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for Gabriel |
Part 124 |
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“You wanna go inside or are we breaking out the night vision goggles?” “You got it, didn’t you?” “Got what?” Xander answered too innocently to be credible. “Night sight.” “No. No, I would have told you, I absolutely have no… Yeah, I did.” “What else?” Spike purred as he played his fingers lightly over Xander’s torso, making him twitch and wriggle. “Demon’s sensitivity, I think we might have gathered that. Hoping for a vampire’s stamina.” He cupped Xander through his jeans. “We know my record; time we started work on yours.” Xander struggled to his feet, barely avoiding tumbling over tangled limbs, tugging Spike with him. “I’ve wanted you all day, Spike. Can’t believe you let me go to work instead of fucking you.” “Mmm, me neither. That’d be miserable luck, if you got my sex drive and all I got was your sodding work ethic.” Xander laughed and Spike started to back him toward the house. “Wait and see: you have my animal magnetism, and I have your ability to look pretty in a yellow hat.” “Only the hard-hat? Can I take photos? Just the hat, the jewellery…” Xander brushed his fingers over Spike’s nipples. “and…your cock. Hard. Wet with spit, and… Ready to fuck.” “Yes.” “Yes?” “I’m ready to fuck.” “I wasn’t— Why don’t I ever shut up?” They stumbled up the step into the conservatory, Spike reaching back to pull the door closed. “Leave it.” “Left.” “Where is Hame?” “I have no idea.” “Probably out holding up a liquor store. You know what they’re like at that age.” “Here,” Spike started to pull at Xander’s clothes. “Here, fuck me here, right here.” He abandoned Xander’s clothes to rid himself of his own. “We haven’t done it, here, in this exact spot.” Spike dropped to his knees in front of the long rattan sofa, leaning forward onto the cushions, muscles rippling in anticipation as he dipped his back and offered his body to Xander. “Oh…fuck.” “That’s the point.” Xander stood and stared,
barely able to catch his breath when presented with such a tempting sight. He stripped mindlessly, unable to tear his
eyes away from the vampire, forgetting about the practicalities until he was
nudging Spike’s legs further apart and his rigid cock was laying in the “Lube?” he asked in a desperate voice. Spike rapidly frisked the sofa and tossed a tube of gel over his shoulder; Xander barely caught it, and fumbled as he opened and extracted. “Feel nervous, how stupid is that?” “Am I rushing you?” Spike glanced at his partner and, frankly, didn’t care about the answer to that question when he saw Xander looking so flushed and shagable. He leant back, circled his hips, and rubbed against Xander’s erection. “Nothing to be nervous of. Just me, just your Spike. And bodies with their new bits? All made to fit, aren’t we?” “I said it was stupid.” “You do this ‘cause it turns me on, don’t you?” “No.” “Fucking tease.” “Not this time.” “Then get on—” Spike accepted Xander’s slicked finger, fingers, initially in silence, then with a series of soft groans, loving to feel himself being stretched, prepared, the best foreplay, the very best tease, knowing where this would lead, knowing Xander would soon be pressing his cock inside him… Just. Like. That. “Oh, good, love, good, lovely, my lovely. Xander. Xander.” Spike rambled and shivered as Xander’s girth opened him up, the heat sending tremors through him. “Fuck. Do it. Fuck. Me.” “Yes, feels fine, thanks for asking,” Xander chuckled on heavy breaths, head falling back, eyes closed as he luxuriated in the new and the old. Words so soft, tickling his senses. “Claim me,” Spike was whispering, quietly – more quiet than quietly – and it took a moment for Xander to figure out that he wasn’t supposed to hear. Spike knew how Xander felt about the severity of that particular sexual rite and had stopped requesting it, but little consideration was required to understand that such a primal need never went away, and Xander suspected that everything they’d been through was enough to spark that need. They fell still, and before Spike could begin to complain, Xander pulled his partner up from the seat to lay against his chest. His hands lovingly caressed the vampire’s taut body, fingers rediscovering the shapes and textures, and infuriating Spike with their reluctance to tend to his most basic desires. “You ever wonder what happened to foreplay?” Xander asked, feeling the tension growing beneath his hands. Spike ground himself onto Xander’s erection. “Xander. Fuck me, just…fuck me. I need you.” Xander kissed Spike’s neck, feeling the trembles as he approached the claim scar. “I know you do, sweetheart. And you’ll get me.” Xander pulled out of Spike’s body, doing his best to remain immune to the hiss of frustrated disappointment. “Why…” “Not here.” “Here is…” “Nuh!” “Xa…” “Nuh! Nuh-uh!” Xander stood and pulled Spike up with him, turning him around to look at the pissed off face. “I want you to go and shower.” “Afterwards.” “Now.” Spike’s eyes travelled down Xander’s body, and he couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the human’s cock as it waved enticingly between them, only to have his hand repeatedly deflected. “What’s got into you?” he frowned, staring into Xander’s eyes, worried now and searching for a clue. “It’s okay, sweetheart, there’s nothing wrong. Just go wash the wax out of your hair, that lube out of your body…” “Are we done?” Spike demanded, aghast. “No,” Xander smiled, and he pulled Spike into a hug, feeling a moment’s resistance before he was wrapped in amorous vampire. He allowed Spike to kiss him, rub against him, but not for long: soon he was easing his partner away and waving him upstairs. “You’re not even going to shower with me?” “You use the house, I’ll use the pool room.” “Ah, fucking hell, this is ridiculous.” “It isn’t, I promise.” “Is this… Wait. Have you remembered something?” “You could say that.” That was enough to pique Spike’s interest, and although the withdrawal was reluctant, it was carried out, leaving Xander to shower alone as he picked over thoughts and feelings. Claiming. The potential violence of it had always frightened him, and now was a good time to ask himself why when he’d known that he would never, never genuinely hurt or damage Spike. Difficult to resolve