Part Sixteen

As the bath water started running, Joyce dumped three capfuls of her favorite bubble bath into the tub. As the soothing scent of heather filled the air, Joyce started to remove her clothing, wincing as her aching body protested her movements. She winced again when she caught her reflection in the full-length mirror. The side of her face was black and blue, there were particularly painful scrapes on her cheeks and arms. And a gash on her leg that she wasn’t even aware of until she saw it. Oh well, it all matched the black and blue bruises that were all over her body. “Joyce, you are a mess. Note to self, just use the back way when trying to avoid assassins.”

She sighed with relief as she eased herself into the tub, and laid her head back. She cupped up some water and bubbles, gently cleaning her aching face with the scented and heated water. Then with a sigh, she closed her eyes. “Oh, God, this feels good.”

Carrying towels, Giles entered the bathroom quietly. His eyes became grim as he knelt to study the bruises and scrapes on her porcelain skin. Under her lovely brown eyes were black and blue bags, showing how tired and worried she was. This was his fault, he should have watched over her more carefully. Made sure that she was safe. He should have-“It’s not your fault, you know. If it was, Buffy would have beaten you to a pulp.”

Startled, he caught her steady gaze. “I should never have gotten involved with you. You would have been safer if-”

“Don’t start this again, Rupert. I’m not in the mood for one of our arguments about the dangers of being with you,” Joyce said calmly as she grabbed a washcloth and gingerly started to wipe her face. Then winced as she touched a sore spot.

Sitting on the edge of the tub, Giles took the washcloth from her hands and started to gently clean her face with it. “It is dangerous, Joyce. Especially now with these Bhavikan assassins going around and killing Watchers. You and Buffy are safe, but I’m not. They could decide to kill-“

“They won’t,” Joyce interrupted him fiercely. “These assassins won’t kill you, Rupert.” She placed a hand on his protesting lips. “And this isn’t just because I want to avoid thinking of the possibility. It’s because I know that you’re different from those other Watchers they’ve killed, you’re more like Wilson. You’d die to protect Buffy and I think that’s what the Bhavikans are looking for, Watchers that would die to protect their Slayers.”

“I don’t know, Joyce,” Rupert said as he kissed her fingers, then cupped her hand against his face. “If that’s true, then I’m safe enough this time. But I still think that you’d be safer, perhaps happier to be with a man who doesn’t have calling or is in the front of the battle between good and evil.”

“Charles Dubois from La Monde Export asked me if I’d like to have dinner with him sometime, at his place. He wants to discuss a joint exhibit over quail, Fois de Gras and champagne. Should I accept?” Joyce asked as she cocked her head to the side. He remained silent, but she felt his hand slightly tighten involuntarily and saw the flash in his eyes before he could control it. As he pulled away to rise the washcloth, she knew what his answer was even before he said anything.

“If you wish to go out with him, you may,” Rupert said coolly as he envisioned himself stuffing the amorous Frenchman into one of the museum’s many sarcophagus. The Egyptian exhibit was over in Sunnydale, and the next stop was headed towards Alaska. Or perhaps he’d just stuff the Frenchie into the arms of the next demon that was threatening Sunnydale. His hands shook as he wrung the washcloth, and pretended it was the frog’s neck. “I certainly would not stop you.”

“Um-hmm, so generous, Rupert. I think that I’d do just that,” Joyce said as she smiled at him. With a grunt he stopped wiping her face, and started to rise, but stopped when she placed a hand on his chest. “But there’s just one thing-”

With all her might, Joyce fisted a handful of Rupert’s sweater and yanked him towards her as hard as she could. Water splashed all over the bathroom floor as he lost his balance and fell into the tub with a curse. As he sputtered and cleared the bubbles from his eyes, Joyce quickly moved around him to sit astride on his stomach. As he glared at her, she continued blithely, “I don’t like quail, he has a tendency to get cheap champagne and his mouth moves when he talks.”

Joyce brought her face closer to his face as her hands played with his curling wet hair. “You, on the other hand, would never serve me quail, a huge hint there, by the way, or serve me cheap champagne. You, good sir, can just get me drunk on water and your mouth moves just wonderfully, along with the rest of you. Point taken?”

“Point taken.” Rupert said as a reluctant smile came on his lips. “I suppose you’re stuck with me then.”

“I suppose I am,” Joyce agreed as she kissed him tenderly. Before the kiss could get any deeper, she pulled away and grinned at him impishly. “At least until a better model comes along.”

“You little minx,” Rupert laughingly scolded as he tickled her under her ribs. She let out a shriek of laughter, then a cry of pain. Immediately, he stopped and gently touched her face. “I’m sorry, baby, I hurt you.”

“I’m fine, darling. Really.” Joyce brushed away his concern with a kiss. She looked at him speculatively as she fingered the hem of his sweater. “You know, Rupert, you’re really supposed to take a bath without any clothes on.”

“I wasn’t planning to take a bath,” Rupert said dryly. “Some one just pulled me in. I think it was the water sprite who likes to live in my bath.”

