** "Set a course for adventure your mind on a new romance..." Dammit, now I have the Love Boat Theme stuck in my head. :p Sorry about the wait, Guys. These last 2 chapters have been whuppin' my butt. Probably because the storyline is getting so complicated. Plus I have life-explody. But enough excuses, on with the show... **
Chapter Thirty Six ~ The Very Thought of You
“ The very thought of you – and I forget to do,
the little ordinary things that everyone ought to do.
I’m living in a kind of daydream. I’m happy as a king.
And foolish though it may seem, to me that’s everything.
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you.
You’ll never know how slow the moments go until I’m near to you.
I see your face in every flower, your eyes in stars above.
It’s just the thought of you, the very thought of you, my Love.
~ Natalie Cole
They had a lingering goodbye kiss at the door. He hated to let her go, even for a little while. But she did have a point about needing a change of clothes. She’d been wearing the same outfit for almost two days now. One which was now ashy with the remains of several vampires, not to mention a few key streaks of dirt – the latter being entirely his fault. He grinned remembering the fun he’d had making them.
Didn’t mean he had to like letting her leave though – or make it easy for her to do so. Spike pulled her in for another searing kiss, using all his considerable skills to erase the idea of leaving him from her mind. Finally, Buffy untangled herself from his grasp giggling.
“ It’s just for an hour, Grabby Hands. I’ll be right back.”
She smacked the hands in question away playfully. Not to be so easily deterred he deftly avoided her slaps, snagging a belt loop to pull her in to him once again.
“ I know, Love. ” He purred into her ear with a nibble. “I just hate to be without my girl, what can I say?”
That comment made it impossible not to kiss him – and even harder to leave. She finally broke away with a sigh.
“ I’ll be back soon, Baby.” She rested her forehead against his and gave him a small conciliatory kiss.
“ Sure I can’t walk you? Many a nasty’s out on a night like this. An’ I should know.”
He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.
“ I think I can handle it.” An amused smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Plus, you know we can’t be seen together...not yet.”
He leaned back against the doorframe with a frown.
“ Y’ve no idea how much I hate that, Buffy. I wanna sing it from the rooftops, tell the whole bloody world!” He crossed his arms moodily. “ Not hide you away in the darkness of my crypt.”
“There’s lots of fun to be had in that darkness though.” She caressed his cheek softly, consoling him.
“ I know, I know...” He grumbled. “Now get your sweet little arse outta here before I pounce on it.” He smacked her bottom for emphasis. “ Been waitin’ all day to get you into my bed y’ know.” His voice was a low growl that sent tingles to all her girly parts.
*So…very…tempting…But fresh clothes...makeup…maybe a dash of perfume…*
She did want to look her best for him…and she had a little red dress in her closet that would knock him on his ass.
“ Sorry to keep you waiting, Baby. I’ll be quick – promise. I could skip my shower...”
He made a show of sniffing her;
“Better not.” He grinned.
“Hey!”
“She smells a bit, but she’s got a heart o’ gold.” He quoted in his best John Cleese.
Buffy fixed him with a petulant glare.
“Funny.” She pouted. Spike couldn’t help but smile – he adored her pouty face. Kissing her sweetly protruding lower lip he gathered her into his arms.
“ Awww, Kitten – you know you smell like Heaven t’ me always.” He nuzzled her neck affectionately. “Some places more than others…” and his grabby hands started wandering all over again. He backed her against the doorframe and worked his leg in between her thighs. Kissing her deeply he let his fingers do the convincing for him.
God, he was getting her in just the right spot…
“ Uhhh, Baby…” she breathed. “You’re making it reaaally hard for me to leave...”
“S’not the only thing that’s hard.” He rumbled, pulling her hand down to the bulge in his pants.
“ Spii -iike.” She whimpered, feeling helpless against the power of his sinister charms.
“ Can’t help it, Love.” He murmured, planting cool, wet kisses on her neck. “You drive me bloody crazy.”
“Mutual.” She pulled back to cup his cheeks and rub her nose against his.
He sighed, giving in.
“ Only for a minute?” He asked hopefully.
“ More like an hour.”
He pulled a pouty face of his own.
“Okay, okay! Half an hour. But it means I have to shower here.”
