Upon being questioned about her living arrangements, Buffy gave Angel the shortened version of the story over dinner, earning her his sympathy and even an offer to help her find a place of her own. She just shook her head, saying she had her own plan in place but thanked him anyway.
Their date was a pleasant one with Angel being the perfect gentleman… polite, amiable, interested in everything she talked about and more than happy to answer questions directed at him. She avoided - despite her curiosity - asking him the reason why there seemed to be such animosity between him and Spike, figuring if it were important enough he’d bring it up himself, which he didn’t. That told her it must be something which existed only in Spike’s twisted sense of reality.
All in all, she had a surprisingly wonderful time and basked in the attention Angel paid her, adoring the occasional blush of shyness accompanied with that wonderful smile of his.
And while Angel was admittedly enjoying himself as well, it became obvious to him exactly what kind of girl Buffy was and how much work it was going to take to bed her. But the satisfaction he’d get from having bragging rights and being one up on William - given the fact he ‘lived’ with Buffy - would be like winning an Olympic gold medal on enemy turf and crowned the undisputed champion.
Like William, he wasn’t used to, nor liked, waiting around for a girl. But as he quickly calculated the cost analysis in his mind, he smiled… A few dinners at New York’s finest restaurants, twelve hundred dollars, some flowers for Valentine’s day, two hundred fifty, a gold Claddagh ring as a gesture of devotion, an easy grand, the chance to rub it in William’s face that he’d pounded his roommate into his mattress every time he saw him… priceless!!!
~~~*~~~
Spike spent less than two hours over at the brunette’s place and left the second he was through with her… disgusted with himself. He really thought it would make him feel better, that sex would provide him with the distraction he so desperately needed. But aside from his release, the pleasure had been all one sided… and it hadn’t been his.
All he could think about during the physical act itself was Buffy, and he chastised himself whenever he closed his eyes for picturing the blonde beneath him instead of the brown haired girl. It hadn’t worked out very well. The sound of her voice, the differences in her anatomy, her reactions… they were all wrong. Even if he didn’t know what Buffy was like in bed, he was positive it had to be ten times better than what he’d experienced tonight, just because it’d be her. And after coming back home, he couldn’t help but think what a waste of time it had been. Should’ve jus’ stayed home and had a good wank. At least whenever he did that while fantasizing about his roommate, his orgasms were that much harder, better, satisfying...
Now, here he sat on the couch, drumming his fingers agitatedly while trying to focus on the telly, feeling like a father who was waiting up for his little girl to come home to make sure her virtue hadn’t been sullied.
~~~*~~~
As Angel walked Buffy down the hall to her door, he slid into a coy mode when asking if he could take her out again, grinning when she said ‘yes’. They chatted for a bit, Angel making a few jokes before he was finally out of things to say. And as risky as he knew it was given the type of woman she was, he leaned forward to try for a goodnight kiss but she backed away, apologizing that she just wasn’t comfortable enough with him for that yet.
Spike heard them outside in the hallway, giggling away like a couple of teenagers, making him sick to his stomach. This went on for a number of minutes before he couldn’t stand it any longer. With his brain short circuited and his legs on auto-pilot, he marched to the door and flung it open, startling the couple.
“Spike,” Buffy gasped before expressing her annoyance. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Awwww, isn’t that sweet?” Angel feigned in a sugary tone. “I’m sure he’s just being protective of you, that’s all. And as you can see, I brought her back safely and in one piece.” Though he couldn’t resist shooting Spike an evil sneer from behind Buffy’s back.
“I don’t need any protecting. I happen to have a black belt that Spike can personally attest to,” she fumed, glaring at the platinum menace.
“Wow!” Angel responded with surprise. “Not only brains and beauty but brawn as well? Spike, my boy, you never told me what a true gem she is.”
“And now that you know… say goodnight,” he growled, grabbing Buffy’s arm and hauling her inside, slamming the door shut on Angelus before he could feed her another contrived line while giving Spike a look sure to earn the poofter a punch in the face Buffy wouldn’t appreciate being witness to.
“William Giles! Take your hand off me this instant!!! Who do you think you are, my father?”
