A/N: Placed in a slightly AU season 6 shortly after Tabula Rasa where Buffy is already working at the Doublemeat Palace but hasn't yet given into the idea of exploring an intimate relationship with Spike… yet.
Sinfully delicious "Food Fight" Banner-prompt and tempting-title cooked up by the delightful cd86.
Story written as a birthday present for the absolutely decadent Geliot99, who is by far the best Beta I could possibly ask for. If you haven't read her ever-enticing and drool-worthy works, you need to!
Happy Birthday My Friend!
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
The dust settled to the ground at Buffy's feet and just like that the cemetery was quiet once more. She huffed and kicked the dust off her shoes in the damp grass. Work had been mundane as always, mind-numbingly so. Patrol hadn't been much better. She was still just sort of going through the motions.
The night wasn't over, though, not by a long shot.
Dawn came home from school the previous week with a permission form for a special class trip. The kids would be going to the Natural History Museum, spending the night, and going to a zip line course the second day before coming home. The trip wasn't cheap.
Since Buffy came back from the dead Dawn was keeping her material demands to a minimum and rarely asked for anything new; still, she seemed almost desperate to go. "Everyone is going! If I don't get to go, I might as well just drop out of school because my life will officially be over," Dawn had pleaded.
Buffy couldn't help rolling her eyes at the theatrical display, but then was hit with the reality that their mother would have moved mountains to make sure she wouldn't miss out. And so, she committed herself to providing an insane number of cupcakes for the bake sale being held to raise money for the trip. If the sale did well enough then Dawn could go and it wouldn't matter that she didn't have enough money to cover the phone bill that month. She had used the bulk of the budget to buy more than a dozen boxes of cake mix, powdered sugar, eggs, butter, and sprinkles.
She spent the entire morning and half of the afternoon baking before work, and she wasn't finished. Several dozen cupcakes later, she was sorely regretting her overly enthusiastic promise. It would all be worth it if it meant Dawn could go on the trip.
Never mind that she was barely keeping their heads above water. There were plenty of times she felt like she was drowning as she struggled to keep Dawn afloat. That was nothing new. Every day there was some new reminder of her inadequacies as a caregiver, but she was determined to turn things around and make the best of it. There was no reason Dawn needed to suffer any more than she already had just because her sister was the Slayer.
She had to do better.
"Hello, Goldilocks," Spike drawled, forcing Buffy out of her rambling thoughts. He was leaning against the cemetery gate.
"What do you want, Spike?"
"Haven't seen much of you as of late, was starting to think you were avoiding me after everything…" he replied, falling into step with her.
"I'm busy."
Spike placed a cigarette between his lips, lighting it. "What is it now, new big bad on the prowl, or has Red devised new and interesting ways of messing with people's lives - or deaths, as the case may be?" he asked, voice tight from the smoke held within his useless lungs.
"Not that kind of busy," she replied but didn't elaborate. She had to admit he had a point; she was grateful that Tara had found a coven out of town that they hoped could help Willow.
"Then what kind are we talking about here?"
"The kind that makes me seriously thankful I have the weekend off and the house all to myself," she spat and immediately regretted saying so much when she noticed the smirk on his face.
"That an invitation to breakfast?"
"Not even a little one."
He shrugged, tapping ash from the end of his cigarette. "Just seem tense is all. Thought maybe you'd be willing to talk, maybe see where it leads us."
A rock dropped in the pit of her stomach and continued lower, flowering into a flood between her thighs. Their kiss had been haunting her, but not nearly as much as Willow's memory spell gone wild. The fact that he hadn't turned into a feral killing machine spoke volumes.
He helped her and her friends, instead. He protected them, fought by her side, and followed her lead. The whole experience had triggered something in Buffy's mind that she couldn't shake, despite how desperately she tried.
"Spike, I really am busy. As in, I have way too much on my plate right now to even think about anything as stupid as a love life."
Spike's eyebrows went up. "Love life? Well now. Seems you have been thinking about me."
Buffy sighed heavily. "Don't you have a shark to pay off or something? I don't have time for this. I have to get home. I have stuff I have to do and I just can't deal with your innuendos and moon-eyes and— and all your seriously ridiculous crap right now!"
Spike rounded in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. "Why can't you see I'm only trying to help? It's what you do when you're in l—"
"Just stop, alright? Just don't."
"You don't have to be such a bitch about it." He flicked his cigarette butt to the ground at her feet and she crushed it under her boot, looking up at him.
He hadn't registered the tired look in her eyes and the defeated slump to her shoulders until then. Spike pressed his lips together, nodding stiffly. "Yeah. Alright. Maybe I'll check back when you've had time to rest up, yeah? Have a proper chat."
She sighed and rubbed her hand over weary eyes. "Sure. Fine. Whatever."
He bit the inside of his cheek, swallowing sourly. "Hold you to it, Slayer," he muttered before heading back towards the cemetery.
(*)
Buffy hung up her jacket and eyed the boxes of cake mix sitting out on the counter.
She had planned to make five different flavors; all the ones the grocery store offered, that is. The dining room table was already stacked with boxes of vanilla, red velvet, strawberry, and lemon cupcakes she made during her first round of marathon baking.
This left only one flavor on her to-do list.
Chocolate.
No big deal, right?
Wrong.
So wrong.
Thankfully, Dawn and Willow had handled the cleanup while Buffy was at work so she was able to just dive right in. Which is exactly what she did, after a quick degreasing in the shower.
The hot water helped ease some of the tension in her shoulders and revived her a little. She threw on a pair of cozy black pants and a soft black t-shirt.
If only…
She thought as she went through her mental checklist, tied her white apron, and got to work.
The first three batches went well enough. Unfortunately, what she had failed to consider when she saved the chocolate for last was the number of boxes she purchased. It turned out to be the majority of the cupcakes.
A deep ache settled between her shoulder blades while mixing up the fifth batch, so she went into the living room to rest her fatigued body once they were in the oven. Collapsing onto the couch, she flipped through the channels until she came upon a documentary on the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. She sat there, letting some of the tension relax out of her spine and legs while Doctor Someone went on about the various ways the ancient Egyptians would try to dissuade grave robbers.
She bolted upright at the sound of the fire alarm and the smell of chocolate cake burning some time later. Rubbing her eyes, Buffy rushed to the kitchen, threw open the back door to let out the smoke, and climbed up to turn off the alarm before it woke the rest of the house.
Black smoke rolled out of the oven, making her cough and her eyes water as she pulled out the charred cakes and dumped them straight into the garbage.
She took a moment to step out onto the back porch to wipe away her tears and planted her hands on her hips. Her eyes were still burning from the smoke and the sting of failure. She didn't even remember falling asleep in front of the TV. The thought that she could have burned down the house sent ice through her veins. She coughed again as the night air cleared the smoke from her lungs and soothed her frazzled nerves a fraction. She was burning the candle at both ends and was running out of wick.