those past fears with what he knew Spike needed. Or…it had been. Right now there wasn’t that usual plunging feeling in his stomach when he considered taking Spike that way, it was as if… Without that darkness inside him, he was able to consider the act for what it was, or for how it could be interpreted. Make sense? Hardly. It would take some more thought and… This was where he needed Spike. Usually he would blether on about unfocused feelings and half-constructed notions, and Spike would put them all together and make sense of these harder to define ideas. This time he had to figure it out for himself. He left the shower, dried himself off, ambled circuits of the pool and tried not to think about Spike, upstairs and horny to the point of desperation; keeping focused with that in the back of his mind was nigh impossible, but this was for Spike. And Spike…deserved. Okay. It seemed easier to give Spike what he wanted now the darkness was gone. However absurd that seemed. No. Not absurd. Without the darkness… Without the darkness, the act could be viewed as…a kink, albeit a rough and probably bloody one, but it was…a kink. A kink that, post-Repossession, post-cleansing, no longer stirred an unpalatable desire to take and subjugate his partner. Without the threat of that excised scrap of evil somehow influencing him, he was no longer afraid that he would lose control to it and harm Spike when the vampire was at his most vulnerable emotionally, most exposed physically. Claiming – as Spike had always seen it, as Xander was beginning to understand it – wasn’t about an outlet for that darkness, the opportunity to freely abuse, and it certainly wasn’t a vehicle for a malevolent god to possess Spike, it was… “Harmless.” And it sounded better aloud. “Harmless, but…” …something Spike wanted, needed, a connection on the primal level that Xander sought to comprehend. For a long time he’d thought he understood about vampires and strength and power and blood and violence; sure, he’d understood, but now he understood. Vampiric belonging. Xander knew about belonging. Plus, claiming Spike, claiming the demon, was – when Xander shed the fear and stopped forcing himself into a state of correctness – hot. “Damn, yes, it is.” He was already hard at the thought. Guilt had, apparently, had it’s day. … Xander found Spike sprawled across the bed, and even if he looked like he was asleep, Xander knew the vampire was gauging his every breath, tracking his every move, and when he got close enough, his lover would either open his arms in a seductive welcome, or go for the full body tackle. So he stood back from the bed and watched the least controllable part of Spike’s body betray the dozing ruse. “Periscope up, skipper,” Xander observed in his bad English accent, and Spike stretched in response, luscious and tempting and letting a relaxed smile tug at the corner of his mouth. “Going to explain yourself? One minute I’m being nicely shagged, and the next I’m here, frustrated, and…” Spike ran his hands over his head, uselessly trying to flatten his hair. “…curling.” “Get off the bed, Spike.” Spike stopped smoothing and looked at Xander with interest, waiting to see where the hint of authority in his voice would lead. “Off the bed.” Slowly obeying, Spike took his time to slide off of the mattress and onto his feet, taking a step in Xander’s direction before a gesture stopped him. “I am getting laid, aren’t I, Xander?” “Oh, yeah. You’re certainly going to get laid.” The velvety tone of Xander’s voice brought Spike’s cock to full hardness in an instant. “Look at me.” “Am.” “What do you see?” “I do believe it’s a penis with a man attached. Touch excited, love?” “Very. You know what you do to me.” “I know what I’d like to do to you,” Spike smirked, hand moving to his groin at the thought. “No. Don’t touch yourself.” The voice was stern enough to make Spike snatch his hand back, and he looked at Xander with suppressed glee, eyes filled with anticipation. “On your knees, sweetheart.” Now Spike hurried to obey. “Turn around, so you can lean on the bed.” Spike turned and leant, and Xander saw his chest expand with the first excited inhalation. Xander knelt behind him, much as he had downstairs, but now he rested on his heels, hands moving over Spike’s back, buttocks, thighs, returning to cup his balls, massaging them before leaning forward to lick and suck, fairly sharing the attention between them; his hands continued to roam, finally resting with each palm full of silky cheek, thumbs slipping between to tease the vampire’s opening. Spike’s breath shuddered as Xander’s tongue lapped its way upward, taking the place of the teasing thumbs, probing and tickling, loosening and probing harder until Spike was breached and Xander’s tongue was fucking him, wiping his mind of everything beyond that hot, moist digit. He almost howled with disappointment when Xander pulled back. “Not good enough.” “Good enough, so fucking good.” “Offer yourself.” The demon within Spike leapt at the ritualistic phrase; his breath couldn’t decide whether to stop or start at the command, and he choked on his words. “Am, love, offered, open to you.” “More.” Hands shot back, Spike grasping his buttocks and exposing himself to Xander. “Enough?” “I don’t know,” Xander mused in that same seductive manner. “I want to claim you…” “Oh, fu…! Xander, love, Xander…” “…but I think I could hurt myself, so I need something other than just breaking into you with my cock.” “You know,” Spike moaned into the sheets, “you know. How? How do you do that?” “Shh.” “Sorry.” “Shh!” Spike stayed quiet this time and Xander whispered of his approval, before… “Offer yourself.” “I am.” “Offer yourself.” “I— God. Oh, God…” Spike indelicately forced his index fingers through the tight rings of muscle, and he shuddered with a gamut of emotions as he began to ease himself open for Xander. “Better,” came the praise the demon craved as it bent to its sire’s will. “More. Offer yourself.” For a moment nothing more happened than the fevered panting of a vampire trying to retain some self-control, then two more fingers pushed inside the vampire’s body, and the hands shook as the fingers spread, pulled. Offered. Fleeting panic rippled through Xander as he saw traces of blood on pale fingers made whiter with the strain of fighting the strong