"From Miles Away" - Part 2 NC17
Chapter 10
By nine thirty Li Wei and Francesco still hadn’t showed, and Buffy and Giles were getting very worried. Since neither had any idea where they should go to look for them, Giles suggested they head to their training studio. After leaving a note with the host of the restaurant they hailed a cab.
*****
When they arrived at the studio, they found it unlocked, but dark. Giles reached for the light switch. Ice went down his back when he heard Buffy’s shocked gasp, and he quickly turned to look at her and then followed her line of vision.
His stomach clenched when he saw the unmoving body of Li Wei on a mat in a corner; Frederico slumped against the wall next to her with her head in his lap.
He immediately rushed over and released a breath of air in relief as he realised Frederico was alive, and seemingly unhurt. His relief disappeared when he saw Li Wei’s lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling. She was dead.
Gently he placed a hand on Frederico’s shoulder. The other Watcher looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.
“Frederico, what happened?” Giles asked softly.
The desolated man’s only response was a shake of his head before he buried his face in his hands. Giles placed an arm around his shoulder, while Buffy closed the dead Slayer’s eyes. Several minutes passed before Frederico was able to speak.
“We were on our way to meet you at the restaurant. Since we were running late, Li Wei suggested taking a shortcut. We were running through an alley when suddenly out of nowhere two vampires jumped us. She managed to stake on of them, but the other one was so much stronger, so much quicker than her. Before I knew what had happened the vampire grabbed her stake and plunged it into her stomach. I tried to help, and eventually managed to stake him, but it was too late. Her wound was already fatal.”
He drew in a shaky breath before he continued. “I didn’t know what to do. Everything I’ve ever learned in Watchers’ school was completely useless. All I could think about was getting her back here, and then everything would be all right.”
He suddenly held his breath, as if to prevent a sob to tearing from his body while he stroked her hair. When he seemed to have some semblance of control he released it.
“She drew her last breath a little while ago.”
Giles tightened his hold on him as tears silently ran down the younger Watcher’s face. “I am so sorry my friend. I am so sorry.” Giles whispered in a strained voice, his own emotions threatening to get the best of him.
After a while he looked over at Buffy, and tilted his head, silently asking that she take his place next to the desolated Watcher. When she pulled Frederico into a hug he rose. “I’ll alert the Council. . .”
As Giles placed the necessary calls, he felt like an automaton. It was too close to home. It made him envision the day that Buffy died, and some point in the future when she would die and not come back to him.
While Giles was on the phone, Buffy helped Frederico clean the blood off Li Wei’s body and cover her, but he refused to move her head from his lap. She could tell that Giles had withdrawn for some reason she couldn’t understand, so she kept throwing worried glances his way. She was startled out of her thoughts by Frederico’s voice.
He sat, gently caressing his Slayer’s hair. “I never told her how much she meant to me,” he said quietly. Buffy gave him a sorrowful and understanding look.
“I thought there was time, you know?” He continued.
Buffy nodded. “I know.”
“I was too worried about what other people would say because she was so young. I was so very scared it would affect our relationship. I should have known better.”
After a beat he looked at her with a sad knowing smile. “At least Rupert came to his senses.”
Buffy’s eyes teared and she squeezed his hand. “You noticed?”
Frederico looked back down at Li Wei’s face. “I’ve had a lot of training to notice things. It’s the acting thing that always got in my way.”
He glanced up at Giles, who were still on the phone. “He will need you now Buffy. Don’t hold back on your feelings from each other. Trust me, life is too short.”
Buffy nodded. “I promise.”
Giles ended his call and joined them. He looked at Li Wei as he spoke. “I called the Council, and they will get hold of your colleagues at your office. They will send them over as soon as they reach them. It shouldn’t take too long for them to get here.”
With a last look at Buffy and Frederico next to Li Wei’s body on the floor, he excused himself and walked out on the veranda. Both watched him place his hands on the railing, his head and shoulders slumping.
