I am almost done with my rewrite of this story from my computer crash. Just working on the epilogue. Some of the material I had written for this seems like it would fit better into a sequel so one is being planned. But I promise I won't drag it out like this.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along through the trials and tribulations. Even if I haven't responded I do read all of your reviews thank you for taking the time.

As always, the characters and Buffyverse are property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

Chapter 21 Clearing

After recounting their adventure to Giles, Buffy left him and Faith at the library to discuss the new Slayer's future. She slipped the post-it Spike had left off the door and into her pocket. She smiled, he came through for her again. Coming to a decision she headed home. There was something she needed to get. She managed to sneak in and out without her mom noticing, then headed to the cemetery.

As she walked through the graveyard she kept her eye out for fresh graves. She definitely did not want any unexpected company. But everything was still and it was a gorgeous night. The moon was a bright crescent and the stars were putting on a valiant effort to be seen above the city lights.

Quietly she made her way past the older crypts at the back of the cemetery, prepared for something to jump out at her at any moment. Not that you get new vamps in this part, some of these tombs had been here since the turn of the century, but it was a good place to hide. Reaching the back fence she went directly to the area where the bars had been bent aside and a path lead into the woods.

Entering the clearing she found him there. The picnic blanket spread out, looking much more at home there than in her living room. His coat was draped over a rock and his boots were off, placed beside it. He was sitting on the blanket, his bare feet on the grass. When he saw her he dropped his book into the basket and stood, his arms spread for her.

"I suppose you expect me to run up and jump into your arms." she said with mock indignation.

"We could do the other way round but it would look damn silly."

With a broad smile she ran to him, jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waist. She grabbed his head, her lips meeting his in a hungry kiss. One of his hands covered her butt, squeezing it as he supported her, the other was at her back pressing her to him. She broke off the kiss to breathe and he kissed down her neck. The hand supporting her shifted so his fingers were between her legs rubbing her through the thin slacks. She gasped and writhed against him, eliciting a low moan. He pulled on the light jacket she wore and she shed it readily. His hand was pulling up on her top, his head bent low when she stiffened.

"Wait, listen." she whispered urgently.

He immediately went on alert, his head raised as he listened intently, his eyes scanning the tree line. She unwrapped her legs and stood, swaying against him slightly. After several moments he looked down at her. "I don't hear anything, what did you hear?"

She blushed and looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. She looked back up. "I...I didn't, it's just.."

He looked confused and then smiled. "You've never been naked outside." It was a statement, not a question.

"Well Mom has some really embarrassing pictures of me when I was like, two, but other than that, no." She tilted her head, "I guess you have."

"Yeah, like I said, modesty is not one of my many faults. My car isn't far, it would be close quarters, but doable, or we could break into one of the crypts." He looked down. "The blanket isn't that big, but we could probably fold it over us." he suggested.

She looked around, she didn't want to spoil their evening. Somehow when she thought about meeting him here she didn't think about being au natural out-of-doors. Then she smiled.

"Hold on." She said holding up a finger. She ran over to his coat and picked it up from the rock. She kicked off her shoes next to his boots and draped the duster over her shoulders. Moving to the center of the blanket she beckoned him to her with a finger. She held up the lapels to him. "Hold this up."

His eyes blazed with passion as he realized what she intended. He held up the coat so it shielded her from behind as his body shielded her from the front. She scrunched down to pull her top off, looping one of the spaghetti straps over his thumb when she couldn't decide where to put it. She then slid her pants and her panties down, stepping out of them and nudging them aside. Straightening, she slid her arms into the sleeves of the coat and looked up at him. He was staring at her so intently she hesitated.

"Is this okay?"

"God yes." he breathed. He dropped her top onto the rest of her clothes, his eyes taking in every detail of her skin peeking out from behind the dark leather.

She pulled the coat shut. "Well?" she asked impatiently.

"Well what?" he shifted his focus to her face.

"Well Mr. I-have-no-modesty, take your clothes off."

"Without music?" he said with a smile.

"Next time bring a radio."

