Chapter 6

“William…” She gasped with swollen lips between his continuous kisses, as she pressed her wetness into his toned stomach. Her gasp quickly turned into a moan when his fingers began kneading the fullness of her breasts. “William…stop.”

“Stop?” Buffy didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed when he quickly drew back. Looking into his concerned eyes and at his pouting lip, Buffy instantly wanted to take back her words. Moving swiftly she lifted herself from his body and shifted back, taking his hardness into her hands. “Buff…” He watched in awe as she gently guided him to her opening and took him in inch by inch. Once he was in her to the hilt, Buffy started to breathe again. Pleasure flickered in her eyes as she laid her upper body against his.

“Kiss me again.”

William nodded and followed her command after cupping the cheeks of her behind and rocking her against him.
***

“I could get used to this.” William whispered and rolled them over, wrapping her leg around his backside.

“Me too…but don’t tell anyone…damn, why didn’t you tell me you were such a good kisser? More than good.”

“You didn’t ask.” He chuckled, his warm breath cooling the area on the top of her shoulder where he had just explored with his tongue. “Thanks.” He added, pushing into her deeply, causing them both to gasp.

“Faster, harder…more.” Buffy squirmed against him, thrusting her hips desperately.

“What’s the hurry?” Rolling them over again, with him on top, William dove in and out of her at a wonderfully slow pace, with his forehead plastered to hers.

This is…new. Buffy considered making a comment until the pleasure began creeping up, stronger than she had ever anticipated, leaving her speechless and awestruck.

“Buffy.” William repeated her name as he stroked her, nearing his own climax. “Buffy!” He quickly found her lips again as her inner walls fluttered around him, bringing him to his release.
***

“Don’t worry.” All William could see was darkness because of the blindfold covering his eyes as he spun, his body attached to the spinning target. He could hear the studio audience but Buffy’s voice came in clearer and louder, above the noise. “No one will keep us apart.”

“Keep on saying that, sweetcheeks.” William’s view changed and he could see the game show host pat Buffy on the back as she grinned widely. “But you know the rules, if you miss or if you kill him, you both lose.”

“I won’t lose. We won’t lose.” She aimed the gaudy, red and sparkling arrow at William’s heart as it circled in front of her at a faster pace. “I’ll save you with an arrow, William, an arrow of my love for you.”

William held his breath and said a tiny prayer as he waited for the arrow to hit.
***

“It’s probably just a false alarm. You need backup?”

“Naw, my gun will be enough.”

“But the guy’s considered armed and dangerous, man. You need to be careful…”

“Yes, mommy.” Charles Gunn laughed and rolled his eyes. “I know what I’m doing, knock on the door, see that’s it’s the wrong couple and apologize for wakin’ them up. Where am I heading again?”

“The Wigwam.”

“Now that’s not attracting attention to yourself, staying in a fucking wigwam. The tourists all drive by…they were seen at a bar, too? I’m almost hoping it isn’t them because that’s just embarrassing. Was he trying to get busted?”

“Maybe and they were both allegedly too drunk to walk.”

“Idiots.” Charles stacked his paperwork on his desk in a messy pile and took a quick sip of his lukewarm coffee. “When the girl comes by with the donuts, save me some good ones. I’ll be back.”
***

William woke up suddenly, groggy and feeling various aches and pains throughout his body.

I can’t move my legs.

He blinked several times as his eyes focused on the white walls of the hotel room. Looking down caused his nose to be buried in a head of flower-scented hair.

Oh…oh no.

Buffy was using him as a human-pillow as she slept soundly with her arms wrapped around him and a knee causally nudged in-between his legs.

I remember drinking…was there singing? Snogging on the front lawn and…oh no.

He swallowed, fearing the wrath of sober Buffy, and gently rolled her off of him, covering her exhausted form with a sheet and blanket.

“I’m so sorry, love.” He whispered and kissed her forehead as his head pounded from his hangover. “Shit.”

She’ll hate me.

He frowned, feeling disappointed and searched for his discarded clothes that covered the floor.

Fully dressed, William walked out of the motel room.
***

“Excuse me. Excuse me!”

“Sorry, were you speaking to me?” William turned and squinted at the man who ran the motel.

“Yes, sir. I saw you and your girlfriend--.”

“Um, she’s not my girlfriend.”

“Ok,” the man smiled clearly not believing William. “I think this may have got left behind when you both were rolling around on the ground outside of your room last night.”

“Um…” William looked at the purse that the man was holding, embarrassed knowing that a stranger had seen his drunken activities with Buffy. “I’ve never…thank you.” He grabbed the large leather purse. “And sorry for the…last night.”

“No problem, it’s nice seeing a young couple so in love.”

“Ah…right.”
***

While he walked to his car, William dug the unfamiliar purse for anything of value.

“Fuck.”

He grumbled when the purse fell to the ground, spilling all its contents. Crouching, he weeded through receipts and coupons until he found a wallet.

Poor bird. He thought, glancing at woman’s driver’s license.

“Yes.” He pulled out a handful of bills and shoved them in his pocket.

It’s not stealing…its taking advantage of a situation.

He reassured his upset conscious before finding a set of car keys.

“Nope it’s not stealing at all.”
***

Ok, once Buffy stops clawing my eyes out, I’ll have her drive the new car and follow me…that is if she doesn’t speed past when I’m dumping my car, leaving me stranded…

“Bloody women…with their damned woman scorned routine.”

William pulled into the parking lot of the motel and froze at the sight of a police car close to their room.

“Buffy.”
***

“Asshole.” Buffy stomped around the room in a towel and cursed William for leaving her.

It’s always the gentlemen that screw you and run.

She growled and kicked her boot against the wall at the sound of a knock on the door.

You do not mess with Hangover Buffy.

She opened the door, ready to pounce.
***

“You jerk!” Buffy hit him with a clenched fist and slammed her knee between his legs with all her strength. “You—you’re not…?” She covered her mouth in shock. “Ooops.”

William froze behind the cop, still prepared to hit the man with his unloaded gun. “What was that all about?”

“I thought he was you.” She looked at the policeman as he wheezed, doubled over in pain. “You’re the kidnapper, remember? I hate your guts. I was defending myself, you asshole.”

William cringed at the venom behind her words. “Get dressed and I’ll take care of the cop.”
***

“Ok…Office Gunn? Nice name for your profession I reckon. I’ve been doing this a lot lately.” He shook his head and stole the man’s money and gun as the police officer laid, sprawled out in front of William, unconscious. “Sorry for whacking you on the head and all but I can’t go to jail, you see? Also did you see that feisty blonde back there? I can’t get caught because of her too because…because she wants her money and I want her to have what she wants, it’s bloody crazy… And take care of my car, mate. She’s a classic.”
***

“This adds more to your long list of charges: attempting to kill a cop and leaving him in the middle of a field with your shitty car. Oh and you stole this piece of crap too. Good job. I can’t wait to see how many years you’ll get to rot in prison.” Buffy snorted and glared out the window. “I feel like I’m riding in a fucking strawberry. Everything’s so maroon.”

