A couple of hours had passed when Spike woke up, glancing around with some confusion at the unfamiliar room around him, before he remembered where they were. Buffy was still asleep, the single dim light they had left on beside the bed casting a soft glow across her serene, lovely features, and the golden glory that was her flawless body, carelessly half-covered by the sheets and entangled them both.
*Mine.*
The word echoed through his head with an intense sense of elation. She *was* his! She had consented to accept his claim, to be his for all of eternity! He could hardly believe that it was actually true – what he had longed for since the moment that she had claimed him.
Well – longer, if he was really honest with himself.
He lay there on his side, facing her, simply enjoying the beautiful vision that she was, lying there beside him – thinking. He was trying to discover if he felt any differently now, with his own claim in place – and decided after a few moments that the difference in his feelings was subtle, and no where near as great as he had expected it to be.
The sense of connection, of union, with Buffy, was stronger than it had ever been. He felt almost as if they were one and the same – as if he could feel her emotions, hear her thoughts – he almost thought that if he closed his eyes, he might be able to see her dreams.
His eyes fell on the twin puncture marks on her throat, already healing, but he knew, not without a permanent scar.
His mark.
*His*.
*Bloody hell.*
The overwhelming sensation of protective, possessive affection for the sleeping girl beside him stole over him unexpectedly – and he suddenly knew beyond all doubt that from this moment on, he would do whatever it took to protect this glorious vision that he could now call his own.
It was an odd sensation – feeling her begin to stir to wakefulness, before her body actually shifted on the bed, and her eyes fluttered open to meet his, wide and a bit disoriented, bright and blank with sleep.
“Spike?” she softly whispered his name, seeming a bit lost and very vulnerable in her half-awake state, as shining emerald eyes slowly came into focus on his.
And Spike melted. Just like that.
“Morning, love,” he murmured in a low, husky voice, lowering his mouth to place a tender, almost reverent kiss in the crook of the arm that was casually cast out to her side, over his head. His eyes never left hers, as he raised his head and asked in a near-whisper, “How do you feel?”
Buffy was silent for a moment, breaking eye contact as she frowned slightly at the wall, pensive.
“Strange.”
His smile faded a bit, a tentative question beginning in his eyes.
She looked back at him, a reassuring smile coming over her face as she raised the arm he had kissed to stroke the backs of her fingers lovingly down the side of his face and across his slightly parted lips.
“Good strange,” she clarified softly, holding his gaze with shining eyes. “Very, very *good* strange.”
The uncertainty in his eyes faded with the slow, adoring smile that came over his lips. “I love you, Buffy – Slayer -- *my* Slayer,” he told her softly, raising his hand to take hers as it left his face, kissing her palm tenderly before lowering his head to rest it on her arm, kissing her again in the spot where he had kissed her before, as if he simply could not get enough of feeling her, tasting her.
He had already closed his eyes, not expecting to hear the words he longed to, not wanting to see the look on her face and have to face the fact that she did not love him – so he missed the soft, tender smile, tinged with a bit of sadness, that came over her face as she lowered her lips to his brow, trying to respond with her touch where she could not with words – not yet.
“Spike,” she whispered softly, her voice hoarse with emotion as she raised her head, her free hand moving to gently stroke through his loose riot of blonde curls. She hesitated, unsure of exactly what to say, before choosing words that she could say with all surety, in a soft, tender voice.
“I’m so *glad* I’m yours.”
Spike opened his eyes in surprise, staring up at her without lifting his head, and she was struck by the hopeful uncertainty in his eyes – blue depths that she could drown in, glimmering in the warm light, as he searched her gaze.
Just when it seemed that his emotions might get the better of him, he broke the connection that was becoming almost too intense, looking away as he slowly raised himself up on one arm, his eyes focused somewhere around her neck for a moment before he met her eyes again, his expression much more controlled – but still unable to hide his love for her.
“So – how do you feel, pet? Still in control?” he asked her quietly, deliberately changing the tone of the conversation.
“Completely,” Buffy nodded, a small smile of contentment on her lips. “I guess now that it’s done…now that she knows there’s nothing she can do at the moment – she’s biding her time until she gets stronger.”
Spike sighed wearily, looking down for a moment. “Guess that means we’d better do this thing before she has the chance, right, love?”
