What Dreams May Come

TITLE: What Dreams May Come

AUTHOR: MidKnight

CHAPTER: 1 of 1

SHIP: Faith / Xander

RATING: NC17

CATEGORY: Romance and Erotica

SPOILERS: None if you know how Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 7 ended

DISCLAIMER: None of these characters belong to me. They belong to Joss Wedon, Mutant Enemy, Warner Bros. and I bet a whole bunch of other corporations and I am only borrowing them, seeings as those who own them don't seem to want to use them anymore.

UNIVERSE: Set sometime after Buffy season 7. Most of the gang (Buffy, Willow, Xander, Faith, Dawn and Kennedy) have settled in Los Angeles with the Hyperion Hotel as their base of operations. Faith and Xander are a couple (see my other story "Risk and Reward" for details.

AUTHORS NOTE: I apologize before hand and hope you will forgive any errors or blatant discrepancies, but I am new at this so... Enjoy

FEEDBACK: Yes Please - deton8@mweb.co.za

Friday, 24 December 2004, 5:00am, a cabin in the Rocky Mountains,

Xander shifted in his sleep his hand reaching across the bed in search of Faith only to encounter cold sheets. His eyes flutter open to confirm her absence. He pushes himself up onto his elbow and peers around through blurry eyes trying in vain to find his missing girlfriend in the early morning gloom. She's not in the bedroom and the realization brings him fully awake. The bathroom door is closed and he doesn't see any light coming from under the door. "But, that doesn't mean she couldn't be in there." he thinks. He strains his ears, but all is silent and he decides she isn't in the bathroom. "Besides the sheets on her side of the bed are cold. She's been up for awhile. " he thinks. He gets up quickly and immediately feels the nip in the air. He grabs the comforter off the bed and wraps it around his shoulders with a shiver. He absently notes that her boots are still where she had carelessly flung them off when they'd gone to bed the night before. He grins at the memory.

He'd surprised her with this little get away and he will forever remember the look on her face as they pulled up to the cabin in their rented 4x4. He has always believed Faith was a beautiful, vivacious woman and as their relationship had developed he had been prevy to the more subtle facets of this complex women. He had gotten to know and love the women below the bad girl exterior. That day, less than twelve hours ago he had got to see the little girl behind that bad girl exterior. She'd literally bounded out of the car almost before it had come to a complete stop. He'd just sat watching her in awe as spun around in the snow trying to take in the large, double story log cabin and the lake beside which it was built. She was dressed snugly in her trademark leather pants and boots, a jacket, knitted cap and scarf. Her smile beamed at him from below a cold reddened nose and the red knitted scarf, eyes twinkling with delight as she beckoned him to join her. She was bubbling with laughter and even giggling as he switched off the car and finally got out himself. As, he rounded the front of the vehicle, he had suddenly found his arms filled with an overjoyed Slayer and he staggered back a step or two to try and gain his balance, but failed and went tumbling into the snow taking her along for the ride. She continued to laugh, but planted kisses across his face as she thanked him again and again. Stray strands of her dark hair had escaped the confines of her cap to hang in whispy tendrils upon her cheeks which seemed to shine with the joy she seemed to radiate. She is simply adorable Her laughter was infectious and he soon joined her and taking a firm grip on her waist he rolled them over and reversed their positions depositing his dark haired Slayer into the snow. The maneuver elicits a surprised yelp of "Hey!!" from her lips, which was soon replaced by more laughter as he returned her barrage of kisses. Her laughter dies down as his lips finally find hers and his intentions become more amorous than playful. He didn't notice her bend her knees to get leverage before it was too late and with a flip and twist of her hips, their positions were reversed again. Her full weight was pressed atop his body as her lips plundered his with wanton abandon. Teeth nipping at his lower lip before her tongue snaked out to tap at his teeth in a bid for entrance. He groaned and granted her request sucking her searching tongue into his mouth where it sinuously tangoed with his own. The heat of her body as she ground against him was in sharp contrast with the cold slowly seeping into him from the snow beneath him. He tasted the sweetness of her lipgloss as he tilted his head up to add more pressure to their kiss. His tongue rallied to the cause and like some Olympic fencer dueled hers back into her mouth and pushed it's advance to full effect. She could always stir such fire in him and he would have gladly continued their fevered kiss were it not for the need for air and the intruding feel of water slowly soaking through his clothes onto his skin. With. A light nip to her lower lip he broke their kiss. He felt her lips bow into a smile before the contact was broken. "You wanna go at it right here?" he asked with a smirk. "If so... I'm on top." he'd continued. His words were meant in jest, but the way she looked all flushed, damp tendrils of hair hanging into her face that held a smile so dazzling she was almost glowing to his eyes, with the sweet taste of her still lingering on his lips, he doubted he would have put up too much of an argument had she said yes. Cocking her head to the side she seemed to contemplate his suggestion before she leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose before leaning further forward to whisper in his ear. " Sounds like fun, X and I'll definitely keep it in mind, but I'd like to keep you nice and healthy so that I can fuck your brains out... all proper like, you know?" She finished her answer by running the tip of her tongue over the shell of his ear and giving his earlobe a light nip of her own. He knew she felt his cock twitch against her thigh where she straddled him as her smile gained a slight leering and victorious cast and she flicked her eyebrows up in a quick playful quirk before shifting her weight to rise. He had been so tempted to pull her back down into his arms to kiss her again, but with a force of will he didn't. He did think she was being just a touch cruel when she "accidentally" rocked her hips, grinding herself on his jeans clad erection as she gained her footing so she could stand. All was forgiven though when she extended her hand and with a quick tug drew him to his feet. "Gotta love that Slayer strength." he'd thought. "Let's go inside. Shall we?" he asked rhetorically with a wry grin of his own. She stuck her tongue out at him, but burrowed her head under his arm and slid her arm around his waist all the same as they proceeded through the snow to the cabin itself.

