Title: Sweet Sixteen

Author: Pattyanne

Disclaimer: I only own the story

Feedback: Ain't too proud to beg

Summary: AU (I know, I couldn't believe it either) Everybody's human. Spike and Buffy are teenage neighbors.

Rating: Will vary. Part One.... ~~~~~ "You come on like a dream Peaches and cream Lips like strawberry wine You're sixteen, you're beautiful, And you're mine.." ~~~~~ Spike hated being seventeen. It was a crappy age, being so close to adulthood that you could taste it. Damn year dragged on, with seemingly no end in sight. Sixteen had been good. A lot of things happened when you crossed the line from fifteen to sixteen. Not quite an adult, but no longer a child. A person had a lot more say in their own lives when they hit that magic age. You could stay out later...you didn't have to be in bed by a certain time...and, best of all, you could drive a car. Not that there was anyplace exciting to drive to in Sunnydale. Spike rolled over from his back to his front, and let his fingers trail across the azure water of the pool. The sun felt good, but he wasn't really used to it yet. He'd been looking forward to living in California. England was all right, but he'd heard so many stories from his friends who'd traveled to the states, and it always made him yearn to be able to see the amazing things they'd described to him in such vivid detail. After nagging his grandmother to the point of madness, she'd finally agreed to allow him to come and live in Sunnydale with his uncle. Although he'd felt a little guilty about leaving her alone at Blackoaks, rattling around the huge estate with no one but the servants for company, she'd alleviated that guilt by deciding to return to the townhouse for an indefinite period of time. So Spike had boarded a plane for the United States with a clear conscience. Grandma Abby had plenty of friends in London, not to mention Aunt Susan and her brood. Now, he was finally living in California...and he was bored out of his mind. Stuck in a one stoplight town called Sunnydale, and living with a high school librarian. The fun never stopped! Not that he wasn't getting along with his uncle. He had only met his mother's brother a few times in his life, the last time at his parent's funeral when he was ten years old. Rupert Giles was every inch an English gentleman, from his tweed jackets to his sensible oxford shoes to his wire rimmed spectacles. He lived a quiet and bookish life, and the only concession he had made to a "California Lifestyle" was the swimming pool he'd had installed in his back yard after he'd been involved in a car accident years ago. When he'd come home from the hospital, he'd begun an exercise regimen that would put Charles Atlas to shame. Since he enjoyed swimming but hated the drive to the health club one town over, he'd had the pool built, along with a small cottage on the far side of it, set back in the gardens. Although it had served as a sort of makeshift gymnasium for a while, it had been cleaned out and redecorated.It was now a bedroom- sitting room, and his uncle had turned it over to him. It was a pretty nice set up. Fairly roomy, and he had all the privacy he wanted. Poor old Uncle Rupert just couldn't stand the noise in his perfect little house, so the pool house arrangement suited them both nicely. Spike had already made a few friends in town, and all of them had been awed by very idea of being able to live in a separate area from parental control. Xander Harris in particular had almost been foaming at the mouth at the notion of living apart from his own parents. Not that Spike could blame him. He'd met Xander's parents and he wouldn't want to live with them either. ~~~~~ "You're all ribbons and curls Oh, what a girl! Eyes that sparkle and shine You're sixteen, you're beautiful And you're mine.." ~~~~~ He heard his uncle's car pull into the driveway. Al- though technically it was summer holiday, school would be starting in another week and the old boy wanted his cherished library in apple pie order before the students came back and made a mess of his filing system. The front door opened and closed, then the sliding door to the patio squeaked along it's runners. Spike turned and saw his uncle glancing through the stack of mail in his hand. "Oh, um....William. You have....let's see....a letter from your grandmother...your monthly stipend...and something..." He peered at the front of a neon pink en- velope, covered with a messy black scrawl. "...I think it's from someone named....Donetta?" Spike chuckled. "Drusilla," he corrected. "She's a friend from London." "Uh...yes...well," Rupert Giles glanced at his nephew and promptly turned a brilliant shade of crimson. "Oh, William, really! I have asked you time and time again to please wear an appropriate garment when you use the pool!" Spike sighed and reached for a pair of cut offs. "Sorry, Unc...but it's not like anyone can see." He gestured around at the high walls, covered by even higher shrubbery, and several tall bushy trees. "The only neighbor who might get a shock is Mrs Summers and she's at work during the day." "That's hardly the point, William. This is a small town we live in, a civilized society, and one does not romp naked out of doors." "Well, maybe one should," Spike suggested. He stood up and stepped into his shorts. "Might spice things up around here for a change." Straightening, he zipped his fly, then turned and dove into the deep end of the pool, splashing his uncle with a liberal amount of water. He came up at the other end, beneath the slide. Shaking his shaggy curls out of his eyes, he saw his uncles lips moving and knew he'd missed whatever he was supposed to be hearing. "I'm sorry," he admitted. "I didn't hear you." Swimming to the side of the pool, he gazed up at the older man, squinting in the afternoon glare of the sun. "I said," Rupert continued, shaking the drops of water off his mail, "that Mrs. Summers is expecting her daughter to arrive home either today or tomorrow. I will not be pleased if you give the girl an education in male anatomy outside of the school grounds." Spike grinned, unable to help himself. "So, I should give her that lesson in the school corridors, huh?" "Very amusing," his uncle said dryly. Spike heaved himself up out of the water, and sat on the brick deck, dangling his legs. "So...what's her name?" Rupert had turned and was making his way back to the house, still perusing his mail. "Pardon?" "The daughter." It was beginning to sound like things were going to pick up a bit on Revello Drive. "She got a name?" "Hmm? Oh, yes....Elizabeth." Spike nodded. Elizabeth wasn't a bad name. Maybe she liked to be called Liz or Beth. "But I believe she goes by a nickname..Buffy." "Buffy?" Spike muttered. "What the hell kind of a name is Buffy?" ~~~~~ "You walked out of my dreams And into my arms Now, you're my angel divine You're sixteen, you're beautiful And you're mine..." ~~~~~

Part Two... ~~~~~ "You're my baby You're my pet We fell in love on the night we met.." ~~~~~ Saturday morning dawned hot and bright. The temperature was already in the high eighties before noon. After rolling out of bed at 10:00, Spike had joined his uncle for the Saturday morning brunch ritual they had been following ever since his arrival. One of the most surprising discoveries he'd made about his little known relative was the fact that he was a pretty good cook. Every Saturday at 10:30 on the spot, Spike would enter the dining room of his uncle's house and find a platter of deliciously scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, various fruits, toast, muffins of one sort or another, and real English tea served with milk and sugar. He still hadn't adapted to the American custom of squeezing lemons into tea. After the meal, they would talk for a bit about whatever plans they had for the day. Spike always made sure to offer himself up for any chores that needed doing before leaving the house. It was a new experience for him. In England, he hadn't had to lift a finger to do anything other than his school work. Black Oaks was fully staffed, with a large contingent of household servants...a butler, a housekeeper, three upstairs maids and three downstairs, a chef, and three kitchen helpers. Along with the indoor staff, there was a grounds keeper and his four assistants, a chauffeur, a stable master, and two stable hands. The town house in London was almost as heavily staffed, save for the fact that there was only one gardener and no stable workers. Still, even though it wasn't costing his uncle anything to have him in residence, Spike wanted to help out if he could. After all, the man wasn't getting any younger. By Spike's calculations, Uncle Rupert had to be pushing 45. This morning, the only thing he'd requested was that Spike skim the leaves and any other debris off the surface of the pool. He had a man who came to clean and main- tain the filters and heaters, but he wasn't due for a few days, and Rupert hated leaves in the pool. As Spike stood there, running the net back and forth, he caught a glimpse of himself in the pool house window. He was going to have to get a haircut soon, before school started anyway. Stupid curls were definitely looking a little on the shaggy dog side of things. He wondered idly if he should go ahead and bleach it again. It had been a while since he'd bothered, and his hair was a mixture of light brown and platinum blonde. He was hanging the skimmer back on it's hook, when he heard a car pull in to the driveway next door. Mrs. Summers black Cherokee was in serious need of a brake job, and he always knew when she came home. Spike could hear his uncle greeting their neighbor. Smiling to himself, he couldn't help thinking that old Uncle Rupert was a good deal attracted to the woman. Not that he was surprised by it. She was a good looking woman, for her age. "....the traffic from the airport is murder in the afternoon." "Oh, yes," his uncle replied. "I can imagine. Good show that you went early then." A car door slammed, and Spike heard the click of heels on pavement. "Anyway...this is my daughter. Buffy...this is Mr. Giles. He's the librarian at your new school." "Hello, Buffy. Your mother speaks of you often, I almost feel I know you." Spike was about to go into the house when he heard a girl's voice reply to his uncle's greeting. "Hi. Nice to meet you." Those five words were all she spoke, but the sound of her voice caught Spike's attention, and he peeked around the hedge at the head of the driveway to get a look at his new neighbor. "Bloody hell," he muttered beneath his breath, a remark that his grandmother had done her level best to eliminate from his vocabulary. He'd had more than one crack across the knuckles from her, after he'd picked up the phrase from the grounds keeper at Black Oaks, old Charlie Corcoran. But he couldn't help it. This Miss Summers was absolutely hands down the prettiest girl he'd seen anywhere in Sunny- dale. She had long hair, a beautiful shade of honey brown. It was thick and shiny looking, and he wanted to touch it. No more than five feet two inches tall, even in the heels she was wear- ing, her body was a pocket sized Venus; slender legs that were lightly tanned, a tiny waist, and nicely curved breasts that were surprisingly ample for such a small girl. As his eyes moved avidly up and down her figure, he developed an immediate erection. "...and I'm sure you'll be meeting him soon." His uncle was speaking to her, apparently telling her about his transplanted nephew. "That'll be nice," she said. "Will he be going to...." "Uh, yes...Sunnydale High School. He'll be a senior this year." "You know," Buffy's mother broke in. "We'll be having a birthday party for Buffy in a few days. Maybe he'd like to come and bring some friends. She doesn't really know anyone here yet." Spike grinned. Oh, he would definitely be attending that party. And he'd be very careful about who he would be bringing along. No single guys allowed. Xander could come and bring his girlfriend, Anya. Oz was a shoe in, of course. He'd been in love with his own neighbor, Willow, since they were kids. "William?" his uncle called. He'd been spotted lurking in the shadows. Shaking his hair out of his eyes again (he really was going to have to get it cut), he joined the three people in the driveway. "William...this is Buffy," Rupert continued. "She's been spending the summer with her father, I believe?" Joyce nodded. "We'd only just moved in when she went to stay with her dad in Los Angeles," she explained. "Buffy...this is Mr. Giles nephew, William Darlington." Big green eyes with impossibly long lashes lifted to meet his gaze, mesmerizing him. "Hello," he managed to say. Buffy smiled up at him. "Hi!" she said, holding out her hand. Spike took it and held it for a moment, his own larger hand seeming to swallow it up. It was small and soft, and warm, and he felt a ridiculous urge to lift it to his lips and kiss it. He was so done in by her that when she pulled her hand back, he forgot to let go! ~~~~~ "You touched my hand My heart went "pop" And, ooh when we kissed I could not stop You walked out of my dreams And into my arms Now, you're my angel divine You're sixteen, you're beautiful And you're mine You're sixteen, so beautiful And you're mine..." ~~~~~Part Three ~~~~~ "Today I'm gonna ride away And feel the sun throughout my hair Finally free to be who I want to be Who that is, I don't really care.." ~~~~~ "Mr. Giles' nephew is certainly a handsome boy, don't you think?" Buffy paused in her unpacking, and stared out the window for a moment. It was a hot and cloudless day, and the sky wasn't nearly as blue as his eyes. Joyce moved around the room, picking up each item of clothing Buffy unpacked and tossing it into her laundry basket. She smiled at the sight of her daughter, who had apparently forgotten the rest of the world for a moment. "He's very polite, too," she went on. "Last week, he came out and helped me carry all those bricks for the patio. He wouldn't let me pay him, either. He's been well brought up, you can tell." "Mm-hmm," Buffy murmured, as she wandered over to open her bedroom window. "He's...nice." It was all Joyce Summers could do to keep a straight face. She had seen Buffy's expression when William had appeared on the scene, and had all but heard the twang of cupid's arrow as it whistled through her daughter and nailed that young man right in the heart. "Do you think we should invite him to your birthday party?" she asked, keeping her voice deliberately casual. "Yes!" Buffy said loudly, turning to face her mother. "I think we should. It's the...neighborly thing to do." "I agree," Joyce replied. She watched as Buffy stared out the window, and marveled at what a beauty her baby was growing up to be. Beautiful, and sweet natured as well. She'd had no worries whatsoever about bringing Buffy to Sunnydale, and moving her away from everyone she knew. Her daughter made friends easily, and Joyce was certain that by the end of the first week of school, Buffy would have a new group of kids to hang out and have fun with. "Maybe we should have him bring some friends with him," Joyce added. "He hasn't been here terribly long either, but I'm sure he's met some of the kids around the neighborhood." "Good idea," Buffy said absently, then turned to look at her mother. "Do you want me to do any chores today, Mom? Anything?" Joyce shook her head. "No, honey. You just relax and get settled in. We'll worry about chores another day." "Are you sure?" Buffy persisted. "I could...um...water the grass, or..pull weeds or something. I don't mind!" Buffy had never in her life volunteered so eagerly for yard work, and it made Joyce smile inwardly, knowing the reason behind this sudden burst of energy was a handsome English boy with blue eyes and a charming smile. "Well," she said with a shrug. "I suppose you could do a few things in the back yard, if you want to. The dandelions are trying to take over the lawn, and you could trim the rose bushes." Buffy nodded. "I can do that! Just let me change." ~~~~~ "Cuz I've got friends who love me Blue skies are above me My blonde hair is everywhere Sweet sixteen, gonna spread my wings Sweet sixteen, it's my chance to shine ~~~~~ Buffy searched her dresser drawers for clean clothes. She found a pair of black denim shorts and pulled them on, then donned her red halter top. After touching up her make up, she brushed her hair and tied a red bandana around it. Satisfied with her appearance, she practically skipped downstairs and out to the garage. She grabbed the hedge trimmers and an empty pail, then headed for the back yard. Peeking through a gap in the fence, she spotted Mr. Giles' nephew stretched out in a lounge chair by the pool. He was wearing the same cut off shorts he'd had on when she'd met him, but he'd removed his t-shirt to sun bathe. "Oh....wow." He was so cute. She loved those messy brownish blond curls he'd kept pushing out of his lovely blue eyes, and she'd been briefly envious of his beautiful bone structure, especially the high arch of his cheekbones. It was so much more attractive than her own rounded cheeks which, to her mind, made her look babyish. But, now...with his shirt off like that...Buffy could see that there was a lot more to admire about this boy than his good looking face. He had a lean, but well built upper torso, with a layer of muscle at his abdomen that you could probably bounce a quarter off of. His biceps were well developed, without being overly muscled, and his arms looked strong. She watched as he lifted a can of soda and took a deep swallow. He had a soft and sensual looking mouth, and she'd never wanted to kiss a boy so badly. Forcing herself away from her little spy hole, she began working at the weeds in her mom's garden. Ten minutes later, when it appeared that William Darlington wasn't noticing her presence, she grabbed the hedge trimmers and went to work on the roses. "Ouch!" she said loudly, deliberately pricking herself on a thorn. Her ruse worked, because a few seconds later, he appeared at the back gate. "Are you all right?" he asked. He seemed sincerely concerned, and Buffy felt a brief moment of shame for the subterfuge. A VERY brief moment. "Oh, yeah...I just stuck myself on a thorn," she replied, continuing to work the clippers. William reached over the back of the gate and pulled the latch. He removed the clippers from her hand and examined her thumb, wiping away the tiny drop of blood. "Does it hurt?" he asked, glancing up into her eyes. "Um...no. Not really." Buffy shook her head. With a smile, William lifted her hand and kissed the small wound. "Poor baby," he murmured. Buffy wouldn't have noticed, or cared, if she'd cut her thumb completely off at that point! "It's all right," he went on. "See..it's already stopped bleeding." Although she was tempted to give her thumb a good hard squeeze to get the blood flowing again, she re- sisted the urge. "Thanks," she murmured. "You're welcome." His gaze captured hers, and a mutual zing of electricity bounced back and forth between them. Buffy felt a drop of sweat tickle it's way down her back, and she wiped her forehead with her free hand. "It's really hot today," she said, falling back on inane small talk about the weather. "Yeah, it is," he agreed. "But I like it that way. I love the sun. Didn't see a lot of it where I'm from," he added, releasing her hand. There was a brief silence, then William pointed across the fence into his yard. "Would you like to come over and use the pool?" he asked, mentally crossing his fingers and toes in the hopes that she would say yes. It worked. "Yeah, that would be great," Buffy said, nodding enthusiastically. "Um....I'll go change." She bent over to retrieve the hedge clippers, but he stopped her. "I'll put it away for you," he offered. "In the garage?" "Yeah, that's fine," she said, gesturing with her hand. "So...I'll just...um...be right back...don't go away!" Although she walked calmly into the house, when the door closed behind her she set an all time "Buffy Speed Record" for changing. She dropped her discarded clothing in the middle of the floor, and wriggled into her white bikini. It was her favorite bathing suit, as it contrasted so nicely with her light summer tan. Pushing her feet into her sandals, she whipped off her bandana and rebrushed her hair. Then, calling out her intentions to her mom without waiting for a reply, she pelted downstairs and found William waiting for her by the patio door. ~~~~~ "Sweet sixteen, discovering So much more to life Sweet sixteen..." ~~~~~ They played in the pool for the rest of the afternoon. The California sun beat down on them, heating their skin, but the water was deliciously cool as they swam and splashed about. At one point, Spike went into the pool house and came out with a cotton blanket. Spreading it out in a shady spot on the lawn, he watched as Buffy climbed out of the pool and picked up an over sized towel to dry off with. When Buffy had come out of her house wearing a skimpy white bikini bathing suit, he had nearly choked on his tongue, briefly surprised to find that it wasn't hanging out of his mouth. He'd actually been forced to jump right into the water immediately, in the hopes of quieting down the disturbance her appearance was causing in the inseam of his cut offs. She had kicked off her sandals and stood at the shallow end of the pool, watching as he swam clear to the other side of it. After regaining a small amount of control, he'd invited her to join him in the water. Now, she plopped down beside him, squeezing her wet hair in the towel, then dabbing up the drops of water sparkling on her chest. Spike dropped to his knees on the blanket. Buffy smiled at him. Slowly becoming aware that he was blatantly staring at her, he shook himself out of his lustful intent. "Want something to drink?" he offered. "Sure," she nodded. Spike swallowed hard. "Soft drink?" "All right." "Any particular kind?" Christ! He sounded like a bloody waiter. "Mmm...I don't know." She thought it over. "What kind do you have?" He searched his memory, trying to call up the image of what he'd seen in the refrigerator earlier. "Coke," he said. "Um...lemon-lime...some kind of orange soda..." "Coke is fine," she interjected. "Right!" He jumped to his feet and nearly ran into the house. Spike rummaged around in the refrigerator, extracting two cans of Coke. Forcing himself to return at a slower pace, he saw Buffy laying prone on the blan- ket, her cheek resting on her folded arms. And...she had untied the back strap of her bikini top! His brain function took an immediate nose dive, as all the blood circulating through his body instantly rushed to one highly sensitive location. Taking a deep breath, he sat down beside her and silently held out the can of soda. Buffy lifted her head and smiled, accepting his offering. "Thank you." "You're welcome," he replied automatically. Popping his can open, he downed a huge swallow of the cold beverage. "Your back yard is really nice," Buffy observed, opening her can and taking a sip. "With all the bushes and trees around the pool and all. Kind of looks like a jungle." "You can use the pool anytime you want," Spike blurted out without acknowledging her comment. "Oh! Well...thanks," she said, pleased by his offer. There was a brief moment of silence, then he looked at her, studying her face. "So...you've got a birthday coming up?" Buffy nodded. "Yep. Sixteen at last." She hesitated and said, "My mother's having a party for me..." "Yeah, so I've heard." "She said I could invite you. Do you think you would.." Is the sky blue? Does the earth revolve around the sun? Hell, yes! "I'd like that," he said, smiling at her. "Sweet sixteen." ~~~~~ "Drivin' down to the club where we go to dance Radio blastin' and the top is down Ain't nothing in my way Except the traffic of L.A. " ~~~~~ "Is it supposed to be this high?" Spike laughed, treading water in the middle of the pool. "It's not THAT high." Buffy continued climbing the ladder to the top of the slide. "I think I'm getting a nosebleed," she reported as she sat down, holding on to the rails. As far as she was concerned, the slide seemed ridiculously high and way too steep. It was practically straight down. Lifting one hand to shade her eyes from the sun's glare, she peered out over the water. "Are you still down there?" she inquired. He chuckled again. "Just give yourself a little push. It's not that bad." "That's easy for you to say," she replied. "You're already there." She began to push off, then stopped. "I think I've changed my mind." "Come on," he coaxed her. "Where are your stones, girl?" "I must have left them in my other pants," she said. "I'm gonna get down and go look for them." "Chicken!" he called out teasingly. She drew up one foot to begin standing, but it slipped on the slick fiberglass. Losing her grip on the handrail, she shot down the slide with a loud yelp. When she surfaced, Spike asked, "You okay, luv?" Buffy could tell he was trying to not to howl with laughter. Determinedly, she swam to the side of the pool and climbed out. "Buffy? Please, don't leave. I'm sorry I...." "I'm not leaving," she said, heading back up the ladder. "That was fun! I want to do it again!" ~~~~~ "I want to know what it feels like I need to see it from the inside I can taste a bit of what I will find So much more to life Sweet sixteen..." ~~~~~

