Remember Me

Chapter 4 - Arriving

Spike breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that Angel's and
Harmony's seats were no where near theirs. He didn't want to spend
any time in that poof's company unless he absolutely had to. It was
bad enough that they were all going to the same conference. What
were the odds?

He turned to Buffy who was sitting back in her chairr eyr eyes closed.
He hadn't been kidding when he enticed her with more sleep. Spike
knew Buffy wasn't a morning person, and the 5 AM pickup he'd
scheduled with her was a big sacrifice. Without thinking about it, he
brought his arm up and around her, pulling her close. "Come on, luv.
I'll be your pillow." He rested her head against his shoulder.

"Mmmm." Buffy murmured, already more than half asleep. "Thanks
Will." She turned slightly and kissed his neck afionaionately before
resettling into a more comfortable position.

Spike felt his body tighten at the brush of her lips against his skin. He
willed himself not to react, after all they had shared light kisses like
that for the past ten years, but his body disagreed. Spike muffled a
groan so as not to wake Buffy and embarrass himself. How was he
going to handle the rest of the week? They had to share a room,
sleep together. He hardened further at the thought.

Well he couldn't avoid her. The whole reason he'd brought her on the
trip was to give her a mini-vacation and to have someone with him to
help with all the socializing. Maybe the solution was to make sure he
was so exhausted by the end of the day that he couldn't do anything
but fall asleep? Although Spike had a feeling no matter how
exhausted he was, he wouldn't be able to sleep a wink knowing that
Buffy was lying beside him, just like now. He closed his eyes in vain;
it was a long flight to Kauai. He sighed.

***

Buffy woke groggily shaking her head from side to side. When she
encountered a hard male chest she felt her heart stop for just a
moment. Peeking through her lashes she stared up at the man sitting
beside her.

Spike looked like he was asleep. She apparently had fallen asleep
and made herself comfortable. Her right arm was casually thrown
over his middle while her face had been snuggled into his chest. She
felt a warmth spread through her as she realized that his arm was
around her as well.

Buffy marveled at the fact that she was able to sleep at all. Her body
still felt a thrum of excitement at the kiss they'd shared in the coffee
shop. Maybe sleeping was a protective mechanism she mused.
Throwing herself out of consciousness so she wouldn't have to think
about the sexy tilt of his mouth, or the way his hands had caressed
her body during their embrace.

She shivered at the memory. At her movement Spike's arm tightened
around her shoulders. His hand began to rub up and down her arm,
as if to warm her. It only caused her to shiver even more
uncontrollably.

"Cold, luv?" Spike asked.

"No, I'm okay. You know, these long flights just wig my body out."
Buffy answered, pulling away from the press of his body.

"Aru huu hungry, Buffy?" Spike asked. "I didn't want to wake you
earlier. I saved a couple of bags of peanuts and the orange they
brought with breakfast." He offered her.

"Thanks, Spike." Buffy took the proffered fruit and began to peel it.
"Yummm." She let out a muffled groan of happiness as she sunk her
teeth into the first orange sliver. She was a lot hungrier than she had
originally thought and the orange tasted sweet and moist in her
mouth.

Spike looked away. He couldn't watch Buffy's cute little mouth and
hear the sexy noises she emitted without wanting to pull her back into
his arms and continue what they started in the coffee shop this
morning. "We'll be landing in about another hour." Spike informed
her.

"So soon? Have I been sleeping for that long?" Buffy asked in
between bites. Blushing slightly she continued, "I didn't drool on you
did I?"

"No," Spike answered smiling at her flushed skin. "But it wouldn't
have been the first time, luv." He teased.

"Hey! That was under extreme circumstances!" She replied, giving
him a 'you dare to bring that up?' look.

"Right, extreme circumstances." Spike answered nodding.

"I was tired." Buffy pouted. "Nearly exhausted."

"Yes. So different than this morning's trip." Spike said sarcastically.

Instead of answering, Buffy just harumphed at him and turned toward
the window. Spike was equally silent, though Buffy could practically
feel his smirk.

She loved how comfortable they were together. The fact that they
were able to tease each other mercilessly without wondering whether
one of them had gone too far. They new each other well enough that
they didn't have to think about things like that.

Again Buffy's mind wandered, and with no place else to go it settled
back on the kiss the two of them had shared that morning. In the
near decade they'd known each other, that had been their first real
kiss. And she knew she hadn't imagined his response. He'd felt the
same jolt she had when their lips had touched.

It gave her heart a little hope that maybe someday soon he'd
reciprocate the feelings she had. At least knowing he was physically
attracted to her was something. They had never really discussed it
before, beyond his few compliments here and there. And she could
always pass those off as the duty of friendship. But rea reaction to
the kiss, the way he'd taken her lips and caressed her body, could
never be categorized as merely friendly.

She smiled out the window, looking forward to the week ahead.

***

The airport they arrived at was tiny. But Buffy could already tell she
would love the island atmosphere. Everyone was so friendly and laid-
back; it was such a contrast to the hustle and bustle she had to deal
with everyday at the studio. Maybe Spias ras right. Maybe she
really did need a vacation.

