*****

Lindsey was drifting in and out of consciousness, wandering through a hazy dream world of satisfaction. He didn't know why he was so happy; he didn't know why he was so comfortable; he didn't know when he had bought silk sheets for his bed. All he knew was, he was flying high and never wanted to come down.

Stretching lazily, he felt the real world begin to intrude on him more and more. Sighing in defeat, he opened his eyes and froze.

He wasn't in his own bed. He wasn't alone.

"Oh shit," he whispered softly, gazing at the sleeping vampire beside him.

Memories of the previous night came flooding back: the shoes, the bar, Angel, Angel's lips, Angel's body, Angel's hands, Angel's cock - everything.

Lindsey McDonald, the hard as nails lawyer that he pretended to be, never blushed.

Lindsey McDonald, drag queen that he often believed he really was, blushed quite easily.

He and Angel had fucked. Many times. Angel had picked him up after seeing Lindsey in drag.

That made Angel one of THEM.

Lindsey began gasping for air around the sudden lump that had formed. He couldn't do this, he couldn't. Not today, not with Angel.

Careful not to wake the vampire, Lindsey untangled his legs from Angel's and slid out of bed. He dropped to his knees, gathering his clothes silently. Gazing at them for a moment, he decided that he couldn't wear them. It always seemed so degrading to wear the clothes that he had been picked up in. There was nothing worse than a drag queen wearing rumpled clothes, a messed up wig, and smelling of cheap cologne.

Rising, Lindsey walked over to Angel's closet. The vampire had borrowed his truck; surely he wouldn't mind if Lindsey borrowed a shirt and a pair of pants.

He grabbed the first thing he touched and pulled it over his head.

"Lindsey?"

"Fuck!" Lindsey shouted, yanking the sweater down. It was so big that it almost reached his knees, the sleeves hanging over his hands.

"Good morning to you, too," Angel said, sounding amused.

Lindsey turned. Angel was propped on one elbow, his hair mussed, sheet falling casually over one hip.

"Angel," he said, trying to keep his tone neutral.

One eyebrow raised. "Something the matter?"

"No, I . . .I was going to borrow this so I don't look like a freak going home. I'll send it back, promise."

"You're leaving." A statement, not a question.

"Yeah. I've gotta go and . . .go," Lindsey finished lamely.

"Why?"

"Angel, don't. I know how this works and I don't think I can handle it coming from you. Just let me leave with some dignity, ok?"

Angel sat up, his eyes puzzled. "How does this work? I'm confused."

Lindsey looked at the ceiling, cursing the fact that he felt like crying. He was not going to humiliate himself, he was NOT!

"You go into the club or bar and up on stage is the fabulous Lady Lindsey. And she's beautiful and sexy and oh so fuckable and you know you have to have her. The fact that she's male is fine because, hell, why else would you go into a gay drag club if you weren't queer? And, yeah, Ah know Catrais technically isn't a gay bar, but if the Host is a flammer, you gotta be certain at least half the clientele are too." Lindsey could hear that his accent had gotten noticeably thicker, but it was too much trouble to try and fight it into submission. "So, you see her on stage and you pick her up. It's real easy because, Lady Lindsey? She's a slut. Cheap. You buy her a few drinks, pay her a few compliments, pet her a little, then take her home for a night of fun.

"The next morning, you wake up and it's over. Instead of the vision of beauty you fucked the night before, you've got me." Lindsey made a downward gesture at his body. "The magic's gone, glitter's faded, wig's on the floor. . ."

"The wig's still at the bar," Angel corrected.

Lindsey glared at Angel a moment before continuing. "The make-up is smudged and it's all different. Reality has intruded and it isn't pretty. They don't want the man they wake up with, they want the queen they went to bed with. The one thing Momma *didn't * teach me was how to sleep without smudging my mascara, especially after getting all sweaty." He laughed, a hard, bitter sound. "Every man Ah've been with has been really uncomfortable. It's awkward. They all want me to leave as soon as possible, or if we're at a hotel, they want to go so they can get back to their wives or boyfriends or whatever they have. After all, I'm just some slut for the night, no one that really matters. Sometimes they're nice, sometimes they're bastards but all of them want me out ASAP."

"Lindsey, I. . ."

"I don't min', usually," Lindsey continued as if he hadn't heard Angel speak. "I mean, I've got my own life, right? I'm a lawyer for Christ's sake. I've got power and clout and I don't need any of them, never did. And I don't give a fuck that none of them want me, but," he took a deep breath, "but I can't do it with you. I. . .I just can't take it, 'k? So let me go without the scene." The lump in his throat swelled, forcing tears to his eyes.

Ashamed, Lindsey looked at the floor.

"No." The bed squeaked as Angel rose from it.

"No?"

"No. I'm not just going to let you leave, not for that reason." Angel walked to him and wrapped his arms around Lindsey, pulling him close. "That's the worse reason I've ever heard. Lindsey, last night wasn't about the magic or the glitter or the wig and I happen to like the way you look with mascara smudged around your eyes. You do raccoon well." Angel took Lindsey's chin in his hand, forcing the lawyer to look up at him.

Deep brown eyes, full of warmth and affection stared down at him.

"You're beautiful, Lindsey, you always have been, even before I saw you on stage."

"Angel. . ."

