Part 1 

Buffy quietly climbed the stairs, stopping at the opened door to Tara’s room.  Seeing the Wiccan stretched out sideways across her bed with a book in hand, Buffy leaned against the doorframe. 

Tara tilted her head back to look up at the Slayer, frowning at the dirt covered woman.  “Are you okay?”  She set the open book down on her chest as she scooted around at a bit of an angle to get a better look at the Slayer, her eyes searching for obvious injury. 

Buffy watched Tara’s eyes for a moment before looking down at herself, grimacing at the condition she was in.  “Yeah, nothing a shower and washing machine won’t fix.”  She pushed off the doorframe, frowning when she saw blood on her sleeve and a small, neat slice in the material.  “And maybe a band aid or two.” 

Tara set her book aside on the bed as she swung herself around, feet hitting the floor. 

Buffy held up a hand to stop the woman.  “Minor damage.”  She now remembered the knife cutting her as she fought with a demon, pissing her off right before she took his head off with her own sword and a few choice words. 

Tara stopped her self from going to the Slayer, settling on the edge of the bed as she nodded.  “Let me know if it requires more than a band aid.”  She’d gotten into the habit of leaving her bedroom door open until the Slayer got home from patrol.  Buffy had told her she didn’t have to stay up waiting for her to get home every night.  Truth be told, she didn’t, but there were nights when she was still awake when Buffy did come in.  She was a light enough sleeper, that she usually heard the Slayer coming up the stairs and cracked an eye open. Buffy poking her head in the room to tell her she was okay before closing the door, Tara being placated with the answer and quickly drifting back to sleep. 

Buffy nodded.  “I will.”  She started to turn, turning back.  “You’re up late?” 

Tara glanced at the clock and back to Buffy.  “I didn’t realize it was so late.”  She shrugged as she blindly reached for her book. 

“Good book?”  Buffy’s brow rose as she watched Tara pick up the book, placing it on her lap as a mischievous smile crept onto her face. 

“Yes.”  Tara winked at her.  “I was just getting to the good part.” 

Buffy chuckled softly as a blush flushed the Wiccan’s cheeks.  “Since when did you read about the manly parts doing the horizontal bop?”  She grinned as the flush darkened. 

Tara brought the book to her chest as she crossed her arms around it, one finger keeping her place.  “I never said it had manly parts in it.”  Tara wiggled her brows and watched Buffy’s eyes open wide in surprise, laughing softly as she fell back on the bed and opened the book again.  She ignored the Slayer as she waved her out of the room.  “Go take your shower, Sweetie.”  She smiled and bit her lip as she got a grunt in answer, laughing softly as Buffy turned and walked away, the bathroom door closing behind her. 

~HLM~

Buffy stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, still somewhat surprised by the Wiccan’s answer.  Then again she really couldn’t picture the woman reading a bodice ripper with Fabio on the cover, chuckling softly she undressed after turning the shower on.  “I think she’d cringe more than anything, if she read those.” 

Tossing her blouse in the sink to soak, she groaned as she looked down at her arm knowing it would require a few stitches.  “Had to be on the right arm, didn’t it?”  She poked at the wound before getting out the first aid kit and cleaning the wound.  She’d rather have Tara do it than try putting the stitches in with her left hand, though she hated asking the woman.  She remembered the last time Tara had caught her trying to awkwardly stitch her right shoulder, the woman batting her hand away and giving her a disapproving look before taking up the needle herself.  Buffy hadn’t missed the color draining from the woman’s face, or the tremble in her hands as she put her back together. 

Sighing she stepped into the shower as she let her mind wander to what it was that Tara was reading, wondering how they’d handle a lesbian sex scene in it.  Tilting her head she tried to remember the last time she’d read a sex scene of any type.  Shaking her head when the answer didn’t come to her, she started washing up thinking that throbbing and thrusting, and pounding and pulsing, was about the only things she did recall from the books she’d read before becoming the Slayer.  Frowning as she thought about not having really had an opportunity to read for pleasure after she’d come to Sunnydale, not that she’d cracked the books for school or research, either. 

