Disclaimer: Read it HERE.
Songs: There are 2 songs used in this part.
The first is called "Si Ya Si Acabo" by Jennifer Lopez
The second is called "The Day I Fall in Love" and is by James Ingram and Dolly Parton (Yes, Dolly). Both songs belong to the writers, producers, singers, etc.
Special Thank-You: To everyone that keeps writing in and giving me such wonderful feedback. Thank you so much!
I woke up with a smile on my face. It was a new experience. If this had been a few weeks ago, I would have woken up, and tried to remember what day it was. Then I would have groaned either because I had to go to work or because I had to face another weekend of clubs, movies and parties with Willow only to have to return to work when the weekend was over. But not now. Now, I smiled before I even remembered what day it was. I smiled because the first thought that entered my mind, was Angel. And the first site that greeted my eyes when I finally opened them, was Angel�
Or not.
I sat up and clutched the sheets to my naked chest. I glanced at the clock. 12:45. I couldn�t remember the last time I�d slept in that late, but I couldn�t focus on my new Sleeping Record right now. I had to figure out where Angel was. What had happened?
I wracked my brain as I pulled the sheets with me and fumbled around the room, locating my jogging pants and tank top and sliding into them. Angel and I had a perfect, romantic evening. I�d come back to his place after being away from him for what was really the first time since we�d met, and found rose petals and candles every where. Angel had asked me to stay the month with him, and more. We�d had that delicious bath. Then there had been dinner by candlelight. And then we�d made love until we were both too tired to do anything but hold each other. So where could Angel be now? Where has he gone? Is he gone?
I checked the bathroom, and he wasn�t there. The shower stall looked recently used though, so I took it as a sign that he hadn�t rushed from the apartment as fast as his feet could carry him. I wandered out of the bathroom then, and towards the kitchen. I heard a voice from the balcony off the kitchen, and I stopped to listen for a moment � even though I knew I shouldn�t eaves drop on Angel.
All I heard was his side of the conversation, which went something like this: �Yes�Yes, I will�No. No more changes this time. I�m sure this time�Yes, one month�I promise you I will have everything finished by the end of the month�Alright, I�ll meet with her Monday morning�Yes, sir. I will. Go out and celebrate yourself! This is going to be an incredible project.�
I breathed a sigh of relief. It was about the art gallery. Now that I knew that, I couldn�t believe how foolish I was to have not remembered that Angel had to make the call at 12:30 to either accept or reject the position. My heart fluttered at the thought that his decision had been severely influenced by my decision to stay with him for the month. I stepped out onto the balcony as he was saying good-bye to whoever was on the phone, and moved towards him. I stopped a few feet away, and took in the view of the city. It was beautiful�Just like everything else in Angel�s world. I couldn�t help wondering if I even belonged.
Angel turned to me then and smiled warmly, thrilling me to the core that he hadn�t woken up and had a realization that told him he didn�t want me there. He stepped to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. �Good afternoon, Sleepy Head,� he chuckled and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. �I�m guessing you slept well.�
�Mm,� I smiled, �I can�t remember the last time I slept that well.�
�We�ll have to remember to wear you out more often then,� he chuckled and kissed me again, �it makes you sleep well.�
�Sounds good to me,� I smiled and kissed him once more. He stepped away then and took my hand. Guiding me from the deck back into the kitchen, he set me at the prepared table that I�d completely overlooked in my haste to find him. If I�d seen it, I probably would have relaxed sooner. But being the Panic-Accustomed Buffy that I am, I just had to freak out and overlook the obvious signs. Well, at least I noticed the shower.
~~
The warm water slid over my skin; heating me to the core and soothing my tired, exhausted muscles. I couldn�t remember the last time I�d felt this content. The long and pain brought upon by the absence of my mother was chased away by the fabulous pressure of the shower and the fact that I knew I was wanted. And not just anyone wanted me. It was Angel. I still couldn�t get my mind around the fabulous concept that was Angel wanting me. It made me smile as I slept, and it made me laugh when I was awake. Everything seemed to make sense when I was around him.
Turning around, I jumped back and let out a shriek in startled alarm to see him standing in the doorway of the shower, completely dressed with a big grin on his face. �God!� I cursed as my heart started beating again.
He laughed, �usually you call me Angel, but I�ll accept nic names.�
I rinsed the last of the conditioner from my hair and with a smile I asked, �what do you want? I�m trying to get clean.� In all honesty, he didn�t need to want something to scare the Hell out of me. Any time I saw Angel was welcome. Surprise, or no. It was all so good to me.
Angel leaned in to the shower, just barely missing get hit with the warm spray of water. He kissed me tenderly and then said, �you have twenty-five minutes to get dressed and ready. We�re going out tonight.�
�But it�s not even two o�clock yet,� I pointed out. �Doesn�t it usually have to be night to go out for the night?� I was confused and probably looking really dumb, but it didn�t seem to matter to either of us. Angel was always kind enough to amuse my naivete. I was always thankful because there seemed to be a lot of times lately when I was completely unaware and uninformed.
�You�re very observant,� he chuckled. �But we need to get you ready to go out tonight. We�re going some place special, and you need to be as �dolled up� as one beautiful, astounding woman possibly can be.�
My interest was successfully peaked.
~~
Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills was where Angel insisted that we go to get me �all dolled up�. It was elaborate, and as we wandered the streets I began to smile at the thought of walking into some expensive store on Angel�s arm and hearing him tell me I could have anything I wanted. Naturally I was shocked when he took me not into a fancy looking clothing store like Dolce & Gabbana or Roberto Cavalli, but into a small door in a back alley which he punched a key code in to, to unlock, and led me down a white hallway. We arrived at a gold, shiny elevator. Stepping in, it was all mirrors. Angel punched in the letters P.H., which I assumed meant Penthouse.
