********
TITLE: College Confidential
AUTHOR: Laragh
CHAPTER RATING: NC-17
DISCLAIMER: Willow, Tara and any other characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise belong to Joss Whedon, FOX, ME and a whole host of other entities, none of which are me.
SUMMARY: The first part of the prequel to
Hacker Confidential and
Family Confidential - the college years!
SPOILERS: Perhaps minor references to the show or stealage of dialogue, but nothing that would spoil the series.
FEEDBACK: Yes please
Chapter 20 ********
“Tara? When can I, you know, move my stuff in?”
Tara stretched her toes out under the mattress, enjoying the post-coital tingle still running through her.
“Whenever you want.”
Willow had wanted to run upstairs and throw everything into her suitcase then and there when Tara had first asked her to move in, but with it still being the wee hours of the early morning had decided it was a bad idea.
She definitely hadn’t objected to how the rest of their morning had gone - the chaste kiss they shared outside the door as they returned from watching the sunrise, which turned into pushing each other through the door and into bed; the clothes they had pulled from one another and left in various piles on the floor; the soft moans from each of them as they discovered more of the other or the afterglow cuddling they were still engaged in.
She couldn't have imagined a better way to spend the morning, but with her mind settling out of its lust-filled haze, she was eager to really be able to call the place ‘hers’ as much as she knew she could call Tara that.
“I’m not trying to be all mega with the pushy, but…really, really want to be officially moved in.”
Tara turned her head towards Willow and opened her eyes with a lazy smile.
“You’re not being pushy, I’m the one who asked.”
Willow's lips quirked up and tinged with hope.
“So I could get started…now?”
Tara reached up and caressed the curve of Willow’s ear.
“You should to talk to Becky.”
Willow blinked a couple of times, slowly, having completely forgotten about her roommate.
“Right. I completely forgot.”
Tara let her hand fall down Willow’s shoulder to her arm, misinterpreting the look on her face.
“Are you sad?”
Willow just smiled softly.
“I’m feeling a lot of things right now but sad isn’t one of them,” she replied, catching Tara’s hand to link their fingers, “Becky was a great roommate, but I don’t want a roommate anymore. I want to live with my girlfriend.”
Tara pressed their palms together.
“You don’t have to move right awa–”
“Yes I do,” Willow cut her off, then blushed, “I mean, if that’s still okay.”
Tara smiled.
“Of course it is.”
Willow brought their hands up to kiss Tara’s knuckles, then broke the embrace.
“I’ll call her and arrange to meet so we can plan our day,” she said, secretly hoping it involved as much closeness and nakedness as they had right then, “Do you know where my cell phone is?”
Tara shook her head.
“When did you last see it?”
“Um, it was in my pocket when I came over yesterday…” Willow replied, then grinned a tiny grin, “You’re the one who took my pants off.”
Tara blushed and hid her face behind the sheet, then leaned over to where she thought she’d thrown Willow’s pants the night before.
Willow very much enjoyed the view of her girlfriend’s wiggling butt as she searched the floor, then had to quickly look away as Tara straightened back up and offered her the phone.
“Fell under the bed.”
“Thanks,” Willow replied, doing her best to calm her flushing cheeks and find Becky’s number, though it wasn’t helped as Tara began to draw circles on her thighs, “Baby, stop for a sec, Willow-brain isn’t functioning.”
Tara stilled her hand but didn’t take it away. Willow took a moment of clarity to connect the call and held the phone to her ear.
“Hi Becky… yeah, it’s me… hey, are you free at all today? Just wanna talk about something… you’re in the room right now? Okay, um, well I’m with Tara, so… oh… oh, okay… see you in a few then? Okay, bye.”
She pressed the button to end the call when she heard the dial-tone on the other end.
“She’s doing something this afternoon so now’s a good time,” she said, beginning to nervously bite at the skin around her thumb, “Some time to think about what I was going to say would be helpful.”
She felt Tara start to gently rub her back and leaned back into it gratefully.
“Hey, I’m in love with Tara and for some insanely lucky reason, she loves me too so we’re shacking up! Hope you’re happy for me, bye!”
