Title: Beyond the Call of Duty
Author: Miss Witch
Email: misswitch@qwest.net
Rating: NC-17, which means if you are not of legal age to read this, don't!
Summary: Giles and Buffy try to figure out exactly what they mean to each other. A PWP sequel to `Part of the Job'.
Disclaimer: Everyone who thinks I own anything in the Buffyverse raise their hands. *looks around* Yeah, that's what I thought. Oh, wait, you, in the back… get a clue. Do I look like Joss?
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Spoilers: Season 3, after the Prom, so Buffy is 18 and therefore legal in California. Forget the whole teacher/student thing. That's crap. He's her Watcher first and foremost. Besides, he's the librarian. Please, my school police officer does more teaching than our librarian.
Distribution: If you've had my permission before, knock yourself out. If you don't have my permission, you've just to ask.
Feedback: Feedback feeds my Muse. A well-fed Muse is a happy Muse. And a happy Muse means that I write more. So, the more feedback I get, the more I write.
Author's Notes: This story originally started out as a smutty follow up to `Part of the Job'. A plot crept in. I'm sorry. I tried to get rid of it, but it wouldn't go.

Many, many thanks, as well as dirty looks, go out to Giles Fan. Not only did she give me the idea for this story, (damn you!) she graciously betaed it over and over, making sure Giles' hand (as well as a few other things) was always in the right place and that positions were anatomically possible. Without her help, this story wouldn't be half as, um, interesting as it is.

Warning: The following story contains graphic sex and language. If that is not your cup of tea, please do not read this. Don't write to me later complaining, `cause I'm warning you now. Also, in my little fantasyland, unwanted pregnancy or STD's are not worries. However, they are in real life. Please practice safe sex.

************

Buffy held her award as she wistfully watched the people on the dance floor. They held each other close, swaying to the slow music. She wondered with it would feel like to have Giles hold her like that, pressed close as they moved to the music. Lost in thought, she didn't notice the as object of her thoughts moved quietly behind her.

"You did good work tonight, Buffy." Giles said, leaning down to speak in her ear. Looking over her shoulder, Buffy turned with a smile. Her mouth watered as she looked at him. [God, he looks awesome in a tuxedo.] she thought. She felt the familiar warmth pool between her legs as she imagined taking it off of him.

"And I got a little toy surprise." she said perkily, holding it up for him to see. Buffy wondered, if she asked, if he'd wear the tux until she could sneak off and meet him at his apartment. He would, she knew, because he'd consider it "part of his job." Servicing his Slayer. Lord knew he did it often, fucking her senseless until she barely knew her own name.

Buffy felt her breasts tighten. Since that first morning in the library, she'd gone to him often, to work off post-Slayage horniness, to ease the frustration of her nights with Angel. It wasn't always hard and fast. Sometimes Giles was so tender, it made her heart ache.

He never made the first move, never touched her unless she asked, although she sometimes wished he would. But when she did, God, he was all over her, filling her, making her burn, making her beg. Like he had earlier, when she'd told him Angel was leaving. The memory alone made her wet and ready for him.

He'd been so sympathetic when she'd told him, offering her ice cream to ease her pain. Buffy had wrapped her arms around him, wanting to take comfort in his arms. His embrace had been completely innocent, one friend comforting another. Until she'd moved her mouth up to kiss him, begging him to make it better. Then like lightning, his touch had changed.

Giles had pushed her into the weapons cage, running his hands all over her body. Buffy hadn't been able to get him out of his clothes fast enough.

Buffy could still feel the wall against her back as Giles' hands had roamed her body. He knew all the right places to touch her. He didn't grope as Angel did, squeezing her breasts with cold hands. Oh no, Giles' hands moved over her like silk, teasing her nipples until they stood hard and firm. When they weren't so hurried, he'd use his mouth, flicking his tongue over her flesh.

But there hadn't been time for that. Buffy had had to go and stop the hellhounds. So they'd come together quickly, Giles pinning her against the wall as he'd entered her.

He'd whispered in her ear as even he'd thrust his cock deep into her, promising that he'd always be there, that she'd always be his. Buffy had cum quickly, screaming that she belonged to him as her pussy had clenched around him.

When it was over, they'd dressed silently and Buffy had decided that Giles was way better than ice cream as far as comfort food went. Then he'd kissed her forehead and sent her to fight the hellhounds, her body still quivering from his touch. It was small things like that kiss that made Buffy's heart hope he felt something more for her. That she was something more than his duty.

"I had no idea that children en masse could be gracious." Giles said with a grin, breaking into her thoughts. He was smiling down on her, and Buffy couldn't help but smile back.

Giles studied his Slayer, lovely in her pink gown, a glittering pin between her breasts. It was taking every bit of his self-control to tamp down a massive erection that would have embarrassed them both.

[So beautiful.] he thought, wishing they were alone. He wanted to strip that pink confection from her body and discover what she wore beneath.

Giles would never admit it, but his heart had leapt when she'd told him that Angel was leaving, even as it broke for her suffering. He couldn't help but hope that with Angel's departure, she'd grow to see him as more than a tool for her release.

"Every now and then, people surprise you." Buffy said, nodding thoughtfully. The song playing in the background was a cover of a Rolling Stones song, Giles noted. The tune was hauntingly beautiful and Buffy cocked her head wistfully at the tune. A battle between love and duty was waged within Giles.

Surely asking her to dance in this public forum wouldn't be overstepping his bounds. He was allowed to touch her as a Watcher, and any fool could see that she wished for at least one dance at her prom.

Making his decision, Giles ignored the voice in the back of his mind. The niggling whisper that insisted that a dance might change the way Buffy looked at him, make her see him as a man, not just a release for her sexual frustration. Disregarding the whispers, Giles opened his mouth to ask Buffy for a dance. A movement over her shoulder made Giles realize he'd hesitated too long. Smiling sadly, he plucked the toy umbrella from her grasp.

"Every now and then." he whispered, his gaze focused over her shoulder. He took the umbrella from her grasp gently, moving away. Confused, Buffy turned, shocked to find Angel across the room.

Giles watched sadly as Buffy went to the vampire, wrapping herself in his arms. He tortured himself by watching them dance, watching Angel's hands move over Buffy's body, touching places Giles had held only hours before.

Not for the first time, Giles regretted Willow's dogged persistence in researching Angel's curse. She'd discovered that the gypsies had left a loophole. A loophole which allowed Angel and Buffy to come together as lovers.

