Angel rubbed his hands together while glancing at the clock again. He tried to decide whether or not he wanted to keep watching TV, one that Jenny had finally talked him into getting just a couple weeks ago now , or if he wanted to log onto Netflix to try and find something on there, if he wanted to hop in a shower or at the very least climb up to his bed and attempt to get some sleep.
He doubted the latter would top that list... it was one of the hottest nights he'd experienced this summer so far, plus Buffy had left not too long ago on a date and he doubted his mind would shut up on that subject any time soon.
Finally, he flipped through a few channels and found a movie he liked playing, it was nearing the end but it was good background noise, he could play it without really having to pay attention. He stood up to refill his tumbler of ice water then walked the short distance over to the a/c unit to make absolutely sure it was blasting at top level.
Just as he got over there though there was a knock on the door.
"Hi," Buffy greeted when he opened the door. "I heard the TV on so I figured you were still awake."
He nodded. "You wanna come in?" He moved out of the way so she could join him in the loft before asking her why she still wasn't on her date.
She had a curious look on her face after sitting down and seemed to think over what he asked. "I just didn't want to be there anymore," she finally said.
He didn't like the vibe she was putting off. "Something happen? Do I need to go kick someone's ass?" he tried to joke.
She finally smiled a little at that. "No," she chuckled a little. "He just said something stupid and I probably made too much of it, but... I just didn't want to be there any longer. That's all."
Angel asked if she wanted something to drink and brought it over, taking a seat on the other end of the little couch. "So. What'd he say?"
"It's stupid. Really."
"It bothered you."
She sighed. "Okay. Well, backstory... before I moved to Sunnydale I was with this guy for awhile... much longer than I should have been... I think a part of me went into it already in a bit of a bad place but he just... he made me feel... bad. Like, bad about everything. About myself, about other people, the world around me. He wasn't, you know, physically abusive or anything like that. He didn't call me names or yell at me or those types of things but he was kind of possessive, and in not a cute way, and there were just little flags raised up here and there. But the thing was... he just had a way of saying things... it was how he said them and when he chose to were so precise to making you feel so down on yourself. I didn't even realize it for the longest time, and maybe I did almost too late. But anyway... why I'm telling you this is so maybe I don't so completely crazy..." she rolled her eyes and sighed. "He said I was too happy of a person and that I smile too much."
All Angel could think was how crazy this moron must be, not her.
"He had this look on his face when he said it, too. Like... I was offending him. I just didn't like it."
"I don't think it was stupid to be upset over that at all," he told her softly. He couldn't imagine anyone having any type of issue with Buffy, let alone over that of all things. That was exactly what drew him to her.
She huffed to herself and just stared at the TV for awhile. "I have feelings. I'm not a robot," she mumbled and he glanced over at her. "I get sad, angry, whatever. I just... I would rather be happy as much as I can be, and it's not forced for the first time in a long time. I am happy, I like being silly and just enjoying as much as I can. I like finding joy in people around me, in moments, in-"
"Buffy, you don't have to defend yourself to me. Or to anyone for that matter. You are perfect exactly how you are. I love that you are a little ray of sunshine over there."
"Thank you," she said softly before taking another drink from her glass and snuggling more comfortably into her seat.
OoOoO
An infomercial started playing after the movie. At first they were locked in conversation then they both kind of stared at the TV for a few minutes. "Maybe that's what I need," she said, pointing at the screen.
Angel raised an eyebrow. "What? A matchmaker?"
"Yeah," she laughed. "Dating stinks. Maybe I just hand over control to someone else." A lady came on, repeating the phone number and pricing in an obvious fake accent. "She seems real credible. I wonder if you can request who you get."
"You should call. You can be all my name is Buffy Summers, I live in beautiful, sunny California. I want a man who is tall, dark and handsome. Must not comment on my amount of smilage."
