Sleepwalking

By Spikedluv

Chapter Sixteen

"Oz, do come in," Giles invited Oz into the apartment.

"Hey, Oz!" Xander greeted him. "Where ya been, buddy?"

"Hi," Oz replied, taking in the whole room with his glance. "Devon's band was playing in L.A."

"Hi, Oz," Willow stood from the table and walked over to the young man. She gave him a hug, which Oz returned, then stood back. Willow heard Spike growl behind her, but ignored him. She looked into Oz's face, her smile fading when she saw that he was looking at her strangely.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I think we need to talk," he said, his usually calm voice almost flat, his face blank.

"Oh, okay!" Willow smiled. "Here, sit," she pulled out a chair next to hers.

"Not here," Oz replied tersely. "Outside."

"No," Spike growled and Willow turned to look at him in confusion. He looked angry. What was going on?

"Shut up, blondie," Buffy smacked his head.

"Sod off, Slayer!" Spike turned on her, then turned his angry gaze back on Oz. "She's not going anywhere with you."

"We can do it outside," Oz told Willow, ignoring Spike, "or we can do it in here."

"Is there a reason we can't do it in here?" Willow asked, still confused.

"Stay in here," Spike said. "I don't trust him."

"He's not going to hurt her!" Buffy scoffed.

"What about last time?" Spike retorted without looking at her, his eyes locked on Willow and Oz.

"That's because he thought Willow was sleeping with you, but we've explained all that," Xander said condescendingly.

Anya looked thoughtfully between Willow and Spike.

Oh! Willow's eyes got big as Xander's words registered. Oz smelled Spike on her again, and this time she *was* sleeping with the blond vampire.

"Oh, Oz, I...," she swallowed hard as she placed her hand on his arm, wondering how she was going to explain this. I wasn't sleeping with Spike four nights ago, but I am now? Isn't that funny?

"Outside?" Oz asked again.

"Yes, I think...outside...,"

"No," Spike stood, knocking the chair over.

"Spike," Willow turned to him. "This is a private matter that should probably stay private," she tried to warn him.

"No!" he said again. He wasn't sure exactly what he was afraid of. Willow's safety? The wolf seemed calm, not as out of control as last time, so Willow would probably be safe. And she could call for help if he started to change. Maybe he was more afraid that the wolf would convince her to leave him if he wasn't there to stop it.

"Sit down, Spike," Buffy stood and put her hand on his arm.

"Sod off!" he shook her hand off of his arm furiously, accidentally hitting her in the face in the process. The chip went off. Excruciating pain flared in his skull and Spike fell to the floor clutching his head.

"Spike!" Willow pulled away from Oz, ran over to the blond vampire and knelt in front of him. She pushed his face into her neck and cradled his head, gently rubbing it as she murmured soothing words in his ear. "It's alright...I've got you...shh...,"

"Willow, what are you doing?" Buffy asked in shocked surprise.

"Helping Spike," Willow replied absently as she rocked him.

"Why?"

"Because he's hurt, Buffy," Willow had no time for this now.

"So?"

"Buffy!"

"Get away from her," Buffy stepped up behind Spike, grabbed the back of his neck, and attempted to lift him to his feet.

"Buffy! Stop it!" Willow hissed, trying not to yell so close to Spike's ear, as she slapped Buffy's hands away.

"Get up!" Buffy ignored Willow and smacked the back of Spike's head. The vampire growled into Willow's neck and grabbed his head as new pain shot through his already aching skull. Willow stood swiftly, pressing Spike's face into her belly, cradling his head protectively with one hand.

"Knock it off, Buffy!" she pointed angrily at her.

"Willow! It's just Spike," Buffy said.

"It is Spike," Willow replied, her body humming with anger that Buffy had hurt Spike...and didn't care. "But it's not *just* Spike."

"What is going on here?" Buffy asked the room in general.

"Spike is giving Willow orgasms," Anya announced calmly. "Are we going to get any more research done or can we go home? 'Cause, speaking of orgasms, Xander owes me...,"

"What?" Buffy said. "There is no way...!"

"What?!" Xander yelped.

"Never mind, Anya!" Giles held up his hand. "Willow?" he took his glasses off and rubbed them clean. "Is this true?" And for god's sake, why, he thought.

Willow looked at Giles over her shoulder, then Oz, who hadn't moved. This certainly wasn't the way she wanted everyone finding out about her and Spike.

"I'm sorry you had to find out like this, Oz," she said softly, then looked back at the Watcher. "We're going home, now," she said. "Will you please keep looking for the design?" she held up her hand, indicating the ring on her thumb.

"Of course," Giles said, as he replaced his glasses on his nose.

"Wills?" Xander asked.

Willow helped Spike to his feet and sat him in a chair. Pain-filled eyes met hers.

"Sorry," he whispered. Without thinking, Willow leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead.

"Eww," Buffy muttered.

"Better not be," Willow tried to smile at him.

"I meant...,"

"I know," she smiled again, ignoring the others. "Nothing for you to be sorry about," she ran her fingers through his hair, then stood and pulled her laptop over, shutting it down.

"Wills?" Xander asked again.

"What Xander?" Willow replied distractedly.

"You...," he pointed between her and Spike, who now sat in the chair with his head back and his eyes closed. "You're...?"

Spike's head was killing him. He wished he could kill the moron. Demon girl. The Slayer. The Wolf. The Watcher. All of them. They didn't deserve her. Though to be honest, neither did he.

"That's none of your business, Xander," Willow said as she shoved the laptop into her bag. "It's nobodies business," she continued as she walked over to the rack and grabbed their jackets. She put hers on, pulled Spike to his feet, and helped him with his. "But since my life is an open book and I have no privacy, yes, I am sleeping with Spike. Let's go," she spoke more gently as she looked up at the blond vampire standing before her.

Spike couldn't believe that she had actually just admitted to her friends that they were sleeping together. He gave her as much of a smile as he could muster, with the banging in his head, then leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. Willow wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him back.

"That's just...disgusting," Buffy commented.

"Very disturbing," Xander agreed.

"I think it's hot," Anya added.

"You okay?" Willow asked as she pulled back, ignoring her friends' comments.

"Be fine," he said with only a trace of his usual bravado. Willow wasn't fooled, but she could pretend, too.

"Come on," she took his hand. "A nice bath, some hot cocoa, and you'll be good as new." Spike closed his fingers around her hand, wishing he could believe her. He'd never be good as new. Not as long as he had that sodding chip in his head.

"I'll drive you," Oz said.

"No bleedin' way!" Spike yelled, aggravating his head as he tightened his grip on Willow's hand.

"You're in no shape to protect her," Oz pointed out.

Fuck! As much as he hated to admit it, the wolf was right. He couldn't protect Willow right now. He wasn't even sure if he could walk all the way to her house, though he was willing to give it a try. But not at the expense of her safety.

"Fine," he growled, pulling Willow toward the door. Willow grabbed her bag off of the table and stumbled after him.

"Bye!" she called back.

Oz looked at the speechless group left sitting around the table, then turned and followed Spike and Willow out the door. When he reached the top of the steps, they were standing beside his van, waiting for him. He unlocked the door and Willow pushed Spike inside, then climbed onto his lap. Oz shut the door and walked around the van.

Willow curled up around Spike, holding her bag on her lap. Spike wrapped his arms around her, leaning his head on hers, staring out the window, trying to pretend they weren't in a van with her ex. The ride to Willow's house was made in complete silence.

"Thank you, Oz," Willow said after he pulled into her driveway and parked. "We'll talk later, okay?"

"You're welcome," Oz replied and watched as Willow opened the door and slid off of Spike's lap. "That chip," Oz commented casually, "it keeps you from hurting humans?"

"Yeah," Spike growled, "but you're not human."

"You hurt her,"Oz said, "we'll test that theory."

Spike stared at him, then jumped out of the van, reluctant to let the wolf see that he was still in a great deal of pain.

"Ditto," he smirked as he slammed the door shut, then ushered Willow around the van and up the porch steps.

***

"What was that all about?" she asked, only having heard Spike's last comment.

"Nothing," he said. "Didn't you offer me some hot cocoa?"

"And a bath," Willow smiled at him as she unlocked the door.

Fifteen minutes later, Spike was ensconced in a tub of steaming water, surrounded by flickering candles, with a mug of hot cocoa in his hand. Willow knelt by the side of the tub, running her fingers through his hair.

