So, gentle readers, the last bit left us with naughty Miss Buffy... ahem... working out some tension. Here's the next installation, and if i get some sweet reviews, i'll put some more up later. leave me some love~ Kitten

I still don't own anything, nor am i making any money from this.

Spike was still asleep when I stopped by to check on him after patrol, thank the Powers. I heated up some blood and topped it off with some of my own again. Writing a quick note "Drink me~ B." I placed the mug by his bed and bolted. The smell of blood would wake him up.

Sleep was not my friend that night, and I felt an urge to slap that smirk of Dawn's face when I growled 'coffee' the next morning. I resisted, but barely.

"Rough night, Buffster?" Xander asked.

"Couldn't sleep," I growled. Once Dawn got going to school, I went back into my room, closing the curtains. This time, sleep came easy and dreamless.

I woke up to Dawn jumping on my bed. "I wanna go see Spike now," she said, bouncing.

"'Kay, lemme get dressed," I said.

"Nah, go like that, Spike'll like it," Okay, I really had to fight that urge to slap her silly.

"Get out," I snarled. She giggled and skipped out of my room. I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, pulling my bed-mussed hair up. Spike said he loved me, so he should love me no matter how I looked.

Dawn was practically vibrating with excitement by the time I made it downstairs. I grabbed some money and my jacket, telling Dawn we should stop by Willie's. What was with that smirk? She couldn't read my mind. She didn't know I was falling for Spike. We picked up some fresh blood and I ignored Willie's questions. When we got to Spike's crypt, Dawn threw the door open with surprising strength. I followed her in, putting the blood in the fridge. The hot wings and the other packets of blood were gone, so Spike must be feeling well enough to move around. I felt a little guilty leaving him here all day without anyone to check on him. He wasn't anywhere on the top level, and he didn't answer our calls.

"I'll go get him," Dawn said, moving to the trap door. I caught her arm.

"When I left, he was asleep," I said. "Naked."

"Not seeing the bad." God, that smirk!

"I'll go get him," I said. I went downstairs, calling his name. "Spike? Spikey? Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead." He was sleeping, sprawled out on his bed, but the usual black jeans were slung low on his slim hips. His bruises had faded, now just pale purple-green tinges over his skin. His pretty face had healed mostly, and the bruise around his once-swollen eye would be gone by nightfall. I walked up to the side of his bed, touching his shoulder gently.

"Spike, wake up," I said. No response. Guess they don't say 'sleep like the dead' for nothing, huh? I shook his shoulder sharply, speaking louder. "Spike!"

His hand shot out and grabbed me, hauling me over him. He rolled, pinning me underneath him. I yelped in surprise when my back hit the mattress. His sharp eyes were sleepy, but when he looked at me he blinked. "Buffy?" he asked. I was panting from the shock, and I saw him glance down to my chest, where my breasts heaved. "Whatcha doin', love?"

"Came to check on you. Dawn's here too," I said. It came out a breathy gasp. He shifted slightly over me, and I couldn't hold back a small whimper. His position- completely on top of me and resting between my thighs- called my attention back to what I'd done last night in the bath.

"Sorry," he said, scrambling off of me. "Instincts an' what not."

"It's okay," I said, sitting up and straightening my t-shirt. "So, uh, we brought some more blood, and I think Dawn wanted to order a pizza, but I told her we'd wait to see how you feel." I tried to smile at him, but I'm not sure how successful I was. My nerves were a mess, and my heart was still pounding. "And if you haven't noticed, the Summers girls have invaded your crypt."

"I don' mind," he said. "Wha's your plan, then, love?"

"Dunno," I said. "Dawn was the one with the plan. So, if you feel up to it, let's go upstairs and see what the General has to say." Spike nodded and climbed out of the bed. He still wasn't moving so well, but it was a vast improvement. I stood as he found a t-shirt and tried to pull it over his head.

He hissed in pain and dropped his arms. "Still sore?" I asked, getting nearer to him. He nodded, almost shame-faced. I knew that being this helpless was killing him. "Just change tactics then. Got any shirts that button?

