Author: Magrat
Ratings: NC-17
Disclaimer: The characters don't belong to me; I'm just having fun with them. It keeps me off the streets.

Tara woke slowly, feeling warm and contented as she pulled the comforter even closer to her, except something wasn't quite right. She opened one eye and for a moment she felt totally confused, but then the events of the night before came back to her and a crooked smile played across her face. She rolled over and was disappointed to feel that the space next to her was empty. Damn! She had scared the woman off before they really even got started. Thinking about it, she had come on a bit strong. Tara sighed and decided that she would call a cab and hope it had got here by the time she had got her clothes on to avoid any awkwardness.

"You're awake," said Willow, a little disappointed that she hadn't been able to do the honors herself, as she walked into the bedroom carrying a tray. "I thought you might be hungry, so I fixed you some breakfast. Something neutral, you know, I wasn't sure if you were vegetarian, or had allergies... or maybe religion... I didn't know what... ."

Tara started to laugh, partly out of relief and partly because she was sure that Willow was going to expire from lack of breath. "Its fine, whatever you've done for me will be fine."

"It's just coffee, a bagel and some orange juice," offered Willow, taking the tray over to Tara.

"Hmm, coffee smells good, thank you," said Tara. "I can't remember the last time that anyone brought me breakfast in bed, that is someone who wasn't my grandma and when I wasn't sick."

Willow sat on the bed as she watched Tara. "I thought I had better make up for the whole falling asleep thing, without... you know... uhm for you too. I don't want you to think that I didn't want to because I did, I really did... it's... I was tired and..."

"Willow, if you carry on talking," said Tara, as she sipped her juice. "I'll start to think you are protesting too much."

"No, really..." Willow stopped when she realised Tara was grinning at her. "I'm sorry I babble when I'm nervous."

"It's cute," said Tara. "You know, much as this bagel looks nice and the coffee smells good, I'd rather you came back to bed with me." She glanced away biting her lip, not sure if she could pull off the bravado of the night before.

Willow took the tray from Tara and placed it on the dresser. "That sounds good to me."

"Hmm first where is the bathroom... call of nature," said Tara, blushing.

Willow was surprised by the show of shyness from the blonde, but motioned her towards the en-suite.

The blonde looked around uncertainly. It seemed crazy, but the thought of walking across the room naked in front of someone she had had such passionate, intimate sex with the night before had suddenly become daunting. She looked at Willow and caught the puzzled look on her face. "Uhh, c-could I borrow a robe or something? I'm, umm, it's a bit chilly."

Willow smiled knowingly and went to her closet and produced a cotton robe. "It might not fit too well, given your, ah, shape."

"Thanks," said Tara, taking the robe from Willow and slipping into it under the covers, before she got up and walked to the bathroom. After she had relieved herself Tara stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. "Shit," she said softly. She couldn't believe how silly she must have seemed. "C-could I borrow a robe, it's a bit chilly... shit, you stupid s-silly... oh great now I am even stuttering to myself." She washed her face and saw a welcome bottle of mouthwash; she gargled and felt a little fresher. She looked at herself in the mirror again and this time she smiled. What was she so worried for; there was a beautiful woman in there who wanted her, and a wicked idea had just crossed her mind.

Tara walked back into the room. Willow was lying in bed propped up, watching her.

"I have something to show you." Tara announced, turning her back on the redhead and dropping the robe to the floor, thus revealing her tattoo. The smile returned to her face when she heard the sharp intake of breath from the bed.

The sight transfixed Willow. The colors of the snake seemed to glow in greens and blues as it coiled on its alabaster canvas; from the tail that nestled between two perfect buttocks to the hood of the cobra open on Tara's shoulder blade, it's mouth open, fangs bared seemingly about to strike tender flesh. She was sure that nothing had ever looked sexier. She couldn't move; she could only stare, finding herself incredibly turned on. In twelve short hours this woman had taken her to a place she had never been before, but it was a place she wanted very much to explore further.