Disclaimer, Summary, ect.: See chap 1...
Author's Notes 1, Tigerwolf: We are very proud of this chap. Especially the ending... Well, you'll see. ;)
It was the next night, and they were once again in the Middle of Nowhere RV park. Did these things just pop up out of every park in the country now? Wherever they came from, it was a good thing that they were there. It gave them all a chance to set up the cots and get a full night's sleep. Like it or not, even Spike was starting to get used to sleeping at night. Which was a problem when he actually had to drive at night. Yawning was so not a good use of time. Or oxygen. Not that he needed it anyway. He stretched slightly in his cot, and became slowly aware of a certain hindrance to his movement. Something was draped over his side. Something warm. He opened one eye slowly. A hand. There was a hand dangling on his stomach. He shifted slightly and became aware of the extension of that hand, being the arm and body that it belonged to, pressed up against his back. 'Who the bloody hell...?'
He could feel the person breathing, and a steady heartbeat, so no one had dropped a corpse on him. That was good. He sniffed. Identified the scent. Buffy. Buffy? A slow grin spread across his face. 'Buffy is on my back. Ok. I'm dreaming again..'
He shifted slightly and pinched his arm. 'Ow. Ok. Not dreaming. Buffy is actually sleeping on me. And it's really warm... Not a bad place to be at all, really...' He stifled a yawn, and was surprised when the hand tightened it's grip a little, hugging him to her like she had with her pillow a few nights earlier. He didn't want to, but he could feel sleep claiming him again. And he was warm... And comfortable... and...Goodnight.
Buffy hugged her pillow tighter. So tired. Why was she awake? Nuzzled her head into the soft fabric of the.... skin? No. There was supposed to be fabric and a pillowcase. Skin was bad. Of the bad. She pulled back slightly to take in what the hell she was doing. Sleeping. On Spike. Tucked up against his back, one hand draped over his stomach like he was her pillow. She should pull back. Right now she should be pulling back. As in, *now*, Buffy. She gave a slight whine at herself. It was so... warm in the Ohana. And he was cool, and comfy, she reasoned around a yawn, she'd wake up before him anyway. So... She laid her head back down, almost touching his back, it would be ok. Besides... they were... tentative friends, right?? She had slept on Xander before. It was just like that, only more Spike than Xander. She sniffed once before sleep claimed her again. He did smell nice.
Tara pulled open the door to the bathroom, and went to go back into the bedroom. Crap. The light. She had left it on. She went back, but paused at what she saw illuminated by the dull glow of the bathroom bulb. Spike was smiling softly in his sleep, and there was a hand on his stomach. A Buffy hand. A VERY little, Slayer, Buffy hand. She blinked slowly and tilted her head to the side, examining them. The beginning of a smile touched the corners of her full lips, and she flipped the light off and slipped back into the bedroom to be with Willow.
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They'd been on the road again from very early that morning. In fact, Giles had started driving before everyone was awake, which had caused quite a rude awakening for several passengers. Including Spike, who had fallen off the edge of his cot when they'd gone over a big pothole.
Spike, for his part, was messing with a deck of cards, half playing solitaire, half playing go fish with Buffy and Dawn. Xander and Anya.. well, they were in the bathroom. Again. And Willow and Tara were in the back room. Which explained Spike riding in the booth for once.
Buffy smacked at his hand while he tried to take one of her cards. "You're cheating!!"
He snorted at her, grinning. "I'm evil, Slayer. I'm supposed to cheat. Or have you forgotten that little fact again?"
"It's GO FISH! You aren't ALLOWED to be evil if you can't beat GO FISH without CHEATING!" Dawn nodded her agreement.
Spike chuckled. "I can win without cheating. It's just so much more fun *to* cheat!" He wagged a finger at the Slayer. "Besides, I saw you take an extra card the last time you went fishing."
Offended gasp. "Whatever! I would NEVER cheat!"
"You do so cheat."
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do NOT!"
"DO TOO!!"
"Do not! And if you call me a cheater again, I'm gonna whack you in the nose!"
Spike sneered at her. "Oh. I'm so scared. I hit back, you know. Cheater."
She dove across the booth. Spike ducked and caused her well aimed punch to connect with the booth back instead of his face. With a small cry of pain, she went after him again, sending them tumbling out of the booth the floor.
Dawn stared at the infantile spectacles they were making of themselves and lost it. She was holding her sides, laughing.
He let out a high pitched growling sound when they hit with her on top of him. He tried to worm his way out from under her, continuing the growling sound the whole time. Mostly to keep from laughing. Was it just him, or was the Slayer actually playing with him? She leaned forward, biting his shoulder.
He let out an indignant yelp, calling to Giles, "WATCHER! Your Slayer just BIT me!"
Indignant Humph! "He..." Struggle, bite. "Started it!"
"OW! She did it again!"
Giles, who had been attempting to read a map, swiveled the driver's chair around, giving the wrestling pair on the floor a death look that froze both of them. "That. Is. Quite. ENOUGH! Both of you! Buffy, don't bite Spike. Spike, stop annoying Buffy. If we want to find a hotel before nightfall, I need to be able to READ THE MAP! Which I can not do if the two of you won't BLOODY SHUT UP!" The seat swivelled back around again.
She lay on top of him, frozen, her eyes huge. Spike's expression was quiet similar. He looked up at Buffy, then over at Dawn who was trying to contain her laughter, then back at Buffy again. Just then, a playing card fell out of Buffy's sleeve. The missing ace. Spike just looked at it, trying not to laugh. He'd been right all along. She had been cheating. Quite well, actually. He'd never even seen her take the bloody thing!
She stood indignantly. "I've never been YELLED at like that by my watcher. It's your fault." Sat at the booth again.
Spike slowly climbed to his feet, picking up the offending ace, and handing it to Buffy. He sat on the opposite side of the booth, not saying anything.
"Buffy, would you come up here for a moment?", Giles called in a ever so much more calm voice from the driver's seat.
She walked slowly up to sit in the passenger's seat. "Yes, Giles?" It was quiet and meek, her 'meeting with the principal' voice.
Giles turned to look at her. There was no trace of anger on his face. Actually, he had a small smile. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you two, Buffy. It's just.. I have absolutely no clue where we are. And I think this is the map of the last state we were in. Which would explain why I can't figure it out." He shook his head. "But we have time. There's no real rush." He gave her a smile. "Is it just me or were you just playing with Spike?"
She sputtered a minute. "Bu- I- No! He called me a cheater. A *cheater*, Giles. Me. A Slayer."
Giles chuckled. "But you were cheating. I saw the ace in your sleeve."
She put a hand over his mouth. "Shh. No you didn't." Too late. She could hear Spike and Dawn laughing about *something*. And, of course, that had to be it.
Giles chuckled and gently moved her hand. "Very well. Did you actually *bite* Spike?"
Small smile. "Maybe."
