A/N: How quick am I?! I think I deserve a cookie. ;)

Beta'd by awesome All4Spike and BloodyHell.
 

Chapter 26


Buffy dropped her clothes next to the sink and carefully stepped into the empty tub. Turning on the water after she climbed in had always been her ritual. Ever since she was a child, she relished watching the water cascade down in a miniature waterfall and feel it lap at her feet as it splashed against the ceramic.


Apparently, there was still a bit of the child in her as she eagerly dumped a load of bubble bath under the flowing tap and squished the thick, freshly formed foam between her fingers. Her hair was tied up in a hurried, messy bun on top of her head so it wouldn’t bother her as she slumped into the curve of the tub, the chill of cold ceramic making her wince as it touched her back. Soon the water level was rising higher and higher, the warmth seeping into her tired flesh.


Feeling much better, Buffy palmed a heap of the bubbles and carefully applied them to her cheeks and chin to form a mock beard. She’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be silly. And apparently, she’d forgotten Spike had told her he’d let himself in after five minutes or so. Except he’d never mentioned the not knocking part, and she swiveled around at the sound of the door opening.


Spike stared at her and promptly burst out laughing.


Oh, right. The foam beard.


Blushing, Buffy wiped it off her face. “I thought you’d knock first.”


Still snickering, he dropped next to the tub and sat on a small, light blue fluffy rug. “Is this what you get up to when no one’s around? Should I worry you’ll turn into a bloke?”


“I don’t think I’d like having a penis. It’s all… dangly.”


“Oh, love.”


She folded her arms on the lip of the tub and rested her chin there. “What?”


“You’re adorable, that’s all.” He wiped a residual bit of foam from her cheek, making her skin burn in the spot he touched.


“Well, you tell me. What’s it like to have the man thingy?”


Spike looked at her from beneath lowered lashes and worried his smiling lip. “Man thingy,” he repeated in a teasing drawl.


She shrugged. “Yup.”


“Around you? Always har-”


“Okay! That’s way too much information.”


Now it was his turn to shrug. “Still true.”


The water sloshed around as she shifted her position and cast an innocent glance at the area in question.


“Someone’s peeking where they shouldn’t,” Spike commented. “Unless you want to be cruel and tease me even more.”


“I wasn’t…. Okay, but I didn’t even see anything. It’s your fault for pointing it out and it got me all curious if it was true or not.”


“Oh, believe me, it’s true. It’s bloody torture to be around you sometimes.” His gaze roamed over her face then dipped lower to trace the line of her neck. “Especially now that you’re all… naked,” he said, the last word dripping from his lips like a drop of honey.


“It goes with the getting clean thing,” she murmured equally quietly but she knew he’d hear her even through the rush of water.


Speaking of, she should probably turn it off. After briefly glancing down if the bubbles covered her boobs, Buffy reached out and turned off the tap.


“I promised to wash your back,” Spike said hopefully.


“Then what are you waiting for?” She gave him a lazy smile and handed him the sponge, shivering as he took it from her. It felt really weird to be so close to him, what with the nakedness while he was still dressed, but it made her heart quicken just the same.


For a few seconds, Spike just sat there staring at the silky smooth skin of her back and tried to get his brain to work.


“Spike?”


He shook his head like a dog would shake water from its fur. “Yeah, I’m on it.”


He dipped the sponge in the hot water, gathering bubbles on its way. His fingers trembled slightly before he skimmed the length of Buffy’s spine with his fingertips. Then he remembered the sponge in his other hand and started to wash her back. Buffy’s shoulders slumped and her head dipped forward as the water from the sponge sluiced down her back. Succumbing to gravity, it also trickled down his forearms to teeter on his bent elbows before dripping down to wet his jean clad thighs. But he couldn’t give a shit when he was all too consumed with the woman sitting in front of him. He’d never in million years thought she’d allow him this close, that she’d trust him like this.


“You’re so beautiful.”


The muscles under his hands tensed for a second before she let out a drawn out exhale.


“You really think so?”


“Yeah.” He nodded even though she couldn’t see him and dropped the sponge to let it float in the rippling water. His palms ended up resting on her shoulders and he leaned in to press a brief kiss to the back of her neck.


“Just gonna give you a bit of a massage, alright?”


“Okay.”


Her skin was hot, drawing extra heat from the water and it made his palms tingle as he gently kneaded out the knots in her shoulders and neck.


“Can you do this every day?” she asked sleepily and swayed with the movement of his hands.


“What’s in it for me?” he replied playfully, his thumbs digging into her Trapezius muscle.


“Ah, anything you want. You have the best hands ever. I think they might have a thrall or something.”


He had to close his eyes to gain composure though it didn’t much help with the X-rated images suddenly popping into his mind, starring a naked Buffy in all kinds of compromising positions.


“I can do all sorts of nice things with my hands,” he said, relishing the way she moaned under his ministrations. “So… you’d do anything, eh?”


“Pervert,” she said with a smile in her voice. “I know exactly what you’re thinking right now.”


“Nah. I was just hoping you’d bake me chocolate chip cookies.” Naked. And letting him lick the crumbs off her belly.


“Liar.”


He caressed the length of her arms, his fingers grazing the sides of her breasts.


“Spike?”


“Yes, love?”


“What would you say if I… if I…” Suddenly, she was turning around, her skin flush from the warmth, her lovely breasts half-covered with bubbles. “Will you stay here tonight?”


