Disclaimer: I own Keith, the other unnamed vamps, and the plot. The rest belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB, etc.
Finished: December 15, 2000
~~ Cordelia's Men ~~
~~ Chapter Five ~~
I woke up with a start and the room was still dim. *What's wrong with me?* I thought. *First Xander to Spike; now Doyle to Spike?* I looked at the clock beside my bed and saw that I'd only been sleeping for a couple hours. I stretched and stifled a scream when I felt a cool hand slide over my stomach. I looked beside me and nearly fell out of the bed when I saw Spike smiling at me. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Is that the only question you know how to ask?" he asked.
"I thought you left last night." I said.
"I only went to my place for some blood. Besides, how could I leave you?" he said. "Last night was kinda fun."
"Did we--" I started. I was very confused and still a little groggy.
"No," he said quickly. "We just talked and stayed up half the night 'til you fell asleep."
"Yeah, I remember that part," I said nodding my head. "I can't believe I had a sleepover with William the Bloody."
"I know, Ice Queen...you're the only person colder than me." he joked. I playfully punched his arm but he caught my fist and pulled me close to him. Laying nose to nose on the bed, he wrapped his arm around my waist. "The sun'll be up soon," he whispered. "I should go."
"Okay," I said, my voice and face revealed my disappointment.
"Don't worry," he said, putting his hand on my cheek. "I'll be back after sundown." He kissed my forehead and left the room, closing the door silently behind him. I kneeled on the bed and peered out the window. After a few seconds of waiting, I saw Spike walk across the front lawn. I lightly tapped the window and he spun around. I waved and smiled as he kissed his hand out to me and waved back, then continued on his way home.
I lay back down in bed and sighed. I hugged myself tightly and smiled. Last night, Spike and I shared stories of our past and laughed, but when he told me a little about Drusilla, I saw tears in his eyes. I felt so sorry for him and so I changed the subject and told him about Xander, Doyle and Wilson. As I talked about them, especially Xander, I could see the tiniest bit of jealousy in his eyes. He had told me that if he could, he would find Wilson and drain him but was a little relieved when I told him that Angel nearly beat him to death. He told me that nearly wasn't good enough.
I lay on my bed and smiled at the effect that I had on him but it disappeared from my face when I suddenly I realized what my subconscious mind had been telling me in my dreams...I had fallen in love with Spike.
I turned on my laptop and decided to write Angel to get my mind off of Spike. I logged into my e-mail and wrote: "Hey guys, it's me, Cordy...like you could forget. I got into Sunnydale safely, but finding a place to stay was hard since I had no cash on me. Giles took me in for the night and I'll be staying at Sunnydale Inn until I can find a more permanent place. I'm going apartment shopping in a couple days. I've already met a guy; very cute...short blonde hair, sexy English accent...he's extremely nice and funny. I really like him. And don't worry guys, especially you, ANGEL, cause I've known him since high school. He's not a demon servant...you can trust me on this." *He's not the servant; he's the demon.* I thought to myself. "Anyway, I haven't seen any of the Scoobies except for Giles. And I haven't seen Buffy around, but this is only my second day here...I'm sure I'll see her soon.
You'd better mail me back cause I want to hear how its going in LA...I miss you guys! I'll write again soon. Love, Queen C.
P.S. Still no visions, but if I do have one, you'll be the first to know...well technically, I will, but I'll tell you ASAP. ;)"
After I sent the message and turned off the computer, I snuggled deeper under the blankets, still smelling faintly of Spike's cologne, and drifted off to sleep.
~~ Chapter Six ~~
"Angel," Wesley called from behind the desk of Angel Investigations. "Cordelia sent a message."
Angel trudged down the stairs. "What's it say?" he asked. "And try to keep your voice down."
"Sorry," he apologized quietly. His had voice hurt Angel's sensitive ears. "But you shouldn't have gone to that bar last night. Getting drunk will not solve your problem and neither will following her around." Recently, Angel had been to Sunnydale to check on Buffy, fearing that without Cordelia's visions, he wouldn't know if she were in trouble or not. He had lurked around outside her apartment and watched her on her patrols, which were sometimes accompanied by Riley. When he felt that she was safe enough, he returned to LA, only to drink his self-pity away at a nearby bar.
