Stress Relief


Yeah, continuing with that fluffy soppy theme...

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

Dawn soon left them, scooting up the stairs with a wide grin and a wink at her sister. Blushing, Buffy picked up her glass of wine and took a long drink, avoiding the vampire’s gaze. When she finally dared to look at him, he was smiling at her and he reached out to brush a finger over her cheek.

“How ‘bout we go relax in the front room?” he suggested and she nodded, rising to her feet and grabbing the bottle of wine and her glass.

They went through to the living room and he sank fluidly onto the sofa as she placed the bottle down on the small table and joined him. With a sigh, she sank back into the cushions and flashed him a shy smile.

“So how did the interview really go?” he asked softly.

She gave another sigh and drained the last of her drink before sitting forward to pour more wine into the glass. She took a sip and let out a shaky breath, her eyes fixed on the glass in her hands.

“I really don’t know what I’m going to do, Spike. I don’t think I’ve got a chance of getting this job. I’ve tried almost everything… The only place left is that fast food place. The Doublemeat Palace.”

She gave a shiver of disgust at the thought of working in the place and turned towards the silent vampire.

“I’m sorry. We were having a nice evening. Ignore me.”



He sat forward and took her glass from her, placing it down on the table and turning back to her, his hands coming to rest on her arms.

“You can talk to me, you know that. And I want you to.”

She dipped her gaze from his bright one and nodded slightly.

“I just don’t want to burden you with all my problems.”

He caught her chin and guided her eyes back to his.

“That’s what I’m here for, Buffy. And I’m not going anywhere. You lay it all on me, love. Let me help you.”

With a teary smile, she leant forward and sank her head against his shoulder, letting out a sigh of content as his arms wrapped around her tightly.

“Might not have the answers, but at least I can make you feel better, yeah?” he murmured, brushing a kiss over her hair.

“You really do,” she whispered, tightening her arms around his waist.

“Well, good,” he answered and she could hear the smile in his voice before it turned serious, “Just want to be by your side, Buffy. Want to make you happy.”

She pulled away slightly and met his soft gaze, raising one hand to touch his cheek.

“I want to make you happy too,” she whispered, “I know I haven’t been good to you-“

“Buffy-“

“But I’m going to make up for it. I want to be your friend… and, you know, more than that. I’m going to be so good to you and-”



He cut her off with a kiss that took her breath away, his hands twining in her hair as he pulled her close. She slid her arms around him, pressing her chest against his and applying just enough pressure to make him lie back. As his back hit the sofa, he broke their kiss gently and looked up at her, one hand brushing over her hair.

“You already make me happy, Buffy,” he got out softly, “Just being with you… seeing you look at me with something other than hatred… you don’t know how much it means to me.”

Having no words to answer him, she leant forward and pressed a gentle grazing kiss to his lips. She then pulled back and rested her head against his chest, shifting to curl up against him. His arms wrapped around her tightly and his lips just rested against her forehead as she closed her eyes, taking in the sweet feeling of calm that flooded her whole body as she relaxed for the first time that day. His hand was brushing over her hair absentmindedly, his breath cool against her forehead. And just like that, the emotions she had been suppressing all day burst forth and she let out a choked sob.

“Buffy?” he asked in surprise, shifting to try to look at her, but she buried her head in his shoulder, her hand twisted in his shirt.

“Buffy?”

Fighting her tears, she shook her head, unable to look at him for fear it would set her off.

“Come on, love,” he coaxed softly, his hand trailing gently over her hair.

She sniffed and shifted closer to him, hiding her face against him as his arms tightened around her.



“I don’t know how you do this,” she choked out, still fighting her tears, “I’ve cried more in the last two weeks than I have for years.”

“I make you cry?” he got out, surprise evident in his voice.

Her head snapped up and she shook her head quickly, reaching out and touching his face.

“No. I didn’t mean it like that.”

He was watching her with bright eyes and she sniffed her tears back, wiping a hand across her eyes.

“I just… I don’t know. I guess I just feel relaxed around you.”

“But you’re not crying ‘coz you’ve realised I’m a bad vampire?” he asked with a teasing smile, even though she could see he was half-serious.

“You’re not a bad vampire,” she whispered in reply, “You’re a good man. And I wouldn’t have coped without you since… well, you know.”

He smiled wryly and leant forward to press a kiss to her forehead.

“Do anything to take away your pain, love,” he whispered against her skin, “Even let you cry into my best shirt.”

She laughed tearfully and wiped helplessly at his shirt where she had left a wet patch.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t have to be. I’m glad you trust me enough to cry in front of me,” he answered, brushing a thumb over her wet cheek.

“I trust you with my life, Spike.”



She didn’t ever think she’d live to see the day Spike was made speechless but apparently that day had come: he was staring at her in shock, his mouth gaping slightly. She couldn’t help but giggle softly and he snapped out of his daze.

“Buffy,” he breathed, his fingers stroking her cheek.

She turned serious and met his gaze full-on.

“I know the chip’s broken, Spike.”

He frowned slightly, head tilted as he looked at her.

“What? The chip…”

She looked away with a slight blush, playing with one of the buttons of his shirt.

“You bit me, remember?” she whispered, “When we slept together.”

He was silent and she looked up, surprised to find a shocked and confused look on his face.

“Spike, the chip is broken, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t think so,” he whispered, shaking his head.

“Oh,” she got out, pushing herself away from him and sitting up as he pushed himself up too, “Maybe it was a fluke then. I mean, it worked before… and it didn’t really hurt or anything-“

“Buffy,” he murmured, touching her shoulder and drawing her eyes to his, “Listen to me, okay?” He cupped her cheek, his bright gaze meeting hers. “I don’t know what happened with the chip then… but you have to know that I would never hurt you. Never.”

“I know,” she answered simply and he froze, obviously having expected more of an argument.

“Buffy?”

“You’re not the monster Xander thinks you are. Not anymore. You’ve changed and I just wish I’d seen it before.”

He was silent, wide eyes searching hers but then he caught her and dragged her half onto his lap, his mouth finding hers in a rough kiss. She moaned into his mouth and he deepened their kiss, his tongue teasing hers as one hand slipped under her top and rested against her back. She twisted her hands in his hair, holding his mouth close as she kissed him back hungrily, alight with his touch. She broke away reluctantly, panting for breath as she rested her forehead against his.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” she whispered.

“You think I’d ever say no to that?” he answered huskily, drawing her back down for a sensuous kiss.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


She let out a sigh of content and relaxed against the form behind her. He pressed a kiss to her neck and she moved into his touch lazily.

“I think you should be marketed as stress relief,” she murmured, eyes closing as his hand ghosted over her side, his lips still teasing the skin of her neck. He chuckled and nuzzled his nose against her hair.

“This is a personal service. Only for you.”

“Mmm, lucky me,” she whispered, smiling as his fingers twined in hers.

“I think I’m the lucky one,” he answered, pressing another kiss to the back of her neck, “Never thought I’d be here.”

She felt him shift and she rolled onto her front, smiling at him softly.

“Nothing special about my bedroom.”

“It’s yours.”

He stroked a hand over her bare shoulder, his eyes shining in the dim light.

“You’re really a soppy romantic, aren’t you?” she teased.

“Never lied about it,” he replied with a smile, pulling her forward to press a kiss to her lips. “Do anything for the woman I love.”

“I know,” she whispered seriously, leaning into his touch and finding his mouth again in a kiss that quickly grew passionate.