Title: Buffy and the Beast
Pairing: Spike/Buffy, eventually
Rating: We’re getting into the PG-13/R rating now
Disclaimer: The usual–I don’t own them, Joss does, blah-de-blah blah blah…
Author’s note: In this ‘verse, Spike was never paralyzed by Buffy, although they did fight in the church. Drusilla was cured, Angelus did emerge, but Acathla was not found… however, Giles was kidnapped, for reasons yet to be revealed.
Buffy and the Beast Chapter 6
Chapter 1 can be found here
Chapter 2 can be found here
Chapter 3 can be found here
Chapter 4 can be found here
Chapter 5 can be found here
Buffy and the Beast
Chapter 6
Buffy looked around the room where Spike had placed her bag and was amazed by the size of it. It was larger than her bedroom at home, with lovely cherry wood antiques for furniture. A king size four-poster bed dominated the wall between two huge picture windows, framed by matching nightstands with lamps of some bygone era. A vanity stood on one wall and an armoire on the other, bracketing a comfy chaise lounge, lamp and table across from the foot of the bed.
Across from the room was a closed door and her curiosity got the best of her. She went over to it an opened it up and saw a huge bathroom fit for a queen. Crystal bottles lined a shelf above an exquisitely wrought tub and she lifted the stopper from one to sniff the contents. The ethereal scent of gardenia drifted to her nose and she sighed as she thought of how relaxing a bath would feel right about now.
Suddenly suspicious, she walked out of the bathroom and back into her room, then opened the door into the hallway. Two vampires flanked her door and she paused before stepping into the hall. She pivoted, never able to leave a vampire at her back for long from training and asked them, “Where’s Spike?”
One courteously nodded his head at the room across from hers and she turned, opening the door without knocking.
Her hand flew to cover her mouth and her cheeks flushed deep crimson when she saw him standing in front of an armoire that matched her own. He was naked and in profile and she saw him completely before she turned and left with her face flaming, closing the door behind her.
She flew back into her room, ignoring the smirks of her guards as she slammed the door and shut them out. She rested her forehead against the wood and breathed heavily, then jumped as it vibrated with the pounding of a fist on the other side.
Spike’s voice came through the closed door. “Buffy! What’s the matter? What’s wrong?”
She cracked the door open and peered out. He stood there alone, the minions obviously having been dismissed. He was still shirtless and barefoot, she noticed and water glistened on his skin where it was clear he’d been taking a shower. “N-nothing’s wrong, Spike. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute. I’m sorry—I wasn’t thinking. I…I should have knocked.”
He stood back from the door, a smile on his pouting lips, and gestured at the crack. “So, we gonna talk through the crack all night, or you gonna let me in?”
She stepped back from the door and opened it wider, allowing him to step inside. He leaned against the door with his legs crossed at the ankle and stared her up and down. She backed up until the back of her knees hit the bed, then sat down hard, unable to tear her eyes from him. His abs rippled as he stood upright and headed over to sit on the chaise across the room from her. “So, what was so urgent that you had to talk to me and interrupt me, pet?”
“I—I was just wondering why you gave me this room. I mean, it’s so big…and it’s right across the hall from yours. I….” She looked down at her feet, then back up at him. “I got suspicious,” she said, meeting the incredible blue of his eyes.
He stood and she shrank back on the bed. She was overly aware that she was at his mercy despite their deal and very aware of him not only as a monster, but also as a man. He stopped inches from her feet and her eyes trained on the waistband of his jeans. She had a mental picture that she could not get out of her mind, of him naked and rampant in front of the open armoire and he cleared his throat to regain her attention.
He was smirking when she looked up at him and she frowned. “What are you smirking about?”
“Nothing, pet. I gave you this room because I wanted to make you feel comfortable. I wanted you to feel like a princess. Despite what you think of me, I’m an honorable man and I keep my word.”
She looked down at their feet, hers still clad in boots and his bare and still damp from the shower. “I…want to believe you, Spike. I really do. But I don’t know if I can. I mean, hey, evil vampire, right?” She looked up at him, hoping that he would refute her but unable to wholly believe that he would.
“Evil and honor are not mutually exclusive. I have my pride, Slayer. I said no turning or violence or rape and I abide by that. Bloody hell, Buffy, I even have bagged blood being shipped in so I can abide by that other insane notion that you have about me not biting anyone. So I think that it’s safe to say that you can believe in me, at least while you’re living in my house.” He rolled his eyes to look at the ceiling and missed her appreciative look. “Look Buffy, I’ll give you as much leeway as I can. You can patrol, you can go out with your friends during the day, but from dusk to dawn, you have to stay in the mansion or be with me. That’s the bargain, and I’m willing to stick to it. Are you able to?”
She met his eyes boldly once again and almost sneered her response. “I can. I don’t think that my honorable intentions have ever been called into question.”
He turned and stormed toward the door, his entire body tensing with exasperated anger. “Neither have mine, until tonight. Good night, Slayer.”
The slamming of the door behind him punctuated his exit and she turned to ready herself for bed.
The rest will be posted on my journal, dedra — hope that you enjoyed this so far, and thanks to itmustbetuesday for running such a fantastically diverse and rich community. You all rock!
Originally posted at http://seasonal-spuffy.livejournal.com/120831.html