"I don't have a problem...I only wanted to protect her," he said sternly. Wesley gave him a look of doubt. "Just read the letter." Angel ordered, closing his eyes in a failing attempt to lessen his hangover headache.
Wesley's eyes skimmed the computer screen from behind his glasses. "She stayed at Giles' the first night...she's currently staying in a motel until she finds an apartment...she met up with a guy...blonde, English, nice...she likes him a lot," he said. Angel looked up worriedly. "Oh, don't worry, Angel...she says for us not to. She's known him since she was in high school."
"Oh shit," Angel said, his eyes widening. He grabbed his car keys off the desk. "I'll be in Sunnydale if you need me." he said, walking out the front door of the office, still situated in the old Hyperion Hotel.
"Angel!" Wesley called after him. A minute later his boss stepped back inside the building, smoke rising from his head. "It's still daytime." Wesley said, hiding the smirk on his face.
"Shut up," Angel muttered as he walked to the backdoor, where he kept his convertible in the shade.
After Angel left, Wesley stared after his boss for a minute, not understanding why he had to rush off to Sunnydale. He then smiled to himself, thinking he had discovered the reason. "A lovesick vampire...he'll use any excuse to see her again."
************************************************************************
I had had another dream that morning, not Xander, not Doyle, but Wilson. Sure the guy was a creep, and I know that now, but when we were dating, I admit, I loved him. In my dream, I was back in my old apartment and Wilson and I were kissing. And just like the others, when I opened my eyes to look at him it was Spike. I asked him if he wanted to stay the night and he answered yes. As he kissed me again, I woke up. Except this time it wasn't sudden...I woke up smiling.
I sat on the bed in my motel room that night and Spike sat in an armchair across the room. He was wearing a white wife-beater with a navy-blue open button front shirt overtop and, of course, his black duster and black faded jeans. He looked absolutely gorgeous in the outfit as he brought his Zippo up to the cigarette held in his mouth and took a long drag.
As I sat, I watched him intently...Spike raised his eyes to meet mine. "What? You said I could smoke in here." he protested.
I snapped out of my stare when I realized he was talking to me and pretended to be annoyed. "I said you could smoke when I'm not in here, or when the window is open," I stated. "And as you can see, the window is--" I stopped when I looked over at the window. "Open" I finished, smiling nervously.
Spike smirked. He knew that I had been watching him.
"I opened it when you were in the bathroom." he told me.
"Oh," I said, nodding my head. I felt myself blush and Spike grinned at me.
He took another drag from his cigarette. "Look, Ice Queen," he said, using my old nickname which, coming from him, I didn't mind all that much. "I've seen the way you've been looking at me all day. You want me don't you?" Smoke billowed out of his mouth with each word he spoke.
I stood up. He was just trying to rile me up...get my heart racing...make me angry...then kiss me. I didn't care; I wanted to kiss him too. He was right...I wanted him. He'd been sitting in that chair for the past two hours...just sitting! He knew I liked him...I hoped that he didn't know that I loved him. *Surely he couldn't know...how would he?* I thought to myself.
He stood up as well, but he was still too far away...a whole four steps. It was killing me. I wanted to feel his hands on me, his lips on mine...I craved it and he knew. He was playing with me like a cat plays with a mouse. I decided to give him the fight he wanted. "Why would I want you? Nobody would want you...not even your sire wanted you. She dumped you for a slimy demon!" I yelled. When I saw the hurt look on his face, I regretted every word. I had taken it too far. Playing on his one and only insecurity was low...even for the Ice Queen I used to be in high school. He angrily put his cigarette out in the ashtray and sat down in the chair again. I looked down at my feet. "I'm sorry Spike...I wasn't thinking."
"No, you weren't," he yelled. "I told you that because I wanted to, not so you could use it in a stupid fight!"
"I know, I'm--" I began.
"Yeah, you're sorry. So what?" he said. He had a hurt look in his eyes that I hadn't ever seen before. Did Spike love me too? *No. He couldn't.* I thought. *He doesn't love anyone but Dru. And I just used her against him.*
I knelt down beside him and placed my hands on his arm. "Spike," I said softly. He looked away from me. I closed my eyes as guilt overtook me...I had to tell him. Even if he rejected me, he had to know. I opened my eyes and studied his profile. "I...I love you."
