By the time the trio got to the ‘emergency’, of course, it was no longer an emergency or even a pressing matter. Giles had apologized profusely for interrupting them on their day but the new gang of vampires was creating havoc on a neighborhood not far from Revello Drive. Joyce had been driving home and had at first thought it was kids until she saw one of their faces. She had called Giles who had in turn called Buffy because as he said, one or two they could handle without her but a gang was a different matter.

The street was quiet when they got there but the damage was still evident. Car windows had been smashed, trash cans overturned and one drained body left on a front porch. It was a message left for the Slayer that she couldn’t handle her town and the mood that Buffy had started the search off in had increased a hundredfold. She was out for dust as she stomped through the streets following her mates who were following their noses. They were being led on a wild goose chase as the scent of the vampires had first led them through downtown, then the seedier side and now the warehouse district.

Buffy felt a tightening in her womb and perked up. She might get her wish after all. And as a large biker vamp came ambling out from between some buildings, Buffy took off running. She ignored the sounds of indignation coming from Spike and Angel because she wanted this one for herself. Her first punch didn’t even sway him. He laughed and she batted her eyes and smiled at him.

“You might regret that, big boy,” She said and let all her frustration and anger out on the unsuspecting demon.

Her mates watched as she played for a few minutes and when her senses cleared some, Buffy put him out of the misery of his undead life.

“Feel better, Luv?” Spike asked, rubbing her shoulders.

For a moment she leaned back against him. “Yeah, it helped but he wasn’t who we were looking for,” she said, straightening up as a security guard approached them.

“Go on,” the guard said. “Get out of here. No rave parties tonight.”

“Sorry,” Angel said. “We must have heard wrong.”

With Angel leading the way they walked toward the gate.

“Hey, does this belong to you?” the guard asked, holding out a glowing orb.

Spike, being behind Buffy, took the orb from the man. He turned it between his fingers letting Buffy look at it before she took it from him.

“Thanks,” Buffy said, slipping it into her bag. “It’s just one of those cool glowy light things to have at those parties. Hate to be without it.”

The guard smiled and wandered off muttering things about stupid kids. Angel held the gate open for his mates to slip through. Buffy went first and waited for the two of them before choosing a direction.

“Any more ideas?” Buffy asked, waiting while they sniffed the air.

Sometimes it was a little creepy to watch them when they were one the prowl. They stood back to back, heads raised, nostrils flared as they searched for the scent again. Slowly they turned, stepped apart and started off down the street. She watched them walking away from her for a moment, black leather flying behind them. Two ends of a spectrum, brunette and blond, their strides matching the other in military precision. Buffy felt her body tingling and her sex moisten in response to her mates almost animalistic concentration in following their prey. There was something so primal about it that it called to the very core of her womanhood.

“You coming?” Angel called, turning slightly and she watched as his nostrils flared as he caught the first wave of her arousal. His need for her filled his eyes and she was almost flying as she ran to catch up to them.

None of them said a word as they continued the search but the hunger for each other hung heavy in the air between them. They climbed the back wall into the cemetery and even though she could easily jump it, Spike’s hands caressed her body as he lifted her to the top. And Angel was waiting to catch her on the other side. Their bodies radiated their need as he let her slide along him as he returned her to the ground. Eyes held the other’s gaze until the thud of Spike landing interrupted them. It could have happened there as he approached them, circling them, marking his place in their game. Buffy could already feel herself on the precipice of an orgasm. All it would take would be one touch, one stroke and she would explode. They knew it and this time it wasn’t embarrassing. She felt only power, raw and unyielding, because it was drawing them to her. Their desire for her ran just as deep as hers. She arched back as Spike molded himself to her back and Angel never surrendered one bit of space as he followed. Their needs pressed against her and she inhaled sharply at the intensity of the craving.

Waiting would only make it more intense and she could feel that the goal of their mission was close. Without a word but with total understanding, they separated. Fanning out they circled the crypt the gang had taken refuge in. One door in, no way out, three adrenaline pumped champions and five clueless vampires. It didn’t take long. The only surprise was that Buffy knew them. They had been classmates of hers from high school and probably were turned in the battle at graduation. Most surprising was Harmony trying to lead them. Buffy taunted her with the leading them to a dusty end before raising her stake. In the end, Harmony got away while her minions returned to the ground where they belonged while the blonde vamp ran for her undead life. The big threat to Sunnydale’s safety was now vanquished and it was deduced that Harmony was probably on her way out of town. Victory was theirs and it was time to celebrate.

