The Labyrinth

Second of three updated chapters, along with an apologetic warning:

Good news: I finally got over that sinus infection enough to begin writing again.
Bad news: The story's developed a plot, against all my efforts to keep it PWP. I honestly had intended for this to be the last chapter, but... not gonna happen. Besides, I've gotta make up for the lack of smut in this part, right?

Damned vorpal plot bunnies, biting me on the muse. *blush*


- Part 6 -

'This is becoming a habit. Not that I'm complaining, not at all.' Xander woke to the realization that, one, he couldn't move his limbs, and two, he was stuffed in mouth and ass with silicon. A familiar chuckle greeted him seconds before something incredibly soft and fuzzy began stroking his lower stomach.

"Evenin luv. Hope ya don't mind me entertainin myself." With a rabbit fur glove, Spike gently petted his darling boy's torso, enjoying the minute twitches he caused. "Figured ya wouldn't object a nice wake-up call, yeh?"

His gag wasn't strapped in, so he tongued it out of the way. "Mmm, you're so good to me, Master mine." His eyes weren't covered, and Xander let himself soak in the erotic picture of his lover's naked body. What seemed like miles of pale flesh, all available for his visual pleasure. He mentally smirked at the flex of Spike's half-hard dick at his term of address.

"Learnin fast, ya are. An I'd bet me soul that ya get as much of a thrill as I do, callin me Master." Purring his words across the mortal's body, Spike lowered his lips to a tight nipple, lathing it thoroughly before using his teeth to tug it into his mouth. He spent several long minutes on one, then the same on its mate, before raising his head to steal a deep kiss from Xander. "Wanna shag now, or wait'll after we eat?"

Laughing out loud, Xander lifted his head enough to snag his own kiss. "Who says romance is dead." He wasn't terribly embarassed when a giggle slipped out - after all, the look on his lover's face was priceless. "What?!"

Spike withdrew himself from all contact, sitting back to stare into brown eyes. Finally, he had to ask, "Ya really want romance, Xan?" Part of him hoping, another part... skittered to hide deep in his gut.

"Uh, this is that talk we were gonna have, isn't it? Think you can untie me if we're gonna do that deep thoughts thing?"

Between an accelerated heartbeat and the light flush of his skin, the brunet unintentionally offered several facts. First, he was embarassed by his own desires, again. Next, he too seemed to both want and dread the idea of romance between them. But most importantly, Xander was so uncomfortable being in such a vulnerable position (at least during this type of talk) that his erection wilted in record time.

Spike had no wish to squash their budding... whatever this was. He unfastened Xander's restraints, even moving to retrieve the purple vibrator from its warm haven - a move that the mortal stopped, by sitting himself at the headboard. To his credit, Xander barely squirmed as he made himself more comfortable.

"This is where things got confusing, with all the reading I did." His voice soft but unwavering, Xander held blue eyes without hesitation. "Before I showed up here, I thought... a whole lotta things. But never did it cross my mind that maybe, just maybe, I could have both. How would that work, Spike? Would you want... nevermind."

He watched the conflicting emotions cross his lover's face, making the vampire doubly determined to grab what was offered and make this wonderful man his own. For good. "Don't do that, luv. It can work, often does. The few couples who combine their dominatin games with real affection are the ones who stay together longest. Do ya..." Spike fumbled over his tongue, suddenly just as gun-shy as his lover, "That somethin you wanna try, Xander? Datin an romance an all, then come home for this? Not sayin it's gotta be so structured, but... y'know?"

"Dammit, I... I never thought about it, ok? As soon as I started reading up on this stuff, all thoughts about a normal relationship flew out the window. Honestly, that's something I haven't thought much about since... Anya." Xander nibbled on his lower lip, trying to work out how best to say what was on his mind. "How would it work, really Spike? Would we set out specific times for... fuck! I don't even know *what* to ask, let alone how."

