Chapter 12

"Oh stop it." She put her hands on her face and looked at him wildly. "I don't know what to do. As usual you've got me all messed up. If I say no and something happens to her I'll feel responsible. If she turns out to be healthy I'll already be entangled in your lies. No wonder people are scared of you, Angel O'Connor."

"Are you?" He looked at her evenly and she met the dark gaze directly.

"No...I'm not, I never have been." It was true. Deep down she had only been scared of her own feelings and that was still there.

"You said you hated me, Buffy," he persisted. "Do you?"

She would have liked to say yes. She would have liked to break it out and look him defiantly in the eye; but she couldn't find the strength. She didn't hate him; he affected her deeply. And sometimes she had a absurd urge to protect him, as if he needed it.

"No I don't hate you. How could I? You've been too good to me."

"Have I? I'm sure I never intended to be." His dark eyes were smiling and she saw the anxiety in him unwind.

"Do I have any choice?" She sighed and held out her hand. "Get it over quickly before my conscience gets the better of me. And I warn you, if she's healthy I'll make you so very sorry about this."

"Threats? Where's the ice-cold girl?"

"I worked her out of my system." Her eyes met his and he smiled, making her heart leap.

"Perhaps it's because you're free, Buffy. For the first time in your life you can say exactly how you feel without any guilt."

"I can manage without you," she pointed sharply, enjoying this new found impartiality. "I can even get a better job now that I'm a personal assistant."

"Please don't," he mocked. "I'm sure I'd never find a damned thing again without you there."

They were smiling at each other and then he brought out the ring, a large emerald surrounded by tiny diamonds, and Buffy watched enthralled as he slipped it on her finger. It feel so real, as if they were really engaged, like he had proposed to her in this beautiful and romantic spot.

One moment she had been almost laughing and now the ring had brought her to the edge of tears. It was all to make an old lady happy. She could keep the ring if she just gave in and married him, but she would never have Angel; he had told her that right from the start.

"Tears?" he tilted his face and saw the bright glitter in her eyes. "It's an emotional moment, getting engaged."

"I'm not engaged. It's just for your grandmother benefit. It's not even real."

"We can make it real, Buffy. Any time you want we make it very real."

"I don't want to, thank you." She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her eyes, and he slid his arms around her, pulling her to him.

"You'll never get away from me. You're under my skin, in my bloodstream. I want you and I'm going to marry you."

Her protest was trapped by his lips, and she was pulled closer to lie in his arms as he gave way to the desire he had held in close check for weeks.

"No Angel!" She stiffened and tried to pull away, her hand coming to his lips to stop him when he came after her right away. His tongue curled around her fingers, licking each one in turn, and his lips captured the finger that bore his ring, drawing it into his mouth, sucking rhythmically.

Buffy gave a strange little cry, every defense shattering into a thousand pieces, and he scooped her head towards him, taking her mouth with his own, his hand coming to rest on her breast.

"You like this, Buffy. We already know that. You like me to touch you. It sets your heart racing."

His fingers coaxed her, taking the erect nipple and twisting it gently until every part of her seemed to burst into flame.

"I want to undress you, to see you again." He whispered against her ear. "I want to feel your skin against mine."

"You promised..." She was sobbing her yearning and her objection into his mouth, her breath mingling with his, and he tightened her to him, his breathing uneven.

"I said I didn't approve. I can't promise not to make love to you. You've been on my mind for more than two years and you'll be mine soon!"

His lips covered hers fiercely and she just gave up, surrendering to the desire that ragged between them, his fingers urgently slipping open the buttons of her dress and moving inside to close over her breast. It was too sudden, too savage, and she made a little whimper of sound that stopped him instantly.

"I'm hurting you? I don't mean to. Forgive me."

She had known for a long time that any sign of gentleness from him would be her ruin and now he was gentle, molding her breast with gentle persuasion, his thumb circling the tight, hard nub. She lifted her head, seeking his lips frantically, and he claimed her mouth, his tongue invading the sweetness with rough, pulsating movements that were suggestive and devastating.

Buffy moved against him, sensually she had not even known she possessed driving her on, and his hand moved beneath her dress. She wanted more, much more, her hips were trying to arch against him inviting him to go on, but Angel drew back.

"No, Buffy," he whispered heavily. "I can take you like this. When I make love to you you're going to be my wife."

She started to cry, her reaction was a mixture of frustration and humiliation. She had wanted him and made no attempt to move away; in fact she had thrown herself into his arms immediately. He folded her against him, holding her as she cried, stroking her hair until the panting sobs subsided.

