Chapter 24:

Buffy and William lay together in silence for a long while, neither of them quite ready to give voice to the thoughts running through their minds. Silence was enough for the moment.

William had not missed that Buffy hadn't returned his declaration of love. He hadn't really expected her to, and while part of him was simply relieved that she hadn't reacted negatively to it, he was also disappointed to find that she really didn't love him back. Part of him had hoped for it even as he'd told himself it wouldn't happen.

He was back with her now, but William wondered how long it would last. She didn't love him, and eventually she'd want to be with someone whom she did love. She'd break his heart all over again, and this time it would be for good. He tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.

Buffy felt William's embrace strengthen. She couldn't stop thinking about those three words he'd let slip earlier and whether or not he'd actually meant them. It certainly wasn't the first time a man had claimed to love her during sex, though it was the first time the words came as something other than a shout of orgasmic bliss. Did that give more credence to his words?

What if William only thought he loved her? She knew this was his first relationship and that the feelings of desire were strong on both sides—that much was obvious. Was he confusing lust for love? And what happened when the passion cooled, as Buffy knew it had a habit of doing? Would the love he claimed to feel for her dry up with it?

She couldn't shake that thought, no matter how hard she tried. It was a very real possibility, and one that Buffy found herself leaning towards. He thought he loved her now, but soon enough he'd realize it had been just lust.

Buffy couldn't stand that thought. It cut her deeply, and she reached up to put her hand against his cheek, stroking it gently for a moment before tugging him down for a hard kiss.

William kissed her back hungrily, feeling his erection returning already. It took but a touch from Buffy and his desire was nearly uncontrollable. She pressed herself against him, rubbing her wet pussy against his thigh, and William knew he had to have her again. He'd gone too long without her and his body felt starved. The quick tumble he'd had with her by the door had merely whet his appetite. He pulled Buffy up, rolling her over so she was straddling his waist.

Buffy immediately slid down, taking him inside. Her whole body trembled as he filled her and she leaned forward slightly, bracing herself against his chest. William's hands slid along her thighs and hips, sending shockwaves in their wake.

"Need you to move, kitten," William said, pushing his hips up to urge her on.

Buffy groaned at the desperation in his voice as she started her rhythm, slowly rocking her hips against him. Every nerve in her body was on alert and even this was almost too much for her. The intensity of their coupling was shaking her to her very core, hitting her hard after so many days without him.

William's entire body strained for more. He felt as if he was drowning in her even as he reached to her for something to hold on to. He pushed his hips up harder with every thrust, needing more than the gentle rocking sensation she was creating. He needed all the passion, all the heat. He needed everything.

Soon, he was slamming into her, making Buffy buck upwards with every hard thrust. She cried out over and over, her body shaking uncontrollably. She clung to William's shoulders, not trusting herself to stay upright without support. She could feel her approaching orgasm gathering strength inside of her, tightening her body until she exploded with a scream.

Buffy slumped forward against William's chest, her only movements those of the involuntary aftershocks making her spasm. William flipped them over, hooking her legs over his arms so he could drive into her. Buffy grunted with every thrust, her mind having practically shut down from it all. Finally, William called out, pinning her hips to the mattress with his as he came hard inside of her.

William rolled off of Buffy, lying on his back and panting heavily as he stared up at the ceiling. He'd already had sex with Buffy so many times that he'd lost count, but that… He could barely move now, his body feeling almost completely drained. He was fighting to get his breathing to return to normal, and his heart was pounding in his chest so loudly that he wondered if Buffy could hear it.

Finally, he felt his strength return enough that he could roll over, gathering Buffy in his arms. He pulled her close and looked down at her, only to find her crying. "Buffy?" William asked softly, worry creasing his face. "What's wrong, luv?"

"Not wrong," Buffy replied, her voice weak. "Just so much… You were gone, and now you're here, and that was… God, William, I don't know what that was exactly, but it felt…"

"Intense?"

"Yeah."

William pushed her hair back from her face before brushing away her tears. She looked so beautiful there, even with her hair mussed and her make-up long since gone. "I love you," he said softly.

Buffy tensed in his arms. "William, I…" She looked away. "Don't."

Her response broke his heart, especially after what they'd just shared. "Buffy, please… I'm not asking for anything return, luv, just please don't turn away from me like that."

She looked up slightly, though she wouldn't meet his eyes. "You don't love me, William."

That wasn't at all the response William had expected. "What?"

"You don't love me. You only think you do."

William stiffened. He'd expected Buffy to tell him she didn't love him, not the other way around. "You don't know what I'm feeling, Buffy."

"Yes, I do."

William felt himself growing angry. How could she presume to know his feelings better than he did? "Oh, well then, by all means, enlighten me on what I'm feeling. Do tell."

"It's just the way things have been between us, William—so passionate and intense. And since you've never been in a relationship before, you're…"

William didn't let her finish. He got out of the bed, storming over to his clothes and snatching them from the floor. Buffy sat up, pulling the sheet over her chest. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"Home. I can't be around you right now."

"William, I'm sorry," Buffy said as she watched him dress. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just don't want you to be confused about what you're feeling."

"I'm not!" William yelled, making Buffy shrink back. "Bloody hell, I know what I feel for you, and it's love. Although I wish it wasn't, considering what a right bitch you've been to me this week. Be a sight easier if I could just bloody hate you."

"How can you say that?" Buffy asked. "You say you love me and then turn around and say that? That should prove my point right there!"

"It's doesn't prove a damn thing except that you're driving me out of my sodding mind! There's nothing I've wanted in this relationship except to be here for you—to love you—and you just throw it back in my face. You don't trust me. You think the worst of me every chance you get." William held out his hand, ticking things off on his fingers as he listed them. "You've accused me of thinking you're a whore and not wanting you because of my class standing. You've accused me of screwing around with a woman I wouldn't touch for anything in the world, and instead of just asking me about it personally in the first place, you jumped to conclusions after catching two bloody seconds of the scene—and followed that up by yelling that you never wanted to see me again. And now you have the audacity to sit there and tell me I don't love you." He threw his hands up. "Bloody fucking hell… Either I do love you or I'm incredibly masochistic to put up with this shite."

Buffy gaped for a moment. "William, I…"

"No. Just don't. I'm tired of this, Buffy. I thought after I found out what had you so upset that I could just explain to you the truth and we could go back to the way things were, but apparently I was wrong. I guess that's because of my completely lack of relationship knowledge, too. How stupid of me." William turned around before halting, facing her again.  "You know, I may not have the experience of the men you've known in the past, but no one will ever love you like I do. Ever." He stormed out then, slamming the door hard enough to shake the room.

As soon as he was gone, Buffy's tears broke into sobs. She had never expected William to respond like that. He'd been so angry…

And the worst part was that he was right about much of what he'd said. She never had given him the benefit of the doubt, had never listened to his side. But then again, how could she have done things any differently given her past experiences? Every other time she'd faced something like this, the man had been doing exactly what she'd accused him of. How could she have assumed things to be any different with William? She had to look out for herself, after all.

