Chapter 25

"You look too nice," Spike said, wrapping his arms around Buffy's waist.

"I do? See, I was thinking no more than a five."

"That shirt, if you can call it that, is an eight on its own."

"Hmm...good to know," she mused, applying her lipstick.

"You're going to change, right?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "No time, Spike. They'll be here very soon and I like my top."

"The jeans are very tight."

"They are not that tight. Jesus."

"Are you even wearing a bra?"

She placed her hands on the counter, her fingers tightening around the edge and forced herself to smile. "Honey, we are both going out, we are both going to look at naked people and you don't hear me asking you fifty trillion questions about it."

"How naked do these blokes get?"

"How naked do your strippers get?"

"Are they going to touch you?"

"Are they going to touch you?"

"Stop doing that."

"Stop asking idiotic questions. Besides, isn't there some law about them having to stand six feet away or something? If I'm not worried or turning green, you shouldn't be either."

"But-"

"But nothing, Spike. Don't make me begin to rethink this whole getting married thing."

"Funny, pet."

"Wasn't trying to be," she said with a wink. "Did you hear from Angel?"

"He's staying with Darla and the brat tonight."

"The brat has a name."

"The brat does nothing but cry."

"He's three weeks old, Spike! That's pretty much what they do."

"Ours won't. Pen will be as quiet as a mouse."

"Oh, she will, will she? That will make life very easy."

He buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent. "You smell too good."

"Oh, brother."

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"Why didn't you tell me that Oz was coming for the week?"

"Didn't I?" Spike asked as Buffy shook her head. "Well, he is and he's bringing his girl, Beth. I think that's her name."

"Did you talk to Wesley about next weekend?"

"Everything is all set, luv. Stop your worrying."

"What about when we leave for the week in June? What are they going to do about the office?"

"Buffy," he began, grabbing her waist and spinning her around. "First, stop cleaning-"

"I'm hanging my clothes up. Not cleaning."

"Second, stop worrying. I have it under control." He knew the "Are you sure?" look was coming before it even formed on her face. "Wes and Faith will be here next weekend and they will be watching the place when we go on our honeymoon, along with Connor. Everything is fine."

"Angel's not upset?"

"Has nothing to be upset about," he told her with a shrug.

"Spike, for the past two months, all talk has been about opening the new office. You open it and two weeks later, we're getting married and going away for two days. And next month, we're going away for a week."

"Angel's known for a long time that we weren't taking our honeymoon until after school let out for you and he knew our plans weren't changing just because we were opening. Believe me on this. There is nothing to worry about."

"Fine," Buffy conceded, turning to the bed and picking up another blouse. She put it on the hanger and put it back in the closet.

"You know, that's a nice top. You should wear that tonight."

"Let. It. Go."

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"Spike, relinquish your hold already. We have places to be," Cordelia commanded.

"Yeah, man. We have places to be, too," Xander added.

Spike unwrapped his arms from around Buffy and sighed. Buffy held in her laughter and rolled her eyes.

"Don't give me that look. Excuse me for not loving the idea of you ogling naked men."

"Aren't you all going to ogle women?" Cordelia asked.

"Exactly the point I've been trying to make for weeks now," Buffy said.

"So, it's okay for you to have a party but it isn't okay for Buffy? Is that what you're trying to tell me, Spike?"

"No, of course not."

"And yet that's exactly how it sounds," Cordy teased.

"Two words for you, Spike. Lap dances," Xander said with a knowing nod and an arched eyebrow.

"We'll be right back," Buffy broke in suddenly as she grabbed Spike's arm and led him down the hall. She pushed him against the wall and wrapped her arms around his neck. "No lap dances."

"I thought you said there's a law-"

"I don't know for certain but there will be no lap dances."

"Well, who's the jealous kitten now?"

"There will be no gorgeous women rubbing their goods all over my soon-to-be husband. Watch from your seat all you want but no one will straddle you and do...stuff. Understand?"

"What if I don't have a choice?"

"Meaning?"

"What if the guys-"

The shaking of her head cut him off. "No lap dances." Buffy leaned forward and ran her tongue over his lips before taking the bottom one into her mouth and biting down lightly.

