SleepwalkingBy Spikedluv
Chapter Twenty-One
By the time Tara arrived, Willow was nearly convinced that Spike wasn't going to leave her after he got the chip out.
"I'm not quite convinced, yet," she told Spike sadly, as she gently ran her hand over his face.
"What in bleedin' hell is it going to take to convince you, woman?" he yelled, frustrated.
"Forever," Willow winked at him, as she twisted away from him and climbed out of the bed.
"Grrr," Spike growled and made a grab for her, but Willow skipped out of his reach, giggling.
"Stop that! We need to get dressed. Again. Tara's going to be here soon," she reached for her jeans.
"What about a shower?" Spike asked. Willow looked like she was considering it, until the doorbell rang.
"Oops! No time! Get dressed," she hopped on one foot as she pulled her jeans on the other leg. Spike lay back on the bed with his arms under his head, watching her get dressed. She was absolutely perfect.
"Spike! Get...,"
"You're beautiful," he said. Willow blushed.
"That's not going to save you if I have to bring Tara up here to look at your head. The other one," she said without looking at him, her eyes roving over the floor. "Oh, where's my bra?" she cried when the doorbell rang again.
"Ahh, forget it!" she grabbed her t-shirt and ran out of the room, pulling it on over her head as she went. With a smirk, Spike pulled the bra out from under him and held it to his face, breathing in Willow's scent.
Running her fingers through her hair, Willow pulled the front door open.
"Hi, Tara! Sorry, I was...uh...come in," she stood back and waved the blonde in.
"That's alright," Tara replied as she stepped through the doorway.
"Spike'll be right down," Willow said. "Why don't we have a seat in the living room?" she ushered Tara into the room. "Have a seat," she moved her spell book and laptop to the coffee table. "I was just looking at the teleportation spell," she admitted. "Can I, uh, get you anything to drink?"
Willow turned when Tara's eyes shot to the doorway behind her. Spike was lounging against the doorframe in his black jeans and black t-shirt, his feet bare, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked imposing and intimidating.
"Spike," Willow scolded, "don't try to scare a witch, sweetie. Especially one who might be able to help you."
Spike rolled his eyes and walked into the room. His hair was still mussed from the shower and her fingers running through it, and the sight made Willow shiver. He was so damned sexy!
"Right," he said. "Where do you want me?" Willow knew exactly where *she* wanted him.
"In the chair here, is fine," Tara said, and Willow blushed at the track her own thoughts had taken.
Spike sat in the chair and Tara stood behind him. She chanted a short spell to clear and focus her mind, then placed her hands on Spike's head. She closed her eyes and let her senses run over Spike's head, 'seeing' the bio-matter, bone, tissue, nerves, until she found the mechanical. She studied it, saw how it had been attached, how it worked.
She opened her eyes and removed her hands from Spike's head. He stood immediately. That had really freaked him out. It was almost as if he could *feel* her inside his head.
"Gonna get some blood," he said, then sauntered out of the room. Wouldn't do to let the blonde witch know she'd affected him.
"Well?" Willow said when he'd left the room.
"I saw it," Tara said. "I could see how it was attached, how it worked. Now I just need to think about how we can remove it. If we can."
"Oh," Willow's face dropped. "You don't think...?"
"I just don't know yet," Tara said. "It might be very simple. Or it might not. I just need to...review...what I saw. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay," Willow said, then led her to the front door. "Thanks for coming over, Tara, I really appreciate it. And Spike does, too. Even though you might not be able to tell," she smiled at the other girl.
"I know," Tara said. "I can tell."After Tara left, Willow joined Spike in the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter, an empty mug beside him.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," he responded, his eyes going to her breasts as they moved beneath the t-shirt.
"What?" she asked, looking down. "Oh," she blushed. "I've gotta go find my bra."
"No," Spike said, breathing deeply, smelling both of their releases on Willow.
"What?" she asked, laughing.
"No bra," he said, commandingly.
"Spike, I need to wear a bra," she told him.
"No, not tonight," he replied, maddeningly.
"Why not?!"
"Wanna show 'em," he said.
"Show who what?"
"Show all of them, especially the wolf, that you're mine," he growled.
"And me not wearing a bra is how you're going to do this?" Willow asked, partly confused, partly amused.
"He'll be able to smell me all over you. And you all over me," he stepped toward her, backing her up against the island. "I want him to know that I've got you, and that he can't have you," he reached for her hips.
"So you just wanna make him jealous?" she pushed him back. "What, this is some pissing contest and you're marking your territory?"
"I've already marked you," Spike moved back in, trapping her between him and the island, his erection pressing against her stomach.
"Well, I, um, I marked you!" Willow retorted.
"Know," Spike smirked. "Do it again?" he breathed as he licked the bite on her neck, as his hands cupped and gently squeezed her breasts.
"Spike," Willow moaned, her hands slipping beneath his t-shirt.
A knock at the kitchen door startled Willow and she jumped. With a smirk on his face, Spike stepped back and allowed her to go answer the door.
"Oz!" she said when she pulled the door open and saw who was standing there. "What's up?"
"Giles said you weren't feeling well last night," he said.
"Oh! Yes, just a little tired," Willow told him. "Uh, come in."
"You're feeling alright now?" he asked as he stepped past her, his eyes going to Spike.
"Yes, very alright! I mean, fine," Willow said.
"Good. Going to Giles' tonight?" Oz asked.
"Yes, we were just getting ready to leave. Weren't we?" she asked Spike over her shoulder.
"Uh, yeah," Spike said, rubbing his hand over his chest. "Just...getting ready." He knew the wolf could smell them and he was getting hard just thinking about it. She's mine, wanker, he thought.
"Need a ride?" Oz asked.
"Oh!" Willow's eyes got big. "I don't know...,"
"You probably shouldn't walk," Spike said. "You're still a little...tired." Oh, yeah, this was fun!
"What?" Willow was surprised. She didn't think Spike would want to ride with Oz. Then she saw the smirk on his face. Darn vampire! He was rubbing Oz's nose in it, she thought, then caught herself before she could giggle at the image.
"I'll just go get my boots from the bedroom," Spike pushed himself away from the counter and headed for the hallway. "I'll get yours while I'm there," he added, making sure the wolf knew they shared a room, and a bed.
"Oh, okay," Willow said, then turned to see Oz staring at her. Suddenly she was self-conscious and she remembered that she didn't have a bra on.
"Excuse me...for just one minute," she told him, then skittered out the doorway after Spike.
"I need a bra!" she said as she ran into the bedroom. "I can't do this."
Spike grabbed her and threw her on the bed as she ran past him. With a big grin, he climbed on the bed and straddled her, lifted her shirt, then sucked her breast into his mouth as his other hand moved between her thighs.
"Spike! Spike, what are you...? Oh, goddess!" she cried.
He was sucking and kneading her breasts and rubbing his fingers against her center. The thought that Oz was right downstairs should have been a deterrent, but it turned her on even more. She grabbed his head and held it to her breasts as she bucked against his hand. Within moments, she was cuming.
"S-Sp-Spi-ike!" she cried his name as her muscles tensed and her body spilled her release. Spike placed small kisses on her lips and jaw until Willow was able to talk again.
"Wh-what was that?" she asked.
"What'd it do, fry your brain?" Spike teased. "I was pretty sure you'd remember what that was from the last time. Which was only, oh, about an hour ago."
"That's...that's not what I meant," she said, breathlessly. "Oz...Oz is right down stairs," she accused.
"Know," Spike smiled. "Think he enjoyed it as much as we did?"
"No," Willow shook her head dreamily. "I mean, that wasn't nice! And besides, you...you didn't..,"
"Nope," he smirked. "Gonna be hard all night," he teased, "and thinking about shagging you rotten," he nibbled on her neck, then rolled off of the bed to his feet.
"Spike," she complained. "That's just...mean."
"Leave those jeans on," Spike said as he walked toward the door. "And hurry. I'll be downstairs with the wolf."
"Oh, shi...shoot!" Willow sat up and grabbed for her boots. She stood up and looked down at her jeans, wondering if she should have changed them. But Spike and Oz were downstairs. She grabbed her jacket and threw it on as she ran down the stairs.
