Chapter Twenty-Seven – Positive Reinforcement

Buffy tugged a t-shirt over her head as Spike stepped into his briefs. "You don't have to wear shorts if you don't want to." She waved at the briefs. "You don't even have to wear those if you don't want to." She lifted the edge of her shirt, showing him that it was the only thing she had on. "I'm not wearing any. You can sleep naked if you're more comfortable that way."

"I slept raw in the first prison 'cause I didn't have a cellmate, but when I was in with Joe, I kept clothed."

She smiled over at him, "Well, this cellmate doesn't care if you sleep raw. In fact, she'd prefer if you did." She picked at her shirt, "And if you do, she will, too."

Spike swallowed hard then nodded and took the briefs off, tossing them into the hamper beside the dresser. He picked up his shorts and walked them over to the closet as Buffy smiled then stripped her shirt off, tossing it in the direction of the hamper. It landed in a heap on the floor in front of the dresser and Spike walked over and picked it up then put it in the hamper.

Buffy laughed, "So I think we've figured out that you're not a slob like me." She waved at the floor where the shirt had landed. "I'd have left it sitting there until I did laundry."

Spike shook his head with a quiet laugh as he picked up the rest of her clothes and the washcloth and carried them over to the hamper. "Got used to bein' tidy in prison. The other cons don't cotton to slovenly ways, and they'll correct any undesirable behaviors, so it's a good idea to keep yourself and your area clean."

"How do they correct behaviors?"

He shrugged, "One bloke on my pod decided he didn't need to shower." He smirked, "And no, it wasn't me when I was in lockdown. It was a new addition to our happy little family, and he didn't bathe for the first several weeks he was there. A group of five or six cons took it upon themselves to 'escort' him to the shower and 'assist' him with cleaning himself. The guards conveniently didn't notice the ruckus, or decided against intervening if they did, but he made sure to shower regularly from then on." Spike laughed, "Earned himself the nickname Squeaky, 'cause he was squeaky clean at all times."

Buffy scowled slightly and said, "Well, I'm not going to 'correct' you if you leave stuff laying around or don't clean something immediately after using it. After cleaning all day at work, I just don't feel like cleaning at home, but I'll get to it eventually, so you don't have to pick up after me if you don't want to. You're not my maid."

"I'm not doin' it 'cause I think you'll be cross with me if I don't. It's mostly ingrained at this point, and I'm not sure I could turn it off, not that I particularly want to. I enjoy a tidy space and clutter makes me a bit anxious." He smiled a little shyly over at her and said quietly, "And while you didn't 'correct' me, you did give me a reward for tidying."

"I did what now?"

A blush had joined his shy smile. "Before we went to get tacos, you told me how sexy it was that I'd cleaned and then you…"

Buffy smiled, "Oh, yeah. I guess that was some positive reinforcement, wasn't it?"

He was still blushing as he said, "I don't expect you to… positively reinforce me every time I tidy, though. I understand that it was unintentional, and I'll continue to clean without the expectation of…"

"It wasn't unintentional, I mean, it was in the sense that I wasn't trying to train you to clean for sex or anything. I just think a man being all domestic is sexy as hell, so if you keep cleaning, then you can expect me to find it hot, and if we have the time, I'll show you how hot it makes me." She walked over to him and leaned up for a kiss then murmured against his lips, "So if you like a 'tidy space' then expect to have lots of sex, especially if I get to see you doing the tidying." She brushed her fingertips down his chest and asked, "Want to go again or are you too tired?"

He gulped and said, "Not too tired, but… not sure if I can… don't know if it's been long enough for me to… but I'll… uh… tongue you, if you like." She slid her hand further down and wrapped it around him then gently started stroking. He looked down and said, "Guess it's been long enough," as he hardened in her hand.

She smiled. "Yeah, the refractory period for men your age isn't very long." She nodded at the bed. "Do you want to try something new or go with what you know already works?"

