Angst Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters from BtVS, they're owned by Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. All original characters are in no way connected to them except by me in this forum. No money is involved this is simply for my own pleasure.
Feedback: Always a delight
Author's Notes: As per the norm, there is no beta for this, so any mistakes are all my own. If you catch something by all mean PM me and I'll fix it. Italics are for emphasis, and this is yet another fluffy little interlude between our girls and the rest of the family that makes up the Summers/Maclay brood. Enjoy!
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I plopped down on the couch with a groan that made Joyce, Buffy and Robby giggle. Robby had turned on the television, and Buffy was channel surfing. I was rubbing my way too full stomach when Tara came in and sat down next to me curling up.
"Aww, do you have a tummy ache, Will?" she asked sweetly.
"Too much nog," I groaned again, using both my hand to gently hold my over-stuffed tummy.
"Want me to rub your tummy for you, sweetie?" Tara asked innocently.
I nodded with a pout that made Tara chuckle, and she scooted closer to me on the couch. Gently resting her head on my shoulder, and with her hand on my shirt she began to rub slow circles. Her hand was warm; I could feel the warmth seeping through the fabric to my skin. It really did seem to be making me feel better. Then again it could have been simply because Tara was touching me too.
One thing I had observed while I had the chance to watch everyone together was that they seemed to be what I would call "touchy-feely". It just seemed to be part of their dynamic; a touch here, and a pat there, maybe a hug, always a smile. My family was never really very touchy – I could probably count the hugs I'd received from my parents in all my life just on my hands. So to watch them interact with such genuine affection for one another, well I found it endearing.
I had even noticed it while we were playing games with Robby before dinner. The physicality they shared just kind of spilled over to include me – playful pokes, nudges and tickles. I had initially thought Buffy and Tara were just being playful with Robby, but once Joyce joined us I saw the hugs and pats.
So all in all it didn't seem that odd for Tara to be gently stroking my rumbly tummy, and I started to doze off. The caffeine and sugar were wearing off too, and the lack of sleep combined with too much good food was working its magic.
Soon enough, I was in that place where I was in between being asleep and awake, I could hear but not respond. I was able to catch snippets of Buffy and Robby talking fading in and out.
"Are they sleeping?" Robby asked.
"I think they might be, but they had a long night last night, buddy," Buffy said softly and the volume on the television went down.
"They're cute aren't they, Aunt Buffy?" Robby replied. "Should I get them blanket? I don't want them to get cold."
"Sure, c'mon, I'll help you sweetie," Buffy said and everything grew still.
That was the last thing I remembered hearing until I woke up on my side with Tara curled around me. At some point we had stretched out on the couch and shifted so we could cuddle together. The room was almost dark except for the gentle light coming from a fire someone had lit in the fireplace. It that was still giving off a goodly amount of warmth as it was dying away to glowing embers.
I looked into Tara's face, smooth and peaceful in sleep. Her arm tucked around my waist possessively. The light and shadows danced all through the room, and the play across her slumbering features just held me fascinated. The only sound was her steady, deep breaths and the occasional pop and crackle from the remains of the logs.
I raised my hand and very softly stroked her cheek, down to her jaw. Her skin felt like warm silk under the sensitive pads of my fingertips. Very lightly I traced over the bridge of her nose, around her lush mouth; the sweetness of those lips still lingered in my mind from that morning. Just as I pulled my hand away, her eyes fluttered open. She looked around for a moment then looked down and smiled at me sleepily.
"Hi," I whispered.
Giving me a gentle squeeze she replied, "Hey you," her voice rough and sexy with sleep.
I raised my head to get a better look at her and said, "How is it we seem to end up curled around one another sleeping on various couches, but we have yet to go on a proper date?"
With a raised eyebrow, Tara smiled mischievously. "Are you asking me out, Will?"
I rested my chin on her chest, still looking up at her. "Yeah, I think I am."
"Yes," she said.
"When…" I started to ask.
"Yes," she said again.
"But I didn't finish," I said with a pout.
"It doesn't matter, Willow. Whatever, whenever, I just want to spend time with you," Tara replied and began to run her hand up and down my side making me shiver.
"I don't understand it," I said softly. "And there's something between us... I wasn't looking for it, you know? It's just totally powerful. And it's totally different than what Lacey and I had."
She nodded, and leaned forward to kiss me. "I do. You're such an unexpected surprise, Willow. My family has known you for months now, and here you've swept into my life and in a matter of days turned it upside down in the best of ways."
I scooted a little so I could be face to face with Tara when I kissed her gently. I felt the electricity skitter over my skin again as we touched, and she tightened her arms around me as our kisses grew more passionate. Unlike this morning that had been amazing, we now had full body contact that only intensified the sensations. I could feel Tara moan against my lips, and I answered in kind.
Tara just felt so good in my arms, I couldn't help myself. One of her hands was playing in my hair, while the one on my back kept stroking me. I cupped her face in my hands as our tongues played and teased; I shifted slightly and with Tara's help I was now lying completely on top of her.
My senses were starting to overload, it was too much, she was too much. I started to shake and I had to pull back from our kisses. I started to try to sit up, to pull away and clear my head, but Tara wouldn't let me. She tightened her hold on me and just held on to me while we both calmed down.
