"Well," Buffy said as they left the movie theatre.

"Well," Angel answered in an echoed agreement that what they had just seen had in no way helped calm the raging sexual frustration that had been passing between them for the weeks that they had tried to stay away from each other. Meeting only in public places and on patrol, their hands shook when they were together, trying to overcome temptation. They were succeeding finally. The scare that the death of Deputy Mayor had caused and Angel's little trip down crazy lane caused by Balthazar's touch made them realize the severity of their actions. It was getting too close and soon they would be heading down a road that Evil Willow had so poignantly pointed out.

"That was very...artistic," Buffy said, thinking that artistic fell short of what the Le Banquet D'Amelia had actually been. The movie had been thinly veiled porn under the guise of art. And sitting there so close to the vampire that had once been her lover and now was her...what the hell was he now?

"Yeah," Angel answered trying not to notice Buffy's arousal as he walked next to her, trying not to notice his own.

"Wasn't what I expected," she said, still trapped in the after affects of the eye candy, "I've never actually seen...Well from the title, I thought it was about food."

"Well, there was food," Angel answered, unable to think of any other dignified response.

"Right. Th-the scene with the, the food," Buffy stuttered, "So...feel like getting some hot chocolate? Or some cold shower?"

"I'm sorry. I wanted to take you out somewhere fun. It's been a long time since I've been to the movies. They've changed.

"A little scary," Buffy said, taking a deep breath, "And a little not, which is also scary. I'm sorry. I just...I don't like getting you worked up like that. We can't actually do any of those things. You'd lose your soul. Besides, I don't even own a kimono."

"Buffy," Angel said, trying to curb his irritation. A few weeks ago they *were* doing a lot of those things. He had to her warm body against his, feeding off her vibrant energy, "You don't have to worry about me."

"Just don't like to rub you nose in it," Buffy said, "Suddenly wondering where that expression comes from."

"Look, I don't need to see movies to get worked up," Angel replied honestly, "Just being around you does that just fine. Doesn't mean that I'm gonna lose control, that I'm going to be frustrated around you. It feels nice, just to feel."

Okay, so all that was mostly honest. It did feel nice just to feel. It was wonderful just to be with her, to be allowed to be near her. Frustration? Ah well, maybe what he said wasn't entirely true. He wasn't going to lose control. That was definite. He was going to keep away from touching her in places he desperately wanted to touch her. He was absolutely not going to be frustrated around her. Not every day, every minute, every fucking second she lived in the same plane of existence as he. Nope. Uh-huh.

"It doesn't drive you crazy when we're close?" Buffy asked him, feeling more than slightly guilty for the wetness that persisted between her thighs and for the way her fingers itched to touch him.

"Watch this," Angel said, steeling his resolve. He kissed her, leaning in so that their bodies weren't joining and taking her lips gently, slightly under the passionate mark, "See? Safe as houses."

More chaste kisses followed. Safe as houses kisses. Kisses that didn't lead where they both wanted them to lead. Er, not lead. His lips felt so smooth against hers, his tongue moving around the memorized contours of her mouth.

"Check out the lust bunnies," Faith said, sizing up Angel and Buffy.

"Patrol?" Buffy asked as if leaving Angel's arm for the sake of duty was physically painful. But it was good. She needed to tear herself from his side before they were no longer "safe as houses" and had moved on to something...else.

"Council has you back on active duty?" Angel asked. He felt her dark eyes moving over his body in a way that he almost checked to see if Buffy noticed.

"Finally," Faith answered, "They want us down by Mercer."

"Okay," Buffy said, turning to Angel, "Goodnight."

"I'll see you soon," Angel promised, already thinking about following them, but quickly dismissing the plan. Buffy could take care of herself and Faith...well, hopefully Faith wasn't up to something as he had been suspecting since he chained her in his mansion for interrogation.

"Don't worry, big guy," Faith said, in a voice that barely hid her mocking, "Just keep her warm for ya."

***

stroke of luck or gift from God?
the hand of fate or devil's claws?
from below or saints above?
you came to me

Angel perched outside Buffy's open window, leaning in as the scent of her arousal descended on him, but not nearly as fiercely as the sight of her small fingers plunging into her wet core. He could hear her breathing in shallow pants as she arched into her own hand, whispering his name into the dark. His own arousal throbbed in response as he watched her with little guilt, finding the crouching position almost painful.