Buffy nodded slowly. “Yeah.” She frowned with concern. “How are *you* feeling? Strong enough to take her on? I know she was – pretty hard on you, before…”
Spike shrugged dismissively, not wanting her to worry about him – and in fact, his injuries from earlier were almost completely gone. “Feeling quite a bit better, love,” he assured her honestly with a teasing grin. “That Slayer’s blood is bloody potent stuff.”
“So you’re feeling strong enough to complete the dominance ritual, then,” Buffy concluded with satisfaction and relief in her voice. “Now that she doesn’t have the power to control you through your mark anymore.”
The faint note of uncertainty to her last words caught his attention, and he looked back up at her pensively.
“Shall we test it out, then, love?” he suggested. “Just to put your mind at ease?”
Buffy nodded eagerly, a slight frown creasing her brow, biting her lower lip anxiously. “Just to be sure,” she agreed with a slightly apologetic note to her voice. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again…”
Spike sat up on the bed, and she followed suit, as he looked at her expectantly. “Right, then. Give me a command, love. Tell me to do something.”
Buffy stared at him, leaning unconsciously nearer to him, marveling once again at the power of the connection they shared, doubly intense since the claim had become mutual. Her lips parted slightly as her eyes met his, and she realized suddenly how very close to each other they were sitting. The only command she could think of at the moment slipped from her mouth without hesitation.
“Kiss me.”
Immediately Spike leaned forward, one hand rising to tangle in the long blonde hair at the back of her neck, pulling her in close as he covered her mouth with his, kissing her thoroughly, tenderly, but with a fervency of desire that left her breathless and gasping.
He was breathless too, when he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers, his hand still playing idly through her hair.
“Maybe,” he suggested slowly, his lips turning up into a smile as the power of speech returned to him. “maybe you ought to order me to do something I *wouldn’t* have done anyway.”
An affectionate little laugh left the Slayer’s lips, as she nodded slowly against his brow before pulling away to meet his eyes. “Right,” she agreed softly. “Um…like what?”
“You’re asking *me* what order you should give me?” Spike grinned. “Funny, love, but I can’t think of a single bloody thing at the moment that I wouldn’t wanna do anyway…”
Buffy gave his bare thigh beside her a light slap, one eyebrow raised as she gave him a mildly reproachful look.
Then, in a moment, her expression changed, as she thought of what she wanted to tell him to do.
“Hit me in the face as hard as you can,” she ordered quietly, seriously.
Spike’s eyes widened in surprise and alarm, his smile fading away. He could feel that she was trying to use the force of the claim to make him do it – trying her best to test the bond – but this time, it was much easier to resist.
“No,” he replied calmly, lying back on the bed with his hand behind his head in a cockily casual way, his smile returning with the realization that their plan had worked.
Buffy smiled as she lay down beside him, her face inches from his, her hand reaching to tenderly caress his cheek. “It worked,” she whispered.
Spike’s smile never faded, but there was a dark note of disapproval in his voice as he asked her, “Why would you ask me to hit you as hard as I could? What if it hadn’t worked? You’d be bloody well unconscious.”
“If it hadn’t worked – then it’d be better if I *was* unconscious,” Buffy pointed out, and he could see the concern, the relief in her eyes – and suddenly realized just how hard it had been for her, knowing that at any moment she could completely lose control of her own body, and it could be used as a weapon against him.
It still could be, if they were not careful – but she would not be able to control his mind anymore, and he would be free to defend himself, as he was, at the moment, in better physical condition than she was. The Slayer demon could still take over her body -- but she could no longer control his mind.
And very soon -- she would be able to do neither.
Spike hated even the thought of hurting her, but he knew that very soon, he was going to have to. It was the only way.
He still hadn’t quite worked out how he was going to manage it, though.
“So,” he said in a tone that effectively changed the subject, sitting up a little but not quite meeting her eyes. “you want to call your Mum and sis? Have ‘em come over here and work out how we’re going to do this dominance ritual?”
Buffy sighed, a slight pout coming over her lips. “I guess we should. Don’t want to. ‘M sleepy.”
“Me, too, love,” he replied wearily. “We could wait until morning if you like. Do you feel like we’ll be safe ‘til then?”
Buffy paused for a moment, considering. “No sign of a struggle so far. I know we’ve got a couple of hours before she’ll come out willingly. But – maybe we should go ahead and do this while I’m still physically weaker than you – you know?”