***
The ride to Giles' apartment was made in silence. Willow sat on Spike's lap with her book bag on her legs, and leaned her shoulder against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder, letting his breath tickling her neck.Oz parked and, before he had the van in park, Spike was pushing the door open and helping Willow to the ground. Without a word to the wolf, Spike slid out of the van and slammed the door shut. He grabbed Willow's hand and led her to the steps leading down to the courtyard.
Oz caught up to them as Spike was pushing the door to Giles' apartment open without knocking.
"I'm sure she's just fine...," Giles broke off and turned toward the door as it opened. If he was surprised to see the three of them walk in together, he didn't say anything. "Willow, how are you feeling?" he asked in concern.
"I'm fine, Giles, thank you," Willow blushed at the fib she was perpetrating. Not that she wasn't fine, but that they hadn't come over last night because she was tired. Not that she wasn't...eventually. Very tired, actually. Exhausted, in fact.
"Uh, what? Sorry," Willow said as she realized that Giles was still talking to her.
"I was just saying that Wesley found something on the design on your ring and we may have all of our questions answered tonight," Giles repeated.
"Oh, good," Willow replied with fake enthusiasm.
"Why don't we all have a seat?" Giles indicated the living room. Buffy, Xander and Anya were already seated and Willow was surprised that they hadn't said anything. Then she remembered that she hadn't been able to really talk to any of her friends since the night, three nights ago now, when Spike's chip had gone off, and they had all found out about her and Spike's, uh, relationship.
"Hi, guys," Willow gave a little wave as she set her book bag on the table.
"Hi, Wills," Xander smiled weakly at her.
"Hi!" Anya said. "So, tell me, Spike looks like he could give great orgasms. Does he?"
"*Don't* answer that!" Buffy said.
"Yes, please don't," Giles added, his expression pained.
Willow, who had been unzipping her jacket to take it off, blushed, and remembered just in time that she was still braless.
"Want me to take your jacket, pet?" Spike asked."Uh, no," Willow pulled it around her. "I'll keep it. I'm a little chilly."
Spike laughed as he hung his duster up. He grabbed Willow's hand as he passed her on his way to the living room, sat in the recliner, and pulled Willow down on his lap. He smirked at the Slayer when he saw the look of disgust cross her face. He loved the feel of Willow on his lap, and if he could annoy the Slayer at the same time...bonus!
"So, Watcher, what'd you find?" he asked as he pulled Willow back against him, slipping his fingers beneath her t-shirt to rest on the warm skin of her belly. He heard her heartbeat speed up and pressed his fingers against her in response. Her breathing quickened. Sod! Her response made him want to touch her more. But the Slayer would surely stake him then.
This was torturing him, just as he thought it would. The scent of their combined release filled his nostrils and he wanted nothing more than to slip his fingers beneath her jeans and touch her. He wiggled his hips, pressing his erection into Willow's ass.
Giles was pacing from the kitchen to the living room. He took his glasses off and cleaned them before replacing them on his nose and speaking.
"Wesley recognized the markings on Willow's ring from when he had been researching Angel's curse," Giles said. "He went through several of the books he had on the Romany, and specifically, the curse placed on Angelus by the Kalderash clan. The design is, in fact, Romany."
Spike looked at him in shocked surprise. "Oh, bloody wonderful!" he cried. "You telling me I've been cursed by the same wankers that cursed Angelus?"
Willow barely kept herself from moaning as Spike touched her, then ground his erection against her. She couldn't concentrate, hearing only every other word Giles was saying, until she heard Spike's response.
"Hey!" Willow sat up, turned around, and slapped his arm. "What do you mean, cursed? You think whatever this is, is a *curse*?"
Spike knew he was in trouble. He tried to placate her. "Luv, I just meant...,"
Willow interrupted him.
"A-and if anyone was cursed, it was *me*!" she pointed at herself, then turned back to Giles. "What was I cursed with?" she asked worriedly.
Giles sighed deeply. This was the part he dreaded.
"True love, it would seem," he said.
Chapter Twenty-Two"Huh?" Willow asked, staring at Giles dumbly.
"True love," Giles repeated, his expression weary. He'd done nothing but think about this spell since he'd spoken with Wesley yesterday.
"Oh," Willow said. "Well. Uh, that's good, right?" her brow furrowed in concentration.
"What?!" Xander yelped.
"I've heard of things like that," Anya commented.
"No! You've never heard of anything like this! He's a vampire! Willow," he turned toward the redhead.
"What?" Willow asked.
"He," Xander pointed toward Spike, "he...,"
"Spit it out, moron," Spike taunted as he gripped Willow's hips tightly. "Vam-pire," he sounded it out slowly.
"Vampire!" Xander squealed.
"Uh, yeah, I sort of noticed that," Willow said. "Your point?"
"M...my point?!" Xander couldn't believe his ears. "What about 'drain you dryer than the Sahara if I could'?"
"Changed my mind," Spike muttered.
"Forget about that right now," Buffy said as she turned to Giles. "It's a love spell?" she asked the ex-Watcher hopefully. "'Cause that can be reversed, right?"
Oz remained silent.
"Not a love spell, unfortunately," Giles said with a deep sigh. "True love."
"That's good, right?" Willow repeated.
"Yes, Willow, that's, uh, good. It seems that...,"
"No," Buffy said.
"Excuse me?" Giles asked.
"Number one, it's not good, and number two, Wesley must be mistaken," Buffy said adamantly.
"Yes, well, I can assure you that he is not," Giles told her.
While Buffy and Giles were discussing Wesley's interpretation of the design on the ring, Willow turned around to look at Spike. He was staring at his fingers, which were now playing with a loose thread on the arm of the recliner.
"Spike?" she whispered his name worriedly. He looked up at her. "Are you alright?"
"True love?" he asked, his face a blank mask. He'd been with Drusilla for over one hundred years. He'd thought that was love, even true love, but it had all turned to dust because he had never been what she wanted. Not really.
And now he had the witch. He'd been attracted to her before all this sleepwalking bollocks had started, but he'd never thought much about it. She was the shy, geeky friend of the Slayer, so what was there to think about, really?
His own subconscious had been at work though. He remembered the outfit she wore the Halloween that everyone turned into their costumes. He remembered coming back to Sunnydale for a 'spell' after Dru had dumped him. He remembered coming back to Sunnydale for the Gem of Amara after Dru had dumped him...again...and trying to bite the redhead.
Now he had other memories. The way she felt in his lap, the first time she'd sleepwalked to him when he was still tied up in the Watcher's tub, or the second time, when he'd been tied up in the moron's basement apartment. The hurt on her face when he'd called her 'useless', and the pain he'd felt when she'd burned herself the one night she hadn't come to him during one of her nightmares.
The night he'd bloody apologized, and Willow had rubbed his head when his chip went off. The night she'd come running to him in the cemetery, jumping into his arms and kissing him. The way she'd begged him to stop the hurt the second night they stayed at her parents' house.
Her embarrassment the day she realized that her dreams were actually being acted out. Their first time, the night he'd woken her up from the dream and she still wanted him. The way she sounded when she screamed his name, that night, then next morning, the next afternoon, and every day since then. The look on her face the first time he'd said 'I love you' and the look on her face the first time she'd said it.
How she'd stood up for him that night the chip went off when he'd accidentally hit the Slayer. Her offer to help him get the chip taken out, despite her fear, unfounded, that he would leave her as soon as he was free.
"I-isn't it?" she asked, and tried to smile at him.
"Can't get any truer," he said, his expression serious, his lips pursed.
"No," she smiled in relief, "you can't." She ran her hands up his chest to his shoulders, then leaned in and kissed him. He kissed her back, his hands running over her back.
"Oh, for god's sake!" Buffy looked over and saw them kissing.
"Sod off, Slayer," Spike said, pulling Willow against his chest. Willow snuggled against him and kissed his neck, her arms going around him. "So, this true love spell," Spike smirked at Buffy's reaction to the words 'true love', "what is it, exactly?"
