Chapter 9


Buffy shot to her feet. “I’m hungry!”


Hungry, was she? Spike snorted. “So about that wax thing…”


“No! There will be no… no wax watching or showing!”


“So you are all… smooth, I gather.”


“Spike!” Now she was really blushing and all the talk was making her uncomfortable. His deep chuckle didn’t help her situation at all. One glance at his soft lips and she turned on her heel, marching away. Or she would if she didn’t slam face first into the barrier. “Ow.”


“Come on, luv. No need to hurt yourself because I’m so damn irresistible.”


Did he really have the audacity to tease her like this and be actually right? Oh yes, he did. She could hear the infamous smirk in his tone. Well, let Spike get a taste of his own medicine. See how much he liked it.


Buffy suppressed her own devious smile as she turned to face him, her eyes smoldering as she stepped between his parted knees and leaned down. Spike’s eyes widened as her palms dropped to his thighs, squeezing the tight muscles. Her hair brushed his face as she whispered into his ear.


“You’re all talk.”


She didn’t even have a second to react before Spike yanked her down on the couch. In a blink of an eye, she was on her back, covered by a growling vampire. His head dipped down to catch her lips in a searing kiss. Maybe teasing him like that wasn’t the best idea ever. But still, Buffy couldn’t help but notice that Spike’s body fell perfectly into hers. Their lips and tongues were in perfect synch. Fitting like they were two parts of a whole. The strong hands that had been pinning her wrists above her head slithered with a burning sensuality down the sensitive skin of her inner arms.


“Am I now?” he muttered, before he kissed his way down her jaw and nibbled on her neck, his hands tentatively brushing the underside of her breasts through the green silk. And she did not just arch her throat to give a vampire more access to do as he pleased. Giles would be so proud of her.


Buffy remembered her hands were free and she should probably throw him off her. Probably. Her fingers caressed his back. The rippling motion of the muscles under her fingertips sent a thrill through her.


“God… this is so… wrong,” she said, wriggling beneath him to get into a more comfortable position.


“Feels right to me.”


“Mmm…” Buffy sighed in contentment as she managed to get her thighs to encircle Spike’s hips. He started to suck on her neck with the enthusiasm only a vampire could possess. There would be one hell of a hickey later, yet Buffy couldn’t seem to conjure enough will to stop him. It was so much easier to sneak her starved hands under his shirt and caress the smooth skin.


“I’ve never done this,” Buffy said, the words coming out unbidden. Spike tensed on top of her and lifted himself slightly to peer at her with furrowed brow.


“I’m pretty sure you’ve necked with a bloke before, luv.”


“No! Not that… this. Just making out on this couch. In mom’s house like this.”


“Makes you feel dangerous, doesn’t it? Anyone could walk right in and catch a peek. Knowing your mates would be sitting here right on the spot where we’re about to shag. I can’t wait to make you scream for me, Slayer.”


God, how she wanted him. Buffy was beginning to crave him. Needing to be near him, to see underneath his façade. She loved his smile, the twinkle in his eye, the taste of his lips… No! There was no way she just used words Spike and love in the same sentence. Nothing good could possibly come from this.


'Distance, just… put some distance.'


“What? Who said anything about… shagging?” she asked.


Buffy kicked Spike off her and watched him tumble to the floor with a slight wince.


“What the hell did you do that for?” Spike sat up and stared at her in disbelief. “Are you daft?”


“It’s your fault! Assume much? And I do have a name, you know.”


“Hey! You were the one practically throwing yourself at me. What was I supposed to do?”


“Are you saying I’m just convenient? ‘The Slayer’s all hot for my tight sexy body, so I think I’ll shag her then dump her.’ Is that it? God, I’m so stupid!”


Spike just stared, struggling to understand what she was on about. “What?”


“You know. For a minute I thought you were a decent… vampire. That there was more to you than the snark and attitude. Boy, was I wrong. You’re just using me to…to--”


“Now, wait a minute. I’ve never--”


“Stop making excuses! Just… stop. I don’t want you to touch me. Ever. Again. I hate you.”


Buffy knew she was being completely irrational, but this was getting out of hand. What had she been thinking? Making out with Spike? Feeling for him? What kind of a person was she, kissing a soulless demon that would turn on her the first chance he got? It was Spike.


Spike who had tried to kill her and her friends several times. Spike who had joined Adam to plot against them. Spike who had saved her life though she had no idea why. Spike with the most penetrating and intense eyes she’d ever seen. And now he was looking at her with resentment that sliced painfully into her heart. This wasn’t supposed to hurt.


“Fine. Forgive me for sullying your precious self,” Spike said, his voice tight with sarcasm and hurt. “But you better keep your mitts to yourself, Slayer. I’m nobody’s bitch… least of all yours.”


His jaw was clenched so tight Buffy could hear his teeth grinding together. Buffy glanced at him and caught a glimpse of vulnerability deep in his eyes before he averted his gaze. Guilt crashed over, settling deep in her stomach like a poisoned food. What was wrong with her? This had to stop. All these things Spike made her feel weren’t real. It was just lust and he was always there, breathing down her neck. It was natural to feel this way, wasn’t it? Once the spell was reversed they’d be back to their old selves.
They would.