"… and as a man, should he lie within the woman he loves..."

Apparently, that one simple line had left open a myriad of other possibilities open to the couple. Bitterly, Giles damned the gypsies for their traditionalist thinking.

Finally, as the song came to an end, Giles turned and left, unable to watch as Angel lower his mouth to cover Buffy's mouth. Giles knew without a doubt what that kiss would lead to. He tortured himself with those images night after night. Filled with disgust, Giles strode from the gym. He may have had to stand by as the vampire seduced Buffy, but he didn't have to watch.

When the song ended, Angel guided Buffy from the gym, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, his hand grasping at her ass beneath her skirt. He led her to a darkened classroom, his mouth hungry on hers. Buffy returned the kiss mechanically, calculating how long it would be before she could go find Giles. Angel barely noticed her distraction, backing her into a teacher's desk.

"C'mon Buffy. One last time." he whispered huskily. He roughly pushed down the top of her dress, revealing the corset she wore beneath. Angel tugged that down as well, just enough to make her breasts spill over the top. Buffy sighed as Angel pinched her nipples, rubbing his thumbs over them, his idea of foreplay. With a gentle insistence, he pushed downward on her shoulders.

She wished she'd never told Angel about Willow's discovery. If only she'd left well enough alone. But she hadn't. There had been so much sexual frustration between them, and she'd thought that being able to pleasure each other in other ways would be the answer. Hindsight was 20/20, Buffy realized. If she'd known how little pleasure she'd find in their encounters, she would've kept the information to herself.

Resigned, Buffy hiked up her skirt and dropped to her knees.

++++++++++++++

Giles wandered the library, stacking books, putting away weapons. He'd stripped out of his jacket, tossing it onto the checkout counter, his glasses resting on top of it. Next to them lay Buffy's Class Protector award, sparkling in the light. He jumped in surprise as someone pushed through the swinging doors. Turning, he saw Buffy, her hair mussed and her mouth swollen.

[She's been with Angel.] he realized. Buffy stared at Giles for a moment. He'd loosened his tie, leaving it undone around his neck, and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. Want surged through Buffy's body.

"Do you want me?" she asked huskily from the doorway. Giles blinked.

"Buffy, you know if you need me to…" he started. Buffy cut him off.

"Do you want me?" she repeated, stressing each word. Swallowing around the lump in his throat, Giles nodded. Buffy took a step forward. "Why?" she asked.

"Did Angel leave you unsatisfied again?" Giles asked, rather than answer the question. Moving closer, Buffy reached out and caressed the growing bulge in Giles' pants. Buffy stood as close to Giles as she could without actually touching him.

"You know he did. He always does." she whispered, her breath hot on his cheek. "I belong to you. He can't give me what I want." Buffy squeezed Giles' erection, pleased when he closed his eyes and groaned.

Buffy unbuttoned Giles' shirt, pushing it back over his shoulders. Tugging it down over his arms, she pulled it free and tossed it on the floor. She covered one of his nipples with her mouth, using her tongue to tease him as he often did her. She caressed his stomach with her hand, delighting in the feel of the muscles tensing beneath it. Her fingers slid through his chest hair, tugging gently. Giles breath came in quick pants as Buffy moved her mouth to give attention to his other nipple with wet open kisses. Slowly, she urged him backwards, until he was up against the book cage.

Kneeling at Giles' feet, Buffy unzipped his pants, pulling them down to his ankles. As usual, he wore no underwear. Easier to fuck her on short notice without them, he'd told her when she'd asked once.

Buffy grasped his cock, smearing the drops of pre-cum over the head before taking it into her mouth, lavishing the underside with her tongue. Giles closed his eyes, pleasure surging through him as she licked his cock as if it were an ice cream cone. Buffy licked her way down to the base, sucking his balls into her mouth. Giles groaned as he slid into her warm mouth, the head of his cock hitting the back of her throat, then moving past it. Looking down, he wondered if there was anything more erotic than watching Buffy take his length into her mouth. Giles gripped at the rails of the cage as his length slid down her throat. Gently, he reached down and touched her cheek, caressing it. Buffy looked up, and found him watching her, his emerald green eyes clouded with lust.

"God, Buffy." Giles grunted as she began to bob up and down, her mouth moving slickly over him, her hand at the base of his shaft, stroking him. Buffy closed her eyes, letting the musky taste of him wash away Angel's bitter taste, forgetting about everything but the way Giles felt and tasted in her mouth.

Giles cock was warm in Buffy's mouth, hard and pulsing with his need. Buffy could feel the veins under her fingers, pounding with blood as she caressed him. It was so unlike Angel's penis, which was always cold and stiff. It always seemed to just lay in her mouth, unlike Giles'. His seemed to jump and respond to her every touch.

Giles moved his hand to the back of her head, helping her find a rhythm as he thrust his hips forward, his climax approaching. Reaching up with her free hand, Buffy massaged his balls, pleased when he moaned with pleasure.

Buffy idly regretted that she didn't do this more often for her Watcher. It was simply because it was what Angel required of her, and she'd begun to dread the task. [With Giles it was different.] Buffy realized, feeling her juices flowing. [With Giles it was exciting.]

"Buffy, please…" Giles said urgently. He stilled his hips, pushing her away. His cock slid out of her mouth. "Buffy, I..." he said again. Buffy sat back on her heels, her hand still stroking him.

"I need to taste you." she said, huskily. She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his, her hair tumbling around her shoulders. "I need you to wash Angel's taste from my mouth."

Groaning, Giles released his hold on Buffy's shoulders, allowing her to take him in her mouth once more. Buffy quickly resumed her assault on his cock. Squeezing his scrotum, Buffy sucked on his dick harder, urging him to let loose. She wanted him to lose control, knowing she'd caused it. Giles whole body tensed, and he cried out her name as he came. Buffy swallowed furiously as her mouth was filled with his seed. It was warm and salty, with a bit of sweetness to it. [Completely different from Angel's cold, bitter cum.] Buffy thought as she milked every last drop from Giles.

Buffy stood, catching a stray trickle of cum on her chin with her finger and putting it in her mouth. Transfixed, Giles chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath.

"I don't want to fuck Angel anymore." she whispered, her hand on his chest, caressing him. "I don't want to taste him ever again."