"Dearling, there's no rules." Seeing his darling boy's frustration, Spike moved closer and took a warm hand between his own. "Wouldn't hafta be like that. Or we could make a schedule. Or jus play it by ear, whatever feels good to us both." He stroked his fingers across tense tendons in Xander's hand. "You do know I care about you, right Xan? Not just sex - which is great - and not just friends either." He left the comment open, waiting to see how his declaration would be received.

Xander stared at their twined fingers. He didn't know what to feel first. Relieved, confused, warm and fuzzy, worried. His track record for relationships pretty much sucked - and more often included non-human, demonic beings. How could he know that this would end any better? Before he even finished that thought, he knew the answer: He couldn't, no more than he could guarantee anything else in his life. All he was sure of was that Spike - his sometime enemy, sometime fellow warrior, frequent friend, and new lover - would not give up until he was thoroughly rejected by Xander. Such persistant devotion was... comforting.

"Yeah, guess I do know that. And right back atcha, blondie. Just... *can* it work? For us, I mean."

Spike hated the almost childlike uncertainty in his friend's voice. Doing the only thing he could think of to remedy the situation, he pulled Xander into a strong embrace, holding the trembling mortal tight to his chest. "Would take a bit of work from both of us, just like any good relationship, but there's no reason we can't try it." He placed a tender kiss to the top of his lover's head. "Remember what you told me Dawn saying? That you and me, we're alot alike? She's right, Xan. Always saw it, since moving into your parents' basement even. When we love, it's with everything we've got. Same with hating. We've tried the hate part... I'd like to see where we can go loving each other."

So soft even vampiric hearing barely picked it up, Xander whispered into a pale neck, "But can you love me, and still be my Master?" He really didn't think he could stand losing the total freedom of submitting to his lover, even if it meant having Spike's affection returned. Returned? Inwardly, he cursed himself for letting himself begin to feel *that* emotion, before he saw signs that it was wanted.

"Hey now," keeping his voice low and steady, Spike brushed the brunet hair away from his darling's frowning face. He was worried about Xander, who seemed to be crawling into some headspace to hide. Or protect himself. Oh. "Only way to figure it out is if we try. But if you're asking if I can love you enough to take care of you, and still be a sappy ponce, then yeh, I can do that. It's what you need, what you deserve too. And maybe... I need it too, Xan."

The only thing that kept Xander from fleeing the room was the steady hand stroking his head, holding him in the crook of Spike's neck. And a gut feeling that if he ran now, he'd mess up something special. Finally, the small part of his brain still taking notes on the conversation poked him out of his internal babble and made him come back to the present. "You do?"

Spike snorted. Short and harsh, self-depricating. "Yeh, bit too late for me not to get attached to ya, so don't make no plans of runnin off someplace, got it whelp?" Even as he said the somewhat calous words, his lips glanced over Xander's wrinkled brow tenderly. "Nothin's certain, can't make no promises, but we got a good start, yeh? Sparks fly 'tween us, an the sex is incredible. Got the same sense o' humor too. Both of us love the girls, fight the baddies, an laugh at Monty Python an Red Dwarf. An yer probly the only person I've ever met who can match me eatin buffalo wings 'n that effin huge bloomin onion thing 'n cheap beer. We're a pair, see? An... Xan, I gotta find out if we're a *match*. I ain't nothin unless I'm lovin someone, an I'm tired of pickin someone who's just gonna throw it in my face."

It took time for his brain to come back online, get away from that dark place inside that said he was doomed to be alone, but most of what he heard broke through Xander's self-imposed emotional barriers. He even found himself nodding, in complete agreement with what he heard from his lover's lips. Lips he had the sudden, undeniable desire to plunder til he sucked every ounce of flavor from. He gave in gracefully - more or less - to the impulse, attacking Spike's mouth, letting every doubt and hope through his ministrations.

Spike's little speech had left him drained. He waited for some reaction from his friend, and almost gave up on the whole thing, when his lips were suddenly devoured. He carefully catalogued Xander's taste and technique, returning with his own. Spike had told the complete truth in how similar the two were in their needs and fears - and each caress of tongue and lips verified it.

