Protector

Part Seven
By Tango

E-MAIL: Tangofic@hotmail.com
DISCLAIMER: Never owned ‘em. Never will.
SPOILERS: Completely AU. Everyone's just plain ‘ole human.

PAIRING: B/A, of course!

FEEDBACK: Thank you to everyone who has given me such wonderful feedback. Please let me know what you think of this part.

LYRICS: All lyrics are from the Counting Crows

RATING: NC-17

DEDICATION: For Eleni Angel.

***

you know, I'm doing all right
these days
and in one of these dreams
you forgive me

Angel barely made it a mile from the police station and Buffy was already asleep in the car. He could tell that whatever they had put in her drink still hadn't worn off. He smiled at her, curled up against the seat in a little ball, sleeping soundly. He steered toward his house knowing Buffy had told her mother that's where she was going to be, although he wasn't certain just why that was okay.

He decided not to worry about it as he scooped up her tiny body and carried her into the mansion. He loved the feel of her against his chest, her head lolling against his shoulder and the way her fingers curled around a piece of his shirt as if that bit of material was proof of his existence. He managed to unlock the door without dropping her and made his way into the house, leaning against the door to close it.

It took a great amount of willpower on Angel's side to take her to the guest room rather than his bedroom and even more self control was required when it came time to leave her there alone. He pulled back the covers, slipped off her shoes and tucked her in. He looked down at her for a second before he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and left the room.

Tiptoeing down the hall, he opened Cordelia's door and stuck his head in to see that she had made it home safely. His jaw dropped as his brain made sense of what he was seeing. His little sister was lying in bed, freshly showered and changed. She was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and Xander Harris. He flung the door open and stormed across the room. Without thinking twice, he wrapped his large hand around the boy's throat and squeezed until he woke up. Xander tried to scream but managed to squeak out a gurgled choke instead.

"What the fuck are you doing in my sister's bed?" Angel growled down at the boy, squeezing a little bit tighter. Xander tried to speak but couldn't make words come out of his crushed windpipe. Angel loosened his hold reluctantly and waited for his answer.

" We fell asleep," Xander croaked.

"Fell asleep?" Angel shouted, "Why the hell are you even in her godamn room?"

"Angel?" Cordy said, blinking her eyes open at the sound of her brother's raised voice. Seeing what was happening, she lunged forward and repeated his name, this time louder and more angrily. Angel didn't seem to notice her or the shrill sound of her voice.

"Angel!" she repeated, smacking her brother's large shoulder, "Let him go!"

"What is he doing in your bed?" Angel said, releasing Xander's throat and fuming down at his sister instead.

"Sleeping, you dolt!" she said, "Now get out."

"That little...he is not sleeping in your bed. No fucking way. Time to go," Angel said. Xander had already scrambled from her bed and Angel grabbed him, preparing to toss him from room and the house. Cordelia ran after them and released a succession of poorly executed punches to Angel's arm until he let go of Xander's arm.

"Ow," Angel said, turning to look at his attacker, "I didn't hit him even though he deserved it. Stop hitting me."

"Get out of my room, Liam," she demanded, pulling Xander back, "Don't you have an elsewhere to be?"

"No, but he does," Angel said, pointing a finger at the interloper.

"We were only sleeping! And I'm eighteen," Cordy persisted, "We've already been over this. Now out!"

"Cordelia," Angel warned. She turned, signaled to Xander to stay there and pulled Angel into the hallway, slamming the door behind her. Lowering her voice, she looked up at her brother, "Angel, he saved my life tonight. He's a good person. We were only sleeping, so please just so brood somewhere, okay?"

"I don't like this," he growled, shooting threatening looks at her bedroom door as if he thought Xander could feel it through the door.

"You don't have to like it," she whispered, "Just shoo."

"If I hear anything coming from your room besides snoring, I'm coming in there."

"Don't threaten him," she said, giving him her best icy glare. He glared back and prepared to release a stream of threats that would come to life if that little weasel dared touch his sister, but instead, he pivoted and stormed away.

