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Chapter 26


A cool winter breeze brushed against Buffy’s burning cheeks as she and Spike walked down the deserted sidewalk.


“You’re such a pig,” she muttered, still blushing from his early remark.


“I was just pointing out your talents, luv. God, the thing you do with your--”


“Look!” Buffy giggled nervously as an elderly lady, walking a dog, passed them by with a scowl on her face. Letting out a sigh of relief at averting one of Spike’s naughty comments offending the Sunnydale citizens, Buffy smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “You’re so evil.”


Spike just chuckled and threw his arm around her shoulders, leaning in to nuzzle her cheek. “What can I say? You bring out the animal in me. Plus, love seeing you blush… makes me feel all manly.”


“You’re plenty manly even without that.”


“Am I?” Spike drawled and bit the bottom of his lip as he glanced at her with those bedroom eyes.


“Mmm… maybe.”


She giggled as he suddenly stopped and slammed her against the nearest tree. “Now that you have me trapped, what are you planning on doing to me?”


Spike leered and pressed his body against hers, his presence alone warming her up beneath the coat she was wearing. “Why, kitten? Expecting me to ravish you, are you?”


Buffy lifted her arms and caressed his cheeks, grinning when Spike closed his eyes and purred in contentment. “Nope. Unless you want your manly bits to freeze and fall off.”


Spike’s eyes snapped open and glowered at her, trying to appear offended. “My balls are made of steel, woman. Takes a lot more than a slight chill to make me a eunuch.” He wrinkled his nose at the thought and adjusted the hat on her head.


“I still think you should have worn something warmer than the duster. I know it’s all sexy and stuff, but you must be cold.”


“Nah. Doesn’t bother me. I’m not a sissy when it comes to a slight chill as you Californian folks. And there’s no way you’d make me wear that poncy turtleneck.”


“Hey, we’re not… that weird British word! And I’ll have you know that that turtleneck brings out the colour of your eyes. Plus, it was you who made me wear the hat… and the shawl.” Buffy lifted her chin as she stared at him haughtily.


He chuckled and leaned in to steal a kiss from her lips. “I told you, sweetheart. No patrolling unless you gear up. Don’t fancy taking on a grumpy sick slayer.”


“I look like an Eskimo! And slayers don’t get sick… I think,” Buffy said with a pout.


“Let’s not test that theory. Want you all healthy so I can shag you until you can’t walk.” Spike stepped away and took her glove-covered hand while he grinned.


Buffy snorted at his remark and walked beside him towards the nearest cemetery. “How very chivalrous of you.”


“Bloody better believe it.”


******


Spike sat on the top of a headstone, blowing out a puff of smoke as he watched Buffy kick some demon ass. The poor sod was obviously a fledgling, fumbling and graceless as he tried to unsuccessfully dodge Buffy’s attack. She-- on the other hand-- was beautiful. Undiluted poetry in motion. Sleek and lethal as she kicked and punched the vampire without reserve. Playing with him. Asserting her role of predator.


The cigarette cinder fluttered on the breeze as he inhaled more nicotine and watched Buffy kick out the legs of the fledgling from underneath him, ramming the stake straight into his heart. She twirled her stake and put it back into her pocket as she approached him with a grin on her face.


“Had fun?” he asked.


“You know… I did. I think I’ve missed slaying more than I thought I would.”


“You were magnificent.” Spike flicked away the cigarette and rose from the tombstone, fingering the lapels of Buffy’s coat.


“I could feel you watching me,” she said.

“Yeah?”


“Mmhm. Made me feel all tingly.” She buried her head in his chest as she encircled his waist, her hot breath searing Spike through the cotton of his t-shirt.


“Too bad I can’t do anything about it right now. Could do with a bit of rough and tumble.” He waggled his eyebrows, making Buffy laugh.


“Seriously, Spike. I swear your mind is constantly in the gutter. We have a couple more cemeteries to cover and then I’m all yours.”


Spike groaned. “You’re a right tease, you know that? Get a bloke all worked up and then crush his hopes.”


“Restfield it is,” she said.


******


Spike turned in a swirl of black leather as he kicked a vampire in the chest.


“Traitor! Killing your own kind. You’re gonna pay for this!” The vampire snarled as he sprang back to his feet, immediately receiving a punch to his face for his effort.


“Never been one to follow the rules, mate.” Spike leapt at the vampire, tackling him to the ground and straddling his chest while punching his face in quick succession.


