Love Hurts

Chapter Eight

Six months had passed since Buffy had been brought to the main house. Now she lived in a large apartment with another that she had shared with before, at the home. It was not long after her abduction that Faith had arrived.

Faiths arrival hadn't stopped Angel from keeping her at his side as she had hoped. Penn was Faiths shadow .Faith had no problems with the lifestyle she now had In fact, the brunette lapped it up like a kitten did cream. The money and designer clothing was more than she had before and so, she was easily bought. Regardless of her ways and the fact that she readily accepted being one of Angels whores, Faith was a good friend to Buffy and they seemed to get on well most of the time. Faith wasn't Buffy's usual choice of companion , but it was not as if she was in a situation where she could be fussy about whom her friends were.

The apartment was comfortable Open and airy with classy furniture. It looked expensive and probably was, not that it impressed Buffy . Her room was large, with tasteful decor and furnishings .A large en suite was equipped with a wet room and bath that could possibly be called a small pool. None of it meant anything to Buffy. It was her 'stage' , the place where she would act out a part when she had to entertain 'guests.' Her script was often the same although the men would change nightly.

Angel called in to see her regularly which still burned. Buffy had hoped that he would stop coming to her and she had long ago realized that he was obsessed. She hoped that would have stopped by now too, but he seemed too far gone to get over it. What was it about her that made him be this way?

Buffy opened the apartment door and kicked it shut. The client from last night had paid for her to be his for twenty four hours and now that it was over, Buffy could not wait to take her usual hot shower and go to bed. She tossed her keys into a bowl that sat on the table just inside the door and walked into the lounge area. Buffy sighed and looked up at the ceiling. The television was still on , tuned to a music channel that blared out heavy based rock, and bottles of alcohol lay about on the table and floor.

Buffy walked over to the couch, picking clothes and rubbish up as she went. Buffy tightened her lips and breathed out heavily. She moved some of the empty cans of beer and bottles off the table and then saw the mirror. The dusty remnants of powder had been scattered across the mirror and onto the table. Buffy shook her head. Now Penn had gotten Faith hooked on god knows what. Enough was enough. Buffy knew there was a chance that Angel would defend Penn and Faith and that he would find some way to make her life hell for a few days because of it. It was not as if his absence would actually hurt the opposite in fact. Buffy looked at the ceiling again before dumping the rubbish she had collected back on the floor and walked into her room, defeated and wondering why she bothered to tidy up behind Faith.

It was her sanctuary when she didn't have a client here . The only room in the flat that Faith's crap had not contaminated. It was bliss , to be able to close the door and feel safe. She was drawn from her thoughts when she heard a light tapping on her bedroom door.

"You got that cute red number? I got a client in a hour ". Faiths husky voice drifted through the door.

Buffy opened her closet and pulled out a small tubular red dress. She opened her bedroom door and thrust it out into the hall without saying a word. as much as she would have liked to bring up the state of the apartment.

"Ta B , what would I do without you, ha? "

"Just get it dry cleaned before you return it . " Even to Buffy , her voice sounded harsh.

" No probs ," Faith replied.

Buffy shut her door and sighed. Shutting her eyes meant she would start thinking again and that lead to the ' what if's ' . What if they hadn't of left the home that night? What if she had said no to Spike and not started their relationship? What if she had died that night, along with her parents? What if her Father had not gambled and taken the drugs that Angel had supplied him with? What if her and Spike had made their escape. Where would they be now?

Her fingers closed over the bridge of her nose ,blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.A glance at her watch had her pushing off the door and towards her closet . Buffy opened the doors and begrudgingly choose her 'costume' for the night. Tonight she had to go to Angel. He had chosen her as his favored girl , this meant that she had to be free and available whenever he requested her. Not only that but she was only to be hired by his highest paying customers. Most of those were his closest friends.

Angel stood in his room beside the fireplace , drinking a brandy in an oversized glass. He placed the glass up on the mantle as Buffy walked into the room, shown in by Francis who made a speedy exit without asking if there was anything else Angel would or could want. Buffy tensed as she heard the doors to the room close.

