There’s an I in This Team?

by Spikeskat

Willow sat with her butt on the edge of the couch and leaned towards the table in front of her – five cards fanned in her hands.  Murmuring softly, she invoked the goddess, Neisa, to improve her hand. 

“You know, magic at the poker table qualifies as cheating,” Xander pouted.  He glanced at his own pitiful hand and silently wished some of Willow’s mojo would wear off on his own cards. 

“That wasn't magic. I was praying,” Willow replied. “Two please.” 

Xander dealt her two cards and turned to Anya. 

“Five,” she requested, deadpan. 

“Ahn, I keep telling you: four's the max and only if you have an ace,” Xander said, his voice slightly exasperated at having to repeat the rules yet again. 

“Ok. Four.” 

Xander rolled his eyes at her, a move completely lost on the ex-vengeance demon. 

“Let’s see the ace.” 

She sighed then said, “Three.” 

Xander dealt her three cards snagging her discarded ones before taking two new ones for himself.  He looked at what he now held in his hand and let out a silent groan.  

“What a stupid game.  All these rules just to win little plastic disks,” Anya complained. 

“Chips. They're called chips. They represent money. Since none of us has any money it represents money.”  Explaining things to her sometimes just drove him up the wall.  He perked up slightly at the thought of his new business venture and continued, “But that's gonna change once my merchandise hits the street.”  

Willow looked at him inquiringly and he got up to grab one of the boxes, explaining how he was now the local distributor for Boost Bars. He walked back to the table with the box and sat down, offering to let Willow try one.  

She just wrinkled her nose, shaking her head vigorously.  “No. Thanks. Those things usually taste… kind of... tasteless... and then leave a bad after-tastelessness.” 

“Well, don't let the healthy scare you. Check out these ingredients,” he commented, grabbing a bar out of the box to read the label. “See? Loaded with fatty goodness.” 

Anya interrupted their conversation attempting to get their mind back on the game.  She thought she finally had what Xander called a “killer hand” and was ready to swoop in to claim her prize – even if it was only plastic chips. “Come on, somebody bet already.  I got three 'K' cards.” 

Willow and Xander looked at her in astonishment before exchanging a glance with one another.  Both of them flopped their cards down on the table, folding. Anya smiled happily and reached both hands across the table to slide the huge pile of chips back towards her. 

“Wish the Buffster could’ve made it. This three-hand poker is not quite the game.” 

“Guess she’s out with Riley. You know she’s secretly trying to infiltrate their organization. So, she’s gotta play the part, I guess,” Willow replied.    

“Well…” Xander began, “The thing is… I think Riley is… okay... in an oafish kind of way. But…am I the only one with a big floating question mark over his head about this whole Initiative thing?” 

Willow looked up from her new set of cards and replied, “Well, they do seem to fall into the 'good guy' camp. I mean they are anti-demon.” She shrugged her shoulders, then glanced at Anya. Noting her evil glare she added belatedly, “Probably pro ex-demon.” 

Anya thought about that for a moment.

“Maybe. I choose to feel threatened.” 

“And why not? There’s still heaps we don’t know about these commandos.  What exactly are they up to?” 

~*~*~*~*~  

After almost forty-five minutes of tromping in the woods, Buffy was bored with the Initiative’s little experiment.  That’s why she had finally stopped behind some bushes allowing them to get closer.  Soon, she heard the footsteps of three of her pursuers stealthily – at least they thought so anyway – enter the bush she was hiding behind. 

Before the first one was even aware, she threw a hard punch to his face, knocking him out with one blow.  The second one met a similar fate.  Buffy thought about pulling her punches to spare their feelings, but she’d grown tired of listening to the whispered comments she had overheard after doubling back to check on their progress.   

‘Just a girl.’ 

‘What could she possibly do to us?’ 

‘She’s so tiny. I’m scared to lay a hand on her for fear of hurting her.’ 

‘A Slayer? Yeah right. Someone’s been reading too many fairytales.’  

The last remembered comment had her grabbing the third guy and hurtling him out from behind the bush to land several yards away. She wasn’t even trying to be quiet anymore. ‘Fairy tale, my ass,’ she thought.  She vaulted over the huge shrub to meet the rest of the soldiers head on. 

