Spike stood abruptly, yanking Xander up with him. "Get dressed," He ordered. Xander obeyed immediately, helping Spike into his clothes before donning his own. The vampire took up Xander's leash and led the boy through a throng of disappointed onlookers. It was obvious that these people wanted to watch a little more of the intoxicating interplay between Spike and Xander.

Xander let Spike lead him back to the car. The vampire bundled Xander into the passenger seat and quickly drove them home. He'd loved being at the club, exposed to all those hot, admiring eyes. It was quite a thrill to be seen by so many, to be so wanted.

However, after their last bout, Spike had been overcome with an intense need to get his boy alone. The vampire was brutally honest with himself; he knew exactly why he wanted Xander tucked away in their bedroom. What he wanted to do next was something for them and them alone, something he couldn't bear to share with anyone else.

Having someone get too close to Xander in the club had solidified something within Spike. Xander was his. *His*. So long as Spike walked this bloody earth, no one else would ever get within striking distance of his boy. He couldn't risk anything happening to this sweet youth because Xander held his heart. If something happened to the boy, Spike would be lost.

For that reason, Spike was letting his mind return to something both he and Xander had let lie fallow for quite some time. When they'd first gone to that club, something very... unusual had occurred. Oh, they'd both enjoyed it, yes they had.

Spike had bitten Xander. He'd sunk his fangs into the boy, and hadn't felt so much as a glimmer of pain. No, they'd both enjoyed the hell out of that encounter. Feeling that most intimate part of Xander flowing into him, knowing that the boy was being pleasured from the act as well... Spike had nearly died his last death.

Spike wanted that again, yes. He wanted to sink his fangs back into that lovely, tight body, feel Xander writhe under him as ecstasy raced from the bite to his cock and back. However, that wasn't all that Spike wanted. What the vampire wanted was to feel Xander's blunt human teeth rip into his own immortal flesh, to experience the rapture that was sure to come when his boy suckled at his neck, completing that perfect circuit. All he would have to do is utter the right words, at just the right moment, and Xander would be his forever. A simple spell, a binding chant that Dru had taught him one dark winter night when the winds were howling like wolves.

Then they would be one, tied together in a union infinitely closer than any human marriage, one that would last until the end of their world. Xander would be rendered immortal, forever in the form he was now. It wouldn't take much, just blood and words. And in the end, wasn't that what lay between them anyway? Xander's blood heat, words they rarely said, but always meant.

If only Xander wanted it, would accept Spike in his life like that. The vampire wasn't sure if the boy would, if he could convince Xander that it was something good, something right for them. Or perhaps Xander wouldn't want to be bound for eternity to a soulless demon, the epitome of everything he hated.

Xander glanced over at Spike, wondering what had the vampire so tense. He could fairly feel the anxiety radiating off his lover. Still, he remained silent, knowing that whatever it was, Spike would tell him in good time. He couldn't think of anything from the club that would've bothered Spike, but perhaps there had been something he'd missed.

When Spike finally got Xander inside their apartment, the first thing he did was remove the offensive layers separating their bodies. Xander let Spike pull their clothes off, even the collar that had by now become an extension of Xander's own skin. The young man let Spike carry him into their bedroom, where the vampire laid him down gently on the mussed covers of their bed.

"Spike?" Xander murmured, drawing his lover down to him. "Something wrong?"

Spike shook his head, and then buried his face in Xander's neck. He breathed deeply, scenting arousal, sweat and the lingering perfume of leather on his boy's sweet skin. "Want you," He whispered, curling his arms around Xander to hold him close.

Xander frowned slightly at the desperation in Spike's voice. "I'm right here," He assured Spike, returning the embrace.

Spike's arms tightened around Xander's chest. "Need you. Love you," He said, his voice shaking. "Forever, Xander."

"Not going anywhere," Xander replied, not sure where this had come from. "Not for a long time."

Spike's head whipped up. "Not forever!" He demanded, eyes flashing. "Don't leave, not ever," He said, voice almost begging. "Stay with me." The blonde's face slowly sank back down to Xander's throat, where he began to caress the boy's skin with blunt teeth.

"For as long as I can," Xander promised. The feel of Spike's teeth on his neck had him thinking of other things, of bites and mind-shattering pleasure and a feeling of closeness he'd not felt since the first and last time Spike had taken of him. His body hardened as sensual memories flooded his consciousness. Xander was oddly sure that Spike wouldn't hurt him, wouldn't take too much, and he wanted that connection. Perhaps that's what Spike needed too. Maybe after being exposed so completely as they had been that night, Spike and he both needed something to anchor them.

"You can, you know," Xander murmured, pushing his neck into Spike's mouth.

Spike shook his head. "Want more," He stated, licking the spot where he would bite if he were to do such a thing. Oh, how he wanted to bite, to bring Xander inside him forever.

A small lightbulb came on in Xander's head. "What do you want?" He asked. "'Cause you know I'll give you anything if you ask for it."

Once again that blonde head lifted, letting blue eyes rest on Xander's face. "Would you?" /Would you, knowing what I know about what I want?/ Spike thought to himself.

"Of course," Xander said simply. Didn't Spike know that he was the centre of Xander's universe?

