Chapter Eleven

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She climbed the stairs and opened her door, flicking the switch as she went in and stopping as she spotted the figure sitting on her bed waiting for her. She shut the door behind her and gave him a pointed look.

“I don’t remember inviting you to come back to my bedroom.”

“That’s what fun guys do,” Spike answered with a smirk.

“So breaking and entering and eavesdropping?” she asked with a smile.

“Didn’t break anything.”

She rolled her eyes and laughed, slipping her jacket off and laying it across a chair.

“So, what are you doing here?”

“Just came for a visit. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head slightly, unable to stop her smile.

“Besides, I brought you something.”

“Oh yeah?”

Before she could blink, he had her backed up against the dresser, his lips cool and soft against hers. She let out a little moan and traced her hands up his chest to twine round his neck. He broke away and she smiled softly, eyes opening slowly.

“Mmmm. S’that all you brought me?”

“’Course not,” he purred, dropping his head and leaving a trail of kisses along her neck.
He pulled back, hands resting lightly on her waist as he gave her a surprisingly boyish smile.

“So you can go now,” she murmured playfully, “Now you’ve given me my presents.”

“Got plenty more presents for you, love,” he murmured silkily, his fingers stroking her sides gently.

“Did you not hear the bit about me not being that sort of girl during the eavesdropping?” she asked, smiling.

“Chose to ignore that bit. Think you could be that sort of girl real easy.”

She gave him an unimpressed look.

“Gee, thanks. Full of compliments, you.”

He smiled and dipped his head once more, landing a soft butterfly kiss on her neck.

“Make it up to you?”

Oh, she was very tempted to take him up on the offer but with a little steadying breath, she placed her hands on her chest and guided him backwards gently.



He gave a little groan and moved away to sit on her bed again.

“Little tease,” he growled affectionately.

Turning serious, she crossed her arms, avoiding his bright gaze.

“I just...I’m not ready...I can’t.”

“Buffy,” he spoke up softly and she raised her eyes to his, biting her lip. This was the bit where he decided it wasn’t worth it, right? He held out a hand to her and she paused for a moment before stepping forward and taking it. He pulled her smoothly into his lap, burying his head in her hair for a moment before pulling back to look at her.

“Love, even being this close to you is more than I ever thought possible. Not gonna push for anything more.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Spike?” she whispered.

“Well, okay, not gonna push hard.”

He gave her that boyish smile again and she couldn’t help but smile back, leaning in and kissing him tenderly, one hand reaching out to cup his face. It was a little scary how normal this felt – but she dismissed the thought as soon as it came, deciding instead to lose herself in the already familiar taste of him.



At that moment, there came a knock at the door and she started, pulling away from him.

“Buffy?” Dawn called out.

She somehow managed to scramble out of Spike’s lap only moments before her sister pushed the door open. Dawn froze as she saw Spike perched on her bed and then a smile spread across her face.

“I was just gonna say, I’m glad you’re giving Spike a chance,” Dawn explained, obviously trying to suppress her smile – and failing.

“Err, well...I...”

Buffy had no idea what to say and could feel herself blushing. Spike moved at that point, coming to her side and wrapping an arm around her.

“Thanks, Bit. Sure when your sister’s brain catches up, she’ll be real pleased to hear that.”

She tilted her head to glare at the vampire and he smiled sweetly.

“Well,” Dawn continued, “I’ll leave you two alone.”

“He’s not staying here!” Buffy burst out, receiving an amused glance from her sister and a chuckle from the vampire, “I mean, not with me. We’re not-”

“I really don’t want to know,” Dawn got out with a laugh, “And, Buffy, you’re the adult round here.”

“Right, yeah...Erm...go to your room!”

Dawn laughed and turned to head for her own room.

“Night, Spike. Night, Buffy.”

“Night, Nibblet,” Spike called, shutting the door again and turning to her with a smile as she blushed.



“Don’t look at me like that,” she grumbled, turning her back on the smiling vampire.
His hands came to rest on her arms, holding her still as she crossed her arms, refusing to look at him.

“Come on...you did good really,” he murmured, nuzzling her hair with his nose and dropping soft kisses against her skin. She let out a little huffy sigh and he chuckled softly.

“God, I love you, woman.”

She tensed slightly at his words – reminding her of how much more this meant to him – but as if sensing it, his hands starting kneading gently at her skin as he brushed gentle kisses to her skin, all of it working to relax her.

“Let me stay...just for a bit...and I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered, his breath brushing her hair.


“There really is no getting rid of you, is there?” she murmured, leaning into his touch, her whole body relaxing under his gentle caresses.

“You’d have to try really hard,” he answered lowly, his voice tinged with laughter.

She let out a sigh of contentment as his fingers worked away all the tension in her shoulders.

“Just for a little while...” he murmured and she found herself nodding mindlessly – anything to keep him working his magic on her tense muscles.



After disappearing into the bathroom for a moment to change into her pyjamas, she had soon made her way back to him where he was stretched out on her bed. She lay partially on her front now, arms tucked under her, her face turned towards him. He was propped up on one elbow next to her, his free hand rubbing soothing circles into her skin. He was smiling softly, eyes fixed on hers as she worked to keep her eyes open, relaxing even more with his touch. She told herself that it was only her tiredness preventing her from sending him packing but, really, she was kind of enjoying this calm intimacy.

“Don’t think you’ve ever been this quiet,” she murmured sleepily, arranging her head in a more comfortable position.

“Savouring the moment, pet,” he answered lowly, his fingers brushing down her back and grazing the patch of bare skin between her vest and her pyjama bottoms.

“Savouring good,” she whispered with a little yawn.

He chuckled and leaned over to press a kiss to her forehead. She smiled and lifted her head to catch his lips in hers, sinking against him as his arm tightened around her. He kissed her achingly softly and then pulled away, blue eyes shining as he looked down at her.

“I should go. Let you get some sleep.”

“I guess so,” she murmured hesitantly.

He smiled and released her from his embrace, moving from the bed and throwing on his jacket. She pushed herself up on one arm, watching him with something like disappointment. He turned back to her and smiled.

“Just as long as this isn’t the last time I get welcomed in your bed,” he murmured.

She smiled and shook her head.

“You could at least ask before you show up next time though.”

He laughed and moved to the window.

“Night, Spike,” she murmured, scooting under her covers and settling on her pillow.

“Night, love.”

She closed her eyes, smiling softly as she heard him slip out of the window, closing it behind him, and descend to the ground. With the same soft smile on her face, she fell into a deep sleep.