Spike smiled mischievously, visions of naked, soapy fun filling his brain.
“I’ll make it worth your while.” He intoned, his voice laden with a thousand naughty promises.
“ You always do.”
Buffy kissed him quickly then and scooted out of his reach before he tempted her any further.
“Half an hour!”
He called after her. She smiled at him over her shoulder and blew him a kiss, walking faster.
Spike sighed and turned back towards his crypt.
*Always leavin’ me wanting…*
From a distance Faith watched the whole sickening show, murder in her eyes. After her tears were spent she’d found a blistering fury lay beneath them. She’d been used and abused – and she wasn’t the kinda girl to take that shit lyin’ down. Seeing them together like this was only fuel for her fire. Their intimacy spoke volumes – this had obviously been going on for awhile.
*That BITCH. That fucking bitch.*
She just knew something was up with him this morning. He’d been twitchy and strange, spurning her advances …something he’d been doing more and more lately. And God, he’d lied to her, right to her face! Buffy was probably right there, lounging all naked in his bed just waitin’ for him to ditch her.
*Fucking Bitch Buffy.*
Can’t be content to have a perfect family, perfect friends, perfect boyfriend - perfect fucking life.
*No, she had to go and take mine.*
She clenched her jaw to nearly the breaking point, feeling the rage boiling in her guts.
Somebody is gonna pay for this. Somebody’s gonna pay – in BLOOD.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy sighed with contentment as she made her way towards campus, amusing herself by twirling her stake over her open palm. In spite of every crazy thing going on in her life, she really couldn’t help but be happy. She was in love after all – it tended to overwhelm all else.
*Kinda like Spike.*
It was amazing she made it outta there at all. How she resisted him she’d never know. It seemed like they’d done nothing but fool around for 24 solid hours, but still she felt ravenous for more.
*Mmmmm. More Spike.*
She grinned, reminiscing. She was sore in all kinds of places – some she didn’t know previously existed. And they hadn’t even made love yet…
*Which was kinda…wow.*
‘Cause if he was that good with just his hands…
*And that insanely talented mouth…*
Just imagine…
She was struck by a vivid image of them together. His taught, cool body sliding against hers, fevered kisses stealing her breath as he filled her, completed her, made her scream his name…
Her knees felt very weak suddenly. She stopped and took a deep breath, fanning her over-heated face.
Damn. It didn’t take anything anymore…just the thought of him and she was a puddle. Thank God he felt the same. And every kiss and touch told her that he did…
*Mutual thrall is a wonderful thing.*
She couldn’t contain the goofy smile that spread over her face. Life was just too good right now… And wasn’t it a beautiful night? The stars were so very sparkly in the blue velvet sky. And the air smelled crisp and cool, the smoky tang of a far away fire giving it that nostalgic autumn touch. Buffy couldn’t remember a more perfect evening ever.
*Yay for rose-colored glasses.*
She thought with a giggle. Being in love certainly had its perks – it made everything all… shiny. Strolling through campus she hummed to herself, caught up in the giddy sensations of her new love. She made it to the edge of the quad without incident, when suddenly Riley appeared in her field of vision.
*Damn. There goes my happy day.*
“Buffy?” He looked stunned. He had an armful of books – obviously coming from a late night study session at the library. She inwardly cursed her luck.
“Riley…Uh, hi. ” She stumbled. She’d completely forgotten he existed over the past two days.
“What’re you doing out here?” He looked suspicious – not to mention confused.
“ Just heading home actually.” At least she could answer that honestly. He looked her up and down, taking in her disheveled appearance.
“Why are you all dirty? Did something happen?”
She suddenly remembered the stake she’d been twirling and tucked it surreptitiously into her waistband – hoping her jacket would cover it up.
“Was that a stake?”
“What? No.” She answered, just a little too quickly.
“It was – that was a stake! What’re you doing with a stake?” Riley dropped his books on a nearby bench and walked over to her. “ You’ve been patrolling haven’t you?!” He looked absolutely horrified.
Buffy decided denial was the best course of action at this point.
“No…”
“You have…Is that vamp dust??” He pointed to the grayish streaks on her jeans.
“No?”
