Skull And Dagger
Chapter Twelve - Out of the Frying Pan...

“-And I bet you never even guessed,” Riley bragged, strutting about the room like he owned the place. Which, actually, he did, but only because he’d stolen it, so Elizabeth decided it didn’t count. “I mean, really, it was a brilliant plan. Getting drunk so that my allies were out of the way while William was attacked? No one even suspected me! If William had been half as smart as he pretend to be, he would’ve seen right through that scheme. But, oh no, and I won either way it went, too. William dies, I win; William doesn’t, I’m still free to work against him.” He turned to face Elizabeth. “Don’t you think that was clever of me?”

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. She’d been listening to Riley rant on and on about how he was better than William in every way for hours now. “Very clever,” she agreed with a fake smile.

Riley’s face brightened. “He was no match for me, really. I almost feel sorry for him; he never had a chance.”

Which was why you were too afraid to fight him yourself... Elizabeth thought.

“And he never even guessed!” Riley cried out in delight.

Quite possibly because you weren’t really worth paying attention to... Still aren’t.

“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, though,” Riley continued to extol his own virtues. “After all, he could never really hold his own against a real man...” He gave her a pointed look, expecting her to respond.

“Like you?” It wasn’t too hard a wild guess to hazard. She might have been bored, but the overriding topic was pretty difficult to miss.

“Have you ever had a real man before?” Riley leaned in close, stroking her cheek once more.

She bit her lip and forced herself not to flinch from his touch in revulsion. “Tell me more,” she bit out reluctantly. It was the only sure-fire way she’d discovered to distract him. “How’d you meet William?”

Riley smiled at his own mind’s version of the event. “It took quite a bit of hard work for me to get on Angel’s crew,” he informed her. “But he knows a good man when he sees one. Saw me back when William was nothing more than a captive. Of course, Angel feared me as well...”

Yeah, right. That jerk’s never been afraid of anything in his life...

“...Which is why he made William his first-mate.” Riley gave her a knowing grin. “Someone he could control easily.”

Because William’s so obviously under Angel’s thumb... She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that one. Luckily, Riley was too busy pontificating to notice.

“Angel is powerful,” he said thoughtfully. “And, while he’s an excellent middle-man, I don’t like to allow anyone else that much power.” He let out a confident sigh. “I suppose I’ll have to take out Angel next... Such a pity.”

Over my dead body! I’m going to be the one to take out Angel for luring us into that trap!

“I’m my own man now,” Riley announced. “Everything I’ve ever desired will be mine.” His fingers traced the curve of her breast. “And you’re so very beautiful...”

And you’re so very foolish...

Riley let out a wistful sigh. “I’ll come back this evening then,” he decided. “See if you’ll have softened to me by then...”

Not bloody likely...

The door shut behind Riley, and Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. For some reason, Riley seemed to think that boasting and exaggerating his own accomplishments would win her heart. And the scary thing was that he seemed to believe his own lies. Although, given how in love Riley seemed to be with the sound of his own voice, Elizabeth could see why he might believe in the delusion that she could actually love him.

And, honestly, mentioning William’s name every five seconds? Not exactly the best way to make her forget him.

In fact, every time Riley loaded that name with disdain just reminded her of her love’s strength - strength that obviously still had Riley frightened and insecure in his power, despite his vigorous denials.

And this gave her newfound hope. William was the strongest man she’d ever met, her equal. If anyone could escape this dastardly trap, then certainly it was he.

And when he did, she had absolutely no intention of lying here like the helpless damsel in distress, just waiting to be rescued. Why, the cocky, smug smirk wouldn’t leave his face for weeks if he saved her from this...

Well, she would show him!

Casting one wary look back at the shut door, she slid the rope around her wrists down the solid wooden beam it was attached to. Within five minutes of being left alone in the room, she had decided the quit whining to herself and find a way to escape. Less than five minutes after that, she had discovered the jagged, splintered edge of wood behind the board that held her left hand. She’d had almost a day to work on it, and already she’d half worn through the rope that bound her.

At this rate, she would be free by this time tomorrow. The ‘at this rate’ being the operative phrase in that sentence. Because, in all fairness, her patience was dwindling hourly.

She wanted to get free, knock that smug look off of Riley’s face, escape, find William, give him a good yelling at for falling for that obvious trap, and then kiss him senseless. Well, maybe the kissing part could occur before the chewing-out part... And maybe a bit more than kissing...

A flush rose on her cheeks as she continued to whittle away at the ropes. She couldn’t deny that her body’s reaction to William’s touch had been increasing in intensity since their first kiss. The sensations were strange, but not at all unpleasant. And, as of late, they’d left her constantly craving more...

She didn’t even allow herself to consider the thought that William might not survive to carry out on the heated promises his more forbidden touches had suggested. No, she would find her William unharmed, and then she’d finally learn the truth about all those orgasms Anya raved about. It would be so because she decided it was so, and heaven help anyone who stood in her way once she made a decision...

She felt another chord in the rope snap and smiled to herself. Soon, my love... And you had better make this up to me...

* * *

William sat in his cell, horribly frustrated and still quite angry that he hadn’t managed to kill Lord Abrahms before the guards intervened. After all, if he had to die, he might as well take the old bastard out with him...

The key jangled in the lock, and he looked up in surprise. He hadn’t expected anyone to dare to venture back into his cell for quite some time.

“I seem to be quite the celebrity, what with the constant parade ‘f visitors an’ all,” he commented snidely.

“And, if you know what’s good for ya, ya’ll not ‘urt this one!” the guard retorted gruffly, opening the door to reveal...

William quickly hid his sudden hope at the sight of the familiar face before him. It wouldn’t do to play this new and interesting hand too soon...

“Don’t know what good your preachin’ ‘ll do this one,” the guard commented. “’E’s already damned.”

“It is still my duty to speak with him before the end,” Giles said primly. “And I would thank you to leave the two of us alone.”

The guard cast a skeptical look in William’s direction. “I got orders that ‘f he grabs a hostage, tough luck on them,” he informed Giles.

“Yes, very good,” Giles said disinterestedly. “Now, leave us.”

“Your funeral,” the guard shrugged before closing the door behind them.

Giles quickly put a finger to his lips, listening to the guard walk away. Even after they seemed to be alone, he sat right next to William and whispered softly so that there was no chance they could be heard. “Are you all right?” he asked, concerned.

William sighed. “As well as can be ‘xpected,” he agreed, wincing at his still-bruised ribs.

Giles nodded sympathetically. “And Elizabeth? Do you know where she is?”

William’s expression darkened. “Riley took her,” he bit out angrily. “That bloody bastard helped set me up.”

“Yes, we know,” Giles agreed. “Graham turned on him and helped us all escape. Riley has your ship, but the loyal men in your crew are waiting outside the fort.”

“Xander?” William asked anxiously.

“Fine,” Giles assured him. A sly smile crossed his lips. “Still trying to keep a rein on Anya’s more...outrageous statements.”

William managed a chuckle, despite his dire situation. “Hasn’t been givin’ you too much trouble, I hope.”

“It’s amazing how quickly one grows used to her,” Giles assured him.

William gave him an approving pat on the shoulder for that before turning serious again. “I take it this is more ‘n a social call?”

Giles nodded. “We’re going to get you out of here,” he agreed.

“Forget about me,” William insisted. “’Lizabeth is-”

“-Beyond our reach at the moment,” Giles pointed out. “We will undoubtedly find a way to save her as well. But if we allowed you to perish in the meantime...” He shuddered. “I would not care to face her wrath,” he only half-joked.

William conceded the point with a longing smile. “Downright menace, she is,” he remembered fondly before his mind turned back on topic. “You’ve got a plan?”

“We have,” Giles agreed. “However, we cannot manage it while you are locked in the dungeons. A priest can enter almost any fortress, but a large group of men is something else entirely.”

William nodded. “When then?”

“Well, the only time you will be allowed out is when you are ushered to the gallows,” Giles pointed out.

William grimaced. “That’s cuttin’ things a mite close...”

“There is a plan,” Giles insisted. “The noose may be put around your neck, but the trapdoor will never fall out...”

“What do you need me to do?” William agreed.

Giles pulled a small object from the folds of his robes and handed it to him. “They never bother to search men of the cloth,” he explained off of William’s disbelieving look.

“And a damn good thing, too,” William commented before wincing inwardly. “Er...sorry ‘bout that...” he referred to his casual swearing.

Giles shrugged. “You wouldn’t believe how much worse I’ve heard in the past few days.” He rose to his feet. “You know what to do?”

William nodded. “Elizabeth?” he demanded.

“I’ll make sure Xander sees to it straight away,” Giles promised.

“Thanks,” William said sincerely. “For helpin’ me, I mean. You’re runnin’ a risk that you don’t have to, an’ I know it goes ‘gainst everythin’-”

“If my faith has taught me anything,” Giles cut him off, “it is that I should trust in the mind and heart that god gave me. And I currently have no doubt that you and Elizabeth deserve very much to be happy together.”

