Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Joss owns it all damn him!
A chapter with a bit of angst. Don't worry, it'll all turn out Spuffy in the end. :)
***
Chapter 5 - Taking a Gamble
"Well, what shall it be luv?" Spike asked gesturing toward the row of tables.
"Uhmmm." Buffy hemmed. "How about blackjack? That's just adding to twenty- one right?"
Spike chuckled, leading her over to the table. "It's a bit more than that Buffy." He pulled out a chair for her. "Here, have a seat pet." Buffy took the offered chair and scooted in eagerly.
"How much would you like to start with?" Spike asked, leaning down so that his breath tickled the small hairs on the back of her neck. She shivered, causing Spike to smirk.
"Twenty?" Buffy offered tentatively.
"Twenty thousands a lot for a beginner - " Spike began, but Buffy interrupted quickly.
"Twenty dollars!" She blushed at his misunderstanding.
Twenty dollars? They were at a five dollar minimum table and she only wanted to buy in with twenty dollars? Spike shook his head and then shrugged. Well, it didn't look like he was going to be winning back any of his money from her tonight.
"Changing twenty!" The dealer called out as Buffy placed her bill down on the table. He gave her four $5 chips, which she neatly stacked in front of her.
"Okay, put a chip here." Spike indicated the circle to place her bet. "Now you've got 15, and the dealer is showing an eight. So you want to hit."
"Hit?" Buffy asked. "Does that mean ask for another card? But what if I get over twenty-one? He only has eight so far." She gestured toward the dealer's hand.
Spike smiled. "Yes, but you assume that the card that isn't showing is a ten or face card. Which means he has eighteen, and has you beat already."
Buffy nodded; indicating to the dealer she wanted a hit. Unfortunately the next card was a Jack which caused her to bust. She frowned slightly, "I lost."
"Yes, but you lost correctly." The dealer stated, giving her a smile.
Buffy played another hand, busting on seven this time. She smiled sheepishly at Will before asking, "If you don't mind, I think I'll play incorrectly for awhile?"
Spike laughed and nodded at her. As he stood behind her watching in bemused good humor, his hand came up to rest against the small of her back, forgetting that the dress she wore tonight was essentially back-less. When the palm of his hand made contact with the smooth expanse of her skin, he let out a hiss of breath through clenched teeth and immediately withdrew.
Unaware of Will's discomfort, Buffy couldn't remember when she'd ever had such a good time. She laughed at the joke Jim, the dealer had made even as she lost another bet. Will was standing behind her, occasionally giving her advice on how to play her hand.
Spike watched in amazement as Buffy's little pile of two chips grew to a pile of ten, then back to four and then up again to thirty. She had somehow brought her twenty dollar buy in up to $300! And her strategy defied all logic. She hit when she should have stood and stood when she should have hit. And yet here she was taking even more money from the Crypt. He shook his head, stifling the chuckle that wanted to erupt from his throat.
Spike let his eyes wander the casino as Buffy continued to play her hand. Turning to the left Spike caught the eye of one of his pit bosses, who inclined his head in the direction of the high stakes blackjack table further down. "Excuse me luv." He whispered to Buffy before turning to head down the row of tables.
Buffy followed him with her eyes, wondering what was going on. When he got to the $500 minimum table, Spike knew that trouble was already brewing. A man sat blustering in his seat as he lost a $1000 bet on another bust. "What the hell is this?" The man was shouting.
Spike placed a hand on the gambler's shoulder, his grip firm. "Is there a problem here?" He asked softly.
"No problem. And this is none of your business!" The man cried, shrugging off Spike's hand.
"This is my business. I'm Spike. And this is my place." He stated calmly.
"Well, then you're the man I want to talk to. Do you think I don't know what's going on? That your dealers here aren't playing fair?" Spike fought the instinct to step away from the reek of alcohol coming off the man before him.
"I think you'd better leave." Spike used his strength to begin to lead the man away from the table and toward the exit. Two of his bouncers had come up, but with a shake of his head he dismissed them. "There aren't any cheaters at the Crypt. And we intend to keep it that way. Don't come back."
Still holding his glass of gin, the man reared back and threw the tumbler to the ground. It shattered causing several patrons to cry out and shy away from the pair. Before the man could land a blow, Spike threw an arm out to block the punch and then let fly with one of his own. The man went down in a heap. Spike nodded to his bouncers, who then took charge of the man. Spike was still grimacing with distaste and no small amount of anger when he felt the slim hand land on his shoulder.
"What?!" Spike growled before turning around. His brow scrunched even further when he saw that the owner of the hand was Buffy.
"Are you okay?" She asked quietly, searching his face for any indication.
