__Love's Little Decisions__
By Gaknar



"Thank you, Mrs.Thornapple." Giles said to his housekeeper as she took her leave for the day. Portions of dinner were made, the shopping accomplished, and the guest rooms cleaned and readied. Buffy and Dawn would be joining him here on his farm tomorrow, their flight from Rome coming in mid-afternoon.

Giles sighed and wandered over to stare out of his library windows. The past three years had been interesting. Buffy had finished college in Rome getting, of all things, a degree in interior design, he snorted a little at the thought of her and Xander building beautiful things together in his company in London. Dawn had finished high school and wanted to study at Oxford, she was also thinking of studying with Willow's coven. The Immortal had broken things off with Buffy shortly after Angel and his team had rocked the world. Angel was still lurking in remote parts of the world, the most hunted being in the dimensional planes for now. His companion was the strange, blue Illyria who joyed in taking out her grief over Wesley on whatever came after Angel next. And Spike was out wandering the world, getting into marginal mischief and occasionally dropping in on Faith at the other Hellmouth.

He shifted, taking off his glasses and giving them a wipe. Buffy, thankfully, had gotten her rebelliousness out of her system in Rome with the Immortal before settling down for serious study. She'd finally become the steady, confident, strong woman she was supposed to be, should have been before the becoming the Slayer. He hadn't actually seen them in a year, Buffy being intent on her studies, and he, unable to travel due to the time required to finalize the new Council and organize the new Slayers, hadn't been free to travel. They'd talked, once or twice a week, but had long conversations.

Putting his glasses back on and shaking his head at his mental meanderings, Giles headed for the kitchen to make dinner and settle in for an evening of paperwork.

* * * * *

Standing at the customs gate, Giles found himself fidgeting. Grimacing at his unexpected attack of nerves, he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and managed to compose himself as the first of the passengers passed through. Towards the tail end of the rush, Buffy and Dawn finally emerged. Dawn, taller than her sister now, dark hair shorter, curling at the shoulders was talking a mile-a-minute. Buffy, however was scanning the crowd. She looked magnificent, was his first thought. Radiating a calm power that made people automatically move, her gold hair in a clip, green eyes sparkling, a healthy tan accented by the tight white... Applying a firm mental slap, he shook the train of thought and moved forward to greet them.

"Giles!!!" Dawn squealed and launched herself into his arms. He wrapped her in a firm hug and after a few moments set her down.

"Giles!" Buffy's voice was warm, full of affection and delight. Her hug was strong, almost Slayer strong. He briefly let himself indulge in the smell of her shampoo and perfume under the stale smell of airplane, the feel of that hard, yet soft body against his. Then she was stepping away.

"So, how was the flight?"

And that was all Dawn needed. Launching into an entire week's worth of detail involving the packing and the trip she was off. Giles gently steered them towards the baggage claim, making appropriate noises, Buffy rolling her eyes and smirking at him behind Dawn's back.

Baggage was claimed after the appropriate delays, and loaded into the car, and Giles drove the young ladies home at a reasonable speed. Some time was spent showing them the house and their rooms, then each decided to take a nap before changing for the welcome back party Willow and Xander were throwing that evening.

* * * * *

Days passed peacefully for the most part, if not always quietly. The usual amount of demon slaying occurred, Dawn fell in with Willow's coven and Buffy in with Xander's business as a partner as quickly and as easily as Giles expected they would.

And as the early summer progressed into late summer, with only one apocalyptic crisis to call them to the other Hellmouth, Dawn prepared for college and Giles found himself more and more contemplating Buffy the woman. She'd thrown herself into the work, and activities such as dating appeared to be nonexistent. Her nights were spent either with Willow and Xander and their local friends or at home puttering about the house and having tea with Giles.

For his part, Rupert found himself looking forward to those nights and then smacking himself mentally as more and more often his thoughts wandered down that other road. So, finally, he sat himself down and thought about, and realized that he hadn't had a serious relationship in a very long while.

