Chapter 6:

AN: Thanks to Flames and her beta job!!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike slowly walked down the aisle, a glass of water clutched firmly in his hand. He had spent several minutes in the kitchen after getting the water trying to calm himself from the incident with Buffy earlier. He knew he shouldn't be bothered so much about it, but the fact that he had done much more than accidentally grab a hold of her breast was what upset him the most.

’Just don't let it bother you,’ he told himself, as his gaze landed on the girl who was currently consuming his thoughts. ‘Have a job to do. Must remain professional.’

"’ere you go," Spike said, setting the glass in front of Buffy. "Nice cold, glass o’ water for you."

Buffy jumped slightly when she heard Spike’s voice and the glass that was being placed in front of her. She silently thanked him before lifting the glass to her lips and taking a sip. She didn’t look up when he took his seat across from her, instead turned her attention back to the layout of the cabin that Agent Harris was still looking over.

"Which room is mine?" she asked, shifting her weight on the seat to get a better look.

Xander waved his hand over the area of the blueprint. "Pick one."

Buffy blushed, embarrassed by the fact that she didn’t understand exactly what she was looking at. TO her it looked like a bunch of numbers and lines that formed boxes of various sizes.

"Um...I’ll pick this one," she said, pointing to a big box in the center of the layout.

Buffy’s head shot up when she heard the two people sitting on the other side of the table laugh. She narrowed her eyes at Spike before turning a cold gaze to Rose.

"Honey, that’s the kitchen." Rose informed her, still laughing.

Buffy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I know that. I was just joking," she told them, her voice laced with venom. "Can’t the FBI take a joke?"

Spike stopped his laughing at her remark. He hadn’t meant to offend her. He thought it was cute how she had picked out the kitchen as her room. It told him that despite the rebellious air she surrounded herself with; she was still an innocent- a virgin to the real world in every sense of the word. Guarded and protected her whole life by her mother’s love and her father’s wealth. She still had a lot to learn.

"What are you staring at?" Spike heard Rose whisper into his ear.

Spike snapped out of his daze and tore his eyes away from Buffy to look at Rose who was leaning in close. He sighed heavily when he saw the knowing look in her gaze.

"Rose don’t start with me," he gritted out through his clenched teeth. "I ‘ave a lot on my mind right now."

Rose smiled slyly and leaned in closer still. "Oh I don’t doubt that. Judging from the way you were looking at Miss Summers over there, I’d say you have every inch of her embedded in your mind right now."

Before Spike could say anything, Rose had pulled back and went right back to her typing. Knowing that there was no use in arguing with her, he simply shook his head and spent the remainder of the flight helping Xander with the cabin security.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After landing in Washington D.C and transferring to a much smaller jet, -one that seated about ten people, tops- Buffy and her guards were on their way to the cabin, riding in a black 4x4, complete with tinted windows.

”˜Boy, this will really make us look discrete…” Buffy thought to herself, when she first laid eyes on the SUV.

Now as they drove towards the cabin, Buffy leaned back in her seat and watched the trees that seemed to zoom by. It was finally hitting her- the reality of the whole situation. For some reason during the flight from L.A. to D.C. she’d still been able to think of this as some horrible dream. That at any moment she would wake up, and be safe in her warm bed at home. But this wasn’t a dream. If the luggage in the rear of the SUV wasn’t proof, then the appearance of the cabin certainly was.

"Here we are, home sweet home," Xander sang in a not so cheerful voice as he killed the engine and put the car into park. "Let’s unload the luggage so we can eat. I don’t know about you guys but I’m starving."

Spike unbuckled his belt and opened his car door. He walked to Buffy’s door and was just about to open it when it swung open and almost hit him. He stumbled back and stared at the petite girl as she hopped out of the car and made her way towards the cabin.

"Where does she think she’s going?" Spike heard Xander ask beside him.

Spike shook his head. "I don’t know," he answered. "Come on, let’s get this luggage out."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy was returning from her exploration of the kitchen when she heard the front door open. She saw Spike and Xander enter, their arms loaded down with bags. When she noticed that none of the bags were her own she frowned.

"Where’s my stuff?"

Xander groaned loudly then mumbled something about women before disappearing, leaving Spike and Buffy alone in the den.

"Listen Buffy." Spike started to speak, letting the bags drop to the floor. "I don’t know how things are run back at Casa de la Summers, but since we’re hundreds of thousands of miles away from Sunnydale, don’t expect t’be waited on. We may be here to guard you, but we are not here to serve you."

"You don’t have to be so rude about it. If you wanted me to get my own stuff, all you had to do was say so." Buffy told him, flipping her hair back and pushing past him to walk out the door.

Before she was even half way past him something scurrying across the floor caught the corner of her eye. Panic soared through her body as she attempted to leap up onto a wooden chair set against a wall. She miscalculated her footing, as well as the distance of the chair, and ended up losing her balance. She let out a startled yelp as she felt herself being caught around the waist by two broad arms. Instinct took over her body as her arms wound themselves around the neck of the man who would protect her from whatever was running loose in the cabin.

"What was that?" Buffy asked, her eyes frantically searching every corner of the room and the area around her feet, her mind oblivious to how closely she was pressing herself against Spike’s side.

Spike groaned deep in his throat. He tightened his grip around her, hoping to still the lithe body that was squirming against him, causing not so good thoughts to make their way to his second brain.

"Probably just a mouse, luv," he answered as causally as he could. "Nothin’ ta fret about."

Buffy’s eyes grew at the sound of the word mouse. Just when she really thought things couldn’t get any worse, she finds out she might be living with a furry, little rodent! A rodent that would most likely crawl all over her while she slept or maybe pay her a visit while she was in the shower, all naked and her skin vulnerable to the diseases it may carry.

"Nothing to fret about? How can you say that? It’s…it’s a mouse!"

"Buffy, there is nothing to worry about. For all we know, you probably scared th’ little critter away," Spike told her. "Now will you let go of my neck. You’re startin’ ta choke me!"

Buffy shook her head violently. "No, I can’t move. That thing might still be around."

"Buffy," Spike said while pulling her arms from around his neck. He gripped her upper arms and held her away from him. Maybe she didn’t need the distance, but he sure as hell did. If her body stayed pressed against his for any longer, he didn’t know what he would’ve done. But, it wouldn’t have been pretty. "Go outside an’ get your bags. I’ll see if I can find th’ mouse and get rid o’ it," he told her, leading her towards the door and opening it for her. "I’ll call you when it’s gone, okay?"

"Alright."

When the door was closed and Buffy was gone, Spike sighed in relief. Not even twenty-four hours had passed since he first laid eyes on her and already she was affecting him. Sure some of the time her attitude could be down right irritating, but other times she made his blood boil...in a most pleasant way.

