The noise at The Bronze seemed even louder than usual to Buffy. All the gang was here to listen to the band. Buffy sat between Xander and Willow and felt completely out of the loop, unable to join in the fun.

She had managed to keep away from Spike's crypt. Even had stayed away from the cemetery where she had run into him. Which was so not a good thing. She couldn't allow the vampires of Sunnydale to figure out that the Slayer was avoiding certain areas of town. Well, it was only for a day or two. Just until she got up her nerve to confront Spike again and this time end it once and for all.

It was her nerves tingling that warned her that a vampire was near. Going on the alert, she swung her head around trying to locate the source. She caught a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye and felt her heart give a lurch. Reaching out, she picked up her glass of diet soda and then set it down again quickly. Her hand was shaking as if she had palsy.

"Buffy, you want to dance?" Willow asked. Buffy realized that Xander and Cordelia were already on the dance floor and Willow was waiting to see if Buffy wanted to join them. Shaking her head, Buffy answered, "No, I think there's a vampire here. I'm going to scout around."

"You want me to come with?" Willow asked bravely.

"No go ahead and join Xander and Cordy. This won't take long." With that Buffy headed towards the back of the club where she had spotted the bane of her existence.

***

Spike watched the Slayer walking towards him. God, she was beautiful. He felt himself harden just from watching her move, hips swaying gracefully in her short skirt. Spike imagined lifting that skirt and discovering the pleasures that lay hidden underneath.

Then she was in front of him, hissing through clenched teeth. "What the hell are you doing here? Do you want me to have to kill you here and now? What if the others see you?"

"Worried about me, are you, luv?" Spike whispered in her ear, his rich voice causing her to throb in places she definitely did not want to throb.

"Spike, please," Buffy whispered back. "I am not going to go to bed with you. Leave town or I will have to kill you."

Spike chuckled. "You can't and you won't and you know it and I know it," he answered her. "Give it up, Slayer. You want me as much as I want you and this game won't be over until we play this out. Come with me now."

Buffy looked at him helplessly. Was he working some kind of thrall on her? Is that why she wanted him so desperately? It made no sense otherwise. She dreamt of him while asleep and daydreamed of him while awake. She couldn't concentrate at school or on patrol. If she didn't rid her mind of him soon, she was going to flunk out of school or get herself killed.

Turning abruptly on her heel, she walked away from Spike. He watched her as she pushed her way through the mob on the dance floor and talked to her redheaded friend. The girl looked concerned but nodded to Buffy in understanding. Buffy then pushed her way back off the dance floor and went to their table. Gathering up her purse and jacket, she headed for the door.

Spike felt a surge of triumph. She was leaving. Seeing that her friends were watching her as she left, he quickly exited by the back door and made his way through the alley to the front. At first he didn't see her, but then a movement down the street caught his eye and he realized that it was Buffy walking quickly away from the club.

Running to catch up, he was soon walking beside her.

"I have my car, pet," he said, pointing to the lot across the street. Without a word, Buffy changed her angle and headed in the direction he pointed.

He led her to the old DeSoto and opened the passenger door. Buffy looked at the car with distaste, but climbed in. Shutting the door, Spike hurried around the front of the car and got in behind the wheel. Turning to her, he reached out and lightly trailed a finger down her bare arm.

Buffy jerked away from his touch. "Don't touch me until you absolutely have to," she snapped. Then turning to face him she added in a cold voice, "One time, Spike. We do this one time and then you go. You do not come back. Not to Sunnydale, not to California, not to the United States. You leave forever. Agreed?"

Spike looked at her and then shook his head. "You got it wrong, pet. Not one time. One night. You stay with me all night long. You let me have you as many times as I want until the sun comes up. That's the deal."

Buffy looked confused. "You can do it more than once?"

It was Spike's turn to look confused and then he burst out into laughter. "Oh this is rich," he gasped out. "Are you telling me that poof Angel was only up for one go?"