Chapter III
It's been three weeks already since I first met Xander in a deserted alley downtown. Three weeks spending most of my days at the hotel or at Dawn's, and all of my nights either at Xander's or at Joe's. For some reason I feel extremely comfortable around his new friends, and they seem to have gotten used to me as well. Of all, Adam and Mac are my personal favorites. They are so unlike one another, and yet they seem made for each other. I'm sure they are, and sometimes it just makes me jealous to see how deeply in love they are.
Xander says they took years to finally admit what they felt for each other, so long most of their friends had bets going on whether they were going to figure it out on their own or someone was going to have to point it out. And then one day during a Christmas party they both got drunk and ended up blowing each other in the men's room, much to Joe's surprise. Amanda had money on that particular outcome, and some of them are still blaming her for setting it up. However, the thing is they went home together that night, and never broke apart after that. They have been best friends, lovers and life-partners for over six years, and according to everyone –and I for one agree- they are going to stay like this forever.
I've even been invited to their place a couple of times; and I enjoyed it very much. With them, I can talk freely without anyone complaining about my strange sense of humor, and it's exhilarating to witness the extent of their complexity. Sometimes we sit at Joe's for hours, talking about history and art –what, you know who I was before I was a vampire?-, and sometimes we get involved in rather heated debates on philosophy. It never ceases to surprise me how much these people have in their minds, and how not-stuffy they are. One minute they are acting like silly teenagers, and the next they are quoting Hesidorus. Sometimes they do both at once.
But of all, I must confess, I have a weakness for Xander. He's definitely grown out of his Sunnydale Zeppo days. I've been always proud of Willow and her achievements in life, but it was the least that was expected from her; she was always the smart one. But Xander? He was supposedly the goofy with no brains and no personality, and now I find him all in all a man, and a charming one at that, successful and self-confident as well. The fact that he's bloody eye candy is just another line to the tiger.
So yeah, go figure, I have developed a crush on Xander Harris –Gavin Orwell now. I like to think I'm rather good at concealing it, but I'm sure at least Adam is aware of it by now. He keeps making jokes about Xander and I spending so much time together we look like husband and wife, and staring at me sometimes in amusement and sometimes in disbelief when he catches me eyeing Xander during one of Joe's performances, or in the few occasions we go dancing. He's one hell of a dancer too, who would have thought?
So today is Tuesday night. Tuesday night is pizza and movie night at Xander's, just the two of us and sporadically Richie, who just appears out of nowhere from time to time and makes himself at home at his loft. I rather like the kid, but sometimes the interaction between him and Xander make me wonder about the nature of their relationship and I end up feeling stupidly jealous. Then I remind myself that there are not indications that could lead me to believe Xander to be anything but absolutely heterosexual and I feel better, but only until I remember that means I can't have him either. But I take what is offered, and satisfy myself with his friendship.
I arrive at his place by 9 pm, the usual time, but for a change I find his apartment empty. I've had a key for the loft for over a week now, so I let myself in and find a note for me stuck on the refrigerator. How thoughtful.
"Gone for extracurricular activities with Amanda. Back by 11. There's blood in the fridge. Make yourself at home"
That, of course, means Amanda has her eye on something highly valuable and they are going to acquire it through less than orthodox methods. Not that I have a problem with that... Actually, it still rather shocks me to think about Xander breaking in into a private collection and stealing something. In black tight outfits. Wait, don't go there.
Erasing those thoughts from my mind, as much as possible at least, I pull a blood bag out of the fridge and proceed to warm it in the microwave. I have my own mug that I keep here, a gift from Xander, who is not particularly fond of the idea of drinking blood by mistake. I wonder where he got that mug. It reads 'sucker' in front, in big red capital letters. I rather not wonder at the implications, and stick to the explanation that I'm a blood sucker, but they don't print that on mugs. It's a funny mug nonetheless.
Once the blood is warm I start wondering what to do next, and instantly decide to snoop around his things while he's gone. What? I'm a vampire! I'm evil. After about half a second of consideration I decide to start by his bedroom. Okay, I'm a lovesick vampire, so what?
It's all so tidy in here. Looks like he doesn't even live here. Let's see... king-sized bed, not something you want to think about, two bedside tables with antique-looking lamps on them, closet, desk with laptop and lamp... nothing interesting on the surface, so I figure it's time for some real snooping. Bedside tables go first, been the closest thing at hand. Right side has a book, a couple of pens and highlighters and a handkerchief. Used. I'm starting to believe Xander is a really boring person to snoop on, when suddenly the state of the book, and the title, make me wonder.
The Queen of the Damned, by Anne Rice, in an almost shameful state of deterioration. When I pick it up and open it some pages almost fall loose to the floor, and as soon as I catch them I realize some other pages have the tips turned to the inside, and there are sentences and whole paragraphs highlighted. Freak. I'm already considering the fact rather disturbing even before I realize what exactly is highlighted. Daniel and Armand parts. Now it's highly disturbing. I put it back in the drawer before closing it and heading for the other bedside table.
Okay, now this tells a tale. Even the obsessive-compulsive display in the other bedside table couldn't have prepared me for this. Was it the pharmacist's that Amanda and he robbed last week? I'm trying to make up my mind whether to browse around the tons of different types of condoms and lubes carelessly spread around the drawer when suddenly something bright on the back calls my attention, and when I identify it as a pair of handcuffs I decide it's too much information for my liking. I close the drawer before the stuff inside start feeding my imagination, and head for the desk.
Not much in these drawers other than some work-related papers, pens and pencils, lots of post-its in different colors and sizes, and some other office implements. There's a daily planner there too, but with a brief look I realize it's succinct enough not to be understood by anyone but himself. He's a thief, I guess that makes sense. The laptop computer is calling my name, figuratively speaking of course, but I know better than using a professional hacker's computer without permission; at least not if I want to go out of it in any better shape than dust. Next stop, the closet.
