Hey kittens,
I said there might be an update tonight, and well...there is! Its 1.30am but Ive finally just finished chapter 35, and I really hope you like it.
There is a slight cliffhanger at the end...ok, a bit of a big one really. but well, I guess you'll read and find that out.
So, without further ado, here's your update!
Chapter 35.
As they drove, Willow found that the only way she could sit comfortably was with Tara’s hand loosely grasped in her own. Glancing over to her girlfriend, she saw that Tara still had a big goofy grin plastered across her beautiful face, although they were already half an hour into the drive.
“Happy baby?” she enquired softly.
Tara looked over nodded eagerly. Her eyes danced as she attempted to explain;
“It’s just…when I’m with you I’m so happy...and happy doesn’t even seem a strong enough word. But to know that you’ve gone to all this trouble…just to please me…it makes me feel special.”
“That’s because you are. Special, I mean!” the redhead reassured, squeezing her love’s hand.
Tara leant back against the headrest and closed her eyes, basking in the amount of love that she could hear in Willow’s words, and still unable to stop smiling.
The blonde re-opened her eyes when she felt a lock of hair being tucked behind her ear, and heard her girlfriend’s calming voice.
“Sweetie, it’s time to wake up, we’re here.”
Still in a slightly dazed state, Tara looked out of the window, and was surprised to have a view of the ocean.
Then she remembered where she was, what Willow had arranged for them, and pounced on her girlfriend to place a loving kiss on her lips.
“Mmmm, I should wake you more often!”
Willow had seen the look of pure excitement on Tara’s face, and was truly glad that she’d made the choice to go on this weekend away.
Giving Tara’s hand a quick squeeze, she let go and released her seatbelt. Racing around to the passenger door, she opened it and gestured for her love to step out.
“M’lady,” she proffered.
Tara gracefully climbed out and took the hand extended to her, kissing the skin softly.
Willow quickly retrieved their bags and, insisting on carrying both of their luggage, hobbled with her bulky load inside to the reception area.
Not long after, an employee of the calypso hotel opened the door to the suite that Willow and Tara would be staying in for the weekend.
Stepping inside, Tara’s jaw dropped in shock.
Instead of the basic, almost dorm-like appearance of the room she had previously stayed in with Buffy and Xander, this room was simply breathtaking.
Comfortably furnished, the room held a large four poster bed, an open door to an en-suite bathroom with a bath-tub big enough to fit a family of four, and to top it all off, an ocean view.
Letting go of Willow’s hand, Tara stepped over to the large window and placed her hand against the glass.
“Wow.”
Willow beamed at the blonde’s reaction to the room, and the view. It had not been difficult to book such a room only a week prior; a beach-side hotel didn’t exactly get a lot of visitors during late winter.
Leaving their bags by the door, the redhead joined Tara at the window and placed an arm around her waist.
“I love you,” she said simply.
The blonde reached up and placed her hands on either side of Willow’s face, pulling her closer. Their lips met in a gentle kiss, their lips smoothly brushing against each other.
Willow’s hands moved down Tara’s back from the long silky locks of gold, to rest on her girlfriend’s backside, and the kiss naturally deepened.
Just as Willow opened her mouth to sneak her tongue between Tara’s welcoming lips, their reverie was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Jumping apart, the two girls looked over to where the sound had come from.
Tara blushed bright red as she realized that the hotel employee…Tom, that was his name…was still standing in the doorway of their room.
“Um…should I just leave your keys on the side here?” the teenage boy’s voice came out in a high squeak, and a blush crept over his features to match Tara’s.
Sensing that her love wouldn’t be able to speak, Willow smiled at Tom
“Yes, that’ll be great. Sorry about…that!” she apologized, somewhat nervously.
The boy simply nodded, and then ducked out of the room.
Tara suddenly released the breath she’d been holding in a loud gasp.
“Oh. My. God.”
Willow took Tara’s hands in her own and kissed each one lightly
“That’ll teach us to shut the door more often. In fact we always seem to have a problem with that…do you remember when Buffy…”
Her calming intentions were cut short when she saw Tara frantically shaking her head
“Willow, this isn’t funny, your hands were on my butt! The poor kid looked like he was about to…”
“Come in his pants?” Willow finished for her.
Tara tried desperately to keep a straight face, but couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her.
“Exactly,” she said, deadpan, before the two girls collapsed into laughter.
Once they had calmed down, the two girls began to unpack the bags that Willow had prepared for them. Willow explained that while they had been at Rose’s house that day Buffy and Faith had taken the bags which the redhead had left with them, and put them into Xander’s car once he had delivered it.
Tara smiled and listened intently, as Willow explained the depth of the planning that had gone into their trip, and how she had kept it a surprise from her.
Rummaging through her bag, the blonde came across a gift wrapped package inside. Removing it, she read the gift tag.
“Hey Willow, there’s a present in here, the tag says ‘Dear Tara, we hope Willow enjoys her present, love Buffy and Faith.’”
Frowning slightly at this, she started to unwrap the gift.