Frowning, I asked, �Angel, where are we going?�
He smiled at me as the elevator finally stopped, but refused to answer. Instead he guided me out and down another long white hall turning corners for about a minute before finally stopping in front of a large glass door with a gold, sparkling handle. He opened the door and guided me in through the door by the small of my back. My first thought was that we were in a reception room for some type of doctor�s office, because everything was white as a cloud. Everything was white, clean, and shining from the white, high reception desk to the plushy chairs and tables that were set up along the wall. The receptionist area seemed to be the center of the room, but behind the wall behind the receptionist was obviously an entrance to something else. The wall shielded it from sight.
The one thing that swayed my thought that it was a doctor�s office was that there weren�t the usual doctor�s office waiting room magazines. There was no �Healthy Living� or �FITT for Life�. Instead, there were rows of neat, perfectly arranged and barely used fashion magazines like �In Style� and �Vogue�. I looked to Angel again, wishing that he would just tell me what we were doing, and where we were. There was really no need for all the stealthy suspense, was there? He could just tell me. It would make things much simpler.
But of course, Angel didn�t even look into my questioning eyes. Instead he stepped up to the receptionist and gave the petit redhead my name. My name! Not his name. The redhead smiled flirtatiously at Angel, and batted her eyelashes as she said, �I�ll announce her arrival.�
Angel smiled right back at the obviously horny woman. �Thank you, Clarissa.�
He knew her by name? Now I really needed to know what this place was. Maybe it was one of those places that erases your memory of the last week or two. Maybe Angel�s going to have my memory wiped and leave me here all alone and never come back. Or maybe this is one of those little �Rich and Famous Only� doctor�s offices that do complete physical check-ups to all of the �toys� that those rich Playboys hook up with. Willow and I had joked about that once, but I�d never thought I�d end up in the same place as those girls named Cookie or Muffin that think nothing of switching from guy to guy as long as he has a lot of money and a nice car.
But I�m NOT one of those girls! Angel knows that by now. He knows all I want is him. At least, I hope I�ve made that clear. But now I�m wondering if it really IS clear to him. Maybe he�s going to make sure I don�t have any diseases or anything that could help me latch onto his bank account with a guilt trip. Or maybe he wants to have my ovaries removed so that I can�t accidentally get pregnant and trap him that way! Or maybe there�s some new way to check a woman to find out how many sexual partners she�s had!
While my mind was thinking the worse, I completely zoned out and paid no attention as �Clarissa� paged someone somewhere in the building, and smiled at Angel again. My eyes skimmed over Clarissa in her designer suits and perfectly tended hair. Her make-up was perfect. Her smile was flawless. Her bright blue eyes were astounding with her red hair.
And then there was me�
I had tossed on jeans and a T-shirt that had been crumpled in my bag for days. The jeans were expensive, and the shirt was cute. But my �cute� shirt that had a cartoon figure of a blonde girl shopping and jeans weren�t nearly as sexy as the provocative, low-cut silk top that Clarissa was wearing with matching, tight pants. And my hair had simply been clipped half-off my face, and was basically still drying from my shower. I�d tossed on the minimum amount of make up; a little blush, some mascara, and peach lip-gloss. My teeth were ok, I guess, but I have one tooth on the bottom that is kind of small compared to the rest. No one seems to notice it but me, but I�m sure that Clarissa notices. I�m sure that Clarissa�s never even had a cavity. Me? I�ve had eight.
So basically it�s like Cinderella. Clarissa is my evil step sister competition. She has the skills and abilities to have the Prince. I don�t�But somehow, I have him anyway.
I guess fairy tales do come true�sort of.
Clarissa�s voice, thick with seduction, cuts through my mind as she speaks directly to Angel � barely giving me so much as a disapproving, envious glance. �You may go in now, Sir.� The way she says �sir� is just sick. She reminds me of those secretaries in movies that are always trying to seduce the married boss, no matter what it takes or what it ruins.
Angel simply smiles and thanks her. He looks back at me, gives my hand a squeeze, and leads me behind the wall behind Clarissa�s reception desk. We enter another hallway. This one is a startlingly bright red hue. All along the wall are red picture frames filled with celebrity photos, and each photo is autographed by the celebrity it was taken of. It also has a little note of thank you from the celebrity � usually something like �Thank you so much for making it a memorable evening!� or �You are truly magnificent�. My curiosity was heightened by these comments, and I couldn�t help being completely lost as I searched my mind for who it could possibly be that we were going to see.
On the red door we arrived at, there were huge, gold, cursive initials D.V. This only further confused me. What did D.V. stand for? Dead Vet? Diligent Viper? Discarded Velvet? Was Angel taking me to find some old velvet to sew together into some type of dress?
It definitely wasn�t the last one, because surely Angel wouldn�t want to be seen with someone in an old velvet dress. Plus, discarded velvet definitely didn�t need a receptionist, and it probably wasn�t a huge hit with celebrities like Madonna and Cher. So my mind continued to wonder what D.V. stood for as Angel opened the door and showed me who the initials belonged to�
Donatella Versace.
�Angel!� the vibrant woman declared in delight as she rose from her large, marble desk. She came around the desk and went to him with out-stretched arms. Angel released my hand for a moment to embrace the older woman in greeting.
The room was powder blue, and every piece of furniture was a white marble. The chairs on the other side of Donatella�s desk were white marble, matching the desk with powder blue cushions that had her initials stitched in white in the center. On the two walls of the room were the same gold, cursive initials from the door, only they were much larger. The carpet was as white as could be, and the other two walls of the room were entirely window; looking out over the fashionable Rodeo Drive.
