Title: Bring Me Into the Light (12/?)
AUTHOR: Mistress Ace & Em
E-MAIL: rosewood@inreach.com & slayerbuffy@aol.com
FEEDBACK: Is the butter on our bread. We write because the story begs to be told. Feedback lets us know if we struck a chord with you.
DISTRIBUTION: Our site, Fandom Writers (http://www.fandomwriters.com), of course. FINNatics, Vamps-N-Slayers, the other list archives as well. Anyone else interested, we'll be happy to share.
RATING: NC-17
CATEGORY: Story: Romance, Angst
SPOILERS: As You Were
PAIRINGS: B/R/Sam, m/f, f/f
DISCLAIMER: Don't own the characters at all. (More's the pity) They belong to the Great God Joss Whedon et al. We are just borrowing them for a little bit. That's all. No BtVS characters were harmed in the writing of this fic. Well, maybe just a little.
SUMMARY: Not back for long enough. Not nearly long enough and there were too many things left up in the air. But isn't that the purpose of fan-fiction?
DEDICATION: From Ace: Well, to Em of course for bringing this Riley to the fore. For her lovely Buffy and for giving me the chance to get to know Sam. To Jenf'r for the original pairing idea and to our betas – you rock.
From Em: To my talented co-author for bringing her Riley, because we all know Em doesn't write Riley well. To Jenfr, for her comment "Now someone must write the AR where Riley and Sam take Buffy with them" after the episode "As You Were" - we deviated quite a bit but you put the plot bunny in my head. And to our betas - you're the best!

 
Chapter 12

Riley shivered, his head filled with memories of Buffy underneath him, on top of him, on their sides, curled up behind her. In his car, his dorm room, her dorm room, the burnt out wreck of Sunnydale High, the backroom of the magic shop... all the places they'd made love in, all the positions they'd used.

Memories he'd locked away, kept hidden and secret because they hurt too much. Losing her had hurt too much.

Buffy followed Sam's glance and smiled. Her eyes lit with an almost predatory fire and she purred softly, "Oh, I think I can manage that..." This was something she knew, something she could handle. Her mind filled with memories of all the times they'd made love, all the places... his voice as he called her name, the feel of him inside her... it all sent a wash of anticipation through her body.

Leaning over, she crawled gingerly over Sam, pausing to kiss her softly before joining Riley on the other side. Rising to her knees, she leaned forward and rested her hands on his chest as she placed several short, teasing kisses on his lips; always pulling back before he could truly respond.

Here was a dilemma that most guys would kill for. Torn between his own need, which burned fierce and hot, his skin humming with anticipation as it always had around this particular woman and his desire to let her tease. To let Buffy set the pace, to not push even though everything within him was screaming for him to take and keep taking until the ache, until the loneliness went away.

Decision made in a matter of moments. It was better to let her set the pace. There was too much between them for this to be hard and fast. Too many ways he could scare her. Locking his right hand over his left wrist, Riley raised them over his head until they rested on the pillow. There, that should keep those urges in check.

Sam noted his movement and was not surprised by it. Control had always been an issue with Ry, been an issue for as long as she could remember. Whenever he felt it slipping, he'd do something like this, physically restrain himself. It had started out as a way to harness his addiction and eventually became part of their lovemaking.

Rolling over onto her side, she laid her hand over his right wrist, pressing it into the pillows and adding her strength to keep him there. "Buffy, he's all yours. Do whatever you want." Mischief blended with a resurgence of interest in her voice as she offered the Slayer the most precious thing in her life.

Her husband.

Remembering his earlier words to her, that he'd seemed afraid that they were pushing this on her, she thought she understood a bit of what was going through his mind. The teasing look in her eyes softened briefly and she straddled his stomach, sitting lightly on him as she leaned down to kiss him softly. "Don't worry, Riley," she told him very softly. "Nothing could happen tonight that I wouldn't want... nothing at all."

She rested her hands on his arms, leaning in as she kissed him again, pressing her hands just hard enough to remind him of her strength. She knew that she had the ability to stop anything that she didn't like... she just couldn't imagine it happening. Then she let him go as she sat up, both to indicate that she trusted him and because she had other things in mind. The mischief was back in her eyes as she leaned down to kiss him again.

