Chapter 29

When Faith arrived at the library she found Xander cradling the phone against his ear under the watchful eye of Angel. Some boy she had never seen before was sitting at the computer with Giles hovering at his shoulder.

"Faith," Giles looked surprised to see her. "Have you seen Buffy? We have a situation."

Faith ground her teeth together. If it wasn't for Willow she might just turn around and walk away and leave them deal with everything by themselves. It seemed to be how they preferred it anyway.

"I know about the situation. I was there. How do you know about it?"

Giles looked confused. "I think we're talking at cross purposes. I'm talking about the new vigilante group that has sprung to life overnight…"

"Yeah I know all about them Willow's mom's like the leader or something. They've kidnapped Willow and taken her to…"

"City Hall!" Xander cried out slamming the phone down. He'd had a bad feeling when the phone at Buffy's and Willow just kept ringing. "They have, haven't they?"

Faith nodded. "They're going to burn her to purge the town of evil."

"And you let them take her?" Xander was aghast.

"They're human, Xander, what did you expect me to do? Willow asked me to run for Spike so I did. He's gone to get her. How do you know about it?"

"Spike?" Xander was hurt and he couldn't deny it. Willow was in trouble and the first person she looked to for help was Spike, the evil undead rather than her friends.

"This is Michael," Giles said indicating the boy at the computer. "He practices magic and was attacked by M.O.O earlier tonight; Mother's Opposed to the Occult," he clarified when Faith stared at him stupidly. "It appears that Buffy's mother is also a founding member."

"So where's B?"

"She went to talk to her mother a little while ago and she hasn't checked back in yet. We can't get hold of her or Willow," Giles said polishing his glasses on the hem of his jumper.

"You won't get hold of B. Willow's mom mentioned meeting Joyce at City Hall and she knew about Slayers. Its my bet that B's been taken there too," Faith said.

"To help purge the town of evil, right?" Xander said with a scowl. "Burn the Slayer who keeps the town safe, great way to keep evil out of Sunnydale."

"We've been through this," Giles reminded him impatiently. "Its not their fault they're being controlled."

"By an evil demon," Xander said. "More good reason not to kill the Slayer or a witch who could save them, wouldn't you think?"

Giles came around from behind the counter and made his way into his office. "I'll get the book, Faith, you and Angel sort the weapons. I'm not totally sure what we'll be dealing with when we expose the demon."

"Angel," Faith prompted when the vampire didn't move. "Angel?"

"Huh?" Angel was barely listening. Spike, his Spike had gone to City Hall to save Willow at risk to his own life. Moo, or whatever they were calling themselves were looking to rid the town of evil and no one was more evil than Spike; yet he still went to Willow's rescue with no form of backup whatsoever.

"Weapons," Faith said.

"Right, weapons." Angel sprang into action, he had to get to Spike, he couldn't let anything happen to Spike. If he could help Spike, rescuing him would be better, but Angel would take whatever he could get; then Spike might start to thaw towards him and maybe he'd start to see Angel the way Angel was now seeing Spike.

XxX

Buffy blinked slowly her eyes focusing on Willow who was kneeling beside her. "Well? Are you just going to leave me tied to this thing all night?" Her lips quirked into a smile. "Come on, Wills, my back is aching."

"Sorry," Willow fumbled with the knots at Buffy's wrists. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I'm fine, and so is Sunnydale thanks to Spike."

Spike's eyebrows lifted questioningly in Willow's direction but she said nothing, she gave no hint as to what memory she had given the Slayer in place of the original one. Right handy it was, having a witch on his side who could alter memories to please herself.

"Spike may have helped out but you killed it," Willow said holding the large pole so Buffy could stand and stretch out her back.

"Lucky shot," Buffy said modestly. "I didn't know I was going to get it."

"But you did," Willow said smiling. "You always do." She gave Buffy a long look and made a small gesture with her head towards Spike.

Buffy frowned slightly; it was easy to interpret the gesture. Willow wanted her to personally thank Spike and acknowledge his assistance. It wasn't that Buffy had a problem with giving credit where it was due, and it was due to Spike; it was just that it really rubbed her up the wrong way having to thank an evil vampire for helping to save her own town and friends. It was almost as bad as having that same evil vampire saving the man she loved from certain death.

Still, Spike had helped out, he had risked his own life to come here and help Willow. Buffy was under no illusions that Spike wouldn't have lifted a finger to help it she had been here alone and would probably have found himself a good spot to watch from as her own mother burnt her alive. Buffy didn't exactly blame him for that, he was a vampire and she was a Slayer, they were natural enemies and Spike was evil after all.

