And this one is for my girls at LJ: cordykitten, niamh, and smudgiboo. Thanks for keeping my spirits up. You guys are the best! ~Jae
Spike watched as Buffy munched happily on her grape jelly toast, a smile curving his lips. Was it possible for her to get any more adorable?
“So, when’s your friend coming?” She asked, flipping through the paper for the horoscopes.
“’Bout ten.”
He had roped Angel in to helping them move today. It wasn’t hard since Angel owed him several favors and he was currently on the outs from his ladies. Apparently, they all found out about each other and had kicked his butt to the curb. Not that it would last long since Angel could charm the pants off of any female that had half an interest in him.
“Well, I’m done packing except for some stuff in the bathroom. So, it shouldn’t take long for me to get the rest in boxes,” she told him.
What had been a simple request to pack some of his things in the closet had turned into a full-blown pack job. He had never asked her to do it all, but one day he had come home to find everything in boxes. There was no doubt in his mind that she felt obligated to do it in return for allowing her to stay with him.
Which was complete bull because he had no intention of making her work for her room and board. He wanted her there, not needing anything in return but her sweet smile.
After their talk the other night, she had seemed happy and content. She didn’t realize, though, how hard it had been for him to admit that he cared for her. Thank God, she wasn’t trying to push for more like some women might have. He wasn’t ready to delve into those feelings quite yet.
It had been a long time since he’d even thought about love and even then it wasn’t in the context of a woman. Well, not a woman he would date anyway. Just before his mother had passed away, he had told her he loved her. That was the last time.
In any case, the women he dated weren’t looking for love. They wanted a wild night or cash or just a warm body to heat their cold hearts. He had been accused of using women, but the truth was, those women had been just as guilty as he was.
He could tell Buffy wanted to ask about them. Sometimes he would look over to find her staring at him with curious eyes. True to male form, he wasn’t going to volunteer the information. If she asked though, he would try to be as honest as possible. Some things she wouldn’t want to know even if she thought she did.
All he really wanted was a clean slate with her. A chance to be the man she needed, to be a good man who could love and care about her. Of course, that would take some work and a lot of trust on his part.
She would be so easy to love if he could just let himself.
“We should get a pet.”
Spike looked up from the newspaper, his coffee cup suspended inches away from his mouth. “A pet?”
She smiled brightly. “Yeah, you know, a kitten or a hamster named Bob.”
“How ’bout a fish?”
Her little nose scrunched up. “Eww! Fish are not cuddly, Spike.”
“If you want t’ cuddle with somethin’, you can cuddle with me.”
“But it’s not the same,” she pouted, her lower lip poking out.
He stared at it for a long time. Yep, he could feel his resolve slipping away. What was it about that pouty pink lip that made him lose all sensibility?
“We’ll see,” he finally said.
She bounced a little on her chair and Spike’s gaze was transfixed on her jumping bosom. The fact that she had no clue what she was doing made it even sexier.
Lately, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands away from himself. She was driving him crazy, but he needed to show her that he meant what he’d told her. It wasn’t just about sex, no matter how blue his balls were turning.
In the beginning, it hadn’t been so hard to control himself, but the biggest mistake he had made was touching her. After that, he couldn’t think of anything else, which had resulted in some pretty uncomfortable nights on the couch and many trips to the bathroom to ease the tension.
She had mentioned it before so she must have known what he was doing in there. It was probably part of the reason she had felt like she wasn’t pleasing him and had then tried to appease him by offering herself.
He wasn’t a strong man and he had almost given in to her proposal until he looked into those innocent hazel-green eyes. She wasn’t ready and to be honest, neither was he. Sure, in bed, he liked to think of himself as a sex god, a stud, and generally the best lay any woman had ever had, but with Buffy it was different.
Her first time should be special and he wanted to give her a night she would remember for the rest of her life. She was a virgin and Spike felt like a complete sod for even thinking about taking that away from her. But he wasn’t deluding himself. He wanted her, wanted to be her first and it would happen sooner or later. And when that time came, he wanted to show her the stars.
It was bloody crazy that she would have wormed her way into his heart so quickly, but he couldn’t deny that she was indeed there, filling him up with happiness and pride. Something he hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
“I wish you didn’t have to work tomorrow.”
She was frowning, that little crease appearing between her eyebrows. A little grape jelly was smudged on the corner of her mouth and he couldn’t help but to lean across the table and swipe it away with his thumb.
Suddenly, she grabbed his hand and brought his thumb to her lips. She licked the tip before sucking it into her warm, wet mouth.
“Buffy,” he hissed, closing his eyes at the wonderful feeling her tongue was making as she swirled it around his finger.
This was the first attempt she had made since the other night to do anything more than give him a chaste kiss. She had been shy around him the past couple of days, but it looked like she was working up her courage.
Bloody hell! Did she know what she was emulating? How it was making him think of her mouth on other parts of his body? From what little they had done, he would have to guess no. But she was doing a number on him despite the lack of experience.
“You taste salty,” she said, popping his thumb from her mouth.
“And you taste like tart apples.”
His darkened blue eyes were hooded as he touched her cheek with his fingertips. A shiver ran through her and she unconsciously leaned into his hand.
“What do you mean?” She felt stupid for asking, but she honestly didn’t know what he was talking about.
He cocked his head to one side. “You remember, don’t you? How I tasted you?”
