Chapter 19

Chapter 19
A/N #1 Arkeus—really—don't read this chapter. There is no action of the pow pow--shoot-shoot- bang- bang-type.
A/N #2 I upped the rating. Foreplay alert. This chapter was originally quite longer—but I decided to break some of the events up. This is the finishing up the date chapter… in the next chapter—Willow gets back to interacting with Beckett and Weir and the rest of the folks. That one is half way done. My wireless connection is doing some funny thing-- so I figured I would post this now-- in case it conks out again. I really should get actual internet.
A/N #3 I am really enjoying writing this story- this is just so much fun. I hope you like—please read and review.
A/N #4 If you see any mistakes do let me know.
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Aiden found himself awake—again. He had spent the night in semi-awareness. Lying in bed next to Willow was a kind of sweet torture. Throughout the night he had awakened a few times and carefully nestled Willow in his arms and then returned to sleep. She didn't sleep in the same position—she had crawled all over him the entire night. Aiden wasn't so sure if Willow had had a decent time sleeping because of all of her movement. He lay there, just watching as she slept. She had her head turned on its side and against his chest. One arm was wrapped around his neck, with her fingers tangled in the short hairs at his nape. Her other hand rested on his thigh.

Aiden tried to make out her face in the dark with the aid of the dim morning light seeping in through the windows. Her eyebrows were finely arched and her eyes tilted just slightly upward. Her features had a delightful almost ethereal quality. She had instinctively trusted him enough to keep him with her over the night. She trusted him even in her sleep. She had turned again and burrowed her nose into his chest. She turned her face to the other side. Her jaw wore a slight indentation from his buttons. Aiden smiled. He longed to wake her up with kisses and caresses—but now was not the time. He had surely taken a risk by holding her as she slept. His instincts had told him that he wasn't gambling—just continuing the logical sequence of their developing relationship. He knew her body would welcome kisses—her unconscious mind would as well… but would her heart? That he didn't have the answer for so he made himself content, just holding her and watching. He wondered what she dreamed about.

Willow shifted a little as her brain struggled to wake her body. She was attempting to wake up and to push the dreams from her mind. She had been thinking of Aiden and kissing him and exactly how it would feel to have his lips and teeth nipping at her neck. She began stretching herself against a distinctly hard object. Her bed had not been this hard when she had originally laid down, right? She wasn't quite ready to open her eyes but she still had four other senses to utilize to determine the nature of the object. She began to move her hands. From what she could feel she was touching someone's neck and shoulder with her left hand and someone's thigh with her right. Oh goddess. Her nose was buried in this person's upper body. She didn't know why she insisted on pretending the person was nameless and unknown. Who else could it be? She had to be lying on Aiden. Willow tested her sense of smell and inhaled deep. Spicy with a hint of danger. This was Aiden—as if she'd had any doubts.

She began to jerk upwards. She started by pushing down on his thigh with her left hand. It was just too much movement, far too quickly. Moving was a disaster. She slipped a little and fell back onto Aiden's upper body. She jarred her chin against his chest and she was sure her knee had hit a place she wasn't so sure he'd be forgiving her for hitting. How did she become so clumsy? She heard a muffled 'oof' from him.

"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to sleep on you. Sorry. Sorry. Let me just get up and get off." Willow found herself at the mercy of her mouth. She was babbling and she wasn't going to stop. Somehow Aiden was in her room, in her bed, and she was in her bed. They had slept together—literally slept together! She didn't know how to handle this situation. She was obviously still fully dressed so it wasn't as if the sleeping together had actually included, the sex—but still. She had a shadowed memory of asking him to stay. She also had a slight memory of locking him in her room. She was on the verge of thinking of regrets and coming up with more direct apologies but her had brain stopped working when she felt Aiden's voice and his hands.

"Don't" Aiden had spoken. He wasn't sure how to best continue. Willow had just kneed him in the groin. The word was gelded. Maybe this was some sort of punishment for not taking the chair—or the floor. Perhaps if there really was an ancient looking out for him—he was laughing right about now. He had many things he could say but the thing he needed most to do was to reassure her. He reached up and put one hand on the back of her head and gently massaged her nape. Her hair felt like strands of silken thread, falling through his fingers. He put the fingers of his other hand on her chin and gently rubbed at the offended ill treated spot.

"Don't, what?" Willow whispered the question. She had no clue what he would say. What could he say? She felt herself began to redden. He wasn't talking because she had kneed him. Maybe he couldn't say more than one word. She had injured the man she so desperately liked!

