Hello guys, so again I'm sorry for the delay... and be warned this is my first attempt at a LEMON. Let me know what you think, the only reason I tried was to hopefully please you :)

I have to admit that FanFiction's malfunctions are getting to me, just wanted to put that out there... anyways Happy Reading I hope :)

Chapter 8

The Angel Investigations team was half way there to Sunnydale… There was an awkward silence filling the air of the SUV, because no one wanted to voice what they were all thinking.

But… it was mainly the fact none of them knew what to make of the heart wrenching discovery. There was no reason for Angelus to lie, and Lorne had confirmed it, but yet, this was Cordelia they were thinking about.

"Just stop…" Connor said in an angry tone.

"Stop what?" Gunn asked taken by his comment.

"My heighten senses tell me your all in a web of confusion and grief…"

Faith put a hand over his tightened fist on his lap, "Look kid… Cordelia…"

"I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT…" he spat.

"Connor…" Fred said carefully, "We have to… We all do…"

"He knew she was evil…" Lorne informed them.

"WHAT!" They all gasped.

Wesley, who was the one driving, set his visor down to glance at Connor through the mirror, "Is that true…?"

Faith squeezed his hand to lend him support and he just ignored the question looking out the window.

Wesley was about to argue, when Faith shook her head in response… now was not the time. So they all silently continued their grief. They'd all lost someone they cared for in battle and needless to say they unfortunately had learned to switch of their feelings for what was important at the moment.

And what was important right now was the apocalypse coming to Sunnydale… There'd be time to grieve later.

/

Vampires didn't really need to sleep but the kind of comfort that Buffy provided while being pressed against him so intimately… made it all too easy to lose yourself into slumber.

He felt her stir and snuggle closer to him… he smiled and began placing small kisses down her exposed neck.

Buffy felt him snuggle in the crook of her neck and for a second there she thought she should panic, but at the feel of him placing tender kisses… just made her relish in the tingling feeling that coursed through her.

If it weren't because she was well aware of the fact that it was Angelus in bed with her and not Angel, she would have felt odd about the gesture. Angel always made it a point to put distance between them, but these tender kisses were all too forward to be from him.

*Stop it Angelus…* Angel growled.

Angelus felt his lips turn up into a devious smile. Is that a dare… he returned.

Buffy hummed her approval then turned around in his grip to face him. Her head was tucked in his chest and she began placing sweet kisses on him making her way up to his lips.

He let a growl of satisfaction escape him, "You shouldn't do that…" he warned roughly.

"Why not…?" she smiled innocently against his lips. She placed her hands on either side of his face pulling him down for a blazing kiss; their tongues dancing in a ritual for dominance.

He allowed her to take charge for a while then moved over her so he was hovering on top of her… settling himself in between her thighs. He ground his manhood against her core and she let out a pleasurable gasp.

"That's why…" Angelus let out in a hoarse restraining voice.

*What are you playing at…?* Angel said angrily.

You'll see… he mused.

They looked eyes as she panted… her eyes spoke volumes of desire and challenge. She wanted to see if he would cave to the lie he'd started and reveal himself to her. She raised her hips to him and began to rub herself against him.

He closed his eyes in delight… he knew what she was doing. Now he was dam certain that she knew who he was and she was daring him to come clean.

He gazed into her eyes once more giving her a devilish grin, as if accepting her dare, and took possession of her mouth. His tongue demanded entrance as it took pleasure in sweeping in what he knew would be forever his.

"Ahhh…" she let out in frustration, "Mmm… please…" she begged.

"Please what…" he taunted suckling at her necks' sensitive mark.

"Please tou…" she gasp mid sentence as he cupped her breast. Whatever he was doing now… she'd never felt before. His hands were working magic on her as her nipples hardened… who would have thought she was that sensitive on her chest.

The sound of her blood pumping combined with the scent of her arousal, had Angelus head spinning. He was having a hard time playing this game. He'd wanted her to admit she knew the truth and he could tell that she wanted him to be the one to give in, but at this rate he'd tell her about anything just to get the long awaited release.

She then took him by surprise by pulling at his pants open to pump at his throbbing erection. He pulled her mouth to his thrusting his tongue into her mimicking her ministrations. His eyes rolled practically to the back of his head and when their gaze met… he saw satisfaction and defiance in her emerald orbs.

She was playing him like and instrument, but he felt so good that he was about to give in just to get what he wanted. But pride and ego got in the way… the great Angelus wasn't about to surrender.

With that in mind… he ripped her jeans open, slipping his hand in to rub between her womanly folds… she was literally melting for him and the feel of her wetness united with her small hand wrapped around him almost pushed him over the edge.

