Chapter 27

“I can't go out tonight”, Buffy sighed to the phone and leaned back in her chair. Her gaze traveled around her office, it wasn't as much loved place as it had been before she met Angel.

“Why not?” Faith asked suspiciously. “Just because you're knocked up doesn't mean you can't go out, you'll be my designated driver.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “That really doesn't make it any more tempting. Besides, I'm having dinner with Angel and I'm cooking”, she answered and frowned as she heard Faith's uncontrollable laughter coming from the other end. Again she rolled her eyes and let the brunette have her fun, soon the laughing turned into giggling and finally into just hiccups. “Would you stop that?! It really isn't that funny and I'm not that bad of a cook. Remember Thanksgiving few years ago when my mom wasn't home and we had to make our own dinner.”

“Yeah, that was a great dinner. But the party afterwards was even better. I think”, Faith answered thoughtfully, truthfully she didn't remember much about the time after she stole Mr. Giles' brandy and hit the Bronze, the next morning she woke up in a motel room in Las Vegas, thankfully not married.

“Yeah, I bet. But it proves that I can cook. I just don't do it very often. And now Angel is helping me”, she said with a grin. Suddenly she had a mental image of whipped cream and Angel's naked chest.

“Oh really”, Faith drawled, pulling her out of her inner fantasies.

Buffy was grateful for the interruption when there was a quick knock on the door and Gloria peeked in. “Hold on”, she said to the phone and pressed the speaker against her shoulder, turning her attention to the woman at the door.

“Sorry to interrupt, but there's a insufferable woman that wants to see you. She's not a buyer and she looks like she doesn't have any of her original parts left”, she explained quickly, after raising three boys with only four years age difference between the youngest and oldest she didn't loose her temper easily, but the woman in the gallery was seriously testing her patience.

Buffy groaned, that sounded like Angel's mother. “Okay, I'll come and see her”, she promised almost painfully. With a grateful smile Gloria closed the door and returned to the guest, even though she did it reluctantly. Buffy lifted the phone back to her ear. “Sorry about that. Angel's mother is here, so I have to go.”

“The queen bitch herself is there? Okay, I'll let you go to face the mother-in-law. Good luck.”

“I'm gonna need it”, Buffy muttered. “Okay, I'm gonna go, I'll call you back later. Bye.”

She hung up the phone and took a deep breath before getting up from the chair and walking out the door. The sight of Angel's mother stranding in her gallery, looking at a painting with a disdainful look on her face made her stop, she hated the feeling of vulnerability the woman created in her. Suddenly Janine turned to look at her, her cold blue eyes once again running over her body before stopping to her face.

“Cozy little shop you've got here, Bunny”, she stated and walked over to her.

Buffy bit into her cheek and took a mental calming breath before correcting, “It's Buffy.”

Janine looked at her like she had suddenly spoken in Swahili. “What is?”

“My name. It is not Bunny, Fluffy or Bonnie, it's Buffy.”

“Well, it's your loss, my dear”, Janine dismissed it and once more let her gaze travel around the room before stopping at Buffy's face. “I'd like to talk without the hired help listening”, she stated giving Gloria a dismissive glance.

Buffy's fingernails dug into her palms as she fought for self-control to keep herself from snapping at the woman, she could take the jabs directed at her but going after Gloria was too much. “We can do that in my office”, she answered, her voice strained. She sent a apologetic look to Gloria and led Janine into her office, closing the door firmly as the woman breezed past her.

“Hmh. Figures”, the older woman said to herself as her gaze traveled around the room and stopped at the photos on the desk.

“So, you wanted to talk to me”, Buffy said, going straight to the point. She stood up straighter and folded her arms in front of her like a shield that protected her from the woman's venom. Slowly Janine turned to look at her with a crooked smile on her lips.

“So straight to business. I knew what you are the moment I saw you. Just name your price.”

“What?” Buffy asked with a frown, she was sure she had to have heard wrong.

“Don't play innocent with me, little girl, just say how much it will take to get you off my son's back”, Janine said glaring at the blond and dug a checkbook out of her handbag. She glanced at the desk and grabbed a pen from the surface, clicking it ready before turning her expectant eyes back to Buffy who was staring at her in disbelief.

“Believe it or not, I'm not for sale. I love Angel and we're going to have a baby together. If he wants to get rid of me, all he needs to do is to say it's over, but if he doesn't then I'm not going anywhere”, Buffy said matter-of-factly while she did her best not to openly glare at the older woman. She kept reminding herself that this was Angel's mother and murder was very wrong, it was a mantra that was playing in her head.