Shaking himself free of his thoughts Spike turned his attention to the floor. He had a mouse to find. A mouse that caused his current situation with Miss Elizabeth Summers to get even stickier than it already was.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy had forgone the idea of retrieving her bags, and instead decided to explore the area around the cabin and along the lake. To her surprise when she had rounded the corner of the house, she had discovered a very posh looking patio complete with a Jacuzzi in one corner. It seemed very unusual for a cabin to have a Jacuzzi, but maybe the ex-tenants preferred a nice warm water hole instead of the cold, mucky one behind their house. Maybe they used it while entertaining house guests or maybe it was used during patio parties. She didn’t really care one way or the other. It was there and now she was going to be the one to enjoy it.

Connected to the patio was a set of stairs that lead down to the lake and a pier that was void of a boat. A brief frown set across her lips before she nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and proceeded down the steps one at a time. When she reached the bottom of the steps she sat down and started to take her shoes off. Shoes off and dangling in her hands she jumped off the pier onto the sandy shore of the lake. The shore surrounding the lake wasn’t big, maybe several feet before it turned into rocks and grass.

Buffy slowly walked along the shore, her head hanging down to look at the sand beneath her feet. Occasionally something would catch her eye and she would stop and bend down to see what it was. Usually it turned out to be a penny or some broken glass. After discovering the broken glass Buffy decided that wearing her shoes might be a good idea.

While sitting on log she found -probably used during a campfire- Buffy noticed the faintest sound of a motor in the distance. She glanced up from her task of pulling on her shoes to search for the source of the noise. To say she was shocked by what she saw would be an understatement. Thrilled would be a better word to describe how her feelings as a boat sped across the lake. It was too far away for her to make out any living forms on the craft, but she knew that in order for a boat to be moving, a person had to be driving it. And that meant the so called lake the FBI claimed was secluded actually wasn’t.

Buffy hurriedly put her shoes on and rose to her feet. She glanced behind her towards the cabin Spike and Xander were in. She knew she shouldn’t be walking off like she was, but there was a person out there. A person waiting to be talked to. A person that wasn't part of the FBI, which right now, really appealed to her. Glancing back towards the boat she saw it start to slow and glide smoothly through the water like it was coming to a stop.

‘No, don’t stop,’ Buffy’s brain cried out. ‘Pull up to shore. Bring the boat to shore so I can meet you.’

Buffy exhaled softly when the boat slowly made its way closer to shore. She looked up to the heavens and silently thanked whatever higher being was looking down on her to bring her such luck.

When she was able to pinpoint how far the boat might be and gauge a location, she started off on a light jog down the shore towards it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After jogging for what seemed like a really long time, Buffy finally saw the boat from the lake floating next to a dock. She quickly became disappointed when she saw no one on the boat. Had she missed them? Where could they have gone? Maybe there was a cabin nearby- surely the boat belonged to someone who lived on the lake. Her gaze moved along the dock until it disappeared into the trees. She continued to walk until she was able to see up through the trees and discovered a cabin buried deep within. Because it was hidden so well, she hadn’t been able to see it from her side of the lake.

Her gaze snapped back towards the boat when she heard a male voice. A male figure had emerged from below and was now hopping off the boat onto the dock, a rope held in his hand. His back was turned to her as he tied the boat to the dock. He still hadn’t noticed Buffy as he rose to his feet and jumped back onto the boat.

Buffy silently made her way to the edge of the dock. She stepped up onto the wooden boards and cringed when they creaked beneath her weight.

"Who’s there?" the male on the boat asked, his head snapping up to look around. His eyes feel on Buffy, who stood frozen in her spot on the dock. "Hello there."

Buffy suddenly became very aware of how vulnerable a position she had put herself in by being here alone with a man she didn’t even know. God, she could be really stupid sometimes.

"Can you talk?" The male voice asked, bringing Buffy out of her fear induced trance.

"Um," Buffy managed to get out before silence hit her again.

"How about I make this easier for you," the male suggested, moving around the boat until he stood by the side closest to the dock.

Buffy tensed up as he pulled himself out of the boat to stand on the dock. He must have seen her body tighten because instead of moving towards her, he stayed where he was.

"I just want to introduce myself," the man said before making his way a little closer. When he was close enough to reach out and touch her, and she hadn’t made a move to back away, he held out his hand towards her.

"Name's Riley Finn."

TBC............

Chapter 7

Rated: NC17

Thank you Chloe aka Flames. For being a wonderful beta girl!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike came bursting through the front door of the cabin, his breath coming in sharp gasps. He spotted Xander coming out from one of the rooms and made his way over to him.

"Hey, have you seen Buffy?" he asked, halting Xander with a hand on the shoulder. "She was supposed to be out front waiting for me to get her, but she’s not there."

Xander shook his head and frowned. "I haven’t seen her. Did you check out back?"

Spike eyes lit up. Of course! The backyard! He hadn’t thought to check the backyard! Here he was, getting all worried when she could have been in the backyard the entire time. He hurriedly ran out the backdoor.

"Only five minutes into this assignment, and we’ve already lost the girl…" Xander commented sarcastically, following Spike out the door. "But, do you honestly think something could have-"

His voice trailed off as he stepped around Spike and saw for the first time exactly how big the lake actually was. During the drive up, the only thing visible had been trees, trees and more trees. Not once had they gotten a clear view of the lake. But now, seeing it for the first time, it became obvious that maybe the lake wasn’t as secluded as they’d thought.

Xander glanced around the lake and noticed that there were several docks, disappearing into the trees, indicating to him that somewhere at the end of those docks might be cabins or cottages. He started to voice his thoughts when he caught sight of a figure walking along the dock and up the stairs towards them.

"Did you get rid of that mouse?" Buffy asked looking up at Spike, who was situated at the top of the stairs, Xander beside him.

"Where were you?"

Buffy stopped on the step just below them. "I was back here," she lied, "I didn’t wander off, like you’re probably thinking. I totally stayed within hearing distance of the cabin."

"Well, next time you decide to go wandering off, let one of us know? It’s the least you could do…"

Buffy waved her hands uncaringly in the air. "Whatever. If it’ll make you feel better."

"Thank you."

Buffy brushed past them and headed back into the cabin. Spike turned to follow her but was stopped by Xander.

"What?" Spike asked, glancing sideways at him.

Xander gestured with his head out towards the lake. "I think we should get started on the security system ASAP," he suggested. "Something tells me this place isn’t as isolated as we were told."

Spike furrowed his brows but finally turned his attention out to the lake.

Xander pointed towards the docks he had seen earlier. "We got a dock over there and," He moved his finger from one side of the lake to the other, "one over there. And then there’s ours..."

"I see what you mean. But still, they could just be docks and nothin more." Spike told him, hoping to put Xander’s mind at ease, as well as his own. "Tomorrow morning I’ll do a sweep of the area and see what I find."

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "Tonight, I’ll get started on perimeter security."

Both men glanced from one dock to the other before heading inside to finish settling into the cabin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dinner had been eaten in silence around the little round table located in the kitchen. After dinner, Buffy had retreated to her room for some alone time while Spike and Xander prepared the equipment to be hooked up around the outside of the cabin.

