That night Spike went to Buffy's room after being out with Angel to warn some of their 'allies' about the spirit floating around the place. Knocking on her door before poking his head around Spike saw the back of Buffy's head on the sofa.
"I know this is a stressful time 'luv but 'Days of Our Lives'! You could of at least chosen something with a bit more class."
Buffy giggled when Spike came and leaned over, planting a wet kiss on her temple. She picked up the remote and turned the TV off. "Fine then, moody old vampire."
Plonking himself down next to her Spike wound his arm over her shoulders. "Well I just thought that since I'm back early, there could be better ways to amuse ourselves 'luv." He whispered in her ear, gently drawing little circles with his fingertips on her shoulder.
Buffy's breath caught in her throat. God she'd missed him. With a sudden surge of passion she turned and crushed her lips against his, crawling round to straddle his lap. Running his hands underneath her shirt Spike found her bra and unclasped it, allowing his hands to roam across her breasts. Buffy moaned into the kiss, pulling back to take a breath. Kissing and nipping along her jaw line and down her neck, Spike stood up and carried her over to the bed, laying her down on top of the bedspread. Sitting back up slightly Buffy peeled her shirt and bra off.
Standing back Spike stared at her, every curve flashing back across his memory. Throwing his duster and shirt to one side he kneeled over her, assaulting her mouth with his, as his hands played with her nipples. Buffy threw her head back as Spike kissed all down her body, stopping to take a rosy nipple into his mouth, before continuing down her navel and to her clit. Feeling her spill into his mouth he continued, sending her into a frenzy.
"Please Spike…. I…I need you. Now!"
Licking her clean Spike spread her legs wide and brought himself up to slide into her. Lying still for a moment he felt her take his entire length and her muscles tighten around him. Rising up he plunged back into her.
Buffy raised her hips to meet him, ravishing the feel of him inside her. There rocking became faster. With a wave of ecstasy they both came, screaming each other's names. Collapsing onto her Spike lay panting and kissing her shoulder, eventually rolling over to the side.
Buffy stared deep into his eyes, seeing an emotion she'd never taken the time to notice within him. Happiness. She'd seen it when the night before when they were in Angel's office, but what she saw now was a different emotion. It was happiness of having her, and knowing she cared for him. Loved him. I do. I really do love him. "Well finally" she heard herself say.
"What's that 'luv?"
Smiling she said, "Nothing." Snuggling into his chest she slipped into the first decent sleep she'd had in long time. Spike was here to protect her, and right then nothing else in the world mattered.
The sun rose over the LA skyline, soaking the city in golden warmth. Filtering through the windows on the east side of Wolfram and Hart, it bathed Buffy and Spike in light.
Rolling over to shade her eyes Buffy looked straight into the face of her peroxide lover.
"This is definitely different."
"What's that pet?"
"I don't think I've ever woken up with you in the sunlight. Nope never."
Leaning over to kiss her Spike smelt her vanilla perfume. This is the life, he thought.
"We should get up."
"No love. All we'd be doing is research, and let's face it I think we're more fighting types than research geeks. No point in getting out of a nice warm bed to just sit in a stuffy office."
"Mmm. Well I suppose you always were the voice of reason," she said sarcastically but closed her eyes all the same.
10am Angel strode down the corridors. Typical, the one time I actually need Spike, he decides to vanish. Coming to Buffy's room he knocked on the door. Trying the handle and finding it open he stuck his head in.
"Buffy?" No reply.
Wondering into the living room he looked around for trace of the slayer.
"You know it's rude to just walk in. I could get you for breaking and entering."
Whipping around Angel saw Spike lying in the bed, Buffy's blonde head on his chest.
"I knocked you idiot, and it's my company. I can go wherever I want."
Looking at Spike's smirking face made him feel nauseous. Trying his best to mask his feelings seeing Buffy with him.
"Sure."
Buffy lifted her head off his chest and yawned. She leaned up and kissed Spike on the cheek.
"I think we might be needed now."
"Yeah?"
Following Spike's line of vision Buffy saw Angel standing in the other room. With a little shriek she grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around herself, feeling her cheeks go crimson.
"Sorry. I was looking for Spike and came to see if you'd seen him. I didn't mean to…"
"Yeah. Uh, it's okay I was…. just getting up." She couldn't bear to look at him and stared at Spike's feet the entire time.
"I'll, um let myself out."
Standing outside Angel took a huge breath, whether he needed it or not. He knew that they…yeah, but he hadn't let himself believe that she actually did love him. He wouldn't have done anything with Buffy; he had Nina, but Spike? So he'd saved the world and made every woman in the building swoon – bar Willow – but it was Spike. With a shudder he started back to his office.
Spike laughed when he saw the colour of Buffy's face.
"That wasn't funny. I told you we'd be missed."
"Err, no you didn't."
"Well I thought it" Buffy said sulkily, throwing the sheet back and climbing off the bed.
