Buffy grinned at her sister over their only slightly burned pancakes.
"Come oooooon," Dawn whined. "I promise not to *ewww* once."
Buffy smiled, and swallowed at bite of her pancake. "Ok. So, ya know, Spike's like.... how old?"
"Hundred and thirty," Dawn gave her guess-timate.
"Right. And he's so nervous in the car, that he's talking in his head and I can hear him, and it was his first date."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Duh, much? We ALL knew it was your first date."
"No. First date. Ever. Eternity. One hundred thirty years, plus like.... twenty-four real people years?"
Dawn's chin dropped. "No kidding? Oh my god. You've gotta be kidding me."
Buffy shook her head. "So! We decide to go to a Chinese restaurant, and his fortune, TOTALLY sucked."
Dawn laughed. "Between the sheets?"
"Yeah. So, then, he drove us to this park..." She gave a small sigh. "And PUSHED me on the swings."
Dawn made an 'awwww' face.
Buffy made a bemused face. "And he was being so... weird. Like... we played tag, and raced, and stuff..."
Dawn arched her eyebrow. "Be careful. It's a pod person."
Buffy laughed. "And then, we just sat on a bench, talked. And then we came home." Took a bite of her pancake.
"And?"
"And what?" Buffy mumbled around her mouthful.
"The kiss??"
Buffy about choked. "DAWN! I was in by curfew! That's all you need to know."
Her sister rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Is he? A good kisser, I mean. I bet he is, cuz he always does stuff with his tongue while he's talking and-"
"Dawn! He's a good kisser! Be quiet already!"
She leaned over her plate eagerly. "So! When are you gonna go out again??"
Buffy gave her sister a look. "Next month."
Her sister pouted. "Fine. When are you gonna go see him again?"
Buffy gave a secret smile. "I dunno..."
========================================================================== =========
Buffy walked slowly to his crypt, smoothing her white lace shirt. It wasn't too dressy. And neither were the black pants. She hoped. She licked her lips, kind of liking the Cherry-Vanilla flavor, and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
She walked in, came down the ladder to the downstairs. "Hey."
He was half sitting up, half laying on the bed, glasses, leather bound book at his side. He gave her a lopsided grin. "Hey. Didn't expect to see you today, luv. Did you need somethin'?"
She gave a smile, flopped down on the couch to face him. "A reprieve from Dawn?"
He chuckled. "Don't think I can help you with that. I'm a bit scared of her. Well, not really, but she's taken to playin' with me all the time." He set the book aside and put the glasses back in his Tigger case. "Anything else?"
She was confused. Should she be making excuses? "Umm.. no. No. Just came to say hey. But ummm... you're all with the sleepiness.. forgot. Vamp hours. I'll get going then... ya know, run some errands."
He smiled at her, patted the bed next to him. "Can't sleep. I'm hyper for some reason. Stick around. It's great to have someone besides the cat to talk to."
Harmon was sleeping in the ratty green chair and didn't even decide to respond.
She gave the cat a pat as she walked past it. Sat at the foot of the bed.
He smiled again. "So, did you have fun last night?" He switched around so that he was laying on his side, facing her.
She nodded. "Yeah. You?"
"It had to be one of the best nights of my life, luv." He grinned. "In fact, I'm just going to say that it was the best night of my life. So far, anyway."
She smiled. "Good."
Gave her a raised eyebrow. "What do we do now?"
She laughed. "I have no idea."
He grinned. "I have an idea. But you might not want to do it... In fact, never mind.." He reached for his book again.
She frowned, her interested definitely piqued. "What?"
Opened the book, pretended to read. "Naw. You wouldn't want to..."
"Yes I would! What is it?"
"You really think you'd want to?"
"Yes! I wanna know!"
He grinned, pulled a tiny piece of paper out of the book, and handed it to her. "Your handwriting, I believe?"
Oh, God... 'Hook, line, and sinker' echoed through her head. "Yeah..."
"And you did say that you wanted to do it, right?" Half evil, half playful grin.
Resigned to her fate, she nodded.
"Good." He reached into the drawer, putting his glasses and book in, and taking several things out. Rope, handcuffs,.... and the two, white feathers. Sat back and grinned at her, waiting for the reaction.
Unease, fear, and the quelling of the urge to laugh hysterically. So, of course, a blank face was presented to the fore.
Spike smiled. "Want to lie down, luv? I won't tie too tight, I promise. I want you to be able to squirm a little." He got up, picking up his toys, and stood next to the bed.
Fair was fair, she thought, but when the hell did she ever start caring about that? She sighed, crawled to the head of the bed, lay flat on her back stiffly.
He grinned, and set about tying her down. True to his word, he didn't tie her too tight, and the ropes were padded so that they wouldn't cause rope burns. "Relax, luv. This might be fun."
A slew of dirty words raced through her mind. "Ok." Marginal relaxation, but if her spine got any stiffer, it'd shatter.
He sat on the side of the bed, and rubbed her shoulders. "I'm not going to do anything for a minute, luv. I want you to relax. Try to have fun." He massaged her neck gently.
Her body relaxed against her mind's will.
"That's it." He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss. "Good Slayer." Playfully patted her on the head.
She gave him a look.
He chuckled. "Ok. Mind if I remove your shoes and socks?" He stood up and moved to the foot of the bed where her feet were tied to the posts.
"Oh gee, since I have a say in the matter..."
"Not a bit, but I thought I'd ask anyway." He removed her shoes and socks, then tested her a little, running a finger up the bottom of each foot quickly.
Knees jerked as close to her chest as the ropes would allow. Please, she thought sarcastically, feel free to ignore the total cuteness of my socks, too. Pleeeease.
He "tsk"ed. "Haven't even gotten to the feathers yet."
She wasn't as graceful as him at this, not by half.
He grinned. "One last thing. Mind if I roll your shirt up a ways? Not too far. And you do have a say about this. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
Smiled benignly. "So kind of you to not want me to be uncomfortable. It's fine."
He smiled. "After all, I don't want to be the only one having fun, now do I?" He rolled her shirt up, so that her stomach, bellybutton, and all but the top rib was exposed. Grinned at her. "Now. Now we can begin." He sat on the side of the bed, contemplating his next move, began absently tracing circles on her ribs and stomach.
Her skin jumped, but her focus remained inward. Even breathing, slightly raised heartbeat. All routes of escape would require a LOT of strength and energy, and violence. Her mental lightbulb went off. Or distraction. Keep that in mind, Buffy, she warned herself. If you have to.
He took a feather, considered it, and then ran it up her ribs, continuing his circling with the other hand, near her bellybutton. 'Let's see her ignore this.'
Her hips jumped and her eyes snapped from the haze they had been in.
"Gotcha." He stuck one feather into her bellybutton, wiggling it unmercifully, and continued stroking the other up and down her ribs, pausing to play with the still concealed top rib, sticking the feather under her rolled up shirt.
Her mind went blank with relief. A tickle game. Thank God... She laughed.
He continued wiggling the feathers. This wasn't all he had in mind, but it was a good start, and he loved hearing her laugh like that. He brought the other feather up and began on the rib on the other side. 'She's going to regret that she ever showed me that,' he thought with a chuckle.
She squirmed as much as her bonds allowed, laughing without reserve again.
Spike loved watching her like this. "Do you want me to stop, luv?", he ask playfully, both feathers now going up and down her ribs, crossing over at her belly button, and returning to the ribs.
She nodded helplessly. "Yes!"
To her superset, he stopped. Then walked to the foot of the bed, and knelt on the floor between her feet. "Hmm. What to do now?" He twirled the feathers, looking at them, then at her feet, then up at her. "What do you think I should do?"
She said, with great hope, "Untie me?"
Evil laugh. "Uh-uh." He started stroking the feathers up and down the soles of her feet, wiggling them in the arches, then sliding them in and out between her toes. "This is so much more fun, anyway."
Her body strained against the ropes. And the part of her that would always, no matter what, remain the Slayer, was screaming for attention. For care, for thought.
Spike continued playing with her feet, then crawled back up her body, sitting on her knees, and started anew on her ribs and stomach. He drew little patterns with the feathers, even writing in script a little with the tips of them across her belly and sides.
Her stomach jumped as her mind tried to plan. She laughed.
Spike was having fun. Every new burst of laughter made him just want to play more. He took the quill end of the feather, and began to lightly write on her skin, starting at the rolled up shirt, and working his way down. Writing ticklish poetry that only he could see.
Her stomach muscles had officially been worked out for the day. "Sp- pike."
"Uh-huh?"
"What are you d-doing?" Her hips were squirming to the left and right.
"Writing."
"What?"
He smiled. "The poem I told you last night. You liked it so much, I thought I'd help myself remember it."
"Wh-why am I t-tied up?" she stuttered out between laughs.
"So you don't squirm as much." He "tsk"ed. "You made me forget my place. Have to start over."
She shook her head. "Why period?"
He stopped for a moment, looked at her. "Because I want to." Started up again, writing on the ribs this time.
She closed her eyes. Winced. 'Payback's a bitch...'
Chuckle. "Yep." He straddled her hips, holding her down a little better. "Now, quit squirming so much. You don't want me to start over again, do you?"