But if everything William had said was true, them her behavior had been grossly unfair to him. He was right to call her a bitch. She'd been that and more. She realized now that she probably shouldn't have responded the way she did when William had told her he loved her, but she hadn't really been rejecting him like he thought. It was simply something she couldn't just let herself believe. She'd accepted a man's love in the past and he'd turned right around and cruelly taken it back, making it quite clear that he'd never really loved her to begin with. What if that happened with William? What if he realized not too long from then that he didn't really love her at all? That's all she'd been trying to prevent. She just didn't want him to say he loved her unless it was real—and it certainly couldn't be real for him now.

Or could it? Buffy knew without a doubt that she loved him. Was it really so farfetched that he'd fallen just as quickly?

But he was a guy, and they were different from women—at least in Buffy's experience. They could turn their feelings off and on, care one minute and not the next. That's just what they did and it was what she'd come to expect. Even her own father had easily stopped loving her.

But then there was Giles… He had nothing really to gain from taking her in and showing her kindness the way that he had. Furthermore, he'd asked for nothing in return. Didn't that alone fly in the face of all her beliefs about men?

So maybe Giles wasn't like the other men she knew. Maybe he could care about someone besides himself. If that were the case with him, then it was possible that she'd been wrong in her beliefs that all men her like her father and Angel. And if that were true, then it could be real love that William was feeling for her.

He'd never treated her badly. The two times she'd thought he'd done something to hurt her he claimed were misunderstandings. Why shouldn't she believe him?

Because she was afraid. Her past with Angel had done so much damage, made her terrified to trust. Angel had used her and thrown her away, only to then come back and do it all over again. Buffy had been petrified that William would do the same thing, suddenly going from one sort of man to another the way Angel had.

But it hadn't really been sudden with Angel. Buffy knew that now, even if she hadn't wanted to see it in the past. She had adored Angel and that had led her to do things and accept things that she never should have. She'd known deep down that he'd never been faithful to her, yet she'd also let herself be willingly blind in order to stay with the man she loved. The warning signs had all been there—she'd just chosen to ignore them.

They hadn't been there with William. He'd been kind and supportive, never once showing a single sign that he wanted to hurt her. What had happened with Cecily was easily put off on her, as cruel and vindictive as she tended to be towards Buffy.

And the way William looked at her… Angel had never looked at Buffy that way—not once in their whole relationship. William's eyes held so much emotion that it frightened her sometimes. It was raw and intense, pure feeling. It was…

It was love.

Buffy gasped at the realization, her heart beating faster. She'd been so worried about not being loved that she'd missed it when it was right there in front of her. She knew it now. She'd seen it every time he looked at her, felt it every time he touched her.

William loved her.

*** *** ***

William found the house quiet when he returned home, his mother having apparently already gone to bed. It was still relatively early, but it was common enough that he didn't question it. She was tired quite often.

He went straight to his room, his body tense with anger. How could she look at him and tell him he didn't love her? What right did she have to decide his feelings for him?

His frustration boiling over, William swiped an arm across his desk, knocking everything to the ground with a roar. Tears stung his eyes even as his body shook in fury, and he grabbed a glass from his side table, throwing it against the wall so it smashed.

His breaths were coming in sharp, ragged pants, and he knew he had to get a grip on himself. Hoping it would calm him down, he went into the bathroom and stripped off his clothes before turning on the shower as hot as he could stand it.

William stood in the stall, angry tears mingling with the water. He tried not to think of the time he'd spent in there with Buffy, how much she'd made him feel. He didn't care what she said, he knew it was love. Nothing else could feel like this. The lust and desire were certainly present, but that wasn't all he felt. How could she belittle his feelings that way, make it all about his body and not at all about his heart?

Finally, William had control of himself again, and he turned off the water, stepping out of the shower. He grabbed a towel from the rack, wrapping it around his hips as he walked back towards his bedroom. He was drained and needed to sleep. He could deal with things in the morning.

William opened the door, stopping short when he looked into his room.

Buffy was sitting on the end of his bed.

*** *** ***

Chapter 25:

Buffy heard the shower running in the bathroom when she came into William's room. She almost went in there to join him, knowing that no matter how angry William was, he'd forget it the moment she was wet, naked, and on her knees in front of him.

But that wasn't why she was there. She had hurt William and she needed to try to make that better, not just gloss it over with sex. That could come after she'd given him her explanation…

She sat on the bed, nervously wringing her hands as she listened to the sound of the water. Her heart began to beat faster when she heard the water shut off and knew that William would be out soon. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she had to say to him. She had to do this, had to be strong enough to open up and let William in.

Then he stepped out of the bathroom and all coherent thoughts promptly left her mind. He was still damp from the shower and wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips. She stared, gaping. Even after seeing him naked as many times as she had, she couldn't seem to get used to just how gorgeous he was.

"What are you doing here?" William asked sharply, stopping short when he saw Buffy on his bed. "Come to stare at me all night?"

Buffy blinked, coming back to herself. "What? Oh, sorry. You're just all with the wet and naked, and I…"

William's eyebrow arched in annoyance. "Did you have something important to say?"

"Uh, yeah, but… I can't say it with you like that."

William sighed heavily, going over to his dresser and getting out a pair of sweatpants. Buffy swallowed at the quick view she got of his perfect ass as he dropped the towel before putting on the pants. He turned around then, walking back over to the bed and sitting down a little bit away from Buffy. "So if you've got some reason to be here other than to drool, then go ahead and spit out what you have to say."

Buffy gave him a dirty look at that. "I'm trying to apologize. You don't have to be all rude."

"Can't say I'm in the best of moods right now. I don't think I have to tell you why."

"I know." Buffy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm sorry, William. I was wrong for what I said earlier tonight—and for how I acted about everything that happened with Cecily. I…I was scared."

"Scared?" William asked, frowning. "What were you scared of?"

"You." William's eyes widened at Buffy's response, but she stopped him before he could speak. "But not really you. I just… I was afraid of what could happen with you. My past relationships haven't been with real winners, and it wasn't that I didn't trust you—I just didn't trust any guy."

"But I wouldn't hurt you, Buffy," William replied. "I haven't even done anything to make it seem like I would."

"I know." Buffy sighed. "Look, let me tell you about my first relationship, okay? Maybe then it'll make more sense."

William nodded. "Yeah. Go ahead."

"Okay. Here goes." Buffy took another deep breath, preparing herself. She had never told a lot of this to anyone before, but she hoped that hearing it could make William see why the prospect of loving a man scared her so damn much. "My freshman year of high school, I started dating this guy—Angel," she began. "For the first couple of months, it was wonderful—like a high school fairy tale. We were the 'it' couple, and I was already fantasizing about our wedding, the house with the white picket fence, the two and a half children—all that

"But then he came up to me one day and told me he was tired of me being such a tease. He said he didn't date girls who didn't put out and that if I didn't start acting the way a girlfriend should, then he would find someone who did. I…I was only fourteen and I didn't feel ready. But I was so in love with him. I would've done anything for him, anything to keep him."

Buffy turned away, unable to look at William as she told him what happened next. "We had sex in the backseat of his car after a football game three days later. I could tell Angel wasn't very pleased with me, but I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I was nervous and it hurt. And then he was so frustrated with me that I started crying, and that only made it all worse. He didn't say a word to me when he drove me home and then he didn't even walk me to my door."

