Spike walked into the house with his arm around Buffy and his duster slung around her shoulders to keep her warm. Her shoes now dangled from the very ends of her fingers as she walked across the marble floor of the foyer, barefoot.
“Good evening Mr. Giles,” Tara greeted, coming from the direction of the kitchen hall. The Head of maids looked over at Buffy and couldn’t help but smile at how Buffy’s eyes were half closed and she appeared to be swaying back and forth from exhaustion. The only thing that kept her from falling was Spike’s arm, banding around her protectively. The others behind Spike looked just as equally exhausted as Buffy, having finally come down from the adrenaline excitement from leaving the club.
“Good evening Tara,” Spike said. “I think that will be all for the night. You and the rest of the staff can go ahead and turn in.” Tara nodded before turning around to leave, going back in the direction she had just come from.
“Boss, I don’t think that B is going to last much longer on her feet,” Faith pointed out.
Spike quickly swooped Buffy up in his arms, jostling her a little before she relaxed and finally rested her head against his shoulder.
“Spike… I’m tired,” Buffy murmured, drifting between the states of being awake, and asleep.
“I know pet,” Spike whispered into her hair, making their way towards the elevator. Wesley joined him while the others took the stairs. Buffy’s breathing became shallow and steady, cluing Spike in on the fact that she was already sleeping. He reveled in the warmth that she provided, seeping through her and his layers of clothing. Her small figure fit the cradle of his arms perfectly and suddenly the mafia leader wanted this moment to never end.
“Spike, I do hope you will…how should I say this, stay clear minded when it comes to decisions,” Wesley said, turning around to look at him in the elevator.
“What’s that supposed to mean, mate?” Spike asked, glancing at his cousin Wesley.
The elevator door dinged and after the door opened, Wesley took a step away before looking back at Spike. “It’s just, when things ended with…her… your decisions were harsh even when they didn’t have to be. Make sure to stay focused even when you and Buffy go through hard times.” Spike just stared at Wesley, his expression unreadable. “And Spike, you two will go through hard times. You have to recognize that you and Buffy may be from similar families and backgrounds but you two are not only different personality-wise but lead different lifestyles as well.”
Wesley peered at his cousin with curiosity. “Have you told your father about Buffy?” he asked, knowing the answer already.
Spike looked down at the now sleeping girl resting in his arms. He took in the peaceful look on her face. He hadn’t told his father about her. He’d purposely omitted that little piece of info and only told him about the deal between him and Hank Summers and that there was an exchange. He knew that if he told his father, word would somehow get to Spike’s mother and then all hell would break loose, and not just due to the upcoming war between the families in Los Angeles. It wasn’t like Spike wasn’t going to tell his father but he had no clue how. Rupert Giles, Spike’s father would stand by his decision as long as it didn’t mess the family up all together, he could guess that much.
“No, I haven’t mate.”
Wesley winced. “Let’s just hope your mother doesn’t find out,” he stated, voicing the very same thing Spike had just thought about. He lifted his arm tiredly to wave at Spike and nodded at him.
“Goodnight Spike.”
“Goodnight Wes.”
Wesley walked down the hall and the doors of the elevator finally closed, leaving only Buffy and Spike together. Spike quietly mused about Wesley’s wise words and tried to make sense of it all. He recalled the year that his love life had affected his ability to run a mafia family. Yeah, he had been rather hard on people, sometimes taking his anger out on those who were innocent and had no part in it, but Spike couldn’t believe he had let it affect him so much. The year that The Bitch, as he liked to refer to the woman now, had not only backstabbed him but broke his heart as well. The whole ordeal made Spike bitter and angry, admittedly he became very harsh and eventually even harder on people especially women. Back then, Spike utilized the women who were part of the family’s prostitution rings to take out his frustrations on them, sometimes close to treating them as harshly as Angelus would treat women. He could still the fear in their eyes as he coldly stared at them and the way they trembled when his presence was announced. Now, as he held Buffy’s sleeping form in his arms, listening to her steady breaths and peaceful expression, that very same memory made a bile rise in his throat. He hated what he’d done, what he’d been driven to do. He hated himself.