"Ah, let me just get my notes," Giles walked over to the table and picked up the pad he'd written on. "Wesley found the Latin translation of the Romany spell and was able to translate it to English for us. It says," he straightened his glasses, "'Seek out my true love and reveal to me the destiny of my heart'." Giles looked like he might say more, then stopped. "And that's it," he said.
"That's it?" Spike asked. "Pretty paltry spell," he commented when Giles only nodded.
"So the ring, or the spell, reveals true love?" Oz spoke for the first time.
"So it would seem," Giles agreed, the pad tucked under his arm as he wiped his glasses furiously.
"And what else?" Spike asked.
"What do you mean, Spike?" Giles asked, with an almost guilty start.
"The ring, the spell, true love...how would that make Willow sleepwalk?" the blond vampire asked as he held Willow tight and kissed the top of her head. "Remember, people, the thing that started all of this?"
"Ah, yes, well, that's a very good question. Wesley and I spent some time speculating on that ourselves," Giles said as he slipped the glasses back on.
"And?" Spike prodded.
"Well, we don't know," Giles admitted, "although we do have some theories."
"Are you going to share?" Buffy asked when Giles remained silent.
"Oh, yes, of course. Sorry," he took a deep breath. "Going on the premise that Spike is Willow's true love," Buffy interrupted Giles with a snort, which he ignored, "this is what we've come up with. Willow," he looked at the small redhead in Spike's lap, "obtained the ring in September, before we even knew Spike was back in Sunnydale. At the time, she was still dating Oz," Giles said uncomfortably. "Eventually, Oz left, and Spike, uh, joined us."
Buffy snorted again. Giles ignored her again.
"It wasn't long after Spike joined us that Willow started sleepwalking. We, Wesley and I, believe that the ring, or the spell, was waiting, biding its time, if you will, until it recognized Willow's true love."
Buffy snorted again.
"That's really annoying," Anya commented.
"Yes," Giles agreed, "it is. May I finish?" he asked Buffy.
She just rolled her eyes and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.
"We believe that the ring may have been trying to get Willow to *also* recognize her true love, but when she refused to do so consciously, for whatever reason, perhaps the fact that he's a vampire was a stumbling block, the spell used her subconscious to reveal her true love to her," Giles said.
"Well, would *you* want to recognize Spike as your true love?" Buffy asked snidely.
"But why the sleepwalking?" Xander asked. "Why not just a naughty dream or something?"
Willow blushed as she remembered that she had actually had several naughty dreams about Spike. She felt a rumbling in Spike's chest as he laughed silently at her. She pinched him and smiled to herself as he jumped and the rumbling stopped.
"Xander, you told us that Willow was prone to sleepwalking when she was upset and under a lot of stress," Giles told him.
"But that was years ago!" the boy protested.
"Be that as it may, I believe the sleepwalking was her body's subconscious response to the spell," Giles replied, "to reveal to her, her true love."
True love. The destiny of your heart. The words reverberated through Willow's head. The ring had helped her find Spike. She wanted to find that crazy old gypsy woman and kiss her. But, since Spike was right here, she'd kiss him.
Willow placed a small kiss on Spike's neck, then slipped her tongue from between her lips and pressed it against the spot she had kissed. She felt Spike tense as she continued to nibble on his neck. His arms tightened around her and his cock pressed into her butt.Willow felt her body respond to him, her heart raced, her breathing quickened.
"If I'm right," Giles continued, "the ring, or the spell, once it found Willow's true love and revealed...him...to her, would no longer have any power. If you will recall, Tara said the spell on the ring was very faint. I think that's because it had already neared the completion of its...task, so-to-speak. Willow," he turned to the redhead.
"Hmm?" Willow jumped and looked over at Giles with an innocent look on her face. "What?"
"Try taking the ring off," he said. "If I'm right, the magic will now allow you to do that, or the lack of magic, rather."
"But it wouldn't come off before...," Willow pulled hard on the ring, expecting it to stick, and it went flying. "Oh, my ring!" Willow watched it roll across the floor and under the couch. "Spike, my ring!" she cried, pointing.
"Don't fuss so," Spike stood up and placed Willow on her feet. He walked over to the couch where Buffy and Oz were sitting, grabbed the end, and lifted it.
"Hey, you blond bloodsucker!" Buffy yelled as she was lifted in the air and tipped precariously. Oz placidly grabbed onto the arm of the couch and held on.
"Get the ring, luv," he ignored Buffy and looked at Willow, who immediately dropped to her knees and reached under the couch.
"Oh, goddess, it's all the way down here," she crawled between the couch and the coffee table as Buffy lifted her legs out of the way, and Spike found himself watching her butt. Willow grabbed the ring, crawled backward away from the couch, then stood, holding it triumphantly in her hand.
"I've got it," she said, showing it to Spike. Spike lowered the couch, then stepped over to Willow. "Thank you," she whispered, "I was afraid I'd lost it."
"It's just a ring, luv," Spike said sofly.
"No!" Willow corrected him. "It's...it's almost like an engagement ring or...something else."
"I can get you a nicer ring," he said as he put his hand on hers.
"No, you couldn't. This ring brought us together. It-it's special," she tried to explain.
Spike took the ring out of her fingers and held her hand. Willow held her thumb out and Spike slipped the ring on it, then lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the ring.
"Oh, that's so romantic!" Anya cried. "Makes me want to go home and have orgasms," she said wistfully.
"Me, too," Spike smirked down at Willow, who blushed.
"Eww, that's disgusting!" Buffy said.
"A mental picture I definitely didn't need to have," Xander said.
"Again?" Oz mumbled.
"Oh, dear lord," Giles muttered.
Willow ignored her friends. She put the hand Spike wasn't holding around his back, her fingers splayed as she pressed him against her.
"I love you," she whispered, as she raised to her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his lips.
"Mmm," he moaned softly, "love you, too, Red. Are we done here, Watcher?" Spike asked Giles, without taking his eyes off of Willow.
"Well, actually," Giles said, "there is something I need Willow to look up for me on that...dreadful machine."
"Make it quick," Spike said softly, smirking at Willow. He had plans, and they didn't include a computer. Or an audience. Well, at least not one with stakes.
"I will," she whispered back, smiling knowingly at him. "What is it, Giles?" Willow reluctantly stepped away from Spike and walked over to the table with the older man.
She pulled her laptop out and started it up as Giles explained what he needed. Overheated now from the looks, the words, the touches, she'd exchanged with Spike, she took her jacket off and hung it on the back of the chair, then sat down and began typing.
Spike considered sitting back down in the recliner and annoying the Slayer, but decided he'd rather be with Willow, so he walked over to the table and sat down next to her, watching her work. She was so beautiful. He watched her blush under his watchful eye. He wanted to taste her again. Her blood. Her release. He felt himself harden at his thoughts of her.
Willow could barely concentrate on the information she was trying to gather for Giles. Spike was staring at her, and it made her nervous and hot at the same time.
"Giles," Buffy said as she walked over to the table, "if you don't need me any more, I'm gonna go patrol."
"Alright, Buffy," Giles agreed.
Buffy put her jacket on and gathered her weapons. She said goodbye to Xander, Anya, and Oz, who were still sitting in the living room, then turned toward Willow.
"Goodnight, Will," she said, "I'll see you at school tom...what in hell is that?!" she asked angrily, pointing at Willow.
"What?" Willow asked, confused.
"Your neck! He bit you!" Buffy looked angrily from Willow to Spike. "You son of a bitch!" Buffy launched herself over the table at Spike, who automatically stood to meet her attack.
Soddin' Slayer! How he wished he had this bloody chip out. She wasn't going to take away what was his. He wouldn't let her, even if the pain crippled him.
"No, Buffy!" Willow stood and threw herself between Spike and Buffy. "Stop it!"
"He bit you!" the blonde girl yelled again, skidding to a stop half-way across the table so she didn't run into Willow.
"Yes, he did," Willow said, chagrined that she'd forgotten about the bite...and, oh, crap, no bra! She barely kept herself from crossing her arms over her chest. "It was...I wanted him to," she said.
"Does he have the chip?" Buffy asked.