~~ Chapter Seven ~~
Spike looked at my face with a bewildered expression on his. Neither of us spoke a word as I stood up and pulled his arms until he too was standing. I kissed him and my hands pushed his leather duster off of his shoulders. It slid down his arms and onto the floor and he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me closer to him. My heartbeat soared at the closeness and I felt his lips curve into a smile. I grabbed a hold of his open shirt and pulled him with me as I backed up towards the bed.
When my legs touched the edge of the mattress, I lay down on the bed and pulled him with me. Our lips broke apart and I watched his face as he vamped out. I didn't mind...I didn't even think twice as he started placing light kisses on the neck. He took my arms and placed them above my head, lightly pinning them there. It was a loose enough hold that I could free my hands if I wanted to...but I didn't. I let Spike take control as he began to unbutton my shirt.
Suddenly I heard someone call his name angrily. But it wasn't my voice...it was Angel's. Spike and I turned our heads to look over at the door where Angel stood. I thought about what it must look like to my former boss to see us. Spike lying on top of me, my arms pinned with one of his strong hands, the other unbuttoning my blouse, and with his game face at that...he probably thought Spike was either raping me or draining me. Angel burst into the room and grabbed Spike by the neck. He pulled him off of me and threw him against the wall. I stood up and quickly buttoned my blouse back up.
"Angel!" I called angrily as he picked Spike up off the ground and punched him in the face. I grabbed Angel's arm before he could hit him again. "Stop it!" I yelled. "He wasn't doing anything!"
Angel let go of Spike's shirt and pushed him lightly against the wall. "What's going on Cordelia?" he asked in his 'I'm your big brother so you'd better tell me now.' voice.
"What do you think?" I asked him. "It hasn't been that long has it Angel? Only five years ago on Buffy's seventeenth birthday, right?"
"Cordy, Spike is dangerous," he said, glaring at Spike, leaning against the wall. "You're coming back to LA with me." He grabbed my arm but I shrugged him off.
"Angel, no!" I said harshly. "I'm almost 23 years old. I can decide what I want to do and who I want to do it with!"
"Cordy--" he started.
"Just leave," I said, pointing to the door.
"But--"
"I. Said. Go." I glared at him. "I can take care of myself."
Angel looked over at Spike and glared at him. He turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him. I stepped over to the window and yelled after him. "Maybe this time you'll actually talk to her...not just stalk her from across the street!" he stopped walking but didn't turn around. "Tell Little Miss Likes-To-Fight I said 'Hi'."
I shut the window and turned around to face Spike. His vamp face was gone, his left eye was bruised and his left temple was bleeding a little...Angel's stupid Claddaugh ring had cut it. Did he really believe that Buffy still wore hers for him? Not when she had Riley. *She probably doesn't even know where it is.* I thought. I walked over to Spike and dabbed at his cut with a tissue from my pocket.
"Don't worry about it," he said flatly. "It'll be fine tomorrow. I heal fast."
"Yeah, Angel does too," I said.
"Did you tell him about us?" he asked in the same dull tone. His tone then became angrier as he continued before I could respond. "Did you write to him and tell him that I've become a nice guy and to come beat the hell out of me?"
"No, of course not," I replied. "I just told him that I met a guy that was blonde, English, and that I'd known since--oh God I'm stupid!" I put a hand on my forehead and closed my eyes.
"No, you're not," he said, putting his left hand on mine and pulling it down in front of me. "You're beautiful."
I looked up at him and smiled. He cupped my chin with his right hand and kissed me gently. He pulled away from me to look at my face. I lifted a hand to touch his bruise. It was fading more and more, each time I looked at it. "I'm so sorry, Spike," I said. "I know I shouldn't have told him, but I had no idea that he would--"
He placed a cool finger on my lips, interrupting me before I could finish. "I love you."
I stared up at him in disbelief. Then a smile crept across my face as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. He pulled my arms from around his neck and stepped back. "What if Angel comes back?" he asked.
