A/N: I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post another chapter. School is a bitch, and I'm in the middle of finals. After hell week is over, more frequent chappies, I promise!
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Chapter 26: Friends and Lovers
Buffy was extremely worried. Spike was hurting and she didn't know how to help him. It had been a week since the awful confrontation with Edward, and Spike had yet to snap out of his stupor. Every day was the same; Buffy went to work, and then she went directly to Spike's house. Spike would either be watching television or lying in bed. He hadn't shaved in days, and showered only when Buffy was there with him. Nothing Buffy said or did could bring him out of his depressing mood, and she was reaching the end of her rope.
"Hi, Spike, how are you today?" she cheerfully asked as she walked through the door.
Spike was sitting at his kitchen table. Spread over the table was dozens of file boxes. He stared at them blindly. "My stuff. All my offices files, my cases, my motions, everything. I'm not a lawyer anymore. What will I do now?" His handsome features twisted in confusion and tears swam through his navy eyes.
Buffy's heart staggered at his words. Damn you to hell and back, Edward Giles. She walked to the table and sat next to Spike. Taking his hands in hers, Buffy leaned toward him and looked directly into his eyes. "Spike, sweetie, you can still be a lawyer. Just because you don't work for your bloody father anymore doesn't mean that you can't practice at all. You could start your own if you wanted to. Or even try something completely different. Haven't you ever thought about doing something else besides law?"
Spike looked blankly at Buffy. Her words slowly penetrated his muddled brain. Free, he was free from his father. Free of the ridicule, the expectations and the obligations that the elder Giles always imposed. Free to…write? Could he possible dare to hope? As he turned Buffy's words over in his mind, he chuckled for the first time all week. "Luv, do you realize that you just used 'bloody' in a sentence? Think that I may be corrupting you."
Buffy smiled. "I don't mind. Corrupt away," she said and crawled into his lap.
Cupping his face with her hands, Buffy leaned in and kissed Spike deeply. She ran her hands through his platinum locks and tugged on the curls at the nape of his neck. Spike responded by banding his arms around her waist. He tugged her close until he could feel her heat burning him though their combined layer of jean. The kiss broke and Spike nipped at her neck, trailing kisses down her throat and to her collarbone. Buffy arched her back and bared her neck to his erotic assault. His tongue swept across her carotid pulse point, and then he suckled it gently. Buffy hissed and unconsciously ground her hips down against Spike. Spike moaned at the contact against his throbbing erection. He dragged her down for another searing kiss.
The blood rushed though Buffy's body and roared in her ears. It was as loud as pounding surf and just as consuming. She felt herself being pulled into the undertow of the passion. Buffy experienced a brief moment of anxiety until the kiss broke and she looked into Spike's eyes. His azure gaze was ablaze with emotions; lust, desire, and something else. Something profound and more resolute. Something Buffy understood, but slightly feared. Love. Strong and deep, the kind of love she had once felt for another, only to have it thrown back and dismissed. Dare she chance it again? Could she even love anyone that completely again, ever? It was a hard question, and no answers seemed forthcoming. Buffy shoved the thoughts to the back of her mind and concentrated on Spike. He picked her up and set her on the table. Her legs wrapped around him and clothing was quickly lost as the lovers struggled to feel skin against skin.
Throaty moans and whispered sighs, tantalizing caresses and featherlike touches, a breath, a murmur, a prayer, a supplication. Two bodies entwined into one, intimate and private, moving in the rhythm of the ages. Her hands glided over his pale flesh, urging him closer. Deeper. She needed him deeper inside her; she needed to feel him touch every inch, to feel him pulse inside her. His sharp release of breath against her neck shivered down her spine, his hands gripped her waist. Up and down, in and out, the erotic ballet continued. Her slick channel and velvet walls tightened, gripping Spike in a silken vise. The cadence changed, becoming erratic instead of controlled, primal instead of sensual.
Buffy's head was thrown back, her back arched and hips gyrating wildly to match the intensity of Spike's thrusts. So powerful were his movements that the entire table shook and wobbled with every movement. And when the final moment arrived, when the pleasure became overwhelming, both Buffy and Spike cried out one another's name in mindless ecstasy. Spike's eyes watered, so strong was the force of his orgasm. Buffy closed her eyes and let out a shuddering breath.
They collapsed onto the floor in a heap of tangled arms and legs. Gulps of air were consumed, and it was several minutes before the spent lovers could perform the simple function of speaking. Then, they heard the front door open and slam shut.
"Hey, Spike. Where are you, man?" Xander called out.
Buffy froze. The only thing separating them from Xander was the kitchen island, and he was quickly approaching them. "Shit, Spike, do something," Buffy whispered.
Spiked rolled his eyes. "What would you like me to do, pet?"
The footsteps got closer. Buffy's widened to comic proportions and she rolled closer to the island. Spike grinned at her antics, and then stood up. A very surprised Xander yelped and threw a hand over his eyes. "My eyes! My eyes! I'm blinded by the extreme whiteness of your chest." He paused for a minute. "Which brings me to my next question; what the hell are you doing in the kitchen with no clothes on?"
Spike smirked. Xander cleared his throat and smiled. "Anyway, Anya and I were wondering if you had snapped out of your stupor enough to have dinner with us tonight." Another pause. "You too, Buffy," Xander added.
Buffy raised up enough to poke her blushing face above the island. "Hey, boss."
Xander's smile grew. "Hey, how's my favorite bookkeeper? Doing fun things, I hope."
Buffy blushed even deeper and the men laughed. "We'll be there. The restaurant at nine?" Spike asked.
Xander nodded. "Hey, Buff, anytime you want to walk around my kitchen nude, feel free."
Buffy laughed and Spike socked Xander in the shoulder lightly. "For shame, mate. What would Anya say?"
"She'd appreciate my unique taste for the beauty in life," Xander quipped. He headed for the door. "A word of advice, there is a lovely Summers woman heading directly for the door. Clothing would probably be a plus."
With that, he strolled out the door. Buffy and Spike shared a look of horror. Joyce was about to catch them bare-assed on the kitchen floor. They dove for their clothing, pulling underwear, shirts and pants on with alarming alacrity.
A knock sounded seconds before Joyce threw the door open. "Spike, honey, its Joyce," she called out.
Buffy and Spike popped up from behind the island and Joyce jumped. "Oh! What are you kids doing?"
Buffy and Spike looked at each other, then at Joyce, then back at one another. "I lost a contact," Spike said.
Joyce raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you wear contacts?"
Spike raised a shoulder. "Few days now. Just getting used to the little buggers. Irritate the hell outta me, that's for sure."
Joyce nodded her head. "I see." She paused for a minute. "Buffy, is there a reason that your shirt is inside out and backwards?"
Buffy looked down, then back up at her mom. Her mouth flopped open and close, but no words came out.
Joyce laughed. "Well, with that deep and profound question, I think I'll get out of here and let you two clean up."
She gathered Spike into a hug. "I'm glad you're doing better," she said.
Spike smiled and hugged her back. "Not to fear, mum, I always bounce back."
While Buffy rolled her eyes, Joyce laughed and gave Spike one last squeeze. "Come by for dinner tomorrow, A.J wants to finish the Kings v. Lakers debate," she said.
Spike nodded. Joyce brushed a kiss over Buffy's forehead and then left.
The lovers stood together for a brief moment. Spike took a deep breath of Buffy's signature scent; vanilla, citrus and the underlying smell of her floral perfume. "Wanna go take a shower, luv?"
Buffy nodded, and the lovers adjoined to the upstairs bedroom.
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A/N: Until next time, my pretties.