Buffy kissed his neck, behind his ears, across his throat and around his collar and over his shoulder. But her kisses were all teasing; feather light with the occasional flick of her tongue. She knew that he could feel her kisses, but that it was only enough to tease him. She never stayed in one place long enough to really sensitize his skin to her barely there touches.

A rush of sensation mixed with memory and he was lost. Riley turned his head to allow her more access, his eyes drifted closed and his hands remained where they were. Breath catching, quick moan and a shudder when her lips brushed over a faded scar. A sharp ribbon of need sliced through the tattered remnants of his control as he murmured, "Buffy..."

No more words followed, Riley was too overwhelmed by what was happening. This was a dream, a dream he'd lost one cold winter's night and if he said anything more... it would dissolve. Fade away and leave him less than he had been when the night started.

Buffy kissed her way down his chest, continuing her pattern of whispery kisses until she reached his nipples. On first the left and then the right, she placed solid kisses, flicking her tongue against the little nub of flesh. Following the kiss, she wrapped her lips around his right nipple and sucked gently. Her fingers crept across his chest and began to rub against the other.

After long minutes of teasing, she switched sides again. As her mouth slid across his chest from one side to the other, she trailed her tongue over his skin, spelling out the word LOVE. Reaching his other nipple, she gave it the same attention she had given to the first.

With the same infinite patience she'd used when they'd first started sleeping together, Sam cupped Riley's chin and turned his head towards her. His eyes opened slowly, reluctantly and in them she saw his turmoil and his fear. "Shh, Ry. Nobody's going anywhere. Buffy's here and I'm here and we're real, honey. We're real. No more dreams. No more nightmares. Just us."

There had been too many nightmares. Too many nights when she'd heard him thrashing in the next tent over, crying for a girl he'd left behind. Even after they started sleeping together, the nightmares didn't stop. During the first weeks, Sam woke up almost every night with him inside her, his eyes tightly closed as he pushed further and further in.

Calling for Buffy the whole time. Tears pattering on her shoulders and her neck as Riley made love to his lost love in his sleep. The first time it happened, it frightened her. The second time, it made her angry. By the third time, she understood.

Buffy was in his blood and she always would be.

Riley nodded, hanging on to her every word. His wrist trembled under hers and when Sam released her grip, he did the same, freeing his hands. One rose to twine through her hair, pull her in for a kiss while the other found Buffy. Cradled her closer, rising to meet her as best he could considering she still had him pinned to the bed.

Buffy began to make her way downwards again - partly to give Sam more room, and partly because that had been her plan anyway. She placed soft, gently sucking kisses down Riley's side and across his belly. She found his ticklish spots and laved them with her tongue, feeling him wriggle beneath her. She kissed the juncture of hip and thigh before trailing down along his inner thigh to his knee.

Lips followed fingertips as she moved, teasing him still. As she kissed her way back up his other thigh, she purposely avoided his cock. She didn't touch it at all as her lips traveled along his skin, though each time she stopped to breathe, her warm breath whispered across his hardness.

Their mouths parted slowly, lingering for a moment before Riley looked down at Buffy. Who was having far too much fun playing... and refamiliarizing herself with his body. Yes, they had been lovers but that was over a year ago and there had been someone in between then and now. Who knows what sort of games Spike played with her head?

This situation called for patience but when her breast brushed against his cock again while she traced a line down his left hip with her tongue, the last of his patience went out the window. He ached, he wanted... God, he wanted.

"Buffy..." Her head came up, watching him closely, waiting for whatever he had to say. His voice, usually so strong, broke as he repeated her name. "Buffy. I want you... Now." This was the moment of truth. What he'd been hoping for all night.

Buffy saw the look of pure need in his eyes and nodded. Moving as quickly as she could, she sat up and moved to grab a condom from the nightstand... only to have one handed to her by Sam before she could move very far. Buffy flashed her a look of heat-filled gratitude before turning her attention to opening the little foil packet. She kissed the tip of Riley's cock before rolling the thin sheath of latex onto him.

