X'an deftly plucked the little octopus from its hiding place. With a swift movement, he partially crushed its head with a rock. The creature spasmed a few times, then died. X'an swam with his catch to a large flat rock that was mostly concealed by gently waving fronds of seaweed and ferns.

He settled himself on the rock, tail curled beside him. With a sharp claw, he plucked an eyeball from the octopus and chewed on it thoughtfully.

He felt odd. The pod was in its usual yearly frenzy, and things wouldn't settle down until one of the males finally caught and mated with the matriarch. And B'fi wasn't making the chase easy.

He didn't see what all the fuss was about, personally. B'fi was nice and all, but why such a commotion just because she was in season? X'an shook his head, confused. He nibbled on a tentacle, grinning as a small school of bright silver fish zipped by him. They were safe for the moment; the octopus was enough to slake his hunger.

Sensing movement in the weeds behind him, X'an jerked around. His eyes scanned the covering of plants, trying to pick out what had alerted him.

There. A flash of red. X'an tensed. With a flick of his powerful tail, he launched himself off of the rock, streaming with the fluid grace of a predator through the weeds. This section of the ocean floor was practically a jungle, overgrown with a lush abundance of plantlife. Colorful anemones waved gently at his passing, and he slipped through an opening in the coral.

He pulled up short, fins fluttering to hold him in place. "Hello?"

The smaller male, obviously not one of X'an's pod, bared his teeth, chittering threateningly. His tail moved stiffly, sending him back a few lengths.

X'an's eyes widened at the long, thin scratches that wound their way across the stranger's chest. They crossed over his gills, and disappeared into the bright red of his tail. "Are you...are you all right?"

The merman glared at him, shaking his head to send a cloud of his black hair covering his body. "Go 'way," he rasped out.

"I'm not going to hurt you," X'an said softly, drifting closer to the skittish male. He halted when the spines along the merman's flanks lifted in warning. Then he looked closer. Several of the spines appeared to be damaged, shorter than normal and not tapering to their usual dangerous points. Like they had been broken. "What happened?"

The red and black male gave a high pitched, keening cry that made X'an wince and back away a bit. This only steadied his resolve, though. Determinedly, he began to move in again. This time, he noticed how the other merman's eyes followed the movements of his hand. He looked, realizing that he still held the octopus. Tentatively, he held it out. "Are you hungry? I don't mind sharing."

The male twitched, his mouth dropping open a bit to taste the water. With halting, jerky movements, he drew closer to X'an, drawn by the promise of food.

X'an tore off a tentacle and held it out, watching in bemusement as the smaller male snatched it and began to gnaw at it desperately, gulping it down in only a few bites. "More?"

A hesitant nod met this query, and X'an held out another tentacle. "What's your name?" he asked as he watched the second tentacle disappear as quickly as the first.

Cool blue eyes studied him carefully as the last bite was swallowed. "S'ke," he answered after a long moment, then held out a somewhat shaky hand.

X'an grinned. He handed over the rest of the octopus, then drifted to the seabed. "I'm X'an," he said. "Why don't I find us something more to eat? And then I want to hear all about where you come from and why you're here."

Still eating hurriedly, S'ke watched the blue-green male swim away, already stalking the unlucky lobster that had scuttled by.

*****

"Danny! Welcome home!" Grinning widely, Sophia enveloped the smaller man in a tight hug, almost making his bones creak in protest.

"It's good to be back," came the breathless response.

Sophia finally released, then gave him a critical once-over. "Blue streaks? Daniel, streaks are *so* passe. Now, maybe if you had done just the tips blue instead...” She fingered his dyed hair musingly.

"Sophia, you'd be perfectly happy if I shaved my head bald, admit it."

"Oh, no! The hair *must* stay, Daniel. But, maybe something lighter next time?" She ushered him into the elevator. "Come now, we have *so* much to catch up on!" She beamed to the other passenger in the elevator. "Mellie, you remember Danny, don't you?"

