Christmas Mate

Despite the harsh parting, William had gone back to his hotel room and forced the link between him and his mate. This time, he’d been in the comfort of his own room and had enjoyed Angel’s dream that much more for being able to touch himself. All dreams were a mixture of fantasy and truth. He would remember how Angel liked to be touched and touch him just so at the first opportunity.

But this morning, he’d received and order that would take him out of the galaxy for at least three Gaian days. With a heavy heart, he sent a proxy to Angel in his stead. The courting had to continue.

For the second day in a row, Angel woke up upset and in need. It was bad enough that he was dreaming about being under William, did the dream really have to end before he found his release?

Scowling at the world, he got up to make himself some coffee and do his exercises. He was half way through the first set when someone banged on the door. His face went from relaxed to scowling in two seconds flat as he realised who it must be. Who else would bother him this early in the day?

He stalked to the door and wrenched it open. "What the fuck do you...who are you?"

“Good morning,” the uniformed young man said with a smile, holding out the wrapped gift. “Compliments of Captain William, who regrets to inform you that he has been sent on a mission. In the interim, he wishes his courtship to continue and I am his proxy, Lieutenant Landros. It is an honor to meet my Captain’s mate.”

Angel stared, uncomprehending for a moment. Then he slammed the door closed. "Just, fucking, brilliant," he muttered and went back to his exercises.

Landros stared at the door for a full five minutes, then decided he’d best at least deliver the gift. Using the key he’d been given, he opened the door and walked inside. “Sorry Sir... I have to leave this for you,” he said putting the gift down on the table as he watched Angel exercise for a minute... steadfastly ignoring him. “I will call on you tonight in the event you wish to go to the theater as arranged by the Captain.

Still silence.

As he walked out, Landros muttered under his breath. “No wonder they’re calling him the reluctant mate!”

At least the proxy was easier to ignore than William. There were no unwelcome feelings, no physical reaction to the man's proximity. In fact, the little twerp only raised feelings of annoyance in Angel. Still, he barely managed to concentrate enough to finish his exercises, not with the envelope taking hold of his attention from its place on the coffee table.

In the end he couldn't resist and he stopped what he was doing to tear the envelope open and look inside. What he found brought forth all those feelings and reactions he had been happy to miss. William was staring up at him from the glossy paper, smiling widely, blue eyes twinkling with mirth. That wasn't the bad one though, no...the one that had him hard in moments was the one where William was lounging in bed, smirking towards the camera lense with his hand wrapped around his erection. Naked, hard William looking up at him and All angel could think about was how to get the real live version right in front of him.

"I hate that guy," he groaned, banging his head on the coffee table.


* * *

It was the sixth day of their courtship... six days after Gaian Christmas, when William returned. It was early, very early in the morning, and he knew his mate didn’t like this time of the day. And yet, he’d missed him so desperately that he needed to see him even before the sun rose.

He’d received Landros’ reports that Angel had refused to be entertained, and had barely acknowledged the daily gifts. If he’d hoped his mate had softened... had missed him, perhaps he was wrong?

Brushing useless doubts aside, William walked into Angel’s apartment and made his way to the bedroom. From the silver light filtering into the room, he could see his mate’s face. For once, his expression wasn’t stern or forbidden, or closed. In sleep... he looked soft and vulnerable.

Unable to help himself, William joined him on the bed, then bent down and kissed him. He needed this, needed the connection to his mate. He also needed his mate to find the connection quickly, or the courtship would be sheer torture. “Angel-luv, kiss me,” he demanded, moving his mouth more firmly against Angel’s.

Angel was having yet another one of those delicious dreams. William was leaning over him this time, nothing touching but their lips. He relaxed his own, enjoying his mate's taste as William's tongue delved into his mouth. He responded with all the passion he couldn't show, all the feeling he was suppressing when awake.

It was everything William could have hoped for, and more. Tongues stroking, mouths moving together and away, breaths mingling... getting more rapid. He loved this man so, and couldn’t wait to show him how much. He put his hand on the side of Angel’s neck, half cupping his jaw and moving his thumb back and forth over his cheek, occasionally touching the corner of his mouth.

The feeling became more and more intense until Angel's eyes snapped open, focusing on William's eyes. Angel immediately pulled his head back and stared at William, shocked and confused.

