What's a Stevedore?
by: Karen Jephson
Rated NC-17
Spoiler: Who Are You?
Disclaimer: Joss has his world with his characters, I have mine. The difference? My zero bank balance.
Summary: Answers the question everybody wants to know. B/G.
Feedback: Yes please. But I'm like a vampire. Flames hurt.
Dedication: To Gylzgirl who made sure I had to send it to the list. And to Cindy Bowers who asked for a B/G fic.
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"What's a Stevedore?"
"Hmm?" Giles looked up from the book he was studying. Actually, pretending to study. He'd known The Demon Anthology, Lower Ancient Kingdom to Middle Ancient Kingdom word for word since he was twenty five years old. But he'd found that supposed absorption in a book usually stops the others from disturbing him.
"What's a Stevedore?" Buffy trailed her fingers along the back of Giles' couch, deliberately avoiding his gaze. "Just in case I ever come across one."
Giles' lips lifted in a slight smile. They were actually alone this evening. Xander and Anya were off doing what they usually did, Willow was with her friend that she thought nobody knew about, and Riley was trying to reinstate himself with his Initiative buddies. "Don't worry, you'd know one if you came across them."
"But if I ever needed to fight one...."
He sighed impatiently. "You'll never have to fight one, unless you wanted to take over his job at a cheaper rate. A stevedore is a job, Buffy. A human usually does it, or at least they appear to be human."
"Oh." Giles bent his head back down to the book, and waited. He wasn't disappointed. "But what do they do?"
"Why?"
Buffy looked taken aback at the counterattack. Recovering quickly, she shrugged. "Just curious. Think of it as furthering my education. You don't want a dumb slayer do you?"
"Buffy, nobody would consider you dumb." Her face glowed with the compliment. "All right. A stevedore is a knavvy."
"Okaaay." Satisfied that he'd silenced her momentarily, Giles stood up and moved toward the kitchen. "Where are you going?"
"To get a drink. Want one?" At her 'yes', he took two soft drinks from the refrigerator and returned to the living area, opting to sit next to her on the couch. Handing her the drink, he took a long swallow from his own before putting her out of her misery. "Go on. Ask."
"What's a knavvy?" She rushed the question out, embarrassed at her lack of knowledge.
"A knavvy is a stevedore." Realizing the threat to his person in her expression, Giles finally relented. "A stevedore is usually linked to the shipping industry. They're the fellows that move the cargo to and from ships. In some countries they're known as wharfies."
"Oh." The man beside her braced himself as he waited for the next question. "What did she mean?" The words were quieter, less sure.
"Your mother?" Buffy nodded, her body folding in on itself. "Well, stevedores are considered rather common, well muscled men." He only hoped his blush wasn't as strong as hers.
"You're not common!" Her indignity was amusing as well as gratifying.
"Thank you, but I don't believe your mother meant common exactly."
"Well what then?"
He hesitated. "It's probably not something I can tell you. One of those things only possible by demonstration."
It was her turn to hesitate. "Oh."
Masking his disappointment, Giles bent forward to place his drink on the coffee table. "Now, about the...."
"Okay." They both froze as the word seemed to echo around the suddenly silent room.
Swallowing as every single fantasy he'd had came to his mind, he turned toward her, looking into her overly bright eyes. Trepidation, but no fear or doubt shone there. Taking the precariously balanced bottle from her hand, Giles placed it next to his on the table. Leaning back so he was facing her, he draped his arm across the couch back, stopping short of her shoulder. He nodded slowly. "Okay." Leaning forward, he captured her lips with his own.
If anybody'd asked her how Giles kissed, she would have said gentle, hesitate. Passionate, she wasn't blind after all, no matter what anybody said. But like a gentle breeze that brushed your lips then slowly increased pressure while waiting permission to venture further.
There was nothing gentle about this kiss. Or hesitant. He possessed her mouth as though it was his right, the heat of his breath taking hers away. He didn't wait for permission to invade her mouth with his tongue, instead claiming ownership in one quick sweep, stroking the flesh inside, wrapping around her own tongue until she was helpless to do anything but follow his lead.
He used the weight of his body to push hers down until they were both half lying on the couch, his heat covering fully. His right hand tangled in her hair, holding her head still as he continued to plunder her mouth. She felt his left stroke her waist before it brushed up her torso and claimed her achingly waiting breast. She moaned as his thumb stroked her pebbled nipple, her legs opening to cushion his arousal against her own. Her own hands restlessly stroked his shoulders before settling on his neck and head.