He moaned quietly as her strokes sped up a little and said, "Up to you, pet. I'll do whatever you want me to."

"Did your book say anything about doggy style?"

He glanced at the bed then nodded. "Yeah, you want me to stand on the floor or kneel behind you on the bed?"

"Which way did the book bird like more?"

"Standing."

"Okay." She knelt up on the edge of the bed then bent forward and planted her hands on the bed and looked at him over her shoulder. "Like this?"

He swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah, just like that. Uh… let me grab a condom." He walked over to the nightstand and took out a condom and the lube. He briefly considered putting on two condoms so he'd hopefully last long enough for Buffy to get off, but he wasn't sure if that would damage him in some fashion, and now didn't seem to be the right time to ask. He quickly rolled the condom on then applied a generous dollop of lube before walking over to the hamper to retrieve the still damp washcloth to clean off his hand.

He stepped up behind her and asked quietly, "You want me to do anything 'fore I, um…"

"No. I'm ready. I want you in me, Spike, and I want it hard."

He swallowed hard again and set himself against her then slowly pushed in, voicing a loud moan. He felt a little relief that he wasn't ready to blow just from sliding into her, likely due to the earlier climax, but she felt so good that he still wasn't sure he'd last long enough. He gripped her hips and started thrusting, her breathing and moans quickly becoming louder than the sound of skin slapping against skin.

She dropped to her elbows, changing the angle slightly, and gasped over her shoulder after several thrusts, "Right there, Spike, just like that. Oh god, I'm so close."

He gritted his teeth then braced his feet and continued pounding into her, rocking her forward with each thrust. He was concentrating so hard on her pleasure that he'd mostly forgotten about his own as she panted and gripped the blanket tight in her fists. She pushed back against him and tensed, her arms sliding out to the side and dropping her face onto the bed. She moan-screamed into the blanket as she pulsed around him. He slid out slightly then thrust back in, pulling her tightly against him until she stopped convulsing. When she'd relaxed, she turned her head, breathing out a satisfied moan of, "Oh my god. I can't feel my legs."

He carefully slid out then helped her roll onto her side. She was breathing hard as she smiled up at him. "That was wow, Spike. So much wow." Her eyes fell on his erection, still encased in the condom, and they widened. "You didn't?"

He shook his head as he sat down next to her and panted, "No, which I'm a bit surprised about, actually. It's not that you didn't feel wonderful, you do, but I suppose I was more focused on your pleasure than my own, so…" He shrugged. "It's fine, luv. I'll take care of it." He looked down at himself and asked, "You think I could just roll the condom off the same way I rolled it on?"

Buffy shakily sat up, shaking her head. "No, that's not how this works."

Spike nodded. "All right, I'll just wait a bit then, until it's loose enough to slide off."

Buffy shook her head again, "That's not what I meant." She scooted up the bed a little then laid back, opening her legs, and said, "Come here."

"I don't think I'll be able to get you there again," he motioned to his erection, "with this, but I'll tongue you if you like."

"It's not all about me, Spike. You're allowed to get off, too. I want you to, and if I'm close again when you do, then you can finish me with your fingers or your tongue, but I'm not gonna let you just sit there all hard like that after you just rocked my freaking world."

"I'll be fine, luv. I don't want to… if you're not… aroused any longer, I'll likely end up hurtin' you, and I don't..."

Realizing that he probably wasn't going to crawl up the bed and impale her, Buffy slid to the end of the bed and stood up then straddled him, taking him firmly in hand as she lined herself up then sank down onto him. "You're not gonna hurt me."

Spike's eyes rolled back as she enveloped him, and he realized how close he'd actually been as she started rocking her hips, but he fought it back, his eyes closing and his brow furrowing as he gripped her hips and started thrusting up into her.

Buffy watched his face as they rocked together, and she could tell he was fighting to keep from climaxing, to keep himself hard long enough for her to get off again. He looked like he was in pain, so she slid her fingers into his hair then pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him hard. When she moved her mouth away, he opened his eyes and she moved her hands to his shoulders then pushed. He fell back onto the bed and Buffy climbed off him.