Tara wrapped her arms around Willow’s shoulders from behind and leaned down to give her a squeeze.
“She’s your best friend. Just talk to her.”
Willow exhaled a soft breath, then smiled.
“Yeah. You’re right,” she replied, leaning over to kiss a spot of Tara’s arm that was close, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Tara answered promptly, “Can I walk you to your door? I won’t stay and muscle in on your time or anything.”
“Of course you can,” Willow replied, happily rocking from side to side in Tara’s embrace, “More Tara-time is always of the good.”
She stayed like that a moment, then sighed dramatically as she stood to dress.
“Eurgh. Clothes again. I don’t think I can do this every day, you know!”
Tara was taking full advantage of her chance to watch a wiggling Willow, but saw a flaw in the plan.
“We both have class on Monday.”
Willow looked over her shoulder from where she was gathering clothes and pouted.
“That’s alllll of today and alllll of tomorrow away. I don’t want to think about it yet.”
Tara watched Willow jump around from closet to dresser, appreciating every line and curve she was witness to.
“Okay, sweetie.”
Willow sensed eyes on her and looked over, then blushed under the gaze. She left the pair of brightly-coloured socks down with her as-brightly-coloured t-shirt and walked back over. She climbed on top of Tara to straddle her, then leaned down so their noses were touching.
“Now this is something I’m happy to think about,” she said, pressing kisses along Tara’s jaw, “Very… very… happy.”
Tara let herself enjoy a whole minute of Willow-kisses before gently pushing her away.
“You have to talk to your friend.”
Willow leaned her head down against Tara’s shoulder and sighed again.
“Stop being all reality-girl,” she said, kissing the tender patch of skin where Tara’s neck met her shoulder, “Okay, okay, I’ll go wash up.”
She left Tara with a parting kiss and got her clothes again, then disappeared into the bathroom. Tara stretched out for another minute or two, then decided to get up and dressed herself. Willow came back out, washed and dressed, a few minutes later and pouted when she saw Tara clothed and waiting.
“Have I mentioned how much I hate clothes?”
Tara lips quirked up on one side.
“Once or twice.”
Willow smiled back sheepishly and offered her hand.
“At least I can have hand-holdy goodness,” she said brightly, “You ready?”
Tara took her hand and Willow led them from the room, upstairs.
“This is the last time I’ll walk in here as ‘my room’,” Willow said, happy to find that didn't sadden her in the least, “And as nice a room as it’s been, I couldn’t be happier.”
They stopped outside the door, but Tara was reluctant to part their hands.
“I guess this is where I leave you,” she said, leaning over to peck Willow's lips.
“I won’t be long,” Willow promised, going back for another kiss.
“Take your time,” Tara replied genuinely, then went in again.
Willow had her key ready in the door but was enjoying the back and forth kisses too much to stop. She very slowly turned it until the door unlocked and opened, when Tara pulled away shyly.
“See you soon.”
“Very,” Willow nodded, kissing her again.
“Very,” Tara agreed, offering another demure kiss.
They shared a final soft kiss until Tara finally pulled away, offered a shy wave to Becky, who was looking at them in amusement from her bed, and walked away.
Willow slumped against the doorframe to watch her leave, which seemed to amuse Becky more.
“What’s with the canoodling?”
Willow smiled dreamily.
“She’s amazing, why wouldn’t I kiss her?”
Becky’s eyebrow quirked.
“Alright, then what’s with the smiling?”
Willow sighed as the last view of Tara’s behind went out of view, then she closed the door.
“She’s amazing, why wouldn’t I be smiling?”
Becky watched Willow’s demeanour in fascination. She was sure her friend's ear-to-ear smile would cause lockjaw if it went on long enough, and there was a bounce to her somewhat-funny step, not to mention a glowing sheen over her skin.
She dropped the magazine she’d been reading on her bed and chuckled.
“You know if I didn’t know any better I’d say you got laid.”
Willow averted her gaze and began to nervously toy with her hands in front of her. Becky noticed straight away and shot up on the bed.
“Oh my god. Did you?!”
Willow stumbled wordlessly over speaking for a moment.
