Part Three

The powerful motorcycle pulled up smoothly to the
curb. Wesley's long, lean, leather-clad legs stretched
down the ground balancing the metal behemoth
With practiced ease, the ex-Watcher/Rogue Demon Hunter
tilted the bike to allow Willow to carefully slide off the back.
Once safely back on terra firma, Willow removed the
large helmet, shaking out her hair, her vibrant
red mane glowing in the warm lamplight. She smiled at
the darkly handsome man still astride the bike. He
returned her smile and let his eyes travel down the
length of her body, his striking gaze lingering on her
shapely legs.

Nervous and excited under the heat of his gaze, Willow
took a deep steadying breath. Just a casual glance
from him set her pulse racing.

Knowing what she was feeling, Wesley's gaze traveled
back up her body, resting on her throbbing pulse. It
was like a beacon to the creatures of the night, her
blood rushing to surface, pounding through her veins.

He reached out and ran a finger down her cheek.

Willow sighed and closed her eyes. His hand was so
strong, so warm.

"Let's get you inside, shall we?" Wesley said in a
deep smooth voice.

Willow felt her insides begin to melt.

As Wesley put down the kickstand and stepped off,
Willow couldn't help but notice how the leather clung
to the muscles of his legs and gripped his...

Her breathing sped up, and she felt a bit faint.
Wesley heard her soft sigh and reached out to steady
her. He couldn't help but smile; her eyes shining up
at him in the moonlight. "Most radiant, exquisite and
unmatchable beauty..." he quoted.

She blushed and cast her eyes down, a small smile
gracing her lips.

"Shall we?" he asked, smoothly offering her his arm to
escort her to the front door.

"Ain't dis a pretty pitchur?" a gruff voice said from the
shadows.

Wesley, his reflexes honed to perfection, turned
toward the intruder, pulling Willow behind him. "Who
goes there?" he asked warily.

Three pairs of gleaming yellow eyes were his answer.
"I see," the young Rogue Demon Hunter said calmly.
"Willow, get inside."

"But Wesley," Willow protested, her voice strained
with fear. "You can't fight all three of them!"

He turned, flashing her a smile. "Fear not, my dear."
He touched her cheek gently. "Now get yourself
to safety. I shan't be long."

Willow looked up at him admiringly, a small sigh
escaping her lips. "But--"

"My dear sweet Willow," he whispered. "Please? For
me?"

"For you," she sighed with a nod. Willow quickly
reached up to hold his shoulders, standing on tiptoes.
She brushed her lips across his. "A kiss for luck."

Wesley held her tiny waist to his firm body for a
moment and felt her shiver at the contact. He grinned
and released her. He watched her dash up the path
before turning to the Vampires. "Who's first?"

The biggest of the three stepped forward. "Howz about
me?"

"Howz about?" Wesley echoed in disdain. "Good lord,
don't they teach you demons English?"

"Screw you," he hissed.

"Oh! Brilliant riposte," Wesley said rolling his eyes.

The large Vampire growled. "All right then," Wesley
said casually as he struck a martial arts pose. "Let's
see what you've got."

The man lunged forward, but Wesley was far too quick.
With a graceful turn, the Rogue Demon Hunter reached into
his pocket, ducked under the lumbering blow and staked
the fellow as he stumbled past.

Straightening, he wiped the dust from his jacket.
"Next? And I do hope you present more of a challenge,"
he said, obviously bored.

The second man feinted forward, but Wesley didn't
fall for it; he merely stood his ground and sighed.
"Yes, yes, come along. I don't have all night, you
know." He glanced at Willow and blew her a kiss.

Willow grabbed the kiss from the air and put it on her
heart.

The attacker growled, enraged, and he and his friend
rushed Wesley at the same time. Faster than the eye
could see, the ex-Watcher produced another stake. As
the two men strode toward him, he leapt into the air.
Executing a perfect flip, he landed behind the two
vampires and staked them effortlessly.

Wesley stood straight and scanned the area for any
more threats. Sensing none, he sighed and twirled his
stakes, before slipping back into his pockets.

Willow came sprinting down the walk, flinging herself
into his arms. "Oh, you were so wonderful!"

Wesley held her loosely, smiling down into her adoring
face. "All in a day's work, my dear. I assure you."
He frowned a bit. "You're trembling, my love.
There's no need to be frightened."