Buffy felt the strong memory of all the humiliation she felt that night rush her. Her stomach turned as she remembered getting out of the car and watching Angel drive away without even looking at her, remembered crying herself to sleep and hating herself for being such a horrible girlfriend. It was then that William reached out, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "It's all right, pet," he said soothingly, kissing the top of her head. "I understand what you're saying to me. You don't have to torture yourself by telling me the rest."

"I can do it," Buffy replied. And in the warm, protective circle of William's embrace, she really felt like she could. "I need to tell you this, let you know where I've been and why I am what I am. Besides—it gets worse."

William tightened his arms around Buffy. Now that he knew what Angel really was, his jealousy was gone, though he also found himself hating the other man even more. How could anyone treat someone that way? And to think it had happened to Buffy… "Go on then, pet. Get it off your chest, yeah?"

"Okay." Buffy swallowed. "I thought it was over after that, but then Angel showed up at school that Monday acting as if everything was just fine. He said that since it was my first time he understood and that I could make it up to him. I did try to, but I still didn't know what to do. I'd get so nervous that I'd pretty much just lie there, and that would only make him angrier. I found out later that he and his friends used to call me 'the starfish' behind my back because he said I was like a starfish, all flat with my limbs spread."

If Angel had been in the room right then, William was pretty sure he'd try to kill him. Instead, he rubbed gentle circles against Buffy's back, letting her know he was there, supporting her.

"Looking back, I don't really blame myself the way I did then," Buffy said. "I remember one time, we were having sex and he slipped out of me. I thought he'd stop and fix it, but he didn't. He just kept moving on top of me, sliding between my legs. I didn't know what I should do, or if maybe it was something he was doing on purpose that I didn't understand. I thought maybe he'd be mad at me if I said anything, but then it just kept going on like that."

"Wait," William said, pulling back to look at her. "Are you telling me that this tosser didn't know the difference between bein' inside that exquisite little pussy of yours and humping your leg?"

"Apparently not," Buffy replied, shaking her head.

"Please tell me you don't still think the bad sex was your fault, 'cause I know I'm not exactly an expert on the subject, but I know when I'm having sex and when I'm not."

Buffy giggled. "No, I don't blame myself now. Kinda the point of that little anecdote. I can look back on it and realize I was sleeping with a selfish, idiotic jackass. But at fourteen, I hated myself for it. I thought there was something seriously wrong with me because I couldn't get into sex. My friends would talk about what they'd do with their boyfriends and about how good it felt, and I thought I was defective or something. I'd keep telling myself I'd make myself get more into it the next time, but apparently such passionate foreplay as telling me 'hurry up and get your clothes off' before climbing on top of me and sweating just doesn't get me hot."

William's opinion of Angel managed to plummet even lower. How daft was he to have a woman as gorgeous as Buffy in his bed and not take advantage of the situation? It boggled his mind.

"So things went on like that for a while," Buffy continued, "Until there was this party. I'd been sick earlier that day and wasn't going to go, but when I started to feel better, I decided to anyway. I showed up only to find Angel with his tongue shoved down the throat of Cordelia Chase, the daughter of one of my father's business partners. I'd known her since we were kids, but apparently that didn't stop her from screwing around with my boyfriend.

"I stood there in front of them, crying and begging Angel to tell me why he'd done this to me when he'd said he loved me. His response? He gave me this cold laugh and said, 'You have a lot to learn about men, kiddo,' and then went right back to making out with Cordelia.

"I was heartbroken. I cut myself off from everyone, barely eating or sleeping. My grades dropped, I was suspended from the cheerleading squad for missing practices—I was a mess. And then I heard that Angel and Cordelia had broken up. A couple days afterwards, there was this karaoke night thing at the school, and I went because I heard Angel was going to be there. He was, and about halfway through the night, he got up on stage and sang to me. It was 'Mandy' by Barry Manilow, only he changed 'Mandy' to 'Buffy.' We got back together that night."

William quirked an eyebrow. "He wooed you back with Manilow?"

"I was like fifteen! I didn't know any better!"

"Still, Manilow… Are you sure he was straight?" William asked.

"Yes," Buffy replied, slapping William's chest. "Now shut up and let me finish my story."

William kissed her forehead. "All right. Tell me more about how your heart went pitter-patter to the sounds of bad 70's love songs."

Jerk," Buffy said, though there was a small smile tugging at her lips. "Okay, so there was the Manilow and the wooing and we got back together. Things were more like they were in the beginning, and I was happy. I was still having a hard time really getting into sex, but I'd done some researchy-type stuff while we were broken up and learned how to fake it. He seemed less frustrated with me when I did that, so I thought he was enjoying it more.

"But then came the next school year, and it turns out I wasn't the only one faking stuff… He told me that since he was now a senior and he had college to think about, he didn't need to waste his time with some lovesick little girl who didn't know the first thing about really pleasing a man. He told me this right in the middle of the cafeteria in front of pretty much everyone."

Buffy paused for a moment, resting her head against William's chest. He'd been so supportive of her through this whole conversation, making her feel better about her past than she had before. "I thought I couldn't live without him," she said. "And I thought…I thought it was all my fault, that I had to change who I was so he would want me. So I tried to prove I wasn't just a little girl like he said I was. I started going to wild parties, drinking and sleeping around. Especially the sleeping around… I was so certain I'd get him back someday, and I wanted to have learned how to please him.

"But I never got him back. He went to college, and the last I heard, he was engaged to Cordelia. And me… Well, I was pretty much on my path then. I was known as a party girl, and that's a hard rep to shake. All the guys knew I was easy, and that's why they were interested in me. That's who I was, Buffy the slut, only good for one thing. Get her drunk and see how quickly her legs open."

William ran his hand down Buffy's hair. "You know I want more from you than that, don't you? You're not just sex to me, Buffy. And if you'd rather we didn't, you can tell me. I don't want you to feel pressured."

"I don't. I do like sex—at least now, and with a man who isn't a total selfish prick." She paused, looking up into William's eyes. "Besides, you love me."

William gaped in surprise for a moment before he began to smile. "So you believe me now?"

"Yes. I'm sorry about not believing you at first. I was being…skittish."

"After what you just told me, I can see why," William replied. "But don't worry now, pet. I won't do to you what he did."

"I know. I really do trust you, William. This is just…it isn't at all what I expected. I'd made up my mind to never fall in love ever again because that had only led to badness in the past, but then you came along and turned all that upside down, and it scared me."

William reached up, cupping her cheek. "You're afraid of loving me?"

Buffy shook her head. "No. I'm afraid of losing you."

"That isn't going to happen, kitten." He gave her a wry smile. "I've become a bit of a Buffy addict, and I don't think they've got a patch for that."

Buffy laughed, the sound warming William's heart. "I think I've grown pretty addicted to you, too."

"Then I guess we're stuck with each other, yeah?"

"Looks like. William?"

"Yes, pet?"

"I love you."

An almost-goofy smile spread across William's face. "Really? You mean that?"

Buffy looked at him sharply. "I just said I did, William. Are you doubting me?"

William blinked. "No! Buffy, I didn't mean…" He stopped when Buffy started to laugh. "Oi! Not nice to scare me like that!"

"Sorry. I couldn't resist."

"Evil lil' chit," William muttered.

"So what if I am? Whatcha gonna do about it, mister?"

"This," William replied, tossing her back on the bed and tickling her sides.

