A/N: You guys are great, thanks so much for reviews and word of encouragement. And for everyone waiting, luving is on the way very soon!
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Chapter 15: White Knight
Spike was almost to the door when he heard a scream. Buffy! Something in his chest clutched and he immediately sprinted the remaining distance to the door and threw it open. He bounded outside and looked around wildly. Buffy was standing a few feet away from him, holding a rose and shaking slightly. Spike breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to her. When he got closer, he heard a strange noise, and then realized that Buffy was whimpering like a small animal. Trying not to scare her, Spike called her name and touched her shoulder.
Buffy let out a blood-curdling scream and tried to twist away from him. Her fist flew through the air and only a firm grip and agile sidestep stopped her from cold-coking him right in the face.
"Buffy, luv, are you okay?" Spike asked quietly. Her eyes were unfocused and wide, her pupils were so dilated that the green had all but disappeared. Her face was white and the hand he gripped was cold and trembling. She looked like she was in shock. He slowly reached over and grabbed her other hand, rubbing them between his, trying to give her some warmth.
Buffy's eyes closed and then opened again. The pupils were not as big, and they focused on Spike.
"Spike?" she asked, slightly dazed.
"Yeah, luv, I'm right here," he replied.
"Spike," she said again in a small voice.
"Buffy, pet, I'm here. What happened, luv?" he asked.
"Oh, God, Spike," she cried out and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burrowing her face against his chest and his duster fell forward, covering her. . He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her as she shook.
"Pet, what happened?" Spike asked softly. She was shaking so bad that he was almost vibrating with the force of it.
Buffy took a deep breathe and stepped back from Spike slightly. "I was walking out in the parking lot, my car wouldn't start. I was going to bum a ride from Willow because my mom would freak beyond all that is freakable if I asked her to come out here. I heard a noise and when I looked around, no one was there. So I kept walking and then, I swear to God, I heard someone laughing. Oh God, Spike, you should have heard it. It was a low and creepy and I was so scared! I ran, but he kept right behind me, just laughing like a freak. When I finally got up to the door, something touched my neck and I screamed. When I turned around again, no one was there! Then I looked down and saw the rose, and the note, and you grabbed my shoulder and my God I just freaked."
Spike pulled Buffy against her and rubbed a hand down her spine. "You're okay, luv, you're fine." He repeated the litany until he felt Buffy relax against him. Her breathing evened out, yet she still clung to him, breathing in the distinctive Spike-scent of leather, tobacco and his spicy cologne.
Mmmm, Spike. Spike is yummy. Wait! Spike looked away from me inside, Spike just showed up out of nowhere, and Spike always says love. Buffy abruptly pushed away from him and took several measured steps backwards.
"What are you doing out here, Spike?" she asked.
Spike took a step forward and Buffy backed away again. "Luv, stop it. I just came outside to apologize for my behavior earlier. I didn't want to give you the impression that 'm ashamed of you in any way. Hell, if ya want, I'll back inside and tell everybody in there that Calypso is my girlfriend, no skin off my arse. Bet half the men in there'll turn green with envy." Spike laughed. "Might be worth doing it anyway."
Buffy saw his mouth moving, but didn't hear anything past "girlfriend". She took a tentative step towards him and shyly reached to entwine her fingers with his. "You really think I'm your girlfriend?" she said in a quiet voice. The horror of the past few moments flew from her head as she nervously waited for his response.
Spike stopped his rambling and focused on Buffy. He flushed a little and brought her knuckles to his lips. "Well, yeah, luv, I kinda think you are."
Buffy felt a jolt of trepidation surge through her at his words, but she ignored it. This was Spike, and sure, she didn't know a whole hell of a lot about him, but she knew enough. He was handsome and sweet, as well as smart and had a wit to match hers. He was thoughtful enough to open her door, share his desert and introduce her to Porgy and Bess. It was enough. Enough for her to want to move on and maybe find out more.
Buffy smiled at Spike. "Good, 'cause I kinda think of you as my boyfriend."
