"We can do it." She walked to the bed, tossing clothes and other things she wasn't sure she wanted to look at closely onto the floor.

"I don't sleep here much. I usually just crash on the couch."

"How come?" She met his eyes across the king-size bed.

"Well, I bought this when I moved out. I was so tired of the bed I had at my folk's house, I decided to get the biggest one I could. I didn't realize that without someone to share it with, it seems as big as a small country."

"A small country with a population of two?" She lay down on top of the bedspread and smiled up at him.

"Only if I can convince someone to migrate." He lay down as well, still keeping some distance between them. "We're really nice to immigrants."

"Welcoming?" She reached out and touched his chest, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt.

Xander moved forward. "Oh yeah. You should see what we do for our new citizens."

Willow unbuttoned another button, smoothing the fabric back from his skin. "Show me?" She undid another button, tugging to pull the shirt from his waistband. He caught her hands and pulled the shirt over his head.

Her breath caught. Even though she'd seen this much of him her first day home, she had been so preoccupied with everything else, not to mention the shock of seeing him, that she hadn't taken the sight in. Now she did.

His skin was a golden brown from his work outside. The dark hairs stood in stark relief against his skin, sprinkled lightly across his chest. She placed one hand on his collarbone then trailed her fingers down to the vee of dark hairs that disappeared into his jeans.

Xander closed his eyes as she touched him, drawing in a sharp hiss of air as her hands explored him. She paused for a moment before moving over his belt and running her hand across the distinct bulge of his erection. He shuddered, "Oh, Willow…"

She smiled happily, trying to hide the tears that stood in her eyes. His eyes snapped open as though he could sense something was wrong. His concerned look was alleviated when she shook her head. "It's nice."

"Nice?" He moved her hand and brought her to him and wrapped her in his arms. "What's nice?"

"Knowing that you want me." She started crying in earnest, burying her head against his bare shoulder.

He thought for a moment about the torture of loving someone who can't return your interest. A feeling he'd become accustomed to with Buffy and with Willow. And one Willow had been familiar with all of her life. He tilted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. "Willow?"

She nodded, struggling to smile.

"Since homecoming night, when we kissed?" She nodded again and this time the smile was more genuine. "All I've ever wanted to do is bring you back home to my bed and make love to you. I used to dream about it. I used to imagine holding you under me as I slid slowly inside you. I used to fantasize about the feel of your mouth on me, kissing me everywhere."

Her body was rigid against his. She moaned softly, arching toward him, grinding her pelvis on his thigh. "Oh, Xander…"

"The hope that one day I would be able to do those things and so many more has kept me going for the past several years." He closed his eyes, reveling in the press of her body. "I know this is sudden and I know you're probably hurting and I know that you've been lonely, but I love you and I want to make all those fantasies come true. I want to make love to you."

"I want that too," she whispered.

"But Will, this is important." He met her green eyes with his brown. "I need you to be here because you want to be with me. I don't want him or the way he treated you on your mind. I don't think I could take being a substitute for Oz."

She surged forward until her lips were a breath away from his. "Oz who?"

Xander wrapped his hand around her neck and brought her lips to his. Their kiss was deep and rough, filled with the pent up passion of the years they'd spent apart. Willow buried her hands in his hair, pinning him back to the bed. Wrapping his other arm around her waist, Xander adjusted her so that she lay completely on top of him. He smoothed his hand along the length of her.

Willow made a small sound, rubbing her body on his. Her hand snaked into his hair and she looked into his eyes. "Xander?"

He met her gaze with his own. Her hair was falling like a frame around her face and he realized he'd never seen anyone or anything so beautiful.

"I'm sorry that I ever hurt you."

"Willow, come on. This isn't about all of that." He rolled over so that they were on their sides. "The past is over and done with. And the future's a long ways away. Can't I just love you here and now before we get to the forever and always?"

"I'm scared. More scared than I've ever been." Her tears returned, spilling down onto his lips. The salty taste of her brought tears to his own eyes. "I'm so afraid to trust anyone right now. I want to trust you, Xander. I want to let go and recapture everything we had so long ago…"

He pressed his lips to hers quickly then pulled away. He paid no heed to her tears. He no longer saw them. "That didn't just happen."

