“Merry Christmas, love.”

The whisper in her ear woke Buffy Summers up from a contented sleep. Not that she minded. Turning over, she was faced with Angel's smiling eyes, and grinned, stretching like a cat, her naked back arching. “Christmas already?”

“Well, its 2am,” he answered, kissing the tip of her nose, causing her to wrinkle it.

“Angel…2 am…why are you waking me up?”

He laughed at her disgruntled expression. “I want to decorate the tree. I went out and got one and it seems important that we do it before the morning.”

“You went out and got a tree?” she asked disbelievingly, fully awake now, as she noticed that he was fully dressed in black pants and a black v-neck sweater. “Whats with the nocturnal stuff?”

“Can't help it,” he shrugged. “Still a night person. I guess you've grown past that.”

Buffy nodded. “Yeah, but it took me a loooong time to get used to not skulking the cemeteries at midnight… so…the tree huh? Sounds nice.”

Sitting up, she noted with satisfaction, his indrawn breath at her nakedness. “Or we could stay here…” she teased, running a casual finger down to her breasts. “And play.”

Smiling, he grabbed her, pulling her out of bed and into his arms. His kiss left her breathless, and she clung to him, needing more. But he had other ideas. “Get dressed,” he set her down and pushed her lightly in the direction of the closet. “I can't concentrate when you're like that.”

Cocking her head to the side, she let her golden fall of blonde hair course over her naked shoulders, “Like what?”

Angel covered his eyes, groaning and leaving the room with a laugh. Giggling, Buffy pulled on a pair of light blue men's pyjamas, her preferred sleepwear when she was alone.

Padding through to her living room, she gasped when she saw the tree. It was perfect, the branches evenly spaced, the piny smell filling the room. Not too big or too small it fit by her large picture window that overlooked Vestry Street. “It's gorgeous…” she murmured and he nodded, staring at her.

“Gorgeous, “ he agreed, and showed her the decorations he had bought. She was pleased to discover they shared the same taste. What he had bought was very simple, and all in shades of cream and gold, the crowning glory a glittering gold star. “I thought an angel might be kind of weird,” he explained and she laughed.

“Would be. Star's very pretty.”

Making popcorn and hot chocolate, they took their time decorating, stringing the millions of tiny white lights carefully, hanging the clear glass decorations, and making sure each branch was hung with an ornament. Buffy trailed her fingers along the boughs as she hung a sweet glass decoration on a branch, and felt Angel wrap his arms around her from behind, bringing the cup of hot chocolate to her lips and giving her a sip.

Sighing contentedly, she leaned back against him, swishing the cinnamony liquid around her mouth.

Lifting her hair off her neck, Angel pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, sliding his tongue down to her nape and biting on her ear lobe gently. Moaning softly, Buffy twisted her head and brought his mouth to hers as he set down the mug and cupped her breasts in his hands, his thumbs brushing the nipples, hot through the cotton of her pyjamas.

“Angel…” she whimpered into his mouth, as he began to unbutton her shirt, pushing his hands underneath the fabric to smooth his fingers over her flesh.

Drawing her close, he lay her on the plush carpet under the lighted Christmas tree, his hands removing the rest of her pjs and his own clothes, until they lay enfolded in each other's arms, the pine scented branches above them creating a blanket from the outside world. “I love you Buffy,” he muttered as he kissed his way down her collarbone to the heavy globes of her breasts, feeling the weight of them with careful fingers as his tongue flicked out to torment her nipples. They poked out angrily, begging for his mouth, and he assuaged the ache, rubbing his lips over the skin lightly, making Buffy whimper in frustration and twine her fingers through his hair, holding his face close to her breasts.

“Angel…” she moaned through clenched teeth as her hands left his head to run down his shoulders and arms, trying to get him closer.

He kissed his way down her stomach, taking a moment to worship this feminine curve, and then opened her slender legs with his hands, burying his face between her thighs. It was so sudden Buffy gasped, and then moaned as his tongue stroked down her cleft, tasting her sweetness and kissing her inner thighs. “Mmmmm…” she groaned, her legs gripping his shoulders as he continued to torment her, using his tongue to drive deep inside her, and his fingers teasing her clit.

She could feel the orgasm building inside her, shivers running up and down her body, her flesh so hot she felt like she was burning. “I'm going to….Angellll” she gasped, panting, “I'm gonna…oh god…I'm going to come…”

His answer was to slam his tongue all the way up inside her. Buffy screamed, her whole body writhing. Sliding up , Angel slid inside her, his cock squeezed with her contractions, as he drove in and out, cupping her face, kissing her gasping mouth hungrily, until he came, flooding her with his hot seed.

“Mmmm…” Buffy growled softly, as he rolled off her, pulling her with him so she lay sprawled across his chest. “Merry Christmas indeed.”

Smiling, he lay his hands on either side of her face and kissed her tenderly. “I love you Buffy. Never ever doubt that.”

“I won't,” she answered, but a little uncertainty clouded her eyes.

“Buffy,” he began, but the sound of the doorbell interrupted him.

“What?” Buffy exclaimed angrily, “Who could that be? And on friggin Christmas to.”

Pulling on her pjs, she waited until Angel had covered himself with his clothes, before going out into the hallway and opening the door. The man outside smiled at her wearily, then took her in his arms, holding her close for a moment. “Buffy,” he said quietly, stepping back.

Her eyes widened with shock, Buffy stared at him, speechless for a moment. “Riley…”

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