Page 106 of Pitiful Lies

“I did. I fucked up. I’m sorry. Please say you’ll forgive me. Don’t leave. Please don’t fucking run again, Koukla, please. I can’t stand it. I can’t fucking live without you. Just give me another chance?—”

He’s rambling now, but he’s saying things I never imagined a man like him would ever say. My heart squeezes tight, and I know I can’t let him think like this. I can’t let him hurt.

Not now. Not ever.

“Angel,” I say his name.

I cup his face between my hands, loving the rough feel of his five o-clock shadow, then I pull him to me for a kiss.

“Koukla?” he whispers, kissing me one more time.

“I forgive you. You did nothing wrong, but I still forgive you.”

“You do?”

“Of course, I do. I love you, Angel. I’m not going anywhere.”

The air between us feels charged. I smile at him through my still falling tears, and it’s not a coy grin or flirty little tease.

It’s a full blown smile. And it belongs to him.

Just like the rest of me.

“I’m gonna spend the rest of my fucking life making you happy,” Angel says and picks me up, hugging me tight.

“You damn well better,” I tell him, laughing when he spins me.

“Fuck! Snake!” someone shouts, and Angel turns around.

He’s still not letting go of me, but I’m not complaining.

“Oh,” I tell him, watching with no small amount of amusement as a bunch of beefy men rush outside the garage because of one tiny little snake.

Buffy is a badass, though, so I am pleased they are giving her the proper amount of respect.

“You should probably get Buffy back in her tank,” I tell him, and his shocked stare meets mine.

“Buffy?” he says and his gaze flicks back to Giovanna’s dead form.

I glance away the second I see her swollen, discolored face and the horrific expression that is still frozen on it. A result of suffocating to death.

It’s gross. And not something I want to remember, so I close my eyes.

“Wait here. I’ll get Buffy.”

I nod and turn around. It takes Angel a few minutes, but with the help of a garden rake, he gets his pet viper safe and sound, secure in her tank.

“I’m building her a whole new habitat when we get home,” he says, and I grin.

“How about we move it to your office? I mean, I love this little girl, but I’m thinking she might be happier in the Den with the other Vipers.”

“Good point,” Angel agrees.

He gives me a wink and a smile, and my heart almost beats me to death. He hands Buffy to one of his guys, and then Angel turns back to me and wraps his arms around my body.

“Let’s get those scratches checked out. Make sure you’re alright. Then I’m taking you home. That okay with you?”

“Yes, Angel.”

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