The woman with the long, bleached hair turned to me then and smiled warmly, �you must be the radiantly gorgeous woman with the perfect body that Angel was telling me about.� She glanced at Angel and then back at me, �although I must say that his description barely did you justice.�
I couldn�t help blushing a deep red at her words. Why had I bothered to worry? It�s not like Angel would take me somewhere that I would be even slightly uncomfortable. I shouldn�t have doubted. Now, I felt like kicking myself for all of my stupid thoughts. I turned my attention back to Donatella and said in the best voice I could manage, �thank you.�
She touched my cheek softly and smiled again. �We�re going to try to find you something as gorgeous as you, although I doubt such a thing is in existence.�
�But if it is, Donatella will have it,� Angel added with an adorable smirk.
She turned to Angel again, �stop kissing my ass, Angelus.� She chuckled and then said, �and I�m sure Clarissa was dong her best to look like a tramp. I told her you�d be coming in today, and she flew into the back rooms to find the most revealing top she could. The girl�s a great receptionist, an awful coffee maker, and a slut. But God bless her, I could never think badly of my own niece.� She moved over to her desk and closed the black binder she had been looking through before we entered. �Now, Buffy, my dear�Angel has special plans for you tonight. My job is to get you dressed for it without revealing where he�s taking you. However, that being said � I am a compulsive gossip and I beg you not to ask me where he�s taking you because I know I�ll give in and tell you.�
Angel laughed and squeezed my hand tightly.
~~
Donatella had a million questions for me to answer before we actually got to the selection of a dress for the evening. A few times, I tried to ask her in a hushed tone where Angel was taking me. At this point however, Angel would clear his throat from where he sat reading a magazine in the corner of the room in a white plush couch. He did it every single time, no matter how quiet I thought I was being. He had ears like a bat.
It seemed that every dress I tried on was exquisite in every way, but nothing seemed to be fitting the vision that Donatella had for me. And actually, I agreed. I wanted to blow Angel�s mind. I wanted to make his jaw drop, and these dresses � though amazing � just weren�t mind-blowing when I wore them. Sure, they hugged in all the right places�but something just wasn�t right about them.
I came out of the dark blue change room in a pink, strapless dress � to the sight of Clarissa setting a cup of coffee next to Angel, giving him her most seductive look as she attempted to bend in a way that showed the largest amount of cleavage possible. The sight did not impress me. Angel was smiling at her as she made some sort of flirty joke, and I couldn�t help feeling a stab of jealousy. That was the fake laugh he used when I told jokes that weren�t funny! That laugh was mine! That man she�s drooling over is mine!
She�s messing with what�s mine.
Donatella didn�t come racing over to inspect the dress and give her verdict on it like she�d done the last million times I�d come out of the dressing room. This time, she saw where I was going. She saw me heading for Angel and Clarissa. In mild amusement, she went back to flipping through her catalogue of designs.
I stepped in front of Angel and said in a sweet voice, �babe, could you help me with the zipper on this thing? I can�t seem to get it off. It�s really hard.� I extended my hand towards him and quirked an eyebrow; wondering what he was going to do in response to my challenge to the girl whose presence I refused to acknowledge. He probably found this whole scene as amusing as Donatella did.
Clarissa straightened up; finally deciding that she had adjusted the coffee cup long enough. Angel took my offered hand and got to his feet. I smiled up at him, motioning to the other side of the room and said, �change room�s this way.� Clarissa looked at me and rolled her eyes. Under her breath, I swore I heard her curse my name�not that I cared. I guided Angel to the dressing room. Right before we went in, Donatella said without looking up from her catalogue, �Angel, that dress is eight thousand dollars. You get anything on it and you�re buying it in addition to the one I decide I like her in.�
I take it she didn�t like this dress either.
~~
A million dresses and stolen kisses later, I was ready to give up. The last dress was one that Donatella was really just �wondering about, but willing to give a try�. Lucky for me, this dress was the one.
It was a deep red color with thick straps that cut into a low V-neck in the front. The dress clung to my chest, stomach and hips showing off every curve. It had a low-cut back, and the bottom cut upwards in a V towards the center of my thighs, showing skin but managing to be classy and elegant. The bottom of the dress at the back was long and flowing, and the entire thing looked as if it had been made just for me (which Donatella informed me she would have, had it not been such short notice).
I didn�t want to come out of the dressing room. I didn�t want Angel to see what I was wearing until tonight. If he could keep secrets and make surprises, so could I. And that was what I was going to do. Donatella exclaimed over it again and again, and then exited the change room to tell Angel that I had chosen the most expensive dress I�d tried on. Didn�t it just figure?
~~
Next on our list of Things To Do to Get Ready for the Mystery Night Out, was getting my hair and make-up done. At this point it was 5:30, so I now under stood Angel�s need to have gotten our �preparations� started so early. Angel took me to the Four Seasons hotel, and rented the best suite available � again, the penthouse. When we entered the suite, I was surprised to see two young women and a middle-aged man waiting for us. The women were obviously hair and make-up, and from the set up that the man had I assumed he was there to do my nails. Angel was certainly preparing me for something extravagant.
�I�ll be back in about an hour and a half to get you,� Angel whispered into my ear and kissed my cheek. �Have fun.�
After Angel left, I turned to the three waiting people. �Well,� I said � wondering if it would perhaps bring them to life to tell me where I should sit and what I should do. It did the trick, and the women smiled at me and motioned for me to have a seat in the chair they had set up.
**
This night was so important.
I wanted to show Buffy a type of romance that I somehow knew she�d never experienced before. I wanted her to smile at me throughout the entire night with that trusting, warm smile that seemed to brighten even the darkest clouds. It was unbelievable that I was speaking like this after knowing her just a few days, but it was like logic and reality didn�t matter. All that mattered was the fact that having her in my arms made me feel more complete than anything else I�d ever experienced�ever.