Frederico gave Buffy a nudge. “Go to him.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes. I. . . would like some time alone with her.”
Buffy gave his hand a final squeeze and walked onto the veranda.
Chapter 11
Silently she approached him, circled his waist and leaned her head on his back. “I love you Giles,” she said softly.
“Oh Buffy” he choked out, and then turned around to wrap her in a crushing hug. Tears fell from his eyes. Understanding he was too choked up to speak, she only held him tight and soothingly ran her hands over his back. Eventually he lifted his head from her shoulder. He placed his hands on either side of her face and looked intently into her eyes.
“I love you too, Buffy.”
Neither noticed that Frederico was watching them from the window as their mouths merged in a passionate kiss. The intensity of their kiss rose, until they were interrupted by a discrete cough. They let go of each other’s mouths, but Buffy remained wrapped in Giles’ arms as they looked over to find Frederico watching them.
“I am sorry to interrupt, but my men will be here shortly. They just called.”
Giles nodded, gave Buffy a final squeeze before he let her go. He walked over to the younger Watcher and placed a hand on his shoulder as he followed him inside. Buffy remained on the veranda in order to give them some privacy.
“I am very sorry for your loss, Frederico. Please, let me know if there is anything I can do for you.” Giles said when they were inside.
He grabbed a pen and a piece of paper by the phone. “This is my phone and address in Sunnydale. Call me anytime - day or night - it doesn’t matter.”
He gave Frederico a pained look. “Some time ago I also lost someone very dear to me. Trust me when I say this, I know what you are going through. If you ever need to talk . . .” Frederico gave him grateful look. Giles softly continued, “You know, you should think about taking some time off. Come to Sunnydale. You should be around people who care about you and can help you. Sunnydale could always use a good man like you.”
The younger Watcher looked thoughtfully at the piece of paper handed to him. “I might just do that,” he murmured. He looked up at Giles again. “Thank you Rupert.”
Giles merely nodded and squeezed his shoulder. Right now, he didn’t know what else to say to comfort him.
*****
A couple of hours later, Buffy and Giles were seated in a cab on their way back to their hotel. Neither had spoken a word to each other since Frederico’s colleagues had arrived. Both had just given their silent support to the younger Watcher and taken him back to his own apartment when Li Wei’s body had been cared for. They had stayed with him until he had fallen asleep, and then silently locked themselves out of his apartment.
In the cab Buffy could tell Giles was still distracted and withdrawn, even though he held on to her hand as if his life depended on it. She worried that he was in shock, and wanted to get him back up to his room as quickly as possible. She cursed the slow downtown traffic of Hong Kong in her head.
When they finally reached their hotel, she led him by his hand through the lobby and into the elevator. Once the door closed she held his body close to hers and watched the numbers climb.
When the elevator reached their floor, she had to tug his hand lightly to get him to move. Just as they reached his room, he stopped and, for the first time since they’d hopped into the cab, he looked directly at her.
“Promise me you’ll never leave me!” he begged in a whisper.
She hesitated for a second. She knew the odds were against her.
“Please, Buffy” he pleaded, “even if you have to lie.”
Her heart nearly broke as she saw tears form in her eyes, and she had to swallow a couple of times before she was able to speak. She pulled him close to her body and whispered in his ear. “Giles, I’ll never leave you - not even death can keep us apart.”
He tightened his hold and walked her backwards until she hit the wall, then took desperate possession of her mouth. Heat shot through her body as their tongues battled, and she whimpered when he tore his mouth away from her.
“Buffy. . . I need you.” He whispered his plea against her skin.
“You’ve got me,” she replied huskily.
They stumbled towards his door; trying to keep their mouths connected with each step. After some fumbling, they managed to get the door open and almost fell into his room. Giles slammed the door shut, and managed to keep them upright until they reached the bed. They fell onto the sheets, tugging on each others’ clothes.
