Part 23/24

Spike watched Buffy and Willow eye Graham and was 
fairly certain that a 
fight was inevitable.  He thought it was a fairly good 
idea; a nice little 
fight would relieve tension and he?d get the chance to 
maybe see Buffy get 
smashed upside the head.  Of course, Red would most 
likely turn him and 
Graham into rabbits or kittens or some other sort of 
harmless furry 
creatures before any real smashing took place, so 
maybe a fight really 
wasn?t a good idea.

Xander apparently agreed with him.  The dark-haired 
man moved to stand 
between Graham and the women he faced.  ?Buff, Wills, 
just hang on a second, 
all right??  He raised his hands in a placating 
gesture.

Willow cocked her head to the side.  ?What?s he 
talking about??

?It?s not like it sounds.?  Xander laughed a little 
nervously.  ?Well, 
actually it is like it sounds, but it?s not a joke.  
Graham and I really are 
together.?

?Um, Xander?  You?re not gay.?  Buffy sounded 
reluctant to point that out.

?No, I?m not,? Xander agreed.  ?I?m bi.?  He glanced 
over at Willow.  ?I 
just kept it to myself longer.  I?m not as brave as 
some people.?

?So what about Spike?? Buffy asked.  ?There was 
huggage there, too.?

?Yeah.  I?m with Spike, too.  I love him.?

?And you?re ok with this??  Buffy shook her head.  
?Xander, that?s nuts.  
It?s Spike and you?re in love with Graham.?

?I?m also in love with Spike.  I love both of them.?

Spike felt his smirk slip.  Xander?s voice was quiet, 
confident.  He didn?t 
lapse into doubt or uncertainty when his emotions were 
questions.  Two days 
ago he probably would have.  The Cynon?s taint was 
finally gone.

?Xander, you?re talking about Spike.  Evil, remember?  
Soulless vampire??  
Buffy took a step toward Xander, her expression frank 
and worried.

?I know exactly who I?m talking about.?  Xander?s 
smile was gentle but 
determined.  ?He?s the one who moved in with me when I 
needed someone around 
to get over the silence Anya left behind.  He?s the 
friend that had my back 
for the past couple of months, making sure I lived 
through fights I couldn?t 
have gotten out of on my own.  He?s bandaged me up and 
made me laugh and 
kept me alive and kept me sane.  He loves me and I 
love him.  He?s not going 
to hurt me.  He wouldn?t.  He can?t.?

Spike watched in concern as Willow dropped back beside 
her girlfriend, the 
two of them whispering back and forth so quietly he 
couldn?t understand 
them.  They were the ones that worried him.  He didn?t 
think Buffy would 
stake him or kick Graham?s ass - not too badly, anyway 
- but he didn?t want 
to send Red off into a fit of overprotectiveness.

Buffy nodded her head as though responding to 
something only she could hear, 
then shifted her weight so she was looking past Xander 
at both him and 
Graham.  ?So, Fangless, Soldier.  Tell me again what 
you?re doing with 
Xander.  Tell me the truth.?

Someday he was going to find a way to make her pay for 
all the cute 
nicknames she liked to give him.  He was going to make 
her scream out her 
apologies and beg for mercy.

Or maybe he?d just make another round of the town with 
his trusty permanent 
marker, writing out her phone number and ?for a good 
time call Slutty the 
Vampire Layer? on any surface that would take a mark.  
Xander and Graham 
would probably object to hurting her, so he?d be 
better off with the marker.

Swallowing his anger, he met her glare evenly.  ?I 
love Xander.  I?m falling 
for Graham and I?m not going to hurt either one of 
them.?

Graham moved to stand closer to him.  ?Same here.  I 
love Xander and I?m not 
far off from loving Spike and anyone who wants to get 
to them will have to 
go through me.?

Willow and Tara?s voices rose as they chanted in 
unison, speaking words in a 
non-human tongue.  As the spell came to a climax, a 
bright flash of light 
appeared and swept through first Graham and then 
Spike.  Spike jerked as it 
passed through him.  It didn?t hurt but it felt 
decidedly strange.  ?What 
the hell was that??