Xander forced himself to break for breath - something his body told him was important, even if he wanted nothing more than to stay attached to that talented mouth forever. As his eyes opened, he was immediately caught in a blazing blue stare, drowning in Spike all over again. His lungs hitched, and had he not already been laying down, he would surely have crumbled from the sheer emotion pouring from those expressive eyes.

"Um.. hey." Sheepish and shy, he tried to tuck his head back in the blond's neck. He didn't think he could face Spike just yet.

"Hey yourself." Catching Xander before he could hide, the vampire placed a chaste kiss on bruised lips. "Don't run, lovely. This is going fast, but nothing dangerous, yeh? Just... give it a chance. Please." Gone was the commanding Master, replaced with an uncertain romantic praying for a shot at his dream.

The pleading expression on Spike's face caught Xander before he could fall back into himself. "We really are alike, aren't we... But is that enough?" He wanted to kick himself for asking, years of rejection spinning doubts that threatened to take over.

"Only way to find out is to try, Xan." Spike could admit to himself how terrified he was of trying, yet again, to find someone who could truly love him. This battered mortal touched his unbeating heart and very human soul on so many levels that he couldn't bring himself to back off.

Xander found himself nodding agreement, even as his mental knees shook in fear. "Yeah, guess we can do that." The grip on his face relaxed, and he let himself collapse into strong arms. "Can we... just do couple-y things too?"

"What, you mean now?" A hint of teasing entered the blond's voice, lightening their heavy conversation.

"Uh, well... hadn't meant now, but... maybe. Whatcha got in mind, fang?" Xander smiled into his lover's chest, relieved that they were on a less angsty topic.

Spike considered the question, but he already had a decent starting point. "Dinner first. Can't afford to piss off Jan, y'know? She'd starch me underpants!" He ruffled dark hair, fleshing out an idea. "Then maybe I could show ya some of the sights. Bet ya haven't been to Deep Ellum yet."

"No... can't say I have. Remember, I haven't lived here for long, and most of the time I stay at home or run errands between here and Fort Worth." Racking his memory, Xander came up with a few references for the area Spike had mentioned - a fairly laid back section of the city, east of downtown Dallas, that was home to clubs and shops and restaurants where almost everyone could find something of interest. "Might be fun. But, uh, I'd rather not wear... what I came here in."

Laughing outright, Spike patted his delightful darling on the head. "Course not. You'd get more attention than ya want, specially on a Saturday night. Sure I've got something that'd fit ya here, luv."

Xander got the immediate mental image of himself stuffed into Spike's trademark black jeans and t-shirt. As tight as the blond normally wore his clothes, they'd never fit his larger frame. At least they weren't far from the same height, only an inch difference or so. He must have conveyed a dubious expression, if the look on Spike's face was anything to go by.

"Hey now, I've got more'n what you're used ta seein me in!" Indignation gave way to something uncomfortable. "Sides, my rep's shot, innit? Don't hafta wear all black 'n leather anymore. C'mere an see." Dragging the limp mortal from bed, Spike had to practically carry him several feet before Xander found his balance again. He flung open a door to... the largest walk-in closet Xander had ever seen.

"Uh... you aren't related to Cordelia Chase, are you?"

Snickering, the blond turned on the light, showing not just a huge closet but its dressing table and wall mirrors as well. Xander did a double-take, seeing the vampire's reflection beside his own. "Don't think so, luv. Might be though, spunky thing she was. An stop buggin yer eyes out - it's enchanted."

"Uh huh. At least now you can see how... pretentious... your slicked back hair looks." He barely managed to dodge the headslap in time. "Hey, everyone could tell that you were kin to Deadboy, just by the amount of hair care products you both used." At the flicker of pain that crossed Spike's features, Xander immediately regretted his teasing. He did the only thing he could think of, pulling the blond into a hug. "Sorry, I... Y'know me, open mouth and insert foot, right? He wasn't one of my favorite people, but he didn't deserve what he got."

