All the Wrong Places - Part 22



Doyle shut down the computer when he heard the door open. "Angel?"

He didn't make it further than the office doorway when he almost bumping into Angel, who put his hands out to steady him. "Hi."

"Hi." He searched Angel's face for a hint of what the vampire was feeling. "You okay?"

Angel nodded, then wrapped his arms around Doyle and hugged him tightly. "Missed you."

There was something about Angel's embraces that could make the concerns Doyle had been worrying at fall to the side. "Missed you too," he said, wrapping his arms around Angel in turn and leaning against him with a sigh.

"*You* okay? You sound tired."

He nodded, though he didn't raise his head; it felt too good to just rest against Angel's body. "Just been a long day."

"What do you want to do?" Angel pulled back far enough to look at him, both hands on his cheeks, cradling his face protectively. "You hungry? Do you want to grab a nap?"

"I'm fine." Doyle smiled a little, letting a bit of his amusement show through as he said, "Wesley brought enough lunch to feed a medium-sized army. I doubt I'm going to be hungry for at least a day."

Angel smiled too, tentatively. "Well... good. You don't need anything?"

"Other than this?" Doyle leaned his head against Angel again. "This is good."

"Okay. I can do this." Angel's arms tightened briefly, comfortingly.

"Good." Doyle wasn't quite sure why he was feeling quite this... well he didn't know if it would qualify as clingy but he wasn't going to quibble words in his own thoughts. The emails with Harry had been delving into areas that were maybe a little disturbing, but it was nothing that he should be letting get under his skin.

Should it?

Another minute or so passed before Angel cleared his throat. "You sure you're okay? I mean, not that I'm complaining, but..."

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" Doyle asked, with a bit more cheer than maybe he should.

"Okay, now I know you're not." Angel propelled Doyle over to the nearest chair, sat him down, and crouched down between his legs, looking up at him. "Something's wrong. Tell me."

"It's nothing," Doyle said, shaking his head. "Really. I just... I've been talking to Harry and..."

"And what?" Angel's voice was gentle.

"Some topics came up that were a little disturbing." He shrugged. "It's nothing."

"Doesn't sound like nothing."

"Nothing new," he corrected. "Well mostly nothing new." And he could just stop being honest about this any time if he wanted Angel to stop worrying.

"Isn't this where I should point out that you don't let *me* get away with stuff like that?" Angel took one of Doyle's hands between both of his and held it.

Doyle sighed and chose the topic least likely to upset Angel in turn. "We were talking about when I first got the visions." He watched as Angel kissed his knuckles, then turned his hand to press another kiss onto his palm.

"Okay... You don't think the fact that you sacrificed yourself for all those people... including me, and Cordy... means that you can stop feeling guilty about it?" Angel asked.

"I'm not obsessing about it or anything. Yeah, I feel like I've atoned, but Harry..." Doyle sighed. "She doesn't want to admit that I did anything that needed atoning for."

"She just cares about you. Doesn't like to see you beating yourself up over something that's in the past." Angel grinned a little sadly. "I know what that's like."

"There's not wanting to see me beating myself up about the past and there's dismissing my interpretation of what happened like I couldn't possibly know my own history."

"So... you're mad at her?" Angel sounded like he was fumbling for an interpretation of his own.

"Yes," Doyle said, then immediately changed his mind, and said, "No." He frowned and shook his head. "I don't know."

"You don't want to be mad at her."

He laughed a little. "I've never wanted to be mad at Harry."

Angel shifted his weight slightly, without letting go of Doyle's hand. "Do you think you're doing that transference thing? You know, where you're really mad about something else?"

Doyle sighed. "Y'know, you're smarter than you look," he joked half-heartedly.

"Is that supposed to be flattery?"

"Just observation. And maybe a weak attempt at a joke." Doyle brushed a hand against Angel's face. "And you're right. There's more."

"You can tell me," Angel said, with some hesitation. "You can tell me anything. You know that, don't you?"

Angel was so very earnest, Doyle couldn't resist leaning in and kissing him. "You've come a long way, ya know that?"

"If I have, it's because of you." Angel slid one of his hands back into Doyle's hair and pulled him in for a longer kiss, then nuzzled his ear. "Tell me what's wrong?"

"Persistent too." He sighed again, realising that Angel wasn't going to stop asking until he told him. "I guess it's all just starting to hit me," Doyle said softly, closing his eyes and leaning into his lover's touch. "Harry and I were talking about old times and I said something about how I used to feel about her and she got all uncomfortable. Because I'm in this body."

"Well, you've gotta give her a chance to get used to the idea," Angel said, reasonably enough. "But she got over the Brachen thing. She can get over this too."

"I know," Doyle said. "I know. It's just-" He gestured in frustration. "I'm going to have to go through this over and over. Everyone's got to get used to it."

"Yeah." Angel looked... sorry, would probably be the best word.

"And it's not like before. I don't have another, normal face I can switch to. Just this one." Doyle wanted to get up and pace but couldn't with Angel kneeling in front of him.

"I'm sorry," Angel said quietly, and somehow hearing it put to words didn't make Doyle feel any better. Possibly worse, since Angel stood up -- getting out of his way, which under other circumstances he'd have been grateful for. "You shouldn't have had to... we shouldn't have..."

Oh for... "I didn't tell you this so you could turn this something you can beat yourself up with," Doyle said sharply. "Hard as it might be to believe, this isn't about you."

For the look on Angel's face, Doyle might as well have hit him. He just looked at Doyle for a long minute, then slowly nodded. "Right. Okay. Sorry. I just... I don't know how to help." Angel's lower lip was twitching like he had a tic. "How can I help?"

"You can't," Doyle told him bluntly. But then, unable to bear that look on Angel's face, he sighed and got to his feet, crossing the room to where Angel was now standing. "Just keep treating me like me. And offer those hugs when I need 'em."

Angel blinked uncertainly. "Would this be one of those times?"