Spike took a deep breath and decided that now was as good a time as any to take the biggest chance of his unlife. "Stay with me forever, then. Don't ever leave me, never die on me."

Xander stilled. "You want to turn me?" He asked carefully, his mind growing cold and numb. Of all the things Spike could have asked for, this was one of the few that Xander couldn't fathom doing. Whether he would or not was something different, though. Spike was a major source of irrational behavior in Xander's life.

"No," Spike denied, shaking his head. "Bind you to me, forever. Don't wanna turn you. You'd be different," Spike continued, holding the boy so tightly to him that neither could tell where one started and the other stopped. "I love you, the way you are," He whispered. "An' I want you with me, here, forever." Spike fell silent, unable to continue. He prayed to whatever gods liked vampires that Xander would understand, would see that what Spike wanted had nothing to do with killing the human that Xander was.

Xander stared at the shadow-covered ceiling. He wanted the same thing that Spike did; the idea of growing old and dying, of someday suffering the loss of Spike's presence in his life, as the vampire wandered off in search of some younger lover... But he didn't see how Spike was going to do anything about that. And besides, why would Spike want him around for that long anyway?

Spike growled. "Because I love you!" He shouted, moving up to put his face right in Xander's. "That's why," He continued in a softer voice. "Won't ever love anyone like I love you. Not the kind of thing you find more than once."

Xander blinked, unnerved by that piercing gaze. "How?" He asked, still trapped by those eyes. He couldn't believe that Spike wanted him around that long, but he also couldn't help wanting to know how it would be possible for them to never be separated by the ravages of time.

Spike licked his lips. "Binding spell," He murmured. "Tie us together. Since I don't get older, neither would you," He explained slowly. He rubbed his body along Xander's, indulging himself in the feel of his boy's body. Oh, if he could only have this for the rest of his unlife...

Xander's mind was a cacophony of voices. One that sounded suspiciously like Buffy kept asking him what the hell he was doing, thinking about letting himself be tied in any way to a vampire. Another one, Giles this time, questioned his intelligence and wisdom. Willow was a small, whiny voice asking if he was going to be a bad person afterwards. After all, he was as yet a young man, and this creature lying in his bed was an ancient trickster. The other voices, though, were all Xander's, questioning whether he loved Spike enough, or if Spike really loved him, or if he could handle living on while his friends got old and died... if he could live with Spike when the chip eventually stopped working and the vampire could once again harm other humans.

Then Xander looked up at Spike. In those bluest eyes he saw everything he needed to see. Absolute acceptance, love, need and want. He saw that they could work though their difficulties, petty and otherwise. Xander saw that when he wept over his friends' deaths, Spike would hold him and not laugh at blood spilt and lives cut short. And finally, for the first time, Xander saw that to Spike, he was more important than the demon that resided within the blonde's cold body. "Yes," He whispered, smiling softly up at Spike.

Spike's eyes widened as that single word registered. Yes, yes, yes... A single, long shudder wracked the vampire's body. He bent his head to Xander's, bringing their lips together. The kiss was achingly tender, soft and slow, meant to seduce and consume.

Xander let Spike overwhelm him with the kiss, knowing that the vampire had understood and accepted his response. When the blonde finally broke away to trail that cool, wet tongue over Xander's neck, the boy just tipped his head back more. His body was shouting, screaming for this; to let Spike consume him, brand him forever. Xander could feel that same frantic energy pulsing through Spike; both of their bodies were fairly humming with it.

Spike fought back his tears as his face shifted. Sharp fangs traced over soft skin briefly, testing. Then he struck. Hot, pure blood flowed past ivory and spilled over his tongue, sweeter and more potent than the finest wine. He felt Xander stiffen and jerk and knew that the rapture he felt was mirrored in his lover.

Xander clawed at Spike's back, demanding more of the crushing pleasure that accompanied the bite. He thrust helplessly against Spike, grinding their aching cocks together. All too soon, the vampire pulled away from his neck, taking with him that blinding sensation. Spike twisted, descended, pressing his own cool throat against Xander's lips. Xander didn't stop to think; he opened his mouth and struck, sinking his far more blunt teeth into that smooth skin, drawing blood which he quickly consumed. It was cool and rich, wiping away every memory Xander ever had of anyone else. He'd had no lovers before Spike, and none would come after. The young man's universe narrowed to the body above his, to the jarring pleasure they were sharing as they twisted and ground against each other.

As orgasm began to build, the monstrous creation of slick pressure, intoxicating blood and exquisite pain, Xander heard his lover's sibilant voice. Hissed and growled words that solidified in the air, twining around their bodies, sinking in and disappearing. Xander released Spike's throat as he felt hot and cold seed release on his belly and mix together. Then cool lips met his as he convulsed through his climax, gentling him into the blackness of oblivion.

/Thirty-one/

*****
Part 32:

The coppery aftertaste in his mouth concerned Xander for a moment. That concern deepened into real worry when he realized that he hadn't bitten his tongue or lips. Where had the blood come from? He began to move, but found himself pinned to the bed by the considerable weight of Spike, who was pretty well unconscious. Xander saw a dark stain on his lover's alabaster skin and frowned. He turned his head to one side, immediately smelling blood on Spike's skin. Blood on Spike's throat. From Spike's body. In Xander's mouth.

