C'Mere And Kiss Me Princess
Andrew leaned into Xander, their lips meeting softly. Xander closed his eyes and sighed into the other man's mouth, seriously considering quitting work to stay home and kiss Andrew full time. Andrew nuzzled Xander's lips apart and licked the bottom one into his mouth, sucking it gently. Xander grinned and his lower lip popped back out of Andrew's tender grip. Xander opened his eyes to peer at the other man, his face flushed and his lips plumped and moist from the kiss. Xander leaned in again, and gently pushed Andrew to the floor, straddling his hips, and descended to kiss him once more. Andrew looked torn, "Anya?" he said.Xander narrowed an eye in confusion, "Did... did you just call me Anya?" he asked.
Andrew pursed his lips, "No," he hissed, "Anya's in the house," he clarified.
Xander grinned, "Don't worry," he assured the other man, "I'll keep my hands where you can see 'em." Xander steadied himself with one hand on the floor, and held the other up in front of Andrew's face, "See?" he said.
Andrew nodded happily, and then ducked forward to catch Xander's forefinger carefully between his teeth. Xander moaned softly as Andrew sucked the captured finger fully into his mouth, swirling his tongue nimbly around its length.
Xander smiled, shivering with pleasure, "I've changed my mind," he said, "You *are* evil."
Andrew let Xander's finger slip out of his mouth with a noisy slurp. Smiling devilishly, Andrew pulled Xander down, flush against his own body, until they were nose to nose. "You said I only had to be good until you got home," Andrew said innocently.
Xander chuckled and repositioned, wedging one of his legs between Andrew's so their bodies touched everywhere that they could. "Technically," he said, thrusting his hips to rub gently against Andrew, "I'm not home."
Andrew bit his lip and closed his eyes, "Then... maybe..." he managed, "We should get you home."
Xander pressed his lips against Andrew's, and then dragged them slowly across his cheek to rest beside his ear. "Well we could," he whispered, "But that would mean we'd have to stop what we're doing."
Andrew whimpered as Xander thrust against him gently again, "What about Anya?"
"She's probably upstairs," Xander smiled, and nuzzled into Andrew's ear, licking the tender lobe into his mouth.
Andrew swallowed hard, "What if she came downstairs..."
Xander released Andrew's ear, grazing his teeth over the soft skin as it slid from his lips, "She won't," Xander murmured, "...Maybe... maybe she's sleeping." Xander thrust against Andrew again with a little more feeling, dipping his head again to kiss a wet path across the line of his jaw.
Andrew let out a low moan, and his hips bucked up against Xander's, "Yeah," he said distractedly, "Sleeping... I'm sure she's... sleeping-," Andrew was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly. Both he and Xander looked up apprehensively to the source of the noise.
Anya was standing at the door to the living room, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed. Xander rolled off of Andrew and scrambled to his feet, "It-it's not what it looks like," he stammered, helping Andrew up to stand beside him. Anya raised her eyebrows expectantly. Xander fidgeted, "Um, I... uh... fell over?" he ventured.
"Yeah," Andrew agreed, nodding his head emphatically, "Xander tripped and *accidentally* fell on top of me..." Both Andrew and Xander looked at Anya hopefully.
Anya frowned, "And the moaning and thrusting?" she asked, "Was that an accident as well?" Xander blushed, and Andrew took a step behind him in an attempt to hide. Anya narrowed her eyes at them, "Well next time you decide to *accidentally* fall down and start suggestively sucking on fingers and inappropriately rubbing against each other, I'd suggest that you do it somewhere a little more private than your friend's living room floor."
Xander quirked an eyebrow, "An," he asked, "How long have you been standing there?"
Anya waved a hand dismissively, "*That's* not important," she said. "What's important is that school is over for the day," she placed her hands back on her hips and smiled smugly.
Xander looked at her, his brow furrowed in confusion, "And why exactly is that important?" he demanded.
Anya opened her mouth, but at the same moment, the front door opened and answered the question for her. Buffy, Dawn, and a handful of potential slayers poured through the door and swarmed in to lounge in the front room. Xander nodded his thanks to Anya, who gave him a small, but warm smile, and retreated to the kitchen. Taking hold of Andrew's hand, Xander leaned back to whisper something in his ear. Andrew giggled and nodded happily.