***

these seconds when I'm shaking
leave me shuddering for days
and I'm not ready for this sort of thing
but I'm not gonna break
and I'm not gonna worry about it anymore
I'm not gonna bend and I'm not gonna break
and I'm not gonna worry about it anymore

Buffy woke up in the guest room from the sound of a slamming door and sat up in bed, looking around anxiously. At first she wasn't sure where she was and then recognized the bedroom from when she had slept there before. She pouted for a second when she realized that once again, Angel had put her in another room. He couldn't even hold her?

She padded toward the bathroom and tossed his shirt on the floor, along with her bra and panties before stepping into the shower. She hadn't felt so dirty in a long time. Just the memory of Tom and Richard tying her up, their hands gliding over body, made her shiver with disgust. She scrubbed her skin until it was pink and still felt like the memory was crawling on her skin.

Wrapping a towel around her head and one around her body, she looked down at the clothes she had discarded and wrinkled her nose in disgust. There was no way she was putting those back on. Buffy assumed her change of clothes were still in her backpack in the back of Cordy's car. The idea trying to find keys and going outside to get them was almost as bad as putting the dirty ones back on.

The hell with it, she thought. She toweled her hair off and ran her fingers through it before padding through the house with a towel wrapped around her body. She crept into Angel's room and stopped just inside the door to admire his sleeping form. If anything was beautiful, it was the sight of Angel sleeping. One of his large arms was tossed over his face, covering his eyes and the sheet was at his waist, sitting low enough to indicate that he probably was not wearing anything but the sheet.

She had to force her eyes in another direction to keep from going to his bed and climbing in with him. Instead, she went to his closet and opened the door to look for a shirt to steal. The door made a loud creaking sound and she looked quickly to see if he heard it. His eyes were still closed and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Everything seemed to be incredibly loud as it always did when she was trying to be quiet. The hanger made a clanging sound as she pulled one of his shirts out. The closet made another loud creak as she shut it and she peaked at him again, finding his eyes closed. She meant to go to her room and change into the shirt, but she didn't. Instead, she went into the master bathroom off of his bedroom and dried off before stopping to look at herself in the full length mirror hanging on the back of the door.

She twisted and turned as she looked at her naked body, wondering what Angel would think of it if he saw it. She knew she definitely wasn't as voluptuous as Cordelia or as sultry as Darla. She had never shown her body to anyone and the longer she looked the more she wasn't sure if it was what he would find attractive. After a couple of minutes, she tossed on his shirt in irritation. Why couldn't she have a few less imperfections and a few more curves? Apparently, women like Cordelia and Darla got more than they deserved. Sighing in frustration, she opened the door, flipped off the light, walked out and collided with a broad, muscled chest.

"Angel," she gasped, stumbling backward. He caught her before she fell and steadied her for a second longer than was necessary before pulling back quickly.

"Buffy," he said in low, tired voice, "What are you doing?"

"I just took a shower and then I didn't have anything to wear," she whispered, "So I borrowed one of your shirts. Is that...okay?"

"Uh, sure," he answered, allowing himself a quick sweep of her body. As if she wasn't delectable enough, she had to keep wearing his shirts. Couldn't she steal something from Cordelia? He turned away from her and walked a few steps only to stare at his bed. He took a couple of deep breaths before turning back to look at her. Even in the dim light coming from his bedside lamp, he could see every detail of her nakedness. There was nothing more desirable in the world than Buffy Summers in his bedroom in one of his shirts...unless it was the same nubile girl in his bed.

"You're upset," she said, biting her lower lip as she looked over his nearly naked body. He was staring at her hungrily, licking his lips as his eyes greedily took her in. She knew she was blushing from both the sight of him in nothing but boxer shorts and his weighted stare, but she couldn't make herself care. All she wanted was for him to touch her, "I'm sorry I woke you up."

"I'm not upset because you woke me up, Buffy," he explained, shocked at the lust coming through in his voice. He cleared his throat and looked away from her, focusing his eyes on anything but her little body drowning in his shirt...his white shirt...that he knew if he looked back he almost would be able to see through.

"Well, I'm sorry I took your shirt." She took a tiny step closer and whispered, "Want it back?"