"Join me?" Spike asked softly.

"There's not enough room," Willow blushed.

"There's plenty of room," Spike said. "Please?"

The 'please' undid her. She'd never heard Spike say 'please' before. She stood and quickly removed her clothes, blushing as she watched Spike watching her.

"Slide up," she said when she was finished. Spike leaned up and slid forward, careful not to spill his cocoa. Willow stepped into the tub and carefully lowered herself behind him, her legs on either side of him.

"Ooh!" she shivered as the hot water covered her skin. She leaned back against the cool porcelain and pulled Spike back against her. She wrapped her arms around him, one hand rubbing over his chest, the other massaging his head.

Spike sighed deeply and allowed himself to relax against her.

When the water started to cool off, Willow woke Spike, who had fallen asleep as she rubbed his head. She climbed out of the tub and dried off, then helped Spike out and dried him off. Willow led him to bed and tucked him in. She ran her fingers lightly through his damp, wavy hair, then leaned down and kissed him.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" he asked as she straightened.

"In a couple of minutes," she said. "I just need to drain the tub and clean up the kitchen."

"I'll do it tomorrow," he said. "Come to bed?"

He was looking at her with bright blue eyes, dulled only a little by the pain in his head. Willow felt tears prick her eyes as she climbed in beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close, her hands trailing over his back and in his hair as she wondered what was wrong with her. She just felt so...emotionally...full. Like she had so much inside and it was escaping out of her.

She was leaking! She was full of...love...for Spike. Oh, goddess! She was in love with Spike! How could that be? I mean, sure, the sex was great, but...and okay, she liked spending time with him, he was funny, in an acerbic way, and he was smart, and strong, and sexy...

But what if he didn't feel the same way? That would really suck. Nothing like falling in love and having it be one sided. Although, he *had* tried to protect her from Oz when he was afraid Oz was going to go all wolf-y on her. And maybe he'd been a little jealous.

And, he'd kissed her at Giles' apartment after she admitted they were sleeping together...and he hadn't looked upset that she'd said anything. In fact, he almost looked surprised that she'd admitted it. And maybe a little pleased. Maybe he did love her, too. A little bit. She could work with that.

She kissed his forehead as she held him, thinking about the chip in his head. She wondered if Giles had looked into getting it removed. He hadn't actually promised Spike that he would, though she knew that's what Spike expected in return for his help. She suspected that Giles had done nothing yet, because he hadn't asked for her help with any research.

Could a doctor take the chip out without hurting him or causing brain damage? Although, being a vampire, would the brain regenerate if it was damaged? And speaking of regeneration and vampire healing, why hadn't his body rejected the chip?

If a doctor couldn't do it, could she? She'd been working on that teleportation spell with Tara. Could they do something similar with the chip? She'd have to talk to Tara about it tomorrow. That settled, Willow relaxed and prepared to fall asleep.

"I love you, Spike," she whispered as she placed one last kiss on his forehead.

"Love you, too, Red," Spike mumbled. Willow froze.

"I, um, I thought you were sleeping," she squeaked.

"Nah, couldn't sleep. You were thinking too loud," he said.

"I was?" she smiled against his head.

"Mmm hmm."

"Sorry."

"'S okay," he said.

"I do love you," she repeated. Spike tilted his head back and looked into her eyes.

"I love you, too," he said. He hadn't realized what it was he was feeling ever since the witch had started sleepwalking to him, but when Willow had said it, everything had clicked. Love. He was feeling love. It was sickening, how good it made him feel. A bloody demon, in love with a human. It was...unnatural.

Willow smiled at him and Spike felt his heart melt. How in hell could he resist Willow?

"How's your head?" she asked breathlessly. The way he was looking at her made her all tingly inside.

"Which one?" Spike asked with a hint of a smirk as he pressed his erection against her leg.

"Mmm," Willow moaned. "Can we...?"

Spike's only reply was to slide down her body and take her breast in his mouth.

"Oh...yeah," Willow groaned as she tangled her fingers in his hair, "that's...that's good."

Chapter Seventeen

Willow forgot to set her alarm, so she missed her first class the next morning. She was running from class, to computer lab, to the library, and back to class, so she managed to avoid Buffy all day. She did make time to stop by their dorm room to switch books and call Tara's room. She had to leave a message, asking the blonde witch if she'd have time in the next couple of days to discuss something with her.

She got home well before dark and when she opened the door, found Spike sitting on the stairs with a mug of blood in his hand, waiting for her.

"What are you doing?" she smiled at him. He looked so cute, sitting there, his hair still mussed from sleep.

"Waiting for you," he said as he put the mug down, stood, and pulled her into his arms. The days were too bloody long when she was gone.

"Miss me?" she waggled her eyebrows in imitation of his trademark move and he smirked at her.

"Mmm hmm," he leaned down and kissed her. She tasted like chocolate. He swept his tongue into her mouth, wanting more.

"Mmm," Willow moaned as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. He tasted like blood, but she didn't care.

Spike placed one arm behind her back, the other behind her thighs, and scooped her up. Willow held his face between her hands and kissed him as he carried her up the stairs. "I love coming home," she whispered against his lips.

"Let's keep it that way," Spike said before he was lost again in her kiss.

Before Willow realized they'd reached her room, Spike was leaning over the bed to lay her on it. Willow refused to let him go and pulled him down on top of her.

"Red," Spike tried to push himself up, but Willow ran her fingers over the front of his jeans and he groaned as he pressed his hard cock into her hand. "Red," he groaned again.

"You weren't going anywhere, were you, Spike?" she asked innocently as she stroked him through his jeans. She couldn't believe how quickly he was ready for her.

"Bloody...hell...no," he ground out, pulling her against him and kissing her as she worked the button and zipper of his jeans, until his hard, cool cock was in her soft, warm hand. She stroked his length, running her thumb over his weeping tip as he kissed her, his tongue sweeping into her mouth.

"Willow, please!" Spike pushed her hand away from him. "Wanna be inside you," he tugged at her clothes. He wanted to feel her heat.

Willow frantically pulled her clothes off, then helped Spike with his. Spike tipped her back on the bed and slipped his hand between her thighs, his finger between her slick folds to make sure she was ready for him.

"You ready for me, baby?" he teased, whispering in her ear as he slid his finger in and out of her, then rubbed her clit.

"Yes, Spike, yes!" she cried, her hips bucking as he stroked her swollen nub. "Spike, please!" The sight of him sitting on the stairs, then his kisses, had made her core weep long before they'd even reached the bedroom. She wanted him inside her.

Spike climbed between her legs, positioned his head at her entrance and thrust into her. He leaned down and sucked her breast into his mouth as he pumped into her. Willow wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her hips, her hands pressing his head to her breast.

"Cum for me, baby," Spike looked up at her. Willow was close, but he was closer. He lifted himself and reached between them, stroking her clit with his thumb as he drove into her.

"Spike!" Willow cried out as he touched her, the feel of him stimulating her inside and out, too much for her to bear. "Oh, yes! Oh, Spike!" she cried. "Aarrnnnn, oh, goddess, Spike!" she came, her body tensing.

"Willow!" he groaned her name as her muscles closed around him and he pumped his seed inside her.

***

Spike growled as they crossed the courtyard to Giles' apartment, the scent of the wolf already assailing his nostrils.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked.

"Wolf's here," Spike said shortly, stopping to light a cigarette.

"Why don't you like him?" Willow asked. Spike looked at her as if she were nuts.

"First," he held up the hand holding the cigarette, "he left you, second, he could have hurt you, and third," he took a drag off of the cigarette before continuing, "he wants you back."

Willow just stared at him, surprised, as tears of happiness gathering behind her eyes. That was almost the nicest thing anyone had said to her. Spike didn't want her hurt, emotionally or physically, and he didn't want her to leave him. He'd said it before, but Willow needed to hear it again.

"What?" he looked at her, horrified. "You're not going to cry, are you?" She shook her head 'no' as she crashed into him, her arms going around him, her face buried in his chest.

"Aw, Red, don't cry, luv," Spike hated it when women cried. Well, when he wasn't trying to kill them. Tears of fear and desperation made the blood taste better.

"I'm not," she sniffled. Spike rolled his eyes, eyed his cigarette longingly, then tossed it into the fountain behind him. He wrapped both arms around Willow's back and held her tight.