Lights and crowds had protected them for the last couple of weeks from mistakes like these. Small errors like Angel slipping soundlessly through her window. He took off his jacket and draped it over the windowsill before approaching her bed. He paused, looking down on her. She was an incredible sight - body arched off the bed, nipples standing erect from her firm breasts, thighs spread for her own hands as she thrust two fingers in and out of her dripping heat.

He leaned in, placing a knee on the bed as he covered her hand with his, causing her eyes to fly open. The fact that he had broken the agreement they had made to keep the necessary safe distance really didn't occur to her as he gently pulled her fingers out of her and replaced them with his own. He pulled her hand to his lips and sucked the honey from her fingertips as he plunged his own fingers deeply inside her.

"Angel," she said breathlessly as if she didn't actually believe he was there. She pulled him down to her, moving against him as his thumb circled the skin just around her clit, teasing her. She bit at his lips before kissing him deeply. She smoothed her hands over his shoulders and wanting to feel his skin, she pulled up his shirt. She heard him sigh as her hands met with his skin. He pulled one of her erect nipples between his lips, sucking it gently before moving to the other.

"Wrong" is such a subjective word. Curiously, it was just as subjective as "safe." Moving down her lithe body, leaving a trail of kisses over her breasts, the valley between her breasts, over her belly, pausing to dip into her belly button before kissing his way down to where his fingers relentlessly twisted inside her could be considered wrong in some circles. Or most. Whatever. Angel pulled his fingers from her dripping core and replace them with his mouth, swiping his tongue over her sex in long broad strokes that forced her hips from the bed. He lapped at her honey hungrily, drinking her in before sucking her swollen clit between his lips.

Her powerful muscles tensed for climax as she pressed her groin against his mouth. Clutching fingers tore his shirt away, fingernails dug into his skin as he teased her mercilessly, keeping her a whisper away from orgasm. He loved this moment, the point where she was seconds from climax and her whole being seemed to exist for him. Finally, from the sound of her desperate whimper, he pressed his fingers back inside her as he latched onto her clit once more, sucking it roughly. His broad shoulders kept her thighs parted for him as she thrashed beneath him, vanishing into oblivion. Her inner muscles clenched around his probing fingers and she fought to remain silent as she felt her release violently travel through her body.

She collapsed against the bed, panting as she shook. Guilty brown eyes met foggy green ones and Angel opened his mouth to apologize, rising from the bed to pick up his ruined shirt.

"Buffy, I-" Angel said, holding his shirt in his hands, clutching the material as if he could defend his actions. His words were interrupted when Buffy pulled him back to the bed, nearly breaking it with the force that the Slayer slammed him against it. Her fingers flew over his button and zipper, only pausing when she freed his erect cock. Her tiny hand wrapped around him and she lowered her head, ignoring his hiss of pleasure as her teeth scraped over the sensitive head, followed by her tongue, licking the places her teeth had touched.

Green eyes burrowed into his as she took him in her mouth. He pulled her from his lap, fingers threading her silky hair as he kissed her hard, sucking her tongue. While kissing her though, he realized at the same time that she did, that they were sex to sex. Too late to move away, Buffy guided him inside her core. He laid back, unmoving and taking in a deep unneeded breath as he submerged himself in the feel of her. At that moment, he was certain that no one else in the world knew love like this. No one knew the suffering they had already been through and would continue to go through if this didn't stop. Knowing the dangers that laid in wait, Buffy moved and began to thrust against him. Heaven was the feel of her lover's cock, finally back inside her. Perfect was the almost sore feeling of her body stretching to accommodate him.

"I love you," she whispered as moved in rhythm with his thrusting hips.

"I love you," he groaned, inner alarms sounding. He reached between them, keeping one hand on the small of her back, while rubbing her clit with the other. He promised himself that he would stop just as soon as she came around his cock. All he wanted was to feel her orgasm one more time like this. When she finally climaxed, he felt like roaring in agony. He gripped her hips and pressed her against him, burying himself deeply inside her as the waves of her ecstasy subsided. He looked deeply in her eyes and flipped them on the bed, pulling out of her in the process and watching as her hair fan the pillow.

