All's Fair in Love and War

 

 

The vampire says nothing at first only stares at him with those penetrating eyes the lawyer recalls so well. Angel is even handsomer than he remembers. Has he actually grown taller and more muscular or has he always been such a towering presence? “Lindsey McDonald. Never thought you’d have the nerve to come back here.”

“And I never thought you’d learned to knock. Guess being the president of Wolfram & Hart has had a civilizing influence on you.” Lindsey is playing it as cool as he can. In spite of his intentions, all it’s

taken is a sight of the vampire he’s longed for to cause his heart to race.

“I guess being away from them made you lose your manners. Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

That’s right, McDonald. Keep up the act. He’s perfected the image of the unflappable lawyer. Of course that doesn’t mean squat to a vampire that can smell how horny he is. “How’d you find me? I didn’t exactly advertise.”

“Tracking device. There’s one in every car that Wolfram & Hart owns in case of theft. Spike has been driving our cars and they’ve been taking notes of wherever he goes. He’s been making a lot of stops here. So I just drove over and let my nose do the walking.” He taps his nose for emphasis and leans against the doorjamb, waiting for Lindsey to respond.

This is Angel, all right. Oh so cool and sure of himself. But, no, something in those dark brown eyes is a little different. They seem more vulnerable than Lindsey recalls even when he’d had Drusilla turn Darla in front of him. Stifling the sharp regret at that ugly memory, Lindsey steps away from the door and mutely gestures the vampire to step inside.

Something sharpens in Angel’s gaze and the openness in his eyes vanishes. “I need more than that, Lindsey. Or did the cat get your tongue?”

Lindsey doesn’t care to make things too easy on Angel. If the vampire wants him, he is going to have to fight for him. Of course he might have come for different reasons altogether. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s been awhile since I’ve had bloodsucking fiends into my home. Excuse me if I’ve forgotten the proper etiquette. Come in, Angel.”

Angel steps into the room, his height managing to crowd the mortal even when Lindsey steps away. “But you’ve got no difficulties having sex with them, is that it, Lindsey?”

He shrugs and shuts the door. “Is that why you came here? To discuss my sex life?”

“I’m just wondering how it is that Spike shows up out of the blue to help track down a rogue Slayer. He gives me some flimsy excuse but then I smell you all over him.” He leans over and sniffs exaggeratedly at Lindsey and the mortal forces himself not to step back. “Wanna tell me how that happens, Lindsey?”

Shit, he thought he’d scrubbed Spike thoroughly from his skin after he came home. Apparently not. Lindsey considers saying that he and Spike are just casual acquaintances but he doubts that Angel will buy it. So he tells him the truth—well, enough of the truth to sound plausible anyway. He is an ex-lawyer after all. “I’ve been getting visions. Visions of people in trouble.”

The vampire’s stare is eloquent in its disbelief. “Visions? Are you telling me you’ve been picked as a seer, Lindsey? There had better be a good punch line to this.”

Lindsey shakes his head. “I wish it were a joke. These headaches have made me seriously consider taking up hard drinking again.”

Angel’s jaw tightens and a look of apprehension and inexplicable sorrow seems to flicker in the chocolate gaze. “Headaches? Jesus, Lindsey.  How long have you been getting them?”

“The visions or the migraines? Never mind; they’re one and the same. It’s been a few weeks now.” He shuffles over to the couch, gesturing for Angel to sit beside him. The vampire makes no move to follow only continues to stare at him.

“That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing with Spike,” Angel probes.

“Well, that’s because I’m his seer. The visions told me I had to go to him. Believe me, I fought them as long as I could. The last thing I wanted was to get involved with another vampire, especially one of your bloodline. I figured it would only be a matter of time before I ran into you and I wanted to avoid that at all costs.”

Lindsey picks up his discarded beer and takes a long sip, composing himself for the next part of his story. “I tried ignoring the visions. Finally, they increased to the point where I couldn’t sleep at night without having them wake me up every thirty minutes or so. I either had to get off my can and drag myself back to L.A. or risk an aneurysm. So here I am. Beer?” He picks up the remains of the six-pack of alcohol he is demolishing and extends it towards Angel. The vampire ignores the offer.

“Lindsey, you’re still human, aren’t you? You smell human anyway.”

Lindsey blinks at the non sequitur. “Um, yeah. Last I checked. Why, what did you have in mind?” He throws the vampire a lopsided smile. It can be taken as a taunt or an invitation.

Angel refuses to rise to the bait. “My first seer was half demon.”

“Really?” Lindsey hadn’t known that. It wasn’t in W&H’s files when he was in their employ. Guess the lawyers didn’t know everything.

“He passed the visions on to Cordelia. Only she was human so they were gradually destroying her brain. Her recovery time got longer with each vision and the pain worsened. Finally one vision was so bad it put her into a coma.” Angel pauses and this time he does sit down next to Lindsey. His eyes bore into the little man as if trying to see through his skull. “She nearly died from them.”

Lindsey’s mouth goes dry and suddenly the beer isn’t so appetizing. Shit, the auctioneer hadn’t told him that. So far there has been only the headaches and he’s been able to handle them. Nothing was mentioned about brain damage. Is that what the demon strength was for? To enable him to endure the visions? “Oh shit. I-is that what’s wrong with her?”

“How do you know—oh right. I guess Spike’s been talking.” Angel leans back against the couch and relaxes. “No. The coma from the visions was over two years ago. Cordelia had to agree to become part demon in order to keep her visions and her life. After that, she came out of the coma and she was fine.”

“Fine? Really? I-I would have thought there’d be aftereffects to becoming part demon,” Lindsey ventures, caution and relief evident in his voice.

“Well, no, unless you count the glowing and the floating,” Angel replies.

