Spike snarled, game face slipping into place as he contemplated the mess before him. It was the worst thing he had seen in over a hundred years of
existence, rivaling anything even Angelus had caused. It was just awful. He forked over the last of his colored money and land deeds - bankrupt.

"Spike!" The red head admonished, her playful slap on his arm being rewarded by a soft growl. "Sheesh. Its just a game. If I knew you got this
touchy about losing at monopoly I never would have asked to play!" She laughed. "If you dont put away your 'grr' face I might have to withold
cookies."

Harsh ridges smoothed out to a handsome face as the vampire regained control from his demon. He looked at her, his crystal blue eyes wide and
sparkling. "What was that about cookies, luv?"

"Baked them before you came over. Chocolate with little nuts." Willow grinned at the almost innocent smile on the vampire's face, sorting the fake
money before packing everything into the game box. She smiled slightly at the worn box, remembering the birthday over a decade before when
Xander had given it to her as a birthday present. Their all-weekend Monopoly tournaments with Jesse had been one of the staples of their
childhood, something they had done at least once a month for years. They had been so innocent to the ways of the world. Now here she was,
playing board games with a soulless demon, Xander still getting settled into his new townhouse, and Jesse... She stopped herself in mid-thought,
refusing to go there. No sense reopening old wounds.

She shifted uncomfortably, knowing that the blonde was watching every move she made and not wanting to have to explain her sudden change of
mood to him. "Cookies are on the kitchen counter. Could you go get us some?

Spike nodded. He had gotten used to the sudden mood swings the little witch went through on occaision. It was just one of the many things that
made her so interesting to be around. She was totally unpredictable. Well as unpredictable as someone like her could be, he amended.

"Get some milk too!" Willow called out as he left for the cookies. She grinned, kneeling carefully before rising to her feet. She stretched, a small
whimper of pain escaping her lips. Her hand strayed to her back, absently rubbing at the sourse of her pain. Through the shirt she could still feel the
after effects of the fun she had indulged in the past weekend. She smiled. It had been well worth it. After a week of stress it had been exactly
what she had needed.

"Here you go, Red." Spike watched the witch nibble on the cookie he handed her, watching her face intently. He had seen her rub at her back, had
seen the moment of pain on her innocent face. She was in pain and didn't want him to know about it. "Are you ok?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

The vampire expelled a gust of air in a sigh. She had her resolve face on - he wasn't going to find out what was wrong with her. "No reason, luv."
He bit into the still semi-warm cookie, washing down the crumbs with a swallow of lukewarm blood from his mug. An uncomfortable silence had
settled into the living room of the house Willow's parents still dared to call home on the rate occaision they were in town. This type of silence
wasn't something he had missed. It had been months since he and Willow had started hanging out - started something more like a friendship than
the vampire would care to admit. And it had been months since they had been in a room without speaking to each other. He didn't like it one bloody
bit.

Willow jumped when her cell phone went off, vibrating loudly on the coffee table. She picked it up, not even glancing at the display panel before
saying, "Hello?" A small crease formed in the center of her forehead. "Yes. That would be fine. No, sir. I would like that very much. Yes. I will be
there." She turned away from the blonde, murmuring as softly as she could. "Yes m'lord. I will be there promptly at eight. Good night, m'lord."

Spike couldnt believe his ears. *M'lord*? Just who the fuck was the little witch talking to? It was all he could do not to question her when she
turned back to him, the light in her eyes clearly displaying her hope that he had not heard her. Far be it from him to disappoint her. "Friend of yours,
pet?"

Willow shrugged, her eyes wandering the room nervously. She hoped that he hadn't heard her - didn't want to have to explain to him things he had
no business knowing. "Just someone I tutor. He needs some study time tomorrow."

{The walls arent that bloody interesting.} The vampire thought with a hint of anger, watching as she once again fixed her gaze on one of those
boring walls. "Studying during the summer?"

The red head blanched and knew he could hear her heart speed up. "Well, yeah, summer school and all." Green eyes flicked to him briefly, trying to
guage whether or not he was believing her. It was obvious he wasn't buying any of it.

"Right. Summer school." The demon was raging inside of him as he watched the girl lie to him. He needed to leave before he did something stupid -
like threaten her. "Well. Its still early. Places to go, people to see. G'night, pet." He kissed her cheek quickly, leaving before she could say anything
to stop him.

The night was quiet and he walked blocks before stopping, letting his anger guide him away from her. Why would she lie to him? He trusted her with
anything and everything - couldnt she do the same for him? {Thats not like her, though, the chit trusts me.} So this had to be something different.
What kind of secret could be so dark that she wouldn't want to tell *him* of all people? She had called the person on the phone *m'lord*, what
kind of game was she playing?

She had told the guy she would be there tomorrow at eight. Fine. If she didn't want to let him in on her little secret then that was just bloody fine.
He would respect her right to not want to tell him. He wouldn't ask her anymore.

He'd just have to follow her.

~*~*~

It looked like it was going to be yet another quiet night on the Hellmouth as Spike wandered down the darkened streets. The night air was cool
against even his dead skin and a full moon hung overhead. He smiled when his intended destination came into view. It was a little after six. No
doubt Willow would be getting ready for her little study date by now.

Crossing her front lawn unnoticed the vampire slipped quietly up onto balcony. A small lamp on her bedside table cast a dull glow around the room.
But the witch herself was no where in sight. He tilted his head to the side, listening carefully to the soft sound of running water. She was in the
shower. With an almost human sigh the blonde pulled a pack og cigarettes from his duster pocket, slipping one in between his lips with practiced
ease. The lighter snapped in the darkness, briefly illuminating his pale features and he inhaled deeply, letting the smoke warm and fill his lungs.

He grinned when the sound of water running no longer assaulted his sensitive hearing. For a brief second he felt a wave of guilt pass over him - she
didn't know he was there and would probably walk into her room wearing nothing but a towel. Guilt is a fragile thing, though, and under the happy
cackling of the demon it faded away, replaced by excitement. He was finally going to get to see the little chit naked!

She walked into her room, a fluffy blue towel draped casually around her young body. Small drops of water fell from her hair and down her neck in
cool splashes. Walking to a small CD player next to her bed she hit a button, the room filling with dark, haunting music. Some sort of chanting. He
watched, feeling his cock jump into arousal as she pulled the towel from around her, exposing her tight body for the world to see. Her hands moved
carefully over her skin, rubbing and dabbing with an almost sensuos touch until every drop of water had been cleared from her perfect skin. She
sat, her back to him, and the sound of a hairdryer filled the air. With long, sure strokes, she brushed the dampness from her hair, setting the short
strands into a mass of dried fire within a matter of minutes.

It was obvious to the vampire now that she had been totally lying when she said that this was a mere tutoring session. He had seen her get ready
to study - that was nothing but jeans and a tshirt with her hair in a ponytail. This...well...this seemed to be some sort of ritual pampering for the
girl. The thought that Willow - his Willow - was getting herself ready to go see some *boy* was enough to make the vampire growl softly. He knew
he was being foolish, if she wanted to go on a date then that was her right. Its not like he had made his feelings known to her, Hell, he had just
figured them out for himself the night before when this whole bloody mess started to unravel.

He watched as she powdered herself, small particles of glitter dancing across her body from the adornment she was using. Her whole body seemed
to be shimmering by the time she was done and she indeed looked like some sort of naked angel fallen to earth. A small bottle of perfume was pulled
from one of her vanity drawers. His eyes glazed over with lust as the red head trailed the stopper of the bottle along her neck, down her chest, and
across her stomach, leaving a slight hint of vanilla in its wake. He groaned, the front of his faded jeans too tight for comfort at her unintentional
show. Amdist the smell of vanilla seeping through the cracked french doors he could smell her desire, her arousal. Preparing for this, whatever it
was, was turning her on.

Blue eyes narrowed in an appraising manner as she turned to her closet, bending down to reach into the very back. He licked his lips at the sight of
her bare ass lifted into the air, imagining how it would feel to grab onto it as he pounded into her tight, warm, pussy. Again he groaned, his hand
straying absently to the zipper of his jeans. He needed release if he was to think clearly. Needed to keep a level head to figure out the little witch's
secret. It would be so easy just to go in there, right now, and take her. Fuck her until she screamed his name and begged for release. Its what the
demon wanted him to do. Fuck her, claim her, make her his and kill the wanker she was going to see later that night. That would probably upset her
though, could destroy the friendship he had worked so hard to cultivate.

His hard length slipped into his hand as he watched her rise from the closet, pulling a small trunk with her. The glittery powder was catching the
light from the lamp, making her body shimmer as she moved the trunk to the center of the room, kneeling in front of it. With an air of almost
reverence she opened the black and gold case, pulling a few items from it before replacing it in the closet.

Reaching out a hand to steady himself, the vampire stroked his thick shaft with slow hard pumps, drawing out every sensation as he watched the
red head continue to ready herself for her evening. He felt his desire swell further when she bent to retrieve one of the items she had taken from
the trunk, realizing for the first time that it was a piece of clothing. A piece of very small, very leathery clothing. She slipped the shiny black leather
shorts on slowly, as if she were savoring the feel of it against her skin. He could see her eyes close and a small smile dance across her lips as she
zipped them up. She turned slowly in front of her mirror and he wondered if she could see what he did. The way the bottom of her ass hung out of
the shorts, the slight curve of her perfect globes showing beneath the bottom edge of the leather.

The intensity of his strokes increased when she picked up her top - nothing more than a leather corset. His eyes narrowed with desire as she
slipped the tiny straps over her shoulders, her fingers trailing across pale breasts, teasing first one rosy nipple then the other, as she moved to
catch hold of the bottom clasp. With an almost teasing slowness she fastened her way up her chest, depriving him of the view of her perfectly pert
breasts as the leather encased them. He could see the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she no doubt struggled to breath within the cumbersome
article and wondered through his passion just who the hell she planned on going to see dressed like that - and to do what?

He could feel his climax approaching as she bent to retrieve her boots from the floor. She sat on the end of her bed, pulling on the knee high black
boots with the same sensuousness that she had displayed all evening. With an ease that spoke of much practice she laced them up quickly,
standing once again to turn in front of the mirror. He watched her pose in the mirror - noticing for the first time since he had met her the darker
beauty she was capable of. He didn't really care what she was doing dressed like that - he just wanted to see her dressed like that for him -
preferably while she was kneeling in front of him, his cock in her mouth.