But there was something inside of me that felt hesitant. I had no doubts that Buffy and I should be together, but there was one thing in the back of my mind that stopped me from diving in headfirst without checking the waters. I knew what that one thing was: Fear.
We�re all afraid of something. Whether it�s heights, love, commitment, drowning � it doesn�t matter. We all have a fear. And I knew mine was that Buffy and I would be over too soon. I didn�t want her to experience every pleasure I could offer her right away and find that after this month together she was bored of me. I wanted to offer her more through my entire life. I wanted her to feel that there was always something new to learn or explore. It�s been in my experience then when things get �usual� � most people leave. I�ve learned this in life, and in work. Many times I�ve designed a place only to have to re-design it three years later because it�s initial thrill has been spent and it needs a new color or a new theme.
I didn�t want Buffy searching for a new color after this month together. I wanted her to enjoy what I was forever.
Forever. That word had frightened me when I was younger. But now I longed for it as long as it had Buffy in it. I knew with a crystal clear mind that forever would be paradise if Buffy were to be the one I shared it with.
I finished dressing in my custom-made tuxedo, and looked into the mirror. I�d known many women in my life. I could only ever wonder what inspired them to want to know me - especially a woman like Buffy. What would make her want to know me? Staring into my reflection, I couldn�t think of a reason. There was nothing all that special about me. I dressed well, and held my head high, but that couldn�t be enough to make a woman like Buffy love me. I needed to know what she saw in me. I needed to know so that whatever she seemed to see in me, could always be there.
Then maybe she could always be there.
~~
The moment came when I could finally see how she looked. Buffy had one of the girls tending to her call to say that she wanted to meet me in the lobby. So now, here I stood at the bottom of the grand hotel staircase, waiting to see her. It felt as if I was waiting to see my bride on my wedding day. It dawned on me that I wouldn�t particularly mind if Buffy was my bride one day�Today, would be fine in my opinion.
I paced back and forth nervously, wondering if all of this would one-day lead to being married to Buffy. I took a quick glance up and something caught my eye. I did a double take and stopped dead in my tracks.
There she was.
She looked even more incredible then I could have imagined she was. I had to remind myself to breathe as I gazed up at her, a smile creeping over both of our faces as if being slid on by an unseen force. She was beautiful in the tight, sexy red dress that hugged her body like a glove. Her hair was half off of her face with clips that sparkled under the light, with her hair flowing down her back in loose waved curls. Her eyes, accented by make-up, had intensified her natural mysterious, sexy allure.
Finally snapping myself back to reality, I cleared my throat and went up to her. She remained where she was, perfectly poised as she waited for me. She looked like a dream that I could only hope to have every night. When finally I stood before her, I said the first thing that came to my mind, �you�re incredible.�
She blushed at my words and looked away from my eyes. I placed a finger beneath her chin and tilted her head back up towards mine so that I could look at her. I wanted to expand on my opinion of her, but it seemed that I couldn�t form more than the two words I�d already spoken. Considering the way she looked, I found myself in awe at the fact that I�d been able to speak at all. Leaning closer, I kissed her lips tenderly, adoring the top lip for a moment before sweeping my tongue lightly over the bottom one. We parted and I found a new burst of vocabulary. I smiled softly and finally removed the long, velvet box from behind my back. �I have something to complete the outfit,� I smirked at her.
She gasped as I opened the box to reveal the necklace inside. The expensive platinum, ruby, and diamond necklace consisted of a thick platinum and 18 karat white gold chain adorned with a hundred of the most dazzling diamonds and rubies on the face of this earth. She was barely able to speak as I removed the necklace from the velvet jewelry box and moved behind her to fasten it around her neck. I settled her hair neatly over it at the back once it was on, and moved to face her again so that I could see how perfect it looked. The red rubies and sparkling diamonds matched the red dress perfectly. I�d remembered how dazzling she was in red, and without the knowledge that she would be wearing a red gown tonight, I made the purchase. The necklace was slightly looser than a choker would be, but it still remained snug against her skin.
The diamonds reflected in her hazel eyes, and I wondered briefly how I would possibly make it through the entire night without giving in and racing to the nearest hotel room. I pressed a tender kiss to her lips before taking her hand and tucking it into my arm. �Let�s go,� I smiled down at her.
**
The entire time I was speechless. As Angel fastened the obviously expensive necklace around my neck, I could tell everyone that could see was staring at us. I felt a tinge of excitement just to know that there were women throughout the lobby gazing at me in jealousy for two main reasons: Angel, and the expensive jewelry he had just presented me with so adoringly.
The simple touch of his hands on my neck as he re-positioned my hair, made me quiver in anticipation. I felt a pool of warmth gathering between my thighs. He moved to stand before me again, and placed a tender kiss on my lips that I held on to for as long as possible. He took my hand then, and tucked it into his arm. He said something, though I really couldn�t imagine what it was. Throughout this entire greeting I hadn�t managed to say a word as I had realized three things while I was upstairs getting ready for this surprise night that Angel had planned for me. First, that Angel wasn�t simply treating me like he wanted a month. He was tending to me and spoiling me like he wanted me to build memories that could last a lifetime. Second, that the way he looked at me was reminiscent of what I�d always imagined veneration to be like. And thirdly, that I was falling madly in love with him and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
As we exited the lobby, Angel guided me to a waiting white, stretch limousine. Angel ushered the driver away from the door, and held it open for me instead. After he was sure I was comfortably settled on the leather seats, he slid in after me. Not two moments later, I found myself pulled into a sensual kiss. I responded eagerly, climbing into Angel�s lap despite the tightness of my dress. I�d been craving his touch for over two hours now, and something told me I may have to wait a while this evening before I could have it again, so I took the chance offered to me and moaned under his ministrations.
