Chapter Eleven.

Red Dress and Chains.

Spike was in the shower, the hot needles of water blissfully pounding onto
him. He’d left Buffy sleeping on top of her bed, covered over with a light
throw. He’d been amazed and thrilled when she’d fallen asleep under his
hands, when her eyes had closed he’d merely thought she wanted to hide from him; to gather her thoughts for a response to his declaration. But instead he’d felt her body sink deeper into the mattress, he didn’t flatter himself into thinking it was a display of trust on her part, only her exhausted minds way of retreating from a situation she couldn’t deal with.

He worried he was overloading her, but if he wanted Drusilla back he couldn’t afford to become distracted by Buffy’s lack of ability to adapt; she’d either cope or she wouldn’t, but one way or another Buffy was going to persuade Angel to divulge Dru’s whereabouts.

Once Dru was back, Buffy would be his means and method of tormenting Angel. There’d be no need to force her; she’d obviously lived a sheltered life and though she wasn’t a virgin she was woefully inexperienced. She blushed at his every insinuation. Angel had clearly treated her like a Sunday school
teacher and neglected her education. All this was to his benefit; it would
make seducing her easy and instructing her diverting. And flaunting it all
in Angel’s face would be very, very satisfying. Thinking of all the
different possible scenarios set his nerve endings tingling. All the weeks
of planning and scheming were about to pay off, and he was finding the
rewards of patients were addictive and the thrill of anticipation was heady.

He had intended to insist that dinner be a formal affair in the dinning room
down stairs, but after Buffy fell asleep he’d changed his mind and arranged
for Jonathan to serve them a more intimate dinner on the balcony. He was
tired of just teasing, it was time to begin the seduction, and it would be
better if that happened before he brought her to see Angel.

Dressed in a dark grey suit with a light grey shirt and tie Spike checked
his appearance in the mirror, he’d chosen his clothes with care, after all he
had a lady to impress. He went to wake Buffy to get ready for dinner but
when he opened her door she wasn’t on the bed. He could hear the shower
running through the bathroom door and decided to pick out a suitable
outfit for the evening’s activities for her.

She didn’t have much in the way of evening wear, something would have to be done about that but in the mean time they’d have to make do. After five
minutes of searching he found a simple knee length red dress that would be
perfect. It was made of a soft floaty fabric, the bodice was loosely fitted
and had thin straps that crossed over the dipped back, the skirt was full
and Spike could tell that Buffy would look gorgeous in it. She’d need a wrap
of some kind to hide her bruised shoulder, and Spike spotted a silver grey
knitted one that would do the job hanging with a selection of sweaters and
tops.

He quickly chose a pair of red high heeled strapy sandals from the shoe
racks at the bottom of the wardrobe, placing the items on the bed he went to
the drawer containing the new lingerie he’d bought her. The purchases had been an impulse buy, prompted when he’d seen a matching pink bra and thong set in a store window. He’d instantly thought of Buffy, and the first time he’d seen her getting ready for bed wearing a baby doll t-shirt and pink panties. Once in the store he hadn’t been able to resist buying her a selection of sets in an array of different colors and styles, imagining how she would look in them. Just knowing she was wearing the sweet little blue and white set that he’d given her that morning had made him hard every time he thought about it under her clothes. For tonight’s outfit he decided on a lacy red thong, she’d have to forgo a bra, as the dress was low backed. The thoughts of Buffy going bra-less all night was tantalizing, he could feel his arousal swelling.

He knocked on the bathroom door and called out to her. “Buffy dinner will be in thirty minutes, so to save you some time I took the liberty of selectin’
your clothes.” He waited to hear her reply, but there was only the sound of
the shower. “Buffy did you hear me?” Still no reply, “If you don’t answer me I’m comin’ in.”

“I heard you,” she called back.

“Okay, don’t keep me waitin’ this time,” he warned.

Jonathan was on the balcony setting the table, he glanced sideways at Spike
as he came through the doors. “What time would you like me to serve dinner
sir?”

“Seven thirty.”

“Yes sir,” Jonathan said.

Spike ignored the little mans presence. He stood looking over the gardens at
the fountains remembering Buffy’s simple delight in their beauty. Lighting a
cigarette he casually leaned on the stone railing contemplating how he
wanted the evening’s events to go.

Jonathan left without disturbing him.

He heard her door open and turned to watch her. She was frowning at the
empty sitting room, he smiled when he saw she was wearing the red dress.
He’d wondered if she’d defy him and reject his choice, but she hadn’t. She
looked stunning, he knew she would, her hair was softly arranged in a loose
twist high on her head lifting the blonde locks off her shoulders and
exposing her slender neck for his admiration. The little grey wrap was
dangling from her nervous fingers. She hadn’t noticed him standing on the
balcony watching her, the empty room seemed to perplex her. Spike saw her
look at his closed bedroom door and then hesitantly at the door leading to
the landing. Was she thinking about trying to leave?

She took a step towards the door. “Lookin’ for me luv?” She squeaked as she jumped to face him. “Or were you goin’ somewhere?” He indicated the entrance door.

“No, I didn’t see anyone about so I was going to ask the…” she fizzled off
nervously as he lazily closed the distance between them. “Where are we
going?” she asked, puzzled.

“What makes you think we’re goin’ somewhere luv?” His eyes kept sweeping over her, drinking in her beauty.

“Well..,’ she gestured to her dress. ‘And..,” she pointed to his suit. “Why
get all dressed up if we’re not going out?”

Spike realized that the reason she’d chosen to wear the dress was because
she thought they were going somewhere, and not because she didn’t want to
anger him. If she’d known for sure they were staying in she’d have probably
come out of her room wearing jeans, the thought made him smile.

“Tonight’s a special occasion, it’s our first meal together and I wanted to
make it memorable luv.” He smiled at her as he headed for the bar.

“We got dressed up to eat dinner…in?”

“Is that so unusual?”

“For me it is.”

“Well from now on it won’t be.” Without asking he’d poured her a glass of
white wine. “Besides, why should I deny myself the immense pleasure of seein’ you all prettied up for me?”

Her blush was immediate, but she bristled at the suggestion that her efforts
were for his benefit. Anger flashing in her green eyes and he could see she
was struggling with a retort.

He raised her hand to his lips placing a kiss on her palm. “You look very
beautiful Buffy and if dinner wasn’t ‘bout to arrive I’d take a little time
to show you exactly how beautiful I think you look.” He gently tugged the
wrap from her hand and placed it around her shoulders.

The anger in her eyes burned him. “You think you’re so clever don’t you? You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do with your sly comments and pointed looks? Well I do, and if you want to waste your time, then fine go ahead,” she snapped. “I won’t make this easy for you. You said you won’t force me, but that’s the only way you’re ever going to get me to sleep with you, I don’t want to be in the same room as you never mind the same bed.” She snatched the wine from him and flounced off in the direction of the balcony.

He followed her slowly, giving her a moment to cool down. Gazing at her
under hooded lids, he stalked closer. Someone needs a lesson, he
thought. She was leaning on the stone railing gazing into the gardens in the
same way he had, her tense back defiantly turned to him. He stepped up
behind her plucking the glass from her fingers. Carelessly he let it fall to
the paved floor regardless of the destruction, and in one quick motion he
scooped her up into his arms and strode off with her to her bedroom. Buffy
struggled, yelling at him to put her down.

He dropped her on the bed and immediately she tried to scramble away from
him but he caught her ankle and dragged her back toward him. The fabric of
her dress sliding high up her golden legs. Spike grabbed her other ankle
avoiding her kicking feet. He straddled her thighs locking her legs between
his own and pinned her arms high above her head, gripping them easily in one hand.

“Well look at that, we’re in the same room and the same bed,” he taunted.
She was breathing hard her chest rising and falling rapidly, tantalizing
him. Her wrap had fallen away in her struggles, exposing her neck and
shoulders to him.

Buffy’s eyes were wide with fear and she was trembling slightly. Spike
lowered his mouth to her ear nibbling along the outer shell. “You smell so
good pet.”

Buffy froze as he continued to place tiny kisses over her neck, she turned
her head away to avoid looking at him. “Get off me,” she said breathlessly.

“No. I like it right ‘ere.” He lowered a strap on her dress. She gasped and
struggled under him, but he only laughed at her.

“Stop that,” she cried, indignant.

“But if I stop I won’t be able to do this,” Spike said as he kissed along
her collar bone, down her chest to the top of her breasts. “And I really
want to do this. You’re so beautiful and you taste so sweet.” He pushed her
dress lower gently skimming his hand over her soft round breast exposing it
to his view. He gazed at her for a second then whispered, “Beautiful.” He
gently caressed her, pushing her breast higher as he lowered his head to her
nipple and softly sucked the bit of pink flesh into his mouth, moaning
softly.

Buffy gasped, she could feel his tongue sliding wetly over her nipple coaxing it to hardness, his hand gently rolling her breast under his mouth. He lifted his head to look at her but she refused to meet his gaze. He returned to her breast sucking a little harder, kneading her flesh with a stronger touch,
she trembled under him. When he lifted his head again she had her eyes
squeezed shut and her face turned from him. He gripped her chin turning her
back.

“Look at me Buffy,” he whispered. She stubbornly kept her eyes shut. He
shook her slightly. “Buffy I said look at me.” She looked at him her eyes
swimming with tears.

“If you didn’t fight me I wouldn’t ‘urt you,” he kissed her brow. “In fact I
could make you feel so good,” he kissed her cheek. “But it will still happen,
even if you do fight me. I’m not a patient man luv, for some things I can
wait but you’re not one of them. If you make me wait too long I’ll jus’ take,
regardless of your pleasure.”

“Y-you said you wouldn’t force me,” she whispered tearfully.

“My definition of force might jus’ differ from yours luv.”

She looked puzzled. He pressed his weight into her sliding his free hand
down her leg to the hem of her dress, pushing the fabric aside to rest his
hand on her smooth firm thigh. She tensed up biting her lip, her breath
coming in little pants as her heart thundered in her chest. He didn’t look
as if he was going to explain, he was gazing at her face and breasts between
placing kisses on her neck and shoulders. Her arms were sore and her throat
was dry with fear. If she screamed no one would come to help her. Oh God! I’m all alone. She felt hot tears spill down her face.

“What do you mean?” she murmured.

“Jus’ that if I really wanted to force you I’d simply get Luke or a couple
of the others up ‘ere to hold you down while I fucked you raw,” he told her.
He paused to see what affect his words had had on her. “And now that you
know my definition of force maybe you’ll appreciate what we’re doing jus’ a little bit. I told you luv, I prefer one on one.” As he said the last words
he pushed his hard length into her stomach letting her feel his fully
aroused shaft.

She gasped, her lips parting in a shocked response. Spike dropped a kiss on
her mouth slipping his tongue past her lips, before she could think to do
anything about it he explored her warmth sliding his tongue over hers, her
mouth opened wider in surprise allowing him to deepen the kiss. He kept the
pressure firm, coaxing her to join in, but she merely whimpered into his
mouth. Releasing her from the kiss he pulled her strap back onto her
shoulder, re-covering her.

“I think I heard Jonathan with our food, would you like to eat now?” His
voice was polite and inquiring.

With fresh tears brimming in her eyes she nodded her head.

