Chapter 5 – Viva Las Vegas

 

 

I’m gonna keep on the run

I’m gonna have me some fun

If it costs me my very last dime 

If I wind up broke up well

I’ll always remember that I had a swingin’ time

I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got

Lady Luck please let the dice stay hot

Let me shout a seven with every shot

Viva Las Vegas

                        Elvis Presley

 

 

 

It all faded away as Spike concentrated everything he had into the seduction. His stroke along the smooth arm was feather light. His voice was a low growl as he tried to coax her into giving him what he wanted.

 

“Come on, baby, be good for Daddy,” Spike yanked the arm down and waited. The numbers rolled madly, and then stopped one by one. It wasn’t a win and he sighed in frustration as he continued to stare at the slot machine. No matter how hard he tried he just wasn’t winning tonight. Maybe it was because his lucky charm wasn’t there. He shrugged and slid another token into the machine. This time a few tokens were offered up to him but he suspected it was just a pity win.

 

“Your drink, sir,” a young blonde waitress said behind him.

 

Spike reached over absently and took the glass from the tray. He threw a bill on her tray as extra because he knew his tab was being taken care of. It should be. Aurelius Enterprises owned a large share of the casino and the remaining share of it belonged to Lorne. It was a partnership that served them well. There was a good feeling in helping your friends achieve their dreams. Xander had Harris Construction, The Magic Box was now a chain which Anya ran and Tara’s school was in a new home with more classes and teachers. No one was handed anything. They all worked hard to keep it all running while maintaining their friendships and families plus trying to keep the world free from evil.

 

The waitress smiled and thanked him before scurrying away.   He gulped the whiskey down then set the glass on top of his chosen source of frustration. A few tokens later and he was ready to give up trying to win. He shrugged, rolled his head and looked around for his friends. They weren’t in sight and he took off to find them. He figured Angel was with Lorne somewhere, probably talking money, and Max and Wesley were off playing their game of choice.

 

Deciding to find Angel first, Spike headed back toward the offices. It was a labyrinth once he got into the employee only section of the casino. People were hurrying about as they performed the necessary tasks to keep the place running. A few he knew and they nodded to him but most were strangers. A few more people he didn’t know, probably would never know but had almost certainly saved their lives in one of the battles he had fought.

 

Curiosity made him look again as he passed the waitress that had served him downstairs. He wondered who she really was, if she was in love or alone, did she believe in heaven and hell, or demons. What were her dreams? Did she like what she did for a living or was this just a stepping stone to something else? She smiled at him as they passed. No interest in her grey eyes just a friendly return to his open stare.

 

“Hi,” Spike said, turning around to look at her again. She turned slightly, still smiling and waited. He glanced at her tag to find out what her name was. “Lisa, I’m sorry. I just wanted to say…well, I mean…thanks for getting the drink for me.”

 

“Its okay, Mr. Blood, just doing my job.”

 

“Do you like doing your job?”

 

Spike was really beginning to wonder what the hell he was doing. The trace of fear that filtered in her eyes made him go back over his words. “No, don’t. I guess I was just finding out if you liked it or whatever…” He sighed.

 

She giggled.

 

“Yeah, I like my job,” Lisa said. “Mr. Lorne is totally cool to work for. They schedule my hours around my classes.”

 

“You in college?”

 

“Yeah, I am. I’m taking hotel management courses.”

 

“Does Lorne know? He’d probably help you out some.”

 

Okay, now he knew he was in over his head. Lorne would probably chop his head off for this and a few other vital things that Buffy would miss.

 

“No,” Lisa answered. “I don’t ever talk to Mr. Lorne directly but my supervisor knows.”

 

“Are they giving you any direction or anything?”

 

Lisa shrugged. “Not overly but its cool. I’m just happy to be working here.” She glanced down at her watch. “I need to get going. My break is over with.”

 

Spike nodded, watched her as she walked down the hallway then turned to go into Lorne’s office. It was as he figured. Angel was sitting with his feet up on Lorne’s desk while the two friends talked. He didn’t interrupt but headed to the marble and steel bar in the corner to pour a drink. His earlier buzz was fading and he decided he wanted it back. There was a lull in the conversation as Spike made himself comfortable in the chair next to his grand-sire.

 

“Do we have some kind of in-house training program?” Spike asked.

 

Lorne did a double take and stared at him for a second. “Yes, but why do you ask?”

 

“One of your servers is in college for hotel management but she doesn’t seem to be getting any encouragement on our end.”

 

“Who?” Lorne asked.

 

“Lisa, she’s working down on the floor.”

