the deepest cuts

Wesley helped Faith back to the hotel, up the stairs and into the room Fred had readied for the dark-haired Slayer while she fought against the soul-less Angelus.

Easing Faith into a chair, the former watcher stepped into the small bathroom, wetting a cloth to wash away the blood on the Slayer's face.

"No. Just be still. Let me take care of this for you. You'll need your rest to heal. Angelus is still out there."

Wesley made no attempt to answer as he gently wiped the blood from her cheek. The pale flesh was already bruising; the deep red-purple edged with the green of a several day old bruise. Faith was healing almost as Wesley watched.

The brunette Slayer grunted as Wesley removed the last traces of blood from the edge of her hair, carefully wiping over the cut.

"Naw. Just help me over to the bed so I can pass out for a bit. I'll be fine after a while."

"I know you will, Faith." Wesley had wrapped his arm around her torso as he helped the battered Slayer to the side of the bed before easing the jacket from her strong, slender shoulders.

She tried to toe the ankle boots off with little success, but Wesley stopped her.

Wesley knelt and removed her boots before lifting her legs, helping her shift to a better position to lie down.

"Wes… I… I just wanted to say I was sorry… You know… For what happened before. Thanks for trusting me."

"Yours' were not the only mistakes, Faith. I did my own share of damage getting to the place you were at then. I failed you more than once. Gave up like everyone else; everyone except Angel."

"It appears so. Get some rest now. I'll keep watch downstairs. I have some things to take care of…"

Faith heard the sadness in his voice as he turned away, watched the brunette's shoulders slump slightly as he closed the door behind him, leaving her alone in the room.

Shifting as much as possible for a more comfortable position, Faith closed her eyes and thought about the changes in her former Watcher as she waited for sleep to claim her.

Wesley walked quietly down the stairs to the basement, catching up a shovel before he turned to look at the plastic draped shape now lying on the earthen floor of the room.
This wasn't what he wanted to do, but he needed to give her back some dignity, a bit of respect…

'Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us'

It had taken longer to bury his dead lover than Wesley had thought, but it was finally done as he headed up the stairs, ready to wash the dirt off and perhaps even allow some of the guilt that lingered, to be rinsed away with the water.

Standing in the shower, the hot water cascading over him, Wesley heard the opposite door of the small room open.

He'd not troubled to lock the door, thinking that Faith would sleep for several more hours.

"Yes. I'll be finished here in a few minutes, Faith." Wesley stood motionless behind the opaque shower curtains.

"'S'okay. Kinda used to sharing the facilities, you know. But I was hoping we might talk a bit."

"Certainly. Let me finish up here, please. Then I'll come to your room to talk. The others have gone to bed and we might want to stay there so as to not disturb them."

'Take me now, baby, here as I am
Hold me close, try and understand
Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
Love is a banquet on which we feed'

Wesley hurried with the remainder of his shower; catching up a towel after peeking around the corner of the curtain to make sure he was alone, and exiting through the other door back into his own room.

Quickly drying off then dressing, Wesley tapped gently on the bathroom door. There was no reply, so he walked through the small space, knocking softly on Faith's door before entering the room.

"You're back. Cool. I woke up and was feeling better and just kinda wanted to talk if you're up for it?"

Faith was sitting on the edge of the bed, her own train of thoughts pushed aside as Wesley entered the room.

He moved more gracefully now, like a big cat. The former Watcher would never have the swift smoothness of a vampire, but for a normal human, he moved well. Faith noticed he no longer had the smooth, almost adolescent face she'd remembered. Instead he was older with an odd, almost roughness, which revealed more things he'd endured than words could have told her. Looking into his blue eyes, she silently acknowledged a similarity with herself. In a face older and more matured, his eyes, like her own, seemed almost ancient.

"Been though a lot, Wes. Both of us, over the last couple of years. It shows. Looks good on you though."

