Chapter 5
“Whoa,” Buffy muttered upon stepping through the front doors of the Hyperion. All her preconceived notions about the old hotel were instantly shattered. It wasn’t the derelict building in need of extensive repair. Instead it was a majestic beauty that appeared to be fully operational. There were people milling about the lobby and a few working behind the front desk. “I thought this place was closed.”
“Not anymore,” Angel replied, putting his hand on her lower back to propel her further into the building. “I had it refurbished, and we use it for out of town guests or clients.”
“Good evening, Mr. Angel,” a small bald man scurried over as soon as they were spotted. “Is there anything you require?” He asked in a high squeaky voice.
The man was leering quite openly at Buffy which was making her uncomfortable. She stepped closer to Angel since he still had his hand on her back. Gratefully, he tucked her closer to him, and even Spike moved a step back towards them.
“I think we’re fine, Nigel,” Angel said. “This is Buffy, a very good friend of mine; please make sure she receives anything she requests. She’ll be in our suite.”
“Yes, sir, of course, sir,” Nigel responded, nodding his head. “Please, if you need anything miss, don’t hesitate to ask.”
The look in his eyes changed to one of idle curiosity instead of the open lusting of before. It made Buffy wonder if the two vampires ever entertained women in their private apartment. Maybe Dawn was right, and monogamy wasn’t part of their lifestyle and they both craved a feminine touch once in a while. The thought should have repulsed her, but for some reason it didn’t. Instead it flashed a picture of her cradled between their hard, masculine bodies through her mind.
Bad Buffy, she
scolded herself. Don’t think like that. It will
never happen…
“Thank you,” Buffy responded, when she realized the three men were waiting for her to say something. “I’ll be sure to, uh, call you.”
Spike snickered. His scarred brow rising as he looked at her in amusement, but there was tenderness in his eyes to take the sting out. He held his hand out to her and she took it gratefully. The gentle squeeze he gave it let her know that he was on her side whether it looked like it or not. She was grateful for that.
“Come on, pet,” Spike said, tugging on her. “Elevator’s this way.”
From the outside the elevator looked straight out of an old movie with the gated front and carved images decorating the doors, but on the inside it was totally modern. Angel slipped a key card into a slot before punching the button for the top floor. Privacy and security were both a part of this hideaway apartment for two. It took only seconds for them to reach the floor, the doors silently sliding open to reveal a large, open living area.
Buffy stepped out first. Her mouth gaped opened as she stared wide-eyed around their apartment. She could see Angel’s influence in the heavy leather furniture, oriental rugs, and both of theirs in the multitude of bookcases that took up any available wall space. What amazed her though were the windows covering the outside walls. There weren’t any coverings on them and she whirled to look at them. Her hand waved back at the glass while she tried to formulate the question she wanted to ask.
“It’s a special glass,” Angel said, with a small smile. “It blocks the ulta-violet rays of the sun that would turn us to dust. They’re also tinted so that no one can see in.”
“Nice,” Buffy said, starting to walk around to try and take it all in. There were paintings on the walls that would have made her mother drool in envy. All beautiful oils that depicted another time and place, and most likely originals worth more than a decade’s worth of the pitiful salary that the Council paid her.
They didn’t stop her wandering. Angel sat in what she figured was his chair, a large burgundy leather with an ottoman to match. Spike moved off to the front of the building, into another room that from the sound of glass rattling she assumed was the kitchen. She hoped he would bring the food back out with him. Her stomach was beginning to rumble from hunger.
Hoping they hadn’t noticed, she continued to inspect the place. It was definitely masculine but yet held a comfortableness that would make a woman appreciate it. Besides various statues, candles also held a place of significance on most of the tables.
“May I light these?” Buffy asked, stopping at an elaborate arrangement in front of the window overlooking the courtyard. The varying heights of the pillars gave of a rich spicy scent. It reminded her of the mansion where Angel once lived. She glanced behind her when there was no reply to her query. He was staring at her with an intense desire burning in those brown depths, or maybe he was merely experiencing the same sense of deja vu.
“Feel free,” Angel finally replied with heavy lids now masking his emotions. “Make yourself at home, Buffy.”
“Thank you.”
She may have been mistaken, but she felt that she’d just been given a stamp of approval. The matches were lying on the edge of the table, and she instinctively knew he was watching every move she made while she lit the candles. It leant the simple act a sensuality that made her body hum. Suddenly the overhead lights snapped off, making her whirl around to see what happened. It was Spike. He was moving toward them with a bottle and several glasses in his hands. His jacket and tie were gone. The top few buttons of his shirt were undone revealing just enough of his chest to make her want to explore more.
