Between Buffy's oversleeping and the snog-o-rama (tmBuffy), they'd started out late that day, so when the sky began to get dark Buffy assumed that it was later than she thought. She was so absorbed in working out a way to tell Riley she was breaking up with him - Riley, you're a really great guy, and the past few weeks have been some of the best in my life. But it turns out I'm really just a big ole skanky vamp ho and you deserve someone better than that, so I have to break up with you now. Sorry. - she didn't notice Spike had stopped and was gazing up at the sky.

"For Christ's sake, Slayer, watch where you're going," he snapped when she plowed right into his back, almost knocking him off his feet.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you'd stopped."

"Well get your head out of your ass and pay attention."

"Don't talk to me like that!"

"I was trying not to talk to you at all."

"Yeah, I noticed you being all sulky and stuff."

"Sulky? For your information, Slayer, I'm not being sulky. I'm trying to resist the temptation to bite you a good one."

"Oh, now your true colors are showing, aren't they? I won't sleep with you so you're going to bite me?"

"News flash, Blondie. You've been sleeping with me. It's the cockteasing that's got me feeling a bit fangy."

Buffy flushed in both shame and anger. "I wasn't... what you said. I-I just remembered it was wrong."

Spike took an angry step toward her. "Guess it's just lucky for you that you remembered before I had the chance to get your knickers off then, isn't it? Wouldn't want to be the cause of you doing something wrong and enjoying it."

Buffy's chin went up. "You seem awful sure I'd enjoy it. Well, maybe I wouldn't have."

"Don't fool yourself, Slayer. You'd have enjoyed it. More times than you could count."

Buffy swallowed and she felt her whole body flush. She decided the wisest thing to do was change the subject.

"Why'd you stop?"

"I didn't stop; you did. Remember?"

"No! I-I mean now. Why'd you stop walking?"

He pointed up. "It's getting overcast. I think we're going to need to find shelter pretty soon."

She looked up and saw that indeed it wasn't getting dark because it was late. Peering up through the thick ceiling of leaves, she could tell that dark clouds were gathering overhead. She looked around the forest and had a sinking feeling that they were going to spend a very cold, wet night.

"There is no shelter, Spike."

"We're almost to the mountains. With any kind of luck we'll find a cave or something."

She nodded and he started off again. Buffy followed noticing the stiff set of his shoulders where before he'd moved with the grace of a panther. And why was she being so obsessive because he was upset? This was Spike. She didn't care how Spike felt. She'd done the right thing in stopping before things got more out of hand, and if that made Spike mad, well too bad. Buffy didn't care how he felt.

Really, she didn't.

Really.

Buffy sighed. Well, that was less than convincing.

Crap.

***

Thunder was rumbling in the distance when they exited the forest and stood on the rocky terrain that surrounded the foot of the mountain. Spike stood scanning the area ahead. The base of the mountain seemed to consist mostly of rocks, hard-packed dirt, short, stunted trees, and thick, thorny bushes. Pointing up he said, "There. I think I see the opening of a cave about two hundred feet up."

Saying nothing more, he proceeded on. Buffy hoped that he really had seen a cave. The temperature was already dropping, and she really didn't want to get caught in an icy downpour.

The going was hard and treacherous from the steep incline and the loose rocks covering the ground. The stubby trees stuck out at odd angles from the hard packed ground and they had to go around them, making the climb even longer. Buffy almost called out to Spike to help her over a few of the harder bits, but pride kept her mouth shut. She might not be super-strong right now, but she was still the Slayer, dammit. She'd get herself up this mountain.

The sound of the thunder was closer, the flashes of lightning were more frequent, and the wind was making Buffy's hair whip around her head like a Gorgon's snakes by the time Spike stepped onto a narrow ledge. Buffy could see the hole set back in the mountain's side, and breathed out a silent thank you as she followed Spike inside. The interior of the cave was so dark Buffy couldn't see very much. Spike vamped out and looked around, then said, "I'm going to bring in some wood for a fire. Stay put."

"I can help get wood," she said following after him.

He glared at her. "Just stay here, Slayer. I can move faster without you tagging along."

Buffy glared back. "Fine. Do it yourself then," she snapped.

"I will," he said, storming out of the cave.

"Good!"

"Fine!"

She walked out of the cave and stood on the small ledge. A loud crack of thunder reverberated over their heads. "I hope you don't get hit by lightning and go all dusty," she called after him waspishly.

He glared back. "And I hope you don't fall off of that ledge and bash your brains out on a rock."

"Pig!"

"Bitch!"

She whirled around and reentered the cave, brushing tears from her eyes. It was the wind that had brought the tears to her eyes, she insisted to herself.

Stupid wind.

He was soon back with an armload of dry wood, dumping it on the floor of the cave without a word to Buffy. Buffy had tried to clear a spot for the fire just as he'd been doing, but it was even darker now and the interior of the cave was far too dim for her to see much. She could just make out Spike, once more in game face, clearing an area, arranging the wood and then flicking his lighter to get the fire started.