Letting out a little sigh Buffy turned to Spike trying not to let her distaste show on her face. "Um, I guess… you didn't have to help I get that, so, thanks. I know it goes against your instincts to help me in any way."

"Didn't do it for you."

Buffy's head titled and she surveyed him quietly for a moment. Spike had to restrain himself from shifting his weight or turning away from her; it would only come across as shifty or weak and he didn't wish to appear to be either in front of the Slayer. Keeping his face carefully blank Spike simply stared back at her.

"I know."

"Don't care whether you live or die, Slayer."

"I know that too." Buffy's hands came to rest on her hips and she glared at him. "Look, you helped out tonight and I appreciate that. I also know why you did it. But don't think you can play me for a fool, Spike. I may not be able to stake you, but if I get so much of a hint that you're up to something you'll live to regret it. Understand?"

Spike chuckled softly. "You threatenin' me, Slayer?"

His arrogance made her temper flare. "I'm telling you, Spike."

"Well now," Spike smiled coldly. "Not so sure that'll go down so well."

Buffy followed his pointed look towards Willow who was standing with Joyce and Sheila. She had her hand on Joyce's arm staring intently into the older woman's face seemingly reassuring her. Buffy's stomach tightened as Xander's suspicions rushed to the forefront of her mind; something told her that Spike was right and Willow wouldn't like her threatening him at all.

Before she could fully consider that disturbing thought there was a banging on the door; a moment later the door burst open courtesy of combined Slayer and vampire strength. Buffy smiled to see Angel standing in the doorway, her heart leaping at the very sight of him.

"Good Lord!" Giles stepped into the room staring in horror at all the dead bodies. "Good Lord," he exclaimed again as the remaining humans in the room almost knocked him over in their bid to get out of City Hall as soon as possible.

Angel grit his teeth his nostrils flaring at the scent of fresh human blood. His eyes found Spike, the other vampire had blood all down the front of his shirt and his chin was smeared red. Angel's eyes narrowed.

"We missed the party?" Faith asked crossing the room with delicate steps to make sure she didn't slip in the congealing pools of blood.

"This is…. This is…" Xander trailed off, he actually had no idea how to describe the horror of the room. He gestured towards the large demon lying on the floor. "That the demon?"

Giles gave him an exasperated look. "What else do you suppose it is?"

"Buffy killed it," Willow said coming to stand beside her friend. "Without looking," she added giving Buffy a grin.

"Nice one, B." Faith went to stand beside the demon's lifeless body.

Spike watched Angel advancing out of the corner of his eye, the poof had that look, the one Spike associated with being extremely constipated. He was mad and ready to fling accusations about like nobody's business.

"Well, Spike helped."

Spike hid his smile as the Slayer's words stopped the Souled Wonder right in his tracks. He looked confused, his eyes switching from Spike's bloody appearance to the Slayer's open and honest face. Ha, the ponce could shove that up his arse and brood about it.

"But," Xander frowned, a confused look crossing his face. "I thought you said that the demon had to be revealed?"

Giles nodded tapping the front of the magic book he held. "Well, yes."

"You found out what it was?" Buffy wasn't totally sure if she wanted to know just what kind of demon could control her own mother to the point where she was willing to burn her at the stake.

Giles cleared his throat alerting everyone that he was going into lecture mode. "The two little children are known as Hansel and Gretel…"

"As in gingerbread house in the woods Hansel and Gretel," Xander said with a shake of his head.

Giles frowned at the interruption. "As I was saying, Hansel and Gretel have been turning up every fifty years since 1649…."

"Turning up dead," Xander added. "Never seen alive, just dead."

"But why?" Buffy asked.

"Well, some demons thrive by fostering hatred and persecution amongst the mortal animals, not by destroying men but by watching them destroy each other. They feed us our darkest fears and turn peaceful communities into vigilantes." Giles paused and scratched his head. "The thing is, to stop the demon the veil, as it were, needs to be lifted to make the demon appear in its true form to negate its influence."

"Obviously that's what they did," Faith said pointing to the demon.

"Spike got into a fight with it," Buffy said. "It turned from two cute kids to one giant demon. It slaughtered everyone in the room, Spike tried to stop it but he couldn't do it on his own. I just about managed to get the pole free, I was tied to a pole," she added rubbing at her sore wrists. "And Spike maneuvered it back so I could kill it."

"I'm a little confused," Giles admitted. "Lifting the veil requires an incantation. The demon doesn't just turn back into itself that's not how it works. Being in its true form means it loses its power over the humans. It's not the kind of demon who slaughter's, it lets humans slaughter each other."

Willow flinched and glanced at Spike. He closed his eyes briefly and gave a very small shake of his head telling her to keep quiet and not worry about it.