He came with a muffled groan, shooting his cold seed onto his hand as the unknowing human witch continued to dress for the evening. Licking his
fingers clean, he watched as she piled her hair onto her head, letting a few fiery wisps free to frame her face. He could almost feel the tension
begin to rebuild inside of him as she carefully applied makeup to herself, the darker colors she chose suiting her better than anything he had ever
seen her wear. With his release, the desire to know what the hell was going on with the girl came back full force. And with it the cruel visage of
jealousy appeared. He didn't want anyone to see her dressed like this. Didn't want to think of her going to someone's house dressed in an outfit
that just screamed 'spank me'.

Glancing down at his watch he noted that the time was a little past seven. She had been getting ready for almost an hour - soon she would be
leaving to meet with her mysterious friend. He couldnt help the growl that trickled from his throat. Could he honestly follow her and not try to stop
her? Was it worth risking their friendship over? He sighed unneccesarily, closing his eyes for a moment as he struggled to stay in control. Yes, he
could do it.

When blue eyes finally reopened to look at the red head he gaped in shock. She had finished dressing, the final accessory for the night capturing
his attention almost immediately. He stared at the leather looped around her neck, unblinking as he took in the many rings that adorned the collar.
He knew all too well what the rings were used for, having been led around by a leash more than once in his existence. So this was her little secret.
This was the thing so big and dark that she couldnt share it with him. He understood now, why the quiet girl he knew would try so hard to keep this
from him. He couldn't wait to find out who she was going to meet tonight. So he could rip their eye's from their bloody heads and shove them in
their screaming mouth.

He watched her shrug a thigh length leather coat on over her outfit, checking her hair one more time before turning off her light. The door opened
and closed somewhere below him and she moved down her sidewalk, out into the dark street. He followed her, his mind still reeling with this new bit
of information. It was almost too much for the vampire to handle, even after over a century of dealing with shocks - this one just took his figurative
breath away. He couldn't believe it.

And when he finally admitted that it was true, his demon roared with defiance. How could this happen? How could someone take something that
was supposed to have been his and his alone? *His* little witch was someone's bloody submissive. And that someone was going to pay.

~*~*~

Willow quickened her pace, the feeling that someone was following her growing quite clear as she hurried through the dark streets. It wasn't that
there were any weird noises, because there weren't. The night was quiet - a little too quiet for her tastes. She shivered beneath the leather
jacket, trying to speed up a little more and still not appear to be running. She had been stupid to leave the house without a cross or holy water or
stake, but she had been too caught up in thoughts of what the evening had in store for her.

She could almost feel the eyes burning into the back of her head. It sent shivers along her spine. She hated feeling like this, knowing that
something was out there watching her and she was powerless against it. Pulling the jacket tighter around her she tried again to walk faster, the
stiletto heels on her boots making such swiftness nearly impossible. She sighed and turned, screaming into the darkness. "I know you're there! Just
come out and get it over with!" Her body relaxed into a fighting stance, waiting for whatever was in the darkness to come out and get her. Nothing
happened. She felt her face redden with embarassment. How paranoid could she get? There was nothing out there.

"Behind you, pet."

Willow jumped, a startled shriek escaping from her lips. This was it - her death. She hoped whoever, whatever, it was would end it quickly.
She...wait...she knew that voice! Whirling, she glared into the laughing blue eyes of the creature that had been following her. "What the hell do you
think you are doing scaring me like that?!?" She screamed.

{Bloody hell, I love to see her mad.} He raised one eyebrow, a cocky smile crossing his lips. "Its what I do, luv, remember? Vampire. Scare people.
Big Bad?" He smirked as her mouth opened and closed in rage. "You look like a fish, Red, stop that. You know you aren't that mad at me."

"You arrogant sonofa..." She growled softly, the words trailing off as she realized her predicament. Here she was, dressed for her date with her
master, and Spike had seen her. Horror started to overwhelm her anger. He would tell Buffy and Giles and... She shut her eyes, trying to block out
the fear that threatened to incapacitate her. How could she have been so stupid? After so long hiding it from everyone she had finally been caught.

It was almost as if he could read her mind. He knew the second she went from being angry to terrified. He could smell the scent of her fear on the
air, sweet and musky and utterly Willow-y. It was intoxicating and made him want her all the more. "Whats with the leather look, luv?" He reached
out to finger one of the hoops on the collar, fingering it delicately. It really was a well made piece. {And it means she belongs to someone else,
mate.} He reminded himself, angrily, vowing silently to remedy that as soon as he figured it all out.

The red head backed away from his fingers. The look in the blonde's eyes said he knew exactly what her 'look' meant. Where was the part where he
threatened to tell all her friends? She knew him too well to think he'd pass up a chance like that. Even if he was doing it in the name of 'protecting'
her. "I'm not in the mood for your games tonight, Spike." {Though maybe some other night...} She licked her lips at the thought, glancing discreetly
at her watch. Quarter to eight - she was going to be late.

"Not in the mood for games?" His eyes roamed her body and he felt his lust again flare to life. "I dunno about that, pet, you look like you are
*deifinitely* in the mood for some sort of game. But ya know. I'm not in the mood for 'games' either. Where are you going, Willow? Who are you
going to see?" His voice was hard. Didn't she know she was his? Hadn't he made it clear? {Not too clear, wanker, you havent even tried to kiss the
chit yet.}

{Who the hell does he think he is? I flirt with him for months and he doesnt make a move and now he's questioning me like some outraged
boyfriend?} "Thats none of your business, Spike. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to be late." She brushed past him, surprised to feel his strong
fingers grab her arm.

"And what happens if you are late, sweets?" His sexy accented voice purred into her ear. He held her tightly so she couldnt move away, his tongue
licking delicately at her earlobe. He breathed out, whispering. "Does he spank you? Does he tie your cute little ass up and punish you?" His cock
throbbed at the images his own words were bringing to his mind.

Willow gasped, a small shudder of excitement coursing through her at the vampire's words, his forced breath on her ear and neck. His voice spoke
of experience, of someone who knew what it was like to both be tied and do the tying. What she wouldn't give to have him tie her up and punish
her. Maybe she wouldn't need her little arrangement with her current dominant much longer if she played her cards right. Wetness pooled between
here thighs. She finally found her voice, whispering. "That is *also* none of your business. I really need to go." She pulled from his grip, stumbling
away from him before taking off into the night, running towards her master's house. He was not going to be happy with her for being late. She knew
that Spike was following her, could still feel that presence in the back of her mind. But it didn't matter now. Either he would tell everyone or he
wouldn't. It was too late now.

She ran on, the sound of her boots clicking against the sidewalk rhythmic and soothing. Nearing his townhouse she slowed, gathering her wits about
her as she glanced one final time at her watch. She was ten minutes late. That would be ten lashes with the whip. Maybe more.

If she was lucky.

******

Spike was scowling as he ran after the little witch. He wasn't going to try to stop her again. That had accomplished nothing. She hadn't told him
who she was meeting, hadn't even really admitted to the activities he had accused her of. In fact she had evaded his questioning with an ease
that made him proud. Not proud enough to forgive her for not answering him, though. Not at all. When he finally got her in his bed he would show
her what it was like to be really punished.

He slowed down to a fast walk when the red head did, noticing for the first time the neighborhood they entered. He looked at the stylish
townhomes in confusion, wondering where exactly he had seen them before. His eyes roamed over their nice grey exteriors, memories of something
in the back of his mind, fluttering just out of reach.

He was still pondering the sense of deja vu when she turned up a small driveway, past a small car he *knew* he recognized. Memories of helping
someone move into the new townhouse recently flashed through his brain and he found himself growling again. He couldn't believe it. There was no
way in hell...

The door opened, a dark shadow stepping into the light pouring from within. The figure crossed his arms, their head tilted to the side in
contemplation. "You're late." He recognized the voice that floated through the silent night to his position across the street, felt his demon rise up in
pure rage.

"Yes, m'lord. I'm sorry, master." The red head's response was whispered so softly the vampire almost couldn't hear it.

Spike growled, seeing the little hacker bow her head in submission to the boy he knew all too well. What the bloody hell was going on? His
fingernails dug into his palms, angr coursing through his veins. He needed to kill something. Violently. He watched the door to the townhouse close,
and stormed away. If he didnt leave now he would hurt the whelp. He would rend him limb from limb - no matter how much it hurt his Willow. Better
to leave and plot ways to get the red head away from that *boy* and into *his* arms. Tonight he would vent his rage then tomorrow...

Tomorrow he would have his talk with Willow....and Xander.

~*~*~

Willow placed the mug of blood in the microwave, setting the timer and listening out for the tell tale knock on the door that would signal Spike's
arrival. The sun had set almost ten minutes ago, which meant the bleached wonder could be there at anytime. He was so predictable sometimes.
He hadn't called, hadn't spoken with her at all since she ran from him the previous night. Yet she knew he would show up tonight. She took the mug
out, taking it to the living room and placing it on a coaster before sitting down in a chair and waiting. Her day had been spent thinking of exactly
what she was going to say to the blonde. She knew he was going to expect an explanation - and an explanation is exactly what he was going to
get. The sharp knock on her front door startled her out of her thoughts. Bracing herself with a deep steadying breath, she walked to the door.

Spike pushed into the house, past the red head, his temper barely in check. Waiting until nightfall to come talk to her had been Hell, plain and
simple. Pictures of what that boy had probably done to *his* little witch had plagued him everytime he had tried to close his eyes. She was his,
provided she wanted to be. And tonight he would let her, and the moron, know that. His eyes took in the mug of blood waiting for him on the coffee
table and his expression softened slightly. Sitting on the couch, he took the mug in his hand, sipping at it. She always got it to *just* the right
temperature. His gaze fell on her, his mouth opening in question.

"You want an explanation?" Willow asked, sitting in her dad's favorite recliner and pulling her legs up underneath of her. She watched the blonde
shut his mouth, nodding slowly. His eyes burned with curiousity and a hint of - lust? She hid a smile. "Fine. I will give you your explanation. But its a
long one. And you can't interupt."

