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Running from the Inevitable by The Enemy of Reality
 
Chapter fifteen
 
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A/N: Previously: Spike and Buffy finally defeated Amazons! Now all they have to do is figure out their non-relationship. That should be easy, right? 

Lovely All4Spike and BloodyHell beta'd this!

 

Chapter 15


This was the first time Buffy had ever walked through a forest at night—in flip-flops at that-- and she was steadily getting more irritated by the minute. Sure, walking in cemeteries was a piece of cake what with the street lamps and lights from actual civilization close by. This here was just a big pile of darkness, branches constantly hitting her in the face and stray holes in the uneven ground that kept tripping her up.


Nature was such a joy.


For the hundredth time, Buffy swatted away a low hanging tree limb angrily, grumbling under her breath. Of course, as soon as she stepped forward, her foot entangled in a low bush and she fell face first on the ground.


“Ow,” she said and rolled over on her back.


Spike let out a sigh, no doubt annoyed by her lack of grace that considerably slowed down their progress despite him being the one with more injuries.


When he offered his hand, she ignored it and climbed to her feet on her own. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate the gesture. She did, really. Only she was angry and upset by being so clumsy and kind of pissed off that Spike had no problem seeing in the dark at all. One would think the Chosen One would receive the same benefits as the slayees to even out the odds. Guess not.


“What’s your problem, Buffy?”


“I don’t have a problem,” she said stubbornly.


“Listen, do you want to get out of here or not?”


“Of course I do! What, do you think I keep falling on purpose, Mr. ‘I’m a vamp so watch me strut through a dark forest without getting hit in the face every other second’?”


Men were stupid, and so was she for getting so frustrated with herself that she could feel her eyes well up with tears.


Spike gritted his teeth. Watching Buffy fumble to keep her footing had been fun for a while but then it got on his nerves when she wouldn’t ask for help. Naively, he thought she’d stop being so proud. If she wasn’t so determined to do everything by herself, they would both be much better for it.


Spike glanced at her sullen expression, tears gleaming in her eyes, and his heart softened. Without a word, he clasped her hand in his.


She stared down at their entwined fingers.


“Don’t let go, yeah?” he said and slowly resumed their pace, being careful not to go too fast and keep the branches from scratching her skin.


“Okay,” she answered meekly and tightened her grip on him.


Her warmth seeped into his skin, her palm rubbed intimately against his with every step and Spike couldn’t help but feel as though he would never be able to let go.


“Thanks,” she said almost too quietly, but he caught it.


The simple word stirred up so many emotions he had trouble remembering he was just a vampire, not a man with his heart racing hundred times a minute.


“Don’t mention it.”


*******


Three hours later and exactly one hour twenty-five minutes away from sunup, Spike had a feeling they were close to a road. Good thing too because he didn’t fancy dusting after the struggle of getting out of the hellhole of a forest.


“Umm, I should probably have asked this before, but do you have any idea where we’re going?”


“Sure. I heard there is a Big Foot colony just up north. Thought you might like to take a gander.”


Buffy’s jaw dropped open. “This isn’t the time for joking, Spike!”


“Who said I was joking?” he said with a grin.


Buffy stared. “We’re lost, aren’t we?”


Spike rolled his eyes. “No. Have a little faith in me, would you? We’re almost out. I heard a car passing by a minute ago so we gotta be close to the main road.”


“I didn’t hear anything,” she said with a frown, looking around as though she’d see a car whizzing right in front of their noses. Silly bint.


“Last time I checked, you don’t have vampire hearing.”


“You know, this really isn’t fair. It seems to me like the bad guys have all the advantages while all I have is a pointy stick and an expiration date.”


Spike squeezed her hand. “Don’t forget the perky little tits and spankable arse.”


“Spike!”


Oh, he loved it when her cheeks turned red.


“What? It was a compliment.”


“It was pervy,” she complained but he could see the tiniest smile tugging at her lips. Oh yeah, she loved it when he was rude.


Then she pouted. “You think my boobs are small?”


