Note: My thanks to everyone who have taken time to read this. I know it's long, but it's the way it is flowing out of my brain. Warning: Sex in this chapter. If you don't want to read, then skip to the next. Nothing too graphic to put it over the R rating. Also, I wanted to throw in a little responsibility too. Joss is always so big on consequences to actions that his characters take. Read and enjoy.
Chapter Twenty-Three – The Bond
Thunder rumbled off in the distance. The wind picked up slightly outside. Faith shivered from her head down to her toes.
The man could read her mind? Every time she hurt, he hurt? She knew that they had shared a few dreams, but his theories were wacko. She wished Lorne were here to read them instead of this experiment.
"OK, here goes nothin'."
Faith grabbed Wesley's hand. Nothing. His hand was warm now, unlike the ice she had felt not too long ago. It was rough, callused. She didn't think a guy like him could have hands like that, but he did. The fingers were long, tapered, strong. And she would not start imagining what skills the man had that were attached to them. They were nice hands.
"Thank you," Wesley said.
"No problem. Any time."
"No, I mean the compliment."
"How did you . . . ?" Faith let go. She was floored the man knew what she had just thought in her brain. Her internal dialogue was an open book to him.
"Had to concentrate really, really hard. And as I said, just flashes."
"What does it all mean?" Connor asked. The boy had been fairly quiet. Figures he'd want the bottom line.
"I should be able to do the same, right?"
"Maybe. I wish I knew."
Faith grabbed his hand again. Slowly, she breathed in and out, trying to clear her mind, focus on Wesley. He was right. Flashes through her brain. Intense emotion she could read better. Wes was worried about what was happening, the guilt of what he had done today. Then she jerked her hand back at the last image. His thought was about how such delicate hands could inflict so much pain.
Dammit, she was never this emotional. She got up and quickly exited the room, opening the front door to watch the rain start to fall.
"Faith, wait."
Faith could smell the pine, that clean rain smell, the cool air blowing in her hair.
"What did you see? Was it what I did today? Because frankly I really don't have an explanation for that kind of behavior."
"No." She didn't want to turn around so he could see the pain on her face. Thought she just might cry.
"Then, what sweetheart?"
"What did you say?" Faith turned to look him in the eye.
"I, Faith, tell me."
"Do you think I've changed? Because, you know, I've tried so hard."
"Yes, you have. I'm amazed at the progress you've made."
Wesley almost touched her face, but put his hands down to his sides.
"And now, you can't even touch me because we could read each other's thoughts."
"No, Faith."
Faith stepped out into the rain from the shelter of the house. Even though it was a cold rain, it helped her focus a bit more. "Did you believe me when I said I was sorry?"
"What? Yes, of course. I know you are. Sometimes we do things we're not proud of. Case in point, my actions today were totally uncalled for."
Wesley stepped out with her finally, touching her face lightly.
"You scare me." There. She said it. Out in the open now for him to see or hear.
"What I did today . . . ?"
"No. That's not it. You've always been able to read me, if just a little. I could tell from the beginning. I think that's part of the reason I wanted to hurt you. Because you knew what kind of person I really was."
"You were a mixed up girl then. Now of course just slightly confused, which I have all to do with."
"I just wish I could go back and change it all. I just wish I would have listened to you."
She couldn't really read him right then, but she could feel a wave of guilt roll off of him. That she would have been able to read at any time. "And if you lay one more guilt trip on yourself, so help me God I'll pummel you right where you stand."
Faith felt rather than saw Wesley move in closer to her. She wasn't prepared for his mouth on hers, but when it did happen, her heart sang. Corny, yeah. Right, yes sir. All she did was feel. His hand on her face. His other now bunched up in her hair. He kissed her like it was the last breath he was taking.
She didn't know what to do with her hands until she finally decided to just touch and worry about the consequences later.
Another rumble of thunder rolled through, breaking their contact.
"Inside. I want to take a look at your arm."
"Yeah, sure thing."
Connor and Dawn were not around when the two re-entered the cabin. She could hear them off in the distance quietly talking. The two had given her the privacy she wanted.
Wesley threw a towel at her. "Come in the bathroom with me."
Faith understood it wasn't because he could see better in there since the sun had already set and no electricity. A candle would have to do. He pointed to the toilet, which she quickly obeyed. She peeled off her wet top, plopping it on the ground next to her.
Although he didn't look at her front, she knew he wanted to badly. Probing her arm, she grunted a little, but concluded he knew what he was doing.
"You're already healing. Should be fine."
"Could a told you that, smart man. Thanks for the once over though."
His eyes hadn't traveled any further than her face, but she just wished that they would. The man had the control of a saint, something she had never possessed and probably never would. Suited her just fine.
"You should get dried off. I'll find your bag."
"No."
Wesley had turned around to find another towel for himself. Now or never, she thought.
"Pardon me, I . . . ." While he had turned, Faith had stripped off her black lace bra and thrown it to the floor. Now he looked.
"You should get dressed. It's cold." She was surprised the man could still form a coherent thought.
"How do you know I'm cold?" Faith asked as she advanced toward him. "Cause right now I feel a little too warm."
Faith slid her wet hand up his wet shirt. "Now you on the other hand need a little help."
Wesley grabbed her upwardly advancing hand to still it. He trapped it between their bodies.
"Faith?" he whispered.
She could feel his heart beat wildly in his chest. His eyes glowed in the candlelight.
"Not now, watcher. I'm concentrating."
Faith pulled herself against him and almost swayed at the power of the gesture. His other arm came around her waist, fingers spread on her back. And his mouth came down to capture hers.
Oh, man could he kiss. She generally didn't close her eyes, because when you were a slayer a little paranoia took you a long way, but she did this time. The hand on her back rubbed the heated skin. The other just held hers, still trapped between their bodies.
Her body rubbed against his damp clothes. If he didn't touch her more, she'd scream.
He must have read her mind because the hand that was trapped had let go and started roaming. Every part of her body was supersensitive and his rough hand made it even more so.
His lips started roaming too, first on her ear, then traveling to her neck. The hand on her back was now transferred to her backside. Through her jeans she could feel the heat of that hand.
Then his hands were on the button of her jeans and pulling them down off of her. When her groan escaped, she could hear him chuckle, like he knew just what she needed. One hand traveled back up and one hand descended her body slowly.
Faith tried to unbutton his shirt, but her hands would never steady. So she did the next best thing and grabbed his crotch. Now it was his turn to groan. He jerked forward in her hands, but kept up what he was doing to her. Drive her crazy and over the edge much too quickly.
"I want you now," Faith was able to ground out.
"All in due time."
She almost snorted, but it would have taken too much effort. She couldn't wait any longer, because oh did he have talented hands. As she cried out, he kissed her and then bit her bottom lip just slightly.
"We, you didn't . . . ." Wesley stilled her hand, and then removed it.
"Don't you want to?" Faith didn't want to whine or beg, but it sounded a little like that when the statement came out.
"I do, but . . . "
"Not with me though."
"Yes, with you. And in many positions you probably haven't even heard of. But we can't."
Faith's head snapped up. "You mean you won't."
"It's too complicated."
"What? You get me off and then suffer. Not how it's supposed to work."
"We don't have any protection."
Faith smiled. "So that's your problem. There are other ways, you know."
"Yes, I do. But I didn't want to assume."
Faith started to unbutton Wesley's wet shirt. She finished and was almost ready to pull it off his shoulders when she heard a scream. A Dawn scream to be exact.
TBC