Buffy laughed. She finally really laughed a Buffy laugh for the first time since arriving. "I would be so fun with a matchmaker," she said. An evil twinkle in her eye.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah! You can't just go in there being all boring, Angel. You gotta be specific, give out all the important stuff. Of course you gotta say I want the tall, dark and handsome. You want someone who makes you laugh, that you have fun with. You... you want someone you can be best friends with... a best friend who you also want to see naked and touch their fun parts. Which, by the way... wouldn't that just make life so much more easier? Dating is awful. It would be much nicer to just... get to know someone and like someone without all the pressure, to like someone just because of who they are... decide hey, this person is amazing. And then you like them in other ways. But yeah... there's things that are just obviously a given."
"And you don't need to go on all about them?"
"Nope. Because that just doesn't help. Anyone can be cute but you need more than that."
"Mmhmm."
"You gotta be all... listen, you might need to take some notes about this one. I'd be all... I want someone who... someone who would rather be out doing something fun rather than wasting money buying things they really don't need all the time. Someone who understands and doesn't give me a hard time about the fact I like spending time with people I love, not just them. Someone who understands my Saturday breakfasts with my dad, with my family, is important. I want someone who..." she trailed off for a moment, thinking. "I want someone who will have a pillow fight with me nearing thirty, forty... eighty. Who will jump in a creek with me on a hot afternoon and catch fish and splash around. Someone who will see something ridiculous, get it... just because it reminded them of me or just because they thought it would make me smile. Someone who... watches my favorite TV shows with me, pretends he doesn't like them but winds up as invested in the characters as I am..." Buffy trailed off with a few more things, each bouncing far in one direction from the next.
On the TV there was suddenly a couple making out on the hood of the car in the rain. Both of them kind of just stopped and looked at it oddly for a moment.
"And that. Of course you want someone who wants to just throw down with you in the middle of a..." Buffy's forehead wrinkled up. "Is it a thunderstorm going on? They seriously look like there's a tornado happening behind them. What in the - Okay, I don't want some man kissing me on top of a car when we're about to be struck by lightning or sucked up into a tornado. I want someone with some damn sense in his beautiful head. But... rain, just rain... right. A guy who wants to make out with me in the rain... but also... a guy who will run out of the house with me to go frolic in a sudden downpour for no reason other than to do it. Or just dances with me in the rain. That could be my closing statement. I want a guy who will just grab my hand and dance with me in the rain."
"Now I really want you to call and say absolutely all of that," he told her and she broke out in a smile. It started slow but then it grew to a display of those pearly whites.
Buffy started to laugh and went to dig her phone out of her purse. She couldn't stop laughing as she dialed the number and waited. Hanging up she stuck her bottom lip out. "It's busy."
"Keep trying?"
She did about five more times before she declared she was giving up. "Maybe I am not destined to find love," she sighed, her hand dramatically laying across her forehead.
OoOoO
The matchmakers' were replaced by a cleaning product next which didn't hold either of their interests long. He handed the remote over to Buffy and let her choose. She flipped through several more channels before settling on something, she put the remote down then slipped her shoes off and curled up in her little corner.
"Weren't you going out for dinner with that guy?"
Buffy looked up and nodded. "Yeah. Boring, huh?"
He chuckled. Knowing her, that sounded like an awful date plan when it came to this girl. "Did you eat is what I'm getting at."
"Oh. No. I ordered but left not long after that point. I'll find something before I go to bed."
"What sounds good?"
"Oh, no, Angel. I'm fine."
"Humor me woman. You are always doing shit for me and everyone else... I can make you a late night snack." She had this look on her face when he looked over his shoulder and he smirked. "You want an omelet, don't you?"
Her nose wrinkled up. "I really like 'em," she almost whined.
He'd long since noticed. She ate more junk food and more eggs than anyone.
"That's too much work, though. Really, I can do a sandwich or something."
He waved her off. He doubted she'd even be second guessing it - hell she'd probably be playfully sitting over there saying she was so hungry she was going to starve to death if he didn't make her one - if it hadn't been for this asshole tonight and whatever asshole she mentioned having dated before.
There was nothing on this planet that made him happier than seeing this damn woman in her element, seeing her easily make friends with every person in a room, than seeing her smile. He couldn't understand anyone ever looking at it in a negative light or making her feel bad about it.
