Part 6
Angel sighed, leaning back further into the headboard of their hotel bed as
he flipped through the many cable channels. As soon as they had gotten
back, Cordelia had gone straight to the bathroom to take a shower, locking
the door behind her. If she didn't come back out soon, he was going to have
to leave before she got out.
He knew from the beginning that this trip was going to turn out a disaster. He'd never wanted to come in the first place, and yet, now that there was all this tension, everyone was blaming him for things. He didn't do anything, and yet, in the car, he was the one receiving all of the stony silences and hard glares.
"She's the one that dragged us all down here," he grumbled, pressing the buttons of the remote a little harder than necessary. "Shouldn't some of this blame be directed her way?"
From behind the bathroom door, Angel heard the shower shut off. He could hear her moving around, and knew that she would be coming out any moment. He shifted to sit on the corner of the bed, clicking off the television and tossing the remote onto the small entertainment system.
The door opened, a puff of steam flowing out as Cordelia stepped out, clad only in a pair of burgundy panties and a bra as she ran a towel over her damp hair. "Hey," she threw out casually, tossing the towel on the bed and walking past him to rummage through the clothes she had unpacked into the hotel dresser.
"Hey." Angel leaned back on his hands, trying to appear as casual as she was. "How are you feeling? Still sore? I could give you another backrub tonight."
"Oh, no. I'm fine. Not sore at all." Angel's eyes narrowed at the way she gingerly bent over.
"You were great out there today. And I have to say that I am absolutely a fan of the cheerleading outfit." Angel paused, cocking his head at the way she seemed to be forcing her expression to stay blank. "Xander didn't really get a piece of that, did he?"
Cordelia spared him a quick glance. "Hardly."
"Oh, well that's good." Angel nodded, debating whether or not to call her on her moodiness. Knowing Cordelia, she'd probably just blow him off with the disposition that she was in. It was probably best to soften her up a bit first. "So, ask me how my day was, all crammed inside this little hotel room with all my closest friends."
Angel's hope lightened slightly as the corner's of her mouth lifted slightly, her eyes shining a bit as she stood, a pair of jeans and a t- shirt in her hands. "How was your day, all crammed inside this little hotel room with all of your closest friends?"
Angel ran a rough hand over his face, cringing at the memory. "God, but I've never wished so much for someone to just stake me."
"That much fun, huh?" Cordelia chucked despite herself.
"Oh, yeah. Complete with arguing, stony silences, poker, and gourmet make out sessions." Angel sent her a grim smile. Just keep this up, he told himself. If he could just keep pretending that nothing was wrong, than maybe he wouldn't be sleeping on his own that night.
"Well, it certainly sounds like you had a full day," she said, stepping into her jeans. She reached for the towel, but he snagged her wrist first pulling her toward him.
Angel pulled her to stand in the vee of his legs, his hands lightly caressing up the backs of her thighs. He nuzzled softly against her stomach, waiting for her to stiffen up and pull away, but she simply dropped her hands hesitantly against his shoulders. Not holding him, but not pushing him away. It was something at least.
"You owe me so much for this stupid trip." He could feel the soft laughter rumble against his cheek as he dropped a light kiss against her hip. "I'm thinking its my turn for a brand new wardrobe."
Her giggles erupted as his hands came up to grip her waist, twisting her until she came tumbling into his lap. Angel hooked an arm under her knees and pulled her closer until she was cradled in his arms, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"I'll give you the cheerleading outfit," she whispered in his ear, shivering a little as his laughter brushed against her neck. "But I think your hips may be a bit wide for it."
He drew back far enough to look her in the eye. "Is this another fat comment?"
Whatever had had her so upset all evening seemed to have faded away as she smiled brightly at him. "I think that its important in every relationship to stay as honest with each other as we can."
"So, it is a fat comment then." He ran his hand along her thigh and over her hip to softly tickle over the smooth skin of her stomach.
"Well, if the skirt fits. or in this case, doesn't fit at all."
Angel leaned forward, whispering against her open lips. "You know I'm sexy."
Whatever response she had was swallowed as Angel's lips slid over hers. She smiled against his mouth, smoothing her hand across his shoulder and up his neck to tangle in the fine hair at the nape of his neck. Gripping one hand over her hip, Angel pulled her closer, then slid the other hand through her damp hair, shifting the angle of their kiss.
Cordelia sighed heavily against him, quivering a little as his tongue darted out to trace the sensitive skin just inside her lower lip. Her hands danced restlessly across the stiff material of his dress shirt, griping and releasing with each swipe of his tongue.
The hand that held her hip caressed up her side, the cool feel tickling her ribs before stopping at the edge of her bra. The slight callous of his thumb rasped against her skin, pushing up against the material to trace the underswell of one breast.