Her stomach did a flip when she glanced at her watch and realized she had slept a good three hours. Time was running. She still had to finish the remaining three batches of cupcakes, make the frosting, decorate them, and get them packed up for the bake sale.
No pressure.
(*)
Buffy swiped the back of her hand across her brow, smearing powdered sugar into her hair just as Dawn dashed back into the kitchen in a rush. "Don't you have the next box done yet?"
Buffy glared at her sister as she added rainbow sprinkles to the last batch of cupcakes before wiping her hands impatiently on her apron, now covered in brown smudges from cupcake batter. She closed the lid on the large cake box and handed it over to Dawn. "Does Xander even have room for all of these?"
Dawn bit the inside of her cheek, seeming to realize how ungrateful she sounded. "The trunk and the back seat are pretty full, these will have to ride on my lap."
"Well, you two better get a move on," Buffy checked her watch, "bake sale starts in less than twenty minutes."
"You're not coming?" The disappointment in Dawn's voice spoke volumes.
"Not unless you're planning on staying here to clean up this mess."
"Ahh… I'm good! I should probably go and make sure Rachel and her mom don't try to claim credit for the cupcakes. Couple of—"
"Watch it! Xander said he would stay with you and cake-sit before taking you to Janice's."
"So Willow is still planning on going on that retreat thingy?" Dawn asked.
"She left about an hour ago, Tara's friend came to pick her up while you were in the shower. Look, if it helps her with the magic stuff, I'm all for it."
Xander's car horn blared from outside before Dawn could answer, making her jump. Buffy caught the cake box before it went flying out of her hands and shoved it more securely into her sister's grip. "Do you have your bag?"
"Tossed it in the trunk before the cupcakes."
"Good. Go on. The more you sell the better your chances of going on that trip. Now get out of here before Xan has kittens."
"Gone!" Dawn answered with a parting turn on her heel.
Buffy waved to Xander as he helped Dawn with the box, closed the front door, and went back into the kitchen. She cringed at the huge mess she had made. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to curl up and take a nap, but there was a mess to clean.
Buffy placed her hands on her hips and sighed, eyeing the half dozen "mistakes" that hadn't made the cut, and decided she deserved a sweet treat.
Then she'd tackle the clean-up.
She mixed herself a mug of hot chocolate, adding whipped cream on top. Her mom had always used marshmallows but Buffy preferred whipped cream. She set the canister on the counter and made herself comfortable on a stool in front of her snack. She peeled the paper cupcake liner away slowly, savoring the moment, and took a huge bite. An obscene moan bubbled forth and she was glad no one was around to hear. She couldn't remember the last time she had had the house to herself for an entire weekend and couldn't wait to enjoy the quiet.
Weekend plans:
Eat cupcakes
Clean up mess
Sleep
Bubble bath?
Yup, that's it. That's all I'm doing. I'm not even gonna answer the stupid phone…
She thought happily as she took another big bite of her cupcake.
The back door suddenly flew open and she turned towards it in shock, her mouth open and full of cake.
Steam rose from the shabby-looking blanket as Spike pulled it off himself and straightened his leather collar as though he hadn't just been smoldering. His eyes scanned the room and he tilted his head as he watched her with a bemused grin.
"What do you want?" Buffy asked thickly.
"Wouldn't mind one of those cakes if you got another, pet. Perhaps a bit more," he leered, tucking his tongue behind his teeth.
The sight made something snap in her gut. She set the rest of her cupcake down, and scowled up at him. "I'm busy."
He raised an eyebrow, casting his gaze around the unusually messy kitchen, while stepping toward the counter. "Can see that, planning on becoming a baker now? That grease trap of a job not working out for you, is it? No surprise."
Buffy slipped off her stool with a huff and went over to the sink, tossing in a couple of plastic measuring cups. A pang of guilt hit her chest for being caught standing around eating a cupcake in the middle of the chocolatey mess of her kitchen.
"Why are you here?"
"Said you had the house to yourself, thought I'd see if I could catch the elusive Slayer in her natural habitat. Instead, I find Buffy-Crocker. It's an interesting look on you," he smirked as he moved closer to her.
Buffy pulled the mixing bowl toward her and rolled her eyes, scraping out the batter still clinging to the sides. She had the spatula halfway to her mouth, about to lick the chocolate from it, when he leaned in. His eyes locked on hers as he licked one side of the spatula, tongue moving in a sinful way that was impossible to ignore.
The breath caught in her throat and her mouth went dry. She moved to jerk the spatula away, inadvertently sending batter flying. Fat tendrils landed in his hair, a stark contrast against his bleached locks.
"If it's a food fight you want — " His hand shot out, gripping her wrist and pulling her toward him, his other hand pressed into the small of her back.
"Let go," Buffy growled tiredly.
Spike cocked his head to the side and hummed. "Gonna make me, beautiful?"
Buffy kept her eyes locked with his as she reached for her abandoned cupcake with her free hand and shoved it in his mouth.
He took a startled step back, chewed, and swallowed. "Not bad, bit dry," he smirked.
Buffy laughed at the absurdity. "The cake is from a mix, what do you expect?" She shook her head and shoved the spatula back into the bowl, putting it down next to the sink with a clunk.
Spike stepped toward her, forcing her back a few steps, pressing her against the kitchen island with his hips flush against her. "Dunno, maybe I should try another one," he purred, leaning in to let his lips graze against hers in a tempting caress. "God you're sweet."
It was too much. Heat was starting to bubble within her core and without realizing it, she had started to melt into him. Spike pulled back from the kiss with a self-satisfied grin.
She was so distracted by his lips pressed against hers that she didn't even notice he had flicked the cap off the whipped cream with his thumb until he held it up with a wicked smile.
She brought her arm up in a block and wrestled the canister from him. "Spike! You ass!" Buffy screeched as some of the cream spurted out, flecking them in white.
Spike immediately ducked his head to lick off the large glob of whipped cream that landed on her cheek and moaned low in his throat. "Sweet and salty. You really are the whole bloody package," he growled.
She pulled back with a jerk and narrowed her eyes. "You want to play, huh?"
"All day and all night, Luv. You should know better than to threaten me with a good time."
Buffy knocked him back and pushed him hard against the sink. The smirk never left his face as he grabbed the mixing bowl.
"You wouldn't dare!" Buffy squealed as the batter began flying. It landed on her hair, speckling her skin with dark splotches. She darted to the half bag of leftover bright pink frosting and whipped back around, holding it up with two hands like a crossbow.
