Chapter 14 – Afterglow

His face loomed just inches above hers.  Dark eyes bore through her, shocking her consciousness and waking the voice of reason that had previously been silenced.  Through the numbing, pleasure-induced fog, it spoke. 

Look at him!  It's…

She squinted up at him, uncertainty creeping in. 

Angel?

But before her inner protests could continue, his face descended, dipping out of view; his lips grazed her ear, and he whispered, "Slayer."  Cool breath tickled her neck, making her shiver beneath him.  She concentrated on his movements, which were slow, urgent and oh so familiar.  Not Angel.  Spike.

Closing her eyes, she quieted the doubts that were swimming inside of her. 

Don't think.  Just feel... 

Nothing mattered except this moment, which they'd stolen—along with Angel's body.  And when it was over, she knew reason would prevail and there wouldn't be another chance. 

So, just feel…

He was kissing her lips now; his mouth demanding and hard, his tongue searching.

Her fingers dug into his back as she clung to him; only breaking the kiss to tell him that she loved him.

He murmured his response; unintelligible, yet clear. She could tell he was getting close, but she didn't want this to end. 

Slow down!  Didn't he know…? 

But his movements quickened and his muscles tensed, signaling his inevitable release.  Her breathing was now shallow, a gasp with every push as he drove deeper.  Her body tingled, tightening.

And then a last breath, a sigh. 

He crumpled beside her, one arm lazily strewn over her stomach, his hand around her waist.  She remained still for a moment, savoring the pulsing warmth deep within her; a smile on her lips.  So perfect.  She so wanted to hold on to this moment; tuck it away in a little box.  But it was already fading.  Growing cold.   It was time to wake up.  She opened her eyes to see him lying beside her, his face nuzzled against her shoulder.  Her gaze raked down his body, his broad shoulders, his dark hair.  The seed of panic took root, growing quickly like a common weed.

What had they done?  What if Angel…?  But it was unthinkable.

"Oh my God," she whispered.

 * * *

"What is it, pet?" Spike asked, sitting up.  He looked down at the Slayer and smoothed her hair with a loving hand.

Buffy gazed up at him, eyes filled with horror and shame.  "Spike, what have we done?"

He smiled in response.  "What we're best at," he replied, sounding almost smug.  He gave her a smoldering look.  "Maybe we could—"

"No," she rolled away, escaping his touch.  His hand lingered in the air for a moment, then sought her shoulder.

"Buffy—"

She shrugged his hand off, then rose to a sitting position, legs hanging over the bed, feet just touching the floor.  "I can't…look at you," she said finally.  "At him."

"But—"

She wrapped the sheet around her and walked to the window.  "Don't you see?" she asked, staring down at the streets below, now striped with shadows cast by the low morning sun.

He shook his head.  "See what, luv?"

She pressed a hand against the glass, then leaned her forehead against it.  "Angel," she whispered. "What if he…?  But he has to be…in there, somewhere…watching me…us…"  She turned to him.  "Don't you think?"

He looked at her, frowning.  "No, I—" Absently, he glanced at the dresser mirror on the opposite wall and started at the sight of the empty bed.  A bed that curved down in the middle where he sat.

She followed his gaze to the mirror and nodded.  "We were selfish—and stupid."

Spike scowled, getting his composure back.  "You don't know…" he began.  "I mean, I don't think Angel's in here.  Wouldn't I feel him if he were?"  He made a fist and rapped his knuckles against his skull.  "Hey, peaches, you in here?"  He waited for a couple of seconds, then shrugged.  "Nothing.  See?  Maybe, I kicked him out somehow.  Or maybe he's hovering about in the air somewhere."  He glanced up at the ceiling.