Reaching out, Giles slid his hand around the back of Buffy's neck. He yanked her close, crushing his mouth on hers. Giles could taste himself on her mouth. Hungrily, he plunged his tongue into her mouth, dueling hotly with hers. Buffy reached down and began stroking his shaft. Giles moaned against her mouth as he felt his cock stirring again. Buffy moved her mouth from his, sliding it along his jaw.

"I belong to you." Buffy whimpered, nipping at his earlobe. "Make me yours again."

Giles mouth slid down her delicate neck, his hands roaming over Buffy's body, caressing her breasts and making her moan with pleasure. His hands moved to her back as he nibbled on her shoulder. Slowly, he unzipped her dress, just enough so that the top of it fell to her waist. Giles ran his tongue along the top of her corset, biting gently at the swell of her breasts. Giles deftly unsnapped the top hooks to release her breasts from their confinement. Buffy whimpered his name as he took one in his mouth, teasing the other with his hand. His fingers mimicked the actions of his tongue as he flicked it over her nipple.

"God, Giles. I need you in me." Buffy whispered raggedly.

Pulling away, Giles kicked off his shoes, yanking his pants off and throwing them across the room. Bringing his mouth back to hers in a searing kiss, Giles roughly backed Buffy across the library to the research table. Spinning her around, he bent her over it, face down. Demonology texts tumbled to the floor. Buffy gasped with excitement as she lay her cheek against the cool wood, Giles hand on her back, holding her down. Giles pressed against Buffy, leaning over her to kiss her shoulders, his other hand stroking her through her dress. She could feel his erection, hard as rock, through the fabric of her dress pressing between her legs. Pushing up to her elbows, Buffy twisted to capture Giles' mouth with hers, his hands coming around to squeeze her breasts.

"Giles, please" she whispered. She felt Giles move away, and she looked over her shoulder. Giles grinned, as he pushed her back down to the table.

Buffy moaned with pleasure as she felt his hands on her ankles, sliding up her stockinged legs. The skirt rustled as Giles lifted it up to her waist. Giles noted with approval that Buffy was wearing garters, leaving only a lace thong between him and his goal. With a snarl, Giles made short work of the flimsy barrier, the lace giving way easily as he ripped it in two.

Buffy grasped with pleasure as he ran his fingers along her ass cheeks down to her pussy. He rubbed at her core, exploring between her folds with her fingers. Then, slickened with her juices, he brought his hand up her anus, massaging at the puckered orifice. Slowly, Giles inserted a finger into the tight entrance.

Buffy bucked with pleasure as he moved it inside her, sliding in and out. Giles heard her breath quicken as he inserted a second finger. He pumped them into her tight hole, increasing speed until she was thrashing in ecstasy beneath him. Waiting until Buffy was on the brink of an orgasm, he stopped, pulling out of her. Buffy whimpered against the table in protest.

Giles was the only one she'd ever allowed to do this to her. Angel had never touched her there, despite his pleas. She'd put him off, claiming she wasn't into it, that it was dirty. The truth was she couldn't bear the thought of him taking her like this.

[Oh, it was different with Giles.] Buffy thought, her body quivering with desire. [With Giles it was amazingly erotic and intimate.]

Grasping his stiff cock, Giles stroked it against Buffy's pussy, covering it with her juices. Holding Buffy to the table, Giles teased her with his dick, pressing it to her entrance than pulling away. Buffy pressed her hips back, trying to force him into her.

"Please Giles. Please." she moaned. Her whole body burned, and she wanted him in her. Giles moved forward, causing Buffy to spread her legs eagerly. Giles slid his hand lightly over her ass, as he pressed against her cunt. Giles leaned forward until the head of his cock slid inside of her. Buffy gasped for air as Giles pushed into her slowly, until his entire length was inside her, filling her completely.

Coherent thought left Buffy as Giles reached down to toy with her clitoris. Reaching down, Buffy covered his hand with her own, massaging herself as he did.

Slowly, Giles began to move in her with short, shallow strokes. Placing both hands on her hips, he began to move in earnest, drawing out his strokes. Buffy clawed at the table as he moved, rocking her hips back to meet each thrust, driving him deeper into her.

"Fuck me, Giles." she cried passionately. "Fuck me." As if he'd only been waiting for her to ask, Giles began pounding his cock into her, his hips meeting her flesh with every stroke.

"Faster Giles." Buffy demanded. "Harder." Giles complied, slamming into her with fast, shallow strokes. He leaned over her, placing his hands on the table next to hers. Buffy moved hers over his, lacing their fingers together. Giles nuzzled Buffy's neck as he pounded into her. The library was filled with the sounds of their coupling, skin slapping against skin and the quiet moans of passion. Buffy pushed herself up so that she could lay her sweaty cheek next to his.

"God, I'm going to cum, Giles." Buffy whispered desperately. "Make me cum, Giles."

Giles grabbed Buffy's shoulders, pulling her upright as he thrust furiously into her, determined to drive her over the edge. Moving his hands to her breasts, Giles pinched Buffy's nipples. He felt her breathing hitch and her body arched against him as she teetered into her orgasm. Buffy gave a high pitched wail as he pumped into her, making sure she felt every moment of it.

Buffy collapsed on the table, breathless, her body shuddering from her climax. She knew that there was still more to come. Giles was still hard as he withdrew from her shuddering body.

Pushing herself from the table, Buffy turned to capture Giles' mouth with hers. She could taste his hunger, his need for release, and it excited her. With a roughness that made her body pulse with desire, Giles pushed her away to clear the rest of the books from the table. He scattered them to the floor with one sweep of his arm.

Chest heaving with lust, Buffy lifted herself onto the table, lying back on the hard wood, her legs spread, her pink shoes resting on the edge of the table. Giles just looked at her for a moment. She was beautiful as she waited for him, ready for more. Climbing onto the table, Giles swiftly positioned himself between her spread legs. Hands on either side of Buffy's head, Giles kissed her hard as he plunging into the hot wetness of her pussy. His tongue thrust into her, imitating the motion of his cock as he pumped into her. It was not long before Buffy felt another orgasm building within her. Giles moved frantically, driving them both higher with each stroke. Caught up in the heat, the passion, Buffy moved her hips in time with his, driving his cock deeper into her channel.

Giles broke the hungry kiss, looking down between their bodies, watching his cock pump into her. He could feel his body tensing, the orgasm boiling in his balls. He brought his gaze up, fastening on her face.

"No more Angel." he ordered roughly. "You're mine." Each word was punctuated with a thrust of his hips. Buffy groaned beneath him, shaking her head.

