Subversive

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. Ever.

I hung up the phone and made a few notes on my sheet. Glancing at my watch, I noticed that it was only three-thirty. Couple more hours to go. I didn’t know what else I could take. Not that the day was that horrible, I was just bored and wanted to get out.

Looking up as Angel came out of his office alongside Wesley and Gunn, with Spike following closely behind, I immediately tensed, wondering what I was going to have to do now. They were talking animatedly amongst themselves, but I couldn’t hear anything except voices. Frowning as I turned back to my computer, I tried to focus on the books I was supposed to be compiling. My brain was a little soft today.

“Eva.”

“Yes, sir.”

Angel and group came striding towards me. Angel leaned on my desk and said, “How’s that list coming? We’re going to need it as soon as possible.”

“I’m almost done. It should take me maybe another hour or so to finish putting it all in order.”

“Good. When you’re done, I need you to put it in my office. Then I’ll need you to start gathering all the information you can find on portal activity in the tenth and eleventh centuries around south central Asia. We’ll be down in the labs for awhile, so just page me when you‘re ready.”

“Okay. Will do.”

Angel nodded, apparently satisfied. As he turned to move on, Wesley offered me a friendly smile. I returned it and began to turn back to the computer. Then I noticed that Spike had turned to leave, then turned back to me.

I raised an eyebrow. “Can I help you?” I asked quizzically.

Spike placed his hands on my desk, head leaning towards me. “He’s quite happy to work you to the bone, isn’t he,” he said.

I shrugged. “It’s my job. I signed up for this gig, remember?”

“Even so.” Spike shrugged and shifted. “You’d think he could do a little of it himself. What’s he got two assistants for, anyway? I never see him lifting a finger to do the bloody research.”

“Isn’t he usually out dealing with the clients?” I asked. “There’s been days he hasn’t even come into the office when he gets caught up in some sort of apocalypse-y deal.”

“Oh, when the heat gets turned up good ol’ Angel’s right in the game, that’s for sure. He seems to forget that there are other people who help do half the work. Most of the work,” he amended. “And do I even get a thank you for getting stabbed in the shoulder just to help save his worthless arse? Honestly, he has no manners.”

Smiling, I looked at him directly. “Spike, was there something you wanted, or are you just here to avoid work?”

He had the grace to look affronted. “I am insulted that you would assume I would stand here talking to you just to save myself from a little work.”

From across the room, Angel yelled, “Spike, if you’re coming, come on, or we’re leaving without you.”

Rolling his eyes, Spike waved a hand. Turning back to me, he said, “Listen. There’s some things I need to talk to you about. Are you free for a bit of a chat this evening?”

Caught off guard, I hardly knew what to say for a few moments. At last I said, “Er… yeah, I think so. When? What‘s this all about?“

“Well, if the Boss trusts me to actually do the work, I’ll be done is a couple of hours. ‘Bout ten do it for you?”

“Ten o’clock tonight?” I repeated. “Yeah, I guess so. What is this?”

He waved a hand. “Like I said, there’s just some things I need to talk to you about that I don’t think all of Wolfram and bloody Hart need to hear about. Here.” He handed me a piece of paper with an address scribbled on it. “Just meet me here. We’ll be able to talk.”

I was all confusion and no answers. He could be tricking me into any number of cons. With a sigh, I nodded once. “All right, I’ll be there.”

Spike nodded in return. “Good. I’ve got to run.”

As he turned and headed off towards where Angel and the others had disappeared, I stared after him perhaps more confused than ever before. Spike was becoming stranger and stranger. The more I tried to understand… okay, I had stopped trying to understand him and just accept that he was strange. Oddly enough, however, he hadn’t been quite as obnoxious as he had been when I had first started a month and a half ago. Who knew?

I stuck the address in my purse, knowing I would now have several hours to ponder over what exactly had inspired Spike of all creatures to decide that he needed to talk to me about something that he wouldn’t tell me. I felt a little quickening of my heartbeat, and I wondered how off the deep end he really was.

The phone rang shrilly. I answered the phone. “Wolfram and Hart, how may I direct your call?”


I knocked three times on the door. As I waited for an answer, I unconsciously began smoothing down my black pants and red beaded top. My red velvet jacket brushed my knees and I considered removing it, though for some reason I felt a slight chill despite the fact that the weather was surprisingly warm. I brushed a hand over my dark brown hair pinned back in a neat chignon.

I had been nervous all afternoon. I hadn’t seen Spike since he had blown out of the office after asking to speak with me in private, which made me all the more nervous. I would have refused, but for some strange reason he hadn’t been quite as annoying since he had spent time analyzing me. He still wasn’t quite on close friend term, but it was at least slightly better than being looked at as if he was thinking of taking me into a dark alley and eating me.

At last the door opened to reveal Spike, his white-blond hair starkly contrasting with his dark clothes: black jeans, black shirt. Same old outfit, but it never got old on him. His eyes pierced me the second they locked on to me, accompanied by a rather smug smile. “Hey, you came,” he said. “Come on in.”

