Not that she was really surprised to see Orlando lip-locked with Elijah. After all, he hadn�t really even looked at a girl for the past three years. And he was nineteen, so he had to be looking at something.
Not that she�d been able to tell exactly what he�d been looking at.
Until now.
She was relieved and worried all at once. Worried that Orlando would be hurt, or worse. Though Elijah seemed nice and genuine, she couldn�t be sure.
She put a hand over her mouth to cover her giggle and leaned against the outside wall. She had to admit, though�
�they were kinda cute together.
+
Orlando zipped up his jacket as he stepped out the front door of the bar. Buffy bounced away from the wall and twined an arm around his neck. �Hi, honey!� She bussed him on the cheek and stepped back, her nose wrinkling. She grinned.
He smelled like sex.
�Hey.� Orlando�s ears turned a becoming shade of pink and he stared at the concrete, one hand rubbing back and forth, back and forth over the top of his head.
�Did you have a good time tonight? Get all your homework done?� Buffy twined an arm through his as they headed for his truck on the far side of the lot.
Orlando�s mouth opened and closed. �Uh�� He rubbed his head again.
Buffy turned at the sound of the door opening.
�Orli! Wait! You forgot this.� Elijah hurried out of the bar, Orlando�s backpack slung over a shoulder.
Orlando twisted away from Buffy, towards Elijah. Elijah skidded to a halt in front of him. Orlando reached for the shoulder strap, pausing for an infinite millisecond as his fingers curled under the canvas and rested against the firm muscle of Elijah�s arm. He cleared his throat and dragged the bag down. Elijah shrugged and let it drop.
�Thanks, Lij.� Soft smile.
�No problem.� Elijah�s voice was husky, his hands shoved deep in his back pockets.
�Hello, Elijah.� Buffy said his name slowly, as if she were weighing each syllable.
Elijah�s head turned towards Buffy long before his eyes followed, pulled away from Orlando�s gaze. �Hey.� He smiled genuine, unconcerned and open. Happy. Though he looked a little�rumpled.
Buffy�s eyes narrowed. She tapped a finger against her chin, thoughtful. �Elijah, You know Willow, right?�
Elijah blinked. �Junior. Cheerleader. Great hair. Yeah, I know her.�
�Oooo, perfect!� She turned towards Orlando, putting on her best pleading face. �Wouldn�t it be totally fab if Elijah and Willow doubled with us at the bar-b-que tomorrow?�
�What�you mean the cheerleader bar-b-que?� Elijah voice sounded strained.
Buffy nodded. �Of course.�
�But�doesn�t the cheerleader�I mean, wouldn�t Willow have to ask me�herself?�
�She mentioned wanting to ask you the other day. Come on, it�ll be fun.� Buffy nodded, encouraging.
Orlando and Elijah exchanged confused, panicked looks.
What the hell? Go on a double date? After�after�
After something neither one of them was ready to tell to a living soul.
Yet�
Elijah swallowed. �Su�sure. Sounds�liked fun.�
Orlando�s eyes widened. �Actually, I�m not sure that��
Buffy whacked Orlando on the arm. �Don�t be a rag, baby. It�ll be fun. Ya�ll can talk guy talk while Will and I are runnin� around.� Buffy tried a wide-eyed innocent look. It worked.
Orlando sighed and the corners of his mouth lifted. �You talked me into it.� He turned to Elijah. �We�ll pick you up around four. That ok?�
Elijah nodded. �Yeah.�
�Ok.�
�Ok. G�night.�
�G�night.�
Elijah stood in the parking lot until he could no longer see Orlando�s tail lights in the distance. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and shivered, rubbing his arms in the cool air.
What in the hell have I just gotten myself into?
+
It was dark by the time Buffy spotted Elijah at one end of a deserted buffet table, pretending to pick at left-overs. He looked across the torch-lit yard, casting an under-lashed glance at Orlando who was leaning against a tree, chatting with Willow. Elijah sighed and dropped his gaze, reaching for a grape.
Buffy sidled up next to him. �Having a good time.�
Elijah turned and smiled. �Good. You?� Elijah popped the grape into his mouth.
�Pretty good. I�d have an even better one if I knew whether you were serious about him�or just playing around.�
Elijah choked on the grape, gasping as he finally swallowed it. �Ex�excuse me?�
Buffy smiled, tight and hard. She leaned over the table, picking over the selection. �You hurt him - I�ll kill you. That clear?�
Elijah cleared his throat. �I�I don�t know what you�re talking about.�
�Pa-leeze.� Buffy turned to face him, hands on her hips. �Look, I�m not trying to be a bitch, but I�ve known him since we were toddlers and loved him since I can remember - not quite in the way our parents might have liked - but I still love him. So I just need to know, are you serious about him? Or just playing around?�
Elijah blinked.