"Okay," Xander said, picking up his bag of tools and glancing out the window, "I think its dark enough for me to start. I should be done in a couple hours."

"Alright. I’ll check on Buffy and see if she needs anythin’. Call if you need any help." Spike told him before starting off towards Buffy’s room.

"Will do."

Spike heard the back door open and close just as he found himself standing in front of Buffy’s door. He had his hand up in the air prepared to knock when the door swung open to reveal Buffy on the other side. He noticed the look on her eyes held a hint of alarm, which quickly faded as she saw him.

"You alright?" He asked, stepping aside when she moved to get out of the room.

"I thought I heard the door," she told him, "thought maybe you guys were leaving without telling me."

"No, that was jus’ Xander. He has t’do something outside," he informed her, looking back towards the door Xander had just exited before returning his gaze to her. "We won’t be leaving you alone. One of us always has to stay by your side, or at least within a close distance."

Buffy lowered her eyes to the floor. "Oh."

Spike shoved his hands into his pants pockets and gently swayed back and forth on his heels, wondering what to say to her. He knew that she must be bored out of her mind, with the large lack of things she could do. And it didn’t help that the cabin was sans even a television. He was just about to give up when he remembered seeing something in one of the kitchen drawers while searching for the silverware.

"Do you want to play cards?"

Buffy’s head shot up at his question. She had been patiently waiting for him to say something about earlier and maybe interrogate her some about where she’d really been. Truth be told, she was almost hoping he would. She’d started to feel guilty about lying immediately after she had done it.

"Cards?"

A smile formed on his face. "Yeah," he said, walking over to the kitchen. "I found a deck ’f cards earlier and I figure, since I’m bored and you seem pretty bored yourself, we could play."

Buffy watched as he opened a drawer and searched around, before letting out a triumphant “Ah ha!”, when he found them. She couldn’t help but smile at the picture he conjured, standing there like a little boy who’d just found the greatest treasure of all time.

"Sure, I’d love to play cards."

The smile on Spike’s face grew even larger with her answer. He waltzed around the counter, back into the den, tearing into the pack of cards along the way. He motioned for Buffy to take a seat on the couch while he pulled one of the other chairs in the room over so he could sit across from her. He tossed the pack aside after taking the cards out, set them on the table and looked up at her.

"What d’you want ta play? Go Fish, Old Maid…" He halted his talking when he at the amused smirk on her face. "What?"

"How old do you think I am? Old Maid?" She asked him, settling against the back of the couch and crossing her legs. "I do know how to play other games."

"Oh really…" Spike said, unconsciously letting his eyes drop to her legs for a brief second before returning them to her face. "So you want to play something more…fun."

Buffy laughed softly. "Old Maid can be fun, sometimes. But I’m in the mood for something a little more…involved."

"Well, who am I t’ deny a lady what she wants? How about Gin Rummy?"

"Sounds good to me," Buffy replied, scooting to the edge of the couch so she could reach the table.

Spike picked up the stack of cards, ready to shuffle them, but stopped and offered them to her. "Would you like t’ shuffle?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, you go ahead. I’ll deal the next game."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twenty minutes and several games later, neither Buffy nor Spike were still bored. The couch and chair they’d originally been seated on were now pushed aside in favor of sitting crossed legged on the floor on either side of the coffee table.

Buffy took a sip of the drink Spike had gotten for her during one of her bathroom breaks, waiting for him to deal out the cards. She propped her elbows on the table and watched him.

"How about we make this next game a little more interesting?" She suggested, an idea popping into her head.

"What do you ’ave in mind?" Spike asked suspiciously, pushing the deck across the table towards her to cut.

Buffy did so before continuing. "Well, I was thinking about how you seem to know so much about me, but I hardly know anything about you." She pushed the deck back over to him. "So, how about for every hand I win, I get to ask you a question, which you have to answer. And, every time you win, you get to do the same."

Spike raised an eyebrow at her suggestion. "Not really fair playin’ ground if I already know so much about you, duncha you think?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "I guess so," She said her lower lip jutting out slightly, her eyes looking up towards the ceiling, as she thought for a moment. "But, there are some things you don’t know about me. Private, intimate stuff, that even you FBI boys wouldn’t know."

Spike froze, his hands halting in their task of dealing out the cards. His head shot up and he stared in shock at the girl across from him. He swallowed when he saw the glint in her eyes. She was playing with fire now. Or, was it he who was doing the playing? After all, here he was, practically married, and he was having bad thoughts about the girl he was supposed to be protecting! Two strikes in his book. Best not let things get to far out of hand.

Spike cleared his throat loudly before breaking free of her gaze and resuming his dealing of the cards. "Let’s keep the game the way it is." He told her, setting the deck square in the middle before picking up his cards. "Besides, should be goin’ ta bed soon. It’s gettin’ late."

"What time is it?" Buffy asked, picking up her own cards and sorting them.

Spike glanced over her shoulder towards the wall and read the clock. "10:45."

Buffy’s eyes bugged out. "What?! You think that’s late?"

Before Spike could answer, the front door of the cabin burst open, revealing a thoroughly drenched Xander. They watched as he trudged past them into the nearest bathroom and returned a moment later, a towel being rubbed briskly against his head in an effort to dry his hair.

"Get the job done?" Spike asked.

Xander stopped the process of clearing out his ear long enough to glance over at the two people sitting on the floor in the den. He noticed the cards and shot a look at Spike.

"You’re in here playing cards while I’m out there getting pummeled to death by raindrops the size of golf balls? Where’s the love, man?"

Spike chuckled lightly. "I told you t’come get me if you needed help. ‘Sides, had to keep Miss Summer’s company."

"Whatever," Xander uttered, plopping down onto the couch. "And in answer to your question, no, I didn’t finish. It started raining buckets of water and I didn’t fancy getting electrocuted."

"I hope it stops raining by tomorrow." Buffy spoke up, causing the two men to look at her. "I planned on laying out tomorrow."

"’Laying out’?" Xander asked, furrowing his brows, not understanding her meaning.

"In the sun." Buffy elaborated. "Getting a tan?"

"Oh," Xander said, his mouth forming a small ‘o’. "Cordy calls it sun bathing."

"Cordy?"

"The ball to his chain," Spike answered for him, a smile playing about his lips as Xander shot him another look.

"You’re one to talk," Xander retorted. "Pretty soon you’ll be lugging around the ol’ ball an’ chain with me."

Buffy’s head turned to Spike as the meaning of Xander’s remark became clear. "You’re engaged."

Spike nodded his head slowly. "Yeah," he answered, avoiding meeting her gaze.

Xander stood up from the couch, completely oblivious to the tension he’d just created in the room. He slung the damp towel over one shoulder and calling goodnight, disappeared into his room.

Silence fell in the den after the sound of the door closing faded away. Seconds seemed to tick by slowly as they stared at everything but each other.