Was he lonely? Sure…but no more than usual. Less, actually, with the girls here. What was Buffy to him? A student? Hardly that anymore. A daughter? Apparently not if his subconscious had anything to say about it. It was actually beginning to affect him. She'd crept into a startlingly seductive dream last week. And the occasional fleeting brush of her fingers or hair as they passed in the kitchen or ate at the table would bring a warm glow to his heart and a tingle of interest well below that.

So... a lover then? He let the concept roll over his mental tongue for a moment, finding nothing but positive associations. It wasn't entirely unheard of. There were several instances in the Histories of Watchers becoming involved with their Slayers; usually the age difference wasn't quite so obvious, though. The question remaining then, or questions: how would Buffy feel about the change/idea and what to do about it?

Giles sighed, shifted in his chair in front of the window and sipped his wine. How would she feel? That was entirely up for debate. It was obvious she loved him. It was also obvious that it was in a fatherly sort of way. Could that be changed? And what to do about it? They'd have to talk. He could try some subtle things. Some almost dates, non-romantic gifts for no reason, things to test the waters.

But there were still so many things left unsaid. Issues they had together about the last days of Sunnydale, unpleasant things he was certain were going to have to be aired.

A gentle probe then, something that would bring a shift to her eyes, the possibility of a blush to her cheeks. Course of action decided on, Giles sipped his wine and contemplated his opening strategies.

* * * * *

Several days later, he presented Buffy with a bouquet of flowers. She blinked, then smiled. "What are these for?"

"Centerpiece for the table. I just thought that they were lovely and that the house could use some color." Giles shed the rest of his packages, noticing out of the corner of his eye the faintest look of disappointment. And something inside him posted a score mark on his side of the mental chalkboard.

Two days later, Buffy was nursing a sprained knee from a fight with a particularly vicious vampire. Giles brought her a plate of her favorite tea and cookies, plumped her pillows and dropped an ice pack on her knee.

"Wow, thanks. That was kinda above and beyond."

Giles just nodded, "I was making my own, no trouble at all."

She grinned at him, pleased.

Several days after that it was a meal of her favorites provided happily by Mrs. Thornapple. He left off the candle centerpiece, thinking that was too much, too obvious.

After that it was a scarf that he'd "seen" while shopping followed by a pretty hair doodad. This seemed to be the last that Buffy would accept without further explanation.

"So, not that I'm not enjoying things, but what's with all the presents recently?"

*Busted* he thought. "Why not? You deserve a little ...care taking."

"Uh huh. That's nice, and thank you. But things feel... different. Off somehow." She narrowed her eyes at him. "So what's the what? What *really *going on here, Giles?"

He sighed, took his glasses off and gave them an absent swipe.

"Oh come on Giles. It can't be that bad..."

"Huh?"

Buffy indicated the glasses he was still polishing. "You only do that when you're nervous, thinking or about to tell me something you think I'm not gonna like. It can't be that bad. It's been like- WAY quiet around here recently. Unless..." She got an almost eager look on her face, "is there trouble? Something big and ugly headed this way or Faith's way? Though we could really just let her handle it and I could watch. You do a little research and I can watch and be like a cheerleader or something. Or critique maybe. That could be fun."

"Buffy," He put his glasses back on, watching as she worked herself up over this whole watching-an-apocalypse idea. "Buffy." The sun caught her gold hair as she tossed it over her shoulder, hands waving as she came up with new ideas something about Willow and fireworks- nonmagical of course. "BUFFY!" A startled silence. "There is no new apocalypse. Really. Come, sit with me. We'll have tea and talk if this is bothering you so much."

She huffed a little behind him as he retreated for tea and cookies. Not that he was hungry, but he felt the need to have something in his hands. He found Buffy at the table, also fidgeting with something. She gratefully accepted the cup and saucers.

"So," she started after a couple of long silent minutes, "not that I'm not enjoying the whole `lets pamper Buffy' thing you've got going, but why?"

