Jesse's genius with cars showed to the extreme with the new design. It was nothing less than a work of art. Buffy sat next to the small mechanic with an excited gleam in her eyes.
"You put in Koni adjustables. Nice; you'll save some weight using those. I like the color and design. Dom was right; you have the touch when it comes to this stuff."
He ducked his head, blushing and smiling shyly. "Ya think surfer dude can pull this off?"
She giggled at the nickname. "He's not going to have to do it on his own. These two talented babies," she held out her hands, "plan on bringing this," she tapped the screen, "to life."
Kissing Jesse's cheek before she left the office, Buffy waved at him, not looking where she was going, and walked into a wall of muscles. "Oomph." A hand rose to rub the tingles from her nose. She wrinkled it, as she drew her head back to look the 'wall' in the eye.
"Coulda warned me, you know," she grumped.
"Not my fault you don't watch where you're going."
"So-o, sorry that I was busy making with the nice." She stepped closer, leaning into that rock-hard body. Her hands splayed across the massive chest, and then slowly crept around his neck to pull him down as her teeth nipped at his ear. "You do remember how to play nice, don't you, Dom?"
He placed his hands on her trim waist, standing upright and carrying her along with him. Dark eyes sparked with unleashed passion. "Don't confuse me with the boys you're used to, Buffy." A large hand cupped her rear, holding her in place. Cradling her head with the other, he leaned down to her lips. He didn't kiss her as she expected, instead he spoke. "Nice isn't my style, and babe, I never play. Believe me; I know what I'm doing. Do you?"
His voice's deep rumble vibrated against her lips. It shot straight through to her core. Ignoring the inner voice that said to slow down, Buffy gave in to the feelings and took a risk. Powerful legs wrapped around his waist as slender hands used his shoulders as anchors. Pale pink lips brushed across the wide mouth, before pulling away to whisper huskily, "Dare you to find out."
She swept her tongue across his mouth. Dom held the tiny body steady as he maneuvered them backward into his office. They slammed against the door as it shut. Nimble fingers set the lock and blindly felt for the shade, ensuring that it covered the window. The kissing intensified as he walked them over to the desk. A quick swipe cleared the flat surface, scattering papers and tools about the room. Her hands pulled apart the snaps holding his coveralls together. She pushed the offending article away from the delicious goodies that lay underneath. Large shoulders shrugged, allowing the blue material to fall away from the chiseled upper body. Sharp teeth nibbled their way up to the place where shoulder and neck met. A grunt, equal parts pain and pleasure, burst from his lips. Grabbing her t-shirt, he lifted it over her head, laying it behind her, then pushed her backward.
He stared down at the beauty with a halo of red and black tinged golden tresses. She lay bare from the waist up, a wanton feast of golden skin stretched taut over sensually muscled curves.The devil on his shoulder told him to gorge on what she freely offered; while the angel, who sounded suspiciously like his sister, warned that Buffy wasn't a speed bimbo to play and lay. He felt torn, knowing they never intended for it to go this far. He couldn't deny that he wanted her. The problem came with what happened afterwards. Would it ruin any chance for more, and do I even want more? Damn it, it shouldn't be this hard. He shook his head as he tried to think straight. His body and her hands had other ideas. He had a beautiful woman primed and ready, and he was about to put on the brakes. There must be a NOX leak in here, because this was crazy. No man in his right mind would walk away from a woman like her.
Leaning over her; his body responded, hardening further with the contact. She arched her back, causing her taut nipples to rub against his bare skin. Dom bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from tasting the golden globes as he angled his lips toward hers. Buffy met him halfway, reaching up to wrap her arms around him. They struggled for position until they found one that suited them. Their lips met in a heated kiss, which soon had them pulling away and gasping for air.
Mimicking the nip she had given him earlier, he wrapped his teeth around her lobe as he whispered, "See what I mean, babe, that's playing. There's a world of difference when I'm serious. Maybe when you grow up, kid, I'll show you." He pulled away, using every ounce of willpower he had. Turning toward the door as he pulled his overalls back on, he said over his shoulder to the woman who sat up in a daze. "I'll tell the others you're making a call. Come out whenever you're ready." His hand reached for the doorknob to unlock it.