OoOoO
Buffy scarfed down the first plate and then his, so he made another for himself and she assured him he could keep it and that she was full now. "You don't have to do that," he told her when she got up and started cleaning up.
"I know," she told him and continued washing dishes and putting things back where they went once dried.
A top of the hour weather report came on and they both groaned. Not much had changed. Heat, sunshine, more heat.
Angel wouldn't let her touch his plate or fork, waving her off and telling her to go sit down. She didn't go until he threatened to pick her up and toss her back over on the couch. "You don't have to be all rude about it," she huffed.
"Obviously I do!"
OoOoO
Angel didn't know when exactly she fell asleep, but it had to be in a short window as they kept launching off into various conversations around watching the movie she'd chosen. Getting up, he grabbed an extra pillow out of his closet and a thin blanket and brought it over. He carefully lifted her head so he could scoot the pillow under her and rearranged her a little to where she looked more comfortable before putting the blanket on her.
He brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. She mumbled his name and snuggled her nose closer to the pillow and he had never stilled so quick in his life. He watched her for another few moments before turning the TV off.
He used the restroom, brushed his teeth, washed his face and glanced at her once more before climbing up his ladder to his bed.
Angel laid there in the silence, staring up at the ceiling for a long while. He wondered if he should have blurted out his feelings to her earlier, if it was the right call just not making anything of it.
He thought more about the idiot guy she'd attempted to have dinner with. He thought about those perfect, one hundred percent Buffy smiles she would get on her face that made his entire body warm and his heart want to explode.
He laid there thinking about how badly he wanted her laying next to him rather than down there.
OoOoO
He was in a half daze when he started waking up, his brain searching for why. It didn't feel like he had been asleep for a full nights' rest. He groaned a little, rubbing his eyes and blinking a few times before it settled on him. He sat up and pushed the curtain to the side a little of his tiny window up there where he slept.
It was still very much dark outside and looking at his phone he knew it had only been a couple of hours since coming up here. He rubbed a hand down his face and pulled up his weather app, not seeing a word about the little rainstorm happening out of nowhere showing up on it. He looked over the little edge of his "bedroom" and saw Buffy still sound asleep on the couch.
He'd left the light above his kitchen sink on low in case she woke up and didn't know where she was at first or wanted to move around without worrying so much about bumping into things.
Climbing down the ladder just a few moments later, he quietly walked over to where she laid sleeping and shook her shoulders gently. "Buffy," he called out. Once, then twice before her eyelashes fluttered.
"Angel?" she yawned. "I guess I feel asleep? Mmm, well a sleepover sounds better than my other options," she grumbled, still trying to wake up.
"Listen," he told her once she started to sit up.
She went from sleepy to excited real quick, throwing the blanket to the side and jumping up. She grabbed his hand and sprung into action.
It wasn't a hard rain, just a nice sprinkle but it felt like heaven with the heat wave that'd been going on. Buffy stood out in the yard, her face turned toward the full moon, just enjoying it. Angel stood in the doorway to the loft, his arms folded and one foot crossed over the other as he watched her wonderment.
It picked up just a little and she squeezed her eyes tight and laughed, starting to spin around. "If you don't get out here, we might just fight," she called out.
Angel smirked, taking her in a moment more before walking away from the loft, off the step of the little walkway connecting the two houses and into the yard.
"Summer showers are so much more fun at night," she breathed. "With the moon and the stars. It's so peaceful."
OoOoO
Buffy was jumping in and out of puddles when she got one of those looks on her face that only she could pull off. It was almost like she was moving in slow motion, her hair bouncing counteractive to the rest of her, laughter filling the otherwise quiet night air, and God help him, those entirely Buffy smiles that made everything in the world seem right as long as she looked like that.
Before he could stop to think whether or not this was a good idea, his arm reached out to grab her when she jumped back up on level ground and pulled her to him.
OoOoO
Angel wasn't sure how long he had danced slowly with the beautiful blonde under the night sky, but it felt like forever and simply not long enough all at the same time.