Moving to straddle his hips, Buffy reached between them to position him at her entrance and lowered herself onto him. He slid inside her slowly; it took her a moment to adjust to him, his size and the heat that poured off of him in waves. A soft moan escaped her as he filled her body, making her feel complete as she hadn't felt since he'd left.

So tiny, still so tiny. Tiny and tight and... perfect. Almost painful to be inside her again, to be reminded just how big he was. Not that he'd done any comparisons while in Spike's crypt. Even though the vamp had been practically waving it in front of his face.

Mouth half-open, eyes so dark the light in the room disappeared into their depths, he let her settle down onto him without moving a muscle. Awestruck and worshipful, Riley had come home. Had laid himself at the altar of his first love and been accepted back into the fold.

This was forgiveness.

This was redemption.

This... this was salvation.

The look on Riley's face told it all. Had it been anyone else, anyone other than Buffy, Sam would have been livid. She was territorial by nature, not one to share but she already shared Riley with her. Shared him with her memory and now shared him in fact. And Sam was... all right with that.

Buffy opened her eyes and rested her palms on Riley's chest, leaning lightly on him as she looked down into his eyes. Her eyes blazed with passion and love, but the fierce edge was blunted by tenderness, by concern. A soft smile graced her lips until she bent down to kiss him gently. They kissed for several long moments before Buffy lifted her head; her eyes then caught Sam's and she leaned over to kiss her in the same way.

Gently possessive of both of them, she didn't want Sam to feel left out. She left one hand on Riley's chest and rested the other on Sam's hip. She leaned on them just enough to give her the leverage she needed to rock her hips back and forth, back and forth. Another moan passed her lips, but her eyes stayed open to watch Sam and Riley watch her.

Riley's broad hands skimmed down her back, sliding over the curve of her hips and coming to rest there. He lifted her, taking her weight in his hands as he moved, his own lean hips setting a familiar rhythm and pace. Something out of memory, the slide of their bodies together as they watched and breathed and stayed perfectly silent.

Taking control, he was taking control again and leading her through the steps of a dance they both knew by heart, even after all this time. After a few moments, he took a deep breath and the muscles in his legs and back tensed. Knowing what was coming, Buffy clung to him, legs locked around his sides, rolling as he rolled. Neither of them stopping until he was on top, staring down into her eyes and driving in.

Nodding in approval, Sam followed them across the bed. This was a move she knew by heart. He could do it anywhere. In the back of their SUV, in the twin bed at his folks house, even in a tiny tent in Borneo where there had been barely room to breathe and he'd still done it without knocking the tent down or spilling them out into the monsoon screaming over their heads.

Damn, he was good...

Caught in similar thoughts, Buffy also recognized the move. She moved with him almost instinctively, clinging to him until he settled her on the bed. Her eyes locked on his as he surged into her powerfully; she'd been honest earlier when she admitted that it was strength that drew her, turned her on. Riley always seemed to know when to be her gentle lover and when to take over and overwhelm her with pure pleasure. It was one of the things she loved about him. Caught up in the dance, she began to arch her hips upward to meet each downward stroke.

Having her on top allowed him more freedom to touch and admire. But this allowed him to move, to use every part of his body to bring her pleasure. As Buffy locked her legs around his waist, he surged into her. Hard and fast and deep.

Knew he hit the right spot when her eyes fluttered closed, when she cried out his name followed by a shuddering moan. Matching his strength to hers, powerful shoulders and back arching into each thrust. His mouth was on her neck, gentle at first but growing harder as he reached for the Slayer within.

Looked for the other half of his first love.

Sought her out with every roll of his hips.

With every downward grind.

With every hard hit.

Sitting up, Sam watched, her mouth dropping open. She knew Ry had a dominant streak in him, knew the whole take-charge guy thing by heart. There was no better commander in the Black Ops. His men followed him without question, met each order with alacrity. But that was outside of bed, as far away from sex as you could get.

This was a side she hadn't seen before. He'd always been gentle with Sam, treating her like she might break, but not so with Buffy. No... even match here. Strength for strength, their hands entwining, his biceps rising as he used the leverage Buffy was lending to him to get even closer. TA tick vein stood out under her fingertips, the tattoo of his heartbeat in perfect synch to the push and slide of his body into their lover's.