Spike let himself bury in his lover's embrace, more shaken than he'd expected by the reminder of his loss. "'S not like we got along, but he was family, pet. An after Dru... he's all I had left."

"Dru? What happened? When?"

"Dunno exactly." Still struggling to hold back emotion, the blond's words were choked. "Rumor is that she wandered out to see where the stars went to bed, an that sounds likely." He sighed heavily, taking a deep breath. "Was 'bout six months 'fore Angel... Fuck, Xan! I'm the last now. The proud Order of Aurelius, down to just me - a souled ponce who can't maintain the line."

"Shit Spike, there's gotta be some way..." Xander broke off what he was going to say, suddenly unsure how his words would be received. What would it do to the soul if Spike were to create childer?

Sniffling, the Master vampire shook his head firmly. Seconds later it was apparent that William the Bloody had not quite given up. "There's always a way, Xander. I just have to get permission and find a way to ensoul and... a hundred other things that's never supposed to happen 'tween sires and childer. Don't matter - there's only a few people I'd even think about siring, an none of them'd let me."

Xander watched the transformation. Upset lover to proud Master, to shaken and fragile and *lonely* man. He didn't have a clue how to reassure Spike, how to offer comfort, but he couldn't stand back and let his friend hurt. "Hey, if we can find ways to stop a thousand different prophecies and apocalypses, we can work this out. But that's for later, right? Tonight is Deep Ellum and clubbing and general mayhem. So dress me up and spank me, Daddy, and let's see what Madam Jancis has for dinner."

The brunet's winsome grin nearly drew Spike's mood back to the happy contentment of earlier. If not fully, it made serious leaps in progress. "Yeh, nothin doin' to turn into a broody poof, right?" He wiped a hand across his face, grateful that no tears had fallen. "So, whatcha wanna wear, dearling?"

His attention directed to the awe-inspiring collection of clothing, Xander's first thought was that his girls hadn't been able to collect this many clothes - all six of them, past and present, combined - to equal the quantity or quality available here. "Uh... I'm gonna be really dumb here, and just tell you to pick something." He knew how to choose his battles, and this was definitely one he didn't want to be in.

Chuckling, Spike led him over to a row of casual pants and tops. "How 'bout plain Dockers an a pullover, yeh? Nothin fancy tonight, luv, we're doin comfortable."

Xander's relief radiated off him, giving the blond another reason to laugh. "Thanks, Calvin Klein. Just pick it out and I'll try to remember how to put it on."

~ * ~

Ten minutes later, Xander followed his lover back downstairs, comfortably wearing navy slacks of a heavy brushed cotton, his low boots, and a long sleeve cream pullover sweater. To his surprise, Spike really did own (and apparently enjoy wearing) other colors than black. The vampire looked - and here, Xander shuddered at his own brain's phrasing - radiant, wearing similar pants of charcoal grey with a silvery poet's shirt and loafers. To the mortal, the fabric and hues made Spike's eyes brighter. He couldn't prevent a blush at his sappy thoughts.

It didn't seem to matter anyway, as Spike made a determined bee-line to the dining room, dragging his lover along for the ride. If the kitchen and breakfast nook were comfortably homey, the dining room was stunningly impressive. Warm maple panelling and rich burgundy accents covered the walls, atop maple and cherry checkerboard flooring. Several candle-lit chandeliers hung above a long table, their flickering light reflected in the shine of well-polished wood throughout the room. Xander was more than a little impressed, all over again. Even if he'd never thought about designing a formal dining room before.

Breaking through his awe, Spike led him toward one end of the table, then sat himself at the head. "Yeh, I know it's alot, but Jan gets uppity if I don't show off to guests. She loves this room almost as much as her kitchen." He grinned at the young man, then pressed a finger under the edge of the table. "Built-in buzzer, calls 'the help' to come service us."

