Chapter Six – Pain for Sale

Spike looked up from his book and smiled when Buffy entered her room then closed the book and leaned over to put it on his night table. "Would you like me to wash you, Mistress?"

"I'd love you to, but we don't have time. I didn't even think you'd be in here. Figured you'd be downstairs killing zombies or whatever with the boys."

"Xan is with Miss Amy and Andy is with Miss Vi. Her client was… not good."

"Oh, okay." She nodded at the book. "Is that a new one?"

He glanced at it then nodded. "Yes. I've finished all the books I have up here, so Miss Amanda let me borrow hers. It's the first in a series about a wizard in Chicago."

Buffy smiled. "Dresden Files. Great books. I'd love it if you read to me." At Spike's pained expression she chuckled. "You don't have to wait for me to be here to read it, Spike, I know that would drive you crazy. Just read aloud to me when I'm here. I'm familiar enough with the story that I'll know what's going on and I'd love to hear Harry in your voice."

Spike smiled. "I'd enjoy that, Mistress." He glanced at the bathroom. "Why don't we have time for me to wash you?"

"We'll be late for your appointment."

"Appointment? What for?"

"It's a surprise. Let me get cleaned up and then we'll get you dressed."

She disappeared into the bathroom and Spike picked up his book, getting through several more pages before she emerged wrapped in a towel. He closed his book and put it on the table then climbed off the bed and went into the bathroom to take care of his human functions while she pulled clothes out of her closet. When he exited the bathroom, he walked over to the bed where she'd laid out the clothes she wanted him to wear. "Does my hair need a touch up or something? I thought it only needed to be bleached every couple of months." He picked up a t-shirt and pulled it over his head.

Buffy smirked as she brushed her hair. "Nice try, but I'm not going to tell you, and I'm going to let your hair grow out a little without bleaching it for a while. I want to see how it looks when your roots come in. I bet it'll be sexy as hell."

Spike pulled his jeans on and buttoned them then sat down to put his boots on. "Should I get my leash?"

"No, we won't be going anywhere where we'll need to worry about demons. Well, no more than a couple anyway. Depends on how busy they are, I guess."

"Are we walking or driving?"

"Fred will drive us, even though it's close. And I'm not answering any more questions."

Spike nodded and finished with his boots then stood up, smirking slightly. "Do I need my jacket, Mistress?"

Buffy laughed as she finished pulling her wet hair into a ponytail. "No, you don't." She stepped up in front of him and reached up to grasp the back of his head, pulling him into a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted. She wrapped her legs around his waist, deepening the kiss, and he turned toward the bed. She pulled her mouth away from his and shook her head. "We've gotta go." He reluctantly set her back on her feet and she brought her lips to his for another slow kiss then took his hand. "Come on, Fred's waiting."

They went out the front door and over to the SUV idling in the driveway next to the house. They slid into the back seat and Buffy said, "Put your seatbelt on, Pet." Once he'd latched it, she laced her fingers with his then smiled at Fred as she looked over her shoulder to back down the driveway. "You look like you're on a mission. What are you hoping to find while we're busy?"

Fred smiled then turned around and pointed the SUV down the street. "I have an idea for a weapon, so I'm going to that little junk shop down the street from where you're going to see if they have anything I can use for it."

"What kind of weapon is it?"

"Sort of a small portable catapult. I got the idea watching a Roomba video. Figured I could basically arm a modified Roomba with stakes and daggers and set it to patrolling the grounds. If it encounters an enemy, it can launch its weapons."

Buffy laughed. "There haven't been any demons on the property besides us since we moved in."

Fred shrugged. "Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Besides, you know how I am once I get an idea. I have to at least try it or it will drive me crazy."

Spike was looking out the window as they drove, trying to figure out where Buffy was taking him. She'd had him down to a salon three days ago to get his hair cut and bleached and they looked to be heading to the same part of town. He couldn't really narrow down the choices, though, because there were lots of different types of businesses in that area. Before he'd learned about the existence of demons, he'd have thought it completely barmy to have a salon appointment at midnight, but now that he knew about them, it made sense to have a 24-hour salon that could cater to the part of the population that was averse to sunlight.

They pulled up in front of a building with no windows that had 'Pain for Sale' emblazoned on the front in jagged and sharply angled letters with red paint dripping off them to look like blood. He gulped quietly, wondering what Buffy had in mind. He wondered if this was a shop that sold the kinds of tools and toys Faith had in her playroom or a place that allowed you to use them on the premises. Spike figured it was most likely the latter, since an appointment probably wasn't needed just to go shopping, but why would she bring him here to chain him for play when she could do that at home?