"Say it," she whispered.

Spike froze in concentration, then leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I love you."

Willow looked up at him with a smile, "I love you, too. Ready to go in?" she wiped her eyes.

"Thought you weren't crying," Spike said as he wiped a stray tear off of her face.

"Wasn't," Willow said, "not really. This was nothing."
"Oh, great," Spike shook his head, "something to look forward to, eh?"

Willow gave him a little smile, then stood on her tiptoes and gave him a light kiss. She looked into his eyes, then grabbed his shoulders and kissed him harder, dragging her tongue over his lips. Spike opened his mouth and let her in, his hands on her butt, holding her against him.

Willow pulled back. Her face was flushed, her breathing erratic.

"Okay, ready to go in now?" she asked breathlessly.

"No, ready to shag, now," Spike said, licking her neck as he squeezed her buttocks.

"Mmm, that feels good," Willow moaned. "Maybe...No, no, we have to go in!" Spike groaned as she pulled away from him. She straightened her clothing, then Spike's, and declared them ready to go in.

When they entered the apartment, the rest of the scooby gang was already gathered around the table. Giles at one end, with Xander and Anya on one side and Buffy and Oz across from them.

"Hi!" Willow greeted everyone as she set her book bag on the end of the table opposite Giles. Spike didn't say anything. He took his duster off and hung it up, then helped Willow with her jacket.

"Hello, Willow, Spike," Giles said.

"Watcher," Spike reluctantly responded.

"Willow," Oz greeted her.

"Wills," Xander said.

"Hello! Did you have good orgasms last night?" Anya asked.

"An," Xander groaned.

"What? We all want to know!"

"I'd rather not," Giles said.

"And I really *don't*," Buffy spoke for the first time.

Spike sat in the last chair and possessively pulled Willow down on his lap. He didn't like the way the wolf was looking at her. Plus, it annoyed the Slayer. She blushed, but didn't resist. She leaned her back against his chest and made herself comfortable.

"Is that necessary?" Buffy asked in disgust.

"Would you like another chair?" Giles asked politely.

"We're fine," Willow said. "Thanks. Did you find anything?"

"Ah, no," Giles sat back in his chair, shoulders slumped in defeat. He took his glasses off and cleaned them, partly to keep his hands busy, and partly so he didn't have to see the look of disappointment in Willow's eyes. "I went through all of the books. Twice. No designs like the one on your ring."

"What were you looking up?" Oz asked. Giles explained that Tara had done a spell to see if Willow was under some sort of spell and had found a faint magical residue on the ring Willow was wearing. Willow held her hand up.

"Why don't you just take it off?" Oz asked.

"It won't come off," Willow said.

"We think it's the magic," Giles continued. "We've been trying to find the design on the ring. We *had* thought it might be Celtic. But no luck so far."

"May I see the design?" Oz asked. Before Spike could growl at him, Giles slid the drawing he had made over to the young man. Oz looked at it, then pushed it back. "So, this spell, it's making her sleepwalk?"

"We're not sure exactly *what* the spell is doing. Willow bought the ring back in September, but she didn't start sleepwalking until just four weeks ago, almost three months after she bought the ring, so there's some question as to why so much time passed. We hoped that finding the design might tell us something," Giles explained.

"Willow," Giles slipped his glasses back on, "can you remember anything else, anything at all, about the woman you bought the ring from?"

Willow closed her eyes and tried to think back to the old woman, the booth, the festival...she opened her eyes and stared directly at Oz.

"Remember that crazy old lady at the Harvest Festival?" she asked him.

"That's the ring?" he asked and Willow nodded. "Yeah, I remember her. She was a little odd. Dressed up liked some gypsy fortune-teller. Said something about 'destiny'," Oz said.

"Oh! Yeah! I forgot about that," Willow leaned forward, her brow furrowed in concentration. "She did say something about seeking my destiny, or something like that, but I just figured she wanted to tell my fortune, or sell me a charm, so I told her I already knew my destiny," she glanced quickly at Oz, then away. She felt Spike stiffen beneath her and rubbed her hand over his arm. "That's all I can remember, Giles. At least for now," Willow looked at him apologetically.

"That's alright, Willow," he said. "I don't know if that will help. I'm not exactly sure how a ring that might help you find your destiny is going to make you sleepwalk. However, I'll keep it in mind," Giles paused. "Now, I wanted to let you all know that I've asked someone else to look at the design," he finally said.

"Who?" Willow asked.

"Angel," Giles said, preparing himself for the explosion.

"You went to Angel?" Buffy asked, at the same time Spike said, "Bloody poof!"

They looked at each other, then looked quickly away, horrified that they agreed on anything, even a little bit.

"Shut up, Spike!"

"Sod off, Slayer!"

"Angel is Irish," Giles reminded them, "and he lived in Ireland almost 250 years ago. I thought he might recognize the design."

"Did he?" Willow asked.

"No," Giles shook his head. "In fact, he said it wasn't Celtic."

"Oh," Willow said, disappointed.

"However," Giles continued, "Wesley thought that perhaps he had seen it before, sounded very excited, actually. He's looking into it for us."

"Oh, okay. That's good, right?" Willow asked.

"Yes," Giles agreed, "very good."

***

The next day at school, Tara found Willow in the library between classes. Willow told Tara about the chip. She explained that the Initiative, a secret government organization, was experimenting on vampires and other demons, that they had put a chip in Spike's head so that he couldn't hurt humans, and the result of the chip was massive headaches if he even hurt a human accidentally. Then she told Tara that she wanted to try to take the chip out of Spike's head.

She went on to explain that vampires normally heal very quickly, but since his body didn't heal after the chip was implanted, i.e., reject it, she was afraid of the damage a medical doctor might do to Spike's brain. What if he wasn't able to heal?

She then informed Tara that she wanted to try to remove the chip magically, either with a variation of the teleportation spell, or some other, as of yet unknown, spell.

"Maybe we could even, I don't know," Willow thought out loud, "dissolve it, or something."

"I know this all sounds kind of weird and freaky," Willow watched Tara as she tried to assimilate all of the information Willow had just given her. "And I will totally understand if you don't want to help Spike. I mean, you don't even know him," Willow looked down at her hands as tears came to her eyes, the image of him in pain on the floor at Giles' apartment filling her mind.

"What is he to you?" Tara asked softly.

"I love him," Willow looked up at her new friend. Tara smiled.

"He's a real jerk," she said.

"I know," Willow smiled. "But he loves me. He can be a little possessive, but it actually feels kind of nice. Two nights ago," she told the blonde girl, "he was being all jealous and overprotective, 'cause Oz was there, at Giles', and Buffy got on his case. She grabbed his arm, and he shook her off, and accidentally hit her, and the chip went off. He was in so much pain," Willow said.

"What are you going to do if he wants to feed again?" Tara asked. "Kill humans."

Willow frowned. "I've thought about that," she said sadly. "I'd ask him to leave Sunnydale if he were going to do that."

"Would you go with him?" Tara asked.

"No," Willow shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "I couldn't be with him if he was going to kill people."

Tara nodded her head.

"Before we can even think about altering the teleportation spell, or utilizing another, I need to take a look at the chip," she said.

"Oh, but it's...," Willow pointed to her head.

"Magically," Tara said.

"Oh," Willow nodded, "right. You're not going to have to see it go off, are you?" she asked worriedly.

"No," Tara shook her head.

"Oh, good," Willow sighed in relief. "Thanks."

Since Willow wanted to tell Spike what she had done, and they needed to go to Giles' that evening to see if Wesley found out anything about the design on the ring, the two girls decided that Tara would come by Willow's house after her last class the next day.

Tara left the library and Willow tried to concentrate on the essay she was writing for one of her classes. Instead, her mind drifted to what she was going to tell Spike, then to the more pleasant memory of saying goodbye to Spike that morning.

He had still been in bed when she got out of the shower. Willow had packed her book bag the night before, so she just needed to get dressed. She walked back into the bedroom to see Spike sprawled across the bed, his hands under the pillows, the sheet down to his waist.

She'd climbed onto the bed and straddled his thighs, then leaned down and kissed his shoulder blades, first one, then the other. She kissed every vertebrae along his spine, from his neck to his lower back, her hand kneading his butt cheek as she did.

