Chapter 3 - Chances
There wasn’t a lot to do in
Sunnydale on a Thursday afternoon. Taking Buffy to the movies was too, well, typical for Spike to even consider. Hiking along
the cliffs was too strenuous even though the privacy factor was a point worth
considering. Lying on the beach was too boring, so he wasn’t sure what they
were going to do.
A lot of it had to do with
the fact that he hated this whole socializing scenario. Dating wasn’t something
he remembered fondly. It had been a disaster to his younger, unpopular self,
and once he did gain a little confidence, Drusilla had found him. From the
first moment he saw her, he knew she would be an important part of his world.
It was at the opening of an
up-and-coming artist at the White Room Gallery in
They ended up having sex in
his car before the night was over. She was more experienced than he, showing
him things he’d never imagined, and he was under her thrall by morning. Two
months later they were married in a quickly thrown together elaborate affair
that made the society column. His bride was the granddaughter of Jacob Masters,
the head of one of the largest movie studios in
There was no way he was
prepared to play the part of the eager boyfriend to a girl as innocent as
Buffy. He doubted that she’d been around the block more than once if she’d even
gotten that far. He questioned his motives again as he knocked on the door of
her hotel room. Nothing could come out of this except a wasted day. He needed
to return to
“Hi,” Buffy said, stepping
back. “Sorry it took so long but…I was trying to…,” she blushed as she leaned
over to pick up her sweater and purse.
“It worked,” Spike said,
running a knuckle across her cheek. “You’re absolutely stunning.”
She looked startled for a
second before the flush grew deeper. “Thank you.”
“You hungry?” Spike asked,
deciding to take mercy on her. “I brought the morning paper. Thought we could
browse through it and maybe find something to do today.”
“Starving actually,” Buffy
responded, stepping through the door. She smiled as he closed the door behind
them. “There’s not going to be much to do around here.”
“I’m sure we’ll find
something,” he guided her toward the elevator with his hand on her lower back.
She was so tiny that the primitive male in him was going into protection mode
around her. But he knew that her body was curvy in all the right places. He
glanced over at her, taking in the low riding jeans she wore that gave glimpses
of her tanned stomach beneath a pink pullover. The top was low enough to give him
ample viewing of her breasts as they pushed upwards. His tongue darted to lick
at his lips. He wanted her. He shouldn’t and he definitely shouldn’t try to seduce
her, but it was a tempting thought.
A shake of his head brought
him back, making him realize she was chattering about something. He hated
mindless prattling. It was a waste of time that could be spent reflecting on
the world around you, or discussing something meaningful. Like whether or not
the world would ever catch up with the technology found in science fiction
novels.
“I’m sorry, Luv, what were
you saying?” Spike asked, interrupting her flow of words. He reached around her
and hit the button for the elevator. “I was off thinking about something.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Buffy said.
She blinked. “I was rambling. I do that when I’m nervous.”
Spike stepped closer to her.
Pinning her between him and the wall, he whispered in her ear, “Do I scare
you?” She giggled. It wasn’t the response he was expecting. He kept forgetting
that under her shy and unsure outer shell hid a tough little soul. “What’s so
funny?”
“Nothing, Big Bad Wolf,” She
said, speaking in a little girl voice. “Are you going to eat me?”
Her hand flew over her mouth
when she realized what she’d said. Her eyes opened wide as she stared up at
him. It appeared she was too stunned to even be embarrassed. He hugged her
tight against him while he shook with delighted laughter.
“Oh, little red riding
hood,” Spike said. “I certainly hope so.”
The doors opened to the
elevator revealing a car full of people. A few stepped out, but a lot remained.
Buffy pulled away, but grabbed his hand as she guided him into the car with
her. He squeezed it, searching her eyes for a response to his statement. She
locked eyes with him when she noticed his perusal. He could see the lust deep
within those hazel depths. It wasn’t going to be easy to be a gentleman. Not
when she seemed to want him as much as he wanted her. He didn’t want to hurt
her, but maybe she was ready for a grownup relationship. It could be what she
was looking for. He decided he would find out all he could about her in their
time together then make a decision; he relaxed and prepared himself to have
some fun.
~~~~~~~~~
It didn’t take her long to
figure out that William was moody, almost always too serious, and way too old
for her. Yet when he looked at her like she was the most desirable woman in the
world, she knew she would stay to see where this attraction would lead. It
seemed like forever since anyone had made her feel wanted in any capacity. Not
since her mother died anyway. She was completely alone in the world with only a
few thousand dollars in the bank.
Her boyfriend left for the other
side of the country after graduation, taking her innocence too casually, and
breaking her heart with an ease that left her shy of ever loving anyone again.
Angel and she knew each other since kindergarten, but he found no difficulty in
using her then leaving her. So, how could you trust a stranger? She didn’t want
love, she didn’t know if she could ever trust again, but she wanted another
look or touch from William like an addict needing another fix. He wasn’t any
good for her, but she wouldn’t stop seeing him.
“Chocolate or vanilla, Luv?”
Spike asked, looking back over his shoulder at her.
She glanced up at the small
menu hung on the outside of The Sweet Shop. It was a glorified cart made to
appear like a trolley car. It was angled on the end of a long sidewalk hoping
to entice tired walkers with its multitude of sweet confections. It had worked on
her and Spike was all too willing to indulge her.
