CHAPTER 15

Buffy swore as she felt her throbbing head. There was a nasty gash on the side of her head where she had been pummeled by the vampire. Damn. Why didn't I get the whole night vision deal as part of the slayer package? She pouted. She moved to get up when she heard the struggling to her left. Oh my God, Spike! She screamed in her head before hearing him yell her name. She jumped to her feet and saw the shadow of an arm striking forward. It had something in its hand…

A stake.

"Spike!" the scream tore from her throat before her legs instinctively carried her forward. She knew she was going to be too late. The little light that shone through the forest opening shone on two silhouettes, both too large to be Spike. The vampires stared at her too stunned to move. She lashed out with her foot, catching the one closest to the tree in the chest. His back slammed against the trunk and he slumped to the ground, dazed. Buffy didn't hesitate in attacking the second, larger vampire. She threw a flurry of punches, all either connecting with his face or his gut. Her final shot to the body dropped him to his knees, the stake falling from his giant hand. Without a second thought, Buffy grabbed him around the neck and twisted with all her hate, anger and pain. The vampire screamed before she ripped his head from his shoulders. His body evaporated into pile of dust.

Buffy looked over to the other vampire who was just now rising to his feet. A primal scream echoed from her throat and she kicked the vampire with all her strength in the chest, caving it in. He spasmed before falling into particles of ash.

Buffy's fell to her knees in shock. Somewhere on her, she felt the twinge of injuries, though they were only moderate. But the injury to her heart was much more than that. She had been too late. Spike was gone. Tears fell at that realization. He was gone. She would never see him again. Never talk to him or hear his 'bloody hell' s. She'd never see his scarred eyebrow or hear his throaty laugh. Never feel his hands run up and down her body. Never hear him call her name when his passion burst forth within her. Never hear him say 'I love you' again…

Tears streamed down her face and she studied the faint outline of her hands. All those things she'd never see or hear or feel again were bad enough. Worst of all was that she'd never be able to tell him how she felt.

"Spike," she whispered into the wind. A part of her held out the hope that he still existed. But she had seen the stake plunged into his heart.

"Spike," she said again. "I never got to tell you…"

"Tell me what, luv," the British voice sounded to her right. She whirled around thinking the pain had made her delirious. That voice. It sounded like…

"Well, are you gonna sit there all wigged-out or are you gonna help a bloke up?" Her eyes narrowed and that's when she saw him.

"Spike," she said in disbelief.

"Yep. The one and only. Now that we got that out the way," he attempted to stand but fell back down. Buffy rushed over to him and bowled him over in her enthusiasm.

"Bloody hell, woman," he winced as she fell on top of him. He moved to speak but was silenced as Buffy rained kisses all over his face, culminating with a deep, passionate kiss on the lips. Despite the pain in his chest, Spike returned Buffy's advances with his own fervor. Her hands ripped his shirt and traced up his smooth chest. The pain forgotten, Spike's hands caressed her taut back as she moaned longingly into his mouth.

She pulled away, her mind a jumble of images. Was she kissing Spike?

"What? I saw you…die," she managed.

"Well, I'm here now, so that means I didn't die," he said in mild exasperation. The way she had kissed him. He'd never felt her lips filled with so much…what was it?

He winced slightly as her hand traced the wound to his chest. He saw her wide eyes look up at his twitch.

"S'alright, luv. Bloody wankers. Pure amateurs."

"But I saw it…I saw them…stake you."

He shrugged. "Guess I must've shifted enough to throw his aim off." He felt around the wound. "Bloody thing still 'urts like hell." He glanced up at her and she cast her eyes to the ground.

"Buffy?" he asked. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?"

"I thought I lost you," she confessed timidly. She managed to look up at him, her eyes displacing all the fear and pain that washed through her moments ago. Spike was stunned. She did not cower behind her shield of indifference to hide what she felt. She bared all her emotions to him in that one look. And for the first time in his un-life, William the Bloody was speechless.

His reverence was broken as Buffy assaulted him again with the hard press of her lips against his. Her hands greedily took in his body, a few times passing over his wounded chest. But nothing mattered now except her. To feel her against his skin. There were too many barriers between them, barriers that had to be torn asunder.