The key was right where the rental agent said it would be, under a flowerpot next to the front door. He let them in and proceeded to give Faith the ten cent tour. He had never been there before either, but he at least had seen the brochure and the website. The bottom floor was divided into a fair sized kitchen and a huge living room with a stone fireplace on one side and a large glass sliding door that lead out onto a deck that looked out onto the lake itself. She had squeezed his waist and rested her head on his shoulder as they stood looking out over the shimmering lake. A contented sigh had escaped her lips and he had tilted his head to look at her. "Have I told you lately that I love you?" she'd asked him. He'd raised his hand to his chin making a show of contemplating her words. He saw just a little steel creep into her eyes before, with a grin, replying: " I always did like that song, but yes, you have at least once or twice." She gave him a little bump with her shoulder "Goofball, but all the same, I think, right now, I love you even more." she told him softly. His response had been to lightly kiss the top of her head. They had then just stood there for a few minutes more just enjoying the natural spectacle before them.

"The bath and bedrooms are upstairs." He told her as they turned back towards the door to go and get their stuff out of the car. "Bedrooms?" she asked adding emphasis on the plural. "Yeah. There are three bedrooms. Two have double beds and one has two singles." he explained, "Now let's go get our stuff and the provisions so I can get a nice big fire going." he continued. She hadn't moved, but had crossed her arms and raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Jeeezus, women." He'd begun and the eyebrow had inched higher. "Oh, Alright. You're gonna make me spoil the surprise aren't you?" he asked. Her foot began to tap with impatience and in answer. He'd thrown up his hands in surrender. "Fine. Have it your way. Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Kennedy will be joining us after Christmas. Happy now?" he explained opening the door and gesturing for her to exit. "They knew." she said softly in a manner that told him she clearly wasn't speaking to him. "They knew?" she repeated this time lofting the question accusingly at him. He'd been a little taken aback by her angry tone. "Err ... Yes." he answered, not having a clue. "They knew." She repeated a third time, throwing her hands in the air and stalking past him. He had simply stood and watched the sway of her hips and shapely ass, perplexed, as to her reaction. The sight made him think of a line from some movie with John Travolta in it "I hate to see you go, but I love watching you leave." She was halfway to the car before he shook himself out of his reverie and managed to follow. She had still been muttering under her breath as they brought in their bags and the groceries she they had bought enroute. He took their bags up to one of the bedrooms while she started to pack away the groceries.

