Introductions

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Part 37

Harris almost didn't open the e-mail, simply because he didn't recognize the sender's name. "Who the hell is HyLeeStressed?" he murmured, then shrugged.

Maybe it was Willow or Buffy. Every once in a while they changed addys and dropped him a note to let him know. He figured it was because their other accounts got swamped by Watchers, Slayers, and in Willow's case, witches from all over the world.

He clicked the mail open, scrolling to the bottom to see which of them it was, then shook his head in disgust at himself. "Duh. Hy Lee. ‘Patia."

It took less than a moment to scroll up again and read what the woman had sent.

~Xander,

By the time you get this, I'll be approximately twenty thousand feet in the air. I know I promised to call but things got a bit... out of hand with my business.

It's more or less taken care of now, though, and I've decided that I deserve a bit of time back home. Even a player for the Powers deserves a bit of a holiday once in a while, right? Or once in six years, as the case may be. LOL

I have it on good authority that Trevor and Elliot will truly heal Robert, so I think you can stop worrying about them and start worrying about yourself and William.

You need to tell him, Xander. He deserves to know the true reason you're so reluctant to agree to Mating. As much as you love him, he loves you equally. How would you feel if your positions were reversed and HE was hesitating about spending his life with YOU? What if he came to you one day and told you that he wasn't sure he wanted to be with you for more than a few years? Because that's what he's getting from it, I'm sure.

Tell him, Harris. He'll understand.

As for the rest of it... considering the lives they lead, you're already likely to outlive the Slayer and the Maiden-Crone, not to mention your other friends amongst the Watchers and such. I know it may seem cold to be pointing this out to you, but it's the truth.

Do you really believe that your real friends would want you to pass on a chance to be happy for what amounts to forever? That they'd prefer it if you died sooner than necessary?

Yes, they might be jealous that you have the opportunity and they don't, but that's no reason to refuse. You all took your lives into your hands more times than I can count and one or more of you could have died at any time. The Slayer DID die. TWICE, if you'll recall.

I know you remember how you felt about that. Do you honestly believe your friends wouldn't be thrilled to know that there was ONE state of mourning they could avoid if they somehow DID manage not to die?

I'm not saying that Spike is wrong about the drawbacks, but it's a very human thing to mourn those you've lost, and as I said, you're likely to mourn them anyway.

Someone once said-- and no, I don't recall who it was, so don't ask-- someone once said that as long as a single person in the world remembers someone, they aren't truly dead. That they exist in memory for as long as someone who's known them lived. In that sense, you'd never lose them, Xander. They'd always be a part of you… and they’d always be a part of your world, yes?

The same applies to Trevor, Elliot and Robert... and Robert's grandmother. In fact, I'd be surprised if the gents haven't already assumed that Spike would find some way to keep you by his side forever. Trevor and Elliot, anyway.

But none of that is why you've been avoiding the issue, is it?

So TELL HIM!

He has a right to know.

And now that I've managed to insert my nose so fully into your business, I have a plane to catch.

Give my best to William. And I WILL call you gents in a few days. I’m afraid I may not have been entirely candid with you regarding my past and Trevor’s and... things have happened which you have a right to know about in MY opinion. I’ll explain later.

Until then, feel free to e-mail me at this account. Take care, Xander.

#sending virtual hugs#

~Hypatia Lee

(P.S.~ Ask him what's in the box he's been hiding. Because YOU deserve to know. ~H) ~

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"Okay, and how NOT fair is it that she knows stuff like that?" Harris grumbled to himself as he created a new folder in his e-mail and hid Hypatia's letter in it.

"That who knows stuff like what, luv?" Spike purred from the doorway, his eyes slowly caressing the tanned skin and tousseled dark hair.

He jumped slightly then laughed uncomfortably, swiftly shutting the laptop down and spinning his chair towards his claimed. "Huh? Oh, Willow! She, uh... said I need a hair cut. And how could she know that?"

Spike snorted softly, well aware that his Claimed was lying to him. Still, the bloke would tell him the truth eventually, even if he had to spank it out of him. Besides...