"Oh, Dom," Buffy called out whisper soft. He couldn't stop the shiver he felt between his shoulders. "I think you have me mistaken with someone else, or you're living in the past. Too bad. It could've been nice. It's been a long time since I've felt nice. Too bad you're not man enough to carry through what you start."
"I didn't start it, you did. I just finished it," he growled, jerking the door open with an angry pull.
She gave a harsh laugh. "You just keep telling yourself that one, maybe you'll convince yourself, if you say it enough. Go on, Dom, run back to your cars. Wouldn't want to get caught hanging with a kid, right? What would the fans say?"
Jumping off the desk, she grabbed her shirt, giving him a feral smile as she slowly pulled it on over bare skin. He stood frozen, unable to pull eyes his away from the show she undoubtedly put on just for him. Buffy fluffed her wild mane as she prepared to walk by the man that just tore her newly rebuilt confidence to shreds. She held her head high, eyes forward, as she pushed by him. He grabbed her arm before she could walk away completely. A finely arched brow shot up, but she refused to say a word. As far as she was concerned, she had said all she intended to say. He reluctantly let her go, not sure, what to do or say that would make the situation better. With his luck, he would only make matters worse.
Buffy avoided Dom for the rest of the day, as well as the days that followed. Brian showed up a few days later, explaining that he had lost his job. He told Dom that he wasn't worried, since it gave him more time to work on the car he owed him. Mia met him with a smile, and accepted his dinner invitation.
Dom helped Brian work on the car, while Buffy kept busy with a last minute tune-up. Mia swept in occasionally, bringing food or drink, whenever there was a lull at the diner.
"You have big plans for tonight?" Dom asked.
"Dinner at a nice place, maybe a little dancing."
"Have to warn you…"
"Don't bother," Brian grinned, blue eyes twinkling with glee, "Buffy already did. Real gruesome-like too. Let me see if I can remember it." He cleared his throat, crossed his arms reminiscent of a certain blonde Slayer when pissed. "If you hurt my Mia, I'll bash your head in with a shovel, then use that shovel to cut off your balls and shove them down your throat. Then, I'll get really mean." Dom couldn't stop the urge to put a protective hand over his privates at the imagery the words invoked. Brian smiled, then chuckled. "Had the same reaction. Gotta say, for a small woman, she has a way with words."
"That she does. Well, whatever she said, I'll double." He couldn't stop himself from glancing over at the blonde in question.
As if she felt his eyes on her, Buffy looked up at that exact moment. Her large green eyes held his, daring him to say or do something. When he did nothing, she went back to work.
Stupid men, with stupid, bulging muscles, and dark, dreamy eyes, and and gravely voices that make your insides go all creamy. No, no more creamy. There will be no creaminess for Buffy. I am a creamless Buffy, yep, that's me.
She secretly glanced back over at Dom, who smiled at something Brian said. His smile turned into a low, deep chuckle that sent tingles through her body. Stupid Men!
She left the garage after wishing Mia good luck on her date. Deciding not to chance running into Dom, she winked at Mia and jumped from the second story window. Tires squealed as she sped down the road before anyone knew she was gone.
Dom leaned on the doorframe. "What had Buffy rushing away?"
"Thought I'd ask you the same question. What did you do? This has been going on for days. She won't even look at you, and you're not much better."
"Nothing that won't work itself out," he hedged, trying to back away from the door.
Mia's hand went straight to her hips. "Dominic Toretto, you tell me what you did, and you tell me right now, or I'll…," she paused threateningly, then an evil smile appeared on her pretty face, "cook Aunt Maria's corn hash every meal for a week."
A sour look crossed his face. He absolutely hated corn hash and the idea of eating it for a week was enough to make him hurl. "Mia," he whined.
"Dom," she snapped, "spill now, or I throw out the roast I bought and start cutting up corn."