It was to be anything but this. His dreams had weaved a poetic and romantic first time between them. He would be tender and she would be shy. Angel would seduce the innocent maiden with love and the first quickening of her lust. Buffy would blush as she saw his body for the first time and he would rush to reassure her thus freeing her to boldly explore him. It would be candlelight and lace and sweet whispers of adoration.

Not this.

Filling their nostrils was the musty smell of a crypt that hadn’t been opened in forever and the dust of deceased vampires. Instead of satin and lace, Buffy was stretched out on Spike’s duster, nude from the waist down, legs wrapped him as he pounded her into a sarcophagus. There was no delicacy or romance in the urgent coupling of their bodies. Her fingernails dug into the crumbling marble as she rose to meet every thrust. Her breath was rapid and her moans increasing in tempo as she came again. She was riding a crest of them that had started as soon as Angel had entered her.

There had been no seduction, or soft touches. One look, one movement and he had her by the waist, lifting and setting her on the grave. Spike was one step ahead of them, spreading the duster, before her bottom ever touched down. No kisses, only hands stripping her of her pants and boots. Those legs clenching around his waist as her hands pulled him to her, into her.

“Bloody inferno,” Spike whispered as Angel shuddered from the first feel of her walls squeezing him. “Its heaven, isn’t it?”

His Childe hovered around them, touching light as a feather on their bodies, encouraging in the mating of his Sire and Slayer. It was more than Angel had expected from him. And his words was only spurring them both on. Angel looked down at Buffy. She was staring at him, her breath floating in the cold air, as she panted. Her tongue darted out and she reached for him, holding him against her as she shuddered again. And he couldn’t hold out anymore and he joined her in the free fall from paradise.

Her stomach rose and fell with each breath and Angel went along for the ride. Her fingers combed through his hair making him smile in a happiness he hadn’t felt, well, since he had been with Spike. There was no comparison. They each brought him their own special magic and with it a perfect happiness. He rose and reached for Spike, pulling him between them again. His hands undid the belt as Spike sat between Buffy’s legs. She held him, reclining against her, as Angel freed Spike’s cock from his pants. Giving one last smile to his lovers he bent taking Spike into his mouth. They were his and giving to them in every way was what Angel wanted. Spike jerked as Angel scraped his teeth along his length and with a final tug along the tip, his Childe came.

It was time to go home. Clothes were tugged back on and fastened. Smiles and helpful hands held them together as they broke through the brief respite from their life. It had been a day of enchantment much like a honeymoon and they each wished that it could last forever. But once again the ringing of a telephone brought reality crashing back to their world.

Hard couldn’t even describe the way it felt to pack his bag again. Angel had taken a quick shower and was throwing clean clothes into his duffel bag as his mates watched. He couldn’t even meet Buffy’s eyes. After promising her love and commitment, he felt like heel for leaving so soon after having sex with her. What he wanted was to crawl into bed with her and make love to her properly but another vision from Doyle was calling him back to Los Angeles. Spike was sitting on the edge of the bed with Buffy’s feet in his lap. Angel tugged the zipper closed, stood and threw the bag on his shoulders. Without a word they stood and walked him to the front door.

Buffy came to him first. Her arms wrapped around him so tight he thought she might break a rib in her enthusiasm.

“I love you,” Angel said, pulling her as close as he could. “This isn’t what I want but I promise we will be together for your birthday.”

“Business before pleasure,” Buffy quipped, drew back with her eyes open wide. “I’m sorry. I do understand.”

“I know you do,” Angel said, smiling at her. “I’ll call as soon as I can.”

With a few whispered words of good-bye, Buffy slipped away to give him time with Spike. The two vampires looked at each other for a moment before Angel pulled Spike by his belt. His hands slid to his waist and around to his back.

“Take care of each other,” Angel whispered, leaning his forehead against Spike’s. “This is so damn hard.”

“All those emotions might make you crack your tough guy persona,” Spike said, burying his face in Angel’s neck. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“Me neither,” Angel said, giving him a quick kiss good-bye.

It was time to let go of the romance and the exposed hearts and return to the real world. Their brief fantasy world had been found and was vanishing from their hands. With a last goodbye, Angel disappeared in the night and Spike watched his taillights until they disappeared from view.