Spike looked down at Buffy again, her face pressed against his silk shirt covered chest. Her arms were pressed between their bodies trying to keep her body warm even though she was wearing his heavy long jacket. Spike knew what Wesley was really trying to say. Be careful of women. Don’t let them leave you like The Bitch had.
Sighing, Spike wondered if little innocent Buffy Summers was capable of doing that. She may be a spitfire but she seemed like a girl who wouldn’t even hurt a fly, not intentionally at least. However he had thought that about his first love as well and look where that left him.
The doors of the elevator suddenly opened and Spike stepped off the platform, turning down in the hall towards the direction where both Buffy’s and his rooms resided. He quickly opened the door to her room and entered, noticing the puppy was half asleep at the foot of her bed. Little Spike didn’t move from his place but watched Spike carefully as he placed Buffy on the bed gently, resting her head against the down feathered pillow.
Spike turned on the television, keeping it low on the stock market channel hearing today’s reports on investments as he got Buffy ready for bed. He contemplated whether he should change her out of her dress but decided not to, knowing she would give him hell the next morning. Instead he took her shoes from her hand and dropped them in her closet before padding into her bathroom to grab a damp cloth. Spike stopped as he caught his actions. He stood next to her bed. What the bleeding hell are you doing?!?! Here he was being all sweet and domesticated, getting his girl ready for bed. He’d never done this for any girl and the way that Buffy was affecting him this much frightened him.
The mafia leader looked back down at her, running his hands through his bleached hair exasperatedly and stared at her angelic expression. His bewilderment and fear of appearing like a ponce melted away in an instant. He sat down on the edge of the bed, careful to not jostle her awake as he began to wipe her make-up away with the washcloth. She didn’t seem to be affected at all by Spike’s touches. He knew that when she woke up the next morning she’d be annoyed to find dark circles caused by her eyeliner if he didn’t clean it up. Stroking her hair after he’d finished, he watched her sleep peacefully.
His heart tore as he remembered tonight’s events at Midnight’s. He didn’t blame her, not at all. But, as Spike got to know her more and more, especially today, he began to hate himself for placing her directly in the middle of it. Angelus was drawn to Buffy now, that much was obvious. But Spike wondered if he had not made the deal with Hank about exchanging Buffy for an alliance, would O’Connor be so drawn to her? Buffy would probably be safer. Spike thought to himself. However the selfish side of him argued that she would then never be in his life. And so far, just living with her for two days made him feel… different.
Slowly, he ran his finger down to the side of her cheek, feeling her soft skin against his.
“Mmmm…” Her head moved closer to his touch and Spike’s desire for her started up again. Spike just stared at her, content with just watching her sleep.
“What are you doing to me Elizabeth Buffy Summers?” Spike murmured, voicing his thoughts. This woman, this beautiful lady would without a doubt soon have him wrapped around her little finger, Spike knew that. Wesley knew that. And Spike now understood Wesley’s concern. Spike had a L.A. branch to run and he could not be a love sick puppy while he was leading the family into what would probably turn out to be a messy war with two other gangs that obviously hated his guts and wanted to see him and Hank Summers crumble.
Buffy turned her head again and her eyes flickered open. Slowly they came back to focus, sleepily gazing at the darkness around her with the only source of light coming from the TV, causing shadows and light to dance and chase each other on the walls and ceilings. “Spike?” she purred out. Her arms stretched above her head. Spike cursed the Gods who were obviously playing the meanest joke on him. They must have found it a great entertainment to see how many ways Buffy Summers could turn him on. As she stretched her stiff muscles, the very edge of her dress began to sink down at the top, dangerously close to revealing two smooth mounds of flesh. So help me God, don’t let that happen, or Buffy will find herself unable to stop me from ravaging her. Spike clenched his fists at his side as she slumped back and peered at him through hooded lids. He knew if he touched her we wouldn’t be able to hold back.
“I’m sorry I woke you kitten. I didn’t peek or anything while you slept, I just… washed the make-up off.” He tried to stop the boyish grin from spreading on his face but failed. Buffy nodded, smiling back as she lay on her bed. Spike couldn’t help but notice the fact that she was becoming more at ease with him and he thanked the heavens for that. How could he otherwise woo her if she continued to fight with him constantly?
“Did I fall asleep before we even got here?” Buffy asked, looking around her room.