"Have to leave," he growled.

"Angel," she panted, grabbing his arm, "I'm sorry."

"I know," he said, regretful that his words could only come as clenched growls. She moved to a sitting position on the side of the bed and pulled his hips to her.

"No, baby," he said, trying to step back but she wrapped an arm around him, sliding her hand over his firm ass as she wrapped her other hand around his cock once more, "I have to go."

She didn't answer as she preoccupied herself with the taste of herself on him, sucking her own juices off of him. He lost the will to move away as her hot mouth engulfed him.

***

don't believe in fear
don't believe in faith
don't believe in anything
that you can't break

Faith was already wet when she entered the mansion with blood on her hands looking for her sister Slayer's demon lover. He sat there reading and looked up when he saw her, surprised by her presence at first.

"Faith," he said looking up at her and setting his book down.

"Angel," she said, falling into her role, "I got nowhere else to go. Look, I hate asking for help, but I'm asking, cause, I'm in trouble. I'm in trouble - the real bad kind.

"It's okay," Angel said, trying to decipher the look on her face before she dropped whatever bomb she had tucked into her sleeve.

"No," she said, shaking her head, "It's a couple of county lines over from okay, believe me."

"Look," Angel said, "Just talk. Come on. Start from the beginning."

"Mind if I skip past the ‘mom never loved me' part and get right to it? I'm scaring myself."

"I know the feeling."

"That's why I came to you," Faith said, curbing the impulse to smile in satisfaction that the stupid, yet incredibly hot vampire was buying the weepy bitch routine that she was putting on. She couldn't wait until his cock was buried inside her, fucking her for all he was worth. If she could just get there, everything else would be gravy. She clenched her bloody fists as she spoke to him, "I don't want to get all twelve steppy, but remember when you told me that killing people would make me feel like some kind of god? I think I just came down to earth. It's not human if that's what you're thinking. Not that that makes me feel any better or this guy any less dead."

"Faith, you need help," Angel said, looking at her bloody hands, "You can't do this alone."

"I know," Faith said, rejoicing in every step she took that got her closer to him, "For real now, I'm scared. Scared of what I am, what I'm turning into - a cold blooded straight up killer. Like you."

"Not like me," Angel said, feeling his gut churn in disgust for this girl. She actually believed that with a soul, doing the things she was doing, that she could in any way compare herself to Angelus? He sized her up as he explained, knowing that she wasn't listening, "I didn't have a choice. But you do. You can stop this."

"Believe me," she said, faking the fear in her eyes, "I don't want to end up the way everybody said I would, dead or alone or a loser."

"No," Angel answered, "You don't have to."

"I don't know," she said, feeling honesty in her words for the first time, "Maybe it's too late for me."

"It's not," Angel disagreed, hoping that it really wasn't too late. That maybe he really could help her, keep her from taking the path she was on. But looking into her dark eyes, he saw shadows of the horrors to come. Trapped in the exhilaration from the kill, he wasn't sure that she would ever come back now.

"Angel, I'm so scared," she said, voice filled with false tears as she pressed herself against him.

"It's alright," Angel whispered, "Shh, it's okay."

During the hug, as he had his arms around the alternate Slayer, he sensed her body heat rising and the smell of her arousal reached his nostrils. She leaned in slowly, preparing to kiss him, when he pulled away.

"Whoa, Faith," Angel stumbled, feeling the urge to knock her away, "I, look, I can be here for you but not like that, alright? I'm with Buffy."

"Buffy, yeah," Faith said, uttering her name as if it were venom in her mouth. Little golden girl fucking strikes again. All he cared about was what he couldn't have, "I didn't mean it like that. Maybe I did, but I wouldn't press it. You love her, don't you?"

"I love her," Angel affirmed and thought he saw a flash of fury crossed the girl's face, but it disappeared so quickly he began thinking he imagined it.

"Good for you," Faith said quietly, fighting the urge to stake the fucker right there. If she thought it wouldn't blow her cover she might have. What would the goody-goody Chosen one have to gloat about if she were standing in a pile of her lover's dust? Faith kept her mask of deceit on as she continued, "The two of you, you're lucky. Friends?"