“Sounds like you should get rid of her,” Joyce clucked as she took off his sweater. Suppressing a smile, she hooked her arms around his shoulders as she sat directly on top of his hardness. She nuzzled his ear as she rubbed herself against him. ”She sounds like a little troublemaker.”

“Usually, she’s no trouble at all,” Rupert replied as he nipped her shoulder, then kissed it. “She’s just playful, mischievous and utterly insatiable. Not to mention absolutely wonderful.”

“In that case, you should keep her then,” Joyce said breathlessly as his mouth latched on to her nipple. She felt a momentary twinge of pain when his hands pressed against a sore spot on her back, but she was soon lost in the magic of his mouth on her breast. She whimpered with pleasure, then felt him pull his mouth away. Dazed, she blinked at him as he looked at her with concern. Then he pulled her to her feet, turning the water on. “What’s the matter? Rupert?”

“We shouldn’t do this now, love, you’re hurt,” Rupert said as he looked at her, and winced when he took in the out lines of bruises and scrapes all over her white skin. The suds glistened as they slowly slid down her body, revealing more bruises. He choked back the anger and fear he felt as he remembered how she got them. Using one hand to close the shower curtains, he used the other to twist the shower knob on. Water softly pelted over them as he brought his hands on her bruised shoulders. “We-mrmph!”

His anger dissipated into the steam as Joyce ruthlessly plundered his mouth with her tongue. She pulled back when he started to take control of her heated kiss. Breathlessly, she peppered kisses all over his face. “Now, if you don’t want to, we don’t have to. But I want to, please?”

“I don’t want to hurt you, baby,” Rupert said as he held her still against his chest. “I might be too rough-“

“I’ll let you know if you hurt me,” Joyce said as she kissed his chest. Her hand cupped his hardness; the rough denim let her know how much he wanted her. He moaned as she lowered the zipper, reached in and stroked him. His eyes started to cross as her hand started to squeeze him. As he started to moan, she went down to her knees. He looked down at her, and she gave him an impish smile. “And you’re never too rough.”

He gave a low growl as Joyce took him into her mouth and her tongue swirled around the head of his cock. “Joyce-Baby-stop-let me-“

“Nope,” Joyce said as she popped him out of her mouth, and nuzzled his heavy sac. She nipped the tip of his manhood. “You didn’t want to, remember? So I’m going to.”

“Joyce,” Rupert moaned as she took him into her mouth again. He buried his hands into her wet hair and gritted his teeth as she nipped, sucked and teased him with her mouth. Pressure started to build in him, and then with a roar, he spilled himself into her mouth.

The water was cool as it pelted over his heated skin. As he leaned heavily against the cool tiles, he pulled Joyce off her knees and held her as she kissed his neck and chin. He opened his eyes and saw her satisfied cat smile. “Proud of yourself, are you, love?”

“Not me,” Joyce said demurely as she reached over to shut the water. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing her chest against his, and sighed with pleasure. “All I did was get something to fill my stomach.”

“Is that right, love?” Rupert said as he nuzzled her temple. Using one hand to hold her steady, he pulled back the shower curtain with other hand, then grabbed a towel with it. As he started to drape the towel over her, his eyes caught the huge bruises just under her shoulder blades. He covered her shoulders with the towel as he gently lifted her out of the tub and put her to her feet. “Allow me to pamper the lady. May I dry you after your bath?”

“You may, kind sir,” Joyce giggled as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders again. She nipped his shoulder as he rubbed the towel gently all over her shoulders. “But only if I get to dry you.”

“And how is this supposed to be pampering you if you dry me?” Rupert asked as he rubbed the towel down her back, careful to not touch her bruises. He started to rub the ends of her hair with the towel, not an easy task since she was tugging at his jeans.

“Rupert? Do stop being logical,” Joyce admonished gently as she struggled with his clinging jeans. Frustrated at the stubbornness of the wet denim, she looked at him balefully. “And help me take this off.”

“You’re always trying to get me naked,” Rupert complained with a dramatic sigh as he pulled at his jeans. The stubborn, wet denim clung to his legs like an adhesive. With a muttered curse, he lowered the toilet seat cover and started to roll it down his legs. Finally, he managed to get it off, and then, breathing heavily, he kicked the wet pile into the tub. “Dratted thing.”

“Well, at least it’s off,” Joyce giggled as she came between his legs, dumped a towel on his head, and started to rub his hair dry. Her brown eyes glittered with amusement as she smiled down at him. “You really should be careful of that water sprite when you take a bath, Rupert.”

Pulling her closer, he started to nuzzle the valley between her breasts. “I usually am, darling. But like I said, she’s mischievous and…”

“And?” Joyce moaned as he started to suck at her breast. She let out a high whimper when she felt his fingers slip between her legs. Pleasure started to pool down to where his fingers touched her, then stopped. Dazed, she looked down at his grinning face. “Rupert?”

“And utterly playful,” he grinned as he forced her to step back by standing. Then he dashed out of the bathroom.

Stunned for a moment, Joyce bemusedly stared at the toilet seat, then ran out after him. “Rupert Giles! You tease! You come back here!”