muscles that were trying to clamp protectively shut, but he knew he was getting this right, pandering to the demon, the lover, the kink. He thought about stopping to confirm this with Spike, but had no wish to see a vampire spontaneously combust with frustration. Or so he told himself. He gently circled one finger inside the vampire’s body, touching quivering fingers and skin like slicked satin. “This is lovely. Going to fuck this.” “Xander, please.” “Not Xander.” “Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Don’t make me… Fuck. Sire.” “Show me my childe, I want to fuck my childe.” “Oh, fuck, I’m gonna come, don’t want to come.” Xander grabbed Spike’s balls and yanked down, harder than a human could bear: it made Spike yelp, but that was followed by breathless laughter. “Barely helping. Love it, Xan. Fucking love it.” “Offer yourself.” Spike dragged in another breath and finally let the demon come to the fore, forcing himself further open and letting out a sob as Xander – sire – explored and experienced, possessed what was rightfully his, finding and scrubbing a rough fingertip over Spike’s prostate; Spike pushed his face into the bedclothes, trying to be the good childe, silent and not begging although he so wanted to beg, but even without the begging, Xander knew, and added more fingers, and Spike’s body protested against the intrusion, protested and…gave. The fingers kept fucking him and fucking him, tormenting his prostate, twisting and wriggling to inflame the delicate inner walls. Fucking him, and slickly, and the knowledge that Xander had done this, had made him bleed, was letting him bleed for his sire was too much. The vampire yelled his apologies as he came, muscles almost cramping with the strength of the spasms, and most of Xander’s hand was fucking him in time with the spurts, fucking him as they lessened, fucking him toward his next orgasm as he whimpered in pleasure and desperation and swore his love in a tirade as his sensitised body obeyed its sire, cock never softening, his fingertips becoming numb as they obediently held back the pulsing flesh. Xander grabbed his own erection and pushed into Spike, scraping past the fingers, and… “Let go, you can let go. But touch me, feel my dick where it’s sliding in and out of you. Sliding in your blood.” “Tribute,” Spike barely managed to mumble. “Yes, tribute. Accepted with love. Your sire loves you, baby.” “Thank you, Sire,” was humbly offered, “Xander,” as the demon slipped away. “No. My childe, want to fuck my childe.” A few enthusiastic thrusts and Xander watched with the usual fascination as, once again, Spike’s spine became knobbly and pronounced as the demon came to the fore, forgetting that the claws would be a part of the demonic package until they trailed over his cock and made him shout in surprise and soar toward a speedy climax, knowing he was grazed, his blood was mingling with Spike’s. Xander wished he was in a position to be bitten. Fed upon. The thought was enough, and he was coming, knowing he was taking Spike with him, coming harder with the knowledge and managing a babbled version of the claiming words before falling over Spike’s back, biting hard into his shoulder, and thrashing a furious orgasm from the both of them. “Sweet godly fuck,” Xander gasped as he collapsed on Spike, feeling the vampire’s equally breathless chuckle as a vibration through his body. “Blessed.” “We are.” Xander slipped out of Spike, sat back on his heels, and rested his hands on Spike’s backside, once again experiencing a moment’s misgiving over the blood, but knowing he was right. Knowing this wasn’t finished quite yet. “On the bed,” he told Spike as his breathing flattened out. “Come on then.” “You. Get on the bed.” Spike didn’t bother to argue, he shook his game face away and weakly clambered onto the mattress, slumping with a happy sigh. As he sat on the floor recovering, human plus Xander deliberately thought about the power he’d been given, the potential within him, and he used it in the most selfish way possible. He mentally pictured his deflating cock becoming hard again, felt a tingle rush through his body, and hoped his penis wasn’t about to burst into flames. Hard. Instantly. Wow. This was the man he’d always fantasised over being, a should-be immortal with the power to right multiple wrongs, and all he wanted was a permanent boner for his boyfriend. Xander grinned to himself. He was just so…Xander. “I want you hard,” he told Spike. “Now.” “You think this thing is going away for a second?” Spike asked as he swatted his own, very rigid cock. “Feel like I’m permanently on the verge of blowing.” “Stay on your back but turn around.” “Another order? You’ll be having me salute you next.” “From this angle, the salute is pretty much covered.” Spike grabbed his cock and gave a wave with it, then shifted into the position Xander wanted, barely still before Xander was crawling over him, mouth zooming in so his tongue could catch the drip of clear fluid that was hanging tremulously from the tip of Spike’s cock. At the feel of Spike’s fingernails raking over his thighs, Xander looked down the length of their bodies, groaning at the blatant desire on Spike’s face, relishing the whine of frantic longing as Xander allowed his hips to lower and his blood-stained erection to slide into the eagerly waiting mouth. Something Spike had wanted forever, something he’d confessed to in the knowledge that Xander would never permit it, and now… Permanently on the verge of blowing must’ve been right, because when Xander sucked hard, Spike bucked and shot into Xander’s throat, erratically fucking up at Xander and unable to mirror the long, languid thrusts of the man himself. The self-control Xander had mustered didn’t feel like it was going to last long, especially as he felt Spike groping around for a tube of lubricant and soon after experienced the cool slide of long fingers exploring between his cheeks, working in, out, into him and drumming on his prostate. “Don’t make me come,” he whined between licks as he cleaned up his partner’s damaged body, and the deep, vibrating hmm of contentment that stimulated his overly sensitive glans was certainly no help. “I want to see how long I can— Ah, Spike, no, don’t, don’t, oh…do, yes, fuck, yes!” … They woke up curled together, heads at the head of the