"Yeah, we're friends," Angel said, as the realization of what was really going on settled in. Friends? Not even remotely.

"Then I'm lucky too," she said, "I'd better go."

"Where?" Angel asked, suddenly feeling the need to know where this dangerous girl was...at all times.

"I need to cool down. Spend some time alone. Don't worry about me. You've been a big help. Just knowing somebody cares," she said and then paused for a second, "Hey, I know I shouldn't be asking this, but do you think if things were different that things between you and me would be different, too?"

"We'll never know."

"Right. How could we?" Faith said, itching to get the hell out of there before her anger came to the surface and exploded all over his sexy body. Who the hell did he think he was?

"Take care of yourself," Angel said stiffly.

"Lifetime of practice," she said quietly as she left with the feel of his cold skin on her lips. Faith walked away slowly until she was sure she was out of sight and earshot. She turned through the cemetery in need of another violent kill or a dozen violent kill to get one souled vampire out of her system. She fought angrily, killing three vampires in rapid succession before heading to The Bronze. She was still swearing under her breath as she entered the club. Angel, Mr.-I-Have-A-Soul-And-The-Slayer-Who's-Better-Than-Everybody-Else, was going to slam directly into a Slayer scorned and soon.

She scanned the crowd for a male to feed her energies into, so furious she couldn't even think about dancing. She found a willing victim and kissed him angrily, pressing her full chest against his.

"Uh, hi," the guy said, looking down at the cleavage that poured from the top of her shirt.

"Yeah," Faith said, nodding, reaching down to caress the bulge that was rising in the boy's jeans, "Whatever. Wanna get out of here?"

He nodded enthusiastically and followed her out of the club, wanting to pinch himself. The girl slammed him against the brick wall in the alley and pushed her tongue into his mouth, greedily exhaling lust into his mouth. His body was so warm and normally that would be inviting to The Slayer, but with the memory of the vampire's cold body in her arms, this boy felt weak. And brittle. And breakable. Smiling coldly at him, she used him, riding his cock under the gaze of the stars and felt his more feeble body bruising under her.

"Relax, baby," he said, cringing from the force that she moved against him. At this rate he wouldn't be able to walk the next day.

"Shut the fuck up, baby," she ordered him, wrapping her hands around his throat. He choked violently, batting up at her as the air was cut off from his lungs.

***

heaven knows what a girl can do
heaven knows what you've got to prove

The next evening, Buffy met Giles in his apartment, still moping from witnessing Faith pressing herself against Angel in a way that no other woman she be touching her man. She couldn't help but feel upset and angry that he would allow the other Slayer to get that close to him.

"What up Giles?" she said as she sat down with him.

"We have an urgent matter," Giles said quietly, as if he expected someone to be listening in, "I called you here because a friend of mine was summoned by the Mayor to..."

"To what?" Buffy asked, anxious to go home and indulge in an ice cream eating fest that would rival all other attempts at gluttony.

"He was summoned to steal Angel's soul."

"What?" she exclaimed, rising to her feet, "What the hell kind of friend of yours can go around stealing people's souls?"

"Listen," Giles said, standing up and leaning in confidentially, "I have an idea but before I tell you, we have to agree than no else is to know about this except you and I and Angel. This shouldn't be revealed to anyone. Not even Willow or Xander."

"Okay," Buffy said tentatively, sitting back down, "I hope this involves Angel not losing his soul."

***

i'm stressed but you're freestyle
i'm overworked and i'm under-sexed
i must be made of concrete
i signed my name across your chest

"Angel," Buffy said firmly as she entered the mansion. Her voice echoed off the bare walls in an announcement of her anger and lingering trepidation.

"Buffy," he answered, standing.

"I saw you and Faith last night," she blurted, silently begging her hands to stop shaking.

"You did?" he said, walking closer, "Why didn't you come in?"

"What? And get between your little kiss? I don't think so," she said, feeling tears spring to her eyes.

"Buffy, you know that I would never be unfaithful to you," he said, recognizing the pun and fighting the urge to smirk at it, "I love you...and she's up to something."

"Ya think?" she said in a voice that was just a half step from a shout.