As soon as he heard her come after him, Rupert pivoted to catch her. Her momentum threw them both on to the bed. For a second Joyce was sprawled on top of him, then he quickly changed their positions. She glared up at him with narrow eyes. “You tease!”

“Yes,” Rupert agreed as he kissed her nose. “Just like my insatiable water sprite, don’t you think?”

“No,” Joyce giggled as he nuzzled her neck. She sighed when he settled more comfortably on top of her. She touched his face, and a sudden bolt of fear went through her. “No more teasing, Rupert. Make love to me.”

“Always,” Rupert said as he softly kissed her. The kiss took a life of its own as they clung to each other. His tongue dueled with hers as his hands roamed all over her body. That lithe, precious body that offered him sanctuary against the cold, harsh nights and the demons that ran through it. She protected him when he felt hunted and defeated by everything, and she loved him when he really was.

He hissed with pleasure when he felt her wet heat envelope him. He opened his eyes to see her brown eyes closed with the pleasure he gave her. Her mouth opened and she mewled silently, happily when he slowly went deeper into her. She made him so strong. She made him feel safe. She made him feel alive. He needed her, more than he ever needed anyone in his life. Even Ethan. “Joyce, I love you. Deliriously.”

Joyce opened her eyes and smiled at the man she loved. Her heart turned upside down as she gazed at the only man who had ever held all the pieces of her heart. “And I love you, Rupert. Always.”

His mouth touched hers, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing him deeper. Rupert groaned loudly when her inner muscles contracted around him. He felt her nails dig into his skin when he gave a small thrust into her heat. Joyce gasped as a wave of need and ecstasy went through her. “More, Rupert, more.”

“God, yes!” Rupert groaned as he thrust deeper into her clinging heat. Her loud moans and mewls of pleasure spurred him on, he held her tighter, thrusting faster and faster into her. Vaguely, he remembered that there were guests in his home, and anger filled him as he remembered them. It meant that he couldn’t enjoy her cries of pleasure like he wanted to. So he clamped his mouth on hers, swallowing all her mewls of ecstasy, angered that he had to. Then her nails bit into his skin harder, and he lost all thought of his guests, and knew only her.

Drowning in ecstasy, Joyce was lost, she was always lost whenever he touched her. The man only had to look her way and she was ready to jump on his bones. His mouth clamped down on hers, and she knew he remembered something, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what. Then he thrust harder into her, and she couldn’t remember her name, only his.

So she clung on to him, her nails digging into his skin, her mouth sucking on his tongue, her inner walls clamping down on his hardness, anything to be used as an anchor against the harsh pleasure that was rushing through her. Then she felt his fingers tease her small nubbin, and suddenly, it was too much. Lightning bolts shot through her eyelids, screaming his name into his mouth. “Ruuuupppert!”

Still thrusting into her, he swallowed her scream as she convulsed around him. Spasms of pleasure ripped through him as he drove harder into her, her soft flesh giving way to his hard one. Suddenly, she ripped her mouth away from his, her eyes wild and her voice loud and breathless. “Come with me! Oh, GOD, Rupert, come with me!”

“Joyce-sss”, Rupert grunted as he thrust more into her, then lost it when she bit his shoulder. He drove one hard thrust into her and vaguely heard himself roar her name, mixing it with her scream as a bomb went off behind his eyes and he emptied himself into her.

“Joyce,” Rupert whispered when he came to, he was drained of all energy and still inside her. He tried to move off of her, but her arms and legs around his shoulders and waist tightened. He rolled over, careful to stay inside her. He used the last bit of his strength to pull the covers over them, and heard her hum with pleasure at the newly added warmth. He stroked her hair. “Rest.”

“Um-hmm,” Joyce said sleepily as she wrapped her arms around him more tightly and nuzzled his chest. She wanted to say something to him, but she couldn’t remember what it was. “Don’t go anywhere. Don’t leave me. I want to tell you something. Something important.”

“I won’t go anywhere, baby,” Rupert promised as he kissed her temple. He wrapped his arms around her torso. “I won’t leave you. And you can tell me in the morning.”

“Sounds good,” Joyce sighed sleepily. Then she remembered what she wanted to say to him. She lifted her head sleepily to look at him. “Now I remember, I might be safer with someone else, but I think I’d be less in love and not as happy. Understand?”

“Understood,” Rupert said as he put her head back down on his chest. He closed his eyes as he held her tighter. “Now go to sleep, love.”

“Okay,” Joyce said sleepily. Then the playful sprite inside her sprang up before she could tape it down. “I love you, Charles.”

Rupert’s eyes shot open. “Charles? Charles?!?”

He glowered down at her supposedly sleeping form, then he chuckled. “Go to sleep, sprite.”

“You, too,” Joyce giggled sleepily as she snuggled deeper into him, his chest hairs tickling her nose. She yawned, then kissed his chest. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt you, darling.”

“My heroine,” muttered Rupert as he looked down at her with a smile. She giggled sleepily, and soon her breathing was steady. Only then he let himself fall asleep, feeling happy, loved, safe and most of all…alive.