She was still muttering when he came back down and began making the fire from the ample supply of firewood that was stacked near the fireplace. He soon had a cheery blaze going. "Care to tell me what's with the pissed-off ?" he asked. "They knew. They all knew." she said through gritted teeth. "We'd pretty much established that fact." he'd told her calmly. "So...?" he asked. "They lied to me." she explained causing his eyebrow to raise in question. " I knew you were up to something and I asked them all if they knew what and... and they just stood there and lied to my face and I believed them. Even Dawny." she finished. " Oh. I see. You're not pissed that they lied to you, you're pissed that you bought it, hook, line and sinker." he told her unable to stop a smile from twitching at his lips. "No... I... That isn't... You... " she stammered and he simply looked at her with his head cocked. Her expression turned sheepish and he could see her body relax out of the tension she unconsciously drew her body into whenever she was angry. "Shit. I'm being foolish ain't I?" she said. He waggled his hand in a gesture of 'maybe so, maybe not', but flashed her a wicked grin to tell her that she was. She threw her scarf at him for his trouble. He caught it laughing and her laughter soon joined his as he moved from the fireplace towards her. She was putting the last of the groceries into the refrigerator. The kitchen was setup with a counter on the side facing the living area and fireplace with cupboards and cooking appliances opposite the counter with the refrigerator and double sink against the far wall with a window that also looked out over the lake. He stood at the open end of the u-shaped space as she turned around and shut the refrigerator behind her and leaned against it. She gave him that look. A look he had come to know very well. It led to only one thing. "But, I like it when you're foolish." he told her as he closed the distance between them and she pushed away from the refrigerator to do the same.

They slipped into each others arms, heads tilted and lips met. Desire sparked as hunger was fed. His hands found their way into her luxurious hair as hers dug out his shirt and found their way up under it onto the skin of his back. Her hands were thrillingly cold against his skin, but they soon heated up even as their kiss did. Her right leg was between his and she ground her crotch against thigh. She moved her right foot a little forward so that her movement pressed her thigh against his surging erection and they moaned into each others mouths at the sensations that each was creating in the other. He two stepped them as they continue to kiss until he had her butt pressed against the counter edge. He'd arched her backward over the counter with more pressure on her lips with one of his hands on the small of her back before pulling back and breaking their lip lock. She grinned up at him. "Foolish. Horny. I like either." he said with a grin of his own.