Buffy squealed, wriggling under him. She moved her hands up, trying to tickle him back, only to have William pin her wrists above her head with one hand so he could continue his attack unhindered. "No fair!" Buffy complained even as she laughed and squirmed beneath William.

"Seems fair enough to me," William replied with a smirk. "And I do love the way you're moving." He wagged his tongue between his teeth.

"Perv!" Buffy replied, though her movements continued.

"You made me one," William replied. "I was a right proper boy before you went and seduced me." He stopped his tickling, looking down at her with darkened eyes.

"You were a seduction waiting to happen, Will. I was just lucky enough to get to you first."

William shook his head. "Wouldn't have been anyone else. I think I've been waiting for you my whole life, Buffy."

The conviction in his voice was reflected in his eyes, and Buffy felt herself suddenly tear up. She didn't think she'd known what it was like to really feel until she was on the receiving end of those looks William gave her. "Make love to me," she said softly. "We've had sex so many times, but I don't think we’ve ever done that before…"

"I made love to you every time, Buffy," William replied. "Every damn time." He leaned in, kissing her slowly but passionately. He scooted her up towards the pillows, still not breaking the kiss, keeping his body flush against hers.

They were both panting when they broke apart for air, their eyes locked now that their lips were apart. William began to inch down her body, slowly removing her clothes as he kissed patches of skin he was revealing to his hungry eyes. Buffy moaned, reveling in his sensual touch. Angel may have had more experience, but William was by far the better lover. His nature was innately sexual, his ability to make her melt based on intuition. Angel had been a fumbling idiot in comparison.

Once he had her naked, William climbed back up her body, looking down at her. "You seem pretty responsive to me," he said with a self-satisfied smirk. "Just gotta know what buttons to push. Like this little one here…" His fingers found her clit unerringly, rubbing it with just the perfect amount of pressure. Buffy moaned, arching up into his touch. "That feel good, kitten?"

"Yes…oh, William…so good…"

"Gonna make you feel even better," William promised, his eyes almost black with desire. "I'm gonna slide so deep inside you, Buffy, fill you up. Make you feel it all, baby."

Buffy thrust her hips at his words, desperate for what he was promising her. William kissed her one more time before slipping off his sweatpants so there was nothing between them. "Ready for me, luv?" he asked, nipping at her ear.

"Always ready," Buffy replied, parting her legs to allow him to slip between them.

William propped himself up on one arm, grasping his cock with his other hand and guiding it to her entrance. He slid the tip in and stopped, their eyes locking. "I love you, Buffy," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "Always."

"I love you, too, William. Always."

He pushed the rest of the way in then, filling her. Buffy wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his back, holding her lover close as he moved in and out of her with a slow, steady pace. They took their time in a way they hadn't before, allowing themselves to acknowledge the emotional connection as well as the physical. Buffy could feel William touching every part of her, as if he was erasing the pain of her past heartaches and replacing it with the warmth his love brought her.

He was making her whole again.

"You're everything to me, Buffy," William said, his lips against her ear. "You're my sun, my light—my goddess."

Buffy gasped, her arms tightening around him. She could feel William's pace beginning to quicken, desire taking over. She reached up and cupped his face, turning his head so he was looking into her eyes. "I love you," she mouthed, William smiling softly before mouthing it back.

Their gaze didn't unlock as they continued to make love, even as they came together, cries of mutual pleasure filling the room. It was a moment of perfection for both of them, their emotions laid out, raw and bare, only to have their hearts safe in the hands of another.

William rolled off of her, gathering Buffy into his arms as he pulled the blankets over them. "I love you," he murmured as he pressed a kiss against her hair.

"I love you, too," Buffy replied, a small smile of contentment on her lips.

"Can you stay tonight?" William asked, unable to stand the thought of sleeping alone after what they had just shared.

"I can stay forever," Buffy replied.

William chuckled, holding her tightly. "I can handle forever."

*** *** ***

Chapter 26:

Buffy woke up early the next morning, still curled in William's arms, and smiled. After the nightmare of the past few days without him, it was such a relief to be back with the man she loved, especially now that she had the assurance that he loved her, too. Just knowing that made everything seem better, brighter somehow. Her smile grew as she thought about how he looked at her whenever he said those three little words. She'd never had anyone look at her like she was that special before, not even her own parents.

She wanted to be able to see his eyes now, to look into their blue depths. Buffy kissed his cheek, traveling her lips down his jaw to the spot below his ear that always managed to drive him crazy. William murmured and shifted against her, but stayed asleep. Buffy sighed, deciding she'd need to be a bit more…persuasive. Her hand slipped beneath the covers and took hold of William's cock, feeling it jump in her palm. She stroked him to hardness as William began to stir, thrusting against her.

Buffy knew William was awake when his breathing changed. She gripped him harder, waiting until she could feel him getting close before she took her hand away.

William's eyes opened then. "That's a bit cruel, pet," he said, his voice rough and husky from both sleep and desire.

"I wanted to wake you up," Buffy replied with a small grin as she looked into his eyes the way she'd been craving.

"Well, you've certainly managed to do that," William said. "And now that you've gotten what you wanted, what are you planning to do with me?"

Buffy responded with a wicked smile before diving under the covers. William called out as he felt her lips wrap around his cock, Buffy finishing with her mouth what she had started with her hand.

She was licking her lips as she climbed back up William's body. "Like that, baby," she cooed, bringing her mouth up against his ear, nipping at the lobe.

"Always do," William replied, turning his face so he could look at her. "You are so beautiful," he said as he stroked her cheek. "Perfection."

Buffy colored slightly at that, his words of praise having an effect on her that no wanton act could. "I don't think I'm that…"

"I do. And nothing's going to change my mind." William cupped her face, pulling her in for a kiss. Buffy melted against him, her fingers moving into his hair. Every time William kissed her, it made her feel as if she was spinning out of control and she had to hold on to something…

When William broke away, Buffy was panting, her cheeks flushed with desire. "I want to see you at your most beautiful," William told her, looking into her eyes.

"When's that?" Buffy asked.

"When you come." Buffy gasped as William's hand dipped down beneath the sheets to her slick folds, his fingers finding her clit.

William watched her face as he pleasured her, loving the expressions he could bring to her features. "So gorgeous, baby," he said softly as he rubbed her faster, wanting to take her over the edge.

Buffy moaned, clutching on to William's shoulder for support. What he was doing to her now was just another testament to how much more he cared for her than Angel ever had. William had always paid close attention to her reactions, quickly learning how to best bring her sexual satisfaction. He'd never been solely focused on himself, instead taking care to make sure Buffy enjoyed herself as well. He even took delight in her pleasure.

William listened to Buffy's breathing hitch as she drew closer to her release. He stayed transfixed on her face until she finally shattered against his talented fingers, coming with a moan of pleasure. He pulled his hand up as her body's tremors slowed and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Beautiful," he murmured against her skin. "Bloody beautiful."

Buffy slid back into his arms, resting her head against his chest and listening to the steady thump of his heart. "Can we just put the morning on pause?" she asked softly. "Let it stay right here, exactly like this forever."

"Like being in my arms, pet?"

"Mmmhmm. It's the perfect place." Buffy looked up, making eye contact with William. "I'm not leaving England at the end of the school year."