"Third drawer," he said, gesturing to the dresser behind me. Ooh, Spike clothes. Fun. I opened the drawer and started rooting around. There was that old red button-down he always wore, as well as a black one. Right, Spike, keep up your 'bad boy' image. But there was also a royal purple version, and a blue copy. And a white one. I grabbed the white one and turned around, hiding it behind my back.

"You wear a lot of black," I said. He rolled his eyes and gave me his 'Duh, Buffy,' look. Grinning wickedly, I pulled the snow-white shirt out. "Let's remedy that."

"No, love, I hate that shirt," he whined. "It makes me look dead."

"You are dead," I countered. He glared at me. "Please?" I asked, turning on the big, wide eyes and pouty lower lip. His resolve only stood for a minute before abruptly collapsing. Sighing, he held his arms out. I jumped happily and helped him into the shirt. I was buttoning up the front when my hand accidently- I swear! - touched the firm flesh above his belly button. He grabbed my hands and pulled them away from him.

"I've got this bit," he said. When he finished buttoning the shirt, he ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to tame the curls. They stuck up stubbornly in every direction. I stifled a giggle. Why was I giggling in a vampire's lair? Slayers do not giggle. Well, they don't when they're not falling in love with said vampire. I had to be the worst Slayer ever.

"Leave them," I said, grabbing his hand and pulling it away from his hair. "They're cute."

"Right, jus' what I wanna be: cute."

"I like them," I said, giving him a smile. Ooh, that worked. He dropped his hand and gestured to himself.

"Do what you want, pet," he said. "'M your own personal kewpie doll."

"You did make a robot that looked like me, y'know," I said, hands on my hips. "Karma's a bitch, huh, pretty boy?"

"S'pose it is," he said, putting a big smile on his face. It didn't even look fake. "'Kay then, love. Do your worst."

I stepped up close to him so I could reach his bleached head. But then I got a strong whiff of his scent. He smelled like soap, smoke, blood and, strangely enough, cinnamon. It was delicious. I realized I was way too close to him. My heart was pounding. Covering for my own hormones, I ruffled his hair playfully with both hands.

"There," I said. "Dead sexy." I nudged him gently in the side. "Get it? 'Cuz you're dead."

"Oh, please, Slayer, stop. I can hardly breathe from laughing at your razor wit," he deadpanned. He might be joking now, but I saw that flicker that passed through his eyes when I called him sexy. He really should learn to get a better poker face. You can read everything in those eyes.

"C'mon, stupid," I said, taking his hand. "Dawn'll get ideas if we take too long. She's already smirking far too much for my liking." His hand was cool and smooth in mine, his grip strong. I led him to the ladder to the first level, letting go a little reluctantly to climb. God, I needed to get a grip. Keep acting like this, Summers, and he'll be onto you faster than vultures on road kill. And also, I needed better metaphors. I shot up the ladder, leaping to my feet once I hit the top level of the crypt. Spike followed me slowly, and I offered a hand to help him up. He took it, letting me help him to his feet.

"You okay?" I asked when he winced.

"Knee's still not quite- oof!" He found himself with an armful of Dawn. She squeezed tightly, and I saw the grimace of pain flash across his face.

"Dawn, let go," I said firmly, pulling her away. "He's still not 100%."

"Oh! Sorry! I'm so sorry, Spike, I forgot!" Dawn said. I saw the tears forming in her eyes.

"'S okay, Niblet," he said, ruffling her hair. She smiled, crisis averted, and I walked over to the refrigerator. If I started something with Spike- and I was seriously considering it- I think Dawn would be okay with it. As long as she wasn't still nursing that crush of hers.

"Dawn, will you call for the pizza?" I asked, tossing the phone to her as she nodded and continued relating some story to Spike. Taking out a packet of blood and filling a mason jar- he was out of clean mugs- half way, I used my dagger to cut my arm again and topped it off. I bandaged my arm and handed the mug to Spike once it finished warming up. He raised that scarred eyebrow at me, sniffing the blood.

"'M okay, love, you don' have t'-"

"I know I don't," I said, smiling at him. "Drink up." Dawn was looking from me to Spike and back like we were playing tennis. She hung up the phone and grinned at Spike.

"New look, Spike?" she asked, gesturing to his hair and shirt.

"Appears so, Snack Pack," he said, downing his blood. His eyes dilated, and I remembered what he said about Slayer blood being an aphrodisiac. Whoops.

