(A/N: Hey all, just wanted to tell you that I haven't forgotten about Cordy's letter but it won't be revealed any time soon. So, sorry about that and to make it up to you, here's some spuffy lovin. ;) Thank you so much for all the reviews! I love you guys!!)

Chapter 19: Kiss and Tell

Spike was almost sure this wasn't his house, if the dining table full of shopping bags was any indication. But the black leather couch in the living room was certainly his as he reminded himself of the time he implored his dad to buy it. Giles wasn't into leather like his son, so getting a leather couch that cost a fortune wasn't his idea of replacing their old one.

"What in the bloody hell is this?" Spike peered into the bags. He highly doubted it was his dad's doing. Hats, accessories, tops, jeans, shoes…lingerie? Now, we're talking. He was startled by the door opening and soon shoved the red thong – which he was holding up in the air – back inside a random bag.

Buffy stuck her head from Spike's room when she heard someone curse in the dining room. "Oh, it's you." She opened the door wider and let herself come out of the room fully.

Spike was struck, speechless when he saw her. An alarm then buzzed in his brain once he noticed what she was wearing. "Where the hell do you think you're going with that…that…" He waved his hand, gesturing towards her clothes. "…skimpy thing," he finished.

The petit blond looked down at herself, observing her own outfit. She was wearing a short denim skirt that barely reached her middle thigh, and a black leather tube that wasn't enough to cover the whole of her stomach, displaying her perfectly shaped navel and a taut scrap of her tan flesh. She had left her boots this time, changing them with chunky heels whose laces snaked around her ankles into several rows.

"It's not that…skimpy." She studied her outfit again after glancing at Spike for a brief second.

"Not that skimpy? Buffy, you barely have a metre of fabric covering your body. Where the hell are you going anyway?" Spike repeated his unanswered question.

Buffy sighed. "I'm going to this party that someone from our high school is throwing. Xander and Wills are going to be there as well."

"And why are you dressing up like a skank in my house?" Buffy rolled her eyes heavenwards.

"Because I can't dress up like this while my mum's at home. And again, I'm telling you, it's not THAT skanky. Please…other girls in the party probably dress in less than what I'm wearing right now."

"Lesser, eh?" Spike pondered her words for a moment. It might be good to sidetrack him from thinking of his diverse feelings towards the slender girl in front of him. "Give me fifteen minutes. I'm coming with you." He scurried into his room and immediately jumped in for a quick shower.

Buffy groaned and rolled her hazel eyes. "Oh this is marvellous. Just what I need right now, a protective brother a.k.a best friend tagging along," she muttered under her breath. As soon as she finished her complaint, Spike's phone rang in his room. Buffy hurriedly picked it up before it stopped buzzing.

"Hello? Oh, hey Wills. What?!? Why not?" Buffy was now pouting, clear disappointment evident in her features. She sighed in discontent. "Fine, I let you go this time but the next time you bail on me, you're gonna wish you were never born coz I'll bring my pitchfork straight to your house and poke it into your ass." A giggle was heard from the redhead's lips. Buffy smiled at that despite herself. After a brief goodbye, she hung up and tossed the wireless carelessly onto the bed.

Spike had just come out of the bathroom when he saw Buffy flop her body down on his chair and whirl a pen idly on the study desk. "Who was that, luv?"

Buffy looked up to see him only in a pair of black jeans. "Wills. She said she couldn't come because she had to visit her sick auntie with the rest of the fam." She sighed again.

"And Xander? Is he still coming?"

"Not sure. She didn't mention him. If he makes it, then that's good. If he doesn't, well guess that leaves the two of us alone then."

Spike only shrugged in agreement. He had put his usual tight black shirt on, then went back to the bathroom to fix his unruly hair. Buffy glanced at the alarm clock. Damn, she was going to be late if Xander decided to come in the end. "Spike, come on. We're gonna be late," she yelled, tapping her right heel impatiently. There was no reply. What took him so long? Men were supposed to be the ones who waited eagerly for women, not the other way around. "Spike? COME. ON! What the hell are you doing there?" Buffy got up and headed towards the open bathroom.

