Breathless

Riley Finn stomped around his lavishly decorated living room, furiously. His temper was seething with rage as he randomly launched various vases and other decorations against the walls.

"Fucking WHORE!" He screamed loudly, smashing his fist into a mirror, sending shards of glass flying around him. "Who the HELL does she think she is? How dare she embarrass me like that?"

Previous night...

Riley impatiently drove through the crowded parking lot of the Bronze, searching for an empty space. When his friend, Forrest, had called around lunch and suggested meeting for a night of drunken carousing, Riley had instantly agreed. However, his mood was dampening as he unsuccessfully navigated through the brightly lit lot. After several trips up and down the jammed pack lanes, Riley was about to call it quits and head home. That was until he caught site of the blonde couple in between two cars, passionately embraced. Curiosity consumed him and he slowly crept forward for a better look

Completely unaware of anything around them, Riley had sat in silence and watched their interlude. From his position, Riley was unable to see their faces, but was turned on nonetheless. The tiny blonde wrapped her legs firmly around the waist of the leather clad man who was firmly fondling her perky breasts; as their embrace deepened, Riley felt his cock harden.

He had watched them, totally entranced, his throbbing member pressing painfully against the zipper of his jeans. Riley's hand had been positioned above the zipper as he contemplated pulling his cock out and pleasuring himself, when the couple had parted. Panting heavily, the female had placed a soft kiss on the man before turning to get into the car. It was then Riley had been able to see her face. It was Buffy.

Rage bubbled just below the surface, his body flush with anger as he watched the black car slowly pull away from its parking spot. It never occurred to Riley to park in the now vacant spot, go inside to find Forrest and drink himself into oblivion. Instead, he had waited a few seconds before pulling out of the parking lot and following them.

What he had originally anticipated as a short jaunt across town quickly turned into a tiring trip to Malibu. It was almost an hour later, thanks in part to the always congested Los Angeles traffic, before he was stealthy navigated his way through the perfectly manicured subdivision. Riley groaned as they neared the culs de sac and thought for sure that Buffy would finally notice his car following them. Luckily, the enamored couple never paid him a bit of attention and pulled up to a massive iron gate, pausing long enough to enter the pass code.

Riley eased around the corner as the black car disappeared past the gate, trying to get a better look at the house. Parking at the edge of the driveway, he exited the car and sprinted towards the bushes by the fence. Crouching down into the shadows, Riley peeked around the post and silently congratulated himself as he watched the man walk around the car to let Buffy out. Riley sneered as they fell into one another again; instantly he felt his stomach churn, sickened at the sight.

Riley’s brow furrowed as he waited impatiently for their embrace to end. Glancing at his watch, he groaned lightly when he realized that only a couple of minutes had passed and not the hours it seemed like. Quietly, Riley tried to adjust his position; the crouch he had acquired earlier was now causing his knees to ache, painfully.

Finally, what little patience he had was rewarded as the broke apart; gasping for air. The man stepped aside and let Buffy lead the way around the front end of the car, heading towards the front door. Once again, Riley felt his brow furrow as Buffy was pressed against the door and devoured, their bodies writhing against one another. After a brief moment, Buffy wedged her hand between them and pressed her palm against his panting chest. Bringing her purse up close, she dug around inside and triumphantly produced a set of keys.

Several emotions soared through Riley as he watched them disappear inside the sprawling estate, to engrossed with one another to bother with closing the front door. Not only was he still filled with anger and hatred, but now there was a sliver of happiness. Now he knew where Buffy lived.


Now, as Riley sat on the couch in the midst of the destroyed living room, chugging whiskey straight from the bottle and fuming over the night's events he realized something...No longer would Buffy be able to hide behind the brightly colored coat tails of her flamboyant manager, he know knew where she lived.

Drowning the last bit of amber colored liquid, Riley angrily threw the empty bottle at the wall and pushed himself up off the couch. He crossed the room with only a few strides, stopping in front of the fireplace and removed the only intact picture of Buffy that remained. It had been taken at Christmas when they had flown to England to visit her family, which was the last time Riley could remember them being happy. A bright smile lit up her face and her golden locks were curled ever so slightly at the ends. Buffy was leaning against his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her small frame as he leaned down to place a kiss against her blushing cheek.

Thinking back, Riley let his memories take over and fill his saddened body with happiness. He remembered that shortly after Joyce had taken that picture, he and Buffy had retired to their room and made love; gentle and sweet, as always. Afterwards, she had fallen asleep against his chest, for several hours he had lain there and simply watched her snore lightly; she reminded him of an angel. Riley desperately wished he could travel back in time to change the past and make everything all right between them. It had taken several months, but he was aware that his inability to control his anger was what had been wrong with the relationship. As a lone tear tumbled over his thick lashes, he leaned his drunken head against the cool mantle and prayed that he would eventually get the chance to make things right.

**A/N** Sorry this chapter took SO long to get out! MUSE has decided to take a break, but we all now that she works in mysterious ways. I hope you all will enjoy this chapter. Wonder which Riley we will see next? His moods always seemed to resemble a see-saw, so stay tuned for more…

Also, I will be very busy for the next few weeks with training a new dispatcher at work. My coworker and I have decided to share the task and alternate nights, so hopefully I my muse will show up on my “off” nights!

Thanks again for all of the wonderful reviews! And, to Gillypod, you are my inspiration and I thank you specially for that!