Disclaimer: Not mine. Still.

Warnings: Kiddies, this is where the restricted, adult stuff happens. Sex is an integral part of life and wonderful and these are adults we're reading about, so deal. ;o)

I think I managed to keep this R, although the next chapter and a few later on will have more explicit stuff. I'll post those at tthfanfic dot com exclusively. Hopefully I'll somehow manage to make sense even if one hasn't read the explicit stuff.

Bad Day At The Office, Dear?

A woman's voice with a pleasant timbre picked up the call.
"I am sorry but nobody is in right now to take your call. Please leave a message after the tone or try again later." BEEEEP.

"Oh, you're not there. Or you're not picking up. It's about our date later. It might get late. Well, if you're not there, I'll try again. Or you could call me. But wait, no, you can't. I'll be at the mountain in some interminable meeting 'til. I'll just call again later. Crud, I hate these machines." CLICK.

Buffy had to smile at Jack's exasperated tone on her answerphone. His message was from noon and it was now around eight.
Must be some meeting if he still hasn't tried again.


Buffy felt the need for a shower and planned on doing a short sweep round the block much later.
Kicking off her shoes and leaving a trail of discarded clothes, she vanished into the bathroom.
Remembering Murphy's Law though, she hastily skipped back across the living room in the nude, taking the cordless with her into the bathroom.

As she let the warm water pound away the tensions of the day she mused about her budding relationship with Jack.
Even though I don't know that much about him yet, I like what I see. He makes me laugh and I almost feel if I told him about me being the slayer, he'd accept that. After he laughed his head off probably.
She inwardly smiled at the thought.

He's so matter of fact and doesn't let me get away with stuff. Even when he's holding the door for me he'd still call me on it if he thought I was wrong about something.
Honesty, a quality much underrated, last not least by yours truly.
She vigorously shampooed her hair unwilling to examine that thought too closely.

If this developes the way it started, we'll see about that.

When Jack trudged up the last steps to his house, he felt every single of his 45 years.
Budget meetings. However in hell did Hammond manage to last this long without going cuckoo or taking a zat to Accounting?

He threw his jacket haphazardly in the direction of the couch and slouched onward to the golden promise of an ice cold Bud in the fridge.

Opening the refrigerator door a jawning, empty void looked back at him.
Damn! Right, I had planned on going shopping on my way from the mountain just now. Another thing to pin onto The Budget Meeting From Hell.
Buffy is probably asking herself whether I already succumbed to Alzheimer's 'cause I haven't called again.

He dragged himself over to the phone, picked up the cordless and dialed Buffy's number. She picked up after the fifth ring, sounding slightly out of breath.

"Buffy Summers speaking."
"Can't keep the numbers of your conquests straight on the caller id?"
"Oh, it's you. I was debating about getting on my white horse and rescueing you. Again. And for your information, I was in the shower just now."
That woke Jack right up. Unbidden images of naked, wet Buffy parading in his head.
"That so." Jack let that statement do its own advertising and was rewarded with flustered Buffy.
"Umm, right. So are you up for me coming over like planned?"
Jack had to restrain himself from taking the easy shot and replied instead: "I forgot to go shopping. There's nothing in the house except antique mustard and some eggs I'd rather not bother. I think they are about to discover Cold Fusion."
"Totally understandable." Jack could hear Buffy smiling. "Hate to disrupt that. How about we tackle the ordeal of shopping together and then snuggle in front of that fireplace you promised me?" The last bit was delivered almost shyly.

Jack felt a bit more of the tension from today draining away.
"Yeahsureyoubetcha. I'll pick you up in about an hour, ok?"
"An hour?!"
"Unless you want some sweaty General putting the moves on you ."
"That would be an emphatic no. I'll see you in an hour then."
"'Til then." Jack hang up and found some hitherto hidden energy reserves ro propel him in the direction of his bathroom.

Did I really agree to this without being held at zat-point? Memo to self: make up a really good excuse next time.

Jack had thought they'd do a quick run through the next supermarket but he hadn't figured on the female obsession with shopping and thus had been gullible enough to agree to go to the local mall instead.
Hook, line and sinker. Daniel would have a field day with this.

The inevitable crush of holiday shoppers got on his nerves after only five minutes and half an hour later Buffy was still going strong, currently avidly reading the labels of two cans which looked exactly identical to him.