She resigned herself to her fate. Again. "No."
He grinned, and continued writing down her ribs. No longer writing poetry, but writing everything that he loved about her, playing being one of them. He wondered if she could tell what he was doing. Take no chances. While he wrote on the ribs with one feather, he began twisting the other one in her bellybutton again.
She was doing her best to not squirm. She hitched up on the bed, her feet now strained, but giving her enough room to wrap the rope around her palms, giving her something to squeeze.
He chuckled. "How's it feel?", he asked, throwing one of her own questions back at her.
Tiny moan.
"That was half-assed. I want emotions, nerves, everything..." He couldn't help laughing a little as he threw her words back at her. Payback was INDEED a bitch.
She gave a small pant. "Aroused, scared, scared. Mad...confused."
"Why are you scared?"
She gave the ropes at her wrists a deliberate tug. They weren't going anywhere anytime soon.
"Well? Why are you scared?"
"Because being tied to ANYTHING has never led to good memories with me." She arched and tugged again. Hm.. A little give. But not enough.
He sat back, considered. "If I untie you, will you hold still?" He really wanted her to have fun too.
She shook her head. "Probably not." She sighed, knowing some part of this was a trust deal. Something she was NOT good at. "It's ok."
"You sure? I can even stop now, if you want me to." He looked at her, wanting to know if she wanted him to continue. "Or, I could loosen the ropes if you want. Give you more room, if that's what's bothering you."
She considered for a few long, silent moments. He needed this. Licked her lips. "I'm sure."
He grinned, leaned over and kissed her. "Are you enjoying this at all?", he asked, stroking her stomach with a feather.
Her stomach jumped. "Yeah?"
"Was that a question, or a statement?" Brought the other feather into play on her ribs. The short break had left her already sensitized skin in a state of hyperactivity, making the tickling sensation that much worse.
She squirmed, laughed and rolled her hips.
"Any thing you want me to do, luv?", he said with a grin, enjoying her reaction. Knowing personally how much worse tickling got after a short break, he started on both sides at once. "Any requests?"
A pitiful non-sensical noise escaped her lips.
He actually giggled without meaning to. He was loving this. He paused, leaned forward. "What was that, luv?"
She said a very naughty word in vampiric.
He chuckled. "Oh." He dropped the feathers, and went right for her ribs with his fingers, going to the spot that she'd shown him, both sides at once.
She squealed, laughed, tugged, arched, and squirmed at the same time.
Spike loved this. He released her rib with one hand, and found the spot on her hip. Both her worst ticklish spots, at the same time.
She squirmed, getting out of breath. Her laughs came between desperate gasps for breath.
He stopped, sat back, giving her time to breathe. "Do you want me to stop now?"
She shook her head. "Uh-huh."
He grinned, got up, and untied her, leaving her lying on the bed. He sat next to the headboard, leaning on a pillow next to her. "Was that fun for you?"
She gave a reluctant nod, still pulling in deep breaths, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession.
He chuckled. "Now you know why it's a good thing not to have to breathe." He laid down next to her, purring quietly, extremely contented. Happy. Relaxed.
Her eyes closed, she smiled at the vibrations going through her body from his purring. "What was your point?"
"Don't leave coupons lying around for one thing. Although..." He placed a piece of paper on her stomach. "You at least deserve a little revenge."
She picked it up, squinted at it. "Allows Buffy Anne Summers and her alone to subject Spike to as much tickling torture as she sees fit. No time limit, feathers are allowed," the note said.
She smiled. "Specified the torture this time."
"Yep. Not making that mistake again."
She pouted playfully.
He grinned at her, then closed his eyes, still purring loudly. No words, just that happy rumbling. She laid one hand on his chest, liking the feel of it traveling up her arm, through her body.
He smiled at her touch, and the volume of the purr increased. "You like when I do this?"
"Mmm..."
He snuggled up against her, allowing her to feel the purr better, draped an arm over her waist and nuzzled his face against her neck.
She pondered the purr a moment, tried one of her own. A gurgling mumble was all she got for her trouble.
He grinned, opening his eyes and looking at her. "Humans can't purr, luv." Considered. "But, I didn't think humans could speak vampiric either. Try in your throat, like gargling."
She pouted. "I did."
He chuckled, purring louder. "Leave it to me, then." Nuzzled her neck again.
She focused, tried again. Got a very manufactured fake-cat noise.
"Getting better. Don't concentrate. It comes from emotion. From love, contentment, happiness. That's what makes me purr. Just relax..." He nuzzled her some more, planting light kisses on her neck.
Her stomach went liquid. The contented noise that spilled from her lips was by no means a purr. But it was a noise that Spike knew well, and knew was completely Buffy.
"Close enough..." He continued kissing her neck, and playfully nibbled on an ear lobe.
She turned her head, giving him more access.
He alternately kissed, nibbled, and licked his way around that side of her neck, wondering how much she could take before she'd pounce him.
Not much. In a practiced, smooth movement, she turned, rolling her body on top of his, her hands gripping his wrists.
He grinned at her. "Whoa, easy there, luv. I'm delicate."
She snorted, bent her head to nibble at the mark on his neck she had taken to calling hers. "Whatever."
His eyes crossed with pleasure. That always got him. His hands roamed over her back, and he attempted to lean up and kiss her some more, but he was also open to whatever she wanted to do. All through this, the deep purring continued.
She lifted her head, let him kiss her. He purred into her mouth, nibbling on her lip, his tongue quickly finding hers and playfully dueling with it. She sighed into his, letting the playful duel turn slightly serious.
He continued to purr, leaving her mouth to kiss and nibble a trail down her throat, all the way to her collarbone. He nibbled and licked around to the claim mark he had left, then began to pay special attention to it.
Her body was slowly putting all it's weight on his. Her hands slipped from his wrists, snaked down his arms, to play over his chest. As he continued to nibble and lick around the mark he had left, he moaned at the pleasurable shivers that her hands on his chest were sending through him. The purring turned into a repeating phrase, "*I love you, I love you, I love you...*"
The phrase pulsed through her system like blood, and it made her strong, made her beautiful, made her soft, made her invincible. Her eyes closed, body shaking, her hands moved back up his arms, to link with his. They pulled apart for a moment, both needing to catch their breath. Her out of need, him out of habit. He rested his forehead on hers, leaning up slightly, the "*I love you..*" purr continuing.
She said quietly, "Spike?"
"Yeah?" Equally quietly.
"When you... When I was... what else did you have planned?"
"When you were tied up, you mean?"
She nodded.
He chuckled quietly. "I dunno, really. Just wanted to get back at you for yesterday. But, I wanted to have fun, and I love seeing and hearing you laugh, so I decided to tickle you. Also, I wanted to test out the new spot you showed me."
She smiled. "That's it?"
"Yeah. That's it. Why?"
She dismissed it with a shrug. "Just asking." She nuzzled under his chin.
He purred louder again, the phrase still there, but quieter, halfway drowned out by the plain purring. He nuzzled her back. "Luv?"
"Hm?"
"Don't suppose you'll tell me when you plan on using that coupon, would you?"
She shook her head. "Of course not."
"Had to ask. Never hurts. Unless I just made it worse. Did I?"
She shook her head, only half listening, still so glad that was all he planned, he hadn't- Nevermind, Buffy, she told herself.
"What are you thinking about, luv?", he asked, nuzzling the top of her head gently.
"Nothing. Nothing." She smiled, kissed him, biting gently at his lip, drawing his thoughts away from hers.
He grinned and leaned into the kiss, knowing there was something that was bothering her, but also knowing that she didn't want him to know what right then. That was fine with him. "Are we just going to spend the rest of the day making out, or did you want to do anything else?"
She grinned. "Don't say it like that. Makes us sound seventeen."
He chuckled. "I feel about seventeen when I'm with you, luv. I've never felt like this before. Even when I actually WAS seventeen."
She smiled. "No horny William. Only Poetry William."
He chuckled. "Tell me about it. I had to die to figure out what everyone else was talking about."
"And quite the family to learn from. Dru shaped your fetishes well. "
He snorted. "I do NOT have fetishes."
She just looked at him.
He bit back a chuckle. "Name one."
She stood, slid off the bed, and walked to a chest in the corner. Tugging the lid open, she began pulling out things, laying them slowly in individual piles. Collar. Chains with cuffs. Her eyes widened. Whip.
He gave an embarrassed moan and rolled onto his side, curling into a fetal position. "Ok, I get it, enough. And those could be used to ward off demons."
"Oh yeah... Totally get how the collar could do that." She chuckled then put his toys back, closed the lid.
He stayed curled up, eyes closed. "For intimidation. And it's a keepsake."
She fought back a laugh. "Okay."
Very quiet. "It's not funny." 'I"m so bloody glad I can't blush..', he thought.
She sighed, then moved to sit beside him on the bed. "Everyone's allowed to have a thing. As long as it doesn't involve minors, animals, or the TRULY unwalking, unwaking dead, I figure it's their business."
Shiver of disgust. "Euch."
"Yup. Or trees."
"Blech..." He stayed curled up, comfortable with his eyes closed. "Gross. Unspeakably so."