He stepped aside and waited for me to enter. I strode forward slowly, hands clasped behind my back. “Well, you know, I figured I’d come over and see what you wanted,” I replied, glancing around. “Your message was straightforward yet incredibly cryptic.”

If ever there was a sparser apartment I had never seen it. It was a “Just the facts, ma’am” kind of place in every way: couch, TV on a small table, refrigerator, stove, two straight-backed chairs, and a small hallway leading towards what I assumed would be the bedroom and bathroom. The walls were green and white, the carpet a clean khaki. Not the sort of place I would have pictured a guy like Spike occupying on a regular basis.

Closing the door behind me, Spike moved towards the kitchen. “Right proper of you. I didn’t want to say too much. Angel was on my case to get us out, and… You need a drink, love?” He opened his refrigerator, scanning the contents. “I’ve got beer…and, uh, more beer. Water if you want. Of course, I’ve got my own supply of goodies,” he grinned, “but I doubt you’d want that.”

I grimaced. “Given the options, I’ll take a beer, thanks.”

He pulled out two bottles and handed me one. I noticed how very at ease he was. I couldn’t get a sense of him, not really. He was being far too casual for me to believe. From the times we had spent around one another I was under the suspicion that he had an agenda most of the time and wasn’t afraid to let people know it. At the moment, however, he seemed only interested in casual conversation.

As we both took a drink, I glanced around once more. It took me a moment to realize there were candles lit in various locations. I didn’t take him for the candle sort of guy. “Nice place. You’ve done a lot with it.”

Spike shrugged and guffawed, moving towards the couch. “No need to make false compliments, love. I know it’s a bloody pisshole. It’s in the works. Let’s face it, I hardly spend any time here, just recuperation time. Not much point in making any costly changes to it, eh?” He stood quite still for a moment, and it seemed that he had become a statue without a semblance of life. A moment later, with a shake of his head, life washed over him once again and he grinned. “Come have a seat with me.”

Deciding to play along, I sat down on the opposite end of the couch, drinking deeply of my beer. It was cold and smooth. Spike was watching me carefully, a spark of humor in his eyes. “Did Angel give you any grief about taking off?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Nah. He was curious as to what I was up to, especially since we had some more tomes to go over, but he said it wasn’t a big deal. Besides, I have a feeling he was more than happy to take off and go look for Buffy or whoever it is that’s around now.”

“Nina. Buffy left town awhile ago. And she’s a bloody pain in the arse. I’m actually very surprised Angel didn’t insist on you telling him exactly where you were going. It’s one of his annoying little quirks.”

I smirked. I couldn’t disagree. Not really.

“So what’s up?” I asked. “You were so very insistent earlier that I had to come here. How about you tell me the reason you asked me to meet you?”

Spike looked at me with feigned innocence. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I eyed him. “Sure. So you just drag me out in the night to tell me that there’s nothing going on. Was there anything you needed?”

He chuckled, eyebrows raised. “Such a question,” he said. “Do you think I only invited you over if I needed a favor?”

There was something in his voice, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Suspicion clouded my mind and I stared at him cautiously. “Have you fed tonight?”

The question made him laugh. After a moment he looked at me with a sort of animal-like intensity. “What if I haven’t?” he asked slowly. “Would you be willing to help a bloke out?”

“I never volunteer myself to be put on the block,” I replied. “How am I supposed to know you wouldn’t kill me in the process? Unless, of course, that was your motive.”

“God, no, love. I would never dream of killing someone so devastatingly intriguing,” he replied. “It would be a bloody crime to end that shy little smile of yours, or the way your eyes look in the moonlight, the way you look like a mad little kitten when you‘re upset. Can’t imagine not seeing the way you look when you walk away anymore. It‘s just too damn nice.”

His sudden words surprised me, and I couldn’t keep it out of my face. “Huh?”

“What, do you think I don’t find you attractive?” Spike shook his head, leaning closer to me. There shouldn’t have been any warmth to be felt from him, but I was certain that I could feel something radiating from him. Perhaps I imagined it. “I think you underestimate yourself, love. Even the dead can appreciate a sexy smile, a shy glance, an air of innocence, although somehow I doubt that you are as innocent as you pretend to be.” He eyed me, searching my face for a reaction. I felt as if an invisible hands were somehow pressing against my brain, trailing along and teasing my thoughts.

His proclamation confused me. I felt my heart beat a little faster, uncertain as to how I should feel. My breath shook a little as I inhaled. I didn’t want him to know how off balance he made me, but there was almost nothing I could hide from him. Sitting a little straighter as I gripped my beer tighter, I struggled to make sense of what he said. “I had no idea,” I said softly, frowning. “I mean, I figured you were eyeing me as a potential meal candidate, not…” I trailed off.