Note to self: if Angel kicks you out of the hotel, you could move into this closet. It's big enough for one to do the polka in it, besides other naughty things that I should not consider while still at Xander's home. I'm about to start browsing through the drawers on the far wall when suddenly an unexpected chuckle stops me on my tracks.
"In the closet, are we?" surely enough Xander's laugh-filled voice tells me
"I was just..." I try to lie, knowing full well that I cannot possibly come up with a convincing story in such short notice, even less as I turn around and realize he is leaning against the door of the closet wearing a tight black outfit "You didn't come all the way back here wearing those, did you?" I ask foolishly, knowing full well my eyes must be the size of watermelons by now and my voice is breaking just a bit.
"Not really" he smirks before he turns around and goes out of sight "Just trying to make an impression"
When I'm finally composed enough to come out of the closet, literally speaking, I realize he's in the shower. Insert naughty thoughts here. However, instead of dwelling on that I just go to the kitchen area and fix myself some more blood, spiked with some vodka from Xander's extensive bar. By the time he comes out of the bedroom, fully dressed, I am already watching a movie randomly selected, hoping to stop any possible confrontation regarding my nosiness.
"Odd movie choice" he smiles warmly as he sits next to me on the couch, a drink and a cigarette in his left hand and the abandoned box of the DVD in the other "This is over a decade old... didn't you watch it when it came out?"
"Wasn't much into socially accepted activities back then" I reply, inwardly thanking the PTB he is not bringing up the closet incident "Movie description seemed interesting"
"Oh, very much so" he says cryptically, and it isn't until the movie is quite advanced that I realize what the interesting thing about it is. Is the Talented Mr. Ripley gay? Why didn't it say so in the box? And, why did Xander not warn me? Wait... why does Xander have this movie in the first place. And, seriously, Armand and Daniel? What is that all about? Up at this point I really feel awkward in my own very undead skin, so I just keep quiet and watch the movie.
All in all it's a rather good one, if you take away the ending. By the time the titles start rolling, I'm deeply indignant.
"What the hell was that all about?" I say annoyed "That must be the worst ending ever!"
"Yeah, I know" he sighs "I hate it myself... usually I let it play until the moment they are watching the sunset together, then turn it off... I mean, come on, that's just sensationalistic bullshit"
"Yeah, I know, I saw it coming from a mile away..." I agree, until suddenly it strikes. Is Xander cutting off movie endings to make them homoerotically romantic? Are you gay, Xander?
"As Christmas" he says, visibly fighting back a chuckle "I thought you would have figured that by the male porn in the underwear drawer"
"I didn't get that far..." I confess as I wonder why I keep saying aloud things I never want people to know I'm thinking "What about Anya... and Cordelia..." I stammer. This is just too good to be true.
"Oh come on, Spike? The cheerleader and the slutty ex-demon? Tell me it doesn't just scream homo in denial" he chuckles, and then he turns to me and I must have a strange facial cast because he suddenly grows serious "Relax a bit Spike, I'm not going to jump you or anything..." he says as he stands up and walks away towards the kitchen. What was that all about?
"Why the hell not?" I hiss as I follow him promptly, to find him pouring himself another scotch and leaning against the kitchen island. Then he just turns to look at me, and I have the idea he has the very same confused expression I must have had a second ago.
"Why the hell not, what?" he asks with a raised eyebrow
"Why the hell are you not gonna jump me?" I inquire, growing louder by the minute "What? Too old? Too dead? Too soddin' blond?"
"There's no such thing as too blond" he smiles, finally realizing what my outburst is all about and carefully setting his glass on the island before starting to slowly pace towards me "You're fucking perfect Spike" he whispers as he runs a hand softly against my cheek "Did you want me to jump you?"
"Hell, yeah!" I all but shout
And then he's kissing me. Just like that, with no further preambles. Discrete yet confident hands eventually start roaming through my body, and when he gently pushes me against the kitchen island I can feel the beginnings of an erection resting against my thigh. My own cock jumps at that, and I push back against him. Then the kisses turn ravishing, and the hands become bolder and more avid to explore. Then;
"Oh my God!" a female cry interrupts us, and both of us jump apart and turn towards the elevator to find a very gleeful Amanda "I am awesome! Here, let me take a picture" she says excitedly, pulling a small digital camera from her purse "Come on, boys... pretend I'm not even here" she instructs.
I'm wondering what the hell is she doing, and what the hell is with the camera, and who the fuck she thinks we are to go at it with her and her camera there, when suddenly and against my wildest expectations Xander grabs me roughly by the waist and pulls me to him, capturing me in a searing kiss. I'm reveling in the multiple vocal talents of this new and improved Xander, and more than a little turned on by his exhibitionistic streak, when I notice a camera flash, and then another and another, and I'm about to pull away when Xander's hand finds my ass and squeezes, choosing the exact same moment to start thrusting his hips against me in earnest. Suddenly I don't give a damn about Amanda and her camera. Another flash, and we're getting so carried away already I barely register her presence.
"I'll let myself out now... unless..." she says optimistically a few minutes later, probably by the time she has no room for any more pictures, and certainly at the point I'm barely holding it together as our hips thrust wildly against each other, too desperate in mutual need to even attempt for anything more elaborate.
"Out" Xander commands her with a husky voice, his tongue barely abandoning my mouth for a second before continuing on its ravishing intrusion. Then his hand is inside of my pants, probing my opening, and with that I come helplessly, crying out in ecstasy. I barely register yet another flash before he follows me in his release.