"You're back."

“I am.” William’s heated gaze caressed Angel’s lips, before he met his eyes again. “I couldn’t wait to see you.” The gift he’d brought sat on the bed next to him.

"Do you have any idea how many times I wanted to maim, wound or possibly kill you these past few days?" Angel asked, coming awake. He´d caught sight of the wrapped package next to William and immediately remembered why he´d been so angry with the man in the past few days.

"I take it you don't mean that in a good way?" There went his hope that time would make the heart grow fonder. "Tell me, what were my transgressions in absentia? Did you dislike the proxy? He can be very entertaining..."

"The proxy is an idiot," Angel replied, uncomfortably aware of the fact that one of the reasons he hated that guy was that he wasn´t William. "An annoying one," he added. "He accounts for the maiming or wounding. The killing," his eyes narrowed as he remembered, "it is all about the presents."

"The presents." He started running his fingers absently up and down Angel's arm. "You did not like them? I was given to understand small gifts on each day after Christmas is appropriate. You expected... more?" He cocked his head.

"Do you even hear yourself speak?" Angel demanded, "Lube on a string wasn´t enough, naked pictures?! Naked pictures William? And that poem, oh my God, I could hardly read it, it was so..." he gestured at a loss for words. "If that wasn´t enough, you had to send me a book about how to take care of you," he pointed accusingly, "and about a hundred reasons why I was lucky to be chosen!"

William didn't stop stroking Angel, though he did frown. "The pictures... I missed you and I have pictures of you, I thought it only fair that you had some of me. As for the poem... you did not like it?" He was slightly hurt by that, having written it for his mate, explaining in graphic detail how he wanted to make love to him, how he made his heart beat. "I will write you a better one, then," he nodded, "perhaps my sentiments weren't clear enough. As for the book.. I didn't write it. You'll have to direct your dissatisfaction at the author. As far as I know, 'How To Care For And Love Your Warrior Mate' is popular among psychics."


Angel blinked at William. He had no idea how to deal with this. Glaring stonily usually got things done for him, and when that failed all he had to do was shout and look menacing. William seemed immune to everything Angel threw at him and it frustrated him to no end.

"And what about the art supplies, hmm?" He lifted his head and looked at his moody mate. "Did you find fault with those as well? If not... maybe you could draw something. I'm happy to model for you," he said, starting to undo the buttons of his casual shirt.

"Don´t," Angel grabbed hold of William´s hand, keeping it still. "Thank you for those. I couldn´t afford something that good and it did help me practice. Don´t spoil that."

"You don't think I'd make a good model? I can hold still," he answered, squeezing Angel's hands. "Undress me."

"No. That was for me, not for you. You´re not getting anything out of that present."

"You think I'm a selfish man? I'm not. I try to give myself to you, yeah? Why are you making it so difficult? You dream about him, I know this because I dream about you." He lowered his head and kissed Angel's knuckles. "I dream about your hands on me, urging me to go on. Of you speaking words of love and not resenting my every gesture. Of smiling at me. Will that ever happen Angel?" He gave his mate a piercing look.

Angel shifted restlessly. "I...suppose," he conceded.

That was the first concession he'd received, and it filled William with hope. "Do you think we could start now?"

"No," Angel replied, smiling a little. The man just never quit, did he? It was almost amusing the way his eyes had lit up with childlike glee when Angel had admitted they were going somewhere.

It was a very good thing he was a patient man. Patient when compared to the likes of his brother and most other warriors. Merely running his index finger over Angel's half smile, he stepped away. "Then let me take you to breakfast. It is too hard to focus my mind on other things when I have you in a room with a bed."

* * *

Angel tugged at his bowtie, uncomfortable with the tight fit around his neck. William was picking him up in a few moments and that made him unaccountably nervous. This was the first time he´d accepted a proper date with William and he still wasn´t sure it was a good idea. The man managed to strip away Angel´s self-control fast enough without Angel actually cooperating. What was going to happen now? When he´d started the night with an acceptance?