A soft, shy smile crossed William’s face at that, betraying something of the innocent young man he had once been. “Thanks,” he repeated.

“You can thank me by following Xander’s excellent advice for you,” Giles retorted.

“And that was?”

“Try to keep that furious temper of yours under control...at least, until the time is right,” Giles responded with an amused smile.

William chuckled at that, hiding the object in question in his sleeve. “’ll remember that,” he promised. “I owe you one.”

“Don’t mention it.” Giles gave him a paternal smile before signaling to the guard that he was ready to leave...

* * *

Forrest frowned. The sight before them was...concerning, to say the least. And Riley’s way of handling it...

“The ship is mine,” Riley insisted. “He’ll just have to deal with that. And if he can’t...”

“You honestly think we can take ‘em?” Forrest eyed the opposing ship warily. It had appeared on the horizon a few hours before and was quite obviously closing in on their own ship. It was only recently that Angel’s characteristic winged-skull flag had been identified, however.

“William successfully stood up to Angel in this ship,” Riley countered. “This will be no different.”

Forrest looked less than convinced.

“Keep me informed of the situation,” Riley ordered. “I’ll be in my quarters...”

* * *

Elizabeth hadn’t quite gotten through the rope when she heard the door open once more. She didn’t have time to move her hands back to their original position.

Fortunately - of perhaps, unfortunately - Riley was too focused on other matters to notice. “Angel,” he spat.

Elizabeth just blinked at the inconsistency of her captor’s rants.

“I saw you with him,” Riley continued. “You were writhing all over him like a bitch in heat. Right in front of William, too.”

“I was not-” Elizabeth began, outraged.

“Don’t deny it, tramp!” Riley cut her off furiously before stalking over to her and roughly fisting his hand in her hair. He yanked her head so that she was looking him right in the eye as he sat down on the bed. “I’ll not put up with that sort of behavior from you,” he hissed coldly. “You’re mine now, and I’ll prove it...to both you and Angel...”

Elizabeth was tempted to ask what the sudden Angel obsession was all about until she realized what Riley meant by that statement. She thrashed violently in her bonds, feeling the rope at her wrist strain further but still hold.

Riley quickly trapped her hips on the mattress in response before crawling over her, his face leaning in far too close, his hot breath on her face making her cringe with disgust and loathing.

“You’re mine, bitch,” he hissed. “Angel may want you, but he’ll never take you from me...” And, with that, his lips crashed down upon hers.

The taste of his tongue against her lips was repugnant, and she kept her mouth closed against the invasion. Tears formed in her eyes as she struggled helplessly beneath him.

“Stop fighting me!” Riley’s palm struck her cheek.

His lips were on hers again then. And she reluctantly gave in...but only because she noticed at that moment that his blow had jarred her rope right against the sharp edge of wood, leaving only one thin strand holding her hand in place. She fought to ignore the feel of his tongue in her mouth - thick and slimy - as she wore through the last chord that held her...

“You’re mine, and I’m taking you right now,” Riley announced, his clumsy hands fumbling with her pants before he just gave up and ripped them.

Cautiously, she inched her free hand over to the edge of the bed, desperate not to attract his attention...

He gave out a triumphant little cry when he finally exposed her, settling between her thighs. “You’re going to enjoy this,” he informed her.

Her hand found the dagger beneath the mattress and pulled it from it scabbard...

“Oh, yeah,” she managed to say, a false smile plastered to her face. “There’s just one thing I need to tell you first...”

Riley leaned in at her conspiratorial tone, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. “Oh?” he inquired.

She nodded. “It’s something a very wise man once said to me.”

His expression turned somewhat confused; this was not the admission of victory he’d been expecting of her.

“ ‘It’s never wise to take an unwilling woman to bed’,” she quoted William’s reasoning the first time they’d met.

Riley’s eyes widened when he felt the point of the blade at his back the instant before it plunged deep into his flesh. Elizabeth angled the knife upward between his ribs the way William had taught her. Then, with a vicious turn of her wrist, she twisted the blade with him.

“ ‘Especially one who’s so prone to stabbing’,” she finished the quote icily.

And Riley gasped in pain before collapsing atop her...

* * *

Forrest felt a near-irresistible urge to tell Riley ‘I told you so’ just instants before Angel’s blade pierced his heart. After all, there was a reason Angel ruled the seas, and they had really stood no chance against him.

Satisfied that the deck was secured, Angel turned to his latest first-mate, a recently-escaped slave willing to fight to the death in order to retain his freedom. “Hold this position, Gunn,” he ordered. “Finn’s still on the loose.”

Gunn nodded and began to round up the few remaining prisoners while Angel and a handful of his best men ventured below-deck.

Blades poised and ready to fight, they cautiously fanned out, searching through the eerily-quiet hull of the ship for their quarry. The first few rooms had already been searched when Angel heard the first whimpering sound. He gestured for his men to be silent as he followed the noise straight back to William’s cabin. He flung the door open to discover...

Well, it wasn’t too difficult to figure out what had happened there. Riley’s corpse lay on the bed, pants wrapped around his knees, surrounded by a pool of his own blood. Cut ropes were at all four corners of the bed where his captive had obviously been tied.

The woman in question was currently huddled in the corner, clothes torn and drenched with blood, dagger still in hand, sobbing softly.

“Just the pretty little thing I was looking for,” Angel said with a sly smile, approaching her carefully.

Through tear-stained eyes Elizabeth recognized Angel, and all hope in her breast died. Riley was foolish and overconfident, but even William was wary of Angel’s strength. She severely doubted that she could overpower him. And even if she could...

There was just so much blood, blood everywhere... Could she really spill more?

Still, she lunged at him violently.

Angel sidestepped her attack easily, knocking the dagger from her hand and trapping her in his powerful embrace. “Brave little girl, aren’t you?” he commented, stroking her hair back behind her ear. “I can see why William loves you...”

The fight left her at that, the combined horror of the events of her captivity finally overwhelming her. She slumped in Angel’s arms in a dead faint, having escaped Riley’s clutches only to become Angel’s prisoner instead...

Skull And Dagger
Chapter Thirteen - ...And Into The Fire

“It is absolutely intolerable!” Giles exclaimed in a mock-huff, trying to look as dignified and outraged as he could manage.

“I assure you, the chapel has its own upkeep staff,” Lord Abrahms attempted to placate the overly-persistent priest.

“Oh yes, I noticed,” Giles retorted sarcastically. “What with the mulch pit by the altar and the abundance of rats. Tell me, are they the upkeep staff?”

“Look, Father Giles,” Lord Abrahms did his best to calm the other man, “I’m sure something could be arranged to fix up the chapel.”

“I should say so!” Giles exclaimed. “I cannot believe you’ve let it go this far! I am inclined to seriously doubt your ability to-”

“I’ll have a cleaning crew come in next week,” Abrahms cut him off before another rant on his unsanitary management of the fort could begin.

“Next week?!” Giles practically cried in agony.

“In order to hire a work crew-” Lord Abrahms hastily insisted.

“Why, I could get one within the hour!” Giles countered. “I swear, this must be the most incompetent fortress in the world! Why, all it would take would be a dozen or so men from the town! I just can’t believe this! I can’t believe it... Wait until word gets back to the church about how crass and disrespectful you are towards a place of worship! I have every mind to see you removed from authority, and when I-”

Lord Abrahms felt a rather nasty headache coming on at the prospect of listening to yet another rant about the goddamned chapel. “You do it then!” he finally bellowed in frustration.

Giles nodded curtly and forced back the triumphant smile that was curling at the edges of his lips. “Very well, I will.”

* * *

“We’re in.”

Xander looked at Giles in disbelief. “How on earth do you do that?” he demanded.

A sly smile lit up Giles’ face. “Never underestimate the church’s powers of persuasion,” he said simply, ushering the pirate crew towards the now-open gates, “...or of annoyance...”

* * *

Elizabeth awoke to the feel of fingers gently caressing her face. In that dazed, half-asleep state, she leaned into them, a smile on her face as she whispered the name “William” like it was the most precious thing in the world to her.

She got a chuckle in response. “Try again, my sweet,” Angel instructed her.

Her eyes flew open in horror and surprise as she remembered the events of the previous day, and she instantly leapt back from his touch, pressing herself against the wall along one side of the bed.

“You are beautiful, aren’t you?” Angel commented in a husky voice.

His hand reached out to touch her once more, and she slapped it away.

“Feisty, too,” he grinned. “I like that...”

The way he said it made Elizabeth start searching frantically for a weapon. Another voice cut her off, however.

“For Christ’s sake, Liam!” the woman Elizabeth vaguely recognized as Darla exclaimed. “Quit traumatizing the poor girl!”