Willow blushed again. "It's not that. It's..." she
looked down and then back up into his incredibly
handsome face. "It's you. The way you fought. It was
so - exciting." She ran her small hands up his chest,
her emerald eyes flashing. "I don't know what it is,"
she panted. "I've seen men fight before, but you..."

Her eyes went round as her hands rubbed his hard
chest. "I --- I..."

Wesley grinned. "You what, my dear?" he prompted, his
arms snaking around her waist.

"I want you!" she growled jumping up into his arms,
her legs wrapping around his waist.

He cocked an eyebrow and grinned diffidently.

"You're the most agile, the strongest, the bravest of
men!" she purred.

"Pish-tosh. That was nothing," he said casually, as
he held her body to his.

"Nothing? That was the most amazing thing I've ever
seen in my life. And you... You're so sexy." She
kissed his neck. "The way you moved. Gods!"

"Well..."

Willow's eyes were bright with passion. "Oh, God I
want you!!!" She grabbed him and kissed him hard.

"Take me, you God you!!" she wailed as she threw back
her head.

Wesley hugged the pillow tighter.

*****

Giles took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of
his nose. The research was going incredibly slowly.
And it certainly didn't help that he couldn't
concentrate. Try as he might, his thoughts kept
drifting to Willow.

He knew he was a fool to even entertain the thoughts
he did. She saw him as a friend, an older friend and
nothing more. Wishing it were different wouldn't make
it so. If wishes were horses...

He shook his head and sighed heavily. He tried not to
think of her with Wesley. He might be able some day to
accept the fact that she would never be his, but
Wesley's! Never! That was simply beyond the pale.

Giles heard a soft knocking on his front door. With a
forlorn sigh, he rose to answer it.

"Hi, Giles," Willow said brightly.

"Hello," he said softly.

Willow stepped past him and entered. "Are you feeling
better?" She stopped and looked at him for a moment,
her eyes like a tender caress.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. Thank you," he said with smile. 'Does
she have to look at me like that?'

"I'm sorry about last night," she said with a small
frown. "I promise to make it up to you."

"Y-you do?" he asked, trying to keep a handle on his
hopes.

"Sure. I'm all yours today," she said with that
beautiful smile that made his heart jump.

"M-mine?"

"Yup! Where should we start?" she asked.

"S-start?" he stammered, trying unsuccessfully to keep
images of Willow stretched out across his bed from his
mind.

"What would you like me to do?" she said sweetly.

"Uhh..." Giles mumbled as an image of Willow giving
him a Swedish massage invaded his mind. "D-do?"

"Yeah, should I take the codex or do you want it? I
could try the Paragrim," she said holding up a large
book.

"Oh," Giles said unable to keep the disappointment out
his voice. "Whichever you prefer," he added hastily
turning away.

Willow frowned and set down the book. "Something is
wrong, Giles. What is it? Did I do something?"

"No, " he assured her. "I-I'm fine really."

She wasn't going to be put off so easily. She walked
to his side and took his hand in hers. "We're friends,
right?"

He nodded, his gaze drifting down to her small hand
in his, so trusting, so lovely.

Her emerald eyes seemed to see right into his heart.
She cocked her head to the side, a sad sweet smile
playing across her lips. "Can I confess something?"

Giles could only nod.

"I wish," she whispered. "We could be more." She
looked up into his eyes, at once hopeful and
frightened. "Do you?"

He was frozen, unable to speak or move. He could
barely breathe.

"Giles?"

Her smile slowly melted away, her eyes beginning to
glisten with tears of disappointment. "Giles?"

"Giles?"

He felt himself shaking. "Giles?"

"Hmm?"

"Wake up," Buffy said. "You're drooling."

"Oh? S-sorry. I was just--"

"Wait, I've fallen for that before. Don't tell me."

Giles nodded and sighed. He may not have been able to
speak in his dream, but he wasn't sleeping now. It was
time he did something about the way he felt, before
someone else did.

End Part Three

Part Four

Giles strapped on his seatbelt and turned over the

engine. The trustworthy Volvo came to life. He cursed

himself a fool for buying it, he should have given in

to his whims and bought that damned used Boxter. You

don't win a woman over with a Volvo. There's something

innately unsexy about any car with a hatchback.

Now was not the time for trustworthy. Now was not

the time for reliable. Now was not the time to play it safe.

That damned Wesley had ridden up on that damned

motorcycle and stolen his Willow away.

"Damnit! We'll see about that!" Giles hissed to no one in

particular. Throwing caution to the wind and rubber to

pavement, Giles sped toward the Rosenberg residence.