He chuckled again. "Well. I guess he really IS a bad influence. Maybe we should banish him to the back room again. Before Dawn starts snacking on Xander. Of course, we'll have to wait until Willow and Tara come out, that is."
She frowned intently at Giles. "I wonder if he can smell when people are... ummm nevermind."
"When people are... what?" He shook his head. "I really don't know if I want the answer to that."
She shrugged. "I just mean... he's a vampire. He can smell stuff a half mile away. I wonder if he can smell like... arousal as well as fear. Or, if he can smell what everyone's doing."
"Yes," Spike called from the booth. "I can. Believe me. That's why I'm not breathing right now."
She was glad she was facing front, but she knew Giles' could see her pink cheeks. Dawn just winced and kept dealing for Go Fish.
Giles chuckled again, then went back to his map. A different one this time. "Ah. Here we are... I think." He shrugged. "Well, if we keep going east, we'll have to hit a city sooner or later. I think we're in Michigan right now."
She nodded. "What's in Michigan?"
"Two Great Lakes. Breweries. Towns. I have no clue. I've never been here before."
"Don't look at me," Spike called up. "I can only help if we wind up in New York or Maine."
Giles sighed. "We might stay parked here for awhile. At least until I figure out where we are."
She gave a small pout. "All right."
Giles chuckled. "Go on back to your card game, Buffy. At least it'll keep the three of you entertained for awhile. And try to keep it down to a dull roar, okay?"
"Can't promise that, Watcher. We might- HEY! BIT!"
She rolled her eyes, and made her way back. "What's going on, here?"
"Gimme my lighter!"
She tucked the lighter into her jeans pocket. "No. You were smoking." It was accusatory, and a pinch of kicked puppy.
He stared at her. "Yes. I do that, Bit. And I was outside, no where near you. So you can't push that second hand crap on me again."
Buffy just grinned. She would almost put money down on her sister being able to reform this Master Vampire, who had had this particular habit, almost, she was sure, as long as he had that nasty one with killing people.
Dawn gave him a stern look. "I want you to quit."
Spike fishmouthed at her. "Dawn. I love you. I'll give my unlife for you. But I will not give up my cigarettes!"
She gave him a very pouting look. "But you don't NEED them. You can't be addicted to them."
"I didn't say I was addicted. It's part of my image." He sat up straight. "No demon'd take me serious without 'em."
Bambi eyes. Huge and sad and kind of tearful. Kept his gaze for a few seconds, then dropped her eyes to her lap. "Oh." It was low, uncomfortable. "Ok."
Spike shifted in his seat. He hated it when she did that. He glanced up at Buffy, wordlessly asking for backup here.
Buffy waved the ace at him, then put her hands in the air, palms out. No way. But she took pity on his desperate look. "Dawnie... Spike... smokes because it's... a comfort to him. Like eating chocolate, or how Giles cleans his glasses. You can't ask someone to give up something that's ingrained in their personality."
Dawn gave Buffy the Bambi eyes, then swung them dolefully at Spike again, dropped her eyes to her hands, playing uneasily in her lap. "I know." Sad tone. Gave him a mournful glance. "I'm sorry, Spike." She handed him his lighter back, looking up at him through her lashes.
Spike gritted his teeth and gave Buffy a 'thanks, but it didn't help' look. He put the lighter back into his pocket and kept his hand in there, playing with his cig pack. "What about a compromise, Bit? You set the terms. But it's negotiable."
She gave him a hopeful glance. "Maybe don't smoke before you come see me?"
He thought for a moment. "You know, I don't smoke much during the day. Why not one in the evening, and one in the morning? Maybe an extra if I need to make an impression."
The huge innocent's eyes were taking their toll on Spike. Dawn and Buffy both knew it. Dawn decided to give a little. "You can smoke whenever you want to when you're at the Bronze, or Willy's, too."
He sighed. Knowing that he'd lost *something* here, but not exactly sure what. "Deal. But what about while we're still on the road?"
"I'll solve that for you," Giles called back. "The Ohana is a smoke free zone. Outside, if you must."
Spike cocked an eyebrow at Buffy. "He's got good ears for a human."
She smiled. "Too good sometimes."
Dawn beamed at him from across the table. "Go fish, Spike!"
Another sigh. "I'm losing anyway. Let's think of a new game."
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Dawn looked around the suite they were all sharing. No one had quite wanted to be apart tonight. And, no duh, much? It was 8:46 pm (she had checked the clock ten seconds ago), and Glory had little over three hours to get her if she was gonna get her. Xander and Anya were eating popcorn like it was going out of style, but their eyelids were drooping. Dawn's eyes darted towards the door for the zillionth time that hour.
9:22 PM. Xander and Anya were conked out. Willow and Tara were getting there. Giles... well, Giles had been out since 8:54 PM. Spike and Buffy were seated on the floor on either end of the couch. Spike, being a vampire, was having no problem staying awake.. Well, almost no problem. There was something to be said for new habits.
9:38 PM. All Scoobies were out but Spike, Buffy, and herself. Her hands were shaking. She folded them in her lap, but her rings began to click together. Spike cocked his head at the sound, glancing up at Dawn. "You okay, Bit?", he whispered, concern in his hushed voice.
She gave a grin, her face a mask of confidence, unaware her eyes were unguarded and full of fear. "Yeah." Unfolded her hands. "Fine."
He climbed slowly up onto the couch, motioning for her to lean on him. "It's ok, Bit. You're safe with us. Nothing's gonna get you."
She leaned her head on his shoulder, biting her lip, again his Brave Little Toaster. Buffy sat up with them, laid down on her side, her head on Dawn's legs. A movement of support. "No one will ever get you, Dawn. They'd have to kill me first. And well, that's pretty damn hard to do."
Spike grinned at Buffy. "She's tellin' the truth, Bit. Why, if I couldn't kill her, nothing could. Right, luv?"
Buffy nodded. "Right. Nothing."
Dawn just pulled a little closer to Spike's shoulder, her eyes on the clock. Within the next two hours, despite Dawn's best attempts not to, both Summers dozed off, leaving Spike alone to watch the clock. 11:55. Five minutes. Memories of what he had suffered at Glory's hands, literally, kept him awake. He would do his best, but he knew that if she came through that door in the next two minutes, there was next to nothing he could do to stop her. 11:58.
12:00. Back in Sunnydale, a young intern got his life back. And in Michigan, a vampire let out a whooshing sigh of relief. It was over. They were safe. Dawn was safe. They'd done it. A clock chimed, sounded twelve times, rousing the Slayer from her slumber. She jerked awake, ready to fight, on her feet in front of Dawn before she was CLOSE to fathoming where the danger was, or if it was there at all.
Spike gently placed a hand on her shoulder, so that she wouldn't wake Dawn by moving. He grinned, and pointed at the clock. Mouthed, 'We did it.'