AN: I've been jumping back and forth between 'William' and 'Spike' and, frankly, it's getting confusing, so I've decided to drop 'Spike' and just go with 'William' I hope no- body minds. ~~~~~ "Well, well I loved you Like I never loved before First time I saw you Standing at your front door.." ~~~~~ Buffy wanted to scream when her mother called her in for dinner. Her entire afternoon had been perfect up until that point. She'd spent it playing in a pool with a boy she really liked and who seemed to like her as well, had managed to hold up her end of their conversations, and hadn't done anything to embarrass herself, such as losing her top when she jumped into the water. The very last thing she wanted to do was sit at dinner fielding her mom's questions about what her father was up to these days. When Joyce's head appeared over the fence, Buffy sent her a silent "Not NOW, mother!", a look her mom blithely ignored. With a loud sigh, she got to her feet and stomped across the yard. "Mom...I'm not really hungry right now. Do I have to....what are you doing?" Joyce had placed her hand on Buffy's forehead, ostensibly examining her for a possible fever. "I've never heard you say "I'm not hungry" before," she explained with a teasing smile. "I thought you might be coming down with some- thing." Buffy jerked her head away. "Mother! Please!" she hissed. This was ALL she needed, her mom giving William the impression that she ate a lot. "Oh, calm down," Joyce said quietly. Looking past Buffy, she addressed William, still sitting on the blanket. "Would you like to have dinner with us, William?" His heart, which had dropped down into his stomach when it appeared that Buffy had to go home, bounced back to it's original location. "Yes, thank you," he said, hoping he didn't sound too eager. "It's too hot to turn the oven on, so I thought we could use the barbecue. You like steak?" Joyce asked. "Absolutely," he nodded agreeably. Buffy forgot all about being mad. She had the most wonderful mother on the face of the planet! ~~~~~ "When you were only sweet sixteen Baby, how I loved you Sweet sixteen How I really loved you.." ~~~~~ The evening turned out to be everything Buffy could have asked for, had she been asked. Joyce had extended her dinner invitation to include William's uncle, who had been holed up in his study trying to use the computer his nephew had only recently purchased. After several frustrating attempts to access the information he wanted, Rupert Giles had been all too eager to shut the machine down for the night. Buffy had been given the job of setting the table on the patio while Joyce put together the ingredients for a salad. She baked potatoes in the microwave, then took a cheesecake out of the freezer and set it on the kitchen counter to thaw. The men had offered up their services for whatever else needed doing. They were promptly taken up on that offer and had been put in charge of grilling the steaks. The food was perfectly prepared, and the conversation flowed easily between the four of them. When the meal was consumed all the way to dessert, Buffy began to clear the table and carry the dishes into the kitchen. William jumped to his feet, taking the stack of plates and cutlery out of her hands. He followed Buffy inside and between the two of them, they had the plates scraped and the dishwasher loaded in less than fifteen minutes. Standing side by side at the kitchen sink, so close that they were nearly touching, they made casual small talk that included a heady undercurrent of flirtation. It was the most fun she'd ever had doing dishes. She peeked out the window and saw that the grown-ups were still talking as they polished off the bottle of wine Mr. Giles had brought with him. Turning to face William, she began to say something, but was cut off by the sound of a cell phone going off. With an apologetic look, he fished the tiny phone out of his pocket. "Hello?...Oh, hi...Actually, I am...When?...Yeah, maybe...Hang on a second." He looked at Buffy and said, "This is a friend of mine, and he was asking if I wanted to meet up with him at this place he hangs out at a lot." Buffy had to concentrate on not looking completely crushed at this turn of events. Striving to sound as though it wasn't important to her WHAT he did, she shrugged. "That's okay. I have a lot of..." "I thought you might like to go," he interrupted. "But if it doesn't sound like something you want to do then I'll tell him to skip it." Her heart did a little somersault. He wasn't bailing on her! He was asking her out! "Buffy...?" And she was standing here staring at him like an idiot instead of answering! "Sounds like fun," she said. "I'll ask my mom." ~~~~~ "Standing on the corner And you came walking by And when I saw you I said "my, my, my.." ~~~~~ William pulled his uncle's green Saturn into a free parking space and cut the engine. Before Buffy could even get her seat belt unbuckled, he was around the front of the car and opening the door for her. Smiling as he extended one hand to her, Buffy silently agreed with her mother's earlier assessment of his character...he'd been well brought up. Once he had the car door closed, he kept hold of her hand. Her entire body tingled all the way across the parking lot and inside a noisy building that had a sign over it proclaiming it "The Bronze." William scanned the room, spotting his friends at a table close to the dance floor. Still holding Buffy's hand, he led her through the crowd. A boy with dark hair and a nice looking face greeted them. "You made it!" he announced redundantly, giving Buffy a curious, but not unfriendly, once over. "Nothing gets by you, does it?" William replied. "Buffy, this is Xander, who's under the impression that he's amusing twenty-four hours a day." "Are you saying I'm not?" Xander asked. "That's what I'm saying." Giving Buffy's hand a gentle squeeze, he continued the introductions. "This remark- ably tolerant girl is Anya, Xander's girlfriend." Anya had long, light brown hair, a pretty face, and a good figure...and Buffy was glad that she already had a boyfriend. "This," William went on, guiding her to a small sofa on the opposite side of the table, "is Buffy Summers, and she's even newer in town than I am." After an exchange of "Hellos" all around, William flagged down a waitress and ordered a couple of Cokes. ~~~~~ "Do you remember how I took you by the hand? Do you remember in that sunny summer land?" ~~~~~ "So, Buffy...what do you think of Sunnydale?" Xander asked. "Isn't it just THE place to be?" Buffy smiled. "Well...it's getting better," she replied, looking at William, who returned her smile. Their eyes met and lingered on each other intently. Anya noticed the look they were exchanging. "Where did you used to live?" she asked, nudging her boyfriend in the ribs. "Buffy?" "Hmm? What?" Buffy's eyes snapped back into focus when she realized she'd been spoken to. "Oh...Los Angeles. I was born there." "Oh, man," Xander moaned. "From L.A. to Sunnydale. Must be culture shock from hell." "Come on, Xander," William interjected. "You're gonna scare her off." "I'm just saying," Xander shrugged. "Why would anyone leave L.A. and come here? It's not exactly the garden spot of California." "My parents got divorced," Buffy explained, "and my mom was offered a job in Sunnydale, so...here I am." Xander made a face. "Ouch...sorry I brought it up." "No, it's okay," Buffy said quickly. "Believe me...they're better off this way." There was an awkward silence they were all saved from when the band on stage began a new song. It was slow and romantic, and Buffy felt a jolt of happiness shoot through her when William leaned over and whispered, "Dance with me?" in her ear. She smiled her consent, and he took her hand again and led her to the dance floor. There weren't very many couples on the floor, and they moved right to the center of it. William took her other hand and placed them both on his shoulders, then slid his own hands around her waist, pulling her a little closer. Capturing her gaze with his, he moved her gently to the seductive rhythm of the music. "I know I should have told you this earlier," he said quietly. "But you look beautiful. That's a very pretty dress." Buffy's cheeks turned a light shade of pink at the compliment. She had chosen to wear a pale yellow sun- dress. It's halter top left her back bare to the waist, and the feel of his fingers brushing against her skin was wonderful. She smiled at him. "Thank you." When she turned her face up to look at him, he lowered his head and kissed her lightly on the lips. "That wasn't out of line, was it?" he asked when he pulled back. "No," she said, shaking her head slowly. Moistening her lips, she stayed in position and waited. William kissed her again, a little longer this time. When he felt her part her lips, he slipped his tongue in just slightly, meeting hers in a brief caress. Buffy's eyes drifted closed, her lashes making small fans on her cheeks. With a soft sound of assent, she tilted her head a bit, allowing him to deepen the kiss. When they drew back for air, he leaned his forehead against hers. Without opening his eyes, he whispered, "I've been wanting to do that all day. From the minute I saw you." She nodded, as her fingers played with the soft curls on the back of his head. "Me, too," she confessed. "It's a good thing one of us had the nerve to try it." William chuckled, tightening his hands on her waist as they both opened their eyes, pulling her a little closer. Buffy turned her head and let her cheek rest against the front of his shirt, listening to the steady drum beat of his heart. ~~~~~ "And your eyes shine like diamonds And they sparkle in the night And the kind of love you give me Seems to light up all my life..." ~~~~~ When the song was over, they returned to their table. Xander and Anya were talking quietly about something, a conversation that terminated abruptly when Buffy and William sat down. The conversation began to lag almost immediately, when the two that comprised half of it lost interest in anything besides each other. Clenching his jaw in frustration, William excused himself and headed for the bathroom. He'd only been gone a moment, when a couple heading for the dance floor stopped beside their table. The guy was about William's height, but with a heavier build to his upper torso. He had dark brown eyes, and hair that had been carefully cut and styled in a way that made it seem as though it hadn't. The girl holding his hand was a tall, good looking brunette. She was dressed expensively, and her hair and makeup looked professionally done. "Hey, Xan," the boy said, his eyes dismissing the one he'd addressed and coming to rest on Buffy instead. "What's up?" Xander wore an expression that clearly stated there was no love lost between the two of them. "Not much, Ang," he said, purposely shortening the name in the same manner his had been. The guy laughed, while his girlfriend shifted im- patiently from one foot to the other, looking mightily put out. "Who's your new friend?" he asked, his eyes zeroing in on Buffy's slender legs. Xander sighed, giving Anya a "why me?" look. "This is Buffy Summers," he said. "Buffy, this is Angel O'Connor and Cordelia Chase." Cordelia gave Buffy a half smile, but didn't say anything. Angel, however, smiled at Buffy with a full set of wolfish teeth. "Nice to meet you...Buffy." The tone in his voice was blatantly obvious, and she began to feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny. "You, too," she said briefly. ~~~~~ "When you were only sweet sixteen Baby, how I loved you When you were only sweet sixteen How I really loved you.." ~~~~~ William leaned over and cupped his hands beneath the rush of cold water, bringing it to his face. When he straightened up, he jerked a paper towel out of it's holder and dried his face, then stared at himself in the mirror. "You want to get a hold of yourself, mate?" he asked his reflection. "Quit acting like a hormone crazed teenager." Easier said, than done. He WAS a hormone crazed teenager, maddened by lust, and Buffy was the girl the madness was feeding on. Dancing with her, feeling her small, soft, and incredibly sweet smelling body next to his, had given him an erection so instantaneous that it was almost painful. He'd sat beside her for as long as he could stand it before jumping to his feet and making his way through the crowd, heading straight for the men's room and the cold water it provided. Now, he glared at himself in the mirror, willing his body to calm down and stop acting on it's own. Counting slowly to fifty, he composed himself as best he could and returned to their table. When he was within ten feet of his goal, he frowned. "Who the fuck are YOU ?" Some guy was standing there, leering at Buffy, even though he had another girl hanging all over him. William could easily see that Buffy wasn't appreciative of the interest this asshole was demonstrating, and he moved faster. She saw him coming, and her face lit up. The guy, who was apparently hitting on her right in front of his girlfriend, followed her gaze. For some reason, William hated him on sight. Des- pised him. Could have cheerfully killed him. Moving around to the other side of the sofa, he sat down next to Buffy and took her hand. "Miss me?" he asked, smiling into her eyes. She nodded, returning his smile, instantly oblivious to everyone else around them. "As a matter of fact..." Bringing her hand up, he laced their fingers together and kissed it. It was at that exact moment that he knew he was going to fall in love with Buffy Summers. ~~~~~ "And then I told you That we'd never part And then I'd hold you A little closer to my heart Sweet sixteen.." ~~~~~

