Author's Note: Song lyrics are from "In It For Love" by Richie Sambora. All fiction can now be found at my website
Buffy hadn't been to Richenbacher's since House of Dreams last played there at least six months before. She loved the brick-faced building, rich with history, an aviation buff's dream. Inside, the rough walls were adorned with framed posters of World War II aircraft and memorabilia. Model airplanes hung from the high ceiling, tethered by fishing line. The nose and prop of an SBC Helldiver was set in the back wall behind the drum riser.
Spike opted for a small bistro table at the front walkway. Buffy glanced at the marquis to see who was playing. Ken and Andrew. She'd seen them before with House of Dreams. Their rendition of 'Seven Bridges Road' with Britton and Jack stood out in her mind. They did a wonderful a capella opening that had made her face light up the first time she heard it and each time after.
Spike sat close to her in their wrought iron chairs, his lips finding hers from time to time, stealing kisses and nibbles. Ken and Andrew opened their set with an acoustic version of the "Welcome Back Kotter" theme. Their eclectic covers ranged from "Miracles" by Jefferson Starship to Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and everything in between.
Spike excused himself as they wrapped up their first set. Buffy sipped at her espresso, made painfully sweet with more sugar than she'd planned to stir into the demitasse cup. She couldn't believe how well she knew Spike. She'd daydreamed about this date all the way down to this very place. She just never dreamed that the girl in question would be her. She felt the smile spread and warm her cheeks as she thought about how quickly they had fallen in love. Was it really as fast as it seemed? She had been in love with him from the first time she saw his beautiful blue eyes. She wondered if he had felt the same. And just why had it taken them so long to realize their happily ever after.
She was still staring into her cup when she heard someone on the mike saying something about 'Red Rain' and 'guitarist' and 'special song for his girl.' She looked up to see Spike sitting on a stool, Andrew's guitar on his lap, with a shy smile gracing his lips. He was looking right into her.
"The first time I saw Buffy she was only 12 years old and I knew she was the one. Maybe not right then, but I knew that if I was patient and if I could wait, she could love me as much as I love her," he spoke into the microphone, his voice gravelly with emotion.
She heard a few 'aws' from girls sitting in her vicinity. She knew that they were all looking at her, but all she could see was Spike.
"So, this is for my girl. For my Buffy. As much as I'd like to say I wrote this song for her last night, the truth is that it wrote itself and my brain had very little to do with it. It's all from my heart. Buffy, love, this is for you..."
She felt the tears warming her eyes as he began picking at the guitar. Everyone was silent as they waited for him to sing.
Life is a road forever winding
Where it lead us, I don't know
In it together for better or worse
Searching for our pot of gold.
He was piercing her soul with his eyes as the words fell effortlessly from his lips.
Time leaves a trail of broken hearts
So many arrows just keep missing their mark
Baby, that ain't us
No. It wasn't. They had each other and that's all that mattered.
Nothing else matters when you're in it for love
Together we can only go higher
You can reach any rainbow that you're dreaming of
Nothing else matters at all when you're in it for love.
For her. It was all for her. She couldn't believe how blessed she was. Loving someone was the most wonderful feeling in the world, she thought, but being loved by someone was euphoric. It made her complete.
We'll share in the laughter, share in the tears
And the promises we keep.
Life can be crazy, love can be cruel
But it's always been a two way street.
He always loved her. Even before he voiced the words. She thought of the little things he'd said or done before she knew the secrets of his heart. He'd kissed her forehead, touched her shoulder in passing or just listened to her while she spoke to him, always giving her his complete attention. He teased her, made her blush and he made her laugh, as well. It had always been there, her heart was just too blinded by the fear of rejection to let her eyes see.
You try and give it all you have to give
So many people don't know how to forgive
Baby, that ain't us
Nothing else matters when you're in it for love
Together we can only go higher
You can reach any rainbow that you're dreaming of
Nothing else matters at all
When you're in it for love, baby
In it for love.
He set down the guitar in its stand and walked back to the table. She was staring up at him with wide eyes, shining with love. She was sure that she was the envy of every other woman on the patio and their dates were probably all cursing Spike under their breaths for his very public declaration of love for his girl.
They sat politely through one more music set, never tearing their eyes from one another. When the final song was played, they both waved to Ken and Andrew in appreciation for their cooperation, and practically sprinted back to the DeSoto.
They hadn't said a word to each other, but the air around them swam with their lustful thoughts. Buffy's body was thrumming from the anticipation of his touch. The ride home passed in a blur. Spike forced himself to focus on the road, but he could feel the burn of her eyes as they skimmed over his body.
She wasn't sure who got to the front door first or even how it opened. All she knew was that his mouth had descended upon hers as soon as it closed. Her hands were sliding his jacket off of his shoulders as his searched for the zipper on the back of her dress. He moaned as she hungrily thrust her tongue into his mouth tasting him as if it was for the first time. Her body was pressed against his, her sex grinding into his erection. The jacket fell to the floor and she reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it from his trousers as her dress began to slip from her body.
His tongue danced over her neck and down to her collarbone, nipping and licking her skin until it was replaced by gooseflesh. He pulled away to let her move the shirt over his head and then skimmed his hands down her sides, taking the dress with them. Her nipples immediately pebbled at the contact of his muscled chest. He groaned as she unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants, finally freeing him from the confines of clothing.
She boldly took him into her hand and stroked the velvety skin slowly. She was rewarded by a gasp of surprise as he looked into her eyes. They were dancing with mischief and he couldn't help but feel a bit of pride at the fact that he'd brought out the minx in her.
Her dress had pooled around her feet, leaving her clad only in her sandals and the wisp of lace that covered her mound. His fingers hooked into the sides of her thong and she let out a soft moan, encouraging him to remove them.
"We should go upstairs," she told him, breathless from his touch.
"We should," he agreed, his fingers now grazing the molten warmth between her thighs. "Or we could stay right here."
"Or we could stay right here," she echoed as he probed even further into her.
His lips travelled further down her body, latching onto a rosy nipple and sucking until she cried out. He continued to kiss down her body, nipping at her skin as his mouth brushed over her belly. Her eyes widened as she realized he was moving even lower, sinking to his knees before her. His hands moved to her feet, helping her step out of the sandals, as his mouth continued to worship her heated skin.
"Oh, God, Will!" she shakily whispered. "Oh, yessss... Will! Oh, mmm... gaaaah!"
He suddenly heaved her over his shoulder and began walking purposefully toward the staircase.
"Upstairs it is," he grinned wickedly.