"No more." she promised hoarsely. Reaching up, she grabbed Giles' hair, pulling him down for another kiss. "I love you, Giles." Her body arched with her climax. The magic of the words, the joy of finally saying them, seemed to amplify the intensity of her orgasm and she repeated them frantically. "Love you. Love. You."

Giles could feel the walls of Buffy's pussy clenching around his dick, dragging him over the edge with her. "Mine." he growled. Sinking to his elbows and dropping his forehead to Buffy's, Giles gave a final thrust, coming inside her.

Slowly, Giles' breathing returned to normal and he climbed off the table, gently sliding his hand over Buffy's satin covered stomach.

"Stay." he said softly. "We wouldn't want to ruin that lovely dress." Buffy turned her head dazedly as he moved to get a towel, completely comfortable with his nakedness.

He was always so gentle after sex. He took care of her, cleaned her up, before gently sending her on her way. Buffy watched him as his hands moved between her legs, never looking at her as he wiped up the remnants of their coupling. Buffy wondered what he was thinking as he went through the familiar motions. [Was he freaked?] she wondered. Had she gone too far, telling him that she loved him? She'd meant it, had known it for awhile, but had never voiced it, not even to herself.

Giles took her hand and tugged her up, his face carefully devoid of emotion. She slid off the table, her long skirt falling gracefully to her feet. Lightly, Giles tugged up the corset over her breasts.

"Turn so I can fasten you up." Silently, she did as she was bid. Buffy was painfully aware of the silence in the library as Giles tended to her corset, his fingers soft against her back. It was more than Angel had done. Giles pulled her dress up, zipping it quickly. "All done." He gave a nudge to Buffy's shoulders, turning her to face him. Buffy stared at the toes of her shoes.

"Buffy." he said softly. Buffy looked up hopefully. Giles leaned down and kissed her tenderly, his hand cupping her cheek. At the end of the kiss, Buffy slid her arms around him, resting her cheek against his.

"I love you, Giles." Buffy whispered in his ear. Giles closed his eyes at her words. It felt like he'd waited a lifetime to hear them. Yet he knew he couldn't believe them. They were words spoken in the afterglow of sex, therefore not to be taken seriously. Especially not after the emotion charged day Buffy had had.

Buffy felt Giles stiffen in her arms. Slowly, carefully, he pulled away, until he only held her hands between his.

"No you don't." he said, his voice unbearably gentle. "I know you care about me, Buffy." Giles felt his heart break as he drew breath for his next words. "but you don't love me." Buffy shook her held vehemently, denying his words.

"Giles, I do." she insisted, tears welling in her eyes. Unable to bear her tears, Giles turned away. Picking up his shirt from the floor, Giles slid his arms into the sleeves and began to button it.

"No, Buffy. What you feel are just misplaced feelings, feelings that you have for Angel." he told her, his gaze focused on the buttons of his shirt. Buffy swiped furiously at a tear that spilled from her lashes.

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it." Buffy told him resolutely, her lip trembling. Her body shook, emotions warring within her, hurt and sadness battling with anger. Giles' lips twitched into a small, sad smile.

"We sometimes say things during or after sex that we don't mean." Giles picked up his pants from the floor, brushing the dust from the them. "By the time you get home, I'm sure you'll regret saying it." Unable to look at Buffy, Giles picked up his glasses from the book counter and cleaned them with the tail of his shirt. Buffy stared at his back.

"I already do." she said harshly. Picking up her skirt, she turned and ran toward the doors. Giles didn't try to stop her as she ran past, letting her go. She needed time. Buffy's heels clicked on the marble floor as she pushed through the double doors. Giles listened as she ran down the hallway, the sharp staccato punctuated by her sobs.

Taking of his glasses, Giles pinched the bridge of his nose, loathing himself. As much as it pained him to hurt her, he knew it was for the best. For the both of them. She'd thank him later.

Giles' thoughts were interrupted by a moan from the stacks, followed by the crash of books falling to the floor. Whirling around, Giles watched stunned as Wesley stumbled from behind the shelves, his flaccid cock still in his sperm covered hand. Wesley teetered for balance, tripping over the pants bunched around his ankles. Unable to right himself, he fell to his knees with a thump.

"Did you enjoy the show?" Giles asked, his voice hard as he stepped into his pants. Giles glared coldly at the younger Watcher as he struggled to his feet. Wesley finally managed to stand, pulling up his pants. Stiffly, he pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket.

"Really, Mr. Giles." Wesley said with as much dignity as he could muster as he cleaned the cum from his hand. "I must protest." Pants still undone, dick still hanging out, he climbed down the stairs. "The Council removed you from your position as Watcher. As Miss Summers' rightful Watcher, I should be the one ministering to her needs."

Giles looked at Wesley with disgust, wondering how someone could be so unbendingly proper and completely lecherous at the same time.

"You had your Slayer, Wesley." he said harshly. "Maybe if you'd ministered to Faith's needs, she wouldn't be working for the Mayor now." Wesley flushed at Giles' words, tucking himself back into his pants. Giles eyed him critically as he zipped up his own pants. "Besides, with that," Giles nodded meaningfully at Wesley's crotch. "you would've never have satisfied Buffy's needs."

Buffy sat on the edge of the fountain, staring at the heavy wooden door. She'd wandered through Sunnydale, lost in her thoughts. She'd had the sense to grab a stake before she'd left the school, but no vampires had attacked. Buffy almost wished one would jump from the darkness, to work out her anger by pummeling on it. But in the perverse way that vampires had, she didn't see a single one as she roamed the town.

Eventually, she'd found herself here, at his door, as she always did. How many nights had she been here, wanting him, hoping that this would be the night he'd ask her to stay, that he'd pull her close to him as they snuggled in his bed.

He never did. Every night, Giles would kiss her softly after they'd had sex, and he'd send her home. Sometimes, when she'd look over her shoulder, he'd be standing in the doorway, watching her walk away.

Giles always claimed her during sex. And heaven knew, they'd had sex everywhere in the apartment; the couch, the stairs to his loft, the kitchen counter. Time and time again, he demanded that Buffy admit that she belonged to him. She did, always. Not because he would've denied her release. He wouldn't. Giles would've finished her off even if she'd called him `Angel', though she never had. Buffy had always been keenly of the man pleasuring her. Buffy said it because it was true, she belonged to Giles. In every way.