I just wanna go home and have some quality time in front of the fireplace with my girl! Instead she's futzing around whether to take Sauce Bolognese or Sauce all'amatriciana as if world peace depended on it.

"It's not rocket science, kiddo. Just grab this one," he took the can in her right hand and put it into the cart "and leave the rest for the scavengers." Jack impatiently put the other can back into the shelf and pushed their cart in the direction of purgatory aka the registers.

"Hey, I was reading that." Buffy felt put out be being overruled so casually. "What if I'm allergic to some ingredients? You can't just lord it like that."
She grabbed his sleeve in an effort to make him face her instead of just striding away.
"Are you?" Jack asked brusquely at the end of his tether, The Budget Meeting From Hell, the noise of kids squealing and adults jabbering, together with the tinny, repetitive christmas carols in the background eroding the last of his nerves.
"That's not the point. I can't stand it when guys behave like that."
"Like what?"
Buffy folded her arms over her chest. "Like chauvinistic pigs."
"I'm a chauvinistic... Carter?" Jack's eyes grew huge as he spotted his second in command about a meter behind Buffy's enraged form, looking intrigued.

Buffy was irritated to say the least but turned around when she saw Jack's expression.
"Evening, sir." A fit looking blonde woman was standing right behind her.
"Hi." Jack waved weakly over Buffy's head.

Samantha Carter's eyes settled on Buffy with interest, shooting a questioning glance at her superior. When the silence became even more uncomfortable, Buffy turned to Jack curiously and a bit annoyed at being so summarily ignored. She felt like the proverbial pink elephant.

Jack finally blurted out: "Oh, Carter. This is Buffy Summers, she's ...a friend ... visiting with a friend. We met ... here and...Crap!"

Jack couldn't believe himself. What was he, twelve? He took a step closer to Buffy putting his hand at the small of her back, supporting her or himself, he wasn't sure.

"Buffy, meet Samantha Carter, my second in command. Carter, this is Buffy Summers, my ... girlfriend."

Being the well-bred, accomplished women they were, Sam and Buffy shook hands, smiling. Although when Buffy turned back to Jack her smile showed a lot of white teeth.

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Summers."
"Oh please, call me Buffy. Call me Miss Summers and I'm likely to jump up yelling 'I didn't do it!'"
Sam had to smile at statement.
"Then call me Sam please."
"Pleased to meet you, Sam." Buffy smiled at the apparently easy going blonde. "So you work with Jack at that mountain of his."

Sam threw a fast glance at the General.
"Yes." Seemed a safe enough answer if a bit short.
"Deep space radar thingummy. Tell me, is it really as boring as Jack says?"
Immediately Buffy noticed her gaffe and blushed chagrined otherwise Sam might have been affronted.
"Actually I'm an astrophysicist. Boring is what I do." She teased with a pointed look at the General.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply ... I mean, Jack made it sound so ... shutting up now." Buffy stopped herself not quite in time.
Sam grinned broadly at the other blonde's obvious discomfort.
"No worries, he does that most times in briefings too."
"Leave me out of it, Lt. Colonel." Jack said with special emphasis.
"Sure, sir." Sam couldn't help herself andsmiled mischievouslyat her superior. "It was interesting meeting you, Buffy." She extended her hand once more and with a last smile, pushed her cart along.

Jack's weary gaze followed her around the aisle corner before he turned back to face Buffy again with slight trepidation expecting a continuation of their earlier argument. What he didn't expect were her hands at his lapels pulling him down to her, allowing her to kiss him resoundly for a long moment.

"You're a moron." She beamed.
"Oh-kay." He replied cautiously, not quite sure what to make of this nonsequitur.
"And I'm your girlfriend." Still the slightly insane beaming.
"That you are." Jack allowed a tiny smile to crease the corners of his mouth.

"Do you know what just happened?" Buffy actually shook him a bit, still holding on to his lapels.
"Is that a trick question?" Jack felt at sea a bit, never a good feeling for an Air Force man.
"First we had our first argument and then you introduced me to your coworker with only minimal fibbing involved. I am so proud of us."

At that both Buffy and Jack paused for a moment.

There is an us.