The rain was still falling down, but only just so, and in light spurts. His hair was wet, hers more so and it was curling slightly at the ends in a handful of spots. The smell of vanilla mixed with the wet grass, fogginess around them. Her dress was wet, droplets of water splattered on her nose, on her shoulders; on his as well, down his back, he could feel a fat trail rolling down his chest as well... pooling up a bit where their bodies brushed together.
Something in the universe felt to shift when her head tilted up, the look on her face like she could read his every thought. He could feel her tense up just for a moment but then the corner of her lips turned upward. Her small hands squeezed the back of his neck and used him as leverage to lift up slightly, bringing her lips up to meet his.
Angel's hands slid from her waist to grab her ass, lifting her up, never breaking contact between their fused mouths. He felt her smile brighter and warmth spread throughout his entire body. Somehow this felt like the most natural thing in the world.
OoOoO
Buffy tasted like vanilla and like sugar, just as he'd imagined. Her lips, her throat, her neck... every inch of her he'd tasted so far was sweet and smooth and he couldn't get enough. Her hips moved in a circle and she made the sexiest sound he had ever heard in his life as she rubbed against his growing erection.
Tugging on his hair, she led his lips back to her own and rolled her hips once more before her legs unlocked from around his waist and she was back on the wet ground in front of him. Her hand tangled up with his and she turned, pulling him behind her as she'd done countless times before.
But, tonight was different.
Tonight, she looked over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling in a new light. Tonight, even her fingers lightly holding onto his felt like it could set him ablaze.
Buffy led him out of the yard, back up the step, onto the walkway and right back to his apartment. She spun easily on her tiptoes to face him once inside, her arms returning to their former place around his neck.
Her first kiss was playful but the intent grew heavier by the second. Together, they moved backwards against the heavy red door until it closed behind his back. When she locked it, any doubt he had about what was going to happen tonight disappeared right then and there.
Her slender fingertips fell from the golden deadbolt to the top of his hip, her fingernail tracing the top of his shorts as their lingering kiss ended and they broke apart for air. She gave him a look as though she was asking permission and he sure and the hell hoped the one he returned conveyed how impossibly he was okay with whatever in the world she wanted. Right now, tomorrow, whenever...
His shorts and boxers were moved lower and lower, her body sinking closer to the ground along with them. He'd almost whacked her in the face when his dick was finally free, popping out into the air and begging to be touched.
He didn't have to wait long for that, her hand reaching him first, testing out how he felt against her fingertips. They danced lightly up his length, swirled around his angry head, then she enclosed her palm the best she could around him.
His hips jerked toward her, enjoying the sensation. He closed his hands into fists as she explored. Her hand swirled, pumped, she used lighter touches then put more pressure into it, always looking at him to gauge his reaction.
Once more, she managed to have a look of innocence and playfulness as she worked him and it nearly drove him mad.
Her fingertip swirled around the tip of his penis once more and she leaned her body closer to him. The second her tongue met his shaft, he was ready to explode. She playfully licked her way up to the tip, nearly following the same path her fingers did the first time.
She looked up under those hooded eyelashes and he had to close his eyes before he truly did lose it.
Buffy half chuckled and even it was a fucking turn on.
She happily got acquainted with his dick, licking, gently nipping at him for a few moments more before taking him into her mouth. Her head bobbed, taking more of him each time.
She released him with a very wet sounding "pop" and his angry manhood bounced up and down a few times almost in protest.
Buffy was back in his arms, her legs circling his waist and he could feel the wetness seeping through her panties as he walked the short distance across the hard floor to the couch. The pillow he'd gotten for her earlier was pushed out of the way, falling down to the floor by his feet. Her knees bent at either side of him and he enjoyed the feel of her in his lap.
As their heavy make out session commenced, his hands unzipped the back of her dress. He eased the straps down and out of the way so it gathered around her stomach.
Somehow, she was even more perfect than he'd ever imagined. He'd had many fantasies about seeing what was underneath those bikini tops and not one of those conjured images compared to what was before him.
Buffy led his hands to her and that only made his cock throb. Her body arched into his touch as he cupped the weight of her breasts in his hands, he lifted slightly and pushed them more together earning a moan for the beautiful blonde.
