At the Movies Prompt - 19

Stupid, bloody wanker! Spike thought morosely. His demon seemed to be cringing in remorse over the events of the evening. For the first time, he was unable to shut out his inner William, who was busily berating his demon with unaccustomed fury.

You vile brute! How could you say something so lacking in thought? If you've spoilt my chances with Miss Buffy, I will never let you forget it. I will gain strength, and the stronger I get, the more I will make you suffer. Dunno what the hell that was all about, luv, but feel free to jump me any time! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

Spike paced in agitation; his mind reliving the episode over and over. He groaned at his stupidity. He had been inside her warmth. The most incredible feeling that he had ever known, and it had all been taken from him in an instant. He'd received a right cross and a disgusted 'PIG!' before the golden goddess had flown from his presence, leaving him cold, empty, and alone with the lingering scent of her tears surrounding him in accusation.

Dejectedly flopping down on his armchair, his head dropped into his hands. "How the bloody hell do I fix this?"

'For once in your accursed existence, you will listen to me,' William snapped at him. 'She is a human girl, not a vampire. You have no experience in wooing a beauty like our Miss Buffy.'

Spike snorted derisively. 'One word, ponce - Cecily. It's not like your track record is much better.'

'Be that as it may, I, at least, paid attention to all those romantic moving pictures that that dreadful Drusilla woman forced you to watch.'

Spike lifted his head in interest, silently willing his softer side to continue.

'It was not the Slayer that you offended last evening, brute; it was the girl. Had it been the Slayer, we would be dust. You need to woo the girl. Miss Buffy.'

~*~*~

Buffy cringed as the voice in her head screamed at her. She'd never realised that her slayer side actually had a voice of its own, much less that she could converse with it.

Pouting, she threw herself down on her bed and tried to argue with her incensed inner slayer. 'What was I supposed to do? The stupid vamp was the one who spoiled it all. Big-mouthed peroxide pest!'

'HE'S A VAMPIRE! He's destined to be our eternal mate, but he doesn't know that. You have to entice him. Court him. Charm the beast. You need to listen to me. Running off - virtue aflutter...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?'

Buffy rolled her eyes. 'When was the last time you dated anyone? You acted like a big ho! I don't need your advice. I know how to get a guy to like me.'

'He is not a 'guy'. Your usual ways will not work on him.'

'HEY!' Buffy thought indignantly as she sat up sharply. 'I've dated a vampire before! Hello, Angel?'

Her slayer side snorted with disgust. 'You dated a cursed vampire that likes to pretend he is human. One who attempts to hide his demon. Our destined mate is a warrior. He is not ashamed of what he is.'

Buffy threw herself back on the bed, whining in frustration. "Well, fine! But, what do I do now?"

'Listen carefully.'

~*~*~

Spike re-entered his lower level through the tunnels and made his way back upstairs to his favourite chair, one thought prominent in his mind. 'I hope you know what you're doin', ponce.' 

~*~*~

AT THE SAME TIME

Buffy re-entered her home and silently made her way back to her bedroom, muttering bad-temperedly all the way. "You better be worth this, blood breath."

~*~*~

A timid knock at the crypt door caused the vampire to stare at the door in curiosity, a slight frown creasing his features when a shaky male voice from outside called out his name. 'Who the hell knows I'm stayin' here?'

Spike threw open the door in full gameface to see a slightly familiar looking floppy skinned demon hold up his hands in surrender.

"Hi, do you remember me? Clem? We played kitten poker at Willy's last year," the demon rushed to explain.

"What do you want?" Spike demanded harshly.

Indicating a rectangular white box with a large red bow that was lying at his feet, the demon explained as he picked it up and handed it over to the confused vampire. "The Slayer came to Willy's and asked me to deliver that. She swore it wasn't a trap."

Spike took the present and contemplated it as he tilted his head to the side. 'Slayer sent me a gift?'

With an absent-minded 'thanks, mate', Spike closed the door on Clem and walked back to his chair, his eyes never leaving the gift-wrapped box.

Spike undid the bow and carefully lifted off the lid. His eyes lit up when he saw what the box held.

A Valkyrie battle axe lay nestled safely within soft white tissue paper. About thirty inches in length, the mahogany handle was laced with a leather plait. Perfect for gripping. The iron head was engraved with mystical runes of protection. The pointed tip of the pole gave the top of the axe the look of a trident.

