Twenty one.

That was how old he’d been when he cradled her in his arms as a new born.

Fortunate.

That was how he’d felt holding her, the baby daughter of the man he considered older brother and mentor.

Eighteen.

Was how old she had just turned.

Bombshell.

Was the word of choice everyone used to describe her.

Thirty nine.

The birthday at which he realised he was done for.

~

‘I’m so sorry Mr. Summers. There was nothing the doctors could do.’

‘God.’

Bringing his hand to his brow, Liam Summers closed his eyes in resign as he took in the news of his.

‘How did the- Was there pain?’

‘No sir. The medications would have numbed them significantly.’

‘Can I see them?’

‘Of course sir, just this way.’

As though in a trance, he followed the young nurse down the hospital corridor where she led him into private room where the body of his beloved lay beneath a sheet. Pulling it back he leant forward to place a kiss on her forehead, struggling to hold back a sob. He remained still for just a moment, taking consolation in the familiar scent and softness of her skin. Hearing the nurse leaving to give him some peace, he quickly straightened.

‘Wait, nurse. The- the baby, why isn’t …I’d like to see…Was it a girl?’

Glancing down at the lifeless form before him, he gently cleared his throat.

‘We hoped it’d be a girl.’

The nurse’s brow furrowed for a moment before a small smile coloured her features.

‘Yes sir, you have a little girl. I was just about to bring her to you; she’s in the incubation ward. This is hardly the pl-’

Shaking his head in confusion, he looked with wonder at the nurse before him.

‘Girl? You mean she’s alive?’

‘Yes Mr. Summers. There were some complications but I believe she’s stablised now. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring her to you earlier. If you return to maternity waiting area I can have her brought out to you.’

Acknowledging the man’s nod, she gestured to the door before adding,

‘She’s waiting for you.’

~

Seeing the silhouette of his best mate returning to the waiting area, William Pratt rose from his seat in anticipation. He knew Darla’s pregnancy had been riddled with complications, but the lass he had grown to know was a fighter. Yet the expression he saw etched on Liam’s face phased him somewhat. But as the eyes of his friend raised to meet his, he knew the impossible had happened. He remained silent.

‘Will, she—she’s gone. Didn’t make it.’

Dropping his head in disbelief, he placed a comforting hand on Liam’s arm.

‘She was a special one. I’m sorry.’

But just as William was about to ask about the child, the young nurse spoke up,

‘Mr. Summers? Here she is. Your little girl. Congratulations.’

Offering the baby carefully to her father, she looked tentatively from his shaking arms to watering eyes.

‘Perhaps you should sit down.’

Feeling completely immobile in amazement and devastation, he turned to the young man beside him, gesturing for William to hold his baby daughter. William’s large blue eyes widened even further as he took in the sight of the new blonde cherub, gasping in pleasant surprise when her fragile eye lids flicked open to reveal deep emerald green eyes.
For a large portion of his life, William had surrounded himself with the dark and dangerous, but at this time he had never felt so fortunate that his path had taken the turn it had.

‘Beautiful, Liam. She’s perfect.’

~
Perfect.

He thought as he watched her descend the steps in a pair of killer black stiletto heels. Flicking back a structured, golden curl she stood at the base of the staircase with her hands behind her back.

‘So, what do you think?’

William took in the sight of her slim form and the figure hugging, mid-thigh, lace cream dress which covered it. Usually he prided himself on his ability to articulate his thoughts into words, but for once he didn’t seem to be able to think of any suitable.

Watching in amusement as her best friend/pretend big brother opened and closed his mouth; she felt a smirk begin to tinge her lips.

‘Hm, I take you approve?’

Taking a step closer to him, she gave him a sweeping glance from foot to head.

‘But I must say…I certainly approve.’

He shyly ducked his head, running a hand through his platinum hair.

‘Buffy. You- you look…breath-taking. So, so beautiful. I’m sorry- I just…I don’t. Amazing, love. Your mum would be so proud. I know it.’

She blinked at his mention of her mother before smiling softly and taking his elbow.

‘Thanks, Will. Come on, they told us to take our time getting there, but I don’t think they meant for us to be this late!’

~

‘HIP-HIP HOORAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUFFY!’
The Summers family and friends shouted over the thudding club music in the background.

William stood beside Liam, enchanted by the vision of a smiling Buffy illuminated by the soft glow of the eighteen candles which decorated the cake. Watching as she bent forward gracefully, pulling her blonde locks to one side to blow out the flames, he was pulled out of his revelry as he registered a sigh from the man next to him. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned. The two men shared an understanding look of pride and wonder over the now, young woman, who had brought such light to their lives. Liam raised his glass.

‘To family?’

‘One like no other.’

Clink.

~

Seated away from the party at the emptiest spot of the bar she could find, Buffy stared down into the martini glass on the bar top in front of her. Eighteen. The last few months leading to her birthday and legally declared freedom had felt so painfully slow she had actually began to wonder if the day would ever come at all. Running the toothpick through salt which decorated the rim of the glass, she smiled recalling the image of her dad and William toasting when they thought she had been preoccupied candle-blowing. The two most important people in her life, they had always tried their hardest to make sure her childhood would be a fruitful one where she wouldn’t be too pained by the absence of her mother. But that didn’t mean that they completely overlooked her. The stories of her mother were amongst her most favourite of their family tales, and ones that she certainly appreciated hearing as she had grown. She hoped that she would be able to shape herself to take on some of her mother’s characteristics, the generosity she had heard so much about. Generosity. That was something that ran in their little ‘family’.
It was what had brought her dad and William together in the first place, or so she had gathered from the little she had been told.

When you’re a big girl Buffy. When you’re older, we’ll tell you everything.
It had been the same gramophone reply every time she’d asked. She chuckled quietly to herself. Big girl. If I’m not big enough now, I’ll never find out. And if they had told me before I’d gotten ‘big’ then maybe I wouldn’t be getting constantly distracted thinking about those sky-blue eyes and cheekbones, that tendon which bulges when he clenches his jaw, and the way the muscles and veins in his forearms twist when he —

‘You know… usually the guest of honour is supposed to out there…being honoured…by the guests.’

Shaken violently from her thoughts she exclaimed,
‘Oh! Jeez Spike! You know I hate it when you do that! Urg!’

With a laugh he took a seat on the bar stool next to her.
‘Sorry, love. Couldn’t resist I guess, you looked so…far off, and people were wondering where you’d—did you just call me Spike? How the hell did you hear about that name?’

‘Dad, actually. He slipped up a couple a times when we were talking about you. It’s a cool name, very…punk rocker,’ she added with a conclusive nod and cheeky grin.

‘You don’t know the half of it,’ he exhaled with a tilt of his head, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile.

‘And it matches the hair I suppose. You should think about adding some eye-liner with tha—hey! Cut it out!’ she giggled as she dodged his playful punches.

‘Well pet, I’m glad you can get such a good laugh out of it,’ he said reaching over to pull her martini glass towards him. ‘Don’t mind do you?’

‘Uh, yes I do actually! Get your own!’ She tried slapping away the hand that grasped her wrist and held her at bay, giving up her struggle and swallowing hard as she watched his tongue dart out to sample her drink.

Giving her a smug look over the rim of the glass he replied, ‘Is technically mine love, I did pay for it after all.’

Laughing Buffy leaned over to give him a peck on a marble sculpted cheekbone,
‘I know, thank you for tonight Will. I haven’t thanked you yet.’

Shrugging he said, ‘Hardly the best present though. You never told me what you wanted in terms of the conventional wrapped-with-ribbon present.’

‘There’s nothing, really. This is perfect.’

With a sigh of content, Buffy again began playing with the abandoned toothpick as her previous thoughts returned to her and her smile slowly faded.
‘On second thought…but, no, no it still doesn’t fall under the wrapped-with ribbon category.’

‘You name it love, anything.’

Considering the blonde before her, she turned so she would be properly facing him.
‘Your story.’

‘Oh. Maybe not so anything.’

He’d hoped against all hope that she’d not raise the question about his past, dubious as it was. He wasn’t even fully aware of the reason why he was so uncomfortable with revealing his past to her. He had already told her everything else about himself. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he fought against the thrall of her eyes, wide with frustration tinged with a touch of hope.

‘What?! Oh Will, come on! You have got to be kidding me. My God, how much longer to I have to wait? Did you and dad actually plan to tell me ever?’
She jumped down from the stool in a huff and turned away, pouting, her irritation ebbing off her in waves.

‘Buff- sweetheart. Wait. Look, I’ll- I guess…there’s no harm in telling you a bit. But, just for a while, let’s just keep what I have to say between ourselves yeah?’

At this she turned back to him, brow furrowed before she fully registered his consent. Her delicate features lit up with a smile,
‘You mean, like a secret? Sure!’

~

Arm in arm, the blonde duo made their way up to the nightclub's open air balcony, the quiet, dark, secluded venue ideal for narrative which was about to be revealed. On stepping outside, they felt the chilly night breeze hit them immediately. As they made their way to a little corner of the balcony, William removed his jacket to drape around Buffy's shoulders. Standing behind her, he casually wrapped his arms around her waist, shielding her from the cold. Buffy leaned back into his chest. While a significant portion of her felt completely comfortable and comforted by his embrace, the emerging woman in her couldn't help but revel in the, albeit unintentional, intimacy of their position. She sighed in content and closed her eyes. He spoke in a deep, transfixing voice,

‘From the beginning?'

‘Yes Mr. Pratt, from the beginning.'

~

‘England, it would have just turned1975. My father; he died.'

Buffy's eyes opened wide at this. It was the first time she'd heard of his either of his parents; for some reason she'd never really paid them much thought. She placed a hand over his which rested clasped against her abdomen and spoke softly,

‘So young, you were just four.'

He shifted at her touch, finding it soothing as he delved deep into his past and encountered memories which he had worked so hard to stop from resurfacing. He found it easier than he had thought it would be; maybe it was because he was doing it of his own free will. Then again, maybe it was because he was doing it for her.

‘Well, later on I learnt that "died" was just codeword for "ran off with another woman". So that just left the three of us.'

‘Three?'

‘Yeah pet. Me, Mother and big brother; seventeen at the time, never understood the age difference between us. Had an older sister too come think of it, but she'd gone off to work before the old man buggered off. She and I never met,' he scoffed then added, ‘We'd all figured we'd never see her again.'

Buffy turned her head to him and looked up, ‘What were their names? Your brother and sister.'

‘Edward and Rosie. Don't remember much after that though. I turned six and Edward ran off too. Huh. And then there were two. I guess I should have told you before...but this isn't the happiest of stories...sure you want me to keep going luv?'

‘Mm-hm, keep going. Don't stop.'

‘Right...well, she was something, my mother. She was...uh, everything a mother should be. Looked out for me, kept me out of trouble...taught me things- the hard way, but it was always for the best. Always felt that I hadn't done enough to deserve her; she was a nice lady. So it was just the two of us, until I was fifteen. I never expected her to just stay alone, you know? I tried to look after her as best I could, but I was young. There was only so much I could do. But until then, it'd been like a perfect life with just us. Still, I'd always thought she should've had someone who'd look after her like she should have been looked after.'

William looked down at the petite blonde resting in his arms. She deserves someone who'd look after her like she ought to be looked after. He watched as the wind blew a wisp of hair across the exposed skin of her upper chest and took in the contented expression on her delicate features. So trusting. He was shaken from his thoughts when he heard her whisper,

‘Did she find someone?'

‘Lawson, don't even know how they met. He was like how our life had been till he came into it; perfect. On the outside at least. But God he was rough; first rate son of a bitch. Mother never knew the worst of it of course. He hid it completely, just like the smooth bastard he was.'

Leaning against his chest, Buffy felt it immediately when William's heart beat began to race in anger at the thought of this Lawson. She tried subtly to calm him, stroking the skin on the back of his hand with her thumb. For a split second she considered suggesting that he stop, but the pure tension and venom in his voice told her to do otherwise; she'd never heard him like this before. So open. So trusting. He'd stop himself if he felt he was revealing too much, right?

‘Few months later he'd moved in with us. The "perfect partner" neighbours had called him, even I have to agree; he was good to her. He'd always been indifferent with me, until about six months later. He picked me up from school on a Friday I remember. I'd just turned 16 and he told me he'd show me the world. And it was a world. Gangs, drugs, fights, illegal trading of all sorts, women. Everything you could possibly do underground...he showed me.'

‘I don't- I don't understand. When you say he "showed" you, you don't mean...you didn't actually...he didn't make you do those things, did he? Didn't you tell your mother?'

William looked down at Buffy with a small, regretful smile on his lips; he took one hand out from under hers and placed it down again covering hers,

‘I'm sorry luv, I guess this is why I'd never been too keen to tell you all this. Afraid it might...change the way you see me. The things I'd done.'

‘Why would this change anything, Will? It's not like you went out and looked to get involved in these things-‘

At this he turned his head, breaking their shared gaze and spoke softly,

‘The things I would do.'

Neither of them knew how long the pause that followed lasted before William spoke again in a low and unusually dangerous tone,

‘Now, are you sure you want me to keep going?'

Buffy looked out into twinkling, light-decorated skyline before them; she didn't like where this was going, but-

‘Yes.'

~

‘He made me promise not to tell; threatened me, beatings and such. He said he'd do her something horrible if I told anyone. Couldn't let that happen, so I kept my mouth shut. He was a part of an underground ring that organised fights, called themselves The Immortals. These fights, hundreds and thousands of dollars passed through those doors every night of every week. There was so much money. The people who watched them and made the bets, and even the guys who fought, they were involved in drugs, weapons; it was all connected. The fight clubs were just where they hung out together.'

‘You mean like...Brad Pitt Fight Club? I never could picture people doing that in real life.'

Looking down at her again, he chuckled,‘Something like that, just... a bit worse. They did animal fights too; dogs, snakes, cock fights.'

‘Wait, I'm still lost. You said they had money, right? If this guy was so loaded, why did he need to get involved with your family?'

‘Cover story, pet. He was pretty high ranking among The Immortals. The gang had a history, been active for years. From what I learnt, the big seats had been passed down; always to the oldest child; didn't matter if it was girl or boy. Kept it all in the family, that's why they'd called themselves Immortals; been able to keep out of the authorities' mitts for generations. But, being so old, they'd obviously made a name for themselves and gotten more careless as time passed. Police and investigators, they started narrowing in. He didn't have his own family, so it was easy to find another life, a respectable one where he could disguise himself to hide his...nighttime...activities. Mother and I, we were just the perfect double life for him. An abandoned woman for him to rescue...'

Buffy nodded in understanding,‘And a son, who could take his place.'

