The Boarder

Chapter 2

Angel whistled as he entered his home. Today, he'd been paid. It was an honest job, and Buffy couldn't be happier. Now, they had money to go towards their debt, especially with the money William was paying for the room. Every month after he was paid, Angel and Buffy did the same thing - they celebrated.

Buffy flew into his arms, and he twirled her around happily. Seeing William come down the stairs, he set Buffy on the ground.

"Drink with us." He handed William the Scotch he bought on the way home. Turning to Buffy, he dug out the paper bills that he was paid with. "This goes to the bank, and this is yours." Smiling, Buffy tucked the money into one of her pockets.

While Buffy was getting dinner, Angel led William to the cabinet and got out three glasses. "We do this every payday," he said when William gave him a questioned look.

Tonight, Angel was going to do everything in his power to not let William irritate him. Angel could tell, with his clothing and speech, that William was a rich man. Angel had discovered not long ago that just because a man is in a higher class, it doesn't mean he's a better man. But even though he realized that William was not a bad man, Angel could not stop feeling threatened.

Sometimes William's shyness amused him. When William had walked in the kitchen the other night and caught him and Buffy kissing, he was clearly embarrassed. Angel had found himself wondering what William would do if he had seen a more intimate moment, and the thought aroused him. Not liking where his mind was going or the fact that Buffy was flirting with William, Angel had snapped at him. Even after William had left for his bedroom, Angel's mind was still occupied with William's redden cheeks. He had never had a man occupy so much of his mind before.

Tonight, Angel didn't feel irritated, but he felt an unsettling tension he hoped would go away with the liquor. He and William sat in the kitchen to eat the chicken Buffy had made.

Buffy gulped down the first ounce of scotch, making a face. Angel caught William hiding a smile, and his heart jumped. He drank another glassful, needing to relax. By the time they finished eating, half of the scotch was gone.

"Let's move into the living room." Buffy took Angel and William's hands and stumbled her way towards a couch. Plopping down in the middle, Buffy reached for more alcohol.

"Only a little bit. You don't want to lose your dinner." Angel poured a tiny bit in the glass and handed it to her.

Buffy drank the scotch and handed the glass to Angel. "Oh, dizzy." She held on to Angel's knee for support. Her other hand clasped on William's, who was turning red. "Maybe if I just lied down." She collapsed, sprawled on William's lap. William stiffened and stared at her cleavage.

"She'll be out for a while. Can't handle her liquor." Angel smiled. "I'm sure you can handle it, right?"

William took the bottle from Angel and poured himself another glass. Angel watched, amused, as William followed every glass that Angel drank with one of his own. Angel was feeling good and buzzed. William, apparently drunk himself, couldn't keep his eyes off of Buffy.

"You're not very experienced with women, are you?" He chuckled as William gaped at him. "Have you ever been with one?"

William quickly looked away. "No," he said quietly.

It wasn't a surprise that William had never slept with a woman of his stature. Actually, he'd be surprised if he had. "You never took advantage of a servant? Been to a brothel?"

William slowly shook his head. "Once, when I was in school, a group of us went to visit one, but I couldn't walk through the door. I ended up running home like some scared nilly." He took a deep breath. "I never heard the last of it from the rest of them."

Angel raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Well, if it wasn't for the way you've been looking at Buffy, I'd think you were some kind of deviant."

William looked at him, alarmed. "I beg your pardon. I did not mean to look at her with bad intent. I promise that I'll be a perfect gentleman around her."

"It's okay. She's a beautiful woman, and she really cheers you up just when you need it." Angel stroked Buffy's hair.

William seemed to relax a little, and Angel offered him more scotch. Drinking another glassful, Angel relaxed and enjoyed the affects of the alcohol. William needed to let go, he thought. Suddenly, Angel really wanted to see William fully free, head held back in ecstacy. A warm feeling began growing in the pit of his stomach.

"Have you ever been with a man?" He surprised himself by asking.

William's eyes widened and was silent. After a minute, he said, "I knew a classmate in school. He never went to the brothels, either, so many times it was just the two of us in the dormitory. We ended up spending a lot of time together." He glanced at Angel. "He had no interest in women, but he did take an interest in me. I had never found men attractive before, but I was so lonely. After graduation, his family arranged a marriage for him. He was heir to a be a Duke, and his family needed an alliance with another family. He was so upset, and I never saw him again."

"Were you upset, too?" Angel was intrigued with the story.

William nodded. "I didn't want to admit it at the time. What we were doing was wrong, and I told myself that I was happy he was out of my life. But, I missed him, and I think I had feelings for him."

Angel pictured William being intimate with another man and found it sensual. "What exactly did you do with him?"

William smiled a little, eyes glazed from the alcohol. "We touched each other with our pants undone. Sometimes he would kiss me on the mouth."

Angel hardened as he imaged William stroking another man. "There are some urges that only a man can satisfy," he mused.

William's smile disappeared as he stared into his eyes. Angel's mind was a mess of conflicting thoughts. Was he attracted to William?

Buffy stirred and reached for Angel. "Take me to bed."

Angel smiled down at his willing wife. She was the anchor in his sea of emotions, and his desire for her was as strong as ever. "Then again," he said to William, "there are some urges that can only be satisfied by a woman." Picking up Buffy, he headed towards the stairs.

TBC