"Ok, Red." The vampire settled back, getting comfortable. He couldn't help but smile at the blank look on her face as she composed her thoughts. It
was one of the many things that he found adorable about her.

"You may or may not know this, but Oz was my first real boyfriend." She started her tale slowly, her eyes fixed on his. "And things with him were
perfect. All cuddliness and happiness. Great smoochies. He was so gentle and caring. And I loved every minute of it. Then his cousin....well, I guess
-infected- would be the right word. His cousin bit him, infecting him with whatever it is that werewolves have in their blood to make them what
they are." She smiled, able to remember with fondness those times with Oz, thanks in part to the vampire in front of her who had taught her to
forgive and forget.

"Things changed soon after that. He was still caring...but he wanted to do different things. He started wanting to order me around when we were
making love. And I liked it. I liked him having control. And he needed to be in control. I read about it in some of Giles's books. As the only wolf in the
area he felt the need to assert his dominance - and I got to be on the receiving end of it. After a time, I grew to need our little games, too. I
needed to have him tell me what to do." She blushed, averting her eyes slightly. "I grew addicted to being submissive to him. To being punished. He
liked that I had a little bit of fire in me - that I would fight against him sometimes. It just made it more thrilling when he broke me again."

"You know the next part. Oz met Veruca. They 'shagged' as you would so eloquently put it. Then, in *my own best interest* he left. He broke my
heart. And took away the thing I so desperately needed - his dominance, his control." She sighed. This part would always be painful, no matter how
happily she could remember everthing else. "In a way thats why I put up with Buffy's and Giles's crap this past year. They ordered me around - it
was the closest I was getting to what I needed. And so I stayed around, let them *take advantage* of me." She snorted. "In a way I was using
them more than they were using me."

"The night Anya broke up with Xander, he and I bonded over a few bottles of my parents' liquor. We found out alot about each other. Seems the
reason Anya had finally left was due to some darker urges he had. He had been taught to need something, just like me. And he had become
addicted, just like me. Except he craved dominance."

"How? Who?" Spike spluttered. Who would have taught the moron the finer arts of dominance? Who would have corrupted that poor excuse for a
boy?

"I told you not to interrupt...and anyway, thats something you would need to ask Xander. It's his story to tell, not mine." The blonde nodded,
understanding. He would definitely be asking the boy. Willow continued. "We bared our souls to each other that night, and made a little agreement.
Whenever we were craving those particular....appetites," She licked her lips, flashing him a smile. "We would call each other. It started that night
and has been happening at least two or three times a month. There's nothing but friendship between us, but we fulfill in each other things we are
afraid to share with others." Her eyes met his again, her voice full of an emotion the blonde couldn't quite place as she leaned forward. "No one
knows about this except me and Xander, you, and the person who taught him. And we would like to keep it that way. The others wouldnt, couldnt,
understand."

He watched as she sat back, hands clasped in her lap. She was waiting for him to say something. Waiting for his approval, or disapproval. "I'm not
going to tell them, pet." He said slowly. "And, I dont think any less of you for this." He grinned at her. "Though, you know you do have one other
friend you could have turned to for this." {Someone who actually *does* care about you as more than a friend. Someone who wants you for more
than bloody BDSM play!}

"Yeah, I know. But I didn't feel like driving to LA every weekend to see Angel." She laughed at the furious expression on the blonde's face. She
knew exactly what he was hinting at but she couldn't resist getting a good shot in there about his sire. Her eyes met his, taunting him, teasing him,
trying to make him admit that he wanted her. She wasn't disappointed.

"I should spank you for that, Red." Spike's voice was like silk as he regarded the witch through half closed eyes, the same tone of voice he had
used on his own submissives so many times before. He was pleased to note the way in which she automatically responded. Her eyes left his, darting
to the ground in a gesture of submission.

"If you think I deserve it, sir." Her heart was leaping with joy. Spike was finally noticing her -and- he was willing to play the games she needed. She
felt the cotton of her panties become wet with arousal. The thought of him spanking her was just too delicious. She hoped he was serious. She
focused on the pale pink of the carpet, her mind running through a million fantasies involving the vampire and a leather whip.

"Oh, you deserve it, little one." He purred. His eyes noted the girl's shallow breathing and he inhaled slightly, the scent of her arousal filling his
nostrils. "But, not right now. I want to pay a little visit to Xander." He moved to kneel in front of her, forcing her gaze to his. "Make no mistake on
this, Willow, I want you with me. Not him." He held her chin in his hand, his blue eyes penetrating into her very soul. "You. Are. Mine."

Willow swallowed, nodding as much as his firm grip on her chin would allow. "Yes, sir." Her heart was pounding in her chest.

"Good." Spike grinned, pulling the girl to her feet. His lips brushed against hers, his tongue entering her mouth in a show of pure dominance, playing
lightly with her own pale pink tongue. He pulled away, staring in satisfaction at the dazed look in her eyes. He didn't want their entire relationship to
be about dominance. He wanted to show her just how gentle he could be with her. But for now, this is what she needed, what he needed. "Come
on, pet, lets go visit the moron."

~*~*~

"Wills!" Xander smiled when he opened the door. "And Junior..." Ushering the two of them into his home he shut the door. The first thing he noticed
about the two of them was that Spike was glaring at him, his crystal blue eyes shooting daggers. The second was that Willow seemed nervous. He
waited for them to speak, finally taking it upon himself when neither one of them seemed inclined to do so. "To what do I owe the honor of this
visit?"

Willow cleared her throat, meeting the rich brown eyes of her childhood friend. She wasn't naive enough to believe that Xander would be thrilled
with what she had to say. In fact, truth be told, she expected this all to go rather badly. "He knows, Xan."

"Knows? Knows what?" For a brief moment the youth was genuinely perplexed as he looked into the timid green eyes of his best friend. Then his
eyes darkened slightly, understanding dawning on him. "Ah. You told him?"

Spike watched, stunned, as Xander slipped easily into his role of domination. Little things that might not be noticeable to others were crystal clear
to the vampire. The way the boy suddenly stood up a little straighter, the way the joking laughter faded from his eyes, the way his voice dropped
to something that promised both pleasure and pain. If he hadn't been seeing it for himself he never would have believed the wanker to be capable
of it. But here he was and it was happening.

"He followed me last night." Willow cast her gaze to the floor. She knew that tone of voice, Xander was upset with her. That meant punishment.
Punishment meant spanking. She wondered briefly if Spike would let Xander spank her just one last time. From the look on the blonde's face she
doubted it.

"I see." Xander turned his sights on Spike. Gone was the playful facade he wore in public, this was his home and Willow was his property for all
intents and purposes. "And you are here...because? To warn me not to hurt her? Dont waste your time. She likes it - the spanking, the submitting,
and a few other things I am too much of a gentleman to mention." He stepped closer to the red head, placing an possessive hand on her arm. The
look in the vampire's eyes was worrying him. It was as if he was jealous of their little arrangement.

The vampire growled softly. "No I'm not here to give you a bloody warning. I came for two reasons. One. I want to know who taught you. Red
hinted that it was someone we all know but she wouldn't tell me *who*. And Two. I wanted to let you know that you can't play your games with
her any longer. The chit is mine." With those words he pulled her from Xander's grasp, holding her trembling body tight to him.

Xander narrowed his eyes, watching the scene before him with more than a little anger. How dare that bleached moron come into his house and
take away *his* Willow? What right did he have to suddenly claim the girl? The youth had known that one day their arrangement would end, but he
had no clue it would feel like this to see her in the arms of someone else. Someone who was obviously promising her everything she needed. He
didn't like it at all. "Let's start with the first item then, shall we?"

He turned his back on the pair, taking a seat in a plush chair in the living room. His gaze fixed on Willow, his voice commanding as he ordered.
"Willow, come sit with me." He smirked at the blonde as his little red head came to sit willingly at his feet. "I'm not going to tell you who taught me
to play. That is between me and him. And you have no business even presuming to ask me to share that knowledge with you."

Spike felt his demon push within him, wanting to spill the youth's blood over his arrogance. He could picture the boy's blood running through his
fingers, spilling onto the beige carpeting, soaking it. The thought of dominating Willow in a puddle of her friend's blood called to him, causing his
cock to jump to life within the confines of his jeans. He wondered if it would really traumatize her that much if the moron died.

"And secondly," Xander continued, unaware of the vampire's murderous thoughts. "I don't know if I like the idea of giving Willow up at this point.
And are you so sure she wants to give up what her and I have?" He turned his gaze to the girl still sitting at his feet. "Well, Wills, do you want to
go with Junior and never spend another night in my arms? Never feel my hands on you? Never feel me punish you?"

Willow shook her head slowly. "No, sir. But..." She shut her mouth with a snap, realizing that he hadn't asked for anything more than a 'yes' or 'no'.
She wished silently that Xander hadn't made this conversation with Spike into a little game of dominance. She would have liked to have been able
to voice her opinions on the subject. But this is what her friend had chosen and she would abide by it - for now.

"Go ahead, Willow, what were you going to say?" Xander realized he wasn't being fair to her. This was a serious conversation about her life and he
had made it into just another scene. It was too late to stop it now and he could only hope she'd forgive him for it later.

The red head swallowed nervously. "I was going to say that I like the idea of being Spike's, too. But I dont want to give up my time with you either,
Xan...its gotten to be special." The last part was whispered and she realized that the arrangement with her best friend had gotten to be a little
deeper than either of them had planned.

Spike sat quietly on the couch, seething as he listened to the arrogant prick of a mortal sit there and talk to and about Willow as though she were
his proprty. She was too special to be thought of in only that way. She deserved better than that. His demon was raging now, needing to interrupt.
"So let me get this straight, boy, you aren't going to give me either of the bloody things I came here for?"

"Why should I?" The brown haired boy's eyes were dark as he regarded the vampire.

"So I don't go running to Buffy and Giles and tell them all about the little games you play?" Spike answered smugly, delighted to see the brief flicker
of shock that passed over the moron's face.

