RockStarPeach

Ready... set... WINDSEY!!!! Heh, well, as much as can really fit into this fic, anyway. I mean, did you really expect me to write twenty some odd chapters of story, with Wes, and Lindsey, and NOT have any Windsey? As if :)

Also, thanks to whoever nominated this at rwsawards

Title: Arrangement

Characters/Pairings: Giles/Lindsey, Lindsey/Spike, Giles/Wes, Giles/others, other slight pairings

Rating: Adult

Summary: Giles is a ridiculously unfaithful wealthy older man, keeping Lindsey around for pleasure and company, but when someone else catches Lindsey’s eye, he realises he wants more out of a relationship. Giles has sex with just about everyone. Spike tries to. Wes gets in over his head.

Banner by angelstoy Thanks so much, honey!! *hugs*



Previous Chapters

Chapter 19

Two days later, Wesley had successfully avoided spending any time with Rupert, instead working long hours at the charity, and going out one night with Faith, to that film that Rupert had passed on, in order to fuck someone else.

Rupert hadn’t seemed particularly concerned, hadn’t seemed to notice, just kissed Wesley when he finally did get home, smiled at him, asked him to make some tea, and said goodnight.

And Wesley wasn’t planning on being around this night, either.

He didn’t bother going home after work, just grabbed supper from the sandwich shop across the road, and then walked half a block to a pub, where he drank two beers and a cup of coffee, and then got in a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the apartment building that Rupert had gone to, to meet whoever the hell he was sleeping with that wasn’t Wesley.

He couldn’t honestly say why, or what he thought he might accomplish. He just needed to go there. It wasn’t as if he knew who he was looking for, or even what apartment they lived in, or if the apartment even belonged to someone other than Rupert. And it wasn’t as if he knew what he’d say to the person that was sleeping with his lover, even if he did happen to find one random person amongst the hundreds of people that lived in that building.

‘Stay the hell away from my boyfriend’ sounded a little silly, even in his own head.

But despite all that, fifteen minutes later, he found himself standing at the top of the set of wide, stone steps that led to the building’s front door, staring through the glass window dumbly, and biting his lower lip, wondering just how stupid he really was. He should be home, with Rupert. He should let this go, because he wasn’t going to learn anything standing out in the cool night by himself, and Rupert really was good to him, most times.

He supposed he wasn’t really surprised, when two minutes after he’d gotten there, he saw Lindsey’s reflection in the glass, walking up the steps and stopping behind him, arms full of a paper grocery bag. He really should have known, and probably had, deep down, just hadn’t wanted it to be true. He closed his eyes briefly, and just barely managed not to laugh in ridiculous self pity at the situation, and turned around to face him.

He should have just gone home tonight. He didn’t think he wanted to know this.

Lindsey didn’t recognise Wesley at first, not from behind, just saw some guy standing in front of the door, so he stopped behind him and waited for him to go inside. And then the man turned around.

Lindsey blinked a couple of times in mild surprise, but then just snorted and shook his head, brushing past Wesley and juggling his grocery bag to turn his key in the lock and open the door.

“You comin’ in, or what?” he asked, not turning back to look at Wesley, but pausing just inside the lobby and holding the door, until he felt the weight lift and knew that Wesley had taken it. He lead the other man upstairs to his apartment and put his things down on the counter, then walked the three feet across the small kitchen to open the near-empty fridge and look inside.

“So, what do you drink?”

“Hmm?” Wesley asked, startled. He was standing just inside the door, hand still on the knob, and thinking about whether he should close it behind him, or walk through it and leave. It was bizarre, being in his boyfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s apartment, being offered a drink by the ex-boyfriend, who was still fucking his boyfriend. “Oh, um, whatever you’ve got is fine.”

He finally closed the door behind himself and moved into the living room, taking the bottle of beer that Lindsey held out for him. He wondered again what the hell he was doing here at all, and wondered why he was accepting a beer from Lindsey, and watching the other man twist the cap off his own and take a large swig. It wasn’t as if they were friends, about to sit down and chat, spend a manly sort of evening together.

They were both after the same man, and by Wesley’s estimation, Lindsey was winning. Of course, Lindsey thought that Wesley was in the lead. They were probably both wrong.

After Wesley took the offered beverage, Lindsey nodded his head in the direction of the couch, and waited until Wesley started to move that way before following and sitting down next to him. Apparently, they were going to sit down and have a drink together. That was rather big of them both, considering.

Neither of them said anything for several long minutes, as Lindsey drank most of his beer in a few long swallows, and Wesley sipped at his, thumb playing with the paper label, peeling the corner off slightly. This was stupid.

