AB/BtVS FF: Living Underground 30/?
TITLE: Living Underground
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii overall
PAIRING: Willow/Asher, slight Willow/Richard and Willow/Asher/Nathaniel... plus, regular Anita pairings
SPOILERS: For the two fandoms... up until Micah for AB; the two series for Buffyverse stuff.
WARNINGS: A little bit of BDSM.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone, except the Master of the City of Lafayette and her entourage.
NOTES: This story is a sequel to "Alive at Last."
Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4-6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20-1, 22-3, 24-5, 26-7, 28, 29
PART THIRTY
"So," Richard said as he passed Willow a cup of coffee from a drive-through restaurant near the Circus, "Anita went to investigate the scene?"
Willow nodded, adjusting her robe as she sat down next to him on the sofa in the outer room of the suite she shared with Asher. Richard had finished school early that day, his free period being the last one of the day, so he came to the underground palace with coffee and a bagel for Willow. She had been glad to see him when she woke up; she was always glad to see Richard as that wolfish reaction part of her mind and body had to him sent a little thrill along her nerves.
"Yeah," she murmured in reply after swallowing. "She hasn't come back yet. I don't know when she left, because I was pretty sleepy... Jason might remember," she added.
"Well, she's with the police," Richard commented, "so there's no point in worrying---"
"I'm not worried about her," she interrupted. "I'm worried about who did it," she admitted.
He touched her arm. "You think your friend... might have?"
"I don't know," she replied, frowning. She shook her head slightly and then forced herself to smile. She had slept fitfully all day---because of her worries---and she didn't want those worries to ruin the time she had to spend with Richard. "Anyway," she said, her smile still curving her lips, "how was your day at school?"
"Just fine," Richard said, smiling back at her. "The ladies who lunch are wondering when you're going to start joining me at yoga again," he admitted.
Willow laughed quietly. She missed the morning yoga classes; since the craziness of Allura's and Buffy's visits to St. Louis, though, she had been unable to attend them. She found them relaxing and she also thought they helped her get to know Richard better, on levels that couldn't be reached through dinner-and-a-movie dates.
"Soon, I promise," she murmured after sipping her coffee again, "I'll join you at yoga. I miss it."
"I miss going with you," he confessed, reaching out and placing his hand upon her arm.
Willow blushed a little. She was glad to hear him say that. She lowered her head and rested it on the back of his hand; her cheek warmed against his skin and the scent of pack gently washed over her. The witch sighed and closed her eyes.
Richard took the cup out of her hand and set it on the coffee table. When he pulled her into his arms, she didn't squeal or protest; she simply followed his directions, helping only when she had to. Her compliance was rewarded with a firm embrace and kisses to her shoulder and neck; Willow shivered and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she tilted her head to grant him the access she wanted.
"Feels good," she whispered.
"You feel good, too," he breathed, near her ear.
Willow twisted and spread her legs, so she was straddling his waist, and she scooted up a bit so she could kiss his lips. She was tired, from her restless sleep, but her pulse was quickening under her skin. Richard's lips brushed hers and her heart tightened in her chest; his hands massaged her back through her robe and goosebumps danced along her flesh.
"I like waking up like this," she said, chuckling a little.
Richard grinned. One of his hands slid upwards, over her back, to her neck, and then to her cheek. As he studied her face, his grin faded. "You didn't sleep too well," he commented.
Willow shook her head. "Restless night," she admitted. "Couldn't stop thinking about..."
"The murders," he finished for her.
She nodded.
He kissed her again. Willow sighed and yielded to his non-verbal suggestion, to him and his presence all around her. She touched his face, sliding her fingers over his dimpled chin then towards his cheekbone before she brushed her fingers through his hair.
A knock at the door startled her. It didn't faze Richard, though; as she pulled away, breaking the kiss, to call out and invite the caller into the room, he kissed her neck and collarbone.
Faith popped her head inside before she walked into the outer room of the suite. She grinned when she saw Willow and Richard together, but she didn't comment on their positions or activities.
"I'm going to go check out the cemetery," she told them as she flopped down into the vacant arm chair.
Willow craned her neck to look at the slayer. Richard licked his tongue against her pulse in her throat; she blushed as her body warmed to him.
She quickly glanced back at the Ulfric and poked him with one finger into his chest. "Stop that," she scolded in a whisper.
He lifted his head and smiled innocently, as if to say 'who, me?' like he wasn't caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Willow laughed and slowly slid out of his lap.
"You want to join me?" Faith asked. She arched an eyebrow. "Or, is your night pretty well booked up already?"
Willow smiled. "No, my night's free... I just... I was planning on going, but later. Like, in the morning. After the cops are finished with it."
"Just dress up like B---"
"And if Buffy shows up?"