The Third-Date-Rule, One Date Late

When shopping was finally done, the drive to Jack's house accomplished and everything stowed away, Buffy had time for a more thorough look around.
Coming in in the dark, she had just a vague recollection of his house being an L-shaped bungalow, slightly raised, surrounded by trees to ensure privacy.

Jack leaned against the kitchen top, nursing a Bud. She had declined his offer of anything to drink.
A first look around the kitchen showed her that Jack actually seemed to defy the cliché of the typical bachelor by cooking sometimes. Everything looked well kept if not state of the art. And despite of what he had said earlier on the phone, Buffy hadn't seen any budding civilizations populating the fridge when she had helped him put the groceries away.

Suddenly Buffy felt the urge to be closer to him. She pushed herself off from her place across from him and two steps brought her toe to toe with him. He looked at her curiously.
"Is this place taken?" She asked, putting her hand on his ribs.
Instead of a verbal answer he just opened his arms and she turned around and leaned her back against his chest, prompting him to enfold her in his arms.

The only light came from the extractor hood over the stove.
For a while they just stood like that, neither feeling the need for action or words, for once both of them content just listening to the other's breathing and the slight swish of the renewed snowfall outside.

Buffy felt Jack's steady heartbeat thrumming against her back. She absentmindedly caressed his hand holding her to him in a soothing pattern.
Jack occasionally took a swig from his beer but otherwise just enjoyed the warmth of Buffy's body against his. She seemed to fit all his nooks and crannies just well.

Buffy finally broke the silence, turning her head in the direction of the large kitchen window.
"It's so light outside."
"That's from the snow."
She turned in his embrace and looked up at him.
"Show me that fabled fireplace of yours?"
"Sure." Jack put his empty bottle on the counter behind him and took her hand in his. "Dining Room. Living room." He pointed at the appropiate intervals. "Careful, there's steps here. Here, sit down while I'm all manly and light the fire." Buffy had to smile and gladly settled herself on the couch, burrowing herself into the plethora of cushions. The low table was littered with the usual detritus of a comfy evening: three remotes, two books with pages carefully marked, a lighter and some magazines.

Buffy watched Jack step up to the goodsized fireplace and busy himself, shifting the logs. Much sooner than expected he straightened up again, reached for something on the side of the mantelpiece and a fire suddenly sprang to life.

When he turned around it was to Buffy's astonished expression.
"Automatic gas fireplace." He pointed back at the now already merrily burning 'logs'.
"And here I thought using a hair dryer was sophisticated."
Jack shrugged unapologetically. "Why not use the time better than rooting around in there." He settled himself on the sofa and Buffy scooted over to his side placing her head on his shoulder, so both of them could gaze into the fire.

Jack's hand threaded his hand lazily through Buffy's blonde hair, the flames lending a golden sheen to them.
"I don't think I can remember anything like this in a long time." Buffy sighed contently and buried her nose in Jack's sweater.
Can't remember anyone smelling this good either. After shave and a teensy bit of beer but mostly just Jack.
Buffy half turned to better find out whether Jack smelled this good all over.

Jack inwardly sighed happily when he felt Buffy pressing her nose to the side of his neck, inhaling deeply. When she delicately licked the spot she had just smelled so intently his arousal rose in sullen embers and he felt his trousers tighten. Unable and unwilling to contain his feelings he sighed heavily and slid his hand from her hair down her back. He grasped her tightly.

Buffy continued her assault on his neck by turning fully to lean over him, holding him in place with one hand, not that he intended to go anywhere soon, and running her other hand up his chest and down the length of his arm, which he had thrown along the back of the sofa.
When she began kissing her way up the column of his throat to the lobe of his ear, he rolled his head to the side to give her better access and closed his eyes. She took his lobe between her teeth, nibbling carefully. Her breaths so close to his ear drove him to distraction.

Ok, this spot smells even nicer than the one before. How about this one? Mmmm. And if I do this? Woa! Gotta remember that.
Buffy felt her arousal lapping deliciously at her, running up and down her body, tingling in places, spiking in others. Her hand travelling up and down his arm and chest, encountered nicely shaped biceps and chest muscles. Kneading them seemed the thing to do, earning her a deepfelt groan.