"Dawn, did you order-"

"Extra large with everything, anchovies on a third," she said, handing me back the phone. Spike and I shared a grimace. The monks that made her couldn't have used my essence for that part; anchovies are gross. "Y'know, I'd've thought they'd have more of an issue delivering pizza to a cemetery," Dawn said.

"Some of us demons like t' eat, too, Platelet," Spike said. I know I should be more wigged by his nicknames for my sister referring to her as food, but they were kinda cute. And the way he looked after her, watching out for anyone who'd want to hurt her, was undeniably amazing.

He'd become a good guy, sometime in the last year. I still wasn't fond of some of the things he did- chaining me up and threatening to feed me to Drusilla wasn't his best idea- but he really had tried to change. Maybe it was time to show him I've noticed.

"Buff? Earth to Buffy. Helllloooo?" Dawn said, waving her hand in front of my face. I jerked, startled.

"What?"

"I asked you a question," Dawn said.

"I tune out when you talk, sorry," I said. Spike snorted. "Try again."

"You are so annoying," Dawn said, rolling her eyes. I grinned. "I said did Angel ever eat human food?"

"I rarely even saw Angel drink blood," I said, shaking my head. I frowned at her. "Why are we talking about Angel?"

"'S my question too," Spike grumbled. I looked up, catching his eye. Giving him a half-smile, I hoped it was reassuring.

"Pizza should be here soon," I said, changing subjects. "What do you wanna do in the meantime?"

Dawn and I spent the rest of the afternoon at Spike's crypt, eating pizza and watching taped episodes of Passions on Spike's TV. Spike pouted when Dawn and I made fun of his soap, and I had to seriously hold myself back from kissing that pout off his face. Spike sat between Dawn and I, legs sprawled wide. When Dawn turned on an old movie, I curled my legs up underneath me and laid my head on his shoulder.

"Is this okay?" I asked quietly. His eyebrows shot nearly to his hairline but he nodded. Dawn curled up next to him, too, resting her head on his thigh. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders carefully, moving gingerly to avoid hurting his ribs again. When he started playing idly with Dawn's hair, I sighed happily. This is what families did, right? Nice, normal families curled up on the couch together and watched movies. What's more, it didn't feel awkward or forced. It felt right. Spike felt right.

After the movie was over, we sat in comfortable silence, Dawn napping with her head still pillowed by Spike's thigh. He rubbed soft circles over my shoulder with his thumb while I played with a lock of my hair. The credits rolled as I relaxed against his body.

"Love?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah?" I answered. I realized for the first time that I hadn't told him not to call me that since Glory.

"Can I ask you a question?" he asked, keeping his voice low so he didn't wake Dawn.

"Didn't give me much choice, did you?" I asked, looking up at him with a grin. He rolled his eyes at me. "Go ahead."

"Wha's goin' on here?" he asked. "'Tween you an' me?"

"I'm not sure yet," I whispered.

"I understand yesterday," he said. "It was a thank-you. But today? 'M not complainin', mind you, but if you're doin' this 'cuz o' wha' I did yesterday-"

"You asked for a crumb, right?" I said, sitting up. He didn't move, afraid of waking Dawn.

"Yeah…" he said slowly.

"Okay, so I'm cookie dough," I said. He cocked an eyebrow. I reached for the words to make him understand. "I'm not done baking. I'm not finished becoming whoever the hell it is I'm gonna turn out to be. And people keep sticking their fingers in the bowl, taking out chunks. But when I make it through all of this, and the next thing, and the thing after that, maybe one day I'll turn around and realize I'm ready. I'm cookies. And then, you know, if I want someone to eat-" His eyebrows rose and he grinned at me lasciviously, tongue behind his teeth. "-Enjoy warm, delicious cookie me… then I'll be ready."

"Any ideas 'bout who might get to… enjoy… this cookie-you, love?" he asked. He didn't even try to hide his ogling.

"Got a couple hunches," I said, grinning back at him. "But I can guess it won't be before Glory is dealt with. So, for now, I'm giving you your crumb. You okay with that?"

"Am I okay with that?" he asked incredulously. He pulled me in close and kissed my forehead. I got a big whiff of Spike-scent again, which made me a little reluctant to let go. "My silly, daft Slayer," he murmured.

