The Boarder

Chapter 4

Angel left the saloon in a bad mood. He couldn't stop remembering Buffy's tears, and the alcohol he drank didn't seem to help. She had never looked as broken hearted as she did earlier that night. Why had be been so stupid?

His stomach had dropped when he saw Darla sitting in his house. She had said that he was the father. He had asked her if she was sure it was his, and she said that she had no doubt. He wasn't sure if he believed her, but the damage had already been done. Buffy knew about the affair - the one moment of desperation he had in his marriage. It didn't matter if he was really the father or not.

Angel considered that period of time his dark days. After he had won their home, it was if he was on a roll, winning every game he played. For weeks, it was if luck was on his side. He knew Buffy was worried about the late nights he stayed out, but she was so happy with the e. He. He had kept his promise to Buffy not to gamble with the deed to the house.

One night, he lost. He kept thinking that he'd win the next night, but he lost again and again. He was gambling with the big players and really couldn't afford the amounts he was throwing away. It was an addiction. He needed to get back that high he achieved when he won. Soon, he was out of money. He even gambled away the pocket watch his father had given him.

Angel never told Buffy that he was losing money, but she knew something was wrong. He started to yell at her for the littlest things. She started to withdraw from him. He told himself that as soon as he won the money back that he lost, he was going to stop.

Angel needed money to gamble, and a rich man had offered a loan. Angel agreed, thinking he'd win and be able to pay him back that night. He thought his luck had changed. The game was close. Angel had a good hand, but the other player had a full house.

The wealthy man seemed polite at first, but he wanted the money by the end of the week. Angel told him that he didn't have that kind of money and offered to pay him back over time. The man didn't seem to care, however. He knew that Angel owned a big house, which was why he offered the money.

Angel remembered asking him, "Do you want to live in my home?"

The man laughed. "Live there? I wouldn't be caught dead in that neighborhood. I have other uses for a house than to live in one."

To say that Buffy was upset would be a an understatement. Angel, already racked with guilt, couldn't take it anymore. He walked out of the house without telling Buffy were he was going. He ended up at a theater that played vaudeville acts. That's where he met Darla.

He wasn't sure what was going through his mind at the time, except that he meant to use Darla to kill the pain. Instead, being with Darla made him realize that he loved Buffy and would do anything to make her happy. He returned home and begged for her forgiveness. The next day, they took out a loan to pay the man.

Angel sighed. Hoping that a few hours was enough for Buffy to be by herself, he started home. He wondered if she had told William about Darla. The thought saddened him further. He didn't want William to think badly of him.

Three hours ago, Angel's biggest worry was his ever consuming thoughts of William. All he could think about all day at work was William. He didn't understand his obsession with him. He'd heard about men who preferred men, but he wasn't like that. He still found women, especially Buffy, attractive. He just needed to suppress whatever it was that he was feeling for William.

The house was dark by the time he made it home. Not finding anyone downstairs, he creaked up the stairs. Their bedroom was empty, though. Where was Buffy?

He walked towards William's room, hoping that William knew where Buffy went. A chill went through his body at the thought that she might be outside somewhere. Had she taken off? The city was constantly changing nowadays, and he didn't think it was safe for her to be alone at night, especially in her state. If anything happened to her, he'd never forgive himself.

William's door was ajar. Angel raised his hand to knock, when he saw Buffy's dress on the floor. Pushing the door open further, he saw the two of them sleeping in William's bed. His relief that she was okay was quickly fleeting.

Hurt, he walked to stand next to the bed. Was this Buffy's way of getting back at him? Hurt gave way to anger, and Angel shook William. William awoke with a start and instinctively covered Buffy with a blanket.

"I've seen her without clothes, she's my wife!" Angel grabbed the blankets and pulled them off the bed, leaving them naked and exposed. Buffy stirred awake, eyes widening in fear. "Buffy, leave us," Angel demanded.

"No! Don't hurt him." She clung to William.

"Buffy," Angel warned. When she refused to move, he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. Striding to the door, he set her in the hall naked. She started to pound on the door when he locked it.

William was sitting up in bed, when Angel stalked back towards him. Angel roughly grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him up. William cowered in fear as Angel loomed towards him.

William started to speak. "I'm so.." Angel smashed his lips down on William's, cutting him off mid-sentence..

Angel put all his frustration into the kiss. Buffy, Darla, and William had inflicted so many emotions until he couldn't take it anymore. Pulling away, he said, "I don't know what upset me more, Buffy being with you, or you being with Buffy."

He started to kiss him again, when he heard Buffy pleading from the other side of the door. He realized what he was doing and shoved a dazed William back on the bed.

Buffy was crying on the floor when he opened the door. She immediately looked at William and relaxed. "You didn't hurt him."

Angel didn't say anything as he scoped her up and carried her across the hall to their room. Kicking the door closed, he laid her on the bed. Shredding his clothing, he crawled up the bed to lay beside her. She looked at him in confusion when he began a tail of kisses from her hand to the inside of her elbow.

"Did William do this?" He asked.

Buffy shook her head, and Angel continued the path to her shoulder. His hand grazed her right breast, causing her to jump. He circled her nipple with his thumb.

"What about this?" His breath was hot on her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

"Yes," she hissed. Angel kissed her along her jaw and continued to touch and knead her breast.

"Did he kiss them?" When she nodded, Angel swooped his head down to capture a nipple in his teeth. He could taste and smell William on her skin.

His right hand slowly moved up her thigh, parting them. When he reached her juncture, she was wet. "Did he kiss you here?" He asked as his finger parted her folds and touched her sensitive bud.

Buffy moaned and moved her hips to get better access.

He stopped touching her and turned her head to face him. "Answer me. Did he kiss you there?"

"No," she breathed. Angel dove to her moist channel, licking and sucking. William's scent was strong there, but the combination with Buffy's unique aroma was intoxicating. Her moans became louder, as Angel brought her to her release.

Angel climbed up the bed and kissed Buffy, sharing with her the ambrosia he had been enjoying. He pushed her knee up to her chest and thrust into her. His mating was persistent and thorough. He wanted to claim her as his again. When he felt her climax, his pace grew rapid. With a yell, he spilled himself inside of her. It had never been that intense before.

Panting, Angel rolled off of Buffy and pulled her into his embrace. He stroked her hair and listened to her calm breathing. "Darla doesn't mean anything to me."

Buffy didn't say anything. He could see that her eyes were open and staring into the dark room.

"I really don't have a right to be angry at you after what I did." Angel kissed the top of her head.

She turned to face him and nodded.

"Was William revenge?"

She shook her head. "He was comfort."

"Is that all?"

Buffy closed her eyes and turned her face away. "I'm fond of him, but I love you."

Angel understood.

TBC