Spike's eyes blew wide as she squeezed the bag. It landed in thick broken streaks on his neck and black cotton-covered chest. A second squeeze of the bag decorated the lapels of his duster.
"Oi! Watch the leather!"
Buffy shrieked with laughter as he retaliated with cake batter.
Buffy scrambled for the whipped cream he had abandoned, pressing her index finger against the white tip, aiming it toward him. He caught her wrist, redirecting the spray towards the ceiling. A thick white streak of cream exploded from the end and rained down, decorating both of them with massive gobs.
Spike's grin widened further. He held her wrist in one hand and a chocolate-covered spatula in his other. "Got me all sticky sweet, what are you gonna do now, dirty girl?"
He caressed her wrist in slow circles with his thumb without releasing his hold, and the small movement sent electricity sparking through her body, constricting her throat.
"Do you have to be so disgusting?" Buffy asked breathlessly.
"Something tells me you don't find me nearly as revolting as you pretend," he purred. He raised the spatula to his mouth, giving it another lick, before reaching over to smear chocolate across her cheek with a smirk.
She startled and made a modest effort to grab the heavily coated spatula, causing more fat gobs of frosting to land on them.
Spike stilled, eyes fixed as he licked his bottom lip.
She looked down, trying to see what had caught his attention so completely, and rolled her eyes at the chocolate dripping down her cleavage. "Oh my God. You really do have a one-track mind don't you?"
His eyes shot back to hers briefly and he leaned in to nuzzle a clean spot by her ear. His breath tickled as he murmured, "Told you before, you're all I can bloody think about. I'm in love with you, Slayer."
She wasn't sure if she was just sleep-deprived or if it was purely the way his voice had made her skin tingle uncontrollably, but her resolve was crumbling. Any arguments she had previously made as to why she shouldn't give Spike a chance seemed to be melting away like a cookie in milk. "You keep saying that but - "
"But nothing, I could prove it to you if you'd give me half a chance." He shifted his hips against her, pressing himself into her lower abdomen as he pulled her even closer.
"Pretty sure that's just lust." A whole lot of lust and God that feels good…
"The two ain't exactly mutually exclusive in my experience."
Buffy snorted a dark laugh. "Oh yeah, like I believe that one."
"You've had it bad for far too long, sweetheart. Line of sodding wankers, the lot of 'em."
"And you're not?" she wondered aloud.
"Those gits didn't know a good thing when they had it. I do," he murmured against her skin before licking off another smudge of chocolate.
Buffy's heart was hammering away in her chest and she felt like she might choke on her tongue. "I'm not that great of a catch."
"Wrong. First time I ever saw you, I knew you were different. If I'd known then what I know now..." he let the sentence trail off, reveling in the feel of her taught body pressed against him.
"What do you know?" She whispered.
"Know you're afraid of gettin' hurt again for starters. Also know that I've been in this a bit longer than you have and I can guarantee I'm not going anywhere. You're pretty damn well stuck with me. Whether we take this any further or not," he finished quietly, desperately hoping she'd see the out for what it really was, a plea for her to let him into her heart.
Buffy bit her lip, tasting the sticky sweetness lingering there with the tempting flavor of his kiss. Her eyes searched his face, the pure devotion in his blue eyes reinforced his words and belied the smirk on his lips. He was frozen to the spot, waiting for her to make the next move.
She surged forward, pressing her lips against his. Spike growled into her mouth, pulling her closer to him with the hand still gripping her wrist, and rutted his hips against her. Buffy broke the kiss, gasping, bringing her mouth to his jaw, licking cake batter and whipped cream from his cool skin as she worked her way over to his earlobe.
The sensation made him shiver pleasantly. "More than a little surprised you don't seem to mind a mess," he whispered into her ear before clamping his mouth onto her neck with blunt teeth in a hard suck that made her quiver in response. He continued to work a line up her throat, seeking the underlying salty taste of her skin as he consumed every drop of chocolate.
Buffy let out a whimpering moan before regaining a little composure. "Don't be such a pig," she retorted. She hooked a leg behind his knee, and with a jerk, he was on the floor.
She followed him down, straddling his hips. His erection was more prominent than ever. She ground down on him, watching his pupils dilate until his eyes were nearly black.
"Who's straddling who, Slayer? Not that I'm complaining."
He wrapped the arm he had the spatula in around her upper body as she leaned down for another kiss. Spike strained his neck upward, using his tongue to separate her lips and deepen the kiss. Their tongues danced, the chocolate batter and vanilla frosting melding with her natural flavor spurred him on.
Buffy broke the kiss, panting desperately. A streak of chocolate decorating Spike's cheek caught her eye. A deep rumble escaped him as she licked it off with a soft moan.
"Fuck, Buffy," he cursed reverently, dropping his hand from her wrist still holding the whipped cream.
Buffy shifted herself a little further up his torso, moving herself off the undeniably impressive bulge pressing against her sex. The movement made Spike grip her thighs, as though he were afraid she might try to escape.
"Can't tease a bloke like this, and not—" his words were cut off as Buffy brought the whipped cream can up, squirting it into his open mouth. Spike moaned around the mouthful of cream swallowing some of it as he pulled himself up in a crunch, crashing his mouth against hers once more.
The act caught her by surprise as her tastebuds were assaulted by the sweet cream mixed with his unique flavor. There was a thin thread separating love and hate and she was desperately wondering which side she was on as she devoured his lips in a sugary kiss.
Her head swam drunkenly for a second and she realized with a jolt that the tightness in her chest was her body's way of begging for air. She pulled back slightly and Spike attacked a glob of chocolate and whipped cream starting to slip down her throat with his tongue. His mouth danced across her skin as he followed the sticky mess down and his grip on her thighs increased, fingers biting into her skin through her clothing as he pushed her back down his body until she was sitting atop his cock straining against the rough fabric of his jeans. Spike let out a sigh of pleasure as she ground down, the heat of her body driving him crazy.
She continued to rock against him between her legs, allowing her body and mind the chance to come to the overwhelming realization of just how badly she wanted what he had to offer. Buffy moved her hands to either side of his face, cupping his jaw as she shifted her legs out behind her, still straddling him before she broke the kiss to slide back down his body to sit across his thighs.
Her hands ran under his frosted shirt and over well-defined muscles, appreciating all of the dips and ridges, before starting on his belt buckle.
Spike eyed her lustfully as she worked to free him and chuckled a little when she jumped back in surprise like a kid with a Jack-in-a-box when she realized he wasn't wearing underwear."Alright there?" he asked, corking a smile.
Buffy glared at him as she pulled his jeans down and he toed off his boots letting them clunk to the floor before Buffy yanked the offensive garment off of him completely. Spike quickly shucked off his coat and in the blink of an eye, his shirt had joined the rest of his clothes.