He grabbed the firm, lush globes of her ass through the skintight leather of her pants and lifted her up onto the counter while she slipped her legs around him and then drew him closer to her. Again their lips met hungrily and she ground her crotch against his near painful erection by flexing the calves of her now crossed legs, behind his back. He'd groaned loudly as she nibbled at his lower lip. Her eyes were bright with open lust and carnal invitation. She raised her arms, releasing both his head from her hands and his lip from her teeth. He'd needed no further instruction. He dug her sweater out from the waistband of her pants and ran his hands over the soft, sumptuous skin of her waist and midriff. He felt her skin dimple with gooseflesh from his colder hands and he felt her shiver beneath his fingers, but the sigh that escaped her from behind her lower lip where it was pinned by her teeth, told him it wasn't from any kind of cold. He slid his hands upward, feeling her muscles twitch, and up along her ribcage drawing the sweater up with it. With, her arms raised, he could feel the ridges of her ribs and added just a little more pressure causing her to draw in a sharp breath and then let it out slowly with a breathy sigh. He'd smiled. He got distracted as the sweater cleared her breasts lifting them slightly and then letting them settle back with an enticing jiggle in the black, lace, half-cup bra she wore. Some analytical part of his mind noticed that the lacey undergarment had its clasp in the front and the rest of his mind rubbed it's hands in glee at the convenience of that simple observation. His hands continued their journey pushing the sweater ever upwards. When his hands slid up onto her upper arms the sweater cleared her lips, but covered the rest of her face. He gripped the firm muscles and held the sweater in place. She struggled a little, but he knew she wasn't serious. If she really wanted to get free she could have done so with ease. She was a Slayer after all. Her struggles quietened abruptly as he leaned forward and lightly ran the tip of his tongue from the hollow at the base of her throat to just below her chin. He loved the feel of her shuddering release of breath as he nibbled at the edge of her smooth jaw line. He inhaled the light scent of jasmine that he had come to associate with his Slayer. He pulled back, staying near enough so that she could feel his breath, but not touching her, his lips less than an inch from hers. The moment seemed to stretch out until she strained forward in an attempt to bring them into contact. He held her arms steady and moved back enough to keep the distance between them, teasing. He played the game until she gave him a feral growl, letting him know that her frustration was quickly exceeding her excitement or patience. The next time she moved forward he stayed in place and their lips crashed together before sliding into a sinuous kiss. She parted her lips and he pulled back again. The sound that escaped her lips was one that defined disappointment and frustration with just a hint of threat. She never saw the grin he flashed her as he extended his tongue to swipe it across the top of her lower lip, the tip just brushing the underside of her own tongue. He moved closer and caught her full, bee stung, lower lip between his own and suck on it. She groaned and he finally pushed the sweater further up, until she could toss it away. He had to release her lip as she shook out her hair and then flicked the luxurious mass of dark curls back and to the side so that it framed half her face and hung over her shoulder. The move was totally calculated as she gave him an impudent smile half hidden by errant curls and her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hi, there." she said her voice low and husky. She reached forward and swiped her thumb across his lips. He nipped at its tip playfully before asking, "Miss me?" A full, throaty, sexy and feminine laugh filled the cabin drawing a lopsided grin from Xander. "Yeah." she breathed and her hands slid along his cheeks and when her fingers could they curled into his hair and pulled him back towards her kiss-swollen lips. After the initial forceful crash of their lips meeting the kiss turned soft and leisurely. Her fingers running through his hair, while he wrapped his arms around her. One arm snaked around just under her slightly raised arms, the other just above her hips, his forearm resting across the small of her back. He tightened his arms and she slid forward against him, her leather pants giving a protesting little squeak against the counter. She gave a little grunt into his mouth as she slammed into him. Their hips flush together and then she ground against him, rocking herself against the hard shaft of his penis where it now strained against the fabric of his jeans seeking the heat and moisture it somehow knew was just on the other side. He felt her nipples poking solidly into his chest even through her bra, his sweater and t-shirt. They rubbed against him as they moved and the sparks of stimulation she felt were transmitted to him by the spasmodic tightenings of her fingers in his hair. Her hands moved to his shoulders as his lips slid from hers and began to work their way down the creamy, sweet tasting column of her throat. Her fingers pawed at the fabric of his sweater, bunching it and drawing it up his back. "Off... Take this off... Now! Off! Want... Skin..." she growled. His head was below her chin. His tongue and lips just beginning to re-explore the lush valley of her cleavage and he had been loath to give up the contact, but their was a slightly dangerous note to her voice that made him decide to comply. "She wouldn't actually hurt me... Well, not much... and definitely nothing permanent or disfiguring." he thought. He broke contact and stepped back a little. As, he brought his head up, he was surprised to see the saliva trail he had left on her flushed skin glisten. The image was singularly captivating in it's sensuality. It seemed to sparkle and change with rise and fall of her chest as she drew breath. Her bosoms heaved. He had never really understood the true meaning of that phrase until that very moment. Just the very act of breathing had her breasts straining at the lacey material of her brassier which seemed to expand and contract with the life of a second skin. He could see the hard peeks of her nipples, that he had felt, strain and attempt to force their way to freedom like an advance guard in this war between flesh and fabric. Time had seemed to slow down to allow him to make all these startling revelations. What were mere seconds felt like minutes of close observation and memorization as the images of this Slayer, his lover, his Faith were recorded forever in the deepest reaches of his mind. Time seemed to snap back to it's natural flow as she again tugged at his sweater, now as far up his back as she was able to draw it, and the whine of his name, "Xanderrrrrrrrrr." He blinked almost dumbly and then his hands left her and he moved to remove his sweater. Faith was a blur of activity. She reached for his belt and in her haste, rather roughly unbuckled it as he drew the sweater over his head. She was already dragging his t-shirt out of his pants when he tossed the heavier garment away. She raised the fabric of his t-shirt to his lowering hand and he took it from her. Just as it covered his face and began to clear his chin he felt her shift forward. Strong hands grasped his waist, just above the hips, to steady herself or hold him in place? The question became meaningless as he first felt the tickle of her hair as it met his newly exposed skin and then there was the butterfly touch of her lips followed by the light scrape of her teeth as she closed her mouth a little. Then, firm and wet pressure as she pressed full lips to his flesh and sucked on the flesh around his suddenly rock hard nipple. The crowning achievement of her delicious torture of his quickly heating flesh was to flick his hard nub with the tip of her tongue before bringing her teeth down in a light, quick nip. He managed to drag the t-shirt clear of his mouth in time to hiss out an explosive breath that ended in a heartfelt whimper as she withdrew only for him to drag it back in as her evil, wonderful mouth descended once again, this time upon his other nipple. He heard and felt the vibrations of the chuckle in her throat as she repeated her assault upon his flesh "Minx. Oh you gorgeous, wicked, wonderful, sexy, loveable minx." He thought with lust-wild glee and tossed the t-shirt to fall where it might.