"He won't...he'll be out following Buffy around," I reassured him.
"Or he could be out telling her," he said. "She loves beating on me for information...she'd jump at the chance to stake me." He grabbed his jacket off of the floor and slid it on. I hid a frown. I really wanted him to stay.
When he left my room, I quickly pulled my hair into a long ponytail, grabbed my own jacket and jogged to catch up to him. "Buffy will have to deal with me first." I said. He smiled as I clasped my hand in his and we walked off to the Bronze.
~~ Chapter Eight ~~
We walked into the Bronze and checked to see if Buffy was there. We didn't see her so we sat down at a small table. Spike's eyes darted around nervously.
"Don't worry," I said. "Nobody will bother us. If any vampires come up you can tell them I'm your meal." I grinned at him.
"That's just it," he said quietly. "The other vampires know about my chip...they get pretty pissed off when they find out that I've killed one of us. They all think that I'm on the Slayer's side."
"Then I'll let you bite me if it comes to it...you said the chip activates with the intent to hurt someone, right? Well, maybe without the intent to hurt me, the chip won't go off. Maybe it will 'sense' that you don't want to hurt me."
Spike didn't like the idea of having to bite me. "If it comes to it, just hit me and run off. I'll find you later...but take this stake just in case." He handed me a smooth, white, and extremely sharp stake from the inside pocket of his duster. It had a small black handle and looked a little like a dagger.
"Should you be carrying this around?" I asked. "What if you tripped and fell? You'd be dusted in a second. What a way to go. Anyway, I already have a stake." I opened my purse but the stake was gone. I looked up at Spike.
"That was old and dull...I made you this one." he smiled. "What do you want to drink?" he asked.
"Nothing," I said as the band began to play a slow song. "I want to dance."
I grabbed his hand and dragged him onto the dance floor. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and I put mine around his neck. I sighed as I laid my head on his unbeating chest. Before I closed my eyes, I saw Xander dancing with Anya. He was staring at me with his jaw open. He pulled away from Anya and started walking over to me. Anya huffed angrily and went to sit down. Xander would pay for it later.
"Here comes Xander," I whispered to Spike.
"So?" he asked.
"I think he's either looking for trouble, or going to lecture me like Angel did." I explained.
Sure enough, Xander tapped Spike on the shoulder and pulled me aside. Spike stood there with an annoyed look on his face before heading to the bar.
"Cordelia, I didn't know you were back in Sunnydale...how long have you been here?" he asked. "Oh yeah...and what the hell are you doing?"
"You're as bad as Angel! Spike's not dangerous and he's not even able to hurt me with that chip in his head." I answered angrily.
"What chip? He got that thing out a long time ago, but Buffy hasn't been able to follow him long enough to catch him in the act." he said.
"What?!" I exclaimed. "He told me he still had it."
"He's lying so that he can bite you the first chance he gets." Xander said.
"Believe me, he's had lots of chances," I said, not intending to say it aloud.
"What did you say?" he said, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Forget it Xander," I said. "I can do what I want, I'm not your problem anymore. You have Anya and I have Spike. He hasn't bitten me yet, and he gave me a stake to protect myself. He wouldn't hurt me...unless I ask him to." My voice was a little harsher than expected but I didn't care. I was sick of people treating me like a kid. I turned and walked away from Xander and toward Spike at the bar. He handed me a beer and I gratefully took it while he sipped his own.
"What'd he say?" he asked.
"Nothing much," I answered. "Just how you're not my type and that I shouldn't be around you."
"Oh," he said, nodding his head. "Cause I could've sworn I heard him tell you that I didn't have the chip in my head."
I was dumbfounded...then I realized his vampiric hearing picked up our conversation. "I don't care, Spike," I said nonchalantly, feeling only a little scared. "I don't believe him...he's just jealous that I found someone better than him."
Spike seemed pleased with my answer, but I was mostly trying to convince myself. Maybe Xander was just lying. I mean, 'Buffy couldn't follow him long enough'...? Buffy was the epitome of following...she wouldn't stop until she had her vamp.
We finished our drinks and went for a walk. Spike started to lead me to the graveyard where he stayed. "I just need to see if those vamps took anything." he said. He motioned for me to be quiet and stay outside as he quietly slipped inside.