"We'll have to take this- whatever this is- slow," I said, still leaning in close. "I mean, I'm still kinda screwed up from Riley leaving-"

"Wanker," Spike said not-so-under-his-breath. I smiled and leaned in to nuzzle my nose against his jaw. It should be illegal for a man to smell that good.

"And my friends will not exactly be thrilled at this turn of events," I said. "I mean, you tied me up a couple weeks ago and had a robot made to look like me so you could have sex with it. Not some of your better ideas."

"Yeah," he said, scrunching up his face. It was adorable, in a stupid way. "See, I got this problem. My blood doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain."

"No, it doesn't," I giggled. I cuddled in closer to his side, and I swear he started purring. Lazily, he changed the channel on the TV so we weren't watching movie credits anymore.

Slowly, very slowly, I reached over to entwine my fingers with his. His fingers curled around mine and he laid our hands over Dawn's shoulder. My other hand traced idle shapes over his knee. I couldn't remember ever doing this with Riley or Angel. Neither had ever wanted to spend any time with Dawn, and they hadn't been fond of cuddling. Granted, with Angel and half the time I was with Riley, Dawn hadn't technically existed, but still. They weren't family guys. They didn't like being with my friends; hell, half the time I don't think either of them would have minded if I didn't even talk.

Spike's thumb was rubbing the skin of my inner wrist, where I'd cut it to feed him. He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the healing scar gently. When he let our hands drop back down, Dawn let out a monstrous groan.

"God, will you two just make out already?" she asked, sitting up. My face was on fire, and daring a quick glance at Spike, I saw that he looked properly embarrassed. I didn't think we were talking that loudly. "You two are pathetic," Dawn said.

"How are-" I started. The phone I'd borrowed from Willow rang shrilly. I rolled my eyes and dug into my pocket to retrieve it. "Yeah?" I said into the phone.

"Hey, Buff. How's babysitting the undead?" Xander asked.

"I'm not babysitting him, Xander," I snapped. "Spike's fine. He's nearly completely healed."

"Oh." Xander sounded a bit dejected. I grit my teeth to keep from snapping at him again. "Well, that's good then, right? Now you and Dawnie can come with us to the Bronze tonight."

"Why would we be going to the Bronze tonight, Xand?" I asked. "Nut job hell-god after my sister, remember?"

"Well, yeah, but you can take one night off, can't you?" he asked. Was he insane? I couldn't take one night off from protecting my sister! "And we'll all be there to take care of Dawn. We'll watch out for her."

"Hold on," I said, putting my hand over the phone. "Xander, in his infinite wisdom, thinks we should go Bronzing tonight," I said to Dawn.

"If you and Spike are there I should be safe, right?" Dawn said. I looked to Spike.

"You feel up to it?"

"'M fine, love," he said. I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Okay, next question," I said. "Y'wanna go to the Bronze with us?"

"Read: Spike, I think you're dreamy. Wanna go out with me?" Dawn teased in an annoyingly high soprano.

"I do not sound like that!" Okay, so maybe I did, when I got mad at her. "And that's totally not what I was saying." I said. "Not completely," I added under my breath. Spike looked over at me, eyebrow raised. Damn, I'd forgotten about that pesky vampire hearing. He gave me that head-tilted look that made me want to spill all of my deepest, darkest secrets.

"So, you up for it?" I asked. Spike shrugged.

"Don' got much better to do" he said. "Might 's well keep an eye on my girls, yeah?"

"Aw, d'you hear that? We're his girls," Dawn said in her annoyingly chipper voice.

"Smug is not attractive on you," I said, glaring at her.

"She's right, Bit," Spike said, squeezing my fingers in his. I suddenly remembered the phone in my hand.

"Buffy? Buuuuuffffffffffyyyyyyyyyyyy?" Xander sang into the phone as I put it up to my ear. I instantly pulled it away.

"Xander? Stop that, you're making my ears bleed," I said. He stopped and I pressed the phone back to my ear. "You there? Okay, we'll go. Be at my house around dark, okay?"

"Sure thing, Buffster," Xander said. We said goodbye and hung up. Dawn was looking to me and Spike expectantly.