“They’re just perfect, love. Fit right into my hands they do.” He bit his bottom lip and shot her a heated glance. She pretended not to notice but her body couldn’t lie to him. Especially not her heart which was pumping the blood at twice its normal speed.


“Oh. The trees are thinning out!”


Spike shook his head, amused at her blatant change of topic. She was right though. They emerged from the forest fifteen minutes later, more than happy to be rid of bugs and bushes with thorns.


“Yay, more walking,” Buffy said and wrinkled her nose. “My new clothes are ruined again. You know, Spike, Being around you is proving to be hell on my wardrobe.”


“Feel free to fling the stuff away. I won’t mind.” He waggled his eyebrow and eyed her from head to toe.


“Okay, mind in the gutter man, where to now?”


Spike grinned, turned her around and pointed forward.


Buffy’s eyes widened. “No way!”


There it was: the gas station they’d been abducted from, just a few minutes walk away.


“How did you know it was here?”


“Thanks to your head injury. I just followed the scent of your blood, faint as it may be. Like breadcrumbs, but more delicious.”


“Ew. You're like the gross version of Hansel.”


“You’re welcome, Gretel.”


The closer they got, the more evident it became that luck was not on their side. A police officer stood near the stolen car they had planned on reclaiming.


“Crap,” Buffy said.


“My duster is in the bloody car,” Spike whined.


“So is Mr. Donald!”


Spike tugged her forward and they crouched behind a big black SUV, peeking out to observe the situation.


“Okay, I’ve got a plan,” he said.


“Uh-oh. I don’t like the sound of that.”


“Shut up, Slayer.” He got to his feet, reluctantly letting go off Buffy’s hand. “Wait here. I’ll come and get you.”


Fortunately, at that moment, the policeman tucked his notebook under his armpit and disappeared inside the gas station. No doubt buying doughnuts and coffee, the pillock.


Spike rushed to the car in a flash of vampire speed, snatched his duster and Mr. Donald then suppressed a whoop of joy when he noticed the cop had left the key in the ignition of his motorcycle. With a smirk, Spike hopped on it and started the engine. He saw Buffy’s face turn pale when he stopped next to her.


“Come on, get on.”


“Are you insane?”


“You might save the lecture for later, love. Kinda in a hurry here.”


She sputtered and cursed but straddled the bike and wrapped her arms around his waist, being careful not to lean into his wounded back.


And then they were off, leaving the gas station in a cloud of dust.


*******


“I can’t believe you stole a police vehicle! I can’t go to jail!”


“You won’t go to jail, Buffy.” He came to a halt near a small bridge. “Hop off now. Gotta get rid of the evidence.”


“Oh God.”


Spike pushed the bike to the edge and let if fall into the water with a big satisfying splash, if he did say so himself.


“There should be a motel close by. We’ll make it before the sun is up, I reckon.”


They did, and as soon as the door closed behind them, Buffy ran to phone to call Giles, sitting on the bed that was big enough to fill half the room.


He picked up after the first ring.


“Buffy?”


“How did you know it was me?”


He let out a sigh of relief. “Thank Lord, I’ve been answering the phone like this for the past two days. Where have you been? Are you alright?”


“I’m alive and the Amazons are done with. Mission complete. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my wardrobe.” She poked the dirty hem of her T-shirt.


“Ah, yes. I’m sorry to hear it. Regardless to the casualties to your wardrobe, are you sure you’re quite alright?”


“Yes, Giles. I swear. I mean, my feet could use a good masseuse so once I get home, you can totally pay for one,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.


“We’ll figure something out. Tell me where you are and I’ll come fetch you.”


“Oh, that’s okay. We’ll get there.”


Silence.


“We?”


Oops. “Umm… me… as in me will get there.” She cringed. “You know me and my wacky grammar. Can’t speak English to save my life. Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow. Bye.”


“Buff-”


She slammed the phone down.


Spike chuckled. “Smooth, Slayer.”


“It slipped out!”


“No worries, it’s not like he’d ever suspect you were on a road trip with me.”