Mellie smiled and patted his hand fondly. "Of course I do. I may be getting up in years, but I'm not senile." She too looked him over. "My dear boy, you need to eat more! You're positively scrawny!"

"Well, if your pie is anywhere near as good as it used to be, I'm sure that won't last long."

"Oh, isn't he a dear?" She pulled him into a quick hug. "Do drop by and visit me when you get settled. My daughter Dana is visiting too, and I'm sure the two of you will get along famously!" The elevator jerked to a stop and dinged. "Well, here's my floor." Mellie hugged the bemused young man again, pecking his forehead in a motherly manner. "Don't be a stranger!"

As her friend stepped into the hallway, Sophia called out, "Mellie, don't forget to call with that recipe you promised me yesterday!"

"Oh yes. I'll get that for you right away." She waved, then turned to walk to her apartment. "Wil, Alex. For heaven's sake, you'll wrinkle the laundry if you keep that up! Put the basket down before you start making out in the hallway." Giggling softly, she stepped into her apartment.

Daniel Osborne cocked his head and frowned as the metal panels of the elevator closed, blocking his view of the two strangely familiar men who were still ardently kissing.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alex finally managed to fumble their door open, and he about fell inside, pulling Wil and their basket of laundry in with him. He laughed breathlessly when the laundry went tumbling to the floor and they followed close after. "Wil!" he panted out, trying to nudge the door shut with his foot. "Door!"

Wil growled and kicked the door, closing it with a loud bang. Then he went back to nibbling the inside part of Alex's wrist, something he'd discovered drove the other man wild.

Alex squeaked, watching wide-eyed as Wil worked his tongue up the tender skin of his arm until he was sucking at the bend of his elbow. He let out a low cry, his body jerking with pleasure. "Wil...please. I want...” He spread his legs apart.

Wil stilled, pulling back and looking at Alex seriously. "You sure you wanna try that again, luv?"

Without hesitation, Alex nodded. "You won't hurt me. Please, Wil. I need you."

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Wil nodded. "Right then. Best get into the bedroom." He smirked. "The floor inside the doorway can wait to be christened until we get more...practiced." He stood and pulled Alex up, shoving him in the direction of the bedroom.

Alex stumbled across the room, eyes crossed in remembrance of the practicing for the shared shower experience. Dear lord, how would he survive? His knees bumped into something, and he stared with glazed eyes at the bed, which was still somewhat soiled from their sexual explorations upon wakening. He *knew* they'd forgotten something when taking the laundry down...

"Less clothes would probably be best." Wil chuckled as Alex stared at him blankly, then began to undress.

"Right. Right!" Alex bobbed his head eagerly, stripping quickly out of his clothes. Once naked, he spread himself out on the bed.

Wil stared in wonder at the man who was so easily and fearlessly offering himself to him. What had he ever done to deserve him? He shook of those musings andcrawled onto the bed. Remembering the lube this time, he grabbed the tube off the nightstand, quirking an eyebrow at its half-empty state. Looks like they might have to start investing in the economy-sized tubes.

Alex tried to turn onto his stomach, but a hand on his hip stopped him. "Wil?"

Wil licked his lips as he touched Alex's body. "Like you like this, pet," he said in a husky voice. He let his finger travel lightly across Alex's swelling cock.

"Oh." Alex wiggled, slightly embarrassed by the frank, admiring gaze that was being directed at him. "Um...do something?"

The soft, pleading words broke through Wil's reverie, and he nodded. "Yeah. Just...you're so bloody gorgeous." He laughed weakly at himself. With fumbling hands, he squirted some lube from the open tube, wondering absently if they would ever find the cap to the blasted thing. Not that looked like it would last long anyway...

Alex frowned, then bent his knees up towards his chest, holding them there. He felt somewhat exposed in this position, but it was worth it to see Wil's eyes darken with desire.

Wil tried to ignore the way his hands shook as he reached slippery fingers towards Alex, trying to prepare his lover as carefully and gently as he had been prepared.

