London Calling

I'm my way out of town... I will attempt to post another chapter this weekend while in Orlando. Keep your fingers crossed!

Chapter 11


"Ahn, ah ooh hure ee eed ooh oh ow uh omahwoah eye?" Xander questioned around his toothbrush.

Anya entered the bathroom and proceeded to pick up the many articles of clothing Xander had left on the floor. "Yes, we need to go out of town tomorrow night. It's important that we spend some meaningful time together before the festivities of our wedding truly begin." She quoted, getting that gleam in her eye.

Xander turned on the tap and rinsed. Grabbing a towel, he turned to her and snuggled her close. "I know... I know... you read it in Cosmo."

Anya rolled her eyes and pushed out of his arms, heading for their bedroom. "Xander Harris, I'll have you know that not every little thing I say comes directly from Cosmo."

Xander just looked at her.

"That was from Elle!" She replied hotly.

Xander smiled and folded back the covers. "Ah... another font of wisdom." He ducked as she threw a pillow at his head. "I'm kidding!"

Climbing into bed, she turned onto her side, facing the wall. "No you were not." She grumbled. "You're always making fun of the way I do things. 'Anya, don't speak like an alien!' or 'Anya, stop groping me in front of the guests!' We need this trip."

Turning in bed, she snuggled close to him and placed her head on his chest. "I want to be able to have sexual intercourse without curtailing my enthusiasm because Buffy is around."

Xander winced. "Ahn, could we PLEASE not mention our sex life and my little sister in the same sentence ever again?"

Anya huffed and folded her arms across her chest. "See? You're so repressed! We need to get out of the house for the night and away to a cozy little love bungalow." Teasing her fingers along the edge of his boxers, she whispered hotly in his ear.

"I'll try out that new game you've been wanting to play... The Sultan and The Slave Girl..."

Xander's eyes glazed and he started to drool. "With the scarves and the belly dancing?"

Anya nodded. "I'll even let you tie me up to..." She whispered more in his ear and Xander giggled excitedly.

"Really?! How about letting me..." He trailed off. "No wait. We can't leave. We have a guest! Spike's staying with us. We can't just up and leave him to his own devices. What's he going to do with himself all night?"

Anya smiled craftily. "I'm sure he and Buffy will plan something... interesting."

Xander looked thoughtful. "He hasn't been around town much since he moved away. Maybe I should give him some hints on things he could do."

Anya brushed the hair back from his forehead. "I think Spike will manage on his own just fine." Moving in for a leisurely kiss, she moved her body over his. Looking down into his smiling eyes, Anya thought:

Xander may be wonderful in many ways... but sometimes he sure can be dense.


***


Buffy sat at her computer and tried to concentrate.
It wasn't working.

"Think brain, think..." She mumbled, massaging her temples. The term paper was due in less than a week, and with the wedding festivities coming up she really needed to get some major work done today. Usually this kind of thing came rather easily for her. She loved the topic as well. She glanced down at her notes.

"Virginia Woolf, Imagery in Water"

The title was about all she had so far.

Why couldn't she think today? Buffy blew a breath out that fluffed up the hair around her temples and fogged her glasses. Looking down, she grimaced and scribbled out the doodles she'd made subconsciously on her paper.

Little hearts and Spike's name dominated the whole page.

Oh yeah. HIM.

She'd been shocked this morning when Anya had announced that she and Xander would be leaving town for the day and night. Stammering, she'd pleaded for them to reconsider. She'd even offered herself up to go to the bridal expo with Anya that day, much like a sacrificial lamb awaiting slaughter. Anya'd just patted her back and said they'd go the next day.

Great.

Turning, she'd noticed Spike leaning against the front porch and smirking. She didn't know what his problem was, but she was NOT in the mood to deal with him for a whole night by herself. He'd walked down and stood beside her to see them off. Buffy'd tried to pretend he didn't exist. It was hard when he'd look at her that way... like he wanted to devour her. Remembering what had happened at the golf course had hardened her resolve as well as her heart, and she'd managed to tune him out... until Xander had suggested he take her out to dinner that evening.

"But Xander," She'd argued, "I don't want to force Spike to hang out with a KID all night long. I'm sure he has much more important things to do."

Spike lovingly smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Nonsense!" He'd returned cheerfully. "Well go out and have a swell time tonight... just like old times, eh Pet?"

She'd discretly elbowed him in the gut andk imk immense satisfaction in the grunt he'd submitted.

"Buffy, I'd really like you to keep Spike company tonight. You know, a family thing." Xander had said in a no-nonsense voice.

"Fine." She'd muttered.