?Truth spell,? Willow said, smiling.  Her eyes and 
softened and she looked 
much less frightening.  ?They?re telling the truth,? 
she declared.

Buffy nodded.  ?Fine, then.  I guess nobody gets their 
asses kicked.?

Xander shook his head, a wry smile on his face.  ?Most 
people live in terror 
of having to introduce people to their parents, doing 
the whole meeting the 
in-laws thing.  Lucky me, I get to worry about my 
lovers meeting my 
friends.?

?There?s nothing to worry about, Xan,? Buffy said.  
?We know all the best 
places to hide the bodies.  If they slip up, no one 
will ever find them.?

Spike glanced over at Graham, watching the other man?s 
eyes widen.  He could 
read surprise in his blue eyes, mingled with a small 
amount of relief.  
Spike moved closer to him.  ?You all right??

?I think I will be,? Graham muttered quietly.  ?We 
passed the test, didn?t 
we??

?Yeah.  Lucky for both of us, we get to leave with our 
balls.?  Buffy could 
be an absolute raving bitch, but she had a strong 
protective instinct where 
her friends were concerned.  If she believed that he 
or Graham were a real 
threat to Xander then there was no way they?d just be 
walking out of the 
house with him.

Spike watched Giles draw Willow and Tara away a little 
bit, eavesdropping 
shamelessly even as Buffy told Xander and Graham how 
she and Giles had 
healed Dawn.  He listened in as Giles scolded Willow 
and Tara for performing 
the spell without warning or preparation.  Spike knew 
that the scolding 
wasn?t going to do any good.  Willow would continue to 
do whatever she 
thought she had to in order to make sure that Xander 
was safe and unhurt.  
Crossing her would be a very, very bad idea.  Spike 
would rather have Buffy 
pissed at him then Willow.  Buffy would only kick his 
ass and stake him.  
Willow would do interesting and probably messy things 
to him with magic 
before she killed him, once she?d grown tired of 
listening to him scream for 
mercy.

As Giles stepped away from Willow, his gaze raked over 
Spike and Graham.  
The vampire was very glad that Graham missed that 
look; it might have sent 
him scrambling for the door.  Spike had seen the way 
Giles looked at the 
children that surrounded him:  under all the overly 
patient exasperation was 
pride and love so fierce its strength was nearly 
breath-taking.  If he ever 
made an enemy of Giles by hurting the man?s surrogate 
son, Spike knew he was 
better off facing Buffy or Willow.  Giles wouldn?t 
kill him.  Giles would 
make him hurt, take him apart and put him back 
together in horribly painful 
ways.  Giles would allow him to exist so he could 
suffer eternally, making 
sure the pain never ended.

Spike was distracted from his scary thoughts by 
Xander?s hand on his arm.  
?Do you want to go see Dawn??

?Of course, pet.  Lead the way.?  Spike stayed close 
to Xander, completely 
abandoning Graham to the Scoobies.  The man had to get 
used to them if he 
was going to stick around.  They weren?t going to go 
away; they were too 
important part of Xander?s life.

Dawn was in her bedroom, propped up on pillows and 
buried in blankets.  
?Hey, Niblet.?

?Spike!  Xander!?  She looked exhausted, but her smile 
was real.

Xander walked over to sit on the edge of her bed.  
?How?re you doing, Dawn??

?Better.  I?m really feeling better.?

?Good.?  Xander smiled at her, and Spike thought he 
did a good job of 
suppressing the shakiness in it. Xander hadn?t talked 
much about Dawn being 
ill, but the vampire knew that he?d been worrying 
about her silently ever 
since she?d gotten sick.  ?I don?t think you should 
get sick again.?

?No,? Dawn agreed.  ?This wasn?t any fun.?

Xander started to say something, then just shook his 
head and gently pulled 
her into a hug.  ?Missed you, Dawnie,? he said 
quietly.

Watching made Spike realize all over again how much 
Xander cared about his 
friends.  He was going to have to learn to play nicely 
with them to keep 
Xander happy.  He was going to have to get along with 
them if he wanted to 
keep Xander, period.

Dawn buried her face in his shoulder and nodded 
silently.  After long 
moments passed, she sat back.  Xander pushed a lock of 
hair back off her 
face and smiled.  ?I?m going to let the rest of your 
adoring fans come up 
and get a look at you.  You left your public alone for 
too long.  I?ll be 
back to see you soon, though, K??