William ignored Buffy’s complaints and bitterness and turned up the radio.

“I hate this music, change the station.”

“You can change it if you’d like.” He spoke quietly, hoping she would fume silently. “I bought some stuff that’ll help your hangover--.”

“I don’t want anything.”

“Suit yourself. Could you get me a water, love?”

“No and don’t call me that. Where the hell are we going? Why aren’t we going to the freeway?”

“Too dangerous. I’m sticking to the plan and I’m looking for a house that we can use.”

“Great.”
***

“This is stupid.”

“I’ve gathered that everything about me you find stupid.” William looked forward, waiting for a sign that would prove that someone was in the house.

“How long are we going to sit out here?”

“Until night fall at least and probably a bit after that so get comfy.”

“I can’t get comfortable in this car. The seats are velvety.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“I’m sorry that the car is not to your standards but I’m just glad that we have something.”

“It sucks.”

“You know perfectly well that I didn’t want to ditch mine, so stop bitching a take a bloody nap or I’ll stuff you in the trunk.”

“Yeah right.”

“Don’t tempt me.” William went through the bag of things that he had bought earlier and tossed a bottled water and pain reliever in Buffy’s direction. “Take them.”

“I said I--.”

“Take the fucking medicine and make your headache go away. You don’t have to sit there and suffer to make me feel bad or whatever the hell you hope to accomplish by not taking care of yourself.”

“I hate you.”

“I know and I thought we were moving past that but oh silly me.”

“When did you get so sarcastic?”

“When you became insufferable.”
***

“Here.” William handed Buffy a gun. “Stay out here and I’ll check the house for people.”

“Why can’t I come inside too?”

“Because I don’t want anything to happen.”

“What? What could happen? And if something can happen, here take this back and give me the empty one.” She poked his side with the gun.

“I’m not going to argue with you. Stay.”
***

“Everything looks alright. There’s no food in the house other than in the pantry so I’m guessing whoever lives here is on a long vacation.”

“It could be someone’s winter house. It has a cabiny kind of feel even if it is in the middle of nowhere. There’s a lot of plaid in here.”

“There’s only one actual bedroom and the others are craft spaces.”

“Old people live here.”

“Is that right?” William wrinkled an eyebrow and sat in a chair that was in the living room. “This will do.”

“So this is our official hang out?”

“Until something like this morning happens again. I’ll have to call tomorrow and have Hank bring the money somewhere nearby.”

“Ok, I think I’m going to get ready for bed.”

“Fine.”

“Where are you going to sleep?”

“In the chair.”

“But…”

“What?”

“There isn’t a couch anywhere?”

“No.”

“You won’t get cold?”

“No, you already mentioned all the plaid.”

“Goodnight then.”

“Goodnight.”
***
 

Chapter 7

“Pull over, Faith.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, sweetie.” Once the car stopped on the side of the road, Willow got out into the darkness. “Are you okay, Officer?”

“No, I’m not. Do you have a cell phone I can use or can you take me back to the station? I have a criminal to report.”

“Criminal? Who?” Willow helped Charles into the back of their car. “It wasn’t that kidnapper guy was it?”

“Yes. He knocked me out and stole my money. He’s a lot bigger than I thought he would be and he may have another guy that’s working with him,” Gunn pointed at his eye. “That knows karate or some shit.”

“Hmmm, don’t worry we’ll take care of you, Officer. Officer?”

“Gunn.”
***

“What are you wearing?”

“Oh, you’re up.”

“Are you going through their things?”

“Yes.” Buffy continued to search through the living room, peeking in boxes and checking for hidden objects in shelves. Bending over and jutting out her ass, Buffy intentionally proved to William just how tight her new white pants were and that she was wearing nothing underneath them. “If you ever go into the bedroom, be sure to check the last drawer on the left side.”

“Where are you going?”

“To make breakfast.”
***

“You cook?” William asked before sitting at the kitchen table, yawning with his notebook in his hand.

“I do.” Buffy pulled a few cans from the pantry and put them on the counter. “I may have not worked a day in my life but I can do some things other than just shop and sit on my ass.”

“That’s good to know.”

“You’re stiff.” Buffy announced with her back turned as she used the can opener.

William stopped rolling his head and shoulders and froze. “What?”

Buffy smirked at his horrified tone. “From sleeping in the chair, William.”

“Oh, right. Of course.”
***

“I’m going to call Hank today.” Buffy sat across from William. “All we have is canned fruit and vegetables and lots of soup. You want chicken noodle or vegetable?”

“Whatever you don’t want will be fine. Why are you going to call him? I can probably handle phoning him…maybe.”

“Trust me, I need to call. I’ll do it later but if you’re going to be picking up ransom money, we’ll have to get you ready.”

“Ready?”

“Yeah so you’ll come back alive.”

“I’d like to. What do I--.” William nearly swallowed his tongue at the sound of a knock. “Did you hear that?” He whispered and closed his eyes at the second knock on the front door “Shit. Stay in here.”

“William--.”

“Stay.”
***

By the time William had reached the door, there had been three more knocks; each made him panic more than the last. Looking down at his outfit, William rolled his eyes realizing he was still in pajamas and with a bare chest. Before opening the door, he ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it.

William’s nose wrinkled at the man’s musty odor. “Can I help you?”

“Good afternoon.” He was tall, heavy and haggard, but with a surprisingly gentle voice. Several days’ worth of stubble covered the man’s face. A long, worn raincoat reached his ankles and creased black leather boats coved the rest of his body.

“Hi,” said William, forcing a smile.

“I’m Todd Johnson. I live up the hill.”

“Please to met you.” William relaxed slightly, thinking the man was on an innocent social call. He offered his hand and Todd looked at William questioningly, as though wondering what purpose his hand could serve. William drew back his arm as casually as possibly with a little grin.

What a nut this guy is…

“I see most things from up there.”

“Oh? That must be nice, yeah?”

“Saw you arrive. Big car in the middle of the night.”

“Right.”

“Wondered: who’s that?”

“Perfectly naturally question.” Kill me, now.

“So I asked Felix.”

“Felix?” God, who the hell could that be, an acronym for a bloody FBI computer?

“Felix is my friend, but he’s never been the same since the war.”

“Of course.”

“So I said, Felix, tell me, are they good or evil? One bark for good and two for evil.”