Buffy raised an eyebrow.
�How�how did��
Buffy rolled her eyes. �Hello, I�ve been pretending to be his girlfriend for four years, and he�s never looked at another girl. He does, however, look at you.� Buffy leaned closer. �Besides. I saw you two last night at the bar.�
Elijah�s eyes widened in dismay. �Fuck.�
Buffy sighed and held up a hand. �Look, I don�t care what I saw, I just want to know if you�re serious, or not, ok?�
Elijah�s brow wrinkled. He caught his lower lip between his teeth and looked over his shoulder, catching sight of Orlando laughing with a group of team mates, one hand gesturing with a beer. Almost on cue, Orlando�s head lifted and he turned, his eyes meeting Elijah�s. They shared a silent gaze before Orlando smiled and lowered his gaze, turning back towards the group.
Elijah smiled wryly and turned back to Buffy. �I don�t know what your definition of �serious� is, but he�s �seriously� hot. And �seriously� smart. And �seriously��amazing. And I �seriously� like being around him. Did I mention �seriously� hot?�
Buffy�s face split into a grin. �Good.� She grabbed Elijah around the neck, kissed him hard on the cheek and bounced around the table, skipping towards Orlando.
Elijah�s eyes widened. Oh, shit. WhathaveIdone?...
+
�Hey, baby!� Orlando grunted when Buffy hit him from behind. He handed his beer to a team mate and curled his hands under her knees, hefting her onto his back.
�What�s up, little girl?�
�Me.�
�Smart ass.�
�Perky ass.�
�That too.� Orlando bounced her on his back and started across the yard towards the tables.
Buffy smirked and lowered her voice to a mutter. �But not as perky as Elijah�s.�
Orlando tripped and nearly dropped her. �Wha�what?� The last word came out as a squawk.
Buffy grinned. �I said, Bret�s not as flirty as Elijah, is he?� Buffy kissed him on the back of his neck and hopped off. �There�s Willow. I�ll be back.� She took off across the yard.
Orlando rubbed both hands back and forth through his hair.
Shit. Now I�m hearing things.
+
�You don�t mind leaving me at Willow�s do you, baby? I know we normally go out tonight, but I though you and Elijah could go do�guy stuff.� Buffy�s eyes were wide and innocent as she hopped out of the truck and went around to the driver side.
Orlando forced himself not to watch Elijah as he helped Willow out of the back before sliding into the front seat next to him. �Whatever.�
Buffy grinned and stepped up on the running board, pressing a kiss to Orlando�s cheek. �Have fun you two.� She leaned in the window and shook a finger at Elijah. �You hurt? You die. Got it?�
Elijah grinned and saluted her. �Got it.�
Buffy blew him a kiss and jumped down, heading across Willow�s front yard.
Orlando looked confused. �What the hell was that about?�
Elijah shrugged and half-turned in the seat, leaning back against the passenger door so he could look at Orlando. He tucked a knee up to his chest and rested his chin on it. �Nothin�.�
Orlando snorted and pulled out of the drive.
Elijah stared at him, a small smile on his face.
Orlando cleared his throat, uncomfortable under the steady gaze. �What?�
�What?�
�You�re�� Orlando shifted in his seat. ��staring.�
�You�re nice to stare at.�
Orlando blushed. �Shut up.�
Elijah grinned and leaned back against the window, turning to look out the windshield.
Orlando drove towards the center of town. He wasn�t relaxed, but he wasn�t uncomfortable either. Are we�on a date? Or what? He rubbed his palm on his thigh, bracing the other arm on the steering wheel as he drove. He cleared his throat. �So�do you want to go�get a beer or something?�
Elijah�s brow wrinkled. �Not really.�
�Oh. Well. I�ll take you on home then.� Orlando�s voice was low.