bed, feet at the foot; Xander couldn’t remember getting there but guessed Spike must’ve been awake for a few seconds longer than him and carried out the rearranging. They tried not to fall sleep in a sixty-nine as Xander had had the misfortune of being woken several times in the past by Spike’s erecting dick trying to penetrate a nostril. Nasal sex: not a favourite. “That work?” Xander asked in a dozy murmur as he snuggled closer to Spike. “As a claim? I think you needed to be claimed.” “Mmm.” “Is that specific? Or one ‘mmm’ covers all?” “Mmm.” Xander drew lazy patterns over the vampire’s skin, following the dips and curves, smiling as skin and muscles tightened and twitched beneath his touch when he aroused or tickled. A low purr rumbled from the vampire, and Xander doubted he’d ever been – ever could be – more content. “I love you,” he told Spike. “I so love you.” “Mmm,” was almost lost in the purr. “Do you remember when we were getting ready to face up to Taranis – before we even knew the name – you kept muttering to yourself, one question: where is our battleground?” “Mmm.” Xander laid a hand on his own chest for a moment, before pressing it to Spike’s. “Mmm,” Spike agreed. “My battle’s over. The one that’s been going on inside me for…all my life, I think. No more…discontent. I feel at peace. With myself, in myself.” Blue eyes opened and fixed on Xander. “ “That hole inside…” Xander patted Spike’s chest. “The one that threatened to swallow you up…?” “Gone, love. All gone. You found all the pieces and put me together again.” “It wasn’t me, though, it was…” “You. It was you.” A glimpse of the happiness on Xander’s face when he allowed himself to believe that, and the eyes drooped shut again. “Do you remember…” Xander stopped with a short laugh. “Do you remember when all our sentences didn’t begin, ‘do you remember’?” “Mmm.” “Do you remember…how nice it feels for you to be inside me? Not that I want to disturb you, ‘cause, look at you, poor old guy who can’t keep his eyes open and—” Spike was on Xander before he could manage a single undignified eep. “Sire!” Xander proclaimed himself defensively. “Consort,” Spike growled back, and the challenge was on: fucker or fuckee. Spike threw Xander onto his back, grabbing him behind the knees and tugging his legs up, over the vampire’s shoulders, lining up his erection and… “Spike, be careful, please, don’t…” A moment of absolute contrition when Spike believed he was about to hurt Xander, and that pause was enough: Xander’s foot came down to shove Spike in the chest and send him flying. “Sucker!” Xander taunted as he sprang up to throw himself over Spike, wrestling the vampire’s legs open and keeping them apart to allow his fingers to snake into Spike’s body. “Oh, you feel good, can’t wait to fuck you.” With a groan and a full-body tremble, Spike arched and offered, and Xander’s lust-fogged brain was just figuring out too easy when the cool hand that had started to encouragingly stroke his inner thigh grabbed a good pinch of ball hair and yanked. Xander yowled and sprang away, clutching his wounded parts, glaring at his widely grinning partner. “Sucker,” was thrown right back. “Could be,” Xander agreed, glare turning to something far lustier as his line of vision dropped to the vampire’s groin. “Going to bite it off?” “And deprive myself until it grows back? No way.” Xander made a move toward Spike and Spike flinched. “Don’t bloody trust you.” With a laugh, Xander successfully got a grip on Spike’s ankles and hefted him back down the bed. “And you’re bloody right not to!” Xander dipped forward and playfully bit the shaft of Spike’s cock, and as the vampire wavered between warranted revenge, or capitulation and the accompanying blowjob, Xander made up mind for him by transferring the bite to his foreskin and almost providing a new piercing. “Ow, fuck, git! Shit!” A hint of blood flavoured Xander’s mouth, and he withdrew sharply. “Too much?” “More!” Spike jabbed his cock at Xander’s mouth, who took it in willingly, laving the sore sport then transferring his ministrations to the leaking slit, backing off to give his fingers room to slide alongside and prise the hole wider as Xander forced his tongue deeper. “Xander…” came the groan as encouraging hands tangled in dark hair. “You know what that…” “Okay,” Xander said brightly as he pulled away. “Fuck! Bastard.” “Bastard? That’s a reflection on Pat and Moira and I may have to…” “Lay back and take it like a man.” Another yelp as Xander was attacked, and this time Spike was there, tucked just where he wanted to be between Xander’s legs and pushing himself into the heat of the human’s body, trying to restrain the token struggles without alarming his partner. “Yessss,” Xander hissed as he was breached, and it still wasn’t reassurance enough. “Tell me what you’ll say if you ever need me to stop,” Spike murmured. “It’s never going to come to that,” Xander panted as he fucked himself on the body that remained static above him. “Trust you, Spike. You know me, and I trust you.” “Love…” “If you don’t fuck me, I’ll have to…” The suggestion of being prised off and Spike was pounding into his lover, possessively and… He found himself being rolled, and still he thrust, holding Xander in place above him as Xander laughed with horny breathlessness and tried to pry himself away. Rolling, fucking hard, and rolling again. Too far and toppling off the side of the bed; Spike spun them fast, ensuring he hit the floor first, landing with an oomph yet still fucking. They tumbled across the floor until Xander was above Spike, straddling his body; Spike stopped fighting and simply gazed in lust and admiration at Xander, the frown of concentration that creased his brow, the way his eyes were squeezed shut as he rocked and rocked, rubbing Spike’s cock over his hot spot until both bodies were quivering on the edge of orgasm. Xander’s eyes slowly opened and met Spike’s; in that instant they felt the power flare between them, the ultimate joining: the belonging. “Fill me,” Xander whispered, hoarse Gaelic from a dry throat, and Spike was already coming as he responded to the plea, body tightening and hips jerking upward with each orgasmic spasm, and it seemed to begin all over again as he heard Xander’s cry of pleasure and felt semen spattering over his body in hot, creamy streaks.