Part Five ~~~~~ "They're really rockin' in Boston In Philadelphia, P.A. Deep in the heart of Texas And round the Frisco Bay.." ~~~~~ Angel cleared his throat. "Hi," he said to William, extending his hand. "I'm Angel O'Connor." William glanced up at him. He seriously considered leaving Angel's hand empty in mid air, then slowly stood up and faced him. Gripping the other's guy's hand briefly, he said, "William Darlington." Cordelia, who had been silent up until now, suddenly snapped to life. "I'm Cordelia," she said, yanking her hand out of Angel's grip and holding it out, not sideways, but palm down, obviously expecting him to lift her hand and kiss it as he had Buffy's. William had been raised to always be polite to a lady, so he took her hand briefly. "Pleasure to meet you, Cordelia," he said, then let go of her fingers. The little tableau remained in position for a moment and when it became apparent that Angel wasn't going anywhere, William reached for an empty chair and offered it to Cordelia. Angel, he left on his own. Sitting back down next to Buffy, he reclaimed her hand and was pleased when he felt her squeeze his warmly. He instantly returned the gentle pressure. Angel edged himself over and sat down next to Buffy, letting his leg press against hers. "Mind if I sit here, Buffy?" Before she could say anything, William moved further down the couch, pulling her along with him and creating a space between her and Angel. Wrap- ping one arm around her shoulder, he eased her back into his embrace and looked at Angel. "Plenty of room," he said. Buffy glanced up at him, then smiled and shrugged as she snuggled closer to the boy she wanted to spend all her time with. ~~~~~ "All over Saint Louis On down to New Orleans All the guys want to dance with Sweet little sixteen.." ~~~~~ Cordelia, seemingly displeased with the fact that Angel and William were jockeying for position around the new girl, suddenly leaned forward. "You have the cutest accent," she said, smiling at William as she gave him a view down the front of her dress. "English, right?" William nodded. "That's right." "I thought so," she replied, brushing a lock of her hair back over her shoulder and tilting her head. "Are you going to Sunnydale High...or are you in college?" Briefly distracted by the way the overhead lights danced in Buffy's honey colored hair, William gently picked up a strand of it and rubbed it between his fingers. "Umm..oh, sorry. No, I'll be at Sunnydale." Miffed by his lack of interest, Cordelia turned her attention back to Angel. "Hey, you said we were gonna dance," she reminded him. Angel shot her an irritated look. "We will, honey. I just wanted to be friendly to our new...friend." He pinned his gaze on Buffy. "How about a dance, Buffy?" William felt the hackles rising on the back of his neck at the thought of this low rent Romeo putting his hands on Buffy. She looked startled at the offer. "Oh, thanks...but I...I need to use the restroom." Excusing herself, she disappeared into the crowd. Cordelia waited a few seconds, then rose gracefully to her feet. "I think I'll go too." Xander and Anya exchanged a look. "Get ready," he whispered in her ear. She nodded, grabbing her purse. Angel leaned back against the sofa, eyeing William. "You and Buffy got something going on?" he asked. "Why do you want to know?" William countered. "You seem to have something of your own going with Cordelia." Angel chuckled and shrugged. "Cordy and me? We're friends. Not locked into anything exclusive. She's a nice kid and all, but...I'm not exactly tied down to her." ~~~~~ "Sweet little sixteen She's got the grown up blues Tight dress and lipstick And sportin' high heel shoes.." ~~~~~ Buffy left the bathroom stall and started the water in the sink. She was rinsing her hands when the door swung open and Cordelia walked in. Smiling pleasantly, she reached for a paper towel but found her reach blocked by Cordy's taller body. "Just so you know," the brunette said, "Most of the boys in school are up for grabs...except for Angel. He's mine. You stay away from him, and you and I won't have a problem." It took Buffy a moment to process this warning. She was more than a bit surprised at being spoken to this way by someone she barely knew, but when the other girl's meaning was clear, she let a small laugh burst from her lips. "No problem," she said, holding her hands up. "I haven't got the slightest interest in Angel." God, why on earth would she when the hottest guy in town lived right next door and was demonstrating the same feelings for her that she was having for him? Cordelia smiled condescendingly. "You might not feel that way if you knew who his father is." "Okay," Buffy said. "I'll bite. Who's his father?" "Only the senior partner of the most prestigious law firm in this part of the state...O'Connor, Marsh, and Davidson..." She let the words hang in the air, as though she expected Buffy to gasp in amazement. But Buffy just shrugged. "That's nice...still not inter- ested." Cordelia's eyes narrowed. "Good. Just keep it..." The restroom door swung open and Anya walked in. "Hi," she announced cheerily. "Did I miss anything good?" Cordelia didn't reply beyond turning her back and leaving the ladies room. Anya waited till the door closed, then turned to Buffy. "Was she giving you her "keep off the Angel" warning?" "Yes," Buffy said, chuckling at the way Anya put it. "Does she do that often?" "Only when Angel shows an interest in other girls," Anya replied, pulling her brush out of her purse and putting it to use. "So...yeah. She does it often." "He's that bad, huh?" "Oh, let's just say he's not known for his devotion to one girl. He comes right out and tells people that he and Cordy have this totally casual thing going on, but she follows right behind him and tells a whole different story." Buffy tossed her paper towel in the trash. "Well, I told her not to worry about me. I couldn't care less about him. He's kind of...pushy." Anya retouched her lipstick. "Well," she said, "his father's got position and money, and a lot of clout around here. Angel thinks that makes him the golden child." She tossed her her brush and lipstick back in her purse. "But, I can see one reason why you're not into Angel....and I think his name is William." Buffy smiled. "He's a pretty good reason." "He really is cute, isn't he?" Anya agreed. "And he's so sweet and nice too. Everybody likes him." She grinned. "But you're the first girl I've seen him with anywhere in town. I can definitely see the sparks igniting here." Before they left the bathroom, Buffy took a look in the mirror. Yep...definite sparkage. ~~~~~ "Well by tomorrow morning She'll have to change her trend And be sweet sixteen And back in class again.." ~~~~~ Cordelia finally managed to drag Angel out on the the dance floor and kept him there for the remainder of the evening. Buffy had a wonderful time after they disappeared. She liked William's friends, and they seemed to like her as well. As they stood in the parking lot, she made a point of inviting them to her birthday party. They accepted, then said goodnight and drove off in Xander's car...a beautifully restored 1957 Chevrolet, painted a soothing shade of blue and aquamarine. William was unlocking the door of his uncle's car when a garish red Trans Am pulled up beside them with a squeal of brakes. The drivers side window slid down, revealing Angel sitting at the wheel. "Hey, Buffy....it was real nice meet- ing you. See you in school?" Buffy nodded. "I suppose you will." Giving the little green Saturn an amused look, Angel winked at William. "Nice car," he said, laughing as he pulled out of the parking lot. Without commenting, William seated Buffy and drove her home. He walked her to her front door, smiling down at her when she thanked him, but when she turned to enter the house, he caught her arm and pulled her close, claiming her lips for several long, sweetly given kisses. When the porch light suddenly came on, he told her goodnight, then waited until she was inside before he went back to the pool house. Once he was home, with the door locked behind him, he checked the time. Nearly 8:00 a.m., London time. He waited fifteen minutes, then dialed the number he wanted. "Yes, good morning....is Mr. Travers in yet?....It's William Darlington....Thank you....Good morning, Mr. Travers....Fine, thanks....Yes, I got a letter yesterday...And the check as well....I'm calling to arrange a transfer of funds...You have the account number?....That's it....No, I'll be needing at least a hundred and fifty thousand...Amer- ican....That's correct....No, I don't mind at all....I've decided to buy a car." ~~~~~ "They're really rockin' in Boston In Philadelphia, P.A. Deep in the heart of Texas And round the 'Frisco Bay All over Saint Louis And down in New Orleans All the boys want to dance with Sweet little sixteen.." ~~~~~Part Six... ~~~~~ "Tonight's the night, I've waited for Because you're not a baby anymore You've turned into the prettiest girl I've ever seen Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen.." ~~~~~ William pushed open the back door and glanced around. "Uncle Rupert? I'm going to pick up something else for Buffy! I'll see you at the party." He was pulling the door closed when his uncle came hurrying down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Do be careful, William. I'm still not comfortable with you driving such a powerful car." "I'll be careful," William assured him. "Just because the car CAN go from zero to sixty in 3.8 seconds, doesn't mean I'll do it." The older man folded his arms across his chest and frowned. "I'm not as much concerned with the acceleration as I am with the speed you may be tempted to drive at. Your grandmother talked until my ears bled the night you brought that automobile home." William chuckled. "Yeah, I got a bit of that, too," he said. "But I promised her I'd obey all the laws...and I WILL he added, seeing the doubtful look on his uncle's face. "I don't want to die, you know. And I'm certainly not taking any chances with...my passengers." By 'passengers', he was referring to anyone who might ride in the car, but he was most protective of Buffy. There wasn't a chance in the world he would take with the safety of the girl he was falling for like a ton of bricks. Uncle Rupert was still fretting. "She couldn't stop remind- ing me that you are the sole heir to a considerable fortune, not to mention a ti..." "I know all that," William interrupted. "She reminds me of it every time she writes." He checked his watch. "I have to go now or I'll be late." "William..." "I'll see you at the party," he said again. "I'm going to stop and get some flowers." Pointing to a small wrapped package on the kitchen table, he asked, "Will you take that over with you? I don't want it broken in the flaming car crash I'm anticipating." "That's NOT funny, William! You know, I may not be your parent but I AM your guardian here in the states, and you..." "Bye, Uncle Rupert," William said loudly, closing the door on his sputtering relative and making a run for the driveway. As he settled into the low slung leather interior of his new car, he felt a surge of masculine lust that had nothing to do with the fairer sex. It was, instead, a rush of pure satisfied machismo that had it's roots in the thrill of mastering a powerful V8 engine. Although he felt comfortable in it now, he'd actually been a little afraid of it the night he'd brought it home. He'd driven cars before, but never one with the kind of muscle this one had. Barely depressing the accelerator shot him fifty feet down the road, and all you had to was breathe heavily on the steering wheel and it would turn. But he was in control of her now, and she drove like an absolute dream. As the car roared to life, he looked over at Buffy's bedroom window. She was in her room, no doubt getting ready for her party, but she came to the window when she heard the car start. Leaning out, she smiled and waved. Sliding his sunglasses on, he returned her greeting, then threw the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway. The sun felt good on his shoulders, and he leaned over and cranked up the sound system. ~~~~~ "What happened to that funny face? My little tomboy now wears satin and lace I can't believe my eyes, you're just a teenage dream Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen.." ~~~~~ The night he'd brought the car home, she had been in her front yard watering the flower beds. When he had pulled into the driveway of his uncle's house, she'd dropped the hose in shock. William had smiled at her as she approached, then leaned over and opened the passenger side door. "Take you for a ride, pretty lady?" he'd asked. Buffy had squealed with excitement as she jumped in to the car. He'd answered a string of questions as he'd driven her the distance of the high school and back. His new ride was a Ferrari 360 Spyder, with less than 2 miles on the odometer. Black as original sin, with a paint job consisting of five separate coats, polished to a mirror-like finish, she had a tan interior of buttery soft leather, the highest quality sound system available, and her speed topped out at nearly 200mph. Though Buffy had loved the car on sight, her mother hadn't been nearly as enthused when she'd seen it. It had taken quite a bit of persuasion on his part to allay the fears she had about her only child riding around in such a powerful car. He'd actually had to coax Joyce into the car herself, and take her for a spin, swearing that he would never drive reck- lessly with Buffy in his care, before she relaxed and gave in. ~~~~~ "When you were only six, I was your big brother Then when you were ten, we didn't like each other When you were thirteen, you were my funny valentine But since you've grown up, your future is sewn up And from now on you're gonna be mine, so...." ~~~~~ William stepped up to the counter, smiling charmingly at the elderly lady standing behind it. "I'd like sixteen long stemmed red roses, please." "Baby's breath?" the lady inquired, tearing off a sheet of green floral wrap. He shook his head. "Queen Anne's Lace." The saleswoman looked impressed. "I don't get that request very often," she admitted. "So I don't usually keep it on hand." "I called ahead," William replied, extracting his wallet from his back pocket. The woman smiled. "I remember." There were no other customers in the shop, so she took extra care and made up a beautiful arrangement of deep crimson buds nestled in small snowy flowers. When the flowers were handed over and paid for, William left the shop and headed for his car. He was halfway down the street where he'd parked, when a car slowed down beside him, the driver tapping his horn. Angel pulled a little closer to the curb as Cordy lowered the passenger side window of the Trans Am. "Need a ride?" Angel called out, a smug grin on his face, perhaps expecting William to climb onto a bicycle. William returned the smile. Oh, this was going to feel so damn good. "No, thanks," he said, pulling out his keys. "I've got my own." When he stopped next to the Ferrari and opened the door, both Angel and Cordy's jaws sagged the exact same amount at the exact same time. With a casual wave, he started the car and pulled out into traffic. A small part of his mind chided him for being a show off, for trying to upstage a creep who wasn't worth the effort. But the larger part didn't give a damn. It was just enjoying the view in the rear view mirror. ~~~~~ "If I should smile with sweet surprise It's just that you've grown up before my very eyes You've turned into the prettiest girl I've ever seen Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen.." ~~~~~ "Happy Birthday, Buffy." "Oh...thank you. They're beautiful." She accepted the bouquet from him, cradling the flowers in her arms. Burying her face in the soft petals, she sniffed deeply. "They smell so good." William smiled, enjoying the pleasure she was getting from the roses. "Come in," she said, grabbing his hand and hauling him in off the porch. The party was just getting started, and there were about a dozen people he recognized from around the neighborhood. Several were adults, obviously friends of her mother's. The house was festively decorated, and there was a buffet set up on the patio. All the trees and bushes had been strung with tiny colored lights, and her mom had hired a disc jockey to provide the music. Buffy's eyes were absolutely sparkling with excitement, and for a brief moment he wished he could be giving this party for her at Black Oaks. She would look stunning in a white gown, with the collar of diamonds his Great Grandfather had placed around the throat of his grandmother on her sixteenth birth- day. Those diamonds were sitting in a vault with all the other jewels his family had been amassing for the past five hundred or so years, collecting dust. His grandmother never wore them any- more and Aunt Susan was more interested in her horses and her children, and couldn't be bothered with attending the sorts of functions the jewels would be appropriately worn to. Someday, he promised himself, he was going to take Buffy to Black Oaks and cover her from head to toe in diamonds, rubies and sapphires. He would drape her naked body in ropes of pearls, and watch as they picked up the luster of her skin, then make love to her in the tall, soft grass by the pond. He would cover her with kisses, as his hands..... Shaking his head sharply, he cut off that particular train of thought before something embarrassing happened. His slacks were far too snug to risk getting sexually aroused. Instead, he redirected his attention on the birthday girl. Spot- ting a small table in the corner that had been set up for her gifts to be placed on, he pulled her across the room and located the one his uncle had delivered for him. Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, "I want to give this to you now...is there somewhere we can go and..." Buffy glanced around the room, pinpointing her mother's location, then began leading him towards the stairs. "My room," she said softly. With his heart beating a wild accompaniment, he followed her upstairs. ~~~~~ "If I should smile, with sweet surprise It's just that you've grown up before my very eyes You've turned into the prettiest girl I've ever seen Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen..." ~~~~~

Part Seven... ~~~~~ "Happy Birthday Happy Birthday, baby Oh, I love you so..." ~~~~~ They sat side by side on her bed, their thighs pressed intimately together as Buffy unwrapped the package. The room was scented with the fragrance of the roses she had brought upstairs with her, mingled with her perfume. The combination of these two delicious scents was making William feel pleasantly lightheaded. She placed the torn gift wrap on her bedside table, and opened a small white box. Moving the tissue paper surrounding it to one side, she drew out a music box. "This is beautiful," she said, looking up into his eyes. "I love it." The box was a beautiful cherry wood confection with an inlaid design on the lid, varnished to a lustrous shine. Buffy opened the lid and found the inside lined in plush royal blue velvet. There was a tiny gold key on a silk tassel laying in the bottom of the box. He had wanted badly to place a piece of jewelry in the box as well, but had resisted the impulse. He wasn't about to buy her some cheap piece of junk, and it was far too early on for anything expensive. He doubted her mother would have allowed her to accept it anyway. Buffy turned the box over and wound up the mechanism, then smiled when she heard the tinkling sound of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" begin to play. "I love this song," she confessed. "Ever since I heard it for the first time when I was little." William already knew this. He'd asked her mother if she had a particular favorite, and had it specially installed after choosing the box. Buffy listened, surprised when the little tune was played all the way through. "I can't believe that! Most music boxes just play the first couple of lines of a song." William shrugged. "I wanted you to have the entire song...since it's your favorite." She placed the box carefully on her nightstand, letting the music continue. "Thank you," she said softly. Looking up at him and smiling, she placed one hand on his cheek and drew him down to her lips. ~~~~~ "Sixteen candles Make a lovely light But not as bright, as your eyes tonight.." ~~~~~ Her mouth tasted sweet, like cherry punch, and he pressed his lips down harder, urging her to allow his tongue in. With a soft sigh, she parted her lips and placed her hands on his shoulders. William moved one arm around her waist, pulling her closer as he devoured the flavor that was uniquely her own. Buffy felt herself melting into him like soft wax, and she slipped her hands up and around the back of his head, sliding her fingers through the silky mass of curls. As their mouths finally parted to let them draw breath, they tilted their heads and kissed again from a new angle, then began sinking backward onto the bed. "Buffy," William whispered against her cheek, stroking her soft hair. "You look so beautiful tonight...and you smell so good." She tipped her head back, exposing the arch of her throat to his warm lips, gasping when she felt him placing tender kisses down it's length. The dress she was wearing had a V shaped neckline, with a tiny row of buttons that started at the base of the V and ran down the bodice to her waist. William continued kissing her tender skin, down past the hollow at the base of her throat, all the way to where the buttons began, just slightly above the space between her breasts. Buffy's entire body was burning with a need she had no name for. All she was certain of was that she never wanted him to stop touching her, and when he raised one hand and undid the top button of her dress, she didn't protest. "Is this all right?" he asked, begging her with his eyes. "Uh-huh," she nodded, making a soft little sound in her throat when he kissed the beginning swell of her breast. He undid the second button, exposing more of her lovely skin, showing the demarcation line of her golden tan and her creamy breast. Pushing the material to one side, he smiled when he saw she wasn't wearing a bra. The third button slipped from it's hole, and the dress parted further. All he had to do was tug just a tiny fraction of an amount and he would see her bare breast fully, every inch of it. ~~~~~ "Blow out the candles Make your wish come true For I'll be wishing That you love me, too.." ~~~~~ Moving slowly, not wanting to frighten her, he eased the blue cotton over and gently pulled it down. The instant he saw the delicate shell pink of her nipple, his shaft hardened to almost painful proportions. "So beautiful," he murmured, admiring all the gold, white and pink coloring of her full breasts. Impulsively, he bent his head and pressed his lips to the scented valley between the soft mounds, smiling when he heard her inhale sharply. "William..." she whispered on a ragged breath. "Can I...may I kiss you...here?" he begged, his lips just hovering above the taut peak of her right breast. "Oh, yes....yes please," she said, granting him permission to explore to his heart's content. When she felt his warm breath on her flesh, she arched her back in a spontaneous reaction, bringing her nipple into contact with his mouth. He was surprised, and automatically parted his lips to say something or to try and breathe properly...he wasn't sure...but when he felt the velvety bud slipping just inside, he lost every bit of linear thought in his brain. With a guttural moan of her name, he closed his mouth around her nipple and suckled it. "Oh!" Buffy released a strangled sound from her throat, grinding her head into the pillow beneath it. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pressing him down even more firmly against her. William responded by raising his hand and sliding it beneath her breast, lifting it more fully to his touch. His mouth worked at her nipple, sucking and tugging on it as he fondled the plump mound in his hand. The hardness in his pants was approaching critical mass, and he tried to move slightly to one side to ease the pressure. Buffy, afraid that he was taking the pleasure of his mouth away from her, clutched at him, pulling him down and across her body. She parted her legs, allowing him to slip into the cradle of her open thighs. ~~~~~ "You're only sixteen But you're my teenage queen Oh, you're the prettiest, the loveliest girl I've ever seen.." ~~~~~ The moment he felt the contact he was making below the waist, something deep inside of him that was primitive and demanding came screaming to the surface. He reached for the opposite side of Buffy's dress and pushed it away impatiently, baring her other breast. Without hesitation, he captured it in a rough caress and brought his mouth down to it. As he licked and sucked at the nipple, his hand released her and his fingers crept back to the side he'd abandoned. Finding the wet peak of flesh, he took it between his thumb and forefinger and pinched gently. In response, Buffy lifted one leg along his side, giving him more room to grind his pelvis against hers. "Mmmm," he moaned against her breast, sucking harder on it as he played with the other one. Buffy was literally seeing stars at that point, with sky rockets and bombs bursting in air right before her eyes. She had never been touched in this way before, had never allowed any other boy these kinds of liberties with her body. She knew she shouldn't be doing it now. They hadn't known each other but a few days. What would he think of her for letting him do such intimate things? But even though her brain tried to assert some control, her body and her heart were surrendering. The more he touched her, fondled and kissed her, the faster she hoisted her white flag. And when she felt the hard bulge between his legs rubbing against her, she wanted nothing more in the world than to pull up her dress and remove her underwear so he could make contact with her naked sex. Just the thought of it made her lower body jerk in- voluntarily, and she felt a rush of fluid so copious that she thought for a moment she'd started menstruating. William lifted his head from her breast and looked up at her, his eyes heavy lidded with desire. Moving his body back up, he found her mouth again and covered it with his own, instantly plunging his tongue between her parted lips. Though she had no experience with this kind of passion, instinct made up for the lack. Her body reacted, seemingly on it's own. She couldn't help but feel that it was a good thing, because her mind was too far gone to be of any assistance. ~~~~~ "Sixteen candles In my heart will glow Forever and ever For I love you so..." ~~~~~ William tensed when he felt one of her hands move from his hair and down his back. When it reached the waistband of his trousers, it slipped around and pressed against his waist. Her fingers seemed to be searching for something, and he lifted himself slightly off of her, giving her room if she wanted to... *Oh, touch me, touch me, touch me, please, please, please..* he begged silently. *I need you to touch me, Buffy, want you to touch me, touch me THERE, oh God, touch me, I want it, I want it, I'll die if you don't, Buffy, please, just a little bit..* As he deepened their kiss, his own hand slipped down and searched for hers...finding it...squeezing it gently...guiding it.... "Buffy? Are you up there, sweetie?" Her mother's voice called to her from the foot of the staircase, and heaven came crashing down to earth with a dull 'thud'. ~~~~~ "Sixteen candles In my heart will glow Forever and ever For I love you so For I love you so.." ~~~~~Part eight... Phase two: Young love, first love.. ~~~~~ "Lately, all my thoughts have gone to you You know that's true Sometimes I feel just a word away You'll say, oh how I miss you, too, I do" ~~~~~ William pulled back and stared down into Buffy's wide eyes. He had absolutely no idea what to do next. Hide under the bed? Jump out the window? Neither were viable choices. "Buffy?" Joyce called again, her voice sounding a little closer this time. "I'm...I...Mom?" Buffy tried to stall, as William lurched to his feet and backed away from her. "Of course, it's Mom," her mother replied. "What are you doing in your room?" "Oh....not much." Buffy struggled to sit up and button her dress at the same time. "Why do you ask?" William turned his back to the door. If Joyce walked in, he didn't want her to see anything that might get him killed. He winced as his stomach cramped from the unfulfilled arousal. "Because it's time for your birthday cake," Joyce informed her. "It is? Already?" Buffy's fingers were clumsy in her frantic haste to refasten her clothing without accidentally missing a button. "What time is it?" "It's almost 9:00, honey. Finish what you're doing and come downstairs." There was a short pause. "Uh...okay!" She stood up and smoothed her hair, looking helplessly at William. "I'll be there in a minute." Horrified at the close call they'd just had, they both sighed with relief when Joyce went back downstairs. "I'm...I'm sorry," William apologized. Buffy shook her head. "Don't be...it was me, too." He leaned back against the wall. "You go down first," he suggested. "I'll wait a few minutes, and....follow after." She nodded. "Okay." With her hand on the door knob, she turned back to look at him. "William?" He could see by the expression on her face just exactly what she was wondering. "I'm not sorry that it happened, Buffy...just that I started it here in your room, with all those people downstairs," he said. "You DO know that I'm falling in love with you....don't you?" Buffy smiled, so sweetly that his heart actually swelled. "I do now," she said softly, then disappeared out the door. ~~~~~ "Time is tight, I'm lost for words That's not like me Only your eyes could know the way that I feel And how much I need you now with me.." ~~~~~ Stepping out into the hallway, William crossed over and went in the bathroom, locking the door behind him. He ran cold water in the sink and washed his face in it, thinking that it was certainly getting to be a habit, him getting aroused by Buffy and having to cool himself off in a bathroom. But it was worth it. Eyeing himself in the mirror, he reached for a small hand towel and soaked it in the water, then wrung it out and placed it on the back of his neck. He really should have known better than to have gone into her bedroom with her in the first place. Not with the way he felt about her. He had been asking for trouble and now he'd gotten it. The grinding discomfort between his legs was going to plague him all evening, cold water or no cold water. The minute he so much as glanced at Buffy, all those feelings that had been raging through his blood stream like wildfire would come rushing back. Still, he couldn't hide in the bathroom all evening. He hung the towel over the bar on the inside of the shower door, then took a deep breath and headed downstairs. Most of the party guests had congregated in the dining room, where the birthday cake was displayed. As he approached, he heard his uncle asking Buffy if she knew where his nephew had disappeared to. William saw her cheeks turn bright pink, and he hurried to help her out. "Just upstairs in the bathroom, Uncle Rupert," he said quietly, stepping up next to the man. "Oh...terribly sorry." The older man smiled and looked away, then did a double take. "Why is your hair wet?" he asked, indicating the overlong curls at the nape of William's neck. He was saved from trying to come up with a plausible answer by the arrival of Buffy's mother with a box of matches to light the birthday candles. Buffy was seated at the head of the table, and his gaze met hers. They exchanged a secret smile, and when he saw the candlelight dancing in her expressive eyes, William knew that it was official.....he was completely and totally in love. ~~~~~ "Young love, so strong Has never been a part of me Young love, hold on We're feeling it now Is this the way it's meant to be?" ~~~~~ "Looks like the party's breaking up, my friend." William glanced up and saw Xander hovering over his chair. Anya was on the other side of the room, talking with Buffy's mother. "Hey," Xander went on, "it's early yet. Why don't we hit the Bronze for a while?" Looking around the room for Buffy, William considered the offer. If her mother would let her go, he'd get a little more time alone with her. Xander caught him searching. "She's over there," he said, pointing in the direction of the patio door. "Geez, can't you take your eyes off her for a minute?" William grinned. "I'd rather not," he said. "And why would I want to? Look at how beautiful she is." Xander nodded. "Oh, she's quite the pretty young thing," he agreed. "But she ain't the only girl in town, you know." "She's the only one as far as I'M concerned," William replied. "Excuse me." He moved around Xander and started across the room, not paying any attention when his friend asked him if he was coming to the Bronze or not. Moving up behind Buffy, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Dance with me?" She turned and smiled, taking the hand he held out and letting him lead her out on to the patio. The DJ was playing a slow, romantic ballad, requested by one of the adults as a reprieve from the hard rock he'd been playing. Placing her arms around his neck, William pulled Buffy close and bent his head slightly. Pressing his forehead against hers, he made eye contact with her and stared until she giggled and pulled back. "What's so funny?" he asked, tightening his arms around her waist. "I don't know...nothing," she said. "I'm just feeling silly, I guess." "Am I embarrassing you by staring at you?" She shook her head. "No...not a bit." He pressed his lips against her soft hair and said, "Happy birthday, Buffy," then held her even more closely as they danced, supremely unaware of the fact that there was anyone else on earth at that moment. ~~~~~ "I know I'll be the one to lose If I'm so wrong Don't be afraid to put your heart on the line I'll take you where I know you belong ~~~~~ "Xander asked if we want to go to the Bronze for a while," he murmured in her ear. "Do you think your mother will let you?" Buffy pulled back and looked up into William's dark blue eyes. She could quite happily spend the rest of her life right where she was now, feeling his arms around her and his body pressed so intimately against hers. He was so beautiful. It just wasn't right that a boy should be beautiful like this, but he was. There was no denying it. The tousled mop of curls he kept shaking back out of his face...his eyes like the sky after a summer storm...his mouth...soft and sensual, but so lovely when it curved in a smile that revealed his straight white teeth...and his face, so perfect in design, marred only by..... "How did you get this?" she asked, briefly forgetting his question as her finger traced over a scar that cut through his left eyebrow. "Oh," he chuckled. "You won't believe it. I tried to sled down the main staircase in my grandmother's house on a big, silver serving tray. Broke my right wrist, and needed six stitches here," he said, pointing to the scar. "My injuries were the only thing that kept my grandmother from swatting the daylights out of me. The tray was a write-off." Buffy smiled tenderly, able to see the little boy he had been so clearly in her minds eye. "It must have hurt," she said. Framing his face in her hands and pulling him down closer, she pressed her lips against the scar. "There. All better." "Thank you," he said, kissing her on the lips. "Do you think you might want to go out for a while?" "Yes," she nodded. "I'll go ask my mother." Before he could bring himself to let her go, he had to kiss her again, this time letting his lips linger on hers for a much longer moment. When he pulled back, he left a trail of kisses along the smooth skin of her cheek. "Hurry," he urged her, forcing his hands to release her from their grip. From his vantage point on the patio, he watched as she took her mother aside and whispered in her ear. Joyce looked around at the dwindling number of guests, said something to Buffy, then smiled and waved her away. Buffy practically ran back to the patio, and he caught her in his arms, lifting her off the ground. "What did she say?" "She said in a few minutes, cause I have to say a proper goodnight and thank you to everyone, but then I can go and I can stay out an hour later than my usual curfew," she said, smiling brightly. With her eager softness in his arms, William felt a burst of love so strong it nearly exploded out of him. As it was, he couldn't control his laughter as he held her by the waist and spun her around and around. ~~~~~ "Take my thoughts away beyond the things we see Sometimes it seems just a word away You'll say, oh how I really feel it should be. Young love, so strong Has never been a part of me Young love, hold on We're feeling it now Is this the way it's meant to be?" ~~~~~