"Red must be out of her mind, pet... th' longer hair suits you." The vampire smirked, staring at one dark, wavy lock where it brushed the claiming scar lightly. "Suppose you could tie it back if you wanted ta, but I'd be bloody disappointed if you cut it. Like wrappin' my fist around it an' usin' it like a set of reins, luv... pullin' you back inta my thrusts, makin' you arch your back..." He purred, one hand stroking slowly over the swelling bulge in his jeans.

The brunette shivered, watching that hand as he leaned back in his desk chair. "Did you just call me a... a pony?" he whispered, licking his lips.

"Pure stallion, luv... wild, untamed... a buckin' bronco, you are..." The pointed tip of a pink tongue peeked between full, pale pink lips. "Luv masterin' you anew each an' every time, pet..."

And Harris couldn't help laughing at that even while his own cock hardened beneath the baggy, cut-off sweats he'd been wearing to work in while Spike dealt with some of his investments over the phone.

He slid out of his chair, crossing the room on hands and knees, his eye locked on heated blue until he reached the long, lean shape in the doorway. His hands slid slowly up denim-clad legs to strong thighs and he laid his cheek against the hardness of Spike's groin. "Bet I can make YOU buck, Spike... buck and heave and beg..." and ask you about that box I almost forgot existed, he added silently, turning his head a bit to lip at the fly of his vampire's jeans.

“Know you can, precious,” Spike purred, one hand gathering the longish dark hair into a thick hank and wrapping fingers around it. “Doesn’t mean I don’t still want you ta prove it...” He gave his Claimed’s hair a gentle tug, watching avidly as pearly white teeth found the waist of his jeans and tugged, popping the first button from its hole. “Bloody hell... luv it when you do that, pet...”

Harris cast one slow, teasing gaze up into his vampire’s eyes and smirked wickedly. “Yeah... kinda already knew that, Spike,” he said smugly before returning to his task and tugging another button free, then a third. His tongue slid playfully into the spreading triangle of fabric, sliding slowly over pale, cool flesh before tugging the remaining buttons free.

Spike bit his lip to keep from gasping and tightened his hand on the restrained locks of dark silk as he watched his beloved work. “Pet... bloody hell, pet. Can’t wait ta feel your lips around me... ta bury myself in that hot, wet mouth of yours... feel your throat tight an’ graspin’ around me...”

Harris laughed, slowly running his hands down Spike’s legs, then back up before hooking his thumbs into the now-loose waist of the jeans and tugging them carefully down to his love’s knees. The sound that sprung from his lips as he stared at the long, thick cock suddenly bobbing in front of him was almost a purr and almost a growl. “Your claimed,” he murmured roughly, “No waiting.”

Blond hair thunked back against the door jamb as he felt himself engulfed in wet heat, warm fingers sliding over his thighs and around him to grip his ass, pulling him closer and Spike was as good as his word, using his grasp on his Xan’s hair to direct the slow movements in counterpoint. “Bloody fuckin’ hell,” he growled, letting his features shift with sheer pleasure.

He’d swallowed him down immediately, unable to resist the impulse to make his vampire moan. That goal achieved, however, Harris chuckled silently and pulled back, teeth scraping lightly over sensitive flesh. His tongue slid slowly around the already seeping tip, prying lightly at the tiny slit exposed by the wrinkly foreskin and he grinned as much as he could around the perfect shaft as that skin pulled back for him.

His fingers flexed lightly in the amazing, toned globes of flesh as he nipped gently before sliding himself to Spike’s base again, his nose buried in the short dark hairs as he inhaled the musky, salty scent he loved so much.

“Fuck... fuck, Xan... yah, pet...” It was the obvious enjoyment on his human’s face that got him every time. Hell, it excited him knowing his Xan wanted to give him this even more than the act itself. Not that he’d ever say so, of course. He wasn’t THAT big of a ponce. “Bloody...” his eyes closed and he gasped, hips rocking between the door jamb and the amazing mouth around him. “D-don’t...”

‘Don’t’? Harris laughed inside, even as he slid his mouth to the very tip of his vampire’s shaft and reversed the motion, taking it deep into his throat again as one hand released a clenching cheek and slipped over soft, pale skin to cup and roll his love’s tightening sac. He swallowed hard, feeling every ridge and vein in his mouth and throat throbbing in time with his motions. Oh, yeah... he loved doing this. Almost as much as he loved filling Spike... or being filled by him.

