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.

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.”

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.

Next