Title: Blue Eyed Devil Author: Pattyanne snapkik@yahoo.com Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me. Feedback: Yes, please! Rating: Will vary from chapter to chapter, all the way to NC-17. Summary: Spike Devlin is the lead singer of the band "Blue Eyed Devil" Buffy Summers is a local preschool teacher. Part Eight.... Devlin placed the guitar back in it's case and propped it up against the wall, then turned his penetrating blue gaze on Buffy. When their eyes met, he smiled and she blushed...which only made his smile widen. He approached her with slow, measured strides, resuming his seat on the edge of her desk. He said nothing, but took the extra pair of scissors out of her pencil box, then picked up a sheet of red construction paper and began cutting out the circles she had traced on it earlier. The room was quiet, and they worked in a surprisingly comfortable silence with nothing but the soft sound of the scissors to mar the peace. When the chore was finished, Buffy stacked the different shapes in neat little piles, and tossed the scraps into her waste basket. "Thank you," she murmured. "My pleasure, Miss Buffy." She could tell that he was waiting for her to make the next move. "Listen," she began. "I was...I mean...I know that I was a little...rude to you...before. But...it's just that...that I'm not used to...." "Not used to what?" he asked, softly. "Not used to a man being interested in you? Being attracted to you?" His voice dropped into a lower register. "Wanting you?" These words sent a pleasant shiver up and down her spinal column, but what he said next would have buckled her knees had she been standing. "You'll need to get used to it...Miss Buffy." **Oh, help....** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She expected him to pack up and go, but he surprised her yet again by showing no such inclination. Instead, he waited until the children began to wake up, then sat at the back of the room and watched as they did their "wake up stretches" on the interlocking rubber mats in the middle of the floor. Buffy was acutely aware of his eyes following her as she moved around the room, and she couldn't forget the sound of his voice telling her that she'd need to get used to being wanted...by him. She wasn't quite sure this was something she'd be able to do. She'd had her share of male admirers throughout high school and college, and had dated a few of the young men in Sunnydale when she'd first arrived. Riley Finn had made no secret of the fact that he most certainly was interested in more than casual friendship. But she had no experience with the sort of situation she was in now. She'd never even met a man like Devlin before. He was cocky and confident, completely sure of himself, and she had the feeling that he usually got pretty much anything he wanted. Spike Devlin lived in a totally different world, a world she had no knowledge of, a world she could never belong in or fit into. He had aspirations far beyond her scope, and probably wanted much different things out of life. She was a small town girl, and always would be. He was big city, born and bred, destined for stardom, for fame and fortune. These were things she had no interest in. Her goals in life were much simpler. She loved her job, and couldn't imagine doing anything else. Eventually, she wanted to be married and have some children of her own. Being an only child, she'd grown up lonely and so had planned to have at least three kids when she found the right man to settle down with. Spike Devlin wasn't the "settling down" type. How could he be? His career was just getting up and running, and he would have to be moving at a fast pace to keep it going in the right direction. Buffy couldn't hope to keep up with someone like that. And yet.... **He wants me...Spike Devlin, who could no doubt have any girl he chose...wants me** Yes, but for what? And for how long? Until the novelty wore off? He seemed interested now...but was it just the love of a chase that was turning him on? If she stopped running...would he still be there afterwards? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "All right, munchkins...this is called a command perfor- mance." Spike sat on the bench beneath one of the weeping willows and smiled at the children gathered around him on the grass. "That means your wish is my command. You tell me what you want to hear..and if I can, I'll play it for you." The entire faculty and miniature student body of Willow Tree Preschool was present for this particular performance. They all sat, grouped in their individual classes, giggling and excited. Buffy had to smile. Giggling and excited was a perfect description....and the children were enjoying it as well. The afternoon play period was almost over when Miss Willow came outside to see what everyone was watching. Within five minutes she decided that since it was such a nice day, and they had such a special guest, the period could be extended for a while. The children's taste in music was fairly simple, and well known. Standards like 'Old McDonald's Farm' and 'Pop goes the Weasel' were requested and granted. Devlin had a way with children that was very appealing. Not a lot of men had such a natural rapport, or could be so completely relaxed and at home in such a setting. He not only played and sang the children's song re- quests, he led them along with him, encouraging them to sing at the top of their lungs, to make sure "the people way in the back of the concert hall" would be able to hear them. "He's really something," Willow said quietly. Buffy nodded. "He's definitely a surprise," she agreed. There was a pause. "I get the feeling that you're a little better acquainted with him than you let on," Willow said, giving Buffy a speculative look. "You don't act as though this is the first time you've met him...and I don't mean just sitting and listening to him at Union Jack's either." Buffy stared at her shoes for a moment. "He was here the other day," she finally admitted. "We....talked." "But how did he..." Willow gasped. "Something happened the other night, didn't it? That's why you were so strange when I asked you about the concert!" "Willow..." "You'd better tell me," her friend warned, a wide smile on her face. "This is NOT something you can keep to yourself." Buffy's cheeks were bright red, she could literally feel them heating up. She didn't have the faintest idea in the world how she could explain to Willow about what had been going on between her and Spike Devlin. She avoided the situation by glancing at her watch. "It's getting late," she said quickly. "I have to go get the snack together." "Buffy..." "Later, Wils." Buffy said, making a promise of full confession with her eyes. Willow Tree provided a daily afternoon snack to all it's students, and each day it was a different teacher's turn to prepare it. Today was Buffy's responsibility. She was turning to go to the kitchenette in the main building when the kids all began to applaud the end of Devlin's performance. Some of them scrambled to their feet, jumping up and down in excitement. When they all scattered for a few minutes in the play yard, Spike put his guitar back in it's case and walked over to where Buffy and Willow were standing. The owner and operator of Willow Tree was effusive in her gratitude. "This has been such a treat for all of us," she said, smiling up into Devlin's eyes. "Thank you so much." "Don't mention it, pet," he said, returning her smile. "I enjoyed it, too. They're a great group of kids." He looked at Buffy. "Which isn't surprising, since they seem to have great teachers." Buffy was momentarily caught in his intense blue gaze, but said nothing. "Well," Willow said, sensing the the spark of electricity that seemed to be zinging back and forth between Buffy and Spike, "you have a whole new fan club now. The kids, I mean. It's nice to have you around." Buffy finally broke eye contact with Devlin. "Excuse me," she said softly. "I need to go inside and get their snacks ready." "Go ahead," Willow nodded. "I'll bring your class over to the benches for you." As Buffy turned and walked away, she heard Willow asking Devlin whether Blue Eyed Devil would be playing anywhere in the area before they left on their tour. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Buffy stood in the darkened kitchenette, breaking graham crackers along their dividing lines and placing them in small baskets. There was one basket for each table, and she made sure that there was enough for each child to have two full crackers. She was slicing apples onto paper plates when the bat wing door creaked open behind her. Her heart began beating at twice it's normal pace, and she knew who was standing there. Devlin crossed the small room and stood directly behind her, so close that she could feel the heat of his body. "What about you, Buffy?" he asked quietly, dropping the appellation 'Miss'. She swallowed nervously. "What about me?" she echoed, reaching for another apple. He placed his hands over hers, making her stop cutting up fruit. "Do YOU think it's nice to have me around?" Buffy closed her eyes for just a moment as he turned her around to face him. "Wh...what?" she stammered, looking up at him. "Do YOU think it's nice to have me around?" he asked again. Giving her no opportunity to reply, he put his hands on her waist, then slowly...so slowly...he lowered his head and captured her mouth in a kiss that was both tenderly sweet and madly passionate at the same time. **Oh, God.....help...** TBC.....