Tangled Hearts *Now COMPLETE*

Chapter 4


Spike stayed true to his word and Xander was definitely happier now that he was keeping most of his boy toys away from the apartment. Well, as happy as he could be given the fact that he still couldn’t tell him how he felt. Friends were supposed to stay just that… friends. If he actually came out and told Spike how much he wanted him, how he thought everyday about what it would be like to hold him, touch him and feel him inside, he’d ruin everything they had. He knew Spike wasn’t interested in him that way, and he’d come to the realization that he needed to finally stop pining over his best friend. It was one thing to hold onto a secret love, but he’d seen enough movies to know things like that never turned out well in the end.

“Mr. Harris, your 9:00 is here.”

He waved at the small, blonde secretary that had peaked her head through the door and readied himself for his day. “Thank you, Janet.”

He sat up closer to his computer and clicked on the page he’d made for a small, local business. Work was good; it kept his mind off his non-existent love life, giving him something else to delve into instead. Lindsey MacDonald had paid a fairly large sum of money for Xander’s web designing expertise and after conversing by phone several times, this was the first time they were meeting in person. As soon as the dark-haired man in tight blue denim walked through the door, Xander had a sense this could be something either very good or hopefully, very bad for him. Maybe work was exactly what he needed to get over Spike.

~*~

Whistling as he flipped his keys back and forth in his hand, Xander took the steps two at a time, until he reached the landing to their apartment. He was going on a date. A real, dinner and drinks kind of date with a gorgeous guy who actually wanted to go out with him. God, what was it about accents? They’d always turned him on. Spike’s English tongue was definitely enough to do him in, but the sultry Texas draw he’d heard when Lindsey introduced himself made his knees buckle and gave him a complete new respect for the term ‘American cowboy’.

“Hey Spike, I’m home so zip it up,” he called, throwing his jacket across the chair as he walked cheerfully into the apartment.

“No fun in that,” Spike answered with a mischievous smile, coming out of his bedroom.

Xander chuckled, passed him in the hallway and disappeared into the bathroom. When he came out a few minutes later with a towel covering his dripping body, he rushed into his room, hearing Spike’s mumblings from the kitchen. He didn’t stop to listen, more worried about what he was going to wear and how he was supposed to act. God, he was actually nervous. It’d been awhile since anyone had shown him any real interest. Throwing on simple jeans and button down, he glanced at himself in the mirror and smiled. With any luck, maybe it was possible for him to get over Spike.

He jelled his hair just enough to leave a few, loose curls and found just the right cologne. Something that said I’m old enough to have good taste while still young enough to enjoy it. He looked good, felt good and damn it if he wasn’t going to have the perfect night. His ‘no fucking on the first date’ rule was buried way down on his list of things not to do, and his ‘don’t start babbling like an idiot if he wants to fuck you’ was pushed high on top. He deserved it, and he wasn’t about to let his conscience ruin it for him.

He stepped out into the living room and waited, silently staring at the sight of tight, black jeans hugging a perfect… he mentally slapped himself before he could finish that thought. History. No more pining. Spike’s head was buried in the refrigerator, although he was still talking as he pulled out various ingredients.

“So what about it, pet?”

“What about what?” Xander asked, crossing his arms in front of him as he shifted his weight to lean against the wall.

Spike pulled himself away and slowly turned around. “Didn’t you hear a word…” He caught one look and stumbled, “I said?”

Xander tried not to look like he was gloating, but couldn’t deny that he was seriously enjoying the eye-wandering look he was receiving. “Sorry, must’ve missed it. So what were you saying?”

“I thought it’d be a good night to order take out and catch a movie or two on the telly.”

“Oh, hey, that would’ve been great and all, but I won’t be here. I’m going out.”

“Out?”

“Yep. I met someone. A very good looking, very nice someone, and I have a date.” He glanced down at the watch wrapped around his wrist as he pushed off the wall. “As a matter of fact, I’m gonna be late if I don’t hurry.” He walked to the door, grabbing his jacket on the way, not letting Spike get a word in and called back, “Don’t wait up or maybe you should just plan not to be here. If I’m lucky, I may have company later,” he grinned. If Spike could do it, so could he.

~*~

“My roommate,” he was interrupted by another scorching kiss, followed by Lindsey’s hands roaming the curve of his lower back, “Oh, mmm don’t stop that. My roommate should be gone or locked in his room or… something.”

“Glad,” another slip slide of their tongues, “to hear it.”
Xander shivered when his shirt was pulled free from his jeans and he felt the flesh on flesh of Lindsey’s hand trying to slide inside. “I don’t usually…” bring people home, he tried to say before he was interrupted.

“Shhh, I don’t wanna know.”

Xander nodded and pulled away long enough to open the door, only to see a dozen or more people lounging around the trashed room. He shrugged to Lindsey and glanced around. “Spike!”

“Right here, luv,” he answered, walking from the hallway, past the sea of people to stand in front of Xander. “And who’s this with the gorgeous blue eyes?” He draped his arm around Lindsey and bit down, chewing his lower lip. “I’d definitely remember if I’d seen you around these parts.”

Uh oh. “You’re drunk.”

Spike chuckled and held up his Miller. “Havin’ a party, aren’t I? Why don’t you go get your friend here a… what’s your name?” he asked, letting his hand slide down slowly around Lindsey’s waist.

“Lindsey. Lindsey MacDonald.”

Spike smiled. “Why don’t you go get Lindsey here a drink and I’ll do my best to keep him… company.”

The tone in his voice made Xander’s skin crawl and his teeth clenched as he pulled at Spike’s shirt. He knew the signs. Knew the games Spike played. “We need to talk.” He had to stop this before it started, so he dragged him down the hall until he had him alone in his room.