“Oh. Felix is a dog.” William laughed a little, relieved. Thank all that’s holy.

“You think talk to a dog? You think I’d ask a dog whether you were good or evil? What do you think I am? Some sort of backwoods lunatic, with a barn full of human skulls and a scythe that I sharpen ever day in readiness for Armageddon?”

“No, no, not at all. I’m sure you’re a regular guy.”

“Damn right I am.” Todd’s voice was no longer calm as he sputtered in William’s face. “But the real question is: Who are you?”

“Well, I’m...” What do I say? A janitor? An immigrant? A regular guy? A victim of circumstance? A kidnapper? “I’m…”

“We’re newlyweds.” Buffy opened up the door completely and stepped into view. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed William on the cheek, her arms wrapped around him. “Aren’t you coming back to bed, honey?”
***

“I woke up and you weren’t there.” Buffy was loosely wrapped in only in sheet as she pouted and leaned into William’s body. “That wasn’t very nice. I missed you.”

William and Todd both stood wide-eyed before Buffy’s beauty. Her hair was ruffled and her smile was ear to ear as she pawed at William while speaking in a sultry voice. Humming, her hand slid under the waistband of the front of William’s pants, the tips of her fingers brushing against his coarse pubic hair.

William jumped and struggled to think clearly. “Ah…Pet, this is Mr. Johnson.”

“Pleased to meet you ma’am.”

“You may call me Lucille.” Buffy took her hand out of William’s pants and offered it to Todd. She giggled as the man’s meaty hand encased hers and when he kissed her knuckles. “Awww, you’re so sweet.”

“The pleasure’s mine, Lucille.”

“Are you from the papers?” Buffy let her sheet fall dangerously low, almost exposing her nipples as she held William’s hand in both of hers.

“No. I live up the hill.”

“You mustn’t tell the newspapers. They never leave us alone because of Richie.” She smiled proudly at William and nuzzled his shoulder with her face, deeply inhaling the scent of him.

“Richie?”

“You recognize Richie, don’t you?” Richie Vanderlow: six gold albums, three platinum, and fourteen consecutive top-ten singles?” She sighed and played with William’s fingers. “Biggest-selling artist worldwide for the past twelve months…and all mine. Isn’t that right, baby?”

William smiled and gave a modest shrug, his body buzzing from all the attention it was getting from Buffy and her loving caresses. “Yours.”

Todd studied the couple, his eyes coming back to Buffy. “You have to understand, ma’am, that I watch mainly the Biblical channels.”

“We were married in secret, in a castle in Scotland.”

Todd looked lost.

“That’s in England…near Paris?”

“Ah, Paris.”

“It was so very romantic—we made love for seven days straight.” Cupping William’s face, she kissed him deeply, carelessly letting her sheet drop in process. William moaned, surprised and quickly covered her body again for Todd was exposed to too much, not breaking their kiss. Buffy pulled back from William and smiled embarrassingly at Todd, adjusting her sheet and biting her lip. “Our honeymoon wasn’t long enough so we came here for the sake of a little privacy.”

“I see.”

“Would you like to come in?”

“No, no. Thank you, Lucille but I’d better be on my way. I need to feed Felix.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Johnson.” Buffy turned and sauntered towards the bedroom, her sheet showing all her back and slipping slowly as she walked. Todd and William watched her go, both transfixed.

“You take care now, Richie.”

“Right.” William wasn’t listening when he closed the door.
***

“That…that was…” William stood in the doorway of the bedroom and smiled. “You’re amazing, Buffy. Thank you for saving me back there.”

Buffy said nothing and picked up her folded clothes off the floor and walked out of the bedroom, past William. With her back to him she dropped her sheet and began dressing, not caring that William was watching. “You can have the shower now. I think you have something to take care of.”

William looked down and blushed at the sight of the bulge in his pants.
***

“Have fun?” Buffy asked, not lifting her head up from the pages of a book.

“Shut up.” He gathered his things and began writing, sitting on the living room floor.

“Need any help? With the story, I mean.”

William glared. “What else could you have meant? I’m sure you ran off looking for mouthwash after having to force yourself to kiss my ugly gob.”

“I never said that and I don’t think you’re ugly.”

“Because that night you had no problem snogging the life out of me.”

“Because I was drunk.”

“You were and I’m sorry about what happened.”

“You are?”

“Yes, isn’t that what you wanted to hear?”

“Shut up.”

“Gladly.”
***

“You have some strange hobbies, love.”

“Don’t call me that. You stand like this.” Buffy pulled the trigger, blowing apart some assorted fruit from a distance of twenty feet. Birds flew away from the clearing where she and William had set up their targets. “With your arms out like this in front of you, not like this, or like this. You’re not a cowboy. Like this.” She demonstrated once more before handing the gun to William.

He held it as she had shown, quickly remembering the last time and only time he had shot a gun: the shooting of her father. The gun didn’t feel comfortable in his hand. He squinted at the target, a large pumpkin.

Buffy raised William’s arm and kicked his feet farther apart. “That’s better. Now remember: never point a loaded gun at anyone unless you plan on killing him. Always keep the safety catch on unless you are about to fire. Wait until the last possible moment before firing: if they are more than a couple yards away, you won’t hit anything. Any questions?”

William shook his head. He tried to control his breathing and at an exhale, he pulled the trigger. He fired a few more shots quickly, never hitting his target.

“Ok, William, I think you best defense will be to run.”
***

Buffy cried hysterically as she screamed into the pay phone and explained in detail the gruesome death awaiting her if her father did not follow William’s demands and bring the ransom money to the designated location.

William watched Buffy’s emotional performance and felt as if he was being treated to an off-Broadway classic, his admiration for Buffy growing higher than he ever imagined or anticipated.

Once in the car and driving back to their new home, William broke the silence. “You’re fantastic.”

“Stop.”

“What? Why? I mean it, genuinely.”

“Whatever.”

“Buffy, we need to talk about why you’re so pissed…I know it has to do with, um, our date but is it more? I already said I feel horrible for taking advantage--.”

“You think that’s why I’m mad?”

“Yes, well, isn’t?”

“Pull over.”
***

Hank replayed Buffy’s disturbing phone call for Faith and Willow as they all listened on speakerphone. “I’ll get the money but you’d better make damn sure that he never touches it. Understand?”

“Sure, boss. We’ll get him. Don’t worry.” Faith smacked her gum as she spoke. “Everything will be taken care of. Just like we took care of the cop.”

“I don’t want to hear anything about that. My name will never be connected with that.”

“Alrighty then. Anything else? Will and I have a lot to do, lots of prep time.”