Xander clamped down on his emotions, mentally berating himself for showing even that small amount of weakness to the creature that was trying to
verbally dominate him. It wouldnt work. He had been taught too well for mere words to undo him. He pondered the vampire's words, though. What
was to stop him from running and telling the others all of their dark little secrets? He didn't think Buffy would be able to comprehend her two best
friends doing things like that to each other and Giles...well Giles would probably die of a heart attack on the spot.

He reached down, playing absently with Willow's fine red hair as he continued to ponder the question. It was like the purest silk and never ceased
to bring images of it framing her face as he fucked her into his mind. A small smile crept across his face. If the blonde would only play along this
would be almost perfect. "You won't tell them because that wouldn't be nearly as much fun as what I'm going to propose."

The vampire leaned back into the couch, watching the deceptively innocent youth as he fingered the little witch's hair. He longed to be doing that
to her, making her eyes close and her lips turn up in happiness. But he couldn't, because the whelp was there, doing it instead. And the thought
irritated him. "And what would that be, mate?"

Xander hid a smile, he had the vampire's attention at least. Now all he had to do was get him to take the challenge. "Its been a while since I've had
anyone test my....fortitude. Succeed in dominating me and I will tell you anything you want to know and Willow is free to come and go from me as
she pleases." His lips quirked up in a triumphant smile. It *had* been a while since anyone had tried to dominate him but he was confident that he
could take whatever the blonde could dish out. And then some. "Well, what do you say, Blondie? Take it or leave it."

Blue eyes met brown ones as the vampire contemplated the challenge that had been laid before him. The thought of breaking the arrogant little
bastard sang to his demon as something far greater than merely killing him. It would probably be more fun too. And when it was over the witch
would be his - and he'd have the answer to his question. He could tell the boy didn't think he would lose to the vampire, his eyes alight with pure
arrogance and his mouth twisted into a smirk. It reminded him of someone else. His brain whirled uselessly for a moment, the blonde trying
desperately to remember why the expression seemed so familiar. But the answer wasn't coming. No matter. He would break the little prick - make
him beg. His lips curled up in an answering smirk.

"So when do we start, *boy*?"

~*~*~

The upper floor of the townhouse consisted of one big bedroom and a bathroom, Spike soon learned, and from the looks of the bedroom Xander was
well used to his little games of domination. A massive wrought iron bed sat in the middle of one wall, the posts reaching up almost to the ceiling.
There were small shreds of silk hanging from the iron posts, left over from some night's playing undoubtedly. His eyes took in the chains hanging
from a hook in the ceiling, at just the right height to hold someone in place as they stood up or with a pulley on one side to lower them to thier
knees if one desired. Thick curtains covered the solitary window and a single lamp cast its glow around the room, making the whole setup seem
almost eerie.

"Go sit down, Red." Spike murmured, pushing her towards a comfortable looking chair in the corner. As much as he would have liked to have included
her in the coming activites, this would be between him and the moron alone. He turned his attention back to source of this little fun-fest. Xander.
Smirking he gestured to the chains hanging from the ceiling. They would do nicely. "Why don't you go ahead and truss yourself up, boy." He slipped
easily into the role he was to play for the evening, remembering nights long ago when he had been taught by his Sire what it meant to dominate
and be dominated.

"I'd rather not if you don't mind." Xander smirked, crossing his arms over his chest in an open act of defiance. He wasn't going to make this easy on
the vampire. His first master and teacher had been proud of him for his ability to hold out for long periods of time. Hopefully it would be long enough
for the blonde to give up.

"You know I can make you." The vampire hid his smile, turning his back to the youth. Good, the boy was going to fight him every step of the way.
In a way it reminded the blonde of himself the first time he had been dominated by Angelus. All fire and sass. That night had ended in a passionate
display of dominance and Spike couldn't help but hope this one would as well. For all that the brown haired youth annoyed him he was rather
attractive. And this darker side of him held potential.

"Thats the whole point." Xander let his eyes stray to the creature in front of him, still scowling even as he took in the tight body pacing away from
him. It had been so long since someone tried to dominate him and he couldnt help but get aroused. Angelus had taught Spike all he knew, that
meant that Spike was probably incredibly skilled in this 'art' form. He forced his face into an expressionless mask as the blonde continued to pace.

"Fine. Have it your way."

Xander hardly saw the vampire move. His brain barely had a chance to recognize the fact that the blonde was moving towards him before a strong
backhand sent him sprawling to the floor. The coppery taste of his own blood trickled into his mouth and he licked hesitantly at his bottom lip. Yep,
it was busted. Before he could try to stand the vampire was over him again, hauling him to his feet and shoving him into the manacles that hung
from the ceiling.

Willow couldnt help but wince. She could see blood trickling down her friend's chin as he continued to glare at the blonde. That had to have hurt,
yet Xander hadn't cried out once. A small voice inside of her cried out that this was her fault, that she could stop this at anytime simply by telling
them both to go to hell. The thought was squashed quickly though. She liked this. The two of them fighting over her. She honestly felt as though
they both wanted her. Leaning back into the chair she prepared for the show to come, hoping that in the end she still could find a way to keep
them both.

******

Spike grinned when he found the chest against the far wall, his eyes lighting up like a child on Christmas morning. He wheeled it over towards where
the moron was hanging, chuckling to himself as he thought of all the different ways he could use the various toys he had found. He was surprised
that the boy had quite such an extensive collection, some of the items in the chest had to have cost a few hundred dollars each. They had to have
been presents to the youth. But from who? His mysterious teacher? He added that to the long list of growing questions to ask the boy when he was
done with him.

Drawing a long, slender knife from the chest Spike began to speak, his voice dangerous and silky. "Now, boy, I want you to remember that this can
stop at anytime. You can make it end just by saying you submit."

"Never happen, Blondie." His cheek stung as the vampire slapped him, not hard enough to be terribly painful, just enough to make an impression
really.

"Rule One. You will not speak unless I indicate that it is allowed, understand?"

"In your dreams."

Spike shrugged, reaching into the chest to retrieve one of the many ball gags he had seen. If the twit refused to shut up then he'd just make it so
he coulnd't talk. He fingered the worn leather harness and soft rubber ball before placing it in the boy's mouth, effectively silencing anything the
youth might have said. He smiled, stepping back to gaze at his work so far.

Small beads of sweat had formed on the brunette's forehead, trickling down the sides of his face. The manacles were up a little too high for the
position he was in to be truly comfortable, forcing the youth to stretch. The added bit of exertion would work in his favor, Spike decided. He didn't
want to hurt the boy. That would win him no favor with Willow. He just wanted to break him. Meeting the boys calm brown eyes he stepped
towards him, running his finger lightly over the edge of the knife he had taken from the chest. With one swift motion he cut through Xander's white
t-shirt, ripping it from the boy's chest and throwing it to the floor.

Stepping back, the vampire replaced the knife in the chest, admiring the fine lines of the human boy's chest. He had never really seen Xander
without a shirt and couldn't help but stare in appreciation. In one smooth move he pulled his own shirt off, the cool air of the room dancing across
his own cold flesh. He studied the boy appraisingly, debating on what to do next. Moving to stand behind the youth, the vampire ran his hands over
his smooth, warm flesh, his touch almost feather light.

Xander fought the urge to moan and lean back into the blonde's sensuous touches. He couldn't help but suck in a breath of air when cool lips
touched the back of his neck. Teeth scraped gently across his already feverish skin, the vampire's mouth leaving a cool trail of kisses across his
neck and shoulders before moving on to his back. He hadn't expected this type of strategy from Spike - he had assumed there would be more pain
involved than pleasure and he had been quite fine with that. This was unexpected and a little more difficult to deal with. He shut his eyes, thinking
of anything other than what the blonde was doing to him.

Spike felt the boy tense up and moved around him to look into his face. Brown eyes were squeezed closed and he could almost see the boy's brain
working hard to distract his body from the pleasure the kisses had caused. Reaching out, the vampire traced the outline of the brunette's erection
through his jeans, delighted when his eyes flew open. He pulled the gag away from the boy's mouth. "Submit?"

"Not. Likely." Xander smirked, proud that his voice didn't waver in the least. He glared as Spike replaced the gag, his eyes still defiant and proud.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Spike smiled. This was too much fun. It had been so long since he had had the pleasure of breaking a human boy.
Too long since he had deprived himself of this kind of pleasure. By the end of the night Xander would be his, body and soul. Still smiling, he reached
into the chest, drawing out a hairbrush. He smiled, running the bristles lightly over his hand. Not too hard, not to soft, just perfect. He ran the
brush lightly over the boy's chest, leaving small pinks scratches over the muscles. Turning back, he brushed lightly over one of the dark nipples,
watching it harden under the light touch of pain he was bringing. He brushed down harder, across the boy's rippling stomach, admiration creeping
into his eyes when the youth didn't even whimper from the pain. Someone had taught him well.

The vampire leaned down, lightly running his tongue along the scratches he had made, delighting in the small drops of blood that had broken
through the surface. He could hear the young man's harsh breathing, heard the soft moan as he kissed his way along the marks. Gently he cupped
the boy through his jeans, stroking him lightly with his thumb as he continued to kiss at his wounded flesh.

Xander bit into the gag, biting back the moan that threatened to escape from his throat. This wasn't good. It hadn't even been a half an hour and
he was already turning into putty in the blonde's hands. The thought that his teacher would be disappointed flitted through his mind, momentarily
chasing off the surge of passion that was threatening to overwhelm him. The gag was pulled from his mouth and again the same question asked.
"Never." He started to say something else, something witty and defiant, only to be cut off by the gag getting shoved back in. He was getting rather
sick of that.

Spike kneeled in front of the good-looking youth, flipping open the catch on his jeans with the snap of a wrist. He inched the zipper down, looking
up into brown eyes as he slowly licked his lips. Pushing the jeans down around his captive's ankles, Spike took a moment to look at the rock hard
cock standing just inches from his lips. The swollen head was coated in drops of pre-cum and in a moment of his own weakness, the vampire leaned
forward and licked it off, rolling the taste of his soon-to-be-lover's seed in his mouth. He tangled his fingers in the boy's wiry brown curls, taking his
warm, throbbing shaft deep in his mouth. A moan pierced the air in the youth's first sign of weakness and the vampire pulled away, a satisfied smile
creeping across his face. He wouldn't ask him if he submitted yet, honestly not wanting the scene to end and still needing to punish Xander for not
submitting sooner.