When he finally lifted his head they were both breathing heavily. As Buffy looked up into his passion-glazed eyes, she now knew what it felt to be liked ravished. Licking her lips in nervous excitement, she waited to see his next move.
Giles removed his fogging glasses, laying them on the coffee table without taking his eyes from hers. Lifting his eyebrow, he watched her with an amused expression. Obviously at her own bemused look. "Well? How do you like being made love to by a stevedore?"
She swallowed. "I wouldn't know. Yet." She felt the quickening of his body of his words. Stroking her hand across his neck, then down the side of his face, she rested her fingertips on the fast beating pulse. "I do know that I love being kissed by a stevedore."
Something in him froze. "As much as a by a vampire?"
If it had been any other person at any other time, she would have thrown him off her and stormed out the door. But it was Giles, and she wasn't a fool. She'd known what Angel had meant to him, and how much it had cost him to accept the vampire back the previous year. Because of that, he deserved more honesty than anybody else did. "Well, I've only actually kissed two vampires, although I'm not sure you could count Spike's spell-induced madness." Good he'd smiled with her. "But with that comparison, I'd say that the difference is heat. Vampires even in the middle of passion are cold. But your kiss made me burn. And I think I must have been a moth in a past life." She drew his head down toward her, whispering the next words against his mouth. "I am so drawn to your flame."
Groaning, Giles captured her lips with his once more. This time she was ready for his aggression, their breaths mingling as each battled for domination. In the end it was no contest, and she willingly succumbed to his assault. She was so engrossed in his kiss and the erotic feel of the rough scrape of his tongue against the roof of her mouth; she didn't notice when he lifted her top. At the feel of the pad of his thumb against her exposed breast she moaned in his mouth, involuntarily lifting her body up to his.
Giles pinched the nipple between his thumb and forefinger, the calluses on his pads increasing the friction. Buffy vaguely wondered if the roughness was caused from his continuous practice with his swords, or if he had been a manual laborer before. Whimpering at the duel sensation of his palm massaging her breast while the nipple was rolled, she wrapped her legs around his torso, imprisoning him to her.
Giles broke the kiss, trailing his lips along her face as he gently rocked against her. Slowly, he inched his way down her body, his lips pressing featherlight down her cheek, her throat, her collarbone. Shifting his hand, he pushed her top up further then looked down at his prize. Reverently, he trailed the fingers of his hands around the perimeter of her breasts. He'd never been one for full-breasted women, and Buffy was the perfect shape for him. Then, he'd always known that, deep inside of him. She was the only one perfect for him. Lowering his head, he kissed each of the hardened nipples before blowing on them. Her gasp encouraged him further. Licking his lips, he bent to take one of the breasts in his mouth as his hand continued to knead the other.
You'd think his kisses would have warned her, but after the gentleness with which he'd pressed his lips to her breasts she hadn't expected it. He didn't love her, he devoured her. His hands, tongue and teeth possessed her until her entire body was quivering. If it had been anybody else they would have had bruises for days after. Yet his actions excited her more. He gave her what she wanted and more. His roughness, his eagerness to stamp her as his only increased her own ardor. She moved restlessly beneath him as whimpers escaped her mouth. Never had she felt so aroused by a man fondling her breasts. If he were to enter her now, she'd probably have her orgasm straight away. Instead, he teased them both, paying attention to her breasts until they were red and tender. Only then did he move on.
Giles shifted further down her body, trailing kisses along the line to her belly button before dipping his tongue into the dent to tantalize her further. His hands preceded his mouth, hooking under her skirt and bunching it up over her hips. She knew what was coming, knew she should have been apprehensive. Instead she opened herself wider to him, shifting until he had clearer access to that aching part of her.
Still he worked at his own time, rubbing his stubbled chin along the sensitive flesh of her stomach. He seemed to know what would arouse her, taking her closer to the point of no return. She could feel his hot breath on her flesh, his burning gaze upon her face. Then his teeth were worrying at the edge of her satin panties. She wondered if he meant to bite them off her, but instead felt his hot moist mouth through the sheer material. He waited until the front of her panties was completely soaked from his kisses before moving down. Gently, he placed love bites on her inner thighs, before placing the lightest of kisses against her aching center. Unable to help herself, Buffy ground herself into his face, rubbing against him to try and ease the ache and emptiness. She sobbed has he pulled away from her. His voice raspy from his own passion, Giles admonished her. "No you don't luv. This is my show, and we play my way." Shifting his hands under her bottom, he lifted her up before kissing her roughly.