Spike was roused out of his stupor by a sudden increase in Xander's heart rate. The boy's pulse was racing, every muscle in his body tensing. The blonde lifted his head up in time to catch the look of panic in Xander's eyes. The vampire's mind screamed in warning. Xander wasn't doubting this, couldn't possibly have changed his mind...

Xander watched Spike watch him, saw rising worry in those beloved eyes. The previous evening's activities came back in a rush. The collar. The Absinthe Room. The binding... "Hey," Xander whispered, relaxing a little. Now that he knew why his mouth tasted of Spike's blood, he wasn't so upset. It wasn't as though he'd mauled his lover in his sleep. "Sleep well?"

Spike catalogued each symptom of anxiety that the boy had--felt each and every one fade away. The smile on Xander's face was genuine; the relaxation that melted his boy's warm body was real. "Very, you?" Spike murmured, edging up to align their mouths.

"Good," Xander replied as Spike kissed him. He would've been content to spend the morning tasting his lover's mouth, but his body had other ideas. After a minute or two, Xander's stomach began to growl. Spike laughed into Xander's mouth and broke the kiss.

"Haveta feed you, hmm?" He said, rolling off Xander's body.

"Unless you like emaciated lovers, yeah," Xander agreed. He levered himself off the bed, already missing the weight of Spike's body on his own. Xander glanced one more time at the bloody mess that was Spike's neck, and then raised a tentative hand to his own. However, all he found was a healing bite mark.

Spike made a querying sound as he watched Xander. "Somethin' wrong, pet?"

Xander grimaced. "You were a lot neater than I was. Uh... you might wanna wash your neck off." He gestured towards Spike's throat.

The vampire felt his skin, flaking off bits of dried blood. "Yeah," He agreed. Now that Xander had mentioned it, his skin had begun to itch. He walked into the bathroom while Xander went into the kitchen to find something to eat.

When Spike found Xander in the kitchen, the boy was standing over the sink, naked. In one hand was a half-gallon container of peanut butter-chocolate ice cream. In the other was a spoon. The scene was classic Xander; a boy and his confection, stripped down to its basic elements. Spike found himself oddly touched. It never ceased to amaze the vampire how an act that would have once provoked nothing but mockery would now make him sentimental.

Shaking off his maudlin thoughts, Spike walked up behind the young man, wrapping cool arms around a warm waist. "Want some?" Xander asked, proffering a cream-covered spoon.

Spike leaned around Xander's shoulder and caught the utensil as it reached his mouth. A burst of rich, sweet chocolate and almost-salty peanut butter flooded his mouth, overlaid with the taste of Xander. The boy had just taken a bite from the spoon before offering it to the vampire.

Xander turned in Spike's arms, smearing melted ice cream from the carton along the vampire's chest as maneuvered. "Oops," He said, grinning. Spike smirked around the spoon in his mouth as Xander deposited the ice cream container on the counter and bent his head to Spike's chest, licking at the sweet fluid.

Spike's smirk disappeared as his mouth fell open. Xander trailed his tongue across smooth skin to lave at a pale nipple, nipping sharply with his teeth before soothing away the hurt with soft lips. Spike let the spoon clatter to the floor as he picked Xander up with both hands and sat him on the counter.

Xander growled as his treat was taken away from him. The warning sound was quickly smothered as Spike claimed his mouth in a hard yet gentle kiss, stealing away from Xander the last traces of chocolate from his lips. Xander reached between them, grasping both of their erections in one warm hand. Spike leaned into the touch, moaning as Xander started a steady, slow rhythm.

"Mmm," Xander hummed as Spike released his mouth to suckle at the healing bites on his neck. "Spike and chocolate." He licked his lips and reached for the ice cream, dipping his hands into the softening stuff. Spike tipped his head back to watch Xander, eyes tracking the peanut butter-and-chocolate covered hand as it drew ever closer.

Xander drew his fingers over Spike's lips, painting the vampire's pale flesh dark. Then he dropped his hand down to join its mate as he leaned forward to renew their kiss.

Spike let Xander inside, dueling peacefully with that warm tongue as equally warm hands coaxed him closer and closer to release. Of all the things he'd thought would follow their binding, this easy, playful encounter wasn't one of them. Slow but ever spiraling onward, Spike could feel his body tighten, urge him forward, closer to this most precious boy who was making a feast of his mouth.

Xander dove deeper inside Spike, swimming easily past those first fleshly barriers. He felt himself slide under the surface, even as the sand under him fell away. He was adrift, lost in a dark ocean of his lover. Spike was in and around him, pulling him ever deeper. Cool but not frigid, welcoming and... home. That was it exactly; Spike was home. Somewhere deep inside the vampire was the only place Xander's soul wanted to be.

Spike swallowed the low cry that signaled Xander's climax, letting it blend with his own as he thrust into those warm fingers. He purred as Xander lapped at the last traces of chocolate around his mouth, holding his boy tight to him. "Thirty-two," Xander murmured, laying his head on Spike's shoulder. "I think we both need a shower now."

