"Big Dog?"

Wes spun around, startled by Angel's sudden appearance. He sucked in a breath and held his hand to his chest. Still grinning broadly, Angel circled the bike. "Nothing."

Indignantly, Wes drew himself up. "If you think that I cannot handle this machine..." he began haughtily.

Angel shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. "Well, it is a big bike. Looks pretty powerful, too."

Wesley threw down his cloth as if issuing a challenge. "Get on."

Not even trying to keep from laughing, Angel said, "It's okay, Wes. You don't have to prove yourself to me."

"Apparently I do."

Angel stopped smiling and took a good look at the other man's face. He was serious. While the vampire looked on, Wesley threw his long leatherclad leg over the seat and straddled the big bike, turned the ignition and revved the motor. Sufficiently impressed so far, Angel nodded to himself.

"Get on!"

Angel started to grin again. Then he pulled his long coat out of the way and climbed onto the bike behind the former Watcher. "Where are we going? Quick trip around the block?"

Wesley ignored the taunt and put on his helmet. "Hold on," he said over his shoulder.

The bike accelerated so quickly, popping a wheelie, Angel was forced to grab onto Wesley for support or be thrown clear. The Englishman leaned forward and poured on even more gas.

Angel clung to him, arms wrapped around the other man's waist, grabbing a double handful of leather jacket. At first he feared for their safety, the way Wesley took the corners hard, but then he realized that it wasn't reckless driving at all. Wyndham-Price really could handle the powerful motorbike. Relaxing, Angel kept his tight hold on Wes but started to enjoy the exhilarating ride. The tails of his coat flapped out behind them like wings, lending themselves to the imagery of flight.

They careened through the darkened streets of L.A., roaring up one street and thundering down another. Soon they were out on the freeway, and Wesley really opened it up. They traveled in silent communion for miles. After a while he shot down an offramp, and they were headed back towards the heart of the city.

Angel clung to Wes's back, molding his body to the other's. To his utter surprise, Angel realized that he had an erection and it was pressing up against Wesley's backside. The thrum of the motor under them excited him, the feel of the hard body in his arms thrilled him, and the pressure of the vibrant machine between their legs electrified him in ways he hadn't felt in years.

Two hours later they were back in the alley behind Angel Investigations. Wesley parked the bike and shut off the motor, then he removed his helmet, shoving his fingers through his short hair. Reluctantly, Angel relinquished his hold and got off. His legs felt wobbly. He still had an erection.

"Angel? Is something amiss?" Wesley asked, noticing the vampire's faltering composure.

"Wha...? Uh, no. I'm fine. Everything's fine," Angel replied, holding his coat closed around him.

"Well, did you enjoy the ride?"

Looking in Wesley's eyes, he said truthfully, "Yeah. I did. Very much." They held each other's gazes for a moment.

Wesley looked away first. "Well, I should be going."

"Where are you staying?" For some reason Angel was reluctant for them to part. He wanted to keep talking...or something.

"Oh, hotel. Downtown. It's not much but..."

"It's late," Angel noted. It had to be well after midnight.

Wesley flinched ever so slightly. "Yes, I should go." He started to put his helmet on again.

"Wait! I, um, do you want to come in for a drink or something?"

Wesley gave him an inscrutable look then nodded. "Yes. I'd like that. As long as I'm not the drink." He winced at his own lame joke.

"I was thinking of something alcoholic," Angel clarified.

"Ah! Well, that sounds splendid. Mmm hmmm." He followed Angel into the building and eventually down to the apartment in the basement.

Angel poured them each a glass of wine, gave one to Wesley and sat down across from him at the kitchen table. It really was the only place to sit in the apartment other than the couch, but that would require closeness. He wasn't ready for that.

Sipping his wine, Wesley asked, "Aren't you going to remove your coat?" He had already taken off his leather jacket and hung it on his chair.