With each passing minute, he grew more anxious. Willow

was so beautiful, an unknowing seductress; what

man could resist her? Certainly not Wesley, if last

night were any indication. The blatant way he'd stared

at her bare midriff and her creamy skin. The way her

supple muscles had moved as she stretched, especially

her nice firm...

"Shit!" he rasped, pulling his car back onto the road.

The near collision with the Pepsi truck only seemed

to fuel his anger, fear and well, lust. The adrenaline

was pumping through his body as he tried *not* to

imagine what Willow and Wesley could be doing right

now...

Sitting down to breakfast tea, Willow handed Wesley

his toast. He grabbed her wrist, grinning rakishly, he

threw her against the counter and...

"Christ!" Mountain Dew.

Giles ground his teeth as he imagined unthinkable

scenario after scenario...

Willow brought Wesley the morning paper and his

slippers. Kneeling down before him, her emerald eyes

shone with love and adoration, as she caressed his

calves. Wesley grabbed her, throwing her down onto the

bearskin rug and...

"Bugger!" Dr. Pepper.

Giles shook his head to try and clear it. He simply

had to concentrate on the road. He couldn't declare

his love and beat Wesley to a pulp if he was sitting

in a ditch somewhere. After all, that last image was

ridiculous. Willow would never own a bearskin rug.

Unless it was synthetic.

Giles put the petal to the metal and urged his

sensible car to push beyond the limits of sense.

Somewhere around Main Street Willow in the bath

sprung to mind and other things sprung -- elsewhere.

Wesley sponged her exposed skin and Giles tested

the limits of Swedish engineering.

None too soon, he arrived at Willow's house.  He came

to an abrupt halt, just short of Wesley's motorcycle.

Pausing for a split second, Giles let the car slip into gear

again, lurching forward, tapping the bike ever so slightly

and sending it falling to the pavement.

With a sneer, he climbed out of the car and strode up

the short path to the front door.

"Willow!" he called out loudly, as he banged his fist

on the door. "Willow!"

He was actually considering breaking it down, when

the door suddenly opened.

"Good morning, Mr. Giles," Wesley said amiably.

"Problem?"

Giles grunted and pushed past the younger man into the

foyer. "Where's Willow?" he demanded.

"Is something wrong?" he asked uneasily.

Giles was about to dash up the stairs when the fact

that Wesley was clothed only in a robe registered.

"What are you wearing?" he asked thinly.

"A r-robe?" Wesley asked suddenly very nervous.

Mr. Giles did not look at all well.

"I can see that!" Giles bellowed.

Wesley frowned. "Of-of course you can." He tried

to smile placatingly. "You-you haven't hit your head again?

I've heard that multiple-"

Giles lunged forward, grabbing the soft lapel

in his hand. "It's a little late for a robe, isn't it?" Giles

hissed.

"Mr. Giles, unhand me!" Wesley demanded and then

decided begging was actually a more appropriate course.

"P-please?"

Giles grunted and reluctantly complied, but his hazel

eyes continued to bore into the younger man.

"Thank you," Wesley said straightening his wrap.

"It's an amusing story actually."

"Amuse me," he said grimly.

"Yes, well... I was having breakfast tea. You know,"

he said in a musing aside, "Willow can certainly

steep with the best of them.   It's all in the wrist," he said

with a chuckle. He stopped, thinking he actually heard

Mr. Giles growl. "Yes... And," he continued nervously.

"Clumsy me... I must have been so distracted by her.."

That was definitely a growl and Wesley swallowed anxiously.

"I-I must have startled her and well, I'm afraid m-my shirt may

not survive," he said at an attempt at levity, but realized his

shirt might not be the only innocent victim this morning.

"And?" Giles prompted through gritted teeth.

"And," the other man continued nervously. "She was

gracious enough to offer me this robe and some slippers-"

Giles grabbed him about the throat. "Slippers?"

"Y-yes," he choked out. "F-for m-my f-feet."

"Where's Willow now?" Giles said tightening his grip.

"Upstairs," Wesley gasped. "In the bath."

"What?" Giles roared. "The bath!" This really was too

much. First the tea, then the slippers and now the bath.

"You bloody--" Giles ground out. With an angry growl he

tossed Wesley aside and headed for the stairs.

Wesley righted himself and grabbed onto Giles' arm.

"I say, old man!"

Rupert spun around, his eyes like fire.