Faith frowned. "Yeah, okay. Good point. Wait until it cools off."
"Let the police get the evidence and photos and everything else they need," Richard advised quietly. "Then, you can go in and dig around."
Willow turned and looked at him. He smiled. "What? You think this is my first day on the job?" he asked teasingly.
The witch laughed. "No," she murmured, "I just never thought you paid much attention when Anita was doing her cop stuff."
He tapped the side of his head. "Like a steal trap," he commented.
Willow smiled and kissed his cheek before she inched away from him. She reached forward and grabbed her cup of coffee; as she and Faith discussed the possibility of Buffy's involvement in the crime, she sipped the warm beverage and willed her mind to wake up.
Midway through the conversation, Faith sat up and pulled her hair off of her face by combing her hands through it. The brown tresses fell in waves past her shoulders, exposing a fresh bite mark on her neck. Willow assumed that Damian had fed from her; she also realised that if he was awake, then Jean-Claude and Asher were.
A moment after she had those thoughts, Nathaniel quietly crept into the room, shutting the door behind him. He smiled at Willow and wordlessly gestured to the bedroom. The witch nodded, assuming he was going into the bedroom to feed Asher.
She wondered why the vampires hadn't come into the outer room, or at least indicated that they were awake. She wondered if they just wanted to spy, to eavesdrop, so they could figure out what they missed while they were asleep.
Minutes later, Willow could hear Nathaniel's whimpers through the door. She smiled, the memory of Asher's power still quite fresh in her mind, as she remembered how it felt to feed her vampiric lover. Before she could control her mind, it was turning to thoughts of the two vampires together---perhaps another reason for privacy. She blushed when Richard glanced at her; he must have sensed an inkling of what she was thinking about, either through his strong powers of scent or hearing.
"What?" she asked quietly.
He rolled his eyes and then gestured towards the bedroom.
She blushed more.
Faith laughed softly.
Willow cleared her throat and looked at the slayer. Her laughter faded away. Willow smiled and then said, "So, we just have to get through tonight, and then we'll go check out the scene."
"I'll drive."
The redhead's brow furrowed. She didn't like traveling on Faith's motorcycle. It was one thing to fly with Asher---she knew she was safe with him---but holding onto Faith, who sometimes preferred to defy death at every very fast, very sharp turn, was something entirely different.
"I'll drive carefully," Faith amended.
Willow smiled again when Faith spoke. "Well... okay," she reluctantly agreed.
TBC...
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii overall
PAIRING: Willow/Asher, slight Willow/Richard and Willow/Asher/Nathaniel... plus, regular Anita pairings
SPOILERS: For the two fandoms... up until Micah for AB; the two series for Buffyverse stuff.
WARNINGS: A little bit of BDSM.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone, except the Master of the City of Lafayette and her entourage.
NOTES: This story is a sequel to "Alive at Last."
Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4-6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20-1, 22-3, 24-5, 26-7, 28, 29
PART THIRTY
"So," Richard said as he passed Willow a cup of coffee from a drive-through restaurant near the Circus, "Anita went to investigate the scene?"
Willow nodded, adjusting her robe as she sat down next to him on the sofa in the outer room of the suite she shared with Asher. Richard had finished school early that day, his free period being the last one of the day, so he came to the underground palace with coffee and a bagel for Willow. She had been glad to see him when she woke up; she was always glad to see Richard as that wolfish reaction part of her mind and body had to him sent a little thrill along her nerves.
"Yeah," she murmured in reply after swallowing. "She hasn't come back yet. I don't know when she left, because I was pretty sleepy... Jason might remember," she added.
"Well, she's with the police," Richard commented, "so there's no point in worrying---"
"I'm not worried about her," she interrupted. "I'm worried about who did it," she admitted.
He touched her arm. "You think your friend... might have?"
"I don't know," she replied, frowning. She shook her head slightly and then forced herself to smile. She had slept fitfully all day---because of her worries---and she didn't want those worries to ruin the time she had to spend with Richard. "Anyway," she said, her smile still curving her lips, "how was your day at school?"
"Just fine," Richard said, smiling back at her. "The ladies who lunch are wondering when you're going to start joining me at yoga again," he admitted.
Willow laughed quietly. She missed the morning yoga classes; since the craziness of Allura's and Buffy's visits to St. Louis, though, she had been unable to attend them. She found them relaxing and she also thought they helped her get to know Richard better, on levels that couldn't be reached through dinner-and-a-movie dates.
"Soon, I promise," she murmured after sipping her coffee again, "I'll join you at yoga. I miss it."
"I miss going with you," he confessed, reaching out and placing his hand upon her arm.
Willow blushed a little. She was glad to hear him say that. She lowered her head and rested it on the back of his hand; her cheek warmed against his skin and the scent of pack gently washed over her. The witch sighed and closed her eyes.