~HLM~

Tara glanced up from her book when she saw movement in the doorway, the Slayer standing there hesitantly looking at her.  Seeing the gauze bandage, tape, and suture kit in Buffy’s hands Tara set her book aside once again, patting the bed as she sat up.  “Come here, Sweetie.” 

Buffy hesitated another moment before taking her place beside the Wiccan on the edge of the bed.  “I hate to ask, but thank you.”  She dropped her head as she set the items in her hands on the bed.  

“I’ll always help if I can, Buffy.”  Tara used a finger to lift the Slayer’s chin.  “Thank you.” 

Buffy’s brows furrowed as she tried to figure out why Tara was thanking her. 

Smiling at the confusion on the Slayer’s face, Tara tapped the tip of Buffy’s nose.  “You don’t always have to do it on your own, Tough Stuff.” 

Buffy nodded, the corner of her lips curling up at the name Tara called her when she was being stubborn.  “Point taken.” 

“Good!”  Tara winked at her before she pushed up off the bed.  “You forgot the scissors.  Don’t run off before I get back, or I’ll come hunt you down, Slayer.”  She tried giving her a serious glare over her shoulder to let her know she meant business. 

Buffy laughed softly at the tough look from Tara, but the amusement in the blue eyes couldn’t pull the look off.  “Yes, Ma’am.”  She made a show of crossing her heart. 

Tara laughed softly as she left the room to wash her hands and get the scissors. 

As soon as Tara was gone, Buffy scooted onto the bed and lay down with Tara’s book opened in front of her.  Skimming the page quickly, she used the gauze pad package as a bookmark then began flipping back pages until she found what she was looking for. 

Tara stopped as she stepped back into the room, blushing when Buffy grinned up at her and wiggled her brows. 

“Don’t mind me.”  Buffy winked at her as she tossed her right arm out on the bed and pulled up the sleeve on her robe, her eyes dropping back to the book. 

Tara whimpered softly at the thought of Buffy embarrassing her with her own choice of reading materials.  When all she heard was a soft laugh from the Slayer as she waved her injured arm Tara moved to the bed, Buffy’s eyes never leaving the book.  Tara picked up Buffy’s arm after placing the scissors on the bed, unwrapping the towel that covered the wound and laying it on her lap atop the towel before examining the wound. 

Buffy’s brows rose as she read the love scene between two women, soft grunts and groans occasionally escaping her. 

Tara blushed at the sounds coming from the Slayer, tying off a stitch she glanced over at Buffy’s face.  Smiling and biting her lip as the Slayer’s eyes raced back and forth across the page, brows furrowing only to rise again in surprise as another grunt left her.  Chuckling softly Tara went back to putting the neat little sutures in the Slayer’s arm. 

“Shh!”  Buffy sent a quick glare Tara’s way before her eyes quickly found their place back on the page. 

Tara grinned at being shushed by the Slayer.  Taking the opportunity of Buffy being engrossed to glance at the book to see which part she was reading.  She silently whimpered as she felt the blush heating her face, the Slayer finding one of the love scenes to read. 

“Wow!”  Buffy stared at the page after finishing the love scene.  “Does it really… I mean, is it always…”  She shook her head as she looked up at Tara with a look of surprised wonder clearly showing on her features. 

Tara chuckled softly, shrugging as she tied off the last stitch.  She knew her face was red but there was nothing she could do to stop the blush as she glanced at Buffy.  “It can be.” 

“Huh.”  Buffy grunted before closing the book to look at the cover seeing the author’s name, Radclyffe, and the title, Safe Harbor.  “You know, they should highlight certain parts of this and make it required reading for men.” 

Tara chuckled softly as she reached to rip the top off the gauze package, using the piece in place of the package itself as the bookmark.  “Damn, so much for toaster sales.” 

“Huh?”  Buffy opened the book back to Tara’s page, securing the small bookmark better, before looking up at Tara with questioning eyes. 

Tara just smiled at her, chuckling when Buffy rolled her eyes as the little light bulb clicked on in her head, turning she taped the bandage over the wound. 