"It could be, yeah."

"It's gonna be okay, you know," Angel said, folding him into a strong embrace. "It might take a little while, but... it'll be okay."

Doyle let himself lean against Angel and believe the words. Whatever else was wrong, this, Angel's arms around him, was right. "I know."

"So what can I do? You want me to talk to Harry?" It was clear from Angel's tone of voice that he'd rather do pretty much anything else.

Doyle chuckled, though he was touched at the offer. "I wouldn't do that to you." He leaned back enough to look up and meet Angel's eyes. "But thanks."

Obviously relieved, Angel smiled at him. "No problem. I could maybe, you know... distract you?" The vampire leaned down and kissed him soundly, one hand resting on the small of his back, pulling him in close.

It seemed like as good a solution as any to the way Doyle was feeling, at least for the moment. "I won't say no," he murmured, leaning in for another kiss.

"Just want you to be okay," Angel said between kisses. "Whatever it takes."

"That means a lot." Doyle tilted his head back, giving Angel easier access. "It really does."

Angel was walking him backward toward the couch, slowly, stopping now and then to kiss and caress. "Were you serious about that vacation thing?"

"Yeah, if we're talking about a mutual thing." He slid his arms up around Angel's neck. "Not so much if you're talking about me taking one alone."

"Nah. What fun would that be?"

"That would be my point." Doyle grinned.

Angel's lips teased his, their tongues exploring each other. "Where would you want to go?"

"Dunno. Somewhere warm and tropical like we discussed?" He closed his eyes briefly as the light kisses deepened. "Or somewhere cold so we have to curl up in front of a fire."

"Mmm. That sounds nice too." Angel's hands were cupping his ass, pulling him closer.

"Or," Doyle said, pressing himself against Angel, sliding his hands down Angel's back then back up underneath his shirt, "we could just tell everyone we're going away and stay here in bed."

Angel growled playfully into the next kiss, nipping at Doyle's lips. "Even better. You don't think I'd wear you out?"

Doyle felt like melting under the attention. "I think I'd have fun seeing if you could."

"That sounds like a challenge." One of Angel's hands moved around between them, thumb brushing over Doyle's nipple very, very lightly.

Oh yeah, melting and getting hot and wanting more all at once. "If I say it is, ya going to start right now?"

"Depends on if you want me to." Angel seemed to know just how to touch him, just how to move against him.

"Want would probably be too tame a word."

Angel's tongue was tracing his ear now, gentle fingers tucking his longer hair back out of the way. "Could undress you right here," Angel whispered softly.

Doyle's eyes fluttered shut again and he leaned back against Angel's hand. "Yeah, you could." He paused for a second, relishing the fingers touching him. "What're ya waiting for?"

Maybe that question *had* been what Angel was waiting for, since in short order he pulled Doyle's shirt up over his head, gathering the fabric together in one hand before it cleared Doyle's wrists and trapping him there. "You in some kind of hurry?" Angel asked, his voice unbelievably gentle in contrast to his grip.

"Just to get started," Doyle replied, hearing the certain breathy tone that he'd already identified with being incredibly turned on creep into his voice.

Angel tightened his fist, yanking Doyle's hands a tiny increment higher. "I think I like you impatient," Angel said, tracing one finger down Doyle's throat.

"I can do impatient."

"Oh, I know." Angel sounded smug.

"I'd be offended by that expression if I wasn't sure you're going to make it worth my while," Doyle said, struggling just a bit for effect.

Angel used his free hand to catch hold of Doyle's chin, and kissed him. There was something about the way he restrained Doyle that spoke of both his sheer power but also his gentleness. It made Doyle a little bit weak in the knees. "I'm gonna make you come so many times that you're going to beg me to stop."

And that made Doyle a lot weak in the knees. "Now *that* sounds like a challenge."

"No," Angel said, undoing the front of Doyle's jeans and sliding the zipper down, then pushing his hand down inside. "Not a challenge. Just fun."

Doyle couldn't stop himself from gasping or from pushing forward against Angel's hand. "Can't argue with that so far..."

Before he could say anything else, Angel yanked his shirt the rest of the way off, freeing his hands. Then the vampire dropped to his knees in front of Doyle, both his own hands working to get his tight jeans over the swell of rounded hips.

Doyle wriggled helpfully, feeling acutely aware of his body as the material slid down over his skin.

"You smell good," Angel said, against Doyle's inner thigh. His tongue flicked out quickly in one smooth lick. "Taste good too."

"Always a good thing to know," Doyle asserted as he caught his breath at another lick. "Would hate to think I tasted like brussel sprouts or something."

"Mm, no." A third lick, just as precise as the first two. "So. How many times..." lick number four, "do you think you can come in one night?"

That was a good question. "I dunno."

"Maybe this could be another one of those experiments, then." Angel's hands were gripping Doyle's hips, pushing him gently backward and then down onto the couch, then spreading his legs wide.

This definitely felt wicked and wanton; sitting naked in this office where anyone who happened into the lobby would be able to look in and see him. See him on display and see Angel looking at him like that. "Experimenting is to be encouraged."

"Don't think I need a lot of encouragement." Angel's mouth was so close to Doyle's skin that he could feel the vampire's cool breath with every word. "Just... any time you want me to stop, you tell me. Okay?" Without waiting for an answer, Angel started to lick Doyle again, tracing all of the most sensitive spots between his legs.

Doyle groaned and let his head fall back against the cushions of the couch as Angel quickly drove him crazy with his tongue.

In what might have been a long time, but actually seemed like the blink of an eye, he was quivering on the edge of orgasm, his thighs tense and one heel digging into the back of Angel's shoulder. "I want to do this all night," Angel said, his voice low and vibrating, making Doyle shiver. "Taste you, be inside you..."

"God..." Doyle gasped, shivering at the words and their promise. "Angel, please..." He was right on the edge and knew it wasn't going to take much to push him over.

