Collective Experience: part thirteen
by Josie_h
Notes

 

Xander woke with a Spike shaped pillow under him and a lovely full feeling in his behind. Realizing he was still straddling the body under him, he rolled off to the side of his still snoozing companion.  He grinned at the sweet ‘plop’ sound, but immediately missed the sensation of being full and connected. He lifted his head enough to see the time – happily noting the day instead. It was Saturday. He breathed a sigh of relief and snuggled into his partner’s side to return to his very pleasant dreams.

 

Spike woke early afternoon and smiled as he noted the rested visage of his partner. In his slumber, the boy looked younger, unworried and content. He placed his ear to the broad chest and listened. Heartbeat loud and strong, but something *was* different. The beat was slower, impossibly so, Olympic athlete slow. He pulled away and began to examine more closely noticing other tiny changes, the few silver hairs that had started to show in the dark locks had gone, and the hair had a brighter sheen and silky feel that reminded him of the richest mink.

 

He pulled up the covers. The body was still the one he loved, with muscles of a man who valued his fitness, but they now seemed more defined, the skin more taut and lines accentuated. It was as though some sculptor had rubbed Spike’s own living breathing ‘David’ with the finest sandpaper, and left the world to gasp at the beauty of the result.

 

The vampire sighed, stroked the cheek of his obviously exhausted mate, then left him to sleep on. He retreated to the bathroom to relieve a painful erection under the jets of a hot shower then went to cook a much needed snack for his slumbering significant other.

 

Xander woke alone, rolled and scratched his belly idly. As he placed his face into Spike’s pillow and inhaled the familiar scent, he realized that, for a change, he felt an indescribably strong thrum of contentment somewhere at his core. He rolled out of bed and still naked, padded into the kitchen. After the passion and intensity of the past twenty four hours, the human consort smiled at sheer domesticity of scene he encountered.

 

Spike was frying eggs, bacon and what appeared to be a tomato based sauce, and was busy buttering two pieces of wholegrain toast clad only in a bath towel toga and MP3 headphone’s playing Spiderbait’s version of ‘Black Betty’ (loud enough to be audible even to human ears). The breakfast bar was set for two with orange juice at one place and a glass of the best O positive at the other. Xander took the advantage and pounced on his distracted mate, grabbing him around the waist from behind and proceeding to kiss, lick, and finally bite the slender neck hard enough to draw blood. He slid one hand down over his lover’s slim hip and around to cup the interested organ tenting the vampire’s towel.

 

Xander dropped to his knees and tugged at the towel, at the same time managing to grind out, with a Spike worthy smirk…“Keep cooking… if you can.” Then slid his mouth over his lover’s very erect shaft

 

Spike gave a lust-filled groan, widened his stance and braced himself. Xander smiled around the hard flesh in his mouth as he noted his cook’s careful attention to heat reduction of all the outlets on the stove. He then ‘upped the anti’ by humming deliberately as the cook continued to give attention to each of the dishes in turn, despite the assault on his manhood (and concentration). Eventually, however, Spike maneuvered himself to lean back on against the sink and gave in to the determinedly loving, hot mouth.

 

Before Xander had finished, Spike pulled away, turned off all the appliances and pushed his partner onto his back on the cool kitchen tiles. “Mine” was hissed through fangs and a dazed Xander realized rather belatedly that the body impaling itself on him was slicked and ready courtesy of previous night’s activities.

 

“Oh God! Spike!”

 

Spike began to ride him hard, grabbed the brunette’s hand and wrapped it around still saliva slicked erection and began pumping in time with the rise and fall impaling body.

 

Just as they both began to feel the tug of climax, Spike leaned forward and presented his neck to Xander, scratching the wound from the previous night, and let his own fangs connect with the tanned skin over his mate’s jugular. They both drank deeply and came, each pulse of red fluid now matching the jet of warm seed gushing in, and a cool one splashing on, the climaxing bodies.

 

 

A few minutes and couple of rather sticky towels in the washing machine later, the two were sitting side by side at the breakfast bar, closest legs intertwined at the ankles. Xander was eating his way through a hearty repast of three freshly prepared fried eggs (the originals having made their way to the trash after the ‘timing’ went wrong during preparation), a large pile of crisp lean bacon and toast with jam. Over the past weeks he had learned that the extra large helping was so that Spike might steal from his plate… after the vampire finished his own meal of blood with Wheetabix ‘sprinkles, and the obligatory under boiled egg… (The contents of which he seemed to insist upon slurping from a teaspoon while in game face, eliciting the obligatory ‘Oh Gahhh’ and apparently long suffering eye-roll from his lover).