"Hey," Buffy greeted them warmly, interrupting their private exchange, "What are you two all whispery about?"
"Hmm?" Xander asked distractedly, "Oh, uh, we were just gonna go back to my place..."
Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Because," Andrew offered, "because there's a Star Trek marathon on that we wanted to watch."
Buffy smiled, "Is that the same one that you watched last night?" she asked.
"Uh..." Xander said, "No, this one's a... uh...."
"Next Gen!" Andrew exclaimed.
Xander nodded eagerly, "Yeah," he said, "The one last night was original series, and this one's-,"
"Xander," Buffy cut in, "Just go."
Xander sighed, relieved, "Promise to call if you need me, okay?" he insisted.
"Yeah, sure," Buffy said dryly, "if you'll promise to pick up the phone."
Xander smiled sheepishly, and led Andrew away to the door.
* * * * *
Later that evening, Willow was sitting at the kitchen table with Anya, drinking tea. Anya had been trying to impress upon Willow that Andrew was a bad influence on Xander. "I'm telling you, he's no good," she insisted in a whisper.Willow rolled her eyes, "I know you're upset about this, but that's not an excuse to bad mouth Andrew," she said, "He's good now, and more importantly, I think he's good for Xander."
Anya scowled, "I know," she admitted, "They're *perfect* for each other. I don't think I've ever seen Xander this happy before."
"Well, there ya go," Willow said brightly, "That's good, right? Xander's happy."
Anya's scowl softened to a pout, "He was never this happy when he was with me," she said, "I guess... I guess he never really loved me."
Willow shook her head emphatically, "No," she insisted, "No, Anya, he did." Patting Anya on the arm consolingly, Willow continued, "He *did* love you. He thought you were Mrs. Right." Anya's frown softened, "It just turned out he was looking for *Mister* Right instead."
Suddenly, Anya laughed, and then hushing herself, smiled guiltily. She lowered her voice, "I told Andrew that if he ever hurt Xander, I'd send him to an alternate universe where there was no Star Wars."
Willow shook her head enviously, "I wish I'd thought of that," she replied in a whisper, "I just threatened w threat was *really* good."
Anya smiled proudly, "I said I'd send him to an alternate universe where there was no Star Wars," she explained. Buffy looked mildly impressed. "We could threaten him again," Anya offered brightly, "I'd like to remind the little dweeb that he owes me a new pair of handcuffs."
Willow looked at Anya, horrified, and shook her head. "I can't believe they jumped into the bondage so quickly," she said, almost to herself.
Buffy shook her head dismissively, "Xander assured me there was no jumping," she said, "And that the bondage was strictly accidental."
Dawn stuck her head around the corner, into the kitchen, "Buffy?" she asked, "Giles called. He said to get everybody here tonight for a meeting," she cocked her head to the side, "Do you want me to call Xander?"
"Don't worry, Dawnie, I'll do it," Willow said, waving her hand. Dawn shrugged, and pulled back out of the kitchen. Willow rose from the table and went to the phone hanging on the wall. Dialing Xander's number, she held the phone to her ear and waited patiently.
Finally, Andrew answered, "Hello, Harris residence, this is Andrew speaking, how can I help you?" he asked breathlessly.
"Hi, Andrew," Willow said, "Is Xander there?"
"Um..." Andrew hesitated, "Yes, but he's all tied up and he can't come to the phone."
"Oh," Willow said, slightly taken aback, "Well, when he's free tell him Giles wants everyone here at Buffy's for a meeting tonight."
"Yeah, sure," Andrew said distractedly, "I'll tell him." And then he hung up.
Willow turned back to Buffy and Anya, "He was tied up and couldn't come to the phone," she explained, "But Andrew said he'd give him the message." Willow cocked her head to the side, "I wonder what he's all tied up with," she mused.
"Ropes?" Buffy suggested.
Willow frowned, "I'm sure he didn't mean *that*," she said, "He's probably just busy doing something and-,"
"Yeah," Anya cut in, "I'm sure he was doing something," she smiled knowingly, "Until that something had to go answer the phone."