During their reconciliation, Buffy's eventual return to the States had been something William had tried to push from his mind. Dwelling on that would've ruined the moment. But if she wasn't going back, then he wouldn't have to worry about losing her in a few months. They could stay together after high school, and possibly even make a grab for forever. "You're not?"

"Nope. Giles said I can stay with him and then go to college here in England."

"So we can really stay together then?"

Buffy nodded. "That's one of the definite plusses of this new plan. Right up there with not having to go back and deal with my parents again."

William's smile was wide. " I really do get to keep you?"

"Yep. I'm all yours. Your own personal Buffy."

"Just what I've always wanted," William said, tightening his arms around her. "Pet?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think maybe you could come over for dinner tonight—to meet my mother?"

Buffy quirked her eyebrow. "So I get to meet her now? You're not trying to keep us apart anymore?"

"I wasn't trying to keep you two apart." At Buffy's look, William sighed. "Okay, maybe I was, but I didn't mean anything by it. I just didn't know how to handle this. I wasn't sure how my mother would feel about me having a sexual relationship, and I was worried that if she saw us together, she'd know, and she'd try to put an end to it. It was stupid of me, I know, but I was just afraid of losing you."

"But you're not afraid of that now?"

"Oh, she knows now. And she didn't freak and forbid us from ever seeing each other again, so I guess she's okay with it. As okay as a mother can be with this sort of thing anyway…"

"Your mother knows? How did that happen? Were we too loud?" Buffy asked.

"No. The maid found your underwear in my sheets when she was doing the wash."

Much to William's surprise, Buffy blushed a little at that. "Must've been those ones I couldn't find the other day."

"You lost your underwear and didn't say anything?"

Buffy shrugged. "I thought maybe I just hadn't worn any and couldn't remember. I've been known to do that."

"I've noticed."

"So your mom knows. How did that little chat go?"

"Not the most embarrassing moment of my life, but pretty high up there," William replied. "She didn't flip out, which was good, but sex and my mother are two things I don't ever want to have to think about at the same time ever, ever again."

"Yeah, I can see that. And yes, I'll come to dinner tonight. I'd very much like to meet your mother."

"Good, it's all settled then." William leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. "Now how about we shift the focus somewhere else until we have to get out of bed?"

Buffy responded with a slow smile. "I think I can deal with that."

*** *** ***

"Well, you've sure been in a good mood today," Willow said as she joined Buffy at lunch. "Are you still riding the high of Cecily's expulsion?"

"Little bit, yeah, but there's more than that." Buffy smiled brightly. "I'm back with William."

"Really?" Willow asked with a gasp. "But what about the whole him kissing Cecily the cow thing?"

"Misunderstanding," Buffy replied. "William says she was the one doing the kissing and that he pushed her away. And yeah, there's a little bit of jaded Buffy left in me saying I'm setting myself up for heartache if I accept that and take him back, but I've decided to ignore that voice, 'cause it'll only lead to much badness. William said he didn't kiss Cecily, and that's good enough for me." Buffy's smile grew, and a twinkle sparked in her eyes. "Besides, he loves me."

Willow leaned forward as she exclaimed, "He loves you?!"

"Yep. He said so last night. So now we're back together, and you know what? I'm just going to let that be a completely good thing. We're happy, we enjoy being together, and we're in love—there's no reason for me to be all paranoid. Time to put my past behind me and accept the brightness that is my future."

"Wow. Are you sure you're the same Buffy Summers I met a couple of months ago, 'cause while you do look like her, you certainly don't sound like her."

"I'm still Buffy, just new and improved—and very much in love."

"I'm so happy for you," Willow said. "And I'm happy that William turned out not to be a jerkface after all."

Buffy chuckled. "Me, too. And this is really nice, the whole being in a good relationship thing. It so beats my usual angsting."

"Seems like it. I've never seen you this smiley." Willow pointed to Buffy's plate. "You're not even maligning the mushy peas."

"I know!" Buffy exclaimed. "I'm in such a good mood I don't even care that I have to eat British food!" Buffy cleared her throat. "Speaking of, I'm having dinner with William and his mother tonight."

"Oooh, meeting the mom. How do you think that'll go?" Willow asked.

"Good, I hope," Buffy answered. "William said that she knows we've been sleeping together and that she took it pretty well, so I'm hoping that's a sign that she's okay with me and William."

"She knows? How did she find out? Did William tell her?" Willow gaped at the thought. What sort of teenager let their parents know they were having sex?

"No, he didn't tell her," Buffy replied, shaking her head. "He said a pair of my panties ended up in his sheets and got found on wash day."

"Eep! Wow. I bet William was mortified. I know I would've been…"

"Oh, I have no doubt he was," Buffy said. "He gets embarrassed so easily anyway, and that would make just about anyone want to crawl under a rock. I'm just hoping she's too proper and British to mention anything around me. I've had enough of that sort of meet-the-mother dinners for one lifetime."

"Huh?" Willow asked, her brow wrinkling with confusion.

"Oh, it was a while ago," Buffy said, waving her hand dismissively. "I had dinner with this guy I'd been seeing and his parents, and in the middle of the meal his mother blurted out, 'I know you're sleeping with my son.' Then she started questioning my method of birth control and asking about my medical history—all while we were sitting at the table eating dinner."

Willow's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"Yep. It was just like, 'Pass the bread, and oh—you're banging my son.' And then my boyfriend at the time got all upset, and then his dad had to put his two cents in—it was a whole big mess. So yeah, as long as this goes better than that, I'll be fine."

"Wow. I'm hoping it goes better than that, too. That sounds really…unpleasant."

"It was." Buffy took a deep breath before smiling again. "But I'm feeling really optimistic about this. From what William has said, his mother seems really nice, and I'm sure she'll like me. Besides, I'm young and in love so things are all good."

Buffy felt her heart lighten as she made that declaration. After all, it was true—and she couldn't be happier about it.

*** *** ***

Chapter 27:

Despite her earlier certainty that everything would go smoothly with William's mother, as Buffy stood in the parlor waiting for the woman, she felt that confidence slipping. What if his mother did hate her after all? What if she'd only been calm about the whole panties-in-the-sheets incident because she didn't want to make William angry with her and had decided that the best way to break them up would be by going for Buffy? She could be one of those mothers that retained her shine in her son's eyes by tearing the girlfriend down below his radar…

Buffy took a deep breath, telling herself that was just her old paranoia rearing its less than attractive head and that she really did have nothing to worry about. William's mother would like her.

She smiled when she felt William reach out and squeeze her hand. She looked up and he grinned at her, making Buffy suddenly feel much calmer. William leaned down and kissed the top of her head, whispering a soft, "I love you."

Buffy caressed his hand with her thumb. "I love you, too."

William looked up a few moments later, seeing his mother enter the parlor. He cleared his throat, bringing Buffy over to the other woman. "Mother, allow me to introduce to you Miss Buffy Summers."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Summers," William's mother said, taking her hand as William let it go. "I've heard such lovely things about you."

"It's a pleasure meeting you, too, Mrs.…" Buffy stopped, her eyes widening as she realized she didn't actually know William's last name. How could she never have bothered to find out the last name of the man she loved?

"Oh, you can call me Anne, dear," his mother replied. "I don't believe there's any real need for us to be so formal." She gave Buffy a warm smile.