Carefully guarding his midsection against anymore flying appendages, Spike had quipped, "Yeah, just me and lil' sis here out on the town tonight."

That pervert!

She was disgusted.

Revolted.

Exceedingly wet.

Balling up her fists, she crumpled her notes in her hand and tossed them in the trash. This was getting her nowhere. Just because Spike was an asshole and didn't appreciate what she had to offer wasn't an excuse to slack on her schoolwork. Getting straight A's was the one thing she did proudly in her Mother's memory.

Pushing thoughts of Spike aside for the time being, she sat up purposefully at her desk and began to type.


***


Silence permeated the car on the drive to the restaurant.

Every now and then, Spike would clear his throat and try to make conversation, but Buffy would purposely change the radio station or turn to look out the window.

Spike sighed.

Things weren't looking too good for him.

He glanced over at Buffy and let his eyes travel up the long length of thigh her pitiful excuse for a dress exposed. Catching him looking, she rolled her eyes and tugged down her skirt. He playfully reached over to pat her leg.

"Well, sis... how're things?"

She smacked his hand away and glared menacingly. "You are a pervert!" Moving her body as close as possible to the door, she all but bared her teeth at him. "Keep your hands off of me."

Spike grinned and scooted closer to her. Thank God for bench seats.

"Come on, Luv. You can't still be upset over yesterday, can you?" He reached out a hand to brush through her curls. She flipped her hair away in annoyance and nearly succeeded in blinding him.

"Jesus Spike! Watch the road!" Buffy screeched as he swerved to avoid a head-on collision.

Spike rubbed furiously at his watering eyes and moved back to his original place on the bench.

"Well, maybe I wouldn't be driving so horribly if I could SEE!" He yelled. "You must have ten pounds of hair on that head of yours!"

Buffy huffed in annoyance. "It's not my fault you can't keep your grabby hands to yourself." Bringing a hand to her head, she frowned. "Is the hair too much? I've been thinking about cutting it off to about chin length. You know... very Chicago, Renee Zellwegger."

Spike frowned. "Don't you dare!" Grabbing her about the waist, he tugged her until she was sitting nearly in his lap. She struggled to move.

"Here now, stop fidgeting if you want us to get to the restaurant in one piece."

Pouting, Buffy did as she was told.

Spike buried his nose into the glittering gold of her hair and inhaled the sweet vanilla scent.

"Sweetheart," He murmured in her ear, "I think you may grow on your head the most glorious hair on the planet earth. Don't even think about cutting off a bloody centimeter."

She smiled and inadvertently snuggled closer to his side.

"Really? You think so?"

He twirled one golden curl around his finger. "I KNOW so." Spike stated, starting to breathe more heavily into her neck. Being this close to her was killing him. He pulled her more fully onto his lap. "I can't wait to see you in my bed wearing nothing but that hair of yours." His eyes glazed over with lust and he ground himself against her backside. "I can almost imagine the way it'll bounce around when you're-"

His voice cut off to a screech when Buffy dug her nails into his thigh, dangerously close to his manly parts.

Scrambling off his lap, she crowded close to the door once again.

"Bloody hell, woman!" He yelled, rubbing at his leg. "You nearly emasculated me!"

Hiding a tiumphant grin, Buffy turned to look out the window once more.

"Just shut up and drive, Spike. I've suddenly developed a voracious appetite."


***


Dinner had been FANTASTIC.

Buffy smiled to herself and dug through her closet for the nightie she knew she'd hidden away for a special occasion.

Well, maybe not fantastic for Spike.

Finding what she was looking for, she strolled over to her vanity and sat down at the stool. She began sifting through her collection of perfumes.

She'd teased him ALL night at the restaurant. She'd purposefully run her foot up the length of his leg while he was ordering, causing his voice to raise to an unnaturally high level. She'd eaten her breadsticks as provocatively as possible, even ordering extra alfredo sauce that she'd swirled her finger in and licked clean. The visible gulp that she'd seen him give was worth the artery clogging.

Spritzing on her favorite scent, she stood and let the silk nightgown drift down over her naked body. It felt good against her skin.

When they'd gotten home, the look of anticipation and lust on Spike's face had nearly been her undoing. Firmly sticking to her plan, she'd chastely kissed him on the cheek and headed upstairs for bed.

The confusion that had clouded his eyes had made her want to burst into laughter.

Giving herself a once-over in her mirror, she nodded her approval.

She was done tugging Spike around tonight. She'd just wanted to get him back for the stunt he'd pulled at the mini-golf course.

The truth was, she was MORE than ready.

All this anticipation was killing her.

"Ready or not, here I come..." She murmured, opening up her door and heading down the hall.