Buffy wrapped her legs over his shoulders as she gave herself up to her lover. The feel of his tongue and teeth grazing her through the satin material was driving her crazy, something she was sure he was aware of. The more she begged, the harder he pressed against her, but he refused to remove the barrier. She was openly weeping by the time she used the name he waited for. "Ripper, please!?"
Giles pulled the material down to her lower thighs, massaging her buttocks with his hands. Lifting her legs one at a time, he slipped the panties off her, dropping them on the floor by the couch. Spreading her lips with his thumbs, he slipped his tongue inside the wet opening.
Buffy began to buck as his tongue moved along her lips, stroking her already swollen clit before being replaced by his teeth. He sucked the swollen nub into his mouth, drawing on it until he felt her stiffen. He moved his tongue down to her passage, forcing his way into the opening as she began to climax. She screamed his name as she felt the tongue pushing in and out of her. As she came down from her orgasm, his thumb rubbed her clit in rhythm with his pumping tongue. She whimpered as she climaxed again.
Giles soothed and petted her as he brought her down from her orgasm. Waiting only until her muscles stopped climaxing, he rose from the couch. Gathering the limp slayer to him, he lifted her up and moved toward the stairs. He was gratified when she curled trustingly into his chest, her hands curled against his shoulders.
Buffy lay on his bed, a single sheet covering her. She could sense him moving around the room, but was too sated, too happy to worry. After he'd brought her up to his bedroom he'd removed the rest of her clothing and settled her where she now lay. She'd felt no shyness or embarrassment. After all, he was Giles. If she couldn't trust him, who was left?
The bed behind her dipped and she felt the heat of his body pressed against her back. The slightest brush of lips on her shoulder preceded his question. "Sleeping?"
"Uh-uh." She shook her head negatively. "Just thinking."
His lips smiled against her skin. "About what?"
"Oh, this and that." She rolled over, surprised to realize that he was naked. Running her hand appreciatively along his hair-covered chest, she sighed in appreciation. "Mainly about how I wish I'd met stevedores before."
The smile slipped from his face, a serious look replacing it. "Before what? If you regret anything…"
Her fingers pressed against his lips. "No. It was," she paused as she looked for the right word, "wow. The wowest thing I've ever known." His smile returned in a flash, copying her own embarrassed one. "I meant before," again she hesitated. "Before I made some pretty stupid mistakes."
Giles gathered her to him, brushing a kiss across her forehead. He knew she'd explain when she was ready, but also that this wasn't the time. Instead he decided to change the subject. "You talk as though it's over."
Stroking her hand down his arm, Buffy rushed to soothe any hurt feelings she may have caused. "Well, only for tonight. I mean, there'll be other nights."
"Can't keep up?"
"What?" She arched back to look at him in surprise.
"Buffy," he rubbed his hand across her bare back, "stevedores are known for many things. Their strength, their fighting nature, their stamina…" He let the words hang in the air, allowing her time to follow his meaning.
"Oh," hesitant at first, she finally understood, "Oh! Then we can…."
"Learn more about stevedores, for as long as you want." Bending down, he captured her mouth, repeating the heated kisses of earlier. By the time he released her, she was panting and his semi-relaxed erection had once again made its need known. Covering her body with his own, he pulled away the sheet that separated them. Squeezing her thigh gently he moved his hand inward, encouraging her to open herself to him.
Buffy moaned as she felt his hand begin to stroke her. Even though it had only been a few minutes since he'd brought her to orgasm twice, she felt her body melting and flowing in response to his touch. The feel of his fingers against her clit caused her to whimper as she began pushing against his touch, aching to encounter those same sensations he'd caused in her earlier.
Shocked at the withdrawal of his heat from her, Buffy opened her eyes to see what stopped her lover. He'd turned toward the chest of drawers on his side, silently opening the top drawer. The sound of foil ripping alerted her to his purpose and she sighed in appreciation of his thoughtfulness and relief that he wasn't abandoning her. A minute later he turned back to her, his erection safely sheathed. When she moved to touch him, he grabbed her hand and held her prisoner. "Not this time love. I need no encouragement to love you."
He rolled back on top of her, positioning himself at her sex. Running his hand once more along her opening to make sure she was ready, he smiled in encouragement when she wrapped her legs around him. Placing his hands on either side of her head he pushed slightly into her opening. Closing his eyes at her tightness, he braced himself before penetrating her in one move. At her enthusiastic moan, he began a hard rhythm, pushing at her with enough force to make the bedrock. Buffy's thighs squeezed down on his invading penetration as if to keep him prisoner within her walls. As he pushed her closer to the edge, a keening cry escaped her mouth. His breath coming in heavy pants, Giles whispered words of encouragement to her, telling her of the plans he had for them both the next time. When he could hold out no longer, he pushed twice into her then stiffened. With a groan he collapsed on top of her, holding her tightly as she climaxed with him.