Pathetic, overflowing relief flooded her features. She pounced him an in impromptu hug. Spike was shocked, but not so much that his arms didn't find their way around her as well. Buffy gave a happy loud noise. Not a shout, not a squeal. Just... a noise. That woke Dawn. She jerked up, defensive as Buffy had been, then stood, confused, looking at Spike and Buffy. Her eyes flew to the clock, that now pronounced the time as 12:01 AM. She squealed. No two ways about it. Squealed and tossed herself at both of her hugging guardians.
This woke everyone else in the large room, who looked at the clock in turn, and basically turned the couch into a giant Scooby group hug. Spike promptly squirmed out of the middle of the group of humans to go stand against a nearby wall. Buffy and Dawn were one thing, but there was NO WAY he was letting the other Scoobies hug him. Well... Maybe the Wiccas. But that was a toss up. He stood there and waited for the mushfest to end. Everyone was hugging and laughing and falling off the couch. Spike couldn't completely hide his own grin. They'd done it. Beaten the odds. Apocalypse averted.
Dawn finally made her way out from the center of the hug, and threw herself at Spike individually. His hug. For his effort. For his sacrifice. For his friendship. She knocked the vampire back onto the recliner that Giles had occupied only moments earlier. Spike laughed and squeezed Dawn gently. "I told you, didn't I? You're safe here. With us. With me."
She gave him a smile, a sweet, joyful one, just for him. "I've always been safe with you."
He grinned, thankful that it was impossible for vampires to blush, and hugged her to him tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Thanks."
She squeezed him back just as tightly, said seriously, "Thank you. You're the reason I'm not dead."
He shook his head a little. "No, Bit. It was everyone. I just helped."
She saw the truth there and nodded, but added, "You didn't give me up. I'll never forget it."
He ducked his head for a moment. "That's... almost exactly what your sister said."
She gave him another smile. "Summers' are always right!" She stood and pulled him out of the recliner.
He chuckled and let her help him up, eyeing the pile of Scoobies that seemed to be attempting to disentangle from each other, with only minor success.
Before coming to their aid, Dawn stood on her toes, her hands framing Spike's face. She kissed his forehead, and each cheekbone, that had worn battle marks from Glory. He could have sworn he did blush that time. Gave her a lopsided grin and another quick hug before releasing her so that she could find her sister in the struggling Scooby pile.
Dawn finally managed to separate Buffy from the stupidly smiling, now standing, group of Scoobies, leaving a rather undignified but satisfied looking Giles on the bottom, sitting on the couch. Spike leaned on the wall, looking at the group who had all sorted themselves out. He would have to confront Buffy later about her hugging him, of course, but now was not the time. There was a... warm feeling in the room. Like, now, nothing bad could ever happen again. Spike liked it, and he knew that he wasn't the only one who felt it. It showed on everyone's faces. Silly grins all around. Spike shook his head. 'I'd better go outside before this becomes contagious.'
Buffy grinned bigger at the group. "Celebrations are in order. In fact. This is a momentous occasion. Not ONLY have we averted an apocalypse, but! Tonight! We will be introducing Dawn to the big bad world of dance clubs."
Xander laughed. "Buff, it's the middle of the night!"
Anya looked at him curiously. "What's wrong with celebrating in the middle of the night? I thought you said-" She was interrupted when Xander's hand covered her mouth.
Dawn spazzed. "NO WAY!!!!????" It was a sonar frequency, and all the dolphins and dogs in the area winced. "OH MY GOD!!!"
And vampires. Spike covered his ears for an instant. Then cocked his head at Buffy. "Is that a good idea? I mean, she's only-"
Dawn swung her head toward him. HUUUUUUUUUGE Bambi/toaster/puppy eyes. "Spike... pleaaaaaaaase?????"
Spike melted. "Oh. Alright. Fine. But I get to kill and/or seriously injure any male of any species that looks at you the wrong way."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you SO would not." Turned entreating eyes on Buffy. "The black halter??? Please??"
Buffy sighed. "Fine. Go get ready."
Spike made bug eyes at Buffy as Dawn scampered off to change. "You can't be serious... She.. There's... I.. Damn it." He sagged against the wall. "I can't win with you two."
This set off a round of laughter from the rest of the assembled Scoobies. Not even phased when Spike sent them death glares. In fact, it seemed to make them laugh harder. Spike made an indignant snorting sound and turned his back on the lot of them, only to hide his own grin.
Buffy laughed, then followed Dawn to change. Soon enough, all the girls were getting ready. Not too long from then, they all trooped down to the Ohana to find a dance club. "Everyone look out the windows," Giles said. "Otherwise, we're liable to miss one." He started the RV and they drove away from the hotel. Fully intending to return before sun up. Really, they were!
"OOOOOH!!! There! Salindas!" Dawn wagged a finger at the window. "There! Giles!!!! Don't pass it up!!!"
Giles did actually pass it up, but managed to turn them around and go back with only a moment's trouble. They found a parking place and the group headed in, with Spike hanging back, fully intending to find a dark place and just watch what happened. He'd need to be close, though. Just in case there happened to be a male that needed killing for looking at Dawn. Heaven help any guy who actually TOUCHED her.
After they'd been there for awhile, Anya decided to get drinks and food for everyone. So, while Anya got food and liquid refreshment, Xander was dancing with both Buffy AND Dawn. And Dawn looked good. She KNEW she did. With the backless hankie-halter, that only tied at the neck and in the back, paired with a short red skirt, heels and hoops, she was ready for anything, and (hopefully) everything. Of course, so did Buffy. She had worn a pair of low-riding camel pants, and a black sleeveless mock- turtleneck that hugged everything she had, showed a hint of midriff, and left very little to the imagination.
Xander, who was finding it rather difficult to dance with two people at once (which involves a lot of spinning and looking very silly, which he could do naturally, anyway), was just basically having a great time. Even though he was starting to get dizzy.
Giles was right where he'd been since they'd entered the club: the bar.
Spike... Well, he'd moved around a bit, but mostly just stayed in the shadows, just off the dance floor, watching. Almost predatory in his demeanor. Right now, he was leaning on a support for one of the stairwells that led up to the second floor.
Dawn, laughing while Xander spun her, spotted Spike in her twirl. When it stopped, she smiled, and toddled slightly dizzily over to Spike. "Hey, Handsome."
He gave her a half grin. "Hey, Beautiful. Having fun?"
"Mmm... It could be better."
Cocked his head, took a sip of his drink. "Oh?"
She nodded. "There's a guy I want to ask to dance, but I'll cry if he says no."
He looked around, protectiveness and a slight growl creeping into his tone. "Who? And when exactly did you meet this person?"
She shrugged. "You don't think he'll say no, do you?"
He kept scanning the crowd. "Depends on if I want him to or not. Point 'im out to me."
She poked him in the chest.
He paused, cocking his head and giving her a lopsided grin. "Me?"
She smiled. "Yup. So... do you want him to or not?"
He stood up, offered her an arm. "I think I can handle this particular person."
She took his arm. "Thank goodness."