Two others came at her, one on either side. She turned to confront the soldier that would reach her first, throwing a couple of quick kicks which her attacker was able to block, but left him floundering for purchase on the ground.  Sensing the last attacker almost upon her, she waited for the opportune moment before delivering a roundhouse kick to his face.  She was slightly impressed that he was able to recover so quickly, but almost laughed at his feeble attempt at a punch – which she easily blocked – and sent him back to the ground with a right hook. 

Dismissing him, she turned back to confront the fourth guy.  She faked him out with a high backhand, which he naturally went to block, and delivered a pain-inducing punch to his groin.  Grabbing his privates, the guy hunched over, moaning in pain.  With a quick roll of her eyes at his mistake, she once more turned back to the guy recovering from her right hook. 

He was obviously dazed as he threw another half-hearted punch to her face.  Again Buffy easily blocked it, grabbing his arm and spinning him so that his back was pressed to her chest, his arm pinned behind him.  She sensed the guy she had punched in the balls rise carefully to his feet behind her, and without even looking in his direction, she sent him reeling with another back kick to his chest. 

Hearing movement off to her left, she swung her captive around and used him as a shield, just as one of the guys erupted from behind the bushes and fired his tazer at her.  A wide grin broke out over her face when the guy in front of her received a huge electrical blast to his body.  Letting him fall to the ground in front of her, Buffy waited as the guy dropped his tazer and charged. 

A voice shouted out in the darkened night. “Lights!”  

A military humvee, whose occupants had been silently observing the altercation, was perched on a hill.  Suddenly, its rack lights blazed to life, engulfing the entire area in blinding light.  Buffy and her attacker both watch as Professor Walsh walked into the clearing.  She bypassed Riley, who had removed his mask, to stand before Buffy. 

“It took the patrol team 42 minutes to track you and you neutralized them in 28 seconds,” she commented, her impassive face giving nothing away. 

She glanced at Riley to see if his expression revealed anything on how to answer.  Seeing nothing, Buffy decided to play dumb, and affected a “blonde” stance replying, “I was just lucky.” 

“I see. Well… still. Very impressive.” 

It was rare the professor gave out any kind of praise, and for her to be impressed spoke volumes.  Riley was happy for Buffy; he thought she was kind of cute.  And, maybe if Professor Walsh decided to allow her to join forces, he’d be able to hang out with the blonde girl more often - the thought brought a huge smile to his face.   

Professor Walsh turned away from Buffy and started back towards the humvee.  Riley quickly wiped the smile from his face, hoping his boss hadn’t seen it.  After Professor Walsh was out of earshot, Riley walked over to Buffy. 

“I was just being modest with the whole 'lucky' thing. You got that, right?” 

“I got it,” Riley responded, grinning once more. 

Buffy looked around as her “attackers” slowly made their way to their feet, pulling off their facemasks. Some of them were holding sore body parts, the other four walked past her to trail after the Professor.  A few offered hesitant smiles as they passed. 

“See? You’re a hit. Everybody loves you,” Riley commented. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Buffy and Willow sat at a table inside the Rocket Café sipping on their lattes.  Willow was listening half-heartedly as Buffy explained the events of last night. 

“So, then, Professor Walsh said that I was just as amazing as Riley had said.  And later, he told me that she couldn't stop talking about this move I made where I used one of the commandos as a shield to block a tazer blast.  It was like twelve thousand volts.  It took the guy almost two hours to recover.” 

“Huh?” Willow responded.  Buffy had lost her after the whole shield thing.   

Sensing that Willow was just humoring her, Buffy attempted to change the subject.  “Hmm...  How was your night?” 

“Like a normal person’s.  Light on the ‘action-packed.’  Hope tonight's not too much of a letdown for you... excitement-wise.”  Noticing Buffy’s blank stare, she affected a put-upon look and whined, “You do remember about tonight, right?” 

Buffy rolled her eyes at her friend.  Of course, she remembered.  But then, she forgot that they didn’t know this whole idea about her “joining” the Initiative was completely undercover.  The others thought she was interested in the Initiative because Riley was there.  They couldn’t be further from the truth.  After being held in Spike’s arms a few weeks ago, the thought of being smothered in Riley’s embrace repulsed her.  Spike and she had seemed to just fit…    

She abruptly cut off that train of thought. 

