I am still loving all the wonderful reviews. It makes me feel great to hear that you think my story is worthwhile and that you are still reading. The time for the ritual is near and things are starting to get very interesting, and dangerous. I hope that this dose of Spuffy pleases everyone. I loved writing it!
Chapter 27 My Love
Spike and Buffy made their way back to their room. It was starting to get dark outside and they didn't want to make the prince suspicious. Willow and Giles agreed to stay in their room as well. Willow had a lot to do before tomorrow and it needed to look as if everything was as the king had planned. All four had agreed on Willow's plan. It was all they had.
"I'm hungry. I think I will go down to the kitchen and see if I can bring something up." She was starting to leave when Spike suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Are you daft? I'm not letting you go down there alone. If the prince is there it could be dangerous." He was frowning now and holding her arm a little too tight.
Buffy appreciated his concern but she pulled her arm away. "You are supposed to be dying Spike, or dead for that matter. I will tell them that you are ill and resting. I'll just look worried and say that I need some food. We can eat and then get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. If all goes as planned, we will be back in Sunnydale."
She was right of course. It wouldn't do for him to be seen. He agreed but he didn't like it. "Fine. Go get us some grub and get back here. Don't be long. I don't want to have to come look'in for you." He tried to act angry but she could see right through his act. He was concerned.
"I'll be right back, I promise. Why don't you make a fire? It's starting to get a little chilly in here." She gave him a reassuring look and then closed the door.
Spike paced the floor a little and then went over to the fireplace. He placed the logs on and got the fire started. He looked into the flames, thinking of how his time in this strange place had somehow been wonderful. Sure, he almost died, but his time with Buffy was unforgettable. He wanted to make sure it wasn't wasted. They only had a little more time before they went back to their world and back to the way things were.
He began to make the room ready for her return.
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Buffy arrived at the kitchen and was greeted by one of the cooks. He looked surprised to see her there. "Can I help you miss?"
"Yes, I am afraid my husband is ill and we won't be down for dinner. Could I have some food to take upstairs to our room?" Buffy was trying to put on her concerned face as best she could muster.
"I'm sorry madam. I believe that Prince Julian is waiting for you in the dining room. Someone should have come and told you." He was pointing toward the dining room and Buffy was hesitant but thanked him.
She took a deep breath and made her way to the dining room where Julian was waiting. Julian was sitting at the table. He stood up to greet her. "Buffy, good evening. Are you alone? Is William not feeling better? I was beginning to think you weren't coming." He was crossing the room now to take her hand and placed a kiss on it. Buffy's cheeks grew rosy. She thought of how Spike would be angry if he were here.
"No, I am afraid that he is not. He is resting upstairs. I have just come down to get some food and go back to the room. I need to keep an eye on him." She hoped that he was buying this story. She was trying hard to convince him. She tried to remember that he was only a pawn just like them. He was just sort of the enemy.
"I am sure that William will be fine while you have a bite to eat with me. I will have the servants take him some food." The prince was pulling out a chair and asking her to stay and eat.
"No, really, I shouldn't. He isn't well and I don't want to leave him alone very long." She was uncomfortable now. He obviously didn't want to take no for an answer. She knew Spike would be waiting for her upstairs.
"Just a drink then. Surely you can stay for one drink." The prince was pouring some wine into two glasses and sat down. He motioned for Buffy to sit as well. She slowly sat down again against her better judgment.
One drink wouldn't hurt. She would drink it then get back. The prince would be happy and she could leave. The liquid felt good going down. It was warm and soothing. It had been a hard day. It felt good to relax a little. She was beginning to enjoy the affects of the wine when the prince spoke up again. "Perhaps you would like to step outside for a walk? It's a nice night out. Some fresh air would do you good."
Buffy panicked a little. "I…..I'm sorry Julian. I can't. I really need to go. Thank you for the drink. If you could have some food sent up that would be great. I really need to get back to William." With that she removed herself from the table. She was a little dizzy from the wine.
Julian watched her leave. He took a large gulp of his wine. He continued to stare and watch as she left the room. He turned the bottle around in his fingers and smiled.
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Buffy got back to the room. Was this her room? It was lined with lit candles all around the room. The fire was now a warm glow and it cast shadows against the walls. She saw Spike sitting in the big chair with a cigarette in his mouth. It was dark but she could feel the tension.
"What took so long pet? Where's this food you went to get?" Just then there was a tap on the door and Buffy motioned for Spike to get in bed. He threw his cigarette into the fire and got into the bed and pulled the covers up to his neck. Buffy went to answer the door.
"We are here with the food you requested madam." The servants came in with trays of meat and fruit and laid them on a nearby table. Buffy noticed that none of the girls were the one she had recognized. One servant glanced over and looked at Spike and then they left the room. Buffy had noticed the gesture. She was sure they would report back to Julian what they had seen.
When the servants left Spike got up out of the bed. "I thought you went to get the food? What happened? What took so long?" He was a little agitated now.
"Nothing. I got there and Julian thought we were coming down to eat with him. I told him you were ill and that I needed the food sent up here. No problem." Buffy was a little nervous now. She was telling the truth right? Spike didn't need to know everything.
