AB/BtVS FF: Nightmares in Waking Life 18-9/?
TITLE: Nightmares in Waking Life
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii overall
PAIRINGS: All the pairings from the previous two stories---and some new ones, too
SPOILERS: Up until Micah for AB; the whole TV series for the Buffyverse; Alive at Last and Living Underground.
WARNINGS: A little bit of fur... bdsm... the usuals for Anita's crazy, crazy world.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone---except for any original characters that I whip up to do my bidding ;)
NOTE: This story is a sequel to Living Underground.
Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-11, 12, 13, 14-5, 16-7
PART EIGHTEEN
"Okay, that tub is... pretty sinful."
The witch looked up from the magical potion that she was brewing on the stove. She smiled as Buffy came into the kitchen, wearing Willow's robe and a blue towel around her head.
"Both Jean-Claude and Asher have tubs that big. In theory, big enough for two master vampires, their pommes, and human servants," Willow explained while adding the last ingredients to her sleeping potion. "Or, that's what Jean-Claude insists. But, most of the time, I think it's just so he can be in the lap of luxury, even when washing his hair."
Buffy smiled a bit, but the smile disappeared as she asked: "Are you... six... together like that?"
Willow shook her head. "No... firstly, Asher doesn't have a pomme de sang. Secondly, Anita would never let it happen."
"You would?"
She shrugged. "It's hard to explain."
"Try me."
There was no hostility in Buffy's demand---only curiosity. So, Willow decided to try to explain it to her. "Well... being a human servant is... an honour." She saw Buffy's mouth open to argue that, but Willow pressed on and said, "No, Buffy, it is. I'm sharing part of Asher's mind as well as his heart. And, it's kind of mindblowing to think he'd choose me to spend eternity with. I'm trusted with a lot... he's the Master of the City's second, so it isn't just his own hopes and dreams that I'm privvy to."
"So..."
"So, there's that. And sharing an honoured part of his life with his master---and love of centuries---is a huge deal. I know why the two of them fantasise about having Anita and I with them. And it's the same thing with pommes de sang. They're not dominant... they don't really get access to the possessions and powers we do, but they're still treasured. Jean-Claude is always giving Jason gifts and making sure he wants for nothing. And sharing them is a big act of trust and respect. They're special and they provide... blood, which is sort of important for strength and power... and bedroom activities."
Buffy's cheeks pinkened. "What?"
"Well... they can't... y'know... without blood. Sure, it'll feel good, still, but there's no..."
"Hardness. Eruption."
Willow was surprised that her cheeks didn't flush when she nodded.
"Does Asher have a regular meal?"
"No, not yet," Willow replied. "I mean, I guess I am more than anyone else. I'd like him to take someone, but he seems content feeding from me and Nathaniel... and whoever else offers."
Buffy's brow furrowed. "So, Asher can't... perform, without feeding from someone?"
"His hands and mouth work fine."
Buffy smiled a silly smile. "Yeah, that's not what I meant."
"Blood makes us warm, soft, hard... alive. They need it."
"And you let Asher drink from you."
Willow nodded. "Pretty much all the time." She blushed as she thought about the last meal Asher had taken from her, in Jean-Claude's bed, and she brought her hand up to touch her neck. She knew she shouldn't have done it---both the thinking and touching at the same time---but she had only come to that realisation after she felt the beginning of an aftershock.
She gasped and gripped the counter on either side of the stove as her knees threatened to give out on her. She remembered hearing how Anita had passed it on to a werewolf once, and she yelped a firm "Don't touch me!" when Buffy made a move to support her body.
The witch shuddered when it was all over. She closed her eyes, felt Asher lingering somewhere in her mind, along their bond, as he had gently pressed into that metaphysical space when he felt her tremble, and then she inhaled deeply.
"Willow?"
"I'm okay," she whispered.
"That was considerably more powerful that the last one you experienced a few days ago," Asher commented into her mind.
"I touched the bite and thought about it at the same time," Willow whispered.
She hadn't realised that she had spoken aloud until Buffy said, "What are you talking about? It looked like you were having a fit or... or... omigod, can Asher make you... y'know, without touching you?"
"Not really... hang on, I was talking to Asher," she mumbled. She forced herself to open her eyes; she caught the sensation of Asher brushing his fingers over the hollow in his collarbone before twitching them towards his coat pocket to withdraw a cigarette from a gold case. "Did you feel it?" she asked.