‘Right. So I went with him; to the fights, met guys from other gangs. He made arrangements with them for me to help out with deals, heists, cover ups. During that time, that's when I became Spike. Made quite the name for myself too...but it was just to protect her. Couple of years passed, and his alter ego started to make a show at home. At first it was just grabbing, pushin' her around. I took him aside, told him he was outta line, to back off. Then the bruises got darker, more obvious. He'd done it as punishment, so I got back at him, all those years hanging round the mobs...they'd changed me.'

A shiver ran through her spine and she grasped one of his hands in a reflex. She bit her bottom lip, trying to calm her breathing. It was fear.

‘I'd learnt things. So I screwed up some of his deals. Gave people different information, told his enemies how to play him over, even roughed up some guys...just to make sure he'd suffer. Round about that time, I find out that he'd got himself some other woman half his age on the side. I figured I'd make her my next target, take her from him. When I saw her, I knew there was something...We were in a club, she saw me first. She came onto me. Christ, we were shameless. I think about the things we would ha-'

William heard his voice crack with emotion and he struggled feeling his breath grow labored. He'd planned just to tell her the vaguest outline, get it all over and done with. But everything was spilling out. This would change everything; she'd never look at him the same way. She'd be disgusted, he just knew it. But at the same time, he felt it was right; telling her these things, like she had a right to know.

‘Will? It's okay. You don't have to- if it's too hard for you to say.'

Suddenly, as if from far away, he heard himself speak, ‘She had this tattoo. It was an ‘R' in that olden day English calligraphy.'

‘R?'

‘Rosie, Buff. My sister.'

~

Buffy felt her throat close,‘Wha- what happened then?'

‘Remember, when you were younger, you always used to ask me how I got the scar on my eyebrow?'

‘Yeah, you told me you were careless with a kitchen knife,' she let out a little chuckle towards the end, ‘I never believed you.'

‘Hmm, well it was partly true. Just not in the way you might think.' Buffy turned to look up at him again, a questioning expression on her features which encouraged him to continue.

‘I-uh...Lawson, a few days after, I took him into one of the backrooms of the fight club. I threatened him. Told him to pack off- to leave my mother and my sister. See, somehow in those years I'd managed to make a reputation for myself among the gangs with carrying out jobs. I'd met all the big heads, got to know them. In that world you can do anything if you've got no enemies. Anyway, I had him against a wall...managed to scar him pretty bad at least, probably would have killed him but we were interrupted. He grabbed the knife and managed to give to me this.'

He paused, unsure of what next to tell her.

‘It wasn't long after that I met your dad. In hospital actually, he was uh...visiting a friend who introduced him to your mum. Huh, hospitals...'

William broke off, suddenly recalling the memory of eighteen years ago when he'd first held Buffy. And here they were, all those years later. She was in his arms again. It was strange, how these things happened. Then he noticed those beautiful emerald eyes looking up at time. He remembered when she'd first opened her eyes as a baby.

Buffy shook his arm gently,‘And then?...Will? William? What about hospitals?'

‘Huh? Oh, sorry pet. Memory lane, you know how it is. Um, well that was when Mother was in hospital. I didn't know why she'd been admitted, but when I arrived at the hospital I saw him. That bastard at her bedside, it was just appearances for him. We kinda roughed it out in the car park after, huh, sent him right back inside to intensive care. But it was when I was visiting Mother, I went every day for three months and during that time was when I got to know your dad. We'd see each other down at the cafeteria, twice a week for two and a half months; and we just started talking. He was only a humble legal clerk back then, but a good man I could tell. About a month in, he told me he'd seen me...that day in the car park. And he told me...he said, he knew it wasn't his business but that I should look after myself. If not for myself, then for Mother. Even when I think about it now, I don't know why I listened to him. It just felt right. I started cleaning up my act...eased out of the fight scene and hadn't seen Lawson for a good few weeks. Everything was on the up.'

As if he'd suddenly caught up with himself, William realised the juncture he had reached in his story and he felt his embrace around Buffy tightening protectively. Good things didn't happen to the women in his story. His mother, Rosie, even Darla. They always ended up hurt or dea- he clenched his jaw. No. He exhaled. He always finished things, he'd finish the story.

‘Then she died. I was lost, no purpose. No reason to look after myself. So I went back to the one thing I knew, it was like I'd never been away. I made more deals and money in those months than I'd done in those first few years all put together. Then one night in a club, he was back. He'd found out about how I'd sabotaged so many of his jobs. We fought, of course. I didn't know she'd been there-she pushed him away, tried to help me stand up. She looked so much like Mother in that moment, Rosie. She said she was sorry. I told her to get to safety, then she fell into my arms. I could feel... on my hands...her bl-he'd slashed at her back. I heard someone yell for an ambulance, they took her from me. Didn't want to let her go, she told me she loved me, she said she was sorry.'

Buffy bit her bottom lip, she could feel the lump building in her throat, tears welling in her eyes. It was all so much. His story had touched her, and he had revealed so much about himself such a small length of time. She was overwhelmed.

‘Next thing I know, you dad's sitting next to my hospital bed. All the mistakes that I realised I've made hurt more than the broken ribs, broken arm... he visits every day, offers me a place to stay. A chance to start ov-'

All of a sudden he felt her small body shake violently in a shudder and he heard her release an uneven breath.

‘Buffy? Are you-'

She dropped her head, her body heaving with a sob. Brow furrowed he reached to turn her face to meet his and caught his breath at her teary eyes. When a single tear spilled onto her cheek he knew he'd never seen anything more beautiful. Buffy felt her lips part as she struggled to breathe normally, she felt her heart race as she caught a glimpse of his tongue dart out to moisten his lips.

Realizing that he'd tenderly brushed away her tears, she repeated his action and gasped when his gaze fell to her lips. The blonde duo felt the tension crackling between them like a bomb seconds from detonating. It exploded and they reach out to taste the forbidden. Buffy was surprised hearing her own gentle moan reach her ears before she realised in pure satisfaction that Will has done the same, his tongue swiping the seam of her lips before brushing against hers. The protective grip he had around her waist pulled at her heart. A burst of flames erupted from the tops of the water towers which lined the river bank before them. Midnight. And as if realizing the great, big boundary lined with neon signs flashing ‘DO NOT CROSS', which they had gone and crossed, they broke apart.

Buffy stepped shakily out his embrace, her hand raised to her mouth in a lustful shock. She quickly went to make her way back inside when she saw William close his eyes and turn away with a look of sadness, confusion and desire on his handsome features. Turning back to him, she called to him quietly but clearly,

‘Will?'

He jumped at this but turned anxious to see her reaction.

‘Happy Birthday.'

~

to be continued...

Somehow in the space of only an hour or two, Buffy had managed to transform herself from a perfect example of sobriety to complete leglessness. And this was evident to no one more than her father who struggled to retrieve his eighteen year old from the car and carry her into their home.

‘You know, I get that you’re all legal aged and whatnot, but I had hoped you wouldn’t take advantage of that straightaway. And definitely not this way,’ Liam spoke as he tried to reach his keys whilst trying to arrange a waking Buffy in his arms.

She tightened her embrace around him and buried her face in the nook between his neck and shoulder inhaling his scent,‘Mmm, Daddy. Buffy love Daddy.’

‘And she’s still really a little baby girl, knows how to soften her father’s heart. Hmm, I guess I won’t have to worry about getting that other car and I can call up the credit card company and tell them to cancel—’

At this Buffy groaned her complaint and began to squirm more, making it hard for a chuckling Liam to open the door. He exhaled a large sigh of relief hearing William come up behind him.

‘Need a hand there mate?’

‘Yeah, could you take her?’

William tried his hardest to look in any other direction as Liam dropped Buffy in her somewhat lacking-in-fabric dress in his arms and they stumbled through the front door. He was grateful for the distraction from her toned legs when Liam spoke,

‘Look, Will, it’s pretty late. You should stay with us tonight. Buffy made up the guest room and then tomorrow morning…well, later this morning we can have you a birthday breakfast of some kind. See, I hadn’t forgotten!’

William laughed grateful for the offer, but his reply was stopped when he felt Buffy stirring in his arms, obviously disorientated to her prone position more than a meter above the ground. He tried to make his way quickly to the living room but her jerking movements made it near impossible. The dining room was closer.

‘Hey Buff- you’re alright. Shh, just relax sweetheart.’

He deposited her on the nearest surface he could find, the dining table. He almost immediately regretted his decision in doing so. She was a visual feast, her already short dress had ridden up even further on one side revealing the skin of a sun-kissed thigh. Her hair not alltogether unpleasantly mussed. Raising one hand to her forehead, she slammed the other down on the surface beside her, her legs parting just slightly to stable herself. And that pout. He was positive he would have groaned out loud had she not spoken,

‘I don’t feel so good.’

‘I’d be worried if you did, pet…and I think it’s time for bed.’

‘Bed, mmm…’ She gave a tired nod and swayed as she struggled to right herself, one arm flying sideways and knocking the flower vase to the ground.

‘Buffy Anne Summers! You are so never drinking ever again. Just like your mother, one sip and she was off with the fairies. I don’t think we can afford the upkeep if this level of destruction is what we can expect every time you have a martini.’

Liam looked around at the various objects strewn across the table, on the floor and at his daughter clearly unable to support herself to get down from the table top onto the ground in one standing piece. William’s brow raised in amusement as he watched his friend run a flustered hand through his untamable hair.

‘Will...could you, er…while I…um—’

‘You want me put her to bed?’

The conscious part of Buffy instantly favoured this plan, and she slurred with arms outstretched,‘Buffy bed. Willie take Buffy. Yep, Willie carry Buffy.’

‘Please. And try to make sure she doesn’t break anything else on the way.’

‘Done, sir,’ he said as he bundled her in his arms and made his way up the stairs, calling his goodnight to Liam on the way.

Buffy in his arms and on his way to her bedroom. Definitely not what he'd had in mind for the early morning hours of his birthday. So, he’d tuck her under the covers and retire to his own room. No, he’d have to remove her shoes first, he supposed he should also—no! There’d be removal of nothing else. He’d cover her and he’d smooth back her hair. Then he’d leave. The voice in his head told him this’d be the challenge of a life time.

~

In a flash he saw her lace dress, torn and lying discarded on the rug which lined the hallway.

He heard a clattering, muffled moans, whispers.

‘Don’t stop.’

He saw the dining room, the vase which usually sat on the table’s centre shattered on the ground.

In a flash he saw one hand woven amongst short platinum blonde hair, the other gripping a straining bicep, nails biting into skin.

He saw lips fused in a passionate kiss.

In a flash he saw a forearm wrap around a waist, pulling it closer, tighter.

He saw the lips break apart in a simultaneous gasp.

He heard her voice, soft and rasping, desperate.

‘Don’t stop.’

In a flash he saw her head thrown back in pleasure, blonde tresses flying, lips parted in a silent scream and eyes wide open; bright green.

Everything was still so unclear.

He heard her husky cry,

William!

He realised,

Buffy.

Sitting up suddenly, body jerking. William woke.

~

Turning his head to the bedside table, the digital numbers on the clock flashed at him; 7.39am. Thirty-nine years and about 40 minutes ago, he’d been born. Catching sight of the photo of Liam, Buffy and himself, images of his dream flashed before his eyes and he looked down with a groan at the semi-tented sheet at his groin.


Bollocks.

Bathroom.

Now.

On entering the bathroom, he looked around in confusion. Buffy’s things. Then he remembered the plumbing problems in her own bathroom which had seen her since move into the guest bathroom. He couldn’t—not when she—in the same room. He’d try a cold shower first.

~

to be continued...

‘Here you go, best wishes, Will. From me and Buffy.’

Liam placed his birthday presents on the table next to the humongous plate of pancakes. William’s eyes grew wide at the four packages before him,

‘Um Liam…you do remember me telling you not to get me anything right?’

‘Ah! You know me, tend not to listen to the ridiculous things people say. Besides, you’ve done so much for us this past year, helping out with Buffy and everything. And I should probably go and wake her up…it’s pretty much lunchtime.’

‘Oh leave her for a while longer, stuck my head in an hour ago, she’s out cold. But thanks man. You really didn’t have to.’

‘Yeah, well, birthday shopping with that girl’s a nightmare; to be avoided at all costs. Anyway, you should go ahead and open those three. Probably best to leave that one so that you can open it with her; I’m sure she’d want that.’

William sat staring ahead at his best friend, a dozen thoughts whirling through his guilt-ridden mind. Once again he was faced with Liam’s generosity, granted he’d keep his kiss with Buffy within his trove of inner most secrets, but the least he could do was tell him that he’d revealed his story to his daughter. The story they had agreed to tell her together almost 15 years ago.

Liam put a forkful of pancake and berries into his mouth,

‘Go ahead, open them!’

He reached for the card which balanced precariously on the pyramid of presents, recognising Buffy’s bubbly cursive.



To the bestest, most dearest and fake-blondest William in the whole wide world,

Happy Happy Birthday!

Thank you so much for helping me out with school and everything this year; I'll owe you forever! Dad and I both hope that you'll have a fantabulous and excitement filled birthday and that you'll enjoy your presents!

Love you lots, Buffy & Liam xoxo.


He gave Liam a smile as he placed her card to one side and pulled the nearest parcel to him. Removing the wrapping paper he let out a laugh as a box of hair bleach revealed itself and he ran a hand through his chemically induced blonde curls with growing dark roots.

‘You know Buffy when it comes to appearances!’ Liam chuckled when he lifted a cup of coffee to his lips and indicated to the pile of presents, ‘You’ll love the one under that.’

Opening the wrapping, William instantly recognised the glaring font which covered the box which encased his next present.

‘Passions: Complete Seasons. Aw man, you know me too well.’

‘Now with that next small one…we’re not encouraging you or anything. But we both now how you like to play around with it when you’re bored.’

With a look of confusion and curiosity William retrieved a velvet box from the gift bag, opening it to reveal a slick, silver Zippo lighter. Smile spreading across his face, he ran the tip of his finger across the delicate engraving which read,

Pratt of the Summers.

Looking up at Liam, the two friends let out a burst of laughter sharing their little family joke; a steady thumping down the stairs alerting them to Buffy’s approach. Walking somewhat unstably she pushed her wavy locks from her face and crossed her arms, pout in full force.

‘Buffy.’

‘As if you opened them without me!’

‘Afternoon to you too princess, don’t worry, we left the most important one.’

Liam offered his arms towards his daughter who sat herself down in his lap, snuggling up to her father much like she had in the early hours of the morning. Trying to hold back a yawn she said quietly,

‘I’ll have it you don’t want it.’

