Chapter 3 – Flying
Spike moved through the crowd of people, sunburned and tired, trying to have a good time on their vacation. The blood that pumped through them called to him and it was in moments like this that he hated being chipped, not being able to hunt, having to beg his grand-sire for scraps of food. Sometimes he even questioned his existence. What was there to live for? He was nothing now, his way of life ripped from him and the only time that he felt alive again was when Angel held him and made love to him. That he hated most of all. But he was Spike and ultimately life was to be enjoyed and he would find a way to be happy again.
Right now though his mission was to find a little redhead Slayer intent on making everyone’s life miserable especially his if he couldn’t find her. What was the big deal? Humans made these stupid rules that only made them miserable. And the ones that found the courage to do what made them happy were usually frowned upon and labeled as freaks. If she would only admit that she loved Angel still and wanted to be with him then they would be halfway home. Literally. Now, if she would admit that she wanted to bed him then it would be easy going.
He was willing to admit that he wanted both of them sexually although he hated the girl with a passion. His original plans of having his way with this Slayer before he killed her were never going to happen now. At least he could have half his plan. And seduction had always come easy to him. Most of them just looked at him and were ready to rip their clothes off, male or female. There was no wavering in his confidence that if he could be with her for a little while she would admit it and be ready to spread those legs of her.
Once that happened Angel would be happy and that would only make him need Spike more which would give Spike more of an edge to getting what would make him happy again. It was a win-win situation as far as he was concerned, Angel got Buffy and someone to satisfy his lust, Buffy got Angel and someone to satisfy her lust and Spike had both of them needing and wanting him. Yep, life was going to be good again.
So, intent on his thoughts he almost missed her scent wafting on the night air, faint but still there above the smell of bodies, popcorn, booze and unclean bathrooms. Spike stopped when the aroma finally hit him and followed it into an arcade. It was habit at first looking for a blonde then he remembered and did another quick scan before he spotted her playing Skee Ball.
Her instincts were on mark that night and he only got about three feet behind her when she said hello.
“Hello, Slayer, what are you doing?”
“Playing Skee Ball. Ever done it before?”
He shook his head, “It looks silly.”
“But its fun, it’s supposed to be silly.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out some tokens to hand him. When his first few balls didn’t make it in the center ring and Buffy was giggling at his lack of skill, Spike got determined to show her and he trotted off to get more tokens.
“So, what’s the point of this?” He asked on his return.
“You get tickets and the more tickets you get, the bigger the prize,” she told him indicating the prize booth in the corner.
It became a challenge to them both to score the most points. The conversation stopped as they concentrated on being the better player. Finally after almost an hour of playing they both had to concede that they were almost even.
“It’s okay, pet, we’re both hunters.”
“I am and you were so give it a few more months and you should be easy to beat.” Buffy smirked as she folded up her tickets and stuffed them in her pocket.
“Here, I have no use for these,” Spike said as he handed over his tickets to her. “And I am going to get this thing out of my head eventually so be warned.”
“And you be warned that when you do it won’t be a game we’ll be playing.”
“It never is between us,” he whispered seductively in her ear.
Her hand landed in the middle of his chest as she pushed him away from her. Not willing to be drawn into a verbal sparring game of who wants who, Buffy headed back out to the Boardwalk. She didn’t say anything as he followed her. There were questions she wanted to ask but she needed to work up her courage first. Her hands were stuffed into the pocket of her jeans as she scuffled along with her head down. There was a war going on between her head, her heart and her body. And the word slut kept coming to her mind as she thought of what Angel had proposed. She would have to be to love one man and yet sleep with another with her boyfriend there. Why couldn’t they just be together without the sex? It didn’t really matter to her. Okay, it did but she could deal. She had been for three years.
“Ever ride that?”
“What?”
Broken from her thoughts Buffy looked up confused then followed to where Spike was pointing to The Flyer. It was like bungee jumping but instead you swung, simulating the act of flying.
“No, don’t need an adrenaline rush that bad.”
Without thinking twice Buffy started to walk off until she heard Spike clucking like a chicken at her.
“I’m not chicken,” she declared as she swung around with her arms wrapped around her.
“Yes, you are. You are just good little girl Buffy, always doing what people expect of her whether she wants to or not. Staying in your safe little box, never letting yourself go.” He mocked.
“Uh, hello, left home here.”
The vampire looked coolly at her then reached out and tapped her nose ring.
“One act of rebellion doesn’t change anything. Besides running away didn’t prove anything except they hold too much power over you.”
“I didn’t run away. I moved.”