Chapter 12
Giles released her mouth, buried his nose in her neck and got lost in her smell. He wanted to take it slow, but slow was beyond him now. When she circled his neck with her arms and pressed herself impatiently closer to his burning body, all his good intentions flew out the window.
He brought a shaky hand to the edge of her shirt and pulled it over her head, dropping it on the floor. Her bra soon followed. He let one warm and soft breast fill his hand; his thumb stroked her nipple before replacing it with his mouth. Buffy clutched his shoulders and moaned his name.
Never had anything tasted as delicious as her. Never had making love been so seducing as it was at this moment. Her nails dug into his shoulders when he took her other nipple in his mouth, and the way she clung to him made his yearning for her increase tenfold.
He released her nipple and moved to taste her mouth again. He kissed her over and over. Letting his tongue trace the edge of her mouth before plunging inside her lips to tangle with hers. Soon the rest of their clothes disappeared.
When Buffy circled his erection with her hand, he knew she had the power to make his heart stop. He held his breath, before letting out a long shaky moan. She caressed, explored and drove him to desperation. Finally he couldn’t wait anymore and positioned himself over her. He fought for his last shred of control while looking into her eyes. “I love you.”
“Make me yours” she whispered and buried her hands in his hair to pull his mouth back to hers.
Never in his wildest dreams had he expected that a woman could break down all of his defences with whispered words and silken touches. Now he knew better. She had the power, and he gave it to her willingly. With a long, slow thrust he buried himself inside her. She arched against him with a moan.
If he could have stayed within her for all eternity it wouldn’t have been long enough. He feared that when he pulled out, he would discover it was all a dream. But she moved beneath him, whispered his name, and he was lost in her again.
Over and over they moved together, driving each other to indescribable heights with their hands, mouths and teeth, until they reached an earth-shattering climax. Giles continued to rock his hips against hers to prolong the pleasure, but his strength failed him quickly, and his body covered hers as they came down.
When he tried to move, Buffy held him tightly, refusing to part with him. The emotional turmoil and the physical exertion of the evening finally got to them, and within minutes they were both deeply asleep.
*****
Buffy woke in the middle of the night due to a light sensation on her stomach. Giles was gently tracing random design on the flat of her stomach. He seemed completely lost in what he was doing, staring at his hand.
He hadn’t realised she was awake, so he jumped when she murmured his name and placed a hand on his cheek. Before he had the chance to speak, she pulled him close and kissed him with all the love she had for him.
She loved the taste of him, she loved the way his tongue searched for hers and played with it.
Completely aware of his body, as well as her own, she felt her nipples tighten and heat rush to her core. The wonderful sensation of his body against her made her feel warm and soft. His hands slid over her body and explored it, stroked the lines of her breasts and hips.
His touch made her tingle, and her heart was pounding hard. She raised her head to his neck and took a deep breath, as if she was trying to inhale the scent of him.
“God, I love you.” She whispered.
His body shivered in response, and his mouth enclosed her breast eagerly. While tasting her, his hand moved slowly down her stomach, making her moan and lift her hips towards his hand that finally reached her mound.
Buffy closed her eyes in pure bliss when an orgasm tore through her. Her last coherent thought was that she was indescribably happy the night was far from over.
Chapter 13
The morning came too soon, Buffy thought. She squinted against the morning sun shining through the window. But what a night it had been. She noticed the empty space next to her and looked around the room.
“Giles?”
He immediately appeared from the bathroom in his boxers and crept back into bed, snuggling close to her.
“Good morning, love” he murmured and gave her a slow steamy kiss.
“God, I’ll never get enough of you. . .” she breathed as he moved his kisses down her neck. He placed a soft nip on her pulse and raised himself on his elbow with a smile.
“As much as I agree, I’m sorry to have to disappoint you. After last night, I don’t think I am in any condition to make proper love to you again so soon.” He laughed when he saw Buffy breathe a sigh of relief.