Her hair was pulled up in a loose chignon , long diamond strands hung from her ears .Her halter neck silk dress showed off her full breasts ,the low cut V showed her cleavage perfectly. Her look was classy , exactly what Angel demanded of her. She walked slowly towards him, swallowing the bile that rose in her throat as she did.

Angel felt himself harden in his dress pants and groaned as her fingers played across his chest and she darted her tongue out to wet her lips. This girl was sinful , she knew just how to work him up.

With a husky voice she asked, " Do I have your approval"? All Angel could do was nod as she lowered the route her fingers were travelling. She let her fingers hover above his belt and then turned to pick up his abandoned brandy and took a sip. Angel watched her as if hypnotized as she licked her lips and closed her eyes, Buffy relished the burn from the brandy as it coursed its way down her throat . She stretched her neck with a dipped her index finger into the crystal glass and then drew it in a line down her throat.

Angel was captivated and watched as her finger glided down her throat and then across his caught her finger between his lips and sucked on it gently until all traces of brandy were gone. He pulled Buffy closer to him and kissed and licked his way down the path of brandy.

"You are sinful Buffy. The way you look, the way you taste , the things you do " , he whispered against her throat and his lips kissed and caressed her. He pulled her body closer to him and raised his head from her neck and crushed his lips to hers Buffy knew what he wanted and gave it to him , albeit begrudgingly. She knew him by now, each moan , every place that excited him and the routine he used ,as if it was choreographed. His was an easy dance to learn.

Angel turned her in his arms and kissed the back of her neck . His hands moved from her waist up to her shoulders. His fingertips played lightly over her skin making her shudder. Buffy felt his breath , hot and light on her neck and swallowed hard as he lowered the zip and her dress fell softly to the floor. Angel backed away to take in the vision she made in front of the fire. She was dressed in nothing but the diamonds, her stockings , lace panties and stiletto shoes . The low lighting and the fire seemed to make her skin glow.

"Hold on to the mantle Buffy " , he whispered , not trusting his lust filled voice to work properly. She complied and looked over her shoulder at him, waiting for his next move. "Part those pretty thighs and give me my view ". Again she did as he asked . Angel dropped to his knees behind her and stroked up her legs slowly. The silk of the stockings made his touch feels like ghostly breath caught in her throat as they moved up and across her thighs. Buffy hung her head back as his fingers gently caressed her feminine lips and let out a small moan and moved her ass back , opening her further to his gaze.

Angel closed his eyes and gripped her hips as he kissed each globe of her ass before letting the tip of his tongue taste her. He moaned deep from his chest and sighed, " You taste so fucking sweet . " Angel let go of her hip with one hand and unclasped his belt before undoing the button and zip .He eased his cock out and pumped it while feasting on her core. His free hand moved to stroke her as he lapped and teased her swollen clit. "Never been so hard for anyone Buffy , not like this, with you ".

"Fuck me Angel , " she hissed , " Make me yours , make me scream your name. " She knew he would take her now, that he would not be able to resist her. Her words were well rehearsed lines , all part of the act that she performed.

Angel stood behind her and entered her hard . It wasn't long after that he was moaning , growling low in his throat as he raced towards completion. Buffys grip on the mantle turned her fingers white with pressure . Buffy hissed and cried out his name , making him believe that she was just as close as he was. She felt him grow harder within her and gripped him , knowing that it would push him further over the edge. He pumped once, twice and then roared his release. His teeth sunk into her shoulder and made her cry out . His lips fluttered wet kisses at her neck "You're so good , this is why you are mine. Men pay me thousands for one night with you " . He stroked a thumb down her cheek and Buffy pulled away ,repulsed. She shuddered ,not able to hide her anguish.

"I'll see that you get something special next week, tonight was great ,babe. Keep it up and your fathers debt will be cleared soon enough . " Buffy snorted . He always said the same thing afterwards. Angel would have some extravagance delivered to her room just as he always did. Buffy still had no clue how much her father actually owed.