Spike chuckled, scooting closer to me until his knee touched mine and he leaned towards me, taking another sip of beer. He looked me straight in the eye as he said, “Well, let’s face it. You are, just a different sort of meal. The kind I thought we could both enjoy.” His hand slid along the couch until it was inches from my shoulder.

He was oozing vampiric influence and charm, and I felt my cheeks grow warm. The intensity of his gaze was making me feel extremely off-balance, although there was a definitive warmth growing in lower parts of me that I wasn’t sure I wanted.

“Come on,” I said, trying to stall him, waiting for him to drop the load that it was all a joke and he was merely buttering me up for some gigantic favor. “I’ve heard stories about you, Spike. Believe me, I’ve heard some of the brutal things you’ve done in your past. From firsthand experience, these times that we have been around each other, I was always sure that you were merely tolerating me because of Angel.”

Uttering a rather loud guffaw, Spike shook his head and downed the rest of his beer. “Oh, hell, no. Angel’s got nothing to do with this, love, besides the fact that he was smart enough to take you onto the team. Given my certain charm,” he smiled dourly, “I thought it best not to behave in any other manner. Wouldn’t do to have people talking that nasty ol’ Spike’s got it in for the pouty little human, the secretary to the boss.”

He cocked his head to one side, gazing at me more intently until I began to feel soft, warm circles in my head, telling me to relax and go with it. I had never seen any man look at me the way he was doing at that moment. I could hear his breath, watch the artificial rise and fall of his chest, feel the warmth radiating from his hands and from his body. My mouth was desperately dry.

The confusion befuddling my mind couldn’t sort itself out. The close proximity in which we were now sitting was also weighing heavily upon me. I shyly let my eyes wander over him, from his broad muscled shoulders to the long legs folded on the couch. Black really was his color.

“So why did you ask me over here, then?” I asked, still frowning slightly. The massage of my brain was increasing, and I was so tempted to reach over and pull him to me. I was even feeling the desire to stretch my neck out to its fullest potential and beg him to bite me.

Spike stared at me, as if trying to decide whether to laugh or rant. “Jesus Christ, love, you’re not really that surprised, are you? Don’t you have blokes coming on to you all the time? You should know when there’s a certain cord there.”

“Well, believe it or not, Spike, I don’t get hit on a lot. Rarely ever, in fact. And I can guarantee I’ve never been hit on by a vampire. You guys are fucking hard to read. I hope you can appreciate the mystery you generate not only in your charisma, but in your speech. I’ve sort of got a clue on Angel, but not you. Angel’s got a very difficult time in hiding anything, but not you. You’re a whole other story. I just don’t… No, I don’t get hit on.” The words were coming out too fast and too random, but I couldn’t help it. Being near Spike was making me warm and tingly all over. I had always told myself that there was nothing about vampires that could ever do that to me. Apparently I was mistaken, and gravely so.

Eyebrows raised, Spike shook his head in disbelief. The warm feeling in my head continued, and I startled to find that I had moved an inch closer towards him. “Now I refuse to believe that. But if that really is the case…” He inched a bit closer, stroking his fingers up my arm and sending goosebumps all over my body. Once again I found myself staring into his dark eyes, though this time it was much closer. I could see my reflection. “Didn’t think I’d have to bloody spell it out, you silly girl. I’m hoping I’m rather clear now. In case there’s any doubt, I’ll be explicit.”

Spike suddenly moved forward until he was half on top of me. I startled, instinctively throwing myself against the arm of the couch. His eyes were focused entirely on me, drawing me down into their depths. My own eyes widened and I felt my breath catch. I could see eternity, an endless stretch of time circling around me and waiting to drag me down into it. I felt the warm exhale from his lips, smooth full lips that were slightly open as he watched me. One hand had moved to grasp my back, keeping a firm handle on me. When he spoke it was as if the words were velvet and they rubbed over me all the way down to my toes.

“I asked you over tonight so that I could seduce you, to feel the warmth of your skin under my hands,” he leaned down and hovered over my lips, voice dropping and so tantalizingly close, “to see if you can handle walking in the shadows with me as I touch every part of your body.”

I nearly choked. My breath caught in my throat, a sharp, pinched feeling. If it weren’t for the tingling growing in my nether regions and the tightening of my breasts, I don’t think I could have felt alive at all. No one had ever been that explicit. Not to mention considering how close he was to me. His body was hovering, waiting to press down over me. I felt his strong leg over my own, testing me.

“Oh,” I squeaked. Damn it. I didn’t want to sound that fucking pathetic. Did I want him to do it? Was I attracted to him?

Hell, yes! my mind was screaming.

Damn it, stop. Stop it! He’s a vampire, girl. Get a grip.

I know. That’s part of the appeal.

Wait. Did I just feel that?