Spike nodded reluctantly. He was tired, too. “I suppose you’re right. But – we should have your sis close at hand just in case – don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” she agreed, nodding slowly as she thought it through. “Just to be on the safe side.” She glanced around the room wearily. “I guess we’d best get things cleaned up in here. Personally, I wanna take a shower before engaging in any more rituals of the world-saveage variety.”
“Me, too, pet,” Spike agreed, sitting up slowly and turning to get up off the bed. “Don’t really fancy seeing your Mum while drenched in essence of the-best-shag-I-ever-had.”
Buffy frowned in distaste, shooting him a dubious look as she said, “I don’t think Mom’s sense of smell is that good, and -- *eww*, Spike?”
“No – but mine is – and that’s just too bloody disturbing,” he reminded her, a look of alarm in his eyes as he shook his head quickly to clear the image from his head.
It was bad enough that Joyce even *knew* what they had spent the last few hours doing.
“So – how’s this for a plan?” Buffy offered, standing up off the bed. “I’ll jump in the shower. You run down to the front desk and get some clean sheets. Then, you take your shower while I make the bed and call Mom and Dawnie. Okay?”
“Sounds good, pet,” Spike replied, relief in his voice. “I’m not overly eager to talk to your Mum at the moment. I’ll leave her questions to you, thanks ever so.”
Buffy laughed softly as she walked around the bed to where he was still sitting on the edge of it. Judging by her confident semi-swagger as she approached him, her eyes focused on his and a sly half-smile on her lips – her current state of nudity did not bother her in the least.
And *that* was just bloody hot.
She did not stop until she was standing between his parted legs, smiling tenderly into his eyes, as she placed her hands on either side of his face and leaned in to kiss him gently.
He closed his eyes, leaning into the kiss – just as she pulled away, a playful smirk on her lips, and turned and headed to the bathroom. Spike considered following her, but opted not to at the moment. Her seductive actions were not so much an attempt at – well, seduction – as they were a reminder of what was theirs to share now, whenever they wanted.
It was unspoken, but understood between them – there would be plenty of time for more of what they had shared tonight later on.
Right now – they had a demon to defeat.
Spike walked down to the front desk, considering for a moment outside Dawn’s and Joyce’s door. The lights were off, he could tell through the edges of the thick curtains over the window – but he knew they would be awake. He thought about knocking on the door, just to let them know that everything was all right – but then decided against it.
He *really* did not want to face Joyce right now.
By the time he returned to the room, the fragrant steam from the shower had drifted into the rest of the room, tantalizing his senses with the familiar scent of Buffy’s shampoo, as he carefully made up the bed.
He knew that Buffy had intended to do it herself, but he also knew that she was tired, and wanted to do something for her, even if it was small.
After all, she had just given *him* the sweetest gift he could imagine.
When she emerged from the small, steamy bathroom a few minutes later, her skin pink and glistening with droplets of water above and below the fresh white towel that covered all her most important bits, the bed was made, and Spike was seated in one of the chairs to the side of the beds, in order to keep from soiling the freshly made bed with the sweat and other bodily fluids that still coated his body.
Buffy smiled warmly as she reached him, leaning down to pull him into another slow, lingering kiss, before pulling away to meet his eyes. Spike’s hands found her waist and pulled her back toward him, not willing to end the contact. He had never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her right then.
Buffy persistently evaded his embrace, with an apologetic smile. “I’m gonna need another shower if you don’t stop,” she warned him.
“You can share mine,” he offered in a low murmur against her throat, as he pulled her down for another kiss.
Buffy giggled at the teasing, pleasurable touch, but pulled back again. “We have all the time in the world, Spike,” she reminded him softly, smiling into his eyes. “*After* we send this thing back where it came from.”
Finally, Spike nodded, acknowledging that she was right.
After all – it would be better to wait until they could enjoy each other without the threat of her alter ego’s return.
Buffy walked over to the bed and sat down wearily with her back to the headboard, giving him a meaningful smile and saying sincerely, “Thank you,” as she reached for her cell phone.
Spike waved away her thanks as he rose and headed for the bathroom.
The sooner he was done with his shower – the sooner he could be at her side again.
Buffy watched as her vampire stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, waiting until she heard the water start running to dial her mother’s number, her eyes still focused on the bathroom door as she waited through – well – only half a ring.
“Hello?” Dawn gasped breathlessly into the phone. “Spike?”
