Chapter X
Raven was setting up the music when the door swung open and Willow walked in, flanked by two gorgeous men. With a surprised squeal, Raven threw herself off the raised stage and over to her red haired cousin. Willow wrapped her arms around her and babbled about how she hoped Raven didn't mind her just showing up. Raven pulled away from her and scolded the teary girl. "Will, I've told you before and I'm telling you again. My house is your own personal Hotel California; You can book in anytime you want, but I'll get very upset when you want to leave." Willow giggled wetly. Raven eyed the two men behind her. "Who're your friends cuz?" Willow looked startled and turned to look at them as if she had forgotten their presence. The dark haired one smiled evilly and the blonde smirked cheekily. Willow cleared her throat. "Raven this is Angelus," she indicated the darker of the two.
Raven held out her hand to shake his, but he captured it and brought it to his lips. His kiss was cool and sure. If any other man had done that, Raven would have laughed at them, but this Angelus was not the sort of man one laughed at. Also, it seemed to be a sincere gesture, as if he did it more often than shaking hands. So Raven smiled at him and turned back to Willow who had stumbled to a halt at Angelus' gesture. "Right, uh…well, this is Spike" the blonde's grin was cheeky at the choked laugh on Raven's lips. He watched as her eyes drifted down his body, then snapped back up as he started talking. "Allo luv. If you're wondering, its not self proclaimed." Instead of going red at the innuendo, Raven burst into delighted laughter.
A polite throat clearing brought her round; the class was watching them expectantly, many of the female patrons eying Angelus and er Spike with interest. Raven indicated that they walk with her as she returned to the stage. "I've got a class now Willow luv, but you can stay if you like. You can watch or," she grinned. "even join in!" Willow went as red as her hair and Raven laughed, delighted. The dark haired girl put on her microphone and turned it on. When she spoke next, her amplified drawl was directed at the two men. "I'm guessing you boys aren't interested in joining in either." She turned to the class. "What do we think, ladies and gents, can we let the hotties…watch?" The emphasis she put on the word meant she was clearly hinting at voyeurism rather than mere observation. The general cheering and scattered cat calls granted her their affirmative answer.
Raven started the music and moved to her pole. For the next hour, Angelus and Spike could not take their lustful gazes off the dark haired vixen on stage. They watched hungrily as sweat gleamed on the dark skin exposed by the tiny black crop top and hot pants and the way her lithe muscles flexed through the erotic dance moves. The sensual music moved through the heavy air. Raven seemed completely at home with the dance; completely self confidant. When her hands weren't holding the bar, she was smoothing them down her own sweat slicked body as she writhed to the music. Angelus and Spike weren't the only ones staring. Many of the patrons, male and female, were eying the vixen hungrily. Willow on the other hand, was shocked. Having never been to a pole dancing class, she was now quite sure she would never attend one again of her own free will.
Occasionally, Raven would lick her lips, crook her finger or wink suggestively at this person or that, drawing fake groans or cat calls, much to the amusement of the two vamps. Yep, she knew her job alright. As the final song finished, Raven let out a whoop and spun herself around the pole, dark hair flying around her. By the final spin, she was on the floor and she flung her head back as the arm gripping the pole swept out with finality. The two vampires tensed as her long neck stretched out temptingly, glistening with sweat and throbbing with her elevated heartbeat. Applause from the class was scattered and exhausted, but Raven seemed to have just as much energy as ever. Sliding back up the pole, she skipped to the edge of the stage and bounced on the balls of her feet. "That was a fan-freaking-tastic session guys! Now I know the secret to getting ya'll to work harder yeah? Hire voyeuristic hotties! Everyone give it up for Angelus and Spike. It's been a pleasure havin 'em here tonight." The applause was stronger this time and the two vamps got many appreciative glances as the class members filed out.
The room smelled strongly of sweat and arousal and the vampires inhaled it eagerly. They watched as Raven packed up the stray equipment. Angelus strode over eager to converse with the fiery brunette. "I don't suppose you do private classes, do you?" Raven laughed delightedly. "No. sorry Angelus, but even if I did, I don't really think pole dancing is for you. Maybe the ballroom classes on Thursday nights? You look like a tango man." Angelus looked stunned, but caught the wicked gleam in her eyes and chuckled darkly. The cheeky grin on her face faltered for a split second, then she was laughing again as if the momentary lapse in her good humor had never happened. Raven finished shutting up shop and turned to Willow. "Will, I need to go change, ok? I can have a shower when we get home instead of here. I'll only be a minute, so you guys can wait out in reception if you want." Willow nodded, looking suddenly a lot paler than usual. Raven mistook it for shock. "Hey cuz, don't worry about my classes 'kay? I won't ask you to join and you don't have to come see them again if you don't want." Willow smiled weakly and hugged her damp cousin loosely.