"Fine, not that it's any of your business, and if you tell anyone, I'll kill you, sister or not. She was flirting and I flirted back, we got carried away, and before we got too far, although we got pretty far, I called it off and she got mad," he explained.
Mia deciphered the rush of words. Her eyes widened at the implications. She knew Buffy's history with men and knew her brother wasn't the most tactful person. "How exactly did you call it off?"
"Uh, she sorta started the whole thing by asking me if I knew how to play nice. When I realized how out of hand things had gotten, I kinda tried to make a joke about it. Like, see I did know how to play, or something stupid like that." He shrugged at the memory.
Mia groaned, slapping a hand to her forehead. "I thought you were smarter than that. You don't get a girl's motor revved up, then slam on the brakes, and say don't want to go for a ride after all. It makes her think that you don't think she's good enough to finish, that you were playing with her. For Buffy, what you've done is even worse, I could kill you. No wonder she didn't want to go back out and see you. I may fix you hash anyway," she threatened, whispering threats under her breath.
Dom started to worry from his sister's reaction that he had screwed things up worse than he thought.
She turned to him, her dark eyes blazing with anger. "You better hope this can be fixed. Brian should be here any minute. If Buffy does anything stupid and ends up hurt, I'll never forgive you." She stormed by him, shoving him out of her way.
"Damn it, when did this get so complicated?"
He went to his room for a shower, intending to go out for some drinks with the boys. He needed some down time. His life had gotten entirely too complicated. He missed the old days, when all he had to worry about was the finish line and the cops.
Lilah Morgan paced her office. If a dead body could sweat, hers would leave a trail on the floor right about now. Someone or something had entered her office, passed by the cameras sight unseen and broken into the hidden wall safe. The thief took her Angel related information. If the Partners found out, she was deader than dead; she would go to the lowest regions of Hell.
Question was, who took it? Lilah knew that Eve wanted her job, but even she wasn't idiot enough to take the information. Look at it, yes, take it, no. Removing it from the building would mark Eve for death as surely as losing it marked her for punishment. She knew the discs and files had left the building; otherwise, she could track them. No, this was bad, very bad.
She had no choice, but to call for help. Walking over to the phone, she dialed several numbers. "Yes…I need file 72975 in my office within 24 hours…I'm aware what I'm requesting." She pushed a red button beside the phone. A loud scream came back over the receiver. "Any questions…I didn't think so…I expect it in pristine condition…Make that by tonight…I'll be waiting, say around nine…Don't disappoint me, or…Well you get the idea."
A feral smile crossed her dark, red lips. "Ah, Eve dear, let's see how you like this." She laughed sardonically. "No one can ever say I went down without a fight." She turned on her three-inch heels, heading for the door. "I wonder what Wesley's doing? Evil plans make me feel all tingly."
Buffy decided that she deserved a night off after the day that she had. She went home took a long bath, drank some wine, relaxed, answered her e-mails, then prepared for a night of fun.
She drove around until she found a club that looked lively enough for her mood. Parking her car several blocks away, she set her alarm and started walking. Buffy confidently went straight up to the doorman and flashed a megawatt smile. He blinked several time, before opening the velvet rope to admit her. His eyes followed the slender leather clad hips, only going back to business when someone tapped his shoulder.
The loud, Latin based, techno beat hit her body the minute she entered the club. A heavy base thrummed deeply, calling to the predator that lay just below the skin. She prowled toward the dance floor, unmindful of the eyes that followed her. Finding an empty spot, the slender body gave itself over to its primal side. It allowed the dark call hidden in the music to carry it away. She was all things female tonight. Eve personified. Her body swayed gracefully, moving, turning, spinning, arms up, head thrown back as hips gyrated in an age-old dance.
The other dancers moved away, giving her space. They somehow knew they were seeing something unusual, unique, and yet it called to them, men and women alike. They gave her room, wanting to see, but the more they saw, the more they wanted to touch. Slowly, the opening grew smaller as the surrounding dancers inched closer.