"Mmm, Red?" Spike moaned. Willow swatted his butt.

"Who else were you expecting?" she asked as she climbed back on him and leaned forward to kiss and lick his neck.

"No one," he twisted beneath her so that he was lying on his back, his erection pressing between her legs, only the thin cotton sheet separating them.

"Is that for me?" she asked with a waggle of her eyebrow.

"Who else?" he ran his hands up her bare thighs, over her hips and stomach until his fingers closed over her breasts. Willow leaned into his hands.

"Is that for me?" he asked as he tweaked a puckered nipple.

"No one else, baby," she purred as she moved against him.

"Ohh, Willow," he groaned as his cock slid along her slit. Willow lifted her legs one at a time and pulled the sheet away from him, then sat back down, the length of his cool cock nesting along her wet, hot slit.

"Oh, bloody hell!" he cried, as his cool flesh came in contact with her heat. "Willow!"

She placed her hands on his chest and lifted, tilting her hips and catching his cock in her opening. Slowly, torturously, she lowered herself on him, watching his face as she did so.

Spike couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed her hips and slammed himself the rest of the way into her. Willow threw her head back and moaned as he filled her, then began riding him, her fingers kneading his chest as his fingers dug into her hips.

"You feel so good, Spike," she moaned, teasing him with her voice. "Always wanna be right here, with you inside me."

"Willow," he groaned, "not gonna last, you keep talking like that, baby." He pulled her down for a kiss, and the new position caused her clit to slam against his pelvic bone with each thrust.

"Oh, Spike!" she cried into his mouth. "Don't stop, please, that feels so good, right there, yes, yes!"

With one hand on her back and the other on her hip, he continued to drive into her. The sounds she was making were playing havoc with his cock and he could barely hold himself back. He wanted to cum inside her so badly.

"Willow, cor, Willow, I'm so close, need you to cum, need you to...ooohhh!" he groaned as Willow's body tensed, her muscles clenching around his aching cock.

"Spi-ike!" she cried as her body jerked against him. He felt his balls tighten and his cock contracted, pumping his release inside her.

"Oh, Spike," Willow moaned, when she could talk again. "Love you."

"Love you, too," Spike held her tight.

Chapter Eighteen

Willow left school right after her last class that afternoon, wanting to have plenty of time to tell Spike about Tara's impending visit before they had to leave for Giles'. She got home close to five thirty, a couple of hours before sundown, and opened the door quietly. She listened, but there was no sound of Spike moving around.

She set her book bag on the floor and removed her jacket, hanging it on the coat rack. She carefully made her way to the kitchen and heated up a mug of blood for Spike, adding a spoon of chocolate mix, telling herself that this was not a bribe, she was just doing something nice for the vamp she loved.

She tiptoed up the stairs with the chocolate-flavored blood, and peeked into her bedroom. Spike, who hadn't expected her home for at least another hour, was still sleeping, the pose almost identical to the one that had gotten him jumped that morning. He was on his stomach, his hands and most of his head buried beneath the pillow, the sheet lying tangled around his legs, leaving his firm buttocks and muscled thighs exposed to her voracious eyes.

Willow snuck across the room, set the mug on the bedside table, then slipped her shoes off. She leaned over Spike's bare ass, careful not to jostle the bed, and kissed his butt cheek. She ran her tongue over him, then sucked on his skin.

"Mmm," Spike moaned, lifting his butt against her mouth.

"I'm home," Willow whispered, before kneeling on the bed and placing her hands on Spike's back and leg so he wouldn't move, then resuming her torment. She continued to place feather-light kisses over his ass, then moved down the back of his leg, spending extra time on the sensitive skin at the back of his knee, swirling her tongue around it.

"Willow," Spike groaned as she tickled him.

"Yes, Spike?" Willow asked innocently as she continued down his calf, to his ankle and the bottom of his foot, running her tongue over his instep and giggling as he jumped, almost kicking her in the face.

"Hold still, baby," she licked his other instep, then moved her way up his other leg to the opposite butt cheek. He was cool and smooth against her tongue. She wondered what he'd say if she told him he smelled like the cucumber and melon?

"Bloody hell," Spike moaned. She was killing him. Her warm hands, her hot, wet tongue on his body, the scent of her arousal in his nostrils.

"Spread your legs," she instructed, then resumed sucking on the skin of his butt cheek as he did so. She let her fingers trail up his inner thigh until they reached his perineum.

"Willow, luv," Spike's voice was breathless, despite the fact that he didn't need to breathe. Willow didn't respond, just pressed her fingers gently against him, rubbing in a circular motion.

"Cor, Willow," Spike, whose body had already started responding to her teasing touch, felt himself harden as she massaged his sensitive perineum. Willow cupped his scrotum in her hand, gently squeezing it. Spike's hips bucked into the bed.

"Red," he moaned. "Luv...,"

"Like that, Spike?" Willow lifted her head and teased.

"Yes," Spike looked back at her over his shoulder with amber eyes. Willow just smiled at him.

"Get on your knees, Spike," she said as she positioned herself between his legs.

"What...?"

"On your knees," Willow repeated firmly, one hand moving back to his perineum as the other continued to knead his scrotum. Spike lifted himself onto his knees and forearms, resting his forehead in his hands, watching Willow between his legs.

He didn't know what the witch had in mind, but he'd let her play for now...bugger! Spike groaned as she reached between his legs and wrapped her fingers around the root of his hard cock, stroking them down his shaft and over the head, pulling on the sensitive flesh, running her thumb over the weeping hole at the tip.

He watched as Willow lay down, then rolled to her back and moved her head between his legs. She stuck her tongue out and licked the tip of his hard cock as it jutted above her face.

"Cor, Willow!" Spike jumped at the feel of her warm tongue on him.

Willow opened her mouth and took his cock head into the warm, wet cavern, sucking on it like a lollipop, as her fingers continued to gently touch his perineum, knead his scrotum. She relaxed her throat and lifted her head, taking him more deeply into her mouth.

"Bloody...fuck! Willow," Spike cried out as his cock head touched the back of her throat. Willow pulled off of him until just his head was in her mouth, resting her head back on the bed. Moving her hands to his hips, she pulled on him, urging him to push his cock into her mouth.

"Willow, luv," he protested.

"Mmm hmm," she said around him.

"Willow!" Spike called her name as the vibration of her voice sent shockwaves through his cock. He moved his hips, slowly thrusting his cock more deeply into her mouth, until he once again felt the back of her throat against his head.

Willow's hands moved around to cup his butt cheeks, kneading them, as Spike pulled out, then thrust back in.

"Mmm," Willow moaned in approval, her tongue pressing against the underside of his cock as he pumped it slowly in and out of her mouth. Willow felt his body tensing and knew he was close to cuming, but he refused to speed up his thrusts, afraid of hurting her.

Willow lifted her head again, forcing his cock to the back of her throat. She moaned around his cock, the thought that she was going to make him cum turning her on.

"Fuck, Willow!" Spike cried out, the feel of her warm, wet mouth and the vibration from her moans combined with the heady scent of her arousal, more than he could take. He reached down and gently grabbed her hair, forcing her head back on the bed, then began to thrust into her mouth a little more forcefully. Willow let her teeth touch him and he began to pump harder, letting the head of his cock bang into the back of her throat as her tongue continued to work him, until he felt his testicles tightened and he was shooting his cum into her mouth.

Willow felt the warm, thick, salty cum flood her mouth and throat. She swallowed as well as she could with Spike's cock in her mouth, though some of the fluid dribbled out from between her lips. When Spike stopped cuming, Willow continued to lick and suck him clean, then pushed against his hips.

Spike pulled out of her mouth and flopped over onto his back, looking down at Willow. Willow licked her lips as she looked up at Spike's face. Suddenly he reached down, grabbed her by the upper arms, and dragged her up the bed, pulling her against him. His tongue darted out and cleaned his cum off of her lips and chin.

"You alright, luv?" he asked.

"Very alright," Willow smiled at him, then leaned in to kiss him, her tongue running teasingly over his lips before slipping between them. Neither spoke as Spike kissed her back, his hands running over her body, quickly divesting her of her clothes until they were both naked.

Her soft breasts pressed against his hard chest. He felt her pebbled nipples and slid down her body to taste them. He loved the way she tasted.