?Ok.?  Dawn looked at Spike.  ?Are you coming back??

?Course I am.  Couldn?t keep me away.?  Spike grinned 
at her and waved as he 
followed Xander out the door.  As they headed down the 
stairs, Spike saw 
that Graham?s eyes were looking just a little wild.  
No telling what the 
Scoobies had done to him.  They might have been 
grilling him for details on 
his relationship with Xander, or they might just have 
been reminiscing on 
some of their high school adventures.

Xander shifted his weight back and forth.  ?I think 
it?s about time we got 
going,? he said.  ?It?s been a big day.?  He glanced 
at Willow.  ?Dawn would 
like to see you.?

Willow nodded.  ?I?ll be talking to you later, then.?  
It wasn?t a question.

?K, mom,? Xander teased.  ?I?ll call you.?  He looked 
seriously at his 
friends.  ?It?s going to be all right,? he said.  ?I 
love them.  They love 
me.?

Spike glared at Buffy, daring her to doubt.  She 
glared back at him, but 
said nothing.

?Be sure to call,? Willow said.  ?And Spike, Graham?  
I?ll be needed to have 
a talk with you.?

Spike wasn?t sure why that statement sent Riley off 
into a choking fit, but 
he didn?t think that the reason was one he would like.

Xander shook his head.  ?I?ll call.?  He ushered Spike 
and Graham out the 
door.  Graham waved goodbye to Riley and Spike 
resisted the urge to flash an 
obscene gesture as he passed through the door.

Hey, it was a start.

As they walked, Graham looked shakily over at Xander.  
?You have a very 
strange group of friends.?

?Yep,? Xander agreed easily.  ?Try looking at it this 
way:  you have to meet 
them, but you don?t have to meet any in-laws.  It all 
kinda works out in the 
end.?

Spike wanted to head off this conversation.  He knew 
about Xander?s parents 
and didn?t want to depress the dark-eyed man by making 
him think about them. 
  ?What should we do with the rest of the night?  Hit 
a bar and toast Dawn?s 
recovery??

Graham shook his head.  ?I?m a little tired; I don?t 
know if I?m up for a 
bar.  We could catch a movie, maybe.?

Xander shook his head.  ?I was thinking that maybe we 
could stay in for the 
rest of the night.  You know, at the apartment and, 
uh...?  He flushed as 
his voice trailed away.  He waved one of his hands 
back and forth in a vague 
gesture.

Graham raised an eyebrow.  ?You want to play ping 
pong??

Spike thought he knew what Xander meant - he knew what 
he hoped he meant - 
but he couldn?t resist the urge to tease him.  ?You 
want to play charades??

?No...?  Xander flushed harder.

?If you can?t say it, Xan, we can?t do it.?  This was 
important.  If Xander 
was really over the Cynon?s influence, then he was 
ready to move on.  But 
not if he couldn?t say it.  If he couldn?t say it, 
then he wasn?t ready to 
do it.

Xander glared at him.  ?Fine.  You go to a bar.  
Graham can go to a movie.  
I?ll go home and jerk off, since no one wants to have 
sex with me.?  He 
turned and walked back toward the apartment.

*****

Part 24/24

The dead silence that followed his challenge was 
terrifying.  Xander was 
finally ready, finally secure enough in his love and 
the love offered to him 
to insist that Spike and Graham stop treating him like 
he was going to break 
and get on with things already.

He loved waking up in a tangle of limbs, pressed so 
closely to the other men 
that he couldn?t quite tell where he ended and his 
lovers began.  The sweet 
kisses and gentle caresses were wonderful, and he?d 
never grow tired of 
being cuddled on the couch, wrapped up in comfort and 
love, strength and 
warmth, laughter and desire.  He suspected making love 
might be even better 
though, and he?d really like to find out.