"Please, go back to your room," he groaned as he backed away. He turned away from her and went to the window, willing his arousal to go down before she noticed it. He gripped the windowsill and pressed his forehead against the cool glass. This was too much willpower in one day to ask of any man.

"Can't you even hold me, Angel?" she blurted, "I mean, I thought you wanted me and you act like you can't stand to be around me!"

"Buffy, I don't want to be around you because I don't think I can control myself around you!"

"What's so wrong with that?" she demanded, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at the tattoo on his back, resisting the urge to trace it with her fingertips.

"It just..." he said and tapered off. He knew he wasn't going to win this argument with Buffy and if she stayed in the room much longer, he wasn't going to win the argument with his body.

"Angel," she whispered hoarsely, "Please turn around....please."

Slowly, he turned around and looked at her. Her hair was falling around her shoulders, half dry and her tiny body was dwarfed in his shirt. She was exquisite, standing there with her hands on her hips, her lips in a little pout, her chest heaving with her breaths.

"C'mere," she whispered, taking a tentative step forward. Angel crossed the room in two broad steps and captured her lips, feeling her gasp in surprise into his mouth. She immediately opened her mouth and he dipped his tongue inside, exploring her. He pulled her against him, mashing their bodies together as the kiss deepened and intensified.

"Buffy," he groaned as he forced himself to pull away. Placing a finger on his lips to hush him, she hoped he didn't notice that her hands were shaking as she unbuttoned the shirt she had just put on. Allowing it to slip off her shoulders and fall to the floor behind her, she stood there and awaited his judgment, looking at the floor while she suddenly wondered if this was a good idea. After a moment of silence, she looked up at him, peeking at his reaction to her nudity.

Angel allowed himself the pleasure of taking in her body. He couldn't help but stare at her perfect curves as his eyes spanned inch upon inch of flawless creamy skin. He had seen more than his fair share of naked women, but Buffy Summers was perfect, untouched...a miracle of blooming womanhood.

When Angel pulled her into his arms, it didn't escape her notice that his arousal was pressing insistently against her bare belly, shielded by the silk of his shorts. She breathed heavily as he lowered her onto his bed and covered her with his own body. He kissed her deeply, knowing she was trembling nervously beneath him.

"Buffy, are you sure..."

"Don't," she whispered, threading her fingers through his hair and praying that her body would stop shaking, "Just kiss me."

Angel looked into her eyes, searching for any trepidation and found none. Her nervousness was to be expected and he thought about stopping once more, but as he began trailing kisses on her neck, he knew it was too late. He couldn't spend the rest of his life loving her and trying to stay away from her. The only time he felt whole and unbroken was when he was in her arms. As he brushed his lips over her shoulders, he realized that she was the one thing that could heal him.

"I love you, Buffy," he whispered as he peppered kisses over the delicate rise of her breasts. As he took one dusky nipple into his mouth he heard her sigh, "I love you too, Angel."

She sucked in a deep breath and released it in a ragged moan as he sucked one nipple into his mouth, then the other, worshiping her flesh. She allowed her hands to move over his arms, shoulders and hands, relishing in the feel of his skin. As he laved long slow licks over her sensitive nipples, caressing the soft undersides of her breasts, her nervousness fled, exchanged for the heat that coursed through her body. A burning warmth began in her belly and moved lower, making her entire body tingle with want for him. She arched against him, moaning lightly as he nuzzled the valley between her breasts and moved down, taking in mouthfuls of flesh as he went.

As he made his way down her body, tasting every inch of her salty skin, he throbbed for her, becoming lost in the taste and feel of her after waiting so long. He pressed his face against her flat belly and rubbed his cheek on her soft flesh. He moved lower, nestling between her thighs. Inhaling her musky, sweet arousal, he felt his mouth watering in delight as he allowed his gaze to settle over her silky, pink, glistening flesh. He hesitated and looked up at her green eyes for doubt before daring to touch her. When she showed no reluctance, he leaned in, inhaling her heavenly scent once more as he smoothed his large hands over her inner thighs. He focused on her outer lips, kissing them before as he teased her folds open with his tongue, delighting his first taste of her honey.