So, the only two people aware of her plans were Giles and Spike. Giles knew because he was her watcher.  Spike, on the other hand, was another matter.  One she tried not to dwell on too seriously but failed at miserably.  After that “Will Be Done” spell of Willow’s, the two had formed a tentative truce.  Both were trying to sort out the ramifications of the spell and had decided to attempt being friends.  Well, she wouldn’t quite say friends, but both were trying to refrain from the cutting remarks normally voiced in each other’s presence.  Right now, they needed the other to determine what, exactly, the Initiative was up to. 

Getting back to the conversation at hand, Buffy replied, “Bronze. The gang. Are you kidding? I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I miss you guys. We haven’t been able to spend that much time together lately.” 

“You’ve been busy.  Fighting armies and stuff.  Not to mention other distractions from a romantic…” Willow glanced up and noticed Buffy’s attention had wandered yet again. 

“Riley just walked in.” 

Willow turned around in her seat at Buffy’s comment and notice Riley standing at the counter looking over the fruit available for purchase. 

“Do ya want to let him know you’re here?” 

“Uh…a world of no.  Tell me about your night.” 

“Well, I spent most of it at Xander’s teaching Anya to play poker,” Willow replied. 

“That sounds like fun.” 

“Yeah. Except the Anya part and the poker part.” 

“Will, I think you better get used to Anya being around. Apparently, Xander likes this girl, even if she is an ex-demon.” 

“I know… It’s just…Does she have to be so blunt?”  Buffy just snickered at that.  Personally, Buffy thought it was kind of endearing. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Spike was sleeping on top of a stone sarcophagus, a ratty blanket pulled over him, when the front door of the crypt burst open and Giles stepped inside.  He sat up, throwing the cover off of him. 

“Hey!  Wipe your feet when you enter a person’s home. And, close the bloody door. You’re letting all the sunlight in.” 

“Oh, yes.  Careless of me.  Tracking mud all over your, uh . . . mud,” Giles remarked. 

“I admit. It’s a bit of a fixer-upper.  Needs a woman’s touch.”  He looked over at Giles and smirked. “Care to have a crack at it?”  Spike pushed aside the niggling thought of getting along with the watcher.  The truce was between Buffy and himself.  Besides, he was sure Giles enjoyed their verbal sparring almost as much as he did. 

“While I’d loved to go on trading jabs with you, Spike, I’ll come to the point. As much as it pains me to say it, um, I owe you a debt of gratitude for the help you provided me in my recent …metamorphosis.” 

“Stuff the gratitude, mate.  Don’t need it.  Don’t want it.  Just doing my part to help the Slayer out.  Wouldn’t do to have her killing her own watcher, now would it?”   

“Erm, quite. But still…” When Giles attempted to once more thank him, Spike cut him off again. 

“Not another word, watcher.  Don’t make me regret having helped you.” 

“Right.” 

When Giles just continued to stand there, Spike affected a put-upon sigh and commented, “Was there something else you wanted?” 

“Ummm… Actually, now that you mention it.”  Giles watched the vampire roll his eyes, but forged ahead regardless. “Buffy told me that she’s passed their little ‘test’ from last night and is supposed to be taken to their facility sometime tonight.” 

“That is a spot of good news, then,” Spike commented.  His mind flicked briefly over the events that had probably transpired last night.  He hoped she hadn’t held back too much.  The wankers getting “what-for” by the Slayer tugged a reluctant smile to his lips. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

“You don't have to do this,” Riley whispered softly in her ear as they both stared at the full-length mirror. 

“I know.” 

“I mean, if you'd rather wait . . .” He leaned in even closer to her.  His warm breath cascaded over her ear – which he probably thought was some kind of turn-on, Buffy thought silently – and she had to repress the urge to move away from him.  ‘The things I do for duty!’ she thought silently. 

“I'm ready. I want to,” she replied meaningfully, added enough seductive overtones to have him smiling.  No point in alienating him just yet. 

Buffy watched their reflections as Riley smiled down at her then turned to face the mirror. 