"Oh yeah. Now. Don't you seem just a touch more normal?"
"For a walking, talking, demon possessed, human soul having, corpse who's in love with the one human that's sworn to kill him? What do you think?"
She gave a disappointed sigh. "I meant about your... preferences."
"Yeah. I guess." He squirmed around a little. "Is it possible to have a cuddling fetish?" He laid his head in her lap.
She smiled. Ran a hand over his hair. "Maybe."
The purring began again. "Well, that's not bad, though. Right?" Nuzzled her leg.
Smile grew warmer. "Right." Her hand toyed with the hair at the back of his neck.
Purred louder, pressed against her hand. "Luv?"
"Mmm?" Her mind was relaxing as quickly as her body was.
"I am really gonna get it tomorrow, aren't I?" He opened one eye and grinned up at her.
She smiled, giving a soft laugh. "Don't feel like revenge right now. Give it a few days."
"Ok. Good." He moved out of her lap, pulling her down onto the bed with him and wrapping his arms around her. "Want to take a nap?"
She smiled. "Yeah."
========================================================================== ===========
Spike dodged Buffy's punch, dropping and rolling, knocking her legs from under her. She fell lightly, sprung back up, gave a short kick to his middle, acted to fake a right, then followed through with it. The punch caught the vampire square in the nose, sending him flying off the mat. She'd hit harder than she'd intended. "OOF!"
She stopped. Grimaced. "Sorry." Walked to where he lay, extended a hand.
He waved her off, a quiet growl coming from him. His hand held over his nose, rubbing gingerly. He stood up, looked at his hand, surprised to see blood on it. "Bloody nose. You gave me a bloody nose!"
She stepped close, wiped at it gently. "I said sorry!"
He flinched at her touch. "Ow. It's okay, luv. It's just been awhile since you've actually hurt me."
The door opened, and Giles stuck his head in. "Is everything alright in here? I heard a crash."
Buffy stifled a small grin. "I made him bleed. He's ok."
Spike shot her an annoyed look. "She gave me a bloody nose."
Giles suppressed a chuckle at the look on the vampire's face. "Spike, please remember that you volunteered for this."
"Yeah, yeah. Where're the icepacks..." He started rooting around in one of the cabinets.
Buffy shot her Watcher a silent giggle. Wiped it off her face quickly as Spike looked at her.
Giles chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "If there's nothing else, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to lunch, but Anya will be here if either of you need anything." He looked at Spike. "Like an ambulance." Turned to go out the door, muttered, "..or a hearse..."
"I HEARD that, Rupert!", Spike called, holding an icepack to his nose and sitting indignantly on the mat.
Buffy gave a small laugh and wave. "Bye! Bring me food!"
"Sandwich?!", the Watcher called back.
"Chicken salad!!!! CROUTONS!!!! RANCH DRESSING!!!"
"OK!! AND I'LL BRING WINGS FOR SPIKE." The door closed, ringing the bell.
Spike snorted, then immediately regretted it as a pain shot through his nose. "Oohh." He put the icepack back on.
She winced sympathetically. Started to hit a punching bag. "I really am sorry."
"S'ok, luv. Maybe if you weren't so distracted with whatever it is you've been thinking about for the last three days, you would have remembered that we agreed not to hit my nose." All of this came out sounding like a British Steve Urkel, due to the fact that Spike was partially holding his nose with the icepack.
She frowned, hit the bag hard, one last time and turned to face him, sighing. "*I* was concentrating on the fight. If YOU hadn't been thinking about... whatever it is YOU think I'VE been thinking about, you would have blocked that punch a little better! Or at all."
"You've been out in space for the last few days, luv. Admit it. That big grey thing should've been an easy kill for you, instead, I had to save you from it. What's wrong? Can't you tell me if something's bothering you anymore?"
She turned back to the bag, resumed her abuse of it. "I was..." Big sigh. Anything. "Thinking about Dawn's grades, and I COULD have taken that thing!"
"No you weren't. And when would you have taken it? Before, or after it removed your head with it's claws?!" He stood up, discarding the now mostly melted icepack. "Come on, Slayer. What's really bothering you? There was a time when I was the *only* one that you told anything important to, and now you're locking me out again. All I want is to be there when you need me, whether you know it or not."
Another vicious swipe at the bag. "Hello!? It wasn't important! I didn't, and don't intend on, telling you! I don't need someone there for me right now! It's fine! And before it took my head off, thank you very much."
He sighed. Sat down again. "Okay. Fine. I just wanted to help. See if I ask again." He stretched out on his stomach, playing with the tie down at the edge of the mat.
She began tearing the tape off her knuckles. "Fine. It was fine! And fine! Don't ask again." She tossed the tape to the floor, angry beyond what his words called for, and stormed through the door, breezing past Anya. She was halfway down the sidewalk before she realized she was still wearing tear-aways and a beater. Buffy sighed, knowing she'd rather die (again) than go back in there just to get clothes. She headed to Giles'. He had a punching bag, and junk food. Everything she needed.
Spike sat up slightly. He couldn't follow her, the noon sun saw to that, so he would have to wait for her to return. Spike stretched back out on the mat again, returning to his playing with the tie down.
Anya poked her head in the door. "Did she break anything?"
"Just my nose." He tugged on the tie down. "And that, not even."
"At least I won't have to put it on her bill?" She gave a hopeful smile.
Quiet chuckle. "No customers at the moment?"
She shook her head, sank down at the opposite end of the mat. "No."
He rolled on his side, watching the vengeance demon. "You're bored, then?"
"Do you want to talk about it?" She rushed on quickly, "Ehh... there's no liquor. So... ya know, no threat of sex." She smiled engagingly.
He chuckled again. "I guessed that, Anya. Yeah. It would help to have someone who actually listens to me for a change."
She nodded. "Buffy isn't listening again?"
He rolled onto his back. "No. She's listening to me. But she's not listening to herself. There's something bothering her, and she won't tell me what. And that's what's got me pissed today. How about you?"
She shrugged. "Xander. I don't have him. Or sex. Which, I've decided could be a catalyst to a horrific killing spree that I've been feeling like lately."
He laughed. "Are you serious? You'd go out, forget everything you've worked for, and actually kill humans again? Just because it's been... what? Seven months without sex?"
She frowned. "Actually, I was thinking about the rising bunny population in Sunnydale. It's frightening and not to be dismissed."
He tried not to laugh, really. But it just didn't work. In a moment, he was clutching at his sides, trying desperately to control himself. "Sorry... sorry..", he kept gasping out between laughs. "..really sorry..."
She was indignant. "You are truly horrible! I try to be sympathetic and caring, and you LAUGH at my VERY rational fear of those furry, beady eyed beasts??"
He managed to gain control. "Ok, you're right. I'm sorry. If it helps, I'm scared of beetles, spiders, and scorpions."
She nodded. "It does. Now. What did Buffy say when you confronted her?"
"That it wasn't important, and that she had no intention of telling me, and that I should mind my own business. Not in so many words, but that's the gist of it."
She frowned. "And you really want to know?"
"Yes. Because in two years there hasn't been anything that she hasn't told me. She's even told me things that she hasn't told the others, and it hurts that she's suddenly keeping secrets. And the only thing I can think of is that it has to be about me! I must have done something wrong on our date, or screwed up something... maybe I purr too much. I just don't know.." He sighed and laid on his side, curling up slightly, giving the impression of a lonely little boy.
Anya scooted closer, patting his shoulder in her best comforting shoulder pat, which was really little more than a repeated pat on his shoulder with a stiff hand. "Xander might still be blissfully backfloating in DeNile, but I noticed you've got a new scar. Buffy claimed you."
"Yeah. And you know the weird thing? She started it. And spoke vampiric. And she's done it several times since then. Without using her link to me."
Anya's brow knit. "You can read eachother's minds. You've sifted through eachother's already. All you have to do is let her fall asleep, and check her mind."
"That wouldn't be right. She's just starting to trust me, really trust me for the first time. She loves me. I can't... violate her like that. Never." He actually shivered on the word 'violate'. Bad memory.
Anya shrugged. "Then you're out of options."
"I could ask her again."
Anya laughed like it was a very funny joke.
He stared at her. "I'm serious."
She gave a little cough when she realized that he was. "I just... don't see it. Not the way she walked out of here." She unknowingly echoed Dawn's words at him. "I think this time you've got to put up or shut up." She smiled proudly. "I learned that on wrestling. It means that you should be ready to fight, or to just leave it alone." She gave a thoughtful frown. "Have you ever smelled what the Rock is cooking? Because I've tried, and I just can't."
He snorted, then rubbed his nose. "Actually, I don't even watch wrestling. I'm more of a reading man. And I don't want to fight. And I really think that she'll tell me when she wants to. All I have to to is be patient."
Anya gave him a skeptical look. "Tomorrow's forecast isn't hell freezing over." She nodded vehemently. "And I know. Because I'm a vengeance demon."
He laughed. "I know, but Buffy surprises me sometimes. And I'm a demon, too, you know. You people constantly forget that."