“Oh thank God. I feel like jelly - although sated jelly - but still jelly. I can hardly move a muscle. That’s all your doing, mister.” She admonished playfully. “Last night was…” she trailed off, searching for words to describe how last night had made her feel. But it wasn’t necessary. She looked into his eyes and she could tell he knew what she was trying to say, and felt the same way.
“Yes, it was.” He replied simply, and then pulled her as close to him as humanly possible. He rested his head on her shoulder. For a long time they laid like that, occasionally caressing and kissing, but no words were spoken. There was no need.
Eventually Giles broke the silence. “I’ve got some bad news, though.”
Buffy closed her eyes, but tried to break the moment with a joke. “So, no sex for Buffy this morning wasn’t the bad news?” She yelped when Giles pinched her side.
“Minx.” She immediately pounced on him and tickled his side, and soon both were involved in a playful wrestling fight.
When their tussle had stopped he continued, “We’re leaving Hong Kong today, to go home. I called the Council earlier. They don’t see the need for us being here anymore and arranged tickets for the first available flight. We leave this afternoon.” Buffy mewled in protest.
“Already!?” With a sad sigh she rolled him over on his back so she could put an arm and a leg around him. She placed her head on his chest.
“I wish we could have gotten a little more time together before we have to go home. Besides, I’ve barely seen Hong Kong!”
Giles placed a consoling kiss on the top of her head. “Then I will just have to bring you back some time.”
She tightened her hold on him. “You’d do that?”
He put a finger under her chin and tipped it up. “I would do anything for you, Buffy.”
Suddenly he found Buffy-kisses rained all over his face. After several attempts he managed to capture her lips, and rolled her over on her back. Their kisses and caresses made the heat between them ignite. Both strained towards each other, seeking more pleasure.
Buffy felt like she had always known this man’s body, the weight of him, the strength and heat of him. He was still new to her, yet familiar. Like deep down, her body had always meant to be with his. Her hands roamed his back; amazed that she could touch him anyway she wanted to without worrying about the consequences.
He was now cradled between her legs, and she pulled away from his mouth to look at him when she felt the unmistakable proof of his desire.
He smiled ruefully, “I stand corrected.”
She smiled back and tugged on his boxers. He rolled off her to remove them, and moved back into her arms. Neither could wait any longer, and he slowly pushed into her with a moan. When he was completely sheathed inside her, she threw her head back, curled her legs around him and responded to his every thrust with a rhythm as old as time.
A keening noise started low in her throat. He could feel her release. It made trembles go through her body. A forceful shiver travelled down his spine, and then his release followed hers.
When the emotional storm passed, they curled up together, drifting off into a sated sleep.
Chapter 14
Next time she woke, Buffy could hear the water running in the bathroom. Trying to reclaim her sleep, she buried herself deeper into the covers. Suddenly they were ripped from her, and she saw Giles standing next to her bed with an impish smile.
“No more, Giles.” She moaned and rolled away from him. “Please leave me alone.”
He laughed, then picked her up in his arms and carried her into the bathroom.
“Don’t worry, love, I think you’ve drained me for the next couple of weeks.”
At her horrified look, meant to convey that she couldn’t imagine waiting a couple of weeks for him to make love to her again, he gave her an amused smile. He kissed her forehead and lowered them both into the bathtub. Giles was a big man, so it took a little arranging to make them both fit comfortably.
Both knew they had to pack and get ready to go to the airport, but for now they would savour their last moments of tranquillity. He stroked her skin, kissed her shoulder, and then finally let his fingers lace with hers.
“Have I told you how much I love you lately?” she murmured contently. He placed another kiss on top of her head.
“About two hours ago, but I adore hearing it. And I love you, too.”
Half an hour later they reluctantly got out of the tub. Neither was looking forward to the trip, nor what they would do once they got home. Home, where their real lives and friends were.
