Epilogue

One year later…

Buffy watched him from across the table, a small smile tugging on her lips. He was so nervous…so flustered. He kept dropping his fork and fumbling with his napkin. Occasionally he would run his hand through his hair, and it wasn't long until it was standing on end. Occasionally he would look up and smile a little, but mostly he tried to avoid eye contact.

"William, would you like dessert now?"

"Now? But it's so early, though I suppose if you're ready…"

"I meant the cake."

"Oh, right, of course. No thanks, I'm not very hungry."

Oh, she just wanted to…lick him all over. Perhaps her thoughts were reflected in her eyes, because he blushed and looked away.

"I'll just…clear the table," he stammered. "And do the dishes, and when was the last time I swept?"

"I think you can leave all that for tomorrow."

"Right, right. Of course." His fork fell to the floor and he bent to pick it up, his shaking fingers not quite able to grasp it.

"Leave it." Buffy stood up and walked over to him. He straightened in his seat and looked at her with such desperate desire and that it made her heart twist a little. She offered her hand. "Come on, William."

"Now?"

"Now."

William took her hand and stood up with an eager smile that he could not suppress, no matter how hard he tried. She could see his pants bulge, but was careful not to let her eyes linger there. She didn't want to embarrass him more than was absolutely necessary. She led him down the hall to the bedroom—it was hers again. She offered to share with him, but he insisted on staying on the couch, and then when Dawn moved out, he took her room.

He shut the door behind them and glanced at the light switch. "Do you want to leave it on?" Buffy asked.

"I…I don't know."

"We'll leave it on then. Come here."

He shuffled over to her, sick with nerves and lust, aching with desire. They had kissed before, and she had even allowed him to touch her—wherever he wanted—but they had never gone beyond that. Until now. And suddenly, he didn't know how to do anything. His reservations began to crumble though when she kissed him, her sweet lips making him moan and melt into her.

While she kissed him, she unbuttoned his shirt, and pulled it off of his shoulders. At the first touch of her fingers on his heated skin, he shuddered, growing uncomfortably hard. Buffy noticed, and instantly relieved the tension a bit by unzipping his pants. He tensed, nervous, already trying to pull away from her hands.

"Shhh," she soothed. "Relax William. It's ok."

"I can't," he gasped. Her hand grazed his thigh.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Will."

"I know," he moaned as her fingers worked beneath his boxers, hooked around the waist, and pulled them down. When he realized he was completely naked, he blushed a deep scarlet. "Maybe we can turn off the lights?"

"William, do you want to do this? We can stop…"

"No, no," he interrupted her. "God no, don't stop."

"Undress me?"

He nodded quickly, un-tucking her shirt and pulling it over her head. He didn't attempt to unclasp her bra though, instead he focused on removing her skirt. Her thong made him pause though, and he looked up at her helplessly.

She smiled at him, and slowly pushed the black silk past her smooth thighs—he couldn't look away. His eyes followed its path down her legs, and then was pulled back to the area it had just uncovered.

"I never…"

"I know." She them mesmerized him by reaching behind her and unclasping her bra, allowing the lace to falling from her body and land at her feet.

"You're so beautiful," he breathed in awe. "Just absolutely…glowing."

Buffy stepped towards him and wrapped her hands around his neck. "So are you," she said, before kissing him again. Her hot, soft body pressed against his, and it was almost too much for him to bear. He forced himself to recite poetry to take his mind off the way she felt because if he didn't…

Buffy fell back on the bed, pulling him with her. It felt like her hands were everywhere on his body as she began to rub and caress him, trying to show him by example. He was a quick student. His light fingers trailed down her chest and stomach, and then back up her ribs.

"Touch me," she encouraged softly.

He looked so grimly determined that she couldn't help but smile. She traced the outline of his jaw and lips lovingly as he gathered his courage and began to explore her body. He closed his eyes and turned his body over to instinct, allowing himself to just do whatever felt right. She encouraged him with soft moans and whimpers, arching into his touch, curving her body against his.