“Be on the look out for a moron named Riley Finn, he’s after Buffy too. He’s harmless but annoying as hell. I told him he could marry Buffy if he finds her. I won’t be too sad if he was accidentally extinguished too.”

“That would cost you a few thousand more, depending on just how annoying the guy is.” Willow giggled. “But if he gets in the way…oh well.”
***

 

Chapter 8

“When I said we should talk, I was thinking maybe in the near future, at the house and after I’d had awhile to prepare, you know, panic and all that.”

“No, let’s seize the moment. Tell me what you thought about our date. Indulge me, William.”

William sighed, her words bringing up all his memories of their night together to the surface. “Well, I never thought our first time would be like that…ah, not that I thought about us together much—ah, ever, I mean. I just didn’t think alcohol would play such a large part in…I, um…”

“Why did you leave?”

“In the morning?”

“Yes.”

“I went shopping.”

“Shopping? You’re kidding.”

“No, not at all. I went off and bought some things for your hangover, water and some real food other than that junk we’ve been living on and--.”

“We can go now.”

“But I thought we were going to talk this out?”

“We will, at home. I need time to prepare.”

“Hey…” William took a sideways glance at Buffy and noticed a tiny smile tugging on her features. “Ok, you do that.”
***

“Help me make dinner.” Buffy walked into the kitchen, knowing William would follow. “For starters, William, you’re too good to be true.” She dug food out of the cabinet and never looked in his direction. “I don’t know how to handle you, really.”

William watched as Buffy quickly moved around the kitchen as if she owed it, knowing where every spatula and plate was hidden. He remained silent and kept to a safe distance as she spoke.

“You’re the most considerate guy I’ve ever meet, hell, guys like you I thought were only myths and in fairy tales.” Opening various canned foods, she continued on, “You almost make me want to be a better person, almost.” At his light chuckle Buffy, smiled. “But then I think, if I were nicer and less bitchy, would that make you seem a little less perfect? I’d hate to take any of that away from you, your perfection”

“I’m anything but perfect, love.”

“Shut up, you are and in all the places where it counts. So you weren’t a natural at kidnapping, but who is? And you can’t shoot a gun worth shit; I don’t care about that stuff. Come here and put these into bowls for me.”

“So what are you saying, pet?”

“I don’t know exactly. I’m not great with all this heart-to-heart crap, but I do know that you didn’t take advantage of me, I may have been more than a little tipsy but I’m a big girl. Hell, I was the one that had us play the drinking game in the first place, remember?”

“I do. But I still don’t understand why you hate me now.”

“I don’t hate you, William and I think that’s why I’ve been abusing you lately.”

“Come again?”

“You left and didn’t tell me and it hurt my feelings and because it hurt my feelings, I freaked out, which naturally led to me taking everything out on you, understand?”

“Barely, it must be a woman thing; did you enjoy yourself, on our date? With the singing and dancing and…”

“The tonsil hockey and the mind-blowing sex? I did. And this morning wasn’t painful either; being Lucille was very…satisfying.”

“So now what? Where do we go from here?”

“Forward.”

“Forward? People can have lots of definitions of forward, all different, confusing…”

“I know.”

“You’re not going to tell me yours?”

“No.”

“Right.” He looked away, struggling to hide his disappointment.

“But I can say it doesn’t involve you sleeping in the chair tonight.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And I’ll try my best to be kinder, but I make no promises.”
***

“Sorry. I can’t believe everything got burned.”

“It’s my fault, we were talking and I got you distracted. It’s lovely…once you get used to the texture.”

Buffy smiled briefly and went back to the subject of their prior conversation. “Now remember…about tomorrow.”

“Don’t get caught ‘cause if I do, it will lead to my unspeakable torture and untimely death.”

“That’s the main thing: don’t get caught. I’m pretty sure my father will have someone representing him because he’ll never take a sick day and miss a day of work, even if my life were really in danger. So I’m thinking be on the look out at all times for his thugs. When you get the money--”

“We met late tomorrow night back at the Wigwam if there’s any trouble. How will you get there if I have the car?”

“I’ll think of something. What’s the goal of tomorrow?”

“To get the bloody money.” William rolled his eyes. “Don’t start with me, woman. I know, I know, don’t get caught so I can try to get to the money again if something goes wrong.”

“But nothing will go wrong.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am.”
***

“Same rules?” William began undressing the bed and taking off the pillow shams. “You on one side and me on the other?”

“That’ll do. I’ll be back.” With her new borrowed nightclothes in hand, Buffy went to change in the bathroom. Once she was gone, William slid under the covers, also in a stranger’s pajamas.

“Weird it is.”

“Weird what is?” She joined him and lying on her side, facing his bare back.

“Wearing some yahoo’s pjs.”

“Think of them as vintage, besides you’re also in a yahoo’s bed and eating a yahoo’s food.”

“A yahoo’s burnt food.” He grumbled and rolled over, finding himself face to face with Buffy. “Ah, hello there.”

“Hi.”

“This is a big bed, maybe we shouldn’t be squished in the middle like we are.”

“I’m not feeling squished. You said the meal was lovely, were you lying to me, William?”

William swallowed and contemplated moving away from her out of fear, having no idea what could happen next. “No.”

“So my food was lovely? Even if it was black and hard as a rock? Or do you call everything lovely? I remember a drunk William telling me I was lovely.”

“You are, love.”

Buffy tried to fight back her smile but failed. “I love seeing you squirm.”

“I’ve become well aware of that.”

“Do I scare you?”

“Sometimes…but I’m figuring you out, slowly but surely.”

“Tell me what you uncover. I’m curious.”

“Will do.”

“Goodnight, William.”

“Goodnight, Buffy.”

“Keep your hands to yourself, I know you want me.”

“Do I?” William snorted, the truth shining in his eyes. “Sure, ‘bout as much as you want me.”

Pulling the covers to her neck and rolling over, “It’s more than likely.”
***

“What are you doing here?”

“That’s a very profound question; my head can’t handle it just yet, ask another.” William buried his head into the soft cotton of Buffy’s nightgown and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist.

“If you drooled on me William, I’ll…”

“You’ll what? Besides you’re the drooler.”

“Shut up.” She began wiggling and pushing down his arms as he stubbornly pressed his face to her stomach and tried to sleep. “I’m so going to kick you…you asshole.”

“Aw, that reminds me of old times…but say things like that and I’ll never let you go.”

Buffy stopped struggling and fell back on her pillow with a sigh. “Please let me up, I need to go to the bathroom.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“You will when you’re laying in a puddle.”

“Now that’s disgusting.”

“Let me up.”

“Fine, fine, don’t get all shirty about it.”

“What the hell does shirty mean?”

“Ah, I’m not sure but it had a nice ring to it, right?”