With, a last, gentle tug at his now distended, hard and saliva-slickened nipple, she slowly lowered herself down to lie with her back on the counter. Her hair formed both a lush pillow and a dark halo. She looked up at him through lowered lashes, a languid smile bowed the corners of her mouth and he looked down at her, love beating in his heart and lust beating everywhere else. He wanted her. Wanted to be inside her. Wanted to hear that incredible hiss of breath that always escaped her lips when he first entered the velvet heat of her. She reached up and tapped the nail of her index finger against the skin of his chest. She whispered a single word, "Yes." And then he was descending upon her. They had been teasing, playing with each other, but games were now over. The clasp at the front of her bra made a surprisingly loud popping noise as his hasty fingers released it and he would be quite surprised to see her rehook it, undamaged, later on, much later on.

It was of course at this point that Xander's cell phone began to ring. "Let it ring. It will take a message." Faith told him as he froze. "It's most likely Buffy or Willow. They'll be worried if I don't answer." he answered. Some very unladylike things poured from Faith's mouth. Some of which managed to surprise even Xander with their elaborate and, he was certain physically impossible, descriptions. She finally unlocked her legs from around him in order for him to reach his cell phone on the pouch at his waist. She gave a further frustrated sigh as he stepped back to take the call. He moved off, facing the window above the sink. He had been right. It was Buffy. He told her they had arrived safely and that the place was amazing and that he and Faith would be expecting them after Christmas and they were going to have a great New Years. He spoke quickly answering her questions before she could ask them with visions of Faith's luscious body still dancing in his head. Buffy got the not too subtle hint and with a laugh told him they'd be arriving as they had discussed and that she apologised if she had interrupted anything. "No. No. It's quite all right. We were just... stocking the kitchen." he lied. "Yeah. Sure." was Buffy's reply and Xander could hear Willow giggle in the background. "Well bye, then." he told her. "Yes, and you two enjoy stocking the kitchen." she replied mischievously. He grinned. "Oh we will. We'll most likely stock the other rooms too. Bye." he told her and hit the disconnect button. He chuckled as he turned to tell Faith what her fellow Slayer had to say only to find himself alone in the kitchen. "Errrr. Faith?" he called out tentatively. Twilight was falling quickly and the cabin was being thrown into gloom as neither he nor Faith had switched on any of the lights. He noted that none of the clothes they had discarded were still in the kitchen. "Faith?" he called again a little louder. The glow of the fire became more pronounced as it became the cabins only light source. He became more convinced that Faith wasn't going to answer him. Whether out of anger or something else he didn't know. He hoped it was the something else. He wasn't mistaken.

He stepped around the counter that separated the kitchen from the expansive fireplace fronted lounge area. The room was a mass of soft light and writhing shadows cast by the fire, but his eyes picked up something out of the ordinary on the back of one of the light coloured sofas. He froze where he stood. It was a pair of black. Lace, French-cut panties. He recognized them. He'd seen them put on by a certain Slayer of his intimate acquaintance much earlier that very day. The moment dragged itself out and then he saw a long fingered hand rise above back of the low sofa. The skin was tinged orange from the firelight. The slim digits curled into a light fist and then one of then straightened again, before beckoning him with a crooking motion. The hand disappeared once more and the only things that could be heard, was the crackle of the fire and the quiet whistle of the wind. He slowly rounded the sofa. What he found immediately brought the thought: "Dear Penthouse..." to mind. She lay on her side, on a large throw rug wearing nothing but a smile. It was a smile that promised a glimpse of heaven. She shifted her arm and he could see the body that would transport him there painted in shifting yellows and ambers. He actually felt his jaw drop. The smile widened before her full lower lip was tucked behind straight white teeth. She tilted her head and patted the rug next to her. It was an invitation no sane, straight man could ever resist and Xander didn't even try. He was down to his briefs and reaching for their waistband when she said: "Oh... and Xander turn your phone off... or I will... throw it... into... the lake. Savi? " He chuckled, fumbled for his phone and made a great show of turning it off before negligently tossing it onto the sofa as if he didn't care where it landed. He hadn't been very successful at hiding his wince as it bounced and hit the floor instead. Faith's full-throated laugh filled the cabin and he grinned sheepishly. "Come here, Lover." she commanded in a husky tone made unsteady with dying mirth. He stripped of his briefs and complied.