He purposefully avoided her sensitive nub as he tasted every other inch of her sex, building heat until she squirmed beneath him. Finally, he circled her clit with the tip of his tongue and concentrated on her desperate whimpers before sucking it between his lips. She moaned loudly as he lashed her clit with his tongue and nibbled on it, building her up and then sliding down lower to glide his tongue inside her. He alternated his attention between her untouched depths and her inflamed clit. She came quickly, bucking beneath him, gripping his shoulders as she came. Greedily, he lapped up the juices escaping, drinking in her ambrosial release.

He kissed his way back up her body, finally inhaling her ragged breaths into himself when he reached her lips. He was throbbing for her as they kissed once more, knowing that she could taste herself in his mouth and he was certain that he had never wanted any woman as much as he wanted her.

Buffy watched as Angel pulled away from her to open his bedside drawer. In the dim light of the bedroom, she watched as he opened the small, square package. For the first time, she saw his sex as he slipped off his boxer shorts. She watched as he rolled the condom over his erect cock and felt her nervousness returning. As he began kissing her once more, she kept thinking about how large he was or more importantly, how small she was. She tensed as she felt him pressing against her moist opening and he groaned as he felt her inner muscles tighten around the head of his cock.

He paused there, poised just barely inside her as he smoothed his hands over her body, kissing her deeply until her thighs fell apart, beginning to relax. Moving slowly, he inched inside her until he felt the barrier of her virginity. He thought he would explode before it even started as he felt her squeezing him so tightly, so wet and warm. Breathing deeply, he settled his fingertips on her sensitive clit, rubbing lightly. She moaned into his mouth as he continued to kiss her and felt her flexing around him, growing accustomed to his trespass of her.

He wished there was a way to avoid the inevitable pain he was about to cause her as he increased the pressure of his fingers on her swollen bud, waiting for her second orgasm to arrive. As she neared her second climax, she lifted her hips to press against his fingers and he moved deeper inside her, breaking through the barrier of her innocence. Her eyes flew open and she gasped in new pain as he settled inside her and felt the waves of her orgasm come over her. She panted in pleasure and pain as he pushed in further, feeling her flutter around him.

He gently pulled way and moved back in, moving his hands over her body and whispering endearments that she couldn't make out but understood. As he angled his slow thrusts to press against her clit, sending jolts of pleasure through her with each stroke, she couldn't help be surprised at how good it felt. Despite the soreness that continued to throb, she also felt an indescribable pleasure flowing through her. She lifted her hips to meet him, feeling his muscles rippling underneath her fingertips as he moved inside her. She heard him moan her name as he increased the speed of his thrusts. As Buffy reached climax the third time, she screamed his name, bucking against him and wrapping her legs around his hips. He called out her name as he found his own release, unable to hold back any longer.

He remained inside her for a moment and kissed her lips, still breathless from her release. Pulling out slowly, he removed the condom and tossed it into the trashcan before settling on his back and gathering her against his chest. She looked up at him and arched for another kiss.

"Was I...was I okay?" she whispered, searching his eyes for a snippet of response for what had just happened.

"You were perfect," he answered, brushing her lips in between his words, "wonderful. You're so beautiful, Buffy."

"So are you," she said, snuggling against his chest, "I love you."

"I love you," he murmured back as he fell asleep holding her tightly against him.

***

Part Eight

DEDICATION: For Eleni Angel.
(Eleni Angel, just in case you were wondering, I do realize that I have seriously wandered off course and am in no way keeping with your challenge whatsoever. Sorry. *G* I have a tendency to get carried away. I will try to at least meet some of your specifications at some point. LOL)

***

stay beside me where I lie
she's intertwined in me
crazy as can be
yeah, she's alright with me

Angel woke up and started to shift in his sleep when he realized that he was wrapped around a tiny, warm body. Opening his eyes slowly, he looked down and found his little lover fast asleep, nestled against his chest. Her firm bottom was pressed against his stomach and he released a nearly silent groan as she snuggled against him in her sleep.

Brushing her hair from her forehead, he kissed her cheek and tried to think about what he should do now that he lost all control of himself and not only made love to her, but took her virginity. As he was pondering the ramifications of his actions, he couldn't keep himself from sliding one hand over her bare side, sliding the sheet down as he did and smoothing over the silky round of her hip before moving over her thigh.