That in mind, William picked up the widest and largest of all his gifts. He felt a raised ridge along the sides. His lips parted in utter pleasant surprise at the picture which lay beneath the wrapping paper and a protective sheet of glass.

‘Where did you find this?’

In the photo, a younger William lay napping on the Summers’ living room couch, resting against his chest, a ten-year old Buffy. One of his hands rested protectively on her back, she hugged his other arm, a contented smile playing across her features. A soft beam of sunlight filtered through the curtain behind them, adding a warm glow to the captured scene.

‘I was just going through this box of stuff when I found all these old negatives. They’re heaps more, but this was my favourite so I went and got it printed. I did extra touch ups and everything!’ she added with a proud but tired grin.

‘I love it, pet. Thank you.’

Feeling his brotherly instincts take over, he offered his arms to her. He and Liam shared a smile of mutual understanding as he stroked Buffy’s hair and hugged her. When she heard her father rise from the table and head to the kitchen, she turned in William’s arms and looked down at the photograph on the table. Then, more to herself than to the man whose lap she occupied she whispered,

‘I wish things could be that simple again.’

~

Standing side by side in the kitchen, the two men prepared a simple meal which would be William’s birthday dinner. Exhausted from the frivolities of the previous night, they prepared the ingredients in a companionable silence until they were shaken by splash which signaled Buffy’s dive into the pool. Watching her through the kitchen window, he thought for a moment before turning to Liam and clearing his throat,

‘I uh…had a talk with Buffy last night.’

‘Oh yeah, I saw you. Just before midnight I saw you both outside.’

Midnight? Startled and fearful that their moment had been observed, William tried to hide his shock, failing to hear that Liam had continued talking.

‘So what did you talk about? Will?’

‘Well, I told her…I told her…about me. My story, I’m sorry I know that we’d agreed to tell her together. But she just brought it up and she got kind of…angry that I wouldn’t say anything. So I…told her…?’

Expression openly displaying his concern, William quickly relaxed when Liam simply shrugged and went back to violently stuffing a chicken, a smile playing on his lips.

‘Nah, don’t be sorry, I knew that agreement’d never hold up. Not with Buffy being…as persuasive as she is. She’d waited long enough anyhow. How’d you explain it all at the end? How’d she react?’


At the end we kind of made out then she walked away like nothing had happened.


‘It upset her…she cried a bit. But I’d explained my situation to her and everything. Actually she took it all pretty well.’


‘Yeah, that’s Buffy alright, always the adult…but the little girl at the same time. It’s pretty impressive. You know, when she was two years old, three…I always used to think about her being a teenager and having pimply hormone-controlled boyfriends and all those types of dramas. And then I’d have nightmares about having to give her the talk about the ‘birds and the bees’ you know? But she’s so…independent. Detached almost, sometimes I wonder if Darla was stil—if she’d be the same. I’m worried university’ll take her further away from me.’

‘She chose UCLA didn’t she? She loves it here at home with you more than you know. And you know how much she wanted to go over to New York. There’s a lot in her that you should be so proud of…’

He trailed off, mesmerized as he watched Buffy climb out of the pool, her body gracefully folded over as she bent to retrieve her towel. His gaze followed the rivets of water droplets which travelled down her neck, chest and in the dip of her navel before vanishing in the waistband of the bottom piece of her bikini. Gulping, he turned from the window and went to take a large mouthful of his drink.

One minute he looked at her like his baby sister and the next she was his baby…baby. God he was lost.

~

to be continued...

‘That’s not how I remember it! As I recall, there was that Anya girl who’d always manage to worm the topic of sleeping with you into any conversation. Everyone said it was her talent!’ Liam laughed as the family of three shared their final meal for the day.

William ducked his head in embarrassment, and ran a hand down the back of his neck before reaching for a crumpled napkin to throw at Liam. Buffy had one hand clutched at her chest while she was bent over her plate of cheesecake laughing and struggling to take a breath.

‘I’m sorry! But I- haha- I’m still back at Harmony dumping you for the guy in the honey-dripping antlers at Halloween! I’d love to meet her! She must be so hilarious! Or! You must have been a really ba-’

‘Oi! Why don’t you try putting up with bread-box Twenty Questions for days on en—stop laughing! And don’t you start and all!’

While she had started to tilt dangerously on her chair, shaking with silent laughter, a large grin which threatened to break into a bout of hysterical laughs started to grow on Liam’s face as he recalled the young William’s relationship mishaps. When the cheerful atmosphere of the Summer’s home was interrupted by the shrill ring of the house phone, William sat back and sighed in defeat as Buffy continued to giggle.

‘I’ll get it. Go easy on him Buff, you’re in the kitchen tonight yeah?’ Liam called over his shoulder as he went to take the call.

Rubbing her aching stomach muscles, she ruffled William’s platinum curls as they began to clear up the table together.

‘How about we bleach up those roots of yours tonight, Will? We can try to make you look presentable for when you go back to work next week…less Backstreet Boy,’ she added with a cheeky grin.

‘Hey! I’m presentable! I won that end of year company award to prove it, didn’t I? “Best Dressed”, first guy to win in 15 years!’

‘Hah! And that’s a good thing! Doesn’t that imply that you’re somewhat…effeminate in your dressing?’

‘…I do not look like a sodding Backstreet Boy!’

Continuing their playful banter as they made their way to the kitchen, they started at Liam’s look of concern and business-like body language. Ending the call, he remained leaning on the counter quickly scribbling down notes,

‘Urgent client meeting, something’s gone wrong. They said it couldn’t wait; I have to go into the office. I probably won’t be back until late afternoon tomorrow. Will, you’re more than welcome to stay again tonight if you want,’ and pointing to the basket of medication in front of him he added, ‘And Buffy, I noticed that your…um…you need to refill your prescription. Don’t forget. And be good.’

Grabbing his car keys, he planted a kiss on his daughter’s forehead and put a comforting hand on William’s shoulder before rushing out of the house. Buffy and William stood beside each other laden with dishes as they registered Liam’s sudden departure. Frowning, she looked down the corridor where her father had been,

‘I’m always good.’

William looked at her incredulously and brushed past her towards the sink with a scoff.

~

‘What’s the name of this club, I can’t remember but I’m alright, I’m alright, just dance!’

Buffy sang enthusiastically as she stood behind him, gloves pulled up to her elbows as she attended to his blonde hair and offending naturally brown roots. Watching her bounce around in the mirror in front of him, he sighed exaggeratedly,

‘Tell me again why I let you pick the music?’

‘Because I’m the one who’s gonna unBackstreet Boy-afy you. And because I got you the best birthday presents ever!’

‘You did at that, pet. You did at that.’

Looking down at the damp, bleached head of hair before her, she looked back at him thoughtfully in the mirror,‘Why did you dye your hair?’

Securing the towel around his shoulders, he turned to her with a chuckle, ‘Oh no, Buff. I think we’ve had enough stories to last us a while. Anyway, I want to see more of those old photos you said that you found.’

Peeling off the gloves, she pulled him up quickly before dragging him downstairs with a squeal of glee.

~

‘Has Dad’s hair always been like that?’ Buffy looked questioningly at William who burst out with a laugh.

‘I’ll take that as a yes then. I just don’t get it. Most days he doesn’t even use much product…it’s like it defies gravity,’ she said in wonder.

Seated cross-legged on the floor, the box and photos scattered around them, William pulled a stack of pictures towards him. Smiling softly at the top image he turned it to her, ‘Mom,’ looking closely at the old print she said, ‘you know, she kind of—I mean, I…kind of, look a bit like her.’

‘Of course you do luv, you are her daughter after all. Everyday you look more like her,’ he then handed her another picture where a laughing Liam carried Darla with her legs around his waist; waves, sand and a setting sun in the background, ‘Beautiful.’

Setting aside her pile of photos, Buffy took this one and moved herself so that she was lying down, her head resting on his thigh. Sighing, she brought the picture closer to her face, studying the whole thing in detail. Will looked down at her, one hand automatically reaching out to stroke the blonde waves which spilled over his leg. Seeing that she was still engrossed with the picture, he allowed himself to take in porcelain perfection of her skin, her gracefully curved lashes. Her lips. He knew they should talk about what had happened the previous night, but he had no idea how to bring it up without avoiding the inevitable awkwardness. Part of him hoped that she had thought of it as a huge mistake and wanted to forget about it so that things could return to normal. But. A larger part of him hoped that she had felt the fire which had been building between them long before that night. This part of him just wanted to bend down to her and capture her lips again.

While he had been caught up in his thoughts, Buffy had long abandoned the photo of her parents and was enthralled as she watched William and realised that he was staring intently at her lips. She felt her breaths quicken as she noticed the distance between them getting smaller. God, she knew this wasn’t right. He was more than twenty years her senior. He was old enough to be her father. And perhaps even worse, he was her father’s closest friend.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

She heard the chant play over in her mind when she registered that her right hand had actually reached up to the back of his neck and she had raised herself up towards him.

Lips centimeters apart, William cradled the base of her head when he realised that she had spoken,

‘You should probably go and wash your hair now.’

~

to be continued...

Emerging from the bathroom, William made his way down the stairs toweling his hair dry when he noticed Buffy seated at the kitchen island cradling a mug of steaming liquid. As he approached, she turned to glance at him. Their expressions showing that they knew what had to be said. Leaning with his back against the sink, his body faced hers but looking down at the floor, he spoke first,

‘We should probably talk.’

‘I know.’

Looking up from her drink she watched as he struggled with his thoughts. With a large sigh touched with annoyance, she decided it was ridiculous.

‘Oh, just say it. We kissed, Will. You and me. With the bursting flames and the… bursting flames. I know you’re going to say something about how we can never let it happen again, how nothing good could ever come of—’

‘Buffy, we ca—’

‘And I’m okay with that,’ she looked down adding quietly, ‘because I know what I felt.’ Meeting his gaze she continued again with certainty, ‘You can say whatever you like, but if you dare say it was a mistake…I—I could never forgive you. We both know it was the furthest thing from a mistake.’

Head tilted, it dawned on him exactly how much of a young woman she become. And receiving a tight slap from his mental self, he realised just how much this side of her had made him want her even more. She’d felt it too. God, the way she looked sitting across from him, her eyes so determined and fiery. He just wanted to pull her onto the counter and show her exactly how much she meant to him. But, she did mean the world to him. Which was why he’d reached his decision. If they took this any further, his conscious would eventually get the better of him. He’d only cause her pain.

‘I can’t lie to you, pet. I think—I felt it too. But, what we felt then, we can’t let it—if I don’t say it, then we’ll… want more. Everything would change, and probably not for the best. I’m sorry Buffy, I never wanted to hurt you, but kissing you…we made a mista—’

‘Get out.’

He visibly flinched at the iciness in her voice and crossed his arms as if trying to shield himself. Heaving a sigh he looked from the angered blonde before him to the direction of the front door. He couldn’t leave them like this; he couldn’t get back to his apartment anyway, since that was where his car was. He’d made such a mess of it. Righting himself, he started to walk to the door.

‘I am sorry, Buff.’

Still perched on her stool, she glared at his departing back. But it was as if the image of his open, shining, sky-blue eyes had been burned onto her corneas. She bit the inside of her cheek, physically twisting and squirming with indecision as she tried to choose her next move. She knew what she wanted to do, but she couldn’t. Could she? As always, he’d been right. Dropping her head back with a groan of frustration she decided.

The world could go and screw itself.

Nerves steeled, she caught up to him in a few quick strides and grabbed his wrist to turn him around. Standing on her toes, she pulled him down to her with her free hand around the back of his neck. She felt the spark between them ignite as she crushed their lips together with as much passion as she could muster. Feeling him respond, she sucked sweetly on his bottom lip; then pulled away. She wanted to slap the hell out of him.

‘Last night you told me that you’ve made a lot of mistakes in your life. Tell me they made you feel the way you felt just then.’

She didn’t want him to answer, just wanted to make a point. So she pulled open the front door and pushed him out, slamming it shut before he could say a word. Falling back against the door, she looked around the house trying to figure out exactly what she’d done. She couldn’t do it by herself; she had to make a phone call.

~

Running his tongue along his bottom lip he tasted her apple-infused lip balm and stared at the closed door in front of him.

She’d actually thrown him out.

Sitting on the ledge of the porch, he pulled out his new lighter and looked up into the night sky wishing for a cigarette.

She never ceased to amaze him.

~

Settling down on the couch she dialed the number of her favourite cousins, catching sight of William outside as she listened to the dial tone.

‘Hi, this is Cordelia.’

‘Cordy! Hey, could I talk to big sis?’

‘Sure, Buff.’

Waiting for her youngest cousin to hand over the phone, she arranged the curtains so that she could watch him from her position. He didn’t look too…he didn’t really look anything. He was just sitting there, looking up at the sky. She heaved a sigh as she took in the sight of the moonlight highlighting his sharp features. She felt bad for second, wondering if he was cold without a jacket. But her frustration quickly returned when she realised that the nights had been warmer.

‘Hey B! It’s been ages!’

‘Faith? Oh thank God, I need your help.’

‘You? Need help? Jeez, the world must be ending.’

‘Huh? What? Oh no, it’s just…I don’t know what to do.’ ‘Do about what?’

Sighing again, Buffy slumped in the couch, preparing herself for her cousin’s inevitable excited reaction by holding the speaker further away from her ear.

‘I- I kissed Will..?’

‘You did what?! I can’t believe it! You little skank-erina! How was it?! I bet it was awesome! The man has the lips of a God!’

‘What?! No! No! Well, I mean yes…but no! That’s not the issue! You’re supposed to be helping me here. I think I screwed up.’

‘Hey relax babe, no need to get all antsy. All you did was kiss him right? I mean, I get the whole awkwardness thing, the man’s practically your older brother. Given, a significantly older but smokin’ hot with lips of God brother—’

‘Will you let me finish? Yeah, there was like…a second of awkwardness after the first time, bu—’

‘Woah! First time? How many times are we talking about?’ ‘Just twice…well, two and half? No, no half. But the second time, it was more to prove a point and then I got kinda worked up and I threw him out.’

‘You threw him out?! You didn’t even give the poor guy a chance to say anything?’

‘Well…no. And now he’s just sitting outside. I mean, what do I do? I can’t exactly just leave him there all night; he doesn’t exactly look like he’ll be leaving anytime soon.’

‘He’s still there? That’s perfect then, go and let him talk, hear what he has to say. Then you can figure out what to do next. Although...you know if it was me I wouldn’t bother with the talking. I’d just pull him in and jump his bo—’

All of a sudden a racket sounded in the background and Buffy heard the muffled thud of an explosion and shouting.

‘Sorry, B. I gotta go, Cordy and Parker just broke the microwave and now there’s this fire thing. Just go talk to him. And take detailed notes about everything that happens after, I wanna hear everything!’