“Look at you! You’re dusty and dirty and covered with bruises and now you’re LYING to me?”
“Lying’s such a strong word…let’s call it a sin of omission…” She said brightly. He seemed infuriated by her casual manner.
“ What’s going on with you Buffy? You’re acting strange lately.” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “And you’re out on patrol? Why? For what? They don’t even need you anymore…”
That struck a nerve.
*They don’t need me anymore? Ha!*
“ I thought we talked about this.” He crossed his arms authoritatively and stared down at her in displeasure.
“Talked about WHAT?” Her voice took on a hard edge. Riley was really starting to piss her off.
“About you not patrolling anymore!” His voice rose in frustration. “About you giving up this…this lifestyle!” He nearly spat that last word out - as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.
Buffy’d had just about enough.
*What – does he think he’s my DADDY now?!*
“ God, you act like I’m out picking up sailors and smoking crack! I just went out on patrol!”
“So you admit it.” He said triumphantly.
She sighed, feeling tired of this discussion already.
“Yes, fine I admit it. I went out on patrol, I needed it.”
“ Is this why I never see you lately? You’re ditching me to go… kill things?” He looked disgusted. “ And where’s your engagement ring?” He seized her hand. “Why aren’t you wearing it?”
She bit back the vicious retort that sprang to her lips;
*Because I don’t want it cutting into Spike’s skin when he’s fucking me.*
And settled for yanking her hand out of his grasp instead. Not getting an answer, Riley pushed forward, his tone softening; “ I never see you and you never want to touch me anymore …”
He reached a tentative hand out to her and she pulled back without even thinking about it, neatly illustrating his point.
God, she SO did not want to have this conversation right now.
“Why are you doing this, Buffy? It feels like you’re picking being a Slayer over me.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. He really didn’t know her at all.
“ Don’t you get it? I don’t have a choice! It’s not something I get to pick – I’m just the Slayer. It’s who I am - who I always will be.”
“But what about us? What about our future?!” He was practically yelling at her now.
Buffy didn’t want to do it this way. She'd planned to sit him down, explain gently – let him down easy. But something about the way he was looming over her and the sharp edge of accusation in his voice…when he reached out and grabbed her arm something inside her snapped.
“Answer me, Buffy!” He demanded, giving her a little shake.
The Slayer inside her just couldn’t let that lie – this man – this human, dared touch her like that. He dare try to control her, command her. On instinct she roughly whipped her arm out of his grip. Before Riley knew what hit him he was lying flat on his ass sprawled in the wet grass, mouth gaping like a startled fish.
Buffy had always held back before, she’d never really let him see her full strength.
Not ‘til now.
She stood trembling, her fists clenched at her sides.
“Don’t you EVER put your hands on me again.” She growled. She was frighteningly close to giving him a show of strength he’d never forget.
“Buffy…I…” He stumbled for an apology.
She put her hand up abruptly cutting him off.
“Don’t. Just don’t.” She took a calming breath and soldiered on – it was long past time to have her say. “ I can’t keep trying to be something I’m not.”
“ We can work this out…”
She shook her head.
“I can’t be what you want me to be, Riley.”
“But, Buffy – Honey…please…”
She found the pain in his big blue eyes didn’t move her at all. They were the wrong color blue, and they had no passion in them.
“No.” She said with granite resolve. “It’s over, Riley. It’s just over.”
She turned to walk away. Pausing she said over her shoulder.
“ I’ll give you back the ring in the morning.” And without even a backward glance she strode off towards the dorms.
Riley sat, stunned as a goldfish dumped into the cold finality of a toilet bowl -
Wondering how in the hell he’d just managed to lose the love of his life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy opened the door to her dorm room with a sigh, worry about what she’d just done beginning to creep in. For a few minutes there she’d felt nothing but relief about unburdening herself of a troublesome relationship. But things were so very complicated, so precariously balanced here and she just might have fucked them all up. She’d forgotten that, forgotten everything in the course of the past few days. Nothing had existed outside of Spike’s arms. When he looked at her the world just stopped and nothing else seemed to matter. She had a sudden pang of longing for him. If he were here they’d talk about it and he would hold her and everything would be better instantly. But he wasn’t – and without his presence to distract her, the reality of her life set in with a resounding thud.