Janine stared back at her for a moment and then let out a dramatic sigh, glancing heavenwards. “Oh dear Lord, you're one of those”, Janine sighed and glanced heavenwards. “This is even worse than I thought.” She turned her gaze back to Buffy, now dead serious. “Believe me, honey, he's just like his father, he won't settle for one woman. You seem like the doe-eyed little girl who would believe into everlasting true love that I pity you enough to warn you: keep away from my son. You're not getting his money and you won't be his 'only one'”, she said, her cool eyes digging into Buffy's.

“I appreciate your concern”, Buffy finally answered, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “But I think I'll take my chances with Angel.”

“Well, what ever you choose to do, girly, just remember you're a temporary amusement for him”, she said dismissively and turned to take her purse from the desk. She turned back to Buffy and continued with a lighter tone, “Well, this was a lovely little meeting. We should do it again some time. But then again, I reckon we won't be seeing each other again, the next time I see my son he will have a new plaything and I really don't care where you will be then. Goodbye, Bunny.”

And without waiting for a response, she walked past her and out of the office. Buffy let out a tired sigh and ran her hand through her hair, suddenly she was feeling drained of all energy. She walked around the desk and heavily sat down to the chair, closing her eyes in relief as she toed off her shoes. Her thoughts drifted off to Angel and to the things his mother said. Should she tell him about the visit, he was already upset with his mother so wouldn't it only make it worse? But truth was the best way, she didn't want him to find out about it through someone else and then feel like she had been keeping secrets.

With a frustrated sigh she opened her eyes, her gaze landing on a framed picture of her and Angel with a ultrasound picture placed to the corner of it. Without even noticing it, she frowned, Janine's words haunted her and her old insecurities resurfaced. Could Angel stay faithful to her? He had admitted that she was his first real girlfriend and that he had had his share of women, but she was also sure that he loved her even though he hadn't said the words. Mentally she kicked herself, she had to trust him and he had not given her any reason not to. Who did she trust more, the man she loved or his mother who obviously didn't like her?

It was an easy decision. She grabbed the phone, dialed Angel's private cellphone number and waited. “Hey, baby”, came Angel's voice from the other end, creating a smile to her lips and causing a surge of lust run through her body.

Buffy walked through the front door and quickly shed her jacket, draping it over a chair. Without even noticing it, she smiled as she saw Angel walking towards her. “Hey”, she said softly and brushed a quick kiss across his lips.

“I think I deserve better than that after a long day of hard work”, he said with a smirk and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her flush against him. He cupped her cheek with his large hand and lowered his lips to hers, claiming her with a passionate kiss that made her toes curl. Her hand traveled up his chest and over his shoulder to the back of his neck, her fingers running through his dark hair. She felt his arms circle around her, pulling her even closer to his body and she moaned into the kiss as she felt his hardening member press against her.

When oxygen became an issue, she reluctantly broke the kiss, but didn't pull away. “I so needed that”, she murmured against his lips and flashed him a soft smile. It felt like all the work stress and her brief meeting with his mother was washed away by a simple kiss.

“Hard day at the office, dear?” Angel asked with a smirk, he couldn't resist adding the overly sugary endearment.

“You could say that”, she answered, choosing to ignore the sarcastic tone of his voice as he said the word 'dear'. “How'bout that dinner?” she changed the subject and took a few steps back. The look he gave her, told her she hadn't been all that smooth, but he didn't ask more questions and she was glad that he didn't.

“Yeah, how'bout that”, he drawled with a low voice and wrapped his arms around her from behind, guiding her towards the kitchen while he nibbled at her ear.

“Seriously, I'm getting hungry”, she whined, but soon let out a breathy moan as his lips traveled down to her neck, finding just the right spot.

“So am I”, he answered against her neck, his voice low and sensual.

A shiver ran through her and she had to bite her lip to keep herself from moaning again. “For food”, she clarified and stepped out of his arms and away from temptation. “For now anyway”, she added with a crooked smile and hurried to the kitchen.

“Vixen”, he accused and followed her, finding her already setting ingredients to the tabletop. He was about to step behind her and continue where they left off just a minute ago, but she turned around and placed a pot into his hand.

“You can do the pasta”, she stated and gave him a stern look before turning back to the foods that were waiting.

“You are an evil woman, miss Summers”, he stated glancing at the pot that he held in his hand. She looked at him over her shoulder and a crooked smile formed on her lips.

“I know. Now start boiling”, she ordered, not loosing the smile.

“Yes, ma'am”, he answered with a mock-salute and took a step back. They settled into a comfortable silence as they worked together, Angel doing his best with just one hand. Occasionally he stepped behind her, trapping her between his arms as he stirred the sauce and placed seductive kisses to her neck before returning to his own job.