"Thank you, Faith. You've gotten an extra year or two yourself, I see. But as you say, it looks very good on you."

Wesley sat on the edge of the bed as he looked her over, noting the almost healed bruises, the dark hair, slim face and features grown more lovely with maturity.

"Yeah, well, guess it happens that way. So tell me what has been happening. Not just the last couple of years, but the last few hours, Wes. Something was bothering you when you left earlier. Tell me what's going on…"

Wesley took in a deep breath before he started to tell the Slayer about the last weeks he'd experienced. Weeks that had culminated in his activities of less than an hour before.

'Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us'

Wesley had talked for most of an hour as he answered Faith's questions. He didn't spare her or himself, with the answers.

Soon after Wesley had started his tale, Faith had shifted, leaning back against the headboard, watching his face as he'd told her about his affair with the attorney, his feelings for Fred and the guilt that still rode him.

"Alright, I guess. I'll be fine. And what about you? How have you been? Are you feeling better now?"

"Five by five. Not much to tell about the prison. Kept my nose clean, did what I was suppose to do." Faith shrugged carefully, favoring the sore shoulder.

"I'm okay. Everything's almost healed." She rotated her head seeking a measure of relief.

He shifted to a cross-legged sitting position behind her in order to reach the injured shoulder easier.

As Wesley took her shoulder firmly in hands much stronger than she'd imagined, she felt a twinge of pain as he kneaded the cramped muscle. However, in minutes all conversation had ceased between them and there was simply the feel of his hands on her body.

"Still a bit sore. Wanna get the other one too? I mean since you're already there an' all."

Faith's comment caught Wesley by surprise. His hands still rested on her shoulders, but had ceased to move.

Smiling slightly to herself, the brunette Slayer leaned back carefully until she rested against Wesley's chest. She made a mental note that he'd not taken his hands off of her yet.

"Yeah. I think I just might be. It's been a long time for me, Wes. I was enjoying that massage a whole lot more than just getting' a cramped muscle loose. Seems to me you might have a few things to get outta your system too. Be a good way to do that… For both of us."

Wesley thought about her suggestion, unconsciously starting to gently knead her shoulders again, except this time had nothing to do with removing a cramp.

A low sigh from Faith called his attention to what he was doing. He realized that her suggestion might not be too far off the mark.

"You may be right, Faith. It may be that my subconscious knows more about what I need than I'm willing to admit."

He raised one hand from her shoulder to gently shift her hair to one side, exposing her neck, then leaned slightly to press a kiss to the soft skin over the pulse in her neck.

He felt the shiver run through her while shocked to find an almost electric tingle run up his spine.

Without turning, Faith caught the bottom edge of her shirt, crossing her arms quickly, pulling the shirt over her head before tossing the clothing to the floor.

With love we sleep, with doubt the vicious circle turns, and burns
Without you, I cannot live, forgive the yearning burning
I believe in love too real to feel, take me now,
Take me now, take me now'

Wesley knew how much it would have cost the old Faith to say please or to ask. He realized in that instant that the newer version was no less unsure, or that it had been any less difficult for her to ask. For her, 'please' was close to pleading.

He slid both hands up her shoulders, filling them with the warm weight of her hair before bringing it to his face. It smelled slightly of dust, the metallic tang of blood and the warm sleepiness of her. The scent pulled at things inside of him, causing his body to twitch in reaction.

Wesley pushed her hair to one side and over her shoulder, leaving her back uncovered.

He ran his hands lightly across the skin of her shoulders and up the smooth column of her neck before letting his lips follow the same path.

His actions were rewarded by a deep groan that he knew had been wrenched from her. Faith was not one to admit much, and the sound was an admission of the effect of his touch on her.

That simple knowledge was enough to cause an even stronger reaction inside of him.

Faith shifted, reluctant to dislodge his hands from her body, but wanting to see him, touch him. The brunette Slayer knew it had been a long time, but she was surprised to discover how strongly and quickly she'd responded to Wesley's touch.

