June 18, 2007 10:18 AM
As Spike slowly woke, he became aware of the strangeness of his environment. The couch he was lying on was too small for him and his back was out of kink. His mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton and his head was pounding thanks to the whiskey. From the lack of sound, he realized that he was alone in the small apartment. With this knowledge he relaxed, raising his hands over his head as he stretched slowly trying to bring his body back to consciousness.
Suddenly the door was opened and the sun fell across his arms and face. The exposed flesh immediately began to smoke as the pain ripped along his nerve endings
“Bloody Hell,” he yelled jumping out of harm’s way as the door was quickly slammed shut.
Donna hurried over to him putting a bag down on the table before reaching for his arm to check for injury.
“Spike, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it.” she apologized.
He watched her cautiously as she softly ran her hands softly over his flesh making sure that he wasn’t burned seriously.
“It’s okay, pet. You’re not used to living with a vampire.” He tried to reassure her while searching her face for duplicity but there didn’t seem to be anything in her eyes except genuine concern.
They both relaxed a little once she was assured that he was going to be okay. Donna smiled at him as she lifted a bag off the table to show him.
“I went out to get you some blood. If you want I could heat some up for you. You’ll just have to tell me how long,” she offered.
Spike reached up and ran his fingers through a lock of hair that was hanging along her face.
“I think I want to take a shower first. That okay?”
“Yeah, the bathroom is back that way.” Donna responded pointing into the bedroom part of the small apartment.
Donna picked up the bag with the blood and moved into the kitchen while Spike stood grabbing his duffel bag.
“Donna?” Spike hesitated before leaving the room.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry if I was, you know, out of line last night.” Spike apologized with a sheepish grin. It was all part of the act or so he told himself. He figured if he was as drunk as he was supposed to be then he shouldn’t be remembering everything that happened. Of course there was that part of him that also didn’t want her to be out of sorts with him.
“It’s okay. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Relieved Spike moved into the bedroom taking a quick look around at the messy bed and Donna’s clothes and things scattered about. There was a pile of folders and papers on the edge of the dresser and he made a note to go through them later before moving into the bathroom.
It wasn’t until he was in the shower with the hot water running over him that he finally gave in and voiced the thoughts that had been tickling the back of his brain since Donna had returned.
“Fine, I admit it. Buffy would know enough not to open the door to let the sun in and she knows how I like my blood in the morning,” he muttered to himself as he lathered his body in some bath wash that smelled like raspberries that made him wrinkle his nose. “Just what I needed; to smell like some poof.”
When he came out of the bathroom Donna was in the kitchen scrambling some eggs.
“Do you want some eggs?” She asked him as he prowled across the room toward her wearing only jeans and a towel around his neck.
“That’s okay. I’ll just nibble off of yours.” Spike whispered leaning close to her ear as he moved into the small kitchen.
They moved around each other as she cooked her breakfast and he heated his blood. There was no dance of familiarity as they got in each other’s way. Uncomfortable smiles were exchanged as they bumped into each other. Finally with relief they sat across from each other at the small table in the corner.
“What happened, Spike? Don’t tell me you have had five blissful years with Buffy and then it’s all over in one night.”
He shrugged and picked a slice of toast off her plate. The plans had been made so fast last night they he hadn’t really had time to make up a background story. After taking a bite of the toast and deciding to stick to the truth as much as possible Spike looked back up at her.
“It wasn’t just one night. Buffy and I keep living in two different worlds. She wants to domesticate me and I want more than that.”
“If you love her don’t you want to be with her?” Donna asked him thoughtfully.
“Yeah, and if she loves me than why can’t she be with me? In my world? Travel, see things, do things, instead of always being caged up in damn Sunnydale. It’s always the same boring thing. I want some excitement.” As the words came out he realized that he really was speaking the truth. More truth than he had admitted in a long time. “You can’t cage a demon forever. He’s like a wild animal that needs more than a pen; he needs the thrill of the hunt, of the kill.”