“I think she can handle a little-” He turned to face her and wisely cut his sentence off at her brassed-off expression.

“Out.” The stern order was accompanied by a demanding finger pointed right at the door.

With a resigned sigh, Angel rose to his feet. He approached Darla first, however, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing a sensual kiss in the hollow of her throat. “Forgive me,” he practically purred his command.

Darla’s resolve softened, and she relaxed in his embrace. “You’re an ass, Liam,” she informed him.

“And don’t you love it?” he taunted before crashing his lips down onto hers.

His hips thrust up against hers so suggestively that Elizabeth blushed and turned away...and wondered why William had never done that...

“You know you’re the only one for me, baby,” he said as he pulled away, a smug smile on his lips as he watched her gasp for breath.

“Yeah,” she retorted sarcastically, “I’ll believe that when I’ve got a ring on my finger and the whoring stops.” She gave him a pointed shove toward the door. “Now... Get. Out.”

He turned back to say something, but she slammed the door shut right in his face. Elizabeth could hear him cursing outside as the solid wood impacted with his nose.

Darla winced. “I’m going to pay for that later...” she sighed before turning back to Elizabeth, who was still huddled against the wall on the bed. “You OK, dearie? Liam can be such a pig sometimes. I swear, he thinks everything with two legs was just made for him to stick it in.” She gave Elizabeth a kind smile.

And Elizabeth blinked in confusion. “Huh?” she finally managed to utter eloquently...

* * *

“I don’t like this!” Xander exclaimed for the umpteenth time.

Giles merely rolled his eyes. “Oh, go sweep the altar,” he sighed in irritation.

“I can’t believe Abrahms fell for that,” Graham commented. “This place is spotless...”

“Yes, well, I rather counted on Lord Abrahms’ never bothering to visit it,” Giles countered. “Can’t say I was surprised that I was right...”

At that moment, one of the fortress guards entered the small chapel, helmet in hand. He nodded politely to Giles and walked over to the altar...

There was a loud ‘thunk’ as he was bopped over the head and then dragged into the back room by several of the men.

All the others just continued on as if nothing had happened.

Xander stood up, paced back and forth twice, then threw his arms up in the air in frustration. “I don’t like this!” he insisted.

“Yes, we figured that out the first fifty times you said it,” Giles grumbled under his breath.

Xander didn’t even hear him. “I mean, she’s up there alone, with no one to defend her, and-”

“William hangs tonight,” Giles reminded him sternly.

Xander let out a weary sigh and ran one hand through his unruly black hair. “I know,” he agreed, sitting down... Only to get up and begin pacing once more. “But I don’t like this!”

* * *

“I mean, really,” Anya said, hands pressed over her heart in her low-bodiced gown, eyelashes fluttering, “it must be awfully exciting work. Lowering the gate, raising the gate, knowing that the very safety of this fortress depends on you...”

The gatekeeper gave her a wicked leer. “You better believe it, honey,” he agreed, stroking his control lever.

Anya fought the urge to roll her eyes. “And you must be so strong to do it, too...” After five seconds of analyzing the mechanism, Anya had determined that the system of pulleys and chains that raised the gate was set up so that a child could lift it. There was no harm in lying, though. Especially when it boosted men’s egos and therefore distracted them.

“That’s me.” The gatekeeper gave her a toothless grin. “Strong, built, burly...thick...”

“Oh, yes,” Anya agreed in a falsely cheerful monotone. “Please, tell me more.” Only one more hour...

“No,” the gatekeeper retorted with a coy smile, “you tell me more.”

Thank heaven for men and their bizarre kinks, Anya thought as she tried to come up with more gate-related innuendos...

* * *

“I mean, I really don’t like this...”

* * *

“Again?” William exclaimed in disbelief when he heard his cell door unlock. “’S like a bloody holiday spot in here, what with all the visitors...”

The man who appeared in the doorway was one he had never seen before but, given the finery of his clothing, was obviously an important person.

“Who’re you?” William scowled at him.

“This is he?” the visitor inquired of the guard. After the nod he got in response, his eyes burned with rage as he turned back to William.

William frowned for a second at the familiar anger in those hazel eyes. “Oi, wait a minute...” he began.

His visitor cut him off. “I am the father of the girl you brutalized,” Henry Summers announced. “And it will be my pleasure to watch you die.”

“Oi, now, hold on just a second,” William protested, still trying to absorb the fact that he was talking to Elizabeth’s father. “I didn’t do anythin’ to ‘Lizabeth!”

“You raped and murdered her, you fiend!” Henry cried out, tears forming in his eyes. “My sweet, little girl... How could you?!”

“OK, first off.” William retorted, “’s far as I know, your daughter’s still very much alive, virtue fully intact. That is, unless the nutcase Lord Abrahms handed her off to in order to fake ‘er death ‘asn’t done anythin’ to her yet. Second, ‘sweet, little girl’? Have you ever actually met your daughter?”

“How dare you?” Henry accused furiously. “You dare deny...and then accuse...” He was too livid to finish either sentiment.

“I do ‘cause ‘s true,” William retorted. “You’re bein’ played, Summers, and ‘f you don’t wise up to it soon, you’re gonna end up ‘s broke ‘s my family did.”

“That’s it!” Henry exclaimed, practically fleeing from the cell. “I can’t hear this murderer’s words any more!”

William sighed. “Man lives happily in the land of denial,” he informed the guard as the cell door slammed shut once more...

* * *

“Oh dear, he really scared you, didn’t he?” Darla asked, concerned.

“Scared? Me? Huh?” Elizabeth would characterize her mood more as confused than scared.

“Liam, you are such an ass!” Darla called through the door, rolling her eyes.

“Yeah, that fits in with the whole kidnapping thing,” Elizabeth agreed, coming back to herself a bit.

“ ‘Kidnapping’?” Darla repeated in disbelief. “We saved you!”

“Only so that Angel could ravage me instead of Riley? Oh yeah, that’s a real comfort,” Elizabeth retorted sarcastically.

“Angel what? No, he won’t- He’s just-” Darla stuttered.

“An ass?” Elizabeth suggested helpfully.

Darla nodded vigorously. “Oh god,” she put her face in her hands, “what exactly did he tell you was going on?” There was a hint of dread in her voice.

“He didn’t tell me anything,” Elizabeth insisted. “I inferred that Angel took out Riley after helping to take out William, and I was one of the spoils of war.”

“Wait a minute...Angel helped who take out what?” Darla seemed shocked and horrified.

“Riley said it, and Lord Abrahms implied it,” Elizabeth insisted primly.

“Men!” Darla muttered in despair. “Liam had absolutely no part in the plot against William, and he certainly doesn’t mean you any harm,” she assured the frightened blond.

“But...Angel led us straight into that trap!” Elizabeth insisted.

Darla winced. “Lord Abrahms used Riley to buy out my informant,” she confessed apologetically. “I didn’t find out about it until William had already left. We chased after him to warn him, but...well, you had too much of a head start...”

Elizabeth frowned at the completely different picture of events that was being painted before her. “Angel wants me...” she began hesitantly.

Darla rolled her eyes. “Angel wants everything that even remotely qualifies as female. And some things that don’t.” Her voice softened then. “You’re lucky in that. William is much more...single-minded in his affections...”

“So Angel won’t...?” Relief flooded through Elizabeth as she finally fully absorbed the fact that she was among friends.

Darla shook her head. “He respects William too much to hurt you. Even if he’ll never admit it outside of the bedroom,” she added with a roll of her eyes.

Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh at that. “So why do you put up with him?” she asked.

A blush lit up Darla’s cheeks. “He’s the only one for me,” she admitted before returning to her usual confident manner. “Besides, where else am I going to find a man that lets me keep up my...profession?”

“I can’t argue with that,” Elizabeth agreed, slumping slightly now that the adrenaline had worn off.

“Here,” Darla said kindly, “we need to wash the blood off of you, get you into some clean clothes...”

Elizabeth shook her head. “William-” she insisted.

“We’re on our way there right now,” Darla assured her. “But, first, we’ve got to take care of you...”

* * *

“I will watch,” Henry Summers insisted.

Lord Abrahms had no choice but to nod in acquiescence. Henry’s presence had thrown him for something of a loop, especially since he had managed to speak with William before Abrahms had even learned that he’d arrived. He had no idea what the two men had discussed, and that made him nervous. If William told Henry the truth about what happened and Henry believed him... Fortunately, his new business partner still seemed eager for William’s blood, so his cover most likely hadn’t been blown.

“These types of things are...nasty affairs,” he informed the other man.

Henry shrugged. “He hurt my baby girl. I want to see him hanged now...”

* * *

“Oi, now, this ‘s getting bleedin’ ridiculous!” William exclaimed when the door opened once more.

“The last time,” the guard assured him with a wicked grin. He stepped aside, allowing two more guards to enter.