"Hang on, I still can't get my hair fixed. It keeps fleeing its sodding way." Spike was getting irritated with his bleached hair that stuck out weirdly. The petit blond rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time.

"Follow me. I'll fix it up for you." She snatched a small jar of gel before pulling him with her to the bed. She sat him down, opened the lid and scooped a good amount of the sticky liquid with her fingers. Rubbing her hands together, she began working on his peroxide locks, messing and tossing them to create a wild and spiky look. After a few minutes, she finally stepped back to examine her work.

"There, it looks good on you." Spike though, didn't look convinced. He once again walked back to the bathroom and observed the efforts she had put on his hair in front of an oval mirror. He grinned to himself. 'Not bad, not bad at all.' It was indeed not bad at all. In fact, he definitely looked gorgeous and damn sexy that way.

"Nice work, luv. Now let's go, we're gonna be late." Buffy rolled her eyes again.

"And whose fault would that be?" She retorted behind his back, following him to the front door.

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It wasn't too hard to find the address where the party was held. In fact, the person who threw it was actually one of the soccer team members – the people Spike mostly knew quite well.

"Hey, Spike! Glad you made it." Gunn slapped his back good-naturedly. Spike nodded and smiled.

"Nice party you have 'ere." He took his surrounding in. A bunch of teenage girls were giggling in one corner while some couples were making out in others. Music was blaring throughout the house.

"I'm going to get some drink. You want one?" Buffy leaned over to whisper in his ear. Spike shook his head no and she strode away to the kitchen, leaving the bleached boy and the dark guy to a friendly chat.

She wasn't about to eavesdrop the conversation from the kitchen when an infamous yet very familiar annoying voice mentioned her name. "...and there Buffy was, informing her precious 'bodyguard' and asked him to beat the hell Riley up. What a bitch! Riley soo clearly didn't want her, but ME and she just didn't wanna accept it," Harmony whined to her best friend Kendra.

Buffy's ears reddened in a flash. Her blood started to boil with anger and disbelief, her nostrils flared like a bull ready to attack. She was appalled by the statement Harmony made. 'I. Am. A bitch?!? I. AM. A BITCH?!? Who the hell does she think she is, Queen Amadala?'

"Damn Xander!" She spat a curse. Apparently, Xander's 'Star Wars virus' had affected Buffy. She idly wondered how Willow and Spike coped with that, what with them being his girlfriend and his male best friend respectively. She then took a deep breath to regain her control before entering the kitchen. Putting a plastic sickeningly sweet smile on her face, she stepped forwards to Harmony and Kendra.

They turned their heads to the intruder, both already expected she'd heard everything but didn't flinch. Instead Harmony looked down at the petite blond with boredom and revolt in her eyes. Buffy still smiled amiably at her although her teeth were aching from gritting so hard.

"I'm a bitch? Hm...Have you forgotten about that one time when you desperately wanted to lay your hands on Spike but he just brushed you off? Sad, wasn't it when the guy you had the hots for never gave you even one single glance. And have you forgotten about that cheap scheme you came up with when no one asked you to the dance? What was it about again? Oh yes, you told everyone that Spike asked you to the dance but you rejected him and he was so determined that he threatened every single guy that was about to ask you. So, tell me. Who's the bitch now??" Buffy threw the two agape girls a sinister smile before she walked out of the kitchen, disregarding the drink she had come to get. No further than two feet away, she stopped and turned around, facing the girls again. "Oh, this time, don't forget that MY 'bodyguard' happens to be your long time crush and I, happens to be his best friend. So if you try another lame scheme to get him again, you know I'd hunt you like I did with your so-called Brit friend, Drusilla." She swayed around and resumed her steps leaving the girls wide-eyed.

It was Harmony's turn to fume, she was about to go after the petite blond but was held back firmly by the arm. Kendra swung her around, disgust palpable in her eyes. "You told me it was just for covering his ass up?!?" Harmony open and shut her ruby lips, only came up with nothing for a response. Kendra held her hand in the air as if telling her friend to talk to her hand. "I am so NOT your best friend anymore." With that, she stomped her two hundred dollars chunky heels out of the kitchen.

