Spike grinned as his computer spoke to indicate the arrival of a message.  It would be Buffy.  She always emailed as soon as she closed the store.  Over the past week or so, they’d chatted via email and finally seemed to have gotten past the awkward stage, though they hadn’t spoken on the telephone again.  He got up from the chair and touched the keys; soon the slightly robotic voice was reading out her message.

Hey, you.  Well I’m all cashed up and just about to head home.  Will’s going over to Oz’s, so I guess I’ll grab a pizza.

Chuckling, as she’d confessed that she was no cook, Spike reached for his cell phone instead of the keypad.  His heart rate picked up and he berated himself for dithering.  Finally, his index finger picked out the number he’d learned by heart the day he’d been given it. 

It rang twice before Buffy answered.

“Hello?”

“What’re your favourite toppings, then?”

“Spike!”

“Yeah…I just got your email and I…so I thought…”  Spike cursed inwardly at getting tongue-tied.   

“Cheese!”

“What?”

“You asked what my favourite topping was, and it’s cheese.”

“Just cheese?” 

“Preferably the ones with four different types on them.”

“Shit, are we really talking about cheese?”

Buffy’s laughter tinkled in his ear.  “Don’t complain.  You started it, remember?”

“Yeah…yeah, I did.”  He shook his head and muttered, “What a wanker.”

“Hey, I heard that!”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”  Buffy fiddled with the mouse as she sat at the counter in the shop, wondering if she was going to overstep the boundaries of their fledgling friendship with what she was about to suggest.

“I don’t know if—”

“Buffy, do you want—”

They laughed, then Buffy, losing her nerve, said, “You go first.”

Spike took a deep breath.  “I wondered if you’d like some company when you eat all that cheese.”

“That’d be great.”  Great minds think alike!

“Uh…could you come here?”  As silence stretched out a little too long  on  the other end, Spike added, “Rupert and Mum are out.”

“Sure.”  She glanced down at her clothes and shuddered.  Could I be wearing anything less flattering!  Her face flushed crimson when she realised what she’d just thought.  But I still want to look nice for him, even if he can’t see it.  “I need to go home and grab a quick shower, then I’ll be over.  What kind of pizza do you want?”

“It’s okay.  I’ll order it for when you can get here.”

“Okay…I’ll be there as soon as I can…maybe an hour?”

“Great.  Uh…the code for the gate is three, one, four, one, seven.”

“See you soon!”  Buffy disconnected before he had the chance to reply.

“Right, Spike.  Just get a grip.  It’s only pizza.”  He almost bolted to his own bathroom to shower and change before she arrived.

Thirty minutes later he was pacing up and down the entrance hall waiting for her arrival, his stomach in so many knots he doubted he’d be able to eat a thing.

Another forty minutes after that and just as he began to worry the pizza would arrive before her, he opened the door to Buffy.

“Hey,” he said stupidly, beckoning her in with a wave of his hand.

“Hey, yourself.  Thanks for asking me over.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“Do you think you should maybe close the door?” Buffy’s voice was teasing.

Spike shoved it closed as soon as she spoke.  “Uh…do you mind if we go to my room rather than the living room…it’s like an apartment…or at least a hotel suite.  I mean…what I’m saying is it’s not just my bedroom, okay?”

I wouldn’t mind if it was. Buffy smiled. “That’s fine.”

“It’s this way.”  He strode confidently down the corridor to his room.  Pushing open the door, he stepped back for her to enter first.  “The armchair nearest the computer is the comfiest.” 

He waited until he heard the creak of the leather chair before he spoke. 

“What would you like to drink?  I’ve got beer, Coke and bottles of water.”  He stood waiting for her reply, only his fingers tapping at his legs gave away his nervousness.

“I’m driving so it’d better be a Coke, please.” 

“Right.  Coke it is.”  He unerringly found the small refrigerator that Rupert had installed for him and reached inside, taking a beer from the right hand side of the top shelf and the soda from the left.  “Um…do you want a glass?”