Carefully lifting the weapon out of the box, he gave it a few experimental swings. It had perfect balance. It was bloody fantastic.

Glancing back at the box, he noticed the note for the first time. He reached for it with shaking fingers.

Spike's immediate reaction had William metaphorically rolling his eyes.

"She thinks I need to feel manly after last night? What's she sayin'? That she didn't think it was any good? That I didn't get her off? I know I bloody well got her off. Stupid bint doesn't know when she's on to a good thing!" he ranted angrily.

Spike could have sworn he felt William smack him across the back of the head.

'Are you quite finished, you insufferable ignoramus? That is NOT what she is saying at all. You really do need to stop jumping to the worst possible conclusions.'

Spike frowned in concentration, not happy with William's unusual boldness, but seeing that he just received a pretty impressive piece of weaponry, he was willing to give the little wimp a chance.

'It is obvious that she has been thinking about us. She sent us a gift that she thought we would like. She made that determination based on a comment that was made, once, over a year ago. While YOU were trying to kill her I might add. It is a very promising sign.'

~*~*~

Buffy reached for the envelope that had accompanied the large box of expensive Belgian chocolates that had just been delivered to her.

"Probably stolen, anyway," she grumbled as she opened the letter.

"Is he calling me SKINNY?" she screeched in outrage.

Buffy could have sworn she felt the Slayer smack her across the back of the head.

'Are you over your hissy fit yet, you demented cow? That is NOT what he's saying at all. You need to stop jumping to the worst possible conclusions.'

Buffy frowned in concentration, not happy with her slayer side's nasty commentary. And who was she calling a cow?

'It's obvious that he's been thinking about us. He sent us a gift that he thought we would like. Chocolates. And he apologized. You know that it took a lot for him to do that. It's starting to look promising.'

~*~*~

When the knock came at his door a second time, Spike was surprised to feel excitement induced butterflies in his stomach. A very strange feeling.

When Clem handed him a small thermos, Spike lifted an eyebrow.

The demon shrugged and gave him a nervous grin. "She said if I opened it, you'd know...and then you'd kill me."

Spike smirked and then closed the door in Clem's face.

Undoing the lid as he walked back to his chair, Spike froze as the scent from the thermos hit him.

Blood.

Slayer blood.

"Bloody hell," he whispered in awe.

~*~*~

Buffy laid the large, rectangular box on her bed; her eyes flitting between the beautifully embossed envelope and the flat box. Every time her eyes drifted to the box, she heard her mother's admonishment that it was rude to open the present first.

Shrugging, she grinned. Oh, well, Mom's not here, so...' she thought as she eagerly reached for the box.

The soft Italian leather felt sensual to her touch. She squealed in excitement as she lifted the beautifully tailored black duster from the box and hurried to try it on.

It fit her like a glove; as if it had been made just for her. The smooth, red satin lining slipped over her skin with decadent sensuality. She felt beautiful. Cherished. Special.

Reaching for the envelope, she gently broke the wax seal and removed the contents.

It was an invitation.

At the bottom of the invitation was a beautifully hand written note in exquisite script.

I hope you can make it, pet. But I understand if you choose not to. No R.S.V.P. necessary.

Spike.

P.S. le Sanglant - 'the Bloody' in French (bloody poxy language if you ask me.)

~*~*~

Buffy nervously checked herself in the mirror for the tenth time.

"You look beautiful, sweetie," Joyce said from the doorway as she smiled indulgently at her daughter.

The short black leather mini had a small split on the right side. Her blood red silk halter top covered her front completely and its choker neckline held it in place, but left her back bare. Knee high black boots completed the outfit. The colour combination had been carefully chosen to exactly match to her new coat.

As the door bell rang, Joyce left her daughter with a parting remark. "I'll get that. Just remember, don't tell him he's your destined mate. We don't want to scare him...yet."

Buffy rolled her eyes at her mother's grin and rechecked her handbag, trying desperately to control the butterflies in her tummy.

"Oh, Buffy," her mother whispered in awe when she returned. "He sent a limousine for you!"

Buffy gave a little squeal of delight and grabbed her bag and coat.

Mother and daughter raced down the stairs in excitement.

After her giddy goodbye and final wave, Joyce watched her daughter being driven away in the black stretch limousine.

"Joyce?" A deep voice asked from the shadows.