One of the chest's drawers once again opened, this time a small leather whip finding its way into the blonde's hand. He stalked towards the youth,
his movements that of a predator with sights set on its prey. The whip cracked, disturbing the silence of the room, an angry looking welt appearing
on the otherwise smooth skin of the boy's back. Sharp hearing picked up Xander's soft moan of pain and he walked around him, looking into brown
eyes for any sign that what he did had hurt the boy anymore than necessary. Spike nodded slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips at the look of
pure lust in the young man's eyes. Reaching down, the vampire quickly stroked the boy, watching his face for the first telltale signs of orgasm
before releasing it roughly. He smirked at the obvious look of frustration on the young man's face.

With a look of demonic joy, the vampire brought the whip down over Xander's naked flesh repeatedly, stopping every once in a while to stroke, lick
or suck him back to the point of near release before returning to his punishing lashes. After ten minutes he stopped, watching the rapid rise and fall
of the boy's chest. Not once had the young man screamed. Not once had he even whimpered in pain. Not once had his eyes lost that little gleam of
defiance that let the vampire know he was still fighting him. The blonde felt his cock throb painfully in his jeans. He was honestly starting to wonder
if the boy would outlast him. *HIM* - favorite childe of Angelus, one of the most feared vampires in all of history - and a mere human boy was
winning in a game of domination. The thought, which should have cooled his lust, only sought to encite it further. He needed release, then maybe
he could think more clearly.

Xander fell to his knees in surprise as Spike tugged on the pulleys, the chains clanking about overhead. The gag was torn from his mouth and
suddenly he was face to face with one very cold, very erect, cock. Spike thrust at his mouth, forcing the head into Xander's warm mouth with very
clear advice on what would happen if he bit down. With an obvious show of reluctance, the boy began to take the throbbing shaft further into his
mouth, bobbing his head slowly as he worked up to a nice steady pace. Losing himself in an almost sickening desire to please the blonde, Xander
was shocked when the organ twitched in his mouth, sending the vampire's cool seed spilling down his throat. He swallowed, drinking every drop as if
it he was dehydrated and that was the water he needed to live.

"Do you submit yet?" Spike smirked, tucking his now flacid member back in his jeans. The urge to throw the boy down and shag the hell out of him
was growing stronger with each passing moment.

"No," Xander grinned, his smile hiding the fact that his own cock was so hard it was painful. "Do you?"

Spike growled, yanking on the chains to bring the boy back to his feet. The nerve of him, asking a master vampire if he submitted to a mere *boy*.
He could smell the little witch's desire from across the room and looked up to see her emerald eyes glued to the scene unfolding before her. She
wanted them both. It was as plain as the cute little nose on her face. And he knew he would be willing to let her have what she wanted. But first,
the boy would submit to him. Snarling, he returned to his work.

******

He was finally breaking. After almost three hours of nonstop teasing, spanking, slapping, tickling, biting, licking, poking, prodding and numerous other
verbs, the little bastard looked as though he was finally going to submit. Spike looked down at the angry shaft sticking out from the boy, knowing
that the blue balls alone was what was doing the youth in. He just couldn't keep his cock under control. And that was fine by the blonde. All the kid
needed to do now was say the words, submit to him and he would make it all better. He looked down at the toys scattered around the room, still
marvelling at the variety of textures he had found to wear down the boy's senses. The room had turned out to be well stocked, and again he found
himself wondering who had taught the boy so well.

"Xander," He purred the boys name, softly stroking the brunette's cock as he released the gag from his mouth. "Let go. Just submit and I will make
it all better. I will *always* make it all better." His voice held the promise of many nights of these games, not just this one.

Xander licked his dry lips, the defiance gone from his eyes as he regarded the creature before him. He had been good. If he hadn't been taught by
the best then he would have sworn up and down that Spike must damn well *be* the best. But he knew better. The blonde, for all his talents was
still second best. But that didn't matter now. He wanted to consumate what had begun with his own challenge hours before, no longer caring that
he was going to lose Willow in the process or be forced to lay bare his secrets. All that mattered was pleasing and getting pleased by Spike. He
jumped, the sound of someone pounding on his front door making its way up to the bedroom.

"Who the hell can that be?" Spike growled, trying to ignore the insistent pounding at the front door. Despite a frightened look from the boy he made
his way from the room, determined to tear whoever had just interupted the boy's submission limb from limb. In a rage, he never stopped to consider
what he'd say if he opened the door to see the watcher or Slayer standing there. Eyes blazing, he yanked open the door, a startled exclamation
leaving his lips. "Peaches?" His eyes roamed over the form of the dark haired vampire he knew so well.

"Spike." Angel's eyes were cool as he regarded his childe. "Why are you here? Where's Xander?" He inhaled deeply, smelling the scent of sex and
blood and leather in the air. His demon pushed at the walls of his soul, begging to be freed even for a few moments. He had come all this way to
see the the dark haired youth, only to have a shirtless Spike answer the door? The pieces slowly clicked together in his head and his demon won
the battle it was fighting, taking its place quietly behind chocolate colored eyes.

"Why am I here?" Spike snorted, unaware of the dark thoughts floating behind his Sire's eyes. "I could ask you the same thing, mate, aren't you
supposed to be in LA fighting evil? As for the boy...hes a little tied up at the moment." The blonde leered, waggling his eyesbrows suggestively.
"Now if you don't mind, he was just about to..."

His face had time to register a brief moment of shocked confusion before a fist connected solidy with his jaw.

And then there was blackness.

~*~*~

"Bloody hell!" Spike swore, making his way back to conscious thought and pulling futiley at the chains binding him in a position much like he had put
the mortal youth into. He growled, looking around the room for the person he knew had done this to him. His Sire. Bane of his existence. He could
smell him somewhere nearby, probably behind him, where he couldn't see. He glanced around at the other occupants of the room. Willow was still in
the chair he had told her to sit in, her emerald eyes practically sparkling with excitement and ... amusement? She thought this was funny? And
there was the moron, all comfy on the bed, watching him with a small smile on his lips. What the hell was going on?

"Spike." Angel stepped away from the dark corner of the room he had been waiting in, moving towards his childe with movements graceful enough
to rival a dancer. His shirt was unbuttoned, the midnight blue silk rolled up around his biceps and he looked for all the world like he was about to
work on something...or someone.

"Poof." Spike nodded at his sire, eyeing him warily. No matter how ensouled he was, his sire was not a man to be taken lightly, especially when it
came to the humans he considered friends. And here he had just found the blonde forcing one into submission while another watched. The small
smirk on the older vampire's face told him in one second that he was going to pay for that.

"While you were taking your little nap I had a talk with Willow and Xander." The older vampire smiled, his eyes glinting with a hint of the demonic
light he held inside him. The demon within him was having a fit, encouraging to rip his childe to shreds for the insult he had unknowingly committed.
"They told me such amusing things."

"It was all *his* idea!" Spike protested, gesturing towards where Xander was lying on the bed, watching through hooded eyes. He glared at the boy
before turning his eyes back to his sire. "Besides, I think the wanker gets off on a little pain. He certainly didn't seem to be complain-"

"Enough!" Angel's hand was quick as lightning, smacking the blonde fully across the cheek. "I taught you well, William. Try to remember the first
lesson. Don't speak unless I *tell* you to." The corner of his mouth twitched up in a smirk when the blonde bowed his head, his lips shut tight.
"Good boy."

Spike couldn't believe this was happening. There he was, about to break the moron and then shag both he and the little witch senseless and then
the great almight poof shows up to ruin the whole bloody thing! Not to mention the fact that his sire seemed to be acting alot like his demonic
counterpart - a little too like him for Spike's tastes. He tasted his own blood, the inside of his cheek torn and bloodied form the force of his sire's
blow. The use of his given name sent a shudder through him. Something had pissed off the older vampire enough for him to let his demon play. Just
bloody fantastic.

"Now where was I? Oh yeah. They told me all about the little challenge Xander issued to you. About how if he submitted he had to tell you certain
things and give up his rights to Willow." Angel smirked, reaching out to caress the side of his childe's face. "I know your talents well, Will. Did he
submit to you?"

"He was about to before you had to go and show up." Spike snarled, angry, pulling his face as far from Angel's delicate fingers as he could. His sire
was treating him like his submissive, something the blonde hadn't been in nearly eight decades. His demon howled with indignance. Who did the
ponce think he was coming in here like he owned the place? Sure, he had been playing kinky little sex games with the Slayer's pals. But that didn't
give the poof the right to treat him like this!

"Is that true?" Angel turned to look at Xander. "Were you about to submit? Remember I will know if you try to lie." He saw the blush creep across
the youth's face, saw the way the boy lowered his eyes shamefully to the bedspread.

"Yes." Xander couldn't keep his own disappointment in himself out of his voice. It might have taken the vampire five hours, but he had still broken
him. He had felt for sure that he would win the challenge - that the vampire would never be able to break him. But it had happened and lying
wouldn't change that.

Angel smiled softly, almost gently. "Tell him what he wanted to know, then." The dark haired vampire came to sit next to the emotionally wired boy,
rubbing his thigh in a soothing gesture, his eyes straying to the painful looking erection the youth was sporting. That needed to be taken care of,
soon.

Xander raised rich brown eyes to look into the cool blue ones of the creature who had dominated him. "The answer to your question would be..." He
licked his lips, looking at the dark haired vampire one more time, almost as if asking permission. The dark haired man nodded ever so slightly, giving
silent permission. "The answer would be: Angel."

"WHAT?!?" Spike roared. That had been the last name he expected to hear cross the boy's lips. Even Giles would have been more expected than
hearing that his poof of a sire had been the one to teach the boy to play the games of pain and pleasure. "You mean Angelus, right? This is
something that prick did while he was back?" His brain refused to wrap around the thought of Angel teaching the dark haired boy anything about
domination and submission. It all fit though, the boy's extensive collection of gadgets, his wide knowledge of the subject, hell even the way he
toned his voice when he had commanded Willow.

"No. He meant me. Not Angelus. *Me*." Angel stood from the bed, stalking towards the suspended vampire with all the grace of a deadly predator,
which is exactly what he was. "Which means, William m'boy, that you were playing with *my* property without *my* permission."