Angel kissed Lindsey gently. Lindsey felt his knees go weak as the vampire softly explored his mouth, tongue dancing with his while his hands rubbed Lindsey's back soothingly.

"You're not going to start giving me reasons you need to leave, are you?" Angel asked, pulling back.

"I'm your enemy," Lindsey sighed, eyes closed, standing on his toes to find Angel's mouth again. His mind was screaming at him to just leave, take his heart and run away, but his traitorous body wouldn't listen.

The vampire, his arms locked behind Lindsey's back, began walking backwards to the bed. He lifted the drag queen off the ground, holding him so that their bodies were flush against each other. "I don't think you are. I think that the lawyer you pretend to be is a fa�ade, that Lady Lindsey is closer to the truth, and the person I'm holding in my arms *is * the real you. This Lindsey isn't my enemy." He sat on the bed, pulling Lindsey on top of him.

Lindsey opened his eyes. "You hate me." Internally, he winced. Even to his own ears he sounded needy.

"No," Angel answered simply.

"But . . ."

"I thought I did because I couldn't have you." Angel shrugged, then sighed. "And, I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Losing myself." Angel gazed at him seriously. "Why did you run from me? Take that promotion and reject me?"

Lindsey shrugged. "I was scared. The money was easier than trying to figure you out."

Angel nodded. "What I said the other night? About being sorry for not trying hard enough? I *am * sorry, sorry that I was too scared to be vulnerable. You've just proved you're a braver man than I."

A cool wave of relief washed over Lindsey, cleansing him. Not all of his sins were forgiven he knew; some things would never wash away. But Angel believed in him and, for now, that was enough.

Angel's eyes bore into his, dark, seductive. Lindsey's body responded immdediatly, lust flaring in him.

"I forgive you." Lindsey kissed him, wiggling his hips wantonly.

Angel's cock immediately began to harden under the other man.

"You do that well," the vampire said, hoarsely.

Lindsey put his hand on Angel's shoulders, rubbing himself along Angel's cock, pleasure rushing through him, eyes closed. "Mmmmm, well, years of practice. Like I said, I'm a slut."

"Not any more; it stops now."

Lindsey stopped moving and opened his eyes. "Damn," he said, smiling wickedly. He moved as if to get off.

Growling, Angel threw Lindsey to the bed, rolling on top of him. "That's not what I meant." Stretching his arm to the night table, he grabbed the lubricant and spread the gel on his hardened member.

Lindsey closed his eyes in anticipation, anticipation running through him.

"Lindsey, look at me," Angel commanded, slipping a pillow under Lindsey's hips, giving him better access.

The drag queen felt Angel's cock at his entrance and whimpered softly.

"Lindsey," Angel said again, his voice soft and teasing. The cock didn't move, but stayed at his entrance, tantalizing.

"Angel, please don't tease me," Lindsey begged.

"Open your eyes."

Taking a shuddering breath, Lindsey complied, gazing into Angel's burning eyes.

The tip of the vampire's cock slid in past the tight ring of muscle. Angel's eyes widened as it did, gasping with pleasure.

Lindsey moaned.

"This is what you deserve, Lindsey," Angel told him, slowling moving deeper inside. Cool lips brushed Lindsey's skin, tasting him, leaving hot trails of fire where they touched before Angel brought his forehead to rest against Lindsey's. Locking his eyes on his lover's, Angel began to build a slow and gentle rhythm. "You deserve to be made love to, not fucked. You deserve to have a morning after where you get to stay. You deserve to be held in the arms by your lover, safe and protected. You deserve to be wanted."

Lindsey was thrusting against Angel, fisting the sheets. Small sounds of pleasure were all he was capable of making, but he heard everything Angel said.

He couldn't argue, not now. Any other time, the words would have sounded ridiculous, untrue, but now, with Angel inside him, filling him, making him complete, they sounded real.

Lindsey wanted them to be real.

His arms wrapped around the vampire, the scratchy wool of the sweater he was wearing feeling odd against his skin. His fingers threaded through Angel's hair as he bucked his hips, trying to take Angel even deeper.

"Lindsey," Angel gasped, thrusting harder. The strokes began to come faster, harder.

"Oh, God, Angel!" Lindsey cried suddenly. His head fell back against the pillows as Angel wrapped his hand around his cock, pumping hard.

It only took a few strokes before he came, panting roughly, his seed spilling over Angel's hand.

A moment later, Angel came too. He collapsed on Lindsey, pulling out while kissing him deeply, his tongue ravaging the swollen mouth beneath his.

Lindsey kissed him back eagerly, wrapping his arms around Angel and rolling over so he was on top. He pressed himself against Angel so hard it almost seemed as if he were attempting to merge with his lover.

At last he pulled back and moved his head to rest in the crook of Angel's neck.

The vampire ran his hand up underneath the sweater Lindsey was still wearing. "Stay with me," he said.

"Hmmm?" Lindsey asked, floating in his post-coital stupor.

Angel laughed softly. "Stay."

Lindsey snapped back to reality. "How long?"

"Forever. The week-end. Whatever."

Lindsey sighed, tilting his head slightly to kiss Angel's chest. Life was easier as a lawyer; there were no confusing feelings to get in the way. This, all these feelings, emotions, desires - this was different. Scary.

Good scary.

"Yeah, I'll stay," Lindsey said.

But he didn't say for how long.

*end*