Why was it so hard to talk now? Earlier they had been relaxed, more at ease. Both laughing at each other’s jokes and exchanging friendly banter when Buffy had accused him of cheating at one point. But, now the tension was so think even a knife couldn’t slice through it.

Buffy finally stirred, moving to get up. "I guess it is getting late. I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Buffy wait," Spike said, standing up as well. "We still ’aven’t finished our game. You wanna?" He lifted up his hand, indicating the cards he still held.

"No thanks," she said softly. "We can finish it some other time."

"Sure. Some other time," He agreed slowly lowering his hand back down to his side.

"Night."

"Goodnight."

"Guarding Elizabeth"
Chapter 8

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing except the story.
Rated:NC17

*Many thanks to my beta readers.....Miss Kitty and Natalie Elizabeth!!!!*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy awoke the next morning to the sounds of Mother Nature right outside her window. She lifted her head and glanced out the window on the opposite side of the room. Two small birds were perched on the windowsill, singing and chirping loudly. With a groan Buffy fell onto her back and covered her head with her pillow.

"To early," she mumbled. "No sing-y. Buffy want to sleep."

When the birds started to increase their chirping, Buffy lurched her pillow across the room towards the window. She smiled lazily when the pillow connected with the window, making a loud thwacking sound and causing the two birds to fly away. She was about to lay back down when the sight of something brought her to full alert. There outside, almost directly in front of her window, was a shirtless Spike. Now there was something she didn't mind waking up to.

Buffy pushed the covers off her and slowly made her way to the window. She stood off to the side, making sure that Spike wouldn't catch her spying, and peered out through the glass.

Beads of sweat could be seen glistening off his chest as he moved about, stretching himself. His hair was also damp and slicked back probably from a combination of the dewy morning air and sweat from his pores.

"Guess he went jogging," she concluded to herself.

After deducing where he had been and why he was covered in perspiration, Buffy returned to her earlier task of spying. Buffy lowered her gaze and took in the shorts that hung low on his hips giving her a nice view of that sexy V just below his abs, that gave direction to a more favorable part of the male anatomy. To be able to run her finger along that path was certainly very tempting. A smile crept across her face at the thought of him not knowing she was gazing so openly at his body. It was thrilling to say the
least. Besides, why let a perfectly sculpted body like his go to waste? Someone had to admire it. And since she was the only girl around, why not let it be her?

A groan rushed past her lips when the muscles in Spike's stomach flexed from the twisting and turning of his body. Buffy unknowingly stepped closer to the window, her body in full view. She licked her lips unconsciously and lifted one hand to her stomach. Her finger started to trace small circular patterns over her abdomen as she continued to watch Spike bend and stretch in front of her. The hand on her body slowly started to move up under her nightshirt, seeking out a more sensitive area to touch.

A loud knock at her door broke Buffy free of her trance, causing her to yank her hand back to her side.

"Who's there?" she asked, trying hard to conceal her ragged breaths.

"Xander," the person answered. "Breakfast is ready. Just thought you might want to know."

"Okay," Buffy replied, swallowing hard. "Thank you. I'll be right out."

Buffy heard Xander's footsteps fade as he walked away, back to the kitchen. When she was sure he was nowhere within hearing distance, she turned her attention back to the window. One glance was all it took to notice Spike was gone.

"Must've gone inside," she whispered.

Moving away from the window and over to her suitcase, which was still unpacked, Buffy pulled out her toiletries. On her way to the door she grabbed her robe off the edge of the bed. When her hand closed around the knob, and she was just about to turn it, she froze.

"What if he saw me?" she said, her eyes going wide at the realization that Spike might've seen her spying on him. "Oh, no. Please don't let him have seen me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Buffy came into the kitchen to find Spike and Xander already seated at the table. Still unsure if Spike had seen her spying or not, Buffy quickly sat down in the first empty chair she saw. She refused to look up from the spot on the table that currently had her hypnotized, even when she felt Spike's eyes on her.

"Are you going to eat?" She heard Xander ask.

Buffy lifted her head to look at him. "Um, yes."

Xander pointed over his shoulder towards the kitchen with his thumb. "Well, food's on the stove. Plates are by the sink." He informed her before returning to his meal.

Spike, meanwhile, was still staring at Buffy. He noticed her discomfort the minute she walked in to the room. Maybe she realized what he discovered today. Well, just like he was always taught, 'The truth always comes out eventually, just takes a little provoking'.

"So, pet," Spike spoke up, shifting in his chair. "Guess who I ran into this morning."

Buffy's head shot up at this. Instead of sticking around to answer his question or see where he was going with it, she got up from her chair and went to make herself a plate of food.

Xander glanced over his shoulder at Buffy's retreating form then back to his friend.

"Who did you run into this morning?" he asked, shoving his mouth full of syrupy pancakes.

Spike shook his head. "Hold on. Want t' see Miss Summers sweat for a little bit."

Spike turned his attention back to Buffy. He watched her closely as she prepared her plate. His eyes never leaving her as she returned to the table and sat down.

"Well, pet," he asked again. "Care to venture a guess."

Buffy busied herself with pouring syrup on her pancakes, all the while still avoiding Spike's gaze. Finally when she couldn't take anymore of the discomfort he was placing on her, she looked up at him and shrugged her shoulders.

"I have no idea. I haven't met anyone. We have only been here for less than a day."

Spike shook his head. He had given her a chance to 'fess up to what he already knew and she didn't take it. Dropping his fork onto his plate he lifted his hands and placed them under his chin. He stole a glance at Xander before lowering his eyes. He had to keep his anger in check, because from what he could gather about the girl she went into defense mode any time she felt threatened.

"Does the name Riley Finn ring any bells, luv?"

Buffy froze, her fork halfway to her mouth.

"Seems the bloke certainly knows you," Spike went on not waiting for her answer. "Says you came by his house the other day and chatted with him."

"I never went to his house...." Buffy blurted out without thinking. She immediately shut her mouth when she saw Spike arch a brow at her. "Okay. I did talk to him. But I promise you I didn't reveal anything about our situation. I just told him that I was here on vacation."

"Wait a minute," Xander spoke up. "Who is this guy and where does he live?"

"Oh, I know you didn't tell him anything of fact," Spike said, ignoring Xander. "In fact he told me that you told him you were 'ere on vacation with your stepbrother and his cousin. And that the rest of the family was t' come up later in th' week."

Buffy groaned in frustration. "Why does it matter if I talked to him?"

"What matters is that now he wants Joan, Alex, and Randy t' come up t' his house for dinner tonight."

"What? Who are those people?" Xander spoke up again, his voice booming with his annoyance over being left out of the conversation. "Why isn't anyone answering my questions?"

Spike finally broke his gaze away from Buffy and turned to regard Xander. "Miss Summers over 'ere took it upon herself t' get friendly with the neighbors the other day an' then lie t' us about it."

"Ugh," Buffy moaned. "Why is it such a big deal? I'm sure you told him we couldn't make it anyway."

