Articulation 8/15

[allyndra]

In which the man-sex finally takes place. Consider yourself warned.

Xander bounced happily down the hall to Harry's apartment. He was going to have a *great* day. Shifting the bakery box he held to one hand, he rapped sharply on the door. After a few moments, Harry answered. He was clad in an ancient t-shirt and a pair of pajama bottoms, and his hair was even messier than usual. Xander thought he looked adorable as he stood there, blinking sleepily at the man on his doorstep.

 

"I brought breakfast," Xander said, lifting the box as a peace offering. "There are doughnuts and cinnamon buns, and I also got scones, just in case you're feeling especially English today." He stepped past Harry, unsure if the wizard was finally taking Xander's advice about vampires to heart or if he was simply to sleep-logged to invite him in. The American set the box down on the coffee table and settled himself on the couch.

 

"What time is it?" Harry asked.

 

"7:30. It's not exactly the crack of dawn, but I couldn't just sleep the day away." When Harry continued to stare at him uncomprehendingly, Xander clarified. "I won the bet. You do whatever I want all day." Xander pulled his boyfriend down on the couch and cheerfully stuffed a pastry in his mouth. If he had to wait for Harry to wake up, they might as well eat. He started to talk while Harry munched. "Buffy's mad at you."

 

"What!?" Harry yelped around a mouthful of crumbs. Xander didn't blame him; it was best to not annoy small women who could break you in half. "Why? What did I do?"

 

"I was telling her your story about the Quidditch match and the leprechauns' gold."

 

"So?"

 

"So, Buffy had a fondly held belief that leprechauns aren't real. She's mad at you for disillusioning her. It's like telling her there's no Easter Bunny, only in reverse."

 

"But you're the one who told her!" Harry protested.

 

"Yeah, but she loves me." Xander sounded a bit smug about that. "So, you ready to hear about our plans for the day?" At Harry's nod, Xander began. "It's going to be great! I found out that Gene Ha is having a signing at a comic book store in Chelsea, so we're going to that. Then, we are going to spend the afternoon riding carnival rides till we're sick. And tonight, we're going out to dinner and then we're going clubbing," Xander finished, smiling as he waited for Harry's reaction.

 

Harry stared at him as though he'd grown a second head and a third arm. "You have me at your mercy for the entire day, and you want to buy *comic books*?" His voice nearly squeaked.

 

"No, I want to get comic books signed. Big difference."

 

"But...I thought..You don't want to...?" Harry flushed painfully, and Xander decided to rescue him.

 

"Oh, I thought sex was a given. But we have to do something while we recover." Harry swallowed hard at these words. "Awake now? Good." And Xander was on Harry, pressing him back against the couch cushions and kissing him. Harry's mouth was hot and wet and sweet from his breakfast. In Xander's opinion, it was just about perfect.

 

***

 

At some point in the past, Xander must have spent a great deal of time learning how to snog. Harry really didn't want to think about Xander with anyone else, but he was grateful for the end result. He closed his eyes and stropped thinking, giving himself up to the sensation of Xander's mouth on his, Xander's hands tangling in his hair, Xander...just Xander. He pulled the larger man closer, tugging till he was straddling Harry on the couch. The raven haired wizard arched up, seeking more contact between their bodies. He felt the hands leave his hair and slip under his shirt, and moved to reciprocate, exploring Xander's hard back and abdomen. Xander's mouth pulled away, and Harry opened his eyes to protest. When he saw the carpenter pulling his shirt over his head, revealing miles of tanned skin, he decided not to complain. He yanked his own shirt off, instead.

 

***

 

Harry was beautiful. Xander had found the other man attractive since they had met, but now he knew he'd been blind. Beautiful was the only possible word. He had a swimmer's body, lean and defined. His skin was smooth and a few shades paler than Xander's. Reaching out, Xander traced the line of Harry's collar bone, then ran his hand down to a flat nipple, running a hard thumb over it until it tightened. Harry moaned softly, and Xander bent his head to follow the same path with his mouth. He ground his hips down against Harry and received a louder moan as a reward. Harry's hands were on him, and it was a revelation. He felt hot and shivery and pulsing with energy. He was filled with a desire to do whatever it took to make Harry make *that* noise again. But first, clothes were not of the good. In fact, they should be outlawed, exiled, burnt at the stake. Xander stood to remove his jeans and boxers.

 

***

 

The sight of Xander standing naked before him was one Harry never wanted to forget. He was sculpted and golden, like a statue of Apollo. Harry stared at the long, firm body for several moments before his brain caught up with his eyes. Naked! He scramble to pull off his pajama bottoms. He pulled Xander close, reveling in the skin to skin contact. Xander's erection slid along Harry's hipbone, painting a hot trail across his skin.

 

"I want to make love to you," Xander mumbled against the skin of Harry's throat.

 

It took two tries before Harry could get a reply out. "I thought that was the idea."

 

"Do you have a preference? Top, bottom, does it matter to you?" Harry knew some men had a strong preference one way or the other, but he enjoyed both. At the moment, he would do practically anything Xander wanted.

 

"I thought you were supposed to be the one in charge today."