Spike got off the bed helping her stand as he did. She pulled her hand from
his to gather up the wrap that had fallen on the floor. Spike watched her as
she tried to compose herself, her pretty face was all flushed and rosy, her
lips slightly swollen from his kiss. He noticed a few strands of her golden
hair had worked loose from the twist, softening and framing her face
prettily.

“If it’s at all possible luv, you look even lovelier with the flush of my
kisses all over your skin then I could’ve ever believed.”

Buffy was astonished by his words, he’d just basically molested her, and now he was paying her compliments like an admirer. She wondered about his notion of reality. Whatever had happened to make him hate Angel so much, that it would drive him to do the things he was doing. Surely, he must have become a little unhinged, along the way she thought. Spike offered her his arm in a gallant gesture smiling at her. Buffy returned his smile weakly and placed her arm in his allowing him to escort her to dinner, frightened and bewildered.

The meal was lovely, everything cooked to perfection and presented
beautifully. Spike watched her eat, insisting that she eat enough to make up
for the poor meal she’d had earlier. Admittedly she hadn’t been that hungry
when she sat down, but once she started it became surprisingly easy to eat
almost everything that was on her plate.

While the eating was easy the talking was hard, mostly she listened to Spike
talk he didn’t seem too concerned with her silences, as she kept herself busy
with her food when there was a pause in his monologue.

Eventually the meal was over and Spike poured them both coffees. He didn’t think that Buffy had heard half of what he’d said, she’d nodded or shook her head at all the right places in the conversation but she hadn’t joined in. At
least the food was to her liking, she’d eaten with a genuine appetite and
seemed to relax as the meal progressed.

Now she was gazing at the fountains through the stone railing, distant and
contemplative while she sipped her coffee. So far she was holding up well,
Spike was confident that in time she would respond to him with enthusiasm,
it wouldn’t be long before her little gasps of outrage and indignation would
turn into moans of pleasure and desire.

The next part of the evening loomed ahead of him and he was torn about
reuniting the ex-lovers, already he was thinking of her as his. Spike
squashed his feelings of possessiveness, it would only get in the way of his
desire to hurt Angel and track down Dru. For too long had he harbored his
plans for revenge, the desire was ferocious and though his consuming need for Drusilla’s return had eased, he still wasn’t prepared to let her go. No,
she’d be brought back, she belonged to him and with him.

And things would change between them once she was home. Masters hadn’t cared enough about her defection to worry about what Spike might do to her on her return, but Spike cared and when he’d finished Drusilla would never think about leaving him again.

Yet again Buffy would inadvertently aid him in her punishment and it would
be fun to introduce Buffy to the female aspect of sex. A sudden image of
Drusilla and Buffy naked on a bed together sent shivers down his spine and
straight to his cock. Buffy so beautiful, golden and blonde her small limbs
entwined with Dru’s longer paler ones, her dark hair caressing Buffy’s
perfect skin as they touched and pleasured each other. The fantasy was
powerful and Spike imagined what it would be like to join them. He hadn’t
indulged in a threesome in years, preferring to be exclusive to Dru, but with
all this talk of threesomes and Buffy’s involvement in his life he was
reconsidering the idea.

Buffy’s deep sigh jarred him from the pleasant reverie. Studying her petite
form he pushed the thoughts aside to explore at another time.

“You’re very quite luv,” he said.

“I wish you’d stop calling me that,” she replied with her usual abruptness.

“Callin’ you what?” he asked sweetly.

“Love, I’m not your love.”

“What would you like me to call you? Pet, kitten, sweet’eart or how ‘bout
lover,” that produced an angry sniff and a hard glare.

“How about Ms. Summers like everyone else.”

“Hmm! And maybe you could call me Mr. Winters or Sir. We could make a game of it,” he leered at her, raking his eyes over her covered breasts thinking of what other kinds of games they could play. He arched a brow at her smirking. “I like the idea of playin’ games with you pet…you all tied up on your knees callin’ me Sir…maybe if you’re a good girl I’ll teach you lots of games.”

Buffy gaped at him, aghast at his suggestions. Was he serious, did he really
intend to make her participate in bondage games? Her stomach flipped,
mortified when the image he’d provoked sprang to mind. How was it that he
could twist everything she said, even the most innocent thing and turn it
into something depraved?

She knew he was laughing at her goading her to retaliate in some way but she just couldn’t. Desperate to get away from him she stood pushing the chair quickly back, and walking to the railing she leaned out over the edge drawing the cool air into her lungs. She tensed when she heard him come up behind her, fearing another assault she moved back out of his way. He leaned on the rail next to her facing away from the gardens.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t tease you like that, it was cruel of me but you’re in
no position to be actin’ all superior to me when you’re such close friends
with whores, and were heavily engaged in an intimate relationship with
Angel,” his tone was reproachful.

“I just want you to leave me alone,” she sounded miserable.

“I can’t luv, Angel’s seen to that.”

“My relationship with Angel is none of your business.”

“You’re wrong luv his relationships are my business, because he’s family, and no one leaves the family.” He paused to light a cigarette. “His attempt to
leave caused a lot of destruction and now he has to pay the price and your
connection to him means you’ll suffer right along with him.”

She was silent, absorbing what he’d said her body language dejected. “So now what?”

“Now we go see Angel and I ask him a few questions.” He turned her by the
shoulders fixing her with an earnest look. “Buffy it could get pretty rough
down there so I’m goin’ to need you to promise me that you’ll do as I tell
you.” She gazed back at him her large eyes becoming fearful again. “I can’t
‘ave you flyin’ off the handle again, if you do I’ll ‘ave Luke cuff you,” he
tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear his gaze intense. “Do you
understand?”

She nodded. But Spike shook his head at her. “I need to hear you say it
Buffy.”

“I understand,” she said.

“And will you promise to do as I tell you?”

“I…I want to, it’s just I don’t think I can promise until I know what you
might ask me to do.”

He could tell she’d chosen her words carefully he nodded his understanding.
“Don’t worry I won’t ask you to do anythin’ that will compromise you. It
will be more along the lines of instructions like…if I tell you to sit down
and be quiet, or if I tell you to leave the room I need to be sure you’ll do
it without arguin’ or becomin’ hysterical.”

“If I promise what will happen if I break it?” She was trembling again.

“Then Angel or you could get very, very ‘urt. I ‘ave a bad temper Buffy and
I can’t always control it, and this is my first meetin’ with Angel since he
was brought ‘ere. I didn’t trust myself to go in there without you so you
see it’s up to you how this thing goes, you’re responsible for keepin’
everyone safe.”

She blinked up at him and he glimpsed for the first time the core of her
strength shining in her eyes, but her fear for Angel made her frail and he’d
use that.

“Do you promise to do as I tell you Buffy?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” he smiled at her. “Go wait for me in the sittin’ room, I’ll be with
you in a minute.”

He strode off along the balcony towards his room leaving her to wait for
him. He was only gone a few minutes, when he came back he was adjusting his
jacket and patting his pockets. Sitting on the edge of the couch Buffy
watched him pace back and forth, he seemed nervous and he kept shooting
little glances at her.

There was a knock at the door just before Luke came through followed closely by Dixon and Gilbey. Spike stopped pacing when they entered. Luke gave her a hard steady glare before looking at Spike. “Everything’s set boss.”

Looking at Buffy Spike closed the distance between them, holding out his
hand to her. She only hesitated for a moment before taking it and let him
ease her from the couch. She felt oddly calm and detached. Spike led her
past his men and onto the landing, he didn’t wait to see if they followed, but
strode towards the elevator at a brisk pace.

The five of them silently rode the car down, Buffy standing next to Spike.
Self-consciously she pulled her wrap tightly about her feeling intimidated
by the presence of the other men.

Going through the three locked security doors seemed to take forever, Luke
barking instructions at the guards while Spike remained strangely quite. He
squeezed her hand gently when they finally came to a stop outside Angel’s
room. “You’ll remember your promise?” he asked, gazing down at her.

She held steady under his gaze. “I’ll remember,” she said quietly.

He searched her face. “Good girl.” He leaned down placing a firm and
lingering kiss on her mouth. When he pulled back she was blushing under the gaze of his men. “Okay, now go with Gilbey and Dixon to the observation room, I’ll send for you in a little while.”

Dixon was holding the door open for her and Gilbey was hovering at her
shoulder, with a fearful look at Spike she nodded her head and turned to go
with Gilbey. Spike watched as she vanished through the doorway then
indicated for Luke to unlock Angel’s door.

*****

Spike had given his men specific instructions as to the arrangements for the
interrogation, he didn’t want to leave anything to chance if he could help
it. Buffy and how she would act and react was the one unpredictable aspect,
but he’d tried his best to contain that as much as possible.

Angel, he’d left alone. He’d been isolated from everyone but his silent
guards since he’d arrived. Spike had continued to strictly enforce the terms
of Angel’s confinement. He’d remained cuffed to the bed except for meals and bathroom breaks, he wasn’t allowed to shower or shave, and he was still
wearing the same clothes he’d arrived in. Not wanting him to find an escape
in sleep Spike had controlled that too. The brighter than normal overhead
lights were kept on for a total of twenty hours a day, giving Angel only a
meager four hours of darkness to sleep. The conditions were having the
desired affect. Angel looked like shit.

Angel had been unchained from the bed and was sitting at the small steel
table that was bolted to the floor, his hands were manacled to the table’s
surface and his ankles were strapped to the legs of his chair. He looked up
when Spike and Luke entered the room.

“Well Spike my boy, I wondered when you’d get around to paying me a visit,” he greeted cheerfully.

Spike casually took the chair opposite him silently lighting a cigarette,
Luke positioned himself behind Angel and leaned against the wall. Angel
ignored the big man and focused solely on Spike.

Through the cigarette smoke Spike studied Angel, seeing his unwashed tired
appearance and his chained hands gave him a real sense of gratification.
“Masters has washed his hands of you, you betrayed him and now everythin’
that was yours is mine. The L.A. operations, this house, your position in
the family are all mine...but even more importantly he’s given you to me and
I can do whatever I like with you. I could kill you, or torture you, or I
could leave you locked in ‘ere to rot away never seein’ or talkin’ to anyone
ever again, and I could come and look at you whenever I wanted.” Spike
smirked, indicating the observation window on the wall.

“So what’s it to be Spike all of the above or none? I know you’ve dreamed of this moment for years, but then I guess it’s the only way you’re ever going to get the best of me, because let’s face it, it’s not as if you could hope
to compete with me.” For a chained man he had a commanding manner. He looked Spike right in the eye, confident and assured. “I was always there
overshadowing you in every way…wasn’t I? You always envied me; my position and success…didn’t you? It must just eat you up inside thinking of all the times you came second to me? You were never good enough for any of them...not your own family, not Masters and definitely not Drusilla, they all preferred me over you,” he goaded.

Spike scoffed at him he’d expected no less, Angel had become predictable.
Once, not so long ago Angel’s unique brand of derision and needling would
have been enough to send him into a mad rage, but not now. Now he was the one with the power. He’d always thought he’d love to subject Angel to the same kind of torment, but now he had the chance Spike found the idea too petty.

He ignored the goading instead he asked, “Why did you leave?”

Surprise registered faintly in the narrowing of Angels’ eyes. “I was bored,
decided I didn’t want to be a crime lord after all, thought I’d try my hand
at bull fighting,” he sneered flippantly.

Spike laughed. “How’d that work out for you?”