Awkward silence fell over them as Spike sat down on the couch, as far away from her as he possibly could and turned on the TV. A commercial was on. The sun was shining outside, the heat creeping into the house. A bead of sweat rolled down Buffy’s back as she sat on the edge of the couch, tense as a bowstring. She chanced a glance at Spike from the corner of her eye. The muscle in his jaw was ticking as he pretended to be absorbed in the commercials.


Spike could feel her gaze on him. 'Stupid bitch.' If she thought she could just play him and toss him aside, she was sorely mistaken. He should have let her die that night--should have let the demon finish the job. Why didn’t the idea of her dead body bring him any pleasure? His stomach tightened in protest at the thought. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. He was starting to actually care for the daft cow. Even now, as he tried to conjure up the ways to maim and off her for her hateful words, he couldn’t. The scent of her was teasing his nostrils and Spike just wanted to break the silence and beg her to give him anything she could.


What was it with him and all the sodding women? Always falling for the unattainable ones, just to be rejected and ridiculed.


Spike sharply inhaled, ignoring the not so sneaky glance of the Slayer beside him.


'Falling? No. No fucking way.'


He’d rather endure a torture session with old Angelus. And wouldn’t his grandsire laugh his arse off if he knew what had become of Spike? Pathetic sentimental fool, he was. Some things never changed. But there was no way he’d end up being the Slayer’s lapdog, no matter how shiny her hair was or how radiant her smile. He should have known who’d end up getting the short straw in this. The story of his life, wasn’t it? To never be loved back?


Spike’s throat constricted and burned as he swallowed but the hell would freeze over before he let the Slayer see him shed a tear. The remote in his hand lay smooth against his palm and Spike grasped it tightly before deciding to channel his emotions through anger. He stood up and hurled it against the wall, watching with a small amount of satisfaction as it shattered, the plastic bits flying in every direction.


Buffy stood up to face him and gaped at him. “What the hell, Spike?”


Spike breathed in unnecessary gulps of air to calm down and clenched his fists. “Why don’t you tell me? One minute you’re kissing me and the next yelling at me not to touch you ever again, spouting some nonsense about me using you. And you know what? I hate you too!”


“You’re still on this?”



“I’ve never been off this, Buffy!” Spike stepped even closer, glaring down at her. “What bug has flown up your arse? Let’s be honest for one second. Is this really about me or is it about you?”


“What? It’s… come on, Spike. This isn’t right! Surely even you can see that.” His face was so close she just wanted to reach out and shut him up with her lips. To stroke his soft hair between her fingers. To simply give in to him.


'He’s just like the rest of them, so… forget it.'


“You didn’t seem to care when I was snogging you. What’s this really about? Your mates? Afraid they’d shun you for getting it on with another vamp?”


“I… they…”


“Oh, I get it. I’m just a filthy demon with no soul, right? Not worthy of touching someone like you. I’ve never hidden what I was… you knew. You knew and still you kissed me! I do have feelings, you know. You can’t just go and give a bloke a taste and then leave him high and dry, saying you hate him--”


“Just shut up! I care, all right? God knows why, but I do!”


About to start another rant, Spike’s mouth fell open as he stared at her. “Care? About… me?”


Buffy averted her eyes, finding the carpet beneath their feet much more interesting. “I… I don’t know why I said that. Must be the heat or--”


Spike grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Tell me.”


“I can’t. Every time I do, things get screwed, people get killed and… I always end up alone.”


Spike slid his hand into her hair as he held her gaze. “I’m not like them. I may not have a soul and I may be a vampire but I never leave. And this sounds right barmy as it’s been just a few days, but you make me… feel. It’s just, the way you smile and talk. Even when you yell at me, it’s--and I’ll stop before I make any more of a ponce of myself.”


“You’re not just saying that so I would… sleep with you?”


“As brilliant as I know it would be… simple shag wouldn’t be enough.”


“I do, you know. Care about you.”


Spike smiled and murmured against her lips. “There’s a first time for everything. My rep’s been already pretty much ruined anyway so why not give this a go?”


Buffy slapped his shoulder but grinned. “You always know how to romance a girl, Spike.”


“Why bother… my sexy body does it for me.”


Buffy snorted and tilted her head up, staring at his lips. Spike took the hint and closed the distance, sliding his lips against hers with aching sensuality. Her hands raked through his already mussed up hair, loosening the curls even further. Buffy moaned into his mouth when he teasingly brushed his tongue against hers.


So immersed they were in each other, they failed to notice someone loudly clearing their throat to get the attention.


“Ehm ehm!”


Spike broke the kiss to let Buffy breathe, and his eyes widened as he glanced over her shoulder.


“Mmm… why did you stop?” Buffy asked as she kissed his neck.


“Eh… we’ve got a visitor, pet.”


“What?” Buffy swirled on her heel and blushed. “Oh--Hi, Will!”


“Hi, Buffy,” Willow squeaked, the colour of her cheeks blending with her hair.


TBC


Author's note: Please don't hate me! :P Okay, you can... but just a little.