Chapter Thirteen

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Somehow, they had ended up back at his crypt and he was propped up against the headboard of his bed, watching her as she inspected the various belongings scattered around what she supposed was his bedroom. There were a few books, a pile of CDs and a number of items of clothing scattered about the place, but apart from that, it was surprisingly tidy. And surprisingly homely, she surmised, looking around at the rugs which covered the stone floor and the candles flickering around the room. And of course, that huge bed that, coupled with the vampire on it, was looking awfully tempting right now.

“You’ve really done this up quite nice,” she commented, brushing her fingers across the dresser.

“Glad you approve.”

She turned to face him and found him watching her with that soft look that she was more than used to by now. She smiled somewhat nervously and moved towards the bed, settling by his side. It was cold down here this late and she wrapped her arms around herself to fight off the cold.

“Cold?” Spike asked almost instantly and she nodded.

He shifted and she felt cool leather around her shoulders and lifted an eyebrow in surprise when she realised he was wrapping his duster around her. She had always imagined he would be over-possessive about his prized possession but apparently not. She smiled in thanks and when he returned to his former position, she leant back and rested her head against his shoulder hesitantly. His arms wrapped around her and she let herself relax in his surprisingly comfortable embrace, still unnerved by just how normal this felt.



“Spike?” she murmured, her fingers just skimming over his shirt.

“Not kicking me out,” he answered, his voice muffled where his mouth was buried against her hair.

“It’s your crypt.”

“Wouldn’t put it past you.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes, settling against him more comfortably.

“Do you get moments where this feels totally surreal?” she questioned.

“This?”

“This thing with us.”

“Not really,” he replied with a chuckle, pressing a kiss to her hair, “Enjoying myself far too much to worry ‘bout that.”

“It’s just...it feels like yesterday we were trying to kill each other.”

“Last week at least,” he murmured.

She sighed and rested against him, not sure she was going to get anything sensible out of him: he was obviously not feeling the same way she was about this whole thing.



“Look, love,” he started, brushing his hand over her hair, “Know this isn’t something you like hearing, but I love you. Just want a chance to make you happy. So why don’t you sit back and enjoy the ride instead of worrying your little head so much.”

She was silent for a moment and then she pulled back, resting her head next to his and he turned to her with a questioning look, one hand trailing over her arm.

“Enjoy the ride?” she repeated softly, trying to stop the smile that wanted to break out.

“Yeah,” he answered.

“I think I need to inspect the ride first,” she said, eyes shining with amusement.

“Inspect the...? What?” he got out puzzledly.

She smiled and trailed her hands down to his waist, tugging at his T-shirt and pulling it out of his jeans.

“Off,” she commanded with a heated look.

He was still for a moment and then, obviously catching up, he smirked and sat up to pull his T-shirt over his head, discarding it on the floor. She bit her lip as she took in the smooth, pale expanse of his back and smiled coyly as he settled back beside her, propped up on one elbow.

“Now, what would this inspection involve?” he asked in a low voice, smiling as she wriggled to face him, one hand reaching out and resting on his chest.

“Oh, it’ll have to be very thorough,” she whispered with a smile as she ran her hand down his front to rest on the hard muscle of his abdomen, loving the way his muscles twitched underneath her fingers.

“Sounds interestin’,” he murmured, his voice coarser, lower.

She smiled and leant forward to press a kiss just below his Adam’s apple even as her fingers skirted over his lower abdomen, delighting in the feel of his taut, cool skin.



He let out a low groan and she smiled against his skin, moving her mouth to his collarbone, her hands growing more confident, tracing all over him now. She ran them up the hard planes of his abdomen, over his chest, and then trailed her fingers down his sides and slipped her hands round to follow the curve of his spine. He was surprisingly still but she could tell by the tension in his body that it was with much effort and she smiled, nipping at his skin playfully. One hesitant hand snuck under the hem of her top, just resting at the small of her back, and she smiled again, pulling back to meet eyes alight with desire and affection.

“So, what do you think?” he asked with a smile.

“Hmm,” she answered thoughtfully, trying hard to remain serious, “I guess I might be able to enjoy the ride.”

He smiled and dipped his head to catch her lips with his, his kiss starting off gentle but growing quickly hungry as she arched against him, her hands continuing their random patterns on his taut, smooth skin. He shifted so he was slightly over her and she moaned, arms looping around him and nails digging into the soft flesh of his shoulders. He gasped and broke from her, eyes dark as he looked down at her. She smiled shakily and bit her lip.

“You know...” she started, trailing her fingers gently over the skin she had just hurt, “This still doesn’t mean I actually like you.”



The tension broken, he laughed and dipped his head, his body shaking against hers. He moved to her side again, still laughing lightly, and brushed his fingers through her hair.

“You’re unbelievable, you know that,” he murmured.

“In a good way?”

He laughed again and shook his head.

“Unbelievable in the way you still try to convince me you don’t like me, when you know I can sense every little reaction your body has to mine.”

“I have to at least keep up the illusion,” she answered sweetly, “Now get back to the kissing.”

He laughed but acquiesced, dipping his head and kissing her sensuously, his hand stroking her waist as his lips moved over hers. Oh, he was right, of course. Her body was arching against his, every nerve tingling with his closeness...but she didn’t have to tell him that. It would give him far too big a head anyway. She smiled inwardly and went back to enjoying the ride.