He pulled back from the kiss after several heavy minutes, and looked deep into my eyes, as if searching for something. I barely dared to breathe, not wanting to break the moment. �There�s nothing I can say to describe how perfect you are to me right now,� he told me.
I could think of something he could say, but rather then mention it and lay my heart on the line, I kept quiet. Several long moments passed before either of us spoke. Finally, I broke the mood as I felt how transparent I was becoming. I knew he could see right through me and any fronts I was attempting to put up. So as an attempt to lighten things I asked from where I still sat on his lap, �where are you taking me?�
�Dinner, and then you�ll have to see,� he smiled up at me.
~~
The restaurant we arrived at was called �The Spanish Dancer�. I had worried as we drove that I would be overdressed for dinner, but as the limousine stopped at the front entrance to the restaurant, I knew it wasn�t so. I could see the women inside dressed in expensive evening wear, and I suddenly knew why Angel had insisted that I be dressed �to the nines�. I could hear a loud, Spanish song coming from behind the double doors that led inside, and I wondered briefly why I�d never heard of this extravagant place before.
Angel cleared things up for me by informing me that it was, �by special invitation only.� That made sense. This place didn�t look like a restaurant where just anyone could show up and expect to be seated. I spotted a line of people behind a velvet rope outside, and I guessed that they had no invitation and no way of getting in.
�Angel, how old is this place?� I asked curiously as the door to the limousine was opened by the chauffer.
�Twenty years?� he offered as more of an assumption than actual knowledge. �The building was erected in the late 1800�s, and it served as a burlesque house for many years until it was nearly burned to the ground by a local sheriff who discovered his wife was making some extra money on the side. If you know what I mean,� he winked at me. �It was restored by the Prince of Spain when he came to visit in the 60�s, and sat vacant for many years as he pondered what to do with it. Eventually, however, the prince was shot and killed by his mistress and the building went up for sale. It didn�t sell until the late 70�s when a retired actor purchased the building and decided to turn it into a dancing restaurant similar to one he�d frequented as a teen when he was growing up in Mexico. It�s been like this for roughly twenty years I think. I was first invited by the head of an art gallery that I was re-designing in 1996. I�ve visited a few times after with friends, but I�ve never taken someone with the intent of dancing,� he smirked at me and then got out.
�But I can�t dance,� I pouted to myself. I finally accepted his hand and he led me out of the limousine. He guided me into the front doors that were held open by two Spanish men that nodded at Angel and said, �Buenas noches, se�or.� They then smiled at me and nodded their heads politely, saying, �senorita.�
The Spanish theme was apparent in every aspect of the restaurant. From the extremely high, plastered white walls to the Spanish art prints to the �La Cocina� sign above the door that took you to the kitchen. There was a balcony all around the top of the restaurant where several people were sitting at tables, overlooking everyone else eating and dancing. The dance floor itself was made of bright, electric colors that seemed to scream out �dance on me!� A few couples were obeying the command as they danced some sort of sexy tango-ish dance. I really didn�t know what it was as I wasn�t very schooled when it came to the dance.
The tables were wooden like you would expect to see in an old Mexican restaurant. I thought back to the days that I used to watch re-runs of the TV show �Zorro�. I only wished I could remember the names to some of the Mexican and Spanish decorations I was seeing. Angel and I were guided up the stairs located in the corner of the room by a middle-aged man dressed in some Spanish ensemble, to our table. Our table was in the very center of the balcony that overlooked everything. Here, the balcony went out a bit like one of those special reserved balconies at a ballet or opera performance. The chairs were red, along with many of the other things at the table. The red rose, the red candles, the red champagne glasses, and the red cloth napkins all matched the cushions of the chairs. I realized that even I matched the table.
Angel held my chair for me to sit, and he tucked me in to the table. The man left then, being immediately replaced by a younger man that bowed to us and offered Angel a menu. �Mi nombre es Palo. Ser� su camarero esta tarde, se�or,� the waiter said. I suddenly realized that I wasn�t going to understand a single thing that was said between Angel and the man. I gave Angel a panicked look, and he reassured me with a charming smile.
�Buenas noches, Palo. La dama y yo empezar�n con botella m�s costosa de vino rojo,� Angel spoke Spanish fluently. I didn�t see that one coming.
�Cuando usted desea, se�or,� the waiter smiled, nodded at both Angel and I and then left.
I leaned in towards Angel and asked him in a hushed voice, �I didn�t understand a word he said, but is his name Palo?�
Angel laughed and took my hand. He brought it to his lips and applied a tender kiss to my knuckles. �Don�t worry. I�ll order for you. Just tell me what you�d like and I�ll make sure you get it.�
�What�s on the menu?� I asked, looking at it and realizing that it too, was in Spanish.
�It doesn�t matter,� he kissed my knuckle again. �Whatever you�d like, will be made the way you wish it to be.� He looked deeply into my eyes and said, �you are my lady, Buffy�I can give you anything you�ve ever wanted. All you have to do is stay with me.�
I felt myself beginning to blush as deeply as the carafe of red wine that was placed between us by Palo at that very moment. That little Spanish guy certainly knew how to move quickly. Something told me that Angel was definitely a man to be respected and pleased no matter what the cost in all types of expensive restaurants � not just this one. I withdrew my hand from Angel�s, and looked up nervously at Palo who seemed to be waiting for me to make an order or something. I panicked as I had no idea what I wanted. Then again, if I knew what I wanted I�d probably be too afraid to say it for fear of being inwardly made fun of by Palo because I couldn�t speak Spanish.
