The world seemed a much nicer place the next day. It's amazing what 12 hours sleep can do for your outlook on life Buffy thought with a grin as she headed towards the shower.
She'd taken Spike's advice yesterday. He'd walked her to the bus stop and she'd gone home, spent two luxurious hours in the bath, listening to gentle music and then she'd gone to bed. She'd known that she was tired, but had realised quite how tired until she'd woken up the next morning. Scrap that thought - call it the next afternoon. She'd spent the rest of the day lazing around the house doing as little as possible and now she was going to get ready for her not-a-date with Spike. She was really looking forward to it. Considering that only yesterday she thought her world was going to end she could hardly believe how up beat she felt about things now.
He arrived dead on 7:30 and Buffy smiled as she opened the door for him, scanning her eyes appreciatively down his body. He'd really made an effort tonight - his usual jeans replaced with a perfectly tailored charcoal grey suit with a cream open-collared shirt,
"You look nice," she complimented him with a twinkle in her eye.
"As do you," he returned the compliment as he took in the simple black dress she was wearing. It fell to mid thigh and had a plain scooped neck and tiny straps. Her hair fell loose about her shoulders and she had only a touch of makeup on. In all, Spike thought she looked absolutely stunning. "You ready to be spoilt?" he asked her, offering his arm.
"Always" she replied with a smile, hooking her arm through his as they walked down the path. "So, where are we going?"
"Via Felicini - it's a little Italian place in Didsbury village. Heard good things about it." Stopped for a moment and turned to face her. "Right - there are some ground rules for tonight and you either accept them without argument or you can go home now."
"Not sure I like the sound of that." Buffy frowned at him.
"Hear me out, okay? Firstly - I'm paying. Secondly - no looking at prices and choosing the cheapest on the menu. Thirdly - no moping of any kind. Do I make myself understood?" He looked down at her with mock severity and she bit back a laugh.
"I think that I can handle that, but, are you sure you can afford."
"Ah, ah, ah - I told you, no complaints. Or do you want me to walk you home right now?"
"No, no - that's fine - let's go." She took hold of his hand and pulled him down the street.
"I have a table booked in the name of Giles," Spike said politely to the maitre d' who greeted them at the door of the small restaurant.
"Ah, yes. Please, if you would follow me." The man led them to a table to one side of the restaurant. He pulled a chair back and Buffy sat down as Spike sat across from her. The man handed each of them a menu and then proceeded to light the single candle in the middle of the table. "Would Sir care to see the wine list?" he asked, before disappearing off at the affirmative and reappearing moments later with a new folder.
"Thank you."
They each looked at the menu, Buffy's eyes bugging slightly as she scanned the price list - but she had promised, so she simply swallowed and decided to try and ignore that part of the menu. She scanned the list and was immediately hit with indecision - so much of it looked delicious, she had no idea how she was going to chose.
"It all looks so good," she moaned across the table.
"I know." Spike agreed.
Eventually, though, they made up their minds and a waitress took their order.
"And would you like any drinks?" she asked.
"Yes. We'll have a." Spike looked at the wine list knowingly, "bottle of the Chablis Premiere Cru."
"And a bottle of mineral water," Buffy added. Spike gave her a look.
"Very good," the waitress commented before moving off.
"Please. Tell me you're not intending to drink water all night. That was a bloody good bottle of wine I just ordered and you will have some."
"Don't worry Spike; I'm going to have some wine. I just wanted some water as well. You have a problem with that?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"No, of course not" he said, somewhat sheepishly as he remembered that this was her night.
"I couldn't eat another thing!" Buffy declared as she finished her tiramisu. Dinner had been fabulous - not only had the food been the best she'd ever tasted, but Spike had been at his sparkling best. She was happy and contented and all her worries and stresses seemed to have melted away. Though that could have something to do with the whole bottle of wine I've drunk tonight she mused.
"Pet?"
"What?"
"You've got some cream." He indicated her cheek where a small blob of cream had somehow deposited itself. "Here, let me." He reaches across the table and brushed the cream from her cheek before bringing his finger to his mouth and licking off the cream with little flicks of his tongue. She was sure he hadn't meant it as an erotic thing, but Buffy's brain had other ideas. She watched as he reached towards her and she felt his finger trace her cheek and it seemed to leave little tingles in its wake. And then she watched, it seemed almost in slow motion, he brought the finger back to his mouth, her pupils dilating as his tongue flicked out and deftly licked off the cream. She was helpless to prevent the sudden musings of her mind on that tongue and what else it could do.
She shook herself out of her daze and desperately tried to think of something to say. Spike came to the rescue.
"You want coffee?" he asked, seemingly unaware of her distraction a minute before.
"No. Actually, I think the wine's gone to my head slightly. Maybe you could just walk me home?" The wine. Yes, that's it. All the fault of the wine that I find him so. she trailed off as she listened to him ask the waitress for the bill. God, he's got a sexy voice.