Willow arched into his mouth, her hands on the back of his head, her fingers running through his soft hair. He was doing wonderful things with his lips, his tongue, his teeth, and her whole body tingled.

He ran his hands down her sides to her hips, and around to cup her ass, kneading the soft, round globes as he sucked on her breasts, laved her nipples. Willow moaned, his fingers so close to her center making her ache for his touch.

She began to move her hips, trying to get some relief for the heat building between her thighs...and then his fingers were nearly there, pushing between her thighs from behind. Willow gasped in surprised delight, trying to spread her legs, but he was lying on them.

She felt him smile around her breast and smacked him lightly on the back of the head, then quickly rubbed the spot she'd hit. He moved his attentions to her other breast, in no hurry to relieve Willow's nearly desperate need for him.

He could smell her arousal as the scent perfumed the air. He was already hard...but he wanted to drive her as crazy as she'd driven him, both earlier that morning and this afternoon. He pressed his finger between her closed thighs and ran his fingertips along her slit.

She was soaking wet, her juices quickly coating his fingers, but still he refused to rush. Willow's hands were now alternately kneading his shoulders and back and running through his hair, as if she wanted to touch him everywhere and couldn't decide where to start.

"Spike, please!" she finally broke the silence and felt Spike's grin. Darn vampire knew she'd break first! He pulled his fingers away from her and Willow groaned in protest. With his mouth still on her breast, he again cupped one butt cheek with his hand, slipping the other around to her front.

He rested his fingers in her curls at the apex of her thighs, then lifted is body so Willow could spread her legs, which she did eagerly. He ran his fingers over her teasingly. Willow tried to grab his arm and force his fingers inside her, but Spike just laughed at her impatience and moved even more slowly.

"Oh, goddess, Spike, please!" she finally begged and his finger immediately slipped between her slick folds and entered her. "Oh, yes," she lifted her hips as much as she could with him lying on her. "Oh, Spike," she moaned as he bent his finger against her.

She was so wet, Spike placed a second finger against her entrance and easily slid it inside her.

"Mmnngh," Willow moaned wordlessly deep in her throat, the noises she was making made Spike even harder and he began to rub himself against the mattress as his fingers pumped in and out of her weeping hole.

He released her breast and slid down her body until his face was above her center. He flicked his tongue against her clit as he kept the steady rhythm with his fingers, his other hand continuing to knead her ass. Willow spread her legs and bent her knees, opening herself to him.

"Spike, please," she pleaded and he could wait no longer. He furiously attacked her clit, licking it, sucking on it, nibbling it with blunt teeth as his fingers found her pleasure spot and rubbed it, until Willow was bucking against his face.

He felt her body tense, heard the mewling from deep in her throat, and drank her sweet release as she came. He licked and sucked until she was clean and once more writhing beneath him. Moving up her body he placed his cock head at her entrance, waited for her whine of impatience, then thrust into her.

Her tight, wet heat surrounded him and Spike cried out her name. Willow moaned as he filled her, his cock nudging the spot she needed him to. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down to her as her legs went around his waist.

Spike buried his face in her neck and grabbed her shoulders, smelling the wonderfully intoxicating scent of Willow as he drove into her. He could tell that he was hitting her clit, and possibly that elusive spot within her, with each thrust by the sounds of approval Willow was making.

He loved listening to her moans and lust-crazed babbling, but now he wanted to hear her scream. He quickened his pace, his cock slamming into her.

"Spike! Oh, goddess, Spike, yes, right there, don't stop, oh, yes! Spi-ike," she screamed his name as her muscles tensed, in her ass, her stomach, her thighs, her calves, until her toes curled and she exploded into orgasm.

Spike felt her muscles tense, felt the muscles of her pussy contract around him, milk him, heard her cry out his name. He licked her neck and slid his fangs into her soft skin as he shot his seed deep inside her.

Willow felt his fangs enter her as if in a dream. There was a slight amount of pain, as if she'd pricked her finger with a needle, but she could barely feel it, her orgasm having left her shattered, and then only pleasure as he drew her blood from her. She felt a pull on her already throbbing center as her blood left her body. With another scream, she dug her fingernails into his back and came again.

Willow opened her eyes slowly. She didn't know how long they had lain there, spent. She remembered nothing after her last orgasm, when Spike had bit her. As she gradually became aware, she realized that he was licking her neck.

"Spike?" she moaned his name, too exhausted to move, talk.

"Mmm," he breathed against her as he continued his ministrations. "You alright?" he asked, lifting his head slightly.

"Y-you bit me," she finally managed to get out, her mouth barely working.

"Yeah," he said, lowering his head to resume licking at the bite mark.

"Wh-why?" she asked.

"'Cause you're mine," he growled. Willow shivered. "Didn't you like it?" he teased, knowing she'd cum from the bite.

"It was...hardest...ever," she just wanted to fall asleep. "Thought...gonna die...from it."

"The bite?" he asked, worriedly. He hadn't meant to scare her. She shook her head 'no', her eyes nearly closed.

"Orgasm," she smiled tiredly, then fell asleep.

Spike looked down on her. She was the most beautiful thing in the world. And she was his. He rolled off of her and pulled her to him, holding her close as she slept, listening to her breathing as it evened out, to her heartbeat as it slowed down.

***

Willow had been asleep for an hour when Spike took notice of the sun setting. Careful not to wake her, he reached back over his shoulder and grabbed the telephone. Willow had moved it into her room from her parents' room soon after the morning they'd run into each other in the hallway when Willow had raced to answer it wearing just a towel. Spike smirked to himself, remembering her reaction that morning, as he let his eyes run over her naked body beside him.

He dialed the number and held the phone to his ear, listening to it ring.

"Hello," Giles answered on the third ring.

"Watcher," Spike said.

"Spike, what's wrong?" the Watcher's voice held surprise. Spike had never called him before.

"Nothing. We're gonna be a little late. Willow's sleeping. She was exhausted when she, uh, got home from school. Laid down to take a little nap. I'll wake her soon." Spike ran his hand over the silky smooth skin of her back, then up her neck and into her hair.

"Don't wake her," Giles said. "This whole ordeal has probably been emotionally, not to mention physically, draining. I'm sure she needs her rest." Spike smirked into the receiver. She was drained, alright!

"Right," he said. "So, find anything out yet?"

"Well, uh, yes, actually. Wesley found the reference to the design on Willow's ring that he thought he remembered seeing. I believe we might be very close to solving this whole thing. What, er, what are you going to do when we have?" he asked.

"Rupert," Spike actually grinned, "are you asking me my intentions?"

"Yes, I believe I am," Giles grimly replied.

"Nothing changes," Spike possessively tightened his grip on the girl sleeping in his arms. "She's mine."

"She's not a possession," Giles argued.

"I don't own her," Spike said, "but she belongs to me. And I belong to her." There was silence on the line.

"If you hurt her," Giles said, "crosses, and holy water, and stakes will be too good for you."

"Not gonna hurt her. Pillock!" Spike said.

"Just so you know," Giles said. "That girl means the world to me."

"Me, too," Spike said after a slight hesitation. "Me, too, Watcher."

"Right, then," Giles got back to business, "we'll see you both later."

Spike ended the call without responding and tossed the phone on the bed.

"Who was that?" Willow asked sleepily.

"Watcher," Spike said. "Told him we'd be a little late."

"What did you tell him?" she asked worriedly.

"Just that you took a nap after school," Spike assured her.

"Oh. Not about...?"

"Bloody hell, no!" Spike yelled.

"Oh," she said again. "You don't want him to know?" she asked softly.

"Want everyone to know," Spike said, placing a kiss on the top of Willow's head, "just don't want him to stake me. 'Sides, got enough problems with the bloody wanker wanting to know my intentions," he scoffed.

"Really?" Willow smiled.

"Mmm hmm," Spike let both hands run over her back.

"Wh-what did you say?" she asked.

"Told him nothing was gonna change. You belong to me. And I belong to you," he wrapped both arms around her and held her tightly to him.

"Oh," Willow snuggled deeper into his arms and wrapped her arm around his back.

Giles hung up the phone and just stared at it, then picked up the notepad he'd written his notes of Wesley's call on. He re-read it, then dropped it on the table. Nothing had changed since the last time he'd read it, unfortunately. With a deep sigh, he removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. What a mess, he thought. How bloody unlikely was this?

