Hi all:) Because this is such a long chapter, I've decided to update one chapter only today. But the next should come pretty early too.
Thanks to all the reviewers:
Willow-189, Buff, Kirt, Goddessa39 (There is no B/Faith/Lindsey! Just B/A and F/L...put that dirty thought away!), Imzadi (Thanks for so many responses!), General Mac, Victoria Moody, Regan and InvisibleA. You guys are great! Thanks for your reviews!
Chapter Nine
Faith was a little disappointed when she got Lindsey's call, but agreed to push the meeting back to tomorrow. The wedding's in two weeks! It would be ridiculous if the maid of honour and the groom had not even met yet. Besides, now that Buffy's planning on moving back, she wants them to like each other, because they're definitely gonna be in each other's company a lot.
Buffy let out a small sigh of relieve unseen by Faith, she doesn't know how to react to Lindsey when he found out that they'd met just that morning in the O'Roarke building. How's she gonna explain her presence there and her hasty departure? Besides, she doesn't know if Faith knows that Lindsey's Angelus' lawyer.
"So, where are you and Lindsey going for honeymoon?"
"We're actually gonna go to Rome! Can you believe it? Me in Rome? " Faith laughed, "speaking of honeymoon, I have a proposition. You know that I'm moving in to Lindsey's apartment after we come back from the honeymoon right?" Buffy nodded. "So, I was thinking, if you haven't found a place to move into, why don't you sublet my place? The contract is not over till February and I'm sure you can extend it if you still want to live there after that, and if not, you can stay here till you find a new place. There's a guestroom for Alex and it's furnished."
"Really?" Buffy brightened, "Thanks Faith." The two melt into another hug.
"No Problem. So, no fiancée tonight, wanna go out girlfriend?"
"You're forgetting that Alex needs to go to bed before 10?"
"So, put the kid in bed and party?"
"Is Lindsey gonna be okay with that?" Buffy teased, "I am a bit tired today though, rain check?"
"Okay…by the way, I was just gonna accompany you to have fun." Faith feigned an innocent air.
"uh huh." Buffy snorted and the girls with Alex went out to dinner and Faith back to her apartment and the mother and son back to their present accommodation.
After Buffy had put Alex into bed, she snuck out of the B&B into her rented car. Resolved in her decision, she drove towards the Lion's Den.
She parked her car across from the skyscraper that the O'Roarke family had built in the early 60s as the base of their family cooperation, now left to a single heir, Angelus O'Roarke. She looked up to find the penthouse and Angelus' office, the light is still on, suggesting the man's still within working. Or messing with his secretary. Buffy thought bitterly. Coming here at night brought back a lot of memories. Angelus was a workaholic, but during their one-year marriage, he almost always came home to her after the working hour or they would have commitments to do something fancy, a charity or some functions to attend. There are times however, that he needed to work late, then he would call Buffy to join him for dinner in his office, after they're finished, he would work and she would just hang around watching him, though the evening usually ends with them in bed in the penthouse upstairs which housed a small apartment furnished for him.
As she re-entered the O'Roarke Building in downtown LA, she's happy to see that 'Harmony' is not at the front desk; instead, it was a young man with brown hair.
"Hi." Buffy gave the man a sweet smile, spotting his nametag and security badge, "Jonathan is it?"
The man snapped to attention as the petite blonde came into his sight and now she's smiling and talking to him, "Um, yeah, can I help you?"
"Well, this is kind of embarrassing." Buffy let out a small giggle, "I'm from the florist that provides the flower for your conference rooms? Well, you see, I was here this morning and I lost my earring. It's really important to me, it was my mothers and I just wanna go up and find it?"
"Um..I don't know, I'm not supposed to have anyone up there now."
"Aw, please? I'm sure there's no one there now, no one will know, I know that I lost it in one of the conference rooms on floor 17. I'll just go in and come back down real quick." She flashed another one of her sweetest smile at the man.
"Um…alright." The night guard mumbled, blushing at the beautiful blond standing before him and blinded by her smile. "Maybe I should accompany you."
"Oh, no. I'll be fine, I go there every week for the arrangements; I know my way around. Besides, I'm sure they need you more here." She started quickly towards the elevators, walked in, smiled and punch floor 17.