“That’s sweet of them,” Willow answered, while busily hanging up clothes, “but why is it a present for me? I don’t get it.”
“I think I do.”
Willow looked up to find Tara standing holding a red lace lingerie set. Instantly her mind was flooded with images of just how great Tara would look dressed in the bra and panties, and she smiled sweetly.
“Well that’s nice. Very very nice!” the redhead said, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Mmm hmmm,” the blonde recognized that look immediately; Willow’s emerald eyes gleamed with undisguised lust.
“Why don’t you try them on?”
At this question, Tara could see the chance for a bout of teasing. Folding the underwear, she placed it in the drawer, while gently shaking her head.
“No, actually I was kind of thirsty, I was thinking maybe we could go down to the shops and get some drinks and snacks.”
Willow looked at the blonde as though she had completely lost her mind.
“Dr-drinks?” she stammered, clearly not believing that Tara would choose liquid refreshment over…well, liquid refreshment.
“Yep, come on Will, lets go,” the blonde said cheerily, picking up her purse and heading for the door. As much as this was about teasing the hell out of Willow, she actually really was a little parched.
As she picked up the keys, she turned to see a despondent Willow shuffling across the room, shamelessly pouting. Smiling to herself at the cuteness of her girlfriend, she took her hand and entwined their fingers, then quietly shut the door behind them.
They had filled their basket quickly, Willow hastily throwing anything inside; obviously eager to get back to their room. They were just walking towards the pay desk when Tara noticed a display of frozen foods. How could she forget? For the perfect weekend, they would have to have ice cream! She took a medium sized tub of raspberry ripple, and a squeezy bottle of chocolate sauce for good measure.
The sight of this soon perked Willow up,
“Mmm, ice cream! Good thinking baby,” she said, when she joined Tara at the counter.
“Well, I know we only have a fridge in our room, not a freezer, but I thought it might be fun to make sundaes later…even if they will be a little melted.”
“Actually, I planned for us to eat at a restaurant tonight, it being your birthday and everything.”
“That’s ok, I’m sure we can find another use for it.”
Despite keeping a straight face, Willow saw the gleam in Tara’s sapphire eyes, and knew her intentions immediately.
Later that evening, the two girls had changed and left the hotel again for a walk before dinner.
Hand in hand, they walked alongside the beach, enjoying the sea breeze and the moonlight.
Willow smiled when she saw the bench come into view. The bench where they had sat that first night; where she had nervously confessed her feelings, and then experienced for the first time the true wonder that was their first kiss.
The blonde also glimpsed the bench, and turned to Willow
“Did you plan this?”
“No, not at all. That’s a very definite no…”
“Meaning yes?”
Willow smiled, the corners of her lips turning into a perfect arc.
“Yes.”
They reached the seat, and snuggled closely together on it. Tara broke the silence.
“I was so nervous you know, being alone with you that night.”
“Really? You didn’t seem it. Me, I was petrified, I thought I was gonna lose all self-control and jump on you and kiss you senseless, and then you’d never want to see me again.”
“Like that would ever happen,” Tara directed a cute lop-sided smile at her girlfriend. “It’s hard to believe that was only a few months ago. Everything’s so different now. You found me, and now I’m so happy.”
“I will always find you, baby.”
Tara looked into her girlfriends eyes, and their lips met in a silky caress.
When she re-opened her eyes, Tara saw something on Willow’s face that she hadn’t seen for a long time. She looked nervous. Wondering what could be wrong, Tara’s thoughts drifted off, but she was soon brought back by the quiet sound of Willow clearing her throat.
“Um, Tara, you know I love you right?” Seeing her girlfriend nod, she continued. “That’s good…that’s great…that, well, that makes this much easier. The thing is, I was going to wait until later at the meal to give you the next part of your present…but right now is so perfect…I just don’t want to wait.”
Tara smiled, when she realized that Willow’s nerves signaled nothing bad.
“It is perfect,” she replied simply.
Willow reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box, big enough to hold jewelry such as a necklace or bracelet. The redhead’s fingers stroked the dark blue box, hesitantly.
“I…I guess this is more of a question, than a gift, but well…I think you’ll understand when you open it.” Her shaky fingers offered the box to her love.
Tara’s questioning eyes met Willow’s, and she gently took the box.
“Thank you…I think,” she said, a teasing smile on her lips.
Tara carefully opened the lid of the box, and lifted the protective sheet that lay inside. The box contained a shiny silver key.
A million questions and answers once again invaded her thoughts at that moment, until they were silenced by her girlfriend’s voice.
“Tara, I love you, and I love every minute that I spend with you. You said something to me just a week ago. You said that every day that you get to wake up and spend with me is amazing and special. And I agree with you, with all of my heart. I love waking up wrapped in your arms, I love you being there to kiss me, and love me, anytime I want and…I guess what I’m trying to say is. I want us to wake up and spend more amazing and special days together. I want us to live together. Will you move in with me?”
TBC
Evil, I know! And once again I will say the words...feedback please? LOL.