Facing him, she grasped his shirt with both hands, pulling it from his pants. "Off."

But her hands helped him fumble the buttons open before pushing the material off his shoulders and down his arms.

Wesley caught the shirt, and flung it to the floor to puddle beside hers, his eyes never leaving her face. Moments later, her face between his hands, he pulled her closer, kissing her lips, running his tongue over them as he demanded entrance to her mouth.

Shifting quickly, Faith slid into his lap, her jean clad legs wrapped around his waist, both hands grasping his hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss.

She drank at his mouth, hungry for the feel of his lips. Wesley ate at her lips as though he'd crawl inside of her. Slayer and Watcher wanted… no, needed to get closer while the burning fire where they touched spread though their bodies, setting nerves on edge, skin tightening with need.

Breaking the kiss and pulling back slightly, Faith gasped for breath as she looked into his face, questioning. There was an answering darkness in his eyes that matched the one in hers. A look that had nothing to do with being a Watcher or Slayer, but everything to do with being male and female. A darkness fed by their own inner pain and demons. An almost tangible weight to the look that cried out the need that filled them.

Wesley slipped his arms around her, up her back to curl over the tops of her shoulders, pulling her toward him. Faith leaned her head back, exposing the bow of her throat to him as she clasped his muscular forearms in a steel grip.

He kissed along that pale skin, trailed the tip of his tongue across her collarbones, first one, then the other, as she arched toward him.

He felt the trembling rise though her body as he held her and pulled her closer, bending to capture her lips again as he invaded her mouth with demanding strokes of his tongue.

This time he felt the shudder fill her, could almost taste the sound as it escaped her body, vibrating against his lips. He broke the kiss, only to lick the side of her neck once more, pausing over the frantic pulse before pulling the beating flesh into his mouth and biting gently.

Faith felt the fire in her veins filling her up, rising higher, seeking a way out until it finally spilled from her in a crest of sound. She felt the heat of Wesley's mouth on her neck, felt the blunt teeth against her skin biting into the pulse of her body and she screamed, her inner muscles spasming, her body no longer her own.

Wesley felt the sting of her nails in the flesh of his back as the rush of sound from her turned into a scream. His only worry was waking someone who might interrupt them.

He felt the insulated throbbing of her body through her jeans as she pressed against his own flesh, hard and tight against the jeans he still wore.

Knowing she'd found some release, Wesley started to pull back, to ease her from him even while he held her.

"No! Don't… Hold me. I need…" Faith exclaimed as she gasped, trying to remember how to breathe. Her hands went to the snap at the top of his jeans, unfastening them before turning to her own. In moments she was struggling out of the pants while he held her, as she'd demanded of him.

He had to pull away to remove his jeans, taking the underwear with them. The hard length of him slapped back into his abdomen. He glimpsed her bra falling across his jeans on the floor with the rest of their clothing before she pulled him against her, allowing herself to fall backwards on the bed. Wesley had no choice but to fall with her, however he felt no reluctance in doing so.

His weight pressed her to the bed, his hardness pressing into her stomach, trapped between them, arms around each other. He worked one arm free, raising it to cup the side of her face. "Just remember your strength. Don't break my ribs. A bit of pain is alright, though." He whispered to her.

Wesley felt as though his skin was too tight as the need for release filled him almost to overflowing, but he didn't want to rush her. He was surprised at the strength of his reaction to Faith, especially in the wake of Lilah's death.

Faith was surprised by what she'd just said. She'd tried to never need anyone, yet she found her words to be the truth, she did need Wesley. The small voice inside her head whispered that it was for more than just sex, but she slammed that inner door shut in her head, silencing the voice.

Wesley lowered his head slightly, kissing her again, his free hand sliding along the side of her body to cover her breast, kneading the flesh with his fingers. As Faith responded, he tightened his grip ever so slightly, forcing a groan from her.