Lindsey swings his head to stare at the vampire. Angel is—smiling? He’s never seen the brunette actually smile before and his heart clenches when he realizes it’s in amused reminiscence over Cordelia. Has something been going on between the souled vampire and his seer? He’d never noticed anything between them except ordinary friendship. Then again, Angel did sever his hand in order to save her… “So what caused this coma?”

Angel’s face becomes blank, his emotions retreating behind the well-known stoicism. “We’re not sure. The people at Wolfram & Hart have been working on her since we took over. So far there’s been no sign as to what’s causing it and no change.”

Lindsey got as much out of Spike. Whatever is wrong with Cordelia, the blonde vampire hasn’t been made privy to the details. Not that he cares much. Spike isn’t one to concern himself with an unmoving body. Recalling Spike makes Lindsey remember he hasn’t heard anything from the vampire since he went after that Slayer. Angel hasn’t mentioned anything about the blonde Brit other than scenting Lindsey on him. Briefly Lindsey considers asking after him then dismisses the notion. He wants to get to Angel and dragging Spike into the conversation isn’t going to accomplish the task.

He glances up to see Angel looking at him again. Damn, he wishes the demon wouldn’t do that. He looks too much as if he cares and Lindsey isn’t sure he’s ready for that yet. “Look, Angel, if you’re concerned about me, then do—SHIT!!”

The vision hits hard, causing Lindsey to convulse. Unfortunately this means squeezing the beer can he’s holding. Foamy liquid shoots out of it as the metal crunches under his fingers. Angel is on him in seconds, vampiric speed enabling him to cradle the man’s shaking body, preventing him from sagging off the couch and onto the floor. “What is it, Lindsey? What’d you see?”

Lindsey gesticulates wildly at the pad and pen he keeps stationed near the phone for just this kind of emergency. Angel picks it up and begins scribbling as he babbles out the information. “D-demon. There’s a kid, two kids. I think this happens tomorrow. It snatches them up when they wander off a playground during recess.” Lindsey grimaces. “This thing prefers to eat children. I saw lots of small bones.”

“Where? What does the demon look like? Are there any others?” Angel fires off the questions calmly. Of course; Cordelia’s visions must have given him plenty of practice in getting down details. Lindsey gives him as many details as he can and rubs his head in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Then he frowns and jerks his hand away because he is getting beer suds on his forehead. Checking to make sure the vampire isn’t watching, he surreptitiously wipes his hand on his shirt.

Angel finishes taking down the details. Then he fishes out his cell phone and reads the words on the pad off to Wesley, advising him to take a team with him. Lindsey listens to the exchange and then asks, “Aren’t you going with them? Thought this was right up your alley. Helping the helpless and all that.”

Angel shrugs. “According to you, there’s just one demon. My team can handle it.”

“You’re being kinda flippant about this, aren’t you? Never thought I’d see the mighty Angel turning down the opportunity to help people. Doesn’t that bother that pesky soul of yours?”

“I never tried to do everything myself, Lindsey. Even back when it was just me and my little crew, I used to delegate. And I don’t have to justify myself to you. Unlike you, I chose my road. You just got slammed with visions. If it weren’t for those, you’d still be out of town, avoiding me. Remember?”

Lindsey opens his mouth to retort then closes it. Well, that is the cover story he chose and it’s too late to retract it now. Besides, he’s got the vampire staying here and this is right where he’s wanted Angel for almost five years so why is he blowing it? Lindsey shakes his head at his own stupidity and instantly regrets it as the motion causes the fading pain to flare up again behind his eyes. He groans and lets his head sag onto the back of the couch. “I’m sorry, Angel. These headaches put me in the worst mood. I’m always meaner than a rattlesnake that’s had its tail stepped on after I get one of these damned visions. Just ignore me. I’ll be fine.”

Angel stands up and asks, “Where’s the bathroom?”

Lindsey waves vaguely down the hallway, too worn out to speak. But he slits his eyes to watch the line of Angel’s back as the vampire disappears. Angel looks just as good from behind as he does from the front and Lindsey takes the opportunity to appreciate the view before the vampire disappears. Then he succumbs to the pounding agony in his head and lets his eyelids slide shut.

The couch dips slightly but he doesn’t open his eyes yet. Then his shoulder is nudged. “Lindsey, sit up. I brought aspirin.”

The ex-lawyer complies and his eyes widen as he takes in the sight before him. Angel has removed his coat and Lindsey notices he is wearing a suit. Quite expensive and tailored to fit him perfectly, the jacket outlines those massive shoulders and tapers to cling to his hips. The corporate look becomes the vampire. Then again, Angel probably would look good covered in garbage. Angel notices Lindsey staring and his brows crease in puzzlement. “What?”

Lindsey hastily reaches out for the two pills and the glass of water Angel holds out to him. “Uh, nothing.” He wonders if Angel ever experiences anything like vanity. Goodness knows Spike is so full of himself it’s all Lindsey can stand to be in his company. However, Angel carries himself like a man who doesn’t know that he’s handsome. He wonders if the vampire is this natural when he’s nude. Lindsey flushes at the thought of naked Angel and swallows the pills a bit too quickly. He chokes and covers by gulping the water. Smiling wanly at the demon sitting next to him, he sets down the glass and slumps against the couch again.

He starts slightly at a cool sensation and his eyes open again to see that Angel has pressed one hand on his forehead. The vampire is rubbing his hand in slow circles and Lindsey allows himself to relax even further. “Mmm. Angel, that feels so good,” he murmurs, his voice warm with gratitude.

Angel smiles indulgently at him. “I used to do this for Cordelia. She always said it helped.”