A ragged gasp blew across Angel's cheek as he trailed kisses along her jaw, stopping to lick the smooth patch of skin just behind her ear. Her own hand had undone the top two buttons of his shirt and now tracked along the curve of his collarbone.
His wandering hands stopped at the clasp of her bra, unsnapping one clip before he felt her stiffen in his arms.
"What's wrong, Cordy?" He nibbled on her earlobe, keeping his voice low and husky in the hopes that if he held onto the mood, she'd let whatever it was go.
Her hand took one last caress across his chest before she pulled back, redoing the buttons of his shirt. "We can't do this right now. You'll be late to meet Buffy."
"Buffy. Right." Angel loosened his grip, pouting as she slid out of his arms and off of his lap. "I guess I should probably get going then, huh?"
Cordelia nodded, the clouds settling back in her eyes as she readjusted her bra and reached for the t-shirt that had dropped from her hands. "Yeah."
Angel stood and rolled his shoulders back to stretch. He watched as Cordelia slipped the shirt over her head and headed for the mirror to pick up her brush. "What are you going to do while I'm gone?" he asked.
"What am I going to do?" She waved the brush at him, one eyebrow raising in that haughty way of hers. "Well, I sure as hell am not going to sit around this place, waiting around like a good little housewife while you head out to hook up with your ex-girl-friend. No siree, mister. I have my own life to lead, and I don't wait around for anyone."
Angel crossed his arms, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Alright." The hauteur seemed to deflate from her features with the puff of air she blew from her lips. "I'm headed over to Fred's room to watch a movie."
"You wild thing." Angel turned to pick up his coat, sliding it on.
"Well, its sure to be an exciting movie," she said, turning back to the mirror.
Angel came up behind her, popping a quick kiss on her temple. "Are you okay with me going out to talk to Buffy?" he asked quietly.
"Of course, I am." She waved off his question with a flick of her wrist.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Her shoulders lifted in a deep sigh. "I understand that you and Buffy have this whole big past thing, and there are probably a billion things that you guys need to discuss. I mean, hello, she still doesn't know who Connor is."
"So, you're okay with it?" Angel stepped back as Cordy hand suddenly flew up, streaking the brush through her hair.
"If I weren't okay with it, would I have suggested you go in the first place?"
Her tone was brisk and hard, but Angel simply shrugged and headed for the door. "Okay. Well, I'll see you in a couple of hours then."
Opening the door, Angel cast one last glance behind him. There was no two ways about it, this trip just really sucked.
* * *
Buffy bounded down the stairs, the heels of her boots clunking with each step. Turning into the living room, she smiled widely at her friends, sprawled in various positions over the furniture. "Anya went home?"
"Yeah. Something about work issues." Xander waved his hand dismissively. "Apparently the vengeance gig requires long and unreasonable hours."
Buffy chuckled softly, perching herself on the edge of the coffee table. "So, what are we doing tonight?" she asked, reaching out to bat Dawn playfully on the knee.
Dawn's eyebrows rose, and she glanced over to Willow for an answer.
"Um, we were just going to stay in and order some pizza, maybe find something foreign and fun to watch." Willow answered, shifting her eyes away from Buffy. "We, uh, we didn't actually expect you to join us."
The pinch of a headache smoothed its way on to Buffy's temples as she tried to sound as casual as possible. "Really? Why? You guys know that I'm all about the pizza and movie night. I live for the pizza and movie night."
"Yeah, we know." Dawn straightened on the couch, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "Its just that, with Angel in town and everything, we kind of expected you to be out pretty late."
"Yeah." Xander picked up the television remote and flicked it on. "I'm sure you guys will have a lot of. slaying to keep you busy."
Buffy's eyes darted away from the group to focus on the changing channels of the T.V. "It's actually been really slow out there lately," she answered, keeping her tone light. "I'm pretty sure we won't be out all that long."
"Of course." Willow shifted in her seat, crossing her legs at the knees. "We're just staying in tonight anyway, Buffy, so we'll be here no matter what time you get back in."
Xander nodded, his gaze focused on the flickering channels. "Just can't promise there will be any of that cheesy, gooey goodness left for ya. I'm in the mood for some clogged arteries."
"Right." Buffy stood, taking one last glance at her friends, Xander's clenched jaw, Willow's wide eyes, and Dawn's tight smile. "Well, I guess I'll just see you guys later then."
"Yeah." Dawn propped her feet up on the coffee table in the spot that Buffy had just vacated. "Have fun."
"Oh, and be safe," Willow called.
Buffy shut the door with a quiet click, staring at the dark wood for a minute before heading away from the house.
