Breathing Beats Drowning

"I thought you said you knew how to repair a water pipe." Spike grumbled, taking off his soaked t-shirt and flinging it into a corner of the room.

"I do know how to repair a pipe, Spike… just not this one. It's old and out of date." Xander ground out, no less aggravated than the vampire.

"Well, I'll tell you what else it is now." Spike snapped. "It's burst and flooding the basement."

Xander shot the peroxide blonde a glare. "I already called the plumber. He's coming tomorrow morning and until then the pipe will have to continue leaking and flooding."

"Well, I'm not sleeping down there anymore." Spike stated determinedly, crossing his arms.

"Oh, yes, you are. You're not sleeping anywhere else." The dark haired man replied, getting some clean and dry clothes out for himself. When he turned back to Spike it was the first time that he noticed that the vampire was standing there shirtless with little water droplets still running down his torso.

Xander gulped. Damn, it should be illegal to look this bloody hot, especially for an undead villain. But he had to admit that this very attractive look suited Spike just perfectly.

Sighing Xander gave in. "Fine. You'll get a blanket and a pillow on the floor of my room, no more."

Spike just nodded and shifted slightly, the muscles in his abs flexing. Xander had to force himself not to stare at the vampire's perfect body.

That night Xander couldn't sleep. It was already three am and all he could do was shift around his bed restlessly, feeling hot and he knew exactly whose fault that was.

Spike was lying on the floor on the other side of the room, not using the cover he was given, so his body showed off magnificently in the moonlight that was streaming through the window.

Turning in his bed to face Spike Xander had to look twice, but he was certain that Spike was breathing. He shook his head. No, Spike was dead. He wouldn't breathe… and still.

Not able to take it any more and feeling unbelievably drawn to the vampire, Xander got up and moved silently over to where Spike lay.

"What do you want?" Spike asked, his eyes suddenly open wide, startling Xander. Those deep blue eyes were staring right into his and Xander felt his mouth go dry and he had to take a deep calming breath.

"You breathe." Xander stated. Spike blinked, surprised.

"So what?"

"You're dead. You don't need to breathe."

Spike rolled his eyes and sat up. "Yes, breathe. Never stopped actually, though I don't need to. So what?"

"So I can kiss you long and longer and you won't need to break away for air." Xander explained breathlessly and let his lips connect with Spike's hard and breathtakingly.