“Better yet, make it required reading for women, then toaster sales would skyrocket.”  Buffy grinned as Tara’s head snapped up, surprised blue eyes looking back at her making her laugh. 

Tara smiled and shook her head as she rolled her own eyes before she made sure the bandage was secure, knowing the Slayer was only teasing her.  “You’re all done, Sweetie.”  She patted the Slayer’s arm before gathering the trash. 

“Thanks.”  Buffy shifted around to sit up as she picked up the other items.  “Now I know what kept you up until three in the morning.”  She grinned and laughed as Tara blushed and hurried off the bed to toss the trash away. 

Though still blushing, Tara smiled as the Slayer headed for the door.  It was nice to hear the woman laughing and joking on occasion nowadays, even if it was at her expense. 

“Thank you, Tara.  Goodnight, and don’t stay up too late.”  Buffy grinned at the Wiccan as she grabbed the doorknob, ready to shut the door. 

“You’re welcome, Tough Stuff.”  Tara winked at her.  “’Night, Sweetie.”  She waited until Buffy started closing the door.  “Oh, and Buffy?” 

Buffy stopped and looked over her shoulder to the grinning Wiccan. 

“I won’t be staying up too late if you take my book.”  Tara grinned as she held out her hand and wiggled her fingers for the book Buffy tried sneaking out of her room with. 

“Damn!”  Buffy pouted before laughing softly as she turned to hand Tara back her book.  “Can I read it when you’re done?”  She looked hopefully at her. 

Tara laughed and nodded when Buffy wouldn’t release the book until she’d answered her.  “Should I highlight and mark the pages for you?” 

Buffy smiled and let the book go as she shook her head.  “No, I’ll see if I can’t actually read the whole thing, not just the good parts.” 

“They’re all good parts, Sweetie.”  Tara brought the book to her chest with one hand as she pointed towards a couple stacks of books on a wooden chest.  “There are others, if you’d like to read them.” 

“Really?”  Buffy looked from Tara to where she was pointing before looking back to Tara, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. 

Tara gave her a soft smile as she nodded. 

“Thanks, any suggestions?”  Buffy asked as she stepped over to the books, looking at the titles and noticing that a majority of them were by the same author and most from the same publishing company. 

“They’re all good.  Though some are series, those are in the pile on the right.  You might want to choose something from the other pile to see if you like them before reading the series ones.”  Tara smiled at the grunt she got in response as she settled back on her bed, the Slayer reading the back covers on a few before choosing one. 

Buffy held up the book to show Tara which one she’d chosen as she headed towards the door again, she could feel the heat in her cheeks as Tara smiled at her with twinkling eyes.  “Thanks.” 

“You’re welcome, Sweetie.  Oh, and Buffy… no drooling or other sticky bodily fluids on the pages, please.”  Tara burst out in laughter at the look of shock on Buffy’s face. 

“TARA!”  Buffy’s face turned dark red as she glared at the Wiccan.  “I can’t believe you said that!”  Buffy mumbled as she hurriedly left the room, closing the door on the laughter behind her.  “Damn, Wiccan!”  Buffy grumbled before smiling as she looked down at the book in her hand as she headed towards her room, stopping to put the scissors and tape back, and the first aid kit away as she went. 

Tara continued to laugh as she adjusted her pillows against the headboard and got comfortable before opening her book to finish reading.  “Just wait until I give you the pop quiz when you finish reading it, Tough Stuff.”  Tara snorted softly, a grin still on her face as she found her place and began reading. 

~HLM~

Part 2 

Tara groaned as she rolled over and cracked an eye open to look at the clock, groaning again as she closed her eye and mumbled as she snuggled into her pillow.  “It’s too soon to be getting up.”  She’d stayed up for another hour or so to finish the book after Buffy had left her room last night, or rather, early this morning.  Then she’d gone to the bathroom to take care of business, wash her face and brush her teeth before dragging her feet back to her bedroom.  It was all she could do to keep her eyes open long enough to get undressed and put her nightshirt on, before crawling into bed and dozing off as soon as her head hit the pillow. 