Jack tightened his hold on Buffy and turned his head to capture her lips. Dipping his hand even further down her back, he brushed the waistband of her jeans and encountered bare flesh in the process. He ran his fingers just under the waistband, teasing her smooth skin, caressing the really fine hairs there. He took his arm off the back rest of the couch and cradled her head. He ran his fingers through her hair enjoying the silken feel of it.

She responded hungrily to the feel of his lips on hers. And their tongues met in a delicious duel, each of them alternately vying for dominance; halting caresses and hot, passionate thrusts intermingled with languid exploration.
Jack's hand had wandered from her hair down her side and both felt her jolt when his thumb caressed the side of her breast.
"Not ok?" He murmured.
"Totally ok, more than ok." Jack stopped her breathless reassurances with another deep kiss.

Buffy felt like she was riding a roller coaster, a bit scared and a lot excited. Jack was caressing her sides slowly with sure strokes, on the downturn spreading his thumbs, thus paying extra attention to the sensitive side of her breasts. It made breathing suddenly a conscious effort.

All of a sudden his hands were at her waist, her naked waist, her sweater having ridden up a bit sometime ago. Gripping her harder, he hoisted her up and over, positioning her astride in his lap, never once breaking their kiss. Buffy settled into her new position easily, eliciting a deep groan which she swallowed greedily when she unwittingly pressed down on his evident arousal. She smiled into the kiss, feeling elated at Jack's neediness which she had caused. She brought her hands up to the sides of his head, cradling it carefully but surely. His face was upturned and for once Buffy didn't mind being small, because in this position she was in control regardless.
Deciding to exert some of it, she shifted her hips slowly forward and backward teasingly, fully knowing what it would do to him.

Jack felt slightly lightheaded when Buffy began to move her hips, creating a sweet friction on his aching erection. He let his hands wander over her naked back under her sweater, lightly kneading the muscles along her spine. Despite being painfully hard he cautiously let his hands travel to her tummy, smiling a bit when her belly fluttered, he knew that that had to tickle.
Slowly he spread his hands and shifted them upward, ghosting over her smooth skin until he encountered the satiny fabric of her bra. With the backs of his fingers he stroked languidly over the underside of her breasts, finally cupping and gently lifting and kneading them. He was unwilling to rush things, he wanted to be sure she wanted everything as much as he did, so he deliberately took his time.

Buffy's breath had shortened to the point of nearly gasping. With a final firm pressure on Jack's lips she ended their delicious kiss to sit up, grasp her sweater and pull it off impatiently.

Jack was unwilling to let their kiss end just now but went along only to inwardly congratulate himself on his compliance when he was rewarded with the view of Buffy yanking off her sweater, her glorious curves now revealed in the warm glow of the fireplace, backlighting her, lending an unearthly golden sheen to her.
Jack let his eyes feast on his girl.
My girl! And how cool is that?

But when Jack laid his hands on her shoulders intend on exploring newly exposed areas, she stopped him with her hands on his and instead scooted backwards a bit and grasped the hem of his own sweater.
"Tit for tat." Buffy grinned smugly.
When he pointedly ogled her breasts though, she blushed a bit, only now realizing her unwitting double entendre. To shut him up, she yanked up his sweater.
Jack struggled a bit in their haste to get rid of the obstinate piece of wool. Once it was finally off, it was carelessly dropped behind the sofa. Her hands beat him in touching each other again. And he nearly purred when she ran her fingers over his now exposed chest.

Buffy had always thought chest hair to be slightly unappealing. Little had she known. She ran her hands wonderingly through Jack's hairs, amazed that they seemed to accentuate the dips and hollows of his nicely defined chest. Funnily the salt'n pepper of the hair on his head was mirrored here as well. When she raked her fingers across the expanse of his chest she deliberately brushed across his nipples, eliciting a growl? Intrigued she did it again. Sure enough a growl and a slight bucking of his hips were her reward.
Buffy bit her lower lip moaning, his bucking pressing his hard length against her own arousal. She felt the heat rising at the juncture of her legs, wetness soaking her panties. Unwilling to let go of a good thing, she took up sliding to and 'fro again while grinding down. The sensations spiked and she gripped Jack's shoulders hard for better leverage.
She had to lean her forehead against his and close her eyes, when he nuzzled her face, their breaths coming in short gasps while both began moving in unison, grinding their hips together. The zipper of his slacks with the hard outline of his cock was in a perfect position to stimulate her while grinding down created just the right amount of friction to drive him further to the edge.
But neither was quite enough.