Staring at the handset, Buffy hung up and threw it onto the pillow at her feet then looked out the window. She knew, amongst all the insanity her cousin had said that she was right about the talking. She hadn’t been fair with him; so now she would be. Grabbing her cardigan in the hall, she quietly opened the front door and took a deep breath. There was a slight chill in the air.

~

to be continued...

Aren’t you cold?’

Quickly pulling his cigarette away, he used his body to shield it from her view and tried to discreetly wave away the smoke with his free hand before turning to face her.

‘Doesn’t feel so bad after a while.’

Walking towards him, she indicated to his hand which held the cigarette.

‘Knew we shouldn’t have got you that lighter. Where’d you get the smokes from anyway?’

‘Gas station up the road.’

When he had seated himself next to her on the ledge, she chose to keep looking out into the darkness as she spoke.

‘Look Will, I’m sorr—’

Lips pursed and head tilted, he stubbed out the cigarette and threw it into the neighboring garden. A smirk touched his lips as he took in Buffy’s disapproval.

‘No need to apologize, pet. Both know we could have handled it better.’

‘Yeah…but still, I did throw you out of the house. I’m sorry for that,’ placing on hand over his she was shocked at the coolness of his skin.

‘You liar, you’re freezing. Come on, I’ll make you one of those hot chocolates with the tiny marshmallows.’

~

Back around the kitchen island, William held his drink with both hands, a boyish grin on his face as he watched Buffy put two marshmallows into her mouth before throwing more into her drink. Sighing, she held the near-empty box up in front of her,

‘I’ve had so many of these lately. One day I’ll wake up a big, squishy marshmallow.’

‘Not to worry, pet. You’d make a gorgeous marshmallow.’

She gave him a playful frown over the rim of her mug. They felt the little dent which had formed in their relationship begin to heal. Then, a drop of hot chocolate slid down her mug and onto the side of her fingers. In a reflex she brought her hand to her mouth, quickly wiping it away with her tongue and bottom lip.

Opposite her, William sat enthralled and felt his mouth begin to water. His body ran on automatic when he reached out to catch her hand before she could clean her second finger. Holding her slender wrist, he could feel her steady pulse begin to quicken.

What was he doing? How could he backtrack? Could he even do that now?

If things worked out as they should have, he’d end up back on the porch freezing his backside off for the rest of the night. But his body worked against his mind as he slowly raised her hand and cleaned the liquid from her finger as she had, with his bottom lip and tongue. His eyes never moved from hers.

So sweet.

Keeping his hold on her, he watched her eyes widen and breaths quicken. She bit down on her lip and something clicked. Grasping her wrist tightly, he cleared the surface between them with a sweep of his arm. With his help she jumped up onto the counter, crawling over it before sitting on it in front of him. He gripped her hip as she went to wrap a leg around his waist. He stopped himself before their lips touched and he’d lose all cognitive thought.

‘Kissing you could never be a mistake.’

There was a mutual moan when their lips fused. Buffy was lost in the taste of him, tinged with chocolate and marshmallow. She grabbed at his shoulder with one hand, the other feeling the soft strands of hair at the base of his head. His tongue stroked hers and he pulled her closer by her hip. Tightening both legs around him, she let out a muffled groan at the feel of his hand pushing past her skirt and up the side of her stockinged thigh. He massaged her gently through the nylon, but as he ventured higher and the material stopped, she broke away with gasping breaths. He never stopped, placing gentle kisses along her jawbone and down her neck, sometimes nipping at the succulent skin before swiping away the sting with his tongue.

His hand moved across her thigh and he let out a dark chuckle against her skin when he felt the clasp he’d suspected would be there.

‘When did you start wearing garter belts hmm?’

‘Mmgh!’ she rasped when he bit down sensuously on the join between her neck and shoulder. He took in the sight of her flushed cheeks and lust burned eyes when he fully brushed aside her skirt to look down at her choice of undergarment. A shiver ran down his spine at the black lace and clasp which stood out against her creamy skin.

‘Oh Buffy.’

And with that he bent down to place chaste kisses along the top of the stocking, groaning when he felt her legs part further. Leaning back on one hand, she used the other to run through his hair and massage the muscles at his shoulder. Amongst all the aching desire swirling through her mind, the voice in her squealed in delight that this was really happening. Forcing her eyes to refocus, she tugged on his shirt trying to bring his lips back to hers but pushed some containers off the counter in the process. His hot breaths on her skin were playing havoc with her nerve endings, but this wasn’t the place.

‘Wait, wait! Not enough space. Up-upstairs.’

Pulling away reluctantly he held her body tightly to his. But as he made his way to the staircase, a far better idea entered his lust-riddled mind and he headed for the dining room. Laying her down on the table he went back to her leg and slowly kissed his way upwards, relishing her gasps. His conscience chose the best time to prod at him when he passed the middle of her inner thigh.

‘Buffy, stop me.’

‘C-can’t…mm, don’t stop.’

A low rumble sounded in his chest and he took the clasp of her garter, tearing it away before doing the same to the other leg. He pulled away at the sound of her husky voice, touched with annoyance.

‘Do you have any idea how much those cost me?’

‘I’ll get you another, love them on you even more.’

Bringing her to a sitting position, he let out a surprised moan when she pulled him in for a rough kiss, her tongue running along his teeth. His hand continued the journey up her thigh, teasing the elastic on that side of her cotton black, hipster underwear. For just a moment he remembered back to his days of youth and how lacy, see-through fabrics made his blood rage in want as it did now. She made everything so bloody sexy. His thoughts quickly changed to just how sexy she was when his thumb swept under the fabric, feeling the searing warmth of her skin.

Buffy was adrift in the sea of sensations, inhaling that pure William scent mixed with smoke and cologne. She never knew such feelings existed to be felt, but his ghostly touches were driving her to the brink of sanity. She grabbed his hand between her legs, directing it to the waistband of her panties, encouraging him to take it off.

They both knew that this was just the first threshold which would set them down the lustful red bricked road of no return. She saw his eyes flash with a hint of uncertainty and his arm tense at her movement. She almost swooned at the tender care shown in his expression. She’d done this only twice before and tried to rack at her brain to figure out how best she could show him how much she wanted him to keep going. Somehow, through the haze, she had reached up to cup his chin and gently swept the pad of her thumb across his bottom lip. Her eyelids flickered as she spoke softly,

‘T-touch me.’

A shudder of desire overtaking him, William kissed a tantalizing line down her throat and then hooked a finger in the waistband of her underwear. Feeling the tug, she made her own move, starting to undo the buttons of his shirt from the bottom up.

Now, Buffy had seen William sans shirt on more occasions than she could count on her toes and fingers together. As she’d gotten older, the odd ‘friends and extended family barbeque by the pool’ get together had tested her restraint in obviously ogling him in front of everyone and jumping into those teenage gossip sessions fuelled with comments about ‘Will and the illegality of his hotness’. She’d reached the conclusion that age and frequent gym sessions had only done his body twice the world of good; one year from forty, and to her, he had never looked as physically perfect and statuesque has he did right then.

Reaching straight for his belt buckle, she used it to pull him even closer and placed an open mouthed kiss right below his bellybutton. Scraping her teeth lightly against one perfectly formed abdominal muscle, she giggled when she heard him release a strangled gasp. She did it again, this time on the muscle below adding a swipe of her tongue. Looking up at him, she felt her thighs and inner muscles tense at the sight of him; his eyes closed, head bowed and tilted, biting his lip. And that chest.

Oh God. So hot.

Coming back to herself, she realised that his eyes were open and he looked down at her with a leer. She’d never seen him look that way, but already it ranked at least top three in her list of favorites. Taking a firmer grip on her underwear he asked in a deep voice,

‘What did you say?’

Her brow furrowed, she didn’t remember saying anything. Unless…her thoughts weren’t as confined to her head as she thought. Oh, that was embarrassing. She felt her cheeks flush and she looked away.

‘You think I’m hot?’

‘Just a bit,’ she said coyly.

‘Hmm…’

urling his tongue, he slid his fingers inside her undergarment feeling her trimmed curls and a scorching heat. He sucked in a breath,

‘Could say the same about you, pet.’

Her lips parted in a silent gasp and she felt her hips jerk forward causing his fingers to brush more forcefully just above her now throbbing bundle of nerves. Crushing their lips with a groan, he brushed her labia, evidence of her arousal coating his fingertips.

‘But it’d be an understatement,’ and he took his fingers away, moving them upwards. To his surprise, Buffy quickly grabbed his wrist putting his fingers in her mouth, her tongue gently caressing them.

That put his plans of slow and teasing to an end and he tore away her panties and garter belt with his free hand. Laying her down again, he scraped his teeth on her exposed abdomen while his fingers traced her soaking entrance. Hearing her whispers of want, he used his little finger to slightly part her netherlips before stooping down to suck unabashedly on her swollen nubbin. She thrashed under him, her hands at his shoulders and on the back of his head.

‘Oh G-uh! Will!’

She felt her inner walls clench uncontrollably, wanting nothing more than his talented fingers to fill up the growing chasm between them. She tightened both legs around him. He pulled her back up and into a breathy kiss, his fingers slowing pushing into her. Breaking from their kiss, his eyes rolled back and he gasped at the feel of her pulsing heat. Palm pressed firmly against her clitoris, he curved and twisted his fingers inside her. Buffy’s eyes were wide but unseeing, her hips jerking at the shards of pleasure he brought her. The pressure and friction were delicious and building up so fast. It was her every forbidden William fuelled fantasy come true.

‘Ugh! Ohh mm-yes!’

Feeling his fingers withdraw, she was about to whimper in protest, when he plunged them back inside, the coarse skin of his knuckle hitting a pleasure spot and bringing her to climax. Crying out her delight, he groaned at the sensation of her tensing muscles tightening around him and the warmth of the slick juices which covered his hand. He brought her to the edge of the table and fixed her legs around his hips, grinding his denim covered erection against her clit. Jaw clenched, he groaned and encouraged her,

‘That’s it babe, come for me.’

She felt her climax grow and she pressed herself against him riding out the waves, her head falling back in ecstasy. He was sucking her spendings off his fingers looking immensely pleased when she managed to open her eyes. Seeing her come around, he swept her up in his arms, grabbed the discarded items of clothing and made his way back to the staircase.

Fantasy fulfilled; now they could go upstairs.

~

to be continued...

Buffy felt her breathing calm and return to normal as he carried her up the stairs and into the second story hallway. Moving her head from where it rested against his shoulder, she could feel the uncertainty and guilt about what they had done radiate off his body. The lustful air between them had since dissipated. She had thought that things were back on the road to normality. When he’d grabbed her wrist, she’d seen his battle of thought but still jumped up willingly onto the counter.

What the hell had just happened? She was the one who had encouraged him. Her thoughts flashed back to their conversation pre-throwing out “nothing good could ever come it…everything would change, and probably not for the best”. Oh God. Had she ruined them?

He’d stopped in his tracks the second he felt Buffy’s body tense and the world came hurtling back to him. It had been their moment of weakness, his to be exact. He tried to rationalize it, but he couldn’t. Just seeing her across from him; everything felt so right. Had that first kiss they shared on the balcony been enough for him to crave her forever? Suddenly he felt her shiver, and looking down he saw her eyes wide with fear and anxiety. Her voice was frail,

‘Will? What—I’m…I don’t…’

His body kicked into autopilot when he saw her panic and eyes begin to tear. He rushed into her room, sitting her gently down on the side of the bed and draping the light throw around her shoulders. He handed her a tissue before retrieving his shirt from the hallway floor and slipping it back on. He kneeled before her, too scared of himself to touch her, and watched as she dabbed away the tears.

‘Will, why do I feel like this? Why does it feel like we’re— tell me we’re not hurting anyone.’

He felt his heart sink. The name of the person hung unspoken in the air between them.

Liam.

His eyes shone at her with a desperation, begging her not to make him name him.

‘Buffy, what happened before. I-’

‘Oh God,’ her voice was strained, her hand flying up to cover her mouth as she tried to stop more tears from falling.

Looking down at the ground, he clenched his fists in frustration. He was a pathetic, brainless twat. He didn’t even know where to start. Why was it so hard for him to explain? He loved this girl and it terrified him. She’d filled up the dark, empty, angry void in his soul; filled him with light, hope and all those happy things. She was his own personal angel. And it didn’t matter when he’d become so irrevocably hers, or about the twenty one years that separated them. Somehow, along the way, their fates had been bound. Head still bowed, he jumped straight into the deep end,

‘You’re everything I ever wanted Buffy. Everything I could ever want.’

She blinked rapidly at his words and took an uneven breath. Her heart skipped a beat when he raised his eyes to her, open and vulnerable with emotion,

‘I don’t know why…but there are things I can share with you that I never dreamt I’d say to another person. You’ve been a gift, sweetheart. You saved me. I know I’ve been far from deserving… but I’ve gotten to watch you become this strong, breathtaking, beautiful young woman. Best of all, after all these years, it’s as though… I have you. I know I’ve been lucky enough to have so much, but still it’s like…it’s not enough…I want more. After all the things I’ve done. What kind of person does that make me?’

Overcome with shame, he looked away.

Trying to stop her hand from shaking, Buffy reached out to turn him back to her. But he kept looking down. Touching his chin she said,

‘Look at me, William. Everything you’ve done, all of it, I couldn’t care less. I’ve seen you. I know you and I would never doubt you, so neither should you. No one will ever mean as much to me as you do.’

She brushed away a tear from his cheekbone then smiled softly,

‘My William.’

Relief flooded through him that she had seemed to accept his poorly executed apology. Taking her hand he placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles,

‘Don’t wanna hurt you, I love you.’

His voice rang with the same truthfulness as it had all those hundreds of times before he told her this, but his eyes betrayed him. Something was different this time, and it rendered her helpless in her struggle to resist him. He sat up straighter, the space between them closed until their foreheads touched intimately. She could feel his warmth of his gentle breaths against her skin and her eyes fluttered shut. This was too much, no matter how many times or how hard they’d tried t—she wanted him. She had never been so certain. She parted her lips, preparing to say exactly so. But she was interrupted,

‘Buff- I can’t…I’m sorry.’

Her eyes flew open and she felt her heart begin to fall out of her chest; her last chance to bear herself to him, and she’d missed it by a fraction of a second. Then, his lips were against hers.

‘Can’t resist you, luv. Don’t know how.’

~

She pulled him next to her onto the bed, their lips never parting. Feeling her push his shirt off his shoulders, he grabbed her by the waist pulling her closer. His hand travelled under her blouse and up the side of her ribcage. She inhaled sharply, skin tingling at the sensation.