Angel's tongue didn't falter, and when the vampire teased Doyle's opening with two fingers, then slid them slowly inside, it was like all his nerves were set on fire.

Doyle shouted as the pleasure crashed down on him.

Long moments later, he was still shuddering in the echoes of it when he realized that Angel hadn't stopped. Hadn't even slowed down. After another few seconds, Angel pulled away slightly, rubbing his fingertip over Doyle in a close approximation of what his tongue had been doing. "Think you can come again right away?"

"I..." Doyle shuddered and caught his breath, then tried to speak again. "I think... if you keep that up..."

"I think," Angel said, moving upward and licking one of Doyle's nipples while his hand continued to play between Doyle's legs, "that I want you to come again. Right away."

Even while his mind was doubting that he could, Doyle's body was arching and shaking with sensation as it obeyed Angel's request.

This time, Angel slowed the movements of his hand, letting Doyle recover slightly as he kissed him. "Perfect," Angel said, taking Doyle's waist in both hands and pulling him closer to the edge of the couch, then nuzzling back down between his legs. "So fucking perfect."

Doyle moaned, more sensitive now after coming. Somewhere in his pleasure fogged brain the thought was running around that Angel really was serious about seeing how many times he could come in one night.

"Only one thing I want more than I want to be inside you now," Angel murmured against Doyle's inner thigh.

"Wha- What's that?" Doyle stammered in between gasps for air.

"For you to come again," Angel said, licking Doyle's super-sensitized flesh for emphasis. "Just once more." He reached up and fondled one of Doyle's nipples, then traced around it with his fingernail, intensifying the ache. "You think you can do that for me?"

"God..." Doyle groaned, the ache growing in him so intense it was bordering on painful. "Angel..."

"Just one more time," Angel repeated. His voice was soothing, his touch anything but. "And I want you to say my name again, like that, when you do."

The sensations continued to build higher and higher, becoming more and more intense and leaving Doyle trembling and gasping for breath. "Angel..." he repeated again, hovering on that knife's edge.

Angel's tongue flickered, paused for an agonizingly long moment, flickered again. Doyle found himself tensed, waiting for each nerve-searing touch until it came and then shivering when it did.

The pauses made him even more aware of what was happening, though Doyle was so lost in sensation, and the pleasure so intense that his climax just rolled over him as a natural extension and he would be hard pressed to pick the exact second it started.

It seemed to go on forever though.

As he gradually started to come back to himself, still gasping for air and shaking all over, he discovered that Angel was kissing him -- just the sides of his mouth, gently, as if the vampire realized how desperate his need for oxygen was. "Love you," Angel murmured.

Doyle reached up and slid his arms around Angel's neck. He didn't think he could speak just then.

Angel's lips slid down to Doyle's throat and traced the veins there, slowly, delicately. "So good," Angel sighed, then pulled back slightly and asked, "Is it weird if I say you're beautiful?"

"Maybe a little," Doyle admitted after thinking about it. "But I'll take the compliment in the way it was intended."

"Good," Angel said, kissing him again, lingeringly. "Because you are. I was sitting there in my office, and all I could think about was you. Sitting there in those meetings, and all I could think of was you. Your eyes, your voice... how you make me feel..."

Some of the weirdness faded for Doyle as Angel listed off things that were still at least partly intrinsically and definitely his. Smiling, he kissed Angel back and commented, "That must've made for some interesting meetings."

"Guess it made them a little less boring," Angel admitted, grinning wryly. "Good thing I was sitting behind a table, though."

"Too bad I wasn't still in the computer system -- or at least had the access I had then. I could be sending you naughty messages during the meeting."

Angel's grin widened. "You really are incorrigible."

He really did love seeing Angel smile. "What have I been telling you all along?"

Angel hesitated, his smile faltering only very slightly. "That... you love me? Um, you know... in addition to the whole incorrigible thing,"

"Yeah," Doyle replied, kissing that smile. "I love you. Incorrigibly."

Angel returned the kiss with obvious desire and what might have been a little bit of desperation, fingers sliding back down between Doyle's legs to play very gently over his skin. "Was it okay?" he asked.

"It was..." Doyle shifted slightly under Angel's fingers as their touch sent little zings of aftershocks through his system. "It was mind-blowing."

"In a good way?" Angel sounded anxious now.

"Oh yeah. Big time."

Angel relaxed visibly, and Doyle wondered how many times he'd have to reassure him before the vampire stopped thinking that he was on the verge of doing something wrong. "Good. I like that I can do that. Blow your mind." He bent his head and licked Doyle's nipple, and Doyle felt it tighten at the attention.

"You're very good at that," Doyle told him, shifting again against Angel's fingers. "Blowing my mind."

"Wanna see if we can blow it again?" Angel asked, rubbing the front of his slacks against Doyle's inner thigh and demonstrating beyond a doubt his state of arousal.

"Oh yeah," Doyle murmured, the knowledge of how much he turned Angel on a turn on all on its own. He reached a hand down to cup Angel's erection through his clothing. "Maybe see about blowing yours this time too?"

Angel made a soft sound of pleasure at the touch and closed his eyes. "God. You make me so crazy I can't even think straight."

"Thinking crooked can be good in these kind of situations anyway." He squeezed and rubbed, loving how he could see Angel's reactions on his face.

"Don't want to think," Angel said, his fingers losing their purposeful rhythm as he became distracted by what Doyle was doing.

Which made it easier for Doyle to continue doing what he was doing. He paused long enough to undo Angel's slacks. "What do you want to do?" he asked as he slid his fingers in to close around Angel's bare flesh.

Angel hissed and pushed himself against Doyle's hand. "This. Just... feel."

"Do you want to fuck me?" Doyle asked, moving his hand continuously on Angel's cock.

"Christ." Angel shivered. "Always. Every minute of the day."

"That might disrupt those meetings a bit, don't you think?"