“Mmm, a scoop of each,”
Buffy answered after only a moment of deliberation then added, “Please.”
Somehow after a long
breakfast of good food and reading the newspaper together, they decided on
spending the afternoon at the zoo. It was one of the few spots that Sunnydale
had for tourists. The local lighthouse had finished off their morning. Spike
wanted to see it for research purposes, he’d said. It was built on what was
once a temple for a goddess. Attached to the lighthouse was a museum with
artifacts that had been found on the property. Some of them ancient religious
artifacts that belied a darker purpose than good will toward man.
They left with a large pile
of informational booklets and several books on both the history of the place
and the goddess that was once worshiped there. It amused her to see how excited
he was over it. During lunch he continually read passages to her that bored
her. She didn’t want to be rude so she made all the appropriate comments.
Watching the animation on his face was a change of pace that fascinated her
though. To see his face light up and him rambling on about a temple that wasn’t
even there anymore was cute.
“Here,” Spike said, handing
her a double decker ice cream cone with an amused
look. “How do you stay so
skinny?”
“That wasn’t nice,” Buffy
declared, glaring at him. “Last night you said I was fat and now you call me
skinny.”
“I think you’re perfect,” he
said, giving her a quick peck on the lips. He tasted like the strawberry ice
cream he’d chosen. She licked her lips to enjoy the taste of him a little
longer. “And beautiful,” he took her hand. “Funny, adorable, taste good, and
you’ve got a great…”
“Watch it,” She warned.
“It’s only our first date.” She sniffed for effect and raised her face so her
nose was in the air.
“I was going to say that
you’ve got a great stash of courage,” Spike teased, with a shrug. “But if you
think its offensive, I hereby duly apologize.”
Spike was wrong. She didn’t
have any courage. It was why she was spending way too much money to stay at the
hotel for a couple of weeks instead of finding a decent place to live. She
didn’t want to face reality yet. It hurt too much and she was still hoping for
a miracle. Those things didn’t happen to her. Every since she turned sixteen,
her life seemed to always be changing and none of it had been for the good.
Forcing on a smile she
didn’t feel, she said, “It’s hereby accepted.”
“Do you know you’re a brat?”
“Yep, and don’t ever forget
it.”
“Don’t think I will,” Spike
said, dropping an arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go to the reptile house.”
Buffy wrinkled up her nose
at him. “Ick, how about the petting zoo?”
“Smelly and messy,” he said,
trying to steer her in the other direction. “Snakes are housed behind nice
glass where you can gaze at them all you want without having to touch them.”
His statement sent another
warning signal darting through her brain. She dismissed it though. There
couldn’t have been a declaration of his true nature in his words. Spike was
emotional and very affectionate. His hand was always there to offer support;
hugs and kisses were freely given. Nothing like a snake at all. She looked up
into his eyes for a moment then relaxed. He was scared of being hurt just like
she was. There was a defiant glint in those glacial blue eyes that told the
true story of why he would try and keep her at a distance.
“Snakes it is,” Buffy
decided, taking his hand. “Did you know there’s a demonstration room where if
you’re lucky they’ll pick you to hold a snake?”
She would find a way to hold
one even if she had to beg. Spike would see that even a snake could be
affectionate and cuddly. She just hoped he wouldn’t see how much she’d be
shaking on the inside while doing it though. Totally forgotten were her own
vows of not letting anyone too close to her heart.
~~~~~~~~
The seven white candles
flickered around the hotel room. Their magnolia scent filled the room with
their sweetness. The cashmere throw was positioned over the back of the couch
and a bottle of champagne was chilling in a wine bucket by the couch. The
crystal flutes were waiting on the table along with a small bowl of chocolate
covered strawberries. Spike looked around in satisfaction. It was a scene set
for seduction, but yet he still wasn’t sure that seducing Buffy was what he
wanted.
She was a combination of
innocence and sensuality that was making his insides do flip-flops over her.
The memory of her petting the boa constrictor with fear filling her eyes made
him smile and shake his head. He got the message. She was ready for whatever
happened between them. Thus the reason his hotel suite was set for a night of
love even down to the condoms in the bedside table.
“Everything to your satisfaction,
sir,”
“Yes, everything is fine,”
Spike replied, glancing around one more time. He reached into his pocket for
the hundred dollar bill he decided the young woman deserved for helping him. He
held it out to her and she hesitated when she saw how much it was. “Take it,
“Forgive my impudence, Mr.
Nagle,”
“I appreciate your
commentary but I don’t think it’s any of your business,” Spike retorted. He
knew
“I apologize again, sir,”
With that the young woman
disappeared down the hallway. Spike stared after her for a moment before
slamming the door shut. How could a waitress have any clue what William Nagle
the Third could possibly need? She had no clue what went on in his life…in his
world? She didn’t. Buffy knew what she wanted. The same thing as him. A love
affair to while away the time. Neither of them wanted a relationship.
Dismissing the young woman’s words and his own whispering heart, Spike headed
to his bedroom to change clothes for the evening. Buffy would be here any
moment and he wanted everything to be perfect. It didn’t occur to him that his
need for perfection wouldn’t be there if he didn’t care how Buffy did feel.
to be continued…