Then it was his turn to moan as she worked a hand between them to encircle him, squeezing and releasing him repeatedly.

He realized that he was the one that needed a few minutes, because otherwise… well, he'd certainly be no use to her for a short while afterwards.

Wesley slid down her body, kissing and nipping a fiery trail with the edge of his teeth, until he made his way to the dark curls lower on her body and removed himself from the grasp of her hand. Supporting himself on elbows, he used his hands to move her legs apart, then gently blew on the damp, sensitive nub of flesh there. Faith gasped at the rush of sensation, arching upwards to meet his mouth.

Determined to prove to Faith that his hands were not the only talented thing about him, Wesley licked, nibbled and sucked the tender flesh until the dark haired Slayer writhed on the bed, her hands wrapped tightly in his hair and a keening sound poured from her mouth.

Although Wesley had sought to pleasure her while giving himself time to calm down somewhat, it seemed he'd succeeded greatly at the first and only slightly with the latter.

"Wes…" Faith pulled at his shoulders and hair, forcing him back up her body. After the sensation of his mouth on her, all she could think about was the feel of him driving deep inside of her, filling her up.

Hearing the unspoken plea in her voice as she'd whispered his name, Wesley understood what she wanted of him. Right that moment he couldn't think of anywhere he wanted to be except buried deep inside her, feeling the strength of her clasped around him.

There was no need to resist what they both wanted, so supporting his weight on his arms, Wesley let her guide him into her hot, wet center. That intimate joining of flesh wrenched a gasp from both of them. He looked into the depths of her eyes as she watched him, straining closer.

Moving slowly at first, he withdrew then filled her again in long, deep strokes. Faith rose to meet each thrust, matching him movement for movement. She reached up putting a hand behind his neck and pulling him down, kissing him. Her mouth was demanding, eating at his lips with blunt teeth, filling him with more of the fire that already threatened to burn him from deep inside. His movements increased until he was pounding into her, each thrust bringing a moan of sound from her, a rise of her body as she met his thrust, sending him deeper within her.

Wesley's breath was a ragged whistle in his throat and sweat oozed down his back when Faith reached a hand upward to wrap around the front of his throat. He knew she could rip his flesh out with little effort, but she just held a careful yet firm grasp on him.

With quick movement, she sat up under him, pushing him backwards on the bed. He shifted his legs around letting her sit astride him. They had only a slight break in rhythm as they'd changed positions. Her hand still caressed his throat in her firm grip, while she swayed above him, her inner muscles gripping him just as tightly.

Tilting his head tightened the hold on his throat, but allowed him to look down the length of their joined bodies, let him see the hard shaft of his flesh disappear into her warmth only to reappear glistening with wetness before disappear again. The sight pulled a groan from him as he held her hips, encouraging the rise and fall of her body.

Faith looked at the very attractive man beneath and inside of her. She was amazed at the control he'd showed thus far. He'd brought her over the shining knife-edge of pleasure twice, yet had not given in to it himself. Loosing her hold on his throat, she slid her hands up the side of his face, leaning over to kiss him deeply. She stopped moving over him, holding herself up until only the tip of his body remained in her. She could feel the tenseness in him, felt the pressure of his hands on her hips as he tried to urge her down onto him. Stifling a chuckle deep inside her throat, Faith moved slowly in a tight circle against him. When she had him almost squirming beneath her, his breath a gasp, she dropped the full length of him, impaling herself. The sensation was so intense, so sharp from this angle that it made her almost shriek with pleasure. Equally satisfying was the effect it had on him. Wesley had released her hips, reaching upward to catch at the edge of the headboard, his face slack with need, with desire for her.

She moved above him again, seeing his breath quicken in the rise and fall of his surprisingly muscular chest. Letting the sensation fill them both, Faith stopped again, hovering over him as before, but before she could drop the length of him once more, the ex-Watcher reached up, mirroring her earlier movement, and grabbed her by the throat pulling her down and rolling over her until his weight covered her.

