Always Ease Her Pain (Rewrite)

by Donna Vito Frutti

What he wants, she won't give. What she wants, he wants more. So they're both left with less than their actual selves. Willing slave. User. Which is which.

Something's wrong.

I feel it in the urgency of her movements. The tremble in her voice. The softness in her body. In her every move.

This isn't one of our usual games. This is serious. Different. This is the real and the illusion merging. This is her letting me in.

I tread cautiously.

It happens so rarely, I revere these moments. But-

Something's wrong and I can't ignore it.

"What's wrong, luv?" I ask, not convinced that she would answer but I can't not try. What sort of a man would I be if I don't.

"Talk to me, pet"

She shakes her head.

I try to touch her but she turns away. She doesn't want comforting. She wants to be taken away. She needs me. And that I can understand.

Feeling...instead of feeling...instead of feeling...

"Spike, just...hold me, love me."

Something's wrong. But I can make her feel better. She needs me. I know what to do. With a last plea to heavens that she will feel better afterward, I bend to capture her lips in mine.

I will always ease her pain.