The Winning Hand

Chapter 14 - A Night on the Town

Buffy was standing in the lobby wearing a new emerald green dress
she'd picked up while shopping with Joyce the other day. It was held
together with thin spaghetti straps, but came with a glittery jacket that
Buffy now wore. She was humming softly as she swept her eyes
across the room looking for Will.

"Well, good evening Buffy!" Joyce greeted her. "Haven't seen you
outside of your room for a few days." Joyce took in Buffy's
appearance, the new dress, the makeup, and the ant ant upsweep of
her hair. "Are you celebrating something?"

Buffy blushed. She couldn't very well tell Joyce what had happened
between William and he"Uhm"Uhm...just waiting for Will. He promised
to take me out tonight."

Joyce noticed the stain to Buffy's cheeks but did not comment on it.
Inwardly she smiled. "Oh? Where are you two heading?"

"Sorry to say mum, but there's more to Vegas than just the Crypt,"
Spike came up wrapping his arms around Buffy's waist as he
answered his mother's question. "Hello luv," he dropped a quick kiss
on Buffy's head. "You look beautiful."

The blush darkened as Buffy ducked her head shyly. "Thank you."

Joyce watched the couple's interaction with interest. It was obvious
that something had shifted in the relationship. She bit her tongue to
keep from voicing her thoughts on *what* exactly had shifted.

"Shall we go luv?" Spike asked, releasing Buffy's waist to take hold
of her hand. He nodded farewell to his mum on the way out.

"Have fun you two!" Joyce called after them. She couldn't wait to
meet Rupert for dinner and let him know of the latest developments.

***

They were standing in front of the Stratosphere Hotel where the
larger than life signs of the tower attractions were brightly lit for
display. "You said you wantome ome excitement..." Spike let his
voice trail off, but let her see the challenge in his eyes.

"Uhm..." Buffy chewed her lip nervously. She'd seen the challenge
and wasn't about to back down. "Okay."

So far Buffy had been amazed at the things they'd seen. Since she'd
arrived in Vegas she'd basically confined herself to the Crypt. Will
was showing her all the amazing things there were to see in Vegas.
He'd started with downtown where all the lights had been strewn and
there had even been street performers! Now they were headed for
the ride of their lives at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel!

They got into a car together, Buffy shooting nervous glances around
her. "Are you sure this is safe?"

Spike chuckled, and winked at her. "Almost everybody who gets on
gets off again. The odds are good."

"I've never been on a roller coaster before." Buffy explained.

"I know luv. Just another first you let me share with you." This
comment was accompanied by the clasp of his hand to hers. Lifting
it, Spike kissed the palm. "Thank you."

When the car started to move Spike kept her hand in his. Buffy
buried her face in his shoulder, anxious for the first drop. Spike
turned to watch her, waiting for the right moment. The car was still
climbing the first hill when Spike reached over and placed his free
hand on Buffy's cheek. She looked up at him a question in her eyes.
"I want to kiss you," he stated quietly.

"Alright," Buffy's look was slightly dazed, her cheeks flushed from the
excitement, "but you could have done *that* on the ground."She She moved toward him, but Spike halted her press forward. "Not
yet," and then he waited.

Buffy forgot where they were, staring into Will's endless eyes. The
clickety-clack of the car moving up the track wasn't able to distract
her. A brief flash of fear stabbed with excitement curled in her
stomach when she felt the first gentle tug of gravity as they crested
the top of the hill. And at that moment, Spike struck, his lips clashing
down onto hers.

Buffy reeled at the sensations. Her stomach was dropping left and
right, as Spike explored her mouth with intensity. The exhilaration of
the ride, coupled with the feelings Will was stirring in her left Buffy
breathless.

Spike plundered her. He'd wanted to do this almost since the
moment they met. He'd wanted her. With each twist and turn she
clung to him, the waves of fear and arousal washing over him with
force. Yes, he'd wanted this. Wanted her complete surrender. And
she gave it to him.

The car pulled to a stop and Spike pulled away from her. "God!"
The word exploded out of her mouth. "That was incredible." Her grin
was brilliant, lighting her whole face. "Can we do it again?"

"Oh yeah," was Spike's only reply.

***

They walked along the street together, hand in hand. "That was
amazing! But I don't think I'll be able to walk straight for hours!" She
grinned up at him.

"That was all part of my evil plan," Spike smirked. "Now you'll just
have to lean on me." His arm wound it's way around her waist,
holding her close.

They walked for a few minutes in companionable silence until Spike
asked, "Well what would you like to do now luv?"

Buffy look up at him with impish eyes. "Well...I've never seen an
exotic dancer..." She quirked an eyebrow at him.

"And what else would you like to do?"

"Oh Will! I just wonder what it would be like, you know? Those
women dancing around those poles..." She batted her eyes at him.

"No." He shook his head in grim determination. "I'm not taking you to
a strip club."

Fifteen minutes later they found themselves standing in front of the
Gentleman's Club. Spike was still shaking his head. "Ten minutes.
And you will not talk while we are in there." Buffy flashed him another
smile before walking in.

***

They strolled into Spike's office Buffy talking a mile a minute. "They
were so flexible! And the muscle control...they must practice
extensively to be able to do that with those poles."

"I still can't believe I let you talk me into taking you there."

"Who would've thought it?" Buffy asked as she took a seat in one of
his leather chairs.