Once Raven was out of sight, Angelus started laughing; a dark, low, evil sound which sent fearful shudders up Willow's spine. "That girl is something else. Spike, my boy, we are definitely not letting Crane get his greasy claws into her. She's ours now." Willow felt the pit of her stomach drop as Spike grinned at his Sire. The trio retraced their steps to the reception and waited for Raven.
A few minutes later, Raven came jogging down the corridor wearing a tight black singlet and oversize cargo pants which rode low on her hip, exposing several inches of toned stomach. She grinned and snaked her arm around Willow's waist. "Will, I've missed you girl! We'll have to go shopping tomorrow." Willow nodded and the four of them strolled out with a wave to the secretary. Raven stopped dead when she spotted Angelus' car. "That is a beautiful piece of machinery. Angelus, I commend your taste." The dark haired vampire grinned. "You should see my Aston." Raven's ears perked up. "I love Astons!" She ran a hand over the black Lamborghini's sleek curves admiringly. Angelus trailed his hand behind hers, leaning discretely forward to inhale her scent. "You want to take it for a spin? Willow can drive yours home, can't you Willow?" Raven looked up from her examination, startled. "Oh, no, that's ok. Willow is here to see me. I can't leave her all on her lonesome just so I can satisfy my desire to take a hot engine for a ride around the block. Maybe later." Angelus' eyes clouded for the briefest second, then he laughed. "Quite right. Willow, you want to ride with Raven?" Willow looked into his dark eyes, seeing the warning in them. "Uh, yeah, ok. I guess I'll see you there." The Ferrari led the way, the sleek Lamborghini followed; stalking like some smooth panther on the hunt, its quiet purr a deadly warning of power.
Raven parked in the garage and waved Angelus in too. The garage turned out to be three bays wide and actually went under the house. The other bay was filled by three custom motor bikes. One was a blood red BMW, one a gold Orange County and one a jet black Harley. Matching helmets hung on the wall. As they waited for Angelus to park, Willow examined the designs on the sides of the bikes; the red one had Betty Boop in a margarita glass, the gold had black spider webs spanning the gas tank and the black had a gold dragon symbol. Angelus slid out of the driver's seat gracefully and strode over to the bikes. He ran an appreciative hand over the black. "Seems I'm not the only one with taste Raven." The brunette laughed and gestured for them to follow her out of the garage. The trio retrieved their luggage and trailed after her.
The roller door slid shut silently behind them and Raven unlocked the front door and entered. "Come on in guys. Willow you know which rooms yours. Angelus and Spike can have the two opposite, 'kay? I'm craving a shower, settle in boys. Willow knows where the kitchen is if your hungry. House rules will be discussed when I get back. In the mean time, promise you'll behave." This said, she breezed up the stairs, leaving them to follow slowly after, lugging their heavy bags.
The vamps settled into their respective rooms and Willow showed them around. They finished up in the kitchen, where they found Raven's cats on the buffet stools and a hedgehog on the kitchen counter, tucked comfortably into a little nest of sorts. The two tiny cats stretched luxuriously and strolled over to mark Willow, rubbing themselves shamelessly against her legs and covering her jeans in fur. The hedgehog blinked up at them, then went back to sleep. Spike grinned when the smaller of the two, a grey, strolled over to sniff at him delicately. He squatted down and slowly extended a hand. To everyone's surprise, the cat jumped on him and settled itself on the blonde's shoulder, curling its tail around his throat. Spike cursed in surprise, then cast the cat a bemused look through stormy blues, which the cat returned with almost identically colored eyes. The other cat, a black with green eyes, strolled over to Angelus and patted his leg demandingly with a forepaw. With a chuckle of real amusement, Angelus scooped up the spoiled sable feline and cradled it in the crook of his arm, where it's coat blended almost perfectly with Angelus' black silk shirt. Willow stared as the cats made themselves comfortable. Purring filled the room, surprisingly loud.
"I guess you boys are family now." Raven grinned as she strode into the kitchen. With simultaneous meows, the cats jumped down and bolted towards the brunette. In moments, they'd leapt up her body and each was perched on a shoulder. "Hades and Ares don't suck up to just anyone you know." She opened the fridge and pulled out two chicken wings. Grinning, she waved them in front of the diminutive felines and uttered a small snort of amusement when the cats seized the meat & leaped off her shoulders, proudly bearing their meals which were about the same size as their heads. They disappeared out the cat-flap a moment latter.
Raven watched them disappear, smiling fondly. She shook her head and turned to her trio of visitors. "Any of you hungry? I got left over Chinese in the fridge or I could cook up some pasta if you're game." Angelus smiled. "We already ate actually, but I'm sure Willow would like something. Spike and I are a bit jet-lagged. Do you mind if we just get some shut eye?" Raven grinned as she turned to the fridge in search of the left over take out. "I know exactly how you feel, sweetheart. You two go crash, me and Will got lots to talk about." Angelus spared Willow a warning glance as the vamps headed up the stairs. Willow shivered at the dark eyed gaze and did her best to ignore the amused grin on Spike's face.