"Oui. It was... well, suffice to say I am glad I am alone in my office."
Buffy frowned. "Willow, what's going on?"
"Gimme a second, Buffy," Willow insisted. She looked inside herself to resume her conversation with Asher. "I have to close the shields," she told him, "I don't want to put you through that again."
"Bon, call me when you are on your way."
"I will."
She quickly turned the heat off of the potion and turned to slump into a chair at the kitchen table, just as Patrick came into the room. "Lupa? Everything okay?" he asked. "Graham felt it first... Clay's holding him back in our room."
Willow looked up. "I'm okay," she murmured. "Asher's bite... aftershock."
Patrick's ears turned a pale shade of pink. "Oh. Anything I can do?"
"Um, no, I think the moment's passed," she said in a wry tone of voice. "But, I don't want to risk anything, so if I could get to Guilty Pleasures sooner, rather than later, I'd appreciate it."
He nodded. "In case the ardeur comes?"
"Well, I don't carry it like Anita does, but when my control goes..."
"Like at the airport?" At his words, Willow looked up and raised her eyebrows. "Clay told me how your nerves kinda enhanced everyone else's nerves," he quickly explained. "You should get a pomme, Lupa. It would help."
She shrugged. "I can't very well keep someone strapped to me until I guess used to it!"
It wasn't until he kneeled in front of her that she realised her tone of voice had been snappish. She sighed and leaned in, rubbing her cheek against the top and side of his head, as if she were scent marking him.
"I apologise, Patrick," she murmured. "The ardeur... well, I don't like thinking about it. Sometimes, emotions are worst than lust, y'know?"
He nodded. "I know. But, we're all real impressed at how you're handling it."
She smiled down at him. "Well... thanks. Why don't you go see if you can wake Faith up for me? I know it's not in your job description but---"
"I don't mind, with the others here," he interrupted quickly. He bounced out of the room---but not before swiping his tongue across her lips in the pack's usual submissive gesture.
Willow chuckled as he rushed out of the room, a little too eager to please. She looked at the slayer and saw the very confused expression on her face. "Yeah, so," she said quietly, "a few things have changed since you've been here last."
"No kidding."
The witch rose to her feet and started pouring the sleeping potion into glass vials. As she divided up the doses, she said, "Firstly, I'm the... well, with the Ulfric, still. So, that makes me Lupa. Patrick's a werewolf, so..."
"So, when he said some of those things, he knew he crossed a line," Buffy said when Willow trailed off. "And you forgave him. Okay. Weird, but I get it."
"Touching with lycanthropes isn't always about sex," the redhead said. "A thousand touches makes a pack... or something like that. It's hard to remember the exact quote, but that's the general idea. It's more about comfort, a lot of the time. That was the head rub was about. The licking... well, wolves do it. It sorta translates into werewolves, too. It's a submissive thing."
Buffy frowned. "He's armed, he fights... he's strong and everything, yet he recognises you as more dominant to him?"
"Well, yeah. He can't be Lupa. The only way to be its equivalent is to challenge the Ulfric to a fight to the death. Since he's not going to do that anytime soon, he needs to recognise me as more dominant or else his king will get cranky."
"Richard."
"Yes."
The slayer sighed. "I don't get it. But, whatever. What's with the apple talk? Why do you need one?"
"Well, you remember that time you and Xander found me at Guilty Pleasures, after having that emergency?"
"Hooking up isn't what I'd call an emergency, Will."
Willow frowned and put a cork in one of the vials. "Well, it was. If you felt the ardeur, you'd understand. It wants what it wants and you can either feed it willingly or unwillingly, but you're gonna feed it eventually."
"You can ignore lust bunnies."
The witch laughed. "You make it sound like it's... normal hormone surges. It's anything but. It's... a mind of its own. It's a hunger, like blood. Belle Morte's line carries it. Jean-Claude was the only one here who carries it, until Anita started to carry it. Then, we noticed that Richard and I are carrying it, too, but in a different way. Instead of hungering for flesh and, um, release, it seems to be hungering for emotion. I've sort of become an emotional succubus." She shrugged and her smile faded from her face. "At the airport, I was having trouble controlling it," she admitted, "because we're still trying to figure out how long I can go without feeding and how strong my shields need to be to keep it inside."