He crossed the room to where she was standing. When he got closer he could smell the alcohol. "So where did the drink come in then love?" He was standing very close to her and Buffy suddenly felt too warm. She moved back a little. Damn vampire smelling anyway.
"It wasn't like I planned to stay. Julian insisted I stay and have a drink. I thought it would be better to go along than draw suspicion." It was the truth but she could see he wasn't happy.
"Is that right? Just a drink then? No touching or dancing? Maybe a brisk walk around the grounds?" He was being flip now and she knew it. "No, there was no dancing involved." It was out before she could take it back. She could see his face contorting.
"So there was touching then? I told you to be careful Buffy. Tell me what happened." He was holding her upper arms now as if to steady her. She was feeling a little tingly from the wine.
"I already told you Spike. I had a drink and then left. I asked him to send up food, which by the way is here and I'm starving. Let's eat." She pulled herself from his grip and walked over to where the trays of food were placed and began picking at the food.
Spike walked over to a seat in front of the fireplace and lit a cigarette. He leaned over and ran his hands through is hair. She could hear his breathing all the way across the room. Her interaction with Julian upset him. Why couldn't he see it was nothing?
She ate a few pieces of fruit and a piece of chicken and drank a glass of water. She was starting to feel a little better now that she had some food in her stomach. She looked over and he still had his head down. "Aren't you hungry?"
Spike turned to look at her and then resumed his previous position. "No, can't say as I am." His voice was low and she wondered what he was thinking. She walked over and sat next to him.
"Really Spike. Why won't you believe me? I'm fine. Julian needs me for the ritual tomorrow. He isn't going to harm me before it's time." She knew that wouldn't be too comforting but it was true. He wouldn't do anything now. Not when the time was so near.
The silence was deafening. The only sound was the fire crackling. It seemed like forever before he spoke. "What if Red's plan doesn't work?" She knew his mood meant that he was worrying about more than her encounter with Julian. He was worried about tomorrow.
"It's going to work Spike. It has to. I have faith in Willow. She's pulled us through before and she will do it again." She placed her hand over his inadvertently and he was now studying it. He turned his hand over and interlocked their fingers.
"I hope you are right slayer. I don't know what I will bloody do if something happens to you." There, he had said it. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him.
She wasn't quite sure what to say. "I don't want anything to happen to you either. We'll get through this. We always do." He still had her hand and now he was standing up, pulling her with him. He placed his other arm around her waist.
"It seems like you were deprived of a dance tonight love. Let's see what we can do about that." He twirled her around before she could respond and soon they were dancing. There was no music. There was only the music in their heads and their hearts.
They glided around the floor staring into each other's eyes. He was breathing harder. She could hear it. Why did he do that? She would have to make a point to ask him sometime. So many thoughts went rushing through her head. Her body was betraying her as well. She could feel the muscles through his shirt. The lightest touch was sending shocks through her. The whole experience was mesmerizing.
"I've loved being here with you Buffy. I don't regret one minute of it." He was whispering in her ear now and she could feel his breath on her throat. It reminded her of when he took her life's blood that she gave so willingly. Her feelings were all a jumble. Why did she feel this way?
"Spike….I….I don't know what to say." She was fumbling a little. It could be the wine or the fact that she wanted him so badly. She wasn't sure. She was trying hard to keep her wits about her. She couldn't give him the words that he wanted. Not yet.
He stopped dancing and held her closer to him. She could feel the coolness under his thin clothing. She could feel how much he wanted her. His voice was low and soothing. "It's all right love. You don't have to say anything."
He bent down and took her mouth with his. His kiss was soft and slow. Exploring every inch of her mouth and making her light headed. His lips were moist and cool. His hands were holding her softly. This was different than before; more gentle. He reached around and unzipped the back of her dress and ran his hand along her back. It sent chills down her spine.
Buffy wasn't sure what to do. She should stop this now but she couldn't. She didn't want to. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. This may be her last night alive. She put her hands under the hem of his shirt and raked her fingers up his chest. She heard him gasp.
Soon his hands were pushing her dress off her shoulders and kissing her skin. She felt electric. His lips felt so good. She grabbed the shirt and unbuttoned it one by one. He was so beautiful. It reminded her of when she was undressing him for his bath. She blushed a little.
She was staring at him, looking into those blue pools that seemed to go on forever. Spike broke the silence. "Somethin' wrong love? Do you want me to stop?" He was giving her the chance to stop before things went too far. She knew she didn't want that. "No" was her only reply. It was barely a whisper of a response but he reacted quickly.
He gathered her up in his arms and walked over to the bed. With one arm he pulled back the covers and laid her down with him following. It didn't take long before clothing was thrown to the floor and they were entwined. He had never felt so much love for a woman before. He wanted everything to be perfect.
Buffy couldn't think. His lips were caressing her everywhere and all coherent thought was gone. She never felt so alive before. It felt so good to be touched. He stopped and was looking into her eyes now. He was searching for something with those deep blue pools. His voice was low and serious. He talked between deep breaths. "You don't know what you do to me Summers. I love you so much."
He was kissing her again before she could realize what he had said. They made love by candlelight and it was different than she had ever experienced. She was consumed by him. She only wished that she could tell him how she felt. The words weren't there.