Buffy shrugged. "Well, that's what happened."

"Very strange," he murmured itching to open the book and read a little more, he had been sure the only way to force the demon to take its true form was with a spell.

Angel had been there when Giles had discovered the identity of the demon as he had been there when Giles had uncovered the reasons why other demons were popping up and roaming around Sunnydale causing trouble. Giles was never wrong, he always had his facts straight before allowing Buffy to rush out into battle, that was a Watcher's job after all, to, in his own way, protect the Slayer in his charge by ensuring she had all the information before going out into the field.

Something wasn't quite right.

He saw the little exchange between Spike and Willow and every demonic instinct in him, and Angel still had demonic instincts even if he didn't like to acknowledge them, told him Spike was hiding something. What that was he couldn't say, but the feeling persisted.

Buffy let out a sigh and turned towards her mother. Joyce looked stricken and Buffy hated that her mother had been dragged into something this horrible. As the Slayer this was her world, a world she was forced into and couldn't walk away from; but she had wanted to protect her mother from it all and she failed.

Not wishing to listen to any more Willow touched Spike's arm. "Can we go now?"

"If you like." He looked across at the mother, she was standing with the Slayer and her mother a little way away her face pale. "What 'bout her?"

"She got here on her own, she can get home on her own."

"Fair enough." Placing a hand to the small of her back Spike guided her out of the room. Luckily the poof and the others were busy discussing how to get rid of the dead demon and didn't notice them sneaking out.

The hallways were empty and the night was still when they left City Hall. Willow noticed Spike's car had mounted the pavement and sat at an angle at the bottom of the steps leading up to the large double doors.

She smiled when he held the passenger door open for her. He could be quite the old school gentleman at times; it was another thing she liked about him.

"Where you wanna go, love? You wanna go home? Just drive round? What?"

"No, I don't want to go home yet. Can we just go back to Angel's place?"

"If that's what you want." Spike was willing to give her anything right now, she had been through a traumatic experience having her own mother try to kill her. "How you doin', pet?" There was also the little matter of having seen him massacre a bunch of humans. She may have erased the Slayer's memory but she wasn't going to forget it or let it go, Spike would bet his beloved duster on that.

"I'm fine."

Willow was a woman of many words. They might fall out of her mouth in a domino effect, and sometimes they didn't always make much sense first off, but they were there and they were continuous. Having her sitting beside him in silence put Spike on edge.

She remained silent on the drive back to Crawford Street, and Spike worried her silence gave her way too much time to think about what she had seen. She wouldn't understand, no matter how much he tried to explain it to her Willow simply wouldn't understand why he had done what he had. She was human, a good girl and he was a demon; their minds didn't work the same way, they saw things differently and that was never going to change. Spike refused to think they saw things too differently, where there was a will there was a way, and his will was strong.

"Spike, do you think… I mean, would you mind if I stayed with you tonight? I don't really want to go home."

"'Course you can, pet." He could understand that she wouldn't want to be face to face with the woman who had tried to kill her even if that woman wouldn't remember doing it. "What memory did you give your mother?"

"No memory, I wiped their memories completely. I thought it would be better for both of them."

He looked across at her in surprise. "I didn't know you could erase memories."

"Neither did I," she admitted with a little smile. "But then I did it. Pretty neat, huh?"

"Could be right handy, pet." He grinned wickedly at her as the possibilities opened up before him.

"Can you stop somewhere so I can get a toothbrush?"

Spike chuckled and nodded. "There's a gas station comin' up. I'll stop there."

"I'll take your word for it, I can't see anything out of these windows. How do you drive like this?"

"It's a skill." He'd had the idea of covering the car windows with black paint a good few decades ago and it had turned out to be a pretty good idea. It allowed him and Dru to move around during the day if they needed to make a fast getaway from an angry mob or a demon he happened to owe money to or had double crossed.

Spike did as she asked, he stopped to purchase a toothbrush for her and he actually paid for it leaving the cashier alive and well. He didn't want to run the risk of Willow seeing him kill someone else tonight, especially when he didn't have the excuse of saving her to offer in his defense.

Angel's place didn't exactly look warm and inviting, but Willow felt she would prefer it right now even to the familiarity of her own room. Besides, Spike was right there with her and she felt safe when he was around. She smiled slightly, if anyone had told her a fortnight ago that she would feel safe with Spike she would have thought they'd totally lost their mind. Now she couldn't picture her day without him in it.

"Are you sure you're okay with me staying?" Willow twirled the toothbrush round, her nails digging into the thin cardboard where the packet opened at the back.