*****
Part 33:

"Ever notice how our lives revolve around the Magic Box?" Xander asked as he and Spike strolled towards the store. "I mean, it's yet another night of doing whatever Giles tell us to."

"'M not cleaning again," Spike grumbled. He suffered through spending his nights in the Slayer's disgusting presence, so that he could have a little more time with his boy, but he was not going to be the Watcher's scullery maid.

Xander didn't expect that they would be doing such mundane tasks, since Giles had taken the time to call him and ask that the boy attend their research night. Still, when they arrived the Watcher shot Xander an annoyed glance and waved him off towards the training room. "If you would be so kind, Xander, as to clean the weaponry. And Spike, since you have been so gracious as to appear uninvited, feel free to join him."

Xander's jaw dropped. He'd been called in to polish swords? "Uh, you didn't need me for anything?" He asked, voice far calmer than he felt.

Giles looked up at the young man. "There was a minor crisis earlier, but Buffy and Willow are taking care of it. However, the armory is in truly disgusting condition." A pointed stare told Xander that if he was going to stick around, it was going to be in the training room, wielding rags and cleaner.

Xander silently trudged back to the training room. Spike wandered around the shop for a minute or two, until Giles demanded that he either go back with Xander or leave. The vampire hid his smirk with a rude gesture and trotted off to find his boy.

"Here," Xander muttered, thrusting a scimitar at Spike. "I think that one will burn my skin off if I touch it."

Spike caught the weapon and grabbed up a handful of rags. "You owe me, Xander." He was not enjoying the idea of spending the evening doing what he'd said he would not do--clean for Giles.

"I know," Xander murmured. He felt bad for dragging his lover out so they could scrape demon blood off weapons Buffy hadn't bothered cleaning herself. Spike well and truly hated the Scoobies, and Xander couldn't blame him. Buffy and the others treated the vampire like shit, belittled him, and were generally assholes where he was concerned. Then again, they weren't exactly nice to him, but that was to be expected. He was doughnut boy.

Spike foisted a dagger over onto a nearby table and stretched. He'd been scraping bile off blades for several hours and was nearly bored enough to strike up a conversation with her Slayerness. That meant, of course, that it was past time for him to throw Xander down onto the floor mats and fuck him blind.

"Hey!" Xander yelped as he suddenly found himself lifted off his chair, knife and cleaning rag taken away. The world did a neat, twisty thing and then he was on his back, sliding along cool training mats. Naked. "Where are my clothes?" He asked Spike, wondering how the vampire had gotten them off that quickly.

An equally naked vampire joined him on the floor. "Heavy bag," Spike murmured, letting his body drag along Xander's. "Why? You need them or something?"

Xander shuddered, bucking up against Spike as their cocks met and slid against each other. A quick look to one side told him that yes indeed, his clothes were draped over the heavy bag--as were Spike's. "You know that if Giles comes in here, you're so gonna be dust."

"Then we'll make sure he's got no reason to come back here, hmm?" Spike said, grinding himself down onto Xander. Slick, soft-hard skin and muscle called to him, begging for another moment to stretch out this sensuous contact.

Xander considered protesting, but soon decided that it was a far better idea to just go with the flow. Besides, Spike was flooding his senses. The taste of his lover as they kissed, teeth nipping. The feel of that unnaturally smooth, porcelain skin as it taunted and seduced. The blood, smoke, and violence that was the vampire's cologne. It was far too easy for the boy to lose himself in this all-consuming desire.

Spike pressed his face into Xander's throat as he rode the boy, letting the hard, rapid thrum of the human's heartbeat drive him on. He was addicted to the sound of Xander's blood rushing through beloved veins and knew that he could follow his sweet boy by his heartbeat alone, even through a crowd of people. The rhythm was tattooed somewhere deep inside his demon, where his soul would've been had he still had it.

When Xander began to whimper and moan, control lost to the inescapable demands of clawing release, Spike brought their lips back together. He reverently swallowed those cries, taking them in even as he shouted his own climax into his lovely boy's throat.

Xander was roused by the feel of soft fabric on his torso. Spike was cleaning them up with brisk efficiency, removing all traces of their extracurricular activities. "Thirty-three," Xander remarked, thumping Spike on the ass with his foot as he stood up. "And I'm guessing Giles didn't hear us."

Spike looked down at himself. "Seeing as how I'm not dust, I tend to agree."

*****
Part 34:

"You know, I never thought you'd ever go to the Bronze willingly," Xander murmured as they stood in line for drinks.

Spike shrugged. "You seem to like it alright," He murmured, his gaze flitting around the room. The patrons of the club were of little interest to him; they were, to a person, young, thin to the point of emaciation, and as dumb as sheep. There wasn't a person in the place that he'd trade Xander for. Hells, there wasn't one he'd give to Xander as a present.

Xander pressed a drink into Spike's hand. "It's better than Willy's," He reminded the vampire. "At least it is to me. No worrying that the sticky spot on the bathroom floor is someone's liver, or that the bartender got my Bloody Mary mixed up with yours."