A slow keel forward and Xander was welcomed into Spike’s arms, cuddled as his breathing calmed and heartbeat slowed. “You tired of me saying that I’ve loved you forever?” “No.” “’Cause… I’ve loved you forever, Spike. Have, and will.” “Never stop telling me.” Spike’s voice cracked, and they were rolling again, this time so Xander could wrap his partner in a comforting hug as the emotional crash they’d been anticipating finally happened, and Spike curled into Xander’s embrace and wept the last of the recent past’s damage away. … Xander tucked Spike into bed and left him dozing, taking himself downstairs in pursuit of drinks and munchies, but the moment he was out of the room Spike was awake, initially listening to Xander’s footsteps but gradually having his attention stolen by the house’s air of peace. Peace. Spike smiled to himself: he could get used to this. He felt the need to get up and wander – not following Xander, but touring the rooms, examining each one as if it was the first time, and they all felt as fresh and renewed as he did, Xander did. Life did. He let out a protesting wah! as Hamish announced himself by means of a cold, wet nose poking exactly where it didn’t belong, and even under the weight of Spike’s glare the dog didn’t bother to pretend that the intrusion was accidental. Spike skirted the grinning menace and went back to the bedroom for a pair of sweatpants before continuing his tour, wolfhound in rambling pursuit. Spike couldn’t avoid listening to Xander, not that he truly wanted to, but he was singing that bloody song again, singing in tune and making the most of it… “…Free as the wind,
lighter than air. Still, as far as Spike was concerned, his improved ability hadn’t lead to an improvement in taste, and couldn’t he move on to something even a little less naff? He’ll never make that note. Xander made the note. Spike’s chest ached with complete adoration. “Xander. Lovely,” Spike whispered, matching the soft tone with the sappiest, thankfully unobserved, smile as he entered the kitchen to find Xander at the window, staring out into the moonlit garden. “That’s a pensive face. What are you thinking about?” “Lots.” Xander turned away from the window and leant
against the counter. “I’m going to build
up that area over there…” Xander flung a
hand toward the left of the garden, giving Spike a rough idea of where he
meant. “…and make a waterfall – small,
nothing… “Still in your head, is it? The sound of the water from Sleat?” Xander nodded. “It’s…restful. Evocative. I want a waterfall.” “And I want to make wine. I’ll race you.” “You want to make wine?” “Only because Angel once told me I’d never have the patience.” “Does it matter to prove him wrong?” “Of course.” “Then, even if we have to cheat…” “You’re such a bad influence on me.” “Oh, balls, compared to you I’m…” Spike distracted Xander by making what, at first sight, he interpreted as inverted commas in the air, then Xander realised he was looking at the fingers that had given him such free access to Spike’s body. Despite the blush, his whole self twinged pleasurably. “Yeah, you’re right, you’re just the goodest, bestest childe ever,” he smiled, ensuring that Spike visibly shared the twinge. “What else?” “When?” “Lots.” “Lots? Oh, lots! Umm… Shutters.” “Don’t need ‘em, do we?” Spike announced with a mile-wide grin, helping himself to the remainder of Xander’s sandwich. “I was thinking… Morning, you half awake, getting the fright of your life because the sunlight’s pouring in and you’ve forgotten that you’re immune…” “You don’t think it’ll stop, do you? That today was it? I’ve kept hoping for an hour in the sun, maybe…” “No. This is you now.” “Sure?” “Yeah.” “What makes you so sure?” Xander shrugged. “I’m certain. Don’t know why, but I am.” His fingers went to his earlobe and rubbed. “Piercings.” “Now?” “Tomorrow?” “Tomorrow,” Spike agreed. “You think we should close the shutters then?” “No, I’ve changed my mind. I think you need proof of the permanence of that gift; if the shock gives you a coronary it’s not like you’re going to die from it.” “What if the shock started my heart beating? That’d be novel.” “Spike… If I were you, I wouldn’t even joke about it.” Spike snerked and moved on. “What else?” “What else… Okay…” Xander hesitated, flicked Spike an uneasy look. “William.” “Any particular version?” “My William. Your William. Our nineteenth-century William. But I… Not a biggie but still a bad times question,” Xander warned, and Spike waited expectantly, looking entirely bullet-proof. “Why couldn’t he read? I always regretted that he couldn’t because I think he would have got such pleasure from it, but I’ve never been able to figure out why he couldn’t.” Spike didn’t even stop to think. “They told him he couldn’t. Told me I couldn’t,” he corrected. “You believed them?” “Right then? I wouldn’t have questioned anything they told me. You want— No, what am I thinking? You don’t want examples.” “That’s…horrible.” “I know. And it’s over, love. Over.” “You ever figure out how they took you?” Spike gave a soft snort of laughter and shook his head. “Must’ve been on one hell of a bender.” “Really? As harmless – potentially harmless – as that?” “As sinister as me getting thoroughly snockered.” “You seem… Not okay with it, I’m not that stupid, but…” “I’m okay.” “You can’t be, not with that.” “Did us a favour, didn’t they? I wouldn’t have been able to answer the call of the family, but with Spike out of it, William followed his homing instinct and found you.” “No.” “Yes. After what we’ve been through, how can you find it hard to accept that everything happens for a reason?” “You can believe what you like, but I can’t see them as anything but sadistic fucks and if they were lined up on the drive, I’d fry them in a second.” “And I’d watch and applaud, I promise you.” Spike descended into deep, silent thought. Xander made their drinks and took Spike’s to him, placing it on the nearest counter so he’d have both arms free to give his partner a hug. “Know what else?” “Tell me,” Xander said as he rocked. “Maybe it’s why an unworthy demon was found worthy of you, of all of this. Didn’t go to Hell for my punishment, did I? Found it here on Earth.” Xander kissed him hard, not wanting to think about a barbaric suggestion that could