Buffy and Spike found their luggage on the carousel and flagged
down a taxi to take them to the resort. Spike nearly carried her in his
haste, not relaxing until they were finally seated in the cab.

"What's the hurry, Will?" Buffy asked.

"Just didn't want to get stuck sharing a taxi, 's all." Spike answered,
shrugging nonchalantly. In truth he'd been turning his head this way
and that every since they'd gotten off the plane wanting to avoid
Angel. And he definitely didn't want the git trying to share the taxi
with them.

"O...k...a...y." Buffy answered, raising a questioning eyebrow, but
when Spike didn't elaborate she just let it go.

Spike didn't really know what was wrong with him. It wasn't as if Buffy
hadn't had her share of boyfriends over the past few years. But
somehow now it felt different. Maybe because, for this one week at
least, she was his. Didn't he have a right to be protective and
possessive toward his own fiance? So what if the ruse would be over
by this time next week? For now they were engaged, and he was
going to act accordingly.

"So, luv, what would you like to do first?" Spike asked, trying to start
up an innocuous conversation.

"Well, what time is the orientation? We have to be there for that
right?"

"It's actually not until dinner tonight. The real events won't start until
tomorrow morning, the workshops, speeches, and whatnot. You don't
really have to attend those with me, if you're not interested. It's the
other stuff I'll need help with. The dinners, team building exercises,
that type of thing." Spike explained.

"Yuck! Team building exercises? Those are so lame!" Buffy
exclaimed. "We have to do those at the studio all the time! They
think it builds morale or something. Everyone just thinks they're
dumb."

"Preaching to the choir here, luv. But they're not mandatory. Just a
good way to get to know the others and do some extra networking.
You know the drill."

"Yeah, I suppose that's why you're here after all."

"That it is, luv. Though I wouldn't mind spending a week just lying
around on the beach with you." Spike winked at her.

Buffy's heart fluttered and she called herself a fool. Spike had been
flirting with her for years. It was just another part of the friendly ego
boosting duties, and a vital part of the Spike persona. Buffy had
realized a long time ago that being 'Spike', let Will do a lot of things
he'd never dreamed of doing before. Flirting was one of them.

"Yeah, right! You're so pale, you probably have a sun allergy you're
too embarrassed to tell me about!" Buffy teased right back.

"You wound me, luv." Spike gave her a hurt impression.

"Okay, maybe you're not that pale. But you could use a little sun,
mister." She admonished him.

"Well, that's why you're here with me, Buffy. To keep me on the
straight and narrow, and make sure I enjoy the hot, blinding, cancer
inducing UV rays abundant on the island." He smirked.

Buffy almost slugged him again, but refrained this time. She figured
by the end of this trip he'd be sporting a few bruises on his arm if he
kept it up, though.

Sighing deeply to display her irritation she continued, "Okay, well the
first thing I'd like to do is maybe sign up for some surfing lessons.
Don't you think it would be a great activity to learn? I've always
thought it looked like so much fun!"

"Anything you want, Buffy." Spike answered. "We'll unpack and
change, then we can head out to the activities desk and sign-up. I
bet they'll have a bunch of other things you'd want to put your name
down for as well."

"Great! Then maybe we could hang out on the beach for a little while
before dinner? It's been so long since I've just lazed around soaking
up the sun." Buffy stated wistfully.

"Sure, luv. Sounds great." This was exactly what Spike wanted. For
Buffy to relax and maybe finally tell him what has been bothering her
for the past few months.

They arrived at the hotel, and Spike checked them in and retrieved
their key cards. A bellhop helped with the luggage, which Spike was
grateful for, and led them up to their room on the fourth floor. They
settled in, unpacking quickly. At least Spike unpacked quickly. Buffy
was still unpacking when Spike went into the bathroom to change into
his swim trunks and a comfortable tank top.

When he walked back out into the main room, Spike's jaw dropped.
While he had been busy in the bathroom, Buffy had taken the
opportunity to change as well. She was now sporting a two-piece
bikini. And although her nether regions were covered with a sarong,
see-through sarong, her top was completely exposed. The only thing
covering her pert breasts were two tiny patches and a flimsy looking
piece of string. Spike hardened immediately, glad that his tank top
covered his arousal. He cleared throthroat, not trusting his voice and
waited for Buffy to turn around.

When she did, she nearly did a double take. Not that she'd never
seen Spike in a bathing suit, but somehow, now, after her revelation,
things were different. She could see the hard muscles of his arms
rippling as he walked and reached down for the beach bag she'd filled
with sun lotion and towels. His legs were taut and toned, his thighs
bulging as he crouched to heft the bag on his shoulder. Buffy felt an
aching pulse between her own thighs at the sight.

"Ready, luv." Spike managed to breathe out, his voice huskier than
normal.

Buffy only nodded. She followed him out the door and back down
toward the lobby, where the activities desk was located. Was she
ready? She'd thought so on the plane. But now, in the harsh light of
day, she wasn't quite sure anymore.