Chapter 22 – Dancing With Death
“Giles, I can be more useful,” Buffy mumbled into her radio. “I can do something.”
Hearing the slight crackle of her earpiece, she rolled her eyes when she heard her boss’ voice as he smiled at her from across the room. “Just stand there and look pretty.”
“I’m not scenery.”
“Tonight you are. Just remember that you were the one who wanted to tag along. This is Xander’s operation.”
Growing frustrated as she watched Xander and Anya on the dance floor, fulfilling their ‘undercover’ part of the mission, even though it looked like a regular date, she continued to scan the room.
Tapping her foot as she waited for Meers to arrive, her gaze slowly traveled back to Giles before her eyes widened in shock when she saw Ethan Rayne approaching her boss.
Reaching for her earpiece to let Giles know, she gasped when she felt the tiny piece of equipment pulled from her ear and watched it drop into an abandoned wine glass nearby.
“Those things can be hazardous to your health, lamb.”
Trying to suppress the shiver that raced through her body at the sound of his husky voice, she took in a sharp breath when she felt the blade of a knife pressing against her lower back.
“Not as hazardous as you are,” she replied, never turning around to look at him.
“I’m touched,” Spike said, chuckling quietly to himself. The laughter soon faded as he pressed the knife more firmly against her skin. “And I’d be careful what you say,” he said, his voice dropping to a menacing level.
“Or what?” she asked, still staring straight ahead.
“Or your boss has an unfortunate accident.”
Focusing her gaze on Ethan and Giles, she swallowed hard. “Giles can take care of himself.”
* * * * *
“What the hell are you doing here, Ethan?” Giles asked as the other man sat down.
“Keeping you in line, Ripper, old pal,” he replied, slapping him on the back. “Making sure you don’t interfere.”
“With what?” he growled, seeing Ethan’s gaze redirected across the large room.
* * * * *
“You know,” Spike said slowly, admiring the curve of her neck as he leaned closer to her. “I could have danced all night with you.”
“You think we’re dancing?” Buffy countered, never looking at him.
“That’s all we’ve ever done,” he replied with a smirk in his tone. “So, what do you say? Care to dance, pet?”
Her shoulders tensed at the question.
“Or what?” she asked, cutting her eyes over to see his profile right next to her.
“Do you really want to find out?”
Glancing around to make sure no one was watching them, she quickly spun around, gripping his wrist in her hand, twisting it until she had more control.
“Yeah,” she replied, looking him in the eyes for the first time since she left his house. “I would like to find out.”
Biting his lip as he watched her, Spike smiled, looking her up and down. “Care to show me what you’ve got?” he said, tossing the knife on a nearby table and wrapping his free arm around her waist.
“You think you can take me?” she challenged, raising an eyebrow.
Moving her onto the dance floor, Spike’s expression faded away to leave one of cold indifference as they began dancing to the soft music. “Already had you.”
Setting her lips in a firm line, Buffy angrily kicked his shin, giving him an innocent smile when he winced and glared at her. Seeing an elderly couple give them a questioning look, she offered them a ditzy smile. “I’m such a klutz,” she giggled, seeing them smile in return.
Turning back to face Spike, Buffy narrowed her eyes when he pulled her more fully against him as they moved around the floor.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, watching him carefully.
“Finishing what you started.”
“What I started?” she said indignantly. “I’m not the thief and the murderer.”
“Just a murderer,” he replied, looking over her shoulder as he spun her around.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not? Too exposing?”
“Spike,” she said in a warning tone, glaring at him. “I never asked you to come here. I gave you plenty of opportunities to walk away from me… long before you actually made me walk away.”
“Am I supposed to say ‘thank you’?” he asked, narrowing his eyes on her.
“Wouldn’t hurt,” she replied, raising an eyebrow as his expression darkened.
Keeping up with him as he led her around the floor, Spike separated long enough to spin her around, watching the royal blue silk of her dress flair out, only to settle around her legs once again.
“How long was it going to go on?” he asked angrily, unable to bring himself to look at her. “Until you arrested me? Or were you waiting to try and kill me?”
Pulling back to look at him with wide eyes, Buffy shook her head. “I never…”
“You weave this intricate plot and then abandon it,” he said in amusement as he changed the subject. “Must be awfully frustrating for your employer.”
“Who says we’ve abandoned it?” she asked, taking a small amount of pleasure in the way his eyes snapped over to hers.
Slowly smiling, Spike bit his lip, studying her as they continued to move around the dance floor. “So I can expect another sex-toy to be at my beck and call?”