perfectly well be true in this screwed up existence. It might have broken his heart if Spike hadn’t been positively radiating strength and invulnerability. “I was also thinking,” Xander said between kisses, “of how powerful Pat would have been if he hadn’t chose to risk what he had, if he hadn’t shared his energy to keep Beth and Jake and Moira with him.” “You think he shouldn’t have done that? Waited for a Repossession with everyone living a natural life?” “No. He’d have been waiting forever, wouldn’t he? Taranis would have made sure of that.” Spike made an agreeing noise and helped himself to the next kiss. “I was thinking more about the ‘power corrupts’ premise.” “Doesn’t have to.” “That’s where I was when you walked in.” “It won’t corrupt you.” With a laugh, Xander stepped away. “Damn. You really can read me as easily as that book.” “Yep, and you’re full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors and…” Spike paused as he turned to pick up his tea. “What happened to this?” Xander tilted to look around Spike and see where he was pointing. There was a distinct dink in the refrigerator door. “Umm, yeah… That was me, I did it.” “When? Did you hurt yourself, are you…” “I did it just now, when I fetched the milk. Jake was right, about this stuff being quite simple.” “You mean you— And you understand, just like that.” “Not just like anything. And it doesn’t need understanding, it’s instinctive, like the ‘burn’.” Xander joined Spike at the fridge, took the vampire’s hand and put it over the dent. “You have to see what you want, in your mind’s eye. You fix it in your mind.” “I can’t do this, you daft bugger.” “Don’t laugh, I know what I’m talking about, so, yes, you can.” “I’m not like you, I’m…” “Not so different, so don’t try that on with me. You’re one of us and we all have the power.” “I’m…” “The grandson of a god and I refuse to believe you’ve been cheated on this because it’s what Hugh would have wanted.” “Oh, for— What? What do I do?” Spike shook Xander’s hand off and slapped his own back over the dent. “Don’t touch it, tiny bit away. Yeah, like that.” “Stupid-arse idea.” “Concentrate on the door instead of complaining and it’ll happen. See the metal come smooth and it’ll happen.” Spike gave up on the disparaging mutters and, with a long-suffering sigh, screwed his eyes closed and concentrated on the mental picture, thought about the fridge door being flat. There was the briefest time, probably less than a second, when an alien squiggle of energy seemed about to unfurl within him, ready to…do…something, but then, abruptly, the moment was about standing in the kitchen with his gorgeous, very-naked-beneath-the-robe boyfriend, but actually touching up a fridge; he felt more than silly about it. Dropping his hand he spun to face Xander. “See?” he accused crossly. Xander took Spike’s head in his hands and turned his face back in the direction of the refrigerator. The one with the flawless door. “See?” he smiled, and delicately closed Spike’s flapping jaw. The cartoon blink was swiftly followed by a cartoon shake of the head. “Well…fuck me.” “Good idea. Go to bed. I’ll be there soon.” “Consort,” Spike said sharply; Xander shuffled closer to Spike, combed his fingers through unruly blond waves while submissively bowing his head; un-submissively, cheekily, and rather predictably for this particular consort, he nipped his partner’s neck. “I’ll be whatever you want,” Xander promised, knowing that with this latest unnerving turn of events Spike would need to stamp a little of his authority somewhere to reassure himself he was still in control, and stamping it on Xander’s ass was as good a place as any. Better than most, in fact. … Spike was already upstairs and having one of his heart-to-hearts with Hamish by the sound of it, but Xander felt the need to check out the shrine, carry out a little pointless tidying and light a candle. He needed to say goodnight to his grandmother, pandering to a compelling bond that, not so long ago, he wouldn’t have believed possible to forge. He stood gazing at the picture for a long moment before kissing the tip of one finger and placing it on Grace’s cheek, feeling a benign stirring within himself in response to this grandson’s ability to love someone he would never truly know. “Goodnight, Grace. I hope you like the name. Would your son know if you hated it? Pat seemed to think… No, you’d find a way to tell me, wouldn’t you? Tell me directly. There’d be a way. I seem to have learnt there’s always a way.” Turning away from the shrine he noticed where the boxes from Sunnydale and the weapons chest had been pushed into the corner, a ‘whenever’ placement as opposed to the ‘now’ they’d projected when they were further into the room. “Whenever’s good,” Xander confirmed with a nod of approval. Because it could wait. It could all wait. … Xander passed Hamish on the way into the bedroom, suffering a lope-by licking as he said his goodnight to the hound. “Is there something you’re not telling me about you and Hame? ‘Cause the way he looked when he walked out I expected to find a dog biscuit on the dresser, know what I’m saying?” Xander kidded. “The love that dare not bark its name?” With a laugh, Xander dropped onto the bed alongside Spike; the vampire was on him immediately, teasing open the robe and kissing the rapidly exposed flesh. “Damn, I forgot, I’m supposed to be all…consorty. How would you like me?” “Like this,” Spike groaned, already completely immersed in what, or rather who he was doing. “Your body, this body… No wonder William was obsessed with getting it.” “William loved me.” “He did. Does. I do.” The robe was off, and Spike gently pushed Xander flat, taking his time to explore, touch, kiss every inch of Xander’s new old body, an erotic feast for his senses that left Xander mindlessly fucking thin air as he closed his eyes and fantasised about release, refusing to make demands while Spike was being the master. He was rolled onto his stomach, robe tossed onto the floor, and the act of exploration resumed. “This is all mine,” Spike told Xander with satisfaction as he kissed a final toe, having worked his devoted way from scalp to feet. “All yours,” Xander agreed on a sigh, and he’d have been purring if he could – sadly not a skill that had passed