"Well, I wouldn't want you to cry right here in public, now would I?"
"Never."
Meanwhile, Xander was doing slightly better, no longer having to dance with two people at once. He looked around a bit as he spun Buffy. "Where'd Dawn go?"
Buffy looked around and grinned. Close to them, Spike and Dawn were dancing. "She pulled Spike away from the pillar he was holding up."
Xander caught sight of them and let out a laugh. "Well. I wondered where Evil Dead had gotten to. I was beginning to think that'd we'd have to start keeping a head count. Make sure he wasn't eating anyone. Not that he could if he wanted to, anyway. Thank the Initiative for that one thing."
Small tense smile. "Yeah."
Xander spun Buffy again. "Why so suddenly tense, Buffster?"
She gave a laugh. "I'm not, Xander. This is the best night I've had in a long time."
"You aren't the only one," he said with a laugh. "I wonder what's so funny over there?" Spike and Dawn had actually needed to lean on a table for a moment, since they'd both been laughing so hard about something or other.
Dawn wiped at her eyes, still laughing slightly, then stepped out onto the floor again. "Come on. We're still dancing."
Spike, still grinning and chuckling a bit, followed her and began dancing with her again.
Xander laughed. "You know what? I want to know what was so funny." He danced with Buffy over to where Spike and Dawn were dancing. "May I cut in, Evil Dead?"
Spike, to his credit, didn't even growl. Just stepped slightly aside, allowing Xander to take his place with Dawn. He turned and started to head back to his pillar. And almost bumped into Buffy. They looked at each other, unease on their features, still in the sea of moving bodies. Spike cleared his throat, started to sidestep around her, but was blocked by her hand on his arm. He froze. 'What did I do now?', he thought.
She looked confused by her hand. Decided to brazen it out. "Wanna dance?"
He stayed frozen, a slight confused puppy look on his face, wondering when he would wake up this time. A half nod.
She moved a little closer to him. In relation to her closeness, all his knowledge of dancing flew right out of his head. He had no clue what he was supposed to do. Swallowed hard. 'Ok. How hard can it be? Just... move.' He did. Like an ox with shoes. 'Why does this always happen right when I NEED to remember something!?'
She was moving awkwardly with him, then stopped, said scathingly as the band began a smoky number, "What? Only remember how to waltz?"
THAT did it. Knowledge returned. He pulled her close, moving in time with the music with grace that would rival a panther. "You were saying, Slayer?"
The logistics of speech escaped her as his hips ground against hers in a motion she wasn't sure could be echoed by mere mortals. His hand was low on her back, the curve, pulling her tight against him. One of her arms had hooked around his neck to keep her balance, and she found out that yes, mortals COULD move their hips like that, because hers were mimicking his movements, roll for roll, sway for sway, step for step.
Spike was enjoying this totally. He allowed his demon to control some of the movements, letting it listen to the music as if he were playing piano. He'd found out a long time ago that the 'music hath charms..' saying wasn't a saying so much as a fact. Music had always relaxed his demon's hunting instincts. Unfortunately, it also brought out other... more primal instincts. A low rumbling sound came from deep within his chest as he continued to dance with her, so close that they might have been wearing the same shirt.
He was looking at her ferally, a hunter to his prey, and she was returning the look, hunger for hunger. Their dancing was as full of fire as their fighting was. Maybe more. She could feel a deep vibration coming from him, pressed against him as she was, and she was sure he could hear her heart slamming. They wound slowly to the floor, then back standing.
Spike was aware of the Slayer's pounding heartbeat and labored breathing. He found his own, usually totally under control breathing, was matching her's. The beat of the song moved him, and he let it. This was one of his favorite dreams come true. Her warmth, her scent... He felt... surrounded. Enveloped in her, her hand on his neck... everywhere their bodies touched seemed filled with fire. Burning from within each of them. And still they danced.
Her lips were parted, eyes rounded and focused intently on his, but she was aware of everything he was, the muscle, the extremely fine picture he painted to every jealous woman in the club, and the song hit a crescendo, a deep resonating bass, sent their hips rolling in unison. Her hand slid down his neck, back up again, her eyes never leaving his. Her free hand rose to hold to his bicep.
Spike panted slightly, her touch practically driving him mad. The rumbling in his chest deepened, and he allowed one hand to roam up and down her back as they continued the dance. This was better than the dreams. All the more so because of it's reality. This was REALLY happening. His mind had yet to totally grasp that fact, but his body knew in earnest.
Her hand slid from his arm, to streak across his chest, his side, across his back, and back to his arm. It was intoxicating. The way he was touching her. Like he knew. Already, that he owned her, his. And was she really doing anything but the same thing? It was.... primal, arousing, and demanding. Intense. Staring in his eyes, she wound slowly to the floor, more slowly than before, just to watch him keep up, press her more tightly against him.
The song wound to a close, with Spike pressed with his back against a pillar and Buffy pressed tight against his stomach, her arms wrapped around him, hands stroking up and down his sides, the sensation almost making him want to pass out right there.
She watched him, still moving against him, his hands still holding her close. Rolled her hips quickly, watched as he almost flinched in pleasure. Leaned up, her eyes still on his. He was hers for the taking. He was almost shaking with desire. For her. Only her. And she was on the same level. Maybe a little more so, because his hand had slipped just a bit lower, firmly on her backside, pushing her as closely to him as was legal without clothes going by the wayside. She leaned up, moving slowly towards him, her lips still parted, so close to his, moving back slightly.
Spike was drawing in ragged breaths, pupils wide and dilated with desire. Was this happening? Was he dreaming? She moved against him again and his eyes crossed momentarily. Nope. Not dreaming. Her mouth was now less than centimeters away. Could feel her breath on his lips. Pulled back again, just an inch, her eyes on his. Did he really see what he thought he saw in her eyes? Could it be possible? He swallowed hard, not wanting to do anything that might push her away. He'd tried so hard, and come so far... Could this actually be happening? She moved closer, if it was possible, her parted lips meeting his, pushing all things sentimental from his mind. Leaving nothing but an animal hunger that was deeper than his desire to feed. Deeper than the demon's lust for blood. And she returned it in full, deepening the kiss and turning it into a dance of tongues mimicking their earlier movements on the dance floor. Spike's eyes closed and he focused totally on the sensation, feeling quite happy that the pillar was still behind him, for his last coherent thought was that his knees were very close to giving out.
Buffy poured herself into it, one hand still playing at his sides, the other on his cheek, attempting to be as close to him as possible, her lips open under his, accepting his plundering of her mouth, as he was of hers. She couldn't think past the hunger, the desire, the incredible yearning to make him hers, and as that thought trailed though her mind, one of her legs moved over his, attempting to hitch it on his hip. It worked. How long they were like that, neither of them knew. Time had lost all meaning to the two beings in the shadows of that dance club. There was only one thing that mattered, and that was the nearness of the other. The passion. The fire. A fire that would never completely go out now that it had been lit.