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In the meantime, Spike was searching around for his companion. He was starting to get bored there, standing in the end of the hallway. Gunn had gone to greet his guests. Spike shoved his hands in his duster pocket, leaning against the wall as his eyes wandered around the area. His blue orbs froze when he saw a medium brunette girl standing near the fireplace and smiling timidly at him. He smiled back, then made his way towards her.

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"I asked Spike to beat him?!? Geez, if I wanted to, I could have done it myself. That bastard," Buffy said in a huff, stomping her heels gruffly on the wooden floor. She stopped dead when she saw Riley and his two friends, heading her way. Her eyes narrowed into slits and a sneer started forming in her lips. "You said I was unwanted? I'll show you how so wanted I am." She strode in the long hall and came to a halt in its end to survey the living room. There were only single girls and a few couples kissing and making moony eyes on their respective partners. 'Crap. There's not even one single guy here. Can my night be any worse?' She started to look around worriedly, glancing at the upcoming Riley every once in a while. Her hazel eyes finally rested on the person beside her. 'Spike?!?' She contemplated her option. She was getting desperate to make Riley fume and if it was Spike who was the only available guy, then so be it. 'Oh well, he'd do.' Buffy shrugged, then stopped his pace.

"Spike, do me a favor." Spike only glanced briefly at her, soon looking back at the awaiting girl across the living room.

"Can't it wait? I'm approaching a chit 'ere." He smiled at the brunette apologetically as if telling her to wait for him just for a moment.

"No, Riley is heading towards us." She hissed, peering at the dirty blond out of the corner of her eyes.

Spike glimpsed at the said person. He was starting to fume again with loath for the taller guy.

"What kind of favor? Do you want me to beat the sodding hell out of him again?" He cracked his knuckles, ready to pummel Riley.

"Not that kind! You've done that already." She hissed in annoyance. She was really anxious by now as she watched Riley only a few feet away from them.

"Then what?!?" Spike was getting annoyed as well, he was anxious himself to go to the now impatient brunette.

"Kiss me. Kiss me now."

"What?!? Oh, hell no. Why the bleeding hell should I do that to you?" Spike widened his eyes at her blunt request.

"Come on, Spike. We don't have much time. He's getting really close now." Buffy was pleading in desperation, shaking his arms in the process. Riley and his friends, on the other hand, were laughing at the jokes Forrest was telling them.

"But-" He was cut off when she grabbed his head with one hand and crushed her mouth into his. Spike's eyes went wide briefly, but soon fluttered closed as soon as he felt her tongue flicker across the line between his lips, coaxing him to part them. He was rather taken aback by how good it felt. 'So this is what kissing Buffy feels like. Damn, Angel was one bloody lucky git!' Somehow his brain still managed to form a thought. Instinctively, he parted his lips and let her tongue massage his teasingly. One arm snaked around her back and the other slipped under hers, grabbing her waist to deepen the kiss.

Buffy tried to peer at Riley's way but found it difficult to open her eyes as she felt Spike's hands roaming around her body. Her hand was now running through his curls. Then it slid down to the nape of his neck, creating small circles with her fingers. Her free arm draped over his shoulder, holding onto him as the kiss intensified passionately. Spike groaned against her mouth at the sensation. This was supposed to be a brief kiss, just for showing Riley that she was still wanted. But by some means, it had extended unlike she intended to.

Riley was bragging about Sam, the college girl he had started dating only a few days ago when he came to an abrupt halt at the scene playing before his eyes. His blue orbs flared up with rage and repulsion. After what Spike did to him, now she had to thank Spike by kissing him in front of them?

"Dude, isn't that the chick who you said kept begging to come back to you?" Forrest chuckled. Graham, his other friend joined him. "Guess she won't be grovelling over you any time soon." Both of Riley's friends soon broke into laughter. Shooting death glares at the blond couple, Riley marched away from them with heavy tension in his bulky shoulders. Forrest and Graham only shook their heads and followed him. 

