Angelus (what an awesome name, huh?) stayed true to his word about the stylists. About twenty minutes after agreeing to this crazy idea, I was being fitted for a dress. I had made quick work of finishing his tux, despite the fact that he said he could call someone else to do it.
I knew this idea was crazy, but something inside of me couldn't resist, despite the fact that I barely knew this man, hated the society he was a part of, and I was probably going to get fired for being late.
But all of those major things seemed so small and unimportant when he looked at me and said that my looks would be 'just fine'. Sure, it was no big compliment, but I've definitely had worse. There's been, 'Wow, Buffy! You look like crap!' and there was, 'I've definitely seen better'. In comparison, 'fine' is probably one of the best compliments I've ever received from a man. It's definitely the first I've received from a man like Angelus.
The dress they had designed was an emerald green color with lots of sparkles. It set off my tanned skin, and the smoky green of my eyes just right. It was a halter-style, that dipped low into my chest, and gripped my body tightly. The back left little to the imagination, as it dipped to just above the rise of my derriere.
The stylists, who I'd come to know as Macy and Jasmine, worked with the base they had and created a beautiful woman that I never dreamed I could look like. They set my eyes off with smoky colors, and they bronzed my skin to a beautiful tan color. They hid that scar on my left jaw to the point where I'd momentarily forgotten that I had it.
For my hair, they curled it all loosely, and then pinned it all atop my head with an emerald butterfly clip, leaving a few loose tendrils curled around my face.
For shoes, the designer found some expensive Gucci, open-toe stilettos in an emerald green color to match my dress, which he informed me was very hard because Gucci wasn't known for working with such a color, and such small feet. They lifted me a considerable three inches, so I was a better height for my extremely tall 'date'.
**
What was taking so long? What were they doing to her? What did she look like? Why the Hell am I so nervous? All of these questions, plus thousands more, were racing through my head as I paced back and forth in my tuxedo in the living area of the hotel room.
I tried to assure myself that I was nervous about pulling off the Scam of the Century, but I knew deep down that wasn't true. My body was aching for that gorgeous woman, and I was finding it extremely hard to resist her.
It dawned on me that I didn't give a damn that Darla wasn't here, confirming my earlier suspicions that I was just marrying her to make my sister happy. It was the truth, after all. And it didn't bother me one bit to face it. I had never had the intention of settling down. I was a bachelor to the bone. I was filthy rich, I had friends, and a million beautiful women throwing themselves at my feet and in my bed...Why did I need to get married?
To make my sister happy, of course.
No doubt that Darla and I wouldn't have been faithful to each other. We never were. I would have undoubtedly slept with more women after getting married, then I would have before I was actually married and free to explore the wonders of the female body...Or for that matter, a population of female bodies.
Something inside of me wanted to say that had I been engaged to Buffy, I would have been faithful. But I ignored that like every other thought about asking her out for a normal date if everything went well on this 'fake' one.
To be perfectly honest, I'm hoping to at least get something out of this gorgeous woman. The fact that I may not, seemingly intrigues me further. A challenge could arise, and that's something new for me. But new could be good, right? Maybe it would be nice to have to pursue for a change.
My thoughts were interrupted as the doors to the bedroom opened, and the three designers and stylists came out. Behind them, I saw a masterpiece.
Buffy looked to kill for in that emerald dress that hugged her firm chest, ample behind, and beautiful curves. She had a body unlike any other woman I'd ever seen(and trust me, I've seen a lot of female bodies). Her curves were defined and well-proportioned, despite the fact that she was rather short and slender.
Her eyes captured my attention first, and I couldn't help smiling at their smoky depths. She was so beautiful, standing before me. It dawned on me that her outfit was not complete, and I shook my head to clear my head of dirty thoughts.
"You look stunning," I informed her honestly. "But there's one more thing..." I trailed off and went to the dining room. Picking up the large, velvet box, I came back in. "No fianc� of mine would never leave for an engagement party without being suitably dressed in expensive jewellery, so I called the jeweller for a favour."
Stepping up close to her, closer than I'd ever been before, I opened the box. She gasped at the site of the emerald and diamond choker before her. The matching earrings were encrusted with thousands of jewels, just like the choker. "Do you like it?" I asked, suddenly nervous that she wouldn't.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely loud enough for me to hear her.
I smiled, "then I chose right." I set down the box, and as she put on the earrings, I made short work of doing up the choker behind her. I allowed my fingers to trace over the smooth nape of her neck. Her bare skin made me more aroused than I'd ever remembered being at the sight of bare skin. The tanned color suited her so well, and once the choker was done up, I allowed my eyes to skim over the rest of her bare back.