"Forget the meetings," Angel said tensely. "Forget the office. I just want to -- " He cut himself off and swallowed, as if afraid he'd said too much.

"You just want to what?" Doyle asked, squeezing Angel's erection then letting go.

Angel groaned at the loss of contact. "God, don't stop."

Doyle brushed his thumb against the tip. "Finish your sentence."

Angel swallowed again, the look he gave Doyle was pained on what seemed to be more than one level. "Forget," he said finally.

It made Doyle's heart ache and he pulled Angel down to kiss him, putting all his love and protectiveness into the gesture.

"Not you," Angel said roughly, resting his forehead against Doyle's when they broke apart. "Just... everything else."

Doyle made the decision that he was going to bully Angel into taking a vacation as soon as he could, and kissed him again. "Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"Fuck me?"

Angel shuddered, then grabbed Doyle around the waist and pulled him right to the edge of the sofa and onto his cock in one motion, sliding deep inside of Doyle, taking his breath away.

All the arousal that had been simmering in him burst once more to a full boil. Gasping, feeling incredibly close to the edge again already, Doyle instinctively arched his hips up to pull Angel deeper.

With a groan of what sounded like relief, Angel thrust in strongly, his fingers splayed across the small of Doyle's back. He caught at Doyle's lips with his own, then pulled back a bit and thrust again, harder.

Each thrust forced a soft cry from Doyle and he could hear the desperation and need in his own voice increasing each time. It was too much and not enough all at the same time.

"Want you to come," Angel said, watching Doyle intently and moving faster, deeper. "Want to see you. Feel you."

Doyle groaned and arched, trying to get more, harder, something. "I- I need-" He gasped and trailed off, unsure how he could have finished the sentence anyway.

When Angel shifted back and rubbed his thumb over the most sensitive spot between Doyle's legs, then sucked hard on one nipple, letting his teeth scrape across it roughly, Doyle's entire body jerked like he'd been shocked with electricity.

He gasped out Angel's name as he lost himself in overwhelming pleasure once again.

Angel growled as Doyle felt his own body clenching around the thrusting cock deep inside him, thrust again, then a third time before stopping. Doyle saw the tightening of Angel's jaw just before his face changed over into vampiric ridges, could feel Angel throb in him as he came, hips jerking.

The feel, the knowledge was enough to send Doyle spiraling up again with a desperate wail.

"That's right," Angel said, as he traced the edge of Doyle's ear with his tongue, keeping his face mostly out of view while Doyle trembled, while little sounds of completion and pleasure whimpered out with every gasping breath.

"Love you," Doyle managed when the pleasure subsided enough that he could speak. He reached out a hand that still trembled slightly to trace the vampiric ridges on Angel's face.

Angel shied away from the touch, not violently, but as if he knew he'd get in trouble for it and tried to abort the reaction at the last moment. "Don't," he said. "Not, you know... like this."

"Yeah, like this," Doyle countered, doggedly continuing to touch Angel. "It doesn't make a difference, Angel."

"It does." Golden eyes met his for just an instant before they turned back to their more familiar brown as Angel's vamp face melted back into hiding. "Not like this," he repeated. "It's one thing when I need it, but this... isn't about that."

"What is this about then?"

Angel didn't withdraw -- Doyle had to give him credit for that -- but it was clear that at least part of him wanted to. "You know," he said helplessly, barely able to look at Doyle. "There's... violence. Stuff that I need sometimes, but this... you and me... it doesn't belong here."

Doyle thought about that as he once again traced his fingers over Angel's now-human features. "I just don't want you to think that what face you wear makes any difference to me. I mean, if anyone knows about being shamed of a demon face it's me, but I don't want you to be. Not with me."

"I know." It wasn't the response that Doyle would have preferred, but at least Angel was leaning into his touch, pressing his cheek against Doyle's palm and closing his eyes. "I don't want to do anything to mess this up," he admitted quietly.

"Good," Doyle said, deliberately teasing. "I'd only be worried if you did."

Angel gave him a strained smile. "I love you."

"Yeah, I'm getting that impression." He kissed Angel gently. "I love you too."

"Even when I get kind of freaked out?"

"Even then."

Angel did move away then, but only far enough to sit down on the sofa himself, pulling Doyle onto his lap. "You still smell amazing," he said, nuzzling into Doyle's hair.

"What do I smell like?" Doyle asked, relaxing against Angel's strong body, feeling completely boneless and content.

Angel seemed to consider the question carefully. "Shampoo," he said first, then paused for a long time. "Um... I don't know. Just... good." He paused again. "Like home."

Doyle smiled and snuggled closer. "I like that."

"Me too." Angel settled himself back into the couch cushions like he intended to get comfortable. "You okay?"

"Am I okay? I just came five times in... how long has it been?"

Angel shrugged slightly, the motion making his shoulder move under Doyle's cheek. "I don't know. Less than an hour probably."

"I just came five times in less than an hour," Doyle finished. "Okay doesn't even come close."

"We could always try for a few more," Angel offered.

Doyle tilted his head back so he could look up at his lover with the minimum of movement. "I think you may be a bit overenthusiastic in your assessment of the situation."

"Which would be your way of saying what, exactly?"

"I'd bet money on being all comed out."

Angel made a soft sound of amusement. "So you don't want to try?"

Doyle waved a hand about lazily. "You can try, but I don't think you're going to get very far."

"Is that a yes, or a no?"

Doyle gasped as Angel's touch had the same effect it always did. "Oh god," he said, his head falling back onto Angel's shoulder.

"So that's a yes?" Angel's arm circled around so that he could play with one of Doyle's nipples while his other hand continued to move between Doyle's legs, two fingers thrusting slowly inside as his thumb pressed against the spot that made Doyle shiver.

"I..." Doyle trailed off as a particularly effective touch forced a soft groan from his lips and all the words from his mind.

