ficgunnshy3

Part Three

Cordelia sat up. It sent her head to spinning. She was in one of the rooms at the hotel. Why was she in one of the rooms at Hyperion? Alone? Her head was
throbbing. She pulled the covers back and set her feet on the floor. She was going to look for the guys. She seemed completely unaware that all she had on was one
of Angel's t shirts and a pair of panties.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Gunn was sitting on one of the couches in the hotel lobby. He didn't know quite how to process what had happened last night. Cordelia had jumped into the fray like
some maniac and saved his life. Like some perfect little knife-wielding goddess. Beauty and the beast all rolled into a delicious package. He couldn't go on with her
the way he had been. Not after what she did.

Wesley almost smiled at the inner turmoil he was sensing from Gunn. Maybe he'd finally realize he needed Cordelia as she needed him. He desperately needed to
feel worthy of her, and she desperately needed to feel accepted by him. Hopefully Gunn would give up the illusion that he didn't want or need her, and she could
quite trying to be so tough because her heroics were taking a toll on all of them.

Angel watched the emotions flickering across Gunn's face. He knew the younger man had been trying to resist getting close to Cordelia. Angel almost sighed. He
should have told him that would be pointless. There was no resisting Cordelia Chase. She got under your skin and stayed there.

"Guys?"

The three men turned. She was standing at the top of the stairs.

"Cordy, what are you doing out of bed?" Angel asked. His eyes swept over her bare legs in appreciation. She didn't even notice.

"I didn't want to be alone." She looked down. "I hate being alone."

She started to make her way down the stairs.

"STAY!"

She froze. Gunn was already hallway up the stairs. He reached her in no time at all. He turned her and started moving her back up the stairs.

"Stop it." She tried to pull away.

He held tight. "No."

She gasped when he swung her up into his arms. He was stomping back towards the room she had woken up in.

"Put me down!"

"Ok."

He laid her on the bed. She tried to sit up. He pushed her back down. She struggled. He held on. After about a minute she got tired.

Gunn was sitting on the bed holding her down by her shoulders. He looked down and realized immediately he should not have. The t shirt was bunged up and
twisted around her body. It was barely covering her breasts. A wide expanse of tight belly was visible. And gray bikini cut panties. Gunn blinked.

His momentary distraction allowed her to bat his hands away and sit up. Gunn regrouped almost immediately. He grabbed her around the waist and forced her back
on the bed. He was half laying on her.

"You're gonna rest if I have to hold you down on this bed to make you do it." His voice sounded strained.

"What?"

"Cordelia, you're covered in bruises and scrapes. You need to take it easy. You could have gotten a concussion last night. Thank God all you got was a nice bump."

"What?"

She was completely distracted by him touching her. One of his arms was around her waist. One of his legs was over both of hers.

"Cordelia, are you feeling ok? Angel swore you didn't have a concussion. Maybe he was wrong."

She pulled one of her hands out and caressed his cheek. He'd never been stared at as intently as she was staring at him now.

"What's wrong with me?"

"What?"

"Why don't you like me? I thought we were friends or something once. What did I do?"

Gunn closed his eyes. She sounded just like a little girl. "Nothing. I do like you."

"You don't act like it lately."

"Maybe I like you too much, ok."

She was affecting him. Physically. He tried to pull away, but she grabbed him.

"Prove it."

"What?"

"Prove you like me. Prove you're my friend. Don't run away."

"Cordelia-"

"I know I'm not strong or brave like other people you know, but I'm trying. Just don't leave me. Give me another chance."

Suddenly it all made sense to him.

"You're riskin' your neck because you think I don't like you?"

"Because I'm weak. I didn't used to be so weak."

He just stared at her. How could she possibly think she was weak? She was one of the strongest people he'd ever met. He couldn't handle getting visions. That was
for damn sure.

"You are not weak."

"I don't understand. Tell me what I'm doing wrong. I don't want you to hate me."

"I don't hate you."

His entire body at the moment was proof of that. He tried again to get away, but she grabbed his wrist. They were sitting on the bed now, facing each other.