"God... I love you, love this." No hesitation, no worry that he was hurting Sam by saying this. She was still very much a part of what was going on, her hand on his arm, the other caressing Buffy's thigh. Riley turned his head to kiss her hand before returned his attention to Buffy's throat and then her shoulder. "Love both of you... so much."

"So much," Buffy agreed, echoing his sentiment if not his words. "We know, Riley, we know. We'll always be here, all three of us together." Still arching upwards, moving with Riley and fueling his strength, Buffy freed one of her hands and found Sam's arm, gently pulling her closer still.

Concerned about the possible impact of Riley's words on their other love, Buffy's eyes sought Sam's. Her hazel eyes were still bright, fiery even, but the light was dimmed with concern as she met Sam's gaze.

"Don't worry about Ry and me," Sam's words from the first night they met. Spoken under different circumstances but with just as much confidence, Sam was perfectly secure with her place in his life. "We're good, Buffy."

Life and mischief shone on her face just as much as it was threaded through her next teasing comment. A comment that turned sultry at the end as she swept both of them with a heated glance. "Gotta admit this is a whole lot more fun than saving him from getting his ass kicked."

Riley chuckled, turning his head enough to use his shoulder to wipe the sweat out of his eyes. "I agree. It's definitely a lot more fun than getting my ass kicked. God... feels so good." He shuddered, missing a stroke as he felt Buffy tighten around him. His eyes closed, ecstasy clearly evident on every feature.

"Feels good to me too, baby," Buffy purred back. She grinned, loving the way he felt in her and how she could always make Riley react. She wondered if Sam knew that little trick and guessed she probably did... perhaps they could compare notes sometime when they were alone. For now, Buffy focused on the sensations in her body and trying to get a reaction out of Riley.

Her eyes wandered back and forth between Riley and Sam, taking everything in. This had to be the most intoxicating experience of her life and she wanted to remember every little bit of it.

"Mmmmm, I bet I know what you're doing." Sam's laughter drifted over both of them as she checked Riley's face and then nodded. "Yeah, I know that look. He loves that... here, let me show you something else." Sliding her hand down between them, Sam's fingers encircled the base of Riley's cock, squeezing a little bit more.

The reaction was instantaneous. "Oh fuck!" The word was out of his mouth before he had a chance to edit it. Riley's head snapped back and he thrust again and again and again. The whole time, he was muttered under his breath. "Good... so fucking good. Jesus... gonna be the death of me. OhGodohGodohGod..."

Buffy gasped softly and blinked at Sam, wide-eyed, her senses reeling as Riley continued to surge into her. "God, Sam, what did you do?" Buffy cursed herself inwardly; she hated feeling like a naive idiot, but she'd never seen or heard of anything that could make him react like this! And she had very little idea of what Sam had actually done to provoke it.

"Follow my hand," Sam directed, smiling as Buffy followed her instructions. It was difficult getting in close because Riley was moving so much. "Ry, stand down." Quick bark of an order and somehow he stopped bucking into her fist. He panted, eyes still closed and whole body trembling but no longing thrusting.

When the little Slayer's hand met Sam's, her eyes widened, darting up to look at Sam and then at Riley. "That's it, wrap your hand around him. Just like that," Soft croon in Buffy's ear, warm breath and Sam's lips brushed against the sensitive skin. "Turn your hand a little. Yes, there... now when he starts moving again, the heel should be right… there."

All that said, Sam removed her hand and watched as Riley began to move again. If she'd gotten Buffy positioned just right, each thrust should force the tiny heel of her hand up against her clit. Adding one more sensation to the mix.

The first few thrusts didn't hit her hard, as Riley was giving her a moment to adjust to the change in her position. When he began to speed up, Buffy's eyes suddenly flew open and she cried out; incredible pleasure spilled through her body with every thrust. "Oh... my... God..." She could barely breathe, barely form words. It just felt too good; it was overwhelming her, and quickly.

Her dark eyes found Sam's again and the grin on her lover's face told her that what she was feeling was exactly what she was supposed to be feeling. Any further questions were silenced by that smiling mouth as it covered her own.