Xander understood what his lovers were doing.  They 
weren?t going to let 
anything happen before he was ready for it, weren?t 
going to let him do 
anything that he would regret or could prompt him into 
leaving the 
relationship.  He loved them for it, loved the fact 
that they were willing 
to wait on him and put their own desires off to the 
side.  The time had come 
for it to stop, though.  It was making him crazy.  He 
loved them, needed 
them, wanted them.  The crushing fear and doubt that 
had shaken him so hard 
had finally disappeared, leaving behind only love and 
trust and desire.

The silence behind him stretched, tearing at his 
nerves.  He stopped walking 
and turned around, finding that both Spike and Graham 
were staring after 
him.  He cleared his throat, fighting down 
nervousness.  ?If you two don?t 
want to split up, you could always rent a movie and 
pick up a bottle on the 
way home.  I can close the door to the bedroom so I 
won?t disturb you while 
I?m taking care of business, since no one seems 
interested in-?

He didn?t have a chance to finish the sentence; Spike 
and Graham covered the 
distance between them with gratifying speed.  Spike 
grabbed his left arm and 
Graham wrapped his arm around Xander?s waist from the 
other side and 
together they began to hustle him back toward the 
apartment.

Xander couldn?t help the laughter that bubbled out of 
him.  He was a little 
surprised that his feet were allowed to touch the 
ground; Graham or Spike 
could have just picked him up and run back to the 
apartment to make faster 
time.  ?Guys,? he said, trying to rein in his 
amusement.  ?Guys, this isn?t 
a race.  The apartment is going to be there no matter 
what time we get 
back.?

Spike didn?t bother to reply; he just held Xander?s 
arm more tightly and 
increased his speed.

Graham shook his head.  ?Xander, where are we??

?Um, Elm Street??

Blue eyes laughed at him.  ?Think bigger.?

Xander thought for a moment.  ?Oh.  Sunnydale.  The 
Hellmouth.?

?Right.  Do you really want to take it for granted 
that the apartment will 
be there??

Xander stopped trying to slow the others down.  ?I 
think running would be 
going too far, though.?

Graham upped the pace another notch.  ?I?ll settle for 
speed walking.?

Xander was worried that they?d get jumped by a group 
demons, but apparently 
all three of them were putting off such strong vibes 
of determination that 
all the night creatures steered clear of them.  It 
felt like it took 
forever, but they finally reached the apartment.

Once they were inside, Xander half-expected to be 
propelled into the bedroom 
and for everything to follow from that point.  He was 
surprised and a little 
relieved when they stopped in the living room.

Spike moved to stand directly in front of him, getting 
in his space and 
staring solemnly into his eyes.  ?Last chance, luv.  
If you?re not ready for 
this, tell us now.?

Xander nodded.  ?I?m ready.  I don?t feel the Cynon?s 
influence anymore.  
Everything I feel is coming from me.  Love.?  He 
flushed a little.  ?Lust.?

Spike?s eyes darkened.  ?Good.?  He reached up and 
traced the tip of his 
finger over the swell of Xander?s lower lip.

Behind the vampire, Graham shifted nervously.  ?I 
don?t know,? he said 
quietly.  ?I want this - god, both of you know how 
much I want this - but 
what if you?re wrong, Xander?  What if after we do 
this you get hit with a 
wave of panic?  I don?t want to see you go through 
that again.?

Xander didn?t try to reassure Graham with words.  He 
knew that Graham was 
only worrying about him, trying to protect him, but he 
didn?t need to 
anymore.  Xander wanted this more than he could 
remember ever wanting 
anything.  Still, after waiting so long, words weren?t 
going to convince the 
blue-eyed man.  Knowing that, Xander stepped in front 
of Graham and reached 
out to cradle the back of the taller man?s head in his 
hand, drawing him 
down into a kiss.  He invaded Graham?s mouth 
aggressively, pushing his whole 
body into Graham?s.  Needing Graham to understand how 
much he wanted this, 
he ground his erection against the other man in order 
to erase all lingering 
doubts.

It worked.  Graham?s hands slid down his body, coming 
to rest on his hips.  
Gripping them hard, Graham began to push Xander 
backwards, moving with him 
to continue the kiss and the contact.  Xander allowed 
himself to be moved. 
lost in the taste of Graham, in the feeling of the 
other man?s heat pressed 
so close to him.  He stopped moving when he backed 
into the bed.  Graham 
felt him stop and pulled away, breaking the kiss to 
see what had happened.  
When he realized they?d reached their goal, the 
soldier grinned at Xander 
before placing his hands on his shoulders and giving 
him a deliberate shove.

