|  Author | Topic: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *COMPLETED* 17/17 (Read 1,820 times) |
Zo
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|  | Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *COMPLETED* 17/17
« Thread Started on Oct 10, 2006, 12:05pm » | |
Title: Lay It On The Line
Book Two - Promises In The Dark Series.
Author: Zo
www: http://www.warriorsandlovers.com
Email: zoso37ba@gmail.com
Posted: 10.10.06
Disclaimer: You know who they belong to. It’s not me!
Rating: NC-17/MA (contains non-con sex)
Pairing: B/A, S/F
Timeline: Six months after To Believe Again
Summary: Secrets are revealed and pasts come back to life.
A/N: (1) If you haven’t already read Book One (To Believe Again) I recommend that you do. Characters are introduced and developed in the first book. This is a continuation of that story.
(2) It has been two years since Book One was completed, and that’s way too long to wait on such a cliffhanger, many, many apologies for that. And lots of thanks to everyone that sent feedback on Book One, and wanted to see the story continued. I hope this book is well worth the wait.
(3) Many thanks to Kay – my beta beauty – for putting up with my babbling rambling quirks *big hugs*. And to Bre, my rock in the otherwise whacky world of BTVS fandom and life, this book is dedicated to you – luv ya sweets!
*********************************************************************
Chapter One
Hush
London…
The sky was pitch-black and the rain fell rapidly as a dark cloaked figure stood on a rooftop overlooking the city. His keen eyes peered through the thick fog that had suddenly rolled in, blanketing the city into even more darkness.
Perfect, he smirked into the night. To him there was nothing more beautiful then the fog that settled in. It made his job much easier, in and out, just the way he liked it. He didn’t want to stay here any longer then he had to.
He checked his watch, ten minutes. He jumped up on to the edge of the roof and took out his crossbow. He aimed for the gargoyle on the roof across the street and fired. The wire flew across the sky then with a clank it wrapped around the neck of the gargoyle, locking into place.
He smirked, perfect shot. He quickly moved to attach the other end to the clasp on the wall. He grabbed his pulley and hooked it to the wire. With a smile on his face he took a deep breath and jumped.
This was his favorite part. It always made him feel like Superman, flying through the sky. It was a feeling of freedom. It was what made his job perfect. That and the fact that he got to kill people. He’d always enjoyed that too. Maybe a little too much, at least the other members of the team thought so.
Nearing the building he lifted his knees and prepared for the soft quiet landing that he needed. Without a sound his feet touched the concrete, his palms resting on the cold stone as he smirked proudly to himself. Another successful flight, as he liked to call it.
Unhooking himself from the wire his eyes scanned the rooftop. Seeing that he was alone, he quickly made his way to the door.
His keen eyes scanned the doorframe looking for any trip wires or alarms that might be present. Spotting one, he chuckled as he reached for his slim leather tool case in his jacket. Did they really think that dinky thing would keep him out? That wouldn’t keep a crack head out.
Pulling out his wire cutters, he studied the small box in the upper left hand corner of the doorframe. Taking a hold of the red wire he held his breath as he clipped the wire. He smiled broadly as the wire split into two and the door popped open without a sound.
Putting the cutters back in the case, he zipped it up and tucked it away. Opening the door he stuck his head in and quickly looked down the stairs. Empty.
He stepped inside and closed the door, leaving it open just a tad, and made his way down the steps and to the apartment right below it.
“It’s a bloody shame mate. We was leading that match when the bloke hurt his knee.”
“Aye, I couldn’t believe it meself Deacon. It was as if those Manchester bastards planned it.”
He pressed himself up against the wall and quietly snuck up to the end of the hallway, where he heard the two men talking. He couldn’t help but shake his head in agreement. He knew exactly what match they were talking about, how could he not. He lost 2000 pounds on that game.
“Aye well, we’ll get him next time, we will.”
He looked around the corner and saw them. They stood guarding the wide double brass doors that were closed. Two big burly men wearing the worst suits he had ever seen. He guessed they didn’t get paid much; either that or they needed some serious help in the wardrobe department. Judging by the bulge in their jackets, they were both packing. If he had to guess, he would say they were Glocks, but you never knew. Not that it made a difference. Their fingers would never even touch the triggers.
Silently he pulled his dagger out, his favorite weapon, and pressed himself further against the wall as he turned the corner and slinked up to the men.
“I think I need some tea. You want some Deacon?”
Before Deacon could answer, he was grabbed from behind and felt the pressure of a strong arm under his throat. All he saw was the slight glimmer of silver before its sharp blade slid effortlessly across his throat, slicing the flesh neatly and cleanly.
The other man turned around to answer, but no words came out as a knife flew through the air and embedded itself in his throat.
The figure held on to Deacon and grabbed the other one by the collar before he fell to the floor with a loud thud.
Quietly he laid them both down then pulled his knife out of the one man’s throat. After he wiped it on the man’s jacket he put it back in its sheath and turned his attention to the closed doors.
Scanning the hallway one more time he slowly turned the knob and opened the door. Stepping inside the room he looked to his left and then to his right. There was the sound of a pot being placed on a stove, as a shadow moved around. The kitchen. Not what he was interested in even though he was a little hungry.
His ears picked up the sound of the shower being turned on and he looked to the left. The bathroom. Now that he was interested in. But first there was something else that he needed.
Peering straight ahead was the living room and the large Van Gogh that hung on the wall. His eyes twinkled gleefully and his heart lurched with anticipation. He crept up to it; his feet not making one sound as they crossed the marble floor then touched the shaggy carpet. Reaching the painting he grabbed the frame. Pulling it, he swung it wide open to reveal the safe behind it.
Placing his ear on the cool metal safe, he leaned in and his nimble fingers began to turn the lock, listening intently for that small little click. Twenty seconds later the safe quietly popped open. He smiled; damn he was good.
Reaching inside he quickly filtered through the papers that were stacked neatly in the front, pulling out a photograph that was hidden beneath them. Well, well, well…it appeared that the bloke had more to hide than they knew.
The photo was of two men. The bloke was on his hands and knees; he had a ball in his mouth with a leather strap keeping it place, and a chain around his neck. Behind him was another man. He wore a black mask and tight black shorts and in his hand was a whip. The figure shook his head at the absurd image, what some people were into these days was beyond him. Shrugging he put the photo aside, to each his own, he always thought.
He reached all the way into the back of the safe when his gloved hand landed on something round. Smiling he pulled it out and held it up. Deftly he opened the black velvet pouch and looked inside.
He was almost blinded by their sparkling beauty as he stared at the diamonds. It was a small fortune and he couldn’t contain his excitement. No matter how many times he held some in his hands, no matter how many he owned in his own private vault, he still never got tired of staring at them. They were just beautiful little pieces of nature.
Hearing a door slam from the kitchen he closed the pouch and tucked it securely in his pocket. Quietly he closed the safe.
Walking back over the marble tile he silently crept to the left and down the hall.
Steam came out from under a door filling the hallway with moist heat. He walked up to it and peered inside.
The shower was running, and there was a man inside washing himself. He was happily humming as he did, completely unaware of the black figure that watched him.
He looked back down the hallway and to the kitchen. Seeing nothing amiss he slowly opened the door and crept inside the bathroom.
It was a huge opulent bathroom and he couldn’t help but admire it. Not that it was his style, it was a little too flashy for his tastes, but still it was something to see. The entire bathroom was black marble and trimmed with gold leaf. Even the glass shower walls that enclosed the shower were lined with gold. Hell even the shower itself was amazing. It was the size of a walk in closet and had four water jets strategically placed on every wall. He could only imagine what that must feel like.
His eyes darkened. He had traveled all over the world, he had stood in some of the richest homes in the world, even his own home wasn’t too shabby, yet it still amazed him as to what a lot of money could buy. What really riled him was the fact that some people had nothing and other’s like this scumbag, who didn’t deserve to share the same air as those good people, had everything.
Taking a step closer to the edge of the wall, he smirked to himself. It didn’t matter. Soon this guy wouldn’t have jack shit.
He looked around the wall; the man stood with his arms braced against the wall, his back to the figure that stepped up behind him. Without hesitation he grabbed the man from behind, leaned his head back, and slit his throat. The body fell to the floor, making no sound except that of a small splash as it hit the water that slowly started to turn red.
Rinsing his dagger off, the figure placed the cold weapon in its sheath and headed out the bathroom and back down the hall. Taking one more glimpse to the right, he silently left the apartment, closing the door softly as he did.
He made his way up the stairs and to the roof, when he heard the sound of glass shattering and a shrill cry of fright echoing throughout the building.
Casually he walked up to the edge of the roof. Grabbing the wire that was still around the Gargoyle he attached the motor pulley and clamped it into place. Turning the small but powerful motor on, he took one last look over his shoulder. Smiling at the emptiness that he saw, he turned around and walked off the building.
The pulley pulled him along the cable and up the slight grade assuredly. Once more he was flying like Superman through the sky, and he couldn’t suppress the smile that shone on his face.
His feet slammed down solidly on the roof of the adjacent building. He looked back to the roof he had just left, still empty. Quickly he collected his equipment and put it in the small black bag.
He pulled out a blue shirt and black blazer. Swiftly he tugged off the snug black mask and shirt that he currently wore, and tucked them away inside the bag zipping it closed.
He opened the door and headed down the long stairwell checking his watch. It was exactly ten minutes later. Damn he WAS good!
He began to whistle happily as he walked down the stairs. He should just make the eight o’clock flight back to Los Angeles.
Five minutes past and he was on the bottom level.
“Thank you luv.” He said to the woman that held the door open for him. She smiled back at him. She was cute, but she wasn’t what he hungered for. She didn’t have big brown eyes, and she most definitely did not have a sexy sassy mouth.
His feet hit the pavement and walked over to the waiting cab. Opening the door he jumped in and closed it. “Heathrow airport mate and make it quick.”
*****************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: B/A: Book 2: PITD Series: Lay It On The Line.
« Reply #1 on Oct 10, 2006, 12:06pm » | |
Chapter One Continued...
Los Angeles
“OH GOD, ANGEEELLL!”
“Shhh you have to be quiet.” Angel admonished his lover quietly. He didn’t want an audience. But it was a hard feat to accomplish considering his lover was a screamer. Thrusting inside her tight sheath he moaned blissfully, he wouldn’t want it any other way.
Of course he could use a little more room. The closet that they were currently occupying was a tight fit for a man his size. And it didn’t leave much room for some good strong hip action but he didn’t care. He was just glad that he found an empty room in a busy movie theatre on a Friday night.
They came to see the midnight show of some foreign movie. It was something that he had wanted to see, of course at the moment he couldn’t remember what the hell it was. Buffy on the other hand, didn’t. She said any movie that required her to read for two hours wasn’t worth the effort. She said if it wasn’t filmed in English then it couldn’t be that good. He chuckled at her, Americans.
She came only because she had dragged him to see some girly movie that he didn’t want to see last week. And he made her promise that she would go to see a movie that he wanted to watch. She had reluctantly agreed.
But Buffy was Buffy, and half way through the movie she started to tease him by running her hand up and down this thigh squeezing it along the way. Then when she got to his crotch she slowly grazed his length with her fingernails as she moved closer and rested her head on his shoulders.
It annoyed Angel because he really wanted to see the movie, but it seemed that the Beast didn’t want to watch it either because his pants quickly became very tight.
He tried to ignore it. Why should she always get what she wanted? Make her suffer a little bit he said to himself. She shouldn’t be able to always seduce him in to doing what she wanted right?
But that sentiment quickly fled the moment she turned her head and stuck her tongue in his ear, breathing shallowly and lightly she whispered, “I want you Angel.”
Damn it he couldn’t resist her.
He growled and stood up abruptly grabbing her hand and proceeded to drag her out of the movie and into the nearest closet, which is where they currently found themselves.
Buffy was precariously sitting on a makeshift shelve. Her legs were spread wide and she was holding on to a towel rack as Angel pounded into her.
“ANGELLL” She keened.
“Shhhh”
With one last powerful thrust the shelf splintered and cracked just as they both achieved their release. She quickly wrapped her legs around his waist for support as he grabbed on to her so she wouldn’t fall.
“Who’s in there?” The doorknob started to rattle and Angel silently thanked God that there was a lock on the door.
“Shit!” Buffy whispered.
With one quick kiss to his lips her legs unwrapped from around his waist and landed on the floor. They quickly adjusted their clothes smiling at each other like idiots. When they were decent once more they opened the door to the angry red face of the manager.
“What are you doing in there?” He craned his neck around the couple trying to see if something was amiss.
Pushing Buffy through the door Angel reached into his pocket and took out a hundred dollar bill. “Here that should pay for the damages.” He slapped it in the manager’s palm and smiled at him.
Giggling they strolled out of the movie theatre holding hands. “For some reason I don’t think we’ll be able to go to that movie theater again.” He said happily.
Buffy pouted, “But I like that movie theatre they have those cushiony soft seats.” Angel looked at the pout and knew he could never deny her anything.
“Okay we’ll sneak in next time.”
“What do you think happened to Spike and Faith?” Buffy asked as they walked down the Sunset strip. They were supposed to meet them at the movie theatre but they never showed up.
Angel knew exactly why they didn’t show up but he wasn’t about to share that information with Buffy. Instead he just chuckled and grabbed her by the waist hauling her up to him. He lowered his face to hers rubbing his nose against hers. “Probably the same thing that we were doing.”
She giggled back, “Yeah but I bet it didn’t cost Spike a hundred bucks.”
“I’d pay a million bucks to have you wherever I want, even if it was in the pits of a sewer.” He started to nuzzle her neck, nipping on her throat.
She ran her fingers through his hair and clung to him wrinkling her nose at his suggestion. “A sewer? Angel I love you, I really do, but I don’t think I will ever get naked in a sewer.”
He stopped his ministrations and looked up at her. “I didn’t say you had to be naked.” His hands moved to the hem of her skirt inching it up. “You just have to be there and accessible.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
She laughed at him while trying to stop him from lifting her skirt up any higher.
“Disgusting what you young kids think is appropriate public behavior these days.” A woman snorted as she passed them on the street.
Angel looked up at her and winked. “Well ma’am perhaps you could come over here and show me exactly what appropriate public behavior entails?”
The lady gave him the nastiest look Buffy had ever seen from an old lady then she walked away huffing and puffing, mumbling about rude young men.
Buffy slapped Angel’s hands away and stepped out of his embrace, laughing at his playfulness. “You are so bad teasing little old blue haired ladies.” She started backing away from him.
He followed with a sinister smirk on his face. “Well how about you come back over here and I’ll tease you instead?” He started to walk faster.
So did she.
“I don’t like to be teased Angel you know that.” She gave him her sexiest smile. “When I want it, I want it. No waiting for Buffy, it makes me cranky. Now you better hurry up because I want it now.”
She turned around running as fast as she could. They were only two blocks away from The Graveyard so she thought she might have a chance.
Angel gave her a ten second head start before he dashed away after her.
**********************
The loft was dark except for the soft glow of candles that cast a shadow on the lovers lying on the floor. Buffy was resting her head on Angel’s chest thinking about how amazing he was and how after six months he still evoked incredible feelings of longing and love inside of her.
She remembered what it was like with Parker; to her it seemed that after six months it was clear that she didn’t love him. He would touch her and she would feel nothing, no spark, not longing or lust, just nothing.
But Angel, Angel made her feel everything. He made the tiny hairs on her body stand to attention waiting for his slightest touch. He made her toes curl with the pleasure that he incited in her. He made her heart feel so full of love that at times she thinks it will just explode. With Angel, when she’s away from him, it’s just the mere memory of a word spoken or a look given that gets her hotter then a five alarm fire.
“What’s your plan for tonight baby?” Angel asked as he rubbed her back.
Buffy purred under his touch still lost in her own thoughts. “Mmmm…if I suggested you, me, a bottle of champagne and a bubble bath would you stay?” She asked. She was a little annoyed that he had to work tonight. It seemed that he was working a lot lately either at night or on the weekends.
Angel sighed into her hair blowing loose strands over his face; he hated being away from her too. There was no other place in the world he would rather be tonight than in the arms of his Goddess, but at the moment he had no choice.
“I’m sorry baby I know I’ve been working a lot lately but the Director is yanking all our chains to finish this project.”
She sighed, her breath tickling his skin. “I know, I just miss you when you’re not with me.”
He tugged on her hair and she looked up at him. “And I miss you.” Their mouths met in the middle leisurely nipping at the corners of each other’s mouths.
“I am behind in doing the books for The Graveyard so I guess I’ll be doing that tonight.” She pouted. “No fun for Buffy.”
Angel held her tightly and nipped at her ear. “Well I can’t help with the books.” His hand slid over her smooth back and to the curve of her butt. Covering the soft globes he squeezed them. “But I can give you a little something to think about while doing the books.”
She laughed. “Angel there is nothing little about you.”
He smiled against her neck. “Well that is true,” he proudly declared.
Buffy chuckled at his conceit. “Besides like I would really be able to concentrate on math if all I’m thinking about is you and your little…” reaching down she squeezed his not so little package, “…something.”
Reaching back up she reached for his head, her hands sifted through his brown locks and brought his mouth to hers for a kiss.
Just as the kiss got hotter and hands started to wander, their peaceful shroud of love was interrupted by the loud banging on the front door. “OUI’ ANGELUS…you in there?”
Angel moaned under Buffy’s mouth. “Why can’t they just leave us alone!”
She giggled at the exasperated look on this face and started to rise. He pulled her back down growling at her, “Where are you going?” He placed kisses down her neck. “Ignore him, he’ll go away.”
She held his head to her neck enjoying his attention and giggling at his playfulness.
BANG. BANG. BANG. “I know you’re in there I can smell the sex out here for god’s sake. Don’t you people have any shame, shagging on the living room floor!”
Angel growled into Buffy’s neck while she flat out laughed at Spike’s outburst. She pushed off of him and stood up. Angel placed his hands behind his head and looked at her in all of her naked glory. God she was beautiful and she’s mine he thought as a smile spread across his face.
“I’m going to take a shower. You…” she poked him in the stomach with her toe, “Will take care of your friend who is obnoxiously banging on my door.”
He grabbed her foot before she walked away and brought it up to his mouth. Taking her toe in his mouth he sucked on it lightly, staring into her eyes. “Maybe I’ll meet you in there after I get rid of said obnoxious friend.”
BANG. BANG. BANG. “C’mon mate I can’t stay out here all day” BANG. BANG. BANG.
“ALRIGHT ALREADY HOLD ON!” Angel screamed out, mad that a loud-mouthed Brit was disturbing his sexual play!
He let go of Buffy’s foot and she helped him up. She kissed him on the lips then turned away, walking towards the bathroom. Angel was unable to resist smacking her on the ass. “Ouch!” She rubbed her derriere giving him a look that promised payback but he just winked at her.
Putting on his pants he walked over to the door and opened it. “Have I ever told you that the sound of your voice grates on my nerves?”
“All the time.”
Spike came barreling in pushing Angel aside and looking around the room. He was hoping to get a glimpse of naked Buffy skin, but she wasn’t there.
Angel rolled his eyes. “She’s in the shower.”
Damn, well maybe next time Spike thought.
Angel closed the door and went into the kitchen with Spike trailing behind. “How did it go in London?”
“Piece of cake mate.” He threw a black pouch down on the table. “He wants to see you, tonight. He said and I quote, ‘I don’t care if he’s fucking the Queen of England I want to see him tonight!’”
Angel smirked, typical crudeness. “Yeah well I was planning on it anyway. Buffy’s got to do the books tonight so she’ll be busy with that.”
Spike walked up to Angel and whispered, “Are you ever going to tell her?”
Angel thought on that, he had contemplated telling her but he was afraid of her reaction. Not because he thought she would be stuffy about it, but because he lied to her. It had taken him a long time to get her to trust him and he was loath to do anything that would break that. “Have you told Faith?”
Spike leaned against the counter. “Yes I did.” Proud that he had bucked up and told the truth. Well at least the majority of the truth.
“And what did she say?” Angel was curious because Faith and Buffy were so much alike and maybe if Faith took it all in stride then Buffy would too.
“She didn’t say anything at first. But then after she drop kicked me clear across the room for lying to her, she said she understood.” Spike said rubbing his stomach remembering the force of that kick and how much it hurt.
Angel smirked at that picture but then his smile quickly faded as another image came into his mind, that of him flying across the room in the same manner by a pissed off Buffy. Unconsciously he rubbed his belly.
“She understands the need for keeping that bit of information to herself, right?” Angel asked, even though he already knew the answer. Faith like Buffy knew all about keeping secrets.
“Of course mate - no worries.” Spike said confidently and Angel nodded at him.
Angel walked over and poured a cup of coffee.
“So?”
“So what?”
“So are you planning on telling the girl?”
Angel turned to face him, “I’m hoping that I won’t have too.”
Spike sighed, shaking his head. “You know he’s just going to say no again. You’re his money maker there’s no way he’s going to let you walk away from a profitable relationship. “
Angel nodded, his eyes darkening because he knew that was true. He had already tried a few months back after Vienna when he went to him and told him he was out. And what did the bastard too, he threw more money at him and he couldn’t resist.
Actually it wasn’t so much the lure of money that made him agree to stay but rather it was the fact that he really didn’t want to walk away. He actually liked what he did very much. It made him feel alive. It was damn better than playing the role of stuntman for a living. Although that wasn’t too bad either, it was the perfect cover for a man in his occupation, but it still didn’t fill him with adrenaline like his real job did. No he loved what he did. It made him feel invincible and he didn’t want to give it up. There was only one other thing in this world that gave him the same feeling and she was currently soaping up that tight body in the next room. Something else that he never wanted to give up.
Spike knew Angel’s thoughts because he thought them too. He loved his job and wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. Lucky for him Faith didn’t ask him too, she actually seemed quite excited to learn about it and his adventures. Of course he didn’t tell her everything he wasn’t stupid. There were just some dirty details of his job that he didn’t know what her reaction would be too. So he was better off keeping his mouth shut. But honesty does have its rewards, after he told her what he really did he was rewarded with some of the best sex he ever had. Umm…maybe he should tell her more.
“Maybe you don’t have to walk away? Maybe she won’t care.”
“I’m sure she won’t care, well too a point at least.”
Angel eyed Spike, “Did you tell Faith everything?”
“Angelus you insult me.” Spike said taking offense.
Angel nodded and then continued, “Well knowing Buffy she’d probably want to join me. But that’s not the point, the point is that I’ve been lying to her for the past eight months and I don’t think she’ll thank me for that.”
“Well you’re going to have to tell her sooner or later before she finds out on her own and believe you me that would be way worse.” Spike said.
“Who says she’ll find out?”
Spike shook his head, “Look you know as well I do that a secret this big cannot be kept undercover for long, especially from a woman like Buffy. She’s not stupid Angelus, in fact sometimes her astuteness scares me. It’s almost like…”
“She’s in the business herself?” Angel said, thinking the same thing.
“Yeah. It’s odd. Very odd. I’m telling you mate, if you don’t tell her she will find out herself, somehow in someway, and then you’re going to regret not telling her to begin with.”
Angel sighed and dragged a hand through his hand, he knew Spike was right. He hated when Spike was right.
“Listen mate I’ve got to go. Go see him and talk to him. While you’re at it use some of this...” He pushed the pouch that was on the table towards Angel, “to buy your girl something nice, you know soften her up a little.”
Angel nodded lost in his thoughts as he stared at the black velvet pouch.
Spike turned to walk out of the kitchen and instead walked right into Buffy. “Oh sorry pet I didn’t see you standing there.” He looked at her warily, trying to figure out if she heard anything. When she stared back at him blankly, he smiled at her then leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you later pet.” Then he left the loft.
Angel walked over to Buffy and kissed her on the cheek, “Rain check on that fun time? I have to get ready before I’m late again.”
“Yeah sure.” She said sweetly smiling at him. He smiled back but she noticed the tightness of that smile, as Angel noticed hers.
Buffy watched him walk into the bathroom and close the door. She stared at the closed door her eyes small slits as she recalled what she had overheard.
She had been on her way into the kitchen to join them when she heard their whispered voices. She had stood stone still not wanting to make a sound that would alert them that she was there. What was it that he had to tell her before she found out herself? And why would he need to soften her up?
If she weren’t so perturbed about the fact that he was lying to her about something, she would’ve laughed at Spike and the way he had tried to read her. That was pretty comical at least in her eyes because Spike was good, she would give him that, but she was better. She was a pro at hiding her feelings and what she was thinking. She could con a nun into joining an orgy if she wanted to.
The problem was that even though she was better than Spike Angel was the master. He could dodge a speeding bullet of questions if they pertained to something that he didn’t think you should know about. It was going to be tough to get anything out of him.
Walking over to the coffee pot, she poured herself a cup and pondered what her options were. They were very limited to say the least.
Option Number One: she could always just ask. She quickly eliminated that idea because there was no way that he would tell her.
Option Number Two: she could follow him and poke around a bit and see what she came up with. She left that option open because while that would take some time, it actually might be her only option.
Option Number Three: she could always kidnap Spike and torture him till he talked. She smiled, she actually liked the sound of Option Number Three, but sadly she couldn’t do that because she didn’t think Faith would go for it.
So that was it…there were no other options. Unless, she smiled wickedly, she used…other methods? She ran her hands down her sides as she mentally tallied a tempting list of erotic torture she could devise for her bad boy lover. Her face crinkled with annoyance as her hands dropped to her side. She had to get serious that would never work. He could easily turn the tables on her, and then she would totally forget why she started it to begin with. No, she had only one option and that was number two.
She stared off into space, mentally kicking herself in the ass. For a while now she had suspected something funny was going on but she always pushed it aside not wanting to create any tension in their new relationship. She also figured that she was just being jealous and paranoid. Her feelings were obsessively strong when it came to Angel. Even seeing him talk to another woman made her want to commit murder.
Funny, she thought she had gotten rid of all those violent tendencies when she left the Brotherhood and started her new life. But apparently where Angel was concerned she hadn’t.
As she sat at the table her fingers tapping angrily on the wood, her mind thought of all sorts of things that he could be doing behind her back, and that made her see red.
Obviously, Spike knew about it, and was trying to get Angel to come clean with her, which made her wonder if Faith knew. But she quickly dashed that idea away; there was no way that Spike would tell Faith if Angel was messing around behind her back. Guys just didn’t share that kind of information with their girlfriends. Especially when the girlfriends were as close as she and Faith were.
Standing up she drank down the rest of her coffee and placed it in the sink. She had a lot to do today. She was determined to get to the bottom of whatever was going on even if it killed her.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: PITD Series: Lay It On The Line. 1/??
« Reply #2 on Oct 20, 2006, 3:57pm » | |
Chapter Two
Suspicious Minds
Standing in front of the large oak doors he took a deep breath and knocked.
“Come in.”
He opened the door and stepped inside closing the door behind him.
“Angelus I’m so glad you could find the time in your busy schedule to see me.” The sarcastic comment came from the man sitting at the big wooden desk. He sat there staring intently at Angel, his fingers steepled together as his keen gaze swept over his nephew.
“Uncle.” Angel nodded to him respectively then sat down in front of the desk pouring a whiskey. “You know I aim to please.”
Quentin Travers studied his nephew and took in the sarcastic reply. He knew that Angel didn’t want to be here and he knew the reason why. He normally had no problems with his nephew’s sexual escapades giving him leeway to do as he pleased. If he were really a bastard he would have refused to let him wed that bitch Darla. But Angel was so pigheaded and he knew that if he said no to the wedding that Angel would have gone on with it anyway. Besides Quentin knew it was only a matter of time before he saw the error in his ways, which he did eventually.
“Yes well, perhaps not. Why did you send Spike to do the London job? I specifically told you that I wanted you on that mission.”
“And I specifically told you that I wasn’t going. Do we really have to go through this again?”
“Yes we do because what I want goes here Angelus, not your wants. You think because you are family that you can deny my requests.” He leaned forward his face displaying his unhappiness, “and that is not the case.”
Angel’s ire grew as he stared at his uncle. It was always the same with him, in his uncle’s eyes, Angel owed him. It was why he treated him the way that he did, as if he was a second class citizen. But Angel knew that what Spike said was true, Angel was his Uncle’s money maker, and without him his Uncle wouldn’t be where he was today. “Look what’s the problem? Spike got the job done and that’s all that matters.”
Quentin stood up and walked around the desk. “The problem is that I now have a very unhappy client.”
Angel just shrugged, “Why? He got what he wanted. The mark’s dead.”
“Angelus you know the rules of this game. When an agreement is struck it is abided to like the bible. You broke that agreement and now I have a very uneasy client who is questioning doing business with me. And I don’t like it when people question me.”
Angel stood up and faced his irate uncle with flippancy. “Well there’s nothing I can do about it now, the jobs completed.”
Quentin smiled at him and it made Angel a little uncomfortable. His uncle never smiled and when he did it usually meant something bad for him.
“Actually there is. He is arriving tomorrow night and staying at The Beverly Hills Hotel. He wants to meet you. You will go there, meet him, and give him the explanation he deserves.”
Angel looked at his uncle distrustfully, his inner voice telling him that something wasn’t right. His uncle never wanted him to meet the clients. From day one, Angel knew that he was the shadow of the operation that he had been apart of ever since he was born. He didn’t meet anyone. It just wasn’t done. He went in and did his job that was it. No strings or attachments to anyone. It made killing them a lot easier.
“Why?”
Quentin walked over to the window, his hands behind his back. “He has another job, one that requires your utmost attention. It could be extremely profitable for everyone involved. Sending Spike to London has made him question his decision to do business with us. He doesn’t trust people that change the rules in the last minute.”
He turned around and faced him, “Frankly, I don’t blame him, neither would I. He wants to meet you, to restore his confidence that all is well.”
Angel knew he wasn’t telling him everything, he never did. There should be no reason why the client would want to meet him. Usually the clients didn’t give a shit who did the job as long as it was done. Angel knew there had to be another reason, a more personal reason. And that made him nervous.
But he didn’t show his uncle that, he stood up confidently and quickly. “Fine I’ll do that. What’s his name?”
Taking a piece of paper out of his pocket, Quentin handed it to him. “Don’t be late.”
Angel smirked at him, “I never am.” Turning away he headed toward the door only to be stopped by his uncle’s crisp voice.
“Angelus?”
He stopped with his hand on the knob, “What?”
“How is your new…friend?”
Angel slowly turned around and eyed his uncle, what was he up too? “Why?”
“I was just curious as to what kind of woman can make my cold hearted nephew so…content.”
Angel’s face hardened like the deadly assassin he was. It was a face that many a mark had seen - the last face they ever saw. And he wished it could be that way for his uncle. “Uncle I tolerate you and your rudeness to me only because I have too. But she has nothing to do with you and us, ever! So don’t ask me questions about her, don’t think you’ll ever meet her, and if I ever find out that you have…I will kill you.”
Stepping back he stared at him a few seconds longer. His black eyes promised death and completed his cold and serious threat. Placing the piece of paper in his pocket he walked out, slamming the door as he did. He didn’t give a fuck if his uncle, who praised silence and discretion, didn’t like it, he could fuck off for all he cared.
The fact that his uncle’s slimy treacherous lips even mentioned his goddess did nothing but piss Angel off and sent shivers of tread down his spine. There was no way his uncle was going to get anything over on him. No fucking way. He knew he was up to something and Angel was going to find out. There was too much at stake. And he wasn’t going to lose anything.
“We’ll see about that my boy.”
Quentin stared at the closed door with an evil smile on his face. The boy hated to admit it but he was just like Quentin. Cold hearted, untrusting and suspicious with everyone and everything. It was what made him so great at what he did. It also made him the type of person that would never want to change his ways. But to Quentin’s surprise he did. Who would have thought that Angelus, The Scourge of Europe, the most deadly assassin and most proficient thief in the world would have grown soft, and all because of a mere slip of a girl.
Walking over to his desk, he pulled out the file marked “Elizabeth Ann Summers” and opened it. He stared at her picture, she was attractive he would give her that. And Quentin was sure that she had to be an expert in bed, what biker whore wouldn’t be. But still that was no excuse for his nephew to grow soft.
He grumbled angrily as he sat down in his chair. He still couldn’t believe when Angelus came to him six months ago wanting to get out of the business; a family business that had been in operation for centuries. No family member left the business it was unheard of, and coming from Angelus it had shocked Quentin.
He knew right then that there had to be something or rather someone influencing his nephew. And he immediately put a man on it. His mission was simple, find out everything you can on one Elizabeth Ann Summers. Quentin wanted no details spared. He wanted to know everything from the day she was born to when she got her periods. The way he saw it, she was his number one enemy and he always found out everything there was to know about his enemies.
Of course Angelus had no idea what Quentin had been up to, as it should be, that was better left for another time. And while it was in Quentin’s nature to want to know everything about someone he felt was a threat, he had to admit that it had been more than just protecting his investments. He had been curious, more then curious to see what kind of woman could change Angelus. Because he never would have imagined Angelus wanting to walk away from something that he loved doing. And Quentin knew that Angelus loved what he did.
He thrived on the thrill of the kill and the excitement of stealing something that everyone said could not be stolen. It was his birthright, a skill that he had been born with, handed down from generations of cut throat thieves and murderers. People that were to everyone else honest law abiding citizens, but in the cover of night, would steal from and kill their brother if they had to. Like Quentin, and his father before him, Angelus was kin to some of the most famous and infamous people in both American and European history. And he had always known from where and whom he came from. It was a fact that Angelus had always prided himself on. It made him cocky and confident. It was what made him the best.
His curiosity aside, Quentin’s main reason for keeping tabs on everything was the fact that he had too much invested in the boy. Ever since Angelus’ parents died, Quentin had been stuck with the whelp. Spending money on him, sending him to the finest schools in Europe, on his education in the business, clothes, whores, booze, drugs, you name it, Quentin had spent money on it. It made him sick to think of the millions of dollars he had wasted on an ungrateful whelp that didn’t even have the slightest bit of respect for him. He knew that Angelus hated him - he never kept it a secret. But Quentin didn’t care. Hatred was good. Hatred filled the soul with blackness. And that was exactly where Quentin wanted Angelus to be - lost in the pits of his own hell. A creature that did nothing but do what he was told when he was told to do it. He was, in Quentin’s eyes his property and there was no way in hell he was going to let him walk away. The boy owed him – big time, and he was going to pay him back – in full.
Looking back down at the blonde beauty, he smiled. He almost felt sorry for the boy; he had no idea who he was really fucking. No clue as to what was really going on behind those beautiful lying eyes.
Closing the file he stood up and grabbed his coat. He would, sooner than later, and then Angelus would be right back where he belonged. Under Quentin’s wing, doing what he did best - ruthlessly killing.
**********************
Angel walked inside his house slamming the door as he did, almost breaking the picture that rattled on the wall. He threw off his jacket and walked over to the bar. Angrily grabbing the bottle of Jack and a glass he climbed the stairs.
He was still steaming mad. His gut was telling him that something was about to happen that would change his life, something that wasn’t going to be pleasant. And he couldn’t help but wonder if Buffy had something to do with it. Why else would his Uncle mention her?
His Uncle thought he was so damn sneaky, but the truth was that Angel knew that he kept tabs on him, he’d always known. And he knew that his Uncle probably had a file on Buffy just like he did on every other person that Angel had ever had contact with. It was his way. He had to know everything about everyone.
It never bothered Angel before, because frankly, he never gave a shit about anyone else. But Buffy, Buffy meant everything to him. Buffy was something that he wanted to keep to himself. And he couldn’t help but think that his Uncle probably knew more about Buffy than Angel did, and that bothered the hell out of him.
Reaching the top of the stairs he walked over to the alcove and hit the hidden switch. With a quite swoosh, the doors opened to reveal the secret room. He walked inside and hit the button again closing the door in the process. He turned on the lights and sat down; putting the glass down on the desk he poured himself a shot and drank it quickly.
God damn it! What the hell was his uncle up too? That old bastard didn’t smile for anything or anyone. Well he wasn’t just going to sit here like a mouse waiting to be stomped on. He picked up the phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. On the second ring it was answered
“Yeah?”
“Oz, I need you and every one else in LA.”
“Problems?”
“I don’t know for sure but my gut tells me yes.”
Oz chuckled. “Well I for one will always believe in your gut instincts. I’ll round everyone up we’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Good. Try to get here as early as possible, I have to meet someone tomorrow night and I’m going to need some quick recon before I go.”
“Okay see you then.”
He hung up the phone and stared at the picture on the desk and the golden smile that stared back at him. He remembered that day on the beach. The picnic that they shared and the love making that followed, it was one of his favorite memories.
Guilt filled him. He had promised her no lies, that they would always be honest with each other. And he really wanted to do that. But he was afraid that it was too late and that his lie was too great.
After all, it wasn’t every day that a person found out that their lover was an assassin. And while most people would freak out if they learned that, Buffy wasn’t most people. He wasn’t too concerned that she would freak out from disgust over what he really did. She did after all have a colorful past of her own. It was the secrets that would anger her. Just as it was her secrets that angered him because there was no doubt in his mind that she had many.
Why would Uncle mention her? There had to be a reason. There had to be something in that file that uncle had that he thought was useful, something that Buffy didn’t tell him about. But what? What secret could she possibly be keeping from him that could be used as ammunition against him? He never detected any signs of betrayal when she told him of her past. But then again, he wasn’t looking for any. Now with everything going on with his uncle, and him having to meet the client, he wondered if he had been blindsided. Maybe his uncle was right, maybe he had grown soft. Maybe he was letting The Beast think for him.
He stared at her picture, yes he had been blindsided…he was in love! All he wanted was to have an open and honest relationship with the woman that he loved. Was it so wrong of him to not see the bad and only see the good? He knew deep in his heart that it wasn’t, yet he couldn’t help but feel that he had been taken for a fool in someway.
His finger rose and gently caressed her face, smiling softly at the irony. Weren’t they a pair, two lyers keeping secrets from each other. Secrets that he knew would reveal themselves eventually. For him, he didn’t care what her secret was because it wouldn’t change anything. But still he had to know because not knowing was driving him insane. For peace of mind and nothing else, he was determined to find out everything there was to know about Buffy, even if that meant breaking into his Uncle’s office and stealing that file. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to keep her by his side.
On the other hand his secret was an entirely different story. He could live with the guilt that filled him for keeping it from her, because deep inside he felt that he was doing the right thing.
He had promised her he would never hurt her and he meant to keep that promise. If that meant lying to her for the rest of their lives about what he really did. Then he would.
The clock chimed softly on the wall bringing him out of his thoughts. He took one last drink and left the room swearing softly, he was late again.
He locked the house and jumped into the Porsche, starting the engine; he pulled out of the driveway and headed for The Graveyard.
**********************
Buffy walked into the bar and looked around. Her nose crinkled at the putrid smell of booze and sex as her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
She quickly scanned the room till she found the person she was looking for. Finding him sitting at his usual corner table, she walked over trying to avoid all the grubby hands that were trying to cop a free feel.
“Boo!” She jumped up behind him placing her hands on his shoulders.
Willy jumped out of his seat startled, turning around ready to berate whoever it was, but he relaxed when he saw who it was and he smiled. “Hey Buffy haven’t seen you in a long time what you been up too?”
She sat down next to him wiping the seat first. “Ah well you know just keeping a low profile.”
He chuckled. “Yeah right low profile, I got johns left and right whacking off in my bathroom with that SI issue.”
Buffy blanched and held back the nausea that bubbled up.. “Ah…thanks for the visual Willy.”
He laughed at her. “What can I do for you kid?”
Moving her chair closer, she lowered her voice. “I need some information.”
He eyed her curiously, “Yeah what kind of information?”
Looking down at the floor she stomped her foot on the cockroach that was casually walking by. “People information. I want you to trace a guy for me and find out what ever you can?”
Willy eyed the beautiful blond and wondered what she was getting her self into. He scowled at her, “Hey kid I thought you were out of that business, a fresh start remember - a new life. What the hell are you getting your self into now?”
“It’s not like that Willy. I am starting over it’s just…I need to find out something.” She leaned closer and blasted him with the sweetest smile. “Pretty pretty pleassseee”
Willy of course was drawn to the innocence of that smile, even though he knew that she was far from innocent. “Alright, what’s the name?”
She handed him a piece of paper and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you Willy, I owe you one.” She stood up ready to leave.
“Yes you do and I’ll remember it too.”
She laughed and ruffled his hair, “I know you will. I’ll stop by tomorrow night.”
He nodded at her and watched her leave.
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: PITD Series: Lay It On The Line. 1/??
« Reply #3 on Oct 20, 2006, 3:58pm » | |
Angel sat at the bar with Spike and he was not happy. He rushed here to be with Buffy, plans in his head of seducing her away from her work, maybe taking her there on her desk. But when he arrived Faith told him that Buffy wasn’t here. She had gone out and Faith didn’t say where.
Now he sat at the bar his agitation growing with every second that ticked by and no Buffy. He was late that was nothing knew. But she was always where she was supposed to be. With his suspicious mind in full swing from the conversation with his Uncle, and the fact that she wasn’t here now, he was completely on edge. His entire body was tight with anxiety and his mind was wondering into bad untrusting thoughts. It was two o’clock in the morning, where the hell did she go?
Buffy opened the back door to the club and climbed the stairs to the second floor. She opened the door and slipped inside. It was late and the bar was dark only the lamplights on the wall illuminated the room and they weren’t bright at all. She looked toward the bar and saw Angel and Spike sitting there nursing their whiskey.