He didn't seem capable of doing much more than shifting his hips slightly now and then, but despite that his body reacted with more desire than he would have though possible, considering how many times he'd already come that night. Angel's fingers moved over flesh that was hyper-sensitive to the point of being just this side of actually sore, so gently that he somehow managed to keep the touches from crossing over the line.

There was nothing Doyle could do at that point, but give himself over to Angel and just *feel*. He closed his eyes and let all his weight rest back against Angel's body, little involuntary gasps and whimpers escaping through his parted lips as Angel slowly wove pleasure around and through him yet again.

Angel's fingers, instead of moving more quickly, stayed at the same leisurely pace. "Love you like this," Angel whispered into his ear. "All wound up, and those little sounds you make... I'm hard again just listening to you."

Doyle shivered at that, his whole body sensitised and thrumming to Angel's touch, Angel's words. "Could fuck me again," he suggested breathlessly, totally captive to his desire.

"I could," Angel agreed, thrusting his fingers deeper, but just as slowly, at the same time pressing his own hips forward, rubbing his cock against Doyle.

Another moan bubbled up out of the haze of feelings going through him. "Well?"

"Well what?" Angel asked, clearly amused. But before he could respond, Doyle found himself being lifted up by vampire strength, as if his weight was inconsequential, and then lowered again onto Angel's erection.

Doyle's breath caught at the sudden invasion, then slumped back against Angel, his entire body quivering. Still he managed to reply, "Well, *that*," in a breathy amused voice.

"Yeah." Angel's own voice sounded newly tense now that he was inside Doyle. From this angle he felt even bigger, stretching Doyle, going deeper with the help of the position and gravity. The fingers of one hand continued to tweak Doyle's nipples.

Instinctively Doyle found himself moving his hips; not much, just a little rocking motion that kept the angle of Angel's cock shifting inside of him.

"You feel so good," Angel murmured, his other hand going unerringly back between Doyle's parted thighs to stimulate him further. His lips and tongue traced a small design over Doyle's shoulder blade. "So warm."

Doyle whimpered, becoming more and more lost in what Angel was making him feel.

After another minute or so, Angel took hold of Doyle's waist and lifted him just a little bit, just enough to make it easier to actually thrust up into him. He moved strongly, every thrust filling Doyle so completely that catching his breath became difficult. With Angel's hands otherwise occupied, though, Doyle lost the direct stimulation he'd been enjoying. "Touch yourself," Angel urged, thrusting again.

Doyle hesitated despite the order. He was adjusting fairly well to the body he was in now, but that was one thing he hadn't been able to bring himself to do yet.

"It's okay," Angel said, slowly down. His voice was gentle. "Just try it."

The soft encouragement combined with the growing need Angel's movements were creating broke through Doyle's reticence and he slowly slid a hand down to touch himself.

It was... weird, definitely, but if he only sort of focused on what he was doing to himself, and left the rest of his attention on what Angel was doing, it didn't freak him out *too* much. And the added stimulation, no matter how half-hearted, was enough to push him another step closer to orgasm.

Angel was moving a little bit faster again now; Doyle could tell that the vampire was getting closer too, by the way his thrusts were becoming more like sharp jabs, by the way Angel was making little pained sounds.

He concentrated on Angel, on the noises he was making and the feel of him moving. "Wanna feel you come," he murmured, squeezing his muscles around Angel.

A strangled gasp from Angel, and hands tightening on his waist. "You keep doing that, I'm going to," Angel said warningly.

"That's the idea." Doyle did it again.

Angel groaned and bit the corded skin between Doyle's neck and shoulder, not hard enough to break it. He paused, thrust in another quick jab, gasped again. "Gonna..."

"Yeah," Doyle gasped out, and squeezed Angel again.

He could feel it when Angel came, could feel Angel's cock pulsating inside him and then the shudder that went all through his lover's body. Before it seemed there'd even been time for Angel to ride out his orgasm, Angel's fingers were pushing Doyle's out of the way, brushing over the slick, swollen area between Doyle's legs in a determined fashion.

It was all Doyle needed to come again, harder and more intense than any of the times before, the pleasure shaking him like a rag doll in its grip.

Breathing heavily, he finally found himself draped back over Angel with the vampire pressing gentle kisses to his throat, shoulder, upper arm. "One more time," Angel said, in a voice Doyle wasn't sure was kidding, moving his fingertip over Doyle's sensitive flesh again in a whisper-light touch.

Doyle groaned and reflexively tried to move away. "Don't," he said reaching down and closing his hand around Angel's wrist.

Angel stopped, but didn't pull his wrist out of Doyle's grip. "Okay. Shhh." He nuzzled Doyle's ear.

Gradually Doyle relaxed, leaning bonelessly back again Angel again.

They sat there quietly for a little while, Doyle's breathing returning to normal. "Think we should move upstairs?" Angel asked.

"Not if it actually involves moving," Doyle said with a tired laugh.

"You don't have to," Angel said, standing up with Doyle in his arms, fumbling for a minute to pull up and refasten his slacks, "As long as you're not worried about anyone walking into the hotel while I'm carrying you through the lobby."

"You expecting company?" Doyle shifted so he could rest his head on Angel's shoulder as they headed out of the office.

The sound that escaped Angel held just the smallest amount of bitterness. "No. Other than Wes earlier, you're the first person who's been in here in weeks. Unless you count the pizza delivery guy."

Reacting to that slight hint of bitterness, Doyle leaned up enough to press a kiss along Angel's jaw-line. "We'll have to see what we can do to remedy that. After I locate where my bones have taken off to."

Angel carried him like he weighed nothing. "Nah, it's okay. Kinda got used to the place being empty." At the top of the staircase, he admitted, "I've thought about, you know... getting rid of it. The hotel, I mean."

Considering all the memories and ghosts this place must hold for Angel, that might not be a bad thing, Doyle thought. "Where would you live if you did?"