Softly growling back at her stomach when it rumbled, Tara mumbled into her pillow.  “Go back to sleep, I am.”  She sighed softly and pulled the covers over her head to block out the light coming through the open windows as the shades moved back and forth with the gentle breeze. 

When her stomach refused to cooperate, Tara tossed back the covers.  “It’s Saturday, we’re allowed to sleep in, why can’t you get with the program?!”  She smacked at her growling stomach.  “Damned traitor, the rest of the organs are happy to go back to sleep, you should be too!”  She mumbled as she slid her legs over the side of the bed and pushed herself to a sitting position, and off the bed.  “You’re only getting toast, then its right back to bed!” 

She stepped out of her room and into the bathroom, splashing water on her face before heading for the stairs.  Rubbing her eyes with a fist as she continued to argue with her stomach on the way down the stairs, she stopped halfway down when she heard soft laughter.  “Don’t start with me!”  She growled at the Slayer. 

Buffy was stretched out on the couch, peeking around the side of the book she’d borrowed.  “I’d punish it for speaking back to you, if I was you.”  She grinned at the sleepy Wiccan as she reached into the box of Life cereal on the floor beside the couch, wiping her fingers on a wet rag sitting in a bowl on the coffee table, and then wiping them dry on the towel lying on her stomach. 

“Damned Slayer hearing!”  Tara growled softly at the Slayer as she watched her smiling as she chewed and turn the page in the book.  Somewhere in her sleep addled brain she made the connection between the can of Coke on the coffee table and the sound of it being opened as she’d woken.  “That goes better with milk, you know.”  She started the rest of the way down the stairs, somewhat grateful that the Slayer was eating the cereal, it being better for her than the box of Funny Bones or Sunny Doodles that she could have chosen for herself for breakfast instead. 

“I didn’t want it splashing on the book…”  Buffy smirked as she looked around the book again.  “… and then being mistakenly accused of it being drool or sticky bodily fluids.”  Buffy chuckled softly as Tara snarled at her, and went back to reading. 

Tara stood at the foot of the stairs for a long moment watching the Slayer, a slow grin creeping onto her face as she watched Buffy start to squirm around a bit as she read.  Tara headed for the kitchen when her stomach growled again.  Hesitating and looking over her shoulder before she turned the corner, seeing Buffy was now starting to run her right foot teasingly up and down her left leg and moaning softly.  “For getting me up to see that, you get jam on the toast.”  She patted her stomach and laughed softly as she turned the corner. 

“Huh?”  Buffy never looked away from the page, her eyes continuing to rush back and forth across it. 

“I was just talking to my stomach, Sweetie.”  Tara grinned as she stepped into the kitchen. 

*** Author’s note: For those of you unfamiliar with them… Funny Bones are (chocolate) frosted peanut butter crème filled Devil’s food cakes!  And Sunny Doodles are crème filled golden (cup) cakes!  Both made by Drake’s©. *** 

~HLM~

Tara set her cup of tea and toast on the dining table, and then pulled out a chair to sit and watch Buffy as she ate.  When she’d finished, she smiled and rested her chin in her hands as she continued to watch the Slayer squirming.  Her eyes started closing again as she wondered what Buffy would do with her newfound insight into lesbian relationships, seeing as the book was definitely having a physical affect on her.  Though, that didn’t really mean anything in the long run, was her last thought before her eyes finally closed and she drifted off while sitting at the table. 

~HLM~

Buffy had felt eyes on her, but she couldn’t drag her own off the page.  When she’d finished the scene and they were moving on, she finally looked away to find Tara with a smile still on her face and sleeping at the table.  Smiling herself, Buffy sat up and put a small piece of paper in the book to mark her place before setting it on the coffee table, along with the towel she’d been using.  She then picked up the cereal, closing the box before picking up her towel, can, and bowl to bring back to the kitchen.  She quietly picked up Tara’s empty cup and plate on her way. 

She just came back into the dining room when Tara’s head jerked as her arms started to sway to the side, laughing softly at the look of surprise on Tara’s face as she scooped her up in her arms.  “Okay, it’s back to bed for you, Sleeping Beauty.” 