“Come sit, luv,” Spike instructed, sitting on the couch and patting the seat beside him. He leaned toward the table in front of him where he’d placed the refreshments. It was so casual, so relaxed, so fluid the way he poured them each a glass of the wine. It was another fascinating layer to the vampire that once ruled the drawing rooms of European aristocratic society. Maybe not when he was human, but after, when he was under Angel’s tutelage.
The two of them, together like this was heady, making her understand a little more of the seductive powers that made them such a terrifying legend. How could anyone, woman or man, resist these two charming, beautiful creatures? It was pure Angelus. He didn’t need violence to gain entry where he wanted to go, not when their allure and charisma was much more powerful. Feeling like she was in a dream, Buffy sat next to Spike, and accepted the champagne he offered.
“Thanks,” Buffy whispered, trying to act relaxed when every nerve in her body was going into overdrive being aware of every move they made. “It’s really beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Angel drawled. He ran his fingers languidly along the arm of the chair while he flung one foot on the ottoman. Refusing a glass for himself, he waited until Buffy had tasted it before continuing. “How intimate have you been with the Immortal?”
She choked. Sputtering, she accepted a napkin from Spike, then wiped at her mouth. “Excuse me. Are you asking me if I’ve slept with him?”
“Yes, I’m asking you.”
“I don’t think it’s any of your business,” She tried to
sound aloof, but knew she didn’t. It
sucked. After months of living in
“Oh, I think it is…Buf,” Angel replied. “You want us to trust you, and I think I deserve to know how much is between you and my enemy. His scent is all over you, and the word on the street is that you’re under his protection. Usually that status is reserved for a woman he is courting, or a favored whore. Which are you?”
Her first instinct was to fling her glass of wine into Angel’s smug face, but then she realized he was baiting her. A lot of time and distance had transpired in their relationship to cause mistrust between them. She was also aware of the Immortal’s history with Darla and Drusilla. Angel and Spike’s mistrust was very easy to understand. She didn’t fully trust them either. They were equal in that regard.
Proud of the steadiness of her hand, Buffy put her glass on the table before turning on the couch. She toed off her shoes before tucking one leg beneath her. No longer was she worried about what was revealed by her dress. To further add to the effect of being comfortable she draped an arm along the back of the couch. Her fingers dangled dangerously close to Spike’s shoulder.
“Neither, Angel,” Buffy replied. “I’ve never even slept with the guy.”
The look of first disbelief, then astonishment on their faces, gave her a feeling of pure satisfication. She merely smiled at them as she waited for them to figure out where to go from there. In a way she wished she could have pulled the casual lovers card for them to ponder over, but the part of her that still loved them was relieved that she hadn’t been with anyone since Spike. Not that she hadn’t had plenty of opportunities, or that she hadn’t taken the time to have fun and socialize, but in the end she wanted love. She wouldn’t settle for less.
“Oh, bollocks,” Spike exclaimed. “That’s a load of rubbish. You expect us to believe that you’ve been hanging around that wanker for months and he hasn’t seduced you yet?”
“Yes, I expect you to believe it,” Buffy stated, picking an imaginary piece of lint from his shirt. “You know that there have been other times in my life when I’ve been celibate.”
Their eyes clashed as they both remembered the time he’d left Sunnydale to gain his soul. In the aftermath of their relationship she was unwilling to allow any other man to touch her. Slowly she started to realize she was partially to blame for where they ended up. It was the months they had when he returned that she learned what true intimacy was before they consummated their new relationship that last night. It was what she wanted again. Having sex for fun wasn’t part of the new grown up version of Buffy, and she wasn’t over them yet. So, there was no looking for new lovers in the cards for her.
“I’m sorry,” Spike whispered. He reached up to cover her hand with his. “Shouldn’t have doubted you, pet.”
“I understand the need to be sure,” Buffy said, gracing him with a smile then turning to Angel. “I hope you’ll believe me, too. I’m here because I know there’s trouble coming your way and that Reginald is right in the middle of it. It’s going to be bad if he gains anymore power than he already has, and let’s face it, the world without the two of you is in a lot more trouble.”
She released the breath she’d been holding. There wasn’t anymore that she could do. All of her motives and secrets were laid bare for them to see. Well, almost all. Buffy knew them well enough to realize that they already understood her unspoken reasons. With Spike’s hand still in hers, she didn’t really mind.
When Angel leaned forward, with his elbows resting on his
knees, she knew he also believed her. It
was time for them to get past all their insecurities and begin making plans to
not only bring down the Immortal but the Senior Partners. Her purpose for being in
“Go home, Buffy.”
“Excuse me. No, I’m not going home. I came here to help you.”
“We don’t need your help.”
“Oh, yes, you do,” Buffy argued. “I know more about what Reg has been up to, how he runs his operations and who his people are.”
“It’s going to get ugly,” Angel said. “We might not make it out of this fight alive and I won’t have your life on my conscience.”