“Spike… don’t,” she whispered, hating the emotions that were coursing through her. Rapidly blinking back the tears, she leveled him with a cold look. “You’re the one who said ‘I love you’ first.”
“You know how many times I’ve said that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as they paused, staring at each other. “Dozens.”
“Funny,” Buffy replied, gracefully keeping her balance when he spun her around, pulling her more forcefully against him in the process. “I was going to say the same thing.”
Seeing his jaw clench in response, she gave him a cold smile as he rapidly backed her up, wincing when her head cracked against the nearby wall. Glaring at him for a moment, she slowly looked over Spike’s shoulder. Seeing Giles readying himself for stepping in and handling Spike, she gave the older man a look, subtly shaking her head before turning her attention back to the man who was holding her.
“What next?” she asked, slamming the heel of her foot into his shoe, seeing him wince as she used her leverage to push him back, resuming the vicious dance. Gasping when he spun her around, Buffy felt her heart begin to race when his hand immediately grabbed her hip in a harsh grip, his other hand still holding onto hers as they danced with her back against his chest.
“Look at them,” he said, gesturing toward Ethan and Giles. “Are they really so different?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?” she asked, clenching her jaw when his hold on her tightened.
“They’re the same as you and me,” he continued, thrown off balance when Buffy threw her elbow into his stomach and spun around, catching his hand and shoulder to continue the dance.
“What are you saying? I should set up my boss with your… whatever he is?” she asked with a slight smile. “Sorry, I wouldn’t subject anyone to Ethan.”
Ignoring the statement, Spike looked her up and down, admiring the skin that was exposed.
“Thought you were undercover, love,” he said, taking in the tiny straps and sweetheart neckline of her dress. “Shouldn’t you be a little more discreet?”
“Worked with you,” she replied, not looking away when his eyes narrowed.
“Maybe I like the flashier girls,” he said, keeping an indifferent expression on his face. “But only to see how good they are between the sheets.”
Gripping his shoulder until her fingernails were digging into the skin, she gave him a sweetly contradicting smile. “I guess that little tip could work in my favor, in the future.”
Realizing what she was saying, Spike glared at her for a moment, moving her around the floor. Seeing her look toward the doorway, he turned in time to see Warren Meers walk in with a woman on his arm. “And there’s the mark,” he said, turning back to her to see the shocked look on her face. “Tell me, pet… how many weapons do you have on you right now?”
“Why do you care?” she asked, seeing him smile slightly.
“That many?” he asked in amusement, slowing down with her and dipping her slightly. Buffy’s eyes widened when his lips brushed against her neck as his hand ghosted along her thigh, feeling the sheath for her gun. “One,” he whispered, seeing her clench her jaw when his hand moved high, outlining the case for the knife close to her hip. “Two,” he breathed, pulling her upright, moving her until she was pressed against his body, his mouth near her ear. “I’m guessing another gun on the other leg,” he whispered, still holding her close with one of his hands holding hers against his chest. “Anything else?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she said, finally relaxing slightly as she pulled away from him with a smirk. Taking a step back, Buffy glanced at Giles, seeing his gaze alternating between her and Meers. Turning back to Spike, she stared at him for a moment, seeing the indecision in his eyes. “You know what I was assigned to do,” she said softly. “I’m warning you, Spike… please don’t come near me again. You know who I am.”
Grabbing her hand, he spun her around, admiring her skirt as it flowed around her before pulling her against his body again. “And you’ve always known who I was. That didn’t change anything.”
“What do you want from me?” she whispered in a pleading tone.
Unable to answer her, Spike continued to look into her eyes, elegantly leading her around the dance floor.
* * * * *
“I don’t think it’s me you’ll have to worry about,” Ethan replied, gesturing to the dance floor where the handsome couple was now locked in a staring contest. Sparks seemed to shoot from them as their gazes burned into each other. “Seems your girl got a little too involved in her job.”
“Shut up, Ethan.”
* * * * *
“That's not your world,” Spike said in a husky whisper. “You belong in the shadows… with me.” The two of them continued to move in a more sensual dance as Spike continued, “Tell me… you don't love getting away with this…”
Visibly trembling as she pulled away from him, Buffy didn’t say anything as she turned and ran out of the building.
Thanks so much to: DK, Cordykitten, lacey, Franchesca, BuffyandSpikeForever, phantomwriter, baby spikes, spuffette, flibble, denise, bluebird, B, jessica, carri, & Celia for reviewing!
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Author's Chapter Notes:
This chapter was heavily influenced by Mr. and Mrs. Smith - anyone who has seen the movie will notice the similarities. Since this story was greatly inspired by all of my favorite movies of that nature, I thought it was only fitting. I hope you like it!