“Oh. She was right then.” Again with Cordelia. What does Angel really feel for her? His face and voice lighten whenever he speaks of her and Lindsey experiences a sting of resentment. “Were you two—? I mean, it’s none of my business. It’s just… I’ve been gone for two years and all I know is the little Spike tells me.”

Angel’s voice turns musing. “Cordelia turned out to be the best friend I’ve ever had. She was good to me—and good for me.”

That’s not quite a passionate declaration of love. Hell, Lindsey can say the same about one of his sisters. Angel also speaks about her in the past tense. Is it accidental? Or has he really given up on her recovery?

The vampire appears to notice his own slip-up. “She’s going to get better, though. Wolfram & Hart are taking care of her. And I check up on her all the time to make sure she’s okay—and still with her original body parts.”

Lindsey grimaces. “I wouldn’t have needed a new hand if a certain vampire hadn’t cut mine off.”

Angel removes his fingers from Lindsey’s head and the ex-lawyer could kick himself for his idiocy. “Sure. If not you, then I suppose Bradley Scott’s body parts would have gone to someone else more deserving.”

“Huh. Okay, guess I deserved that. Still, it’s not as if I knew…”

“Where did you think it came from, Lindsey? People have organs and eyeballs donated all the time. But human limbs aren’t just items you find lying around hospital grounds.” Angel breaks off. “You know what? That’s all ancient history. Water under the bridge, over the bridge as an old—friend of mine would say. I didn’t come here to argue about that.” He stands in one fluid movement. “I should be going.”

Lindsey looks up at him in alarm and rises to his feet, mentally cursing his clumsiness as the lingering pain causes him to stagger. “Wait. You don’t have to go.”

Angel pauses in gathering up his coat. “Why not? I just wanted to know what you’re doing back in town.” He gives Lindsey an appraising look. “It’s nice to know you’re batting for our side.”

“Thanks.” Lindsey attempts for nonchalance. Damn, he used to be a lot surer of himself around Angel before now. “But I thought…we could talk.”

Angel lifts an eyebrow. “About what?” He doesn’t seem eager to stay. But at least he’s not going.

“About…everything. I’ve been out of the loop for almost three years. The visions don’t give me anything except people in pain—and they put me in it.” Okay, playing for sympathy is a cheap ploy. But he’d done it in court often enough when the situation warranted it. Lindsey McDonald wasn’t above stooping to low tactics when it got the job done.

“Don’t you have Spike to keep you up to speed?”

Lindsey snorts at the foolishness of the idea. “Spike? Having him around is like having a barracuda for a pet. You point to it as a curiosity and a conversation piece. You don’t keep it for the pleasure of its company.”

Angel chuckles and Lindsey blinks at the strange sound. “Yeah. I know what you mean. But most people wouldn’t call me the life of the party.”

“No argument there,” Lindsey shoots back. The two men gaze at each other again. Lindsey is the first to look away. “Stay. Please. Besides, I liked your hands on me.” Damn! Double entendre, step right up. “I mean, your hand felt good on my head.” That isn’t much better. If Lindsey hadn’t cured himself of the habit years ago, he’d have sworn he was blushing.

Once again, the immortal’s dark gaze is unreadable. Then, without another word, he puts down his coat and sits on the couch again. Lindsey hovers indecisively and then sits beside him.

Angel resumes stroking his forehead. Within moments, he’s putty under Angel’s hands. The stroking, rubbing motions feel great and he can’t forget that it’s Angel sitting beside him, touching him, just as he’s dreamed for the last five years. Well, it isn’t quite as he’d envisioned it. For one thing there’s a lot less nudity than in his fantasies. Also Angel is touching his forehead only. It’s not quite the same as a sexual grope. But Lindsey is nothing if not patient.

Besides, the touch is quite—stirring. Lindsey is shifting more and more under Angel’s hands, short moans puffing past lip lips. “Angel…don’t stop. Your hands…so good.” Small tremors are working their way through his body and tendrils of heat flare over his chest right down to his toes. He can’t remember the last time such a minor caress affected him like this. He’s getting hard and thinks Angel must at least smell his arousal.

He lets his eyes flick to half-mast and peeks at Angel from under the lids. Can’t Angel see how riled up he’s getting? How much more of a hint does the vampire need? When the touching stops, Lindsey’s eyes fly open in dismay. “A-Angel? What’s wrong?”

The vampire shifts away on the couch. “I really shouldn’t stay.”

“No!” Lindsey’s hands fly out to grasp his arm. “Was it…me? Was it something I did?”

The vampire’s eyes search his. “What is it you really want, Lindsey? We didn’t exactly part as friends.”

“W-we weren’t enemies either. I wanted to find out what was wrong with my hand and I did. You helped me.”

“Not because you wanted me to,” Angel pointed out. “I seem to recall your waving a gun and yelling that this was your lead. You were like a little kid throwing a tantrum. It was so cute.”

Lindsey scowls. Cute? He’s trying to seduce this vampire and all he gets is cute? He wants to smack that smirking expression off the vampire’s smooth kisser. Spike’s sneers aren’t nearly so aggravating as Angel’s. Then he reconsiders. “Cute? You thought I was cute?”

Angel becomes cautious again as if he’s betrayed himself somehow. “Maybe. In an annoying little brother kind of way.”

Lindsey lets his voice drop, become purring and seductive. A bit of southern drawl creeps in as he peers steadily at the other man. “I didn’t think you were so bad-looking yourself. And I definitely don’t see you as a big brother.” There, he can hardly get more explicit than that and, when Angel hesitates, he pulls at his lapels and draws the vampire down for a kiss. The demon doesn’t respond at first and Lindsey fears he’ll pull away.

Then the vampire does and Lindsey wants to scream in frustration. “Lindsey.”