I could have sworn I felt his lower body press against me. Spike smiled as if he was reading my mind, enjoying the dilemma playing itself out within my thoughts. He did not move farther, merely allowed his fingers to drift towards my neck, tracing warm tendrils on my skin. I startled. I couldn’t tear myself away from his eyes. All I wanted was to give in, to allow him to take me in whatever manner so pleased him, for it would also please me.

Realizing what surrender could mean, I forced myself to look away. It was like coming down from a high. I slowly inched myself out from under his grasp and pushed myself off the couch. My heart was now thundering in my ears, the blood pulsing through me so fast I was surprised it was still contained. Shakily downing the rest of my beer, I struggled to figure out what was really happening.

“What?” he asked, his tone surprisingly smooth and careful. “Where are you running off to, Eva? Does what I said bother you?”

Blinking rapidly and noticing he wasn’t blinking at all, I took a careful breath. “Not at all,” I said. “I just feel it would be better if I go.”

He tut-tutted quietly, the slick smile spreading over his lips. “Now, now, Eva, surely you know I can smell when you’re lying,” he said. “It does bother you. I just don’t understand why, exactly. I thought we were just getting on. And you did make yourself up to be noticed. Believe me, I noticed.” He stood up in one smooth motion that no human could do, his eyes drawing all over my body and lingering over my breasts. Stepping towards me to draw a finger around my waist, he said, “I love that shade of red on you, by the way.”

“Spike,” I began slowly, moving away from him and backing up towards the door. “What are you doing to me? Is this your way of overcoming my problem with men by not acting?”

The mischievous look came over his face once more and he shrugged. “Perhaps. I’m just letting you know my position. And believe me, I have a lot of positions for you to consider.” He let the innuendo and mental imagery hang in the air and I felt myself blush once more. I felt a wave of warmth brush through my mind again and I shivered.

“Stop that,“ I said, brushing the air as if that would stop it. “Yeah, I guess it bothers me a little. You’ve got this incredible effect on me and I don’t know how to deal with that. That’s pretty much why I feel I should get the hell out now.”

I sort of figured he would become frustrated and tell me to get the hell out if that’s how I felt. Instead, he watched me without expression as I moved towards the door. I wished I could get a sense as to what was going on in the vampire’s mind, but God only knew that would be a fucking miracle. I felt as if I were becoming a game to him, and I was uncomfortable with that.

When I was standing within three feet of the door, he spoke. “You don’t want to leave.”

I paused, hesitant to turn around. “What are you talking about?”

“What’s the matter, love? Are you afraid you might actually enjoy it?”

Biting my tongue, I did finally turn around to face him. He was gliding around the other side of the room, looking extraordinarily scrumptious in his clothes. I felt myself warm to him just by looking at him. He stretched his arms up, exposing a small portion of the pale skin of his stomach. I couldn’t look away. I wondered what the rest of his body looked like, not to mention what it was capable of.

“Now why would I be afraid of that?”

He shrugged gracefully, leaning against the edge of the couch. “Your dilemma, love, not mine. Be honest here. You’re what, twenty-five, twenty-six? This day and age I find it impossible that you’re a virgin, so that can’t be it. Strong, beautiful, healthy girl like yourself has got to have her own urges. How do you deal with that?”

It took a moment to refrain from sputtering. He knew he was getting my goad and he loved it. Taking a deep breath and frowning at him, I replied firmly, “No, I’m not a virgin, if you must know. But I’m not all that experienced, either. Like I said, I don’t get hit on a lot. I’m not used to this kind of thing. As for my own urges, I have them…occasionally.”

Spike regarded me with mischievous anticipation, obviously hell-bent on playing devil’s advocate. “Are you having one now?”

I was not used to such directness. My cheeks flushed and I found I could not answer. He would know I was lying, anyway, so what was the point of saying anything? “Sure. I’m leaving, that’s what my urge is.”

“You sure you don’t want to explore a bit?” he asked, his voice a lulling sound that squirmed in my ears and tugged at my resistance, urging me to stay and see exactly where things might go. I could hear all the promise in the world in the smooth rhythm of his voice.

In my mind’s eye I could feel what he was promising, the lewd acts and sensual delights and possible pain that could come with it all. For a moment I could see his body, naked in the candlelight, warm and heavy on mine, bringing every dark desire to life in a union of life and death. The air was heavy and drenched in sweat and lust, pressing in on me from all sides. My body was contracting, every sensitive part of me tingling in anticipation.

He stood straight, a small smirk on his face. As I stood watching him, he moved. One moment he was across the room, the next he was behind me, between me and the door. I gasped, startled at the sudden movement. I turned to look at him, and suddenly the lights were off. The candles provided the only light, and I knew damn well that he could blend into the shadows as if he were made of them.

“I can smell it, you know,” he said, his voice coming from behind me, a lingering presence that carried the essence of what I’d been seeing. “The fear. The desire. You want to know what it’s like to fuck a vampire, but you’re afraid, oh, so very afraid. You don’t want to know that it’s something you may enjoy. We may be dead, but we’re not all dead.” He chuckled a bit, and I thought I sensed him move. “It doesn’t have to be a bad thing, Eva. I may be a bastard, but believe me when I say I’ve never had complaints.”