Spike nodded. “Yeah, you were out like a bloody light bulb there when I picked you up.” He chuckled and Buffy blushed.
“Look Spike… I’m really sorry things went badly. I should have listened to you.” Spike took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips to kiss. “Faith told me that Midnight’s gives you money as long as you stay neutral and I probably just ruined that flow of cash.” She sat up and brought her knees to her chest.
“Hey, kitten I told you I’m not mad. No one expected Angelus to approach you even after we had that confrontation. The man was being daft and if the owner of Midnight’s wants to question us then I’ll simply tell him that the poof had no fucking business coming on to my girl.” He hooked his finger under Buffy’s chin and brought her up to look at him. “It’s okay. Really. Now let me see that beautiful smile,” Spike pleaded and grinned when she blushed not being able to hold in the smile. “Now, don’t be mad but I think it would be wise if you had a guard with you.”
“But Spike!” Buffy exclaimed and her smile was gone in a flash, replaced by a scowl. “I don’t need someone to be around me at all times.”
“Buffy I’m not going to discuss it. I know that you will be the one they go for. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you get kidnapped while you’re out because no one is with you.”
Buffy glared at him before turning her head, refusing to look at him. Buffy couldn’t help but feel that this was just some way to make sure she won’t be able to spend time with another guy, or for some other reason keep close tabs on her.
“Buffy look at me,” Spike requested. She pursed her lips and ignored him, trying to act as if he wasn’t sitting there right next to her. “Buffy! Bugger you’re acting like a child!”
Buffy couldn’t let that comment go by. “Then don’t treat me like one!” She shot him a deadly glare, and everything he’d worked for to bring her closer to him crumbled away. “Angelus is not going to come after me.”
“You don’t know that pet. You barely know Angelus. Do you have any clue what he can do to you if I’m not with you? Have you heard of what he’s done to other girls?” Spike got up and paced back and forth while he raked his fingers through his hair. He growled inwardly at how fast their moment had turned from sweet and gentle to glares and animosity. And it was all because Buffy didn’t like how he was trying to protect her. “Pet… just agree with me on this and don’t argue. I’m not trying to control you. Hell I’ll have Xander not tell me anything that you just happen to tell him. And see pet, that’s who will be with you. Harris, not one of my other men you’ve never met.” Buffy stared at him, seeing that he was genuinely worried about her. His concern was etched all over his face. She could see his reason and need to worry about her but deep down inside, she was just afraid that she’d be controlled.
“Ok. On one condition,” Buffy said. Spike whipped around and looked straight at her, waiting. “He can’t follow me into the bathroom or when I’m changing at the theater.” Buffy said matter-of-factly.
Spike chuckled and sat down on her bed again, gathering her in his arms and pulling her closer. “If he does you better tell me so I can fucking kill him.” His lips began to inch closer to hers until they were only a hair away. Spike didn’t kiss her though. He waited. Waited for her to kiss him first. It would prove to him that Buffy was currently able to stand him.
They stayed like that for a moment, with Buffy expecting him to kiss her. She could feel his warm breath caress her lips. She peered up at him from under her lashes and saw the lust glinting in his eyes. She blushed as she felt the same feeling rose from within her and swallowed nervously, waiting for the inevitable to happen. He stayed still and a long moment passed, both wrapped in each other’s embrace and anticipating, teetering over the edge, hoping and expecting. Finally when he still hadn’t kissed her, she growled silently in frustration.
She placed her hand gently on his face and closed the distance between them, locking their lips together. She proceeded to kiss him sweetly and gently. She hadn’t had enough courage to kiss him like he would with her sometimes, with heavy passion. At first Spike didn’t kiss her back and Buffy understood that he was going to make her work for it. Wrapping her arms around his neck and sliding so she was sitting in his lap, Buffy kissed him a little harder. She ran her tongue across his lips, causing an instant reaction and he pressed her even closer to him. He kissed her harder, his tongue dueling with hers and his actions became bolder and more aggressive.
Buffy moaned against his lips, causing his erection to harden even further, straining against his pants. “Buffy…,” Spike murmured against her lips before kissing his way down from her jaw to her neck. Buffy arched her head back, gasping uncontrollably when he kissed and sucked softly right over her pulse point on her neck. His hands roamed from her side to up and down her back causing a shiver to race down her spine and the hairs on the back of her neck rose.
