In the end, Buffy couldn’t tell him. Instead, she asked him, “Can you be brief?”

“Not one of my favorite things luv… But it’s your party after all.”

She dragged him through the kitchen and down into the basement, pulling him against her as she leaned against the wall. There was no need for any more words. He knew what she wanted, yanked down her pants, unzipped his, and gave it to her in full. No words, no waiting. His tip brushed her drenched entrance, and in one long, deep thrust, he was deep inside of her, making her cry out.

About ten minutes later after furious and frantic pumping and thrusting and moaning, they were both panting profusely, foreheads touching, grasping at each other. Spike gave her hips a tight squeeze with an “Hmm,” as Buffy exhaled, hands resting on his shoulders.

“Ok. It’s party time,” Buffy said a bit breathlessly, still not pulling away from him.

“You okay?” he asked, letting her go and bending down to pull up her jeans. When he stood up, she began to zip up his pants as he zipped up hers.

“This is new- helping each other put our clothes on... But yeah, better than okay, really. Thirsty, though.” He gave her a lingering kiss on her forehead before grabbing her hand.

“Come along now. Time to go celebrate the birthday girl.”
The party was in full swing, though when Xander showed up with his friend Richard from work, Spike was none too happy about it.

“What? It’s good to have options, ya know?” Xander said with a grin to the vampire.

“Mm hmm…” Spike responded before walking away with a roll of his eyes.

Wanker

Xander ignored Spike’s sour attitude and headed over to his best friend.

“So Buffy, what do ya think of my pal Richard?” Xander said all smiles. Buffy gave him a warm smile in return, but she wasn’t looking at him. No, she was looking past him at the leather clad vamp.

“He’s nice, Xander. Really. But I really don’t fancy him is all,” she responded a bit dreamily, gazing at Spike. Xander followed her gaze, and swallowed deeply once he saw who her gaze ended on. He didn’t even want to think about how she just used the word “fancy.”

“I guess Richie’s a bit too… young?”

“Hmm?” she asked, not completely paying attention.

“I’m guessing Spike asked you out already, right?” Buffy’s eyes widened at that.

“I don’t know what you’re—”

“No, it’s okay. Spike kinda asked me if it was alright if he asked you out.”

“He did what!”

“I gave him my blessing, kinda… And I assume you agreed to go out with him? What with the way you’re ogling him and what not.” Buffy gave a noncommittal shrug.

“I said yeah, I’d go out with him sometime.” Xander gave her a look like he suspected something.

“Yuh huh. Well Buff, whatever you do is up to you. I just want you to be happy, ya know? And if…Spike,” he said with a hand gesture that clearly suggested he was none too sure about what he was about to say next. “Is that guy, at least for now, then so be it. Well at least, I like him better than Angel.” He gave a small smile, before walking off to join Anya. Buffy just stood there in a stunned silence. Then Richard came over and politely asked if she wanted a drink or anything. She politely declined.

*****

So, there he was, just minding his own business, yup, not paying any heed to the Slayer chattin’ up dainty Richard (nope, he hadn’t at all), when all of a sudden, the Slayer is pulling on his sleeve and dragging him into the hallway.

“What is it, Slayer? Hankerin’ for a rough and tumble and poor Dick over there couldn’t cut it?” His tone was indifferent, which was the exact opposite of how he felt.

“What? Richard? Ooh, is someone jealous?” she asked sweetly, smiling up at him, running her fingers up and down the lapels of his jacket.

“Pft. No. Just… just asking.”

“Spike, if and when I have a hankering for a rough and tumble, you’ll know who I’ll be coming to.” Spike got that deep look of desire in his eyes, leaning closer to her.

“I damn well know who you’ll be coming with,” he said huskily, bending his head in to kiss her. She moaned when their lips met, but broke it off a second later.

“Not that I want to stop or anything, but this isn’t why I pulled you over here.” He pouted at that.

“What’d you pull me over here for then? Just gettin’ a bloke all hot and bothered for fun then, is it? S’ alright, though. You’re the one who’s getting her birthday licks in her birthday suit later.” He gave her a waggle of his eyebrows. Buffy thrust her pelvis against his, discreetly of course.

“You, are such a perv.”

“And you love it,” he said with a smile.

I love you she thought.

“Anyway, um, what did you say to Xander?”