"Yes," Willow said, "he has the chip." She didn't think now would be the appropriate time to mention that he might not have the chip for long.
"Then how..?"
"Oh! Oh!" Anya stood up, her hands shaking with excitement. "I know! I know!" she ran over to the table. "I've heard about this! He bit you during sex!" she pointed at Spike as she spoke to Willow. "Was it good?" she asked. "Did it make the orgasm more powerful, like they say? Did it?!"
"Oh, dear lord," Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, wishing he could turn off his hearing, too.
"Sod off, demon girl," Spike said. He had wanted the entire gang to know that Willow was his, but he could tell that Willow was embarrassed by the turn the conversation had taken."Can we not discuss my sex life right now?" Willow asked. "We all already know that I sleepwalked to Spike and that we're now living and sleeping together. Can we keep the details to ourselves?"
"I'd tell you," Anya said, her voice small and sad.
"We know," Buffy replied.
"Too true," Giles said.
Willow closed her eyes and counted to ten, then opened them and looked directly at Anya.
"Yes, and that's *all* I'm saying!" she held her hand up to forestall any further questions from the ex-demon.
"Oooh! I knew it!" she said, skipping happily back to Xander.
"I'm not biting you," Xander said.
"Willow," Giles slipped his glasses back on, "I do hope you know what you're doing."
"I do, Giles," she looked at him. "True love, right?" she smiled. "Destiny?"
"Bullshit," Buffy said, still angry.
"Buffy," Giles said, "weren't you going on patrol?"
"But...," she pointed at Spike and Willow.
"I don't think they need your help," Giles said.
"My...? Eww!" Buffy said.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, "unless you need to report back tonight."
"Fine!" Buffy huffed. "I'll see *you* tomorrow, too!" she pointed at Willow.
"Goodnight, Buffy," Willow said tiredly. Just once she'd like to make a decision for herself. If Buffy thought she was going to convince Willow to give up Spike, she had another think coming.
"Arrgh!" Buffy walked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.
"Well, that went well," Giles sat down at the table, then stood again. "I need a drink."
Willow watched Giles walk over to the bookshelf and take down the bottle of scotch, then turned to Spike, who was still standing behind her.
"You alright?" she asked.
"You were like a tiger, defending her cub, or something," Spike said. Willow couldn't really read his expression.
"I hope you don't think that I think that you can't take care of yourself," she said hurriedly. "Except for, well, you can't, 'cause of the chip. But I know you could...,"
Spike put his fingers across her lips to silence her.
"Turns me on," he whispered.
"Oh. Really?" she asked. Spike pulled her against him. Willow felt his erection pressing into her stomach and blushed. "Oh," she said, her eyes wide.
"Everything about you turns me on," he said, then leaned down and kissed her.
"Ohhh," she moaned against his lips.
"Awww," Anya said.
"Ewww," Xander said.
"Think they'll ever stop?" Oz asked no one in particular.
"Why me?" Giles raised his eyes to the ceiling, then took a swig out of the bottle.
Chapter Twenty-ThreeAs soon as the children had left, Giles picked up the telephone and called Wesley.
"Wesley, Rupert Giles here. Have you found anything?" he asked hopefully.
"No, nothing yet," Wesley replied. "I'm sorry. I'll keep looking, of course."
"Thank you. I appreciate your help," Giles said wearily. "I'll call you tomorrow," he hung up the telephone and looked at the pad of paper he held in his hands. How he hated reading those words, dreaded thinking about what they meant. He ripped the sheet of paper off of the pad and crumpled it up. He didn't need his notes. He had the damned spell memorized. The whole spell, including the part he hadn't shared with Willow and Spike.
Perhaps he should have told them the whole thing. But he was too afraid of what Spike would do to Willow if he knew the rest.
"A paltry spell indeed," he muttered morosely.
***
Spike pushed Willow up against the closed door and stared down at her.
"You have to stop doing that," he told her, his eyes dark and full of heat.
"D-doing what?" Willow asked, as her knees trembled.
"Looking at me," Spike whispered as he kissed her. "Can't take it when you look at me like that."
"Mmm," Willow moaned into his mouth as her arms went around his back, her fingers gripping his shoulders. "Can't not look at you like that," she said when he pulled away to let her breathe.
The walk home had been quick. Spike had taken her book bag and lifted a giggling Willow onto his back for a piggyback ride.
"What are you doing?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around him.
"What's it look like?" he asked as he started walking, one hand beneath her butt, the other carrying her book bag.
"Okay, then," she smiled. "Why?"
"'Cause you're probably still too tired and sore to walk, and I ain't riding with the wolf again! 'Sides, quicker we get home, quicker I can get you naked."
"Aha!" she laughed. "The truth comes out."
"More 'n the truth'll be coming," he smirked and Willow playfully slapped his chest, then rested her chin on his shoulder, her head against his, for the rest of the walk home.
"Are we gonna get naked now?" she asked Spike breathlessly, his blue eyes boring into her, the door hard against her back.
"Oh, yeah," his hands slipped beneath her t-shirt to cup her unfettered breasts. "Definitely getting naked now."
***
Willow remembered to set her alarm, so she made it to school on time the next morning. Her first stop was the dorm room she shared with Buffy up until a week ago, to switch books for class. After two classes and an hour in the computer lab, Willow met Buffy at the student union for lunch.
"How could you let him bite you?" was the first thing Buffy said when she sat down at the table Willow had already found.
"Hello, to you, too, Buffy," Willow said.
"Hello," Buffy groused. "How could you let him bite you?" she leaned over the table, her posture reflecting the tension she was feeling.
"I didn't let him, exactly," Willow put her sandwich down. "It just happened. And it was amazing, Buffy," Willow leaned forward, her elbows on the table, her eyes gleaming as she remembered the first time he bit her.
"What about the chip? Why didn't that stop him?" Buffy asked worriedly. If Spike started killing again...
"I don't know," Willow said. "Maybe because it felt so good," she practically swooned.
"I don't need to hear this part," Buffy held her hand up.
"Yes, you do," Willow insisted, "because I want you to get over it and never mention it to Spike again."
"Willow!" Buffy was shocked at the firm tone her friend had taken.
"I mean it, Buffy," Willow said. "This is between Spike and me. It doesn't concern you."
"But...," Buffy sputtered. "He could hurt you!"
"He could," Willow agreed, "but he won't. I love him, Buffy. And he loves me."
"He *can't* love!" Buffy insisted angrily. "He doesn't have a soul!" she hissed, lowering her voice when she saw people staring at them.
"You believe that, if it makes you feel better," Willow told her, "but I know differently."
"How?" Buffy asked. "How can you believe that he loves you?" she slammed her fist on the table.
"Because he tells me. And he shows me. I'm nobody special, Buffy. I'm not beautiful, like you. But he loves me. And I love him."
"That's bullshit! You are special! And he'd have to be an idiot not to see it. But, what I really don't get, is how you can trust him. What you see in him," Buffy said.
"You've never really given him a chance. He's very smart, and he can be kind, and he's very funny...,"
"Yeah, a laugh a minute," Buffy scoffed. "He's an evil vampire," she reminded her friend.
"He's a vampire," Willow agreed. "But he's not evil. Well, not totally evil. Would an evil vampire have helped me when I was sleepwalking?"
"He got...*sex*...out of it!" Buffy hissed.
"Not at first," Willow blushed. "That didn't come until later...much later."
"Willow...,"
"Buffy," Willow held up her hand. "It just is. Accept it. I never got to pick your boyfriends, you don't get to pick mine. Besides, I'm a big girl now, I think I can make this decision on my own."
"I don't know if I can accept you...sleeping...with Spike," Buffy grimaced in distaste, shuddering as she leaned back in her chair.
"Well," Willow shrugged, "I'd let you see him naked, to see what the fuss is all about, but then I'd have to kill you!"
"Eww!" Buffy cried. "Willow! That's...oh, god, I can't believe you put that image in my head!"
"Besides," Willow continued, "if you remember the 'my will' spell...was it really that bad?"
"I can't believe you reminded me of that! I kissed and...kissed...my mortal enemy! It was disgusting!" Buffy's eyes were wide with the remembered horror of it.