*****
Twelve hours later they found themselves back in LA. As they were waiting in the isle to exit the plane, Giles circled her waist from behind and placed a soft kiss on her neck.
“Buffy, let’s wait a little before we tell the others about the change in our relationship.” She turned and looked searchingly at his face.
“Why? Are you embarrassed about us?” He shook his head.
“No. Not at all. You’re a dream come true for me. I would yell from the rooftops how much I love you if I could. Provided I wouldn’t be committed to Sunnydale General for doing so. I think you get what I am trying to say.” They shared a smile.
“I just want some more time alone with you - without any interferences. Once we tell our friends, our relationship will always be under scrutiny. I’d like to delay that for a little while. Does that make sense?”
“It does,” she answered and gave him a short kiss before turning back so they could follow the moving crowd.
****
Giles had called Xander from Hong Kong, so he met them in a rented minivan. It was filled with the happy faces of Willow, Tara and Anya, who, when they found out Buffy and Giles were returning early, had all wanted to come. They wanted to hear the full story of the trip and had not been able to wait until Buffy and Giles got back to Sunnydale. This prevented details being shared with only Xander.
Giles successfully manoeuvred Buffy with him into the back seat, and while telling their grim tale, he would make sure some part of his body was in contact with hers. A leg, an arm, or even just fingertip would suffice, as long as they were still touching. These emotionally charged days had left their feelings raw, and both wanted nothing more than to draw comfort from each other.
When all their friends piled into Buffy’s house with them and announced a relaxing pizza and video night, both shared a disappointed look.
Particularly as Dawn would be back from Hank’s the following evening. This had really been the only night for them to be all alone for a while.
Hours later, Giles had fallen asleep on the couch out of sheer exhaustion and Buffy decided to end the video fest. She sent Xander and Anya home. To her disappointment, Willow and Tara had decided to stay at her house since they were so tired, instead of spending the night at Tara’s as they usually did.
With a dark and gloomy expression she entered the living room and covered Giles with a blanket, and placed a gentle kiss to his forehead. Then, sad and lonely, she dragged herself up to her room and dropped her clothes to the floor. She didn’t even bother with her pyjamas as she crawled into bed.
Chapter 15
Not long after Buffy covered him up, Giles woke. For a long time he twisted and turned on the couch.
Finally, he gave up with a disgusted sigh, and pulled off his sweater, leaving him only in his t-shirt and jeans. His body and mind craved the feel of her skin, the smell of her hair. It was almost frightening how used he had gotten to sleeping next to her. He knew, without a doubt, that he wouldn’t get anymore sleep without her.
Finally he sat up, took a long look towards the stairs, and then rose slowly from the couch. Completely focused on Buffy’s door, he missed Tara coming silently out of Willow’s room with a toothbrush in her hand. She froze, and her jaw dropped when she saw Giles quietly open the door to Buffy’s room and slip inside while pulling off his t-shirt.
****
Buffy hadn’t fallen asleep. She turned towards her door as it opened, and sat up when she saw Giles enter and shut the door behind him.
“Thank God. I can’t sleep without you here next to me. I felt like I was going insane.”
He finished undressing as he approached the bed, and slipped naked under the covers. He pulled her tightly into his arms. “Me too” he murmured into her neck. She tucked her legs around him, twining her thighs with his. Pressing close to him she could feel his penis harden against her thigh.
“You really did miss me” she spoke playfully. He chuckled but didn’t make a move.
“Right now, I just need to hold you.” He muttered lovingly.
After a long embrace she whispered, “I can’t believe how addicted we are to each other. And I don’t mean just making love. It’s more than that. I constantly crave the most innocent of touches, your voice, your smell - I feel miserable when you’re not close to me.”
She glanced at him, worried for a second she had said too much. His head was still half buried against her, but he had a small smile playing on his lips. When he didn’t speak, she playfully nudged him.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” His smile widened and he finally opened his eyes and raised himself on an elbow.