Finished: December 15, 2000
~~ Cordelia's Men ~~
~~ Chapter Five ~~
I woke up with a start and the room was still dim. *What's wrong with me?* I thought. *First Xander to Spike; now Doyle to Spike?* I looked at the clock beside my bed and saw that I'd only been sleeping for a couple hours. I stretched and stifled a scream when I felt a cool hand slide over my stomach. I looked beside me and nearly fell out of the bed when I saw Spike smiling at me. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Is that the only question you know how to ask?" he asked.
"I thought you left last night." I said.
"I only went to my place for some blood. Besides, how could I leave you?" he said. "Last night was kinda fun."
"Did we--" I started. I was very confused and still a little groggy.
"No," he said quickly. "We just talked and stayed up half the night 'til you fell asleep."
"Yeah, I remember that part," I said nodding my head. "I can't believe I had a sleepover with William the Bloody."
"I know, Ice Queen...you're the only person colder than me." he joked. I playfully punched his arm but he caught my fist and pulled me close to him. Laying nose to nose on the bed, he wrapped his arm around my waist. "The sun'll be up soon," he whispered. "I should go."
"Okay," I said, my voice and face revealed my disappointment.
"Don't worry," he said, putting his hand on my cheek. "I'll be back after sundown." He kissed my forehead and left the room, closing the door silently behind him. I kneeled on the bed and peered out the window. After a few seconds of waiting, I saw Spike walk across the front lawn. I lightly tapped the window and he spun around. I waved and smiled as he kissed his hand out to me and waved back, then continued on his way home.
I lay back down in bed and sighed. I hugged myself tightly and smiled. Last night, Spike and I shared stories of our past and laughed, but when he told me a little about Drusilla, I saw tears in his eyes. I felt so sorry for him and so I changed the subject and told him about Xander, Doyle and Wilson. As I talked about them, especially Xander, I could see the tiniest bit of jealousy in his eyes. He had told me that if he could, he would find Wilson and drain him but was a little relieved when I told him that Angel nearly beat him to death. He told me that nearly wasn't good enough.
I lay on my bed and smiled at the effect that I had on him but it disappeared from my face when I suddenly I realized what my subconscious mind had been telling me in my dreams...I had fallen in love with Spike.
I turned on my laptop and decided to write Angel to get my mind off of Spike. I logged into my e-mail and wrote: "Hey guys, it's me, Cordy...like you could forget. I got into Sunnydale safely, but finding a place to stay was hard since I had no cash on me. Giles took me in for the night and I'll be staying at Sunnydale Inn until I can find a more permanent place. I'm going apartment shopping in a couple days. I've already met a guy; very cute...short blonde hair, sexy English accent...he's extremely nice and funny. I really like him. And don't worry guys, especially you, ANGEL, cause I've known him since high school. He's not a demon servant...you can trust me on this." *He's not the servant; he's the demon.* I thought to myself. "Anyway, I haven't seen any of the Scoobies except for Giles. And I haven't seen Buffy around, but this is only my second day here...I'm sure I'll see her soon.
You'd better mail me back cause I want to hear how its going in LA...I miss you guys! I'll write again soon. Love, Queen C.
P.S. Still no visions, but if I do have one, you'll be the first to know...well technically, I will, but I'll tell you ASAP. ;)"
After I sent the message and turned off the computer, I snuggled deeper under the blankets, still smelling faintly of Spike's cologne, and drifted off to sleep.
~~ Chapter Six ~~
"Angel," Wesley called from behind the desk of Angel Investigations. "Cordelia sent a message."
Angel trudged down the stairs. "What's it say?" he asked. "And try to keep your voice down."
"Sorry," he apologized quietly. His had voice hurt Angel's sensitive ears. "But you shouldn't have gone to that bar last night. Getting drunk will not solve your problem and neither will following her around." Recently, Angel had been to Sunnydale to check on Buffy, fearing that without Cordelia's visions, he wouldn't know if she were in trouble or not. He had lurked around outside her apartment and watched her on her patrols, which were sometimes accompanied by Riley. When he felt that she was safe enough, he returned to LA, only to drink his self-pity away at a nearby bar.