The night was silent and still and none of her slayer senses were lighting up, but she just couldn't seem to stop the uncomfortably feeling beneath her ribcage. Glancing up toward the street, that uncomfortable feeling spread like a stormy wind.
"Hey, Angel."
TBC
He knew from the beginning that this trip was going to turn out a disaster. He'd never wanted to come in the first place, and yet, now that there was all this tension, everyone was blaming him for things. He didn't do anything, and yet, in the car, he was the one receiving all of the stony silences and hard glares.
"She's the one that dragged us all down here," he grumbled, pressing the buttons of the remote a little harder than necessary. "Shouldn't some of this blame be directed her way?"
From behind the bathroom door, Angel heard the shower shut off. He could hear her moving around, and knew that she would be coming out any moment. He shifted to sit on the corner of the bed, clicking off the television and tossing the remote onto the small entertainment system.
The door opened, a puff of steam flowing out as Cordelia stepped out, clad only in a pair of burgundy panties and a bra as she ran a towel over her damp hair. "Hey," she threw out casually, tossing the towel on the bed and walking past him to rummage through the clothes she had unpacked into the hotel dresser.
"Hey." Angel leaned back on his hands, trying to appear as casual as she was. "How are you feeling? Still sore? I could give you another backrub tonight."
"Oh, no. I'm fine. Not sore at all." Angel's eyes narrowed at the way she gingerly bent over.
"You were great out there today. And I have to say that I am absolutely a fan of the cheerleading outfit." Angel paused, cocking his head at the way she seemed to be forcing her expression to stay blank. "Xander didn't really get a piece of that, did he?"
Cordelia spared him a quick glance. "Hardly."
"Oh, well that's good." Angel nodded, debating whether or not to call her on her moodiness. Knowing Cordelia, she'd probably just blow him off with the disposition that she was in. It was probably best to soften her up a bit first. "So, ask me how my day was, all crammed inside this little hotel room with all my closest friends."
Angel's hope lightened slightly as the corner's of her mouth lifted slightly, her eyes shining a bit as she stood, a pair of jeans and a t- shirt in her hands. "How was your day, all crammed inside this little hotel room with all of your closest friends?"
Angel ran a rough hand over his face, cringing at the memory. "God, but I've never wished so much for someone to just stake me."
"That much fun, huh?" Cordelia chucked despite herself.
"Oh, yeah. Complete with arguing, stony silences, poker, and gourmet make out sessions." Angel sent her a grim smile. Just keep this up, he told himself. If he could just keep pretending that nothing was wrong, than maybe he wouldn't be sleeping on his own that night.
"Well, it certainly sounds like you had a full day," she said, stepping into her jeans. She reached for the towel, but he snagged her wrist first pulling her toward him.
Angel pulled her to stand in the vee of his legs, his hands lightly caressing up the backs of her thighs. He nuzzled softly against her stomach, waiting for her to stiffen up and pull away, but she simply dropped her hands hesitantly against his shoulders. Not holding him, but not pushing him away. It was something at least.
"You owe me so much for this stupid trip." He could feel the soft laughter rumble against his cheek as he dropped a light kiss against her hip. "I'm thinking its my turn for a brand new wardrobe."
Her giggles erupted as his hands came up to grip her waist, twisting her until she came tumbling into his lap. Angel hooked an arm under her knees and pulled her closer until she was cradled in his arms, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"I'll give you the cheerleading outfit," she whispered in his ear, shivering a little as his laughter brushed against her neck. "But I think your hips may be a bit wide for it."
He drew back far enough to look her in the eye. "Is this another fat comment?"
Whatever had had her so upset all evening seemed to have faded away as she smiled brightly at him. "I think that its important in every relationship to stay as honest with each other as we can."
"So, it is a fat comment then." He ran his hand along her thigh and over her hip to softly tickle over the smooth skin of her stomach.
"Well, if the skirt fits. or in this case, doesn't fit at all."
Angel leaned forward, whispering against her open lips. "You know I'm sexy."
Whatever response she had was swallowed as Angel's lips slid over hers. She smiled against his mouth, smoothing her hand across his shoulder and up his neck to tangle in the fine hair at the nape of his neck. Gripping one hand over her hip, Angel pulled her closer, then slid the other hand through her damp hair, shifting the angle of their kiss.
Cordelia sighed heavily against him, quivering a little as his tongue darted out to trace the sensitive skin just inside her lower lip. Her hands danced restlessly across the stiff material of his dress shirt, griping and releasing with each swipe of his tongue.
The hand that held her hip caressed up her side, the cool feel tickling her ribs before stopping at the edge of her bra. The slight callous of his thumb rasped against her skin, pushing up against the material to trace the underswell of one breast.
A ragged gasp blew across Angel's cheek as he trailed kisses along her jaw, stopping to lick the smooth patch of skin just behind her ear. Her own hand had undone the top two buttons of his shirt and now tracked along the curve of his collarbone.