Spike paid the bill and stood up, offering his arm again to Buffy. He wasn't sure what had come over him before; he hadn't meant to actually wipe the cream off her face himself. She was meant to have done it, but suddenly he felt his arm moving of its own volition. The reasonable part of his brain that had apparently lost control went from a little surprised to utterly gob smacked when, instead of wiping the cream on his napkin, he proceeded to lick it off his finger! He had to admit to himself that it had taken all the little control he had left not to present the cream-covered digit to her mouth.
So, in retrospect, maybe the intimate, romantically lit little Italian restaurant was a bad idea he thought as they left the restaurant.
He looked down at Buffy who was busily chattering way about something or other, but all he could think of was how beautiful she looked tonight.
God, I love her.
He mentally paused at the thought and mulled it over. He'd never really stopped to examine his feelings for her before, but the three little words seemed to fit. They felt, right, somehow and he knew they were true - he loved the girl who walked beside him, loved everything about her. The way she talked, the way she could laugh at almost anything, the way they argued and played off each other, even the ability she had to severely piss him off at times. He smiled to himself as he quietly accepted that fact of his love for her.
The smile faded though as he realised that he would never stand a chance with her. He had made the ultimate mistake - he had become her friend. She'd never see him as anything more than that, but he could deal with that. He was happy to take whatever she'd give him. Sad, but true he reflected.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by a tugging on his arm.
"Look, swings!"
He looked in the direction she was pointing and saw they were standing at the edge of the local park, just round the corner from the flat. Sure enough, there in the middle of the grassy expanse, were two swings.
"Don't you think we're a little old for that, pet?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"It's a little known fact that you're never too old for swings," she said matter-of-factly, pulling him over to them.
"Oh well - if it's a fact then who am I to complain?" Spike responded with mock seriousness and then broke out into a grin. "Bet I can get higher than you!" he declared as he jumped onto the nearest one and started pumping higher and higher.
"Hey! No fair!" Buffy complained as she took the other one and worked at catching him up. Spike watched her work determinedly out of the corner of his eye, pushing her legs out in front of her, golden hair streaming out behind her and dress riding further and further up her thighs. He was torn between wanting to win his little bet and just wanting to stop and watch her. She looked truly glorious at the moment - carefree and with all the stress, which was so clearly evident just the day before, seemingly wiped away. He slowed to a stop, smile playing across his face.
"Ha! I win!" she crowed, also slowing to a stop. They sat, swinging lightly for a second before Buffy stood and went to lie on a raised patch of grass a little way off. Spike decided to join her and they lay there, staring up at the sky.
"You just can't see the stars properly here," Spike complained. "You should see the sky at my parent's place - it's so dark there you can see so much more. Here there are just too many streetlights - the haze spoils the view."
Buffy didn't answer and Spike had gone back to trying to identify constellations when he felt a body press against his side and an arm wind its way around his chest. He craned his head slightly and looked at her.
"You alright pet?"
"Yes, fine," she said, not giving any reason for the sudden closeness, nor making any move to change her position.
"You cold? D'you want my jacket?" He made as if to sit up to take off his jacket, but her arm held him firmly in place.
"No. I'm just good like this," she murmured, looking up at him.
He was suddenly very aware of their proximity as he stared into her clear green eyes. He took an involuntary breath and licked his lips unconsciously and she mirrored his actions. Then, before he could think about what he was doing he had lowered his head to hers and placed a long, lingering kiss on her lips. The faraway place in his brain that was still processing thoughts was surprised when she eagerly responded and he wrapped his arms round her and pulled her into his embrace.
Mmm, Buffy, nice was about as coherent as his thoughts got, but that was enough for his brain to kick back into action. He pulled away, breaking the kiss. Oh, God! I just kissed Buffy. This has to be a bad thing - she'd only just broken up with Riley. She can't be ready for this. She."
All rational thoughts were swept away as she firmly pulled him back into her embrace, kissing him passionately. Her hands roamed over his body, one pulling at his shirt until she successfully freed it from the waist of his trousers and she slipped her hand underneath to caress the skin of his back. The other quested upwards to entangle itself in his hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss. He struggled briefly with his conscience before giving in to her and returning her touch, letting his hand wander up and down her back, caressing the exposed skin of her shoulders and running his fingers through her hair. It was clear that they were both disappointed when the inevitable break for air came and they broke away.
He looked up at her, leaning on one elbow, slightly raised above him, somewhat breathless. He had no idea what to do, what to say, so he just lay there on the grass looking at her slightly wide-eyed, nibbling at his bottom lip nervously, trying to keep his breathing under control.
She smiled and placed a chaste, playful kiss on his closed lips. "I want you," she said as her hand crept over his chest, under his shirt. He gasped slightly.
"What?" he asked, unsure whether he'd heard her properly. She pulled his shirt up, exposing the pale, lightly muscled skin underneath. Leaning over she peppered little kisses across his chest and abdomen.