Spike let loose a quiet curse, grabbing Buffy's arm and leading her back toward the elevator to her penthouse. He punched the button, turning her around to face him while they waited. "What am I going to do with you? You don't belong here!"
Buffy cringed. She'd never seen William so angry. She'd only known him for two days, but he'd been nothing but sweet and understanding. She could see the anger swirling behind his icy stare, and she shivered. She knew that the anger had nothing to do with her, but his words still affected her sharply. He didn't want her here? Where would she go? She swallowed but did not answer him, nor did he seem to want an answer from her.
When the elevator doors opened, he shoved her inside. Her bottom lip was trembling, but he wouldn't allow that to affect him. She didn't belong here. The sharks were going to swallow her up, and he wouldn't be able to protect her. He stared intently at her face before quietly stating, "You worry me Buffy from Kansas. What am I going to do with you?" They watched each other in silence for a minute before Spike continued. "Go upstairs. Don't come back down again tonight, especially not alone. Understand?" He didn't even wait for her nod before turning and heading back toward the casino.
***
Spike headed back toward the security office. He would have to deal with the drunken git before he could call it a night. There would be several reports that needed to be filed, since he'd lost his temper and actually hit the stupid bloke.
After about two hours of paperwork he was finally able to call it quits. Not really knowing why he headed up toward Buffy's suite. He had to make sure she'd gotten in all right didn't he? He had been her escort tonight hadn't he? Whatever the excuse, he once more found himself outside Buffy's door.
The bell chimed and he heard muffled steps approaching. When the door opened he felt a sharp pain in his chest at the sight of Buffy's red puffy eyes. She sniffled once before asking, "Yes Will?"
Was he here to yell at her again? She'd already decided that as soon as he paid her she would find a room in another hotel. She knew that he didn't want her here, but she wasn't about to go back to Trader's Corners either.
"Buffy, luv. I'm sorry." He immediately apologized, his hand reaching out to grasp her arm and pull her close. He was surprised when she resisted.
"There's nothing to apologize for Mr. Giles. I...I'll find another hotel as soon as you pay me the rest of the money." She cursed her stutter.
"Another hotel? Why?" Spike was confused. He was only just realizing that Buffy had already changed into her nightgown and his mind was occupied with that fact.
"You said you don't want me here." She whispered back fiercely.
"No. I said you don't belong here. There's a difference." He answered.
"I don't see it." Buffy turned away from him. "Besides, I know you feel responsible for me. You don't have to. You don't have to worry about me at all! I can take care of myself."
"Sure you can. That's why you had to run away from home?" He knew he'd gone too far when he saw the wince in Buffy's face.
"I didn't run away from home!" She defended herself. "Either way, it's no concern of yours. You don't have to worry about me."
"I didn't say I worried about you."
"Yes you did."
"No." He took a step closer to her. "I said you worried me."
"What's the difference?" She asked, stifling another sniffle.
"The difference is." Buffy felt as if her feet were stuck to the floor. She was unable to step away from him when he reached out to wrap an arm around her waist, bringing their bodies flush against one another. "You worry me because." And then his lips were on hers.
Buffy felt the heat radiating from her lips all the way down to her toes. His hard chest pressed up against her soft breasts, causing her nipples to harden and pebble. Her arms snaked around to wrap around his neck, trying to bring him in even closer contact.
Spike felt himself harden at the breathy moan that escaped Buffy as he plundered her mouth. His hips thrust forward to grind against hers; his hands came down to cup her rounded buttocks and increase the pressure.
God, she'd never felt anything like it before! She felt as if he were devouring her. The kiss was an endless exploration of her very being. Will's tongue danced in her mouth, touching all the secret places that made her skin flush and her blood boil.
When he left her mouth to trail open-mouthed kisses along her jaw and neck she moaned out his name, "Will." The sound was like a splash of cold water on Spike's face. He pulled away from her long enough to allow the glazed look to leave her eyes.
"Buffy, have you ever been with a man before?" He asked, already knowing the answer. Her responses were too instinctively passionate for the answer to be anything but no.
"Not exactly." She answered, head down in embarrassment.
"Not exactly luv? I think you'd know for sure if the answer were yes." He pulled away from her completely, clamping down on his own need.
Buffy's body was thrumming and she felt the loss of his touch like a stake through the heart. She felt cold and empty without him surrounding her. "W- what's wrong?"
"I told you, you worried me Buffy." His hand came out to cup her cheek. "You're dangerous luv. But you better watch out. You can't play the game when you don't know the rules. And you damn well better make sure you can afford to lose your bet."
Buffy watched him go the door shutting softly behind him, before collapsing on the couch. She fought the sobs that threatened before asking the empty room, "But why do I have to lose?"