Spike shed his duster and Buffy her jacket all the while never breaking their kiss. She pulled back momentarily and gazed at the outline on the ground below her. The little light that did slither through the trees highlighted his pale skin. She hissed when his cool hands maneuvered under her top and caressed the tender flesh of her breasts, gently squeezing her nipples. Her shirt was off almost instantly. She dove in for another kiss, her breasts smashed up against his chest. Her hands probed his entire upper body as his firmly gripped her gyrating hips. She felt his cool desire and he her fevered urgency. Spike tried his best to control what was building inside of him but it was useless. With a practiced ease, he flipped Buffy onto her back. She hissed at the cool leather against her bare skin but was lost again in his touch.

Their kisses grew more demanding and Buffy thought she could take no more when she felt Spike cool tongue dance along her taut nipples. She gasped, Spike's name slipping from her lips. There was no thinking now, only feeling. And the more she felt him, the more she needed him. Her desperation in full-force, Buffy's hand shot to Spike's waistline and fumbled with his button and zipper. He grunted as her petite fingers slid his zipper down and found access to his burgeoning erection. She pulled him closer to her face as the jeans slid down his slim hips. He broke contact with her for a moment and Buffy groaned her disapproval. Then she felt his blunt teeth nibble the soft flesh of her stomach.

"Spike," she moaned, her arousal escalating like an uncontrollable fever. Despite the coolness of his skin, wherever he touched blazoned like it was on fire. He kissed her stomach and his hands massaged her breasts. Buffy arched her back in pleasure when his mouth found her heated core. Even through the jeans, the desired effect was achieved. Spike worked her zone as if nothing was between them and Buffy thrashed wildly, her hands tangled in his blond locks.

"Need…you…now," she forced out. Spike smiled up at her. He could clearly make out her flushed features with his night vision. In one quick tug, Spike forced Buffy's jeans and panties down to her ankles. With a little help from her, he removed her boots followed by the final vestiges of clothing. He retook his position on top of her, his erection brushing against her mound. The inviting furnace between her thighs was in full tilt. He wanted to tease her so bad but it had been far too long. Wasting no more time, Spike thrust his hard shaft into Buffy's awaiting embrace. Both gasped in astonishment at the familiar yet strangely unique feeling of it all.

"I love you, Buffy. God, I love you," Spike panted as he slid in and out of her warm core. With each thrust, Buffy's muscles clenched tighter around Spike's member. It only increased his arousal and Buffy screamed as his cool flesh pounded against her warmth.

"Spike," she said and he stopped enough to hear her. He didn't know why, but it he knew he needed to listen.

"Yeah, luv?"

He saw her lips curl briefly into a half smile. "Shag later," she mused before her eyes turned deathly serious. She bit her lip and Spike saw the uncertainty in them. Whatever it was, she was nervous.

Still sheathed inside of her, Spike gave Buffy an encouraging kiss, passionate yet soft. His lips trailed along her jaw line and his teeth nicked her earlobes. Finally, he made his way to her pulsating jugular and clamped down with his mouth. She made an unintelligible gurgle before the words escaped her mouth.

Spike ceased his pursuits and lifted his face up to look her in the eyes. She couldn't have said that. Could she?

"What did you say?" he asked timidly. His body trembled as he awaited her response. He was afraid to ask, thinking it was all wishful thinking on his part. But there it was in her eyes, the sincerity of her words. And for good measure, she repeated it again.

"Make love to me, Spike." For a second, Spike's body was frozen in place. She said…she wants me to…he stared at her in disbelief. He tried to speak but words failed to materialize. It was Buffy that broke his trance as she reached her hands around his neck and pulled him down for a reunion with his soft lips. It broke his lapse and he found himself in the familiar rhythm of their bodies intertwined in a mass of limbs.

Spike couldn't help hide the rapture he felt at her words and Buffy felt the difference. Though it was almost impossible, everything felt even more intense than before. Every cell of her body and mind were tingling. She had never felt so alive and didn't want the feeling to stop. Not ten minutes ago, she had though he was dead. That brief moment had given her introspection towards what she really felt. She just couldn't say it. But she could show him. And for now, that seemed to be enough.

***

The walk back to the crypt was a blur. After their bout of lovemaking, Spike and Buffy decided that an indoor environment was more suitable for round two.