“If I were your father, you’d find yourself over my knee right now.” Oh dear, that conjured up a slightly more perverse fantasy… spanking her bare arse red while she pleaded for ‘daddy’ to stop and make it better. He had to fight his body’s reaction to that particular scenario when imagining several cute little outfits she’d looked amazing in as he doled out her punishment right before he got to…
She yanked herself from out of his grip and got right in his face, her tone more menacing than a demon’s. “I don’t know what your problem is but rest assured you’ll be sorry if you ever do that again.”
“Again? Again?!?! Please tell me you’re not goin’ out with him a second time.”
“Not that it’s any of your concern, but yes, I am.” Backing away from him, she took her coat off and headed towards the hall, signaling this discussion was over. But did he stop his little tirade, was he through with her yet, would he let her walk away without giving her another piece of his mind?
Nope!
“Why, after nine soddin’ years do you suddenly decide to start datin’ again anyway?”
Turning around she answered him as best she could - with a half truth - so as not to infuriate him further by explaining how nice she found Angel, given Spike’s hatred for the man. “Well, I thought about our conversation when we were looking through my photo album and decided maybe it is time I got back out there. So what?” She threw her arms up in the air, not understanding why it was such a big deal to him. “I would think you’d be happy for me.”
“I would be happy if it were anyone but him.” Okay, that was a total bloody lie, but if the truth were to come out of his mouth, well… “Did you sleep with him?” Deep down he knew she couldn’t have, wouldn’t have, didn’t. But he had to know for certain, had to just in case, so that the next time he saw Angelus, the homicide he’d be committing would be justifiable.
“Uh,” she huffed. “I told you I wouldn’t. And as a matter of fact, I didn’t even allow him to kiss me goodnight when he tried.” Shit! Furious that she defended herself in the first place or answered him at all - and with that bit of extra information - when it was so not his business, she stomped angrily back to stand in front of him again, her agitated state getting the better of her as she raised her voice. “What’s wrong with Angel anyway, hmm?”
“Everything!” he shouted back.
“Pfft, like you’re perfect? I can smell the cheap perfume radiating off your clothes so don’t even act like you went out on a respectable date like I did.”
“`M still a better man than he is.”
“Oh, so I suppose I should be dating you then?” she laid the sarcasm on thick.
Exactly! Wait, no… he didn’t ‘date’.
She tilted her head as if deep in thought then came back at him with a seriously low blow. “At twenty three years of age you’re hardly a man and I’m so not into cradle robbing.”
“Oi! I’ll have you know I’ll be twenty four this March and you’re only six years olde-”
“Sorry, Spike, but there’s no substitution for the maturity gained through experience that comes with age. And right now? You’re acting more like a jealous sixteen year old.”
“Arghh!” He threw his head back to scream at the ceiling. “What the bleeding hell is wrong with you, woman? If you gave me chance, jus’ one chance I’d prove to you how much of a man I am.” He stepped in closer to her, a hair’s breath away from her face, lowering his voice in sharp contrast to his outburst but a second ago. “Jus’ ... give me somethin’ ... a crumb ... a barest smidgen ... tell me ... maybe someday, there's a chance.”
“Spike,” she whispered seductively, right before she leveled him with an icy glare. “The only chance you stood with me is when I was drunk and unconscious.”
He genuinely started chuckling in amusement and before long began a full out fit of hysterical laughter. This tipped the needle way past bizarre on her weird-o-meter, it was down right disturbing.
“Have you gone completely insane?” she asked, taking a few steps away from him. “Is this the part where you pull a knife and go all Norman Bates on me or something, cuz a little warning here would be nice.”
He shook his head, still laughing away while pointing at her and then back at himself until finally, Buffy couldn’t help but start giggling herself, unsure why, but the sound of it became infectious.
After calming down a bit, he finally admitted, “I would never take advantage of you drunk, pet. Never without obtainin’ your sober consent first, I swear. And as bloody frustratin’ as you are, I jus’ can’ be mad at you, don’ want you mad at me either.” He straightened himself up mentally, exhaling as he told her, “I was… worried. Tha’s all.”
“About what?”