Buffy rolled her eyes and ran to the bathroom.
***

Hours before William was scheduled to arrive, Willow and Faith were waiting, each in separate cars and hidden from the empty road.

“Maybe we’re too early. It’s hot over here.” Willow whined and turned up the air conditioning as her newly stolen car sat idle. “I hope he shows up soon.”

“He’ll be around soon, babe, just keep your eyes peeled.” Faith yawned as she spoke into her cell phone. “I can’t wait for the game to begin either, he’s in for quite a shock.”
***

“Don’t get caught. Run, shot whatever you can, just don’t get caught, William.” She watched as William put his gun in the car.

He nodded and swallowed, leaving the door open and walking over to Buffy for what could be their final goodbye. “I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For believing in me and for all those things you said yesterday…it all was said at a good time…before it could all go down in flames.”

“It won’t--.”

Before Buffy could start an inspirational speech, William had grabbed her and was kissing her, she responded to his needy tongue and squeezed her eyes closed.

“Buffy…” He managed between gasps for air, not letting her out of his grasp, “If I get through this, alive and kicking, the games stop, ok? No more playing with me…we cut the crap, I want you, you want me…I want us to be together.”

“Together?”

“Together.”

“O-ok.”

“Ok?”

She nodded and surrendered to his demanding mouth.
***

According to Buffy, Hank Summers hadn’t let her first kidnappers off easy by any means. To pass the time on their seemingly endless car ride, Buffy had explained how Hank had paid the ransom but then didn’t rest until each of the four men where found, tortured and brutally killed. Giles, the family’s butler, was hired for the job and went on a two-year long journey and killing spree, returning with the nickname The Ripper.

William was occupied with these thoughts when he brought the car to a halt twenty yards from an old broken down Chevrolet. He stopped, waited, and looked around, his left hand clutching the gun in his pocket as he stared the pick-up location. Even with no apparent signs of human presence, he checked the gun as Buffy had showed him, making sure it was loaded and that the safety catch was on and then got out of the car.

“First the money, then the girl.” He mumbled remembering more of Buffy’s wisdom. They won’t kill me yet because if they did, they would never find Buffy anyway.

He edged closer to the car, fully prepared to scream and run and possibly shoot haphazardly if suddenly faced with Hank’s hired gun-wielding psychopath.

So far, so good.

William peeked into the empty car and slowly round to the trunk.

The money will be in there…please let the money be in there.

He opened the trunk.

Inside was a bomb.
***

Look a brown paper bag…dynamite, wires…and a little digital clock. I have ten seconds. I can run but then that would make my quick death into a longer, more painful one.

William’s eyes watered as he closed his eyes, waiting for the explosion to take his life, spreading his remains far and wide in the Arizona desert.

After thirty seconds, he opened his eyes and looked down.

I’m alive. Everything’s intact…I’m breathing…

He reached down and tugged at the wires and they came away easily, not connected to anything.

Sick bastards. He looked carefully at a stick of dynamite and peeled at its wrapping.

Holy fuck, I thought I was going to be offed by a bag of carrots!

And of course…there’s no money.

Relief, confusion and disappointment flooded William at once, but before he could gather his thoughts, a continuous shower automatic gunfire ripped into the Chevrolet, puncturing its tires and fuel tank, punching holes in the doors and glass.

William threw himself into a ditch beside the road and crawled on his elbows towards his car. The bullets hit the ground behind him, but he remained untouched. The scrambled into his car once the firing stopped. Reloading, William assumed, and wasted no time no starting the engine and thundering down the road.
***

“Nice job, Will.” Faith put down her binoculars as the burgundy car flew out of sight.

“Thanks.” Willow was already dismantling the tripod and returning her rifle to its plastic cover.
***

William had covered three miles before he spotted another car in his rearview mirror.

“Shit.”

Not paying attention, he nearly ran over a hitchhiker.

“This’ll work.”

He slammed on the breaks.

It’s gonna be a long walk home.
***

“Did he recognize you?”

“Not at all. Exactly as you’d predicted. ‘Quick, drive my car.” Gunn looked confused.

Willow flipped open her wallet and drew out three creased bills. “There’s what we owe ya, you’ve been very helpful Charles. Keep the car and go home and be a good boy but remember: the car’s stolen.”

“If you’d don’t mind me asking, how did you know he’d react like that?”

“It’s our job to know things like that, silly.”

“But how?”

“We just know.”

“I won’t tell a soul…CIA? FBI?”

“That’ none of your concern and if you insist on making it your concern, you may not be happy with the results.”
***
 

Chapter 9

I’m sure he’s okay.

Buffy paced the living room floor, stopping every few seconds to look out the window.

He’ll drive by soon and then I’ll meet him at the motel and everything will be fine.

Her stomach flipped, disagreeing with her and knowing that William had been gone for too long.

He’s alright…he has to be alright.

She paced faster trying to keep her overactive mind occupied so she wouldn’t worry about William. “Somewhere beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me, my lover stands on golden sands and straight to my arms he’ll come sailing.”

Buffy sang weakly an improvised version of their song, the song her and William had belted nights before.

Oh, no…now that brings up…he was so…so sweet this morning.

Buffy rubbed her arms with her hands, annoyed, trying to will away her goosebumps.

There was the cuddling and the kisses and then he even demanded that I take him seriously.

Buffy smiled, suddenly not ashamed to.

I never thought he’d have the guts to say those things…to say that he wanted us to be together…I never thought he’d take the first step…

Buffy’s stomach flipped again, causing her to run to the window.

I’m sure he’s okay.

He has to be okay.
***

William had never felt so tired in his life. His arms were stinging, peppered with tiny cuts and with the remnants of weeds from hiding in too many ditches. He hid for what felt like days before he decided it was safe for him to start his long walk home. He was shocked that his plan had worked and that the hitchhiker was willing to take his car, taking on William’s high speed chase in the process.

That bloke did kinda look familiar, William shrugged, not caring. But I got away and that’s all that counts.

His entire body was covered in sweat and dirt as he slowly walked down the side of the road, blisters forming on the balls of his feet.

Wiping his gritty forehead with the back of his hand, William grimaced; wishing rain would fall in the desert, just once, and just for him.

Why would I be that lucky?

He blinked away frustrated tears.

So this is what it feels like to be road kill…
***

Riley Finn would not be discouraged. Traveling mindlessly in the Arizona heat was not going to put a damper on his sprits. Hank Summers wasn’t helping Riley at all, even though Riley called him on a daily basis, pleading for information and leads.

I’ll find her. I’ll save her and take her away from that mad man and then when I ask her to marry me again; she’ll have to say yes.

Riley pulled into another restaurant, with his interview questions burning in his mind.