The Summers matriarch whipped her head to the side and stepped back inside automatically. Peering through the darkness, she tried to ascertain who had spoken to her. "Who's there?" she demanded.

Stepping fully into the light from the porch, Angel lifted his head. "Where was Buffy going?"

"Buffy's new beau is taking her to Los Angeles for the evening. It's so romantic. He's just swept her off her feet. I'm so happy she dumped you." She smiled at him innocently as she batted her eyelashes, fully aware that she was lying to him about L.A, but needing to make sure he didn't disturb Buffy's date.

"New Beau? When did she meet someone new? She didn't say anything when I saw her a couple of days ago." he asked, surprised. His voice was also laced with jealousy. "Who is he? What do you know about him? Does Giles know about this?"

"I didn't say he was new in her life; just that the relationship was new. She's known him for a while now. And quite frankly, Angel, it's really none of your business. Buffy's personal life has nothing to do with you, and I resent the fact that you think it does." Joyce crossed her arms as she spoke with disdain.

Angel cringed at her harsh tone. He couldn't really blame her, but he still felt the need to make her understand...to clear the air. "Joyce, you have to understand that it wasn't me that did all those things. It was Angelus. I had no control over what he did or said."

"How very convenient," Joyce replied mockingly. She lifted an eyebrow in inquiry. "Do people actually buy that excuse?"

Angel spluttered in shock. "It's not an excuse."

"Then you are a fool. YOU are Angelus. Angelus with a soul, but Angelus just the same. All that soul does is make a weak man a little less weak. You are beneath my daughter in any incarnation. She needs a real man, and I thank God that she finally knows that too." With a final harsh unforgiving look, she slammed the door in his face.

~*~*~

Buffy tried desperately to calm her nerves. She couldn't remember a time when the butterflies had attacked her quite so badly. Her memories of their last encounter flashed provocatively through her mind.

As she followed the usher through the maze of corridors she mused, 'Sunnydale Movie House has a private viewing room? Who knew!?'

As Buffy entered the room, her green eyes locked with stormy pools of blue. The room faded until all that was left were the eyes that held her in place. Her heartbeat seemed to echo around her.

Before she knew it, Spike had moved to meet her. He lifted her hand and softly kissed her knuckles.

"Do you have me in thrall?" she whispered.

"Don't have thrall, kitten," he replied just as quietly.

Shyly, Buffy pulled her hand from him and lowered her eyes, her cheeks slightly flushing.

She took a breath in an attempt to calm her wildly beating heart and cast a glance around the room.

The large picture screen dwarfed the small room. A two seater couch seemed to be the only place to sit. To the side of the room, a table had been set with an assortment of fresh fruits and canapés. A bottle of champagne was cooling in an ice bucket and two flutes stood waiting by its side.

"You did all this for me?" she asked in awe. No one had ever done anything like this for her before.

"I had an ulterior motive," his sinfully seductive voice whispered to her from behind. A hint of air across her ear caused her skin to break out in goose-bumps. The light caress of his fingers on her arms as he removed her coat ignited a fire within her.

Buffy's voice hitched as she replied. "What motive?"

"This way I get to keep you all to myself." He smiled seductively as he moved in front of her, handing her a rose and clasping her empty hand. Capturing her eyes in his, he walked backwards, gently encouraging her to follow him towards the table.

Buffy followed mutely, momentarily overwhelmed. He prepared a plate for them both, not really surprising her that he would eat human food. She was quickly coming to understand that this vampire was NOTHING like the other one she knew. He was unique.

She smiled when he opened the champagne and poured them both a glass, her nerves finally easing.

Following Spike to the couch, she waited till he placed the plate and glasses down before sitting at his silent invitation.

Once she was seated, he handed her a glass and held onto the other while joining her on the couch. Lifting the flute slightly, he made a toast.

"To new beginnings."

Buffy echoed his sentiment and brought the glass to her mouth. The bubbles tickled her nose and she giggled before taking a sip of the fruity wine.

She smiled at him as the room's light dimmed and the movie began. Handing him her glass, Buffy offered up a cheeky grin as she bent to remove her boots. Lifting her bare feet onto the couch beside her and leaning slightly towards the softly chuckling vampire, Buffy turned to watch the movie.

As the opening scenes played, Buffy pretended to watch but paid keen attention to what her date was doing. She usually fast forwarded this part of the movie anyway.