Rolling them over, William looked down at her flushed complexion, her eyes hooded but shining with desire. He sucked on her neck before lightly rubbing his cheek down her soft skin exposed by the v-line cut of her top, smelling the rich fragrance of her perfume. He groaned against her skin when he felt her arch into him,

‘Oh Buffy, how I want you.’

Everything he did was a dream come true. Giving him the gentlest, most tender of kisses she whispered,

‘So take me.’

~

to be continued...

It was all such a sin. The way his skin tingled when he felt her hands glide across his skin, the way her gasping breaths felt against his skin. His bare chest against hers made her feel as though she was about to explode with desire. It took her breath away, the way her whole body rang when he worshipped her with feather light kisses. All she felt she could do was pull him closer, arch herself into him. It was complete and total overwhelming need.

William could feel her burning heat when she gripped her legs tightly around his him. Groaning against her form, he chuckled when she cried out at the sensation of the vibrations so close to her breast. But it was his turn to voice his pleasure when she raised her hips and rubbed herself against his abdomen, her moisture soaking into him. Feeling his hands wonder downwards towards her mound, she grasped at his upper arms and rasped,

‘Will, please. Need you.’

His eyes fell shut, waves of pleasure sweeping over his body. He knew at that moment that there’d never be another woman who could bring about such passion and love in him. He couldn’t explain it, but everything felt so right. His world literally revolved around this gorgeous girl who was now offering herself body and soul to him, his heart expanded. But as he realised the reality of what they were doing, he couldn’t help but wonder exactly how far she’d been with her past boyfriends. His blood raged at the thought of another man graced with the sight before him, but at the same time his conscious burned the question of whether he was man enough to take her virtue. But remembering their lack of protection, he decided it was the perfect cover for him to discover more of her sexual past.

‘Buffy, sweetheart, I don’t have any con-’

She blushed, looking away, ‘I-I have some.’

Gently she nudged at his right shoulder to raise him higher before rolling on to her stomach and reaching for the cabinet of her bedside table. Pulling out a box, she dumped it on the surface and took out a little silver square. While she did this, he peered inside the box seeing that while it wasn’t empty, it wasn’t exactly full either. It seemed he’d gotten his answer. To an extent, this didn’t surprise him. Buffy was a beautiful girl, and her last relationship with Harris had been a fruitful one lasting several years until the young couple had realised that they’d found a solid friendship in one another opposed to a lover. Offering him the packet, he took it from her placing a kiss on the back of her hand before rolling off her to put it on.

Just as he tore it open, her hand went to cover his and she moved to take it back from him. She kissed him sweetly, encouraging him to lie back and whispered, ‘Let me.’

His jaw clenched and he groaned in surprise when she bent down to place light kisses at the base of his erection and her thumb swept across the moisture on his seeping head. He struggled for breath when she delicately massaged his balls before rolling on the condom.

The sounds he made caused Buffy to shudder in anticipation as she crawled back up to him and straddled his pelvis. She’d waited for this moment, dreamt of it. While her past experiences had been fulfilling, she always felt as though she'd held back. But this moment, here with William, Buffy had never experienced such a feeling of purpose. They didn’t need to speak when she pushed down on his hips to stop him from rolling them over and his eyes darkened with passion when he realised what she wanted. Bracing herself on his chest, they both gasped when she brushed her throbbing centre quickly but firmly over his shaft. Then, aligning him at her entrance, he gripped her hips with vice trying to control himself from thrusting upwards as she slowly sank down and he filled her completely, their pelvises pushed flushed together.

He panted forcefully at the feel of her heat surrounding him so perfectly. He could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat pulsing around him. Buffy felt tears sting at the corner of her eyes, her walls spasming uncontrollably. She was already on the cusp of release.

This was the way they’d always meant to be.

‘Buff—’

But her trembling clenches around him and the way she bit down on her lip were too much. His hips jerked up, burying him even further inside her.

‘Will! Nugh! Ohhh God!'

She felt herself falling, the waves of her climax sweeping over her; each movement of her hips creating the most exquisite friction. William could feel his resolve slipping and he pressed her to his chest before rolling her onto her back. Hands planted beside her head, he began a slow and steady thrust reaching deeper inside her with each one. Eyes wide open he took in each of her pleasured expressions as he continued to draw out her orgasm.

Feeling the fire of another one building, she wrapped her legs tightly around him, meeting his thrusts and pulling him deeper. She brought him in for a deep kiss, delighted when he broke away to groan loudly,

‘Buffy! You are s-so…ughh! Perfect.’

‘Oh God, William! Harder, baby. Uhh! N-never stop!’

Taking her right ankle, he pulled her leg up over his shoulder doing a hard grind against her with each movement. When he felt her nails scratching at his arms, he bent forwards roughly suckling and moaning against each of her tender breasts.

Buffy thrashed her head to the side, clutching his head to her chest, her eyes squeezed shut and her lips parted in a silent scream. She could feel his tenderness in every movement. Everything about it was so intimate. He was giving himself entirely over to her, but even with each hard scrape of his pelvis against her aching pearl it still wasn’t enough. When her climax hit, she tightened her walls around his throbbing length with all her strength, determined to pull him over the edge with her. Then, lost in ecstasy she tugged on his bicep and bit down hard on the top of his shoulder with a pleasured cry.

As much he wanted to hold off, Will shuddered at the sudden sting which ran down his arm. It distracted him, and with the deepest and hardest thrust that moved them further up the bed making Buffy raise an arm to protect her head from the headboard, he pressed his lips against hers in a fiery kiss and groaned his climax. But she was relentless, continuing to grind up against him and milk him for all his worth.

Rolling back over so that she lay on top, the blonde and breathless duo panted heavily trying to get back their breath. He rested one hand protectively on her back while she held his other hand up to her chest. William mused back to the photo she’d given him.

Things didn’t change. They hadn’t changed. And most likely they never would. If anything had changed, it’d only be that he loved her even more than he had before. There was no way he’d take back the night. No way he could. And he hoped she’d be the same.

He gently stroked her hair and placed a kiss on her forehead. He watched her smile softly and nuzzle against his chest before her eyes flickered shut.

Maybe it was just all a part of a story, their story, where each part held threads of commonality. This was the end of one chapter. But another had just begun.

~

to be continued...

‘Would that be red or white for this evening?’

She looked at him expectantly, not saying a word.

He turned from the waiter and returned her expression, his eyes sparkling with amusement and a smirk playing on his lips.

‘Red,’ he paused to check that he’d answered correctly then added, ‘Of course.’

After the waiter had left, they continued to consider each other across the table, an interesting blend of affection and sexual tension simmering between them. His gaze never moved from hers when he reached into his pocket.

‘As a very intelligent, young woman once told me, “White for the light of day, and red for the heat of night.”’

The corner of her mouth lifted in a coy smile and she nodded in approval.

‘You remembered. I’m impressed.’

She looked down at the black velvet box he’d placed in front of her.

‘What is that?’

His voice was richer and his accent thicker than she’d ever heard it before.

‘Why don’t you open it and find out.’

The casing revealed a slender, bright silver key which had been strung on a delicate chain of white gold. Her lips parted in a muted gasp and she admired its shape before looking up at William questioningly. He choked back a laugh,

‘It’s a key.’

‘Thanks, I was totally flummoxed,’ she deadpanned. Rolling her eyes, she reached over to poke his shoulder, ‘I can see that you…you British bonehead! What is it a key to? What does it open?!’

Crossing his arms, William sat back in the couch seat of their little booth. ‘Since you were so rude, you don’t get to find that out!’

‘I was rude?! And what are you now? Five years old?’

Lips pouted, he lifted his chin in defiance. Her posture slumped and she heaved a sigh. She knew how stubborn he could be, but her curiosity got the better of her and she knew she had to make good. She looked at him with wide eyes and an angelic smile.

‘I’m sorry, Will. You know I adore you. Forgive me?’

He looked away, trying to fight the grin he could feel pushing outwards.

‘You’re partially forgiven. Partially.’

‘So will you tell me what the key opens now?’

‘My new apartment.’

Her brow furrowed. She loved his apartment. Well, old apartment now. Sure it was small, but it had been homely, comfy. And they’d spent a lot of fun-filled, movie watching, star gazing nights there together. When she felt his hand touch hers, she realised that her obvious lack of excitement had concerned him.

‘Requirement of the job I’m afraid, pet. All a part of the promotion. It’s still in the same building though.’

Looking back up at him, her eyes widened,

‘What promotion?’

He ducked his head shyly and rubbed the back of his neck, ‘It’s really not a big deal.’

With an excited squeal, she pulled him towards her across the table, but suddenly remembering where they were and she settled for planting a big, unsuspicious kiss on his cheek.

‘Of course it’s a big deal, you crazy man! That’s so awesome, well done!’

Once the excitement had begun to settle in, Buffy looked back down at the key sparkling away against the black fabric and she felt her smile started to fade. She had a key to his old apartment, but it hadn’t been given to her with such ceremony. This was symbolic. Things were different. She touched the delicate chain; it was also clearly meant to be a necklace. Why did everything have to be so cryptic? A dozen thoughts fluttered through her mind; a key to his new home. To be worn next to her heart. A key to his heart?

‘Will…I—we…what are we going to…I mean, as much as—I just don’t know how we can—’

‘We don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, sweetheart. Nothing has to change.’

Buffy looked at him incredulously before she softened, ‘Everything’s already changed. There’s no way in the world I could go back to the way things were, I…I want to be with you.’

William felt his heart soar at her admission, but he quickly tethered it down. He had to finish making his point, but most of all; he had to bring “him” up. Liam. If there was any chance they could make this work, they couldn’t hide their thoughts about him like they would be hiding their feelings for each other from Liam. Too many secrets never led to anything good.

‘I want to be with you too, Buffy. So, so much. But you have to understand, and it’s not just about the age thing. As hard as we try, this won’t—’

‘Dad, I know. He’ll find out, eventually,’ her voice was almost a whisper.

‘And it’ll hurt him, pet. Terribly. I can’t do that, not after everything he’s given me. He gave me you. Literally handed you over to me the day you were born…to protect you, to keep you away from harm. He’ll find out, pet, and when he does it’s gonna hurt him and it’s going hurt to you, and I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want to hurt you.’

Buffy backed slightly away from the table, sitting up straighter. She blinked and her eyes flashed with something he couldn’t quite name.

‘What are you saying?’

He reached over to cover her hand with his,‘I just want you to be sure, sweetheart. That’s all. You’ll be at university soon, and you’re just starting out with your life—’

William realised he’d dug himself into a hole when she quickly took her hand away and fixed him with a sharp glare. Her voice was strained as she held down the lump of emotion which steadily rose in her throat.

‘How can you say that after the other night? There’s no one else, Will. Understand that. I know what I want, and what I want is you. Just you, I’m sure of that. You won’t hurt me.’

‘Buffy, you can’t know that—’

‘No. No, William. You are wrong,’ he flinched as she raised her voice. But more so at her use of his full name; ever since she was young, the only time she’d call him ‘William’ was when she was unhappy with something he’d done.

Buffy glanced around realizing she’d started to draw attention to herself in the intimate setting of the small restaurant. She exhaled slowly to calm herself and lowered her voice.

‘I love my father, I really do. But if he can’t see what we have, if he can’t understand…that you are the person to protect me from all the crap out there then maybe he hasn’t thought properly about what it is that’s best for me. I lo—’

She caught herself quickly. Those words just didn’t have the same meaning they’d held before; they were so much more complicated, too complicated for them to address now. No, she knew that he knew how she felt about him; there was no need for her to have to say it as well. She cleared her throat,

‘I am sure’.

Well, he thought to himself that certainly seemed to have cleared the unspoken air between them. William knew that it’d be impossible for them to be fully prepared for whatever would come their way if they went ahead with this. He knew it was a crass way of putting it, but he supposed that they'd just have to cross that bridge whenever they came to it. But he also knew that he’d always been helpless when it came to matters of the heart. And his belonged truly, and entirely to Buffy. He closed the lid of the velvet box and placed her hands over it with his on top.

‘Okay then.’

~

It was only a minute later when their meals and wine were brought out to them and their dinner continued without a hitch. In the muted lighting, William took in every ounce of the beauty and grace that radiated off her. Her eyes were bright with utter content and the way she’d touch his hand gently as they spoke made him feel so cherished.

But by the time they’d reached dessert and he’d refused her a third glass of wine (just to be safe) Buffy had begun to deploy her arsenal of tricks to try to persuade him otherwise. She giggled in delight as his eyes widened in surprise when she ran the toe of one blood-red pump up his calf, dragging the fabric of his pants along with it. He busied himself with the cheesecake in an effort to distract himself from the feel of her delicate ankle now rubbing the side of his knee.

‘Will?’

He looked up at the sound of her voice; coy, suggestive and most definitely up to something. He swallowed hard,

‘Mm-hm?’

She toyed with her fork, swirling it through the dollop of whipped cream.

‘Back on the topic of apartments…can I…stay with you tonight?’

He held back a smile and caught her ankle as she continued to run it along the outside of his leg. Gently massaging the soft skin, he smirked when she bit down on her lip to restrain a moan. God, she was so gorgeous like this.

‘Does Miss Summers require constant supervision?’

She swiped just the tip of her thumb on the corner of her plate and sucked away the raspberry sauce.

‘She does.’

With a gulp he wondered how she always managed to turn the tables on him. Perhaps it was time to go home.

While William arranged the bill, she pulled out her phone to message her dad about her plans to stay away from home for the night. Though her conscience niggled away at her as she composed the usual ‘Staying over with Will’, she reasoned that she was being perfectly honest after all. But she was halfway through when another message came in. It read;

All set for fl. Call me tonight. yfc xo.

Oh.

YFC; Your Favourite Cousin as Faith had dubbed herself.

One and a half weeks ago she would have skipped and jumped in joy. But at that moment, she felt her heart sink.

Oh no.

~

to be continued...

‘We are SO on girly!’ Faith exclaimed on the other end of the line. ‘You, me, Cordy, sipping mojitos with the sun settin’ over the sea and shirtless, salty goodness everywhere the eye can see Wednesday to Saturday! Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about; though I’m still working on convincing Cordy that she’s got far better things to be doing than coming to Miami with us.’

Buffy sat snuggled up on her favourite couch in William’s apartment watching him stack up the boxes he had wanted to organize that night. He’d lived here for as long as she could remember, she wondered who would live here next.

‘You are so horrible to her. She’s had a tough year, what with falling on that pipe thing.’

‘She’s my sister, sweetie. It’d be irresponsible for me not to be horrible to her.’

Buffy smiled and shook her head, ‘So, morning flight?’