Part Nine..... ~~~~~ "Young love, bigger than anything You're waiting for a girl to ring Talking' about young love..." ~~~~~ Stopped at a red light halfway between Buffy's house and the Bronze, William turned to look at her. He studied her face in the glow of the instrument panel. "Buffy...do you really want to go to the Bronze?" he asked impulsively. She glanced at him, her cheeks turning pink. "Not necessarily," she murmured. "Do you?" "Not really." He didn't even have to think about it. "I'd rather go somewhere we can be alone." Only hesitating a moment, she nodded. "Me, too." The light turned green, and William made a U-turn, heading towards Sunnydale's main beach. ~~~~~ "And I don't want anyone else to call your name And I don't think anyone else could feel the same.." ~~~~~ They sat together in the farthest point of the parking lot, talking. "What's it like where you live?" Buffy asked. "Black Oaks? " William considered his answer. "It's beautiful...very big...and a little drafty in the winter." "Is it like...a castle?" "No, not exactly. It's a manor house in the country close to Yorkshire," he explained. "But it's...it's pretty big, right?" He nodded. "Yeah, it's very big. I used to get lost in it when I was a kid." Buffy sighed. "I'd love to see it. The biggest house I've ever been in was my Aunt Connie's place in Apple Valley. It had six bedrooms and two and a half stories." "Two and a half?" "Yeah, they were adding on, but it wasn't finished." "I see." There was a short silence. "Buffy," William said, tentatively, "I'd love to show you Black Oaks. I think you'd like it there. Maybe...someday..." William 'said' maybe, but he was already sure in his mind that he would take her there. He wanted to show her all the places he'd cherished when he was growing up, and he wanted her to meet everyone on the estate. Sooner or later, he would have to return there for good. He had too many responsibilities to take on, and he couldn't ask his grandmother to deal with them forever. And when he finally did go back, he wanted Buffy with him. ~~~~~ "I can't stop thinking about The way she's holding it out Talking about young love..." ~~~~~ "I love you," he whispered in her ear. "Buffy...I love you so much." The stereo was playing softly, and the sound of the waves hitting the sand echoed in his head as he pulled her close, deepening their kiss. When Buffy's brain processed his words, she pulled back and searched his face. All she could see was sincerity and the love he claimed for her, and it made her own heart start beating at a wild pace. Placing her hand on his cheek, she smoothed the small scar on his brow and said, "I love you, too." His face was always beautiful in her eyes, but when he smiled at her...the way he was doing now...it transformed him into something else...something angelic. William pulled her close again and lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss of fierce tenderness and deep passion. Unfortunately, as much as he'd loved his car when he'd brought it home, it really wasn't the sort of vehicle that he could maneuver around in easily. Every time he leaned close to her, the gear shift dug into his side. For a moment, he considered just pulling her over onto his lap, but he didn't want her to think that all he was interested in was getting his hand down the front of her dress...although he was indeed very interested in doing just that! Drawing back slightly, he asked her if she'd like to get out of the car and walk down to the water. Buffy nodded agreeably, and she watched as he pushed the button that turned the Ferrari from a convertible to a soft top. William ran around the front of the car and opened her door, holding out his hand to help her climb out of the low slung car. He activated the door locks and the alarm, then shoved the keys into his pocket and led her down across the soft sand. ~~~~~ "Young love bigger than everything Shines like a diamond ring Talking about young love..." ~~~~~ He pulled off his jacket and spread it out on the ground for her to sit on. Buffy tucked her skirt beneath her and lowered herself as gracefully as she could manage. She slipped her sandals off and placed them to one side, then dug her toes into the cool sand. William placed himself next to her, slipping one arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to him. With his free hand, he tilted her chin up and bent his head to kiss her. When he felt her part her lips, he slipped his tongue past them and went in search of hers. She was shy, and he had to coax a response from her gently and slowly. "William," she gasped, when they parted to take in air. "Did you mean what you said? That you love me?" "Yes," he told her, without hesitation. "I meant it. I love you, Buffy. I swear I do. I think I loved you the minute I saw you." She closed her eyes and hid her face against his shoulder. "Me, too," she whispered. The feel of her warm body and the scent of her hair was making him dizzy. He rubbed his cheek against the soft tresses, then turned his head and dropped soft kisses down over the satiny curve of her cheek. Her head tilted back, and his lips traveled down her throat. Before he knew what was happening, Buffy began to unbutton the front of her dress. ~~~~~ "And I don't think anyone else could understand And I don't want anyone else to be your man.." ~~~~~ William eased her back onto the sand, keeping one arm beneath her neck. When her dress opened, she pulled both edges of it apart, baring her breasts for his eyes and his touch. "Oh, you are LOVELY," he whispered, his lips moving down her throat again, then venturing further along the path of her tender, white skin. When she felt the gentle touch of his tongue, Buffy stared up at the stars and murmured his name. One hand strayed into the thick curls at the nape of his neck, playing with them and twining them around her fingers. William brought his free hand up and cupped the mound of her right breast, then lowered his head and traced his tongue in a slow circle around the hard tip. Buffy gasped and her fingers tightened almost painfully in his hair as she pressed him against her harder. "Please," she breathed raggedly. "Oh...please." With the sound of her voice encouraging him, he smiled up at her and then opened his mouth to take her breast in and suckled it tenderly, careful not to bruise her delicate skin. Buffy lifted her other arm and wrapped it around his neck, hugging him more firmly to her breast. His mouth moved back and forth, giving each soft mound equal attention. William's hand left her breast and moved down her side, caressing and stroking her. Her skirt had bunched up during their embrace, and his hand lightly brushed the tanned skin of her outer thigh, his fingers carefully inching the fabric up a little more. He already had an erection that felt like a railroad spike, and the soft panting of her breathing was only encouraging it on. His hand slipped between the slight parting of her legs, gently fondling the lightly damp skin he discovered. If he didn't do something soon, he wasn't going to be able to walk...much less drive. "Buffy?" he whispered, kissing the lush curve of her left breast. "Will you...can I..." Her eyes opened and she looked up at him, smiling as though he was the most wonderful sight she'd ever seen. It was too soon for a complete physical union. She wasn't ready for such a thing, and he wasn't at all prepared with the necessities. "Tell me," she said softly. "Tell me what to do." Reaching up, he took her hand from around his neck and moved it slowly down the front of his body..... "Touch me," he begged. "Touch me...here." .....and placed it where he needed it to be. ~~~~~ "Young love bigger than everything Waiting for the bells to ring Talking about young love.." ~~~~~

Part 10... ~~~~~ "There are times when you know Love is lost to he who hesitates And you've got that feeling now You know it too well..." ~~~~~ Her small fingers straightened for a moment, and he was terrified that she was about to pull away, to jump to her feet and look at him in disgust. His own hand moved away from hers, to let her decide what she wanted to do. Buffy was flushed with embarrassment. She wanted desperately to please him, but she didn't have the first clue what to do in this situation. It had been so easy to lay back and let him touch her intimately, but now he wanted her to participate. Looking into his eyes, she could read every emotion he was having. She could see the love and the desire he felt for her, but she could also see the uncertainty...and the need for her touch...and it was then that she realized he was just as unknowing as she was. This was something they would have to learn together, something they would have to teach each other. She had to beat back her shyness and her fear....because he needed her. The boy she loved with all her young heart....needed her. And so she smiled...and she whispered, "Show me," and she allowed his hand to cover hers and press it down over the straining evidence of his desire. ~~~~~ "Say 'okay' to your dreams Never let the chance go by again If it's love you need, then listen And listen well..." ~~~~~ William closed his eyes tightly at the touch of her hand. Nothing had ever happened to prepare him for the wild and nearly over- whelming rush of pleasure that raced through his entire body. He'd had self induced orgasms before, had done all the things that other boys his age had done. When he was thirteen, he'd found a stash of 'adult' magazines belonging to one of the stable hands, when he'd been looking for a bottle of saddle oil, and he'd had many pleasant interludes in his bedroom with the door securely locked. But what he'd felt then was nothing to what was happening to him now. His body was no longer his to command. He was completely at the mercy of the girl in his arms...and he was more than happy to stay that way forever. Her small hand curved instinctively around his erection, lightly at first, then more firmly when he covered it with his. It was dying and being reborn...it was heaven and hell...it was agony and the most intense ecstasy he'd ever experienced. "Oh, God...Buffy," he gasped, burying his face against her throat. "Is this right?" she asked hesitantly. He nodded, then began moving her hand up and down his hard length. ~~~~~ "You've got to run like a young love You've got to love like young love Believe me, you'll be a young love You don't need to be anymore ~~~~~ William pressed his lips against Buffy's neck, feeling the pulse of her blood as it throbbed in her carotid artery. Her hand was rubbing him and squeezing him in just exactly the way he needed it to, and it was the most wonderful thing he'd ever felt. He'd never been so hard and never yearned so deeply for completion. The only thing he could imagine making it better would be if she would put her hand.... "Do...do you want me to...you know...under your pants?" Buffy's voice was soft and hesitant, and he nearly came right then and there at the words she spoke. Jerking his head up, he stared down at her sweet face. "Are you sure you want to?" he asked, praying with all his heart that she would say yes. Her hand stopped moving. "Would it feel...good...for you?" "Buffy," he whispered, moving his hand up to cup her cheek, "anything you do feels wonderful to me. Every time you touch me...anyplace...it feels beyond good. But...don't do anything unless you want to do it. I...I don't ever want you to think I'm only after one thing. I love you, and...." "I love you, too," she said, cutting him off mid-sentence. "And I want to...to touch you...to make you..." Her words trailed off as she became unsure of how to express herself. Slowly...not wanting to frighten her off...William placed his hand back over hers and guided it to the top fastening of his trousers. Leaving it to do as she chose, he leaned down and kissed the silky skin between her breasts. ~~~~~ "Live it now, everyday 'Cause you know there's no better way And in time you'll understand It's all in your heart ~~~~~ Buffy only hesitated for as long as it took to breathe in and out one time. Then her fingers touched the cold metal of the top snap....and popped it open. Before she could lose her nerve, she reached for the zipper tab and began to tug it down...down.... "Oh!" she gasped, more than a little shocked to find he apparently didn't bother with undergarments. "Buffy," William panted, his cheek resting between her breasts, "don't stop....please." He knew he was begging, but he didn't care. His warm breath washed over her sensitive skin, making her inhale sharply. Without really being aware of it, she arched her back slightly, encouraging him to kiss and caress her breasts. When he felt her push herself up to him, he automatically moved his mouth over to her right breast and began to suck and lick the hard nipple. Making a soft sound of satisfaction in her throat, Buffy boldly pushed her hand inside the opening of William's pants and grasped his erection firmly. Moving on pure instinct, she began to slide her fingers up and down the rigid length of his penis, squeezing gently, unsure of how much pressure she could apply without hurting him. With a hoarse groan, he pulled back from her and said, "Harder...oh, God...faster..." ~~~~~ "Lightning strikes in the rain But you know in your heart You're strong again You can hear the thunder roll But you stand apart.." ~~~~~ Seeing how she was affecting him made Buffy feel more feminine and womanly than she'd ever felt before, and she willingly gave him what he wanted. Her hand moved up and down, as she gripped him tighter. His face was nuzzling the side of hers as he panted harshly, his eyes once again closed tight. Involuntarily, his hips began to move into her touch, pushing back at her. When she felt the wetness on her fingers, she had some idea what was about to happen. "Faster, luv," he murmured in her ear. "Please....please...." Obediently, she pumped him faster, fascinated with the feel of his penis thrusting into her wet fingers. "Oh, God...oh, Buffy...yes...yes...I'm....I can't..." He lifted his head, and she saw the terrible need in his eyes. Her heart swelled up again with her love for him. "It's all right," she said earnestly. "Don't....hold back. I love you....I want you to." Her permission, so sweetly given, was all he needed to hear. ~~~~~ "As long as you think like a young love Be strong like a young love You can love like a young love..." ~~~~~ Falling over onto his back, he pumped his hips upwards into her grasp. Five more thrusts took him all the way to the wonderful release he'd been straining for. Buffy's eyes widened as he ejaculated, uttering a cry that thrilled her, a cry she felt deep inside of herself. Still holding him, she wrapped her body protectively over his and kissed him, projecting all she felt for him into her kiss...wanting him to know that she loved him...that she would always...always...love him. And only him..... ~~~~~ "Be strong in your young love..." ~~~~~

Part Eleven... ~~~~~ "They try to tell us We're too young Too young To really be in love.." ~~~~~ The stars looked brighter tonight. The air seemed warmer and sweeter smelling. The sand was soft as powder. And the girl....the girl was the most beautiful sight his eyes had ever set upon. William stared up into the black velvet sky, with his body celebrating the exquisite relief. In all of his seventeen years of life, he'd never felt as good as he did at that moment. When his breathing began to slow to a normal rhythm, he turned his head to look at the girl. So beautiful. And he loved her so much.... "You okay?" she asked softly, snuggling closer. He had to clear his throat before he could speak. "I'm so far beyond that," he said, closing his eyes and burying his face in her soft hair. "You're so wonderful, Buffy." She smiled and giggled a bit at the tickling sensation of his breath against her ear. "So are you." Her hand released it's hold on his softening shaft, and she wiped the wetness on her fingers off on his jacket. "Sorry," she murmured. "Oh, don't be," he said. "I don't mind a bit. I mean," he added, smiling back at her, "it's MY mess, isn't it?" Buffy propped her head on her hand. "You can probably have it cleaned." With a grimace, William adjusted himself and zipped his pants up. He turned onto his side to face her. "I love you so much." "I love you, too" Buffy sighed, blissfully happy. "How do you feel?" "Fine." There was a short silence between them as he worked up his nerve for what he wanted to say. "Buffy....?" "What?" "I...I want to make you feel good, too." ~~~~~ "They say that love's a word A word we've only heard And can't begin to know The meaning of...." ~~~~~ Her cheeks turned pink, and she pulled back a little. "Oh don't, luv," he said quickly, reaching to hold on to her. "I won't do anything you don't want me to do, I promise." "William...I'm.." "I love you," he interjected. "I just...I want to show you how much. Let me, Buffy....please." Buffy had no idea how to respond to this. His desire to demonstrate his love was no less than hers had just been, but she had no experience to draw on, and wasn't completely sure what he wanted to do to her. "I...I want to let you," she assured him, "but I'm...I'm not ready for..for us to..." He watched the play of emotions on her pretty face. Love and desire were first and foremost, but there was also uncertainty and a little bit of fear. Suddenly, he understood what she was thinking as clearly as though she'd stated the words out loud. "No, luv...I know you're not ready for that," he said, stroking her hair back from her hot cheeks. "I didn't mean that. I just want to touch you.." His hand moved down over her abdomen and stopped just before the joining of her thighs. "..here." Gently, he urged her to lie down on her back. "I'll stop...if you don't like it...I swear I will," he whispered into her ear. Buffy looked up into his eyes, keeping her gaze focused on his. She did nothing as his hand began to pull up her skirt, but when she felt his fingers on the elastic waist of her underpants, she panicked and grabbed hold of his wrist. "Oh! I don't...." "Shhh," he murmured, keeping his hand still. "It's all right, luv. Let me kiss you." His lips touched hers, softly at first, then with more pressure and passion when he felt her tentative response. His tongue slipped through her parted lips and into her mouth, finding and mating with hers. As the kiss deepened, he felt her begin to calm down. Her thighs, which she had clamped tightly shut at his touch, slowly began to relax and part...just a little. William felt her hand release it's hold on his wrist, as the other one slipped up and around the back of his neck. He carefully moved his hand until his fingers were just under the waistband of her panties. ~~~~~ "And yet, we're not too young to know This love will last, though years may go.." ~~~~~ There was no resistance from her, and he became bolder. His hand slid all the way into her underwear, through a tangle of soft curls, and down to the her center. Buffy tore her lips from his and took in a huge lungful of air. "Shall I stop?" he asked, worried. But she shook her head. "No...it..." She lifted her hips, almost imperceptibly, "...it feels...good." The words thrilled him. He was giving pleasure to the girl he loved more than anything on earth. It was a heady sensation, and he felt more of a man at that moment than he'd ever done before. Slowly, gently, he slipped his fingers all the way down, until they were touching the moist opening of her body. Buffy's thighs parted a little more, almost without her directing them to do so. William explored the mystery between her legs, as he lowered his head and kissed her lips again. His knowledge of female anatomy was sketchy at best, but he knew from listening to older school mates and from certain books that would have caused his grandmother to faint clean away had she know he'd read them, just exactly the place he needed to be to give her the most pleasure. It really wasn't difficult to find, not from the way her breathing escalated when he touched and rubbed her there. When he felt her fingers tighten in his hair, he knew he'd found what he'd been searching for. He stiffened his fingers and began a slow and gentle massage. Buffy's head dropped back, and she stared sightlessly up at the sky. She felt so close to something, it was just slightly out of her reach, and if she just concentrated...she could.... "Oh! I....I'm...." Her voice was high pitched and breathy. William increased the pressure and speed of his fingers. "W...William...ohhh....oh God...." Her thighs tightened again. Not to keep his hand away, but to clamp down on it and hold it to her. The moisture was flowing from her, making his fingers slick as they moved in her underwear. Buffy raised her hips to deepen his touch even more. "Oh, please...please...I...I want...oh...oh..." Instinct alone prompted his next move. Bending his head, he caught her breast in his mouth and suckled at the rigid peak, nipping it gently with his teeth. Buffy's eyes widened and she couldn't hold back a strangled cry. Her entire body was shuddering and shaking with the tremendous force of her release. ~~~~~ "And then someday They may recall...." ~~~~~ Panting harshly, she clung to him as her eyes drifted shut. "Buffy....open your eyes, luv...please," he begged. When she did, he was happy to see that they were soft with tenderness. He moved his hand from her panties and gathered her close. "I love you," he whispered. "God...I love you so much." She took in a deep breath, and released it slowly. "I love you, too. So much....." ~~~~~ "We were not...too young...at all." ~~~~~