Alex fought the urge to tense in remembrance of the pain he'd felt previously. He was glad he had when the finger slid painlessly into him, wiggling around as if seeking something.

Wil knew it had to be there. He wasn't exactly sure what 'it' was, but reason stated that if he could be driven out of his skull with pleasure by having a certain spot inside him stimulated, then Alex would surely posses a similar spot.

Alex barely had a chance to remember that nub of flesh he'd discovered inside of Wil the night before when Wil found his. He gave a very unmanly shriek, his back arching up off the bed as his eyes opened wide in disbelief. *That's* what it felt like??? There was no *way* he was going to survive this!

More sure of himself, Wil played with the spot he'd found, prodding just around it until Alex was keening helplessly, then letting the tip of his finger scrape over it. Feeling daring, he tried for two fingers, applying more lube to help ease the way. It was more of a stretch, but he did it, turning Alex's startled gasp into a moan of pleasure by burrowing in to rub over that fleshy protrusion.

Alex tried to open himself more, pulling his legs higher up. "Wil...please!"

Wil shook the beads of sweat off his face, adding more lube and a third finger, carefully stretching the tight muscle, feeling it slowly yield to his advances. He stared, fixated on the sight of his fingers disappearing into Alex's body. He trembled, unable to wait much longer. "You...you ready?"

"God yes!" Alex squeezed on the fingers inside him, then cried out as they left. Cool hands coaxed his fingers from their death-grip on his legs, and he blinked in confusion.

Wil smiled gently as he lay down next to Alex, turning the other man towards him and lifting a leg over his hip.

Alex quickly got the idea, and he let his leg curl around behind Wil's. He couldn't help thrusting forward as their cocks bumped together.

Wil hissed. "Keep that up, and you might not get what you were asking for."

Alex pouted at him, but stopped thrusting. For the moment.

Wil kissed him, then awkwardly moved his arm around so he could squeeze out more lube. He reached down and rubbed it over his aching erection, then hitched Alex's leg higher up on his waist. "Breathe, Alex," he whispered, then aligned himself and pushed forward.

Alex groaned as he felt himself stretching even wider. He gasped in a deep breath of air, staring into Wil's eyes as he felt his lover sliding slowly into him. "Oh...god...” He quivered helplessly when Wil shoved in that last little bit.

"Good?" By god, he hoped so, because he didn't want to know what would happen to him if he stopped now.

Alex gave him a jerky nod, then squeezed his eyes shut so he could concentrate on the fullness inside him. "Wil...so much...god, you fill me." Blindly, he started to press kisses against whatever part of Wil was closest to his mouth. "More...give me more," he breathed.

At those words, Wil bucked, causing Alex to yelp in pleasure. His hands stroked down Alex's back to cover his ass, dipping down to brush against where they were joined. Alex seemed to like this a great deal, if his whimpering and increased sucking on Wil's neck were any indication.

When Wil started to move gently, rocking back and forth inside him, Alex thought he'd pass out from the sheer intensity of what he was feeling. He had to find out more about that spot Wil kept rubbing over, because it was definitely a happy, happy thing. Oh yes, *very* happy. He robbed his cock against Wil's stomach as the vampire sped up a little, pulling out almost all the way before plunging back inside.

Wil dragged a hand up to Alex's head, latching onto his hair and gently but insistently pulling his head back. He kissed Alex's nose, then his chin, then his mouth, inviting his tongue out to play. He pulled back from the kiss, not really wanting to end it, but wanting...*needing* something more.

Alex squirmed as Wil nibbled at his neck. Remembering what Wil had done last night, he squeezed down around Wil's cock, enjoying the growl that escaped his lover's throat. He felt something odd against his skin, and reached up a shaking hand to touch Wil's face. The hard ridges that met his questing fingers made his eyes fly wide open. "Yes...Wil, yes..."