She watched her lover closely, his hand ruthlessly clenched his glass, his shoulders were stiff with tension, and she gulped. He didn’t seem to be too happy and she knew why. He turned his head to the left and she caught a glimpse of his eyes, they were as black as the room. She gulped again, definitely not a happy camper.
But then she remembered why she hadn’t been here when he arrived and her own eyes blackened. Let him fume a little, it would do him good. After all she was usually the one waiting and wondering where the hell he was. At least now he finally knew what it felt like.
He leaned over and whispered something to Spike. She watched their quiet exchange with hooded eyes. What were those two up too? What were they really involved in. She started to wonder if maybe she never really knew Angel at all. Maybe he had an entire secret life that she knew nothing about. He was always away making movies so he said, but was he really?
Spike moved on his stool, the legs scraped against the floor drawing her out of her thoughts. Seeing them sit there together, heads close and quietly talking, it suddenly dawned on her that it was the same spot they always sat in. It was the left hand side of the bar. Their backs were to the wall. She looked around the room; they had every angle of the room in their vision. There was no part of the room that they couldn’t see or watch. Her head angled to the side, as she realized that no matter where they were or went, that was how they always sat. They never sat with their backs to an open room. Never.
It was a rather odd observation something that a regular girl would probably never take notice of. But she wasn’t a regular girl and she wondered how she never noticed it before. She snorted to herself, blinded by love and lust, that’s why.
She heard Angel chuckle softly, and the sound warmed her blood and cooled her wary mind. She did love him, desperately so. What if she was wrong? What if she was just being paranoid? Did she really want to risk losing the best thing she ever had all because of her trust issues? No she didn’t.
It was only fair to give him the benefit of the doubt. If she jumped to conclusions and confronted him before she knew anything for sure, and she turned out to be wrong, she would regret it. Plus he was so sweet he would probably be hurt if he found out what she was thinking so it was better to keep everything to herself until she talked to Willy.
Now that her head was a little bit clearer, she started to get nervous. She had to come up with a pretty good lie, something that he would believe without a seconds thought. She had to be cool. Taking a deep breath to calm her senses she smelled…whores. Shit, she had to take a shower.
Looking past Angel she stared hard at Faith willing her to notice her. When they made eye contact she nodded toward the bathroom.
“Hey Amy?” Faith called out to the other bartender “Yeah?”
“I’ll be right back mind the bar.”
“Okay.”
She jumped over the bar and discreetly walked away. But she failed to notice that Spike and Angel watched her with wary eyes.
Faith opened the door to the bathroom and took one last look over her shoulder when her arm was grabbed and she was pulled into the bathroom. “Shit B where the hell have you been?”
Buffy locked the door. “I went to see Willy.”
Faith looked at her, “Willy the perv? Why?”
“Because Faith Angel’s been lying to me and I’m going to find out why.”
Faith eyed her hesitantly she felt bad because she knew why and what Angel was lying to her about, and it made her uncomfortable. She didn’t like keeping secrets from her best friend and she was afraid of what Buffy would do when she found out. Mentally she cursed both Angel and Spike for putting her in this situation. But there was no going back. She promised Spike that she wouldn’t say anything…she’ll just have to kick his ass later.
“What are you talking about?”
“I overhead him and Spike talking earlier and something’s going on that he doesn’t want to tell me about. So I’m going to find out on my own.” She whispered.
Faith didn’t like where this was headed. “B I don’t think you should be doing this. Why don’t you just ask him?”
Buffy gave her a look like she had lost her mind. “Yeah right like he would tell me anything. He’d clam up so fast that I wouldn’t know what hit me. Besides I need to be sure Faith. I don’t want him to know what I’m thinking. I don’t want to hurt his feelings if I’m wrong, he’s very soft hearted you know.”
Faith snorted to herself, yeah right. “Well thank god there’s some sense in that head of yours. Please Buffy stop this sneaking around bullshit and just ask him. He might surprise you.” If Faith had anything to with it that’s exactly what was going to happen.
“Look he’s out there now and he’s not happy that you were out this late by yourself.” She caught a whiff of Buffy and her nose crinkled with disgust. “Not to mention the fact that you reek like a whore house! Jesus Buffy didn’t you think to take a shower first? He’s going to smell it.”
“It’s not that ba….”
BANG BANG BANG
“BUFFY ARE YOU IN THERE?”
Both girls jumped and latched on to the other’s hand. “Shit!”
“Calm down,” Faith said, “listen you sneak upstairs and take a quick shower, I’ll stall him.”
Buffy smiled at her sister, “you’re the best Faithy. Have I told you today that I love you?”
Faith looked at her sternly, but inside she was smiling. “Yeah, yeah, I love you too.”
BANG BANG
“BUFFY?”
“Quick go hide in the stall and I’ll get rid of him.”
She shooed Buffy into the back stall and waited till she had her feet up on the toilet. Straightening her top she casually strolled over to the door. Unlocking it she threw it open and stepped outside but was blocked by a wall of muscle.
“Geez Angel can’t a lady have some privacy?”
Angel was peering over her shoulder looking inside. “Where’s Buffy? Is she in there?”
Faith put her hand on his chest and pushed him back. “No Buffy’s not in there.”
His eyes crinkled in the corners as he looked at her. She was lying. “Then why was the door locked?”
“Why? Because I wanted some privacy I didn’t know that was illegal…in my own place.”
She fixed him with a stern look. He had enough sense in his head to look embarrassed but inside he was seething. A man could only take so much sneakiness in one night. “Sorry I’m just worried. It’s late and she’s not here and she’s out by her self. She is by herself isn’t’ she?” he said in a small voice, as his paranoia increased.
Faith took him by the arm leading him back to the bar. “Of’ course she’s by herself. She’s got you doesn’t she?” She flexed his arm. “All Mr. Big, Strong and Muscley, why would she need anyone else.”
Faith smoothly feed his male pride and it worked, a little. He had a smug smile on his face as he let her lead him back to the bar but he still didn’t believe her.
Thinking she had him right where she wanted him, Faith rolled her eyes; men could really be dense sometimes. Little did she know that Angel was about as dense as a ten foot thick wall of steel.
**********************
Twenty minutes later Angel and Spike were still sitting at the bar. Spike was watching Angel who was checking his watch every ten seconds.
“You know she’s not going to get back any faster with you all watchy like.”
Angel glared at him.
“What’s a matter with you Mate? You’ve been tied in knots since you got here?” Spike asked.
Angel leaned closer to him, “Uncle.”
“What the ole’ bastard have to say?”
“He mentioned Buffy.”
Spike’s eye went up, “he did, did he? How so?”
“Well he didn’t mention her name or say anything to the point…”
Spike harrumphed, “like he ever does.”
“But still it made me…” he didn’t want to say suspicious because it made him sound paranoid, so he struggled trying to find another word.
“…suspicious.” Spike said and Angel nodded.
“I didn’t want to say it, but yeah.”
“Relax mate, it doesn’t make you paranoid. You know as well as I do, that Uncle doesn’t say anything without some little trick up his sleeve. If you ask me, your worries are justified.”
Angel nodded his agreement, his eyes checking his watch and then the door once again. “Where the fuck is she?” He said, loud enough for Faith to hear.
“Hey big guy chill out she’s alright.”
Angel eyed Faith’s calmness, as she toweled off a glass and placed it back on the shelf. He liked Faith a lot. She was a good loyal friend to Buffy and she was the perfect match for Spike. He admired her strong character; she was both mentally and physically tough. She had probably been in just as many bar brawls as Angel had. He wondered how long it would take him to break her. His hands unconsciously clenched at his side, and he automatically rolled his head loosening his neck muscles.
Spike’s eyes darkened as he took note of the tell tale movements he had seen a million times. And he cleared his throat, unhappy with what he was seeing.
Angel glanced at his brother, took note of the look of death in his eyes, and looked back at him with his, ‘I won’t hurt her much’ stare. But Spike shook his head no.
Angel sighed and relaxed his muscles, looking back at the brunette who was unaware of how close she came to being tied up and tortured.
“Where did she go Faith?” It was a pointless question he knew that she wouldn’t tell him.
Faith just eyeballed him right back. He was trying to frighten her but she wasn’t afraid of him. Instead she got pissed off and instead of answering him she switched topics.
She leaned closer, her hands braced against the bar as they stared at each other practically nose to nose.
“Hey, don’t give me that look. You’re the one that’s got me in the middle of something that I know I don’t want to be in!” She vehemently whispered. “If you weren’t such a chicken shit you’d tell her what’s going on!”
Angel’s eyes darkened, no one called him a chicken. “What did you just call me?” He quietly said.
Faith smirked at him, “Chicken. Bock – bock” She mimicked and Angel suddenly stood up, his stool crashing to the floor as his hands landed sharply on the bar, making it rattle.
Spike envisioning his beloved Faith flattened against the wall and blood pooling around her, immediately stood up and leaned into them. Placing a hand on both of their chests he pushed them back from each other. Angry blue eyes glared at both of them and then landed on Faith.
“Faith, shut up. You’re only making things worse.” He sneered at her.
Her eyes flashed dangerously, not liking his use of words. Yes she was definitely going to kick his ass later.
Spike turned to Angel, “Dearthair bog. Ta si ceart.” (1)
Faith snorted hearing her lover speak a foreign language that she knew she had never heard either of them speak before. “More secrets? Gee what a surprise.” She said her eyes as black as Angels, as she looked at Spike.
Spike’s gaze softened as he looked back at her. “Please baby, not now.”
Faith’s anger dissipated under his love filled gaze. She calmed herself down and took a step closer. “You know why don’t you try being honest with her Angel, she might appreciate that. I don’t like lying to her and she’s going to be just as mad at me when she finds out…probably more.” She mumbled, as she threw the towel she had been holding on to the bar. Disgusted with both men she went to the office to have a drink.
“Mr. Angel sir?”
Angel watched Faith walk away still seething mad.
“Excuse me, Mr. Angel sir?”
Spike thumped him on the chest, and then nodded his head toward the bouncer.
Angel turned, “what?” He shouted and the bouncer visibly took a step back. Angel sighed and relaxed, “I’m sorry Tommy, what is it?” He asked softer.
Spike slapped him on the shoulder and sat down, taking a drink of his beer and knowing that he had just averted World War III.
“You wanted to know when Ms. Buffy was back. Michael said he saw her come in about twenty minutes ago sir. She’s upstairs in the loft.”
Angel smiled at him, he knew that paying the bouncers in the club an extra grand a week would come in handy one day. “Thank you Tommy. You’re a good man.”
The bouncer walked away. Angel grabbed his drink and slugged it down then slammed the glass on the bar. Without another word he turned and walked away.
Spike watched him go, slugging the rest of his beer down, he stared at the door to the office. He should go in and apologize, sooth her anger. His hand unconsciously massaged his stomach, but…one more drink wouldn’t hurt.
“Amy, one more.”
**********************
Buffy got out of the shower and dried off; she threw her robe on and walked out into the living room. The room was dark and she was thinking of what Willy would find out. She was lost in her thoughts and so of course she bumped into the table.
“OW!” She stumbled and almost fell over in her effort to grab her big toe, when there was a strong pair of arms around her waist steadying her.
“Angel?”
His eyebrows went up. “Were you expecting someone else lover?” He was holding in his anger and suspicions. He didn’t want to yell at her but he really wanted to know where she was.
She smiled at his attempt to hide his jealousy and anger, and she leaned back against him touching his arms. She had time to relax and think in the shower, and she now felt confident that she was just being her crazy irrational self.
“Ha ha. Have you been here the whole time?”
She leaned her head back and into his neck breathing in his rich deep scent. “You could have joined me in the shower?” She kissed him letting her tongue lightly lick the sensitive area at the base of his neck.
He shivered and closed his eyes. Damn it she knew how to get to him but he wasn’t going to let it go that easy. “Well I was waiting downstairs for you.”
When she moved her hand up to the nape of his neck and started to play with the fine hairs, he shivered again and couldn’t resist her play. The tightened anger in his muscles quickly changed to desire, and his voice was husky and deep. “I was planning on seducing you away from your work, throwing you on top of your desk and taking you violently.”
“Mmmm that sounds very cavemanny.” She tingled with anticipation. She loved it when he took her roughly.
“mmm doesn’t it. But to my surprise you weren’t here?” He waited to sense some kind of reaction from her but damn it she was good and he got nothing. “Where were you?”
She kept playing with his hair and licking his neck. “Xander called and wanted to talk to me so I met him at the diner.” She turned around in his arms and looked up at his handsome face.
“At two o’clock in the morning?” He didn’t believe her. He knew Xander and there was no way in hell that he would ask her to meet him at that time of night, especially by herself.
But Buffy just shook her head happily. “Yup he had a fight with Anya and was upset.”
He looked deep into her eyes. In his gut he knew she was lying but to his utter amazement he couldn’t tell. She looked as innocent and sweet, and un-beguiling as an angel. What the hell was wrong with him? He could always tell when someone was lying to him. Either he was losing his touch or she was better than him. “Oh, what about?”
“Babies.” She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips.
“Babies?”
“mmmm, as in Anya wants them and Xander doesn’t.” She nipped at the corner of his lips and spread her hands across his back, rubbing them up and down.
Well that could be true, he thought, he remembered overhearing an argument they had at a party at Joyce’s art gallery last week.
“Are you going to ask me questions all night or are you going to make love to me?” She stood on her tippy-toes and drew his mouth down to hers, kissing him deeply.
Of course he wanted to question her more but as she took his mouth hungrily and pressed her tight little body against his, he could only do what any lust hungry man could do. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
Questions could come tomorrow.
__________
(1) : rough Gaelic to English Translation: “Brother relax. She’s right.”
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-2* 2/?
« Reply #4 on Oct 26, 2006, 11:33am » | |
Chapter Three
Revelation
The next morning Buffy woke up alone, which to her chagrin was not an uncommon event. Without even opening her eyes, her hand reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the note that she knew would be there.
Grabbing the piece of paper she lifted it and opened her eyes, focusing on the handwriting that she knew by heart.
Buffy,
Sorry I had to leave early for a shoot. I’ll call you later.
Love A
She held the note to her chest her eyes falling shut once again as she sighed disheartened. Nine out of ten times she woke up alone. If she had kept every single one of these notes that she had gotten in the last eight months, she’d have to get a bigger place.
The events of yesterday flitted through her mind and she scowled. She had one main goal for the day and that was to talk to Willy and put her doubts to rest. Jumping out of bed she quickly got dressed and went into the kitchen to have some coffee.
Upon entering the kitchen she smiled seeing the beautiful dark brew that sat on the counter waiting for her. Thank God for automatic coffee machines, because if she had to sit there and wait for it she would surely lose her mind. Grabbing a cup she poured the aromatic liquid and then raised it to her lips. Sighing contently as it slid down her throat, she closed her eyes letting the brew warm her up.
As her body filled with contented warmth, her mind automatically remembered last night. She smiled softly, Angel was incredible last night. Not that sex wasn’t always incredible with him, because it was it was just that last night he seemed urgent almost desperate in his love making. His touches had been rough but at the same time tender. One minute he was whispering words of love and poetry into her ear, the next he was harshly telling her that he was going to fuck her into oblivion. It had been an earth shattering experience to say the least. She looked down her open robe and at the tiny love bites on her breasts. She felt their heavy soreness and as she sat down in a chair she winced as her tender derriere hit the wood. She felt completely owned and branded, and it didn’t bother her in the least.
“B you awake?” Faith called out as she entered the loft and slammed the door shut.
“I’m in the kitchen!”
Faith strolled in looking not to awake herself. She smiled at Buffy as she reached for a cup of coffee. “So how was your night?” She asked as she settled down in a chair across from her.
Buffy smiled. “Very nice and yours?”
Nice wasn’t a word Faith would use to describe last night. Violent was perhaps the more appropriate term. It took Spike two more beers to grow a set of balls and come into the office where she patiently waited for him. He then proceeded to very quickly and very sweetly apologize for not telling her that he could speak a dozen other languages. She actually wasn’t really mad about that, she figured it came with his line of work, she was just pissed off that she was forced to lie to her best friend.
But Faith wasn’t one to pass by on a good thing. Instead she took advantage of his guilt. After making him grovel at her feet like the dog he could so easily be at times, they fucked like bunny rabbits on speed. She had been so hot for him, especially when he started to talk dirty to her in every language he spoke. She had no idea what the hell he had said but it didn’t matter. To her it was sexy and mysterious, and definitely not nice. She smirked, “Five by five.”
Seeing the wicked look in Faith’s eye Buffy said, “Don’t tell me you guys did it in the office again!”
Faith chuckled at her, “Oh please, like you and the big guy haven’t?”
Buffy smirked back at her. “A lady never tells.”
They sat quietly drinking their coffee and Faith looked at her sister pondering her next question. She took a gulp of coffee and decided to just jump right in. “So did you ask him?”
Buffy’s smile faded. “No. I’m not going to ask him so he can lie right to my face.”
“B you don’t know that he might surprise you.”
“Faith I’ve been with Angel for eight months now and I have really, really come to know him. And I know without a single second’s thought that he is keeping something from me. I don’t’ know what it is. I hope to god that it’s not another girl, because that would be bad…very bad. But I have to know either way. Besides I was honest with him he should be honest with me.”
Faith looked at her skeptically. “You were honest with him?”
“Yes I was.”
“You told him everything?”
Buffy got flustered under Faith’s intense gaze. “Well…maybe not everything but everything that he needed to know…yes.”
“Buffy, I know you don’t want to hear it, but you do realize that you’re going to have to tell him eventually.”
“Why?”
“Why? Jesus Buffy, that’s a big piece of your past – a freaking humongous piece! You can’t just not tell him!”
Buffy looked down into her coffee. Faith was right it was big – real big – but why did she have to tell him? It was a dead issue. There was no reason to bring it up.
“Why not? How’s he ever going to know?”
Faith couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She leaned in, “Buffy you know there is always the chance that they could come back for you. I know it and you know it. It’s just the way it is. Now what happens should that day arrive ah? What are you going to tell Angel then?”
Buffy’s shoulder’s dropped, again Faith was right. But she couldn’t tell him. How could she?
“He wouldn’t understand Faith.” Her eyes gazed into her coffee again and her voice was soft. “He would hate me. He’d cast me aside like some dirty criminal.”
Faith was shaking her head, because she KNEW that was not the truth. But how did she convince Buffy of that without incriminating herself? God she could just smack Angel. If he had been honest with Buffy then Buffy would feel confident in telling him the truth. God these two were driving her insane!
Faith’s heart broke for Buffy because she knew exactly where she was coming from. It had been hard, extremely hard to tell Spike about her past. There was so much she was ashamed of, so many things that she never thought she would tell anyone else besides Buffy. But she did. And yes when she spoke them, she had felt dirty and tainted…like a whore. But Spike, he had been so sweet, so understanding, he didn’t look down at her. He didn’t see her has any of those things and she knew that Angel would be the same. She wasn’t ashamed of her past anymore. She didn’t feel like a dirty whore and she had Spike to thank for that. She wanted Buffy to feel that same sense of ease and she knew that she never would unless she told Angel.
That’s why it was so hard for her to sit here and watch these two fuck up their lives. Seeing the sadness in Buffy’s eyes finally broke the straw. That was it! Faith had it with keeping their secrets. She would give them until tomorrow night to tell each other and if they didn’t, then she would.
RING…RING…RING…
Buffy leaned back and picked up the receiver. “Hello.”
“Hey Wills what’s up?”
“Ah ah. Okay sure I’ll see you there. Bye.”
“What’s Red got to say?”
“They changed the photo shoot to 10AM I have to go get ready.” Getting up she put her coffee mug in the sink and headed toward the bedroom.
“When are you going to see Willy?” Faith called out.
“I’ll stop by his place after the shoot. Angel should still be working so that won’t be a problem.”
“I hope so.” Faith said into her coffee. “Oh and don’t forget to shower when you get back.”
**********************
Entering the Hyperion Angel threw his coat on the couch and walked over to the counter.
“Oz.” He smiled and held out his hand. “How you been?”
Daniel ‘Oz’ Osborne smiled back and shook Angel’s hand. “Angel. Not bad, yourself?”
Angel couldn’t help but smirk, Oz was always short on words. “Amazingly I’ve been great!” At least up until yesterday he thought.
Oz smiled and shook his head, he heard all about how good Angel had been lately from Spike. “So I’ve heard.”
“Yeah I bet, let me guess, Spike?”
“Oui’ I’m here.” Spike came barreling in a beer in one hand and a butt hanging out of his mouth.
“And how that is, is still a mystery.” Oz said. Spike always amazed him. He drank and smoked more than any one man should, and yet he was the healthiest person Oz had ever met.
Angel chuckled he was more than familiar with Spike’s habits. But he never busted his balls to much because he better than anyone understood how much pressure their particular line of work came with. Angel figured everyone needed an outlet. Still every now and then he felt compelled to say something. “Spike its 9AM in the morning.”
Spike looked at him like he had lost his mind. “So anytime I’m awake is a good time to drink my friend.” He strolled up to Oz and smacked him on the shoulder. “Wolf boy how’s it going?”
Oz grimaced at the nick name that the crew had given him. “Am I ever going to live that down?”
Spike chuckled, “fraid not buddy. You have to admit she was one hairy chick.”
Angel couldn’t help but chuckle right along with Spike. Poor Oz the one time that he hooked up with a girl after a mission was in Budapest. It was his first time there and he didn’t know that the women didn’t always shave. So he was a little surprised when he took her back to his room and found out that she had more hair then he did. The screams that came out of his mouth had drawn everyone into the room only to find Oz on the floor with the most shocked look on his face and the hairiest naked girl that any of them had ever seen.
Angel looked around the vast and empty room. “Where’s everyone else?”
“I do believe I here my name being called.”
“Well I for one am not everyone else.”
Angel looked up to see Gunn and Wesley walking down the stairs.
Gunn grinned at the Brit. “Oh lighten up book boy.”
When they reached the bottom of the stairs they walked over to greet Spike and Angel.
“Where’s Fred?” Angel asked after shaking hands with each of them.
Gunn sat down on the sofa next to Spike shaking his head at his partying ways. “She’ll be down in a minute, you know women.” He shrugged. “How do you drink that in the morning?” he asked Spike.
“How, is not the question my friend, the question is how do you not?” They laughed together.
Angel wished he could be in as good spirits as they were but he just wasn’t. Normally when the crew got together to do a job he was right in there with them, joking and kidding around with each other. It was a great way to start a job. It relaxed everyone, made them more clearheaded, which was always needed on a job. But this job smelled rotten, and he was getting antsy. “Alright let’s get started.”
“Yeah, you know I was enjoying my morning romp with Faith before you barged in.” Spike said annoyed.
“I was only returning the favor.” Angel smirked at him.
“ha ha”
Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out five velvet pouches then threw one to each of them. “Your cut on the London Job.” He threw two to Gunn. “Fred’s share”
“Nice dude.” Gunn said deftly catching it.
Oz weighted his in his palm feeling the weight and knowing exactly how much was there. “Very nice.”
“Last night I saw Uncle and he wasn’t happy with the London job.”
Spike snorted, “I knew that already.”
Angel glared at him, then started to pace.
They watched him walk back and forth, exchanging knowing glances. When Angel paced it was not a good sign. Usually the big man was in control and confidant of every situation. And if he ever felt like he wasn’t then he normally didn’t show it. Usually only Spike got to see that side of him. So everyone’s interest was piqued.
“There’s something else going on here that he’s not telling us.” Angel said.
“That’s a surprise.” Oz drawled out.
“Really Angel that’s nothing new. Uncle has never been the most forthcoming man.” Wesley commented.
“Yeah but it’s different this time, I was getting weird vibes off of him.”
“Shit that’s nothing dude, I get that every time I see him. He’s a freaky Brit, more so then these two.” Gunn nodded toward Spike and Wesley.
“Hey I resent that!” Spike said.
“As do I.” Agreed Wesley.
Angel stopped his pacing and faced them. He voice was hard and straightforward. “No it’s different this time.”
“What makes you say that Angel?” Wesley asked.
He wasn’t going to mention Buffy, at least not yet. The less she was involved the better. He stared pointedly at Spike, making sure he understood to keep his mouth shut. “Because he wants me to meet the client tonight.”
“What? Since when do we meet the clients?” asked Gunn.
“Really, that is odd.”
“The client wasn’t happy that Spike went instead of me.”
Wesley looked at Angel with a knowing stare. Cardinal rule number one: you did not change the plan. The moment that Angel told them Spike was going to London instead of Angel Wesley knew that decision was going to have some sort of repercussions. Of course he mentioned it to Angel but he just blew him off.
Angel looked at Wesley, his hand up halting anything he might say. “I know Wes.”
Turning he faced Oz. “Oz I want you find out everything you can about our mysterious client.” He slapped the piece of paper that Quentin had given him into Oz’s hand. “Here’s the room number, do you think can hack into the hotel’s computer and find out his name?”
Oz looked at him blankly.
“Sorry, of course you can, I don’t know what I was thinking.” Angel smirked at him and Oz nodded confidently.
Oz stood up and headed toward his laptop. “I’m on it.”
“Wes, once Oz has a name and photo I need you to go down to the hotel and trail the guy if he leaves. I want to know where he goes and who he meets. If someone comes to him I want to know who he is.” Wesley shook his head and followed Oz.
“What about me and Fred?” Gunn asked.
Angel continued to pace, then stopped in front of Gunn. “I need you two to follow Uncle.”
“Excuse me?” Gunn sat up straighter, a look of disbelief on his face. “You want me to follow the sneakiest bastard in the world? Have you lost your mind?” He stood up and faced Angel, worry in his mind for his own health and Fred’s.
“Gunn I know it’s asking a lot but…”
“Asking a lot! Dude the man is one big fucking eyeball!” Gunn shouted.
Spike’s eyes were hard as he stared at Angel. There was no way he could possibly be thinking of doing what Spike knew he was thinking of doing. He stood up and walked over to Angel. Leaning in close he whispered, “We need to talk.”
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
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Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
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Posts: 1,413
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-2* 2/?
« Reply #5 on Oct 26, 2006, 11:34am » | |
Angel nodded at him. Then turned and walked out of the room Spike close on his heels as Gunn stared at him. “Yeah…talk some fucking sense into that hard head!” He plopped back down on the sofa. “Follow Uncle…” he turned to Wesley and Oz, “…that boy’s losing his fucking mind!”
“He’s got a reason for everything he does Gunn.” Oz said.
“Yes well let’s hope it’s for the right reason.” Wesley added.
Spike closed the door to Angel’s office. “You can’t do it Angelus.”
Angel walked over to the black cabinet behind his desk and opened it up. “Do what?”
Spike snorted at him, “Do what? Oh um let me see…breaking into Uncle’s. Stealing a peek at his Blondie file – that what.”
Reaching into the cabinet Angel pulled out a small black leather bag and tucked it securely in his pocket. “Why not?”
“Why not! Jesus Angelus, you seriously have lost your fucking mind! First off, you’re putting Gunn and Fred in danger. It’s a bloody suicide mission man! Secondly, I don’t care how good you are there is no bloody way in hell that you’ll get in. Which means, you’ll get caught, which means…” he leaned over the desk, his palms smacking loudly as they hit the wood, “that it’s a suicide mission for you too!”
Angel sighed; closing the cabinet he faced Spike. “Spike I have to know what’s in that file.”
“Brother I understand I do, but this is not the way. This is just plain stupid!”
Angel started to get angry. He had made up his mind and he was going to go through with it. Last night as his beautiful goddess was wrapped scrumptiously around his body, he thought about asking her if there was something in her past that she never told him. But it occurred to him that if he did and there wasn’t, then he would be opening up a door that he knew would be hard to shut. He was better off finding out on his own…why rock the boat if it was calm and peaceful? The problem was getting it done successfully. He had lain in bed throughout the early morning hours, watching her sleep, and planning his course of action.
“Look I spent a lot of time thinking about this. It’s not that big of problem as you would think.”
“Really…and how do you figure that?”
“It’s simple. Every day at one o’clock Uncle leaves for the Club to have his afternoon tea. All I want Gunn and Fred to do is tail him. Make sure he gets there and let me know when he leaves.”
Spike stood up, “what about the fifty goons that litter the building and who all know your face, and…hate your guts I might add.”
Angel smirked, “Spike how long have you known me? Do you really think that those idiots can keep me out?”
“You got a point but still it’s risky.”
Angel nodded, “maybe but it’s worth the risk to me.”
“What about the security system?”
Angel laughed while slapping Spike on the shoulder and steering him out of the room, “don’t you remember who designed that system?” They walked out to the main lobby two sets of eyes landing on the redhead sitting at the counter.
Spike smiled, “Oh yeah.” Maybe he was right. Maybe it wasn’t suicide after all.
Gunn seeing them walk out stood up. “Did you talk some sense into him?” he asked Spike.
Angel ignored Gunn and headed over to Oz to discuss his plan, leaving Spike to answer him. “Look mate, its okay. All you need to do is follow Uncle to the club and then tell Angel when he leaves. It’s as simple as that.”
Gunn didn’t look too sure, so Spike figured he’d give him some incentive. “Look if it makes you feel any better, take Angelus’ Harley. It’s less noticeable then one of the cars and you guys can wear helmets.”
Gunn stopped in mid stride, his expression changing from annoyed to hopeful excitement. “You mean the new one that just got delivered, the one that I was strictly forbidden to use?”
“The one in the same my brother.” Spike smiled at him.
Gunn’s excitement was so apparent Spike couldn’t help but chuckle. Gunn lost his bike riding privileges after he took Angel’s last Harley out for a ride. He went out, got drunk and then thought it would be fun to jump over three cars with it. Naturally he never made it and ended up crashing on top of the first car. He laughed his ass off all the way to the hospital where he spent the next two months in traction for his broken leg. Spike had found it very amusing, especially since it was Spike that bet him a thousand bucks that he wouldn’t make it. But Angel, and Fred for that matter, hadn’t.
Spike figured that even though Angel’s plan wasn’t as reckless as it sounded at first, there was still a risk that Gunn and Fred would be spotted and he wanted to make sure that that wouldn’t happen. And as far as he knew Uncle had no clue what the new bike looked like. Besides, the old bastard couldn’t tell a Harley from a Honda anyway.
Spike smiled at him, “think of it as a bonus. Besides, I won’t tell him, if you don’t”
Gunn smiled, “alright I can do that. “
“Good man.” Spike said.
Angel walked over to them. “Everything good.”
Gunn looked at him smiling from ear to ear, “Sure thing boss. No problem.”
Angel nodded at him. “Good.”
Gunn went back over and sat down on the couch still grinning from ear to ear. Spike turned to Angel. “And what’s your illustrious plan for me?”
“I need you to go to the studio and cover for me. I’m supposed to be doing a scene today at noon.”
“And how is that supposed to work? We don’t exactly look the same?”
“It’s okay it’s the scene with the mask.” Angel answered and Spike nodded, then walked over and sat down next to Gunn.
Just then Fred came down the stairs. “Hi guys.” She kissed Angel on the cheek, “…sorry I’m late. What I miss?”
Angel smiled her, “its okay. Gunn and Spike will fill you in.”
“Okay.” She smiled then sat down in between Spike and Gunn as Angel walked over toward the counter.
Spike and Gunn told her the plan. When she started to protest about following Uncle, they both reassured her that it would be okay and she didn’t question them. She trusted them wholeheartedly. When they were done, Gunn nudged her with his elbow. “Ouch!”
Gunn looked at her pointedly then looked at Angel, then back at Fred. She rolled her eyes then stuck her tongue out at him, “chicken”.
Spike rolled his eyes at both of them. Obviously Gunn, Wes and Oz, wanted to know what the skinny was on Buffy. He knew that they wanted to meet her and Spike couldn’t blame them. If he hadn’t already met her he would be just as anxious as them. So they wanted to meet her but they were too afraid to ask Angel themselves, Spike snorted…pussies. Instead they appointed Fred the job because they knew that Angel would never hurt Fred.
Standing up Fred sighed then walked over to Angel who was hovering over Oz’ shoulder. “So…um Angel, when do we get to meet the woman who stole your heart?”
They all stopped what they were doing and looked at Angel, except Spike who sat on the couch his eyes closed seemingly sleeping.
Angel looked up from the computer screen and into the waiting gazes of the gang. “Umm...”
Gunn who had followed Fred over to the counter jumped up on to the counter and turned to Angel. “Yeah come on we want to meet Miss Swimsuit Edition.” Gunn said wiggling his eyebrows.
Angel scowled, he did want his most trusted friends to meet the woman of his dreams, but could he afford to? But then again, they were all trusted professionals who could lie to the devil himself, so where was the harm in them meeting her.
“Well I guess you could come with me tonight to The Graveyard. I have to make an appearance before I go to the hotel.” He offered.
They all smiled thinking the same thing. Finally they were going to meet Buffy. They had heard plenty from Spike but they had to meet her for themselves. Angel’s transformation in the past eight months from a mean, cold hearted, undetached man to someone who was nice, caring and warm hearted was amazing. And they knew that Buffy was the reason.
“If you go, follow C.U. 8.” He sternly said.
Their smiles faltered and Wesley spoke up, sharing a glance with everyone. “C.U.8?”
Angel nodded, “Oz?”
Grabbing the backpack Oz flung at him he started to rummage through it. Pulling out three sets of headphones he threw one to Gunn and the other to Fred.
Fred watched him closely then looked over at Spike who just shrugged at her. Hearing this worried her. She loved Angel, he was more than a friend he was her brother – her savior. Five years ago Angel and Spike had saved her from a life of sexual servitude from a Russian pimp, just as they had saved Gunn and Wesley from the hells that they were in. They meant more to each other then just business associates. They were family. The only family they had.
Angel had always frightened her. He was intense, harsh and not much in the humor department. But she always knew that he loved her. She always knew that he would do anything for her.
That’s why she now felt the need to say something to him. He wasn’t that blood thirsty person anymore and she wanted him to stay that way. She wanted him to be happy. Obviously Buffy made him happy. And Fred knew that Angel’s dishonesty could only mean bad things.
She watched as Angel moved over to his jacket, stuffing the headphones in his pocket and she followed him. Whispering to him gently with all the concern that she felt for him in her heart and soul, “Angel, don’t you think you should tell her? I mean, you’ve been involved with her for over eight months now. It’s obvious that you love her. You have to be honest with her.”
“That’s some good advice luv. It also sounds very familiar.” Spike quietly said as he watched them.
Angel turned to Fred he took her hands in his, his heart warming as he read the love that shone in her big brown eyes. “Fred it’s not that easy. Things are complicated.”
“No, you and Blondie are complicating it. Such dishonesty in a relationship it makes a bloke sick.” Spike said sadly, shaking his head back and forth, clearly showing his displeasure with both Angel and Buffy.
Angel looked at Spike his eyes hard as steel. But Fred gently grabbed his head and turned him back to her. “Angel. I love you. I owe you my life. If it wasn’t for you and Spike I’d be nothing but a used and abused whore.”
Angel’s eyes softened as he stared at her.
“I want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy. I know without even meeting her that Buffy is an extraordinary woman. I also know that she must love you as much as you love her. Don’t lose that Angel. Tell her the truth. She’ll understand.”
Angel smiled at her and grazed her cheek with his fingers. “Fred, you are an extraordinary woman.”
“I’ll second that.” Spike said feeling every bit as sappy as Angel was at the moment.
“You see only the good in people, it’s your gift.”
She smiled at him but he pulled away and once more his eyes hardened. “But the truth is Fred, that everyone has secrets, some more so than others. I’m not the only one keeping them in this relationship and as soon as I find out what hers are then I’ll share my own.”
Grabbing his jacket he headed toward the door. “Oz I’ll be back later, have everything ready. Gunn, one o’clock on the dot, you know how precise Uncle is.”
“You got it.” They both answered him.
“Spike let’s go.”
Fred watched him go her heart heavy with worry. Spike came up to her, and kissed her on the head. “Don’t worry luv. In the end it will be just the way it’s supposed to be.”
**********************
Buffy threw open the door to Willy’s and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkened room. She was tired and extremely cranky, and she still had to go home and shower before Angel showed up at The Graveyard. She really needed to reconsider her modeling career.
Ever since the S.I. edition came out she was a hot commodity. She had been offered a lot of lucrative jobs and had taken many, but there were a lot she didn’t take simply because the job would take her away from LA and everyone she loved. Funny how six months ago she wouldn’t have thought twice about running off to Paris to do a layout but now the thought of being away from Angel for any extended period of time was stomach turning. She literally felt nauseated with the thought that she wouldn’t be able to talk to him, to touch him, or just have him look at her with those deep soul-wrenching eyes. He was so much apart of her now that she almost didn’t know where she stopped and he began.
A sense of foreboding consumed her as she stood there in the doorway. Her inner senses were screaming at her that something wasn’t right. She had tried all day to be positive and calm herself by rationalizing her fears. But nothing worked. She knew in the bottom of her soul that he was lying to her about something and deep down she had always known. It took overhearing their conversation in the kitchen to snap her out of the happy little world she had been blissfully living in. Now standing there, feeling like she was at the gates of hell nausea threatened to spew from her lips. Not knowing what he was hiding from her made her want to vomit.
Her biggest fear was that he had someone else on the side. He was gone a lot it was the perfect opportunity to cheat on her. What if he had loads of women lined up all over the place and she was just one of them. He was gorgeous and sexy, and sweet, it wasn’t too hard to believe that he could. What if he really didn’t love her the way that she loved him? What if he was really married and had children with that proverbial white picket fence somewhere? Her head was pounding, her heart was racing and she was sweating with nervous energy. She had to get it together.
She spotted Willy at his usual table, and she breathed out deeply, this was it. This was where she knew her whole world was going to come crashing down around her. And she could do nothing but walk to her death. Like a zombie her feet carried her over to the man who held all the answers. “Hey Willy.”
Willy looked up from his inventory list, a smile on his face. “Hey kiddo.”
Taking a thin folder out from under his list he slid it across the table to Buffy. “Here you go. Not much there honey, it’s actually a little freaky. Ah you did say that you know this guy right…like now?”
She couldn’t take her eyes off the manila folder. She was afraid to touch it, afraid that she was going to get burned. “Wh…what do you mean?” She quietly asked.
“Well there are some records of stuff, you know the usual, birth certificate, first known address and school attended but then it just stops.”
She looked up from the folder, her inquisitive eyes sharply falling on Willy. “What do you mean stops?”
“Stops as in no more, nothing, nada. Not a stitch of information after the age of ten. It’s almost like he’s dead.”
“Dead…no there as to be some mistake. I mean he’s definitely not dead.” Her brow furrowed, her heart raced further…panic seeped in. Dead? What the hell was Willy talking about? She didn’t know how to respond. Other lovers she was expecting but this…she wasn’t expecting this. Her body became flushed; she could practically feel the intense heat of Angel’s body when they made love last night. “Believe me…definitely not dead.”
She shook her head at the absurdity of it. “There has to be some mistake?” Her angry eyes looked at back at him. “You missed something. Or you got the spelling on the name wrong.”
Willy sadly shook his head. “No Buffy I didn’t miss anything and the spelling is right. I don’t know what to tell you kid. It’s all there you can see for yourself.”
She could do nothing but stare at it. For the first time in her life, her mind was a complete and utter blank. Not one coherent thought or idea popped inside of her head. She had no idea what to do but she knew she couldn’t stay here. Dead?
She stood up slowly and took the offensive folder placing it inside her jacket. She walked over to Willy and gave him kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for your help Willy…I…I…appreciate it.”
“You alright kid? You don’t look too good.”
She stared back at him with lifeless eyes then shook her head. She walked away but Willy stopped her. “Buffy, I’m sorry I couldn’t find out anything more if you need anything else just let me know.”
She couldn’t answer him even if she knew what do say. She just waved goodbye then mindlessly walked out.
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-2* 2/?
« Reply #6 on Oct 26, 2006, 11:35am » | |
Chapter Four
Cloak-and-Dagger
Meanwhile Angel was on his way back to the Hyperion doing ninety down the freeway. His hands clenched the steering wheel as his face contorted with anger staring down the road, and weaving in and out of traffic.
It was a good plan. He got in with no problem. The complex security system was easily overridden with a little help from the man that created it. Thank god Oz had enough sense to leave a backdoor in the system. Of course, Uncle not being the most trusting soul in the world, knew that and had hired someone else to go find them and wipe them out. But Oz being so good at what he did planned for a situation just like that and had two more backdoors hidden where no one could find them but him.
So he made it in with no problem. He made it pass all the stupid oafs that worked for Uncle and finally made it up to his private office. He had opened the safe as easily as if it were his own, then opened it to look for the folder he knew had to be there. To his astonishment the safe was empty…with the exception of one piece of paper.
His eyes blazed with anger when he saw it and he quickly snatched it up with his gloved hand.
Dear Boy, did you think I would make it that easy for you?
Uncle
It took all the will power he had not to punch a hole in the wall, much less crumple the paper up in his hands and then rip it to shreds. He wasn’t going to give that bastard the pleasure. Carefully he placed the paper back in the safe, locked it up and left the same way he came in.
“FUCKING BASTARD!” He screamed out as his hands landed heavily on the hood of his Porsche, denting the metal.
He stood outside ranting and raving, cursing the old man to hell and back for about thirty minutes. His poor car had taken the brunt of his anger and now had so many dents from his feet and hands, it almost looked unrecognizable. Driving now, the poor car rattled with every bump it drove over.
But he didn’t care that his seventy thousand dollar car wasn’t worth a pot to piss in now. All that mattered was that he had not succeeded in his plan, and nothing pissed him off more. He learned absolutely nothing that he needed to learn, and to top it all off he was thwarted by a fucking old bastard!
