Chapter Eight
“What?” Spike questioned, blinking at her. She stood before him, resplendent in her righteous fury. He didn’t see the punch coming until his head snapped back from the force. When his eyes met hers, they were gold, his anger rising to answer hers. He noticed, through the red haze in his brain, that she had vamped as well. “You’re fucking with the wrong one little girl.” he growled, pushing up from the stool. She didn’t back down, glaring at him with a ferocity that made lesser men quiver.
“Well, maybe you fucked with the wrong one this time, old man.” she spat back, stressing the word old. Quicker than she could process the movement, she found herself hauled against his chest. His grip was punishing on her arms, and she felt a moments panic when she realized that she couldn’t break it.
“What are you about, Slayer?” Blood trickled slowly from the cut by his lip, and Buffy was hard pressed not to lean closer and lick it away. She had a feeling that the taste of his blood would be as potent to her as hers would be to him.
“Who do you think you are, deciding what I need?” She stumbled back a bit when he pushed her away.
“Been eavesdropping, have you?” He snarled, advancing on her. She resisted the urge to retreat as his predatory movements brought him within range of her again. She knew she might have pushed him too far, but she wouldn’t ease off now.
“Kinda hard not to. Got the whole demony hearing thing going on. So, you’re no good for me, huh? Don’t you think I ought to be the one to decide that?”
“Oh, like you’ve done so well before.” His reference to Angel was clear. With a growl she lunged at him, pushing him back hard against the counter. She growled again when he seized her arms, and shifted their positions, pain shooting through her back when it connected with wood. He had her pinned effectively against the counter, his demonic face mere inches from hers. She struggled against him, finding him an immovable force. “I am a killer. You are my prey. Can’t you feel how easy it would be to kill you right now?” She did, and it terrified and excited her with equal force.
“Except for this.” She crushed her mouth against his, persistently kissing him until he responded. Fangs cut into lips and tongues as they tried to devour each other in her mother’s kitchen. He pulled away, both breathing heavy as they stared into each others eyes. Blue met hazel as their anger deflated to give way to the desire simmering under their skin. Blood trickled unheeded from both their mouths.
“You don’t even know who you are anymore. How truly powerful you could be. Why do you want to get mixed up with the likes of me, luv?” he asked her, his voice a husky whisper. She saw the sadness that was hidden deep in his cerulean orbs. He was so much like Angel, but at the same time, not. He held a fire and passion that her first love repressed. She knew, in that moment, that if Spike would allow himself, he would give her everything, and hold nothing back. Buffy found herself wanting that more than anything.
“Because we’re the same.” she told him, breaking a hand free to run a finger over his scarred eyebrow. “And being alone sucks.” She smiled a little, trying to alleviate a bit of the tension in the room. His own lips quirked in response, and he loosened his grip.
“That it does. I’m not one for sharing, Buffy.” His meaning was lost on her for a moment, but then understanding blossomed. She stared up at him, her fingers gently tracing the sharp planes of his cheek bones, then over the strong lines of his nose and jaw. He watched her in return, fighting the urge to say sod it all and give in.
“You won’t have to.” she told him, with certainty. HE looked doubtful, and hopeful at the same time. An interesting expression, to say the least.
“Buffy. . .” he was silenced when her wandering fingers drifted to his mouth.
“You are one with the stubbornness, aren’t you?” she teased, brushing he thumb across his full bottom lip. A snort of laughter was her answer. Ah, progress. “None of the sharing. No ghosts of the past living here. And you will stop with all the maudlin, self sacrificing shit.” Ooh, Buff. Big word.
“I don’t get you.”
“A lot of people don’t. Giles bashes his head against the wall, daily because of it. What can I say, I’m unique.” A true smile split both of their faces, but Spike sobered quickly.
“The Council is going to come after me.” He told her. She nodded, flattening her palm against his cheek. “They can’t kill me, pet. But they can make me suffer.” She frowned, and he watched anger flame in her eyes.
“By using me.” it wasn’t a question.
“If that’s what it takes.” Steely resolve replaced her anger as she looked up at him.
“We won’t let it. I can’t leave until Angel is taken care of. And I have to make sure that my mom is protected.” Confusion marred his brow as her words sunk in.
“You’d leave with me?” Wonder softened his face, making him look like a young boy. She fisted her hand and tapped softly on his forehead.
“Hello, isn’t that what we’ve been doing the whole soul search thing for?” Her smile was infectious, and he found himself returning it.
“I hope you don’t regret it.” He told her, turning serious one last time.
“I won’t. And you won’t be the only one the Council will be after.” she reminded him. “Me and Giles won’t exactly be high on their list of people to keep around.” His single nod stated his agreement.
“So, I guess this means we’re a thing?” He asked, catching his bottom lip between his teeth and arching his scarred eyebrow. She would have been breathless at the sight, if she’d had any breath to steal.