I’ll find them, sooner or later, but when I do…he’ll be sorry for taking my Buffy away from me.
***

“Take one more step and I’ll shot you.” Buffy stood under the single porch light aiming her unloaded gun at the stranger that was walking up the drive in the middle of the night. “Put your hands up please and come into the light so I can see you before I kill you.”

Buffy waited, her heart pounding. She had waited for countless hours for William to return and she had given up hope after the sun had gone down. She knew whoever this person was; he was coming to take her back to Hank.

Buffy was not going back.

“Come on, I don’t have all night.” She stepped away from the front door and squinted into the darkness. “Oh, God. Oh my God. William.” She dropped her harmless weapon and ran to him.
***

Buffy was slowly getting madder with each passing minutes. William had not said a word, he was dirty and in pain and he wasn’t telling her why.

What the hell did they do to him? She gritted her teeth while fixing William something to eat; ripping her father into pieces flooded her thoughts.

“After you eat you need to take a shower.” Buffy put his plate before him as William sat at the kitchen table. She fumed when he picked at his food. “Eat what you can but drink the water, you must be dehydrated.”

Buffy’s stomach gurgled when she sat next to him, but she ignored it. She hadn’t eaten a thing since William had left in the afternoon. She knew eating would just result in throwing it back up. Before she was too scared to eat and now she didn’t know how she was feeling.

She studied William, the tempo of her heart rose and the feeling of wanting to bawl like a baby and hold William and make sure he was protected and never hurt again irked Buffy.

“And then you can sleep for days if you’d like.” She mumbled touching his hand briefly and then pulling at back when she got no response.

I feel like an idiot…he wants nothing to do with me.

She swallowed; unshed tears stinging her eyes, making her more confused about her feelings. “I’ll be…I’ll be in the other room if you need me.”
***

William had walked silently to the bathroom over half an hour ago. Buffy sat in the living room and struggled, pretending to read her book. She hadn’t heard any water running and she was getting a headache from worry.

Asshole.

She slammed the book close and stomped into the bedroom.

“William!” Buffy banged on the bathroom door. “I’m coming in, damn it and I’m helping you!” She opened the door and found him sitting on the closed toilet seat in a daze. “Arms up.” Standing before him she took off his shirt gently over his head. She bit her lip and batted at the twigs and dust that clung to his blond hair that was awfully messy, a few hairs forming little spikes. Feeling suddenly lightheaded from her pounding headache, Buffy lightly rested her hands on William’s shoulders and closed her eyes tight.

“Are you alright?”

“Those are your first words after all this time? You want to know if I’m alright?” She opened her eyes and saw him finally looking at her.

Oh God, this can’t be good.

Her knees gave out and Buffy sank towards the bathroom floor but William’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into him instead. She gasped as he sobbed into her hair, her own tears blurring her vision but never falling. Buffy didn’t know what to do so she held him as tightly as he held her.
***

“Sorry. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Let’s get you cleaned up and then you’ll tell me everything…right? Please William, I need to know. I want to know.” She let go of his waist and cupped his tear-streaked face, rubbing her thumbs on his cheeks to reassure him. “Whatever happened…they won’t get away with it. I’ll get the water started for you.” Instead of standing immediately, her hands moved to cup the back of his head and brought him close, her mouth playing with and tugged his lower lip in a sweet kiss, “I need to help you feel better, I don’t know why…but I must, so let me…please?”

William nodded and tilted his head, confused by Buffy’s confession and loving actions. “I’ll tell you everything but…I’m not looking forward to the verbal lashings you’re going to give me.”

“William, I won’t--.”

“You go; I can wash myself and I don’t plan on drowning. You’ve helped more than you could ever imagine already, just look at your shirt.” He sighed. “Thank you for that. Sorry for unleashing the bloody waterworks on you…today was a little more than I could bear.”

“I can--.”

“Go, I’ll be fine, Buffy.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”
***

“Feeling better?”

“Yes, very much.” William yawned and got into bed, lying on his back, his shoulder touching Buffy’s.

“Good.” She looked up at the spinning ceiling fan and didn’t know where to start with her questions. “What happened to the car?”

“I gave it away. To a hitchhiker, after I nearly plowed him down, I was being followed.”

“So you gave the car to someone else…”

“So I could hide and get the bad guys off my tail, following the other guy.”

“That was very clever.”

“I guess it was…looking back.”

“Was that when you got dirty? Hiding?”

“Well, I’ve been crawling in nasty ditches all day really and it all added to the dirty state I was in earlier. I first dove in a bunch of weeds and other rubble to get out of the way of the machine gun.”

“Machine gun?” Buffy found William’s hand and threaded their fingers together.

“Maybe not a machine gun but it was an automatic gun with flying bullets all aimed at my pretty little noggin.”

“You just showed up and they started shooting? How many people were involved?”

“Never saw the person or persons behind everything. I got to the car and it was abandoned. I looked in the trunk and—and there was a bomb.”

“No.”

“Yes. No money. Just a bomb. It went: bomb, carrots, bullets, car chase, with a lot of hiding in bushes and then walking home.”

“Carrots? What poisonous carrots or something?”

“No, no, the bomb was there just to scare the shit out of me. It was like those roadrunner cartoons, you know? The dynamite ended up really being a bundle of rabbit food.”

“I don’t understand, what my father was trying to accomplish? It sounds like whoever’s he’s hired only wants to confuse and frighten you and not kill you.”

“You mean they want to fully confuse and scare the shit out of me before they kill me. I’ve never been so fucking scared in my life,” he added quietly, glad that Buffy wasn’t looking at him. “You can yell at me now, I’m ready.”

“Why would I yell at you? You did exactly what I wanted: you didn’t get caught and you came back in one piece--.”

“Yeah, without no money and now we don’t have a car. We both know it’s not easy for me just to get another. I fucked everything up.” William let go of her hand and turned to his back.

“William, don’t be like this.”

“I can be any way I bloody well please.”

“William.”

“Sod off.” He grumbled and resisted her attempt to roll him over.

“What off? Why are you talking about grass? Look at me.”

“No, I’d rather brood until I fall asleep.”

“William.”

“No.”

Buffy growled and forcefully turned him on his back, sitting on him when he wouldn’t remain still. “I won’t let you brood, William. Look at me when I’m talking to you.” She grabbed his wrists and held them over his head.

This is nice. I like this so much more than being the sweet and caring Buffy, too bad he’s being such an idiot this could be a fun act of foreplay.

“Buffy, I just want--.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“What?”

“You heard me. I’m so proud of you William I could…I don’t know, but the last thing I want to do is yell at you but you’re being so difficult. You did nothing wrong. Will you behave if I let go?”