Slamming on the brakes he slid easily into the Hyperion driveway and screeched the tires down to the garage.
The gang waited for him upstairs in the lobby, listening to every loud screech the car made. There was the sound of a door slamming. Hands hitting metal and a whole bunch of loud expletives that even made Spike blush, almost.
Spike shook his head; he knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. Everyone else sat there quietly not knowing what was going to come up from the basement. So they waited and waited.
Forty-five minutes later Angel finally emerged from the basement. He walked in looking as cool as a cat. He was calm and he was all business.
“Okay. Oz what did you find out.”
The gang used to this just went with it.
“His name is Richard Wilkins the third aka The Mayor. He’s a multimillionaire, CEO of a publicity firm that has some of the most prestigious clients in the world. On the outside he is a law abiding squeaky-clean executive. But underneath that we’re looking at your run of the mill scumbag with connections to the mob, terrorist organizations and gangs. He pretty much has his hands into everything. He also has very high connections in the US government and the British government. “
Angel was leaning against the counter as Oz filled him in. “Where does his money come from?”
“It’s old…very old. His great grandfather was married to a Vanderbilt and had connections to the Queen. But his father blew a lot of that money with some stock scam back in the fifties. He wasn’t left with much after that. Now must of his money comes from his underground activities. There also seems to be a hefty sum of money that is direct deposited to a hidden Swiss account every month.”
“Who’s sending it?”
“Well that’s where it gets tricky. I can’t trace it…yet. Whoever is sending it knows what they’re doing and I would even take a guess as to say that they have connections higher up in the financial world to help hide the transactions. But I’m still working on it. I’ll get it eventually.”
“Why do they call him the Mayor?” Fred asked.
“Well before he started the publicity company he dabbled in politics. Remember about ten years ago the big scandal that took place up in Sunnydale.”
“You mean the dead mayor that was clogging the sewers?” Gunn asked.
Oz nodded. “Yup that’s the one. Well guess who took the vacant opening of Mayor?”
“Wilkens.” Angel said.
“Yeah. It was never proven but the rumor underground was that he had his right hand man, Mr. Trick, take care of the old mayor because he doesn’t like to lose, and according to the polls…he was losing.”
“Hence the name The Mayor.” Wesley added.
“Okay, so we have one unscrupulous CEO with dirty hands and possible connections to the government. Oz what did he get out of our last job?”
“Well besides the fact that he got 5.5 million dollars in un-cut, untraceable diamonds, he also got his ties severed with one of the most notorious mobs in London.”
Angel was stumped why would a man who seemed to get everything he wanted be uptight about the way it was done.
“Wes did we miss something, in our initial recon on the mark?”
Wesley shook his head confident in his answer. “No Angel, I researched him thoroughly I did not miss a thing.”
“Well there has to be something that we missed. I want you to double check everything Wes.”
Wesley started to argue but Angel held up his hand. “I know Wes you’re very thorough, but it makes no sense. We must have missed something, why would Wilkens care about who did the job as long as the job got done?”
Spike silently agreed with Angel it made no sense.
Angel turned his piercing brown eyes to Wesley. “What did you see at the hotel?”
“He didn’t leave the hotel. But he did have a visitor.” He stood up and walked over to the counter pulling a picture out of his briefcase. “One very unkempt looking gentleman came at three o’clock carrying a package.” He handed the photo to Angel. “He stayed for about one hour and then left empty handed.”
Angel stared at the photo his eyes as black as midnight. His voice was hard and crisp when he spoke. “Do we know who is?”
“Not yet but I’m still working on it.” Wes answered.
“Thanks guys. We’ll find out what Wilkens has to say later tonight.” Looking up at the clock on the wall he turned to them. “Why don’t you all get ready and we’ll head to The Graveyard for a little r and r before we get busy.”
“Now you’re talking boss!” Gunn got up and grabbed a smiling Fred around the waist picking her up and carrying her up the stairs. “Come on baby let’s get ready for a night of fun!”
Oz and Wesley gathered the papers together and headed to the office to secure them.
Angel walked over to the bar and poured him self a shot.
“I want to come with you tonight.” Spike said from behind him.
“No. You stay at The Graveyard or come back to the Hotel, I don’t care which.”
“You need back up on this mate you don’t know what’s going to go down.”
Angel ignored him and shoved the photo to the side. “What does this look like to you?” He asked quietly, pouring himself another shot.
Spike grabbed the photo and looked at. “This doesn’t mean anything Angelus. You heard Oz the man has his hands in everything – including gangs.” He slapped the photo back down on the counter.
Angel drank another shot, “Look closer. Look at his left arm.”
Spike perplexed picked the picture up again and looked closer at the man. His heart almost stopped at what he saw.
“Look familiar?” Angel asked, his hand clenching tighter around the glass, as he poured himself yet another shot then quickly drank it down.
“Bullocks.” Spike put the photo back down. “Even more reason for me to go with you tonight.”
Angel turned to his best friend. “Spike it’s alright nothing will happen. The man can’t touch me and he knows it. “
Spike wasn’t too sure about that. “Angel the man could have more connections to Uncle than you know of. What if it’s a set up to finally get rid of you?”
Angel drank down another shot and slammed the glass on the counter. Turning to Spike he put his arm around his shoulder steering him toward the door. “You worry too much Will. Uncle’s not ready to kill me…yet. Besides the plot just got thicker and I have to say that I’m really looking forward to meeting The Mayor.”
“Yeah I bet you are.”
Angel turned toward the door and Spike followed him. “Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”
“Brother stupid isn’t in my vocabulary. Let’s go people the bus is heading out!” Angel called out walking out the door.
“Yeah but it’s not your vocabulary I’m worried about, it’s the Beast’s.” Spike mumbled.
**********************
Buffy headed home from Willy’s in a daze and miraculously reached the loft without getting into an accident. After taking a quick shower, she sat on the bed, took a deep breath, and opened the folder.
She pulled out the birth certificate. Angelus Liam O’Rourke born June 6, 1975 to one Patricia and Liam O’Rourke in Buffalo University Hospital. That corresponded to what he had told her. The remaining information was just what Willy had said. Shit! Nothing but little bits of information that were useless and at the age of ten those little bits of information just vanished.
There was no record of him ever attending high school or college. There was no record of a marriage to one Darla McKinnon. There was nothing! Not even a death certificate! Nothing.
There was one small news clipping on the car accident that took the life of his parents but that was it. There was no mention of the little ten-year-old boy that got left behind. There wasn’t even a legally written obituary it was more like just a spot in the local newspaper about some car accident. It simply stated that the accident claimed the lives of two people, seemingly nobody’s, whose bodies had been burned beyond recognition.
Then it stopped. It was just like Willy had said…it was like he didn’t even exist!
She threw the papers down angrily and stood up walking over to the window and looked out into the night.
Well there was one good thing about this. At least now she knew that it wasn’t another woman. What Willy found out was extremely disconcerting to say the least but after the initial shock passed, which totally flattened her, she was relieved. The idea of him being with another woman was more devastating then anything else.
But still he had lied, lied to her about something that was really, really big. Her eyes darkened as anger filled her. Her own secrets didn’t even enter her mind. She could only think of the folder and its contents.
It made no sense. She knew he existed. She touched him every night. She had licked every inch of that gorgeous body. She had felt many, many times, his body gloriously pressed next to hers. She had heard his softly spoken words of love and passion in her ear. What the hell was he involved in? Who the hell was he? Was Spike involved too? Did Faith know something that she wasn’t telling her? Her mind was running wild again with questions and paranoia set in. Was everyone against her? Just what the hell was going on?
Looking at the street below she could see the crowd lining up to get into The Graveyard. It was another busy night. She was about to turn away when she saw a black hummer pull up. The passenger side door opened and a very familiar bleached blond head stepped out. Then the back door opened and a red-haired man stepped out followed by an older man wearing glasses. A black man came around from the other side of the Hummer, his arm around a slight framed brunette.
The valet ran around the Hummer and opened the driver’s side door. Buffy’s stomach was clenched with dread as she watched her lover walk around the Hummer to join his associates.
When the fuck did he get a Hummer? Her eyes were slits as she watched him speak with Danny the valet. She then watched as Danny got in and drove away from the Graveyard. Where the hell was he going? Why wasn’t he parking in the VIP’s spot like he usually does?
She looked back down to the group standing on the sidewalk laughing and joking with each other. They looked like they had known each other for years. It was easy to see the familiarity that they shared as they stood close talking. She had known Angel for eight months and she knew that she had never met any of these people nor had he ever mentioned having any close friends beside Spike.
She spun away from the window violently knocking over a picture as she did. She went into the bedroom to get changed. She was going to get to the bottom of this tonight.
Angel listened to the gang chat happily when he suddenly got the distinct feeling that he was being watched. He looked up at the window on the fourth floor. It was empty.
Jesus he was so muddled inside that even his normally astute senses were wrong. He had to calm himself down. He was extremely uptight and stressed out. He felt like he was about to break. There was something very important that she never told him and he had the feeling that tonight he would find out. The worst part was that he knew it wouldn’t come from her beautiful ripe lips. His gut told him that it would come from his enemy.
The gang headed toward the door, Oz, Gunn and Fred were excited and couldn’t wait to get in. Wesley was searching for his ear plugs and Spike watched Angel.
“Stop worrying. What the hell could she have possibly done that was bad enough for Uncle to use against you?”
Seeing Angel still staring up at the window, he socked him on the shoulder finally getting his attention. “I’m telling you the bastard just mentioned her to throw you off that’s all. You know how that sneaky fuck works. Now come on. Let’s go in. Have a drink, you’ll see your woman, and you’ll feel much better.”
Angel nodded but wasn’t so sure. What he did know was that he couldn’t wait to see her. He was consumed with the horror that he was going to lose her and that bloodcurdling thought fueled a primal need to fuck her. It was so archaic Buffy would call it cavemanny…Angel just called it claiming what was his.
His feet moved forward as the gang walked inside the club. He numbly followed along, his mind only on one thing. He heard no music and no voices. He only heard hot panting and screams of ecstasy. He only felt her tight sheath soaking his cock and nails digging into his back.
The doors opened and they all walked inside. “Evening Mr. Spike, Mr. Angel.” The bouncer greeted them.
“Evening Earl.” Spike answered slapping him on the back as he passed him and walked inside. Angel’s only acknowledgement was a low guttural grunt.
“Whew now this is what I’m talking about people!” Gunn shouted to his friends as they stood in the doorway overlooking the club as 50 Cents blared over the speakers.
Wesley leaned into to Spike. “I thought you said they played rock and roll.” He screamed.
Spike nodding his head to the music turned to Wesley. “Yeah The Crypt is upstairs. This is The Coffin, the dance club. It’s all about the bass down here mate.”
Wesley looked confused while he continued to stare at Spike who was bobbing his head to the music.
“Come on Fred lets dance!” Gunn started to pull Fred on the dance floor.
“Angel?” Wes said. When he got no answer he screamed it again, louder this time. “ANGEL!”
Spike looked at his friend and saw the look in his eyes. He shook his head and elbowed him in the side. “Snap out of it sex fiend.”
Angel shook his head and looked at Spike, who nodded to Wesley. “What?”
Wesley had never seen such a look of desperation on his friend’s face before. It was extremely…lust filled, and it made him uncomfortable. “Um…how long do we plan on staying here?”
It took Angel a few seconds to get a grip on his lust. He cleared his throat and answered him. “Just a few hours.” Wesley nodded, pleased that he wouldn’t have to endure an entire night of this racket.
“Gunn?” Angel called out. “See the elevator with the mammoth standing in front of it, when you’re ready head over there.”
“Got you brother.” Gunn twirled Fred out on the dance floor where they started to gyrate and move with the music.
“C’mon mates I’m dying for a drink.” Spike plowed his way through the crowd, stopping to greet people who called his name.
Wesley followed closely behind Angel. “Angel this is very peculiar isn’t it? I mean rock and disco in the same place?”
Angel smiled at him as Oz answered. “Peculiar? It’s fucking brilliant is what it is Wes. Think about it, they got their hands in both demographics.”
He turned a blaring smile to Angel, “Really fucking brilliant Angel, your girl’s got quite a head on her shoulders to come up with this.”
Angel smiled back at Oz as his chest filled with pride. His girl. His girl who had no idea how good he was going to give it to her – and how soon. Feeling Oz’s eyes on him he cleared his throat again and looked around the club. It was busy. Thriving was more like it, it started when it opened and it showed no signs of slowing down. His baby was pretty fucking smart.
He scowled, maybe too smart, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. His thoughts flew back to the initial feeling of being watched when they first arrived. And he was suddenly filled with a sense of dread. But he was stopped with his line of thinking as they reached the VIP elevator where Spike was already talking with the bouncer.
“Hey Roscoe how’s it going tonight?” Angel shook hands with the monster that stood guard at the elevator.
“Evening Mr. O’Rourke I hope your party is enjoying themselves this evening?”
Angel smiled at him, no matter how many times he told the brute to call him Angel he never did. “I’m sure they will be. Roscoe, see the couple dancing on the floor over there?” He pointed to Gunn and Fred.
“Yes sir.”
“When they’re ready send them up okay.” He palmed him fifty bucks and slapped him on the back.
“Yes sir.” The elevator doors opened up and they all stepped inside.
“Thank you Mr. O’Rourke. Mr. Spike, gentlemen enjoy your evening.” Roscoe said as the doors closed.
Oz whistled, “This is some place Angel.”
“Yes very fancy, not at all what I was expecting.” Wes said.
Angel smiled. “Believe it or not Wes they get a lot of high profile customers here. Actors, musicians, models, sports figures, you name it, in the past six months they have all crossed the threshold at some point.”
“Yeah it’s a bloody mecca of stars boys. Some of the most beautiful women in the world have been here and I’ve met them all!”
Angel smirked. “Yeah then got his head cracked open by Faith for…meeting them all.”
Spike snorted, “Hey I can bloody well look!” He leaned into Oz “Just no touchy-touchy…” He snickered as the doors opened.
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-2* 2/?
« Reply #7 on Oct 26, 2006, 11:36am » | |
They stepped out of the elevator and were greeted by another brute. “Evening George.” Angel said.
“Angel, Spike good to see you.”
“Georgie old boy how’s it hanging?” Spike answered.
“It’s hanging strong sir.”
Spike smiled, “I bet it is you thug!”
Angel stepped up to him, “George these are our good friends Wesley and Oz and they should be treated as very special VIPS.”
“No problem with that sir, we treat all our VIPs at The Graveyard with special care.”
He turned too Wes and Oz. “Good evening gentlemen. What is your pleasure tonight?”
Wesley started to sputter. “P…ppleasure?”
Oz laughed at him, sometimes Wesley was so nerdy.
Angel laughed too. “Don’t worry about it George I’ll take care of it.”
“Sure thing boss.”
Spike started to lead Wes and Oz through the room as Angel spoke quietly to George. “Is Buffy here?”
George nodded toward the VIP lounge and Angel smiled at him then slipped fifty bucks in his hand as he shook it. “Thank you George.”
The VIP lounge was the ultimate hang out spot at The Graveyard. It was actually a hidden room. The wall behind the bar of The Crypt was a two-way mirror and the VIP lounge was behind it. Anyone who was anyone hung out there. Most nights it was rented out as a party room for special events. But tonight it was empty.
Spike and Oz walked over to the bouncer standing in the corner on the left side of the bar. Wesley, who was behind them with Angel, looked at the man and his eyes popped out of his head. He was huge. He had to be about six foot seven and he was all muscle. Plus every inch of skin that showed was tattooed, even his bald head. The man was a walking picture and he made Wesley nervous. “Angel, where did she find all these…bouncers, the WWF?” Wesley asked as he eyed the burly man.
Angel laughed, “They’re Hell’s Angels.”
Wesley stopped in his tracks and looked at Angel. “Hell’s Angels? As in the biker gang Hell’s Angels?”
Angel couldn’t stop smirking at Wes’s obvious distress. “Yes Wes ‘the’ Hell’s Angels. Buffy and Faith know some people and they hired a bunch of them to be bouncers. Best bouncers in the world don’t you think?”
Wes looked at the brawny man standing guard and had to admit they were very intimidating. “Yes indeed.” He swallowed.
Behind the mirror Faith, Buffy and Willow were watching everything that was going on.
“New friends?” Faith asked.
“Who’s the redhead? He’s cute,” Willow asked as she continued to stare at Oz.
Buffy just ignored both of them while she continued to stare at Angel. His eyes suddenly lifted to the mirror and stared right back at her. It was almost as if he knew she was watching him. They made direct contact and the heat and pulse of his hot gaze burned right through her anger and enflamed her body. He had that look in his eye. The same look he had last night. Her pulse started to race and she could feel her nipples tighten – no this man was most definitely not dead.
He smirked and then winked at her; she scowled just as he turned toward the door that was now opening.
“Here you go Gentlemen enjoy your stay.”
“Thanks Bubba.” Spike said as he spied Faith at the bar. “I most certainly will.”
“They speak very eloquently for bikers don’t they.” Wes said to no one in particular.
Angel smiled at him. ”Yeah well its part of the job Wes.” He looked up feeling eyes on him and spotted her sitting at the end of the bar with Willow and Faith.
It never failed to take his breath away, the first moment of eye contact with her. She was so beautiful and every time he looked at her he thanked god that she was his. HIS. The bloodlust to fuck her returned two fold and he found it extremely hard to concentrate on anything else but that.
He smiled at her hungrily as her eyes lifted to his. She read every silent message they spoke – mine – take – now - and her body responded to it. As her pulse continued to race and her nipples got harder, she shifted on her seat as her panties grew wet with anticipation.
His mouth curved into that sensual smirk that made her insides weak, and she scowled back. She was mad at him damn it! He apparently was dead but he wasn’t dead. That was a BIG fucking secret to keep from the person you supposedly loved. She had to repeat that over and over again in her head to stomp down her ever growing lust. She was not going to just spread her legs for him, even though she really, really wanted to. No she needed answers first. She needed to know the truth.
Seeing her scowl cooled his lust and he looked back at her with questioning eyes. She looked pissed off. Mentally he went over the last two days. Did he do something wrong? There was that moment in the kitchen yesterday morning, maybe she did hear something. Suddenly he was hit with the notion that she might actually be suspicious of him. He scowled, that wouldn’t do. He needed to find out what she was keeping from him first. Damage control, that was what he needed now, just incase she was having doubts.
He looked at all of them, Buffy, Faith & Willow, and then blasted them with his biggest no-girl-can-resist-me smile. It wouldn’t hurt to schmooze the friends a little, get them on his side, just in case his gut was right and the shit really did it the fan tonight.
Willow smiled back. She thought Buffy was the luckiest girl in the world. Angel was nice and sweet, so handsome. He always looked out for Buffy and took care of her. He would never hurt her. So she thought.
Faith was still mad at Angel and seeing that smile and the look in his eyes, told her one thing. He was covering all his bases. She glared at him, but he was no longer looking at her. His eyes were solely on Buffy as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her back against his chest. He leaned down breathing in her scent and amorously nuzzling her neck.
Buffy closed her eyes and tried to resist him but she found her head automatically turned to meet his lips as they grazed a path from her neck to her cheek.
“Hey baby.” He whispered just as their lips touched. Slowly at first, his lips moved over hers as his tongue lightly licked them. She held back a moan of pleasure but she couldn’t stop her mouth from opening and her own tongue thrusting deep inside his warm mouth.
Angel grunted pleased with her hungry response which matched his. His arms tightened around her waist and he fought the urge to throw her up on the bar and sink inside of her.
Buffy shivered against him as their kiss slowed. Her eyes opened and she looked into his. “Hey yourself.” She whispered back.
He kept smiling at her, his eyes searching her face. Sensing that something was different about him tonight she asked, “What was that for?”
His palm cupped her cheek. “Do I need a reason to kiss you?” he asked as he continued to study her face, his own face slightly more serious than it was a second ago.
“I hope not.” She answered him quietly then looked down at her beer as fear and sadness entered her soul.
The emotion he saw in her eyes before she turned away reflected his own and he gently cupped her chin turning her head to the side and bringing her lips to his once more. He kissed her slow and sensually, lingering as long as he could in a room full of people. When he pulled back, her eyes were closed and she was softly panting. “I love you” He whispered and without opening her eyes she croaked back, “I love you.”
He smiled at her, his fingers grazing her lips back and forth. “I brought some friends I wanted you to meet.”
His words broke through the passionate haze she had been in and her eyes snapped open. “I can see that, did you also bring me a new hummer?” She had to ask, she wanted to be blunt to try to catch him in a lie.
He didn’t miss a beat. “That’s Oz’s nice eh?” He leaned in closer to her and whispered in her ear, “I thought I was being watched.” He gave her ear a lick and a nibble and smiled when he felt her shiver. “I can always feel when those beautiful green eyes touch my body.” She had to smile he was just so sexy and sweet, and quick on his feet.
She turned to greet his friends; she’d work them. She stood up and out of his grasp. Angel scowled.
She sundered over to them putting on her friendliest smile. “Hi guys welcome to The Graveyard.”
Angel looked at Faith who shot him a nasty look shaking her head while Spike sat there watching the interplay between the two and sipping his beer. Angel glared back at her silently telling her to mind her own business.
Walking up next to Buffy he put his arm around her shoulders and brought her flush against his body. “Baby I want you to meet Wesley and Oz, guys this is Buffy, that’s Faith behind the bar, and the quiet red-head is Willow.”
“Hey…” Faith smiled, “can I get you guys something to drink?”
Oz couldn’t respond he was too busy staring at the gorgeous creature sitting at the other end of the bar. She looked like a vision to his sad and lonely eyes and he rushed over to the bar to meet her. Sitting down next to Willow he said, “Yeah I’ll have a beer please. Hi I’m Oz.” He held out his hand and Willow blushing profusely smiled at him. “Hi, I’m Willow.”
Meanwhile Wesley couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Buffy. He had seen the swimsuit edition many times. When it first came out Gunn took great pleasure rankling Angel with it by ogling it and making comments about how hot she looked. And silently, not wanting to irk his boss, Wesley had agreed. But now standing in front of her, he was blown away by just how beautiful she was.
Buffy smirked at the speechless look on his face. She was used to the effect that she had on men and she knew how to use it to her advantage. She pushed her chest out further and adjusted her already low cut blouse.
Angel growled low in his throat and unconsciously pressed Buffy further into his side. So green with jealousy he missed Buffy’s actions. “Wes?” Angel sneered at him.
Spike laughed. “The bloke’s spellbound. Don’t think I’ve ever seen him speechless!”
Buffy smiled kindly at Wes as she abstracted herself from Angel’s side. She walked up to Wesley and took his hand leading him to the bar. “Faith, give this man a drink, whiskey I think.”
“You got it B.” Faith smiled.
“I apologize I…I…don’t know what to say to excuse my behavior, how rude of me.” He cleared his throat “I’m Wesley Wyndham Price, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Buffy chuckled at his embarrassment. “You too Wes.”
Angel stood staring daggers at Wesley and Wesley just sheepishly looked back at him shrugging his shoulders. “She’s a beautiful woman Angel.”
Angel was about to respond but instead was stopped by Buffy slapping him on the chest. “Don’t worry about it Wes, he can take it, he’s a big boy.” She then moved behind the bar to help Faith and to get away from a growling Angel, which only seemed to turn her into a puddle of mush.
“So how do you guys know each other?” She casually asked. To the newcomers in the room it sounded like an innocent question. But to Angel, Spike & Faith who knew her, it sounded like an inquisition.
Wesley was still too awestruck by Buffy’s smiling face to see the question behind the question, but he wasn’t that dazed to remember how to answer. “We went to school together.”
Buffy looked at Wes suspiciously, “Really school? Ah go figure.”
She poured Wesley a shot deciding that he would be the one to crack. “If you don’t mind me asking Wes, how old are you? I mean no offense but school? You look old enough to be their uncle or something?” She sneaked a look at Angel to see him causally drinking down a shot that Faith poured him. Then she looked back to Wesley.
Wesley laughed at her bluntness. “I am really not that much older. I was a student teacher at their school and we all became quick friends.” Smooth, Buffy thought, and a well-planned and well-used lied.
“And what school would that be?” She asked.
Angel almost choked on his whiskey but was saved by the door opening and Gunn and Fred coming in.
“Damn this place rocks!” Gunn said as he strolled into the room.
“It’s really something, I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere like it.” Fred said agreeing.
“And you never will Sugerpie!” Faith proudly stated.
“Whoa hold up here…who are these three gorgeous women?”
“Charles!” Fred playfully scolded him as Spike and Angel glowered at him.
Buffy didn’t wait for Angel to make the introductions, instead she held out her hand. “Hi I’m Buffy and this is Faith, and that’s Willow.”
Faith nodded to them.
“Hi” Willow said.
“Hey all I’m Charles Gunn and this beauty to my left is Winifred Burkle.”
“Call me Fred please.” Then she extended her hand and shook Buffy’s. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” Fred said smiling not even realizing the can of worms that she just opened up.
Buffy’s eyebrow rose, “really. Well it’s nice to meet you too Fred. I wish I could say the same about you.” She added on a sourly note.
Fred’s smile faltered when she realized that she erred. Her eyes quickly looked up to see Angel glaring at her blackly and Spike once more shaking his head.
“Well Fred and Gunn what can I get you to drink?” Faith asked, quickly jumping in to avert a possible eruption.
“Oh, um…just some red wine for me please.” Fred said as she sat down at the bar feeling like a complete idiot.
“I’ll take a beer, thanks.” Gunn sat down next too Fred. His hand gently rubbing her back, “it’s okay baby.” He kissed her on the cheek and she smiled warmly at him.
Buffy looked at all the new players in the room and quickly studied them.
Gunn and Fred: obviously they were in love it was easy to see with the looks and the way they always seemed to stay in contact with each other. She watched Gunn as he deftly pulled his wallet out to pay for their drinks.
“It’s on the house big guy.” Faith said, and Gunn snapped the wallet closed and had it in his pocket so fast that Buffy almost missed it.
Meanwhile Fred and Willow started talking and somehow quickly got on the conversation of all the injustices in the world. It was apparent to see that Fred was like Willow in many ways but she was worldlier as she mentioned the fact that injustices ran deep in every country.
Next she looked at Oz, he sat by Willow listening to her and Fred’s conversation and every so often putting in a comment about the financial or political end of it, and how computers and technology had both helped and hurt the justice system.
Finally she looked back at Wesley, who was looking around the room. Looking at everything and reading every word that his eye saw.
In less than a minute she had summed them all up.
Gunn was the man with the fast hands and extra muscle.
Fred was the intuitive and insightful person in the group.
Oz was the techno guy.
And Wesley was the research man.
Then there was Spike. She looked over to see him whispering in a giggling Faith’s ear. She knew him as well as she knew Angel. Spike was the number two man.
She didn’t need a freaking diploma to know that something was definitely up with this group. In fact she’d bet her life that if she had Willy check all of them that he would come up with the same bullshit information that he did on Angel.
Angel, her sweet lying Angel, he was the head cheese.
She turned to look at her lying lover and found his dark piercing eyes on her. She smiled at him then turned back to his friends.
“So…Gunn, Fred, where did you two meet the rest of these hooligans?” She sweetly asked.
Angel got up from his seat and went around the bar. She was making him anxious. The questions, the looks, and the tone of her voice, she was being extremely cagey. He figured the best way to rankle her was to be near her. Smother her with his presence; totally and completely consume her with him that always seemed to work.
Walking up behind her he leaned back against the counter and took her with him, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing her securely against his chest with his chin leaning against her head.
Buffy just let him have control and relaxed against him. Grabbing his hand she brought it up to her mouth and kissed his knuckle sensually and slowly, giving him a little lick along the way. She laughed inside when she felt his response nudging her in the ass. He thought he could get one over on her! Well he had another thing coming.
“School.” Fred answered.
“Yup, we all went too school together.” Gunn added.
Buffy turned and looked at Faith with a smirk of disbelief. When she looked back to Gunn, Faith snuck a murderous glare at Angel.
“You mean to tell me that all of you went to school together and still remain friends?” Buffy asked.
“We were all very close baby.” Angel said kissing her head.
“Mmmm I can see that.”
“What’s the problem Blondie don’t you still know any of your old school chums?” Spike asked. The need to aid Angel in his charade took control of his mouth and he spoke without thinking.
Buffy quickly looked at him and coldly answered. “No.” She then disengaged herself from Angel and walked around to the other side of the bar.
“You’ll have to excuse me. I have an early day tomorrow. Please stay and enjoy yourselves if you need anything just let Bubba know. It was nice meeting you all.”
Faith turned and quickly slapped Spike upside the head. “Idiot.”
“Ouch!” Spike said as he rubbed his head. “Why’d you do that for?”
Faith ignored him and watched as Buffy stiffly walked out the room followed by Angel.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-3-4* 4
« Reply #8 on Oct 30, 2006, 11:07am » | |
Chapter Five
Who Are You?
She stood waiting for the elevator with her foot tapping impatiently, her mind working a mile a minute, and her anger growing with everyone.
The elevator beeped and the doors opened. Walking inside she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She needed time to sort through all the bullshit that he’d ever told her. Time to remember every little detail and go over every conversation they’d ever had. Because at this point she didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t.
“Buffy.”
Her eyes opened to see Angel’s hand halting the doors. They opened up and he stepped inside. The doors closed and the elevator started to move. She felt trapped. She felt like she couldn’t breathe and her traitorous body betrayed her as she stared at him.
There was so much he wanted to say to her, so many questions he wanted to ask. But now that they were alone in the confines of the elevator, all he could think about was being inside of her. Taking two steps he was right in front of her. He leaned against the wall and pressed himself against her.
She leaned her head back and looked into his eyes. Her breath became erratic as her eyes darkened with desire. She loved him so much. She wanted him more then anything she had ever wanted. All her anger and mistrust flew out the window as her passion for him took over.
His hand reached up cupping her cheek and he leaned forward, “Buffy.”
She moaned hungrily as his lips descended on hers. Her arms wound around his waist pulling him tighter against her as his hand slid up then down the side of her body, enjoying every curve and nook.
Her hands skimmed down his strong back and gripped his ass, squeezing his cheeks, pressing his hardness closer into the apex of her thighs.
Angel grunted then gyrated and pushed against her harder. He left her lips and moved down her neck licking and sucking a path down to her throat. He sucked the sensitive skin into his mouth and gently suckled. Buffy moaned uncontrollably as she continued to squeeze his tight ass.
He growled impatiently and then suddenly left her. Reaching back he hit the stop button and the elevator jerked coming to an abrupt stop. He wasted no time in claiming her waiting lips once again, hungrily biting and nipping them as he did.
His hand gripped her leg then eagerly caressed the soft skin of her thigh as he moved closer to his goal. Reaching her panties he fervently slid them down her legs and pulled them off throwing them aside. He dropped to his knees and raised her leg putting it over his shoulder. As soon as his nose caught her perfumed scent his mouth watered. Gripping her ass he moaned pushing her up to his mouth.
Buffy’s head fell back and she gripped his head as his cool tongue lapped at her throbbing pussy.
He ate her voraciously. Licking and sucking, running his tongue up and down her wet slit. He couldn’t get enough. This was his nourishment. This was his lifeblood. If he were never to taste her again he knew he would die.
His thoughts turned him into a raging animal as he attacked her with more gusto, desperately trying to drain her of every drop of creamy goodness that she had to offer.
Buffy was putty in his mouth as her body gave him everything he wanted. Her head slammed back against the wall as she rapidly convulsed. Her hips jerked up into his mouth as a thousand bright lights flitted across her eyes. Angel moaned, squeezing her ass harder, pressing her further against his hungry mouth, reveling in every drop of cum that he tasted.
Slowly, her body slowed but Angel gave her no time to recuperate. He stood up, unzipped his pants pulled out his cock and fully sheathed himself inside of her. “Oh God!” he said, as his eyes closed.
This was exactly where he wanted to be. Tightly incased inside of her. Warmed by her warmth. Her panting breath against his neck. Her fingers digging into the skin of his back as he drew out and then slammed back inside of her.
Buffy jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. She kissed his neck then bit down hard squeezing her inner muscles around his cock as he plunged madly inside of her. His pace never faltered, he took her violently, slamming inside of her and then pulling out. Their breathing became louder until they both were shouting to the gods their release.
They came together, riding their orgasmic waves as one. Their bodies held tightly together, their hips slowly rocking back and forth. Their lips met and they kissed each other until the waves receded and their bodies were still once more.
Buffy put her legs down and smoothed her skirt and Angel pulled his pants up. They held each other’s eyes, love and sated passion stared back at each other, hiding the mistrust and the sadness.
Peering into his dark eyes she wondered if maybe Faith was right. In a blink of an eye she decided to take a chance and see if he’d be honest with her. “Is there something you need to tell me Angel?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is there anything that you want to tell me?” She quietly asked again then waited with baited breath to hear his answer.
He let go of her and stood back to look at her. It was the moment of truth, the moment that he knew would come. But he wasn’t ready to give up his truth at least not until he heard hers. ”No.”
She stared at him, her eyes growing hard and distant as her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” He asked.
She walked around him and hit the resume button. The elevator started to move and she turned back to look at him. Yes there was but seeing that he wasn’t willing to share then neither was she. “No.”
For the first time in eight months they looked at each other with mistrust in their eyes.
The doors opened and she stepped out, Angel made no move to follow her. “I’m tired. I have to go to bed.”
He nodded his eyes distant and cold. “I’m going to join the gang for another drink.”
She nodded back and the elevator doors closed.
Angel held his anger in check while standing in the elevator. He picked up her forgotten panties and breathed in its musky scent. Quaking once more with desire he irritably tucked them away in his pocket. The second the doors opened he stormed out and into the VIP lounge.
“Let’s go. NOW!”
Everyone jumped up from their seats and quickly walked out without any word to Faith or Willow.
“Well that’s very rude.” Willow commented.
Faith stared at Spike as he headed toward the door. He turned around to look at her.
“SPIKE NOW!” Angel yelled.
Spike smiled at Faith and then left.
Faith watched them go through the mirror. Once they got in the elevator she threw her towel down and left the lounge. “I’ll be back Red.”
She ran out of the lounge and over to the stairs, not even bothering to wait for the elevator. She had to find Buffy. She climbed the stairs two at a time and reached the third floor. She flung open the door and ran down the hall. She didn’t bother to knock she just ran inside. “BUFFY?” She called out but silence greeted her.
She walked further into the room and saw a note on the table, she picked it up.
Faith,
Don’t worry I’ll be okay. I’m going to Angel’s to do some snooping.
Be back later.
Luv ya.
B.
“Damn it Buffy!” Faith threw the note down and picked up her cell phone. She dialed Spike’s number but it just rang and rang.
“FUCK!” She threw the phone down and sat on the couch.
She was nothing but a freaking traitor. She felt so low, so unworthy to be a friend to anyone and that made her miserable. God she hated Angel and she hated Spike.
But mostly, she hated herself.
**********************
The ride back to the Hyperion was eerily quiet. It was apparent to everyone that something happened with Buffy but no one was brave enough to ask.
Fred was close to tears and swimming in guilt. She thought it was her fault for opening up her mouth. She didn’t mean too she was just so excited to finally meet Buffy that she hadn’t been thinking straight.
Gunn sat next to her with his arm around her shoulder stroking her arm, trying to sooth her.
Oz couldn’t get Willow off his mind. He was glad that he remembered to give her his cell phone number. He couldn’t wait to see her again.
Wesley, like Fred, felt guilty. He thought his blundering infatuation with Buffy was what caused the rift in between the lovers, and he feared for his well being.
Spike sat in the front calmly smoking a cigarette. He knew what was going on. He also knew that he was going to get a lot of shit from Faith for this. But what could he do? Angelus was his own man and if he wanted to screw up the best thing he ever had then that was his business. Of course, he did feel a little bad about that comment he made to Buffy.
Spike knew she had no friends from her past. He knew that her past was something that you didn’t talk about. And like a dufus, with knowing everything that was going on, he brought it up. Well there was nothing that could be done about it now. What was done was done.
What he could do now was make sure that Angelus didn’t fuck things up more.
The Hummer skidded to a halt in front of the hotel. “I’m going to meet with Wilkens. I’ll be back later. You guys wait here.”
They all nodded their agreement and got out of the vehicle heading inside.
Except Spike.
Angel gripped the steering wheel; he was seething with anger and disappointment. He was tired of all this fucking around, he wanted answers and he was going to get them now.
“Spike get out.” He snarled.
Spike took a drag of his cigarette. “No. I’m going with you.”
“No. You’re getting out…NOW!”
“Angelus I know what happened back there between you two but it doesn’t matter.” He turned to Angel, “You cannot walk into the lions den with your head up your ass. You’ll get eaten alive my friend and I can’t allow that.”
“You don’t know shit and my head isn’t up my ass. I know exactly what I’m doing.” He gritted.
Spike sadly shook his head and leaned closer. “Humor me, just for a second. You followed Blondie. You asked Blondie if there was anything that she wanted to tell you. And she of course answered no. And then Blondie proceeds to ask you if there is anything that you want to tell her. Because we both know by those questions back there that she’s wondering some things about us. Now of course you, being the stubborn jackass that you sometimes can be, answered no. Now you’re pissed off, she’s pissed off and you think you’re going to get all the answers that you need from someone who most likely wants to crush you like a little bug. Do I have that right?”
Angel visibly relaxed. His eyes closed and his grip loosened on the steering wheel. Spike always amazed him. He was so fucking intuitive of people that sometimes it made Angel’s head spin. He turned to look at him and he couldn’t help but smirk. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
Spike smiled, glad to see that he lightened up a little. “Of course I am mate, that’s my job, to keep you on your toes.”
Angel chuckled and let go of the wheel.
“Listen Angelus, I understand how you feel, you know I do. But you cannot go to see Wilkens with this fuck you attitude and you know it. You have to be the bloody Scourge mate! You can’t show him any weakness or he’ll pounce on you. And then you’ll be giving Uncle exactly what he wants. And I know you don’t want to do that.”
He was right. God he hated that.
He had to get a grip on himself. Whatever Buffy had in her past didn’t matter to him. The fact that she was lying didn’t matter. It hurt that she didn’t trust him enough to tell him. But considering he had a doozy of a lie himself, who the hell was he to say anything. He had always known that there was nothing that would make him stop loving her, nothing that would take him away from her, and that still ran true. She was his girl and she would always be.
“Your right,” Spike smiled at him, “I have to be calm. It doesn’t matter anyway. There’s nothing in this world that they could tell me about her that would make me stop loving her.” Angel quietly said.
Spike slapped him on the shoulder, “that’s the spirit brother.”
Angel turned to him. “But I still need to do this alone.”
Spike eyeballed him and saw that he was back in control. He nodded and opened the door. “Fair enough.” Closing the door, he poked his head back inside the truck. “Remember you’re the Scourge of Europe.”
Angel shook his head.
“You’re the man.”
Angel shook his head again.
“You’re the man with the hot loving chick waiting for him at home.”
Angel looked at him funny and then shook his head again.
“You’re the man who…”
“I got it Spike.”
“Okay good. Remember keep your head on your shoulders and out of your ass!”
Angel smiled at him. “I will.”
Spike stepped away from the truck and watched as Angel drove away.
“I bloody hope so.”
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-3-4* 4
« Reply #9 on Oct 30, 2006, 11:08am » | |
Chapter Five
Continued...
He arrived at The Beverly Hills Hotel at the exact agreed upon time. After handing the keys to the valet he walked into the hotel and up to the elevator. He pressed the button and the doors opened. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the penthouse. He only got to the second floor when the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
Two men walked in and stood in front of him with their arms crossed against their chests. The doors closed again and the elevator started to move.
“Mr. O’Rourke?”
Angel stared hard at the man. “That depends.” He quietly said.
“We’re to escort you up to the Penthouse.”
Angel nodded and took the time to look them over. They were both big and they both had the look of a killer in their eyes, which matched the holsters that they were clearly wearing under their Armani suits.
He couldn’t help but grin. Armani suits never worked well when you were wearing shoulder holsters and packing two guns. They always puffed out on the sides and lost their conformity to the body. Which pretty much told everyone what you had on underneath. He had plenty of Armani’s but he wasn’t stupid enough to wear them on the job.
“Nice suit.” He commented.
The man looked at him oddly then nodded.
Angel smirked at him; idiot.
The elevator stopped and the two men stepped aside just as the doors opened.
“Good evening Mr. O’Rourke. My name is Mr. Trick please follow me.”
Angel stepped out of the elevator and followed Mr. Trick, almost laughing as he did. The name definitely suited the man – literally. He had on a brilliant purple satin suit with shiny black wing tipped shoes. To Angel he looked more like a pimp than a ruthless killer, which most likely worked in the man’s favor.
They walked down a long hallway and finally reached a set of double doors.
Mr. Trick knocked once and then opened them, turning to Angel. “If you’d please.”
Angel knew the drill and lifted his arms up. Mr. Trick smiled at him and began patting him down. He stopped when he was through and stepped back to look at him. “I’m going to need those.” He said nodding to Angel’s chest.
Angel put his arms down. “Sorry. I don’t go anywhere without my girls. I know I’m an overprotective dad but you can never be to sure these days.” He said winking at a scowling Mr. Trick.
“Sir I’m going to have to insist that you…”
“It’s alright Mr. Trick, let him in.”
Angel grinned at a pissed off Mr. Trick. He didn’t give a shit; he wanted to make sure that they understood…he wasn’t their bitch.
