Okay, all. The lemon was the most requested. I only had one plea for a non-lemon, but I'm afraid that one lost. Fortunately, I hate chapters that are pure smut, so if you don't wanna read the lemon bit, just skip down until you see the line "She fainted." Then start reading. :-D

DISCLAIMER: I, the monkey Queen of Tut-n-farten do not own Spike, Lin, Shin or Vicious. I wish I did 'cause hot damn. I also don't own Atton Rand or Carth Onasi, but I reserve the right to have lewd and lascivious thoughts about them as well (big wave to all the KOTOR fans out there!)


The silk was tight around her neck, but not choking – not yet. Tilly stayed perfectly still waiting to see what Vicious would do. She felt him close the distance between them, the length of his body pressed against her back. The scarf fell away to the left and she raised her right hand to the silk as Vicious slid his hand along her ribcage and around her waist to rest spanned the length of her torso.

"Sing for me, Tilly."

Everything she had once felt for Vicious, everything she thought she had buried, came rushing back. She tilted her head back and moved your body slightly, her mouth seeking his, her hands gripping his wrists. His kiss, demanding yet tender, banished any hesitation she may have felt. His mouth teased, his whispers commanded and her body begged for more. All tension disappeared from her body and he took advantage, turning her physically to face him. His left arm kept its position around her waist, steadying Tilly against him as a short moan of pleasure escaped him at her sigh. Scarf still in hand, Vicious' fingers worked their way up her neck to grab a fistful of hair. Tilly opened to him, ready to drown in his kiss.

Vicious found himself wondering why he had taken so long to claim her. Tilly was sweeter than he had ever imagined. Her response to him set his blood on fire.

"Tilly," he whispered against her mouth, almost begging.

"Vicious."

His right hand slid down her neck through your hair and she Vicious' left hand tighten its grip her waist as his right continued its descent along her spine, taking the zipper down with it. He released Tilly only long enough to let the dress fall to the floor before grabbing her by the hips and forcing your head back so his mouth could trail kisses down her throat.

Tilly's eyes closed as Vicious took a nipple in his mouth and she trembled as a small moan escaped her. He teased at it with heat and tongue, gently pulling with his teeth. Her breathing deepened causing her chest to rise and fall, strengthening the sensations of his mouth on her, and her hips pressed into his groin of their own accord. A light nibble on the soft underside of her breast caused her to gasp.

"Vicious."

He broke contact and forcefully turned her away from him once again. He pulled Tilly's lithe form close against his body, one arm clasped tightly around her waist to steady her for his coming onslaught. His free hand began to tease at her previously neglected nipple and his mouth began to work on her earlobe and neck. These sensations, all so new to Tilly, were so strong she found herself leaning back against him for support.

Vicious smiled as her body responded to his demands. The hand grasping her waist loosened and his fingertips played along the soft skin just below her navel.

"Kiss me, Tilly."

She tilted her head back, eager to comply. As his mouth met hers she kicked her shoes off, losing two inches, to keep from falling over. She could feel the power in his body as Vicious followed her down, not breaking contact. His arm tightened once more around her waist and the other left her breasts and slowly... so... slowly... moved down her body only to stop a mere inch from its goal. Tilly moaned softly into his mouth, pleading, but he did nothing.

"Please, Vicious."

Still he did not move, only continued to nibble and tease her mouth. She whimpered and pressed your hips back into his groin again, feeling how hard he had become at her response. With a deep chuckle Vicious allowed himself to please her.

Tilly gasped and arched her back as he ran a finger along her lower lips to gently play against her clitoris. Vicious broke the kiss and devoted his attention to her neck once more. Thumb and middle finger settled in on either side of her delicate nub and began a friction so gentle, yet demanding, that Tilly began to tremble. He quickened the pace and her hips began to rock of their own volition. Tilly's rational mind peeked through long enough to realize that she would have fallen to the floor by now if he weren't holding her up, but her body craved more.

Deep within her the feeling of emptiness threatened to drown the pleasure. She rocked her hips and groaned, seeking penetration. He laughed softly and obliged.

Two fingers entered her deeply, and she cried out as the pain/pleasure almost sent her over the edge. Panting now she wrapped one leg back around his, giving Vicious free access as his fingers begin a deep rhythm... faster... harder. Suddenly she could feel it. It came and spread through her.

Tilly arched her back, screaming his name, and her hips ground down onto his hand as his fingers continued to stroke deep within her, forcing her to ride the sensations to their finish. As it ended, slowly ebbing away, her body ceased to move and his fingers gently left her. Her body continued to tremble.

"Tilly," he whispered and pressed a long, soft kiss to her lips.

Tilly's body suddenly went limp and only Vicious' hold kept her from falling to the floor. For a panicked moment he thought she was dead, that she had killed herself. Logic quickly kicked in and he realized that she had probably not eaten since she had been taken by the bounty hunter. By Spike.

With an unconscious snarl he carefully bent down and pulled the dress back up to cover her. Zipping it up was a hell of a lot more difficult than unzipping it had been. Once she was appropriately covered he lifted her into his arms, amazed at how light she was. Vicious could clearly see Tilly was in better shape than most of his men, but apparently muscle didn't add too much weight to a woman who was small to start with. He carried her out of the apartment and past a shocked Shin who seemed almost to be standing guard in the hallway.