She laughed through her sadness. "No. Well it did, but…"

"You think it was a fluke, Willow? You think this is just hormones and passion?"

She shook her head and managed a smile. "No."

"Do you love me?"

"I've loved you all my life, Xander. Nothing has ever changed that. Not Oz, not Connor. Not anything."

"We've found each other again." His brown eyes were serious. "I don't want to lose what we have Willow. We've got a second chance. How many people get that?"

"Not many." She pulled away from him and got off the bed. His heart stopped and he wondered what the hell had gone wrong. She kept her back to him for a long time until he noticed the material of her shirt move. She slipped the blouse off her shoulders and down her arms.

His heart started again, somewhere in overdrive. The shirt fell to the floor and she looked at him over her shoulder. The shy, nervous Willow of his youth was there, but there was also a Willow that had loved before. He smiled at the thought that she had more experience than he did.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met, Willow Rosenberg."

"This from a man who's never been outside Sunnydale." She turned slowly and he gazed at the soft sweep of her neck, the smooth line of her stomach and the creamy swell of her breast. "I have to wonder about your expertise when it comes to judging such things."

"Especially now."

She tilted her head, her confusion obvious. "Why's that?"

"Because I don't think that, after seeing you tonight, I'll ever be able to see any other woman."

Willow smiled and sank onto the bed again. Xander sat up and moved to her side, cradling her chin in his hand. "No one has ever replaced you in my heart. No one ever could."

She touched his hand, pulling it away from her face. He was shaking with nervousness, his eyes holding hers for a moment before straying down to the satin bra that was now pressed to his chest. She lowered his hand to touch the see-through fabric and the shaking turned to trembling. He let out a soft moan as she arched toward his hand.

"Oh, Willow…" he buried his face in the hollow of her neck, his lips leaving a trail of burning kisses along her skin. His hand molded to her form, his thumb gently tracing the dark tip of her nipple. She tilted her head to the side as he kissed his way up the elegant slope of her neck to her ear. His teeth grazed her earlobe and she gasped, her hands wrapping around him and holding him to her.

She moved against his hand, aching for his touch. His kisses, his love, his need had lit a fire in her and she ached to touch him. She pushed him back onto the bed and gazed down at him. His bare chest moved rapidly with his breathing, growing worse as she slid her hand down to his belt buckle. "Xander?"

He nodded, too overcome to speak.

"Would you mind very much if I undressed you?"

A thrill of desire coursed down his spine, ending somewhere south of the warm feeling in his stomach. "I wouldn't mind at all," he managed to whisper.

She unfastened the metal buckle, pushing his leather belt out of the way. Her long, delicate fingers wrapped around the top button of his fly and with a practiced movement, unfastened it. Xander swallowed hard as her fingers rapidly took care of the other buttons as well.

He stared up at her, her face tight with concentration as she finished her task. How many times had she stared at him with that same look, determined to teach him something? How many times had he not seen her?

"I wish I could make it up to you, Wills."

Her eyes widened and she looked up at his face. "Make what up?"

"How I treated you."

"You can." She tugged at the denim and pulled his jeans free of his legs. His cotton boxers hung loosely around his legs, but clung tightly to the hard bulge of his erection. Willow took a deep breath, her mind filling with adolescent imaginings of being alone with Xander like this. She memorized him, needing to remember every inch.

"How?"

"Love me?"

"That's all I know how to do anymore." He felt his body respond to her scrutiny of him. She was kneeling next to him and he reached up for her. "Come lie beside me?"

She nodded and lay beside him. His skin was warm and silky, yet slightly rough to her touch as she rubbed his chest once again. He stilled her hand and pushed her onto her back, becoming the aggressor. She grinned up at him, licking her lips.

"You're wearing too many clothes, my love."

Time stopped. Willow stared up at him, replaying the soft endearment over and over in her head. She lifted her hips as he smoothed her jeans off of her. His breath left him in a rush as he stared down at her shapely legs. His gaze made its way up her lightly muscled calves to the curve of her thighs.

His voice was barely audible as he whispered her name. His trembling hand stroked the silky flesh of her thigh before making its way up to the thin cotton of her panties. He caressed the tangle of curls beneath the fabric.