 

 

It was their last evening together before Spike returned to the east coast. Little had been said and Xander seemed content with numerous gently touches, passing caresses. The instant the sun went down, Xander sat, then snuggled, next to his lover on the outside lounge setting, both with beer in hand, and silently watched the sky turn from orange to pink to crimson and finally… ‘‘Black with twinklie bits.”

 

“What?”

 

“Black with twinklie bits… Space… you know… Red Dwarf?...Holly?… Lister?… ‘Black with twinklie bits.’”

 

Spike snorted and turned to face his lover with an utterly incredulous look , “Good lord… Are you *really* channeling the inner Dru or just having a ‘moment’ pet.”

 

Xander rolled his eyes and smiled… “You know for an old English dead guy, you really do need some education in Cult past the seventies!”

 

“Oi!” Spike paused for a moment, narrowed his eyes then replied with a wicked flash of yellow, “That the eighteen seventies or the nineteen seventies? ‘Cause as of last night there’s a pretty good chance of you n’ me both makin’ it to the *twenty seventies* then let’s us have this conversation again and see who is up with modern culture ay??”

 

Xander stilled suddenly and went utterly silent. He knew Spike could hear it too, the extraordinarily slow heart beat and slowed breathing pattern, even though he was relatively tense. He pulled from their embrace a little and began to trace small patterns on Spike’s thigh with his free hand and stared at the ground with his good eye.

 

“God, you know? I never really thought about that… so… um… I know this is going to sound *so* the stupid guy kind of question…  but… how have you adapted? I mean, even this morning and with the ‘Spiderbait’, OK five or six years old now but still this decade? And your clothes? And the hair…? Gahhh! You are *so*!!!… Second thoughts… it really wouldn’t matter what century someone like you lived in, you are beautiful…so…” Xander stopped the quiet rant and dropped his tone still more, “How will *I* deal Spike? Can you help me deal?”

 

“Love is love in any time, pet. ‘S what keeps it worthwhile… Angelus, Dru …. Buffy was a blink of the eye (and a couple of black ones if I recall)… but you.. we’re for keeps luv. We’ll shag and we’ll enjoy life – you the ‘livin’, and me the ‘un’ – for however long… This is a story with an end so far away luv, with an ending so far from the current horizon, that it really *is* about the journey… and it’s the journey shared that makes the ‘now’ always so important.”

 

Xander took in the speech with the seriousness it deserved, then downed the rest of his beer, placed the bottle on the ground turned to bite his companion lovingly on the ear and whispered… “Hei… Mas-tahh Spikeson… Wipe on. Wipe off.”

 

Spike slammed his own bottle to the ground, turned abruptly, tearing the lobe from his partner’s lips and began to tickle Xander’s very sensitive groin… “You cheeky bugger… ‘Ere’s me offerin’ you me inner most wisdom and you’re quoting pop culture… That’s it…” He continued the ‘torture’ of the brunette who was given an unexpected reprieve by the shrill tones of the front doorbell.

 

Xander stood abruptly, yelled “Coming” and attempted to disguise his ‘I’ve been well f#@%ed recently’ look with an oversized sweatshirt and pants hastily pulled on en route before answering the door.

 

“Andy… And Kelly! Hey what a surprise… come on in!...”

 

Spike heard the ‘surprise’ greeting and quickly made his way to the bedroom to change clothes (or strictly wear a few more) before the guests moved past the entry hall.

 

Courtesy of preternatural speed and a limited ‘holiday’ wardrobe, he emerged only seconds later, hair tied in a broad gold ribbon, buckling a belt on his chocolate brushed denim, hip hugging designer jeans, and high necked tight sweater in deep burgundy.

 

Andy smiled as Kelly responded to the sight of Xander’s rock star handsome boyfriend by giving her partner’s hand an obvious squeeze then offering the other to Spike.

 

“Will, this is my partner Kelly, Kelly, Will.” Andy grinned at Xander as they both noted some serious “eyelash batt-age” from Kelly as Xander would remind his colleague later. He was also aware of his own swell of pride in his beautiful partner, but also realized, with more than a little surprise, he was feeling a protective, bordering on possessive urge. The tall curly headed blonde on Andy’s arm hardly constituted a threat to his lover, but he resolved to discuss it with Spike later. What if someone or something *did* seek out his partner, what then?