Soon, bodies pressed against Buffy on all sides. She reveled in the feeling. Warmth, she felt warm for the first time since her return. If she didn't include, no, not going to think about that, about him. She danced faster, moving frantically as the music sped up. The room spun around her in a whirl of lights, music and warmth. She loved it and threw her head back in a throaty laugh.
Two heads shot up in the crowd. Dark eyes scanned the dance floor, searching for the owner of that laugh. Two large bodies moved toward the floor. Buffy felt a cool hand touch her shoulder and a warm one grabbed her arm. She evaded the cool fingers as she pulled away from the strong, warm hand. A growl followed by a low "Buffy" as the men tried once more to capture the elusive prize. She shimmied between two male dancers as several more closed ranks. They saw that the wild beauty wanted to keep the glaring men at a distance and decided to help.
Dom and Angel tried to stare each other down until they finally grew bored. "Who are you?" Dom asked, crossing his massive arms.
"Friend of Buffy's, you?"
"Same."
They turned in unison to watch her dance. A bouncer stepped between them, announcing that they either dance, or get off the floor. Angel retreated to his table to brood, but Dom took up the challenge. A slow grin spread across his face when a contemporary tango started to play. He swaggered forward, using his large frame to wedge his way through the crowd surrounding Buffy.
She felt a warm body slide behind her as the tango started. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight against a hard body. She wrapped an arm gracefully around a large neck, stiffening slightly when her fingers felt only smooth skin. Knowing who the mystery partner was an evil light entered large green eyes. Her hips ground into him. The arm around her waist tightened. Placing her hand around his wrist, she applied subtle pressure, forcing him to release her. She held on as she spun away in a whirl of red leather and sweat glistening gold skin. Keeping time with the music, he followed. He pulled her back, but she had other ideas as she slid around to his back. She pressed against his back and they swayed together.
Everyone watched as a slender hand crept around a large bicep. A booted foot followed, curling around the muscled thigh, standing taut in anticipation. The small body hidden from view by the large man slowly came into view, curving in ways no body should be able to bend. Her body poured itself around his. He felt every inch as it moved across his skin. The slick feel of leather followed by overheated skin. Dom closed his eyes, knowing that watching her would undo any control he had left. His body swayed in time with hers, as he waited for her next move. She didn't disappoint. He wasn't sure how she did it. He felt her move across him in a diagonal motion. Gathering enough strength to peek down, he found himself staring into her beautiful face.
Buffy lay in a diagonal line across Dom's from foot to neck. Her bare back glistened in the shimmering overhead lights. The thin, red strap that held her top together created an enticing focal point amidst a sea of gold skin and multi-colored hair. She slowly raised a leather-clad leg, wrapping it around his waist. Her hip pressed against him in an unmistakably intimate fashion as she threw her head back, exposing her throat.
She peered up at him with a sultry heavy lidded look, and said in a husky voice, "When you decide you're man enough for this," a subtle move of her hips, "woman, you let me know; otherwise, you stay clear. I don't play like that. Yes, I flirt. But, when it goes past that, when, 'I' allow it to go further, you should know that I'm not playing."
Before he could say or do anything, she kissed him, hard and quick, pushed away from his chest, projecting herself backward into a perfect flip. She used the momentum to continue a series of flips and springs to the dance floor's edge. The crowd went crazy as she sauntered out the door.
Dom went back to his table, ignored Jesse and Vince's questions. He sat down without saying a word, grabbed his beer, guzzled it down in one large gulp, then waived the waitress over for another.
"You gonna tell us what the hell that was about?" Jesse asked.
"Nope," he answered, tipping the waitress as he grabbed his beer. This one went down as fast as its predecessor. "I'm done. You boys stay and have fun." He pushed away from the table, walking away without another word.
Jesse and Vince looked over at Leon in confusion. "What's up with him?"
"Women," Leon answered, "well, a woman. Small, blonde and trouble. Don't know about you two losers, but I came here to dance and hopefully get laid." He got up from the table, making a beeline for the dance floor.
