Talking


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She woke with a smile on her face and knew she hadn’t felt this good in a long long time. She stretched slightly and her smile grew as her arms collided with a solid form and an arm slipped around her waist, pulling her back against cool skin.

“Mornin’.”

She couldn’t stop the tremor his sleep-coated purr sent through her and her smile widened.

“Morning,” she whispered, blushing shyly.

He pressed a kiss to her neck and she moved into his touch, closing her eyes in bliss.

“This dream seems to be never-ending,” he whispered, a hand rising to brush over her hair.

She turned over, holding the covers to her chest modestly as she took in the sight of him, all bed-tousled hair and bare-chested as he propped himself up on one elbow. Unable to resist, she reached out and placed a hand on his chest, giving him a nervous smile as her eyes met his.

“Not a dream,” she murmured.

He traced a finger over her collarbone, his eyes burning into her.

“Guess not. You feel real.”

She nodded, swallowing hard at the lump that look seemed to prompt in her throat. He was looking at her like she was the most precious thing in this world.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she answered shakily, “I just… I never imagined it being this nice between us.”

He smiled lightly and brushed a hand over her hair. She caught his hand and pressed a kiss to it, her cheeks flushing. She still could hardly believe she was really here, in Spike’s bed with him.



She forced her gaze to his and her look turned serious.

“I’m going to have to go soon,” she whispered with a sigh, even though every part of her wanted to stay with him.

“Right.”

“Giles is leaving tomorrow morning. I have to spend time with him,” she explained, pushing herself up- the covers still clutched over her chest. She turned to look for her clothes but his hand on her arm drew her attention back to him.

“Buffy,” he started uncertainly, “If that’s the only reason you’re here… just tell me now.”

“What?” she asked, confused.

“If you’re only here ‘coz you’re hurting about Watcher Boy-”

“Spike, no!” she interrupted, turning back to him with a frown, “How could you even-“

She cut herself off and reached out to touch his shoulder awkwardly.

“I’m not here because of that. I’m here because… because I had to see if what we had during the spell could be… real.”

He was watching her with bright eyes, his hand catching hers where it rested against him, his fingers tracing her skin.

“Thought it might just be ‘coz we were two confused people with no-one else?”

She ducked her head with a blush and nodded. He caught her chin and guided her eyes back to his.

“Know we haven’t had the best luck with magic, love, but I think those four days were a blessing in disguise. We could get to know each other again, with none of that history.”

He looked uncertain, his eyes showing her just how nervous he felt.

“I just… I’m scared it won’t be that easy now,” she whispered.



She sighed and dropped her eyes from his to the bedspread.

“Spike… I-I know this isn’t fair but… I don’t think we can tell the others about this.”

She raised her eyes to his with a pained look, not missing the flash of disappointment in his eyes.

“I understand, love,” he murmured, drawing his hand away from hers and avoiding her gaze.

“I don’t think you do,” she whispered, catching his arm before he could turn away from her, “I just… I want some time to figure out what this is… to get to know each other better… without having to fight with anyone.”

He was silent, his eyes fixed on hers as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I don’t want to ruin this with arguments and stress,” she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for him to speak.

Still silent, he sat up, his hand resting on her neck as he held her gaze. He leant over and kissed her then, his lips so gentle against hers, his fingers grazing her skin. He pulled back, leaving barely inches between them, and met her eyes again.

“I love you, Buffy,” he murmured softly, “I’ll do anything you want if it means I get to have you.”

She closed her eyes, almost as if she could absorb all of his love and carry it around with her.



She opened her eyes again and raised her free hand to his face.

“I’ve got an interview tomorrow afternoon… but maybe you could come to dinner tomorrow night. Just me and Dawn.”

“Love, I don’t think I can hide in front of your sister. She knows me too well.”

“You won’t have to,” she whispered, tracing her fingers over his jaw.

He frowned in confusion even as he returned her caress, his hand ghosting over her shoulder.

“You said we weren’t telling anyone.”

“I meant the others. Not Dawn.”

“You mean we can tell Dawn?” he asked softly, his voice heartbreakingly hopeful.

“I don’t think I could hide it from Dawn either,” she whispered with a smile. He captured her mouth in a hungry kiss, holding her tightly against him as she wrapped her arms around him - the sheet forgotten - and kissed him back hungrily. They parted breathlessly and he looked at her in awe, those blue eyes shining.

“I love you.”

She exhaled sharply and then smiled softly.

“I know.”

He closed his eyes and leant his forehead against hers. She could practically feel the happiness radiating from him and she smiled, reaching round to run her hands through his hair.

“Leave your hair like this tomorrow,” she whispered and he jerked back, raising an eyebrow, “I like it.”

He rolled his eyes but smiled and leant forward again to kiss her. She pulled back after only a few short moments though.

“I really should go.”

With a sigh, he released her and she scrambled over to the edge of the bed, holding the covers to her once more as she searched for her clothes. She dressed quickly, feeling his eyes on her all the time, and finally turned back to him with a soft smile.

“Until tomorrow?”

“Definitely,” he purred, his eyes dark with want as he looked at her.

She turned to go but paused and after a moment’s thought, leant back over the bed and kissed him quickly before righting herself.

“Bye,” she murmured, her eyes locked on his as she tried to force her body backwards, away from the bed.

“Bye.”

She finally tore her eyes away from his, sweeping a gaze over his bare chest before turning and making her way out of the crypt.