It dawned on me that I felt a tinge of jealousy at the idea of someone else looking at my 'fianc�', but I passed it off as having a shred of decency in my blood to the idea that this was my bride to be.
Then came the final part to the jewels.
The engagement ring.
No one would believe that my fianc� wasn't wearing the most fabulous ring, so I went all-out on this one. It was a huge Harry Winston, with diamonds encrusted in the platinum band around the huge diamond.
At the sound of the box opening behind her, she turned to look at me. Her eyes met mine for a brief moment, and then her gaze flicked down to the ring in my hand. Without words, I took her left hand, and slid the ring on her left finger.
I couldn't help whispering, "that looks so good on you."
She smiled faintly and whispered back, "it feels good." Looking up at me, her eyes were shining with excitement. It would be so easy to lean down and capture her lips with my own. After a gift like that, I doubted that she would reject. This moment was completely perfect for a kiss! But she blinked and disrupted the gaze, assuring my with that slight movement, that she didn't want to be kissed by a stranger...At least not right now.
**
I was so incredibly nervous and excited in the back of the white limousine as Angelus informed me of a few basic facts that he had told his sister. His ex-fianc� liked spas. His ex-fianc� liked Steven Tyler. His ex-fianc� loved Maui. His ex-fianc� had two parents, and they'd never separated. His ex-fianc� had one sister. His ex-fianc� wasn't nearly as beautiful as me...
That last one made my jaw want to drop. Beautiful? Well, that was certainly a step up from 'fine'! And here I'd thought 'fine' was the mother of all compliments to be received from a man like this!
Pulling up to the front steps of the HUGE mansion his sister resided in, Angelus gave me a reassuring smile. "You'll do great," he said. "If nothing else works and you're in a jam, just take my hand and ask me to dance."
I almost blushed then. The idea of dancing closely to this beautiful man was making me giddy. Giddy! It made me actually giddy! I'd never experienced a feeling of giddiness before. It was a damn nice feeling!
Angelus helped me out of the car, and I took the arm he offered as we headed up the steps to the beautiful home of his sister.
Angelus had told me a bit about his sister. Her name was Willow. She had red hair. She was really charming and sweet. Her fianc�, James, was in to oil, with dig sites in twenty different states, making him an extremely wealthy man. He also let it slip that she had had one broken engagement before this one, to a high school boyfriend named Xander, but that he was such an ass that she finally saw through her temporary blindness, to dump him six days before the wedding was to take place.
Upon first entering the house, I was in awe. Actually, from the moment I'd first seen the house off in the distance, I was in awe. But now I was in an even greater awe then the awe I'd been in before. The house was decorated elegantly, with gold and white carvings in the marble walls and pillar, and expensively framed portraits of family members all over the fantastic walls.
Angelus informed me in the car, that this was the home he'd grown up in with his sister, and his mother before she'd passed away. He moved out when he was eighteen, to attend a school of architectural design in New York, and afterwards he'd moved to Los Angeles to set up a firm of his own, and live in a swanky bachelor pad. He visited home often though, so he saw his sister all the time.
**
Walking into the large ballroom on the left of the grand staircase, I felt extremely powerful with a woman like Buffy on my arm. I was compelled to say 'woman', because one glance at her standing next to me in all her beautiful, elegant glory, she indeed was a woman despite the fact that I guessed her to only be about twenty.
I introduced Buffy to a million people as my fianc�, and they all looked her over with a politely critical eye. I knew they had been wondering what kind of woman would be able to tie me down long enough for marriage. By the approving nods of their head at me, and their flirty styles of speaking to Buffy, I guessed that they had their answers, and they approved of the union of Buffy and I.
It took about twenty minutes for me to find my sister. She was in the corner of the room, with people crowded all around her to examine her ring and congratulate her on the engagement. James was standing sturdy next to her, with a beam of pride in his stance. Obviously he was happy to be marrying Willow...But his motives still made me question him. True, Willow was a wonderful person, but she just didn't seem like James' type.
I asked Buffy to stay alert of him, and let me know what she thought of him. Buffy had laughed and made a sarcastic comment about looking like a stalker, but agreed to it in the end. I was glad that she had. Surely a woman like Buffy, dressed like she was, would be able to get information out of ANY man in this room.
Suave, ultra-cool James included.