"I say, Angel, was that truly Buffy?" Wesley sipped his scotch as he continued to stare at the door the Slayer just exited.
"Yes," he growled, amber flashed briefly in his eyes.
"Whoa, big guy, calm down. You'll make the natives restless." Gunn glanced around to see if anyone had noticed the souled vampire's slip.
"What does Buffy think she's doing, putting on a show like that?"
"I thought she danced really neat." Fred smiled, pushing her glasses up on her nose. Seeing the dark look on Angel's face, she started to babble. "Well, uhm, I mean her hair is really pretty, all red, black and blonde like that. Wonder who did that for her? She's not skinny, not like me, and certainly doesn't look like a little girl the way Cordy always said when she talked about…her. I think I'll just shut up now." Her pale cheeks turned bright pink, before she hid her face behind Wesley's shoulder.
Wesley cleared his throat, smiling inside that Fred would turn to him for sanctuary. He tried to draw the others' attention away from her. "Shall we get down to why we chose this venue in the first place? Lilah visited me this afternoon." He felt Fred stiffen behind his back and this time couldn't stop his smile. "She's definitely up to something and I think it involves Angel and Cordelia."
Amber-lit eyes bore into the former Watcher as Angel softly asked, "How's Cordy involved?"
Swallowing, as his suddenly dry throat seemed not to want to comply with his wish to speak, Wesley continued. "She inquired how far you would go in your endeavors to awaken Cordelia. Hinted that she might bring in someone that you considered an enemy. She hoped that if it came to that, you would see the big picture and not bite first, so to say. Her job is to keep you happy. You want Cordelia to wake from her coma, and this person might tip the scales."
"I don't understand. Why would Lilah bring someone else in to help her? She doesn't share the work with anyone. There has to be something else going on here. The question is, what?" Angel searched his friends' faces for ideas.
Fred didn't like Lilah, partly from jealousy, and the other due to her evilness, but she couldn't deny the lawyer's brilliance, or her cunning. "Can't we spy on her somehow? I mean, you're the CEO and I'm in charge of the Science Department; between us we should be able to come up with someway to find out what she's up to." The three men stared at her gap-mouthed. "Stupid idea, sorry, I saw Mission Impossible last night and kinda got carried away with some ideas for my lab."
Wesley grabbed her face and planted a warm kiss on her lips. Fred appeared dazed when he pulled away. She stared at him, then sighed, "Oh." "Fred, you're a genius. Well, of course, you are, but this just proves it further. Sometimes we get so involved with who and what we are dealing with that we forget to use the simplest methods."
"What English is trying to say, and I second, is that we are stupid, and you, as always, are Miss Smart. We know that they spy on us, and I say that we return the favor." Gunn sat back in his chair with a huge grin on his face.
"I've had enough of this music." Angel stood, throwing money on the table. "Anyone for some Mexican food? I'm buying." He smiled at Fred, his way of apologizing for his earlier actions.
The skinny Texan bounced from her chair, and continued bouncing as she walked with her friends. She talked excitedly about how many tacos she wanted to order and that she might get adventurous and order a burrito too.
Lilah sat with her long legs propped on her desk, while she sipped from a crystal glass. She swirled the liquor while she waited for her special delivery. A frown marred her normally smooth forehead. This plan had to work. She knew that she didn't have much time before the Partners would expect results. She tapped her watch, watching the minute hand hit twelve.
It was nine o'clock. A knock sounded at her, bringing a smile to her face. "Come in." Two large demons entered the office, wheeling in a steel container. "Thank you. That will be all."
She finished her drink and slowly rose to feet. She circled the container, returning to the front where a complex keypad secured the door. Unable to resist, she knocked on the metal, creating an echo. "Hello, wake up, wake up, time to come out and play." Her fingers danced across the keypad until she heard the satisfying click. She stepped back as the door unsealed and slowly started opening. Smoke escaped from inside of the container as she waited for her surprise to make an appearance.
