Service Unit

Chapter Forty – Invited

Spike snuggled closer as Buffy's fingertips trailed lightly through the fuzz on his head. She'd definitely made him forget all about the pain in his feet, several times, and now they were cuddled up in bed, warm and cozy under a blanket. Spike nuzzled Buffy's bare breast then asked quietly, "What do you think's happening to him?"

Buffy's fingers stopped their motion and she murmured, "Probably the same stuff that happened to you." She started her fingers up again then asked, "Do you regret sending him there?"

Spike didn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second. "No. Not at all. Wanker deserved it after what he did to me… and you. I'm just wondering what we're gonna do with him when we get him back. I don't want to have to take care of him, and if he's anything like I was when I was delivered to you, he'll be nothing but a burden to us both."

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, and I don't give a crap about his rehabilitation like I do about yours. I don't even think he could be rehabilitated. He'd have to have some sort of foundation to build on and he just… doesn't. I guess we could drop him at Wolfram and Hart and let them deal with their 'Champion.' It's probably their fault he went all twisty in the first place."

"Probably."

"Or we could dust him."

"We could, but the damned lawyers would just bring him back like they did with Darla. We could tell Blazczak to keep him, I guess. Not like he's gonna be any good to the world when he gets back, and then Charlie, Fred, Wes, and Lorne could get themselves out of Evil Incorporated and live somewhat normal lives instead of slowly bein' digested in the belly of the beast."

Buffy leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of Spike's head. "That sounds like the best plan."

Spike sat up and reached toward the nightstand to pick up the crystal. He twisted it thoughtfully in his fingers for a few minutes then nodded. "Yeah, we'll leave him there. It's best for everyone involved; you and me, the LA crew, and especially his daughter. I'll be able to set her soul free; let her finally be at peace." He set the crystal back on the nightstand, right next to Liam's bloody fangs, then snuggled down with Buffy again. "I should call Wes and let him know what's goin' on."

"Already done. Dawn handled it." Spike tensed and Buffy quickly continued, "Liam was right about the Wolfram and Hart seers knowing when his soul was gone. Wesley called Willow and she called Dawn since I wasn't answering my phone. Dawn called Wesley and told him that Angel showed up here to make you leave me, but a demon popped in, removed his soul, and then took him to a different dimension because Angelus owed him for a really old debt. So, she told the truth… just not the whole truth."

Spike sighed in frustration. "Percy'll try to find the wanker."

"Probably, but I doubt he'll be able to. There's thousands of demon dimensions and, as far as Wesley knows, we have no idea which one Angel's in. And no, I'm not going to give Wesley the contact information for the slave compound from your binder. Keeping that information to myself is my retribution. So, once Wesley figures out that Angel can't be found then hopefully he'll get the hell out of Wolfram and Hart."

"Not bloody likely. I've already tried to convince them to leave, but they were havin' none of it. That lot can't see the forest for the bloody trees and they'll all hang about doin' everythin' they can to locate their fearless leader."

"Well, if they do manage to find him and bring him back, then he'll be their problem instead of ours. They're all adults, Spike, and if that's the life they choose to live, then there isn't much we can do about it."

"Yeah, 'spose you're right."

"All we can do is handle our own business and if something happens over there we can help with, then we'll go help."

"Yeah." Spike raised his head. "Hang on a tic. How do you know all this? You've been with me since Liam left."

Buffy giggled. "Yeah, but you passed out after the third time, remember? I went to make something to eat and found a note from Dawn slipped under the door."

Spike blinked. "Oh." He laid back down and wrapped his arm tightly around Buffy's middle. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head then started stroking his hair again.

They'd both been quiet for a while, each lost in their own thoughts, when Spike asked, "Hey, how did I get into your flat without an invite? You didn't know I was in that crate, right?"

"No. I didn't know it was you until the hood came off. I asked your trainer the same question and he said that because your demon was suppressed, you didn't need an invitation."

Spike lifted himself up and looked at her. "All right, but what about now? My demon's been back for a while and you've not invited me in that I can remember." His memory flashed back to the romp right after the collar change and he leered wickedly at Buffy. "At least you've not invited me into your flat. You did, however, invite me into your quim."

Buffy blushed slightly then shrugged. "I don't know. I told you that you lived here after I claimed ownership of you. Maybe that was enough of an invitation." She blushed a little more. "Or maybe it was the quim invitation."

Spike leaned in for a kiss then lay back down. "Well, something must have been enough of an invitation, 'cause here I am."

"What would happen if the whatever that controls the vampire barrier suddenly decided that it wasn't enough?"

Spike shrugged. "I heard of one vamp that paid a witch to somehow magic him into a house, but since he wasn't invited, he was ejected violently out a window… right onto a tree branch. Nobody else has ever tried to bypass the barrier that I know of."

Buffy tensed then hurriedly said, "Spike, I invite you in." She looked around the room. "Did you hear me? He's invited, so don't throw him out the window. Okay?"

Spike chuckled. "Thanks for that, luv. My demon thanks you, too."

Buffy laid her cheek on Spike's head and murmured, "I met your demon, you know."

"You did? When?"

"After Liam and the couch. You were in so much pain that I guess you went… away… and your demon showed up."

"He usually helps me handle pain and I'd been trying to call him back before… that… but he's never come all the way forward that I know of. He'd been gone so long... maybe he was just out of practice and overshot the mark or something. He didn't... hurt you or anything, did he?"

"No. He was actually really sweet. Kind of like a puppy. He really liked when I rubbed his head, too. He purred like a kitten."