Angel stood and shrugged out of the long duster. He hung it up on a coat hook then turned back to the table.

Wesley's eyes fastened right then on Angel's crotch and the rather prominent bulge that stood out like a beacon. Snapping his gaze to the table in front of him, Wesley fingered the stem of his wineglass. Angel sat back down, feeling uncomfortable and awkward like he hadn't since he was a young lad in Ireland fumbling through his first sexual encounter with a girl. While Angel sat there thinking dire thoughts about his maleness, Wesley shifted uncomfortably on his chair and then stood up and quickly walked away from the table. Before Angel could react, Wes turned around and came back to stand next to him.

Angel didn't want to look up, afraid he'd find himself searching for signs of a similar attraction in Wesley's eyes. He could no longer deny that he felt something. He regretted never having told Doyle how he felt about him. An opportunity lost forever. The sorrow congealed into a familiar cold lump in his chest. He couldn't compare this unexpected lust with the love he had felt for Doyle, but neither could he let it pass without saying something. He owed it to Doyle's memory to take a few chances. His friend had wanted him to reach out and get involved in people's lives. Just when he decided maybe he would try it by starting with this tentative connection, Wesley said, speaking in a strangled voice, "Angel. Please look at me."

Dragging his gaze upwards, Angel turned his head and found his face captured by two warm hands with very long fingers. Wesley leaned down and placed a firm kiss on Angel's lips. Their eyes met, Angel saw genuine fear mixed with desire in Wesley's, and they both jerked apart. Suddenly Wesley was way over there by the couch and Angel stood with his back against the stove.

"Okay. I don't know what's happening here..." he began.

"I assure you, I did not plan this..." Wesley said at the same time.

They both fell silent.

They stared at each other across the room.

Angel heard himself say, "No one needs to know about this," as he stalked over to the other man.

Wesley met him partway, grabbing at his shoulders and trying to kiss him even as Angel reached out and pulled the ex-Watcher up against him. Their mouths collided and Wesley whimpered at the bruising contact but did not pull away. Rather it was the opposite. Wesley pressed against Angel's leg, grinding his own erection into the hard flesh and muscle.

"Couch?" he asked between kisses.

"Screw the couch," Angel growled, manuevering him towards the bed.

"I'd rather screw you," was Wes's honest response.

Clothing was quickly shed, Wesley's glasses flying off in the process, but Angel caught them before they hit the floor and set them aside where they wouldn't be damaged. It was the only moment in their frantic dance when they slowed long enough to give themselves an out if they wanted it. Neither of them even considered it.

Soon they were naked and on the bed, writhing together in a tangle of long limbs. Desperate to complete the act, to ease the ache in his groin, Angel held Wesley down on the bed. The other man fought back with surprising strength -- not enough to free himself, but enough to let Angel know he wasn't the wuss he often appeared to be. They struggled and wrestled, thrusting against each other. Fascinated by the pulse in Wesley's neck, Angel wanted to lower his mouth and suck on the throbbing vein. Feeling that Wesley might react badly, he restrained that particular urge while continuing to hump against him. Angel held back long enough to see Wesley finally give in to his needs. The other man squeezed his eyes shut and shuddered violently. Before he even started to come down, Angel followed and let himself fall over the edge.

He sagged on shaky arms and rolled over to the side. They lay next to each other breathing hard. Angel glanced over at his bedmate. Wesley was covered in a fine sweat.

"Well."

"Yeah."

"I should..."

"Stay."

Wesley turned to look at the vampire. "Yes?"

"At least until morning. It's too dangerous out there after dark."

"I assure you, I can take care of myself." There was a spark of ire in his words.

Angel smiled in captitulation. "Yeah, I think maybe you can." Then he pulled a blanket up over them both, threw an arm over Wesley's waist and fell asleep. After a moment, Wesley rolled onto his side with his backside tucked firmly against the vampire's stomach and he also drifted into slumber.

~ end ~