“Oh well, the thing is my costumes weren’t ready before your men paid me a
visit so it looks like I’ll be a little delayed in starting the new career.
But I’ll let you know,” Angel gave him a big smile.

Spike nodded and smiled back in a friendly manner. “I jus’ bet you’d ‘ave
looked good in one of them troubadour costumes, and I bet Dru would look
stunnin’ as a flamingo dancer.”

Angel’s smile slipped a little but he didn’t waver from the eye contact.

“Where is she?” Spike quietly asked.

“Who?”

“Drusilla.”

“Don’t you know?”

Spike shook his head.

“Oh well you know what Dru’s like always swanning off somewhere, I’m sure she’ll turn up sooner or later.”

“So you don’t know where she is?”

“No.”

Spike studied his nails. “I think you do.”

Angel shrugged.

“Why did you take her with you?”

Angel maintained his flippant attitude. “I thought she’d look good in the
dress.”

“And did she?”

“Oh yeah!” smirked Angel. “She looked great in it but she looked fantastic
out of it too,” Angel saw Spike’s jaw twitch and struck again. “But we both
know how good she looks in or out of her clothes.”

“Where is she?” He was very careful to keep his voice down.

Angel shrugged.

“Angel if you tell me where she is I’ll go easier on you.”

Angel chuckled. “As if I’m afraid of anything you could do to me. That’s
funny Spike.”

“I could kill you, but we both know I won’t. So what would you say is the
worst thin’ I could do to you?” Spike glanced round the room wondering how Angel had coped locked away in the small space with nothing to do.

“You could stay here and annoy me to death, and can I say if that’s what
you’re going to do, then please kill me now.”

Spike leaned forward hands pressed flat on the cold steel of the table top,
a heated light in his blue eyes. “Have you any idea how much I want to ‘urt
you, to make you scream and suffer? But if you jus’ tell me where she is,
restore her to me and I’ll give up my plans for you and send you back to
Masters. Oh I know he’ll be hard on you, but nowhere near as brutal as I’m
going to be if you don’t.” Spike had thought he was getting through to him,
Angel had looked as if for a moment he just might consider it.

For the first time Angel dropped his eyes. “I can’t tell you where she is.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

Angel shrugged. “Does it matter?”

“So what do you suggest I do Angel, forget ‘bout her, move on and find
someone else?”

“That might not be such a bad idea.”

“And what do you suggest I do with you?”

Angel didn’t answer he just held Spike’s gaze steadily, his brown eyes
giving nothing away. He’d always been such a cold hard bastard, years of
practice hiding what little feelings he had, had made his nonchalant act
very convincing. But Spike knew better.

“This is your last chance to tell me where she is Angel for everyone’s sake
I hope you take it,” Angel didn’t flicker. “Where is she?”

Angel was mute, his face expressionless, his eyes empty.

Sitting back in his chair Spike sighed heavily. “I’m goin’ to enjoy this so
much,” he told Angel.

Without taking his eyes off Angel Spike addressed Luke. “Luke go and fetch
my guest.” The two men continued to glare at each other.

Buffy had been standing at the observation window watching Spike and Angel talk. Gilbey right next to her the whole time, looming over her in a
menacing manner. When he'd seen her looking at the controls on the panel
he’d told her not to touch them. When she told him she wanted to hear what
was being said he’d told her that Spike had instructed him not to allow her
to listen in. So she stood silently watching, but it was so hard to tell
what was going on. Angel was cuffed to the table and she could hardly see
the expressions on his face through his growth of beard. Spike was a bit
easier to read, for the most part he seemed relaxed, he even smiled and
laughed a couple of times but Buffy didn’t think it was sincere. Then she
noticed his body tense up and his jaw tighten, the two men were clearly
engaged in a battle of wills.

Buffy’s heart sank when she realized she already knew who the victor would
be.

She felt Gilbey brush his hand against her arm, she glanced at him from the
corner of her eye and shuffled slightly away from him, but he just smirked
at her. “Anyone would think that you don’t like my company Ms. Summers,” he rasped.

“Then they’d be right, I don’t…so back off,” she snapped back at him.

Dixon laughed from his spot by the door. Gilbey gave her a hard, dangerous
look. “You shouldn’t be so high and mighty Ms. Summers, you never know when you’re going to need a friend,” he leered at her.

Buffy felt bad enough without having to deal with him, but she refused to
let this man know he intimidated her. “I prefer to choose my own friends,”
she replied scathingly.

“Like the way you chose Harmony?” He retorted.

Buffy choked back a gasp. “You bastard,” she hissed. Dixon laughed louder.

All three jumped when Luke opened the door He looked from Buffy’s flushed upset face to Gilbey’s unrepentant face and Dixon’s amused one. “What’s going on in here?” he asked everyone.

No one answered, Buffy had turned back to the window, Dixon and Gilbey
shrugged.

Holding the door open for her Luke politely said, “Ms. Summers the boss wants you.”

“I’ll just bet he does,” Gilbey mumbled under his breath. Buffy shot him a
hateful look.

“Ms. Summers,” Luke said sternly.

Buffy hurried to the door Luke was looking at her oddly. “Don’t cause any
trouble in here, if you remember to do as you’re told you’ll be fine,” he
warned her.

Buffy felt sick as she followed him, Gilbey and Dixon right behind her.

Angel’s back was to the door and he didn’t turn when they came into the room, but Spike, sitting at the table, saw her as she stepped through the doorway.

“Buffy luv, come ‘ere.” Angel’s whole body jumped, his head snapped round to look at her. Spike was holding his hand out for her.

Looking at Angel she walked to Spike ignoring his hand, but Spike wasn’t put off, he just pulled her to him. “Come and sit down pet.” He pulled her onto his lap his arms going around her waist snuggling her to his chest. He
nuzzled her neck watching Angel for a reaction. Buffy was trembling, her
breathing coming in short pants, anxiously she tried to take calming
breaths. Spikes fingers were drawing silly little circles on her stomach.
She glanced at Angel a blend of guilt and reproach in her eyes.

Angel was rigid with rage, his jaw locked and his hands clenched into angry
fists within the manacles, his eyes flickered between Buffy and Spike a mix
of anger and disbelief.

“Maybe you’re right Angel, maybe I should find myself a new girl,” he brushed his hand over Buffy’s bare arm making her flinch. “Or since you took my girl, I should jus’ go ahead and take yours.”

Buffy tensed when she heard Spike’s reference to another woman.

“Oh sorry luv, didn’t I tell you that Angel ran off with my girl. Guess he
wasn’t as true to you as you thought.”

Buffy was searching Spike’s face hunting for the lie but all she could see
was his certainty. She looked to Angel for conformation her heart
contracting painfully when his eyes flickered guiltily away from her.

She struggled in Spike's arms trying to get up. Spike chuckled by her ear.
“Sssh! don’t be wrigglin’ around luv, you’ll get me all excited.” Alarmed
Buffy froze, her eyes growing wide as he kissed the back of her neck. She
heard someone snicker.

“Please this is wrong why can’t you…” Spike hushed her by placing a finger
over her lips.

“Buffy,” he reprimanded. “You promised to be good and do as you were told,” he cooed, gently smoothing his fingers over her cheek.

Angel was glaring at him, hate and anger burning in his eyes. His fists and
jaw still locked. Not so nonchalant now are you, you old bastard?
Spike thought.

“Look at me Buffy.” Buffy turned her head slightly to do as he asked.
“That’s no good, I can’t see you properly. Stand up a mo.” He pushed her to a standing position and turned her to face him, her back to Angel and the
table. Surprising her he knocked her feet apart and swiftly pulled her back
down onto his lap, this time she was straddling his legs, the hem of her
dress sliding up high. She caught a glimpse of Gilbey leering at her and
felt her face burning with humiliation. “That’s better, now I can see your
pretty face and eyes,” he smiled at her, sliding his arms around her waist
again settling her onto his lap. Buffy gripped her wrap tightly feeling
awkward and uncomfortable. Spike seeing her dilemma let go of her waist and tugged her hands up until they rested on his shoulders holding them there. Embarrassment flushed her face, Spike had arranged her into a pose that was meant to be viewed as intimate and sensual. Angel growled, Spike shot him a smirk over Buffy’s shoulder and arched a leery brow at him.

“I’ve been askin’ Angel where my girlfriend Drusilla is but he won’t tell
me, maybe if you ask him he’ll tell you,” Spike looked at her. “Ask him for
me Buffy.”

His gaze was so intense and his eyes so blue that Buffy felt she’d been
caught in a crushing blue vortex of hate and pain. The desperation she saw
there was so terrible that it stole her breath. Just as she was turning her
head to ask Angel Spike caught her chin. “No don’t look at him, look at me.”

She gave him a tiny nod.

She shivered. “Angel, will you tell me where Spike’s girlfriend is?” she
asked in a tiny trembling voice.

Buffy and Spike gazed at each other waiting for Angel to reply.

“I’m sorry Buffy I really, really am…but I can’t tell you.”

Spike sucked in a sharp angry breath before pulling Buffy flush against his
chest as he roared at Angel over her shoulder. “LISTEN ‘ERE YOU BASTARD, YOU’LL TELL ME WHERE DRU IS OR ALL THAT PAIN AND SUFFERIN’ THAT I WANT TO INFLICT ON YOU, WILL ALL BE BUFFY’S SHE’LL BE YOUR SURROGATE AND EVERYTHIN’ I CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF THAT I WANT TO INFLICT ON YOU SHE’LL SUFFER, IT’LL BE HER SCREAMS THAT WILL FILL THIS HOUSE FROM THE BASEMENTS TO THE RAFTERS, SO UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE ME CARRY OUT MY THREAT YOU BETTER FUCKIN’ WELL TELL ME WHERE DRU IS…NOW,” he was shaking with anger, gripping Buffy viciously around the waist.

Angel was shaking his head. “I don’t believe you Spike. I know you too well. You’d never hurt a woman,” his voice was hoarse and dry.

Spike calmed a little but his breathing was still labored and harsh.
“REALLY, then I guess you don’t know me as well as you thought.” He pushed Buffy away from his chest slightly and pulled the grey wrap off her
shoulders exposing the ugly purple and blue bruise to Angel’s view.

“Tell Angel who gave you that pretty bruise luv.” He didn’t take his eyes
off Angel.

“You did,” Buffy said quietly. She was visibly trembling afraid to look at
Spike; she could feel the tension in his whole body.

Angel growled, struggling in his bonds.

“And tell Angel what I did to Faith.”

“You…” she broke off sobbing.

Spike shook her. “TELL HIM,” he barked.

“You had Luke rape her,” she sobbed.

Angel looked at Luke then back at Spike skeptically.

“Admittedly havin’ Faith raped is no big deal she’s a whore after all, but
Buffy she’s sweet and inexperienced rapin’ her will be a very big deal…for
both of you.” Spike started to rub her back in small slow circles his warm
finger tips playing with the straps of her red dress. Buffy tensed, he
placed a tiny kiss on her shoulder. “And I’ve already had a little sample of
Buffy’s tantalizing charms, so I’d be more then happy to do the job myself.
You know me Angel I’m a greedy bastard I don’t like to share but I don’t
mind an audience.”

He stood abruptly startling Buffy, gasping she clutched at him trying not to
fall. Spike pushed her roughly onto the table. Standing between her legs he
pulled them over his hips, heedless of the fact that the fabric of her dress
slid all the way up her thighs exposing her to everyone’s view.