‘Yeah, morning flight…Hey B, you’re kinda quiet. Everything alright babe? You never told me what happened with Will.’

As if on cue, Buffy felt her mouth water at sight of said-Will stripping off his black t-shirt, tucking it in the back of his jeans and continuing to arrange the moving boxes. She tilted her head as she watched as the muscles in his back rippled and his biceps flexed, all highlighted by the thinnest sheen of perspiration.

‘Um…yeah we talked it out. Everything’s fine. We’re good, we’re good.’

‘Uh huh…’

She turned her head and continued to watch him as he walked past her and towards the kitchen area. He ran a hand through his hair, deliberately messing it up as he drank a glass of water.

She cleared her throat, ‘Can I call you back tomorrow? I’m just feeling kinda tired right now. Long day, you know how it is.’

‘Don’t sweat it, I’ll see you Wednesday. Oh, and I called for the taxi. It’s coming to our place first so it should be at yours by 7-ish?’

‘Sure. And thanks for arranging everything Faith, love you.’

She heard her cousin chuckle, ‘Sleep up! Love you more!’

Seeing the kitchen empty, she threw her phone back inside her bag and wandered into his bedroom; to find it also empty.

~

30 minutes later…

‘You know, this isn’t the first time we’ve done this.’

Seated on the opposite end of the bathtub with her bubble-covered knees drawn up to her chin, she raised a sculpted eyebrow at him.

‘I think I’d definitely remember if we’d taken a bubble bath together before.’

William rested his elbow on the edge of the tub and sighed, slipping down further into the heated water.

‘I was living at your place. You were two.’

She shook her head in confusion at these two facts.

‘You lived with us? You had a bath with me when I was two? Why? Are there pictures?’

‘Which question did you want me to answer first, luv?’ he said with a laugh.

She pursed her lips then flicked a blob of bubbles vaguely in his direction. He looked skeptically at the tiled wall where the bubbles had landed, silently making fun of her poor aim before he continued.

‘I stayed for just over a year. You know how you’re always saying that I’m weird for having such a clear system for doing things when I stay over, that’s why I guess. Your room was my room, but my bed was the one in the guest room. And no, I don’t think they’re pictures.’

She frowned confused, ‘Of you living with us?’

‘What? No! I meant of you and me…in the bath.’

‘Oh, right. So why were we in the bath?’

Considering his reply, he ran a hand through his wet hair, slicking it back.

‘When you were younger, your dad used to have a bath with you every night. But, when you were about two and a half he injured his leg- couldn’t get in the bath. So the plan was to just use the baby bath. That wasn’t good enough for Little Miss Fussy; you could tell the difference…God, how you’d cry…So, I had to get in there with you… He asked me to.’

‘He asked you to?!’ she spoke so loudly her question bounced off the walls of the little bathroom.

‘Yeah, pet. We’d known each other for about three years…there was this…trust. Always had been…’

Buffy drew her knees up tighter to her chest just watching him. She could see how this latest installment in the William & Buffy saga had again made him realise how…far from normal their situation was. She grew anxious when the silence between them carried on and he still looked deep in worrisome thought. This was not how she’d anticipated the night would unfold, but she appreciated how open he’d been. Reaching under the water, she put a comforting hand the ankle beside her.

‘Hey. Stop that.’

He looked at her questioningly.

‘Thinking. Stop. Who knows when we’ll have the time to do this again. Let’s not spoil it.’

He smiled softly when she began to gently massage his calf muscle.

‘So, Miami Beach huh?’

‘Yeah,’ she sighed inwardly, ‘Wish you could come with. You and me on the beach, clear blue water, and those big drinks with the little umbrellas.’

‘Hmm…maybe another time, luv.’

Stroking the tendon of his ankle, she lifted the corner of her mouth in a smile.

‘We could always start now.’

Raising herself up onto her knees, she started to move carefully towards him, shivers running down her spine when she noticed his eyes darken with lust as she got closer. When she straddled his thighs he took a hold of her left arm and placed an open mouthed kiss on the inside of her wrist before pulling away.

‘Have I kissed you today?’

Lips centimeters away from touching, she breathed her answer, ‘No.’

They inhaled deeply when their lips met and their tongues begun to duel. Buffy groaned into his mouth at the feel of him hardening against her. When she pressed it to his stomach and begun a slow but hard grind, he latched onto her neck, kissing and sucking the path up to her ear lobe. He gripped her hips firmly, helping her maintain her rhythm. His eyes rolled back at the feel of her seeping heat growing greater, and the sound of her pleasure changing from gentle mewls to desperate gasps. Meanwhile, all Buffy could do was hang on to his shoulders rocking harder and faster. Her inner walls clenched in hunger. The friction on her pulsing core rubbing over and over his velvet shaft was intoxicating.

‘Oh Will!’ she cried out, ‘I wa-ngh! God! So good…you’re so ughh!’ He smirked against her neck, panting but taking in her every sound.

‘So hot, Buffy. Come for me luv. Have to see you come for me. Need you. Want you.’

Her eyes flew shut and whole body spasmed with desire; she couldn’t wait to have him filling her, stretching her again. His words spurred her forwards and she felt herself hurtling towards the edge.

‘Oh Yes! W-want you! I’m gonna—God, I’m gonna—WILL!’

Her walls clenched with utter delight knowing they’d soon be treated to him, her back arched as she continued to ride out her climax. But as she started to slow down, she felt him hold her tighter pressing her down even harder and continuing to move her hips over him. She gasped at the overstimulation, crying out as the pain overtook pleasure in the most wondrous way.

‘Will! What are you—too much! Ohh it’s too mu—ugh!’

‘One more time Buffy. ‘s never enough! Please, jus’ one more time!’

Ducking his head, he fastened his lips to her breasts licking and sucking her tender flesh until she was sure she’d explode with desire. He was relentless and she could feel the embers of another orgasm, a much bigger one, growing speedily in the pit of her belly. It was upon her before she knew it.

‘I ca-can’t! Please…Will!’

He knew exactly as she was about to fall, and plunged himself into her, groaning loudly at the feel of her clenching muscles surrounding him and soaking him. Buffy screamed in pure ecstasy, ‘William! Fuck yes!’

His hips were thrust upwards, trying to fill her as well as he could. One arm was wrapped tightly around her waist, the other hand cradling her neck. Everything about it made this feel like their first time all over again; but part of him knew that it would always feel like this. He could never get used to the way she clutched so tightly to him like her life depended on him, like she never wanted to let go. Reaching up to the messy bun her hair was secured in, he released the clip and let out a strangled moan at the sight of the golden locks spilling down her shoulders.

The conscious part of Buffy had long been blown away and all that was left was the searing pleasure. Through the haze she could just make out a pair of shining, sky blue eyes bursting with passion. Bending forward she rested her forehead against his, her eyes fluttering shut as her body continued to rise and fall over his. She felt deliciously womanly at each of his rumbling groans and clamped her inner muscles around him with each stroke, trying to drive him crazy just like he’d done to her.

‘God, sweetheart. Hahh…you’re so—you’re the…the best I’ve—ngh! Best I’ve ever had! B-Buffy!’

At this Buffy pushed their lips together and ground down, squeezing so hard William swore that just for a spilt second they’d become one. He poured his groan of release into her, pulling her hips down to bury himself as far inside her as possible.

She tenderly ran her fingers through his hair and stroked his cheekbone as she watched him nuzzle into her hand and regain his breath. Inner Buffy glowed with pride at his declaration, but outside she just smiled softly and placed a kiss on his forehead.

But she was shaken from their little bubble of intimacy when a white blob caught her eye. William opened his eyes at the sound of her giggles and turned his head to discover the source of her amusement when she spoke.

‘We were a bit messy.’

And sure enough the floor around them was decorated with bubbles and puddles of water which had sloshed out of the tub during their little private time. He gave her a chaste kiss before reaching around her to pull out the bath-plug. With her legs fastened around his waist he managed to stand and turn on the shower head, rinsing the rest of the bubbles from their bodies. He never saw the look of adoration in Buffy’s eyes when he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her before sweeping her up in his arms and carrying her to his bed.

~

‘You said my name.’

Buffy raised her head from where it lay resting on his chest to look at him.

‘I didn’t say anything.’

William tore his gaze from the large windows which lined one wall of his bedroom and framed the LA night skyline and star speckled sky.

‘I meant before…in the bathroom.’

She smiled shyly, feeling a blush rise in her cheeks and quickly lying back down.

‘I always say your name.’

‘No, you said it…fully.’

Oh. So she had. She giggled at the memory and bit down on her thumbnail, ‘You mean like this?’ she leveled her lips with his left ear.

‘William.’

Her whisper was soft yet husky, her gentle breath sending goose-bumps down his neck. Shifting his shoulders, he cleared his throat recalling that orgasmic scream.

‘Was somethin’ like that. Just a bit…louder.’

‘Mmm…Of course it was,’ she said, a smile in her voice.

They both looked back out the window, just taking in the view, silent for a few moments. Buffy felt the lull of sleep overtake her and she snuggled into his embrace.

‘I’m gonna miss it here.’

He pulled the covers over her exposed shoulder and kissed the top of her head.

‘Me too, pet. Me too.’

~

to be continued...

the afternoon of the day after…

Buffy stood at her bed side which was currently covered with various piles of clothes, toiletries and a suitcase. Looking back down at the cream coloured lace dress in her hands, she was drawn out of the day-dream of fire-towers and riverside kisses which it had pulled her into in the first place. She and Faith had been planning this trip to Miami since the previous year and now they were finally going; along with Cordelia and Faith’s boyfriend Robin. Although their latest addition probably meant that she’d spend most of her time with her youngest cousin. She didn’t understand. Why did this trip suddenly feel like it’d been drained of all excitement? Wrapped in her thoughts, she didn’t even notice when William appeared in her doorway, casually leaning against the frame.

‘Excited?’

She took a startled step backwards, holding both hands up to her chest.

‘Huh?... Oh, yeah. I am. Yes. Excitement; check.’

He tucked his thumbs behind his belt buckle and raised a scarred eyebrow.

‘That was convincing.’

Walking up behind her, he placed his hands on her hips and looked over her shoulder at the mountain of clothes she planned to take.

‘I thought you were only going for four days.’

‘We are.’

She frowned at his stifled laugh and shoved his arm hard before pulling him back towards her and offering him her cheek.

‘Insults are always after kisses remember?’

Planting his usual kiss on her cheekbone, he tightened his hold around her waist when she turned in his arms and pulled him in for a deep kiss. She settled in his embrace, resting her head against his chest.

‘What will you do while I’m gone?’

‘Just getting ready to move I suppose. And there’s that thing called work. How are you getting to the airport?’

She opened her mouth to reply, but shutting it just as soon. Buffy fell back into her thoughts. Yes, Will was so obviously the reason she was so reluctant about making the trip. Could this be the opportunity they’d been waiting for? She’d be crazy to just let it slip by.

‘We organized a taxi.’

‘Oh, I was going to say I could…take you there.’

Her eyes flew open even wider.

‘No, no. You don’t have to come. I- I mean, it’d probably be best if you didn’t. You know, it’d be harder for me to resist ravishing you in front of everyone.’

Murmuring his agreeance, he pulled her lower body closer to his and rubbed his nose against the soft skin of her neck taking in her fragrance.

‘Clever girl.’

Her breaths began to quicken under his sudden assault.

‘Dad’s gonna be back late again tonight.’

‘He is, is he?’

‘Mm-hmm.’

‘Then we better get started on that ravishing now, eh pet?’

She let out a squeal when he picked her up and backed her against the wall.

‘Good plan.’

~

The next day…

Sighing, William threw his keys onto the kitchen counter. Their flight would be landing in roughly two hours and Buffy had promised that she’d call once they had settled in. He looked around at the mess of half unpacked boxes and plastic covered furniture. Anxious for something to do to wile away the next few hours he changed into his gym clothes and made his way up to the health centre of the apartment complex.

~

Placing the weights back in their cradle, he sat up from the bench press and grabbed his phone. Trying to catch his breath, he threw his towel over his shoulder.

‘Buffy?’

She giggled at his breathlessness.

‘Having fun without me?’

‘More like the other way round, pet. How is it over there?’

‘Mm…nice, pretty. I’m just at the pool now.’

Licking his lips he asked in a deep, smoky voice, ‘Yeah? What are you wearing?’

The tall, over-muscled man standing opposite gave him a strange look and William quickly cleared his throat before looking away. He heard Buffy try to stifle a laugh, but she answered his question before he could ask what was funny.

‘Exactly what I was wearing when you saw me this morning.’

Right, he thought. They hadn’t been on the ground for that long.

‘So, what have you girls planned for the rest of the day?’

‘Nothing much, really. But right now...I’m checking out this cute guy.’

His brow furrowed with a mix of confusion touched with jealousy as he heard her giggle with excitement.

‘Why did you tell me that?’

‘Will, I’m serious! He’s gorgeous! Want me to describe him?’

‘Buffy, wha—’

But she continued right on.

‘Well, right now he’s facing away from me. But he took his shirt off about ten minutes ago and he’s got this incredible muscular back and he’s wearing these shorts that hang really low on his hips. I could see the outline of his pelvic bone. It’s like this perfect V shape. He’s blonde...definitely bleached…mm, sweaty.’ Then she added quietly, ‘And there’s this bite on top of his shoulder. There’s one lucky girl out there.’

At that, William looked down at the nearly faded bite mark on his left shoulder, then to his bare chest and the elastic of his sweatpants.

They were kind of low.

Running a hand over the back of his neck, he felt the sweat which had formed during his work out. Tilting his head, he raised his eyes slowly,

‘Tell me again, pet. Where are you?’

‘I told you, by the pool.’

He turned to his right to the glass wall which lined the side of the gymnasium and separated it from the outdoor swimming pool. And there, reclining on one of the deck-chairs he made out a petite blonde wearing a white bikini and wide brimmed hat which covered her eyes. When she raised her head slightly he saw a mobile phone held to her ear, and the sexiest grin on her lips.

~

William turned back away from the window, trying to hide his shocked-elation and replacing it with a smirk knowing she could see every move.

‘You said you were wearing what you wore this morning.’

‘Oh, I am,’ she said in a matter-of-fact voice before adding in a sultry voice, ‘Underneath, anyway.’

He exhaled sharply through his nostrils, feeling the tension flare over the phone.

‘Lift. 10 seconds.’

~

Giggling the whole time, Buffy knocked the door of William’s apartment shut, falling against it and clutching her stomach with mirth.

‘I said it was a bad idea to feel me up in the lift!’ she got out between laughs.

Walking past her, he gave a playful smack across the backside before making his way into the kitchen.

