Chapter 5

The Mansion: 3:30 pm

The first sensation that she awoke to was the feeling of firm lips nuzzling her neck. He was humming or more aptly put, purring as he went about his business. She had yet to open her eyes, her world consisted of the taste, the feel, and the smell - the sound of him. He was wrapped tightly around her and it was evident that he was as bare as she was at the moment. At that thought she smiled and arched her back, pushing herself into him. It seemed like they were on equal terms right now and she liked it. No super powers, no secrets, no insurmountable problem to face, just the two of them. It was just like she had imagined so many times before. A giggle bubbled up and she heard a responding chuckle from her companion.

Angel pushed up, bracing his arms on either side of her, looking down into her face. "So, Sleeping Beauty awakens", nuzzling into her neck once more.

"OK, did I snore? You are smiling way too much."

"No, just happy."

She smiled back, her eyes lit up. "Happy's good, happy's really good. Not complaining about happy."

Pulling back again, he made eye contact. Still being a bit of a gambler, he couldn't help himself, he had to push it a little. Just for fun. He hadn't had fun in so long. He put on his best sad little boy face. His mouth pouty, his brows drawn together. He mentally counted backwards from ten.

10, 9, 8, 7. " What's wrong?" Her tiny hand coming up to cup his cheek. "You looked so happy and now, now you don't. What is it?" she asks again as her hand draws his chin up so that she can meet his gaze. He immediately looks down again as if he can't bear to look at her.

6, 5, 4 . His voice is unsure and soft when he answers, "I couldn't. I mean, I've already asked too much, taken too much." His eyes stay downcast mostly to hide the golden twinkle that he can feel coming on. It wouldn't do to have her see that quite yet. He bows his head further.

3, 2 . She is more insistent this time, drawing him up once again. "What, what can I do. Ask, ask me anything. Angel," she says shyly, "I love you."

1 . "It's just - you know - I wish it wasn't so - but - ". He shakes his head and stops again.

Gotcha.He looks up as sincerely as he can and says, "Buffy, I'm not like other guys. There are things. Things I . things that I need." Hesitating, he looks down again, " That I need to make me.make me feel complete. That I could never ask of you."

Buffy again pulls his face up again so that they can see eye to eye - blue to brown. "Oh God, Angel. How thoughtless of me. Of all people, I should know. You want to, I mean, you want to bite me. Don't you? " Her anxiety over this thought only showed in the inflection of that last tiny question.

He looks up. Maybe too quickly, he doesn't want to appear too eager. It needs to be her idea, she needs to offer it to him, beg him to take her. "Oh Buffy, it's so much more than that. I mean, I really can't tell you. It's something you have to feel. But, no, we won't go there.ever."

If Buffy had a problem, it had to be with the word no. She looked a little more sure of herself, her hands now caressing the back of his neck intently. "Angel, I'm a big girl. I want you all of you. If you have a." She wrinkles her nose self conscientiously and finishes "need. Then I want to help you meet it if you get my drift."

He speaks up a little more brightly, "Oh, Buffy. Do you mean it? Do you really mean it." As he asks, the playacting falters and he suddenly seems a lot smoother, more confident. His voice is deeper, his dark chocolate eyes steady on hers. Suddenly she feels like she can't look away.

She hears her voice saying "Yes", but to what exactly she can't even recall. She is no longer thinking at all. She is looking up into that beloved face and into the most intense gaze and all she can do is say "yes" and pull him towards her.

Again, he tempts fate. He just can't help it. He rears up and slips into his game face. Totally unnecessary but fun none the less. She has kissed him like this before, she is so quick to try to reassure him that it doesn't matter, that she loves him despite of his demon.

As she watches, his face shift, she is jarred out of her daydreams. Part of her screams a warning to turn and fight and another part of her is pleased that she can do this to him - bring out the wildness in him that he fights so desperately to hide. It gives her permission to be a little bit more daring herself and to give way to the impulses that she feels coursing through her more everyday.

He bends his forehead to hers again. A Beast this time, in answer to her beauty. He nuzzles her softly and lets out an unmistakable growl. Their faces are an inch a part if that. She sees the gold fire in his eyes. The look of an animal possessing his mate as he draws her bottom lip in between his blunt teeth. All pretense has fallen away but it matters little as they both are now firmly entranced. There is no question now, to this action, to any. There is only feeling.

Buffy lets out a sigh as he suckles her lips. He laughs again. Now it sounds like a purr. "See I can still be gentle. I still love you."

She looks up into his eyes and speaks without thought, "You are beautiful this way too, you really are." With that proclamation she seals her fate.

TBC