"Willow!" I called as I led Buffy to her. Buffy hung a little tighter to my arm when she realized she was about to meet my sister, but her bright smile and polite manner never failed. She was extremely well at acting, but not many would be able to fool my sister. I was curious to see if Buffy could.
"Angelus!" she shrieked excitedly, her face lighting up when she saw me. She released James' hand, and rushed over to me, giving me a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Oh I'm so glad you're here!" she looked to Buffy then, as she stood next to me with a smile on her gorgeous face. "And this must be the woman that's captured my brother's heart!" To me she said with a wry grin, "and I can certainly see why."
Buffy laughed, "oh you're every bit as charming as he assured me you would be."
Oh perfect!
Willow melted even more. "I'm Willow. It's so nice to meet you." She hugged Buffy then, surprising Buffy at first.
"I'm Buffy," Buffy smiled brightly at her. "I was so excited about meeting you tonight. You have no idea! I changed my outfit three times before Angelus told me it didn't matter, and to please hurry up before we were late!" Buffy laughed.
"Oh that sounds like my big brother alright!" Willow laughed. "He has no respect for the art of finding just the right outfit." Willow was liking Buffy immediately. I could tell. "And hey! Just think!" she said, touching Buffy's arm affectionately. "You and I are going to be like sisters!"
Buffy smiled, "that'll be wonderful, Willow."
I noticed James was watching my interaction with Buffy very intensely. He was as wary of me, as I was of him, and that didn't help my opinion of his motives. I hated the way he was eyeing Buffy for two reasons.
1.) he was supposed to be engaged to my sister, and wandering eyes are not permitted.
and 2.) I felt jealous that he was eyeing up the woman that I was helplessly falling for.
Falling? No. That's not right. Forget I said that.
Nonetheless, I felt compelled to ward him off without being too forward. So I moved behind Buffy, and placed my arms on her bare shoulders. She shivered under my sudden touch, and I leaned close to whisper huskily in her ear, "would you care for a glass of champagne, my love?"
She smiled over her shoulder at me, playing along despite how nervous she had suddenly become. "That would be wonderful, thank-you."
"It's my pleasure," I assured her, and placed a gentle kiss to her shoulder before leaving to get a drink for her.
**
Left alone with Willow, she seemed to be in awe. "Wow!" she breathed out. "I've never seen him like that! He looked so romantic!"
I smiled, allowing a blush to take over me for my act, "he is."
**
An hour or so later, after downing her first glass of champagne rather quickly, I led Buffy to the side of the dance floor to talk. Holding her around the waist, I leaned close to whisper in a low voice, "you're doing wonderful."
"I don't know about you," she said back. "There's a fine line between being romantically affectionate, and publicly groping. I think you're verging on it when you fondle my ass in front of your sister's fianc�."
"He was eyeing you!" I defended my actions. "Which makes me wonder about his honesty for loving my sister."
"You think he's a fraud?" Buffy asked.
I shrugged, "could be." Taking a sip of my champagne, I sighed, "there is one way to find out, however." I raised my brow at her.
She sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I know. After they finish dancing I'll see what I can find out about him without looking too conspicuous."
"Why wait until they're finished dancing?" I asked. "Just do this for me. Go out onto the balcony off the side of the dance floor over there, and I assure you that he'll be there momentarily. Okay?"
She looked unsure, but she agreed. I watched her as she walked away, the sexy swerve to her hips apparent and enticing. Oh what I wouldn't give for a woman like her to actually be my fianc�. Wait a minute...What? Forget I said that too. Must be the champagne or something. Or my nerves.
One of the two.
**
Sure enough, James stepped out onto the balcony where I was. "A nice night to watch the stars," he said, though I was sure that he wasn't looking at the stars. I turned to face him and smiled brightly. "I thought I might find you out here," he said, stepping closer. "Your fianc� has recently whisked my fianc� off her small feet, and they are indeed...Floating...around the dance floor."
"I'm sure he has," I smiled despite the fact that my Creep Alert was going off in many ways when he stepped closer.
"Might I ask what you're doing out here...Unattended?" he looked from my cleavage to my eyes, really not bothering to hide the fact that he was ogling me. This guy had absolutely no shame! What a creep!
"Just getting a breath of fresh air," I answered. "That champagne went right to my head, you know." I touched my head for emphasis.
"I see," he smiled in that try-to-be-sexy way of his. "Have you known Angelus long, then?"