That was all Wil needed, and he gently bit down on the curve where Alex's neck and shoulder met, feeling his fangs carefully slice through flesh. And then it hit him. The scent, the taste, the texture. He could taste Alex's arousal in the blood that filled his mouth, and it was better than anything he could have dreamed. It was rushing through his veins, filling him with the very essence of Alex. Of his lover. His mate. His.

Alex panted harshly, shivering with desperate need as Wil suckled. Vaguely, he wondered why it didn't hurt, but Wil chose that moment to start thrusting harder, and all thought was driven from his mind.

Wil withdrew his fangs and felt his face settle back into its human features. He hummed contentedly as he licked up the few drops of blood that welled from the punctures. He felt strong, whole. He crushed Alex to him as he thrust even more vigorously.

Alex cried out as his cock was trapped between their bodies, sliding along sweat-slicked skin. He shuddered, burying his face against Wil's neck and biting down as he came, spilling his release between them.

When Alex bit him, Wil was slightly shocked. Then the convulsions of Alex's orgasm shook his body, milking his cock almost painfully in its tight sheath. With a strangled moan, Wil buried himself as deep as he could and let go of his control, cumming inside of his mate.

Alex snuggled close to Wil as his breathing started to slow. "You did it," he said in a soft, awed voice. "You bit me."

Wil looked at the marks that were already starting to close. "I did," he whispered back. He grinned. "You're mine now. Forever."