Buffy opened her door and waited while Spike released his seat belt then she slid out, pulling him out after her. "We shouldn't be here too long, I don't think. I'll text you when we're done if you're not back by then."

Fred nodded and pulled away and Buffy led Spike to the door and pulled it open. They walked down a short hallway and Spike let out a relieved sigh when they entered the main room of the shop. It was a tattoo parlor. "You're getting me tattooed, Mistress?"

"Not today. That's next week. Today I'm getting you pierced."

Spike sputtered, "Pierced? What part of me are you getting pierced?"

"Ears, tongue, eyebrow, and nipples. The ears, eyebrow, and tongue are for me. The tongue, for obvious reasons, and you're already hot, but the piercings will make you even hotter. The nipples are for you. I've noticed how much you like it when I bite and suck them and the piercings will make them more sensitive. Well, they're mostly for you, but still partly for me. The whole piercings look hot thing, so unless we're going out somewhere, I probably won't let you wear a shirt."

Spike gulped again. "And I'm getting them all done now? Don't you have to space out things like that to allow for healing?"

"Yeah, you would if you didn't have a witch ready to cast charms on you as soon as you get home. You'll be healed in a couple days instead of several months, and the only thing you'll need to adjust to is talking and eating food and other things with the tongue piercing."

A heavily tattooed and pierced woman with long black hair stepped through a hanging curtain of beads that Spike assumed led to the back of the shop. "Buffy, good to see you. How's Faith?"

"She's good, Talia. How are things going here?"

"Busy as ever. I'm ready for you if you'll follow me." She stepped back through the bead curtain and Buffy towed Spike in after her. They walked down a long hallway with small rooms off to each side. Most of the rooms were occupied by people or demons getting tattooed. Spike winced slightly at the volume of the music being played, wondering why he hadn't been able to hear it in the lobby. They ended up in a room at the very end of the hall that contained a padded table, several cabinets, a sink, and a rolling tray table. The music cut off as soon as they'd crossed the threshold and Spike made a mental note to ask Buffy about that later.

Talia turned and asked, "May I speak to your pet? I'll obviously need to touch him as well."

Buffy nodded. "Yes, you can speak to him and touch him as needed. His name is Spike."

Talia nodded. "Thank you." She turned to Spike. "I'm going to need you to take your shirt off and sit down on the table. We're going to start with your ears and eyebrow, then do your nipples and tongue. I know you'll have charms cast when you get home, so I'll save the most painful piercings for last."

Spike nodded, not sure if he was allowed to speak to Talia, then stripped his shirt off and climbed up on the table. Talia asked Buffy, "You want titanium for everything?"

"Yes, and he won't need starter jewelry because of the charms. There shouldn't be any swelling."

"Okay. Hoop or barbell for the eyebrow?"

"Barbell."

She pierced his eyebrow first, and while it hurt, it wasn't excruciating. She placed the barbell then stood back. "Looks good. Now for the ears. What do you want in those? We're not gauging him, right? Just piercing?"

Even though she was looking at him, he knew she was talking to Buffy, so he sat quietly while Buffy answered, "Yeah, just piercing for now. We might do gauges later. As far as earrings, I think hoops. The small ones, not the big dangly ones."

Spike was assuming she'd use a piercing gun like that place he'd seen in the mall, but she came at him with the bloody big needle she'd used on his eyebrow. Two sharp pokes later and he had pierced ears.

"Okay, Spike, lay down and we'll do the nipples."

Buffy said, "Barbells for those."

Spike laid on his back on the table and gripped the edge as he closed his eyes. This was going to hurt, and he wasn't sure if he was allowed to voice his pain, so he'd have to try to keep it in. He startled a bit and opened his eyes when Buffy stepped up next to the table opposite Talia and took his hand. "If you want, I'll bite you as she's piercing so you won't notice it as much."

Spike nodded and she lifted his arm to her mouth, her demon coming forward as she placed her fangs lightly against his skin. He was watching her instead of Talia and his eyes rolled back in his head when she sank her fangs into his arm. He moaned, unable to keep quiet at the pleasure surging through him, and his cock hardened as she took a slow pull of his blood then withdrew her fangs, licking at the punctures as Talia said, "That's one. Change places with me and we'll do the other one."