“Don’t s’pose I should hope that ‘ve been paroled?” William managed to joke lightly.

“You’ve got a free one-way ticket to ‘ell,” one of the guards informed him, dragging him to his feet.

William reluctantly walked with the procession up and out of the dungeon. His eyes surreptitiously scanned the crowds as he made his way towards the gallows that had been set up in the center of the small courtyard. However, he saw no sign of his men.

The smug face of Lord Abrahms did greet him as he stepped up onto the platform, however. He had half a mind to take the older man’s eye out with Giles’ little ‘gift’ but just barely restrained his impulse. After all, Xander had instructed him to wait.

Taking orders from my first-mate now. He couldn’t help but smile at the irony of that. Just bloody brilliant...

The guards backed away from him as the cleric stepped forward to read the charges against him. “Having been found guilty of...”

Blah, blah, blippity blah... William caught a slight movement out of the corner of his eye and just glimpsed one of the guards being drawn around the corner and...was that Graham stationed by the doors to the inner wall?

He quickly reassessed the situation and realized that only a half a dozen or so of the guards were men he didn’t recognize. The vast majority of the real guards would, of course, be set on the inner walls, but those were far enough away that the troops wouldn’t be able to stop his escape if it was quick enough. The large metal gates, however... Those were a problem.

Feeling significantly more confident in his position, William openly yawned at the rather long list of charges still being laid against him.

“H-He doesn’t even repent!” Henry Summers stuttered in outrage.

“End this,” Lord Abrahms agreed, anxious to permanently remove the thorn in his side.

William discovered then that Giles had a talent for exaggeration. The noose hadn’t even come close to his neck when Xander shouted out for him to duck.

A brief squabble ensued, wherein William’s men - he could only guess how they’d acquired the guards’ uniforms - quickly overpowered the remaining guards present at the ‘execution’.

William himself had dropped to the ground upon Xander’s command, the chains he had broken open with the knife Giles had provided him slipping easily from his wrists.

Shouts sounded from above, and he knew that he would stand out as a bulls-eye in the crowd with his white hair. He ducked and rolled off the platform, only to be caught by a member of the crowd and a priestly robe thrown over his head.

Giles himself was in full guard’s uniform and looking quite pleased with himself as well. “Try to look meek and mild,” he instructed with a teasing smile before ushering William away from the fight.

New guards rushed into the scene, greatly confusing everything, and William’s men all managed to station themselves back by the gates...

* * *

“Yes, because your...gates are so sexy and...” Anya breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Xander’s shout. Because, honestly, even she couldn’t come up with any more gate comments.

“Look!” she ordered. “Look down at your gates as I talk to you.”

The gatekeeper eagerly did so, started in surprise at the fight below, and promptly fell to the ground unconscious.

“I’ll show you where you can shove your gate,” Anya grumbled, dropping the large wooden beam and yanking hard on the lever to open the gate...

* * *

“You know, I had an old friend back at the seminary who believed that Chaos was the most powerful force in the universe,” Giles commented. “A decidedly strange fellow, but he was proven right today...”

“Yeah, you go on and gloat,” Anya huffed, “but I was severely traumatized! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at a gate again...”

Xander wrapped a comforting arm around her waist. “No gates in my line of work,” he reminded her with a quick peck on the nose.

A delighted smile spread across her face. “I remember,” she agreed, pulling him not-so-inconspicuously into a side cavern.

“Abrahms and Summers ‘ll keep lookin’ for us,” William pointed out, unable to keep the wistful smile from his face at the happy pair. “An’ we’ve got nowhere to run.”

“And now we’re surrounded!” Graham announced in a panic, dashing into the cave.

Everyone’s attention turned to him.

“Riley’s back,” he announced. “The ship is in the harbor. And Angel’s with him...”

Skull And Dagger
Chapter Fourteen - An Honest Woman?

Twin delighted laughs echoed through the salty sea air as the lovers reunited. William snatched Elizabeth up in his arms the instant he set foot on the deck of his former ship, and their lips melded together as if each were tasting their first meal after weeks of starvation. Needy hands caressed and stroked as if reassuring their owners that the other was truly there, truly real...

“A little help here?” Anya demanded in annoyance.

Several of Angel’s men managed to tear their eyes away from the spectacle mid-deck and helped Anya up onto the ship from the small rowboat they’d taken across. Xander climbed nimbly up the rope ladder behind her.

“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Anya sulked. “It’s not like they haven’t done this before...only with less groping.”

“Imagine going for an entire week without sex,” Xander whispered in her ear.

Anya’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh, those poor people!” she lamented, wiping a tear from her eye. “It’s so romantic, isn’t it?”

“Anya, you are undoubtedly the strangest woman I’ve ever met,” Xander informed her.

“Oh?” Anya gave him a skeptical look.

“Why do you think I love you so much?” he countered.

A smile lit up her face at that. “You know,” she commented shyly, “that mission from hell taught me something...”

“Did I mention that I didn’t like that?” he inquired.

“It turns out that the prospect of being with other men is unappealing,” Anya bit her lip. “I mean, the gatekeeper was disgusting and kinky, but even the more handsome men...nothing!”

“That’s...sweet,” Xander said, mildly confused. “Although in a very strange way...”

Anya nodded vigorously. “Do I get another ‘I love you’?” she inquired hopefully.

“I love you...”

Darla pointedly nudged Angel and gestured in the direction of the second couple. “Pick up some pointers,” she advised.

“About how you’re going to become monogamous?” he countered.

Darla frowned. “Good point,” she agreed, letting out a bored yawn. “Can we go yet?”

Angel sighed. “Will?” he tried in vain to catch the other captain’s attention.

“What is it?” Xander demanded, approaching Angel with Anya on his arm.

“We want to get out of here before the entire navy swoops in and blows us sky-high,” Darla informed him matter-of-factly.

“Sounds like a plan,” Xander agreed, instantly stepping into a role of authority. “We don’t have enough of the original crew left to sail this ship. Angel, can we borrow some of your men for the voyage back home?”

“Take whoever you like,” Angel agreed with a shrug. “We brought more than enough to man two ships.”

“Good,” Xander nodded, “I’ll try to get all my men to their posts.” He rolled his eyes when he realized that the men in question were all standing in a circle around Elizabeth and William who were still kissing. “I’ll need about a dozen of yours,” he instructed Angel before dashing off to the task in front of him.

“Rather bossy for a first-mate,” Darla commented, removing a nail file from the folds of her dress and examining her perfectly manicure hands. “Isn’t he?”

A proud smile lit up Anya’s face. “Oh, he’s not first-mate anymore,” she informed them, turning to follow her lover. “He’s captain,” she shot back over her shoulder.

Angel coughed in surprise, half-choking as a stunned Darla pounded heavily on his back. “What?!” he demanded to the empty space on the deck Anya had just occupied.

* * *

“Mmm,” Elizabeth whispered against the curve of William’s throat, “I feared you were dead.”

“I feared you were dead,” William countered, placing gentle kisses on the fine golden silk of her hair.

“Alive and well,” she assured him, “although my jaw still aches a bit...”

He frowned at that, stroking her back in a soothing manner. “Who?” he demanded fiercely.

“Riley.”

“I’ll kill him!”

“You can’t.”

He gave her a baffled look at that. “Why not?” he demanded, almost petulantly.

“Because I already did,” she answered with a soft smile, but he could still see the pained look in her eyes.

“Oh, luv,” he whispered in anguish, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry...” He peppered her face with soft kisses. “My fault,” he insisted. “It’s all my fault...”

“Mmm,” she murmured contentedly. “Tell me more about how it’s all your fault...”

He let out a mock-annoyed huff at that. “Such a bleedin’ menace,” he muttered affectionately. “So beautiful...”

“William, my love?” she whispered.

“Hmm?”

A sly smile curled up the edges of her lips. “I think I’m ready for you to make a dishonest woman of me...”

He gulped at that, feeling the fire stir deep within his loins. “Funny,” he commented, his voice ragged with desire, “’cause I was just thinkin’ that I was ready to make an honest woman of you...”

Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect ‘O’. “William, you mean...?”

He nodded assuredly. “Elizabeth, will you-?”

“Yes!” she cut him off with a wide grin, throwing her arms around his neck.

“Doesn’t even give me time to propose properly,” he grumbled under his breath before her lips practically attacked his, tasting him with newfound fervor.

“Uh, Will?” A voice tried to intrude in their private little world.

It wasn’t even noticed by the happy pair.

“Will?” A not-so-subtle cough accompanied the request this time.

William caught Elizabeth up in his arms, moaning into her mouth when her legs wrapped around his waist, only the thin cloth of his pants and several layers of her voluminous skirts separating them.

“Will!”

“Bugger off, Peaches,” William managed to say between kisses. “’m busy gettin’ engaged.”