A few hours. I didn't say that. I shrugged gently and said, "not too long. I haven't known him as long as you've known Willow, I'm sure." I was attempting rather lamely, to remind him that he was engaged to sweet, wonderful Willow. My heart went out to her. She was falling for a complete loser!
"Willow is very intriguing." he caught on to my train of thought. But then his eyes glazed and he said, "much like yourself." Stepping one more step into my zone of comfort, he whispered, "how much do you think a man should have to work at charming you, before you take his bed?"
My eyes widened slightly, but I kept my attitude calm. "As long as it takes," I said levelly, wanting to add that there wasn't enough time left to the existence of mankind for James to get anything from me.
"Perhaps we have a future together then," he smirked and trailed a finger over my shoulder blade.
I was about to push him back, when Angelus saved me. "Buffy!" he called sweetly. "Darling, there you are." He came around to us, and stood behind me, wrapping an arm firmly around my waist. "I was beginning to worry," he said as his thumb slid over the fabric of my dress, warning off James' advances.
James stepped back, "I was watching her. She was in no danger."
"That's good," Angelus kissed the side of my head. "Because I'd hate to have to start something at this party with a man who overstepped his boundaries."
I stroked my hand lovingly over Angelus' and couldn't help smiling teasingly at James. What a loser he is!
"Indeed it would be a tragedy," James agreed.
"But you know how I hate it when you fight," I stepped in, looking directly into Angelus' eyes. I turned my face to look at James again. "Why, once a man simply looked at me, and Angelus broke his nose."
"Oh darling, it was an accident," Angelus played along.
"An incredibly sexy accident," I smiled at him.
"If you don't mind, I'll be excusing myself now to find my bride-to-be," James nodded politely at the both of us, and then left to find Willow.
"I'm glad I got here when I did," Angelus said. "That guys exactly what I thought he was. No good for my sister."
"Angelus, when you said to get information from him, I had no idea you meant this!" I pushed away from him. "That man is downright disgusting! I can't believe you just set me up like that!"
Angelus stepped up to me again and whispered, "he's watching us. Don't make a scene here, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't know if he'd go for it, and I didn't want you to know and then try to hard, and make him suspicious of us. I didn't think he'd actually do it at his own engagement party. I'm sorry. Okay?" his eyes revealed his honesty.
I nodded my forgiveness. I suddenly realized then, how very close Angelus was to me, and how natural it felt. His arms were wrapped around my back, holding me right up against him. Lifting my head, I looked into his dark eyes. I felt my teeth begin to shake as my heartbeat increased.
Would he kiss me? Did I want him to? Yes. I knew I did.
"This could get out-of-hand," he whispered in that low voice, managing to hold the mood as sensual as possible.
I shook my head, mesmerized by his lips. "I don't care," I whispered, and did the unthinkable. I leaned up, and kissed him. The instantaneous attraction I'd felt upon first meeting him, was too overwhelming to ignore. And the little hints of seduction that he'd been passing to me all night, were telling me that he felt the same.
The kiss we began burned my mouth like an inferno. I was damning my soul to Hell by giving in to this sensual man, who had just hours ago been engaged to another woman...But I didn't care. As his left hand held my chin tenderly, and his right pulled me flush to his hardening groin, I couldn't help but give in.
Wouldn't you?
I gripped his shoulders tightly, wanting to be closer to him. I wanted to seduce him right here and now, but a piece of my mind remained. It vanished, however, when his tongue parted my lips and slid inside for a taste.
My insides began to scream as his tongue caressed the inside of my cheek, earning a heart-felt moan from deep in my chest. He smiled as he kissed me, drawing me even closer to his hardening member. His arousal gave me a unique sense of power, and I couldn't help feeling like I was on top of the world.
Wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me, I pressed my breasts into his chest, hoping that he could appease the ache of them. They were so hard that it hurt. God, why can't he just make love to me right here?!
His left hand slid up my hip, to squeeze between our chests and latch on to my breast. Fondling me in the moonlight, he kissed me breathless.
Leaving my breast, the only term I could come up with was "Reckless Abandonment." It was as much a crime in a courtroom as it was now. He'd teased me to a peak, and now his hand slid up to cradle my chin once again. And when the kiss finally-regretfully-ended, I was left gazing into his dark, lust-filled eyes.
The question he was asking me without words, made me want to die. I had to refuse. I knew that. But it would be next to impossible to do so. "I can't," I shook my head softly, looking down.
"Why not?" his voice was so quiet. It sounded as if he was pleading with me.
