"Sorry it took me so long," I said as I doled out the drinks. I figured it'd be best to play it cool, let them explain what was going on. "Big line up at the bar for some reason," I explained. "The nachos should be here in a few minutes."

The girls smiled and thanked me. Tara's hand brushed mine when I handed over her iced tea. Nothing unusual about that, but I'd swear it was deliberate.

Willow must've noticed my confusion, because she said, "It's all right, Xander. We were just playing a game."

*Uh-oh,* was my first thought. *Whenever they tell you it's all right, it's time to worry.* "What game?" I asked innocently.

"I Never," Anya answered.

"Okay," I said slowly.

Willow nodded. "Tara had just mentioned something when you got back with the drinks."

"Really," I said. Just a statement, not a question. Nothing to see here, move along...

It was Anya's turn to nod. "Yes. Would you like to know what she said?"

There was no way out of it. "Sure," I answered, as casually as I could.

"Tara's never danced with a man," Anya informed me.

My first reaction was relief. *That's it? So what? Big deal.*

My second reaction was confusion and indignation. "Wait a minute! I dance with her all the time. I danced with her right before I went to get the drinks! What is this, some kind of assault on my status as a manly man?"

I was trying to sound outraged. Needless to say, all three girls laughed. Figures.

Willow shook her head. "That's not what we meant. She's never slow-danced with a man. Right, sweetie?" she asked, turning to Tara.

Tara nodded shyly. "Right. Except for relatives, like at weddings and stuff."

"And that doesn't count," Anya cut in.

If she said so. "Okay," I said again. "What's the big deal, then? Why the hairy eyeballs when I came back?"

Anya looked at me like I was dense. "We want you to dance with Tara the next time the band plays a slow song."

"Oh," I said. I probably should have figured that out for myself, really. "Sure, no problem."

"Really?" Tara asked with a small smile of relief.

"Of course," I assured her. "As long as you don't step all over my feet, I'd love to dance with you."

That got a laugh out of her, and she didn't seem nervous anymore. Personally, I didn't understand why she'd been nervous in the first place. What was the big deal?

We all talked and laughed while the band played a bunch of fast songs. Some covers, some their own stuff. They were pretty good. I'd never heard of them before, but I made a note to see if they were selling CDs after their set.

After about fifteen minutes, they finally started a slow song. It sounded like a ballad. I stood up and walked around the table to Tara.

"May I have this dance?" I asked, extending my hand towards her.

She smiled up at me and let me draw her onto the dance floor. It was a little awkward at first, like it always is the first time you dance with someone. She was wearing one of those full length skirts she looks so good in, and she was so nervous she almost tripped over it. Then we had to take a few seconds to determine that I'd be the one leading, which was good for my still-wounded masculine ego. And then it took awhile to learn how to move with one another, but eventually we got ourselves squared away and just held onto each other, swaying to the music.

"This is nice," she murmured after a minute, with her head on my shoulder.

I nodded with my head pressed against hers. "Yeah, it is." It was very nice. Her hair smelled great.

"I'm not used to dancing with someone as tall as you," Tara went on. "Takes some getting used to, but I like it."

"I like it, too," I told her. I could feel her smile at that. It was the truth - why wouldn't I like holding a pretty woman? Add in that it was Tara, who I like a whole lot, and it was a great dance.

We didn't say anything for the rest of the song. When it ended, I took her hand and escorted her back to the table.

"Thank you, Xander," she said after we sat down. "You're a very good dancer."

Willow smothered a cough at that one, but I ignored her as I said, "So are you, Tara, and I'd be happy to dance with you anytime."

Her smile lit up the room. "I think I'll take you up on that," she promised. "And now, I can cross that off my 'I Never' list.

"Speaking of," I said, "just what was on these lists of yours?" I gave them my best leer. As expected, they laughed.

"Play your cards right," Anya told me, "and maybe you'll find out."

The next afternoon when I got home from work, Willow, Anya and Tara were sitting in my living room watching TV. They all turned to say hello as I came in.

"What's up?" I asked. I'm always happy to have visitors, but Willow and Anya have never gotten along all that well, so I was surprised.

*They got along fine last night,* I reminded myself. *Maybe they're getting to be friends. That'd be nice.*

It sure would, but I still wondered what was going on.