The tightness in my chest was growing stronger. I felt as if my heart was searching him out, the blood echoing in the search. He was right. The fear was welling up inside me just as much as the lust. I didn’t want to just surrender to it, but I was beginning to believe that I had no choice in the matter. I knew I was attracted to him, but it was just so sudden. So strange. So dangerous.

“Yes, you smell very, very good, love.”

I thought I saw him out of the corner of my eye, moving stealthily through the living room. I turned in that direction , but was confronted with only darkness. “I feel like you’re stalking me, like you’re the lion and I’m the lamb.”

“Good analogy. I am hunting, but I’m willing to bet you’ll set yourself in my path. You’ll be a willing prey.” He paused. “Can you tell me that you haven’t fantasized about me, Eva? Perhaps when you’re at home alone and all you have is the darkness… Haven’t you thought about feeling my hands touching every part of your body? Having my lips taste you… perhaps even the possibility of letting me get just a taste of you, the real you. You’ve thought about it, I’m sure. Even about the total surrender of it all. You see, I am the dominant one, and that’s what you want. Lying asleep in your bed under red sheets, wearing slinky little things you don’t think anyone knows about, you’ve thought about me.”

Jesus, how could he know all this about me? The more he spoke, the more truth the words held, right down to the color of my bed sheets. I was trembling and couldn’t stop. How could he have known that every so often he had snuck into my dreams? They had been powerful dreams. Even as he was hiding in shadows, teasing me in the darkness as I played hide and seek with a monster, I felt his power winding itself around me, just the edges of it. He wanted me to make up my own mind. It wouldn’t be as much fun if he just took me. He truly wanted to seduce me. He wanted me to admit to having dark fantasies.

My legs wouldn’t move, and I was beginning to feel that I didn’t want them to, at least not towards the door. I slowly began removing my jacket before I realized what I was doing. It fell to the floor silently, and my bare arms were covered in goosebumps.

“I don’t understand,” I murmured, half-afraid. I didn’t understand the power that was coming over me, because I was beginning to believe it wasn’t him. It was just my own desire taking control.

He was behind me, from nowhere. I gasped, attempting to turn to face him, but he stopped me, placing his hands on my waist. I could feel the immense strength in that small gesture and it was like an electric volt had shot through me. It was then that I realized how much taller than me he was. He was nearly a full head above me, and I felt his breath on my ear.

“You don’t have to understand,” he said softly. “Just believe that I won’t hurt you, love. Never would, not unless you ask me to. All I want is for you to open yourself up to me.”

I sighed deeply, briefly closing my eyes as I allowed myself to lean back against him. He was firm, warm, real, very much like I had imagined in my dreams. His hands snaked up my waist, one hand drifting soft fingers up my arm and to my face, stroking gently. The other hand slid along my left hip, taking a very aggressive lead. My skin beneath the clothes was on fire at his touch.

“Spike,” I breathed.

“Yeah.” His voice was warm, low, focused now.

The boldness within drew itself to the surface and out of my lips. “Tell me what you want to do,” I whispered, rolling my head to the side.

There was a brief pause and I knew he was scenting me, scenting my blood. Only for a second. He pulled my body against him then, and I felt how extremely aroused he was. He shifted, spreading his legs slightly so that I fit neatly against him. A sudden shock of desire raced through me and I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. The hand on my hip pressed over my belly, dangling dangerously close to my lower regions. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“Oh, what a question.” His voice was suddenly heavy, allowing the slightest trace of a laugh to glide its edges, and I knew that he was aware of my choice. “I want to taste every bit of your skin.” His warm breath pressed on my shoulder and his lips brushed my skin. I shivered and fought to hold back a moan. “I want to rip off your clothes and fuck you like you’ve never been fucked before.” Another kiss, a slight hump against my ass. “I want to eat you alive and make you beg me to do it again. I want to keep you up all night and hear you scream my name.” His lips kissed me still more, the kisses becoming more intense, and this time it solicited a moan from me. His teeth scraped my skin in a tantalizing motion, and I suddenly knew that I wanted him to bite me. I wanted him to taste me.

As he drew a wet line on my skin with his tongue, I moaned again. “There’s a good girl,” he breathed, keeping me pressed against his body, slowly rocking his hard cock against me. “Now tell me you want it. Tell me you want me to do all those things to you. Tell me you want to feel it deep inside you over and over again.”

Sharp tingles were racing through me. “Damn it,” I whispered, struggling to keep the nearly panicked pleasure out of my voice. The teasing was bringing me to this side of an orgasm and he hadn’t even done anything to me yet. With a sudden prodding from his cock, I gasped. I tried to move, but Spike held me tightly.