"So, do you think you guys can sleep together before Easter? I have a bet going with Anya," Dawn said.

"You hear that? They're bettin' on us," Spike said, leaning in close to me. I smiled up at him.

"What's Anya's bet?" I asked.

"By May."

"Think you can wait till June?" I asked Spike.

"Then Tara wins," Dawn said. "Willow's got after the 4th of July, and Xander has 'a cold day in hell'."

"They're insufferable," I said.

"So, who do we let win?" Spike whispered in my ear. The feeling of his breath on my skin sent shivers down my spine.

"Let's just let it happen, 'kay?" I whispered back. We were nose-to-nose, and his blue eyes were nearly navy with desire.

"Hey, Bit," he said, not looking away from me. "Close your eyes."

"Why?" she asked.

"Just do as you're told," he ordered. I looked over his shoulder, seeing Dawn close her eyes tightly. Looking back at Spike, I nodded, and he leaned in even closer to me.

Okay, y'know how after that engagement spell lifted, I complained a lot about the 'Lips of Spike'? As it turns out, Lips of Spike? Pretty damn tasty. His hand reached up and tangled through my hair as his other hand wrapped around mine. His lips were soft, gentle. His tongue, when I parted my lips to let it in, stroked mine sensuously. And he tasted good. Like sweet rum cookies, bourbon, smoke, and spicy sweetness. Delicious, to say the least.

"You two done yet?" Dawn asked. We broke away with identical sighs.

"Yeah, we're done, Snack Pack," Spike said.

"So, we're Bronzing?" Dawn asked, rolling her eyes as she stood up.

"Yeah, we're Bronzing," I said, standing up rather slowly. Spike still held my hand. "When's sundown?"

"Two hours, give or take," Spike said. It was kind of cool, really, his internal sun-clock.

"Just enough time for us to go home and let you get pretty," Dawn said. "Spike, come by the house when the sun goes down and you can pick Buffy up like a proper date."

"I think Big Sis is right," Spike said. "Smug is not pretty on you, Little Bit."

"We'll see you in a couple hours," I said, squeezing the hand still clasped in mine. He raised our hands to his mouth, kissing my knuckles.

"Say goodbye to the pretty vampire," Dawn said, ushering me out. I let go of his hand and found my jacket. "Later loser," she said, dropping a kiss to his cheek. She clucked like a mother hen until I finally made it outside.

"You are hopeless," she said. I rolled my eyes.

"What?"

"You and Spike," she said. "Exactly what happened last night?"

"He was hurt, Dawnie," I said. "And he got that way protecting you, protecting us."

"So these are pity make-out sessions, then?"

"No!" I insisted. "It just… opened my eyes, I guess."

"Ya been openin' anything else?" she drawled. "Like, by chance, your legs?"

"You little witch!" I yelled as she took off running ahead of me, laughing.

So, as it turns out, when you're trying to get ready for a sorta-date, two hours is not nearly enough time to get dressed. I'd showered and done my hair, but the clothes part was proving to be difficult.

"Buffy!" Dawn yelled from downstairs. "The Scoobies are here! Are you ready yet?"

"No!" I yelled back. "I'm officially out of clothes!"

"Why are you out of clothes?" Willow asked, popping her head in. I was wearing a nice black lace bra-and-panty set with my robe thrown on.

"I can't find anything to wear," I moaned, slumping into my chair. Willow rummaged through the clothes I'd thrown everywhere. She pulled out a red tank dress I'd considered and threw it at me.

"Wear that," she said, starting to clean my room up. If Willow is one thing, she is a neat freak. I pulled the dress over my head and opened my mouth to ask why, but she held up a finger at me. "One, it'll look great on you. Two, it's in Spike's favorite color. And three, Spike might actually lose the power of speech, which would be funny."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, playing dumb.

"Cut the crap, Dawn told Tara and me already," she said. She smiled at me and sighed deeply. "Now, while I don't exactly completely understand it, I'm not going to stand in your way. I'm going to trust that you know what you're doing, but I'm not going to stop worrying about you. I mean, you hated him yesterday."

"Yeah, I know," I said. "But, I mean, I didn't really. I haven't hated him hated him in a long time, y'know? We just… we work. We fit. I don't really know where we're going with this, but I know I was happier watching TV with Spike and Dawn today than I have been in a long time."