 

“Earth to Xander…” Andy was smiling at him and Xander realized his brooding self, shook it off and turned his full attention to the guests.

 

“Gahh, Sorry… Come in… Great to see you guys!! Hey Kelly, how’s the world of full time work and part time MBA?” Spike retreated to the kitchen to quickly prepare a platter of bread and ‘nibbles’ while downing a large mug of blood in private then joined the others platter in one hand and four glasses and chardonnay in the other.

 

Andy smiled at Spike as the blonde joined the group, “Good to see you have finally embraced the gay life Xan! I mean… Good white wine and artistically arranged anti-pasta served by a drop dead gorgeous beau?” Andy watched as Xander waited for the glib punch-line but was pleased and a little surprised, at Andy’s follow through. “And you seem more content and centered than just about anyone I know. ‘S great man… really… you deserve it.” Andy’s large hand landed on Xander’s shoulder and gave a heartfelt squeeze of friendship and support.

 

Another hard knock from the front of the apartment interrupted the moment.

 

“Now what?”  Spike handed the glasses and wine to his partner and headed to answer the door.

 

“Jim! Great to see you, Sandy…. Come on through… come on through.”

 

Jim’s wife followed him in bearing an enormous bunch of flowers and was trailed their daughter ‘and friend’.

 

Spike ushered them all into the hall pointed the parents toward the balcony where he knew Andy and Xander were deep in conversation, then offered his hand to the rather shy looking young man, “Hi, name’s William.”

 

“Nice to meet you, I’m Connor.”

 

Spike felt an icy shiver down his spine, then kicked himself for the sentimentality and momentary wish to connect with the last of his family again… but he had promised Angel that he would leave ‘their’ Connor to live his life… but did that really mean no contact? Shaking off the thought, he quickly turned his attention to their guests. This kid was nothing like his Sire’s full blood child, simply had the same name. The strapping lad was obviously Athletics 101, quarterback material. Janine grinned pointedly and rather triumphantly at Spike, so the former ‘Big Bad’ winked, leaned forward and whispered, “Congrats sweetie. I got my boy, you got yours” At which point the teenager scoffed, then smiled rather smugly replying, “Oh..and by the way? I *so* always knew you were gay!”  Spike smirked knowingly and led the young couple onto the balcony.

 

Xander emerged from the balcony to greet his new guests just in time to see Spike smiling with genuine pleasure at something that had been said by a boy he didn’t know. Greeting Jim and Sandy enthusiastically, he turned to Andy with a quizzical look. Andy shrugged, looked sheepish and grinned knowingly.

 

“Jim, Sandy! What a lovely surprise.”

 

Sandy passed the flowers to Xander. “Congratulations!”

 

Xander looked somewhat confused, but Andy jumped to his rescue. “I told Jim and Sandy that you and William had decided to confirm your commitment to each other after…”

 

Spike wandered onto the balcony with Janine and her date, and nodded his support to Andy, acknowledging his own part in the ‘party plot’.

 

“Yeah well Xan, didn’t want these folks tryin’ to fix you up with someone while I’m away for a week or two! Figured a few folks in the know couldn’t hurt.” Spike looked up hopefully and received a broad affirming smile acknowledging Xander’s appreciation for the thoughtful inclusion of his friends.

 

Xander moved to Spike and for the first time in ‘public’, slid his arms around the thin waist and kissed his partner chastely, but lovingly on the mouth. “Thanks.”

 

Turning to their guests, with one arm still wrapped around his partner’s hips, he smiled, “Our secret is out it seems… in all the senses of that word. And I am glad that my boss who I am lucky to call friend and mentor, his beautiful wife Sandy, and family [he nodded at Janine ‘and friend], and my dear friend Andy and his gorgeous partner Kelly are here to share *our* union. Andy’s right, William and I formally sealed our partnership last night in a private ceremony. Thank you for joining with us to celebrate the most wonderful… person… thing… change of life that has happened to me for a very long time… Oh God… Now I’m babbling guy! Everyone… sorry… just… who needs a drink?”

 

Drinks were procured for the newcomers, another platter of savory treats arranged and offered around, and the evening progressed pleasantly. Barbeque meat had been hastily defrosted and kebabs made by Xander’s chef du jour, while Sandy assisted with salads, happily commenting to Spike on the abundance of fresh ingredients.