With Faith beneath him again, Wesley once more set a brutal pounding pace as he clung to her throat. She lifted a hand to cover his on the column of her neck, as she whispered to him. "Harder."

He knew what she wanted and squeezed slightly on the sides of her neck as her hands raked nails down his chest.

Wesley felt the slight tightening of her muscles and saw the same tenseness fill her face. Letting the sensations wash over and through him, he finally relinquished the control he'd kept over his body, allowing himself to be swept away on the rising rush that burned across him in a skin-tingling, nerve-shattering burst of release. As his body spasmed uncontrolled in Faith's hot depths, he felt the strength of her inner muscles clutching and releasing him, heard the scream of pleasure from her through the blinding intensity of his own pleasure.

'Have I doubt, baby, when I'm alone
Love is a ring on the telephone
Love is an angel, disguised as lust
Here in our bed 'til the morning comes'

When he could finally move, Wesley shifted further to the side, withdrawing from her body as he moved the weight of his lower body from hers. He rolled on his side, pulling the lovely dark-haired woman into his arms.

"I'm not sure I know how to explain it, Faith, but you were right. The grief, the guilt, the sense of failure is… less. I don't wish you to think that I used you, however. There… there is something different between us now."

"Ya know, if anyone tried to tell me something like that before… I'd have blown them off, been hurt. But you're right. There is something different now. I don't know what and I'm not gonna try and find out right now."

"Maybe the feeling that even though I couldn't save Lilah, that perhaps together we can save Angel, that because of him, you were saved."

"Wes, Angel's not the only one to help me. What you just did… what we just did… Something inside of me that I didn't know was hurt, feels a lot better now."

"I'm glad. You're a beautiful woman Faith. I'm glad I went to you for help. I'm glad you chose to help. I'm very glad you made this suggestion." Wesley chuckled slightly before he continued, becoming serious once more. "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe, Faith."

She quickly laid her fingertips across his lips, stopping him before he could continue.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Wes. I'm a Slayer. B was right. We have expiration dates. Mine just kinda got extended a bit, an' all. I have a job to do and you can't protect me." Shifting her hand to cup the side of his face, she rubbed his stubbled cheek with her thumb. "You did help save me, Wes. Helped tonight in a way I didn't know I needed. If you'll just be there, do what you can… Maybe be my Watcher again… It's good, ya know?"

"I know. I know you're a Slayer and while I've always understood what that means, it took me all this time to understand what the world asks of you." He brushed the hair back from her face, tracing the hairline with a gentle finger. "But it took this… To understand what losing you could mean."

"Yeah…" She looked into his eyes, refusing to see what welled up inside of her, knowing she saw the same thing in his eyes. Neither of them would talk about it any further than they had, only brushing the edges.

"Wes… Would you stay with me tonight?" Faith braced herself for the rejection she felt would come.

"Yes. I'd like that very much, Faith. Thank you for asking. I was afraid to ask, afraid you'd say no."

"Let them think what they will. I'm not ashamed of being with you and I'll not hide it. It's quite frankly none of their business."

Faith snuggled into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder, her cheek touching his chest, then wrapped her arm around him after tugging the cover over them both.

She sighed lightly and drifted into sleep, for the first time feeling a measure of security in someone's arms.

Wesley held her close, as he considered what had happened between them and wondered how many Watchers had fallen in love with their Slayers; how they'd handled it when those Slayers were lost to them. He was very glad he'd found his again and that she'd forgiven him for failing her before.

Finding a large measure of peace within himself now, Wesley allowed sleep to claim him, comfortable with Faith held in his arms.

'Now I believe there comes a time
When everything just falls in line
We live an' learn from our mistakes
The deepest cuts are healed by faith'

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The Deepest Cuts

Written By: Gillian Silverlight