"I'd rather stay here and have you give me one instead," he told her, his arms tightening around her waist.

"Will you two stop doing it already and get out here!" Cordy yelled.

"Boobies! Boobies that we don't see everyday." A beat. "Ow, Cordy!"

Buffy and Spike laughed just imagining the scene in the other room.

"You're mine. Don't you forget it," Buffy warned.

"Wouldn't want to."

Her hand slipped down the front of his pants and cupped him. "I'd rather stay here and play with this all night."

"How come we'd both rather be doing almost the exact same thing and yet we're allowing ourselves to be dragged off to see other naked people, who won't be nearly as attractive as we are, dance?"

She sighed before she smiled at him. "Tradition."

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"Shake it, baby! Shake it!" Anya yelled.

Buffy and Cordelia exchanged a look and both rolled their eyes. Dawn sat next to Buffy, one hand covering her mouth to contain her giggles and the other over her eyes, her fingers spaced apart so she could see through them. Willow and Tara sat behind them, not watching the festivities and instead talking as intimately as one could in a loud strip club.

Anya jumped up from her chair and waved the five-dollar bill. "You really deserve this," she said as she stuck the bill in his thong. "You have many wonderful assets that I would put to good use if I weren't a married woman."

"Bet your husband doesn't compare to this," the dancer said, swiveling his hips for good measure.

"He keeps me filled to the brim with orgasms, thank you very much," she said with a huff and sat back down. "I can't believe I gave him my money."

"I can't believe everyone else, with the exception of Faith, left. Lightweights," Cordy grumbled.

"Even the two lesbians have stayed!" Anya said, a tad too loudly.

"Where is Faith?" Buffy asked.

"Banging someone's boyfriend would be my guess," Cordy answered. Seeing Buffy's look, she sighed and said, "Bathroom."

"I wonder if the men are having a good time," Tara said.

"Where were they going again?" Willow asked.

"Wonderland," Anya told them. "It's very nice. I brought Rupie there on our anniversary and then when he was good and worked up, I brought him back to the apartment and-"

"We get it," Dawn broke in. "I'm sorry, but I don't see how this is fun."

"You're not doing it right, Dawn. First, you have to look at the dancers. See which one you like and then don't take your eyes away. Just watch every muscle move, watch his penis bounce about in that tight little thong, imagine licking the sweat and oil off his well proportioned body...Ooh! Like that one." Anya pointed to a huge man who was pumping his hips faster than she could keep track of. "He's probably like a drill hammer in the sack! It's all about the imagination."

"I think I'm going to be scarred for life," Dawn lamented.

"Hey, you wanted to come," Buffy pointed out. "I think Will and Tara are leaving soon, go home with them."

"We are, indeed," Willow said. "It's past midnight and you know, gay, so this really does nothing for us. Just here for morale support. Plus, Tara's tired and we need to keep Tara rested up."

"How's it going?" Buffy asked.

"Fine," Tara said with a smile as she put her hand on her small belly. "But I do get tired so easily now."

"Which is perfectly normal," Willow jumped in. "I'm not complaining. Keeping my girl in bed all the time works out just fine for me." They giggled together and Willow stroked Tara's hair.

"Will everyone please stop being so...so...lovey-dovey! A single girl can't take it!" Dawn yelled.

"There's plenty of meat to chose from," Faith said, sitting down.

"I'm not going to date a stripper."

"Who said anything about date?" She wiggled her eyebrows and Dawn gave her the cold glare.

"Figures you'd still be all about a quick fuck," Cordelia sniped.

"Actually more for a long fuck. Wes has tricks up his sleeves that you couldn't even begin to imagine."

"And how long until you grow tired and throw yourself at someone else? Or, maybe, someone else's boyfriend?"

"Look, Queen C, I'm only going to say this once because I'm not the apologizing kind. Sorry I screwed your boy back in the day but from what I hear you two worked it all out so lay off."

"Okay, okay. Let's not do this here," Buffy pleaded. "Yeah?" She looked back and forth between Cordy and Faith. They both nodded and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"We should go spy on the men," Faith suggested. "This place is sort of beat, anyway."

