Cause and Effect

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Chapter Nineteen
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Xander arched into the cool, moist touches on the back of his neck, not nearly awake, but reveling in the feel of the body pressed up against his. "Mmm," he murmured, "that feels good."

**Wait a minute! Cool?!**

Memory flooded back, and with it Xander's awareness, wakefulness flooding him all in one split moment.

Instantly the contact was gone, *all* the contact.

**Damn! I did it again.**

He rolled over, a warm smile curving his lips. "Good morning," he said quietly, reaching out to gently cup William's cheek. "Sorry about that, it's been awhile. I was surprised is all."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

William grinned, his eyes dancing merrily, if not a little mischievously.

Before Xander could worry just exactly what William was plotting, the blond vampire leaned toward him. Gently caressing his mouth briefly across Xander's, the tip of his tongue darted out in a quick parting tease across Xander's upper lip as he pulled back.

Xander gasped, unprepared for his own response to the relatively chaste touch. Incredible arousal hit him hard and fast. He couldn't remember the last time it had happened like that. Was it that 'touch of the forbidden'? Was it the barely hidden aspect of danger in 'courting' a vampire? He didn't know, and, frankly, right now he didn't care. His body led the way, not his head. It had been *so* long since he'd actually lost himself in feeling.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he leaned forward, following William's shy retreat. He lowered his head, giving William ample time to decline, should the vampire choose to.

He didn't. His eyes widened, but he didn't pull away, or turn his head. Instead, his lips parted slightly in silent invitation, his tongue snaking out to wet them.

Xander almost groaned at the erotic sight. Eyes drifting shut of their own accord, Xander closed the remaining distance between them, pressing his mouth to William's. Gently, slowly, he moved his mouth over William's. Lightly sucking the vampire's upper lip into his mouth, he grazed his blunt teeth over the sensitive flesh.

William moaned into this mouth, and Xander captured the sound, deepening the kiss instantly. He thrust his tongue forward seeking entrance, and William granted it, eagerly sucking it into the depths of his mouth.

No longer holding himself back at all, Xander allowed the length of his body to press against William, his hands moving down the hard planes of the clothed chest below him -- so very different from what he was used to. It was new. It was exciting. He groaned, the sound sounding more like a growl to his own ears than anything else.

Then, he felt William's hands on his bare chest, hesitantly mirroring the path Xander's had taken. The shy touch, so far removed from what he'd expected, left Xander breathless, and he ripped his mouth away in a seemingly futile attempt to draw in enough air.

His own hands, having found the hem of William's 'night shirt' met the cool flesh hidden beneath.

William arched toward the warm touch, and the abandoned, trusting movement sent Xander over the edge of his control. He dove back down, this time, instead of meeting William's mouth, he buried his face in the crook where neck met shoulder.

The loud, nearly feral moan, accompanied by the arching of William's neck, giving Xander complete and free access to that most vulnerable part of William sent another hot, aching, jolt of arousal through him.

**Oh, God!** he thought in near desperation. His body was hot, and aching, and . . . *longing*.

//It has to happen, Xander.//

Xander's jaw clenched spasmodically around the base of William's neck as Angel's words once more reverberated through his mind, and the body beneath him jerked in instant response.

William let out a high pitched groan, frantically pushing himself closer to Xander's hot mouth.

"Yessss," William hissed. "Taste me," he continued, his words low, hoarse, and urgent -- begging. "Make me yours!"

A loud, heart-felt moan forced its way from Xander's throat, as he pulled back, transfering his attentions to William's mouth. Until that very moment, he'd thought it absolutely impossible to be even more aroused than he'd already been. His entire body felt hot, flushed -- feverish.

All reservations about drinking from William gone, the feeling -- the need -- seeming so *right*. Xander blindly reached toward the nightstand, fumbling to find the knife he knew he'd left there. He refused to pull away from William's mouth, or stop his other hand's attentions now that he'd worked his way up under the night shirt and began toying with the tiny erect nubbs he'd found by touch alone.

As his hand closed around the small knife, a tiny portion of Xander's mind catalogued that William was still only mimicking Xander's touches. The vampire made no moves beyond what Xander did -- with the blatant exception of Xander's neck. He chuckled lightly. Of course, the fact that he refused to free the vampire's mouth long enough to allow him that liberty just *might* have something to do with that.

Xander reluctantly pulled back, his eyes locking immediately with William's. With his free hand, he propped himself up, no longer allowing his weight to pin his partner to the bed, and brought the knife between, a silent question lighting his eyes.

William gasped, turning his head to the side, arching his head back, baring his throat, and bringing that vital vein in the side of his neck into stark relief.

It was all the invitation Xander needed. He deftly brought the knife to bare, quickly slicing directly into the vein there. His mouth was over the sluggishly bleeding wound before the slight whimper left William's mouth.