"I." Kiss. "Said." Kiss. "I." Kiss. Then she looked up, directly into his eyes and said clearly, "Want you" before returning to her task.
He moistened his suddenly very dry mouth before croaking out, "What? Here?"
She stopped her ministrations and took in their surroundings, looking for all the world as if she'd forgotten that they were in the middle of a park.
"No, not here. Come on." She stood and waited for him to join her.
He stood up, brushed a few stray pieces of grass off his suit and looked down at her, waiting for her to take the lead - he was far too confused at this turn of events to be much use in the thinking and planning department - and waiting to wake up and for all this to have been a dream.
But he didn't wake up, instead she lifted herself onto her toes - the slight height difference between them more apparent now they were standing - and kissed him once more, slipping one hand back into his hair and one down to his arse, pulling him towards her and pressing his body against his. He did likewise, holding her tightly to him.
Again he felt the loss as she broke away for air then looked at him, face flushed, her lips swollen slightly, chest heaving as she gasped, "Definitely. Not. Here!"
They walked quickly out of the park and round the corner to the flat. The entrance hall was dark as she let them in, closing the door firmly behind them.
She'd only just been able to bolt it when he tackled her, slamming her body back against the wall as she kissed him ardently.
She pushed his jacket forcefully off his shoulders and onto the floor, his shirt soon to follow.
They somehow made it from the front door to her bedroom without breaking contact - Spike losing clothes on the way until the back of his legs hit the edge of her bed and he found himself dressed only in his trousers and shoes.
Buffy took one step back and looked at him, before smiling to herself and pushing him backwards onto the bed.
She crawled over to him and reached out to undo his belt buckle, swiftly divesting him of the remainder of his clothes. She then sat back on her knees beside his prone figure and surveyed his naked form.
"Very nice" she commented, raising one eyebrow in appreciation.
Spike looked up at her still fully clothed figure before reaching out to touch her. She quickly moved out of his reach, retreating off the bed to stand in the middle of the room. He groaned and moved off his back to lie on his side along her bed, making no effort to hide his nakedness.
Buffy let her eyes stray across his body one more time before they returned to his and she gazed at him, reaching behind her to undo the zip at the back of her dress. She shrugged the thin straps off her shoulder and the black material pooled around her feet.
He stared at her body, now clad only in black lace underwear. He felt as if he couldn't breathe. She is, he thought, quite literally, breath-taking. He silently watched her as she slowly removed the rest of her clothing and joined him on the bed, afraid that to speak would be to break whatever spell seemed to be holding them here.
As if sensing that he wasn't going to make the first move, Buffy reached out and traced a finger lightly down over his chest. He shivered slightly at the contact, at the contrast between this feather-light touch and the animal passion with which they had attacked each other only moments before in the hallway.
He lay perfectly still as she teased his body, touching him with only the gentlest of strokes and only ever with the very tips of her fingers. She traced down over his chest, teasing his nipples lightly as she explored, over the sensitive spots on his abdomen that had him torn between wanting to whimper in pleasure and fighting not to burst out laughing and spoil the fabulous sensations her ministrations were producing.
He groaned in pleasure and frustration as she skimmed lightly downwards. She gave him a wicked grin as she denied him want she knew he wanted and moved instead to his inner thigh.
He could take no more of this and he moved, his speed taking Buffy by surprise as he flipped her onto her back and pinned her down.
"It's not fair to tease a man like that," he growled playfully. She squirmed beneath him, a look of pure want tinged with a little vulnerability appearing on her face.
"I want you Spike - now" she almost pleaded.
"Are you sure?" he asked, scared of the question, but wanting to give her the chance to change her mind.
She wriggled one hand free of his loose grasp and pulled him down to her.
"Yes, I'm sure - now!" she breathed urgently before kissing him fiercely and bucking her hips up to meet his. He needed no further invitation.
He watched, almost in awe, as her expression changed from one of near desperation to what he could only describe as one of bliss and he knew that her expression was mirrored on his own face. He stared into her eyes, lost in the pools of green, feeling like he could drown in them and die a happy man. She closed her eyes and he felt the loss immediately.
"Buffy. Look at me pet," he asked quietly, leaning down to whisper in her ear, placing a smattering of delicate kisses along the side of her slender neck before pulling back up. Her eyes were open again and once more he found himself immediately lost in them, in the way she was looking at him. They were the only two people in the world, lost in the moment, in the act.
She called his name as she came and he was sure that he'd never heard a sweeter sound. It pushed him over the edge and he collapsed besides her, whispering her name almost reverently.
He pulled her close and she wrapped herself around him, resting her head on his chest.
They didn't speak - somehow words didn't seem necessary. He stroked her hair gently until she feel asleep in his arms, breathing gently.
He watched her sleep for a while - the curtains were slightly open and a shaft of moonlight shone in through the crack, lighting their naked forms. He was smiling as he fell asleep.