Buffy felt so close yet just out of reach, that it was maddening yet she wouldn't stop because it felt so awesome. She turned her head and kissed Jack deeply with desperation and need.

Jack kissed her back with equal passion, his tongue forcing entrance into Buffy's eagerly waiting mouth. He strained upward, now bucking in earnest grinding his erection into Buffy's hot, moist center. His hands gripped her shoulders firmly from behind, pressing her down even harder. Slight mewling sounds could be heard and neither cared who was responsible.

When the need for release became nearly unbearable, Jack reached between their two bodies and brought his flat hand between her and his hips, heightening the friction. He pressed his fingers upward, creating more direct pressure.

The unexpected but so liberating press of Jack's fingers against Buffy's clit and entrance set off a cascade of spiking pleasure starting at her toes and the top of her head, racing up and down her spine, meeting in the middle, to feel nearly painful for an eternal moment. Buffy's world dissolved into brilliant fireworks and she threw back her head: "YES!"

Jack watched in openmouthed admiration at Buffy's unbridled passion, his own arousal matching hers. His hand still captured between them, he was actually able to feel the wetness pooling between her legs. When she threw back her head at her moment of release, grinding down once more, it set off his own delicious release. He threw his arms around her and clung tightly to her body, burying his face between her breasts, riding out the shuddering waves of his orgasm.

Buffy held Jack's head to her chest, gently stroking his salt'n pepper hair, nuzzling it on occasion and enjoying the post-coital languor spreading through her limbs. except sitting on her haunches was inconveniently beginning to give her a cramp in her left calf. She cradled Jack's unresisting head in her hands, dipping it back to better kiss him and then reluctantly slid away from the comfortable warmth of his lap and instead stretched out her legs again and snuggled up to his side, throwing one of her legs over his lap again.

Jack felt limp as a rag doll after the mindnumbing experience of being so 'inspired' to come in his pants. He was unable to muster any sort of resistance when Buffy slid off his lap even though he missed her warmth already. When she snuggled close to him though, he felt slightly reconciled. He slid his arm around her and tucked her even closer, lazily drawing aimless figures on her leg in his lap. Whatever the first words would be, they would naturally be inadequate and trite next to this experience. He chose the obvious: "Wow."
"Yeah." She sighed happily. "Don't ask me to move anytime this century."
He chuckled, just glad. "Wouldn't dream of it. Although the couch isn't really comfortable in the long run."
"Hmm."
"We could of course move this elsewhere." Jack let the end of the sentence trail questioningly.
Buffy thought for a moment and Jack crossed his fingers.
"Let's." Buffy sat up decisively.
"Thank God. I was worrying how to survive peeling myself out of these pants tomorrow." Jack chuckled, shaking his head in wonder at his uniquely juvenile predicament.
I don't think this has ever happened to me after the age of fifteen.

Buffy blushed a deep red and offered an embarassed: "Maybe I shouldn't have..."

Jack looked up baffled at this totally out of character statement and behaviour from a woman he had come to know as strong and selfassured. Seeing her genuine belief she had done something if not wrong than at least icky, he grasped her arms, making her look him in the eyes, asking: "Are you nuts? This was mindblowing. Seeing you so... just looking at you would have done this. Ok, it might have taken a bit longer, hey, no spring chicken anymore, but still. Whatever you do, don't ever hold back. Don't ever be embarassed. Whatever you want, whatever you wanna try, just ask. Or better yet," now Jack smiled impishly "surprise me."

Jack's attempt at lightening the mood succeeded where his honest reassurance had already made an impression. Buffy smiled back at him and leant forward to give him a peck on the lips. "Deal. On one condition."
"Shoot."
"Same applies to you."
" 'Course." Jack matter of factly replied. "And now, scoot." He made a shooing gesture to which Buffy gladly complied.

tbc

Dear all at FFnet,
again, to make it absolutely clear, at FFnet there will be chapters missing! Hopefully it'll still make sense more or less without them. If you're allowed, check the fic in its NC-17-entirety at tthfanfic dot com.
With that off my chest, thank you all again for reading, enjoying and reviewing.

Peace,

methaya