"Actually," Spike said, leaning back in his chair, a smug look on his face. "I took his offer and tonight we are trottin' over t' his house for some good ole barbeque."

"So, Buffy meet a guy named Riley and now we're going over to his house?" Xander asked.

"Why did you do that?" Buffy asked, looking up at Spike. "Doesn't that go against everything you've been taught? Aren't you supposed to go out of your way to keep me away from strangers?"

Spike smiled at her and chuckled softly. "Yeah it is. But, since you went so far out of your way t' make a friend I thought it only necessary t' give you the opportunity t' meet him again." He argued, and then added. "With us there of course."

"Of course," Buffy repeated. She glared at him before pushing her chair back and standing up. "I think I'm going to go layout for awhile." She was about to leave, but turned around to say something to Spike. "Any other social events you have planned for me that I should know about?"

Spike shook his head.

"Good."

Spike watched as Buffy left the room and vanished into her own, the door slamming shut with a loud bang. He didn't know why he accepted Finn's invitation. Maybe it was to see how she interacted with the bloke. Or maybe it was because he had been thrown off guard upon finding out that Buffy had talked to another male. A male that was available and within close quarters for her to get more personal with.

Spike sighed roughly, shaking his head to get that thought out of his mind. No use in getting jealous when she didn't belong to him. But the feelings he had about her talking to this Finn guy unnerved and angered him to no end and he couldn't understand why.

'Because you value the job and you don't want anything to go wrong. That's all these feelings are about. Nothing more, nothing less.' He told himself.

"So where are we eating dinner tonight?"

Spike looked over at his friend and laughed.


"Guarding Elizabeth"

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Same as before in the first chapter. Basically I don't own
anything except the plot.

Rated: NC 17 overall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy lazily moved her feet through the water of the lake, loving the calming effect the water gliding between her toes had on her. Currently, her mind was jumbled with thoughts of earlier this morning and the way Spike had cornered her into a vulnerable position. It didn't make any sense to her why he accepted Riley's offer of dinner, when that clearly went against the FBI's policy of total seclusion, meaning no outside contact. However, it really was her fault for the situation she found herself in at the moment. It never failed. Whenever she did something without thinking it through, she was bound to suffer the consequences. And, since she out and out lied about wandering off the other day it only seemed fair that she be put in an uncomfortable position like the one she would face later tonight. But, still that did not give Agent Hawthorne the right to toy with her like he did this morning. So, now that she had thought everything through, a rare thing with her, she was ready to enact revenge. The only feasible way to do that was to
put him in an uncomfortable position as well. And she knew exactly how to accomplish that.

Buffy turned her head and locked behind her towards the cabin when she heard the faint sound of a door opening and closing. When she saw the tell tale sign of shockingly white hair making its way across the deck she knew it was time to put her plan into action.

She quickly pulled her feet out of the water and laid down on her towel which was already spread out across the dock. She rested her head on her crossed arms and waited for him to come to her.

Spike made his way slowly down the steps towards the dock. He was taking his precious time only so he could study the sunbathing form of Miss Summers. Her already golden skin glistened under the sun from a combination of suntan lotion and perspiration. The pale pink string bikini she wore contrasted nicely with the color of her skin and he found himself smiling in appreciation of the little number. Her sun-kissed hair was pulled back into a loose bun that rested at the nape of her neck. Tiny wisps of hair were whipping in the wind from where they had managed to get free. Yes, she was a sight to behold.

"Havin' fun?" he asked as he stopped alongside her.

Buffy feigned surprise as she lifted her head to regard her visitor. When she saw Spike standing next to her, his hands shoved in the pockets of his khaki pants, she smiled.

"Hi," she greeted, reaching over for her sunglasses and slipping them on her nose. "I am so glad you're here," She told him, shifting around into a sitting position. "For a minute I thought I might have to walk all the way up those steps just to call on you."

Spike arched his brows at her statement. "Oh, wha' is it you need?"

Buffy pointed over to the bottle at the foot of the towel. "I need you to put some lotion on my back."

Spike eyed the bottle wearily. He knew that putting lotion on her would entail him to touch her, and touching her would lead to his body reacting in a wrong way. And said reaction was not something he should be having, him being an engaged man and all.

"Will you?"

Spike looked over at Buffy and almost groaned at the picture she created. Her lower lip was nestled between her teeth as she nibbled on it lightly, waiting for his answer. Her eyes were peeking out at him over the rim of her sunglasses and if he didn't know any better he could swear she was giving him puppy eyes.

Spike sighed in resignation and reached over for the bottle. His logic concluded that although the reaction he would have to touching her body was wrong, the motive behind it was all very innocent. So, since a positive and a negative thing cancel each other out, he was in the clear.

Buffy turned her body so her legs dangled off the edge of the dock. Once again she found her feet slicing through the cool water of the lake as she waited for Spike to lotion her up.

"Don't you want t' lie down?" Spike asked as he squirted a dollop of lotion in his palm.

Buffy shook her head and glanced at him over her shoulder. "Nah, I want to cool down a bit," she informed him, gesturing towards her legs.

Spike nodded his head in understanding before moving closer to her. He knelt behind her, careful to keep his body a good distance a ways, and placed his hand on her back.

Buffy inhaled sharply from the rush of cold contact the lotion brought her as it touched her skin. Since the bottle hadn't been lying in the sun for too long the lotion inside was still decently cool.

Spike kept his hand still as he waited for her to relax again. After she seemed to settle into a comfortable state he started to spread the lotion over the expanse of her back. At first he worked slowly, making sure to spread the lotion evenly and work it thoroughly into her skin. But, after he started to hear little sounds coming from her as his fingers moved over her skin he knew he needed to end this before things became to much for him to handle.

Buffy made sure to keep her face hidden from his view as she smiled. She could feel the tension in his touch and knew he was becoming uncomfortable. But, even though she had managed to reach her accomplishment of making him that way, she decided to take it a little further.

"Wait," she said, causing him to halt. "This isn't working."

Spike had no idea what she was talking about. Then again he wasn't really aware of anything around him except for the feel of her skin under his touch. He stared blankly at her back as her arm snaked around behind her. Suddenly as if he had been doused with cold water he snapped to attention.

"Wha' are you doing?" He asked as her fingers blindly searched for her bikini tie.

Buffy faked her struggle before finally giving up and huffing in failure. "Would you?" she asked Spike, glancing at him over her shoulder. When he didn't move she rolled her eyes and said, " The strings are in the way. Can you untie them and rub some more lotion into my shoulders and neck?"

Spike tentatively reached out and took hold of one end of the string around her neck. He pulled on it and watched as the strings gave way and fell from around her neck.

"Can you do the one on my back too?" He heard Buffy ask, breaking him from his trance of the newly exposed skin, which despite its lack of size still sent a shiver through his body.

"Won't it fall off if I...." He trailed off, letting the meaning of his question hang loosely in the air.