"Who would you use?"
Willow shrugged. "I don't know. Jean-Claude said a few people have already volunteered... but we're not going to talk about it more seriously until after your visit."
"Volunteered for what?" Faith asked as she came into the kitchen, dressed very nicely.
"Um... where did you get those clothes?" Willow asked. She quickly realised Faith probably hadn't been sleeping when Patrick went looking for her.
Faith grinned. "Boss left 'em as a present. They were in Dawn's room with my name on 'em," she said, sliding her hands into the pockets of the leather pants. "I don't know where he found maternity leather pants, but---"
"Biker Momma 'R' Us?" Buffy suggested.
"He had his tailor make them, probably," Willow said. "I think he's excited about having a baby around, even for part of the time." She smiled, trying to fight the sadness in her heart as she thought about Asher and Jean-Claude and the likelihood that they would ever have children of their own. "They're pretty old, so it's not looking good for 'em."
"Monica---who is a total nutcase, by the way---said she and Robert used a hot tub," Faith said. At Willow's questioning look, she blushed and said, "Boss wanted me to talk to her, since she's been through this."
Willow nodded. She vaguely remembered seeing Jean-Claude meeting a woman with a little boy she called 'Bobby,' and Asher explaining that Robert had been one of few Jean-Claude trusted. He was seeing to it that Bobby was cared for. But, Willow rarely saw Monica. She supposed, since hearing Faith's opinion of her, that she was lucky.
"But, you don't really, do you?" Willow asked.
"Now, yes. Then, not as much as Monica said she did. Robert wasn't as old as Damian, I don't think, so I don't know why---"
"Slayer blood," Buffy said, interrupting quietly.
Faith's eyebrows jumped up. "You think?"
The blonde shrugged. "Unless Monica's a slayer... I'd say so. I mean... you said Damian's about a thousand years old? That's pretty sterile. We've got good blood. Spike said something like he'd never tasted better blood. Gave him a rush. Do you let Damian feed from you often?"
Faith didn't flinch or blush. "Pretty much every night."
"Well... that's probably it."
"Hmmm. Neat. Makes sense." Faith paused and then turned back to Willow, "Who's volunteering for what now?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Jean-Claude said some people volunteered to be my and Richard's pommes."
Faith grinned. "Yeah... I heard about that. Boss asked me how you'd react to the news. Micah asked who I think you'd like. I said him, but y'know, Anita'd have a cow."
"Faith! I do not want Micah for that or anything else!"
The brunette laughed. "Chill, Willow. Everything's five by five. He knew I was kidding. He knew you'd prefer Cherry. Cherry doesn't want to get bitten by Goldilocks much because she does some temp work at hospitals and clinics that don't know about her, and the bites are hard to hide, but... you don't bite."
"Everyone's thinking that supplying me with a regular meal will somehow strengthen their ties to the Master of the City," Willow said to Buffy. She looked at Faith. "Micah already has Anita to get him in good. If I take Cherry, the rest of the preternatural community---minus the wolves---will freak out."
Faith sighed and nodded. "Yeah... I know. That's what the boss is concerned about, too."
"He is?" Before the brunette could say anything Willow sighed and looked at Buffy. "I don't wanna rush you, but if you could hurry up and get dressed... I really need to talk to him."
"Asher or Jean-Claude?"
"The latter. No, wait. Both."
Buffy motioned to Willow's clothing. "Are you wearing that?"
Willow looked down and took in what she was wearing---jogging pants and a tank top. She had put them on so she wouldn't worry about spilling any potion ingredients on her nicer clothes. She blushed and smiled. "Probably not," she admitted with a shake of her head. "I should probably change, too. C'mon, Buffy," she insisted. "Let's go see what's in my closet here for us to try. Asher's always sending things over."
Buffy nodded. Her eyes were still full of questions, but Willow was very glad that she didn't ask any of them.
&&&&
PART NINETEEN
Buzz and Clay shared greetings while Graham convinced the strippers' fans to back up and let the other three women in.
"They're special guests," Graham said as jovially as he could manage, while trying to ignore one woman's whining. "Don't push, ladies, please. I'm asking nicely."