“What?” He’s ready to kick holes in the walls at this point and the word comes out in a growl.

“Do you trust me?”

What the hell kind of question is that? They’re on the verge of fucking and if Lindsey didn’t trust Angel he wouldn’t have let him through the front door! He opens his mouth to comment on the asinine remark when he sees the heavy look in Angel’s eyes.

Something’s bothering Angel and it isn’t just finding the scent of his Grandchilde on Lindsey. He realizes there was another reason Angel came here tonight and that the vampire needs this as much as he does. He could question the demon about this but runs the risk of breaking the mood. So he settles for a simple answer. “Yes. I trust you.”

Then Angel melts (there’s no other way to describe the sudden sliding graceful movement) into his arms and crushes Lindsey tightly to his chest.

Oh! He’s kissing Angel. HE’S KISSING ANGEL! It’s all Lindsey can do not to faint like some immature maiden out of a cheap romance novel. Instead he runs his hands over those powerful shoulders and clutches Angel closer to his body as the vampire proceeds to lip and bite at his eager mouth. Angel pushes at Lindsey’s bottom lip with his tongue and it parts automatically. The small man moans as a cool tongue runs back and forth over his lips and the vampire begins tongue kissing him.

Lindsey sucks on the tongue, drawing it farther into his mouth. The tepid length is darting in little flicks inside his, pushing until he opens fully to the demon, moaning without restraint while he savors these tender attentions. Angel tastes clean, his breath having no odor save a faint bitter tang. Is that the taste of blood? He had thought it would be stronger. Spike’s breath reeks of it often enough. Melded with the stench of smokes and booze, it’s an ugly odor; Lindsey is glad Spike never insists on kissing him. But you have to smell clean for the clients; Lindsey knows that much. And Angel smells great and tastes even better. As he wonders how other parts of Angel tastes, Lindsey’s mouth becomes more demanding.

The kisses leave his mouth and he moans at the loss. Now those lips are skimming across his cheek and he jumps from a fleeting nip at his ear. Angel pulls the dangling flesh into his mouth and Lindsey trembles. He’s never considered his ears erogenous zones before but, when Angel tongues the outer curve and suckles the lobe, he’s on the point of creaming his pants.

He fervently hopes he doesn’t have another vision while they’re in the middle of sex. The excruciating pain would put a real damper on the moment. He also knows from experience that, when one of them hits, it feels as if his entire body is convulsing. Not a very desirable sensation—although it might provide an interesting stimulus for the vampire…

Lindsey’s idle speculation comes to a halt as he feels Angel’s hands moving purposefully over his chest and opening his shirt one button at a time. Lindsey wants to stop him and then throws caution to the winds. There’s no point in being careful now and, besides, he wants to give Angel everything he denies Spike.

At the first sign of the dark ink, Angel stops in surprise. He never came close to seeing Lindsey naked in the past but he’s sure these tattoos are new. As he bares more of the supple flesh, he notes the intricacy of the designs and realizes they cover a lot more skin than he supposed. He never got to know McDonald back when they were mortal enemies but this kind of extensive skin marking doesn’t seem the Oklahoman’s style. “Lindsey, what are these? Magical symbols?”

The smaller man’s eyes shift from his and Angel sees guilt sparkle in their blue depths. “Um. Yeah. They kinda are.”

“What are they supposed to do?” Angel shifts away from him and Lindsey stifles the urge to draw him back even as he longs to feel the vampire stroking him again. The demon is getting suspicious and Lindsey has to get him to relax if things are going to proceed to their mutual liking.

“I-I told you. I didn’t want you to find me and, when I learned that I was Spike's seer, I panicked, okay? So I got magical tats. They act as a cloak for magical sensors. I was afraid of what you’d do if you found out I was back in L.A.”

Angel’s eyebrows shoot up. “What were you afraid of? Did you think I’d kill you? It’s not as if I didn’t have opportunities before, you know.”

“I know. It was irrational. But I just had to be sure.” When Angel doesn’t move to come close to him, Lindsey pouts and allows himself to look wounded. “A-are they repulsive? Do they make me look ugly?”

The vampire’s answer is swift and teasing. “Lindsey, you’d look good buried in road kill and you know it. Stop the false modesty. You’re not fooling anybody.”

The brunette mortal grins back at him. “Just checking.” Then he reaches out and Angel lunges for him again.

Little by little the chest is exposed as Angel explores the dark runes swirling over the lean torso. Angel traces them with his tongue, planting kisses and sucking the skin between his teeth for quick bites. He seems determined to explore every inch with his tongue and fingers. Lindsey reclines on the couch, threading his fingers in the dark hair as the brunette vamp stretches out over him. Hmm, the hair is soft not stiff as he’d imagined and he explores the strands as Angel maps out the lines and planes of his body.

The couch is oversized, much larger than the space warrants. Unconsciously Lindsey was thinking of having Angel screw him on the broad surface when he bought it although he hadn’t really dared to entertain the possibility. Now he’s glad as the vampire’s legs fall on the outside of his and their cocks grind against each other.

He’s wild to bring this to the next level but the immortal is taking this slow. The tongue tip flicks against one taut nipple and the young man shivers. “Angel!”

“Mmm. What?” Angel mumbles against his skin. The tongue swirls in tightening circles around the aureole and then the whole ring is sucked into his mouth. Lindsey mewls, his back arching towards the demon. The suction is fierce; Lindsey thinks there will be bruises tomorrow—bruises in the shape of Angel’s mouth.

Panting hard, Lindsey plucks at Angel’s shoulders and remembers the suit. “Angel, I think one of us has too much clothing on.”