At precisely nine o'clock, William let himself into Angel's apartment and stopped mid-stride. His mate looked so handsome, it made William's gut clench with need. And the way Angel's long fingers were fiddling with the bow tie wasn't doing anything to dampen his impulse to drag the man to bed and forget his promise of courtship and his agreement to not insist on bed sport until Angel was ready.

When their gazes met, he couldn't help himself, he crossed over to Angel and took him in his arms. He took a deep breath, "you're wearing the cologne... for me." The citric scent mixed with Angel's own unique scent made William's senses swim. "Don't deny me this," he said, slanting his mouth over Angel's and kissing him. This was no shy kiss, it was a kiss that spoke of the fire in his loins, and in his heart... leashed, but burning ever so hotly for his mate alone.

The kiss ended leaving Angel feeling dazed. He immediately took refuge behind his walls, stiffening his posture and tightening his lips. "We should go," he muttered and made for the door.

As they walked to the University's library, where the psychic department was hosting a fundraising party, William kept touching Angel. On his arm, or putting his hand around his waist. He knew... by the fact that he was having tremendous trouble keeping his hands off, that his heat cycle was close. It would be so much easier if Angel just let him take him to bed...

"I learned a lot about you over these past three days," he told Angel. It was hard to believe they'd only known each other for nine.

"I´m not sure I want to know," Angel replied, heading straight for the bar. He needed a drink now, before he stopped thinking and slammed William against a wall to kiss him. He wasn´t sure what the man was trying to accomplish by touching Angel all the time but if it was to drive him crazy then he was very nearly successful.

William chuckled. "For one, I learned you're difficult to buy presents for." He accepted the drink Angel ordered for him. "I don't understand why you find everything so objectionable. Classes with a world famous psychic... I know you respect Thurston Blackwell, I've seen all the books on your shelves. Rings... not at all gawdy, quite plain and simple... the way you appear to like things, with as little flash as possible. And some poems I penned for you while I was away. Really, I've been told I could have been a poet had I not chosen this career... and yet you find my writing lacking." Giving his mate a feigned forlorn look, he drank some of his wine.

"I never said it was lacking." Angel pouted, looking down at his glass. Okay so the classes with Master Blackwell had been a very thoughtful gift but the poems had shaken him up more than he dared admit. "The rings included nipple rings which I will not be wearing by the way," he pointed out.

"You are not pierced, but... I set up an appointment with a doctor for you. The card was with the rings," William's gaze slid down to Angel's chest, lingering in the area of his flat nipples. "The thought of seeing your clothes stretched over them... of opening your shirt and running my hands and mouth around them drives me wild..." he said, a husky note in his voice. "They would suit you."

"Right..." Eyes glazed, Angel pictured the scene. He was half-hard by the time he realised exactly what he was doing. "Quit that," he said with a glare. "You should know by now that I don´t take well to orders."

"Would you prefer I begged? Angel..." he put one palm over the man's lapel. "Please get pierced, for me." He moved his thumb back and forth over his chest, then removed his hand. "Did that work?" William couldn't help smiling, his mate looked so determined... so serious... and yet a moment ago he'd been half way gone... sucked into William's desires.

Angel let out a sharp laugh, unable to keep a straight face at the hopeful plea.

"No. Maybe one day but not right now."

"Alright, alright..." William nodded, and pulled Angel along. "Let's go see what they have at the silent auction. You can choose your own presents, and this time I can be shocked at your choices."

There was no doubt that they made a handsome couple. And with the room full of psychics, there were many sighs and wishful looks. Angel had been chosen, would they be next?

William knew the attention was bothering Angel, but there was nothing he could do about it. "Angel-luv, you will get used to it," he whispered.

"I don´t want to get used to it," Angel whispered back, "I want it all to go away." He considered the crowd a moment. "They don´t even know you! For all they know you could be a nasty piece of work."

"But I'm not. And you could be prickly and crotchety and I could be in for a lifetime of..." his gaze slid to Angel, and he grinned. "Good thing I find it all exciting... a challenge." Knowing it was time to change the topic, William commented on a sculpture that was up for auction, then added, "oh... the other things I learned about you were very interesting."

Taking a sip of his drink, he contemplated Angel's countenance. "I was told that you almost always need chocolate, or some other fortification after you have sex... and believe me, I have stocked up. That you love the ocean, and picnicking on the cliffs when you draw. And that... you're reluctant to be a bottom. Don't worry, we'll manage."