“I can walk, you know.”  Tara mumbled as she wrapped her arms around Buffy’s neck and shoulders, her head resting against the Slayer.  “Though, it is nice having a Slayer in the house.”  She smiled as she closed her eyes and let Buffy carry her up the stairs. 

“Don’t get used to my carting your ass around.”  Buffy laughed as Tara tugged on her hair for her comment. 

“You’ll do it, and you’ll like it, Tough Stuff!”  Tara grinned and enjoyed the lift. 

“Want to go out for a beer after patrol tonight?”  Buffy tried to keep the smile off her face as she turned the corner on the landing with her load. 

Tara’s brows furrowed at the question.  “Neither of us drinks.” 

“That wasn’t really my point.”  Buffy grinned as Tara lifted her head to look at her in confusion. 

Seeing the grin and mischief filled eyes, it finally hit Tara what Buffy was talking about, and she chuckled softly.  “Do you know of any lesbian leather biker bars in Sunnydale?” 

Buffy grunted as the smile fell from her face.  “That could be a problem, huh?”  She frowned. 

Tara laughed softly at the look of disappointment on Buffy’s face, though the smile was still in her eyes.  “We’ll have to see if we can find a lesbian or two at the Bronze to fit the bill.”  Tara smiled as Buffy nodded.  “And who will you be playing, Sax, Jude, Mel, or the woman?”  She asked in reference to the characters in the bar scene in ‘Passion’s Bright Fury’, the book Buffy was reading. 

“Sax, of course!”  Buffy grinned as she placed a knee on the bed and set Tara down in her bed. 

Tara laughed, not surprised by Buffy’s answer, though curious as to where she’d fit in.  “And I’ll be?”  She pulled Buffy onto the bed as she scooted back to make room for her when Buffy started to move off the bed. 

“Hmm…”  Buffy brought a finger up to tap on her chin, a look of concentration on her face as she settled into a sitting position on the bed. 

Tara smiled and adjusted her pillow as she waited for Buffy’s answer. 

“Well… you can be Jude, my inspiration.”  She laughed as Tara blushed.  “Or you can be the woman… if we can’t find a willing lesbian, that is.”  She grinned and winked at Tara, laughing as Tara grabbed her and pulled her over. 

“Smartass!”  Tara smiled as she pulled Buffy down.  “In any case, I’ll need a nap if you’re taking me out cruising tonight, and I know you haven’t slept if you’ve read that far.  So you’re going to sleep with me.”  She reached down and pulled up the covers as she rolled onto her side to face Buffy.  “How far have you gotten?”  She knew she was in trouble when she saw the grin on Buffy’s face. 

Buffy grinned and waited for Tara to get settled, licking her lips and making a show of looking Tara up and down.  “Sleep with you, huh?  Well, I guess you’re Jude and we don’t need the bar, we’re skipping right to the Motel 6.”  She wiggled her brows and moved to pounce on Tara. 

Tara started laughing and held Buffy off with a hand against her chest.  “That wasn’t what I’d meant!” 

Buffy started laughing and fell to the bed beside Tara.  “But that’s what you said.”  She wiggled around and got comfortable as they both continued to laugh. 

“Smartass!”  Tara smiled as she tossed the covers over Buffy.  “Now I know what had you squirming on the couch.”  She winked as Buffy blushed, and then let her off the hook.  “How far did you get.” 

“Nowhere, apparently.”  Buffy sighed before she smiled at Tara’s rolling her eyes at her.  “They just got to Maddy’s house before I decided to rescue you from a face plant on the table.”  She looked towards the door before looking back at Tara. 

Tara shook her head.  “It’ll still be there later, it’s time for a nap now.”  She placed her right hand on Buffy’s stomach to keep her from getting up to go back to the book.  “Even you need some sleep, Tough Stuff.  So humor me, otherwise there’ll be no bar tonight.” 

“But I’m not tired, or six years old anymore.”  Buffy grumbled, but smiled as Tara patted her stomach and laid her head on her shoulder. 