She’s just broken up with someone else’s fiancé, stolen another girl’s boyfriend (and in a way, also her sister.) She was trapped in a world she didn’t belong in - and oh, by the way, apocalypse anyone? Cause there was no way Glory wanted the Key for anything good…
This wasn’t really her life she was messing with, but it sure as hell felt like it was. After all she was the one stuck living it - and who knows for how long?
Buffy plopped down on her bed with a frown.
This wasn’t supposed to be her world. This wasn’t supposed to be her LIFE – but now, somehow it was becoming just that. She never asked to come here, to deal with all of these things – just like she never asked to be the Slayer. But she shouldered the responsibility anyway, ‘cause that’s who she was. She was the go-to girl and she knew how to get things done.
With everything that’d happened in the past week her other life seemed farther and farther away, like it was all a dream she once had. And it seemed less and less likely that she was ever getting back there anyway. It was weird at first, but things were so similar to the world she was used to that she found herself forgetting that this wasn’t it.
It certainly felt like home. All her friends were here, Giles, her mom, Dawn. It was still Earth, the US and Sunnydale. She was still a Slayer, there were still Demons and she knew just exactly how to kill them. Sure Faith was the one on “active duty” – but that could change…She could MAKE it change. In fact, with a little bit of tweaking everything could be exactly the way she wanted it to be.
The best thing was that Spike was here, and they were finally together. She felt whole and complete – in spite of everything. So why fight Fate? Obviously someone wanted her here. And wasn’t she happy? Wasn’t she satisfied? More than she had ever been in her whole life? And she was doing her job, she was becoming the Slayer she was meant to be. All her doubts had been burned away by this whole experience. She knew exactly who she was and what she was meant for. Never had her life’s path been more crystal clear. Maybe that’s why she was brought here in the first place. Other Buffy obviously wasn’t gettin’ it done…
She had a radical thought;
*So why not stay?*
Why not surrender to circumstances she had no control over anyway? Whatever might have been –whatever was, THIS was her life now. Why not embrace it and all the good things that entailed? Was that so wrong? All she had to do was stop trying to get back…
*I can do that.*
And let the Powers that brought her here do the rest. It seemed pretty clear they wanted her to stay. Hell, maybe they wanted her to be happy. Maybe it was her reward for fighting the good fight all these years…
*It could happen.*
Knowing that there was no clear way to return her made it all the easier. She had no control, she wasn’t in charge…And if this was gonna be her life than she was damn well going to make the best of it. Buffy felt much better about dumping Riley suddenly.
*Not like I could stand another minute with that lummox anyway.*
Everything seemed perfectly clear to her.
She was here.
She was happy.
She was staying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike found himself smiling in a most undignified and definitely non-evil way as he went about tidying up the crypt and preparing for his date with Buffy.
*Ponce.*
He chastised himself, but his sappy grin remained firmly in place. He’d been in love with her forever, it was nothing new - but the fact of her returning said love certainly was. And it was having quite an affect on him. The last time he’d felt anywhere near this ridiculously besotted he was human - still that dithering, ineffectual nancy boy William. Spike was certain he was going to burst into spontaneous couplets any moment now…He just hoped Buffy wasn’t here when he did.
*Don’t wanna drive her away now do we?*
Gathering up the pile of dirty sheets he stopped to breath in the scent of her. She was everywhere now, all over his room, his bed, his clothes. He sniffed at his shirt catching a slight trace of her there. He resisted the temptation to take it off and bury his nose in it. He’d be seeing her soon enough. He could wait… really.
He sighed at his own patheticness.
“You’re gettin’ to be a right sad bastard…” He groused.
To make matters worse his prick was starting to respond to the scent of her. It didn’t take much these days – but then again it never had. He contemplated a quick wank in the shower, but then remembered that was something they were supposed to do together later. He got a nice mental image of her wet, soapy body shoved against the cement wall as he pounded into her – her legs tight around his waist as she moaned, the hot water beating down making her skin slick and rosy with heat.