“Yeah, definitely a thing.” She sighed, as he swooped in to kiss her. Slow and hungry, the gentle teasing of his mouth across hers promised of much more to come. She felt herself tremble against him, a small part of her brain remembering they were still in her mothers’ kitchen.
Spike pulled away, smiling down at her. He brushed an errant strand of gold away from her forehead, loving the sight of her kiss swollen lips, and the sound of her soft, breathy gasps. He wanted nothing more than to take her right there, but he didn’t want to test just how much the Slayer’s mother liked him. So, they stood, staring deeply into each others eyes as if they held the answers to the universe. The only touching between them was the leisurely glide of his fingers over the cool flesh of her face.
The sudden ringing of the phone jarred them back to reality. A smile curled Spike’s lips as she scooted around him to answer it.
“Hello?” She said breathlessly into the phone. All that she got at first was eery silence. Then, as she made ready to hang up, a soft chuckle reached her ears. A very familiar chuckle. “Angel.” she gasped, her eyes immediately searching for Spike. He was at her side instantly, preparing to snatch the phone from her. She evaded him, but held it away from her ear to allow him to hear.
“Hello, lover.” He purred, amusement lacing his tone.
“I’m not your lover.” Buffy growled through clenched teeth.
“Details.” he said off handedly “You are, however, my childe.” His voice had taken on a menacing tone, and Buffy felt a strange feeling sprout at his words.
“So?” she asked, shifting a little with discomfort. Shock spread across Spike’s face as he realized what Angel was getting at.
“Give me the phone, pet.” he prodded her gently, holding out his hand. She glared at him without realizing it, and turned away from him. *Shit* he cursed inwardly. Angel’s little trick was working.
“So, why don’t you ask William what it means. I know he’s there. Tell him to remember how I deal with people encroaching on my property.” Her eyes flicked back to Spike, then away again, not liking this strange swirling of emotion tearing through her. It was almost like she was being pulled towards his voice. Her hand tightened on the receiver as she fought the urge to hang up the phone and go to him. Spike laid a steadying hand against her elbow. She smiled at him gratefully when she felt the urge lessen somewhat. “You’re mine Buffy. I made you, it’s my blood pulsing through your veins. You. Belong. To. Me.” The final words came out as a harsh whisper, the meaning not lost on either of them. Spike snatched the phone from her hand, and snarled into the phone.
“Listen to me, you bloody ponce. I challenge your claim.”
“William, how good to hear your voice. Druscilla has been missing you something awful since you breezed through here the other night.” Angel said, his tone conversational.
“Did you hear me?” Spike growled, ignoring Angel’s bait.
“Oh, yeah. I heard you. Even expected it. You do have a thing for MY women. Can’t seem to get any of your own.” The blonde vampire smirked, the barbs falling short of their mark.
“Well, maybe you ought to ask yourself why they turn to me. Could be you’re lacking in certain areas? Oh, but wait. I would know, wouldn’t I. You are.” A cold smile spread as Angel’s roar of outrage echoed through the phone. Buffy’s wide eyes got wider when the implications behind what Spike said dawned on her.
“You. . .and he. . .?” Her finger pointed wildly between the phone and Spike, all urges of going to Angel forgotten for the moment. Very erotic and exciting images began to work through her brain, and Buffy felt her skin heat up(metaphorically of course). A sharp snap of Spike’s fingers next to her ear brought her back into focus. His face was stern, but his eyes twinkled as he realized what she was thinking. It made his talking to the poof a bit harder. Kinda hard to be all manly like when you’re fighting laughing your ass off.
“You fuck. Bring it on. And when have Buffy AND Dru writhing under me, we’ll see who’s lacking.”
“One week, Peaches. Then we’ll see.” As soon as the connection was broken, Spike turned to Buffy. A thousand questions and thoughts were swirling in her brain, but for some reason she couldn’t grasp on any of them. That strange pulling feeling had subsided, and she no longer felt like she NEEDED to go to Angel. But the fact that it had been there at all, disturbed her.
“What did he mean?” She asked, “What ‘claim.'” He ran his hands down her arms, from shoulders to wrists, lightly gripping them.
“When he turned you, pet, he claimed you as his. It’s another thing that makes you a childe as opposed to a minion. Minions are slaves, in essence, normally not much smarter that doorknobs, so to speak. Childers on the other hand, are created, to carry on the clan. Much like human children.”
“So, he claimed me as his childe, I knew that. Why, when as soon as I heard his voice, did I feel the need to go to him.”
“He’s yanking on the bond. Or, at least he was. I assume it’s stopped now.” At her nod, he continued. “Well, that’s a good thing, at least. Look, pet, there’s more to this than him wanting his childe back. This is too civilized, for Angelus.”
“What does that mean?’
“From his past track record, he should be trying to kill anything and everything you love. Granted, he did that to Dru, BEFORE he turned her, but since you still have your soul, he would still get his desired affect.”
