Chapter Seventeen
Two weeks later, Buffy spent a good ten minutes staring at the phone before she finally got the nerve to pick it up and dial. For a long moment she stood silently listening to it ring; her breathing heavy and her fingers drumming loudly on the table in front of her.
“’Lo.”
“Will? Hi, it’s Buffy.”
“Hey, pet. What can I do for you?”
She heard a smile in his voice and it helped calm her nerves – a little.
“Actually I was wondering if you’d like to join me for dinner tomorrow night.”
There was a long pause and her heart began to thump even faster. Absently she wondered if it was possible to have a heart attack just from talking on the phone.
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
She barely refrained from cursing at him. The bastard was making her work for it. She could so tell he was laughing at her. Running through several possible answers she decided direct was best.
“Yes, I am.”
“Well then, I would love to join you for dinner tomorrow night.”
A relieved breath escaped her before she could catch it and she hurriedly covered the speaker, hoping he didn’t hear it. Desperate much? “That’s great. I’ll be at the store at closing time to pick you up.”
“Can I ask where we’re going?”
Buffy smiled, beginning to feel more relaxed now that he’d said yes. “No. That’s a secret.”
He chuckled in that deep, sexy way he had and she felt it all the way to her toes. “But then how will I know what to wear, love?”
“Oh, you know,” she replied cheekily. “Just wear something pretty.”
He laughed. “No problem. I’ll see you then.”
After she hung up the phone Buffy sank onto the kitchen stool.
“Don’t you look like the cat that swallowed the canary,” Joyce said as she strolled into the kitchen with an empty coffee cup. “What’s going on?”
Buffy couldn’t stop the giddy grin that sprung up on her face. “I’m going on a date with William.”
“Ahhh.” Joyce nodded knowingly. “A real date this time? Not another one of those I’m-not-sure-if-it’s-actually-a-date dates?”
“Hey.” Buffy cried in indignation, though it did nothing to shift the grin. “Yes, it’s a real date.”
Joyce laughed as she left the kitchen again, throwing back over her shoulder. “It’s about time. I was beginning to think I was going to have to draw you two a map.”
**********
Buffy thought she’d never been more relaxed in her life. Popping a grape in her mouth she gazed out over the nearby water, watching the waves crash against the shore.
“Are you cold pet?”
She wasn’t, but that didn’t mean she had to admit it. “A little.”
She couldn’t help but grin to herself when William beckoned her closer and then gathered her in his arms. Snug in his embrace, she couldn’t help but muse on how perfect the evening had been so far. She’d picked William up at the store, as promised, and they’d driven to a beach just outside L.A. where they’d enjoyed a wonderful picnic, compliments of a café her mother had recommended. They’d talked and laughed for hours about anything and everything. Now, having finished dinner and a fabulous bottle of Merlot, they were relaxing on a large rug on the sand, simply enjoying each other’s company.
“Better?” he asked.
“Hmmm,” was the only reply she could muster. Languidly she looked up at him, his face illuminated by the bright moonlight. “This is nice.”
He reached out to trace one finger down her cheek. “Yeah,” he murmured. Then his lips touched hers in a gentle kiss. It was no more than a light caress but still she gasped at the contact.
Stretching upward she pressed her lips more firmly against his, longing for the taste of him. Wanting everything he’d held back from her in the past.
“Buffy,” he whispered.
“William,” she replied, sliding her arms around his neck. She wanted no doubt in his mind that she knew exactly who she was kissing. And she wanted more.
Boldly she turned to press against him, moaning as her aching breasts rubbed against his chest. When he lowered himself back onto the sand she followed him eagerly. She’d had enough of the waiting and the dancing around each other. She wanted him and she wanted him now.
“Will,” she gasped, sliding her lips down his neck. “I need you.”
He responded by digging his fingers into her waist, arching his body up into hers. She dragged her fingernails down his chest and he practically growled in response.
Lifting his head up off the sand he used his fingers to comb the hair back from her face so he could see her clearly. “Come home with me,” he whispered hoarsely.
She smiled happily. “Yes.”
At that single word he devoured her mouth, exploring her with his tongue as he explored her body with his hands.
Revelling in his touch, Buffy clambered on top of him so she was straddling his hips with her legs. Lustily, she ground herself against his obvious erection, delighting in his moans. The way he bucked his hips up against her made her cry out.
Suddenly he flipped them over. Drawing one of her legs up over his hips, he sank onto her body. Buffy felt like electricity was sparking and tripping along her skin. She gloried in the weight of him on top of her; the way his teeth dragged along her collarbone, the way his tongue dipped down between her breasts.
When his fingers slid under the strap of her top, sliding it down over her shoulder she could only shiver in anticipation. She felt the material glide over the taut peak of her breast and gasped as the cool ocean air washed over her bare skin. Then his mouth was on her, hot and wet; his tongue laving her with long, firm strokes. She cried out, her back arching till she thought her spine would snap. More, she needed more of his mouth on her.
Then suddenly he was gone.
“Buffy,” he groaned, his voice heavy with lust. “We should stop.”
“What?” She frowned in confusion. He couldn’t possibly stop now. She could barely think, much less make decisions about anything. “Please William. Don’t stop. I need you.”
“Hey,” he soothed, holding her close. “Just till we get back to my place.” He levered himself back from her body and slid his hands down to her ankles before beginning the long trek back up to her neck. “I want to explore every inch of your delectable body; preferably in the comfort of a nice, big bed.”
Grateful that he wasn’t backing out on her, Buffy smiled. “How fast can you drive?”