"I don't have a problem...I only wanted to protect her," he said sternly. Wesley gave him a look of doubt. "Just read the letter." Angel ordered, closing his eyes in a failing attempt to lessen his hangover headache.
Wesley's eyes skimmed the computer screen from behind his glasses. "She stayed at Giles' the first night...she's currently staying in a motel until she finds an apartment...she met up with a guy...blonde, English, nice...she likes him a lot," he said. Angel looked up worriedly. "Oh, don't worry, Angel...she says for us not to. She's known him since she was in high school."
"Oh shit," Angel said, his eyes widening. He grabbed his car keys off the desk. "I'll be in Sunnydale if you need me." he said, walking out the front door of the office, still situated in the old Hyperion Hotel.
"Angel!" Wesley called after him. A minute later his boss stepped back inside the building, smoke rising from his head. "It's still daytime." Wesley said, hiding the smirk on his face.
"Shut up," Angel muttered as he walked to the backdoor, where he kept his convertible in the shade.
After Angel left, Wesley stared after his boss for a minute, not understanding why he had to rush off to Sunnydale. He then smiled to himself, thinking he had discovered the reason. "A lovesick vampire...he'll use any excuse to see her again."
************************************************************************
I had had another dream that morning, not Xander, not Doyle, but Wilson. Sure the guy was a creep, and I know that now, but when we were dating, I admit, I loved him. In my dream, I was back in my old apartment and Wilson and I were kissing. And just like the others, when I opened my eyes to look at him it was Spike. I asked him if he wanted to stay the night and he answered yes. As he kissed me again, I woke up. Except this time it wasn't sudden...I woke up smiling.
I sat on the bed in my motel room that night and Spike sat in an armchair across the room. He was wearing a white wife-beater with a navy-blue open button front shirt overtop and, of course, his black duster and black faded jeans. He looked absolutely gorgeous in the outfit as he brought his Zippo up to the cigarette held in his mouth and took a long drag.
As I sat, I watched him intently...Spike raised his eyes to meet mine. "What? You said I could smoke in here." he protested.
I snapped out of my stare when I realized he was talking to me and pretended to be annoyed. "I said you could smoke when I'm not in here, or when the window is open," I stated. "And as you can see, the window is--" I stopped when I looked over at the window. "Open" I finished, smiling nervously.
Spike smirked. He knew that I had been watching him.
"I opened it when you were in the bathroom." he told me.
"Oh," I said, nodding my head. I felt myself blush and Spike grinned at me.
He took another drag from his cigarette. "Look, Ice Queen," he said, using my old nickname which, coming from him, I didn't mind all that much. "I've seen the way you've been looking at me all day. You want me don't you?" Smoke billowed out of his mouth with each word he spoke.
I stood up. He was just trying to rile me up...get my heart racing...make me angry...then kiss me. I didn't care; I wanted to kiss him too. He was right...I wanted him. He'd been sitting in that chair for the past two hours...just sitting! He knew I liked him...I hoped that he didn't know that I loved him. *Surely he couldn't know...how would he?* I thought to myself.
He stood up as well, but he was still too far away...a whole four steps. It was killing me. I wanted to feel his hands on me, his lips on mine...I craved it and he knew. He was playing with me like a cat plays with a mouse. I decided to give him the fight he wanted. "Why would I want you? Nobody would want you...not even your sire wanted you. She dumped you for a slimy demon!" I yelled. When I saw the hurt look on his face, I regretted every word. I had taken it too far. Playing on his one and only insecurity was low...even for the Ice Queen I used to be in high school. He angrily put his cigarette out in the ashtray and sat down in the chair again. I looked down at my feet. "I'm sorry Spike...I wasn't thinking."
"No, you weren't," he yelled. "I told you that because I wanted to, not so you could use it in a stupid fight!"
"I know, I'm--" I began.
"Yeah, you're sorry. So what?" he said. He had a hurt look in his eyes that I hadn't ever seen before. Did Spike love me too? *No. He couldn't.* I thought. *He doesn't love anyone but Dru. And I just used her against him.*
I knelt down beside him and placed my hands on his arm. "Spike," I said softly. He looked away from me. I closed my eyes as guilt overtook me...I had to tell him. Even if he rejected me, he had to know. I opened my eyes and studied his profile. "I...I love you."