“You’re proud? Of me? You’re not just--.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and covered his mouth with the palm of her hand. “I think you were very, very brave and I’m not just saying these things to cheer you up, I’m saying these things because I want you to hear them and sure, I don’t think you should be moping but that’s beside the point.” She glared at him before freeing his mouth, daring him to say something negative. When he swallowed and said nothing, Buffy began shifting on his body. “But I’m trying to be the good girlfriend here and you aren’t even letting me try and that is pissing me off, that is the only thing that is pissing me off.” She stopped fidgeting once she was laying comfortably on him, her arms around him and her legs straddling his thigh.

“Girlfriend?”

“Yes, isn’t that what you wanted? If not, too bad for you, you’re stuck with me, William. You are now my boyfriend, I paid attention to you this morning.”

William couldn’t tell by her bossy tone with if was teasing him or not. As a test he wrapped his arms around her and was pleased when she wiggled deeper into him, grinding her hips against him, her movements allowing his hand to fall on her ass. “You’re serious?”

“Weren’t you serious? This morning?”

“Yes.”

“Well, there’s your answer.” She held her head high, “Kiss me.”

“Say please.”

Buffy smirked, knowing William was finally joining the fun. “Please?”

“Try harder than that, princess.”

“Pretty, pretty please oh brave and death defying William?”

“That all you’ve got?”

“For now, I don’t want to use up all my compliments up right now, I’ll need them when I beg for sex tomorrow.”

“You’re insane, Buffy.”

“But you like it.”

“I do.”
***

Chapter 10

“I had that dream again last night. We were on a game show called, ‘Perfect Love.’”

“I’ve never heard of it. What are you doing awake? I thought you’d be sleeping past noon.”

William shrugged, “It was the just a dream. I don’t think the fact that we were on a game show had any real significance; the theme of the dream was universal though. My heart was beating so fast and you—what are you doing?”

“Nothing.” She grinned before licking his nipple with the tip of her tongue again. “Go on, I’m listening.”

“Um,” William found it hard to refocus his train of thought. “Anyway, we were on ‘Perfect Love,’ and my life was in danger.”

“Did I save you?”

“Yes, actually you did, with an arrow.”

“An arrow? Huh, that’s interesting.” She moved down his body, leaving a wet trail behind her. “Did we win a car or something? An all expenses paid vacation? After this is all done we should go somewhere. Somewhere nice, just you, me and our money.” She reached the waistband of his pants and untied the strings. “I read something, somewhere about how to give the best blowjob, tell me if this works for you.”

“What? Wait.”

Buffy frowned when he took her hands away from his pajamas. “Wait for what? We can talk more about your dream later. You just lay back and let me do this for you.” After pressing his chest down, Buffy kissed him while her hands stroked him through his pants. “It’ll be fun, an adventure. I don’t think I’ve ever done this for someone I haven’t hated, maybe I won’t even gag this time and I’ll try to be gentle, that’s another thing I’m not used to but, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Buff--.”

“Quiet, please. I need to concentrate I could miss a step and that would be horrible. I want to do this right for you William.” She laughed her hands never stopping their slow caresses to his semi-hard cock. “It’s sad how much I like saying your name…maybe not sad but definitely weird. By the way, this is step one,” smiling sweetly, she pulled his pants to his knees, “I think it was something like, hmmm? Rub him like a baby animal –about to be born and make him as hard as a rock? That sounds good, give or take a little. Sound good to you?”

William moaned in response, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

“Hey now, one thing at a time. Moaning responses should be later, I think.” She alternated from looking at his face and then to the stiff cock in her hands; interested in the effect she was having on him. “Step two isn’t really something I do to you, it was a friendly reminder about no teeth and Popsicles. Sorry.”

“Forgiven.” He strained to speak after the first touch of her tongue. “God Buffy.”

“You can put your hands in my hair if you’d like, but don’t pull too hard or I’ll so kick your ass.” She moaned, proving her threat empty and harmless, enjoying the feel of his hands when they gently tugged at the roots of her hair. She reapplied her mouth to him and circled her thumb and forefinger around his cock, never letting her hand stray too far her lips as she stroked him. Looking up and locking eyes with William, when Buffy knew he was about to come; she sped up her actions; Buffy flatted her tongue against his shaft and relaxed her lips slightly while making swallowing motions, anticipating his release. With the help of few pulls from Buffy, William exploded, moaning her name.
***

“How did the arrow save you?” Buffy crawled back into William’s arms. She rested her head on his chest and listened, waiting for his heart slow back to a normal pace.

“It a shot a hole in my heart.”

“Ew. And this was a good dream? How did that save you?”

“Well, the dream keeps on showing up in pieces and I haven’t got that far.” William brushed her hair away and kissed her shoulder. “You keep me amazed at all times, you know that? Roll over a bit.”

“Why?” A hint of a whine in her voice, “You’re so comfortable.”

“I have a favor to return.”

“Oh. You don’t have to.”

“But I am.”

“Well if you insist I won’t stop you.”
***

“Are you ready?”

Buffy waited for him at the table. In front of her was a small soup bowl, a piece of paper and a thin stick. William saw something sharp catch the light as he leaned to kiss her on the top of her head. “For what, love?”

“To write a letter.”

She drew the razor blade across her forearm in a single confident stroke. At first there appeared to be no mark, then a thin line of dark blood began to ooze freely from the gash. Buffy held her arm out to let the blood drip into the bowl.

“Oh, oh no.” William struggled to maintain consciousness. When a small pool of Buffy’s blood had formed, he gave up his struggle and fell to the floor in a harsh thud.
***

“Needles?”

“Yes, blades and most blood also.”

Buffy cradled William’s head in her lap and applied a zip-lock bag of ice to the sore spot as he lay on the kitchen floor. “But you were fine when you shot Hank.”

“I wasn’t too fond of Hank, but you…you’re different.” He held her wounded arm and kissed her flesh toned band-aid.

“So you’re saying you fainted because you’re fond of me?”

“Yes and I can’t handle the thought of you hurt.”

“William, I’m really starting to like you, so, so more than I should.” She sighed and leaned down to kiss him. “This is more difficult than I anticipated, with you facing that way and me not facing that way,” she laughed out loud, determined to kiss him anyway, her lips touching any of his skin that she could reach. “You know, we’ll have a few days to kill because it’ll take awhile for the letter to reach my father.”

“What are you suggesting we do with our extra time?”

“I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
***

“You like your book.”

“I do not. It’s shit.”

“You’re rereading it, I know you are. Could Buffy even be reading more than just the sex scenes?”

“Shut up.” Buffy pretended to be annoyed by his teasing chuckle. “You’re sitting down there?”

“I am.” William scooted on the floor, resting his back against the bottom of Buffy’s chair, “If you don’t mind, that is.”