He pulled his shirt off. Buffy could tell he was stretching and flexing more than was required for the task, but didn't complain. In the moonlight his pale chest shone like marble.

"I love how you look nestled in my coat." His eyes sparkled. "It makes me feel all manly." He repeated the gesture from before their first battle, placing his palm between his pecs then running it down his torso. But this time he didn't stop at his stomach. He unbuckled his belt adeptly and opened his pants with no more than a tug. As he pushed his pants lower on his hips he turned so she could watch his butt slowly be revealed. Her fingers flexed, she wanted to touch him, feel the muscles that were moving beneath the skin. When he turned to face her she was almost sad, but this view had its own appeal. He was obviously as pleased as she was that they were together.

He stood there shamelessly in the night and her eyes drank him in. "You really don't care who sees you."

"I have nothing to be ashamed of." he said as he closed the distance between them. She definitely did not disagree. "Neither do you, but I'm not about to try to talk you out of that coat because you look better in it than the other..." an odd expression crossed his face but it quickly passed and he continued. "people who have worn it." He lowered his head and met her lips, his kiss urgent and demanding, she met it with her own hunger and need. Pressing herself to him, she grabbed his ass, her fingers flexing against the taut muscles.

His hands slipped beneath the coat, one moving down to cover her butt while the other slid over her breast. The coolness of his fingers sent goosebumps over her skin. He broke off the kiss and whispered in her ear. "Are you cold pet?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm on fire."

He sucked on her earlobe then kissed down her neck, pausing to give her a hickey right over the spot he bit. She moaned and her nails dug into his flesh. He purred against her neck and kissed lower. When he stepped back she looked at him in confusion and pulled the coat closed. He smiled as he knelt, high on his knees. He gave the front of the coat a tug, scooting her towards him. Covering her hands on the lapels, he coaxed her into opening the duster. Leaning in, he kissed her chest in between her breasts. She opened the coat wider and wrapped it around him as well, holding his head to her. He kissed over to her breast, nipping and sucking on the tip, driving her breathless with passion.

His hand slid down between her legs which readily parted for him. His fingers brushed her sensitive skin but didn't part her. She whined at the sweet torment and pushed against his hand. He continued the tantalizing motion that promised so much but only teased until she gasped. "Please." Then his fingers slid past her outer lips and circled her clit. She sighed as her knees trembled under her.

"God you are on fire." he murmured against her skin as he slowly sank down on his haunches, leaving a trail of kisses down her stomach. She began to sink as well, but his hand at her back, under the coat held her up. She cried out "No!" when his fingers slipped from her. His hand traveled down and lifted her thigh till the crook of her knee rested on his shoulders.

She looked down at him, as he kissed and nuzzled her inner thigh. He glanced up at her, a twinkle in his eye, before he left a love bite in his favorite spot. Her breath caught and one of her hands grabbed his other shoulder for support as the fingers of the other slid through his hair.

He left a short trail of hickies up to the top of her thigh and she held her breath in anticipation. At first his tongue just flicked between her folds, heightening her arousal, she writhed against his lips trying to increase contact. As his fingers parted her and his tongue flicked against her nub a shiver ran through her. If it weren't for his hand supporting her she would have crumpled to the ground. His lips and tongue drove her closer to the precipice, then kept her teetering there until she thought she would explode if she didn't find release. After what seemed an eternity his fingers slid into her. Pumping them in and out, he barely had set up a rhythm before her muscles spasmed around him and she went over the edge.

Only as her ecstasy was waning did he lower her to her knees facing him. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, a dreamy smile on her face. "You've been holding out on me." she accused lightly.

"I told you the longer the climb the better."

"You were so right."

"Usually am." He said with his best arrogant look.

She rose up higher on her knees and drew closer to him so she was straddling his thighs. Leaning in she murmured. "I know how to get that smirk off your face." and kissed him. It started as a playful kiss but quickly built with their mutual need. His hands moved inside the coat to pull her to him. She felt his length pressed between them and encircled it in her hands. She caressed him lightly, trying to prolong his journey as he had hers.