Bloody hell, yes. Was she seriously asking him this? “But what about your mum?” Wanker.


“She’s a heavy sleeper, and… I don’t think she’s coming home tonight.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought but turned serious again, her gaze dropping to rest on the glimmering surface of the water as she awaited his response.


“I’d love to.”


She glanced up at him. “Really?”


“Buffy, there’s nothing more I want than to lie you down on your frilly bed and kiss every single inch of your body.”


“Every inch?”


“I’ll even lick your armpits.”


She snorted and flicked tiny droplets into his face. “You’re so gross.”


“Believe me, there’s not one single part of you I don’t wanna taste.”


She gulped and chewed the inside of her cheek, looking cute enough to kiss breathless. He was tempted to do just that.


“I feel the same way about you.”


Well, fuck. If that didn’t made him even harder than he already was.


“How’s the water? Turning cool? Maybe you should get out before you catch a cold.”


Buffy giggled. “Look who’s all eager.”


“You have no idea.” He leaned in to kiss her, gripping the edge of tub when she bit his lower lip.


“I think my skin’s turning all prune-y. Better get out.”


“Marvelous plan.” He stood up and fetched a big white towel, holding it open for her as she rose to her feet, shedding water from her skin. The first sight of her completely naked made him growl. She was perfection.


Grudgingly, he wrapped the towel around her and swept her up into his arms.


“Oh God, be careful!”


“I’ve got you, no worries.”


“I forgot to pull the plug.”


“Sod the plug.” He nudged the door open with his foot and stepped over the threshold. “Which way?”


“I can walk, you know,” she said, amused, but tightened her arms around his neck. “Right down the hall, first door on the right.”


“Got it.” He strode down the narrow corridor, catching brief glances of a kiddy Buffy smiling at him from the walls. “I bet you were bossy even then.”


“Huh?”


“Oh… the pictures. Bet you drove Joyce crazy back then.” Luckily, the door to her room was open so he walked in without any trouble.


“You betcha. She used to tell me I was stubborn as a mule.”


Spike grinned before setting her down to her feet. “Haven’t changed much then, have you?”


Buffy put her palms on his chest. “I’m a handful.”


“Hmm… that you are.” He cupped her breast through the towel, squeezing gently. “I like your handfuls.”


Her pupils dilated and she tugged the hem of his T-shirt from his jeans before whipping it over his head and carelessly flinging it over her shoulder. The hunger in her eyes as she stared at him was enough to make any residual blood left in his brain relocate south of the border. He swept in to catch stray droplets of water from her neck with his tongue, shivering at the beat of her pulse beneath her smooth skin.


“I should dry you up.”


“Uh-huh.”


Spike parted her towel almost reverently, not even realizing he was purposely holding his breath when she was fully revealed to his eyes once again. He stifled the urge to groan at the glorious sight and gently dried her arms from shoulders to the tips of her fingers.


“Are you sure you want to do this?” And he could have punched himself in the face for asking that if it weren’t for the fact he wanted her to be certain. If she ended up regretting this moment, it would hurt more than he was willing to admit.


“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” she whispered and closed her eyes when he passed the fluffy towel down her torso and belly, paying more than adequate attention to her breasts.


“Wanna bet someone’s gonna come knocking the second things get even more… heated.”


“God, don’t even joke about that!”


With a grin, he dropped to his knees and licked his lips at the sight in front of him as he gently picked up her foot and put it on his thigh, being sure not to miss a single drop of water as he toweled her legs.


“Spike, are you teasing me on purpose?” She buried her fingers in his hair as he pressed a moist kiss to the hollow next to her hip bone, his arms reaching around to dry her bottom.


“I don’t know what you mean.”


She couldn’t believe she didn’t feel like running away from his intense gaze. That she didn’t feel the need to hide. But it was him. Spike and the hungry passion in his eyes that fueled her confidence enough to stop thinking about anything that might be wrong with her body. How could she when he stared at her like she was drenched in chocolate?


Then his cool breath caressed the sensitive skin under her belly button right before his arms banded around her thighs, his lips tickling her belly and she could hardly think at all.


“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do this to you? You’ve been driving me right insane, you have. Swaying that tight arse in front of me.” One hand slid up to squeeze her ass cheek, his teeth nipping on her navel. “And your scent. It makes my mouth water.”


She glanced down, her fingers tightening in his hair when he trailed soft kisses lower and lower, making the muscles in her abdomen clench in anticipation. Then he licked her. Long and soft and moist and, oh God, how come she’d never realised how incredibly good this could feel?


“Mmm… what are you-”


He growled into her increasingly soaking flesh and stole another tentative lick like a cat having its first lick of cream. Her knees trembled.


It took her few beats to realise his arms loosened and he was standing in front of her.


“Why did you stop?” she whined and clutched at his bare shoulders to keep herself steady.


He rolled his devilish tongue behind his front teeth as though he knew exactly how much it would make her mind dive straight into the gutter.


“Let’s get you more comfy, shall we?”


And with that, he grasped her waist and backed her up against the bed until the back of her knees hit the mattress. With a quick, deep kiss, he pushed her down, sank to his knees and threw her legs over his shoulders.


“Ready?” he asked with a wink and all she could do was grip the sheets and make a high pitched keening noise he’d hopefully understand as ‘hell yes’.


TBC

 

A/N: Anyone here that fancies a bit of foreplay? ;)