“No,” she finally answered definitively, then perched gingerly on the side of her – though she didn’t consider it that anymore – bed.
“You didn't?” Becky asked, thinking she wasn't getting the full story.
“No I didn't,” Willow replied, not liking the crassness of the phrase after all she shared with Tara, “But... we did make love.”
“Oh my god!” Becky shouted again, not getting the difference, “Tell me everything!”
Willow shook her head.
“No. It’s private.”
Becky threw her hands up exasperatedly, wanting to be privy to what she considered juicy gossip.
“Then why did you want to talk to me about ‘something’?!”
Willow rubbed her palms on her jeans, nervous as to how Becky would take the news.
“Well, she sorta asked me something,” she replied, then looked away at the ‘get on with it’ look Becky shot back, “To, well, to move in with her. So we could be all with the live-y. And stuff.”
Becky settled back down on her bed, all at once realising this wasn’t ‘gossip’, this was her best friend’s life.
“Wow. What did you say?”
Willow smiled softly.
“How quick can I move my stuff down?”
Becky smiled warmly at her friend, then turned it into a grin.
“Was I that horrible a roommate?”
Willow recognised the teasing tone and grinned back, shaking her head.
“No. No, you were great. You are great. The greatest friend I’ve ever had. I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate.”
“Except Tara,” Becky replied wryly.
Willow wrapped her arms around herself, as if remembering Tara’s warmth.
“She’s not my roommate. She’s my…everything.”
Becky just smiled; she would normally find someone saying something like that gag-worthy, but who was she to deny the smile on Willow’s face?
“I couldn’t be happier for you. Really.”
Willow seemed delighted at that and rushed over to give Becky a hug, who embraced back, then grinned.
“You smell like sex.”
Willow jumped a foot back and pulled the collar of her shirt up to sniff.
“I washed–” she started defensively before noting the grin, “Haha, very funny.”
“I’ve been told I’m hilarious,” Becky replied with a faux-smug flip of her hair, “Are you moving your stuff out now?”
“Is that okay?” Willow asked, obviously eager.
“Honestly, Willow, you were the greatest roommate too… but I have been very much enjoying having this place be Casa Del Becky for the past couple of months,” Becky replied, lying back down on her bed and sighing luxuriously, “Sorry…I’m just thinking of all the glorious sleep I’m going to continue to not be disturbed from.”
Willow rolled her eyes but was happy Becky had responded so positively to her news.
“So are you going to help me pack?”
Becky leapt back up and made a beeline for the door.
“Sorry… I have a thing… with the person… at the place.”
Willow just smiled; she knew Becky wasn't the world's best packer.
“Tara said she’d help anyway.”
“Well on that note, before I’m subjected to more of the sickly sweet love birds…” Becky replied, then reached out to squeeze both of Willow’s cheeks, “My little Willow is all grown up.”
Willow swatted Becky’s hands away and rubbed her cheeks. Becky laughed, then gestured broadly around Willow’s tidy, but jam-packed side of the room.
“If you really need help…”
Willow turned her chin up in faux indignation.
“I can do without your whining and moaning thank you very much.”
Becky grinned.
“Oh so it’s only Tara’s moaning you want now?”
Willow’s eyes went wide.
“Don’t ever say anything like that to her. I’m serious.”
Becky sighed.
“You guys are no fun.”
Willow crossed her arms over her chest.
“We’re plenty of fun!”
Becky quirked her eyebrow conspiringly.
“Oh yeah?”
Willow’s eyes narrowed.
“Tricky, Becky. You’re not getting any details. Now scoot.”
“Kicked out of my own room,” Becky shook her head, though was still smiling playfully, “You’re lucky I was heading out for lunch anyway!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Willow replied with another roll of her eyes, then smiled again, “Thanks, Beck. Really.”
Becky leaned against the door.
“I’m going to say something, and you’re never going to repeat it ever again,” she said, and Willow nodded in agreement, “You guys make me believe in love. Never said that, bye!”
She pulled the door open and left in barely a second flat, Willow beaming and giddy. She went over to sit on her bed and picked the phone up, dialling down to Tara's room.
“Hey, baby,” she said lovingly, twirling the phone cord in her finger, “I told Becky and she’s really happy but skirted the packing duties… Do you wanna come up and help me get everything – great, okay see you in a minute, I love you!”
She hung up and went to open the door, which Tara appeared at just a few seconds later, having clearly rushed up.
“Hi,” Willow greeted, leaning in for a peck, then lingered.
Tara shuffled closer and was about to cross her arms over Willow’s neck, when she heard a low, male voice from the side, dripping with hormones.
“That’s hot.”
She pulled away and looked down, embarrassed, while Willow offered the zit-faced teen a glare and brought Tara inside, then closed the door so they were alone.
“I bet he’s never even touched a girl,” she said with a roll of her eyes, then clapped her hands together, “So, I have a few luggage bags we can fill my stuff with, and I’ll carry down the heavier stuff like my CD player and toaster oven and stuff one by one. Hey, now you won’t have to go to the yucky student kitchen to make toast anymore! Not that there’s anything wrong with that! Just, you know, easier.”
Willow worried she'd offended her but Tara just smiled.
“Do you want to pack as we go or get everything out first and then pack it?”
Willow smiled back and stepped towards her.
“I don’t know, what do you think?”
Tara looked around.
“Well, if we pack as we go, then you’ll know where everything is. Like one bag for closet things, one for dresser, one for desk.”
“You’re a genius!” Willow replied, taking her cheeks and giving her a long smooch, then bounced away excitedly to haul her luggage out, “Okay, closet first!”
She threw the doors and started grabbing things haphazardly until Tara came over and showed her how to fold over the hangers. She smiled sheepishly but copied the action for the rest of the contents.
It took less than an hour for them to get the three bags filled to the bursting point with all of Willow’s clothes and accessories, and to pile her electronics at the door, ready to bring down.
“It looks so bare,” she said as the rolled up her Spock poster and tied a rubber band around it.
“Do you want some time?” Tara asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Willow put her hand on the wall and did a slow walk around until she was next to Tara and sat down.
“You know the only thing I regret?” she asked, spreading her hands out behind her on the mattress, “That this bed didn’t see any action.”
Tara’s smile faltered and she averted her gaze to the side. It took Willow a moment to realise how she’d been interpreted.
“Oh, no, no, I didn’t mean with someone else!” she clarified quickly, then tacked on sheepishly, “That was me being dumb and trying to get a kiss.”
Tara looked back up, flushing at her misunderstanding and offered a smile.
“Can I give you a hug?” Willow asked, shuffling a little closer, “And not just ‘cause it makes our boobs squish together?”
Tara’s blush and smile increased and she closed her arms around Willow.
“Mmhh, you give the best boob-squishies,” Willow said, squeezing back before quickly clearing her throat, “Hugs. I meant hugs.”
Tara dropped her hands to the small of Willow’s back and grazed her fingertips over the small line of skin between her shirt and pants, then playing with a loose thread shyly. She couldn't get enough of Willow's skin and was quickly finding it to be a hinder to any rational thought.
“You know, I’d hate for you to have a regret.”
Willow’s eyes went wide over Tara’s shoulder, and she slowly pulled back to meet her gaze. She tenderly cupped her girlfriend's cheek and brushed their lips together, happy if that is all Tara was willing to give, but her heart quickened when she felt an insistent tug on her shirt.
If Tara said it was on, she was right there with her.
She eagerly started to push Tara down with her body.
“Will we fit?” Tara asked, Willow already demonstrating it was possible.
“We’ll snuggle in tight.”
Tara accepted the welcome weight of Willow atop her but cast a wary glance towards the door.
“Becky–”
“She’ll probably be gone all day to avoid packing,” Willow interrupted, her eyes eager before softening, “We don’t have to do anything.”
Tara could feel Willow’s thigh pressing into her, and though she could tell it was inadvertent on her girlfriend’s part, it was causing her decision-making to stem from an area further south than her brain.
She crossed her arms around Willow’s neck and brought her down for a deep kiss.
Decision made.
Willow’s hands slid onto Tara’s waist and pushed her sweater up enough to get a tantalising brush of skin. She turned them in to caress her girlfriend’s stomach until she felt that insistent tug again.
She sat back and made an awkward pull at her shirt, but Tara’s hands were there already, deftly unbuttoning upwards.
“You are getting
very good at that,” Willow giggled, impressed at the speed.
Tara blushed but didn’t let up, swiftly pushing Willow’s shirt over her shoulders. Her hands gently fell to Willow’s collarbone, and she lifted herself up to kiss a trail following the curve of her girlfriend's bra, around her breasts.
Willow’s tilted her neck back with a content sigh, enjoying the soft kisses around the tops of her breasts. She reached for the base of Tara’s shirt and pulled it from her skirt, then raised it over her head.
Tara lifted her arms to help and blushed again.
“You’re so cute when you blush,” Willow said, kissing each of her cheeks.
Tara smiled shyly.
“Then I’m going to be super cute when you take my skirt off.”
“Why are you shy?” Willow asked, running her fingers along Tara’s bra straps, “You’re so beautiful.”
She gently pushed the straps from Tara’s shoulders and kissed each spot where they had been.
“And sexy.”
She fluttered her gaze up to meet Tara’s, then pressed a feather-light kiss into her neck.
“Before we were… intimate… when we’d be kissing… I’d get so scared you’d see how turned on I was,” she whispered, dropping one hand to press her palm against Tara’s nipple poking out through the fabric of her bra, “Did you get turned on?”
Tara was getting turned on there and then.
“I-I wasn’t sure what… but I felt it when you touched me… or looked at me… or–”
Willow cut her off with a smouldering kiss, but only let it last a few seconds.
“Kissed me,” Tara finished breathlessly, bringing her face close to Willow’s again, “Kiss me.”
Willow was never one to deny a request from Tara and took her lips again eagerly. Her hands slid over her girlfriend's shoulders again and caressed her back until she felt material again and snapped the hooks of Tara’s bra free.
“Hey, I did it from the back!” she said, pulling away excitedly.
Tara smiled affectionately.
“Well done.”
Willow knew from anyone else that would be patronising, but it was nothing but genuine coming from Tara. She smiled softly, but was almost immediately distracted as Tara’s bra fell to the bed.
“There is definitely an incentive to working on that skill!”
She circled Tara’s nipple to get that moan she loved, then captured Tara’s lips again to satisfy the clench she felt when she heard it.
They fell back to the bed and Tara used her impressive speed skills to rid Willow of her bra.
“I swear you could do that at Olympic level,” Willow giggled, doing a little wiggle as their naked breasts pressed together.
“But I don’t want to do it to anyone but you,” Tara replied, brushing some hair from Willow’s face before resuming their kiss.
Willow used the availability of Tara’s skin under her skirt to give slow caresses from her girlfriend's knees to her thighs until she was pushing against her panties. Tara gasped quietly as she felt Willow’s fingers through the fabric.
“Tara, you feel so good,” Willow whispered, trailing kisses along Tara's jaw.
Tara eagerly lifted her hips when she felt a clawing at her panties and helped shake herself free of her skirt when Willow began grabbing at it. Willow jumped off the bed once finally discarding Tara’s skirt and started to try and free herself of her own pants.
She tugged and twisted at her belt, but her shaking hands were giving her difficulty in freeing it.
“Dammit!”
Tara covered herself with the sheet and sat up, gently reaching forward and releasing the belt with one quick movement.
“And the gold for undressing goes to Tara Maclay,” Willow replied sheepishly as her pants fell around her ankles, “How does it feel for all your extensive training to pay off?”
Tara took a hold of Willow’s hips softly.
“It helps when you love what you do,” she replied, looking up with a tender smile, “And who you’re doing it with.”
Willow smiled giddily.
“Stop making my heart do the jump thingy.”
Tara leaned in and pressed a kiss above Willow’s hipbone. Willow’s breath quickened as more kisses followed, then closed her hand over Tara’s and used it to push on the waistband of her panties.
Tara pulled the fabric down as Willow was encouraging and dropped her kisses a little lower, brushing over her mound.
Willow felt a flood flow between her legs, and unable to control herself, fell forwards on top of Tara so they landed in a tangled heap of sheets and limbs.
“Sorry, did I hurt you?” she asked breathlessly and got a silent answer in the form of a kiss.
Tara crossed her arms behind Willow’s neck to pull their mouths as close together as possible. She felt Willow’s hand greedily cup her breast before moving down to her hip and slide inwards.
Her neck strained back, breaking the kiss, as Willow inched closer and closer. She let her hands fall down Willow’s spine as her legs instinctively spread.
Soft gasps rose from her throat, her hands tightening in the small of Willow’s back, until warm fingers were gliding into her folds.
“Willow,” she whispered throatily, followed by a low moan.
“Is it good like this?” Willow asked quietly, gently rubbing her fingers back and forth on Tara’s clit.
“Yes,” Tara breathed, lifting her head, intending to kiss Willow’s neck.
Her eyes fluttered open and she was greeted with a creamy expanse of Willow-skin, but something caught her peripheral vision.
She blinked and slowly glanced away from Willow’s neck. She noticed the open door first, surprised to see the wallpaper of the hallway behind it, then all at once recognised Becky standing by it, holding a plastic container and body rigid in shock.
Tara jumped in surprise and grabbed the sheets above them, yanking it over her head to hide. Willow’s brow creased in confusion, but it turned into a smile.
“Are we playing a game?” she asked with a giggle, trying to get her hands in under the sheet, “I’m gonna find you!”
She was about to begin a tickle assault when she too caught the glimpse in the corner of her eye. She yelped and yanked the available sheet further over herself when she saw who was there.
“Jesus Christ!”
Becky moved for the first time since walking in on the unexpected scene, her face furrowing.
“You’re Jewish.”
Willow gaped and began to gesticulate wildly.
“Becky, close the damn door!”
Becky snapped to attention and quickly closed the door, not before a couple of people had poked their heads in, then leant back against it. Willow stared at her, wide-eyed.
“With you on the other side!”
Becky bent one arm against her hip.
“Hey, this is my room no–”
“Get out, get out!” Willow interrupted with a yell.
Becky followed orders that time and quickly scurried out, banging the door shut behind her. Willow hung her head in her hands for a minute before turning back towards Tara.
“Tara, she’s gone. Are you okay?” she asked gently, finding Tara’s shoulder over the sheet, “She didn’t see anything, I promise. I was covering you and the sheet was over me…my butt anyway. There may have been a little back-viewage. But roommates, seen it before.”
Tara remained silent and motionless.
“Tara?” Willow asked again, slumping when she got nothing.
She shuffled over to the side and picked Tara’s clothes from the ground, offering them to her.
“Here’s your clothes.”
Tara reached out from under the sheet and grabbed her clothes, then started to hurriedly throw them on while still covering herself.
“Tara?” Willow ventured again, her heart breaking when Tara again ignored her, her voice dropping vulnerably, “Do you want me to put my stuff back?”
Tara’s hand stilled from buttoning her sweater and she looked over her shoulder to Willow.
“What? No.”
Willow looked up, on the verge of tears.
“You wouldn’t look at me.”
Tara turned guiltily and offered her hand.
“Oh, Willow, I’m sorry. I-I’m just so embarrassed.”
Willow took Tara’s hand and clung to it.
“No, I’m sorry, I forced–”
“I was the one who pushed it,” Tara cut her off, not wanting Willow to beat herself up.
Willow’s eyes creased.
“I really didn’t think she’d be back.”
Tara nodded understandingly.
“I don’t blame you.”
“She really didn’t see anything,” Willow tried to reassure, only for Tara to look down, “I’m sorry, I wish I could make it better.”
She gave Tara’s hand a squeeze, then started to throw her own clothes on too.
“Let me throw these sheets in my laundry bag and we can head downstairs, okay?”
Tara nodded and shied away to the corner of the room. Willow stuffed her sheets in the laundry bag, leaving her side of the room well and truly bare, then walked over to Tara, taking her hand gently.
“We’ll laugh about this in a couple of years,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.
Tara wasn’t sure. She couldn’t imagine ever finding the situation funny.
But she definitely liked the thought of years with Willow.