I looked into his eyes and whispered, "because I want you so much...And this will only last for one night. If I don't stop now, I'll never get over it." That was true. Completely true. I knew that if I didn't keep a check on my desire, I was never going to desire another. And I knew Angelus wouldn't want to be with me, so there was no way I could devote myself to him, and be forced to spend the rest of my life without desire for another man.
"So don't," he whispered his suggestion, placing a kiss to my jaw, on the small scar that I new was completely covered. Did he know it was there anyways? Had he seen it before it was covered by make-up?
**
Several hours later, Buffy and I said our good-byes to my sister and her scumbag fianc�, James. Driving away from the mansion, Buffy was so quiet as she gazed out the window. I doubted she was seeing anything that interesting, so I wondered what it was that she was thinking about.
"Will you stay with me?" I finally asked the question weighing on my mind. I had to have her. Some way or another, I had to have her. I was leaving tomorrow, yes...But what about tonight? Couldn't we just have now?...And every other time I was within a hundred miles of her body?
She looked to me from the seat opposite my own, not seeming surprised by my question in the slightest. She took a deep breath, the movement causing her beautiful breasts to rise and fall gracefully. "You know I can't."
I moved closer to her, leaning forward in the spacious backseat of the limo. "Why can't you?" I asked, gazing into her eyes, holding her gaze.
"Because you're leaving tomorrow, and I won't be able to deal with that if we do something tonight," she confessed. "I'm not like you. You can probably get up and leave without a care in the morning. But I won't be able to walk away from you if we do something tonight. What I'm feeling..." she trailed off and looked down for just a moment. "It's too intense, too fast. I'll be even worse off than I am now, if I let things get out of control with you."
I hated the answer, but I appreciated her honesty. At least I could be sure that she was feeling the same for me, as I was for her. It also comforted me slightly to know that she didn't 'put out' to just anyone. Maybe one day I'd have a chance with her...
"Besides," she attempted to lighten the mood. "I'm already going to lose my job for this. I can't lose my mind as well."
**
Arriving back at the hotel suite, I realized I still hadn't said anything in response to Buffy's earlier answer. She picked up her clothes and said, "I guess I should, um...get changed now."
I reached a hand to stop her, pressing into her taut stomach tenderly. I pulled her back to me and whispered, "stay. Please." Begging was on my agenda for the evening, but I was so desperate for another taste of her. "Please."
Before she could protest, I captured her lips in another kiss. Pulling her firmly against me, I allowed her to feel how much I wanted her, craved her, needed her. I slipped my tongue in between her full, pouty lips, teasing her breathless. Pulling her flush against my groin, I couldn't help moaning into her mouth.
Her hands were placed on my shoulders, and I remembered what that meant. It meant she wasn't caving. It meant that at any second, she could push me back and leave me standing here, with a complete hard-on, which was simply screaming for her attention.
I had a mental image of stripping that form-fitting dress from her beautiful body. Sliding my lips down her chest, to her perfect breasts. Nibbling, suckling, until she came from my ministrations to her breasts alone. Then slipping my fingers into her wet depths. Yes, she would be dripping for me.
Pumping my fingers in and out of her, knowing that soon I can do exactly the same thing with another part of my male anatomy. I could almost hear her gasping my name in that sweet, sweet voice of hers. Dripping with satisfaction...Desire...Need.
She pushed me back a few feet, and stared at me breathlessly. Gathering the discarded clothing that she had dropped to the floor when we kissed, she went to the bathroom. I watched the door shut, and wondered the million-dollar question...
Does she want me to follow her?
**
Do I want him to follow me? God, it would be such a perfectly passionate night. It could be wonderful...But then again, afterwards could be a living Hell.
Making up my mind, I flicked the lock shut.
**
The sound of the lock answered my question. She didn't want me to follow her. I left the bedroom, and headed for the bar in the kitchen. God, I need a drink!
I poured myself a glass of brandy, and drank it down in one swig. It would take a lot more than that to appease the pain in my pants, but it was a start. I decided to write her a cheque for her help tonight, before I got too shit-faced. I wrote it out for a grand, figuring that she was worth more than the eight hundred that I'd promised.
I set it next to her sewing machine and purse, and went back to the bar. I listened closely as she left the bathroom and entered the living area. I kept partially in-sight, to make sure that she knew I was there for her in case she changed her mind in the bathroom. If only she'd just say yes...
I heard her set down the dress and shoes, and pick up her things. A moment later, the sound of the door shutting made my spirits drop that final notch.
Left alone in the dark, without her, I felt like shit.
Great. Life was just great.