Part twenty-four....


Buffy was far more relaxed on the ride back to Union Jack's. The combination of the moonlight,
the warmth of the air, and the pleasant memories of their encounter under the pine tree, was making her positively mellow.

Until Spike pulled the motorcycle into the back parking lot and she saw what was waiting there.

The truck that had been there when they'd left was long gone. In it's place was another, half again as long. It was painted a gleaming ebony, and there was a beautiful painting on the side; a deep green aura, with a pair of very recognizable blue eyes and slanting dark brows in the center of it. Beneath this work of art someone had painted the name of the band in the same emerald green.

Buffy knew without being told, that this was the truck that would soon be packed up with all the paraphernalia necessary for a rock and roll band to take on a nationwide tour.

Although she hated to even look at it, she pasted a smile on her face as Devlin pulled up next to the truck and killed the engine.

"Wow. Fancy," she said, trying to sound as though she absolutely loved it.

Spike sighed impatiently. "I told them not to do that," he said, indicating the picture. "I just wanted a plain truck...something to get us where we're going. That...thing...is gonna attract a lot of unwanted attention."

"Well," Buffy said consolingly, "that's what you get for having such beautiful blue eyes."

He examined the representation more closely. "It looks like I'm wearing make up," he complained, lowering the bike's kick stand and climbing off. Standing in front of the truck, his
hands on his hips, he frowned. "This was our manager's idea," he said, shaking his head. "God only knows what he'll have on the side of the bus."

"The bus?" Buffy asked, standing beside him with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Yeah," he said absently, walking around the truck to examine the matching picture on the opposite side. "This is just for the equipment. The bus is for us to travel on. Kind of a hotel on wheels, so I'm told."

That particular description gave Buffy an unpleasant association. Hotels...motels...sleeping arrangements...all the girls that would be throwing themselves at the band...

She couldn't stand looking at it for another second.

"Well...it's awfully late," she said, glancing at her watch. "I should be getting on home."

Devlin turned around and regarded her with a boyish smile. "Can I come, too?"

A rush of love washed through her, and she smiled back at him. "If you want to."

He laughed and rolled his eyes. "If I want to...she says." Slipping his arms around her, he walked her backwards to where her car was parked. "Yes, Miss Buffy. I want to. Besides," he added, with just a touch of self satisfaction, "I'm your boyfriend, remember?"

"That's right," she said, snapping her fingers. "It must have slipped my mind."

"Oh, really?" He pushed her up against the driver's side door of her car, plastering his body against hers. "Well, I guess I'm just gonna have to refresh your memory then." Ducking his head, he kissed her, long and hard. "You get started, babe. I'll be right behind you."

******************************

Spike watched the tail lights of Buffy's car disappear. Turning to go into the rear door of the club, the equipment truck caught his attention again, and a wave of dislike rose up in him.

There was no real reason for him to feel that way. Even though he'd voted to keep the truck without ornamentation, it wasn't half as gaudy as some he'd seen. And all that really mattered was that it was large enough to carry their gear.

He had seen the expression on Buffy's face before she'd managed to cover it with a smile, and knew what had caused it. The deadline for their leaving was now only four short days away, and this truck was a big, fat loud reminder of that unpleasant fact.

Devlin sighed and headed in the back door of Union Jack's, wondering when everything had become so bloody complicated.

In the space of just a few days, he'd found the girl he wanted to make a future with. She was beautiful, smart, and fantastically sexy, and although she had been a virgin, she made love like an absolute angel.

Now, instead of settling in and making serious plans for their future, he had to get on a bus that would carry him hundreds of miles away from her.

For the first time since the whole thing had been proposed, the tour he had looked forward to with such excitement didn't sound at all appealing.


******************************

He was surprised to see that Andy, Oz and Xander were still inside. They were kicking back at one of the tables, drinking beer and discussing some new arrangements of their songs.

"Hey!" Xander said loudly. "Boss man is back. Where's your little cutie?"

Devlin folded his arms across his chest and grinned.

"She's gone on home," he said casually. "I'm gonna join her there later."

