Dealing with the book of love (cw/tw)

It was like a date, perhaps not one that she could tell others about, but she counted it as one. She saw Baal, and immediately her heart started racing. Like she wanted to run directly in to his embrace and bury her face in his shirt. However she kept herself civil. They still needed to keep it low. Sitting next to him, their fingers intertwined under the table, she felt happy. "What is the title of this one again?" She asked softly.

"That sounds horrible," Buffy mumbled, giving his hand a squeeze. She knew that technically they couldn't have each other either, but she chose to ignore those rules. She wanted him, and she had made that very clear. When Xander had given the ultimatum, she had feared that the daemon she was now sitting next to wouldn't have showed. Perhaps that would've broken her heart more. "What happens to the man? Does he get his love?" she asked, looking at him.

"Does he get close to her then? Does he manage to proclaim his love and win her over?" Buffy asked, wanting to lean up against him. "No ... Don't tell me," she added, a smile on her lips as she looked at him. "Let's take it home ... You could read it to me and you wouldn't have spoiled too much," she said, feeling rather excited to do so. There was a couple of other books that they could take with them home as well.

Biting her lower lip as he said he would love to read it for him, hearing in his tone that he showed more than he probably should have. Turning her attention to the books in front of her, looking at the different titles. Some she knew, mostly from her literature classes, but she wanted to pick some she hadn't read before. Picking out three she smiled at Baal, wanting to lean in to kiss him, but that would have to wait until they returned to the apartment. "Shall we?" she asked, knowing that getting up they would have to let go of each other's hand.

He looked at the three books she picked before he nodded and looked at them shortly. He nodded at her choices before he thought about her question, "Hmmm. Yeah, we probably should," he said with a smile, looking shortly down at their hands before he looked back at her. He didnt really want to let go, but he knew they had to. He gave her hand a squeeze before he released his grip and pulled his hand away, feeling a bitter feeling at it. But it was what they had to do. He picked up the books and sent her a small smile, "Yours or mine?" he asked as they had to go scan the books to make a loan.

This was the worst part right now, the fact that she had to let go of his hand before they could stand up. Not that she cared much, but it was for both of their safety's sake that they had to do this. "I think it would be best to go home to you, Juno is probably starving," she smiled. They had been spending more time at Baal's place, and despite it being cold, she just made sure to cuddle up closer to him. They checked out the books and she opened the door for him to exit first. "It's kinda cold out, but it wouldn't be too bad of a walk," she noted, smiling at him. She couldn't hide the love that flickered in her bright flames.

He frowned a little in disbelief when she said that Juno probably was starving. From what he knew, the time the stray had spent with him, she had gotten a bit of weight which was mostly due to him not knowing how much food she needed, so he overfed her quite often. "Dont let her fool you. She's done that to me many times now," he said with a chuckle, shaking his head. The cat was oddly good at manipulating him into believing that she wasnt being fed enough but he felt like he had figured her out - It was only a matter of time before he was proven wrong and she fooled him once again.
Outside he felt the cold air and wanted to reach around and hug her close to give her some of his warmth. It just wasnt a possibility to his own bitter feeling. As they walked he glanced at her from time to time with love that he was trying to hide but probably failed miserably. "Should we get you something on the way?" he asked. He just didnt always have food lying around, though he had made sure to always have enough for her to eat some spaghetti if she felt the need.

His suggestion about food made her ponder for a bit, carrying some of the books in a small bag. "I think it would be nice to just grab some quick food ... Maybe just a sandwich somewhere?" she thought out loud. She didn't really like cooking, but she would do it when she had to. However it wasn't really fun only to cook for herself. "We could stop by one of the stores? I feel like I want some fruit as well," she suggested, looking at him with a smile on her face.

She smiled, thinking they would try focusing on just grabbing what they needed. But of course the attraction between them couldn't be kept at bay. He pulled her in to a small alley, and all she could do was look up at him before he cupped her face. Indulging in the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. "You're crazy," she whispered, but it didn't stop her from leaning in to yet another kiss.