Spike put down the glasses and lifted his right arm, laying it across the back of the couch as he settled closer to the nervous blonde at his side. 'Take it slow, little vampire. She is still very young,' William's voice whispered through him.

Spike whined back, 'But we've already had a bloody brilliant shag,' then inwardly cringed as his 'weaker' half thumped him on the back of the head.

'Offer her some fruit, you fool,' William hissed with displeasure.

"Would you like something, pet...fruit, maybe?" Spike asked softly, his words laced with innuendo.

His inner William rolled his eyes in disgust, 'This is about romance, not sex, you depraved beast!'

"A strawberry?" she requested shyly, her innocence shining in her eyes.

Without removing his gaze from hers, Spike reached back and picked up a strawberry from the plate. Lifting it to her lips he whispered, "As you wish."

Their eyes remained locked as she bit down gently on the offered fruit. A dribble of juice escaped her mouth and Spike moved with deliberate slowness to remove the droplet of sweet fruit nectar with his tongue.

"Delicious," he whispered huskily.

Fear flashed through her eyes as his mouth hovered a fraction of an inch from hers.

Registering her trepidation, Spike moved back, lifted his hand and offered her the remainder of the strawberry.

She smiled, for once thankful that he seemed to read her so well. Her slayer side groaned with disappointment. 'GOD! Do you have to be such a girl?' the warrior asked in disgust. 'Kiss him already!'

With a slightly shaking hand, Buffy lifted her hand to grasp his, gently pushing the hand that held the fruit towards his mouth. Spike bit deeply, deliberately allowing the juice to dribble down his chin. His eyes darkened as she leaned in to delicately lap at the spilled juices.

Internally his demon and human halves warred; his demon desperate to drag the girl into his arms and snog her senseless, while William screamed at him to control his beast and be gentle with the girl.

Internally her slayer and girl sides warred: her slayer wanted to drag his lips to hers and taste the passion of his embrace once again, while the part of her that was a seventeen year old girl who had recently had her heart stomped on when she let herself be swayed by her passions, screamed caution.

Buffy desperately wanted to kiss him, but she was scared.

Spike recognised her fear. "Not gonna hurt you, kitten."

"How can I be sure," she whispered, inching her lips closer to his.

"Trust me, Buffy," he echoed the words from her dream and tenderly caressed the softness of her lips with the firm velvet of his own.

The moment their lips met a fire ignited in her belly. He teased her with gentle sweeps and licks and nibbles. Even if she hadn't known him from her dream, she would have recognised him the moment he started kissing her. She finally understood what all those old time movies meant when they talked about 'swooning'. He was so swoon-worthy - the swoon-y-est even.

Lifting her arms she repeated the actions of her dream and ran her fingers through the soft hair at the base of his neck. His arms wound around her, tugging her closer till she was almost laying in his lap.

His tongue caressed her full bottom lip. One hand gently cupping her head, holding her in place, while the other traced soft patterns on her bare back.

When she opened her lips to allow him access, his tactile assault of her senses continued as he mapped the warm cavern of her mouth with his tongue. His right hand moved from her back to softly skim her side in long sweeps.

Releasing her lips so that she could purchase a much needed breath, Spike brushed his lips against her cheek in pursuit of her earlobe and neck. Buffy whimpered with desire as his whispers reached her ears.

"So beautiful....a Goddess you are...you taste divine."

"Spike," she whispered, her voice filled with desire. She encouraged his lips to return to hers, desperate to once again sample the exquisite torture of losing herself in his taste.

His thumb brushed her distended nipple, the combination of silk and slight pressure rubbing across her sensitive tip fuelling the raging fire with in her. She moaned into his mouth.

As he cupped her breast, he marvelled at the perfect fit. It was like she was made for his hands alone. Her mewls, moans, and whimpers shot straight to his dick. The scent of her arousal was almost overwhelming him. He removed his hand from her silk covered mound and brought it down to gently caress her inner thigh.

She was so responsive to his touch, the involuntary thrust of her hips and the desperate plea from her lips, encouraged him to grace her center. The brush of his fingers over the damp satin that covered her needy nubbin sent shock waves through her entire body. A firm tap on her clit all that was needed to push her over the edge.

He held her gently, but firmly in his embrace, covering her face with soft, sweet kisses as she came down from her high.

In the background a voice from the screen rang out.

"Mawidge...mawidge is what bwings us togewer today..."