Spike blinked and lifted his head, looking down at his chest. He had a barbell through his left nipple. He hadn't even felt the needle go in or Talia placing the jewelry. He dropped his head back to the table while the women changed places, then focused on Buffy as she raised his other arm to her mouth. His eyes rolled back and he voiced another moan as she took a slow pull from that arm, then she withdrew and he checked out the barbell in his right nipple.

"Okay, Spike, sit up and we'll do your tongue."

Spike sat up, wincing slightly at the pull on his fresh piercings, then looked at Buffy, hoping she was going to bite him again for this one. She climbed up onto the table next to him and lifted his arm. "Try to stay still, Spike. I know you're close."

Spike nodded then turned to face Talia. "Open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out." He did and she dried it with a gauze pad then grabbed the tip of it with a clamp and pulled it a little farther out. She raised the needle and placed the point lightly on his tongue then looked at Buffy. "Ready?"

Spike closed his eyes then moaned in the back of his throat when Buffy's fangs sank into his arm. She pulled long and slow as his cock pressed against the buttons of his jeans. If she kept it up, he'd likely come in his pants. He wanted to thrust his hips but kept himself stock still as Buffy continued to pull blood from his arm. He was panting when she withdrew her fangs and licked the punctures closed. His tongue wasn't in the clamp anymore and he could taste blood and feel the barbell protruding from the top and bottom. It felt odd as he moved his tongue slightly, clicking the barbell against his teeth.

"Okay, that's it. If he gets the charms in the next hour or so, he won't need to rinse with saline or any of that, but if it's going to be longer, then he'll need to. He also shouldn't talk or eat unless necessary until after the charms."

"Okay. Could I have the room for a few minutes? Need to take care of my pet." She waved at the straining bulge in Spike's jeans.

Talia nodded. "Of course. Just come up front when you're ready and I'll give you a few spares of everything in case something falls out."

She left the room and Buffy slid off the table. "Lay back down, Spike." He did and she quickly popped the buttons of his jeans and pulled him out then bent over and took him in her mouth. It didn't take long before he was arching up off the table with a loud shout as he spent down her throat. She let him lay there for a few moments as his breathing returned to normal then she picked his t-shirt up off one of the cabinets and said, "Let's get you home before those really start to hurt."

They stepped out of the room and the music assaulted his ears, making him wince. He didn't have his shirt on and got a few appreciative looks from some of the artists and clients as they walked down the hallway. They slid through the bead curtain and the music blessedly cut off again. Buffy walked up to the small counter and dug in her pocket then handed Talia a small stack of bills. Talia handed her a small bag and they left the shop. Fred was waiting outside, and the lift gate was partly open, being held down with a bungee cord. Buffy laughed as she opened the back door and slid into the SUV. "What did you get, Fred?"

Fred smiled. "Nothing I was looking for, but I found a bunch of other stuff I can probably use."

XXXX

Spike blinked his eyes open then stretched, freezing halfway through when he remembered the piercings in his nipples. He looked down at them and lightly touched one. It didn't hurt. They had hurt abominably by the time he'd gotten home from the shop and any movement had sent twinges of pain through him. He flicked it gently and closed his eyes as a small wave of pleasure floated through him. That was going to be interesting. He vaguely wondered if he'd be able to bring himself off just by flicking his piercings. He felt his eyebrow and both ears then moved his tongue in his mouth, clicking his piercing against his teeth, and spoke aloud, "This feels odd. Very odd."

Buffy rolled over and smiled sleepily. "Well, it's about time. You've been out for two days."

Spike blinked. "I have? Why?"

"I had Wil knock you out so you'd sleep through the healing pain. She checked all your piercings about two hours ago and said you're completely healed."

"How long would it have taken without the charms?"

"About two months for the tongue, if you took care of it and didn't use it for anything but talking and eating… which was so not going to happen. Around a year for the nipples, again with no fun until they're healed, and two months for the ears and eyebrow."

"So I've fast forwarded through the healing to the fun, Mistress?" He curled his tongue then licked his lips, clicking the piercing against his teeth.

Buffy laughed. "Yeah, but we'll have to pause the fun until you've eaten. Don't want you passing out on me from lack of food."

Spike suddenly sat up and slid off the bed. "My bladder just woke up. Be right back."

They stepped into the kitchen and Buffy said, "Look who's finally awake," as she sat down at the table.

Faith smiled over the rim of her coffee cup and said, "Morning, Spike," then moaned loudly as Xander did something under the table.