"Oh my God!" Buffy laughed hysterically.
"What's so funny?" Spike asked.
"It's your hair," Buffy giggled, "you know, pink is a surprisingly good color on you."
Spike rolled his eyes toward his discarded shirt. Pink frosting was seeping through the dark fabric. "Bloody hell," he grumbled, swiping a hand through his hair. His fingers came away with a large glob of pink frosting.
Buffy laughed at the annoyed scowl on his face and he flung the frosting in her direction, splattering her chest and stomach in a sticky pink mess. Buffy giggled as he reached for her but she pulled out of his reach with a wide grin. He flopped back down to lay on his frosting-covered coat on the floor with a defeated chuckle.
"You've got me stripped naked and covered in confectionery, don't get much sweeter than this."
Buffy smirked and grabbed the whipped cream again. "Ohh, I don't know about that."
"Wicked girl," he gasped, as Buffy ran her hand up his length, smoothing his cock against his stomach. She proceeded to use the whipped cream to draw a line on the underside of his member and he yelped with surprise.
She smirked down at her work. "Looks good enough to eat."
"Oh God, Buffy," he groaned.
Buffy shifted herself into a more comfortable position between his legs and began licking her way up his shaft, cleaning the whipped cream from him with glee. She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with him. One look at Spike's face was all she needed to know the whipped cream had been a winning move.
His eyes were nearly closed in bliss as he watched her lick the white confection from him. When she swirled her tongue around his tip and took him into the warmth of her mouth, his whole body convulsed. Spike's head arched back and his hips surged upward with a jolt. "Bloody hell, Slayer, you're gonna burn me up."
Instead of pulling back, she opened her jaw allowing him to push further down her throat. "Oh fuck!" he moaned, as she took him down as far as possible.
Spike dug his fingers into her hair, still sticky with cupcake batter, as she swirled her tongue around, moving up and back down his shaft again so that his tip hit the back of her throat. "God! Fucking— Buffy!" he growled.
A smile threatened to tug at the corner of her lips as they strained to wrap around his perfectly formed cock. She dipped her head quickly several times, hollowing out her cheeks as she sucked his smooth length.
His strong fingers massaged the back of her neck soothingly as he guided her head while she worked him to the brink.
Spike inhaled sharply as Buffy pulled away with a slight 'pop'.
Spike opened his eyes as he pulled her up to kiss him with a tiny growl. "Afraid you won't get yours?" he grinned.
"Maybe."
"Oh, ye of little faith. I'm gonna make sure you get a whole baker's dozen just for doubting me, cupcake. I might be a lot of things but a stingy lover sure as hell ain't one of 'em." Spike's grin grew even wider at the momentary confusion on her face. He found her ear with gently prodding teeth and whispered, "Think you'll find I'm generous to a fault."
He wrapped his arms around her as he spoke, untying her apron strings with deft fingers, pulling it away from her. He moved his hands under the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head to reveal one of her more comfortable bras. It was a soft green one with just a hint of lace along the bottom edge.
A gasp escaped her lips as his meaning sank in and her jaw dropped slightly. Spike brought his lips back for another kiss, making heat flood between her legs as his naked body rubbed against her core. Before she knew it, her hips started to move over him on their own accord, grinding down and relishing the feel of him, even through the fabric of her pants.
A sudden release of tension around her ribcage alerted her to the fact he had unlatched her bra. She pulled back letting the green straps fall down her arms. He tugged lightly, tossing it to the side, letting his lust-filled gaze take her in fully.
His eyes shifted slowly to a spot where a large drip of batter stood in brilliant contrast against her pale gold skin. Spike surged forward, licking the chocolate off her chest and working his lips over to latch onto a nipple. Buffy let out a squeak of surprise that turned into a moan as his tongue slipped over her pebbled flesh, sending a shot of lightning through her body down to her core.
"Oh, God, Spike!"
He adjusted his hold on her. One hand pressed against her back and the other gripped her thigh, and he rolled her onto her back. Spike slid his hand out from under her to wipe some of the bright pink icing from her temple with his thumb in a tender caress. "Please tell me you want this as much as I do," he murmured.
"You're asking now?" she panted breathlessly.
He lowered his gaze to her flushed lips and gave a microscopic nod. "I just need to hear it, Buffy, I need to know this is real for you."
"Says the guy I just licked whipped cream off of."
He smirked, pressing into her again for a long kiss. "That was glorious, but you didn't exactly answer the question."
He was giving her yet another chance to back out, but there was something in his hard stare that told her this was the point of no return.
"I want you, Spike."
"Do you really? Not gonna kick me in the head and out the door once you've had your wicked way with me?" he asked, kissing her temple where the frosting had been, all while continuing to grind his hips against her, pressing his forehead against hers. It was an intensely intimate gesture that made the breath freeze in her lungs.
She hesitated, reading more deeply into the question.
For all his cocky swagger, constant innuendos, and sexual prowess, he was just as afraid of rejection as she was. Maybe even more so.
"I want this. Right here on my kitchen floor, apparently, because I don't think I have enough self-control to even make it to the couch right now with you rubbing against me like that," she replied and Spike instantly stopped.
Buffy could feel his back muscles stiffen under her fingertips as he pulled back to see her better. She rolled her eyes, huffing playfully. "Now can you for once just shut up and get started on that baker's dozen you owe me," she demanded with a coy smirk.
The glint in his eye made her suddenly thankful to Dr. Someone from the Cairo Museum for providing her with the impromptu nap she undoubtedly needed. Even if it had cost her a whole tray of cupcakes and nearly caused a fire. No sign of her previous fatigue seemed to be showing through now. It was as though every fiber of her being was alight in response to him, demanding to feel his skin on hers.
"My pleasure darling," he murmured seductively as he reached for the can of whipped cream that had rolled to the base of the kitchen island. He smirked as he swirled whipped cream over each nipple. The cold teased her sensitive skin and sent a shiver through her body, then downward.
"Don't suppose you've got cherries to top off my sweet treat?" He purred.
"Oh my God, you never shut up do you?"
"What can I say, kitten, I like to keep my mouth occupied," he grinned before assaulting her breast with his tongue and teeth. Licking and nipping.
He latched on, sucking hard until she arched up into him and he worked his free hand down to her waistband, slipping his fingers down to find her sex, feeling her swollen nub and making her buck up into his hand. "That's it, kitten," he murmured against her other breast before licking the whipped cream off.
Sensation overwhelmed her as her first orgasm started to build quickly. "S- Spike!" she screamed as her hips pressed up to his hand begging for more.
He rubbed himself against her thigh as he dipped two fingers into her heat, working her up until she was dripping with desperation. He added a third finger, pumping into her and granting her release in a crashing wave.