She struggled trying to cover herself and get free at the same time. Spike
caught her shoulders and banged her against the table, she whimpered lying
as still as she could and looked up into Angle’s face her eyes full of fear
and tears. Suddenly Spike was leaning over her gazing into Angle’s face.

“C’mon you bastard dare me,” he furiously hissed into his face. Buffy sobbed under him her hands coming up to try and shove him off, but Spike caught them and slammed them to the table pushing his hips into her. Buffy moaned sickened.

Angel struggled against his bonds. “Let her go,” he said through gritted
teeth.

“Tell me where Dru is.”

“NO, LET HER GO,” Angel yelled. Spike reached for the buckle of his belt
Buffy gasped struggling anew, her hands punching and slapping at him.

“Luke, Gil, hold her arms,” Spike barked. Buffy screamed going wild beneath him as Luke and Gilbey grabbed an arm each. She cried and screamed as she madly thrashed.

“TELL ME.”

“NO.”

Buffy was hysterical, begging Angel to tell, begging Spike to stop between
crying and sobbing as the two men continued to yell at each other.

Spike’s voice was full of rage and hate. “Bloody hell, this is no fun.”
Suddenly she was free. Spike hauled her into a sitting position on the table
as Luke and Gilbey released her arms. Still standing between her legs Spike
reached for her. She was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. Buffy batted
his hands away but Spike would have none of it and pulled her to him.

At first she resisted his embrace but suddenly she was clutching him, sobbing into his chest and then wrapping her arms about him, burrowing into his warmth as his arms held her and his hands soothed her.

“Sssh pet its okay,” he soothed. “It’s alright hush now, there’s no need for
all that.” He kept up the soothing talk until her sobs calmed and she
loosened her grip. He held her back at arms length tucking a strand of hair
behind her ear. “Look at you all worked up and gushing,” Spike said. He
rummaged in his jacket pocket for a moment then pulled out a handkerchief
wiping away her tears with it. He kissed her gently on the lips then smiled
at her with such a sad look in his eyes. “I’m so sorry Buffy,” he quietly
whispered pulling her into his embrace again. This time she didn’t resist;
she went gratefully. He hugged her tightly to him trapping her to his body.

She gasped softly when she felt the cold muzzle of the gun he was pressing
to her temple. The table shook under her as Angel thrashed in his bonds.
Buffy didn’t fight, she was strangely calm, she sank a little deeper into
Spike’s embrace, gently closing her eyes and sighing softly.

‘Tell me where Drusilla is,” Spike whispered.

Angel looked at Buffy’s trembling body and Spike’s determined face. He held motionless under Spike’s gaze. “She’s in a private clinic in France.”

Spike lowered the gun immediately and slipped it into his pocket, the same
pocket he’d found the handkerchief in. Spike nodded at him. “Give the
details to Luke,” he instructed Angel.

He gently rocked Buffy placing tiny kisses on her brow and making soothing
noises to her. He glanced at Angel who was staring hatefully at him as he
held the unresponsive girl. Smiling at Angel he said. “Everythin’ that was
yours is now mine, and that includes Buffy.”

*************************************************************

 

Chapter Twelve.

Carry Me Away.


Scooping Buffy’s unresisting body up into his arms he strode out of the
room. He thought she’d passed out with fear and shock. But then he felt her
arms slowly rise to wrap around his neck and she snuggled into him. He
looked down at her, her head was resting on his shoulder and her eyes were
closed peacefully. He frowned at her odd behavior; she was too still, too
calm. He’d need to keep an eye on her, she was bound to snap out of it soon
and when she did he’d need to help her deal with it.

Spike carried her all the way through the sub-level into the elevator and
upstairs. Once back in their suite he carried her to her bedroom and placed
her on the bed. He knew she wasn’t asleep or unconscious, but she kept her
eyes shut as he slowly and gently undressed her. He talked to her softly as he
undid the buckles on her sandals and slipped them off her feet. Next he
eased the dress over her head. Spike decided she must be in a state of shock,
because not once did she blush or reach for something to cover herself with.
She lay on top of the bed in the darkened room in nothing but a red lacy
thong, her lovely naked breasts rising and falling gently as she breathed.

Spike eased back the covers and helped her to slide under them, her eyes
opened then and she looked at him, her teary eyes filled with reproach.

“You lied,” she whispered.

Shaking his head Spike shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over the foot
of the bed. “No I didn’t luv, I told you it was goin’ to be rough and it was,
and for that I’m sorry, but Angel left me no choice.” Sitting beside her he
tucked the cover around her shoulders stroking her hair.

“But you said you wouldn’t make me do anything compromising and then you…you did that.”

“No luv, I said I wouldn’t ask you to do anythin’ compromisin’,
and I didn’t. I didn’t ask you to lie on the table and let me rape you did
I?” She gave a tiny shake of her head. “No, you promised to do as I told you
and you did. You were perfect.” He kissed her cheek. “I know what I did
frightened you and I’m sorry I had to do that to you, but it had to look real
or Angel would never have told me where Drusilla is.”

“But you had Luke and Gilbey…”

“Buffy it was an act, I would never have taken you like that, remember what I
said earlier ‘bout forcin’ you? I jus’ had to make you think I would, to
make it look real…and think ‘bout this, Angel didn’t stop me. Did he? No…I
stopped myself.”

Buffy looked at him skeptically. “But you would have killed me if he hadn’t
told you where she was…I know you would have.”

Spike reached for his jacket and pushed it towards her. “Here, the gun’s in
one of the pockets, find it and take it out.”

Sitting up she slipped her arms out from under the covers and grasped the
jacket in shaking hands. Patting the pockets she felt the hard shape of the
gun through the fabric. Hesitantly she pulled it out, looking at Spike with
uneasy little glances.

“Okay luv, point it at anythin’ you like and shoot,” he said.

For a moment she looked shocked then realization dawned on her. Shaking her
head she glanced between him and the gun. “It’s not loaded is it?”

“No,” he said. He took the gun from her and worked the mechanism that
released the gun clip and held it up for her to see. “I had no intentions of
killin’ you Buffy.”

He watched her face as she absorbed everything. “Oh God!” she sobbed, her
hands covering her mouth as the flood gates opened and Buffy cried like
she’d never stop.

Spike tried to gather her into his arms, but she pushed him back. “NO…NO
don’t touch me…don’t ever, ever touch me. I hate you,” she cried. She
slapped him hard, her open hand landing a sharp powerful blow to his face
that rang loud in the darkened room.

Anger flared in his eyes but he pushed it back quickly. Buffy stared at him
with shocked fearful eyes. He reached for her again but she slapped his
hands away. “I said NO. I hate you.”

“No you don’t pet you’re jus’ angry ‘cause I tricked you.”

“No, I think its hate,” sniffling and shaking her head in denial she quickly
said, “I want to go home.”

Smiling he shook his head. “Can’t do that pet.”

“Yes you can,” she sobbed, catching his arm her eyes beseeching him. “Angel
told you where your girlfriend is you don’t need me now. You can let me go.”

“I can’t Buffy, and I don’t want to.”

“You’re an evil monster,” she wailed, releasing him.

He laughed at that. “Yeah I s’pose I am. Besides, would you really want to
leave Angel ‘ere…aren’t you worried ‘bout what I might do to him. Don’t you
love him?”

“No.”

“Now whose tellin’ lies?” he chuckled.

“I’m not lying, I don’t love him.” Angry tears filled her eyes and spilled
down her face.

“I don’t believe you,” but he scanned her face and must’ve seen something there
that made him question. His tone was deadly. “What do you mean you don’t
love him?”

“What do you think I mean?” she yelled. “I mean I did but now I don’t…it’s
over…I couldn’t love someone like that, someone who’d do the things he did.
That’s why I told him I never wanted to see…” Suddenly Buffy realized what
she was saying. How could she be so stupid as to reveal her feelings to this
mad man who would manipulate her in any way he could?

Buffy held back her sobs staring stupefied at Spike, the silence filling the
room was loaded. Spikes eyes narrowed. “You sent him away. It’s because of
you he left.”

Spike was stunned, not once in all these weeks had he considered that it was
Buffy who’d terminated the relationship, he’d assumed it had been Angel who’d
grown bored of her. The journal hadn’t been written in during the last few
weeks before Angel disappeared and Spike had put that down to Angel losing
interest in the girl, but now he questioned that. Buffy was implying that it
was her that ended the affair between them.

This made things very interesting. Buffy had just admitted that she wasn’t
in love with Angel, but by his actions tonight Angel had declared his
feelings for Buffy. Spike knew Angel well enough to know that if he wasn’t
in love with Buffy he’d have shouted it long and loud, probably even telling
Spike to go ahead and shoot her, but he hadn’t…he’d cared enough to give him
Drusilla’s location stopping Spike from hurting Buffy, or so he thought.
Angel still loved Buffy Spike was in no doubt of it.

But Buffy wouldn’t know that, she’d be thinking that Angel had allowed her
torment to be dragged out; that he’d not cared enough to stop it straight
away. It wasn’t clear to Spike when Buffy had stopped loving Angel. Maybe it
was when she’d discovered what kind of bastard he really was; it wasn’t as
if Angel would’ve been able to hide his true nature indefinitely.

And now, inadvertently, she’d revealed to Spike the depth of Angels feelings
for her. He must love her very, very much to leave her at her request.
Letting Buffy go now was out of the question, holding her and forcing her
into a sexual relationship under Angel’s nose had been his original plan. But
what would be even better would be if he coaxed her into it willingly, and
if possible, befriend her, which was something he hadn’t considered before
because he’d assumed she was in love with Angel. But she wasn’t.

Spike looked at her, she knew she’d given something important away, but she
wasn’t sure what. Little things were falling into place ‘I know he’s
an evil monster just like you’ her words came back to him. He’d
dismissed them at the time, but now he realized how much truth had been in
her voice, and that look of fear when she’d thought Angel was in the room
with them. Had Angel done something to her, causing her to fall out of love
with him? Obviously yes. But what?

While he’d been collecting his thoughts Buffy had retreated as far away from
him as her unclothed state and the bed would allow. There’d be no use in
asking her out right why she’d sent Angel away, she was shut down tighter
than a clam, and if he pushed the matter she was likely to break. He needed
time to think how best to approach her if he was going to try and draw her
into another kind of relationship. He had some damage control to do. The
years of looking after Dru would come in useful.

Dru…how was it that he was only just now thinking of Dru? Buffy’s
presence had pushed thoughts of her from his head. He no longer wondered at
Angel’s falling in love with Buffy, she was alluring and fascinating, and the
way she blushed at just about everything was unbelievably gratifying. Even
if she never felt anything but hate for him he couldn’t imagine letting her
go. Dru would just have to accept her, just as he’d had to accept Angel.

Giving her a reassuring smile he slowly climbed onto the bed but kept a
careful distance from her. “Buffy pet, it’s alright, I don’t care that you
sent him away. I guess I’ve been selfish, I never thought ‘bout the
possibility that he could’ve ‘urt you too,” he sighed deeply. “I’m glad you
told me you’re not in love with him, it’ll make things easier between us, but
you must see that I can’t let you go, you’re too important to controllin’
Angel.”