"Morning, Miss Faith." Spike walked over to the stove and asked, "Do you need help with anything, Andy?"

Andrew shook his head. "No, I'm pretty much done. You can grab the plates if you want." He looked Spike over and smiled. "I like the piercings. They look good."

"Thanks. Not quite used to the tongue one yet, so if I sound odd, just let me know."

"You sound fine."

Faith moaned loudly as she climaxed and Xander climbed out from under the table and walked over to them. "Hey, Spike. Long time no see."

Spike smiled. "Mistress didn't want me to be in pain, so she had me knocked out." He opened the cupboard and pulled out three plates and Buffy's coffee cup. He handed the plates to Xander then started fixing Buffy's coffee. Andrew dished their breakfast onto the plates as Spike brought Buffy's cup to her then crawled under the table. He went to work on her, trying different things with his new piercing until she was gripping his hair tight in her fingers and writhing in her chair. She climaxed with a scream, pinning his head between her legs.

She smiled languidly as Spike backed out from under the table. "I think that piercing is my new favorite thing ever."

Spike stood up wearing a proud smile then picked up his plate and glass from the counter and went into the quarters to eat and discuss the upcoming night with the boys.

He'd been here almost a month and had fallen into a routine. Buffy would wake him around one in the afternoon and they'd shag then have a shower and come downstairs. Spike would wake the boys and Andrew would start making their breakfast while Spike and Xander served Buffy and Faith their coffee. When the women had climaxed, Spike and Xan would help Andrew finish up then they'd all go into the quarters to eat and divvy up that day's chores.

When they were done eating, they'd make food for the food and Xander would take it down and do the maintenance of their living space while Spike and Andrew started on the other chores. Between the three of them, the chores were usually done quickly, so they'd go work out or train with Faith and Buffy until it was time for clients to arrive. Once the clients were in, they'd have a few hours to kill until it was time to feed the food and they'd hang out in the quarters playing video games, watching TV, playing cards, or talking. Xan was frequently with a Miss or two who didn't have a client, so it was usually Spike and Andrew, except for the nights Buffy wasn't seeing a client. Andrew usually handled the dinner feeding of the food, but Spike and Xander tried to get back to help him with the before bed clean up. If Buffy was seeing clients, Spike would help Andrew feed the food and get the kitchen squared away then they'd hang out in the quarters until she was done.

Spike was happy. He had a home, two good friends who were like family, and a Mistress who obviously cared for him. He wasn't completely sure, being that he'd never felt anything like it before, but he thought he was probably in love with her. The horrendous pain that stabbed through him at the thought of losing her had to mean he loved her, right? You didn't care about losing people you didn't love, did you?

XXXX

Spike looked at the clock on the microwave when he heard the front door open. "Why is a client showing up here this early? It's not even close to dark yet."

Andrew shrugged. "Maybe he couldn't wait for tonight."

Xander chuckled, "Or he's leaving town and wanted to get a fuck in before he did. Who knows?"

Spike pulled his hands out of the sink and quickly dried them with a towel then said, "I'll get this one. Making the food's food is a little more important than the washing up."

Andrew nodded and continued shredding potatoes for hashbrowns while Xander continued shredding cheese. Spike walked out to the foyer, finishing up drying his hands by wiping them on his sweats. He smiled politely at the man standing just inside the door and said, "Hello, sir. Which lady are you here to see?"

The man looked Spike over, his eyes pausing for a few seconds on Spike's collar, then he said, "I'm not here to see any ladies. I'm looking for my son."

Faith and Buffy had just stepped off the stairs and they walked over to the door. Buffy patted Spike on the butt and said, "Go on with what you were doing, Pet. We'll handle this."

Spike nodded and retreated to the kitchen as Buffy said, "We don't currently have any clients in the house, so your son isn't here."

"He wouldn't be a client. He lives here."

Faith chuckled, "You're aware of what this place is, right?" The man nodded. "And that we're all women?" The man nodded again. "So why would you think your son is living here?"

The man motioned toward the kitchen. "You have at least one boy apparently living here, since he was barefoot and shirtless and was drying his hands on his trousers as he walked out here. I doubt he just walked in off the street to wash your dishes."

Faith smirked, "Okay, I'll give you that one. Spike lives here, but why do you think your son does?"

"I was told by someone that they'd seen him helping two other boys bring groceries into this house."