Pausing and lifting his head, Angel stares at him with a devilish grin. “I think you’re right.” He sits up and swiftly unbuckles the other man’s belt. Before Lindsey can protest the pants have been tugged off and tossed over the couch. Angel pauses and gazes on the sight before him.

Lindsey’s skin is pale as if he’s been avoiding the daylight and they make the markings on his skin stand out in vivid relief. But he’s beefier, too, more so than Angel remembers. It’s a good look on him. The runes curve down the muscles and ripple with every breath. The vision is a stirring one and Angel runs one hand down the heaving chest, pausing to tweak a nipple.

The former lawyer at W&H has never felt so exposed or vulnerable. Angel is still dressed and being bared to the immortal’s eyes like this is terrifying and strangely thrilling. His penis is throbbing in time with his racing heartbeat and stiffens further as Angel’s eyes drift down over it. Then the vampire frowns. He sniffs and Lindsey wonders what the matter is now.

“Lindsey, why am I smelling blood?”

Lindsey glances downward, startled. “Am I still bleeding? I thought it’d stopped.”

Angel’s glance turns dark and forbidding. “It was Spike, wasn’t it?”

This time the ex-lawyer does flush. “It’s no biggie, Angel. He gets rough sometimes. You know what vampires are like.”

Angel’s expression is offended. “The soulless ones, yeah. But Spike’s got a soul. You’d think it’d make him less of a prick.”

Lindsey shrugs. “Like I said, it’s no biggie.” Then he pauses and his look is shy. “A-are you saying you’ll be different?”

The smirk returns but now it’s light and without malice. “I promise I’ll be gentle.”

Lindsey wants to laugh at the hoary old cliché but the inclination dies away as Angel begins to strip. Shoes and socks go first and then the jacket, shirt and tie. Lindsey sucks in his breath at the vision oroadroad Angel flesh. Angel is one gorgeous hunk of a man and he’s the only guy who could ever make him feel this hot and bothered. Angel stretches on top of him and Lindsey moans as cool hands leave tingling trails over his ribs. “Hey. What about the pants?”

Angel pulls back to smile at him. “Patience. We’ve got all night.” He resumes the pulling kisses and Lindsey can’t bring himself to complain. Angel can really kiss and for far longer than most people can or care to. All too soon, he’s dizzy from the lack of air. Angel notices and pulls back and wraps his hand around the straining cock that’s been poking his belly.

A shaking breath is sucked between those pouty lips. “Aaangelll.”

“Relax, Lindsey.” The man is breathing so hard Angel thinks he might pass out.

“Angel, please.” The strokes are languid but Angel squeezes every time he pulls up, his thumb pressing into the head of his dick. A firmer squeeze and Lindsey is thrusting up into his fist. His hips undulate on the couch, seeking more of Angel’s cool grip. The kisses come back and this time it’s Lindsey sticking his tongue down the vamp’s throat. No need to worry about choking him; it’s not as if the undead need to breathe, do they?

The strokes speed up and Lindsey twists his mouth away. “Angel, stop. Please. I want you inside.”

“And you’ll get me.” He puts his lips close to the mortal’s ear and murmurs in that sexy voice Lindsey has fantasized about for countless nights. “But first I want to see you shoot. I want to see you spurt over those marks. I want to see what your cum looks like over all that dark ink.”

Lindsey can’t say anything in reply to that. He can barely breathe. The vampire is pinning him with that intense stare again and he feels absolutely helpless knowing that Angel is going to watch him while he cums. “Oh, shit. Ang—uhhhhh.” His voice becomes a wheeze as his throat closes off. All that heat in his body is winding down to clutch in a tight bundle low in his stomach. His balls draw up even as the vampire cups and rolls them in his other hand.

If Lindsey can’t speak, Angel has no such problem. “You’re so hot, Lindsey. You feel so good in my hand. I want you to cum for me. Cum for me, Lindsey.”

“Aaggggghhhh!” Lindsey’s throat opens up in a gurgling yell as he shoots all over his chest. The paroxysm causes his whole body to seize up. Angel continues to pump him until every last drop is purged from his body.

His whole frame shuddering, Lindsey is currently melting in a puddle all over that huge couch. His eyes open wearily as Angel runs his hands over his dripping chest and then widen as the brunette lifts one large hand and delicately licks the milky fluid off his fingers.

The spectacle is enough to rouse the mortal all over again. He leans up and grasps Angel’s head, drawing him close for a sucking pull of his lips. Two tongues, one hot, one cold, twist together and Lindsey whimpers as spittle and cum mingle inside his jaws.

The whimper becomes a squeak when one long finger prods and enters his rectum. His gaze meets Angel’s for a moment and the vampire pauses as if mutely seeking permission. The ex-lawyer relaxes into his touch and the finger presses inwards.

He’s no longer able to sit upright and Angel presses him back into the couch. Soon he’s writhing, his ass clenching on a finger that turns into two. The kisses descend as those chilly lips run over and bite the skin. Lindsey isn’t certain whether Angel is trying to distract him from the probing fingers or whether he’s truly fascinated by the tattoos.

Silky whispers drift to his ears as the vampire begins a running commentary on what he’s seeing and tasting. “I got to hand it to the artist. These are beautiful, Lindsey. I can see the pores in your skin. Your nipples look pale by comparison and so delectable.” His head bobs languidly between the twin spots and Lindsey gasps as they receive icy darting licks. “And the way the lines follow the folds and curves…” The tongue dips into his armpit and runs in a lazy arc over his shoulder before trailing back over a nipple and down over his belly.

The fingers are reaching deeper. When the prostate is reached and mercilessly rubbed, Lindsey’s hips snap up. “Angel! Shit!” The stimulation is almost too much given what else is happening to him. And still Angel continues to whisper.