Buffy found her nervousness had disappeared almost completely. William's mother was nothing like she had imagined. She was younger than Buffy had thought she would be, with blonde hair worn up in a French twist. Her eyes were blue like her son's, and just as bright and alive as his, too. Not at all the old, frail woman she'd expected from how William had spoken about her. "And you can call me Buffy," Buffy replied, returning the smile.

"Well, Buffy, dinner won't be much longer, but it isn't ready yet," Anne said. "Why don't we sit down for a bit, take the opportunity to get to know each other a little better?"

"Okay," Buffy replied, following Anne over to where there were a few chairs and a small sofa. Anne sat on one of the chairs while Buffy and William sat on the sofa across from her.

"The two of you do make such a lovely couple," Anne said, looking over the pair of teens.

"Thank you, Mother," William replied. "Although I believe that Buffy is the lovely part."

Anne rolled her eyes. "He's so modest. Just like his father. That man was absolutely gorgeous, but he never would admit to it." William blushed slightly, and Buffy put her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Tell me a little about yourself, Buffy," Anne requested. "You grew up in California?"

"Yes. Los Angeles. My father runs a business there," Buffy replied. "But I don't think I'll be going back to stay. I'm much happier here in England." Buffy gave a small glance towards William, the gesture highlighting what the main factor in that newfound happiness was.

"I'm very glad to hear that," Anne said. "And I'm also glad that you've taken so well to our country."

"It really is lovely here," Buffy replied. "It's very different from L.A., but it's been a good kind of different."

"Do your parents know you've decided to stay here?" Anne asked.

"Not yet. I haven't spoken to them since I made the decision. I don't think they'd care, though, to be honest. And Mr. Giles told me I could consider his home my own for as long as I want, regardless of what my parents have to say about it."

A small, almost imperceptible smile crossed Anne's lips. "Rupert is a very kind man."

"He is," Buffy agreed. "It's been nice to have a parental figure in my life that acts like an actual parent."

Anne gave Buffy a sympathetic look. "Trouble at home, dear?"

Buffy shifted, wondering if maybe she was saying too much to someone who—despite what she'd done with the woman's son—was a virtual stranger. Would William's mother look down on her if she knew all the problems with her family? Buffy looked away as she answered, "I don't think it's really home anymore."

"No, I guess it isn't," Anne said. "Well, I'm glad you've found a new home here. You seem like such a nice young woman. William and Rupert both speak so highly of you."

Buffy blushed slightly under the praise. "They may both be a little bias," she said softly.

"You seem darling to me as well," Anne told her, giving Buffy another warm smile.

William looked between his mother and his girlfriend, relieved that everything seemed to be going smoothly. He knew his mother well enough to know that she found Buffy to be utterly charming. He felt slightly foolish for worrying about this meeting, though he did have to admit that he hadn't expected Buffy to act so, well, demure.

The maid stepped in to announce dinner and William stood, helping both women to their feet before escorting them into the dining room.

*** *** ***

It wasn't until after dinner that William discovered the downside to your mother and girlfriend getting along. They returned to the parlor, only this time with Anne and Buffy on the sofa and William in the chair. The two women were chatting animatedly and William found his mind wandering.

Until something his mother said pulled him right back to reality.

"You know, when William was a small boy, he hated to take baths."

William's eyes bugged. His mother couldn't possibly be about to…

"It was such an ordeal to get him into the tub—especially when he'd manage to escape. There was this one time…"

William swallowed. She was! "Mother, I'm sure Buffy doesn't want to hear about that."

"Yes I do," Buffy said quickly. "Please, do go on." She turned to William for a moment, giving him a look that let him know she was fully aware of what she was doing to him.

Evil chit…

Anne cleared her throat. "I had the water drawn, everything ready for the bath, and there's two-year-old William refusing to get into the tub. He stood there at the side, arms crossed, and the most stubborn expression on his little face. Well, I was determined to get him to take his bath, so I went to grab him, only to have William wriggle out of my arms and take off at a mad sprint. He ran right down the stairs and out the front door, all the while screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Now, it wouldn't have been quite so bad, had it not been for the fact that I'd already gotten his clothes off. I think it was the first time anyone in this neighborhood saw a woman chasing a naked, screaming toddler down the road. Mrs. Collins up the street to this day refers to William as 'the streaker.'"

Buffy giggled, glancing over at William, who was now bright red. "Did you ever get him in the tub?" she asked.

"Yes. And by that point, he really did need it. There had been quite a heavy rain that day, and poor William slipped in a puddle, landing right in the mud. Gave me enough time to catch him, though."

"I bet William was adorable as a little boy," Buffy said, giving him a quick smile.

"Oh, he was," Anne replied. "Just precious." She reached out, patting her son's leg, making the blush on his face darken. "I have pictures up in my sitting room if you'd like to see them."

"I'd love to," Buffy said.

"Mum, please… Not the baby pictures," William begged.

"Buffy wants to see them, honey," Anne said as she stood. "It's right this way, Buffy, dear."

William sighed and followed them, deciding he should be there to know just what his mother was showing Buffy—even if the whole experience would most likely border on traumatic.

Anne pulled out the photo albums before settling down on the sitting room couch with Buffy, an album spread out over both their laps. William sat in a chair a little bit away, shifting uncomfortably as he watched them flipping through the pages.

Buffy pointed down to one. "Is that a dinosaur suit?"

William groaned. Hadn't the harrowing tale of his foiled bath time escape been enough humiliation for one night?

"Oh yes," Anne replied, ignoring her son. "William simply adored that suit. We had gone to see a museum exhibition on dinosaurs, and after that, he thought they were just the greatest thing. He wanted to wear that suit everywhere. He even cried when we told him he couldn't wear it to his aunt's wedding. Oh, and sometimes people would mistake him for a dragon, and his face would scrunch up in the most adorable angry expression and he'd stomp his foot and, 'Not dragon! Dinosaur!'"

William whimpered. Why hadn't he stuck with the plan where he kept the two of them apart?

Buffy and Anne had been flipping through the album for a while when the grandfather clock in the hall began to chime. Anne looked up. "Goodness, is it really that late? And both of you with class in the morning. I hate to send you home, Buffy, but you really should be getting some rest. You will come back and visit with me some more, won't you? Perhaps without him, seeing as he tends to be so stuffy." She nodded towards William.

"I would love to," Buffy replied.

"Can I veto that?" William asked.

"No," the two women replied in unison prompting a heavy sigh from William.

"Dear, do walk Buffy home, make sure she gets there safely," Anne said, smiling at her son.

"Of course," William said, taking Buffy's hand and helping her up from the couch.

"I had a very nice evening," Buffy said to Anne as she stood. "Thank you for allowing me to join you for dinner."

"It was my pleasure," Anne replied. She clasped Buffy's hand. "I'm very glad to have met you. I can certainly see why my son is so fond of you."

"And I can see why your son is the fine gentleman that he is," Buffy said.

"Oh, keep her," Anne said, turning to William. "She's good."

Buffy and William both chuckled at that. "Glad you approve, Mum."

"I do, William," Anne replied. "I really, really do."

*** *** ***

"I like your mom," Buffy said as she and William walked hand and hand over to Buffy's house. "She's really nice."

"She liked you, too."

"I'm glad. I wanted her to so badly, and I wanted it to all go smoothly. You mean so much to me, and if your mother hated me…"

"I know." William gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "But she doesn't. Even if I may have to now live out the rest of my life in complete and total shame."