“New retinal scan recorded. Summers. Buffy,” a computer, hidden somewhere in the wall, announced. 

The mirror slid to one side and Riley stepped inside the small, completely white room; Buffy followed behind him. She forced herself to remain still as the door slid shut behind them, then the room seemed to drop.  ‘An elevator. Interesting.’ 

It finally reached their destination and the doors slid open, and both Riley and Buffy stepped out onto a platform overlooking a huge – what Buffy could only think to describe as a – pit.   

“My God,” she whispered.  “You said it was big.  You told me, but you never said it was huge!” 

“I don't like to brag.”   

Buffy repressed an eye roll.  It was her own damn fault they were trading these damn innuendoes in the first place.  Once more she thought of the sacrifices she made for her calling… 

Buffy looked down into the “pit” to see loads of people with white lab coats busily working with a few captured demons strapped to beds of some sort.  Several soldiers decked in camouflage and carrying weapons guarded the men and women who were working.   

“I had no idea.  This is incredible.  But not that I thought it was some fly-by-night operation,” she gushed, while inwardly cringing.  This was definitely some set-up.  Obviously larger than the Scoobies could handle. Once more affecting her “blonde” act she went on (and she had to wonder where in the world she was able to come up with this stuff) “Unless it is!  I mean, can you guys fly? At night. With those jet-pack things, do you have those?” 

Riley bought it: hook, line, and sinker. “ I can't really talk about it.” 

“So, you like our little operation?” Professor Walsh asked, walking up to the pair. 

“Yeah.  Yes.  It's very…uh...clean.”  ‘Go Buffy! She’s well on her way to thinking you’re a simpering blonde, albeit, a strong simpering blonde.’ 

Professor Walsh handed Buffy a small plastic clip-on badge.  “Your visitor’s pass,” she said, afterward pulling a few papers from her clipboard and adding, “And I've assembled some reading material to bring you up to speed.” 

Buffy took the pass and clipped it to her jacket.  Then, she grabbed the papers Professor Walsh held out for her.  

“Oh.  And I thought I was never gonna get homework from you again.” 

Professor Walsh frowned, replying, “You can’t take that home.  That’s classified material.  Highly sensitive. When you’re through reading those pages you’ll have to eat them.” 

Buffy just stared at her, speechless. ‘God, I hope she’s kidding.  I think she’s going a little crazy on the cloak and dagger stuff.’  She looked up at Riley for help. 

“She’s joking.” ‘Oh, thank God! This covert mission was about to be over before it even got started.’ 

“Don’t worry, it doesn’t happen very often.  Shall we?” the Professor replied, moving towards the staircase.  

“Much of our hands-on research with the HST's is performed here. We call this ‘The Pit.’” 

“And what do you call those?” Buffy asked. 

“Tough,” Riley responded. “It took eight of us to bring those two down.” 

“They’ll be under our control soon enough,” she told them.  Turning towards a man working on one of the demons, the Professor raised her voice and called, “Doctor Angleman!”  The man looked up as his name was called and waved towards the small group. 

“He’s the head of our science team," Walsh explained.  "He’s a leader in the field of xenomorphic behavior modification.” 

“Behavior modification?”  Buffy wondered if that was what had been used on Spike. 

“Yes. We’ve made significant advances in reconditioning the sub-terrestrials.  Bringing them to a point where they no longer pose a threat.” 

“So I’ve seen,” she muttered to herself.  She glanced up and noticed their expression.  ‘Uh oh.  Think fast, Buffy.’ 

“…on... the... Discovery Channel.  With gorillas and sharks. They…they made them all nice.  You haven’t seen it?” 

Buffy noticed that neither commented, and sensed that Professor Walsh didn’t seem convinced.  She tried to distract them by pointing across the room. 

“What’s over there?” Buffy asked and slowly made her way across the room; the others following helplessly behind her.  The professor quickly overtook Buffy, replying, “The armory. You’ll have to be cleared for use on each of these weapons.” 

Buffy wandered away and noticed a device sitting on a table.  Curious, she picked it up and looked at it.  The monitors lit up and showed a close-up of Buffy’s eye as she peered intently at the device.  Professor Walsh was blithely continuing with her explanation, not realizing that the Slayer had wandered off.  She was mid-sentence when she turned around and noticed the girl standing by a table, the small device in her hands. 