Her body shuddered hard but he wasn't about to relent. Spike shifted back onto his knees above her, stripping off her pants and underwear in one fluid motion that made her whimper in anticipation. He kissed his way down her smooth stomach and over her hip. His soft lips brushed over sensitive skin making her whine. "For someone who's been shunning my advances for so long, you seem awfully eager now."
"Denial is a major bitch," she gasped.
Spike chuckled against her skin. "That it is, sweetheart, and I'm gonna show you what you've been denying us both," he breathed before gripping her behind the knees to gain access to her center.
He latched onto her inner thigh with blunt teeth, sucked until he'd pulled her skin into his mouth, leaving a dark welt behind, and moved to a fresh spot a few inches from the first. While he sucked he pressed two fingers back into her welcoming heat, crooking them upward until a jolt of electricity rushed through her and she started bucking against him. He increased the pressure of his mouth as he worked his fingers inside of her, purposefully avoiding her clit for the moment.
She dug her hands through his hair in an attempt to push his head towards her sex but Spike simply bit down harder. Buffy came again with a shivering moan, drenching his fingers. With a tender swirl of his tongue, he soothed the mark he'd left on her inner thigh and pulled back to kneel over her. He removed his fingers from her, letting her watch as he sucked her slick release from them with a moan. "God, you're bloody delicious."
She was struggling to get her breathing under control. "Don't be gross."
"I'm not. You're fucking ambrosia," he growled.
As though to prove his point, Spike pushed her legs even further, anchoring her thighs on his shoulders as he lowered his mouth down to kiss a short path from his mark to her center. They both let out a moan as he licked a line up her slit, kissing and sucking on her folds, adding tiny nips that made her whimper. He used his hands on her thighs to gently separate her folds a little more and drew her clit between his teeth, flicking it with his tongue until she broke with her release. He lapped at her opening, desperate not to let any of her essence go to waste.
The last orgasm had left Buffy feeling completely boneless. Spike crawled up her slim form, making her overstimulated body jump and twitch with nips and kisses along her skin. He rested himself on top of her, cock nestled between her legs and she rolled her head to meet his eyes drunkenly. "I guess I shouldn't have doubted you."
"I'm not finished. I still owe you a few more. I'm sure I can think of a few ways you could make it up to me if you'd like," he grinned wickedly as he pumped his hips.
Buffy moaned as she wrapped her legs around him, and tilted her hips to receive him. Spike slipped his hard member into her with only a few pumps of his hips. The connection created a searing intensity between them. It made her bite back a scream.
Spike paused his thrust, taking a moment to let her body adjust to the sudden fullness while peppering her skin with kisses. "You're a bloody wonder, so tight for me," he growled as he began a steady pace.
Buffy unfurled one leg from around him, moving it out to the side to make more room for his girth. Without so much as pausing the movement of his hips, Spike gripped her calf in one strong hand and pushed her leg up to rest on his shoulder.
The new position made stars erupt behind her eyelids as the tip of his cock repeatedly hit a spot that sent sparks dancing throughout her body. She squeezed the leg still wrapped around his waist, digging her heel into his ass cheek.
Buffy threw her head back with a scream of pleasure as she broke around him. Back arching and her inner walls clenching so hard that it was all Spike could do just to keep up his pace, prolonging her pleasure as long as he possibly could. With several more hard thrusts, Buffy's body went rigid, her leg muscle began to shake uncontrollably with another orgasm as she dug furrows into his back.
The sting from her nails was like a drug. He rocked his head back in response to the deep scratches blooming across his pale skin. Buffy suddenly gripped the back of his head firmly, bringing him to her for a hard-biting kiss, pulling his bottom lip in her teeth and sending Spike shivering against her. His hips jerked as his release ripped through his body emptying into her, filling her up, and sending her over the edge yet again.
Spike swallowed the sound as Buffy screamed into the kiss. He continued to pump into her, milking every drop of pleasure from both of their bodies as they started to come down. Spike lavished kisses on her throat, mottling the skin with his teeth and lips and making Buffy squirm beneath him.
"Spike… Spike…" Buffy gasped dazedly.
He pulled back a few inches, meeting her eyes. "You alright there, Goldilocks?"
Buffy nodded, throat dry and raw from her panting screams. "I just — need a minute…"
Spike ran his fingers through her hair, but the sugary mess started to dry and barred his progress. He moved his hand down to splay his fingers across her ribcage, kissing her tenderly as he rolled them onto their sides, and holding her flush against him. "I love you, Buffy."
"Spike—"
He pressed a finger to her lips. "I'm only asking for a chance. That's all."
Her breathing had returned to normal and she swallowed hard before nodding seriously. He had already proven himself after everything with Glory, his care of Dawn, and he had been there for her more than her own friends since her return.
Hell, he's already come through with nearly half of his promised orgasms. No point going all bitch mode now. Even if he did just totally destroy my solo weekend plans…
A smile tugged at her lips as she sat up slowly. "You get the weekend."
He propped himself up on an elbow with an eyebrow raised. "The weekend? What am I, a cabana boy? Little holiday romp?"
Buffy's jaw clenched. "No. Not like —" she sighed in irritation, "I just thought maybe we could…" she trailed off wrapping a self-conscious arm over her stomach. It was an act of vulnerability she rarely showed.
Spike sat up with a smooth contraction of his abs, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him. "Test the waters without interruption, that it?"
She nodded. "Something like that," she admitted softly.
He eyed her curiously, dropped his hands down her arms, and gave a shrug as he pulled himself up to stand. The movement surprised her and she sat looking up at his thin well-muscled form, feeling a little dumbfounded and suddenly lonely.
"Yeah alright. I'll play your little game of house. If you do something for me," he said as he plucked the wrapper off of a wonky cupcake.
She pulled herself up to stand next to him, eyebrows raised as she watched him take a bite of the cupcake. "What's that?" she asked.
Spike swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing interestingly. "That you give this thing a fair shake and admit I'm not the only fool in love here."
She shifted her position against the counter, surprised by how comfortable they were with each other, even standing naked in her disaster of a kitchen. She had been getting more and more comfortable around Spike for a long time now, slipping easily into a solid friendship. Now they had crossed a line, more than a line, it was a cavernous expanse. But love?
Buffy nodded her head slowly. "I'll admit there is something between us. Something big. I just — can we go slow?"
Spike snorted a laugh. "Think we already threw 'slow' into the sodding Hellmouth."
She rolled her eyes. "All right, fine, maybe not 'slow'. Can we at least try for private? Just keep it between us. For now?"
He shoved the rest of his cupcake into his mouth, mulling over her words before he spoke. "Yeah, all right. A gentleman doesn't kiss n' tell. Even a dead one. However, I'm not gonna stay locked in the dark for long you hear me? I won't be your dirty little secret."