"Forever and always." Alex kissed his lover, his husband. "My Wil."

~~~~~~~~~~

Wil sighed. "I don't see what was wrong with the first three shirts. We're gonna be late to work again if you keep this up." He grinned fondly as he watched Alex try on yet another shirt, tug at the neckline, then frown and pull it off.

Alex spotted a dark blue shirt in the corner of the closet. He pulled it out and slipped it on. "Yes! Perfect." He turned to give Wil a heated smile. "I couldn't wear the others 'cause they didn't show of this." He fingered the twin marks left from Wil's claiming of him. "Gotta let everyone see that I'm a properly married man now, y'know." His eyes twinkled.

"Oh." Wil grabbed him and hauled him in for a kiss. He licked his way down to the mark, placing a gentle kiss on it. "Mmmm, all mine, you are."

"Damn right." Alex forced himself to pull away from Wil, and he swatted the vampire's ass. "Come on, we can still make it on time if we hurry."

They left the apartment, pausing only long enough to lock the door behind them. They had made it to the lobby and were almost out the door when a voice hailed them.

"Alex! Wil! Over here!"

They turned to see Sophia waving at them from across the lobby, accompanied by a rather confused-looking young man. "Have to make it quick, Pet," Wil said as the changed direction. "Don't want Frankie gettin' testy about us being late to work too much."

"Sure. We'll just say 'hi' and then get going."

Sophia smiled as they approached. "Oh good, I caught you. I wanted to introduce you to Danny, he's that werewolf I mentioned at the party back when you two first moved in."

"Right." Alex held out a hand. "The one with the handy nail polish tips." He nodded. "Hey there."

Oz rowned slightly as he shook Xander's -- Alex's? -- hand. "Nice to...meet you?" His eyes darted between him and Wil, who he was absolutely positive was really Spike. He wondered why they were acting like they'd never met. Not that he was best buddies with Spike or anything, but they did know each other. And why was Xander holding Spike's hand? "So...what's up with you guys?"

"Oh!" Sophia nearly squealed in delight as she noticed Alex's mark. "You did it! Congratulations! Oh, wait until Mellie hears." She sniffed softly. "Weddings always make me cry. I'm so happy for you two!" She hugged them, giving them an appraising look as she held them close. "Are you sure you boys don't want to--"

"No!"

Sophia sighed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, we could have made a fortune together. Pity." She stepped back. "Well, at least I still have Daniel. He's always willing to lend a hand, aren't you Danny?"

"Um, yeah. Sure thing." Oz sniffed discreetly, picking up the subtle, mingled scent of blood and sex coming from Xander and Spike. Combined with that mark, he'd be willing to bet they were mated. He wondered what Willow and Buffy thought about that.

"Hey, we were just heading to work. Kinda running late." Wil gave Sophia an apologetic grin.

"Oh, of course! Don't let me hold you up. Shoo. You can visit with Danny later."

"Cool. Catch you later, Danny!" Alex nodded at the young man, wondering absently why he kept giving him and Wil those strange looks, and why he seemed almost...familiar? He shrugged it off as he and Wil left the building, hand in hand, walking so close their legs brushed with every step.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Woo, you go Alex!" Jon clapped him on the back, waggling his eyebrows as he leaned in to examine the marks that were just visible above the neckline of his shirt.

Alex flushed a little, looked from Jon to Wil and back to Jon, then turned an even brighter red.

Jon laughed. "So, did our little chat help? Judging by your no longer single state, I'd say you got *really* lucky." He leered at Alex, who was beet-red by this time.

Wil gave Alex a curious look. "Talk? What talk?"

Alex chuckled nervously. "We were just discussing, um, stocks! And, um...investment stuff. Really boring, actually, you don't want to hear about it." He tried to tug Wil away from Jon, but the vampire resisted.

"No, it sounds interesting." He turned an interested gaze upon Jon. "Any good tips?"

Jon started to snicker uncontrollably. "You could...you could...say that!" he gasped out.

Wil cocked his head, frowning. "I don't get it. What's so bleedin' funny?"

"Oh look! Frankie wants us! Come on, Wil." Grateful for the distraction, Alex managed to drag Wil away from Jon. Jon, who was going to die soon. Alex would be nice and make it painless, since he *did* give Wil that harem outfit, and the talk, mortifying though it was at the time, did lead to Alex getting royally laid. But he was *still* going to die. It was just a matter of time.

When the reached Frankie, he grabbed their shoulders and gave them a hardy shake, beaming from ear to ear. "It's not every day one of my employees gets hitched," he said jovially. "Congratulations, you two." A slightly worried expression crossed his face. "You weren't planning on some sort of extended honeymoon, were you?"

Wil blinked. "Can't say as we were."

Relieved, Frankie smiled again. "Good, good! Well, I suppose I can see to giving you a day or two off, let Jon tend the bar while his wrist finishes mending." He ignored the minor protest Jon set up when he overhead that. "As for tonight...” Eyes gleaming devilishly, Frankie leapt nimbly up onto the bar, the very action at odds with his size. But it did serve to draw the attention of the patrons that had started to trickle in.

"May I have your attention please!" Frankie bellowed.

Wil got a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he groaned, burying his face in Alex's shoulder.

"I would like to make an announcement!" Frankie pointed at Wil and Alex, who were trying desperately to blend into the wall behind them. "You remember the dancing harem boy, also known affectionately at your friendly vampire bouncer? Well, seems he went and tied the knot with our bartender!"

At the resounding cheers and catcalls that sounded, Alex added Frankie to his mental hit list. He clutched at Wil, giving the crowd a wave and a sickly grin.

"Aren't they cute, folks?" More cheers and whistles sounded, and someone started clapping madly. Soon, the entire population of the club was applauding them loudly.

Wil lifted his head and snarled when some idiot had the nerve to yell out "Speech!" This was met with laughter, and then the chant started. "Kiss! Kiss! *Kiss*! *Kiss*!"

Wil rolled his eyes and shook his head. Then, he grabbed Alex and bent him back, dipping the man low as he planted a loud, smacking kiss on his lips.

There were more cheers, but the noise started to die down as the kiss went on...and on...and on. Finally, there was silence as the crowd watched, slightly awed.

Frankie jumped down off the bar. "All right you two, break it up! No sex in the club, you hear?" He glared at the crowd as they booed that decision, and they melted back, chagrined.

Frankie smiled at the newlyweds indulgently as they finally parted. "Drinks half price for everyone tonight!" he shouted, and the ecstatic cheers started once again.

*****