Her mouth moved down his neck, alternating between kissing and nipping. He murmured his pleasure as he caressed her back. She started to slide back and kiss lower, but he held her there, one hand slipping beneath her butt as the other moved under her chin to lift her head to meet his lips. She lost herself in the kiss for several minutes her hands moving on him absently. He shifted his hand between her legs, his fingers parted her, finding her still swollen clit and began her climb to ecstasy again.

She pulled back from the kiss, "I was going to...mph." Her hands tightened on his cock as his fingers stroked her.

"Yeah, I know, but right now I want to be here." His fingers slipped inside her and she thrust against them.

"That's quite the ...oh god...coincidence." she gasped out. "Because that's where...mmm...I want you too." She rose up, just enough so she could guide his shaft into her. Lowering herself around him she bit her lip to keep from crying out and was amused to see he was doing the same.

She started riding him, raising and lowering along his length. He kept her pace slow with a hand on her hip, as the fingers of his other hand teased her nerve bundle. He kissed down her neck and nudged the lapel of the jacket. She opened it for him and he nuzzled his way to her breast. His blunt teeth nipped at the hard peak. She gasped at the exquisite pain.

"Too hard pet?" he asked, his eyes looking up at her, his cheek pressed against her bosom.

She shook her head. "No, not possible."

His eyes twinkled as he bit a little harder. She moaned and grabbed his shoulder for support as she sped up her rise and fall. He groaned but said, "Careful, that sounded like a challenge." He gritted his teeth as she tightened her inner muscles around him. "Don't forget...agh... who you're dealing with." he tried to sound tough, but the little moans he was making spoiled the effect.

She opened her mouth to speak, but he pinched her nub and a squeal escaped instead. She swallowed hard and looked at him intently. "I'm dealing with Spike." Whether it was her muscles flexing around him, the conviction with which she said his name, or something he saw in her eyes, or maybe a combination of the three, but he looked at her for a moment in surprise and then his release spasmed through him. It was the first time he had come before her and she smiled at the rapture on his face, but only for a moment. His hands held her hips as his final thrusts shuddered through them both and she joined him in ecstasy.

As her breathing slowed, she felt him slip from her and whined.

He froze, "Buffy, are you okay?" He lifted her face to see it clearly.

She smiled. "Yeah, I just wanted to stay that way."

"For how long?" he asked, his eyes smiling.

"Forever."

"I think you might get a tad peckish." He eyed her neck. "Not that I would have that problem."

"Promises, promises."

He laughed and shifted, laying them down on their sides facing each other. "Speaking of drinking..." he said as he turned towards the picnic basket. "would you like a drink?" he half sat as he opened the lid.

She stretched. "No thanks, Mom would kill me if I came home with alcohol on my breath."

"I thought as much, which is why I brought this." He pulled a can out of the basket.

"Diet Coke?" she exclaimed grabbing the can. "You are the god of all boyfriends." She opened the can and took a long drink.

"I like that." he smiled as he pulled out his bottle of bourbon.

"Being called a god?" she asked, rolling her eyes.

"No, a boyfriend." he took a swig.

She turned, so that she was on her stomach facing him, propped up on her elbows. "You came through tonight. Thank you for protecting Giles, again. I know you would have rather gone on the boar hunt."

Spike shrugged, "Only thing he maybe needed protecting from was me."

"What?" She asked alarmed.

"The way he was talking about us and interrogating Red, I wanted to burst in and take him down a notch."

She grimaced, "Was it that bad?"

"I'll say. He's convinced I've worked some mojo on you to get you to fall for me." he huffed. "And on Red and your mum too."

"He thinks you're trying to...to...seduce them?" she asked flabbergasted.

"No, just put them under my spell so they like me." He looked insulted. "He's completely ignoring my boyish charm."

"He's just cautious..." she began, trying to defend her Watcher.

"He's a paternalistic pillock, is what he is."

"He's what?"

"Thinks you womenfolk can't be trusted to make up your own minds. You need him to swoop in and put everything right." He was building up a good head of steam. "I ask you, how many times have you saved his shiny white bum? And he still thinks you need him to make your decisions for you." he snorted. "Wanker."

