Beauty & the Beast

-Rescuing the Damsel-

-Twice-

 

AUTHORS : dru & Evil Willow  (Go worship the goddess that is EW!)

SERIES: Beauty & the Beast

PAIRINGS : Cordelia/Spike

RATING : NC17 (highly smutty with plenty of delicious yums!)

WARNING: a little violence, bloodplay and death- as well mild female/female & spike/female

DISCLAIMER : We do not own these characters.

NOTE : Takes place after season three of Buffy, but before season four.

 

NOTE: POOR CORDY HAS SOME ROUGH SPOTS IN THESE TWO PARTS! (attempted rape)

 

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RESCUING THE DAMSEL : TWICE

 

 

I am *so* bloody stupid.

 

I'm so bloody stupid, I make *Penn* look smart. I make... *rocks* look smart.

 

I should have seen it- felt it... that same fear from earlier today is rolling off of her. *WHY* didn't I know it before?!

 

It's not fear, fear- it's the fear of abandonment. And I know it well.

 

*Too* well- which is probably why I didn't recognize it. I'm too used to smelling it on myself.

 

And of course me standing here is doing *nothing* to solve the problem.

 

I quickly close the distance between us and slide my arms around her. I rest my head on her shoulder and say, "I meant it."

 

And I did.

 

I was so blinded by *not* wanting to be hurt by love- that I didn't see love itself... whether this is the smartest thing in the world for me considering that it's not *forever*... I guess that remains to be seen.

 

What I *do* know- is that this is more than I've ever had, and that's damn fine with me.

 

"I love you, Cordelia," I whisper, very, very softly. I *am* a vampire after all- we don't speak of such things so often. But it's important for her to know.

 

 

It's a good thing he's holding me up, because my legs sure don't want to. Oh my god. He's not taking it back. He meant it.

 

"I... I... " Damn it. I can't do it. "I meant what I said too," I whisper. And I know it's not what he wanted me to say. But it's all I can manage right now.

 

I'm just a huge coward, I guess.

 

I turn in his arms and pull his head down for a kiss, hopefully it'll tell him what I know but I just can't say. Yet. I just need time.

 

 

I kiss her back, softly. Okay- this isn't bad. I just- no, this isn't bad at all.

 

Lo- lo- the L word is just one step further than caring, which I do already. I care for her. So this is just-

 

I'm hopeless is what I am. But as long as I have fun...

 

I pull away and say, "*You* need to get shower and dress. *I* have a few things to take care of."

 

 

I nod. He's right. It'll take me some time to get ready, including a makeup job to hide what feels like a black eye. "You... you're not... leaving, are you?" I ask, hesitantly.

 

I hate to be so clingy, I just really don't want to be left alone right now. Penn might-- I shudder and push away any speculation as to *what* he might do if he had the chance. I know Spike beat him up, but isn't that even more reason for Penn to want to do something?

 

 

"No," I smile and kiss her forehead. "I've just gotta make some calls. *And* I got some new pants I think you'll like."

 

 

"As long as you're wearing them, probably," I say with a smile and walk to the bathroom. Okay. A nice hot shower to get rid of the memory of those disgusting hands and ... Ugh. Stop!

 

Just *stop* giving him that much power.

 

 

Okay. While she was showering, I took the liberty of making arrangements for that disgusting filth. He's the clan's problem now. He's being sent back to the Council for judgment because knowingly touching someone else's mate is a horrible offense against the clan and he'll pay.

 

God, how he'll pay.

 

I may even have to take a trip to the Council's lair to *see* him paying.

 

Now- for the leather.

 

 

I finish showering, and I feel *so* much more like myself. Until I look in the mirror. Damn. Black eye isn't quite accurate. More like a big bruise that covers the left side of my face.

 

It's times like these when it pays to know your makeup. I can at least make it look not so noticeable.

 

 

I wish I could see myself in the mirror because I think I must look good.

 

Leather pants- I haven't worn a pair in a very long time. Dru didn't like 'em. But ya know what? SCREW HER!