Willow sighed and sunk back into her seat at the table, "When did Xander turn into mister-restraints, anyway?" she asked.
Anya cocked her head to the side reminiscently, "That's actually an interesting story..."
* * * * *
Andrew and Xander lay in each other's arms on the bed. The sheets were strewn loosely across their feet and over the bed onto the floor, mingled with a pile of hastily removed clothing and several short lengths of rope. Andrew brought Xander's wrists to his lips, and kissed them gently. "I don't have rope burns, do I?" Xander asked almost hopefully. He could handle a bit of rope burn, and it would be something he could carry around all day, reminding him of his lover even when they were apart. Like a souvenir."Maybe a little, but it's not really noticeable," Andrew said.
"Define 'not really noticeable'," Xander asked, "I mean, are we talking Spock's ears hidden under a sweat band, or Yoda being green?"
Andrew inspected Xander's wrists thoughtfully for a moment, "Hmm," he said, "not noticeable, like... the significance of Episode 1."
Xander smiled at the other man fondly, "You *really* didn't like that movie, did you," he surmised.
Andrew wrinkled his nose, "I just don't understand why they'd make a Star Wars movie without Han Solo," he said, "What's the point?"
Xander bit his tongue, <It shouldn't be possible to love someone this much,> he thought, <Would it be so wrong to tell him how I feel?> He looked down at the man in his arms, pale, innocent, and sweet. <Would he believe me if I told him?> Xander thought, <Him thinking I was lying- like Warren- would be worse than having to wait to tell him...> Sighing, Xander sat up. He looked down at Andrew, who lay flat on his back peering up at Xander. "I guess we should get dressed," Xander said, lazily tracing the line of Andrew's collar bone with a finger.
Andrew pouted, "Can't we just stay here for a little longer?" he pleaded.
Xander smiled, "We'll have plenty of time to lay in bed when this apocalypse thing is over," he said softly.
Andrew frowned, and reached out and took Xander's hand in his, "What if we don't?" he asked sadly, looking away.
Cocking his head to the side, Xander pursed his lips, "Why wouldn't we?" he asked, perplexed.
"Just..." Andrew started, continuing to avoid Xander's inquisitive gaze, "What if one of us... doesn't make it?"
Xander blanched, the thought hadn't crossed his mind. <What if one of us doesn't make it?> he thought, <I just got Andrew, I don't think I could stand to lose him...> Xander shook his head, "No," he said resolutely, "We will both make it through this, I promise you."
Andrew looked up finally, his eyes brimming with tears, "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I don't want to die," Xander said softly, lifting his hand to Andrew's cheek to wipe away his tears, "And I don't think I could live without you."
Andrew smiled sadly, "I almost think I shouldn't live through this," he said, "As penance for- for killing Jonathan."
Xander stooped and pressed a light kiss to Andrew's lips, "You're already serving your penance," he said. Andrew looked at him questioningly, and Xander smoothed another tear away, "You're making me happy."
"Xander," Andrew said, "If... if I don't make it-,"
"You *will*," Xander cut in firmly. Andrew nodded, and looked away again. Xander's resolve crumbled, <Tell him now,> he thought, <He's right, if you wait you may never get to do it.> Xander took a breath, "Andrew," he said, "There's... there's something I want you to know."
"It's okay," Andrew said, "You don't have to say it."
Xander lay his hand flat on Andrew's chest, over his heart, "But I want you to know," he said quietly.
Andrew looked back up at Xander, and gazing deep into his eyes, smiled serenely, "You don't have to say it," he said, and then taking the other man's hand from his chest, Andrew placed it over Xander's and pressed his own tightly on top, "Because I already know."
Xander shivered, suddenly feeling the cool in the room. He pulled Andrew into a tight hug that warmed each man to the core, and said a silent prayer that they would both live through the upcoming battle. Xander clung tightly to Andrew, unwilling to let him go. But somehow Xander knew that when he did let go, they would still be connected. Coupled, united, inseparable; joined by an unbreakable bond at the heart. The words didn't really matter, nor the how and the why. They were all tied up together for now and forever, because neither one could imagine living any other way.
~Fin~