"I'm sure that's not what he's thinking." she insisted. "He just cares is all. Besides the last time I dated a vampire it didn't work out too well, especially for Giles." Sadness entered her eyes, she looked down and twisted the tab on the soda can.

"Sorry pet. I didn't want to upset you." He stretched out beside her again. "Tell me about your night."

She relayed the events of the evening, summing it up with."So Faith came through in the end."

"Well good for her, overcoming adversity, personal growth and what all. So when is she leaving town?"

"Spike, that's rude." she chastised. She turned on her side to face him, being careful that the coat covered her strategically. "And she's not, at least not anytime soon. With her Watcher gone she's alone. So she's in Giles' charge until a new Watcher gets here."

"That puts a damper on things."

"Don't worry, I'll tell her about us tomorrow night."

"Not entirely sure that will do the trick. She doesn't sound quite as reasonable as you."

"I'll make sure she knows you're off limits." she smiled. "I can be pretty convincing."

"I gather that wolf-boy also knows about us now. I think I'm going to need a bloody score card. Anyone else?"

"No, just Giles, Oz and Re... I mean Willow. I'll tell Faith tomorrow on patrol."

"What about that git who follows you and Red around?"

"Xander?" he nodded. "No, he doesn't know yet. He's going to have the hardest time with it."

"Oh, is he carrying a torch for you?" he looked amused.

"More like a bonfire. He always hated Angel because of it. I think he was almost happy when Angel lost his soul."

"And your Mum?" he asked, changing the subject quickly. "Not that I have to hide from her."

She shrugged. "I thought since you were getting along so well I'd let her get used to you first."

"Then I just might show up and have another cup of hot cocoa while you're patrolling." He said with a wide grin.

"Aren't you supposed to be finding a new place to live?"

"I did."

"Really? Where?" she asked excitedly.

"There's a cozy little room off the boiler at your school." Mischief twinkled in his eyes.

"Spike." she said impatiently.

Undeterred, his voice deepened, became husky as his eyes travelled down her body slowly. "It has such potential, me waiting there underground thinking about all the things I'm going to do to you. You, sitting in class, all prim and proper, counting the minutes until you can come to me. Knowing I'm there, my fingers itching to touch you, my tongue thirsting to taste you again." His words were working their magic. Her breathing was speeding up and she leaned in to him slightly without realizing. "I wonder if we were that close, you right above me. I wonder if I concentrated hard enough, could you sense it? Would the tips of your breasts stiffen into hard peaks as I imagined holding them, teasing them? Would your thighs quiver in reaction to my phantom touch?" As he spoke his eyes focused on the area he was talking about and she could almost feel the his touch on her skin. "And as I dreamt I was tasting you, my tongue pleasuring you as I drank in your essence, would you writhe and moan at your desk?"

She launched herself at him, pushing him onto his back and straddling him. "You are so not moving into the school." She said firmly just before her mouth ravaged his. He chuckled deep in his throat.

She broke off the kiss. "What's so funny?"

"You're not really dissuading me pet. In fact, you're making it all the more tempting."

"Am I?"

"If just talking about it gets you this hot and bothered, how could I resist?" he teased her, then his face brightened with a new idea. "At night we can even have sex in all your classrooms, every room."

Her eyes widened and she shook her head slowly. "No. No way." She started looking around frantically.

"What are you looking for?" he asked, still smiling.

"My purse, so I can stake you before you can carry out this evil plan."

"It's at the edge of the clearing, a little bit out of reach luv." he nodded in the direction she came from.

"Darn." she pouted.

"Maybe I can persuade you." he suggested, his hands creeping inside the coat. His fingertips floated up her torso, stopping to brush lightly on her breasts. She bit her lip, but shook her head.

"I can't persuade you?" he asked, a brow arched. He moved one hand down to where she straddled him, working it between them and stroking her.

She moaned, but said "No."

His finger slipped into her, flitting across her clit. "Really? You're still going to stake me?"

Shaking her head she gasped. "No stake, but no school."

"You're sure? The possibilities..."

"Are bad, all bad, failing, suspension, expulsion. Bad." she ground down on his hand.