"Sure, pet. Don't worry 'bout being in the way, Angel's got a load of bedroom's you can choose from." It took every ounce of understanding he had to say those words. If she was going to be staying at his place he wanted her with him, not being with her was killing him; but he said nothing about it, when she was finally in his bed it would be because she wanted to be there.

Willow cleared her throat her eyelashes sweeping down against her cheek. "I want to stay with you, Spike, you know, if you want me to. I want us to be together. I, um, I want to be with you… first."

Virgin's blood tasted different to anyone else's blood and the innocence of her blood had been a genuine and pleasant surprise for Spike. "I always kinda figured you an' the wolf."

Cheeks flushing pink Willow shook her head. "No. We didn't get to that. We were building up to it. We weren't ready, well, I mean Oz had, with someone else, or maybe more than one, I don't know, I didn't ask. Didn't really want to know, it was enough just knowing that he had, you know? Anyway, what I meant was, I wasn't ready, there were issues and complicated Xander feelings all mixed up in there too and I wanted it to be right. I wanted it, or well, I guess we both wanted it to be special, Oz said he wasn't quite ready for it either so it all worked out for us really."

There was a warm feeling in his chest and a smile playing on his lips. Spike was more touched than he had been in a long time that Willow wanted her first time to be him. It told him the depth of her feelings towards him without her having to say it out loud, although, he reflected, that would be quite nice. Spike could only hope that she would, in time, love him the way he loved her.

Spike' s lips parted in sudden shock. Love? Love? No, he couldn't love Willow, he hadn't known her long enough, it was way too soon for anything as deep and meaningful as love. Or was it? Love was a tricky business, worse than magic to control. Love was one of those things that didn't go by the calendar and it didn't marry up to common sense either; if you felt it then you felt it and there was nothing you could do to change that. Didn't he know that first hand? It had been the most ridiculous thing for him to love Cecily who had never so much as given him a backwards glance; but his human self hadn't cared about that, he had known only that he loved her and there was nothing to do about it.

It seemed the same was now true about Willow. At least this time there was hope for him, more than a mere chink of light at the end of the tunnel, for at the end of the tunnel was Willow, waiting for him, willing to accept him demon and all.

Running his fingers down her cheek he said, "If it's what you want, love."

Willow nodded. "Yes, it's what I want, Spike. Oh, is it, you know, what you want too?"

He smiled. "It's what I've been wantin' for a long time, pet." Wrapping her up in his arms Spike pulled her closer, cupping her cheek and titling her head back so he could look into her face. "If you're absolutely sure," he gave her a teasing smile. "You did say no havin' remember?"

Willow smiled back, his little joke easing her nerves. "Faith says, want. Take. Have. I like her philosophy better."

His nose bumped against hers, his lips touching hers. "So I do."

Her eyes closed absorbing the light touch of his lips, stomach muscles tensing with excited anticipation. "Could I take a shower? I feel like I need to wash the last hour away."

"You can even use my en-suite." Slipping an arm around her shoulders Spike guided her towards his room. "Had to stay on the first floor when we first moved 'ere what with the wheelchair an' all. Got my own bathroom an' everythin'."

"Every cloud has a silver lining."

He laughed. It was nice to see a bit of cheek in her after a night like tonight. "In you go, pet." He opened the door for her. "I'll be in the bathroom upstairs, I won't be long."

Spike didn't take long in the shower. He was in such a hurry to get back to Willow he almost slipped getting out of the shower, he managed to grab the sink and stop himself falling on his arse. He left his bloody clothes in a pile on the floor, he'd deal with them later, he had more important things on his mind right now like a sweet little witch who was all wet and naked in a shower just below him.

When he padded back downstairs to his room and reached to open the door Spike was surprised to see his hand trembling. He stared at it for a moment, curling the fingers into a fist the muscles in his arm tightening as he strained for control. It was getting exceedingly difficult to control the violence of his emotions when he was with her and everything he wanted was just behind this door in a room where he had been at his most miserable in decades. But control was essential, the last thing Spike wanted to do was hurt or frighten her in any way.

Willow was still in the bathroom when Spike entered the bedroom. The shower was no longer running but the steam lingered in the air and he could hear her pottering about. Looking about the room Spike winced at its untidiness. Willow wasn't exactly a neat freak but everything in her room had its own little place, she was untidy in strangely organised way, everything was neat even when it was obvious something was left out when it should have been put away. His room didn't exactly look like a bomb had hit it, but it wasn't the best either. The bed was unmade, there was an overflowing ashtray on the nightstand, there was at least one empty beer or whisky bottle on every available surface and he had a habit of throwing his clothes around the room when he took them off.

Spike emptied the ashtray, his eye lighting on the necklace he had given her which was sitting beside the fallen ash and stubbed out filters. Spike smiled and touched his finger tips to the cool emerald. He was just straightening out the bedspread when the door behind him opened and Willow came out of the bathroom.