She smiled sadly. "I wish I had that problem. They never forget that." Gave a smile. "But I think Buffy will REALLY break your nose before she tells you."
He shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time. But I'm not worried about her hurtin' me. She's got more powerful ammunition than that."
She was confused. "What do you mean?"
He answered without thinking. "Oh, I made the mistake of giving her a coupon that entitles her to tickle torture me... Oops." 'Can't blame Buffy for that one, can you, ya bleedin poofter!'
She smiled sadly. "I used to give Xander coupons for free or-" she stopped. "Massages. Free massages."
His eyes got big. "Uh, Anya, you don't tell Cec- Halfrek everything you hear, do you?" He deliberately ignored her statement, so didn't want THAT mental image, massage or not.
Anya considered. "Only the truly interesting."
"Please tell me that what I just said wasn't interesting."
"Not half as-" she stopped. "No."
"Not half as what?"
"Um... half... half as interesting as a piece of gossip I heard on the demon vine." She cocked her head to the side. "My. The bell. For the door. To the shop. That means someone wants to buy something." She stood, gave an awkward smile and dashed out.
He snorted, noting that it didn't hurt as much. He took to the sewers, heading back to his crypt. Buffy could find him when she wanted to.
Meanwhile, back at Giles'...
Buffy was wailing on Giles' old punching bag, noting that it wasn't half as broken in as hers, and that soon enough, her knuckles would start bleeding. Looked down. Damn. Already were.
Giles came out of the kitchen. "Good lord, Buffy. That's enough. Let me see your hands."
She gave the bag one last, violent side-smack, and crossed to him. He took her hands, leading her to the couch. "I'm going to get some alcohol. Whatever has made you so mad that you decided to kill my punching bag?" He got up, began rooting around in a small sack near the punching bag.
"Whatever always makes me so mad that I decide to kill things?"
Giles chuckled, sitting back down and gently applying the alcohol to her knuckles. "You had a fight with Spike."
She gave a tiny wince as he cleaned them. "He makes me so mad."
"And yet you love him." He finished cleaning the bloody knuckles, and began applying bandages.
She sighed. "I guess so. Do you have private thoughts?"
"Everyone does."
"Exactly! Since I love Spike, does that make my private thoughts ANY of his business?"
"Has he been prying into your thoughts without your permission, Buffy?" There was a slightly Ripperesque tone in the question.
"No." Emphasized. "No. I just... I mean, they ARE none of his business, right?"
Giles relaxed slightly, trying to see it from both sides. "Do you worry when he's thinking about something and doesn't tell you?"
"Only when I was hiding the spell."
"Spike, believe it or not, is a very fragile person, Buffy. He's probably just scared that you're trying to pull away from him. Surely if your roles were reversed, you would feel the same?"
She sighed. "Fine. I give you that. But I TOLD him. I'm fine. He won't let it go."
"He's worried. He's scared. He thinks that because he's completely honest with you, that you should be the same with him, at least concerning eachother." Giles looked at her inquisitively. "What is it that you're hiding from him, anyway? If you want to tell me, that is."
How to explain without revealing she was tied to his bed?? "We were... talking... about... trust." Safe enough, close enough. "And he started tickling me. Pinned me, ya know?"
"So you were playing? I don't see what's wrong with that, unless he wouldn't stop when you wanted him to."
"When he pinned me..." She played with the bandages over her knuckles. "That... part of me, that kind of tickles when I know I should watch out?"
"Yes. The part that Xander refers to as your "Spider sense"?"
Small grin. "Yeah. It was huge, and screaming, and making sure I heard. I was... terrified, and the whole time my mind was making escape plans, routes, taking things into consideration, weight, force... everything. I thought... I don't know what, but all he was doing was tickling. And I was just... so afraid of him. And I've been trying to figure out why. And I don't know. And he won't lay off about it."
Giles thought. "I don't know why you'd suddenly be afraid of him. Has he seemed... different? Mean? Anything vicious about him?"
Shook her head. "No."
"Strange behavior? Growling at nothing? Anything that seemed strange. Even for Spike."
Maybe lies were best for now. "No."
Giles knew her too well. "Buffy."
She smiled. "It's ok, Giles. I think I figured it out."
"Oh? What is it, then?"
Cast around in her head. "Well, we've never played like that. Not in a long time. And... my senses were reacting to me playing with a chipless vamp." she nodded her head. "Sounds plausible, right?"
Giles chuckled. "You might be right. Perhaps you should ask Spike if he's had similar feelings. Of course, you'd have to put him in a similar position to what he did to you to find out. It might be a good experiment for both of you."
She picked at the bandages more. They already had. No more. It wasn't a fun game. "Maybe."
"Alright. Are you still mad at him?"
She rolled her eyes. "Spike can do no wrong, Giles."
Giles chuckled. "Yes he can. Believe me. And weren't you supposed to meet him after lunch?"
She snorted. "I don't feel like it. I'm mad at him for not being wrong."
Giles chuckled. "Ah. Well, there's always tomorrow."
She nodded. "Sure."
========================================================================== =========
Buffy was not slinking, like she sometimes did while patrolling. Tonight, she stalked. She was quiet, walking purposefully through the graveyard, her sacred duty tonight more worthwhile than it had been in a while. She turned quickly, stake plunging downward.
Spike yelped, and fell on his butt.
The fire in her eyes died, only to kindle again as she eyed the vamp on his butt in the grass. She sighed, and extended a hand. He gave her a shaky grin and accepted her help, wondering if she felt the semi-erratic momentary pulse that seeing her about to stake him had caused. The vampire version of a heart attack.
She had, and it, too, irked her. "You should KNOW not to sneak up on me by now."
He breathed in and out a couple of times, forcing the semi-heartbeat to stop. "I wasn't sneaking, I was walking. Going home."
She arched her eyebrow, giving a small but meaningful glance to the crypt she had passed ten yards back.
"Uh, then I saw you and decided to say hi. Since you didn't drop by this afternoon." Slightly hurt tone.
"I was training." Slightly guilty tone.
"Oh. Well. Bye then." He turned around and headed for his crypt. "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow."
Her arms were folded defensively across her chest. "Do you pay him?" She called at his back.
He paused. "Pay who?" Turned around, looked at her with a confused puppy look.
She sighed, and turned slightly. She wanted to fight Spike, not kick a puppy. "Giles. Do you pay Giles to say you're right?"
A slow, happy smile. "Rupert agreed with me about something?"
"Yeah," she said sarcastically. "You've got a damn fan club going on."
The smile faded. She was mad at him. Still. "Yeah. And you're not in it, are you?"
"No. You're nosy and right too damn much." Belligerent tone.
He just looked at her. When she said nothing to clarify, he turned to walk home again. He could sleep without her. He knew he could. Nightmares? Yes. But nothing he couldn't handle. He stopped, sat on a tombstone and rubbed a hand over his face. "I have a headache," he muttered.
She followed him, her bandaged hands grabbing her upper arms as she crossed them over herself.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose absently, trying to rid himself of the sudden, Slayer induced migraine.
"I didn't... I hate it when you don't fight back. It makes me feel worse."
"Sorry. I have a headache. Don't feel like fighting. And I'm hungry, and I pulled a muscle. Bad day."
She shoved a swollen hand through her hair. This wasn't right. It wasn't going like she wanted it to. Of course, she hadn't planned on seeing him till the next day. She sighed. "I've been thinking about something for the last few days."
"Oh?"
She hoped he realized that was as close as he was gonna get to that 'you were right, darling' crap. She said quietly, "I should never have tied you to the bed."
"Why not?"
She turned to pace in short lengths, her sore hands gesticulating. "Because! I know what it felt like. I knew when you chained me to a wall with Druscilla. And I knew when you tied me up three days ago. It's arousing, fine. Whatever. I agree, ok? But it gives whoever's free WAY too much power over the other person."
He nodded. "Yeah. I know. That's why I kept asking you what you wanted me to do."
She shook her head. "I don't... I don't have that kind of trust built up for anyone yet. Anyone. And I- I was terrified. I will-cannot be defenseless like that. It makes the Slayer come out, and leaves Buffy to cower."
He nodded again. "Alright. Never again. Either of us."
"Fine." She needed to explain. She realized he deserved that.
"So this is what's been bothering you for the last few days, huh?"
"You didn't... wouldn't hurt me. But that I could still be terrified that you would? *That's* what's been bothering me."
He looked at her. "I felt the same way the other day. Scared, and I didn't know why. It wasn't the kind of scared that comes from thinking that you're gonna be tickled. That's a good scared. I was just scared. Practically shaking, and I didn't know why. I figured it was instinctive, you know?"
She nodded her head, eyes on the bandages her fingers were picking at.
He noticed her hands for the first time. For an instant, mental images from when she'd first come back flashed through his head. Her hands, bloody from the coffin, his hand, bleeding from punching that rock wall in a fit of rage and pain. "Are you okay? What happened?"
She shrugged. "Fine. This- The bandages made Giles feel better. He know's they'll be fine tomorrow."
Spike stood up, slowly. "Do you... would you like to stay at my place for awhile? Just an hour or so? Till sunrise?"
She nodded. "Let me call Dawn. So she won't worry."