Spike smiled and pulled her close to him. He lifted her until they were eye level and placed a chaste kiss on her lips, then he set her down hugging her gently. He felt lighter than he had in days. This amazing woman had managed to repair what Drusilla had destroyed. She turned his entire world upside down, and then righted it again. It was too quick, too fast and altogether crazy, but right now, Spike didn't really give a shit. It was all those things, but it was right too.
He wasn't so overcome with happiness, however, that he didn't see the rose in her hand.
"Pet, what's that?" he asked, pointing at the rose.
Buffy looked down and the flower and immediately she threw it down like it was poisonous or something. "This is what I felt brush against my neck. When I finally got the courage to turn around, this was on the ground a few feet behind me. There's a note attached to it and its way wiggy. I don't really know what it means, either. Probably just some psycho who's seen me onstage and thinks that we're 'meant to be' or something like that."
Spike picked up the flower and read the note himself. Bloody weird. What in the hell is it supposed to mean? Soon, what? Gonna have to talk to someone about getting a bodyguard or something. Oh shit, gotta tell Buffy about my real job. Bloody hell, this isn't the time to do that, I'll just wait and tell her when everything is less crazy.
Buffy waited, but still Spike said nothing. He was just staring at the rose like he was trying to will it to spontaneously combust. "Spike?" she asked tentatively.
Spike shook himself. "Huh? What? Sorry, pet, you say something to me?"
Buffy laughed. "No, but you were looking at the flower pretty intensely, just wondering if I should be jealous or anything," she teased.
Spike smirked and then swiftly swung her into his arms again. "I dunno, luv," he said huskily, "You should try and show me that you're better than a rose." He leaned his head toward hers.
Buffy forcibly stopped his descent. Spike looked at her, confusion marring his face. "Luv?" he asked.
Buffy just smiled. She reached over and pulled him down to her level. "This time, I'm kissing you," she said and claimed his lips with hers.
She kissed him lightly, sweetly, her lips barely touching his. No pressure on either side, just a sigh and whisper and the merging of two people through touch and breath. Buffy smiled and tried to surface, but Spike had other plans. With a devilish look in his gorgeous eyes, he fisted a hand in her hair and pulled her down under deep.
His mouth became hot, his hands busy. They roamed her body, laying claim to what was now officially his. He pulled a hand through her hair and marveled at how it slipped through his fingers, like liquid gold, and it was a soft as he imagined it to be the first time he saw her. Was that only a few weeks ago? Spike had no time to ponder this question; he was going wild with the sensations that were rocketing through his body. Arousal seized him fiercely, almost violently. He was filled with a primitive need to mark her as his and his alone. He wanted to proudly claim his territory and revel in the fact that no man could possess this piece of heaven, this Goddess who chose him. Poor bastards, don't know what they're missing. Too bad, sucks to be them, ha.
Buffy was drowning. What had started out as light and airy was soon turning into needy and desperate. She needed him, desperately. She never felt this way before, willing to plunge in headfirst and think about consequences later. She never been with a man before, but no one, especially Spike, would know that, judging by her behavior. She was clawing at his clothes, trying frantically to touch him, to do something to dam her rising desire.
They broke apart forcefully, eyes wide and crazed. Lust swam thorough his veins so hard that Spike was shaking. His chest heaved with every breath he took, and he closed his eyes to try and restore order to his wayward body.
Buffy felt herself having the same problem as Spike. She tried to walk, maybe clear her head, or something, but her legs were as shaky as a newborn foal. She had to stay still, or risk falling down flat on her face. Once she was sure she had regained her composure somewhat, she chanced a look at Spike. He was half-grinning, half-grimacing.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Did I hurt you?"
Spike barked out a short laugh at that. "No, pet, you didn't hurt me. I just don't know what it is about you that makes me act like a bleedin' adolescent. It's like I can't control my bloody hormones anymore. Next thing you know, my voice will start cracking at the most embarrassing times." He gave another laugh and stretched his hand out, seeking hers.