Yet she'd continued to return to Angel, again and again. Buffy had foolishly hoped that Angel would eventually give her the satisfaction that Giles did. That the man, vampire, who was supposed to be her true love would achieve the mind blowing orgasms Giles provoked in her. She'd even gone so far as to suggest some of the techniques Giles had shown her.

Still Angel had failed. He'd work Buffy up by fingering or going down on her, but usually, he only managed to leave her frustrated. At the most, he'd send her just over the brink, giving her the smallest of orgasms, then stopping before she was done.

So, she'd gone to Giles.

Giles had never said a word when she'd come to him reeking of sex with Angel. The minute she'd touched him, he'd pulled her close and given her frustrations release.

Was it any wonder she'd fallen out of love with Angel and his dark, brooding moods, and fallen in love with Giles. Buffy smiled. Giles with his easy smiles and caring touches. It had long since stopped being about the sex, and had become about being with Giles.

Buffy knew that this feeling was love, felt it in her very soul. She'd lied to Giles. She didn't regret telling him she loved him, only that she hadn't shown him, so that he might have believed her.

It couldn't be about duty, Buffy assured herself. Not when his touches where so gentle. Not when there'd been a gleam of regret in his eyes as he'd sent her home night after night.

Not when she belonged to him.

She'd just have to show him it wasn't about duty, she decided, squaring her shoulders. Standing, Buffy brushed off her skirt and walked to the door.

It was unlocked, as she knew it would be. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open and walked inside.

++++++++++

Barefoot, Giles wandered restlessly about the apartment. He'd shucked off his shoes and socks earlier, but had run out of energy after that. He'd started to make himself tea, but found he couldn't bear looking at the teapot he'd bought to replace the one broken when Buffy had knocked it off the counter in the throes of passion a few weeks earlier. Unbidden, the memory of the Cheshire cat smile on Buffy's lips when Willow had noticed and asked what had happened to the old one, filled his mind.

Giles berated himself for being a fool. Buffy had said she loved him, words his heart had been desperate to hear, and he'd bungled it. He'd turned her away, afraid if he believed her, that she'd recant later, telling him she didn't really mean it. Giles couldn't have borne that.

Part of him wished that he'd held her close, whispering that he loved her in her ear. But the other part of him knew that doing that would've trapped her, much as Angel and his brooding guilt had. Giles knew that he couldn't hold her to that orgasmic promise, even if it meant she never touched him again.

His duty required that the Slayer made the advances. As Buffy's Watcher, he couldn't touch her without her request. Giles had never felt so trapped by his calling. He could never approach Buffy as a man, only to stand by as her Watcher. And if that meant he had to stand by while she loved another man, that's what he had to do.

At least during those stolen hours, he could pretend she was his, that she came to him out of love, not lust and frustration. Giles wondered if she'd returned to Angel after she'd left him tonight, making up some excuse to cry in his arms.

Picking up the bottle of scotch, Giles poured a healthy dose into a glass. Taking a sip, he settled on the couch to brood, contemplating the glittery umbrella on his coffee table. His dark thoughts were interrupted by his door banging open. Giles looked up in surprise.

The object of his thoughts stood in the doorway. [Dear lord, she's still wearing the dress.] he thought as she carefully locked the door behind her. He'd assumed that she would've changed out of it in a fit of anger. Giles sat transfixed as she moved around the couch to stand before him, her hair down, glorious and warrior-like in the dress.

"I think you're wrong, Giles." she said sharply, ignoring the tug of desire the sight of him still wearing the rumpled tuxedo, the shirt half unbuttoned.

"Wrong?" Giles asked, looking up at her. Carefully, Giles set the scotch down on an end table as Buffy nodded.

"I do love you. And I think you love me." she told him. Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Buffy, I am your Watcher. It's my duty to meet all of your needs." Giles spoke quietly and patiently, replacing his glasses. Outwardly, Giles appeared calm, inside, however, was a different story. Inside, his emotions boiled turbulently. Hope, desire, disbelief, doubt. They all burned inside him.

"That's bullshit!" Buffy said harshly. Slowly, Buffy reached behind her, inching down the zipper of her dress. The sound was loud in the suddenly silent apartment. Giles felt his mouth go dry and he snatched up the scotch, sipping hastily at it as she spoke again. "If it was merely about duty, you wouldn't want to touch me other than when we're fucking."

Buffy slid the dress down so that it rested on her hips, revealing the tight corset beneath.

"Did you think I didn't notice, Giles?" she asked coyly, sliding her hands up her satin covered stomach to her bound breasts. "Did you think I didn't notice the way your hands flex when we're close? As if they itch to touch me, run your hands through my hair, touch my cheek, caress my body."

Giles watched, speechless as Buffy shimmied her hips. The dress fell to her feet with a soft rustle. She stepped out of it and kicked it aside.

"Buffy, really…" Giles stuttered as she stood before him, wearing nothing but the corset, stockings, shoes and the tattered remains of the lace thong he'd ripped apart earlier to drive himself into her. It took every ounce of his willpower not to clench his hands into fists. She was watching him, waiting for a reaction.

"Even when the gang's around," she continued, noting the growing bulge in his pants with pleasure. He wasn't as unaffected as he was pretending to be. "your hands twitch like they want to be on my body." Buffy stepped out of her shoes.

"But there are rules, aren't there Giles?" she asked sweetly as he shifted on the couch. "Oh, they're not written rules. But they're there nonetheless. I don't know who made them, but I've figured them out. You can't touch me unless I touch first. I can tease all I want. I could climb on the book counter, spread my legs and get myself off and you can't touch me."

Buffy lifted a leg to the coffee table and unsnapped the garter, slowly rolling the stocking down her leg.

"You need for me to ask for your touch, beg for it. It doesn't matter how. All that matters is that I take the initiative. Isn't that right, Giles?"

Giles groaned silently. Buffy had given him a clear view of her crotch. The torn lace did nothing to hide her sex. Giles could see her dark curls between the pieces, and they glistened with her readiness. He knew exactly how she would taste if he leaned forward and took her in his mouth. His hands ached to bury themselves in her and lick her juices from his fingers.

"I have that power, to use you as I see fit. But that power changes once I touch you, doesn't it, Giles?"

Buffy tossed the stocking aside and lifted her other leg, this time on the arm of the chair. A shiver of pleasure ran through her as Giles groaned out loud. Her crotch was directly in front of his face, close enough so that he'd be able to smell her arousal. "Once I ask to be touched, the power becomes yours."