"Buffy," Angel said, running his hands over her shoulders, "I'll tell you what I told her. I love you. I'm with you. I don't want her."

"You told her that?" she said, sagging with relief.

"Of course, love," he said, looking down at her, "What did you think I told her? She was trying to seduce me though. Came in with a story about being afraid that she was becoming a killer...like me."

"Like you?" Buffy returned angrily.

"Buffy," Angel said, cupping her cheek, "Calm down. Everything's okay."

"Not even close," she said, her words slipping into the snarl of a jealous woman's rage, "I think her and the Mayor are in cahoots. Giles said his demon friend - and don't ask me to explain him - was summoned by the Mayor to make you lose your soul."

"What?" Angel said.

"That's what I said. Guess our little Faith failed in her task and they're taking another route," Buffy explained, "But Giles has an idea that could help us answer our questions about the Ascension. The demon guy is going to help us, but the idea is that you pretend you lose your soul and hang out with Faith long enough to find out what her boss is up to."

"Okay," Angel said, sitting down to ponder the idea, "It sounds like it could work, but Buffy, being around Faith when she thinks I'm Angelus?"

"I know," Buffy said, filling the room with her discontent, "Just try to keep her out of your pants."

"Buffy..." Angel warned.

"Don't even try, Angel," Buffy answered, sitting on the couch next to him, "She's going to try to screw you and we both know it. God knows, she's already screwing me."

"I'm not going to sleep with her," Angel said, quirking a crooked smile at his lover's jealousy.

"It's not sleeping that I'm worried about," she grunted with her arms crossed over her chest while visions of the sluttier Slayer had sex with her demon.

"Buffy," Angel said, dragging her onto his lap, "I love you. Please try to remember that in the jealousy."

"I'm not jealous," Buffy huffed, pouting. Angel bit at her jutting lower lip and growled at her.

"I thought lying about being jealous was my schtick," he said as she leaned into his kiss.

"Oh shut up and kiss me," she said, daring to smile as she threaded her fingers into his hair.

***

i came to cut you up
i came to knock you down
i came around to tear your little world apart
i came to shut you up
i came to drag you down
i came around to tear your little world apart
and break your soul apart

"Faith," Angel said. He had been waiting all day for her to get here and begin the ruse. He had been pacing in the mansion, nervous about the role he was about to take on. Even as he said her name, he knew that Buffy was hiding somewhere nearby watching the festivities. Her presence made him even more jittery. He didn't want her to see what was about to happen.

"Hey," Faith said, walking closer, "Sorry to bust in uninvited."

"What do you want?"

"Look, I'm not so good at apologies. Mostly because I think the world's out to screw me so I'm generally more owed than owning. But I've been thinking about last night and I want you to know I was really sorry."

"It's alright, Faith," Angel said, struggling to keep calm. It would be so easy to cross the room and pretend to take her in his arms, so simple to snap her lying neck and make a large chunk of the evil in this town fall to the floor.

"No, it's not alright," she answered, "Yeah, I was freaked and needed somebody, but you're with Buffy. I should know better.

"Yeah, okay," Angel said, backing away as she got in arm's reach.

"You don't trust me," Faith said, pretending disappointment. The vampire was smarter than she thought.

*You're damn right I don't trust you,* Angel thought, but instead said, "It's not that."

"Hey, no problem," Faith said, spouting her angst into the large room, "Join the club."

Angel took a deep unneeded breath as he approached her and placed his hands on her shoulders as he spoke, "Look, Faith. I know what you're going through, alright, and how hard it can be. It's important you have somebody who's been there and who understands what you're going through. Look, I want to trust you."

"Chump," Faith said, as she pivoted with her hands clutched against her chest. She opened the vial of blood she had hidden in her hands and splashed it across his chest. His eyes opened in false shock as Giles' friend appeared, eyes shining yellow as he began his chant, raising his hands in the dark that shrouded him.

"Faith!" Angel screamed.

"I wanted to do this the old-fashioned way, but hey, your loss," Faith said loudly over the chanting, "Lucky, I've got some tricks Buffy don't know yet."

"You don't have to do this," Angel protested, feeling something running through his body akin to an electrical impulse. He actually began to panic as it occurred to him that maybe this mage was actually going to take his soul

"I know," Faith said with a smile, "But it's fun. Now relax. It'll be over soon."