His arm wound around her waist, his bandaged hand resting on her round stomach as he reached for the spatula. “You're distracting me”, she complained as his lips brushed against her cheek. She thrust her elbow back, gently jabbing him into the ribs, and turned to halfheartedly glare at him as he grinned unrepentantly.

“Am I?” he asked innocently, but didn't even bother to try to look it.

“Yes, you are. You were supposed to be helping me to make this food edible, not distract me from it. Set the table or something.”

He chuckled, causing her whole body heat up from the sound. “Bossy”, he said and without even looking at him she knew he had a sexy grin on his lips. “I like it when you boss me around”, he whispered to her ear before taking a step back and starting to set the table.

“Voila!” Buffy exclaimed with pride in her voice as she turned the heat off the stove.

“That smells nice”, Angel said from behind her. She turned around and gave him a playful glare.

“Just nice? It smells delicious.”

“Yes, it does”, he amended and placed a quick kiss to her cheek as he reached past her and took the frying pan to the table. He pulled back a chair for her and took a seat from across the table.

“How's your hand?” she asked as she sat down and nodded at his bandaged hand.

“It's okay”, he answered, his voice dismissive. But she wasn't satisfied with it.

“Okay? How 'okay'? Okay as in 'I'm high from painkillers'-okay or 'It hurts but I'm pretending it doesn't cause I'm too manly to complain'-okay?”

A grin tucked at his lips as he watched her wait for his answer. “I wouldn't say I'm high. I know perfectly well what I'm doing”, he answered putting the topic down to rest. “But now that you have asked about my hand, I'll ask about your day, you sounded like you had something on your mind when you called.”

Suddenly her plate looked very interesting. She knew she should tell him about his mother's visit, but she was hoping that it would be later, much later. She glanced at him as she pushed around the food on her plate and sighed when he raised an eyebrow, looking at her expectantly.

“Your mother came to the gallery today”, she finally answered.

Angel's eyes darkened at the mention of his mother. “What the fuck did she want?” he growled.

“Wanted to know how much money it would take for me to break up with you”, she muttered her answer.

Angel's fingers curled into a fist and angrily he threw his fork down to the plate with a loud clank, he had a creeping feeling that in his anger the silverware would experience worse fate than his fist did. “She has no right to mess with my life”, he ground out, but as he noticed the guilty look on her face he took long calming breaths, he didn't want to scare her. Once he had himself under control, he spoke more calmly, “What did she say to you?”

“Not much. Just asked what my price is and when I wasn't for sale, told me you would never stay faithful to me”, she answered like it was no big deal, but he wasn't fooled. He suspected she was more distressed over Janine's suggestion that he wouldn't stay faithful to her than she was over the offered payoff.

“Buffy”, he whispered her name, drawing her eyes to his and reached out over the table, curling his fingers around her hand. “Honey, Janine doesn't know shit. She is not a part of my life and she doesn't know me, never has. And she knows even less about us, of what you mean to me”, he said softly, looking into her eyes to show her he was being sincere.

Her eyes widened and slowly a smile rose to her lips, she was one step away from actually crying. It hadn't been an actual confession of love, but it was close enough and now she was even more convinced that he did love her even if he had trouble saying the words. Angel gave her a small smile and lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles before lowering it back to the table.

“The food's getting cold”, he stated like he wasn't suddenly changing the subject and turned his gaze down to the plate in front of him.

After dinner Angel told Buffy to go and take a shower while he would do the dishes. After a short debate whether or not he was sweet, she did as told and went upstairs, unbuttoning her blouse while climbing up the stairway. As she stepped into the bedroom, she removed her skirt and was heading to the bed to get her nightie from under the covers when she noticed the velvet covered box on the pillow. Just the sight of it made her heart race and the only sound she could hear was the drumming of her heartbeat. Slowly she approached the bed, almost as if the box would suddenly jump at her.

“Open it. It won't bite”, came Angel's voice from the door. Buffy spun around to face him, gasping in surprise.

“Bite?” she asked confused, staring at him with a matching expression.

“Open it”, Angel repeated with a grin and nodded at the bed. She turned very slowly and reached for the box, her hand moving almost cautiously. She picked it up and gasped as she opened the lid, finding a beautiful ring in the box, an engagement ring. Her eyes snapped to Angel who had walked further into the room. Again she looked at the ring in her hand, then turned back to Angel.

“I thought you said you're not high”, she said and turned her attention back to the ring.