"Please." She whispered. "I want to understand why no one cares."

"What?"

"I used to think it didn't matter if no one wanted me. What's so wrong with me?" Her eyes filled with tears.

He'd tried. He really had. He'd fought her. He tried to keep his distance, but Gunn had lost. He knew it. She was so fragile right now. Like he'd never seen her. He
was so in shock that she thought something was wrong with her. It never even entered his mind that she might,think herself not good enough for him.

"There is not a damn thing wrong with you."

"Then why?"

"Because they're stupid. I'm stupid." He looked at the blatant need in her eyes. "Well, to hell with bein' stupid."

He grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her.

She clung to him. Gunn pushed himself away and stumbled back from her. He moved so fast he lost his footing and ended up on his ass scooting away. He was
backing away in fear. Fear? Of her? Suddenly she saw what was going on with the two of them so clearly. How could she have missed it? He was just as scared of
losing her as she was of losing him.

"Gunn?"

"I-I-I can't."

She got out of the bed slowly and padded across the floor to him. He scooted away until his back was against the wall.

"Cordelia, don't."

"Why?"

"I lose people."

"So do I."

She placed her feet on either side of him and lowered herself on to his lap, effectively trapping his legs.

"Don't."

"You're not getting rid of me. The harder you push, the tighter I'm gonna hold." "Cor-"

She grabbed the sides of his head and cut him off by crushing her mouth onto his. He leaned away from the wall and wrapped both arms around her. Cordelia
whimpered lightly in the back of her throat and pressed herself closer. Gunn tightened his arms around her, and she gasped in pain.

He pulled back and stared at her. He'd completely forgotten about her being hurt. Her face was flushed and her lips were slightly swollen.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

There was silence. He realized as soon as he said it he meant it both ways it could be taken by her.

"I know."

"What happens now?"

He leaned back against the wall, and she rested her cheek on his chest.

"You could always put me back to bed."

"I could."

"And you could always stay."

"What?" He pushed her back so he could see her face.

"Stay."

"But-"

She put her fingertips over his mouth. "I'm not going anywhere."

Gunn sighed. He wasn't gonna win here. He knew that. He really didn't want to. He took her wrist gently and pulled her hand away from his mouth. "I guess I'm not
either." He kissed the inside of the wrist in his hand. Cordelia shuddered in pleasure. "Going, that is."

He moved her off his lap and stood up. He grabbed both her hands and pulled her to her feet. When she was standing, he still held her hands. She infuriated him
sometimes. Ok, most of the time, but he could deal with that. He was beginning to realize resisting had taken more energy than giving in.

Cordelia sagged against him.

"You need sleep."

"Only if you stay."

"I'm not going anywhere."

And for the third time ever, she really believed the person uttering those words. Angel and Wesley having said them to her at various other times.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cordelia awoke to the sensation of someone so close to her body that she could feel their breath on the back of her neck. She looked down. There was an arm
around her waist. She smiled as heat coursed through her veins at being so close to him. Finally.

"Gunn." She whispered.

"Mmm?"

She turned herself in his embrace. He'd shed his many layers of clothing. All he had on was his jeans, socks, and a wifebeater. She looked at him. Her eyes drinking
in everything. Perfection. His face still held the peacefulness of sleep.

Cordelia leaned up and began sucking on the flesh of his muscled throat. He tightened his grip on her.

" 'Delia." He breathed.

She let her fingers caress his chest through the tank top, but it wasn't near good enough. She grabbed the hem and managed to yank it over his head.

"Hey." He mumbled sleepily.

"Not enough flesh." She whispered as she rolled him onto his back and slid herself in between his legs. "Bye bye pants." She undid his belt and yanked his jeans off.
She ran her hands down his legs and pushed his socks off. He moaned her name again, and she smiled. He was still sleeping for the most part. She wondered for a
moment at being so bold, but shrugged it off. She'd been going through torture all summer. She wasn't waiting for him to move anymore. She was taking matters into
her own hands. Literally, if needed.