"I think he's very manly, and very nicely shaped," Willow said, imitating Anya.
"Stop!" Buffy cried, covering her ears.
Willow just laughed at the blonde's discomfort.
***
Several hours later, Tara found Willow in the library.
"Hey," the blonde spoke softly to get her attention.
"Hey!" Willow looked up from the book she was reading. "What's up?"
"I did some thinking about the chip," Tara pulled out a chair and sat across from Willow.
"And?" Willow asked worriedly.
"I think we can do it," Tara began.
"Oh, thank you!" Willow breathed.
"But I'm not sure if removing it is the way to go."
"What do you mean?" Willow asked, confused.
"It might be safer to see if we can disable it. Less trauma to the surrounding brain tissue. Even dissolving it might cause some damage," Tara explained her reasoning.
"Oh," Willow sounded disappointed.
"I think it'll still work," Tara tried to reassure her.
"It's just...I kind of had an idea about removing it, with the teleportation spell, but if we're going to attempt to disable it...I don't know where to start," Willow admitted.
"Don't worry, we'll go to the specialists for that," Tara smiled.
"What do you mean?" Willow asked.
"It's a computer chip, right?" Tara said.
"Yeah...," Willow replied.
"So, we go to the experts on computer chips and see how they'd disable one, and then we'll see if we can write a spell that'll to do the same thing. And we can even practice on chips that aren't already in someone's head," Tara added, at Willow's concerned expression.
"Do you really think this'll work?" Willow asked."I feel good about it," Tara said. "We'll know more after I get us a computer geek to talk to."
"Hey!" Willow said. "I'm a computer geek."
"You're not a geek at all," Tara smiled at her, then lifted her eyes behind her. "Someone you know?"
Willow turned her head and saw Oz standing a few feet away.
"Oz!" Willow said, surprised.
"Hey," he greeted her as he walked closer.
"Hi. Oh, uh, Oz, this is Tara, Tara, Oz," she made the introductions.
"Hi," Tara stood and held out her hand. Oz shook it. "Well, I've got to get going," she said. "I'll call you, when I get that information. Oz, nice meeting you," she waved and then turned and walked away.
"Who was that?" Oz asked as he took the seat Tara had vacated.
"Tara. She's a witch," Willow said. "I met her at a Wicca meeting. I think she was the only other real witch there!" Willow laughed. "So, what, um, what are you doing here?"
"I thought we should talk," he said.
"O-okay. Talk," Willow made a motion with her hands, giving him the floor.
"This thing with Spike," he began, "are you...are you happy?"
Willow smiled.
"I'm very happy," she said. "Thank you for asking," she covered one of his hands with her own. "No one else has," tears filled her eyes. Oz covered her hand with his other, sandwiching it between them.
"I just want you to be happy," he said.
"I am," Willow said. "I really am."
"Listen," Oz said, "about last night...,"
"Oh, listen!" Willow interrupted. "I'm sorry about Spike! He was just being all...possessive and jealous and...,"
"Uh, no, I meant at Giles'," Oz said. "I should have said something then, instead of letting Buffy and Xander browbeat you."
"Oh," Willow blushed, "that. Well, that's okay. I'm sure it was a shock to you. I mean, this whole thing, ever since you got back, one big...shock!"
"Kind of. So, Tara, she seeing anyone?"
***
"Why do you smell like the wolf?"
"Geez, Spike!" Willow jumped. "Quit sneaking up on me like that!" she continued pouring the bag of blood into a mug, then wiped up the blood she had spilled when Spike made her jump. She put the mug in the microwave, then turned to Spike.
"Now, what was it you said?" she asked.
"Why...do...you...smell...like...the...wolf?" he repeated. He was leaning against the island, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes glowing amber. He had felt his demon react as soon as the scent of the wolf reached his nostrils.
"Don't you look at me like that! Or *talk* to me like that!" Willow stood with her hands on her hips. Who did he think he was, anyway?
"Answer the question," he growled. All he could think about was that she'd been with the wolf, just like Dru and the chaos demon all over again.
"No," Willow stubbornly shook her head, then turned to storm out of the kitchen. How dare he treat her...aahh!
With a loud growl, Spike grabbed her around the waist and spun her around, pulling her against him. He bent his head, sniffing her neck.
"Am I going to have to show you who you belong to?" he asked, licking the bite mark he'd left on her. He knew that Willow wasn't Dru, but that part of his brain wasn't in control right now.
"I belong to me!" Willow said, trying to pull away from him even as his insistent handling made her stomach flutter, the place between her thighs tingle.
"Wrong," he snarled. "You belong to me," he backed her up against the island, trapping her between him and the island, freeing his hands to roam over her body. He squeezed her breasts, pinched her nipples, then slid one hand between her thighs.
"Spike," Willow moaned, letting her head tip back as she clutched at his arms. She couldn't believe that she was getting turned on by this...this...caveman treatment! She was a woman of the...oh, goddess, what year was it now?
"Want me to show you who you belong to?" Spike sucked on the bite.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Willow cried. "Spike, please," she ran her hands up his arms to his shoulders, then down over his back.
"Tell me about the wolf," he whispered in her ear before taking her lobe into his mouth, nibbling and sucking on it.
"He just...oh, Spike! He just wanted to make sure I was happy," her voice rose to a squeal as Spike shoved his hand down her pants and pressed his fingers against her clit.
"What did you tell him?" he asked, his fingers stroking her, kneading her.
"Yes! Yes, I told him yes, very happy," she moaned. "Please, Spike, please!"
Spike slid a finger inside her as he ripped her shirt away and lowered his head to her breast. Willow's hold on his head, his shoulder, was the only thing holding her up as her legs threatened to collapse.
She started to keen as her muscles began to tense. Spike lifted his head and looked at Willow.
"Mine," he growled as he morphed.
"Oh, goddess, Spike!" Willow cried.
He placed his mouth at the bite, licked it, then sank his fangs into her neck, slowly sucking her sweet, intoxicating blood out of her as his fingers continued their ministrations. The feeling of his fingers on her, the pull as he drew her blood out of her, were finally too much.
"Spi-ike!" Willow screamed his name as she came. Spike withdrew his fangs, licking the bite until Willow's breathing became even and her heart rate slowed.
"Mine," he whispered against her neck.
"Yours," Willow moaned, barely able to speak. "Yours."
Chapter Twenty-Four
When Willow opened her eyes again, she was lying on her bed. Alone. She sat up and looked around her empty room, her heart thundering. Just then, Spike walked into the bedroom, a mug tipped to his lips.The sight of him gave her a jolt. He was so darn...sexy. And not just sexy, but...sensual. He was like a panther, so beautiful and graceful. And he was here, with her.
"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly as he heard her heart racing, smelled her panic.
"Nothing," she shook her head and tried to smile. Spike managed to frown and roll his eyes at the same time, a freaky combination that made Willow shudder."Don't do that!" she said.
"Do what?" he asked.
"The...the frown and the," she was waving her hands about, "eye roll thingy...looks, uh, weird...together." He just raised his eyebrows as he took another sip of the blood.
"So, what had your heart beating out of your chest?" he asked. "And don't even try to lie this time. I can hear it."
"Oh," Willow said. Damn vampire senses! "Well. I was just, uh, disoriented when I woke up, um, alone," she lowered her eyes and watched her fingers pick at the blanket Spike had thrown over her.
"You want me to beat you?" he asked softly and Willow shivered.
"Uh," she still didn't look up, "not, um, not really. Unless," her heart sped up again, "you know, you're talking about something, uh, kinky."
Spike was glad he didn't have a mouthful of blood just then or he'd have spit it out all over the place. Willow...the supposedly mousy redhead...just said the word 'kinky'! And not in the 'use the word kinky in a sentence' kind of way, either! But in the, 'let's do something kinky' kind of way.
"Uh, Red?" he asked.
"Mmm hmm?" Willow was blushing madly and refused to look up at him. She couldn't believe she had just said that! Oh, goddess, what was he going to think? More importantly, what was he going to do?
"Feel the need to be spanked, luv?" he teased as he set his mug on the bedside stand and sat on the bed next to her. Willow felt the mattress dip and could feel him next to her, but she still refused to look at him.