"Sorry about the fucking truck," Andy said. "I told 'em to leave off the black eye liner. Said you prefer a nice soft shade of brown, but they don't fucking listen."

Xander giggled like a hyena. Oz said nothing, although his lip curved in a small smile.

"Funny," Spike said. Pulling up a chair and turning it around, he straddled the seat, then glanced at Xander, although he addressed his question to all of them. "So...what do you think of Buffy?"

"Nice," Oz said briefly.

"Oh, yeah," Andy agreed. "A fucking doll."

"I like her," Xander chimed in. "She's great."

Zeroing his gaze in on him, Spike asked, "You don't think she's a bit...prim and proper?"

"Buffy?" Xander glanced at him, then stared at his hands. "Why would you think that?"

"Well, you know," Spike said, shrugging, "her skirt is a little long...she doesn't wear a lot of make up...her hair's always pinned up."

Xander sighed. "Okay, what were you doing? Eavesdropping or something?"

"Not exactly."

"Look...I like her," Xander said emphatically. "I really do. She's just not the type you usually go for, is all."

Spike stood up and pushed the chair away. "Don't look so nervous," he told his friend. "I'm not gonna hit you. Just be careful what you say in the future. You never know who might overhear you."

He pulled his car keys out of his jacket and headed for the door. Before leaving, he turned back and smiled, looking like a highly satisfied man.

"Just so you know," he said. "I don't care if she pins her hair up tight during the day...cause I'm the guy who gets to take it down at night."

On his way out the door, he heard Andy.

"You've got the biggest fucking mouth in the universe, Harris."


******************************

Buffy was sitting in front of her vanity when the doorbell rang.

She'd scrubbed her face clean of all the extra make up and was now brushing her hair until it was smooth, trying hard to keep away the gloomy thoughts.

Four days to go. And she wasn't even sure how much she'd see of him during those four days. She had to work, and he surely must have last minute arrangements and plans to set in place. Plus, there'd be rehearsals and maybe even social obligations to be met.

Four short days.

And what would she do then....?

Part twenty-five....


Buffy flung the door open. Without waiting for a greeting, she took hold of Spike's jacket and yanked him inside the house, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard.

"Good lord," he gasped, breaking away to breathe. "I've never had such a nice 'hello' before."

She smiled and licked her lips. "You taste like sugar," she reported.

Giving her a slightly embarrassed look, he showed her what he had in his hand. "I drove by it and I couldn't  stop myself from going in," he said, displaying a bag from the local Krispy Kreme. "Have you ever had these?" he asked, opening the bag and holding it out for her to examine the contents. "They're bloody brilliant. Just going inside the shop is a sugar rush."

Buffy shook her head. He had been right when he'd told her that he was worse than any child when it came to
sweets. Still, there were worse things....

"And you just had to eat one?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"Well...yeah." He handed her the bag and discarded his jacket. "They put one in your hand the second you walk in the door, and...well...you know me."

Buffy peeked into the bag and counted ten glazed donuts, still warm and soft. "Uh-huh. So, you bought ten of them?" she asked skeptically.

He pretended to look shocked. "They only gave me ten? I should go right back there and demand the other two. Wait here and I'll..."

She snagged his arm as he turned away, pulling him into the front room. "Oh, no you don't," she said firmly. "I may never see you again."

God...three of those sugar bombs! He'd be climbing the walls! Unless she could distract him.

Sinking down on the couch, she gave him the most seductive smile she could come up with. "They smell good.
Maybe I should dab some of the sugar behind my ears for you."

Devlin knelt on the couch beside her, then dropped forward onto his hands, holding his weight off of her. "Believe me, luv, you don't need sugar to attract me. I'm already completely...attracted." He lowered his head and kissed the side of her throat.

Buffy tilted her head back, shivering as his lips moved down her neck. She reached into the open bag and extracted one of the donuts. A little more sugar wasn't going to faze him in the slightest.

She wiped her finger over the surface of the pastry...coating it with the warm, melted glaze...then held it up to his lips.