Watching her ass depart into the bathroom Spike threw himself back against the pillows laughing. 15 minutes later Buffy came out with damp hair and dressed in her underwear.
"Are you going to move at all?"
"Considering it. You didn't tell me you were having a shower."
"That's because I actually wanted to have one" she replied, smacking his legs playfully. Fully dressed she came back up to his head and kissed him on the lips. "I'm gonna go, and you should move your lazy un-dead ass and come down. Angel needed you, remember?"
"I think that was an excuse to come up here 'luv."
"Whatever." She said from the door. "I'll see you later."
"Love you." He shouted. No reply. "Fine."
Buffy poked her head back around the corner. "Love you too."
In Angel's office Buffy walked in to see Willow sitting in a circle of candles, brewing something in a cauldron. Angel was sitting at his desk and looked up when she came in, but quickly looked back at the floor. Gunn came in just behind her and threw some documents onto the desk.
"The contracts for the Halzart problem came through, they signed them but I think were goin to be some…debating. Oh and your secretary called in sick again."
"She can't get sick. She's dead."
"I dunno Angel cakes, you've been ill before." Lorne said from the couch where Buffy hadn't noticed him.
"Well that was different."
"Isn't it always with you?"
Spike had arrived. Climbing onto the chair in front of Angel he put his feet up on the desk.
"So. What you come barging in to find me for then?"
"We've got a meeting with the Halzarts and some Gronder Trolls. You're the only one who can speak the language. And get your feet off my desk."
"Sorry, I missed that. You need my help? Again!"
"Yes Spike."
Throwing his head back in hysterics Spike slid down in the chair. "W…wait I hope someone's taping this, the high and mighty finally needs help. I must have woken up in some other dimension because this is all too good to be real. I mean did you all hear that?" He said, turning to look at the people behind him.
"Spiiike." Buffy looked at him, a warning glint in her eyes.
"Ok, I'll help, but you gotta promise to show me a bit more respect if you need me doing work for you, I'm not some pathetic little weasel scurrying around tending to your every need, and my own office."
"Spike you're doing one meeting. I didn't say I was hiring you."
"Look you've got at least five clear rooms on this floor alone. What with the way you kill employees off."
"Fine. If that's what it takes to stop you harassing me."
With a small whoop of triumph Spike jumped out of the chair and swaggered out passing Fred in the doorway.
"What put him in such a good mood?"
"Oh a couple of things I'm sure." Angel said looking at Buffy.
Blushing, Buffy went over and kneeled down next to Willow who looked at her with a mischievous glint in her eyes causing Buffy's blush to deepen. "The spell should activate in the next ten minutes, from then on everyone permitted to pass in and out of the building has to have one of these." Willow handed Fred a bag of little crystals. "Each one has a solution in that reacts against the barrier, allowing them through."
"Why didn't we ever use this spell before?" Gunn questioned Angel.
"Never had the power to do it." He replied. "We'll give some to security, that way anyone coming in for a meeting can be given one then have it collected. The rest of us will have our own."
"How long is the barrier likely to hold? I mean if this thing gets strong enough it will eventually break it right?" Buffy asked after recovering from her earlier embarrassment.
"Yeah it will, but it'll have to be very strong. By the time it gets to that point we should be prepared enough to be able to overrule it and strong enough to fight the apparent army following." Willow said gathering her magical items up and stacking them back into a cardboard box.
Fred handed around the crystals and said she'd take them around the rest of the major employees before dropping some at security.
"Halzarts and Gronder's will be here at two." Reminded Gunn before he headed out.
"Okay. Lorne could you go and see what Spike's doing?"
"Right-ho boss."
Once Lorne and Willow had gone, Buffy and Angel were left alone. Getting up from behind his desk, Angel came around and stood in front of Buffy.
"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier, I was looking for Spike and Wes wanted me to tell you that Dawn and Xander would arrive late tonight."
"It's okay. I really need to get use to locking doors again."
Angel smirked. "I think I'm gonna have everyone, well our team, staying in the rooms here rather than risk something happening when they go home. Not that we really leave here anyway. I was actually wondering if you and Willow wanted to have the double office that was left when we moved mystical animals to the basement. Since Xander's coming over after all, you could have a place for the Scoobies. Plus I kinda got sick of rabbits hopping round the place."
Buffy smiled at him telling him they'd appreciate that. "I'll make Spike have his 'office' in there as well."
"I don't care where his office is as long as it means he's out of my hair."
"I really can't believe that there was a time when you to got on," Buffy said laughing.
Looking through the window into Angel's office Spike watched Buffy and Angel laughing and talking. When Buffy hugged him, Spike couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and anger. She loves you, she loves you, she loves you. Just remember that, he kept telling himself. There was no reason for them not too; they were old friends, even if she did kill him. He's got a girlfriend, and it's not yours. No matter what he told himself the small fire of rage still burned.