Elijah nudged him in the thigh with his foot. �No, moron. I don�t want to go home yet. I just�don�t want to go to a bar. Isn�t there somewhere else we can just�hang out?�
Orlando blinked, suddenly a little breathless. What exactly does��hang out� mean? �Uh, sure. There�s the drive-in, and lookoutlaneand, the Tasty-freeze, and Woody�s��
�Wait, what was that one in the middle?�
Orlando cleared his throat. �Lookout Lane.�
Elijah�s eyebrows shot up. �As in, where everyone goes to go �parking�?� Elijah twisted in the seat and threw his head down in Orlando�s lap, batting his eyelashes. �Why, Orlando Bloom. Are you trying to get me up there so you can take advantage of little ol� me?�
Orlando pulled up to a stop light and looked down. Elijah�s eyes glowed up at him, the wide smile mischievous and teasing. Orlando stared at the pale curve of Elijah�s neck, the bulge of a bicep thrown over his head, hand resting on Orlando�s knee, chest outlined under a thin sweater, hips canted, one leg propped up on the seat, thighs sprawled wide.
Orlando reached out a tentative hand and touched just a fingertip to Elijah�s lower lip. He took a deep breath. �Would you�what if said yes?�
Elijah�s smiled faded. He scooted his head back towards Orlando�s knee and peered up at him. �I�d say ok.�
�O�k.�
�That�s what I said.� The corners of Elijah�s mouth twitched. He snagged Orlando�s hand and pressed it to his cheek before placing it on his chest, palm flat against his ribs. �You can take advantage of me any time you want.�
Orlando touched Elijah�s lower lip again. �Really?�
Elijah nodded.
Orlando looked up as the light turned green. He turned right and headed for the far side of town. �Can I�touch you?�
Elijah nodded shakily. He was suddenly having a hard time breathing. It occurred to him that the heat under the back of his neck was Orlando�s thigh.
�Ok.� Orlando caught his lower lip between his teeth and slid his palm down the front of Elijah�s sweater, feeling his way. He found the edge of the sweater and curled his fingers around it, lifting it enough to slide his hand up and underneath. He felt Elijah shift against his thigh, settling his head into the curve of Orlando�s hip.
Orlando glanced down quickly, then back up at the road. Elijah�s eyes were closed. Orlando breathed quietly and deeply through his mouth, pausing for a split second as he felt the heat of Elijah�s skin. He swallowed and slid his hand further up the sweater. Up over the flat plane of Elijah�s stomach. Along the ridge of ribs and sternum. Fingertips drifted over the rise of a pectoral muscle, feeling, searching�there.
Elijah sucked in a sharp breath, his hips flexing slightly against the seat as Orlando brushed a long finger across an already pebbled nipple.
Elijah made a low strangled sound.
Long fingers circled around and around before flicking over the tip again.
What exactly was I thinking?� Elijah stifled another moan and moved restlessly on the seat, bracing one foot against the door. Oh fuck, that feels�Elijah shivered, his hands fisting against his hips. Hands. Hands are good�
Lookout Lane was seven miles from the town center.
+
Elijah bit his lip harder, struggling and failing to hold in another broken moan, one arm twined around a long leg, his hips arching off the seat with every pinching flicker of Orlando�s fingers. �Orli�are we�ohgod��
Orlando had driven to the far side of the lake, well away from most of the usual parking places. He pulled into a narrow grove of trees, well-hidden from the road. He reached around awkwardly to put the truck in park.
He moved his hand back to the other side of Elijah�s chest and gently pinched the beaded tip, fascinated and aroused by Elijah�s gentle jerking against him. �We�re here.�
Elijah exploded into movement. His eyes snapped open and he twisted on the seat, shoving himself up enough to grab Orlando�s head and yank him down sideways into a frantic, wet-hard kiss. Orlando groaned and snaked an arm around the narrow waist, pulling Elijah close and sideways, the fingers under the hot sweater rubbing harder at the tight nipple, loving the jerky response of Elijah�s body against his, the frantic deepening of his kiss.
A hand fisted in dark curls, another kneading the soft skin just past a loose denim waist band. They attacked each other�s mouths, groaning and twisting on the seat, trying to get closer. Orlando finally managed to turn and get his back against the door, one leg bent and raised on the seat, Elijah sprawled between his thighs.
Elijah broke away, panting against Orlando�s cheek. �God damn I�ve been wanting to do that since this afternoon.�
Orlando chuckled against his temple, breathing hard, hands sliding around to his back under the soft sweater, urging the warm body closer. �Me too.�
Elijah lifted his head, kissed the parted lips, then pulled back. They stared at one another. Elijah leaned down again, a soft wordless sound as their lips met again. And again, more firmly. Longer. Parted. Tasted again, but slower this time, careful and intense.
Elijah kissed a trail down Orlando�s throat, palming the slender hips and nudging them down, scooting back as Orlando slid down the door and laid flat on the seat, one long leg still bent, foot resting against the far door, the other leg sprawled in the floorboard.
