Tangled Hearts *Now COMPLETE*

Chapter 5 Tangled Hearts


Xander didn’t blame Lindsey, really. But he hadn’t spoken to him since that night, either. Sure, he’d called to apologize and left a message, but Xander had blown him off. Anyone who’d do something like that, as hypnotic as Spike could be, wasn’t worth calling back.

And that’s exactly what it seemed like sometimes. Maybe Spike had some kind of power of thrall. Like Dracula, only without the sharp teeth. It had to be ‘something’ mystical. No one person could possibly be as sexually luring as he was and not have some hidden secret, some spell that held people powerless to his charms. Well it was about time he resisted and Xander was ready to tap into some of that magic.

He’d avoided Spike all week, making sure he left early enough in the morning not to see him, and stayed away until late at night, twice staying overnight to sleep at his office. He could have just left, gotten rid of the apartment and Spike along with it, but that wasn’t what Xander wanted. Besides, he had a lease and responsibilities.

No, what he wanted was something completely different. Something to maybe make Spike wake up and realize what was in front of him. But first, he needed to be calm and cool enough not to let Spike know how much he’d hurt him. He needed him to believe it didn’t matter, because from now on, it didn’t.

When he got the phone call from Gunn asking him to join them at the club, Xander felt the first of many butterflies in his stomach. Tonight was show time, but he was still trying to convince himself he could do this. Hell, people did it all the time. Spike was living proof! Thankfully, the apartment was already empty by the time Xander showed up. He rummaged through his dresser drawers and found them, his favorite jeans from two years and probably two sizes ago. He laid them out and found a tight, black shirt to match. Yeah, he could definitely do this.

~*~

Walking into the loud club, Xander felt hot, wanting eyes on him from every direction. All he had to do was look the part and it was amazing what clothes and a new attitude could do for a person’s moral. Even before he spotted the gang waiting for him in a far off corner, he’d been slipped names and phone numbers as fingers with small pieces of paper disappeared inside his jeans. He was playing, definitely on top of his game, smiling and winking, enjoying the attention until he finally reached his friends. All of his friends, including Spike who was staring, and if Xander had seen correctly, almost drooling when he approached the table.

“Hey guys. How’s it going?” Purposely, his gaze never made Spike’s.

Lorne’s eyes were as wide as saucers as he stood up, looking Xander over from head to toe and bringing him into a huge bear hug. “Xander Harris! Who are you and where have you been hiding this delectable body?!”

Xander grinned, stepped back and lifted his shirt, showing off his well-worked abs. “What, just because you didn’t notice before…” he joked. He glanced sideways and followed Spike’s eyes to his navel and the dark patch of hair trailing downward, disappearing into the top of his jeans. Yeah, he definitely had his attention.

“So,” he rubbed his hands together, “what’s on the agenda for tonight?”

Lorne sat back down and began nursing his beer, chewing on a handful of nuts that were sitting in a bowl on the table. “Nada. Pretty dead.”

“Time to change that,” Xander smiled, “I think I feel like dancing.” He grinned and turned around, pushing his way by himself onto the dance floor. Feeling the eyes following him, he made sure to walk with as much Spike-like swagger as he could muster. Within seconds, there were two men ground tightly against his body, one in front as the other pushed firmly against the back. Front guy was rubbing nicely in all the right places, definitely looking for a lot more than a casual dance. Xander smiled and played along, letting his fingers wander into the other man’s back pockets, giving him leverage to pull their bodies closer together. Before long, the second prospect behind him disappeared, neglected by Xander’s lack of attention.

“Haven’t seen you here,” the stranger said, leaning in close to be heard over the music. “I’m Dave.”

“Xander,” he answered, “and I’ve been around.”

“Mmm, I think I would have noticed you before.”

“Crowded place. Easy to miss someone.”

“Not when he’s as gorgeous as you.” Dave moved in, brushing his lips against the side of Xander’s cheek as he reached between them and palmed Xander’s cock. “I hope you don’t mind someone being so direct with you, but I don’t like to waste time and I’d really like to get to know you better.”

Xander arched an eyebrow and smiled. “I’m all about meeting new people,” he answered, his tone low and seductive.

“Wanna find a dark, less distracting corner somewhere?”

“Hey pet, this guy bothering you?” Spike’s breath tickled the back of Xander’s neck, making him squirm closer against Dave to get away.

Xander laughed. “Hardly.”

Spike’s hand slid between them, wrapping around Xander’s waist, his fingers edging underneath the black t-shirt as he spoke over Xander’s shoulder, “Why don’t you toddle along, mate.”

“Spike,” Xander snapped, pushing the hand off his stomach.

“We need to talk, Xan.”

He softened his voice and smiled at Dave. “If you really wanna get together, let me just take care of this.” He turned toward Spike, “it really won’t take long.”

Dave reluctantly nodded and stepped back, letting Spike take his place in front of Xander. As soon as they were alone, Spike started swaying, moving his hips to the music and wrapped his arms casually around Xander’s neck. “Haven’t seen much of you this week.”

Xander slid forward, joining Spike, moving his hands to rest on the slender hips. “Been working.”

He nodded and let his head tilt slightly. “Figured you were pissed about the other night.”

“What, just because you fucked my date? Nah, I’m over that.”

“Yeah?”

“But I guess it would be nice to know what I missed out on.” Amused, with a touch of sarcasm, he asked, “Was he a good fuck?” He slid his fingers through the loops in Spike’s jeans and began rubbing small, but firm circles.

“Xander…”

He leaned in, letting his lips glide over Spike’s still parted mouth. “I know you weren’t intentionally trying to piss me off. Friends wouldn’t do that, right?” He let his tongue slide forward, pushing just slightly against Spike’s bottom lip, enjoying the soft gasp of surprise he received. “Lindsey kissed well enough. And that ass… I can just imagine how good he felt.” He smiled slowly, running one hand upward along the curve of Spike’s arm, which was still wrapped around his neck. “In fact,” he chuckled, “I did imagine it. As pissed as I was, later… I still jerked off thinking of him after seeing the two of you together.”

Spike didn’t say anything, just stood staring dumbfounded. It was the first time Xander could remember putting Spike at a loss for words, and it felt really, really good. Almost as good as the hardness he felt beginning to push against him. This was definitely going just the way he’d planned.

“I really should be getting back. It’s rude to ignore someone you just met.”

Spike let out a troubled breath, pulling Xander back to him, letting his hand drop down to grip the back of Xander’s neck, where he began playing with the dark curls of hair. “That guy’s trouble, Xan.”

“I guess you know him, too then?”

“Nah. Know his type though. Out for one thing and all.”

Xander rolled his eyes. “And to think I didn’t know that,” he said sarcastically.

Spike looked at him warily. “What exactly are you playing at, Harris?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, rolling his hips forward, rubbing against Spike juuust enough to see a shimmer of something… jealousy? in his blue eyes. “I’m here to have a good time.”

“Yeah, looks that way,” he scoffed, eyeing Dave over Xander’s shoulder who was leaning casually against the wall on the other side of the room, watching them. “I’m talking about this. The hair, the ‘come fuck me’ get up. What’s that all about then?”

Xander smiled and kissed spike again. “Gotta go now. Don’t wanna leave Dave waiting.” He stepped back a bit, his eyes sharply following a path down Spike’s body to his obvious arousal. “And Spike?”

“Hmm, pet?”

He moved forward, allowing his lips to brush against Spike’s ear and whispered, “You might wanna find someone to take care of that little problem for you.”

He pulled away and sauntered over to the corner where Dave was waiting, leaving Spike alone on the dance floor.