Tentatively, with infinite gentleness, he allowed his fingers to dip between her thighs and skim her lips—already wet with her desire. He sucked his breath in sharply, amazed at how soft, how hot, how amazing she felt. "Oh god…"

"More…"

His fingers slipped into her, but he paused, unsure of what to do. Buffy grabbed his hand and guided his finger to her clit. "Rub it like this…" She rubbed the back of his hand with a soft, circular motion.

He nodded, and began to mimic her movement. Perfectly. She bucked against his hand, surprised and thrilled by the sharp pleasure spreading from her groin. God, it had been so long…

"That feels so good," she breathed. "Don't stop."

"I won't," he promised, almost solemnly.

Buffy reached between them and wrapped her fingers around his shaft. He yelped with surprised, but that turned into a moan as she began to rub him. Her fingers were so tight, so soft…she was moving so fast. The friction was building, and he could smell her soft perfume, her moans echoed in his ears, her skin was hot—he had total sensory overload.

"A little faster," she whispered. "Move a little faster."

William moved faster, delighted and encouraged by the way she gasped his name. He wanted to hear it again. He increased the pressure slightly, and was rewarded—"William." The reward was enough to push his already frail defenses down, and he exploded all over her hand, just as her body shook with her own release.

"Oh god," he gasped. "Oh god, I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry. It's fine."

"Are you sure? I've made an awful mess…let me clean it up…"

"William. It's fine, I promise."

"But…what about…"

She moved her hand lower and fondled him gently until he grew hard again. William's eyes widened. "There, now you're ready again. You are ready, right?"

"Oh, yes," he breathed.

Buffy propped herself up on the pillows, and then pulled him on top of her.

"I don't know if I know how," he admitted.

"You know how," she promised. "Everybody knows how."

William nodded and kissed her softly. As his tongue pushed into her mouth, he thrust into her. "Oh. Oh. Oh, Buffy…"

"I know. I know…" She began moving her hips, showing him the rhythm, teaching him the dance. As before, he was a quick study, and it wasn't long until he was leading her.

She was tempted to close her eyes, but she didn't. Instead she locked gazes with him, meeting his dark, passionate blue eyes, and smiling. His face was still shining with awe, and he smiled back—he did look beautiful.

William moved faster, and the familiar sensations flooded her body. It had been so, so long. And William was so sweet and eager to please. He studied her face carefully, concentrating on the emotions that danced across her eyes, as low he was looking for something.

"Buffy, I think I'm going to…"

"It's ok. So am I…Touch me again, William. Like before."

He reached between them and found her again, touching her as before. The barest brush of his fingers was enough though, to send her crashing into another orgasm. Her tight, slayer muscles clenched him as she through her head back, letting her body ride it out. That was too much for William, and he pushed into her one final time, his body freezing with the force of his climax. He moaned her name over and over until there was nothing left in him, and he collapsed beside her.

"That was…the most amazing…I didn't know…"

Buffy nodded. "I tried to tell you."

"I want to do it again."

"We will. Lots of time in many different positions."

He caressed the side of her face. "I love you, Buffy."

She smiled at him. "I love you too, William."

~*~

A/N---What about that? I actually finished a fic! Go me! And there were those among you who didn't think it would happen.

I'd like to thank several people. Bubonicplague and Ceit….my first and most dedicated readers. If it wasn't for them, I would have never been able to finish this fic, much less post it. I'd like to thank everybody in chat—Coroba, rbabe, jinx, redqueen, voodoo, buffyx—for putting up with me while I talked about, encouraging me when necessary. I'd like to thank everybody who left me reviews. Every single review was so special to me, really, I love them. Review lots. It makes me happy. I'd like to thank whoever nominated this fic for awards, and everybody who asked to archive it.

And my husband for being my muse.

And anybody else I forgot.