"Um… Well, I ...I. Really it's just that-" He stammered, suddenly tongue-tied, took a sip of tea and cleared his throat.

Buffy sighed, "Giles...?"

"Yes, yes, Alright." Giles fidgeted for a moment longer than stilled. "I discovered something about myself several weeks ago. A... revelation of sorts, after a great deal of contemplation. This is the basis for the new behaviors you've noticed."

"A revelation, involving me in someway? And since I haven't noticed anything new in the way you're treating Dawn or Willow or Mrs. Thornapple, I'm gonna guess it's only me?" Buffy fidgeted with her cup, nibbled on a cookie.

Giles sighed, "yes, I find that my feelings towards you have changed. You've come so far.... You returned from Rome so changed and I found myself noticing things..."

Buffy leaned forward and he was pinned by that intense Slayer stare. He suppressed a small shiver, once again reminded how powerful she'd become. The shiver turned into a tingle, firming his courage.

"Your feelings have changed? You're noticing things? This is a good thing? What exactly are you saying here?"

"I'm s-saying that I no longer feel for you the way I did when you were in high school, like a trainer, nor like I did while you were at college, like your mentor. And, while I've become your companion and friend in these later years, I would like you to consider the possibility that I could be more." Giles felt some small relief that he'd actually managed to get it out.

Buffy continued to stare, though it was diminished, likely because that was the longest single sentence he'd ever said that wasn't in the middle of a demonical exposition. "More?" She finally blinked. "You'd like to be more? More what?"

Giles put down his tea cup and took her closest hand. "Buffy, I'm saying I'd like to court you."

"You… you want to DATE me?" She goggled at him.

"Yes. I'd like the opportunity to allow you to get to know me better as ...as a man. With your permission of course; otherwise I swear I'll never mention this again."

"Never mention this again?? This changes everything no matter what I say! It'll never be the same!"

Rupert sighed, of course she was right. Their relationship would never be the same again. People change, feelings change. And if they don't, people must learn to live with the hardship. "It may not be, Buffy, but either way you decide will not change the fact that I care for you a great deal. I shall either care for you in the way that I have for the past long years or in a new way."

"And so that's it? You lay this in my lap and tell me to choose???" Buffy was standing now, pacing back and forth along the table, hands flying. "And what if I decide that I don't see you... us ...that way?"

"Buffy, if you don't feel the same you will hardly be the first person I've loved and lost. At least this time I won't necessarily be losing you forever. And even if you do decide to leave me, I'll know that you're alive and doing well."

That made her pause, "You'd let me leave?"

He huffed a little, "Well, you're hardly a prisoner here and I'd need more than just me to make you stay against your will."

"So lemme get this straight." She said slowly, "After all these years, you've suddenly decided that your love for me has changed and you'd like to be `with' me and if I don't feel the same we can just go on or I can leave if I want." Her hands made quote marks in the air and her eyes were beginning to fill with anger. "You haven't told anyone else, have you?"

"Of course not!!" Giles was getting angry himself now. "This is a private matter between you and I and if and when we decide to tell anyone else anything, we shall discuss it."

"I... I... I just don't know what to say here. You've been my trainer, my teacher, my friend...at least, most of the time. You left me alone after I died and you tried to have Spike killed. Those things really hurt me. And I know they were long ago now, but..."

"And your other loves never did anything that hurt, angered or disappointed you? Something that, with time and explanation you could not forgive them for?" Giles asked gently.

Buffy scowled at him and was silent for long seconds. "No, that's never been the case. And it has taken some time, but Giles, you hurt me more than any of them combined. And I know it's long over and I should be WAY done with it but..."

Softly, Giles said, "but I hurt you and I'm sorry. I made mistakes. Mistakes that I thought at the time were in your best interest, and the best that I could do for you right then. You needed to see that you could be on your own without me as a crutch; what I didn't see was that you needed me as a friend and helper. And when you needed to help redeem Spike, all I could see was his past and how easily he could lead you astray. It's happened to so many in the past, just look at Faith. But I should have known." he got up, came around the table her and tipped her chin up, brushing a stray tail of hair from her eyes, "I should have known you'd be stronger and better than any prior to you. As if you hadn't already proven that time and time again."