"Angel," she murmured in her sleep and turned over. He felt her warm breath puffing against his chest and the tingling sensation of her little fingers gliding over his hip, holding him to her.

Now almost completely uncovered, he looked down at her, finally realizing what true perfection was. Her full breasts were pressed against his chest in most tantalizing way and he fought the urge to wake her up with kisses and caresses.

Feeling his eyes on her, she blinked awake and looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. He bent and plucked a kiss from her lips, before rumbling, "Good morning, baby."

"Morning," she murmured, closing her eyes again and leaning her forehead on his bare chest. Seconds later, she opened them again when she felt his arousal pressing against her and the memories from the previous night came flooding back with magnum force.

Daring a glance down, her suspicions were confirmed. They were both completely naked and pressed against each other in the most wonderful and terrifying way. Despite her attempt to be casual, she jumped away and pulled up the sheet that was at her legs, covering her embarrassing nakedness. The sunshine that was flooding the room made sure that every inch of their bodies were brightened, outlined and completely visible.

Disappointed, but not completely surprised by her actions, Angel pulled her against him, sliding her body back across the bed and into his arms. He captured her shocked lips, kissing her thoroughly before releasing her and looking into her eyes.

"Don't hide from me," he whispered, kissing her again before sliding his lips down her neck and his hand wandered over her sheet covered body, "I don't regret making love to you, Buffy. Do you regret what happened?"

"N-no," she whispered, holding the sheet to her body with white knuckled nervousness. It was one thing to bare herself to him last night in the dim light when she wanted nothing more to be in his arms, but this morning in the bright light it was an entirely different matter. All of her flaws would be visible to his gaze and even though he told her she was perfect the night before, how was she to know if he just said that or if he really meant it? What if said that to all of the women he slept with?

Angel watched as tense doubt clouded her face and he eased his hands over hers as they clutched the sheet. Intertwining her fingers with his, he kissed them before returning to her lips once more.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" he asked, releasing one of her hands and peeling the sheet ever so slowly away from her breasts. Dipping down before she had a chance to cover herself again, he scattered kisses over her bare chest and listened for the answer that didn't come.

"Perfect, firm breasts," he murmured, brushing his lips over one nipple, then the other, before returning over the path to suck them into his mouth, biting and licking them.

"Soft, silky skin," he continued, kissing down her torso and over her ribs.

"Sweet little belly button," he murmured, against her flat tummy, which moved with her deep breaths. He dipped his tongue in her belly button and he heard her nervous giggle waft down to his ears.

Sliding down the bed, further, he finally looked up to meet her eyes as he caressed her thighs, which were clenched together tightly. He could see that she was still slightly nervous and anxious as he got closer to her sex, even as moisture began to seep there in want of him. The aching soreness from making love to him added to her fear. He felt so wonderful inside her the night before after the initial pain had passed, but now she was terrified of him wanting more of her so soon.

"Open for me, baby," he whispered, "I won't hurt you."

"I k-know," she whimpered. Slowly, she spread her thighs just barely and nervously waited for him to look at her, fearing his judgment even though she knew he was a gentle and kind lover. She wasn't sure how she felt about him looking directly at her in the broad daylight. She opened wider for him as he caressed her inner thighs.

"You smell so good," he said, smiling down at her sex, before dipping in to taste her, "You are so beautiful, Buffy."

Gently, he kissed her outer lips before laving slow, sinuous licks over her. Focusing on her clit, he lapped at it lightly, building up pleasure. He moaned in desire as her thighs fell fully apart and she released a whimper of pleasure, lifting her hips and pressing against his questing tongue. Refusing to meet her silent request, he kept his attentions on her slow and languid, caressing her body.

"Angel," she panted as she teetered on the edge of climax. He slid his tongue inside her and lapped up her honey, which increased with every passing second. Her thighs trembled as she pressed up against him. Finally relenting, he scraped his teeth against her clit before swirling his tongue over it. Sucking it into his mouth, he brought her to a forceful orgasm, pressing his throbbing cock against the mattress as she writhed and panted beneath him.