He jerked upright a nervous feeling curling through him which was quickly chased away by a screaming lust when he saw her standing there in a towel. "Feelin' a bit better now?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I think I needed that."

"You sure?" he eyed her closely. "You've been through a bit of an ordeal tonight, love."

"I'm fine, really. Thanks to you."

Closing the distance between them Spike rested his hands on her shoulders, his eyes deep and serious he stared down at her. "Nothin's gonna 'appen to you so long as I'm around."

Maybe she should have been a little insulted that he thought she couldn't take care of herself when she had survived three years of fighting evil on the Hellmouth alongside the Slayer, but there was a bigger part of her which craved the care and attentiveness her parents had denied her with their constant traveling. Her peers didn't help matters by treating her like the invisible girl either.

It was nice to mean something to someone like Spike who had seen and done so much in his time on Earth.

He kissed her then, a soft, slow kiss and Willow's eyes drifted shut her fingers coming to rest in the crook of his elbows. Was this really going to happen? Her and Spike? She was dreaming Willow was sure of it, men like Spike never noticed girls like her. But his lips against hers were oh so real, and oh so lovely; her heart beat picked up a little.

She let out a little sigh when he drew back to let her breathe. She blinked nervously at him. "Spike, will you, um…"

Cupping her face he stroked her cheeks with gentle thumbs. "Don't worry 'bout anythin' love, Spike'll take good care of you."

Dropping his hands Spike caught hers and drew her with him towards the bed. Willow's eyes closed as she tried to calm her jumping nerves. There were so many different emotions racing through her; awe, happiness, nervousness, desire, disbelief and others she couldn't even put a name to.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she whispered raggedly as Spike settled her back on the bed, his arms around her pulling her close.

"Believe it," he murmured against her fingers. He kissed the tip of each finger and smiled into her palm. "No thinkin', pet."

"I… I'm not."

Spike chuckled and pressed a kiss to her pulse. "Yeah you are, you do it so loudly."

Reaching out slowly Willow touched a broad, pale, naked shoulder, swallowing thickly. "I'll try not to."

She wasn't dreaming. Firm muscles rippled beneath her fingers, reacting as electrifyingly to her touch as she did to his, that in itself had the power to render her speechless.

A cool tongue licked at the crook of her elbow before he pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his mouth trailing up her neck and taking her lips in a forceful, erotically charged kiss that had her melting against him with a soft moan, her fingers burrowing into his hair and gripping his head tightly.

Willow was gasping when he finally released her mouth; he dropped tiny little closed mouthed kisses against her lips. "Wanna do all those things I told you 'bout, love. Wanna feel every inch of you with me."

His voice was deep, husky, sexy in a way that sent shivers down her spine. He was beyond breath taking and he looked at her with such intensity, as though she were the single most fascinating thing in his world.

Her stunning green eyes darted to his, then flitted away. Nervousness drenched her, making Spike's nape prickle, his entire body harden and an overwhelming urge to take extra special care of her washed over him. "Spike's right 'ere love, gonna take you nice an' slow. Let you get used to me."

Her exhaled breath caressed his face and heat flared in Spike's gut; he hadn't wanted anything in his long life the way he wanted Willow. A part of him was terrified at how vulnerable she made him feel.

It seemed to Willow that Spike spent hours loving her mouth, his tongue probing, flirting, caressing; teasing, exploring, ravishing until her lips felt red hot and swollen and her body ached unbearably for more.

Dropping his face into her neck Spike mouthed gently at the skin where two puncture wounds were currently hidden beneath little scabs. He wanted to taste her again, but held back, he knew what her blood tasted like; there was much more of her to taste yet.

Finding the knot in her towel Spike untucked it. Willow's body tensed as the damp cotton moved over her skin exposing her body, she'd never been naked in front of anyone before. The hard ridge of his arousal pressed against her leg and Willow shivered.

"So warm you are," he murmured kissing the swell of her breast. Spike shivered when her hands slid down his back over skin that was sleek and soft, and bones that were hard and solid, and muscles that were taunt and defined. Spike arched up into the caress.

"You aren't as cold as I thought you'd be."

He chuckled, resting his cheek in the valley between her breasts. "Nice to know you've been thinkin' 'bout me, love."

Her skin heated a little more as her blush made its way from her cheeks, down her neck to her chest. "M…maybe a little bit."

"Good." Teasing her was easy, looking at her was hard. The hunger that clawed through him was so acute Spike was terrified it would frighten her should she see it reflected in his eyes.