“No worries. I just asked him if it was okay if I asked you out on a date. And since we’re already dating… if he ever saw us out somewhere, well, you wouldn’t have to hide anything—much.” Buffy felt terribly guilty then for keeping them a secret. But she wasn’t ready to come out then. She was all “stay inny.” She gave him another quick kiss and a hug.

“Thank you.” Before she could do anything else, Spike pushed her off of him.

“What are you—”

“Gee Slayer, give a fella break. Just trying to enjoy the party like everyone else,” Spike said before walking away, leaving behind a confused Buffy.

"So um… y- you were giving Spike a hard time, huh?” Tara asked a bit shyly as well as mischievously from behind her.

“What? Um… Ya know, I was just…”

“Giving Spike a kiss and a big ol’ bear hug?” Buffy just stood there, folding her arms across her.

“So what if I was?” Buffy said, looking at her stylish, yet affordable boots instead of at Tara.

“Buffy, it’s okay. I’m not going to judge you about your private relationships. I’m a lesbian witch, remember?” Tara gave her a teasing smile before walking away. It made Buffy feel more at ease.

The rest of the party went off without a hitch. Except for when the next day rolled around, they realized that none of them could leave. Anya realized this when she tried to leave for the Magic Box, worrying about her precious money and potential customers who would give her their precious money.

Nearly the whole day passed to no avail as to why they were stuck, so Tara attempted to do a general releasing spell, in which she inadvertently released a demon trapped in a nifty sword Buffy had picked up during patrol. They had been trapped in the house for nearly twenty-four hours, with a deadly demon lurking in the walls.

Buffy went to check on a mightily pissed off Dawn as of late, and discovered that she made a wish to a woman she’d never met before. In addition to discoveries of the day, Anya, feeling quite claustrophobic, discovered that Dawn had become quite the thief when she tore the girl’s room apart, already figuring that she had something to do with it. But Spike sort of diffused that little argument by pointing out they were still trapped in the house. Buffy, attempting to deflect the attention from her sister as well and how it wasn’t completely her fault, told Anya that Dawn made a wish.

“Halfrek. This is all Halfrek. Hallie, get your ass down here!” Anya yelled. The vengeance, I mean, justice demon showed up, and was immediately stabbed in the chest by the demon that’d been hiding in the walls. With the help of a furious Anya, Buffy and Spike stopped him. Buffy immediately broke the sword once the demon was trapped inside it again. Halfrek got up from her “flesh wound” and looked around at the party goers. She took one look at Spike, and asked, “William?”

“Hey, wait a minute,” Spike said. Hallie, all the while, was primping herself when she knew for sure that it was the William she once knew.

“You know her?” Buffy
asked, a bit of jealousy creeping in.

“Um, nah.” Spike was tempted to goad her, but decided against it. He could be mature, you know.

“No, no,” Hallie said with a girly giggle, still primping a bit.

So anyway, long story short, Hallie was going to leave them trapped in that house, that is until she realized that she was trapped as well. She lifted the curse and left with a “Dammit.”
Spike, sensing the youngest Summers desperately needed alone time with big sis, left with the others to give them a bit of privacy.

The night after the birthday debacle, Spike found himself waiting up for Buffy after work by his tree. Then he realized that she wasn’t getting off till late, so that really put a damper on his plans. He was wondering if he should visit Dawn, and see how she was dealing with everything. He began looking up at the stars, thinking about nothing in particular, when she showed up.

“You know, it’s kind of pointless for you to hide over there. I mean, I can feel your presence,” she pointed out as she rounded the massive tree trunk and standing in front of him.

“Well, I wasn’t exactly hiding, was I?” he said with a grin, embracing her. Buffy sighed regretfully.

“I can’t. Not tonight. Tonight is sisterly bonding night, and Dawn’s waiting on me.”

“Well, the night’s still young, innit? Speaking of, why are you back so early?” He grabbed her coat collar, leaning in to kiss her.

“Spike, I’m serious. And I told the manager that I had a family situation that needed my immediate attention,” Buffy replied, attempting to walk around him with a little grin on her face. He took her hand and pulled her back towards the tree.