Willow felt the unspoken threat in his words better than the women did---but they backed off anyway. Their huffing and puffing was overpowered by the loud music of the club once Buzz opened the door for them.
"Have a good time, girls," he said, flashing a lot of fang as he grinned at them. "Asher's in the office. Jean-Claude's on stage with Ripley."
The redhead squeezed his arm as she passed him. "Thanks, Buzz," she murmured.
"Just doin' my job, ma'am," he drawled.
Willow smiled and rolled her eyes as she stepped into the club. Buffy was directly behind her; Faith brought up the rear, as they navigated from the back hallway to the main area of the club. At the holy-item check, she turned and looked at the blonde.
"Any holy items?"
Buffy shook her head. "Nope. Didn't bring any."
"Okay. Do you want to get a seat while I go wrestle some answers out of my lover?"
"I'd rather not be alone here. I know they pull people on stage and---"
"It's all consensual, Buffy. Say no, and they'll stop."
Buffy shrugged. "You sure?"
Faith nodded when Willow did. "Of course," the brunette said. "B, you and I should go try to grab a---"
"Up front, guys," Clay told them, cutting Faith off. "They booked off a table for you. That's what Sadie told me," he said, with a gesture to the girl at the booth for holy items.
"Oh, perfect," Faith said, smiling. She threaded her arm through Buffy's and tugged gently. "C'mon, let's go sit while Willow visits Blondie."
Once Willow was sure Buffy was comfortable, she slipped past Clay and headed into the back corridor again. She found Asher's office easily enough but no one was inside; she felt Asher in Jean-Claude's office, speaking with someone. She didn't barge in, after sensing he wasn't alone. Instead, she knocked and waited.
"Entrez!"
Willow poked her head into the room first, upon opening the door, and her eyes fell upon Nathaniel. He was kneeling in the middle of the room, his head bowed. Asher was standing in front of the wereleopard.
"What's going on?" Willow asked quietly. She stepped inside, closed the door, and joined them. "Asher?"
"Our kitten misbehaved," Asher said. "He was late."
"Did he miss his routine?"
"Jason took his place, instead of his own at the end of the night," Asher said. "After Stephen and Byron, Nathaniel will take his turn."
Willow nodded. "So, it's all fixed."
"Non, because he feels he should be reprimanded."
Nathaniel and Willow both shivered at the tone in Asher's voice, but it was Willow who recovered first. "Oh. Well... if you think it'll make him remember to be on time tomorrow..." she trailed off and smiled at the blond vampire. She kneeled down in front of Nathaniel and tipped his face up so they could look into each other's eyes. "You want this, kitten?"
He nodded. "Please," he whispered.
"You need it?"
He nodded again.
Willow smiled. She understood his predicament, because she, too, sometimes needed to submit to Asher. She would need to relieve herself of certain burdens, or to simply stop thinking and feeling about so many things all around her. Their games of dominance and submission gave her that peace. More than she did, Nathaniel needed relief.
Gently, she smoothed her hands over his cheeks and looked into his lilac-coloured eyes. There were traces of mischief in his eyes; she guessed he had been late on purpose, so Asher would be more inclined to give him what he felt he needed. He was a crafty submissive, she thought, but that only made her smile.
She wondered if Asher knew what had happened and she looked at him as if to ask the question, but a quick look in his direction told her that he probably did. He was hiding a smile and a calculating look in his blue eyes.
"I came to ask you more about all the discussions you guys've been having about my potential pomme, but I can see you'll have your hands full for a little while."
"Oui, but only for a little while, as I am unable to mark him the way we would all like," Asher told her. He helped her to her feet and then he kissed her. "Mon corbeau has insisted upon meeting your friend and has asked for his office later."
"Make sure he's not too excited before he goes out on stage," Willow murmured teasingly before leaning up and stealing a kiss from the vampire. "I'm gonna go take my seat."
"Shields up or down?" Asher asked as a smirk took over his lips. At Willow's confused expression, he put his hands into the back pockets of her suede pants. "Do you wish to feel what I do to, or for, him?"
"Oh. I... um... down?"
He rewarded her with a grin. "I am so pleased you said that," he whispered. He stole another kiss and then lightly tapped her backside. "Vas-y. Join your friends. When it is time to meet again, I will either call for you or send Jason to fetch you, if he is not too busy in the back."
