Shot in the Dark

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Chapter 13: Gently
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“Hey sleepyhead....” Buffy sits down on the tile next to the unconscious vampire. He doesn’t react. She reaches out and jostles his shoulder a bit. Nothing. She leans down, putting her mouth right next to his ear, speaking soft and low. “Spike. Wake up, I need you.”

He twitches a bit, but does not wake. “Mmm...Buffy...”

“Right here, Spike.” She sits up and cocks her head. He is definitely not awake. She realizes he must be dreaming. “Vampires dream? Never thought about it...” She leans closer when he starts to murmur again, his words muffled in his throat.

“Oh God, Buffy...so beautiful... I want to...don‘t leave me...” He trails off into unintelligible words. She smiles.

“Won’t leave you, Spike.” She whispers these words in his ear and he smiles in his sleep. “So...he’s dreaming ‘bout me. So sweet. I should leave him alone for a few.” Buffy pops up and turns to the fridge as he continues to makes small noises and moans. Shaking her head at the debris on the floor in front of it, she swings the door open and grabs a bottle of iced tea. Standing in the open door, she pops the top and starts to drink.

From behind her, a moan followed by a low whisper, “Buffy...I love you so much...” The bottle drops from her suddenly nerveless fingers and explodes on the tile floor. She spins as the glass and liquid scatter around her and Spike starts to a sitting position, awakened by the sound. Buffy holds her breath as she realizes he was still dreaming when he said it.

“Wha...what the - ? Buffy, luv, you okay?” Spike, quickly alert, looks around for the source of the noise.

She finds her voice. “S’okay, Spike. I dropped a bottle.”

He smirks. “Thought the Slayer package gave you some protection against being clumsy, pet.”

“Uh, right.” Cheeks flaming, Buffy stoops to pick up the shards, desperate to avoid his eyes. It was just a dream, doesn’t mean he really...oh dear. Spike is immediately suspicious at her lack of retort to his comment. He stands up and starts to approach her.

“You sure you’re okay, Slayer?”

“OW! Dammit!” She drops the sharp piece that cut her and immediately sticks the freshly sliced finger in her mouth, sucking on it.

“Why don’t I help you?” Heedless of the glass on the floor and his bare feet, Spike comes closer and takes her hand, gently pulling her finger from her mouth. He slides the finger into his mouth, the tiny drops of her blood burning his tongue. Her eyes focus on his and they have a strangely calming effect. Rather than exciting her beyond reason, he is somehow bringing her closer, slowing her breathing, by just looking at her, his eyes a bottomless blue. She can feel her pulse drop to a normal level as he slides her finger out of his mouth. The bleeding has already stopped on the small cut.

“Now, Buffy...I’ll ask one more time. Are you okay?” His eyes refuse to let hers ago, burning the truth out of her.

Swallowing hard, he nods. “I’m fine. I was just...startled. You...called out in your sleep and it scared me, is all.” She drops her eyes and you can almost hear the snap as the connection is broken. “We should clean this up. Oh Spike, you cut your foot!” In his hurry to reach her, Spike stepped on a piece of glass. A small pool of blood beneath his foot reveals the pain he is in.

“S’alright, luv. Been cut before.” He flashes her a grin. “Though I will say, feel a little vulnerable without a stitch of clothes on.” He winks and she giggles at him.

“I’ll take care of this mess, Spike. Why don’t you sit down for a sec, y’know, for safety’s sake?” Buffy tiptoes over to the back door and slides on a pair of flip flops to protect her bare feet. Grabbing a broom, she begins to sweep up the glass under Spike’s watchful eyes. Very watchful eyes. The tank top she slipped on is skintight. He watches the muscles of her back work as she sweeps and admires the view as she stoops to grab a piece of large glass. Realizing his interest will be quite plain in his current unclothed state, Spike looks away, attempting to think of other things. He notices the daylight streaming in the window and realizes it must be early afternoon by now. Nearly two days since his world turned on its end. All started with that dream the other night. Guess his sub-conscious knew something he didn’t. That he wanted the Slayer. All this time, he thought he wanted her ie gre ground, but now...he casts his eyes at her busy figure and they soften in tenderness. He shakes his head, disbelieving. Could things really change this quickly? The last couple years of fighting and snappy comebacks. How could it add up to...this? Of course, they were always equally matched in battle, maybe it was just a matter of time before they found other ways they were matched? He is snapped out of his reverie by Buffy’s voice.