“I don’t deserve any of this, it’s not my fault he took your girlfriend, and
you shouldn’t be doing this to us…why can’t you just let us both go?” She
was clutching the cover to her chest, her little hands frantically twisting
the fabric. “He’s given you what you want…this thing about making him suffer
is just stupid…it’ll never make you happy…and…and what about your girlfriend,
what’s she going to say when she finds out what you’re doing to Angel? Are
you going to make her suffer for running away with him?” she demanded.

“How I deal with Drusilla has nothin’ to do with you, but I can tell you that
jus’ seein’ her precious Angel locked up on a daily basis will be
punishment enough for her lapse in judgment,” he moved nearer to her. “It’s
no use Buffy I’ve made my mind up, you and Angel are stayin’ right ‘ere,
‘cause makin’ Angel suffer will make me the happiest bloke alive. And believe
me I’ve more than jus’ this one incident to make him pay for,” he took off
his tie and undid the top buttons of his shirt. “And let’s face it Buffy,
it’s not jus’ your involvement with Angel that’s brought you ‘ere, or had you
forgotten Lily? I know she wasn’t the only one you helped; you were
interferin' in family business even before you met Angel. It was only a
matter of time before someone took an interest in you. You’re lucky that
Masters hadn’t order you taken care of.”

Her eyes were large and hostile her tone angry, “What are you doing?”

“I’m gettin’ ready for bed,” he undid the rest of the shirt buttons.

“Then go do it in your own room.”

“I’m not sleepin’ in there tonight.”

“What? Well you’re not sleeping in here…go away.”

Spike laughed at her. “Calm down, it’s alright, I’m goin’ to get you a couple
of sleepin’ pills and spend the night in ‘ere with you,” he sighed, trying to
think of the right thing to say to her. “You’re upset and you shouldn’t be
on your own. Look, I promise I won’t touch you, its jus’ to sleep.”

“NO!”

“Buffy,” he coaxed soothingly.

“NO!”

Despite wanting to soothe things over with her he couldn’t let her try and
dictate to him like this, if she did they’d never get anywhere. He needed
her to get used to his presence, not push him away, but he also needed her to
trust him, and that was going to be the hard part after everything that had
happened.

He got off the bed and opened the chest of draws. He pulled out a pair of
lilac satin pj’s and handed them to her. “Put them on, I’ll be back in a mo'
with the sleepin’ pills.” He turned to leave.

“NO, I don’t want any sleeping pills, and I certainly don’t want you to come
back. Leave me alone,” her voice had been on the edge of hysteria.

He turned on her sharply. “I’m gettin’ fed up of this Buffy, do you want me
to lose my temper? ‘Cause you’re goin’ ‘bout it the right way,” he glared at
her. “Now stop this nonsense and do as you’re told.”

He strode off angry.

When he returned she was sitting on the edge of the bed dressed in her pj’s.
Silently he handed her the pills and a glass of water.

“Please don’t make me take them…I don’t want to be all drugged up,” she
implored.

It occurred to him that she thought he might try to do something to her
while she slept. Can’t blame her for not trusting me, he thought.
Maybe a compromise was what was needed.

“Okay, but you ‘ave to agree to let me spend the night in ‘ere with you.”

She was biting her lip, mulling over his words, and staring at the pills in his
hand. Slowly she nodded her head not looking at him.

“Why don’t you go and wash up and I’ll go and change.” He didn’t wait to get
an answer from her.

He could hear the water running when he got back and guessed she’d dally for
as long as she could, fearful of having to face getting into bed with him.
He’d gone to the trouble of changing into an old pair of light weight
joggers and a cotton t-shirt, he hated the thoughts of having to wear anything in
bed, normally he slept naked, but he didn’t think Buffy would appreciate that
notion just yet. But God! He hoped it wouldn’t be long. Suddenly he was
struck with the realization that he’d be able to watch her sleep while
lying next to her. A thrill of excitement coursed through him, but he
squashed it. Controlling himself was paramount, he couldn’t afford to
frighten her again, this is where repairing the harm he’d done began, so he
resolved to behave like a gentleman and keep his promise.

The bathroom door opened and Buffy nervously re-entered the room. Keeping
things casual Spike pulled back the covers and climbed in watching her
slowly make her way to the bed, fear and distrust suffused her face but she
managed to overcome her fear enough to climb under the covers. She kept her
distance from him; staying on the edge of her side of the bed. The bed was a
massive affair with no chance of either of them closing the distance between
them, except deliberately, but she was making a point.

Spike smiled at her antics. “Buffy luv there’s no need for you to sleep on
the edge of the bed like that, you’ll fall out. I’ve already promised not to
touch you, so don’t be silly and move into the bed properly.” She didn’t
budge, only kept her back turned ignoring him. “Buffy you’re startin’ to
piss me off again, now move into the bed, there’s plenty of room.”

She moved further in without turning to look at him. “That’s better, now try
and get some sleep, we’ll talk in the mornin’, goodnight Buffy.”

Buffy lay listening to him shifting into a sleeping position, she didn’t dare
look at him, her heart was thundering in her chest keeping time with her
pounding head. Since meeting Spike she’d been in a near constant state of
panic, but it was nothing compared to the terror she’d felt being held down on
that table by the three men while the man she’d once loved refused to help
her.
Spike had carefully staged the whole thing from her clothes and the
dinner to the empty gun, it had all been orchestrated to achieve maximum
terror. She couldn’t close her eyes for fear of feeling overwhelmed by the
memories. She could still hear her own screams ringing in her head. Gilbey’s
leering face floated before her, and Angel’s stubborn refusal to hear her
pleas had hurt more than she thought possible. He’d obviously not wanted to
protect her and if Spike hadn’t stopped she was sure Angel would’ve let him
rape her. It was only the threat of her death that had forced him into
revealing the other woman’s location.

And now she’d let slip her true feelings for Angel. It was too much to hope
that Spike wouldn’t use that information to his advantage, though what
possible difference it would make in his treatment of herself or Angel she
couldn’t guess. She’d been thinking of Spike as a mad man, but now she was
forced to revise her opinion, mad men acted mad, they didn’t plan and
construct elaborate schemes in which to obtain revenge. Spike wasn’t mad, he
was clever and cunning, and manipulative and very driven. Buffy suspected he
was more driven by his hate of Angel then his love for his girlfriend. She
was beginning to understand where his hatred of Angel stemmed from…this
Drusilla was obviously the bone between these two dogs.
Not for the first time Buffy cursed having ever met Angel, her life had never been the same, and just when she thought she’d managed to get away from all the wrongness knowing Angel had caused, she found herself mired in it more then ever. So much so that she feared she’d never be free, Spike certainly gave her the impression that this wouldn’t be over any time soon. And now there was yet
another person being added to the ugly mix.

Drusilla! Buffy wondered what Spike was going to do to her when he brought
her back. Buffy didn’t think it would be anything to the other girls liking.

Buffy could see that Spike was going to lock the four of them into a sick
twisted tragedy of love/hate, pain and suffering, with unhealthy amounts of
fear and manipulation.

Overwhelmed by her feelings of fear Buffy realized she was out of her depth,
with no idea how to protect herself from his scheming, and with no way of
knowing what was going to happen next. She wished she’d taken the sleeping
pills, she couldn’t get her mind to shut off from the endless unidentified horrors that Spike would probably have in store for her.

Quietly she raised her head, the sleeping pills were on the night stand next
to the water. As carefully as she could she reached out for the tablets,
praying she wouldn’t attract Spike’s attention. She swallowed them quickly
and settled back down without any mishaps. She lay staring into the gloom
waiting for the drug induced sleep to carry her away, too afraid to cry and
too tearful not to.

From his side of the bed Spike listened to her soft sobs.

*****

Spike was in the sitting room smoking, he’d spent a good part of the night
thinking as he’d watched Buffy sleep. She was still sleeping. He’d just
finished instructing Luke about arrangements for bringing Drusilla home. The
only problem, was Angel hadn’t told them that the clinic that Drusilla was in
was a private clinic for mental patients. Oh, sure she’d been in and out of
drug rehab, but she’d never been in a sanatorium before. Why in Gods name had
Angel put her in there? Had she had a break down of some kind, or a really
bad episode?

He’d have to speak to Angel and he hated the thoughts of that. The Doctor at
the clinic had been unavailable to speak to him, but the administrator had
faxed him all the information that would be required by the clinic to obtain
a transfer. Cooper was the only one who could produce the necessary forged
paper work and he was in London tailing Buffy’s mum and sister, so now it
looked as if Luke and Dixon would have to meet up with Cooper to get the
paper work before heading to France to collect Dru.

Now that Buffy was living with him he didn’t like the idea that three of his
men would all be away at the same time, even if it was only for a few days.
After last night Spike felt sure that Buffy would try to find a way to
escape and the absence of Luke and Dixon would surely be a temptation for
her.

He didn’t trust Wesley, so that would mean having to let Gilbey choose a
couple of the minions to help with watching Buffy. He suspected Buffy
wouldn’t like that. He’d carefully watched her in the presence of his men,
and he felt pretty sure that while they all frightened her, and she was
especially fearful of Luke…no doubt because of what he’d done to Faith,
which made him useful in keeping her in line. But for some reason she seemed
to dislike Gilbey more than the other two, he hadn’t figured out the reason
for this yet, but he didn’t think it had anything to do with his
disfigurement, Buffy didn’t strike him as the shallow type.

There’d be nothing else for it, he’d just have to postpone all but the most
pressing and important business so he could spend as much time as possible
with Buffy. She wouldn’t like that either, but when given the choice of being
with himself or Gilbey he thought she’d choose him.

Unexpectedly Buffy came out of her bedroom dressed and showered. She was
wearing black jeans and a cream long sleeved top, her hair tied in the same
low, sloppy knot as the day before. Her jeans were form fitting clinging
nicely to her slim hips and shapely legs, the top had a baggy neck line that
slipped around her shoulders revealing the straps of a little black top.
Spike was sure she was going for a covered up look but inadvertently what
she’d achieved was cute and sexy. He tried not to stare and make her feel
uncomfortable. Thinking of her clothes reminded him that she needed new
things as her own wardrobe lacked a lot of the clothes that she’d require
for her new lifestyle, he made a mental note to talk to Wesley about it.

“Good mornin’ Buffy,” he greeted.

She didn’t answer so he walked towards her stopping only when he was
standing a few inches right in front of her, she flinched slightly but held
her ground. “I said good mornin’ Buffy,” he repeated.

“Good morning,” she mumbled.

“Would you like some breakfast?”

She nodded.

“What would you like?” he asked her, the phone in his hand waiting for her
order.

“I don’t care…anything.”

He raised a brow at her reproachfully. She hesitated under his look. “Err!
eggs…and toast.”

“How do you want your eggs?” Then on second thoughts he handed her the
phone. “Here why don’t you order what you want? You need to dial three for
the kitchen and order me the same as yourself,” he said as he strode off in
the direction of his bedroom.

Buffy looked at the phone in her hand for a moment, then at Spike’s back as
he vanished into his room, shrugging Buffy dialed three and ordered their
breakfast.

They were sitting on the balcony when the food arrived, and Spike introduced her to the waiter, Jonathan. Spike explained that Jonathan was the only member of the domestic staff that was allowed in their suite, so if she needed anything
doing Jonathan was the person to ask for. The little man had seemed a bit
twitchy but at least he’d given her a friendly smile and shook her hand in
welcome.