That's my man, she thought. As stubborn as she was… he was on to her. He knew she was playing dirty… and he was playing dirty back. His teasing hand was torturing and she was on the brink of giving in. NO! she argued with herself, He has to fess up…

Just then she felt him insert a finger in her, making her cry out in pleasure… God she was so close…

She tighten her grip on him… pumping him faster to push him to defeat. He replied by inserting another finger, then another until he had writhing under her for more… Her muscles began to contract around his fingers and he knew victory was to come… in a double sense of course.

Buffy felt this was a battle she was about to lose, factually, but she refused to voice it. Instead she gave him a passionate kiss then whispered, "I love you…"

Angelus had been waiting to hear that come from her for such a long time that all that mattered now was their sweet release. He began to nibble at her neck; as he got closer his features changed. The feel of his canines gracing at her skin tore through the last thread of need and she burst of satisfaction. Her release caused her insides to clamp down on him, pushing him to lose control and he came crashing down on her.

He knew he'd probably never know heaven… but this, he was sure, was pretty close. He knew he should have said I love you back, but part of his evil self kept him from it. He'd hoped showing her with actions had been enough.

*For the record… I really hate you right now…* Angel said.

I can live with that… Oh right, I'm dead… Angelus returned smug.

*Screw you dude…*

No thanks… We'll leave my dear Buff to do that…

"What are you thinking…?" Buffy broke through their bicker without knowing.

Angelus smirked, "About how awesome this was…"

Buffy raised her eye brows, "Right…" so they were back to pretending, huh?

"We should get cleaned up…" she glanced between them.

"Good idea…" he got off from on top of her.

She went to the bathroom setting the water for a bath… as she removed her clothes; she noticed he'd tore her jeans… Great, she thought, what am I suppose to wear now. Ugh… she'd figure it later, it's not like she had somewhere to be, she thought bitterly. She slipped into the soapy water and let the warm feel and scent relax her muscles.

Angel's eyes would have been about to jump out of their sockets at the sight of her…

"Is there room in there for one more…?" Angelus leaned against the bathroom door.

"You ready to tell the truth…?" She raised an eyebrow at him probing.

Now that caught him off guard big time, she was calling his bluff but he wasn't giving in, "No…"

'Then… you have your answer…" she said.

"Fine…" he returned, "But I gotta say… it's you who's missing out…"

She rolled her eyes, "Cocky much…"

"No…" he paused, "honest…" he grinned, "and speaking about honesty… why are you here and not at home…"

Buffy's expression became instantly serious… "I don't… want to talk about it…"

"Okay…" he began to leave but heard…

"They kicked me out…" she began.

*What? Who?*

Shhh…

"Who…?" he turned around and walked to sit by the tub.

"The gang… Xander, Willow, Giles…" she responded. She began reluctangly going through the story and mistakes she'd made. The most recent… her last attempt at a fight in which they lost some of the girls.

"If there is something that I've I learned throughout the time that I've lived is that in war… no one really wins. You can wreak havoc and though in the end on one side it may seem as though someone actually wins, the total result is just many casualties… and you can't blame yourself for that."

*Wow… where'd you read that…* Angel said impressed.

She gave him a small smile, "Then whose fault is it…"

"No one and everyone… you're not forcing anyone to do this…" he paused, "Each and every one of those girls, including you annoying sidekicks, know what's at stake and they want to be part of it, from what you've said, they want to do this… by your side. You are THE slayer for a reason."

He went on.

"There may have been slayers in the past, and there will be more slayers in the future, hence the potentials, but not ONE will have done or accomplished what you have, Buffy. You are the valiant leader to try and aspire to be and the one to for demons to fear…"

Buffy's eyes began to tear.

"You may not be able to see it… but I do… We've seen the best and the worst of each other. We've been to heaven and hell and back. We know each other's qualities and weaknesses, though I'm sure I have no good ones…"

"You do…" she smirked, "more than one…"

He grinned, "My point is that you are the perfect woman and then some… you couldn't be any more perfect if I'd looked for you throughout the history of time. Oh wait, I may not have looked but it did take me more than a century to find you…"

*And I'm sappy…* Angel poked fun, *I didn't know you had it in you…*

Angelus ignored him, she needed this… him-them, she'd lost faith in herself and she needed to open her eyes.

"Your strength is what gave me strength… you need to remember the strong woman in you. There's a reason the slayer is always a woman and not a man…"

Buffy had her head down and Angelus approached her leaning by the tub, raising her chin to meet his eyes, "I love you my slayer…"

His eyes turned a golden yellow for a moment and Buffy was stunned. Angelus admitted his love for her and he wanted to make sure she knew it was from him. He leaned down to press his lips slowly to hers and then stood.

He grabbed a towel and set it close to her, "I found some clothes I thought might fit us…" he walked towards the bathroom door, "there on the bed when you're ready. I'll be down stairs."

"Thank you…" she whispered. She sure as hell hadn't expected that from him, but something he'd said triggered something in her mind. She needed to get going… and fast…