Spike smirked and led Xander along one wall to an empty table. The idea of getting Xander on a dance floor, where they could writhe and thrust in a clothed, vertical approximation of sex was an alluring one. However, there was no way Spike was approaching the mass of sweaty teens that surrounded the stage. Instead of entertaining himself that way, Spike settled into a chair and pulled Xander into his lap.

Xander tensed briefly; this wasn't The Absinthe Room; people here were... used to seeing Tara and Willow together. He relaxed. As long as the gang wasn't here, no one would make a fuss. Besides, they were in a dark, partially hidden section of the club. "Are you over your spell of mad yet?" He asked the vampire, who was sipping his drink and boredly watching what passed for action in the Bronze.

"Hmm?" Spike hummed, sliding deeper into the soft, plush chair. He was barely visible over the armrests, he was so immersed in cushions.

"The cleaning of weaponry," Xander reminded him. Spike shifted his arms around the boy's shoulders, drawing him down until Xander was cradled against his chest.

Spike snorted. "Oh, I'm over it," He replied. "Won't be showing up there anymore, an' that's that."

Xander frowned. "Oh." That meant significantly fewer evenings with Spike, since Xander would still be going. Well, he thought he would be. Cleaning gore off Buffy's weapons wasn't exactly his idea of contributing.

"Don't fret," Spike said soothingly. He slid a cool hand between Xander's knees, stroking gently along the seam between his boy's legs. Xander whimpered as the vampire reached his groin and that cold hand lay pressed against his burgeoning erection.

"I'll miss you," Xander whispered, enjoying Spike's ministrations. He rocked slightly, grinding himself against the blonde's body. Spike hissed appreciatively, running his fingers along Xander's crotch, encouraging him to continue.

"You'll see me every night," Spike promised, thrusting slightly. "Unless you want me to disappear."

Xander groaned. Spike's hand was stroking him with just enough pressure. The slick buzz of passers-by just made their chair seem more isolated, an invisible plastic bubble that floated in their private corner of some seedy teen club. "No...." He moaned. "Stay." Spike was not leaving, and that was that. He'd find chains, the ones Giles used on the vampire, anything to keep him.

Spike buried his face in Xander's neck, keeping up the breakneck pace of thrust-slide-grip-release that had both men panting and squirming. Denim and pressure on his cock was painful, beautiful, and generally mindbending. The scent of Xander's desire, the taste of it on that moist flesh... Spike bit back a keening wail of delight as he worked them furiously.

Xander's mouth fell open as orgasm rammed into him, leaving him a shaking, boneless supplicant bowing on the altar that was Spike's body. Dancers swirled like so much melted confetti in front of his wide-open eyes, adding a surreal, almost nightmarish facet to his climax.

Spike thrust once more, knowing that all he needed was that last touch. Ecstasy blinded him, racing through his system like wildfire. It burned and tore away at his defenses until all that remained was a shadow of a man, a demon, and his lovely boy.

"Mmrfl," Xander mumbled, wriggling slightly to get into the perfect position to fall asleep for a while.

"Hmm?" Spike hummed, still buzzing.

"Thirty-four," Xander repeated muzzily. "Shh."

Spike nodded obediently and let himself join Xander in a dazed half-slumber.

Neither man saw the wide, unblinking green eyes that watched their every move.

*****
Part 35:

"Mmm...Thanks for going out," Xander murmured as Spike pushed him through the door. He was just drowsy enough to be pliant in the vampire's hands. "Was fun."

"Right," Spike replied as he locked the door and hefted Xander over his shoulder. "Shouldn't have let you talk me into dancing. You're too tired for anything now."

Xander let his hands flop around, hitting Spike's back and ass. "Spike, I'm *never* too tired for that." In fact, Xander thought that a bit of slow, easy something-or-another sounded like the perfect way to end the day.

Spike laid Xander on their bed and quickly stripped the boy down. It wasn't easy, particularly since Xander's boxers had tried their best to fuse to his skin. A damp washrag solved that problem, though. Soon he and his lovely boy were ensconced in a warm bed, snuggled up under the covers.

Xander wallowed in Spike's arms until he found the vampire's mouth. Lips both cool and warm slid once, twice and then caught. Tongues introduced themselves and bowed for a slow waltz. Spike let himself float along the heady melodies of Xander's desire, adding in his own sharp accent notes. His boy knew just where to touch, right there and there and...

Spike shuddered as harsh ridges rose on his face. Warm hands came up to stroke the bony formations, even as their kiss continued. Xander slid his lips along Spike's fangs, slicing the delicate tissues. Both lovers groaned as sweet, hot blood flowed freely, painting their lips and teeth a vibrant rose red.

And in the corner, their silent observer seethed. /Traitor./ Fists clenched and struck defenseless air. /How could he? Spike is a... monster. An evil, soulless vampire!/ Furious jealousy and rage built like trapped steam.

Spike wrapped his arms around Xander and gently turned them over, until his boy was buried deep in a nest of down comforters and pillows. Xander slid his legs up and around Spike's waist, urging the vampire on with the slightest of tantalizing thrusts. Still they kissed, unwilling to part even for a moment.

Xander reached over to a night stand and located some slick, which he handed off to Spike. "Slow tonight?" Spike asked in a whisper as he pulled away enough to reach between them. Nimble fingers stretched and opened an incredibly warm body, blue eyes watching raptly as brown ones widened and begged for more.