"I know. I'm leaving you hurting again. Marry me. For God's sake give in, you know perfectly well that what's between us is inevitable." He tilted her face and wiped her eyes, kissing away the last tears. "If you left, I'd search for you. You know that, don't you? You're the wife I want."

"Along with your lovers at any given time," she choked trying to avoid his gaze, her own humiliation defeating her.

"Jealous?" He made her look at him, a light glowing at the back of his dark eyes.

"What do I have to be jealous about?" she managed angrily. "To be jealous I would have to love you. And I don't!"

His face froze immediately and he let her go, leaning forward to start the car.

"That makes us even," he said brusquely. "You're wearing my ring as a favor. I'm extending your time as another favor."

"And what happens when I run out of time and still refuse to marry you?" She was hurting inside, feeling the despair that his coldness brought. "It seems to me that I've kept my side of the bargain. I've learned the business and I've learned it fast. By Christmas I'll be necessary."

"Nobody is that necessary," he assured grimly. "If I looked around there would be another appropriate bride, some well-bred and beautiful girl."

"Then what's all this about?" Buffy felt suddenly afraid at his words. She had wanted to escape but now she was looking at a cold, hard man who could manage quite well without anyone.

"I want you," he said flatly, his eyes intent on the road. "I saw you. I decided and I planned. This is how I am."

"Like a trophy," Buffy muttered angrily, her hand wiping frenetically her remaining tears.

His lips twisted sarcastically, the dark chocolate eyes angled a look at her that at one time would have scared her.

"Possibly. But then, I could have taken you not more than a few minutes ago."

It successfully silenced her and she spent the next minutes looking in the mirror, trying to wipe away any signs of tears. She was a happily engaged woman, with her fiancé at her side.

Angel seemed reluctant to speak to her. The small interlude between them had thrown them back to a state of antagonism. All Buffy's courage drained away as he became once again a dangerous, silent dark opponent. She was dreading the arrival. Indeed she was about to come out as a very peculiar fiancé.

On the middle of the road, he stopped the car and turned to look at her steadily. She looked away. If he was going to start to argue again, she'll would probably scream.

"Truce?" His voice was quiet but there was authority there that she refused to acknowledge. She still kept her face firmly turned away.

"I didn't realize we were fighting."

"We'll be fighting until you're in my arms all night," he said abruptly. "However, since that's not at going to happen at the moment, a truce is necessary. I will not yell at you if you can manage to look more like a fiancé."

His commanding manner got her attention and she swung round with blazing eyes.

"Yell at me? Just try it and I'll be on the first plane out of here. And let me point out Mr. O'Connor, that I can manage very well without you." Her frustration brought a unenthusiastic smile to his lips but he wasn't giving in.

"In a few minutes you'll be meeting my grandmother. No threats, no arguments. And please behave yourself."

"I was brought up with very good manners," Buffy said indignantly, refusing to smile at all. "I've promised to act this thing out while we're here. I'll keep my word...but only in public."

"Agreed." He looked at her quizzically. "How do I explain your present depressing state?"

"You can say I'm not good traveler...or you can use my surgery as an excuse."

"Of course," he murmured sarcastically. "Deception comes quite easily to you. I should have realized, after the Riley episode. Let's go on, then. You look as if you needed a little rest."

"Well, that should break the ice nicely," Buffy replied in a bitter voice. "Here's my pathetic fiancé. I would have brought my lover, but she wasn't available."

"I'm truly beginning to think that you're jealous." His lips quirked and when Buffy glared at him she could see laughter dancing at the back of his dark eyes. Well, it was better than his silence. Maybe his grandmother would be fooled?

"Let's get on," she suggested quickly. "I'll just practice my smile, so don't bother to speak again."

This time he grinned openly, Buffy turned her head away and looked at the lovely surroundings. She really would have to watch her comments about Cordelia Chase, or Angel's suspicions would turn into certain knowledge. She was finding that jealously was not too easy to hide.

His grandmother was 85 years old and looked slightly frail but she was, as commanding as Angel, and she obviously adored him.

"So this is Buffy?" she said with a rather mischievous grin. "Finally! It's time this scoundrel was settled and brought to heel."

"I'm brought to heel already," Angel pointed out, lifting Buffy's hand to show the ring on her finger. His arm came tightly and threateningly around her and his grandmother kissed her cheeks warmly.

"So you agreed?" she said softly. "I so hoped you would, but then Angel usually gets what he wants, as I expect you already know. But I did doubt if it would be so easy with someone he actually cared about. I hope he ordered you to become engaged." she added with a pleased look.

