Chapter 9

One down, three to go.

Spike struck the steering wheel as he drove, urging the car along the deserted streets as fast as he could. He supposed that finding the slayer on his first attempt would have been more than a little fortunate; still he felt a huge sense of disappointment when he realized the warehouse was empty.

Next stop an old boy's school that had been deserted for years, left to crumble and rot. It was the perfect place for hiding out and getting up to bad deeds unnoticed.

Buffy scanned the room. Where had the Peroki gone? She spotted him coming through the doorway carrying a small goat; it wriggled and bleated pitifully as it attempted to escape the demons grasp. She watched with increasing concern as the Peroki grabbed a dagger and slit the animal's throat. Holding the twitching carcass over a bowl and resuming his chanting, the demon collected the blood. The goat still and his bowl full, the beast turned towards Buffy.

She felt the dizziness increase as he drew close and watched in a foggy haze as he dipped a clawed finger into the blood. With surprising delicacy, the Peroki daubed symbols over her stomach. Moving upwards, he finished his finger painting with a flourish over her heart. Buffy grimaced; now that had to be a bad sign. She hoped that Giles would move his ass and save her soon. Events had taken a decidedly ominous turn and, for the first time, Buffy's belief that things would work out fine was put into doubt.

The demon returned to the shrine, still chanting. He deposited the blood bowl on the altar. Reaching behind the candles he produced a long thin sword with an elaborate bone handle. Buffy's vision started to sway as the Peroki approached her; his droning recital having a strangely hypnotising effect, she felt mollified and detached from reality. Standing over her the Peroki raised the sword into position. Buffy began to think about her mom; she wished she could see her one more time. Giles flashed through her mind. 'Poor Giles,' she thought, 'he'll never forgive himself'.

Closing her eyes Buffy readied herself for the fatal strike. The chanting grew louder and more frenzied. Her breathing was calm and steady; death was nothing new to her.

Suddenly a great roaring noise tore through the air, splintering the grasp the demon had over her mind. Snapping her eyes open she looked around anxiously.

The Peroki was no longer standing over her brandishing his sword. Equally startled, the demon had turned to greet the thundering intrusion.

Spike stood facing the beast, chainsaw in hand. He tilted his head.

"Come get some."

Circling his prey, a devilishly exuberant smile spread across his face.

Buffy felt a tremendous feeling of relief wash over her. She watched as Spike surged into battle.

The chainsaw roared as it bit deep into the Peroki. It wasn't the most graceful of bouts, but Spike's enthusiasm and hardware made him the clear victor. Standing over the viscera of the demon, he triumphantly discarded his saw, though his elation was short lived when he looked down and noticed the splattered gore covering his beloved duster. Carefully peeling off his coat he held it out for Buffy's attention.

"Expect a dry cleaning bill real soon."

His eyes ran over her, taking in the spectacle of her almost naked, blood daubed, shackled body. She was looking at him in a fashion that he wasn't accustomed to and it threw him. He guessed it must be relief or maybe even touch of gladness to see him?

Buffy rattled her restraints indicating for him to free her. "Um, a little help here?"

Spike laid his coat next to the shrine and searched for a key, finding it next to a half empty bowl of blood. Picking up the bloody container he sniffed cautiously. 'Goat, and pretty fresh too.' He shrugged. 'Seems silly to waste it.' He vamped up and bolted down the lot. Behind him he heard the Slayer groan.

"Gross! Seriously that is so wrong."

Spike walked over to her, licking the last of the goat from his lips. He looked down at her. Her navel had filled with the anointed blood; it ran over her chest and ribcage and pooled so invitingly in her belly button that he had trouble concentrating on anything else. Spike dropped down between her legs; motioning to her stomach he enquired cheekily. "Do you mind?"

Buffy's eyes widened. "Yes! Yes, I mind. Look just undo these stupid cuffs so we can get out of here."

Spike gave her answer some serious consideration before ultimately deciding to ignore her, lean forward and feast.

Buffy watched as Spike hovered over her stomach; he placed his lips around her navel and then performing a body shot he sucked the gathered blood into his mouth. Buffy gasped at the strange sensation; steadily Spike started to lick the remaining blood from her skin. His attention to her body was having a very strange effect on her; she should be shouting but she felt like moaning with pleasure every time his soft tongue touched her flesh. He worked his way up her body towards her heart. Once there he slowed his lapping, lavishing attention over her soft skin.

The blood was gone. Spike's licking turned to delicate kisses as his face turned back to its normal visage.

She couldn't move; frozen beneath him she watched as he continued to kiss a trail across her chest and up along her neck. Suddenly feeling like she should do something to stop this, she squealed.

"I'm clean! I'm clean now!"

Spike raised his head to look into her face. Moving slowly he positioned himself directly above her. Buffy gazed up at him feeling completely at his mercy. He lowered his mouth towards hers. She felt herself parting her lips expectantly and was just about to close her eyes when Spike stopped and whispered seductively, "I think I may have missed a spot." He smiled brazenly as he moved back towards her stomach.

Buffy felt his soft caressing kisses trailing down her abdomen; she also felt Spikes hand resting on the inside of her thigh. As he kissed lower and lower his hand moved slowly higher until it rested gently against the elastic of her panties.

Buffy felt completely confused; she was excited, very excited. This shouldn't happen, not with him.

In one swift movement Spike had pushed her panties to one side. His mouth sought her out, licking and sucking expertly. His tongue was knowledgeable and Buffy felt like coming almost instantly; she held back, biting her lip and closing her eyes.

She knew she should tell him to stop; that was the right thing to do, but as he worked his mouth sensuously against her all she could think about was prolonging the experience. She felt his fingers slide inside her and she gasped as he worked them back and forth stimulating her even more.