"A w-woman i-in her bath," Wesley explained bravely, trying

not to wither under Giles' intense glare. "There is a matter

of etiquette, after all."

"You gonna stop me?" Giles asked hopefully.

The younger man rose this full height and cinched the

sash to his robe, in a manly way, of course. "Yes," he said

bluntly.

Giles grinned wickedly.

Wesley gulped, but held his ground. "Willow is--"

Giles' fist connected squarely with Wesley's chin,

sending him sprawling onto the floor.

"Oooff!!"

Wesley slid to a halt and shook his head to clear

it. "That, was not only rather painful, but terribly bad form,"

Wesley said as he worked his jaw and regained his feet.

"I should tell you, I am prepared to defend her honor."

"I'll die before I let you take advantage of her!" Giles

bellowed.

"And I---" Wesley frowned. "Me?"

"You want her. I can smell it on you!"

"Well, she is a delightful creature," Wesley said,

stepping back as Giles took a menacing step forward.

"I may be many things, Mr. Giles, but a libertine, I

am not."

Giles stopped his aggressive approach and stared

at the younger man.

Wesley took a deep breath and dared himself to look

into Giles' eyes. Suddenly, it was all beginning to make

sense. "Did.. are you and Willow--?"

"Yes!" Giles said fiercely. "No... I--- "

"Ah," Wesley said knowingly. "Yes-no. I see."

"See what?" Giles said uneasily.

"You want her, and I can't say I blame--"

Giles growled again and Wesley's eyes went round.

"Off topic, right you are... Y-you.. haven't told her

how you feel, have you?"

Giles frowned and sighed.

"For shame, Mr. Giles," he admonished. "A lovely woman

like that deserves the truth."

Giles nodded sheepishly, dipping his head down.

"You march right up those stairs and tell her how you

feel," Wesley said firmly.

"You think--"

"I know! If you don't... Some scoundrel, present

company excluded naturally, might beat you to it."

Giles clenched his jaw. "I never thought I'd say this.

But, you're right."

"I am? I mean, certainly I am. Now, go!" he said

commandingly.

Giles grinned happily and bounded up the stairs.

Wesley watched him go and realized what he'd just

given up. He sighed heavily. "I wonder what Cordelia

is doing?"

"Willow!" Giles called out.

"Giles?" she answered, thinking some terrible fate had

befallen someone.

Without thinking, Giles threw open the door and strode

into the small bath. "Willow, there's something I ---

Sweet Jesus!" His eyes went round as he stared at

Willow's nude body resting comfortably in a bubble bath.

"Giles!" Willow cried as she tried to cover herself.

Finally, Giles regained control of his body, well most

of it, and turned away.

"What's wrong? Is someone hurt?" she asked anxiously.

"N-no," he gasped, and not thinking again, turned back

to face her. "I--" he let out a shuddering breath.

"I--"

Willow's frown slowly melted, a gentle smile taking

its place. Giles was staring at her, his eyes, his face

spilling over with realized emotion. Powerful emotions.

Emboldened by the love his eyes and excited by the

passion, she grinned up at him.

"Giles?" she said softly.

His gaze traveled down into the tub and back to her eyes.

Her crimson blush stood out like strawberries against her

creamy skin.

"Y-y-you," Giles stammered, awestruck. "Are so

beautiful."

Willow ducked her head shyly, and instinctively, Giles

stepped forward to reassure her. "Truly," he whispered

reaching out to caress her wet cheek.

Willow's huge emerald eyes met his. Moved by his

sincerity, Willow smiled and leaned into his touch.

Life affords you few opportunities, fewer still like

this. Summoning all his courage, Giles leaned down

and captured her rosebud lips in a kiss.

Good God! The feel of her warm mouth, the aroma of the

bath, Giles felt his body stir. He knew he had to leave

now or...

"I'm sorry.." he said softly, pulling away. "I really shouldn't

be here now. I--I'm sorry..."

"Your sleeve is wet," she said, ignoring his protests.

"My sleeve?" he said in confusion.

Willow splashed some water onto his arm and grinned

slyly.

Giles looked down at his arm in bewilderment and then

back to Willow, her smile answering all his questions.

"Ahhh, so it is," he said, his face breaking out in a

matching grin.

"Might as well join me?" she offered.

Giles' eyes flashed and he slipped over the side and into

the tub, sending water splashing onto the floor. Their laughter

mingled with the water and their kisses and... Well...

The End