Her skin was hot to the touch and he touched, touched every part he could reach. He ran the back of his hand along the length of her arm, across the back of her hand and onto her thigh where it rested. He enjoyed the soft, sumptuousness of her skin almost as much as the breathy sound her slow, steady intake breath made in reaction to his touch. She moved her arms around him and let herself roll onto her back, drawing him on top of her and between her legs, which she spread to accommodate him. He was braced on his knees and elbows, hovering above her, just drinking in the sight of her. His erection rested lightly in the soft, curly fur of her pubic hair. A crooked smile crept onto his lips as long moments passed. She ran a finger lightly along his jaw line and he gave a wry little chuckle. "What?" she asked looking at him with heavy lidded eyes. "Couldn't decide if you were gorgeous or beautiful. Finally came to a decision. You're neither." he answered. Her eyebrow arched in question and she said "Oh?" in a tone that was ever so slightly warning. He chuckled again playfully teetering along the knife-edge of Faith's anger. "Oh... Relax. I also came to a conclusion. You're not just gorgeous. You're not just beautiful. You're Faith and what's even more amazing than that... You're mine." he explained leaning down and lightly kissing her forehead. "Oh." she repeated in a completely different tone entirely. "That was... was... You do know I was a sure thing, right?" she told him in a voice that quavered with emotion. He leaned forward again and kissed her lips, catching just a glimpse of tears glistening at the edges of her eyes. "Yeah, but it had to be said." he answered. It was her turn to chuckle and a sniff and a squeeze of her eyelids got her tears under control. "Make love to me, Xander." she asked in a quite voice that spoke straight to his heart with it's sincerity and he had no choice but to comply.

She guided him gently to her entrance and he allowed a little more of his weight to rest on top of her. He could feel pooled moisture and radiating heat as he head of his penis brushed past her swollen outer lips. Bracing his hands more securely on either side of her head he thrust forward letting his full length slide into the women he loved. He loved the sound of the shuddering hiss of indrawn breath she made whenever he entered her. It was always followed by the gentlest sigh of satisfied exhalation that said so much in it's simplicity, as he became fully seated inside her. Her left leg swined around hi right, her soft feminine ankle rubbed lightly back and forth along the inside of his calf and they smiled at each other. He took his weight onto one of his arms and let the other hand burrow into her luxurious hair until his fingers found the strong, smooth column of her neck. He kneaded the flesh he had found lightly and his head lowered to hers and their lips found other tasks than smiling. Her inner muscles rippled around him, caressingly and he could no longer resist the urge to move. They made love slowly, leisurely, deliberate. Each movement catalogued for later repetition or adaptation. Their bodies moved in unison and counterpoint. Their breathing became heavier and heavier less with their excursion than with the building of pleasure and emotion they were both experiencing. He felt her begin to twitch and tense around him. Her skin was flushed. He could see it even in he firelight. Her eyes fluttered shut and she through her head back, arching against him as he thrust into her. His lips were drawn to her exposed throat and he first nipped then sucked on the creamy flesh, eliciting little mewling cries from his dark haired Slayer. Her finger nails skittered across his back and one hand worked it's way to his left buttock. "Oh... Xander. So... Close. Yes. Oh... Yes. Cum... Cum with... Meee..." she panted. Her fingers clenched grabbing his ass cheek and encouraging him to thrust hard and deep, which he did. And, with a cry, she came and he was again powerless to deny her request. He felt himself swell against her clenching muscles and then he was spurting his seed into her. He managed to raises his lips from her skin just in time to see her eyes pop open at the start of her orgasm and he was amazed to see the clarity in her eyes before they once again fluttered closed. He seemed to drain into her and his arm buckled and he had a hard time catching himself and collapsing fully onto her, but he managed it although he could feel her breasts flattened against his chest. Her nipples pressed into his skin, moving as she inhaled deeply to catch her breath. They tickled in an amazingly erotic way. He began to soften and her sex relaxed to release him. With, a groan and a little grunt he slid out of her and rolled onto his back. She rolled with him, adjusting her position so she could snuggle against his side and rest her head on his chest, her leg drawn up over his thigh. He brought his arm up to enfold her, his fingers tracing idle patterns on the smooth skin of her hip. She reached behind her and found the edge of the rug they were lying on and pulled it across them both. He felt her place a wet kiss on the sweaty skin of his chest before snuggling more closely against him. They lay there in silence for the longest time, the only sound the cheery crackle of the fire or the occasional pop as the wood burned down.