“No, straight out of the can is fine, thanks.”

Spike’s face coloured as he held out the can for her to take, hating that he had to just hope it would be within reach.  He almost dropped it as her warm fingers touched his.  Popping the lid off his beer, Spike sat in the chair opposite Buffy and took a long pull, unaware of the lust etched on Buffy’s face as she watched his lips surround the neck of the bottle.

The awkward silence was broken by the intercom sounding for the pizza delivery asking to be admitted through the gates.  Leaping up, Spike said, “I’ll go get it.”

Buffy was going to say that she’d go to the door, but she stopped before she said a word.  She knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t thank her for it.  A few minutes later, Spike returned with the pizza and some napkins.

“I thought we could share.”  He put the box on the low table between the chairs.

“Just please tell me you haven’t got pineapple on your half.”

Spike grinned and Buffy melted like the cheese on the pizza. 

“I haven’t.  Just mushrooms.”

“Eeew! I hate them!  Food of the devil!”

“Well at least that means you won’t nick any of mine.”

Sinking to the carpet, he sat cross-legged and opened the lid.  His smile faded a little.  “Um…unless you want me to feel where the mushrooms are, I reckon you’d best let me know.”

Buffy sat on the floor across from him and chuckled.  “If your fingers stray near my slices I’ll slap you!”  Satisfied she’d restored his smile, she added, “I mean it.”

“Is this bit mine?”  Spike pointed in the box. 

“Hang on.”  The cardboard rustled as Buffy spun the box around.  “Now go for it.”

Fumbling slightly, he picked up a triangle of pizza and bit deep into it.  “Mmm…is good.”

By the end of his second slice, Buffy could hold back no more.  She scooted round the table until her knees brushed his.  He dipped his head, but smiled broadly. 

“You’ve got a bit of sauce…” 

Her fingers brushed his lips.  Without thinking, he opened his mouth and sucked at her index finger.

“Oh, God,” Buffy murmured as her entire body heated up.

He whipped his head away.  “Sorry.”

The next things that brushed his mouth were Buffy’s lips. 

“Please…”  He didn’t know whether he wanted her to stop, continue kissing, or just rip off his clothes and shag him senseless.

She shifted closer to him, pushing him back until he rested against the seat of the chair.  Then he took charge.  Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to his chest, as his lips mashed against hers.

He moaned when their tongues met, the sensation lighting a fire in his groin.  Running his hands up her back, along the nape of her neck, and chuckling at the shivers he felt go through her, they finally stilled as he cupped her face.

“This is too fast.”  He could hardly believe he’d said it.

“I know.  But I know something else too.”  She covered his hands with her own.  “You really can’t expect me to behave if you go around licking your fingers, let alone mine.”

“Wha—”

Her kiss cut off his words, and the next time their lips parted both were breathless.

“God, I wish I could see you.”  Spike stiffened at the words he so carelessly blurted out. 

She knew sympathy would have him reject her once and for all, so she covered his eyes with her fingers.  “So feel me instead.  I’m yours, Spike.  All yours.”

Tentatively at first, he began to map her body with his hands.  They both laughed as they traced the line of her breasts, but then it was Buffy’s turn to moan when the fingers quested lower down.  She shifted a little to enable Spike’s hand to slip between her thighs.  Rubbing firmly over the seam of her jeans, he chuckled wickedly as she gasped and wriggled.

“Ah…no, you’re not going anywhere.”  His right hand held her in place as his left continued to stimulate her.

Soft kisses dropped along her neck sent Buffy over the edge, and her body shuddered as her climax washed over her.  Spike opened his eyes to let the fact his vision didn’t alter keep him from making a mess in his jeans.

“Pizza’s getting cold,” he said, once he’d got his desires back under control.

“Pizz—”  Buffy slapped his arm.  “Screw the pizza.  Or better st—” She shrieked and clamped her hands over her mouth.  “Shit, I am a slut!”

“Not complaining, but no you’re not.”

“But—”

“Relax.  I’ve always liked pushy women.”