His hand ran down her side finding skin that was silky and supple beneath his fingers and blooming with health and vitality despite its pale quality. His tongue stole out to stroke along the underside of her breast and curl up and around her hardened nipple. She sucked in a sharp breath when he shifted slightly to take it in his mouth.

The cool touch of his lips on her skin fractured her breathing and Willow's stomach clenched, a now familiar heat springing to life between her thighs.

Blunt teeth scraped her nipple and Willow moaned, her eyes closing and her fingers gripping his back tighter as she arched towards him. Pushing himself up onto his elbows Spike palmed her other breast, his thumb rubbing erotically over the darkened nipple.

His hands trailed over her ribs, down her sides and over the hollow of her stomach, and where his hands went Spike's lips followed, revelling in the sweet taste of her flesh and the quiet moans that escaped her lips.

She squirmed when his fingers brushed along her ribs. Spike lifted his head from where he was pressing soft kisses around her navel. "Well then, what do we 'ave 'ere?" he grinned wickedly at her.

"Oh!" Willow's hand grabbed his wrist. "Nothing. Just a little ticklish."

"Uh huh."

"No!" her eyes went wide. "No tickling, Spike."

He gave her that wicked grin again before dragging his fingers back along her ribs and soothing the sensitive flesh with the palm of his hand. "Not ticklin'," he said quickly and she frowned at him making him laugh. "Where else are you ticklish? No, don't tell me, I wanna find out on my own."

And serve him right if he did discover her feet were ticklish and she accidentally kicked him in the face, Willow thought. At least he wouldn't do it again. She hated being tickled above all else. Except maybe frogs. Frogs were the worst!

He continued the drag and smooth motion along her side as his lips returned to her skin, the combination of sensations confused her senses as he scattered small kisses along her abdomen, his tongue darting out to swipe at her skin.

Shucking his towel Spike lent over her his arms wrapping round her as he returned his mouth to hers; all soft and exquisite. He could feel her heart hammering against his chest and thoughts of all that delicious blood rushing beneath the surface of her skin flashed across Spike's mind.

Willow's back arched slightly as her lips parted and a low moan tumbled from her. She was so soft, so hot against his bare flesh Spike could barely control himself. His hands tangled in her hair and he kissed her again; hard and deep, his tongue searching, ravishing until her body trembled against him.

She kissed him back just as heatedly, her tongue plundering his mouth; needing him, pulling him closer to her, desperate to take anything he offered her.

When his thumb brushed across her nipple once again Willow's entire upper body surged towards him. Satisfied, Spike left her mouth to allow her to breathe and dropped his head back to her breast.

Willow could feel her nipples straining towards him as he latched on to the tip of her breast, pulling her between his teeth. Suddenly, Spike's eyes lifted, caught hers and held.

Willow sucked in a sharp breath, the look in Spike's eyes; an intense mixture of wildness, contentedness and pleasure made her body shudder almost as much as what he was doing.

He sucked lightly, passing his tongue over and over her, enjoying the feel of her and the taste of her skin. He was so taken with her Spike almost forgot that he held her other breast in the palm of his hand. Gently, he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, massaging the swell beneath, his forehead rippling when she tangled her fingers in his hair her nails scraping along his scalp.

She was so soft, so creamy; like running his hands over silk and satin and she drove Spike wild without even meaning to. His mouth ravaged the dusky pink crest of her breast, urged on with the sound of her shallow breaths and the way she arched against him, her breathy voice whispering his name, threatening to release the untamed beast inside him.

Willow revelled in the erotic sensations flying through her system. She embraced the feeling of being so close to Spike and she gasped his name again, enjoying the fact that she could say it, that this was real and not a wonderful dream.

"Spike…. I ache," she whispered breathily.

Spike growled softly against her skin. She wasn't the only one aching, his entire body was aching.

Her thighs softened and parted as Spike's knee pressed against her legs, easing between them until she felt the hard male presence of his thigh between hers sending a hot flush through her system. The sudden feel of his knee against the softness of her core caused a sharp breath to catch in her throat. Spike's mouth lifted from hers, his eyes holding hers as his knee moved against her again, gently, teasingly causing fierce shivers of pleasure to run through her.

Using his knee to slowly part her legs Spike reached out to touch her, gently, carefully between her thighs, his fingers trembling slightly as she yielded willingly to his caress.

She was so wet, so hot, so swollen; he traced his fingers along the length of her, and she quickened to his touch, her flesh ripe and blooming. Willow moaned, desire sizzling away beneath her heat prickled skin. The feel of Spike's finger dipping into her had her eyes widening, a small gasp leaving her parted lips and her stomach tightened. She grasped hold of his upper arm, her eyes lifting to his face and his name came out of her in a croak.