"Just give me some time to wrap my head around all this, alright?"
Spike smiled as he moved to press himself against her, dipping his head to tease at one of the marks he had left on her neck. She pressed into him, flattening her breasts against his chest with a little moan.
Spike's grin grew wider. "I think I can do that. What exactly do you have in mind for this quiet weekend of ours anyway?"
It was Buffy's turn to grin as she pulled a clump of pink frosting out of his hair. "Well, I was about to clean up the kitchen before you showed up."
He looked around at the mess. Clothes, cake batter, frosting, and whipped cream dotted every
surface. "Ahh huh— right. Suppose I am not going to get out of the cleanup, am I?"
"The mop and bucket are in the hall closet," she grinned, pushing him back from her playfully.
He smirked at the sweet domesticity of the situation he'd found himself in and bent down to grab her discarded apron, tying it around his waist. "What do you think?" he asked, turning for her with a confident swagger. He flexed his ass cheeks in her direction, clearly proud of himself.
Buffy couldn't help a laugh. "You're deranged."
"You know you love it," he teased as he went to get the cleaning supplies.
(*)
The kitchen started to sparkle and shine in far less time than Buffy could have imagined with the two of them working together. She had just finished doing the dishes when Spike joined her at the sink to rinse out the rag he used on the cabinets. "Think that's it," he announced mirthfully.
Buffy gave a tired sigh as she pulled the plug to drain the dirty dishwater and turned to face him. "Thanks for the help," she murmured, "I'm in serious need of sleep."
He leaned in, pinning her to the edge of the sink. She threw their clothes in the wash so the only thing between them was Spike's stolen apron covered in smudges of pink and brown.
"Think there's a bit of cleaning to do before that, don't you? Still feeling a bit sticky and not just from your sweet little self," he crooned in her ear.
His tone had sent molten heat through her lower abdomen. A shower. Obviously he means a shower. Duh, Buffy. But does he mean sex in the shower? I know people do it but…how? How does that even work?
Buffy swallowed down her uncertainty. "Yeah, shower and —"
"Oh, there will be as much 'and' as you can handle."
(*)
Buffy placed a couple of fresh towels on the bathroom counter as steam started to rise from the shower. Spike's strong nimble hands wrapped around her waist and she looked up to see herself seemingly alone in the mirror, her own wide eyes reflecting back at her in a haze. His fingers trickled lower, teasing her folds. Buffy let out a little sigh, tilting her head back against his shoulder and allowing him access to plant open-mouthed kisses on her throat.
Spike pulled back from her with a wicked grin on his lips and stepped into the shower, holding his hand out to her gallantly. The gesture seemed incongruous coming from him and yet somehow fit. Buffy placed her hand in his. Following him into the warm water, he pulled her to his chest, holding her tightly against him under the spray while pink and brown streaks melted away from their bodies and swirled around the drain.
Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike's back as his hands roamed freely over her body. She tilted up for a soft kiss that quickly grew in intensity as he rested one hand on her ass, and another began fondling a breast. He worked his way over her jaw, lavishing kisses down her neck and shoulder before spinning her around in his arms to press her back against his chest. The act made Buffy shiver despite the hot water, unsure of what was coming next.
To her surprise, Spike started rubbing his hands through her hair, working shampoo into her golden tresses and dispelling the batter that had dried in a sticky mess. Buffy tilted her head back with a little moan, enjoying the feel of his fingers on her scalp. "Oh my God, Spike, my hairdresser isn't even this good."
He chuckled, "Yeah well you could say I have a lot of practice doing this sort of thing."
She was about to ask him about it when his soapy hands started working over her body, completely wiping away any further thoughts along with the sugary glaze still clinging to her skin.
She spun around in his arms, pressing her soap-covered breasts to his chest and letting the water rinse bubbles down her skin as she pressed into him for a kiss. Spike twined his fingers into her hair and their tongues fought for dominance.
Buffy hummed contentedly as she pulled back, grabbing the shampoo bottle with a smirk. "My turn," she said, playfully.
Spike dipped his head in acquiescence, giving her easier access to his now pale pink locks. Pink bubbles frothed around her fingers as she worked his hair into a lather.
Huh, I seriously wonder if Captain Peroxide is about to become Mr. Pink? The thought made her giggle.
Spike didn't even move. "You're laughing at the pink aren't you?" he sighed.
"Uh-huh," she snickered.
"Bloody hell, how bad is it?"
"You look like a Mr. Bubble ad," Buffy giggled and bit her lip. "I mean it will probably just rinse out."
"You done?"
She bit back a laugh and nodded. "Uh- hu—"
He rolled his eyes as he tipped his head back into the spray, sending pink swirling down the drain. He pulled his head out from the spray, running a hand over wet needles of hair and flicking her with soapy water.
"All right, let's have it. How bad is it?" He asked.
Buffy pressed her lips together again and tilted her head. "It doesn't look too bad. Might be just a little pink in the front there."
He growled, picked up the shampoo and washed his hair a second time. "How about now?"
"I think you're good."
"All I need— sodding pink hair," he huffed.
Buffy giggled as he washed himself quickly.
The ease between them was growing unexpectedly fast, but in retrospect, maybe she should have seen it coming. It was nice having moments like this with him. She was convinced that if she let him in he would change for the worse. Become expecting or demanding. Especially given the way he had been fondling her earlier, she had assumed the shower would be less cleaning and more dirtying. Not that she didn't see more sex coming in the very near future, especially given the way his cock is bobbing against his leg, but there was something innately comforting in the pace they were setting. He wasn't behaving at all the way she had expected him to. She realized with a jolt that she probably should have expected to see this side of him if she'd only been willing to see it before, rather than dwell upon her past relationships.
Buffy turned, pulling him into a tender, lingering kiss that surprised even her. He was full of pleasant surprises, and she wanted to explore that side of him more. Everything seemed to be so unexpected and yet thoroughly, intensely, breathtakingly, insatiably— wonderful. And all she could think was how much she wanted more.
As though reading her thoughts, Spike pulled her to him again, his now firm member bobbing against her thigh. "Didn't think I'd welch on our deal, did you?" he whispered in her ear, planting kisses along her jawbone.
Buffy let out a little whimper. "I was sort of wondering when we were going to get to the fun part of this shower."
In response, Spike gripped her hips, turning her around again and pulling her ass to press against his cock as he moved his left hand between her legs, teasing gently at first and quickly picking up the pace. She arched her back against him squirming in his grasp as she reached behind herself to stroke him.
He took a half step back, just out of reach. "Keep those greedy little claws to yourself, kitten, I'm working here," he teased.