"And how much would his debt be ? " Angels eyes had she dared to question him before.

" Why do you want to know? Do you not trust me? "

Buffy hung her head, how could she trust him after all he had done? She was no fool and looked up at him with placid eyes. "I trust you , " she lied , " what or who I don't trust , is my father. I want to know what he did, how much he owed and how many lies he told my Mother and me. As I am the one paying it off ,I think I have the right to know ". Buffy sat on the rug close to Angel and smiled while her finger played across his chest.

So babies curious , he thought. "Get dressed , this isn't information you give while naked ." Angel stood and pulled his pants up without tucking in his shirt or buckling his belt . He kicked off his shoes and walked barefoot to the bar . He poured two brandies. When he returned to the fireplace Buffy was dressed and watching him nervously. " Sit down and get comfortable ,I'll tell you all you want to know, within reason. But I'm warning you, you may wish I hadn't told you when I'm done . "

Buffy tightened her lips and breathed out heavily , " I need to know . "

"Fair enough , " He watched as she held the glass tight within her two hands and waited patiently for him to start telling her the truth . He hesitated , seeing the raw innocence that she still had. It may be dented, dirtied by what he had done to her, but it was still there in her eyes , in her face. This girl had somehow touched a part of him that nobody else had in years. He mentally shrugged and cleared his throat in an effort to rid him of his conscience .

"Hank came to my casino and started gambling hard . At first he could cover his debts. He used to frequent the place once, maybe twice a week but he soon became a nightly visitor. His bets grew larger and I could see a desperate man trying to win back what he had lost to his addiction . It was at this point that he asked for a credit line and I allowed it as he was a well respected business man with a lot of capital . "

Buffy sat still, staring at Angel intently as he continued . " When a man like your father becomes a regular customer, things.... other temptations are offered to took advantage of everything that was offered to him. He knew the price Buffy ,and he just didn't care . "

Buffy frowned but sat and listened without interrupting him. Her tears fell silently.

" Soon the gambling and whores were not enough, he watched her flinch and swallow hard, her tears still falling . "His drug habit was soon out of control and his credit line was too. When I asked him to pay up ,Hank became hysterical and admitted that he simply didn't have the money to pay what was owed . "

Buffy wiped the tears that stained her cheeks and then stared at Angel, wanting to hear the rest of the story that changed her life. Her life had been turned upside down and torn from her by her father and his seedy need for things that were so degrading.

"He tried to pay off some here and there ,but it was nothing but a mere drop in the ocean compared to the amount he owed. He sold a property of his , the one in the Hamptons but it still was not enough . "

" How much? Just tell me, how much did he owe? " Buffy croaked, her voice hoarse from her sobs.

" Three mil . "

"Three million? " She shrieked . Buffy was astounded ,she rose off the bed and began pacing in front of head shook and mumbled to herself, "I'll never be able to pay it all off and be free of you, will I? "

Angel narrowed his eyes at the way she had said it. What more had he expected? Love? Even he doubted he could feel that emotion and he did not think that Buffy would fall for him under the circumstances.

"Eventually. You are highly priced as my favourite. It isn't an impossible goal, Buffy. I deduct fifty thousand for each customer that you see and one hundred thousand every time I come to you . "

"How much do I owe now? "

" Two "

Buffy sat next to Angel again and looked down into her lap where her hands toyed with the glass of brandy. She lifted it to her lips and drank it down in one. "You don't intend to let me go though, do you? You said that I am your favorite, I doubt you will let me go even if I do manage to pay of the debt . "

Angel smiled , "You're astute. I am a greedy man and no, I do not let go of something I treasure highly. Is it really that bad being here? "

Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed hard, making the burn from the brandy sharper. Her eyes watered. In truth, it wasn't terrible now that the beatings had stopped and Angel seemed to be calmer around her now. But knowing he had killed her mother who was the sweetest person she had known, and Spike who had shown her unconditional love , it was tainted. Worse still was knowing that she was there doing what she had to because of her father and his love of whores, drugs and gambling. In the beginning Angel had been hard , cruel and punished her constantly until she had become the best he had. She became a whore , just like the women her father had used. Bile rose in her throat and Buffy ran to the bathroom.