“Tell me,” he ordered, his voice low and smooth. “Tell me now, or I will stop.”

Swallowing hard as he licked a long line up my neck, I tried twice before I managed to whisper, “I--I want you.”

“What do you want from me?” His breath was like silk on my skin.

I took a shallow breath and allowed myself to speak. “I want you inside of me.”

“And?” he prodded, fingers trailing down my cheek and lingering at the top of my shirt, feeling the sharp rise and fall of my chest.

Torturous, that’s what it was. But the words kept coming unbidden, drawn out of me like a line. “I want you to do everything,” I breathed. “I want you to set me on fire.”

Having said the words out loud seemed to release something inside of me. Spike spun me around and pinned me against the door. I stared up at him, barely visible in the candlelight but all too visible to me. He held my arms to the door as he stared at me, satisfaction on his face.

The fear that had been there was disappearing, quickly being replaced with curiosity and desire. He held himself close enough so that as I moved my lower body forward just enough, I brought my crotch in contact with his. He didn’t gasp for breath; I didn’t think he would allow himself to do that. He moved forward and pressed himself against me, slowly circling and driving me crazy. A lazy smile spread across his face.

“Does that answer your questions, love?”

His face was mere inches from mine. I felt my jugular throbbing dangerously hard. There was no surrender, and I didn’t want it, anyway. I was diving into the deep end, sink or swim. Whatever happened now, I knew I would face it head on, even if I drowned. Disturbingly enough, that thought didn’t particularly bother me.

I smiled, my lips trembling with anticipation. “Answers a lot more than that. Now be a good boy and come a bit closer,” I whispered.

Spike licked his lips and moved down towards me. As his lips met mine, I gasped sharply. Soft, sweet lips that enveloped mine and took no prisoners. My knees nearly gave out on me. The slow first kiss moved quickly into a battle of passions. I used as much desire as I could summon in an attempt to out-kiss him, meeting all of his movements and bringing all my hidden desires to the surface. I could feel his teeth pressing against my lips. I opened my lips, opening my mouth and allowing his tongue to taste me. I nipped at his lips with my teeth, sending my tongue darting out and catching his teeth.

“Oh, a saucy wench,” he muttered, bringing his hands to my face and pulling me abruptly to him. His tongue ravaged my mouth, demanded response and cited dominance. I uttered a small moan as I was finally allowed to touch him. I grabbed his shoulders, slowly sliding my hands up his smooth face. His skin was soft and immeasurably warm, not at all cold as I had expected. I ran my fingers through his thick hair, marveling at how soft it truly was. His teeth were pressing hard against my mouth and I felt that he might draw blood at any moment.

His hands skimmed down my torso until they came to my chest. Spike ran a hand up between my breasts, not touching, not yet. He slid fingers under the fabric, toying with me, smiling through his glee. I sighed deeply and he broke away from my lips, making a trail down my face and down my neck. I shut my eyes tightly and gasped as his lips sucked on the tender flesh. I could feel his teeth making small, knowing nips at me.

“Bite me,” I whispered, tilting my head to give him better coverage.

He froze. “What?”

“I said, bite me. Don’t take blood. Not yet. But I love to be bitten.”

Spike chuckled, a low sensual sound that reverberated through every fiber of my being. “As you like,” he answered, and he bit. Hard. I emitted a sound somewhere between a moan and a cry, startled at the intensity of it. His lips sucked on my neck at the same time, and I knew that if he didn’t rip my skin off, then I would have a hell of a hickey. He repeated the procedure, kissing and biting nearly hard enough to break the skin, but refraining. Each time, he received the same moan.

“Oh, god,” I gasped, falling back against the door and holding onto his shoulders.

He burrowed against me, pressing his body against mine. A low growl trickled out from his throat. His hands were pinching my waist, sliding up my shirt and pressing so hard I knew I’d have bruises. As he bit me again I felt the edge of his teeth begin to pierce the skin.

“Fuck,” he muttered, drawing back slightly. I could feel the blood pounding through his veins, the excitement of both the sex and the prospect of potential blood. I gasped at the withdrawal. “You taste too bloody good, love. I may get blood without even trying.”

The darkness was swirling around me. I could hardly focus. I met his eyes and saw the pure hunger that lay there. It should have scared me off, but instead I only wanted to explore it further. I ran my hands down his chest, pulling hard on the fabric and sending buttons flying everywhere. He looked at me in surprise and I smiled, pushing the cloth off his body. His skin fairly glowed in the darkness, tantalizing and beautiful. He had a marvelous body and I couldn’t wait to see the rest of it.

He grinned. “Not bloody fair.”

“Never said I played fair.”

Eyebrows shot upwards. “Bloody hell, you’re great.” Spike grabbed me and hefted me up so my legs wrapped around his waist. He walked easily towards the couch and managed to pull my shirt off in the process, leaving me in my bra. As I collapsed on the edge of the couch, I watched him for a brief moment standing over me, a kind of triumph shining in his eyes. “I knew you weren’t as innocent as you made yourself out to be.”