"I'm holding it in place." Buffy assured him, her arm draped across her front over her breasts.

Spike untied the second string and went back to work on rubbing the lotion into her skin.

Buffy moaned from the feel of his hands on her neck. She laughed inside when she felt him freeze for a split second before starting to move again. Maybe she was over stepping the line a little bit, but this was just too much fun.


"That feels nice," she mumbled, letting her head drop some. "Very gifted hands."

"So, why did you lie about meeting that Finn character?" Spike asked, trying
to change the subject to a safer, less sexual one.

Buffy rolled her eyes. Why did he have to bring that up? She thought angrily. She shifted her body a little, realizing that now she was the one becoming uncomfortable. For some reason a simple question coming from an FBI agent made her feel like she was being interrogated.

"I didn't lie," she told him. "I merely avoided bringing it up. If you had asked if I had encountered someone and I didn't say anything then it would have been a lie."

Spike chuckled under his breath. "Nice try, pet. But, I did ask you about it."

Buffy turned her head a little, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "You did not."

"I asked you where you had been an' you replied that you didn't wander off, that you had been near the cabin th' whole time."

"Fine, I lied," she admitted with some reluctance. "I saw this boat riding through the lake and I had this urge to go see who it was. I was just so overwhelmed by the idea that someone else lived around here that I didn't think about what I was doing while I was doing it."

Spike stopped his task of rubbing lotion on her and started to wipe his hands together. "So, me an' Xander are boring company. Is that what you're tryin' to say?"

Buffy shifted her body so she her side was turned to him. She stared at him for a minute, taking in the narrowed eyes and the set jaw of his features. "No," was all she said before turning her back to him once more.

"Alright then," Spike said, moving to stand. "You're all lotioned up nice an' good. I'll be up on the deck if you need anything."

"Spike," Buffy called out just as he was about to leave.

"Yeah," he said, pausing at the base of the stairs.

"Will you tie me back up?" she requested softly. "I can't really do it myself without having to let go of my top."

Spike didn't answer. He simple walked back over to her and knelt once more behind her. His lifted his hands to her sides and searched out the strings attached to the bikini top.

Buffy lifted her arms a little to give him more room to move his hands as he took hold of the strings. She closed her eyes at the feel of his fingers brushing over her skin. Her mind drifted to earlier and how fast the light airy mood around them had changed once he brought up her indiscretion. She was a little disappointed that the flirtatious atmosphere she had been attempting to create had swiftly changed into one of awkwardness. But, that didn't deter her from wanting to try it again. Knowing that she had some affect on him made her absolutely giddy with excitement. Maybe this little
government vacation could be fun after all.

A smile spread across her face as she thought up different ways to get under Spike's skin. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize he was already done and gone. Only the gentle breeze from the lake rolling over her back let her know that the warmth formerly behind her was no longer there.

"Guarding Elizabeth"
Chapter 10

Author’s Note: I forgot to mention this during the last chapter. Plus I
didn’t know how to fit it into this one. Since Spike is FBI he was trained
to handle any situation and circumstance he has to perform undercover.
Anyway, he can talk with an American accent. So if you’re wondering why
Riley didn’t make note of it or question how he could be related to Buffy
and Xander, it’s because he disguised his English accent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike came out of his room buttoning the sleeves of his navy blue button
down shirt that was tucked into the well-worn faded blue jeans he had on.
He ran his hands through his freshly showered hair, slicking it back and
combing out any unruly curls in the process. He had spent all day in the
sun, watching Buffy as she laid on the dock or swam in the lake, with the
sun’s rays beating down on his back. So, to finally be showered and dressed
in clean clothes made him feel wonderful. Nothing could ruin the mood he was
in right now, not even the possibility of Buffy flirting with this Riley guy
tonight.

Yes, he hated to admit it, even to himself, but he had spent a better part
of his day coming up with different scenarios for tonight. Mainly all of
them involving Buffy laughing and having a gay ol’ time with one Riley Finn.

“I really hope he makes steak,” Xander commented, coming into the den as
Spike slumped onto a couch. “Ever since you mentioned a barbeque, I’ve been
craving steak.”

“Cordelia’s pregnancy rubbing off on you?” Spike inquired, a smirk playing
on his face.

Xander laughed at his partner’s remark. “I sure miss her.”

“I know you do,” Spike told him, reaching up to place a comforting hand on
his best friends shoulder. “Have you called her lately?”

Xander shook his head no. He’d managed to call her from the airport in DC,
but that was the last he’d talked to her. “I think I might try calling her
tonight.”

Spike smiled. “You do that. I’m sure it would do you both some good to talk
to each other.”

Xander nodded his head in agreement before asking, “What about you?”

Spike furrowed his brows. “What about me?”

“Are you planning on calling Dru anytime soon? Make amends?”

“Not sure if the timin’ is right an’ all,” Spike said slowly, “’m thinkin’
she might need some more time to cool off.”

Xander shook his head. “Spike, man, if you don’t call her soon she may not
talk to you when you do end up calling her.”

Spike smiled softly. “She’s stubborn like that.”

“Yes, she is.”

“’Tis one of the reasons why I’m marryin’ her. I know she’ll always manage
to keep me on my...” Spike’s sentence trailed off as his eyes caught sight
of Buffy as she stepped out of her room.

If he thought his lustful thoughts couldn’t get any worse, he was promptly
proven wrong at that exact moment. Her hair was down and flowing freely
over the form-fitting black shirt she had on, which dipped low across her
chest, showing off more than a little cleavage. The very short jean skirt
showed off her lengthy tanned legs, tempting Spike to trail his fingertips
up them. The longer he was around her, the more she lured him into
worshiping her.

“Keep you on your what?” Xander asked his attention focused on fussing with
his shirt cuff, missing the way his partner was gazing at Buffy.

“Um, what?” Spike asked, quickly shaking his head as he realized what he'd
been doing. “Oh, my toes. She’ll always keep me on my toes.”

“That she will man...that she will.”

“So, are you two having a secret conversation or can I join in?” Buffy
asked, catching her lower lip between her teeth and hooking her hands
together behind her back before stepping up next to them. Her appearance
making her seem like the timid, shy girl, wanting for all the world to be
included in the group.

Spike smiled at her. “Sorry luv, its top secret. If we told you what we were
talkin’ about we’d have to kill you.”

“Ooh...” she moaned dramatically, her eyes widening. “It’s that kind of
conversation.”

“So!” Xander said, clapping his hands together. “Are we ready to go eat some
steak?”

“Let’s go,” Spike answered, opening the back door and swinging his arm out
in front of him gesturing for Buffy to pass. “I’m sure our good friend Mr.
Finn is waitin’ for us.”

“Maybe,” Buffy agreed stepping over the threshold and glancing back over her
shoulder at him. “But isn’t it more fun to arrive fashionably late?”

“Not when there is steak on the line,” Xander added his two cents, stepping
past Spike to join Buffy outside.

