"I swear to God, Spike, if you keep looking at me like that, I'm never going to get this kitchen cleaned up."
That following Thursday, Spike sat at her kitchen table, watching closely as she scrubbed the dishes and washed the counters, and every once in a while he caught a glimpse of a sliver of skin at her waist.
"Come on, Pet. Your father has been home for the past few nights, and I've had to behave." He smirked at her as he slowly stood and leaned against the counter. "I think I should be rewarded for my good behavior…"
"What good behavior? My father has been home two nights in a row, and even though I told you to behave, that doesn't mean that you did." She laughed as he slipped his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest.
"I think I've been a very good boy. I even let you get some sleep last night." He whispered very softly, a mere inch from her ear.
She slapped at his hands.
"I know what you're up to mister. Now shoo." She slapped at his hands again, pushing him toward the family room. "You go watch TV, and I'll join you as soon as I'm done. My dad will kill me if he comes home tomorrow morning and the kitchen is still a wreck."
Spike scowled to himself as he walked into the family room.
Within less than a week, she had become the most important thing in his life. He was here every night, and during the day, he had begun rehabbing some of the dingier parts of his crypt for her. Hell, he'd borrowed (read: stolen) Zander's vacuum for the simple idea that he wanted her to feel comfortable at his place.
He aimlessly flipped through the channels, and every single one reminded him somehow of Dani.
That girl had hair like Dani, but it wasn't as thick; Dani used to have a dog like that when she was a little girl; Dani used that kind of laundry detergent.
It seemed that his obsession wouldn't cease.
The second the water stopped running in the kitchen and he could hear her approach, he became genuinely excited.
She walked timidly into the living room, and he watched her walk as a predator watched his prey. She sat down at the opposite end of the couch, an entire couch cushion away from him, and he almost laughed out loud. In a single motion, he slid himself toward her, until his leg brushed her leg.
"I missed you." Slipping an arm around her shoulders, he nuzzled her earlobe. "You were too far away."
"Too far away? I was just in the next room." She squealed when he picked her up by her waist and pulled her over him so that she was straddling his legs.
"If I can't touch you, you're too far away…" He gripped her waist and pulled her even closer to his chest. "Mmm. That's better."
He kissed her softly before she pulled away.
"Spike? Can we talk about something?"
"I'm sure we can, but why don't we try later." He started nuzzling her neck, and muffled his words when he took her earlobe between his lips.
"I'm serious. There's something that I need to talk to you about…"
"Fine. You talk, and I'll continue to nibble on this sexy little spot where your neck meets your shoulder..."
She paused, almost allowing herself to get swept away by the sensations of his teeth and his tongue against her skin, but at the last minute it just slipped out.
"What are we, Spike?"
He stopped and pulled back to look at her. "Where is this coming from, pet?" He brushed her hair away from her face and stared at her intently.
"I just… I don't know… "
"What do you want from me, baby?"
"Again, I don't know… I still don't really know if this is happening in real life, ya know? I mean, you're, well, you. Sexy, smooth, badass… I'm just plain old me." She slid herself from his lap and kept her gaze to the floor. "I read ahead for class and analyze computer code in my spare time. I haven't worn a dress since I was 4 years old, not counting that scrap of a skirt you goaded me into wearing. I'm too short, too chubby and I'm so shy that I blush constantly. My hair is too frizzy, my teeth are only straight because of four years with braces, and I-"
He lifted her chin to face him. "Stop. Where is all of this coming from?"
"Well, I've just seen the other girls that you've been with, and I-"
"Again, stop right there. I'm assuming you're talking about Dru?"
"And Harmony…"
"Oh, good Lord." He ran his hand over his face. "Alright, first, Drusilla was crazy. She was literally a card-carrying loony, and I only stuck with her because she was my sire. Harmony was a complete nit-wit if I ever saw one, and the only reason I kept her around was because I was lonely and she was enthusiastic." He turned to face her on the couch. "Love, you are nothing like any of the women that I've been with before, and I thank God for that. You're shy at first, but then you become my sexy little spitfire with a tongue sharper than most of the slayer's weapons. You're gorgeous, you're smart as Hell, and you're quite possibly the only person alive, or dead, that makes me nervous like a teenager again.
"As far as the clothes thing, if you want to start dressing differently, I wouldn't mind. I barely notice your clothes now, seeing as most of the time all I can think about is getting you out of them again." She felt the blush creeping up her neck, and while she knew that he noticed, he didn't acknowledge it. "But I will say this. You will not be wearing that skirt out in public ever again. The only one allowed to see that much skin on my girl is me."
"So, I'm your girl?"
"I'd like very much for you to be." He slipped her hand into his and waited patiently. He was more nervous now than he'd been in a long time.
"Good." She leaned over and kissed him. "I just didn't know how these things work, seeing as I've never dated anyone before, and the only other person I've kissed was Zander, and-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up, right there. Zander? You kissed Zander?"
"In like the sixth grade… "
"Really? That complete idiot? That was your first kiss?"
"Don't have a cow. It only lasted like 3 or 4 seconds, and-"
"That long?! Bloody Hell." He stood up and started pacing the room. She watched him incredulously. "I always thought that he liked you, but I didn't know that he'd had a chance to sample the merchandise yet."
"I think that was a bit rude…" She stood up to face him. "Why are you being this way? I've known him almost my entire life, and I kissed him for a few seconds almost ten years ago. I've known you for less than that, and I've done things to you that I wouldn't even consider doing to Zander." She placed her hands on his face. "Baby, just stop, okay? I'm your girl now. That means you have to trust me."
"So, if you want me to trust you, why don't you tell them? You know, tell the Scoobies about us." He pulled away from her. "You see them every day, and not once have I heard you mention that you've been blowing a vampire almost every night. You tell them about Will, and how he's an older man, but you left out the fact that he's centuries older than you, and, oh yeah, drinks blood."
"Spike, stop it. You're just trying to hurt me now." She felt the tears building in her eyes, but refused to let them fall. She pushed him hard in the chest. "I haven't told them yet, because I didn't exactly know if there was anything to tell…"
"Really, love, you're doing wonders for my self-esteem right now."
"No, I mean, I wasn't sure how they would take it."
"Of course. We have to spare poor little Zander's feelings. Couldn't have that ninny getting upset."
"No, you jerk, I meant, look at the reaction we got when you first drank from me. They're my best friends, and I couldn't stand it if they didn't like my boyfriend."
"Then you should just date Zander. I'm sure all of your friends would like that."
"I'm pretty sure that Anya would take exception to that! And could you just leave Zander out of this!" She pushed him again. "I didn't like Zander then, and I don't like Zander now. Ugh. You know what? I'm not sure I like you right now either." She ran her hands through her hair. "I think you should leave."
Spike looked at her for a long moment, and instead of saying anything, he just turned and walked away. Once she heard the door click, she crumpled onto the couch.
In the space of a few minutes, she not only gained her first boyfriend, but lost him as well.