"We're just watching the tube," Willow told me as I came over to sit down next to Anya on the couch. "There's really nothing good on, though." She clicked the TV off and put the remote down on the coffee table.

Okay, now I knew something was going on. Anya never relinquishes control of the clicker. Not to me, at least. Maybe they really were getting along better. I hoped so.

Tara's voice broke me out of my musing. "Actually, we weren't just watching TV."

"Yeah?" I asked absently, putting my arm around Anya's shoulders. "What else were you doing?"

"Waiting for you," Anya said.

"What for?" I was starting to get nervous.

"Well," Willow began, "you remember how we were playing 'I Never' last night?"

"Yes," I admitted, growing more worried. I didn't elaborate on my answer. Just the facts, ma'am.

"And did you like dancing with Tara?" Willow went on.

"Sure," I answered, glad for an easy one. "It was a lot of fun." Tara smiled, and I smiled back at her. Then for some reason, she blushed and looked away.

Before I could ask what was wrong, Anya said, "Well, we've got another thing to check off of Tara's list." I just stared at her, and she went on. "Tara's never kissed a man,"

*Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!*

I was off the couch in an instant. I spun to put my back to the kitchen so I could keep an eye on all three women. "Whoa!" I cried. "Back that one up a bit, okay? I liked dancing with Tara. It was great. But kissing isn't a good idea."

"Why not?" Anya asked. She seemed truly mystified. "I don't have a problem with it. I don't see why you would."

I looked to Willow for help, but she was nodding along with Anya. Swell. I looked over at Tara. She still wouldn't meet my eye, but now she seemed upset as well as embarrassed.

*Why would she be upset?*

"Don't you think she's pretty?" Anya asked.

"What? Of course I do!" I didn't even understand how she could ask me that. "This has nothing to do with how Tara looks. Tara, you're gorgeous, honest to God."

Tara looked up into my eyes, and I did my damnedest to let her know I was telling the truth. It must have worked. She blushed even deeper and looked away again, but I knew she wasn't upset anymore, just embarrassed.

I sighed in relief, then listened in horror as my mouth opened to keep explaining. "If I weren't with Anya, and you weren't with Willow, I'd kiss you in a heartbeat. And we won't even get into any other things I'd love to do with you."

*Danger! Veering off subject!*

"But never mind that!" I hurried on, hoping no one would get mad. None of them seemed mad at all, which just worried me even more. "The point is, I *am* with Anya. And you're with Willow. And this isn't a good idea. Okay?"

She looked up at me again and smiled, and I knew it was okay. Phew.

"I don't get it," Anya said, breaking through my relief. "I don't mind, and Willow doesn't mind, and Tara doesn't mind. Why would you mind?"

I closed my eyes and counted to ten. Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought I'd be rationally explaining why I didn't want to kiss a pretty woman.

*This is a punishment for something. I don't know what, but it's definitely a punishment. Maybe for the Barbie thing. Or Miss Lattimer's tulips.*

"You might not mind now," I finally said, talking to all three of them, "but what about later on? Anya, you're my fiancee, and I love you. Willow, you're my best friend, and I love you. Tara, you're a pretty damned good friend yourself, and I love you. I don't want anything to mess any of us up."

Willow sighed in exasperation. "It's just a kiss, Xander! It won't mess anything up." Anya and Tara nodded in agreement.

I'm not one to bang my head against a brick wall. If they were going to insist I kiss a hot chick, the least I could do was give in gracefully, right?

In three steps I was standing over Tara. I reached down and pulled her up out of the armchair. I looked down into her eyes for a second to make sure it was okay, but she was already lifting her lips to mine. That was good enough for me.

The kiss was awkward at first, just like the dance had been. Unlike with the dance, I found it almost impossible to relax and get into it. I was kissing Tara in front of my fiancee and her girlfriend, after all.

For the first few seconds, it was no good at all. Our lips rubbed against each other, but there was nothing even approaching passion. I was about to give up when her tongue darted out to lick at my lips. It withdrew before I could do anything, but I figured turnabout was fair play and extended my own tongue to touch her lips.

In a flash, she opened her mouth and sucked my tongue in so deep I was afraid she'd choke on it. Then her tongue was playing with mine, and our mouths were locked tight against each other, and her hands were running up and down my back, and my hands were entwined in her hair, and I completely forgot about Willow and Anya for what seemed like forever.