"Of course not. It was a mutual agreement. Mrs...."

"Call me Grandmother, dear. We're almost family."

"Buffy had a very bad flight. I'll show her to her room."

It was the best thing he could have said. Buffy had taken an instant liking to the elderly lady and she felt guilty; her cheeks were glowing with shame.

"Of course. Oh...but do let her meet Darla first." She smiled to the woman who had just come in. "Buffy this is my nurse, Darla. She's been here with me for the past five years."

Buffy turned with a smile that died on her face immediately. Darla looked more like a model than a nurse. Buffy knew that Angel had come to Hawaii several times in the past months with the pretext of his hotel, they looked well acquainted if the welcoming looks on the woman's face were to be believed.

She also remembered thinking that every woman in the O'Connor-Summers building was in love with Angel. He had always an exciting attraction for women, and the look in Darla's eyes assured Buffy that here was another one. How would she manage here with them both right under her nose? She couldn't bear it if...

Darla smiled seductively at Angel and stood very carefully posed in the doorway.

"Oh, Angel! How lovely to see you again!" She came speeding up across to him and Buffy turned away. If he was going to kiss her hello, then she just didn't want to see it. He did no such thing but he gave her one of those special smiles that he only reserved for beautiful women.

"Darla! You're more beautiful than ever."

Buffy waited for her to say something corny and she did.

"It's the pleasure of seeing you again."

Angel's grandmother intervened very quickly, her fine forehead creased with a frown.

"Darla...this is the girl he's going to marry," she pointed out firmly. "They're in fact engaged. I can't tell you how happy it makes me. Isn't she lovely?"

"And wonderful to know," Angel put in effortlessly, his arm tightened again around Buffy's slim waist. "You can help me to keep an eye on her, Darla. She's just had an appendix surgery."

"I'm recovered!" Buffy said quickly. She didn't like the idea of being boss around by Darla.

"I'll show you to your room." He glanced at his watch. "You have exactly fifteen minutes to settle in. Grandmother insists on having lemonade out of the patio at four."

She had a lovely room facing the sea. Angel left to collect the luggage from the car. As she stepped to the window she could see him; Darla had gone out with him and they were laughing together, a thing that Angel rarely did with her.

With only fifteen minutes to spare, she contented herself with washing her face and hands and running a comb through her long hair. Finding her way back downstairs, Buffy smiled as she walked down the steps from the main living room onto the patio. A garden iron table was covered in a white cloth. Buffy had barely sat down when Angel's grandmother arrived.

"My room is lovely," Buffy said softly. "Thank you for having me here."

"I'm really happy you're here. Angel means a lot to me and I know he loves you. I can see it written in his eyes. I want you to come here as often as you can." She patted Buffy's arm and slowly sat down. "You and I must have a little talk when Angel isn't around."

It had a disturbing sound and Buffy regretted this lie, whatever Angel's motives had been. His grandmother was a lovely woman and by the look of her not too strong; at least he told her the truth about her health.

Angel reappeared as she drained her second glass of lemonade. "What kept you?" she demanded huskily.

His grandmother laughed very pleased. "I'll leave you the two of you alone. I need to rest a little, I'll see the two of you at dinner."

Her wide green eyes took his appearance, from the sheen of dampness on his hair, clearly he had showered, down to his broad shoulders. The suit had been replaced by a plain black polo shirt that molded his muscular chest and revealed his tanned forearms. Well-worn black jeans and a leather belt with an intricately designed brass buckle to support them hung low on his lean hips. He looked dark and dangerous, and a frisson of warning slid down her spine as he come towards her and stopped, towering over her.

"Well?" she prompted, anything to break the lengthening silence.

"What kept me?" he echoed throatily. "If I had known you missed me I would have been here like a shot."

"I didn't miss you. I just..." she ground to a halt at his mocking laugh.

"You certainly know how to make a man feel good," he drawled, and reaching down he took her hand. "Come on, I'll show you around. What do you think of my grandmother."

"I liked her. She's not what I expected."

"Considering my background?" he asked ironically. "She's from my mother's side of the family."

"Stop putting words in my mouth," Buffy protested vehemently. "You've got a fixation about your background. No wonder you're so hard; it's not natural to keep living in the past."

"The only fixation I have is about you," he murmured as he pulled her towards him, "and that's very natural."

His lips touched hers gently and then more deeply as he gathered her entirely into his arms, she couldn't resist him. Her arms tighten around his neck and her lips parted as he opened his mouth over hers.

When he lifted his head she was trembling all over and he looked down intently.

"Buffy..." he began.

Tbc...