"It's alright," Spike spoke softly, brushing his lips against her moist forehead.

Spike took his time with her, enjoying her completely, struggling to curb the wild urges roaring inside him. When he was sure her body had relaxed and she was used to the new feeling, Spike added a second finger; penetrating to their fullest length. He stoked her sometimes slow, sometimes hard, but always sliding in deep before retreating. Willow gasped with pleasure, her body pulsed with longing.

His thumb brushed against her clit in a slow hypnotic rhythm which made her press her bare feet into the mattress and push up against him. He could make her come with this alone and Spike knew it, but he had so much more to give her and the need he had to taste her was thundering through him.

Spike slithered down her body, his hand releasing her, easing her legs wider apart and pressing his lips to her inner thigh in a tender kiss.

After a moment he lifted his head his eyes soft. "'M flattered, pet."

A small frown wrinkled her brow.

"When a woman's aroused she swell's. You've opened up for me like a flower." Spike grimaced inside, if he started spouting poetry he was going to stake himself right there and then.

Her skin heated with embarrassment and arousal. Reaching down she touched his cheek feeling the clench of his jaw beneath her palm. Spike turned enough to kiss her hand his eyes closing for a moment before settling himself between her thighs his hard cock pressing into the bed.

Her hips jerked in surprise when his lips brushed over her and Spike curled his hands over her hips firmly. "Easy," he murmured.

Spike's eyes closed and he inhaled deeply drawing the scent of her arousal into his body, letting it linger in his head. When he finally touched her, his tongue running along her slit he groaned, his eyes rolling beneath the closed lids. She tasted as delicious as he knew she would. He touched her clit then, and a shock travelled all the way to her heart and down to the tips of her toes. Willow's body tensed at the power of his touch and then relaxed as she eagerly waited for more.

As his tongue slid inside her Willow's vision clouded with lust and her lips parted in a soundless gasp her chest heaving as all breath threatened to leave her.

Willow released a trembling breath and then a gasp of pleasure at the erotic flick of his tongue; a heavy kick of heat came from her and she arched her back in delight. Heart pounding, pulse racing, emotion flooding her as Spike's tongue teased and promised, his mouth cool and devastating, wrenching a broken whimper from her lips.

She tasted of strawberries and magic; it was the very essence of her. Magic belonged to her in a way even he hadn't anticipated. He gathered that heavenly elixir on this tongue, groaning as it tickled his taste buds with sensual promise.

Fingers still working against her, inside her, all around her; Spike caught her engorged clit between his lips and pressed down with his tongue, lashing from side to side. Willow's back arched as the muscles in her legs tightened. She grasped him with one hand and tired to push him away with the other as her senses went into overload and she came with a scream that tore from her throat.

"Oh God….. Spike." She barely managed to get the words out through panting breaths.

Spike smoothed her damp hair back from her face amusing himself by spreading the long red tresses out along his pillow. "Shh, easy now, pet. Catch your breath, hum?"

She made a little sound of agreement watching him curiously as he continued to arrange her hair over the pillow, twining a strand or two around his fingers before brushing them out. He shivered when her warm hands ran over his chest and back bringing him closer to allow her to press a kiss to his shoulder, her tongue darting out to taste his skin.

It hadn't been easy ignoring the throbbing of his cock and Spike knew he could ignore it no longer. He needed to be inside her or he might just explode. Positioning himself over her, balancing on his elbows, Spike looked down at her flushed face and glassy eyes, parted lips swollen; she was the picture of debauched innocence.

Nudging against her heated core, Spike eased into her. Propping himself on one elbow, his other hand crept down her thigh cupping her beneath her knee, drawing her leg up to hold it against his hip. She was slick enough to ease his passage and Spike's eyes rolled back in his head at the heat that surrounded him. It was different, an odd but pleasant sensation of burning; it had been a long time since he'd been with a human but he didn't remember it feeling like this.

The muscles in his back and shoulders tightened with the force of battling his ferocious need to possess her. Spike groaned in pleasure, she was so snug wrapped around the thick length of him already, he could barely wait to get fully inside her.

Catching her bottom lip between her teeth Willow moaned quietly at the combination of pleasure and discomfort between her legs. This feeling of being stretched, of being filled, didn't hurt, not yet, but she had read enough to know that it would. She clutched at Spike as he nuzzled her throat, a grunt of pleasure vibrating against her skin. He was being very gentle with her, sliding in and then withdrawing, easing himself into her a little bit more each time letting her get used to him.

His fangs scratched at her neck dislodging the scabs. He worried at the cut to bring a small measure of blood to the surface, licking at the wound a bolt of pleasure swept down his spine; magical virgin's blood.