Buffy was aware of his hard length against her thigh as he traveled up her body and kissed her, allowing her to taste herself on his lips.

"Angel," she whispered around his kisses.

"It's okay, sweetheart," he whispered back, "I know you're not ready."

Biting her lip and looking into his eyes, she thought about it for a second and then whispered, "I'm ready."

"Are you sure?" he asked, looking at her seriously, "Don't do this for me, love."

"Want to," she whispered, "...do it for you."

Unable to resist, he put on another condom from his bedside table and positioned himself at her tight entrance. She hissed as he pressed into her sore depths and he looked up at her questioningly, knowing he would stop if she asked and praying to God that she wouldn't. She nodded, urging him on and he moved slowly at first, angling to hit her swollen bud with his movements.

Angel thought his heart was going to pound out of his chest as he made love to her again. Her pussy was so hot and tight around him, clutching at his throbbing cock as he moved in and out in slow, full thrusts. Her erect nipples scraped against his chest as he glided over her body and he was certain he could easily spend the rest of his life making love to her, diving into her sweet depths again and again.

He felt her begin to move with him and pressed warm kisses into her neck. He gasped in pleasure as she wrapped her legs around his waist, inadvertently tightening around him. Almost coming from the sensation, he felt like a schoolboy again, barely able to keep control and thought about feeling her without a condom. He could only imagine feeling her silky insides surrounding his cock as he had with his tongue.

As they neared climax together, they moved more rapidly, their hips meeting as they crashed together in release. Angel roared her name as he came, listening to her gasp his name as well, her inner muscles fluttering around him.

"God, I love you," he said hoarsely as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her passionately.

"I love you too, Angel," she whispered and then looked up questioningly as he moved away. She watched as he tossed away the used condom and reached into his bedside drawer once more. He hid whatever he took out and she craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of what he held in his hand.

"What's that?" she asked with a little smile, knowing he wasn't showing her on purpose.

"Well," he said, pulling her against him and biting at her lower lip, "I have this problem."

"What? What's wrong?" she asked, feeling alarm fill her.

He smiled, kissing the end of her nose and calming her, "Ever since I met you, I've had to keep myself from buying you things. Every time I go somewhere, I see something I want to give you. I want to give you everything, Buffy. Everything you've ever wanted. Do you know that?"

"No," she answered in the voice of a little girl.

"I do. This is something I didn't buy, but I want you to have it," he said, producing a small black box and lifting the lid. She gazed in to see a delicate silver chain with a sapphire set in a circle of diamonds. Buffy gasped and reached out to touch it gently.

"It was my mother's," he said, his voice low and reverent, "She gave this to me a long time ago to give to the woman I loved."

"Angel, I can't take that," she said as her eyes filled with tears.

"Why not?" he asked, smiling at her and carefully removing the necklace from its velvet confines, "It's yours. It's been yours for a long time."

He released the clasp, which seemed tiny and even more delicate between his large fingers and reached around to put it on her neck. She lifted her hair up, half of it falling in a cascade of golden tendrils.

"It's beautiful. Thank you," she whispered, looking down at the gift, resting against her bare chest. His soft smile broadened into a large grin as he looked over it, contrasting perfectly with her golden skin and landing just above the rise of her breasts.

***

so i throw my hand into the air and it swims in the beams
it's just a brief interruption of the swirling dust sparkle jet stream

Cordelia woke up with the ringing of the phone and found herself securely trapped in the warm embrace of Xander Harris. She wanted to revolt from the feeling, but found she couldn't. As much as she hated to admit it, he felt right. God help her, she found his snore cute.

She inched away from his warm body and picked up the phone, squinting in irritation at the sunlight streaming through her bedroom window as she snarled a grumpy "hello" at the innocent caller.

"Liam Angelus, please," a pleasant sounding voice requested.

"He's probably sleeping," she snapped back, "as are most normal people at this time of the morning. Why don't you call back when the world is awake?"

"Could you please wake him?" the man asked. "It's important that I speak to him this morning."