Elijah knelt in the space between the long spread thighs, hovering above the glazed-eyed young man on the seat below him. He reached for the top button on Orlando�s shirt. Orlando caught his wrist. Elijah paused and looked up into wide dark eyes. �Orli, I want to see you�� Elijah�s voice broke.
Orlando was breathing shallowly, his entire body hot and trembling. Slowly, he nodded. Elijah flicked open the first button, Orlando�s fingers still loosely wrapped around his wrist. Flick, and another one opened. His fingers fumbled with the next and the next. Elijah smoothed the shirt apart, palms grazing the flat expanse of Orlando�s stomach. He slid his hands up the muscular chest, pushing the shirt over the curve of broad shoulders. He made a low sound in the back of his throat and dipped his head, licking gently at a copper disk.
Orlando gasped and jerked under him, writhing up into the caress.
Elijah pushed down harder on his shoulders, opened his mouth around the warm skin and licked again and again, stabbing at the tightening flesh. He moved his mouth to the other nipple, biting gently before repeating the same open-mouthed flicker of tongue and teeth.
Orlando was clutching at the back of his neck, groaning his name and twisting on the seat by the time Elijah licked a trail back up to his mouth. Orlando met Elijah�s lips eagerly, fingers squeezing his shoulders and neck. He wanted something�something more�
�Lij�Lij�� It took a few tries to break the kiss. He waited until Elijah raised his head, glazed eyes tracing his features as a hand came up to brush back dark curls. �Yeah?�
Orlando tugged on Elijah�s shirt tail. �I�� He swallowed. �Take this off. I�I want to feel you.�
Elijah kissed him hard, then leaned back, whipping his sweater and undershirt over his head with a single movement. They slid unnoticed to the floorboard as he braced himself above Orlando once again.
Orlando reached out and wrapped his hands around Elijah�s forearms, thumbs digging into the muscle. He tugged and Elijah settled slowly against his chest.
Orlando lifted his head, arms snaking around Elijah�s waist with a hiss of skin on skin, whispering a moan as Elijah buried hands in dark curls and slid into another kiss. Hotter, moving slowly against one another, palms and fingers learning the firm contours of bicep, shoulder, chest and back. Orlando�s fingers grazed the soft skin just under Elijah�s waistband, smoothing around the narrow waist and sliding back up his rib cage to cup a shoulder, the back of a soft neck.
They rocked against each other with increasing tension, mesmerized by the sensation of bare hands on so much bare skin. Knowing there was more.
Elijah made a frustrated sound of need and lifted his head. He stroked the side of Orli�s temples, then knelt back, sliding his hands to Orlando�s stomach, pausing for a moment, fingers resting against the button on Orlando�s jean. He waited, blue eyes searching Orlando�s face. �Can I�?�
Orlando nodded jerkily, his cheeks flushed. Elijah let out the breath he�d been holding and carefully unfastened Orlando�s jeans, tugging them down over his hips. He reached for the elastic band of his boxers and paused again. Another nod and he gently lifted them over the ridge of Orlando�s erection, breathing slow and deep to calm his racing heart.
Elijah crawled up and over Orlando, bracing himself on a hand. The other carefully wrapped around the already leaking length of Orlando�s erection. Orlando moaned, low and soft against Elijah�s cheek, an arm lifting to twine around Elijah�s neck, mouth seeking mouth.
Elijah slid his tongue deep, sliding his fingers carefully against the hard cock in his hand, shivering when Orlando moaned and arched against him, soft sound repeated when Elijah stroked him again.
Elijah shifted, releasing Orlando with a gentle stroke before moving his hand, fumbling between their bodies with his own fly. Orlando made a small panicked sound. Elijah looked up when he felt Orlando�s hands tighten on his shoulders, the body under him suddenly tense.
�Lij, I�I don�t think I�m ready for�everything��
Elijah smiled reassurance. �Me either. Not yet. But we can still�it�ll feel good, I promise.� Elijah lowered his head and kissed him, licking along the sensitive curve of his lower lip. �Ok?�
Orlando�s cock ached for the knowing slid of Elijah�s hand, his mouth for the firm glide of pink tongue, his entire body for the heat that only Elijah seemed to know how to give. His hands sliding up to knead the back of Elijah�s neck. �Yeah, ok.�
Elijah finally got his jeans undone. He shoved awkwardly with one hand and finally had to lean back, dragging them and his boxers down. When he lifted himself back over Orlando, he found the other young man staring in fascination at him.