If Xander didn't know better, he'd have sworn that Spike was blushing. But vampires couldn't do that, could they? "Uh, sounds... efficient. And fancy. One of those rich people things, right?"

Spike's head ducked down, but he grinned sideways. "Something like that."

There was no cheerful banter with the cook this time, Xander was sorry to find. Instead, a fully uniformed caretaker entered from a discreet side door, pushing a huge cart overflowing with covered platters. His only comfort was that Spike seemed to be just as unnerved by the treatment.

Eventually, their meal was finished and they sat back to let it settle some. The young man had thoroughly enjoyed food he couldn't pronounce the names of, had fun teasing his lover during the whipped cream episode, and discovered that he had actually found a wine that didn't taste nasty to him. He made a note to drill Spike later about what exactly was in some of the dishes he'd inhaled.

Taking one last sip from his glass, Spike took Xander's hand and began stroking his fingers over the young man's palm. The gesture appealed to both men, and was rapidly becoming a habit. "Bout ready, Xanluv?"

"Yeah, if I can stand up after all that." He smiled to take the sting out of his words. "We better dance alot tonight, just to exercise so much rich food off, right? And wow, Jancis really is the best cook! Maybe we should force Buffy to apprentice here or something."

Sharing a laugh at the picture that confrontation would make - even though neither man doubted who the winner would be, since Madam Jancis ruled her kitchen with an iron fist - they took their time in pushing away from the table. Spike caught himself holding open doors for his lover, while Xander... had conflicting emotions from the show of manners. He was both touched and embarassed for his masculinity, but decided that he'd just let it play out.

They went down a back hall, leading them to the garage. As Spike hit the lights, Xander gasped loudly. Apparently, his undead friend had quite a fetish for wheels, as his collection was varied. Xander couldn't identify the years, as cars were never one of his passions, but he did note the general types. Mercedes and Porche, and if he knew his movie cars that had to be a Nash Rambler, not to mention the dozen motorcycles, Jeep, and two kinds of SUVs. He turned to the blond, open-mouthed but silent.

"Eh, don't look at me, pet. I only bought the bikes. Rest of this lot came with the house, dinnit?" Spike's sheepish expression was becoming a common occurance, and Xander decided it was a cute, appealing combination.

"Ok then, which are we taking tonight?" He really wanted to try out the Porche, but that Rambler looked fast!

Spike watched his lover's eyes, noting his preferences. "How bout the Nash now, an you try out a couple of the others tomorrow."

Still drooling his way across the garage, Xander walked on clouds toward the bottle green convertable. He reverantly stroked its sleek lines before opening the door and sliding into the passenger's seat. Spike found himself vastly amused, and perversely turned on, by the instant lust his darling had for the car. Immediately, several possible scenarios popped into his mind, centered around the racy cars and his beloved pet.

Belted in, he started the Nash and let it warm up. "So, we're dancing tonight, and I know several places you'll love. Wanna look through the shops too, luv? There's some interestin stuff in Ellum."

Xander had to force his attention back on the blond. "Uh... whatever you think. Honestly Spike, you know how I hate shopping."

"Dolt, I didn't say shopping. I said looking through'em, not the same. There's everything from clothing boutiques to ink parlors to junk shops. Always good for a few laughs, if nothin else."

Mildly embarassed at his assumption, Xander grinned and took the blond's hand. "Sorry. I'm so used to the girls that whenever someone says 'shop', I usually duck-and-cover, y'know?"

"Yeh, but s'not the same thing with me, luv. Just sit back an see." Putting the car in reverse, Spike revved the engine and smirked in satisfaction. As fascinated as Xander was with it, the Nash was his favorite too. It drove like a wet dream - hot and slick and vibrating just enough in the right places. "Be there in fifteen minutes."