~~ Chapter Seven ~~
Spike looked at my face with a bewildered expression on his. Neither of us spoke a word as I stood up and pulled his arms until he too was standing. I kissed him and my hands pushed his leather duster off of his shoulders. It slid down his arms and onto the floor and he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me closer to him. My heartbeat soared at the closeness and I felt his lips curve into a smile. I grabbed a hold of his open shirt and pulled him with me as I backed up towards the bed.
When my legs touched the edge of the mattress, I lay down on the bed and pulled him with me. Our lips broke apart and I watched his face as he vamped out. I didn't mind...I didn't even think twice as he started placing light kisses on the neck. He took my arms and placed them above my head, lightly pinning them there. It was a loose enough hold that I could free my hands if I wanted to...but I didn't. I let Spike take control as he began to unbutton my shirt.
Suddenly I heard someone call his name angrily. But it wasn't my voice...it was Angel's. Spike and I turned our heads to look over at the door where Angel stood. I thought about what it must look like to my former boss to see us. Spike lying on top of me, my arms pinned with one of his strong hands, the other unbuttoning my blouse, and with his game face at that...he probably thought Spike was either raping me or draining me. Angel burst into the room and grabbed Spike by the neck. He pulled him off of me and threw him against the wall. I stood up and quickly buttoned my blouse back up.
"Angel!" I called angrily as he picked Spike up off the ground and punched him in the face. I grabbed Angel's arm before he could hit him again. "Stop it!" I yelled. "He wasn't doing anything!"
Angel let go of Spike's shirt and pushed him lightly against the wall. "What's going on Cordelia?" he asked in his 'I'm your big brother so you'd better tell me now.' voice.
"What do you think?" I asked him. "It hasn't been that long has it Angel? Only five years ago on Buffy's seventeenth birthday, right?"
"Cordy, Spike is dangerous," he said, glaring at Spike, leaning against the wall. "You're coming back to LA with me." He grabbed my arm but I shrugged him off.
"Angel, no!" I said harshly. "I'm almost 23 years old. I can decide what I want to do and who I want to do it with!"
"Cordy--" he started.
"Just leave," I said, pointing to the door.
"But--"
"I. Said. Go." I glared at him. "I can take care of myself."
Angel looked over at Spike and glared at him. He turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him. I stepped over to the window and yelled after him. "Maybe this time you'll actually talk to her...not just stalk her from across the street!" he stopped walking but didn't turn around. "Tell Little Miss Likes-To-Fight I said 'Hi'."
I shut the window and turned around to face Spike. His vamp face was gone, his left eye was bruised and his left temple was bleeding a little...Angel's stupid Claddaugh ring had cut it. Did he really believe that Buffy still wore hers for him? Not when she had Riley. *She probably doesn't even know where it is.* I thought. I walked over to Spike and dabbed at his cut with a tissue from my pocket.
"Don't worry about it," he said flatly. "It'll be fine tomorrow. I heal fast."
"Yeah, Angel does too," I said.
"Did you tell him about us?" he asked in the same dull tone. His tone then became angrier as he continued before I could respond. "Did you write to him and tell him that I've become a nice guy and to come beat the hell out of me?"
"No, of course not," I replied. "I just told him that I met a guy that was blonde, English, and that I'd known since--oh God I'm stupid!" I put a hand on my forehead and closed my eyes.
"No, you're not," he said, putting his left hand on mine and pulling it down in front of me. "You're beautiful."
I looked up at him and smiled. He cupped my chin with his right hand and kissed me gently. He pulled away from me to look at my face. I lifted a hand to touch his bruise. It was fading more and more, each time I looked at it. "I'm so sorry, Spike," I said. "I know I shouldn't have told him, but I had no idea that he would--"
He placed a cool finger on my lips, interrupting me before I could finish. "I love you."
I stared up at him in disbelief. Then a smile crept across my face as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. He pulled my arms from around his neck and stepped back. "What if Angel comes back?" he asked.
"He won't...he'll be out following Buffy around," I reassured him.