“Don't pick that up.” 

“What is it?” Buffy asked. 

“About twenty-thousand dollars.” 

Riley explained that what she was holding was a prototype communications camera that they were working on.  It allowed the user to send live feedback via the small camera the device housed.  

“Also monitors the heart rate of the wearer.  A valuable tool for researching stress in combat conditions.  If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you the HST containment area.” 

Dr. Walsh led Buffy on a tour of the rest of the facility.  When they came to a door marked 314, Buffy asked about it.  She got a terse “restricted research area” as a reply.  Once the tour was completed, Buffy was given a pager and a security card for access to certain areas inside the facility. ‘Yes! I’m in!  

~*~*~*~*~ 

Buffy walked into the Bronze and pasted a bright smile on her face, then made eye contact with her friends sitting at a nearby table; Riley and his buddies were trailing close behind her.  She walked a little ahead of the group, hoping to arrive at the table before the others caught up so that she could explain to her friends what had happened.  She had seen the hurt look on Willow’s face as she’d entered the Bronze and noticed the “commando gang” trailing behind her. 

“Hi, all.  Sorry about the late-itude.” 

“Late? Really? Huh. Hadn’t noticed,” Xander replied, somewhat sarcastically. 

“Hope you don’t mind us tagging along,” Riley added, oblivious to Willow’s and Xander’s "whatever" look.  He just assumed that neither would mind that he and his friends were hording in on Buffy’s time with her friends. 

“No.  No, of course not.  The more the…more,” Willow replied, forcing a smile to her face. 

Riley introduced his friends then offered to grab a round of drinks for the table.  Buffy tried to play peacemaker and asked for a Diet Coke.  Her friends pretty much refused the offer, resentful of their presence in what was to be a “Scooby function.”

The guys soon left for the bar – oblivious to the tense undercurrents – while Anya and Xander headed for the dance floor… thus leaving Willow alone with Buffy at the table. 

“I’m sorry. I had no idea…” Buffy began when her friend’s face clouded over with hurt. Shoot, it wasn’t like she had wanted the guys around either.  She needed to get with Spike and Giles and tell them about her latest developments. 

Buffy glanced about suddenly, having felt her “vampire alert” go haywire.  She caught a brief glimpse of peroxide-blond hair darting among the patrons, making its way towards the balcony.  Willow noticed Buffy’s rapt attention at the far corner of the club and turned to see what it was that her friend was looking at.  Noticing this, Buffy quickly turned her attention back to her friend. 

“Wills, I’m gonna go to the ladies’ room.  Can you let Riley know when he comes back with our drinks?” 

“Uh… sure.” 

“Thanks!”  Buffy got up and headed towards the restrooms, sensing Willow’s eyes glued to her back as she walked away.  Once out of sight, she veered left and took the back way up to the balcony.  Sure enough, Spike was tucked away in the corner. ‘Doesn’t the stupid vamp realize he stands out like a sore thumb?’  

“What are you doing here,” Buffy hissed upon reaching his side.  “Don’t you know there are five guys downstairs right now from the Initiative?” 

“Is that concern for me, luv?” Spike drawled back. “I’m touched.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she turned to flounce off. ‘Let him handle it. Stupid vampire.  Just begging to be staked or recaptured.  See if I care.’ 

“Giles sent me to see how things went,” he called out, just loud enough for her to hear.  The statement stopped her in her tracks and she whirled back around, searching his feature for any hint of his lying. Seeing nothing to indicate otherwise, she moved back towards him, whispering furiously, “Is he crazy?  Sending you out to the Bronze of all places?  I’m definitely going to have a word with him tomorrow!” 

Spike smiled at her, removing his duster and laying it over the arm of his chair before he sat down.  The seat was backed into the corner, allowing him a full view of the club.  Buffy gave an exasperated sigh and joined him, plopping in the chair next to his. 

“I’m in,” she announced, without preamble. 

“Wot?  In?” 

“Yes, in.  They gave me a key card and a pager.  I have access to most of the areas inside the lab now.” 

“That’s good, pet.”  Before he could comment further, he noticed soldier-boy and a few of his friends making their way upstairs.   

