Chapter 20 – Making Plans
Why wouldn’t they shut up? They were all yammering away, trying to decide how to fix the debacle of Xander’s little game. Giles had shown up with Jenny, and shortly after Cordelia arrived to join in the scheming. All they were doing was arguing back and forth over whose fault it was, and why did he have to marry such a naïve young girl. Spike held his head between his hands and stared at the floor, wishing he could tune them out.
It wasn’t any of their business. He was tired of it. Just like he’d told Xander. He didn’t want the drama and flash anymore. The only thing he wanted was to love Buffy, and to write, but the past wouldn’t let go of him. These people in his living room knew way too much, and they all felt it was their duty to keep him out of trouble. After all, they did it during his marriage to Drusilla, and even after her death. They thought it was the right thing to do, but he didn’t feel that way anymore.
Someone sat next to him on the couch, and he knew it was Buffy. Sweet, innocent Buffy who wanted ice cream on their first date instead of wine, who’d never really enjoyed carnal pleasures before him, and who once thought he was her prince. Not anymore. He could see her eyes change from the bright emerald of innocence to the dark green of jade just a little more everyday. In his selfish desire to warm himself in her orbit, he’d blocked her light instead. She rubbed his back and leaned against him.
“I love you,” she whispered. “It’ll be all right.”
It wouldn’t though. How could it? The press wouldn’t let go of it. It was too similar to Drusilla’s affairs for them not to make the comparison and to speculate on it for weeks. What had Xander been thinking? Did he really think that Spike would look the other way for Xander to fuck Buffy? Maybe Xander was trying to remind him of their past and to make sure that Spike knew better than to change the status quo among their group?
It had been foolish for him to think they’d let him get away. Spider webs were a lot stronger than they looked and theirs had been years in the making. It connected them all in its sticky design. Spike rocked for a second trying to decide what to do. He sniffled and opened his eyes. There had to be something he could do to make this right, for him and for her. It was Buffy who was going to be splashed across the pages of the gossip rags. She didn’t deserve to have her reputation ruined because Xander was trying to hold onto something that didn’t exist anymore.
“Stop it,” Spike said, and then realized he’d whispered it. He stood up. “Would you all shut your traps for two seconds?”
This time they listened to him and the room fell silent. He almost smiled, but then realized their reaction was from shock. Since Drusilla died, Spike pretty much just followed the advice given to him, and lived life as far on the edge as he could without falling off. Or letting the world know he was there. Image was everything in Hollywood, and you had to at least pretend to play her way to get anywhere.
Spike reached down to pull Buffy up beside him. He slipped his arm around her, tucking her close beside him. “Xander, don’t you ever pull a stunt like this again. I think I know what you were trying to do, but it’s not going to work. I’m married to this woman, and I intend to stay married to her despite what any of you think. So, back off and leave us the fuck alone.”
“We can’t. Not if you want to continue to have a career,” Giles said. “The publishing company has said to proceed on the book as you see fit. You need to do the final rewrites on it, and start on the script negotiations. Bad publicity could ruin everything now.”
“Blame Xander,” Cordelia bit out as she crossed her arms, and plopped on the couch. She crossed her legs so one foot could swing. She was pissed. “It’s not just Spike you fucked over, but us as well. God damn it. You’re contract is in negotiations for next season plus the fucking movie of the week. What the hell were you thinking?”
Xander only shrugged and turned to sit on the edge of a chair on the far side of the room. He was putting on a great act of being remorseful, but Spike knew it was only that. An act. His friend never did anything in innocence. Xander carried around a lot of bitterness from his past. It made him a master of emotional manipulation, and hence a great actor. It was all about power. If Spike chose Buffy over their friendship, then Xander wasn’t the one pulling Spike’s strings anymore. It was something Xander couldn’t take.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Giles said, pinching the top of his nose. “Nor who to blame. It’s done, and we need to figure out how to fix it.”
“Do we issue a statement?” Jenny asked, joining Cordelia on the couch. “Maybe announcing the book and movie information to distract them.”
Spike felt Buffy slip away from him. He wondered why she was leaving him, and he stared after her as she headed for the family room. Her absence kept him from hearing Giles argue against the ability of a statement to counteract the too juicy gossip of Buffy cheating on him. There was a momentary lull in the arguments when Buffy returned. Clutched against her chest was one of the very magazines that were making his life a living hell at the moment. There was a hint of triumph in the bashful look she gave him.
“Look,” Buffy said, handing him the magazine. She pointed to two pictures of Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. He sighed, not following her and was ready to put the magazine down. “Read it, William. If pictures can tell one story then why can’t we have them tell another?”
He quickly scanned the captions describing the different levels of their relationship. One was of them fighting six months ago, and a more recent photo of them declared them back in love. He still wasn’t sure what Buffy was intending. His brows furrowed as he looked back up at her, trying to figure out what she meant. She grinned at him as he if was slow.
“If the photos taken of Xander and I are telling the story that you and I are breaking up,” Buffy said. She glanced at the others in the room. Her self-consciousness evident as her words cracked when she continued. “Why don’t you and I go out tonight and show the world how much in love we are?”