“That doesn’t mean you still don’t need to be told what to do on occasion.”  Tara chuckled softly as she snuggled into Buffy’s side and closed her eyes.  “Sweet dreams, Tough Stuff.” 

“You, too… Mom.”  Buffy chuckled and grabbed Tara’s hand as the Wiccan pinched her, closing her eyes and waiting for the woman to fall asleep before she snuck off to grab the book. 

~HLM~

Tara moaned softly, one sleepy, blue eye slowly blinking open, before lifting her head slightly to look down at the small hand massaging her breast.  At some point after she’d tossed a leg over Buffy’s to keep her from sneaking off when she felt her trying to slip out from beside her after she’d fallen asleep, they’d changed positions.  Tara was now on her back with the Slayer’s leg over one of hers, her head on her shoulder, and her hand on her breast.  “Goddess!  She reads part of a book, and she’s an expert already.”  She mumbled as she dropped her head back to the pillow and removed Buffy’s hand, placing it against her stomach.  Smiling at the soft whimper and growl she got for doing so, she missed the small hand as soon as she’d moved it, her nipple hard as a rock, and a tingle thrumming between her legs.  She mumbled as she closed her eye again as she leaned her cheek against Buffy’s head.  “So not fair!”  She was tempted to let the hand wander again when Buffy tried moving it back to her breast, but held it in place as she drifted back to sleep. 

~HLM~

Buffy moaned and snuggled into the warmth as she slowly drifted up from sleep, she felt the press of soft lips against her forehead, and a hand gently rubbing her back.  She wondered where she was, but was in no rush to open her eyes to find out as she basked in the peace and comfort she felt as her mind slowly became aware. 

Tara smiled and kissed Buffy’s forehead as she heard her breathing change from deep sleep and the smaller woman burrow into her side.  She’d been awake herself for about ten minutes now, surprised that the Slayer was still beside her and sleeping soundly when she’d awoke.  There were still mornings when the Slayer would cry out in her sleep before she woke, the sound of a window being quickly opened soon thereafter.  Tara knew that Buffy still didn’t sleep well and suffered from the nightmare of waking in her grave, and gently rubbed Buffy’s back trying to ease her waking, this one time, anyway. 

She’d been terrified the first few times the Slayer had screamed out, having jumped out of bed and rushed to her room to find Buffy clawing at the covers before jerking upright and rushing to her window seeking air.  Her heart ached for what they’d put the Slayer through, but she didn’t know how to make it better for her.  It pissed her off that Willow used to sleep right through Buffy’s screaming, and then just brushed it off as ‘she’ll get over it’ when she’d mentioned it to her.  Those moments made Tara wonder why Willow was so hell-bent on bringing Buffy back, when she didn’t seem to care what they’d done to her after the first initial shock of realizing that they’d left her to dig her way out of her own grave.  Willow had been so proud of her accomplishment and power, but damn the consequences, she couldn’t be bothered with those. 

Tara sighed softly as she mentally shook off those thoughts and came back to the present, kissing Buffy’s forehead again as she did. 

Buffy moaned softly at the press of lips to her forehead again, finally reaching the point of waking.  She let her senses take over, the smell familiar, the sound of a heartbeat under her ear, and the envelope of warmth surrounding her.  It still took her a moment to figure out where she was before tensing and opening surprised eyes, finding her self snuggled into Tara’s side.  “Umm…” 

“Shh.”  Tara kissed her forehead again before resting her cheek there as she hugged the Slayer to keep her from bolting.  “And you said you weren’t tired.”  Tara smiled as she felt the Slayer start to relax again. 

“I wasn’t.”  Buffy grumbled, though smiled.  “Someone wouldn’t let me go when I tried to get up!” 

Tara chuckled softly and started rubbing Buffy’s back again.  “And then?” 

“Don’t know, I fell asleep.”  Buffy laughed softly, Tara had gotten what she’d wanted after all. 

“And you ended up here, how?”  Tara grinned as she felt the heat on her shoulder intensify slightly knowing Buffy was blushing without having to look. 