The cool blood flowed over his tastebuds, tasting of copper, but more of William. To his surprise, it tasted good. It tasted more than good, in fact. It was a sweet nectar that beat anything he'd consumed before. It beat soda; it beat hot chocolate; it even beat ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day. He was lost to the taste of it, sure he'd never get his fill.

William was moaning constantly now, pressing ever closer to Xander.

Then, some instinct he wasn't even aware of brought Xander's wrist up to William's mouth.

William growled quietly, and Xander felt the vampire's features shift against his cheek.

It was several long, eternal, moments later before Xander realized that although William was sucking on his wrist, he had yet to feel the expectant fangs pierce his skin.

**Fuck! I forgot!** Xander mentally kicked himself as guilt wrenched him out of his lust-filled daze. He grabbed the knife from where he'd dropped it on the bed, quickly slicing his own wrist. Once more bringing it back to William's mouth, his gentle movements offered a silent apology along with his blood.

It wasn't until William was softly drawing the blood freely flowing from his wrist, that Xander bent back down, savoring the last drops of blood that still seeped from the rapidly healing cut in the side of William's neck. Long after it sealed over, Xander continued to nuzzle, lightly nipping and sucking the *obviously* sensitive spot. He enjoyed every moan, every whimper, every aroused sound and twitch his actions pulled from the feeding vampire. It was . . . intoxicating.

It wasn't until he began to feel light-headed that he tried to pull his wrist free. William tightened his grip, and Xander winced at the sharp pain the new tearing of the nearly healed slice caused. But it was William's reaction that splashed him with a dose of cold, hard reality.

William yelped, immediately dropping Xander's wrist in favor of curling up and grabbing his head in both hands. Quiet whimpers continuing as the vampire rocked ever so slightly.

Xander winced again, this time in empathy. "Shhh," he whispered as he gathered William into his arms. "It's alright. It'll stop soon." He was shocked to discover that William was trembling, the fine tremors shaking the vampire's entire body. Was he afraid?

Waiting until the tremors stopped, Xander pulled back slightly to look down at William. He could see the tear stains soaking through the bandages, that now seemed a little worse for the wear. Elation shot through him. Did those tears mean his eyes were healing? Healed? He couldn't wait to find out.

Reaching out a gentle hand, Xander traced a finger down the side of William's face. "We'll have to change these bandages today," he said quietly, his voice still sounding loud dropping into the previous silence.

William swallowed, the bob of his adam's apple catching Xander's attention, drawing his gaze back to the vampire's slender neck.

**Well!** he thought ruefully. **It looks like I've got a new kink.**

"How do you do that?" William asked softly, almost timidly.

Xander frowned. "Do what?"

"Cause that pain when I don't stop quick enough?"

"I don't!" Xander exclaimed, shock flooding him. Was *that* what William really thought? "God! I could *never* hurt you like that."

William frowned, cocking his head in obvious puzzlement. "Then what causes it?"

Closing his eyes in frustration, Xander patiently explained -- as best he could -- the presence of the chip, who had put it there, and what it did.

William remained silent throughout his explanation, and long afterward, head bowed. "So, that means I'm not *really* a vampire, anymore?"

Xander blinked. He'd never thought of it that way. He wondered if Spike had. He knew Spike had hated the chip with a passion that probably couldn't be equalled, but he wasn't sure exactly *how* that had changed the vampire's self-image -- beyond the obvious depression in the beginning.

Now that he *did* think about it, however, he knew it had to have had a deep affect on his self-esteem, despite what the cocky vampire had shown the world. The problem now was, how did he explain something he didn't know the answer to.

"I don't know whether you thought way before or not, Will. I really don't."

William nodded slowly, not bothering to raise his head any more than necessary to make the gesture.

"All I *do* know, is you'll *always* be my vampire," Xander continued softly, not aware of what he was going to say until the words were said.

William's head jerked upward. "Yeah?"

Xander grinned, leaning down to press a kiss on Will's forehead. "Yeah." He had no clue until that very moment that he felt that way, but having said it, it felt right. It was then that he knew, with certainty, that no matter what happened, things would be alright in the end. He could weather what was to come. He knew it probably wouldn't be easy. When William's full memories returned they'd have to deal with everything that had happened to him while
he'd been held hostage -- as well as dealing with Spike's reaction to everything that had happened afterward.

Xander chuckled ruefully. He was under absolutely no illusions that Spike would meekly accept what had happened. He also knew, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that the vampire's reaction *wouldn't* be pretty. The smart-mouthed, hard-as-nails vampire, had an acidic wit and quick temper, and *that* was bound to come into play.

He sighed. He could handle it. He was used to being the brunt of Spike's sharp tongue. Then, once the worst was past, they could move forward. According to Angel, they didn't really have a choice. Though, thinking back on Spike and Angel recent relationship, Xander hoped that estrangement didn't happen to them. He didn't think he'd handle that well at all.

"Okay," he said suddenly, bounding out of bed. "Time to get this night started. I'll just sneak into the bathroom real quick and get the med-kit, and be right back."


TBC
Kiristeen
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