"I'm not going to look at naked women," Dawn protested.

"Don't go then," Faith retorted.

"Oh, so now you're going to go do something that interests us?" Willow teased.

"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Buffy said.

"Like you're not dying to know exactly what it is they're up to over there," Cordy prodded.

"You game?" Faith asked her.

"I can't believe I'm agreeing with you on anything, but I think it would be funny. Can you imagine the looks on their faces when we get there?"

"What if they don't see us?" Faith asked.

"Then what's the point?" Buffy replied.

"No, she's right. We can just sit back and watch them make complete fools of themselves. Knowing Xander, he's doing a mighty fine job," Cordy laughed.

"Or we could get up on stage and strip for them. They'd definitely pass out then," Anya suggested.

"I don't think they allow-"

"We're hot chicks," Faith interrupted Buffy. Getting a look from the others, she shrugged and continued, "Oh, come on, none have you have ever looked in the mirror and thought 'Damn, I'm fuckable'? I don't believe it. Especially you, C."

Cordelia tried her best to look offended before she rolled her eyes and looked away, conceding to Faith.

"The little one can go home with the lovebirds-"

"Hey!" Dawn was now officially annoyed.

"And those of us with a man over there, will go and see what they're up to," Faith went on, ignoring Dawn's outburst.

"We could do a little dance," Anya said, smiling.

"Hopefully, make a little love," Cordy added.

"And we're definitely getting down tonight. One way or the other," Faith finished. "What do you say, B?"

Buffy bit her lip as she thought it out. A smile formed slowly on her mouth and she nodded. "Can we stop by my apartment first? There's something I need to get."

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"Man, you need to loosen up. Look at this girl. Perfect."

"Perfectly plastic," Spike retorted. "Xander, this isn't really my scene and no matter how many shots and beers you feed me, I'd still rather be with a barely dressed Buffy then watching these women flash their tatas at us."

"William, you're just not in the right frame of mind," Giles said, slapping Spike on the back. He moved his hand around, pointing to various girls, spilling some of his Scotch from his glass. "You're seeing this all wrong. Did I ever tell you about the time Anya brought me here?"

"No and I would appreciate you didn't do it now."

"I dare say that you have a rather large stick up your ass." Giles hiccupped and then proceeded to laugh like a schoolboy.

"If Anya could see you now..." Spike trailed off.

"If she could, I would probably be on my back-"

"Please don't finish that sentence," Xander interrupted. To Spike, he whispered, "Apparently, when drunk, Giles inherits Anya's flair for tell-all sex stories."

"It's frightening," Spike agreed. Both men looked over at their mentor and gulped at the pure, unadulterated lust on his face as he watched the girl dance. "This whole experience is going to give me bloody nightmares. Thank you all so much."

"Anytime, my friend," Wesley said, with a wide smile. "What do you think the women are doing?"

"Talking about us and what we're doing," Spike answered.

"Not my Anya. She's giving away her precious money to oiled-up men. I think I should be upset about that." He thought for a moment and shrugged it off, waving a bill for the stripper.

"I will say, that although there are many lovely women here, none have shown me anything that Faith can't do," Wesley mused.

"Does anyone not find it strange that we'd all rather be watching our own ladies do this instead of these bought and paid for types?" Spike asked, not expecting anyone to answer.

"Again, I say, boobs that we don't see everyday. Variety is the spice of life," Xander answered.

"Well, if your woman knew what she was doing then you would have variety," Gunn threw in.

"Cordy's about as perfect as they come. We're guys! We're supposed to be doing this! We're young, in the prime of life and we can't come to a strip club without wishing we were with our girlfriends? And I have to say that I find it very sad that the only one enjoying himself is the man who is twenty years older than us. This is your last hurrah, Spike! So get in the mood, already or see if I ever throw you another bachelor party."

Spike gave him an odd look at that and Xander smiled sheepishly, realizing what he said and how he didn't mean it in that manner.

"Excuse me, is there a Mr. Harris here?"

Xander turned to see a buxom redhead standing behind him. "Uh, yeah. That'd be me. Mr. Harris."

"You have a phone call. Come with me, please."