She stood between his legs, and he lifted his head and asked, "Buffy? Is that not working? Do you want me to do somethin' else?"

She shook her head and said, "No, you're doing fine, but I want to get rid of this." She reached down and carefully rolled the condom off then tossed it on the floor and climbed back onto the bed, straddling him again. She grasped him and lined herself up then sank down.

He moaned out a loud, "Bloody hell," and grabbed her ass as he braced his feet on the floor and started rolling his hips.

Buffy planted her hands on his chest and matched his motions, panting, "Does that feel better?"

He groaned, "Feels so good… Not gonna be able to hold back."

She leaned down, pressing her forehead to his, and whispered, "You don't have to. You're my boyfriend, not a dildo, so you can let go, Spike."

He thrust up into her and pulled her tight against him with a muffled shout as she covered his lips with hers. She could feel him trembling beneath her as he pulsed inside her then he collapsed back to the bed, breathing hard as he kissed her deeply. He released her lips as he slid his hands up her back and whispered, "Thank you, pet. That was…"

Buffy smiled and said, "Brilliant?"

He chuckled quietly, "Bloody brilliant, luv." He slid one hand under her shoulder and lifted her slightly then asked, "What 'bout you? Are you close again? Want me to tongue you?"

She shook her head with a laugh. "I still can't hardly feel my legs, so I think I'm good for a while. Let's just lay here in the afterglow, okay?"

"All right." He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight as she laid her head on his shoulder, nuzzling her face into his neck.

After several minutes, she said quietly, "So we know doggy style is a good one, since that's the first time I've orgasmed from intercourse, but next time, I want to try it without the condom."

He tensed slightly and said, "If I'm not wearin' one, I doubt I'll last long enough to…"

Buffy lifted her head and smiled down at him. "Won't know until we try, and I have no problem with trying over and over and over again."

XXXX

Buffy dropped a second washcloth into the hamper then walked over to the bed and pulled the covers back. She looked over at Spike and asked, "Why were you laying on top of the covers at the end of the bed instead of in it?"

He shrugged. "Didn't know which side was yours."

"You could've come out to the living room to ask me."

Spike blinked at her then blushed slightly. "Never occurred to me. I'm used to not bein' able to leave my cell once I'm in for the night." He motioned to the deodorant and brush on the dresser. "That's why those are sitting there, so I could take them to the loo when I was let out in the morning."

"What were you gonna do if you had to pee or something since there's no toilet in here?"

He chuckled, "No idea. Likely called out to you for permission to leave the room, I suppose."

"You don't need my permission to leave the room. You can go wherever you want." At the look of shame and embarrassment on his face she continued, "But I get that it's gonna take a minute for you to switch over into 'not in prison' mode. Two days out isn't going to magically erase seven years of conditioning, so if you're not sure if you're allowed to do something, go ahead and ask, okay?"

He nodded. "I will, luv."

"Okay, good." Buffy motioned to the side of the bed closest to the door. "I usually sleep on this side."

"Shouldn't I be closest to the door?"

Buffy smiled at him. "To protect me if someone breaks in? Or to get first dibs on the bathroom in the morning?"

Spike chuckled quietly, "I'm not worried 'bout the loo, pet, and it's not necessarily to protect you, bein' that I'm not what you'd call a fighter, and you're far more skilled in that area than I am anyway, but to be enough of a distraction to let you gather yourself and prepare a defense, I suppose."

"I appreciate the gesture, but it's not necessary. Home invasions aren't really a thing that happens here, at least not in this neighborhood. There's three cops living in this subdivision that I know of, and we're less than a mile from the sheriff's office, so we're pretty safe. Most of the people in our cul-de-sac don't even lock the doors to their houses or cars, and their kids leave their bikes and toys and whatever all over the yards." She motioned to the nightstand. "Besides, all my stuff is in there, so…"

"All right." He walked to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers back then climbed in and settled himself close to the edge, laying on his back with his fingers laced together on his belly.