"That's all I needed to know," Willow said. "If you're happy, I'm happy. So Spike's in."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. I accepted Anya, didn't I?"

"Just don't summon a troll this time, okay?" I teased her. I pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you," I said in her ear. She smiled and swatted me on the butt, ordering me to finish getting ready. I found a pair of heels to go with the dress as Willow finished tidying my room. I left off my usual silver cross in favor of a long silver necklace that dipped into my cleavage. After all, I might have sexy vampire lips on my skin later. It wouldn't be nice to burn him, would it? Checking over my reflection, I nodded in approval.

"I don't think he's here yet," Willow said.

I grinned as the tingles on the back of my neck started. Most vampires sent chills over my scalp and neck or made the hair on my arms stand up. But a few- the ones I knew or faced repeatedly- had distinct signatures on my Slayer sense. The Master, Angel, Spike, Drusilla, and Dracula all felt differently. Angel felt like someone running cool fingers on my throat. Drac felt like someone turned the AC all the way up, and Dru felt like someone scratching the skin of my arms with their nails.

But Spike… Spike felt like lips brushing under my ear. Warmth spread like a fever, although vampires should never make a person warmer. The tingly sensation flooded over my skin. "He's outside," I said. Willow looked at me strangely. Darting over to the window, we saw him in the front yard. He was walking slowly up the sidewalk, chain smoking. I chuckled. He smoked when he got nervous. It was kind of cute, in a cancerous way. Willow giggled softly as we watched him pace anxiously up and down the walk.

"Think he's nervous?" Willow asked.

"Just a little," I said. "Dawn said some stuff about dates, and I think it got him nervous."

"Is this a date?" Willow asked. I shrugged. I didn't know what this thing tonight was. I just knew I suddenly wanted to spend time with Spike. Public time, semi-private time, really private time, it all seemed like a good idea to me. I watched out the window as Spike crushed his last cigarette and stalked to the door. I heard Dawn yell up to me, and I looked to Willow.

"Time to go down there?" she asked. I bit my lip to keep from grinning.

"Probably shouldn't keep everyone waiting," I said. Willow laughed and rolled her eyes at me as I all but danced out of the room.

I felt like a teenager at Prom, waiting upstairs until my date showed up. I could hear Xander's voice from downstairs, probably insulting Spike in one way or another. I frowned. If Spike and I pursued something, they'd have to learn to get along.

Will went down the stairs ahead of me, so at first I couldn't see the people gathered downstairs. Xander and Anya stood by the coat rack, holding hands. Dawn, Tara, and Giles stood in the living room doorway, chatting quietly about something. And Spike stood in the open doorway, just outside my house. I'd disinvited him. Then I'd forgotten.

"Come in, Spike," I said quietly as my feet hit the floor. I swear I've never seen him smile that broadly before. He had these adorable little dimples, and his eyes crinkled at the corners.

"Look at that," he murmured, crossing the threshold. He crossed the few steps between us. He fidgeted shyly, and not for the first time, I was amazed at the difference between Big Bad Spike and this other, shy, awkward Spike. I thought both were pretty cute. "You look beau'iful, love."

"Thank you," I said, ducking my head. I could feel the Scoobies' eyes on me. Glancing away from Spike, it finally registered with me that Giles was there.

"You're mingling with the kids tonight, Giles?" I teased.

"Well, if Spike plans on joining us-" Really, if he frowned any deeper, his face would stick that way. "- Then I shall be far younger than the oldest being there.'

"'M still prettier 'n you, Rupes," Spike said. I glanced up at him through my lashes, smiling.

"Are we all ready to go?" Dawn asked with that ever-present smirk.

"Yeah, I just need to get my purse," I said, dashing up the stairs. My purse was sitting on one of the dining room chairs. I leaned against the doorway of my bedroom for a few minutes until Dawn yelled up at me.

"I can't find it!" I yelled. "Spike, will you come help me look?" I heard his boots on the stairs, and a second later I saw him. I took the time to really look at him while he walked towards me. His hair was spiked up in messy curls, and he was still wearing that white shirt. But he'd added the chocolate brown leather coat I'd seen a few weeks ago and, amazingly enough, dark blue jeans. He looked amazing.