Elizabeth began frantically kissing every inch of him she could reach at the sound of that delightful phrase, and her hips rocked against his slowly. The hardness she felt had been startling at first, but already she enjoyed the way he gasped and moaned when she rubbed against him.

“Yes, that’s lovely,” Angel shook his head slightly in confusion. How a man could limit himself to just one woman was beyond him. “But, see, there’s this rather odd rumor floating about that Harris is captain now.”

“So?” William shrugged, stealing a taste of Elizabeth’s delicate throat.

“It’s true, then?” Angel demanded.

William grunted an inarticulate ‘yes’.

Elizabeth froze in surprise at this as well and tilted his head up so that she could look into his clear blue eyes. “It’s true?” she repeated breathlessly.

“Gave ‘im the ship on the way over,” William agreed, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw.

“W-Why?” she asked, overwhelmed.

“I couldn’t live with it,” he whispered, “knowing’ my work was puttin’ you in danger. And I couldn’t bear leavin’ you off somewhere where ‘d be separated from you for months.”

Elizabeth murmured her distaste for that idea.

“Plus,” he added with a rakish smile, “I believe I owe you a quiet, li’l villa somewhere down in South America.”

A bright smile lit up her features. “You really want to-?”

“I really want to.”

“I mean, give this all up...?”

“Ever since I met you,” he pressed a fingertip to her lips, hushing her, “my heart ‘asn’t been in it anymore. Somethin’ else has captured it instead.”

“Oh, William...”

Angel made audible gagging noises as the kissing began anew.

“It’s sweet, you ass,” Darla informed him, whapping him lightly in the shoulder.

“Whatever you say,” he looked unconvinced.

“Oh dear, yet another couple living in sin,” Giles sighed. “You know, perhaps I should retire from the priesthood. I don’t seem to exemplify any of its values anymore.”

“Welcome to our world,” Xander agreed, patting the older man on the back. “We could certainly use someone with your skills at infiltration.”

A proud smile lit up Giles’ face at that. “It’s quite simply, really,” he began. “Nothing more than a basic understanding of human nature and-”

“Mmf!” Elizabeth abruptly exclaimed, pulling away from William’s lips and dropping her feet back down onto the deck. William whimpered in response, and she gave his hand a little reassuring squeeze. “Don’t quit just yet,” she instructed Giles urgently. “We still need you to marry us.”

“Oh, well yes,” Giles smiled, obviously flattered that she wanted him to perform the ceremony.

“Wait...” William broke in. “Now?” he inquired of Elizabeth.

“Do you want to wait?” she whispered, subtly shimmying her hips against his hardness.

“God, no!” he exclaimed with a moan. “Only I thought you’d want a big weddin’ and all...”

“All I need is you,” she smiled softly.

Angel began coughing again.

Darla and Anya simultaneously elbowed him in the ribs. The effect created a rather amusing wheezing sound.

Elizabeth abruptly turned to Giles. “Marry us right now,” she ordered.

“Now?” Giles seemed equally flustered by Elizabeth’s haste. “Y-You still need rings, and...”

“What else?” Elizabeth demanded.

“Well, nothing really, but I-”

“Rings...” Elizabeth repeated.

“You know, you don’t have to wait,” Anya pointed out helpfully. “A life of virtue isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“I plan to live a life of authorized sin,” Elizabeth retorted, bemused. “William? Rings?”

“’m on it,” he assured her, moving below deck.

She quickly caught his hand and gave him a deep kiss. Her fingers wound into his hair as she clutched him to her.

He groaned and pulled away after a minute, panting and resting his forehead against hers. “Better go now before my ability to walk ‘s severely impaired,” he pointed out.

“Don’t go...” she pouted lightly.

“’S only for a few minutes, kitten,” he assured her.

“Too long,” she decided.

“’Lizabeth...” he scolded lightly.

“Right,” she sighed, “go.” She reluctantly unwound her body from his. She watched him venture towards the stairs below deck rather awkwardly and licked her lips in anticipation.

“I suppose a life of authorized sin has its advantages, too,” Anya decided.

Elizabeth nodded distractedly, watched William vanish from her sight, and then dashed off after him.

“Enjoy!” Anya called out after her.

* * *

William had been searching quite innocently through his drawers when he was brutally assaulted. “Mmf!” he managed to exclaim before he was tackled onto the bed, a soft, supple body pressing him into the mattress.

“You were taking too long,” Elizabeth whispered huskily into his ear.

“I was gone less ‘n a minute!” he protested in response.

“Exactly,” she agreed. “Far. Too. Long.” She punctuated this statement with light licks along the strong lines of his cheekbones.

“Feelin’ frisky, are we?” his own voice lowered to a seductive whisper.

“Need...need...” Elizabeth found herself having a hard time articulating the sensations that were overwhelming her.

“Don’ worry, pet,” he soothed her. “’ve got it.”

Her body seemed to have melted into a warm liquid at his growling baritone, and he easily rolled them over so that he lay atop her. Elizabeth felt her heartbeat accelerate in response. Something about feeling his weight pressing her down onto the bed, his scent surrounding her, the tender look in his eyes as he gazed down at her...

“Yesss...” she hissed, every fiber of her being screaming out how right this was.

“Shh, William’s got you,” he murmured softly, his fingers tracing down the side of her breasts to her hip, her thigh...

She whimpered when he continued down to her shin, instinctively knowing that this was a step in the wrong direction. Her fears were put to rest, though, when his hand slipped under the hem of her skirt and retraced its pattern once more, only this time against her heated flesh...at least until he encountered her undergarments.

“Damn,” she swore.

“Oh, ye of little faith,” he countered, resting his forehead against hers.

Her cheeks flushed in delight when she felt his skilled fingers navigate the complicated array of cloth, only to arrive at...

“William!” she cried out, her hands clutching at his silky white locks as he stroked her pleasure out of her.

“That’s my ‘Lizabeth,” he whispered, practically moaning at how wet he found her.

She managed a scowl at that. “Not...yours...you’re...mine!” she exclaimed between moans.

“Yours,” he agreed, chuckling softly against her throat. One finger ventured deeper into her, tracing the soft petals that concealed her fiery core.

“Oh, god!” she cried out, eyes widening, staring directly into his passionate blue orbs. She had touched herself before, true, but never had it felt like...

“William!” she screamed, her nails digging into his scalp as pleasure unlike anything she had ever felt before washed over her. Once the bright lights stopped flashing behind her eyes, she collapsed back onto the mattress in a boneless heap.

“Mine?” William whispered smugly against her ear, taking the lobe between his teeth and nibbling on it lightly.

She nodded numbly. “Yours,” she couldn’t help but agree.

The victorious smile of a successful conqueror crossed his face as he watched her pant frantically beneath him, bosom heaving and cheeks flushed. “Guess we’d better go make it official then,” he decided, lazily getting up, stretching like a contented feline as he rose to his feet.

Elizabeth licked her lips at the subtle beauty of the man that would soon be her husband. “Rings?” she repeated her request from earlier, still half dazed by the talent of those hands.

He returned to the drawer he’d been digging through when she assaulted him and plucked two shiny gold objects out to the treasure box there. “These’ll have to do...” He held out the identical bands for her inspection.

She slid the smaller of the two onto her finger, smiling when it fit just perfectly. “ ‘Have to do’?” she repeated in disbelief, turning over the band of thin gold strands tied together in a Celtic knot. She didn’t think she’d seen a more beautiful ring in all her life. “You’ve got better?”

“I told you, luv,” he pulled her to her feet with a shy smile, “’m a very wealthy man.”

“Then I suppose I shall have top marry you for that,” she teased, “now that you’ve given up your power...”

“After my fortunes, now, are you?” he jested back.

Her expression turned serious as she gently cupped his cheek. “I would marry you if you were a pauper,” she whispered, catching his lips in another kiss...

* * *

“...You may ki-” Giles began, but his statement had been anticipated.

Mister and Missus William Arlington’s lips locked, finalizing the ceremony.

From the sidelines, Angel pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Darla gave him an odd look.

“What?” he demanded. “I’m no good at weddings...” He blew his nose again before a thoughtful expression crossed his face. “I don’t suppose I have the authority to claim the right of First Night...” he speculated.

William and Elizabeth gave him a dark scowl.

Darla slapped him upside the head. “Liam, you are such an ass!” she exclaimed in exasperation.

“What?” he protested. “Weddings make me wanna...” He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.

“Everything makes you wanna...” Her own brow mirrored his motions.

“So,” Elizabeth asked coyly, tracing one finger down the center of William’s chest, “can we go downstairs now and finish what we started earlier?”

William was about to comment that he didn’t know if he could make it all the way downstairs - apparently, Angel wasn’t the only one turned on by weddings - when a shout from the crow’s nest interrupted him.

“Ship coming up fast along the starboard bow!”