between them. An almost bite to Xander’s heel, another to his Achilles tendon, his calf, back of his knee, and Xander was shivering in anticipation, fucking the mattress and resisting the temptation to spread his legs in an offer because that was Spike’s decision, they were on Spike’s timing. And Spike was in no hurry, he was too busy being enthralled by the effect his prolonged and largely non-sexual attention had on Xander as he patiently rediscovered his consort after their recent experiences. He ran his teeth – not his fangs – over skin that reeked of lust and expectation, a body that was almost vibrating with need, and considered that perhaps Xander hadn’t grasped the largely non-sexual aspect of this; he grinned to himself as he left a hickey on the man’s right buttock. “I’m being good, I’m being so good, and patient, and trying to be the perfect consort, but… Spiiiiike!” “I’m…reacquainting myself.” “Why? I’m me, Xander, consort, I’m yours, I’m – I’m…dying from orgasm deprivation.” “You can’t die of frustration. You can’t…die.” Xander’s complaints, his squirming, stopped instantly. “Wow. Sounds real when you say it like that.” “Real enough for me to keep you in this state for…” “Don’teventhinkit.” Xander managed one of his odd horny noises when Spike took pity on him and parted his buttocks to introduce a cool tongue to a hot opening; another, coarser sound accompanied the actual penetration and Xander settled for senseless moaning as Spike dipped deep and finished reacquainting himself. “You have any…” “Oh, God, don’t stop, don’t…” “You have any idea how exciting it is for me to taste myself in you?” “As exciting as when you fuck me?” “That a hint?” “Please, baby, sweetheart, honey, Master. Fuck! What’s gonna work here, ya damn sadist?” Spike laughed and encouraged Xander to part his legs further, settling over his body to ghost infuriatingly gentle kisses over his neck and shoulders. “Jesus, you really ha…ha…hate… Oh. Ohhh.” Spike pressed into Xander’s body, putting a halt to the complaints and nudging Xander back in the direction of moaning senselessly. “All right?” he asked with quiet concern. “Need more slick?” “Good, I’m good. Oh, fuck, so…” “Shh.” Moving slowly, gently, Spike carried on with the kisses, the loving touches. He felt Xander relax and tense, relax, tense, responding to the tenderness he was being shown yet wanting more of, and from, the hard flesh that was presently the source of all wonderfulness in his world. “Spike…” “‘Out of your whole life
give but a moment’,” Spike whispered. “Not just a moment,” Xander swore. “Forever.” “‘Ah, Sweet’,” Spike
continued with a smile in his voice. A scrape of fangs and Xander pushed urgently up onto his elbows, tilting his head and accepting the vampire’s bite with a gasp and shudder, entire self – emotional, physical, spiritual – juddering with bone-deep fulfilment as Spike took him, body and blood, feeding and fucking – still tenderly, tenderly – and giving his lover a climax that seemed. To last. Forever. “It’s what you wanted, Xander. You are everything to me.” “Uh-huh.” “Everything.” “Sweetheart…” “Everything.” “I am. So. Fucking. Claimed.” … Spike was back to wandering around the house, he couldn’t seem to help himself. Every inch of everywhere needed to be explored and familiarised, be it lover or abode. Despite feeling as sharp as a razor and constantly remembering new things about his lives, it was nearly impossible to recall the teeth-jarring racket that used to permeate the very fabric of the building; maybe that’s how it’s meant to be, he considered as he blew Grace a kiss and moved on. Selective. Being selective. Selectively opting to disregard the fraught moments of the recent past, and appreciate the peace and contentment of this present, this future. He no longer needed reassurance that he was safe and secure, no longer feared that he would lose Xander: Spike felt his own strength, knew Xander’s, and the time to come was full of promise. Happiness. They were surrounded by love, by family – families – and… He would walk in the sun. Unbelievably better still: he couldn’t wait to see Angel’s face! A circuit of the piano, fingers trailing over the French polished surface, and he stopped to try out a few chords, playing around with the verse of a song he’d been mentally composing for Xander, and finding he was able to exploit all the hours of practise that his partner had put in on the instrument. “Try picking up that damn guitar,” he heard clearly, even at this distance from Xander in the bedroom, and he didn’t bother to stifle the laugh. In the study he paused to look at the photograph of the Harris’, still wanting to crush the image – the people, if he were honest – and he found himself thinking of Taranis with lessening animosity. It was a shame that the god abhorred demons, it meant the rejection of the one grandchild he’d get on with like… Spike smirked. …a house on fire. Up the stairs, and Hamish was in his usual place on the landing, sprawled like a shag-pile sentinel and hardly being bothered to raise his head when Spike knelt alongside him on one knee to give him some fuss. Eventually rising and stepping over the tangle of limbs, Spike leant on the gallery banister and looked around the hallway, once again absorbing the silence, the peace. In the midst of which… The bond was, allegedly, no longer sensitive, but a distinct tingle ran through him, head to toes, and he knew instantly that it was Xander, waiting and wanting him again. Not much of a wild guess: Xander wanting him. But the tingle… Funny old life. A smile touched his lips. A smile of perfect contentment. Which widened as Xander came to claim him, hot chest pressing against his cool back, hands sliding around Spike’s waist and down, rhythmically caressing belly and thighs as Spike’s untouched cock perked up interestedly at the attention, however indirect. “Coming to bed, sweetheart?” “On my way.” “I don’t think I’m going to sleep tonight. I have so much making up to do for all the times when I was too tired to play.” Spike leant back, the heat of the embrace making him sigh with satisfaction. “What's on your mind?” Xander asked as he buried his face in the vampire’s hair and nuzzled. What indeed. “Connections,
reactions. Who, why, what.