(I'm having a lot of fun with this one. It's amazing how easy it is getting to call up these memories of first love. Remember how desperate it was? How you couldn't wait to be together, and how the whole world was going to stop until you saw each other again? I remember nights when I was certain I was just going to die before I saw my 'sweet sixteen' boyfriend again.) Part twelve..... Phase three: Learning to love ~~~~~ "Hold me, hold me Never let me go Until you've told me, told me What I want to know.." And then just hold me, hold me.." ~~~~~ They stood on Buffy's front porch, kissing with a feverish desperation, neither one wanting to be the first to pull away, to have to part from each other...even for the remainder of the night. But eventually, they had to come up for air. She placed her hands on his cheeks, stroking his warm skin with her thumbs. "William," she whispered urgently, looking up into his eyes. Lowering his head, he buried his face against her throat. "I don't want to let you go," he said. "I can't make my arms let go." "Me, neither." She moved her hand to stroke his tousled curls, then pushed him away a little, offering him another kiss. A few moments later, she pulled away and started to say something, but he stopped her by yanking her back into his arms. "Not yet. Just a little longer, Buffy. Please. It'll be forever until tomorrow." ~~~~~ "Make me tell you I'm in love with you.." ~~~~~ "Buffy....say it again," he whispered hotly in her ear. She looked up into his eyes. "I love you." William smiled at her. "I'll never get tired of hearing you say that." "I'll never get tired of saying it." They lingered in each other's arms for a while, neither wanting to be the first to say goodnight. "Can we do something tomorrow?" he asked. "It's Sunday. Maybe we could go to the beach or some- thing?" Buffy nodded. "Okay. I have to go with my mom for some new school clothes, but afterwards we could go." "When will you be home?" "My mom can only stand shopping with me for a few hours at a time," she said. "So I'm pretty sure by 2:00 or so." William ran his hands up and down her bare arms, pleased that the nights were so warm in California that she didn't need a sweater covering her soft skin. "What are you going to buy?" Buffy shrugged. "Some jeans and tops, I guess. I definitely need some new shoes. My dad took me shopping a couple of weeks ago, but he's even less patient than my mom when it comes to the mall." He smiled, thinking to himself that there was nothing in the world he would enjoy more than taking Buffy to the mall and buying her anything she liked. "More of these pretty dresses?" he asked, fingering the soft cotton material that clung to her waist. "Maybe," she said, returning his smile. "Do you...have a favorite color?" His heart rate kicked up. She wanted to dress to please him! "Buffy...I would love you in any color you wear," he said, smoothing her hair away from her face. "But, I'll admit that I'm partial to red." "I'll see if I can find something red," she said shyly. The porch light snapped on. It was her mother's not so subtle signal that it was time to call it a night. "I have to go in." "I know." He slipped his arms back around her waist and pulled her closer. "I'll see you tomorrow." Buffy lifted her face, her lips parted and moist. As he lowered his head to kiss her goodnight, her eyes closed and her arms crept around his neck. When he finally summoned the will to pull away, he murmured, "Goodnight." She said it, too...reluctantly...then went inside and began to close the door. Before it was all the way closed, he put his hand on it and stopped her. "I love you." Buffy smiled and sighed. "I love you, too." "See you tomorrow?" "Yes...tomorrow." And with that, he had to be content. ~~~~~ "Thrill me, thrill me Walk me down the lane where shadows Will be, will be Hiding lovers just the same as we'll be, we'll be When you make me tell you I love you..." ~~~~~ He couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. Whenever he took a deep breath, he caught the scent of her perfume. When his fingers brushed the cotton of his bed sheets, he felt her satiny skin. This was agony, being away from her. How the hell was he going to live until tomorrow? William had never really been in love before. There'd been a girl or two that he'd liked, or found sexy. He'd had two fairly serious girlfriends, one when he'd been fourteen, and the other during his sixteenth year, but the feelings he could remember having for them were nothing at all compared to the overwhelming rush of love and passion he felt for Buffy. He would do anything for her. Absolutely anything. Just to see her smile...to hear her laugh...to feel her touch...her little hands on his body...on his... Groaning, he rolled onto his back and flung the bedclothes violently onto the floor. He tried to think of something else. School would be starting soon, and he was actually looking forward to it. He'd never attended a public school before, and he was curious to see how different it was here in the U.S. And Buffy would be there. He would see her every day. They could have lunch together...find places they could be alone...kiss...and touch....and..... "Bloody hell," he muttered, shutting his eyes tightly. ~~~~~ "They told me, be sensible with your new love Don't be fooled, thinking this is the last you'll find.." ~~~~~ She couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him. When- ever time she took a deep breath, she caught the scent of his skin, the clean smell of soap and just a trace of aftershave. When her fingers brushed the hair out of her eyes, she felt his touch. Buffy hated being apart from him. She wanted to spend every moment of her life in his arms. For the first time ever, she was in love. She'd thought she'd been in love before, but now she knew better. The feelings she'd had for the one or two casual boyfriends she'd left behind in Los Angeles, were nothing but shadows of the emotions churning inside of her every time she even thought of William. This was love. Her mother and father would probably try to tell her that she didn't understand true love. They would consider her relationship with William to be 'puppy love'. Childish and sweet, but not the serious and lasting type of love that she would find someday when she was older and wiser. They were wrong. So unbelievably wrong. She loved William with every part of herself. Her heart and her soul....and her body. All of it belonged to him, to do with as he would. The way he kissed her...the way he touched her...was as close to paradise as she'd ever been. She was learning so many new things about herself, about what she wanted out of life, about what was really important and what was not. William was her first love, and someday...he would be her first lover. She knew this as clearly as she knew the earth revolved around the sun. It was meant to be. Waiting until tomorrow was like slow torture, and nothing would take her mind off of him. No matter what she tried to think about...her mind always returned to the boy next door. Sitting up in bed, she threw her covers off. Her skin felt hot and sensitive. The memory of his hands touching her so intimately was making her ache to feel him again. She shook her hair back out of her face, almost ready to cry because she wanted so badly to be with him, to kiss him, and to feel his hands on her, moving over her body, touching her breasts and slipping down further between her..... "Oh, God," she whimpered softly, lying down and closing her eyes tightly. ~~~~~ "But they never stood in the dark with you, love When you take me in your arms and drive me Slowly out of my mind..." ~~~~~ It was useless, trying to sleep, trying to think of anything else but Buffy. There WAS nothing else but Buffy. So he let his mind wander, remembering every moment of their time on the beach earlier. As he replayed it in his brain, his hand crept down between his legs and took a firm hold of his rapidly hardening shaft. "Buffy," he whispered, gently stroking his aching flesh. "Yes..." ~~~~~ "Kiss me, kiss me And when you do I know that you Will miss me, miss me If we ever say adieu, so kiss me...kiss me Let me tell you I'm in love with you.." ~~~~~ Her restless tossing had tangled her nightgown up around her waist. She had given up on trying to sleep, there was no point to it when the only thing she could think about didn't relax or calm her in any way. She wanted to be with William, lying on the beach in his arms. Wanted to feel the gentle caress of his fingers in her most secret place, the place he had found with unerring accuracy, the place he had touched her over and over again. Buffy closed her eyes and pictured it in her mind. The ocean rolling in and out, the sound of his voice whispering in her ear, the dizzying pleasure of his hands and his mouth... "Oh, William," she sighed, letting her hand delve between her thighs. "Touch me....." ~~~~~ "Never, never, never let me go..." ~~~~~

Part 13.... ~~~~~ "Just an old fashioned love song Playing on the radio And wrapped around the music Is the sound of someone promising They'll never go..." ~~~~~ The crowd at the beach was surprisingly sparse for a hot Sunday afternoon. Not that they cared. As far as Buffy and William were concerned, they were the only people in the world at that moment. "Come on." He jumped to his feet and grabbed her hand. "Let's go in the water." Buffy giggled as he hauled her to her feet and began dragging her along behind him. The instant her foot moved from the warm, loose sand to the wet hard- packed, she squealed and pulled back. "It's too cold." William laughed, refusing to allow her retreat. "Don't be a baby," he teased, tightening his grip. "No...it's freezing." She managed to slip her hand out of his, then turned to run. Ten yards away she got, before he caught her and scooped her up in his arms. Buffy shrieked and kicked, belying her eagerness to escape by wrapping her arms around his neck. "Put me down," she demanded. "Never!" he shouted, running down to the water line. His bare feet kicked up the shallow water as he waded in up to his knees. When he pretended to drop her, she literally climbed up his body. "Don't you dare," she threatened, trying to look as though she meant business. "Or you'll what?" he asked, holding her a little tighter. Buffy tried to think up a suitable warning. "I'll...I won't kiss you for the rest of the day!" His eyes widened with mock horror. "Really?" he asked, grinning wickedly, then bending his head until his lips nearly touched hers. "You would do that to me?" he whispered. She felt the warmth of his breath on her lips....and melted. "No," she said softly, placing her hand on his cheek and pulling him closer. ~~~~~ "You'll swear you've heard it before As it slowly rambles on No need in bringing them back 'Cause they've never really gone.." ~~~~~ She kissed him so sweetly, so thoroughly, that his arms trembled and he was forced to set her on her feet. When her toes touched the cold water, she squeaked and jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist as she hung on his neck. William, who was wearing only a pair of cut off jeans, gasped against her soft lips at the feeling of pressure she was innocently exerting on his lower parts. He didn't want to lose his contact with her lips, so he placed one hand on the back of her neck, digging his fingers into her thick hair, and the other he slipped down under her bottom to hold her up. With a slight push, he ground her against him a little harder. When they finally broke apart to take in air, he leaned his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you, too." Buffy's head was spinning, while her heart beat sped up significantly. She felt like a clock- work toy gone wildly out of control. Moving out of the water, William carried her back to their blanket and set her down on it. ~~~~~ "Just an old fashioned love song Coming down in three part harmony Just an old fashioned love song One I'm sure they wrote for you and me.." ~~~~~ "Are you hungry?" Buffy smiled. "Starved." "Let's go get something." Taking her hand, he helped her to her feet and they set off across the warm sand, heading for the snack bar. There were only a couple of people in line. William stood behind Buffy and slipped his arms around her waist, leaning down to speak quietly in her ear. "What sounds good, love?" Buffy studied the menu. It contained the usual assortment of fast food...hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken strips and so on, along with the customary side dish of french fries. "Ummm....I guess I'll have a hamburger," she said, shrugging like it didn't really matter. "Yeah, me too." After ordering, they sat down on a bench to wait for their number to be called. With their hands seemingly glued together, they made casual small talk. "School starts on Wednesday," William said, rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand. Buffy made a face. "Ugh...don't remind me." "What? You don't like school?" he asked. She shrugged, leaning her head against his shoulder. "It's okay, I guess. I've gotta pull up my grades this year, or my parents'll do something drastic." He didn't like the sound of THAT at all. "Like what?" Buffy raised her head and looked at him. "Boarding school, maybe. Somewhere with no...distractions." "What?" William was concerned and it showed in his expression and his tone. "Where?" "I don't know," she replied. "My dad didn't say." There wasn't a chance in the world that he would let such a thing happen, William decided. He didn't care what he had to do. He had just found this girl, no way in hell was he going to lose her. "Listen," he said, placing his hand beneath her chin and tilting her face up. "I'll help you. With anything you need, I promise. We'll get your grades up...all right?" Buffy believed him completely. She just knew that he could do whatever he said he could do, and he would do it for her. "All right." He kissed the back of her hand as their order number was called. ~~~~~ "To weave our dreams upon And listen to each evening When the lights are low To underscore our love affair With tenderness and feelings That we've come to know.." ~~~~~ "Your shoulders look a little pink," Buffy said, reaching for her tote bag. "Sit up." William sat up beside her and watched what she was doing. His eyes gleamed when she pulled out a bottle of sunblock. She crawled around behind him on her knees and squirted a glob of the white cream on his warm skin, giggling when he jumped and said, "Cold." "Sorry." Buffy smoothed the cream around his shoulders, rubbing it into his skin with a gentle touch. He let his head drop forward, luxuriating in the feel of her hands kneading his flesh. When she was finished, she placed the cap on the bottle and set it aside, then pulled him back until he was reclining in her arms. "Thank you, love," he said, bringing one hand up to stroke her sun warmed hair. "You're welcome." Sighing with complete happiness, she pressed her cheek against his soft curls. They sat in peaceful silence for a few minutes, then William said, "Let's go out tonight. Somewhere nice." Buffy smiled and nodded. "Okay. Where?" He hesitated for a moment. "There's a restaurant in the lobby of the Chandler Arms," he suggested. "The where?" "It's....a hotel. Close to the country club," he said, trying to keep his tone casual, not wanting her to think he was trying anything sneaky. There was a short silence, then Buffy tightened her arms around him. "What should I wear?" ~~~~~ "Just an old fashioned love song Coming down in three part harmony Just an old fashioned love song One I'm sure they wrote for you and me.." ~~~~~

Part Fourteen.... ~~~~~ "Outside the rain begins And it may never end So cry no more, on the shore a dream Will take us out to sea Forevermore.....forevermore..." ~~~~~ "Well, don't you look nice this evening?" William glanced in the mirror and saw his uncle stand- ing in the open door of the poolhouse. Adjusting his tie, he tugged at it to loosen it a fraction. "You know," he said, grinning, "this is the first time I've worn one of these since I left England. I'd forgotten how much I hate them." Rupert Giles tugged off his glasses and began to clean them, a sure sign that something was on his mind. "I assume you have a date with Buffy tonight?" he asked casually. "You assume...right," William replied, giving up on the tie and reaching for his suit coat. "I'm taking her out to dinner." He didn't feel like volunteering the information as to where he was taking her, knowing that such an admission would be inviting a shocked ex- pression and a lecture about conducting himself as a gentleman at all times, and that perhaps taking a young lady to a hotel for a meal was not really the "right" thing to do. Perching his glasses on his nose once more, the older man gave his nephew a long and considering look. "You're seeing a lot of her, aren't you?" William just shrugged. "Every chance I get," he said. "Can you blame me?" Rupert sighed and smiled. "I suppose I can't. She's a lovely girl. Quite charming and very....American." An odd tone to the remark caught Williams's attention as he picked up his car keys. Dropping them in his pocket, he turned to confront his uncle. "Is there some kind of hidden meaning in that comment?" he asked, frowning. Rupert's cheeks reddened slightly. "Not...well, I don't mean for there to be, but....I was wondering one thing." "What's that?" William folded his arms across his chest. "You and Buffy are from completely different worlds. I know that you've adapted quite well to the States, and you definitely fit in with all your new friends...." "But..?" William prompted. Rupert cleared his throat, staring at his feet. "Have you told her about YOUR world, William?" he asked quietly. "The world that you will be obliged to return to one day?" Oh, this was going to be a whole new lecture sub- ject, and William wanted no part of it right now. That particular future seemed to be a hundred years away. The only thing he cared about was the here and the now. He had just found the most beautiful girl on earth, had just fallen completely in love with her, and was set to explore all the wonderful possibilities of that love. Buffy WAS his future, he had no doubt of it...but it was too soon to start figuring out which ob- stacles would be the most difficult to climb. "Buffy knows where I'm from," he replied vaguely. "I've told her about Black Oaks. Please don't do that." Rupert had begun to wander around the room, picking up articles of clothing and folding them into neat little piles. Placing a shirt on the top of his stack, he turned and stared right at William. "Have you told her...everything? Not just about the estate, and the house in London, and the retreat in Scotland...but about you. About who you are...and what's expected of you." William took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "Not yet," he admitted. "But I will. Soon." Rupert hesitated a moment, then nodded. "I hope you do," he said. "If there's a chance that Buffy will be the girl you choose someday, then it's only fair she know what's in store for her." About to walk out the door, William stopped and looked back. "Buffy IS the girl I've chosen," he said firmly. "I want you to know that. We'll...work things out." His uncle joined him by the door. "William...please understand, I think she's a lovely girl. I can see that you have deep feelings for her and I have no doubt that she returns those feelings." He patted the young man's shoulder. "I'm on your side, you know. You're my sister's only child and I'm...well, quite fond of you." William smiled. "Goodnight, Uncle Rupert," he said, anxious to be gone. "And....try not to worry so much." As he watched his nephew walk around the hedge that separated his property from the Summers house, Rupert Giles shook his head and sighed. "It's not MY worry you need to be concerned with, William," he murmured, closing the door behind him. ~~~~~ "Close your eyes and dream And you can be with me 'Neath the waves Through the caves of hours Long forgotten now We're all alone...we're all alone..." ~~~~~ Buffy opened the door, smiling widely. William nearly passed out at the sight she presented him. Her dress was a deep, lush crimson silk that clung sweetly to her curves. The skirt of the dress was full and swished around her legs when she walked, it's hem dropping to a little above her knees. But the feature of the garment that really made his mouth water was the neckline, a deep V shape that looked remarkably easy to get inside of. She was wearing sheer stockings and red, heeled sandals. Her hair was curled and held back from her face by a pair of garnet studded combs. His eyes were drawn to the hollow of her throat, where a small, heart shaped pendant dangled. Realizing he was standing there like a mute idiot, he mentally kicked himself in the arse and stepped inside when she moved back from the door. "I can't even find the words to tell you how beautiful you look," he said quietly, leaning over to whisper in her ear, and wondering where her mother was. Buffy's smile was dazzling. Her light summer tan seemed almost golden to his eyes, and she was wearing the most beautiful shade of scarlet lipstick he'd ever seen on a girl. Glossy and deep, it made her mouth look like a piece of exotic and juicy fruit, and he wanted to take a bite out of her right then and there. "William. You look handsome tonight." Joyce was halfway down the stairs, an empty laundry basket in one hand. He forced himself to take his eyes off Buffy and reply to her mother. The three of them stood in the foyer, making the usual small talk of where they were going and when Buffy was expected home. William's announcing a 7:00 reservation got them out the door and into his car. ~~~~~ "Close the window, calm the light And it will be all right No need to bother now Let it out, let it all begin Learn how to pretend..." ~~~~~ The Chandler Arms was a fifteen minute drive from Buffy's house. Waiting for a green light, William turned his full attention on his passenger. "New dress?" A tiny smile curved her lips. "Brand new," she admitted. "Do you like it?" He nodded slowly. "Very much," he said. "Red's my favorite color." Buffy paused. "I remember," she murmured, her cheeks turning pink. An exhilerating rush of excitement washed over him. She had remembered! Had bought this dress with him in mind, wanting to appeal to him and attract him. Knowing this caused a heady feeling of pride and possession, coupled with intense sexual aware- ness, that kept him on edge for the remainder of the drive. William turned onto a long drive, located just off the main highway. Passing by the Country Club and it's inevitable golf course, he continued another half mile before pulling into the semi-circular drive- way in front of the hotel. A valet appeared, opening the passenger side door for Buffy, then traded places in the driver's seat with William. Once inside the hotel lobby, Buffy looked around in amazement. It was the most beautiful...the most elegantly appointed...and the most daunting place she'd ever set foot to carpet in. Slightly intimated by it's expensive glamour, she held tightly to William's hand and prayed that shje wouldn't do anything stupid or clumsy. The restaurant he was taking her to was on the far side of the hotel lobby, identified only by a small sign set on what looked to her like an easel. Although she felt nervous and out of place, she couldn't help notice that William was decidedly not. He dealt with everything, showing an ease of manner that only came from years of experience. A back- ground of wealth and privilege was apparent in his every move and word. If he'd been any other boy she knew, Buffy would have thought that he was being pretentious and show- offy to try and impress her. William's demeanor was neither of those things, but was instead the completely natural behavior of someone who was used to people doing what he told them. He was, quite frankly, the most 'adult' seventeen year old boy she knew. ~~~~~ "Once a story's told It can't help but grow old Roses do, lovers too So cast your seasons to the wind And hold me dear...hold me dear.." ~~~~~ She sat behind a menu so enormous that it blocked her from his view. Chuckling, William tapped on the back of it. "Have you decided yet, luv?" Buffy set the menu down on the table in front of her, a small frown furrowing her brow. "It's all in French," she said, looking up at him helplessly. Shit! He'd forgotten and he could have kicked himself when he saw her blush. "I took Spanish." William gave her a reassuring smile. "May I order for you?" She shrugged. "I think you'll have to." "All right." He studied his own menu. "What kind of food do you prefer?" The kind of foods she preferred were nowhere to be found on this menu, but she'd never been a picky eater. "Oh, I'll eat just about anything," she said. William swallowed hard and cleared his throat. Glancing up at her , he saw nothing but an ingenuous smile on her pretty mouth, so he took the remark at face value and didn't reply to it.