 

Lorne turned and directed a remote toward the wall of monitors behind him. He flipped one channel until the screen was on the casino floor. A couple more camera switches and they located Lisa serving drinks to an older couple.

 

“She’s a sweet girl,” Spike said.

 

“Yeah, I just bet that’s what you noticed about her,” Angel snickered, surveying the pretty blonde.

 

“It’s not that,” Spike said, defensively. He almost felt like blushing under his grand-sire’s gaze. “I was just trying to take an interest in the people around me. That’s all.”

 

Angel didn’t say anything else to Spike’s relief. He still wasn’t sure why he had taken the time to talk to the girl. It was just part of the changes he was going through. Buffy had said that he had shut down in so many ways, living by rote instead of enthusiasm. He considered himself boring. The trip to Vegas hadn’t proved anything in regards to making him more interesting but he figured it wasn’t a complete bust if he could help someone. Maybe by taking an interest in the people and things around him, he might find what he was looking for.

 

“Look, I’ll talk to her supervisor and see what the cupcake’s interests are,” Lorne said, jotting down a note. “Will that take care of it for you?”

 

“Yeah,” Spike said. “I’d appreciate it.”

 

“You about ready to go?” Angel asked as he stood and looked down at him. “I don’t like being gone from Cordelia too long.”

 

“Sure, let’s go,” Spike said, offering an understanding smile. “I think it’s time.”

 

It was time to go. He hadn’t found what he was looking for. It wasn’t the same anymore. He wasn’t a demon, he wasn’t single, and he couldn’t just take what he wanted. Sometimes he felt he was asleep inside. He sighed as they made their way through the casino to find Max and Wesley. Their friends were easy to pry from the tables since they’d come along to keep him company. Probably to keep an eye on him, too, to make sure he didn’t go off and do something he shouldn’t. It made him wonder if anyone was ever going to fully trust him not to hurt Buffy again.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Spike sat in the backseat of the convertible with Max. Angel was driving with Wesley in the passenger seat. The others were making idle conversation that he only half listened to. His eyes were fixed on the desert terrain they were passing through but his mind was reliving another time. Memories of almost a year and a half ago when Buffy and he were traveling along this same stretch of highway...

 

It was that calm, the lull, before the next major attack of evil disrupted their lives. Aurelius Enterprises had just acquired The Lucky Ace hotel and casino into their stable of businesses. Since Buffy had never been to Sin City, Spike took the opportunity for them to get away together. He had even borrowed a Porsche Boxster from the Wolfram & Hart garage so they would feel a little freer. And, yeah, to impress the girl.

 

Buffy’s enthusiasm for going somewhere new had even pulled him from his blasé attitude of returning to a place he’d been several times. They had a spectacular view of the Strip from their penthouse suite which had left his wife in awe. Because of Slayer duties, she had never gotten the opportunity to see new places and he could remember laughing along with her as she absorbed every detail.

 

Even the fruit basket left for them had Buffy excited. Squealing she had sat in the middle of the bed and pulled it apart to see what was in it.    

 

“What’s this?” Buffy asked, holding up a passion fruit.

 

He had told her what it was. He looked away but turned back to her when she burst out in a fit of giggles. Bright red juice was running down her chin, dripping down onto her chest to disappear into the valley between her breasts. She didn’t even wipe it off. Knowing what it was doing to him, she took another bite deliberately letting the sticky substance dribble onto her. Unable to control his overwhelming need for her, he pushed her down onto the white comforter, licking the sweetness from her flesh and pulling the small, pink, summer dress from her body. For a long time Buffy was splayed naked before him, covered in fruit. He wasn’t satisfied until he had tasted them all mixed with her own musky flavor.  Never before and not since then, had it been as innocently playful; lying with the sun shining over their raw need for each other and the laughter they shared.

 

Hours later they walked hand in hand through the casino. She was sultry ingenuousness beside him. Her hair, red at the time, swayed loosely just above her shoulders. The white dress with spaghetti straps that she wore clung to every tanned, muscular curve. Her nipples pebbled from the friction between her bare breasts and the material of her dress cast a dusky shadow under her bodice. It left him the envy of every man they passed as they stared hungrily at a woman they could never dream of possessing. Buffy never noticed the attention leaving him once again amazed that this beauty chose him.

 

She was vibrating with unconcealed excitement as she glanced over the tables but then her eyes lit up when she saw the slot machines.

 

“Spike, show me how to play, please,” Buffy pleaded, bouncing as she turned her grinning face up to him.

 

Indulging her, he placed her between him and the machine. He handed her a token, explaining her chances and what she needed to win. The first few were a bust that caused her to pout. She turned and gave him the token.