Cause, effect. Things that go
bump in the life,” Spike mused. Xander turned his lover around and reached up to caress his
face, gazing into his eyes with adoration and longing that would never grow
old. “And then…” Xander
suggested, “…there is simply…fate.” “Fate,” Spike agreed. They shared a smile. “The philosophical pondering of which can be left for another day, another week, another…” Xander grinned. Millennia, he thought, but he still couldn’t say it. “Yes. Another…” Spike agreed softly as his hand rested on Xander’s chest, delighting himself with a reminder that he could make the young man’s heart thump powerfully with the merest touch. “Thank you, Xander.” “For what?” Spike shrugged. “Everything.” Xander thought about that for a moment. “Know what? You don’t get to thank me for that. Everything isn’t about what I do for you, or what you do for me. Everything is…us. And we deserve everything.” “Very profound.” “This whole day has been about the profound. Even the profound sap. Now, I’m thinking…no thinking. Doing.” They kissed a long, sweet, gratifying kiss, that tried its best to remain unhurried and undemanding. “Love you, Xander. Love you.” “I love you too. Forever.” A deeper kiss. “Now… Come back to bed. Please? Or I’ll have you up against the wall, right here, ‘cause…” He banged his erection against Spike’s hip. “Damn thing will not lie down and die. Must be a combination of vampire blood and…and…” “Godly horn.” “Relatively godly horn.” “My man of perpetual tumescence.” “Absolutely. Whatever that is.” “Might have to be the wall, I’m… I just need to…” Spike was quiet again, helplessly ensnared by the long-desired tranquillity, the way it burrowed inside and touched his non-existent soul; Xander understood but refused to go there, deliberately wrecking the moment by starting to sing… “You see this guy? The notes breaking with laughter rather than inability as Spike prodded him in ticklish spots for daring to corrupt the serenity. Before long, the prods became knowing touches, and wicked smirks were masked by lips that were more interested in kissing than taunting; Xander, eyes dark with craving, began to draw Spike back to the bedroom. “Come with me. I need you.” The vampire smiled, adored, desired; let himself be led. Let himself be jumped, and against the wall was looking like a serious option as he surrendered to the onslaught of kisses and touches, the irresistible sensation of hot, hard flesh being dragged over hip and belly to grind against his own considerable show of interest. “All night, eh?” “Yeah. All night. Want you.” “Well… Better get some beer in.” “Profound,” Xander laughed against his neck. “I’ll show you profound. Better still, did I ever show you that trick…” They stumbled in the direction of their bedroom, taking forever to get there, being hampered by the considerable amount of kisses it took to traverse a single foot of floor; they almost made it through the doorway. “Wha…why? Why are we stopping?” “That window,” Spike nodded toward the stained glass panel set high in the end wall. “Is it beautiful when the sun comes through it?” “I, umm…” Spike kinked an eyebrow and waited; Xander hugged him. “I’ve only seen the sun come through it when you’ve not been here. You’re not here and nothing’s beautiful.” “Tomorrow, then. You, me, dawn, no shutters; it’ll be a treat.” Xander eased back, leant their brows together. “I’ll make sure you’re awake.” “Yeah, I’d’ve put money on that.” “Spike… Now? Us?” The whole of Spike responded to the soft plea. Xander, wanting him, and… Such an appealing man, outside, inside, and having proved himself to be everything that Spike could possibly ever want. Yes, tomorrow he would stop and stare at the world passing by, but now…all other distractions were forgotten: nothing existed beyond Xander, his Xander… Friend,
guardian, sire, bane, true love, prop, teacher, saviour, consort, true love,
treasure, porn star, partner.
Aggravation. True love. Family.
Redemption. True love. Light.
Purity. Laughter. Eternity.
Truth. All. …who had loved him forever. “Sweetheart?” “Yes, love. I’m yours. I…”
Nearly all other distractions were forgotten. Their fingers entwined and Xander patiently waited out the night’s last hesitation, and it was worth the wait, utterly and perfectly, worth every second of every minute it had taken to get here. The love and pride, the wonder, swelled and surged, all in uncharacteristic silence; Xander was choked, there were no words. No words as, without reaction or comment, but with a nonchalant – some might say Big Bad – flick of a finger… Spike turned out the light.
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