They were barely through the door when Spike plundered Buffy's mouth with his lips. She dropped the bag by the door and he kicked it closed. Buffy backpedaled as Spike's tongue advanced on hers, never releasing her arms from their grip around his neck. His hands greedily explored her body as if for the first time. He cupped her butt and she groaned into his mouth. Spike shuddered slightly at the intake of her warm breath. Buffy felt the welcoming feel of his erection against her stomach and smiled inwardly. She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. Her momentum carried them further into the crypt until they fell over onto the bed.

"New bed?" she whispered between pants. Spike slithered his tongue up and down her flesh and Buffy squealed in delight. She craned her neck to the side, in offering and all Spike could do was gaze at its perfection. He could see the hammering of her blood through her jugular and at once his demon begged for release.

She wouldn't know what hit her. It coaxed. All that rich slayer blood sliding across your tongue and down your throat. Spike shivered at the demonic voice's incessant plea. It was always there, goading him to take her when she was so vulnerable to him, her defenses down. It was always a struggle, but one look at her and he was always able to repress the demon. No, he would never hurt her.

"Never," he breathed in her mouth. Buffy disengaged from his lips long enough to study his eyes. His rich blue orbs gazed at her in a mixture of love, lust, pain, fear and hunger. The latter unnerved her and she found herself asking, "Never what?"

He looked at her. Really looked at her and sighed. How had he gotten so lucky? Yes, he knew he was lucky and no matter how much he attempted to convince her that she loved him, he'd never convince himself that he deserved it. He knew he was a monster. But she had treated him like a man. He had never been in love with someone that made him feel so complete, so alive.

The desire in her eyes was evident as was the fear. He cursed himself. Did she sense the waver in him? Or the badgering of his demon to be let loose? Though he was ashamed of his moment of temporary weakness, it didn't matter.

"Never. I'd never hurt you, luv," he said, his voice full of sincerity. Buffy didn't break eye contact. She only looked at him harder a minute longer, searching. Then she broke out into a sheepish grin, a slight flush appearing in her cheeks.

"I know," she said and rushed to his awaiting lips.

Where their outdoor engagement was weighted with passion and slow love making, this session was raw, more primal. Clothes flew in all directions as the slayer and vampire wrestled on the mattress for supremacy. At no time did their lips break contact as they rolled around the new bed, always flipping the other way when they would come perilously close to tumbling off its edge.

Finally, Spike conceded and allowed his love to straddle him.

"Time for some fun," she intimated seductively. She reached between his legs and gripped his shaft tightly with her tiny hands. He groaned as she stroked it up and down, every so often brushing it against her curls or teasing his tip with a feel of her blazing entrance. It didn't take long for him to be coated with her wetness. She eyed him longingly before taking her hand between her thighs and exploring herself. It almost drove Spike over the edge. He moved to get up but was held in place by her hand against his chest.

"Don't," she whispered. Spike obeyed as he watched her nimble fingers kneading her throbbing sex. Oh how he wanted a taste. As if reading her mind, Buffy pulled her saturated fingers away from her core and rubbed them across Spike's lips. He darted his tongue out, to taste her juices. He moaned as her distinct flavor rushed over him, her arousal clear in the fragrance. She placed her fingers at his mouth and he sucked on them until the only saturation on them was from his mouth. All but one, that was. Before he could finish the job, Buffy pulled her index finger away and twirled it around, in admiration. Then, without warning, she enveloped it with her mouth, never taking her eyes off the disbelief etched in Spike's face. She worked it in and out of her mouth and it was all he could do not to come right there. His control was hampered even further by the gyration of her hips and thrilling whimpers fell from her soft, swollen lips.

"Buffy," Spike pled. "You'll never find a bigger fan of foreplay, luv, but if you don't want to be straddling a big pile of dust from my current temperature elevation..." He frowned when she winced at the mention of him being dust. His concern turned to fascination when her countenance took on more of a devious form.

"Elevation," she repeated as she slid down his body. "That reminds me of something." Buffy placed soft kisses across his chest and flicked her tongue out at his nipples, careful to avoid the puncture in his chest. He begged for her to continue and he screamed her name when her teeth bit down on the tender flesh around his nipples. It was enough to hurt but not enough to draw blood.

"You wicked girl," he uttered as she trailed her tongue down the center of his chest. The anticipation of what she was going to do next was almost unbearable. He glanced down at her as she held his stiff member in her hand and studied it intently. Her ripe lips were only inches from where he wanted them. She looked up at his awaiting eyes and smiled.