He gathered her into a gentle hug and was gratified and delighted when her arms wound around him "I've always loved you, cared for you..." her words were muffled against him. She trailed off and he let the silence linger, just enjoyed the moment, the feel of having her, small and solid and smelling of a flowery shampoo, in his arms, just in case it never happened again. She shifted a little against him, rearranging herself, and passing her hands up and down his back once. Then after several minutes she pulled back and he let her go, with only the barest trace of reluctance. She paused then, hands resting on the sides of his waist, looking up into his eyes.

Buffy blinked, licked her lips, swallowed, looked away and back. She took a deep breath, held it and let it out again. Took another, looked away and down and blew it out in frustration. Giles successfully managed to contain a smile. Obviously firming her resolve, she bit her lip and looked up at him with a determined expression. "Wow...I mean, wow this is a big decision. I don't really know how this is all going to work out but I know I feel things for you. Good things, deep things. Things that could be love, things I'd like to explore and anyway... Alright, let's do it!"

Giles blinked, stunned and in that moment she turned bright red and started to stammer and babble, "Um… well, really, I didn't mean `do it' do it, but let's try the dating thing. Of course, if we do the dating thing, we may end up `doing it' since that's kinda the whole point of the dating thing and oh-my-god somebody shut me up."

Smiling widely with delight, he murmured, "your wish..." and bent down to brush his lips over hers, delicate as a butterfly's wing. She was smooth, soft, warm, sweet- just as he'd always thought. It had been just a touch, to the still open, moist lips but it quieted her as if a switch had been thrown.

Buffy blinked and flicked her tongue out in an unconscious repetition of her earlier actions, "Oh. Mmm..." She stared for another few seconds then, "I don't know what to call you now."

Giles frowned slightly, perplexed, "What do you mean `call me now'? You don't have to call me anything. I don't need to be referred to as your boyfriend to anyone."

"No, not that- though that will take some thinking, no I mean what do I call YOU? Do I still call you Giles? Cause I dunno if I can call you Rupert and Rupie- well that's just wrong. I mean, you're just Giles to me and I know it's your last name but I feel like it's your first and I know you shouldn't call your boyfriend by his last name but that's what I'm used to and..."

He leaned down, suppressing a shudder at `Rupie' and brushed her again with a light kiss. "You can call me whatever you desire. `Giles' is just fine. It's what I'm used to from you as well. And if other nicknames develop... well, we'll deal with them as they arise. Alright?"

Buffy nodded and tentatively wrapped her arms around him again. They stood there for long minutes, just absorbing, processing, getting used to it; until the sun was definitely lower in the sky.

* * * * *

The next several months went by in almost a dream state. Their amazing good luck continued. So much so that Giles felt the need to hit the books and make sure no new apocalypses were looming. Privately, he wondered if the shake up of Wolfram & Hart and the destruction of the Black Thorn Society had upset the Underworld so badly that only the little players, who were easily handled, were left to try and gather power.

Even Dawn, Willow and Xander took the news of their changed relationship without spontaneously combusting from the shock.

And he and Buffy eased into dating with a comfortableness that seemed to surprise her, but left Giles only mildly bemused over how easily his life changed this time. They wandered through the fields and country lanes, talking and picnicking. As the weather turned chillier, they switched to intimate dinners in and out, and nights at the theatre and movies. Love tokens were bought and exchanged. Giles found he had a surprising fondness for giving flowers and Buffy enjoyed going shopping with him. They went frequently enough that each trip was a bearable length. They went to jazz clubs and rock clubs, acoustic places and open-mic nights.

Nights at home were spent over the telly and board games and gradually things progressed. Days spent holding hands changed to arms wrapped around waists. Hugs became longer and more affectionate, sometimes even with small, gentle kisses dusting them.