She wasn't used to having a lover pay so much attention to her needs while seemingly ignoring his own. It was another thing she never expected from Spike. Yet here he was, seeing to her needs in the form of more orgasms than she ever even thought possible.
He built her up quickly with two fingers buried inside her and had her panting with her head resting against the shower wall in no time at all, providing her with two more in quick succession.
He bent over her, kissing her shoulder blades and working his way up her neck. "Bloody hell you're gorgeous when you come. I fucking love hearing you scream for me," he growled, pressing himself up against her backside.
Buffy reached for him again and he caught her wrist, pinning her hand against the wall before doing the same with her other hand. "Keep those there," he murmured as he skimmed his fingers back up her arms to her shoulders and around to cup her breasts.
Spike rolled her nipples between his fingers, pinching lightly at first and then increasing the pressure as he rubbed his length against her ass. Her body was singing with tension. The remnants of her previous orgasms made her inner muscles ache as he built her up yet again.
Buffy let out a strained cry, she was on the edge of her next release. Could feel the pressure building up like a dam about to burst and yet it seemed so far away. She began whimpering, her body begging for relief.
"That's it, baby. Bloody fucking hell you're making me so hot right now," he growled in her ear.
She let out another moan, finding words nearly impossible. It took her two more tries to find her voice as he continued to work her breasts, her pussy throbbing, practically crying out for attention. "Spike- I- I need— gah, I need—"
In response, he released her breasts, moving his hands to her nape, as though about to give her a massage. He dug his thumbs in on either side of her spine before dragging firm fingertips down in a clawing motion the length of her back, to her tailbone, and moving around to cup her cheeks.
The delicious sting his fingers left behind was such a shock to her overworked system that it sent a wave of pleasure wracking through her body as he gripped her hips and ground his cock flat against her wet skin. She nearly fell over from the power of her release, but he held her up as she came hard. Wave after wave seemed to hit her as he held her there kissing every inch of flesh within reach.
"Fuck- you're amazing, Buffy—" Spike moaned as he adjusted his hold on her with her back still pressed against his chest. He continued his adoration by caressing the back of her neck with the tip of his nose before making her break yet again with a hard kiss on her nape with teeth and tongue. He continued to hold her firmly against him as she came down from her most recent high. The skin-to-skin contact was having a visceral grounding effect on her, and her breathing eventually evened out slowly.
Buffy shifted herself against him, regaining a little more balance, and Spike took it as his cue to let his hands start wandering over her body again. She eased into him, beginning to feel utterly relaxed for the first time in, well, years really.
He brought a hand to the join between her thighs, slipping a single finger over her clit, barely applying any pressure at all before yet another shockwave was rushing through her body, making her double over. She planted a flat palm and forearm against the wall of the shower and swore, "Holy shit. How is that even fair?"
Spike let out a laugh, "Are you complaining?" The smirk in his voice was audible even through the pounding of her heart in her chest.
"I don't know if I can take any more, Spike."
He pulled her up, turning her to face him and holding her firmly so she wouldn't topple over. Her legs were like rubber. "I've got you, Luv. You know, by my count I'm fairly certain I still owe you at least one more," Spike said with a devilish grin as though he were daring her to surrender. Both of them knew she could and more importantly, would take more.
"Shut up and fuck me, vampire."
"Careful what you wish for, pet," he said, turning her back around to face the shower wall with her hands braced against it, just as before.
He squared up against her hips, caressing the roundness of her pert ass while moving in towards her pubic bone and down, to caress her thighs. Buffy let out a moan in anticipation as he placed a hand on her upper back, gently forcing her to bend over slightly against the wall.
Spike brought his hand back, plunging into her slick core from behind, two fingers pumping into her in slow, steady strokes. "God, you're so fucking wet."
"Shower, dummy," she huffed breathlessly, a slight annoyance coloring her tone.
"Not that kind of wet. You're utterly soaked," he murmured as he started to push his fingers deeper, hitting a bundle of nerves that had her whimpering. He moved the tips of his fingers in slow, hard circles, building her up and it was all she could do to hold on.
Buffy whimpered as he pulled his fingers out, and she turned to look over her shoulder at him. She watched as he licked his fingers with a look on his face that most people reserve for things like hot fudge or tiramisu. A tiny rumble of pleasure radiated from his throat.
"So damn sweet. Can't get enough of you, darling," he purred as he anchored her to him with a hand wrapped around the front of her thigh. He moved back a little, giving himself space to align his shaft with her dripping entrance, and pushed his tip in easily.
Yet another wave crashed through her, almost immediately as he filled her up, stretching her wide. Eliciting a pleasured moan from each of them in unison. Spike swore again at the feeling of Buffy's muscles clamping around his cock. "Fucking hell, you're tight," he growled as he slowly started to pump into her. He moved a hand around to her clit, rubbing her mercilessly while continuing to pump into her, building up to the final release. "Ready for me, Luv?"
An unintelligible whine escaped Buffy's lips, her mind felt like it was firmly encased in a chrysalis of bliss making her incoherent, and initially unable to respond. She could feel his release nearing. The pressure inside of her was climbing towards a breaking point.
"I can't hear you, Slayer. Are you coming with me or not?"
Again words alluded her and she swallowed hard, rasping out a desperate, "Y-yes! Yes… Spike! Yes!" she screamed.
He held one hand firmly against her stomach and snaked his other arm around her torso, placing his arm between her breasts, hand splayed across her chest. He pulled her into him, still pumping into her from behind, her legs gave out with the power of the orgasm as he spilled into her with almost violent force.
They stood, clutching onto each other, Spike still at her back, his arms wrapped around her and she found herself gripping onto his strong arms for comfort and support. There was something about feeling him wrapped around her that was like a drug she needed more of.
I could get used to this, she thought.
"Me too, pet," he hummed drunkenly and she realized that she must've said it out loud.
She thought her natural instinct would have been to pull away and offer denials but it was just the opposite. She was so utterly satisfied that she just clung to him tighter, wrapping his arms around her with a nearly crushing force that felt like a favorite blanket on a cold stormy night. A weightless feeling washed over her in her blissful, hazy delirium. She dimly registered that Spike had already wrapped her in a warm towel and was carrying her, bridal style to her bedroom.
He laid her down against the pillows, stripping off his towel and using it to help her dry her hair. "Hey, you in there, Goldilocks? You alright?"
She took a deep breath in, slowly aligning her conscious thoughts, and gave a happy little hum. "Yeah, I'm here, just sleepy. Not sure if I'll be able to walk for a few days but I'm awesome," she answered drunkenly.
"I want to be flattered, sweetheart, but I've seen you train longer than our little romp and barely break a sweat." He sat next to her, concern on his face as he pulled the towel off her head and draped it over her shoulders.