"Fine," she said, before slamming the phone down on her bedside table loud enough to wake up Xander, who watched fuzzily as she stalked out of the room.

Cordelia padded down the hallway, yawning with irritation as she approached Angel's room. Not bothering to knock, she flung open his bedroom door, widened her eyes and screamed.

"Oh my God!" she shouted, missing the sound of Xander running down the hall to see what was wrong.

"Please shut the door, Cordelia," Angel said calmly as Buffy scrambled to pull the covers over herself and her lover.

"You came into my room last night and attacked Xander when the whole time you were planning on coming back in here and FUCKING Buffy Summers! Why in the HELL is it okay for YOU when WE weren't even doing THAT?"

"I wasn't planning it," Angel said, still keeping his calm and feeling his petite lover trying to burrow deeper into the bed while not only Cordy but also Xander stared at her.

"Whatever!" she shouted, "You have NO RIGHT to tell me anything ANYMORE! You're a jerk, Angel!"

Xander fought to breath as he stood in the doorway, just behind Cordelia and looked at a very calm, muscular and most importantly naked Angel with his arm around the girl of his dreams, who was equally naked. He found himself missing most of the conversation as he looked over Buffy's bare arms and the outline of her breasts underneath the silk sheet.

"First of all," Angel said, feeling his temper rise, "You need to knock before you come storming into my room. We've been over this before. Secondly, my sleeping with Buffy has nothing to do with that little weasel squirming his way into your bed. If you think it's okay to sleep with him now, you're mistaken. Got that, Harris?"

Buffy's ears perked up as the "we've been over this before" sentence reached her. Before? As in Cordelia walking in on Angel and other women? Other naked women that he made sweet love to? Even over her flushing embarrassment, she felt a more urgent jealousy rise up in her. How many other women had there been?

Angel didn't wait for Xander to answer, but held Buffy to his side and growled at his sister's guest, "If I find out you can't keep your cock in your pants around my sister, I'm going to beat you within an inch of your miserable life."

Xander started to respond, when Cordy interrupted him and started shouting at her brother again.

"Shut up, Angel!" Cordy said, taking Xander's hand defensively, "You're not going to touch him. Especially after you've touched her."

"Cordy," Angel sighed, "Is there a reason you came in here?"

"You have a phone call," she sneered, before turning and dragging Xander away from the door. Angel watched them retreat, breathing deeply and trying to calm himself. As he stood to shut the door, unembarrassed by his nakedness, he heard his sister's voice sending the word "asshole" down the hallway. He swung the door closed and slipped on a pair of boxer shorts before sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up the phone.

"Angelus," he said into the phone.

"Hello Detective Angelus," a male voice replied, "This is Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. I've been called in to investigate your case. I would like you to come in this morning to speak with me."

"Alright," Angel said, glad that he was facing away from his lover as he felt tension shooting more fiercely though his body, "Should I bring my lawyer?"

"That would be a wise course of action," Wesley answered.

"I'll call him and see when he's available," Angel said, closing his eyes.

"Very well," Wesley said, "Please call me for an appointment then."

Angel didn't look at Buffy as he hung up and the phone and rapidly redialed. How could he look at her? How could he explain that he was going to lose his job and probably his freedom? He already knew she would blame herself for this when none of it was her fault. If given the chance, he would do it again.

"Lindsey McDonald," a groggy voice muttered into the phone. A female voice in the background reached him just after Lindsey's voice.

"Linds," Angel said to his high school friend, "I have a serious problem. Can you meet me this morning?"

"Do you realize," Lindsey said, after a moment of shuffling and the sound of a closing door, "that I was in bed with a beautiful woman just a second ago? I planned to have a bunch of terrific morning sex followed by an afternoon of the same. How serious is the problem?"

"Serious," Angel said, "I'm sorry, man. My plans were similar before I got a disturbing phone call. Believe me. If this wasn't an emergency, I would be staying in bed too."

"Alright," Lindsey sighed, peeking out the bathroom door at the naked woman nestled perfectly in his sheets, "Meet me at my office in an hour."

"Thanks," Angel said, "I owe you."

"You have no fucking idea how much you owe me," Lindsey said before hanging up and crawling back in bed.

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