 

“Obviously your influence.” According to the chef’s erstwhile assistant-come-interrogator.

 

Spike smiled, realizing that things may indeed have looked less ‘well stocked’ some weeks earlier, and was happy that Xander’s friends had noticed. He was more pleased by the knowledge that, just maybe, Xander’s choice of life-partner had been welcomed by his close friends.

 

Spike reached over and grabbed Sandy’s free hand as she was about to take her wine glass again. He lifted the slender knuckles to his lips and kissed them in an elegant expression of warmth and gratitude. The warmth and genuine friendship in the eye’s of kiss’s recipient, was far more intense and understanding than he had expected.

 

News of Xander and Spike ‘vows’ had intrigued and pleased Sandy. She had been saddened, yet understanding, regarding the privacy surrounding ceremony given recent events at work. Andy had informed her that no one but the two men concerned were in attendance. Sandy looked hard at Spike’s ethereally beautiful face, noting a sadness and look of wisdom beyond his years, she surmised the look as one typical of individuals who have lived through profound personal loss and could not help but wonder what Spike had endured. Jim had said that they were both residents of Sunnydale and had therefore shared that loss, but this looked like hurt even older than that. She resolved to ask one day, but not this night.

 

Sandy watched the eye’s that reminded her of ocean waves, deep blue and brimming with tears of happiness as he locked onto his partner and received Xander’s smile in return. She knew in that moment how bound the two men really were. She had seen the look before, her sister Di and adored partner Stephen, Jim’s darling uncles John and Hamish, how she felt when she found Jim’s stare across a busy room, just like now… She flushed with a sense of completeness and love that only her lover and friend for almost twenty years could evoke. This was about partnerships that survived tragedy and good times, passion and social damnation; relationships where the love flowed so deeply that it overcame any impediment. She felt a strange maternal satisfaction at seeing Xander ‘and friend’ reflecting the same sentiment.

 

Jim spied his wife’s analytical eye falling on Xander, and smiled back at her with ‘that smile’, the one that made the ‘crow’s feet’ wrinkles around his eyes appear like the exclamation marks around the sparkling orbs. Spike spotted a mouthed ‘Love you’ from Jim to his wife, and took the moment to take up one of her well manicured hands…

“Thank you so much, it means a lot to Xan and me.”  He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, “I am so pleased you could share this with us. You’re like family to Xan… he’s very lucky, and now so am I.”

 

Sandy found herself quite teary but smiled, pulled Spike close and whispered. “You are most welcome William. You just be sure to come back here again, and for good next time… and that means soon, buster.” Spike had a momentary flash of Cordelia and Fred as they might have been were they to have had ‘normal lives’ twenty years beyond their demise. He answered her with genuine affection and a smile that made the usually unflappable Sandy’s breath hitch, “Anything for you pet.”

 

The evening developed into quite a delightful affair, particularly after the ‘work talk’ between the three colleagues was undermined by the respective partners winking at each other in complicity, then simultaneously doing their best to physically distract their ‘significant others’. Spike grinned as he grabbed his ‘other’ from behind, pulling him close enough to feel the vampire’s erect shaft flush against his behind.

 

Looking over to the teenage couple propped on a chair together in the corner, Spike noted Connor's interest in the 'goings on' between the two men. He deliberately held the boy's gaze as he leaned over Xander's shoulder to nibble his earlobe and whisper, while giving the lad his best 'come hither' grin. “Think someone else might be up for a bit ‘o fantasy tonight, pet. Think I need ta remind the lad you’re spoken for? Or shall we give ‘im a proper show?” Spike undulated his hips and felt his partner push back a little to increase the friction, a move not lost on the teenager. He blushed deeply and Spike smelt the arousal from across the balcony.

 

Xander suddenly realized Spike's choice of the proper show option and turned in the embrace to face his lover. "C'mon... Let the boy be.”

 

Andy and Kelly departed for another party around midnight after *insisting* that “Will, his *promised* to be back here soon to make sure their Xan was ‘OK’ D?!” This was followed in quick succession by the departure of Sandy, Jim and the daughter (plus friend).

 

Xander’s sigh of relief was cut off by cool lips claiming his.

 

“Now let’s you and I set about makin’ sure you don’t forget who you belong to.” Xander smiled and shivered a little in anticipation of the ‘lesson’.

 

 

 

Collective Experience: part fourteen

 

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