Kicking the door to his suite open with one foot, Angel carried Doyle inside and lowered him onto the bed, then efficiently stripped naked before climbing onto the bed too and pulling the blankets up over both of them. "I dunno. At the office building, probably. There are some apartments there, on the upper floors. Technically one of them's mine, I just..."

Doyle squirmed around until he pressed up against Angel's side, legs entangled, one arm thrown over Angel's chest and his head pillowed on Angel's shoulder. "As long as there's room for me, you can move wherever you want."

Angel shifted slightly. "I thought... maybe you'd want to get your own place. I mean, not that I don't want you with me, but... you should have your own space. It's safer that way."

Doyle frowned. "You don't want me to live with you?"

"I didn't say that." Angel ran a comforting hand down the curve of Doyle's back. "Of course I want you to live with me. But I'd understand if you didn't want to. Plus, like I was saying, it's safer if you have your own place too. One that's not mine."

"Okay, ya wanna tell me how you can translate 'As long as there's room for me, you can move anywhere' into thinking I don't want to move in with you?"

"You should just... think about it some more. Don't decide right now." Angel seemed to think this was a perfectly reasonable thing to suggest.

Doyle lifted his head to meet Angel's eyes. "You're not listening to a word I'm saying are you?"

"No," Angel said. "I mean, yeah, I am. But I don't want you to decide when we're all... you know."

"Naked?"

"Yeah. Basically."

"Fine. If that's the way you want it." Doyle pulled away and went to get up.

Angel's panic was clear in the way he grabbed Doyle's arm, and even clearer when he forced himself to let go. "Don't -- look, I'm sorry. Whatever I did. Don't go."

He turned back and leaned down to kiss Angel. "I'm not going anywhere. But if you won't believe me when I tell you I want to be with you when I'm naked, I figure I need to put some clothes on to up my credibility."

"It's not that I don't believe you," Angel said, taking hold of Doyle's hand and not letting go this time. "I just... there are some things I'm going to be stubborn about. If you want to live with me, that's good. Great. But you need to have a place that's just yours too."

Doyle let Angel pull him back into bed. "Because of Angelus?"

Angel nodded, turning Doyle to face away from him and then curling around him, making Doyle wonder if he was deliberately trying to hide his expressions. "Yeah. I... I need to know you've got somewhere safe to go. Just in case."

Giving in, Doyle said, "I already do -- Cordelia's old apartment."

"Okay," Angel said against the back of Doyle's neck. "Good. So that's yours. I'll give you the key, and have Wes show you how to do the disinvite spell -- he's got a little kit with the supplies and stuff, you could learn it easy."

"That mean you're going to let me invite you over in the meantime?"

Angel hesitated only slightly. "Yeah."

"Good." Doyle pushed back, snuggling closer. "Because I was going to do it regardless."

"Just... promise you'll listen if I tell you to do something, okay?" Angel's arm tightened around his waist. "I need to know that you'll be safe. I need to know you'll take it seriously."

There was a need, a desperation under Angel's words, and considering how much he had lost lately, Doyle wasn't that surprised to hear it. "I promise," he said softly, not wanting to add to Angel's fears. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to sit on the sidelines."

"I don't expect you to. I'm not trying to say that you don't get a say in this... I want it to be, you know, a partnership. I just feel better knowing that if it comes down to it, you'll do what you need to, to protect yourself."

"You don't want there to be another beacon," Doyle realised, wondering why it had taken him so long to do so. This wasn't just about the losses Angel had experienced recently, but losing Doyle before.

"I really, really don't." Angel held him even more tightly. "I need you. The thought that something might happen to you... that I might be the one to *do* something to you..."

"Hey..." Doyle squirmed around until he was facing Angel and raised a hand to touch his face. "That's not going to happen. Nothing's going to happen to either of us."

"Because we deserve a happy ending, and people always get what they deserve?" Angel asked, with a raised eyebrow and an expression of disbelief.

"Because we've got people looking out for us. We're close personal friends with a Higher Power, remember?"

"That'd be kind of hard to forget," Angel said. He brushed Doyle's hair back and tucked it behind his ear.

Doyle smiled at him. "So do you really think Cordelia would go to all this trouble to get me back here just for something to happen to us?"

"Do you really think it's that simple?" Angel shook his head, then kissed Doyle. "Sorry. I know the brooding thing's gotta be frustrating. To deal with, I mean."

"I'm used to it."

Angel reached around and smacked Doyle's ass. "Shut up and get some sleep. We can get up in a couple of hours and have some dinner, if you want."

Doyle could feel exhaustion hovering just on the edges of his consciousness. "If I go to sleep, I'm going to be out for the count." A yawn startled him. "You wore me out."

"That was kind of my goal," Angel said. "Go ahead. I'll be right here."

"You better be." He pushed Angel over onto his back and resumed his earlier position wrapped around him with his head pillowed on his shoulder.

Angel's hand moved soothingly over his upper arm. "Shhh. Just close your eyes. Doesn't matter how long you sleep for -- promise I'll be here when you wake up."

"Good." He yawned and closed his eyes. "Maybe tomorrow we can go take a look at this apartment at the law-firm."

"Whatever you want."

"I wanna see you in sunlight." Doyle yawned again. "Preferably naked."

"Well that's only gonna happen in the apartment, because I'm *not* getting naked in my office," Angel teased lightly.

Doyle snuggled closer, feeling sleep creeping up on him. "I'm gonna take that as a challenge, y'know."

"You take everything as a challenge," Angel said, very softly, into Doyle's hair. A long pause, and then Doyle heard the vampire whisper, "Lucky for me."

It was the last thing Doyle heard before drifting off to sleep.

* * * * *


"Hey! Wake up already, would you?" The voice was soft but insistent.

Doyle groaned and tried to bury his face deeper in the pillow.

"Come on! I haven't got all night, you know. And neither do you." It was Cordelia. "Okay, fine. How about this?" Her voice rose into something higher-pitched and otherworldly. "Dooooooyle. Waaaaake uhhp."

