The Boarder

Chapter 6

Buffy woke to what sounded like a shout. It was late, and Angel hadn't come to bed yet, she thought touching his pillow. She lit the lamp by the bed and sat up. His clothing was on the floor. Where was he? He had been moping all day. Was he hurting William?

She got out of the bed and put on her robe. If they were fighting, she was going to put a stop to it. As she walked to the door, she realized that she didn't hear any more noise. Maybe it was a dream. She waited a few minutes, listening. When she didn't hear anything, she went back to bed.

She couldn't sleep, though. Angel still had not come back to bed, and she started to worry. If she didn't know better, she would have thought that Angel was upset that William was leaving. Buffy was the one that was upset, and Angel knew it. The past few days have turned her world upside down. She had strong feelings for two men and was afraid of losing them both. One was already leaving, the other would leave in time.

A while later, Angel came into the room, wearing his nightgown. He paused at the door. "You're awake."

"I heard William yell. Is he okay?"

"How would I know?" Angel slipped under the covers. There was something different about him.

Buffy turned on her side to face him and realized that he smelled like William. There was a mark on his neck, so Buffy peered closer. It looked like a love bite. She felt sick.

"Where were you?" Her voice shook.

Angel stammered, "I was hungry and went to get something."

"Don't lie to me! You smell like him, and you have a mark." Buffy touched the hickey on his neck. "You've been with him. He did cry out." Tears started to fill her eyes.

Angel reached out and patted her on the arm. "I'm sorry."

"What's wrong with me?" She bawled. "Am I that awful you need to get pleasures from another man?"

"This had nothing to do with you. If anything, you are what kept me from going to him the first night he was here!" Angel sat up and began to shake. "I don't understand why I'm having these feelings. They're wrong, but I can't stop."

Buffy had never seen Angel cry before. Something in his tears touched Buffy's heart. He was heartbroken. Suddenly, she understood why he was so upset with her earlier that day. He didn't want William to leave and blamed her. As much as she was hurt, she didn't want to see him this despondent.

"I don't see how love can be wrong," she said softly, trying to comfort him.

"Is that what you think this is?"

"What else could it be? You were as upset today with him leaving as I was." Buffy pulled Angel into a hug, rubbing his back.

"He told me that he loved me, but I panicked and left," Angel said against Buffy's shoulder.

Buffy's heart broke. William didn't tell her that. Did he just think of Angel the other night when they were intimate?

She didn't want to keep Angel from happiness. "You need to go to him. He's probably hurt that you left."

Angel looked at her in amazement and smiled. "I love you."

Her heart lurched again. She didn't believe that he really loved her. Not anymore. She force on a smile and returned, "I love you, too."

* * *

William had tried to stop himself from crying, but it was no use. His moment with Buffy the other night came from comfort. He didn't know if she loved him. Angel, on the other hand, had come to him. William was sure that he felt the same way. The last time he opened himself up, he was rejected. The same thing happened again with Angel. He felt like a fool.

Tomorrow, he was leaving. There was no reason to stay, now. Things would be too awkward between himself and Angel, and they would be too painful with Buffy.

He could hear her yelling, but he couldn't make out her words. Does she know? A pain shot through his heart. He couldn't stand the thought that she could be disgusted with him. She was the only woman, beside his mother, that had listened to him. He loved her.

William turned his face into the pillow. It smelled like Angel, and he could make out a trace of Buffy's scent. In a perfect world, he could love them both, and they would love him.

The door creaked open, and Angel stuck his head in the room. "Are you asleep?"

William caught his breath. Angel came back. "No," he answered, sitting up.

"I want to apologize for leaving earlier. I was scared." Angel walked towards the bed and stopped in front of him. He suddenly looked concerned and touched William's cheek. "Were you crying?"

William turned away from Angel's hand and wiped at his face. "Is Buffy okay? She sounded upset," he said, ignoring Angel's question.

"She knows about us. She figured it out."

William just nodded. He was afraid that would happen.

"She's okay with it, though. In fact, she told me to come back here and apologize."

William looked up at that. Angel had an almost expectant look on his face. "Really? In all honestly, I'm surprised."

"I am too, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth." Angel smiled and suddenly hugged William.

William gently pushed Angel away. "What does this mean, though? Are you planning on being with both of us?"

"Well, yes. I still love Buffy."

"What about Buffy and me?" William bit his lip. "I think I'm falling for her."

Angel paused and cocked his head to the side. "Buffy's fond of you. I think she has stronger feelings than she lets on," he said quietly.

William's stomach jumped at the news that Buffy cared for him. A slow smile formed on his lips, and when he looked up Angel was looking at him with darkened eyes.

"I was just thinking about you with Buffy." Angel leaned forward. "Feel what it's doing to me." He placed William's hand down on his growing hardness.

William shivered, rubbing Angel through the nightgown. He tilted his head and brushed his lips to Angel's. Angel brought their lips together again in a fiery explosion of passion. It felt different, unleashed. He realized that Angel had been holding back before, but now he was giving into the kiss whole-hearted.

Angel broke the kiss. "I love you," he growled.

William's heart sang, and he met him again, letting his own reservations dissolve away. He began to tug Angel's nightgown upward. "Let me see you."

The nightgown was soon tossed to the floor, leaving Angel naked before William's eyes. He ran a hand over Angel's chest, feeling the sharp planes, to the ridges of his stomach, and finally to the soft velvety skin below.

William looked into Angel's eyes as he moved his hand up and down. Angel's eyes revealed the intensity of his emotions. Their mouths collided once more, clinging as if to life itself.

Angel pushed William on the bed and straddled this legs. He placed both hands on William's thighs and slowly moved them upward, pushing up the nightgown. Leaving a delicious shiver, Angel's hands continued up William's arms until the gown was off. Angel was lying prone on William, and he clasped William's hands. Bringing their hands down, Angel kissed William with fervor. His lower half ground into William's.

"That feels so good." William threw his head back, baring his neck. "I love you."

Angel nibbled and sucked along his jugular. He continued to rub against William, their bodies slick with perspiration and quickly building to the same goal. William didn't know if he could take anymore of this. So, this was what it felt like to love and be loved. Crying out, he toppled over his peak. Shaking, Angel joined him.

TBC