Author's Notes 1, Tigerwolf: We are very proud of this chap. Especially the ending... Well, you'll see. ;)
It was the next night, and they were once again in the Middle of Nowhere RV park. Did these things just pop up out of every park in the country now? Wherever they came from, it was a good thing that they were there. It gave them all a chance to set up the cots and get a full night's sleep. Like it or not, even Spike was starting to get used to sleeping at night. Which was a problem when he actually had to drive at night. Yawning was so not a good use of time. Or oxygen. Not that he needed it anyway. He stretched slightly in his cot, and became slowly aware of a certain hindrance to his movement. Something was draped over his side. Something warm. He opened one eye slowly. A hand. There was a hand dangling on his stomach. He shifted slightly and became aware of the extension of that hand, being the arm and body that it belonged to, pressed up against his back. 'Who the bloody hell...?'
He could feel the person breathing, and a steady heartbeat, so no one had dropped a corpse on him. That was good. He sniffed. Identified the scent. Buffy. Buffy? A slow grin spread across his face. 'Buffy is on my back. Ok. I'm dreaming again..'
He shifted slightly and pinched his arm. 'Ow. Ok. Not dreaming. Buffy is actually sleeping on me. And it's really warm... Not a bad place to be at all, really...' He stifled a yawn, and was surprised when the hand tightened it's grip a little, hugging him to her like she had with her pillow a few nights earlier. He didn't want to, but he could feel sleep claiming him again. And he was warm... And comfortable... and...Goodnight.
Buffy hugged her pillow tighter. So tired. Why was she awake? Nuzzled her head into the soft fabric of the.... skin? No. There was supposed to be fabric and a pillowcase. Skin was bad. Of the bad. She pulled back slightly to take in what the hell she was doing. Sleeping. On Spike. Tucked up against his back, one hand draped over his stomach like he was her pillow. She should pull back. Right now she should be pulling back. As in, *now*, Buffy. She gave a slight whine at herself. It was so... warm in the Ohana. And he was cool, and comfy, she reasoned around a yawn, she'd wake up before him anyway. So... She laid her head back down, almost touching his back, it would be ok. Besides... they were... tentative friends, right?? She had slept on Xander before. It was just like that, only more Spike than Xander. She sniffed once before sleep claimed her again. He did smell nice.
Tara pulled open the door to the bathroom, and went to go back into the bedroom. Crap. The light. She had left it on. She went back, but paused at what she saw illuminated by the dull glow of the bathroom bulb. Spike was smiling softly in his sleep, and there was a hand on his stomach. A Buffy hand. A VERY little, Slayer, Buffy hand. She blinked slowly and tilted her head to the side, examining them. The beginning of a smile touched the corners of her full lips, and she flipped the light off and slipped back into the bedroom to be with Willow.
========================================================================== ==========
They'd been on the road again from very early that morning. In fact, Giles had started driving before everyone was awake, which had caused quite a rude awakening for several passengers. Including Spike, who had fallen off the edge of his cot when they'd gone over a big pothole.
Spike, for his part, was messing with a deck of cards, half playing solitaire, half playing go fish with Buffy and Dawn. Xander and Anya.. well, they were in the bathroom. Again. And Willow and Tara were in the back room. Which explained Spike riding in the booth for once.
Buffy smacked at his hand while he tried to take one of her cards. "You're cheating!!"
He snorted at her, grinning. "I'm evil, Slayer. I'm supposed to cheat. Or have you forgotten that little fact again?"
"It's GO FISH! You aren't ALLOWED to be evil if you can't beat GO FISH without CHEATING!" Dawn nodded her agreement.
Spike chuckled. "I can win without cheating. It's just so much more fun *to* cheat!" He wagged a finger at the Slayer. "Besides, I saw you take an extra card the last time you went fishing."
Offended gasp. "Whatever! I would NEVER cheat!"
"You do so cheat."
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do NOT!"
"DO TOO!!"
"Do not! And if you call me a cheater again, I'm gonna whack you in the nose!"
Spike sneered at her. "Oh. I'm so scared. I hit back, you know. Cheater."
She dove across the booth. Spike ducked and caused her well aimed punch to connect with the booth back instead of his face. With a small cry of pain, she went after him again, sending them tumbling out of the booth the floor.
Dawn stared at the infantile spectacles they were making of themselves and lost it. She was holding her sides, laughing.
He let out a high pitched growling sound when they hit with her on top of him. He tried to worm his way out from under her, continuing the growling sound the whole time. Mostly to keep from laughing. Was it just him, or was the Slayer actually playing with him? She leaned forward, biting his shoulder.
He let out an indignant yelp, calling to Giles, "WATCHER! Your Slayer just BIT me!"
Indignant Humph! "He..." Struggle, bite. "Started it!"
"OW! She did it again!"
Giles, who had been attempting to read a map, swiveled the driver's chair around, giving the wrestling pair on the floor a death look that froze both of them. "That. Is. Quite. ENOUGH! Both of you! Buffy, don't bite Spike. Spike, stop annoying Buffy. If we want to find a hotel before nightfall, I need to be able to READ THE MAP! Which I can not do if the two of you won't BLOODY SHUT UP!" The seat swivelled back around again.
She lay on top of him, frozen, her eyes huge. Spike's expression was quiet similar. He looked up at Buffy, then over at Dawn who was trying to contain her laughter, then back at Buffy again. Just then, a playing card fell out of Buffy's sleeve. The missing ace. Spike just looked at it, trying not to laugh. He'd been right all along. She had been cheating. Quite well, actually. He'd never even seen her take the bloody thing!
She stood indignantly. "I've never been YELLED at like that by my watcher. It's your fault." Sat at the booth again.
Spike slowly climbed to his feet, picking up the offending ace, and handing it to Buffy. He sat on the opposite side of the booth, not saying anything.
"Buffy, would you come up here for a moment?", Giles called in a ever so much more calm voice from the driver's seat.
She walked slowly up to sit in the passenger's seat. "Yes, Giles?" It was quiet and meek, her 'meeting with the principal' voice.
Giles turned to look at her. There was no trace of anger on his face. Actually, he had a small smile. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you two, Buffy. It's just.. I have absolutely no clue where we are. And I think this is the map of the last state we were in. Which would explain why I can't figure it out." He shook his head. "But we have time. There's no real rush." He gave her a smile. "Is it just me or were you just playing with Spike?"
She sputtered a minute. "Bu- I- No! He called me a cheater. A *cheater*, Giles. Me. A Slayer."
Giles chuckled. "But you were cheating. I saw the ace in your sleeve."
She put a hand over his mouth. "Shh. No you didn't." Too late. She could hear Spike and Dawn laughing about *something*. And, of course, that had to be it.
Giles chuckled and gently moved her hand. "Very well. Did you actually *bite* Spike?"
Small smile. "Maybe."