Mr. Trick glared back at him then smiled coldly at. “After you.”
“No. After you, I insist.”
Angel bowed to him gracefully and Mr. Trick smirked, “A cautious man.”
“Always.” Angel replied and Mr. Trick, whose hard eyes did not reflect the warm smile on his face, walked inside the room.
Angel took a deep breath, put on his game face and followed Mr. Trick inside.
“A cautious man is a righteous man, and the type of man that I like to do business with.”
Angel didn’t know what to expect from Wilkens. He honestly had not even once thought about what a crooked CEO would look like. In retrospect he probably would have thought he would be an old man with grey hair, a surly face, and a very round well fed body. But Richard Wilkens the III was none of that.
He looked to be only in his mid to late forties. He had light brown hair and a trim physique, and his face was open and friendly. When he spoke his voice was chipper and pleasant. He looked every inch the conniving politician that he was. Angel didn’t trust him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Angel, may I call you Angel?” The Mayor said as he strolled forward and held out his hand.
Angel held the man’s gaze, his own face stern and unfriendly. He shook the Mayor’s hand, “No.”
The Mayor chuckled as Mr. Trick glared at him. He didn’t like him. He was trouble there was no doubt about it.
“Okay. Well then what should I call you?”
“Angelus.” Angel answered.
Except for his crew, no one in the business called him Angel. As far as anyone knew he was Angelus, the Scourge of Europe. Angelus had an eviler ring to it, whereas Angel sounded soft. He supposed his parents choose that name for exactly that purpose, to strike fear in the hearts of his enemies. And Angel knew from experience that it worked.
The Mayor smiled at him, “Angelus it is then. Please come in, have a seat. Can I get you a drink? How about a nice strong glass of Irish whiskey?
Angel’s eyebrow rose, wasn’t he well informed. “No thank you. I don’t plan on staying long.” He said as he walked further into the room, taking note of Mr. Trick who stood obediently on the Mayor’s right side, and the two goons that now blocked the closed door. Angel noted that they were not wearing Armani’s. But they were definitely packing. His arm instinctively pushed against his side and his own weapons.
“Suit yourself.” The Mayor sat down and looked at him. “So I bet you’re wondering why you’re here.” He said cheerfully.
Before Angel could answer him, The Mayor answered for him. “Of course you are. You normally don’t meet the men that you, oh shall we say…assist them in their endeavors.” He smiled broadly at Angel and Angel just nodded at him.
“Well don’t you worry about a thing, it’s nothing bad. In fact it’s all good. The moment you walked in here I liked you. And I now feel perfectly comfortable in doing business with Uncle.”
“I’m sure Uncle will be pleased.” Angel responded.
The Mayor smiled at him, “Of course I’ll forget that screw up you made.”
Angel’s eyes darkened and his voice was low and hard, “Excuse me?”
“Yes, yes, you know the one where you changed the plan and sent someone else to do your job.” He continued to smile at Angel, stressing the words you and your.
Angel’s hands tightened into fists at his side and he sneered at the Mayor. “A screw up implies something done unintentionally. I didn’t screw up. I intended to send my second so he went. The job got done.”
“Yes, and very nicely too it’s why I’ll forgive your transgression against me. For the future however, I do expect you to obey my wishes and not your own.” There was a look of madness in his eyes as he continued to smugly smile at Angel.
Angel was ready to whack the asshole right here and now. He didn’t like being disrespected and he thought that perhaps a little reminder of what respect was might be in order. But thinking again, he knew that would be a mistake. He could take them all out he wasn’t worried about that. It was the aftershock that worried him.
He was about to speak but the Mayor held up his hand. “Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get down to why you’re really here.”
“By all means.”
“Angel…oops, my bad.” He winked at him, “Angelus, do you know what’s wrong with this country?”
‘The scumbags like you.’ Angel thought. “No but I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me.” He answered.
The Mayor smiled at him, “You bet ya.”
He stood up and walked around to the front of his desk where he leaned against it. “Leadership.”
“The last time I knew we had plenty of leadership in this country.” Angel said.
“Yes but what kind of leadership is that Angelus? I don’t know if you’ve noticed but our beloved sacred country is being overrun by gangs and drugs. Why even our kids can’t play outside without fear of getting shot by some hooligan.”
“From what I understand we have you to thank for that.” Angel flippantly replied.
Mr. Trick took a step forward his hand reaching for his weapon as he scowled angrily at Angel.
But The Mayor just smiled, grinning from ear to ear. He looked at Mr. Trick. “See Mr. Trick, cautious and righteous. I love a man that does his homework.” He slapped his knee and Angel seriously started to consider the possibility that the man was insane.
Turning back to Angel he said, “Well that’s neither here nor now. The point is Angelus that this country is lacking the strong leadership that it needs to continue to flourish as the super power that your ancestors strived to make it.”
“See I know the history of your family Angelus. I know the history of Uncle’s entire organization. And I respect and appreciate all that it has done to keep this country running smoothly and efficiently. And I, well I just want to help out in that enterprise.“
Angel was getting bored; so far he hadn’t heard anything that he needed to hear. “Look Mr. Mayor that’s great and I wish you the best with your venture. But I really don’t see why you’re telling me all of this or why I’m even here for that matter. “
“Of course you don’t son.”
Angel almost growled…son?
“That’s because I haven’t gotten to the good part yet.”
“The good part?”
“Yes, yes. You see Angelus. I want to run for President and that requires a lot of money. Money, which I’m sure a cautious man like yourself knows, I don’t have a lot of, at least enough to suit me.” He smiled while adjusting his suit.
“Uncle takes care of the business transactions. You should be talking to him.”
“Yes I did. And may I just say that I was completely shocked to learn that you were considering leaving the business.”
Angel’s eyes darkened and his body tensed, this was it. This was what he had been waiting for. “Why would that concern you?” he asked quietly.
“Well because you’re the best! And I want the best on my team Angelus.” The mayor walked back around to his desk and stood there. “I have a very important job that needs your expertise. It must go off without a hitch. My entire venture, as you call it, depends on it.”
Angel was willing to play along, for now. “What kind of job?”
“Well what you do best of course. Steal.”
“Let me guess…more diamonds.”
The Mayor slapped his knee again, chuckling, “I knew you were smart! Yes, well they’re not just a women’s best friend you know.” He started to laugh and all his goons laughed with him. Angel stood there not laughing. He was getting more annoyed by the minute; he still didn’t see why this concerned him.
“Mr. Mayor…” He stared to say but the Mayer raised his hand to halt him. “I know you still don’t understand.”
“Well Angelus, as you were kind enough to point out to me, I do have ‘friends’ in some of the more unsavory classes, ones that my political peers wouldn’t look too kindly on. And recently I’ve had a small falling out with one of them and I fear that he, in an attempt to get back at me, will try to steal them for himself.”
The picture that Wesley showed him flashed through his mind and his eyes glinted back at the mayor like hard steel.
“I want you to steal them before he does. And all things considering I figured that you would have the inside information and beat him to the punch.”
Angel’s voice was low and steely, “why would you think that?” he asked, knowing that he wasn’t going to like the answer.
The Mayor smiled and pulled a manila folder out of his desk, sliding it across and passing it to Angel. “Well I figured since you’re on such…intimate terms with one of them that you would be privy to such information. And therefore would be in the best position to steal them first.”
Angel stared at the folder. He was itching to pick it up and delve into it. But he knew that if he did then he would look too anxious, and that would be a mistake.
“Excuse me?”
The Mayor smiled, and this time, his smile was pure unadulterated evil. “Since Uncle informed me of your desire to leave the business I asked him to let me talk to you. I just knew that I could convince you to stay.”
“Why would I listen to you?”
“Why, well because I know things Angelus a lot of things, things that Uncle doesn’t even know of, if you can believe that. I am just full of information, sometimes I amaze myself really.”
“But I’m getting carried away. You see the beauty of this arrangement Angelus is that you don’t have to listen to me. All you have to do is read.” He pushed the folder toward him again. But Angel didn’t move. He didn’t even look at it.
“You are stubborn aren’t you?” He sighed, “Angelus all I’m asking is for you to read it. Then when you’re done you can decide if you still want to leave the business or not.”
Seeing that Angel wasn’t taking the folder he picked it up and handed it to him. “Now you’ll have to excuse me, I have an important meeting. Please take it. Look over it. You can inform Uncle of your decision.”
He turned away the second Angel took the folder. “Good day Angelus.”
Angel took the folder and didn’t spare them another glance. Turning, he quickly left the room.
“I don’t like him. He’s a wise ass and he’s going to be trouble. You can’t trust him.” Mr. Trick said.
The Mayor sat down at his desk. “Oh don’t worry about him Mr. Trick. Uncle is confident that when the boy sees what’s in that folder everything will be the way it’s supposed to be.”
“Why do we even need him? There are plenty of thieves out there that can get the job done.”
“No Mr. Trick, not like the Scourge of Europe. He’s the best there is. Well there is another who’s just as good.” He looked out the window anger on his face as he continued, “One that I can’t get too unfortunately, and that’s why we need him on our side.”
Mr. Trick wasn’t sure. But he wasn’t the boss. ”He’s not going to play nice.”
“Don’t worry. Sometimes the job is the only thing a man has. Unfortunately for him, Angelus has forgotten that. Since I’m such a great guy I’m going to help him out and remind him. He’ll play.”
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
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Slave to Passion
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-3-4* 4
« Reply #10 on Nov 2, 2006, 8:55am » | |
Jesus I never finished posting chap 5! Sorry...here you go
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Buffy finished sweeping the first floor of Angel’s house and was making her way up the stairs. She had already been here for over an hour and the thought did occur to her that it was too long. But she didn’t care. She knew that if she looked hard enough she would find something, so she continued with her search up the second floor.
She had just rounded the corner and stepped into the alcove when there was a flash of light. She moved quickly and flattened herself against the wall, peering outside the window. A car drove down the road and past the house. She breathed a sigh of relief and as she did, her elbow hit the wall.
There was quite swoosh and she jumped away just as the wall moved and slid back.
She stood there with her mouth open and her eyes wide. What the hell was this? She looked over her shoulder to make sure she was still alone, then slowly peeked inside the dark room. She lifted her flashlight and moved it over the walls until she spotted a switch. She hit the switch and then jumped inside the room as the lights turned on and the wall began to close.
Well, well wasn’t this interesting. Her eyebrow lifted questioningly, why would Angel need a secret room?
Her eyes quickly scanned the room; there was a desk that wrapped around the entire length of the wall. There was a black cabinet to her right, which upon closer inspection was beautifully covered with intricate carvings. Next to that was a small table with three bottles of Whiskey on it and two glasses. She snorted his favorite drink.
Moving back over to the desk, her fingers lightly touched all the computer equipment. This was some high tech stuff. She wasn’t too much of a computer whiz but she knew enough to know that the equipment in this room was not your run of the mill home computer.
Her eyes darkened violently, “Stuntman my ass.” She mumbled.
The more she stood in the room the more her fury grew. He had been lying to her from the beginning. All that bullshit that he told her about never hurting her, how he would always be honest with her, was just that – bullshit! All the while he’d been lying and sneaking around behind her back. Running around and doing God only knew what! She couldn’t believe she had been so stupid, so gullible!
She stood in the room her fists clenched at her side, her eyes sparkling dangerously as she looked at the cabinet. No better place to start.
She walked over to it, her hand reaching for the knob and pulled. She snorted, of course it was locked. Smirking, she pulled a hairpin out of her hair. “Child’s play. “ Putting it inside the key hole she jiggled it until it clicked and the lock sprang open. She grinned, “You’ll need better locks than that baby to keep me out.”
She opened the double doors and stood back. To her surprise there was a small arsenal of weapons inside. She saw knives and swords, pistols, shotguns, automatic weapons; there was even a small rack of hand grenades. She touched them in awe; she had never seen hand grenades before and she wondered what kind of situation actually called for the use of a hand grenade? “I bet those don’t fire blanks.”
As her hand lightly grazed them, she pushed the rack and it popped free. Her eyes widened as she pulled it open to reveal a safe that was hiding behind them. She smiled evilly then flexed her fingers, “Umm…just like old times.” She mumbled as she leaned next to it and began to turn the lock.
Hearing the final click, she smiled and opened the safe. Inside she found stacks of money from different countries and a dozen different passports. Each one had the face of her Angel on them, along with a different name.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Disgusted she threw them back inside the safe closed it up and pushed the grenades back into place, and then she closed the cabinet.
She turned around and stared at the desk, “You’re next.”
She sat down and started to work on the file cabinets lock, which she knew would be locked. As she worked at them she continued to grumble to herself about how stupid she had been. How she never once saw through his lies. She couldn’t help but think that he was having a good laugh at her expense.
Finally unlocking it, she pulled it open.
Speedily her fingers moved over the files, reading everything with steely determination. She didn’t care if she was here all night. She was going to read every single one of those files. She would find out here and now everything her lying naughty lover had been up too. Then she was going to find him and kick his ass!
There was a file on everyone. Spike, Gunn, Fred, Oz, and Wesley, they all had one. In fact she was a little surprised that there wasn’t one on her. She pulled them out, one by one and started to go over them. Each folder listed that person’s area of expertise, their latest missions, and how well they did on it. It was a freaking report card for criminals! She wasn’t surprised. It was just as she figured. She smiled, “Glad to see I haven’t lost it.”
Putting the folders aside, she started going through the other files. Each one was a backdrop on a previous job. As she stared at the dates, she mentally noted that they each took place when he told her that he was going out of town for a movie shoot.
Opening them up she infuriatingly realized she couldn’t read any of it. They were all written in a foreign language that she couldn’t make out. The only thing she did understand was the dates. The most recent was just the other night, movie night. “That explains Spike and Faith’s absence.”
The oldest file was dated six months ago. She guessed that he kept even older files somewhere else in the house because she knew this wasn’t something he just started to do. This was a lifetime occupation.
Scrutinizing them a little closer, she saw that she was able to read what it said on the bottom of each mission. They were stamped, with what looked like wax. Lifting it up she studied it and snarled with anger, it was a Gryphon, and it said The Order of Aurelia. “What the hell is that?” She looked further down to see a name scrawled out in pen…Uncle. Now she knew why he didn’t want her to invite ‘Uncle’ to the opening of the Graveyard. Because he didn’t have an Uncle!
She slapped the folder down. She had never in her life felt like she did in that moment. She felt betrayed and used; she was so enraged she felt like she was going to snap.
All this time she thought she knew him. But she didn’t know anything about him! She could only imagine what those missions entailed. With the arsenal that he had in the cabinet he certainly wasn’t selling Girl Scout cookies.
For some reason she wasn’t too upset with what he really did. That wasn’t what bothered her. If it did then she would be nothing but a hypocrite. What bothered her were the lies and the fact that he didn’t trust her, and that realization was a knife through her heart.
It made her wonder if he even loved her. She had trusted him with her past, loved him with everything in her being and he had done nothing but lie to her. Yes there were things in her past that she never told him. But those were inconsequential; they didn’t affect her life now or her relationship with him. But this, this was life altering.
She didn’t need to see anything more. She’d seen everything she needed to see. Now she had to decide what she was going to do about it. Could she still love a man that didn’t trust her? Did he even love her?
As she stood, her eyes landed on Spike’s folder that was open and two words that popped out like a glowing sign. She stopped breathing.
‘Faith knows.’
That’s all it said, but she read what it meant. She inhaled sharply. Faith knew. Faith had known all along and never once told her. She was seething mad and her face twisted with fury as she screamed her heartbreak out loud. Her hand violently swept the desk and knocked all the contents off and onto the floor.
Faith knew! Faith had probably known all along and she never once told her. Betrayed by her boyfriend and now betrayed by her best friend!
“It’s a bitch isn’t it…betrayal.”
She quickly turned to confront him and her shattered heart skipped a beat.
He stood in the doorway his body was tense, his hands were clenched at his side and his voice…his voice sent shivers of fear down her spine. She swallowed as she started to get nervous. She discovered his secret. She didn’t know him. She had no idea how he was going to react. He could easily snap her neck in two and from the cold distant look in his eye she feared that would be the case.
“A…Angel.”
He walked inside slowly, “Well, well aren’t you the little entrepreneur.” His eyes scanned over the open files on the desk and then quickly looked at the cabinet, where he detected small scratches on the wood. “I see you haven’t lost your skills.”
She looked at him peculiarly. So he did have a file on her somewhere. Her eyes crossed angrily as the truth of the situation slapped her in the face. She stared at him quivering with all the hurt and anger that she felt inside. “How could do this to me? How could you lie to me like this?”
Taking a step closer to her, he looked down at her. His black eyes hiding every drop of pain that ate at his heart like cancer. “I can’t believe you’re asking me that question. I mean I’m good at what I do Buff but a woman of your means surely knew what was going on all along.”
She glared at him vehemently, “What the hell does that mean?”
“What was the plan Buff? Go separate ways for a while till things cooled down and then hook back up?”
She looked at him strangely, “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I guess I was just a pit stop along the way right? I mean a passionate woman like you can’t go long without getting fucked!” He sneered at her and she slapped him across the face, her own face a bright red.
“How dare you! You were the one lying to me all this time and instead of giving me explanations you’re accusing me of something!”
“Don’t play innocent with me Buffy! I’m on to you’re little scam now and all you’re little lies!” He yelled.
“What the fuck are you talking about? What lies?”
“I’m talking about this!” He pulled a file out of his jacket and threw it at her. Its contents spilled out onto the floor and she looked down. She didn’t need to read it to know what it was, probably her whole damn life.
Buffy looked up at him tears of anger and sadness filled her eyes. She knew her past would come back to haunt her one day but this just pissed her off.
“You have no right to be mad at me! You’re more of a criminal then I WAS!” She stressed the word was. “I don’t know exactly what it is you do Angel but at least I never killed anyone!”
“I’m not talking about your criminal past, for some reason that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Then what the hell are you talking about?”
He couldn’t believe she was still playing the scam. He grabbed a piece of paper off the floor and shoved it in her face, snarling at her with the full brunt of his fury. “I’m talking about the fact that you’re MARRIED MRS. ABRAMS!” He screamed in her face.
She took a step back confusion on her face. This was what he was mad about? Okay she never told him that little part of her past, but what did it matter.
“So what if I was married to Parker? WAS is the key word Angel because he’s dead! It doesn’t matter.”
“Oh well that would be true if he really WAS DEAD!”
Her heart stopped it had to, because the fear that entered her body when she heard those words would have surely killed her. “Wh…what…no he’s dead.”
Angel didn’t see her fear, he only knew that she didn’t belong to him and never had. He grabbed her roughly by the arms and hauled her up to him. “STOP LYING, I know all about it!”
“About what?” She cried out.
His hands dug into her arms painfully as he repeated what he read in the file. “The art heist at the museum and how the cops were on too you guys. You, Parker and Adam staged his death and then went your separate ways until things cooled off. You fucking played me! You were using me until you were reunited with your precious Parker!”
She tried to step away from him, but his hands just gripped her harder. “No…he’s…de…dead.”
Her head was shaking wildly back and forth, her heart was pounding. He had to be dead. He couldn’t be alive.
But Angel was merciless. He couldn’t see her confusion and he couldn’t hear her panic. All he saw and felt was his own pain and heartbreak. When he read that file and saw that she was married and that Parker was still alive, his entire world came crashing down. She wasn’t his. She had never been his and he couldn’t deal with that.
She finally broke free of his grasp, “No he’s dead! He has to be dead!”
“No you’re loving husband is still alive. And if I understand everything correctly he’s on his way here to find you, his wife!” He screamed.
Buffy blanched. This couldn’t be happening to her. She had to get out of here. She looked up at Angel. His eyes were cold and hard. He had completely turned himself off to her. He thought that she knew and he hated her.
“Angel, I swear to god I didn’t know!” She pleaded with him taking a step toward him, desperate to make him understand.
Angel looked back at her with loathing and undisguised hatred. Her expertly tearful confession all those months ago about Parker and her past came back to him. Every lie and how easily he fell for it made him sick to his stomach. “You know you were right. You are whore.” He quietly said to her taking a step back.
It was like he didn’t even want her to touch him. The vehemence in his voice was worse than the word that he spoke. He hated her. It was as simple as that. Tears fell rampantly down her face. Her body shook with the desolation that consumed her.
He saw her beautiful tear streaked face. He saw her body convulse, but he had no sympathy for her. To him, she looked like a beautiful lying bitch whose deceit had just been discovered.
Buffy made one last attempt to plead with him, “Please Angel you have to believe me. I didn’t know! I love you!” She implored him, but he took another step back and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Get out.”
She was taken aback by the coldness she read in his eyes. He was hurt and he was angry and he believed the worst. It was clear that she wasn’t going to get anywhere with him now and she had to come to terms with that. She couldn’t afford to lose any time if Parker was truly coming for her then she had to leave and quickly. She could only pray that one day she would have the opportunity to prove him wrong.
She straightened her shoulders and turned away from him. She stopped in the threshold of the doorway. Her hands braced the walls, desperately trying to find the strength to stay on her feet. “I’m sorry Angel, I…I’m sorry.”
She fled down the stairs and out of the house, tears streaming down her face.
His body reflexively moved forward to stop her but he gripped the doorway to prevent himself from chasing her. He couldn’t go after her. She had lied to him. She had betrayed him. She was just biding her time until Parker came back for her. She was just another treacherous lying bitch.
All the emotions that he had held back let lose the second he heard the front door close.
“FUCK!”
Like a possessed madman he attacked the interior of the room. Kicking and punching the walls. He picked up the chair and threw it at the desk. The chair landed on the computers and the screens shattered and sparked. Grabbing the cabinet he threw it on to the floor, its contents emptying out onto the carpet. He loved her and she betrayed him.
He fell to his knees mentally and physically exhausted, his own tears falling freely. The one thing he never wanted to lose, he lost, and the worst part was that she was never even his to begin with.
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-3-4* 4
« Reply #11 on Nov 2, 2006, 9:00am » | |
Reader Note: There is some violence against Buffy & Faith in this chapter. It's not crazy violence but I thought I'd warn you anyway. 
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Chapter Six
And The Ass is Bitten
The sun was just coming over the horizon when Buffy arrived back at the loft and threw open the door. She was frantic to get out of Los Angeles. She couldn’t stay here. With the connections Parker had in LA it was only a matter of time before he found her.
The door slammed against the wall as she opened it. Stopping dead in her tracks she was abruptly reminded of something else.
“Faith.” She sneered as she looked at the brunette.
Faith jumped up from the couch and ran over to her, “Thank god you’re back B. Jesus you were gone for a long time, I was beginning to get worried.”
Faith smiled at her, truly relieved to see Buffy back home. But her smile quickly faded as she saw the cold look the blonde gave her.
“Get out.” Buffy said as she walked around Faith and into her bedroom.
Faith looked at the straightness of Buffy’s back and the stiffness of her shoulders and knew that the shit had hit the fan. She followed her into the bedroom, “Buffy please listen to me. I wanted to tell you. I should have told you. It was wrong of me not to and I apologize. I’m so sorry,.”
But Buffy wasn’t listening to her. The fear of running into Parker was stronger then anything else, “I don’t have time to listen to you Faith. Okay, so just forget it, it doesn’t matter.”
After Buffy left Angel at the house all she could think about was her imminent reunion with Parker and it scared the hell out of her. She was alone now. Angel wouldn’t come to her rescue he hated her and never wanted to see her again. That hurt so much that she was slowly on the verge of cracking. She couldn’t take anything else right now. The more she moved around the room and the more she thought about it, the more unhinged she became.
Faith watched as Buffy frantically ran around the room. She flew into the closet and yanked out a bag. Then she moved from draw to draw pulling clothes out and shoving them inside the bag, all the while babbling incoherently.
“Not dead. How can that be? I have to get out of here. I have to leave.”
Faith grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her. “Buffy what the hell are you rambling about?”
Buffy stopped and looked at her, her eyes were big and frantic and she spoke in a rush of words that Faith barely made out. “He’s alive. Angel thinks I knew. But I didn’t I swear! I had no part in it. I just wanted to get out. I just wanted to live my life! He hates me. He thinks I lied to him. Have to leave. Have to leave before he finds me!”
Faith touched her wet cheek, cupping it gently in an attempt to calm her down. “Shhh…Buffy slow down.”
She steered her toward the bed and sat her down. She grabbed a tissue off the nightstand and started to wipe her face. “Now take deep breaths and tell me what happened.”
Buffy closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to calm her fears. “Parker…he’s alive.”
“What?” Faith’s heart lurched understanding the significance of Buffy’s panic and what that meant.
“He’s alive and he’s coming for me. I have to go.” She went to get up but Faith pulled her back down on the bed.
“Buffy. Slow down and start at the beginning.”
“I went to Angel’s and I found a secret room and I…” her eyes suddenly looked at Faith and they hardened. “You knew! You knew and you didn’t tell me!”
“I know Buffy I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you but Spike said it was better for Angel to. I was trying to talk some sense into his head but he wasn’t listening to me. I was going to tell you tonight I swear.”
Buffy looked at her, with sad eyes. In her heart she did forgive Faith because she probably would have done the same thing if the tables were turned and Angel asked her not to say anything. But it was still hard to grasp that someone she trusted didn’t share an important secret like this with her. “I trusted you Faith. You were my friend.” She cried and Faith’s own eyes welled up with tears.
“Shh…Buffy I still am your friend. You’re my sister remember? What I did was wrong and I promise you that I will never ever keep secrets from you again.”
Buffy’s shoulders jerked as she started to cry harder. She wasn’t mad at Faith. She loved Faith just like she loved Angel, and she couldn’t lose someone else she loved today. “It’s…okay. I understand. I can’t lose you too.”
Faith smiled at her, “Stop it B you’re not losing me! We’re blood remember. We stay together.”
Buffy smiled slightly at her and nodded her head.
Faith smiled back, “Good. Now when we settle this Parker thing you can kick my ass. But first you’re going to tell me everything that Angel said.”
“He said that he knew about the scam. That the last heist, the one at the museum that I told you about?” Faith shook her head, “went sour and that the cops were on to us. He thinks that we staged Parker’s death to throw the cops off. He thinks that I came here to wait for Parker!”
“What?” Faith’s temper was slowly starting to rise with every word that Buffy said.
“He said I was a whore. He doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore!”
“Fucking bastard!” Faith hissed. She was going to kill him.
In a blink of an eye Buffy’s manner changed from hysterical to very quiet. When she looked back at Faith her eyes were clear and hard. She fleetingly wondered out loud, “maybe he never really loved me.”
Even though Faith was ready to kill Angel, she knew that that was not true. “No Buffy, that’s not true Angel does love you. You know how possessive he is. When he found out that you were married to Parker he just flipped. He’s not thinking clearly.”
“No Faith you didn’t see him. He knows everything; Parker, what I did when I lived in New York, he’s pissed off. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain he just assumed the worst. ”
“So we’ll just sit him down and talk to him that’s all. He’s just shocked Buffy he’ll come around.”
Buffy shook her head, “no it’s over. I can’t stay here Faith, I can’t waste any time. I have to leave LA.”
She went to rise but Faith pulled her back down. “Buffy slow down, what did he say about Parker? How does he know he’s coming for you?”
“He had a file on me. A fucking file Faith! I don’t know where he got his information and I don’t care. All I know is that I have to leave!” She jumped up and ran out of the bedroom with her bag and headed toward the door.
Faith ran after her. “Where are you going to go Buffy? You know as well I do if Parker wants to find you he will.”
“I don’t know. I just know that I can’t stay here. The club is yours Faith. I’ll call you when I find a safe place.”
She threw open the door but her feet didn’t move. Her hand clutched the doorknob and her heart stopped for the second time that day, as she stared into the dark eyes of her dead husband.
“Hi sweetheart long time no see.”
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When Angel didn’t return to the hotel after meeting The Mayor and still hadn’t shown up the next morning, the gang tried to call him. When his cell phone just rang and rang Spike got worried. He told everyone to wait at the hotel while he quickly jumped on his bike and went everywhere he thought Angel might have gone.
He pulled into Angel’s driveway noting that there was no busted up Porsche sitting in the driveway, he parked and walked up to the door.
“Not locked. Not a good sign.” Angel always locked his door and put on the alarm system. He didn’t know what happened but he was going to be ready for anything. He pulled his gun out and opened the door. Silently stepping inside he started to move through the house very slowly.
After checking the first floor and finding nothing out of place he headed upstairs. The second he turned the corner and saw the demolished wall to the secret room, he cursed.
Holstering his gun he walked inside. The room was in shambles; every piece of furniture was broken and dismantled. All the computer equipment was sizzling and smoking. The walls were littered with holes the size of a man’s fists. And Angel’s treasured cabinet that belonged to his father was smashed into tiny bits.
“Shit.”
Looking down he saw the papers all over the floor, squatting he picked them up and stared to read them.
His eyes widened with every word that he read. He couldn’t believe it. Buffy was a thief. Or at least she had been a thief, and a very good and respected thief to boot.
He read over some of her jobs and he couldn’t help but whistle in awe. He remembered every single one of those jobs because his crew was supposed to do them. But then someone else had beaten them to it. It was a known fact in their world that The Scourge of Europe was the best in the business, except for one thief that no one knew the name of. Well now they did.
Spike could only imagine the buttons that information must have pushed in the egotistical Angel. That was always a sore spot with him, the thought that there was someone out there just as good as he was or perhaps even better, and never knowing who it was. Then to find out that it’s the love of your life! The woman that had been sharing his bed - that must have been quite a blow.
His eyes crinkled with confusion, that information would not have been enough to cause this kind of damage, there must be something else in that file. He kept rummaging through the papers until he found it. “Bullocks!”
He jumped up and out of the room and ran down the stairs. Closing the front door he jumped on his bike and blasted out of the driveway. He hoped that he made it to the Graveyard before the lummox did anything stupid.
**********************
She couldn’t move. If she didn’t know any better she’d think she had been standing there with her hand on the door for three days. But it was only seconds.
Parker cunningly smiled seeing how flustered she was. It was exactly the response he was hoping for. He moved in closer and tenderly touched her face, bringing her closer to his. “No kiss for your loving husband?” He softly asked, just as his lips descended on hers.
Buffy still couldn’t move as she let him touch her face. She felt his lips on hers and her body responded as her stomach protested, churning restlessly with revulsion. Still she couldn’t move.
Faith on the other hand could. And she did. She walked up to him and grabbing Buffy tore her away from him and stepped in between them. “Leave her alone. Get out.”
Parker’s smile faded and he glared at Faith. “Look honey, I don’t know who you are, but it’s not very nice to get in between a husband and his wife.”
Parker took a step inside and Faith pushed a quiet Buffy back as she stepped away from Parker. “No you look asshole, you’re dead and she’s not your wife anymore. So you can just take your bullshit and get out of here!”
Parker didn’t like that and he quickly backslapped Faith across the face. She stumbled not expecting the blow and fell to her knees.
“Mind your own fucking business bitch!”
Buffy snapped out of her stupor to see Faith on the floor with blood trickling from her mouth and she stepped up to Parker.
“’Leave her alone!” She started to pummel him in the chest with her fists, screaming at him that he was dead but Parker just laughed at her. He grabbed her hands and threw her off of him. Buffy went over to help Faith up as Parker started to walk around the room.
“You’ve done real good for yourself sweetheart. Nice place and a big club. Oh and I can’t forget all those explicit photos that I see everywhere.”
‘Sweetheart’, she shivered with repulsion at hearing that endearment off of his lips. It was his favorite word to call her and she had forgotten how much she hated it. He had a distinct gift of making the word sound sincere and sweet, yet at the same time it was full of malevolence and manipulation.
He turned black eyes to her, “You know I’ll have to punish you for that later. I mean no wife of mine is going to get away with whoring herself off to the world.”
All the bad memories that Buffy had pushed away came back with full force. All the times that he would belittle her, all the times he would ‘punish’ her for doing something that he didn’t like returned twofold, and she couldn’t contain the small cry of fear that escaped her lips.
Faith felt her fear and she squeezed her hand bringing her wild eyes up to hers. She shook her head, silently telling her that was not going to happen, and gave her all the strength that she had in her body to hold on.
Parker continued to walk around the room touching everything until he stopped at the picture on the table. It was of her and Angel, laughing together on the beach. They were holding each other close and they were barely clothed.
Parker picked it up and his scowl darkened. “Yes, you’ve been keeping very busy haven’t you?”
Seeing Parker pick up her favorite picture she snarled and ran at him, reaching for the picture. “Give that to me!”
But Parker was fast and he moved it out of her reach laughing as she tried to grab it.
“Damn it Parker it’s mine!” She kept trying to grab it and Parker kept laughing in her face at her attempts.
“Why do you want it? It’s not like your ever going to see him again. You’re a married woman Buffy doesn’t he know that? Don’t you know that!” he shouted at her.
“Give it to me!” She shouted again and this time he threw it at her in disgust.
“Fine have it.”
Buffy grabbed it and adoringly touched the photo as Parker avidly watched her. He never saw her look the way she did in that moment. It was clear that she loved the man in the photo because her eyes reflected nothing but pure raw emotion. She had never shown him sentiments like that. The Buffy he knew had always been beautiful but she was always meek and submissive. She always did what she was told without asking questions. It was one of the things he loved about her. It made her so much more attractive.
But this, this was a different Buffy. He took a closer look at her and saw many things about her that he had never seen before. Even though her face was wet from her tears and her eyes were red and swollen, she still looked more confident and stronger then he had ever seen her. Her defiance toward him a moment ago was proof that he had been gone too long. He had let her get too comfortable and too self-assured. He needed to change that.
“That’s right sweetheart take a long hard look, because you’ll never see him again.”
His words reverberated throughout her and the desolation of losing Angel overrode her fear of Parker. He was the reason that Angel hated her. She roared with all the hopeless anger that was inside of her and she struck out at him punching him the face. “FUCK YOU!”
Parker’s head whipped back from the force of her blow and when he looked back at her there was shock in his eyes. Right before they turned black with rage. His hand shot out and he punched her back. “Bitch!”
His fist landed on her temple and she fell to the floor dropping the picture. It was a hard hit; her vision blurred and there was a loud hum in her head as she teetered on the verge of blacking out.
The picture frame shattered everywhere and before she could grab the photo Parker picked it up and ripped it. “Say goodbye to your lover boy sweetheart, because you’re no one’s whore but mine!” He screamed, kicking her in the ribs as she crawled away from him.
“You bastard!” Faith screamed as she jumped on his back.
Parker struggled with Faith as she got him in a headlock and started to squeeze. Bending over, he flipped her over him and onto the floor.
He kicked her once, “I don’t think I like the company you’ve been keeping these days sweetheart.”
He kicked her two more times in the stomach, “they’ve been teaching you bad habits.”
He sneered at Faith giving her one last kick. Faith rolled into a fetal position to protect herself and Parker caught a glimpse of the tattoo on her back.
“Ah what do we have here, a sister?” He pushed her chest down to the floor with his foot as he grabbed her jeans and lowered them revealing the tattoo and the top of her ass.
His finger traced the familiar design and then skimmed lower between the cheeks of her ass. Flattening his hand on one ripe globe he massaged it roughly. “Nice ass. Tight. Just the way I like em’.”
His actions and words brought back unwanted memories, and Faith earnestly struggled against him as panic consumed her. “Don’t fucking touch me!” She sneered.
Parker laughed at her attempts to dislodge him and then he slapped her on the ass. “Feisty.”
He stood up straighter releasing her as his foot grinded deeper into her back. Relieve flooded through her the second his hand left her ass. Her fear disappeared and her temper returned.
Grabbing a fistful of hair he jerked her head back to look at him. “So Cleveland eh? You know I wonder if Luke knows you’re here. I bet he would be very interested in knowing how inhospitable you are to a fellow brother.” He sneered in her ear and Faith’s eyes bulged as her heart raced with trepidation.
Parker smiled evilly at her, seeing the anxiety enter her eyes.
“Leave her alone Parker!” Buffy shouted.
He turned around and Buffy punched him again in the face. When she tried to do it again he grabbed her arm and backhanded her. She went flying across the room landing on the table. The wood splintered and shattered everywhere. She struggled to get up and started to crawl on her hands and knees as blood dripped out of her mouth and nose.
Parker walked over to her and yanked her hair pulling her head up. “Disrespectful cunt!”
He leaned down and took a knife out of his pocket. “I see you’ve been away from the family for too long Buffy, you’ve picked up a lot of unladylike habits.”
Putting it against her throat he sneered at her, “Well I’ll just have to correct that. You know, you are one ungrateful fucking whore. Adam always told me that but I always stuck up for you. I can see now that he was right.” He viciously yanked her head back and she screamed in pain.
“Parker please stop!” She cried.
“All the shit that I’ve done for you and this is how you repay me? I should kill you now you fucking bitch!”
There was a click of a gun being cocked and then Parker felt cold steel against his head. “How bout’ I kill you instead, bitch.”
Faith looked up and saw Spike standing over Parker with a gun to his head. She had never before in her life been so happy to see him. Even though she knew she had never seen this Spike before.
He looked really pissed and extremely dangerous. His face was murderous; his eyes were cold and empty, and the confidence level that he held the gun with was a little scary. She couldn’t have been more grateful in that moment that he did what he did.
She quickly jumped up and ran over to Buffy. “B, are you alright?”
“Stand up you piece of shit.” Spike pushed the gun into Parker’s head and he slowly stood with his hands up in the air.
“Drop the knife.”
Parker dropped the knife and Faith quickly helped Buffy up and out of the way.
Parker turned around expecting to see the man in the photo. He was surprised when he saw a blonde instead. “Who are you? You’re not the guy in the photo.”
Spike snickered at him, “if I was, you wouldn’t be breathing right now. Move.”
He moved Parker toward the door.
“You know she’s my wife, you’re interfering where you don’t belong.”
Spike laughed, “Yeah I have a nasty habit of doing that.”
His smile disappeared and his face changed to a mask of steel. “Now get out, turn around and don’t come back. Ever.”
Parker looked at the ice blue eyes and knew that he wasn’t dealing with a pansy. Knowing that he wasn’t exactly in the position to intimidate he yielded.
He shook his head, smiling as he did, and put his arms down. “No problem brother.”
“I’m not your brother.”
Parker smirked at him and then looked at Buffy. She was a fucking mess, physically and mentally, a little bullying and she’ll be right back at his side.
“Buffy?” He softly said.
Her eyes immediately were drawn to his. He smiled at her and it was warm and loving, she swallowed. “You know you belong with me sweetheart. I love you. I need you.”
His eyes changed and Buffy knew that look all too well. “You know where I’ll be. If you don’t come, I’ll come for you. Don’t think you can run I’ll find you.”
With one last look at Faith, he turned to Spike. “I guess I’ll be seeing you later.”
Spike cruelly grinned, “I hope so.”
Parker turned and left, and Spike slammed the door shut. “Asshole.”
He turned around to see Faith cleaning up one very bloody Buffy. He snarled angrily when he saw the blood on Faith’s lips. “I’m going to kill that fucking bastard.”
Faith turned angry eyes to Spike. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Spike was taken back by her anger; didn’t he just save the day? “Excuse me? That’s a fine how-do-you-do after saving your asses!”
Faith ignored him and continued to clean Buffy’s face but Buffy pushed her away and sat down on the couch to catch her breath and her thoughts.
“Where the bloody hell is Angel?” Spike asked.
Faith turned on him with the full force of her resentment. “That’s a good question I’d like to know where that jerk is too, because I want to kick his ass!”
Spike walked up to her, “What’s your problem? Angel’s not the one that hit her!”
She sneered at him, “Yes he did, right through the fucking heart!”
Spike had to calm down, he had to calm her down because he had no idea what was going and he didn’t want to make things worse. He lowered his voice, “What happened?”
Buffy heard them arguing but her eyes were on the torn up picture. Parker was right; she would never see Angel again. He hated her. He had callously and easily pushed her aside. He’d failed to even give her the benefit of the doubt. He’d just assumed that she had known what Parker did, and he had assumed the worse. You didn’t do that to someone you loved. There was no place for her here anymore just like she had no life anymore. It was over…everything was over. The fiery walls of hell closed around her, once more suffocating her with their heat. She could only do one thing.
Standing up, she grabbed her bag and walked to the door. Faith saw her move from the corner of her eye and she took a step closer to her stop. “Buffy where are you going?”
Buffy turned around and looked at them. “He’s right, Faith. I have to go to him. It’s where I belong.”
“No sweetie he’s full of shit. You don’t belong with him.”
“If I don’t things will only get worse.”
“Buffy please don’t do this. You’re not thinking clearly right now. We can get away from him. We’ll go together.”
“The hell you will!” Spike said not liking that idea one bit.
“No Faith. I have to. It doesn’t matter anymore. Nothing does.”
She looked at Spike, “Thank you.” It looked like she wanted to say something else but she didn’t. She turned and solemnly left the loft.
Faith went after her but was stopped by Spike. “Where the hell is she going and where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
“I can’t talk to you right now!” She threw is arm off and chased after Buffy leaving Spike standing there.
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-3-4* 4
« Reply #12 on Nov 2, 2006, 9:02am » | |
Chapter Six
Continued...
He stood outside the door afraid to go inside. His body actually shook as his hand reached for the knob. He didn’t want to see her, not now, not yet. But he had no choice. He had left his watch on the nightstand and he needed that to get in touch with Uncle. Well at least he did now that he’d destroyed the computers.
He took a deep breath, turned the knob and walked inside, hardening his heart to what he might find inside.
