Chapter 8: Morning Glory

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So, soo sorry about the long overdue update, but I've been really busy with the Spuffy Awards. The votes are over and a new round of nomination is starting the 15th so stop by then and nominate your fav fics.
Anyway, I didn't want to post these chappies before I knew I would be able to write some more within short time. Hope that two chappies makes up for the wait.
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews (Vette there's a little something in here for you… Not much, though*g*) and big thanks to Spike's Harley Babe for betaing.

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The first thing Buffy realized when she woke up was that her pillow was a lot harder than it usually was. That and a limb cradling her around the waist. She let her eyes slowly flutter open to adjust to the sharp morning light.

'That explains the pillow hardness' she thought once her eyes were properly adjusted and she noticed that her head was resting on a chest followed by distinctive male lower torso and legs. 'Spike's', she realized with her sleep-hazed mind. She had to repress a soft chuckle as she realized that she had hogged the covers and Spike was lying next to her in his jeans and t-shirt. She didn't move an inch as she listened intently for any indication that he was awake. She smiled as she felt the even heartbeat, and the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed deeply.

Once positive he was still asleep she let her gaze travel down his body, fully appreciating the view in front of her. She carefully let her hand follow her gaze as it trailed down his sculptured abs, clearly visible through the strained fabric of his t-shirt. Every once in a while she would stop her exploring to make sure he was still asleep.

She would just die of embarrassment if he woke up and found out the liberties she was taking, but she just couldn't help herself. This was a rare opportunity and she was compelled to take advantage of it. Her eyes went wide as her gaze traveled further south to a big bulge in his jeans.

'Ohmigod! Is he that big?' Buffy thought, quickly followed by a 'Bad Buffy! Bad, nosy, Buffy. Bad, bad hormonal Buff,' While she tried to pry her eyes away and fight the urge to feel if he really was as big as the straining fabric suggested. Of course she knew that this 'state' was common for guys in the morning, but a little part of her couldn't help but wonder if she had something to do with it.

She felt her face flush, even though there was no possible way for Spike to know exactly what she was looking at, when his breathing took on a less slumbering tempo and his heart rate climbed. She froze- her mind rapidly evaluating her options of pretend to still sleep or pretend to be awake, but oblivious, debating the merits of each option, back and forth.

Spike was waking up from the most pleasant dream he'd had in ages. A dream with naked Buffy riding up to meet him like a lady Godiva on a white horse. Descending from the horse, she came up to him and proceeded to do the most delicious things imaginable to him with her hot warm mouth and tight little body. Her body clinging to him in throes of passion. Slowly reentering the real world back from sleep's sweet abyss, he realized that her body was indeed clung to him. He groaned inwardly when he noticed his painfully hard erection. Judging by the aching, he gathered that it had been that way for quite a while. It didn't help at all that the warm petite body lying sheet clad halfway sprawled over his own body brought very pleasant associations to his dream.

He opened his eyes surrendering to the fact that he wasn't likely to return to his pleasant dream when the real thing was so close, but still so far away. When his eyes had fully adjusted to the offending light coming through Buffy's undraped windows, he stared directly into the back of Buffy's head. He began to panic as he realized by her tense posture that she was awake and most likely fully aware of his 'condition'. She was facing it, after all.

Buffy opted for pretending to still be asleep, unaware that Spike had already realized she wasn't, and tried her best to even out her breath to fake slumber, before tossing her body around as a person in sleep would. Her efforts had her turn her back against Spike and her head placed a little bit too neatly on her real pillow. She felt the bed shift slightly and opened one alert eye to carefully assess what was going on. She felt her heart jump and both her eyes shot wide open when she came face to face with smirking Spike peering down at her.

"Morning, pet" he murmured, smirk intact.

"Spike! Don't ever do that again, you scared me half to death!" She batted her hand at his chest lightly.

"You wouldn't have been so easily frightened if you'd been asleep like you pretended to, would you?" he asked, a mischievous glint to his eyes accompanying his smirk. As the horrors of getting caught flashed across her features and she started spluttering monosyllable incoherent words, he couldn't help, but continue her suffering. "And, pray tell what made you want to pretend to be asleep?" he moved his entire body in one catlike movement so that he laid facing her, on the opposite side of where he'd been lying before.

Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed from the emotions that aroused within her from the brief moment his hands were trapping her between them, in Buffy's mind a very intimate position, before he settled down beside her.

"I was sleeping" she lied.

"Right," he said mock seriously.

"What time is it?" Buffy changed the subject

Spike hoisted himself to his elbow so he could look over Buffy and at the alarm clock. "Half past eight"

"Shit. We're late! Shit! Giles is going to kill us!" Buffy went into full panic mode as she moved to get up. Spike

"Shh, pet, relax. I told Rupes about what happened last night, so he gave you the morning off. As for me, I do what I bloody well please." He huffed. Of course that wasn't true, he just wanted to put it clear to Buffy that nobody had him wrapped around his or her finger.

Buffy calmed and lied down again while quirking an eyebrow at Spike's attitude.

