Things That Go Bump in the Night

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Chapter Twenty-Five
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Buffy blew out the breath she'd been holding. **Wow!** She almost laughed, however, at Cordelia's sudden blush.

"I was just trying to help," Cordelia said, ducking her head. "I . . . didn't know."

Joe chuckled. "He knows that."

Cordelia nodded, but retreated to sit next to Doyle anyway.

Buffy cast a glance the direction Richie had disappeared, debating with herself. Pulling her lower lip between her teeth for one indecisive moment, she rose suddenly.

"It wouldn't be a good idea," Adam said gently, following her as she headed out of the room.

"Why not?" she demanded hotly. "From what you said--"

"After a quickening it can get . . . intense," Adam replied, his voice nearly a whisper. "Especially if the defeated Immortal was, well, if he deviated from the norm."

"If he was perverted, you mean," Buffy shot back. She was long past being embarrassed. Anya had seen to that. She didn't think any abstract conversation could embarrass her anymore.

Adam nodded shortly. "But not just that, it also depends on their respective ages, how many heads the dead Immortal had taken, as well as many other factors. Sometimes it's really difficult to settle a quickening."

Buffy's eyes widened slightly. "You mean, the winner could be . . . taken over by the loser?" she asked incredulously.

"That's rare," Adam said quickly. "Very rare, but yeah, that's a possibility. What I was referring to, however; was that the winner can take on some of the more prominent characteristics and personality quirks of the loser for a while. It isn't a great time to have a first encounter between two people."

Buffy nodded, really thinking about what Adam had told her. Taking a deep breath, she turned toward the stairs, then stopped and looked over her shoulder. "Would he send me away?" she asked.

Adam snorted. "Probably not, but I don't know; he might."

Buffy started to look away, but realized suddenly that Adam was debating with himself about something. "What?" she asked.

"You're serious about this?"

She nodded.

"In that case," Adam replied, stepping forward. "The first time will be quick and probably a bit rough. If you're going to do this, make sure he knows you understand that, or he's the type that'll kick himself a dozen different ways afterward."

"Thank you," she said seriously.

Adam nodded and she turned and bounded up the stairs.

*****

Taking a deep breath, Buffy knocked perfunctorily on the bathroom door. She'd made only one stop on her way here. She grinned, and without waiting for a response, turned the knob. She let her breath out in relief when she discovered he hadn't locked it.

"Who is it?" Richie called out, his voice sounding hoarse to Buffy.

“It's me," she said quietly, shutting the door behind her, locking it.

Richie cleared his throat. "I'll be out in a few minutes," he said quickly.

"Oh, I don't think that'll be long enough," she replied, stepping closer to the closed shower curtain.

"You don't?" Richie asked, his voice cracking.

"No," she answered, "I was thinking about joining you."
u."

"Um, well," Richie stammered, laughing nervously. "Much as that sounds great, I don't think it'd be such a good idea."

"Why not?" Buffy questioned reasonably, stopping her hand just as her fingers curled around the edge of the barely opaque curtain.

"Whoa," Richie said, laying a hand on hers, "I thought Adam said he was going to explain."

"He did," Buffy said, not moving.

Richie groaned. "You're not making this easy," he complained.

"Making what easy?" Buffy asked playfully.

"I didn't want it to be this way," he whispered.

"After a quickening, you mean," Buffy clarified.

"Yeah."

"Just answer me honestly. If you say no, I'll go. Do you want me?"

"Oh God," Richie groaned, causing Buffy to smile, continuing after the briefest of hesitations. "Yes, I do."

"Then," Buffy replied softly, moving the hand that held the curtain, "that's all I needed to know."

"Wait!" Richie exclaimed, preventing her from opening the curtain more than an inch.

"What?"

"This wouldn't be your first--"

"No," Buffy interrupted, laughing, "it wouldn't."

"Good," Richie replied, pulling her into the shower with him.

Buffy gasped as he hauled her against him full length, his hands caressing down her back.

His mouth descended on hers, in a crushing, soul-devouring kiss. His tongue moved in slow, stark contrast, barely grazing the tip of hers in a sensual caress that sent heat coursing through her. He pulled away from her mouth suddenly, his breath already coming in short pants.

"You're sure?" he asked, holding himself tensely, "You're absolu--"

Pulling his head back down, Buffy melded her mouth and body to his, and darted her tongue into the warm depths of his. He groaned into her mouth, pulling her impossibly closer.

"Does that . . . answer your . . . question?" She asked in between planting kisses down the side of his neck.

"Oh, yes," he replied huskily.

The hot water pulsing down on them, they worked together, alternately pulling soaked clothing from Buffy, and sharing frantic, breath stealing kisses. His hands caressed and soothed, taunted and tormented, never staying any one place long enough to do more than rouse, leaving behind tingling sensations of expectation. Soon Buffy stood in nothing but panties that clung to her like a second skin. She held her breath as Richie knelt before her and pulled them down with shaking fingers, his breath blowing across her sensitive skin.

Gasping, she braced herself on his shoulders as he leaned forward, his mouth and tongue teasing her wet folds. Inching upwards he sucked lightly, pulling her between his lips. Buffy moaned, her legs threatening to give way at the surge of arousal that shot through her.

As if knowing her very thoughts, Richie's hands circled behind her legs and grasped the backs of her thighs, holding her firmly upright -- and just as firmly against his suckling mouth. Her legs turned to jello as his talented mouth played her, his tongue darting against her clit even as his lips continued their gentle suction. Delicious tension built slowly, deep in her belly.