"You know what I think?" Buffy continued conversationally as the stocking slid down her leg. She tossed the stocking aside, the garter quickly following. Buffy moved her hands to her back.

"I think that duty or not, you couldn't fuck me if you didn't love me." Giles took a gulp of scotch as Buffy undid the snaps of her corset. "I think that if you had a father's love for me, there'd be no way you could do the things you've done to me. There's no way you'd lay a hand on me." Buffy shook her head. "No, you'd buy me a dildo or something if you had a father's love for me." The corset sprang free, and Buffy caught it before it fell, holding it tightly to her chest. "There's no way you would've fucked me so passionately, touched me so possessively." Buffy let the corset fall to the floor. "And you have touched me, haven't you Giles? There's not a single part of my body that's a mystery to you."

"Buffy, please…" Giles' words were strangled as Buffy's breasts were exposed. He wanted nothing more than to take the perfect creamy globes into his mouth and worship them with his tongue.

"Because I think," Buffy said, as she moved to stand directly in front of him. "that the reason I belong to you," Buffy hooked her thumbs under the straps of her thong. "is because you belong to me." With one swift movement, Buffy removed the tattered scraps of lace and tossed them in his lap. "We already know that you want me. Now, do you love me?

Buffy stood naked in front of Giles. She knew this was it. She hadn't actually expected him to last this long. If he didn't touch her soon, she'd cave in and touch him, beg him to take her, and then the whole thing would've been for nothing. It would mean that he was telling the truth, he didn't love her, it was just his duty.

Giles gulped the remainder of his scotch, his hands shaking. Slowly he stood, careful not to touch her and walked over to refill his glass.

"Buffy, if you need me to service you, you know I will do so." he said, splashing the golden liquid into the glass. He knocked it back quickly, refilling it again. Buffy's world shattered around her at his cold, clinical response. Didn't he understand that she didn't want to be `serviced'?

"Damn it, Giles." Buffy said angrily. "Couldn't you least pretend?" Giles shut his eyes in pain at her words. "Consider it part of servicing your Slayer by pretending to love her." Buffy heard the desperation creeping into her voice and winced.

"Please don't ask me to pretend to love you." he asked, softly. Feeling incredibly vulnerable without her clothing, but unwilling to admit defeat and pull on her clothes, Buffy moved closer.

"Why not?" she demanded. "Why can't you pretend to love me? It'd certainly be more meaningful than what I have with Angel."

"Because I can't." Giles whispered. "Because it would break my heart." Buffy felt her own heart ache at the raw emotion in Giles' voice. But she knew she'd finally found a chink in his armor and couldn't stop.

"How could it break your heart?" she asked, her words harsher than she intended. "Seems the only heart on the line would be mine." Giles stared down at the bottle in his hand.

"Because I wouldn't be pretending." he whispered. Suddenly he slammed the bottle down, making Buffy jump. "A Watcher is a tool for the Slayer. A tool to give her whatever is necessary to survive." Giles whirled to face her. "It is about power, Buffy. Your power. And this is about you. You, Buffy. You are the Chosen One. You are the one girl in all the world chosen to stand against vampires, demons and the forces of darkness." Buffy couldn't help but roll her eyes at the familiar speech, but grew serious when Giles' voice took on a note of bitterness. "I don't matter. Only you do. My function, my sole function, is to be what you want, when you want it. To overstep those bounds would be unthinkable." Hot anger shone in Giles' eyes, because he had often thought about overstepping those bounds.

"What if I want you to matter?" she demanded hotly. "What if I want that function to be a man who's in love with me?" A thought occurred to Buffy as Giles' words sunk in. "God, you can't say no, can you?" she asked in horror. Confused, Giles stared at her. "No matter when I come to you, no matter how inconvenient, or how tired you are, you aren't allowed to deny me. Your duty doesn't permit it." Giles rubbed a tired hand over his eyes.

"I've never wanted to deny you, Buffy." he admitted, cursing his weakness. His admission sent a shiver though Buffy's body.

"How many times have you wanted me, but couldn't have me?" she asked boldly. Giles looked away, unwilling to answer. "You could have me now." Buffy whispered. "All you have to do is touch me and I'd be yours."

"And what if Angel changes his mind?" Giles demanded, more tempted by her words than he cared to admit. He desperately wanted to believe what she said, but couldn't allow himself that luxury. "What if he decides to stay in Sunnydale and continue your relationship?"

"I said I was yours didn't I?" Buffy snapped. "No more Angel, remember? I promised. I didn't mean yours for just tonight, Giles. I meant it for forever." Giles desperately wished that Buffy would stop pushing the issue, that she would touch him and put him out of his misery, or leave so he could drown it.

"Buffy, I certainly don't expect you to keep a promise made in the heat of passion." he said heavily. His body was screaming with desire, wanting to touch her.

"Don't you get it?" she asked, surging with anger. "There is no passion with Angel. Only with you." Frustrated, Giles ran his hands through his hair.

"I can't talk to you like this." he cursed. Turning on his heel, stalked toward the bathroom. Buffy followed him doggedly.

"I told you that I didn't want to fuck him anymore, that I didn't want his taste in my mouth." Buffy began to pace, all thought to her nakedness forgotten. "I could barely stand the feel of his cold hands on me, groping at my breasts… Buffy shuddered at the memory of Angel's cold hands pushing her to the floor earlier. The attentions she'd given Giles so willingly, she'd done to Angel out of guilt. "God how I wish I'd never told him about the curse." Reaching behind the bathroom door, Giles grabbed his robe off the hook and shoved it into Buffy's arms.

"Then why?" he demanded, as she shrugged into it, wrapping the burgundy velour around her body.

"I sent him to hell. A blow job seemed the least I could do." Buffy shrugged, wrapping her arms around herself. Despite her flippancy, the memory of the things she'd done with Angel left her cold inside.

Buffy thought for a moment. "Maybe at first it was love." she admitted with a shrug. "There he was, the man who'd been to hell and back for me. Because of me." Buffy corrected herself. "But there was no fire." Buffy whispered painfully. She gave a bitter laugh. "Oh, there was for him. Having me on my knees at his feet, sucking him off. He got off on that alone. The Slayer servicing a vampire."

"But I wanted more than cold fingers between my legs. I needed more." Buffy turned to face Giles. "So I came to you, my Watcher."