“Spike??” She is clearly repeating herself. “You in there?”

“Oh, sorry, luv. Just thinking...what is it?”

“I asked if your foot was alright.” Spike looks down to his right foot, still dripping blood.

“Well, hurts a bit.” He realizes she is done cleaning. Guess he was pretty distracted. Kneeling down, Buffy takes his foot in her hand, turning it to check the bottom.

“Ya think? There’s a two inch gash here. Probably got glass in it, too.” She shakes her head. “Just hold still.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Spike mock salutes her and she shoots him a withering look. He grins, disarming her once again. She holds up her finger, signaling him to remain. After a brief foray into the bathroom, Buffy returns with a pair of tweezers. “Where you planning to stick those, pet?” Spike stiffens a bit in his chair.

“What’s the matter, Spike? Big Bad afraid of a little pair of tweezers?” She clicks them together in his direction.

He gulps. “’S not the tweezers I’m worried about. It’s the person wielding them.”

“I promise to be gentle.” Spike raises one eyebrow in doubt, his one movement drawing her attention to the series of bite marks, scratches and various bruises covering his body from their recent adventures. She smiles, eyes twinkling with mischief. “No, really. I will. Dontcha trust me, Spikey?”

Spike drops all his playful tone at once. “Yes, ‘course.“ The corners of her mouth drop slightly as she realizes their teasing conversation has taken a serious turn. He holds his foot out and she sits in the next chair, taking it into her lap. Studying him as he studies her, she finally relents and turns her attention to his foot. Gently probing the injury, she spreads the skin enough to see the glinting glass still lodged in the cut. Taking the tweezers, she steadily withdraws the glass, eliciting no protest from Spike. Dropping the bloody piece of glass in the trash can by the island, she smiles at him.

“See, gentle as a fluffy lamb. Well, if lambs could use tweezers, but y’know they lack the thumbs and...” Her words trail off as she looks up at Spike.

“Thanks, pet. By the way, how’s your side? I never did get to bandage it for you, what with all the distractions.”

Buffy grins a little as visions of the ‘distractions’ dance through her mind’s eye. Pulling up the side of her tank top, she shows Spike. A light pink line is the only indication she was stabbed. “Despite my vigorous lack of rest, it healed right up. Go Slayer powers.” She looks down at his foot again. “Even though I know you will heal nearly as quickly, let me get a bandage. Can’t have you bleeding all over Mom’s carpet.” Standing up, she sets his foot on the chair and pats it once reassuringly as she leaves the room. Spike stares at his foot, her absentminded gesture, gentle and caring, leaving him a bit stunned. He honestly didn’t know she had this side. The side ttaketakes care of people, even takes care of him. He looks up as she returns, waving the gauze and hydrogen peroxide in her hands.

“Girl in my line of work is always prepared. I’m like a boy scout, only female and not so much with the group camping trips.” She smiles at him, her blond hair haloing her face.

“Regular angel of mercy, luv.” He grimaces a little as she cleans the cut and then bandages it tightly. The task at hand completed, it returns to Bus ats attention that Spike is completely and utterly naked. The warmth in her belly returns as she imagines having her way with him. Imagines him saying those words to her this time while he was awake. Could happen. Her eyes dart over him and as usual, he reads the thoughts telegraphed across her face.

“Think you can walk on it?”

“Think so. What did you have in mind?” His smirk reveals that Spike already has a few things on his mind. Wordlessly, she stands up and takes him by the hand. Her warm fingers entwine with his, sending a shiver up his arm. She pulls him into the living room and then suddenly yanks his arm and throws him onto the couch. Startled by her quick movements, Spike stares up at her, standing over him.

Eyes sparking wickedly, she whips the tank top off and shimmies out of her workout pants. Standing there in her bronze and naked glory, she grins at him. He swallows hard, his body responding quickly to her actions.

“Spike, if it’s all the same to you, I’m ready to take a break from being gentle.” Her tone drops on the word gentle, her voice turning thick and dripping with seduction. She straddles him on the couch, leaning down to drag her hot tongue all the way up from his navel to his neck. By the time she reaches the top, he is already breathing hard.

His voice is fractured by arousal. “Sounds like a bloody brilliant plan to me.”