‘Ha ha, pet. Trust me, the whole building’ll know in five minutes. Bloody hell, of all the people it had to be her. She’ll probably go around telling everyone not to use that lift anymore; say it’s unsanitary or something. Barmy old bat, richer than you could imagine though. Don’t be surprised if we get some funny looks tomorrow…’

He was still talking, but Buffy, in her amazement couldn’t process it. Taking some tentative steps further into the foyer, she looked out the expanse of window showcasing the magnificent LA skyline in front of her. She followed the rich carpet into the living room and she felt her jaw drop at the modern setting and windows which made up the apartments protective wall. What with the excitement of their little trip down from the gym, she hadn’t even noticed that they’d gotten out of the lift seven floors higher.

‘Buffy?’

Handing her a glass of white wine, he placed a hand on the small of her back and walked her closer to the windows.

‘When did you move in?’

‘Actually started a few days ago, but tonight’ll be the official date I think. I was going to leave it as a surprise for you when you got back.’

Continuing to walk along the expanse of floor-to-ceiling length windows, she looked back at him with a playful grin.

‘Sorry to spoil your plans, do I still get the grand tour?’

~

Buffy couldn’t erase the look of awe from her face as William took her through each room of the apartment. To sum it up, it was just plain massive. She was almost embarrassed at how she’d felt her jaw drop when he’d told her that their floor housed only two apartments in total. Back in the main living area, she pointed to the three panes of window hidden by thick, cream curtains.

‘What’s behind there?’

The answer to that he would most definitely be keeping as a surprise.

‘You’ll find out later, pet. But now, I am gonna have a shower and you are going to tell me how you got out of that trip.’

He raised a hand at her look of protest and pulled her towards the master bathroom.

~

Seated on the room length, black marbled basin ledge, Buffy watched as he carried out his showering routine. Her eyes following the rivlets of water and soap suds which journeyed down the hard planes of his body. She forced her brain to recall the events of the previous evening and to translate them into words so she could explain how everything had happened…

to be continued...

17 hours earlier…

‘But Buffy, we’ve been talking about this trip for ages! It won’t be any fun without you. Please don’t leave me alone with Faith and Robin’s never-ending “ Poochy-Woochy, Cookie, Cupcake, Teddy-bear Bubble-bee!”’

Buffy moved across Faith’s bedroom to sit next to her youngest cousin on the bed.

‘I know, and I’m really sorry Cordy. But I really don’t think I’m up for it. I’ve just been so exhausted lately; I’d just crash completely if I went tomorrow,’ she sniffed and kept up her rough-edged voice to strengthen her façade of sickness.

Leaning against her adjoining bathroom door, Faith rolled her eyes at her sister’s complaints before seriously considering the bombshell blonde seated beside her. Something was up. This trip had originally been Buffy’s idea all along. No matter what the occasion was, it wasn’t like her not to see her plans through. She righted herself and cleared her throat.

‘Look sweetie, why don’t you go next door and ask Parker if he wants to come since he’s home alone for the rest of the week? We can change the ticket details online.’

Cordelia’s sulky expression slightly brightened at her big sister’s suggestion and she gave Buffy one last saddened look before leaving the room and bounding down the stairs. Positive that Cordy was well on her way, Faith flew over to the bed and grabbed Buffy’s arm, pulling her into her bathroom and securing the door behind them.

‘Faith! What the hell are you—’ Faith pointed a finger at her cousin, ‘Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on you…not-so-little-lady!’ ‘I—’ ‘Nuh-uh! You’re not tired!...Well, definitely not because you’re sick!’

Buffy felt her heart rate quicken, her heartbeat louder. She’d known Faith to be freakishly perceptive sometimes, but there was no way she could know. But then, she supposed, that didn’t mean she couldn’t suspect…

‘Fai—’

Jumping up to sit on the bench-top, Faith grabbed her hairbrush and pointed it at her, waving it along to emphasise her words.

‘No, B. I’m talkin’. Something happened didn’t it?!’

Faith nodded slowly, both knowingly and accusingly when Buffy struggled to find the words.

‘Yeah, that’s right, somethin’ happened! And now you’re gonna use these four days to sexy it up with Will, aren’t you?! Don’t think I don’t know!’

Buffy’s eyes just about fell out head at her cousin’s bluntness and she scrambled for an explanation. While she trusted that Faith, above all others, would never tell another soul about her secret and not pass judgement, she couldn’t help but automatically deny it all. After all, the least people who knew, the longer they wouldn’t have to worry about being found out.

‘Faith, that’s completely insane! There’s no wa—’

‘De-Nile is not a river that flows through Egypt!’

‘Huh?’

Faith furrowed her brow and quickly shook her head at her poorly constructed pun. She’d definitely been watching too much T.V.

‘Look, B. The fact that you haven’t told me a thing about what happened after you threw him out that night says everything! Come on sweetie, how the hell did this happen?! You know you can tell me anything.’

It was useless. She folded. Heaving a sigh, she sat heavily on the edge of her cousin’s bathtub and dropped her head in her hands. Her hair fell in a luscious golden curtain around her shoulders. She missed watching the brunette’s features light up with a mix of excitement and disbelief that her suspicions had proved to be true.

‘Holy crap Summers, you did!’ she exclaimed, and ended with an exaggerated gasp.

She flew off the bench-top and went to kneel at her cousin’s feet, grabbing hold of her hands. Buffy’s voice was touched with desperation.

‘Please Faith, you can’t tell anyone. I just wanted to surprise him. We haven’t been able to have any proper time together. And with university starting so soon, we won’t have any time at all.’

‘Of course sweetie, I promise I won’t breathe a word! But practically B, how are you gonna make this work? The taxi’s coming before both our parents leave for work. So it’s not like you can just stay home!’

She took an uneven breath, Faith’s level-headness helping to steady her nerves.

‘Well, I figured I could get out at the diner around the corner. It’s on the way and close enough for me to be able to walk back home after Dad’s left for work, then I can make my way to his apartment.’

‘Alright, just remember, the flight’s about five hours so you’re a no show until around two o’clock. And I’m just joking with you B, you know I’m not really mad,’ she gave Buffy a comforting smile. ‘So now you have to tell me what happened that night!’ she ended with excited squeal.

Buffy frowned playfully at her cousin and shoved her shoulder.

‘Well you seem to have worked out just fine what happened. What more do you want? Every minute detail?’ she asked in a sarcastic scoff.

‘Yes! That’s exactly what I want! I want you to tell me…’ Faith’s growing smile was infectious, her eyes wide and looking around as if searching for questions, ‘How did it happen?! How many times?! Where?!’

Buffy’s cheeks turned bright red at her bold questions and she repeated incredulously, ‘Where?!’

Faith looked up at her as if it were the most obvious question in the world, ‘Yeah, where! Like…I dunno…the bed? The…’ She looked around again and indicated to surface Buffy was seated on, ‘…bath?’

She felt the blush spread up to the tips of her ears and realised that she’d made a mistake when she looked down quickly. Faith’s excitement reading was scaling off the charts and her jaw dropped in understanding. She slapped the side of Buffy’s leg and laughed out loud.

‘You’re kidding me! Oh. My. God!’

~

Back in the present…

‘So you faked sick, arranged another taxi then went to the diner so your Dad would think that you were still going?’

Still sitting on the ledge, Buffy handed him the bottle of cologne she’d been sniffing. She bit her lip, feeling bad that she hadn’t completely told him the truth. She knew he’d completely freak at the thought that someone else knew, but she knew that she could trust her cousin.

‘Yeah?’

‘Right,’ he looked at her with one eyebrow raised then ventured tentatively, ‘So…what will you do for the next two days while I’m at work?’

He held back a laugh as he watched her eyes grew wide and she asked darkly, ‘What do you mean?’

‘You know Wednesday’s are my day off, pet. But tomorrow it’s back to the salt mines.’

Holding the towel knotted around his hips, he jumped back with a giggle when she grabbed a nearby towel and begun to swat him with it, chasing him in the direction of the bedroom and telephone.

‘Call them! Now! Right now!’

~

to be continued...

Later that evening…

‘Can’t you just—’


‘No.’


‘Can I at least— ’


‘No.’


‘I’ve been sitting here for like…a hour!’


William glanced through the balcony door and chuckled at the sight of Buffy blind-folded and pouting, lounging on his couch.


‘It’s only been ten minutes pet,’ he pulled out his new lighter. ‘I’m almost done.’


He shook his head when he heard her sigh and fidget with impatient excitement. Straightening up from the candle he’d just lit, he looked around at his ten minutes of work and nodded in approval. It was definitely the best he could have done with such little notice. And after all, they did say that less was always more.


On his way back inside he checked his reflection in the glass of the window, adjusting the collar of his midnight-blue shirt. He knew that their unspoken plan for her to stay for the following few nights was a dangerous one, but just too tempting to forego. But most importantly of all, it was an opportunity.


An opportunity for them, even if just for four days, to pretend that they were a normal couple. Just two people, devoted to one another and with nothing to hide.


He padded silently across the thick carpet to where she sat and kneeled in front of her. Placing a feather-light kiss on the corner of her mouth, he helped her to stand and turned her away from the balcony before untying the scarf that covered her eyes.


Unfortunately the cool evening breeze had given it away that a balcony was involved and Buffy had known the moment he’d come back inside. Her heart thudded louder and faster at the instant change of atmosphere. And from that moment he’d held her hand and turned them towards the balcony, nothing else existed; he was the only other person in the world.


~


The sound of her laughter lit up the night around them. Her golden hair glowed in the soft flickering shine of the candles around them. The soft touch of her hand pulled him back into the moment he’d been memorizing.


‘Thank you, for this.’


Buffy gestured to the scene before them, two and half hours later it still took her breath away. They sat on a luxurious Persian rug, assorted candles adding an air of romance. The twinkling LA skyline stretched out around them as far as the eye could see. But the main attraction was neither of these. They were seated right next to it; a ten-meter lap pool which reflected rippling blue beams of light all around them. More candles had been placed around the corners. They’d left the door open, but the thin white secondary curtain was left shut and would billow as the breeze changed.


‘No, need to thank me pet. I should be thanking you…for not going on that trip.’


With a soft smile, Buffy looked down at her glass of champagne sparkling away when she was suddenly struck with wonder at how they’d gotten into this very pleasant situation in the first place. She looked back up at him, obviously about to speak when she realised that she wasn’t exactly sure what her question was; rather awkwardly, she quickly turned to take in the view. In the corner of her eye she saw him smile as he raised his glass to his lips.


‘What is it?’


‘I just—I was just wondering.’


He looked at her questioningly, ‘What about, sweetheart?’


She spoke slowly, her brow furrowed in deep thought, ‘When…when did you…realise? About us, I mean.’


He shifted at her question and exhaled loudly, his lips pursed in contemplation. He’d wondered that himself over the past few days and had never been able to come up with a satisfactory answer.


‘To be perfectly honest, I’m not really sure. I’ve always…it’s always been all about you, Buffy. Everyday as I saw you—’ he broke off.


As rich as their past was, he didn’t want to bring it up this night. It was one thing going behind Liam’s back, but the gap between their ages was completely separate. He closed his eyes to think and opened them as he started again.


‘Ever since you came into my life…there hasn’t been anyone else. How could there be?’


The thought that she’d had someone so devoted to her everyday of her life pulled at her heart, even though a part of her had always known. She reached over to take his hand, planting a kiss on the back of it. Her eyes never left his. But his pause had been obvious and she couldn’t help but be curious. She asked in a gentle voice,


‘You hesitated, what were you going say?’


He sat back. Sometimes she was too curious for her own good and he refused to ruin the evening.


‘It was nothing. I was just trying to…choose my words.’


‘No you weren’t. Please, Will? Tell me?’


Buffy’s eyes were so open, baring every emotion unguarded for him to see.


‘Buffy, I…’ he sighed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Alright…I was just thinking about watching you grow up; wondering about…the woman you’d become. I was thinking about what my expectations had been. And how you—how you outdid every single one more than I’d ever imagined was possible. I was thinking about—this might not sound quite right but, I am so proud of you luv.’ By the end his voice was barely a whisper.


She reached up to stroke his cheekbone, her heart swelling with every word he said. Curiosity, it seemed could be a wonderful thing.


‘Maybe a little weird… but it was nice to hear.’


He turned away with a sniff, wiping his eye.


‘God, I’ve never cried so often in my life.’


She let out a little laugh, handing him a serviette.


‘Well I’m proud of you too, for what it’s worth. Considering what you’ve told me about the past…’


She shivered as the temperature dropped and he pulled her towards him, wrapping her in his favourite leather duster which he’d brought out in case and cradling her in his arms. She sat sideways between his legs, hers legs bent over his right and her hands clutching at the familiar leather.


‘What about you, pet? When did you realise?’


She looked up at him, ‘Promise you won’t laugh.’


A smile touched his lips, ‘Promise.’


‘Well,’ she continued slowly, ‘I suppose I’ve always, kind of, since I was fifteen, had a crush on you.’ She could see how hard he was trying not to react. ‘But if I had to choose an exact moment, it’d be…that New Year’s party when I was sixteen at Faith’s house.’


His features darkened at the memory, ‘That was a night.’



~

Two years before: New Years Eve, fifteen minutes to midnight… ‘

Come on, Buff. You know you want to.’

Buffy snatched her wrist back from the idiot in front of her, looking around for a way out, furious that she’d let herself get into this situation.

‘Riley, the only chance you’d ever have with me is if I was unconscious. I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole let alone kiss you! Now get out of my way.’

Her eyes were narrowed, every pore on her body spitting venom. Shoving at his chest, she managed to move away from the wall he’d backed her against. But she hadn’t moved far away enough and he grabbed her arm. She shrieked when he quickly turned them and pushed her against the bar. No one heard, the pounding music was too loud, the buzzing chatter growing in anticipation of the arrival of the New Year.

‘Don’t touch me!—’

She pushed at his arms and raised a knee to hit him where it’d hurt. But he grabbed her behind her knee and started to move his hand up her thigh.

‘You want me Buffy, I know you do.’

She slapped his hands and his face before punching his jaw.

‘Get off me!’

But she’d just angered the massive eighteen-year old even more and he pushed her harder against the bar, pinning her hands on the counter top and nudging his knee between her legs. She struggled hopelessly looking for someway to push herself to freedom. Her cries continued to go unheard. He’d started to lower his face to hers when she suddenly spied an unmistakable flash of peroxide blonde walk past the door.

‘Will!’ she shouted at the top of her lungs, ‘In here! Will!’