He chuckled again. "Well. I guess he really IS a bad influence. Maybe we should banish him to the back room again. Before Dawn starts snacking on Xander. Of course, we'll have to wait until Willow and Tara come out, that is."
She frowned intently at Giles. "I wonder if he can smell when people are... ummm nevermind."
"When people are... what?" He shook his head. "I really don't know if I want the answer to that."
She shrugged. "I just mean... he's a vampire. He can smell stuff a half mile away. I wonder if he can smell like... arousal as well as fear. Or, if he can smell what everyone's doing."
"Yes," Spike called from the booth. "I can. Believe me. That's why I'm not breathing right now."
She was glad she was facing front, but she knew Giles' could see her pink cheeks. Dawn just winced and kept dealing for Go Fish.
Giles chuckled again, then went back to his map. A different one this time. "Ah. Here we are... I think." He shrugged. "Well, if we keep going east, we'll have to hit a city sooner or later. I think we're in Michigan right now."
She nodded. "What's in Michigan?"
"Two Great Lakes. Breweries. Towns. I have no clue. I've never been here before."
"Don't look at me," Spike called up. "I can only help if we wind up in New York or Maine."
Giles sighed. "We might stay parked here for awhile. At least until I figure out where we are."
She gave a small pout. "All right."
Giles chuckled. "Go on back to your card game, Buffy. At least it'll keep the three of you entertained for awhile. And try to keep it down to a dull roar, okay?"
"Can't promise that, Watcher. We might- HEY! BIT!"
She rolled her eyes, and made her way back. "What's going on, here?"
"Gimme my lighter!"
She tucked the lighter into her jeans pocket. "No. You were smoking." It was accusatory, and a pinch of kicked puppy.
He stared at her. "Yes. I do that, Bit. And I was outside, no where near you. So you can't push that second hand crap on me again."
Buffy just grinned. She would almost put money down on her sister being able to reform this Master Vampire, who had had this particular habit, almost, she was sure, as long as he had that nasty one with killing people.
Dawn gave him a stern look. "I want you to quit."
Spike fishmouthed at her. "Dawn. I love you. I'll give my unlife for you. But I will not give up my cigarettes!"
She gave him a very pouting look. "But you don't NEED them. You can't be addicted to them."
"I didn't say I was addicted. It's part of my image." He sat up straight. "No demon'd take me serious without 'em."
Bambi eyes. Huge and sad and kind of tearful. Kept his gaze for a few seconds, then dropped her eyes to her lap. "Oh." It was low, uncomfortable. "Ok."
Spike shifted in his seat. He hated it when she did that. He glanced up at Buffy, wordlessly asking for backup here.
Buffy waved the ace at him, then put her hands in the air, palms out. No way. But she took pity on his desperate look. "Dawnie... Spike... smokes because it's... a comfort to him. Like eating chocolate, or how Giles cleans his glasses. You can't ask someone to give up something that's ingrained in their personality."
Dawn gave Buffy the Bambi eyes, then swung them dolefully at Spike again, dropped her eyes to her hands, playing uneasily in her lap. "I know." Sad tone. Gave him a mournful glance. "I'm sorry, Spike." She handed him his lighter back, looking up at him through her lashes.
Spike gritted his teeth and gave Buffy a 'thanks, but it didn't help' look. He put the lighter back into his pocket and kept his hand in there, playing with his cig pack. "What about a compromise, Bit? You set the terms. But it's negotiable."
She gave him a hopeful glance. "Maybe don't smoke before you come see me?"
He thought for a moment. "You know, I don't smoke much during the day. Why not one in the evening, and one in the morning? Maybe an extra if I need to make an impression."
The huge innocent's eyes were taking their toll on Spike. Dawn and Buffy both knew it. Dawn decided to give a little. "You can smoke whenever you want to when you're at the Bronze, or Willy's, too."
He sighed. Knowing that he'd lost *something* here, but not exactly sure what. "Deal. But what about while we're still on the road?"
"I'll solve that for you," Giles called back. "The Ohana is a smoke free zone. Outside, if you must."
Spike cocked an eyebrow at Buffy. "He's got good ears for a human."
She smiled. "Too good sometimes."
Dawn beamed at him from across the table. "Go fish, Spike!"
Another sigh. "I'm losing anyway. Let's think of a new game."
========================================================
Dawn looked around the suite they were all sharing. No one had quite wanted to be apart tonight. And, no duh, much? It was 8:46 pm (she had checked the clock ten seconds ago), and Glory had little over three hours to get her if she was gonna get her. Xander and Anya were eating popcorn like it was going out of style, but their eyelids were drooping. Dawn's eyes darted towards the door for the zillionth time that hour.
9:22 PM. Xander and Anya were conked out. Willow and Tara were getting there. Giles... well, Giles had been out since 8:54 PM. Spike and Buffy were seated on the floor on either end of the couch. Spike, being a vampire, was having no problem staying awake.. Well, almost no problem. There was something to be said for new habits.
9:38 PM. All Scoobies were out but Spike, Buffy, and herself. Her hands were shaking. She folded them in her lap, but her rings began to click together. Spike cocked his head at the sound, glancing up at Dawn. "You okay, Bit?", he whispered, concern in his hushed voice.
She gave a grin, her face a mask of confidence, unaware her eyes were unguarded and full of fear. "Yeah." Unfolded her hands. "Fine."
He climbed slowly up onto the couch, motioning for her to lean on him. "It's ok, Bit. You're safe with us. Nothing's gonna get you."
She leaned her head on his shoulder, biting her lip, again his Brave Little Toaster. Buffy sat up with them, laid down on her side, her head on Dawn's legs. A movement of support. "No one will ever get you, Dawn. They'd have to kill me first. And well, that's pretty damn hard to do."
Spike grinned at Buffy. "She's tellin' the truth, Bit. Why, if I couldn't kill her, nothing could. Right, luv?"
Buffy nodded. "Right. Nothing."
Dawn just pulled a little closer to Spike's shoulder, her eyes on the clock. Within the next two hours, despite Dawn's best attempts not to, both Summers dozed off, leaving Spike alone to watch the clock. 11:55. Five minutes. Memories of what he had suffered at Glory's hands, literally, kept him awake. He would do his best, but he knew that if she came through that door in the next two minutes, there was next to nothing he could do to stop her. 11:58.
12:00. Back in Sunnydale, a young intern got his life back. And in Michigan, a vampire let out a whooshing sigh of relief. It was over. They were safe. Dawn was safe. They'd done it. A clock chimed, sounded twelve times, rousing the Slayer from her slumber. She jerked awake, ready to fight, on her feet in front of Dawn before she was CLOSE to fathoming where the danger was, or if it was there at all.
Spike gently placed a hand on her shoulder, so that she wouldn't wake Dawn by moving. He grinned, and pointed at the clock. Mouthed, 'We did it.'