She shifted a little. "I'm just tired. I'm running on about three hours of sleep here."
Spike frowned at that. "You need your rest, lamb."
"Tell that to the stack of bills on the counter, Dawn, work, and I didn't even mention all the creepy crawlers that seem determined to make my life miserable. No one cares that it's killing me. Again."
"I do."
The simple statement filled the room. Two little words that carried so much weight, she wasn't even sure what to do with it.
Buffy cleared her throat. "You do?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "You really must be tired because I know you're not that thick." He smirked as he stood up. He extracted the towels from her. "You want your sleep clothes?"
"I guess," she shrugged, pointing out her pajama drawer. He pulled out a pair of flannel pajama bottoms with little doughnuts printed on them and a pink T-shirt after a few seconds of rummaging, and handed them to her. She pulled them on, not even bothering to worry about underwear, and was a little startled when he started combing her hair.
Spike helped her slip under the covers when he had finished. "Scoot," he said, giving her a soft smile.
"What are you doing?" she murmured.
"What? I'm not allowed to fancy a kip?" he teased.
She slid over, giving him room to spoon in behind her with an arm wrapped around her snuggly, his face burrowed into her still-damp hair. "Thank you," she murmured.
"For what?" came his soft reply.
"For today."
She was amazed by how easy everything seemed to be with him. Everything had been so hard lately, so hard and rough, and she was feeling like she was just so overwhelmed with it all. She had no idea how her mother used to handle everything.
But then her mother wasn't the Slayer. Her mother had gone to school and had a career before she even had children. Buffy had the weight of the world thrust upon her at the age of 15, without a chance to figure out what life even meant. Then that was the point of the Slayer; she wasn't meant to live this long.
Those heavy thoughts hit her again as she pulled Spike's arm around her more snuggly, forcing him to practically lay on top of her. His weight provided a comfort she had missed for so long.
He chuckled. "Told you I could be generous to a fault. Glad you enjoyed yourself."
She snorted a sleepy laugh without opening her eyes. "Not that, you dope. Okay, well yeah, I mean that, all of that, but not just— What I mean is thank you for everything today. Helping me clean up and just being here, too. You're cozy and nice to talk to."
"My pleasure. Now, shh, Luv, get some sleep."
Her last thought before she drifted off to sleep was just how much she had needed this. Needed him.
(*)
Darkness showed outside of Buffy's window when she woke to the feeling of Spike's fingers trailing along her arm in smooth, gentle strokes. She gave a little hum of approval before registering the fact that he was still there in her bed and shifted herself, so she could roll over to see him.
He greeted her with a slow smile, the embodiment of pure contentment. "Sleep well, pet?"
She squirmed awkwardly. Her tired mind had her half-convinced their time together had been nothing more than a sexually charged dream. "You're here."
He raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yeah. You finally invited me into your bed, where the hell else would I be?"
That threw her a little. I dunno— Getting coffee, doing generally shitty stuff behind my back, planning your next conquest, plotting my utter humiliation and the end of the world? Man, I really have a craptastic track record.
"I— eh- What are you doing?" she asked, looking to run as far away from that line of thought as possible.
"We've been asleep most of the day, figured you'd want to do your Chosen One thing and go out on patrol."
She dipped her face down between the pillow and his neck mumbling unintelligibly.
Spike snickered, "Huh?"
She turned her head towards him, a little, peering up at him shyly. "I'm boycotting the Hellmouth and taking the weekend off."
Spike laughed, "Yeah alright. Things have been a bit on the quiet side these last few nights, only took down two fledges last night after you left the cemetery."
Buffy sat up. "Wait, you got two more in the cemetery?"
"No, course not. As knackered as you were, I figured you were just trying to get rid of me to go Rip VanWinkle yourself so I went and did a full patrol. Got one by campus and another outside the Bronze. Like I said, slow night."
"Seriously?"
Spike shook his head with a soft laugh. "Come on, bet you're hungry, let's get some food and we can discuss this boycott idea."
"I don't think we have any blood…"
"You do unless someone's cleaned out the freezer. Nibblet used to keep a few packs in an old box of frozen waffles for me. Had 'bout three in there at last count."
She blinked at him several times as he slipped out of bed. Naked Spike was a very nice sight. She sighed as she remembered their clothes were in the washer and she hadn't switched it over to the dryer yet. "Do you want some pants?"
"Don't think yours will fit."
She rolled her eyes. "I think my sweats will be fine."
Spike put on the offered faded-red sweatpants with a skeptical glare and the two of them made their way downstairs. They chatted companionably as Spike thawed out some frozen blood for himself in the microwave and Buffy made them both eggs and toast.
The two of them settled in the living room, snuggled on the couch, watching a movie, and talking as though they did this all the time. Buffy realized with a twinge in her stomach that they really could do this all the time. If she could just be honest with herself and her friends.
And Spike.
Buffy twisted in her place curled in next to him on the couch and flicked off the TV.
"Oi! Was watching that!" Spike complained.
"I think we need to talk."
Spike's eyes became slightly distant and he set his jaw. "Thought we had a deal. You give me a fair chance for the weekend."
"No, that's not- I mean it's—" she hesitated, her eyes darting to the moon shining through the window.
Spike shifted away from her slightly, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his thighs, and turned his head to look at her. "Just say it would you? You know what? No. I don't want to hear it." he stood up abruptly, looking utterly heartbroken, "We've been having a laugh, getting on well. I know we got something damn good between us! Got a taste of it, tested the waters and all that rot and it's good. I know this is good, Buffy, and I ain't gonna let you throw it away just because you're too fucking afraid to take a chance!"
A lump had formed in her throat and she reached for her glass of wine on the coffee table, taking a drink to wash it away before meeting his eye. "Are you done?" she asked calmly.
He nodded, looking a little like a child trying to hide a broken figurine.
"Come here."
Spike took a few uncomfortable steps toward her, accepting the hand she held out to him. She pulled him down to resume his seat.
"Buffy?" he asked tentatively.
She eyed him. "I was going to say a weekend doesn't seem anywhere near long enough to test out a new relationship. It's kinda stupid right?" she asked as she ran her thumb over his knuckle. "I mean if I'm going to give you a chance it should be longer right? A couple of weeks at least, maybe even a few months anyway. Don't you think? I mean I don't know about years that might be push—"
Buffy was cut off when Spike's lips crashed into hers and he scooped her into his lap. The kiss deepened as he twisted his fingers into her hair. She pulled back gasping for breath. "Should I assume you like that idea?"
"You bet I do. God only knows how much I love you, Buffy."
Buffy cupped his cheek and gave him a sweet smile. "I'm pretty sure you're not alone in the love department, mister, but I might need a little more convincing."
"I do like a challenge."
Fin