Chapter Nineteen

"We should get going," Willow said, as she tried to rouse herself.

"Need to take a shower before we leave," Spike replied, not moving.

"Why?" Willow complained with a pout. "Too tired."

"Wolf'll probably be there. Unless you *wanna* advertise," Spike smirked.

"No," Willow frowned. "Probably best not to rub his nose in it," she started giggling hysterically. "Get it? Nose!" she giggled again.

"Yeah," Spike rolled his eyes, "I get it." He pulled away from her and rolled out of bed, then reached for her.

"Oh, come on! You'd have thought it was funny if *you'd* thought of it," she groused, letting him lift her out of bed, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her to the bathroom.

"*Would've* been funny if I'd thought of it," Spike said.

"Okay, put me down," Willow said when they got to the bathroom. Spike lowered her to her feet and turned the shower on. Willow brushed her teeth, then examined the bite on her neck, carefully running her fingers over it.

"Hurt?" Spike asked. Willow jumped. Although she knew Spike was still in the bathroom, she been concentrating so hard on the bite, she didn't realize he had moved to stand right behind her, his reflection not visible in the mirror.

"No," she raised her eyes to a spot over her right shoulder where she thought his eyes would be. Spike placed his hands on Willow's shoulders and she shivered.

"Cold?" he asked in concern.

"No," she shook her head. "Freakily turned on, not being able to see you," she admitted.

"Really?" he asked, and she could picture the raised eyebrow in her mind.

"Yes, but we don't have time for that," she turned to face him, "and I probably wouldn't live through it anyway. I can barely walk as it is." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips, then turned away and stepped into the tub.

She stood under the warm spray, letting it run over her aching body. She turned around to wash her hair and jumped when she saw Spike standing there.

"Goddess! Spike!" she yelled at him, grabbing her heart. "Don't *do* that! And what do you think you *are* doing?" she asked suspiciously, remembering the last time they'd showered together.

"Nothing," Spike held his hands out to his sides and tried to look innocent. "I need a shower, too."

"Alright," she reluctantly agreed, "but no hanky panky!"

"Right," he said as he reached for the shampoo.

"I mean it," she closed her eyes and relaxed as he lathered the shampoo in her hair.

"Sure thing, pet," he smiled at her.

"I can hear that!" she said, and he burst out laughing.

"Cor, Willow, I love you," he kissed her lightly on the lips, then tilted her head back and rinsed the shampoo out.

"I love you, too, Spike," she said, careful to keep her eyes closed, though she wanted desperately to open them and look at him.

When he removed his hands to get the conditioner, Willow opened her eyes and looked her fill. Her eyes locked on his as he worked the conditioner into her hair.

"Don't look at me like that," he groaned, as he felt his cock respond to her.

"Like what?" she teased.

"You're killing me, luv," he said as he rinsed the conditioner out of her hair.

"Any hanky panky and you'd probably kill *me*! I'm serious, Spike, I'm only human," she smiled at him.

"That you are, luv," he said as he soaped up his hands and ran them over her shoulders and down to her breasts. He cupped her, gently squeezed the fleshy mounds, then pulled on her nipples, which puckered at his touch.

"Spike," she moaned as his gentle touch stimulated her. "I can't," she told him, "but maybe I can do this," she wrapped her fingers around his hard cock and gently pulled.

"Bloody hell, Red!" he cried at her unexpected touch on his aching cock; soft, warm fingers wrapped around hard, cool flesh.

Willow kept her eyes on his as she stroked him. She wanted to watch him. She turned and leaned her back against the wall. Spike turned with her, spread his feet to brace himself, one hand on the wall beside her head for support, as the other continued to knead her breast.

"Cor, Willow," he groaned as her small hand worked him. Her thumb smeared the precum over his tip and down his shaft. His hand moved down to her stomach, his fingers kneading, slipping into her belly button.

"Spike," she moaned at his touch, "help me."

Spike put his hand over hers and stared into her big, green eyes as together they brought him off. He felt his balls tighten, and closed his eyes as he came. Willow watched his face as he shot his cum over their hands, her stomach and breasts, the force of his ejaculation even shooting it up as far as her face.

Spike opened his eyes to see Willow wipe the back of her hand over her nose. He groaned as she stuck her tongue out and licked his essence off of her hand, then closed his eyes as he worked the last bit of cum from his body.

"Willow," he leaned against her, his head resting atop the hand on the wall.

"Stop that," she wrapped her arms around him and slapped his butt before cupping both cheeks in her hands and pulling him against her.

"Stop what?" he moaned.

"You're looking at the bite."

"So?"

"Looking like you're thinking of touching," she accused.

"How can you tell?" he asked.

"Don't know," she shivered as he lowered his head and flicked the tip of his tongue against the twin puncture marks. "Just made me all tingly. Oh, goddess, Spike!" she tilted her head to give him better access. "Spike, I can't," she gripped his hips. "Please, Spike," she pleaded.

The thought of biting her had him hard again. He slipped his hand between her thighs, his fingers inside her to make sure she was ready to receive him. Willow spread her legs, allowing him entry to her body.

She was so wet, a combination of the sight of his naked body; his touch on her breasts, her belly; the feel of him in her hand; the look on his face as he came, then again when she licked his release off of her hand; the feel of his eyes, his tongue, on the bite mark; and the feel of his fingers against her, inside her.

He lifted her and entered her. Willow wrapped her arms and legs around him. Spike buried his face in her neck as he thrust into her. He morphed, then sank his fangs into her. He drew her blood out of her, slowly, savoring the taste of her. Sweet and spice, innocence and power.

Willow groaned as she felt the pull on her already aching center. She pressed against him, trying to pull him more deeply into her. Spike sped up his thrusts as he drank and Willow was soon writhing against him.

"Spike," she said breathlessly. "Oh, goddess, Spike! Oh, Spike, yes, Spike, oh, aaahhh!" she tensed and came, triggering Spike's own orgasm.

***

After they recovered, they cleaned up and got dressed. Willow was sitting on the bed putting her boots on when she noticed the congealing chocolate blood in the mug on her bedside table.

"Oh, crap!" she said. "You're blood's all cold and icky. Something," she grinned at him saucily, "made me forget all about it."

"What was that?" Spike smirked as he pulled her to her feet and placed a kiss on her lips.

"I fell asleep," she said, as she kissed him back.

"Hey!" he lightly smacked her butt. Willow just wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.

"I love you, Spike," she said, then pulled back and looked into his eyes. "We need to talk."

"Okay, that can't be good," Spike said, worriedly.

"Oh, no!" Willow reassured him as she took his hand and squeezed it. "Nothing bad. Good, really. I hope. I just need to tell you something that I've done. Or, will do," she sat back down on the bed and tugged on his hand. "Sit?"

Spike tilted his head and looked at her, then sat down beside her.

"What is it, Red?" he asked, looking at their joined hands. He heard her heart rate speed up and scented...apprehension? Nerves? He wondered what she had to tell him.

"Spike," she said softly, "I...I don't want to get your hopes up, but I...," he tilted his head to the side and looked at her. "IwannaseeifIcangetthechipout!" she said quickly.

"Huh?" he asked, shaking his head. He couldn't have heard her right.

"I want to see if I can get the chip out. Magically," she said more slowly.

"You'd do that for me?" he asked, surprised. Willow nodded. "Why?" he asked. He'd tried to kill her and her friends before he got this bloody chip. Several times. He couldn't believe that she would try to have it removed for him.

"Because I love you. And it hurts you. And it makes you vulnerable," she answered, looking at his hand as her thumb caressed it, afraid to look at his face.

"Not afraid I'll kill all your friends?" he asked, mockingly, afraid to really think about getting the chip out.

"No," she said, looking up at him sideways. "I don't think you'd do anything that would hurt me." He was silent for a moment.

"What if I start feeding again?" he asked. Willow looked away from him as tears filled her eyes. Goddess, just moments ago she was so happy. What if he did want to start killing again? Losing him would hurt. A lot.

"If you start killing people again, to feed, or...whatever reason," she said, "I'd want you to leave Sunnydale."

"What? Why?" he asked. She'd surprised him again.

"Because if you stay here, Buffy will have to kill you," Willow responded.

That wasn't the answer he'd expected. He didn't know what he'd expected.

"Would you go with me?" he asked.

"No," Willow shook her head sadly. "I couldn't be with you if you started killing again," she said.