Pathetic, overflowing relief flooded her features. She pounced him an in impromptu hug. Spike was shocked, but not so much that his arms didn't find their way around her as well. Buffy gave a happy loud noise. Not a shout, not a squeal. Just... a noise. That woke Dawn. She jerked up, defensive as Buffy had been, then stood, confused, looking at Spike and Buffy. Her eyes flew to the clock, that now pronounced the time as 12:01 AM. She squealed. No two ways about it. Squealed and tossed herself at both of her hugging guardians.
This woke everyone else in the large room, who looked at the clock in turn, and basically turned the couch into a giant Scooby group hug. Spike promptly squirmed out of the middle of the group of humans to go stand against a nearby wall. Buffy and Dawn were one thing, but there was NO WAY he was letting the other Scoobies hug him. Well... Maybe the Wiccas. But that was a toss up. He stood there and waited for the mushfest to end. Everyone was hugging and laughing and falling off the couch. Spike couldn't completely hide his own grin. They'd done it. Beaten the odds. Apocalypse averted.
Dawn finally made her way out from the center of the hug, and threw herself at Spike individually. His hug. For his effort. For his sacrifice. For his friendship. She knocked the vampire back onto the recliner that Giles had occupied only moments earlier. Spike laughed and squeezed Dawn gently. "I told you, didn't I? You're safe here. With us. With me."
She gave him a smile, a sweet, joyful one, just for him. "I've always been safe with you."
He grinned, thankful that it was impossible for vampires to blush, and hugged her to him tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Thanks."
She squeezed him back just as tightly, said seriously, "Thank you. You're the reason I'm not dead."
He shook his head a little. "No, Bit. It was everyone. I just helped."
She saw the truth there and nodded, but added, "You didn't give me up. I'll never forget it."
He ducked his head for a moment. "That's... almost exactly what your sister said."
She gave him another smile. "Summers' are always right!" She stood and pulled him out of the recliner.
He chuckled and let her help him up, eyeing the pile of Scoobies that seemed to be attempting to disentangle from each other, with only minor success.
Before coming to their aid, Dawn stood on her toes, her hands framing Spike's face. She kissed his forehead, and each cheekbone, that had worn battle marks from Glory. He could have sworn he did blush that time. Gave her a lopsided grin and another quick hug before releasing her so that she could find her sister in the struggling Scooby pile.
Dawn finally managed to separate Buffy from the stupidly smiling, now standing, group of Scoobies, leaving a rather undignified but satisfied looking Giles on the bottom, sitting on the couch. Spike leaned on the wall, looking at the group who had all sorted themselves out. He would have to confront Buffy later about her hugging him, of course, but now was not the time. There was a... warm feeling in the room. Like, now, nothing bad could ever happen again. Spike liked it, and he knew that he wasn't the only one who felt it. It showed on everyone's faces. Silly grins all around. Spike shook his head. 'I'd better go outside before this becomes contagious.'
Buffy grinned bigger at the group. "Celebrations are in order. In fact. This is a momentous occasion. Not ONLY have we averted an apocalypse, but! Tonight! We will be introducing Dawn to the big bad world of dance clubs."
Xander laughed. "Buff, it's the middle of the night!"
Anya looked at him curiously. "What's wrong with celebrating in the middle of the night? I thought you said-" She was interrupted when Xander's hand covered her mouth.
Dawn spazzed. "NO WAY!!!!????" It was a sonar frequency, and all the dolphins and dogs in the area winced. "OH MY GOD!!!"
And vampires. Spike covered his ears for an instant. Then cocked his head at Buffy. "Is that a good idea? I mean, she's only-"
Dawn swung her head toward him. HUUUUUUUUUGE Bambi/toaster/puppy eyes. "Spike... pleaaaaaaaase?????"
Spike melted. "Oh. Alright. Fine. But I get to kill and/or seriously injure any male of any species that looks at you the wrong way."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you SO would not." Turned entreating eyes on Buffy. "The black halter??? Please??"
Buffy sighed. "Fine. Go get ready."
Spike made bug eyes at Buffy as Dawn scampered off to change. "You can't be serious... She.. There's... I.. Damn it." He sagged against the wall. "I can't win with you two."
This set off a round of laughter from the rest of the assembled Scoobies. Not even phased when Spike sent them death glares. In fact, it seemed to make them laugh harder. Spike made an indignant snorting sound and turned his back on the lot of them, only to hide his own grin.
Buffy laughed, then followed Dawn to change. Soon enough, all the girls were getting ready. Not too long from then, they all trooped down to the Ohana to find a dance club. "Everyone look out the windows," Giles said. "Otherwise, we're liable to miss one." He started the RV and they drove away from the hotel. Fully intending to return before sun up. Really, they were!
"OOOOOH!!! There! Salindas!" Dawn wagged a finger at the window. "There! Giles!!!! Don't pass it up!!!"
Giles did actually pass it up, but managed to turn them around and go back with only a moment's trouble. They found a parking place and the group headed in, with Spike hanging back, fully intending to find a dark place and just watch what happened. He'd need to be close, though. Just in case there happened to be a male that needed killing for looking at Dawn. Heaven help any guy who actually TOUCHED her.
After they'd been there for awhile, Anya decided to get drinks and food for everyone. So, while Anya got food and liquid refreshment, Xander was dancing with both Buffy AND Dawn. And Dawn looked good. She KNEW she did. With the backless hankie-halter, that only tied at the neck and in the back, paired with a short red skirt, heels and hoops, she was ready for anything, and (hopefully) everything. Of course, so did Buffy. She had worn a pair of low-riding camel pants, and a black sleeveless mock- turtleneck that hugged everything she had, showed a hint of midriff, and left very little to the imagination.
Xander, who was finding it rather difficult to dance with two people at once (which involves a lot of spinning and looking very silly, which he could do naturally, anyway), was just basically having a great time. Even though he was starting to get dizzy.
Giles was right where he'd been since they'd entered the club: the bar.
Spike... Well, he'd moved around a bit, but mostly just stayed in the shadows, just off the dance floor, watching. Almost predatory in his demeanor. Right now, he was leaning on a support for one of the stairwells that led up to the second floor.
Dawn, laughing while Xander spun her, spotted Spike in her twirl. When it stopped, she smiled, and toddled slightly dizzily over to Spike. "Hey, Handsome."
He gave her a half grin. "Hey, Beautiful. Having fun?"
"Mmm... It could be better."
Cocked his head, took a sip of his drink. "Oh?"
She nodded. "There's a guy I want to ask to dance, but I'll cry if he says no."
He looked around, protectiveness and a slight growl creeping into his tone. "Who? And when exactly did you meet this person?"
She shrugged. "You don't think he'll say no, do you?"
He kept scanning the crowd. "Depends on if I want him to or not. Point 'im out to me."
She poked him in the chest.
He paused, cocking his head and giving her a lopsided grin. "Me?"
She smiled. "Yup. So... do you want him to or not?"
He stood up, offered her an arm. "I think I can handle this particular person."
She took his arm. "Thank goodness."
