"Taking Care of You" - Part 2 NC17
CH 6
Outside, Giles looked at Buffy’s angry form, flummoxed by the change in her mood. He stepped closer, reaching out a hand, but once again she pushed him away.
“Don’t touch me! How dare you touch me after what we did? Damn it, Giles, don’t you realize how much worse you’re making this?”
Giles’ hands dropped and he looked down at the ground. “Yes, I do,” he whispered in a tortured voice. This time he almost fell over when Buffy pushed against his chest again.
“No, I don’t think you do! You’ve ruined my life!”
Pain crossed his face at her harsh words. “How?” he whispered.
For the second time in his life, Buffy looked at him like she was about to knock him senseless.
“HOW?” she yelled incredulously. “I am in love with you, you big idiot! I am in so much love with you it feels like my heart is going to burst from it, and that will never end! And you touching me like this after we made love is killing me. There will NEVER be anyone else for me, and you fighting us both like this will actually kill me. I can’t think straight anymore. Patrolling is going to hell. Last night a fledging almost killed me because my thoughts are so consumed by you -- by what we did together! How dare you ask me that question?!!”
Giles didn’t move a muscle, shock all over his face.
Buffy’s voiced calmed slightly as she continued. “And you know what makes it even worse, Giles? The fact that I can tell by the look in your eyes, that you feel the same way about me. You want there to be an *us* as much as I do. Even though you won’t admit you’re in love with me.”
**
Giles’ heart threatened to beat itself out of his chest, and he closed his eyes while his hands clenched. [Good god, what have I done to her? What have I done to us both?]
After a few seconds he opened his eyes and saw the defeated look in hers. There were no tears, but the hurtful look she gave him threatened to make his own eyes spill.
He opened his mouth to speak, without any idea of what he actually was going to say, when Buffy suddenly stepped closer and placed a hand on his cheek.
“Please, tell me you love me.” She whispered.
His eyes closed once, his mind churning furiously as he tried to find a way to stop this from happening. If he said those words he could never take them back. If he said those words he knew that he would no longer be able to fight his and Buffy’s feelings anymore.
The last barrier between them would crumble.
He looked at her again, steeling himself for what he had to do. Somehow he had to convince her that he didn’t love her, even if it broke his heart to do so.
But his planned deceit fell to pieces when she spoke.
“Don’t you know that I’m only strong when you’re with me?” Buffy whispered.
When a single teardrop ran down her cheek, Giles knew he’d lost the will to fight her. The will to fight himself. He suddenly had a moment of clarity. He realized he was making a monumental mistake. There was no way they could live without each other.
It was ludicrous to worry about the Council and their rules when the woman he loved - the woman that loved him too - was miserable because he wouldn’t love her back. Even worse, he’d distracted Buffy so much she wasn’t paying attention to the danger in her life. He realized that there was nothing more harmful than denying her what she wanted and needed. What he wanted and needed as well.
Never in his wildest dreams -- or in his darkest moments -- had he thought she wouldn’t survive without him. But now he knew. He knew he wasn’t the only one who felt like his entire world would shatter. He decided to ignore every limit placed on him, and break every rule. It would be worth it to be with her, to finally be with his Buffy.
With a sob of his own he grabbed her and crushed her body to his, his mouth against hers.
“God, I love you, Buffy”, he managed to sob before taking her mouth with vigor. They would find a way - there were no ifs or buts anymore.
**
Strong, blessed relief washed through her, and her heart kicked into action, its rhythm hard and erratic. At first it was as if she couldn’t believe he was kissing her. Any minute now she was sure she would wake up. Cold, alone, and aching for him. It was an everyday occurrence now. She would handle it as she always did. Empty herself of the tears that had collected in her soul while she slept, dreaming of him.
But the feel of him didn’t fade away. His lips continued to move against hers, and she finally realized what was happening was real. His fierce declaration was real. The feel of his arms around her was real. His restless lips against hers were real. Rage and sorrow melted away, leaving only joy and passion behind. Her heart swelled with love.
The pleasure of his kiss grew sharp and intense, and Buffy moaned when she felt his tongue run over her lips. His teeth nipped at her bottom lip. Buffy gasped as hot sparks shot down her back, up her thighs, and met half way.
His tongue plunged into her mouth, and Buffy felt like she would come apart in his arms. A trembling started in her knees. He caught her against him in a firmer embrace and slanted his mouth, delving with a force that thrilled her. She countered every move of his tongue, eliciting a moan from deep within him.
The kiss grew rough -- a little desperate -- ending when he braced his thumbs aside her mouth and forced himself away, his gaze hot, his whisper gruff.
“I love you,” he ground out. “I love you.”
He really did, he loved her in earnest.