 

“You do it,” Buffy said. “I’m not any good.”

 

He didn’t take the time to explain it had nothing to do with skill. It was an excuse to wrap his arm around her and pull her back against him. She was quivering, her hands clasped in prayer mode, as he inserted the token. He went to pull the arm down and she pressed her bottom into his groin. They won. Not a lot but a few more tokens to keep them going. They ended up winning almost $5,000 dollars over the night. Later in the Jacuzzi tub in their suite, Buffy insisted her ass was his lucky charm. He hadn’t argued.

 

~~~~~~~

 

“Did you have fun?” Wesley asked, looking over his shoulder.

 

“Not really,” Spike said, shifting in the seat and pulling his jeans down some. The memories of their time together made his cock throb in need for his wife. “Hey, Angel, can we stop by Sunnydale?”

 

“Why?” Max asked.

 

“So, I can get laid,” Spike said, grinning. When the other man rolled his eyes, Spike punched him in the shoulder. “You shouldn’t object. Faith is there.”

 

“Yeah, like that would do me any good,” Max said. “She’s being all…virginal with me. No Max, don’t do that Max, wait a little longer, Max.”

 

“Maybe you don’t turn her on,” Angel said, casually. “You’ve been sniffing at her heels for almost a year with no results. I’d give it up if I was you.”

 

“Hey, not to change the subject but I need sex,” Spike said again.

 

“How long has it been?” Wesley asked dryly as he shifted in his seat to look back at Spike.

 

“Almost twenty-four hours,” Spike said, leaning forward. “Come on. It won’t take me long.”

 

“I’m sure Buffy will be thrilled for you to come home for that,” Max said.

 

“She won’t care,” Spike insisted, looking over at Max in mock innocence. “She’s probably itchy too.”

 

“You really shouldn’t talk about her like that,” Angel said.

 

“Oh, and when did you become Mr. know it all when it comes to the women,” Max said, sarcastically. He turned to look out the window, dismissing everyone with his actions.

 

Spike sighed and slumped back in the seat accepting that he wasn’t going to get home that night. He glanced between his grand-sire and his friend as the tension became noticeable between them. The subject of Faith was just one more disagreement between the two men who had never really made peace.  Their relationship had gotten only more difficult with the arrival of the brunette Slayer in their midst again. Angel was protective of her while Max pursued her. Faith didn’t make it any easier as she seemingly played them against each other. Sometimes Spike wondered if Faith was just keeping Max around for the attention until she could lay claim to Angel after Cordelia’s death. He hoped it wasn’t so for all their sakes because it would cause a rift that he didn’t think could ever be mended.

 

~~~~~~~

 

After stripping off everything but his pants, Spike made his way out to sit on the balcony. He reclined back into a chair and dialed the number for home.

 

“Hewo,” Journey whispered into the phone.

 

“Joy, its Daddy. Where’s your mother?”

 

Spike glanced down at his watch but he already knew how late it was. They had returned from Las Vegas less than an hour ago.

 

“Uh-oh, she’s coming,” Journey said, letting out a little squeak. The sound of her running reached him. It sounded like she was still in sneakers as she pounded along the floor.

 

“Cut her off, Faith,” Buffy’s voice came through to him. “She’s heading for the kitchen.”

 

“No, no,” Journey screeched and Spike assumed she’d been caught. “Let me go. I want to talk to Daddy.”

 

“Journey,” Spike said loudly, hoping to break through before she reached full tantrum mode. “Listen to me.”

 

“Faith got me,” Joy cried. “Mummy mad at me.”

 

“Why are you still up?”

 

“Playing.”

 

“Journey Aurelia Blood,” Spike said sternly.

 

“Sir?”

 

“Have you had a bath yet?”

 

“Need ‘nother one,” Journey said. “Mummy says I’m icky.”

 

“Okay, go with Faith, take a bath then go to bed.”

 

She sniffled. “I wanna play with girls.”

 

“Where are they?”

 

“Patrolling. Looking for bad, bad vampires, grrrr, stake ‘em, dust ‘em, poof, all gone,” Journey explained and Spike could almost see the motions of her hands as she mimicked dusting a vampire.

 

“Well, I’ll tell you what,” Spike said, smiling. “You behave for Mummy and Aunt Faith and I don’t care what you do when Raven and the girls get back.”

 

“Yay, love you,” Journey crowed. “Aunt Faith, I ready for bath now.”

 

“’Bout damn time,” he could hear Faith mutter as he told his daughter that he loved her, too.

 

“Hello, Spike,” Buffy answered, once the phone was passed to her.

 

“Hi, pet, what happened?”