“I feel rather speechless. You managed to put words to my feelings. I’ve been attempting to find a way to tell you that very same thing all day. I was trying to think of something to say, but I couldn’t. Like I said, speechless. ” She opened her mouth but was distracted when his thumb stroked along her cheek and lower lip.
“But I can show you,” he breathed against her lips.
He tugged gently on her lower lip before letting his tongue slide over her mouth, to start an erotic ritual with hers. She moaned into his mouth and her hands wandered across his body. She was beyond anything but feeling, and clung to his shoulders, dizzy with desire, when he moved his hips against hers.
When air started to become an issue for both of them he released her lips, and covered one of her breasts with his mouth instead. His hand moved down her stomach and in between her legs.
When she arched against him he moved his kisses from her breast and down her stomach, and let his hand push her thighs apart. The feel of his mouth against her core made everything around her fade, and as she closed her eyes she saw a symphony of colours behind her eyelids. With a moan she came against him.
When her eyes opened, she saw him posed above her. His teeth were clenched so he could hold on to his control. She circled his neck so he would lower his mouth to hers and push inside her. It felt like they had melted together. He was buried so deeply inside her she didn’t know where he started and she ended.
Slowly he started moving, keeping his strokes slow and deep. She felt like he was branding her, a mark that was solely his - binding them together for all eternity.
As they came together, she decided she wouldn’t want it any other way.
Chapter 16
The dawn arrived and Giles woke with Buffy curled up against him. He tried to untangle himself so he could head downstairs before the others woke, but Buffy wouldn’t let him go without a fight. Tightening her arm around his waist, she whined in protest when he tried to extract himself.
He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Buffy, I have to go before the others wake.”
With a dramatic sigh that made him chuckle, she lifted her hand, indicating he was free to do as he pleased. He forced him himself to stand and stretched lazily. Glancing at Buffy he could see she was eying him like he was candy, and he shook his head.
“You’re incorrigible.” She didn’t deny it, just rolled on to her back with a smile on her face.
He tried to keep his thoughts gathered and focused, but it was an impossible task. Buffy laid stretched out on the bed, all seducing and temping. His eyes travelled over the blonde hair that grazed the pillow, and the sheet that barely covered her breasts. He could see her hardened nipples through the fabric. He wanted nothing more than to tear the sheet off so he could make love to her again and again.
He shook his head, reached for his clothes and tugged his boxers and jeans on in the early morning darkness.
Still bare-chested, he leaned over her sleepy body. But he pinned her arms so she wouldn’t be able to pull him down when he kissed her. He slowly licked her lips, gave her lower lip a small bite, and sucked her tongue into his mouth. He tilted his head so he could get better access, and proceeded to make love to her mouth.
He was shaking with need when he raised his head, and Buffy’s eyes were burning with desire. There was nothing he wanted more than to lay down with her, touch her all over, hear her moan in his name in pleasure. But it would have to wait.
With a regretful look, he picked his t-shirt up from the floor. “I’ll find a way for us to spend the day together before Dawn gets home.”
“I’d like that” she murmured, stretching her arms behind her.
He swallowed hard and decided to get out of her room right away, before he changed his mind about leaving. With a last look at her knowing smile, he wrenched the door open and headed towards the stairs.
Right before he walked down, he pulled his t-shirt over his head, and missed the look Tara gave him as she came out of the bathroom. Her eyes jumped a couple of times from Buffy’s door to the picture of Giles heading down the stairs. By the time he had descended the last step she was wearing a full-blown smile that followed her all the way back to Willow’s room.
******
Later in the morning they all gathered in the kitchen for breakfast. Willow suggested that Buffy could join Tara and her for a day at the mall. Before Buffy had a chance to say anything, Giles put a damper on the situation.
“Sorry ladies, but Buffy is not going anywhere today. We missed a lot of training this last week, and we have a lot of catching up to do.”