Finally, we pulled back and broke the kiss. We were both breathing hard, trying to catch our breath. I could only goggle at her for a few seconds, and she did the same to me. I had no idea what to say, and I could tell she didn't, either.

Willow and Anya did not share our problem.

"Woohoo!" Willow called. Anya burst into applause and gave a piercing wolf-whistle.

Tara and I both blushed crimson and jerked away from each other. Anya and Willow started laughing, and after a few seconds I joined them. Then Tara joined in, too, and it was okay again.

"There," Anya said in satisfaction. "Was that so bad?"

"That was wonderful," I said truthfully. Tara nodded in eager agreement. I looked over at her, then had to look away. She was wearing a blouse with a lower neckline than she usually wore, and since she was still breathing hard it did very interesting things to the view, if you know what I mean. And I think you know what I mean.

"And we're all okay," Willow said smugly, breaking me out of my thoughts. Probably for the best. "Told ya it would be fine," she went on.

I nodded. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You guys were right and I was wrong. I'll never argue again when you tell me to kiss a pretty woman, okay? Promise."

They all smiled at that, somewhat evilly, and I decided to add, "Just do me a favor, okay? I don't think I want to know what else is on Tara's 'I Never' list."

Anya smirked at me. "Play your cards right..." she mused, but didn't go on. Somehow, I wasn't reassured.

The next afternoon when I got home from work, I hesitated before opening the door. I wasn't afraid, exactly, just cautious.

Okay, I was afraid. Do you blame me?

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The first thing I did was look into the living room. I sighed in relief when I saw that it was empty.

Or so I thought. Anya stood up from the couch as I walked in. She was stark naked, and she made sure to stretch and twirl so I could see every inch of her. Then she walked slowly over to me and pulled my head down for a kiss that made the one I'd shared with Tara seem like an eight-year old kissing Grandma.

When she pulled away, I'm deeply ashamed to admit that the first thought through my head was, *Thank God, no Willow and Tara tonight.*

Anya pulled my shirt up over my head, and when her lips and teeth started playing with my nipple, all thoughts of Willow and Tara fled, and my brain was filled with everything I wanted to do with the woman I loved. It was a long list.

I ran my hands over Anya's body as she dropped my shirt to the ground. Just as she lifted her head to kiss me again, I grabbed her ass and pulled her up and against me, grinding my crotch into hers. She whimpered into my mouth, and I felt her yanking my belt open, then pushing my pants and shorts down so her hand could grab my cock and pump it hard.

I didn't think much at all for the next few seconds. When I came back to reality, Anya was kneeling in front of me, trying to get my shoes off. I lifted my legs so she could pull them off, and then she divested me of my pants, shorts and socks as well. She looked up at me and smiled.

"While you're down there...," I began, but she was already standing up. She made sure to slide every inch of her skin against mine as she slowly rose to kiss me. I gasped in pleasure, then moaned in despair when she pulled away from me and took my hand.

"I want you in the bedroom," she whispered.

I'd just as soon have thrown her down onto the carpet, but I had no complaints about moving to the bed. "Lead the way," I told her, then stared at her swaying hips and ass as she preceded me to the door to the bedroom.

It was closed, which was odd, but I didn't think anything of it when Anya turned around and grabbed my cock again. I hissed in a breath through my teeth, then looked down at her when she laughed in delight at my reaction.

"Ready to have some fun?" she asked. All I could do was nod eagerly.

Anya turned and threw the bedroom door open. She stepped in and I moved to follow her, then stopped dead in shock.

The first thing I saw was Willow's ass. She was on her hands and knees, facing the headboard, with her knees spread so wide I thought it had to be painful. Her pussy and thighs were gleaming with moisture, though, so she must have been enjoying herself.

Tara was enjoying herself even more. She was lying on her back with her legs spread. Willow's face was buried in her crotch, and from the sound of it, she really enjoyed her work. Tara was biting her lip and moaning softly, obviously trying to keep from crying out. When she saw me enter the room, she looked straight into my eyes and smiled, then gave up on silence and screamed, "Oh, God, I'm gonna come!"

As I watched Tara thrash in ecstasy against my best friend's face, Anya pressed her naked body up against mine. Her hand reached down to caress my cock and balls as she whispered into my ear.

"Tara's never made love with a man."