Xander toppled over, bouncing heavily on the bed.  
?What the hell was that?? 
he asked.

Graham didn?t answer; instead, he dropped to his knees 
and unlaced Xander?s 
shoes.  He pulled them off gently and removed the 
socks as well.

Xander propped himself up on his elbows so he could 
better enjoy the sight.  
Graham looked up and caught him staring.  Holding 
Xander?s gaze, the soldier 
slowly crawled up the bed, hands and knees straddling 
Xander?s body.  He 
stopped moving once he reached Xander?s waist, hands 
smoothly undoing the 
fastenings of supine man?s jeans.  Xander was so 
fascinated by the sight of 
Graham?s large hands that he jerked in complete 
surprise when the bed dipped 
under Spike?s weight as the vampire sat beside him.

?Enjoying the show, luv??  Spike was also watching 
Graham?s hands with 
interest.

?Yeah.?  Xander wasn?t going to waste precious brain 
power looking for 
words.  He had to watch Graham tug on jeans.  He 
extended himself as far as 
a raising his hips up off the bed so the other man 
could tug his jeans and 
boxers down his legs.  He murmured happily as his 
erection was freed.

?Then you?ll enjoy the encore,? Spike promised.  He 
grabbed the bottom of 
Xander?s shirt and pulled it up over his head.

Xander wriggled on the bed, a little embarrassed to be 
the only one naked.  
The frank appreciation in his lovers? eyes made the 
embarrassment disappear 
under a wave of lust.  ?Um, I could be wrong about 
this, but I?m pretty sure 
you two need to be naked, too.?

Spike widened his eyes in mock-surprise.  ?I do 
believe you?re right.?  He 
tossed Xander?s shirt to the floor and knelt up on the 
bed, facing Graham.  
A wicked little smirk on his face, he pulled Graham?s 
shirt apart, 
scattering buttons across the bedspread and down to 
the floor.  Ignoring 
Graham?s small noise of protest, Spike finished 
pulling away the shirt and 
attacked the soldier?s slacks.  Graham recovered 
quickly from the loss of 
his shirt and removed Spike?s clothing with 
enthusiasm, although he didn?t 
do any damage.

Xander held himself motionless, watching as Spike 
pushed Graham off the bed 
so he could drag his slacks down and off.  While Spike 
was bent over, Graham 
pounced, latching onto Spike?s jeans and tugging hard.  
The two men wobbled 
dangerously as they each struggled to strip the other.  
Xander couldn?t help 
it; a snicker escaped him.

Two pairs of blue eyes fixed on him.  Xander clapped 
his hand over his mouth 
but it was too late.  He?d been caught.  Spike and 
Graham kicked off the 
remains of their clothing and straightened.  Xander 
tensed, wondering what 
sort of revenge they?d take.

Spike took a step forward, then turned and wrapped his 
arms around Graham?s 
neck, dragging him down into a fierce kiss.  Xander 
stared unabashedly at 
the two men, watching as they moved against each 
other, hands roaming freely 
over bare skin as the kiss went on and on.  Xander?s 
hands crept down his 
body, curling around his erection.  Gaze never 
wavering from the two men 
before him, he slowly slid his hands up and down the 
column of flesh, 
leisurely pumping himself.  A small moan escaped him 
as he increased the 
pace slightly.

Spike tore away from Graham.  ?What are you doing??

Xander froze for a moment, then resumed his leisurely 
strokes.  ?I told you 
that if no one wanted to have sex with me, I?d jerk 
off.?  To add to the 
provocation, he arched his back and moved his hands a 
little faster, a 
little rougher.

He blinked and then Spike was there, pinning his hands 
down to the bed on 
either side of his head.  ?No, no, no, luv.  That?s 
not what going to 
happen.?

?So we?re going to have sex??  Finally.

?No.?  Graham?s hands ceased in their exploration of 
Xander?s legs.

?No??

?What??  Spike and Xander?s questions overlapped.

Color rose faintly on Graham?s cheeks.  ?We?re going 
to make love,? he said 
firmly.