"Well, I wouldn't want you to cry right here in public, now would I?"
"Never."
Meanwhile, Xander was doing slightly better, no longer having to dance with two people at once. He looked around a bit as he spun Buffy. "Where'd Dawn go?"
Buffy looked around and grinned. Close to them, Spike and Dawn were dancing. "She pulled Spike away from the pillar he was holding up."
Xander caught sight of them and let out a laugh. "Well. I wondered where Evil Dead had gotten to. I was beginning to think that'd we'd have to start keeping a head count. Make sure he wasn't eating anyone. Not that he could if he wanted to, anyway. Thank the Initiative for that one thing."
Small tense smile. "Yeah."
Xander spun Buffy again. "Why so suddenly tense, Buffster?"
She gave a laugh. "I'm not, Xander. This is the best night I've had in a long time."
"You aren't the only one," he said with a laugh. "I wonder what's so funny over there?" Spike and Dawn had actually needed to lean on a table for a moment, since they'd both been laughing so hard about something or other.
Dawn wiped at her eyes, still laughing slightly, then stepped out onto the floor again. "Come on. We're still dancing."
Spike, still grinning and chuckling a bit, followed her and began dancing with her again.
Xander laughed. "You know what? I want to know what was so funny." He danced with Buffy over to where Spike and Dawn were dancing. "May I cut in, Evil Dead?"
Spike, to his credit, didn't even growl. Just stepped slightly aside, allowing Xander to take his place with Dawn. He turned and started to head back to his pillar. And almost bumped into Buffy. They looked at each other, unease on their features, still in the sea of moving bodies. Spike cleared his throat, started to sidestep around her, but was blocked by her hand on his arm. He froze. 'What did I do now?', he thought.
She looked confused by her hand. Decided to brazen it out. "Wanna dance?"
He stayed frozen, a slight confused puppy look on his face, wondering when he would wake up this time. A half nod.
She moved a little closer to him. In relation to her closeness, all his knowledge of dancing flew right out of his head. He had no clue what he was supposed to do. Swallowed hard. 'Ok. How hard can it be? Just... move.' He did. Like an ox with shoes. 'Why does this always happen right when I NEED to remember something!?'
She was moving awkwardly with him, then stopped, said scathingly as the band began a smoky number, "What? Only remember how to waltz?"
THAT did it. Knowledge returned. He pulled her close, moving in time with the music with grace that would rival a panther. "You were saying, Slayer?"
The logistics of speech escaped her as his hips ground against hers in a motion she wasn't sure could be echoed by mere mortals. His hand was low on her back, the curve, pulling her tight against him. One of her arms had hooked around his neck to keep her balance, and she found out that yes, mortals COULD move their hips like that, because hers were mimicking his movements, roll for roll, sway for sway, step for step.
Spike was enjoying this totally. He allowed his demon to control some of the movements, letting it listen to the music as if he were playing piano. He'd found out a long time ago that the 'music hath charms..' saying wasn't a saying so much as a fact. Music had always relaxed his demon's hunting instincts. Unfortunately, it also brought out other... more primal instincts. A low rumbling sound came from deep within his chest as he continued to dance with her, so close that they might have been wearing the same shirt.
He was looking at her ferally, a hunter to his prey, and she was returning the look, hunger for hunger. Their dancing was as full of fire as their fighting was. Maybe more. She could feel a deep vibration coming from him, pressed against him as she was, and she was sure he could hear her heart slamming. They wound slowly to the floor, then back standing.
Spike was aware of the Slayer's pounding heartbeat and labored breathing. He found his own, usually totally under control breathing, was matching her's. The beat of the song moved him, and he let it. This was one of his favorite dreams come true. Her warmth, her scent... He felt... surrounded. Enveloped in her, her hand on his neck... everywhere their bodies touched seemed filled with fire. Burning from within each of them. And still they danced.
Her lips were parted, eyes rounded and focused intently on his, but she was aware of everything he was, the muscle, the extremely fine picture he painted to every jealous woman in the club, and the song hit a crescendo, a deep resonating bass, sent their hips rolling in unison. Her hand slid down his neck, back up again, her eyes never leaving his. Her free hand rose to hold to his bicep.
Spike panted slightly, her touch practically driving him mad. The rumbling in his chest deepened, and he allowed one hand to roam up and down her back as they continued the dance. This was better than the dreams. All the more so because of it's reality. This was REALLY happening. His mind had yet to totally grasp that fact, but his body knew in earnest.
Her hand slid from his arm, to streak across his chest, his side, across his back, and back to his arm. It was intoxicating. The way he was touching her. Like he knew. Already, that he owned her, his. And was she really doing anything but the same thing? It was.... primal, arousing, and demanding. Intense. Staring in his eyes, she wound slowly to the floor, more slowly than before, just to watch him keep up, press her more tightly against him.
The song wound to a close, with Spike pressed with his back against a pillar and Buffy pressed tight against his stomach, her arms wrapped around him, hands stroking up and down his sides, the sensation almost making him want to pass out right there.
She watched him, still moving against him, his hands still holding her close. Rolled her hips quickly, watched as he almost flinched in pleasure. Leaned up, her eyes still on his. He was hers for the taking. He was almost shaking with desire. For her. Only her. And she was on the same level. Maybe a little more so, because his hand had slipped just a bit lower, firmly on her backside, pushing her as closely to him as was legal without clothes going by the wayside. She leaned up, moving slowly towards him, her lips still parted, so close to his, moving back slightly.
Spike was drawing in ragged breaths, pupils wide and dilated with desire. Was this happening? Was he dreaming? She moved against him again and his eyes crossed momentarily. Nope. Not dreaming. Her mouth was now less than centimeters away. Could feel her breath on his lips. Pulled back again, just an inch, her eyes on his. Did he really see what he thought he saw in her eyes? Could it be possible? He swallowed hard, not wanting to do anything that might push her away. He'd tried so hard, and come so far... Could this actually be happening? She moved closer, if it was possible, her parted lips meeting his, pushing all things sentimental from his mind. Leaving nothing but an animal hunger that was deeper than his desire to feed. Deeper than the demon's lust for blood. And she returned it in full, deepening the kiss and turning it into a dance of tongues mimicking their earlier movements on the dance floor. Spike's eyes closed and he focused totally on the sensation, feeling quite happy that the pillar was still behind him, for his last coherent thought was that his knees were very close to giving out.
Buffy poured herself into it, one hand still playing at his sides, the other on his cheek, attempting to be as close to him as possible, her lips open under his, accepting his plundering of her mouth, as he was of hers. She couldn't think past the hunger, the desire, the incredible yearning to make him hers, and as that thought trailed though her mind, one of her legs moved over his, attempting to hitch it on his hip. It worked. How long they were like that, neither of them knew. Time had lost all meaning to the two beings in the shadows of that dance club. There was only one thing that mattered, and that was the nearness of the other. The passion. The fire. A fire that would never completely go out now that it had been lit.