What was he- ? Oh. Her eyes went wide when she remembered watching him in a lustful haze as he sucked his fingers into his mouth after he had touched her. The expression on his face had made her think of someone letting milk chocolate melt on their tongue, savoring the sweet taste.
Did she taste good? Or like…what had he said? Tart apples?
“Do all women taste the same?” What she really wanted to know, but was too afraid to ask, was had he tasted other women. Did he enjoy their taste too?
With a smirk, he let his tongue curl up behind his top teeth and shook his head. “Uh-uh. Never tasted anyone as good as you, pet.”
She wasn’t thrilled to find out there had been other women, but that was dulled by the comment he made about her taste.
“Do you like doing that?”
He sucked in a sharp breath as his smirk faded. “With you I would. I would love to taste you again.”
Somehow, she got the impression they weren’t talking about the same thing.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang and Buffy jumped a little. Spike glanced up at the clock and muttered something under his breath.
“Better go get dressed, kitten. That would be Angel,” he told her, getting up from his chair.
“Okay.” She stood up and started for the bedroom when Spike grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him.
“Forgetting something?”
His lips crashed into hers and she felt her knees go weak. An arm banded around her waist to hold her up as he plundered her mouth with his slick tongue. She moaned into his mouth and was rewarded with a squeeze to her buttock.
He released her, leaning in for one more brush against her lips. “Better go before I forget we have company.”
She nodded lamely, dazedly wandering off to the bedroom.
Wow.
Okay, that was a little caveman of him. It wasn’t as if he really believed that Angel would try anything or that Buffy would have any interest in the guy, but a little reminder of how he could make her feel could never hurt.
He watched her wobble into the bedroom and shut the door. Oh, yeah, she was all his.
Adjusting himself so his erection wasn’t quite as noticeable, he walked to the door and opened it.
“You’re early,” Spike said.
Angel raised an eyebrow. “And you’re complaining? Be glad I showed up at all.”
Spike let him in and shut the door.
“So, is this all the stuff you got?”
“Yeah, pretty much, ‘cept for the bed and some stuff from the bathroom,” Spike told him.
Angel nodded. “Shouldn’t take too long then.”
The bedroom door opened and Buffy emerged wearing a pair of tight pair of faded jeans and…Hey! Was that his Clash t-shirt?
“Hi,” she said shyly with a little wave.
“Well, hello, there. Spike didn’t tell me he had such a lovely roommate,” Angel replied, walking towards her, extending his hand. “I’m Angel.”
She took his hand and shook it. “I’m Buffy.”
“It’s an hon-”
“Can it, Don Juan.”
Angel turned around and glared at him. “Just sayin’ hello.”
“Well, go introduce yourself t’ some boxes,” Spike told him.
“Don’t mind him. He’s just pissed ‘cause I’m better lookin’ than he is,” Angel said to Buffy, who giggled a little.
After an hour, they had gotten most of the boxes moved into the new apartment and Angel and Spike were resting for a bit before trying to tackle the furniture.
“So, is she the reason why you’ve been acting so weird?” Angel asked, taking a drink of his Heineken.
“What? I haven’t been acting weird.”
Angel laughed. “Right. That’s why you’ve turned every girl at the bar down when they feel like taking you out for a test drive. C’mon, Spike, I know you too well for this bullshit.”
Buffy was setting boxes in their corresponding room and Spike felt himself smile. She was the reason he was different. Made him want to be a better man, set himself straight.
“She’s special, mate.”
“I can see that,” Angel replied.
At that, Spike shot him a black look. “You better just-”
“Hey!” Angel threw his hands up in defense. “Wasn’t trying to sniff in your territory, brother, just making a comment.”
Spike made himself relax. He had known Angel a long time and not once had the man tried to get involved with someone Spike was interested in. There was no reason to think any different now.
But there was something about Buffy that made him want to lock her away so he wouldn’t have to share her with anyone else. All rational thought usually left when he felt someone was trying to steal her attention away or worse.
“Anya said you were dating someone. That her?”
Spike’s brows went together. “What did she tell you?”
“Not much. Just that you had a girlfriend now and that she was sweet,” Angel told him, then shrugged. “You know how she is.”
“Yeah, I do.”
He was going to need to have a little conversation with Mrs. Harris. It didn’t bother him that she had told Angel since Spike probably would have told him eventually anyway. What bothered him was that Buffy was in a precarious position with her father out there looking for her and the more people Anya opened her mouth to, the more likely it would get back to Buffy’s father.
“So, is she?”
Spike nodded slowly.
“Then why are you moving into a bigger apartment? The other one was big enough for the both of you.”
“It’s complicated.” Spike ran a hand through his hair. Should he tell Angel? Would he understand?
“I can see that. How old is she?”
Spike quickly turned to him. “Sixteen. How did you-”
“Give me a break, Spike.” Angel rolled his eyes. “I’ve been a bartender for seven years. I can spot an underager at fifty paces.”
He couldn’t do anything but stare at the guy. “And…?”
“And what? If you’re waiting for me to tell you that it’s wrong, I wouldn’t hold your breath. I know my name is Angel, but you know as well as I do that I’m far from being one.”
“Thanks,” Spike muttered, looking down at his boots.
Angel slapped him on the back. “No problem. Besides, if you are serious about her, she must be something special. And sixteen or not, that’s still hard to come by.”
Glancing up to where Buffy was, he felt his chest tighten. “I know.”