When it was finally going and light filled the cave, Buffy noticed what looked to be another opening. Standing up, she walked over and stuck her head through. She wasn't sure, but she thought it felt warmer on the other side.

"What's in there, Slayer?" His voice was normal again as if their last shouting match had burned his anger from him.

"Can't tell. It's dark."

She pulled back from the opening and turned to see Spike carefully pulling one of the pieces of firewood out of the fire.

"Let me look," he said coming to her with the torch.

She stepped out of his way and he thrust the brand through the opening. The flickering fire revealed a narrow passage. Spike entered it and Buffy followed him. The passage curved after about fifteen feet and Buffy lost sight of Spike as he rounded the corner. The passage turned pitch black again with the loss of the torch's light and she had to put out her hand to guide her the rest of the way. Turning the bend in the tunnel, she saw a glow up ahead.

The passage ended after a short distance, and Buffy exited into a cavern that caused her to catch her breath. The walls were glowing in places with an eerie green phosphorescence. The cavern was large, much larger than the one they'd just come from. And warm. Buffy peered around in awe. She'd never seen anything like it before. Huge stalactites hung like chandeliers from the ceiling and gave off the same ghostly green light as the walls. The floor was mostly flat with rocks of dark gray stone dispersed throughout the cave. Most of the rocks were ordinary looking, but a few were long and flat and reminded Buffy of the benches that could be found in Sunnydale's cemeteries. She was still taking in her surroundings when she heard Spike's voice.

"Well, lookie here, Slayer."

"What?" Buffy asked as she turned to walk toward him. He stood next to a large natural pool. Steam drifted off the surface of the water.

"Looks like we got us a hot tub," Spike said.

Buffy gazed as if mesmerized. Kneeling, she carefully reached down and skimmed her hand over the water's surface. It was hot, but no more so than a freshly drawn bath. Buffy sat back and twisted around to tell Spike to leave the cave while she took a bath. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped opened when she saw him.

"What do you think you're doing?" she practically shrieked.

Spike was sitting on one of the bench-like rocks tugging a boot from his foot and placing it beside its mate. Standing up, he shrugged the duster from his shoulders and then his red button-down shirt.

"What's it look like? I'm going to take a bath."

"You can't do that," Buffy cried out, jumping to her feet.

"Yeah? Why not?" he asked. Leaning over, he tugged his black T-shirt over his head and then threw it on top of the rest of his clothes.

Buffy stared at him. Oh my, she thought. She'd been aware of his muscles. She'd been curling herself around him for the past three nights, after all. A girl got to know if a man had muscles or not in those circumstances. She just hadn't been aware of the whole package. Oh my god, Buffy thought, look at that stomach.

"See something you like?" His voice held a sultry note.

Buffy started at the sound of his voice and looked into mocking blue eyes. She flushed in embarrassment and irritation. "Not really," she lied, lifting her chin proudly.

"So, you going to tell me why I can't take a bath?"

"Because I want to take a bath."

"Not stopping you, Slayer," he answered her as he began to unbuckle his belt.

"I can't take a bath with you here, Spike, so you need to go back to the other cave until I'm finished."

His belt was unbuckled and he began to pull it slowly though the belt loops. Buffy watched spellbound.

"No."

"Huh?"

"I said, no. I'm not leaving the cave so you can have a nice soak. I'm taking a bath now. You can join me or you can leave. Your choice." His hands went to the button of his jeans and popped it open.

"Come on, Spike," Buffy said with just a hint of desperation in her voice. "I'm all stinky. Just let me go first, okay?"

Spike grinned wickedly. "I always let the lady go first," he said. His fingers went to his zipper and he slowly pulled it down. The sound of his sliding zipper seemed to echo throughout the cave.

Gathering her wits about her one more time, she said, "But if you always let the lady go... Oh." Damn! She could feel her face burn again. Why was she blushing and stuttering like someone's maiden aunt? If Spike wanted to be a pig about this and take off all his clothes in front of her like a Chippendale's dancer, well just let him. Buffy didn't care.

And it wasn't making her in the least bit excited.

Spike's thumbs hooked into the open waistband of his jeans and he slid them down over his hips. Leaning over, he stepped out of them. He stood up holding the jeans casually in front of him. Buffy could see strong, lean legs and the smooth white flesh of his hips. He hesitated, as if wondering just how far to take his little striptease act, and then, as if making up his mind, he turned to his discarded pile of clothing and tossed down his jeans.

Buffy stared. He had an impressive chest and stomach; she couldn't deny that. But he had a truly beautiful ass. The firm white globes tempted her in ways she didn't even know she could be tempted.

She really wanted to bite that ass.

And then he turned around.

And Buffy was lost.