"Okay. Deal."
"Come oooooon," Dawn whined. "I promise not to *ewww* once."
Buffy smiled, and swallowed at bite of her pancake. "Ok. So, ya know, Spike's like.... how old?"
"Hundred and thirty," Dawn gave her guess-timate.
"Right. And he's so nervous in the car, that he's talking in his head and I can hear him, and it was his first date."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Duh, much? We ALL knew it was your first date."
"No. First date. Ever. Eternity. One hundred thirty years, plus like.... twenty-four real people years?"
Dawn's chin dropped. "No kidding? Oh my god. You've gotta be kidding me."
Buffy shook her head. "So! We decide to go to a Chinese restaurant, and his fortune, TOTALLY sucked."
Dawn laughed. "Between the sheets?"
"Yeah. So, then, he drove us to this park..." She gave a small sigh. "And PUSHED me on the swings."
Dawn made an 'awwww' face.
Buffy made a bemused face. "And he was being so... weird. Like... we played tag, and raced, and stuff..."
Dawn arched her eyebrow. "Be careful. It's a pod person."
Buffy laughed. "And then, we just sat on a bench, talked. And then we came home." Took a bite of her pancake.
"And?"
"And what?" Buffy mumbled around her mouthful.
"The kiss??"
Buffy about choked. "DAWN! I was in by curfew! That's all you need to know."
Her sister rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Is he? A good kisser, I mean. I bet he is, cuz he always does stuff with his tongue while he's talking and-"
"Dawn! He's a good kisser! Be quiet already!"
She leaned over her plate eagerly. "So! When are you gonna go out again??"
Buffy gave her sister a look. "Next month."
Her sister pouted. "Fine. When are you gonna go see him again?"
Buffy gave a secret smile. "I dunno..."
========================================================================== =========
Buffy walked slowly to his crypt, smoothing her white lace shirt. It wasn't too dressy. And neither were the black pants. She hoped. She licked her lips, kind of liking the Cherry-Vanilla flavor, and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
She walked in, came down the ladder to the downstairs. "Hey."
He was half sitting up, half laying on the bed, glasses, leather bound book at his side. He gave her a lopsided grin. "Hey. Didn't expect to see you today, luv. Did you need somethin'?"
She gave a smile, flopped down on the couch to face him. "A reprieve from Dawn?"
He chuckled. "Don't think I can help you with that. I'm a bit scared of her. Well, not really, but she's taken to playin' with me all the time." He set the book aside and put the glasses back in his Tigger case. "Anything else?"
She was confused. Should she be making excuses? "Umm.. no. No. Just came to say hey. But ummm... you're all with the sleepiness.. forgot. Vamp hours. I'll get going then... ya know, run some errands."
He smiled at her, patted the bed next to him. "Can't sleep. I'm hyper for some reason. Stick around. It's great to have someone besides the cat to talk to."
Harmon was sleeping in the ratty green chair and didn't even decide to respond.
She gave the cat a pat as she walked past it. Sat at the foot of the bed.
He smiled again. "So, did you have fun last night?" He switched around so that he was laying on his side, facing her.
She nodded. "Yeah. You?"
"It had to be one of the best nights of my life, luv." He grinned. "In fact, I'm just going to say that it was the best night of my life. So far, anyway."
She smiled. "Good."
Gave her a raised eyebrow. "What do we do now?"
She laughed. "I have no idea."
He grinned. "I have an idea. But you might not want to do it... In fact, never mind.." He reached for his book again.
She frowned, her interested definitely piqued. "What?"
Opened the book, pretended to read. "Naw. You wouldn't want to..."
"Yes I would! What is it?"
"You really think you'd want to?"
"Yes! I wanna know!"
He grinned, pulled a tiny piece of paper out of the book, and handed it to her. "Your handwriting, I believe?"
Oh, God... 'Hook, line, and sinker' echoed through her head. "Yeah..."
"And you did say that you wanted to do it, right?" Half evil, half playful grin.
Resigned to her fate, she nodded.
"Good." He reached into the drawer, putting his glasses and book in, and taking several things out. Rope, handcuffs,.... and the two, white feathers. Sat back and grinned at her, waiting for the reaction.
Unease, fear, and the quelling of the urge to laugh hysterically. So, of course, a blank face was presented to the fore.
Spike smiled. "Want to lie down, luv? I won't tie too tight, I promise. I want you to be able to squirm a little." He got up, picking up his toys, and stood next to the bed.
Fair was fair, she thought, but when the hell did she ever start caring about that? She sighed, crawled to the head of the bed, lay flat on her back stiffly.
He grinned, and set about tying her down. True to his word, he didn't tie her too tight, and the ropes were padded so that they wouldn't cause rope burns. "Relax, luv. This might be fun."
A slew of dirty words raced through her mind. "Ok." Marginal relaxation, but if her spine got any stiffer, it'd shatter.
He sat on the side of the bed, and rubbed her shoulders. "I'm not going to do anything for a minute, luv. I want you to relax. Try to have fun." He massaged her neck gently.
Her body relaxed against her mind's will.
"That's it." He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss. "Good Slayer." Playfully patted her on the head.
She gave him a look.
He chuckled. "Ok. Mind if I remove your shoes and socks?" He stood up and moved to the foot of the bed where her feet were tied to the posts.
"Oh gee, since I have a say in the matter..."
"Not a bit, but I thought I'd ask anyway." He removed her shoes and socks, then tested her a little, running a finger up the bottom of each foot quickly.
Knees jerked as close to her chest as the ropes would allow. Please, she thought sarcastically, feel free to ignore the total cuteness of my socks, too. Pleeeease.
He "tsk"ed. "Haven't even gotten to the feathers yet."
She wasn't as graceful as him at this, not by half.
He grinned. "One last thing. Mind if I roll your shirt up a ways? Not too far. And you do have a say about this. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
Smiled benignly. "So kind of you to not want me to be uncomfortable. It's fine."
He smiled. "After all, I don't want to be the only one having fun, now do I?" He rolled her shirt up, so that her stomach, bellybutton, and all but the top rib was exposed. Grinned at her. "Now. Now we can begin." He sat on the side of the bed, contemplating his next move, began absently tracing circles on her ribs and stomach.
Her skin jumped, but her focus remained inward. Even breathing, slightly raised heartbeat. All routes of escape would require a LOT of strength and energy, and violence. Her mental lightbulb went off. Or distraction. Keep that in mind, Buffy, she warned herself. If you have to.
He took a feather, considered it, and then ran it up her ribs, continuing his circling with the other hand, near her bellybutton. 'Let's see her ignore this.'
Her hips jumped and her eyes snapped from the haze they had been in.
"Gotcha." He stuck one feather into her bellybutton, wiggling it unmercifully, and continued stroking the other up and down her ribs, pausing to play with the still concealed top rib, sticking the feather under her rolled up shirt.
Her mind went blank with relief. A tickle game. Thank God... She laughed.
He continued wiggling the feathers. This wasn't all he had in mind, but it was a good start, and he loved hearing her laugh like that. He brought the other feather up and began on the rib on the other side. 'She's going to regret that she ever showed me that,' he thought with a chuckle.
She squirmed as much as her bonds allowed, laughing without reserve again.
Spike loved watching her like this. "Do you want me to stop, luv?", he ask playfully, both feathers now going up and down her ribs, crossing over at her belly button, and returning to the ribs.
She nodded helplessly. "Yes!"
To her superset, he stopped. Then walked to the foot of the bed, and knelt on the floor between her feet. "Hmm. What to do now?" He twirled the feathers, looking at them, then at her feet, then up at her. "What do you think I should do?"
She said, with great hope, "Untie me?"
Evil laugh. "Uh-uh." He started stroking the feathers up and down the soles of her feet, wiggling them in the arches, then sliding them in and out between her toes. "This is so much more fun, anyway."
Her body strained against the ropes. And the part of her that would always, no matter what, remain the Slayer, was screaming for attention. For care, for thought.
Spike continued playing with her feet, then crawled back up her body, sitting on her knees, and started anew on her ribs and stomach. He drew little patterns with the feathers, even writing in script a little with the tips of them across her belly and sides.
Her stomach jumped as her mind tried to plan. She laughed.
Spike was having fun. Every new burst of laughter made him just want to play more. He took the quill end of the feather, and began to lightly write on her skin, starting at the rolled up shirt, and working his way down. Writing ticklish poetry that only he could see.
Her stomach muscles had officially been worked out for the day. "Sp- pike."
"Uh-huh?"
"What are you d-doing?" Her hips were squirming to the left and right.
"Writing."
"What?"
He smiled. "The poem I told you last night. You liked it so much, I thought I'd help myself remember it."
"Wh-why am I t-tied up?" she stuttered out between laughs.
"So you don't squirm as much." He "tsk"ed. "You made me forget my place. Have to start over."
She shook her head. "Why period?"
He stopped for a moment, looked at her. "Because I want to." Started up again, writing on the ribs this time.
She closed her eyes. Winced. 'Payback's a bitch...'
Chuckle. "Yep." He straddled her hips, holding her down a little better. "Now, quit squirming so much. You don't want me to start over again, do you?"