"Petty annoyances."

She leaned forward and pushed down on his shoulders. "No...mph...no school." she insisted. "Am I going to have to chain you up somewhere?" He stopped moving and she looked down at him. "What?"

Looking into his eyes she could see him formulating some plan. A wicked smile on his lips. "What?" she asked again.

"Forget the school. I have a better idea." A hand went to the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss.

She pushed back against it. "What is it?" she asked with exasperation.

"A surprise." he answered and closed the distance to kiss her passionately.

Turning away from the kiss she whispered, "I don't like surprises."

He rolled them so he was above her, propped on one arm. He grinned down. "Everyone likes surprises."

She shook her head. "Too many bad ones in my line of work."

"Afraid I'm the guilty party behind a few of those, aren't I?"

She gave a slight smile, "Maybe a couple." she conceded.

"Well, only good surprises from me from here on out. How's that?"

"What if we don't agree on what's a 'good' surprise?"

"Trust me." he purred. He bent to kiss her, a series of light playful kisses to coax her back into the moment. It didn't take much coaxing.

Later they lay there in each other's arms, Buffy sighed as she realized how far the moon had moved across the sky since she first entered the cemetery.

"That sounded sad." Spike said.

"It's getting late, I should go home."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know, I just didn't want to mention it." He looked at her.

"I guess we can meet here tomorrow night so it won't be too bad." she smiled slightly.

"If I don't find a place before that." His hand slid under the coat. "Can you stay any longer?"

"Not long enough for what you're thinking. I really have to get back home before Mom decides I need a curfew." She rolled to her knees. "Where are my clothes?" She asked, looking around.

"Here you go." He held them out to her.

"Thanks." She stood and stepped into her panties and pants. Holding her top she tugged on the lapels of his coat. "Could you?"

He stood and held the coat as before so she could protect her modesty. Once she had her top on he tugged on the coat, pulling her to him and kissed her. She was afraid that he was going to try to rekindle the fire but he kept it brief. "Just wanted to kiss you again while you were wearing it."

He swung the coat off her shoulders and tossed it on the blanket.

"Can you get my purse while I put my shoes on? You can probably find it quicker in the dark."

"Can do." He walked to the edge of the clearing, her eyes following him the whole way, watching the play of moonlight over his nakedness. It made her want to touch him again and tomorrow night was too long to wait. Shoes on she shifted to her knees.

He walked up, swinging her purse slightly. He stopped in front of her and offered his hand to help her to her feet.

Ignoring his hand she rose high on her knees. Her hands grabbed his hips and pulled him closer. His surprised look turned into a smile as one hot hand circled his cock and the other kneaded his ass.

"I thought you didn't have time for this." he said with a smirk.

She wrapped her lips around one ball and sucked as her tongue over it. Releasing it she looked at him smugly and said, "Well if you want me to stop..."

"Hell no." he breathed.

"I didn't think so." Her hand stroked his length as her mouth sucked in his other side.

Oh god Buffy." he moaned.

She pulled back and smiled. "I like hearing you say my name in passion. Scream it for me when you come." She gave his own words back to him before running the tip of her tongue along the underside of his cock.

He dropped her purse, his hands going to the sides of her head, his fingers weaving into her hair. He spread his feet slightly for better balance.

She peeled back his foreskin and licked over the sensitive head. Glancing upward she saw his jaw clenched as he tried to keep from making the inarticulate sounds of his pleasure. But she wanted to hear him, loved hearing him sputter half-formed words. She flicked her tongue at the sensitive spot under the tip as her hand caressed his sac. She was rewarded by a grunt escaping his lips, but it wasn't enough.

She nipped down the side of his shaft, letting her teeth lightly drag on the hardening flesh. "Buff...oh...mmph." she smiled, biting harder. He sucked in air and she eased back worried that she had bit too hard.

"Don't stop!" he gasped, groaning when her teeth scraped him harder. She ran her nails down his ass, eliciting further garbles of pleasure. Her other hand played with his balls, her fingers brushed his tight hole and he moaned. Tentatively she reached out and ran her fingers around it again. "Yeah." She was surprised to see how much he seemed to be enjoying that. Throwing caution to the wind she pushed a finger into his ass, prepared for him to protest.