When she arrived on floor 17, she punched the next floor she was going on, the penthouse, entering the code she still remembered. Buffy leaned back to the mirror in the elevator, waiting for the memories to flood back to her or waiting for signs of their separation to act out in front of her. Soon enough, the elevator came to, she stepped out cautiously. The foyer was lit and nothing seemed changed but the suite was immersed in the darkness. A small light was lit on an end table next to the sofa, bright enough for Buffy to see a bit of the surrounding and note that no one is presently in the room. But the suite is still in use, she can feel him in the air, the smell of leather, musk and something unique of Angelus. The living room looked in disarray; there were clothes in various places, takeout menus and plates left unwashed. The penthouse seemed like the bachelor pad it was before, but the feminine touches she added remained unmoved. She moved to the painting she purchased hanging above the mantel, the Galway Bay depiction still shone like before, its lack of dust a distinct contrast to the rest of the place. She moved slowly towards the bedroom separated only by a sliding door. He's not there, but it would seem that this is his place of abode now, the bed was unmade.
She re-entered the elevator, going one floor down. The elevator opened to a dark room, but there's light from the partially opened door of another office inside. Buffy moved slowly, her heart starts to beat erratically in anticipation. It was awfully quiet as she crept near the partially opened door, she peeked in.
Angelus was sitting at his desk, his hair and shirt tussled, there's paperwork on his table, but he wasn't looking at them. He was looking at something in his hand, hidden from her view by the large mahogany table. His brows furrowed and he remains unmoved, unaware of the pair of green eyes settling on him.
He looks tired, worn and vulnerable. Buffy felt an immense dread of seeing him again, talking to him. But it must be done, it can no longer be avoided. She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, preparing to go in. The sound of her breathing made Angelus look up and notice her.
"Buffy." He got out of his brooding mode and stood up from his leather chair.
"Angelus." She tried to sound as calm as she can, but somehow the sound emitted from her lips was still too breathy and soft for her liking.
"What are you doing here?" He looked at the clock on his wall, "What are you doing here at 11 o'clock at night?"
"I need to talk to you." She straightens up further, preparing for battle.
"About what?" He inched towards her slowly, bit by bit so she doesn't notice, just as he doesn't notice either. Unconsciously, he just wanted to be near her again, to see her face, have his lungs filled with her scent.
"Lindsey McDonald." She squared her shoulders, "What else does he do for you besides lawyering?"
"I don't know what you mean." Angelus crossed his arms in front of him.
"I think you do, did you tell Lindsey to get involved with Faith just to get me back here?" Bluntness is her weapon, she decided.
"McDonald's involved with Faith? Your Faith?" Angelus was surprised.
"You don't know anything about it." Buffy suddenly deflates from her bravado. She felt relieved, it doesn't seem like Angelus is lying about it. Then she remembers her present position and awkwardness pervades the room.
"Well then, it is late. I should be going." She fumbled towards the door, but he was already there, "Wait." he whispered.
"What?" She wanted to snap at him, but his closeness is a distraction, and the smouldering look he's giving her makes her weak at the knee. Her sharp reply turned out weaker than she had hoped.
"I just want to look at you, it's been a long time." He placed his hand at her cheek and slowly brought her face up.
"I…"
"Shhh.." with that, he kissed her, tentative at first as if he is scared of frightening her, then reverently tasting her, so gently that she cannot help but part her lips in response. They kissed with a newfound feverish need, lost in a long lost intimacy. Rubbing against each other, hoping to feel the heat beneath each other's clothing. His hand went around her waist and her back, feeling her curves and pulling her flush against him, closer to him. She lifts her arms to be around his, encompassing his build, needing to touch more of him. Her nipples harden at the contact of his hard chest. Groaning, Angelus lifts her off her feet, copping her ass in his arms and her legs immediately went around his waist. Her actions made him even harder than he already is, and she felt it keenly even against her jeans when it pushes and adds a sweet and agonizing pressure between her thighs. A pool of moisture gathered at the apex of her thighs, readying her for the pleasure she knows the man in front of her can make her feel. Without realizing it, they are by his desk, and he places her on it without letting her go. But her hands moved from his biceps to support herself from falling back, and the moment her hands touched the solid mahogany, it became real. She lift her arms again, this time, not to bring him closer but to push him away. Her legs uncoiled from his waist and she jumped off the table after her arms had put some distance between her and him.
"No, no, we can't." She mumbled, still shivering and trembling from the passion but she started towards the door. Quenching the desire between her legs with each step she took.
"Why not, you still want me, I can feel it Buffy. You're my wife." He reached out, trying to stop her from leaving, but if anything, that last statement exacerbated her anger.
"I'm your wife." She spits that fact out of her mouth like vile poison, turning around to face him once again, "And when were you going to be my fucking husband? Between this woman's bed and the next? You lying cheating piece of scum." Now she shivered from the anger and coldness she felt eight years ago from seeing Angelus and Darla in her apartment.
"What the hell are you talking about?" It's not possible, it was just once, he hadn't meant to…
"Don't play innocent with me Angelus, I saw you. I saw you and Darla naked! In bed!" Her tears came but she refused to let them fall and with that last word, she once again fled from him.
TBC...