She whimpered in loss as his mouth left her, trailing moist kisses up her abdomen. "Richie," she moaned plaintively, as their lips met again and he pressed her against the wall, his hardness trapped between them.

Murng sng something against her lips she couldn't quite make out, Richie shifted his weight, and once again grabbing the back of her thighs pulled her upward.

**Yes!** she thought as her legs wrapped naturally around Richie's waist, his weight holding her in place against the marble tiles of the shower's wall.

"Wait!" she whispered urgently, a brief second of sanity returning.

Richie's groan was nearly a growl, the dark primitive sound sending wonderful shivers down her spine. "What?" he asked hoarsely, his expression a plea. "Please don't tell me to stop."

Buffy shook her head. "C-condom," she explained breathlessly.

Stark relief melted Richie's expression, his body shaking at the strain of holding himself back. "Not necessary," he said, leaning forward to nibble along her collarbone. "I swear. Explain later . . . please," he asked in between seductive breaths against her earlobe, and moist, hot kisses down the side of her neck.

Her body's demands urged her to accept him at his word. Thoughts swirling on top of each other in her mind. He was Immortal -- no disease most likely. It was quickly followed with the thought of trying to be the slayer if she got pregnant. Moaning in regret, she shook her head. "No, condom, or explain now." She captured his lips in an ardent entreaty. She'd really rather use the condom, explanations could wait. "You're . . . choice," she said between pants, her gaze locked on his face, urgently waiting his decision.

He released her, his face and body held rigidly. "I don't . . . have one . . . here," he said, stepping back with obvious effort. And taking several deep quick breaths, he opened his mouth.

Buffy placed a finger across his lips. "I do," she said, and trailing her fingernails down the length of his body, she slowly knelt. Her eyes widened as his partially softened length jumped back to full hardness at her actions. Her hands questing, she leaned forward and blew across the head of his cock. Its twitch in reaction sent fire directly to her groin.

One hand caressed her hair as she fumbled for the package she'd pocketed on the way here. Moments later she had it in hand and she leaned forward again. Her hand rubbing along his length, she engulfed him in her mouth, and swirling her tongue around the head, she suckled him much the way he had her. The hand on her head tightened momentarily, his fingers tangling in the strands of her hair. She thrilled at the moaning sounds coming from his mouth, and the small twitches of hips that were in cadence with her movements.

Inching backward, she continued sucking until she ever so slowly let him slip from her mouth. He whimpered, his knees bending suddenly as if they no longer wanted to support him.

Wasting no more time, she slipped the condom over him. As soon as her hands left him, before she could lean forward to lick along his pelvic bone, Richie hauled her upright, not stopping until she was back against the wall, her legs around his middle.

"Now," he said huskily, his lips capturing her mouth at the same moment one hand found her opening. He thrust into her in one quick movement, stilling as soon as he was imbedded deep inside her.

Gasping in surprise and a touch of discomfort -- he was bigger than she'd expected, she molded herself to him tightening her legs around him. Seconds later, mewling tiny little sounds into his demanding mouth, Buffy flexed her hips, urging Richie to move. She wanted him *now*! Just when she thought he wasn't *ever* going to move, his hands clenched around her thighs and he pulled back sharply until he was only barely inside her, plunging back all the way back inside less than a rapid heartbeat later.

Her legs locked behind him when one of his hands let go, and she moaned in delighted surprise when that hand reached between them and began teasing her clit in cadence with their movements.

Water pouring over and between them, slickening their bodies, the couple locked into a rhythm as old a time itself, Buffy and Richie lost themselves in each other and the sensations they were creating. "Yesss!" Buffy hissed as the tension crested inside her sending out a rippling wave of feeling clear down to her toes. Arching her neck back, pressing her head against the wall that was only partially supporting her, she rode the feeling, clamping and releasing her inner muscles around Richie.

Richie moaned, his movements faltering as he plunged one final time into her, and joined her in orgasm.

Shaking, foreheads touching, both Buffy and Richie panted for breath, not moving as they waited for their breathing and their heartbeats to slow back to normal.

Buffy moved slightly, touching a feather soft kiss across his lips. "If this is a quickie," she whispered, grinning playfully, "I can't wait to find out what long and slow is like."

Richie laughed weakly, and lifting her with trembling arms he slipped out her. "I think we should find somewhere more comfortable for that," he whispered, carefully setting her on her feet.

Giggling, Buffy nodded. "Oh yeah, I agree completely," she said, stepping out.

Richie followed right behind, after shutting off the cooling spray. Gently taking the towel from her, he took his time drying her off, careful not miss a single damp spot.

Letting out an explosive breath, Buffy laughed breathlessly. "If you keep doing that, I may not want to wait for 'somewhere more comfortable'," she said, deliberately stepping back.

Richie grinned, and dried himself off quickly. "In that case," he said slyly, "I suggest you dress. You're far too tempting the way you are."

Buffy took one step, then frowned in consternation. "In what?"

Richie snickered. "Oh yeah, I forgot." Finished with fastening his pants, he tossed her his clean shirt. "We'll make a run for it," he offered.

Buffy laughed, blushing slightly, then frowned thoughtfully. She really didn't want to flaunt this in front of Angel. "Make sure the coast is clear," she said as she pulled his shirt on.

"Right," he grinned, striding to the doorway. Opening it only a crack, he peered out, then seeing no one, he opened it further, casting glances both ways down the hallway. "All clear," he called out, just as Buffy finished haphazardly drying the floor.

The two of them darted out into the hallway, racing for Richie's room. Out of breath, they both laughed as the door closed behind them. "We made it," she grinned.

TBC