“It’s Buffy,” her sister corrected dryly. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Ha ha,” Dawn shot back sarcastically without hesitation, but her tone was mild. “Everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine,” Buffy assured her. “We did the whole matey, bondy thing, and now the whole mind control thing is gone. Spike is free to fight the Slayer demon.”
“Great!” Dawn’s voice was exultant. “So – you want us to head on over there right now? You wanna do it tonight?”
“Well – actually, I’m pretty tired – we both are,” Buffy explained, yawning for emphasis. “I mean – not to be *too* specific – but – I don’t think we’re up to any more wrestling tonight. We were thinking we’d just sleep and do it in the morning.”
“Buffy -- *ew*!” Dawn groaned, and Buffy could almost see her rolling her eyes. “But – are you sure it’s safe to wait?”
“I think so,” Buffy replied with a little shrug. “I mean, I’m feeling pretty weak anyway, and she hasn’t tried to come out in a while – and anyway, he’s gonna chain me to the bed for good measure.”
“Buffy…” Dawn said slowly, “…you’re not really planning on sleeping – are you?”
“Whatever would give you that idea?” Buffy’s voice was the very sound of innocence, but she allowed a little giggle to follow the words.
Dawn was silent for a moment before she asked, a note of suspicion in her voice, “Buffy – are you sure you’re okay?”
“Positive, Dawnie.”
“Let me talk to Spike.”
“He’s in the shower.”
“I don’t believe you. I’m coming over there.”
“Okay, okay,” Buffy muttered, rising from the bed with an exasperated sigh. “He *is* in the shower – and I’m about to be too, in a minute – but I’ll put him on the phone, just to satisfy your paranoia.”
“I just don’t want anything bad to happen…” Dawn’s voice was smaller, uncertain.
Buffy’s tone softened as she added, “I know, Dawnie – but I promise, everything’s okay.”
Buffy walked into the bathroom, adding as an afterthought, “If my phone gets damaged from all this steam, you’re buying me a new one.”
“Buffy?” Spike sounded a bit puzzled, as he peeked around the shower curtain, a pleased smile on his face. “Change your mind?”
She nodded, smiling in mingled affection and amusement, as she held the phone up to his ear, running her free hand gently down his dripping wet face.
“Tell my sister that she doesn’t need to come over just yet because you’re about to spend the whole night screwing me senseless, and we’ll call her in the morning,” she instructed firmly, a little smirk forming on her face, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Spike’s expression was surprised, questioning – but then melted into a smile to match hers, as he echoed obediently, “You don’t need to come over just yet because I’m about to spend the whole night shagging your sis senseless, and we’ll call you in the morning.”
Buffy immediately put the phone back to her ear, adding shortly, “Keep Mom away ‘til morning, ‘k?”
Dawn sighed dramatically. “Fine. Whatever. Just – use those chains.”
Buffy’s smile widened with some secret amusement as she replied, “Don’t worry. We will.”
She closed the phone, dropping it carelessly on the counter, as she gestured with her hand for Spike to resume his shower. “Give me a second,” she said in a soft, husky voice.
Spike smiled, a light of anticipation in his eyes as he turned back around with his back to her, allowing the hot water to wash over his weary body.
Buffy slid the towel off and climbed into the shower behind her mate, sidling up close behind him as she ran her hands slowly up his chest. He leaned back into her embrace, with a soft purring hum of pleasure at her touch.
“Change your mind?” he murmured, his head resting on her shoulder behind him. “Decide you weren’t quite through playing?”
“You might say that,” she replied coyly with a slight nod, one hand rising to gently push his head up off her shoulder, turning slightly so that he was facing the shower wall, as her fingers slowly massaged through his soaking wet hair, her other hand sliding down to fist around his erect member and tug gently down.
He gasped softly, leaning his head back into her hand, relishing the combination of sensations, of her hand massaging through his hair, and her other hand driving his desire higher -- not even noticing when her grip on both became just slightly tighter.
Not noticing the subtle shift in her voice.
“No,” she murmured, a secretive smirk crossing her lips. “I’m nowhere *near* through playing, Baby…”
Something was off, he realized suddenly, frowning slightly. Buffy never called him…
His eyes shot open, and he moved to pull away – too late.
Quick as a flash, before he could react, she had slammed his head forward by her grip on his hair, cracking it hard against the shower wall.
*Not so weak after all,* he realized with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
It was the last thought that crossed his mind before his entire world went tumbling into a swirling confusion of mingled colors and darkness – and everything went black.
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