"No! That's not..."Spike grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her onto his lap before she could finish her sentence. Willow wrapped her arms around him and hid her face against his chest.
"I'm so embarrassed," she moaned with a slight shake of her head. What was she thinking?!
"I'm not," Spike said. "That's good information to have."
"Spike!" she playfully slapped him.
"Ever been spanked, luv?" he teased some more, trying to draw her out of her funk.
"No!" she squealed and Spike laughed.
"Wanna?" he asked.
"No!"
"You don't know what you're missing," he continued to tease her, his hands rubbing her back.
"I-I can't imagine enjoying that!" she said honestly.
"Probably never thought you'd enjoy shagging a vampire, either," he countered.
"Uh, well, got me there," she agreed.
"Or being bit," he breathed against her hair.
"And, uh, and there," she felt her body respond to his voice, his touch.
"Spanking can be fun," he tilted her head with his own and licked his mark.
"R-really?" she shivered at his words, his touch.
"Mmm," he moaned against her neck.
"C-can I spank you?" she asked, her voice trembling from the feelings his lips on the bite mark sent shooting through her body. Spike froze, then moved his head so they were eye-to-eye.
"You wanna spank the big bad, little girl?" he growled. Willow felt butterflies in her belly at Spike's tone, but she wasn't fooled by his growl, mainly because of the erection now pressing into her leg. She felt herself gain a little more confidence.
"You *were* bad, Spike," her voice was low and breathy, as she lifted herself to straddle his legs. She ran her hands over his chest and up to his shoulders, then slid them up the back of his neck and into his hair. "You may deserve a spanking," she bit his lower lip and sucked it into her mouth."Might at that," he agreed with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, as his hands ran over Willow's back, down to cup her butt, then up to her shoulders. "Think you got what it takes to punish the big bad?"
"Shut up, Spike," Willow said, sliding her tongue into his mouth, ensuring that he couldn't talk. She was taking no chances. She wrapped one arm around his shoulders and pressed herself against him, the fingers of her other hand firmly fisted in his hair.
She kissed him slow, exploring his mouth, tasting him. Spike's hands slipped beneath her ripped shirt, cool against the heat of her flesh. She kissed him a bit harder, sucking on his lips, battling with his tongue, nipping, as she rubbed herself against him.
"Shirt off," she insisted as she leaned back and reached for the hem. Spike lifted his arms and Willow pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor.
"You're beautiful," she breathed as she let her eyes and fingers roam over him. They started on his chest, trailing over his shoulders and down his arms, then up his back to his neck and into his hair. She leaned forward and pressed kisses to his lips, his cheeks, his forehead.
"I love you, Spike," she whispered as she trailed kisses along his jaw and down his neck.
"Willow," Spike groaned, his hands tightening on her back, slipping down to cup her ass, kneading her flesh. He'd still been partially hard from touching her in the kitchen earlier, and she was driving him mad.
Willow traced her tongue over the now-healed bite mark on his neck and Spike bucked against her. Willow pulled away and shoved him back on the bed. She looked down into his eyes as she removed her ripped top, then reached between her breasts and unsnapped her bra.
She watched Spike's eyes go from deep blue to amber and grinned down at him. She cupped her own breasts, squeezing gently as she ground herself against him.
"Willow," he groaned, reaching for her breasts. Willow removed her hands and leaned into his touch, her hands going to his chest, kneading his muscles as he kneaded her. She was running the fingers of one hand over the spot of the bite mark on his neck when the phone rang, startling her.
She laughed and Spike groaned.
"Probably demon girl," he managed to get out.
"How do you know?" Willow asked, not stopping her movements."Called earlier," Spike groaned. "Left message. Bronze. Tonight," he tilted his head when Willow leaned down to lick the bite mark again.
"Wanna go?" she asked, her voice vibrating against his neck.
"What?" he asked, barely able to think.
"To The Bronze," she clarified. "Wanna go?"
"Now?" he asked in disbelief and Willow giggled.
"Not now. Later," she giggled again.
"Oh," he said in relief. "Voluntarily hanging out with the Slayer?"
"I'll wear my hair up so she sees the bite mark," Willow whispered.
"Really?" he asked, a small part of his brain already thinking of other ways he could annoy the Slayer, the rest of it dead, or deader, since all of his borrowed blood now resided in his cock.
"And you can show her yours," Willow sucked on his neck.
"Yes!" Spike cried, his hips bucking against Willow.
Willow sat up and placed her hand on his chest as she leaned over him, reaching for the telephone. Spike watched her breasts dangling tantalizingly over his mouth. He tried to lift his head to grasp one in his lips, but Willow put her hand over his face and pushed him back down.
"Grrr!" he licked the palm of her hand and Willow slapped him lightly before putting it back on his chest.
"Hello!" she said cheerfully into the receiver as she continued to torment Spike by rubbing herself against him.
"Wills!" Xander's voice came over the line loud enough for Spike to hear. "What's up?"
"Oh, not much," she used her hand on Spike's chest for leverage and pressed herself more firmly against him, "yet." He grabbed her hips and pressed back. "You?" her voice was a bit breathless.
"Just got home from work. Did you get Anya's message about The Bronze?" he asked.
"No, but Spike just told me she called. We're Bronzing it tonight?"
"Yep, the whole gang. Uh," he paused.
"What?" Willow asked.
"Mind if I invite Oz?" Xander asked quickly. "I don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable."
"No, of course you can invite Oz," Willow slid her hand up Spike's chest and pressed against the bite. "Spike'd love to see him again," she smirked at Spike as he morphed, then slipped back to his human face. "What time?"
"Eightish?" Xander asked.
"Sounds good. See you then," Willow disconnected and smirked down at Spike. "Looks like you'll really be able to show off those bites," she said as she leaned forward to hang up the phone. It rang again and Willow looked at it in surprise.
"Hello?" she said as she sat back. "Tara, hi!"
Spike watched Willow's face as she listened, her brow furrowed in concentration and then she smiled. It was like the sunshine and it made Spike's heart ache.
"Okay, that sounds great. Listen, if you're not doing anything tonight, and my friends, or Spike," she gave him the evil eye and he shrugged, trying the innocent look, which didn't wash, "didn't scare you off, we're going to The Bronze. We're meeting there at eight. Alright. And, thank you, Tara," she disconnected again as she looked down as Spike.
"Now, where were we?" she asked as she tossed the phone on the bed.
"Right here," he tilted his head and pulled Willow down to his neck.
"Mine," Willow growled as she licked him.
"Yours," Spike groaned as he felt her teeth on him.
***
Willow and Spike were running late. Again. They walked into The Bronze at about half past eight, Willow's small hand clutched tightly in Spike's. Xander, Anya, Oz, and Buffy were already waiting for them at the table.
Xander and Anya sat together, then an empty chair, Oz, Buffy, and a second empty chair.
Willow and Spike stood behind the empty chair between Buffy and Xander.
"Hi!" Willow chirped a general greeting as she unzipped her jacket."Hello!" Anya was giddy. Well, giddier than normal, Willow thought, watching her bounce in her chair. It looked like she had already finished the first of whatever fruity concoction she'd decided to try tonight.
"Hey," Oz looked relaxed, though he was sitting up straight, one arm on the table, his hand around a cup of soda.
"Hey, Wills," Xander was leaning back with his legs sprawled out in front of him. "Spike," he grumbled as Anya slapped his leg not-so-subtly under the table.
"Moron," Spike said as he put his hands on Willow's shoulders.
"Will," Buffy greeted her friend. "Had to bring Spike, huh?" she groused.
"Nope!" Willow said as Spike helped her take her jacket off and hung it over the back of the chair. "Wanted to, though," she slipped her arm around his waist as he was taking off his duster, and tilted her head back for a kiss. He leaned down and kissed her as he laid his jacket over hers.
Buffy mumbled something under her breath.
"Did you say something, Buffy?" Willow asked, turning to look at her friend. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and an emerald green tank top. Her hair was up, as she'd promised Spike, and tendrils framed her face and neck.