“Aren’t you…” Wesley asked, looking at the coffee table, wondering why Lindsey wasn’t saying anything, why he wasn’t. “Surprised to see me here?”

“Not really,” Lindsey shrugged. He figured Wesley would have come by at some point, demanding to know exactly what he thought he was still doing hooking up with Wesley’s man, but he hadn’t expected it to be this soon. Hadn’t expected Wesley to figure it out yet. He must be smarter than he thought.

“Oh,” Wesley said, eyes darting to Lindsey for a moment, and then back to the table. Apparently Lindsey read ‘100 Percent Beef’, and wasn’t ashamed to leave it out in the open. Or more probably, it belonged to Rupert.

“You here to tell me to stay away from him?” Lindsey asked.

Wesley raised his eyebrows and turned to face Lindsey, asking honestly, “Would it work?”

“No,” Lindsey answered flatly, and they shared a brief smile, managing to find a little bit of humour in their situation. At least they had something in common.

“But,” Lindsey continued, taking a breath. “You know about us. He’s gonna think I told you, and he’ll probably never see me again anyway. It’s your lucky day.”

Wesley should probably have been happy to hear that, to know that he’d have more of Rupert’s attentions, but the sad resignation in Lindsey’s tone, the slightly shaky edge to his words, just made Wesley feel guilty. Lindsey was obviously hurting, obviously regretting the mistake he’d made that had driven Rupert to find Wesley in the first place, and wishing he could fix it.

And now, finding out that they were still seeing each other, Wesley felt even more used, even more like a substitution than he had at first, felt like there was no way he could win this. If Rupert really wanted him, he wouldn’t still be with Lindsey. It was only a matter of time before they found their way back to each other, and Wesley was left alone. He was the intruder in this messed up affair, not Lindsey.

“How did you find out, anyway?” Lindsey asked.

“I followed him the other night. Saw him come to this building. I honestly didn’t even know it was you he was with until just a few minutes ago,” Wesley admitted. “Though I suppose I was being naïve not to have realised it.”

“I thought he’d be more careful,” Lindsey said, surprised that Rupert had allowed himself to be caught. “He really didn’t want you to know.”

“I almost wish I didn’t. It would make things easier.” Easier to pretend.

Lindsey chuckled humourlessly in agreement and held up his bottle toward Wesley’s, smiling a pained smile. “Know how you feel, Wes.”

Wesley opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again quickly, and clinked his bottle against Lindsey’s, both of them taking a drink. It was Rupert’s fault that they both felt so uncertain, so confused, so insecure, and he thought Lindsey would probably be a decent person, thought they might even be able to get along, if they didn’t have a mutual lover between them.

“It’s easier when you don’t,” Lindsey continued. “What are you gonna do?”

“I should tell him you told me,” Wesley mused, knowing that he wouldn’t. He’d never say anything so deliberately malicious, hurtful, and completely untrue. Almost never. Still, it was nice to think about. “Get you out of the picture for good.”

Lindsey nodded in understanding. “I would, if I were in your place.”

A small, real grin formed on Wesley’s lips at that. Maybe Lindsey wanted Rupert more than Wesley did, maybe he deserved him more. “You’re ruthless,” he told him. “And honest.” Sure, he was being honest about telling a lie, but his intentions were true. He was in love, and he’d do whatever it took to hold on to the one he loved. “I can see why cares so much for you.” He was also extremely hot, and had a voice that sounded like it had been soaked in sex, but Wesley didn’t think it would be appropriate to mention that.

He cleared his throat a little, worked one finger under the collar of his shirt to loosen it, and unfastened the top button, uncomfortable at the sudden turn of thought his mind had decided to take.

“If he cared all that much he’d still be with me,” Lindsey said, drawing his attention back.

“He is.”

Lindsey shook his head. “He’s with you,” he said. “I’m just a little something on the side. Probably not even that after tonight.”

“I’m not going to say anything, Lindsey. It’s not your fault that I found out. If I said it was, I’d by lying. Besides, if it isn’t you he’s with, it will just be somebody else.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Lindsey asked, raising a sceptical eyebrow. He didn’t exactly know Wesley very well, but from what he did know, he didn’t seem the type.

“No,” Wesley answered, looking away again. “Not even close. I’ve been going crazy these past months, wondering where he’s been, who he’s been with. I hate it, but at least now I know.” It was odd that he was telling Lindsey these things, but it felt good to get them off his chest, and if anyone would understand, it would be the man sitting next to him right now. “I’d leave, wash my hands of the whole thing, but I think I’m falling in love with him.”

