New Year's Resolutions: part fifteen

New Year's Resolutions: part fifteen
by Josie_h
Notes

“C’mon Harris… ya big girl’s blouse!.... It won’t hurt *that* much and it’s over in a second!... And I promise to lick it better.” Spike wiggled an eyebrow suggestively.

“I’m just… geez Spike I thought you were kidding when you flashed the fang. Can’t we just go down to a drug store or something? I know the girls at Sunnydale at least got ‘numb juice’ and a special gun or something when they had it done!”

“We’re not doin’ a Prince Albert you twonk! And even if…. Ah geez… just come ere and lie still.”

Spike grabbed his pacing partner’s arm and pulled him back to the bed. He held both wrists with one hand and pinned them behind the brunette, lying on top of the chest and immobilizing his charge with a combination of intertwining legs, preternatural strength and his own body weight.

Xander finally relented and ceased struggling.

“That’s it pet… just relax…. the hard part ’ll be over in a jiffy.”

Xander turned his face away from Spike, eyeless scar to the pillow, held his breath and waited.

A soft purring began, the shell of his ear was gently laved, and the lobe was lovingly sucked, teasing to the point of frustration, by which time a distracting hand had also found more interesting parts to caress between them.

Xander had just begun to press his hips up to meet his captor’s attentions, when a sharp fire went through his earlobe and he yelped in response, this was followed a flash of movement. (*Damn the vampire speed thing*).

Spike was, apparently instantly, sitting on his chest in full game face, and carefully threading a very expensive piece of jewelry into the newly made hole, locking then *licking* it into place.

The vampire leaned down and sucked the wound for a more few seconds then sat up with a smug grin.

“What’s with the smile fangboy?!”

“Think you might enjoy a little pain, luv. Hmmm? We can probably work that in more, if you want?” Spike grinned. Still perched on his partner’s torso he deliberately looked back to Xander’s groin, indicating with a pointed gaze, the very ‘interested’ erection that was now poking at his backside.

Xander’s threw his head back to the pillow and simply groaned.

“You are impossible!”

“And lovable… and evil… and ya would have me any other way pet.”

It was Xander’s turn to surprise. He levered up and flipped their positions, then leaning down from his chest high vantage point, firmly kissed his torturer and grinding their ‘mutual interest’ against each other once more.

The reply was partially buried by a kiss, “I want you in *every* way.”

When his mouth was finally freed, Spike’s lustful blue gaze met his partner’s. He reached under the pillow then handed Xander a fairly substantial leather needle. “K pet, your turn then.”

Xander reeled back in horror, “What? You *can’t* be serious – this thing will… It’s not sterile!!”

“Oh C’mon pet, unless you’ve grown a pair..” a hand grabbed his crotch, but the fangs that dropped left him in no doubt of the meaning behind the double entendre, “you are going to need a sharp object.” A knowing smile emphasized that this discussion was one of canines rather than male pride. “And I doubt that sterility is a big deal for yours truly the undead!”

Spike watched as a look of realization then renewed dismay washed over his partner.

“Ohh luv!! Vampire here – I’ll probably heal before you put the ring in! A bit o’ pain from a lover is a bonus!.... Please pet … please! Matching pair and all that… You agreed!”

Xander reluctantly took what looked like a mini version of a turkey skewer, pinched the earlobe closest to him between two carpentry strengthened digits, and plunged the sharpened tip through.

On reflection, Xander felt a little embarrassed at his actions following the ‘stabbing’, having automatically latched on to the injured flesh with his mouth, sucking away the blood. He then carefully threaded the elegant gold post of the earring through a still bloodied hole, and lovingly laved the injured lobe with a gentle tongue. Spike had not been unable to contain his snigger and one or two bemused comments as to who, of the two of them, was the better ‘blood sucker’.

The surprise of the afternoon came an hour or so later when Xander attended the bathroom. Gingerly touching his ‘piercing’ and moving closer to the mirror to inspect the ‘wound’, he was amazed to find no pain, and on closer examination, a perfectly healed puncture.