It was not what he expected. The table was broken. Pieces of wood were scattered all over the living room. It looked like there had been a wrestling match in the living room. His eyes darkened with unease as he noticed spots of blood that colored the rug. What the fuck happened in here?
He took another step and saw broken glass and as he walked closer to it, he noticed the torn photo. Knowing which photo it was he thought the worse and he scowled irritably.
“It wasn’t her.”
He stood up and turned to look at Spike.
“What happened?” he asked quietly.
“Parker that’s what happened.”
Angel tensed at hearing the name, as his eyes scanned over the blood on the rug. Horror gripped his heart with the thought that something happened to Buffy and he found that he couldn’t speak. He wanted too. But he was paralyzed.
Spike took a step further into the room. He had been waiting for Angel for hours. He figured that eventually he would see reason and come back here.
If he heard Faith correctly, then Angel thought that Buffy was part of some plot to fake Parker’s death. And like Faith, Spike knew that was not the truth. Knowing Angel, he knew that she was also right when she said that he had just flipped out.
Spike watched him now and he saw the scared look on his face for a flash of a second but then it disappeared.
Angel walked out of the room and into the bedroom to grab his watch. He noticed the clothes haphazardly thrown all over the room. He noticed her personal items gone. And he noted the absence of her overnight bag.
“Where the hell were you?” Spike asked as he walked inside the bedroom.
“I had to think.” Angel replied softly as he walked back out of the room and into the living room with Spike close on his heels.
“Okay. Well now that you got your shit together. Where should we start?”
Angel walked around the room picking up anything else that he saw was his. “Start? What are you talking about?”
Spike looked at him like he had lost his mind. “Start to look for them?”
“I’m not looking for her.” He answered flatly.
Spike glared at him, “What the hell are you talking about! Of course you are!”
“No I’m not.”
Spike couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Angel was just giving up just like that! Well he knew how to push his buttons. “Oh you’re not eh?”
Angel shook his head.
“Oh okay then, we’ll just let her go with Parker, her sweet and loving husband who was attentive enough to greet her with his fists.”
Angel stopped walking, his body tensing with growing antagonism as Spike continued to talk.
“But you know what really impressed me the most, when he was thoughtful enough to put a blade under her throat and threaten to kill her. That to me was truly the actions of a loving and gentle man.” Spike said and Angel couldn’t control his snarl of rage.
His hands flexed as his wrath grew. The image of a bloody Buffy with a knife to her throat ruthlessly tormented him and he shut his eyes trying to block them out. She had betrayed him. She had made her choice.
He opened his eyes and turned to leave. “That’s not my problem.”
Spike shook his head with disbelief and he got pissed off. He grabbed Angel’s arm, spinning him around.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he screamed at him. “You’re just going to turn a blind eye and let the woman you love walk away with a fucking lunatic!
Angel gritted his teeth, “She made her choice.”
Spike couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “She made her choice! Bloody hell you actually believe that she knew he was alive!”
Angel didn’t answer. He pulled his arm out of Spike’s grasp and tried to leave once again.
Spike was completely stunned; the poof really had flipped his lid. He grabbed him again. “Why don’t you open your fucking eyes brother and see what’s right in front of you! Do you seriously think that Buffy knew he was alive? Do you see the damage in this room? Does it look like a loving reunion to you? “
Angel couldn’t help but look at the room once more and he couldn’t control the fury that boiled to the surface.
“Do I need to go into details for you? Do you want to know how great she looked scared out of her mind, blood coating her face and her devoted husband’s knife ready to slit her pretty little throat!”
“What do you want me to do Spike! She’s married to him!” Angel screamed back.
“Oh okay so that settles everything then. I guess you don’t give a shit what happens to her anymore. I guess the thought of that slime ball sticking his cock inside of her doesn’t mean shit to you!”
Angel’s control snapped and he roared ferociously as he grabbed Spike by the neck and threw him up against the door.
“She’s not mine! Do you understand that? She was never mine!” He shouted at him.
Spike saw the anguish in his eyes and he understood where it was coming from. But it didn’t matter. He was letting his pride take over and Spike knew he would regret it.
“Angelus, are you so blinded by your pride that you can’t see the truth?”
He wrestled Angel’s hands away from him and pushed him back. “She LOVES YOU, you fucking poof! I saw the look in her eyes when Parker was here, she was shocked and she was scared out of her bloody mind! She had no idea that he was still alive!”
Angel ran a hand through his hair. He was confused. He wanted to believe it but everything was still to raw and his anger too great. The combination muddled his thoughts and his logic, confusing him even more. He did what he always did when feeling completely overwhelmed by emotions he wasn’t used to feeling. He held on to his anger.
He pushed Spike back and looked at him with complete detachment. “She’s a good actress.” He walked out of the loft.
Spike was shocked by Angel’s dismissal and he kicked the door with his foot.
It was up to him then. He knew what he had to do. If the poof wanted to wallow in his stupid shattered male pride then let him. He knew that eventually Angel would come around. He loved and coveted Buffy too much to just let her go like that.
In the meantime, he had to find Faith and Buffy.
**********************
After much arguing Faith finally got Buffy to agree to go to Willy’s until she had a chance to rest and think things over. There was no way in hell that Faith was letting Buffy go to that psycho in the frame of mind she was currently in.
It had been too much in too short a period of time. She was in shock and she was barely talking. As Faith cleaned her bloody lip and nose up, she just sat there dumbly. Faith was worried out of her mind and as a concerned Willy hovered at the door, she tried to think of her next move.
“Jesus Faith who did this?” Willy asked.
“Parker.”
Willy stood up straight, shocked, “Parker! But he’s dead!”
Faith snorted, “Apparently not.”
Seeing a traumatized Buffy just sitting there lifelessly struck a chord of distress in Willy. He had known Buffy since she was twelve years old and stepped inside her first bar…his bar, back in New York. He knew Parker and he knew Adam, shit he knew them all…too well. She had been so young and vulnerable, so open and sweet that she had touched a tender spot in his heart. He had tried to look out for her and take care of her but the second she hooked up with Parker he wasn’t able to do a damn thing. He had sat back and watched as she was treated like she only existed for Parker. He had controlled every aspect of her live and Willy had glumly watched as the light of life slowly drained out of her eyes.
In fact, she was the reason he left New York. He just couldn’t stand there and watch anymore. It was literally killing him. So he had packed up the bar and came here.
When she showed up on his door step eight months later and told him what happened he had been so happy for her. Finally she had a chance to live the life she deserved. He witnessed her transformation from an animated fragile girl into the beautiful strong woman that she was today. And in the last eight months her beauty both in face and spirit glowed even more. Willy knew it was love that did that to a woman and nothing else. He had been thrilled that she had finally found someone that treated her the way she deserved.
Now that asshole was back and Willy wasn’t going to stand aside anymore and watch her fall into oblivion again. He had no ties to the Brotherhood here. When he arrived in Los Angeles he allied himself with the Hells Angels knowing that in his line of business you needed protection from someone. He choose them because he knew of the deep hatred that ran between the two clubs and something in the back of his mind told him that he would meet up with the Brotherhood some day. And that day had arrived.
“What can I do to help?” he eagerly asked.
Faith smiled at him. Willy might be a perv but underneath that he was a good decent man. It was way she came here. “How about a glass of water?”
“I’ll be right back.” He turned and left them, and Faith sat back and looked at Buffy who was staring straight ahead.
“Everything’s going to be okay B you’ll see.”
Buffy didn’t answer her.
Willy ran back in and handed Faith a glass of water.
“Here B drink this.”
Buffy obediently opened her mouth and drank the water.
“Good girl.” Faith said handing the glass back to Willy.
She gently pushed Buffy down on the bed, putting her feet under the covers. Then she pulled them up and over her. “I want you to rest for a little while B. Okay. Just sleep. I’ll be outside. Don’t worry I’ll protect you.”
Buffy didn’t say anything she just kept staring out into space, seeing only the fires of hell – her future with Parker.
Faith pushed Willy out of the room and then locked it.
Willy followed her as she headed out to the front of the bar. “Where’s that boyfriend of hers anyway? Where the hell was he when she was getting the shit kicked out of her?” he asked.
“That’s exactly what I’m going to find out. You keep her here Willy. Don’t let her leave and don’t let anyone take her. Call Bubba at the Graveyard and tell him to get his ass over here and to protect Buffy!”
She didn’t wait for an answer she flew out the door.
Her mission was simple – find Angel and kick some sense into his thick head.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line.*ADDED CHAP-7*
« Reply #13 on Nov 7, 2006, 9:56am » | |
Chapter Seven
Restoration
After Angel left the loft he got in his car and drove. He didn’t even realize where he was driving too until he came to a stop in an alley behind The Beverly Hills Hotel.
He sat in his car staring straight ahead as images of a beaten Buffy plagued his conscience and his heart. He played back every word that Spike said and he started to wonder if maybe he had been wrong.
He knew that he had an unhealthy amount of male pride when it came to what he perceived as his. And he also knew that when he felt threatened he became extremely stubborn. Taking that into account, he focused his mind on the contents of the file, trying to remember if he misread or missed something entirely.
After the Mayor had given it to him he’d sat in his car in this very same spot and read through it. He had been absolutely stunned to learn that Buffy was the thief who had been plaguing him for years. Every job he had ever been given on the East Coast had been thwarted by her which had always been a sore spot for him. It tarnished his otherwise perfect record.
But oddly enough, finding that out didn’t bother him in the least. Actually after he read it a lot of things made sense. Like how she got into his house the night she returned from the photo shoot in Hawaii. How she always seemed to be too inquisitive for her own good. There were many signs that had been there that he never noticed. But he wasn’t mad about that. In fact it turned him on.
He found it extremely exhilarating to finally meet a woman that was as talented as he was – his equal. Someone he loved and who he could be completely honest with. He was so aroused by the idea that he was planning on bringing her out of retirement and joining his crew.
But then he kept reading. And the more he read the more his excitement became distorted, shifting to an infuriation that he had never felt before. It was a maddening insane anger that threatened to explode, and perhaps made him see things that weren’t really there.
The more he thought about it the more he realized that the file never specifically said Buffy knew or that she was a part of anything. He had been so wrapped up in the shocking knowledge that she was married that he assumed the worse.
Maybe he had been wrong.
His eyes closed as the disturbing images returned and floated through his mind, tinted in a deep brilliant red; the color of blood.
He shook his head and opened his eyes furiously trying to clear them. He had to be sharp to figure out what to do and those images were not helpful.
He took deep breaths and concentrated on the last time he saw Buffy. She had seemed sincere; the look on her face when he told her that Parker was alive seemed like genuine shock and fear. So why was he having such a hard time believing it?
When did he develop trust issues? Thinking back he guessed it was Darla. But it wasn’t what Darla did; it was the events that occurred days before they married that sealed his fate.
He had paid a visit to Uncle and told him that he was getting married. Uncle said he disapproved but he would let Angel make his own decisions. He then told him that he had a wedding gift for him. The wedding gift had been a manila folder and inside was Darla’s entire life.
Angel had gone home and read that file, even though he really didn’t want to. What he read did make him think twice. She had a long history with many different men and she had never had a lasting stable relationship with any of them.
Knowing how his Uncle worked, Angel naturally assumed that he fabricated the contents of the file in an attempt to get what he wanted. Keeping Angel single. Uncle always believed that being in their line of work and having a relationship was like trying to put a square inside a circle. It never worked and was only a detriment to the job. Many times he had thrown Angel’s own loving parent’s relationship in his face as an example. He said that it was their love for each other that comprised their positions and got them killed.
Angel hated that and he hated his Uncle. So the next morning he went to see him and threw the file in his face. He told him that he was full of shit and that he knew he was just trying to manipulate him.
He married Darla two days later, a year after that he found her with Finn. Darla’s betrayal had been very hard to deal with but the hardest thing of all was that Uncle had been right.
It was that history that now tore at his gut. If he hadn’t been so dead set on proving Uncle wrong none of that would’ve happened.
It was the same scenario all over again. The only difference was that he truly loved Buffy and the thought of her being in danger made him want to kill someone, anyone, he didn’t care. The animalistic urge to destroy whoever it was that threatened her was all he could think about.
Buffy.
God he missed her. He missed her so much that he didn’t know which way he was going.
He did know one thing; he had to give her the benefit of the doubt. He owed that much to her and he owed it to himself. She was too important to him and he wasn’t going to let his stubbornness get in the way of finding out the truth.
Whatever he found, he found out. If he was right, then he had to find a way to forget her. Move on with his life. And if he was wrong…God if he was wrong, he would never forgive himself if something happened to her. Either way if he didn’t find answers to his questions soon he would surely go mad.
He took a deep breath and opened the car door, stepping outside. He had to put on his game face. Walk inside there and demand answers from The Mayor. He felt his sides; his girls were locked and loaded, ready to come to his aid and get the information for him if need be.
His feet moved and he started to walk down the alley. As he approached the corner, two motorcycles pulled up and stopped. He didn’t pay them much mind until he heard them talking.
“No shit, Parker’s here?”
Angel stopped after hearing that name and leaned against the wall, listening intently.
“Yeah I couldn’t fucking believe it man, it was like a fucking ghost walked into the room. It was freaky.”
The guy laughed, “Yeah I bet it was. So what’s he doing in LA?”
“You remember Buffy right?”
Angel tensed.
“Shit who can forget that hot little package. She’s here?”
“Yeah, and she has no idea that Parker’s alive and in town.” The guy chuckled, “can you imagine the look on her face when she sees Parker? Damn I’d like to see that.”
The other guy laughed with him. “Yeah me too. She’s not going to be happy that’s for sure.”
“I know Parker was always an asshole. I tried to get a piece of that action first you know but Parker beat me too it, too bad for her.”
The guy nodded and their voices faded as they walked into the Hotel.
Angel relaxed against the wall. He had been wrong. Relief filled him. She hadn’t known. She never betrayed him. She did love him!
His gut churned with nausea. He had betrayed her. He had lied to her about what he did and then jumped to conclusions regarding her past.
He silently cursed as he banged his head back against the concrete wall. The pain was welcomed as he remembered the things he had said to her, how he’d called her a whore.
He had to make things right.
He headed back to the car stopping as he remembered where he was. The Mayor, he was the one that gave him the folder. He was the one that had an agenda behind it; him and Uncle.
The wheels started to spin as he slipped into work mode. Now that he was lucid about his situation with Buffy everything else started to bug him.
They were working together. Together they had conspired to bring Angel back into the fold full time again in order to get what they wanted. And Angel knew that only meant bad things for his country and for himself.
He might be a thief and an assassin but every job he’d ever done was done with the intention of protecting his country. Of making it better. And he knew that it was up to him to make sure that The Mayor and Uncle never took control.
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
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Slave to Passion
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-5&6* 6
« Reply #14 on Nov 7, 2006, 9:57am » | |
Chapter Seven
Continued
The second Faith left Willy’s she realized that she had absolutely no idea where to find Angel. She tried calling Spike but he wasn’t answering his phone. Next she called Angel’s house but there was no answer there either.
Frustrated, tired, and ready to throw her cell phone out the car window she remembered that Oz had given Willow his number. She called Willow and told her to call Oz and find out exactly where they were.
Faith knew they had a central hub somewhere in the city. She had asked Spike before where they met but he refused to tell her. When she asked him why, he said it was safer for her that way.
At the time she thought that was an odd reason. It was also the same moment she realized his job was much more than what he led her to believe. Seeing him today with the face of a killer holding that gun she knew exactly what he did and she understood why he didn’t tell her.
If she wasn’t so pissed off and ready to kick some serious Angel ass she would have stopped to admire the beautiful old hotel that she was currently storming over too. As it was, she threw open the door and stood on the threshold her brown angry eyes scanning the lobby and landing on a frightened Wesley.
“Faith, good lord you scared me.” Wesley had been on edge since Angel dropped them off from the Graveyard. With Angel’s disappearance after his meeting with the Mayor and then his explosive entrance at the hotel only a half an hour ago, his poor nerves never had a chance to recover. And by the looks of Faith, he didn’t think they would.
“Where is he?”
Wesley took a step forward and winced at seeing her blood dried protruding lip. “umm…Spike isn’t here Faith. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you find us?”
She stepped down and got right in his face. “I do mind and I’m not here for Spike.” She took another step forward. “Where’s Angel?”
Wesley swallowed; she was making him very uneasy. She looked like she was prepared to do whatever she had to do to find out what she wanted. Now Wesley was trained in Martial Arts and he could defend himself so that wasn’t what made him nervous, he just had a problem with fighting women.
When he just stood there staring at her Faith took a step closer and pushed him back. “Look Wesley, I like you and I don’t want to hurt you but I will if you don’t tell me where he is.”
“Why? What happened? Where’s Spike?”
She sighed, “Wesley do you remember the hot little blonde that you were so openly ogling named Buffy?”
He gulped his feet shuffling uncomfortably, “Umm…yes.”
“Good. Well if you don’t tell me where Angel is she’s going to make the stupidest decision of her life. Which would make her miserable and not to mention Angel extremely…” she leaned in closer, “and I do mean extremely…miserable too.”
Wesley nodded, he knew exactly what she was talking about and he was happy to oblige.
He smiled, “oh…well, why didn’t you say so. Down the hall last door on your left.”
She smiled and walked down the hall. “Thanks Wes.”
No sooner did she leave then Wesley picked up the phone and called Spike.
Angel was sitting at his desk pondering his next move. He talked to the Mayor and told him he would do the job. He also told him that he needed time to set it up. The Mayor had been so happy to see that Angel was back and ready to get to work that he didn’t question how much time he needed.
Now Angel had to figure out his next move and what to do about Buffy.
He wasn’t sure if he should let her in on what was going on. It might be safer for her if she didn’t know. The only problem with that was then she would be left with Parker and from the looks of the loft, how safe was that? He didn’t like that idea in the least but he had to consider the possibility of it being the course of action to take right now. At least until he could be sure that she would be protected.
Standing up he walked around the desk and to the bar to pour himself another drink when his door crashed open.
He looked up to see Faith standing there. Shit he didn’t need this right now. Until he decided what he was going to do about Buffy he was better off leaving Faith out of the picture. She was too volatile and too loyal to Buffy. If he decided to go through with what he was thinking, she would fight him every step of the way. He couldn’t waste his time or energy on getting her to see things his way.
“Hiding in shame?” She sneered and he scowled back.
“I have nothing to say to you Faith.” He said.
She slammed the door shut and threw a right hook landing it squarely on his jaw. “Good then you can keep your fucking mouth shut because I have plenty to say to you!”
He growled furiously as his head snapped back from the force of her blow. He looked back at her his fists curling as he instinctively readied himself to fight back.
“You want to hit me go ahead?” She goaded him.
The fat bloody lip that she was sporting was evidence that she had also been on the receiving end of Parker’s fist, which also made him feel guilty.
His fist unwound and he went back to the bar. Keep cool he told himself as he poured another shot of control.
“Buffy told me what you think. What the hell is wrong with you Angel? How can you think that she knew Parker was alive?”
He shrugged, “why not. It makes sense. They were in trouble they needed a way out and that was it.”
She snorted, “I can’t believe you.”
Her calculating eyes followed him as he walked to the window and stood there looking out. She really didn’t want to go where she knew she had to go, but she had no choice. She knew Angel loved Buffy, she knew he wasn’t that cold hearted she just had to say the right things. Educate him so to speak.
“Angel I don’t know what Buffy ever told you about her life with Parker but I’m guessing she didn’t tell you everything.”
“It’s not my business.” He said softly.
“Yeah well I’m making it your business. Do you know what it means to be in a biker gang Angel? Do you? Do you understand a woman’s role in it? A woman is nothing but the shit on their shoes. She’s the closest warm hole for them and all their buddies to stick their cocks into and that’s it.”
He closed his eyes. He didn’t want to hear this. He really, really didn’t want to hear this. He rethought his decision on letting her in just to get her to shut up.
“Now of course if you’re lucky enough to find a guy that has some sort of decency in him then that won’t happen to you. But Parker, Parker isn’t that guy Angel. Parker is the guy that would give Buffy to his brother Adam, whenever he asked. Parker is the guy that would tie her up and beat her if she wore something that he didn’t approve of. Parker is the kind of guy that shot her up with Heroin when he didn’t want to hear her talk. “
He couldn’t keep her voice out of his head. He couldn’t stop the images from coming. He couldn’t keep listening to this. He was on the verge of losing control. “Shut up.” He quietly snarled but Faith didn’t care she kept on going.
“Shut up? Yeah that’s what Parker would say when he wanted sex and Buffy didn’t want to give him any. ‘Shut up bitch and spread your legs!’ those were his exact words at least that’s what Buffy told me.”
In a flash Angel spun around and punched Faith. He didn’t mean too but he couldn’t stop himself from doing it. He always knew that there were things Buffy didn’t tell him about her relationship with Parker, besides the fact that she was married to him. And hearing them now after he himself had called her a whore made him feel like a complete asshole. He really wanted to punch himself but instead he took his frustrations out on Faith.
She fell to the floor and he stood over her his fists clenched trying not to hit her again.
Faith looked up at him, holding her chin. “Not nice is it. It’s a shitty disturbing thing to hear isn’t it?”
The door was kicked in and Spike came barreling in. He saw Faith on the floor holding her chin and he saw Angel looming above her. He snarled angrily and rushed Angel throwing him against the wall, punching him in the face, and Angel welcomed it. His redeemer had arrived.
Faith got to her feet and watched as Angel smiled at Spike. Her brow furrowed with confusion as he yelled at him.
“Do it again!”
Spike took a step back and looked at him strangely but Angel grabbed him by the shirt collar and screamed at him. “DO IT AGAIN!”
Spike shook his head, Angel looked crazed and it totally unnerved him. He tried to take a step back but Angel’s gripped tightened.
Wesley and the rest of the gang came barreling into the room and stood silently by watching as things unfolded.
Seeing that Spike wasn’t about to oblige him, Angel pushed him and threw a left punch right in his eye. Spike fell back as Faith ran forward.
With one hand Angel pushed her back and she fell on her ass staring up at him as if he had lost his mind.
Spike growled angrily as he looked at her.
“Come on Spike! Don’t be a pussy! Kick my ass! “Angel shouted.
Fred took a step closer but Gunn stopped her. “Angel, stop it you’re talking crazy!” She screamed at him.
Angel ignored her, his wild eyes on the person that he perceived to be his savior. He wanted to feel as much pain as possible. He wanted, no he needed, to be punished for his bout of stupidity and he saw Spike as the one to give it to him.
Spike stared at his brother and saw right through him. He looked over at the gang and quietly spoke. “Guys go down stairs everything’s okay.”
“Everything’s okay? Did he knock your brain out of your head?” Gunn asked.
Spike looked at Wesley, “Wes please.”
Wesley nodded. Whatever was going on he knew that for now it was between them. “Come on guys, let’s go downstairs.”
They all protested but did what he asked, and when he closed the door Angel yelled at Spike again.
“Come on Spiky. You’ve always wanted to take me and now I’m giving you the chance.” He stood straight and held his arms up and away from his body. “I won’t touch you. You can have all the free shots you want!”
It broke Spike’s heart to see him filled with such guilt but it also pissed him off. If Angel had listened to him to begin with none of this would have happened.
Spike smirked at him, and punched him once in the face and then once in the gut…hard.
As Angel fell to the floor on his knees, he was laughing like a lunatic. “YES!”
“Holy shit he’s lost his mind.” Faith commented.
Angel looked up at Spike, “Do it again.”
Spike shook his head, “Sorry brother. I’m not going to appease your guilt. That’s all you’re going to get out of me.”
He stepped back, watching as Angel’s smile faded and his arms dropped to his side. Spike held out his hand and Angel grabbed it, standing to his feet.
Angel smirked at him, blood dripping down his lips. He reached up and wiped it away with his finger. “Thanks. I needed that. Good shot by the way. You’ve been training harder.” He said as he flexed his jaw.
Spike smirked back, “all in the hopes of beating you mate.”
They smiled at each other as if everything was right as rain and Faith looked at them like they were crazy. “What the hell was that all about?”
Angel walked over to the bar and took some ice out as Spike turned to look at her. “That my ferocious Faith was Angel pulling his head out of his ass.”
“Ah?”
He ignored her and spoke to Angel. “So what happened?”
Angel threw some ice in a towel and pressed it up to his cheek. There was no way in hell he was going to admit that he took the word of two bikers over Buffy. While he had no guilt over that, he knew that they and Buffy wouldn’t see it that way. How could you explain that hearing something from two people that he didn’t know, two people that had nothing to gain, made it more believable then hearing it from the mouth of the person he thought had betrayed him to begin with? You couldn’t. So better to not say it at all.
“Let’s just say that I was enlightened by a very reliable source.”
Spike nodded that was all he needed to hear. But Faith was still confused, “What the hell is he talking about?” She asked.
“He knows that Buffy wasn’t a part of Parker’s plan.”
Her eyes lit with understanding and she felt the tension leave her body. “Finally! Jesus Angel I was ready to kill you.”
He smiled at her as he walked around and sat down at his desk with a glass of whiskey in one hand and ice in the other. He toasted her, “My compliments on that right hook Faith. It’s a damn good one.” He tenderly touched the toweled ice to his cheek.
She couldn’t help but smile at the praise. “Thanks.” She said blushing slightly and looked at Spike who winked at her. “Okay well now that that’s all settled I’ll take you to Buffy.”
Angel’s smile faded. “No.”
“No. What do you mean no? You said you believed her.”
“I do.”
“Then what’s the problem.”
Angel looked at Spike, who spoke, “Faith there’s more to the picture here than you know. Hell there’s more going on than I know.” He looked at Angel, “but that’s going to change right?”
Angel nodded as he began to tell them what happened with The Mayor.
“I don’t get it. So what if they want to take over the world. That doesn’t explain why Buffy has to be left in the dark.” Faith said.
Angel sighed, just as he suspected. “Faith I don’t like it anymore than you do, but if she knew what was going on then Parker might suspect something is up and then she would be in even more danger.”
Faith didn’t think so and before she could argue any further Angel continued with his reasons.
“Faith why do you think Parker came for Buffy after two years of being in hiding?”
She shook her head.
“Because they need her to do the job. I’ve looked at the schematics of where the diamonds are kept, it’s like Fort Knox. There are only three people in the world that have a chance of getting in and out without being detected, and two of them are sitting right here.”
“That must have been a shocker eh mate?” Spike said grinning from ear to ear.
Angel shrugged a lecherous smile on his face. “Well I always knew she had good hands.”
Spike chuckled and Faith snorted, “Ah can we get our minds out of the gutter for just one minute please. What’s your plan send Buffy back to hell and let her do the job?”
Angel’s face changed and he stood up, pacing. “I don’t want to no. But I think right now that would be the best bet. Let them think the ball is in their court. Then when they’re not looking I’ll steal the diamonds and Buffy back. This way they think she did her job and she’s out of the picture. Once that’s done then I can take them all down, one by one.”
Spike looked at Angel now with concern, “This is it eh?”
Angel nodded. “That’s why everything has to go as planned.”
“What’s it?” Faith asked.
They both ignored her question.
“That’s why Buffy can’t know.” Angel said.
“I don’t know Angel. I don’t like the idea. I told her I wouldn’t keep anymore secrets from her.”
“Sometimes secrets are necessary Faith to protect the ones you love.”
“Yeah like that worked out real well for you.” She answered him and he scowled.
“Look even if I ignored the immense guilt I would have over that, I still don’t like sending her into the lion’s den.” She rubbed her lip, “You didn’t see him Angel he was fucking pissed off there’s no telling what he’ll do.”
Angel’s scowl darkened. “Faith, Buffy is a strong woman. She’s not the person she used to be. She’ll be able to deal with him.” God he hoped so.
Spike understood Angel’s plan and the reasoning behind it but he didn’t agree with it. Angel was in work mode now, thinking the way an assassin thinks. Ready willing and able to do anything that he needed to do to get the job done, and in the process forgetting that sometimes not all causalities were acceptable.
Unlike Angel he witnessed Parker’s instability first hand and he witnessed Buffy’s detached compliance. She was definitely not the same woman that she had been since Spike met her. She wasn’t in any frame of mind to handle or deal with Parker. He had to agree with Faith.
“She’s right Angelus. The girl’s a fucking mess. She can’t handle him,” he said and Faith looked at him thankfully then addressed Angel.
“Angel, she thinks you hate her and that you never loved her. I saw every once of strength drain out of her body when she said that to me. She can’t go in there thinking that or she’ll never make it out. ”
Angel didn’t say anything as he considered her words. In many ways hearing it made him happy because it was proof that she loved him. But then again his guilt returned, it was his own idiocy that put those ideas in her head.
“Angel she needs to know that you still love her, that she has something to live for.” Faith implored him again. “Look you know what she did when she lived in New York she’s not some amateur, she’ll get the job done. “
She was right. He was once again underestimating Buffy in order to protect her. He had to stop himself from doing that because it was what landed him in this situation to begin with.
“Alright.”
He stood up and grabbed his jacket as Faith and Spike smiled at him happily. “Thank god because I really didn’t want to have to hit you again.” Faith said grinning.
Angel smiled at her feeling like a thousand pound weight was lifted off his shoulder. There was still a small amount of fear that he was doing the wrong thing, but he pushed it aside because he knew in his heart that he couldn’t have made any other choice. There was also no denying his need to see her and hold her in his arms again, it was too strong. He also couldn’t let her go on thinking that he didn’t love her, he had to tell her.
“What about Parker?” Faith asked as a chill ran down her spine from the evil look that entered Angel’s eye.
“Parker is the easy part.” He sneered vehemently and Faith swallowed.
“He’ll come looking for her. He won’t just let her leave.”
“Parker won’t be a problem. He’s already dead.” Angel said coldly.
It took Faith only a few seconds to realize what he was saying. For all intents and purposes Parker WAS dead! She smiled understanding completely. “Good plan.”
Angel’s smile was pure evil as he looked at her and she had to shake off the discomfort that smile caused. She almost felt sorry for Parker, almost. She could only imagine the torture that Angel was going to inflict on him. She knew it wasn’t going to be pleasant.
“Can I watch?” she asked gleefully as Spike chuckled and hugged her to him. “Ah there’s my bloodthirsty little wench.” He kissed her soundly on the lips.
When he released her she smacked him on the arm, “Don’t call me that!” She tried to look stern but he was looking at her so playfully that she couldn’t help but smile.
“Alright let’s go.” Angel said.
Faith nodded and opened the door to walk out, “I left her at Willy’s.”
Spike followed her, “Willy’s…the perv? I didn’t know you knew Willy. You do know that’s a strip joint right?”
“Uh huh.” Faith answered as she followed Angel out the door.
Spike’s interest was piqued. The thought that his girlfriend frequented a strip club turned him on and gave him lurid ideas. “Do you go there often luv?”
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-7*
« Reply #15 on Nov 7, 2006, 9:58am » | |
Chapter Seven
Continued
**********************
The room was quiet and peaceful, dark. It was just what she needed to calm her frazzled nerves and think. It was truly amazing what a few hours of rest could do for a person. Last night if Spike hadn’t shown up she would have meekly gone with Parker. But today she had a different perspective.
She still couldn’t believe that Parker was alive. If it weren’t for the sting that she felt every time her sore lip slid across the pillow, she still wouldn’t believe it.
Reaching up she gingerly touched the growing bump on her temple, hissing as pain radiated throughout her already pounding head. She had forgotten how hard he could hit, funny considering he was a skinny guy. She chuckled to herself, skinny and boyish. He definitely did not look like a biker. In fact his looks were so boyish that she wondered how she was ever even attracted to him to begin with.
She sighed. Well that didn’t matter anymore, because he was definitely not her type. No she liked them big and strong, confident and yes even a little bit self-centered. That was the woman she had become and she wanted her man to be the same way.
That was Angel.
She rolled over onto her back sucking in her breath as she felt every sore and achy muscle. Her hand came up and toyed with the silver cross Angel had given her one night three months ago. He was everything that she wanted in a man. And she had him for while, until all these bullshit lies and that scrawny asshole Parker showed up.
Parker, God he turned her stomach. And what churned her insides even more was her reaction to him. She thought she could be strong but the second she saw him it was like she reverted back to the young frightened girl she used to be.
The second he touched her she was instantly hit with a barrage of unwanted memories and it had paralyzed her. She had been so consumed with fear and shame, feeling so insecure about who she was that she knew if he hadn’t picked up the picture she never would’ve snapped out of it.
Her eyes burned heatedly just thinking about it. It had enraged her to see his dirty hands touch something that was sacred to her. She smiled broadly remembering how good it had felt to stick her fist in his face. She was proud of herself for doing that and it brought her confidence back. Not to mention the look of utter shock on Parker’s face, that had been priceless. The scuffle that ensued afterwards, and the aches and pains she now felt were all well worth it.
Now she had to figure out what she was going to do and she had to do it fast.
The way she saw it she had two problems…and they were both male.
Problem number one: Angel.
He was mad. He was mad and hurt. But Faith was right, Buffy knew Angel he was an extremely possessive and jealous person. He was arrogant and bursting at the seams with pride. It must have been crushing to learn her history and to learn that she was married. He reacted the only way he knew. He lashed out her and she couldn’t blame him for that. He was running on his emotions.
Knowing that she also knew that behind those base emotions was a rational and logical man. Eventually he would start to wonder if he had been right. She knew that, because she knew that he loved her. There was no doubt in her mind about that.
She wasn’t naïve. She hadn’t spent the last eight months with a man that didn’t love her. Every touch, every word, every look that he had ever gifted her with proved that. She knew what fake love was and she knew what true love was, and Angel’s love was definitely true.
She just had to set him aside for now and believe that he would snap out of it and see the truth. It might take some time but she was willing to wait. She had faith in their love and she had faith in him. Besides, she had bigger problems then Angel’s ego right now.
This brought her to problem number two, Parker.
God she shivered with loathing just thinking about him. But she had to. He was a BIG problem one that could not easily be dismissed. She was married to him and while in the eyes of the law a divorce would get him out of her life for good, in the eyes of The Brotherhood that was not the case.
There was no such thing as divorce in their mind. Once you married a member you were chained to them until the day one of you died. She could run but she knew she couldn’t hide for long. They had too many connections and her face was too well known. Besides she was tired of running. If she ran now she would always be running and she refused to do that.
Her goal was to get rid of Parker and her past, and get Angel back.
Her brow furrowed thoughtfully, as she remembered what Angel said. He thought she helped plan Parker’s death. Thinking back to that last heist it made sense.
There was a big to do at The New York Metropolitan Art Museum. They had just received an original painting by Monet, one that was supposedly destroyed in a fire at a Museum in Italy where it had previously been stored.
The painting was worth millions and Adam and Parker wanted it. The plan was simple enough. As usual Parker and Adam would get all the information Buffy needed to know. Floor plans, how many guards, how they were armed, when they patrolled, the alarm system, basically anything and everything that she needed to pull of the job they got.
Next it was her turn, after reviewing everything she would decide what she needed to do the job and then with the help of Grant they would acquire whatever it was she needed.
When everything was ready they went. She had no problem getting in and she had no problem getting out with the painting. After throwing the tube containing the priceless painting over her shoulder and jumping on the back of Parker’s bike, cops came out from nowhere. If it weren’t for the van that cut the cops off they never would have gotten away.
It was only a week later that Parker got into his accident apparently dying in it. Of course at the time, she had been so happy that he was dead that she never once considered the possibility that it was a farce.
But now remembering the week before his death, she recalled how tense Adam and Parker were. She also remembered a man coming to the house. She never saw what he looked like but she heard his voice. It was authoritive and it was anxious. He yelled at them that they fucked up and demanded that they fix it before everything fell apart.
She didn’t get to hear the rest, because Parker caught her listening. He quickly dragged her up the stairs by her hair and threw her in their room, locking the door as he left. She swallowed as she remembered the beating she got that night. But then he died, and that night and every other night she had spent with Parker was pushed aside.
She was pretty sure that the file Angel had told that entire tale. Taking all that information into context she could see why he would think that she knew. She might even believe it herself if she didn’t already know the truth.
So where did that leave her? What were her options? She had two very different problems that required two very different solutions. And too many unanswered questions.
Like, why now after two years did Parker re-surface? She smirked; well she knew the answer to that one. A job, that’s why. That was the only reason he ever needed her anyway. She was the one that brought the money into the club. Whether it was stealing it or restoring cars, she was the one that made them the big bucks. Sure they had a steady income from selling drugs and guns, and prostitution, but the real money, the type of money that you could buy a small island with, came from the heists that she did.
It was all starting to make sense. Parker knew where she had been all along and he knew about her relationship with Angel. They needed her back under their wing and they went about it the only way they know how…deceit and manipulation.
They were the ones that sent the folder to Angel. It had to be. It was their way of sucking her back into the fold. Take away the one thing that meant everything to her and she would fall apart and crawl back to them. Well they had another thing coming if they thought that was going to happen.
But she still needed a solution to the Parker problem. The more she thought about it the more she realized that she only had one option.
She had to kill him. It was the only way. If he was dead then her ties were once more severed with the Brotherhood and she could concentrate on getting Angel back.
Feeling confident in her plan she shot off the bed her feet slamming on the floor as she did.
She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself, her face crinkling distastefully as she did. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out some make up quickly covering her bruises.
When she was satisfied that that was as good as it was going to get she put them away and put her hand on the knob.
It was locked, she scowled, Faith.
Sighing she dropped to her knees and pulled out a bobby pin. “Good thing I put my hair up today.”
‘Click’ and the door unlocked. Placing the bobby pin back in her hair she grabbed her bag and slowly opened the door.
She walked down the hallway and peered out in to the club. It was practically empty only a few patrons were there and their eyes were on Casey who was currently dancing on the stage.
She looked over at the bar, Willy was there talking to Bubba.
Buffy sighed, figures Faith would send over the one bouncer that was most loyal to Angel. No exit that way.
She inched back away from the doorway and looked back down the hall. There was a window at the end of it and she made a beeline straight for it.
Thankfully it slid open easily and she threw her bag out on to the fire escape. She quickly followed it then closed the window.
There was one thing Parker was right about. She knew exactly where he was and she was coming for him.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-8* 8/?
« Reply #16 on Nov 10, 2006, 10:14am » | |
Chapter Eight
The Kill List
The door to Willy’s swung open and the bright afternoon sun filled the darkened smoky room. Willy looked up squinting from the light, to see Faith rushing in with two guys behind her. Bubba immediately stood up and addressed the dark haired man.
“She’s in the back, no one came in and she hasn’t come out.”
Angel smiled at her, “Thanks Bubba.” He gave him a hundred bucks. “You can head on home. I appreciate you coming here to watch her.”
“My pleasure Angel, I’d do anything for Buffy.”
Angel nodded at him, “You’re a good man Bubba.”
“Let me know if you need anything else.” Bubba turned and walked out of the bar.
“Hey Angelus, Spike what brings you guys here?” Willy nervously asked. He knew who they were. They were people that you didn’t want to mess around with. In fact if they offered protection services Willy would have gone with them instead of a motorcycle gang, because he knew that these two were far more dangerous.
Faith looked back and forth between them, “You know them?” she asked Willy.
He smiled, ‘Sure everyone in the business knows The Scourge of Europe.”
Faith turned to Angel, “The Scourge of Europe?” she asked with her eyebrow up in the air.
Angel looked at her, shrugging his shoulder. “Where’s Buffy Willy?”
Willy almost choked on his scotch. He looked at Faith, “This is the boyfriend?”
“She’s in the back.” Faith answered for him and Angel headed off to the back of the club.
“Shit Faith why didn’t you tell me that The Scourge was the boyfriend?” Willy asked as she and Spike sat at the bar.
“Because I didn’t think you knew him, why?”
“I’ve been worrying my head off about Parker and the poor kid back there. If I’d known Angelus was the boyfriend I wouldn’t have…that’s why.”
Seconds later Angel came walking back…alone.
“That was quick. Where’s blondie?” Spike asked peering over Angel’s shoulder.
“She’s not here.” Angel said his dark eyes on Willy.
Willy immediately stood up, “what do you mean she’s not there! That’s where I left her and she didn’t come out. I swear!”
Angel sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. “Relax Willy. She used the window.”
Faith jumped up and started walking toward the door. “Okay well let’s go I know where she went.”
When she saw that neither one of them were moving she scowled. “Guys…let’s go…rescue damsel in distress…”
“It’s too late luv.” Spike said as he swiped Angel’s beer from him and took a swig.
“What do you mean it’s too late?”
“Faith you can’t just go there, barge in and demand Buffy back.” Spike answered her.
“Why not?”
“Cause you’ll get killed that’s why not!” He said to her a little louder this time.
“We have to go back to the original plan.” Angel said pulling his beer out of Spike’s grasp he drank the whole thing down and slapped a ten down on the bar.
Faith was vehemently shaking her head back and forth, “No, that’s a very bad idea.”
“Um…excuse me Angelus sir?” Willy said cautiously.
Angel turned black eyes to him, “What?”
“Um…that is a bad idea. I know Parker very well and I’ve known Buffy since she was twelve. I’ve seen things…” he took a step back as he saw Angel’s eyes darken and he stood up from the stool. “…things that um well let’s just say that they weren’t nice things and Buffy didn’t enjoy them. And I…um don’t think it’s a good idea to leave her there. That’s all I’m saying.”
Quickly Willy turned and left the bar. Angelus scared the crap out of him. The less time he spent in his presence the better.
