Drive
When they'd got a couple of miles out of town Spike pulled over, and almost instantly the Slayer jumped on him, furiously attacking his lips with her own. He responded, of course, and ran his hands down her arms as his mouth worked in sync with hers, then he took a firm hold of her upper arms and pushed her away so she was looking at him.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Kissing you," she replied, before doing so again. After a couple more moments he pulled back again.
"Buffy, have you thought this through?"
"No," she answered, leaning in a final time, but he didn't engage. "What? Isn't this what I wanted?"
"Bloody hell. Yes. Want it so much. Want you, but-"
She looked down at her hands nervously as she cut him off. "But not when I'm looking all gross from crying. A big ol' mess with running make-up, and a red face and-"
"Are you off your trolley, Slayer?" he cut her off. "Obviously I don't want to see you in bloody tears, but not because it makes you anything less than ravishing. I just don't wanna do anything you'll regret."
She was silent, and he continued.
"Don't know what went on back there, but I have a fair idea. Kitten, look at me," he pleaded, and she obliged. "I love you. And I think there's a spark in you – some attraction for me that you've got. And damn if I don't wanna explore that, but not if it's gonna be some rebound thing. If… If that's all you need then I'm not gonna play this round."
Buffy started to cry again, and was silently cursing herself for doing so. She looked away from Spike again, then said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what I need. I just... Take me away? Just for a night? I can't think right now."
"Sure thing, Slayer," he drawled. "One more night of clemency before facing the family."
He started driving again. "Motel or tent?" he asked.
"Motel. Have you got enough cash?"
"Yeah, Slayer. I'll see you right."
"Know you will," she replied, wiping her face and then yawning, before curling into his side and falling asleep on his shoulder.
She woke up an hour later in a double bed – alone. It was twenty minutes after that before Spike walked in through the door to the room.
"Mornin'," he said, despite it being midnight.
Buffy was frowning at him, and he held up his hands in surrender. "Look, not trying to be a prat. A double was all they had. I'll take the floor, if you want."
Her expression lightened, admitting, "Hadn't even noticed that problem."
He quirked an eyebrow at her, and she explained, "Was just wondering how you managed to get me all tucked in without me waking up."
"Oh. Well, I guess you were knackered. Don't blame you. Peaches would take it out of anyone."
She pulled a face at the reference to Angel, and Spike pretended he didn't make it, barreling right on with his original point. "I should let you rest more."
She nodded, and he took off his duster and placed it on a chair. "Floor will be better than this thing. More like a torture device than a piece of furniture."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor."
He looked stricken. "Buffy-" he began, but then he didn't know where to go from there, so he just looked at the girl in question.
"You were right," she said.
"Can I get that in writing?" he joked, and she smiled.
"Why not? I'm feeling generous."
"What was I right about?"
"Everything."
"Bloody hell, Slayer. You ill again?"
She ignored that comment, and explained, "You were right about Angel. About him saying a lot of stuff. A lot of not true stuff. And you were right about me being on the rebound. We… I… He broke up with me. And I-"
"Wait," the vampire held up a hand, "Hang on a bloody second. He broke up with you?"
"Yeah," she admitted, suddenly feeling guilty. Spike was furious – cursing under his breath and looking around the room wildly as if deciding what to break.
"I'm sorry," Buffy whispered.
His head shot up at that. "What?"
"I didn't mean to make you feel like the only reason I wanted you, was because he didn't want me. I… that's not it at all. I do want you. That's another thing you were right about."
Spike shook his head. "You can be so soddin' stupid sometimes, you know that, Slayer?"
"Hey!"
Pointing to his skull he said, "You were in my head for three days and you're so off the mark with how I think."
"Huh?"
Rolling his eyes again he walked over and sat down beside her. "I'm not angry with you, pet. I'm pissed at the great poof."
"For breaking up with me? I thought-"
"For hurting you, you daft bint. For having the best thing in the world and then fucking throwing it away. I always knew he was a thick, but this tops it."
"Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"Kiss me."
"You sure? Not a-"
"Not a rebound thing. A me wanting you thing."
"Well, all right then.
To be continued...