How to put it without revealing too much, that was the task. “Angelus and I have… history. It ain’ pretty and I… I jus’ worry `bout you.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets, feeling nervous about confessing that he cared. “`S not a crime, is it?”
“No,” she sighed, pursing her lips. “No, I suppose it isn’t. But in the future, do you think you could make a little less with the ‘grrrr’? Cuz, kinda scary there.” After chuckling at her question, he gave her the softest smile she’d ever seen him wear as he tilted his head slightly to one side.
“Can’ make any promises other than I’ll try. But if he so much as mistreats a single blonde hair on your head…” he said seriously, not even wanting to finish that sentence.
“I suppose I should feel flattered that I have you to protect me. Or is it that you are jealous?”
And with no compunction whatsoever, he told her the truth… in a way. “You’re my roommate, my employee and can I help it that you also happen to be the most desirable woman I’ve ever met?”
She tried to shake off how stunned she was by what he’d just said, coming back at him with the first thing that popped into her mind. “You’re never going to quit, are you?”
“The truth?” He shook his head. “No.”
“What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sex?” And oh my God could I get anymore personal? But it was a good sign to see him actually contemplate the question. Not so good when he answered, however.
“Two weeks.” An incredulous look swept over her features. “A campin’ trip I took with a group of friends years ago. All men. So yeah, two weeks.” A disgusted expression quickly replaced her previous one. “What?”
“Ewww! You’re so-so... used.” His twisted laughter didn’t come as a shock. He didn’t even possess the decency to be insulted.
“Not used, luv. Experienced.”
“Ughh. You’re nothing more than damaged goods to me.”
Closing the distance between them, he curled his tongue behind his teeth, leering with self confidence. “But they’re goods nonetheless. Said so yourself.” He passed a hand slowly down his abdomen to rest on his groin, fingers spread wide.
“Whatever.” God, she hated it when he came so near to her, when he touched himself like that, when he made those unbelievably sexy expressions, when his voice took on that low, seductive tone that was his and his alone, rendering her body immobile as if by magic... And didn’t he deepen the spell by leaning in to brush his lips against the shell of her ear, purring as he spoke?
“Bet I could make you scream.”
That snapped her out of it and she swiftly pulled back in order to face him eye to eye. “Right before I run maybe.” His smirk infuriated her but that took a backseat to panic when he cupped her chin and brought his lips within millimeters of hers.
“I must confess, pet.” With his other hand, he brushed the backs of his knuckles down her cheek, pleased when she closed her eyes against the intimate touch. “I love the chase you’re givin’ me.” Lifting her lids, she slowly leaned towards him, closer, glancing back and forth between his lips and eyes, making his cock impossibly hard. He tilted his head in anticipation, could almost taste her sweetness.
Right before his efforts came crashing down on him like a ton of bricks.
“I’m glad to hear you enjoy running,” she whispered, then backed away and raised her voice to speak normally. “Because that’s all you’re ever going to do when it comes to me.” Giving him a quick wink after glancing at his crotch, she added, “No hard feelings… pet!”
To his painful dismay, she walked away and never looked back as she went to her room. What he didn’t know, was the bout of hyperventilation that racked her lungs as she leaned her back against the door the second she closed it behind her.
~~~*~~~
Tuesday………
Spike didn’t hesitate to go down and pay Angelus a personal visit. True, he couldn’t prevent Buffy from going out with the git, but he’d be bloody well damned if he didn’t tell him what would happen if he hurt his girl, er, roommate.
As soon as he came near the opened door to Captain Forehead’s office, a familiar irritating voice called out to him from his left.
“Where’ve you been, Blondie bear? I’ve missed you and you haven’t called me.”
Rolling his eyes before facing the delusional twit, he gave it to her straight like he did the night she was over at his place. “Harm. Do be a good girl and learn that when a man says `s been fun but you can leave now, he means don’ come back.” He ignored her indignant outburst of ‘jerk’ and walked straight towards Angelus.
“Willy-boy. I see you’ve been helping yourself to my sloppy seconds.”
Spike’s eyes widened. “You shagged that brainless… never mind-” he shook his head. “-`course you did.”
“And to what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit from you?” He watched the other man close the door before coming to sit in the chair across from his desk, facing him.
