Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not BTVS. Not Highlander. Poor me.
A/N1: This chapter picks up immediately after the end of the last.
A/N2: WARNING – this chapter contains sex. If you're to young to read stop when you get to the scene set in the master bedroom.
A/N3: I just wanted thank all my reviewers and wish everyone happy New Year.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – Theories and Speculation
"Ah, slayer you say the sweetest things." Spike mockingly cooed. "And as it seems to be annoying Lord Hair Gel to no end – of course I'll help you save the world."
Angel growled menacingly at Spike only to hear Bella, "Angel, I can still arrange for Mr. Pointy and you to become close personal dusty friends."
Angel backed further away from Spike and Bella and noticed for the first time that Xander and Willow were nowhere to be seen. He couldn't stand the whelp but if anything had happened to either of them he knew Bella would be broken hearted so he asked, "Where are Willow and Xander?"
Bella turned to look at him with her hazel eyes burning with such an intense dislike that he flinched. "Willow and Xander aren't here anymore. I don't like to spend time with the people who killed my sister and then performed a spell to wipe mine and Spike's memory of what they did. I'm just wacky that way."
Angel had a look of true horror on his face. He'd always liked Dawn. He'd never been around many human children and she'd been interesting to say the least. "Bella, I'm so sorry."
Bella's eyes saddened. "Thank you Angel. Just don't bring them up again. I told them to leave Sunnydale and if they are very lucky they'll never cross my path again. If they do – they're dead – it's as simple as that."
"You'd never kill a human," Angel said the shock evident in his voice.
"You apparently don't know me very well Angel. I've killed humans before. You know that. I learned a long time ago that not all demons are evil and not all humans are good. So I'll say this only once more – if I ever see them again I'll kill them. You best tell them that if you ever run across them. I have a feeling they may come to L.A. I bound Willow's magic and she'll probably come to you or maybe Wesley with some sob story so you'll help her get it back. Don't. If I find out you or anyone else has helped her I will not be pleased." By the time Bella finished speaking her voice was drained of feeling and her eyes showed an extreme weariness.
Spike stepped forward and put his arm around Bella in a comforting gesture. "Slayer's not the only one who'll be right pissed if anyone helps the whelp or Red. The only reason I haven't killed 'em is 'cause Bella let 'em leave. But they only get one pass wit' me."
Angel nodded in understanding.
From the back of the room the group could hear Duncan ending his conversation with Joe Dawson.
"Thanks Joe. I'll be waiting for your call." Duncan turned toward Bella and saw how tired she was. "Joe'll make some calls and check his records to see if he can find anything on Caleb. He did have a theory about his buzz though."
All the immortals in the room looked at him with interest. It wasn't something they liked to think about. An immortal who could mask his presence would make for a formidable opponent. All of them remembered what had happened when the rogue group of Watcher's had hunted immortals. They'd had no warning and all had lost dear friends.
"He thinks that maybe since Caleb was being infused by such powerful magic from the First it suppressed his quickening. He might not even have known he was an immortal depending on how long he's been infused with the essence of the First and when his first death was. I think that a normal human wouldn't have survived a merging with the First but an immortal or a pre-immortal. Well, it would have been just what the First was looking for in a host."
Bella looked thoughtfully at Duncan but it was Methos who responded. "It seems like a plausible theory. Bella, do you get anything from the memories you got from the quickening?"
"Everything's still a jumble. I haven't had a chance to really think through them. I'm just so tired – probably after I sleep I'll have a better idea of what happened to him. Honestly, his memories aren't something I want to go into right now."
"Dinna worry love – let's go upstairs and get some sleep." Duncan took her hand and started to lead her out of the room.
Bella turned to the people still in the room. "Everybody get some rest. I know we got a lot of new information but we'll be able to process it better after a good night sleep."
A chorus of, "Night Bella – Duncan," followed the two immortals as they walked out of the room and up the stairs.
Crawford Street Mansion – Master Bedroom
As they entered the room Bella looked coyly over her shoulder at Duncan and said, "Shower?"
She walked slowly across the room removing her clothes piece by piece. She unbuttoned her shirt and let it slide down her shoulders and arms and it fluttered to the floor exposing the golden skin of her back. Then she unhooked her front clasp bra and it fell to the floor next to her shirt.
Duncan could only watch in amazement as he felt his cock become painfully hard.
Just before she reached the bathroom door Bella stopped kicking off her shoes. She bent over shimmying out of her pants and a tiny pair of pink lace underwear. She turned in the doorway smiling and crooked her finger at Duncan in a come hither gesture.
He followed shedding his clothes as he walked. It was Bella's turn to stare in appreciation as his clothes dropped to the floor.
"Dinna ya say something about a shower?" he said as she stared at him unmoving.
Bella was tongue-tied. He had the most beautiful body she'd every seen. His skin had a slight olive tone to it and he was tight in exactly the right places. A broad, smooth chest tapering into a narrow waist. His abdominal muscles played under his skin in an enticing manner as he walked toward her on powerful legs. She couldn't see his ass but she remembered from the morning that it was perfect and she desperately wanted to grab it with both hands and squeeze.
She resisted that urge and went into the bathroom and turned on the shower adjusting the water to the perfect temperature.
Stepping in she walked under the spray and let the water run down her body. Opening her eyes she saw Duncan standing at the shower entrance looking at her like a hunter stalking his prey.
She ran her hands down her body, cupping her breasts and teasing her nipples into twin peaks. She then slowly trailed one hand down her taught abdomen and brought her fingers to her clit rubbing it in slow circles.
Duncan couldn't take his eyes off the wanton sight in front of him. The sight of Bella pleasuring herself was making him painfully hard. He reached for her only to have her shake her finger at him and push him against the shower wall.
Then she took a step toward him. But instead of kissing him she knelt down in front of him. Bella took his painfully erect cock in her hand and stroked it gently – once – twice. Then she took the tip in her mouth slowly swirling her tongue around the head. Slowly, so slowly she took it into her mouth inch be inch until the head was touching the back of her throat.
Duncan groaned in encouragement as she began to suck his cock bobbing her head at an ever-increasing pace. "Oh, God! Bella – feels so good!" he moaned out. She smiled up at him and kept up her pace. Duncan felt his orgasm approach and gently pulled Bella up.
"What? Why'd you stop me?"
"Not ready to come yet – need to be inside you, please?" he practically pleaded. He then lifted her in his arms and turned her to place her back against the shower wall. He looked deep into her eyes as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist drawing him deep inside her.
Slowly he pulled back out and thrust back into Bella's waiting heat causing her to scream out, "Duncan!"
He set a slow languid pace – drawing out his cock and slowly thrusting it back in. Bella thrashed her head back and forth and pushed her hips toward him using the wall as leverage crying out, "Please! Duncan, faster." Duncan quickened the pace until he was slamming into her and they were both screaming each other's name.
Duncan moved one hand between their bodies and began to rub her clit. He could feel her soft feminine walls grasping him and he pinched her clit between his fingers sending her into her orgasm. With three more hard, deep thrusts he followed her.
The water had gone cold as they both came back to themselves. Duncan gently eased Bella down and turned off the water. Reaching out of the shower he grabbed a towel and gently wiped the moisture off her body and then dried himself.
After they were both dry he carried her to the bed where he placed her under the covers and then joined her pulling her into his arms. Both fell quickly in a deep sleep.