"Thought you were lookin' for your bag, pet?" Spike said.

"My bag's downstairs," I said.

"So why're we…" I raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh." I grinned and grabbed him by the lapel. His lips mashed against mine as his hands found my hips.

"God, you taste good," I mumbled against his lips.

"Tha's my line," he said, pulling away from me. He pressed a long, cool finger to my lips and walked away. I opened my mouth to argue when he paused at the top of the stairs. "Slayer's room's a mess," he said. Crap, Willow had just cleaned my room. But she'd keep her mouth shut, right? "This might take awhile. You go on ahead an' we'll catch up."

I heard Xander argue briefly, but something Dawn said shut him up, because I heard the front door open and close. Spike waited a beat, and then turned back towards me. His shoulders dropped into a predatory hunch and he stalked his way down the hall. His eyes flashed cobalt as he grabbed me. He was almost rough, but not quite, as he pressed me up against the wall and bent to devour my lips. God, he felt so good. I was vaguely aware of my arms winding around his neck as his tongue made love to mine. One of my legs to wind around his hip, and he growled into me. Wow, Summers, from shy to sex-kitten in thirty seconds. New record.

He broke away with a gasp, tossing his head back. I let my lips wander down the smooth column of his neck, tasting the salty flavor of his skin. I found Drusilla's sire ark on one side and sucked on it, lightly nibbling over the skin. I wanted to bite down, erase the memory of her from his body. Spike growled deep in his chest and pulled me off. His eyes were nearly black.

"You need to stop that unless you plan on finishin' it," he panted.

"Finishing what?" I asked. I was as breathless as he was.

"You ought not bight a vamp's sire mark 'nless you wan' 'im t'," he trailed off. I could've sworn he was blushing, and my eyes dropped down to see a rather impressive-looking bulge developing in his jeans. I immediately untangled my leg from around him, and he sighed, in either relief or disappointment.

"Oh," I said, straightening my dress. I smiled flirtatiously and glanced up at him through my lashes. "I'll have to remember that," I purred. "But we should get going." I left him with a small kiss and a grope of his tight butt, and then sprinted down the stairs. I managed to grab my purse before he caught me, swinging me around in his arms. I laughed loudly and clung to him long after he'd set me back on my feet.

"You're gorgeous, do you know that?" he whispered into my hair. "Can- can I tell you?"

I frowned. Tell me what? Then it dawned on me. The shining hope in his eyes, the wide smile I'd never seen this much, the awed whisper of his voice. He loved me; I knew that. But I wasn't ready for him to say that right now. If I was falling in love with him- and that funny flutter in my stomach was suggesting it- I wanted some time to say it. And Spike- he was a good guy; he deserved to be loved back.

"Not yet, please?" I said, touching his cheek. He leaned into my hand, nuzzling it like a kitten. "I want- I've got feelings for you, okay? But… I'm still trying to figure out what exactly those feelings are. And… if you yell me whatever it is you want to tell me- a-and I've got a pretty good idea of what that is- but if you tell me now, I'm afraid my feelings will get mixed up in yours."

He nodded, staring at his shoes. I touched the edge of his jaw and tilted his face up to look at me. "I don't know about you," I said, "but I'm scared. I'm absolutely, shaking-in-my-boots terrified."

"Why?" he asked, tilting his head to study me.

"You weren't my favorite person a few days ago," I said slowly. "Mostly because you have this habit of acting before you think." I smiled up at him, and the corners of his lips turned up. "I told you that I wanted to take this slow, and I do. I'm afraid of what I'm feeling, of how fast I'm feeling things. I haven't… it's been awhile since I've felt things like this. I don't want to rush into something and screw everything up."

He nodded slowly. "An' you would,' he teased me. His hands were on my hips, holding me to him gently. His arms tightened and rose to pull me flush against his body in a hug. I sighed and rested my head on his chest happily.

"Okay, so we take this slow, huh?" he murmured. "So, uh… how do we take it slow?"

I laughed and took his hand in mine. "How about we talk for a bit on our way to the Bronze?" I suggested. He kissed my knuckles and opened the door.

"Sounds good to me, pet," he said.

"So what's your favorite color?"