A chapter with a bit of angst. Don't worry, it'll all turn out Spuffy in the end. :)
***
Chapter 5 - Taking a Gamble
"Well, what shall it be luv?" Spike asked gesturing toward the row of tables.
"Uhmmm." Buffy hemmed. "How about blackjack? That's just adding to twenty- one right?"
Spike chuckled, leading her over to the table. "It's a bit more than that Buffy." He pulled out a chair for her. "Here, have a seat pet." Buffy took the offered chair and scooted in eagerly.
"How much would you like to start with?" Spike asked, leaning down so that his breath tickled the small hairs on the back of her neck. She shivered, causing Spike to smirk.
"Twenty?" Buffy offered tentatively.
"Twenty thousands a lot for a beginner - " Spike began, but Buffy interrupted quickly.
"Twenty dollars!" She blushed at his misunderstanding.
Twenty dollars? They were at a five dollar minimum table and she only wanted to buy in with twenty dollars? Spike shook his head and then shrugged. Well, it didn't look like he was going to be winning back any of his money from her tonight.
"Changing twenty!" The dealer called out as Buffy placed her bill down on the table. He gave her four $5 chips, which she neatly stacked in front of her.
"Okay, put a chip here." Spike indicated the circle to place her bet. "Now you've got 15, and the dealer is showing an eight. So you want to hit."
"Hit?" Buffy asked. "Does that mean ask for another card? But what if I get over twenty-one? He only has eight so far." She gestured toward the dealer's hand.
Spike smiled. "Yes, but you assume that the card that isn't showing is a ten or face card. Which means he has eighteen, and has you beat already."
Buffy nodded; indicating to the dealer she wanted a hit. Unfortunately the next card was a Jack which caused her to bust. She frowned slightly, "I lost."
"Yes, but you lost correctly." The dealer stated, giving her a smile.
Buffy played another hand, busting on seven this time. She smiled sheepishly at Will before asking, "If you don't mind, I think I'll play incorrectly for awhile?"
Spike laughed and nodded at her. As he stood behind her watching in bemused good humor, his hand came up to rest against the small of her back, forgetting that the dress she wore tonight was essentially back-less. When the palm of his hand made contact with the smooth expanse of her skin, he let out a hiss of breath through clenched teeth and immediately withdrew.
Unaware of Will's discomfort, Buffy couldn't remember when she'd ever had such a good time. She laughed at the joke Jim, the dealer had made even as she lost another bet. Will was standing behind her, occasionally giving her advice on how to play her hand.
Spike watched in amazement as Buffy's little pile of two chips grew to a pile of ten, then back to four and then up again to thirty. She had somehow brought her twenty dollar buy in up to $300! And her strategy defied all logic. She hit when she should have stood and stood when she should have hit. And yet here she was taking even more money from the Crypt. He shook his head, stifling the chuckle that wanted to erupt from his throat.
Spike let his eyes wander the casino as Buffy continued to play her hand. Turning to the left Spike caught the eye of one of his pit bosses, who inclined his head in the direction of the high stakes blackjack table further down. "Excuse me luv." He whispered to Buffy before turning to head down the row of tables.
Buffy followed him with her eyes, wondering what was going on. When he got to the $500 minimum table, Spike knew that trouble was already brewing. A man sat blustering in his seat as he lost a $1000 bet on another bust. "What the hell is this?" The man was shouting.
Spike placed a hand on the gambler's shoulder, his grip firm. "Is there a problem here?" He asked softly.
"No problem. And this is none of your business!" The man cried, shrugging off Spike's hand.
"This is my business. I'm Spike. And this is my place." He stated calmly.
"Well, then you're the man I want to talk to. Do you think I don't know what's going on? That your dealers here aren't playing fair?" Spike fought the instinct to step away from the reek of alcohol coming off the man before him.
"I think you'd better leave." Spike used his strength to begin to lead the man away from the table and toward the exit. Two of his bouncers had come up, but with a shake of his head he dismissed them. "There aren't any cheaters at the Crypt. And we intend to keep it that way. Don't come back."
Still holding his glass of gin, the man reared back and threw the tumbler to the ground. It shattered causing several patrons to cry out and shy away from the pair. Before the man could land a blow, Spike threw an arm out to block the punch and then let fly with one of his own. The man went down in a heap. Spike nodded to his bouncers, who then took charge of the man. Spike was still grimacing with distaste and no small amount of anger when he felt the slim hand land on his shoulder.
"What?!" Spike growled before turning around. His brow scrunched even further when he saw that the owner of the hand was Buffy.
"Are you okay?" She asked quietly, searching his face for any indication.
