Chapter Four

He had been thinking about her for the past week since she'd been there. Her personality sparked his interest and her apparent detestation for him intrigued and amused him. Not to mention, she's gorgeous, he thought. Spike suddenly remembered how shiny her golden hair was and how it flowed down her back like a silky golden waterfall. He remembered how beautiful her green eyes were, especially when they flashed with fury at his remarks. He thought about how soft her lightly tanned skin looked and that strawberry lip gloss that she wore just drove him crazy. Spike was not exactly surprised at the fact that he was attracted to a woman like Buffy, but more surprised that he was attracted to someone who was about to marry his brother.

It was a fact that Spike and Angel had been complete opposites their entire lives. They had never had the same taste in girls, clothes, music, food, friends, or anything else. They had always hated each other and now Spike was being given the opportunity to get back at his brother for the way Angel had always treated him, which was as if he didn't belong in the family.

It was true that Spike was very different than the rest of his family members. His father had always said he was the only one who seemed to bring about disaster. Spike resented this and it only made him more angry at Angel for helping make Mr. Giles think this way. Angel made sure that his father new about every time Spike had gone out when he wasn't supposed to or gotten into trouble at school. Instead of helping his brother out when Spike's friends had gotten him in jail, Angel immediately went to their dad and told him it was all Spike's fault. After that, they hated each other even more and when Spike finally moved out into an apartment, they never spoke again. Until now, when Spike decided to surprise everyone with a visit--something he had never before done.

He knew how furious Angel had been when he showed up. Though others could not see, Spike could always tell when his brother was upset. And now it's about to get worse, Spike thought happily. He was already devising a way to split up Angel and Buffy and finally give his brother what he really deserved.

Buffy raced down the steps of the eight-story Manhattan building where she worked. She wrote articles for a fashion magazine and she loved it. She had just been in a meeting and now she was running late. She and Angel had promised that tonight they would dine together in their apartment and she had really been looking forward to it. She raced down the street and resisted the urge to catch a cab as she panted loudly. Her street was only two blocks away and she almost always walked to and from work, but sprinting for two blocks was not her thing.

She finally reached her apartment building and quickly made her way up the steps to the third floor where her apartment was. She wondered if Angel would be angry that she was so late as she slipped the key into the lock and threw the door open.

"I'm home!" she said quickly and looked around. "Angel? Hello? Sweetie?"

Her smile faded as she realized that he had been kept at work again. He would not be coming to dinner tonight. Buffy felt her eyes fill with tears. She did not realize how much she had been looking forward to spending time with her fiancé. Then she looked up and her heart skipped a beat. There was a shadow of a figure in her kitchen. It couldn't be Angel. He would have answered her call. She slipped into the living room and quietly grabbed a lamp from the small table in the corner of the room. She then tiptoed into the kitchen and behind the stranger she knew had to be a thief, who had his head in her refrigerator. She wondered if thieves usually stole people's food also. She lifted the lamp gently and suddenly the stranger turned around.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Buffy screamed as she brought the lamp down to strike the man, but he grabbed her arms and the lamp slipped from her grasp as the two hit the floor with a thud.

They struggled and Buffy kicked and punched and screamed as loud as she could. Then, he pinned her arms above her head and Buffy was hit with sudden recognition.

"SPIKE?!"

"You really put up a fight love. About knocked me unconscious! Well done." Spike answered with a grin.

But Buffy was not amused. She threw him off her and crossed to the opposite side of the room with anger etched all over her face.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?"

"Just paying a little visit pet. No need to get your knickers in a twist."

"I can see why Angel hates you." she replied crossing her arms angrily. "You should have called. Or better yet, you shouldn't have come at all. We don't want you here."

"Now I think that's for my brother to decide, so it looks as though I'll just have to sit here and wait until he gets back, doesn't it?"

"Fine. You wait. I'm going to bed."

She then turned, but before she could move he grabbed her upper arms and turned her around to face him.

"Bit early for bed, isn't it love?" he whispered as he brought her closer to him so that they were almost touching and she could feel the heat of his body.

"Beats staying here with you." she replied indignantly.

His grip softened and his hands moved down to her elbows where he caressed the skin softly. Buffy gasped. She couldn't believe how he was making her feel just by touching her. She almost leaned in, but came to her senses and attempted to push him away. But he was too quick and strong. He pulled her back against him and slowly brought his lips down to hers, but before they could touch, they heard the doorknob turn and came apart. Angel walked in and looked up.

"Spike, what the hell are you doing here?"