"Or he could be out telling her," he said. "She loves beating on me for information...she'd jump at the chance to stake me." He grabbed his jacket off of the floor and slid it on. I hid a frown. I really wanted him to stay.
When he left my room, I quickly pulled my hair into a long ponytail, grabbed my own jacket and jogged to catch up to him. "Buffy will have to deal with me first." I said. He smiled as I clasped my hand in his and we walked off to the Bronze.
~~ Chapter Eight ~~
We walked into the Bronze and checked to see if Buffy was there. We didn't see her so we sat down at a small table. Spike's eyes darted around nervously.
"Don't worry," I said. "Nobody will bother us. If any vampires come up you can tell them I'm your meal." I grinned at him.
"That's just it," he said quietly. "The other vampires know about my chip...they get pretty pissed off when they find out that I've killed one of us. They all think that I'm on the Slayer's side."
"Then I'll let you bite me if it comes to it...you said the chip activates with the intent to hurt someone, right? Well, maybe without the intent to hurt me, the chip won't go off. Maybe it will 'sense' that you don't want to hurt me."
Spike didn't like the idea of having to bite me. "If it comes to it, just hit me and run off. I'll find you later...but take this stake just in case." He handed me a smooth, white, and extremely sharp stake from the inside pocket of his duster. It had a small black handle and looked a little like a dagger.
"Should you be carrying this around?" I asked. "What if you tripped and fell? You'd be dusted in a second. What a way to go. Anyway, I already have a stake." I opened my purse but the stake was gone. I looked up at Spike.
"That was old and dull...I made you this one." he smiled. "What do you want to drink?" he asked.
"Nothing," I said as the band began to play a slow song. "I want to dance."
I grabbed his hand and dragged him onto the dance floor. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and I put mine around his neck. I sighed as I laid my head on his unbeating chest. Before I closed my eyes, I saw Xander dancing with Anya. He was staring at me with his jaw open. He pulled away from Anya and started walking over to me. Anya huffed angrily and went to sit down. Xander would pay for it later.
"Here comes Xander," I whispered to Spike.
"So?" he asked.
"I think he's either looking for trouble, or going to lecture me like Angel did." I explained.
Sure enough, Xander tapped Spike on the shoulder and pulled me aside. Spike stood there with an annoyed look on his face before heading to the bar.
"Cordelia, I didn't know you were back in Sunnydale...how long have you been here?" he asked. "Oh yeah...and what the hell are you doing?"
"You're as bad as Angel! Spike's not dangerous and he's not even able to hurt me with that chip in his head." I answered angrily.
"What chip? He got that thing out a long time ago, but Buffy hasn't been able to follow him long enough to catch him in the act." he said.
"What?!" I exclaimed. "He told me he still had it."
"He's lying so that he can bite you the first chance he gets." Xander said.
"Believe me, he's had lots of chances," I said, not intending to say it aloud.
"What did you say?" he said, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Forget it Xander," I said. "I can do what I want, I'm not your problem anymore. You have Anya and I have Spike. He hasn't bitten me yet, and he gave me a stake to protect myself. He wouldn't hurt me...unless I ask him to." My voice was a little harsher than expected but I didn't care. I was sick of people treating me like a kid. I turned and walked away from Xander and toward Spike at the bar. He handed me a beer and I gratefully took it while he sipped his own.
"What'd he say?" he asked.
"Nothing much," I answered. "Just how you're not my type and that I shouldn't be around you."
"Oh," he said, nodding his head. "Cause I could've sworn I heard him tell you that I didn't have the chip in my head."
I was dumbfounded...then I realized his vampiric hearing picked up our conversation. "I don't care, Spike," I said nonchalantly, feeling only a little scared. "I don't believe him...he's just jealous that I found someone better than him."
Spike seemed pleased with my answer, but I was mostly trying to convince myself. Maybe Xander was just lying. I mean, 'Buffy couldn't follow him long enough'...? Buffy was the epitome of following...she wouldn't stop until she had her vamp.
We finished our drinks and went for a walk. Spike started to lead me to the graveyard where he stayed. "I just need to see if those vamps took anything." he said. He motioned for me to be quiet and stay outside as he quietly slipped inside.