Chapter Six

Honesty and Uncertainties

Following Angel’s directions Buffy looked around at her surroundings and the long loopy driveway that was ahead of her “I thought you said we were going for lunch?” She asked suspiciously.

“We are going for lunch.” He nonchalantly replied.

“But this is your house.” Buffy was wondering what he was up too. Angel just nodded so Buffy made the left and turned up the driveway.

Putting the emergency brake on she looked over at Angel who leaned into her and started nuzzling her neck “I didn’t want to share you so I thought I’d cook for you.”

Buffy moved giving him better access as his lips made a slow wet trail down the side of her neck. Her hands roamed up to his head playing with his hair. “Mmmmm…that feels nice. You cook?”

“Mmmm ah.” Was his only answer as they turned their heads and their lips met in a heated kiss.

Buffy was just about to throw herself over the stick shift that was poking her in the side when Angel reluctantly pulled away, he didn’t want to give his nosey neighbors a free show. “C’mon.” Buffy still in a daze only nodded and got out of the car and followed him to the door.

Once inside Angel led Buffy to the kitchen where he sat her down at the table and began making her an omelet and a salad. Meanwhile Buffy took this opportunity to look around and try to get more of a feeling for him.

The kitchen was spacious and lovely. The dark blue tiles on the wall and floor went perfectly with the dark red cherry furniture and she could tell that he spent a lot of time cooking because the utensils were close and handy and the shelves and fridge were fully stocked with succulent foods.

She grabbed an apple out of the basket on the table “So where’d you learn how to cook?”

Angel continued to whip the omelet up “Well I was on my own pretty early and didn’t have much money to spend on eating out so I had to learn or I would’ve starved.”

Buffy stared at his back and watched the play of muscles as his arm continued with the motion of whipping the eggs and wished that those arms were whipping her up instead.

“Good skill to have. I for one can’t cook for shit.” Angel laughed, “Well I can teach you if you want.”

“No thank you, I’m quite happy being ignorant in the Martha Stewart department.” Angel turned around and looked at her curiously. He had a thousand questions that he wanted to ask her but he didn’t want to push her away.

“Do you want more coffee or orange juice.” “OJ’s good”

He walked around her to get to the fridge and let his fingers lightly trail down her back as he did. Buffy didn’t notice, but she leaned into to his touch, Angel noticed and smiled.

“So your schedule must be pretty busy, I mean with working at the bar and the photo shoots.”

Buffy nibbling on her apple nodded her head “mmmm…and the bookkeeping.”

“Bookkeeping?” “Yeah I also do the books for most of the clubs on the strip.” Angel looked at her that was a lot for one person.

“Why are killing yourself working so many jobs? With all the modeling you do I would think that would pay for a lot.”

“It does but I want to open up my own bar one day and in order to do that I need a lot of money.” She was amazed at how comfortable she felt talking to him so she kept on going “Plus I like too keep busy, it keeps my mind off of other things.” Angel looked at her and she had this far away look in her eyes.

“What kind of other things?” He prodded.

Buffy shook the memories away “Ah? Oh you know life’s everyday crap.” She went back to nibbling on her apple.

Angel watched her eat her apple and decided that he would get to the bottom of what dwelled in Buffy Summers if it was the last thing he ever did.

“So Spike mentioned that you used to live in New York?”

“Yeah I came out here about two years ago.”

“Do you like it better in LA?”

“Yes I do. The constant sunshine is fantastic and I’ve met a lot of really great people.”

“Why’d you move?” Buffy jerked her head and looked at him he was too busy cooking the eggs to notice the look she gave him “Why so many questions?”

“Just curious that’s all. You intrigue me and I want to know more.”

“Why?” Buffy looked at him quizzically suspicious of his questions “what’s so intriguing about me I’m just a girl.”

Angel stopped what he was doing and turned around to look at her. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked deep into her eyes “Maybe I like you. Maybe since the first time I saw your picture on that calendar I’ve wanted to meet you. Maybe I don’t think you’re just a girl.”

Buffy didn’t know how to respond to that because he sounded so sincere. “Well there’s not much to tell really. I was there and now I’m here.”

Angel knew she was avoiding his earlier question but that was ok he just wanted her to feel comfortable around him and not like a skittish rabbit. Angel turned back around and continued cooking.

“So what’s your story? I hear you used to be married what happened with that?” She had asked it innocently but noticed with the stiffening of his frame that he hadn’t liked the question.

Angel gripped the handle to the pot he was holding “Well like you said not much to tell. I was married, came home one night and found my wife fucking some other guy.”

Buffy gasped, “Oh God Angel I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked it’s not my business.” Angel relaxed his body and turned toward Buffy “Buffy its ok I want you to ask and I want to tell you.”

Buffy looked shocked this was not what she had expected to hear “You do?”

Angel nodded and moved up to her, spreading her thighs he slipped in between her legs and placed his hands on her waist “Buffy I know we just met and I know that this is going to be hard for you to believe, but I really, really like you and I want to spend more time with you, to get to know one another better.”

Buffy started to pull away this was starting to sound a little too serious for her state of mind “I ahem I don’t know Angel, I mean I like you and we have a good time together but this is moving kind of fast for me and I’m not too sure about getting involved with someone seriously again.”

This was what he was afraid of that this was going to be her answer he just didn’t expect it to hurt so much. Buffy noticed the hurt look in his face and went to remedy it.

She reached up and gently laid her hand on his check “Angel can’t we just leave it the way it is?”

Without thinking he reacted “What? You mean fuck-buddies?” and Buffy took offense. She heard the coldness in his voice felt the emptiness of those eyes staring into hers.

Buffy started to get up “I think I should go.”

Angel knew the second the words left his mouth that it was the wrong thing to say and now he was chastising himself for fool. He gently pushed her back on to the stool “Buffy I’m sorry I didn’t mean it to come out like that, I just...look last night was incredible I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day and I just, I want more then just an occasional sleeping partner and I want that with you.”

Buffy looked at him with uncertainty and fear “I don’t know if I can give you that Angel.”

Angel sensed the fear and doubt that was starting to consume her but he also saw the deep yearning for that same thing in the green eyes reflecting back at him.

The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off so he had to choose his words very carefully. “Ok then we’ll just take it slow and see what happens.”

Buffy looked at him trying to see if he was serious. When she decided that he was and wouldn’t push her, a big smile broke out on her face and she leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck pressing her breasts into his chest.

“Good.” And their lips met and words were forgotten, even the food was forgotten as they made their way to the bedroom groping each other along the way.

They made love over and over again neither one able to stop touching the other. Every touch, taste and feeling was irrevocably etched in their minds. Every sigh and word spoken wrapped around them like a cocoon. There was no outside world only them and the passion that they created.

Chapter Seven