“And that is?”
“To have drive you completely bonkers. He gets off on it. But this. . .This is wrong. He’s got something else up his sleeve.” A contemplative look stole across his features.
“So, if you know it’s a trap, why did you make the challenge?” Buffy’s asked, confused.
“Because, if I didn’t, he’d keep yanking on the bond until you couldn’t resist it anymore. He knew I was here, his taunts were for me. He wants a showdown with me, he’ll get it.” His jaw tensed as he thought of it. At least one part of his mission was still going the way it should have.
“Of all the macho bull shit.” She threw her hands up, shaking her head.
“What’s that?” He queried, not quite sure where she was going.
“Using me to get to each other.” She held up a hand when he started to protest. “Save it. Do I have to remind you, me, Vampire Slayer? I don’t need you to fight my battles.” She told him indignantly. He rolled his eyes at her. Sometimes he just didn’t understand women. Hell, most o f the time he didn’t.
“That’s not why I challenged him, pet.”
“Then, why?”
“IT’s still my job to take him out. I was sent here for him.”
“And me.” she reminded him quietly. He sighed and drew her into his arms. She rested her cheek against his chest, savoring the faint beat of his heart. “Why did they do that, anyway? I thought killing your sire was some big cosmic no-no.” His chuckle vibrated against her cheek, causing her to smile.
“Not really my sire, pet. Just a bloke I share blood with.” She leaned back to look at him, doubt written across her face.
“Technicalities.” She grumbled.
“Yeah, but true just the same. Wasn’t turned the traditional way, get to skirt a lot of the rules. Plus, it’s not unusual for childers to challenge there sires for mates. I did it with Dru. And I won.” Something unsettling wormed its way through her brain after that statement.
“You won? So, you’re mated to Dru?” He didn’t like the sound of her voice, or the way she was trying to wiggle out of his arms.
“No, I’m not.” he laid a finger under her chin and forced her head up. “She wouldn’t accept.” he told her simply. She nodded in understanding, grateful for the brunettes stupidity.
“Good. I’m not one for sharing either.” she told him with a wicked glint in her eye. He pursed his lips, fighting a smile. He leaned in and captured her mouth in a possessive kiss.
“Then we have nothing to worry about, do we?” he told her with a wolfish smile. She fisted her fingers in his hair, and pulled his mouth back to hers.
“Nope.” she said, popping the ‘p’ when she pulled back. “Wanna go get something to eat?” she asked.
“Right here? What would your mother say?”
“You’re a pig.” she admonished giggling. But she did enjoy the images that flashed through her mind.
“Oink. Oink.” he murmured, pulling he closer, and allowing her to feel just how she affected him. He nibbled lightly on her bottom lip, while his hands danced under the t-shirt to rub the skin of her back. She arched into him, purring softly at the contact.
“Definitely later, bacon boy.” He arched his brow at her, causing her to giggle. “Right now I’m a hungry of a different sort. Sustenance is required. And since we have a week reprieve from Angel, we have all the time in the world.” she whispered against his mouth. A tortured moan filled the air.
“I want you, Buffy.” Nothing affected her so much as that softly uttered sentence. Chills raced down her spine as she turned her head to allow him to feast on her throat.
“Oh, and you WILL have me. But I need to bolster my strength, cause I have the feeling you won’t let me up for a very long time.” She didn’t know where these bold comments were coming from, but it felt good to be uninhibited.
“Bloody right.” he growled, nipping at the soft flesh of her neck. Pulling away reluctantly, he smiled down at her. “Go tell your mum we’re going out. Then pack an overnight bag.” He told her, his blue eyes burning into hers. She knew, if her heart still beat, that it would be trying to burst out of her chest right now. With a quick nod, and a hard kiss to his mouth, she turned and scampered out of the room.
“I’ll call the others and see if they want to meet us at the Bronze.” she called as she rushed up the stairs.
‘Wonderful.” he muttered, stepping out onto the porch to smoke a long over due cigarette.
Angel closed his cell phone with a smirk. They fell for it hook, line and sinker. A satisfied smile curled his lip as he rested his head against the back of the chair. He carelessly swung a leg over the arm and turned to look at Druscilla.
“One week, Dru.” he told her, allowing her to curl up into his lap. She rested her head against his naked chest, her sharp nail running idly over his pale flesh.
“Can I keep Spike when you’re done with him?” she asked in her childish voice.
“Sure. He won’t be much use for anything when I get done with him.” Angel felt good. He was going to get the Slayer back, and have a dominated Spike to kick around. Things were definitely looking up.
“You are such a bad daddy.” she said, smiling coyly at him. He grinned, then crushed his mouth against hers. He always loved the way she responded to him, never shy to inflict or receive pain. He stood in one fluid motion, never losing his grip on her and strode to the stairs. He needed to work off some tension.