The blonde shook off the confusion induced haze that had entered his mind, a tendril of true fear creeping into him as he looked into the dark eyes
of his sire. This wasn't the soulful, brooding man he had come to expect over the past few years - this was someone so much like his true sire that
he actually feared for his very unlife at the promise the words held. "I didn't know. He didn't tell me. He suggested the bloody challenge!"

Angel raised an eyebrow and held his hand out behind him, gesturing to the youth on the bed to join him. "Come here, Xander." The vampire kneeled
down in front of the youth, spreading his legs apart and pushing the skin of his right inner thigh out enough for the blonde to see the small 'A'
carved into the flesh. "He bears my mark yet you say you didn't know? He was completely naked in front of you for hours and you never once saw
that? It wasn't *his* place to tell you who he belonged to. And as for him being the one who suggested this whole 'bloody challenge' well, he'll be
punished for putting himself in this position. Later."

The vampire gestured for the boy to take his place back on the bed, grabbing the same whip Spike had used on the youth not too many hours
before. He trailed the leather lightly across his childe's cool flesh, smirking at the gasp of pleasure he elicited. Leaning close enough so that the
blonde could feel the forced breath of his words, Angel purred, "But right now. I think I need to remind you who you belong to, William."

~*~*~
 
 

Willow watched Angel pace around Spike, her eyes glued to the scene with erotic fascination. It had been a shock when the dark haired vampire
had come into the room carrying his unconscious childe over his shoulder. She had known at that moment that the night was about to get even
more interesting - she just hadn't known by quite this much. The harsh crack of the whip snapped through the air and she could hear Angel
murmuring softly to his childe. She knew what he was saying - *submit*, *give in*, *dont fight me*. Words that she had heard from one dom or
another and some point.

The whip snapped through the air again, and even in the half darkness of the room she could see the marks on Spike's skin. The look in the blonde's
eyes said that he was going to fight his sire every step of the way on this. He wasn't about to willingly become submissive to the older vampire
again. She couldn't blame him. Being a vampire was all about being in control, giving yourself to somone as a sub would mark you as weak - and
Spike was definitely not one to admit to his weaknesses. His control was excellent, there were no cries of pain as Angel continued to rain the whip
down on his childe's pale skin. There was no sign of his game face as he took everything the older vampire had to give.

She licked her lips appreciatively as Angel bared the rest of the younger vampire's body to the coolness of the room, her eyes lingering on blonde's
thick cock standing at attention amongst a mass of dark curls. She could picture with almost striking detail kneeling in front of him and taking him
into her mouth, sucking and licking every inch of his hard shaft, tasting him on her lips. The thought was enough to make the familiar heat start to
build between her legs, begging to be released. What the hell. No one was currently trying to dominate *her*, she might as well have a little fun.

Leaning into the highbacked chair, the red head pulled down the zipper on her jeans, the noise sounding incredibly loud to her ears. She glanced
around, no one had noticed. Sighing, she slipped her hand across her stomach and down under the simple cotton of her panties, running her fingers
through her own soft curls. Her eyes roamed over the scene in front of her, watching as Angel alternated between caressing and hitting his childe.

Running a finger lightly over her clit, the young girl stifled a moan. The sexual tension for the night had been just about unbearable, first watching
Xander get dominated and now this. Her body felt like it was on fire, ready to erupt at any time. She strummed gently at the swollen nub, biting her
lip to keep from crying out at the miniature waves of bliss that rolled over her skin. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, the witch continued to
lightly tease her clit as Angel forced Spike down onto his knees.

She gasped when the dark haired vampire's enormous erection came into view. It was a sight she had not been lucky enough to take in before now,
having never had the pleasure of being dominated or punished by the man. She watched, amazed when the blonde was forced to take the entire
length in his mouth, the older vampire fucking his childe's face with wild abandon. She groaned softly, slipping a finger into her sopping core, her
eyes never leaving Angel's face as took pleasure from Spike's mouth.

Something clenched low and tight in the red head's stomach when the normally broody vampire came, crying out with a howl, his face slipping into
that of a demon. She watched his body twitch as he came deep within the blonde's mouth, his yellow eyes closed with ecstasy. She moaned softly,
slipping her finger in and out of her wet channel as much as the encumbering jeans would allow, the part of her that was total submissive wishing
she had been the one to pleasure Angel. She had been a good girl all night and deserved *some* kind of reward, after all.

Again the blonde was forced to his feet, still fighting and cursing his sire under his nonexistent breath, but not as much as when it had all started.
He wouldn't last too long, she knew. His brain had been conditioned years ago to obey his creator and that was a strong urge to fight, no matter
how much he didn't want to show weakness. She tasted her own blood as she bit into her lip again, trying to cut off the deep moan rising from her
chest. Angel glanced over at her, his handsome face lighting with a smile as he noticed her very obvious state of arousal. A blush rose to her
cheeks, her fingers stilling at their task. She hadn't meant to be caught pleasing herself. The vampire nodded slightly before turning back to his
childe, as if giving her permission to continue. It was all the permission she needed.

Angel's low husky voice carried across the room as she once again began teasing her aching clit, asking Spike to submit in low tones. Promising the
younger vampire pleasure and pain if he would just give in and let his sire do what was best for him. The blonde wouldn't answer though and she
saw Angel reach into Xander's chest of toys. She licked her lips as the newest round of domination began between the two.

Closing her eyes, the red head tuned out the sounds around her, focused solely on bringing herself pleasure. Her thumb brushed lightly over her clit
as first one then two fingers slipped into her dripping passage. She moved them in and out, thrusting deep within herself as she picked up a steady
rhythm, her head filled with thoughts of fucking not just Xander and Spike, but Angel as well. She could picture him standing over her, his cock in
her mouth, cold and thick, thrusting in and out between her lips. Not caring who heard her, she moaned, brushing a hand up under her shirt to her
breasts. Pinching roughly at her nipples, the red head continued to slide her fingers in and out of her core, bringing herself closer and closer to
release.

Another moan pierced the air, this one not hers and altogether masculine. Cracking open one eye she saw Spike on his knees, his sire pounding into
his pale ass with force that would have injured a human. He had sumbitted. The knowledge was too much for the witch and she rubbed one last
time at her clit, crying out as her vaginal walls convulsed around her fingers, her body shuddering in the chair. Blood pounded in her ears and she
felt vaguely dizzy from the force of her release, the sound of Angel's own climax coming to her as if through a heavy fog. It wasn't enough though,
she still ached for more. For the touch of someone other than herself. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying to whatever lust gods might be listening
for a little more action for her that night.

Apparently they heard her. A cool tongue licked gently at the fingers she had only recently had buried inside of her, licking away the juices that still
coated them, cold fingers splayed against the warmth of her stomach. She moaned, feeling the tension rebuild in her stomach, and opened her
eyes.

"Daddy said I could play with my new toy." Spike whispered, continuing to lick his way along each and every finger. His blue eyes sparkled with
playfulness. He had forced Xander to submit - she was his, even though he doubted it would stay that way before the night was over with. That
was something he didn't want to contemplate at that time - sharing his little witch with anyone. He forced it out of his mind, purring, "But I dont
want to play master and servant now. I just want you, pet, underneath me and screaming my name."

Willow nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Her eyes strayed to the bed, where Angel was now dealing with Xander and then back to the
sexy vampire kneeling in front of her. Spike wanted her. And not just for games. He wanted her for more than that. She smiled, pulling his lips to
hers, hot and cold mixing as their tongues met and twined together.

The red head chuckled softly when Xander moaned in pleasure, beginning to receive his *punishment* at Angel's hands. It looked like everyone was
going to belong to someone tonight.

~*~*~

Xander could have dealt with a spanking. He would have readily bared his skin to be whipped at Angel's hand. That would have been simple. He
deserved it, after all. Letting Spike even *try* to dominate him was something he knew deep down his teacher would frown upon. The fact that the
blonde had succeeded only deepened his need for punishment. What the dark haired vampire was doing, however, was just cruel, Xander decided,
another moan issuing forth from his lips. His hips bucked against the cool silk sheets, grinding his erection into the softness as the vampire licked
along the mortal boy's spine. He groaned in frustration, unable to get enough friction to ease his aching shaft.

The vampire didn't miss the boy's futile actions. He placed a restraining hand on the youth's lower back, effectively pinning his hips to the bed and
stilling any further attempts to gain satisfaction. This was just evil, he knew. Xander had been a walking hard-on for hours due to his childe's
attentions and the dark haired man knew that this had to be painful for him. It was, in effect, the ultimate punishment. The perfect mixture of
pleasure and pain. His teeth elongated, nipping lightly down the boy's back, leaving a light trail of blood. With a possessive growl he lapped at the
small pools, letting the small taste of the mortal coat his tongue and drip down the back of his throat.

Lying here, with Xander so willing to please and be pleased, the vampire couldn't remember why he had stayed away from him for so long this time,
and he was determined not to let it happen again. He had known of the boy's relationship with Willow - had even encouraged it to a point so long
as Xander remembered who he belonged to. He *hadn't* know how his childe felt towards the mortal girl, or else he would have tried to rectify the
situation before it got to this point. As it was, he felt blessed that one of Cordelia's visions had sent him back to Sunnydale. It just wouldn't have
been right for a *Childe* to dominate his Sire's *lover*.

Turning his attention back to the brown haired man beneath him, Angel slowly kissed his way back up the warm flesh, his face sliding back into its
human countenance. Nipping at the base of his neck with blunt teeth, the vampire was rewarded with another small moan of desire from the
frustrated youth. He could smell the arousal pouring off of his lover and knew he wouldn't continue to torment him much longer. It had been too
long since they had been together. Too long since they had found release in each other's arms.

A feminine moan pierced the air and he couldn't help but glance over to where the blonde haired vampire was kneeling before the red head. She was
beautiful, a perfect match for his favorite childe. Her head was thrown back, eyes closed, the blonde's head buried between her legs. They made a
good match, light and dark, fire and ice. A small wiggle of impatience from the warm man beneath him brough his attention back where it belonged.
With a lick to the youth's ear, the vampire continued on with his punishment.