Tight little fist around him, welcoming warmth beyond. So hard to keep in control, so close to coming. Getting closer by the second, especially when he opened his eyes and found Sam kissing Buffy. Saw her swallowing each of Buffy's little cries as she too was pushed closer and closer to the edge.

Sex would never be the same again, never. Not after having this. Addicted, he was totally addicted. Couldn't live with it, couldn't live without them.

Wouldn't live with out them.

Well aware that she was riding very close to the edge indeed, Buffy kissed Sam with a fervent passion, clinging to her even as her hand held Riley's cock tightly. Her free hand found it's way from Sam's neck and into her hair again, tangling in those lush strands. She moaned her lovers' names, whimpering or crying out softly as the myriad sensations began to overwhelm her.

"Yes... yes. Beautiful... so beautiful." Quick, staccato thrusts, his fingers twisted into the bedsheets, rising up over both of them to give Sam more room. Which she took gratefully, sliding in between them, her back plastered to Riley's chest, knees tucked up on either side of Buffy's hips, breasts rubbing against Buffy's in time with each of her husband's thrusts.

Still kissing Buffy, their mouths sliding together, breathing as one. This was as close as she could get... for now. Riley's mouth on her shoulders, biting kisses into her skin, moving with her, moving with both of them.

Buffy held Sam tightly to her chest, loving the feel of their bodies pressed together and Riley pressed into Sam's back. She moaned into Sam's mouth; she'd never imagined anything like this, the incredible closeness and intensity of feeling - both physical and emotional. She felt intimately connected to her lovers in more ways than just one, and she knew that she'd been spoiled for normal relationships.

While this closeness would always remain, even if only two of them were together - though that would more likely be Riley and Sam than her with either of them, she knew - she would never be able to find anything else, anywhere, that could match this. Of course, she didn't want to, so that didn't matter all that much. But even if she'd tried, nothing could ever match what she had at that moment.

Nothing like having a big, strong man up against your back. Add to it the softness of a woman underneath and this had to be Sam's definition of sheer heaven. No matter what tomorrow threw at them, they had tonight. They had this and if she had anything, anything at all to say about it, the three of them would have this for a very, very long time.

Riley bit at the juncture between Sam's shoulder and her throat, catching the pressure point with his teeth and shuddering right along with her. He wasn't going to last much longer but he was going to last long enough. Or so he hoped. When Buffy's hand tightened around him again, his stamina was tested to its very limits.

The position was just right. Each of Riley's thrusts rocked her hips forward right into the hard pressure of Buffy's wrist. Sam moaned into Buffy's mouth, her hands braced right next to Riley's, keeping them both balanced so as not to crush their lover.

Buffy knew she couldn't take much more... her head was starting to spin and she was fast losing control. The feel of Sam's slick folds on her wrist only added to what she was feeling and her moans were mingling with Sam's. Almost there... almost there... and then the wave crashed over her.

The shrill cry she let out was muffled by Sam's mouth; her whole body tightened and felt as if it were on fire. Pleasure burned her, inside and out, and her eyes seemed to flash as she looked up at her lovers. Their combined gazes seared into her as she trembled beneath them, caught up in the pleasure of it all.

Never had she seen something quiet so breath-taking. Sam was in awe, watching Buffy's climax overtake her. Was in awe for about three seconds, because after that she was experiencing the exact same thing. Gasping, trembling and crying their names over and over and over.

Tight. God, so tight. All other sensations dulled by the thin layer of latex. **Pill, gotta get her on the pill.** Riley grasped at straws as he rode the first wave out, coming up with anything and everything he could do to distract himself. Harder, he was getting harder and when Sam jerked against him, the lush curve of her bottom pressing in tight, he lost it.

Quick thrusts, ones that shook the bed and shook all three of them. Headboard banging on the wall, rifle sharp over the sound of their breathing, over the sound of Sam's sobbing of his name, of Buffy's name... her crying out to God. Riley was going deep, deep as he could given their position. Wanting to be all the way in when he came.