*Bloody hell.*
How long was a sodding half hour anyway?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy gathered her things and sprinted back in record time - she didn’t want to waste a moment now that she was so sure of what she wanted. She couldn’t wait to tell Spike what she’d decided…he would be so happy. She just knew they’d find a way to keep her here, and then they’d never have to be apart again. Thank God – ‘cause she was missing him already. She couldn’t believe how long a half hour away from him seemed.
*This is getting ridiculous.*
But she couldn’t help smiling. It was nothing short of a miracle that she could find so much happiness. She’d started to lose hope that it would ever happen for her – that she’d ever love someone this much and be loved in return. This life of darkness and bloodshed had her thinking no man could ever fit in it… Interestingly enough, no man did. She smirked. Only Spike. And she was pretty sure he was his own category.
Buffy entered without knocking, already feeling that Spike’s place was her second home. She set her duffle down next to the battered sofa – pleased to see how much he’d done to make it nice for her. The room had been thoroughly cleaned and swept and the couch covered with a simply throw, hiding its lifetime of abuse. Some of the fresh flowers from downstairs had been moved to the small side table and several candles dotted the room giving it a warm and inviting glow.
*He really is the sweetest thing ever.*
She was deeply touched by his efforts to make her feel at home. Especially knowing he’d never done so for anyone else. This was his own place, his manly fortress o’ solitude and he was welcoming her in without reservation. It made her love him even more.
So many years she’d spent on the outside of Angel’s life - never being let in, only given a taste and holding on to dreams that never came true. But in their first hour, their first day –
Spike had given her full access to himself and all that he had.
Thinking about it filled her with terrible longing. She made a dash for the lower level ladder ready to jump in his arms and stay there until someone physically pried her loose.
Spike kicked the pile of laundry into submission in the makeshift closet. He wanted it out of the way for now, everything had to be just right. He wanted tonight to be perfect for his girl. He loved to think of her that way, it made him smile idiotically all over again. Turning around he caught her scent strong in the air, her heartbeat sounding rapidly in his ears and he broke into an unabashed grin of delight.
“That was the longest bloody half-hour…”
Looking at him, she was unable to contain the rush of emotions inside her.
“IwannastaySpike.” The words came tumbling out without preamble.
“What? What d’ya mean?” Somehow he wasn’t quite getting this, and felt certain he’d walked into a conversation already in progress.
“ I want to stay right here with you.” She said, more carefully this time.
“Tonight?” His forehead wrinkled to his hairline in his confusion.
“Forever.”
He gaped at her, not at all prepared for that statement. She took both of his hands in her own.
“ I want this - I want us, and I don’t want to lose it.”
It was the only selfish thing she had ever asked for.
Spike stood in astonished silence, jaw hanging.
“Say something.” She fidgeted, starting to get worried. This wasn’t exactly the reaction she was hoping for.
He stared at her for a long moment before finally scooping her up into his arms.
“Buffy…Love…you’ve got no idea what this means t’ me.”
She wanted to stay, she chose him – over everything.
He kissed her breathless, the tears standing out in his eyes.
*She chose me...*
He still couldn’t believe it – it was more than he dared to even wish for. He knew what her circumstances were, what weighty responsibilities lay on her small shoulders. But here she was making a stand – for him.
“ Baby…I…” He choked. “I don’t have words...” He stared at her awestruck.
“Just show me, Spike.” She whispered, her eyes searching his face. “I need you to show me.”
Being a man of action, that suited him just fine.
He tucked his arm underneath her knees and carried her like a new bride over to his bed. The symbolism of this was not lost on either of them - in ways beyond empty churches and hollow vows they were seeking their union.
He laid her down gently, and set about divesting her of her clothes. Spike was amused to find himself unbuttoning the very same shirt he’d undone more than half a dozen times already. Buffy had been in such a hurry she hadn’t gotten around to changing her clothes. She caught the ghost of his smile and grinned sheepishly, guessing at what he was thinking.
“I really do have other clothes, I swear… I just …couldn’t wait to see you.”
She blushed rather becomingly, making her look all the more dear to him in that moment.
“S’alright, Love. I’d much rather see you in nothin’ anyway.”
He caught his breath as her breasts were slowly revealed. He’d seen them this way many, many times by now, but was always stunned at the sight.
“ So very beautiful, My Girl...” he murmured.