“I'm not. I know exactly what I'm doing”, he answered, staring into her eyes to let her know he was being serious. Then he continued, pronouncing every word with every step he took closer to her, “I want to marry you.”

She was speechless, all she could do was stare at the man that was now standing right in front of her.

“Say something”, he told her, getting a little worried by her silence. She opened her mouth to do just that, but when she didn't know what to say, she closed it again. She closed her eyes, taking a long breath before opening them, her gaze landing on his. Finally she found her voice.

“You want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

“Because of the baby?” she asked almost afraid to know, now that she had voiced the question she wasn't all that sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

“No”, he answered without a hint of doubt in his voice. He pulled her into his arms, staring right into her hazel green eyes. “Not because of the baby. I want to marry you because of you. And because of me. I want my life to be with you.” He glanced down at the ring that was still in the box, a wry smile forming to his lips. “I'm not into all that romantic bullshit, I'm not gonna hide a diamond ring into a cake or any shit like that. It's simple, I want to marry you, Buffy Summers. You've already met my grandfather and Janine, it won't get any worse than that.”

She looked at him with teary eyes, not knowing what to say. She took a deep, calming breath and smiled. “Okay, we're telling the cleaned up version of this to the fat grandchildren”, she stated and wiped away the tears that were trying to escape.

“Is that a yes?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, he couldn't believe how nervous he was.

“Yes”, she answered, a bright smile breaking to her face.

A look of relief and happiness washed over his face and he pulled her against him, shedding soft kisses around her face before his lips crashed against hers, pouring all his feelings into that one kiss. His fingers moved down her arm, his touch just a soft caress against her skin. She moaned into the kiss as his hand kept traveling down and his fingers curled around her hand that was still holding onto the velvet covered box. Gently he removed it from her grip and broke the kiss. They were both left breathless by the kiss.

Slowly she opened her eyes and watched from under her lashes as he removed the ring from the plush padding and took her hand, slowly sliding the ring into her finger. He raised his gaze to her face and their eyes met, a single tear rolled down her cheek and she gave him a happy smile, fighting against more tears of happiness that were threatening to surface. As a reaction to her show of happiness, a beautiful smile lit Angel's face and he pulled her into his arms, claiming her lips with a series of passionate kisses. The urgent need and desire was like a heavy cloud surrounding them and he forced himself to slow down, she had just agreed to marry him, the occasion needed something more than just a quick sating of their hunger for each other. He released her lips and pressed a soft kiss to the side of her mouth. She let out a soft sigh, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the moment.

“I will make you happy, I promise”, he whispered against the side of her face.

“I know”, she answered just as quietly with a teary smile on her face. His lips brushed against her cheek before once again finding her lips, kissing her softly. He didn't hurry the kiss and neither did she, he kept it sweet and full of love, silently saying the words he couldn't voice. She was so caught up in the moment that she didn't even notice his hands traveling up her sides and removing her blouse, dropping it to the floor.

Slowly he guided her towards the bed, his fingers sliding the strap of her bra down from her shoulder as she unbuttoned his shirt. He lowered her to the bed and watched with hungry eyes as she removed her bra and panties and crawled further into the it. With quick jerky movement he took off his own clothes, nearly ripping the shirt off his body and once he had rid himself of his clothing he joined her in the bed, all haste leaving his body as he captured her lips with a loving kiss.

His hands moved up her round stomach to her full breasts, cupping the tender mounds and he smiled against her lips as she let out a small gasp from the contact. Gently he massaged the soft globes, teased the nipples till they were hard peaks and only then he let his hands travel down her body and his lips trail down her neck, shedding wet kisses to the sensitive skin. He took his time as he moved down her body, paying extra attention to her breasts. He relished on the soft whimpers and sighs she voiced and the small writhing movements that only made him work harder to bring her pleasure. His hands circled around her round stomach before slowly moving further down her body, softly caressing her thighs and hips, but always staying away from the place she needed him.

“Angel, please”, she whispered and moaned as his teeth scraped against one nipple before releasing it from his mouth. He flashed her an arrogant smirk before returning to what he had been doing, all too slowly kissing his way down her stomach to the juncture of her thighs. She shifted under him, trying to get closer to him, begging him to give her some kind of release from the delicious torture he was giving her. It felt like his hands were everywhere, touching every inch of her body except where she needed him. He settled between her thighs, his hands traveling up her firm thighs, nudging them further apart. The sight of her naked sex, glistering from arousal made his mouth water. He raised his eyes to hers and gave her a sexy smirk.