"Those stories were cute."

"But do you still want to sleep with me now that you know of my wild past as a streaker with a penchant for dinosaur suits?"

Buffy laughed. "Yes." She tugged on his hand, getting him to stop with her. "As a matter of fact, I was thinking maybe I'd be joining you later this evening."

William's eyebrow arched. "Oh, really?"

"Yup. Would you be opposed to me climbing through your window in about an hour?"

"Not at all, pet," William replied with a slow grin.

"Good." Buffy gave him a quick kiss. "Because I don't want to have to sleep without you."

"Me either, kitten." William leaned down, meeting Buffy's lips again. She sighed against him, their arms going around each other as they embraced there on her front lawn.

*** *** ***

Buffy stopped short as she crept towards William's window, hearing a noise from behind her. Slowly, she turned around, gasping when she saw Giles. Her initial response was a spark of panic, afraid that Giles had caught her sneaking out and had come to yell at her, but then she saw the look on his face and realized he was just as surprised to see her as she was him.

"Were you sneaking in?" she asked, pointing towards the house.

Giles sighed. "I wasn't exactly sneaking," he replied. "I was merely…quietly entering through the backdoor."

"Uh huh," Buffy said with a small grin, things clicking into place.

"And I suppose you were using the window?" Giles asked, gesturing to the window in question.

"That was the plan," Buffy admitted. "You're not going to yell at me about it, are you?"

"Would be a bit hypocritical of me."

"Yeah, it really would be."

Buffy and Giles stood facing each other for a moment, an awkward silence between them until Giles spoke. "So, um…backdoor."

"Window," Buffy replied.

"Right."

With a nod from both, they parted ways.

*** *** ***

Chapter 28:

William was sitting on the edge of his bed when Buffy climbed in through the window. She walked over to him, straddling his legs before meeting his lips for a kiss.

"I missed you," William said as they broke apart for air.

"We were only apart for an hour," Buffy replied.

"A minute's too bloody long," William growled, flipping them so they were lying on the bed with Buffy pinned beneath him. "And it's been hours since I've been inside of you." He dipped his head, kissing her neck.

Buffy gasped, his touch exciting her, though one question remained on her mind after her brief run in with Giles. "William?"

He didn't look up, his lips staying against her skin. "Hmm?"

"Did you know about your mom and Giles?"

William froze. "What?"

"I caught Giles outside sneaking in through the backdoor."

William pulled up, looking at Buffy in horror. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Nope. I'm completely and totally serious."

"He…he couldn't be coming to see her."

Buffy cocked an eyebrow. "It's either that or he's making off with the good silver."

"He was sneaking in just now?" William asked. "When you were coming in?"

Buffy nodded. "I just finished talking to him."

"So he's probably in there now with…with my mother." William made an expression of extreme distaste.

"More than likely."

William pulled up off of Buffy completely, sitting on the edge of the bed again, his head going down to rest in his hands. "Oh god."

Buffy perched up on her elbows. "It's not that big of a deal. Besides, it's sorta sweet."

"Sweet? My mother is having sex!"

"What's wrong with that?"

William looked over at Buffy as if she were completely insane. "It's my mother and it's…" He stopped, shuddering.

"Well, then let's not think about it right now," Buffy said, coming up behind William and wrapping her arms around him. "Let's concentrate on something else." She ran her hands down his chest, leaning in to nip at his ear.

William settled into her embrace, his eyes closing before they popped open again. "I can't," he said.

Buffy pulled back, frowning in confusion. "What do you mean you can't?"

"I mean I can't. My mother's in the house…"

"We've done it with your mother in the house before," Buffy pointed out. "Several times."

"I know, but then she wasn't…" William shuddered again.

"You're not the tiniest bit hard right now, are you?" Buffy asked with a heavy sigh.

William turned and looked at her. "Well I was before you went and killed the mood!"

"I didn't think you'd react to it quite like this."

"So I'm supposed to stay in the mood knowing my mum's getting shagged right down the hall?" William paled as soon as those words were out of his mouth. "Oh bloody hell."

"Do you want to go somewhere else?" Buffy asked him.

"Oh god, yes. Now would be good."

William and Buffy stood, heading towards the door. With his hand on the knob, William stopped short. "We have to pass her room to get out."

"So? I doubt she would've left the door open," Buffy replied.

"I know, but we might be able to…hear something."

Buffy paused, thinking about that for a moment. She could deal with the idea of Anne and Giles abstractly, but she was sure she'd be in the same state William was in now if it became a little more tangible—and audible. "Okay, you've got a good point with that. Wanna learn how to climb out of a window?"

"Anything to get me out of here."

Buffy took his hand. "It's easy. Just follow my lead."

*** *** ***

"It's really not that bad. Just a couple of scrapes," Buffy said soothingly, looking over William's face.

"Bloody tree," William muttered.

"You made it most of the way. Only missed those last couple of branches," Buffy replied. "This is going to sting a little."

William hissed as Buffy dabbed at the cuts on his face with an alcohol-dipped cotton ball. "It was worth it to get out of there, though," he said.

After she finished cleaning his wounds, Buffy reached over and put the cotton ball in the trash before kissing William's cheek, careful not to irritate the scratches. "Is the change of scenery making it better?"

"A little. It's been a very traumatic night, though. Still might need a little more…distraction." William gave her a crooked grin.

"I think I can provide that," Buffy said with a slow smile, dropping down to her knees in front of him. She unbuttoned his jeans, pulling his cock out into her hand. "This distracting?"

"Getting there," William replied. "It might help if you took off your top while you did that." He gave her a small wink.

"Happy to oblige," Buffy said, pulling her shirt over her head. "How about now?"

William looked down at the breasts displayed tantalizingly before him, barely covered by thin black lace. "Much better."

Buffy dipped her head, taking him into her mouth. From William's hiss of pleasure and the look on his face, she was sure that she'd successfully refocused his attention. His thoughts had narrowed now, centered on her and what she was doing to him, and she loved that she was that for him, that she was his world. She knew it went beyond the physical. He didn't lose his interest in her when she wasn't touching him, when she wasn't right there. She was in more than his thoughts. She was in his heart.

"Buffy…"

She looked up as William whispered her name, his body trembling. He was gorgeous, and he was hers. Buffy pulled up, responding to his sudden look of confusion by placing her hand against his chest and pushing him back onto the mattress. She pressed her body against his, leaning down with her mouth against his ear. "I want you inside me now."

William shivered, his arms going around her waist. Buffy pulled up, looking down into his eyes, the blue almost black with passion. The outside world had disappeared for both of them now, only love and lust still existing.

Buffy took hold of the bottom of his t-shirt, pulling it off of his body and revealing his sculptured torso to her gaze. It was a sight that never ceased to amaze her as much as it had that first night when she'd discovered what he'd kept hidden under those loose clothes he used to wear. Pale skin pulled taut over tightly corded muscles, begging her to run her fingers down it, to touch this bit of perfection granted to her. William groaned as she did just that, his hips pushing up against her, showing her how desperate he was for more skin-to-skin contact.

She responded by sliding down his legs, removing his boots before tugging his jeans off, leaving him completely exposed to her. She climbed back up to his hips then, straddling his bare thighs.