“Hey!  I am so not pushy.”

“Really?”  Spike’s eyebrows rose.

“Well…I’m more like…impatient.  When I see something I like, I always want it right now.”

“I’m like that…or I was.”

“Show me.”

“Okay.  Close your eyes.  No peeking.”

“They’re closed.”

“Don’t lie.  I’ll know if you’re lying.” 

He could barely keep from laughing out loud as he reached for the now cold slice of pizza to find a mushroom.  Leaning towards her, he kissed her at the precise moment he dropped the slice of mushroom down her top.

Buffy leapt up.  “What was that?” 

“What was what?”  Spike grinned unashamedly.

“Eeew!  Eeew!  You devil!”

She retrieved the errant fungi and tossed it at Spike, hitting him in the forehead. 

“Bloody hell!” 

“I’m sorr—”

“Don’t complete that sentence, Summers.”

“Or what?”

Spike quite deliberately licked his middle finger.

“Oh, hell.  I have a fetish.”  She threw her arms in the air.  “I have a finger–sucky kink!”

They collapsed into fits of laugher.  Spike reached out for Buffy and pulled her close, but she resisted. 

“It’s comfier up here, I think.”

She might have hinted at the use of the bed, but once on it, there was no doubt that Spike was in charge.  Maybe it was because he didn’t need his eyes to make love to a woman, or maybe it was just his lust was too strong to be denied, but for the first time since the crash Spike felt like himself.

Keeping his eyes closed, his hands opened the buttons of her blouse with ease. 

“Well, now, Miss Summers, what’s this?  No bra.” 

He kissed each breast in turn and wondered why he’d always favoured big ones when these were just the right size. 

“Perfect,” he whispered as he kissed his way down her flat stomach to the waistband of her pants.

“Hey.  Not yet.” 

Spike froze.  “Yeah…shouldn’t—”

“Relax.  I just meant that I need to do this first.”  She slipped her fingers beneath the bottom of his t-shirt and gave it a tug. 

“Oh, right.”  He raised his arms so she could pull it over his head, then smoothed his hair back down, before bending to kiss her again.

“Open your eyes,” Buffy murmured in his ear, her breath hot on his flesh.

“But…”

“They’re beautiful.”

He shook his head, but still did as bidden. 

“So blue…” 

To take the attention away from his eyes, Spike let his left hand seek out her waistband once more. 

“Is this okay, now?”  Although he grinned, his words were serious and the meaning clear – once the clothes were off, there would be no going back.

“More than, but you first.”

Feeling a little embarrassed, Spike wriggled out of his jeans, revealing a penchant for going commando that had Buffy giggling like mad.

“And you told me off for having no bra.” 

“Yeah…well…shut up, woman.” 

“Make me.” 

“I’ll make you regret saying that.” 

He ran his hands along her arms then pinned her wrists to the mattress.  His knee pushed her legs apart and he lay over her, pressing his erection into her still clothed crotch.  Both moaned with pleasure as he rocked to and fro.

“Jeez…Spike…please…”

Already over sensitive from his earlier attentions, Buffy tried to wrench her arms free so she could rip off her pants.  Laughing, he held her fast.

“Take it easy…we’ve got plenty of time.  Just relax.”

“Relax?  You’re driving me crazy.” She bucked up with her hips and Spike’s plan nearly came undone, as he bit back a moan at the increased friction.

“I’ll let you go if you promise you’ll lie still.”

“I will.”

“You said that too quickly.”  Spike nipped at her ear lobe sending her into another bout of wriggles.

“No…no…I mean it.  I promise.”

“Okay,” Spike said doubtfully. 

He eased his grip on her wrists and ran his hands down her sides, provoking chuckles and a brave, but unsuccessful attempt to remain completely still.  Lack of sight didn’t make removing her pants and underwear any more difficult, as his well practiced fingers slipped them off, then slipped inside her.