“Slayer, don’t argue with me.  Just get up outta your chair and get your arse over here on my lap.”  Her eyes flew wide at his suggestive comment, and she opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind.  Spike cut her off before she could blast him with her tirade. 

“Soldier-boy’s halfway up the stairs, and unless you get over here and make like we’re a couple, we’re both about to be in a world of shite.”   

That remark had Buffy flying out of her chair and hurtling herself on to his lap, her fear of being caught by the others and blowing her chances with the Initiative motivating her to make haste.  As Buffy settled sideways in his lap, her face turned away from the room, Spike quickly used his duster as a blanket, settling it around her body to hide her clothes from view.  He reached up and pulled the clip out of her hair, letting the golden tresses slip free to settle around her face, hiding it from view.  Tilting the corners of his coat’s lapels upward, he was able to partially cover some of her hair.  Then, before Buffy had a chance to stop him, he slung his hand around the back of her neck and hauled her close for a mind-numbing kiss. 

Her lips parted in surprise at the move, allowing his tongue instant access to the hidden depths of her mouth.  Boldly, he thrust his tongue inside to mate with hers.  At first, Buffy was too shocked to respond.  Her body was stiff, unyielding, her mouth refusing to move as his tongue plunged deep. But then it began to slide over her teeth and lightly explore the roof of her mouth... and Buffy lost herself to the sensation his kiss invoked. A low moan erupted from the back of her throat, before she recovered and thrust back with her own tongue, forcing her way inside his mouth to reacquaint herself with the feel of him.  Her boldness pleased Spike, and an answering growl erupted in his chest.  

It had been a while since they had last touched, a while since both were helpless to Willow’s spell.  Right now, though, neither was incapacitated by magic.  The kiss they now shared, while begun as a cover-up, quickly became about mutual mind-numbing passion. Thoughts of Riley and his friends quickly fled their minds as they both fell headlong into it.  True, they were still mortal enemies that had settled into an unlikely truce.  But as their lips meshed while their tongues clashed – both of their hands roaming over each other’s bodies, trying to seek purchase on bare skin rudely covered by clothing – all rational thought rapidly fled the minds of the two beings tucked away in the corner of the room. 

For now, they both basked in the feel of their bodies pressed tightly together…even as they struggled to get closer. Buffy’s hardened nipples ground into his chest through the thin, black t-shirt he wore.  The feel of those diamond-like points boring into his chest made him want to fling off both of their shirts, enabling his bare chest to press hard against her own.  The little mewling noises she was making in the back of her throat had his already hardened cock near bursting, and he grabbed her hips to ground her covered ass against his burgeoning length, the friction from that action nearly causing him to come in his jeans.

Buffy felt his hardened shaft as she sat sideways in his lap and rubbed her ass back and forth against its outstretched length; her panties, already damp from when his tongue had first plunged into her mouth, got wetter at the thought of him sliding up and inside of her instead of this dry humping they were currently engaged in.  Her clit was throbbing and she groaned in frustration. With a quick shifting of her legs, she straddled Spike’s lap, the hem of her short skirt riding up dangerously high.  The position allowed her to align herself along the length of his body and she marveled at how Spike’s lips never left hers as she’d aligned herself more intimately against him.  How he easily readjusted the coat to settle around her frame, hiding her from view.  If anyone were to walk by and actually able to see in the darkened corner, they’d think that he was lounging there, his coat draped over him like a blanket. 

Spike slowly scooted his butt towards the end of the chair, giving Buffy more room for her legs. As he lifted his hips to move towards the edge of his seat, his jean-clad cock brushed against the damp panties covering her sex; the contact eliciting a moan from both of them, causing them to tear their mouths from each other.  He watched, entranced, as the Slayer slid up and down the hardened cock straining against his jeans, how she bit her bottom lip to stifle the moan about to spring forth past her lips. She slid her hands down his covered chest to where the tee was tucked into his waistband and small shivers raced along his nerve endings when she pulled the shirt loose from his jeans, exposing a small patch of alabaster skin.   