"What happened?" he cried.

"She fainted." Vicious watched Shin's face for a moment before turning and continuing to Tilly's room alone. At her door he paused. "I didn't hurt her." A small sigh betrayed Shin's relief. He was like his brother. Old fashioned and clinging to outdated ways of thinking, old-fashioned promises that were worth nothing.

But Vicious could not deny that Tilly, his Anatalia, was worth protecting.


"Tilly. Tilly!" The voice broke through the fog in her brain and she opened her eyes to see Shin at the foot of her bed. Slowly it registered that he was shaking her feet trying to wake her.

"Shin!"

Consciousness slammed through her, followed hard by panic as her last clear memory was being naked in Vicious's room. She glanced down and sighed in relief at the sight of the red dress once more covering her body. A look around also verified that she was back in her room.

"What happened?" Tilly asked. "What's going on?"

Shin moved into the bathroom and her clothes started flying out - a shirt, a boot, jeans, bra, and another boot.

"Get dressed," he called. "We don't have much time. Annie's waiting a few blocks away."

Tilly stripped off the dress as she got up from the bed and quickly pulled on her clothes as Shin kept talking from the bathroom.

"You're lucky to be alive. Annie told him about Spike before you went to see him." Shin came out of the bathroom with her socks and as many hairpins as he could find. "You were free. Why'd you come back? Spike could have kept you safe. What were you thinking? What happened last night?"

Now fully dressed, Tilly tried to pull her thoughts together as she slowly pulled her hair back into a loose bun. Finally she answered him.

"I came back because of the kids. The minute Annie took them, they were in danger. Once Vicious found out they were with her, it was only a matter of time before he used them against me." Shoes on now too, she walked into the living room and grabbed her coat. "If he took them, my freedom wouldn't be the only problem. Greater problems would arise than even he would want. As for last night, I –"

Tilly stopped as the memory of Vicious' hands on her body caused her to flush.

"I'm not entirely sure what happened. We barely spoke. I didn't eat anything. I just woke up in here." A small white lie, but she was fairly certain that Shin already knew more than he was letting on. His expression was inscrutable. Tilly shook her head and pulled her coat on, turning toward the door.

"Tilly -" he began.

"I'm ready." She broke in, not ready to hear what he had to say. "Let's go."

She followed Shin down the corridor to the elevator, eyes glued to Vicious' door.

"He's gone out," Shin said gently.

As the two of them crossed the great lobby Tilly's nerves were screaming. She had to fight to keep herself from running out the door, the thought of Vicious suddenly appearing to stop her made her heart pound in her chest. Spike's eyes flashed through her mind, unbidden, and she calmed a bit, but the calm was broken by the nagging though of why.

Why am I thinking about him? Especially after last night?

Stepping through the front door was like walking into a light bulb. Only one day had passed since her first capture, but it felt like years. Shin started down the steps and Tilly followed quickly, sticking her hands in her pockets. As she crossed the street it registered that one of her hands was buried in silk.

Tilly stopped on the curb and pulled the material form her pocket.

The scarf.

Emotions roiled in your stomach. It could be hunger, but it hurt too much for just that. For a split second she wondered why she was leaving. She almost succumbed to the urge to go back to the Syndicate building, to Vicious.

Shin noticed Tilly stop and called out.

"Tilly, we have to hurry. There's no time."

She looked up at him, confused for a second. Then, with a silent nod, she stuff the scarf back into her pocket and hurried to catch up. Shin took hold of your elbow to make her keep up with him and hurried down the street. She feel free now to let her mind wander, allowing Shin to guide her body.

Tilly cared for Vicious, she always had. She had truly believed that there was a tender man who needed someone clean and untainted by cynicism to let him feel he could express that side of his nature. He had hurt her, yes, but that had been in a blind fury. More often he had shown her an almost uncharacteristic kindness. Their days together had been gentle and full of laughter. Last night had been… intoxicating.

Now, though, these unwanted thoughts of another man kept invading her mind. Spike.

When you disappeared the first time it was from hurt and anger, not fear. She hadn't felt the need to hide from Vicious, just to remove herself from the Syndicate quicksand. Vicious could kill her in a heartbeat and be off to lunch without a thought but Tilly could never fear him. Spike made her nervous, though. She felt unsure with him and yet she was now running to him for safety.

Shin led her around the corner of a far building and Tilly came back to the present as the sight of Annie leaning against the trunk of her car, cigarette in hand. At the sound of their approach she looked up and tossed the cigarette away, moving around the vehicle to the driver's side. Shin opened the door for Tilly and she started to step in, but paused.

Tilly turned and jumped into his arms, holding him close to her – her dear friend.

"Thank you."

Shin pulled you closer.

"Stay away, Tilly. He's too dangerous for you." Without looking up at him she turned away and got into the car. "Sarah took the kids already. They should be to New Texas by now. It wasn't safe to wait."

Tilly gasped and felt her heart break. She dropped her head back onto the headrest, fighting tears.

As Annie pulled away Tilly looked back to Shin and saw him just standing there, watching them leave. With a deep breath she made her mind accept that it was for the best. Shin had done the right thing. Victoria and Simon would have been marked now for sure.

From the back seat an unexpected voice spoke up.

"Did you bring me a present?"