Buffy felt her face getting red.  “Must have been the octopus that grabbed me, had me wrapped up in her tentacles, and dragged me over here!” 

“Speaking of grabbing…”  Tara trailed off as she laughed and lifted the guilty hand from her stomach.  Said hand was back on her breast when she’d woken. 

Buffy lifted her head, brows furrowed, confused hazel looking into amused blue. 

Tara grinned and placed Buffy’s hand on her breast. 

Buffy’s eyes opened wide as she looked down at their hands, hers now on Tara’s breast.  “TARA!”  She quickly pulled her hand away, blushing as she looked back up at the laughing Wiccan. 

“You weren’t embarrassed about it earlier, Tough Stuff.”  Tara continued to laugh as Buffy started to sputter, not knowing what to say.  She kissed Buffy on the forehead again before rolling out of the bed, heading around it towards the door.  Stopping at the doorway she looked back at the shocked Slayer, now lying on her back watching her.  “And you were doing a wonderful job of it too.”  She winked at her and laughed as she walked out and into the bathroom. 

Buffy’s mouth fell open as she blushed, whimpering and pulling the covers over her head as Tara laughed and walked out.  Still listening to the laughter Buffy brought her hand up in front of her face.  “I didn’t?”  She looked at her hand as if waiting for an answer, groaning and rolling to bury her face in Tara’s pillow.  “And if I did, I don’t remember it.”  She peeked out with one eye to look at her hand again.  “Damn!  Next time take notes!”  She softly grumbled at her hand before she started laughing at the situation.  “At least she didn’t smack me.”  She smiled as she closed her eyes and waited for Tara to finish in the bathroom so she could use it, and then go finish reading the book.  “See what else we can learn about the use of hands.”  She looked at her hand again and groaned softly, the sensation of the Wiccan’s breast against her palm and fingers a moment ago still fresh in her mind as she felt the nipple harden against her palm again.  “Damn!” 

~HLM~

Part 3 

Tara grinned down at her creation as she put the plate in the oven to keep warm, Buffy would be down shortly having heard the shower stop.  She couldn’t stop the giggles as she poured more batter onto the griddle for her own pancakes. 

Buffy sniffed the air as she stepped out of the bathroom, her stomach rumbled at the smell of bacon as she hurried to her room to get dressed. 

Setting the bacon, home fries, and her plate of pancakes on the island with the butter and syrup, Tara grinned and grabbed two glasses out of the cabinet.  “Your pancakes are in the oven, milk or juice?”  She hurried to open the refrigerator before she ended up giggling again if she looked at the Slayer. 

“Milk, please.”  Buffy’s stomach growled and she licked her lips at the sight of the plates already on the island. 

Tara grabbed both items from the fridge, turning in time to watch the Slayer’s reaction. 

Buffy opened the oven and carefully tested the side of the plate before quickly pulling it out.  She almost dropped the plate when she saw her pancakes.  “Tara!” 

Tara burst into laughter as she fell against the counter, the embarrassment on the Slayer’s face worth the effort she’d put into making the stack of pancakes. 

Buffy felt her face heat up as she stared down at the warm dish in her hands.  There were two stacks of pancakes, or rather connected pancakes at the base, and then round pancakes of diminishing size as the stack rose.  “I can’t believe you.”  Buffy glanced up to send a glare at the laughing Wiccan, which only made her laugh all the more, before she dropped her eyes back to her breakfast.  She had to give the woman credit.  The smaller pancakes on the top were darker than the ones below, and two strawberry tips rising through the center of them as hardened nipples. 

Tara continued to laugh as she watched Buffy study the plate before setting it down.  “I was thinking of putting melon sections along the bottom side of them, you know, as support, but...”  She grinned and laughed as Buffy growled at her, turning to fill the glasses as she wiped away tears with one hand. 

Buffy set the plate down and scrubbed her face with her hands.  Tara wasn’t going to let her live this down any time soon. 

Tara put the milk and juice away before grabbing the glasses, setting them on the island as she took her seat, continuing to chuckle every time she looked at Buffy. 