“Shut up and take off your pants.”

A wide grin spread across his face. “Maybe I’ll tease you for awhile. Maybe I’ll make you wait.”

“Maybe I’ll pack up and go home.’

“No, you won’t.” He met my gaze fully, leaning into me. “You couldn’t leave now if you tried.”

He was so very right. And I sure as hell didn’t want to.

Pouting my lips, I slowly reached towards him and dragged nails down his chest until I came to the top of his pants. “Don’t make me ask again,” I whispered.

The lust in his face was almost overwhelming. Spike said saucily, “Why don’t you help me out, love?”

Without argument, I reached forward and unfastened his trousers, sliding them down his legs. I lingered over his boxers, surprised for a moment that he even wore anything beneath his pants. Without waiting for his approval, I grabbed the boxers and slid them down his body. He was beautiful, in all ways. I was met with a finely toned chest, very solid abs, and a very eager cock standing up for me. I eyed him, waiting for a moment to see what he would do. Spike didn’t move.

I reached for him and took him in my hand. He inhaled sharply as I began massaging him, rubbing him up and down. Every once in awhile my tongue darted out and tasted him, sometimes just a quick lick, sometimes tracing a long line up his length. His eyes fluttered as I took his head in my mouth, and he grabbed my head, fingers twining in my hair.

“Fuck,” he muttered, inhaling sharply again as I took him in my mouth. “Fuck, love, do that. Do be good to me.”

I obligingly began to suck on him, hand still grasping him tightly. He was large in my mouth and I fancied taking him over and over. He tasted sweet and sour, a long way down. His hands on me were strong, struggling not to force me anywhere. I hummed a little tune against him, sending vibrations along his length. Spike groaned, making small passes into me, fighting not to hump my face. When he began twitching and I knew that his orgasm was imminent, Spike began to breathe heavily.

“Eva,” he murmured, making slow passes at me again. “Oh, fuck, love, I’m going to cum. I want you to take it. I want you to feel me.”

I couldn’t protest. I felt as if I were working under a spell. The tremors of his body increased and I couldn’t stop him from sliding farther in my mouth, trying for my throat. He was moaning, a low and constant sound that made me tingle, until his cock stiffened inside my mouth and he poured seed into me. I held still, holding my breath, still keeping him within. He was warm and salty, just like any other man.

When he withdrew with a sigh, I sighed as well, startled at the intensity of the moment. I hadn’t done any such thing for a very long time, and could only hope that all was well. As I leaned backward against the couch, Spike crouched down in front of me. His face was slack with release, a passionate smile forming on his lips. He raised his eyebrows once, touching my face.

“You,” he began. “You are enough to make a bloke lose his control.”

I shrugged slightly. “Sorry. I just wanted a taste.”

Spike grinned. “Don’t apologize. Just be aware that you are truly facing a superior fuck as reward. But first…” He reached down and slid my pants off. Tore, is more like it. He then reached for my bra and plucked it away, leaving me naked before him. “That’s better.” His eyes roved over me from top to bottom, fingers skimming my arms and legs just light enough to send goosebumps all over me. A lustful smile touched his lips and he raised his eyes to meet mine.

I felt self-conscious at first, slightly chilled. I folded my arms over my torso, half-shirking from his stare. Spike grabbed my arms and slowly pried them apart. “Oh, don’t you dare cover yourself up, love,” he said, face inches from my own. “I want a good look at you now.” He spread my arms to the sides and once again looked me over. He let his hands drift down to my legs and slowly spread them open. “What do we have here?” He captured my eyes and stared at me with every ounce of seduction he possessed.

My heart was thundering in my ears as he looked at me between my legs. I was hot and cold at the same time, half-wanting to tell him to stop. But as he squeezed my thigh and ran fingers over my crotch, earning a gasp from me, I knew that I wanted everything that was playing out in his naughty mind.

Spike leaned over me and kissed me, taking my breath away. I knew that he would make good on his promise, though I wasn’t expecting anything too soon. His lips were sweeter than before, his kisses rough and filled with promise. He ran hands over my breasts, tugging at my nipples until they were hard under his ministrations. I inhaled sharply as he pulled me over onto the floor, and suddenly I was on my back looking up at him.

“I prefer being on top,” he explained.

The dizziness of the movement was still with me, and I grinned. “Fine with me,” I replied, “just as soon as you’re ready.”

A nudge at my leg assured me that he was, in fact, quite ready.

Spike kissed me hard, forcing his tongue into my mouth and nearly taking my breath away. I reached for him, scratching nails down his back. He moaned against me, urging me to do it harder. I startled as his hand grabbed my hips and spread my legs. His body fell between and I felt his cock harder than ever, pressing against my inner thigh, waiting to get inside me. He slid over me, teasing me, barely touching my clit yet sending shivers of excitement through me. At the same time he slid one hand between my legs and allowed his fingers to begin to explore me.