"You're mine!" he said, angrily. He just bleedin' found her, he wasn't going to lose her now.

"I belong to me, first," Willow dropped his hand and stood up. She wrung her hands as she paced in front of him. "I want to try to remove the chip because I love you, and I want you to be safe, but if you start killing again, I can't be with you. You'd have to leave Sunnydale, so you and Buffy wouldn't try and kill each other."

"What if I didn't agree to that?" he stood and stared at her.

"You'd stay in Sunnydale and kill?" she asked unhappily. He didn't respond. "I don't know," she shrugged. "You'd make me decide whether it would be better to leave you chipped and alive, or remove the chip so Buffy had to kill you?" she asked.

"Anyway," she shook herself. "Tara's supposed to come by tomorrow after classes to look at the chip. Magically," Willow explained. "I know I'm not giving you much time, but maybe you should decide what you want before we waste Tara's time," Willow's voice shook. She turned away from him and started to walk out of the bedroom.

Spike watched her, then took one step and grabbed her arm. He swung her around and pulled her toward him.

"I know what I want," he said. "I want you! I'm not going to lose you now that I've just bloody found you!" he shook her gently before pulling her against him.

"Spike," she whimpered as she wrapped her arms around him, her hands flat against his back as she held him close, her face buried against his chest. "I don't want to lose you, either. But if we can get the chip out, and you decide to start killing again, please...please, promise me you'll leave Sunnydale. Please! I don't want Buffy to have to kill you. And I don't want you to kill her because she comes after you. Just, please, promise me you won't make me watch you die!" she cried, her tears soaking his t-shirt.

Spike couldn't believe this. Having the chip out was all he'd thought about for months. He wanted the chip out so he could feed. Pig's blood was disgusting. He wanted the chip out so he could kill those soddin' soldiers. Give them a little payback. He wanted the chip out so he could be the big bad again. Create a little mayhem.

At least, that's what he had wanted. Now he wanted Willow, too. Which did he want more? Could he be the big bad and not kill? Would he be complete if he left Willow in Sunnydale so he could kill again? He could always turn her, then she wouldn't care if he killed. In fact, she'd kill with him, and she wouldn't care if it was a stranger or her former best friend, the Slayer.

But he loved Willow. Warm, cute, funny, babbling, sweet Willow. Once the demon took over her body, the Willow he loved would be gone. She'd look the same, but she wouldn't feel the same.

"Willow," he groaned. Bloody hell, thinking about this was giving him a headache! "I love you, baby."

"Spike," she said through her sobs. "I love you, too. I shouldn't have brought this up now, we need to get to Giles'," she tried to wipe the tears off of her face.

Spike picked her up without speaking and walked back over to the bed. He sat down with Willow in his lap and picked up the phone he'd thrown there after he spoke with Giles earlier. He dialed the Watcher's phone number, then waited impatiently for him to answer.

"Hel...," Giles began.

"Watcher," Spike interrupted. "Willow's not feeling up to coming over tonight. This information you found...can it wait?"

"Well, er, yes, I suppose it can," Giles said. "It's not...bad...and there's nothing we can do about it now, anyway," he continued. "Is she ill?"

"No, just really tired," Spike said. "Talk to you later," he disconnected, then leaned his back against the headboard, Willow in his arms.

"Spike," she sniffled.

"Shh," he ran his hand over her head. "I'm not leaving you, luv. I just need to do some thinking. You stay right here, where I can hold you," he kissed the top of her head.

"You need to eat," she said, catching sight of the mug again.

"Later," her said. "I just wanna hold you."

Willow tilted her head back and looked up at him. Spike wiped the tears off of her face with his thumb. He leaned down and kissed her, softly, gently. Willow whimpered in pain. It felt so much like goodbye.

She crawled up onto her knees, straddling his lap. She held his face between her hands and kissed him, hard and full of need, as fresh tears streamed down her face. If he was going to leave, she wanted more than gentle kisses. She wanted heat and passion. She wanted something to remember when she closed her eyes at night for the rest of her life.

If she couldn't have the real thing, and memories were all she had, she'd make a memory worth remembering.

Chapter Twenty

Willow's urgency conveyed itself to Spike and made him harden in anticipation. His hands on her ass, he rubbed her against him as he kissed her back. She was making little noises of insistent, desperate need in her throat as she kissed him, exploring his mouth with her tongue as she explored his face with her fingers. Imprinting the taste of him, the feel of him, on her mind, her body.

"Willow," Spike pulled away, forcing her to take in some much needed air, "what are you doing, luv?"

"Don't wanna forget," she mumbled as she kissed him again, her hands moving to the hem of his t-shirt, lifting it.

"Forget what?" he asked, as she pulled away from him so she could pull the damp t-shirt over his head.

"You. I don't want to forget you," she was kissing him again, her hands running over his shoulders, his arms, his back, his chest. She moved her lips along his jaw, down his neck, licking, and kissing, and sucking. Tasting him, feeling him, memorizing him.

"Willow," his hands moved up to cup her breasts through her blouse. He ripped her shirt open and lowered his head to suck on the mound of flesh above her bra. He frantically tore at the bra until her breasts spilled out into his waiting mouth and hands.

Willow moaned as he suckled her, his tongue and teeth on her nipple, as he kneaded her, rolling and pinching the nipple, his other hand on her back, pressing her into his mouth. She felt his erection pressing against her and rubbed herself against it until she couldn't stand it. She wanted him inside her.

She pushed his head away from her and unfastened her jeans, climbing off of him only long enough to push them and her boots off. She climbed back on the bed and unbuttoned his jeans. She unzipped them and Spike lifted his hips, helping her pull them down. She straddled his legs and took him in her hands.

He was hard, the precum leaking from the small hole at the tip. She rubbed her thumb over the tip and smeared his release down the shaft. She wrapped her fingers around his shaft and began to slowly pump, running her fisted fingers over the sensitive flesh at his tip, as she leaned forward and kissed him.

Spike groaned at her insistent handling, pushing him away from her so she could remove her jeans, removing his jeans, holding him, kissing him. His hands were on her arms, her back, running over her warm, smooth skin. He held her hips as she rose over him, guiding him to her entrance, then lowering herself, impaling herself on him.

"Willow," he groaned again as she covered him with her heat. He watched her face as she rode him. He realized she was still crying.

"Spike," she moaned as he filled her. She never wanted to forget what it felt like to have him inside her. And she was so afraid she would. She looked into his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes, and swore that she'd never forget them.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, confused. She didn't answer him. She covered his lips with her own, kissing him as she rode him. Hard and fast, hungrily, desperately.

"Willow," he pulled away. She kissed his face. His chin, his cheeks, his forehead.

"I'm afraid I'll forget," she said as she kissed his eyelids. "But I won't ever forget these. Your eyes. Blue, like sky just before a storm."

"Why would you forget?" he asked, barely able to think as her breasts pressed against his chest as she rode him.

"When you leave," her voice broke, "I don't want to forget." She lowered her head to his neck, licking and sucking the sensitive skin over what would have been his pulse point, if he were alive. She pulled the skin into her mouth, sucking hard, then bit down, breaking the skin. The iron tang of blood spilled over her tongue.

"Bloody...fuck!" Spike roared in surprised shock when Willow bit him. He was still trying to figure out what her words meant, and he was having a hard time thinking with his cock buried inside her. The pain of the bite made his cock contract. Bugger, he was gonna cum. She bleedin' *bit* him!

He pushed her onto her back so that he was sprawled between her thighs. He lifted one of her legs and changed his angle of penetration, driving into her, slamming her clit with every thrust.

"Oh, Spike!" she cried out as he stimulated her pleasure spots.

"Willow, baby, cum for me. Bloody hell, Willow, I'm gonna cum. Need you to cum, baby," Spike pleaded.

"Spike," she tilted her head, leaving her neck open. Spike looked down at the bite mark he'd made there and felt his cock contract again at the sight of it, his mark. He'd marked her. He morphed. Willow groaned, her fingers clutching at him. He lowered his head to her neck and licked the bite.

"Spike," Willow groaned again. She could feel the tingles in her core when he touched the bite. Then his fangs were slipping into her and he was sucking her blood out of her. It pulled at her center and her body tensed.

"Spi-ike!" she cried, as her muscles tightened and she came.