Angel got lost in her. His thumbs couldn't get enough of rubbing over her nipples time and again, how it would make her shiver every single time. He tasted her, sucking on the pink little mountain tops and making her squirm in his lap.
He didn't stop until he felt her hand wrap around behind her, grabbing him once more. Everything seemed to stop and that was all he could focus on. She pumped him once, twice, three times and he groaned loudly.
She gracefully pulled herself out of his lap next, off the couch and stood, her dress falling to the floor by the discarded pillow. Her panties were removed and she stood entirely bare and all he could do was stare for several moments. She almost blushed from the attention and he couldn't help but want to kiss her again.
OoOoO
Buffy climbed up to the "bedroom" first, he found her bare, laying on her stomach when he reached the top. His eyes trailed down her backside... he loved the side boob view she gave from the position, loved her tan skin, the slope of her spine. Her bare ass, her legs begging to be touched, one up in the air and the other laying flat against the sheet.
Climbing up a ladder and making your way to a comfortable position in such a tiny space was surely not the most attractive thing in the world but you wouldn't think such tonight.
He got in the small bed beside her and briefly wondered if this would be comfortable enough. There was literally just a top mattress on the carpeted ground up here.
Buffy tucked her hair behind her ear, her earrings making a small sound as they clanged against each other from the movement. He said her name as though it was a swear word as she sat up, swung her leg over and mounted him slowly.
Her face was a mixture of amusement and desire as she stretched, lowering onto him until he was fully seated inside her core. Her head fell back as she used her hips to start lifting back up and then down again she came.
As her speed increased, he happily watched her breasts bounce along with her movements. Leaving the flesh of those perfect hips, they went to her creamy mounds again. As soon as his thumbs met her nipples, she leaned forward and her clit found the perfect angle to rub against him as she rode.
One hand flew up to the wall and the other clawed at his chest as she got closer. He squeezed her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her sensitive nipples with reckless abandon. It made her twitch and squirm as she bounced harder and harder on his pole.
"Oh, God," Buffy moaned. "Please."
His hips moved on their own, thrusting up to match her.
She clenched around him so hard that it damn near hurt, she jerked up then down and up again, her arms and legs trembling when his hot sperm shot up into her.
OoOoO
Still breathing heavily, Buffy waved a hand in her face trying to cool down. "Why in the hell was that not on the list of things we could do together?"
He half laugh, half panted.
"Holy shit," she laughed.
"Trust me," he swallowed. "That has been something I've wanted to do with you for some time now," he told her. He closed his eyes and tried to suck up air into his lungs.
Buffy's head turned toward him, he could feel her eyes on him. "Really?" she questioned.
"Yeah," he breathed out.
"Huh," she said then for several moments all you heard was their combined heaving breathing.
When he opened his eyes again he dared look over at her and damn near felt his cock harden again. That fucking look was going to be the end of him. Now more than ever as he was forever going to tie it tonight. "Is it really that surprising?" he had to ask.
"Well, yeah," she answered. "I've been saying for months, hell almost since we even met, that there was no way you'd like me... like that. I've been trying to be okay with the fact that we're just friends and that was going to be okay."
It was his turn to be surprised at that. "Easter," he finally breathed out, still struggling but it was getting easier. He thought about opening the window at the other side of the "room" but that was still too much work.
"Easter? Easter what?"
He'd told Jenny but never thought he'd really be telling her. "On Easter, you stood outside. You were dressed as a bunny."
"Uh huh..."
"You never looked happier, except maybe with Christmas and the whole carriage ride thing. But, you just... you were there and then you were so amused too over the bunny tail and... it was sexy and hot but more than that... it was fucking adorable," he told her. "I had a crazy thought of wanting to grab you and kiss you and tell you that you were fucking adorable. And it... it did not go away."
"Are you sure it wasn't just the bunny thing? Maybe ears and fluffy white tails are a new kink of yours."
He laughed. "If only it was that simple," he joked.
Turning over he looked at her. She looked so soft, angelic laying there.