And his Claimed was definitely working himself up to another spanking, a small and somehow rational part of Spike’s brain noticed. Still, the rest of him was too absorbed in the sheer sensation to pay any attention as he thrust shallowly into the adored throat, his cock thickening even more as the fingers toying with his balls slid back, pressing at that space between tackle and hole, then pushing between tense cheeks to rub over his anus and...

“P-pet... please...” he growled, forcing his Claimed’s mouth to his base again and rocking there. “XAN!” he yelped as one finger slammed deep into his ass even while the human’s contented groan vibrated him beyond enough.

Harris’s finger pressed deeper, finding the small, hard nub within his adored vampire and he rumbled around the thick head in his throat as he twitched at it wickedly. His eye flicked up, and he came himself as he saw the look of intense need on Spike’s face, just as he felt the pulsing shaft between his lips start to spill fast and hard down his throat, then into his mouth as he pulled back just a few inches to enjoy the taste of lust, need, passion and love as it burst over his tongue.

He sucked softly and carefully for the next little while, drawing every possible trace of flavor into himself, his own cum growing cool against him in the cut-offs, but he didn’t care. He could have spent eternity with Spike’s cock in his mouth and not minded. Not until he starved to death, anyway, he thought with a small laugh. Man couldn’t live by protein alone, after all. Or not forever, anyway.

“Bloody hell,” Spike finally whispered, his fingers releasing the human’s hair and stroking through it slowly as his Xan continued to suck and lap gently at his softening member, “Guess you won that bet, Claimed...”

Harris grinned, finally releasing the wonderful and adored cock to look up at his love. “Mmmm... yeah. Think I got the bucking... the heaving...” He cocked his head and grinned, remembering the ‘please’. “And the begging, too. Cool.”

The vampire chuckled, sinking to his knees before the brunette and pressing a slow, deep kiss to his lips, tasting himself and the uniquely ‘Xander’ flavor he loved so much. “Guess I owe you one, ‘ey luv?” Spike grinned, pulling the much younger man fully against him.

“Think you might be pullin’ your finger outta my bum anytime soon?” he added teasingly, “ ‘s goin’ ta be a bit hard ta carry you off ta bed with it there...”

One more slow crooking of his finger to make his love groan and Harris gently removed the digit in question with a sly grin. “I have a feeling you would have found a way, babe, but...” He shrugged playfully. “Guess I can put it back later.”

Another groan. “Among other things, beloved...”

Tangled brown hair swung slightly as the human’s lips found a pinkish scar and teeth nibbled softly at the edges.

“So... if you owe me one, babe,” Harris finally said, “How about telling me what’s in that box you’ve been hiding?”

Spike tensed a bit then pulled back to meet his lover’s eye. “Not sure I should,” he said with a sigh. “Don’t want ta... ’s not a good time, beloved.”

Harris arched his brow skeptically. “And this from Mr. ’it’s always a good time for prezzies’? Mr. ’I know it’s seven AM and we just went to sleep an hour ago but I got you something and I forgot, so wake up and open it already’?”

He sighed again and shook his head. “Don’t want ta push, luv. ‘s just... somethin’ I got for you a while ago an’... it can wait, yah?”

The brown eye closed and Harris shook his head. “I... no. I don’t think it can. Because... I need to tell you something and when I’m done... I don’t know if you’ll still want to give me anything, much less a gift.”

Yet another sigh at the serious and worried expression on his Claimed’s face. He leaned closer, kissing the bloke again slowly. “Right, then. Showers, then prezzie, then talk?”

“I... yeah,” the brunette said quietly, hoping ’Patia was right about telling Spike... and hoping Spike wouldn’t react badly, too.

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(A/N: Only one more part to go in this fic! Yay!

And there will be another after this one, for those who care... actually, two morw segments in this series.

Not sure of exactly when I'll start posting them as I'm working on another fic at the mo', but it shouldn't be TOO long. LOL

As always, many thanks to my wonderful reviewers-- in this case: RemityGirl, Susan (twice, and welcome back!) and Kat! You guys are FAR too good to me! *hugs*)