Spike groaned and lifted a hand to cover his face. "So is he a puppy or a kitten?"

Buffy shrugged. "Kitten, I guess, you know, because of the purring."

"Great."

Buffy giggled. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. You have a cute little kitteny demon. I promise I won't tell anyone and ruin your Big Bad image." She rubbed her hand over Spike's head and giggled quietly. "So when's the purring gonna start?" Spike growled and she giggled again. "He growled like that, too, but only when I said Angel's name."

"Yeah. My demon's never really cared for that ponce."

"Can't say that I blame him. So... why didn't he attack me? You know, with the whole mindless-killing-machine rep that demons have, I sort of expected him to."

Spike shrugged. "He loves you. He fell in love with you the first time he saw you, when you were dancin' in the Bronze. That's why I could never kill you, you know, back when I was trying. He wouldn't let me."

"Demons can love? I know Dru said they could when you had me chained in your crypt, but she's crazy, so I didn't really believe her."

"Mine can. Dru's can." He shrugged again. "I think the type of person you were as a human has a lot to do with the type of demon you get when you're turned. Of course, I only really have the vampires in my clan to judge by, but yeah... my demon can love."

Buffy's voice quavered just a bit when she spoke. "So... you don't love me? Just your demon does?"

Spike's head snapped up and he stared at her intently. "Of course I love you, Buffy. Yes, my demon fell first, but I fell, too. It just took me a little longer because I was still hung up on Drusilla." He leaned down for a kiss then raised his head and smirked. "It's been said that my demon is the brains of the operation and I'm just the beauty."

"Said by whom?"

"Me. Just now."

Buffy laughed and pulled him into a kiss. "You big dork."

He settled back down and nudged his head against Buffy's chin until she started stroking his hair again. Buffy smiled warmly and asked quietly, "What do you want to do with your hair when it grows back out? Bleach it or leave it alone?"

"Doesn't matter to me, pet. After all that's happened, my hair is fairly low on my priority list, but if you want it bleached, I'll bleach it."

"You should do crazy basement hair."

Spike lifted his head and quirked an eyebrow at her. "I should do what?"

"You know, when you were all crazy in the basement. Your hair was longer and dark with white tips. It was way sexy."

Spike chuckled and lay back down. "Whatever you want, luv. Whatever you want. I'm yours."

XX

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XX

Spike leaned down to spit foam into the sink then straightened up, shifting into game face as he did. He carefully scrubbed his fully grown fangs then leaned down to spit again. Today was the day. He was going to complete the blood bond with Buffy. It had come a bit earlier than he'd thought it would. About three weeks earlier. Apparently, feeding on Slayer blood and Liam's blood had sped up the re-growing process quite a bit. He rinsed and spit one more time then slid his tongue over his fangs, shivering in anticipation of the evening's events.

His demon melted away as he turned from the sink and made his way to the kitchen, lightly fingering his collar as he entered the living room. "Won't need this thing in a few hours." He stepped into the kitchen then walked up behind Buffy and slid his arms around her, leaning down to nibble at her neck as she put the last of the groceries into a cupboard. "You get everything taken care of, pet?"

She closed the cupboard door then pressed back into him with a quiet moan. "Yeah. I'm off work for another week, I bought enough food to feed a Mongol horde, and Paolo knows not to let anybody anywhere near our front door." She turned her head and caught his lips in a kiss. "I'm gonna go shower and get ready. Anything special I should do for this?"

Spike nodded with a leer. "Yeah. Don't put on any knickers."

Buffy smirked. "Not like I could, Spike. I haven't done laundry in over a week and you shredded my last pair of clean underwear yesterday."

"That so?" Spike's hand slid down her leg then lifted the silky skirt she was wearing. She was bare underneath.

Buffy moaned as his fingers caressed her. "Yeah. I had to go to work and the grocery store today without any."

Spike groaned low at how wet she already was as he slid two fingers into her. "How'd that make you feel, luv?"

Buffy gasped and reached out to grip the edge of the counter as she clenched around his thrusting fingers. "Really naughty… and sexy. I've been thinking about you all day. I couldn't wait to get home."

Buffy squeaked when she was suddenly spun around. Spike lifted her then turned and set her on the island in the middle of the kitchen. He slowly trailed a finger down her neck to the first button of her shirt and murmured, "Couldn't wait for what, pet?" He flicked the button open then moved to the next one. When her buttons were all undone, he pushed the shirt open and bent down to circle his tongue around a nipple before pulling it sharply into his mouth. He raised his head. "Is that what you were thinking of?"

She nodded. "That, and… more." She reached up and grasped the back of his neck, pulling his head down to her other breast. Spike latched onto it, sucking hard as she pressed it into his mouth. He alternated between the two as he slid his hand up under her skirt again. She was positively sopping and the tantalizing aroma was driving him wild.

He dropped to his knees in front of her then slowly pushed her skirt up as he opened her legs. He licked his lips then dove in, burying his tongue deep inside her. Her taste burst on his tongue and he growled against her flesh as his demon came forward. He licked, nipped, and sucked as she raised her feet to his shoulders and gripped his head tightly in her hands.

It didn't take long. Buffy had been ready for this for hours, and when she looked down at him, gazing into his amber eyes as he feasted on her, it only took one hard suck to send her right over the edge. She came undone as Spike continued to suck and lick, determined to get every last drop of her delicious nectar.

Neither one noticed the flash of light from the living room or the drifting purple smoke.