“Oh, bloody hell!” William complained, spotting their pursuer.

Elizabeth frowned. “That’s one of my father’s ships...” she began, confused.

William groaned in response. “Not that wanker again!” he complained.

“What?” Elizabeth turned to him. “ ‘Again’?” Her brow furrowed. “And don’t call my father a ‘wanker’,” she added as an afterthought.

“It doesn’t look like they’re armed,” Angel commented incredulously. “No canons at least.”

“Ah, the old Abrahms set-up...” William rolled his eyes.

“I take it we’re not blowing him out of the water?” Xander inquired of Elizabeth.

She shook her head and stalked over to the deck her father’s ship had now pulled less than a dozen meters from. “Father!” she stomped the ground petulantly.

Henry Summers blinked in amazement at the sight on the deck across from him. “Elizabeth?” he blinked in disbelief. “But you’re-”

“Very irritated that you’re chasing down my husband!” she retorted. Ooh, that sounds nice, her mind drifted. Husband...William...

“Husband?” Henry repeated in shock and disbelief.

William’s arms slipped around Elizabeth’s waist from behind, and he rested his chin atop her golden curls. “Tried to tell you,” he couldn’t resist gloating.

“You’re-” Henry was still shocked into disbelief, but at that moment the sun glinted off of their twin gold bands, letting him know that it was true. “You mean...I don’t have to put up with her any more?” he inquired in barely-concealed delight.

Elizabeth and William both frowned at that. “Just go,” Elizabeth said wearily. “And maybe you should take a hint that Lord Abrahms sent you after two fully-armed ships with nothing.”

Henry’s brow did furrow at that. “Yes, quite intolerable,” he agreed. “But...Elizabeth is yours now?” he was obviously giddy at the thought of being rid of his troublesome daughter...and not having to feel obliged to be outraged at her circumstances. “No sending her back when it doesn’t work out?” he inquired. “Because I’m washing my hands of her right now.”

Williams’ jaw twitched with barely suppressed fury. “You’re lucky I love your daughter so bloody much,” he seethed, “of ‘d blow you outta the water right now...”

“Yes, yes, whatever,” Henry said disinterestedly, signaling for his ship to turn around. “Good luck!” he called out with a snicker that indicated that he obviously thought William to be the biggest sucker in the world.

Elizabeth winced as the other ship pulled away. “Have I mentioned lately that I really hate my father?” she said apologetically.

“Christ, what’s that man’s problem?” William asked, outraged.

She flinched slightly. “Well, I do have a slight tendency to terrorize those around me,” she admitted with a sly smile. “Verbal abuse, sharp-toed boots, tying various servants up...” She squealed when he clutched her up against him.

“We’ll have to do somethin’ about that,” he agreed in a low growl, carrying her below deck. “’Cause ‘m a jealous bloke, an’ I don’t think ‘ll take kindly to you terrorizin’, yellin’ at, kickin’ or tyin’ up anyone else...”

“I suppose I could merely terrorize you,” she agreed with a sly smile.

“I can hardly wait,” he practically purred. “One request, though. When you tie me up, can it be to a bed?”

Her thumb reached out to trace the side of his face. “I think that can be arranged,” she agreed.

With a moan of anticipation, he carried her over the threshold into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him...

“Anya!” Xander’s voice exclaimed in exasperation from the top of the stairs as he yanked his lover back.

Anya pouted. “But it’s going to be good!” she protested. “I want to listen!”

“No listening,” Xander informed her sternly, dragging her up onto the deck and letting the newlyweds celebrate their impromptu honeymoon in peace...

Skull And Dagger
Chapter Fifteen - Apparently Not...

“William...” Elizabeth whispered softly as he set her back down on her feet next to the bed.

An almost giddy smile crossed his face then. “My wife,” he breathed into her hair, inhaling the fragrant scent of wildflowers that always lingered about her.

“My husband,” she agreed, shutting her eyes tight and wrapping her arms around him as she leaned on him for support.

William felt the shiver run through her - whether of fear or anticipation or a combination of both, he could only guess - and reminded himself that, despite her passionate nature, she was still a fluttering virgin. This was all new to her, and he was going to do everything in his power to make it an experience she would never forget.

“Hush, my love,” he whispered soothingly against the golden crown of her head. “We’ll go real slow and easy-like, OK?”

She nodded jerkily against his shoulder, cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment over how nervous she was.

He gently cupped her chin in his palm and tilted her head up for a quick, gentle kiss. “No worries, luv,” he practically purred. “’m gonna be so gentle, gonna make you feel so good...” His lips brushed hers again.

Now, the kissing she knew and enjoyed. Her hands trailed up into his hair, tousling it until it turned wild and curly. She used her leverage to pull him down deeper into their kiss, savoring the sweet taste of him on her lips.

His tongue flicked out against her mouth, and she parted her lips in response, allowing him to thrust deep inside of her. He let out a little moan at her wet heat and began stroking his tongue against hers sensuously, drawing her into their lovemaking.

She eagerly responded, unable to resist a duel as always. Her tongue lunged into his mouth; his parried. A quick repost, and the he was on the attack again, plundering her mouth with a passionate intensity that made her dizzy.

Feeling her relax against him, he slowly began to caress her body. His hands drifted from their solid grasp of her waist to gently trace the curve of her spine. She shivered again, but this time he had no doubt that it was in response to his feather-light touches. His hands became bolder, one index finger tracing over the bare flesh at her collarbone, outlining her throat, before sliding along the collar of her dress...

She gasped when it dipped between her breasts, always astonished at how needy the flesh there was for his touch. He was palming her lightly now, while his other hand not-so-subtly began to unfasten the complicated array of hooks and laces that held her gown in place.

“Wanna feel you,” his lips murmured against hers before trailing up her cheek to nibble at her ear. “Want you to feel me...”

She was all too eager to comply with the latter. Her lips found his throat as her hands drifted down between them. She felt the hard lines of his chest through the thin fabric of his shirt and sighed at the raw muscular power beneath her fingertips. Truth be told, she had been known to slip inside the silken fabric in the past, glimpsing more of his bronzed skin than any decent woman should. Now, however, she wanted to learn exactly what it was that indecent women enjoyed so much...

His shirt fell aside at her persistent touches, revealing a torso just as spectacular as all the Greek statues she’d seen, only more so because this flesh pulsed and trembled beneath her wandering hands. She leaned against him once more, then, her cheek resting against the bare muscle of his chest. If anything, the skin-on-skin contact made her body tremble with desire for him even more...

With nimble fingers, he finally opened the back of her dress. The fingers of one hand worked on her corset, while the other traced the newly-exposed flesh. He could feel the pent-up tension in her body grow and quickened his pace, stripping her from her garments with ease. “That feel good, princess?” he continued to whisper to her.

Her fingers skated over the defined muscles of his stomach. “Mmm...” she agreed.

“Well, this,” he announced, lifting her up off of her feet so that her dress and the vast majority of her undergarments fell to the floor in a heap, “is gonna be even better...”

She flushed slightly at that. His efficient disrobing had bared her breasts to the warm sea air, and now the milky mounds were flattened against his chest, molding against him. If she had thought the heat of him was burning before, now it practically branded her flesh, wiping away her fears and anxieties, making her just want more...

He carried her over to the bed and laid her back on it before covering her body with his own. Their legs still remained covered, but he had enough delightful newly-exposed flesh to keep him more than satisfied for the moment.

Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him down into her heated embrace, feeling the strong muscles of his back... And then she lost all modicum of control when his mouth descended upon one of her mounds, engulfing it.

William smiled against her soft, supple flesh when he felt her thrash beneath him, desperately seeking further contact. He suckled on her gently at first, like a newborn babe, but then began biting and twisting harder as her hands in his hair urged him on.

Elizabeth cried out and held on tight as his tongue did the most amazing things to her sensitive rosy bud. Her other breast was not neglected as he kneaded it slowly in his palm, his thumb flicking over the hardened tip. “William...” she whispered in delight as all the wondrous tingles in her nerve endings trailed right down to the juncture between her thighs. “Please...” She spread her legs for him in anticipation, remembering his touch from earlier with growing desire.

He looked up at her with a roguish smile then, obviously pleased by her responsiveness. “Want more, do you?” he whispered seductively, rising up on his forearms so that he towered over her slight form.

She nodded numbly.

“Are you sure?” he pressed, enjoying teasing her.

She scowled up at him. “You haven’t managed to remove my boots yet,” she threatened lightly.

“Hmm, better go see to that, then,” he agreed, sliding back down her body. He took each of those dangerous feet into his lap in turn, slowly unfastening the laces of her boots and pulling them off of her dainty feet.

“I’m not a delicate flower,” she informed him impatiently. “Get on with it.”

He laughed at that, caught her in his arms, and kissed her breathless. “We’re going to have such a marvelous life together,” he decided. “Never a dull moment, eh?”