"What? Who did...when did...." he spluttered, looking aghast as William. "I´m going to kill Cordelia!" he declared, eyes searching the room for his friend.

"Oh no, it wasn't her. I took a survey of all your exes... that I knew about." It had also been a way to make certain they knew Angel was now taken and that any thoughts of rekindling an old affair should be discarded.

"You didn´t," Angel stated with certainty. "Please tell me you didn´t."

"Do you like that crystal? Shall we bid on it?"

"You did." Deep breaths. He couldn´t kill his intended mate. Not in public anyway. In private...that would be a whole other matter.

"Mmm, yes. The crystal... do you want it?" When his gaze met Angel's, William raised an eyebrow at the intensity of Angel's gaze. "Did they forget to tell me crystals affect you... somehow?" He looked at the pulse point at the base of Angel's throat and knew he wasn't imagining things.

"You talked to all my exes...all of them?" Oh fuck, he could have talked to her! "All of them, William?" he asked again, more insistent this time.

"Hmm, luv?" He put his arm around Angel's back. "I'm very thorough, if anything. Angel, do you think tonight is the night?" He ghosted his mouth over his mate's tense jaw. "I'm feeling... I know you wanted a choice but..."

"Stop that, I need to think," Angel slapped William´s hands away. He´d spoken to his exes....had he gotten to Darla? Had she told him? "William! Stop that, I have to think !"

"Why? What is there to think about? You've had ten days. This is unheard of. It isn't in the nature of a warrior to be celibate, not even during courtship. Surely you can bring yourself to be with me now... if you tried, if you linked with me... it would be so easy, you wouldn't have to fight so hard." He trapped Angel against the long table holding the auction goods, and stood close enough that he could feel the heat emanating from his body. "Angel-luv... trust me enough to give yourself over."

Still caught up in the worry that William might know, Angel shook his head and stepped away. He knew he looked scared and he was sure he would hate himself for it later but for now he couldn't hide it.

Disappointment flooded through William. "I would never hurt you," he said, letting Angel move away and taking a breath. He'd thought they'd made headway over the last few days, but maybe he was wrong. Dwelling on it wasn't about to help anything so he started talking to the other guests, dragging Angel with him from one group to another. Anyone looking at the pair would have thought that William knew all of these people and that Angel was the stranger, though William never left Angel out of the conversation.

Several people told Angel how lucky he was or cracked jokes about sharing the warrior. William felt Angel stiffening each time it happened, but it was out of his control. People were people, they would joke, and what they said wasn't outrageous or rude, it was something Angel would need to get used to.

"Call me when you get bored with this one," some blond woman joked and Angel could feel his blood pressure rise another point. Still he held himself in check. William might know, he might know. If Angel showed his jealousy William might see that he hadn't changed since then and he would leave. He wasn't sure exactly when he had gone from wanting that to happen to dreading it, but there it was. So he kept himself calm, at least outwardly, and stared at the woman until she stopped smiling and made her excuses.

Feeling his mate's discomfort, William leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth, then continued talking. He also put his arm around Angel's waist. It couldn't be clearer that they were together and nothing would separate them. Nothing but Angel himself. William brushed the thought aside and brought his mate into the conversation yet again.

Just as Angel had grown used to the feeling of William's arm around his waist and grown more comfortable with the odd comments about his intended mate, things got worse. The glances were even more heated, the gestures became more overt. It was as if the universe was playing with him, trying to bring him to his limits.

It had sneaked up on him, but now William started to feel warm and flushed... waves of desire and lust started to crash around him. His breathing changed, grew a bit more labored, though he strove to maintain control as he dragged Angel with him towards the exit. "Heat cycle," he whispered, setting his drink down on a tray being passed around by a waiter. "Angel you must do your duty now." With the heat starting to ride him, there was no time for soft words or persuasion. "We've been given access to a dorm room, come..." this time, his caress was more of a grope. He needed his mate, and he needed him now.

"What?" Angel's eyes widened in panic. "No! I mean, it's not...I mean you said we had time!"

