The Underworld is a hedonist’s dream come true. William knew that his many years there should have given him the skills needed to persuade Buffy to take her place in his bed. He now considered it unfortunate and even short-sighted that he’d never been one to partake in many of the entertainments available. His condition had limited his options in some ways, but mostly he had simply been uninterested. He’d discovered his true talents early and had always preferred to stay within that realm. Now facing the most important challenge of his afterlife, William turned to the same place he always did, Willow.
She wasn’t looking thrilled with the topic. “Didn’t we have this talk when you were little?”
“I’m well aware of the mechanics involved. I’m asking about the rest—the process. How am I to know what she most desires?
Willow sighed. “You talk to her. When you…touch her, you gauge her reactions.”
“You mean her pulse, her rate of breathing?”
Tara laughed softly.
William turned to frown at her.
“I-I’m sorry, William. I’m n-not making fun. It’s only that you are both making this far more difficult than it is. Surely, you’ve read that soul mates are perfectly matched.”
He nodded. “Of course, but that doesn’t help me.”
“But it does. Your...” She sighed slightly as she tried to find the right words. “Your fantasies will be very similar.”
He shook his head. “I don’t have—”
“You do. Everyone has fantasies. I could guess some of yours, based upon your aura, if you’d like.”
His eyes widened in shock. “You can see…”
“It’s an important part of your person, William.”
He glanced over at Willow.
She shrugged.
Tara reached over and gave his hand a gentle pat. “The thing you are thinking about right now but are too embarrassed to act on, that is exactly what you should do.”
His cheeks reddened. “You’re certain.”
“Yes.”
William nodded and stood up slowly.
He was nearly at the library door when Willow called out to him. “William.”
He looked back at her over his shoulder.
“Have fun.”
An hour later he stood in front of Buffy’s door and took a deep and entirely unnecessary breath. He squared his shoulders and knocked.
“Come in.”
William walked in to find Buffy using the playing cards he’d left in her room to build an elaborate structure. “Is there another building material you’d like me to procure for you? Paper cards don’t seem particularly suitable for a structure of that height.”
Buffy shook her head and gave him a serious look. “I thought you were mad at me. You stormed out before.”
“I apologize.”
She noted that he didn’t try to explain and understood why. She nodded and held up a card. “I don’t really know how to play solitaire.”
“I could teach you if you’d like.”
“That would be nice. I get bored in here and creeped out when I leave. Did you know that there’s a naked woman chained up in the library?”
“Leah. She’s a nice enough girl although she can be rather chatty at times.”
“Okay, but why is she chained up in the library?”
He shrugged. “She enjoys being displayed, I suppose.”
“Uh huh. So this is normal?”
“It’s happened fairly regularly for as long as I’ve been here.”
Buffy took a moment to process that thought. She shook her head and laughed. “Here…is very strange.”
“It is, though one adjusts in time. I actually came by to see if you might like to play a game with me.”
“I’ve got a deck of cards.” She grinned.
“I have a somewhat different game in mind. Have you been to the baths yet?”
Buffy frowned. “There’s a shower in my bathroom. I’ve used it, if that’s what you’re asking.” She shrugged.
William grinned. “This is rather different.” He held out his hand. “Let me show you.”
He pushed his nerves aside and found he was feeling oddly calm and resolute by the time they reached the baths. He led her into the room he’d had prepared and smiled at her gasp.
“Is that a hot tub? It’s huge. I’ve never…” Her eyes flitted around the large room, trying to take everything in. “It’s gorgeous.” Nearly everything in the room appeared to be formed from marble. The walls, the floors, even the large circular pool in the center of the room were smooth and gleaming. Steam rose in misty puffs from the water and the air smelled like honeysuckles. She turned back to William. “I don’t have a bathing suit.”
“It’s a private room, love. No one will intrude.”
“Oh. Oh! You mean…um…”
He reached over and caressed her cheek with his thumb. “You were right before when you said I would be jealous if another was given the honor of touching you. Indeed, I am going to have to insist that I serve as your only bath attendant.”
Her cheeks blushed instantly. “You mean…I thought…” She looked away. He’d wanted her to play a game he’d said. It had never occurred to her that he meant this type of game. She heard William moving behind her but didn’t turn to look. “I thought you meant checkers or maybe ping pong. You guys have ping pong here, right? I’m just not…” She turned to him and gasped.
He’d taken off his clothes. All of them. He walked towards her with a shocking lack of self-consciousness. Of course she realized he had no reason to have any; his body was literally formed by gods and goddesses. They’d done a spectacular job.
Buffy tried to look away, but couldn’t. Her knees shook. Her thighs ached. Her nipples hardened. “William?”