"Apologize. Get embarrassed. Or feel uncomfortable." Aiden looked Willow directly in the eyes. He was daring her to feel any of those things. He had clearly told her not to and he meant each word. Fine. This whole beginning was a little strange—but he was okay with the oddness—she needed to be as well.

"Okay?" Willow's answering word was a question. Was it really okay that she wanted him as much as he wanted her? Was it really okay that their date hadn't really ever ended and they were wrapped in each other's arms? Was it really okay--that, goddess save her, she had locked him in her room and he had held her tight all through the night—and held her still. He was so calm. So collected. It was okay for him. It was okay for her. She laid her ear on his chest and was quiet. She could hear the steady thump of his heart, loud, louder, faster. He was nervous—she could feel it. There were cracks in his confidence about her and he and she and well-- them.

She turned her head and moved up his body again. She placed one hand on either side of his shoulders. She repeated the word.
"Okay." This time she meant it. It was okay. It was actually better than okay—but Willow knew one word would suffice. More would be a babble. More would be a conversation and that was far from what she wanted—right now. Pretending she was still dreaming was a cop out she didn't need. There was much to be said about living in the moment or living in the now. Right now she wanted his kisses and his touch and she wanted to give him a little bit of her own. She briefly thought about kissing him but decided against it. When it came to making out or making love the best way to get what you wanted was to give explicit examples. Willow dropped her lips to Aiden's neck and began kissing and lightly nipping. His body was stretched taut as if he was a board or a wire. As far as signals went this wasn't one that really propelled her to continue. Had she done something wrong?

"Aiden? I said I was okay?" Willow hoped she hadn't ignored some dating rule. Was he supposed to kiss her first or was she supposed to start at his mouth? Willow felt a slight rumble coming from Aiden's chest. He was laughing, at her.

"It is okay- more than okay. Are you sure you know what you are getting yourself into?" Aiden had reached his hand back to her head and was now gently massaging her temples. He wanted to believe she knew exactly what she wanted.

"Yeah—I was getting myself in position to kiss you…"

She knew. Fine. When Willow had nuzzled his neck with her teeth he had immediately stiffened. He was hard and ready to turn her over and brand her again and again, with his body. He would have her screaming his name and filled with him. He wanted her so satisfied that she could never think of any other man in this way. There was a question of her inexperience and if she knew what she was doing to him-and exactly what reaction she was on the verge of getting.

Friction and fullness.

"That's not the dynamic I am most interested in right now…" Willow lay on his chest. She was honestly confused. What had he meant by dynamic? She felt a little shiver up her spine. Aiden had snaked one hand up her vest in the back. His hand was lightly touching her lower back. The pads of his fingers were rough and sent tingles throughout her body. She felt her arousal pooling between her thighs. It had never been like this. No kisses, just light touches and she was as stimulated as she had ever been.

She had to know what was going on in his head, "What are you thinking?"

"Your vest has three buttons and your skirt four buckles and one button." He let go of her head and slipped his hand from beneath her vest. Aiden ran his hands down each of her legs, kneading them. He moved her legs so that she practically straddled him, even though she was still lying flat. Willow whimpered and blushed. She was getting a clue as to what she had gotten herself into. Her center had become damper and damper. Even if there was a shadow of doubt, it didn't matter. She wanted more of what she was feeling and what Aiden was offering.

"I am also thinking, how far does that blush spread?" He reached his hand up to cradle her neck. His fingertips danced at the sensitive place where she had been bitten. He maneuvered her lips closer to his and kissed her—hard. His kiss wasn't at all about sharing and sensitivity. He was taking her desire and feeding her with more and more of the same. Aiden scooted his body upward and practically sat up. He brought Willow with him. She was in a sitting position with a leg on either side of him. Aiden reached behind her and maneuvered her legs until they were wrapped around him. He lowered his lips to her neck and began to nuzzle and nip and bite. Willow couldn't help but sound out her pleasure. He was doing exactly what she wanted and more. An inherent sense of fairness made her want to touch him. She thought to bring her hands up to his back and then to rub and knead. When she tried he gently slapped them away. She didn't mind—it was much easier to enjoy than to actively participate.

Aiden hadn't meant to move Willow's hands away from his body but he had instinctively done so. He knew he needed to stop or just not to go too far but he felt he had to continue. He wanted to brand her with his body—to reinforce the truth. He had already told her he was ready for a relationship and he knew he was ready to love her. Love was giving her exactly what she wanted. Aiden pushed her backwards onto the bed and lowered his body to hers. He kissed her again and again alternately licking and nipping, careful to make sure she was okay with his technique.