Xander followed the girl to the phone and as he went to pick it up, he felt someone grab onto his shoulder and pull him back. He stumbled and fell against the wall, his eyes going wide as he saw Cordelia, Faith and Anya staring back at him, obviously trying not to laugh.

"Uh, what's going on?" Xander asked, confused. The three women he's had sex with were standing in front of him, looking like they were about ready to pounce at any wrong movement. And, unfortunately, he didn't think they'd pouncing in a good way. "Is everything alright?"

"We need you to do us a favor," Cordy told him.

"A favor you can't say no to," Anya said.

"And, really, not a favor at all. We're telling you. Do this," Faith put in.

"What if I don't want to?"

"Say goodbye to anymore cheesecake," Cordy threatened.

"Fine, what is it you want me to do?"

The three women looked at one another and smiled, all their feminine charm coming to the surface and Xander was powerless against them. He knew it and they knew it...could probably smell it on him. He gulped and slumped further down the wall. Why did he have the feeling that this was going to put a damper on the evening?

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"Spike, buddy, come with me."

"Where?"

"Get your ass out of the chair and come with me. We got you a little something special," Xander told him as he grabbed Spike's arm and lifted him.

"We did?" Giles asked, his speech completely slurred.

Xander shot him a warning glance before turning back to Spike. "We're going to a backroom."

"Oh, no, we're not," Spike said and instantly began to struggle in Xander's grasp. Xander nodded to Gunn and Wesley, who immediately stood and grabbed onto Spike and helped carry him to the back. "Buffy will kill me. No, wait she'll kill you, make me watch and then kill me. She'll remove parts. I like my parts!"

"Spike, you're getting married next Saturday. Consider this your last bit of sex before you're tied forever," Xander said.

"Sex?! No."

"Not in the literal sense. Buddy, calm down and stop kicking."

They brought him to a dimly lit room with nothing but a pole and chair in it. The chair had scarves lying across it and Xander picked them up before they forced Spike down. He handed one to both Wes and Gunn and they quickly tied his legs while Xander tied his hands. He took the last scarf and tied it around his eyes. Spike kept perfectly still, biding his time until they left before he tried to make a break for it.

"Have fun," Xander called out as they left.

Not two seconds after the door closed, Spike began to struggle in his bonds. Damn Boy scouts tied them too tight. It's cutting off my circulation. He felt a hand come down on his shoulder and he stopped moving.

"Look, I'm sure you're a lovely girl but I made a promise and I don't fancy breaking my promises so if you don't mind untying me, I'll just be on my way." He felt her move around him to the front and place a finger at his lips, telling him in no words to be quiet. The soft strains of a song Spike thought he knew started and before anything else could cross his mind, he felt the weight of her body straddling his legs.

She leaned forward and licked his neck, which caused Spike to jump and begin to protest again but her hand came up to cover his mouth.

"Shh."

She leaned back, her lower legs wrapping around his for leverage as she began to unbutton his shirt. She raked her nails down his chest and quickly leaned forward to kiss and lick the redness.

That's when he knew. It was Buffy.

The light fragrance of her perfume filtered up to his nose when she leaned forward and he would know that mouth on his skin anywhere.

He groaned as she licked over his nipple and she immediately stopped.

"No, baby, don't stop."

Buffy looked at him and knew the gig was up. He had that self-satisfied grin he got when he knew something no one else did. How did he figure it out so quickly?

"Shall I untie you?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Will you keep your hands to yourself?"

"Not bloody likely."

"You want me to dance for you?"

"Yes."

"So will you keep your hands to yourself?"

He nodded before saying aloud, "Yes."

She got off his lap and kneeled on the floor and untied both his legs. He stretched them out and she massaged the calves of both legs before getting up and moving around the back of the chair. She undid the scarves and quickly stood out of his grasp.

"Get over here," he ordered.

She smiled and quietly walked behind him, untying the scarf around his eyes. "You ruin all my fun, I'll have you know. We had a whole plan and everything. Lots of coercing and cash to get this room."

She walked around him to stand in front of him, her hands on her hips and her mouth in a delicious pout that Spike planned on kissing right off.

"What do you have on under there?" Spike nodded to her clothes and she blushed. "Come on, then. Show me."