“I don’t,” she said pleased by his closeness. “You have pretty handwriting, especially for a guy, and a lefty at that.”

William looked over his shoulder, briefly closing his notebook. “I get that a lot. What can you read from up there? Everything? Word for word?”

“Why? You getting squirmy, William? I know you named her after me.”

William was silent for a few seconds as he searched for the right words to say. “Ah, do you have a problem with it? Me using your name? Because you have to admit that Buffy the Vampire Slayer has a bloody nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“I’m ok with it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’m actually flattered.”

William grinned in relief, his smile growing as Buffy’s legs hugged his sides. “Can I run a new character idea by you? I won’t if you’re too busy pretending to hate your seedy romance novel.”

“Shut up and tell me.”

“Well, the slayer’s boy left and it broke her heart. She actually had to kill him but he came back, but not to her… it’s a long, painful story. So I think I’m going to add an arch in the story, that the slayer can only find happiness with an equal partner. None of that opposite attract shit; she needs a guy that is on her level, strength wise, humor wise and every other wise.”

“Strength wise? So she’ll go from vampire to vampire? Or are you bringing in a slayer boy?”

“No, no male slayers, that would ruin everything. I want her to shy away from other vampires in a romantic sense, looking for the clean cut, homey, Dawson’s Creek kind of--”

“Dawson’s Creek?”

“Shut up, Dru was into it. I saw it only in passing. The blonde was cute though.”

“Dawson?”

“No, Jen, the slutty one.”

“Only in passing, huh?”

“Shut up. Where was I? Oh getting the slayer a boyfriend. The Hardy Boy type just doesn’t do it for her. I’m thinking about bringing back an old character for her love interest.”

“A vampire?”

“Yeah but one different from her ex. The guy, Spike, he’s got a bit more depth to him. He was a poet before his transformation whereas the other guy was a drunken bastard. He doesn’t hide in the shadows and brood his life away, hell, he enjoys living and fighting and--.”

“Ok, let’s say you have her burnt by both versions of man, the undead and the living, leaving her unsure of where she’s destined to find love. Get that? Anyway, I like the vampire idea. But make sure this Spike guy is different, not only from her ex, but make him different from the normal vampire in general; like a superhuman compared to man but an extraordinary vampire, unusual. Give him human quirks; make her fall in love with him over a long period of time. And if the guy was a poet, make him love’s bitch.”

“Love’s bitch, huh? Like he loves her years before she does…that’s good because the character is a bad ass but he still struggles to be taken seriously and I think if the poet in him forces him to love the slayer, he’d lose his mind; the demon, pissed and disappointed and the poet wetting himself in her presence.”

“Sounds good. Oh and make Spike irresistible, so hot that she can have internal conflicts all around the fact that if he wasn’t a vampire, she would have jumped him at first glance.”

“I’ll remember that. You make this story so much easier to write, pet. I talk to you for a mere seconds and I’m buzzing and ready to write for days.”

“You can write for the next week if you’d like. We’ll be here until next Thursday.”

“What happens on Thursday?”

“Our second attempt at getting the money.”

“Great.”

“William, don’t…”

“I’m not.”

“William.” She got up and crouched on the floor before him. “It’ll be different this time. I’ll be with you.”

“Will that be safe?”

“We’ll have the exchange there, me for the money.”

“You’ll go back, to him.”

Buffy sighed and climbed into William’s lap. “I’d meet you after Hank settles down.”

“You think he’ll settle down? Even if he did, it could be months or maybe years down the road. A lot can happen in that length of time.” A bitter taste filled his mouth, thinking that Buffy could return to her life of being a spoiled rich girl, leaving him as nothing but a memory.

A fling with the cleaning boy, a brief tryst with the help…

Buffy saw the fear in his eyes and her heart stung. “William, I’ll keep you safe by working against Hank under his nose and then the moment I can, I’ll find you and then we’ll be off.” She wrapped her arms around his tense and unyielding body. “But you’ve got to promise that once you’re an instant millionaire that you’ll remember me. Before you crashed into Hank’s office he cut me off from everything. I have nothing; I’ll have nothing. So in the next few days I’ll try my hardest to make sure you won’t forget about me.”

“How could I? Really?”

She shrugged, burying her head into his chest, “Like you said, a lot can happen in months and even more can happen in years.”

“Buffy until now I thought you were the most intelligent woman I’ve ever meet but talk like that makes me think you’ve gotta screw loose. I can’t get enough of you Buffy. And how long have we known get other? Not very long and I’m already addicted.”

“Maybe you’re the insane one now.”

“Maybe but that makes us one and the same, now doesn’t it?” Not waiting for her answer, William kissed her with all the passion he could muster, hoping that Buffy would sense something more.

“My God William, where did you learn to kiss like that?”

“It’s a gift.” He gasped for breath along with her before kissing her again.
***

“You sure you want to know?”

“I’m curious, yes, I want to know who you’re comparing me to.”

“Ok,” Buffy closed her eyes in deep thought, “Scott was nice: extremely wealthy, honorable, amusing, and generous.”

“And?”

“Eighty-seven years old.”

“No.”

“He was healthy for his age.”

“I see.”

“He took me on my first date, my father set us up. Hank saw it as a wonderful investment in his future.”

“I hate your father more and more with each passing day.”

“Me too. Then there was Parker. One night stand. Worlds of bad, heart break. He was there for me when I had trouble with my teeth.”

“Your teeth?”

“Dentist.”

“I see.”

“Do you really?” Buffy laughed and played with the hem of William’s shirt. “Next came Riley, my Dawson’s Creeker: very rich and completely detached from my father’s world. Our relationship was kept from my father, all in secret because I desperately wanted it to work. My prince charming turned stalker and that was a really messy break up. And you know who’s next…Angel.”

“I really hate that bastard.”

“So do I. I was on a do or die mission to hurt my father. He was pressuring me to marry another guy, Wesley Price.”

“Wesley Wyndham Price? The city’s richest, eligible bachelor?”

“And the city’s biggest prick. What you saw in the office with Angel…I made sure Hank saw it; I set the whole thing up. It was taped.”

“It did seem a little fake. You don’t scream like that with me.”

“No, with you I can’t even speak.” Buffy shifted on his lap, remembering how his talented tongue and fingers had made her feel earlier that day. She cleared her throat, “I’m sorry about that whole thing, that you had to see me with Angel and that you lost your job. I've been meaning to say that for awhile now--.”

“But if those things hadn’t have happened, where would I be? I think everything worked out well, just minus the terrifying, near-death experiences of course.”

“Of course.” Buffy smiled, “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot.”

“Anytime, pet.”
***
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