The hand holding him so tight released, sliding out from between them and the lessening of the pressure there was just enough. Riley buried himself, right up to the hilt and his voice rang out over their cries. "God! Yes, yes, yes... Buffy! Sam!... L-love you... Take me now, God... Take me now."

This was it. This was the rapture.

Nothing in the world could ever feel better or be more right.

Buffy deftly freed her hands from her lovers' bodies, only to tangle them into the sheets beneath her. Having done so, she gave in to the urge to hold as tightly as she possibly could and her hands curled into tight fists as she rode out the final waves before her orgasm left her spent. With pleasure-hazed eyes, she watched Sam shiver, her expression one of satiation, and Riley's one of ecstasy.

When she could again control her hands, she lifted them and wrapped one around Sam and the other reached for Riley. She wanted to cradle them against her body, to stay as close to them as she could possibly be for however long she could.

Sam settled easily into Buffy's embrace, kissing her tenderly and then trying to make room for Riley. Who, judging by the way he was breathing and yes... the brand-new dents in the wall behind the bed, was probably on the edge of collapse. He was strong but there was a limit to even his strength. She was sure he'd just reached it.

Boneless, he felt boneless, his arms no better than jello and his legs screaming from their tucked up position. Somehow, Riley managed to lower himself half onto Sam and half onto Buffy. There was a cramp starting in his left calf but he was inclined to ignore it. Amazing what he could ignore after an orgasm that powerful.

Buffy kissed Riley softly as he settled onto her and Sam. She knew he always thought he was too heavy, but she honestly loved to feel his weight pressing into her after they made love. She could take it, for a little while at least. There was safety to be found in that heaviness, safety and protection and so much love.

Sated, peaceful and blissfully content, she curled up on the bed with them and allowed her body to relax. She soaked up the feeling of love in the room... God only knew how long it had been since she'd last felt it. Far too long. But she was happy again. And beginning to border on exhausted. It was late, and between having been up early enough to get Dawn to school and the slayage followed by sexual tension and then mind-blowing sex, she was completely worn out.

The cramp was getting worse and all his mind-over-matter internal speeches weren't making a bit of difference. He tried stretching out his heel, pulling the muscle tight but nothing was working. A sharp twisting sensation jangled along his nerves and Riley hissed in pain, immediately drawing Sam's attention. "Ry, what's up? You all right?"

He shook his head, murmuring an apology to both of them before hitching back up onto his knees which made the cramp worse but at least allowed him to pull out. Pull out, roll over and start massaging his calf. Recent injury, gotten during the Suvolte hunt and it hadn't completely cleared up yet. "Cramp," he managed to grit out between his teeth.

**Great. Really romantic, Finn. Way to go.** Digging his thumb into the abused muscle, he sought the pressure point only to have his hand brushed aside by Sam. Who kissed Buffy quickly, sat back on her heels and took over. Rubbing hard and deep, all the while grinning at him and shaking her head.

Pushing herself up with her arms, Buffy moved to sit behind Riley and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She pulled him back to lean against her chest. It would make Sam's job much easier if she could get him to relax. "Old injury?" Buffy hazarded a guess. She didn't have many herself, but she'd had one or two incidents where the pain lingered for a while.

"New. He took quite a hit there when we were tracking the Suvolte." Sam worked his calf; there were knots upon knots upon knots in there. The actual hit had been bad, claws extended and the only this that had saved his leg had been the Kevlar inserts in his boots. He'd gotten too close, lost his baton and charged the thing.

And got a lecture from her over it.

"Sam... hurts." Riley ground out, his jaw clenched and hands balled into fists. The pain wasn't easing up fast enough, even under her expert hands. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and reached for a bit of inner calm. Nothing like being weak and helpless in the arms of two women...

Which, to be honest, really wasn't that bad.

It was kind of nice, actually. His head pillowed on Buffy's breast, her arms around his shoulders. His wife sitting between his legs, her body covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Wasn't bad at all...

He could get used to this.

Buffy ran her fingers through his hair, crooning softly into his ear. She felt him begin to relax and noticed that after a few minutes, Sam was having an easier time working the muscle in his leg. She bent down to kiss his forehead gently and noticed the trace of a smile. "Mmm... I think someone's enjoying this..." she teased gently.

