Chapter 7

Buffy felt too stunned, unable to move.

"Are you all right?" He knelt and with his hands raising to her head. "Buffy, answer me! Did you bang your head? Did you hurt your back?"

"I'm all right." It was painful how weak she felt and she gave in to the desire to comfort and buried her face against his chest not caring if he liked or not. She looked up at him, her eyes miserable as they met his and his face tightened further, his grip in her arms actually hurting. The drunkenness she had felt before was wearing off, the shock sobered her.

"Oh my God! Is she all right?" Fred asked frightened.

"Yes, she seems to be ok. Thank you for everything Fred, we better leave before the storm hit." Angel said as he helped Buffy to stand up.

"Come on, Buffy. Just lets get going..." his voice stopped as she went on looking at him unhappily, and he muttered under his breath. "Oh hell! What am I going to do with you?" he picked her up, carrying her to his car.

He was holding very tightly and she was too stunned to help much as he carefully got her to the car. She seemed incapable of doing anything else but cling to him, and it was only after he got her into the passenger seat, she watched as his dark head lowered. She thought he was going to kiss her, but he didn't. Instead he reached across her, carefully pulled out her seat belt and fastened it. Then he walked around the front of the car and slid into the driving seat. When she came to her senses she realized Angel was furious.

He drove straight for her house not even bothering to look back at her. She made a fool of herself; she'd never acted this way before. All she wanted to do was to disappear, she felt so tired that she yawned widely closing her eyes for a second.

"Boring you, am I?"

The harshly spoken words made Buffy sit up and take notice. They were parked outside her house, it was raining softly. She looked at Angel. He was half turned towards her and his face was tight with anger; it glittered on his eyes.

"No...no, of course not," she denied quickly. She was tired and saw no reason of provoking an argument. "It's just I had a very late night last night and with today's..." she grimaced at her explanation, but he did not let her finish.

"Your friend Riley kept you up all night, did he?" Angel asked crudely.

"Don't be so coarse," Buffy shot back.

Angel said brusquely, "I apologize. The comment was uncalled for."

"Look I'm tired," she cut in without looking at him. "Thank you."

His long fingers tightened on her naked shoulder, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. He was too large, too vitally male, and far too close. She held her breath as she felt those astute eyes observing her intently in the dark interior of the car.

With a surprising speed Angel was out of the car, around the front and opening the passenger door before Buffy had steadied her breathing.

"I'll help you to your door." His hand was once more on her shoulder, and he was guiding her across the sidewalk to her front door before she recovered enough to speak.

"There's no..." She had been going to say 'no need', but never got the chance. She walked off, staggering a little, still shocked and dazed.

"Is anything hurting you?" He came forward and held her arms, turning her.

She refused to meet his eyes, only her pride was hurt. It had made her feel inadequate. And she was ridiculously hurt by his anger.

"I'm not the most domesticated of men, but in this case I'll make the coffee you so obviously need..."

She felt lost and if she didn't fight him she had no idea what else to do. She wanted to touch him, to let her hands wander over his skin. She had never wanted to touch a man before and the thought scared her.

"Now, wait a minute..." Angel's hand was demanding her key. "I never invited you in for coffee," she muttered looking into her purse for the key. She opened the door and he switched on the hall light.

She was angry with herself for allowing him to have his way into her home. Then she reminded herself it was her home. "I suppose there's not much point in telling you I don't want any coffee and asking you to leave," she said as she slowly walked into the kitchen.

"No...you are going to sit in that couch and relax, what you did today was pretty stupid!" his voice was tight with tension. "If that's all the sense you've got the we'd better call this deal off and announce the wedding." His cold voice brought her back to reality.

"There isn't going to be a wedding. When I get married it won't be you!" Because she was scared of her own feelings Buffy was shouting and she knew it, backing away as if he threatened her as he looked furious at the way she so plainly rejected him.

"You're planning on marry Finn?" he asked sarcastically. "Better reconsider sweetheart. The boy doesn't earn enough to buy your...expensive tastes."

It stopped her in her tracks. It was absolutely clear what he thought of her. It had always been clear after all. She was a useless creature who needed a man with a lot of money and asked for nothing else. She wasn't successful like Cordelia. She was a useless rich girl who is now poor.

She flew at him, as he was looking at her as if she were completely stupid and frivolous. She wanted to wipe the disdain from his face, and her reaction surprised him. He captured her in his arms before she could do anything.

"Put me down!"

He crushed her to his chest.

"I hate you, do you hear me? I've always hated you!" There were tears stinging her eyes. "I'm leaving you! Did you hear me? I don't know why I made this stupid bargain with you. I don't need you!" She started to cry. She was sure he was comparing her childish behavior with the sophisticated Cordelia. But she couldn't help her reaction.