“What the hell is this?!”

Spike pulled Xander in close, grabbing at his hips. “What’s what, pet? Just being friendly’s all.”

“Don’t play with me, Spike. Why are there a million people in our apartment?! You knew I wanted it to myself tonight!”

Spike leaned in, trying to kiss him, but pouted when Xander pulled away. “Just Wes and Gunn. And then someone else showed up and they brought someone else. You know how it happens. I couldn’t exactly say no, could I?”

“Yes! You could of! You could have told everyone to fuck off and go the hell home!”

“I didn’t want to.”

Xander shook his head. “Of course not. Not when you had the chance to ruin the first good night I’ve had in forever.” He mumbled, half out loud, “God, why do I put up with you?”

Spike grabbed Xander’s hand, trying to pull him into the hall. “Because you love me,” he teased. “Now C’mon, nothing’s ruined, Xan. Have a few drinks, lighten up.”

Xander sighed. Why’d he always let these things happen? Oh, yeah. Because he could never stay mad at Spike. No matter what he did, or how much he screwed up, Xander always overlooked it. Spike was right, funny the things you can forget when you love someone.

When they reached the rest of the party, he found Lindsey with a beer in hand, sandwiched in the corner between Lorne, Gunn, Wes and another large guy Xander didn’t recognize. With Spike following, he moved up behind him and slid his arms possessively around Lindsey’s waist. “I hope they’re being somewhat decent.”

He glanced back at Xander and smiled. “Well, I think I’ve been told everything there is to know about Alexander Harris.”

“Oh, great.” He turned to Lorne, who handed him a bottle. “You guys are so dead.”

With grins all around, Lorne grabbed his hand and began pulling. “C’mon, Xander. We’re in charge of the bar.” He was dragged into the kitchen and put in front of the small island section where there was a mixed array of liquor.

“So where’d you find the scrumptious cowboy?”

Xander smiled. “At work. He was one of my accounts.” He poured a shot of tequila and downed it, slamming the glass on the counter. “He is hot, isn’t he.”

“Mmm, mmm, could definitely ride that hobby horse.”

Xander laughed and tipped another shot. “That’s exactly what I had in mind.”

“Well you have my blessing. ”Lorne smiled and nodded. “It’s good to see you talking about someone other than you-know-who for a change.”

Xander shrugged his shoulders and poured a Rum and coke for someone he didn’t know. Who the hell were these people? “I’ll always love Spike. I can’t help it. But if I wait for him to want me, I’ll never be happy, not to mention I’ll never get laid again.”

“Good for you. It’s about time you wake up and start realizing there are way too many studs in this world to be stuck on one unnatural blond.”

“Yeah, but you’d fuck him, wouldn’t you?”

“Oh, my lord no! Pretend that thought never crossed your pretty red lips. Me and Spike? Oil and fire, honey.”

Xander laughed at that and was glad at least one of them had a little bit of resistance when it came to Spike. God knows he didn’t.

By his third shot of Tequila and the Vodka he’d started sipping, Xander was feeling comfortably happy. Life was good, life was great and some of what Lorne was saying did make a lot of sense. Especially when there was a blue-eyed, well packaged, completely fuckable man waiting for him in the other room.

“As much as I love our talks, I’d better get back before Lindsey thinks I’m trying to ignore him and decides to bolt.”

Lorne held up his glass in a toast and nodded. “I want details tomorrow.”

With another chuckle, Xander left the room and went in search of his date.

“Hey, Wes. Where’d Lindsey go?”

“Who?” Wesley was three sheets to the wind and hardly helpful.

“Lindsey. You know, the guy I was with earlier? Brunet, with a cowboy hat?”

“Ah, yes. I, uh, think he went that way,” he answered, pointing to the other side of the living room.

“Thanks, man. Be careful going home, okay?”

“I’ll take good care of him,” Gunn said, appearing behind Wes, wrapping his arms around him.

Xander smiled and looked at two of his best friends, their attention focused completely on each other. Yeah, sometimes things did work out.

He waded through the crowd of people, unsteady on his feet, half-lit and wobbly from the alcohol. When he didn’t see any signs of Lindsey, he began to worry. Maybe he did think he was boring and decided to leave. That would be just Xander’s luck. Blow it before you even get to blow it. He giggled and then forced himself to be serious again. This was serious. It was a chance to prove that there was a possibility for him to have a normal, non-Spike related relationship. Dinner was great, the company even better and they’d seemed to hit it off really well. Lindsey seemed just as interested in him if he could take all the kissing and petting as not so subtle signs.

Xander eyed the door at the end of the hall. Sure, that’s what it was. He wouldn’t have just left without saying anything. He must have disappeared to the bathroom. He decided to wait and leaned against the wall, determined to kidnap Lindsey and push him into his room the moment he stepped through the door. Oh, he was so getting laid.

He waited, two, three, five minutes and nothing. He stepped a little closer, further down the hallway and heard it. That familiar sound. Spike’s door was standing half opened and by the sound of it, the springs in the bed were getting a full workout. Damn, when had he become so voyeuristic? He had to look, couldn’t help it. Somehow, knowing Spike, Xander didn’t think he’d mind. In fact, Spike would probably get off on him watching. And wasn’t that just a disturbing thought.

He rounded the corner, placing his hand on the doorframe and slowly leaned forward until he could make out the two figures on the bed. The sight of Lindsey on all fours, moaning like a bitch in heat while Spike fucked away like the good little slut he was, made Xander see things in a whole new light. He was past the point of anger. Past the point of making a scene. As always, Spike had gotten exactly what he’d wanted.

Things from now on were going to change for good.