Shot in the Dark

* * * * * Chapter 31: Hungry * * * * *



Psyche drums her fingers on the edge of the pool, her glance shifting from the two entangled blonds below to the door her beloved went through twenty minutes ago. She is growing impatient. Taking a deep sigh, she focuses her attention on the still water again.

“Those two have the most stamina. And, oh my, flexibility…” Psyche feels herself flush a bit with arousal and starts when Cupid’s voice booms across the chamber.

“I’m back, my love!” She spins to see her handsome lover holding a handful of golden arrows. Her eyebrows draw together, wondering why he would leave for twenty minutes just to get arrows. He has arrows everywhere! “I know what you are thinking, dear. Why did that Cupid leave just to get arrows, right?”

Psyche grins, nodding.

“Well, I will tell you. I had to go visit my sister, Suadela.” He grins, as if he has just explained everything with that statement. Psyche cocks her head at him, wondering what his sister, the goddess of seduction, has to do with the current problem.

“But, love, you don’t need anyone seduced. I think that part is taken care of.” She points her thumb down to see Spike and Buffy starting Round 2.

Cupid laughs, low and soft. “My sweet, darling Psyche. Seduction is only what Suadela is famed for…it is not her true power, it is merely her…shall we say, specialty?”

Psyche raises her eyebrows. Suadela’s powers of seduction are quite legendary. She did not realize that was not all there was to the sultry goddess.

“I will explain...” Cupid lays out the plan in detail for Psyche, who nods and smiles more and more.

Psyche giggles, very excited at this new turn of events. “Oh, my dear, you are positively glowing. Isn’t this fun!”

When Cupid sets the arrows down, she frowns a little. “What are you doing? Are you not going to shoot now?”

“No, as much as I hate to wait, I will. The effects are only for about two days and I don’t know when they will all see each other next. We will have to watch…and wait…”

* * * * *

“No, I really do.”

“Do not, Slayer.” Spike’s grip tightens around Buffy’s waist.

“Seriously. I do.” Buffy puts on her best impression of Willow’s ‘resolve face.’

“Luv, I can see that little smile. Not bloody convincing.”

Buffy makes a mock serious effort to squirm out of his grasp, but only succeeds in rubbing against Spike’s naked body in a most enticing way. “Now, now. That’s not playing quite fair.” His hands begin to wander.

“Spike!” Buffy squeaks out a protest, but the magic of his touch is turning her resolve into one big puddle of compliance. She falls limp against him.

“See, pet…knew you weren’t getting up. I, on the other hand…” Spike’s voice takes on a silky tone as he feels his body warm to hers.

“But, Spike. Hungry.” Buffy’s tone is petulant, not at all the tough girl she was trying to be mere moments ago. Her bottom lip juts out.

“Oh, bottom lip. Mmm, Slayer, that’s playing rough.” Spike’s mouth opens, baring his teeth slightly as he resists snapping up her bottom lip. His resistance doesn’t last. He grabs ahold of her full lower lip with his teeth, pulling it into his mouth. The movement dissolves into a kiss that leaves Buffy breathless and Spike more horny than ever. As his hands grasp her hips to pull her closer, Buffy pushes her hands against his chest.

“No, no. Food, Spike. Food.” This time it is Spike’s turn to pout. She sighs at his adorable expression and wonders if he will ever stop surprising her. To learn so much about someone so quickly; it’s emotional overload. Here he is, looking the part of a cute little boy with some very adult thoughts.

When she manages to not cave in the next minute, Spike sighs, defeated but willingly so. “What do you want to eat, Buffy?”

Buffy’s eyes widen slightly. He’s offering to get it for her? This is new. “Um, I was having spaghetti when Xan – when I was interrupted. It’s on the counter?” Her voice is questioning, still not quite believing what he seems to be offering. She loves this Spike, too. She loves the sexy Spike, the naughty one, the tender one, the loving one and now, this considerate one?

“Alright, be back in a minute. Don’t move.” Spike leans into a kiss, and she can’t help but think of him as the perfect boyfriend. Boyfriend! Spike! Two words she never said together before. Her smile is seductive and Spike hesitates. She pushes it away for a pretend frown. She points wordlessly at the door. Spike shakes his head, wondering how he got so whipped so fast.