The night he first detected passion in Buffy's kisses was otherwise ordinary. They'd had a lovely dinner provided by Mrs. Thornapple and had watched a romantic movie snuggled on his wide couch, with a fire burning merrily in the hearth. Atmospheric and romantic, even though it was nothing they hadn't done several times before. As the movie ended, Buffy lifted her head from his shoulder and looked up at him with a smile. He returned it and leaned down for a kiss, their necking sessions having become more frequent and more comfortable.

He brought his lips to hers, enjoying as usual her silken feel and the flowery smell of her with a hint of metal and wood behind it. He sunk a hand into her hair and opened his lips, caressing hers with his tongue. She deepened the kiss in response, sliding her hands over his chest... then, with an unhappy noise, disengaged. Before he could ask what was wrong, she had swung herself into his lap and had refastened her mouth to his, deeply, almost bruisingly, sucking and nibbling, rocking slightly against him, so that fire shot through him like a bolt of lightning, rocking him to the core. He readjusted the hands in her hair for her new position but it wasn't enough. Giles slid them down her back, pulling her closer, one finally sliding to a stop on her firm, muscular behind. Necks were licked and sucked, earlobes were savaged and clothing was disheveled before passion slowed and they eventually wound down to deep, contented cuddling.

But that night marked a change. Something had shifted for Buffy. She, instead of building an intimate friendship with him, seemed to be ready to try building an intimate relationship with him. Those nights of passionately inspired kisses became more frequent. Hands on both sides made their way under shirts to skin. Giles often found himself with blood rushing south from just the new hot glances from her bright eyes.

They went to a more upscale open-mic night one chilly November evening and this time he'd brought his guitar. The bar was an ancient pub, at least one hundred years old with the antique, tall, private booths lining the walls. More traditional, open, round tables littered the area in front of the stage, leaving walking space between them and the booths. The room was dark, slightly smoky and feeling of great age, the stage heavily spotlighted making the rest of the pub other than the bar, incredibly dim in comparison. Getting them situated at a secluded corner booth, he went to the bar to put himself into the rotation for the evening, before returning with their drinks. He and Buffy enjoyed or pitied the performers as their talent allowed but Giles found an unexpected case of nerves creeping up on him as his stage time approached.

Finally, he leaned over for a brief kiss before taking the guitar up to the stage with a flourish. Surprisingly, Giles found that under the spotlight, the nerves had mostly vanished. He gave a quick tug to his black jacket, glad that he'd dressed tonight. His suit was black, with a faint charcoal pinstripe and his shirt was a pale jade, which Buffy said brought out his eyes, and the tie a matching black, with hints of green. Buffy, too, looked marvelous, he thought, glancing briefly over to her as he settled on the stool. She was in a rich navy color with hints of silver that made her skin and hair glow in contrast.

Having played there before, the manager had scheduled Giles for three songs. He played `Behind Blue Eyes' which seemed to be a favorite, a rousing drinking song which set the house singing `Lily the Pink' and finally a song he'd heard sometime before. A `power ballad' from one of those horribly loud rock bands that Dawn had fallen in love with a while ago. The lyrics and surprising melodic quality of the song had surprised him and he'd gotten the sheet music and adapted it for his guitar and vocal style. He was pretty pleased with the way it came out, if he could say so himself.

"And for my last song tonight, I'd like to dedicate it to the lovely woman I'm falling in love with and I hope she..." he blushed. "Well, right then the song. `Without You...'"

Without you, there's no change
My nights and days are grey
If I reached out and touched the rain
It just wouldn't feel the same

Without you, I'd be lost
I'd slip down from the top
I'd slide down so low
Girl you'd never, never know...

Without you, without you
A sailor lost at sea
Without you, woman
The world comes down on me

Without you in my life
I'd slowly wilt and die
But with you by my side
You're the reason I'm alive
But with you in my life
You're the reason I'm alive
But without you, without you...