The taste of her intoxicating blood, the feel of her heat surrounding him, the sound of her screaming his name, were more than Spike could take. He withdrew his fangs and bellowed her name as he came, pumping his seed inside her. Mine, he thought.

Willow could barely move, but she managed to wrap her arms around him and hold on tight. He felt so good. She'd miss this. She'd been wrong. No matter how many times they did this, it would never be enough. The memories would be cold comfort.

"I love you," she whispered, fresh tears running from her eyes, down her temples and into her hair.

Spike lifted himself up and looked down at her.

"I love you, Willow," he said. The blood had finally drained from his cock and was feeding his head again. "I'm not leaving," he said, wondering why he'd even had to think about it. "You're mine, and I'm never leaving you. Ever," he kissed her.

Willow just stared back at him, not understanding.

"You will," she said. "The chip...,"

"Never," he repeated forcefully, "leaving you. You're mine," he lowered his head and licked the bite on her neck. "I wouldn't be complete without you," he spoke into her neck, feeling like a bloody ponce for even thinking it, much less, saying it.

"Really?" she asked, afraid to believe him.

"Really," he said, pulling out of her and rearranging them so that he was lying beside her, his arms wrapped around her, his head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat, the blood rushing through her body.

Willow clutched his head to her chest as tears of relief spilled from her eyes. He wasn't going to leave her. She didn't have to build a lifetime's worth of memories overnight. Thank the goddess, because she didn't know if she'd be able to do it, much less live through it. As it was, she wasn't going to be able to walk tomorrow.

***

Spike woke in the middle of the night, starving. He pulled away from Willow and looked down at her. She still wore the ripped blouse and bra, and tear tracks stained her face. She was beautiful. He carefully lifted her up and removed the blouse and bra, tossing them on the floor, before laying her back down and covering her with the sheet. He stood and pulled on his jeans.

"Where are you going?" Willow asked sleepily, her eyes little slits where she could barely hold them open.

"Heat up some blood," he said. "Go back to sleep. I'll be right back." Willow just stared at him.

"I'll be right back," he repeated, kneeling on the bed to kiss her. "I'll always be back."

He picked up the mug of congealed blood and left the room. Willow closed her eyes, afraid to fall asleep, but too tired to stay awake.

Spike walked through the dark house to the kitchen. He tossed the blood down the drain and rinsed out the mug, then heated another mug of pig's blood. He leaned against the counter as it heated, thinking about Willow and the chip.

There was no way he was going to leave her. But he wasn't going to pretend he wasn't a vampire. And he definitely wasn't going to live on pig's blood if he didn't have to. No need to get the Slayer all excited, though. He could probably feed without killing...soddin' Slayer would never know the difference. Stupid bint.

Willow would know, but as long as he didn't kill, he didn't think she'd mind. Well, she might *mind*, but she wouldn't tell him not to. A compromise. He couldn't believe that he, William the Bloody, a Master Vampire, was agreeing not to kill, compromising for the sake of a human. Ah, he thought as the microwave dinged, but she was no ordinary human.

He drank the blood down and then grimaced at the taste it left behind on his tongue. After the taste of Willow's blood this was...well, disgusting, was all he could think of. Bottom of the barrel. Dregs. In fact, human blood wasn't even going to taste as good, compared to Willow.

He rinsed the mug and set it in the sink before turning and returning to the bedroom where Willow was waiting for him. He slipped his jeans off and climbed under the sheet. Willow didn't waken, but she moved toward him, her body curling into his. He wrapped his arms around her and watched her, one hand in her hair, listening to the steady sound of her breathing. The sound of her heart beating lulled him to sleep.

***

Willow woke up the next morning and her first thought was, I feel like crap. Her muscles ached from too much sex. Who knew you could have too much sex? Her eyes and head ached from crying, and there were dried tears on her face.

She took a moment to look at Spike before she crawled out of his arms. She didn't want to wake him and have him see her looking like this. Without even pausing to look for her robe, Willow tried to tiptoe as she limped stiffly out of the bedroom and down the hall to the bathroom. She relieved herself, then started the shower before looking at herself in the mirror.

Oh, goddess! She looked just as bad as she felt. She turned on the cold water and rinsed her face, then brushed her teeth. Feeling a little bit more alive, she climbed in the shower and stood under the hot spray, letting it ease her aching muscles, before reaching for the shampoo.

Willow reluctantly stepped out of the shower and dried off, then padded back to the bedroom and got dressed. Spike had moved. He was now stretched out over the entire bed, the sheet once again at his waist. She wondered how he always managed to obtain such a sexy pose in his sleep.

She walked downstairs and poured herself a glass of orange juice, then groaned when she looked at the clock on the microwave. It was already past noon. Well, she didn't really feel like going to class today, anyway. She picked up the portable and dialed Tara's telephone number at the dorms, leaving a message that she wouldn't be at school that day, but they were still on to have Tara come over after her last class.

She sliced a banana and had a bowl of cereal while she pondered what to do. She had brought some of her books home with her. She could study. Or she could work on the teleportation spell. The thought of Spike without his chip scared her. Not because she feared that he would harm her, but because she still feared that he might leave her, despite his adamant assurances to the contrary.

Only one way to find out, she told herself, as she slid off of the stool. She rinsed her bowl, then went into the living room, grabbing her book bag on the way. She pulled out her laptop and the spell book she and Tara had been using, and sat down to think about the best way to revise the spell, to remove the chip without harming Spike.

Willow didn't move from her spot on the couch until she heard the shower running. With a little smile she set the laptop and book aside, then got up and stretched. She went into the kitchen and heated up a mug of blood for Spike, then carried it upstairs. He was still in the shower, so she went into the bathroom and sat on the closed toilet.

"Red?" Spike said.

"Yes," Willow groused. It was just so unfair. You couldn't sneak up on a vampire.

"Gonna join me, luv?" he asked and she could just picture the smirk on his face.

"No, I already had my shower," she smiled to herself.

"What did you want, then?" he asked as he turned off the shower and shoved the curtain back, standing naked and dripping before her.

"I, um, well, I, er, brought you blood," she finally remembered why she'd come upstairs.

"Oh," he smirked at her reaction as he climbed out of the tub and began toweling himself dry.

"Shut up," she said as she watched closely. To make sure he didn't miss a spot, of course.

After he was dry, he tossed the towel over the shower curtain rod and leaned down and kissed Willow.

"What have you been doing?" he asked as he reached for the mug.

"Working on revising the teleportation spell," she said softly.

His hand froze halfway to his mouth, then continued.

"Really?" he asked as he took a sip. "How come you're not at school?"

"It was after noon when I got out of the shower," she said. "Figured, why bother? Besides, I didn't really feel like going in."

Spike put the mug down and licked his lips as he stared at Willow.

"What?" she finally asked.

"Still don't believe me?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Still don't believe I'm not leaving," he clarified.

"Oh. Well...I want to," she said.

"But?"

"Will this be enough?" she asked. "When you're able to kill again, will I be enough for you not to?" tears filled her eyes and she brushed them away angrily with the back of her hand.

"I...love...you," he grabbed her arms and pulled her roughly to her feet, " I want you," he shook her to emphasize his point, "and I need you. I need you more than I need blood," he looked at her intently. She just blinked at him, her green eyes wide.

"I will need you forever, and I will never leave you. Ever."

"Forever?" she asked, her voice small.

"Forever," he agreed.

"Th-that's a long time," Willow said.

"It won't be long enough," he pulled her against him and hugged her close.

"Spike," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him. It felt good to hold him, to say his name. To know that he wasn't going to leave when the chip was removed.

"Willow," he breathed her name. He did love her. He couldn't believe how much he loved her. What a wanker.

"Show me?" she asked, then flicked the tip of her tongue against his nipple, watching it harden.

"Show you what?" Spike moaned.

"How much you love me," she flicked him again, "want me," she flicked the other nipple, "need me," again.

"What me to read you a poem?" he asked with a smirk.

"Maybe later," she said as she pushed him against the wall, running her hands over his chest, down his stomach and into his curls, until her fingers found his already erect cock and circled it. Spike sucked a deep breath.

"This for me?" she teased as she stroked him.

"Yes," he groaned.

"Just me?"

"Yes!"

"Always?"

"Forever," intense blue eyes stared into green.

"So," she smiled. "You belong to me, huh?"

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