Angel took deep calming breaths as he watched Willy scamper out of the room. He could feel himself once more slipping out of control and he had to relax. He had never before been put in this position. Decisions were always easy for him. You weighed the good against the bad, you looked at all the possibilities and you went with whatever got the job done. But it wasn’t that clear now. Now there was a piece to the puzzle that meant more to him than life itself and to do what needed to be done meant putting her in danger.
But what could he do? He’d be signing her death sentence if he just strolled in there and took back what was his. No. He had to fall back to the original plan and just pray to God that Buffy held strong and that nothing happens to her.
“How’s that plan supposed to work anyway, if Buffy’s not in on it? How are you going to know when they plan on stealing the diamonds?” Faith asked.
Angel didn’t answer her, but his dark piercing eyes looked right at her.
Spike saw the look and knew what he was thinking. “No. Absolutely not Angelus!”
“Look I don’t like it either but it’s the only way Spike. Don’t worry they can look after each other.”
Spike grabbed Faith and pulled her in front of him and Angel. “Do you see this Angelus?” He scathingly said as he pointed to her dried up bloody lip. “Do you see how well they protected each other?”
Faith squirmed out of Spike’s grasp understanding what they were talking about and not liking Spike’s comments. “Hey I can take care of myself and so can Buffy. The asshole just caught us off guard. It won’t happen again,” she said sternly.
“There see. No problem.” Angel said as he walked out of the bar praying to God that was true.
Faith followed, anxious to get to work. “Okay so I’ll head over there and get to work I’ll call you later.”
Spike grabbed her, “Hold on there killer. It’s too soon. You haven’t slept all night and you’re exhausted.”
“I am not exhausted!” Faith started to argue at the same time she fought the urge to yawn.
“Women” Spike said just as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “You’re going home and you’re going to bed.”
Faith argued with him all the way out the door.
**********************
After Buffy left Willy’s she got a cab and went to Angel’s. If she was going to follow through with her plan then she needed a weapon. Normally she would go to Willy but she couldn’t go there. She knew Faith would be back and she couldn’t involve Faith in her problems. This was something that she needed to do alone.
After the cab dropped her off she nervously stood in front of the door. She was pretty sure he wasn’t home. She didn’t see the Porsche in the driveway but that didn’t mean it wasn’t in the garage. But it didn’t matter she would just go in and take her chances.
Taking a deep breath she hit the numbers on the alarm code and the door popped open.
Stepping inside she quietly closed the door, “Angel?” She called out but there was no answer.
Her eyes scanned the hallway as she stood still listening. After a few moments of silence she blew out the breath she had been holding. She was disappointed that he wasn’t home but then she was also thankful. She needed time to straighten things out and she needed to be clear-headed to do that. Another angry altercation with Angel would not help it would only cloud her mind.
She looked up the regal staircase as her feet started to move. When she reached the landing she looked over her shoulder, before rounding the corner to the secret room.
The door was still open and tears formed in her eyes as she looked inside. He had torn the room apart. Everything was destroyed. Even the beautiful black cabinet was broken into pieces, and there was no one to blame but her. If it weren’t for her stupid past this never would have happened. She had hurt the one person that meant more to her than anything else and her heart filled with guilt.
There had to be something she could do now to at least try and make it better.
She moved inside the room, her feet crackling on glass as she did. She picked up a piece of paper and pen that were on the floor and turned the chair over. Grabbing a book that was on the crooked desk she sat down, put the book on her lap and started to write him a note. He might not want to read it but at least she would have said her piece and tried to make amends.
She wrote fast because she knew the clock was ticking. It was almost twenty four hours since she had seen Parker and she knew he would only give her so much time to come to him before he came looking for her.
When she was finally done she kissed it tenderly wishing that it were his lips then folded it neatly. She held it in her hand as her eyes searched the weapons that were all over the floor.
She picked up the semi-automatic Uzi and felt the weight of it in her hand. A gun would be the quickest and easiest way but it would also be loud and she was probably going to have to make a quick and silent exit. Too bad, she would have liked to see what little brains he has scattered all over the floor. She put the gun back on the floor.
Next her eyes fell on the collection of knives and one caught her eye. The handle was black pearl and the blade was about six inches of deadly honed steal. She lightly ran her finger down the blade pulling away as it nicked her, “Ouch. Very sharp.”
She looked closer at the tempered steel and marveled at the Celtic designs that covered it. It was beautiful, almost too beautiful to butcher an asshole with but it would be poetic. Grabbing the knife and its sheath she walked outside of the room and down the hall to his bedroom.
Opening the door she walked in, stopping to close her eyes and breathe deeply. The whole room smelled like him and she shivered with yearning as his clean earthy scent attacked her senses like a starving animal. If she didn’t feel so miserable she would probably laugh at how pathetic she had become. It had only been one day since she saw him but for Buffy that was one day too many.
Her eyes opened and she looked at the bed. She walked over to it, running her hand across the velvet bedspread, thinking back to the last time he used it. They had made love all night atop it. She remembered how exquisite the soft velvet had felt against her feverish skin. God she had been so hot for him and her body so wet that her breath hitched just thinking about it now.
She couldn’t resist laying on it again. She settled in against the fabric, rubbing her entire body against it as she got comfortable on the soft yet firm mattress. Her eyes closed and she took several more deep breaths as she stroked her cheek up and down his pillow.
She missed him so much. She missed lying in this bed with his arms around her. She missed the nights he would recite poetry as he slowly and leisurely made love to her. And she missed the nights when he would throw her on the bed and just take her with no foreplay. She loved those nights. It was raw pure emotion driving him. It was the reason why she knew that he loved her.
A tear fell and landed on the pillow as she thought about never having those things again.
What would she do if he never believed her? Would she be able to keep going through life without him? It was a scary thought and one that she didn’t want to linger on. She had to stick to her plan. She had to keep faith that he would realize he made a mistake and that he still loved her.
The clock chimed on the wall and she sighed sadly. Standing up she placed the note on the pillow and took one last look in the room.
She didn’t know when they would see each other again or what that reunion would be like so she wanted to remember everything. Because no matter how confident she was right now, she knew the second she walked back into the compound a little bit of that confidence would disappear. Being with Angel was what gave her mental strength and she needed all of those memories now to hold on to what had to be done.
A few minutes later she left the bedroom and walked down to the kitchen and inside the garage. She hated to do it, but she had no choice she had to get to the compound and she had no other way of doing it.
Grabbing the keys to the Chopper she opened the garage door and then started it up. She pulled out of the garage, the door closing as she left, and pulled down the driveway.
There was no going back now.
She had a husband to kill and a boyfriend to get back.
**********************
Just after Buffy left, Angel arrived home. He was tired and he just wanted to sleep for a little while. The problem was that he couldn’t sleep because he couldn’t stop thinking.
He was thinking about how stupid he was.
He was thinking about the plan and how it had to work perfectly.
He was thinking about Uncle and The Mayor.
He was thinking about Faith and sending her into the Brotherhood.
He was thinking about Spike and how he wasn’t too happy with that plan.
But mostly, mostly, he was thinking about Buffy. He was worried about her. Hearing what happened at the loft and seeing the destruction in the room was something he couldn’t put out of his mind.
Every time he closed his eyes he saw her bloody body lying somewhere in a ditch and the feelings that incited were the worst feelings he had ever experienced in his life. He had been physically and mentally tortured in the past by the best people in the business. But the anguish of seeing her lifeless body was worse then any torture.
Yes he was feeling pretty damn guilty. He was the lowest cad on the face of the earth. How could he just jump to conclusions like that? How could he just callously push her away and throw her to the wolves? His only excuse and he knew it wasn’t a good one, was that he just had a really hard time controlling his emotions when it came to Buffy.
He just loved her too much. She stirred every raw and primitive emotion inside of him. She touched places inside of him that he never even knew existed. At first it had been strange, although he never noticed it. But now he had grown so accustomed to these emotions that he couldn’t even remember what it felt like to be without her. She was in him, under his skin, his blood and breath. She was his everything.
And now he was plagued with guilt over his brainless actions. Of course realizing he had just missed her at Willy’s didn’t make his guilt go away, that only doubled it.
Walking into that room and not seeing her there had been devastating. He knew right away where she went, and that increased his culpability and his anxiety.
As he climbed the steps to his bedroom he couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing and thinking. Did she hate him? Was she thinking about him? Did she miss him as much as he missed her?
He walked past the secret room glancing at it only briefly and noting that he had to get that fixed, and then continued on to his bedroom.
The second he opened the door he stopped. His eyes automatically closed as he took a deep breath. His lips formed a small smile as pure happiness filled him. There was just a hint of Vanilla in the room. An aroma he knew all too well. A tantalizing scent that he had tasted many times before, it was a fragrance that was pure Buffy.
His eyes quickly opened scanning the room looking for her in every corner. His smile faded when he realized she wasn’t there.
He walked further inside, his hand running up the velvet bedspread. It was slightly wrinkled and there was a slight indentation on the bed, one of a petite and feminine form. On the pillow was a note.
Picking it up, he sat down on the bed anxiously opening it.
Angel,
I don’t know if you’ll read this or if it’s sitting in the garbage. You might not want to hear this and maybe you won’t even believe me I don’t know but I have to tell you…I have to say my peace.
I love you Angel. I love you so much. You’re my life.
I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about being married to Parker but I honestly didn’t think it mattered because I thought he was dead. I swear Angel, I never knew about any plot to fake his death, you have to believe that.
And maybe this is too presumptuous of me to say but I know you love me Angel and I know in my heart that we’ll find a way back to each other. You might not be able to trust what I’m saying and I know you need time to deal with everything and I understand that. I’ll give you whatever time you need because I need time to set things right.
There are some things that I’m going to have to do that aren’t going to be pleasant, and maybe make you hate me even more, but it needs to be done. I have to resolve my past and I have to do it on my own. I can only hope that when all is said and done you’ll accept that we belong together.
I have to go now. I’m going to borrow your bike and a pretty little thing I picked up off the floor in the room. I’ll return both to you I promise.
I love you Angel so much, I can’t let you go and I’m not going to. I want my life to be with you and it will be. Maybe you can’t see that right now but you will.
I’ll fight for you Angel – always - with every breath in my body.
Love,
Buffy
With shaking hands he put the note down feeling immense relief. It was like a waterfall just washed away his guilt and renewed his hope. He hadn’t lost her, she didn’t hate him…she still loved him.
The most amazing thing was that even though he had treated her horribly, she never lost faith. She was determined to make him see the truth and get him back. He smiled she was a tigress his baby.
Raising the note he re-read it again his smile fading when he got to the bottom part.
He stood up and briskly walked to the demolished room. He looked at the weapons that were strewn across the floor mentally tallying every one. His favorite blade was missing, the one that his father had given him. His brow furrowed that wasn’t good.
“Damn it Buffy what are you up to?”
Tucking the note away in his pocket, he walked out and downstairs to the garage. Noting the missing Chopper he grabbed the keys to Buffy’s Cuda and jumped in.
He had a lot to do. Talking to the gang and coming up with a plan was at the top of the list but first things first.
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-8* 8/?
« Reply #17 on Nov 10, 2006, 10:16am » | |
Chapter Eight
Continued
She was scared out of her mind. Every hair on her body was standing on end. Every muscle twitched silently. And her poor heart that had done nothing but beat rapidly for the past two days, tripled it’s thumping as she pulled up to the gate of the clubhouse.
“Buffy? Buffy Summers?”
She smiled, a true smile, as she looked at Charlie who stood guard at the gate.
“Hey Charlie, long time no see.”
“Shit, ain’t that the truth. How you been?”
“Pretty good, how about you? How’s Paulina and the kids?”
“Running me fucking ragged.”
Buffy chuckled, so fierce on the outside but inside the majority of these guys were as soft as bunnies when it came to their women and kids. It was just Buffy and her dumb luck that she hooked up with someone who was the minority of the group, the assholes.
Charlie opened the gate and she slowly drove in. “You here to stay?”
She looked at him, “For a little while yeah.”
“Great. Make sure you come by the house, Paulina would kill me if she didn’t see you.”
“Will do Charlie. Thanks.”
“Down the road, then make a left. It’s the red house on the right.” He waved her on knowing exactly where she wanted to go, and she slowly drove inside as she waved back.
She had forgotten how big the encampment was. She came here once when she first arrived in LA. Thinking back now she didn’t know why. She guessed it was out of respect for the club. She was still a member and she was on new turf. Even though she was planning on changing her life, that hadn’t stopped her from doing what had been ingrained in her since she was twelve – give respect.
The people she had met here were nice and friendly. They had opened their arms to her and whatever she needed. When she told them she was planning on starting over they wished her the best of luck. Of course that was after they confirmed everything with Adam in New York. No matter how nice they were they still abided by the rules. But it didn’t bother her; nothing did because she had been too excited to start over.
The encampment was its own little town. It was nestled away in the mountains about an hour out of Los Angeles. Everything they needed to make it on their own without the help of society was here. They grew their own food, they distilled their own booze, they even grew their own tobacco. The children were schooled here and they even had a small church and priest. It was basically a commune for bikers.
She couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought that Giles would probably love it. He was such a hippie at heart. But for Buffy who grew up in the city, surrounded by a Brotherhood that was the complete opposite of this chapter, it was a little strange. But she figured they were so different because this was California and they did everything different in California.
As she drove through the town she saw many other people, who like Charlie, came with Parker from New York. She waved to all of them as they shouted out greetings to her as she passed them. For some reason it felt…right.
Regardless of the fact that she was here under duress, she felt like she was…home. Seeing the familiar faces of the people that had taken care of her and who were her only family at one point in her life actually felt good.
She never realized how much she had missed them or how much she had missed knowing that anyone of these people would lay down their life for hers. It was humbling in many ways. For years all she could think about were the bad times. She had forgotten about the decent people and the good times they shared.
Her thoughts quickly changed the second she saw the red house. She pulled up to it and cut the engine. She sat there her body numb with fear and uncertainty, her green eyes vacantly staring at the door. She knew what awaited her inside. She was once again petrified.
The door abruptly swung open and Grant stepped outside.
Her eyes sparked to live with righteous resentment as she looked at him. There were three people in this world that she truly hated and Grant was one of them.
Grant was the third in command of the NY Brotherhood Chapter, a position that he held grudgingly. He and Adam grew up together in the club, side by side, and when Adam was made President Grant naturally assumed that he would be Vice President. But that never happened. Instead, Adam made Parker Vice President.
After that happened, Grant never made any attempt to hide the fact that he loathed Parker and resented the position he held in the club. He saw Parker as an interloper. He considered him to be weak in both mind and body, a coward. To Grant, Parker was nothing but a sniveling little snot that got everything handed to him because his brother was the number one man.
But while Grant’s hatred of Parker could be overlooked because Parker was after all Adam’s brother, his hatred of Buffy could not. She was the one person that Grant hated more than Parker. And the funny thing was that when she first met him, he was actually nice to her.
But that quickly changed the second Adam put her to work as the lead resident thief. Once more replacing Grant with someone who he considered to be inferior. From then on he always looked at her with abhorrence and bitterness. He also made himself Parker’s Buffy watchdog. Anything that she did wrong Parker found out about from Grant.
Her eyes darkened to black, Grant was just as responsible as Parker was for making her life miserable. She could conceivably blame him for every single beating that Parker had ever given her. And she did.
Fear was replaced with strength as she felt the cool Celtic blade against her back; she would kill him too.
Taking off her helmet, she got off the bike and walked up the stairs.
“Grant.”
“Buffy. I don’t know why you’re here, we don’t need you.”
She smirked at him knowing how hard it was for him to stand there and talk to her. She walked right up to him, “I guess they wanted it done right.” She sneered.
His face turned murderous and his hand shot out to slap her but he was stopped. She looked up and into the eyes of Parker.
“Not now.”
He released Grant’s arm and Grant looked like he was going to kill him but instead he gave her one hard look and then walked away.
“I was just ready to come and get you.”
Buffy walked up and stood in front of him all business; this was it she had to be fearless. “I’m here but I’m not staying for long.”
He looked at her coldly, “you’ll stay as long as I tell you to stay.”
“No I’ll do what I want to do. Let’s get something straight Parker.” She walked closer her voice lowered and it was filled with all the malice that she felt for him. “I know why you’re miraculously back from the dead and I know why you’re here in LA. You need me to do a job. You got that, YOU NEED ME, I don’t need you…I never have.”
His face reddened with rage after every word she spoke but Buffy didn’t care.
“Don’t think that we’re going to have a warm husband and wife reunion okay. I’m not here to get back together with you. And if you think that you’re going to put that tiny little thing you like to call a dick anywhere near me think again, because that’s never going to happen EVER!”
His face turned a molten red as he seethed with anger. He grabbed her brutally by the arms and yanked her toward him, deliberately pressing his groin against her. “Don’t get all high and mighty with me Buffy. Whether you like it or not, you’re my wife and I’ll take you whenever I want!”
“So you think.” She snarled back at him. “Parker I haven’t had to endure your touch in two years and I say endure, because that’s exactly what it was for me; a disgusting chore that I had to do. Every time you touched me I wanted to throw up. I’m not going to put myself through that again!”
His hands tightened around her arms squeezing them painfully. “Who the hell do you think you are Buffy? You think because your face is plastered all over the place that you’re better then me! You think that since you’ve gotten yourself a nice straight-laced boyfriend that you’re too good for me! Well let me tell you something honey, you ain’t shit. And that stupid pansy-ass boyfriend, he ain’t shit either. “
She couldn’t help but laugh in his face ‘pansy-ass boyfriend, ah if he only knew.’ “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh I know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m surprised he even stuck around after bedding you for the first time. But I guess he likes cold dry fucks because that’s all you are; a beautiful cold bitch.”
Buffy smirked at him, “no, that’s all I ever was with you Parker. Before I met him, I thought every male had a small dick that they didn’t know how to use.”
“You fucking bitch!”
Parker was fuming his fingers dug mercilessly into her flesh. A few years ago she would have cowered under the assault of his temper but she didn’t do that now. Now she stood there defiantly mocking him with her disdain, and the more she defied him the angrier he got. It was the complete opposite of where they usually stood with each other, and while Parker felt powerless…Buffy felt like a power god.
“Well, well, well it looks like our little kitten has grown claws. Parker.” The monotone warning finally broke through Parker’s rage. He released her arms and took a step back his fists clenching as his eyes remained on her sardonic face that smirked back at him.
Buffy dismissed her poor excuse of a husband and turned to look at the owner of that voice. Her smirk faded and the mocking humor left her eyes. Here was another applicant for her rapidly growing kill list.
“Adam.”
“Buffy. I’d say that it was nice to see you but I’m sure we both know that’s not true.”
She harrumphed, “You could say that again.”
His smiled disappeared and he addressed both of them, “get inside.”
They stepped back from the door allowing Buffy to go first. As she passed them Adam reached down and grabbed her ass, squeezing her left cheek. “Nice to see you haven’t let yourself go Buffy.”
Her first reaction was to jump away with aversion, but that showed fear, and she couldn’t afford to show him fear of any kind.
She stopped and pinned him with her angry green eyes. “Get your fucking hand off of me.” She snarled at him and Parker moved forward.
Adam laughed but his eyes didn’t reflect humor, “Meow. I see Parker was right. You’ve gotten real feisty in the past two years.”
He moved closer and violently grabbed her by the arm hauling her up to him. His breath hissed in her face as his hand came up cruelly grasping her breast. “I can’t help but wonder where else you’ve grown feisty.”
She struggled against him, but he yanked her still. “I can’t wait to find out.” He violently pushed her through the doors. She stumbled but recovered quickly.
They stepped inside and he slammed the door shut. “Let’s get down to business shall we. We have a little job that we need you to do Buffy. You’ll be working alone on this one. I’ve given Grant a new responsibility so he won’t be around to help you but considering your skills that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Refuse? You? Quiet, meek little Buffy?” he looked over at Parker, “You’re right, she needs to be reminded of her place.”
He looked back at Buffy, “there is no refusing Buffy. You either do it or…” he pulled out a Magnum and aimed it right at her head, “you die right now. It’s as simple as that.”
Seconds ticked by as silence filled the room. She came here to kill them and she would, but it was pretty obvious that now was probably not the best time to do that. She had to play it cool and go along with them. Then when all was quiet she would strike.
It was a logical plan and she appeared calm on the outside, which caused Adam’s eye to twitch, but inside she was freaking out. There was a gun aimed at her head and held by a man who wasn’t afraid to use it. A man that she knew as well as she knew herself, and seeing his eye twitch told her one thing…he was full of shit. It was a scare tactic and nothing more. He needed her he wasn’t ready to kill her…yet.
“What’s the job?”
Adam smiled and put the gun down addressing Parker. “See she can be very reasonable.”
He turned back to Buffy, “It’s simple really. There is a man who lives up in the Hollywood Hills. He’s an extremely rich man, with many connections. One of those connections is with a diamond mine in Africa. Now this man, he doesn’t trust banks so he has his own private vault built under ground. Inside is the largest collection of privately owned, high clarity cut diamonds in the world, and I want them.”
“Why?”
The question was answered by a hard slap to her right cheek.
“You don’t ask why. You just do what you’re told.” Adam snarled as she caressed her cheek. She could see Parker smiling gleefully out of the corner of her eye and her anger increased. Grant was right; he was a sniveling little snot.
“What’s the address?” she gritted out and Adam smiled, handing her a piece of paper.
“You’ll have one week to do your recon. Then I want those diamonds.” His voice held no room for rebuttal and Buffy just shook her head. “Fine.”
She turned to leave but was stopped by Parker, “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going home.”
His gripped tightened on her arm and she held back the reflex to flinch.
“You’re not going anywhere. You are home.”
Buffy rolled her eyes at him. “Parker you haven’t changed have you? You’re as dumb as ever.”
His grip painfully clenched her arm but she didn’t care. Every ounce of pain was worth the agitation she was causing him.
“I have to go home and keep up appearances Parker. I have a life now you know. A very public life if I don’t go home people will become suspicious.”
“She’s right. Let her go.” Adam said.
Parker’s teeth grinded together with growing agitation; he had waited two years to get her back and now he was being told to let her go again and that infuriated him.
He’d never wanted to fake his death, that was Adam’s idea, but he agreed because well it was Adam, and he would do anything for his brother. The two years of hiding hadn’t been uncomfortable in the least; in fact, Adam had set him up in a beautiful house high in the mountains of Mexico. He had everything that he needed to pass the time. Beautiful warm weather, good food and booze, the best drugs one could ask for, and the most desirable and obedient women at his beck and call.
But those two years had been long and all he could think about was Buffy. Adam made sure to keep him informed of her whereabouts and what she was doing. While that was a good thing it was also bad. It had been very hard for Parker to sit by and watch as his once meek and docile wife grew strong and made a life for herself that he had no control over.
He knew all about the numerous lovers and one night stands she had. The only thing that bothered him about that was that he couldn’t be there to watch it. One of his favorite things about Buffy was that she would do whatever he told her to do and he loved to watch her get fucked by other men. Her deadpanned expression while someone else was grunting above her was an aphrodisiac to him. It was power. It put him in control and he liked that.
But with every day that passed his infuriation grew. He could do nothing but watch as his control slowly faded away.
Of course the real icing on the cake was learning about the man in the photo. This one was different then the others. This one she didn’t kick out of her bed the next morning, this one she loved. And if she loved him then that meant that Parker had no control over her at all anymore, the other man did, and that made him green with envy.
When Adam told him that he could finally come out of hiding he had been elated. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. The prospect of beating her back down was a nightly wet dream for him. And now she was here and in his grasp, and he had to let her go...again.
He looked crossly at Adam, his furious expression telling his brother that he was not happy.
“Do as I say.” Adam sternly said.
After a few tense seconds, Parker reluctantly released her. “Don’t forget who you belong to Buffy? If I find out that you’ve gone back to him, I promise you I’ll make you feel so much pain you won’t be able to walk let alone fuck anybody for a month!”
His mention of Angel pissed her off and she got right back in his face. “Screw you Parker. I’ll fuck who I want, when I want and how I want. I’m not here to be you’re abiding fuck toy anymore, you got that? Those days are over. I’ll do the job, but then after that I’m gone.”
She looked at Adam she wanted him to know that she meant business. Of course he didn’t need to know that he wouldn’t be around to see her off. “My days of whoring for you two are over. I’ll do this job but that’s it. It’s the last one. Do we have an understanding?”
Adam was surprised at the woman that stood in front of him. If it wasn’t for her familiar face he wouldn’t recognize her. She wasn’t the compliant frightened little girl anymore. The one that would just lie still as he fucked her, showing no emotion at all not even anger. He never really found that be an attractive trait in a woman but he took her anyway because she was convenient and because well…he could.
But now she stood tall. She was vibrant, full of life and passion, and he was completely turned on by her. He could see her tied to his bed, her tight body thrashing against her restraints. He could see himself pumping inside of her, taking her against her will…dominating her. The heady images made his dick hard; he was definitely going to taste her again. If she was a good fuck then he might just consider keeping her around for himself. Parker wouldn’t know what to do with her anyway, he hated bold women.
“Just get the job done, then we’ll talk.” His eyes traveled down her body, giving her one last lecherous look. His tongue came out and licked his lips as his hand reached down and stroked the bulge in his crotch.
Buffy almost retched at his tell tale signs but she held it back because she knew that would only turn the pig on more.
Adam smiled at her then turned and walked out of the room, he needed someone to fuck. “Maggie! Where the hell are you?”
Her tenacity was about ready to snap. She had to get out of here. She dismissed Parker who just stood there staring at her, and walked out. She got on Angel’s bike and started it up. She drove through the town and out the gate, waving to Charlie as she did. She drove halfway to Los Angeles before she pulled over and bawled her eyes out.
All the emotions that she had been holding back came out with a vengeance. And her shoulders shook as deep guttural wails of misery left her mouth.
She could still feel Adam’s eyes on her, raking her body with lust, and she leaned over and threw up. She couldn’t stop throwing up as memory after memory rushed over her like a tidal wave. All the times he took her body, all the times he gave her to whoever wanted her. And each and every time that he degraded her in some way Parker just stood by and watched. He never stood up for her. He never made any attempt to stop Adam. Another thing Grant was right about; he was a coward.
She sat up and straightened her shoulders, then wiped her mouth and eyes. She would have her revenge on all of them for all the disgusting and debasing things they ever did to her, she would make them pay.
She started the bike up and headed back out. God she felt so dirty. She couldn’t wait to get home and take a shower.
One week, that’s what Adam had given her and it was plenty of time. She would do the recon and then do the job. Then she would kill all three of them; Parker, Adam and Grant. She just wasn’t sure in what order yet.
She also still had to decide what she would do with the diamonds. Maybe she would poke around a little bit more, find out exactly why Adam wanted them. She remembered seeing a sign on the window of the house, Saturday night they were having a pig roast to welcome the New York brothers, maybe she should go. It would provide the perfect opportunity for her to snoop around.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-8* 8/?
« Reply #18 on Nov 17, 2006, 11:26am » | |
Chapter Nine
Primal Release
Angel sat in the kitchen, drinking his fifth cup of coffee and taping his fingers in irritation on the table. He should really be back at the hotel planning his next move but after reading her note, something in the pit of his stomach told him that she would come back here sooner or later, and he wanted to be here when she did.
He knew what she planned on doing with his father’s knife he just hoped that she had enough sense in her head to not go there balls to the wall and get herself killed. He was betting that she would realize that she couldn’t do that, and eventually make her way back home. That was if they let her go. There was just no telling what was happening or going to happen for that matter, and that just aggravated the hell out of him.
Suddenly he heard the door open then slam shut and he bolted out of his seat and into the living room.
Buffy turned toward the kitchen just as Angel walked out.
“Angel.” She couldn’t believe he was here. Was she dreaming? She wanted to pinch herself but instead her hand came up and automatically ran over her hair, smoothing it out.
God why did he have to be here? It’s not that she didn’t want to see him because she did it’s just that she wasn’t exactly looking her best at the moment. Not to mention the fact that she felt dirty and unclean. All the unwanted memories and the pawing she had to endure from those pigs, made her feel like contaminated goods.
Now the one person that had the complete opposite affect on her was standing in front of her and she was extremely conflicted. She wanted to run into his arms because she knew the second she did, his touch would erase all the bad memories and feelings. But then again, she also felt like if she did that she would be infecting him too, and she didn’t want him to be tainted by her past.
She guessed it didn’t really matter at the moment anyway how conflicted she felt because she had no idea why he was here.
“What…what are you doing here?”
He took a step closer to her, “I got your note.” He took another step closer. “Buffy I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that I jumped to conclusions. I don’t know what the hell was wrong with me. I just love you so much and I just completely freaked out when I saw that you were married. And I…”
He never got to finish because a jubilant Buffy rushed him. She threw her arms around his neck as she jumped up and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. She grabbed his face and began to kiss him hungrily.
“Thank god you’ve come to your senses!” she said in between kisses.
Angel lost his balance and fell to the floor landing with a loud thud as he hit the wood. He moaned as his arms quickly went around her holding her tightly against him, kissing her back with as much gusto as she kissed him. But then she drew back and he groaned sounding extremely pitiful.
She held his head in her hands as her eyes searched his face. She felt like she hadn’t seen him in weeks and she just wanted to bask in his sexiness.
Angel smiled at her, “So I guess this means you’re not mad at me?”
Buffy chuckled as one hand caressed his chest and moved lower to the button on his jeans. “Oh no I plan on kicking your ass…” She popped open the button and unzipped his pants. She was frantic as she reached inside and grabbed his hard shaft. “…but later. Right now I need you Angel.” She gripped his cock and started to stroke him, ‘So bad.”
Angel couldn’t stop smiling. He felt like a new man. All the guilt he had been carrying around with him just disappeared with her exuberant greeting. He looked down at her hand as she boldly stroked him. He had missed that too. He sucked in his breath as her finger circled the head of his shaft, while her other fingers lightly ran up and down his length. He smirked, yes indeed, she definitely had good hands.
He knew it wasn’t that long ago since they made love but to him it felt like forever. Probably because he thought he would never see her again. But that was behind him, she was here, she was with him not Parker and all he wanted to do was keep her.
She wiggled backwards a little and the sun shone down on her face illuminating her features and his heart almost stopped. Reaching up he touched her face, his own face no longer smiling as he looked at the ugly bruises that marred her beautiful skin.
“God Buffy.” His hands gently touched the welt on her head and she keened blissfully with the comfort that one touch gave her.
“Shhh baby its okay,” she whispered as she leaned down and kissed his lips softly. “Everything’s okay now.”
She moved her skirt out of the way and then moved her panties. “I need you Angel. I need to feel clean again.”
She said it so despondently and sounded so far away that Angel didn’t think she knew she even spoke it out loud. But he heard her and anxiety filled him as he wondered exactly what had happened to her. “What happened Buffy, are you alright?”
She looked at him and she saw the concern in his eyes, she smiled cupping his cheek tenderly. “I’m perfect now, here with you.” She leaned down and moved her mouth over his coaxing him to open up. His eyes stayed open as his mouth let her inside and they kissed slowly.
He knew there was more to the story then what she was telling him and he was having a hard time getting that out of his mind. But then she released his mouth and kissed his neck right on the soft spot above his collarbone. His eyes closed and he groaned helplessly as rapture shot through him.
“I need you inside of me Angel.” She whispered huskily and he couldn’t have agreed more.
He reached down and held his cock as she lowered herself on to him. Her eyes closed and she smiled contently as he filled her, “Perfect…so perfect.”
She put her hands on his chest and lifted herself up. Sensually smiling as she slowly slid back down his smooth length. “Oh God I’ve missed you so much Angel.” She whined as she moved on top of him. Taking him into her heat, loving him with every sweet movement she made.
It all felt wonderful to Angel, feeling her body move above him, hearing her growing pants of excitement fill the room, it was all good. But the second his eyes opened and he saw her face his displeasure returned. “I’m going to kill that son of a bitch.”
She slid back down and rotated her hips against him, and his eyes closed again. “Oh god.” He groaned.
“Not unless I kill him first.” She said, just as she did it again slower this time, wanting to keep his mind off of anything other then what was happening right now.
He gripped her waist, “We’ll discuss who gets that honor later.”
Taking control he rolled them over and grabbed her thighs spreading her legs wide, wanting to get as deep as he possibly could.
He took a moment to quietly drool over the vulnerable position she was in. She was so open to him right now. He knew that he could do anything he wanted to her and she wouldn’t care. In fact she’d probably demand it. Her steadfast unspoken faith in him made his heart swell with love and reminded him of his own faithlessness.
He wanted to talk. He wanted to tell her how bad he felt for losing his faith in her but once again she sidetracked him.
He looked up to see her watching him. Her mouth was slightly open and she had one finger on her lip slowly moving it back and forth. He watched hungrily as her other hand slowly unbuttoned her shirt to reveal a white bra. She lightly ran her finger over the tops of her breasts then moved lower to her core. Watching fervently as her finger touched her clit and pressed down, rolling it back and forth. “Don’t think Angel, just feel.”
With eyes as black as night he plunged inside of her groaning from the superb fit and how her body just seemed to wrap around him in all the right places. His eyes closed as his body took over, knowing exactly what she wanted, what he wanted.
Her breath hitched and her back arched off the floor feeling every sensational inch of him as he glided inside of her.
Thoughts of anything else disappeared as he continued to move inside of her with deep accurate thrusts. Gripping her waist tighter he picked her hips off the floor, positioning her for the best angle, and then sunk back inside increasing his pace.
“Angel!” Buffy screamed as her muscles tightened around him. Her body trembled as she came, coating his cock with her juices. His fingers painfully dug into her hips as he slammed inside of her one last time; his own body rocking with desire as he came inside of her.
All he could think about as he slowly came down from his release was that she was right…it was perfect, she was perfect, and he almost lost that.
His body slowed and he lowered her on to the floor, laying her legs down. Leaning his elbows on the floor he looked deeply into her face. He kissed her gently on the lips as she sighed with contented bliss. His lips roamed up her face and to the bruise, he kissed it gingerly.
Buffy opened her eyes and looked back at him with love and devotion, “I love you Angel.”
He smiled at her, “I love you too Buffy.”
They continued to stare into each others eyes, their hands lightly stroking each other’s damp skin.
“We have to talk.” He somberly said. Her smile faltered slightly as did his, the reality of their situation coming back to both of them. “I know.”
He stood up and helped her to her feet, then took her into his arms hugging her tightly.
“Can I take a shower first?”
“Of course.”
They walked into the bathroom and Angel picked Buffy up and sat her down on the countertop. He took her chin in his hands and slowly moved her face back and forth inspecting her more thoroughly in the bright bathroom.
Buffy smiled lightly as she watched him, his face was just one big scowl he was clearly upset with what he saw and that made her feel loved.
Reaching over he grabbed a washcloth and turned the water on, soaking the washcloth thoroughly. Then very gently he wiped at the dry blood on her lip.
She sat there very still letting him clean her up, wondering if she really knew him at all. The man in those folders clashed with the man that stood before her now. The man in those documents was a merciless assassin, trained to kill with his bare hands. Yet those same hands inflicted no pain as they carefully washed her tender bruises.
It was a paradox to Buffy; surely someone that killed for a living would have a cold character? Didn’t the action of taking someone else’s life change you?
She guessed she had those questions because a part of her was afraid for her soul. She had every intention of killing Parker. If she did, would that change who and what she was?
“What’s it like Angel?”
“What’s what like baby?”
“To kill a man, how does it make you feel, inside I mean.”
Angel stopped his ministrations and looked at her carefully. She had just answered his silent question and he was insanely happy with her answer.
“It’s not a good feeling.”
She opened her eyes to look at him, “Doesn’t that depend on who you’re killing? I mean if the person you’re killing did something wrong to you then isn’t it justified?”
Angel wasn’t sure how to answer her, he was a professional killer; he killed for a lot less then something as passionate as revenge. He knew the right answer would be to say that killing someone was never justified, but he would be a hypocrite if he said that and he wasn’t going to lie to her anymore.
“Buffy just because I kill people for a living doesn’t mean I have all the morally correct answers on it. I understand how you feel baby. You think if you kill Parker then all the pain will go away. All the memories of your life with him will be washed away with his blood. But at the same time you’re worried about it changing you.”
He reached up and pulled her hair away from her face tucking it behind her ear. “I don’t know if you’ll feel gratification if you kill him or remorse, it’s not for me to say. Killing a man is different for everyone. “
He took her face in his hands starting intently into her eyes.
“Honestly Buffy, I don’t want you to know what it feels like. I don’t want you to ever worry about whether or not what you did was right or wrong.”
His eyes hardened and his intense stare actually made her feel uncomfortable; she squirmed on the counter.
“I kill people for a living Buffy, it’s what I do. I’ve killed hundreds of people with no emotion and no remorse. I want nothing more then to take away your pain baby. There would be no kill more satisfying to me then to gut that scumbag like a fish and swim naked in his blood.”
“But I know that sometimes a person has to do things on their own. I won’t stop you from doing it and I’ll be here for you afterwards to help you through whatever emotion you’re feeling. I have only one small request and that is that you wait. Don’t do anything yet. There are other things going on that we still need to talk about, things that need to be resolved first before our revenge is meted out. Once that’s done the choice is yours. Either you kill him or I will.”
Buffy stared back into his eyes and held his gaze. Her heart began to flutter wildly with breathless excitement.
He was showing her exactly who he was and she was completely turned on. The conviction that she heard in his voice and read in his eyes, reassured her of two things.
She knew exactly who and what he was. What he did for a living was just that…what he did. It didn’t change the person that he was underneath he was still loving, caring and devoted to her and her well being.
She also knew that she didn’t have to worry about changing. Like he said, she would either feel closure from it or she would feel guilty. Either way, it didn’t make a difference because after everything was said and done, Parker would be dead and Angel would still be here by her side.
She felt hot and flushed as her body tingled with lust and her head began to swim with dizziness. She had never wanted him more then she did in that moment.
She roughly grabbed his head and yanked him to her, brutally slamming her lips against his, hungrily nipping and biting every bit of juicy flesh she could grab.
Angel responsively growled, his own hands clasping her head as he mauled her back.
When they pulled apart they were breathless and their hearts were beating rapidly together.
Angel swallowed hard, his body shaking from her smoldering gaze. God she was so sexy, so voluptuously needy that he had to turn away from her before he jumped her. She wanted a shower and they needed to talk.
“How bout that shower now?” He gruffly said as he moved away from her to turn the water on.
Buffy grinned at his attempt to ignore her heated call. Her eyes traveled down his back and to his mouthwatering tight ass as he bent over to adjust the water temperature. God she just wanted to bite him.
“Stop it.” He firmly said feeling her eyes burning into him. Standing up he turned around to her innocent gaze.
“What?”
Angel smirked at her, “Get undressed and get in the shower.”
Buffy grinned and jumped off the counter. “You read my mind.”
Slowly she undressed giving him plenty of time to ogle her as she did. Angel took advantage of her kindness and candidly eyeballed every inch of golden skin as she revealed it.
His eyes burned hotly and his voice was deep and gruff, “Tease.”
Buffy chuckled as she stripped off her final piece of clothing. She walked up to his side, rubbing her breast against his arm as she did. “Only for you baby.”
Pulling off his socks, he stepped into the shower behind her. “Good answer.”
With his hands on her waist he placed her under the water and watched it rain down her glorious body. She raised her arms as she put her face under the warm spray and wet her hair. The water turned her honey blonde hair to a dark blonde and it shimmered brightly; looking sleek and sexy as it lay against her naked back. In Angel’s eyes she was the perfect woman and he yearningly scrutinized every magnificent inch of her.
But his budding desire was instantly drenched as his eyes traveled up her arms and to the fading red imprints of someone’s hands. He glowered at the offending marks feeling like the lowliest son of a bitch on the planet.
He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her back against him. The water trickled down their bodies and Buffy smiled, nestling her head back against the crook of his neck, purring with contentment.
She couldn’t help but think that she almost lost this and it scared her. She never wanted to lose him and though it would be very difficult to tell him she knew that she had to be completely honest with him. It was lies and secrets that almost took him from her and she wasn’t going to risk that happening again. She knew that eventually he and Parker would meet up, there was no avoiding it, and she didn’t want him to hear anything from Parker’s mouth. It was her story and he needed to hear it from her.
“Angel.”
“mmm”
“I was never totally honest with you about my life with Parker. There are things you should know about, things that aren’t going to be easy to hear, but I want to tell you,” she quietly said.
He didn’t want to hear it…any of it, because he knew his reaction would be volatile and he didn’t want to scare her. Of course he would stand here and listen if it helped her he just had to control his reaction. His arms tightened around her, “Baby you don’t have to tell me anything that you don’t want to.”
She smiled, her fingers splaying across his arms squeezing them. “I know, but I would rather that you hear it from me, than anyone else.”
He didn’t know how she would respond to the fact that Faith was kind enough to already mention some details that he really didn’t want to hear…again. But he knew what this was…this was a new beginning for them, one that would be built on honesty and trust, and he was determined to do just that.
He kissed her head, “Baby don’t be mad, but Faith…she already told me a few things.”
Buffy swallowed nervously, “She did. What did she say?”
“Buffy, nothing that Faith told me and nothing that you could tell me now, matters. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you and it doesn’t change my opinion of who you are. It’s in the past.”
He turned her around and cupped her face tenderly in his hands. “I don’t care how many people you were with before me. You are not a whore and I’m sorry I called you one. I was upset and it was my anger that was talking, not what I feel in my heart. “
“What I care about is how you were treated by those people, and how they took liberties with your body that they had no right to take. Parker is responsible for that not you.”
She smiled at him, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. “Thank you.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. “Don’t thank me. I’m just being honest with you. The only thing that matters to me is that you are here with me now, right where you belong.”