She arched forward, pressing against his hand. He smiled weakly, then moved it upward, sneaking up toward her bra. "Xander?"

He pulled away quickly, afraid he'd done something wrong. "Yeah?"

She sat up and took his hands. "Nervous?"

"Is it that obvious?" He laughed quietly. "I haven't done this in a long time. Well, I've never done this. I've done…"

She kissed him, trapping the words she didn't want to hear between them. Guiding his hands to her hips and nudging them upward, she arched her back. For the longest time he simply stared at her and her heart sank. Surely Xander was not still incapable of taking a hint? She was about to say something when he pulled her closer.

The satin bra was cool as it pressed to the skin of his chest. She pulled back, her green eyes liquid with passion. "Help me?"

His fingers manage to unhook the clasp of the coral lingerie, slipping it carefully from her skin before setting it aside. His eyes feasted on her, taking in the swell of the ivory skin peaked with hard, dark, rosy nipples. He swallowed hard, his breath harsh sounding in the silence of the room. "Oh, Willow…" He bent his head, capturing the hard tip between his lips.

She let out a low moan, her hands embedded themselves in his hair, holding him to her. He suckled the warm, crinkled flesh; losing himself in the taste of her. She shivered under his ministrations, her whole body coming alive at his touch.

Her hands left his hair, trailing down his skin until she encountered the elastic waistband of his boxer shorts. With eager hands, she pushed at the material, desperate to touch him.

Xander pulled away from her reluctantly, allowing her to guide his boxers off of him. She removed them, paying no mind to the fabric as she tossed it aside. Her eyes were focused only on the hard, pulsing length of his cock.

"Oh," she whispered. Her hand wavered in the air just above it before settling lightly on it. Xander surged forward, unable to help himself. She pulled her hand back, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Sorry," he mumbled embarrassment in the lines of his features.

"Don't apologize," she shook her head. "Do you know how much I want you, Xander? How much I've always wanted you? To see you…" Her tongue darted out and she wet her lips. "It's nice that you want me, Xander."

"Nice?" He managed to ask. "How nice?"

She lowered her head, the darting tongue sweeping across the tip of his cock. "Let me show you."

Xander's hips left the bed as her mouth engulfed him, his shaft sliding eagerly between her lips. She reached out with one hand to push him back onto the bed as her tongue traced the vein along the underside of his erection. His hands clasped the sheets beneath him tightly as he struggled not to lose control as the pressure of her warm mouth increased.

He gasped, desperately trying for air as the soft suction continued. His muscles tightened and he gave up on trying to breathe. Willow moved the pressure of her mouth, focussing her attention on the sensitive tip and the breath he'd been holding left him. His hands left the sheets to tangle in her hair as his hips arched of the bed. His orgasm rocked them both, leaving Xander trembling beneath her and Willow with a wicked grin on her face.

"Wills?"

She controlled the smile with difficulty, "Yes?"

"Have I told you lately how amazing you are?"

"Not since the day we got back our SAT's."

His hand rose to her hair and he stroked it away from her face to see her eyes. "Well, I'm a little behind in my Willow appreciation, aren't I?" She was about to respond when his strong arms caught her and flipped her onto her back. "Shall I catch up?"

"Xander? What are you up to?"

"The question, my Willow, is who am I going down on?" She giggled, her smile lighting up her face. He chuckled softly as well, his hands stroking her stomach. Very slowly, he edged her legs apart all the while easing his hand lower. "You know, this is the first time I've seen you relaxed since you got back."

"Do I seem relaxed?" she asked quietly. "I must be quite the actress then, because I feel like my stomach is tied up in knots."

"You're not relaxed?" He asked quietly.

She shook her head, biting her lower lip.

"Shall I see if I can help?" He moved his hand to the warm flesh between her thighs. Easing her panties off of her, he let his thumb flicker over the hard nub of her engorged clitoris and she cried out. "Let me know when you start feeling at ease."

"Xander," she sighed, spreading her legs wider to accommodate his exploring fingers.

With infinite care, he slipped one finger between the soft folds of flesh. The muscles of her vagina tightened around him, the warmth of her arousal coating his finger. "Do you taste as good as you feel?"