Buffy reached out and grabbed hold. He pulled her against him and again, rested his head on hers.
"I don't really know how to respond to that, but it kinda makes me feel good to know I unbalance you as much you do me," Buffy muttered against the black of his tee-shirt.
Spike laughed a hearty, real laugh and then tipped Buffy's face to his. "How about I give you a ride home, luv? Maybe tomorrow we can meet for dinner, or something? You know, a real date instead of stealing kisses in a strip club parking lot."
Buffy smiled and nodded. "Sounds like fun, but it's not a strip club, it's a gentleman's' lounge," Buffy said, stressing that last two words. "My first day working I accidentally called it a strip club and Jake, the owner, he about had a coronary and told me that I was to never use that phrase again. It was pretty funny."
Spike rolled his eyes. "I bet, sounds like a real peach of a man."
"Jake's not that bad," Buffy said. "Sometimes he can be a real pain in the ass, but for the most part, he's okay."
"Glad to know," Spike muttered.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"Nothing," Spike replied, smiling at her. "So, dinner tomorrow at around eight?"
Buffy shook her head. "Can't, gotta work. How about after my shift? I'm done at ten."
Spike thought about it for a minute then nodded. "Little late to eat, catch movie or something?"
"Sure, sounds like fun, I can swing by your place after I'm done, where do you live?" Buffy asked and then realized what she'd just said. Here she was going to be dating this guy and she didn't even know where he lived. My life certainly has taken some interesting twists.
Spike panicked. She didn't know that he was rich, and he still wasn't ready to tell her about his dysfunctional family life and his true job. Of course, this whole dating thing would probably work out better if I didn't lie from the beginning. Spike opened his mouth to tell her about his lie, but the door to the club flew open and Willow came bustling out.
She looked at Buffy and Spike, slightly perplexed. "Hey, guys, what are you doing?"
Buffy shrugged. "Nothing much, what are you doing?"
Willow rolled her eyes. "I've already told you the dumb act doesn't work with me, now spill it, what the hell is going on?"
Spike opened his mouth to tell Willow about Buffy's attack, but she interrupted him. "Spike and I are dating," she squealed and Willow joined in.
Spike took that opportunity to step carefully away from them. When girls made that sound, he knew that it was prudent to ease away slowly and not draw attention to oneself. It was a matter of self-preservation.
Willow and Buffy were now talking animatedly, hand flying every which way, and Spike took a moment to observe the blonde beauty that constantly amazed him. Sure, she was gorgeous and had a body that was built for lustful deliberation and sinful contemplation, but that wasn't what attracted Spike. Well, not completely, thought and smirked. She was an remarkable woman inside as well as outside. And, while looks may wither and die, the true beauty that was Buffy Summers would always be there. It was a startling thought, and it was in direct contrast to Drusilla. Dru, his princess who cared for only herself and her well-being. Dru, Buffy didn't know about Dru, and Spike knew he had a limited amount of time left until she found out on her own. My bloody life is a fucking mess.
"So, Buffy, thinks he's the one?" Willow asked.
Buffy looked at Spike. He was staring at her in the strangest way, head cocked to the side and blue eyes darkened to cobalt. It was almost like he was looking through her, like he did with the rose earlier. She turned to Willow. "I don't know, Wills. I mean, I'm a little unsure about the whole female-male relations thing, ya know?"
Willow nodded. "Yeah, I just wanted to know if you were thinking about it. Don't let anything pressure you, but don't feel bad about it either. If you do, then cherish it and if you don't, don't stress. I know you, you like to stress and over-think and analyze every damn thing. Whatever happens, happens, and don't regret it in the end, okay?"
Buffy nodded. "Okay. I better get him and go home, getting late."
The girls hugged and Willow threw Spike a wave, and then headed toward her car.
Spike waved back and watched Buffy walk towards him. Oh yeah, she's a bloody siren alright. She reached him and linked their hands. "Drive me home?"
Spike nodded. "Certainly, luv."
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A/N: Until next time, my pretties.