Richard took the cup out of her hand and set it on the coffee table. When he pulled her into his arms, she didn't squeal or protest; she simply followed his directions, helping only when she had to. Her compliance was rewarded with a firm embrace and kisses to her shoulder and neck; Willow shivered and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she tilted her head to grant him the access she wanted.
"Feels good," she whispered.
"You feel good, too," he breathed, near her ear.
Willow twisted and spread her legs, so she was straddling his waist, and she scooted up a bit so she could kiss his lips. She was tired, from her restless sleep, but her pulse was quickening under her skin. Richard's lips brushed hers and her heart tightened in her chest; his hands massaged her back through her robe and goosebumps danced along her flesh.
"I like waking up like this," she said, chuckling a little.
Richard grinned. One of his hands slid upwards, over her back, to her neck, and then to her cheek. As he studied her face, his grin faded. "You didn't sleep too well," he commented.
Willow shook her head. "Restless night," she admitted. "Couldn't stop thinking about..."
"The murders," he finished for her.
She nodded.
He kissed her again. Willow sighed and yielded to his non-verbal suggestion, to him and his presence all around her. She touched his face, sliding her fingers over his dimpled chin then towards his cheekbone before she brushed her fingers through his hair.
A knock at the door startled her. It didn't faze Richard, though; as she pulled away, breaking the kiss, to call out and invite the caller into the room, he kissed her neck and collarbone.
Faith popped her head inside before she walked into the outer room of the suite. She grinned when she saw Willow and Richard together, but she didn't comment on their positions or activities.
"I'm going to go check out the cemetery," she told them as she flopped down into the vacant arm chair.
Willow craned her neck to look at the slayer. Richard licked his tongue against her pulse in her throat; she blushed as her body warmed to him.
She quickly glanced back at the Ulfric and poked him with one finger into his chest. "Stop that," she scolded in a whisper.
He lifted his head and smiled innocently, as if to say 'who, me?' like he wasn't caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Willow laughed and slowly slid out of his lap.
"You want to join me?" Faith asked. She arched an eyebrow. "Or, is your night pretty well booked up already?"
Willow smiled. "No, my night's free... I just... I was planning on going, but later. Like, in the morning. After the cops are finished with it."
"Just dress up like B---"
"And if Buffy shows up?"
Faith frowned. "Yeah, okay. Good point. Wait until it cools off."
"Let the police get the evidence and photos and everything else they need," Richard advised quietly. "Then, you can go in and dig around."
Willow turned and looked at him. He smiled. "What? You think this is my first day on the job?" he asked teasingly.
The witch laughed. "No," she murmured, "I just never thought you paid much attention when Anita was doing her cop stuff."
He tapped the side of his head. "Like a steal trap," he commented.
Willow smiled and kissed his cheek before she inched away from him. She reached forward and grabbed her cup of coffee; as she and Faith discussed the possibility of Buffy's involvement in the crime, she sipped the warm beverage and willed her mind to wake up.
Midway through the conversation, Faith sat up and pulled her hair off of her face by combing her hands through it. The brown tresses fell in waves past her shoulders, exposing a fresh bite mark on her neck. Willow assumed that Damian had fed from her; she also realised that if he was awake, then Jean-Claude and Asher were.
A moment after she had those thoughts, Nathaniel quietly crept into the room, shutting the door behind him. He smiled at Willow and wordlessly gestured to the bedroom. The witch nodded, assuming he was going into the bedroom to feed Asher.
She wondered why the vampires hadn't come into the outer room, or at least indicated that they were awake. She wondered if they just wanted to spy, to eavesdrop, so they could figure out what they missed while they were asleep.
Minutes later, Willow could hear Nathaniel's whimpers through the door. She smiled, the memory of Asher's power still quite fresh in her mind, as she remembered how it felt to feed her vampiric lover. Before she could control her mind, it was turning to thoughts of the two vampires together---perhaps another reason for privacy. She blushed when Richard glanced at her; he must have sensed an inkling of what she was thinking about, either through his strong powers of scent or hearing.
"What?" she asked quietly.
He rolled his eyes and then gestured towards the bedroom.
She blushed more.
Faith laughed softly.
Willow cleared her throat and looked at the slayer. Her laughter faded away. Willow smiled and then said, "So, we just have to get through tonight, and then we'll go check out the scene."
"I'll drive."
The redhead's brow furrowed. She didn't like traveling on Faith's motorcycle. It was one thing to fly with Asher---she knew she was safe with him---but holding onto Faith, who sometimes preferred to defy death at every very fast, very sharp turn, was something entirely different.
"I'll drive carefully," Faith amended.
Willow smiled again when Faith spoke. "Well... okay," she reluctantly agreed.
TBC...