"You and I made a bargain and I'm going to make darn sure that you keep it." She could not meet his eyes. "So don't get any ideas about ducking out. Wherever you ran to, I'd find you and bring you back. You're mine, Buffy. And you're going to stay that way."

"You...you'd come after me?" she said on a low, unsteady note.

"You can bet your life on it. I make sure I keep my possessions." She stared to cry harder at his remark.

"I'm not a thing you can posses, I have feelings." She managed to say while crying.

He muttered under his breath, she had stopped struggling and he cradled her in his arms.

"Let go Buffy," he said tightly "Stop fighting everything."

"It does have to be me doesn't it?" She sobbed and his lips twisted in a bitter way.

"Maybe it's me. I know you hate me. If I had any common sense, I'd let you go. Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to. I want you to myself anyway I can get you."

He led her towards the couch and sat her down. "Stay! Try to relax. I'll bring you some coffee."

She obeyed, and he took her shoes off and smiled at her.

She wiped her tears away and composed herself. She tried to understand him but it was impossible. He was far the most complex man she ever met.

One minute he was shouting at her in anger and being gentle the next.

"Coffee is ready."

"What?" she asked confused.

Angel stared down at her from his imposing height. He had shed his dinner jacket, and the top three buttons of his shirt were undone. Enough to make any woman catch her breath. Then Buffy noticed the tray in his hands.

"Coffee...you made it..." Her green eyes widened in amazement. He had actually made coffee.

"I am not the complete chauvinist you seem to think, as you will discover if you give me a chance." And bending he place the tray on the center-table and sat down beside her.

"Thank you," she muttered, taking the cup Angel offered her. "I'm...I'm grateful for what you've done. But you don't need to take care of me...I'm not a concern of yours and..."

"But you are. I'm going to marry you." He sat down beside her. "I think it's time we talked about it."

"There's nothing to talk about! Please, I want you to leave."

"No. It's time you woke up, and I'm going to be the one to wake you." The intensity of his eyes was devastating.

"What if Cordelia doesn't approve?"

"Approve?" he asked exasperated.

"She will not be pleased if she knew about your plans to marry me," Buffy pointed out.

"It doesn't matter. Eventually she'll get the idea and be happy to be just my lover or nothing when I marry you."

"What!"

"Jealous?" He asked smiling.

"No."

"Then forget about her, she's not important."

He tilted back his head and drained his cup. He bent forward and replaced the empty cup on the tray. The fine silk of his shirt strained across his broad back, outlining muscle and sinew, the slight indentation of his spine, and Buffy had to fight down an incredible urge to run her finger down it. She clasped her hands together in her lap. He was a magnificent male either way one looked at him, she realized she was no more immune to his charms than any other female.

"I always fought for what I wanted. Now I want you." Angel said as he sat back, spreading his long arms along the back of the couch. One of his hands was dangerously near her shoulder. He stretched his long legs out in front of him with careless ease, his feet crossed at the ankles. He looked as though he was settling in for a long stay.

His eyes gleamed with devilment as he shifted his long legs and moved closer, allowing his arm to fall from the back of the couch and encircle her small waist. Buffy was trapped between his arm and Angel's muscular tight, hard against her own. Immediately she felt a burning sensation through the thin fabric of her dress. She felt his muscles tense and wondered for a second if it was because he felt the same heat that afflicted her.

She tried to inch away, but the grip on her waist tightened. It made her feel trapped, ridiculously vulnerable. Lifting one long finger, he slipped it under the halter neck of her dress. "This is a lovely dress, but you look gorgeous in anything." His eyes appraised her with deliberate slowness from head to foot.

"Thank...thank you" she stuttered, her nerves trembling in reaction to his nearness, her flesh burnt where his finger casually stroked her breastbone. She could feel her nipples tighten into hard buds of arousal and hoped he would not look down and discover them. Jerking forward, she placed the cup she was still grasping on the table, dislodging his fingers at the same time.

Buffy wondered how much longer it would take to get rid of him. His nearness was making her dizzy. The hand at her waist hadn't slackened its grip, and it was taking all her strength to remain hovering on the edge of the couch.

"Angel, please it is late and I'm exhausted."

"Your late nights are catching up with you," Angel drawled mockingly, letting go of her waist and getting to his feet. "Okay, I don't want to overstay my welcome."

Her eyes followed him as he crossed the room in a few agile strides, and reached for his jacket. Turning towards her, he hesitated briefly, not quite his usual confident self. He glanced down at her.

"I'll call around ten in the morning. We can spend the day together."

"Sorry, I can't. I'm going out." She saw him stiffen. "It was arranged last night. Faith is coming for a few days and a friend suggested we all go to Magic Mountain for the day. It should be fun."