“Boy, I think I can guess what has been on your mind the past few hours,”
Buffy joked, earning a chuckle from Spike as he closed the door and locked
it.

“Is it so wrong to love steak?”

Spike and Buffy looked at each other and smiled. They’d both been worried
that tonight might turn into one huge uncomfortable situation, but now with
Xander on hand; everything might turn out alright after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I hope you don’t mind fish for dinner,” Riley told the group as he escorted
them into his den. “I caught some earlier today and thought they would be
good for tonight, being fresh out of the water and all.”

Xander grumbled something under his breath about pansy white meat, which
luckily was only heard by Spike who was standing right next to him at that
moment. Spike laughed quietly at his friend’s misfortune. He had really
been looking forward to steak tonight.

“Plus it’s easier to cook,” Riley added, waiting for them all to take seats
before sitting down himself. “That way we have more time to talk.”

“I love fish. Fish is great. Did you really catch it all by yourself?”
Buffy rambled. Already she was feeling the first signs of an awkward night
and was getting nervous.

Spike scowled at her flustered behavior. Why was she acting this way? They
had just stepped into his house not two minutes ago and she was already
acting like a nervous teenager. ‘Maybe because that’s what she is.’ His
subconscious reminded him. ‘A teenager who’s nervous.’

“Yes, I did,” Riley answered with a soft chuckle, finding Buffy’s rambling
cute. “There’s a nice secluded part of the lake about five minutes from
here. Maybe sometime I can take you fishing over there?”

"That would be gre-”

“I don’t think so,” Spike quickly interrupted. “Joan isn’t one for fishing.”

Buffy looked at Spike and gave him a fake smile. “Actually Randy, I do like
to fish,” she corrected before turning her attention back to Riley. “I make
it a point to go fishing at least once a year. It relaxes me.”

“Really? I find it relaxing, too.”

“So, when are we going to start cooking that fish?” Xander asked. All the
talk about fish was making him hungrier than he already was.

Spike silently thanked his partner for the quick change in conversation. If
he had to sit and watch Buffy flirt with the Finn character for much longer,
he was going to burst.

“I’ve got them marinating in the fridge right now. Let me go see if they’re
ready to be thrown on the grill.”

Spike made sure Riley was out of sight before regarding Buffy with a hard
glare.

“What?” Buffy asked innocently when she caught Spike’s look.

“Why do you insist on makin’ things harder for me an’ Xander?”

“How am I making things harder?”

“Well, for one thing, you’re practically agreein’ to go fishin’ with him. Do
you even understand wha’ our job is?”

“To annoy me?” Buffy replied sarcastically

Spike bite his lower lip, a small smile forming at her words. “Cute. Very
cute.”

“I try...” Buffy said sweetly.

“Our job is t’ protect you. We can’t very well do that with you runnin’ off
to some secluded place with fishboy in th’ next room.”

“Geez, don’t worry. I didn’t plan on actually going with him anyway. Not
with my two dads constantly on my back.”

“Just be careful. That is all I’m asking.”

“Yes Daddy,” Buffy joked, earning a snicker from Xander. Spike only shook
his head and silently wondered how long he would be able to handle Buffy and
ignore the effect she was having on him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“That was perfect,” Xander commented on a sigh as he leaned back in his
chair and rubbed his full belly.

I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Riley thanked him while picking up the dishes from
the table. When his hands were full, he headed towards the kitchen to place
them in the sink to wash later.

Spike leaned across the table towards Buffy. “So, did you enjoy th’ feast?”

Buffy jerked her eyes away from the direction of the kitchen, where she had
been watching Riley, to look at Spike. Her eyes were wide as if she had
been caught doing something bad and she had to blink a few times before she
was able to clear her head enough to focus on Spike’s question.

“It was good.”

“And are you enjoyin’ our host?”

Buffy scoffed at his remark. The nerve of him to ask her something like
that... Why was it so wrong of her to enjoy the view of a well-packaged man?
She was a girl after all. A girl in a not so serious relationship with life
ahead of her.

“As a matter of fact I am,” she answered smugly, flashing him a crooked
smile. “Very much.”

Spike was about to say something to that, but Riley’s return prevented him
from doing so.

Spike silently fumed as Buffy smiled up sweetly at Riley as he leaned over
her shoulder to pick up more dishes. The girl was really getting on his
nerves today. First it was incident on the dock earlier. Oh, he knew what
she had been up to. The only question was why had she done it? What was her
reasoning behind teasing him to the point where he almost took her right
there on the dock? She knew he was engaged. She knew that their
relationship was nothing more than business, so why had she acted that way?
Did she sense how she affected him?

“That’s amazing.” Spike heard Xander say and brought his attention back to
the discussion. “How long did you serve in the Air Force?”

“Right out of high school until about a year ago.”

“Did you hear that Randy?” Xander asked. “Riley here used to fly fighter
jets. He’s a regular Top Gun like Tom Cruise. Hey, did you have a nickname
like ‘Maverick’ or ‘Goose’?”

“Um, actually I didn’t fly the jets,” Riley quickly corrected. “I flew the
cargo jets. The ones that carried troops or supplies and parachuted them out
the back.”

“Oh.”

“Those were some of the best times of my life,” Riley told them, taking a
seat at the table after having cleared it. “Wouldn’t trade them for the
world.”

“You’ll have to tell me about them sometime,” Buffy informed him, sending
another smile his way.

“I have some pictures and stuff in my study if you want to see them,” he
said, making a move to get up from his chair. “Would you like...?”

“Actually,” Spike halted him mid-sentence. “We really need to start heading
back before it gets to dark.”

“What? The sun hasn’t even set yet.” Buffy pointed out gruffly.

“Right,” Spike agreed, standing up from his seat. “Which is why we should be
leaving now before it does.”

“Come on Randy. We can stay a little while longer.”

Spike shot daggers at Xander, silently communicating his rage at him.
Didn’t he see how bad things were turning out? They hardly knew this Finn
character and here they were letting Buffy get all chummy with him.

“Okay,” Spike ground out as calmly as he could. “I guess it won’t hurt to
stay for a few more minutes.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Wha’ the ‘ell do you think you’re doing?” Spike whispered to Xander
as they followed behind Buffy and Riley. “We know nothing’ about this guy or
what his motives are.”

“Relax,” Xander said, keeping a close eye on Riley to make sure he wasn’t
listening. “What better way can you think of to find out more about this guy
then to actually explore his house?”

“Um, not havin’ Buffy in the house while were doing it.”

“You know that we can’t leave Buffy alone for one minute,”
Xander explained while they rounded a corner. “This way we can both keep an
eye on her.”

“I still don’t like this,” Spike confessed. “She’s gettin’ too friendly to
fast.”

“Just relax. We’ll be out of here in no time.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What’s up with your cousin Randy?” Riley asked Buffy as they walked towards
his study. He could hear whispering behind him and he’d noticed the
unfriendly glares he was getting from Randy during dinner. “Did I say
something to upset him?”