"The Watcher who sent you to your death." Giles pointed out bitterly, brushing passed her. His throat dry, Giles grabbed his scotch.

"The Watcher who tried to take my place." Buffy corrected softly. Giles faced her abruptly, his green eyes blazing.

"I have no right touching you at all." Giles spat. "I send you out, night after night, knowing that it could be the night you don't come back." Suddenly weary, he continued. "Hell, Buffy, I'm not even your Watcher anymore. Servicing you is properly Wesley's duty." Infuriated, Buffy knocked the glass out of his hand.

"Wesley?" she snarled. "Wesley? she repeated in outrage. "Wesley could never give me what I need. Never make me feel what you do. Don't you dare bring him into this. We're talking about you and me!"

"Then talk about me! I gave you that goddamned test!" Giles shouted, his control snapping. "I blindly followed the Council's orders, administered that damned Cruciamentum. I pumped your body full of drugs and lied to you, LIED, when you came to me for help. How can you even stand to have my hands on you after I did that to you?"

"You told me. You came after me." Buffy reminded him. "You came after me and saved me, against Council orders." Buffy's gentle words only spurred Giles on.

"I have spent every day trying to make up for that. Every day, I've repented for that sin. I swore I would do whatever was in my power to make it up to you, to earn your forgiveness."

Buffy desperately wanted to reach out to him, to touch him. She couldn't. She knew there was more to be said before their battle of wills ended. Buffy suddenly realized how crucial it was that Giles be the one to reach out first. She knew that this moment, this argument, held their future in the balance. He needed to touch her first, needed to know he could come to her with his own needs, and this knowledge steeled Buffy's resolve.

"I forgave you long ago for that, Giles." she said softly. "The moment they threatened to take you away from me, I realized that I'd already forgiven you." Buffy paused then continued with a calm conviction. "And I knew I loved you when you knelt in front of me, your touch so gentle." She winced at the memory. "I could see the pain in your eyes, Giles. I could see that you were hurting so much more than I was. I was so afraid I would lose you. But you stayed."

"I couldn't leave. I couldn't. It wasn't my job or my duty, but you needed to survive. I needed you to survive. I'd give you anything you wanted to keep you alive." Giles grabbed the scotch bottle from the table, taking a drink directly from it. "If sex was what you needed to stay alive, by God, I'd give you sex."

"You think this is about sex, Giles?" Buffy asked incredulously. "It was never about the sex with you, Giles." Buffy paused and gave a small shrug. "Ok, so it was a little bit. At the beginning." she admitted. "Mostly it was about you, about the way you held me, the way you never made me feel dirty. It was about the way you made me feel like I was the most desirable woman in the world. Even though you sent me home after, I never felt like you just wanted me gone because I'd made you cum and there was no reason for me to stay." Buffy knew she was ranting, but couldn't stop.

"This is about the way your hands are warm and yielding on my body, not cold and hard. It's about the way you feel when you are inside of me. It's about the warm caresses and soft kisses. It's about the way you make my body respond. But mostly, this is about the fact that you make me feel whole. Not just physically, but like you're the other half of my soul." Buffy paused, drawing a deep breath.

"How could I not fall in love with the man who did that, Giles?" she asked. "How?"

Buffy's question seemed to echo through the apartment. They stared at each other, bodies quivering with anger as well as desire. Buffy stared at Giles' face, trying to figure out what he was thinking. Her eyes begged him to believe her.

The silence stretched on. Buffy could hear a clock ticking somewhere in the apartment. Giles face was unreadable as he stared at her.

The clock seemed to tick louder in Buffy's ears as Giles remained motionless, silent and apparently frozen where he stood. Finally, just when Buffy thought she was going to scream in frustration, Giles took a step forward. His hand shook as he lifted it toward her cheek. Buffy stood very still as it hovered there, not touching her. Buffy could feel the heat from his hand against her skin. At last, he touched her, his thumb caressing her skin. Buffy rubbed her face against his palm. Hope burned in Giles' emerald eyes as he looked at her.

"I won't break your heart, Giles." Buffy said in a fervent whisper. "I promise."

"Yes you will." Giles contradicted. "But you'll mend it as well." Giles brought his lips down on Buffy's in a long, slow kiss. He explored her mouth gently, as if he'd never tasted it before. Buffy ached with its yearning sweetness. She moved her mouth softly under his, letting him take his time. Finally, he pulled away, watching her in a kind of disbelief.

"Please say it, Giles." Buffy whispered desperately. It wasn't a demand, but a request. Giles knew he could deny her the words, that the balance of power between them had shifted. But there was no need, especially when he'd ached to tell her for so long. Not when they were the truth.

"I love you, Buffy." he said softly. "Let me make love to you." There was no demand in his words.

Buffy closed her eyes, savoring the sound of his words. She hadn't fully understood until now how much she'd needed him to say them. With a smile that lit the room, she looked up at him, her eyes bright on his.

"Please, Giles." she whispered. "I've been waiting so long for you to ask."

With aching gentleness, Giles bent down and scooped Buffy into his arms. Buffy settled her head against his shoulder, pressing soft kisses to his neck as he carried her up the steps to the loft.

The mattress was soft beneath Buffy's back as Giles placed her on the bed. Giles stepped back, his gaze intense on hers.

"Giles?" Buffy asked, terribly afraid that he'd changed his mind. Giles shushed her tenderly.

Giles stared at the woman in his bed, his robe voluminous around her. Giles knew that no matter what horrors the future held for him, he'd always have this night, this memory, and he wanted to burn it indelibly into his mind so it couldn't be forgotten.

Buffy's hair cascaded over his pillow, wild and inviting. She watched him, her blue eyes burning with love. His robe spread around her, giving him tempting glimpses of her golden skin.

[She's mine.] Giles heart leapt with joy. [She's finally truly mine.]

Slowly, Giles sat on the bed. Tenderly, he ran a hand over her calf. Buffy mewled as the rough skin caressed hers. Leaning forward, he slowly unbelted the robe's sash, pushing the material from her body. Buffy arched under his touch. Giles slowly moved his hands over her flat stomach, stroking the smooth skin. He slid them over her breasts, only teasing at her nipples before gliding under her to her back. Carefully, Giles lifted her from the bed, easing the robe from her shoulders. The velour whispered softly as it fell to the mattress.

Buffy sighed as Giles brought his mouth to her neck, nibbling kisses up to her jaw. She wrapped her arms around him as her mouth moved closer to his. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, his lips covered hers.