She gripped the headboard, tension turning her knuckles white. When her lover had asked her to do this, among the excitement was real trepidation. No other had taken her this way. There was so much vulnerability in this position, and a feeling of primitiveness. She felt his hand rub her exposed bottom, as if to ease the tightness of her muscles. Oh, she was ready for him, her obvious arousal within his reach. But the fear would not go away, and she worried it would cause her to make a mess of it.
He positioned himself at her entrance, the feel of his tip easing her discomfort not one bit. It was different when they were facing each other. She could see him then, read the marvelously expressive face. Now, she had t give all up to trust, not easy for her at the best of times. And her only indication of what was happening was when she heard movement, or felt his touch.
A moment passed before she realized he hadn't entered her. Confusion, fear of rejection, and the remaining nervousness caused her stomach to rumble. Then his breath and lips caressed the nape of her neck, reassuring her. Warmth against her hands caused her to look up, as his palms covered them. Relaxation came as she understood his meaning. In this, as with others, they were together. Spreading her legs further apart, she pushed back onto him, encouraging him to complete their coupling. They both sighed as he filled her once more.
Starting a general rocking motion, he pushed her forward with his thrusts, increasing the tempo as her control began to slip. The feel of his thighs brushing her buttocks, his balls pushed between them increased her excitement. The bed began a counter movement against their actions, it's squeaking springs reaching a crescendo as their pleasure escalated, then peaked. Feeling him bite her shoulder as he came, Buffy screamed Giles' name with her own orgasm before collapsing beneath his weight.
They lay together as the afternoon sun shone its rays in his bedroom window. Buffy smiled and snuggled closer to the warmth against her back. She'd been awake for a while, thinking and coming to quite a few startling realizations. They weren't happy ones, but in a way they took a great load off her shoulders.
She'd been in such deep contemplation that she hadn't realized at first that Giles had woken up. She smiled as she felt his hand entwine in hers. Raising them both, she watched the play of light against their skin in fascination. "Hey."
"Hmm. Been awake long?"
"Not too." She shifted, wincing at the irritation between her legs. No naked stevedore sex for her for a while.
She should have known that even if her lover hadn't noticed, her ex Watcher would have. "Sore?"
She sniffed at the smug tone in his voice before turning to face him. Her reprimand died at the happy look in his eyes, and instead smiled brightly up at him. "You're lucky I'm a slayer mister," he kissed her gently on the lips, "anybody else would have given up ages ago. It's that time you took me on your dining table that's the fault."
He looked at her in mock aggreivance. "And has nothing to do with the time you seduced me on the kitchen benches? Or in the bathroom?"
She pouted. "You aren't gonna complain about that are you?"
"No," his voice gentled, "I don't think I'll look at that bathtub quite the same again." They smiled companionably before he asked, "What were you thinking about?"
"Just now? About how with my super Slayer healing we'll be able to try out the one spot in your apartment we haven't done it yet."
He quirked an eyebrow. "The alcove between the kitchen and the living area?" She giggled. "I meant what were you thinking when I woke up?"
She shrugged before turning away. So he wouldn't think she was rejecting him, she snuggled deeper into his body, smiling when she felt his semi-erection against her bottom. "I was thinking about how you're different from my other lovers."
Anybody else would have pulled away in anger, or made some stupid joke to cover up their own insecurity. Not her Giles though. He simply squeezed the fingers between his own. "In what way?"
"Oh," if he'd seen her face he would have recognized the familiar pout, "all of the others I made the first move. Angel, Riley, even Parker," she interrupted before he could argue, "I know that was part of his game, make the girl responsible. But Angel and Riley too. As if I couldn't blame them if anything went wrong. Either that or they were afraid of me."
"Oh Buffy, no." He hugged her closer, comforting her with his caring.
"Don't get me wrong. The sex was…" She turned round to face him then, "and you probably don't need to hear that." Her voice held that cute little laughing catch he so adored. "But none of them made the first move. I almost felt like I pushed them into something."
"You asked me."
"Yeah. But you didn't once treat me as this fragile thing you had to be wary of. As if either you'd break me or I'd break you. You treated me as an equal Giles. None of the others did."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not." She flashed him a brilliant smile. "How else was I to know who my true partner was?"
"Oh Buffy." He let go of her hand to grip the back of her head. Pulling her closer he seared her with a kiss of possession.
When she finally pulled back for air, Buffy gulped then smiled tremulously. "So that's what a Stevedore is."
The End