"No...," Buffy started to speak, then froze when she saw the fresh bite on Willow's neck. She opened her mouth to protest, then slammed it shut with an audible snap.
"Has the waitress come around?" Willow asked.
"No," Oz said. "They must be short. We had to go to the bar."
"Okay," she turned back to Spike, tilted her head back, and smiled at him cutely as she took his hand in hers. "Will you go get me a soda?" she asked with a pout.
"S'pose so," he grumbled, then leaned down and grabbed her lower lip between his teeth, making her moan. "Need a refill, demon girl?" he asked gruffly after releasing Willow's lip. Shouldn't have done that, he thought, knowing he now sported a hard-on.
"Yes, thank you!" Anya bounced again. "Bahama mama," she pointed at the cup.
"Any of you other gits need anything?" he asked.
"No, I'm good," Oz said.
"No!" Xander and Buffy both said. They wouldn't admit to being thirsty even if they'd been in the desert without water for three days, if Spike was the one offering them the water.
"Suit yourselves," he said, looking meaningfully at their nearly empty cups.
Willow sat down on the chair and looked at everyone around the table with a big, satisfied grin on her face.
"So," she said, "how's everyone doing?"
No one answered her until Oz spoke up.
"Devon said the Dingoes are going to be hitting some clubs in the area. They're going to let me play with them."
"Oz, that's wonderful!" Willow said.
"Yeah, great news, buddy," Xander agreed.
Spike returned to the table with the drinks. He set Willow's soda and his beer on the table in front of Willow, then handed Anya her drink.
"Thanks," Anya bounced again.
"How many of those have you had?" Spike asked.
"Oh, this is only my second," she assured him.
"Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better," he replied as Willow stood to allow him to sit down. Spike sat and pulled Willow down on his lap.
"We have other chairs," Buffy pointed...pointedly...at the other empty chair between Anya and Oz.
"That's okay," Willow smiled at her after taking a sip of her soda and putting the cup back down. "I'm comfy right here," she wiggled on Spike's lap and put her arm around his neck. "Besides, I invited Tara. You comfy?" she looked down at Spike from her seat on his lap as her fingers brushed gently over the bite mark.
"Not really," Spike whispered as he put his hands on her waist and moved his hips just enough to press his erection into her leg. Willow just smiled at him.
"Aahh," Xander made a strangled noise as he pointed at Willow and Spike.
"What is it, Xander?" Buffy asked."Bite!" he managed to get out.
"Yeah," Buffy said disgustedly, "we discussed that last night, remember?"
"No," Xander shook his head, still unable to speak. "Willow...Spike."
Buffy frowned, then leaned forward and looked at Willow and Spike. Willow felt her eyes on them and leaned back, turning slightly so she could see the other girl.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"You...!" Buffy's mouth dropped open. "You...,"
"What?" Willow asked again.
"You bit Spike?" she finally managed to get out.
"Wow, really?" Anya put her drink down, her attention completely on Willow and Spike now. "So, does it work both ways?" she asked. "The orgasm, I mean."
"An!"
Chapter Twenty-Five"Hi," Tara's voice came from behind Willow, and the redhead swivelled on Spike's lap to look at the other girl. "Sorry I'm late," she continued as she walked up to the table.
"Tara, hi! No problem," Willow greeted her, "we just got here ourselves. Have a seat," she motioned to the empty chair across the table. "Can we get you something to drink?"
"Thanks," she moved around the table to the chair between Anya and Oz. "No, actually, I passed a waitress and she's bringing me a drink." Tara took her jacket off, hung it over the back of the chair, and sat down.
"Wow," Oz spoke to the table in general, "she's good."
"I don't know if you remember everyone," Willow said. "Xander, Anya, Oz, Buffy, and, of course, Spike," she went around the table, pointing at each of her friends. "You guys remember Tara."
"Yeah, hi," Buffy snarled and Willow kicked her under the table. "Ow! What...?"
"Hi," Oz shook Tara's hand.
"Hey!" Xander gave a little wave and half-smile."Hello, Tara," Anya held out her hand, "nice to see you again."
"Hello, everyone," Tara smiled.
Just then the waitress showed up and placed Tara's drink in front of her. She took orders from the rest of the table, then left.
"Have I interrupted something?" Tara asked after she took a sip of her drink, noticing the tension around the table..
"No! No, nothing!" Xander yelped.
"They were just yelling at Willow for biting Spike," Anya offered, taking another sip of her drink.
"No one was yelling," Buffy muttered.
"Willow bit Spike?" Tara asked in confusion.
"And he bit her," Anya nodded conspiratorially. "During sex," she stage-whispered.
"Aahh," Tara nodded and smiled at Anya, a blush pinking her skin. She looked over at Willow who was snuggled up against Spike, watching Anya with an expression of bemusement.
"An," Xander groaned.
"So, Tara," Oz broke the tension, "you're a student at UC Sunnydale?"
The next hour was spent making small talk, until Willow asked Buffy where Riley was.
"Riley and I...aren't seeing each other anymore," Buffy said before taking a sip of her soda.
"Oh, sorry," Willow put her hand on Buffy's arm. "You okay?"
"Fine," Buffy smiled. "Didn't hurt as much as I thought it would." Her tone made it clear she didn't really want to talk about it.
"I'm glad," Willow said. "Everybody ready for another round?" she changed the subject. "I've got to run to the ladies room, I'll find the waitress and order another round on my way," she slipped off of Spike's lap and stood.
There was a chorus of 'yeses' and Anya stood.
"I'll go with you!" she said. "That's the proper way these things are done, right? We go to the bathroom in groups?""Uh, yeah, sure. Thanks, Anya," Willow smiled at the girl, then leaned down to give Spike a quick peck on the lips. At Buffy's groan, Willow quirked her lips and deepened the kiss until she had to pull away to take a breath. In fact, she had to stand again, because Spike had pulled her back down on his lap to make the most of the kiss.
Willow took a deep breath and shook herself, then led Anya away from the table on shaky legs, in search of their waitress and the restroom. Spike smirked at her as she tried to calm herself. As soon as Willow was away from the table, Buffy started in on Spike.
"I cannot believe you *bit* her!" she exploded, her voice low and angry as she leaned over the table.
Spike just rolled his eyed.
"And you let her bite you! What kind of idiotic, stupid, imbecilic, uh, uh...,"
"Moronic," Xander suggested.
"Oh, sod off!" he took a sip of his beer as he gave Xander the two fingered salute.
"Yes, thank you!" Buffy pointed at him. "Moronic...person...does that?"
"The kind who's a vampire?" Spike suggested with a sneer, as he took another sip of his beer. He was suddenly, or not so suddenly, sorry he'd agreed to come to The Bronze tonight. During the past hour, Buffy hadn't contributed much to the conversation except sounds of disgust, which escalated as the evening progressed.
Spike was surprised she'd managed to keep her mouth shut this long and wondered if she'd have finally exploded from the pressure of remaining silent if Willow hadn't left the table. He wondered how much longer Willow would want to stay. Reluctantly, Spike tuned back in to the vitriol the Slayer was spewing.
"You are nothing but an evil, bloodsucking demon!" she was saying. "One day, Willow will realize that you haven't changed, but I'm not sure if I can wait that long. Just give me an excuse," she got in his face, "and I will stake you faster than you can even think it."
"That wouldn't make Willow very happy, Slayer," Spike smirked, egging her on. He couldn't fight her, so nothing better than seeing the Slayer in a full-blown snit.
"Willow would never have to know," Buffy's voice got even lower, more deadly. "It would be just like you to take off and leave her...,"
"Buffy," Oz's voice was even, not showing his discomfort with the turn the conversation had taken.
"Uh, Buff," Xander shifted in his seat.
Tara's eyes got big, but she remained silent.
Spike felt his demon raging inside him and had to fight to keep from letting him out to attack the Slayer, which would only cause him excruciating pain. Although, the headache he was getting from the internal battle with his demon was so bad, the added pain from the chip might be worth getting a good shot in at the Slayer.