"M-more," Xander gasped, rolling his hips. "Slow...fast...just don't stop, Spike," He muttered, eyes fluttering closed. So long as some part of the vampire was inside him, Xander was content to spend all night on his back, reveling in nothing but the demon who had consumed his existence.

Spike moved up and over Xander, pushing his aching cock slowly and deeply inside his lovely boy. Twin cries echoed throughout the room as they were joined, pale and rosy lips meeting once again. Warm, breathy pants spurred Spike into action and the vampire began an easy, sinuous rhythm. He trailed his tongue down to Xander's ear and over his throat, sensing the human's pulse as it rose to meet his own quiet heart.

/We trusted him, and this is what we get? What happened to him? Xander used to be the purest of us, the one who saw black and white./ Blackness flooded verdant eyes. /He's tainted. Poisoned. There's no way he would let Spike do that./

"Please," Xander moaned as Spike's fangs ghosted over his neck. The sharp, cold slide of his lover's body was pushing Xander ever closer to the peak, coaxing yet another wave of ecstasy out of his liquid body. He wanted that deeper connection, the closest one. The one that only they had--the two of them together.

Spike briefly prayed to whoever had granted him this most precious being, and then let his fangs pierce his beloved's skin, drawing forth just the tiniest bit of rich, dark blood. The very first taste pushed him to climax, screaming hoarsely into Xander's neck as his body bucked and thrust in an attempt to bring them even closer together.

Xander felt the flash of tightness, and then only a lightning flood of pleasure as his entire body came, tightening around Spike's cock, back arching off the bed. No sound fell from bruised lips as he rode wave after wave, losing himself in the feel of Spike in and on and around him.

Their invisible voyeur ran from the room, unwilling to watch the tenderness between these two mated lovers. The act itself had been imbued with far too much emotion for her to comprehend, and the afterwards was unbearable. The whispered 'thirty-five' only added to her angered confusion. Walls were no barrier to her magicks as she fled Xander's apartment and dove into the night.

Willow didn't stop running until she'd reached the street. The young witch let her invisibility drop and slowed to a walk, aiming for her dormitory room and her sleeping lover. This evening had progressed from odd to nightmarish for the redhead. What had started out as a brief exercise in making sure Xander was ok and not in need of best-friendly companionship had turned into a hallucinogenic kaleidoscope of revelations.

One thing Willow was sure of, though, was that Buffy needed to know. With that in mind, she changed directions and made for the Slayer's home.

*****
Part 36:

Xander whistled happily as he walked into his small office. The day was beautiful; sun bright, sky blue and not a whisper of rain in the forecast.

"Well, don't you look cheerful. Spike really *must* be good in bed."

Coffee met carpeting. "Buffy!" Xander yelled. He glanced out his office door, but no one had come running. "What the hell are you talking about?" He hissed.

The Slayer's eyes narrowed. "Don't bother denying it, Xander. Willow saw you. You and *Spike.*" Her face screwed up in disgust, tiny hands balling into fists. "How could you, Xander? He's... Spike!"

Xander checked to make sure he was right in the doorway. This was going to turn ugly; there was no way around it. "Yeah, he's Spike," Xander echoed. "And whatever we're doing is private. I don't ask about your sex life, do I?" No, he'd learned that lesson in high school.

"Hello? Evil, bleached vampire. Straight Xander. I'm seeing all sorts of issues here," Buffy ground out.

Xander scowled. "Er, two things, Buffy. First: Angel. Second: Willow."

"That's not the same and you know it!" Buffy replied hotly. "Angel had a soul, and Willow's... Willow. You were *engaged*, Xander. To Anya, who said you really enjoyed sex with her--a very female person."

Xander's temper heard some otherworldly starting gun and took off like wildfire. "You know, Buffy, I don't think I want to get into this conversation with you at work. In fact, I doubt I'll ever want to talk to you about this anywhere, anytime. It's none of your business. So, unless you've got some sort of legitimate reason to be here, I suggest you leave." He'd be damned to hell before her blonde perfection (and wasn't he beginning to sound suspiciously like Spike?) got between him and his lover.

"Willow said you were acting all lovey with him. Probably a spell," Buffy said, mostly to herself. "We planned for this, you know. It's for your own good," She continued, moving around the desk, picking up a rope she'd stashed in his office chair.

Xander joined his temper and headed for the hills. One hand slipped into a pocket for his cell phone. He dialed home by memory, hoping that if he kept calling back; Spike would wake up... if the vampire was in fact at home and not tied up or dust at the hands of his now-former best friend. "Come on, Spike. Be there. Pick up the phone and curse at me for waking you up, come on..."

The young man reached his car, hearing Buffy's footfalls behind him. He'd managed to gain a bit of distance by virtue of knowing his workplace better than she did. He threw himself behind the wheel and took off in a screech of tires, still trying to get in touch with Spike.

"Who the fuck is it?" Spike growled into the phone. He'd been dreaming of Xander when the phone had started ringing. And ringing, and ringing, and ringing... finally he'd answered it, just to give himself the pleasure of verbally eviscerating whoever was bothering him.