When Buffy had been elevated to his favored girl, he had moved her from the room at the mansion into the apartment she now shared with Faith . Of course this had pissed Darla off and Buffy had to deal with the vicious bitch and her attacks. Darla had been missing for a while and Buffy could not help but wonder where she was. Margarita, the mansions head maid had said that Darla had decided to go to France and stay at their villa there. "And good riddance , " Margarita had spat. "The woman was cruel and black hearted . Darla had been the one to get the master involved in all this sin. Angel was always a good boy ,weak willed and easily lead though , he was . " Margarita held Buffys face in her hands , "You have banished the darkness from his life now. You are his sun and you brighten his life. Thaw his heart ,Buffy . "

Buffy wiped a cool wet towel across her face as she looked into the bathroom mirror. Remembering what Margarita had said made her feel cold and icy. How could she be someones sun and thaw them when she was empty and cold inside? She hated herself but she hated Angel more. "Pull yourself together Buffy " she told her reflection "You'll find a way out of this and get away from him. You have to ! " she whispered. Buffy dried her face and took several calming breaths before she straightened her dress out and slowly opened the bathroom door.

Angel stood and smiled shyly , " I was just coming to check on you and make sure you are alright . "

"I'm fine , guess the brandy didn't like me as much as I like it . "

" I guess not ."

Angel walked to her and took her hand in his, leading her to the bed. He unzipped her dress again and this time asked her to remove all her clothes. Buffy complied ."Lay on the bed . " She did as he asked and watched as he undressed and crawled up the bed and laid beside her. He drew the covers up over them both and settled himself before pulling her into his arms.

"I just want to lie here awhile, with you. "

Buffy closed her eyes tight and felt more tension settle in her shoulders . She was just grateful that he had spooned behind her so that she didn't have to look at him as he laid there. They lay in silence for what seemed like forever before he finally spoke again. "I know you think I'm a monster, but that isn't all I am. If you give me a chance to show you, if you keep on my good side, I will treat you like a queen, Buffy . "

" And what about your wife ? " Buffy shot back angrily.

Angel stiffened . "That's no concern of yours and the last time you ever bring her up. Understand ? "

Buffy nodded , not content with her answer he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled ,bringing her face round so that he could see it. "Understand , " he growled .

"Yes! ... Yes! I understand . "

"Better . " He threw her head away from him and rolled onto his back, covering his eyes with his arm. Anger grew inside him and he couldn't lay there with her now. He got out of bed and hurriedly put his pants on, slipping his feet into his shoes as he fixed his belt. He shrugged on the now creased shirt and turned to her, his chest still uncovered.

"You had to ruin a perfect evening by bringing her up. Now I'm tense .I should punish you but I can't stand the sight of you now . "

Buffy laid there watching him, panicked at the mention of him punishing her. He smirked when fear flashed in her eyes. He leaned over her and forced her back down onto the bed , He growled at her and spun himself off the bed and left the room , slamming the door behind him. She lay still waiting for her breathing to even out before getting up and going back into the bathroom. She turned the shower on, setting it as hot as she could stand. The scalding hot water erased the memory of his touch from her skin and she scrubbed hard with the soap to mask his scent from her body.

She stood under the running water until it turned tepid. Her mind ran over everything that he had told her tonight. Was he really so bad? She was sure he was , but not the only one. Her father was as much to blame as Angel. Possibly more so, after all ,it was her fathers greed and addictions that had led Angel to do what he had done. She stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself up in her bathrobe .Buffy went to her linen closet and pulled out a change of opened the bathroom door and walked to the was numb now and changed the bedding before falling into the bed.

She had to find a way out , and soon.