Angel dropped his jacket and took a step forward. Temper flashed momentarily in his eyes, and was instantly overlaid by something much more threatening.

He lowered his large body down on to the couch beside her again, and lifted a hand to slide it once more around her waist. "Which friend? Finn?"

"Among others. It's a big group, Faith is very popular."

Angel's breathing was unsteady and his eyes glittered down at her. "Okay...just remember you're mine Buffy," he said deeply. She was overwhelmed by his possessiveness. "Then I suppose I must make the most of tonight."

Buffy was desperately wishing that he would leave. She looked frantically around the room, anywhere but at Angel. His hand had crept up to the underside of her breast and her body was betraying her yet again. He laid back against the soft cushions, looking for all the world as if he was settling in for the night.

Determinedly, she resisted the slight pressure of his hand on her side, alluring her to fall back against him. She could feel his breath on her bare back and she shivered, but not from the cold. Folding her arms over her chest to disguise her peaked nipples, "If you don't mind, I want to go to bed."

His deep-throated chuckle did amazing things to her heartbeat. He bent his head, sliding his free hand into the thickness of her hair and brushing it to one side. Then she felt the warmth of his mouth on the nape of her neck and she shivered again. "I want to go to bed as well." He said huskily.

"So go!" she snapped.

His dark eyes held hers, hypnotizing her, and Buffy knew she should be defending herself. His lips touched hers and her arms curved up and around his shoulders of their own desire. She felt her breasts crushed softly against the muscular wall of his chest, and she was responding helplessly to him. His tongue plunged into her mouth as his fingers slipped the tie of her halter-necked dress off. Her head fell back and she gasped when she felt his fingers trail down her throat and explore beneath her strapless bra, moving across her nipples.

Her body trembled in his hold and she only vaguely realized when her legs left the floor. She was held firmly in his lap by one strong arm while his free hand dealt with the fastening of her bra.

Finally Angel lifted his head and stared down at her blushing, confused face. There was a dark, demanding hunger in his eyes that stilled her frantically racing pulse.

"Angel, I don't think this is a good..." Buffy began.

"I want you...and I know you want me. Let me show you true pleasure," he rasped throatily, his glittering eyes raking her beautiful face and then dropping to her firm, high breasts. His head swooped down, his tongue licking over each hard nipple in turn.

Buffy bit her lip against the wonderful sensations flooding through her body. "No," she gasped in shock, shocked by her quick surrender.

"Yes," he contradicted her, and bit lightly on her breast before raising his head and kissing her briefly. "Don't think...feel." His large hand cupped the lush weight of her breast and back, to emphasize his point.

"You like this, don't you? Do you let Finn touch you like this? Does he kiss you?" Riley had never touched her, but she didn't want to answer him.

Angel turned her under him. "You are mine!" She was trapped by his arms at either side of her and his large hands threaded through her hair. His mouth closed over hers once more, hot and passionate, his tongue plunging its moist secret depth.

Buffy was aware of his arousal, moving against her belly in rhythm with his kiss. She could barely breathe, but she didn't care. Her hands slid beneath his open shirt and her fingers brushed a hard male nipple.

Angel groaned against her mouth and trailed a sequence of kisses down her throat and lower, until his head nestled between her breasts. Then he was sucking on their hardened tips, first one and then the other. A low moan escaped her, she quivered helplessly as his mouth moved, tasting her skin. Her back arched, encouraging his ministrations even as some tiny corner of her mind reminded her he was an expert.

When he lifted his head and their eyes met. Buffy read the question in the burning pits of his eyes. She saw the muscles of his face tighten with desire. She also knew it didn't matter. She wanted him too.

Buffy reached a hand to the side of his face, hypnotized by the pure hunger in his burning stare. She traced his jaw line and felt the beginnings of stubble. A soft smile curved her mouth. Angel took it for agreement and he took her dress off.

"Buffy." His voice was a husky groan. "You're so beautiful, and God knows I've waited so long." His hot mouth found hers once more. Angel's hands and mouth roamed over her body, stroking, kissing and she needed no urging to return his caresses. Her fingers teased his nipples, stroked his broad shoulders and tousled in the silky black hair of his head. She was delirious with excitement and pleasure.

"Do you want me to take you now?" He murmured deeply. She was impatient, lost in desire. She wanted to know what it would be like to belong to him.

He molded her hips with his hands and slid between her thighs. Unknowingly her hands lowered to the waistband of his trousers, Buffy felt his sharp intake of breath and the flex of his stomach muscles. He tightened her to him so that not an inch of space separated them.

"Is that an answer?" he said huskily against her mouth, "do you want me to stay here with you, make you mine completely?

"Yes! Oh God, Yes!"

Tbc...