"Buffy knows," Xander said curtly. "Slayer seriously not happy, Spike."

Spike spent about two seconds thinking. "Right. Meet you outside in three minutes." He slammed the phone down and vaulted out of bed. Vampiric speed had never been so useful as it was now. In two minutes and fifty-five seconds, Spike was downstairs in the lobby, blanket in hand. He'd managed to get dressed and amass everything important from the apartment, all stashed in two duffle bags.

Xander pulled up and pushed the passenger-side door open. He heard another car pulling into the parking lot, even as Spike dashed to the car and dove inside. Xander pulled out, narrowly missing Buffy's car as she tried to block his exit. He made it to the street, only to see Willow standing a block away, glaring at his car. "Spike, you got anything in that blonde head of yours? 'Cause if you don't, Willow's gonna pickle us...or worse," Xander said frantically.

Spike growled. "Turn left, not right. Go to the cemetery," He ordered. Spike clenched his teeth briefly, wishing he didn't have to do what he was planning. The boy was not going to want to ditch his car. As soon as his jaw relaxed, he began a light, song-like chant. It wasn't much, just a simple blocking spell. Only good for a few minutes, it would let them reach the De Soto, which he hoped the girls wouldn't be looking for.

Xander drove to the cemetery. "Ok, now what, Spike?" He asked. Somehow, they'd managed to lose Buffy and Willow, though he was sure they'd soon show back up.

"Get out," Spike muttered. He bundled himself up and exited the car, taking some shelter in the shade of a huge tombstone. "See that kid over there?" He asked Xander, who had joined them. "Pay him twenty to drive your car to the police station."

Xander decided that now was not the time to question Spike's plans, whatever they were. "Ok," He said. It took about thirty seconds to convince the young vagrant to take the money and his car keys. Xander was confident he'd never see his car again.

Spike waited for Xander to return to his side. Then he ran towards the De Soto. Xander's footfalls were a welcome noise in his ears, reassurance that he'd not lost his boy. When they were safely away from Sunnyhell, he'd spend a few minutes being amazed that Xander had chosen him and not his friends. Right now, though, he was more interested in getting to his car, where he could take control and get them out of town.

Xander let Spike push him into the decrepit automobile. It shook and shuddered when Spike started it up, but the thing managed to turn over. Spike drove through town, taking side streets, until they hit the highway. "You know, you can sit up now," Spike murmured to the still-cowering Xander.

"Ok," Xander whispered, crawling across the seat to lay his head on Spike's thigh. "Where are we going?" He asked, staring up at the steering wheel.

"South," Spike murmured. "We'll figure out something once we reach LA."

"Why LA?" Xander inquired absently. He was still pumped full of adrenalin; making his seeming calm very deceptive. Xander's skin fairly itched with the need to do something.

Spike shrugged. "Resources," He replied cryptically. One thin hand fell to Xander's head, carding the damp, sweaty hair there. His boy was shivering, almost quaking. He knew it was excitement--the thrill of being chased and escaping capture.

Xander turned over, pressing his face into Spike's crotch. The vampire was hard, something that didn't surprise Xander at all. He himself was more than a little aroused, and frightened, by the last few minutes' activities. He'd just thrown away his entire life for the demon currently soothing him with gentle touches and the occasional murmured endearment.

"Xan..." Spike moaned as Xander reached for his jeans. The vampire nearly swerved off the road as his cock was engulfed by a hot, slick mouth. That eager, rough tongue pressed against his length, even as Xander's lips sealed around his erection. Then Xander began to suck.

Xander relished the keening wail that rang through the car as he worked Spike's cock. The pulsing, driving tension was forcing him on, demanding that he push Spike farther, touch more, suckle harder, drag his fingernails along sensitive testicles until Spike made that particular noise continuously.

Spike's eyes were frozen on the road. He couldn't blink; he didn't dare. If he did so much as twitch one muscle, he'd come so hard he'd black out, and that would be bad for the man in his lap. Combined with his own danger-high, Spike was well and truly flying. Being chased by hellhounds was nothing compared to this. They'd outsmarted a Slayer and her witch, and probably the Watcher too. And now... now he and his lovely boy were making their grand exit from the Hellmouth. He'd been thinking of this as an 'in the distant future' activity, but he was more than willing to adjust. Now was good, now was a perfect time to show his boy the world, now was Xander humming and vibrating around his cock and squeezing his balls just hard enough to bring him off in a startling shriek of fangs, yellow eyes and come.

"Mmm..." Xander murmured, licking his lips. He sat back and tucked Spike back in his jeans. Even though he was still hard, the young man felt much calmer, less jittery. "Thirty-six, I believe," He told Spike, poking the vampire in the hip.

Spike just nodded, still biting his tongue from his overwhelming climax.

*****
Part 37:

"Where are we?" Xander asked as he watched dilapidated buildings march past the car. "It looks... oogy."

Spike grinned. "Just picking up a few things," The vampire said lightly. He stopped the car next to what looked like a pawn shop. "Come on, then."

Xander followed a blanket-clad Spike into the dingy little shop. The interior was littered with random stuff--guns, music, a drum kit and a few lawn mowers. Xander's eyebrows went up at that; he hadn't seen grass for miles. "Er..."