Part 14-B He looked over the menu, choosing foods that he liked and thought Buffy might enjoy as well. The waiter was hovering nearby, and appeared at their table side when William beckoned him. "Nous commencerons par prendre du pate de Foies de Volailles Maison, apres...cela des Escargots, une salade de chevre chaud, le carre d'agneua roti, et enfin comme dessert, le fondant au chocolate." Scribbling on his pad, the waiter nodded. "Tres bon choix, monsieur," he murmured. "Merci." William handed him their menus. "Ce sera tout." After the waiter's departure, William looked at Buffy and found her smiling at him in delight. "Okay, I'm impressed," she said. "Now, I wish I'd taken French." He returned her smile. "You do?" "Yeah...that was beautiful," she nodded. "Order- ing food in English NEVER sounds that good." "It's a beautiful language," he agreed. "One of the 'Romance' languages." Buffy giggled. "Very romantic." William's dark eyes were alight with amusement. He leaned over the table and took her small hand in his. "Buffy," he said softly, "Tu es belle a chaque fois que je te vois. Tu es belle a la lumiere, au clair de lune, eclairee d'un rayon de soleil, mais te regarder maintenant a la luere de ces bougies et je retombe amoureux de toi, comme au premiere jour." Her eyes became wider with every word that passed his lips so eloquently. He spoke with such tender- ness...such a depth of sincerity...that she almost knew what he was saying without having to ask. Lifting her hand, he placed a sweet kiss on the back of it. "Tu m' enchantes." She entwined her fingers with his, almost unable to speak past the lump in her throat. "That was beautiful," she finally said, squeezing his hand. "What did you say?" William returned the pressure of her hand. "I said that you get more beautiful every time I see you. You're lovely by moonlight...and by daylight...but seeing you now in candlelight makes me fall in love with you all over again. You've enchanted me." Buffy smiled sweetly. "I love you, too," she whispered, her eyes shining with the fury of passionate adoration he brought out in her. Every word he spoke...every syllable...was a caress that she could feel. And she never wanted to be without it again. *********************************************** Buffy stared down at the plate the waiter had placed in front of her. She looked at the plate, looked up at William, then back down at the plate. Struck by a sudden premonition that she was about to regret not insisting he order in plain English, she regarded the offering in front of her with a dubious eye. A mound of grayish, brownish paste was surrounded by little slices of toast and.. **Are those PICKLES?** ....draped over it. There was a small pile of lettuce on the side of the dish, with a cherry tomato balanced on top. The whole thing looked highly unappetizing to her. "Um...maybe," she said doubtfully, "we shouldn't spoil our appetites for dinner. And...and I had a late lunch," she tacked on, lamely. William smiled at her. "Just try it," he urged. Buffy sighed and picked up her fork. "What is it?" He reached over and removed the cutlery from her hand, then picked up a knife and spread some of the mess on a slice of toast. The maneuver was so smoothly done that she didn't even have time to be embarassed by her mistake before he was giving her the piece of bread. "This," he explained, "is Pate de Foies de Volaille." Buffy took a bite and chewed. "It's chicken liver." Her jaw stopped moving, and she stared at him. "Chicken...liver?" she mumbled through the mouthful of food. "Mm-hmm," William nodded, putting together another serving. "Do you like it?" Actually....she kind of did! Surprise, surprise...it was pretty tasty once you got past the idea of eating a chicken's liver. She swallowed and shrugged her shoulders. "It's good," she said, and took another bite. Apparently, she'd been worried for no reason about him ordering in French. If the rest of the meal was as good as this, then..... *********************************************** "You've gotta be kidding me." The food in front of Buffy now made the gray and brown glop of chicken liver look like ambrosia. "Don't say anything until you've tried it," William teased, picking up the utensils that accompanied this this offering. "It's delicious." "You can have mine," she said promptly. It was a sincere remark. No way was she going eat something she squished in her mother's rose bushes on a regular basis. Picking up one of the snails with a tiny pair of tongs, he dug it's innards out with a small fork. Buffy immediately drew back. "No, thank you." Her demeanor seemed to amuse him. "Escargot de Bourgogne," he announced. "Sauteed in garlic and butter. Try it." Groping for an excuse not to, Buffy said, "Some- times I have trouble with shellfish...kind of an allergy thing, so.." "This isn't shellfish," he replied. "It has a shell." "It's not a fish." He held out the fork and it's disgusting passenger. "I promise you," he added. "You put enough garlic and butter on it, even shoe leather will taste good." "That's not very reassuring," Buffy muttered, opening her mouth and accepting his offering. As it turned out, he was right! ********************************************* "William...maybe you'd better tell me what's coming next," Buffy said, wanting to prepare herself. "Salad is next," he informed her. "Salade de Chevre Chaud." "Oh!" What a relief. Salad was something she knew. Or so she had imagined.... "This is salad?" This was NOT salad! "That's right," he said. Some mixed greens, tomato and vinaigrette. Salad." Buffy made a face, which he missed. "What's that on top of it?" "Melted goat cheese." Well, she'd HAD to ask! Gamely, she picked up her salad fork and plunged in. ************************************************ How much longer was this meal going to last? It was a question she'd been wanting to ask out loud since the melted goat cheese. Buffy looked glumly at the new plate of food. "And this is...?" "Carre D'Agnuau Roti," he answered. "It's a..." She held up one hand. "Never mind. I don't want to know." ********************************************** "Is there anything else coming?" Buffy asked, wiping her mouth on her napkin. William leaned back and smiled. "There's dessert." She didn't want to even imagine what kind of desserts they served at this place. Probably some- thing like pine cones dipped in marshmallow cream. Patting her tummy, she shook her head. "I don't think I can." Once again, the waiter set a plate in front of her. "Maybe I can!" Now, THIS was more like it. She could actually identify this food. A slice of chocolate cake cake arranged in swirling patterns of hot fudge. "Fondant au Chocolat," William said, watching the delight on her expressive face. "I thought you'd like it." Buffy took a bite and gazed heavenward. "Good." It was so good that it almost made up for the snails. *********************************************