 

"In that case," Xander lifted his head and stared into Harry's eyes, running a soft hand along his face, "I really want to be in you, right now."

 

"Right now!" Harry gasped in agreement. Xander pulled away and fumbled in the pocket of his jeans, returning with a condom and a bottle of lube. He positioned Harry on his knees on the couch, leaning up against the back. Harry felt Xander behind him, running a hand along his arse, and he closed his eyes again. A slippery finger pressed gently into him and began to slide slowly in and out, twisting to loosen him. Xander crooked the finger as it slid, and Harry cried out at the jolt that shot through him. Two finger, three, and then - empty. Xander was gone with a curse, and Harry looked over his shoulder to see him rolling the condom down his hard cock. Then he was back. Xander lined himself up and eased slowly into the younger man. Harry panted and pressed back, desperate to take him all.

 

***

 

Hot. That was the one word that made sense in Xander's overwhelmed mind. Harry was hot. His only previous male lover having been a vampire, Xander just wasn't prepared for the way that would feel. He had to stop for a moment and clench his fists to gain control. When he felt more grounded, he began to move. He pressed in bit by bit, until he was deeply seated, his thighs tight against Harry's ass. God! This man felt amazing. Xander began to thrust, leaning forward to kiss Harry's shoulders and back. His hands reached around, one teasing at Harry's nipples while the other coasted down to grasp his hard, wet cock. He was determined that Harry come first, and since being in Harry felt so intense, that meant he had to work fast. He began to stroke the other man's erection smoothly, letting his thumb slide up to circle the sensitive head on every upstroke. He angled his thrusts so that he was brushing Harry's prostate and brought his other hand down to caress his lover's balls, trying to push him over the edge. He was going to hold on if it killed him! Suddenly - finally! - Harry tensed. He came with a yell, arching back so his head lay on Xander's shoulder. Xander kissed him hard as he thrust a few more times into Harry's quivering channel and came with a muffled yell. He slumped forward, cradling Harry's lithe body against him.

 

"Great googly mooglies!"

 

"If that was meant to be romantic, you have a sadly mistaken notion of romance." Harry sounded like he was smiling. Xander lifted his head to check and, yup, smiling.

 

"It was an exclamation of wonder and awe." The one-eyed man kissed a pale shoulder gently. "You are amazing." He reluctantly pulled away. "I think we should shower before we go to the comic book store."

 

"You were serious about that?"

 

***

 

That night the two men lay tangled in the sheets of Harry's bed. It had been a good day. The comic book store had been full of odd people speaking about things Harry had never encountered, but Xander had taken it as an opportunity to introduce Harry to some of the geekier aspects of his personality. Harry was now the proud owner of several autographed comic books, which he had promised to actually read. And sworn not to bend.

 

They had gone to the carnival, where they had ridden rides, eaten food with no nutritional value, and played games. Harry had demonstrated Quidditch reflexes and accuracy to put darts into small moving targets and win Xander a teddy bear. Xander had then demonstrated construction worker muscle to hit a mark with a hammer and win Harry a stuffed dragon.

 

Harry stroked a hand through Xander's hair. "I'm never eating cotton candy again."

 

"I'll learn to live with your limitations."

 

Dinner had been at a nice Italian restaurant, and had been followed by dancing at a club. Harry didn't dance well, but he had been astonished by Xander's unselfconscious flailing. 'Only I could fall in love with a man who dances like a jumping jack,' Harry thought. He almost said it aloud, but he felt that he shouldn't make declarations of love yet, especially as they'd made love for the first time today. And second, third and fourth time. Xander might think it was the sex talking.

 

Harry felt a bit odd about how fast the relationship was moving. They'd been a couple for a week, and already they were in bed and he was in love. He felt out of his depth. But as he snuggled into Xander's embrace, he decided he didn't care. He would hold on like a drowning man and pray that the drama that had marked his life was over.

 

"Do you have an alarm set? I have to go to headquarters in the morning and pretend I'm thinking about hanging doors instead of you. I mean instead of thinking about you, not instead of hanging you. Although you might look nice on the wall. Give visiting Slayers a bit of eye candy." Xander yawned.

 

Harry unraveled that statement and answered, "Yes, I've got an alarm set. I have training tomorrow." He had begun to drift when a beeping sound impinged on his awareness. "What's that?"

 

"Voicemail on my phone. I'll get it tomorrow," Xander mumbled. They slept.

 

***

 

 

Messages on the phone of Xander Harris

 

Sunday, 2:15 pm "Xander? It's Giles. When you get a chance, could you please contact me? A prophecy has just appeared, and I would like your input as we research. Call as soon as you can."

 

Sunday, 5:08 pm "This is Giles again. I'm aware that it's Sunday, and I know you haven't done much research with the new Council, but I would really appreciate it if you would come in. This prophecy is unusual."

 

Sunday, 8:37 "Xander please ring me. I assure you it's urgent. This prophecy...well, it appears to deal with you personally. It is vitally important that we decipher it, so please ring as soon as you get this."

 

Sunday, 10:23 pm "Oh, Good Lord! Don't you ever check this infernal device? Call me!"