 

I *also* bought (stole) a dark green tank top to go with the black pants. In this heat wave- I can't really see myself in a tee-shirt. It's gonna be hot tonight- especially once we get in the club.

 

OH! The- I knock on the bathroom door. "Luv?"

 

 

Shit. I don't want him to see how bad this bruise has gotten. I doubt it was bad at first, last he saw me. He would've said something to Penn about that.

 

"Um... Gimme five minutes?" I ask. I haven't even started on the coverup job yet. I got dressed first, in the outfit I picked out for the party. The one I slipped into the pile of clothes *without* him seeing. I didn't try those clothes on, because I wanted him to be surprised.

 

I let him think I was wearing a long, tight, dark-green dress, instead. And I *am* still wearing green, just a little different style. And I'm *so* glad it fits. A black tube top, and a dark green see-through top over it, that I tied at the waist. And a long green skirt, with a slit up to mid-thigh. Of course I'll wear the jewelry too, which will be the perfect finishing touch.

 

 

I knock again. "Cordelia, Luv? Please- let me in."

 

Damn it- I hope she's okay. I just- I need to make sure- see for myself.

 

 

"I ... I'm not done with my makeup," I say. Damn, that sounded lamer than I thought it would. "I'll be out in five minutes."

 

 

"Cordelia!" I knock on the door again. "Why won't you let me in?!"

 

Now, I'm panicking. What if she's leaving? What if she really *was* hurt and just didn't wanna admit it and is now trying to cover it up instead of letting me try and help her? What if she's bleeding and crying and I can't get to her?!

 

Bloody hell, love sucks.

 

"CORDELIA?!" I pound on the door helplessly. Breaking it down would hurt her more- but I don't know what to do.

 

 

Shit. I didn't mean to worry him. I sigh and open the door, trying to keep my right side to him, so he won't notice the bruise. "I'm just finishing my makeup, Spike. That's all."

 

 

Ohthankgod!

 

I grab her and pull her to me for a tight hug. "*Don't* do that again, Pet," I say before kissing her forehead.

 

I place my hands on her face to pull her to me for a kiss and she flinches- shit.

 

Oh.

 

"Oh, Pet- I'll *kill* him," I growl. HE DARE FUCKIN' *TOUCH* HER? *HIT* HER?

 

He. *WILL*. pay.

 

 

"It's worse than it looks," I try to convince him. Even though it is throbbing now, I'm going to pretend it doesn't hurt. Not that I care if Spike kills Penn, I just don't want him - us - to think about him tonight. "Once I finish with the makeup, you won't hardly see it. And it'll fade, give it a couple days.

 

"You didn't even notice my surprise though," I pout. "Don't you like it? I like yours," I smile, running my hands over his chest - he wanted to match me, that is just *so* adorable. "I mean... damn. You *will* wear those pants again."

 

 

I take her hands from my chest, "Don't change the subject."

 

I place my hand gently on her cheek. "I *do* love the outfit, Ducks." I shift my legs- *damn* I love the outfit. "But- you're not fooling anyone. Sit down," I tell her, leading her waist to the side of the tub.

 

*Damn* I love that outfit.

 

And I bet that tube top has just enough give to let me slip my hands inside... NO! Stop.

 

Okay- I grab the bottle of magical healing powder and sprinkle some on my hand before placing it on her cheek. "Gonna hurt a bit- but... it'll take care of it."

 

 

"I *forgot about that," I admit and try not to wince when he rubs it into the bruise. Think about something else. Like the view. He really *does* like the outfit, those pants can't hide that. I can't help smiling. What would he do if I ...

 

No. Be good, Cordelia. He doesn't want me to try to change the subject. So I'll just - bite my lip to keep from whimpering. It takes a few seconds before this stuff kicks in. I remember that.

 

 

"I know," I sympathize, "but it'll make it go away."

 

It *is* almost done and I add a little water to my palm to make the powder more lotion-like.