"You like to watch me?" she asked seductively. Spike tried to speak but his vocal cords refused to work. All that came out was a husky grunt. "I'll take that as a yes then." She stroked his shaft up and down slowly, intermittently kissing the tip. It was driving him crazy and she knew it. Finally, Buffy took him into her mouth and Spike screamed her name. He looked down at this beautiful woman, the love of his un-life pleasuring him. What had he done to deserve this?

Spike watched as Buffy slid her mouth up and down his hardened shaft, sometimes flicking her tongue out to taunt him even more. But after a few minutes, she fell into a comfortable rhythm and the vampire knew it was only a matter of seconds before he burst.

"Buffy," he whispered and it was all it took to let her know. She quickened her pace and Spike tore into the sheets as his hands contracted involuntarily. He wanted the release so bad, but not yet. Using all his willpower, Spike ushered Buffy off his cock and pulled her up to him. He kissed her fully on the lips before flipping her to her back. He stared at her with a feral gaze. It reminded Buffy of a jungle cat the second before it pounced. He leaned in to her and kissed her softly on the lips. She urged for more but he pulled away. He laced her upper body with the softest of kisses, trailing them down to her belly button. They both knew what was on his mind and Buffy spread her legs to accommodate him. Spike only smiled. The first time he had done this to her, he had to almost pry her legs open she was so shy. Afterwards, she practically begged him to do it. Well, maybe not beg, but alert him of her desires with body language and sultry looks.

Spike nestled his head against her left thigh, breathing in the aroma of Buffy's arousal. It was ambrosia to him, gracing him with fathomless stamina. He traced his tongue against her thighs that vibrated in anticipation. He kissed and licked her swollen lips as Buffy's hands around his head 'urged' him to get more in depth. He smiled at her insistence and dove right in.

Buffy almost passed out at her lover's first flurry. The way he moved his tongue, applying pressure in all the right places, was mind blowing. There were even times when this was better than when he was inside her. She felt the dexterity of his tongue glide back and forth against her swollen walls. She arched her back impossibly high as Spike cupped her butt with his hands.

Spike lapped at Buffy's core as if his life depended upon it. He loved doing this to her, pleasing her to her little heart's content. The way she moaned his name and begged him not to stop delighted him to no end. That was the case now. He continued his oral onslaught until it he felt her muscles tighten. She was close.

"Spike," she screamed. Before she could do anything else, he was on top of her and plunged himself into her to the hilt. "Spike!" she yelled as he hit that spot deep inside of her. He slid in and out, a man with a purpose. Buffy's hips bucked to meet his, thrust for thrust. Her nails found purchase against his back and he howled as she dug them into his skin. She used her slayer strength to pull Spike down to her until their lips were locked in a familiar dance. Their tongues wrestled with one another, lapping hungrily as if the world was ending.

"Buffy," Spike moaned into her mouth. The time was nigh for his release. Hers as well. Buffy's walls gripped Spike's shaft tightly until it was too much and they both released the weeks of pent up frustration and desire for the second time that night.

Exhausted from their session, Spike collapsed on top of the slayer, dispersing his weight so not to completely engulf her petite form. Both panted though the vampire didn't require oxygen. Some habits died hard.

Buffy curled her leg around the back of Spike's knee, her head rested against the crook of his neck. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. Despite the calm that washed over her body, the butterflies in her stomach were even more active now. She felt that the after sex cuddling was even more intimate than the sex itself. Spike had draped a tentative arm across her chest, awaiting her rejection. Buffy smiled into his skin and patted his arm for reassurance. She wasn't sure how long it would last but for now there was no where she wanted to be other than here, in his arms.

***Well, we finally got some full-fledged Spuffiness!! Hope this is enough because we may not be seeing any considering that business is about to pick up. But who knows…

***The next chapter, titled Picking Up the Pieces, have the remaining Scoobies dealing with an extremely shaken up Faith.

***After Picking Up the Pieces, comes Conversations by Candlelight. Do I have to tell you what that's about?

***In Familiar Faces, Dawn wakes up in the company of her captors.

***Tell me what you think. About this chapter and the story as a whole. I like hearing your theories on where the story is headed.