“Normally we’ll eat breakfast in the main dinin’ room with my men, but for
now we’ll eat all our meals up ‘ere there’ll be time enough to get used to
your new routine when you start work. Then I’ll expect you to join me at
breakfast with the others. Hopefully you’ll find the breakfast meetings an
opportunity to get to know the men a bit better,” he paused for a thoughtful
moment. “I know you’re afraid of them, and its good that you are but when
things settle down I hope you’ll be able to accept their presence in your
life as easily as I do.”

She’d looked at him doubtfully but didn’t argue the point.

“After breakfast would you like to take a walk in the gardens and maybe,
after that we could go use the gym? I don’t know ‘bout you but I could really
use the exercise.”

Her eyes lit up on mention of the garden but uncertainty returned when he
asked about the gym. “Will the others be there?”

He could see she was torn between wanting to have access to the gym, and not
wanting to share it with an audience. “Don’t worry, it’ll jus’ be the two of
us pet.”

She bristled a bit at the endearment but nodded her acceptance.

*****

Two hours later they were still in the gym, Buffy had changed into long
jogging bottoms and a baggy t-shirt. If she hoped to persuade Spike there
was nothing to look at because she was all covered up then she failed. Spike
found he was happy to watch her clothed form almost as happily as her
unclothed. Dressed or naked she was beautiful, graceful, and arousing and
Spike had a hard time not thinking about sex whenever she was around, and it
was getting harder.

The last thirty minutes she’d divided between the rowing machine and the
tread mill, and now her t-shirt was sticking to her back and chest, the damp
fabric clinging to the contours of her breasts enticingly. Spike could
hardly take his eyes off her breasts as they bounced slightly under the
damp shirt as she jogged. Groaning he turned his back on her cutting off the
forbidden image. He punched hard at the punch bag, but it was no good the
image was still with him and it wasn’t only his punches that were hard. His
cock was straining for attention.

He let loose a flurry of frustrated kicks and hits at the offending bag,
building up a sweat and letting his body find the unconscious rhythm that
always took over when he lost himself in exercise. He shut everything out
focusing on his breathing, working his mind and body together going over and
over the set routines.

He became aware of Buffy watching him, so he slowed catching his breath, he
noted her strange look and arched a brow at her in question, wondering what
could be bothering her. He turned his head to look at her properly and she
blushed as if he’d just made a crude or suggestive comment. She looked away
quickly, Spike smiled to himself, she’d been having those naughty thoughts
again, only this time he was sure they included him.

This was something that he defiantly wanted to encourage without teasing her
or been cruel. But how? He’d never had to practice sexual subtlety before,
none of the women he’d known had ever played hard to get; they’d always met
him half way, if they’d not openly pursued him. Buffy was making him work for
it like no other woman had before, but already little signs were beginning
to appear. Yesterday while in the Holding Room she’d allowed him to comfort
her and she’d sought it from him too, and before dinner, when she’d lay under
him on her bed unable to hide the first little signs of her responses. Just the memory of her soft pink nipple filling his mouth was enough to
have his cock hardening all over again. Damn!

Buffy had turned away from him, she was wiping off with a cotton towel
hiding her blushing face from his view, but Spike could still see the
contours of her breasts through the sweaty t-shirt, the nipples he’d been
fantasizing about were clearly visible. He groaned. What the hell was the
matter with him? For heavens sake he’d seen her naked dozens of times, and
though the images had always aroused him he’d never felt it quite like this
before. Fleetingly he wondered if this was how Angel had felt in her
presence, but quickly dismissed it. Angel was a horny dog; he’d fuck anyone
willing or unwilling.

He had to do something about his hard on. Stealing another glance at Buffy
he called an end to their gym session and headed off for a shower, telling
Buffy she could use the second bathroom for her own shower.

Faced with the choice of a cold shower or a quick hard wank, Spike opted for
the hand job. He heard the bang of the other bathroom door and the shower
being turned on. Buffy would be stripping off her damp clothes and stepping
into the shower. He groaned. Quickly he discarded his exercise gear and
ducked under the shower, his hand going straight to his straining cock.

He breathed a sigh of relief which quickly turned into a moan when his
fingers made contact and immediately began to move. Thoughts of Buffy in the
shower next door spurred him on, her skin all wet and soapy her hands
sliding over her stomach and breasts, pinching her nipples.

He couldn’t help himself, he moaned louder as his hand glided along his wet
length, squeezing at just the right pressure to make him need more. He
imagined it was Buffy’s hand fondling him. Panting he tried to stifle his
groans of pleasure. He thrust faster into his hand, rubbing his thumb over
the engorged head gathering the drops of liquid and rubbing them back along
his cock as he slid his hand up and down.

His breath was coming faster now as he imagined Buffy’s little fingers
playing and squeezing his balls as she rubbed her naked body against him. He
whispered to her, begging her to take him into her mouth, she smiled shyly
and fell to her knees before him, the water dancing on her golden skin,
darkening her long hair. Softly her mouth descended over his cock, the feel
of her hot tongue brushing over his tip made his body jerk in electric
pleasure, then her whole mouth was covering him moving fast and skillfully…he
could feel his balls tightening. Fuck…it was happening too fast he wanted to
hold back to prolong it.

Groaning he looked down to see his cock disappearing into her pretty
mouth…it was too much. The fantasy carried him away…he came hard, his voice
dragged harsh and ragged from his throat as he exploded into her mouth.

Panting he looked down, dream Buffy was gone.

He leaned his head against the tiles feeling relieved but not satisfied. He
groaned raggedly.

Buffy stood frozen in the shower listening to Spike…to what he was
doing…there was no mistaking those sounds. He was…he was...Oh God! He’s jerking off in the shower,she thought. Her whole body blushed. She’d seen him looking at her while she worked out, his eyes repeatedly lingering on her breasts. But she’d chosen to pretend not to notice, hoping that if he didn’t know she’d seen him looking he’d get fed up and stop. And he had
stopped, and it was at that point that Buffy allowed herself to look at him.
He was wearing a pair of workout pants and nothing else, bare feet and bare
chest, completely comfortable in the familiar space he moved about the room
with confidence and purpose, using the different equipment with ease.

He’d seemed to find the punch bag especially absorbing and that’s when Buffy
had found herself studying him. His well defined upper body told her he
worked out a lot, he was well toned and Buffy grudgingly admitted the look
was very sexy on him, it suited his frame.

He attacked the punch bag as if he really wanted to rip it down, hitting,
punching and kicking it with power and attitude. She imagined he’d be a
fierce fighter. He was sweating from the exercise, the moisture glistening
over his back and chest, the muscles rippling with each movement he made and
he was breathing hard, groaning from the exertion.

The sounds were similar to the groans he’d made when he’d pinned her to the
bed the day before. A sudden image of the same scene happening again but
this time with Spike half dressed and sweating as he was now flashed in her
mind. Blushing she blocked the unwelcome thought, wondering at her crazy
imagination. Yesterday it had frightened her when he’d carried her
struggling to the bed and proceeded to assault her, and today she was imaging
it differently she must be going mad.

The groaning from the other bathroom was getting louder and more desperate.
Buffy felt her breath catch in her throat as she heard him laboring on. Did
he realize she could hear him? She squeezed her eyes shut, but it didn’t
help. The image of a wet naked Spike touching himself popped into her head.
Her eyes flew open, she was panting from the shock of arousal the image had
invoked in her. She pressed her hands over her ears but she could still hear
him. Oh God! Please let him finish soon, she thought, her body was
tingling and flushed in response to the very male sounds and his obvious
pleasure. She ached with arousal and burned with mortification. His groaning
was almost musical. Then for a few seconds silence, followed by a prolonged
harsh cry, and a final slightly frustrated groan.

Just the sound of the water remained. Buffy broke from the spell that had
held her immobile, Spike would be out of the shower in moments, and the last
thing she wanted was for him to come looking for her. She quickly turned the
shower settings to cool, she didn’t want to freeze but she needed to calm
her body down, if she came out of the bathroom all flushed Spike would know
immediately that she’d heard him. Soaping up a sponge she went to work
bathing, trying to ignore how sensitive her skin felt.

She had a sudden embarrassing thought, Anya was supposed to take her
shopping in the week, to buy sex toys, “To help with your solo sex
life,” she’d told Buffy. Now Buffy was so glad that they hadn’t already been
to the store, she could just imagine Spike finding the toys among her things,
and the thoughts of the humiliating conversations that would’ve arisen made
her blush all over again. Then again in her present half aroused state she
would have appreciated something to help take the edge off.

Buffy turned the water to full cold, angry at herself. This was dangerous,
she couldn’t afford to put herself in this vulnerable position; to be aware
of Spike in a sexual way was unthinkable, it was bad enough that he took
every opportunity to try and engage her into a constant dialogue of
innuendos. But to purposely start thinking about him in a sexual manner was
too crazy, after everything that had happened to her and everything he’d
done to her she couldn’t understand her reactions. Surely she should be
sickened by the merest thoughts of anything remotely sexual. Oh God! I’m
going crazy, she thought. That was the only answer to her strange
behavior. She’d heard about people who, when they’d been kidnapped, went
through a strange and frightening transition with their kidnapper. Could that
be what was happening to her? No, that’s just stupid, she told
herself.

The cold water was turning her blue, it had worked in cooling down her body
but very little in calming her tumbling thoughts. She knew she was being
irrational she just needed to stay focused and keep a clear head. She shut
off the water and quickly dried herself, cutting off her insistent worries.

Spike would be finished by now, she dreaded having to leave the bathroom and
face him, she was sure her stupid blushing would give her away. And that was
yet another puzzle to her. Spike’s effortless ability to induce her to
blush, no one else had ever had that affect on her before, not even Angel, and
she’d loved him.

Dressed she went to face Spike.
************************************************************************
 

Chapter Thirteen.

Phone Calls and Promises.


Gilbey was staring at her again. The three of them were eating a late lunch,
as today’s session in the gym had run a little longer then the last three
mornings. Spike had insisted on keeping her company every morning until
after lunch, and then he’d disappear into his study to work for the rest of
the day. Gilbey was her sole guardian at these times, she’d asked Spike
where the others were, but he seemed reluctant to discuss their absence.
Buffy figured they had to be doing something illegal, and that was no doubt
the reason Spike wouldn’t talk about it.

Because Gilbey was her afternoon guard she kept to the suite. She’d have
loved to make use of the pool while Spike was working, but that would mean that Gilbey would have to escort her through the house and wait for her outside the gym area, and being alone with him, even for such a short period of time was very unappealing. He seemed to be always staring at her whenever he got the chance, and in such a leering way that Buffy found it really unsettling.

At least when Spike looked at her it was in an admiring way. No longer was
he giving her lingering looks that set her blushing, since the night he’d
brought her to see Angel, the night he’d slept in her room, he’d been
friendly and polite. He hadn’t asked or attempted to spend the night in her
room again, but he was still locking the doors at night, though he’d always
unlock them before she woke in the morning.

One more change was he’d started to knock on her door instead of just
walking in, and if she didn’t call out an invitation he’d wait at the door
for her to open it. Buffy didn’t kid herself, she knew it was nothing more
then a polite gesture on his part, and she was sure if she crossed any lines
or angered him in any way, it would be back to him barging in as he chose.
The gift of privacy was something she didn’t want to lose, so she was
careful not to provoke him in anyway.