The power coming from the demon, or whatever he was, forced Angel to the floor face first and he paused for a couple of seconds. Assuring himself that he still had his soul, he picked himself up and turned quickly, releasing a growl and showing Faith his game face. He pulled her to him and kissed her wildly around his fangs.

"Thanks...so much," Angel said after pulling away from her. He smiled as his slap sent her to the floor, "It's good to have the taste of a Slayer back in my mouth. It's like cigarettes, you know, just when I thought I'd quit."

Faith looked up at Angel in shocked silence as he moved toward her and kicked her brutally in the side. She wasn't sure what she was expecting when Angelus emerged but this wasn't it. He was supposed to join her on the evil side not fight her.

"No, don't get up," Angel said mockingly as he moved around the room, "It's good to be back in Sunnydale. Nice climate, plenty to eat, no tortured humanity to hold me down. But you know what bothers me?"

Angel watched with amusement as Faith flipped herself to her feet and prepared to fight him. The best thing about acting like Angelus was the physical abuse he could dole out on the woman who was trying to hurt his love. He gripped her neck and thought about taking that small squeeze that would force her throat to collapse, but instead bent her head to the side, knowing she would stop him before he could break into her skin, "You don't seem to be getting the bit picture here, Faith. Now, I don't know why you turned me, but I'm just glad you did."

"I've got my reasons," Faith said as she broke away from him and pulled out a stake.

"Let me guess," Angel mused, "You summoned back the true Angelus because...you need a new boy toy. Doesn't work that way."

Faith counteracted from his lunge and felt her worries increase. She was so close to having him. If she could just convince him to join up with her and the Mayor bliss could ensue. She didn't want to stake him, that was for certain. Visions of long nights and days in his bed clouded her mind as she began to speak, "You wanna be smart? You listen to me."

"Funny thing about vampires, Faith," Angel growled, "We don't establish meaningful dialogue with Slayers."

"Not how Buffy tells it," Faith forced out as they fought. She kicked him in the knee, forcing him to the ground. She jumped on top of him, holding the stake in the air as a warning.

"You want to listen or do you want to die?" Faith asked, pressing her groin invitingly against his, indicating that there was more available to this deal than she would voice.

"As long as you're there, I mostly want you to wriggle," he said, "But I'm listening."

"Last time you got like this, Buffy kicked your ass all the way back to hell. You wanna do better this time?"

"Still listening," Angel said, settling back into his human features, but keeping his grin as he lifted his hips, pressing against her.

"Good boy," Faith said. Her heartbeat increased with the possibilities of their union and she tried to keep her breathing even as she spoke, "Now all you got to do is play nice and call truce and I'll hook you up with the real power in this town. Interested?"

"Very," Angel answered. He could hardly believe this was working. If he had actually lost his soul, the bitch would already be a corpse at his feet. He wouldn't have let a Slayer talk him into a truce, he would have drained her first and asked questions later. Funny, how little a Slayer knew about vampires.

"Then get ready to meet the new boss," Faith said, leaning in for another kiss. He dug his fingers into her red leather top, making sure each fingertip bruised her skin. He wanted it to hurt. He wanted every step of this process to hurt her as much as it hurt him and more than it was hurting Buffy who was still looking on from some unseen place. Faith ground against him and was thrilled that the bulge in his groin grew with her movements. She caught her breath as the vampire made each moment hurt her a little more. After a few seconds he pushed her off him and stood.

"What?" she said, landing on her knees before him. She scrambled to her feet and looked at him questioningly.

"Ready to me take to the boss?" he asked, tossing his ruined white t-shirt away and going to the bedroom for a new one. She watched the muscles flexing in his back as he walked away from her.

"You wanna go right now?" she asked with disappointment. She was truly hoping he would give her a good, long roll in the hay before they went.

"I know you're dripping for my cock," Angel said cruelly as he buttoned his shirt, "But power first, fucking second. You keep your end of the bargain and maybe I'll give you a little taste."

"You're a bastard," she swore, reddening with embarrassment, which was a thing that Faith rarely did.

"Yeah," he said laughing, "But you already knew that."

Next

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