His wandering hands stopped at the clasp of her bra, unsnapping one clip before he felt her stiffen in his arms.
"What's wrong, Cordy?" He nibbled on her earlobe, keeping his voice low and husky in the hopes that if he held onto the mood, she'd let whatever it was go.
Her hand took one last caress across his chest before she pulled back, redoing the buttons of his shirt. "We can't do this right now. You'll be late to meet Buffy."
"Buffy. Right." Angel loosened his grip, pouting as she slid out of his arms and off of his lap. "I guess I should probably get going then, huh?"
Cordelia nodded, the clouds settling back in her eyes as she readjusted her bra and reached for the t-shirt that had dropped from her hands. "Yeah."
Angel stood and rolled his shoulders back to stretch. He watched as Cordelia slipped the shirt over her head and headed for the mirror to pick up her brush. "What are you going to do while I'm gone?" he asked.
"What am I going to do?" She waved the brush at him, one eyebrow raising in that haughty way of hers. "Well, I sure as hell am not going to sit around this place, waiting around like a good little housewife while you head out to hook up with your ex-girl-friend. No siree, mister. I have my own life to lead, and I don't wait around for anyone."
Angel crossed his arms, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Alright." The hauteur seemed to deflate from her features with the puff of air she blew from her lips. "I'm headed over to Fred's room to watch a movie."
"You wild thing." Angel turned to pick up his coat, sliding it on.
"Well, its sure to be an exciting movie," she said, turning back to the mirror.
Angel came up behind her, popping a quick kiss on her temple. "Are you okay with me going out to talk to Buffy?" he asked quietly.
"Of course, I am." She waved off his question with a flick of her wrist.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Her shoulders lifted in a deep sigh. "I understand that you and Buffy have this whole big past thing, and there are probably a billion things that you guys need to discuss. I mean, hello, she still doesn't know who Connor is."
"So, you're okay with it?" Angel stepped back as Cordy hand suddenly flew up, streaking the brush through her hair.
"If I weren't okay with it, would I have suggested you go in the first place?"
Her tone was brisk and hard, but Angel simply shrugged and headed for the door. "Okay. Well, I'll see you in a couple of hours then."
Opening the door, Angel cast one last glance behind him. There was no two ways about it, this trip just really sucked.
* * *
Buffy bounded down the stairs, the heels of her boots clunking with each step. Turning into the living room, she smiled widely at her friends, sprawled in various positions over the furniture. "Anya went home?"
"Yeah. Something about work issues." Xander waved his hand dismissively. "Apparently the vengeance gig requires long and unreasonable hours."
Buffy chuckled softly, perching herself on the edge of the coffee table. "So, what are we doing tonight?" she asked, reaching out to bat Dawn playfully on the knee.
Dawn's eyebrows rose, and she glanced over to Willow for an answer.
"Um, we were just going to stay in and order some pizza, maybe find something foreign and fun to watch." Willow answered, shifting her eyes away from Buffy. "We, uh, we didn't actually expect you to join us."
The pinch of a headache smoothed its way on to Buffy's temples as she tried to sound as casual as possible. "Really? Why? You guys know that I'm all about the pizza and movie night. I live for the pizza and movie night."
"Yeah, we know." Dawn straightened on the couch, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "Its just that, with Angel in town and everything, we kind of expected you to be out pretty late."
"Yeah." Xander picked up the television remote and flicked it on. "I'm sure you guys will have a lot of. slaying to keep you busy."
Buffy's eyes darted away from the group to focus on the changing channels of the T.V. "It's actually been really slow out there lately," she answered, keeping her tone light. "I'm pretty sure we won't be out all that long."
"Of course." Willow shifted in her seat, crossing her legs at the knees. "We're just staying in tonight anyway, Buffy, so we'll be here no matter what time you get back in."
Xander nodded, his gaze focused on the flickering channels. "Just can't promise there will be any of that cheesy, gooey goodness left for ya. I'm in the mood for some clogged arteries."
"Right." Buffy stood, taking one last glance at her friends, Xander's clenched jaw, Willow's wide eyes, and Dawn's tight smile. "Well, I guess I'll just see you guys later then."
"Yeah." Dawn propped her feet up on the coffee table in the spot that Buffy had just vacated. "Have fun."
"Oh, and be safe," Willow called.
Buffy shut the door with a quiet click, staring at the dark wood for a minute before heading away from the house.
The night was silent and still and none of her slayer senses were lighting up, but she just couldn't seem to stop the uncomfortably feeling beneath her ribcage. Glancing up toward the street, that uncomfortable feeling spread like a stormy wind.
"Hey, Angel."
TBC