"You're not going to make the night too difficult for me, are you?"
Asher just grinned.
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii overall
PAIRINGS: All the pairings from the previous two stories---and some new ones, too
SPOILERS: Up until Micah for AB; the whole TV series for the Buffyverse; Alive at Last and Living Underground.
WARNINGS: A little bit of fur... bdsm... the usuals for Anita's crazy, crazy world.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone---except for any original characters that I whip up to do my bidding ;)
NOTE: This story is a sequel to Living Underground.
Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-11, 12, 13, 14-5, 16-7
PART EIGHTEEN
"Okay, that tub is... pretty sinful."
The witch looked up from the magical potion that she was brewing on the stove. She smiled as Buffy came into the kitchen, wearing Willow's robe and a blue towel around her head.
"Both Jean-Claude and Asher have tubs that big. In theory, big enough for two master vampires, their pommes, and human servants," Willow explained while adding the last ingredients to her sleeping potion. "Or, that's what Jean-Claude insists. But, most of the time, I think it's just so he can be in the lap of luxury, even when washing his hair."
Buffy smiled a bit, but the smile disappeared as she asked: "Are you... six... together like that?"
Willow shook her head. "No... firstly, Asher doesn't have a pomme de sang. Secondly, Anita would never let it happen."
"You would?"
She shrugged. "It's hard to explain."
"Try me."
There was no hostility in Buffy's demand---only curiosity. So, Willow decided to try to explain it to her. "Well... being a human servant is... an honour." She saw Buffy's mouth open to argue that, but Willow pressed on and said, "No, Buffy, it is. I'm sharing part of Asher's mind as well as his heart. And, it's kind of mindblowing to think he'd choose me to spend eternity with. I'm trusted with a lot... he's the Master of the City's second, so it isn't just his own hopes and dreams that I'm privvy to."
"So..."
"So, there's that. And sharing an honoured part of his life with his master---and love of centuries---is a huge deal. I know why the two of them fantasise about having Anita and I with them. And it's the same thing with pommes de sang. They're not dominant... they don't really get access to the possessions and powers we do, but they're still treasured. Jean-Claude is always giving Jason gifts and making sure he wants for nothing. And sharing them is a big act of trust and respect. They're special and they provide... blood, which is sort of important for strength and power... and bedroom activities."
Buffy's cheeks pinkened. "What?"
"Well... they can't... y'know... without blood. Sure, it'll feel good, still, but there's no..."
"Hardness. Eruption."
Willow was surprised that her cheeks didn't flush when she nodded.
"Does Asher have a regular meal?"
"No, not yet," Willow replied. "I mean, I guess I am more than anyone else. I'd like him to take someone, but he seems content feeding from me and Nathaniel... and whoever else offers."
Buffy's brow furrowed. "So, Asher can't... perform, without feeding from someone?"
"His hands and mouth work fine."
Buffy smiled a silly smile. "Yeah, that's not what I meant."
"Blood makes us warm, soft, hard... alive. They need it."
"And you let Asher drink from you."
Willow nodded. "Pretty much all the time." She blushed as she thought about the last meal Asher had taken from her, in Jean-Claude's bed, and she brought her hand up to touch her neck. She knew she shouldn't have done it---both the thinking and touching at the same time---but she had only come to that realisation after she felt the beginning of an aftershock.
She gasped and gripped the counter on either side of the stove as her knees threatened to give out on her. She remembered hearing how Anita had passed it on to a werewolf once, and she yelped a firm "Don't touch me!" when Buffy made a move to support her body.
The witch shuddered when it was all over. She closed her eyes, felt Asher lingering somewhere in her mind, along their bond, as he had gently pressed into that metaphysical space when he felt her tremble, and then she inhaled deeply.
"Willow?"
"I'm okay," she whispered.
"That was considerably more powerful that the last one you experienced a few days ago," Asher commented into her mind.
"I touched the bite and thought about it at the same time," Willow whispered.
She hadn't realised that she had spoken aloud until Buffy said, "What are you talking about? It looked like you were having a fit or... or... omigod, can Asher make you... y'know, without touching you?"
"Not really... hang on, I was talking to Asher," she mumbled. She forced herself to open her eyes; she caught the sensation of Asher brushing his fingers over the hollow in his collarbone before twitching them towards his coat pocket to withdraw a cigarette from a gold case. "Did you feel it?" she asked.
