Title: Velvet, Leather and Love

By: Cricketpoor

Paring: S/X

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: They still live at Joss's hotel, not mine….

Feedback: Pretty please? With Spike on

Author's notes: This is a sequel to Halloween In La.

Thanks to Beetle

Angel watched Spike and Xander as they sat on the floor facing him. They sat close together, the dark-haired boy's head resting on the vampire's right shoulder. The vampire rested his chin on the boy's head.

The couple had their eyes closed, just enjoying their moments of closeness.

Xander sighed contentedly and tightened his hold on Spike, who just smiled in response. The two men were still wearing their Halloween costumes. Spike had on a deep red velvet jacket and an eighteenth-century style shirt. To go with the rest of the outfit he wore his usual black jeans. Xander wore black leather jeans, black leather shoes, a black leather jacket and a black t-shirt. Angel had changed into a pair of black slacks and a matching sweatshirt.

But somehow the other two, in their tight costumes, looked more comfortable.

Spike whispered something in his lover's ear that made Xander chuckle. Then they stood up and headed for the door.

"'Night, Angel."

"'Night, Angelus."

The couple made their way to their bedroom, leaving Angel to his brooding. Once inside, they stripped out of their costumes and got into bed.

As always, when laying in Spike's arms, Xander felt safe. He snuggled closer to his lover and kissed him on the lips. Spike returned the kiss and tightened his grip on Xander. Eventually Xander broke the kiss to speak.

"I really like this."

Spike nodded and waited for his lover to continue.

"I mean the closeness-without-sex-thing."

Spike raised a mocking eyebrow, but his eyes were uncertain and insecure.

"Don't get me wrong - I like the sex-thing too! More than like, it's mind-blowing! But somehow, I feel - more liked when we're like this. I mean -" Xander sighed in frustration.

Spike watched him struggling, trying to find the right words. Never had he known silence to be so painful. He had to break it.

"You aren't liked, pet."

Xander's dark eyes shone with hurt. He started to pull away from Spike, who only held him tighter.

"You're loved."

The dark eyes widened with wonder. "You. . . you love me?"

Spike smirked. "Well, I don't celebrate Halloween with just anyone, do I?"

Xander pulled his lover into a deep, intense kiss. Spike wasn't late in returning it. When Xander broke the kiss for much-needed air, he rested his forehead against Spike's and whispered:

"I love you."

Those three small words warmed Spike's cold, undead heart in a way he didn't know was still possible.

"Pet. . . I love you, too."

Xander grinned goofily and pressed soft kisses on Spike's lips. Kisses that were returned slowly, but happily and certainly, as well.

The kisses deepened until the only thing the lovers were aware of was each other.

The End