"Not me." Spike shook his head at her.

"No. I mean, who would've thought that beneath all that ruggedly
suave exterior William Spike Giles was really an old fuddy-duddy."

"Fuddy-duddy?" Spike's scarred eyebrow was lifted almost to his
hairline. He wasn't sure whether he should be amused or insulted.
"Anyone who uses the expression fuddy-duddy automatically
assumes fuddy-duddy status."

Buffy frowned at him. "I've never heard that."

"I'm sure it's written down somewhere." Spike assured her, stepping
over to his mini-fridge he pulled out a bottle of champagne and twglasglasses. "Champagne luv?"

"There's always room for champagne." Buffy laughed. "I can't
believe I can say that. It's like one big dream." She took the glass
from him, kissing him on che cheek in the process. "Thank you. This
has been the most incredibly day of my life. And I've had some pretty
incredible days since arriving here."

"Here's to making sure they only get better from here." Spike tinkled
their glasses together for the toast, then turned toward his monitors
automatically sweeping for any trouble there.

"What do you look for when you watch those?" Buffy asked curiously.

"Different things. Trouble, scams, tells."

"Tells?"

"Everybody has them. Little gestures, nervous habits. Like the way
you chew your bottom lip when you're worried or upset." He turned to
her, staring at said bottom lip.

"Oh. Or the way you clench you flatten your palms against your pants
when you're frustrated, so you don't end up punching someone?"
She asked.

Spike's brow raised again. "That's good." He was impressed.

"What do you do if you catch someone cheating?"

"Show them the door," Spike explained.

"That's it?"

"They don't walk out with our money," Spike's voice had gone cold.

"I bet they don't," Buffy murmured.

"We try to keep things as clean as possible. The cameras, the pit
bosses they help keep things honest. But to be honest the house
always has the upper hand. It's not hard to win here, but odds are
you won't keep it for long."

"Because you want to keep playing?"

"And the longer you play, the more chance you'll lose."

"But it's worth it. If you play and enjoy yourself, it's worth it whether
you lose or not. As long as it's made you happy," Buffy answered.

"As long as you know what you're risking. As long as you can afford
to lose your bet." Spike's words were an echo of the ones he'd said
days ago. And Buffy knew they were no longer talking about
ta
table games.

"But that's just part of the draw. The danger that you might lose
balances out the thrill of winning." Buffy sighed as he drew closer.
"And once you've got a taste for it, you just keep coming back for
more." They were closer now, standing only inches apart.

"And why stop at just a taste?" Spike's hands came up to Buffy's
shoulders. "Take off your jacket."

"But we're in your office," Buffy protested weakly.

The smile he gave her was predatory and dangerous. Buffy
shuddered. "I wanted you here, that first day you walked in. And now
I'll have you here. Take of your jacket."

The jacket fell lifeless to the ground, leaving the skin of Buffy's arms
pimpled in goose flesh. When she realized that she was chewing her
bottom lip, she stopped and grinned sheepishly at him.

Spike's smile was still there, his eyes flashing sparks of ice. "I like
knowing I make you a littler nervous. That you're a little afraid, but
that you'll melt when I touch you." He moved even closer, his lips
ghosting of her newly revealed skin. His hands came up to release in
the pins in her hair, before moving over the silky material of her dress.
"What have you got under there Buffy?"

"Hardly anything." She gulped slightly, thinking of the small scrap of
material she had on underneath.

Spike's body shuddered at the thought, his mouth crashing onto hers
to taer ier in a fierce kiss. When he pulled away he was breathing
harshly his eyes were dilated and his skin flushed with arousal. "I
don't think I can be gentle this time Buffy. Will you risk it?"

Unable to speak, she only nodded. And then he was upon her. His
hands sifted through her loosened hair, his mouth wandered over her
heated skin. He pulled her down until they were both on the floor,
desperately he reached to undo her dress, letting the sheer material
fall.

Buffy's own hands were busy, pulling at the dinner jacket Will wore,
and then working on the button to his trousers. Soon they were both
gloriously naked. The feeling that they were doing something
naughty, being together here, on the floor in his office made Buffy's
whole body sing with passion.

He kissed and nipped whatever skin was exposed to him. Whatever
he could get his lips on, his hands to touch. Buffy was mewling and
writing beneath him. Her whole body relaxed, taut only with desire
and heat. Her head lolled back as she gave in to the sensations.
Spike automatically cushioned her neck with his hand, bringing her
back up so that he could plunder her mouth. "Stay with me." He
whispered to her mesmerized form. And then he was kissing her
again.

Buffy felt Will reverse their positions, so that he was laying on the
floor beneath her. He pulled at her until she was above him
straddling him with hethe the body. "Take what you want." He
demanded, and then he was guiding her toward him. She lowered
herself slowly feeling every inch enter her quivering form. She felt an
incredible sweep of power at the fact that she could control their
lovemaking. That he had given that to her.

They thrust together. Spike's hands wandered from her breasts to
her hips and back again, seemingly unable to stay still. She felt as
his grip tightened, as he struggled for control, waiting, waiting until
she was ready. When her climax hit she cried out, her back bowed
and she nearly collapsed on top of him. Before she could, he'd rolled
them over. He thrust himself into her, losing all control. He plunged
into her body, his blood pumping furiously, his heart pounding.
Finally he found his release pouring himself into her, his body, his
mind, his soul.