"God yes." he moaned.

Okay, he did like it, but now what should she do? "Umm?"

He looked down at her; the pleasure evident on his face. "Push forward a bit." he said, she did and his jaw clenched. "Oh fu...yeah that's the spot, just rub right... arr." His hands fisted in her hair, it pulled a little but she didn't care, because what she was doing was driving him crazy and she liked that power.

She licked up his length and then took him into her mouth.

"So hot." he murmured.

She let her teeth scrape him from above as her tongue laved him from below. His fingers were flexing rhythmically in her hair as she slid her mouth along his shaft. He seemed incapable of making an intelligible noise now, rapid, half-formed syllables were all that escaped him. She smiled inwardly pleased she could drive him to ecstasy as easily as he could her. She could tell he was close and increased her efforts.

"Buffy!" he roared as his whole body stiffened. She pulled back far enough to not choke on his seed, swallowing it down.

He smoothed her hair and smiled down at her. He shifted back and she let him go. He dropped to his knees in front of her, cradled her face in his hands and leaned in. "I have to kiss that brilliant mouth." he said softly.

The kiss was tender yet searching and she melted into it for several minutes before pulling back reluctantly. "It's late."

"You said that before." he said with a cracked smile.

"So I'm not a pillar of self-control."

"Lucky for me."

She sank back and reached for her purse, taking care not to touch anything with the finger that had entered him. He gently took her hand and sucked her finger into his mouth. She tried to pull his hand back. "Spike, that's gross, that finger was just..."

"Yeah." he said with an appreciative smile. "But you do know luv that vampires don't sh...go to the loo, don't you?"

"Well yeah, I kinda did. But you eat, what happens to the food?"

"Don't rightly know, don't really care."

"Oh."

"Do you have a hairbrush? I'm afraid I did a number on your hair."

"Elf-locks?" she asked, pulling a brush from her purse. He took it.

"Let me." He shifted behind her. "Braids again?"

"No, just presentable is fine." As he worked the knots out of her hair she pulled a small box out of her purse and fidgeted with it. He noticed but didn't say anything. She looked like she was working herself up to something.

"Spike?" she finally broke her silence.

"Yeah pet?"

"Will you do me a favor?"

"Name it."

"Can you..." she turned to face him and held up the box. "Angel gave me this before he..." she cleared her throat. "But he's gone and I've moved on and I can't keep it anymore. Can you leave this in the mansion, where he was last, right where Acathla was?"

His hand covered hers. "Are you sure pet?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. So much has happened, the things he did, what I did. I need to put it all behind me."

He looked at her studying her face, his eyes narrowed. It always like he was looking into her soul when he did that. He gave her a slight smile and took the box. "All right luv. I can do that."

He stood and slipped the box into a pocket on his coat. "Let me get dressed and I can take you home."

"That's okay." She said as she stood. She dug the stake out of her purse and tucked it into the back of her waistband. "It's not far, and you have some not-anywhere-near-the school house hunting to do."

"Yes ma'am." he said with a little salute.

"Are you mocking me? She asked feigning indignation.

"Never." he denied with a smirk, walking back towards her.

"Did you not just see that I have a stake?"

He was right in front of her now, his eyes sparkled. "I think if you get your stake out you're going to wind up very late."

"You might be right about that." she raised her arms to clasp her hands behind his neck. "One goodnight kiss, just one."

"Right, one." he said as he bent his head. He surprised her by keeping the kiss short, but very sweet. As he pulled back he asked. "Here tomorrow? Sometime after nine?"

"I may be a little later, I'm meeting Faith to patrol at 7:30."

"I'll be here, come when you can."

"Okay." she released him and stepped back. "Goodnight."

"Night Slayer."

She walked away slowly fighting the urge to return to his arms. Reaching the edge of the clearing she turned to look at him. He was standing in the same place watching her. She held up her hand in a a small wave, he bobbed his head at her. Forcing herself to turn, she walked into the woods and headed home to her empty bed.