 

I look her over again... my hand would slide so perfectly into that slit- the perfect height to slip my fingers inside her...

 

I'd move them just a little, just to tease, before pushing them deeper inside her quivering passage. She'd quake around me and her mouth would form an 'o' as my thumb rubbed her clit...

 

Ohshit.

 

Why do I think about these things? I'm *much* better at torturing myself than Angelus ever *was*!

 

 

I catch him looking at the bit of leg revealed by the slit in the skirt... and then at the tube top. And I can tell he wants to touch me. So why won't he?

 

Is it about Penn? Is he just too disgusted to touch me after Penn did?

 

"Spike?" He looks up at me. "You can touch me... if you want to," I tell him.

 

 

God- I press my lips together and moan... something about a girl telling you to touch her... is just delicious.

 

But- "Mmmuch as I'd love to- I think if I *started*, we'd never leave."

 

I pull my hand away and- "All better," I say. I take one more look at her before closing the door behind me. If I stare at her one more second- she'll never leave my bed.

 

 

Okay... I'm going to just take him at his word. He wants to, he's just trying to get us out of the hotel room, and ... God, I really need to feel his hands on me, though. I wish he understood, it's the only thing that would take away the memory of *Penn's* hands on me.

 

But I can wait. I guess. Maybe I'll try more persuasion when we're at the party. I mean... after we find a secluded spot, of course.

 

I go out to the bedroom and start putting on the jewelry. I prop my foot up on the dresser to put the anklet on. After making sure Spike is watching of course. No, I'm not planning on making it easy for him not to touch me.

 

I don't even have to look up at him, his groan is enough to tell me that I'm getting to him. And I almost feel bad. *Almost.*

 

I contemplate the tiara for a second, before looking into the mirror to where I think he is. I felt him come closer a few seconds ago. "Too much for the party?" I ask. I really don't know if I'll be horribly overdressed for this party, and I'm starting to get a little worried. Not that *I* care what they think of me, but I think he cares. So I want to impress them, for him.

 

 

"Up to you, Ducks." I *love* sheer fabric. If only that black tube top was... *any* way...

 

No. I said she had to make the first move. Of course one could arguably state that telling me to touch her *was* the first move... but I don't want her to be saying that for *my* benefit.

 

I *do* try to be gentleman... when I'm not ripping people's lungs out.

 

"You *could* save it- it's a bit classier, perhaps for Monte Carlo..." Damn it.

 

 

"Okay," I nod. "Then is the rest of this too much?" I wonder, indicating the necklace, the ring... "Seriously, just tell me," I add. "*I* love it all, Spike. But I don't want to feel more out of place than-" Shit. "Not that I don't want to go," I add, turning to him. "I just don't want to embarrass yo-." Shit. I tell him I'm in love with him and I just can't seem to keep my feelings to myself, after that.

 

 

"You could *never* embarrass me, Luv. *Ever*. The rest is fine- you should wear pretty things like this. You'll be *fine*, don't worry. You won't be the only human there, okay?"

 

 

Oh. That's not something I even thought of. And now I'm wondering why other humans will be there, other than the obvious food purpose- NO. Ignoring that possibility, right now. I'll deal with it if it confronts me, but not before that.

 

"All right, let's go," I say, after slipping on my new black suede high heeled shoes. He takes my hand and we walk out the door.

 

I have no idea what *to*... but I'm about to find out.

 

 

On the way down the elevator, I say, "Did I mention how absolutely *delicious* you look tonight, Ducks?"

 

I step closer toward her and whisper, "Did I tell you how hard I get when I think about all the things that outfit covers up?"

 

And then- the doors open and we have to get out of the elevator. And of course, there's a car waiting for us.

 

 

Shit. NOT fair. He smirks at me, obviously well aware of how my body temperature just went up several degrees. Along with my heart-rate.

 

I guess I almost forgot, he can dish it out as well as I can.

 

He slips his arm around my waist as we walk outside.

 

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