She resigned herself to her fate. Again. "No."
He grinned, and continued writing down her ribs. No longer writing poetry, but writing everything that he loved about her, playing being one of them. He wondered if she could tell what he was doing. Take no chances. While he wrote on the ribs with one feather, he began twisting the other one in her bellybutton again.
She was doing her best to not squirm. She hitched up on the bed, her feet now strained, but giving her enough room to wrap the rope around her palms, giving her something to squeeze.
He chuckled. "How's it feel?", he asked, throwing one of her own questions back at her.
Tiny moan.
"That was half-assed. I want emotions, nerves, everything..." He couldn't help laughing a little as he threw her words back at her. Payback was INDEED a bitch.
She gave a small pant. "Aroused, scared, scared. Mad...confused."
"Why are you scared?"
She gave the ropes at her wrists a deliberate tug. They weren't going anywhere anytime soon.
"Well? Why are you scared?"
"Because being tied to ANYTHING has never led to good memories with me." She arched and tugged again. Hm.. A little give. But not enough.
He sat back, considered. "If I untie you, will you hold still?" He really wanted her to have fun too.
She shook her head. "Probably not." She sighed, knowing some part of this was a trust deal. Something she was NOT good at. "It's ok."
"You sure? I can even stop now, if you want me to." He looked at her, wanting to know if she wanted him to continue. "Or, I could loosen the ropes if you want. Give you more room, if that's what's bothering you."
She considered for a few long, silent moments. He needed this. Licked her lips. "I'm sure."
He grinned, leaned over and kissed her. "Are you enjoying this at all?", he asked, stroking her stomach with a feather.
Her stomach jumped. "Yeah?"
"Was that a question, or a statement?" Brought the other feather into play on her ribs. The short break had left her already sensitized skin in a state of hyperactivity, making the tickling sensation that much worse.
She squirmed, laughed and rolled her hips.
"Any thing you want me to do, luv?", he said with a grin, enjoying her reaction. Knowing personally how much worse tickling got after a short break, he started on both sides at once. "Any requests?"
A pitiful non-sensical noise escaped her lips.
He actually giggled without meaning to. He was loving this. He paused, leaned forward. "What was that, luv?"
She said a very naughty word in vampiric.
He chuckled. "Oh." He dropped the feathers, and went right for her ribs with his fingers, going to the spot that she'd shown him, both sides at once.
She squealed, laughed, tugged, arched, and squirmed at the same time.
Spike loved this. He released her rib with one hand, and found the spot on her hip. Both her worst ticklish spots, at the same time.
She squirmed, getting out of breath. Her laughs came between desperate gasps for breath.
He stopped, sat back, giving her time to breathe. "Do you want me to stop now?"
She shook her head. "Uh-huh."
He grinned, got up, and untied her, leaving her lying on the bed. He sat next to the headboard, leaning on a pillow next to her. "Was that fun for you?"
She gave a reluctant nod, still pulling in deep breaths, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession.
He chuckled. "Now you know why it's a good thing not to have to breathe." He laid down next to her, purring quietly, extremely contented. Happy. Relaxed.
Her eyes closed, she smiled at the vibrations going through her body from his purring. "What was your point?"
"Don't leave coupons lying around for one thing. Although..." He placed a piece of paper on her stomach. "You at least deserve a little revenge."
She picked it up, squinted at it. "Allows Buffy Anne Summers and her alone to subject Spike to as much tickling torture as she sees fit. No time limit, feathers are allowed," the note said.
She smiled. "Specified the torture this time."
"Yep. Not making that mistake again."
She pouted playfully.
He grinned at her, then closed his eyes, still purring loudly. No words, just that happy rumbling. She laid one hand on his chest, liking the feel of it traveling up her arm, through her body.
He smiled at her touch, and the volume of the purr increased. "You like when I do this?"
"Mmm..."
He snuggled up against her, allowing her to feel the purr better, draped an arm over her waist and nuzzled his face against her neck.
She pondered the purr a moment, tried one of her own. A gurgling mumble was all she got for her trouble.
He grinned, opening his eyes and looking at her. "Humans can't purr, luv." Considered. "But, I didn't think humans could speak vampiric either. Try in your throat, like gargling."
She pouted. "I did."
He chuckled, purring louder. "Leave it to me, then." Nuzzled her neck again.
She focused, tried again. Got a very manufactured fake-cat noise.
"Getting better. Don't concentrate. It comes from emotion. From love, contentment, happiness. That's what makes me purr. Just relax..." He nuzzled her some more, planting light kisses on her neck.
Her stomach went liquid. The contented noise that spilled from her lips was by no means a purr. But it was a noise that Spike knew well, and knew was completely Buffy.
"Close enough..." He continued kissing her neck, and playfully nibbled on an ear lobe.
She turned her head, giving him more access.
He alternately kissed, nibbled, and licked his way around that side of her neck, wondering how much she could take before she'd pounce him.
Not much. In a practiced, smooth movement, she turned, rolling her body on top of his, her hands gripping his wrists.
He grinned at her. "Whoa, easy there, luv. I'm delicate."
She snorted, bent her head to nibble at the mark on his neck she had taken to calling hers. "Whatever."
His eyes crossed with pleasure. That always got him. His hands roamed over her back, and he attempted to lean up and kiss her some more, but he was also open to whatever she wanted to do. All through this, the deep purring continued.
She lifted her head, let him kiss her. He purred into her mouth, nibbling on her lip, his tongue quickly finding hers and playfully dueling with it. She sighed into his, letting the playful duel turn slightly serious.
He continued to purr, leaving her mouth to kiss and nibble a trail down her throat, all the way to her collarbone. He nibbled and licked around to the claim mark he had left, then began to pay special attention to it.
Her body was slowly putting all it's weight on his. Her hands slipped from his wrists, snaked down his arms, to play over his chest. As he continued to nibble and lick around the mark he had left, he moaned at the pleasurable shivers that her hands on his chest were sending through him. The purring turned into a repeating phrase, "*I love you, I love you, I love you...*"
The phrase pulsed through her system like blood, and it made her strong, made her beautiful, made her soft, made her invincible. Her eyes closed, body shaking, her hands moved back up his arms, to link with his. They pulled apart for a moment, both needing to catch their breath. Her out of need, him out of habit. He rested his forehead on hers, leaning up slightly, the "*I love you..*" purr continuing.
She said quietly, "Spike?"
"Yeah?" Equally quietly.
"When you... When I was... what else did you have planned?"
"When you were tied up, you mean?"
She nodded.
He chuckled quietly. "I dunno, really. Just wanted to get back at you for yesterday. But, I wanted to have fun, and I love seeing and hearing you laugh, so I decided to tickle you. Also, I wanted to test out the new spot you showed me."
She smiled. "That's it?"
"Yeah. That's it. Why?"
She dismissed it with a shrug. "Just asking." She nuzzled under his chin.
He purred louder again, the phrase still there, but quieter, halfway drowned out by the plain purring. He nuzzled her back. "Luv?"
"Hm?"
"Don't suppose you'll tell me when you plan on using that coupon, would you?"
She shook her head. "Of course not."
"Had to ask. Never hurts. Unless I just made it worse. Did I?"
She shook her head, only half listening, still so glad that was all he planned, he hadn't- Nevermind, Buffy, she told herself.
"What are you thinking about, luv?", he asked, nuzzling the top of her head gently.
"Nothing. Nothing." She smiled, kissed him, biting gently at his lip, drawing his thoughts away from hers.
He grinned and leaned into the kiss, knowing there was something that was bothering her, but also knowing that she didn't want him to know what right then. That was fine with him. "Are we just going to spend the rest of the day making out, or did you want to do anything else?"
She grinned. "Don't say it like that. Makes us sound seventeen."
He chuckled. "I feel about seventeen when I'm with you, luv. I've never felt like this before. Even when I actually WAS seventeen."
She smiled. "No horny William. Only Poetry William."
He chuckled. "Tell me about it. I had to die to figure out what everyone else was talking about."
"And quite the family to learn from. Dru shaped your fetishes well. "
He snorted. "I do NOT have fetishes."
She just looked at him.
He bit back a chuckle. "Name one."
She stood, slid off the bed, and walked to a chest in the corner. Tugging the lid open, she began pulling out things, laying them slowly in individual piles. Collar. Chains with cuffs. Her eyes widened. Whip.
He gave an embarrassed moan and rolled onto his side, curling into a fetal position. "Ok, I get it, enough. And those could be used to ward off demons."
"Oh yeah... Totally get how the collar could do that." She chuckled then put his toys back, closed the lid.
He stayed curled up, eyes closed. "For intimidation. And it's a keepsake."
She fought back a laugh. "Okay."
Very quiet. "It's not funny." 'I"m so bloody glad I can't blush..', he thought.
She sighed, then moved to sit beside him on the bed. "Everyone's allowed to have a thing. As long as it doesn't involve minors, animals, or the TRULY unwalking, unwaking dead, I figure it's their business."
Shiver of disgust. "Euch."
"Yup. Or trees."
"Blech..." He stayed curled up, comfortable with his eyes closed. "Gross. Unspeakably so."