********

The world as Willow knew it had ceased to exist, narrowing down to nothing more than a mouth and a set of cool fingers. {And very skilled
tongue,} the witch added onto her thought, moaning softly. She wrapped her fingers tighter in the short blonde hair of the man kneeling before her,
grinding her face up and into his questing mouth. A cold thumb rubbed gently across her clit, teasing her as his tongue thrust into her hot core with
a pace she wished his cock would replace. She needed more, needed to feel him deep inside of her. He had said that he didn't want to play games
with her tonight, but that was certainly what this felt like. She arched up again, meeting the firm resistance of his other hand as he pushed her
back into the chair.

Spike pulled back, drawing in a deep breath of unneeded air before blowing out gently across her passion soaked lips, the soft gust fluttering over
her cinnamon colored curls. He looked up at her, watching her face as he slid his tongue back into her hot passage, lapping at her juices as if they
were some rare drink. She tasted better than anything he had ever had in his long life - better even than blood. He licked slowly upwards from her
slit, his tongue caressing the red head's swollen clit before sucking it gently into his mouth. With blunt teeth, the blonde gently bit down, causing
the witch to squirm beneath his strong hands.

"Spike, please. I want you in me." Willow gasped, her own impending release coming quickly. She looked down into the darkened blue eyes of her
lover, conveying what she needed and wanted without having to explain any further. She wanted him inside of her when she came, wanted to feel
every inch of his hard cock pushing into her as she found release. A small sigh of disappointment fluttered from her lips when he continued to suck
and nibble on her clit, bringing her closer and closer to orgasm.

Then he was there, kissing his way over her pelvis, past her bellybutton, up her chest. He paused in his upward movement, his soft lips trailing
butterfly kisses over her breast before taking the puckered nipple into his mouth. He bit down, delighting in the pain-laced pleasure that he was
causing her. He turned his attention to the other hard nub, rolling it hard between his lips before nipping at it. Again he had to hold her down as she
arched into his caresses, a low moan creeping from her lips. The sound was like music to the vampire's ears. This beautiful red haired goddess was
giving herself to him, letting him touch her and make love to her as he saw fit and taking immense pleasure in it all. She knew what he was, what he
had done in his past, and she didn't mind - in fact she accepted him, the whole package.

The thought was enough to make him glad he had never had to worry about any sort of happiness clause - because it certainly would have come
into play at that moment.

* * * * *

"Come for me." Angel purred, licking gently at Xander's earlobe. He pulled the boy onto his knees, reaching around him to grab hold of his blood
engorged member. With a slow stroke he moved his hand from head to base, then back up again, drawing on memories of what his lover liked in
order to give him the most pleasure. His thumb flicked gently over the tip, wiping away drop after drop of milky white pre-cum as he continued to
pump the boy. He could hear the youth moaning almost continuously, pain mixing with pleasure as he neared his release.

"Please...faster...oh god...Angel." Xander tensed, his body shaking as white hot pleasure coursed through his veins. He screamed in mindless
ecstasy as his seed shot out of him, coating his lover's hand and dripping onto the sheets.

Coating his own hard shaft with his lover's cum, the vampire slowly slipped a finger into Xander's tight hole, preparing him with all the gentleness he
could. He was Xander's only male lover and, as such, knew that it had been a while since the boy had partaken in this particular activity. Sliding his
digit in and out he watched the mortal's reactions, waiting for the precise moment he would know he was ready. When Xander began to thrust back
into his hand, he knew it was time.

Positioning the head of his cock at the boy's entrance, Angel concentrated on entering the youth slowly. Inch by delicate inch he eased his way
into the tight warmth, groaning with pleasure. He growled softly, his human mask sliding away as Xander pushed back roughly, impaling himself on
the vampire's remaining length. His fingers flexed into the boy's hips, giving him a moment to get used to his impressive length being in him before
starting with a nice, slow rhythm.

Xander could feel his own cock twitching back to life as his teacher, his lover, pounded into him with an almost ridiculously slow pace. Who was he
kidding? This wasn't what the vampire needed and it certainly wasn't what Xander was in the mood for. With a growl of his own, the young man
began to thrust back against the vampire. He moaned in pleasure when he felt his lover's heavy balls slap against his ass as the older man took the
hint and began to thrust into him harder, more recklessly. It still wasn't enough. Knowing he would undoubtedly be punished for it later, Xander
groaned, "Is that all you got, old man?"

Growling in a purely animalistic manner, Angel abandoned himself to his demon and proceeded to show the boy exactly *what* he still had to give.

* * * *

"Oh goddess, oh goddess, oh goddess, oh goddess." Willow sighed, her nails digging into Spike's back, leaving angry scratches overtop of his fading
whip marks. Her breath was short and heavy as her blonde haired lover slipped his thick rod into her sopping core. They moaned almost as one,
both feeling a sense of completeness as their bodies joined together for the first time. Her legs wrapped around the vampire's waist, holding his
body tight against her as he began to thrust within her.

Easing in and out between her tight walls, Spike closed his eyes, surrendering himself to the sensations her body was creating for him. The scent of
her arousal was intoxicating, filing his long dead lungs with every unneccessary breath he took. Soft curls brushed against his own wiry hairs as
their pelvises touched and rubbed together, creating friction all of their own. Her warmth was almost too much against his own cold flesh, searing
the imprint of her body into his mind and heart as he heard her cry out softly beneath him.

Bringing his mouth to hers, the blonde licked lightly at her bottom lip, begging entrance to her mouth. She parted her lips for him, her tongue
snaking out to meet his, twining with it to the point he couldn't tell where he ended and she began. He could feel her hardened nipples pressing into
his chest as he drove into her time and again, grinding gently against her soft mound. Her sigh of pleasure echoed into his mouth, their kiss never
breaking.

He wanted this moment to last forever - the slow coupling of their bodies as their mouths met, tongues dueling gently for a dominance neither one
really wanted. The night had been long and teasing however, and his body couldn't hold out as long as he would have liked. Pulling from their kiss
he looked down into her lust-darkened green eyes, searching them as he whispered, "Can you be with me, pet? Only me? No one else?"

The red head never paused once, her mind having been made up from the second she had lost herself in the crystal depths of his eyes. Xander had
only wanted her as his plaything, Spike offered her the promise of so much more. Not a white picket house with kids and a dog. No, nothing so
mundane. The look in the vampire's eyes promised her a lifetime of adventure and excitement, pleasure laced with pain and dominance mixed with
submission. The best of every world.

"If you want me, I'm yours." She said simply, a small smile of happiness on her kiss swollen lips as she pulled his mouth back to hers, the slow tempo
of their lovemaking continuing on towards ecstasy.

* * * * *

Angel gripped the hips of the mortal beneath him, driving into him harder than he would have thought the boy liked. But still, Xander moaned, crying
out for more, his body wracked with sobs of pleasure as each painful thrust brough on new sensations. The dark haired vampire grunted with effort,
trying to appease his lover's sudden need to be brutally fucked. He held back still, clinging to that last edge of rational thought that said that truly
letting go would put his mortal lover in the hospital.

Growling, the vampire once again reached around the youth to grab ahold of the human's aching shaft. Swiping a finger over the tip, he brought a
drop of pre-cum to his mouth, tasting the boy's unique flavor as he licked it clean. His hand returned to the swollen member, stroking the young
man firmly as he continued to pound his way towards his own orgasm.

Xander felt as if he were going to explode as the dark haired vampire quickly stroked his hard cock, pumping him in time with his own frantic thrusts.
He heard Angel's growling change in tone, giving way to something much lower and primitive, and instinctively tilted his head to the side, knowing
that his lover's orgasm was fast approaching. He felt the older man tense behind him before the sharp pain of his fangs sliding home rushed through
him, followed by the pure pleasure of the Kiss. He came with a shout, spilling his seed onto the silken sheets beneath him as his lover's hand milked
the last shudder of his release from him.

Angel licked carefully at the bite mark he had made on Xander's neck, a feeling of possessiveness settling over him. He hadn't meant to claim the
boy - he had only meant to sate the need for blood he always felt during orgasm. But fate seemed to have planned it differently. Pulling his rapidly
softening cock from the young man, Angel rolled off of him and onto his side, drawing the trembling youth into his arms. Across the room he could
see Spike and Willow lying in each other's arms, small smiles of contentment on their faces as they slept.

Kissing his mark again, Angel murmured a goodnight to Xander, holding the sleepy mortal tight to his body as he drifted off into sleep. There would
be plenty of time to deal with the ramifications of his actions when they all woke up. Now, though, was a time to sleep.

~*~*~

She was so warm, so soft. Alive and full of quiet happiness even in sleep. He could feel her heart fluttering peacefully in her chest and he didn't
know what he had done to deserve having her in his arms when he woke up, but he was thankful none the less. He watched the gentle rise and fall
of her chest, delighting in the peaceful curl of her lips as she smiled in her sleep. She was an angel, a bloody goddess. All fire and innocence. Even
now, knowing her darker side, he couldn't see past the innocence that would never fade in her eyes.

It was almost sunset. He could tell without even cracking open the curtains. Soon his sire would wake up. Spike knew better than to think his
domination of Xander would hold up and he honestly didn't mind. He didn't want the boy. Sure, in the heat of the moment he had begun to seem
attractive but, the only reason he had even agreed to the stupid game was to get Willow. But what would his Sire say about that? Sighing more
out of habit than need, the vampire slipped out of the red head's embrace, tugging on his jeans as he looked at the entangled pair on the bed.

He hadn't seen his Sire this happy in a long time. If there had ever been any doubt that the spell to anchor the ponce's soul had worked... The
blonde laughed soundlessly. The older vampire had spent hours 'punishing' the dark haired mortal. His eyes wandered to the bite marks on the
youth's neck. {He claimed him.} He thought with no small amount of wonder, sensing for the first time the bond between the mortal and his sire.
This was nothing short of earth shattering, to be sure. The darker haired vampire hadn't claimed a mortal since he'd been ensouled. {Wonder what
the bloody hell this is going to mean.}

As he made the way down the narrow stairs, the blonde could see now that Xander had definitely decorated to have vampires over, and he realized
that very little of that had been for -his- benefit -- it had all been for Peaches. Dark curtains covered the windows, decorative cords holding them
closed against every last ray of sunshine. There were even thick blinds in the kitchen, making it possible for one to traverse the entire house
without meeting even a solitary ray of sunlight.