The vampire growled and tried to break free but Spike had the leverage and skills that the other vampire lacked. Spike glanced at Buffy out of the corner of his eye to check if she was all right and whipped out a stake from his boot to plunge it into the vampire’s chest.


Just as he was about to stand up, he saw the vampire Buffy was fighting get in a cheap shot and manage to lift her in his arms high above his head, flinging her into a tombstone.


“Buffy!” Spike called out and sent the stake in his hand spiraling into the distracted vampire’s back. His dust didn’t have a chance to settle on the damp grass before Spike was kneeling next to Buffy, brushing hair away from her face.


“You alright?” He peered at her, his eyes darkening with worry as he took in her pained expression.


“I’ll be fine. Once I actually manage to move,” she said with a gasp and winced when the nerve endings in her back screamed at her attempt to sit up.


Spike pushed at her shoulders and said: “Stay down, luv. Don’t want you to aggravate the injury. I knew this wasn’t a good idea.”


“He just got lucky. Good thing I have you, right?”


“Buffy-”


“I’m alright. Don’t worry. Just give me a sec.” Buffy breathed deeply, trying to ignore the stabbing pain from the small of her back where she’d hit the headstone. She glanced at Spike, his eyes concerned and so very blue it made her feel better just looking into them.


She grasped his forearm and rose, suppressing a wince as she smiled tightly at him. “See? No problem. All’s good.”


Hearing her exhale heavily, Spike frowned. “Let me carry you, luv.”


“Don’t be silly. It barely even hurts. Slayer healing is all part of the package, you know.” Buffy started to walk, suppressing the urge to rub at her sore back and groan, not wanting to alert Spike to the her still present pain. She was pretty sure she heard something crack when she fell, but she would heal in no time so there was no need to worry Spike further.


“I can feel your pain, and I know you can walk on your own, but it wouldn’t kill you to let me help you.”


“See me with the walking? Don’t worry. Besides, home’s not that far anyway.”


“Why do you have to be so bloody stubborn?”


Spike moved behind her and swiftly picked her up, ignoring her protests and huff of irritation. .

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said and sighed in resignation, leaning her head against his neck.


“You should know by now that I hardly mind.”


“I know, but still… thank you.” Buffy encircled his neck with her arms. “You’re the best boyfriend ever.”


Spike smiled at the label, ignoring the passing scenery as he quickly strode towards home.


An owl hooted somewhere in the distance. Music blared from the car passing them by and the wind stirred the leaves somewhere behind him. Buffy’s warm breath tickled his neck and Spike tightened his hold on her.


“Feel better?” he asked and gazed down at her closed eyes.


“Yes. I think I’ll hire you as my personal carrier… I’m too comfy to walk… you’re just going to have to carry me like this forever.” She smiled and kissed the side of his neck, eliciting a shiver.


“I think I can live with that. Anything else to service you, princess?”


“I wouldn’t complain if you wanted to give me massage when we get home.” She batted her eyelashes at him and Spike chuckled with that sexy throaty laugh that made her insides melt.


“You got it. Gonna make you--”


“Hey!” someone called from behind them, and Spike glanced over his shoulder.


“Spike?” the person asked, and hurried to catch up to them. “Is that you?”


Spike growled when he identified the person as one of his kind. “Do we know each other?”


“No, but I have message for you. Stop with the mercenary gig or you’re gonna pay. And that little human of yours just might happen to take the brunt of it.”


Spike stopped in his tracks and swirled to face the leering demon. “Are you threatening me?” he asked, gently putting Buffy down as he faced the vampire.


“Hey, I’m just a messenger.”


“Oh yeah? Tell whoever sent you they can go fuck themselves. I don’t deal with pathetic minions. If they got something to say, let them say it.”


“Well… about that…” the vampire smirked as dozen other vampires emerged from the shadows of the night, surrounding them. A man stepped out from the circle, approaching Spike and Buffy with careless leisure in his step, his green eyes glittering with cold detachment.


The sight of the man niggled at the back of Spike’s mind. He knew this man, had seen him before. Now only if he could place the face. He felt Buffy stiffen next to him, trembling so hard it made his skin vibrate. He glanced down at her pale face in confusion and was just about to ask her what was wrong when the well dressed man spoke.


“Well, if it isn’t Miss Summers. Here I naively thought you were long dead. How have you been, Sunshine?” The man caressed the fabric of his expensive suit. “Missed me?”


TBC


Author's note: There's only one chapter to go. I hope I won't leave you hanging for long, but just so you know... reviews can prompt me to write the chapter instead of the law essay I'm supposed to be writing. *winks*