Buffy got into bed and scooted toward the middle then rolled and reached for his arm. "Come over here." He slid closer to her and she snuggled against his side, wrapping her arm over his middle. "Can you sleep like this? I know you usually sleep on your stomach."

"That's only 'cause my sleepin' pad was as thin as two sheets of paper and my back would start to ache after a while. Your bed is a lot more comfortable, so I should be fine sleepin' like this."

"Not my bed. Our bed."

Spike froze for a second then squeezed with the arm wrapped around her and dropped a kiss on her head. "Our bed." He heaved a contented sigh and closed his eyes then cracked one open. "We forgot to turn off the lights, luv." Buffy lifted her head and he started to slide towards the edge of the bed. "I'll get them."

She tightened her hold on his middle, "No, I've got it," then said, "Hey, Google, goodnight."

The lights went out and Spike lay blinking in the darkness as a disembodied female voice with an English accent told them the current temperature and the forecast for the next day then asked if they wanted to set an alarm. Buffy told the voice no and the voice bid her goodnight then quiet music started playing from the same place the voice had come from.

Spike whispered, "What the hell was that?"

Buffy giggled. "One of my Google Home Minis. The fuzzy gray thing on my nightstand. It controls the lights in here and I have another one by the front door for the lights in the kitchen. I can play music on them or ask them questions and stuff, too."

"Ask it questions? What kind of questions?"

"Anything you could search for on Google. You know what Google is, right?"

He chuckled, "I was only inside for seven years, luv. Think Google's been around a bit longer than that."

She laughed quietly, "Right," then lifted her head and turned it toward her nightstand. "Hey, Google, what's the largest organ in the human body?"

The music paused and the voice responded, "The largest organ in the human body is the skin," then the music resumed playing.

Buffy said, "I already knew that, because nurse, but yeah, you can ask it pretty much anything."

"Will it respond to me?"

"It should. I don't think I need to train it to recognize your voice. Go ahead and ask it something. Just say," she whispered, "Hey, Google," then spoke in her normal voice, "to wake it up, but don't whisper it like I did."

Spike lifted his head and spoke towards Buffy's nightstand, "Hey, Google, what is the name Buffy an abbreviation of?"

The voice responded, "Elizabeth. According to Wikipedia, Buffy is a pet form of the female given name Elizabeth."

Buffy laughed as the music resumed playing, "Except my given name is Buffy. My mom named me Buffy Anne."

Spike squeezed her. "And now I know your full name."

Buffy blinked in surprise. "I never told you that?"

"No, luv. Don't know when your birthday is, either."

"It's January 19th. I'll be twenty-four." She laughed quietly, "Do you want to know how tall I am or how much I weigh?"

He chuckled, "No. I'm aware of your height, and a lady's weight is not a gentleman's concern. Also, it would be impertinent of me to inquire."

Buffy laughed quietly, "I don't care if you know how much I weigh, Spike. I haven't weighed myself for a while, but I'm usually around 120 pounds. I'll check in the morning."

"I'd like to check my weight as well. I feel like I'm 'bout where I was 'fore my 'holiday', but I'd like to make sure I've not overshot the mark and gone too far in the other direction."

Buffy squeezed with the arm she had wrapped over his middle. "You're in good shape and you look healthy, so if you weigh a little more than you did, it's probably because you're finally at the weight you're supposed to be. Muscle weighs more than fat, too, so don't freak out if the number is bigger than it used to be, okay? You're fine just the way you are."

Spike laughed quietly, "I likely would've attributed a larger number to me havin' quite a lot more hair."

Buffy laughed, "Unless it's wet, your hair wouldn't move the number much, but as long as your pants fit, I wouldn't worry about the numbers on the scale. I don't. I eat what I want and as much as I want, and as long as I can still get into my jeans without needing to raid the toolbox for a pair of pliers, I'm good."