Tainted Returns

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Part Nine
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Spike automatically tensed the moment he heard Xander return. A bored expression carefully fixed in place, Spike leaned casually against the bedpost, waiting. He may not have been able to find his shoes or his shirt, but he could still make an impression. He couldn't control the low tingle that spread through his gut as he listened to Xander's footsteps echo above his head, however; and he groaned inwardly at his body's betrayal. Refusing to let his unwanted arousal change his expression, Spike waited, the picture of bored patience.

Spike *wasn't* bored -- far from it. He *had* been, though; right up until the moment Xander had returned. He frowned as Xander's progress halted at the trapdoor.

"Hey, Spike!"

"What?" he asked irritably, wondering why the hell the bloody git hadn't just waited the twenty seconds it would have taken to get down. It was inconsiderate of him to waste the whole scene Spike had spent so much time working on. It was . . . irritating.

"Does different blood taste differently?"

Spike rolled his eyes. **Stupid question! Haven't I spent enough time bitching about pig's blood?** "Of course it does, ya pillock. Pig's blood is bloody disgusting." Spike paused, rerunning his last sentence through his mind. "No pun intended."

From the floor above him, Xander chuckled. "Well, yeah, *that* I know. What I meant was, does different animal blood taste differently?"

Spike blinked. He'd never thought about it before. "I . . . suppose it might," he admitted tentatively. "Haven't exactly tried a wide variety."

"Well, I was thinking--"

"Why don't you come down here, before you continue that. You can bore me with your theories just as well that way."

Xander laughed, the sound full and echoing. "Naughty, naughty, Spike. Keep that up, and I'll take away your treat."

Even as he frowned, outraged at Xander's effrontery, a small frisson of pleasure bloomed inside Spike. **A prezzie?** He briefly debated with himself over whether he'd get more satisfaction out of the, 'sod off,' that was hovering on his lips, or finding out what Xander had brought him. It *could* be interesting, after all.

The decision was taken out of his hands, however; he took just a little too long and Xander took his silence as compliance.

"That's better," he said into the silence. "Now, as I started to say; I was thinking; human blood seems to taste a *lot* better to you than pig, and humans -- even if they do eat veggies -- are basically predators."

**After a fashion,** Spike thought, snorting.

"I wondered if *that's* what makes the big difference."

"What makes the *difference* is humans are what were *supposed* to eat!" Spike snapped, irritated now. "It's like comparing Prime Rib to gruel!"

"Hmmm, okay," Xander replied with yet another chuckle. "I guess that means you don't want anything to do with what I brought, then."

"I didn't say that," Spike denied, before he could remember he was supposed to be bored. He mentally whacked himself, rolling his eyes.

"Thought you might say that."

Spike growled quietly. **Wanker!** "So, what is it?" he asked, glad when his tone came out as bored as he wanted it to.

"Dinner!" Xander replied, dropping through the trap door, landing easily on his feet despite his burden.

**He shouldn't be able to do that,** Spike thought absently, surprised by the boy's apparent prowess. It was like last night with the unexpected strength, he thought; though, most of his attention was centered on the *live* wolf Xander was busy carrying the short distance across the room.

\now now you can't bite humans," Xander said matter-of-factly as he laid the wolf at Spike's feet, "but can you bite animals? Have you tried?"

Spike shook his head numbly, until he realized Xander wouldn't know which question he was answering. "I don't know. I've never tried."

"Why not? I mean, there are animals out there that would be a hell of a lot more of a challenge to hunt than the average human. Might be fun." He shrugged, stepping back. "I know it was for me."

Spike blinked. He really liked the way this Xander thought. **No, you don't, git! You want normal Xander back, so you can get back to *your* normal life -- well, unlife.** Spike tried to believe it, but somehow the thought rang hollow. This was a Xander that was fun. This was a Xander that-- **NO! *This* Xander won't be sticking around, so don't even think it!**

"Could be," he allowed.

"So, are you going to try, or do I kill it before it wakes up? I only gave it a half-dose, so it shouldn't be out long."

Spike weighed the pros and cons in his head as he warily watched the sleeping animal. Even now, it's heart beat was slowly speeding up. If he *could* bite it, it would open a whole new vista for him. Thoughts of hunting tigers with just his wits and fangs flit through his mind. That would be almost as exciting as fighting demons -- and *way* better tasting. Nothing tasted worse than the average demon -- excepting vampires, of course.

Once again, the conscious decision was taken out of his hands as the wolf stirred, struggling to its feet. Instinct took over. Spike darted forward, wrenching the beast's head to the side, and -- mentally preparing himself for the zap from hell -- shifted, sinking his fangs into the furry throat.

He sighed as the first mouthful of the hot, wild blood poured into his mouth. Swallowing the liquid in hungry gulps, Spike growled against the neck. He felt like a *vampire* again! Jerking his head, widening the wounds as the blood began to slow, Spike forced his fangs further inside. This was heaven. He was sure of it. It may not be human, but he had his *bite* back!

//And it was Xander who gave it back,// came the unbidden thought.

Tears of joy, mixed equally with a sadness he didn't full understand, sprang into his eyes, only to fall unheeded down his cheeks. Long after the blood ceased to flow, and he'd retracted his fangs, Spike left his head buried in the animal's neck. He'd already given the boy enough ammunition for a lifetime of humiliation, he didn't have to give him this, also.