He jumped when a deep voice murmured just behind him, “Vampire saliva pet, heals everything.”

“Bloody hell Spike! No fair with the lack-of-reflection-sneaking-up behavior!”

Yet at the same time Xander was intrigued by the ‘fast healing’ action of Spike’s tongue, and distracted by the idea that his favorite vamp had thought to follow him to the bathroom.

“’Sup pet? You upset ‘cause you’re healed? Thought you knew all that rot… Watchers’ Diaries ‘n all”

“It’s one thing to read it and another to watch your own body *do it* Spike!”

Spike was still unsure of the ‘boy’s’ point… “So…?”

“So??! So means can you repair anything with that, cause I’m thinking … you know me getting- older person a good lick daily and…. No extreme makeover required!” It was Xander’s turn to give a suggestive grin.

“No guarantees pet – but seeings as you are the RA ‘n all, how about we give it a shot… let’s say a daily bodily laving and record the results. Long term study ‘course, so at least ten year require, possibly a double application for the first part and triple the time for scientific confirmation.” With that Spike ran a cool wet tongue around the edge of Xander’s non adorned ear and down his jaw line.

“Oh G…”

Xander had just begun to lean back into the caress when Spike pulled away abruptly, lightly smacked the bare behind yet again and said “C’mon pet we’re wasting good celebratin’ time… “

Dressed for warmth as well as the night out, the two wandered from the hotel intent on simply enjoying whatever the evening brought…

They had contemplated the purchase of tickets to ‘the raging dance party’, ‘a fabulous new year’s habour cruise’ and the ‘best jazz on the planet’ to bring in the New Year, but settled for strolling around town enjoying the atmosphere and admiring the rather transient artform of ice sculpting. Xander was highly amused to find a ‘mythical figures’ series including one rather ‘batty’ looking vampire, the sight of which annoyed Spike enough that his partner saw gold beginning to flash through the otherwise blue eyes, forcing Xander to ‘kiss him calm’ before anyone else noticed.

They eventually settled into a smallish somewhat overcrowded café on the wharf with non descript music, forgettable food and passable hot chocolate, though since their aim was more to gain heat than enjoy the venue neither man was concerned. The noise from surrounding patrons precluded any meaningful conversation, so they simply sat ‘watching the world go by’, holding hands under the table, the occasional surreptitious caress of a thigh, and flashed knowing smiles made for enjoyment that transcended their circumstance. For the first time since they had met again on the common, both partners were aware that this was entirely comfortable, that despite the revelers around them, there was no high drama, no pretence or uneasy questions, no insatiable passion. It was just… them, quietly holding, calmly petting and just being in that moment together.

Close to midnight Spike grabbed his partners arm, pulled him through the partying street crowd and led him down a back alley.

“What the…. Spike??! I am *not* making out with you in some freezing alley and missing the fireworks!”

Spike answered by pushing his partner against a dumpster and growling, “Stay there.”

In their few days together Xander had all but forgotten very extraordinary nature of Spike’s preternatural athleticism. In a single elegant leap, the vampire launched himself twenty feet into the air, caught the fire ladder and lowered it for his companion.

“Shit Spike, I’d forgotten how amazing you look when you do stuff like that!”

“Yeah… well, come on!”

Xander trailed behind admiring the fluid speed and apparently effortless climb of his partner.

“Where are we going Spike? C’mon buddy, clues to encourage the puffed human hey?!”

As Xander scrambled to stand up on the roof, Spike steadied him with a strong grip then guided him carefully around and over various pipes, phone aerials and metal covers until they reached a far corner. Standing in front of a heating vent was certainly a bonus in the chill of the Boston evening – but it was the view of the harbor that had Xander grinning.

From their vantage point, they could see the crowds already gathered along the waterfront and could clearly hear the countdown. On the strike of twelve a resounding cheer went up accompanied by the explosive crack of the first fireworks making their way skyward.