She nodded, still panting heavily from the intensity of his kiss.

“Looks like ‘ve finally found a way to shut that smart mouth ‘f yours,” he said with a triumphant grin. His hands slid down her remaining undergarments, pulling them off and leaving her body bare beneath him.

She instinctively moved to cover herself up, never having thought before that a man would see her like this. She looked up at him, inquiring, when he halted her hands’ motions.

A look of pure awe crossed his face as he drank in his wife’s nude form for the first time. “You’re so beautiful...” he whispered breathlessly. “So perfect, so...beautiful...”

“Looks like I’ve finally found a way to shut that smart mouth of yours,” she couldn’t help but retort.

“God, I love you!” he groaned, tackling her back onto the bed once more.

“Love you, too!” she exclaimed.

His still-clad thighs slid in between hers, but he ignored his throbbing arousal for the moment. He wasn’t a schoolboy anymore, and he was going to do this right... Carefully, his fingers encircled the nub of her womanhood, making her gasp his name and causing the wetness there to pool further.

She buried her face in the crook of his neck and clutched his body to her, feeling a strange tightening sensation begin deep within her at his persistent strokes. This wasn’t like before, the quick release of need; this was a slow, oven-hot fire being stoked within her belly, rising to inferno intensity...

His first finger slipped within her, penetrating her soft folds for the first time. Her inner walls clamped tight down around him, not yet stretched. Just the thought of that tight passage surrounding him made him nearly lose it, and he gasped raggedly into her hair, fighting for control.

His finger slid in and out of her several times, letting her grow used to it, until his middle finger slowly joined it. Her body accommodated the increased invasion after several more strokes, growing more open, preparing to welcome him inside...

Three was a strain, and he peppered her face with kisses, distracting her from the pressure within her.

She hissed at the unaccustomed stretching between her thighs, but it was a good kind of stretch. And knowing that it was him, that he was kissing her, loving her, whispering sweet nothings in her ear... She relaxed around him and easily took in his pinky as well when it came...

And then ecstasy began to wash over her as he began moving inside her, touching, caressing... She wasn’t even aware when his free hand moved to undo his belt buckle, she was so absorbed in the pleasure he was giving her.

She only opened her eyes when his hand pulled away, letting out a little whimper of protest.

“Shh, luv,” he soothed her, stroking her hair. “We’ll be together soon...”

She glanced down at him then, her cheeks flushing at her first look of the portions of male anatomy that had always been oh-so-inconveniently covered up on the statues. Anya had discussed the mechanisms with her before, true, but nothing could’ve prepared her for the actual sight.

His shaft stood out from his body, long and proud, nestled within his honey-blond curls. She had always feared the sight would scandalize her, but she quickly discovered that it was not at all unappealing. In fact, her body reacted instinctively to the sight, as if she had been awaiting it all her life.

He bent down to kiss her, and she savored the feel of his lips, dimly aware of his hips settling between her spread thighs, the tip of his manhood just brushing her wetness.

“’ll be gentle,” he assured her in a voice husky with desire, “but there’ll be a moment of pain...”

She nodded in understanding, tenderly stroking his cheek as their eyes locked.

Slowly, he pushed in, one inch at a time until he came up to the barrier with her. “Ready, luv?” he whispered.

She bit her lips and nodded. He felt so good so far and...oh god! She cried out when one hard roll of his hips sent him all the way inside, ripping her virgin barrier asunder. There was a quick flash of pain, and she felt her eyes water in response.

“Oh, luv, pet, sweetheart, don’t cry,” he whispered raggedly, kissing away the lone tear that spilled down her cheek. “That’s it, luv, I promise. No more pain, only pleasure. ‘S gonna be so good for you, ‘Lizabeth. ‘ve got so much to show you...” During his impassioned pleas, he trailed kisses all over her face while fighting to keep from thrusting roughly in and out of her. She fit him more snuggly than even he had imagined, and it was heaven and hell at the same time. Heaven for being sheathed within her at last, and hell for having to keep still, for not being able to lose himself within her at once...

Elizabeth felt the pain fade as he kissed her. His lips finally landed on her own, and she kissed him back fervently, letting her love for this man wash over her. Any discomfort she had felt was disappearing now, and in its place was the most curious sensation... She wiggled her hips against his experimentally...

And, involuntarily, he thrust in deep.

Her eyes widened. Not curious, good!

He watched for her reaction anxiously, unsure of how ready she was.

“A-Again!” she stammered.

His hips moved slowly at first, thrusting in and out of her tentatively. With each push, her cry of “Again!” came a little faster as her own hips surged up to meet him, increasing the intensity of their coupling.

His hand caught under her thigh, lifting it up to give himself greater leverage. She caught onto his hint and wrapped her legs around his waist, moaning into his mouth when the new position allowed him to pierce even deeper within her.

“L-Love you!” she gasped out when their lips finally separated for several shallow breaths of air.

“Love you so much...” he agreed, once more caressing the body beneath him. His hips drove into her at a slightly different angle each time, searching, searching...there!

“William!” she screamed, her hands fisting in his hair, clutching it roughly.

He struck the sweet spot within her several more times rhythmically until her cries of pleasure became too much, and the last of his control snapped. Their bodies and lips fused as he spilled his pleasure and love deep within her womb.

She cried out at the same time, his name on her lips, as the world swam and shimmered around her, until there was nothing left but him and mind-blowing pleasure he brought her.

Falling down from the pinnacle together, they collapsed in a mass of tangled limbs, both finally sated and content. It was quite some time until either stirred, and even then it was only so William could roll off of her and come to rest at her side.

She snuggled her back against his warm chest and let out a happy sigh. “That was...exquisite,” she breathed, still in awe of the intensity and intimacy of the experience they’d just shared.

“’ve never felt anythin’ like it,” he agreed. And it was true. Despite her inexperience, no other woman had ever inspired such passion in him. Lazily, he draped his arm over her waist, holding her to him.

Elizabeth placed her hand over his. “We’re well-matched, aren’t we?” she commented.

“Well-matched and very well-mated,” he whispered against the curve of her throat.

She smiled and glanced down to where her hand covered his larger one, their twin gold bands rubbing together slightly as her thumb stroked his wrist. “I never thought I’d find this,” she confessed softly, turning in his arms to face him. “My father never wanted me, and I scared off all my suitors... I had rather sworn myself to the life of a spinster. I never thought a man could-”

“How could I not?” he insisted, cupping her cheek. “How could I not see your strength, your beauty, your stubborn pigheadedness, and love them?” His lips softly brushed her forehead.

“Mmm, made perfectly for me,” she decided, running her fingers through his already-tousled bed hair.

“Right from the same mold,” he concurred.

She looked up at him...and broke out into uncontrollable giggles.

“What?” he demanded, confused.

“Hair! Spiky!” she managed to get out between chuckles.

He gave her a mock-offended look as he straightened out his snowy-white locks. And then a wicked grin lit up his face. “Like the spikes, do you, luv?” he practically purred. “Well, ‘ve got a big one for you...”

She gulped as she felt the truth of his statement press hard against her stomach. “Big Spike good,” she announced, pulling his body atop her once more. “Want Spike now...”

* * *

“Well?” Anya demanded two days later, cornering Elizabeth the instant she left her room for any significant amount of time. “How is it?”

Elizabeth’s cheeks were still slightly flushed with pleasure at her and William’s most recent union, but she managed to blush nonetheless. “As good as you said it would be,” she confessed with a conspiratorial giggle. “No, wait. Better...”

Anya frowned. “Better?” she demanded.

“Better,” Elizabeth agreed.

“Xander!” Anya stomped her foot on the ground. “Get over here right now! I want better, too!”

Elizabeth chuckled as she watched Anya chase off after her lover...and wondered how she could trick William back into the bedroom and get some more better for herself...

* * *

“Haven’t seen much of you lately,” Angel commented with a wry grin.

William rolled his eyes at the other man’s dirty mind. “I hear we’re partin’ ways today,” he commented, leaning against the railing beside his former captain.

“No rest for the wicked,” Angel commented before he turned a suggestive leer William’s way, “hey?” He nudged the other man in the ribs.

“God, you’re hopeless,” William complained. “How does Darla put up with you anyway?”

“I ‘put up’ for her.” Angel couldn’t help it; he was on a roll.

William groaned. “Thanks for remindin’ me why I won’t miss you,” he said sarcastically.

Angel snorted at that. “Who’ll watch your back, then?” he retorted.

“You? Watch my back?” William asked in disbelief. “Nothin’ but trouble, you are...’specially when women ‘re involved...”

Angel’s expression turned serious at that. “Brought this one back to you,” he pointed out.

“You did, at that,” William conceded.

“I figured I owed you after Dru,” Angel bit out. “I mean, I really didn’t know that she...”