Spike’s stomach muscles clenched as her hands slid up underneath his shirt, her fingertips running lightly up his chest before digging into his skin as she dragged them back down towards the top of his jeans.  That slight bit of violence on her part caused his head to fall back against the chair, his neck muscles corded and taut, his throat working spasmodically. Then, her hands started their ascent once more; each one coming to rest on his hardened nipples.  Feeling both hands pinch each nub before twirling them between her thumb and forefinger.  He was slowly being driven crazy by this slip of a girl. 

He opened his passion-filled eyes and gazed about the room.  Relieved that no one was paying them the least bit of attention.  Riley and his gang stood near the railing several feet away, gazing down at the dance floor.  They were all alone in the corner, which was a good thing.  Returning his gaze to Buffy, he watched as she leaned down close to him, her hazel eyes glazed with arousal. 

Buffy had stopped moving against him while her hands had played with his nipples, but she corrected that oversight just then.  As she leaned forward and took his bottom lip in her mouth, she ground her mound up the length of his cock.  Her mouth formed a silent “o” and she released his lip, the delicious contact to her clit causing her voice to break around a helpless moan.  Spike’s mouth opened and a growl issued forth and the Slayer used the opportunity to once more shove her tongue down his throat. 

Her aggressiveness incited him, and he fisted his hands on her hips to lift her up and down along his engorged shaft.  The friction forced more of her juices to spill out into her barely-there panties, the scent of it driving him to the brink of his control.  Spike could tell Buffy was close; her pace up and down his length was slowly increasing, and he would have liked nothing more than to free himself and plunge into her welcoming warmth.  Instead, Spike slipped his hand up along her thighs and underneath her skirt.  On one of her downward strokes, he reached his fingers around her thong and pulled.  The tiny piece of silk was no match for him and quickly gave way, leaving her drenched curls exposed to his questing digits.   

Buffy never noticed her underwear disappear, too caught up in the feel of grinding against the vampire’s cock, even if it wasn’t inside her, filling her, spreading her wide with its girth.  Then her motions stopped as she felt his cool finger slip past her folds to plunge deep inside her pussy.  Her eyes flew wide and her head fell back as his finger, soon joined by another and then a third, worked her slick passage.  She couldn’t help the involuntary buck of her hips and her eyes fluttered and closed, and she began riding his fingers as he plunged them into her moist depths, searching frantically for the spot that would send her careening over the edge. 

The sensation of being filled by him, even if it was only his fingers, quickly brought about her release.  She ground herself down onto his hand a final time…then froze.  Her orgasm washed over her, vibrations that started deep in her core and radiated out towards her limbs, and she was helpless to do anything but ride the waves as they crashed through her body. 

Her inner walls clenched around his fingers, squeezing them tight and coating them with her pleasure’s response. Caught in the grip of her body’s intense climax, her head slumped forward to rest on his shoulder, his fingers continued to pump inside her, fast at first, then slowly, allowing her to ride out the final waves of pleasure coursing through her.  When her body shuddered and she collapsed against him utterly spent, he removed his fingers from her pussy and brought them to his mouth - the scent of her nearly drove him mad and he inhaled her essence before licking them clean. 

He was still rock-hard with his unfulfilled release, but there was no place he would have rather been right then.  Smoothing his hand down her back, he helped her come down from her high. As a blissful sigh escaped her lips, and her heart rate slowly returned to normal, Spike’s tongue slipped out to caress the shell of her ear.  Then taking the bottom portion of it into his mouth, sucking lightly.  His teeth nibbled delicately before letting go to whisper in her ear, “I think they’re gone, luv.”  

At first she didn’t react, his words not penetrating her post-coital haze.  He didn’t care, stingily holding on to her a minutes longer, continuing to nuzzle her ear with his lips and tongue until she started to moan low in her throat.  The sound snapped him back to the present.  And the fact that the Slayer was probably going to be missed soon. 

“I think they’re gone, luv,” he murmured again.

Spike felt her fidget against his chest, like she was trying to burrow closer, before slowly - reluctantly - sat up to look at him.  A becoming blush spread across the Slayer’s features as she gazed down at him. Beautiful, he couldn’t help but think. She gave him a shy smile and nodded, and Spike felt himself fall. 