Devlin grinned and started to take her finger into his mouth, but she suddenly pulled it away and used it to dab the base of her throat with the sticky glob of sugar.

His eyes widened briefly, and he immediately ducked his head to lick up the sweetness from her skin. "Mmmm," he moaned softly. "Even better now."

Bringing one hand up between them, he unbuttoned her blouse, then took the donut out of her hand and smeared glaze on the plump upper curves of her breasts. Tossing the mashed donut onto the coffee table, he began applying his tongue to her skin, cleaning every inch of exposed skin.

"Undo your bra," he whispered, grinning lecherously as she obeyed. He fished around in the bag for another donut, and extracted a chocolate glazed one, rubbing the gooey chocolate onto each of her nipples.

Buffy inhaled sharply at the sensation, then released the breath she'd taken when she felt the warm wash of his tongue swirling around and around her nipples, making them hard and sensitive.

"Baby...you taste so good," he murmured against her skin. "And I love you so much."

She smiled, twining her fingers into his curls. "I love you, too."

He skimmed the sleeves of her shirt down her arms, letting her sit up a bit to pull it off. Her bra quickly followed, landing on the floor next to her top. Moving down her body, he nudged her legs apart, then looked up at her. "Guess what else I have in the bag?" he asked, lifting his eyebrows suggestively.

"More donuts?"

His right hand dipped into the sack and came back out holding a fat donut. "Jelly filled," he informed her, wrapping his fingers around the treat and beginning to squeeze.

"Hey!" Buffy squealed. "Where exactly are you planning on putting that gunk?"

He chuckled wickedly. "Between your luscious thighs, darling. But don't worry....I plan to lick it all off. By the time I get finished using my tongue on you, you won't be able to move for a...what did you say?"

"I said...this is a brand new couch."

He moved her panties to one side. "I promise not to spill a drop...of anything."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


They ended up on the floor.

After cleaning her as thoroughly as he'd promised, and bringing her to a toe curling climax, he rolled off the
couch, taking her with him and pushing the coffee table a few feet away.

She tried to hold on to him, but he slipped away and rose to his feet to undress. Naked, he strode across the
room and twisted the knobs on the gas fireplace until he had a warm and romantic blaze going. He placed her throw pillows on the carpet, then picked her up and deposited her in the middle of the small nest he'd built before the fire.

Buffy stretched out one arm, wanting him to take her hand. When he did, she tugged him until he was lying beside her, then rolled on top of him and settled herself comfortably.

With her cheek pressed against his chest, she sighed happily, staring at the fire as he rubbed his hands up and down her back.

"It's starting to rain," she said softly. "Can you hear it?"

"Mm-hmm...it's one of my favorite sounds."

"Mine, too." She looked at him, folding her arms across his chest and resting her chin on them. "What else are your favorite sounds?"

He laughed. "What a leading question."

"Yeah, so tell me."

Continuing to stroke her back, he took a deep breath in and out. "Wind chimes. My grandmother had about a dozen of them hanging on her back porch. I pretty much grew up there, and I remember hearing those chimes when I was outside playing."

Buffy closed her eyes, picturing that little boy in her mind, seeing him pushing a collection of toy car and trucks around a garden, looking up every now and then to watch the wind chimes dance in a light breeze.

"Good music, of course," he went on. "Applause when someone enjoys our show. The kids at your school, when I played for them...that was great. Listening to them sing along and clap their hands."

She smiled at the memory. "They really liked you. You're all they talked about for the rest of the day."

"Yeah?" He sounded pleased. "Think they'd like a repeat performance?"

Surprised, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Can you do that? I mean, will you have the time before you..."

Unable to make herself finish the sentence, she just left it hanging.

Devlin thought for a moment, mentally calculating everything he still had to do before Thursday. "I can try. Don't promise them anything, but I'll definitely try."

Pleased as she was to hear this, Buffy wanted to change the subject so as not to veer off into unhappy thoughts of his departure. "What other sounds do you like?"

He held her arms and pulled her up until they were face to face. "Your heart beating...those breathy little gasps when I'm making love to you, right before you come."