Looking up at her husband whose eyes were at half-mast, his big body lazily sprawled across the bed, Sam laughed. "You might be right." There was a smile on his face and every last hint of pain was gone. Any minute now, she expected him to start purring, he looked that content. Completely pleased with the whole situation...

Content was a whole lot better than guilt-ridden or any of the other myriad of emotions that he could have been going through. Her husband was a religious man, took his covenant with God seriously and if he started falling back on those instincts, on that upbringing, they could be in serious trouble. Better that he be wallowing in pleasure rather than a healthy dose of Christian guilt.

"What's not to enjoy?" Riley stretched languidly, that movement a study of fluidity and a testament to just how relaxed he felt. While Sam watched, he ran a hand over his stomach and down to his cock. She watched as he casually stripped the condom off it, knotted the end and dropped it into the waste-can. Acting like he did this every day, wound up in bed with his wife and his ex.

Only she knew better. Under that air of supreme confidence lurked a well-spring of insecurity. Sam could see it in his eyes as he looked up at her, asking permission. Which was granted by a quick nod of her head.

Rolling over a little, Riley looked up at Buffy. "Thank you," he murmured, tracing the line of her jaw with a fingertip. "That was wonderful."

Buffy smiled gently and dipped her head to kiss his fingertip gently. "I should be thanking you... both of you." She looked up at Sam with a smile just for her. "It really was wonderful... like nothing I've ever imagined. You've both given me a reason to keep living. To want to live." She alternated her gaze between them, her manner soft and thankful. "I don't know what I would do without you both. So... thank you."

"Just let us keep on doing it. Let us prove it to you every day." Words she expected from Riley, so it was a bit of a shock to hear them coming from Sam. But looking into those jade green eyes, maybe not so much of one after all. For Sam was very much like Riley, she wore her heart on her sleeve.

Or in this case, being still naked, on her arm.

"Whenever we're here or wherever we go, you've got a place with us. Even if you decide it's not in our bed, we'll always be there for you." He crawled up the bed until he reached the pillows, then laid down beside her. Riley combed a lock of hair out of her eyes, kissed her forehead tenderly and slid an arm around her. Holding her close.

Buffy reached out to Sam, pulling her closer before she answered. She just wanted them near her, right now. "I know... and I'll always be here for you too." She looked up at Sam, smiling as she answered her comment too. "I promise, you can do whatever you want to, prove whatever in whatever way, as long as I have you with me."

If it was possible to smile any wider, Sam would have done it. She knew she had a goofy grin plastered across her face, one that matched Riley's. Leaning forward, she kissed Buffy softly, her lips trembling with the need to profess her love. But saying those words made Buffy uncomfortable because she had so much trouble saying them back. Better to show it with a kiss.

Riley filled in the words for her, his hands cradling each of them, up under their hair and along their tender napes. "I love you, both of you." When their mouths parted, he kissed each of them in turn. Yearning kisses, kisses that spoke of something beyond passion. Kisses that sealed their fate.

Irrevocably.

He was bound to Sam, through vows given and rings exchanged. He was bound to Buffy as well, even though the vows had never been spoken and the ring he'd bought her lay locked away in a safe place. And Sam was bound to Buffy now, bound by links forged tonight although the initial ones had been cast months ago... when he'd first started talking about Buffy and noticed the signs of hero worship in Sam's eyes.

Buffy kissed them back with all the love she held within her. Her eyes shone and even though she didn't reply verbally, her answer reached their hearts. Her heart was bound to theirs and it would remain with them if they ever left her. She would never find another love like this.

Perhaps in the future she would regret not being able to marry, but such thoughts were far from her mind for now. She'd never expected to live long enough to get married anyway, so it would take time for that to occur to her. She lived in the moment, for now, feeling their love like a balm to her battered spirit.

They lay together, limbs intertwined like one of those Chinese puzzles that Giles left hanging around his place before his exodus to England. Riley's hand drifted up and down the length of Buffy's thigh, over the curve of Sam's hip, lingering to cup a breast or brush over a nipple. The perfect picture of lazy contentment and the aftermath of sexual excess.

 
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