Hesitantly getting to her feet, Buffy smoothed her skirt down over her hips before removing Spike’s duster from around her back.  Whispering that she’d see him at Giles’ house tomorrow after school, she turned around and quickly made her way back to her friends.   

Spike watched her for a moment, silently willing his erection away.  When he felt that he could stand and not keel over from the pain, he slowly got to his feet.  He slipped into his duster, the scent of her on the material washing over him.  Turning to the chair, he reached down into the seat to grab her forgotten thong and shoved it into his front pocket before making his way out of the club and back to the watcher’s place. 

~*~ 

Buffy rushed back downstairs to complain to Willow about the long line in the bathroom, even as thoughts of what she had just done – and in front of God and everybody, no less – caused her cheeks to redden.  She just prayed she could pass her sudden flush off due to it being warm inside.   

Before her friend had a chance to comment, her pager went off, followed by the distinctive ring of five others.  ‘Damn! Just what I need.’ 

“That’s our cue.  Mother wants us,” Riley announced, quickly approaching the two women sitting at the table. 

“Will…” Buffy began only to be cut off. 

“I know. Talk later.”  Willow watched as her friend and the commando guys quickly left the Bronze. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Once back at the Initiative, Buffy and the others were informed of a Polgara demon that was apparently running loose around Sunnydale.  ‘Oh brother!  They called me in here to mobilize for this.  I could take this demon out and be at Giles’ place in under an hour.’

Buffy tried to ask a few questions of the doctor but was brushed off.  Finally, she gave up and zoned out, just waiting for their “meeting” to finish. 

As she realized they were splitting up, she mentally shook herself awake.  ‘Uh oh.  Looks like we’re splitting up.  Oh great.  I get to be alone with Riley.  Happy me!’ she thought sarcastically. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

While they walked – reconnoitered is the word Buffy thought Riley used – she attempted to engage him in conversation.  She’d always been one to trade quips with her prey if she was alone, or chatted up a storm with the Scoobies when they patrolled with her, but Riley was dead quiet.  Boring!   

Riley’s intercom interrupted him from berating her; apparently the other team had some news to share.  Suddenly, the Polgara demon burst free from its hiding place in the bushes and attacked.  A few well-placed jabs, kicks and punches, and Buffy had the demon knocked out on the ground before her.  The guys just look at her in awe.  ‘Hey, when you’re good, you’re good.’ 

~*~*~*~*~ 

They carted the demon back to “The Pit” leaving it in the capable hands of the scientists.  Buffy was just ready to go home and get some sleep.  She could feel a migraine coming on.  Riley walked with her to the elevator that exited into his room. 

“Buffy,” he called, as she attempted to walk out of his room.   

She turned and looked at him.  Seeing the expression on his face, she mentally groaned, but put on a come-hither smile.  “Yes.” 

“Uh…it’s just… Good work out there.” 

“Uh…thanks?” 

“What I mean is…well…” Riley broke off his conversation, a look of determination coming over his features.  ‘Oh God, he’s gonna kiss me,’ she thought. ‘Giles and Spike are *so* gonna hear about this.’ 

Riley stepped closer to Buffy and sensing no resistance, lightly pulled her into his arms.  He leaned his head down and began kissing her.  Buffy relaxed in his arms and allowed his lips to play about her own, all the while thinking that Spike was definitely better at this.  Finally, he pulled back and smiled down at her.  She smiled back, saying she’d see him at school tomorrow. He nodded and waved as she left.  ‘That was wrong on *so* many levels,’ she thought, beating a hasty retreat out of his frat house.  She didn’t even bother going to Giles’ house now, since it was so late.  She’d swing by there tomorrow after classes.   

Unbeknownst to both of them, their “seeming” cuddle session had been recorded by Professor Walsh. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Buffy walked into Giles’ house the next afternoon to hear Xander exclaim, “Sure. Just explain to the nice scientist guys that you really miss killing and torturing innocent people.” 

“Do you think that would work?” Spike quipped back. 

“Spike…Lord knows why I'm telling you this…It’s for your own good.  As long as the Initiative is in operation it's not safe for you here,” Giles stated. 

“No,” Buffy replied. The others turned from their shouting match to look at her.  When she had their full attention, she announced, “It’s not safe for any of us.”

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