"You get this fucking look on your face that drives me crazy," he whispered, more serious now. "All I want is to see you smile like that, carefree, happy to the fullest. It makes everything in the world right again. All I wanted to do was see you smile, hell to make you smile. I kept doing anything possible to even be the reason - at least part of the reason - as to why you would."
One hand came up to her mouth, covering it. He reached over and took it back away, holding it with his own.
"Don't do that," he whispered and kissed her knuckles.
OoOoO
"Are you wearing my tee shirt and boxers?" he asked as she climbed back up the ladder.
Buffy scooted back onto the bed, into his arms. He pulled the light blanket over both of their entangled bodies. "Yes. My underwear is soaking wet - and not from the rain. That's not exactly the most comfortable feeling all the time."
He smirked. He had no regrets over that situation. He didn't mind her donning his shirt one bit either, though he'd prefer her with nothing else underneath. "I went to bed earlier looking down at you, wishing you were beside me," he told her quietly.
"If I hadn't already been passed out I probably would have been having similar thoughts."
He pulled her flush against him, her dick snuggling between the warm slit between her ass cheeks. She purposefully rubbed back against him for a moment. He could imagine how much trouble he was going to be in with this woman from here on out. She already had enough of a time teasing him relentlessly as friends on everything.
"Will you be with me?" He suddenly wanted to ask her out on a date but the words got jumbled as they flew out of his face.
She was silent for a moment which made him nervous. "Like... your girlfriend?"
"Yes," he said quickly.
"You have a wife."
"An estranged wife. A without a doubt will be my ex wife as soon as fucking possible whore of a 'wife'." He didn't mention how he suddenly had the feeling of calling his lawyer and telling him the absolute least amount he'd settle on and to just quit fighting her, let her win, let her just about everything just to be done with her. Just so he could focus on the future. He figured that might be too much too soon for Buffy to actually hear, though. "I want you," he whispered after she was silent again.
"Okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. As long as you're up for it."
He smiled. "Oh, pillow fights, dancing in the rain, watching your ridiculous medical dramas and listening to you go on and on about your favorite fictional couples and..."
She laughed. "Yes. All of that."
"I've never wanted anything more."
OoOoO
Angel couldn't help but feel a little nervous when morning came. He woke up to knocking on his door and slipped over Buffy to get to the ladder and climb down. "Hey. Jen."
"Hey. I was just checking on you. It was getting kind of late and you weren't answering your phone."
"Sorry. Hadn't even heard it... alarm, calls..." And that was true. He'd been dead to the damn world. He didn't even know what time it was now.
"Buffy wasn't in here room either. And she's not answering her phone either."
He swallowed. "She's... Buffy's.. she's here."
"She's not in her room..."
"She's in here," he said.
"Angel? Where'd you go. Why aren't you in bed?" Buffy's groggy voice was heard in the background. She must have woken up.
Jenny looked confused then it hit her, her eyes widening. "Ooooh," was all she could say.
"Yeah..."
"Okay." She held her hands up in front of her. "Well. I know that you are both alright then. Food is done. Come over whenever you... you're ready, okay?"
"Yep. Thanks, Jen."
"Mmhmm."
He watched her turn and walk back toward the house and saw a glimpse of Rupert in the kitchen. He smiled and nodded at him before slipping back inside. Buffy peered down from the bed. "Hey there."
She was so beautiful in the morning. He thought about how he'd rather see her just like this any day compared to dressed to the nines. "Hi. Good morning. Jenny said they were looking for us."
"And we were found?"
"Yeah. By Jenny anyway, I don't know if she's over there telling your dad or not."
"Mmm."
OoOoO
Angel went next door first, he greeted Rupert and Jenny handed him his plate so he went and sat down at the table. A few minutes later, Buffy walked in.
They had taken a quick shower together, both of their hair remained a little damp. He'd gotten changed but she strolled over from his door to theirs in literally just the same black shirt and red boxers as she'd slept in. She grabbed a fork and took a quick bite, walked over and kissed him and then said she needed to find some clothes. She disappeared into "her" room. Jenny almost broke out into laughter, Rupert took his glasses off and began cleaning them once the pieces all fell into place.
Life was certainly about to get a lot more interesting.
The End.