William reached up, tangling his fingers in her hair to pull her mouth to his, kissing her until she was dizzy. Buffy panted as he pulled away, the desire in his eyes mirroring her own. Needing him inside of her, she reached down and unzipped her jeans, pushing at them almost frantically until she was able to kick off both the jeans and her shoes. She pulled back up then, William's hands going to her hips as she slid down, taking him all the way inside of her.

Their eyes locked as she rode him, saying more with a gaze than they ever could with words. Buffy moved her hips in a steady rhythm, whimpering with loss every time she pulled up and caused William to slide out almost completely. She needed him inside, needed him there to give her that feeling of completion.

Buffy felt herself nearing the edge already, the intensity of what she felt heightening her pleasure. She bucked up when her orgasm hit, calling William's name as she did. His grip on her tightened, his fingers digging into her hips. Buffy came down panting, but fell back into her rhythm as she saw William was still searching for his own release. His body was tense, set on edge, and Buffy leaned down, whispering in his ear the words she knew would push him over.

"I love you."

William came inside of her then, hard, his hips raising up from the bed, pushing him somehow deeper inside of her. Soon, Buffy's cries of pleasure joined his as his orgasm triggered a second one in her.

Buffy collapsed into William's arms, her head resting at the crook of his neck as he pressed soft kisses against her hair. After a few moments, Buffy looked up, finding his eyes again. "So where do things go from here? I mean, we're really together now, aren't we? I love you and you love me, and we're all official with the whole me meeting your mom thing, right?" She spoke quickly, a hint of nervousness still in her voice that William knew would take time for him to banish completely.

"Yeah, pet, we are," William replied. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "You're mine now, Buffy."

"You're mine, too," she said.

"I know. For as long as you'll have me."

"I'll always have you, William. I couldn't live any other way. Not anymore." Buffy lowered her head again, resting it against his chest as William's hand came up to rub against her back. They were silent for a while until she spoke again. "William?"

"Yeah?"

"That whole you being a baron thing—it doesn't mean you're going to have an arranged marriage or something does it?"

William chuckled at her question, the sound rumbling through Buffy's body. "No, luv. We are a bit more progressive over here than that."

"Good. Because if you did have to, then I'd probably have to kill her, and it would just be one big mess."

"Somehow I don't doubt that one bit."

"It was all I could do to keep from ripping Cecily's arms off and beating her with them when I saw her touching you," Buffy said. "Only I get to do that."

"Barring that one rather unpleasant experience, you're the only one who ever has," William said, kissing the top of her head.

"Does that bother you?"

"Does it sound like it bothers me?"

Buffy looked up again, needing to see his eyes. "No, but maybe later, you'll start thinking about how you've only had me and wonder if maybe some other girl would…"

William pressed his finger against Buffy's mouth, silencing her. "Won't ever happen, Buffy. When I think about how it's only ever going to be you, it doesn't make me want to be with other women. It makes me feel damn lucky for finding the perfect woman the first time."

Buffy swallowed, his words bringing tears to her eyes. "I love you, William."

William leaned down, his lips almost brushing hers. "I love you, too," he replied before kissing her.

*** *** ***

Epilogue

Buffy could still remember a project she'd done her freshman year of high school. The teacher had instructed the class to make a scrapbook depicting what they saw themselves doing after graduation. Buffy had been so sure of her future then. She was going to stay in L.A. and go to cosmetology school so she could be a professional stylist. Angel would already be halfway through college, and they'd be preparing for a future together, the whole marriage-and-kids package.

She hadn't gotten that. Instead, she was living in London, sharing a flat with a man she'd hadn't even known back then. Instead of cosmetology, she'd gone to school for psychology, finding herself more drawn to the subject that she'd ever thought she would be. She was a far cry from the girl she'd been when she'd planned her future out as a high school freshman, but she knew in her heart things had worked out for the best.

Now, she'd just finished her first year at the university, and had almost surprised herself with how well she'd done. Her final grades had been something to be proud of, and she'd decided to celebrate with a passion that had remained with her even when so many other things had changed—shopping.

Buffy looked up from the rack she was browsing, catching the eye of the man that was responsible for much of the good currently in her life. She hadn't been looking for love the night she'd met William, but she'd found it all the same. He'd been the most shy, unassuming person she'd ever met, yet he'd turned her world upside down, changing everything she wanted, everything she needed.

William grinned at her from where he stood, the confidence that was clear in his stance a far cry from what he'd been a year before. Buffy knew she'd made him a man in more ways than one.

It was then that she noticed where he had ended up, and rolled her eyes. "Come back over here," she said.

"I like it here better," William replied, running his tongue over his teeth. He reached on to the rack, picking one of the garments and holding it up. "How about this, kitten?" he asked, his grin turning to a leer.

Buffy eyed the scrap of red lace. "I'm not underwear shopping today, Will," she replied.

"You can never have too many pairs of skimpy panties pet," William said. "Oooh…what about these?" He pulled out a black pair decorated with silver glitter. "Oh, these are nice, too…"

Buffy glanced over, seeing a couple of older women across the store eyeing them disapprovingly. She walked over to William, her hands on her hips. "Knock it off."

William pulled another pair off the rack. "I'd rather take these off of you. Maybe with my teeth." He waggled his eyebrows.

Buffy tried to look annoyed, but couldn't hide the smile that was creeping to her lips. "You're making old people stare at us," she said in a whisper.

"They're just jealous because no one wants to see them in sexy knickers," William replied.

Buffy's nose wrinkled. "Gee, honey, thanks a lot for that mental image."

"Says the woman who let the cat out of the bag about my mother and Giles. You know, I was completely happy living in denial about that."

"Could you get over that already?" Buffy said, rolling her eyes. "It's been over a year. I thought you would've dealt with it by now."

"No. No dealing. Repressing. Much better for my sanity," William replied.

"They are very happy together," Buffy pointed out.

"Yes. Very happy in their completely non-sexual friendship," William said, arms crossed over his chest.

"You are too pathetic," Buffy said, shaking her head.

"Only sex I want to think about is the kind involving you, luv," William replied. He stepped closer to her, his hand reaching out to brush her arm. "Speaking of…" He looked her up and down with a leer.

"Nuh-uh. I wanna shop now," Buffy said, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're just going to have to be patient, mister."

William pouted. "But I'm bored."

"You're like a little boy sometimes, you know that?" Buffy said. He responded by continuing to look pitiful, bouncing on the balls of his feet with barely contained energy. "Okay, how about this," she said with a sigh. "You stay over here and pick out underwear for me while I shop for real clothes. Deal?"

William's eyes lit up. "And you'll wear it for me when we get home?"

"Yes, dear."

"Deal made then."

Buffy smiled as she kissed him, unable to find him anything but adorable. She'd been drawn to him from the start, attracted to the shy, innocent boy she'd found with a broken heart. But the man he'd become—the man she'd showed him how to be—was everything she could ever ask for in a lover.

No, her life hadn't turned out the way she'd once planned.

It had turned out better.

*** *** ***

And that is the end. I hope you enjoyed my "short" fic that somehow managed to turn into a smutty epic…. Thanks to everyone who stuck with me through the whole thing, bumps in the road to Spuffy love and all.

Even though it's the end, please remember to review—let me know if you enjoyed it all the way through!