An almost silent whisper of cloth was the first sign Angel had risen. The blonde leaned against the kitchen counter, debating on grabbing his duster
and leaving. Maybe if he could avoid talking with his sire he could avoid whatever discussion was bound to occur. He sighed. Running would only
prelong the inevitable and probably would make the older vampire annoyed. And annoying the poof was never a good idea, especially the day after
dominating said poof's lover.

The blonde eyed Angel warily as he made his way into the kitchen. He knew his sire was bound to be leaving soon, to go back to LA. He raised blue
eyes to look into the older vampire's own chocolate ones, knowing that the man had come to a decision regarding the situation he had walked in on
the night before. Tension hung between the two, heavy like an invisible weight as they stared silently at each other, both of their faces set into
firm lines.

"You can't have her."

"You can't have him."

They regarded each other, quiet, each one pondering what they had both spoken simultaneously a moment before. Soon the humans would wake,
and things needed to be decided before then. Spike knew he was powerless to whatever the older vampire decided. He could fight his Sire on it for
a little while, but in the end the outcome would remain the same. Fighting would only guarantee no small amount of misery for everyone involved,
and he didn't want to put Red through that.

"No offense, Spike," Angel laughed finally. "Willow's a great girl and all but I don't want her in that way. Well," He quickly amended. "I dont want her
enough to take her away from someone who seems to care about her."

Spike growled, anger coursing through the stolen blood in his veins. His sire was actually going to side with the moron over his own Childe?!? "That
whelp does -not- care about her! He only wants her for..."

"I wasn't talking about -him-." The dark haired vampire met his childe's eyes, conveying his true intent without any words being said. "I was talking
about -you-. I'm not blind, Childe. I know you care for the little witch. I can see it in your eyes every time you look at her, every time you hear her
voice. Hell, everytime you think of her you get this little twinkle in your eyes."

"My eyes do not bloody twinkle."

"Yes they do, William." Angel chuckled, using the blonde's given name almost affectionately. "And because you did what you did out of love." He
held up a hand as the younger man started to protest. "Yes. -Love-. Might as well admit it to yourself, she deserves nothing less. Since you did it
out of -love- I will forgive you for what you did to my lover."

Spike smirked, unwilling to admit, at least verbally, that he was in love. It just wasn't becoming for a vampire to talk about love. Wasn't very
demon-like. He decided to change the subject. "So...how did that happen, by the way? You and the whelp? He never quite got a chance to tell
me."

Angel cocked an eyebrow at his favorite childe. "I guess you deserve to hear it - you did win his little challenge after all." Motioning for the blonde
to follow him, the normally brooding vampire led the way to the living room, taking a seat on the simple black couch. He was quiet for a few long
moments, setting his thoughts in order before beginning the story. "Its no secret that when I came back from Hell, I wasn't the most welcome
creature on the Hellmouth. Every one of their lot tried to avoid me...even Buffy. "

"One night I was coming home and saw Xander wandering the streets. He was beaten, bloodied....it looked as though he had ran into a mob." The
dark haired vampire's voice was thick with emotion as he remembered the night that had started it all. "It wasn't a mob though...just his dad.
Something he quickly told me when I tried to take him back to his house. He pleaded with me not to make him go home. So I didn't. I took him back
to the mansion."

"It would be lying to say we instantly became friends. We didn't. But the hatred we had for each other just didn't seem to be there, either. We
talked for hours, until he fell asleep on my couch. When he woke up, things had changed between us. I let him know he was welcome at my house
whenever he needed a place to stay." Angel's face grew dark. "That turned out to be alot - his dad was very abusive to him, and not just
physically. There were many nights when I wanted to lose my soul just long enough to kill the bastard." He sighed, running his hand back through
his dark hair. "I dont remember the exact date things became sexual between him and I. He needed comfort, and I could give it."

"Always were good at that, Peaches." Spike whispered, almost to himself. He could remember many nights when his Sire had been there to offer
'comfort' to him. True, he usually needed the comfort because of something Angelus had done to him, but it still had the same effect. Chocolate
eyes met his and he knew his Sire was thinking of the same thing. The familiar stirrings of lust filled his long dead body, not so great as they used
to be - but still there. Willow held a majority of his heart in her tiny, warm hands, but the older vampire would always have his own little niche.

Angel smiled softly, reaching out to squeeze the blonde's hand before continuing. "As I was saying...I comforted him...for a while. But what he really
needed was someone to teach him to stand up for himself, to take charge, and I have to admit I was yearning for a nice teacher/student
relationship. And so it began...I taught him everything I knew about pain and pleasure...and he really was a quick learner."

"You taught him everything you knew and you let him be with *my* Willow?" Spike growled, hands clenching into fists. Teaching the boy
'everything' he knew would include things that just shouldn't be done to sweet, innocent little red heads named Willow. His brain worked furiously,
image after image of all the tortures his sire knew being done to *his* little witch by some snot-nosed no-brain little twit!

"He would -never- hurt her, Spike." The older vampire assured his childe. He could almost see the anger rolling off of the blonde in waves and
wanted to do anything he could to calm the blonde before he went looking for blood. "Xander much prefers giving pleasure over inflicting pain, thats
something not even -my- lessons could teach him. Not to mention the fact that he loves Willow like a beloved little sister."

"That he shags?" Spike interrupted, smirking as he forced his anger down. He should have known that Angel would never allow any type of harm to
befall one of his little mortal pals.

"I didn't mean it literally, boy." Angel's eyes flashed in warning. Here he was, being serious, and as usual Spike was being totally flippant. He almost
laughed out loud. {At least some things never change,} he thought ruefully. "Anyway. I taught him all about dominance and submission. It changed
him, in a thousand little ways his friends never even noticed. After he stood up to his dad for the first time he actually didn't get abused as often.
Don't get me wrong, it still happened, but only when his dad was really drunk."

"You know the next part...I left to do good in LA. But I didn't stop visiting entirely...not until recently that is. Until last night I hadn't came to see
Xander in months - I was trying to deny what I had started to feel for him. But I couldnt. This," He swept his hand around the room, indicating the
townhouse and everything in it. "This was a guilt-gift. I felt bad for not coming to see him as often. I was happy for him when he found Willow to
play with. They are good for each other, despite what you may think."

"Why do I doubt that, Sire?" The blonde grinned mirthlessly. "They use each other for sex - not exactly what one would call a 'healthy' relationship."

"Spike..." Angel sighed. "She's not the innocent little flower she plays in front of Buffy and Giles. She's got more fire lurking within her than -any- of
us would know what to do with if she chose to let it out. Submission may be her game for now....but one day she's going to turn the tables on her
lover..." Angel chuckled softly. "What I wouldn't give to be there the day that little red head gets it in her head to dominate someone....-especially-
if its you, William."

The blonde snorted, the idea of the little witch dominating him was just too preposterous. She was too soft, too meek, definitely too submissive.
"Tell ya what, Peaches. Should she ever get that notion in her head I -invite- you to watch." {As if that will ever happen,} Spike laughed to
himself. He could hear the gentle hum of someone talking overhead and knew that the humans had finally woken, talking to each other about what
had happened the night before.

"Remember -you- gave the invitation when that time comes," Angel laughed. He tilted his head to the side, hearing the sound of his lover moving
around above him. Sighing, he ran a hand back through his hair. What was he going to do about him? The claiming would become downright painful
to both of them if they were separated for any length of time - not something he wanted to put the boy through. Not to mention his own feelings
for the mortal. It had started so simple, just sex between friends, but seeing him with his own Childe last night had stirred those feelings to new
heights. He had missed Xander immensely - the boy held a place in his heart, there was no doubt about it.

The younger vampire watched his sire's eyes grow dark with thought and knew almost instinctively what he was thinking of. The boy - Xander.
There was more there than Angel was willing to admit to, yet. He would never have laid claim on him otherwise. "What are you going to do?"

The dark haired vampire closed his eyes, trying to think of anything that would make the situation to come easier. There was nothing. He slowly
opened his eyes, mumuring softly, almost to himself, "Visit on the weekends....hope and pray thats enough."

"And when it isn't?" The blonde's words were chosen carefully. Not -if-, but -when-.

Angel sighed, knowing in his own unbeating heart that Spike was right. In the end it wouldn't be enough to only see the boy on the weekends. But
he couldn't ask him to come to LA - couldn't take him away from all of his friends and that worthless excuse for a family he had. Leaving LA wasn't
an option for Angel, either. He was needed there - doing the work of the PTBs, struggling for redemption. He met the unwavering blue eyes of his
Childe, shocked at the concern he saw there. "When that happens, I will think of something."

Spike nodded, not quite understanding why his sire didn't just order the whelp to go to LA with him. It wasn't like the boy would never be able to
see his friends and family again, he'd just be a little farther away from them. But if thats the way Peaches wanted to do things, who was he to
argue? "Right...well I'm gonna go collect my little witch and take her back to the apartment for a few days of non-stop shagging." He stood, moving
towards the stairs, his mind filled with thoughts of what he would do to the red head.

"Spike..."

The blonde stopped, one foot on the bottom stair as he turned back to his sire. His blue eyes sparkled questioningly, one eyebrow raised.

"Hurt her and I will make you very, -very-, sorry." Angel's voice left no room for disagreement. He meant every word he said. If Spike hurt Willow he
would make him pay for it - with his life if necessary.

Nodding slowly, Spike replied, his face almost uncharacteristically serious, "I won't hurt her, Peaches." Then the moment was gone, his trademark
smirk plastered on his face as he continued his trek up the stairs.

Angel smiled, happy for the blonde to have found someone who had the immense capacity to love that Willow did. And he believed Spike when he
said he wouldn't hurt her - his Childe was known to be fiercely protective of those he gave his love to. So wrapped up in thoughts of the couple.
Angel almost didn't hear the laughing voice of his childe float down from the top of the stairs.

"Unless she wants a little pain, of course."

                                                      ~*~ The End ~*~
 

read the Sequal 'To Belong To You'

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