Realizing he had probably said too much with the last part, Spike looked up quickly to gauge her reaction but Donna was only looking at him in sympathy. Spike laughed nervously as she surveyed him cautiously.
“And you think I can give you that?”
Before answering her he reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear, allowing his fingertips to trace her jaw line.
“I see it in you. The wildness and the same call for freedom. It’s there in your eyes and I want to taste it,” he whispered to her knowing that this was also true. It had always been there. The sensuality radiated off Donna in great waves of heat that called to him.
Donna laughed sardonically at his words.
“You want to taste it, Spike, but do you really want a steady diet of it? I don’t stay in one place for longer than a couple of months. Everything I own is in this hotel room and I don’t keep people very close to me,” she explained the bitterness unmistakable in her voice.
“Sounds like the good old days when Dru and I traveled the world. It was fun. Maybe you just need the right man to come along and make it more interesting.”
Spike’s fingers began to gentle caress her arm as a feeling of nostalgia swept over him. What Donna described was the way that he had lived with Dru. Their only rulers were the freedom, the pleasure and the kill. He couldn’t have the kill but with this woman he could have the other two and he had a feeling the pleasure would be more reminiscent of the former days than the sex he had with Buffy.
“And maybe you need to go home to your wife.” Donna stood suddenly taking her plate and glass into the kitchen.
Spike followed her into the kitchen waiting until after she had set the dishes in the sink before turning her around. He leaned into the softness of her body as he pinned her hands to the counter on both sides of her.
“I’m not married yet and Buffy told me that I was free,” he told her as his mouth traced the jaw that his fingers had followed a few moments ago. The demon was enjoying himself as he felt the door crack giving him his first taste of true freedom in forever. A low growl resounded in the base of his throat as he kissed her right below her earlobe and his hands released her arms so they could move around her waist.
“Spike, not now.” Donna told him as she pushed at his chest halfheartedly. “I’ve got a meeting I need to go to about my trip to Japan.” Her hands came up to cup his face. “ We can finish this tonight. Why don’t after I get back we go out, have a little fun and see where this leads?”
“Alright, love, we’ll finish it tonight.”
Spike stepped back to give Donna the room to walk away. He was torn as to whether he should be relieved that she had pushed him away or disappointed because she hadn’t given in. Well, at least with her gone for awhile it would give him a chance to search the apartment. Then once he knew what side she was on then he could decide his own side.
June 18, 2007 12:55 PM
Buffy pulled the Desoto in a parking place outside the small hotel that she
was meeting Max at. It was a seedy looking place overlooking the ocean. The
entire place was painted red with a neon sign at the entrance in the shape of
a piano. She looked carefully around her noting the strange combination of semi
trucks and luxury cars that filled the spaces around her. After dropping the
car keys into her purse she wiped her hands on her skirt.
“Damn it. I should have worn the other dress,” she muttered as she picked at the silky fabric of her dress. Dawn had talked her into wearing a pink wrap around dress with bright flowers. She said it looked like something someone would wear to an afternoon tryst. It was easy to get off but just made Buffy feel sleazy. She decided never to take fashion advice from her younger sister again.
Realizing that she would have to get out of the car eventually she opened the door and slipped out cautiously. With a quick glance at the note clutched in her hand to make sure she had the right number she headed down the row of rooms. After turning the corner to find it she stopped outside of the one that Max told her he would be waiting at. Taking a deep breath for courage she raised her hand and knocked.
Max opened the door almost as if he had been watching for her. Buffy had forgotten or hadn’t realized just how good looking he was as she took a second look at him. He was taller than Spike and dark where Spike was light. His hair was almost black and his skin tanned. The only thing light on him was the blueness of his eyes. Max leaned against the door in amusement as Buffy studied him. She worried her lower lip when her gaze moved down his body and discovered that his shirt unbuttoned almost to his waist. Then her eyes flew back up to meet his as a slight flush raced up her cheeks.
Using grace that would rival Spike, Max moved forward putting his hand on Buffy’s waist.