He dropped down on one knee and reached for her hand. Clutching her fingers gently, he brought his forehead down to rest on her hand. “Allow me to serve you, my lady.” He looked up at her then, his blue eyes shaded by thick dark eyelashes. “May I undress you now?”
She nodded. It wasn’t a conscious decision; she was still startled a moment later when he stood up and reached for the zipper on her dress. “I’m not sure this is a good idea, William.” She felt his fingers slide under the fabric on her shoulders and she swayed. “Oh God.”
He held the fabric carefully as he slid it down the length of her body. “Gods and Goddesses,” he reminded in a husky whisper.
She stepped out of the dress and watched in wonder as he walked over to the wall and carefully hung it on a hook near his own clothing. He walked back to her slowly. She trembled. “William.”
He stood behind her. “Yes, my lady.”
She felt his breath on her neck and the light movements of his fingers as he unlatched her bra. He stepped in front of her and began sliding the straps of her bra down her arms. She crossed her arms to stop him. “This is a game to you?” She looked at him with troubled eyes.
He moved closer until their bodies nearly touched and then leaned in to whisper in her ear. “The game only allows me to worship you as I wish to.” He stepped back and looked almost shy when he asked, “will you let me play it?”
When she didn’t respond he reached again for the straps of her bra and gently pulled the bits of silk and lace down her arms. He inhaled quickly at the sight of her breasts, bare and pretty with their pebble hard pink nipples, but he didn’t say anything. Bath attendants were not to speak of such things unless asked. He carried the bra over to the wall and placed it on the hook. He would draw out every moment. It was all part of the fantasy. He kneeled in front of her and reached for the tiny strings at the tops on her thighs. He’d been dreaming of pulling those strings since he’d selected the pair and placed it in her chest. His hands shook ever so slightly as he gave them a tug, undoing the little bows that kept up the small scraps of silk that hide her from his view. He caught the fabric as it fell and brought it to join the rest.
He walked back, stood behind her and slid his fingers into her hair. “Shall I wash your hair or pin it up, my lady?”
“My…oh!” She leaned back into his touch. “What do you want to…”
“I want only to please you, my lady, as any good attendant would.”
She could hear the slight smirk in his tone. He was apparently very determined to play the game correctly. “Put it up— my hair. You can pin it up.”
“As you wish, my lady.”
A few moments later, when he held out his hand and led her down the steps into the almost too hot water, she found herself regretting her choice. If she’d told him to wash her hair he’d have something to do other than wash her body. She wondered if she’d collapse at the first touch of his hands.
He walked her to the center of the pool, where the water rose past her waist, and then returned to collect a large natural sponge from a basket sitting on the ledge. He let the sponge fill with water as he walked back to her and then held it near the nape of her neck as the water poured back out. Again and again he filled the sponge and let the hot water slid down her body. When she stood with her eyes closed and her shoulders relaxed, he went back to the basket and collected the soap. He poured the sweet smelling cream on to a soft cloth and then brought it down gently on her back.
“Oh.” Her eyes opened and she turned to look at him in surprise.
William smiled at the desire he found in her gaze, purposefully lowered his eyes and began gliding the cloth in small circles on her back. He took his time, washing and rewashing every inch of smooth skin from her neck to the small of her back. He used the sponge to rinse the suds off and then brought the soapy cloth around to ghost along her collarbone.
Her knees nearly gave out. She stumbled forward and braced herself by placing her palms against his chest.
Choking back a groan at the unexpected contact, William reached out and grasped her elbow as she steadied herself. He continued to hold her elbow as he slid the cloth down the valley between her breasts.
His knuckles brushed against her stomach and she whimpered. She wanted him so badly it hurt. She pushed against his chest. “That’s enough. I…” Her gaze settled on his mouth. Lust clouded her mind and she barely remembered the rule. She couldn’t kiss him, she couldn’t, but the gods knew she wanted to. “That’s enough.” She saw a flash of hurt in his eyes, but he recovered quickly.
“As you wish, my lady. I’ll fetch you a towel.” He held out an arm for her to steady herself on as she climbed the wide stairs and then quickly brought a soft white towel and wrapped it around her.
Buffy clutched the towel and took a step towards the hooks holding her clothes.
He grasped her hand. “Perhaps you’ll allow me to serve you in another way.” He gestured to other side of the room.
Her eyes widened as she noticed the thick rugs and stacks of pillows set under and a gauzy canopy. Her jaw dropped.
“There’s massage oil warming. If it pleases you…I could rub your back.” His thumb slid in sensual circles against her palm. “Or your feet.” His mouth twitched slightly. “Your hands perhaps.”
Her brow furrowed. “You’re making fun of me.”
“Never, my lady.” He stepped closer and spoke very quietly. “I only wish please you in whatever fashion you choose.”
She couldn’t help but let her gaze slide down his body and onto to the erection he’d had since he’d first removed his clothes.