Buffy and Faith shared a look. They'd both been thinking he was looking for one of the third-floor boys, but now knew it was Xander, Andrew, or Spike he was looking for. Faith asked, "What someone?"

"One of his teachers from a few years ago. He lives down the street and saw them as he was driving by."

"Do you have a picture or something?"

"No. I haven't seen him since he was six months old. His mother and I… it wasn't an amicable divorce. She took him and refused to allow me contact, so I moved here. She apparently moved here two years ago because she was sick and wanted me to take him before she died but didn't know how to contact me. I found all this out approximately a month ago when the private detective she'd hired finally tracked me down. She died almost a year and a half ago and he's been on his own since."

Buffy and Faith shared another look. Spike. Buffy asked, "Why was he on his own? Why didn't social services or whatever put him in foster care?"

"I'm told they did, but the first family he was placed with turned out to be abusive and he ran away after only a week with them. They were unable to locate him, so he's been on the streets since."

Buffy asked, "And what are you going to do if you locate him?"

"I don't know him and he doesn't know me. If he's gotten himself into a secure living situation where he's being fed and cared for then I'll not take him from it. If he's living here, I'll leave him to it, even considering what this place is and what you are."

Faith blurted, "You'd leave your son with a bunch of whores?"

"Vampire whores, yes, I know what you are. I also know that your kind cares for its thralls, if that's what he is, and he'd be safer here than out on the streets."

"What's your son's name?"

"William."

"And you won't try to remove him if he's here?"

"No. I have neither the time nor the desire to raise a teenage boy. I just want to make sure he's safe and tell the estate lawyer where he is so they can forward his inheritance, but I won't inform them until he's of age. I want no part of his life other than confirming his safety and securing his future."

Buffy nodded. "In that case, yes, he lives here. He's been here about a month and a half. He was in rough shape when we found him, but he's healthy now, putting on weight and getting enough to eat and enough sleep."

"I assume he's not merely a servant, made to cook and clean without being allowed to pursue hobbies or things he enjoys. Does he have suitable living quarters? Not relegated to sleeping on a pad in the kitchen or laundry?"

"He sleeps in a king-size bed with silk sheets, and the boys all do chores, but they also all have time to play video games or read or whatever. Your son is a voracious reader. Part of the 'groceries' they were bringing in were a bunch of books. He wanted his own copies instead of borrowing from one of my girls, so he's got a good start on his own library."

The man smiled slightly. "Thank you. If you'll give me his contact information, I'll forward it to the estate lawyer at the appropriate time."

"Tell your lawyer to contact Lindsey MacDonald's office at Wolfram and Hart in Los Angeles, since I don't know where we'll be when William turns eighteen."

"I'll do that." He pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to Buffy. "Thank you again."

Buffy looked at the card then tucked it into a pocket and brought her demon forward. "You understand what will happen to you if social services or the cops show up at my door to remove him?"

"Yes, I'm fully aware. That's why I gave you my card, to prove that William has nothing to fear from me. I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize his home."

"You do know that I didn't need your card to be able to find you, right?"

"Yes, I know." He turned for the door then turned back. "William is the boy who greeted me, isn't he?"

"He is."

"He has his mother's eyes." He looked at Buffy. "His collar denotes that he belongs to you, I believe, since you touched him and no one else is allowed to touch a vampire's pet."

"Right again."

"Take care of him."

"I will."

The man dipped his head in a nod then left without another word.

Buffy turned to Faith, shaking her demon off as she asked, "Do I tell Spike about this? What's that going to do to him?"

Faith nodded toward the kitchen. "I don't think you have to tell him. You know how sound carries in here. He probably heard every word."

Buffy said, "Spike, come out here."

Spike stepped out of the dining room; his eyes glued to the floor in front of his feet. "Yes, Mistress?"

"You heard everything, didn't you?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"Look at me, Spike." Spike lifted his gaze and Buffy asked, "Are you okay?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Like he said, we don't know each other. I didn't even know what my Da looked like because Mum didn't keep any pictures of him, and she told me he'd died. Don't even know his name. She always referred to him as 'your father,' if she talked about him at all, which she rarely did."

"Do you want to know his name?"

Spike thought about it for a few minutes then shook his head. "Don't see the point. He's not my family. Never has been. You all are my family now and knowing the name of the person who fertilized my Mum isn't going to change that."

Buffy stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug. "Okay, but if you ever change your mind, I have his card. I won't stop you from contacting him if you want to."

Spike wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her hair, "Thank you, Mistress."