“It’s just for show, Buffy. Relax.” Max whispered into her ear as he moved down to nuzzle her neck before coming around to kiss her on the corner of the mouth. He pulled her forward into the room as confusion rattled some kind of warning to run into Buffy’s brain. As soon as the door was closed Max released her leaving Buffy to almost stumble without his support.
“Would you like some coffee?” He asked as he turned away while his hands were buttoning his shirt.
“Coffee?” Buffy squeaked out unable to form a coherent thought.
“Yeah, coffee, would you like some?”
When she didn’t answer he went ahead and poured her a cup from his thermos on the dresser. He smiled in amusement as she took in the room wide eyed and her mouth hanging open. It confirmed his suspicions that an afternoon fling was not what Buffy had really called him for.
Buffy examined the room in disbelief, unable to accept that it was even more hideous than the outside of the hotel. The walls and carpet were both cotton candy pink and the bed was covered in a red velvet comforter. The only thing of interest to her was the heart shaped Jacuzzi tub that was in the corner of the room. She just couldn’t make her feet move that way to check it out on a closer level.
“Take a seat.” Max told her but when she didn’t move on her own, he pushed her gently in the direction of the bed. Once she was carefully seated on the edge he put a steaming cup in her hands and ordered her to take a drink.
“Pretty awful place, isn’t it? But if you’re going to have a little revenge on a cheating spouse, what better place to come.” Max told her as he leaned against the dresser.
Buffy nodded then took a long drink of the coffee hoping it would clear her head. Everyone was counting on her to do this but she was out of her league. Mata Hari she wasn’t and it wasn’t something she was aspiring to either.
“So, Buffy, want to tell me the real reason Spike is with Donna or do
we really want to go through this charade of you trying to seduce me for information?
And if that’s it then it’s not going to happen unless you loosen
up some.”
A slow blush crept up Buffy’s face at the casual way that Max talked about
her seducing him. There wasn’t a concrete plan except for her to meet
him and find out what she could. The thought of actually having to do something
hadn’t even crept into her mind. Now she knew why no one had said anything
about this when Spike was around because he never would have gone for it. She
laughed suddenly as she realized the duality of the situation. It was okay for
him to go off to Donna for information but not her. Feeling a little revengeful
and daring she leaned back on one hand and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“Would I have to try very hard to seduce you?” She tried to purr out seductively but it came out more as a choked whisper.
Max’s eyes narrowed to a slit as he watched her. Since the moment he had walked into the house that night he had seen Buffy for who she was. He had traveled too far and wide and seen too many things not to recognize what was in her. And this wasn’t her leaning back on the bed trying to act out the part of seducer. Maybe if pushed too far or hurt too much this could be her but not now. He had seen the love in her eyes for Spike and all she wanted was what a lot of women wanted. She wanted to nest, a home of her own, somewhere safe and a man to truly love her not weekday trysts in cheap hotels.
“Buffy, quit the games. If you want to get laid, I’m not your guy. Nothing against you but I’m not taking the responsibility for hurting you. If you want to talk, let’s talk. Otherwise go home.” Max told her point blank turning to start throwing papers back in his briefcase.
Even more embarrassed than before Buffy sat back up and watched Max for a minute. Relief swept through her because it wasn’t what she wanted. Maybe she just needed to feel attractive again and wanted again. She released a sigh as she stood to walk over to the man who had just effectively put her in her place. And for the first time in a long while she felt safe. It wasn’t the same safe as she did with Spike when things were good; it was the safeness of knowing where she stood and not having to walk on egg shells.
“I’m sorry. We did some research on Donna and we think she might be involved with the Soldiers of Light. I kicked Spike out so he could see if he could find out anything.” Buffy explained.
“Was that so hard?” Max asked with a smile.
It was so genuine and warm that Buffy had no choice but to smile back at him.
“No. It wasn’t.”
“Is Spike going to be able to handle it? I know that…” Max trailed off not knowing how to put it exactly without offending her.
“That Spike is attracted to her. Well, we had already broken up because of it when this other stuff came up. Well, at least temporarily broken up. I had given him a week to decide what he wanted.” Buffy shrugged her shoulders and went back to sit down on the edge of the bed.