Willow enjoyed every kiss. His lips and his hands drew responses she hadn't known lived in her. She was moaning incoherently all the while rubbing her thighs together, desperate for friction and desperate for his touch. Oz had always been ultra careful to not nip too hard—if she'd never met Aiden she would never had known she liked a certain level of roughness. Or maybe she just liked his brand of roughness.

He put his hand against her flat stomach and waited. Any clue she gave him that she was ready for more he knew he would appreciate. He was at the point if she moaned again he would take that as a yes and then do exactly what he wanted. If he was honest with himself he knew that he wanted to dominate her, cover her with his body and have her screaming his name. That really wouldn't happen until she gave him a clue and let him move them further.

Willow felt his hand on her flat stomach and couldn't decide if she wanted him to move lower or upper. She reached her arms around to unbutton the vest and help him out. There was a distinct ache in her body that only he could fill.

There was no semi innocent exploration or sharing. He was taking everything she had offered and he had drawn an even greater response from her body. She hadn't thought anything could be like this or that she could crave this but she did. Every kiss he took from her she wanted to give him more. He offered her bliss and gratification.

Aiden felt Willows' hands between their chests fumbling with the buttons of her vest. She wanted this. That was all he needed to know. He reached for her skirt and undid the fastenings. Willow lifted her bottom and shimmied her body a little to help him remove the skirt. He tossed it onto the floor and removed his shirt.

Willow was so flustered that she'd had only the smallest chance of actually unbuttoning the vest and then Aiden had removed his shirt. She gave up the work and instead stared at him. He had well defined muscles, curved pecs and abs that you could actually count. She had never been one to care about physique or musculature but she was fast becoming a convert. He was seriously hot. It seemed her default action was to moan and whimper. Aiden reached for her vest and undid the buttons. He removed it and looked down on her. Willow was gorgeously made. Her breasts were perfectly rounded and she was obviously aroused. Her nipples poked at the fabric of her black bra. He only wanted her more so. She was his.

"You are so lovely." He covered her breasts with his hands and licked at the satin covered nipples.

She whimpered. She moaned. She felt his teeth gently pulling at her nipples. She didn't know if she could handle the sensation if he actually removed the bra. Aiden moved one hand to her legs, gently kneading at her thighs. He moved his hand to her upper thigh and drew her nipple deeper into his mouth. Willow arched her body. She made unintelligible sounds that were articulate to him. She wanted more of his touch. Aiden felt the moment her legs dropped open. She'd opened herself to him. He kept one hand on a breast with his rough thumb rubbing at her nipple and with his mouth licked and nuzzled his way down her body. He reached her panties and then slid them down her legs. Willow helped by doing a sexy little wiggle. He couldn't help but give her a goofy smile. She didn't see it because her eyes were closed as if she were in deep concentration. Surely she was not trying to mentally document this moment. He was sure he could give her more and more memories. Every night—if she'd allow him.

Willow didn't know if she was ready for this but she knew she had little ability to even form or think the word no. He was giving her exactly what she needed. She was riding on a tide of sensation. She wasn't sure what she had expected, surely the welcome stab of his dick into her body. What she wasn't expecting was his hot breath at the triangle between her thighs. He wasn't going to… this was not what she expected. His fingers tangled into the curls at her core and moved the outer lips. The rough pads of Aidens' fingers spread her and rubbed against her clit. Again and again and again. Willow found her body jerking in reaction. The fingers of Aiden's other hand sharply pinched her nipple. She had never felt anything like this before. She was falling apart at the seams and in his arms. She felt herself beginning to come. The walls of her core were clinching around nothing and her body began to almost hum. At the last possible moment Aiden inserted two fingers inside her. She felt the sensation again. She had never felt herself as even vaguely multi-orgasmic and there she was… considering the possibilities.

Aiden was far from done. He wanted her to dissolve in sensation. He wanted to hear her scream his name. He had never really thought of himself as a selfish man but he knew he wanted Willow to think of sex and only remember his touch. He would met away the memory of any other mans' touch--caress by caress--nibble by nibble. She was his. He dropped his head between her thighs and blew lightly on her clit. Her legs twitched in anticipation and he bent his head to feast. He licked and nibbled on her flesh sucking her clit between his lips. She arched her back and her hips began to buck. Willow didn't know if she could take the sensation. She had never felt anything like this before. She was greedy and wanting but his touch made her shaky and weak. Was this how it was supposed to be? Aiden roughly grabbed her hips to keep them somewhat still and bent again to his task. She still hadn't screamed his name. He wanted to drench her in sensation. Willow felt her lower body began to throb with the same erratic pulse as her heartbeat. She began to whisper in whimpers, "Please." She didn't know what she was asking. Did she want the sensation to stop? Surely that wasn't her desire.