The vampire licks at his fingers and then swirls it around a dark-inked nipple until the flesh crinkles. He pulls on it in time to what his fingers are doing inside and the dual sensations seem to collide and meet somewhere in Lindsey’s belly. Even without his cock being touched, he’s in danger of cumming too soon. Anxious to have the vampire within him when he does, Lindsey glances downwards over the broad back and sees the dark lines on Angel’s right shoulder blade. “Angel? What is that? Have you got a tattoo?” He squints. It’s hard to make out the design from his upside down vantage point. “Is that an A?”

Angel chuckles. The sound makes his lips buzz against Lindsey’s belly and his cock twitches at the sensation. “Yeah. Stands for Angelus.”

“Aahhh.” Lindsey sighs and tries to draw his scattered mind back to the question. The intruding fingers twist and Lindsey bites his lip as the crisis surges to the fore. Sucking in a steadying breath, he squeaks, “Wh-where did you get it?”

“It was a gift from Darla.”

So he’d gotten it after he was turned, then. “I thought vampires heal quickly. How could your skin—oh god.” The fingers are now four and his hips rock hard with the inner movement. He continues, somewhat breathlessly. “How come you didn’t heal over the punctures?”

“The artist used trace amounts of holy water to keep my skin from healing too quickly. Took most of one night.”

Goddamn, that must have hurt. Lindsey’s tats were mystic marks. They hadn’t required inking only chanted words. He’d drunk something nasty and lain down naked in a circle of glowing candles and the symbols simply had appeared on his skin. Angelus must be one tough bastard to endure a holy water drip through an entire night.

Angel lifts his head. “Why the questions, Lindsey? Want to compare stories?”

The ex-lawyer clutches his ass around the invasive digits. “Just wanted to distract…myself a little. You’re too good with your hands.”

Angel smirks again. “I can think of a better distraction.” He slides up along Lindsey’s body to re-capture his lips in a searing kiss. The small man holds him close. He may be a fraction of the vampire’s years but he knows a thing or two about kissing. He curls his tongue to flick at the skin just behind the upper teeth and is gratified to hear Angel moan into his mouth.

Human hands run over every inch of vampire flesh he can reach. The skin is smooth, remarkably undamaged in spite of 250 years spent roaming the earth. Angel’s skin isn’t cold, more like room temperature, and the texture is like the silk he imagined. He strokes the tattoo, trying to trace its character with his fingertips. Almost he can feel the lines under his searching hands. Then nails dig into the wide back as Angel fists him.

When had four long digits turned into coiled bones? Lindsey stretches his legs as far apart as the couch space will permit to allow the demon access. “Shit. Fuck! Angel! No, I can’t…fuck me!” He grinds out, the fist shoving him across the couch until his head bumps the armrest. Groans mingle with pants as Lindsey claws at Angel’s back, his ass quivering around Angel’s hand.

Trying to stem the tide, Lindsey digs his heels into the couch. He squeezes his eyes shut and concentrates on holding back his orgasm. But it’s beating in his body like churning water against a dam. Angel is going to bring it thundering out of him whether he wants it or not. He’s soclosesoclosesoclosesoclose…

Lindsey’s ready; Angel can smell it on his skin. He pulls out gently, relaxing his hand and easing it one digit at a time out of the mortal. Damn, Lindsey is just so hot and tight around him. He hadn’t expected that since the man has been with Spike. Ignoring the man’s distressed whimper, Angel reaches down and shucks off his pants.

God, the emptiness as Angel withdraws is so piercing, the mortal is devastated. Lindsey hasn’t cried since he watched his father joking with the repo men. But he feels like crying now as that naughty hand is removed. He thought he had an evil hand? Angel’s could easily lead him down the road to sin again. Then he raises his head to stare as Angel removes his slacks

for the first time.

Holy shit. He remembers Darla’s stories but he’s always thought them exaggerations, lies meant to taunt him and make him feel inadequate. But the one-eyed beast currently rearing upright amid Angel’s dark pubes more than lives up to her promises. Damn, he doesn’t think he’s going to be able to go through with this.

“Lindsey?” The voice drags his gaze back up to Angel’s face. The vampire is wearing a look of amusement, pride and more than a little apprehension. He must scent Lindsey’s fear. The smaller man wonders if he can sniff determination as well. Pushing his terror far away, the southerner grasps Angel’s waist and tries to pull him closer.

“I’m ready.” It comes out a cracked whisper and he clears his throat and tries again. “I’m ready.” Angel doesn’t move and Lindsey adds, “I trust you, remember?” To add weight to his statement, he reaches out one hand and takes “little” Angel in his palm.

The cock jumps and flexes at his touch. It’s big, all right; he can just make his fingers meet around it. It’s engorged and purple with blood and not for the first time he wonders how vampires can have erections when their blood doesn’t circulate. Question for another hour…

The wrinkly foreskin shifts in his rubbing fingers. Smiling at Angel’s indrawn hiss he plays with the skin, causing the glans to play peek-a-boo as he strokes it. The head is weeping pre-cum and Lindsey leans forward to take a swift lick. Mmmm, Angel lollipop. Very nice.

“Lindsey.” This time his name is more of a growl and he lifts his eyes to meet a yellow stare. Angel’s fangs are showing and he’s biting his lip with the effort not to thrust. By the way he’s cupping Lindsey’s head, he may not be able to resist the temptation. The mortal gives one last lick, just to tease, and then leans back on the couch. He pulls away the hand nestled in his hair and tugs Angel downward.