Gunn was trying to cling to the erotic dream he was having about Cordelia, but he could feel reality seeping in. He was a little cold. He usually slept in his clothes,
and for some reason he felt really naked. Gunn opened his eyes. His mouth fell open in shock. He felt naked because he WAS naked. And so was Cordelia. And
she was on top of him. It was no dream. She was real this time.

"Holy shit."

She lifted her head from his chest. " 'Bout time you woke up."

"What are you doing?"

"Seducing you." She smiled wickedly. "And don't tell me you don't want me to. Your body says you do. And you've been moaning my name."

He stared at her and became painfully aware of his erection.

"I don't... We don't..."

She held up her hand. A condom package was between her index and pointer fingers.

"You wanna stay? You can leave if you really want to." Her other hand was kneading his chest.

"Can I have that, please? Now."

He reached, but she jerked her hand back.

"What are you gonna give me if I give it to you?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, and seductive smirk appeared on his face. He could think of several things he'd like to 'give' her is she 'gave' it to him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cordelia groaned as she picked herself up off the dirty concrete. She groaned again when she saw Gunn stomping her way. She'd really done it this time. His face
held a mixture of anger for her putting herself in danger and lust because the new rip in her shirt was exposing her black lace bra.

He didn't speak. He just hauled her up against him and kissed her. She was still for about two seconds before one hand snaked around his neck while the other, still
holding her lady's ax, wrapped around his back. His left hand was resting at the base of her spine. His right still holding a mini crossbow.

Angel and Wesley both yelled when the vampire jumped down right next to the couple.

Gunn didn't even pause in his ministrations to Cordelia's mouth. He just raised his right hand quickly and let the bolt in the crossbow fly. He felt dust hit his hand right
before he tossed down the crossbow, so he could cup Cordelia's chin with that hand and push his tongue deeper into her mouth. The ax clattered to the ground as
her hand moved from his back, across his hip, over his chest, inside his jacket, finally coming to rest on his ass.

Wesley rolled his eyes and headed out of the warehouse they were in and towards Angel's car. Gunn did seem a lot less abrasive lately, as was Cordelia. They still
fought, but now it,ended with serious making up. Making up that could make one nauseous if one was so inclined. Wesley knew the two of them were in love
whether they realized it or not, and he was happy for them. He really was. It seemed that they had finally found what they had been missing from their other
relationships in one with each other, but did the two of them really have to grope so much? There was quite possibly no part of Cordelia's mouth Gunn wasn't
acquainted with. Wesley shook his head again. He couldn't help the smile that graced his face though. It had turned out rather well in his opinion, and Wesley liked it
when it turned out well for his 'family'.

Angel shook his head as he turned to follow Wesley back to his car. A small smile played across his lips. She was happy. His little 'sister'. His Cordy was in good
hands. And that was really all that mattered.

"Hey, come on you two! Save it for later!" He tossed over his shoulder.

"Spoil my fun!" Cordelia tossed back.

The next thing Angel knew two soft lips were on his cheek.

"Hey!" Gunn yelled from behind them.

"What was that for?"

"Because I love you and you're one of my three favorite people ever. Duh!"

Angel couldn't help it. His smile got wider.

Cordelia squealed when Gunn scooped her into a fireman's carry. She dangled over his shoulder laughing. One of Gunn's hands was securing her while the other held
his mini bow and her tiny ax. Angel rolled his eyes again. No wonder vampire activity was up again. Looking at the four of them, he wouldn't think they were much
of a threat either. Especially with all the playing that seemed to go hand in hand with the slaying lately.

Cordelia screamed when Gunn tossed her into the back of the convertible and then jumped in after her.

"Hey! Watch the leather!" Angel yelled.

Cordelia's head appeared, and she flashed him her smile. He sighed and chuckled a little. It was always his undoing. Her 'Cordy' smile. He was just glad he honestly
liked the guy making her smile. Just so long as Gunn understood how many bones would get broken if he ever hurt her, all was right with the world.

THE END:)