Alex yawned hugely as he and Wil stumbled back into their apartment. The party had lasted until the wee hours of the morning; in fact, sunrise wasn't too far off. They'd had a lot of fun after Jenna had forcibly dragged them back, insisting on partying it up. There had been dancing, with Alex glowering whenever Jenna whisked Wil away for a dance with her. The food was excellent, even though Alex *still* didn't want to know what it was he was actually eating.

And the people...everyone seemed so friendly. Well, except for that one demon...a Fyarl was it? He'd hovered around Jenna protectively once they'd reappeared, snarling every so often. Jenna had seemed at ease with him, simply smiling at his antics. She'd confided to the two that the Fyarl, Arkten, had appointed himself to the position of bodyguard for her, and as she didn't really object, she'd managed to acquire an extremely protective companion to ward off any...unpleasantness.

Alex would have tried to make conversation with Arkten, but it seemed that the demon didn't exactly speak English, although he appeared to understand it well enough.

Mellie did make another appearance to check up on them, making sure they were feeling welcome and all. It had really been a great evening.

Now, though, Alex could practically feel sleep tugging at him, beckoning invitingly. Will wasn't much better off, glassy eyes blinking tiredly as he trailed in after Alex. It was all the two men could do to make their way to the bedroom, peel off their outer clothes, and creep under the covers.

Snuggling up against Alex's warmth, Wil sighed deeply. "Alex?"

"Mm-hmm?" Alex shifted so his head was propped up on Wil's shoulder.

"Y'think this Slayer chit'll find us? Me?"

Alex tightened his hold on Wil. "Doesn't matter," he stated firmly. "She won't get the chance to hurt you or anyone else here."

"Oh." Wil grinned stupidly. "'Kay."

Yawning, Alex burrowed in closer to Wil, breathing in the vampire's scent.

"Alex?"

"Hmmm?"

Wil turned his head and pressed a kiss into Alex's hair. "I like you, Alex. Really."

Alex smiled. "Like you too, Wil," he responded quietly, returning the kiss with one to the other man's collarbone.

"Ok, then."

There was a soft rustle of blankets as the two made themselves comfortable for the night. Then, nothing but the hushed whisper of Alex's breathing.

~~~~~~~~~~

"So, what do you wanna do?" v Wil shrugged. "I dunno, pet. What do *you* wanna do?"

Alex glared. "Oh no, don't you *even* start that! I am so not getting into one of *those* conversations."

"Sorry," Wil mumbled unrepentantly, a smile fighting for appearance on his face.

"Good." Alex sat back on the sofa. He stretched his legs out, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. "So? What do you wanna do?"

"I dunno, what--" Wil shrieked with laughter as a sofa pillow was hurled at him, and he ducked. Grabbing one of the small pillows, he retaliated, whacking Alex firmly in the chest.

"Ok, that's it, you asked for it!" Alex vaulted over the back of the sofa, taking a pillow with him.

Wil hastily scooped up his pillow, waiting for Alex to reemerge. And waiting. And...waiting. He frowned, lowering his makeshift weapon slightly. He crept carefully around the sofa, ready to attack.

He blinked. Alex wasn't there. Eyes wide, he backed up a step. He frowned, concentrating his hearing, searching for some indication of his boyfriend's whereabouts. A scuff on the carpet behind him alerted him, and he whirled swiftly.

Too late.

Alex pounced, knocking Wil back onto the sofa, landing on top of him. Laughing, he fended off the halfhearted blows aimed at him. He wrestled Wil's pillow away, having to resort to a sneak attack of tickling the blonde man's ribs in order to make him lose his grip. Now with both pillows, Alex crouched over Wil victoriously. "Ha! Thought you could get away with it, huh? Well, it takes more cunning than that to put one over on *me*!" His eyes narrowed in contemplation, then he tossed the pillows aside. Waggling his fingers suggestively, he snickered when Wil let out a whimper and tried to squirm away.

"Oh, you *are* ticklish, aren't you. Well, well. Won't take much to break you, then." Then he darted in, fingers seeking out sensitive areas on pale flesh.

Wil gasped as Alex's fingers seemed to home on his every ticklish spot. Laughing weakly, he bucked up, trying to shove Alex off him. He must have surprised the man, because he did manage to dislodge him partially. Taking advantage of this turn of events, he shoved Alex off, toppling him to the floor. Leaping back up, he bent and easily hefted the man, carrying him over his shoulder into the bedroom. He tossed him onto the bed, grabbing up one of the larger pillows there. He was about to really let Alex have it when he saw how the brunette was staring at him.

He looked down at himself, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. "What?"

Alex licked his lips at he stared at Wil's lean body. "You were carrying me," he answered in a husky voice.

"Oh. Yeah." Wil thought about it, then grinned. "Pretty neat, huh?"

Alex growled under his breath, rolling over and crawling across the bed toward Wil. His eyes were dark, hungrily devouring the vampire.

Wil swallowed hard, letting the pillow drop unnoticed to the floor. "Alex?" he questioned weakly, voice almost squeaking on the name.

Alex reached up and yanked on Wil's arm, pulling the man down on top of him. Hand firmly fixed in pale blonde hair, he dragged Wil's head closer to his own, tongue darting out to drag across lips that remained sealed for one astonished second, then parted eagerly.

Wil suckled on Alex's tongue as it entered his mouth. After a moment, he pulled away from his boyfriend's clinging mouth, putting enough space between him so he could give the man an amused smirk. "So, you like it when I'm forceful, huh?" There was a rumble deep in his chest as he shoved Alex onto his back, pinning his arms up over his head. "I can work with that."

He bent, but before his lips touched Alex's, he stopped. He blew lightly across them, then, cocking his head, sat up and moved away from Alex, rising from the bed and standing there nonchalantly.

Alex gaped at him in disbelief. "What--?"

Wil made a show of stretching. "Well, y'know, you wanted to take it slow an' all." He shrugged casually. "Wouldn't want you to think I was tryin' to trick you into anything." He stood there innocently as Alex continued to blink up at him in consternation.

Alex was in a state of shock, mingled with disbelief. His jaw was hanging open as he continued to lie there unmoving. His eyes drifted over the blonde's seemingly relaxed stance, narrowing when they fell below the waist. He tossed his head, sitting up. "Right. Good thinking." He stood and walked past Wil, one hand brushing not-quite- accidentally over the prominent mound in the vampire's pants. He smirked to himself as he heard a muted groan.

That fleeting touch sent a shock of arousal surging through Wil, but he wasn't about to let Alex know that. Well, at least not more than was already obvious. He took a moment to calm himself, then strolled to the foot of the bed. "Glad you see it my way, then." He stooped and picked up the fallen pillow. Instead of replacing it on the bed, though, he quickly turned and walloped Alex over the head with it. As Alex swung around with a furious expression, Wil pitched the pillow aside and darted back out to the living room.

Alex shook his head bemusedly, then followed at a more sedate pace. He knew Wil would be expecting some form of retaliation, so he decided to bide his time.

Wil watched him warily as he approached the sofa, not relaxing one bit even as the man made himself comfortable, feet propped up on the coffee table. As the minutes ticked by without a single movement, Wil gradually found himself unwinding.

Alex grinned. "So. Wanna go to a club or something later on?"

Wil studied him, looking for some sort of hidden meaning or threat in that question. Finding none, he shrugged. "Sounds good."

Alex nodded. "Cool." He reached for the remote, switching on the television.

*****