Xander sat up and cupped Graham?s face in his hands, 
kissing him firmly.  
?Thank you.?

Graham smiled at him, then pushed him back down onto 
the bed.  Spike was 
immediately there, demanding a kiss.  Xander gave in, 
arching into the 
feeling of cool hands moving over his arms, warm hands 
sliding up his inner 
thighs.  Xander tried to respond, wanting to stroke 
his hands over Spike?s 
perfect skin, wanting to taste every part of Graham, 
but neither man gave 
him a chance.

?Let us, Xander,? Spike whispered, nipping at Xander?s 
ear.  ?Please, luv.?

Xander gave in, giving himself over to whatever his 
lovers wanted.  He 
parted his legs to give Graham better access to his 
erection, moaning into 
Spike?s mouth when Graham took him up on his 
invitation.  Wet warm 
surrounded him and he arched upwards, wanting more of 
Graham?s mouth.  He 
was held mostly still by Spike?s weight over his 
chest.  He couldn?t touch 
Graham so he concentrated on Spike, on the voracious 
mouth that covered his. 
  He licked at the teeth that occasionally clashed 
with his own.  Spike 
nearly mewled into his mouth when he did that, so 
Xander kept it up.  He 
felt Spike?s face change against his, felt fangs 
lengthen and grow.  He 
curled his tongue around one of them, cautiously 
testing its edge.

Spike whimpered.

Xander increased his efforts, lapping and sucking at 
first one fang and then 
the other, rubbing Spike?s back as he arched into the 
feeling of Spike?s 
fingers on his nipples, Graham?s mouth around his 
flesh.  Then Graham?s 
mouth was gone and Xander shouted his protest.  He?d 
been close, so close to 
finding release.

Spike petted and shushed him.  ?We?ll take care of 
you,? he promised, 
shifting back to his human guise.  His words caught in 
his throat as he 
spoke.  ?Soon, Xan.?

Xander twisted a little, wanting to see what Graham 
was doing.  He watched 
as Graham curled one hand around Spike?s hip, using 
the other to slide 
lubricated fingers into the vampire, stretching and 
preparing him.

Spike shifted, turning to kiss Graham.  ?Thank you, 
pet.?

Graham smiled and moved so he was lying beside Xander.  
He kissed Xander and 
the dark-eyed man could catch faint tastes of himself.  
Xander returned the 
kiss with enthusiasm, until his erection was slowly 
encased in cool 
tightness.  He gasped, moving away from Graham and 
staring up at Spike as 
the vampire slowly lowered himself onto his hardness.  
Hands fisting the bed 
covers with the effort of holding himself still, 
Xander watched as Spike 
carefully moved so he took in all of Xander.

Spike raised an eyebrow.  ?Waiting for a written 
invitation, are you??  He 
raised himself up then dropped back down.

Xander didn?t need any more provocation.  He thrust 
upwards, panting at the 
feel of tightness and friction and Spike, the 
closeness he was finally 
feeling enough to make him dizzy.  Graham reached out 
with his 
still-lubricated hand and loosely fisted Spike?s 
erection, pumping him in 
time with Xander?s thrusts.  Xander joined his hand to 
Graham?s, lacing 
their fingers around the hard flesh.  Together they 
stroked Spike to orgasm, 
which triggered Xander?s own.  With a final thrust 
upwards he came, a sigh 
shuddering out of him as he relaxed back onto the bed.

Spike leaned down to kiss him leisurely, swallowing 
Xander?s whimper of 
disappointment as he slipped from Spike?s body.  
Graham?s fingers remained 
tangled with his own, stroking a little in a calming 
gesture.  Xander turned 
to face him and saw that the blue-eyed man still 
hadn?t come.  He wriggled 
underneath Spike, wanting to rectify that.  ?Spike...?

The vampire raised his head.  ?Hm??  He caught the 
direction of Xander?s 
gaze.  ?Can?t have that, can we, pet?? he asked, 
leering at Graham.  He 
stretched, then easily slid over so he was on top of 
Graham.  Xander 
summoned up enough energy to roll over to his side, 
giving them a little 
more room and himself a better view.