Doyle opened one eye to glare at her. "And I s'pose you think that's funny."

She snorted quietly, the soft glow of the light surrounding her making her look even more the ethereal beauty she'd always been. "Hey, whatever works."

"If you had the evening I had with Angel, you'd be hard to wake up too." He rolled over and sat up, noting absently that he was in his old, half-brachen, male body.

"Don't even tell me about it," Cordy said. "I'm serious. Don't. I mean, it's one thing to know you're doing stuff in my body without thinking about what *kind* of stuff."

He grinned. "That seems to be the popular attitude."

"So it's going okay? So far, I mean?"

"Yeah." He glanced down at Angel, still asleep in the bed beside him, and felt his grin turn sappy. "It's been good."

"Good." Cordelia sounded brisk. "As long as you don't think this little vacation's going to last forever."

Doyle looked up quickly, frowning. "What do you mean?" he asked. "This isn't... I'm not... going to be... yanked away again or anything..."

She actually had the decency to look apologetic. "No, no. Sorry. I just meant, you know. The visions."

"Oh." He took a deep breath, trying to settle the sudden adrenaline that had flooded his system at the thought of having to leave again. "Is that all? Bring on the migraines." Compared to what he had feared, having the visions back didn't even register as a problem.

"Nah, they won't be that bad," Cordy said with a wave of her hand. "Whole different ball game. Still not the biggest fun on the planet, but... better." She looked past him to Angel's sleeping form on the bed. "He needs them. But then, you knew that."

"Yeah," he said softly, then quirked his mouth up into a grin. "Always needed a keeper."

"Believe me, you have *no* idea." Cordelia's voice expressed her frustration. "He's gonna get himself into all kinds of trouble."

"When hasn't he? He tries so hard to do the right thing, and is so afraid of letting himself actually have anything *good* for himself..."

"It'll get harder before it gets easier," Cordelia said flatly. "Too bad I couldn't have given you some kind of patience booster along with the amazing breasts, because you're gonna need it."

Doyle chuckled. "The 'amazing breasts' are taking some getting used to, I gotta admit."

Her eyes widened in what he was pretty sure was only partially-feigned outrage. "I'll have you know those are some A-class bosoms, buster. I'd better not hear about you mistreating them."

"Oh, they're a force of nature, Princess. I'm just not used to seeing them from this angle."

"Yeah, well, just make sure you wear good supportive bras, otherwise you'll end up like my Grandmother, with your boobs down to your waist by the time you're fifty."

"Now there's something to look forward to," Doyle said sarcastically. "Ya got any hints about what sorta trouble Angel's heading for?"

Cordy shrugged, then said, "Same old same old, pretty much. People kinda tend to repeat stuff, you know?"

"He's not going to go try and make people forget anything is he?"

"Not that I know of," Cordelia said. "I mean, it's not like I know *everything.*"

"No?" Doyle grinned at her. "You're just destroying all of my illusions about Higher Powers."

"Uh-huh." Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Just... take care of him, okay?" There was something wistful in the way she said it. "And tell him I said that he should take care of you."

"You really do love him, don't you?" Doyle asked softly.

"Well, *duh.*" Cordelia sighed. "He deserves something good, you know? To make up for the bad stuff that happened."

"That's something we're definitely in agreement on, Princess." Doyle's gaze turned back to Angel's sleeping form beside him.

When he looked back at Cordy, she was still smiling sadly, but she made an obvious effort to distract herself by saying, "So. We seriously need to talk about some of your fashion choices."

"My what?" Doyle asked, then shook his head. "I've just been wearing your clothes, Princess."

"But you've been neglecting the best parts of my wardrobe!" Cordelia put her hands on her hips. "What about the low-cut tops? Not to mention the short skirts. I mean, I can cut you some slack on the heels, those'll take a while to get used to, but..."

"Hate to break it to you, Cordelia, but the short skirts take some getting used to, too. So do the low-cut tops, what with the 'amazing breasts' they show off."

"Oh, come on. Seriously, have you even left the hotel since you got here? No one's going to see you except Angel, and seems to me like he's already seen everything there is to see."

"When Angel's around I tend to wind up wearing nothing more than what God gave you," Doyle pointed out, though she had a point about his not having left the hotel. He should probably do something about that; it made sense to take a day or two to catch his breath and adjust, but it could easily become hiding from reality if he let it go on too long.

"Anyway, that deep purple top with the beading goes with the black skirt, *not* the purple one. I know they're both purple, but trust me, that doesn't mean anything unless they're the exact same shade." She reconsidered this. "Sometimes. And the brown flats *only* go with the brown pants. I don't care what you've heard about brown going with everything, that's a bunch of crap."

Feeling like Cordelia was talking a foreign language, Doyle asked, only half-joking, "Do you want to hang around or manifest or whatever when I'm getting dressed every day and tell me what to put on?"

Cordy smirked. "Nope -- better things to do. But don't worry... you'll get the hang of it. Buy some magazines or something."

"I never got the appeal of those things. Harry used to buy them too. Always seemed like a load of malarky to me."

"Malarky, schmalarky. Do whatever you want... just don't blame me if you're a walking fashion nightmare."

Not ever having been really concerned with fashion one way or the other, Doyle was pretty sure he wasn't going to lose sleep over it. Well, other than right now. If he was losing sleep; he wasn't quite clear on if this qualified.

"So, other than the return of the visions and advice on how to dress, is there anything else I need to know?"

"There are gonna be a lot of surprises?" Cordelia hesitated, like she wanted to say more, but couldn't. "Just, you know. Try not to freak out when stuff happens. And try to cut Angel some slack -- it's a lot for him to deal with."

"What is?" Doyle asked frowning. "I mean, all of this is, yeah, but is there something specific?"

"Isn't there always?" Cordelia glanced over her shoulder as if someone behind her had said something. "Look, I've gotta go. But I'll be around, okay?"