Lindsey laughed out loud at that and finished off his beer in one swig. “You poor, sweet bastard,” he said. “You’re not cut out for this kind of thing. Not cut out for him.”

“Why the hell not?” Wesley asked, defensively. “Because I love him? Tell me you don’t.”

Lindsey didn’t say anything to that.

“And I’m not a child, Lindsey. I do understand what he expects of me, of anyone he chooses to keep, and I can handle it.” He wasn’t sure he could, but that wasn’t the point. He wanted Lindsey to think he could.

“Sure you can,” Lindsey snorted.

“Well it’s not as if you handled it all that well, either!” Wesley almost shouted.

“What the hell does that mean?!” Lindsey asked, standing up and balling his hands into fists at his sides. Wesley was sweet, innocent, not someone that Rupert could ever actually be with for more than a little while. He was someone Lindsey thought he might be able to like, but didn’t. The jackass was taking his man, and telling Lindsey he’d done a shit job at being Rupert’s lover in the first place, was looking a damn good excuse to knock him out.

He hated being told he’d failed at something. He’d been fucking great to Rupert, handled it damn well, for years. He’d sure as fuck done better than this guy ever could.

Wesley stood up as well, not backing down from Lindsey, even though the larger man was incredibly physically threatening. Wesley would normally have been afraid, but he wasn’t thinking about much besides Rupert at the moment.

“He kicked you out, didn’t he?” Wesley taunted. “Replaced you with me? Because you fucked up. Fucked around. I can assure you, I won’t be making the same mistake. I’ll be able to hang on to him.”

“Four years, Wes,” Lindsey said, leaning closer, his voice low and angry. Who the hell did this punk think he was? “Four years we were together. Four years he fucked around. And I put up with it, because really, it didn’t matter. I knew he was always comin’ home to me, regardless of where his dick had been.”

Wesley made a face of disgust at Lindsey’s crudeness, further proof for Lindsey that Wesley wasn’t right for Rupert.

“Do you think you can do the same?” he asked Wesley, not really expecting him to answer. They both knew he couldn’t, no matter what he wanted to pretend. “Are you really that sure that at the end of the day you’re the one he wants to be with?”

“And you think you are? I’m the one sharing his home, Lindsey. You’ve been replaced.” Funny how Wesley was being so nasty now, when he’d actually felt bad for Lindsey when he’d first gotten there tonight. He still did. The idiot was just so infuriating.

“Yeah,” Lindsey growled, right in Wesley’s face, now. “Because I’m being punished. Not because he thought you were just so fuckin’ swell he had to have you. He’s gonna get sick of you one day. Soon. I’ll be back in his bed, and you’ll be out on your ass.” He didn’t really believe that anymore, but he was still hoping it was true. Besides, the point was to piss Wesley off, scare him off, maybe.

“You know,” Wesley said, reeling back a little, hurt in his eyes that he was desperately trying to hide. “I’ve changed my mind. I have no idea what Rupert sees in you. You’re cruel. Hurtful and selfish.”

Lindsey didn’t say anything to that. He couldn’t. He wasn’t usually the things that Wesley had called him, but fuck, Wes was annoying, and seemed to bring out those qualities in him. The little shit was hotter than he realised, and sweet and had some spunk when you got him going, and also, kind of an asshole, though Lindsey suspected that only came out when he was feeling insecure about something.

And what really pissed Lindsey off, was that he could appreciate why Rupert wanted him. But in the end, he thought it should be him, not some awkward little nerdy type, that Rupert should be with.

Wesley stepped closer to Lindsey again and lowered his own voice to match the dangerous tone that Lindsey had been speaking in.

“And you will stay away from my boyfriend,” he ordered, hoping that he sounded like he had any say in the matter, despite dismissing almost those exact words earlier in the evening, before he knew it was Lindsey he’d be dealing with.

“Like fuck I will,” Lindsey countered, making a face. “Like I said, Wes, he’s gonna wake up one of these days and decide that I’ve paid enough for one lousy little mistake, and you’ll be gone. That is, if you don’t manage to drive him off before that, with all this needy fuckin’ stalker shit. You’ll never be what I am to him.”

“What’s that? A whore?” Wesley asked, his words biting.

Lindsey puffed an amused breath of air out from between his lips and shook his head. “You’re already a whore, Wes. You became one the day you moved in there with him. But you know I’m right.”