~ * ~

Within an hour after they got to Deep Ellum, Xander decided that he loved it. The atmosphere was loose and bohemian, mostly young adults but with enough random ages to make a good mix, and there was so much to see he couldn't possibly cover it all in one night. They danced at several clubs, heard some great live bands (and quietly heckled a few bad ones), listened to some stand-up comedians (and not-so-quietly heckled them, to the audience's delight), and roamed various shops. He found himself pleasantly surprised that no one made any derogatory comments about two men together.

At one particular tattoo and piercing parlor, he remembered Spike's wistful wish to mark him. Brushing shoulders with the blond, Xander had to ask, "What would look good on me?"

Spike did a quick double-take, then gave the question serious consideration. "Dunno, lovely. Depends on what suits your fancy."

"Uh uh, I meant what would *you* put on me."

His step faltering briefly, the vamp hesitated. "Want me to put my mark on ya, is that it, Xan?"

"Something like that, yeah. Maybe not tonight, but it's something to think about." Inwardly smirking at his ability to throw his lover, Xander flipped pages in one of the huge display books of art. "So, which would it be... here's a bloody spike, so appropriate."

For his efforts, the brunet got a headsmack. "Wouldn't put that on ya, whelp. It'd have ta be somethin classy. Maybe somethin like this." Spike pointed out a Celtic cross, elaborately decorated with vines and roses, the center holding a phrase in Gaelic.

"What's it say? Pretty design, even if I can't understand the words."

Peering at his lover from under his eyelashes, Spike leaned to whisper in Xander's ear, "My eternity for my beloved."

A flash of heat flowed through Xander, body and heart, at the romantic phrase. Beyond that, it was erotic too, in the 'too many years buddying around with the undead' sort of way. He knew he could proudly wear those words for his lover, and hoped to be asked to do so. Someday. Soon?

Spike carefully watched the mortal's reactions, and was calmed by the evidence of his approval. Rejection seemed like a distant nightmare - a thought that soothed him, while making him nervous about jinxing their new relationship. "It's nicely done, yeh? Wouldn't mind having one myself..." He let the words trail off, still paying avid attention to his darling.

"A matched set, huh? Maybe different colors though. As pale as you are, some colors would look better on you than me." Tinting and pictures and snatches of poetry danced in his mind, as Xander drifted into a very nice fantasy about being claimed for all - humans and demons alike - to see. His arousal hit the blond in a rush of phermones, and he was roughly dragged out of the parlor and around the side of the building.

"Some things it's not safe ta tease 'bout, pet." With that terse warning, Spike laid claim to the young man's lips, however temporary the bruising would be. He had to let his lovely boy know how much he wanted the right. Hands and lips and thrusting hips, all working together to put his imprint on Xander, the blond soon lost himself in that sweet mouth.

Xander pulled back only long enough to suck air into his lungs, and offer a promise of "Never tease about that, Master mine", before diving back into the kiss. His hands fumbled for Spike's zipper, slipping inside the soft fabric to grasp a now-familiar cock. Gasping from the blond vamp - who breathed an awful lot for a non-breathing type - and he was sliding to his knees to take that delicious treat into his mouth.

He hadn't hoped to introduce the boy to semi-public sex so soon, but Spike wouldn't complain about those lovely lips wrapping around his hard-on. It'd have to be quick, he knew, or they would run a high risk of being cited for public indecency. But with the way his darling Xander was working hot mouth and clever tongue, it'd only take minutes for him to come.

'Nothing like getting your lover off in the middle of a crowd.' It'd been years since he'd done something like this, but he and Anya had both enjoyed the mild thrill of exhibitionism. As most of the Scoobies knew, and had frequently teased him about. Here on his knees, blowing his male vampiric Master in an alley, on a busy Saturday night... Xander lowered his own zipper, unbearably turned on by what he was doing.

Spike fought to keep his human face, nearly biting through his lower lip at the intensity of sensations roaring through him. 'Fuckin hell, he's getting good at this!' He held nothing back, knowing that time was sparce, and was rapidly heading toward climax - then he caught sight of what his lovely boy was doing with the hand not fondling his balls, and barely had sense to stiffle the scream as he poured a healthy dose down his beauty's throat. "Damn Xan, so bloody precious."

