Wesley squirmed self-consciously and tugged at his blindfold. How had Angel talked him into this?

"I feel ridiculous," Wesley said.

"Patience," Angel said, voice low and laced with amusement. Wesley imagined that his mouth was curled into a satisfied little half-smile. Berk.

"Hmm," Welsey said. "I always suspected that you would snap someday. I just didn't expect it to be over dessert. Why did I believe you when you said this was a good idea?"

A cool hand brushed across his shoulders and slipped down his shirt. Wesley breathed in sharply as his left nipple was roughly tweaked, then let out a soft moan as fingers ran through his chest hair and came to rest over his heart.

"Because it is a good idea," Angel murmured into his ear. His hand moved again, closing lightly around his throat. Wesley heard Angel shift behind him, felt him pressing against Wesley's back as he leant forward. The hand moved again, the thumb resting behind his jaw, fingertips touching his lips.

Wesley relaxed into Angel's touch. He allowed his head to be tilted slightly back, his mouth to be guided open. A glass was brought to his lips. Wesley hesitated as another wave of self-consciousness struck him. He was about to reach up and remove the blindfold when the thumb behind his jaw began to move in an unexpectedly comforting manner, and he found himself giving in to the moment. The glass tipped, spilling drops of wine onto his tongue.

Wesley savored the taste, then swallowed.

"Good?" Angel asked.

"Sweet," Wesley said, licking his lips. "Reisling?"

"Mm hmm," Angel said. Again Wesley felt him shift. The fingers along his jaw pressed, guiding him to turn his head.

"My turn now," Angel said, leaning close. Angel's lips brushed across Wesley's cheek before reaching his lips. They kissed eagerly, tongues meeting for a moment as Angel tasted the traces of wine in Wesley's mouth.

Wesley felt a tug at his shirt, and the tickle of air across his chest. Angel had undone a single button.

"That's one," said Angel, tracing his finger along the exposed skin. "Guess right again, and I'll go further."

"I thought vampires were supposed to be impulsive," Wesley protested. "Free of society's constraints, taking their gratification at an instant."

Angel snickered. "I'm already taking mine. You're the one who has to wait." Angel kissed his way down Wesley's throat and around his neck until he was positioned behind him once more.

Again Wesley felt fingers guiding him to open, and again a glass was pressed to his lips. The drops on his tongue weren't enough this time; he sought more, but the glass moved away. Wesley moaned in frustration.

"Any guesses?" Angel asked, dropping light kisses on his neck.

"Couldn't tell. I need more."

"That's too bad." Angel teased at the second button, but left it as it was. "Good thing we have all those bottles to try."

"I should never have let you near my father's wine cellar," Wesley said. "Only you could turn my inheritance into torture."

"The best kind," Angel said. A comforting hand stroked down Wesley's arm, drawing him away from the thoughts that had edged into his mind. Wesley felt his frustration fade as he relaxed into Angel's arms.

"Let's try another," Wesley said. "And no cheating this time."

Wesley sipped, eager to win another reward. They had only five more to go until they reached his button-fly jeans.