelia mumbled as she put on her best Sunnydale smile and led a reluctant Angel by the hand.
~~~*~~~
Breakfast had gone by with relative ease. The right side of Cordelia's cheek was raw with all the biting she had to do. Not to mention the bruise that had to be forming on her right knee from Angel's hand when he'd give her warning to stay silent.
Now they were heading to their swim class. Angel held Conner looking around the swimming area for any windows that might cause him any danger, and was pleased to find that there wasn't a window in sight. "See you two in a few minutes." Cordelia headed in the direction of the locker rooms.
Watched helplessly as Cordelia disappeared into the woman's locker room, leaving him and Conner alone to figure out what direction he should go. Angel decided to follow the other father's to the Men's locker room.
Not knowing what to do with Conner, Angel looked around at the other father's and noticed that they were setting their children on towels as they got ready. Copying the other's Angel spread out a large fluffy towel that Cordelia packed on the ground, he set his son down.
Pulling out his new swimsuit Angel grimaced at the bright yellow Cordelia had talked him into. What had he been thinking? He hadn't been, his attention had been stunned by her brilliant smile. Now he had to pay the price by having to wear something so bright.
Looking down to where Conner was playing with his toes, Angel commented softly. "Now there's no laughing. Mommy picked this out for Daddy." Conner looked up into Angel's eyes and let out a long stream of babble making Angel chuckle. Quickly changing from his somber colored clothing and into the bright suit, he went back to the bag rummaged through it for the swim diapers that were inside.
Giving the yellow ducks on the diapers a questioning glance, he gave his son another look. "Sorry guy, but it seems that were stuck here. I promise not to laugh at you either."
~~~*~~~
"I dieted for weeks for this damn swim class." Cordelia stood in front of her locker, listening to the conversation around her. "How did you manage to get your figure back?" Feeling the attention on her, Cordelia gave a small shrug.
"Fast metabolism?"
"You're lucky." Denise answered shyly. "No matter what I do I can't seem to get my figure back." Cordelia felt like a fraud as the other mother's glanced enviously in her direction.
"It doesn't even look like you were ever pregnant." Kara came up from behind, an unattractive sneer on her face. There was no real answer to that, well none that would be appropriate. Waiting for the room to clear out, Cordelia looked down at the two piece bathing suit she was wearing and let out a groan.
Of course all of the other woman would be wearing one piece suits months after giving birth. Why hadn't she thought of that before letting her vanity run amok?
~~~*~~
Angel waited patiently as the other woman filed out of the locker room. He hoped he didn't have to wait long, the swim diaper didn't really protect against 'accidents' and he didn't really feel like being the one holding Conner if one should arise.
When he started to think that Cordelia was never coming out, he saw her turn the corner. A white towel was secured above her breasts, hiding her body form view. Giving her a questioning glace, he knew it wasn't like Cordelia to be so modest. Her face reddened slightly as she stepped forward to take Conner from his arms and join the rest of the class already sitting at the edge of the water.
"You know you can't take the towel into the water...right?" Angle leaned over and whispered into her ear.
"You know, I was thinking... Maybe I should just sit this one out." Angel gave a slight snort.
"I'm not doing this alone." Not understanding her odd behavior he went to take the towel from her and was surprised when she stepped away. "Cordy?"
"It's nothing...really. It's just...I-."
"Hello class, my name is Debra." The instructor stepped out from the small office and smiled at the small group in front of her. "Why don't we get started? Everyone to the edge of the pool, with baby on your lap. This way we can get baby used to the temperature of the water."
Angel looked expectantly at Cordelia, as she handed Conner back to him. Turning to the water expecting her to join him, he heard the collective intake of breaths around him. Looking in the direction the other males were gawking he nearly let out an outraged growl when he saw *his* Cordy standing there in the skimpiest black bikini he had ever seen. His nostrils flared in anger as he fought to control the urge to grab her towel and cover her up again.
Casting a quick glare at the other males who were practically foaming at the mouth, Angel sent each a silent message to each one. Mine. The wives were also casting their own heated looks at their husbands, with a promise that this incident would not be forgotten anytime soon.
Almost shyly Cordelia joined Angel and Conner, not looking into the vampire's eyes. There was no real need, she could practically feel the tension dripping off him.
"I don't even know where to start." Angel growled into her ear.
"Hindsight." Cordelia muttered, taking Conner off Angel's lap. She really hadn't meant to cause such a spectacle, at the time the suit seemed perfect. All she could think was the way it might effect Angel. Not a bunch of horny husbands.
"Go change." He gritted out between his teeth, still not liking the looks she was receiving.
"I don't have anything else to wear." Cordelia whispered back, getting a little frustrated at his attitude. It wasn't him that had to suffer the embarrassment.
Angel scowled.
The class went on, as everyone slipped into the water. Which proved to help the situation. With Cordelia in the water it hid most of her body, he would just have to keep them in the deeper parts of the water for the rest of the class. That and make sure all the other males stayed clear.
Conner, who was blissfully unaware of the situation, splashed and played with large squeals of joy. His little legs jetting out in rapid kicks, his arms flinging in every direction. His obvious delight soothed Angel's mood, until soon he was laughing with his son. Cordelia also relaxed, enjoying Conner's excitement of his very first swim lesson.
When the class was over Angel stalled, making sure they were the last ones to leave the pool. Once the last parent left the pool area to the locker rooms, he swam the edge of the pool to grab Cordelia and Conner's towels.
"Thanks." Cordelia reached for the towel, only to have Angel surprise her by wrapping it around her body.
"The suit..."
"I know, I know. I wasn't thinking." Cordelia bundled Conner into the dry towel.
"I know I don't have the right to tell you what you can and can't wear..." Angel broached the topic carefully, but when he saw one of the father's return for an item left behind, and the look he gave Cordelia..."Burn it." Angel said seriously, his eyes baring down one the other man. Honestly he never wanted that much of Cordelia's skin exposed for others to see, ever again.
Cordelia looked ready to argue, but instead a smile crept up on her lips. He was jealous. He was almost reeking of it. Angel was jealous of the looks she was getting from the other fathers. Perhaps buying the suit wasn't a total waste after all. Impulsively she stood on her tiptoes and pecked him on the lips.
Before he could respond, she placed Conner in his arms and hurried off. Angel watched in bafflement, not sure how to take the newest surprise she had given him. It wasn't until a wet warmth seeped onto his chest and trickled down that he moved. Looking down at his son's innocent face, Angel made a face. "Way to ruin a moment."