His mouth was demanding. He replaced his fingers with his tongue and he devoured all the juices that dripped from her body. Every time she would almost tip over the precipice into her orgasm he would stop and modify his touch. Aiden slipped his fingers back into her body. He reached one hand back to her breast and tugged almost painfully on her nipple. "Aiden." Willow screamed his name.

That was what he'd wanted to hear. Aiden lowered his head to her core and again began to feast. He lightly licked and tugged. He plunged two fingers in and out of her core faster and faster. He again brought her to the precipice and let her fall far and deep. When she stopped shivering and shaking she found Aiden holding her in his arms. He held her close, keeping her safe.

"Aiden?" Willow said his name like a question.

"Yeah?" He rubbed her back

"What about you?" Willow was concerned, but it wasn't as if he was going to die from not actually having sex.

Aiden had to smile. He moved his hands lower and rubbed the space where her thighs met her ass. "We don't have the time for all I want to do with you." He smiled to himself as he heard her sharp intake of breath. "And, I want you to be completely sure."

"Oh I am sure—yep, maybe tonight?" Willow had to ask. Aiden laughed softly into her hair. "Completely sure—as in, I am not letting you go-sure—as in positive—no doubts in your mind-type sure." Willow nodded her head as swiftly as she could from her position lying in his arms.

"Okay then, tonight is good." They laid together in silence. A part of Willow wanted to clarify the facts—they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend or maybe mate and mate, right? How would this work if they ever got back to Earth? She guessed they would just be together. At the moment things were surely as simple or as complicated as she wanted. They liked each other and found pleasure in each others' company. If she was being honest she would say the truth, she was already more than half in love with him. She didn't need the lucidity of the words—you are my girlfriend, right?

"Willow?"

"Hmm." Aiden's voice brought her back to reality. Her body had begun to tingle every place he touched.

"Don't be surprised if you find being with me becoming your routine… expect to wake up in my arms after falling asleep in them night after night. Expect to be showered in kisses and love and to be supported and adored from a far or up close. Whatever you desire—expect it to be met, fulfilled, and respected."

"Okay." Willow felt her face redden. She had needed the words. She didn't expect those exactly—but they worked much better than, 'wanna go steady?'

She slipped almost into dreams again lightly rubbing her fingers against the planes of his chest. She was thinking about the possibilities of their evening together.

"Willow?"

"Hmm…"

"In about a minute or two Sergeant Stackhouse is going to buzz me asking where I am…" Aiden hadn't the slightest bit of interest in heading off for his run.

"Oh. It's day already?" Willow couldn't believe she had to get back to other far less interesting things than beginning her exploration of his body.

"Sorry. We run at six in the morning, when we don't have missions." They both heard the crackle of static from the side table. Willow reached over for the earpiece and handed it to Aiden. He smiled in thanks.

"I know I am not there yet… give me ten minutes…stretch or something. Ford, out."

Willow started to sit up to give Aiden full maneuverability. "We will finish this tonight." Aiden made the statement as he moved his hand down her arm and down the curve of her waist. He gave her a quick kiss on the chest and stood. With his well defined back towards her, he bent and picked up his shirt from the floor. He tossed it on and turned back to Willow. She had gathered her bed sheet around her body.
He loved how she looked hair tousled by his hands and her body wrapped in the white sheet with a black bra strap peeking out on her shoulder.

"You know, we really are going to have to stencil over these words." Aiden ran his fingers over the words, Property of the U.S. Military. "I'd like to change them to Property of Lieutenant Aiden Ford." Willow firmly shook her head, no.

"You do know about women's liberation, right? You can't own a person. Nope." Willow looked so cute with her head shaking no and her hair tumbling around her shoulders.

"Hmm. I honestly believe loved ones belong to each other. I to you and you to me." He kissed her briefly on the nose and stood to leave. He knew he had just shocked her socks off—though she surely wasn't wearing any socks.