“They’ll think you’re doing exactly that,” Cordelia said. “And that it’s all an act.” She rolled her eyes. “So, next plan.”
“Wait a minute,” Jenny said, leaning forward. “Not if they have a reason for going out. We issue a press release on the contract Spike signed this afternoon, and they’re out celebrating.”
“It might just work,” Giles said. “Very good, Buffy. Now, let’s get this in motion.”
Giles started issuing orders to get everything in place for the evening, but Spike tuned him out again. The only thing that captured his attention was his wife. He pulled her against him, inhaling her scent, as he kissed her forehead.
“Don’t ever give up on me, Buffy,” he whispered so that only she could hear him.
“Never,” she vowed, squeezing him.
And he dared to believe that she would always be there.
~~~~~~
Everything was perfect so far. The plan was working like clockwork. David’s office issued the Press Release as requested. They didn’t want any bad publicity either, not when they were willing to invest millions to put the Galaxy trilogy onto the screen. A reservation was made for a table in the main dining room of Morton’s. All the better to be seen and gossiped about.
Spike was dressed in distressed jeans and a Just Cavalli Textured Stripe shirt, while Buffy was wearing a Robert Cavalli black, figure-hugging dress with a broach at the neck. It was oriental in design, and was both sophisticated and feminine. They made a striking couple as they stepped out of the Porsche. Buffy smoothed down her skirt while Spike handled the valet. She glanced around, noting the paparazzi across the street, and smiled in satisfaction. There had been rumors of Jennifer Lopez holding a private dinner party tonight at the restaurant, thus ensuring many reporters would be hanging around.
“You ready, baby?” Spike asked, slipping his arm around her waist.
One of the photographers yelled something to get their attention. Buffy nodded to Spike, and in unison, they turned toward the cameras. They smiled, waved, and then kissed before making their way inside. Dinner was just the beginning, afterwards they were going to go club hopping to ensure there was lots of time for them to show the world just how much in love they were.
It wouldn’t be hard. Not for Buffy anyway. She was deeply in love with her husband, and just hated the games that were a part of his life. All she’d done was go shopping with her husband’s friend and now she was trying to prove to the world that she was faithful. They were shown to a circular booth in the main dining room. The host pulled the table out so they could sit beside one another with their backs against the wall. It was perfect. They could see everyone, and be seen by everyone.
“We’re not going to order alcohol,” Spike whispered. “You’re underage, and…”
“We need to make me as pristine as possible,” Buffy responded with a smile. She covered his hand on the tabletop with her own. “It’s fine, Will. I’m just sorry that…”
“No,” he silenced her with a kiss. “It’s over with, and we’re moving forward. Lot’s of promise in our future and we’re going to make the most of it.”
“Yes, we are,” Buffy promised, nuzzling his face. “I do love you so much.”
Their server interrupted them by coughing discreetly, and smiling at them. “I do apologize for interrupting, but may I get you a cocktail?”
“Just an iced tea for me,” Buffy replied.
“The same for me,” Spike added. “We’re celebrating,” he laughed at the perplexed look on the waiter’s face. “Long story, mate. Tea is fine. Thank you.”
“You’re a dork,” Buffy teased. It felt good to be with William when he was in this mood. It reminded her of the first days when they returned from Las Vegas. He could be funny in a dark humor sort of way, but it wasn’t something he showed a lot. She wondered if he could be like this more often if he lost the binds to his past.
“Women like dorks,” Will said, putting his arm on the back of the booth. “It makes them feel superior to us mere mortals of men.”
“You a mere mortal…never,” she declared. “You are a god among men.”
The arrival of their drinks interrupted their conversation. The waiter then gave them the presentation of the menu options, so by the time they were alone again they’d lost the thread of teasing. It disappointed Buffy. Everything had been on edge between them since the party where William had met David. She often wished they could be alone together somewhere, but now with the contract and the book compromise, Spike was going to be busier than ever.
“Don’t pout,” William said, leaning his forehead against hers. “You’re my lady, and I love you with all of my soul. Be happy with me…even if only for tonight.”
Buffy smiled, and then kissed him. “I’m always happy when I’m with you.”
Five hours later she was doing everything she could to prove it to him. He was lying beneath her while she straddled him. Her hands held him down by his forearms while she slowly rode him. His cock, hard on desire and love only, thrust deep inside of her body. They locked eyes as they became lost in the haze of their fucking.
“Do you like this?” Buffy asked, grinding down on him, taking everything including the air from between them. She threw her head back without waiting for a reply. This was her show. Her trip, and she was taking it as far as she could. She froze when she felt him quiver. Not yet. She wanted to take it longer than they ever had before. “No, I’m not ready,” she whispered, staring back down at him. “You’re mine…always mine.”
“Yes, yours,” Spike declared, surrendering to her mastery. “No one else matters…forever.”
There was no one but them left in the world, and it was the way they both wanted it. Buffy swore she would do whatever it took to keep them that way.
to be continued…
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