"Oh yeah. Now. Don't you seem just a touch more normal?"
"For a walking, talking, demon possessed, human soul having, corpse who's in love with the one human that's sworn to kill him? What do you think?"
She gave a disappointed sigh. "I meant about your... preferences."
"Yeah. I guess." He squirmed around a little. "Is it possible to have a cuddling fetish?" He laid his head in her lap.
She smiled. Ran a hand over his hair. "Maybe."
The purring began again. "Well, that's not bad, though. Right?" Nuzzled her leg.
Smile grew warmer. "Right." Her hand toyed with the hair at the back of his neck.
Purred louder, pressed against her hand. "Luv?"
"Mmm?" Her mind was relaxing as quickly as her body was.
"I am really gonna get it tomorrow, aren't I?" He opened one eye and grinned up at her.
She smiled, giving a soft laugh. "Don't feel like revenge right now. Give it a few days."
"Ok. Good." He moved out of her lap, pulling her down onto the bed with him and wrapping his arms around her. "Want to take a nap?"
She smiled. "Yeah."
========================================================================== ===========
Spike dodged Buffy's punch, dropping and rolling, knocking her legs from under her. She fell lightly, sprung back up, gave a short kick to his middle, acted to fake a right, then followed through with it. The punch caught the vampire square in the nose, sending him flying off the mat. She'd hit harder than she'd intended. "OOF!"
She stopped. Grimaced. "Sorry." Walked to where he lay, extended a hand.
He waved her off, a quiet growl coming from him. His hand held over his nose, rubbing gingerly. He stood up, looked at his hand, surprised to see blood on it. "Bloody nose. You gave me a bloody nose!"
She stepped close, wiped at it gently. "I said sorry!"
He flinched at her touch. "Ow. It's okay, luv. It's just been awhile since you've actually hurt me."
The door opened, and Giles stuck his head in. "Is everything alright in here? I heard a crash."
Buffy stifled a small grin. "I made him bleed. He's ok."
Spike shot her an annoyed look. "She gave me a bloody nose."
Giles suppressed a chuckle at the look on the vampire's face. "Spike, please remember that you volunteered for this."
"Yeah, yeah. Where're the icepacks..." He started rooting around in one of the cabinets.
Buffy shot her Watcher a silent giggle. Wiped it off her face quickly as Spike looked at her.
Giles chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "If there's nothing else, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to lunch, but Anya will be here if either of you need anything." He looked at Spike. "Like an ambulance." Turned to go out the door, muttered, "..or a hearse..."
"I HEARD that, Rupert!", Spike called, holding an icepack to his nose and sitting indignantly on the mat.
Buffy gave a small laugh and wave. "Bye! Bring me food!"
"Sandwich?!", the Watcher called back.
"Chicken salad!!!! CROUTONS!!!! RANCH DRESSING!!!"
"OK!! AND I'LL BRING WINGS FOR SPIKE." The door closed, ringing the bell.
Spike snorted, then immediately regretted it as a pain shot through his nose. "Oohh." He put the icepack back on.
She winced sympathetically. Started to hit a punching bag. "I really am sorry."
"S'ok, luv. Maybe if you weren't so distracted with whatever it is you've been thinking about for the last three days, you would have remembered that we agreed not to hit my nose." All of this came out sounding like a British Steve Urkel, due to the fact that Spike was partially holding his nose with the icepack.
She frowned, hit the bag hard, one last time and turned to face him, sighing. "*I* was concentrating on the fight. If YOU hadn't been thinking about... whatever it is YOU think I'VE been thinking about, you would have blocked that punch a little better! Or at all."
"You've been out in space for the last few days, luv. Admit it. That big grey thing should've been an easy kill for you, instead, I had to save you from it. What's wrong? Can't you tell me if something's bothering you anymore?"
She turned back to the bag, resumed her abuse of it. "I was..." Big sigh. Anything. "Thinking about Dawn's grades, and I COULD have taken that thing!"
"No you weren't. And when would you have taken it? Before, or after it removed your head with it's claws?!" He stood up, discarding the now mostly melted icepack. "Come on, Slayer. What's really bothering you? There was a time when I was the *only* one that you told anything important to, and now you're locking me out again. All I want is to be there when you need me, whether you know it or not."
Another vicious swipe at the bag. "Hello!? It wasn't important! I didn't, and don't intend on, telling you! I don't need someone there for me right now! It's fine! And before it took my head off, thank you very much."
He sighed. Sat down again. "Okay. Fine. I just wanted to help. See if I ask again." He stretched out on his stomach, playing with the tie down at the edge of the mat.
She began tearing the tape off her knuckles. "Fine. It was fine! And fine! Don't ask again." She tossed the tape to the floor, angry beyond what his words called for, and stormed through the door, breezing past Anya. She was halfway down the sidewalk before she realized she was still wearing tear-aways and a beater. Buffy sighed, knowing she'd rather die (again) than go back in there just to get clothes. She headed to Giles'. He had a punching bag, and junk food. Everything she needed.
Spike sat up slightly. He couldn't follow her, the noon sun saw to that, so he would have to wait for her to return. Spike stretched back out on the mat again, returning to his playing with the tie down.
Anya poked her head in the door. "Did she break anything?"
"Just my nose." He tugged on the tie down. "And that, not even."
"At least I won't have to put it on her bill?" She gave a hopeful smile.
Quiet chuckle. "No customers at the moment?"
She shook her head, sank down at the opposite end of the mat. "No."
He rolled on his side, watching the vengeance demon. "You're bored, then?"
"Do you want to talk about it?" She rushed on quickly, "Ehh... there's no liquor. So... ya know, no threat of sex." She smiled engagingly.
He chuckled again. "I guessed that, Anya. Yeah. It would help to have someone who actually listens to me for a change."
She nodded. "Buffy isn't listening again?"
He rolled onto his back. "No. She's listening to me. But she's not listening to herself. There's something bothering her, and she won't tell me what. And that's what's got me pissed today. How about you?"
She shrugged. "Xander. I don't have him. Or sex. Which, I've decided could be a catalyst to a horrific killing spree that I've been feeling like lately."
He laughed. "Are you serious? You'd go out, forget everything you've worked for, and actually kill humans again? Just because it's been... what? Seven months without sex?"
She frowned. "Actually, I was thinking about the rising bunny population in Sunnydale. It's frightening and not to be dismissed."
He tried not to laugh, really. But it just didn't work. In a moment, he was clutching at his sides, trying desperately to control himself. "Sorry... sorry..", he kept gasping out between laughs. "..really sorry..."
She was indignant. "You are truly horrible! I try to be sympathetic and caring, and you LAUGH at my VERY rational fear of those furry, beady eyed beasts??"
He managed to gain control. "Ok, you're right. I'm sorry. If it helps, I'm scared of beetles, spiders, and scorpions."
She nodded. "It does. Now. What did Buffy say when you confronted her?"
"That it wasn't important, and that she had no intention of telling me, and that I should mind my own business. Not in so many words, but that's the gist of it."
She frowned. "And you really want to know?"
"Yes. Because in two years there hasn't been anything that she hasn't told me. She's even told me things that she hasn't told the others, and it hurts that she's suddenly keeping secrets. And the only thing I can think of is that it has to be about me! I must have done something wrong on our date, or screwed up something... maybe I purr too much. I just don't know.." He sighed and laid on his side, curling up slightly, giving the impression of a lonely little boy.
Anya scooted closer, patting his shoulder in her best comforting shoulder pat, which was really little more than a repeated pat on his shoulder with a stiff hand. "Xander might still be blissfully backfloating in DeNile, but I noticed you've got a new scar. Buffy claimed you."
"Yeah. And you know the weird thing? She started it. And spoke vampiric. And she's done it several times since then. Without using her link to me."
Anya's brow knit. "You can read eachother's minds. You've sifted through eachother's already. All you have to do is let her fall asleep, and check her mind."
"That wouldn't be right. She's just starting to trust me, really trust me for the first time. She loves me. I can't... violate her like that. Never." He actually shivered on the word 'violate'. Bad memory.
Anya shrugged. "Then you're out of options."
"I could ask her again."
Anya laughed like it was a very funny joke.
He stared at her. "I'm serious."
She gave a little cough when she realized that he was. "I just... don't see it. Not the way she walked out of here." She unknowingly echoed Dawn's words at him. "I think this time you've got to put up or shut up." She smiled proudly. "I learned that on wrestling. It means that you should be ready to fight, or to just leave it alone." She gave a thoughtful frown. "Have you ever smelled what the Rock is cooking? Because I've tried, and I just can't."
He snorted, then rubbed his nose. "Actually, I don't even watch wrestling. I'm more of a reading man. And I don't want to fight. And I really think that she'll tell me when she wants to. All I have to to is be patient."
Anya gave him a skeptical look. "Tomorrow's forecast isn't hell freezing over." She nodded vehemently. "And I know. Because I'm a vengeance demon."
He laughed. "I know, but Buffy surprises me sometimes. And I'm a demon, too, you know. You people constantly forget that."
She smiled sadly. "I wish I had that problem. They never forget that." Gave a smile. "But I think Buffy will REALLY break your nose before she tells you."
He shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time. But I'm not worried about her hurtin' me. She's got more powerful ammunition than that."
She was confused. "What do you mean?"
He answered without thinking. "Oh, I made the mistake of giving her a coupon that entitles her to tickle torture me... Oops." 'Can't blame Buffy for that one, can you, ya bleedin poofter!'
She smiled sadly. "I used to give Xander coupons for free or-" she stopped. "Massages. Free massages."
His eyes got big. "Uh, Anya, you don't tell Cec- Halfrek everything you hear, do you?" He deliberately ignored her statement, so didn't want THAT mental image, massage or not.
Anya considered. "Only the truly interesting."
"Please tell me that what I just said wasn't interesting."
"Not half as-" she stopped. "No."
"Not half as what?"
"Um... half... half as interesting as a piece of gossip I heard on the demon vine." She cocked her head to the side. "My. The bell. For the door. To the shop. That means someone wants to buy something." She stood, gave an awkward smile and dashed out.
He snorted, noting that it didn't hurt as much. He took to the sewers, heading back to his crypt. Buffy could find him when she wanted to.
Meanwhile, back at Giles'...
Buffy was wailing on Giles' old punching bag, noting that it wasn't half as broken in as hers, and that soon enough, her knuckles would start bleeding. Looked down. Damn. Already were.
Giles came out of the kitchen. "Good lord, Buffy. That's enough. Let me see your hands."
She gave the bag one last, violent side-smack, and crossed to him. He took her hands, leading her to the couch. "I'm going to get some alcohol. Whatever has made you so mad that you decided to kill my punching bag?" He got up, began rooting around in a small sack near the punching bag.
"Whatever always makes me so mad that I decide to kill things?"
Giles chuckled, sitting back down and gently applying the alcohol to her knuckles. "You had a fight with Spike."
She gave a tiny wince as he cleaned them. "He makes me so mad."
"And yet you love him." He finished cleaning the bloody knuckles, and began applying bandages.
She sighed. "I guess so. Do you have private thoughts?"
"Everyone does."
"Exactly! Since I love Spike, does that make my private thoughts ANY of his business?"
"Has he been prying into your thoughts without your permission, Buffy?" There was a slightly Ripperesque tone in the question.
"No." Emphasized. "No. I just... I mean, they ARE none of his business, right?"
Giles relaxed slightly, trying to see it from both sides. "Do you worry when he's thinking about something and doesn't tell you?"
"Only when I was hiding the spell."
"Spike, believe it or not, is a very fragile person, Buffy. He's probably just scared that you're trying to pull away from him. Surely if your roles were reversed, you would feel the same?"
She sighed. "Fine. I give you that. But I TOLD him. I'm fine. He won't let it go."
"He's worried. He's scared. He thinks that because he's completely honest with you, that you should be the same with him, at least concerning eachother." Giles looked at her inquisitively. "What is it that you're hiding from him, anyway? If you want to tell me, that is."
How to explain without revealing she was tied to his bed?? "We were... talking... about... trust." Safe enough, close enough. "And he started tickling me. Pinned me, ya know?"
"So you were playing? I don't see what's wrong with that, unless he wouldn't stop when you wanted him to."
"When he pinned me..." She played with the bandages over her knuckles. "That... part of me, that kind of tickles when I know I should watch out?"
"Yes. The part that Xander refers to as your "Spider sense"?"
Small grin. "Yeah. It was huge, and screaming, and making sure I heard. I was... terrified, and the whole time my mind was making escape plans, routes, taking things into consideration, weight, force... everything. I thought... I don't know what, but all he was doing was tickling. And I was just... so afraid of him. And I've been trying to figure out why. And I don't know. And he won't lay off about it."
Giles thought. "I don't know why you'd suddenly be afraid of him. Has he seemed... different? Mean? Anything vicious about him?"
Shook her head. "No."
"Strange behavior? Growling at nothing? Anything that seemed strange. Even for Spike."
Maybe lies were best for now. "No."
Giles knew her too well. "Buffy."
She smiled. "It's ok, Giles. I think I figured it out."
"Oh? What is it, then?"
Cast around in her head. "Well, we've never played like that. Not in a long time. And... my senses were reacting to me playing with a chipless vamp." she nodded her head. "Sounds plausible, right?"
Giles chuckled. "You might be right. Perhaps you should ask Spike if he's had similar feelings. Of course, you'd have to put him in a similar position to what he did to you to find out. It might be a good experiment for both of you."
She picked at the bandages more. They already had. No more. It wasn't a fun game. "Maybe."
"Alright. Are you still mad at him?"
She rolled her eyes. "Spike can do no wrong, Giles."
Giles chuckled. "Yes he can. Believe me. And weren't you supposed to meet him after lunch?"
She snorted. "I don't feel like it. I'm mad at him for not being wrong."
Giles chuckled. "Ah. Well, there's always tomorrow."
She nodded. "Sure."
========================================================================== =========
Buffy was not slinking, like she sometimes did while patrolling. Tonight, she stalked. She was quiet, walking purposefully through the graveyard, her sacred duty tonight more worthwhile than it had been in a while. She turned quickly, stake plunging downward.
Spike yelped, and fell on his butt.
The fire in her eyes died, only to kindle again as she eyed the vamp on his butt in the grass. She sighed, and extended a hand. He gave her a shaky grin and accepted her help, wondering if she felt the semi-erratic momentary pulse that seeing her about to stake him had caused. The vampire version of a heart attack.
She had, and it, too, irked her. "You should KNOW not to sneak up on me by now."
He breathed in and out a couple of times, forcing the semi-heartbeat to stop. "I wasn't sneaking, I was walking. Going home."
She arched her eyebrow, giving a small but meaningful glance to the crypt she had passed ten yards back.
"Uh, then I saw you and decided to say hi. Since you didn't drop by this afternoon." Slightly hurt tone.
"I was training." Slightly guilty tone.
"Oh. Well. Bye then." He turned around and headed for his crypt. "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow."
Her arms were folded defensively across her chest. "Do you pay him?" She called at his back.
He paused. "Pay who?" Turned around, looked at her with a confused puppy look.
She sighed, and turned slightly. She wanted to fight Spike, not kick a puppy. "Giles. Do you pay Giles to say you're right?"
A slow, happy smile. "Rupert agreed with me about something?"
"Yeah," she said sarcastically. "You've got a damn fan club going on."
The smile faded. She was mad at him. Still. "Yeah. And you're not in it, are you?"
"No. You're nosy and right too damn much." Belligerent tone.
He just looked at her. When she said nothing to clarify, he turned to walk home again. He could sleep without her. He knew he could. Nightmares? Yes. But nothing he couldn't handle. He stopped, sat on a tombstone and rubbed a hand over his face. "I have a headache," he muttered.
She followed him, her bandaged hands grabbing her upper arms as she crossed them over herself.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose absently, trying to rid himself of the sudden, Slayer induced migraine.
"I didn't... I hate it when you don't fight back. It makes me feel worse."
"Sorry. I have a headache. Don't feel like fighting. And I'm hungry, and I pulled a muscle. Bad day."
She shoved a swollen hand through her hair. This wasn't right. It wasn't going like she wanted it to. Of course, she hadn't planned on seeing him till the next day. She sighed. "I've been thinking about something for the last few days."
"Oh?"
She hoped he realized that was as close as he was gonna get to that 'you were right, darling' crap. She said quietly, "I should never have tied you to the bed."
"Why not?"
She turned to pace in short lengths, her sore hands gesticulating. "Because! I know what it felt like. I knew when you chained me to a wall with Druscilla. And I knew when you tied me up three days ago. It's arousing, fine. Whatever. I agree, ok? But it gives whoever's free WAY too much power over the other person."
He nodded. "Yeah. I know. That's why I kept asking you what you wanted me to do."
She shook her head. "I don't... I don't have that kind of trust built up for anyone yet. Anyone. And I- I was terrified. I will-cannot be defenseless like that. It makes the Slayer come out, and leaves Buffy to cower."
He nodded again. "Alright. Never again. Either of us."
"Fine." She needed to explain. She realized he deserved that.
"So this is what's been bothering you for the last few days, huh?"
"You didn't... wouldn't hurt me. But that I could still be terrified that you would? *That's* what's been bothering me."
He looked at her. "I felt the same way the other day. Scared, and I didn't know why. It wasn't the kind of scared that comes from thinking that you're gonna be tickled. That's a good scared. I was just scared. Practically shaking, and I didn't know why. I figured it was instinctive, you know?"
She nodded her head, eyes on the bandages her fingers were picking at.
He noticed her hands for the first time. For an instant, mental images from when she'd first come back flashed through his head. Her hands, bloody from the coffin, his hand, bleeding from punching that rock wall in a fit of rage and pain. "Are you okay? What happened?"
She shrugged. "Fine. This- The bandages made Giles feel better. He know's they'll be fine tomorrow."
Spike stood up, slowly. "Do you... would you like to stay at my place for awhile? Just an hour or so? Till sunrise?"
She nodded. "Let me call Dawn. So she won't worry."
"Okay. Deal."