Orlando looked up as Elijah moved over him. His eyes were wide, black pools of arousal. Elijah tilted forward and traced the curve of Orlando�s lips, waiting until they parted on a soft sound before slipping his tongue inside. He lowered his hips and rocked forward, groaning at the first delicious, off-center slide of their erections against one another.
�Ohgod�� Orlando gasped and clutched at Elijah�s neck, arching up against him with an awkward jerk. Elijah scooted up higher, aligning their lengths before drawing back and rocking forward again.
�OhFUCKme�� Orlando�s head rolled against the seat, pushing with his foot against the door, arching into Elijah�s smooth, rocking, strokes.
�Thought�you�d like it�ah, yeah. Push up just�there�� Elijah slid his arms under Orlando�s shoulders, dropping to his elbows as he rocked and slid harder against the slick moaning body under him. Orlando�s hands clutched at his arms. Elijah twisted against him, roll-pressing a long curved slide of flesh against flesh.
Orlando growled and reached for the muscled curve of Elijah�s ass, half covered by rucked down jeans. Orlando shoved the jeans down and dug the fingers of both hands into the sweet-round curves, lifting and wrapping a leg around the back of Elijah�s thighs, pulling Elijah harder against him, his erection sliding with delicious friction against Elijah�s, slick and gliding against skin and belly and cock.
Their movements grew rougher, harder as they rubbed against one another, mouths glancing open and hot against each other, their jaws, necks, teeth grazing and pressing against firm skin.
Orlando�s breathing changed rhythm, his head arching back against the seat, tendons straining in his neck as his hips lifted higher and harder into Elijah�s. He quit breathing, then gasped out a broken cry. Elijah pressed down, rocking faster, felt the pulseheat jerk of Orlando�s cock and a sudden warmth that slicked the motions between their bodies. He strangled out a delighted laugh, twisting his hips faster against Orlando�s, rubbing his own cock in quick stabs against the slick-hot skin.
�Come�come too, Lij�� Orlando�s broken whisper in his ear, hands kneading the curve of his ass made Elijah shudder and snap his hips, biting down on Orlando�s shoulder as he tensed, then came in hard pulses against golden skin.
They lay panting against one another. Elijah�s hands curled under Orlando�s shoulders, breathing against his neck. Orlando�s hands stroked over Elijah�s lower back, then down again, curving slowly around the underside of his ass before returning to the smooth skin of his back. Then down again.
Elijah sighed, a grin spreading across is face. He lifted his head.
Orlando turned to look at him, opening dark eyes glazed in the aftermath. �I liked that. A lot.�
Elijah laughed and pressed a hard kiss to the suddenly smiling lips. �Told you.�
+
Elijah�s t-shirt was sacrificed for clean up. Jeans pulled up again and shirts buttoned, they sat in silence for an awkward moment.
Elijah finally turned and leaned back against the passenger door, sprawled thighs-apart on the oversized seat. He quirked an eyebrow at Orlando. �C�mere.�
�Wha�� Orlando hesitated.
Elijah leaned forward and tugged on his arm. �C�mere.� He pulled until Orlando scooted across the seat towards him. There was a confusing scuffle until Elijah finally got Orlando turned around, his back to Elijah�s chest, hips bracketed by Elijah�s thighs, feet propped up on the seat. Orlando was holding himself upright, stiff and unmoving.
Elijah curled an arm around his chest. �Relax, Orli.�
�I�ll�I�m too heavy. I�ll squish you.�
Elijah snaked his arms around Orli�s waist and dragged him the last foot across the seat. �Don�t think so. Now, relax.�
�Oh. Ok.� Orlando melted back into Elijah with a sigh, his head dropping back into the curve of Elijah�s neck and shoulder. He closed his eyes when he felt the light touch of fingers brushing across his temple, slowly grazing down the side of his cheek. He sighed and turned his head into Elijah�s throat, offering more skin. The fingers gently stroked the side of his throat, the top of his shoulder. Petting with gentle, deliberate movements.
�Lij?�
�Hmmm?�
�This doesn�t feel nearly as weird as I thought it was going to.�
Elijah grinned against the dark curls. �What, me petting you?�
Orlando whacked him gently on the thigh. �Nooo. I mean�this you and me�thing.�
�Oh.�
Orlando carefully laid his hand over Elijah�s where it rested against his stomach. Elijah�s fingers spread. Orlando�s laced between them.
�Lij?�
�Yeah?�
�I�m glad you moved here.�
Elijah tilted his head, pressing his cheek against the dark curls. �Me too, Orli. Me too.�
