Title: Accept No Substitutes
Author: Gileswench

(notes and disclaimer in part one)

They walked into his flat hand in hand, still laughing at some silly joke they'd thought of along the way back. James unlocked the door and guided Buffy in with a hand at her waist. She leaned into the touch and giggled some more.

"I had way too much to drink," she told him yet again.

"Nonsense. No such thing. You're fine."

She flung her arms around his neck.

"Oh no, I'm not. I'm forgetting."

"Forgetting what?" he asked as he slid his hands up her sides.

"That you're not Giles."

"Lucky me," he murmured as he lowered his face to hers.

Buffy hesitated only a moment before she accepted the kiss. It had been so long since she'd been kissed, let alone by someone who made her laugh and enjoy herself. She responded accordingly.

Several deep kisses later, Buffy pulled back slightly.

"I really shouldn't be doing this," she said.

"Why not? Aren't you having a good time?"

"It's not that. It's... you know this can't be more than tonight, right?"

"And he's the one you really want to be with, I know."

"How can you take this so calmly? I've just pretty much told you I'm using you to practice for the real thing."

James tugged on Buffy's hand and led them to the sofa. When she sat, he sat beside he, as close as she'd let him.

"I didn't think it was such a big thing," he told her. "Look, all I want is a pleasant night with a beautiful woman. I'm not looking for commitment or forever. I'm no good at that. I think you're lovely and I'd like to make love to you. Wouldn't you like that? To make love?"

"Well...yeah...I would...but..."

James pulled her close and smiled at her.

"So would I."

Then he was kissing her again. A piece of Buffy's brain tried to protest that this was wrong; that casual sex never did her any good. Buffy's libido told Buffy's brain to take a walk.

It did.

It didn't even try to come back when she felt James' hand caress her breast, teasing the nipple into a sharp peak of desire. She sighed into his mouth and kissed him harder. Her fingers moved to his tie and undid the knot. She shoved his jacket off his arms. He moved his hands only long enough to get the excess cloth out of the way, then returned to exploring Buffy's curves. They took a moment to unzip Buffy's dress on the way.

Buffy climbed into James' lap as she deftly unbuttoned his shirt. She ran her fingers through the light mat of tawny curls on his chest. James giggled a bit and pulled her tighter still. Buffy moved her kisses to his earlobe.

"What's so funny?" she demanded as she gently worried his earring in her teeth.

"Nothing," he replied. "Just feels good."

Buffy pulled back slightly. Her expression was a bit puzzled.

"Something wrong?" James asked.

"No, not really. It's just... sex and laughing? Not a combination I'm used to."

"Well sex and talking is new to me, aside from the occasional 'do me, baby' or 'harder'."

"Sorry."

"No, it's all right, I think. I don't mind."

"And I don't. Mind. The giggling. As long as it isn't because I'm no good at this and you don't want to say."

"You're fantastic at it."

"You're sure about that?"

"Absolutely."

"Oh." Buffy frowned and looked at James quizzically. "It's just... I'm on your lap, and clothes are getting seriously gone, and normally, I'd sort of expect to feel... something... reacting by now... and I'm not."

James looked away uncomfortably. Buffy took his chin in her hand. He was surprised at the strength with which she turned his face back to hers.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked. "Am I not doing it right?"

"No," he assured her. "You're fantastic. It's me."

"Oh," Buffy said as she slid off his lap. "Is it... is there something wrong with it?"

"Not according to the doctor. Not now. Look, I did have a problem a while ago, but it's been fixed. I just... it's... I haven't..."

"And you're not really sure... it's back to normal?"

"Something like that, yeah."

He looked miserably at the floor. He waited to hear Buffy laugh at him or just walk out the door, or even suggest one of them sleep on the sofa. His stomach twisted when she stood up.

When he heard her dress hit the floor, he looked up. She stood there wearing nothing but a tiny wisp of silken knickers and a smile.

"If the doc says it's okay, it's okay," she told him. "Maybe you just need to relax and take things a little slower. Where's the bedroom in this place, anyway?"

Numbly, James stood and took Buffy's hand. He led her to the bedroom. She crawled onto the bed and motioned for him to join her.

"Come on. I can't help you from over there," she teased. "Besides, you got me all hot and bothered, so if you don't finish what you started, I'll be cranky girl in the morning."

"Cranky? Are you that bad?

"Trust me, you wouldn't want to see it."

James smiled in confusion, but moved to the bed. When he got there, Buffy slid his shirt off completely. She moved behind him and began to run her hands gently over his shoulders and arms. When she pressed a soft kiss to the nape of his neck, James groaned at the sensation.

"Good?" Buffy asked.

"Very," he replied breathlessly.

"Good."

She went back to work, nibbling at his neck and shoulders. Her hands caressed his sides and slid around to touch his chest. When James tried to turn around, she held him firmly in place.

"Uh uh. Later. Right now we need to relax you."

Buffy continued her explorations of James' body, touching, mouthing, and kissing every part she could reach from where she sat. She firmly ignored the part of her brain that told her she just wanted to know what Giles looked and felt like naked. She reminded that part of her brain that she was helping a nice guy with a problem, really. That and having a good time in bed for the first time since a while before Riley left.

She could worry about the morality of the situation later. First she had something important to do.

She moved her hands to James' belt buckle. He flinched slightly. She held him for a moment and kissed his shoulder.

"It's okay. Up or down doesn't matter right now. I just want to make you feel good," she told him. "We can take this as slow as you need to."

He turned in her arms. He looked so confused and so grateful Buffy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She kissed him instead.

"You're really not used to this, are you?" she asked him. "Someone worrying more about you than what you can do."

"It's a bit odd," he admitted.

"Then you've been sleeping with the wrong girls."

"I'm beginning to think so."

Buffy smiled and kissed him again. This time, when she reached for his belt, he allowed her to unfasten it. When she moved to help him take his trousers down she found that he'd begun to harden nicely.

"I guess I'm doing something right after all," she teased.

She drew his underwear down his legs and looked at his naked body for the first time.

"Wow," she breathed. "Not bad. I never guessed it would be so big."

James smiled a bit smugly, but didn't inform her of how recent a development that was. He just watched as she lowered her face to his crotch and took his rapidly expanding penis into her mouth. He groaned as she swirled her tongue over the sensitive head and pumped one hand up and down the shaft. He smoothed her hair back so he could watch her pleasure him.

Buffy wasn't sure how much of James she could fit in her mouth, but she knew she was enjoying his body. This might not be true love, but at least this was a warm lover who made her feel attractive and worthy of being wanted. There was a joy in this, even if it wasn't something meant to last forever. In fact, the very impermanence of the act seemed to center Buffy in a way she couldn't have expected. For the night, she would share James' bed. In the morning, James would drive her up to Bath where she would see Giles. At that time she could make her decision as to what part she wanted Giles to play in her life.

But for just this moment, she didn't have to worry about expectations or duty or right or wrong or what anybody would think if they knew; she could just take pleasure in her body and that of another living being who only wanted a bit of fun. No guilt, no regrets, no hurt feelings.

It was oddly peaceful.

And a bit thrilling in a naughty - but not too naughty - way.

At last, James urged Buffy away from his fully erect member before he could lose control completely. He handed Buffy a condom and watched her roll it on him. While she performed this task, he caressed her body. He rolled her tight nipples between his fingers and lightly petted the tangle of curls between her legs. He found her wet and ready for him. He helped her remove her knickers.

"Top or bottom?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"Do you want to be on top or bottom?"

"Oh, that," Buffy said. "Um... top, I guess. Is that okay?"

James' only answer was to lie fully back and help Buffy settle herself astride him. He helped her position his cock to enter her tight channel. He groaned happily when she sank down on him, slowly taking him completely in.

Once Buffy had fitted him inside, she held still for a moment to adjust to his size. Then, with a serene smile, she began to ride him, slowly at first, but at a rapidly increasing speed. Her face was a mask of blissful concentration as she rode him faster and faster.

James raised his hips to meet her every downward stroke. He took hold of Buffy's hips, moving his pelvis more and more rapidly. She took him so easily, with such strength. James had never been with a woman like this before. He found himself craving her strength, her confidence, without being threatened by it.

Faster and faster they moved, sweat forming on their bodies and pooling between them. Buffy lay atop James and he rolled them over until he was pounding into her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him on, faster still. Then she was coming. She yelled her pleasure even as she tried to draw him still further into herself. A few more thrusts, and James allowed his orgasm to overtake him. Spasm after spasm passed through him, each wave accompanied another spurt of semen from his penis. Each moan was echoed by his companion.

At last, it ended, as all good things must. James opened his eyes to find Buffy smiling up at him. He smiled back.

They kissed softly a few times before James had to deal with the condom.

Neither spoke when he returned to the bed. With another kiss, they rolled into one anothers' arms and fell asleep.

*****

Buffy was the first to awaken in the morning. When James drifted up into consciousness some minutes later, he found Buffy sitting cross-legged, regarding him curiously.

"Good morning," he murmured huskily.

"Hey," she returned.

James sat up and moved to kiss Buffy. She stopped him with a hand to his chest.

"No. Not this morning," she said, not unkindly, but firmly.

"Why not?"

Buffy shrugged.

"It's just... it was okay last night, but it isn't now. Or maybe it's that once was great but twice is a bad idea. At least for me. Sorry. Either way, I can't now."

"Is it because of this Giles chap?"

"Last night or now?"

"I'm not sure, really. Either."

"Oh. Yes and no. To both, I guess."

"Well at least that's clear," James grumbled. "Look, I don't know about you, but I think something special happened last night. Can't we see if it's special twice?"

"James, I told you last night," Buffy explained, "one time deal. You knew what it was. I didn't lie to you or mislead you. And it was incredible. But we both knew it wasn't forever." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "How do you like your eggs? And do you want coffee or tea?"

"Buffy... are you sure?"

"Yeah. Very sure. Look, James, you're a nice guy and I like you a lot. And that's sorta why this won't work out if we push it. See, in my world, nice guys get smooshed or hurt really bad. I don't want to see that happen to you."

"And Giles? Will he get smooshed?"

"Nah," Buffy smiled. "He can take care of himself. No hard feelings?"

"Well some... but you already said you won't help me with them this time," he grinned.

"Don't think it isn't tempting." Buffy stood and headed for the kitchen. "Breakfast in fifteen minutes... or so. I need to find where everything is first.

James watched her go with an unfamiliar feeling of regret in his gut. At last, he went to take a shower.

*****

The drive to Bath, this time in James' car, was pleasant and surprisingly unstrained. They chatted of this and that as they sped down the motorway.

"So have you decided?" James asked when they'd nearly reached their destination. "What are you going to do about Giles?"

"I'm going to ask him to come back."

"As your lover?"

"Jealous much?" she teased. "No. Not yet. I think we have some middle ground to cover first. Like I need to know what the hell I'm feeling other than confused and needy. Some quality Gilestime will help me get that figured out, and we can go from there. Ask me again in six months and I'll have an answer. I think."

James pulled to a stop.

"Here we are," he said with a slight smile. "Thanks for last night. I - well..."

"Feeling a bit more confidant now?" she grinned back. "Me, too. Thanks." Buffy gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before she slid out of the car. As she started up the path, she turned back to James. "Oh, and your friends? The ones who told you to pretend to be Giles?"

"Yes?"

"Thank them for me. And tell them if I ever hear about them pulling that kind of shit on someone again, I'm going to make them hurt. A lot."

"I'll tell them."

The pair shared a final smile. Then Buffy turned to Giles' door and James headed on his way. He decided to go see Elizabeth. She might laugh at his woes, she might even threaten him, but there really was nobody like her when all was said and done.

Buffy watched him drive away, then took a deep breath and knocked on Giles' door. When he opened it, they simply looked at one another for a moment. Then they were embracing, neither one certain who had made the first move. It didn't matter.

It was where they both wanted to be.