Part Fifteen..... ~~~~~ "Only you, can make this world seem right Only you, can make the darkness bright.." ~~~~~ William pulled his car into the driveway of his uncle's house and cut the engine. He turned to Buffy and reached for her hand. Her fingers clasped tightly around his as she looked at him and smiled. "I had a really nice time," she said politely. "Thank you for dinner." He shrugged. "You're welcome." After a long pause he asked, "Do you have to go in now?" Buffy's eyes darted to the second floor window of her mother's bedroom. There was only a faint glow coming from it, which usually meant that her mom was in bed with the television playing softly, and when that happened, she almost always fell asleep halfway through whatever she was watching. Many times, Buffy had crept into her mom's room and switched off the set at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning. "I guess I could stay out a little later," she said softly, turning back to William. "Technically, my summer curfew is midnight, but my mom's pretty okay about it if I'm a little late." William glanced at his watch. It was only 9:30. He could be with her for at least another hour and a half, and maybe a bit longer than that. "Did you want to go somewhere else?" Buffy asked. There was only one place he wanted to go, but he was hesitant to suggest it. He didn't want her to think that he only had one thing on his mind, but he was desperate to have some time alone with her. It had been less than twenty-four hours since they'd been able to do anything more than briefly kiss, but it felt more like twenty-four years. He'd given serious thought to the idea of suggesting that they get a room in the hotel where they'd had dinner, but had discarded the notion halfway through the meal, not wanting her to feel as though he was pressuring her. Besides, a hotel room at this point in their relationship, was temptingly dangerous. Had they gone through with it, things could have gotten completely out of hand and it was just too soon for that. On the other hand, if he didn't get a chance to have her all to himself for a while, he was going to lose his mind. There was only one place he could think of where they could be alone to do what they wanted, but could also rely on the close proximity of both his uncle and her mother to keep things from going too far. "I was thinking," he began, trying to sound as though his sanity wasn't riding on the outcome of this endeavor, "that we could go to the pool house for a while. Maybe...watch a movie...?" Buffy nodded slowly. "We could do that," she said agreeably. William released the breath he'd been unconscious- ly holding. He lifted the small hand that fit so beautifully in his, and kissed it gently. ~~~~~ "Only you, and you alone Can thrill me like you do..." ~~~~~ It was the first time she'd been in the pool- house, and she loved it on sight. The small cottage had a living room area, with a sofa, a couple of armchairs, and a pretty elaborate stereo system on one wall. It was flanked by a book shelf on one side, and a small table on the other. On that table, there was a television and cable box, a DVD player, and some sort of video game system hooked up. On the opposite side of the room, there was a door that Buffy imagined led to a bedroom. To HIS bedroom. She stared at it and swallowed...hard. William closed the front door. Buffy jumped at the sound, then giggled nervously. "What's so funny?" he asked, warming her with his smile. "Nothing," she said, her voice light and high pitched. Nerve chills chased up and down her spine. "The door, it...it startled me." She felt a little foolish, but his grin only widened. "Sit down," he urged her, indicating the sofa. Buffy tucked her skirt beneath her and took a seat at one end of the couch, watching as he took off his jacket and pulled the knot of his tie loose. "That's better," he said, pulling the tie off over his head and tossing it on the back of a chair, along with his jacket. Feeling as though she should make some sort of similar gesture, Buffy toed off her shoes. William sat down in the chair, then removed his own shoes and socks. "I like barefoot better, too," he said, undoing the top two buttons of his shirt. ~~~~~ "And fill my heart with love For only you..." ~~~~~ "What would you like to watch?" "Anything's fine with me." William grabbed a box with several DVDs in it. He sat down next to Buffy and began search- ing through them. "Something funny?" he suggested. "Scary?" Buffy thought it over. "Something...romantic," she finally said. William looked sheepish . "I'm afraid we'll have to go straight to cable for that," he admitted, picking up the TV remote, and thumbing the 'ON' button. He set the box of DVDs down on the floor, and Buffy picked it up and began to sort through it herself. "Die Hard...Die Harder...Top Gun...The Terminator...Lethal Weapon numbers one, two, three, AND four." She looked at him. "Bambi?" William grabbed the DVD from her hand. "You didn't see that," he announced, smiling at her as he tossed it back into the box. Buffy laughed. "It's okay," she said. "I like Bambi, too." "Well, you're a girl. It's coded into your DNA." He began flipping channels, going rapidly from 2 to 504. When he started to go around again, Buffy spoke up. "How can you even tell what's on?" William shrugged. "Practice." The constantly flickering screen was beginning to make her dizzy, so she grabbed the remote out of his hand. "My turn." "Hey!" he protested. "Give that back!" "No!" She giggled and held it out of his reach. "I'm getting seasick." Delighted at her cheeky manner, he pounced and tried to wrestle the remote away from her. Buffy stuffed it behind her, then leaned back against the cushion. "What, do you think that'll stop me?" he asked. He leaned over her to wedge one hand between her and the remote. As he dug for it, he over balanced and fell on top of her. Which brought their playful interlude to an abrupt halt. ~~~~~ "Only you, can make this change in me For it's true, you are my destiny..." ~~~~~ With one knee riding between her thighs, he leaned closer and began kissing her. Buffy's arms crept up and around his neck as her lips parted beneath his, allowing his tongue into her mouth and meeting it with her own. When they parted, he pulled back and looked down at her. Her eyes were soft, warm with love that he could feel all the way through him. Moving up a little, he reached behind her and switched off the floor lamp behind the couch. Nothing but the glow of the television illuminated the room. He slipped his hand behind her again and pulled out the remote, then aimed it at the TV and muted the sound. He dropped the remote on the floor, and adjusted his position again. Holding his upper body off of her, he balanced his weight on one hand and caressed the side of her face with the other. "Buffy," he whispered, stroking her soft skin. His thumb brushed against her moist lower lip. "I love you." Her breath came unevenly when she felt his tender touch. "I love you, too." William kissed her softly, his body molding itself to hers, feeling each dip and swell beneath him. His fingers moved tentatively from her cheek to her right breast, cupping it, and gently squeezing it's full, rounded contours. Buffy instinctively arched her back, thrusting her flesh more fully into his eager hand. She waited on pins and needles for him to go further. Still kissing her, he swept his thumb over and around the hard center of her breast, making it harder still. As he moved against her, Buffy felt her dress begin to inch up. A brief flare of panic overtook her, and she tried to move one hand down to fix the problem. William broke their kiss. "What's wrong?" he asked, his hand still fondling her. Her cheeks turned pink. "Nothing," she murmured, pulling him back down and reclaiming his lips. He moaned softly into her mouth as his hand slipped behind her, searching for the zipper of her dress. When she made no protest, he began inching it down. The material parted, and he moved his hand inside, fumbling for the clasp of her bra. She helped him by sitting up and reaching behind to unhook it herself. William moved his hand into the back of her dress again, then slid it around front and under her bra. His fingers closed around her breast and massaged it gently. Buffy shifted beneath him, loosening the bodice of her dress. He helped her pull her arms out of the sleeves, then tugged the silky fabric down to the waistband. Drawing off her bra, he laid it over the back of the couch. Staring down at her, he felt himself harden nearly to the point of pain. Buffy lay before him, naked from the waist up, and his imagination soared to new heights as he contemplated all the things he wanted to do with her. Not all of it was sexual in nature. He wanted much more than that. Her beauty was inspiring him, and he wanted to paint her, to write poetry and songs about her. Entire symphonies were swelling inside of him. He wanted to leave something tangible behind when their time in this world was over, to show whoever came after them how beautiful she had been, how special and perfect she would always be.... And how deeply he had loved her. ~~~~~ "When you hold my hand, I understand the magic that you do You're my dream come true My one and only...you." ~~~~~

~~~~~ "This magic moment So different and so new Was like any other Until I kissed you..." ~~~~~ Slowly...carefully...William moved his hand from under Buffy's bra and placed it on her outer thigh, slightly above her knee. With any other girl he'd known, this maneuver would probably have gotten his face slapped for him. But, with Buffy it was different. She was as eager to learn as he was. There was so much that he wanted to do with her that he could barely keep things straight in his head. His thoughts and his needs were a jumbled up knot of nerves and passion skittering around in his brain, looking for a place to settle. The skin beneath his fingers was warm and soft, and he was nearly shaking with the anticipation of touching her so intimately once again. Lowering his head, he kissed the plump curve of her breast, breathing her fragrance in until it made him light headed. He rubbed his cheek against the firm bud of her nipple, then took it into his mouth and sucked it. Buffy inhaled sharply, arching her back just the tiniest bit. "Oh..." His lips touched the hollow between her breasts. "All right?" he asked softly. "More than all right," she whispered. William had to smile. She was so giving...so sweet. "I love you." Her eyes fluttered open and focused on him. "I love you, too." ~~~~~ "And then it happened It took me by surprise I knew that you felt it, too By the look in your eyes..." ~~~~~ Much to his surprise, Buffy's hands moved to the front of his shirt and began to undo the buttons. He said nothing, afraid that she might stop. When she had all the buttons unfastened, she placed her hands on the sides of his shirt and pulled it open. "I wanted to know," she began, her cheeks turning pink. "If..." "If what?" he asked, begging her silently in his head not to stop her explorations. Her eyes met his and she smiled a little shyly. "If it feels as good to you as it does to me when..." Her fingers glided from his shoulders to his chest. "When you're touched here," she finished, lightly brushing the tips of her fingers against his nipples. The flat copper discs tightened beneath her touch, and he felt a lightning bolt of sensation strike at his nerve endings. His hips jerked involuntarily, causing his erection to grind against her. Sliding down on the sofa, she allowed her legs to part wider and he settled himself against her, pressing down slightly. The arms he had braced on either side of her were trembling, and he wasn't at all certain they would continue to support him very well. "Does...does that answer your question?" he asked, smiling down at her. She looked up at him beneath the veil of her lashes. "It feels good?" "It feels wonderful," he assured her quickly. "Every thing you do feels wonderful." Buffy hesitated, considering her next move. She licked her lips and raised her head a little. "Come closer." Taking a firm grip on his self control, William adjusted himself and lowered his chest until he could feel her warm breath on his skin. Holding his own breath in an agony of anticipation, he waited...then gasped out loud at the silky wetness of her tongue as it delicately licked his right nipple. "Oh, God.." he moaned, his head dropping forward. "Buffy..do it again. Please." Buffy felt a surge of feminine power rising up in her when he begged for her touch. Turning her head slightly, she closed her eyes and traced her tongue around his left nipple this time. His chest expanded as he took in a deep breath, and she placed her hands on either side of his waist, urging him closer. William felt like he was drowning in warm honey. He opened his eyes and looked down, watching as she teased and tantalized his flesh with her sweet little tongue. Before he could stop it, thoughts of what else she might do with her mouth flashed into his brain, printing an indelible picture there. He tried to force it away. He could certainly never suggest that she do something like...like that, although.... **Maybe....if I show her...if she'll let me...oh, God...maybe she would want to...** His mind was spinning rapidly beyond his control. Just the thought of sharing something so intimate with her was driving him slowly insane. Problem was...he had no idea how to get such a thing started. His previous experience didn't include anything even close to what he wanted to happen next. He wrestled silently with the problem for a moment, rapidly formulating and discarding different options before he decided to just go ahead and ask her what she thought. Screwing all his courage to the sticking place, he pulled back to look into her eyes. Buffy, who had been enjoying what she was doing, was surprised when he withdrew. She looked at him with a question in her eyes. "You...don't you like that?" William nodded emphatically. "Very much," he told her. "But...but I was thinking that...that we could do something...else." He saw her tense up, and he knew what she was think- ing. Rushing to reassure her, he explained himself a little more clearly. "Buffy...I know that it's too soon for us to do...what you're thinking. I understand that...and I'd never ask you to do something you're not ready for...I'd never pressure you, or...or..." He felt like a total git, stammering and fumbling for words this way. She must think he was an inept clod. She instantly soothed his insecurity. Placing one small hand on his cheek, she gazed into his eyes. "I know that already. And you're not...I promise." ~~~~~ "Sweeter than wine Softer than a summer night..." ~~~~~ Encouraged by her words, William pressed on. "I meant that we can do...other things together. To make each other...feel good." "You mean like...what we did at the beach?" Buffy asked, blushing at the memory. Her warm hands...her soft fingers...touching his body...caressing his...... His trousers became uncomfortably tight as the image formed in his head. "Yes...like that," he said. "And...and something else, too. If you want to." Seeing William this way, a boy who was usually confident and sure of himself, touched Buffy's heart and made her smile. He was so sweet, and she loved him so much, so much that she couldn't remember what it was like NOT to love him. "Something else?" she prompted. Not allowing himself a chance to rethink this whole scenario, he placed one hand on her inner thigh, then slipped it up under her dress. "I could touch you here," he said, his fingers brushing the front of her underpants, "with my mouth." Buffy's cheeks turned crimson at his words. Oral sex! He was suggesting oral sex! With her! Oh. Oh, she just couldn't. Could she? If she did...if she let him...he would want her to do it, too. And she had never...she wouldn't know how to...what to do. **But I love him...I want him..** She swallowed hard. "I've never..." "Neither have I," he admitted. ~~~~~ "Everything I want, I have Whenever I hold you tight ~~~~~ Buffy was a little surprised. She'd never have been able to suggest doing what he was suggesting if she'd never done it before. She could tell that he was being truthful, though. He was too nervously shy to be anything else. And she liked the idea of being the first girl he'd... The first? She couldn't be. Not with him being so totally cute and sexy, and so sweet at the same time. How could it be possible. He'd had girlfriends before...hadn't he? Well, now she had to know. If it killed her with embarrassment, she was going to ask. "So," she said hoarsely, then cleared her throat. "You've never...I mean...what you were talking about...never?" "Never," he confirmed. Buffy played absently with the curls at the nape of his neck, trying for casual aplomb. "William...I was wondering if...if you...have you..." He had a pretty fair idea of what she was trying to ask, but he kept a straight face and let her choke it out. "Are you...um..." She took a deep breath and asked the question with her rapid exhale. "Areyouavirgin?" William hadn't thought it was possible for her face to turn any redder, but apparently he'd been wrong. Biting his lower lip to keep from laughing, he made his confession. "Yes," he nodded. "Actually....I am." Uncertain as to how she'd feel about hearing this, he was pleasantly surprised to see an enraptured smile bloom on her pretty face. He'd never imagined his lack of experience would make her so happy. "Really?" she asked, threading her fingers into his curls. He turned his head and kissed her fingers. "Really," he replied, then gave her a questioning look. "You don't mind that I...really don't know what I'm doing?" Buffy shook her head. Mind? It was one of the best things she'd ever heard. "I think it's wonderful," she said, cupping his face in her hands. "Why?" "Because....we'll be learning it all together," she said simply. "We'll teach each other...everything." "Everything?" he breathed, his eyes soft with love. "Everything." ~~~~~ "This magic moment With your lips so close to mind Will last forever Forever till the end of time..." ~~~~~

Part seventeen..... ~~~~~~~~~~ "God bless the day I found you I want to stay around you Now and forever Let it be me..." ~~~~~~~~~~ The television flickered silently, completely forgotten by the two laying on the thick carpeting in front of it. Almost shaking with the arousal and emotion building inside of him, William knelt between Buffy's slightly spread legs, easing her panties down an inch at a time. The deed could have been accomplished much more quickly than it was, but they were both so on edge and nervous that time seem to be stretching. After their mutual decision to begin exploring the sexual awakening and desire they were feeling, William had gotten up off the couch and made sure that the door was securely locked, and all the curtains were closed. He had spread the comforter from his bed on the floor, then returned to the couch and held out one hand to Buffy. She had hesitated only a moment before placing her own hand in his, allowing him to draw her down to the floor. It had only taken him a split second to consider and reject the idea of taking her into his bedroom. The temptation he felt around her was strong enough as it was. If he saw her on his bed, he wasn't sure he'd be able to control himself. Fortunately, the room was warm and the carpeting plush, especially with the goose down comforter he'd added. On their knees in front of each other, he had eased her dress up and over her hips. She was too nervous to remove it completely, so he'd just smiled and helped her lie down on the floor. His shirt had been clinging to the light sheen of perspiration caused by his excitement, and he had slipped it off and tossed it away before lying down next to her. Starting at her lips, he kissed her softly and slowly, trying to relax her into unclamping her tightly com- pressed thighs. His lips had traveled down her throat, nuzzling the slight indentation at it's base, then con- tinued down between her breasts. When he'd felt her hands in his hair, guiding him to where she wanted him to go, he had felt a thrill race up and down his spine. Taking her right breast into his mouth, he'd licked and sucked the hard nipple until she was satisfied, then moved to the opposite side and did it all again. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Don't take this heaven from one If you must cling to someone Now and forever Let it be me.." ~~~~~~~~~~ Down over her abdomen, his kisses trailed. Before he got too intimate, he moved further down her body and gently moved her legs apart a bit. He'd kissed the soft inside of her thighs, already able to smell the scent of her as he inched his way up. She had stiffened up, and he had stopped immediately, hoping it was only a temporary postponement. "All right?" he'd asked, reaching with one hand for the elastic waist of her panties. After what felt like a bloody eternity to him, she had nodded and smiled bravely. Rising to his knees, he'd begun to pull down her under- pants. The pink lace and satin slipped slowly but surely down her legs and off. William stared in dumb amazement, certain he'd never seen anything so beautiful. When he could finally tear his eyes away, he glanced up and saw her watching him. "Can I...may I..." he stammered, "touch you...here?" Buffy nodded, a little non-plussed at his shy nervousness. Propping himself on one elbow, he cupped his free hand over her mound, shocked by how warm and moist she was. When she gasped, his eyes shot to her face to make sure she was still willing. Although her own eyes had drifted shut....she was licking her lips and faintly smiling. Strongly encouraged by her reaction, he grew bolder. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Each time we meet, love I find complete love.." ~~~~~~~~~~ Using his index finger, he slipped it slowly up and down the cleft of her sex, keeping his first touch light and gentle. Buffy murmured softly in her throat, and her legs parted a little more for him. Daringly moistening the tip of his finger in her wetness, he called up the memory of the stories he had read in the magazines he'd found...tales that he suspected were completely fictitious despite their writer's claims to the contrary...and located the sensitive spot at her apex. He rubbed it slowly, thrilled when Buffy choked out a half-scream and lifted her hips, opening her legs to give him total access. "Buffy?" he whispered, studying the look of abandon on her lovely features. "Does this...does it feel good? Do you like it, love?" "Oh, yes," she sighed, her head falling to one side. "I do....so much." William felt a heady rush of pride and pleasure as he reveled in the knowledge that he...a total and complete amateur in this sort of foreplay...was making her feel so good. Emboldened even further, he bent his head and kissed the neatly trimmed patch of light brown curls that hid the most secretly intimate place on her body. Buffy's body tensed, then relaxed as she released a breath she'd obviously been holding. His mind reeling with a mixture of uncertainty and desperate desire, William moved lower and traced his tongue up the same path his finger had taken. "Oh!" Her voice squeaked and her eyes flew open wide. "Will...William!" Terrified of what her answer might be, he still had to ask. "Do you want me to stop?" **Please say no...please say no...Buffy...please...don't make me stop...** ~~~~~~~~~~ "Without your sweet love Tell me, what would life be?" ~~~~~~~~~~ "No...no, don't stop," she murmured. "I don't want you to." The tension in him began to dissipate, and he lowered his head again, licking her with soft strokes of his tongue. Buffy's neck arched, grinding the back of her head into the comforter. One of her hands moved down, her fingers threading through his hair as she tried to urge him up to find her clitoris. Silently praying that he was doing this right, he touched his tongue to the place she wanted it, flick- ing the sensitive knot of flesh. Then, taking it into his mouth, he sucked it with greedy hunger, tasting the flood of juice that she emitted. He loved this, loved everything about it. The taste, the scent, the feel of her down there...all of it was perfect. Buffy became frenzied, working both hands in his hair, whimpering and lifting herself to him. William sucked harder, drinking in the sounds that were coming out of her, elated that he was the one eliciting them. She tasted sweet and salty at the same time, and he gorged himself thoroughly before he moved his tongue down and slipped it inside of her. ~~~~~~~~~~ "So never leave me lonely Tell me you love me only" Now and forever..." ~~~~~~~~~~ For someone with no experience, he seemed to be accomplishing the goal he was aiming for. Buffy's body writhed and heaved beneath the caress of his tongue, and her fingers flew over his hair and down to his face, stroking his cheeks, holding him steady. Anxious to give her all the pleasure he possibly could, he slipped his tongue inside of her a fraction. She complained when he left what he had been doing, so he quickly replaced his tongue with his finger and kept stimulating her clitoris as he probed more and more deeply. Her breathing escalated even more, and she moaned and cried out his name, sending his ego soaring sky high. He felt her climax almost as keenly as she did herself, and it took all of his dwindling control not to spend in his trousers. Buffy shuddered and whined, her lower body jerking with a glut of sensation that was starting to feel uncomfortable. Untangling her fingers from his hair, she dragged at him until he moved up and rested his head on her stomach. Gently stroking her, he smiled against her skin and brought her down slowly by whispering over and over again how much he loved her. When she was finally calm, he lifted his head and smiled up at her. Buffy said nothing. She simply held out her ams and waited for him to fall into them. Laying in his arms, in a marvelous state of peace and contentment, she held him tightly and gathered together all of her courage and desire to please him. Then, hiding her face against his chest, she spoke two soft words. "Now, you." ~~~~~~~~~~ "Let it be me...." ~~~~~~~~~~

 Part eighteen..... ~~~~~~~~~~ "When we kiss, my heart's on fire Burning with a strange desire.." ~~~~~~~~~~ Even though her body was still coming down from the intensity of her climax, Buffy felt a wave of shyness and nerves suddenly overtake her. It was one thing to lie back and let William take the lead, doing things to her that she'd never even dreamed were possible; it was quite another to try and do these things herself. She wanted more than anything to please him as he had pleased her. He deserved the same wonderful release she had just enjoyed. But what if she failed him? What if she lost her nerve and wasn't able to go through with it? It would be awful of her to lead him on and then just stop. It wasn't that the idea was unappealing to her. In her eyes he was beautiful, and there was no part of his body that she didn't want to explore in every way. Touching William intimately thrilled her. She had learned THAT the other night when they had gone to the beach to make out. Remembering the way she had caressed him, the strong reactions she had provoked, made her feel very much a woman instead of an inexperienced sixteen year old. She wanted to feel that way again. Right here and right now. ~~~~~~~~~~ "And I know each time I kiss you That your heart's on fire, too.." ~~~~~~~~~~ "Buffy?" His voice sounded strained. "Don't you want to?" Her heart swelled with love, and she knew that he would call a halt to this if she asked him to. He'd stop and wouldn't blame her or be angry with her. And she didn't WANT to stop. She truly didn't. She just wasn't sure how to start. "I want to," she whispered. Cupping his face in her hands, she stroked his cheeks with her thumbs. "It's just that...I'm not sure what I should do." The relief on his face made her smile. He kissed her lightly on the lips, then rose to his knees and started to unbutton his trousers. She noticed that his hands were very slightly trembling. The sight touched her, bringing all her love and desire bubbling to the surface, pushing away her fears. He was just as nervous as she was, and just as anxious. Pushing herself up onto her knees before him, she moved his hands away. When her fingers brushed the warm skin of his abdomen, he gasped sharply as the muscles tightened. Buffy carefully slipped the top button out of it's hole, then began lowering the zipper until his pants slipped down his slim hips. As he had that night at the beach, William wore no undergarments at all. Except for the slacks that she pushed down around his knees, he was naked. She hadn't really gotten much of a chance to look at him the first time. It had been very dark, and she hadn't had the nerve to examine him too closely. Outside of a few little boys she'd babysat, Buffy had never seen a penis so up close and personal. Now, if she could conquer her paralyzing shyness, she could take her time. Although she had no basis for comparison, to her unschooled eye it looked fairly large. Long and thick and rigidly hard, it extended straight out from his body. The bell shaped head of it was broad and moist, and she could see the prominent veins that ran down it's length. Like the rest of his body, she found it absolutely beautiful...and she wanted to touch it. Acting on pure instinct, she extended her hand and grasped him lightly, feeling the wonderful contrast of soft skin and hard flesh. ~~~~~~~~~~ "So my darling, please surrender All your love, so warm and tender.." ~~~~~~~~~~ William's eyes closed tightly for a moment, then he opened them and looked down at what Buffy was doing. The eroticism of what he saw, coupled with the sensation of her small, warm hand on him, nearly caused him to ejaculate. He had to bite down on his lower lip to keep it from happening. Fascinated, he watched her close her fingers more firmly around his shaft. "Like this?" she ventured shyly. William nodded. "Oh, yes," he moaned softly. "Just like that...Buffy..." Milky drops of semen began leaking from the slit, wetting her hand as she began to tentatively stroke his erection. His hips pushed forward a little, thrusting into the sheath she'd made of her fingers. When she stopped, his head jerked up and he looked at her. "Please," he whispered, desperately wanting her to continue. Buffy was gaining confidence in herself, and she smiled to ease his obvious distress. "I think you should lie down now." Relief made him weak in the knees, and he did as she'd instructed. Stretching out on his back, he kicked his trousers completely off and parted his legs, his body tense with anticipation. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Let me hold you in my arms, dear While the moon shines bright above..." ~~~~~~~~~~ This was it. The point of no return. Lying down beside him, she propped herself on her elbow and took hold of him again. William held his breath, his nerves stretched to their absolute limits, waiting... **Please...please...oh, Buffy...now...** he pleaded silently. **I need you so much...take me...take me in your mouth...I want to know...want to feel it...feel your lips on me...your tongue touching me...licking...oh, Buffy...Buffy, I love...oh!...oh, god!...yes!...yes!...so good!...feels so...so...oh!...so wet, and...soft...your lips...ah, tighter...a little...just...I...I love you...I love THIS...more...take more...please...please...Buffy...oh,! Buffy...my angel...your sweet...sweet mouth...on me...on my...oh, yes!...I want to see...want to watch you...see your mouth...look at me...yes...oh, I love you...I love you...love you so, SO much...faster...perfect...just perfect...warm...and wet...yes!...with your tongue...oh, god...Buffy...Buffy...I'm...I'm going to...I...I can't stop...I can't...I want...I want to...yes...yes...your mouth...in your mouth...let me...oh, please let me...harder...I'm so...so...close...I'm...yes!...yes!...oh, god, yes!...yes, Buffy!...now!...now!...NOW!...BUFFY!...I LOVE YOU! ** ~~~~~~~~~~ "All the stars will tell the story Of our love and all it's glory Let us take this night of magic And make it a night of love..." ~~~~~~~~~~ "William? Are you okay?" Panting in exquisite relief, he smiled at her and pulled her up into his arms. "I've never been better in my life." Buffy returned his smile, rather proud of herself. It seemed to her that lack of experience didn't really matter when you loved someone enough. Wrapping her in a secure embrace, he rolled her over on her back and bent his head to kiss her. His tongue moved into her mouth and gathered up the faint taste of his ejaculate. When he finally pulled away, he looked down into her eyes. "Someday," he informed her seriously, "I'm going to marry you. I swear it. You're going to be my wife, and my..." Before he could finish his sentence, she tightened her arms around him and pulled him into another deep kiss. Someday..... ~~~~~~~~~~ "Be mine forever Be mine tonight..." ~~~~~~~~~~