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Across the living room, Amy Madison was waiting nervously for the bleached boy who was on his way to her. She instantly frowned when she saw a slender blond dressed in tiny outfit that left nothing to the imagination, coming to stop his steps. Looking down at her own, she began fidgeting anxiously. She had had a green knee-length dress, which didn't show so much skin on the chest area. Sure it was sexy, but it wasn't as slutty and hot as the blonde's. She was already getting impatient of the hold up the blond girl had created. And as she was going to approach him herself, the blond couple crushed their mouths into each other. Her eyes widened at the sight, her face crumpled into indignation. She stomped her heels in a huff and grumbled, "Men. They always go for the lesser dressed ones." With that, she strode crossly into the hall, shooting a glare at them on her way.

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They finally broke apart after the long, passionate kiss, taking a much-needed gulp of air. Both blonds jumped away slightly from each other as if they had just realized what they had done. Eyeing each other nervously, they made an attempt to breathe as normally as possible. Their faces were flushed from their body heat that seemed to increase to forty degrees in a flash.

Buffy was the first one to speak. "I-I guess we should call it a night. There's not much to do or see here." She suggested and offered him an awkward smile, completely unaware of Xander, who might come to the party and be looking for them. Spike nodded in agreement, he'd already forgotten about the brunette girl as well…or even seen her pass them by.

"Yeah, guess so." He mumbled. The blond couple then walked out of the house with inept silence.

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Another awkward silence fell between them on their way home. Neither had spoken a word to each other. They just sat in the car, staring directly at the front while Spike's DeSoto rolled, heading towards the Summers' residence.

Somehow in between her train of thought, Buffy's brain ultimately registered the words Forrest said about her at the party. 'Damn, that bastard. Who the hell does he think he is? I'm grovelling over him? Pfft! You wish!' She secretly scowled at her inner monologue. Then a satisfied smile replaced her frown as she remembered how Riley stomped away from them. Though she didn't see his face at that time, she could feel him seething with passion. 'That should teach him good.'

Thank heavens, she had left that party, otherwise she probably would have ripped his head off. And no, she didn't want to do that in her mini outfit. God knew what would be left on her body if she started strangling him. She'd most likely go home naked with the clothes completely torn from her.

Spike snapped her from her thoughts with a gentle voice. "We're here, luv." Buffy turned her head to look at him.

"Huh?" At his pointed finger to her house, she only came up with an "Oh". She was ready to get out of his car when something struck her. "Oh no. I can't go home like this. M-My mum would ground me for weeks if she saw me with this outfit." She looked back at him in horror. She had planned to spend the night at Spike's place since Giles would mostly likely be asleep by the time she came back from the party. And Spike, well he might mind to see her wearing such a – as he called it – skimpy dress to a party, but he would never tell Joyce that her daughter had possessed such extreme attire.

Spike groaned and rolled his blue orbs. "So what are you suggesting, pet?" He asked, though he already knew her answer.

"Well, I was planning to sleep over at your house. That's why I've left my overnight bag there along with the ones from my shopping spree with Willow this afternoon." She could see he wasn't thrilled about it and neither was she. But that was the only solution she could think of.

Spike sighed in defeat. He was obviously far from happy with her plan but he couldn't bail on her and tell her to go home to dear momma. Firing the engine up again, he brought his DeSoto and the relieved blond girl home.

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They entered the house as quietly as mice, stepping on the marble floor cautiously as to not stumble over things in darkness. Once they were inside his room, they both let out a sigh of relief, pleased that they hadn't woken Giles up. But as soon as they looked at each other, both of them started fidgeting, unsure of what they had to do next.

Spike made the first real action, peeling his duster off and draping it on the head of the chair. Buffy instead went to her duffel bag, bending down as she fished through its content to find her sleepwear. The bleached young man immediately looked away from the sight of her skirt hitching up and almost showing her thong, while he suppressed a groan in his chest.

Seeing as there was no other way he wouldn't look at her backside anytime soon, he dragged his feet away to the bathroom after grabbing some old tee and sweats from his wardrobe. Normally, he would sleep half-naked. But tonight, he felt it was necessary to put some top on. He supposed it might help both of them to be comfy around each other while sleeping. Oh god, he hadn't thought about that. He wasn't sure how he would sleep next to her without touching her at all. Should he sleep on the couch? No, bad idea. Giles would suspect something going on between his son and surrogate daughter – which was in fact absolutely nothing outrageous to be worried about. Riiiighhhttt. Spike snorted grimly as the truth hit him hard. Yes, everything had changed between them. Since the time at the beach. He finally knew from there on, he had started seeing her in a different way, far from being in a sibling relationship.