“I’m sorry.” Max turned to sit on the dresser facing Buffy. “We have suspected Donna for a while now. Things just haven’t been adding up. Not that we have definitive proof but maybe Spike can help us with that. We have some men watching her so we have Spike make contact so he isn’t alone and he knows that he is being listened to. We have her room bugged.”
“Oh, that’s great. His infidelity gets recorded for prosperity.” Buffy whined.
“Maybe he isn’t going to do anything. Give him the benefit of the doubt.” Max told her hoping it was true. “Okay, first step. You need to call him. First thing tell him if he isn’t alone to act like you are begging him to come back. Then tell him that we will have someone meet him at the little store on the corner as soon as it gets dark. Can you do that?”
Buffy nodded as she reached for her cell phone.
June 18, 2007 1:35 PM
Spike was busily sorting through the pile of paperwork on the dresser when his
phone went off. After checking the number he tampered down the excitement when
he realized it was Buffy.
“’lo Baby.” He answered.
“I take it you’re alone then,” she replied trying to ignore the way the warmth of just his hello made her stomach tie up.
“Yeah, I’m alone. Donna had a meeting to go to.”
“Good. Look, I’m with Max and…”
“Excuse me, what the hell are you doing with him?” Spike interrupted her as a picture of that man with Buffy burned through him.
Buffy smiled at the Spike’s jealous tone and then the earlier feeling of things not being fair went through her again.
“The same thing you’re doing with Donna. Getting information.” That should get him really pissed she thought knowing it wasn’t really nice to deliberately play with his emotions. Even Max rolled his eyes at her words. When Spike didn’t say anything and all she could hear was the sound of his breathing as he tried to control the anger raging through him. She was just glad that he didn’t know where she was with Max. “Spike, forget I said that. It’s not the same. It is but not. I’m just getting information.”
“Okay, Slayer, what do you want?” The words were cold as he bit them off. It was inconceivable to him that Buffy could play this kind of game with him. If she had been there he probably would have been tempted to strangle her.
“Spike, look the Guardians have suspected Donna for a while. They have people watching her and Max wants you to meet one of their men tonight. He said there’s a little store on the corner. Meet the guy there as soon as it’s dark. He’ll be in a red pullover shirt. Okay?” Buffy rushed through the words before Spike could respond.
“Fine, I’ll meet him. But you and me have something to settle when I get home.”
“Don’t Spike. Don’t even pull that crap with me. No, actually you’re right. We do have something to settle. Once and for all.”
Spike threw his head back as he heard the hurt in her words. He knew he was being unfair to her. It was asinine to be possessive yet wanting the freedom to do what he wanted. But the thought of anyone else touching Buffy made him want to kill, like he had with Richard. He had no right to chain her unless he wanted to be chained.
“You’re right. If I’m free then so are you,” he whispered in resignation. “We’ll talk soon.”
As he moved to disconnect the call he heard her voice and lifted it back to his ear.
“I love you, Spike. I miss you and so do our children.”
Then she disconnected the call.
June 18, 2007 1: 45 PM
It was done. Spike would make contact with a Guardian so they could work together
to discover Donna’s true allegiance. At least he wasn’t alone there.
Maybe that would prevent anything from happening too fast and give Spike a chance
to use his head.
Buffy stood reaching for her purse.
“Hey, where are you going?” Max asked.
“Leaving. We got everything settled, didn’t we?” Buffy looked at him in confusion.
“Buffy, you haven’t even been here an hour and I paid for three.”
“Oh. You paid for three hours? You pay by the hour here?”
Max laughed at her naiveté but yet was touched by it. If Spike didn’t come home voluntarily he might just need to visit him and try to knock some sense into him. He shook his head as he looked at her.
“Besides it would be a blow to my manly pride to think that I would be finished with a beautiful lady like you so soon. Hang out for a while. Let’s see what they have on television. Besides I brought snacks too.”
“Snacks?”
“I knew if it wasn’t my charm then it would be the food to win her over.” Max joked as he reached for the bag with the food in it.