Buffy smiled up at him shyly and rose to tug at his own shirt. Obediently he pulled it over his head and tossed it to the floor. He stood before her pale as marble in the half light, candle flame painting him in flickering shades of gold. She sat back drinking in the sight of him, quite stunned herself.
Spike was somehow still surprised to see his own adoration reflected back to him in her eyes.
*How could such loveliness be mine?*
Unworthy and undeserved…she was so far above his sullied, monstrous self. But here she was all the same. And she loved him, she wanted him – she bloody well chose him.
He knew exactly how the Beast felt when he won his Beauty.
“I love you, Buffy…do you know that? Do you feel it?” He knelt before her, voice an urgent whisper.
“ Yes.” She caressed his face gently. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“ Sometimes.” A small self-depreciating smile curled up the corner of his mouth. “I can still hardly believe it…”
“ Don’t ever doubt it, Spike.” She said earnestly. “This is the biggest thing I’ve ever felt.”
“ Bigger than…Angel?” He couldn’t look at her, too afraid of what her answer might be. His self-doubt so large inside him he felt it might eat him alive.
She kissed his sweet mouth then, and filled her kiss with the full intensity of her love and passion for him. When she released him he looked dazed and gave her a slightly drunken smile.
“More than anything or anyone ever.” Buffy looked into his eyes. “Do YOU feel it?”
He gave her a roguish sideways grin.
“Yeah.” And pounced from his spot between her knees to kiss her hungrily, pushing her back onto the bed.
“ My girl.” He growled possessively. She felt the tingling shocks deep in her belly at his words. “Mine.” He verbally asserted the claim he’d felt in his heart for years.
“ Yours.” She said simply and surrendered herself to him without a fight. He kissed her fiercely, all the need inside him unleashed at last. So many years of wanting, of feeling second best to every unworthy bastard in his way… But he had her now, and he was damn well never letting go.
Tugging at her jeans he flipped open the button with a smooth one-handed flick.
*No knickers.*
Spike smiled to himself. They’d been in his pocket since their first tryst this morning.
*Not bloody likely she’ll be gettin’ those back.*
Her light jacket and blouse joined his black t-shirt on the bedroom floor. Sliding the straps of her bra smoothly off her shoulders he made mental plans to add it to the collection he was starting of her pilfered underthings. He had some bloody grand memories of that bra…
At her side he caressed her torso from collar bone to hip in a smooth gliding stroke. Between her breasts then over them, her sides, her stomach – worshipping her skin.
As his fingers trailed over her belly he grazed a sensitive spot making her flinch and giggle.
“Oooo, looky what I found…” He shot her a wicked grin, indicating exactly how much trouble she was in now.
He pursued the tickley spot with experimental digs and pokes until he was rewarded with a shriek of laughter from Buffy.
“ Hey, quit that!”
“ Never.” He pledged, laughing. “ This is far too much fun.”
Straddling her thighs he dug unto her ribs until she was squealing in hysterics.
Finally she rallied for a defensive attack, pinching his sides and poking his belly in retaliation. He squirmed and giggled until he fell sideways off of her lap. She pounced on this sudden vulnerability by attacking his belly button with agile swirls of her fingers. When he was helpless with laughter she dealt him the final blow by socking him over the head with a large pillow.
“Hey now…” he wheezed. “ That’s fighting dirty.”
“Yep.” She agreed and promptly whomped him again.
“Oh, yer in for it now, Summers.”
And he threw himself into the fray with gusto. A simple pillow fight quickly degenerated into all out war. Buffy dealt him alternating blows with two feather pillows. Spike retaliated by sneaking in tickles between wallops with his own. After a particularly sound smack upside the head from Buffy he grabbed a pillow in each hand and banged them together like a pair of cymbals around her head. His move was so effective it ended the fight in an explosion of feathers ,the poor pillow being unable to withstand the stress of an overzealous vampire at play.
Buffy gaped at him in shock, tiny white feathers settling in her hair and on her shoulders, drefts of them gathering around her knees. Spike couldn’t help it, she looked so completely nonplussed, so thoroughly comical that he burst out laughing. She gave him a goofy smile and began brushing the fluff off her head. She was such a sad sight he took pity on her.
“C’mere you.”