They leaned into each other, their mouths opening, tongues gently playing with each other. He tasted so good to Buffy, and she moaned deep in the back of her throat.
When they pulled back and looked at each other, his words resonated in her head and her smile faded. “I have to go back Angel.”
“I know they want you to do a job.”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“It seemed like a logical reason for Parker to suddenly show up again, plus I was hired to do the same job.”
Buffy was surprised to hear that, “You were, by who?”
Angel turned her around and picked up the soap. Lathering it in his hands, he began to wash her back, making Buffy relax once more. “God that feels so good,” she purred.
Angel smiled, “A man named Richard Wilkens the III also know as The Mayor. Do you know him?”
“No it doesn’t sound familiar, but that doesn’t mean anything. I mean Adam and Parker made sure to always keep me out of the loop on who their outside partners were.”
“Well I’m pretty sure that he is, or rather was, one of them. I saw two guys from the Brotherhood going into his hotel.”
“Was?”
“He told me he had a falling out with them but it doesn’t make any sense.”
Buffy sighed contently as Angel’s hands slowly kneaded her breasts, washing away the invisible handprint left by Adam. “That doesn’t really mean anything Angel. There are different chapters here in LA than in New York. Just because he’s not connected with Adam anymore doesn’t mean that he’s not connected with the LA chapter.”
“But I heard them talking, they mentioned you and they mentioned Parker.”
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-8* 8/?
« Reply #19 on Nov 17, 2006, 11:27am » | |
Chapter Nine
Continued
She shrugged, “That’s because they probably know us. Once a year there’s a gathering of all the chapters. People mingle.”
Angel took that in, his mind was in business mode but his hands couldn’t stop touching her. They slid down to her belly, softly washing her, his fingers tipping into her bellybutton. Buffy sighed once again and then wiggled her ass against him as she shivered with desire.
Angel lightly tapped her on the belly, then gently bit her on the ear, “Hey, we’re talking business here lady.”
She laughed, “Then stop touching me.”
He chuckled back then licked her ear, “I can’t.”
“Good.” She pushed back again, rubbing her ass against his semi-hard cock, “Because I never want you to stop.”
He kissed her neck then licked her ear then leisurely moved down to her collarbone as her hands deliciously constricted around his arms. “What are we going to do Angel?”
“What we do best baby…stay together and steal the diamonds.”
His confidence made her smile and flattened any hesitation she might have had with returning to the Brotherhood.
She loved hearing that. They were at their best when they were together, and she had to admit that the idea of stealing something again really turned her on, she didn’t realize how much she had missed it.
“I love the sound of that.” She whispered, unable to stop her hips from rotating against his hard member. “I can’t wait.”
Her wanton movements were driving Angel nuts. His dick was rock hard and his hands wandered down to her core, lightly playing over her moist lips. He couldn’t think of business anymore. “Does it excite you to steal something that isn’t yours?”
“Yes,” she mewled, rocking her hips against his fingers.
“Me too and we will together. But first…first, I’m going to fuck you.”
His voice was low and husky, deep and dark…alluringly seductive and demanding. She practically whimpered as her body violently pulsated with needy lust. Shaking hands reached up and gripped his hair roughly jerking his face down to hers. “I love it when you talk like that.”
Slowly and provocatively her tongue came out and unhurriedly licked his bottom lip. “It gets me so…hot.” She licked his lip again then gently drew his bottom lip into her mouth and began to suck on it.
Angel moaned, as his finger slipped inside of her wet core. Slowly he started to pump in and then out, rolling his other finger over her clit as he did.
Buffy started to pant as the air in the shower got steamier, and her body temperature increased.
“Mmm…I can feel that baby. You’re pussy’s so hot…so wet,” he moaned, thrusting two more fingers inside of her.
Her body instinctively arched back against him, drawing his fingers deeper inside of her. “I love the way you touch me Angel. It’s so strong, so confident. God you make me feel so safe.”
His own breath hitched, her words turning him on even more. She was putty in his hands right now, her body soft and pliable, her mind completely enveloped around him and what he was doing. She made him feel strong; she created a deep primal need inside of him to possess her.
He turned her around, placing her hands up against the tile, as he pushed her down. He pulled his fingers out then slipped his cock inside of her. He shuddered violently as he entered her. He looked down at her perfect ass and her submissive position and he growled ravenously. He was in total control, he could do anything he wanted to do to her and she wouldn’t protest. Those thoughts increased his pace as his cock got harder and he fucked her faster.
Wrapping his arm around her waist he drew her back against him. Purring contently he licked her shoulder blades his hips rhythmically pumping as he held her shivering body tightly.
“Say my name.” He roughly demanded.
“Angel.” She moaned hoarsely.
He bite her shoulder and her moans grew louder and hungrier.
“No. Angelus…say Angelus.” He commanded again as he pulled out then slammed hard inside of her, pushing her back down as he did and going deeper with his thrust.
She screamed, her eyes rolling back at the sharp pleasurable pain that tingled her body, “ANGELUS!”
“Yes…” his hot ragged breath hissed in her ear, “say it again.”
“Angelus…Angelus!” She cried as he gripped her hips and pulled all the way out and than sank back inside of her heat.
Standing straight he threw his head back, unadulterated ecstasy filling him. “God I love it when you say my name!”
With every fierce plunge he made Buffy pushed back, wanting more…needing to feel him deeper, wanting desperately for him to devour her whole. “Angelus…don’t stop, please!” she whined.
Reaching down he grabbed her head, pulling her up and against him. “I’ll never stop baby.” He smashed his mouth against hers, kissing her ferociously. Growling loudly as her tongue aggressively played with his.
He drew back and Buffy whimpered from the loss of his hot mouth. He pulled back and grunted contently as he watched his cock disappear inside of her tight sheath.
Hearing her say his given name was like throwing kindling on to the already roaring fire. He looked down at their joined bodies, watching as he slide inside of her and then back out. It stroked a primordial need inside of him, a need to claim her and brand her as his. In reality it was pretty much what he always felt when they made love, whether or not he could control it was a different story. When he could, then their lovemaking was unhurried and slow. Each touch was tantalizing and unique. But when he couldn’t, it was pure animalistic need that took over, and many times he would lose control. Now was one of those times.
He growled and groaned like a starved animal just as he pulled completely out.
Buffy whimpered feeling empty without him inside of her, but then she felt his fingers pushing inside of her. They curled up and over, and she openly mewled as pleasure shot through her.
With his free hand, he moved her right leg over and pulled his fingers out. He wanted to taste her so bad, but he held back instead his fingers circled her anus spreading her creamy cum over it, and then he slipped them inside.
Buffy’s head shot up and back, as her heart nearly stopped. “ANGELUS!” She screamed, just as he pulled his fingers out and slowly pushed his cock inside.
She stiffened slightly from the intrusion. It wasn’t the first time they had anal sex so she was accustomed to the feel of it but it was still a little shocking at first.
Angel felt her tense and he moved his other hand in between her legs, touching her pussy, rolling his thumb over her throbbing clit.
“Shhh…” he leaned down and licked her ear, “breathe baby, relax that beautiful ass so I can fuck you.”
“Oh…GOD YES Angelus please!” She whined pitifully.
All she could think about was him and how he expertly consumed her body. Every movement he made, every touch he gifted her with, and every word spoken, was unadulterated utopia and her body instantly responded. Her muscles relaxed and she closed her eyes completely engrossed on his hard cock moving inside of her.
“Oh yes…that’s right baby. God you’re so fucking tight!” he gritted out between clenched teeth. This was the most excruciatingly gratifying and erotic sensation he could ever feel.
Buffy was completely at his mercy, she was consumed with raw hot desire, a desire to please him, a desire to give him anything he wanted as long as he didn’t stop what he was doing.
“Don’t stop Angelus, please…don’t stop!”
Angel couldn’t stop if he wanted to, he couldn’t even speak, he was besieged by the power and the pleasure that controlled him. The more he fucked her, the quicker his pace got, and the louder his grunts became. She was so tight and the feeling that spread throughout him was one of pure ownership.
His fingers played over her sensitive pussy, their pace getting faster as his thrusts became more erratic.
Just as she was about to come, he slammed into her and Buffy’s entire body shot up and slammed against his chest. Her head hit his chin, as the most superb pain radiated throughout her body. She screamed at the top her lungs, her orgasm shooting stars of light behind her eyes.
Angel was right behind her as he came hard, his body shuttering against her, moving violently inside of her, unable to stop. His mind was dead to anything else but her. Mine…was all he we could think about as he continued to plunge fiercely inside of her tight ass. She was his. No other man would ever touch her. No other cock would ever be inside his hot box of love. No one.
“Angel…” Buffy whimpered, her hand coming up to his head, gripping his hair painfully, “…please stop.”
Her voice brought him out of his haze and he stopped moving. He pulled out of her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back and kissing her head. “I’m so sorry baby. Did I hurt you?”
She smiled, “just a little.”
He kissed the side of her neck and then grabbing her cheek he moved her face toward his, “I’m sorry, you just excite me so much and I lose control.” He kissed her smiling mouth.
“It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt anymore.” She turned around and they hugged tightly. When she pulled back he was staring at her with so much love and trust that her eyes watered.
The beautiful and dazed look on her face held his attention and his heart swelled with love for her. “You’re so beautiful,” he crooned to her as his hands petted the sides of her face.
Buffy blushed under his intense stare and her breath hitched from the sound of his deep hypnotic voice.
“I can’t believe you’re mine,” he said it because he meant it, even though the fact that she was technically married to someone else was floating around in the back of his mind. To him she was his and would always be his, and no stupid piece of paper was going to tell him anything different.
Buffy looked deeply into his eyes, knowing what he was thinking, and she whispered passionately back to him, “I am yours Angel, only yours.”
They gently kissed each other, and when Buffy pulled back, she was smiling. ”I think I’m a prune.”
Angel kissed her one last time and then reluctantly let her go, as she walked out of the shower and grabbed a towel to dry off.
He sighed then stepped under the spray of water. He turned the warm water off and let the cold water shock him back to reality.
Buffy avidly watched him, her mind and soul back in her body and once more reminding her of their situation. She wrapped the towel around her and picked up the brush.
“Angel?”
The water turned off and he stepped out of the shower. Grabbing a towel he wrapped it around himself and then grabbed her from behind, kissing her shoulder. “What?”
“What’s the plan?”
Angel smiled at her, nipping her shoulder gently. “Ah a woman after my own heart…right down to business. God I love you!”
Buffy giggled and slapped him on the arm.
He looked up at her, resting his chin on her head as his arms tightened around her. His eyes were clear and serious; all traces of playfulness were gone. “You go back and let them think you’re back with them. Faith will go with you.”
Buffy started to protest, she didn’t want to involve Faith, but Angel silently shushed her. “I know you don’t want Faith involved but if I have to send you back there, I’m not sending you alone. You guys can look out for each other. Besides I don’t trust Parker and I don’t want to take any chances of him touching you ever again.” He vehemently told her as he nuzzled her neck.
She caressed his head, smiling at him as he looked at her in the mirror. “You do know I can take care of myself don’t you?”
He looked at the welt on her temple, his features darkening. It was his fault; if he hadn’t been overcome by his emotions then that never would’ve happened.
Buffy sighed, knowing what that look in his eyes meant. “Angel, that is not your fault.”
Angel shook his head. “Yes it is. If I wasn’t such a shit head this never would have happened. I’m as much to blame as Parker is.”
Buffy turned around and looked at him, “Angel, look at me.” She sternly said and slowly his eyes looked down into hers. “You are not responsible for this. Parker is responsible, hell even I’m responsible, but not you. You reacted the way any man would after hearing that I was married. I don’t blame you and neither should you.”
His hand reached up and touched her face, “You’re not to blame either Buffy. This wasn’t your fault.”
She shook her head, “Yes it was. I instigated it I punched him in the face.”
He smiled fully at her, pride swelling in his heart, “You did, did you?”
She smiled back from ear to ear nodding her head, “God it felt so good Angel. “ She waved her hand in front of her face, “This was well worth it.”
He petted her hair, love filling his heart, “Even still, I was wrong and I’m sorry.”
She leaned down and kissed him, “I’m sorry too.”
Her lips, body, and words gave him the emancipation that he had been seeking, and he sighed with contentment.
“You know when this is all over, we’re going to sit down and you’re going to tell me everything there is to know about Angelus O’Rourke.” She said with smiling eyes.
Angel smiled back, “yes ma’am.”
They just stood there looking at each other, knowing that their time together was short.
”When does he want you to do the job?”
“He gave me one week to do my recon and get the diamonds.”
“Okay here’s what we’re going to do. You and Faith go back and keep up appearances with Adam and Parker. Every chance you get I want you back at the Hotel.”
“The what?”
“Faith knows where it is. I don’t want you coming here alone. Do you understand me?” His voice was stern and left no room for arguing, but Buffy had to argue with him.
“Angel that’s not a good idea I have to come back here, Parker knows I live here and I’m pretty sure that he’s got his watchdog on me. If I don’t come back here he’s going to know something isn’t right.”
Angel hated to agree with her but she was right. “All right fine. I don’t like it, but I’ll trust your judgment.” He grudgingly said.
Buffy radiantly smiled at him then grabbed his face and kissed him. “Thank you for trusting me. Don’t worry, I’ll be okay. “
He was worried, extremely so, but he was going to hold strong to his determination to be honest and trust her. He was never going to let himself lose faith in her again. “So I’ll meet you here then, every night and you can fill me in.”
She shook her head, “That’s not a good idea either.”
He scowled darkly, “Why not?”
Buffy walked out of the bathroom and into the living room, Angel followed behind her as she stepped up to the window. Very carefully she moved the curtain and pointed outside. “Meet Grant. Parker’s Buffy Watchdog.”
She said it so scathingly that Angel knew the man sitting on the bike below was someone that had hurt her in the past.
His eyes darkened, “We’ll kill him too,” he coldly said.
Buffy nodded, “He’s already on my list.”
She let go of the curtain and looked up at him smirking humorously. “You know a family that kills together stays together.”
Angel smirked back at her, “I never heard that expression before.” He grabbed her and hugged her, “but I like it.”
He kissed her then walked away heading toward the bedroom to collect his clothes. He really needed to get his ass in gear and talk to the gang. “Don’t worry about the dog he’ll never even see me.”
Buffy followed behind him. “How’s that Angel, he’s parked right out front and I’m sure he’s got another guard on the back door.”
“Probably but he doesn’t have one on the tunnels.” He pulled his pants on and zipped up his zipper.
“What? What are you talking about?” Buffy leaned against the doorframe her arms crossed over her chest.
Angel pulled his shirt on, and then sat on the bed to put his socks and shoes on. “I’m talking about the tunnels that are underneath this building and have an entry two blocks down.”
“Tunnels? What tunnels?”
Angel got off the bed and faced her, “Didn’t you do any research on this building before you bought it?”
At her blank look he shook his head at her, “That’s not what I’d expect from a master thief Buffy.” He teased.
Buffy’s eyes darkened. “I was retired…remember.” She gritted out.
He kissed her scowling lips, grinning. “I know baby. Don’t worry I did.” He walked out and headed toward the kitchen.
Grabbing her robe she pulled the towel off and threw the robe on then quickly followed him.
“This building was built in the twenties as a hotel and was the heart of Hollywood. “
“I know that Angel.” Buffy gruffly said as she sat down at the table. Angel poured a cup of coffee and then heated up the tea kettle.
“The tunnels were built so that the stars could freely go in and out of the hotel without anyone knowing.” He took a cup out of the cabinet and placed a tea bag in it.
She watched him with suspicious eyes. She just knew he was going to say something that she wasn’t going to like.
“Remember when you guys started to renovate the building and you had to go to Mexico for a week to do a photo shoot?”
“Yeah.”
“Well while you were gone, I had a crew come in and restore the tunnels so they could be used.” He reached for a grape then popped it into his mouth, nonchalantly looking at her.
“You did.”
He popped another grape in his mouth then drank down coffee. “Yeah, I also had them add three additional rooms; a vault, a recon room, and a bedroom.”
“Uh…huh.” Her eyes were a dark stormy green and Angel was having a hard time not laughing. She looked so perturbed and that just made her look so cute, that he just wanted to smile with glee.
“There’s an entrance to it in the hallway off the living room, one in the bedroom and one in the hallway by the elevator.” The tea kettle whistled and he picked it up.
Buffy sat back in her chair, “And why would you do that?” She was really trying to keep her temper down.
Angel smiled as he poured her a cup of tea and placed it in front of her. “Well I spend a lot of time here baby and I need to have quick access to the gang and my…stuff.”
He walked back toward the counter, putting more distance between them. He started fidgeting with the papers that lay on the counter; here was the part she really wasn’t going to like. “Plus it was a good way for me to um…keep on eye on you.”
Her brow lifted, “Keep an eye on me?”
“Yeah well I um…had video surveillance installed throughout the loft and the club. It all goes to the main frame in the recon room, which I can um…access with my watch wherever I am.”
Buffy was completely stunned and a little peeved. “So you’ve been stalking me in my own home?”
Angel shrugged. “Well I wouldn’t call it stalking. It’s more like protecting.” He smiled at her.
Buffy pinched her nose. “I won’t even tell you how disturbing this is.”
“Baby, you make it sound like a bad thing. But it’s not. I did it because I love you and want to make sure you’re safe.”
Which was true, yeah he was here a lot but there were times when he wasn’t and those were the times that he secretly watched her. For two reasons, one was to make sure that she was okay, but the other reason and the real reason for doing it was because no matter where he was he could see her.
He walked over and sat down next to her, pulling his chair closer to hers, he put his arm around her. “Buffy I didn’t do it because I think you can’t take care of yourself, I did it because I have to reassure myself that when I’m not with you, you’re okay.”
He snuggled against her neck, “Plus I miss you so much when I’m away, I have to see your beautiful face at least once a day.”
He started to kiss her neck and Buffy’s anger slowly dissipated under his sensual assault. Oh he was smooth wasn’t he…he just thought he was the king of stealth.
“Aren’t you sweet?” she mumbled.
She sat there, letting him lave her neck with kisses and hot breath, enjoying his attention. She kept her hands tightly around her tea cup so they won’t tighten around his neck instead.
“And who has access to these rooms?”
“Well I do, and you will of course, and Spike.”
Ah…his cohort in crime. “Spike…I guess that means that Faith knows about this then?”
“No. I told Spike not to tell her until I told you first.” He sucked on her shoulder and Buffy chuckled, “ah…smart man.”
“I know.” He said proudly. “I knew you’d appreciate that.”
“Indeed.” She smiled. “So your lackey Bubba doesn’t know it exists?”
His head shot up and he looked at her, “You know about that?”
She snorted, “Baby please, I may have been retired but I can smell money changing hands a mile away.”
He smiled at her. “No…my lackey doesn’t. You’re not going to tell him are you? Because you know he likes to look after you without you knowing, it makes him feel like he’s paying you back.”
“Why? Does he think the money you give him and everyone else is going to stop now that I know?”
“You know about that too?” He looked disappointed that she knew his little secrets.
She nodded and he sighed.
“Why does Bubba feel that way? He doesn’t owe me anything.”
“You saved his sister from getting raped Buffy. That’s a big deal to Bubba and he was upset when you wouldn’t let him do anything for you. This is his way of returning the favor.”
“Oh posh! He doesn’t owe me anything.”
“That’s not how he feels.”
“Fine I won’t say anything to him.”
He stood up and kissed her on the head, “Good thank you. Now I want you to rest and get some sleep. I’m going to the hotel.”
She stood up and followed him out of the room, “What’s this hotel you keep mentioning?”
“Faith will fill you in. Don’t leave until I come back, do you understand?” he looked at her intently.
She rolled her eyes, “Yes Angel I understand.”
Buffy watched as he opened up the closet door and then slid his hand along the top molding. A door silently slid open to reveal a dark and winding staircase. She peered around him to look down. “Wow…that’s pretty cool. When do I get to explore it?”
He smiled at her, “Later, now you have to rest.”
Her face puckered unhappily, “Angel I’m not a baby.”
He continued to smile at her, “Yes you are. You’re my baby. What time will they be expecting you back?”
“I didn’t say what time I’d be back, but festivities usually start around ten. I should get there by midnight to avoid suspicion.”
“Festivities?”
“Yeah, the nightly carousing of booze, sex and good times!” She smiled at his scowling face, “It’s just a normal nightly biker party Angel. Don’t worry.”
Angel didn’t like hearing that and his scowling face showed it. “I’ll be back by ten. Don’t leave until I come back.”
Buffy nodded her head, “I won’t leave until you get back.”
Angel smiled at her and leaning forward he touched her face lovingly, his eyes caressing her beautiful features. “I love you,” he softly said.
“I love you too.”
He kissed her on the lips and then ran down the stairs the door sliding shut behind him.
Buffy sighed and walked back into the bedroom, taking off her robe she slid into bed yawning. She fell asleep the second her eyes closed.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
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Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-9* 9/?
« Reply #20 on Dec 15, 2006, 11:57am » | |
Chapter Ten
Lineage
It was a little after noon when Angel arrived back at the hotel. He walked in the lobby expecting to see everyone or at least someone, instead there was no one.
He didn’t think long on the absence of his crew, because his mind was already on the heist. He had a chance to briefly look over the layout of the house and the vault that the Mayor had given him when he told him he would do the job. It wasn’t going to be easy. The place was built like a fortress.
The security system was the best Angel had ever seen. In fact, it was so good that certain aspects of it looked familiar and he couldn’t help but wonder who designed it.
There was no doubt in Angel’s mind that Oz was the best there was…anywhere. And he knew that Oz didn’t moonlight. He was as dedicated to the Order as Angel was. So that meant that either there was someone else out there who was just as good or someone has been borrowing Oz’s ideas.
He hadn’t had a chance to show the schematics to Oz yet but he knew that when he did, the computer genius would not be happy to learn that someone had been stealing his ideas. He was very touchy about that sort of thing.
He walked through the lobby and toward his office. Opening the door he stopped when he saw the reason why his team was mysteriously absent.
“It’s about time you showed up. I was about to send a search party out for you.”
Angel frowned at his uncle. He sat in Angel’s leather chair drinking his whiskey, looking like he was king of the castle and Angel didn’t like that. This was his castle and he was the king.
The question was what was he doing here? Uncle never came here. He always made Angel come to him; it was a power trip for the old man.
Shutting the door he made no attempt to hide his displeasure. “What do you want?”
Quentin smirked at him, “Is that anyway to greet your Uncle?”
Angel looked at him, really looked at him. He noticed the old man’s body language and how he seemed tenser than usual. He noticed the way his hand swung slightly as he rested it on the arm of the chair. And he could just make out the slight movement of his leg that was under the desk. Angel grinned inside, the old man was anxious.
He poured a drink and walked to the desk with the decanter. “Forgive me if I seem abrupt Uncle your visit is just unexpected.”
He held the decanter out to Quentin, who shook his head no.
“I’ve been trying to reach you at the house but the line appears to be dead. I was…concerned.”
Yeah right. “There’s a problem with the equipment. I have to send Oz over to fix it. What’s up?”
“I spoke with the client.”
“The Mayor?”
“Yes. He informed me of your decision to do the job. I’m very pleased Angelus.”
Angel nodded. I bet you are. Let the games begin.
“I know that this must be a difficult time for you and I want to make sure that you are in the right frame of mind to complete the job successfully.” Quentin’s keen gaze stayed riveted on Angel’s emotionless face.
“Difficult time?”
“Angelus, I know how much the girl meant to you and I’m sure finding out that she had been manipulating you this whole time was quite a shock.”
“Quite.” Angel coldly said as he sipped his whiskey.
Quentin smiled, “It’s better to discover now how…untrustworthy she is before you are fully involved with the…”
“Traitorous bitch?” Angel interjected.
Quentin’s eyes sparkled, “I think I would put it more eloquently, but yes.”
Angel sat there staring at his Uncle amazed that the man really thought he was getting one over on him.
“So you thought what, that you would come here and console me? Really Uncle, I’m touched by your show of emotion. But it’s not necessary. That whore is out of my life.”
He tipped is glass toward him while smiling dispassionately, but his heart protested to his last statement and his stomach churned restlessly.
Quentin’s smile faded, he didn’t like being associated with such trivial things as emotions. “Hardly dear boy, I want to make sure that you’re not so distraught that you screw up the job.”
“Ah…of course, well have no fear Uncle. My head is exactly where it needs to be. The job will get done.”
Quentin smiled, relaxed once more with his position. He just knew the boy would dump that tramp the moment he read the file. He was too egotistical to do otherwise.
He stood up placing his glass down on the desk. “Good. I don’t need to remind you the importance of this job.”
“No. You and The Mayor want to control the World.”
Quentin chuckled, “that’s a little dramatic don’t you think.” He walked over to the window and looked out with his back to Angel.
Angel just stared at him. He was so familiar with this position it was boring. The old man would cross his hands together behind his back and stare out the window while telling him some tale that was supposed to incite Angel to his side.
“Angelus, The Order of Aurelius has been watching over this country since it gained its freedom from the British. You know as well as I do, that it is this Order that has been the main force in keeping this country running smoothly and in an orderly fashion. We look out for the greater good because we know that governments are corrupt, they always have been and they always will be.”
Angel smugly stared at his back; this was the part where he told him that sometimes killing was a necessary evil to help protect what the country stood for…democracy and freedom.
“There are bad people in this world Angelus, people that our own government isn’t aware of. Those people are the ones that we need to watch. We’ve been doing it for centuries but times are changing and we need someone else in office. We need someone who understands that sometimes violence is needed to keep peace. Richard Wilkens is just the man we need to get things done.”
Angel snorted, he highly doubted that. “Uncle you’re not telling me anything I don’t know.”
He stood up, “Look I don’t care if you and The Mayor want to control the entire world. That’s not my business. My business is making sure that you get the chance to do it.”
It almost made him sick to say it, to stand there and kiss his ass, make him think that he was on the same side. But he had to and he had to play it to a tee. His Uncle was too shrewd and too intuitive. He would pick up the slightest hesitation or doubt that Angel had and then he would ambush him.
The fact that Uncle wanted to put a psycho like The Mayor in office told him one thing. Quentin was getting greedy. He was tired of being the puppet master behind people that he thought were substandard. He wanted the world to know that he was in charge. It was the complete opposite of what the Order stood for. The objective of the Order was to make sure that the government didn’t forget the people that put it into business. Not world dominance. Uncle had forgotten that and Angel meant to remind him.
Quentin turned around and faced him. He looked hard and long at his body language and facial expressions. Seconds passed by while he made his quick perusal. Detecting no sign of deceit, he smiled at him. “Good.”
He headed toward the door and opened it, “I’m glad to see that you are back to your old self my boy. I must admit I was concerned that you were turning your back on your family’s legacy and your duty to this country. It would have been a shame to lose your talents. I would hate to see what happened to my dear brother Liam happen to you.”
Angel’s eyes hardened frostily. “I know my duty to the Order and to my country Uncle. Kill for the greater good.” His voice was just as hard and callous as his eyes.
Quentin nodded, “Keep me informed.” He left, closing the door behind him.
Angel walked over to the wall and hit the button that opened the panel to the security cameras. He watched as his Uncle left the building and got into the waiting limo.
As the limo drove down the street Angel threw his glass at the wall and it shattered into a million pieces. Uncle just confirmed his suspicions He had suspected for a long time that his parent’s death was never as innocent as a simple car crash. People in their line of work didn’t die that way. They died from guns or knives, usually welded by their enemies, not car crashes.
He knew the old bastard was responsible and he knew why.
Since the day Angel was born his father had drilled into him what the Order stood for and what Angel’s role would be in it. He had a deep understanding and commitment to keeping the objective of the Order alive. It was that understanding that made his job easy. There was no guilt. He never felt like a bad person for killing any of the marks he had ever taken down. Because he knew that what he was doing was for his country.
He never cared about getting credit for his deeds, that didn’t matter to him. All that mattered to him, his father, and all their ancestors before them, was insuring that the Order continued in their steadfast partisan roots.
But Quentin didn’t have that same agenda, at least not anymore.
Angel remembered his father’s diary and all that it said. In it Liam wrote how Quentin was his half brother, the product of an affair that Angel’s grandfather had with an English Noblewoman. That was news to Angel.
He also wrote that they never liked or trusted each other. They worked together only for the good of the Order. Liam told him everything and he told him never to trust Quentin. This Angel always knew, he easily remembered the strained tension between the brothers.
But the more he had read the dairy the more he saw through the eyes of his father how over the years with Quentin in charge the Order slowly changed. From his father’s entries it appeared that it all started when Liam married Patricia. Quentin protested to the marriage from day one. It didn’t matter that Patricia herself was a member of the Order, what mattered to Quentin was preserving the Order, and he felt that love was a detriment.
Liam knew that was the turning point of the Order. He knew what Quentin thought and he knew what steps Quentin took to protect the Order. He started to associate the Order with men in high power, who underneath their thousand dollar suits, were just low life criminals that ran guns and sold drugs.
When Liam confronted Quentin about it, his response was simple, keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.
Liam understood and could even agree with it to some point but he still could not overlook the fact that the principle of the Order was shifting from selfless patriotic acts to self-serving purposes. He saw the changes in Quentin as well as he became studiously selfish and greedy, it was clear to Liam that Quentin served himself and no one else.
Liam had been incensed to see something that his ancestors built turn into something vile and evil, and he was determined to change that.
He kept working in the Order, diligently documenting every crooked deal and immoral man that Quentin had contact with. He learned that there were others like him within the Order that were not happy with what was going on. They rallied together having secret meetings and becoming a silent factor within the organization. Their only goal was to restore the Order to its once noble and nationalistic roots. Everything they discovered was kept in safety deposit boxes in Switzerland. All with the hope that one day their children would be able to reinstate the Order to its once glorious beginnings.
The last year before they died, Liam’s entries became frantic and sparse. He wrote of a man, someone he thought was a friend, someone he had trusted with his life many times over, someone he believed was betraying him. His last entry was as clear as clear could be…he feared for the well being of his family.
Not long after that Liam and Patricia O’Rourke were killed and Angel was sent to live with his Uncle. It was a month after their death that Angel, who was away at boarding school in England, received a parcel. Inside was his father’s dairy. Angel never knew who sent it, he assumed it was someone like his father, someone who left the Order and was in hiding. But it didn’t matter who sent it…he had read it, many times…over and over again.
From then on Angel never trusted his Uncle. When he turned eighteen he traveled to Switzerland and retrieved the safety deposit boxes. He read everything inside of every single box. He studied them, learning everything that he needed to learn in order to bring his Uncle down. He aligned himself with the heirs of the men that his father had written about. People like him that wanted to help restore the Order. People like Spike and Oz.
Like their father’s before them, they worked silently in an attempt to attain their target. And over the years there were moments when Angel thought they would. But those chances disappeared for one reason or another, and Angel became disgruntled.
He started to become what he hated most. He got lost in the blackness of his job and forgot what it really all meant. He became just a ruthless killer who wanted nothing more than the thrill of the kill and the rewards in his pockets. He had become his Uncle.
But Buffy changed all that. Meeting Buffy had been like a burst of radiant light in his otherwise dark life. She put hope back in his soul. She made him remember that there was more to this world than what he had been doing. It was because of her that he once more picked up his endeavors to restore the Order.
But falling in love with her also made him realize that he couldn’t accomplish that goal within the Order anymore. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake his father had. There was no way he would sacrifice her to accomplish his own personal mission.
So he decided to leave the Order. He could still take Quentin down from the outside. He knew everything there was to know about his Uncle and his dealings, and he knew that he would finally succeed.
He had made several attempts to do just that since meeting Buffy, but each time he did Quentin handed him another job, one that actually benefited the country, one that reflected what the Order used to be about. It was almost like he knew and tried to manipulate Angel into believing that the Order never changed.
Angel knew otherwise but he took the jobs anyway, it was just in his blood. He couldn’t resist the call of the thrill. It was just something that he was born to do. So he kept working for Quentin and he kept waiting for the right time to leave.
Then it happened. He was literally handed a gift from the devil himself and it was both the worst day of his life and the best.
Quentin thought that by showing Angel the folder on Buffy that it would bring him back to the Order, take him back inside the darkness where Quentin wanted him to be. And for a short and asinine moment it had – that was what made it the worst day in his life.
But once more his goddess saved him. Once more she had restored his faith…in love, and in himself – and that made it the best day.
This was it. This was the chance they had all been waiting for and he was going to take it. No matter what, he was going to succeed in achieving his goal and restore the Order to its origins. He was going to make his Uncle pay for killing his parents and he was going to make his father proud of him.
Uncle was right; there was no job that was more important than this one. It had to go off without a hitch. And with the help of Buffy it would.
He turned his attention to the mark.
Henry Mersum.
He pulled out the picture that the Mayor had given him. He stared into the man’s green eyes, there was a tug in his gut; something was telling him there was more to this guy than what the folder said.
According to this, the man was a lawyer for Wolfram & Hart. They were a big time law firm whose clients ranged from Hollywood stars to criminals like The Mayor who hid behind their legal occupations.
Angel knew that a man who had his home wrapped up nice and tight with such a high tech security system was more than just a lawyer. He was as crooked as his criminal clients.
He probably had a falling out with The Mayor, maybe he was supposed to be the financial backing for the Mayor’s run at the presidency, but then for some reason pulled out. And now the Mayor wanted to steal it.
It made sense and Angel figured that was probably this guy’s story and the reason his inner light bulb was going off. Satisfied with his line of thinking he put the folder aside and moved on to the vault and the layout of the house.
He really needed Spike and Oz here. They were the two people that he always ran over the jobs with. He checked his watch; he knew where Spike was and Oz…
“Present.”
He looked up to see Oz strolling in.
“You know you freak me out when you do that.” He said watching as Oz shrugged his shoulders and sat down.
Angel sat back in his chair, “so what do you think?”
“I think he’s just about ready for an enema.”
Angel grinned at the stoic reply. “He did seem rather nervous and edgy didn’t he?”
Oz nodded. “His leg was tapping a mile a minute.”
When Uncle arrived at the hotel, everyone quickly scattered and left the building, but not Oz. He left but then snuck back into the garage. He had made his way to the vault where he locked himself in and watched everything that went on from the cameras.
“Refreshing isn’t it, to see him so…uneasy with things.”
Oz nodded.
They silently looked at each other, Angel’s expression answering Oz’s question, even though he hadn’t asked it yet. “So this is the job, the one we’ve been waiting for?”
Angel smiled brightly at him, “it is.”
“Good.”
Angel grinned again at the red-heads short but to the point answer. He didn’t know what he would have done all these years without Spike or Oz. They were his two closest confidants.
Like Angel, they were heirs to the legacy, a legacy that was slowly being tainted by the impurity that was Quentin Travers. And like Angel, Oz and Spike wanted it restored to what it was created to be and they stuck by him with the knowledge that one day that time would come.
Oz stretched and then sat back in the chair getting comfortable. “So fill me in.”
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-9* 9/?
« Reply #21 on Dec 15, 2006, 11:58am » | |
Chapter Ten
Continued
Buffy slept till about five o’clock when she woke up. She was full of energy and determination, and she wanted to get a head start on things.
She took a quick shower, then got dressed putting on a pair of black pants and a dark blue shirt. After she pulled on a pair of boots she walked out to the living room and peered out the window.
Seeing Grant sitting there and looking up at her, she smiled and waved. “Hello dog.”
She could see his frown from where she stood and she chuckled walking away from the window.
She headed out of the loft and walked up the staircase to the fourth floor where Faith was just sneaking out.
“Boo.”
Faith jumped and dropped the boots she had been holding, her hand went up to her chest as her eyes landed on Buffy. “Jesus B you scared the crap out of me.”
Buffy smiled, “where you going?”
Faith dragged her away from the door, “I was coming for you.” She whispered.
She dragged her down the stairs and back to Buffy’s loft, whispering all the way. “I would have come sooner but my jailor thought that I was too tired.”
She continued to whisper down the stairs and Buffy giggled. “Faith I don’t think he can hear you.”
Faith snorted, “Don’t be too sure of that. I swear that Brit can hear the Queen farting over the pond!”
Buffy laughed just as they stepped inside the loft. Faith shut the door and leaned against it putting her shoes on. “So what happened? Are you okay?”
“Yeah…I think I am. I mean seeing Parker and Adam again wasn’t exactly a happy moment but its okay.”
“B I talked to Angel and…”
Buffy smiled, “I know I saw him.”
“You did?”
Buffy still smiling nodded, “Yeah he was here when I came home.”
“Oh…okay, so things are copasetic?”
“Well besides the fact that one of us is an assassin and that we’re both a couple of lying thieves, one of which is married to a pig…” she shrugged, “…pretty good.”
“So what happened when you went to the compound? I got to tell you I’m a little surprised to see you here.”
She looked at Faith her green eyes bright and clear. “I went there to kill him.”
“And…”
Buffy sighed, “He’s still breathing. They want me to do a job and at the time I figured it was best to go along with them. I mean I’m quick but a bullet is a lot faster than me.”
Faith looked at her oddly and Buffy shook head.” Never mind.”
“I told them I had to come home to keep up appearances. Of course Parker who’s not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed didn’t want me too but Adam understood. Anyway, I got home and Angel was here.”
She had this look in her eyes of pure rapturous heaven, “He’s so sweet.”
Faith rolled her eyes.
“Have I ever told you how sweet it he is?” Buffy asked.
Faith stood up straight, “Yes B plenty of times.”
Buffy shrugged, “Oh…okay, well anyway. We’re going to steal the diamonds together and then get rid of Parker. But I guess you know all that already don’t you.”
Faith blushed slightly, “I do and I’m sorry. But hey I stuck up for you. I was ready to kick his ass if he didn’t get his shit together.” She rubbed her fist, “I even got in one good shot. That boy has one hard head I can tell you that.”
Buffy smiled at her friend’s fierce loyalty. “I know Faith, don’t worry about. Besides at least now I know to wear a boxing glove when I give him my ass kicking.”
They smirked at each other.
“Anyway, Angel left to go to some hotel?”
Faith nodded, “Yeah it’s some old hotel down on Hollywood. I think it’s like their gang hideaway or something.” She shrugged. “Of course Spike never told me. I had Willow call Oz.”
Buffy took that in wondering what her quite friend’s reaction would be when she learned of Oz’s true profession. “Angel said he’d be back before ten and then he forbade me to go anywhere until he got here.”
Faith grinned at her mischievously. “But of course we’re not going to do that, are we?”
Buffy grinned back, “Well you know me, I’m not one for taking orders to well. Angel’s going to have to learn that if we’re going to be working together.”
Faith snorted, “Oh yeah…I can see it now…Mr. I’m In Charge giving you leeway to do whatever you want.”
She reached up and grabbed her head, “Wait…I’m having a premonition…I foresee Buffy and Angel at each other’s throats…wait, they look like Buffy and Angel but their faces are bright red and there’s smoke billowing out of their ears.”
Buffy chuckled. “Stop it. I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”
“Yeah right.”
Buffy shrugged, “Well so what? The best part of arguing is making up, right?”
Now Faith had that faraway look, with a boyfriend like Spike she had a lot of make up sex. “No arguments there.”
“I figure that there’s no time like now for him to get used to that idea so I thought I’d get a head start and do a little recon. Wanna come with?”
Faith smiled, “Oh god yes. I’ve been itching for something naughty to do.”
“Faith I know that Angel wants you to help but I’m worried about you. If you don’t want to because of…well you know, I’ll understand.”
Faith knew exactly what she was talking about but she didn’t care. This was Faith’s chance to get back at the Brotherhood. Maybe it wasn’t the chapter that she belonged too but it didn’t matter. If you hurt one you hurt them all.
“B don’t worry about me, I’m 5x5.” She walked over to the window and looked out.
Buffy smiled at her, relief filling her. She was still worried but she was glad that she would have someone to go back there with.
“Who’s the unhappy camper that’s been casing the place since early this morning?” Faith nodded to Grant.
“That is Grant.”
Faith turned and looked at her with wide eyes. “The Grant?”
“The one and only.” Buffy grabbed her coat and opened the door. “Come on let’s get going. I want to get there and check it out, and then I want you to take me to the hotel.”
Faith followed her out the door. “What about your watchdog? He’s going to see us leave?”
“Good. Then he can report back to Parker that I’m doing my job.”
“Yeah but he’s going to follow us back to the hotel?”
“No he’ll follow us back here and then we’ll sneak out the through the tunnels.” She briskly walked down the stairs with Faith next to her.
“What tunnels?”
“I’ll tell you about it on the way.”
The club was pretty much empty at this time of day, only Amy and a few bouncers were there getting ready for the night. They waved to Amy on their way out and walked right out the front door.
With a purposeful stride Buffy walked right up to Grant. “Grant.”
He nodded coldly, his eyes on Faith. “Who’s this?”
“Faith, she’s a sister from Cleveland. She’ll be my second on this.”
Grant eyed her skeptically, “Parker didn’t say anything about a second.”
Buffy smiled, “That’s because he doesn’t know.”
“Well I think I should run this by him first.”
Faith looked at Buffy, “You were right B, but I didn’t want to believe that a brother could be so spineless especially up against a gutless pig like Parker.”
Buffy sadly shook her head, “I know so sad isn’t it.”
They both turned and looked at Grant who was murderously staring at them. Buffy could practically smell his fury.
“Fine go ahead, but don’t get any smart ideas Buffy, I’ll be right behind you.”