Angel made it easier on me by giving me a smile and then turning to Palo and saying, �I will have the Seasonal Fish done with leek, Spanish onions, garlic and tomato in a white wine sauce. And the lady will have the Braised Rabbit marinated with the special seasoning, served with the Greek salad.� I was surprised that he hadn�t ordered it in Spanish. I could have done that!
Palo nodded, smiled, and left. I wondered if his head would get tired from all of the nodding that he seemed to do in one night. I then realized what Angel had ordered for me. �Rabbit?� I burst out as soon as Palo was out of earshot.
Angel chuckled softly, �just don�t think about it. It�s quite good. Try not to think while you�re eating it, and you�ll enjoy it.�
�Oh that�ll be easy,� I replied caustically.
There were a few moments of silence as I watched the dancers as they danced under the muted lighting of the restaurant. I felt like dancing, but I had no idea how, so I didn�t bother to mention it and I prayed that Angel wouldn�t ask me. Of course, he did.
�Baile conmigo, Mi Dama,� he removed his jacket and then got to his feet and bowed before me, offering me his hand. I could only assume that he was asking me to dance as I remembered that �baile� meant �dancing� from a Spanish song I�d liked when I was a teen.
I looked down, suddenly embarrassed. Maybe I just didn�t have what it takes to live in Angel�s world. He could dress me up as much as he wanted to, but I didn�t have any of the confidence that the beautiful women down on the dance floor had. I was barely able to stand without dying from complete nervousness. I didn�t want to further embarrass myself and Angel by not being able to dance. �I can�t,� I finally whispered just loud enough for him to hear me.
�Yes you can,� he took my hand and pulled me to my feet. �if you can make love, you can dance.� I looked up into his eyes and they began to sparkle, �and trust me�you make love with incredible talent.� He whispered that last part in my ear, making me tingle and convincing me to dance with a nibble to my ear lobe.
I nodded, unable to speak, and allowed him to guide me down to the dance floor below. I recognized the start to the song a little, but I couldn�t imagine where I�d heard it before. It was a lively tune and I wondered what on earth Angel expected me to do when I had absolutely no idea how to dance.
**Dime que paso,
Si te olvido mi nombre,
O ya quiza, yo no te importo mas.**
But he seemed to not notice or to not show that he did, and he pulled me into his arms. Wrapping one arm around my waist, and holding my hand in the other � we began to dance. I rested my free hand on his shoulder and looked down to try to figure out what his stepping was. He slid his hand from my waist to my chin and he tilted my head back up to look into his eyes. �Don�t think,� he told me. �Just go with the music.�
Easy for him to say. He knew what he was doing.
His steps were confusing to me. They were twisted a little back and forth in a way that swayed my hips and made my dress flow. I suddenly realized that my dress was in a way Spanish-influenced. How perfect. I dressed the part, but I didn�t have a prayer of being able to dance it.
**Yo te conozco bien,
Tus ojos no lo esconden,
Estas indiferente y me hace mal.**
I did my best to calculate when he would be stepping in towards me, and eventually I figured out his rhythm, but I knew it was showing all over my face to him and everyone else that was watching, that I didn�t know what I was doing. I tried to look more confident, but I knew it was coming out about as real as a knock-off Gucci bag. I wondered briefly if the women on the dance floor that knew how to dance were comparing me to a knock-off designer bag. I wouldn�t blame them if they were. I had no clue what I was doing, and they looked as if they�d all been attending a dance school for the last ten years.
Eventually I found the rhythm of the song and just told myself to relax. Odds are that I�d never see most of these people again, so I wasn�t going to worry about what they thought of me. Looking into Angel�s eyes and seeing him smile at me was all I cared about.
�You�re getting it,� he encouraged me and swayed a little closer to my hips this time. He added a step in between his curved steps towards me, confusing me further. I followed it though, and began to predict it. It took all of my self-control to keep from staring directly at his feet so that I could see exactly what he was doing. I resisted, and I could see the humor in his eyes. Obviously he knew how difficult this was for me. God help me, he probably thought my frustration was cute!
**Si nuestro amor, no da mas,
Asi como se fue otro vendra.**
I felt the beat get a little louder as we neared what I assumed would be the chorus of the song. Really I had no way of knowing what was what in the song as I didn�t understand the words, but I suddenly heard a band strike up along with the song as it was played across the speakers, and I felt a rush of excitement. I glanced to my left and spotted the band for the first time. They were all dressed in matching Spanish outfits, and they had instruments of every kind. From trumpets to Spanish guitars, to instruments I couldn�t even identify � they had it all. The rhythm increased and the music got louder.
Angel surprised me by removing his hand from my hip and suddenly twirling me around, then dropped me back over his arm as he caught me. I wanted to shriek in surprise, but I contained myself and managed to fall back into his rhythm as he did.
The trumpets struck up and I suddenly felt a surge of excitement as we continued to dance. Maybe this wasn�t so bad after all. I let myself go and Angel took my hands and pushed me back a bit, only to release me left hand and spin me in to him yet again. As the trumpets sounded, he dropped me back over his arm in one flush movement that set my heart racing.
**Si ya se acabo, tu amor,
Te quedan las caricias que grabe en tu piel.
Amandote.
Si ya se acabo, tu amor.**
It didn�t seem to matter to Angel that I didn�t know what I should be doing. He was giving me all the guidance I needed. He continued to spin me around the room, occasionally spinning me into him so that my back was against his chest. Then I somehow knew to curve my body back against him in a way that made him shudder. I felt him lick my neck lightly, and a matching shudder went through my own body.
We danced every type of Spanish dance I could even imagine. The majority of the time I didn�t even have a clue about what we were doing. Just that it felt good being in Angel�s arms and being held so close. I found I wanted the dance to go on forever. I never wanted to stop. Something told me that this was going to be a night I�d never want to end. I�d want to spend it all in Angel�s arms, and have it continue on until the world was long over.