Surprisingly she found this easier now he’d stopped teasing and tormenting
her, she couldn’t help herself, she found her mother’s lessons in good
manners and polite courtesy taking over, even when she tried to maintain her
anger at him. If he spoke to her politely and softly, she’d respond in kind.
Oh sure, she was still resentful at her enforced captivity, she didn’t think
that would ever change, and she was adamant that she would never ever forget what he’d done to Faith and Harmony, but it was still impossible to sustain a burning anger at him when he was being nothing but polite.

So far their evenings had been uneventful, they always ate their evening
meal alone on the balcony, and afterwards they’d sit and watch TV or movies, and when it came to bedtime he’d escort her to her room and kiss her on the cheek before locking her in.

Lost in her thoughts, Buffy didn’t hear Spike talking to her, and jumped
slightly when she felt his hand brush a lock of hair back from her face. He
was looking at her as if she should know what was going on. She blinked at
him confused, his response was to laugh. He turned to Gilbey.

“See I told you. I win,” he said to the other man.

Gilbey shrugged chuckling.

Buffy’s puzzled look was turning to anger. “Oh don’t get mad luv,” he patted her hand. “I’ve been talkin’ to you for the last minute or two but you were off in never, never land, and didn’t hear a word…I bet Gilbey you’d do that cute little blink thing you do when you’re caught unawares, and you jus’
did,” he laughed.

She looked at Gilbey then at Spike. “What was it you were saying that I
missed?”

“Oh nothin’ too important, I was jus’ wonderin’ if you fancied goin’ to the
cinema tonight?”

Shocked Buffy could only gape at him.

“Is that a yes?” he laughed.

“Uh…yeah! I think. You do mean a real cinema and not just the mini screen
downstairs?”

“Yes, a real cinema,” his laugh diminished abruptly. “But don’t even think
‘bout tryin’ anythin’, we won’t be alone, Gil and a couple of the others
will be there too, and jus’ in case that’s not enough to persuade you to be
a good girl I’ll remind you that Angel is still locked up down stairs, and
Faith and Cordelia are within easy reach if I should need them for
anything.”

Gilbey was staring at her again, she hated his stare. She nodded her
understanding.

Spike gave Gilbey a pointed look and dismissed him. Once he heard the door close Spike stretched out his feet and leaned back in his chair, Buffy
looked at him quizzically, normally he’d be on his way to his study. “I
asked Wesley to arrange to have a personal shopper come by and fix you up
with a new wardrobe, she’ll be ‘ere one day next week…Monday I think.”

“What! Why do I need new clothes? And if I did need new things I’m quite
capable of shopping for them myself…and why am I only hearing about this
now?” She sounded very irritated.

“You need the new clothes ‘cause your wardrobe is made up of nothin’ but
jeans, baggy tops and shirts, and lets not forget the totally inappropriate
short skirts and teeny tiny sparkly tops, that will never see the light of
day in front of my men…but I won’t ‘ave any objections if you want to model them for me pet,” he smiled at her teasingly.

“Those things are NOT inappropriate…I wear them all the time.”

“Where do you wear them?” His voice was husky.

“Clubbing with my friends,” she said frowning at him crossly.

“If I took you clubbin’ would you wear them for me?” he asked softly, his
eyes hooded and dark grazed her face.

The question surprised her, and the way he was looking at her with
unconcealed desire made her blush, she dropped her head hiding her face from him. Spike could see he’d put her on the spot again, which made him a little hesitant about the next topic he wanted to talk to her about, but it had to
be done, and besides he’d missed seeing the blush on her pretty face.

“Your friend Anya keeps leavin’ messages for you on your phone,” Buffy looked at him sharply. “Apparently you said you’d go shoppin’ with her, and she’s a bit annoyed you ‘aven’t been in touch.”

Buffy’s face was crimson, and he could guess why.

“She’s very…up-front…isn’t she?” Buffy looked as if she wanted to die. Spike was enjoying himself. “Of course, if you want some help shoppin’ for sex toys pet, I’d be more than happy to help you.”

“Oh, my, God!” Buffy whispered as she let her head thump to the table top. “I’m going to kill her…I’m going to kill her…no…I’m going to kill myself,” she mumbled into the table cloth.

Spike was smirking broadly, “Oh don’t worry luv, everybody has needs,” Buffy had a sudden memory of Spike attending to his needs in the shower. “But if you need help Buffy you don’t ‘ave to buy sex toys.”

Buffy made gibberish noises from her position at the table. She couldn’t
bring herself to look at him. Why hadn’t she remembered to get in touch with Anya and cancel the stupid shopping trip? Now Anya was mad at her, and worse still, Spike knew the nature of the shopping expedition.

Burning up with embarrassment Buffy straightened up. “Can I have my phone? Please.” She held out her hand but couldn’t raise her eyes any further then the table top.

Chuckling Spike slid the phone to her. Buffy knew he wasn’t going to give
her any privacy, so she just dialed any way. She couldn’t blame herself
entirely, if Spike hadn’t kept her phone she would have known Anya was
trying to reach her. Anya answered on the fourth ring.

“Where have you been? I’ve being trying to ring you all week,” Anya greeted
her in her typical fashion, straight to the point.

“Hi to you too Anya…uh I’m sorry I’ve not answered your messages, I’ve been kind of busy this week.”

“Well never mind, you’ve called now…I’m free tomorrow if that’s any good for you, we can go to this new sex shop I found they have…”

Buffy cut her off, “I can’t make it this week Anya I’m really busy.”

“Oh, doing what?”

Spike had his elbows on the table and was resting his chin on his linked
hands, smirking at Buffy, she frowned at him but the effect was lost because
of the blush on her face.

“Uh…well you see…I can’t really say at the moment.”

Spike raised his voice so it would carry over to the girl on the other end
of the line. “Why don’t you tell your friend ‘bout your new job pet?”

Buffy glared at him covering the phone. “What are you doing?” she whispered harshly.

“Who was that?” Anya asked. “Oooh have you made a new friend? A male friend, and if you have is he the orgasm giving kind?”

“ANYA!”

“What…I was only asking, because first you wanted to go buy sex toys and now you don’t.”

Buffy eyes were wide and round. “I did not want to go, you did…I was just
being dragged along, and it’s not like that… he’s…he’s,” Buffy groaned.
“He’s my new boss.”

“You have a new boss? When did you get a new boss?”

There was nothing else for it, now she’d have to go along with Spike’s story
about the live-in PA’s job. “When I got a new job.”

“What! When did you get a new job? First Willow doesn’t tell me she’s
pregnant, and now you don’t tell me about your new job with a sexy new
boss.”

“What! I never said he was sexy.” Buffy groaned inwardly, the words had
popped out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“Well he sounds sexy.”

“Anya look, I can’t really talk now…I’m sorry about the shopping and not
calling, but things have been a bit strange lately…I’ll call as soon as I
can and fill you in on all this stuff then…okay?”

“Okay…but you owe me major gossip so be ready to tell all.”

“I will…talk to you soon…bye.”

“Bye.”

Spike was holding his hand out for her phone, she handed it to him
grudgingly. “You do realize all my friends will be calling now? Anya won’t
keep her mouth shut, they’ll all want answers.”

Smiling Spike pressed the speed dial for Anya. Seeing him using her phone
Buffy asked. “What are you doing?”

Anya picked up. “Hi Buffy.”

“No not Buffy…this is Spike, her sexy new boss,” he chuckled. Astonished
Buffy tried to pull the phone from his ear.

Spike gave her a deadly glare and she plopped down into her chair. She
listened to his side of the conversation.

“Hello to you too pet…what? No…yes she is,” he smiled at Buffy from across the table.

“No, I jus’ thought I’d call you back and give you Buffy’s new address and
phone number…yes she did…well I’ve being keepin’ her very busy.” He got up from the table and casually leaned against the stone railing.

He looked over at a horrified Buffy. “She’s being helpin’ me with a special
project…yes you’re quite right…she works too ‘ard…uh-huh…it’s my fault that she missed your shoppin’ trip, but maybe I can make it up to you?”

Buffy was staring at him, her mouth soundlessly opening and closing.

“Well how ‘bout an evenin’ over ‘ere…you can get to see Buffy’s new place
and meet me at the same time, in fact why don’t you tell Buffy’s other
friends that they’re invited over as well?”

Fear was seeping into Buffy’s expression.

“Oh no, that’s okay I’d luv to…this next week or so is a bit tight, so how
‘bout the Saturday after next…perfect….I’ll look forward to it…now let me
give you the address and number.”

Buffy tuned out for a moment. What was Spike up to now? She couldn’t
imagine. He was smiling and chatting with Anya as if they were lifetime
friends. Buffy just gaped at him; he was looking at her all amused and
chuckling.

“It’ll be my pleasure…Oh of course I will…Oh and Anya pet don’t worry ‘bout that shoppin’ trip, it’ll be my pleasure to take Buffy…yeah I know that
one…I will…really…no I’m glad you told me…Oh I think I can manage pet, but if I run into any difficulties I’ll call you…Buffy…yeah I can help her with that…thanks pet I will. See you soon, bye.”

He slipped the phone into his pocket. Buffy was speechless. Starting a
conversation with Anya really was the last thing she’d expected him to do.

And from what she’d heard, Anya had been her usual tactless and clueless
self. Now he was looking at her as if he’d never seen her before, his head
cocked to one side, his expression made her squirm and blush uncomfortably.

“Are all your friends as…interestin’ as Anya, or are they more prim ‘n’
proper like you?”

“What are you up to?” she quizzed, avoiding his question.

“What’d you mean?”

“I mean my friends, why did you invite them over, what are you trying to
do?”

Spike shrugged casually. “I jus’ thought that since you’re goin’ to be
livin’ ‘ere you’d want to let your pals know…you said it yourself, they’d
‘ave to find out sooner or later, and it’s better this way, ‘cause it’ll look
more believable if they come and check things out for themselves.”

“Oh yes! That’s a great idea, they could check out the chained man in your
basement, or your intimidating goons, or maybe they could check out the fact I’m here against my will, and you lock me in my room every night.”

Spike was unrepentant. “Oh don’t get your knickers in a twist, they won’t
know anythin’ unless you tell them,” he crouched down next to her, holding
her with a steady gaze. “And that would be a really stupid thing to
do…because that would put them in danger, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to do that…would you?”

“No, but I don’t see what you have to gain by doing this.”

“Well that’s jus’ it pet, I don’t gain anythin’ form it…you do. They’re your
pals, I jus’ thought you’d like to keep in touch with them, see them like
you always do. You know eat pizza, watch movies and jus’ hang out like
normal.”

Buffy looked thoughtful. “How do you know that’s what we do?”

Abruptly Spike stood up and turned his back to her. “What...oh…uh I don’t.
Jus’ guessin’ isn’t that what you do?”

“I suppose. You really mean it, you’re not going to try anything funny.”

“Buffy what do you think I’m goin’ to do? Kill them and feed them to the
neighbor’s dog?” he laughed at her horrified expression. “Relax luv, it’s
goin’ to be fine, your little pals will come over watch movies, play pool
and eat equal amounts of goodies and junk, and wash it all down with a
gallon of my booze and go ‘ome ‘avin’ enjoyed themselves, and be none the
wiser ‘bout our little secret. Okay.”

Buffy studied him, trying to see beyond his words, to find the lie but he
returned her look with one of his own, only his was a dark challenge.

Buffy broke first, her eyes flickering to the gardens. The whole thing was
too strange. Blushing, she remembered that Spike had yet to tell her what
Anya had said to him, she knew for sure it would be embarrassing, and no
doubt Spike would make her life a misery over it.