Spike straddled Graham?s legs, looking over the 
muscled body with obvious 
appreciation.  ?So very edible,? he murmured, tongue 
sweeping across his 
lower lip.  ?Where to begin??

Graham thrust upwards.  ?How about with dessert??

Leaning down, Spike shifted his aim at the very last 
moment so his lips 
trailed over the edges of Graham?s pelvis, snarling a 
little as he gently 
scored the delicate skin with his teeth.  Ignoring 
Graham?s muttered curses, 
he worked his way upwards, licking a path to the 
blue-eyed man?s nipples.

Xander leaned in closer, not wanting to miss any of 
it.  Graham was 
muttering threats the entire times as Spike worked the 
puckered nubs with 
lips, teeth, and fingers, but his hands were buried in 
the vampire?s hair, 
encouraging him to continue.  Spike slowly retraced 
his path downward, this 
time obeying Graham?s pleas and swirling his tongue 
over the head of his 
erection.  Using one hand to control Graham?s frantic 
thrusts, Spike used 
the other to stroke the panting man?s stomach, balls, 
and inner thighs, 
teasing him as he slowly took in more and more of the 
hard flesh.  Not able 
to just watch any longer, Xander moved closer and 
licked away the sweat on 
Graham?s collar bone, then kissed his way over to one 
inviting nipple.  He 
lapped at it gently, then scraped his teeth across it.  
Graham?s breath 
caught and he came, one hand splayed over Xander?s 
back to press him close.

A glance down the length of Graham?s body revealed 
Spike looking almost 
insufferably smug.  Xander decided a little sulking 
was in order, just to 
see if he could get that look off his face.  
?Selfish,? he accused.  ?I 
wanted Graham to fuck me.?

Laughter rumbled up inside of Graham?s chest, pleasant 
vibrations that made 
Xander cuddle even closer.  ?I think we could do 
something about that,? 
Graham mused.  His voice became serious.  ?I want to 
make love to you.?

Xander turned his head so he could face the other man.  
?Make love,? he 
agreed again.  So long has he didn?t tell anyone 
about, he supposed it 
wasn?t too unmanly that he melted every time Graham 
insisted on calling it 
making love.  He pulled himself up the blue-eyed man 
so he could kiss him, 
telling him in actions how he appreciated that 
insistence.  Graham pulled 
him closer, sweat easing the friction between them so 
their chests slid in 
wonderfully slippery ways against each other.  Just as 
he was beginning to 
wonder where Spike was, Xander felt slippery fingers 
gently brush over the 
entrance to his body.

He jumped a little, and Spike was instantly there, 
murmuring reassurances in 
his ear.  ?It?s all right, love.  I?m not going to 
hurt you.  I could never 
hurt you.?

Xander relaxed, tilting his head to give Graham?s 
nipping teeth better 
access to his throat.  ?I?m good.  You surprised me, 
that?s all.?

?You sure, luv??

?If you stop I?m going to have to hurt you,? Xander 
said.  ?That might ruin 
the mood.?

Spike pressed a wet kiss to the nape of his neck and 
then the fingers were 
back, probing gently.  Xander concentrated on kissing 
Graham, on the feel of 
hot flesh against his own.  It had been a while since 
he?d done this and it 
took a little while for him to get accustomed to the 
feeling of being 
stretched.  Spike took his time and Xander was soon 
rocking in time with the 
movements of Spike?s hand.  The fingers disappeared 
and after a pause, Spike 
moved to grasp Xander?s hips, shifting his position.  
?Luv?? the vampire 
asked.

?Please,? Xander said, smiling as Graham held him even 
tighter.  He gasped a 
little as Spike slowly entered him, moving forward in 
a single slow glide.  
It didn?t hurt, exactly; the initial burn was 
something he?d missed once he 
and Alan had parted ways.  Spike held himself 
motionless, cool hands moving 
in soothing patterns over Xander?s back.  Not wanting 
to set off the chip, 
Xander gave himself plenty of time to get used to the 
sensation of being 
filled, then thrust back against Spike.  The blond man 
responded with 
another slow thrust, and then again.  As Xander 
regained his confidence, the 
languid thrusting became a maddening tease.  He tried 
to push back harder in 
order to encourage Spike to speed things up, but the 
vampire didn?t take the 
hint.  Frustrated, Xander began to rub his erection 
against Graham?s seeking 
friction and release that way.  Just as he found a 
rhythm that was working, 
Spike pulled him backwards, thrusting deep within him 
and pulling Xander to 
kneel up over Graham.  Xander tried to drop his hands 
down to bring himself 
relief, but Graham caught his wrists.  Xander hissed 
his frustration.