Part nineteen.... ~~~~~~~~~~ "Don't know much about history Don't know much biology..." ~~~~~~~~~~ "Buffy! Are you about ready?" What a question. She was as ready as she was ever going to be to start a new grade, at a new school where she only knew a handful of people...a small handful. Calling down something affirmative to her mother, Buffy took one last look in the mirror before she scooped up her book bag and ran downstairs. In the kitchen, her mom was pouring juice and shaking vitamins out of a bottle. She looked up and smiled when her daughter walked in. "You look nice, honey." "Thanks," Buffy replied briefly, accepting the vitamins and swallowing them down with a swig of orange juice. After changing her clothes four times, she had finally decided on her short waisted white sweater with elbow length sleeves and her blue denim almost-mini skirt. Want- ing to give herself a little stature, she'd zipped her feet into her knee high boots, then finished the outfit with a white elastic hair band. "How about breakfast?" her mother asked. "Some eggs, maybe? Cereal?" "Ugh...Mom," Buffy groaned. "I'm way too nervous to eat. I'll just have toast...with boysenberry jam. And maybe a granola bar." She pulled open the fridge and examined it's contents. "Where's the leftover pizza?" "Bottom shelf," Joyce answered, cracking eggs into a bowl and scrambling them into a pastel yellow froth. "Sweetie, don't be nervous. You'll do just fine at Sunnydale High. You already know some of the kids...and Mr. Giles will be there in the library. And of course, William will be there." Her mom's deliberately casual tone made Buffy smile. Joyce wanted so much for her to confide her feelings for the "boy next door" but Buffy wasn't ready for any heart-to-hearts on the subject. Their relationship was still so new, so tender, and so wildly exciting that she wanted to hug it to herself and not expose it to endless question and answer sessions. Joyce scooped mounds of fluffy scrambled eggs onto two plates. Without a word, she placed one in front of her daughter, satisfied when Buffy picked up a fork and began to eat. When the toast popped up, she grabbed the jam from the refrigerator and brought it to the table. Buffy reached for a piece and slathered a thick layer of boysenberry preserves over it's surface. "Good," she pronounced, her voice slightly garbled. "You sure you don't need me to take you today?" Joyce asked, sipping coffee. "I don't mind." Buffy shook her head. "No. I'd rather go with William." She looked up suddenly, hoping she hadn't hurt her mom's feelings. "I..I don't mean that the way it sounds. I just..I thought...you know...you shouldn't be late for work and...." Joyce held up one hand to stifle the flow of words. "Honey, don't worry. I'm not offended that you'd prefer to be driven to school by a handsome young man in a Ferrari. Much cooler than being dropped off by your mom in a dusty five year old Cherokee." "It's not that..." Buffy began to protest. Joyce, however, shook her head and smiled. "Buffy...believe it or not I was sixteen once myself. And I'm not so terribly decrepit that I've forgotten what it's like. Besides," she added, gathering up their dirty dishes, "I have a mountain of work waiting for me. It'll be good to get an early start." Jumping to her feet, Buffy snuck up behind her mother as she stood at the sink and threw her arms around her. She gave her a tight squeeze and a loud, smacking kiss on the back of Joyce's hair. "You're the best mom, ever," she said sincerely. "Which I know I should tell you more often." Joyce turned around and returned her daughter's enthusiastic embrace, thinking how fortunate she was that Buffy was such an affectionate girl. Most teens her age wouldn't be caught dead kissing and hugging their mother goodbye, but her daughter had always been willing to submit to as much cuddling as she could get and would hold still for excessive 'mothering'. Laying her head against her mother's shoulder, Buffy closed her eyes for a moment, snuggling into arms that had always meant safety and happiness, and unending love. "I love you, Mommy." "I love you, too," Joyce said, feeling that mixture of emotion that Buffy caused inside of her heart; the love and the pride at what a lovely young lady she was growing up into, combined with the inevitable sadness of knowing that her baby was no longer a baby at all. Soon, her little one would be making her way through the world on her own, and Joyce just wasn't sure she was ready to let go. But when Buffy pulled away, she allowed her to slip through her fingers, forcing down the instinctual urge to hold on tightly to the only child she would ever have. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Don't know much about a science book Don't know much about the French I took.." ~~~~~~~~~~ A soft knock startled Buffy and her mother apart. Joyce returned to the sink full of dishes, while Buffy threw open the back door. William looked up and their eyes met. Unspoken "I love yous" passed between them as they shared a knowing smile. "You all ready to go?" he asked, his glance moving up and down her small figure in a way she could almost feel. She took one step back as he took one forward. "Good morning, William." Joyce picked up a small towel and dried her hands. He returned her greeting, still staring at Buffy. It wasn't until Joyce turned around that he was able to change the direction of his gaze. "Bye, Mom," Buffy said quickly, snatching up her book bag and the lunch Joyce had made for her. Before she could get even one step away, her mother called her back. "Run upstairs and brush your teeth, honey." Buffy sighed impatiently. "We're gonna be late," she protested. Joyce wasn't buying it. "Then don't stand here arguing and just go do it." As she clomped up the stairs, muttering under her breath, Joyce regarded William with a steady gaze. "She's not about to admit it, but she's very nervous about all this." William smiled and shrugged. "S'pose that's to be expected. New town, new school...lot of changes all at once." Joyce only hesitated for a moment. "Keep an eye on her for me, William? As much as you can, anyway." "You know I will," he promised, projecting reassurance into his voice for her benefit. "She's not as brave as she pretends to be," she said quietly, hearing Buffy coming back downstairs. "I'm counting on you to take care of her." He nodded. "Till the end of the world." It was the easiest promise he'd ever made. ~~~~~~~~~~ "But I do know that I love you And I know that if you love me, too What a wonderful world this would be.." ~~~~~~~~~~ Swinging into a space in the student parking lot, William shut off the engine and looked at Buffy. "Ready to learn?" he asked, reaching for her hand and placing a gentle kiss on the back of it. She made a face. "I think so." "You nervous, love?" "No." There was a pause. "Kind of." "Got your class schedule?" "Yes." "Your locker assignment?" "Number 301. Seven...ahead to fourteen...back to thirty- six." "Rucksack?" "Say what?" He chuckled. "The thing you put your books in." "Why didn't you say so? Got it." "It'll be all right, you know." William climbed out of the car, then went around to open the door for her. She stepped out, expecting him to back up a little. He surprised her by staying in place and bending his head to kiss her. It was a sweetly soft kiss, and Buffy pressed closer, wanting more. He pinned her up against the car, obliging her desire. His mouth caressed her cheeks, and then returned again to her lips. "Now I'm ready," she whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Don't know much about geography Don't know much trigonometry.." ~~~~~~~~~~ They walked up the front steps of Sunnydale High School holding hands. Both of them drew a fair share of attention and admiration, William from the girls and Buffy from the boys. "What's your first class?" "World history. What fun." She rolled her eyes. "Actually, it is...if you let it be." He gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "What's yours?" she asked. "Advanced Topics In Algorithms." Buffy stopped dead in her tracks. "Huh?" "It's a procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps," he explained. To her, it sounded like something developed by NASA engineers or some other bunch of geniuses. She only hoped that it wasn't a required course. Taking a grip on her hand, he delivered her to the door of room 211. "Corragio," he murmured, lifting their clasped hands and kissing her fingers before he released her. She smiled. "French?" "Italian. Now, I'll meet you at the bottom of the stairs and walk you to your next class, all right?" "All right," she agreed. "Don't go anywhere without me." "Why would I?" Dropping a light kiss on her lips, he nudged her through the classroom door. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Don't know much about algebra Don't know what a slide rule is for.." ~~~~~~~~~~ Thankfully, she spotted a couple of familiar faces in the classroom. Anya was sitting at a desk in the middle of the room, three back from the front row. Next to her, Buffy saw Willow Rosenberg, a girl she'd met briefly at her birthday party, and liked immensely. Sweet natured and soft spoken, Willow was the type of girl who always went out of her way to help. She was extremely intelligent, according to William, and made consistently high marks in all her classes. "Buffy! Come on and sit over here," Anya called out, pointing to the empty desk in front of her. Making her way through the group of milling students, Buffy plopped down in the desk and heaved a grateful sigh. "I was afraid I wouldn't know anybody in the class," she said, turning around to talk with the two girls. Willow pushed back a lock of her long reddish brown hair. "Don't worry," she said sincerely. "Every one here is really nice...with a couple of exceptions," she tacked on, glancing at the classroom door. Buffy followed her gaze and saw Cordelia Chase walking in and talking to another girl, one with long, smooth blond hair. They were both expensively dressed, and carried book bags with a gold Gucci buckle on the back flaps. Walking slowly towards the back of the room, they found two desks next to each other and arranged their belongings on them. Buffy watched for a moment, turning her face away when Cordelia's eyes met hers and she leaned over to whisper something in her friend's ear. The blond glanced at Buffy, then giggled annoyingly. "Don't pay attention to them, Buffy," Willow said, smiling encouragingly. "They've got their own little clique that they rule over like a couple of queens, but they're pretty harmless if you ignore them." "Buffy's already had a taste of Cordelia," Anya said, pro- ceeding to tell Willow about their encounter in the ladies room of the Bronze. Willow listened with a sympathetic ear. "Cordy warns every new girl about staying away from Angel. One of these days she should warn Angel about staying away from new girls." "Mm-hmm," Anya nodded, then gave Buffy a sky smile. "It's not a problem for Buffy," she said. "She's totally gone for William Darlington." Buffy smiled, her cheeks blushing a light pink, but she was saved from replying by the teacher coming into the room and insisting the class come to order. ~~~~~~~~~~ "But I do know one and one is two And if this one could be with you What a wonderful world it would be.." ~~~~~~~~~~ The rest of the morning passed fairly quickly. William met her at pre-appointed places and showed her where her classes were, leaving her each time with a kiss and a whispered, "Love you." Buffy was pleased to find out that she shared all of her classes with either Anya, Willow, or the both of them. Xander and Oz, Willow's boyfriend, were seniors and not in any of their classes, but they spent the morning break together, sitting on the front lawn and enjoying the sun. When the noon bell sounded, releasing the students for their lunch hour, she found William waiting for her outside her science class. He greeted her with a kiss, then took her hand and led her through the crowd of kids. "Where are we going?" she asked, having to trot to keep up with him. Instead of answering, he ducked down a short hallway and pulled her into a supply closet. There was a bare light bulb with a string hanging down to switch it on and off. The bulb was obviously on it's way out, because the light it gave off was dim and weak. "I'm going to die if I can't kiss you properly," William said softly in her ear, sliding his arms around her waist. "I've missed you all morning." Buffy dropped her bag and wound her arms around his neck, raising her face for his kiss. His mouth devoured hers with a single minded passion, and his hands moved restlessly up and down her back. She pressed closer, needing more contact. When her hips brushed against his, he gasped into her mouth and slipped his hands down to cover the curve of her bottom. Applying pressure, he ground his loins against hers. Buffy returned the pressure wholeheartedly, trying to relieve the ache that was growing inside of her. She could feel the wetness beginning to trickle into her underpants, and she rubbed harder against the iron hard erection William had developed in three seconds flat. "Buffy," he moaned, covering her face with soft, brief kisses. "I love you...so much...harder...please..." Taking a tighter hold on her rear, he began thrusting his hips forward a little. He moved his right hand and pulled her arm from around him to take her hand, then began guiding it down between them.... Unfortunately, there was no lock on the door, and they jumped apart when it suddenly swung open. The janitor shooed them out, warning them not to let him catch them in there again. Buffy's face was bright red with embarrassment, and William tightened his arm around her as he walked her back to the front lawn of the school. "I'm sorry," he murmured, pressing his lips against her hair. She shook her head. "Don't be. I wanted to be there, too." He spotted their friends sitting at a table and headed in that direction, trying to will away the hardness still aching between his legs. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Now, I don't claim to be an 'A' student But I'm trying to be Cause maybe by being an 'A' student, baby I can win your love for me..." ~~~~~~~~~~ After the lunch break, Buffy's next class was P.E., and she was glad to go there, hoping that lots of physical exertion would curb the raging desire William had set off. It only worked to a small degree. She was waiting her turn to run when she spotted him coming out of the boys gymnasium wearing track shorts and a maroon tank top. He was walking with Xander, talking about something that must have been funny, because he laughed. Buffy couldn't take her eyes off him. The shorts revealed his well built legs, and the tank top showed off the definition of hard muscle gracing his biceps. He knelt to retie his running shoe, looking up to say something to Xander as he shook his shaggy hair back from his face. When he stood up and glanced towards the field, he smiled and waved to her. Grinning idiotically, she waved back, then had to endure a round of good natured teasing from Willow and Anya before the teacher blew her whistle and directed her onto the track. Buffy smoothed her T-shirt down and lined up next to a tall girl with long brown hair. "I'm Amy," she said, smiling as they knelt into a starting position. "I'm Buffy. Hi," was all she had time to say before the whistle went off again, signaling them to begin their race. Buffy was feeling so good about how well her day was going that she nearly flew around the track, leaving Amy in her dust. Back at the starting point, the teacher praised her time and directed her to the next event. Amy came up behind her, still breathing hard. "That was great!" she said, tying her hair back into a pony- tail. "You should think about trying out for the cheer- leading team. You've got a lot of energy." It sounded like fun. "Maybe I will," Buffy replied. "Well, if you decide to, let me know. I'm the co- captain and I can show you some of our moves for the try outs." Buffy nodded, turning her gaze back out onto the field, searching for William, wanting another look at him in his shorts and tank top before she took her next turn. The sight inspired her to do her absolute best. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Don't know much about the middle ages Look at the books and I turn the pages Don't know nothing 'bout no rise and fall Don't know nothing 'bout nothing at all..." ~~~~~~~~~~ Fifth period was a study hall for her. William scooped her up and she came out of her math class and walked her over to the library. It was nearly deserted, since most of the students used their study period for anything but studying. Much to her surprise, William sat down next to her and opened his science book. "You have a study period, too?" she asked brightly. "Mm-hmm," he said. Locating the page he wanted, he began to read. Buffy pulled out the notebook with her English assignment, then went off in search of the book she needed. The student library was beautiful, filled with shelf after shelf of well used books. There were a few computers located at one far end, and the tables and desks gleamed under the mellow light filtering in from the high arched windows on the top floor. Buffy climbed the two sets of stairs, her feet silent on the carpeting. She wandered up one aisle and down the other, letting her fingers drift along the spines of the books. Reaching the end of one shelf, she turned the corner and ran smack into William. "Oh!" He grinned. "Sorry I startled you, love," he said, not looking sorry in the least. "But have you noticed that we have the place all to ourselves?" ~~~~~~~~~~ "But I do know that I love you And I know that if you love me, too What a wonderful world this would be..." ~~~~~~~~~~

Part twenty.... ~~~~~~~~~~ "I give her all my love That's all I do And if you saw my love You'd love her, too I love her...." ~~~~~~~~~~ "What are you doing?" "Kissing you." The activity that followed could hardly be described as a mere kiss, but by the time Buffy figured that out, she no longer cared. Gently pushing against her, William nudged her flat into the far wall, hiding them from anyone who may walk in and glance up at the third floor. His hands moved down to her hips and held her firmly against him, while his mouth roamed along the line of her jaw, then up over the curve of her cheek. When he kissed a trail over to her ear and breathed warmly on her skin, she nearly collapsed in his arms. "Buffy," he whispered. "I'm going to go insane if I can't touch you right now...under your clothes." His hands slipped up and began probing under the hem of her sweater. Sliding around her back, he fumbled with the clasp of her bra. "Can I undo it?" he pleaded. Hardly able to make sense of his words, she nodded and leaned forward a little. The clasp separated and her breasts settled into two warm hands that instantly surrounded and supported them. Her own hands moved up and cupped the sides of his face, guiding his mouth back to hers. When she felt the tentative caress of his tongue, she parted her lips, allowing it to slide deeply into her mouth. A beam of afternoon sunlight streamed through a high window, warming the soft mass of brownish-blond curls she threaded her fingers through. The pressure of his mouth on hers increased when he felt her hands in his hair, pressing him down closer. Leaning against her, he fondled and caressed her breasts, rubbing his thumbs over the hardened nipples. Her skin felt electrified, every slight touch of his hands made her shiver. She rose up on her toes, wanting to be even closer, and closed her lips around his tongue. William groaned in his throat when he felt her gently sucking at his tongue. The erotic imagery so implicit in the gesture made him painfully erect, and he stepped closer, rubbing himself against her. The sound of pleasure he made gave Buffy an immediate thrill of feminine power. Still gripping his hair, she changed the nature of their kiss, becoming bolder and pushing his tongue back into his mouth. Following it with her own, she tested the edges of his teeth, and caressed the soft inside of his cheeks. When they finally broke apart, they were both gasping for air. ~~~~~~~~~~ "She gives me everything And tenderly The kiss my lover brings She brings to me And I love her..." ~~~~~~~~~~ Freeing his hands from inside her sweater, William moved them down Buffy's sides, then around to curve over her bottom. He used his grip there to pull her more snugly against him, blindly searching out some kind of relief for his aching shaft. They stared into each other's eyes, saying volumes without ever uttering a sound. He leaned back a little, his eyes moving down between them as his hands began sliding her skirt up. Buffy's fingers gripped the swell of his biceps. This was going farther than she'd planned, but there was no help for it. She no longer just wanted his touch...now, she needed it. He had made it that way. Hoping desperately that no one would come wandering into the library, she parted her legs slightly, allowing his hand to slip between them and move her panties to one side. When she felt his fingers touching her, she had to force her eyes to stay focused on his. "Like this?" he whispered almost soundlessly, cupping and caressing her. Her hands moved to his shirt front, her fingers gripping the soft cotton and tugging on it until his face was buried in the curve of her neck. His breath was hot on her skin and she gasped when she felt him exploring the moist folds of her labia. His index finger, wet from her arousal, slowly swirled around the sensitive bud of her clitoris. Touching and teasing, he played with her, occasionally moving to dip ever so slightly inside. Her mouth was once again filled with his tongue as his free hand slipped around behind her to grasp her bottom. With gentle little pushes of that hand, he built the pleasure the other was delivering so intensely to it's breaking point. Winding one arm around his neck to keep herself anchored to the earth in some way, Buffy whimpered and moaned, grinding herself against his invading fingers. Without warning, he suddenly pulled his mouth from hers and whispered harshly in her ear. "Do it, Buffy. I want you to. I want to feel it." The passionate tone of his voice was the final thing she needed to push her over the edge. Biting down on her lower lip until she was nearly drawing blood, she climaxed, wetting his hand even more thoroughly. ~~~~~~~~~~ "A love like ours Will never die As long as I Have you near me.." ~~~~~~~~~~ She almost took him right along with her. He did everything he could think of to keep from ejaculating in his pants, from holding his breath and clenching his abdominal muscles, to mentally reciting the Periodic Table of Elements in a mantra of self control. That control was almost shot to hell when he felt her small hand cup over the place where his jeans were uncomfortably tight. His own hand came back out of her underwear, fingers wrapping around her delicate wrist. "I can't," he whispered, his voice hoarse and his breathing rapid. "Not here." Buffy smiled, misinterpreting his meaning completely. "That's not what it feels like to me," she said, wondering where on earth she had found the nerve to say such a thing. Trying to move her hand up and down, she was thwarted again by his grip on her wrist. Somewhat perplexed, she looked up at him. His need was plainly written on his face. Why was he trying to stop her from satisfying it? "What's wrong?" He sucked in a ragged breath as his head dropped onto her shoulder. "There's nothing here to...to clean things up with," he explained. "What?" "It'll either end up on the floor," he said, swallowing hard, "or in my pants." His meaning was suddenly clear, and her cheeks reddened slightly. She released him from her hold, and he raised his head to look at her. The agony on his face was profound, and she couldn't stand it. "No, it won't." Pushing aside the fear of getting caught doing something they couldn't bluff their way out of, she reached for him again, unzipping his fly and dropping to her knees. She slipped one hand into his pants and brought out his straining erection. It felt like a steel bar in her hand as she stroked it, making drops of semen leak from the slit. "Buffy?" he choked, hands automatically burying themselves in her hair. "Shhh," she whispered, lowering her head. She licked delicately at the broad, moist head of his penis. When she heard a soft curse issue from his lips, she slid her tongue up and down his erection, flicking it over the most sensitive spots. "Please," he begged softly. "In...inside your mouth." Glancing up to observe his reaction, she held his shaft at it's base and sucked him in deeply. She saw him watching her, and the look on his face made her blush. The dragging suction as he slid out, followed by the the delicious glide back in, was making him tremble. His hips moved back and forth a little, establishing a rhythm as he pumped in and out of her mouth. He shuddered and gasped in her embrace, his eyes riveted to the sight of her lips around his penis. "Harder," he groaned, Inspired by the sight of his obvious pleasure, Buffy began to move a bit faster. Her mouth slipped up and down his length, first sliding down as far as she could take it without gagging, then suckling only on the head. She tasted more of the fluid he was producing, allowing it to slide down her throat. William was close to delirious as his body prepared itself for the orgasm that was imminent. His hips jerked in her grasp, his testicles swelling and lifting. Closing his eyes tightly shut, he concentrated on the way it felt and sounded, all luscious friction and wet sucking. His fingers inadvertently tightened in her hair the moment his pleasure reached it's peak. Air hissed as he sucked it in through clenched teeth. "Oh...oh, god...in your mouth...warm...wet...oh...yes...there, it's...right there..." The warm wetness exploded from him in hard spurts, not one of which found it's way either to the floor or the inside of his pants. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Bright are the stars that shine Dark is the sky..." ~~~~~~~~~~ Sanity returned quickly, bringing them both back down to earth with a loud thud as they acknowledged the very real risk of discovery they had blindly flouted. William pulled Buffy to her feet, and they rearranged their clothing. After exchanging one last kiss, they returned to their respective studies without a word, behaving as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened between them. ~~~~~~~~~~ "I know this love of mine Will never die..." ~~~~~~~~~~ After the dismissal bell rang for the day, Xander stood next to William, watching as he sorted through the items in his locker, collecting the books he needed to take home. Every so often, he would scan through the crowd of students, looking for Buffy. "She should have been here ten minutes ago," he said, frowning. "Do you think she's lost?" Xander sighed. "I doubt it. Just about anyone can point her in the right direction." With his arms folded across his chest, he shook his head at his friends distracted expression. "Man, you are hooked right through the bag." "What's that supposed to mean?" "It means, my friend, that you're not appreciating the bounty that is Sunnydale's student bodies, the ones of the feminine persuasion. It's all around you and it's eager to make your acquaintance." William said nothing, which only encouraged Xander to keep talking. "Over there, for instance," he said, gesturing towards a pretty redhead a few lockers down who kept smiling flirtatiously in William's direction. "That's Cindi. Extremely high on the hottie scale, wouldn't you agree?" Briefly following his friend's gaze, William nodded. "Very pretty. And. if I hadn't already met Buffy, I'd definitely be asking if I could carry her books for her." "Like I said...hooked through the bag. You may as well just marry her and get it over with." William spotted Buffy and smiled. "I will. You can count on it." "Is it just me," she asked, sailing up to him, "or is everyone in this school really tall?" "It's you," he replied, dropping a light kiss on her lips. "You're such a little thing." She smiled sunnily up at him. "That reminds me...can we get some- thing to eat?" "Anything you want, love." "Right through the bag," Xander muttered. "Stuff it, Harris." ~~~~~~~~~~ "And I love her...." ~~~~~~~~~~ TBC.....