"Oui. It was... well, suffice to say I am glad I am alone in my office."
Buffy frowned. "Willow, what's going on?"
"Gimme a second, Buffy," Willow insisted. She looked inside herself to resume her conversation with Asher. "I have to close the shields," she told him, "I don't want to put you through that again."
"Bon, call me when you are on your way."
"I will."
She quickly turned the heat off of the potion and turned to slump into a chair at the kitchen table, just as Patrick came into the room. "Lupa? Everything okay?" he asked. "Graham felt it first... Clay's holding him back in our room."
Willow looked up. "I'm okay," she murmured. "Asher's bite... aftershock."
Patrick's ears turned a pale shade of pink. "Oh. Anything I can do?"
"Um, no, I think the moment's passed," she said in a wry tone of voice. "But, I don't want to risk anything, so if I could get to Guilty Pleasures sooner, rather than later, I'd appreciate it."
He nodded. "In case the ardeur comes?"
"Well, I don't carry it like Anita does, but when my control goes..."
"Like at the airport?" At his words, Willow looked up and raised her eyebrows. "Clay told me how your nerves kinda enhanced everyone else's nerves," he quickly explained. "You should get a pomme, Lupa. It would help."
She shrugged. "I can't very well keep someone strapped to me until I guess used to it!"
It wasn't until he kneeled in front of her that she realised her tone of voice had been snappish. She sighed and leaned in, rubbing her cheek against the top and side of his head, as if she were scent marking him.
"I apologise, Patrick," she murmured. "The ardeur... well, I don't like thinking about it. Sometimes, emotions are worst than lust, y'know?"
He nodded. "I know. But, we're all real impressed at how you're handling it."
She smiled down at him. "Well... thanks. Why don't you go see if you can wake Faith up for me? I know it's not in your job description but---"
"I don't mind, with the others here," he interrupted quickly. He bounced out of the room---but not before swiping his tongue across her lips in the pack's usual submissive gesture.
Willow chuckled as he rushed out of the room, a little too eager to please. She looked at the slayer and saw the very confused expression on her face. "Yeah, so," she said quietly, "a few things have changed since you've been here last."
"No kidding."
The witch rose to her feet and started pouring the sleeping potion into glass vials. As she divided up the doses, she said, "Firstly, I'm the... well, with the Ulfric, still. So, that makes me Lupa. Patrick's a werewolf, so..."
"So, when he said some of those things, he knew he crossed a line," Buffy said when Willow trailed off. "And you forgave him. Okay. Weird, but I get it."
"Touching with lycanthropes isn't always about sex," the redhead said. "A thousand touches makes a pack... or something like that. It's hard to remember the exact quote, but that's the general idea. It's more about comfort, a lot of the time. That was the head rub was about. The licking... well, wolves do it. It sorta translates into werewolves, too. It's a submissive thing."
Buffy frowned. "He's armed, he fights... he's strong and everything, yet he recognises you as more dominant to him?"
"Well, yeah. He can't be Lupa. The only way to be its equivalent is to challenge the Ulfric to a fight to the death. Since he's not going to do that anytime soon, he needs to recognise me as more dominant or else his king will get cranky."
"Richard."
"Yes."
The slayer sighed. "I don't get it. But, whatever. What's with the apple talk? Why do you need one?"
"Well, you remember that time you and Xander found me at Guilty Pleasures, after having that emergency?"
"Hooking up isn't what I'd call an emergency, Will."
Willow frowned and put a cork in one of the vials. "Well, it was. If you felt the ardeur, you'd understand. It wants what it wants and you can either feed it willingly or unwillingly, but you're gonna feed it eventually."
"You can ignore lust bunnies."
The witch laughed. "You make it sound like it's... normal hormone surges. It's anything but. It's... a mind of its own. It's a hunger, like blood. Belle Morte's line carries it. Jean-Claude was the only one here who carries it, until Anita started to carry it. Then, we noticed that Richard and I are carrying it, too, but in a different way. Instead of hungering for flesh and, um, release, it seems to be hungering for emotion. I've sort of become an emotional succubus." She shrugged and her smile faded from her face. "At the airport, I was having trouble controlling it," she admitted, "because we're still trying to figure out how long I can go without feeding and how strong my shields need to be to keep it inside."