She kept screaming, even when Riley brought up a hand to cover her mouth. But when his knee had started to roam uncomfortably high along the inside of her thigh, in rushed William. She shouted in relief when he grabbed the teen’s shoulder and pulled him away, punching him square in the nose.

‘Bloody bastard! Come near her again and I’ll—’

Buffy cried out in surprise when Riley hit him back and two began a fully-blown fight. Still against the counter of the bar she looked behind her and saw a fake pot-plant. As she was about to reach for it to use as a weapon, William threw Riley against the counter next to her.

‘Buffy, move!’

In the corner of her eye she saw Riley reach for a tray of cocktail glasses next to the fake plant. She ducked quickly, moving away when he swung it outwards, the glasses flying and smashing, bits of glass bouncing dangerously. She stumbled backwards to dodge his swing and fell, some of the shards cutting at her hands and legs. She heard William call her name and watched in shock as he grabbed the tray from Riley and sent him flying across the room.

She winced as she tried to stand and failed. William ran over to her. Quickly he tried to brush away all the glass around her, his own injuries starting to swell and bleed. He stroked her arms and kissed her hair, comforting her all the while.

‘You alright luv? You’ll be just fine. I’m right here, I’ll take care of you. I’m sorry I wasn’t faster sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Everything’s gonna be okay.’

He’d picked her up and carried her to the kitchen, family members milling around them and demanding to know what happened. She’d clutched tightly at his hand the whole time Liam had tended to her cuts and spat curses at Riley.

That night she’d slept down on their couch, as she like to do when she was sick, surrounded by the plush cushions. Waking up at one stage, she opened her eyes to see William sleeping on the recliner opposite. As she’d taken in his darkened and swollen bruises she promised that her heart would belong only to him.

~

‘I never thanked you that night. Is it…is it too late to say it now?’


Although she spoke quietly, her words echoed around him. He consumed the warm pools jade-green which were her eyes. He breathed her scent, was warmed by her own gentle breaths. He finally understood what it meant to live by another person. His eyes fluttered closed as their lips drew nearer. There was nothing else, there was only her.

‘Buffy.’

~



to be continued...

1.34 am…

William woke with a groan, a knot forming in his neck from lying so still on the floor. He raised himself up slightly and realised that they’d just made it back inside, somehow managing to close the door behind them before tumbling onto the ground where they let their hormones get the better of them. He didn’t have to look down at his stomach to know that Buffy was resting her head there, he could feel her legs tangled up with his. Trying not to disturb her, he got gingerly to his feet before bending to pick her up.

She instantly curved herself around him after he’d covered her in the sheets and crawled in next to her. With a kiss to her forehead, he returned to his deep slumber.

~

3.23am…

Something was tickling her shoulder. It felt like her hair, but it was moving. Why was it moving? As Buffy became more aware of her surroundings, she realised it was just his breaths, warm against her skin. When she looked around, the sight made her heart skip a beat. There was something so angelic about the way he slept; he was so peaceful, so perfect.

She felt under the covers for the hand which rested at her stomach and pulled it up to her breast. She heard a contented sigh rumble through his chest and snuggled back against him when he subconsciously pulled her towards him. Sleep reclaimed her within seconds.

~

9.45am…

She was awake, he could feel it. And she’d proven it when she started to gently stroke his hand which lay on top of her hip. It was a challenge. If he kept his eyes shut he could keep taking in the moment, knowing that he was the sole focus of her attention. But if he opened them, he knew that she’d be a once in a lifetime vision. The voice he found was dry and husky.

‘You know it’s rude to stare.’

He couldn’t help but open his eyes when her chiming giggle reached his ears. She lowered her lips to his earlobe, giving him a chaste kiss before gently scraping her teeth against the skin.

‘Mmm, how about admiring?’

His eyes shone with a bashful smile, a man could easily get used to waking up this way every morning.

‘Not even close.’

Tightening his hold on her hip he pulled her flush against him, suckling the tender skin at her neck and lavishing it with open-mouthed kisses. When he ran his tongue along her pulsing jugular, his hand moved down her thigh to throw it across his waist. She tunneled the fingers of one hand through his hair, the other gripping at his shoulder. She hadn’t even realised that she’d been holding her breath until she exhaled shakily at the feel of his thumb tracing a tantalizing line down the inside join of her thigh. She breathed his name when he parted her lips to gather her liquid heat on the tip of his finger. He chuckled at her whimper when he pulled his hand away. He held his finger up, her desire clearly evident, ‘What’s this?’

Her hips bucked against him when he slowly drew his finger in to his mouth, sampling her taste. His lips held in a smirk as he realised the power he held over her until she pulled them together in a heated kiss. She broke away when his hand returned to her aching heat and he began treating her to light teasing touches around the place he knew that she wanted it the most. He was torturing her in the most magnificent ways and she cried out when he’d brushed his thumb against her bundle of sensitive nerves.

‘Will…please…’

‘What was that, sweetheart?’

That leering look she loved so much fell into place as he rubbed her harder. He took in her pleasured groan, but continued his steady pace.

‘More, baby…please, need more.’

This time it was his turn to moan in pleasure, he could never get used to the way she called him ‘baby’; it was so loving but there was something deliciously dirty about the way she said it. He pulled her even closer with his free arm and ground his shaft against her hip. Her cries grew louder when he pushed two fingers inside her, searching for that spot which would drive her crazy, he kept up the movements of his thumb over her swollen pearl the whole time. He soon found it and her leg tightened around him when he began to rub the spot in slow luxurious circles. Her voice was a lustful whisper.

‘Oh God, oh God, oh God. Faster, God, harder. Ohh… want you, need you… inside.’

With that he rolled her onto her back. She wrapped both legs around him and fondled her breast. His thumb still rubbing away, he positioned himself at her entrance hissing at her burning heat. Through the fog of his aroused mind he heard his voice, ‘Say it Buffy, say it again.’

‘I need you, Will. Please…I burn…’ she panted so heavily, her hips arched up and her inner walls screamed to be filled with the velvet hardness which brushed against her.

He buried his face in her neck when he slowly pushed into her, relishing the way she thrashed in pleasure beneath him and gasped uncontrollably. Biting down on his lip to stay in control, he kept his thrusts steady and put more force behind each one as she eagerly started to meet them. He could feel her walls fluttering around him, clamping tighter with each thrust. Knowing she was reaching her peak, he transferred his weight and moved one hand down between them, his fingers searching for her throbbing nub.

Buffy was loving the slow build up. How it started all the way down in her toes and overtook her. The way it felt when his muscles flexed under her touch. But she knew she was in trouble when his hand roved between them, his fingers resuming the deep rub from before. Thick hardness filling and stretching her inside, building friction on the outside; her world was spinning…

‘Oh God, don’t! Please… I can’t! Can’t, nugh!’ she tried to bat his hand away.

‘Can,’ he said with each thrust. ‘Squeeze me babe, drench me.’

Somehow she managed to do as he asked, smiling against his skin when he groaned loudly in ecstasy. She squeaked in surprise when he moved both her legs above his shoulders and thrust harder and faster, her clit continuously brushing over his abdomen. She couldn’t help but tighten her muscles even more. Her eyes rolled up at the sound of his pants and pleasured cries.

‘Come with me, sweetheart. Please, Buffy.’

One last hard thrust and she was lost, her back arching towards him.

‘Oh God, yes! Coming! Ugh! God, William!’

He cried out his release, keeping up his thrusts to draw out their pleasure. His arms were shaking but he felt even more turned on at the way she’d said his name. Still moving her hips with him, she gasped for breath and feeling her orgasm continuing but something still building beneath it all. She lowered her legs around his waist and pushed them over. She fell forwards onto her elbows, their lips just millimeters apart. His hands flew up to her grip her hips as she rode him into oblivion.

~

10.11 am…

Liam put away his key and let out a low whistle as he took in the impressive scale of William’s new apartment. He was supposed to drop off some electrical supplies, but owing to some store errors they’d become unavailable. He knew the up and coming editor didn’t need to be in work until 11am and decided to use this as an excuse to check out his new pad. But hearing the silence which filled the apartment, he’d obviously been mistaken.

He was making his way further into the living room when a low, masculine groan reached his ears. It was followed by another one, just slightly louder and the unmistakable sound of creaking springs and wood. Then there was another moan, this time female that joined the mix.

Stopping dead in his tracks, his lips spread in a grin. For as long as he could remember, William had been devoted to their little family. Not to be crass, but God only knew when was the last time the man had gotten laid. But he knew that this William wasn’t the type for the one night stand; he gave everything in his relationships. Liam was delighted to know that he’d found someone to share this stage of his life with. After all, with everything he’d been through William deserved to be happy.

He chuckled quietly and turned back to the front door, quietly tip-toeing out. He made a mental note to tell Buffy when she called; he knew she’d be excited for him too.

~

to be continued...

That afternoon…

‘Will’s got a what?!’

She clutched her mobile to her ear, her eyes flying open wide and as she fixed William with a disbelieving but fiery glare. He looked back at her in pure confusion, mouthing his question, ‘What? What have I got?’

The excitement in Liam’s voice was unmistakable from the other end of the line.

‘Yeah! A girlfriend! Can you believe it?’

Buffy narrowed her eyes in William’s direction as she asked her father, ‘Who is she?’

‘I don’t... know; I didn’t actually see her.’

She furrowed her brow, her lips raised with a quirk, ‘Oh...so how do you know?’

‘Ah... You see, this morning I went to visit him at his new place and I er…I kind of…well, heard them…together. You know…’

Her jaw dropped and her hand flew up to cover her mouth. She didn’t have a clue how to react when William took a step closer, all she could do was raise her hand to stop him from getting any nearer. They’d basically been caught right in the act, it didn’t even register as a close shave! Her dad had heard them having sex! She was grateful that he’d obviously missed their passionate shouting of names, but still! What daughter could stomach the thought of being caught by a parent?! She looked at him desperately, her hand now waving as she mouthed clearly, ‘Oh my God! Shit!’. But through the hail of inner panic, she remembered that she still had a part to play.

‘Dad! Oh my God! Gross much?! I’m pretty sure there’s some rule that says that father’s can’t ever talk about things like that with their daughters! And anyway, I thought I told you not to call me and that I’d call you!’

‘But I had news! I thought you’d like to know.’

She rolled her eyes and fell backwards onto the couch with a groan.

‘Yes, Dad. Thank you for sharing that oh-so fascinating piece of information with me and disrupting my relaxing holiday beach time! Look, I’m sure Will was going to tell us anyway and now you’ve gone and spoilt his surprise!’

‘Oh…didn't think of that. I’m sorry, Buff. I guess I was just excited for him, I thought you'd be excited for him too, that’s all. Anyway, you go and enjoy yourself.’

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth and let out a sigh.

‘I am excited for him, I just don't think that would have been the way he'd want us to find out...sorry, I didn't mean to get all shouty-ish at you... I'll call you tomorrow okay? Love you, Daddy.’

‘Love you too, baby girl. Look out for each other.’

Flopping backwards, Buffy disconnected the call and stared up at the ceiling, recovering from the all the shocks it had caused her. She looked at William when he went to sit next to her, lifting her legs and then placing them on his lap.

‘How’d you like to fill a fella in, love?’

She lifted one hand to massage her temple.

‘Well, first he told me you had a girlfriend. That’s why I was...with the death glare-age…’

The corner of his mouth lifted in an amused grin and he laughed, ‘A girlfriend? How’d he figure tha—’

His grin instantly faded as he tied two and two together. He suddenly remembered the conversation they'd had about the supplies for the apartment, Liam must have come to drop them off and… So that’s what Buffy had been so uncomfortable talking about with Liam.

‘He was here?! He heard us?!’

‘Yeah…?' she said carefully before she sat up quickly. 'But it’s okay! He doesn’t suspect a thing!’

‘But Buffy—’

She put a comforting hand on his arm, ‘We’re safe, Will. We just have to…be extra careful. Maybe you should just call him up… and suggest that he not come around uninvited for the next few days.’

She handed him the phone handset with a wiry smile.

~

One hour later...

Head and arms rested on the edge of the pool, Buffy looked out at the bustling city thirty-three floors below. Her toes just brushed the bottom. She didn’t have to turn around know that he’d entered the pool and was wading towards her. Her eyes closed at the feel of his warm hands massaging her waist under the water and his lips brushing along her shoulders.

‘Did you want to do anything special tonight, pet?’ he asked in a sotto voice.

Her head tilted to one side at the sensation of his voice tingling against her skin.

‘Are you sure that’s a good idea? Going out?’

He lifted his head to rest his chin on her right shoulder, fingers stroking at her navel.

‘Mmm…we don’t have to go out. I just had a quick look in the paper, your favourite movie’s on tonight.’

She turned to him with a gasp. ‘It is?’

He smiled softly, blue eyes glinting the same way the water did in the sunlight.

‘Yeah, I was thinking…maybe we could order up some of your favourite take out to go along with it.’

‘You have the most perfect ideas.’

She pulled him in for a deep kiss, only to break away struggling for breath as he kissed her neck and she jumped up to wrap her legs around his waist. The cold tiles pressed against her back and the heat of his body playing havoc with her nerve endings. She moved her head back to look at him properly, and whispered, their lips just touching, ‘Let’s go back inside.’

~

William couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so entirely at peace; Buffy resting in his lap, Buffy stroking his hand, Buffy all around him, Buffy with him. Nothing about this situation was new, but the emotion was potent. They were really together. A couple. Lovers. The gentle guitar melody from the television drew his attentions back to the screen.

‘Moon River, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style some day. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,wherever you're going I'm going your way…’

Sighing, Buffy never took her eyes away from the black and white picture.

‘She’s so pretty.’

He ran his fingers through her hair, gently massaging her scalp.

‘Yeah, she is. But you’re beautiful.’

He saw her cheeks flush with a light pink and she turned to look up at him.

‘You-you really think so?’

He’d never understand how completely unaware of herself she was. He supposed it was just a part of what made her so special.

‘You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.’

Everything about him just radiated honesty and adoration, his voice so gentle and intimate. Buffy raised her hand to cradle his cheek, running a feather light touch over a razor sharp cheekbone.

‘You’re sweet…and also not so bad yourself.’

She turned back to the screen when she saw his playful, cocky demeanor settle in. It wasn’t a side of him she got to see often, but she made a mental note to praise him more often if it meant she could see that eyebrow raise and lips twitch in a way which gave her tingles all over. Pulling the rug up to her chin, she snuggled against his leg. She knew she could never feel this way with another person. She just wanted to bask in the wonder of this feeling, part of her mourning the contact when everything would return to normal. But she wouldn’t think about that now, not with the way he tenderly stroked her arms and kept glancing down at her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Nothing could be better than this.

~

hah they thought that was a good as it got.
to be continued...