Wesley didn’t bother arguing. He had a sinking suspicion that Lindsey was right. If Rupert was really finished with Lindsey, if he wasn’t planning on taking him back someday, he wouldn’t still be seeing him regularly, keeping it from Wesley, probably paying for this apartment and everything in it, including the half-finished beer in Wesley’s hand. He looked down at the bottle, suddenly not wanting to finish it and put it down on the table.

“Possibly,” Wesley admitted, almost snarling. He hated that he was acting this way, but he couldn’t seem to help it. “And in the mean time, maybe we can get together every once in a while and compare notes. He’s told me that I give the best blow jobs he’s ever had. Perhaps you’d like some pointers?”

Okay, that was it. Lindsey had put up with a lot of shit from this guy tonight, but there was no way in fuck he was going to let him get away with saying that he sucked cock better than Lindsey. He did everything Rupert ever asked of him. Everything. Followed every instruction to the goddamn letter, honed his skills specifically to Rupert’s desires over years. No way in hell was Wesley better at satisfying Rupert in that way or any other.

So, he punched him. Hard, and quick, though not as hard and quick as he capable of. Wesley should have seen it coming, maybe he did, but he didn’t get out of the way, or move to block, probably too surprised, or more likely just a shit fighter. Lindsey’s fist made good, solid contact with Wesley’s cheekbone, and the younger man’s head went reeling back, twisting to the side, and a small trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.

Wesley squeezed his eyes shut against the sudden pain, opening his mouth wide and moving his jaw from side to side, hand going to his face to touch it gingerly, wincing at the sting of the touch. Damn, but Lindsey threw one hell of a right hook.

“Shit,” Lindsey said, tentatively raising his hand halfway to Wesley’s rapidly bruising cheek before dropping it again, uselessly. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have… Fuck, are you okay?” He was concerned for Wesley, which was weird, felt bad for just hitting him like that when he was clearly smaller and weaker, but he was also worried about what would happen when he got home to Rupert with a black eye and a grudge. “Do you need some ice or something?”

Wesley looked hard at him, and Lindsey didn’t think he was going to get an answer, so instead of waiting for one, he started to back up, planning on turning around and getting some anyway. He didn’t get very far before Wesley hit him back, just as hard. Lindsey was sort of impressed. And a little turned on. Damn, but it had been a while since he’d gotten into a good, old fashioned fist fight. Rupert hated them.

Lindsey could taste blood in his own mouth after the hit, and tried not to laugh too hard as Wesley shook out his arm, clearly hurting almost as much from throwing the punch as Lindsey was from receiving it. And he suddenly really wanted to find out what the blood in Wesley’s mouth tasted like.

He turned his head back to Wesley, breathing hard and staring at him, watching Wesley stare back, clenching and unclenching his hand to work out the pain. Wesley closed his mouth, taking deep, angry breaths through his nose, thinking that he would punch Lindsey again if his hand didn’t hurt so damn much. He thought about doing it again anyway, moved his arm up slightly, balled his fist, and pulled back…

And then they were kissing.

Wesley wasn’t sure exactly who had started it. He thought it was probably Lindsey, because Wesley wasn’t usually the type to kiss near strangers that he was arguing with about another man. But he couldn’t deny that he was attracted to Lindsey, in an incredibly fucked up way, and any sort of physical contact, no matter how seemingly innocent, or hostile, was opening the door to more.

It didn’t really matter, though, because they were both equally invested in the kiss, bruising faces pressed together, swollen lips being bitten and licked, soft tongues pushed against the other’s, forcefully, arms wrapped around bodies, grabbing, pulling and pushing at the same time.

They hated each other, at least in principle, but Rupert had damn good taste, and they couldn’t deny that there was an attraction, even if the violence and aggression had brought it on, and it would be gone before long.

They wrestled with each other for a while, tongues and lips and hands, trying to beat the hell out of each other with misplaced lust instead of fists, and eventually fell to the couch, Lindsey on top. Their mouths were still smashed together, fumbling for handfuls of clothing, pushing the material out of the way to touch skin wherever they could, stomachs, backs, shoulders, hips.

Neither of them knew where it was headed, what exactly they planned on doing when the clothes finally came off, and their hands were full of other things. They weren’t thinking of much besides immediate gratification, weren’t feeling much besides the need to use the other’s body to get off, and Wesley gasped loudly and groaned, throwing his head back against the couch when Lindsey straddled his hips, grinding their cocks together.