Her cheeks turned pink, and she hid her face against the side of his neck.

"Miss Buffy? Are you blushing?" He sounded delighted at the idea.

"No," was her muffled reply.

"I don't believe you," he chided. "Let me see."

"No."

"Come on."

"You really have a problem with that word, don't you?"

Forcing her face up, he grinned unrepentantly. "Only when it gets in the way of something I want."

"There, see!" she said, looking right at him. "I told you I'm not."

He cupped her face in his hands, stroking with his thumbs. "Your cheeks are awfully warm."

"We're three feet from the fire."

"Yeah...that MUST be it."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Now, you tell me some of YOUR favorite sounds."

She scarcely needed to stop and think. "Well, there's this guy I know..."

"Yeah?"

"Plays the guitar and sings."

"He any good?"

Buffy smiled slowly. "He's pretty darn good," she said, leaving the comment open to interpretation.

Devlin shrugged. "Bet he's not as good as me."

"He's also a little conceited."

"I am not," he countered, pinching her rear. "Take that back!"

"Or what?"

"Or I'll have to get rough with you."

Buffy tilted her head to one side. "Is that a promise or a threat?"

Taking a firmer grip on her arms, he rolled her onto her back and lay on top of her. "Is that a dare?" he asked,
grinding his erection against her mound.

She had no wit to reply. All she could do was lie very still as he began licking her breasts again.

"You still taste sweet," he moaned, moistening her skin. His tongue circled each taut nipple before he took one into his mouth and sucked it roughly, nipping with his teeth, holding her down so that she couldn't move.

As he pulled her other breast into his mouth and gave it the same attention, she whimpered in her throat and
arched her back for him.

"Spike...." She was panting.

"Yes, baby...that's right," he said. "Say my name. Don't ever stop."

"I....I won't if...if you won't."

What with her having been a virgin, Devlin was amazed at what a sensuous little thing she was turning out to be. All the untapped passion that had been building up in her for years was finally being set free, and he was the lucky son-of-a-bitch that had turned the key.

"I won't," he promised her. "I'll suck you and suck you until you can't take it anymore."

Between the fire in the hearth, and the one burning beneath her skin, her body glowed with a light sheen of perspiration, as though she'd been lightly coated with glitter.

Rolling his tongue around her erect nipples, he was driving her slowly mad. He alternated pressure, sometimes soft and sweet, and sometimes hard enough to leave a bruise.

Buffy sank her nails into his shoulders, encouraging him to take what he wanted.

Devlin hardly needed encouragement. The taste and feel of her breast in his mouth inspired him, and rational
thought was dwindling fast, leaving nothing but a primal urge that he couldn't hold back.

Switching to her other breast, he cupped his hand beneath it and lifted it to his mouth, molding the soft flesh with his fingers.

Buffy's thighs clamped around him, and she raised her hips to grind against his hard shaft. Her cries were
becoming more and more ragged as he lapped at her breasts.

"I...I need," she gasped. "Oh, I....I want..."

"Tell me."

"You...to touch me. Please...touch me..."

Spike slipped his hand down between her legs, rubbing his fingers in her wetness. "Like this?"

"Yes." She sank her fingers into his hair, yanking him roughly back to her breast, forcing him to suck harder. Her body vibrated like a tuning fork, while her nerves were stretched to their utmost limits.

"More," she begged shamelessly, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.

He returned his hand to her breast, fondling it and pinching her nipple. When he pulled on it, she felt contractions in her womb.

Devlin brought his thigh up and settled it between hers to give her the pressure and friction she needed.

Catching her nipple in his mouth again, he suckled it and shook his head a little.

With her sex swollen and in need of release, she rubbed it against his leg as hard as she could, then let out a sharp cry and rode out the waves of pleasure.

Spike released her breast from his mouth and pulled back. "Jesus Christ," he muttered. "Did you come?"

She still couldn't speak, so she just nodded.

"That's the sexiest thing I've ever seen." He buried his face between her breasts, kissing and nuzzling them as she came down from out of the clouds.

"You never stop surprising me, Miss Buffy."

Or herself, apparently.