"Why don't you get a bit more shut eye, while you still can. Trust me on this, sleeping in is a rare opportunity at 'Giles' "

"With you here?" she asked skeptically. It had all seemed comfortable and safe last night, but now in the harsh light of day things seemed a bit more awkward for Buffy.

"You didn't seem all too uncomfortable last night, or moments ago when you were all snuggled up to me and using me for a pillow," he drawled while stroking lazy, soothing patterns on her back. Both of them felt electricity jolting through their nerves each time his fingertips would come into contact with the bare skin where her tank top had ridden up.

Spike could tell that she was enjoying herself by the way her eyes would blink shut slowly every now and then. Her face was only inches away and Spike was all too tempted to give in to his urge to kiss her. He resisted only because he was enjoying himself just as they were. He didn't want to take his chances and maybe blowing it all. He knew that if he kissed her now it would be serious and not playful, or lusty like the earlier kisses they had shared. He was scared she might seriously reject him if he kissed her now. He settled for watching her angelic face as she slowly drifted off to slumber again, coaxed there by the movements on her back.

The last thing Buffy was thinking before succumbing to sleep was 'He keeps looking at my lips and eyes, but why doesn't he kiss me?'

*****

The day after, Buffy was back in the saddle again. Literally. She got the 'pleasure' of acquainting herself with California Pride off the track, by riding him for what was supposed to be a light stroll in the woods nearby. Ten minutes into the ride both Buffy and Pride were soaked in sweat from struggling with each other.

"This is the last time I ride this horse with a regular bit," Buffy shouted over her shoulder to Faith and Jonathan through clenched teeth. "Oh, yes mamma's got a nice thin, sharp Waterford loose ring bit with lots and lots of joints to play with back in the stable," she threatened the horse in a singing voice.

Buffy was puzzled into pondering whether the horse actually understood human language or that it simply was tired from struggling as it gave in to her and walked along the path in an even pace.

After the morning shift had been taken care of, Faith and Buffy packed towels into the packs of two Quarter horses saddles' and rode up into the woods to the little stream, Buffy had been to her first day at the farm. Buffy let her eyes travel over to the tree Spike had pushed her up against and felt a familiar heat surge through her at the memory. Spike had certainly changed, or maybe not changed because it was obvious that he had a very shifting personality, but he had at least shown her the sweeter sides of him.

Now she felt almost disappointed that he'd been less bold with her lately. Even though it had scared part of her when he had made his move, a big part of her was also incredibly turned on by his earlier impulsiveness.

Buffy and Faith stripped down to their bathing suits before heading down to the water edge. At first contact with the chilled water, Buffy realized that the fall was indeed coming. The sun had begun fading and was lower in the sky for every day passing and the water was much cooler than it had been less than a week ago when she had last been there. Buffy once again had to push away the arousing feelings at the recollection of what it had been like the last time she was there- with Spike.

"So, are the tattle tales true?" Faith asked, grinning while looking over at the blonde

"About what?" Buffy asked back, completely unaware of what tales Faith was referring too.

"Spike!" Faith exclaimed exasperated as if that was a matter-of-course that Buffy knew what she was talking about. Faith rolled her eyes as Buffy's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.

"I mean, is he as well equipped as the rumors say?" Faith spelled it out slowly for Buffy.

"NO! I mean yes! I mean h-how should I know? I haven't seen it, I mean, yes, I've seen it, but not like that!… What have you heard?!?" Buffy went from sputtering and ranting to full panic mode at the idea of anyone insinuating something about her and Spike behind their backs. Or even worse, Spike telling tales. She would kill him if he did.

"Geez, Buff, Breathe! Take a chill-pill! All I'm saying is that I knew Spike was in your room yesterday morning and from that little puppy love look you've got shifting to lusty red every now and then, I assumed the two of you had gotten it on. You know?"

"Nope, no getting it on," Buffy tried to defend her virtue.

Faith grinned in return. "Not yet maybe…. And what exactly did you mean by 'yes, you've seen it'?…"

*****

When they got back from their swim and ride, Buffy headed down the hallway before softly knocking on the frame of the open doorway to Giles' study. Giles looked up from the papers he was working on and gave her a smile.

"Come in, Buffy. And please take a seat and tell me what's on your mind. The boys aren't giving you any more trouble, I hope?" he asked, a slight worry in his voice as he finished.

"No, nothing like that. Thank you so much for everything you did." Buffy replied referring to Giles throwing out Parker.

"No problem at all. In our line of business we don't always get the opportunity to be fastidious about characters when hiring, but we do have to draw the line somewhere and Parker Abrahms definitely overstepped the boundaries. If there's nothing else, I have a matter I need to discuss with you," Giles waited to see if she had any interjections.

"Um, actually, I was wondering about this weekend… It's my weekend off, right? I was sort of wondering if I could use the phone and ask my Mom to pick me up at the bus stop?" Buffy asked.

"Well, yes, technically this is your weekend off, but I really wanted you to be here when Angel O'Toole comes down. He wanted to meet you in person when he heard what you achieved with California Pride," Giles looked guiltily away once finished. Take away the girls first day off, wasn't on his top list of nice things to do. Especially not after the whole Parker incident- He was impressed though, by the way she was coping with it.