And then Wesley wanted to fuck Lindsey, almost more than he’d ever wanted anything, and Lindsey wanted it too. They would probably have done it, fucked right there on Lindsey’s couch, hard and fast and angry, but of course, just as they each worked their fingers underneath the waistbands of each other’s pants, tickling over the tips of hard cocks, nails scraping, the door opened.

“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Rupert’s voice said, from the direction of the apartment door, and the two on the couch shot apart, Lindsey bumping into the coffee table, and almost tripping in an attempt to get away from Wesley.

Wesley stood almost immediately after Lindsey left his lap, head spinning around to Rupert, hands coming up to smooth back his hair, flatten out his mussed up clothing.

“Rupert!” He blurted, shocked and panicked. Or dear Lord, it couldn’t get much worse than this. “Oh, I, um…” He what? There was just nothing good he could say at that point, and his eyes flashed to Lindsey for a fraction of a second, taking in the other man’s almost blank expression, and knew he wouldn’t be any help.

“Yes?” Rupert asked, his amusement shining through at Wesley’s reaction to getting caught, even if he was incredibly angry at the situation. “What’s wrong, Wesley? Can’t quite find the words to tell me that you came to my ex-lover’s house to fuck him behind my back?”

“I…” Wesley managed to get out, knowing that he needed to say something, but too flustered at the moment to even think of just telling Rupert the truth, which probably wasn’t as bad as what he was thinking. Or… maybe worse, if he took into consideration Lindsey’s comment about the whole ‘needy stalker’ thing, that had led him there in the first place.

Lindsey heaved a sigh and turned around, knowing that it was really him who was in trouble here, not Wesley, and much as he might have enjoyed it a few minutes ago, he really didn’t feel like watching the poor son of a bitch squirm right now. “Leave him alone, Rupert,” he said. “He didn’t plan this. Neither of us did. Fucking me is why you came here.”

Rupert’s gaze shifted to Lindsey, and he glared at him, cold and hard, his silence saying more than any words could in that moment.

Wesley gave them several seconds, then cleared his throat, drawing the attention of both of them back to him. The tension between Rupert and Lindsey was palpable, and Wesley felt again like he was the one on the outside, like this whole little drama was about the other two, and he was just a game piece.

He didn’t want to think that was actually the case, truly believed that Rupert cared about him, although based on what he’d learned that night, perhaps not as much as Lindsey. The fact that Lindsey seemed to be the major recipient of Rupert’s unhappiness at the moment, when Wesley had been equally making out on the sofa, only reinforced that.

It wasn’t as if he wanted to the one in trouble, he hated being scolded, having people angry with him, but it hurt that Rupert didn’t care enough to be upset with him for messing up, only with Lindsey, for messing up in the exact same way.

Rupert scowled at Wesley, effectively stopping anything that he might have wanted to say, and snapped his head back to Lindsey. “The apartment is paid up for the next ten months,” he said, doing a damn good job of keeping his voice level, but he couldn’t stop at least some of the strain from coming through. “You’re welcome to stay until then, if you wish. But you and I are done.”

As upset as he was about what he’d walked in on, as hurt as he was that Lindsey would betray him, again, as disappointed as he was that Wesley seemed to be having a hard time following the rules of their arrangement and he was going to have to teach him that it wasn’t acceptable, this was probably for the best.

This was exactly the excuse he needed to finally end things with Lindsey, to let him go.

Pain flashed briefly though his eyes, a perfect match to Lindsey’s, before he covered it, and turned around, and walked out the door.

“Wesley,” he said sternly, calling the other man without turning back, not pausing to wait for him, just expecting him to follow.

Wesley jumped, startled, and scampered after Rupert. In a way he was glad this had happened, that he’d come here, that he’d ended up snogging Lindsey and getting caught. He knew Rupert was going to be angry with him, but he’d ended up getting what he wanted, hadn’t he? Lindsey gone for good, and Rupert all to himself? Well, apart from everybody else in the world that he’d be sleeping with, but none of those people threatened him like Lindsey did.

He stopped when he reached the door and turned back to look at Lindsey, and the expression on the other man’s face made his victory a little less sweet. He looked angry, sure. A little like he wanted to hit Wesley again, and probably Rupert as well. But he also looked devastated, like his world had just been ripped from him, and Wesley supposed it probably had. He looked like he might even cry.

Wesley offered him a brief apologetic look, truly feeling bad for this man who thought that he’d just lost the one he loved, for good. He knew how that felt, although even after this, he had a hard time believing that Rupert and Lindsey were truly finished.

Lindsey forced a grin, sad though it was, at Wesley, and watched him leave, following Rupert down the hall and out of his life.

TBC