"It's okay, Will. I get it… I do," Tara said breathlessly. "Just your kisses… and it's like I lose all sense of restraint. You touch me like no one else, even with just a kiss. How do you do that?"
I giggled. "Magic."
Tara stroked my face, and if I could purr I would have at that moment as I leaned into her touch. "You amaze me, Willow," she said barely above a whisper.
I looked at her, trying to read her. Her eyes were a dark blue, and her cheeks were flushed. She was breath-taking; I nervously started to pull back again. "I should go… it's late… and I should… go," I said.
Again she tightened her hold on me. "Stay with me, Willow," she said softly. "I don't mean for anything to happen. I just want to wake up in your arms… again," she giggled. "Is that okay?"
I had to swallow a few times before I could squeak out, "Okay."
She smiled brilliantly, and continued to stroke my sides while holding me close. I nuzzled her neck, pressing soft kisses to the delicate skin and felt to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against my lips. The fire had died down to cooling grey ash and the warmth was quickly leaving the room. Tara pulled the blankets off of us, and this time she let me sit up. I helped her fold the blanket up, and she left it on the arm of the sofa.
She slipped her hand in mine and quietly led me upstairs to a bedroom at the far end of the hall. Opening the door into a large bedroom, she sat me down on the side of a queen size bed. Tara crossed to a long warm cherry wood dresser with a mirror attached. She opened a drawer and began to pull out clothes.
"Which would you like, pajamas or shorts and a t-shirt?" Tara asked, holding a pair of pajama bottoms in one hand and a pair of shorts in the other.
"Shorts and a t-shirt, please," I said sleepily.
She nodded and put the pajama bottoms back, then pulled out another pair of shorts; closing the drawer she opened another and pulled out two t-shirts. She handed me the set of shorts that had a drawstring.
"They might be a little loose, but the drawstring should cure that," Tara said and then held out her hand.
Leading me across the room to another door, she opened it and flipped on a light switch. From a drawer under the sink she pulled out a new tooth brush and set it on top of the clothes she had set to one side of the vanity with a smile. She crossed behind me and trailed her hand along my shoulders.
"There are clean towels and wash clothes in closet," Tara said pointing to a narrow door with a glass front on a standalone linen cabinet. "So you can wash up or shower, whichever you'd like."
"Thanks," I said.
With another soft smile, she left the bathroom closing the door behind her. I sat down on the toilet lid, worrying about what I had agreed to, and wondering if all this was happening all too soon, and I should just go home. Maybe –but nothing had to happen – and the thought of having Tara's in my arms all night was more than enough enticement to stay.
I got up and changed, then washed my face and brushed my teeth. When I walked back into Tara's room, I was clutching my folded clothes to my chest a little nervously. She was already under the covers, but very obviously waiting for me. She pulled the sheets back, and patted the bed beside her.
I left my clothes on the dresser and crawled in next to her. We lay facing one another for several moments. I reached for her hand and we pressed our palms flat before entwining our fingers. Even just this light touch was magnetic and made my heart begin to race.
"C'mere," Tara whispered.
I scooted closer to her, and she kissed me softly. I rolled to my back taking her with me as we continued to kiss. We finally broke apart, panting for air and grinning goofily. I pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, and ran my finger down her velvety cheek.
"You do know you're beautiful, don't you?" I asked in all seriousness.
Tara giggled a little. "I'm glad you think so," She was tracing my hairline along my forehead when she giggled again. "I love your widow's peak… it's so sexy."
It was my turn to laugh. "I have a sexy widow's peak?"
She nodded smiling. "Your hands, I think they're sexy, too. They're long and graceful, like a pianists, but knowing what you do they must be strong. I can feel it when you hold me, your strength, and I can feel how gentle you are because it's how you are when you touch me."
I slowly ran my hands up her back, massaging the muscle as I went. She arched into me, our hips pressed close together. I gulped in air at the contact, before I blurted out, "You remind me of an angel, especially when you're sleeping. Your skin is so creamy and flawless, Tara, but when you sleep you get this light flush to your cheeks that just pulls at something in me."
Tara rolled over taking both my arms with her, resting one in the crook of her neck and the other around her waist, and nestling back into me. I had her in a tight hold from behind, and I wasn't sure how comfortable she could really be. I couldn't help myself when nuzzled her neck, breathing her in deeply before I dropped several soft kisses on her shoulder. Resting my head on her shoulder, our bodies just naturally fell into place like puzzle pieces.
"Do you really want to sleep like this?" I asked.
"I'm quite comfortable, so I'm okay with it if you are," Tara replied tightening her hold on my arms, and I gave her another squeezed to show my agreement.
After a few moments of holding each other, I whispered, "Do you feel it, Tara?"
"We just fit, don't we?" she said.
"We do," I said and kissed her shoulder again, as our breathing began to sync and deepen for sleep.
"Goodnight, sweetie," Tara murmured, holding my arms tightly around her in a hug.
"G'night, Tara," I said softly and kissed her temple.
Tara felt so good in my arms, and I was literally wrapped around her. I heard her contented sigh, and I had a smile on my lips. Soon enough we had fallen fast asleep.
TBC…