Without you, my hope is small
Let me be me all along
You let the fires rage inside
Knowing someday I'd grow strong.


Throughout the song, Buffy blushed. Then her chin firmed and she stared back at him; love and affection working through the minor embarrassment in her eyes.

The applause was almost deafening from such a small club. Giles accepted it gracefully, bowing slightly and quickly removing himself, and his guitar from the stage. Buffy was waiting for him with shining eyes beside the booth. He placed the guitar on the empty side as he slid into the old, high-backed seat and Buffy seated herself next to him.

"Giles... that was wonderful. I- I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I did it because I enjoyed it and I wanted to share it with you."

The lights dimmed dramatically for the next performer and she leaned close to his ear. "I was deeply moved, both by the sentiments and by the song choice, you closet Crue listener, you."

Giles just grinned at her, and, turning his head slightly, kissed her. She leaned into the kiss, one hand over his resting on the table the other, steadying her balance on his knee. He broke the kiss and smiled at her again, her hair was backlit from the stage lights and her eyes seemed to take on an unholy glow from the reflected bar light. He blinked, his smile dimming as he took in the new look.

Buffy leaned in again for a kiss, this time deepening it and letting her passion flow. Giles groaned into her mouth at the change, blood beginning to race, his groin beginning to heat. Buffy's hand slid up his leg to rest more solidly on his thigh and his shifted slightly in his seat. She broke the kiss for a moment, her eyes flickering around the club, taking in her position and surroundings with astonishing thoroughness and practice. Then she hitched herself a little closer to him, "Yes, I'm very moved..." She dropped kisses on his ear, trailing down to his neck and it was all Giles could do not to move, not to draw attention as he started to sweat and his cock began to stiffen.

Pulling back so that she was just breathing on the damp skin she'd made, her hand on his leg continued its journey higher resting now on his upper inner thigh. Giles tensed and shivered. "Relax. It's dark. No one's looking. Live dangerously," Buffy murmured.

"Don't you think our ordinary lives are dangerous e-nough?" The last word ended on a slight squeak as that treacherous hand finally reached its destination. She brushed her hand gently over his crotch, exploring. Her slender fingers stroking gingerly over the cloth to determine his whereabouts and shape, finally closed about him. Giles' eyes snapped shut as he managed to stifle a groan, biting his lip and both hands turning into rock hard fists. Buffy gave a little `mmm' of delight in his ear after finding her prize, her fingers dancing and rippling along his length as she explored as far as she could. Breath coming in shallow pants, Giles endured as long as he could, until finally his control snapped. Lifting her hand and shoving her gently away, Giles frantically dug for some cash to leave on the table and again nudged Buffy toward the exit of the booth while he snatched for his coat and guitar. The devilish look on Buffy's face as she rose and turned to face him, finally allowed him to gain a measure of control and he ground to a halt. With a regained measure of dignity, he swung his coat on and managed to help her on with hers.

"You minx!!" He muttered as he escorted her out and to the car.

She shrugged, grinning, "Yeah, probably. But it was fun and you abSO-LUTely cannot tell me that you didn't enjoy it."

Giles groaned aloud this time, though it was more exasperation than desire. Then he flattened her to the car and kissed her like he'd wanted to when she'd had her hand on him. She moaned and returned it with an interesting shimmy that almost turned his knees to jelly. Breaking the kiss, he firmly got her seated in the car. The rest of the trip back to the house was a blur to Giles because Buffy had again put her hand on his knee as he drove.

The car was parked and they were in the house, shedding coats before he couldn't restrain himself any longer. Sweeping her into his arms, he managed to get them upstairs to his bedroom without any injuries, despite the fact they spent most of the trip kissing.

Swinging her down again, he dropped his jacket onto a nearby chair and turned to find Buffy right in front of him. She reached up and removed his tie, sliding it off and unbuttoning his shirt. She pressed kisses to the newly revealed skin as she pushed the shirt down his arms. Before he even had a chance to feel trapped, she'd nimbly unbuttoned the cuffs and slid the skirt off. Giles felt her lips on him like a fiery trail, the heat following moments after she'd moved on. His breath caught, and he tangled his hands in her hair, disarranging it from its pins and clips.