She walked over to the wall where the stereo was, pressed a button and a new song started. Slow, jazzy and she sauntered over to the pole.

"What is this? Sounds familiar."

"It should. That Fiona Apple 'chit'. I wanted to prove to you that it's not all doom and gloom. It can be very much not."

"Nervous, pet?"

"No," she answered too quickly.

"Why would you be nervous? It's just me and it's not like I've never seen you dance before."

"Dance, yes. Strip sexily? Not so much."

"Everything you do is sexy." He got up from the chair and stalked over to her, holding her gaze the entire time. "Dance with me, luv."

He placed his hands loosely on her waist, stepping closer to her and began to sway back and forth. She matched him, her hands on his arms and her head bowed, knowing he was staring at her. She wasn't exactly embarrassed, but she was overcome with a sudden case of shyness. This would have been much easier with him blindfolded. Sure, that would have defeated the purpose but logic wasn't always linear in her brain.

"Slow like honey, lamb, just like the song says," he murmured in her ear. "Look at me."

She raised her eyes but kept her head bowed. One of his hands came to her face and the backs of his fingers brushed against her cheek. When he cupped her jaw, she turned her head and placed a kiss on the palm.

"Dance for me. This is, as Xander keeps telling me, my last hurrah."

"I don't think I should have come here. I interrupted your hurrah."

"Buffy, don't make me tell you how I sat out there and bitched all night. These girls...not a one comes close."

She smiled briefly and took a deep breath. She pushed him back towards the chair and when the back of his legs hit it, he sat.

"You can just shag me silly if you really don't want to dance," he suggested, his tongue sliding between his top and bottom teeth.

Buffy laughed and felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. This was no big deal. This could be easy. She just needed for it to be kept light and fun. She was putting too much pressure on herself and that was silly. If she didn't enjoy it, he wouldn't and she wanted him to. It was the whole purpose of being here. She didn't know what the others were planning to do but she had this idea since before they left their own strip club. She could do this. And with the way he was looking at her, watching and waiting for her, she felt herself ignite from within.

"Pet?"

"Yes?" she replied, walking over to the pole. She wrapped her arm around it and leaned against it.

"Is that the skirt from Halloween?" She smiled and nodded. "Turn around, back to me and put both hands on the pole."

Buffy gave him a look of confusion before doing as he asked. She turned her head slightly and said, "Anything else?"

"Spread your legs a bit." She did. "Bend."

She twisted around more and smiled. "Bend?"

"Knees straight and bend. All those yoga classes are finally paying off."

"Me bending and showing you my scantily clad ass is payment?"

"Damn straight it is." He smirked and she smiled again. "Bend. I won't tell you again."

Hmm...he's acting...different. She took a step back, turned to face the pole and slowly leaned over at the waist.

"Fucking hell, you're perfect," he said. It was taking all his might not to go over to her. Red silk and lace peeked out from under the skirt. "Like the panties. Matching set?"

"It's something," she answered, standing again. Keeping her hold on the pole, she twisted her body to face him. She picked up one foot to take off her shoe but stopped when Spike began to protest.

"Leave those on."

She shrugged and wrapped her leg around the pole. She put her hands in a better position and then swung her body around the pole.

"Been swinging on poles for a while now?"

"One of the stripper's showed me how. Very nice of her, don't you think?"

"Indeed."

Her fingers went to the buttons of her shirt and she slowly undid them. She had his rapt attention and loved every minute of it. Buffy flashed open her top and giggled when he sighed after she quickly closed it again. He crooked a finger at her and she walked over to him, her hips swinging from side to side, every step deliberate.

He grabbed her hands and put them at her sides. He reached up and ran his hands under the barely opened shirt, loving the combined feel of the silk and lace. He grabbed the sides of the shirt and opened it, taking a good, hard look while Buffy squirmed where she stood.

"What's this, then?"

"I figured I needed something special to compete..."

"No competition, sweetheart. Is this what I think it is?"

"If what you think is it's Anya's present, than yes, it's exactly what you think it is."

"The crotchless lingerie you said you would never, ever wear under any circumstances?"

"Don't smirk. Special occasion."

