All throughout dinner, Zoey giggled. She didn't talk overly much which was a blessing, because her little girly voice grated on Giles' nerves, but what was worse was that infernal giggling. Still worse yet was that Wesley giggled with her -- in between inaudible murmurings. They sat as closely side by side as they could get their chairs and, with foreheads nearly touching, they giggled.
They murmured and they giggled.
Giles couldn't stand it.
With pleading eyes he looked at Erykah. The bounty hunter leaned her elbow on the edge of the table and rested her chin on one elegant hand. And she smiled.
Giles knew that she found the whole thing amusing. He glared at her. She raised one elegant eyebrow and her smile grew broader.
"Excuse us," he said abruptly, and grabbed Erykah's wrist on his flight from the table. Only her superb reflexes saved her from following him less than gracefully.
0When they were near the back of the restaurant, a sufficient distance away from their companions, Erykah dug in her heels, and Giles came to a sudden, abrupt stop.
"Rupe, wait. I'm sorry. I thought she'd be fun for Wesley. I didn't mean for her to ruin the evening for you. She's actually quite a good kid."
Giles glanced at her, but remained partially turned away.
Softening his scowl, he asked, "Can we ditch them?"
"That wouldn't be nice, now would it?"
"Who said we have to be nice?" he grumbled to the floor.
Erykah rubbed small circles across his back. "Poor baby isn't having a good time."
"The only reason I agreed to your suggestion of bringing Zoey was so Wesley could get out and realize there's more to life than research. He doesn't let me hear the end of it. I knew it was a mistake to move into the house with him. Should have gone to a hotel. I could just as easily go to his place everyday the way I went to work at the school."
"Should haves always look better than the present," Erykah said.
He glared at her again and she stifled a laugh at his expense.
"Ery," he sighed. "All I wanted was to see you again. I've missed you since you went back to Los Angeles." He turned to face her fully, and took her into his arms. She put her hands on either side of his face and gave him a chaste and gentle kiss.
They pulled apart slightly.
"You kissed Wesley with more passion than that," he complained.
"Yes," she said, and sauntered back to the table, letting him get an eyeful of her wiggle.
He blew out another sigh and followed.
Dancing helped. It was physical and it was away from the other couple. Giles managed to work off the edge of his annoyance while out on the floor. Holding Erykah helped a lot, too. On the other hand, her closeness also caused another problem, albeit a pleasant one. The feel of her lithe form in his embrace, her taut body moving against his, stirred up sensations he would end up needing to deal with later. An agreeable anticipation.
The music changed from slow and moody to a lively Latin beat. Erykah's eyes fixed on Giles' and she issued a silent challenge.
Keep up with me.
Then she whirled away, spun around with arms raised in the air and flung herself against him once more. Giles placed his hands against her sides, fingers splayed against the dark burgundy of her dress. She leaned back, back until her head nearly touched the floor, one leg hooked around his thighs. His hands slid with eloquence down to her hips and he held her. When she eased upright they were melded as one, faces close together, mouths approaching closer, closer, nearly meeting in a kiss.
Abruptly they broke apart and Erykah again spun away, her hand travelling down Giles' arm until, at the last moment, he caught her fingers in his own. She snapped back to him and, with exaggerated rhythm, they moved together, he forward, she backward. They gyrated to the pulse of the music, faster and faster, spinning across the room in a sort of battle of wills.
Other couples moved out of their way. Freed from the confinement of the crowd, they flew around the dance floor. Give and take. Give and take. The music built to a feverish crescendo and all too soon was over.
Giles held Erykah in a loose embrace in which she was again nearly on the floor, her hair brushing the polished surface. Their eyes remained, as they had throughout the dance, locked in a struggle for domination.
Then there was applause and they came back to earth, realizing that the acclaim was for them. Giles pulled Erykah upright and held her against him. A subtle thrust of his pelvis told her that he was aroused. They turned their heads and smiled to acknowledge the approval of their audience. Turning Erykah around, Giles snaked one arm around her waist from behind and held her in front of him as they returned to the table. Once, along the way, she faltered and he bumped into her, his stiffening erection pressed up against her backside. Unseen by him, she smiled slightly and continued on her way.
As they seated themselves again, their tablemates stared with openmouthed admiration.
"Wow! That was amazing!" Zoey gushed. "You guys were so sexy out there. Whew!" She fanned herself with her napkin and grinned at them.
Wesley just stared. After a moment he remembered to close his mouth.
"Uh, yes. That was quite a display. Wherever did you learn to dance like that, Giles?"
"School," he replied a trifle smugly. "I didn't go to an all boys school." He reached for the glass of ice water by his plate and drank deeply from it. Erykah did the same with hers. Their eyes met.
"Apparently not," Wesley said. His brow creased as if he was trying to imagine learning to dance like that with another male. He blinked and turned to Zoey. "I'm quite a capable dancer myself, my dear. Not perhaps in the same league as our friends, but if you would care to, I should be delighted to take a turn around the floor with you."
"Oh, Wesley, you have such a way with words." Zoey let him lead her off, gazing up at him with adoring eyes.
Giles looked closely and saw that, for all of Wesley's unfaltering delivery, his knees were nearly knocking together. The ghost of a smile touched Giles' mouth as he returned his attention to Erykah.
"Well?"
"Well what?" she replied with a smirk.
"Just that."
She held his gaze for a moment then looked away, grinning. "You are so full of it."
He raised one eyebrow. "Am I?"
She reached for his hand, took it and gave his fingers a gentle squeeze.
"Yes. You are."
"Then I haven't lost my touch."
Erykah flung her head back and roared with laughter.
Exiting the restaurant, the two couples walked slowly towards Erykah's car. Wesley and Zoey went ahead a short distance, chattering amiably while Giles and Erykah strolled unhurriedly behind them.
"You're a very good dancer," Zoey said shyly.
That simple statement was enough to give Wesley a blushing fit.
"Th-thank you. You w-were lovely yourself. I mean..."
"Thanks," she replied saving him from himself. They walked in silence for a moment until she asked, "Do you like using handcuffs?"
Giles looked at Wesley when the other man let out a startled "I beg your pardon?" He couldn't tell what had gotten Wesley so agitated. He appeared to be settling down quickly as he moved closer to his date so Giles ignored him.
"Feeling better?" Erykah asked.
"Hmm?"
She glanced below his belt and back up.
"Oh. Temporarily cured."
"Only temporary?" she slid her arm through his and cuddled closer.
Removing his arm from hers he encircled her shoulders and pulled her against him. "I hope so. You wouldn't know of a more satisfying cure, would you?"
"I might."
"Is it too early to call it a night?" he asked hopefully.
"Well..." she began, her tone sounding promising to his ears.
"Guys, I know of a swinging party we can go to." Zoey practically hopped up and down in front of them, clutching Wesley's jacket sleeve as she did.
"Darling, how on earth would you know about a party here in Sunnydale?" Erykah asked. "You've never been here before in your life."
"I eavesdropped on the people at the table next to ours."
Giles started to refuse the idea, but Erykah, contrarily, spoke up first.
"That sounds like a fun idea. Let's go!" She tugged on Giles' arm. "Come along, Rupe. We're going to a party."