All wide-eyed and innocent, Graham stared up at him.  
?I thought you wanted 
me to make love to you??

?After,? Xander agreed.  ?After I come.?  He thrust 
back harder against 
Spike, but couldn?t quite get enough stimulation to 
send himself over the 
edge.  ?Please.?

?Wait your turn, luv,? Spike purred into his ear, 
worrying at the lobe with 
his teeth.  He began to thrust faster and harder, 
rubbing over Xander?s 
prostate but denying him the little extra touch that 
was needed for the 
dark-eyed man to come.

?Evil,? Xander gasped out.

?Yes,? Spike agreed.  After a few nearly violent 
thrusts the vampire buried 
his face in Xander?s neck, sucking hard at the skin as 
he came.

Wincing a little as Spike pulled out, Xander glared 
down at Graham.  
?Thanks.?

?You?re welcome.?  Graham beamed up at him before 
launching himself upwards, 
knocking Xander over so their positions were switched:  
Xander was pinned to 
the mattress as Graham stared down at him with 
laughing eyes.

Xander watched as Spike slicked lube over Graham?s 
hardness, pale fingers 
teasing even as they prepared.  ?That?s mine,? he 
growled.

Spike laughed at him, then kissed Graham thoroughly 
before lying down close 
beside Xander, gaze avid as he watched both men.  
Xander flushed a little 
under the scrutiny, then wrapped his legs around 
Graham?s waist, gasping a 
little as the other man carefully entered him.  Like 
Spike, Graham refused 
to move until Xander nodded and pushed back against 
him, giving him 
permission.  Graham set a steady rhythm of thrusts, 
straightforward and 
without teasing, staring down into Xander?s eyes, 
watching him carefully the 
entire time.  When a cool hand curled around his 
erection, Xander cried out 
and thrust raggedly between Spike?s hand around him 
and Graham?s hardness 
within him, chasing completion.  A few more moments 
and he came wailing, 
feeling Graham shudder above him and come as well.

Panting hard, Xander shared weary kisses with Graham, 
slow and sweet.  He 
looked for Spike and felt a moment?s panic when he 
couldn?t find the 
vampire.  Before he could get upset, Spike returned to 
his view, damp 
washcloths in hand.  Xander allowed his lovers to 
gently clean his skin:  if 
they wanted to coddle him, who was he to complain?  
Graham tugged the 
bedcover off the bed and shoved it to the floor, 
leaving them with clean 
sheets.

Xander settled down between his lovers, shivering when 
Spike?s lips ghosted 
over the bruise on his neck.  ?You didn?t bite,? he 
said quietly.

?No,? Spike said.  ?Time?s not right.?

Xander nodded.  He knew that not everything was 
settled.  Making love wasn?t 
an end; it was a beginning.  Xander realized that not 
with dread, but with 
happiness and anticipation.  He could hardly wait to 
find out what would 
happen next for them.  There was no way he could know 
the future, but he 
didn?t need to.  So long as he trusted Graham and 
Spike, that was all the 
assurance he needed.  ?I love you,? he said quietly, 
kissing Graham and then 
Spike, near chaste kisses that were barely more than 
the lightest brushes of 
lips.

?Love you, Xan,? Spike said, expression solemn.

?Love you,? Graham agreed, nodding seriously.

Xander watched as Graham and Spike leaned over top him 
to share a brief kiss 
and a smile.  The words might not be there for them 
yet, but they would be.  
The feelings already were.

He closed his eyes, concentrating on the feeling of 
being so close to the 
two people he loved most.  It was a helluva beginning, 
and he was going to 
believe that it would only get better.  He was going 
to trust in his lovers 
and trust in himself.  He had finally found it:  the 
place where he 
belonged.

*****