Buffy nibbles her lip as his bare bottom walks away from her. She starts to point out that maybe he should put something on, but thinks better of it. The view is really too nice. When he leaves the room, she flings herself back into the covers, stretching and wiggling in the rumpled sheets while she waits. Sjpike’s steps are quick down the steps. Right as she hears him reach the bottom, the phone rings. Buffy’s eyes close with a sigh. “Buffy just can’t be left alone, huh? How often do I take a break from responsibility. Um, never?” Without opening her eyes, Buffy slaps over to her bedside table, grabbing the phone quickly. “Hello?”

“Hi, Buffy.” Buffy bites back another sigh. That Willow has the best timing. Well, she and Spike are still naked, but at least she didn’t interrupt anything naughty this time.

“Hey, Willow. Listen, I’m sorry I missed class again.. can I get the notes from you?”

“Sure, you bet. Um, Buffy?”

Willow sounds nervous and agreed to the notes things without even a scolding. “What is it, Will?”

“Have you had any…um…visitors?” She can almost see Willow hold her breath on the other end of the phone.

“Oh, you mean, Xander?”

Her voice is a squeak on the other end. “Oh phooey. I’m sorry, Buffy! I told him you were sick and I told him not to go to your house and I told him…and oh, he didn’t listen to me one teeny tiny bit!”

“It’s okay. I…lied to him.”

Willow breathes out a sigh of relief. “Oh, good. Whew. My mind – load off!”

“But I’m going to tell him about Spike the next time I see him.”

“Oh god! But that’s tonight!” Willow’s voice pitches towards terror.

“It is? Why?”

“I was planning to call and tell you. Scooby meeting at Giles’ tonight. All he would say is ‘oh, dear’ and rub his eyes when I saw him. Guess something’s rotten in Sunnydale. Again.”

Buffy falls silent. There it is, the golden opportunity to tell everyone about Spike. And she would rather fight a gang of vampires with one hand tied behind her back. Doesn’t matter. Spike deserves the truth. Her voice is quiet, certain.

“Then I can tell Xander…and everyone…then. See you tonight, Will.” Sounds of protest and panic come through the phone as Buffy hangs it up with a click. She pauses with her hand on the handset for a moment and then takes the phone off the hook. Otherwise, she is sure it will ring in a few seconds with more protestations. Lying back and staring at the ceiling, Buffy considers her decision. Now she just has to figure exactly how to explain it. Does she mention the spell or leave it out? Of course, Willow knows about the spell, so she could…

“May I interrupt, luv?” His voice comes from nearer than she expected and is strangely muffled. Her eyes slide to the door to find her completely naked lover holding a steaming hot plate of spaghetti. And a rose. In his teeth. The scene is pure comedy and Buffy feels the giggles rise up from her throat like bubbles before exploding into peals of laughter.

In between bursts of giggles, Buffy manages to stumble over to the bedroom door. Spike grins at her around the flower, loving the way her hazel eyes dance when she is laughing. He meets her eyes with his, trying to tell her that they are in this together. Her worries are his worries. And he knows she was worried when he came to the door the first time and she was on the phone. Hence the snatching of a rose from the flower arrangement in the hallway. And it worked. The concern has vanished from her eyes, replaced by this playful, sexy Buffy he adores. More than he thought possible. Buffy reaches up to take the flower out of his mouth and tosses it over her shoulder.

Buffy’s voice is higher than normal, dripping with innocence. “Oh, thank goodness you came back, Spike. I’m very...” She bites his lip. “Very…” Nibbles his ear. “Very…” Nips against his neck before rising up to meet his eyes again. “Hungry.” The last word rolls off her tongue right as she tackles him against the door, her mouth covering his in a furious kiss as Spike struggles not to drop her lunch all over the carpet.

* * * * *

“Tonight it is. I’ll use the arrows just before the meeting.”

“Oh goody!” Psyche claps in excitement and then shakes her head at the scene unfolding below. “They are unbelievable! Makes me feel rather…frisky.” She grins and raises an eyebrow at Cupid.

“Well, we do have some time, my sweet. Shall we?” Holding out his hand, Cupid takes ahold of Psyche and pulls her against him, his lips finding hers in an instant.



Chapter 32