**
There was something about the way she looked when we danced. It sent a chill down my spine. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her face lit up with the thrill. Her body seemed to instinctively know exactly what to do without any encouraging. She just knew what I would do. She was predicting me correctly every time. She knew me so well in such a short time, and I felt as if I�d known her forever. I couldn�t imagine what my life would be like now without her. It�s like when you go on an exotic trip and return home only to hear yourself saying �This is it? This is what I come home to after all that joy?� I didn�t want to hear myself saying that. I wanted to stay with Buffy forever. For as long as I was with her, I knew I wouldn�t be feeling that surge of disappointment when I walk through the door at night.
With Buffy, I knew there would always be excitement. No matter what.
**Si ya se acabo, tu amor.**
~~
Dinner was fabulous. Trying not to think about the fact that I was indeed eating a rabbit, I actually enjoyed my meal. Angel�s fish was incredible too every time I begged him for a bite. I didn�t really have to beg though, because he was more than willing to feed me a taste. I think he enjoyed watching me eat more than he enjoyed eating himself. I rarely saw him take his eyes off me as we ate. It�s odd because usually having people watch me when I chew, I can�t stand it. But with Angel it�s as if every thing I thought I didn�t like is likeable as long as he�s the one doing it with me�or to me.
We danced throughout the night, and I laughed and laughed as we bumped into people on the full dance floor. We didn�t care what they were thinking. To us, there was only each other. We were all that mattered.
The clock struck midnight, and Angel escorted me from the restaurant to the waiting limousine yet again. I didn�t think he could possibly have anything else planned. But of course, as always with Angel, I was wrong. He had more completely unexpected surprises for me. The night was dark, but it was warm. We rode along in silence for what seemed like eternity for me. I didn�t care how long we drove though. I simply enjoyed being in Angel�s arms, stealing little kisses every few moments. Every kiss we shared felt like fire. I found myself having to turn away many times because it was almost too much. Angel chuckled softly every time he saw me gasp for air. But I too laughed when he did the same.
After what I could only guess to be about two hours, the limousine entered some gates and finally stopped. I looked outside and noticed that we were far away from any of the harsh lights of LA. We were in some country area. Before us was a large stone bungalow with millions of tiny, romantic lights outside that made a path up to the entrance of the house. If I looked, I could see the ocean just beyond a little hill.
�Angel, where are we?� I asked yet again. I found myself wondering this more and more lately as he continued to take me to places I�d never been before.
�It�s a secret,� he whispered into my ear and got out of the limo. He helped me out and I looked around at the beautiful night sky. The stars were so big outside of the city without the harsh lights to take away from their beauty. Suddenly the limo started and pulled away again.
�Angel?� I asked and turned to face him. �What are we doing here?�
He smiled and stepped up to me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and told me, �we�re escaping the world.� He kissed me gently and took my hand. �Come with me. I want to show you something.� He pulled me with him as he went down a stone staircase next to the house that led down to the beach.
When we arrived on the beach. What he had prepared took my breath away. There were three large iron poles stuck in to the ground. They were all beautifully carved with little designs in them, and flowing all around them were white, lacy sheets. There was no roof so the stars could be seen. There was a path of tiny, white candles leading to the set area and they were all around the beach. In addition to the candles, there were more of the same rose petals that I had seen last night between the candles that made up the pathway. I spotted some large, white objects in the little prepared area, and I assumed they were pillows but I couldn�t figure out why there would be pillows outside. I was completely blown away by the entire sight. It left me speechless and I wondered why on earth he�d prepared all of this.
**
I watched her face as she took in the sight. She was so gorgeous, especially tonight in that dress, with her eyes sparkling in excitement. I�d called to have this prepared when she stepped into the rest rooms during dinner. The way we danced and the way we talked, I knew I had to tell her the truth. I had to confess everything to her. But I needed a way to do it that wouldn�t scare her from me. This seemed like the best plan, so I went with it and called to have it set up.
**Just an ordinary day,
Started out the same old way.
Then I look into your eyes and knew,
Today would be a first for me,
The day I fall in love.**
�Do you like it?� I asked after several moments had passed and she still hadn�t spoken a word. I was beginning to wonder if she�d ask to just leave, because other than her sparkling eyes I couldn�t tell what she was thinking. I don�t know how I�d take it if she wanted to go. I raised her hand to my lips and whispered against her skin in a voice that I knew she couldn�t hear, exactly what I wanted to tell her tonight. If I said it quietly out loud, I knew I�d be able to confess it to her in a few moments when I take her over to the prepared area.
She looked at me, having felt the air from my words on her skin. I knew she knew I�d said something else, but she answered my question anyway. �I love it�Why did you do all of this?�
I took both of her hands and guided her down the path, telling her quietly, �because I have to tell you something.�
**
Oh God! This is the part where he tells me he�s married!
My mind couldn�t keep from racing in fear as I tried to prepare myself for the worst news possible. He was married. He was getting deported. He was engaged. He was gay and he was really just trying to please his parents by being with a woman, but he wanted to go back to his male lover and this was his way of telling me. The millions of ways he could break my heart raced through my head. I never stopped to consider the fact that this setting was incredibly romantic, and he wouldn�t tell me something awful in a place this beautiful.
I never stopped to trust him. I�d been let down so many times before in beautiful places. All I could think, was that it was happening all over again to me.
**
Her eyes were clouded with fear and wonderment, but I didn�t stop to reassure her. I needed to get this over with and tell her before I lost my nerve. She had to know. She had to know it all. Now, before this went any further then she wanted it to.
**On the day I fall in love,
Sky will be a perfect blue.