Spike let loose a quiet curse, grabbing Buffy's arm and leading her back toward the elevator to her penthouse. He punched the button, turning her around to face him while they waited. "What am I going to do with you? You don't belong here!"
Buffy cringed. She'd never seen William so angry. She'd only known him for two days, but he'd been nothing but sweet and understanding. She could see the anger swirling behind his icy stare, and she shivered. She knew that the anger had nothing to do with her, but his words still affected her sharply. He didn't want her here? Where would she go? She swallowed but did not answer him, nor did he seem to want an answer from her.
When the elevator doors opened, he shoved her inside. Her bottom lip was trembling, but he wouldn't allow that to affect him. She didn't belong here. The sharks were going to swallow her up, and he wouldn't be able to protect her. He stared intently at her face before quietly stating, "You worry me Buffy from Kansas. What am I going to do with you?" They watched each other in silence for a minute before Spike continued. "Go upstairs. Don't come back down again tonight, especially not alone. Understand?" He didn't even wait for her nod before turning and heading back toward the casino.
***
Spike headed back toward the security office. He would have to deal with the drunken git before he could call it a night. There would be several reports that needed to be filed, since he'd lost his temper and actually hit the stupid bloke.
After about two hours of paperwork he was finally able to call it quits. Not really knowing why he headed up toward Buffy's suite. He had to make sure she'd gotten in all right didn't he? He had been her escort tonight hadn't he? Whatever the excuse, he once more found himself outside Buffy's door.
The bell chimed and he heard muffled steps approaching. When the door opened he felt a sharp pain in his chest at the sight of Buffy's red puffy eyes. She sniffled once before asking, "Yes Will?"
Was he here to yell at her again? She'd already decided that as soon as he paid her she would find a room in another hotel. She knew that he didn't want her here, but she wasn't about to go back to Trader's Corners either.
"Buffy, luv. I'm sorry." He immediately apologized, his hand reaching out to grasp her arm and pull her close. He was surprised when she resisted.
"There's nothing to apologize for Mr. Giles. I...I'll find another hotel as soon as you pay me the rest of the money." She cursed her stutter.
"Another hotel? Why?" Spike was confused. He was only just realizing that Buffy had already changed into her nightgown and his mind was occupied with that fact.
"You said you don't want me here." She whispered back fiercely.
"No. I said you don't belong here. There's a difference." He answered.
"I don't see it." Buffy turned away from him. "Besides, I know you feel responsible for me. You don't have to. You don't have to worry about me at all! I can take care of myself."
"Sure you can. That's why you had to run away from home?" He knew he'd gone too far when he saw the wince in Buffy's face.
"I didn't run away from home!" She defended herself. "Either way, it's no concern of yours. You don't have to worry about me."
"I didn't say I worried about you."
"Yes you did."
"No." He took a step closer to her. "I said you worried me."
"What's the difference?" She asked, stifling another sniffle.
"The difference is." Buffy felt as if her feet were stuck to the floor. She was unable to step away from him when he reached out to wrap an arm around her waist, bringing their bodies flush against one another. "You worry me because." And then his lips were on hers.
Buffy felt the heat radiating from her lips all the way down to her toes. His hard chest pressed up against her soft breasts, causing her nipples to harden and pebble. Her arms snaked around to wrap around his neck, trying to bring him in even closer contact.
Spike felt himself harden at the breathy moan that escaped Buffy as he plundered her mouth. His hips thrust forward to grind against hers; his hands came down to cup her rounded buttocks and increase the pressure.
God, she'd never felt anything like it before! She felt as if he were devouring her. The kiss was an endless exploration of her very being. Will's tongue danced in her mouth, touching all the secret places that made her skin flush and her blood boil.
When he left her mouth to trail open-mouthed kisses along her jaw and neck she moaned out his name, "Will." The sound was like a splash of cold water on Spike's face. He pulled away from her long enough to allow the glazed look to leave her eyes.
"Buffy, have you ever been with a man before?" He asked, already knowing the answer. Her responses were too instinctively passionate for the answer to be anything but no.
"Not exactly." She answered, head down in embarrassment.
"Not exactly luv? I think you'd know for sure if the answer were yes." He pulled away from her completely, clamping down on his own need.
Buffy's body was thrumming and she felt the loss of his touch like a stake through the heart. She felt cold and empty without him surrounding her. "W- what's wrong?"
"I told you, you worried me Buffy." His hand came out to cup her cheek. "You're dangerous luv. But you better watch out. You can't play the game when you don't know the rules. And you damn well better make sure you can afford to lose your bet."
Buffy watched him go the door shutting softly behind him, before collapsing on the couch. She fought the sobs that threatened before asking the empty room, "But why do I have to lose?"