Author's Note: Song 'I Burn For You' Lyrics and Music by Sting, can be found on the Brimstone and Treacle soundtrack as well as on "Bring on the Night" by Sting.

I Burn For You

There are strains of music coming from her door as she approaches. Not something she recognizes. "Make yourself at home , Spike." Buffy smiles to herself as she tentatively puts her hand on the doorknob. She hears the music playing but there's another sound that makes her pause...Spike's voice. Buffy takes a deep breath and opens the door. It's dark. She steps inside and closes it behind her. She locks and then leans against it, facing him.

Spike's back is to her. The song fades out and he turns around. He can see her plainly in the light filtering in from outside. She sees him in shadow catching glimpses of his porcelain profile, his perfect mouth, as he turns to her. She almost thinks she sees blue fire in his eyes. A low moaning and rhythmic bass is coming from the speakers. Buffy doesn't recognize the song. She starts to make a sarcastic comment about his antiquated taste in music, when he begins to sing again. Spike's voice is low and smoky, matching the singer's almost perfectly, but with his own flavor.

Now that I have found you

In the cool of your evening smile He smiles. She smiles coyly, eyes blushing.

The shade of your parasol

And your love flows through me She listens intently, her smile fading.

Though I drink at your pool He cocks his head to the side, eyes narrowing.

I burn for you, I burn for

You and I are lovers Buffy feels her entire body blush.

When night time folds around our bed

In peace we sleep entwined He slowly crosses the room towards her.

And your love flows through me

Though an ocean soothes my head She closes her eyes, her breath uneven.

I burn for you, I burn for

Stars will fall from dark skies She hears him in her head.

As ancient rocks are turning

Quiet fills the room He stops a few inches from her, his lips parted.

And your love flows through me He runs his hand lightly across her collarbone.

Though I lie here so still Her eyes pop open and she shivers.

I burn for you,

I burn for you

I burn...

The heat between them is molten. Not Dru nor Angel, Cecily nor Riley: no one from before exists to them now as anything other than figures from the past.

They're so close now that Spike momentarily mistakes her heartbeat for his own, as if she had the power to restore him to life. His hands hang at his side, as he counts the variations of green and gold in her eyes. He is afraid to touch her again for fear that he may drop to his knees and beg her to take him back. Promise anything to hold her, to kiss her, just once more.

He stands still before her. Even with the admission outside, he's not certain that she wants more than what they have: a friendship. He doesn't want to risk this newfound closeness. He tries to convince himself that he can live with being just her friend.

Buffy is adrift in the sea of blue staring into her and genuinely fears that she may drown. The emotions emanating from Spike are palpable. She can feel the love he has for her penetrating every fiber of her being. She can also sense his confusion at her words earlier. It breaks her heart a little, for as drawn as she is to him, she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to feel that deeply for him...or for anyone...ever again.

But here he is, as ever, following her lead. Why does she hesitate? She knows she loves him. She's told her closest friends as much, and yet even they were left scratching their heads when she couldn't say to what extent. The fact is that no one, not even Angel, has ever loved her as much as Spike. He loved her before he even realized it. She'd known it long before she'd ever admitted the possibility. No soul, no love? Bull. Buffy had known plenty of soul-having humans that were completely incapable of love.

Spike realizes with a shock that he is no longer locked into the slayer's thoughts. She's blocking me out ...retreating. So soon. S' too soon. He lets out an audible sigh and it stirs Buffy out of her trance.

She becomes aware of him, presently, and notes the sadness creeping into him, replacing the rapture. She's not ready to let go so she gently presses her lips to his and withdraws when he barely responds. He gives her a small smile, expecting her to say that she is tired and wants to turn in.

"You'd think we'd be able to talk by now," she says, quietly smiling. "It's always been hard for me...being alone with you." She searches his face for indications of his mood. He gives none. She's afraid, like before in the bathroom. Spike, no!

"Oh yeah?" he replies, his heart sinking. He tries to prepare for the pain he knows is coming.

"Yeah."

"Why's that, pet?" Please don't say it, not yet.

"Because I've never known whether to kiss you or to kill you."

"You could do both at once." He inadvertently admits.

Buffy winces at the implication, but recovers quickly. "I could never kill you, not now."

"What if you had to?" He backs up a bit to study her physical response to his question, a glimmer of hope creeping back into his soul, but he squelches it. He is thinking of the First and the trigger. He's been wondering, lately, if Giles had been right and the Slayer's feelings were clouding her judgment: her feelings for him specifically.

"If it meant saving the world?"

He nods.

"I would." She says plainly. "And it would be the end of me."

Spike's confused, again, at her response. He tries to find bravado behind her words or behind her eyes and there is none. She's telling him the truth. The first part hurts, but he is proud. The second part hurts, and he is frightened.

As if guessing his interpretation, Buffy continues.

"I wouldn't do anything stupid." She says, her voice almost a whisper. Spike feels enormous relief. "I'd want to, b-but I wouldn't."

"Why, silly girl, do you say such things?"

"Because-," she caresses his face between her hands, wiping the drying tears. "I don't want to live where you don't."

Spike, unable to stand it anymore, captures the slayer's mouth and kisses her gently. He doesn't want to appear forceful, but his craving for her is quite literally driving him insane. She allows him in, deepening the kiss and slips her arms around his neck. Spike almost begins to cry as his unbeating heart's desire is unfolding. Theirs is not a kiss of rage and passion; it is a kiss of loving and longing. It is slow and languorous. He slides his hands around to her back, pressing her closer to him. She cannot get close enough. One hand slides up into her hair as he cradles her head. Buffy's fingertips are massaging the nape of Spike's neck. They are devouring one another.

Their tongues dance and it tells a story: an incomplete one. But the taste is so sweet that it's intoxicating to the both of them.

After a while, the kiss becomes less intense and more soothing. They stroke and caress each other, playfully but carefully. Buffy actually stands on the top of Spike's boots. They stop, foreheads resting against each other, breathing heavily.

"Why do you breathe?" Buffy's always wanted to ask.

"I never learned to stop."

"When you sleep you stop. I always found it...a little scary."

"Oh, sorry luv."

"Don't be. You can't help it."

"I'm dead."

"Not where it counts," she places a hand on his chest. "In here."

Spike smiles. "You watched me sleep?"

Buffy smiles. "Yeah." It's a whisper.

Spike's not sure why, but everything in him is telling him to leave right now.

He lets go of her suddenly. She stumbles backwards.

"Spike?"

He turns from her, hands running through his hair. "I...I should go."

Confused, Buffy tries to turn him around. He won't budge and she doesn't force it. "Go...wh-why? Is something...Did I do something?" At that, Spike does turn and the look in his eyes finally does break her heart. He is leaving.

"Why?" She doesn't want him to tell her because she knows the answer: she was not worth staying for. They all leave. Everyone leaves.

TBC