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Rebel Prince by facingthesun
 
Chapter 3
 
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Chapter 3

“You’re really starting to freak me out.”

Spike peeked open one eye and saw Buffy standing in the living room in a set of Giles’ sweatpants. Her hair was still damp but she had it up in a messy bun. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Stop it.”

He closed his eyes and grumbled, “It’s not very likely, Slayer.”

“Why not?”

Spike could tell from her voice that she was pouting. “Too bad I’m tied up, wouldn’t mind getting that lip of yours. I remember it being very tasty--.”

“Shut up!”

“No need to get squirmy, pet. I’ve had a taste of you and now I know what I’ve been missing.” Spike smirked, hearing Buffy snort. “Oh, aren’t you cute, playing all snobby and whatnot when you’re leading me on.” He opened his eyes, wanting to see her face as he teased her. “What are you doing?”

“Ah, nothing!” Buffy hid his jacket behind her back. “And I’m so not leading you on! You’re delusional!”

“Buffy,” he sang her name. “What were you trying to do there, kitten?”

Buffy panicked, her head went into overdrive trying to think up a workable excuse but she came up with nothing. “I…I—damn it, Spike! You can’t just sit like that,” she hissed, blindly pointing at his erection. “Giles is going to be walking through here at any moment.”

“You want to keep me all to yourself?”

“Argh!” Buffy tossed the jacket onto his lap. “You’re so conceited!”

“You love it.”

“No. I really don’t.” She sat on the edge of the sofa with a sigh. “Why? Why is this happening to me? Stupid spell. Now I have to know about you and your stupid feelings. Why can’t you be nice and hate me again?”

“I love you, Buffy.”

“No. No, you don’t.”

“Yes.”

“If it’s anything, it’s lust. You just want sex.”

“Can’t say I wouldn’t mind a few tumbles under the sheets but I want more than that.”

“You’re kidding, please say that you’re kidding.” Buffy swallowed and started to pace. “More than that,” she mimicked under her breath. “What the hell does that mean? What more could a vampire want? A meaningful relationship?”

“Why not?”

“Why not?! You’re a vampire, Spike! You should want to kill me, not date me!”

“Don’t think it’d be so bad… We got along just fine last night, before, after and during the spell. I just want a chance. I deserve it just as much as any other bloke and tosser you see at school. Please, Buffy?”

Buffy swallowed again, noticing how vulnerable he looked. “Now don’t do that.”

“Do what?” he asked softly.

“That! Don’t do that!” Spike opened his mouth to ask another question but Buffy continued, shaking a finger at him. “Don’t be—cute and—oh God, never mind.”

“Cute, yeah? Well, at least ‘cute’ is a step up from repulsive.” Spike smiled and Buffy gasped for air. “You alright, pet? You’re turning colors, should I call for the Watcher?”

“Oh. My.” She stumbled back and fell on the couch in tears. “God.”

“Giles! Giles!”

“What? Good Lord, what?” Giles appeared, head to toe in padding and protective gear. “Spike, what did you do?!”

“Nothing! Get me out of this bloody chair! We were talkin’ and then—Buffy, are you alright, kitten?”

Buffy said nothing, she just sat, refusing to look at either of the men as she cried.
***

“Buffy, maybe you should go home and get some rest. We can train some other time.”

“I want to stay.”

“Would you like to go in a bedroom? You can take a much-needed nap. It’ll be more comfortable than this old couch. Maybe you just need a break from Spike?”

“No—I…” Buffy blew her nose in Giles’ handkerchief. “Giles, I’m feeling much better now. I don’t know what happened…I just need—I’m fine.”

“Are you positive?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to train still?”

“I hate to say it, with you in your puffy sumo suit and all but, no. I’m sure you have other things to do anyway.”

“I do have a meeting…”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine and I’ll watch Spike.”

“If he becomes too much of a bother, put him in the tub.”

“Will do.”
***

“What channel?”

“Buffy…”

“What channel?”

“Five.”

“I can’t believe you watch this show, it’s crap.” Buffy sniffled, folding her arms. “Can you see the TV?”