He felt her body's natural resistance to his intrusion and Willow gave a sharp gasp of pain, her body freezing. "Easy now, baby," he whispered hooking her leg over his hips. "Put your other let round me, love, an' keep it there."

She did as he asked, confused when his hands came up to frame her face, his fingers sliding up into the hair at her temples and holding her tightly. Pulling back slightly, Spike pressed his hips forward again.

A sharp pain enveloped her senses and Willow cried out, her nails biting into his shoulder blades, her eyes screwing tightly shut as his hips surged forward, his fangs simultaneously sinking into her throat.

A raw groan left his lips as her blood burst into his mouth and he pushed his full length completely into her body; her blood changed and Spike had the duel taste of the innocence of the blood already coating his tongue and the new slightly more spicy tasting blood of the girl who had given herself over to him completely. Spike savoured the moment; it was truly one to remember, the very second his girl became his.

Willow was glad he'd held her still for that, if she had started jerking or squirming about his bite would probably have hurt a lot more than it had. It wasn't that she was opposed to Spike biting her, she just wished it didn't hurt so much.

Licking the fresh wound one more time Spike raised his head to rest his ridged forehead against hers. Her warm breath fanned his face, her lips mere inches from his. "No more pain," he promised kissing her softly. "Just pleasure."

With each slow, deep thrust he gave her their bodies drew nearer, and Spike's back rippled with the movement, his behind clenching, his hand coming back to her leg, holding her firmly, keeping her knee bent.

This was what she had been yearning for, aching for; she shivered with each firm thrust of Spike's body into her own.

Spike was lost in his own hazy desire. Lost on the way she gasped his name and clung to his body as pleasure stormed through her; lost on the wild tide of passion that carried him onwards straining towards his release and driving Willow to hers.

The air around them was hot and cloying with an ever -increasing desire that burnt between them, transporting them to another level of consciousness and a blissful moment of perfection.

Willow cried out just as Spike felt her inner muscles clamping down on him. Something between a roar and a growl erupted from him as he spilled his release, his climax as thorough as hers was.

She felt boneless, as she lay half under Spike from where he had collapsed beside her, the lower half of his body still covering her. She was panting, harsh and ragged against his neck all energy drained from her.

"You alright, love?"

"Hum," she let out a contented sigh, fingers moving slowly through his hair.

"You want anythin'?" He had no idea if humans required something post making love.

"No thank you." Her finger wandered down his cheek bone and back up again.

"Nothin'?" he pouted. "Not even a cuddle?"

She laughed at the mock sulky look he gave her. "Oh yes, I'd like one of those."

Stretching out on his back Spike held his arm up for her to settle against his side. Cupping the back of her knee he drew her leg up and over his. "'M gettin' used to being nice an' warm."

Picking up a packet of cigarettes off the nightstand Spike shook one loose and proceeded to light up. Taking a nice long drag he exhaled watching the cloud of smoke hang lazily in the air above them. "It bother you?"

"No, I like it." Willow settled her head more comfortably on his chest. "Smoking always makes me think of you."

He rubbed her arm. "That right?"

"Hum." She fell silent, her fingers tracing idle patterns over his chest, noting the very stark differences between her own fair skin and his. "Spike."

""Yeah love?"

She chewed on her lower lip for a moment before replying. "If… if you know, it wasn't, um all that…um, good for you…"

His hand came to rest on the side of her head, holding her steady as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Perfect, love. Don't worry 'bout that."

Willow felt that was probably a bit of a stretch but she appreciated the sentiment behind it anyway. "Spike?"

His lips quirked into a smile, it was almost impossible for her to remain silent if she wasn't thinking about something. "Yeah?"

Her hand trailed down his chest to his hip, her thumb sliding along the sharp bone, her eyes dropping to where his cock lay quiet and soft between his thighs. "Will you… will you teach me how to make you.. um… well, you know?"

Tucking her hair behind her ear he rubbed a lock between his fingers watching the play of red and gold in the light. "Teach you anythin' you wanna learn, love."

"You make me happy."

The simple declaration hit him hard and made his chest ache. Even Dru had never come out and said something like that to him in the hundred years they were together. He squeezed her shoulder, kissing the top of her head again. "You make me happy too, baby."

She said nothing more, and after a few minutes her heart beat evened out completely and she fell into a light doze. Spike closed his eyes and absorbed her; warmth, scent and heartbeat.

XxX

The scent of sex and blood hung in the air thick, heavy and cloying. Yellow eyes glared balefully at the closed door to Spike's room.

Angel couldn't remember when he had last been so jealous that the demon came out in him but it was out now; angry and displeased and the soul ached with hurt; Spike was happy without him.