"All right." Doyle felt strangely reluctant to let her go -- not that he had any say in the matter. "Cordelia-" he started, going to ask her to stay just a bit longer, but something stilled his tongue. Instead he said softly, "Thanks. For this."

Cordy ducked her chin the tiniest bit and smiled a little half-smile. "Yeah, well... shame to let a body like that go to waste, right? See you soon." The glowing light around her grew brighter, obscuring his ability to see her.

Doyle blinked against the luminescence and the next second found himself blinking awake, back in the body Cordelia had willed him, curled up against Angel's side.

He couldn't stay still enough to keep from waking Angel, who stirred and tightened his arm around Doyle. "You okay?" Angel asked, voice thick with sleep.

"Yeah." He stretched enough to kiss Angel lazily. "Just getting some spiritual fashion tips."

The vampire blinked and pulled him closer. "Um... huh?"

"Had a dream about Cordelia." Doyle frowned. "Or a visitation. Not sure which you'd call it."

Angel's arm tensed. "She was here?"

Doyle slid a hand soothingly over Angel's chest. "Not exactly. It was more... that she was in my dream, my head. Which, considering it used to be hers, makes a certain amount of sense."

He could feel Angel making an effort to relax. "Yeah, I guess. What did she... did she say anything?"

Somehow, Doyle knew that a lot of what Cordelia had told him was for his ears only. So he didn't mention the warnings of something going to happen in the future, and merely said, "That we should take care of each other. And that I shouldn't wear two different shades of purple with brown flats. Or something."

Angel cleared his throat and sat up, displacing Doyle from his embrace gently. "So you weren't kidding about the fashion tips thing."

"Nope." He sat up as well, leaning against Angel's shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist. "I think she was mainly just checking in, seeing how I -- we -- were doing."

"Makes sense." Angel pressed a quick kiss to Doyle's forehead, then got up out of bed and went over to the dresser, rummaging around until he found some clothes. "That she'd want to make sure you were okay, what with the whole body swap thing and all."

"And to make sure I wasn't making her look like a fashion victim." Doyle got up and headed for the boxes he'd brought in that held some of Cordelia's old clothes. "So where are we going?"

Angel paused, shoulder against the dresser and only one leg inside his pants. "What?"

"You're got out of a warm bed and are getting dressed. Figured that means you've got somewhere to go. Figured I'd tag along."

Managing not to fall over, Angel got his pants on and straightened up. "Yeah. Um, right."

"So where are we going?" Doyle looked through the clothes and pulled out one of the many short skirts that Cordelia'd had in her wardrobe. "Cordelia said I should wear some short skirts," he said, holding up the one he had in his hands to his body. "What do you think?"

Angel stared for a long moment. "Um..."

"She also suggested -- well ordered, really, you know Cordelia -- that I wear some of her low cut tops too. With the short skirts."

"Uh-huh." Angel was still staring, seemingly spellbound.

"Looks like she may be onto something," Doyle said with a tiny smile, pleased at the short circuiting of the impending brooding session. He quickly slipped on the skirt and one of the low-cut tight fitting tops that Cordelia had talked about. "Well? What do you think?" he asked, moving closer.

Angel swallowed, standing his half-dressed ground. "It's... good."

Doyle grinned, taking another step closer, leaving him within touching distance. "Guess I'll wear this then."

"Liked you fine without it," Angel said distractedly, reaching out to run a finger down Doyle's throat and into the plunging neckline of his top.

"A little mystery can be a good thing," Doyle pointed out, Angel's simple touch already making his heart beat faster. "Plus with this outfit, there's easy access, even in public, if you're sneaky enough."

Angel's eyes flickered up from Doyle's cleavage. "You're teasing me."

Doyle smiled. "Maybe a little, but not without plans on following through. I like the idea of you groping me in public -- or more -- without anybody knowing."

Something about Angel's expression finally clued Doyle in that the vampire was more than just distracted in a turned-on sort of way. "I don't know if... look, this is..."

"What?" Doyle asked, reaching out and resting a hand against Angel's chest.

"Don't," Angel said harshly, stepping backward, breaking the contact. "Just... take it off. Okay? Wearing that stuff... it's too..."

Realising that he'd really made a misstep here, Doyle quickly stripped the outfit back off.

By the time he'd finished, Angel had turned slightly away and was rubbing his face. "Sorry," the vampire said. "I didn't mean to... it's not you."

Doyle reached out, but couldn't quite bring himself to touch. "Yeah, that about sums it up, doesn't it?"

"Yeah." Angel still wasn't looking at him. "I'm sorry."

"I'll stick to jeans and loose shirts from now on. No big deal," Doyle said, wondering if he was lying about that or not.

"Look, I think..." Angel hesitated, then finally glanced at him. "Maybe I should, you know..."

"Leave me here alone while you go off somewhere and brood?" Doyle finished, his voice a bit more sharp than he had intended.

Angel looked startled, then irritated. "Get away from you before I say something I'm gonna regret," he said.

Because actually talking about things was so much worse than bottling them up and storming off, Doyle thought, getting irritated himself. "Fine," he said, sick and tired of the whole thing. "Just leave me some cash or something so I'm not trapped here all day."

Looking like he'd already said plenty that he regretted, Angel nodded. "My wallet's downstairs in my pants. Key to your... um, Cordy's apartment too, if you want it."

"You saying you want me out?" Doyle asked, wounded by the request.

"What? No!" Angel was back in not-looking-him-in-the-eye mode, but he sounded sincere. "No. Just... I told you it was yours. Either way. You're not... there's nothing that says you have to stay here. If you don't want to. Or, you know... if it's too hard."

Doyle sighed and rubbed a hand over his face wearily. "I'm not the one who's bolting."

"I know. I'm sorry. I just..." Angel shook his head and turned to go. "I'll see you later."

"Promise?"

Doyle barely heard Angel's muttered, "Yeah," as the vampire went out into the hallway.


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