And I'll hear my heart forever more,
To someone who is just like you,
The day I fall in love.**
I took her into the area surrounded by the white sheets. The breeze had them fluttering softly all around us, and I knew the moment was perfect for what I needed to tell her. I looked down at her questioning eyes, and couldn�t deny myself a kiss. I leaned down and pulled her close. She seemed grateful for the kiss, as if it was easing a fear she�d been holding. Her arms wrapped around me and she parted my lips with her tongue to nibble tenderly on my upper lip.
When finally our lips parted, I looked down into her misted eyes. It seemed as if she was near crying, and I didn�t know why. Did she know what I was going to tell her? Was she expecting it and hating the thought that she had to tell me what she really thought? Or was she preparing to break my own heart?
�I wanted to tell you something,� I told her, looking away from her beautiful eyes before I lost all my courage. She did now what I had done to her so many times before. She used her fingers underneath my chin to guide my face back to look into my eyes. She pressed a tender kiss to my lips, never breaking eye contact for a moment. �You can tell me anything,� she confessed and kissed my cheek. The kiss had a calming effect on me that I didn�t think anything would. What I had to tell her was either going to scare her away, or�or�I didn�t know how she�d react. I couldn�t keep wondering what was about to happen. I had to find out now, before I drove myself insane wondering.
**People all say love is wonderful,
That the bells will ring,
The birds will sing,
The sky will open.**
�There�s no words for me to say that can make this come out�right,� I started. �I know that I�m going to say some things that you might wonder about, but I feel you have a right to know the truth before this goes any further.
**
Oh God. He IS gay.
**
I saw a moment of total shock and fear in her eyes, but she hid it quickly and I tried to continue. �Since I met you, nothing has made sense except for the fact that I want you with me. It�s like everything that made sense in my life before, suddenly doesn�t matter, and I couldn�t figure it out until I realized something tonight. I need to tell you now, and I need to tell you everything.�
�Ok,� her voice was barely audible. I could only imagine what must be racing through her mind.
�I�ve done things in my past that I�m not proud of,� I confessed. �I know you must be thinking �we all have�, but I�ve done terrible things. I�ve hurt people I should have cared for. I�ve used people. I�m not this wonderful saint�even if I can put on a good show that makes you believe I am,� I almost smiled at this.
�Angel you�re not the only one that has a past�that has regrets,� her arms were now resting on my biceps. I had my arms wrapped around her waist, and I marveled at how perfectly she fit into my arms. Like she was made for me�born for me. I couldn�t imagine wanting any other at this point. She was all I knew I�d ever need. For eternity, she was what I needed.
�Every time I look at you I wonder if this is all real,� I started again. �Your beauty�your trust�your spirit. Everything you�ve given me is so much more than I deserve. I�ve never been this devoted to the way I feel about someone, and I need you to know what I�m feeling.�
**And I'll never promise to be true to anyone,
Unless it's you,
Unless it's you,
The day I fall in love.**
�Buffy, I�I know you know I want you. And I�m stalling with every word I say because I�m afraid of how you�ll react when I tell you the truth. Part of me thinks you�ll be thrilled, and another part worries if you�ll leave. I just want it to be the first choice that you make, but I want you to be honest with me when I tell you this.�
Her eyes continued to gaze right into me. I knew she could see right through me, and for once I didn�t care. Usually I guarded my soul � never wanting it to be revealed. But I wanted Buffy to see everything that I was, and love me for it. I paused to look at her now, as she was. I wanted to make a memory of this moment before it could be wrecked by my confession. Even if she bolted the moment I said the words, I wanted to remember how she was looking at me, and how she was holding me.
But eventually I couldn�t drag it out any more. I took a deep breath and finally said it. �I know we haven�t known each other that long, but I feel like all my life you�re the one I�ve been waiting for. The one I�ve been praying for. I didn�t even know I was waiting for you until I met you. It felt for the first time that I was complete. You�ve made me everything I couldn�t be on my own, and I want you to be able to say that I�ve done the same for you. Buffy the truth is��
Her eyes were welling with tears, and I wondered what she was thinking as I spoke. But I had to tell her. I had to say the words. I had to get it out.
�I�m falling in love with you.�
**Just an ordinary day,
Started out the same old way.
Then I look into your eyes and knew,
Today will be a first for me.**
She said nothing, only launched herself at me and grabbed my lips with her own. It took me a moment to realize what had happened, and then I found myself rejoicing. I wrapped my arms tightly around her and twirled her around. She wasn�t running. She wasn�t leaving. She was here, in my arms, showing me with this kiss that she felt the same. Finally the kiss ended and I set her down.
She cupped my face with her hand, and as the tears coursed down her cheeks she told me, �I�m so in love with you.�
**
His eyes lit up with delight, and I laughed despite my tears of complete joy and relief. He pulled me tight against his body and kissed me again, laughing the entire time as he spun me around in the air. Finally he stopped and somehow bent to his knee with me still in his arms. He laid me back against the soft white pillows and caressed my tongue with his own. I moaned into his mouth, loving the feeling of completion I now had. Before, I�d been happy that he wanted me around for a while. Now, I was thrilled to tell him the honest truth that I�d discovered tonight. I was in love with him, and there was nothing that could change it or prevent it.
I loved him.
**The day I fall in love,
I know you'll be there.**
He kissed down my neck, taking time to lay gentle kisses over my collar bone as his free hand massaged my stomach in a sensuous way that did as much to me as one of his passionate kisses. I wanted him so much, and I knew that this night was far from over. I had to make love with him, and I had to wake up in his arms. I needed so many things from this night, and I never wanted to see the dawn.
He looked down into my eyes and whispered, �you�ll stay?� He asked almost nervously.
I kissed him again and smiled, �forever.�
**The day I fall in love**
~~
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