“So fucking beautiful”, he said with a gruff voice and then lowered his mouth down to her sex, softly kissing the swollen lips before swirling his tongue around her clit, making her cry out his name. As he licked and kissed her, his hand slid down her body to between her thighs, his fingers teased her opening before pushing one digit inside her, moving in and out of her wet heat as he sucked on the small bundle of nerves.

She reached out to him, moaning his name as she buried her hand into his dark hair, her fingers curling around the short strands as a ripple of hot pleasure ran through her. He could tell she was getting closer to her first orgasm and it only made him work harder, not leave a spot untouched as he ate at her delicate flesh. He added another finger inside her, his long digits finding the spot his tongue couldn't reach and gently he stroked the elusive g-spot as he mercilessly teased her clit.

“Angel! Please, I need you”, she breathed, not above begging, his talented tongue and fingers were driving her crazy. He took mercy on her and quickly drove her up to the first peak, gently biting her clit and sending her crashing to the abyss. Her whole body stilled as hot pleasure ran through her, curling her toes and she let out a keening cry followed by his name said in a soft breathy whisper.

He licked away every trace of her release and brushed a soft kiss to her mound before lifting his head up. A conceited smirk rose to his lips as he watched her try to steady her breathing, her eyes were closed and her hair was a messy disarray with long wet locks glued to her skin. Slowly he crawled up her body and pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving to lay beside her. She opened her eyes and gave him a lazy, very satisfied smile.

“That was...” she started, but stopped to take a long breath of air.

“Just an overture”, he finished for her and claimed her lips with a passionate kiss. She moaned against his lips as he coaxed her to shift to her side and moved to lay behind her, his rock hard cock jutting against her backside. He released her lips and started shedding slow, wet kisses around her neck and shoulder. She reached out for him, her fingers wrapping around his hard member and slowly she started stroking him, making him groan deep in his chest. His eyes screwed tightly shut and he buried his face into her shoulder, trying to get himself under control as she kept pumping his cock.

“Baby”, he chastised and grabbed her wrist, seizing her hand. “I want to be inside you”, he whispered against her ear. Her eyes closed and a moan fell from her lips, her whole body was humming with need for him.

“Yes”, she breathed, not even realizing it. She felt his lips on her neck, kissing the sensitive skin. She turned her head so she could see him and reached out for him, cupping the back of his neck and pulling him into a passionate kiss. She moaned against his lips as she felt the tip of his cock press against her opening. Slowly he pushed forward, his eyes closing firmly as her tight heat surrounded him and they moaned in unison as he thrust all the way inside her. She took his hand into hers, threading her fingers through his and brushed a kiss across their entwined hands before turning her head enough to kiss him again. They started to move together in a slow, languid pace, his thrusts shallow and his kisses sweet.

He unwound his fingers from hers and ever so slowly glided them along her arm to her shoulder, making her shiver from the soft touch. His lips strayed away from hers, pressing a sweet kiss to the side of her mouth before continuing down her neck to her shoulder as his hand moved down her body. She gasped as his fingers touched her sensitive clit, teasing and gently rubbing it in the same slow pace as he moved inside her. She turned her head and reached out to him, her hand burying itself to his hair as he claimed her lips with a slow, but passionate kiss.

She was moaning against his lips, her whole body was like on fire from the sensations he was creating and he could tell she was nearing her second peak, her inner muscles were rippling around him in a way that made him wonder if he would last any longer. But he didn't want to cum before she did, so he doubled his efforts to bring her to release. Her hand curled into a fist, tightly gripping the sheets and she cried out his name as hot waves of pure pleasure coursed through her body. As her inner muscles squeezed and rippled around his hard member, he let go of the diminutive hold of self-control he had and with a deep groan released his seed inside her.

Buffy was still humming from the orgasm when he pulled out of her, pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder and gently pulled her to lay in his arms. Her hand rose up to his chest, her finger lazily running circles on the sweat slicked skin as she snuggled against his hard body. She let out a soft sigh of deep satisfaction and pressed a kiss to his chest before closing her eyes, enjoying the moment.

For a good while he just watched her, he could finally admit to himself that asking her to marry him hadn't been all because of his grandfather's ultimatum, he actually wanted to be with her because he had gotten to know her, because she was unlike any woman he knew and he felt something towards her that he refused to think about because it would end up hurting them both. Shaking away his wildly running thoughts, he focused on her, only then noticing that as her hand had stopped moving, now just resting against his chest, his own hand had smoothed down her body and was running slow circles on her pregnant stomach. Lazily she opened her eyes, raising her gaze up to his face. A crooked smile rose to his lips, his dark eyes twinkling with mischief.

“I guess this is one of the parts that's gonna need some censuring, huh?”

She smiled back at him. “Definitely”, she agreed.