"I told you a few days... you had more than..." His gaze lingered on Angel's sensuous mouth. "Fuck..." He pulled Angel up hard against him, and crushed their mouths together, taking him with his mouth and tongue. Flames licked his body, made him want more... so much more. He was already rock hard and needy, but his salvation was his mate. "Let's go," he said harshly, walking backwards and not allowing an inch to separate them.

Meanwhile, the warrior's lust started having an affect on those surrounding them. In waves, it hit them, as it crashed over him. More and more people started to touch each other, kiss... they grew hot and bothered and began to seek relief in ways they would not if they'd been thinking straight.

"William, please." Angel couldn't help but follow William but still, the dark mood lingered and he was worried it would all end badly. He was too close to the edge, too angry, what if he hurt William?

The continued denial grated on William's now raw nerves. "It is you duty, now see to it," he snarled cupping Angel's ass as a possessive reminder of who he belonged to.

Angel stopped moving. "My duty," he said, voice a billion degrees colder than before, "that I must see to."

"Damnit... I can't debate this." His sexual need was ten times stronger in the presence of the one person who could help him control it. Gripping Angel's shoulders he started to drag him close once more, knowing his mate would be affected and unable to stop himself, when he heard a familiar voice at his side.

Trisha Allred, who had been assigned the task of being Angel's lube bearer cleared her throat. "I volunteer to perform his duty, Sir."

William missed the scathing look she threw at his mate. His mate was the one he wanted... the one who could make it all better in one go.. As he started to close in on Angel again, he felt his crew member's hand on his arm.

"You wanted to allow it to be on his terms," she reminded William, "let me help you where he won't."

The room was reverberating with the sounds of gasps and heavy breathing. He had to decide quickly... he knew Gaians were not used to this. One more look into the strangely cold eyes of his mate, and he reluctantly backed away from him.

His eyes never left Angel's but William agreed with Allred. "And I'll need a second and third."

Volunteers were never a difficulty. Several spoke up.

Although his mate's betrayal shocked him to the core, William turned and left him. The instant that he did, Allred's willing arms were around him, all over him. But it was Angel's touch he missed... that he wanted, and Angel's lips that were suspended in his mind, even as he kissed the girl as they struggled to get out the door and to the dorms.

Angel was shocked to feel the blood rushing to his head at the sight of William kissing that woman. He tried to slam the walls down, keep his jealousy under control, but all he could see was William's lips descending on the blonde's over and over again, his mate's hands touching her body. His breaths came in faster, his eyes never left the couple until they disappeared through the door. Even then he could see them in his mind, touching and pleasuring each other. The images mingled and merged with the last time he'd felt like this, until the walls crumbled down and he could no longer hold himself back.

He was out of the University Lounge and into the dorms in seconds, the crowd parting in sight of his rage. By the time he slammed the bedroom door open he could see nothing but red. The scene that greeted him only made his anger burn more fierce. That woman was straddling his mate, his mate. She was touching what was his. He heard her gasp in pleasure but then, her next gasp was more about pain as Angel dragged her off the bed by her hair, pulling her until she was out of the room. The door was violently closed on her shocked face and Angel whirled around to face William.

"Don't say one word," he snarled, ripping off his clothes. He climbed on the bed, grimly satisfied to find a tube of lube on top of the sheets. At least the bitch had come prepared. "Not one word," he repeated when William looked like he would speak.

He pushed one, then two fingers inside his hole, ruthlessly preparing himself. He was angry and hard and he didn't want to hear anything William might say. When he judged himself ready he wrapped a hand around William's erection, pushed himself down until he was impaled. Angel set a punishing rhythm, almost frantic to come by then. He felt a hand curl around his cock and immediately grabbed hold, pushing William's wrist to the mattress. He held both of his mate's wrists, leaning forward to press them hard against the bed, grunted in pleasure as that brought his erection in contact with William's firm stomach.

"Mine," he growled, "fucking mine."

(Please comment, this is our first Spangel and we'd really like to know what you think. Also, we are considering writing a Liam/Wesley in this "mate-verse" but I don't know... doesn't seem too popular at the moment.)

(If you'd like to read Spander in this verse, check out story 4 of our Time After Time series, A whopper of a Tale. Even if you don't want to read the series, if you just read the "flashback" portions of story 4, it is a mate-verse story)