“I hear you, Serious. And so am I. I want you… you want me…” Spike backed her up against the tree, and Buffy resisted him no longer. She greeted him for the kiss eagerly, thinking how much better it was to have him in her arms, even if it is only briefly, as opposed to lying up at night and reading his poem over and over till she fell asleep. Though she wasn’t sure she’d get tired of that anytime soon… Spike pulled her back and towards the ground after their lips meet hungrily.

All the while, the man in the van griped the steering wheel tightly as he watched in disgust the pair’s encounter…

*****

Spike, in need a good, stiff drink, headed to the local demon bar by the docks. He was sitting there at the bar, minding his own business, having a glass of fresh cow’s blood and a shot of bourbon when he was accosted by a Grylak demon. He looked more or less human, accept he was terribly hairy (well, furry as it was), and he had all pointed canines. Though for all his fur, he still had a shiny bald spot in the middle of his noggin. At least he wasn’t trying a god awful comb over. Kevin was his name, and Spike had seen him around a bit. Seem to be a good guy, well, demon. Wasn’t much of a trouble starter, you know?

“Hey Spike. How’s it goin’ man?” he asked, taking the empty barstool next to Spike.

“S’alright,” Spike said offhandedly, finishing up his cow’s blood.

“Say, um,” Kevin started, leaning in towards Spike and speaking in a low voice. “I’ve a sweet deal going on. Gonna make me a lot of money, man.”

“Is that right?” Spike said, not interested.

"Yeah. Can make you a lot of money too, if I could get some of your expertise.” Spike was a tad interested…

“How much money?”

“Well, I’m supposed to get twenty-five. You help me pull it off, and I’ll give you… five.”

“Five hundred?” Spike asked, looking at him closely.

“Five thousand.” Kevin gave him
an impish grin.

“Is that right?” Spike asked, terribly interested.

“Yeah.”

“And why, pray tell, would you give me one fifth of your profit?”

“Cause if I don’t get your help, I get nothing. And I know I can trust you. Some other demons would try to screw me for sure. Most of it is surely better than none of it.”

“Come on. Let’s take a walk.” Spike left money for the bartender before getting up to leave, Kevin following behind him.

“So,” Spike started once they were outside. “This kind of money… It can’t be legal.”

“Dude, it totally is. Well, in the demon world, anyway. You see, there are these demon eggs—”

“Demon eggs?”

“Yeah. And there’s this group of demons. The um, Scitzu clan. Ever heard of em?”

“Yea, I have. Thought they were more prone to—”

“South America. Yeah. See, these eggs, their Suvolte demon eggs. They’re nearly extinct.”

“Yea. So?”

“Well, the Scitzu clan are like… demon activist. They’re trying to help. I managed to come across some Suvolte demon eggs, and um, they were interested.”

“Mm hmm. And how exactly did you come across these eggs?” Spike’s skepticism made Kevin a bit nervous, but he pushed on.

“Hey, is that something you really need or want to know?” Spike raised an eyebrow at him in response. “Hey, trust me, man. It’s all on the up and up. I just need someplace to stash ‘em for a few days. I get my money, you get your money. The eggs go to a good home where they can grow up to be good little demons… No harm, no foul.”

“But these Suvolte’s are… a bit volatile.”

“Yeah, cause they’re raised to be. I’m tellin’ ya man, these Scitzu’s… they’re like demon saints, if there is such a thing. They’ll know what to do.”

“And you’re absolutely sure there’s nothing nefarious going down?” Kevin shrugged his shoulders.

“As sure as I’ll ever be.” Spike thought it over, and how much of five thousand dollars could pay off Buffy’s bills and debt. And hey, it all seemed… not bad.

“Yea. Okay. Meet you at Restfield
in an hour?” Spike asked.

“An hour exactly.” Spike nodded and headed off. Kevin watched him go before heading in the opposite direction to a big, black SUV. The front passenger side door opened as he approached. He stepped inside and sat down across from the man.

“So, everything go according to plan?”

“Yeah. He bought it. Now, you promise you aren’t going to do anything to hurt Spike, right?” Kevin asked, taking the money from the man’s outstretched hand.

“Affirmative. That was apart of the deal, wasn’t it?”

“Um, yeah. Later,” Kevin said uneasily, leaving quickly. The man sat back and smiled sinisterly.

Everything was going to plan.

“Oh no. I’m not going to lay a hand on Spike,” he said with a chuckle.