Chapter 10

They spent the next half hour kissing on her bed, both lost in a tender embrace. When she felt just how affected he was by their groping, Buffy pulled away.

“As much fun as this is, I think we should slow things down. I’m not ready for us to go too far yet.”

Spike nodded, running his fingers through his hair. “I understand, it’ll be hard for me to keep my hands to myself, but I understand.”

Buffy grinned. “Well, I didn’t say you had to do that.” She grabbed his shirt, planting a firm kiss on his lips, which he eagerly returned.

Spike took her bottom lip into his mouth, sucking on it. When she took in a deep breath, he spread kisses to her nose, cheek, then reached her smooth neck.

Buffy threw her head back, giving him better access.

Spike suckled her neck, biting lightly with his blunt teeth, inhaling her sweet scent as he buried his face against her throat. “God, I love you.”

Buffy gasped at the feel of his tongue now on her heated skin, still not sure how to respond to that sentiment.

Spike sensed the increase in her heart rate, pulling away to look at her. “I’m not expecting for you to say it back, Buffy. I just want you to know.”

Buffy caressed his cheek. “I do,” she whispered, capturing his lips once again, this time going slower. She wanted to say the words so badly, but still wasn’t sure about what she was feeling. Buffy knew that she cared deeply for him and for now, that would just have to be enough.


* * * * *


“Wow, someone sure is happy. You’ve had a big smile on your face ever since you walked in, which is odd since you hate this class.”

Buffy glanced over at Willow, a shy expression overtaking her features. “I can’t help it.”

Willow nodded. “I take it things are going well with Spike, then. I never thought I would actually say this about a vampire, but he’s been really sweet since he got back to town. The Parker thing aside, which I still think was pretty great, but not the point. It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that Spike is completely in love with you.”

Buffy blushed. “I know, and I think I might be in love with him, too. I’m just scared to tell him. I don’t even know why, I guess I’m still worried to put my heart on the line like that again. I do believe Spike when he says he’s here for the long haul, but it’s not only me that I need to think about. Dawn is just as much involved, I don’t want her to get too attached, just in case Spike does end up realizing this isn’t what he wants.”

Willow shook her head. “Somehow, I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

Buffy really hoped that her friend was right. She handled losing Angel, and Parker was hardly anyone to cry over, but if she lost Spike, Buffy was afraid that she would never recover.


* * * * *


“Get back here, Slayer!” the vampire yelled, chasing her along the shore.

Buffy laughed as he finally caught up to her, twirling her around, which caused him to lose his balance and fall onto the sand, taking her down with him.

She was breathing heavily as she gazed up at the vampire now laying on top of her, the bright sun shining down on them.

“Told you I wouldn’t let you get away,” Spike stated, trailing his finger down her cheek.

Buffy pulled him closer to her, smashing her lips to his.

Spike moved off of her a moment later, helping her up as well, then walked hand in hand down the beach, which was surprisingly empty for a Saturday afternoon.

“I like this, having a normal walk with my boyfriend in the sunlight.”

He felt warmth at those words. “It’s nice, but you know I’ll never really be normal.”

Buffy shrugged. “Normal’s highly overrated, anyway. This is all I need,” she responded, wrapping an arm around his waist.

Spike hugged her to him, finding a nice spot to sit down and just gaze at the ocean. “As much as I love getting to come here during the day, we should come late at night. Do a little skinny dipping,” he said with a leer.

Buffy swatted him across the chest. “No way, I don’t wanna risk anyone seeing me naked.”

“True, I’m the only one who will get that privilege.”

She relaxed against his chest, resting her head on his shoulder. “Do you think you’ll actually tan?”

He chuckled. “I doubt it, but I wouldn’t mind finding out.”

“I could stay like this forever,” she claimed softly, shutting her eyes in pure bliss.

Spike held her close, pressing a kiss to her neck, noticing how his touch made her shiver. She was so young and literally had the weight of the world on her shoulders, but for right now, she could rest knowing that she would be protected and cherished for the rest of her life. And it would be a long one, if he had anything to say about it.


* * * * *


“Hey, Buffy, how have you been?”

She turned at the voice, giving Riley a small smile. “Good, and you?”

He nodded. “I’m doing okay, but I was wondering if you’ve reconsidered what we talked about. I really think you would be a great addition to the Initiative. We’re both on the same side here; you shouldn’t have to fight demons by yourself. That’s no job for a woman to do on her own.”

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me, Riley, just how long have you been fighting demons?”

He thought about it. “I don’t know, I guess for about a year now.”

“Yeah, I’ve been doing it since I was fifteen. I think I have a bit more experience than you do. Sorry, but I work alone. I don’t trust your organization, what you’re doing is wrong and I’m going to find a way to put a stop to it.”

“What are you talking about?” he wondered in confusion.

She rolled her eyes. “I know you don’t just kill demons. You capture them for testing, then put some sort of chip in their head to make them harmless. It’s cruel, if a demon is deadly, you should just kill it. What happens if one of your so-called test dummies gets loose? What’s to stop them from finding a way to get the chip out of their head? I know Professor Walsh is the one behind the operation, I wonder what the school board would think.”

His eyes widened. “I don’t know how you found out about that, but you’ve got it all wrong. We’re helping people, making this town a safer place. If a hostile does escape, there’s no way for them to get the chip out. It’s only programmed to last temporarily, anyway.”

“So, what, it eventually kills them? Right, that’s so much better than what I’m doing. We’re done here.”

Riley watched her walk away, knowing that Professor Walsh would have to be informed about Buffy Summers. She could be a problem after all.