Then Buffy stepped away for a moment, slipping out of her shoes, and, while her back was turned, Giles stepped forward to pull her zipper down. The navy dress slithered to the floor leaving her in a dark, thin, lacey bra and panties. He leaned over her shoulder, lips caressing her neck and ear, hands wandering over the incredibly soft skin of her stomach. For a long moment he lost himself in the feel and smell of her. The warmth of silken skin and beginnings of musk rose under her perfume as he drew her back against him, hands rising to gently cup her breasts, fingertips plucking delicately at lace-covered nipples. Buffy gasped and tensed, her hands coming to clasp his thighs as she leaned her head to the side to offer more skin. Giles slipped one hand around to the back and, with a practiced twist, unhooked her bra and let it slide down her arms. He returned to his massaging of her breasts, enjoying the way she leaned back against him as if unable to stand on her own, her little moans of delight further hardening him in the confines of his pants and making him growl in her ear.

With a chuckle, Buffy stepped away and turned to undo his pants. She paused as he slipped off his shoes and toed them away, before sliding his boxers off his hips. "Mmmm, Giles," and then she leaned down and placed a quick kiss on the tip of his erection. Giles gasped as a bolt of lightning surged through him from his cock. "God, Buffy!" He lifted her, taking several long strides to the bed and depositing her. She giggled up at him as she landed and he covered her for another series of passionate kisses. Trailing down her neck, he ravished the sensitive cinnamon nipples already hardened for his touch, scooping off her panties while his lips were otherwise engaged. Part of him was shocked at his own wild behavior while the rest of him rejoiced.

He followed the smooth firmness of her stomach, the muscle ridges delighting him, til he reached the center of her pleasure. He spent long moments enjoying her taste, her heat, her sounds above him as her passion took her more and more into incoherence. Licking and sucking, he slid his fingers within her and held her as best he could as Buffy writhed through her first orgasm. Then he heated her again until she was panting and gasping.

"Enough already, get up here," Buffy ordered, tugging on his shoulders. Taking a moment to clean his face, he slid up her for another ravishing kiss. "I want you in me NOW, Giles." He nodded, breathless and panting, covering in sweat, hard and dripping, the ache between his legs ready to burst. Leaning off her to the bedside table, Giles reached for a condom, when Buffy reached out to stop him. "I'm safe, Giles. Are you? I want to feel all of you. Come on let's risk it. Live dangerously."

He semi-glared down at her, "Our lives are dangerous enough..." But one hand wrapped around him in a blazing touch and stroked just right, smearing the precum over the sensitive overheated tip. It was too much. "...Bloody hell..." Giles growled, and buried himself in the luscious form beneath him. She was tight, wet and hot, so hot. Hotter than anyone else he could remember. Distantly he wondered if it was a Slayer side effect. And then the loving took over, smothering the last of his higher brain functions.

Thrusting deeply, he felt her legs wrapping around him, her hips rising to meet him. They rocked together for long, endless minutes of bliss, which seemed like eternity. Until finally, Buffy climaxed, tightening around him yet again, her breathless moan of his name triggering his own brilliant finish, the world whiting out for him for long moments.

After several minutes of heaving for much needed air, Giles rolled off and gently brought Buffy with him to lie cuddled against him. He pressed a slow butterfly kisses to her forehead and closed his eyes to enjoy the afterglow.

"Wow, Giles. That was...wow." Buffy murmured tiredly against him.

The silence stretched comfortably for some time and Giles was just beginning to slip into a doze, when she rolled herself onto his chest and he felt her resting her crossed arms over his pecs. A glimpse through slotted eyes saw her with her chin on her arms, looking at him, and the mischief back on her face. He closed his eyes again.

"So...now that we're together...how long before the next apocalypse?"

Giles' eyes popped open.

* * *