Chapter Eighteen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Is S-Spike coming?” Tara asked as they sat in the Summers’ living room a few days later, gathered for the witch’s birthday.

“Oh yeah, he’ll be here,” Buffy answered with a smile, “You know what it’s like though. The ‘Big Bad’ couldn’t be on time or it would ruin his reputation.”

“Not talking about me, I hope.”

Almost as one, they turned to the door as the vampire spoke and Buffy stumbled to her feet, only to stop dead, her mouth unconsciously dropping open. She heard the others greet him but she was still frozen, eyes running over the breathtaking vision before her. Dressed in a smarter than usual pair of black jeans and a light blue shirt that brought out the colour of his eyes and with lightly tousled hair to top it all, he was looking hotter than usual. She could just...

“Buffy? Love?”

She hadn’t realised he’d moved and snapped out of her daze with an embarrassed flush, giving him a shaky smile.

“Hi.”

“Hey,” he answered with a knowing smile, brushing his fingers against her arm, “So, how’s about we get this shindig started?”

He produced a bottle of champagne from behind his back and the group cheered lightly. Sinking onto the arm of the chair she had jumped from, she could hardly drag her eyes from him as he went to Tara and gave her the bottle, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“Happy Birthday, Glinda.”

“Th-thank you so much, Spike.”

He smiled and turned to face her, his eyes burning into her as he moved towards her and sank into the chair she was perched on, his hand just grazing her leg. With a deep breath, she looked up and her eyes met Willow’s across the room and Willow raised her eyebrows with a slight nod in the vampire’s direction. Buffy shrugged and smiled, relaxing as the party got under way.



She moved into the kitchen to prepare the cake and felt the vampire behind her almost instantly.

“You look beautiful,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss her neck.

“Likewise,” she got out, leaning into his touch, “Except, you know, in a manly way.”

He chuckled and strong arms wrapped around her waist.

“Are you trying to distract me?” she asked with a smile.

“Never,” he answered, brushing his lips along her neck and sending a tremor through her, “Why? Is it working?”

She laughed and pushed him away as much as she could.

“I’ve got to fix the cake. And you’re supposed to be on your best behaviour today so Giles doesn’t decide to stake you.”

“I’m being a good boy,” he murmured, one hand trailing over her shoulder, “Got dressed up and everything.”

“I noticed.”

“Yeah, I know,” he whispered huskily.

She rolled her eyes and went back to putting the candles on the cake. He seemed determined to distract her though and she felt him at her back again, his mouth moving over her hair.

“Spike,” she got out.

“Hmm?” he answered innocently, one hand moving her hair aside to find with his lips that point just below her ear that made her knees turn to jelly.



Taking the opportunity, he spun her around so that she was trapped between him and the counter and she raised heavy-lidded eyes to his. He was just inches away and every sense was overwhelmed with his closeness. She wanted to come out with some snappy comment to show that she was not affected, but in reality all she could do was close her eyes, steadying herself on the worktop. She felt his breath tickle her neck and seconds later, his lips brushed her skin. Her hands tightened on the worktop as she tried to fight her body’s instant reaction to his touch – but it was useless to even try when his mouth found hers.

She sank against him, helpless to pretend anymore as her hands moved to his arms, gripping him tightly as he pressed her against the counter. She was aching for more contact as he kept his hands flat on the worktop and she wound one hand in his hair as she kissed him harder, leaning up on tiptoes to press her body to his. She found his tongue with hers, gasping for breath even as their kiss grew more intense.



The sound of a throat being cleared brought her slowly back to her senses and she pulled away, her eyes fluttering open, taking in first the stormy blue eyes fixed on her then forcing her gaze to the intruder – her sister.

“Dawnie,” she got out, embarrassed at how husky her voice came out.

“Cake, guys.”

Clearing her throat nervously and pushing the vampire away, she turned back to the cake, placing the final candle on it.

“Done.”

She looked up to find her sister giving her an amused grin and she avoided her gaze, picking up the cake.

“Let’s go.”

She moved through to the living room with the vampire right behind her and presented the cake with a flourish as they sang a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. She turned to move back to the kitchen for a knife but Spike already had one and handed it to her with a smile, making sure to brush his fingers against hers as she took it. She gave him a pointed look and turned back to the cake, cutting it into slices.

Trying to get him away so she could clear her head, she handed him a slice of cake and waved him away and with a smirk, he moved to a chair, his eyes not moving from her and making her just as flushed. When she had handed out the cake and had her own slice, she moved to perch on the arm of his chair and gave him a light slap to the shoulder that only made him laugh lowly.



“So, how does it feel to be twenty-one?” Buffy asked the blonde witch.

“Not much different from twenty yet,” Tara answered quietly, smiling softly at the redheaded witch next to her.

“No special presents?” Xander asked.

“Well, erm, Willow got me this spellbook I’d been looking for.”

Willow smiled and took the other witch’s hand.

“I had a bit of help with that actually,” she admitted, sending a smile Spike’s way. Buffy turned quickly and gave the vampire a bewildered look but he just smiled.

“Had some contacts,” he spoke up with a shrug.

Shaking her head slightly in disbelief, she turned back to the group.

“Well, it’s my turn next for birthday fun!” Buffy exclaimed, “Bring on the twenty-one goodness.”

“Getting old, Slayer,” Spike teased, resting a hand on her leg.

“Coming from the only one in this room not born in the last century.”

“Yeah, but also the only one not getting any older. I get to stay this young and good-looking forever.”

Rolling her eyes, Buffy laughed and slapped him on the shoulder.

“Ego much?”

He just smiled and caught her hand, pressing a kiss to it and making her blush.



Some time later, she moved into the kitchen for another drink and smiled when her Watcher came in and slipped onto a stool beside her.

“I’m really glad you’re here,” she murmured, smiling softly.

He smiled and reached out to squeeze her hand.

“So am I. I don’t think I’ve seen you this happy since before your mother was ill.”

She shrugged awkwardly, ducking her head and then raising her eyes to her Watcher once more.

“Things are getting back on track. At least it seems that way. Guess I shouldn’t say that, though...I might jinx it.”

He laughed lightly and she smiled as she went back to cleaning her glass.

“I have to say...I have been pleasantly surprised by Spike today.”

She raised her eyes to his once more, searching them for the truth.

“Same,” she admitted with a smile.

“I really...I still worry for you. I think I always will, even if he were a human. But I...well, he...”

“Are you trying to say maybe he’s not so bad?” Buffy asked with a light smile.

“Well, quite,” he admitted with a timid smile.

“I agree,” she murmured, filling her glass and following her Watcher back into the living room to perch on the vampire’s chair once more, smiling when his hand came to rest against her back.