I moaned loudly, tilting my head back. I was lost to everything that he was doing to me. When his cock nudged at me, just on the verge of entering me, Spike stopped. I stared up at him, struggling to get him to come inside.

He grinned, his eyes dark with desire. “Tell me you want it,” he said in a low voice. “Tell me again that you want me.”

My heart was hammering against my ears. At that point I would have said I was a tree, if it meant that he would satisfy my hunger. Every fiber in my being was quivering with anticipation, with readiness. I was wet and ready. As he nudged me again, lips brushing my chin, I whispered, “I want you. I want you inside me.”

“As the lady wishes.”

He grabbed my hips, tilted them upward and slid inside me so hard and so fast that I cried out, held over in that precious second for what seemed like an eternity. The darkness clawed at me, threatening to take me under, take me away from the light forever, and at that moment I didn’t care. All I could realize was that I was joined with Spike, and I had never wanted anything more.

As Spike thrust again, I cried out a second time, hands flailing before grabbing his back and tearing trails down his skin. He groaned, a small chuckle edging his voice. “Ooh, that’s good,” he purred. He bent over my neck and bit me, harder than ever. I shrieked. There was a strong edge of pain and I suddenly realized that he had pierced my skin. He kept bent over my neck and I felt him sucking at me. Blackness hovered around me and panic filled my mind.

“Spike,” I gasped out as he continued to thrust into me, his head at my neck. “Oh…my…God.” I wasn’t sure but I thought there was blood running down my neck. Every motion of his body sent me spiraling through layers of pleasure and pain, levels that I had never before considered possible. Breath was difficult, not only because of the effort but because I was more certain that he was drinking me.

His head snapped upright, and I saw him licking his lips. A grin spread over his face, immediately followed by a shudder of pleasure. I struggled to speak but could not find any words. I was too stunned and caught up to say anything. Spike increased his thrusts, each movement going deeper inside me, taking more of me than anyone ever had before. I was about to find a word, but it was torn from me in a long and painful moan.

Spike’s eyes glowed. A need filled his face, a need so complete that it nearly washed away everything else around us. He whispered, “Good enough?”

Tearing breath from the air, I found my body tingling with excitement, the fear a small bouquet around me. Grabbing his face, I breathed out, “Harder.”

The command clearly pleased him. He smiled broadly and licked my lips. “Very good, love,” he whispered. “I was holding back, anyway.”

He thrust inside me so hard that I would have moved, had he not been holding me down. I nearly screamed as he made each thrust count, hard and fast, stretching me with every move. I wrapped my legs around his waist, allowing him deeper penetration. I arched my back, crying out anything that came to mind. I was sweating. His breath was hot on my face. I reached up and pulled his neck to me, kissing him and biting as hard as I could. He laughed and allowed me to continue. The taste of his flesh in my mouth was nothing as intoxicating as mine to him, but I still enjoyed the feeling of being able to bite and bruise his flesh without recourse. I flicked my tongue over each mark I made, until his movements became too much and I fell backwards.

As I hit the floor, Spike pulled back abruptly and rolled me onto my stomach. Dizziness swept over me in waves so intense I thought I saw circles in the room. “Come now, love,” he said. “Let’s go about this another way.”

He pulled me onto my hands and knees. I had never felt more vulnerable, nor more excited, than when he slid into me from behind. I gripped the floor with claws, panting and gasping for air as if I were drowning. Each second was like a combination of agony and bliss, stretching out into eternity. Every cell in my body was burning, threatening to cause me to burst into flame. I felt him pull on my hair gently, causing my head to tilt backwards until I could almost see him in the darkness. He draped his body over mine, heat flying between us. Spike was all about domination, and I realized as he fucked me that it was what I wanted. There could never be another.

My body began to convulse. I moaned and squirmed as I felt the lightning begin to course through my body. “Spike,” I moaned.

“Yes, love,” he whispered, voice warm against my ear.

I lost the ability to speak as the orgasm ripped through me, though I was able to scream out his name once more. Waves of pleasure crashed over me, sending me sprawling through darkness and crawling through endlessness. I felt Spike hold onto me, heard him laugh low and rough, say “That‘s my girl.” Each second that passed kept me lost in the wildness of the moment.

As I began to subside, Spike achieved his own orgasm, nearly falling onto me in the process. I heard him moan loudly, though I was beginning to face the start of unconsciousness. “Oh, God,” he moaned. “God, Eva, yes, yes…”

He tensed, and then the release took him fully. His entire body stiffened as he thrust inside me again and again until I felt him spilling himself deep inside of me. I shut my eyes, gasping for breath as he held me close, fingers digging into my skin. At last he slowly lowered me to the floor. I sank against the soft carpeting, dizziness overtaking me. I stared blankly into the darkness, shocked and quieted, still gasping for breath.