“Ran away. Note on bed, reaction to an overwhelming emotional hurt, yes, it was running away.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. It wasn’t fair that her enemy knew which buttons to push with her. She leaned forward on the railing surrounding The Flyer and tried to get herself together again. It didn’t help that he came over and leaned on the rail next to her.
“And what would you have done, oh wise evil vampire?” She asked tremulously.
“Gotten cold revenge,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Let’s start with Giles.” He paused to make sure he had her attention. “I would have called the Council on him and told them that you wanted to expand your abilities as a Slayer and he wasn’t helping. Have them send you a new one. He would have gotten the clue real quick that you didn’t need him.”
“And my mom?”
“That one is easy. Give her an ultimatum back. Tell her if she wasn’t going to help with your education then you’d go get a job at the new topless bar on the highway and gotten a ring through your nipple instead.”
He reached out tapping the nipple that was closest to him. She surprised him by laughing as she swatted his hand away.
“Oh, yeah, that would work.”
“Would have,” he insisted. “It would have shown her that you didn’t need her and you would have made enough money to cover college on your own.”
He waited for her to ask about Angel and when she didn’t, he told her anyway.
“And as for the Pouf, you should have gone out and shagged the hell out of the first human boy you could find. Film it and send it to him as a present.”
By this time she was giggling helplessly and leaning against him. He pushed aside the thought that he liked it and laughed along with her.
“So, wild child, gonna take a ride?”
“Nope.”
She shook her head and started to back away from him. “You are crazy and you’re already dead. Something I don’t want to be.”
“Yeah, but I don’t hide,” he smirked as he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“Spike, no, I am not going to ride that thing,” she protested as he dragged her along behind him.
It was halfhearted though. She was finding herself falling under his temptation of living life dangerously. And even his version of how she should have done things had a certain appeal. By the time they had gotten to the front of the line Buffy had decided to do it. The need to please had been strangling her and he was right. She had run away. Maybe it was time to change things.
The operator of the ride fastened the harnesses on their bodies. Buffy was strapped in behind Spike so that she would be riding on his back. As they were lifted up to the start point, she covered her face with her hands and buried it between his shoulder blades.
“Ready,” the operator shouted and released them.
As they flew forward giving the sensation of being about to fly over the ocean, Buffy screamed as she peeked out and Spike laughed like a madman.
“Come on, Slayer, fly with me.” He shouted as they swung back.
She took the challenge and threw her head back as her hands slid along his arms then raising them so it was like she was flying. Her laughter soon joined his as the adrenaline flooded her body and pleasure was what her brain told her was going on. It was exhilarating and the most fun she had had in forever. She let go of everything as they swung into the night air and a sense of freedom came over her. A feeling that she didn’t want to let go of.
All too soon the ride was over and they were lowered to the ground. Laughing they left the area. Buffy turned to lean against the wall of a building looking up to watch the next riders take off.
“Did you like that?”
Smiling she nodded giving him a quick glance before looking back up. Spike stepped in front of her putting one hand on the wall next to her head.
“Sex can be like that. Free and exhilarating.”
“You are such a pig. I should have known there was a reason for dragging me onto that thing.”
Buffy pushed hard at his chest and he only laughed as he stumbled back. He watched as she walked off giving her a few seconds head start before following. She stopped at an ice cream cart and ordered a cone. After receiving it she headed for a bench and sat down. It was then that he joined her taking a seat next to her with his arm laid along the back of the bench.
“Why can’t Angel and I just be together? The way it used to be,” she asked softly as her hand that was holding her ice cream cone slowly lowered until it was in her lap.
“Because things have to change, pet, nothing ever stays the same.”
His fingers tenderly pushed her hair behind her hair, drifting down until he twirled the end around his finger.
“We’ve been doing fine without…you know.”
“Sex?” Spike laughed low in his throat, “I doubt that. Angel was only too happy to get some again.”
“Eeew, I don’t want to hear about that.” Buffy’s face scrunched up but her statement was more to cover up the hurt than repulsion of the two vampires having sex.
“Come on, Buffy, quit being a child. Do you want to be with Angel?”
“Yes, but…”
“No buts, if you want to be with him then you are going to have to open your eyes and take a good long hard look at who he is.” Spike paused as he looked over at her, “Eat your ice cream it’s melting.”
The chocolate confection was dripping down her hand and ready to drip down on the leg of her jeans but she only looked at it as if it was happening to someone else.
Spike picked her hand up drawing it slowly to his mouth. Then when it was close enough he slowly licked the treat off her fingers, letting his tongue linger on her flesh before going up the cone and took a bite before releasing her.