She made a sound as he lowered his head, incapable of speech. His tongue flicked out, much as his finger had done, and caressed her clitoris. She inhaled rapidly, her body opening up for him.

Xander slipped another finger inside her, opening her to his ministrations. His tongue dipped inside, hungry for the sweet taste of her. She ground against his tongue, her whole body straining for his touch. He moved back up to her clitoris, devoting his full attention to the hard button.

Willow closed her eyes and pressed her head back against the bed. Her hips began moving in time with Xander's now thrusting fingers. He was moving them slowly, letting them fill her completely before withdrawing. "Please, Xander?" She begged quietly.

He increased the pace of his strokes. "Please what, Willow?"

Bracing her feet on the mattress, she angled her hips even closer to him. "Please?"

He smiled and replaced his tongue with his thumb, finally applying pressure to her throbbing clit. She cried out, her body clamping around his fingers almost painfully. He continued to move them as well as he could until they were bathed in warm wash of her shuddering climax.

Xander waited until her body eased back onto the bed before removing his fingers from her and licking them clean. She watched him through half closed eyelids. He smiled impishly. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded. Her voice was husky with desire. "You figure that out on your own?"

"With the help of a few movies," he blushed. "It was…?"

She nodded. "Incredible."

His smile turned from impish to self-satisfied. "Really?" He lay down beside her, his brown eyes dancing. "Incredible I can live with." He stretched out, pulling her against his chest.

"Um, Xander?"

"Yeah Wills?"

"I didn't say I was relaxed yet." She snuggled closer, her hand moving down to grasp his rapidly hardening cock. "And you said you'd help."

He groaned and began moving in her hand. She "tsked" and pulled her hand away. He groaned again, this time in frustration. "Willow…"

"Please?"

He pulled her on top of him and kissed her hungrily. She pressed the mound of her sex against his swelling organ as her tongue tangled with his. He rolled them over, breaking the kiss so he could raise himself up. "I…I just realized something, Willow."

She reached down and rubbed the tip of his cock against the wet lips of her vagina. "I love you too, Xander."

"I don't have anything."

She shook her head, "Don't worry." She arched toward him, begging him with her body. "It's covered."

"You're about to be." He brushed her hand away and guided himself inside her. As he filled her, he lowered his head and whispered in her ear. "And I love you too."

Her legs curved easily around his, pressing them together and limiting his movements. Xander felt constricted between the tightness of her legs around him and her warm, wet passage. Constricted and surrounded by Willow. Just the thought sent a rush of blood to his groin and he pumped faster.

Willow gasped, unwinding her legs from his so that she could force him deeper inside her. She braced her feet on the bed once more, allowing the rough hair to brush against her aching clit. Pushing up against him, she sped up their pace. Their intermingled breath was nothing more than shallow gasping, their bodies both becoming slippery with sweat and desire.

Xander moved one hand to roll her hard, tight nipple between his fingers and she cried out, burying her head on his shoulder. He released the nipple, wrapping his arm around her arced back and holding her to him. His hips thrust hard and fast against hers until she cried out again, this time coating his still moving cock with her explosion.

Continuing to pump inside her as she shuddered with her orgasm, Xander kissed her, sucking her tongue deep in his mouth. Willow licked the roof of his mouth, teasing it with the tip of her tongue and he lost himself, spending himself as deeply inside her as he could.

They collapsed together in a heap of skin, sweat and spent desire.

"Willow?" He lay his cheek against hers, unsure he could look in her eyes. Her damp hair clung to his cheek and the smell of vanilla filled his senses. "Can I ask you something?"

"No." She turned to face him. "But I can tell you something, if you'd like. I meant it when I said that I love you, Xander. And this wasn't just a one time thing."

His face brightened but his eyes were still worried. "I know, but…"

"And I've gone this long without needing someone." She knew that, if Faith truly was his last sexual experience, he was probably afraid she was going to walk out the door any second. "So this wasn't just about lust. Now, set the alarm for five so that I can get home before Connor wakes up."

Xander raised his head to look down at the woman he loved, the woman he was sure he'd lost so long ago. "So you're relaxed then?"

She nodded. "For now." She tilted her head and smiled at him. "But it's a good point. Better set the alarm for four. Just to be safe."