He spoke more pointedly. “I am only concerned with your pleasure.” He watched her swallow hard and wondered if she would bolt. The distant memory of a small rabbit he’d tried to pat as a boy passed through his mind. Buffy looked a rather lot like that rabbit just now. He clutched her hand more fully and gave her a gentle tug in the direction of the rugs. She stepped towards him and swayed. He caught her elbow again. “May I carry you, my lady?”
“No. You can offer me your arm.” She just needed to take control of the situation. William was claiming that she was in charge, but they both knew he was running the game.
He nodded and led her to the canopy.
She kneeled carefully on a large pillow and turned to look at him. “My back. Only my back.”
He nodded. “Of course, my lady.” He knelt beside her and reached for the towel. As he opened it, he asked, “Would you like to lie down? I could arrange the pillows for you.”
“I’ll sit.” She absolutely wanted to lie down, if she did she’d feel far less naked, but she stubbornly held on to the idea that she could gain control of her desire by leading the game. She held her back straight and rested her butt on her heels
“Very well.” He poured warm jasmine scented oil on to his hand and rubbed his palms together. He’d seen massages given, had even had one given to him a few times, but he’d never done this. He carefully laid his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. When Buffy moaned and fell back against his chest, he let his hands slide down to cup her breasts.
Sparks of pleasure shot through her body. “You were…oh, gods…you were supposed to keep your hands on my back.”
“I suppose this is rather impudent of me.” He teased her nipple with his palm. “Are you terribly displeased?” He rubbed his nose up her neck and kissed the soft skin below her ear.
“William, oh that’s…oh…”
He pinched her nipple. “I suppose I shall have to accept any punishment you find suitable.”
Buffy groaned as she let her head fall back. “Public flogging.”
He chuckled deeply and slid his hand down to cover her stomach. “You may flog me if you wish, but you’ll do so in private.” He shook his head. “Blood thirsty little girl.” He pressed his lips to her temple.
His words barely made their way through the fog of pleasure clouding her head. “William!”
His hand inched lower. “Yes, love…I mean, my lady.”
Her hands fisted around the fabric of the towel that still lay draped across her thighs. “Touch me.” She didn’t even recognize her own voice.
He bit gently on her earlobe before responding. “As you wish.” His hand dropped down, brushed through the short triangle of curls and cupped her mound. Her legs were pressed too closely together for him to go any further. “Relax, love. Let me please you.”
She moved slightly and cried out when his fingers began exploring her in earnest. “Oh that’s…just like...Oh!” She came quietly and brought her head down towards her knees. She reached her hands up, threaded her fingers against the back of her head and brought her elbows close together, effectively hiding her face. She swallowed hard and tried to slow her breathing. “I know what the game was about, William.”
“Buffy?”
“This was the part where you show me just what I’ll be missing when I leave.”
“That is not—”
She sat up and looked at him over her shoulder. “I’m not angry. I suppose I thought it would be easier if we didn’t start this, but I don’t regret it.” She shrugged slightly.
“I didn’t intend to make you sad, Buffy. I just—”
“Did you think I didn’t know it would be like this with us?”
His head tilted to the side and he frowned. “Did you?”
“Of course I did.” She sighed as she turned towards him and reached up to cup his cheek. She could still see the faint bruise Aphrodite had left on him the day before. “I do know what you are to me. I’d be lying if I said you don’t touch me in ways no one else can.”
His heart leapt into his throat. “Stay with me then. We could have eternity, Buffy. You say you feel this.” He gestured back and forth between them. “It’s only the beginning of what we could have, what we could be together. Stay.”
“If I do that my mother will spend the rest of her life wondering what happened to me. My father won’t ever stop looking for me. How could I possibly let them spend their lives imagining the worst? I can’t start a life with you when it means making everyone else who loves me suffer. It’s…” She shook her head.
“Selfish.”
She nodded. She didn’t say the rest, that already she felt like her previous life was a distant memory because her time in Hades had been so much more intense or that he was well worth everything she would have to give up to stay. How do you tell someone that you love them more than anything but can’t stay?
“You’re right. Buffy, I…I won’t—I won’t ask you again.” He stood up, walked across the room and collected their clothes. He dressed quietly and then turned to help her with the zipper on the back of her dress. “Let me, love.”
He walked her back to her room but didn’t go in.
“Will I see you later?” Buffy asked, placing her hand softly on his chest.
“If you open the door when I knock.” He smiled sadly. “I can’t stay away. I find myself standing outside your door whether I meant to walk here or not.”
“I’ll open the door.”
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Okay-I am reposting the chapters that got lost during the site's recent troubles and then I will post another chapter or two. I can't remember exactly what was up here before-so skim each one to make sure you've read them. :) Thanks for reading and commenting. :)