“’S OK,” William assured him, a bemused smile curling up the edges of his lips. “Don’t think I can take much more of your half-assed attempt at apologizin’ without splittin’ my side...”

Angel gave him an annoyed scowl. “Knew I should’ve blown you outta the water when I had the chance,” he sulked.

“Prob’ly,” William agreed.

“You never wondered?” Angel asked the question that had been nagging him ever since William’s return. “You never thought that I was in on it?”

“Not for a second,” William assured him with a smile, “you big poofter...”

* * *

Anya bawled her eyes out and clung to Elizabeth. “Who am I going to tell all my dirty secrets to now?” she lamented.

Elizabeth patted her on the back. “There’s always that dashing captain of yours,” she pointed out.

“But he is my dirty secret,” Anya mock-pouted.

Elizabeth laughed before releasing her best friend. “Be sure to visit,” she said, her own eyes teary. “Only...not when I’m busy getting my orgasms...”

William blushed in response to that. “Now I know what you’ve been goin’ through,” he told Xander sympathetically. “You’re a brave man, Harris.”

Xander laughed and patted him on the back. “Try not to let marital bliss make you go soft,” he teased.

William scowled, but his expression softened when Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him.

“Definitely not soft,” she said with a wink before turning to her blushing husband. “C’mon, luv, the carriage awaits.”

“Take care of yourself,” Xander gave William a good-bye nod.

“You, too,” William agreed. “You ever need anythin’...”

“I won’t call you and risk Elizabeth’s wrath,” Xander joked with a wave before turning back to Anya. “Ready to head back to ship?” he inquired.

“I can hardly wait to get back our life of sin,” she agreed with a happy smile, “complete with many opportunities to make lots and lots of money...”

* * *

“Mmm,” Elizabeth murmured against William’s chest as they cuddled up in the back to the carriage together, “it’s dark in here, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” he agreed, raising once scarred eyebrow in her direction.

“The driver can’t see anything,” she continued slyly, “which means...”

He gasped when he discovered where her hand had gotten.

“...that Spike can come out and play,” she finished.

“God, luv, don’t ever stop keepin’ me on my toes,” he requested.

“I won’t,” she agreed coyly, “as long as you never stop keeping me on my back...”

With that, her lips crashed into his, loving him, holding him, making him hers forever...

Skull And Dagger
Epilogue

Elizabeth smiled softly as the last rays of the sun tinged the sky a brilliant orange. She breathed in the salty night air and leaned forward on the balcony of their cozy little villa, savoring this moment of peace for as long as it would last...

Which was inevitably all of five seconds.

A crash sounded from Dawn’s room, followed by her high-pitched scream of “Get out! Get out! Get out!” and only seconds later Alexander ran streaming by, a look of satisfied guilt on his face. Elizabeth caught her son by the arm before he could flee.

“What exactly is going on, young man?” she demanded as sternly as she could manage. She always had a hard time remaining cross with this one, though. He had the same beautiful blue eyes as his father, and all she had to do was look into them and her heart would melt.

Unfortunately, Alexander was also every bit the mischievous imp his father was and used those eyes of his to his advantage as often as possible. “Sorry, Mum,” he insisted with suspicious innocence, “it was just an accident...”

Accident!” his older sister screeched, stalking out of her room. “He up-ended my entire bag on the floor, Mum!”

“She threw her shoe at me!” Alexander countered, pointing accusingly. “Nearly hit me right in the head!”

“Me?!” Dawn repeated in disbelief. “I’m not the one who keeps sneaking out his bedroom window to terrorize-”

“Dawnie?” a soft, meek little voice broke up the shouting match. Elizabeth smiled as her youngest and calmest child, Joyce, managed to break up the war with nothing more than a whisper. “I wepacked your bag...”

Miraculously, that ended the confrontation, and Dawn and Alexander scampered back to their separate rooms.

A soft chuckle greeted Elizabeth’s ears, and she turned to see her devilishly handsome husband standing behind her, watching the younger generation with obvious amusement in his eyes. Unconsciously, she wet her lips, already imagining how she would free his magnificent body from the clothes that so cruelly concealed it the instant they went to bed tonight...

“Caught you fantasizin’ again,” din’t I?” he teased, slipping his arms around her waist from behind.

His hands came to rest on her once-more-flat belly, and he stroked it sensuously, obviously imagining it full and round with his fourth child. Fortunately, Elizabeth had borrowed several of Anya’s techniques and had thus prevented herself from becoming a perpetual breeding factory of little Williams. Not that she had anything against little Williams, mind you. In fact, she absolutely adored the little monsters, as she referred to them affectionately. But she already had three loveable demon-spawn to deal with - all born within four years - and she didn’t really think she could handle any more at the moment...

“I need something to get me through the chaos,” she agreed, snapping out of her reverie long enough to answer William’s question.

“They always get like this right before they go off to school,” he reminded her. “But, just think, after tomorrow it’ll just be the two ‘f us, pet. All alone, big soft bed...”

“Nice, sturdy walls,” she agreed with a wistful smile.

“Quality Spike time straight through Christmas,” he murmured into her ear.

“Mmm...Spike...” she had drifted off happily into a wonderful little fantasy world - one where her children weren’t threatening to appear at any moment so she could safely tackle her husband to the ground and have her wicked way with him.

“Although we could always take up Xander’s offer for a visit...” he suggested. “You know how ‘e always gets lonely when Anya’s pregnant and shore-bound. It’ll be even worse this time what with Giles off with Jennifer...”

“You’re just trying to convince me to let you return to your thieving ways,” she accused.

“Well, yeah,” he agreed. “You can’t tell me you don’t love the...excitement. It’ll be like a second honeymoon...”

“Fourth,” she corrected with a smile, “and...tempting. I’ll consider it.”

“Don’t s’pose you can be swayed?” One of his hands slipped down her thigh...

She gasped in response. “You’re welcome to...try...” she murmured breathlessly.

“It’ll be better’n visitin’ your dad at the least,” William pointed out.

Elizabeth winced at that. There had been something of a reconciliation several years back so that Henry could check out his ‘newest assets’. The family gathering had begun with Henry commenting to William how impressed he was that William had finally succeeded in taming Elizabeth, and William promptly bursting out into hysterical laughter that was only stopped after several pointed jabs in the ribs. It was obviously not the response Henry had expected, and things naturally went downhill from there.

The only good thing that had come it was that they had finally learned that Lord Abrahms had passed away the previous year, his fortunes never recovered and knowing full-well that his only son had picked up a nasty disease of the sort that guaranteed he wouldn’t be able to produce any viable offspring in the few years before he withered away.

Ah, happy times...

“Y’know, pet,” William said, continuing to rub her stomach, “we could put ourselves to good use, create another li’l William - one the age of Anya’s Margaret. Be a nice li’l playmate...”

“You just want me pregnant again so that you can fuss unnecessarily and try to order me around,” she accused.

“Maybe,” he conceded, blue eyes shinning. “So whattaya say?”

“Maybe,” she agreed with a coy smile, leaning in to kiss him...

“Mum!” Alexander’s cry broke the moment.

“Or maybe not,” William agreed with a chuckle.

“Dad!” Alexander stalked into the hallway. “Someone stole my-”

He was cut off when Joyce tapped him on the shoulder and handed him the cricket bat he’d left in the living room. “Hewe.”

“Never mind,” Alexander shrugged, heading back to his room.

William and Elizabeth watched their youngest with awe.

“You’re positive you’re her real mother?” William whispered in Elizabeth’s ear.

“I resent that!” she mock-huffed. “I can be a sweet little angel, too!”

He gave her a skeptical look. “When?” he demanded. “’Cause in all the ten years we’ve been together-”

“Oh, hush!” she scolded him, batting his head playfully. “Besides,” she couldn’t help but tease, “did it never occur you that maybe you’re not her real father?”

He growled at that and pressed her against the wall, kissing her breathless. “I keep you too well satisfied to go lookin’ around elsewhere,” he argued persuasively, his hand cleverly demonstrating his point.

“That you do,” she agreed with a happy smile. “That you do...”

*Sniff, sniff* It's done! My first completed AU... I figured the whole story was done in the romance style, so I could get away with the extra fluffy ending. ~_^ And, now, the requisite final business:

Sequel? Probably not. Sorry, kids, but there are many other lovely Spuffy storylines to be explored. ^_^

Another AU? Coming soon, but not immediately. 'Blue Horizons' is resuming again now, however. If you haven't read that so far...well, shame on you! ~_^

So, what's next then? I new non-AU Spuffy saga, complete with fangs, spirits, and other nasties. It's called 'Haunted' and will begin tomorrow. Hopefully.

Thanks so much to everyone who's sent me feedback on this story! I've been really sucky at responding to my e-mails lately, but I really do appreciate them all. I hope you enjoyed the ride and continue to do so with my future stories...