"I'll stop by around noon… maybe we will have time for lunch?" He didn't expect a response. Willow was surely still flummoxed. She had to get her pretty head around his words. Her only answer was a slight whimper. It was more than he had expected. He went to the door and punched in the release code. Nothing. He did it again. Nothing. He turned his head to Willow and raised an eyebrow. Her unconscious mind knew more than she did, though this fact was surely typical. "Sorry!" Willow got up and rushed to the door to open it and to let Aiden out. Even as he stepped forward to leave she grabbed at the back of his shirt. Despite the fact he had so royally freaked her out and satisfied her and scared the living hell out of her and pleasured her and terrified her—she still needed to say goodbye properly. When she tugged on his shirt he turned around to her. She reached her hand up to his neck and brought his head down to hers. She meant only to give him a quick kiss but that was not how things worked out. His mouth and his tongue ravished her mouth. She stepped closer to him and rubbed her body against his. Aiden slid his hands down her back and slid them back upwards and back again down her back. He almost lost control and slipped the sheet from her body. Stackhouse interrupted his actions with an irritated, "Ford. Come in, Ford."

"You'd better go." Willow had never said words she meant less.

"Tonight." Aiden said the word and tugged a little on the sheet.

"Right, tonight."

He started walking towards the door.

"Hey Aiden. I'll handle the dinner gathering, okay?"

"Sure." He smiled and walked out the door.

Willow was left standing there completely shocked. Aiden had all but admitted he was in love with her. She had just had the most fabulous not-sex ever. She needed to talk to Buffy. Actually she needed to shower. She really needed to talk to Buffy—and to Anya. Was there even a word to describe what they had done? No wonder Anya always talked about sex—until today she had never felt the need to even mention what she did in bed. The things he had done to her… how he had made her feel. The sensations were close to miraculous and downright amazing. Now she was getting a clue.

Willow walked over to her laptop and opened her email. She had one new message.

From: 10:15 PM
To: Re: Re: All is peachy-keen

Okay… the assumption is that you must have met a cute guy because—hello no response.

Write back red()itch.

Love,

The Scoobies

Willow had to smile. They were right.

To: 6:12 AM
Subject: Still fine… yes, you were right

Okay, first things first. Things are really quite great. I can't say much about the folks from earth because I need some sort of clearance. They are nice—not demon experimenty. Basically there are these soldiers and scientists. A civilian woman leads the whole big group. The scientists are exploring the galaxy and the outpost and trying to make discoveries. The soldiers just protect the people. I wish I had more to tell you but honestly I haven't really had the time to ask. I am sure if I asked questions I would receive answers—I just haven't had the time to ask.

So far so good.
I met one of the natives here that is a witch practitioner. She is going to be teaching me about herbs and such—
So far I have been able to use my magic and practice a little in the field. Remember I said wraith demons—well they don't like fireballs too much.

Really don't worry about me. I am not 'in the field' anymore. Now I am just yet another member of the expedition team—staying in my room… eating lunch in the mess hall and working in the infirmary under the head of medical. He's set me up as a lab assistant. Yesterday was unbelievably busy—and I honestly forgot to write back.

I am actually pretty darn safe.
There is a shield that keeps the wraith from showing up and 'Draining the life out of our very bodies!' And honestly, that is all I have to say about the wraith. They are an issue—a problem that is building and building—but the issue is far from a crescendo, so nothing too much to worry about yet. I hope I will be of some use to the people with my powers.
Okay, now on to more interesting things—Giles—Xander—I'd stop reading if I were you.

Buffy? Anya? Only you please…

I met a guy. Now Buffy I know you are probably thinking 'REBOUND' But this is not at all like it is. I have never felt like this with anyone. I suddenly feel like every moment I spent with Oz was just practice. Nothing could be like this. He makes me feel all the ways I never thought I could feel, safe. Loved. Trusted. Respected. With Oz, there was always this sense that I couldn't really be touched or held. Everything was restrained and safe. In a way he really couldn't touch me. Aiden—that's his name, draws responses out of me I didn't even know lived in me. And did you know—well actually I know you don't know because you would have told me—about this non-sex- foreplay stuff. You know all the things we never read about in the magazines because we never read the magazines. Buffy—get the magazines. Glamour!
Redbook! Anything with sex tips! Whatever. His mouth! His tongue! His hands! I have never been so satisfied in my life. Okay, now I am not going to embarrass you anymore.

Oh, and I am half in love with him already. Not because of the wonderful not-sex—it is his calming presence… his caring… his comfort… his cuteness… you gotta love the alliteration. He is a marine and he went to the Naval Academy. He has the most perfect chest you have ever—actually never seen. You gotta meet him. You'd approve.

Anya—seriously—talk to Buffy about sex—
As your best friend, I am telling you, you need to get some proper lovin'.

Love,

Willow

Willow coated her hands with hyssop oil and said the spell and sent the message. It was now six forty. She needed to take a shower and head off to breakfast and the infirmary. Dr. Beckett had said she could come in around eight am and begin work. Today she would be a little early.