He almost blanched at Buffy’s mixed look of disbelief and anger.
She couldn’t believe him! That was his idea of alone time? Training?! But, when she noticed his intent gaze on her, she realised it was only a cover and had to hide a smile. With a sudden frown she realised she should still play her part and protest loudly.
“Gi-iles! It’s my first day back - I can’t believe you!” she whined loudly. “Train, train, train, that’s all you think about. You know, all this training makes me antisocial - I need my mall fix!!”
He rolled his eyes and completely ignored her. Tara and Willow gave her a ‘we feel for you’ smile, and headed upstairs to get dressed. When they were out of ear-shot, Giles stepped close.
“Enjoyed that did you?”
She bounced on her feet while grinning. “Most definitely!”
With a slap to her butt he pushed her out of the kitchen. “Go get ready, we leave in ten minutes.”
“Aye aye, sir!” She said in a mocking voice and ran up the stairs.
Chapter 17
Giles took Buffy on a picnic in a park a little outside Sunnydale, and they spent the day relaxing and trying to take as much advantage of their alone time as possible. But all too soon they had to return to the house so that Buffy would be back when Hank arrived with Dawn.
Giles regretfully returned to his own home - he was not ready to deal with the only Summers male. Particularly because he had been the only male role model these girls had known, and had done a horrible job of it.
Giles wasn’t sure if even Buffy would have been able to hold him back, if Hank did or said something to anger him. With a soft kiss to her lips, he parted from her outside her house with the promise that he would join her for patrol.
****
Soon after dusk he was waiting for her in the cemetery, twirling a stake in his hand to pass the time. He looked up when he heard several voices heading his way. It turned out Xander and Willow had wanted to join them for an old fashioned Scooby patrol.
“Where’s Dawn?” he asked Buffy when she was close enough to hear him.
“She stayed behind with Anya and Tara. Apparently she met some really hot guy at dad’s and she wanted girl-advice.”
They all visibly shuddered at the thought of Anya’s brand of advice.
“I threatened Anya with bodily harm if she says anything too delicate for Dawn’s ears. I also told Dawn that I wanted to know everything she heard when I got home.”
Their laughter was quickly halted as they were attack by a couple of newly risen vampires, on the hunt for human blood.
Buffy, who hadn’t fought vampires in several days, revelled in the fight. She spent several minutes taunting and playing around with them, and Giles grudgingly admitted to enjoying her ‘show’. Until a third vampire came out of nowhere, aiming straight for her.
Buffy didn’t see it coming and, before Giles had the chance to warn her, the vampire had latched itself on her back and sank his fangs into her neck.
Realising he was too far away to reach her before the vampire had done too much damage, he aimed his stake and threw it with deadly accuracy. It buried itself in the vampire’s back and pierced right through its heart. A cloud of dust suddenly surrounded Buffy.
Giles fell to his knees in relief when he saw his throw hadn’t been too hard; he’d been half afraid the stake could have hurt her too.
She coughed and brushed dust particles away from her clothes as Xander rushed to her side to help her up. “Oh my God, Buffy, are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Good throw Giles!” she cheered, trying to hide her shaky voice.
That had been too close. The painful holes in her neck brought up ugly memories that flashed through her mind: the grinning face of the Master, Angel’s teeth, and a body laid out in a training room in Hong Kong. Shaking her head, trying in vain to get rid of her unpleasant thoughts, she looked over at Giles.
“You’re definitely the best Watcher a girl can….” Her voice trailed off as she saw his shaking fists, and realized he was still on the ground panting.
Silently they watched each other, until he suddenly got up and walked briskly out of the cemetery without a word.
Too stunned by his behaviour to move, it took her several moments before she ran after him. But a hand held her back. With an angry look she turned to look back at who it was, and her face softened when she was it was Willow.
“Don’t Buffy. I guess it was a little too close to home right now, especially considering what you guys have just been through. Give him a minute, why don’t you?”