“Yeah,” Spike responded in shock. “You care?”

“Barely.” Buffy moved to cross her legs underneath her. “Mom watches this show. Nothing’s going to happen to Timmy. He’s the star of the show. Everyone else is just annoying. Well except for Julian. I kinda like him.”

“Really? He does seem to have more class than the others. But that Teresa…she’s got a lovely set of eyes.”

Buffy turned her head to glare at him. “You just said ‘lovely.’”

“And?”

“About a girl’s eyes.”

“And again, I say: and?”

“Is that a word that you say often?”

“Sometimes,” Spike replied defensively. “What should I say, maybe something raunchy to live up to the vile opinion you have of me? You want me to comment on her tits? I would, if she had any.”

“You’re a pig.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’ve memorized that song and dance, haven’t you, love? But if I’m such a pig, why did you cry your heart out for the last forty five minutes after saying something nice to me?”

“Because I’m going crazy.” Buffy stared blankly at the TV. “I was getting loopy before the spell—hence the not as strong hate for you and then the spell just fried the rest of my brain cells. That’s the only reasonable explanation for all this.”

“And what is ‘this,’ pet?”

“It’s not wanting to take off this stupid ring and thinking it’s really pretty. It’s not wanting to go home because I’ll be away from you—if you say anything, Spike, one thing –“ she said the words dangerously, “consider yourself dust. I know Giles has a Dirt Devil vacuum around here somewhere.” Buffy groaned, seeing him smile out of the corner of her eye. “Since I’m crazy, I’m giving you a chance. One chance and that’s it.”

“A chance? What are the conditions?”

“You have to prove that you can be trusted, Spike. It’ll be hard going on a date with a guy tied to a chair.”

“Date?”

“One date, but after you patrol with me for a week. You can fight demons and I want you to do it with me. I also want you to eventually move out of here. Maybe you can find a place and learn how to feed yourself.”

“That sounds doable. I’m in.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’ll pretend to be a Scooby—sod it all, I’ll become one. I’ll kick demon ass for the sake of goodness--.”

“Puppies and Christmas, right?”

“Right,” Spike chuckled but then his tone became serious. “I’ll do it for you.”

Buffy said nothing and during a commercial break, she went into the kitchen.
***

“Yesterday morning, I was convinced that you hated me.” Buffy kneeled in front of Spike, a steamy mug in her hands. She guided the straw to his lips. “I’m shocked and I can’t believe that you have such…feelings about me.”

“It’s not like I could shout my love for you while I pranced about on rooftops.” Spike drank the blood in polite sips. “I’m very aware that it’s not natural for a vamp to feel this way about a human, especially a human who happens to be the Slayer…I know what I could be getting myself into.”

“What’s that exactly?”

“I’ll be shamed by all the cool kids. No one will invite me to all the fancy parties. I’ll be scum among my evil peers. But I don’t think that’ll be such a bad thing if I have you on my arm, fighting by my side and maybe even warming my sheets at night--.”

“Whoa there.”

“I know, it’s all rot and wishful thinking but,” he shrugged, his mug empty. “I’ve never backed down from something that I’ve wanted.”

“Lucky me. I’m your prize.” Buffy stood and she dug through her pockets. “Here, Blood Breath.” She popped a mint into his mouth. “It’d be a shame if you turn into a big do-gooder softy and then you realize that I’m not as wonderful as you thought. What if I’m nothing like your fantasies?”

“First off, I can be a bad ass no matter who I’m fighting and secondly, after last night, there’s no way that you could disappoint, princess. It’d be impossible. You were more than I could have ever imagined. You were there, I’m sure that you felt it.”

“Yeah, well, I’m trying not to feel anything.”

“But there’s something happening between us that you can’t deny. You try but you can’t. In fact, that’s why you were crying before…you feel the same as I do but you won’t give in. You’re kicking and screaming, you’re afraid of us becoming something.”

“I don’t want there to be an ‘us.’ It’s not right. But I think we can really use your help and it’s because of that that I’m agreeing to all this stuff. I don’t like you and I’m hoping you fail because I don’t want to date you.”