He put his hands on her waist and twisted her. "Turn." She did and once again felt her whole body go warm when he lifted her skirt. With a free hand, he moved over the curve of her buttocks and down the back of her thigh. "Nothing like Buffy bum."

She giggled again which turned into a yelp as he lightly smacked the bit of cheek that was showing.

"Did you just spank me?" Buffy asked, shocked.

"You loved it."

"Not the point. Why would you...ow! Stop doing that!"

He leaned over and kissed the small pink patch that was on her skin. His hand moved to her inner thigh and he ran his fingers up and down so lightly that it tickled and her leg started to shake.

"Sorry, baby, but I couldn't help myself." His hand moved back up and rubbed the area in slow circles.

"It's...okay. You surprised me." She leaned into his caress. "Surprises aren't...bad."

"No?"

She shook her head and stepped away from him. She shimmied and laughed when he licked his lips. She pulled the shirt off and whipped around her head, causing him to chuckle softly. She threw the shirt at his head and he quickly pulled it off and threw it to the side. Buffy walked back to the pole and spun around it again. She turned around, lifted her skirt. She swayed her hips back and forth slowly, occasionally circling her hips. She turned again and took satisfaction from the look on Spike's face. She leaned against the pole and slid her body down. She quickly opened and shut her legs before slithering back up the pole, lifting her skirt as she went. She arched her back off the pole, her eyes trained on the ceiling, letting her body just move to the jazzy, slow beat coming softly from the speakers. Spike's breathing became heavier and it was like a different song spurring her on. Her fingers went to the zipper in the back, undid it and let the skirt drop the floor. She lifted one foot out from under the material and kicked it over to Spike with the other.

Spike cleared his throat, finding his voice. "You're not taking that off, are you?"

"Do you want me to?"

"No."

"Then I have nothing left to strip off."

He got up from his chair and went over to her. "Dance with me now, then?"

"I do love to dance with you."

"It is all we've ever done, right?" he stated with a wink. She smiled as she remembered the night of her prom all those years before.

Buffy's hands went to the lapels of his duster and tugged them back. "Aren't you hot in this thing?"

"As a matter fact..." He shrugged out of his coat and tossed it to the floor with her other clothes. His hands went to her hips and moved around her back to rest once again on the roundness of her bottom. Their bodies began to sway together and they moved slowly around.

"You have a butt fascination tonight," she joked.

"It's the lace. The way it cuts up and lets a little skin show, lets me see just how lovely it really is." He squeezed both her cheeks and ground his erection against her. "You want me?"

She nodded. "Even when we're old and gray."

"Are you ever going to stop amazing me, luv?"

"I hope not but I give you full permission to remind me if I'm not doing the proper job."

"Remind or reprimand?" He quirked an eyebrow, a slow smile coming to his lips.

"Since when do we do that?"

"We don't but sometimes...nevermind."

"Sometimes what?" she asked, suddenly very curious.

"Sometimes when we're..." he trailed off and she smiled at his shyness. She hadn't seen this side of him in quite some time.

"Go on," she whispered.

"Sometimes, I have an urge."

"Don't you usually give in to all your urges?"

"Most, yeah, but this is a little different than most."

"Why haven't you mentioned it before?"

"Didn't know how-"

"You didn't know how?" she interrupted. "There is nothing that we don't talk about, sex or otherwise. You had no problem asking if you could tie me up." He smirked. "You had no problem asking if I would consider the only other kind of sex we haven't had." He ducked his head to hide his smile as he remembered that night. "I can't believe you would have a problem asking me if you could slap my rear."

"And you'd say yes?"

She put her hand to his face and smiled softly. "Baby, has there ever been anything I've said no to yet?"

He stopped moving and she stilled, as well. He pulled her tight against him and swooped down, capturing her lips. Her hands wormed their between their bodies and to the button of his pants. She quickly undid it and pulled the zipper down. Her hand encircled him and began its pumping motion.

He broke away from her mouth and rested his forehead against hers. "Wanna see if this lingerie works as well as Anya proclaims?"

"You bet I do," she said, emphasizing her agreement by biting his neck lightly.

Just the way he liked.

**************

tbc...