Buffy wanted to protest. She’d seen the pain in his eyes. She knew Giles needed her as much as she needed him right now, but since they hadn’t told the guys about them yet, she couldn’t run after him. With a heavy heart she nodded and let Willow and Xander follow her back to the house.
Chapter 18
They were all gathered in the kitchen, silently watching Buffy wander around wearing a worried face.
“What’s the deal anyway?” Dawn asked. “Giles can take care of himself. Why are you so worried?”
Buffy contemplated answering her. Telling all of them why she was so worried; why she needed to see him. She had seen the look in his eyes in the cemetery. She knew he’d seen the vampire attack her and realized that what happened to Li Wei nearly happened to her. She didn’t care anymore. She wanted to let them all know that she and Giles meant the world to each other. She didn’t want to waste their time hiding their relationship. Just as she was about to lay it all on the line, Xander’s voice prevented her.
“Oh, look, there he is.”
They all looked out the kitchen window, watching him walking towards the house over the lawn. All but Buffy, who went flying out of the kitchen and out the front door.
****
Giles wasn’t aware of the eyes on him from the kitchen window. He had finally managed to calm down enough so he could return.
He had seen how rattled Buffy was after what happened, but his feelings had clouded his instincts. The need to touch her after her close call with the vampire had been overwhelming. The only thought he’d had was that he had to get away before he blew it in front of their friends. In a rash moment he had made the decision to run. At this instant he whished he would have trusted his gut feeling and gone to comfort her. He felt like cad.
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Buffy slam into him, and he instinctively held her body close to his as they tumbled to the ground. As soon as they stopped rolling, she sat up and started shaking him by his shirt.
“You bastard!” she cried. “How could you do that to me?!! I needed you, and you just walked away!!”
He immediately pulled her close, holding her as tightly as he could. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” He repeated the phrase over and over again as she started to cry into his shirt. “I wanted to stay with you, but I was too overwhelmed. I just couldn’t stand not touching you. I needed to get away. Please forgive me, Buffy.” Her sobbing stopped, but tears still kept falling from her eyes as she raised her head to look at him.
“I don’t care anymore - we can’t keep hiding this, Giles. It’s just doing us more harm than good. And if our friends don’t like it, well tough!”
With that she pressed her lips to his and kissed him with everything that she had. He responded without an ounce of hesitation. With a moan he parted his lips so she could taste him more fully.
She was blind to everything but the need to be as close to him as she could. She stroked her fingers down his face, and she noticed he shivered under the touch. He was so receptive to her that she felt an intoxicating sense of power. Until he took it from her.
****
“Wow” Willow mumbled as she watched the kissing couple on her lawn. “Never saw this coming.”
Xander nodded in agreement.
Tara smiled. “That’s because you weren’t looking.” Outside Buffy and Giles were still kissing passionately, completely unaware of the audience watching their adoring exchange.
****
No other woman had ever felt as right as she did in his arms. Each nerve in his body seemed to have moved to his lips and tongue, and he pressed her closer to kiss her more passionately and thoroughly. When he released her lips she was clinging to his shoulders, her fingers digging into his skin.
It was Dawn’s shocked voice that eventually broke through the fog of desire that surrounded them.
“Oh my God! What are you guys DOING?!”
The hurriedly broke apart with worried faces, and turned to where Dawn was standing on the porch. Both braced for the teenage hysteria that would undoubtedly follow and clung to each other for support.
After a beat Dawn continued. “Don’t you know better than to kiss outside after dark? You can get killed!!” And then a smirk appeared on her face.
Buffy and Giles scrambled to their feet with relieved smiles. As they reached the porch Giles arched his eyebrow at the teenager.
“You don’t seem too surprised Dawn.” She grinned and opened the door wider so they could get inside.
“Oh please, unlike everyone else you know, *I* actually notice things around here. I saw this coming from miles away.”
THE END