They broke away from the kiss, breathing heavily and still clinging to each other. They could feel something between them, something that their kiss had intensified. They each felt the pull towards the other as they sat there gasping for breath. Buffy now couldn’t deny that she was beginning to have feelings for Spike. She couldn’t help it. He raised too many un-ignorable sensations in her with just a simple, cocky smirk.
“Wow,” Buffy sighed, feeling her cheeks flush.
“I better let you sleep, my princess. I know you have a rehearsal in the morning,” Spike said. He expected her to agree and disentangle from him but Buffy didn’t move from her place in his lap. He raised an eyebrow at her.
“You can…stay here…I mean…,” Buffy stuttered, feeling shy all of a sudden. Spike looked at her, not rushing her, scared it would change her mind on what he thought she was about to tell him. “Well, oh wow this is really hard and I probably look dumb. I’m just saying you can stay in here tonight.”
“Do you want me to sleep with you here tonight?” Spike asked.
Buffy nodded. “Well you’ll be wearing clothes, but…you can stay, only if you want to.”
“I know pet. And I’d love to. Why don’t you get changed out of this dress, because it will drive me mad to sleep with you while you’re in something that sexy. I’m going to go drop some things off in my room.” Buffy nodded and got up.
“Wait, can you kind of undo the zipper a little?” Buffy asked shyly, turning around. She swept her hair up and stared at him over her shoulder.
Spike undid the zipper slowly, not being able to take his eyes away from hers. He restrained himself from reaching out and touching her now exposed skin of her back. Buffy stared back at him, blushing from his intense gaze. She walked over to her closet, trying to breathe and calm down. When she heard her bedroom door close, Buffy finally pulled her dress off all the way. She slipped into her nightgown and quickly walked back into her room. Picking up Spike’s duster she folded it neatly and placed it on a chair.
Buffy swallowed nervously, and still couldn’t believe that she had just told Spike he could sleep with her in the same bed. A lot of people were surprised to learn that Buffy barely dated and was rather inexperienced despite her good looks. With her life as a dancer Buffy never really got to explore things intimately with a boyfriend, preferring to dedicate her life to perform onstage and practice hard. It wasn’t the only fact while at A.B.D.C. they discouraged dating but before leaving for New York her father was very protective over her. It was well known through out Los Angeles who Buffy’s father was and what kind of things he was involved in. It was enough to sometimes scare off potential dates, and the ones that Buffy did date, she knew that they weren’t going to last.
What if I’m bad when we actually sleep together? Buffy asked herself silently.
Spike knocked at her door, shaking Buffy out of her musings.
“Come in.”
Spike entered her bedroom and she froze. He was currently sporting out a very drool worthy outfit. The problem was he was only half dressed. Buffy watched as Spike closed her door and walked up to her in only a pair of black sleeping pants and no shirt on. She tried to keep her eyes averted from his well defined chest. His arms, now that they were exposed were nice and lean, hard and muscular. Oh god… Buffy thought faintly, trying to focus on his eyes.
Buffy wasn’t the only one having a problem with each other’s new change of clothes. Spike had one look at Buffy and thanked the divine for being smart and changing into loose fitting pants. Her supple body was covered in a peach colored silk night-gown. The thin little straps were the only things that held the sleeping wear up. The silk lightly curved over her womanly curves, accentuating her bodily assets.
“Beautiful as always,” Spike whispered into her ear as he came to stand in front of her. Buffy blushed and quickly stood up on her tippy toes to give him a peck on the cheek before walking over to her bed and climbing in. Spike stood there, cheek still tingling from her kiss. He was touched. And, by a simple kiss as that. He walked around the bed and climbed in, covering them both with the down comforter. Spike rested against the headboard and Buffy found a comfortable place to cuddle close to him while they silently watched the news.
“The discussions between the oil companies and the California legislature are getting heated more than ever...” The news reporter intoned as he stared straight ahead at the camera, clutching a set of papers on the news desk.
Buffy snorted. “He does know he’s not fooling anyone with that toupee right?” Spike chuckled and gave a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
“Well, what can I say kitten? These newscasters are never that bright. Look at the weatherman. Everyone always hates the bloke because he can never be accurate.”