Buffy's eyes narrowed.  "Oh, and that would be better!" she said sounding bitter.  "Having him floating above us when we were…"

"No.  Of course it wouldn't," Spike said, now irritated.  He stood up, nude, glanced down and paused.  Normally, he would've pranced around the room stark naked for all he cared, but he wasn't about to go flaunting Angel's assets in front of Buffy.  So instead, he snatched the bedspread up off the floor and wrapped it around his torso, approaching her with leaded feet.  She was staring at him, but her face was filled with too many emotions to read.  Finally, standing a foot in front of her, his eyes caught hers.  "Buffy, I don't know what else to say.  Would I take it back?  Would I prefer not touching you again?"  He shook his head.  "No, of course not.  I understand what you're feeling.  I do.  You're looking at me, and you see Angel.  I don't like it any more than you do, but…it's done."  He caressed her cheek, then caught her chin in his fingertips, tilting her face up toward his.  "And I'd do it again."

He leaned in to kiss her, but she turned away.  "Don't," she whispered.

He took a step back, shaking his head.  "But what would you have me do then?  Fly away, like a good little ghost?"

She blinked back tears.  "No.  There's got to be a way.  Emily.  Maybe she…"

"But Em's gone, pet."  His voice was tender.

"She may not be!" she insisted with a hint of desperation.  "Angel…He thinks she may still be alive!"

Spike's eyes widened with surprise.  "Does he?  But where is she then?  And how does he—"

"It's just a hunch, but he thinks that the ashes we found may not have been hers.  The Council sent another vampire after her—to hunt her down.  Angel found his coat in her closet.  The ashes may have been his, or even just a cover."

"This other vampire…"

"Angel said his name was Dominic."

"Emily's sire."

Buffy nodded.

"But why would he—"

"He was working for the Council, for Hope Mason's Watcher."

"Yeah, I know the guy.  Met him last year.  What was his name now?"

* * *

 "Cameron."

She'd finally reached him.  After leaving several messages at the inn where he was staying, she'd decided to try his cell phone again.  It had been turned off earlier, due to his being in conferences all day, but this time it rang—and he answered.

"Faith?"  Just her name, but he sounded pleased to hear from her.  She felt her chest tighten, just slightly.  She didn't know why.

"Yeah, it's me," she said, stomach fluttering.  Maybe she was coming down with something.  There was an awkward silence.  For some strange reason, she felt tongue-tied, sitting on his comfortable bed, in his luxury, New York apartment.  You would've thought he was right next to her, instead of thousands of miles away.

"Faith?  Is there something wrong?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"No," she answered quickly, "it's just…Dominic's gone missing."

"Again?"  Now he sounded annoyed.  "He knows that chip in his head will—"

"I think it's different this time…"

* * *

While toying with his drink, Giles eyed the young Watcher sitting across from him.  The bar was almost empty, save for the two of them and several locals carousing in the back.  Grey was on his cell phone, gesturing with his free hand as he spoke. 

Giles knew Faith was on the other end of that line.  He'd heard Grey say her name, and it had immediately caught his attention.  The younger man had hinted at his attraction to the Slayer the previous night, and Giles wasn't sure if he approved.  He knew Grey had a history with women; many histories, and many women.  Grey had looks, money, and charm, and didn't mind using them to his advantage.

Giles couldn't help but feel protective over the Slayer the Council had discarded and believed dead.  But as he sat there, ears pricked, playing the disapproving parent, he became aware that there something going on with the handsome Watcher.  And it had nothing to do with his interest in Faith.  Sitting perfectly still, Giles listened.

"We're close," Grey said, sounding excited.  "I need to call Travers."  There was a long pause.

"I know…I know.  You don't trust him," Grey continued.  "You've told me before.

"This has been set up for almost a year now.

"You need to inform Hope. She'll know what to do.

"She is ready.

"No.  You can't be involved with this.  It's too risky.

"Everything will be fine.  Just trust me."

Grey glanced at Giles uncertainly.  "I've got to go," he said, then closed the cell phone.

There was an uncomfortable silence between the two men, which lasted for several seconds before Giles finally broke it.

"What's going on?"