"Penny for you thoughts?" she asked him quietly. She had been so still, he had thought she had fallen asleep. He had been close to it himself. "I don't have change, but I'd say the major theme would be 'Goodness' with streaks of 'Happiness' and 'Contentment' but there might be faint rumblings of 'Hunger' abrewin'." he answered after a moments mock reflection. "Great minds think alike, X, but dealing with the hunger brings up the issue of moving and I can't says as I am ready to do that quite yet. This is just too damn comfortable." she told him and he again felt her lips brush his flesh. "Amen to that, Sista." he said tightening his arm around her for a moment. "Alas, although lying here with you in my arms would be a good way to waste away, there are those roast beef sandwiches in the refrigerator. Whada ya say?" he asked kissing the top of her head. "Oh alright. If you insist." she said with over dramatic resignation before she almost jumped out of his arms and grabbed her clothes, that along with his were piled on a nearby chair. He started to rise, but stopped to savour the view instead. He had seen Faith getting dressed every morning since they'd moved in together, but never in firelight. She stepped into her panties and then drew them up her legs. His eyes traced the path of the black under garment as it slid up smooth skin painted yellow and amber by the flickering light of the fire. She turned to face him when she realized he hadn't moved, her breasts swaying slightly with her movement. "Like what you see?" she asked with a quizzically raised eyebrow. "Ohhh Yeah. By all means, please, continue." he said with a grin. She laughed, but as she put on her bra she did it slowly and with slightly exaggerated movements putting on a little show for him. He had chuckled. He kept watching her until she shimmied into her tight fitting leather pants before he rose and started getting dressed as well. She preceded him into the kitchen by virtue of her head start at getting dressed so when he reached it she already had the deli sandwiches they had bought laid out on plates and was returning from the refrigerator with a beer for each of them. "Oh now it's official. I do love you." he said eyeing the sandwiches hungrily. "Well. like my mama never told me: 'The way to man's heart is through his stomach.'" she told him with a salute of her beer bottle. They went back to the living room to eat in front of the fire. When they were done they chatted about this and that and what they might do the following day, but it had been a long drive and Xander had found himself yawning and Faith simply rose, took his hand and led him upstairs to bed. He had fallen asleep watching Faith put lotion on her arms and legs, but he knew she had come to bed because he had swum to the brink of consciousness when she had crawled under the covers and into his arms.

He pads down the stairs peering into the gloom of early morning in search of a trace of his lovcr. He finally spots her silhouetted in front of the large sliding door leading to the deck that overlooks the lake. There is just a hint of sunrise. She's wearing one of his shirts that is ridiculously large on her, but she seems to love wearing them and it does seem to give a an innocent sexiness. "Hey there." he says softly as he wraps his arms around her waist. She leans back again his chest before extending her arms backwards and locking her fingers together at the small of his back. He kisses the top of her head before resting his chin lightly on it. "Couldn't sleep?" he asks. She hesitates for a second and he can see her teeth worrying at her lip in her reflection in the glass. "More like I didn't want to wake up." she answers. She can see his frown of question in his reflection and it brings a little smile to her lips. "This feels like some impossible dream to me. And, if I go to sleep when I wake up that is all it will be. I'll wake up and I'll be back in my cell and the last few months would never have happened and I'd be that hollow, aimless person again. And.. I... OWWW!!!" she cried out as he pinched the skin of her hip. "Why you..." she started. "See not a dream." he said with cocky grin. "Bastard." she said lightly, but they both tightened their grips on each other and she let more of her weight rest against him. "Promise?" she asked him in a small vulnerable voice. "Yes, Faith not only do I promise, I pretty much guarantee that this is real. It's the most real thing I have ever experienced." he told her as sincerely as he could. " I love you, Lavelle, Xander Harris." she told him over her shoulder. "I love you too, Faith Kaitlin Williams." he said nuzzling her neck. They stood there holding each other as the sun slowly rose in front of them.