Reflex swallowing kept Xander from drowning in the salty offering of his lover's climax. It was getting easier, this whole blowjob thing, and he found himself developing a taste for the bittersweet juices. Eyes closed in his own pleasure, he was startled when the fading erection was torn from his mouth. Seconds later, their positions reversed as Spike swallowed him whole to return the favor. As worked up as he was, Xander came minutes later, and they both sagged against the brick wall to catch their breath.

"Mmm, midnight snack, s'good." Nuzzling into his lover's neck, the brunet sucked his pale throat while Spike grabbed a double handful of buttcheeks.

"Corny, but appropriate. Love what you do to me, Xan. Wanna keep you forever, show the world you're mine," the vampire's voice husky from emotion and recent use, Spike pulled Xander closer. "That what you want, dearling? To be mine, properly owned and cherished by this Master? I'd take the best care of ya, make sure you'd never want for anything, keep ya happy and loved."

Spike's words wove a spell around the young man's heart, confirming what he'd already felt - if Xander allowed their new relationship to continue, they could give each other what they desperately needed most, a complete devotion that none of their respective partners had to offer. He refused to let the suspicions of 'but it's too easy' mar his satisfaction.

"Yeah, that's what I want. Spike, Master, to be completely yours." Xander gulped a deep breath, then took the dive. "Forever."

He couldn't have prevented his gameface from erupting had he tried - which he definitely didn't. Spike's golden eyes fixed on his sweetheart's face, searching the truth in expression and scent. No matter how much he craved what Xander was saying, he just couldn't afford to be deserted again. But everything he found was honest, from eyes and facial expression, to phermones and the purity of his lover's desires.

"My Xander, MINE! Bloody buggerin feckin HELL, wanna scream it out, but these daft humans'd toss me behind bars for it." Spike buried his face in his boy's warm neck, licking a stripe from collar to ear. "Not gonna mark ya here, dearling. You deserve better than some dark alley, yeh? Wanna get you home an do it all proper-like. See if I remember the ritual words an everything."

"And everything, all of me, for all of you. Gods, feels like my heart's about to burst, so full of... feeling, all about you. Fuck Spike, if this is what love feels like, I've never really loved anyone before now." Even as he spoke the words, Xander cringed back, afraid of what he'd said and how it might be received. 'Too soon, moron! Don't scare him off. Why'd anyone want-'

"Me too, Xan, love, dammit me too." So choked up he couldn't see through emotional tears, Spike missed his darling's scent change. He didn't, however, miss the tension that suddenly raced through the body he held. "Wish we'd given each other a chance years ago. But 'm glad too, means more to have ya now. You're never gonna feel unloved again, sweet darling Xander. Wanna getcha home now, yeh?"

Berating himself interrupted by Spike's declaration, Xander almost sagged in relief when the anticipated taunts failed to make their appearance. "Home. Tell me about claiming? Giles' books contradicted themselves all over the place."

"Course they did, pet. Watchers dunno shite 'bout anything but minions. Granted ol' Rupes is a few steps above the rest, but even he never really understood the difference, not completely." The busy streets caused numerous obstacles for Spike and Xander, until the blond finally started growling at pedestrians to get out of their way. "Dozy buggers all over the place."

Snickering didn't seem like the best idea, but Xander really couldn't help the snort of humor that erupted. His vampire was just so cute when he was frustrated. A thought that made him pause, disect, and mentally shrug, accepting that Spike was cute and that it was perfectly alright for Xander to think it.

Finally, they located the Nash and buckled in. Barely in time, Xander remembered to hold onto the seat as the insane driver tore out of the parking lot and headed toward the freeway. If he survived the ride, Xander decided to lecture his lover on the need to protect his fragile human self by not breaking the sound barrier without appropriate safety precautions and a NASA seal of approval.

~ TBC ~