Tightening her grip on the shackles, Buffy raised her head and opened her eyes. Looking down at the vamp caused waves of warmth and pleasure to shoot through her which drew a helpless moan from her lips. Spike looked up. His skilful attention was already sending her wild but now with his eyes on her Buffy could hold back no longer. Throwing back her head she came.

Buffy's body convulsed in pleasure, her moans echoed from the run-down walls. Just as one peak of ecstasy passed another built to take its place; all sense of where she was or who she was disappeared as she concentrated on the blissful all-consuming feeling.

Slowly the sensation faded as Spike lessened his administrations. Buffy listened to her heart pound as she caught her breath.

Spike slowly replaced her panties and kissed a trail back up to her navel. Buffy kept her eyes closed; she didn't know what else to do. The whole situation was unreal, the air felt heavy around her.

His lips left her skin and she sensed him move away from her; opening her eyes she looked down to view him as he knelt awaiting her response.

"Could you find my dress?"

Buffy hadn't known what to say so she'd opted to act like nothing had happened. Spike frowned at her before giving her a knowing smile. He ran a finger up her leg.

"You not want to talk about this Slayer?"

Buffy shot him a pointed look.

"No Spike." She shook her leg to stop his finger trail. "I don't want to talk about this ever. In fact I want to erase it from my memory, from both of our memories. We don't think about it, we don't talk about it, we don't even remember it, OK? God this is so embarrassing."

Spike set his jaw, his smile turning tight.

"Fine, suits me." He looked annoyed. "Struck with the blood lust, things become a blur, you end up doing things you wish you hadn't done." He got up and went to retrieve the key. "I've forgotten it already luv."

Buffy felt a small sense of disappointment at his answer, of course that's what she wanted but hearing his easy dismissal irked her.

Spike spotted Buffy's dress in a heap next to the altar and scooped it up; he grabbed the key and headed back towards her. Tossing her dress down on top of her carelessly he set about unlocking her shackles.

Buffy avoided eye contact. Spike seemed keen to do the same. Free from her shackles, she dressed quickly in awkward silence. Smoothing her dress down she chanced a quick glance; his brow was furrowed and he was busying himself flicking gore from his leather. Buffy cleared her throat to get his attention.

"So, I guess we can get out of here."

Spike nodded without looking at her. Bundling up his coat he strode past her.

Buffy followed him as he led her out of the building, towards his car. She'd never felt so awkward in her life; possible things to say kept running through her head, but nothing fitting seemed to make it as far as her lips.

Spike flung the passenger door open, circling the car he slouched down into the driver's seat. Throwing his duster into the back he grabbed his smokes from the dash and lit one, he exhaled the smoke as he turned to Buffy.

"You getting in or what?"

Buffy lowered herself into the seat. His car was a mess; she desperately wanted to say something but didn't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere, and by the look on his face he'd kick her out if she even raised an eyebrow.

They drove in silence for a bit; it was excruciating. Just as Buffy felt she could stand it no longer and was about to break and try to make small talk, Spike pushed in a cassette and the car filled with angry punk.

Finally Spike pulled up outside her house. Buffy had her hand on the handle before he'd even stopped. Just as she made ready to bolt and make her escape, Spike flicked the cassette off and turned to her.

"Wait, where you going Slayer?"

Buffy looked at him, terrified at what would come next. She knew this 'it's forgotten already love' business was too good to be true. He leant in closer to her. Buffy froze in anticipation; her heart beat quickening momentarily before slowing again as she realised he was simply reaching back to retrieve his leather. Spike dumped it in her lap.

"Good as new or there's going to be trouble, I don't want it bloody shrunk or coming back grey either."

Buffy eyed Spike; he'd turned away from her once more. She gathered up the coat, grimacing at its icky-ness.

"Be careful with that; it's a one of a kind."

Buffy raised her eyebrow, "Hmm, with good reason."

Spike leant over her quickly and popped her door open.

"Get out."

He shoved her and Buffy climbed out of the car eagerly. Slamming the door she leant down.

"I couldn't stand to stay a second longer in that mobile trash can of yours anyway."

Spike narrowed his eyes. "Stuck up bitch!"

Buffy glowered back at him. "Undead moron!"

Spike ground his teeth and glared at her, Buffy's eyes burned back at him. They remained furiously eying one another, both refusing to relent. Finally Spike broke and turned to look back through the windscreen.

"Oh yeah, and don't go telling anyone I saved you, got my rep to keep up."

"Don't worry, I won't." Buffy spat. The thought of telling anyone anything about what had happened tonight was horrendous; she'd just lie instead, say she broke free and somehow managed to kill the demon herself. She studied the surly vampire.

"Why did you save me?"

Spike looked uncomfortable; he blinked then gathered himself. Reaching for his cigarettes and lighting one, he nonchalantly replied.

"Guess I don't like the thought of anyone else raising hell around here except me."

Buffy felt disappointed again. So saving her was just demon one-upmanship and the 'moment' was just the blood lust leading him astray. She shook herself. Good! She should be glad that there was no more to it. It was Spike, the proverbial thorn in her side, almighty pain in her butt, evil doer extraordinaire and soulless psychopath. What had happened earlier was disgraceful, disgusting, and dirty and if anyone found out she'd die of shame. She found herself watching his mouth as he exhaled a lazy column of smoke. A sudden irrational anger shot through her and she felt like punching him.

Spike turned to look at her once more, his face had softened and his eyes had lost their venom.

"Morning's coming, time for beasties like me to get back under their rocks." He gave a tired smile. "Night Slayer."

Buffy's anger fizzled and she nodded a feeble response; she felt like she should say something, but words failed her. Spike eased the car out and sped off down the road. Buffy watched as he disappeared from view; alone on the pavement she looked down at the blood caked coat in her hands and sighed.

"Definitely one of a kind."