Buffy was rocked back by the heat in Giles' kiss. Beneath the flavor of the scotch, Buffy could taste how much he loved her on his mouth. Buffy hadn't known it was possible. She hadn't known that someone could transmit how much they loved you in a kiss.

He'd held that back from her before, Buffy realized now. He hadn't wanted her to know. Buffy returned the kiss feverishly, wanting him to taste her love as she did his.

Buffy slid her tongue into Giles' mouth. Giles groaned against her mouth, his tongue massaging hers. Buffy gently drew her mouth from his, nibbling at his bottom lip, pulling at it with her teeth.

"One of us is wearing entirely too much clothing." she whispered wantonly. Buffy wanted to feel Giles' flesh against hers with no barriers between them.

Giles flashed her a decidedly wicked grin as he released her to stand. Never taking his eyes from hers, he slowly undid the remaining buttons of his shirt.

Buffy licked her lips as Giles removed the shirt, revealing the body he'd earned from hours of training; the broad shoulders, the muscular chest covered with hair.

Deliberately, Giles moved his hands to the waistband of his pants. There was a gleam of hunger in Buffy's eyes as he unzipped them, releasing his cock. It was already hard as it sprang from his pants, the head glistening.

Buffy fisted her hands in the material beneath her as he shucked the garment off. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but prevented herself. Slowly, Giles moved back to the bed, capturing Buffy's mouth once more as he pushed her back to the mattress. He caressed her breast with one hand, the other sliding down her body to her core.

Buffy's pussy was already slick with desire, her juices covering her fingers as he slid them into her. Buffy gasped against his mouth as he found the flesh of her clitoris, rubbing against the nub. His mouth left hers, sliding wetly down her chest to her breast.

Giles moved his lips over the soft mound of her flesh, licking the sensitive skin just underneath it. The hand between her legs never ceased its attention, his fingers gliding into her as his teeth teased her nipple.

Buffy closed her eyes as her body quivered with bliss. Pleasure flowed through her veins like a drug. She could feel Giles' erection against her hip, rubbing against her as she bucked under his touch. Reaching down, Buffy rubbed her hand against his cock, grazing her palm against it. Giles moaned against her breast.

Buffy could feel the orgasm building within her, the combined sensations of his hand and mouth driving her wild.

[Not yet.] she thought through the haze. This was about Giles' pleasure, not hers. Before Giles could push her over the brink into ecstasy, Buffy used her Slayer strength to buck him off.

Surprised, Giles was rolled onto his back, Buffy astride him. She sat on his stomach, aching cock pressed against her ass. Giles could feel the juices from her pussy slickening his skin as she leaned over him. Buffy's hair tumbled down her shoulders as she bent to kiss him hungrily. Giles buried his hands in her golden tresses as he pulled her close. He felt the smile on her lips as her hands wandered downward, running lightly over his chest.

Buffy's mouth left his, following her hands. She took his nipple into her mouth sucking lightly as she moved her body along his. Her pussy slid wetly over his cock, teasing him as she covered it with her juices. Giles thrust his hips upward in an attempt to capture her. Buffy evaded him, resting against his thigh, his cock straining against her stomach.

Buffy moved her mouth to his other nipple, grinding her hips against his leg. Reaching down, Buffy slid her hand between her legs, drenching her fingers. Her mouth never ceased its assault on his chest as she stretched up, offering her hand to Giles, her eyes never leaving his face.

Taking a hand from her hair, Giles grasped her wrist, guiding her fingers to his mouth. Eagerly, he lapped at her fingers, groaning at the heady taste. One at a time, he sucked her fingers into his mouth, his tongue cleaning them as his eyes, dark with passion stared into hers. Buffy waited until he was licking her palm before pulling her hand away.

Buffy slithered down Giles' body, her tongue leaving a trail of saliva as she followed the arrow of hair at pointed toward her goal. Buffy looked up as she took the head of Giles' cock into her mouth, meeting his gaze as he watched her. She swirled her tongue over him, tasting herself as well as him.

Slowly, Buffy licked his cock to the base, nuzzling her nose in the coarse hair of his crotch as she sucked his balls into her mouth, first one then the other. Giles twisted beneath her as her hand stroked his shaft.

"Buffy…" Giles ground out as her fingers teased him. Buffy knew Giles was close to his release, could feel it by the way his balls throbbed in her mouth, could hear it in his voice. Releasing him, she slid her mouth up his dick as she sat up.

Buffy scrambled up Giles' body, until his cock was pressed against her core. Giles sighed as she took him in her hand, guiding him into her. Leaning down, she covered his mouth with hers as his shaft eased into her.

Giles reached up under her arms to pull her closer. Buffy lowered herself to his body, his skin covering his. For a moment, they remained like that, locked together, only their mouths moving.

Finally, slowly, Buffy began to rock her hips against him. Giles glided in and out of her wetly. Pushing herself up, Buffy changed the angle of their movement and increasing her speed. Giles thrust upward wildly, his hips meeting hers. Close to the edge, Giles reached up frantically, wrapping his arms around Buffy. With a swift motion, he rolled them over, so that she was pinned beneath him.

Fiercely, Giles began pounding his cock into Buffy, his need driving him faster. Buffy grabbed a fistful of his hair, pulling him to her as her hips moved in rhythm with his thrusts.

"I love you, Giles." she whispered passionately as her other hand clawed at his back. "You're mine."

"I'm yours." Giles agreed hoarsely, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Giles' words sent Buffy crashing over the edge. The world around her splintered as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over her. Giles pumped furiously into her, her walls clenching his cock as his own orgasm ripped through him.

"I love you, Buffy." he called out, his body shuddering with release. Giles collapsed onto Buffy, his body still vibrating. Buffy rocked her hips, drawing out his orgasm.

At last, Giles grew still, his face buried against Buffy's shoulder. His chest heaved, his lungs gasping for air. Buffy stroked his back soothingly as she pressed soft kisses to his hair.

[This is mine.] Giles thought in amazement. [I will always have this.] Giles lifted his head to look at Buffy, who watched him with soft, dreamy eyes.

"I love you." he repeated in wonderment. Buffy smiled.

"I love you too." she whispered back.

"Stay with me tonight?" Giles asked hopefully. "Sleep with me?" Buffy thought her heart would burst with love at his request. Gently, she brought her head back to her shoulder.

"Yes." she whispered softly. "Always."

 

END