Drying his hair, Spike stepped from the bathroom. The steamy air followed him out into the coolness of the bedroom giving an illusion of him magically stepping from smoke. But the figure on the bed hadn’t noticed. Buffy was lying face down on the bed, propped up on her elbows, reading while her feet waved gaily behind her. He threw the towel backwards in the vicinity of the bathroom and advanced on the bed. She still didn’t pay attention. He crawled slowly across the bed and she didn’t look at him. Grabbing her by the ankle, he kissed the bottom of her foot and she gave a small smile. A kiss to the back of her thigh and she didn’t respond. His fingers lifted the lacy band of her panties and tried a nip to the curve of her bottom.

“Spike, stop,” Buffy said, not looking back. “I need to read this chapter for class on Monday.”

“You have all day tomorrow,” Spike said, his hand slipping beneath her tank top. “Make love to me.”

Buffy glanced back at him. She rolled her eyes and returned to her book.

“I need to meet Giles tomorrow at the old magic store,” Buffy said. “He said he had news and I told my mom I’d visit. She hasn’t been feeling well.”

Spike reached for the book but she held it out of his reach and suddenly it didn’t matter anymore. Obviously, he was the last thing that mattered in her world and he didn’t need a sledgehammer to drive it home. He rolled away from her and slipped beneath the covers, turning the light off on his side of the bed leaving Buffy in darkness. She sighed and turned the lamp on her side on. She leaned back against the pillows and continued to read.

The longer he lay there the more irritated he got. All he wanted was a little reassurance that he still mattered after she had sex with Angel. That he wasn’t forgotten. Even if she turned him down, she could have taken two minutes and at least acted like making love to him wasn’t a low priority. Even an ‘I love you but not right now’ would have done. No, it was ‘I’m busy and don’t have time for you’.

“Do you mind?” Spike asked, his question dripping with sarcasm. “I’m knackered and would like to get some sleep.”

“Sleep then,” Buffy said, rolling on to her side and pulled the comforter over her. “I need to read this.”

A part of him knew he was being unreasonable and childish but she was acting like he was an annoyance and it hurt. He stood, grabbed the comforter from the bed and walked out.

“Where are you going?” Buffy asked. “And why are you taking the comforter with you?”

“To my room and because you spilled oil all over mine.”

“Spike,” Buffy whined. “It’s cold in here. Don’t leave.”

Spike stopped and the irritation began to boil into something else.

“Now, the little bint wants me around,” Spike snapped. “Of course, she does, the princess is cold and wants Spike to stay. But when he wants something he’s dismissed.”

“What the hell is your deal?”

That ‘something’ was now officially anger and Spike walked out but continued to mutter under his breath about spoiled stuck up children. With a small amount of satisfaction he heard her padding behind him.

“Spike,” Buffy called. “Talk to me.”

“Can’t sorry, I’m busy and don’t have time.”

He ascended the stairs with the comforter trailing behind him until he felt her tugging on it and he yanked it away from her.

“I’m going to sleep,” Spike said, wrapping the material into a ball. “When you want to sleep come to my room and I might share. Or better yet, go to your room and sleep.”

“You know what. I don’t have time for this,” Buffy yelled, turning and heading back to Angel’s room. “Be an asshole. See if I care.”

“I’m being an asshole?” Spike said, letting one arm rise and fall in a gesture of futility. “Isn’t that the bitch calling the kettle black?”

Spike watched as Buffy stopped in her tracks. Her back stiffened and she turned around to look at him.

“What is wrong? What the hell did I do to piss off Angel’s perfect little boy now?”

He went back down the stairs, to the midway point and leaned over to look at her.

“Me? Angel’s perfect little boy? What are you talking about little ‘Miss I’ve fucked Angel now so I don’t have time for anyone else’?”

Buffy had the audacity to smirk and it made him to want to smack it off that cute little mouth.

“Is that what this is about?” Buffy asked, her hands lifting before falling against her thighs. “You’re upset because Angel and I had sex.”

“No, bitch, I’m upset because you stuck up your crooked little nose at me.”

“I did not,” Buffy yelled her hands on her hips. “And my nose is not crooked.”

Before he could say anything else, Buffy turned on her heel and marched into the bedroom.

“Fine, walk away again,” Spike screamed. “I don’t care.”

Slam.

“Stupid, soddin’, fucking…cu…bitch,” Spike muttered, stomping back downstairs.