A shadowy figure appeared through the smoke. Arms waved, clearing the smoke away in an effort to see better. Legs strangely weak, wobbled toward the light and freedom. Taking a tentative step down, a hand still held on to the container for security. The other hand shadowed eyes bothered by the suddenly bright lights.
"Hello, Lindsey, welcome back." A huge smile spread across the bright red lips. "Would you care for a drink?"
"Lilah, I should've known," he drawled in his Oklahoma accent. Keen blue eyes took in the plush office and the subtle changes in his former partner. "You've come up in the world, or is that back up here?"
"Very good, Linds, you always were smart. That's the reason that I brought you back. Now, if you can just try not to overstep, I may be able to keep you from having to fetch any more light bulbs. How does that sound to you?"
She sat down in leather club chair, indicating for him to join her. He sat down heavily, unable to stop his body from visibly shuddering at the memory.
"What do you want from me? As you know, I've been out of the loop."
Lilah started to explain exactly what she expected from him. Lindsey sat listening, wondering if he got out of one hell only to step into an even worse situation.
Eve pressed an ear against the door, trying to figure out what Lilah had in her office. She had watched the security tapes that showed a large container arrive. Now, she heard mumbled voices, but couldn't determine if it was actually two people talking or Lilah speaking to someone on the phone. She relied on her instincts and they screamed at her that her position, possibly her life, depended on knowing what was happening inside that office.
Suddenly the door opened, and Eve felt herself falling inside face first. She looked up from where she lay sprawled on the floor. There stood Lilah with a Cheshire cat smile, staring down at her.
"Come in, Eve dear, you're just in time, although I expected you sooner."
She stepped back, waving the younger woman into her office. The liaison-in-waiting glared at her nemesis as she scrambled to her feet, rubbing her bruises to her body and ego.
"Why would you expect me? I'm certainly not your favorite person, quite the opposite."
"I don't have all night. Either come in, and see who's here, or leave," she challenged, knowing her quarry wouldn't walk away from such tempting bait. Lilah strolled leisurely back to the chair, raising a warning finger to her 'guest' to remain silent.
Eve marched around the steel container, and stopped short when she saw the man seated beside Lilah. Her heart jumped in her chest as she fought for breath. She wanted to run to him, kiss him, scream his name, slap him, then scratch the smug smile off Lilah's face. What was he doing here and with her? She was happy to see him, but she had wanted to be the one responsible for his release. The Partners created her as the perfect vessel to carry out their orders. They gave her everything she needed to seduce, persuade, or outmaneuver an ally or enemy. No one was more surprised than Eve when she fell in love with Lindsey McDonald. She nearly went insane when he disappeared and she learned that W&H sent him to their own punishment dimension.
"Lindsey," she said his name softly, afraid to say it aloud, in case he should disappear.
"It's really me, Evie. Come here and sit beside me." He put his hand out to her, hoping that she would comply. A huge grin spread across his face, showing his dimples when she slid onto his lap. Her head lay on his shoulder as his arms wrapped tightly around her slender body.
The tender moment didn't last as a saccharine sweet voice interrupted them. "Aw, aren't you two just the sweetest thing. Now, that the surprise show is over, let's get down to business. Eve, darling, Lindsey and I are going to be working together. If you want to see your lover, well, you see my dilemma don't you. I simply can't have my partner associating with someone who's knowingly trying to undermine my place in the firm. Do we understand each other?" She leveled hard, dark eyes at the couple across from her.
Eve turned to stare into Lindsey's blue eyes. "Perfectly. As long as Lindsey remains safely on this side, I'll help you any way I can. Deal?"
"I'd hoped you'd see things my way. Keeps things so much more tidy, don't you think? Lindsey can bring you up to date. Run along and get reacquainted, I'm sure you have lots to, err, say to each other." She waved her hands at them. They turned to each other, smiled, and all but ran from the room. Lilah raised her glass to the ceiling, cheering herself. "I do so love when a plan comes together." She smiled to herself before taking a large drink.