"Oh" Buffy replied meekly, failing to hide her disappointment. She had been looking forward to going home for girl talk with Willow, to check on Gypsy Lovers and get some sort of affirmation that her and Riley were over. She put on a brave smile before continuing. "It's okay. I guess it would only be right to meet the owner of like half of the horses here."

"Great. But of course your free to use the phone as you like" Giles took off his glasses before continuing. "Now about the other matter I want to discuss. You've already proven yourself a very talented rider and I want to speed things up a bit. I want your first official race to be a bit sooner than originally planned. The unfortunate thing about loosing Parker was that I lost one of my jockeys as well and I have three horses without jockey on Santa Anita next Friday. I've already talked with the license committee and they agreed to give you a license as soon as the papers are signed and you've passed the physical…"

"Physical?" Buffy interrupted her fear shining through. She hated physicals mostly because she was terrified of hospitals

"Yes, will that be a problem?" Giles quirked a confused eyebrow. What on earth could possess a girl to be so afraid of a physical? Buffy didn't seem like the type of girl who would have any problem unless she was hiding something. Giles worried

"No, It's just that hospitals give me the wiggins. And It's sort of hard to get an exam without thinking of them or worse being in one," Buffy explained

"Well if it would make you feel any better I can ask a physician to come see you here?" Giles was relieved that there was nothing worse. Buffy nodded appreciatively with a smile. "Very, well. I can arrange for a doctor friend of mine to come see you Saturday and sign the papers. Here are the papers you need to sign." Giles handed Buffy a stack of papers.

Buffy frowned. How could they possible need all that paperwork. Under Giles inquisitive look she went with a beaming, but slightly nervous tainted smile. She was after all thrilled, but scared by the thought of actually participating in a real race. A real race, with fifteen horses and riders, all competing to be number one. She gulped.

"Don't worry, Buffy. I have the utmost confidence in your skills and I'm positive you'll do excellent. As a matter of fact, I sincerely doubt there has ever been a more skilled debutant," Giles reassured her as if he was reading her mind.

Giles stood up to leave Buffy to her calls right after she had thanked him. Buffy quickly dialed her mother's number. After two rings, Dawn picked up.

"Hey, Dawnie. How are you? The horses doing good? Gypsy all right?" Buffy bombarded her sister with questions.

"MOM! Buffy wants to talk with you!" Dawn shouted.

'Rude. No, answering my questions, no 'I miss you sis' or even a 'How you've been?' Must be that teen 'the world is so unfair, why should I care about anybody else' faze.

"Hi, Buffy," Joyce' voice sounded through the receiver and interrupted Buffy's inner ramblings

"Hey, Mom. How is everything?"

"Good, everything's good. I'm fine, Dawn's… well, Dawn's a teen and the horses are all doing great. The vet was here yesterday and he said Gypsy's gestation is proceeding well. He even said that if we want to pay for it we could find out if it's going to be a colt or a filly in a month." Buffy's mother answered all her questions

"Oh that would be great," Buffy beamed at the prospect of finding out what the foal was going to be.

"How are you?" Joyce asked

"Oh, I have good news and I have bad news. Bad news is I can't come home this weekend. Angel O'Toole, California Pride's owner is coming down and Giles want me to meet him. Good news are that I set record time with Pride and that Giles want me to start racing next Friday already!" Buffy told her mother, leaving out the part where she had been attacked the other night.

Joyce could practically hear Buffy's jaw straining from the enormous smile she knew her daughter was sporting. Joyce, on the other hand worried her lip between her teeth like any other mother hen would in light of such news.

"So soon? Oh, Buffy don't you think it's a bit soon? I mean racing is a whole other game. It's -it's dangerous and-and…"

"Mom!" Buffy cut her mother short. "Are you going to be supportive about this or not? I'm nervous enough as it is and you're not helping."

"Sorry, baby. Of course I'll give you all the support you need" 'Standing on the side line chewing my nails off,' Joyce added mentally.

"Great. So you'll come out to Santa Anita, Friday?" Buffy prodded.

"With big posters cheering my baby on," Joyce replied smiling.

"On second thought, maybe you should stay home." Buffy shivered from the images of her mother carrying 'Go Buffy Summers' banners. That would mortify her.

"Don't worry honey. I'll leave the banners at home," Joyce chuckled. "Willow just stopped by. You want a word with her?"

"Yes, that would be great" Buffy replied. Both girls squealed like teenagers when Buffy told her about her race date.

"So, are you coming home this weekend?" Willow asked after the excitement had settled.

"Sorry. But hey, you could come up here and visit?" Buffy suggested.

"Yeah why not. Dawn and Joyce can handle the riding lessons and the stable for the weekend," Willow agreed.

Both girls agreed to catch up when Willow came and they hung up seconds later.

'Willow coming. Great! My first race. Exciting, yet terrifying. Having to be around Spike when Dru gets here. Not. Good.' Buffy thought making her way down the hall. She stopped in the kitchen to make sure it was okay with Giles that Willow visited. Afterwards she skipped up the stairs and into her room to do something she hadn't done since she first came to the farm. Crack a psyche book.