Just because she closed…rather, slammed the door didn’t mean she had the last word or gesture. Spike settled on the couch. He turned the TV on, flipping the channel until he reached the Pay per View adult channels. Fruits and Vegetables. Bunny and her boyfriend get busy in the kitchen. Click. Bought it. Yeah, Bunny was taking a banana up her quim. Turn the volume up.

Load moans filled the living room. Bunny screaming for more. Spike’s hand reached beneath the comforter stroking his still lonely cock. Every insertion of banana for every upward stroke.

Spike only glanced as Buffy flung the door.

“What the hell are you doing?” Buffy screamed, striding toward the television. “Do you not get that I need to read this chapter for school? Do you not get that I can NOT baby your ass 24/7?”

“Nobody asked you too,” Spike said, wishing she would leave so he and Bunny could finish together. His hand was still holding himself when Buffy’s eyes flew open when she saw what Bunny was doing.

“Gross. How can you watch this filth?” Buffy asked, turning to look at him. Her eyes wandered down to where his hand was still pumping. “What are you doing?” Her voice had dropped to a mere whisper.

“I’m wanking off. What the bleedin’ hell does it look like I’m doing?”

“Why?’

Her eyes were round as saucers as she watched him for a moment. Spike grinned, threw the covers back and returned to what he was doing. If she wanted to watch, he didn’t have a problem giving her a show.

“You are DISGUSTING,” Buffy pronounced, heading back to the bedroom.

“And you are an uptight, self-centered, glacial virgin wanna be.”

It wasn’t fun anymore. He let his head fall back on the pillow and his hand rested on his stomach. All he had wanted was some attention. Not a free for all fight and guilt niggled at him because he knew that Buffy was doing the best she could. The door didn’t slam shut and he peeked out from beneath his lids. She was trembling from head to foot. Her eyes were clamped shut and her hands were clenched at her sides.

“Look, pet,” Spike whispered prepared to apologize but the next thing he knew he had a hundred and four pounds of pissed off Slayer on top of him. Her fists pounded him as she squirmed around on top of him.

“You bastard,” Buffy cried. “I hate you.”

Spike tried to grab her wrists but she wrenched them free. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he flipped them over, pushing her into the cushions, using his weight to hold her down.

“Is that all you can manage, Slayer?” Spike taunted his anger returning as she resorted to the use of her nails along his chest, arms and back when he pinned her beneath him. “You’re not hurting me so why don’t you just calm your little ass down?”

“No, I won’t. Let go of me.”

“Are you going to quit using me for a punching bag?”

Her legs wrapped around him and her heels slammed into his legs, ass and lower back. He rolled trying to get away from her and they fell still entangled on the floor. They knocked over the coffee table and Buffy scrambled to stand over him. He grabbed behind her knees and she fell on top of him. One roll and she was pinned beneath him again as he ground his cock against her.

Their eyes met and her hands and feet fell away from him in a show of submission.

“Just go ahead and do it, Spike,” Buffy said. “Fuck me if it’s so important to you.”

Her eyes closed and he stared down at her in disbelief. The reality of what he had started hit home and he was sorry for hurting her. It couldn’t be undone but this fiasco could be stopped. Bringing her with him, he stood and took her into the bedroom dropping her on the bed. He fetched the comforter and covered her with it. She lay watching him as he turned the lights out.

“Good night, Buffy,” Spike said, from the doorway. “I’m sorry. I just needed you.”

He cut the television off and righted the table before heading to his room. He stopped in her room to grab her comforter before crawling into his bed. It had been weeks since he had slept alone or even been in this bed. Now he didn’t deserve anything else. He lay on his back watching the shadows chase each other around the ceiling and was startled when the door opened.

“Can I sleep with you?” Buffy asked softly.

“Come here, Luv,” Spike said, pulling the covers back so she could crawl in.

Buffy settled next to him with her head on his chest and her hand caressing his stomach.

“Did I hurt you?”

“No, don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t say that. I shouldn’t have hit you.”

Spike shifted onto his side so he could see her expressions as they talked. He sighed when he saw her concern and guilt.

“I was being a right bastard. You were right,” Spike said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I shouldn’t have bothered you and pushed you. I know that school is important to you.”

A tremulous smile graced her face and she squeezed his hand.

“I love you, Spike. Don’t ever doubt that.”

With her snuggled into his side, Spike held her while she slept. It had been a hell of a day. Giving up on trying to solve the riddles of their life, he followed her into slumber. Tomorrow would be there soon enough with its own problems but for now he was holding his girl and that made everything okay.

To be continued in Chapter 6 – Duty Calls
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