Xander took a glove off and grabbed Spike’s icy hand with his warm one. He kissed the hand then opened his own great coat and pulled the smaller man into a spooned hug, his chin resting on Spike’s shoulder.

Spike snuggled back to the warm chest, “Hmmm welcome to 2010, Happy New Year luv.”

“It is going to be isn’t it. Happy New Year, Spike.”

They stood in silence listening to a broadcast rendition of Auld Lang Syne from a loud speaker somewhere down below and waited until the last of the fireworks sparkled and fell to darkness.

“C’mon Xan, let’s you and I go find ourselves a nice four poster bed with an electric blanket and side serve of petting to finish off the evening.”

Making their way up the stairs to hotel suite Xander was suddenly struck by the thought that this was very probably the last time they would make this climb. He was leaving, in less than twenty four hours he would be back in California, home, and alone.

Spike noted the slumped shoulders and waves of misery beginning to roll off the man. He moved to hug Xander from behind as the door was opened.

“Hey pet, let’s you and I jump into that big bed of yours and see what we can find to do to accompany the celebrations on the telly.”

Ten minutes later, the television was broadcasting the various New Year’s celebrations as they occurred across the nation and the two lovers were happily ensconced in the big bed ‘accompanying’. They played around with the twin glass items from Spike’s new collection – Xander deciding that he the whole concept of heating one and cooling the other was definitely “of the good” but most certainly preferred the ‘real thing’ as Spike pushed all items aside and made slow passionate love to him, timing the climax perfectly to coincide with the explosion of fireworks from the Seattle Space Needle.

Up by six the next morning, Xander efficiently packed his own bags for departure, then put the ‘research materials’ and Spike’s few belongings into the shopping bags and day pack.

“Come on sleeping beauty – we need to get to your place before sunup or it’s a trip through the sewers!” Spike grumbled, rolled over and eventually pushed out of bed.

After paying ‘the extras’ bill and handing in the key ready to leave, Xander began to struggle with the overwhelming feeling of doom. Hailing a cab, he fiddled with his earring, feeling even worse when Spike appeared nonchalant and unaffected, but then noticed the vampire begin to touch his own diamond and ruby adornment, and concluded that perhaps Spike was just better at hiding his hurt.

The apartment was pitch black as they entered, Spike leaving Xander at the door for a few moments while his found lamp switches.

“So pet we’ve still go hours. I need to quickly logon and check my mail etc but that should only take a half hour or so. What do you think we should do after that?” A wicked wink later and Xander’s pants instantly began to feel uncomfortably tight.

“You’re insatiable Spike!”

Spike looked at Xander’s very definitely bulging pants, “Then it’s just as well you’re here isn’t it, ‘cause it looks like me RA is looking to do some last minute ‘exploring’.”

As they had done in the hotel, both partners logged on and sent their intra-apartment Email. Xander smiling as he read the note complimenting his research skills, and sending a reply that included a suggestion that NP’s chapter two and beyond end up in Sacramento, since the location had ‘a lot to offer’. The note was received with a grin that was immediately followed by a vampire attaching himself to Xander’s mouth and thanking his ‘muse’ in person rather than online.

The remainder of the sunlit hours became about pleasuring each other until neither could move more than to lie side by side repeatedly touching and caressing and petting…. All performed in the effort to reassure both parties that this was not another ‘ending’, but merely an interlude.

As he approached the time of leaving, Xander’s self doubt and sadness crept back. Spike noted the change.

“’Sup luv”

“Oh G* Spike?! I don’t want to go!” This was an appeal that came out like the petulant whine of a small child, when really it was the begging of a lover who had lost before; it was the call of a still wounded soldier who had watched everyone and everything… disappear…; the desperate last bid of a courageous survivor who had walked on, but now……

“You’ll forget me, I just know! And what if you change your mind? And what if you *do* come and then I’m not enough?”