She stiffened, chest rising and falling as her breathing rate increased.  His touch left her in no doubt that the bitchy remark made by his mother wasn’t too far from the truth.  She was in the hands of an expert.  When his tongue replaced his fingers, she almost screamed with the pleasure it created.

As another climax began to build, Buffy began to beg.  “Please…I need you inside…”

His erection just touched her opening, when he paused.  “Oh, shite!  Protection…I haven’t…”

“My pants.  Back pocket,” Buffy gasped out the words.

The world came crashing back down on Spike.  He had absolutely no idea where he’d thrown them.

He knelt up.  “This is no good…I’m—”

“It is good! It’s the very model of goodness.”  Buffy’s hand grabbed his bicep preventing him from backing away any further. 

“But I can’t…”  He pressed his palm to his face.  “I can’t even find your bloody pants.  I’m useless.”

“Shut up!”

He started at Buffy’s yell. 

“My pants are on the floor next to the bed, level with your ankles. Now get the condom and get back to doing what you were doing.”

“Ker—ist.” 

Spike’s cock, that had been wilting twitched happily at her command.  Pocket found, condom packet pulled open, he was about to smooth it over his flesh when Buffy’s hands took over the job.  Biting the inside of his lip hard enough to draw blood, he couldn’t help but thrust up into her touch as she sheathed him.

Flopping back down, Buffy made the bed bounce and announced, “So where were we?”

“You’re bloody amazing.”  Spike grinned, as he nudged his cock between her wide spread legs.

It was her turn to thrust upwards, and as she did, he slipped inside her.  The second he was fully enclosed they both paused for a moment, letting the incredible sensation of that first joining calm a little before they continued. 

Soon there was no spare breath left for words as they worked together, bringing each other gasping and panting to almost simultaneous climaxes.  Spent, with his muscles trembling with fatigue, Spike rolled off her and lay by Buffy’s side. 

“God, I’m so sodding unfit.”

Buffy began to laugh.

“What?”  He turned onto his side, propping his head up on his hand.

“That has got to be the most unromantic thing anyone has ever said to me as I lie exhausted after the most awesome sex.”

“Awesome, huh?”  A thrill ran through Spike at her words. 

“But very unromantic.”  She twisted so she could kiss the end of his nose. 

“But true.  I’m sorry I couldn’t make it last longer.”

“Longer?”  Buffy’s eyes grew wide.  “If you’d kept me on the brink for much longer, I swear I would have killed you.”

“Well, give me a few minutes and I’ll see if you really mean that.”

“Minutes, huh?”  She turned over so she could shift backwards into his arms.

“Hmm,” Spike mumbled sleepily as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her so her back was tight against his chest.  “Just a few…”

Spike had enough time to appreciate just how good Buffy felt in his arms before he drifted off to the deepest, untroubled sleep he’d had since the accident.

“Typical guy.”  Buffy chuckled softly.

There was now way that she could sleep after that.  She’d never felt so connected to someone in so short a time.  Her face flushed as she realised how she’d given out on what could only barely be described as a first date.

“You better call me in the morning, mister.”

She lay in his arms, until a glance at her wristwatch had her heart lurch in her chest. Almost midnight.  His parents would be back soon and she had no intention of meeting his mother again – especially like this.

“Spike…Spike?  I have to go.”  She eased out of his arms and smiled as he pouted in his sleep. 

Quietly putting her clothes on, Buffy debated whether to wake him, but he looked so peaceful she just couldn’t bring herself to.  She kissed him gently on his forehead, picked up her shoes and walked to the door.

She would have left him a note, but obviously couldn’t.  Closing the door carefully to make as little noise as possible, Buffy didn’t put her shoes on until she opened the front door.  Once in the car, she wasted no time in getting down the driveway and out onto the public road. A glance in her rear view mirror showed how close it had been. A large car pulled into the entrance and once the gates opened, swept up the drive.

“Phew.  ‘Cause that would have been awkward.” 

Buffy laughed and pushed her foot down on the gas, wishing she could have spent the night in his arms, but longing for her own bed too.