“Paybacks!”  Buffy growled at her as she sent her another glare. 

“It’ll be worth it, Tough Stuff.”  Tara laughed as she bumped her shoulder into Buffy’s before preparing her own pancakes with butter and syrup. 

Buffy shook her head as she looked down at her plate again.  Now that the major embarrassment was over, she began to see the humor in it.  “There’s one problem I see here, though.”  Buffy glanced back up at Tara, her lips finally curling up in a smile. 

Tara looked from Buffy to the plate, and then back at Buffy again, a smile on her face.  “What?” 

Buffy pointed towards the stack on the right side of her plate.  “This hand didn’t get to feel the real thing.”  She poked at the hand shaped pancake that was covering the right breast, the strawberry nipple poking up between the middle and index finger.  “I think it got shortchanged.” 

Tara gave it serious consideration as the side of her lips twitched as she tried to keep from smiling.  “You’re right.”  She reached over and carefully picked up the hand shaped pancake, bringing it to press against her left breast before draping it back over the pancakes on Buffy’s plate and adjusting the fingers again.  “There, all better.  Now no one feels left out.”  She closed Buffy’s mouth with her hand before she turned back to her own plate and picked up her fork.  “Eat up.”  She grinned as she looked at the shocked Slayer before cutting into her pancakes. 

Buffy whimpered softly and closed her eyes as Tara laughed softly and started to eat.  When she opened her eyes again, she glanced towards the smiling Wiccan who was doing her best to ignore her.  She couldn’t stop her eyes from glancing down to the breast her breakfast was just pressed against.  Seeing the now hard nipple poking at Tara’s nightshirt she still wore, she decided that two could play this game.  Holding her hair back with one hand, she leaned over and ran her tongue around the strawberry before flicking it with the tip of her tongue.  She chuckled softly after hearing a whimper when she scraped her teeth up the sides of the strawberry before wrapping her lips around it.  She couldn’t hold back the laughter as she heard the fork drop from Tara’s hand and bang off her plate, biting into the strawberry Buffy lifted her head and grinned around the berry in her teeth before sucking it into her mouth and chewing.  “Did I do that right?”  She smirked as Tara moaned softly and nodded, her eyes never leaving Buffy’s mouth.  “Good.”  She winked at the Wiccan as Tara finally blinked and her eyes moved up to her own.  “Eat up before it gets cold.”  She patted the back of Tara’s hand, grabbing a piece of bacon and stuffing it in her mouth before putting butter and syrup on her pancakes, grinning the whole time. 

~HLM~

“Come on already!  I don’t have all night, you know!”  Buffy growled and kicked at the recently laid sod, waiting for the vampire to rise.  “Hopefully I’ve got a hot date in couple of hours.”  She began pacing the length of the grave, her eyes zeroed in for any movement of the earth as her sensitive hearing picked up sounds from below. 

She smiled in remembrance of Tara bent over the side of the tub, testing the water in her bubble bath as she was heading out for patrol.  Tara had turned her head, giving her a half smile.  ‘Don’t damage the merchandise tonight, Tough Stuff.’  Then she’d let her eyes roam over her body before meeting her eyes again, and winking.  She remembered her face heating up as her body responded to Tara’s perusal of it.  The Wiccan had been teasing her all day since the pancakes when they’d gotten up. 

Buffy chuckled softly as the thought of the next thing Tara had done.  She was lying on the couch reading when Tara came down the stairs carrying a laundry basket overflowing with the clothes from all their rooms.  When Buffy had looked up, Tara had asked her to bring the hamper from the bathroom down for her.  She’d set the book down and run upstairs to retrieve it, only to find it placed in front of the sink so she wouldn’t miss Tara’s little present.  Drawn in soap on the mirror was the outline of a woman’s body from the navel up, two large mounds of shaving cream where the breasts would be, and a winking, smiling face looking back at her. 

When she’d gotten down to the cellar, Tara was leaning back against the washing machine grinning at her.  “I think they’re starting to sag, and I’m not cleaning up the mess.”