Spike furrowed his eyebrows, “Knew it was all too good to be true.”

“Oh, I know that face.” Buffy sat on edge and she tried not to be fazed by the hurt in his eyes. “That’s your thinking face. Too bad I don’t see it very often.” Buffy quipped and Spike glared.

“We need to do something to make our little deal solid. Don’t need you backing out on me.”

“Like what, a handshake? That’s going to be difficult with you tied up.”

“You could untie me,” Spike suggested.

“No way.”

“Right, right. How ‘bout a kiss then?”

“I knew you’d try something like this.” Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“Because why? We can play games all day, Slayer, I have nothing better to do. You said the handshake wouldn’t work. Just one kiss, it doesn’t have to be anything mind-blowing, just a peck’ll do.”

“Stop it.” Buffy looked away as Spike puckered his lips. “I don’t want to kiss you. I’ll throw up or something. This is stupid.” Spike’s eyes dazzled as she stepped closer even though she protested. “Just a peck, ok? If your tongue comes near me, I’m biting.”

“Oooh, kinky.”

“Spike,” Buffy growled.

“Sorry.”

Buffy kneeled and she couldn’t help but be touched as Spike closed his eyes, waiting for her kiss.

What am I getting myself into? Buffy thought, before covering his lips with her own.
***

“Untie me, please untie me.”

“You’re a vampire, you don’t breathe, stop panting.” Buffy rested her forehead against his chin.

“It’s habit,” Spike explained, straining to reach her mouth again. “Bloody hell, kitten, you’re killing me here.”

“You’re already dead. Mmmm…” Buffy involuntary moaned as they kissed again. Buffy didn’t know who started the second kiss but she instantly blamed him. Her body stayed rigid as she responded to the kiss and her hands clutched the seat of the chair.

Gotta be hormones or something. That’s it, crazy hormones. Stupid spell. God, I want to touch him. Stupid Spike with his stupid kissable lips…

Spike groaned in surprise and pleasure when she slipped her tongue into his mouth.

Oops, she thought. My tongue…it…slipped. Oh, oh…yum.

God help me.
***

“That was not supposed to happen. I need to breathe.” Buffy buried her head into his neck and inhaled deeply. “Damn it,” she mumbled, realizing how good he smelled.

“Nice wasn’t it?”

Shivers traveled to Buffy’s toes after she heard his soft whisper in her ear.

“Uh…” She pulled away from him and looked down to avoid his eyes. She panicked when she got a glimpse of jeans.

He’s hard all the time! Buffy swallowed and she fought the need to lick her lips.

“You’re blushing again.”

“Shut up,” she growled, recovering his lap with his coat.

“There’s no need to hide, the Watcher’s long gone, pet.”

“I don’t want to see that.”

“Makes you want me more, knowing what you do to me.”

“You’re annoying. I like you better when you don’t talk.” Buffy sighed and her unruly mind considered kissing him quiet.

This isn’t good, Buffy decided silently.

“Ah, I knew you liked me, kitten.” He smiled and Buffy almost whimpered because of how shy he looked. “See what a kiss can do? There’s a reason why they have so much pull in fairy tales, they’re magical—the fusing of lips, tongues and teeth. Can change a toad into a prince even,” Spike chuckled.

“What are you talking about? It’s gonna take a lot more kisses to turn you into a prince—oh my God! You totally set me up! You wanted me to say that!” Buffy got to her feet and she frowned at him. “No more kissing.”

“None? What about on our date?”

“You probably won’t even make it that far.”

“But if I do, I want to be guaranteed another kiss. Maybe even a bloody make-out session—that’d be something to work for.”

Buffy watched in awe as he made a goofy grin. He’s serious. He really loves me. Buffy swallowed and she closed her eyes, her heart pounding.

“You aren’t going to cry again, are you? Please don’t, I won’t be able to comfort you or be any help at all tied up.”

He wants to comfort me. He wants to date me. He really loves me.

“Oh, my, God.” Buffy felt as if her world had been turned upside down.

And maybe, just maybe, I could love him too. Maybe I already do…

“Buffy!” Spike yelled as she fell to the floor.
***
 
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