“It’s my choice,” Buffy declared, jumping up. She crossed her arms and stared down at him. “Besides, been dead before…a few times actually, and I’m still here in a breathing with a heartbeat way. So, yeah, I’m ready for this one, too.” She paused. “Not that I want to die, but I’m not going to walk away, and wait around to order the funeral flowers for you both.”
“You don’t understand what it will cost to prepare for this battle,” Angel countered, standing with hands on hips to glare back at her.
“Well, then explain it to me,” Buffy said. “Let me know then let me choose. If it comes down to territory, I am the Slayer, and fighting evil is my job.”
“I’m not saying that you’re not the best at what you do, but this is my fight…our fight, and I don’t want you in the middle of it.”
“Why? Give me one good reason, and I’ll turn tail and return
to
Just then her stomach rumbled loudly, protesting its lack of food. She was grateful for it in a way because they needed the distraction before something was said or done that couldn’t be taken back. Buffy wasn’t going to be let out of the effort to bring the Immortal down. Not after she’d learned a few things about what he’d done over the years to people he considered to stand in his way, or to those he just wanted to torture, and including one Slayer that was caught in his trap. He needed to be stopped and she was ready to do it.
“Come on, let’s get you fed,” Spike said, with a chuckle. “It seems not everything stops for making life or death decisions.”
He gestured for her to follow him. After staring at Angel for another moment, she turned on her heels to head for the kitchen and hopefully lots of yummy Chinese food. The kitchen seemed a little more ordinary than the rest of their place, but then they were vampires and probably weren’t into doing gourmet dinners for two.
“Smells good,” Buffy commented. “Anything I can do?”
“Nope, take a seat,” Spike instructed, waving a hand toward the table. Apparently he’d put their dinner in the oven to keep warm while they talked. The little buckets of food were steaming as he put them on the table. By the time he put a plate in front of her, she was almost salivating. He sat across from her while Angel leaned against a counter.
“Would you sit?” Buffy said, helping herself to Fried Rice. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Sorry,” he muttered, plopping in a seat next to her. “Why are you being stubborn?”
“Because it’s Buffy,” Spike reasoned, dumping his egg roll in soy sauce. “She’s always stubborn. Thought you would have figured that out long ago.”
“Yes, I know she’s stubborn, but why won’t she listen to me?”
“Uh, not wearing your ring,” Buffy answered even though she knew Angel wasn’t really looking for one. She wiggled her left hand in his face, before returning to her food. “So, no need to obey.”
“Don’t want you to obey me,” he started, but then Spike snickered and he cast his lover a dark look that Buffy tried her best to ignore. “I just want you to use common sense and go home. Stay out of this and stay away from the Immortal.”
“No,” Buffy said, leaning back in her chair with a shake of her head. “I have a personal stake in this fight. We can either work together or I’ll fight him on my own.”
Angel seemed to be struggling with his conscience because he pressed his hands together with his fingertips against his mouth. He was contemplating hard about something. Something that didn’t seem to matter much to Spike who was still eating. Buffy wondered if Spike always just followed what his Sire told him to do or if he was still capable of independent thinking. The blonde never was one for blind obedience without at least understanding all sides of the battle. Suddenly Spike looked up, meeting her inquisitive eyes with an openness that let her know that he was just staying out of this fight between her and Angel. His side was already chosen, and because she trusted Spike it made her want to stay with them even more.
“I told you earlier that I was making people believe that Angelus has surfaced again,” Angel explained, laying his hands flat on the table. “Which means Spike has to also act the part of being evil again.”
“And?” Buffy asked, reaching for more lo mein. She dumped a pile of the noodles with shrimp on her plate, and then reached for the soy sauce. “Evil. I can do evil.”
Just as she expected, they both laughed, but she only shrugged her shoulders.
“You would need to give the Immortal a reason to turn your
back on him,” Angel said, taking her hand. His thumb stroked her palm. “You would need to send your sister and her
guard dog back to
“Huh?” Buffy stuttered, swallowing convulsively as she looked from one to the other. “Belong to you two? Couldn’t I just be your friends, comrades, allies, you know, partners?”
“No, Buffy,” Angel explained, kissing the back of her hand. “Everyone would need to believe that you’ve completely turned away from the Immortal and now are with us…in every sense of the word. Can you handle that?”
“Sure, why not?” Buffy retorted, tossing her hair over her shoulder. A total act of bravado, because her stomach was fluttering over the ‘every sense of the word’ part. “It’s not like I haven’t been with you guys before. If you think you’re scaring me off, you’re not.”
“All right,” Angel said, throwing his hands up in surrender. “If you’re so determined, then you’re in. You’ll sleep with us tonight.”
Buffy dropped her fork and Spike coughed while Angel merely grinned.
to be continued…
Chapter 6
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