The larger, cooler body blankets his own and Angel places light, darting kisses all along his mouth. Lindsey is just losing himself in those kisses when the first thrust is made. His breath instantly catches and he does his best not to tense up as that bulging head he saw moments ago makes its entry. “Uhhhh…”

The initial thrusts are short and shallow. The vampire is giving him time to adjust and Lindsey is grateful. But it’s not as if he can’t take a more forceful rhythm. Licks along Angel’s ear are following by gasping whimpers. “More. Harder. You don’t have…to…hold back. Shit!”

A rumbling growl is his only answer. The vibration starts deep in Angel’s belly and works its way upward to buzz against Lindsey’s throat. Pressed into the couch, the buzzing is like the quivering of thousand of needles just brushing him over the surface of his skin. The impression is an unbelievably powerful one and Lindsey grabs hard onto those rippling shoulder muscles in a desperate attempt to anchor himself.

Angel’s next movement finds a corresponding squeeze from Lindsey’s passage. “Fuck, Lindsey!” He grips the mortal’s ass in both hands and lifts him off the couch. The altered angle sends the vampire sliding home and the mortal in his grasp trembles at the onslaught of feeling.

“Annngeellll. Unggggh. Oh fuckmefuckmefuckmehardersweetsogood…” It’s Lindsey’s turn to hiss and moan in pleasure as that spot is hit. Lindsey experiences every inch of that meat

filling him up inside. In spite of his earlier greasing from Spike, he’s being split in half. It’s as if Angel is reaching parts of him that have never been touched before. Every movement brings shafts of heat flaring through him and it’s too much to take. Lindsey turns his head, squeezes his lids shut so the demon can’t see his eyes rolling upwards. He’s getting fucked good and proper but he doesn’t want Angel to see just how much he’s being affected by it.

“Lindsey. Open your eyes. Look at me.” The words are gently spoken but with a definite tone of command. Against his will, blue eyes snap open to meet searching black ones. “Is it good? What you wanted? I need to know. Tell me.”

He needs to know? Is this more for Angel than just a quick fuck then? Lindsey hopes so yet he’s terrified to open up to this vampire. He wants to hold some part of himself back. Before he left Oklahoma to come here again, he never traded intimacies with his bed partners even to spare their feelings. He wanted company not companionship. Intimacy—what he craves

with Angel…

But Angel has stopped moving and the ache to finish is so strong. He has to speak, say something, or it will be over right now. “Angel, oh goddamn.” He swallows and his head turns slightly only to be grasped by the chin and brought back to hold the vampire’s eyes. Lindsey breathes, “It’s good. It’s so damned good. Don’t stop. Please, god, please don’t stop.” The motions resume and the mortal could simply weep with the relief.

Angel is whispering to him again; he strains to hear every word. “You feel good, too, Lindsey. So hot. Such a sweet fuck.” He raises the slight body up until all Lindsey’s weight is resting on his shoulders and head. “I often wondered what you’d feel like, all that Lindsey heat around me.” Pulling out until only the head remains, Angel presses back in with one unhurried push. “Now I know.”

Angel had been thinking about him? The revelation coming on top of the fuck startles Lindsey into looking at the vampire again. The eyes have shifted color once more, become golden and predatory. Angel grins around his fangs. It’s a genuine smile not a vicious one although there’s hunger there, too. Taking a chance, Lindsey grabs his face and drags the tepid lips down to meet his. He thrusts his tongue between those pointed bits of enamel and scrapes the buds along one tooth. As a thin line of blood wells up in Angel’s mouth, the demon groans and sucks eagerly at the lifeblood freely given.

Now their movements are faster, wilder, almost out of control and Lindsey is being pressed into the couch until he thinks he’ll suffocate. Angel suckles at his tongue as if it were a nipple and Lindsey is reminded there’s more to this demon’s body than the cock. He runs his hand down the wide back to the slim waist and on to the buttocks tightening with each thrust into his body. When Angel pushes in again, he is aided by Lindsey’s grasp on his ass, urging him farther inside. Mortal legs slide around his waist, the heels now grinding on his butt, now winding along Angel’s legs.

Lindsey wrenches his mouth away to murmur in Angel’s ear. His voice is husky and raw with need. “Angel. Fuuuuuccck…oooh, yeah. That’s it. That’s the spot.”

“Squeeze me like that again. Damn…sweet Lindsey…”

Heavy balls are banging at his ass as Angel drives harder. He’s not restraining himself any longer and Lindsey is fiercely glad. Let him fuck him as hard as he likes. Let him mark Lindsey with his seed, his scent. Brutal or gentle, Angel is the one he’s wanted all these long, lonely years and now he has him. A final rub and Lindsey is cumming, his cock jerking and splashing his chest once more as he shrieks.

“AAAAANNNNGEEEELLLL!” His head falls back, his whole body bucking as if to throw the demon off. It’s as if his entire being is caught up in the urgent intensity of his passion. It has never been like this even with Spike. Struggling to breathe and regain his senses, he becomes aware that Angel has not stopped thrusting. “A-Angel?”

The demon smirks. He’s regained control of himself far sooner than Lindsey. “What’s the matter? Never done multiple rounds with a vampire before?”

“N-not in one night.” No, usually once an evening was enough for himself and Spike. Neither man nor demon ever wanted to linger. It’s not like they were dating or anything. And did Angel say multiple rounds? Heaven help him.

Angel grabs him around the waist and rises to his feet. The movement is so graceful and yet abrupt that Lindsey yelps and automatically wraps his arms and legs around the solid body to keep from falling. Pausing briefly to snatch up his tie, Angel heads for the bedroom he saw earlier.

Still with his cock snug in the mortal’s hole, Angel lets Lindsey fall back onto the bed. He sniffs appreciatively and Lindsey is gladder than ever that he’s never fucked Spike in this bed. His relief turns to apprehension when Angel jerks his arms over his head and begins fastening his wriso tho the headrest with his tie. “Angel? Wh-what is this? What are you doing?”