"Who would you use?"
Willow shrugged. "I don't know. Jean-Claude said a few people have already volunteered... but we're not going to talk about it more seriously until after your visit."
"Volunteered for what?" Faith asked as she came into the kitchen, dressed very nicely.
"Um... where did you get those clothes?" Willow asked. She quickly realised Faith probably hadn't been sleeping when Patrick went looking for her.
Faith grinned. "Boss left 'em as a present. They were in Dawn's room with my name on 'em," she said, sliding her hands into the pockets of the leather pants. "I don't know where he found maternity leather pants, but---"
"Biker Momma 'R' Us?" Buffy suggested.
"He had his tailor make them, probably," Willow said. "I think he's excited about having a baby around, even for part of the time." She smiled, trying to fight the sadness in her heart as she thought about Asher and Jean-Claude and the likelihood that they would ever have children of their own. "They're pretty old, so it's not looking good for 'em."
"Monica---who is a total nutcase, by the way---said she and Robert used a hot tub," Faith said. At Willow's questioning look, she blushed and said, "Boss wanted me to talk to her, since she's been through this."
Willow nodded. She vaguely remembered seeing Jean-Claude meeting a woman with a little boy she called 'Bobby,' and Asher explaining that Robert had been one of few Jean-Claude trusted. He was seeing to it that Bobby was cared for. But, Willow rarely saw Monica. She supposed, since hearing Faith's opinion of her, that she was lucky.
"But, you don't really, do you?" Willow asked.
"Now, yes. Then, not as much as Monica said she did. Robert wasn't as old as Damian, I don't think, so I don't know why---"
"Slayer blood," Buffy said, interrupting quietly.
Faith's eyebrows jumped up. "You think?"
The blonde shrugged. "Unless Monica's a slayer... I'd say so. I mean... you said Damian's about a thousand years old? That's pretty sterile. We've got good blood. Spike said something like he'd never tasted better blood. Gave him a rush. Do you let Damian feed from you often?"
Faith didn't flinch or blush. "Pretty much every night."
"Well... that's probably it."
"Hmmm. Neat. Makes sense." Faith paused and then turned back to Willow, "Who's volunteering for what now?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Jean-Claude said some people volunteered to be my and Richard's pommes."
Faith grinned. "Yeah... I heard about that. Boss asked me how you'd react to the news. Micah asked who I think you'd like. I said him, but y'know, Anita'd have a cow."
"Faith! I do not want Micah for that or anything else!"
The brunette laughed. "Chill, Willow. Everything's five by five. He knew I was kidding. He knew you'd prefer Cherry. Cherry doesn't want to get bitten by Goldilocks much because she does some temp work at hospitals and clinics that don't know about her, and the bites are hard to hide, but... you don't bite."
"Everyone's thinking that supplying me with a regular meal will somehow strengthen their ties to the Master of the City," Willow said to Buffy. She looked at Faith. "Micah already has Anita to get him in good. If I take Cherry, the rest of the preternatural community---minus the wolves---will freak out."
Faith sighed and nodded. "Yeah... I know. That's what the boss is concerned about, too."
"He is?" Before the brunette could say anything Willow sighed and looked at Buffy. "I don't wanna rush you, but if you could hurry up and get dressed... I really need to talk to him."
"Asher or Jean-Claude?"
"The latter. No, wait. Both."
Buffy motioned to Willow's clothing. "Are you wearing that?"
Willow looked down and took in what she was wearing---jogging pants and a tank top. She had put them on so she wouldn't worry about spilling any potion ingredients on her nicer clothes. She blushed and smiled. "Probably not," she admitted with a shake of her head. "I should probably change, too. C'mon, Buffy," she insisted. "Let's go see what's in my closet here for us to try. Asher's always sending things over."
Buffy nodded. Her eyes were still full of questions, but Willow was very glad that she didn't ask any of them.
&&&&
PART NINETEEN
Buzz and Clay shared greetings while Graham convinced the strippers' fans to back up and let the other three women in.
"They're special guests," Graham said as jovially as he could manage, while trying to ignore one woman's whining. "Don't push, ladies, please. I'm asking nicely."
Willow felt the unspoken threat in his words better than the women did---but they backed off anyway. Their huffing and puffing was overpowered by the loud music of the club once Buzz opened the door for them.