“You’re right. But I bet he’s throwing a massive wig right now.”


Spike tilted his head. “You really can’t speak English, can you?”


She glared at him.


*******


Buffy came out of the shower, feeling decisively better now that she had slipped out of the dirty clothes. At least this motel was fairly decent and had nice fluffy bathrobes. She found Spike with a scowl on his face as he struggled to take off his T-shirt, which was filthy with dried blood and dirt, sticking to his skin.


“Could you help me with it? Bloody thing won’t come off.”


“Why should I?“


He offered her a charming smile that did not work on her at all. “Because you’re a lovely bird that always helps those in need?”


She pursed her lips in mock annoyance and approached him. “I expect a favour in return.”


“Whatever you want.” He gazed at her with challenge in his eyes.


Pulling the T-shirt off proved to be a difficult process and Buffy winced every time Spike’s muscles jerked as she peeled the fabric away from the slashes on his back. The blood had dried and with every pull, she aggravated the wound, making it bleed again.


“We’ll need to clean the blood off.”


“Yeah, taking a shower would sting like hell.” Spike let out a relieved breath when she finally dropped the tatters of his T-shirt to the floor. “Should I lie down?”


“Sounds good to me.”


“Naughty.”


She slapped him on the shoulder and went to bathroom to wet two fluffy towels in warm water.


“Okay, let’s get to business now,” she said when she came back.


“I would have liked a little foreplay first but if this is what you want,” he said, his hands making quick work of his belt buckle before sliding it out of the loops and dropping it to the floor.


Buffy slapped her free hand over her eyes, not peeking at all. Nope, Sir. Not even when he popped the top button open, making the jeans slip low on his narrow hips.


“What are you doing?”


“Getting to business.” He pressed the tip of his tongue against his front teeth, grinning and cocking his scarred eyebrow. One of his sexy mannerisms, she could take. But three of them at the same time? She was doomed.


“W-well, that’s not what I meant!”


And, oh no, he was coming closer now. Damn it where was her breath when she needed it?


“Isn’t it?”


His hand caressed her collarbone, his fingers sliding down to rest on her chest and stopping just millimeters shy of sliding within her robe to cup her breast. And hey, since when was Spike shy?


Not that she wanted him to cup her breast. Not again anyway. And who was she kidding?


“N-no?”


“Are you asking me?”


Did he honestly expect her to answer? He clasped the hand covering her eyes and made her drop the charade when he lowered it to her side.


“It’s just… pants on are a good thing. The best, really,” she said, not sure if she sounded convincing enough.


“The jeans are bloody. Wouldn’t want to get the bed even more dirty, would I?” he said, voice pitched low, making her shiver. “Not anymore than we’re going to make it, anyway.”


And how in the world did he manage to twist her cleaning blood off his back into an assumed sex romp that would leave the bed in disarray?


Then the sound of his zipper being lowered reverberated through the silent room and she gulped.


Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t…oh, holy crap! How the hell did he fit that thing into those tight jeans?


Her eyes snapped up to meet his amused ones and she couldn’t help but whimper when he winked, stepped out of the jeans, turned around and swaggered butt naked to the bed. She was still trying to get her brain to work again when he stretched on the mattress, his tight ass displayed for all to see as though he did this every day. As though being naked in the presence of his mortal enemy-- that wasn’t really an enemy anymore-- didn’t faze him at all. Well, she was all with the fazage, and she was so not used to getting to ogle a pair of absolutely perfect pair of buns that she really wanted to pinch right now.


Oh God, he’d totally turned her into a pervert!


“Coming anytime soon, kitten? I‘m getting lonely here.”


“Uh… umm… I’m…” Can I squeeze your ass, please? Jesus, shut up hormones! “I’m c-coming.”


“Not yet you aren’t,” he mumbled hotly against the pillow and leveled her with a gaze that made her weak at the knees.


I’m doomed.


TBC

 

A/N: Hmm... what would you do if Spike dropped his trousers in front of you? Just a scientific inquiry. ;)

 

 
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