“I think you know, Lindsey. Just some good old-fashioned bondage.”

“Yeah, I can see that. Can I ask why?” Lindsey winces slightly as the knots are fastened. They’re just a little too close for comfort but not so tight that they’re cutting off circulation. He gasps as Angel finishes and resumes fucking him.

This time the vampire doesn’t stretch out over him. Angel remains upright, resting on his heels. His hands force Lindsey’s thighs apart so both knees are pressed in a frog position as he cores the man tied to the bed. Then he leans forward slightly to whisper. “You invited a vampire into your home again, Lindsey. That’s not exactly a smart thing to do. So there aren’t going to be any safe words here. In fact, there’s no such thing as safety where vamps are concerned. There’s only trust.”

“Did…you…say…trust…or…thrust?” Lindsay gasps out. Never let it be said Lindsey McDonald lacked for a comeback. Angel grins at the sally and only answers with another firm push. Guess that answers the question.

His motions are slower now and he’s not allowing the Oklahoman to move. His hands remain locked on Lindsey’s thighs, pinning him to the sheets. Lindsey figures he could probably use his demonic strength to pop out of his bonds and Angel’s grip. But then the entertainment would be over too soon and neither of them wants that. If Angel wants to spin things out, he has no objections.

That does seem to be the creature’s intentions. Never has Lindsey known such languorous, drawn-out screwing. Angel withdraws until only the very tip is left within and then ever so carefully slides back in. Every ridge of his cock can be felt oozing over his prostate and, when the vampire is fully sheathed, he simply stops. No thrusts, no motion at all—only his icy penis pulsing in the hot passage that clutches frenziedly around him.

Lindsey writhes in an agony of denied pleasure as Angel muses out loud. “I could keep you like this for hours, you know. Days, even. How would you like that, Lindsey? Just pinned down here hard as a rock but never being able to cum until I wanted you to?”

“Oh god.” The words are a raw whisper. Is that even possible? He doesn’t doubt that a vampire would be capable of such a sexual marathon. But could a mere human body take such delicious punishment without collapsing or going insane?

Lindsey is achingly erect right now, his hips bobbing, his whole body trembling as he tries to force himself against the broad figure between his legs. Angel removes one hand to caress his skin, his fingers brushing over the marks again. Lindsey winds his free leg around the cool thighs but Angel remains unheeding of his attempts to draw him nearer. One large hand touches the hot cock and Angel grins as Lindsey moans, arching into his fist.

“Don’t worry; I wouldn’t do that to you. I want to see you cum again and again. I want to feel you thrashing under me. I’m just wondering how often it’ll happen.” He licks Lindsey’s ear and croons in a sibilant whisper while the mortal twists beneath him. “Well, let’s just see how long you can last.”

Lindsey has lost control of this game somewhere down the line. The whole point of the visions, his return to Los Angeles, his endured sexual sessions with Spike were to win Angel. Now he has him and he may live to regret it.

In the time since he fastened Lindsey down, he has added a new wrinkle to their sexplay. Every now and again, when Lindsey least expects it, Angel slices into him with his fangs. The cuts are never life threatening but they sting with the sharpness of paper cuts just before Angel soothes them with the cool of his tongue.

He arches upward as the vampire opens yet another shallow cut on his skin. The tongue darts out, licking avidly at the tiny tear. “Aaaahhhhh. Angelllll,” he whimpers. Angel purrs, the rumbling stimulus exciting him no less than all the others.

Between the cock steadily reaming out his hole, the cunning hand stroking sensually up and down his length and the small licks of blood Angel is taking from his flesh, Lindsey has cum no less than four times. His toes ache with violent curling and uncurling every time an orgasm rips through this body. Sometimes he thinks Angel cums too although he’s never quite sure.

The bloodsucker hasn’t taken the bite from the neck yet, though. Lindsey doesn’t know if he’s saving that for last or if he means to deny him that ultimate pleasure. Taking a chance on Angel’s response, Lindsey whispers, “You like the way it looks, don’t you? Seeing the blood pouring down my skin, standing out against the runes. It’s a turn-on, isn’t it?”

Angel lifts his head from a seeping red line just over Lindsey’s left nipple. He doesn’t answer only stares with golden eyes at the mortal pinned under him. A pink tongue tip flicks out to lap at the crimson fluid staining his fangs and Lindsey shudders at the sight.

“Why stop there then?” Lindsey arches his neck up and back, bearing his throat. Angel doesn’t move for many long seconds. Then…

The shrill ringing of the bedside phone interrupts them and Lindsey is furious both at himself and the unknown caller. Shit, he should have taken that thing off the hook before they started.

Lindsey’s mechanical voice fills the air when the machine picks up. “Hello, you’ve reached 555-1632. Leave a message at the sound of the beep.”

Suddenly a familiar irritating Cockney voice floats through the room as Spike talks. “’Ello, Doyle? You there? Before you ask how’d I get your number, I had a bit of a look-see in your wallet one night when I was rogering you over the car hood.” There is a sound of fumbling as if the phone is being dropped. “Oi, watch it, you berk! Hold the phone steady! Look, I ran into a bit of bother with that crazed bint you sent me after. Did you know she was a Slayer? Anyways, she and I did a little dance and, the long and short of it is, my hands aren’t quite up to driving. Get your scrawny arse down to W&H headquarters and pick me up. See ya, Doyle.”

Lindsey barely has time to register the fury in Angel’s expression before the vampire grabs him by the throat and slams his head into the pillow. Bloody fangs snap inches from his neck as Angel snarls, “DOYLE?!? What the hell is he doing calling you DOYLE?!”

TBC