AN: I have this written basically to a natural end. It may go further, but I won't leave people hanging on this story arc - everything has already been written.
(((&&&))))
He eagerly watched her finish her second soda glass full of fresh mango juice, as his anxious fingers twirled the straw to his own concoction.
She shot him a glance, smiled, and leant back to enjoy the night air. The club was like an oasis in a crowded city full of palm trees, mimosa and myrtle.
"Not bad," she remarked approvingly before letting her head fall back against the night one more time.
"I discovered this place not long before heading over to the far East." He raised an eyebrow teasingly, knowing it might remind her of a story he'd told her what seemed like ages ago.
"It's beautiful." She exclaimed with her eyes still closed.
"Changed a bit, but yeah..." He cleared his throat and touched the collar of his new leather jacket. For some reason, he still got nervous about these things with her.
His minor self implosion was arrested by a playful bat at his feet. Spike looked down to see Buffy's pink shoe, still dusty from their walk around town, toeing the cuff of his jeans.
Raising his gaze he was struck by the air of mischief and glee in hers. The residual tension in his chest gave way to growing curiosity.
"So, what's that look in your eye, Slayer?" He growled.
"Oh, I've got a look in my eye?" She bat her eyes wide with sarcastic naivete.
"You're not fooling anyone with that dumb blond act. C'mon, out with it." He alternated between gruffness and coaxing, letting a hand glide softly over her knee.
"Want to go on a slaying spree around the pyramids?"
He chuckled and bared his teeth, taking one last smooth sip of his cocktail.
"I thought you'd never ask..."
(((+++)))
She heard the muffled thud of his boots shuffling in the sand several meters away. The night was tepid, and the breeze brought hints of coolness mixed with dust. Light sweat christened her brow. She swallowed hard on a now slightly dry mouth.
It was dark. Very dark. She had brought one flash light, but in the vast desert terrain before them, it was nearly useless. Only the sliver of the moon gave form to the behemoth outline of the triangular sentinels beside them.
"No demons," she announced at last.
"Funny, I remember there being more than that my last visit."
His rich voice eased in behind her, and she took a breath.
"Wonder where they all went..." She mused in a whisper, turning her head just as he slid a hand under her hair.
"You're thinking of something else, aren't you?" Her tone softened. He squeezed her neck and sent shivers down her spine.
"I also happen to know a place where privacy can be had," he said against her ear.
"Hmmm...fooling around in a millenia old tomb...? Sounds like asking for trouble to me. And ewww, just a little bit, maybe?"
"Aw, c'mon luv. I know you, how many times did we have a little run in my crypt. I believe you called that 'comfy' if I'm not mistaken..."
Their hands played the game of touch and tease a moment before she relented, and allowed him to lead her through the sands and rocky earth.
"It should be just about here..." he mused a moment, before grunting with satisfaction. Kicking what seemed to be a smallish stone, it started to shake until the sand fell away from it, revealing a much larger flat stone structure.
"Great, still here."
She caught his grin in the moonlight, and held the flashlight to the ground before them. He jumped to his knees and fiddled for a few more minutes until he found a groove and ran his finger down across it. The rock shook slightly and Buffy saw the sands shift a little way off.
"There!" Spike shouted with triumph, grabbed her hand and brought her to the edge of a newly formed sinkhole.
"Wow, you've got to be kidding me, right?"
"Don't you trust me? Just a little jump, then I'm sure it'll be quite civilized."
...