He stiffened as he felt Xander's hands drop gently to his shoulders, kneading slowly. He relaxed into the deft touch, the warm fingers digging into each kink they found in his shoulders. Not moving, Spike ignored the *other* reaction he had to the touch that *seemed* so caring.

**Supposed to resist stuff like this," he thought half-heartedly, not really intending on stopping it. It simply felt too good. Muscles that had been knotted for so long that they predated recent memory began to relax, and Spike wilted against the cooling body of the wolf. All his muscles had been wrapped up in knots for so long, he'd forgotten what it felt like to be completely relaxed.

//Last night came close.//

He ignored the voice again. He was getting good at it -- especially since it kept telling him stuff he didn't want to hear.

"Better?" Xander asked quietly, close enough to Spike's ear that Spike could feel the human's hot breath across his skin.

Spike shivered, then nodded. He didn't trust his voice enough to reply.

"Good," Xander whispered, dropping his mouth to Spike's shoulder.

Spike groaned as Xander began gently sucking.

**Time to stop him,** Spike thought, gasping and arching into the mouth as Xander grazed his teeth across the temporary mark Spike was sure Xander had left behind. Lightly nipping his way across Spike's shoulder and up the side of his neck, Xander teased with his teeth, and soothed with his tongue -- all the while breathing hot, moist air across the sensitive flesh.

Xander's mouth continued working its magic as his s sls slid down Spike's sides, and Spike shivered under the touch. **Fuck it!** he thought, he was already going to have to disappear after this was over, may as well be condemned for the whole nine yards. *This* time, Xander would learn at the hands of a true master.

Spinning around suddenly, catching Xander by surprise, Spike swooped down and claimed his mouth in a nearly bruising kiss. A surprised, 'oh,' parted the lips beneath his and Spike took full advantage, his tongue diving inside to explore. It was a full three of Xander's heartbeats before he responded. When he did, Spike was shocked at the sheer ferocity of it.

**Yes!** he crowed. Leaning forward, he pressed Xander backward. Intent on the feelings running through his body, and his ultimate goal, Spike missed the moment that Xander's response changed. He found himself flat on his back before he realized what was happening.

**Not this time!** he thought, arching up and flipping Xander back over. He grinned down into Xander's lust-dazed eyes, but jerked back just the tiniest bit when Xander simply grinned impishly back at him. A second later the brat copied to perfection Spike's last maneuver.

"Bloody hell!" This was getting ridiculous. As fun as a pre-shag tussle could be, Spike wanted to get to the main event. He switched tactics, thinking to play on Xander's sense of fair play. "My turn," he whispered. Smirking at the man above him, Spike canted his hips upward, pressing his erect cock against the matching one on Xander.

Eyes bright, tongue darting out to lick his lips, Xander grinned, leaning into Spike. Whispering softly into Spike's ear, he chuckled. "Not gonna happen, Spike."

"Get off me, tosser!" Spike shouted angrily, shoving upward with all his strength. All the same, he was a touch surprised when Xander went easily, using the momentum of Spike's push to roll easily up onto his feet. Wishing for the time when that shove would have sent Xander flying into a wall, Spike scrambled to his feet, and for fir first time since before his turning, felt awkward in comparison to someone else.

Meeting Spike's gaze with an amused one of his own, Xander shrugged. "Okay by me. We can just move on to the next event in tonight's festivities.

Frowning, Spike wasn't sure whether to believe that Xander was going to give up that easily. Spike wouldn't have.

"Told you before, Spike, I won't force you." He grinned then, his eyelids dropping to hide half his eyes, just before he licked his upper lip slowly. "Until you *want* me to, that is."

"When hell freezes over, wanker!"

Again Xander shrugged, clearly not caring -- either that or not believing him. It was, in a word, *infuriating*!

At a seeming impasse they eyed each other, Spike wary, and Xander -- to Spike's disgust -- amused.

"You ready?" Xander asked.

"I'm ready for whatever *you've* got planned," Spike retorted.

"You're sure?" Xander checked, his grin widening.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Oh, get *over* yourself, and get to it!" he snapped. Patience had *never* been his strong suit, and right now, he was at the end of what little he had -- past it, actually. The curves Xander kept throwing his way had him off balance and unsure of himself. He didn't like it, and he just wanted to get this -- whatever this was -- over with.

"Get on the bed."

"EXCUSE me?!" Spike exclaimed, outrage and amusement equally mixed racing through him.

"I said," Xander repeated slowly, "get . On . The . Bed."

"Fuck no!"

The grin he got in return for his exclamation threw Spike, and before he even thought about it, he stepped back a half step. Xander had *clearly* lost it. He'd finally rounded the bend and entered Dru's territory.

"Are you challenging my authority?"

"Your *authority*?" Spike asked incredulously. "Fuck, yeah, I am!" He couldn't believe it. One time -- one time -- he'd *allowed* Xander to top him, and now the boy had delusions of grandeur.

//Allowed? I seem to recall there being *something* in there,// came the ever present voice of that which shouldn't ever be mentioned.

"Good," Xander replied, dropping into a credible fighting stance that once again surprised Spike -- he *really* needed to quit underestimating this Xander. "This is going to be fun."


TBC