“Oh dearling… sweetheat… what am I supposed to say… ??” Spike was now petting Xander as though he were a wild animal at risk of bolting….

“You’re not losing me pet! You can’t keep me from you…. Not without staking me yourself… even if you threaten me with another set of ropes ‘n that red ‘comfy chair from the 60s… I’m still coming to be with you...” Spike lifted the face that spelt devastation and loss, he watched as the brown eye blinked attempting but failing to hold back the tears “Ohhh please luv … Let’s you and I save that mournin’ for those on this stupid rock as needs it… yeah?… For now just smile a little for me hey?”

He lifted the chin again and kissed away the salty drips now making steady progress down to Xander’s jawline. Xander complied with the request, hitching with a final sob and gave his lover a tight smile.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A very emotional Xander arrived at the airport some time later, disheartened that Spike had chosen a passionate and promise filled, farewell at the curbside outside his home, rather than accompanying his friend all the way to the terminal. Xander respected his friend’s wishes to have the goodbyes in the relative privacy of the stoop of his own apartment yet still could not help feeling down.

The final whispered statement from Spike had condemned Xander to a tear burdened trip to the airport, “See you soon luv, yeah? I love you Xan, so much….. don’t let’s us lose this… I’ll miss you every day, every moment…. Don’t forget me yeah? I love you….” and with a final kiss, tears had begun to flow for both parties. Gently wiping the drips from the other man’s sculptured cheeks had almost finished Xander. He dragged himself away and poured into the taxi obviously grief stricken. He felt as though so much of him was being torn away and left behind with Spike that he only a hollow man would remain by the time he arrived back in Sacramento.

Checking in, he was almost too distressed with the prospect of flights home and lonely apartments, to register his ‘unexpected upgrade to business class’. As he took the boarding pass, he pondered that perhaps the only consolation on this whole miserable flight home, was to be more legroom, a real linen napkin and the knowledge that Spike would be doing this in a few months’ time.

He passed through security without incident this time – automatically lifting the eye patch and stripping belt, shoes and anything else that had previously upset the ‘machine that went bing’.

He dejectedly meandered around the terminal, purchased overpriced airport souvenirs for his three closest workmates and book on “Management and Machiavelli” for no other reason than it was on sale… then wandered to his gate just in time for the final call. He tried Spike’s mobile one last time before switching it off but received the usual impolite ‘S’me leave a message’, resulting in him feeling even more miserable. He was no longer sure that the start of this New Year could be described as particularly happy and so began calculating the days until March 15. (*Seventy three days not counting today, only seventy two if you don’t count the fifteenth either*)

As he shuffled along the ramp with other passengers, he tried to picture Spike back at his desk writing, in the dark of his apartment, looking up from his keyboard to smile at Xander. An absent flashing of his boarding card as he entered the plane resulted in a pleasant young voice pulling him from his ‘brooding’.

“Second row aisle seat, sir. May I take your coat?”

“Ummm Yeah thanks.” Xander gave an obligatory smile, handed over the great coat, then looked up to determine whether his hand luggage had any hope of fitting into apparently already full overhead lockers. After a little ‘repacking’, his cabin baggage slid into a free space and he located his seat number again.

He barely looked at his fellow passengers as he sat and smiled almost contentedly. *Business really did have a lot more leg room!*

It was only when he had settled and turned to introduce himself to the person beside him, that a bemused “So where you off to mate?” and a set of blue eyes twinkling with delight caused his heart to skip more than several beats and tears threaten to fall again.

“Oh God!... Sp…. How?”

“Figured I needed a few days to research m’ new story… it being set in Sacramento ‘n all. You a resident? ‘Cause I could use a tour guide and a spot to stay.”

“Few days?”

“Two wee..” Xander finished Spike’s sentence with such a delighted, firm and very public kiss, that it had several their fellow travelers blushing, and one or two of the airline staff openly sighing with envy.

The New Year was definitely looking up….