"Have a good time, girls," he said, flashing a lot of fang as he grinned at them. "Asher's in the office. Jean-Claude's on stage with Ripley."
The redhead squeezed his arm as she passed him. "Thanks, Buzz," she murmured.
"Just doin' my job, ma'am," he drawled.
Willow smiled and rolled her eyes as she stepped into the club. Buffy was directly behind her; Faith brought up the rear, as they navigated from the back hallway to the main area of the club. At the holy-item check, she turned and looked at the blonde.
"Any holy items?"
Buffy shook her head. "Nope. Didn't bring any."
"Okay. Do you want to get a seat while I go wrestle some answers out of my lover?"
"I'd rather not be alone here. I know they pull people on stage and---"
"It's all consensual, Buffy. Say no, and they'll stop."
Buffy shrugged. "You sure?"
Faith nodded when Willow did. "Of course," the brunette said. "B, you and I should go try to grab a---"
"Up front, guys," Clay told them, cutting Faith off. "They booked off a table for you. That's what Sadie told me," he said, with a gesture to the girl at the booth for holy items.
"Oh, perfect," Faith said, smiling. She threaded her arm through Buffy's and tugged gently. "C'mon, let's go sit while Willow visits Blondie."
Once Willow was sure Buffy was comfortable, she slipped past Clay and headed into the back corridor again. She found Asher's office easily enough but no one was inside; she felt Asher in Jean-Claude's office, speaking with someone. She didn't barge in, after sensing he wasn't alone. Instead, she knocked and waited.
"Entrez!"
Willow poked her head into the room first, upon opening the door, and her eyes fell upon Nathaniel. He was kneeling in the middle of the room, his head bowed. Asher was standing in front of the wereleopard.
"What's going on?" Willow asked quietly. She stepped inside, closed the door, and joined them. "Asher?"
"Our kitten misbehaved," Asher said. "He was late."
"Did he miss his routine?"
"Jason took his place, instead of his own at the end of the night," Asher said. "After Stephen and Byron, Nathaniel will take his turn."
Willow nodded. "So, it's all fixed."
"Non, because he feels he should be reprimanded."
Nathaniel and Willow both shivered at the tone in Asher's voice, but it was Willow who recovered first. "Oh. Well... if you think it'll make him remember to be on time tomorrow..." she trailed off and smiled at the blond vampire. She kneeled down in front of Nathaniel and tipped his face up so they could look into each other's eyes. "You want this, kitten?"
He nodded. "Please," he whispered.
"You need it?"
He nodded again.
Willow smiled. She understood his predicament, because she, too, sometimes needed to submit to Asher. She would need to relieve herself of certain burdens, or to simply stop thinking and feeling about so many things all around her. Their games of dominance and submission gave her that peace. More than she did, Nathaniel needed relief.
Gently, she smoothed her hands over his cheeks and looked into his lilac-coloured eyes. There were traces of mischief in his eyes; she guessed he had been late on purpose, so Asher would be more inclined to give him what he felt he needed. He was a crafty submissive, she thought, but that only made her smile.
She wondered if Asher knew what had happened and she looked at him as if to ask the question, but a quick look in his direction told her that he probably did. He was hiding a smile and a calculating look in his blue eyes.
"I came to ask you more about all the discussions you guys've been having about my potential pomme, but I can see you'll have your hands full for a little while."
"Oui, but only for a little while, as I am unable to mark him the way we would all like," Asher told her. He helped her to her feet and then he kissed her. "Mon corbeau has insisted upon meeting your friend and has asked for his office later."
"Make sure he's not too excited before he goes out on stage," Willow murmured teasingly before leaning up and stealing a kiss from the vampire. "I'm gonna go take my seat."
"Shields up or down?" Asher asked as a smirk took over his lips. At Willow's confused expression, he put his hands into the back pockets of her suede pants. "Do you wish to feel what I do to, or for, him?"
"Oh. I... um... down?"
He rewarded her with a grin. "I am so pleased you said that," he whispered. He stole another kiss and then lightly tapped her backside. "Vas-y. Join your friends. When it is time to meet again, I will either call for you or send Jason to fetch you, if he is not too busy in the back."
"You're not going to make the night too difficult for me, are you?"
Asher just grinned.