"First," Spike held one finger up in Buffy's face, "I would never leave her, and she knows that. Second," he flipped up a second finger and Buffy jerked her head back, "everyone at this table just heard you threaten to dust me and tell Willow I left her. And they say I can't plan. You *are* just as dumb as you look, aren't you, you stupid bint?"
If there was anything Buffy hated more than the blond vampire, it was being reminded of her mental shortcomings. Being reminded *by* the blond vampire was more than she could take. She pulled her arm back and her fist shot forward, connecting with Spike's face.
The area around him erupted, and everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Spike's head snapped to the side. He turned amber eyes on Buffy and leaned forward as if he was going to rise, take her on despite the chip in his head.
***
"Spike!" Willow cried as she ran back over to the table. She and Anya were returning from the restroom when she saw Buffy punch Spike.
"Oh, my god!" Anya squealed as she ran after Willow.
"Buffy!" Xander yelped in shocked surprise.
"Whoa," Oz shook his head in disbelief.
"Oh, dear," Tara's hand went to her throat.
"Geez, Buffy, what do you think you're *doing*?" Willow shoved her way between the two of them, shouldering the blonde out of her way and gently pushing Spike back into his chair. She carefully pulled Spike's head around so she could see the damage to his face.
Spike glared back at Willow with amber eyes, his demon to the fore. He growled as Willow lightly prodded the broken skin over his cheekbone, his hands gripping the back of her thighs.
"Sorry, sweetie," she said without flinching away from him. "It doesn't look too bad, and it'll heal soon, right?" she asked as she leaned down and kissed the cut, letting her tongue slip out and lick the blood from it. Spike groaned and Willow's head shot up."That didn't hurt, did it?" she asked worriedly. He shook his head, unable to speak. It took all of his concentration to not grab her and take her right there. The concern on her face and in her voice, the feel of her tongue on his skin, the knowledge that she was tasting his blood, all served to make him want her.
"Can you put this away?" she asked as she kissed his ridged forehead. Spike could only nod. His nostrils flaring, he morphed back into his human face. Willow ran her fingers gently through his hair, then took his hand in hers, before turning to stare at Buffy with eyes that shot sparks of anger.
"Don't ever," she said, her voice low, dangerous, "*ever* touch him again."
"But, Will...," Buffy started to defend herself.
"I don't want to hear it. I've heard it all before. Evil demon, blah, blah, blah," she stood staring at her friend in silence for a long moment before continuing.
"You know, I can't believe you!" she hissed. "I just can't believe you. You of all people should understand. You fell in love with Angel!" Buffy started to speak again, but Willow silenced her with a gesture.
"And don't give me that crap about Angel having a soul. You fell in love with him before you knew he was a vampire, before you knew he had a soul. You just used the soul as an excuse to make it alright for you to love him after you found out."
"And you," she turned on Xander. "You have no place to judge me, either. You dated Cordelia, for the goddess's sake! She wasn't a demon, but she hated us and took every opportunity to let us know how much we didn't measure up to her high standards. Yeah, that was a real fun time. And then you started dating Anya, an ex-vengeance demon, not that I don't like you, Anya," Willow turned to the ex-demon in question, "just trying to make a point."
"That's okay," Anya said. "Please, continue." She thought Buffy deserved the put-down, and she was more than tired of Xander's hypocritical attitude, too.
"She was a vengeance demon for a thousand years! She granted Cordy's wish of vengeance and ended up causing vamp me to come here to Sunnydale, but it took you no time at all to forgive her. Why can't you give Spike even a smidgeon of the same chance you gave Anya?" she held her hand out, her thumb and index finger held close together.
"Wills...," Xander tried to appease her.
"I don't want to talk to either one of you right now," she waved his words away, looking between him and Buffy. "Don't you even care that he makes me happy?" she asked, angrily blinking back the tears that filled her eyes.
"I'm suddenly sorry I invited you to join us tonight, Tara. Please, forgive us," Willow apologized to her friend, then turned to the blond vampire behind her.
"Spike," she rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand, "can we leave?"
Spike looked up into her sad face and wanted to kill the Slayer. And the moron. Hitting him was one thing, hurting Willow, quite another.
"Sure thing, luv," he stood and wrapped his arms around her. His ears caught the change in music from a fast, pounding beat to a slow, thrumming one. "Come on," he shoved the chair back and led her toward the dance floor.
"Where are we going?" she asked in confusion. "Our coats...,"
"Well," Oz commented thoughtfully, as he watched Spike drag Willow to the dance floor, "that's certainly one way of showing your support. Care to dance?" he turned to Tara and stood.
"Uh, yeah, thanks," Tara's face mirrored the confusion she was feeling inside. This was quite the little soap opera she'd landed in. She took Oz's hand and let him lead her onto the dance floor.
"I can't believe you two," Anya said when the three of them were alone. "I hope you're proud of yourselves."
***
"I'd like a dance before we leave," Spike turned to Willow and pulled her against him. "That okay?" he asked as his hands ran over her back. He wasn't going to let the Slayer ruin the whole evening for them.
"Yes," Willow looked up at him and smiled, then wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. "I love you, Spike," she said.
"Love you, too, Red," he kissed the top of her head.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered. She couldn't believe what she had witnessed. She knew Buffy didn't like Spike, but to punch him in the middle of The Bronze!
"'Bout what?" he asked.
"Buffy and Xander. They're being such jerks. And your poor face," she tilted her head back and reached up with one hand to trace a finger along the healing cut.
"'S alright," he said. "As long as you don't smarten up and listen to 'em, it'll be alright!" he attempted to make her smile.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Hmm?" he furrowed his brow in confusion.
"At the table, when she hit you. What happened?"
"Oh. You know, just the ususal, she just kept talking until she pissed me off and I had to open my big mouth, and you know how the Slayer likes to hit things," he explained.
"I know there's more. I'll find out anyway, I just have to ask Oz or Tara, so you might as well tell me," Willow replied, not believing his vague explanation.
"It's not important now," he assured her. And it wasn't, when she was in his arms.
"Tell me," she insisted. "Please, Spike, tell me."
"Red," he shook his head in defeat and closed his eyes. "Slayer said she's just looking for an excuse to dust me and you'd never know 'cause she'd tell you I left you," he spoke quickly."What?" Willow's feet stopped moving. "She said *what*?!" She couldn't believe it. Buffy had not only threatened to stake Spike, which she normally did on a daily basis, but said she'd lie and tell Willow that Spike had left her. Even after she knew how much Oz leaving had hurt Willow, Buffy would put her through the same pain again?
"Red, it was just talk, I'm sure," he tried to get her to relax again. "Come on, don't worry about it. She just...,"
"I'm going to kill her," Willow pulled out of his arms and had taken several steps back toward the table before Spike grabbed hold of her belt loop and pulled her back against him.
"Red, now don't go doing something you might regret," he twirled her around so he was looking down at her determined face.
"Oh, I'm not going to regret it!" she insisted. "Let me go," she tried to twist out of his grip.
"No," he pulled her against him. Nothing more he'd like to see than Red sticking it to the Slayer for him, but he wouldn't risk her getting hurt. A verbal slashing was one thing, Willow could hold her own there, but she'd never last in a physical contest with the Slayer.
"Spike, sweetie, let me go hurt the Slayer," she wheedled as she tried to pry his fingers off of her jeans."Since when to you call her the Slayer?" he asked.
"Since she hit you and threatened to dust you and lie to me about it! Now, let me...,"
"Cor, Willow, you keep rubbing against me like that, I'm gonna have ta shag ya right here," he moaned as Willow's struggles caused her breasts to rub against his chest, her stomach against his growing erection. "Now, let's just finish our dance so we can go home and shag."
"I wanna hit something, Spike," Willow fisted her fingers in his t-shirt. "I'm so mad at her!" she stomped her foot.
Spike looked down on Willow. Her skin was flushed, her breathing fast, her heartbeat jumping. He lowered his head.
"Take it out on me," he said, just before he crushed his lips to hers.
"Mmm," Willow moaned as she wrapped one arm around his shoulders, her hand on his neck, her fingers in his hair, the other still gripping his t-shirt and pulling him close. She parted her lips and Spike's tongue swept into her mouth in a bruising, demanding kiss.