Buffy smiled, he was so predictable. “Grant the only ideas I have are the best ways to steal the diamonds. Come on let’s go, we’ll take your car it’s less conspicuous.”
Faith looked back at Grant, “Nice to meet you…brother.”
Grant watched them get in the car. He started his bike up and waited for them to pull out. When they did he was right on their tail.
**********************
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
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| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-9* 9/?
« Reply #22 on Dec 15, 2006, 11:59am » | |
Chapter Ten
Continued
“We’re going to need someone we can trust. Who are our choices?” Angel asked Oz.
“There aren’t too many left that Uncle hasn’t already sniffed out. But I think there might be one that we can trust, although I’m not sure you’re going to like it.”
Angel looked at his friend warily, “Please don’t say who I think you’re going to say?”
Oz shrugged. “She’s the only one left. There is no one else that’s as high up in position as she is, believes in the cause, and hates Uncle to boot.”
Damn it, she was the last person Angel wanted to bring in on this job, especially now. But he had no choice. “Alright call her.”
They had been going over the schematics of the job for the past three hours when Wes, Gunn and Fred returned. They went over the plan with them and they were all sitting around the lobby going over the last minute details.
Angel looked at each one of his friends. They had all been there for him at one time or another. And they had all became a part of his family in different ways.
Wes, Gunn and Fred weren’t like Spike, Oz and himself. They didn’t have any ties to the Order. They worked for Angel because they felt indebted to him and they had no where else to go. He felt obligated to give them the option to get out now.
“Guys you know that you don’t have to be apart of this. It’s going to get ugly and if you want out Oz, Spike and myself, we would understand. This isn’t your battle.”
They glanced at each other briefly and Fred spoke. “Angel, haven’t you learned by now that whatever is your battle is ours too? We’re family and family sticks together.”
“Right on.” Gunn said and Wesley nodded. “Dude there is nothing that could take me out of this one. The chance to bring Uncle down…it’s too tempting. Screw the danger.”
Angel looked at Gunn and Fred, smiling at their enthusiasm, and then he turned to Wesley. “Wes?”
“Count me in.”
“Thanks guys. It means a lot to me.” He said it and he meant it.
Gunn shucked him on the shoulder, “Look our fearless leader is getting all misty eyed on us.”
They all laughed except for Angel who was scowling.
“We’ve got problems mate.” Spike came barreling in, looking not as joyful as the others did.
Seeing that the voluptuous brunette was not with him, Angel’s scowl immediately darkened. “Where’s Faith?”
“Probably with your girlfriend, I woke up and she was gone.”
“What, are you saying that a woman slipped by you! Man that’s rich!” Gunn started to laugh.
Spike scowled had him, “Shut up.”
“What do you mean? They’re not at the loft?” Angel barked
“I just said that, didn’t I?” Spike barked back.
Spike was pissed off. He was worried sick about sending Faith into the pack of wolves. Unlike Angel who had been blissfully ignorant of all the dirty little secrets in Buffy’s past, Spike didn’t have that luxury. He knew everything there was to know about Faith and it scared the crap out of him that she was going anywhere near the Brotherhood again.
“Damn it. I told her to wait for me!”
“Angelus the girl has a mind of her own. You seriously didn’t think she was going to obey you did you?” Spike incredulously asked.
Angel looked at him like he had lost his mind. That was exactly what he expected. When he gave orders people listened it was just the way it was.
Spike shook his head at him, “You have a lot to learn mate.”
“Do you know where she went?” Fred asked.
Angel started to pace.
“Knowing her history, I would put my money on the mark’s mansion.” Spike said.
“Recon.” Oz stated and Spike nodded.
“I can’t believe she didn’t listen to me!” Angel was still wrapped up in the fact that his orders were completely ignored.
“I’m not surprised.” Wes stated and Angel turned on him.
Wesley swallowed, “She’s obviously used to working alone, Angel, and she did what she always does…her job.” He shrugged his shoulders and Angel just stared at him.
“What’s the big deal? It saves us time.” Gunn interjected. Angel turned his black eyes on Gunn and he put his hands up in the there, “I’m just saying.”
Just then the doors swung open and Faith and Buffy strolled in, each one carrying a frozen latte and smiling like they had just returned from a day at the beach.
“I don’t know B, I think red is better. It just looks faster.”
“Red is hot but too flashy. It’s like a beacon for cops.”
“That’s true, you know I used to own a red one and I did get a lot of tickets with it.”
Buffy smiled, ”See I told you.”
The deathly silence of the room got their attention and they stopped and looked over to see everyone staring at them. Fred, Gunn, Wes and Oz looked like they were bracing themselves for the next apocalypse, and Spike and Angel looked like they were ready to start it.
“Now there is a shade of red that is definitely a beacon.” Faith commented looking at Angel.
Buffy braced herself for the explosion she knew was coming. But it wasn’t the loud ranting that she was expecting instead it was eerily calm. “Didn’t I tell you to stay at the loft?”
She could hear his teeth grinding together in his effort to control his temper; it was like nails on chalkboard. “Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
If this wasn’t such an important moment for the future of their relationship, both as a couple and as a working team, she would have laughed at his facial expression. Because he definitely looked like he was going to blow his top, but they were in a way starting over and she would be damned if they did it on the wrong foot…again.
“I couldn’t sleep so I went to the mansion to do some recon.”
“Alone?” He almost screamed it. But he didn’t. He said it low but with so much force that his breath blew her hair around.
She closed her eyes to the hot air breathing on her face, and she bite her cheek in an attempt to control her own anger. “No…I went with Faith.”
“I told you to wait for me.”
“And I told you to rest!” Spike bellowed at Faith.
Faith rolled her eyes, “Rest! What am I two? God Spike, if you had your way I’d be sleeping until this whole thing was over.”
“You’re bloody right!” He stormed over to her, “Do you forget what brought you to LA to begin with?”
Faith’s eyes darkened to a stormy brown, “No.” She sneered.
“Then why are you so anxious to put yourself in their reach again. Do you have a death wish or something?”
Angel’s dark gaze went from Buffy to Faith and Spike. He wondered why Spike was so vehemently against sending Faith with Buffy; he knew there had to be another reason one that stemmed from more than just basic concern. There were too many secrets going around for Angel’s taste, and in his experience secrets were what killed a successful job.
“Is there something I should know about?” he asked them angrily.
“Yes!”
“No!”
Angel stared at both of them, “We’ll talk about this later.” Then he turned back to Buffy. “Buffy I don’t like it when people disobey my orders.”
“I can vouch for that.” Gunn said and Angel quickly looked at him silently telling him to shut up.
“And I don’t like it when people bark orders at me!” Buffy responded, her own voice slightly higher than it was before.
“I told you to wait for a reason. Plans need to be made before you do anything!”
Buffy was really starting to get steamed. “I’m not stupid Angel. I know what needs to be done; I’ve done it a hundred times before!”
“Then you should have waited!”
They were toe to toe, their eyes brilliantly sparkling with anger, staring at each other. “Waited for what? We didn’t do anything. I went to get an idea of the layout. Plus I had to look like I was doing something because Grant would have reported back to Parker that I wasn’t.”
She had a point, but still there were things they needed to get straight. He moved closer to her and spoke with a hushed tone. “Buffy, I don’t like you going out on your own. We’re supposed to be doing this together.”
She smiled at him, her hand automatically touching his arm, caressing it softly. “We are baby. It’s just that I’m used to working on my own. I’m not used to asking permission when it comes to pulling off a heist. It’s just the way I do things.”
His eyes darkened. “You are not alone on this Buffy. We have an entire team that is very accessible and very capable of handling recon work. Next time let me handle it.”
Buffy stared back at him, her own eyes darkening. “I can do my own recon work Angel. Besides it’s me that’s going in there not your team!”
“Are you saying that you don’t trust my team?”
“No. I don’t know your team. Look it’s not about them okay, it’s about me and the way I do things that’s all!”
“Well you better change your ways…because around here we do things as a team and I’m the one that dishes out the orders.”
Buffy took deep breaths trying to control her own anger. She didn’t like the way he was talking to her, especially in front of his team. People she barely knew. She got even closer and lowered her voice. “I don’t appreciate your tone Angel. I am not a dog for you tell when to sit or when to play dead okay! I don’t take orders anymore…from anybody, I thought I made that clear to you from the beginning!”
He stared at her, her turbulent eyes telling him that he needed to get over himself and real quick.
“Baby I know that you’re worried but you have to trust my judgment and you have to get over this I’m in Charge attitude, because I am not one of your lackeys. I’m your equal and I’m just as capable of coming up with plans and making decisions as you are.”
He breathed out trying to calm down. His hands came up and he grasped her arms, pulling her closer as his fingers lightly stroked her arms. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. It’s just that I’m used to giving orders and having them be obeyed without question.”
He looked down at her face, God he could never stay angry with her for long. “I do trust your judgment Buffy but you have to give me some flexibility here. You can’t just run off and do things on your own.”
His hand reached up and caressed her head. He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. “Baby I’m just thinking about your safety, I worry about you. If something were to happen to you…I don’t know what I’d do.”
“Oh that’s so cute.” Fred said and Angel blushed slightly, making Gunn chuckle.
Buffy smiled at him, “I know Angel. I worry about you too. But we are both professionals. I know what I’m doing. You don’t have to protect me.”
She kissed him lightly on the lips. “It’s not going to be easy for either of us but I think if we really want to stay together as a couple and work together as a team, then we need to be more open minded to the other’s feelings.”
He looked down into her beautiful face he took her hand in his and kissed her palm. Once again she was right. “Alright, I’ll do my best not to…bark orders at you.”
Buffy smiled, “and I’ll do my best to sometimes obey you.”
Her eyes twinkled with humor and Angel chuckled pulling her closer and hugging her. “Yeah right.”
“Hey do we have that option too? Because you know sometimes, I feel the need to disobey.” Gunn asked, thinking of Angel’s Harley that sat in the garage.
“I think that right is reserved for blondes named Buffy.” Oz answered.
“I can be blonde.”
Angel looked over at them, smiling at their jokes, but his eyes were steely. “No.”
Gunn looked at Oz. “Too bad.”
Oz nodded, “Yeah I think you’d look good as a blonde.”
Fred and Wesley giggled.
“That’s just peachy. Now can we get down to business?” Spike said.
Angel looked at Spike, “Good idea. Why don’t you start by telling me what’s going on with you two.”
“Um…Angel, is that really important? I mean, what does it have to do with anything?” Buffy asked, she wanted to help keep her friend’s secret just that…a secret.
Angel stepped away from Buffy, “Everything.” He looked back and forth between Buffy and Faith as he spoke. “Look, you guys are part of the team now and there are no secrets in this team. If there is something that involves Faith and the Brotherhood that might happen to come up in the middle of all this, then I need to know.”
Spike went to interject but Faith stopped him. “No, he’s right. It’s okay.”
She stood up and looked at Angel and the gang. “When I left Cleveland I wasn’t exactly on the best of terms with Luke, the president of the chapter.”
“Why?”
“Because my boyfriend, Luke’s brother…died, and Luke suspected me.”
“Why would he suspect you?” Fred asked.
Faith smiled, “oh I don’t know…could be because I killed him.”
Angel closed his eyes, great this was just what they needed more psycho bikers looking for revenge.
“I know what you’re thinking Angel and trust me you don’t have to worry about it.” Faith said trying to reassure him.
Angel didn’t know what to think. What could he say? He was sure that the guy probably deserved whatever he got from Faith. He also knew that he couldn’t control everything or all the players involved in a scheme as deep as this one was. He just had to hope that this particular skeleton stayed in the closet.
He opened his eyes to see everyone staring at him, waiting for his reaction. He looked at Faith. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worrying about it but if you’re not concerned then I’ll try not to be too.” Looking at Spike he added; “Besides I think Spike will be worrying enough for the both of us.”
Faith smiled as she snuggled up against Spike, “I know he’s so sweet…my killer in shining armor.” She kissed him loudly on the lips and he blushed looking away from the gang.
“Stop it luv, I have a rep to protect.” He said making Faith chuckle.
“He’s very bendable today.” Gunn said and Oz nodded.
“That’s what love does.” Fred answered, feeling the love and romance in the air.
“Maybe now is my chance to renegotiate that forbidden bike riding thing.” Gunn said looking at Oz.
Angel looked back at Gunn. “And you’re being very bold. “
Gunn chortled, “A man has to take his opportunities as he sees ‘em.”
Angel nodded, “Fair enough.”
Gunn smiled, seeing a door opening. “So, how about it?”
Angel’s answer was quick and direct. “No.”
Gunn’s smile faded as quickly as Angel slammed the door.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-10* 10
« Reply #23 on Jan 10, 2007, 12:41pm » | |
Chapter Eleven
Catch 22
They stayed at the hotel till nine o’clock going over the plan again and again. It would have taken less time, but every time Angel suggested a route to take, Buffy shot it down. Of course every time Buffy came up with a plan, Angel shot it down.
They bickered back and forth with each other about the best way to do the job. Buffy was firm in her assessment because she had seen the layout of the house and knew which route would be best for her take.
Angel on the other hand didn’t actually see the house itself, but he saw it in satellite photos and he saw the floor plan and he believed his way was the better way.
At one point, the rest of the gang had gone into the kitchen to eat something while they argued it out. They didn’t mind though, it was a nice change from the way things usually worked around here. Plus they just really liked seeing someone butt heads with Angel. At least Gunn did.
When they finally came to a mutual decision Angel pulled her inside of his office where he explained to her about the Order of Aurelia, and his father and Uncle.
Buffy was happy that he told her and after giving him a resounding kiss on the lips she told him that she was by his side no matter what. She wanted to help him restore something that meant so much to him. She saw it as a way of giving something back to him for everything that he had given her.
By nine thirty Angel, Spike, Buffy and Faith made it back to the loft and through the tunnels. When Buffy and Faith wanted to stay to check it out, Angel and Spike shooed them upstairs. They each went to their lofts to get ready to go back to the Brotherhood and report to Adam.
Buffy was in the bedroom getting ready as Angel stood in the shadows of the living room looking out the window and at Grant who sat patiently on his bike.
Angel couldn’t take his eyes off of him. He stood there as if he was in a trance, unable to move. The feelings that one man created in him were unfathomable and he just could not get a grip on anything.
Death - slow and exceedingly painful - those were the only cognizant thoughts he had.
A sneer of pure evilness, one filled with malice and promised suffering, lit his face like a beacon in the otherwise darkened room. Strong sadistic emotions raged through him, emotions that he was not accustomed too. Emotions that made him feel like a stranger in his own body.
He gripped the windowsill with anxious energy.
People probably thought that being a professional killer meant that you were no stranger to deep, soul-altering rage. But the fact was that a professional killer had no emotions. They simply did whatever needed to be done. Unfortunately for Angel that was not the case this time around. His heart was fighting with his head over what he was about to let happen.
The assassin in him knew what needed to be done and the anticipation was almost as exciting as sex with Buffy…almost.
His fingers instinctively flexed, feeling the invisible cold steel of his girls in the palm of his hands. In his mind he saw Grant on his knees, pleading for his life, with the barrel of his gun at the back of his head. It was a beautiful vision of things to come but of course it wouldn’t end there.
No, death would not be simple and clean for Grant or any of the other bastards. Their deaths would be Angelus’ ultimate masterpiece. Their deaths would resonant in the minds of any man that thought they could hurt something that was his.
His.
She was his. There was no doubt in his mind as her face floated before him. Their connection was deep and soul binding, built on love and loyalty…devotion. The recent events were proof that that wasn’t even a question anymore, for either of them. They knew, understood, and accepted the chances that would have to be taken and the risks that were involved to stay together.
Casualties were inevitable as they often were when it came to war. Angel learned a long time ago to accept that and not question it. But everything was different now, he no longer had that aloof detachment toward collateral damage and he couldn’t help but think that Buffy would be one of them.
The question that continued to echo in his heart was, how high of a price would she have to pay?
This was where his heart viciously argued with his head; Angel knew what he was sending her back to. Over the past day he had done nothing but go over every worst case scenario and they all made him want to cut out his own heart. He was consciously putting his baby into an unprotected situation, one that he wouldn’t be able to get to should she need him.
What kind of man did that make him? A dickless one, that’s what kind.
Once more he realized that he had no control over anything and that was the ultimate mind fuck.
In reality the inability to move was probably a godsend. He felt so unstable at the moment, that if he was able to move he’d kill Grant and lock Buffy away so she couldn’t leave. Things that he really, deeply wanted to do but couldn’t…at least not yet.
Grant moved, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cell phone. His movements brought Angel back to reality. His hands released the death grip they had on the windowsill and his feet actually shifted on the floor. He shook his head trying to clear it, trying to get some resemblance of control once more.
He saw Grant look up at the window. It looked like he was staring right at Angel, but he knew that Grant couldn’t see him.
“Death is too good for you my friend. Soon you’ll know the true meaning of the word pain. Soon you’ll feel my hand ripping out your heart and watch my knife slash it to shreds.” He vehemently whispered.
Grant hung up the phone and started up his bike, pulling out into the street he drove away.
“Who are you talking to Angel?”
‘A walking corpse.’
“Nobody.” He answered as he watched Grant leave.
Turning he headed toward the bedroom. “He left.”
“Parker commands and the dog follows.” Buffy snorted as she stood in front of the mirror applying her makeup.
He stood in the doorway looking at her, his eyes heavy with concern. “Are you alright?” He quietly asked.
Buffy shrugged her face solemn as she looked at her self in the mirror, “I guess so.”
“Buffy, I…it kills me that I’m sending you back to…”
“You’re not Angel. This is my past and I need to confront it and deal with it. Even if there weren’t other circumstances I would still be doing it. It’s just something that I need to do.”
He nodded as their eyes met in the mirror. She reassured him with her warm smile and the strength and determination he read in her eyes. He still hated it but he understood that she needed to close that door on her own.
He walked further into the room and sat down on the bed behind her his eyes raking down her figure and he frowned. This was not what he needed to see at the moment. Oh he was used to seeing her in short skirts and skimpy tops, but knowing where she was going and that he wasn’t going to be with her irritated him.
She was wearing a short black skirt and a skin tight black halter top that tied at her neck and then around the mid section of her back. It left her back bare and naked; it left that God damn branding tattoo visible for the world to see.
Angel silently growled. He hated that tattoo. He never used to mind it. Well that wasn’t entirely true. He didn’t like it much when he first learned what it meant either. But he got over it because he thought it was in her past. Plus it turned him on. Every time he took her from behind he couldn’t help but stare at it as he repeated in his head over and over again one little word…mine. It was sort of his way of giving Parker and the Brotherhood a big ole’ fuck you.
But now, he hated it more than anything else in this world. Now more than ever it said that she belonged to another and that put a rage in him like nothing else could.
“Do you have to wear so…little?” he gruffly asked.
Buffy just finished putting on her black eye liner and she stood back to look at herself. Not bad, the welt on her head had gone down considerably and the makeup covered up whatever else was left. “Angel, I wear stuff like this all the time.”
“Yeah, but I’m usually there.” His head tilted to the side, his eyes scanning up her shapely thighs. “Can’t you wear pants?”
She looked at him through the mirror and was about to respond about how he sounded like a little kid. But she noticed where his eyes were and she took heart.
She turned around and walked up in between his legs. She took his head in her hands and brought his eyes up to his. “Angel, you will be there.” Her hand rose to her heart, “Right here.”
She leaned down and kissed him gently on the lips. He roughly grabbed her and hugged her tightly, leaning his head against her breasts.
“I don’t want you to go.”
Her arms wound around him and she closed her eyes as she leaned her cheek against his hair.
“I don’t want to go either. Don’t worry.” She quietly said as she stroked his hair. ”I’ll be okay.”
Angel didn’t want to let her go. He just wanted to sit there forever with her nestled in his arms nice and tight…safe from any threat.
He pulled back and looked up at her. She was smiling and her eyes were full of hope and love. They reflected such strong emotions and he couldn’t hold back the need to speak what was in his heart.
“Buffy I want you to know that no matter what happens…should anything…happen that you don’t want to happen, it could never change how I feel about you.”
Her eyes misted from his words, but her voice was resolved. “Angel, that’s not going to happen, I won’t let it…not ever again.”
He smiled at her, “I know. But if it does, it’s not your fault and I wouldn’t blame you at all. I would love you…even more.”
Tears fell from her eyes as she hugged him to her.
“You mean everything to me Buffy and it’s really hard for me to let you go back to…him. Everything inside of me is screaming not to let you go but I know that I have too. And if I do then I wanted to give you this.”
He pulled back slightly and took something out of his pocket. He then took her hand in his. “My father gave it to my mom. It’s not much but I want you to have it.”
She looked down at the beautiful Claddagh ring that he was putting on her finger and more tears came to her eyes. She knew what it meant. It was Angel’s way of telling the world that she belonged to him and not Parker.
“Angel it’s beautiful.” She looked at his hand, “It’s just like yours.”
“My father had them made together, he wore one and my mother wore the other.”
Buffy smiled at him and kissed him greedily as her hands moved through his hair. “Thank you. I’ll proudly wear it…always.”
Angel smiled but when they hugged again he once more saw that bloody tattoo in the mirror. He was hit was a surge of possessive insecurity and he suddenly had the most intense need to remind her who she belonged too.
He kissed her bare belly, letting his hands run down her ass. He kept kissing her belly, dipping his tongue in and out of her bellybutton as his hands caressed their way down her thighs.
Buffy watched his dark head bend as he laved kiss after kiss on her stomach. Her eyes became heavy with lust as she watched him push her skirt up, and then pull her panties down.
He lifted one leg up and put it on the bed as he stared at her naked shaven skin. His hands squeezed and caressed her ass as he just sat there and looked at her.
“Angel, Faith will be here any minute.” She huskily said.
“I know…I just...” a finger lightly ran down her wet cleft and Buffy moaned low in her throat. “…need to taste you.”
She gripped his head as his tongue came out and licked her wet lips. Angel took his time exploring every piece of tender flesh he could wrap his lips and tongue around. He wanted her to come so hard that she wouldn’t forget him.
Buffy stood there unsteadily, her hands roughly gripping his head as his mouth lavished her with eager sucking. When he inserted three fingers inside of her and sucked on her clit she felt the beginnings of her orgasm. But Angel pulled away, and stopped.
“Not yet.” He scolded her quietly. He waited patiently for her body to relax slightly, keeping himself busy as he watched the play of emotions on her face which ranged from bliss to annoyance.
His hand roamed up her shirt and squeezed her breasts gently. Then roughly grabbing a nipple he squeezed it hard, just as he plunged his fingers inside of her again.
Buffy screamed with rapture, her body pushing toward his mouth, desperately needing to feel his mouth on her throbbing clit.
“Please Angelus…suck…” She pleaded knowing how he loved to hear her say his real name.
Angel groaned hungrily, giving her what she wanted. He took her sensitive clit in between his mouth and sucked harder as his fingers went deeper and curled up hitting her G-spot.
Buffy gasped as her body shook with tremors of delight. It was amazing how quickly and how hard he could make her body respond to him. It was like he just knew where to touch her, how much to give her and when to take it away. No man ever had that power over her and she knew no one ever would. He was the personification of pleasure.
Angel covetously drank every creamy drop of cum humming contentedly as he tasted her. After a few more seconds he looked up at her. She was slowly riding his fingers, her eyes were closed and she was panting as she bit her top lip. She was simply stunning in her release. It was the way she should always look…at least for him.
“Just a little something for you to remember me by.” He couldn’t help but say it arrogantly, she responded so honestly to his touches that it made him feel like a God and it restored his male pride. Beat that Parker.
Smirking smugly, he steadied her with one hand as he pulled her panties up and lowered her skirt.
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-10* 10
« Reply #24 on Jan 10, 2007, 12:43pm » | |
Chapter Eleven
continued
When she finally opened her eyes she looked down into a very pleased and conceited pair of brown orbs. She chuckled, “That’s definitely the way to do it.”
She stared into soulful eyes, which told her everything he was feeling. “Angel, you don’t have to compete with him. He could never compare to you. You are the only one that can make every inch of me sing.”
Angel groaned longingly as he grabbed her head and mauled her mouth, branding her once more with his lips and tongue.
She clung to him and sat down on his lap positioning herself right over his hard cock. She moved her hips, riding him languidly against his jeans. His eyes darkened and his breath became shallow as she unzipped his jeans and pulled his cock out.
Steadying herself on his shoulders, she lifted herself up and moved her panties to the side as she gripped him and slowly lowered herself.
She stared deeply into his eyes as she started to move on top of him, feeding him the words that he needed to hear. “I love you Angelus, so much.”
“Oh…God…I love you too.”
She rotated her hips against his then rose up and slowly sank back down. Slowly and sensually she moved as they continued to stare at each other. The heavy eye contact turned them both on more and drove Buffy to move faster.
“I could never forget you baby. Could never…” She slammed down on him and Angel moaned, “…never forget this.”
His hands that had passively lain on her waist, suddenly gripped her tighter as her pace quickened. He lifted her up and pushed her back down as he raised his hips, pushing himself deeper inside of her, making her groan unabashedly. “God…yesss…”
“I can never get enough of you Angel. Never.”
She was riding him hard and fast now, her body tingling with lusty vibrations as she felt her impending release. Their eyes remained locked onto each other.
”I want a piece of you to be with me. Come with me baby. Cum inside of me.”
Her voice sounded like a serenade to Angel’s ears and he clasped her head, his body responded to her words and he jerked up staring deeply into her eyes. “Buffy!” He harshly whimpered as he spilled his seed deep inside of her.
Buffy smiled, “Yes…just like that…god yes!”
She screamed as she slammed back down and came with him, her own body bursting with sensual shivers that made her numb. He pulled her mouth to his, kissing her hungrily as they rocked together riding out their releases.
“I love you, so much.” Buffy said when they pulled back.
“I love you too…always.”
Their lips met once more, sliding back and forth, tasting love, feeling the strength of their bond. Sizzling sensations of burning desire raced through their veins again. Buffy smiled languidly as she pulled away and arched her back throwing her head back in pure ecstasy as she felt his cock swell inside of her.
“God…Angel, I want more…I always want more.” She moaned loudly and Angel grunted as he leaned forward and took a hard nipple into his mouth, sucking hard on it through her shirt.
Buffy’s hand gripped his head with a smile of rapture on her face. She felt so content, so filled by his presence, and her body was just a mush of numb achiness. There were no thoughts of the Brotherhood, no thoughts of Parker until she heard his voice.
“BUFFY!”
The door slammed shut and so did her desire.
Her body stiffened and her eyes snapped open as she sat up and looked at Angel, whose face was a mask of violent rage.
She felt like she was sitting on an about to erupt volcano. His responsive body quickly tensed with anger instead of desire, and the blackness of his eyes held no warmth or lust. They were cold and alien. And she grimaced as his fingers angrily dug into her sides.
This was not good and she cursed Parker for coming here. But then she cursed herself, she should have known the second Grant left.
“I’ll be right out,” she shouted. Her eyes never left Angel’s as she silently pleaded with him to keep it together. She leaned in and kissed him on the mouth, she went to pull away but he gripped her head savagely and smashed his mouth against hers.
His hungry mouth seared her in their burning intensity. She moaned deep in her throat at the desperation she tasted on his lips. She tilted her head to the side, wanting more but he jerked back and stood her on her feet.
It took her a minute to adjust to the change in her position and she reached out to steady herself, as her muddled mind cleared to the reality of the situation. Quickly she adjusted her clothes as she watched Angel tuck the Beast back in his jeans and zip them up.
Angel’s eyes roamed down her body once more and darkened unhappily. “Pants. Now.” He told her, his tone was insistent and not that quiet. Buffy quickly shushed him with her finger; she would have done anything just to keep him quiet. She wasn’t ready for her husband and her lover to meet.
“Okay Angel please just be quiet.”
“Buffy!” Parker screamed again and Angel took two steps to the door.
Buffy frantically pulled out a pair of jeans and tugged them on as she hopped over to halt Angel.
His fists were clenched and she could see by the rise and fall of his shoulders that he was breathing very hard.
She clenched his arm, whispering to him. “Please Angel just stay here. Please don’t do anything.”
He wasn’t even looking at her, he was staring out into the living room imagining walking out and ripping that assholes head right off.
Buffy hugged him one last time, “I’ll be home later. I love you.”
Finally he looked at her, his hand caressing her face. “I love you too.” He fiercely told her.
“BUFFY!”
“I’m coming!”
She smiled and kissed him one last time.
“Be careful.” He told her.
“I will.” She smiled at him but he didn’t smile back. His eyes were that of a killer, his trained disciplined mind was only on the boy in the room outside.
Buffy walked out into the living room to see Parker standing there looking around. “What are you doing here Parker?” She asked as she pulled on a pair of boots.
Parker looked at her and he felt his heart constrict. Ever since she left the compound he had done nothing but think about her. He concluded that his desire to have her back could not be ignored, nor could the fact that she was abhorrently against that.
He wasn’t ashamed to admit that he was a bastard and that his treatment of Buffy had never been anything remotely loving or respectful…but he didn’t care, it was just the way he was and always had been, and it was completely irrelevant. It didn’t change the truth which was that Buffy was still his wife. The fact that she wanted nothing to do with him didn’t matter either. He didn’t care what she wanted. His wants and needs were the only thing that concerned him. And at one time, it had been the only thing that concerned her. That was the way it was supposed to be. That was what a real marriage was about, and he was determined to have that again.
He just had to put a lid on his temper. He knew how to be sweet, kind and charming. It was what got him Buffy to begin with, and he meant to show her that side of him again. He would seduce her back to his side, and then when she was all relaxed and content in her position once more, he would punish her.
He smiled at her as he walked over to her. “What took you so long?”
“I was getting dressed.”
“Oh…I thought I heard moaning.”
“That was moans of grief of having to see you.”
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-10* 10
« Reply #25 on Jan 10, 2007, 12:44pm » | |
Chapter Eleven
continued
Parker’s eyes flashed angrily but only for a second before he smiled at her, chuckling softly.
His manner startled her and she immediately put her guard up. She grabbed her jacket. “I was coming you know,” ‘in the most literal of senses.’ …you didn’t have to come here.”
Parker walked up to her, very close. His hand came up and he started to lightly caress her bare arm. “Is it wrong of me to want to feel my wife behind me as we ride together again?”
She didn’t answer him, she couldn’t answer him. She just stared back at him blankly dumfounded that he really thought he could play that game with her.
Completely unaware of Buffy’s none so friendly reception to his seduction, Parker sighed. “Buffy, I know that we didn’t start on the right foot before, I’m sorry for hitting you. It’s not how I wanted our reunion to be.”
Buffy snorted, “Parker, we started out wrong from the beginning.” She tried to walk away but he held her arm keeping her still. It wasn’t a brutal grip it was just enough pressure so she wouldn’t move.
He moved even closer, and Buffy took a step back conscious of a very volatile Angel in the bedroom who was listening to every word.
“Buffy, I know you’re mad that we kept you out of the loop but we had no choice. Don’t let that come between us.” He lowered his head, his eyes staring at her mouth, moving in to taste her. “I’ve missed you so much Buffy. Just give me a chance and I’ll make it up to you.”
His head moved to her neck and he started to kiss her.
Buffy tried to move away, but she only succeeded in bumping into the wall. She heard the unmistakable sound of an angry growl and her heart skipped a beat.
“What was that?” Parker asked, his dark suspicious eyes looking toward the bedroom.
Her hands came up and pushed on Parker’s chest, pushing him off of her. “It’s my puppy.” She quickly answered him.
Parker looked back at her, accepting her answer he smiled as he once more leaned into her. Bracing himself against the wall, his hand came up and played with her hair. “He doesn’t sound like a happy puppy.”
‘You could say that again. ’
“He’s a guard dog. He doesn’t like strange men bothering me.” Her voice was as cold as ice but Parker was too confident in his perceived skills of seduction to notice.
He chuckled, “well he’ll learn to accept me.” He nuzzled her neck.
“Yeah…when you’re in your grave.’
Buffy pushed him, “Parker get off of me. I told you this isn’t going to happen.”
Parker didn’t move, in fact he pushed against her even more. His lips and tongue stroked the flesh of her neck as his hand started to caress her ribs, moving lower over her hips and down the top of her thigh. “Sweetheart, just relax and feel.”
Her stomach was rolling with nausea as his hands and lips continued to paw her. Earnestly she started to struggle. Her head tilted toward the bedroom and her eyes bulged frantically as she saw Angel looming in the doorway. His eyes burned red as he stared at them. She could see his hands curled into fists and she could just about hear his erratic angry breath. She shook her head at him.
Angel could only take so much. Sending her back to Parker was one thing, but having to witness his worst nightmare play out was something entirely different. His arms stretched out and he flexed his fingers, then he rolled his neck back and forth. He took a step forward just as the front door swung open.
Faith opened the door with Spike behind her, the second she took in the scene of the loft she pushed him back out and slammed the door shut.
Parker lifted his head from Buffy to see who was intruding, as Buffy’s head swung to Faith.
Her grateful eyes shone at her, “Faith, hey.”
She pushed Parker again and he stepped back.
Angel quietly snarled at Faith’s entrance, then reluctantly took a step back into the shadows
“Hey B I’m ready. Sorry to keep you waiting so long but you know how it goes.”
Buffy smiled at her, “no problem. I’m ready.”
Faith looked at Parker and nodded, “Parker.”
Parker didn’t know what to expect from the brunette. When Grant told him that Buffy was using her as her second on the job he had been very angry. He told Adam who then proceeded to call Luke to find out the scoop on her. When Adam hung up the phone all he told Parker was to not worry about her, which of course alarmed Parker.
“Faith, nice to see you again.” Parker smiled at her, with as much charm and sweetness as he could muster. He didn’t trust her and he didn’t like her. He looked over her shoulder expecting to see the blonde guy.
Faith just smiled at him.
“Where’s your buttinsky friend?”
Faith chuckled; bringing her hand up to her hair she rustled her brown locks. “I did say I was late. He’s…resting.” She flashed him a sultry smile.
“Yeah great we’re all here. Okay let’s go. Faith I’ll ride with you.” Buffy said, needing to exit the room as quickly as possible. She could feel Angel’s rage and it was making her very nervous.
Parker grabbed her arm and hauled her next to him, “no. You’ll ride with me. Faith can follow us.”
Buffy didn’t want to but she had to get him out of the loft. “Whatever. Let’s go. I have to be back here by two.” She said loudly.
“Why?” What’s the rush?”
“Parker, we run a club, we need to be here. Now can we please go?” She quickly grabbed Faith and walked out of the loft. Parker stood there for only a moment then followed them out.
Spike stayed behind the hidden door in the hallway, watching as Faith, Buffy and Parker walked down the stairs. He knew that Angel was in the loft so he was very surprised to see Parker still breathing, let alone walking.
After they turned and disappeared downstairs Spike opened the panel and headed toward the loft. He opened the door to see Angel standing by the window.
“Bloody hell mate, you’ve got more self control than I thought you did.” He walked up to him, watching as Faith got in her car and Buffy straddled Parker’s bike.
She looked up at the window just as Parker started the engine. As she lifted her arm to hold on to Parker’s waist she quickly waved. Angel watched as she drove away not quite sure what he was feeling. But he did know one thing.
He turned around, heading toward the door as he grabbed his coat. “Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“The gym…I need something to hit.” He snarled.
TBC...
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Zo
Goddess of the Realm
Smut Warden
member is offline
Slave to Passion
Joined: Jan 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,413
Location: New York
| | Re: Book 2: Lay It On The Line. *ADDED CHAP-11* 11
« Reply #26 on Jan 19, 2007, 11:37am » | |
***************************************************************
READER BEWARE:
This chapter contains a non-con/rape scene and drug use.
***************************************************************
Chapter Twelve
Echoes of the Past
Spike watched as Angel pummeled the gym bag with every limb that was attached to his body. He had been at it since they arrived an hour ago and he wondered how much longer he could keep it up. His angry snarls and loud snapping punches already scared the other patrons out of the gym, leaving just the two of them.
He knew what he was feeling, concern, anxiety, guilt, pretty much all of the same emotions that Spike was feeling. Of course they had different ways of handling it. While Angelus’ way was to beat something to a bloody pulp, Spike drank. And he seriously needed one now. Not to mention he was getting tired of holding the damn bag.
“Angelus, for god’s sake can you stop now?”
Angel grunted then threw a left punch landing it soundly on the bag. The bag snapped from the force of his blow and Spike fell back on the mat as the bag fell on top of him.
“Sorry.”
Angel reached down and pulled the bag off then helped him up.
“It’s alright mate.” He dusted himself off then followed Angel as he walked over to the bench.
There was something he needed to talk to Angel about ever since they left the hotel. At the time though there was no way Angel would have listened to anything he had to say. Now seeing that he had worked out his frustrations Spike figured there was no better time.
“Angel, there’s something I need to do.” He said quietly.
Angel looked at him as he wiped his forehead with a towel. “What?”
“I need to go somewhere and take care of some business. And before you say anything, which I know you are because I can see those brows of yours going up, I’ll be back before tomorrow.”
Angel didn’t need to ask what that something was he knew because it was the same thing he would do…if he could. “Go ahead.”
Spike nodded and then slapped him on the arm. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Spike?”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure it looks like an accident. We don’t need anymore of them around.”
Spike nodded then left the room. He had a plane to catch.
***********************
After Spike left the gym, Angel took a shower and went back to the hotel. He was still feeling uneasy about sending Buffy back to the Brotherhood. His mind just loved to torture him with gruesome images and it wouldn’t stop, even though he just spent an hour killing the punching bag at the gym.
All this guilt was just too much. He wasn’t accustomed to it and it was driving him mad. He never thought he could feel guilt. It had always been a foreign emotion to him. In fact, there had been plenty of times he would snicker at someone else that was plagued with the confounding emotion, thinking that they were weak. But now his fate was sealed. He knew that this was something he would never forgive himself for. Even if nothing happened to her, it didn’t matter, he was still doomed.
Walking back inside of the hotel, he threw his gym bag on the couch. “Hey Oz. Where is everyone?”
Oz sat at his usual spot at the counter, his nose in his laptop. “Procuring.”
Angel nodded.
“There’s some old guy here to see you, he’s waiting for you in your office.”
“Some old guy?”
Oz just shrugged dismissing Angel as he turned his attention back to the screen.
Angel’s brow lifted. Since when do we let strange old guys into the hotel? Looking at Oz he knew he wasn’t going to get any kind of answer out of him, at least one that was more than three words. Well it didn’t matter, he trusted Oz’s judgment. If Oz thought the man was a threat he’d be dead on their sofa not waiting in his office for him.
Still, he walked hesitantly to his office. He had no idea who the hell some old guy was. Except for Faith and Buffy, no one outside his inner circle knew about the hotel, at least no one he knew. His suspicions were raised as he reached the door and turned the knob with one hand. Habit kicked in and his other hand hovered over his concealed gun.
When he opened the door, he was completely surprised to see Giles standing there.
“Giles?”
Giles turned around with a smile on his face. “Ah Angel you’re back.”
“What are you doing here?” Angel asked as he closed the door.
Giles pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he answered him. “I was wondering if you’ve seen Buffy. It’s been a week since the last time Joyce heard from her, needless to say we are quite concerned.”
Angel watched him warily. That did make sense, but seeing Giles standing in his private office at a location he shouldn’t be standing in, made him cautious. “Um...yeah, she’s okay, she’s at a shoot. Please tell Joyce I’m sorry. Buffy must have forgotten to call her and tell her. I’ll call Buffy tonight and tell her to call home.”
Giles smiled. “Oh, of course I should have known.”
“Um Giles how did you know to find me here?”
Giles smiled, “Can we sit?”
“Please. Whiskey?”
“Scotch if you have it.”
Angel walked over to the bar and poured them their drinks then handed a glass to Giles.
Giles thanked him and then drank the whole thing down. Clearing his throat he looked at Angel. “Buffy isn’t the only reason I came…Angelus.”
Angel’s eyes hardened his hand reflexively reaching for his weapon. “What did you call me?”
Giles smiled at him, “Please no need to reach for your guns. I’m friend not foe.”
Angel didn’t know what to think but for some reason he believed him and he relaxed. Sitting down he followed Giles and drank down his whiskey.
Giles chuckled then stood up, “Yes I think we’re both going to need some more of these fine spirits. The Scotch, imported from Scotland?”
Angel nodded dumbly as he watched Giles reach for the decanter of scotch.
“Yes. It’s very good. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such refined brew. Why the last time was most likely in Glasgow oh about thirty years ago.”
Angel watched him silently as he poured them more drinks.
“It’s beautiful there, but I’m sure you know.” He looked at Angel who nodded. “I remember my last visit quite well. I was there with four of my very good and dear friends.” He sat down and smiled, his eyes reflecting his mind’s trip down memory lane. “Friends really isn’t the word actually, they were family. Well at least three of them were. Yes they were all fine gentleman. We had many things in common you understand. We had a bond. Yes fine men – all of them.“
He looked at Angel who just sat there not speaking because he didn’t know what to say. His inner voice was telling him something but he just couldn’t believe the world could be that small.
Giles saw the look of disbelief in eyes and chuckled again. Then he stood up and put his drink down. Straightening out his jacket he held out his hand. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name his Rupert Giles or as my friends call me…Ripper.”
Angel’s eyes widened. He knew that name. He had read it in his father’s diary. He stood up disbelief on his face. “You’re Ripper?”
Giles smiled at him, “God it’s good to hear someone call me that again. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed it.”
Angel took his hand shaking it. “Well this explains your exuberant greeting when we met at the club months ago. I |
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