She chuckled softly, closing her eyes as he placed his forehead against hers. "When we get back to your place, we can do whatever we want," she whispered, promising him that he didn't need to worry. She wasn't going to stop longing for him, but they did need to be mindful out here. Even though she did want to scream out that she loved him, and show him off by holding his hand. "We should get going ... Before I start freezing," she mumbled, although she didn't want to move.

Buffy smiled at him as he took her hand and kissed it. She had a feeling that the book would have to distract her a lot from his lips if they were ever going to male it past the first chapter. The hand he had kissed reached out, her fingers stroking his cheek as she sighed, but she had took put her hands away. She decided to take the first step, and while it was hurting her heart, she led the way to a supermarket close to his district.

He leaned a little against her hand as she touched his cheek, but then they had to stop. It was bittersweet but it had to be done. The walk to the supermarket helped him distract his mind a little and as they stepped in, he felt relaxed again. Getting to kiss her, even though it made him long for more of her lips, it did release some tension inside of him. He followed her around as they walked the aisles to get her what she needed. Was it bad that he wanted to hold her hand? It felt so forbidden to even want it, like someone who could have read his mind would have found out. "Maybe I should get Juno some fish. Just a little snack," he thought out loud with a thoughtful frown.

"She liked the tuna last time I made a sandwich," Buffy remarked, looking at him as she stood picking out some vegetables. She felt herself taken aback, looking at him she just stared at him. He was so beautiful and handsome that he quite simply took her breath away. She wanted to say something, but she forced herself to look away as she continued finding what she needed. Then she walked to the pasta aisle, picking out a packet as she knew she was running low in the bag she had at Baal's place. She hadn't moved in with him, but it was easier having alone time when she didn't feel like she was being watched over by her brother.

"I can't help that you are distracting," she mumbled under her breath, biting her lower lip as she looked at some different pasta sauces. She decided to go for some simple green pesto, mostly because it was a cheap one. She wasn't a snob regarding pasta or pesto, so she usually just went with whatever she could afford. "I think I've got everything ... Oh wait, toothpaste - You're running low," she mumbled walking to the aisle with personal care. Humming to herself she looked at the different kinds. She knew he preferred no taste, but she herself liked a more minty one.

"You're being silly," he argued with a smile, shaking his head as he looked at her. He could understand how it was hard at times to only seem like friends, because he found it very hard. He nodded as she said she had everything, to then frown when she mentioned toothpaste. He didnt really like it that much, mostly because the artificial smells and flavours felt like the equivalent of chewing flower petals. But since he had started seeing Buffy, he had eaten and drank things that werent necessary for him, and for that he had also felt the need to clean his mouth. "I feel like they're all going to taste awful, so just pick whatever," he said with a shrug.

Sighing she picked one that had more of a peppermint flavor, hoping it would be more suitable for his tastebuds. When that was done she nodded to herself, walking towards the cashier. "Would you mind if I stayed over tonight? My brother is having a thing with Aiden, and I don't really want to ruin whatever they have planned," she said, however she could already sense the answer. Paying for their items, she placed them in a small bag, handing it to Baal with a playful smile on her face, biting her lower lip as she kinda hoped he would look in to the half open bag and spot that she had bought a new pack of condoms.

"I wouldnt mind at all," he assured her with a soft smile, keeping it civil and unsuspecting. Though he did feel a small rush in his stomach at the thought of her staying over. He grabbed the bag and looked down as he noticed something new. He raised his eyebrows a little surprised at the condoms and cleared his throat as he wet his lips and felt the blood rush to his face, making him blush a little. He should have known she was up to something, smiling a little as he chuckled, "You sly seductress," he reprimanded her jokingly before he shook his head and rubbed his cheek like that could remove the faint red tint.