When he exited the bathroom, Buffy had laid down on his bed in her light blue tank top and same coloured sweats. She had her back on him, facing the wall and appearing to be fast asleep. Sighing, Spike climbed over and lay flat on his back. Turning his body to face her back, he contemplated if he should do something before he dozed off as well. But what? Hugging her? Kissing her goodnight? Or wrapping his arms around her like they normally did? He decided it was best to just sleep tight. With that decision made, he turned his body around and flipped the light off, his back facing hers.

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One arm found itself draped over her waist, then move upwards to her shoulder, caressing the soft skin of its back with his thumb, drawing small circles. He leaned forwards to kiss the small area he was stroking and started to plant more kisses around her shoulder blade and the area where her upper arm and shoulder were joined.

She turned around to face him and before she knew it, his mouth pressed demandingly on hers. One of his arms snaked its way onto her back, slipping inside from the hem of her top. The other slid under her body to cup her ass and gave the globe a light squeeze. His tongue swiped delicately from her bottom lip to the top, anxiously waiting for her lips to part. She complied and was soon rewarded with their tongues battling, trying to dominate each other. Moans escaped them as the kiss deepened, burning like fire.

Both of their hands were groping each other, wanting to feel every inch of the other's body. She whimpered when he abandoned her lips but soon gasped at the wet kisses he planted starting from her jaw line to the base of her neck. Her left hand rested on his strands, gripping them slightly as the other one worked on his chest, tracing the hard abdomen underneath the fabric.

Sliding down further, he slipped the strap of her tank top down and licked his way to the upper region of her left breast, placing more open-mouthed kisses on it while occasionally nipping it lightly. He moaned against the soft flesh, it was much better than he had imagined when he observed her half-naked form a few days ago. His hand came to knead the same breast from underside while his thumb rubbed the rosy bud through the cotton material. She moaned loudly as she found herself in a trance. Wrapping her leg around him, she pulled him up for another passionate kiss. For a long minute in that darkened room, they were oblivious to their surrounding, until a familiar British voice called over from outside.

"William? Buffy? Is that you kids? I thought I heard some noises."

The couple fluttered their eyes open, finally registering what they were doing in their sleep. They drew apart from each other's lips, resting one forehead against the other. After a few takes of breath, Spike pulled his head back and shouted, "Yeah, da'. It's us, we were…uh…trying to sleep is all."

Giles, who was going to return to his room with his tea in his hand, only nodded even though he knew they wouldn't possibly see his action. "Well, good night kids. Don't stay up too late." He called again as he ascended the stairs next to the kitchen.

"Night, da'."

"Night, Giles." Spike and Buffy yelled in unison. Staring at their positions, the blond couple withdrew from each other slowly. Buffy even managed to move inches further from him while she straightened her top that had hitched up just below her busts. Their breaths still formed into somewhat pants.

"Think we better get some sleep now, luv." Buffy nodded vigorously in accord, then quickly turned away from him, facing the wall again.

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Before he drifted off to sleep, he had contemplated several possibilities of what would happen the next morning. First, was finding her gone home early in the morning due to their post awkwardness around each other. Second, would be discussing the incidents that would create post awkwardness around each other. And third, was choosing to ignore the whole thing as they fought over their post awkwardness around each other.

Morning had come with birds chirping in their nests. This was when he soon found out which possibility would fit into their current situation. With closed eyes, he swung an arm across the bed, reaching for her. But all he could feel was a flat sheet underneath his palm. He felt around the bed again, trying to feel her presence. Before he opened his eyes, he already knew the answer. It was the first one. She had gone.

to be continued 

(A/N: I'm borrowing MissKitty's pitchfork here **runs and hides from her before she claims her pitchfork back** Just in case if anyone doesn't know who she is, she's one of the most active people in the spuffy forum, so you won't miss her posts whenever you view a thread. Hehehe. And finally, YAY for some smoochies! I know I've tortured you guys with lots of USTs, but smoochies are finally here!! Yippee…**bouncing back and forth on her seat**)