“No pleasure to be had, `specially on your end when it comes to Buffy,” he said gruffly.
“Ahh. I see. You’re here to protect her honor then?”
“Matter of fact, tha’s exactly what it is.” And it was. To him, it didn’t matter if he never slept with her, just so long as Angelus didn’t deceive her with his slippery methods and soil her with his grimy paws.
“See, I don’t believe you,” he began smugly while scratching his chin. “I think you’re here to try and frighten me away so you can keep her all to yourself. Which of course is laughable in itself.”
“`S not it, mate. You don’ know Buffy. Not like I do. And I don’ wanna see her hurt by the likes of you.”
“By the likes of me? Aha-ha-ha-ha-ha. As if I’m going to believe that shite coming out of the mouth of a man who’s slept with almost as many women as I have, and I do emphasize almost. I’ll tell ya what I think. I think what’s really burning your arse is the fact I’m going to have that sweet little piece wriggling in my bed sheets before you do, and all while she’s rejecting you under your own roof. But as always-” he swept an arrogant hand outward. “-you’re welcome to my leftovers.”
It took all of Spike’s mental restraint not to jump across the desk and beat the living daylights out of the wanker for talking about her like she was nothing. The fact they were here at work became the only reason holding him back. “You listen to me good, Buffy deserves better than you and I’ll be the one who-”
The door suddenly opened, one of Angelus’ associates entering with her arms full of papers.
“I brought the files and marketing projections you asked for Mr. O’Con-oh! I’m sorry, am I interrupting a meeting?”
“Not at all, not at all,” Angelus answered cheerfully. “Have a seat, Janet, William here was just leaving.”
Spike didn't say a word, simply got up and left, too furious with Angelus’ dismissal of him and feeling as if steam were about to pour out from his ears like some Warner Brothers cartoon character.
A thousand thoughts, emotions were swirling like a tornado in his head, each conflicting with the other, baffling him. One was pure rage directed towards Angelus but the rest focused on Buffy, the protectiveness he felt towards her, the possessiveness, his desire to make her his yet not wanting any harm to befall her. The tears he’d seen her cry on the day they moved in together nearly tore him in two. How would he handle it if they reappeared by Angelus’ hand or worse… his own? Sure, he was still intent on having her but what about afterwards? There’d never been an ‘afterwards’ in his life when it came to women. He stayed away from anything that resembled a relationship and yet he knew Buffy wasn’t ‘one night stand’ material. She was the complete opposite, the type of girl a man could care for, would be proud to bring home to his family. If he could just pinpoint the exact cause of the distraught he felt right now he’d… what, admit you’re jealous?
Turning the knob to his office, he couldn’t even remember how he got here he was so absorbed in his thoughts during the trip back. But as the door swung open and Buffy looked up to smile at him, the turbulent winds of his confusion died down, lulled by the beauty of her face.
“Hi.”
“`Lo, luv. Whatcha up to?”
“Ughh. In order to get properly prepared for our meeting this afternoon, I’m going to have to work through lunch. So I’m ordering in for some Thai food. You want any?”
Shocked but pleased, he had to ask, with a smirk thrown in for good measure, “Wouldn’ that be breakin’ your rule of not havin’ lunch with a male co-worker, pet?”
Rolling her eyes, she informed him of the way she saw it. “It’s eating while working, so it doesn’t qualify. Hey, all I did was offer. But if you have other plans I underst-”
“No-no-no,” he interrupted her quickly. No way was he going to let this opportunity pass him by. “No plans. `M happy to stay... and help, too. Can’ have you doin’ all the work when you’re the best partner I’ve ever had, right?" She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him.
“I’m the only partner you’ve ever had, though I think you refer to me as your assistant.”
“Don’ see you like that anymore, honestly. I found the best and intend on keepin’ you.” Way to Freudian slip there, mate. He really hoped she didn’t misinterpret that. It just flew out of his mouth before he even thought about it.
“Really?” That was almost… sweet of him to say.
“Yeah… really.” Smiling, he handed her the phone and told her he’d have the same as her.
Inside, he was thrilled just to be having lunch with her, even if it was under her terms as she defined it.