Buffy didn’t think she could cope with another teasing session at that
moment, so she carefully got up from the table and headed along the balcony
to her room. In the blink of an eye Spike was in front of her, blocking her
path.

“Don’t run away Buffy.”

“I…I’m not,” she stammered.

“Then where are you going?” He was standing close enough to touch her.

“To my room…I…I’m a bit tired I thought I’d lie down.”

He voice deepened, “Are you ‘avin’ trouble sleepin’ luv?” He ran his fingers along her arm.

Buffy stepped back, retreating from him slowly. “No, I just wanted to…” as
she moved back he followed. “I was t-tired after the…the heavy workout this morning,” she nervously stammered.

Spike groaned at the way she kept licking her lips, her little pink tongue
darting out to moisten her lips. He wanted to taste what her tongue tasted.
He moved closer, backing her slowly towards the open doors of her room.

Seeing where he was trying to steer her Buffy side-stepped him, but he
anticipated her and closed the space between them, reaching out, he caught
her by her shoulders and lowered his head to kiss her.

Buffy squeaked, and he chuckled, maneuvering them nearer to the bedroom his mouth firmly locked on hers. His kiss was demanding, pulling at her harshly, she struggled in his grip, but he stilled her by deepening the kiss. There was no refusing him, his arms moved to pull her into his embrace, his body hard against her.

Spike felt her struggles die-down as he sought out her soft, warm mouth. He
groaned into her, she was so soft. Pulling her closer he wrapped his arms
around her feeling her rigid against him. He kept kissing her; coaxing her to
join in, waiting to feel her respond to him, he could feel her tremble, and
then she moaned softly into his mouth. Arousal swelled in his groin igniting
his blood. He lifted his head to look at her; she was panting her eyes large
and lost looking.

Buffy staggered against him when he released her, breathing hard she looked
at him, overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through her. Her legs felt
weak and her mouth was tingling.

Sweeping her off the floor Spike carried her to her bed and gently lowered
them. She tried to move away from him, but he pulled her back into his
embrace pinning her with his weight, when she stopped struggling he rolled
them so she was on top of him, keeping her locked to him with his arms.

“Please let me go,” Buffy beseeched, trying to pull back from him.

“Sssh luv, I only wanna hold you,” he reassured her. “You said you were
tired, so why don’t you jus’ go right ahead and rest,” his voice soft and
coaxing.

“No, I don’t want to…not with you, I want you to…” he pulled her head down and kissed her deeply, cutting off whatever she was going to say.

She sagged against him, his kiss making her head spin.

“No,” she whispered.

“Yes,” he breathed, kissing along her jaw, sliding his tongue gently over
the shell of her ear, causing her to shudder. He was delighted when she
involuntarily moved into the caress.

He held her firmly around the waist with one arm, while his other hand made small circular caresses on her back, slowly working his way to the hem of her top. He pushed the fabric back grazing her warm skin with his fingers. A strangled groan broke form his lips as he felt her softness under his fingers, his hand moved higher up her back drifting along her spine, and skimming her shoulder blades his fingers made contact with her bra and the temptation to undo the clasp was monstrous, but he fought against it not wanting to push things too far this time. He just wanted her to accept a few kisses and feel his hands on her.

“Oh Buffy baby, you’re so soft and you taste so sweet,” he breathed into her
ear.

“Please…let me go,” she whispered.

He didn’t want to let her go, but he knew it was dangerous to keep going
with this; it could only end with him stripping her to reach what he was
aching for. He rolled them again kissing her forcefully rubbing his erection
against her stomach, she gasped softly her eyes wide.

“Try and deny you feel somethin’ Buffy,” he whispered. Kissing her brow, his eyes drifted shut as the smell of her perfume stirred him. “Go on, I want to hear you say you feel nothing.” He gazed down at her, her golden hair
fanning out around her on the bed, her mouth all soft and red, “C’mon Buffy, lie to me.”

“I don’t feel anything but sickened,” she said with conviction.

He chuckled, “Liar.” Her heaving breasts tempted him. “Do you know what I want to do right now?”

She licked her lips and swallowed nervously, but she didn’t answer.

He watched her face carefully. “I want to kiss every single inch of your
beautiful body, I want to feel you with my hands and fingers…and when I’ve explored every golden inch of your skin I want to hear you scream and moan as I taste your sweet pussy. I want you…to come in my mouth,” he whispered breathlessly. He pulled the edge of her top down kissing and sucking on the soft flesh above her lacy bra. He felt her shudder, fighting herself, “Does that excite you Buffy?”

“No, it sickens me, and so do you,” she breathed.

He looked into her flushed face letting her see all his desire. “Liar,” he
whispered, kissing the side of her mouth. “Your body gives you away luv, it’s tellin’ me somethin’ very different, why can’t you admit the truth?”

Her eyes were filling with tears. Not wanting to rush her Spike shifted off
her, pulling her onto her side and wrapping an arm about her waist as he
spooned behind her. “Sssh luv I’ll behave I promise. Now get some rest or
you won’t enjoy our date this evening.”

Buffy felt hot tears spill down her face; she tried to still her erratic
breathing. Spike’s body was pressed against her back and she could feel his
hard shaft pushing into her lower back, his hand was gently resting on her
hip and his warm breath was caressing her neck. She shuddered in his casual
embrace. She so badly wanted to move away from him but she knew he wouldn’t allow her to, so she stayed where she was, his words echoing in her head. She hated him for making her feel the things she was feeling, and she hated him for knowing she’d lied, her stomach was still doing little flip flops, an effect from the very suggestive things he’d said to her. It did excite
her. He excited her, and it was getting harder to deny the attraction.

Maybe if she could see Angel, she could talk to him, ground herself some how. And get some much needed answers. But would Spike allow it? Probably not, she hadn’t asked him for anything but maybe in light of his declaration, now would be a good time to see if she could persuade him to grant her some indulgences.

Without turning to face him she spoke, “Spike.”

“Yes luv.”

“Could I see Angel?” His hand stopped moving, she held her breath waiting
for a response.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“That isn’t a reason.”

She could feel his body coiled tight against her back. She wondered what he
was thinking.

“I don’t need to give you a reason. I make the rules ‘ere Buffy and you
follow them.”

“I see,” she said, instantly angry. “So I’m supposed to just what…keep my
mouth shut and not have any thoughts or feelings of my own? Just constantly do as I’m told like a brainless idiot. That’s not the kind of person I am Spike.”

“Okay, calm down.” Things had being going so well, Buffy finally seemed to be responding to him physically, and now this. But maybe she was just playing him. “Why do you want to see him?” he asked suspiciously.

“I just want to see if he’s alright, maybe talk to him, you haven’t let us
talk to each other, don’t you think we might have some things to discuss,
after all, Angel is the reason my whole life has being turned inside out,” she
paused, giving him a chance to say something, but he remained silent. “And he looked so terrible, I can hardly stop thinking about the way you’ve been
treating him.”

Spike’s suspicions grew stronger. “I thought you didn’t care?”

“No, I said I didn’t love him. I’ll always care, how can I not?” she sighed.
“You’re right I’m not sleeping very well, and I think it’s because I can’t
stop thinking about how terrible he looked.”

Spike was getting annoyed, he’d been to see Angel every day to taunt him
with news of Buffy, delighting in the other mans anger. Angel had continued
to be chained and controlled, and Spike had liked the effect. But now Buffy
was trying to influence him into treating Angel better. Did she think he
didn’t know what she was up to? Did she think just because he wanted her
he’d be willing to allow himself to be coaxed by her soft voice and soft
words?

A sinister idea crossed his mind. Spike smiled to himself, this might not be
such a bad thing; he could use Buffy’s desire to see Angel’s conditions
improve against her. If he gave her something then she’d have to give him
something in return.

“If I let you see Angel I’ll need a promise.”

“I won’t try anything, or go crazy, or attack anyone, I promise,” she
quickly assured him.

Spike laughed. “I didn’t think you would luv, besides, I’ll be with you the
whole time and he’ll be chained up. I won’t ‘ave him touchin’ you.” Spike
caressed her stomach possessively, smiling when he felt her muscles contract through her top. “But that’s not what I wanted you to promise me.”

“What then?”

“I want you to promise to give me a kiss,” Buffy stiffened. “I’ll understand
if that’s too much, but as I see it, it’s only fair if I do somethin’ for
you, you should do somethin’ for me and its jus’ one kiss.”

Now Buffy was suspicious. “I don’t…just one kiss…and you’ll let me see and talk to Angel?”

“And I’ll let you see and talk to him,” he said.

“You know I mean in the same room, and not through the observation window, don’t you?”

Spike knew she was trying to find the catch, he laughed to himself, she was
clever but she’d need to be devious to find him out, and sweet little Buffy
was defiantly not devious. “I know…so do you promise?”

Buffy was unsure, there just had to be more to it then that, it had been too
easy to get him to agree to it, and all he wanted was a kiss. He was up to
something. But if she gave him the kiss she got to see Angel, and more
importantly she’d have managed to get Spike to agree to do something for
her, and that meant she’d be able to get him to do it again. But what would
he ask for next time? She couldn’t back out now he’d think she was playing
some game, and there was nothing stopping him from taking all the kisses he
wanted, at least this way she’d get something out of it. Wouldn’t she?

“I’m not sure…you’re not trying to trick me are you?” Okay! That was a
stupid question, but she hoped that maybe he’d forget himself and answer
honestly.

He laughed against her back the sound rumbling through her. “Buffy its a
kiss jus’, like all the other kisses we’ve shared only this time you’ll be
kissin’ me,” he cuddled her rubbing himself intimately into her back. “And
I’d like that very much.”

“I…okay,” she said. Turning in his arms she nervously faced him. Spike gazed down at her upturned face, her lovely eyes sparkling with little flecks of gold embedded in the emerald. She closed the distance between their mouths.

Spike stilled her with a finger over her lips, she looked at him puzzled.

“I thought you wanted me to kiss you,” she said.

“Oh I do pet, I do…jus’ not yet.”

“Then when?”

“I don’t know…maybe tonight at the cinema, or maybe after dinner, sometime when the mood is right.”

She was frowning. “But that means you won’t let me see Angel until then,
doesn’t it?” She knew he was tricking her, he had no intentions of asking her
for the stupid kiss, he’d just keep right on taking them whenever he wanted,
which meant he’d never have to take her to see Angel.

“No,” he chuckled at her angry little scowl and kissed the tip of her nose.
“I’ll take you to see Angel when we get back tonight, that’s if you’ve been
on your best behavior of course. No tryin’ to slip away or cause a scene.”

“Oh, okay.” She tried to turn away from him but he held her tightly, smiling
at her playfully.

“Don’t move pet, stay like this I want to…I like lookin’ at you,” he said
sweetly.

Buffy was all too aware how close they were, but she didn’t want to risk
missing out on the trip to the cinema. She resolved herself to being
patient, tonight was an important outing. Okay, so Spike and the others would be watching her like hawks, but sooner or later if she just bided her time they’d relax and she’d…she’d what? Run away, escape? To where? It was no good thinking along those lines, not when Spike could have her friends and family hurt. No, that was not the way to handle this, she’d just have to keep looking for ways to solve this from where she was, and that meant figuring a way to get Spike to change his mind and let her go…somehow.

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