“No,” Buffy answered, glancing over her shoulder at Spike. “He’s just weird
like that. We consider him the black sheep of the family.”

Riley laughed as he opened the door to his study and letting them walk in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike glanced at his watch and sighed loudly. An hour had passed and they
were still sitting in Captain Cardboard’s house, listening to him prattle on
about something that happened during training camp. He looked over at Buffy
and rolled his eyes. She still had the goofy grin on her face that had
formed when Riley pulled out a picture of him in his uniform.

“We really need to get going,” Spike spoke up, setting his beer down on the
table beside him. “The sun set about 15 minutes ago.”

Riley looked up from the photo album he was showing to Buffy and Xander and
glanced out the window. Sure enough, it was almost pitch black outside.

“Oh, I’m sorry...I didn’t realize,” Riley apologized. “I guess we got caught
up in all my stories...”

“We sure did.”

“That was fun,” Buffy said, standing up and moving over towards Spike, who
was standing in the doorway. “We should do it again sometime.”

“I would love that.”

Spike cleared his throat loudly. “As much as we would love to do this again.
I really don’t think it’s fair of us to cut into your vacation.”

“Nonsense,” Riley said with a wave of his hand. “In fact, maybe next time we
can do dinner at your place?”

“Sure,” Buffy replied a little too enthusiastically.

Riley smiled. “Let me walk you out.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night was a lot hotter than previous ones. Usually a cool breeze off
the lake chilled the air just enough for the night to be enjoyable, but
tonight there wasn’t even a hint of a breeze and the inside of the cabin
felt like a sauna. Buffy had stripped naked and pushed the covers completely
off her bed, but she still couldn’t seem to cool down enough to fall asleep.
Deciding that a glass of ice-cold water might help, she pulled on a t-shirt
and headed to the kitchen.

She treaded through the darkness of the cabin, the only light coming from
the full moon that peeked in through the windows. When she finally made it
into the kitchen she didn’t even bother turning on the light, not wanting to
awaken the others. She opened one of the cabinets and pulled out a tall
glass, filled the glass with ice and water and raised the glass to her
waiting lips.

Buffy swallowed the cold liquid and savored the feel of it as it glided down
her throat. She closed her eyes and lifted the glass of water up to her
forehead, letting the droplets of condensation cool her heated skin.

“Why is it so hot?” she asked aloud, bringing the glass back to her lips for
another long sip of water.

“I don’t know why it’s still so hot in here,” a voice spoke up behind her.

Buffy spun around and saw Spike standing in the doorway to the kitchen,
wearing nothing more than his boxers. Buffy felt the temperature in the
room increase as an intense flash of heat ran through her body at the sight
of a half-naked Spike.

“I turned the A/C on full blast right before we went to bed,” Spike
continued to talk, walking further into the kitchen as he did so. “Guess it
hasn’t circulated enough...”

“Guess so,” Buffy managed to say through her daze.

“Does the water help?” Spike asked, stopping right in front of her and
pointing at the glass in her hand.

Buffy snapped out of her stupor and glanced down. When it finally registered
what he had asked her she nodded her head vigorously. “Oh yes, it helps a
lot.”

Buffy lifted the glass to her lips, thinking maybe if she focused her
attention on anything, even the simple task of drinking water, besides how
close Spike was to her and how little he was wearing, then she might be able
to control herself.

She could feel his eyes on her as she drank. Slowly and cautiously she
peered at him over the rim of the glass. One look into his blue eyes sent a
chill up her spine, giving her the relief she needed from the heat.

“Can I have a sip?” Spike asked, his eyes glued to her moisture-kissed lips.

Buffy handed him the glass and gave him a perplexed look as he took the
glass from her hand and moved to set it on the counter behind her, his arm
wrapping around her body in the process. The heat rushed through her again
at the closeness of their bodies, their lower halves barely touching.

“Not from there...” Spike told her, resting his hand on the curve of her hip
and pulling her slightly closer. “From here,” he finished his lips inching
closer to hers.

And just like that their mouths met in a fiery kiss.

Okay, maybe it didn’t start out as that, but it didn’t take long before she
was matching him stroke for stroke.

Buffy’s arms came up to rest around his neck, her body pressing into his,
pulling herself closer. She moaned her approval when his lips left her mouth
to trail across her cheek to suck on her ear. She felt Spike's hand move
from her hip to the front of her shirt.

"Spike," she breathed. "We can’t..." She stopped talking when she felt his
hand brush against the skin of her abdomen. "Oh god, don't stop..."

Spike pulled back, his breathing erratic. He looked at her. “Do you know
what you do to me?” He asked closing his eyes and leaning his forehead
against hers. “When I saw you coming down the steps of the plane all I
wanted to do was taste you. Feel your body against mine.” He pulled back
again. “You taste so good.” He brought his hand up to touch her breast,
touching it the way he had on the jet earlier. “Feel so good...”

Buffy bit her lower lip and groaned. Why was this happening? She had a
boyfriend. He was engaged. She had to stop this before it got to out of
hand.

She gasped out loud when she felt Spike yank her t-shirt down, baring one
breast to his hungry gaze. Her knees weakened when his mouth covered an
erect nipple and softly suckled it. Reaching behind her she gripped the edge
of the counter to help keep her balance. Her right hand knocked into the
glass Spike had placed there and sent it falling to the floor, where it
shattered into a million pieces.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy’s eyes snapped open. It took awhile for her sight to adjust to the
darkness, even with the help of the moonlight, before she could register
where she was. And that she was alone.

“Buffy? Are you okay?” she heard someone ask before the kitchen light
snapped on and blinded her with its brightness.

She saw Spike standing in the doorway, his hair disheveled and his chest
rising and falling heavily. She tore her eyes away from him to look down at
her hand and that’s when she noticed the broken glass and water around her
feet. She quickly bent down to start picking the glass pieces up.

“I...I just made myself a glass of water,” she explained, picking up pieces
and placing them in her hand. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Buffy, don’t touch the glass,” Spike ordered, walking over to the broom
closet to retrieve a dust pan and broom.

“Ouch!”

Buffy dropped all the glass from her hand, sending it scattering all over
the floor. She clutched her hand tightly to her body.

Spike came over to her and pulled her hand free so he could exam it. “I told
you not to touch the glass,” he reminded her leading her over to the sink
and turning the water on.

Buffy winced in pain when the cold water hit the cut on her palm.

“I need to clear the blood away so I can see if there’s any glass that needs
to be pulled out.”

She remained silent as she watched him work on her hand.

“Put some pressure on it,” Spike told her, reaching into a drawer and
pulling out a dishcloth. “When I finish picking up this glass we’ll go to
the bathroom and bandage you up.”

Buffy nodded her head in understanding, barely even hearing what he was
saying. The only thing that was running through her head was that everything
that had occurred before never really happened. The kissing. The groping.
The words he had spoken to her. All of it never happened.

This heat was really getting to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~