“I know! When I was in New York they tell me it would be sunny and of course it rained. I was one step away from writing an angry letter.” Her lip jutted out into a pout.
“Aw poor kitten,” Spike teased playfully, causing Buffy to break out into a smile. But what the newscaster said next caused both of them to perk up and listen intently.
“In other news just an hour ago another shooting between the rivaling families in Los Angeles broke out at the neutral club in the city today. Our reporter, James Calvin is still at the scene.”
Buffy and Spike stayed silent as the T.V. went from showing the desk reporter to a stout almost balding man in a suit and oversized jacket to keep warm against the cold night.
“Thank you Elliot,” The reporter said into his microphone. “I’m here on the strip in front of the club Midnight’s which has been known for years as a neutral club between the four gangs, but tonight gunshots broke out in the V.I.P. section. No one knows exactly what had caused it, some witnesses reported seeing the Giles and O’Connor gangs to start shooting at each other but many other rumors are escalating around here. Sources have been telling me that O’Connor and Finn have in fact made an alliance together against Giles and Summers. Now Elliot, I have no actual proof if this is true but if so police are coming together to make sure no war comes about. I know FBI has been notified and they are working to try and bring all of the leaders down in hopes of once again creating peace in the Los Angeles streets that was lost so long ago. This is James Calvin, back to you Elliot.”
Spike turned off the television in a huff, throwing the remote onto the nightstand.
“I’m so sorry Spike,” Buffy said in a small voice, looking up at him.
“Kitten, I’d said time and again, it’s not your fault.” Spike sighed as they rested, making themselves comfortable against the pillows. Buffy didn’t object when Spike pulled her closer, spooning against her and wrapping an arm around her waist. “Guess now words are out,” he whispered into her ear as he rubbed her cheek. Buffy sighed and fell into a deep slumber with Spike following after her.
He watched her. Laughing and trying not to get splashed at the same time as both Xander and Anya tried to get her soaked with the ocean water. She stood knee deep under the sun in only a red bikini that made her tanned skin look even more beautiful.
Spike wondered whether this was reality, dream, or just heaven but in the end it didn’t matter. She was his. After getting a thorough splashing from the married couple she looked over at him, smiling and waving. Spike waved back, loving how Buffy could affect him so much.
“She’s a beauty.”
Spike looked up to see his older sister standing above him where he sat on the beach sand.
“Yes she is.”
“Do you love her?” His sister’s eyes bore into his as if trying to read deep into his soul. It gave Spike the shivers.
“I don’t know...why?”
“Because only your love can save her.” Spike looked at his sister in confusion, wondering why she was giving him such a cryptic reason for loving Buffy. But, before she could explain more his sister disappeared. And, what was once a sunny day on the beach darkened quickly as dark clouds formed in the horizon, a thunder storm threatening to spoil the lovely day’s mood. Suddenly they could see a huge wave rising from the ocean, and both Xander and Anya ran out of the water frantically, escaping with the others. Spike watched in horror as Buffy faced the water stricken with fear, frozen in place and unable to move as a huge wave came ever closer, threatening to crush her down.
“BUFFY!!!!” Spike yelled out. Her head turned and she gave him a longing gaze. Then she was gone. Spike blinked, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She had just been there and before the wave could even take her, she disappeared. Spike scanned his eyes everywhere trying to find his blonde goddess.
“Oh Spike.”
Spike turned around and was met with a sickening sight. His heart lurched into his throat when he saw Buffy hanging limply in the monster’s arms, her small frame slumped over and unconscious. A gun was pointing at her head, pressed into her temple.
The man chuckled loudly, his voice deeper than the rolling thunder from the storm that was going on around them. “Game over.” The last thing Spike heard was as a gunshot.
Spike woke up with a jolt, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He looked around the darkened room before his eyes settled on a dark sleeping form in his arms. Her shallow breathing was music to his ears as it reassured him that his Buffy was still with him. He hugged her tighter, reveling in her closeness and breathed a sigh of relief that the scene that played out in his head was just a nightmare.
His worst nightmare would not be to lose his placement as the top of the four families, but to lose the woman next to him who was slowly wedging herself into his heart.
A/N:Spike had a nightmare! Spike had a nightmare! Interpret it as you wish. Reviews make me smile.
Spuffy_Obsessed