She trundled over on her knees and sat in front of him obediently. Smiling down at her with affection he proceeded to divest her of the snowy white coating of down, feeling like the patient father of an adored but wayward child.
“There you are, Sweet Bit – all better.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
She returned his smile and surprised him by pulling him in for a lingering kiss. Spark turned to flame in a fraction of an instant as his natural desire for her took control. He had her on her back a second later, pert breasts smashed against his chest as her legs wound around his waist. Her sweet hot flesh, the slickness of her mouth, the smell of her desire for him tickling his nose… he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to have her NOW. He pulled back just enough to locate her zipper, fully intending to rip it open if it gave him even a second of trouble. It slid easily down, fortunately for her wardrobe.
From the bowels of Buffy’s purse her phone rang.
Spike hung his head with a groan of supreme frustration.
“Not again, Pet…” he growled.
“ It’s probably Riley…” She sighed irritably, wishing she’d remembered to turn ithe damn thing off.
His growl became an indignant snarl.
She smiled indulgently, secretly loving his possessiveness.
“ Relax, Baby.” She soothed him, stroking his back. “He’s calling because I dumped him on his ass.” She reached for her purse. “Literally.”
Spike raised an eyebrow at her, suddenly interested in this new turn of events.
“ Oh yeah?”
“ Yeah. I didn’t get a chance to tell you yet – but I left the lunk flat on his butt in the quad.”
He snickered smugly.
“ I woulda liked to see that.” He smirked.
Buffy dug for her phone fully intending to turn it off for the night.
She flipped it over to read the Caller ID.
“Dammit! It’s Giles…probably with some more ‘happy news for Buffy’. I’ll get rid of him quick. “ She patted his leg in reassurance. “Promise.”
Spike sighed, preparing to keep his peace. He knew better than to come between a Slayer and her Watcher. Besides, they had the rest of the night, now didn’t they?
“ Hi, Giles – what’s up?” she asked breezily.
“ Buffy?” His voice was thick with fear.
“ What? What happened?” The concern on her face brought Spike to her side instantly.
“It’s Dawn – she’s gone.”
“What?! Whaddaya mean gone?” Her voice rose in panic.
She had a horrifying flash of Glory with her hands around her sister’s pale throat. She shook her head to clear it.
*Gotta focus…*
“She’s been taken, Buffy.”
Whatever Glory did, she could fight it - she’d find a way. And Spike would help her, and the gang. No one would let anything happen to Dawnie…Giles voice cut through the din of her racing thoughts;
“ It was Faith.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been sitting there, the wet grass soaking into the seat of his pants. Riley was too busy trying to make sense of the events of the last week. He’d lost her somewhere. He didn’t know how – but he had. But if there was a how, there was a why – and there were clues in there somewhere that would lead him to both.
As always, he thought of Buffy as a mystery to be solved – and he was just the man to do it. With patience and careful study he could figure anything out. With tenacity and skill there was nothing he couldn’t attain. He’d learned that a long time ago.
It was time to bring some of those good old Initiative tactics back into play.
*Step one – acquire target.
Check.
Step two – Collect information.
Follow her. Learn her habits, associates, and whereabouts at all times.*
He was certain that if he studied the data from a detached and clinical view he could discover what went wrong, and therefore fix it.
Buffy was The One. He’d been sure about it since their very first kiss. She was his girl – his future wife. So they’d had one stupid little fight?
*So what?*
Riley Finn never gave up on anything that easily.
** Oooo, now that sounds sinister, don't it? Whatever will happen next? At least you got a nice, long...update. The chapters are going to be longer from now on, I'm trying to pack a lot into each one. Hope it was worth the wait :)
I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who voted for me - I did managae to win a few awards, which is like..WOW. I'm so blown away, I was up against so much talent.
LCCT won Best WIP & was honored with Judges Choice at the Lost in Spike Awards.
And also won Best Fluff & Most Original Storyline (!!) at the Love Bite Awards.
Thank you all for your support. You'll never know how much it means to me, seriously.
Now get outta here before I get all teary :)
*Big, Big Loves To All* Rosie xoxoxox**
[Reviews - 315]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | 
Chapter or Story
Has been viewed 2354 times
- Text Size +
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | Chapter or Story - Text Size +