 

“Four girls with four different flavors of ice cream, all of which your youngest daughter had to sample. She hasn’t come back down yet.”

 

The exhaustion was evident in her voice. It was supposed to be a girl’s night. Buffy had been looking forward to spending some time with just Faith. He suddenly felt guilty that he was away without any of the responsibilities that Buffy was dealing with. The memory of their time in Vegas only reminded him that he hadn’t taken her away in quite awhile.

 

“How’s Eli?”

 

“He was still awake the last time I checked on him,” Buffy said. “But he’s upstairs in bed watching one of the Lord of the Rings movie.”

 

“Well, that’s good,” Spike said. “How is everything else going?”

 

“Pretty good,” Buffy said. “I miss you.” She laughed. “I never realized how many things you do around here. Elijah decided to help me out by taking the garbage out. So, off he went with two bags in tow. I followed him out to make sure he was okay. He had them over his shoulder and, oh my God, he was floating them so he didn’t have to bear their weight. ”

 

“That’s my boy,” Spike said with a trace of laughter. “I’m glad that he’s pitching in.”

 

“Oh, they all are. We’re muddling through.”

 

“I know you are,” Spike said, hating that they had to do it without him and upset because they could.

 

“What did you do tonight?”

 

“Uh…the guys and I went to Vegas,” Spike said, embarrassed. “I didn’t win crap because your ass wasn’t with me.”

 

Buffy giggled and it sounded like music to him.

 

“You should have known you couldn’t do it without me.”

 

“It made me think of when we were there.”

 

“It was a good time,” Buffy agreed.

 

“You excite me,” Spike said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

 

“William, it’s not…”

 

“Forget it,” Spike said, sighing. “It wasn’t what I meant. I was thinking of the fun we had and just wanted to let you know.”

 

“Thank you,” Buffy said softly. He could hear her love for him in the tenderness of her voice. “I’m sorry for immediately jumping the gun.”

 

It was his turn to laugh. “Don’t be. I tried to get Angel to make a run to Sunnydale so I could get laid.”

 

“Oh, yeah, you would have taken one look at me and run back to the car.”

 

“Did you shave your head this time?” Spike growled.

 

“God, no,” Buffy said, laughing. “Hair’s still the same. It’s twisted up in a clip at the moment. My clothes are stained with dinner and ice cream. No make up and I broke a nail today.”

 

“And you’re still the most beautiful woman alive.”

 

“You are horny, aren’t you?”

 

They both laughed. It was the old games of give and take of compliments to reassure themselves and each other that it was still there between them.

 

“Buffy, I want to take you away again,” Spike said, returning to his earlier guilt. “Do you want to take a cruise? Or maybe we can go to Mexico?”

 

“You know what I’d like,” Buffy said. Her statement was hesitant as if she was unsure if he would approve of her request.

 

“What, baby?”

 

“I’d like to wait until autumn to go anywhere. Rent a place in the northeast. Take Elijah and Journey, and Raven and Sean if they can go. Do nothing but have some quiet time, watch the leaves change. Go horseback riding in the mountains.  Maybe you could show me around New York for a weekend and we could take in a Broadway play. We could even go up to Bangor, Maine and see if we run into Stephen King,” she added, hoping to entice him with the chance of meeting an author he admired.

 

“We’d have to hire a nanny,” Spike said, going automatically to the practical side of the situation. It was his job in the family to make sure everything was taken care of. His mind started to chronicle all the things that would make the trip difficult and upset their routines.

 

“Don’t worry about it,” Buffy said her disappointment evident. “We’ll figure something else out.”

 

Spike could have kicked himself for doing that to her and pushed aside his misgivings. “Start deciding what you want to do. The next time I’m home we’ll start on the arrangements. I’m sure that somewhere in the hordes of Slayers we can find someone to help us with the kids while we’re gone. Okay?”

 

“Really?”

 

There was an awed quality to her question and he smiled. He could see her eyes dancing as she accepted that he was going to give her this. The tremor of her body as she started thinking of things they’d do.

 

“Yeah, baby, really.”

 

It was so easy to please her. He questioned why he didn’t do things more often to make her happy. Just so he could watch her face light up in delight. She did excite him. He could feel it fluttering around inside of him and wished he was there with…

 

The girl.

 

The woman.

 

That was his.

 

Puisse-t-elle rester encore longtemps parmi nous.

 

Elle qui est sa raison d’etre.

 

 

to be continued…

 

 

Author’s Note: Thank you to Geraldine for doing the translations for me. The first phrase means (I hope I didn’t goof) may she stay among us for a long time and the second is she who is his reason for living. Thank you for your help, Geraldine.

Chapter 6
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