He began to tell her, “You make me stronger. You make me a better man. When I’m with you I’m powerful, we’re powerful. I was a fool to have thought to keep us apart. Nothing will ever come between us, ever again.” Holding her in his arms, he whispered, “I’ll make sure of it.”
Buffy had no chance to reply to his declaration, as his mouth covered hers once again.
He kissed her like a starving man. His hands moved restlessly over her back, down to her hips. He pulled her snug against the unmistakable proof of his desire. As his tongue tangled hungrily with hers, Buffy whimpered, sliding hands up to his shoulders to keep herself steady.
She wanted to devour him, feel his naked skin against hers. She wanted to sink to the ground with him, held close in his warm and safe arms. No one had ever made her feel like Giles did from just a kiss.
He let his mouth break from hers, turned so she was pressed up against the railing, while he placed moist, open-mouthed kisses down her neck. Her head fell back with a sigh of pleasure. His hand tangled in her hair and he pulled her head back up, so her lips connected with his hungry mouth again.
She was heaven in his arms, and he knew he’d never willingly live without her. He lifted her in a fierce attempt to hold her closer. She wrapped her legs snugly around his hips, but even that didn’t bring her close enough.
He was overwhelmed by her -- by the wonder of this freedom to touch and hold her. The heat between them grew, and he groaned. He needed her. Needed to be inside her.
He was so hard it was almost painful. He pressed closer to try to relieve some of his ache for her. Her fingers ran through the hair at the back of his neck, and he moaned and kissed her even more deeply and intensely. His blood was pounding through his veins, and he felt himself getting completely lost in her. Time had ceased to exist, and all that mattered was the joyful reunion of their mouths.
Just as he seriously considered making love to her right where they were standing, a loud cough broke through Giles’ desire-ridden mind. He tore his mouth away from Buffy’s and looked over his shoulder.
**
Xander was standing in the doorway of the balcony with a shocked expression. When Giles made no attempt to let Buffy go, Xander’s forehead furrowed and he ground out, through clenched teeth.
“What the hell is going on here? Why are you molesting Buffy?”
Giles finally realized that they couldn’t just stay out there and make love on Xander’s balcony. But now that his restraints were gone he needed to be with her, both physically and emotionally. Xander was the least of their problems. Brotherly concern was easy to handle.
Regretfully, he let Buffy slide until her feet touched the ground. When he felt her sway a little, he chuckled and lowered his head to give her a soft kiss. She returned it with increasing fervor. For Xander’s sake, he broke the kiss and embraced her tightly, closing his eyes in complete bliss as he felt her hands wrap themselves firmly around his waist.
**
Buffy clung to him while she waited for the feeling to return to her limbs. Her whole body was tingling; sultry desire was flowing through her veins. Had Xander not come out on the balcony, she wouldn’t have thought twice about making love to Giles right there. She hated the fact that she and Giles weren’t alone, and muffled a whimper of frustration against his neck.
“Soon, love, soon.” He whispered into her ear.
“Hey!” they heard Xander’s angered voice exclaim behind them. “I asked you a question!”
Giles rolled his eyes and removed his lips from Buffy’s neck, but didn’t turn around. He merely gazed at Buffy’s face, then lifted one hand and ran it lightly over her cheek, barely touching her skin. It was the type of caress that spoke volumes of intense tenderness and love.
Buffy’s eyes got a little misty and she returned the gesture. [Yes, everything was going to be ok], she thought.
Finally Giles turned around to face the young man in the doorway. Xander’s angry expression had softened considerably. Apparently, he was quite moved by their latest exchange.
Giles grabbed Buffy’s hand and walked past Xander and the rest of the spectators hovering by the door. They all wore identical shocked faces. Giles paid them no attention.
“I heard you, Xander. Right now, however, I am taking Buffy out of here.” He made his way to the front door, holding Buffy’s hand tightly in his own, talking over his shoulder. “Tomorrow morning we will answer all the questions the lot of you might have.” After a beat he continued, “Well, maybe not all of Anya’s.”
Xander looked like a guppy as he followed them towards the door. He was too shocked to speak. In a matter of seconds, Giles and Buffy were out the door, leaving Xander standing, watching the door, almost wondering if what he had just seen was all in his imagination.
**
Outside, Buffy suppressed a grin. Giles had better think twice if he thought they were meeting up with the others first thing tomorrow morning. They had a lot of catching up to do. Late, late afternoon would do quite nicely. Maybe.
She squeezed Giles’ hand, and he squeezed back and gave her a loving smile, before he wrapped an arm around her. She knew there were hurdles in front of them, and many would be awfully hard to overcome. But she had complete faith in the strength of their love. Together they were unbeatable.
THE END