The rest of the cone ended up being thrown into the nearest trash receptacle before she came back and sat next down again.
“I know what you’re doing. I’m not that naïve.”
“And exactly what am I doing, Love?”
Buffy turned her head so their eyes were locked together. “You’re turning on the sexual innuendos and the games hoping to seduce me.”
“Nope,” he moved closer until they were nose to nose, “just want you to admit you want me.”
Cocking her head she smiled, “you’ll be waiting a really long time.”
“Then deny it. Tell me that your heart isn’t racing from having me so close. Your pupils aren’t dilating and that you aren’t all tingly down there.” His voice got lower with each word and his eyes never broke contact with her. “Deny that every time we have fought that you have wanted it to end with us bumping uglies.”
As much as she hated it, as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t deny it. He was so close, so very close, tempting her. And she wanted to fly again. With a soft sigh, she gave in, and pressed her lips to his. It was everything that a first kiss should be. Tentative and sweet. His lips gently learned the contours of her mouth as she appreciated the tenderness he showed. Somehow their bodies moved closer as her hand came up to cup his face. Then almost as if they could read the other’s mind their mouths opened simultaneously and tongues, tip to tip, began a further exploration of the other.
But she also knew this was what he wanted. To make her vulnerable and needy. To get her to agree to their plan. She pulled back.
“What do you get out of this?”
Eyebrows furrowed together as he contemplated her question. As she waited for his answer she moved to lean against the railing of the boardwalk. It wasn’t like he could tell her what he got out of it. That it was nothing but strategy so that his life would be easier and they would be easier to manipulate. He pushed aside the other things that he wasn’t willing to admit yet or ever, so, he shrugged his shoulders.
“A place to live, food, taken care of and sex with two beautiful people, what more could a bloke want?”
“Basically you’re a prostitute?” Buffy laughed as she looked away from him.
He moved almost faster than could be seen as he pushed her back against the rail. His hands were on the rail on either side of her as his body leaned into hers.
“I am not for sale.” He growled down at her. “He is my Grand-sire and as much as I hate it, he is my family. Where else was I to go for help? Where would you go?”
His pride had been hurt and he had precious little of it left. Buffy was a child sometimes. One that didn’t understand being without. Except in her life as a Slayer her life hadn’t been that hard. Never hungry or alone or not fitting in and it was one of those things he hated about her. She was a prissy girl that thought she was better than everybody else.
“I’m sorry,” Her voice was soft as she looked up at him. It was the pity in her eyes that took him over the edge and although he couldn’t hurt her he could put her in her place.
His lips took hers with none of the gentleness of the last kiss. It was hunger, a ravenous need, to dominate as he wrapped his arms around her. He knew that he was bruising her as his tongue forced her mouth open and she mewled softly in protest. At first she was stiff in his arms then she melted into him. She forgot they were in the middle of a public place and it only took her a moment then she was matching his ruthless craving with her own. Three years of sexual frustration opened flood gates in her body calling for her to answer his need. Their tongues battled against the other as their bodies shifted closer. His knee separated her legs so that his thigh could rub gently against her and she whimpered as her body flooded with need.
“So, this is where you two are?”
The pair broke apart as Angel’s words penetrated the fog of desire they were lost in. He stood watching them with his hands clasped in front of him. His eyes were emotionless as he stared at them.
“I went by Shelia’s and she said you were headed down here and that my friend was already looking for you.” Angel eyes stayed directed on his ex-girlfriend as she attempted to hide her passion from him by looking away. Then his gaze drifted to Spike taking in his obvious desire for Buffy. He had started this, orchestrated it, planned it and he hadn’t had a clue as to how much it would hurt to see them in each other’s arms.
Blue eyes held a hint of fear as he remembered other times when Angelus would have punished him for an infraction like this. Then he tilted his head as he realized there was no anger from his Sire only pain. Spike stepped back from Buffy hoping it would ease Angel’s torment. Taking the opportunity for freedom in the midst of so many emotions, she began to walk away.
“Doing what you do best, running away?”
It was a dare. She stopped and turned around to face them. An awkward silence fell among them as they took turns looking at each other. All of them were unsure of what to do now.
“I talked to Giles,” Angel spoke first. Business took priority right now. Later when he and Spike were alone he would be able to release some of the emotions warring in him. “There was a murder. A little boy was mutilated. They think it was some monster that was created at the Initiative. Spike and I are leaving tomorrow night. They need help back there.”
Another dare. Another challenge to be who she was. And once again she accepted it.
“Pick me up at dusk.”
Angel nodded his approval at her decision. This time they let her walk away.
TBC