Spike strolled up to the counter, blanket draped over his shoulder. "Long time, mate," He said over the counter.

An incredibly short man clambered up on a stool. "Spike! Been a long time indeed. What can I do you for?"

Spike leaned over to study the revolvers on display. "The usual."

"Don't have him on file. North, south, east, or west?" The guy asked, pulling out a paper file.

Spike thought for a moment while Xander paced nervously. He had no damned clue what was going on, and that was beginning to worry him. To the best of his knowledge, they didn't need a lawnmower, and guns weren't very effective against Angel. "Spike?" Xander began. "Do... ah... you wanna tell me anything?"

"East," Spike said firmly. The little man nodded and slid to the floor.

"Bring your boy back," He said as he disappeared through a doorway. Spike reached for Xander and pulled him around the counter.

"Easy, Xander," Spike whispered. "We're just getting you some ID made."

"As in, flee-the-country identification?" Xander inquired. "Where are we going?"

Spike smiled broadly. Xander hadn't asked if it was a good idea to leave, or why they were going, or if they could go back to Sunnydale and clear up his responsibilities there. No, his boy just wanted to know where they were going. "Ever been to England?"

Xander's grin was at least as wide as Spike's. "Nope!"

Spike busied himself on the telephone while Xander sat for Bernie's pictures. The guy totally amazed Xander by creating the best fake IDs he'd ever seen. He tried to pay attention to whatever Spike was doing, but it involved demonic languages he didn't understand.

By the time Bernie handed over two sets of identification and a bundle of plane tickets, Xander was bouncing off the walls. He'd never been on an airplane before. "Do they really have the little peanuts?" He asked Spike as they returned to the car.

"Yes, and you can have mine," Spike murmured. Their flights didn't leave for several hours, so he figured they needed to stop for a couple of things. Clothes, luggage, and the like would come in very handy. Spike was sure that Angel would find them soon, though, so he wanted to be at the airport. Besides, Angel was far less likely to do something stupid there. Security was tight these days; Spike was grateful that Bernie's work was professional quality.

Xander bounced alongside Spike as the vampire picked out a pair of suitcases. The young man was weighed down with bags of clothes--and their two bags of stuff from home. Spike was going to get them a taxi to the airport, hopefully slowing down Angel in the pursuit that he was most assuredly doing. "Will just two be enough?" He asked Spike.

"Those are for you," Spike muttered, grabbing two more. "These are mine. Let's go." After the luggage was purchased, he and Xander stood in the men's room of the mall and packed their bags. The vampire reluctantly placed all his weaponry into one suitcase so that it could be inspected by customs and checked. He didn't like it, but they were traveling the normal human way.

"So, England," Xander said excitedly as the taxi headed for the airport. "When was the last time you were there?"

Spike closed his eyes. "Around '93," He was trying not watch Xander bounce, afraid that he'd become motion sick for the first time in his unlife. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Xander stilled, looking over at his lover. "Yeah, I'm sure." It wasn't difficult for him to make the decision; once he'd decided to stay with Spike for the rest of his now-very long life, such questions were moot. Where Spike went, so did Xander. "Besides, I've never done much traveling. Oxnard doesn't really count."

The airport was busy, customs doubly so. Even with all the people, Spike and Xander made it into the terminal with no problems; their passports were easily accepted.

"So, when does our flight leave?" Xander asked, rifling through his tickets.

"An hour," Spike replied. "Might as well find the terminal and--"

"Spike."

Xander froze at the sound of Angel's voice, making the woman behind him curse and bump him as she passed. Spike took hold of his arm and dragged Xander over to the wall, Angel following close behind. The men's bathroom was closed for maintenance, so Spike ducked into it.

Xander skittered across the smooth tile floor, losing his balance. Spike stopped his descent, bringing their bodies tightly together. The vampire stood between Angel and Xander, eyes flaring yellow, ridges prominent.

Angel glared at his childe. This was... very bad. Buffy had called him in a panic, telling a garbled story about Willow finding Spike and Xander together, getting groiny, and now Spike had kidnapped the boy and... The memory of that phone call gave Angel a headache. "Spike, what are you doing?"

Spike just growled menacingly. "Er, we're going away," Xander said brightly. "Vacation. See the sights, do some traveling. I've never been on an airplane before!"

"You can't take the boy," Angel told Spike, ignoring Xander's prattle.

Spike snarled. "He's mine, Angel. Goes where I go now." As if to prove his point, Spike dragged Xander around and sealed their lips together. Xander responded instantly, kissing Spike even as he kept one eye on Angel.

Angel shifted into gameface and struck, but Spike was ready for him. Xander was quickly but gently shoved out of the way as the two vampires did battle. Spike easily ducked Angel's first swing, coming around behind Angel to hit his Sire with a punishing blow. Angel fell forward, striking his head on a urinal. Blood spattered the walls, but Spike didn't stop. He reached for Angel, grabbing the vampire's head. Xander winced as Spike rammed Angel's skull into the floor, smearing blood and what looked a little like gore all over the place.

Finally, Spike released Angel. "He's mine, and you don't touch him," Spike hissed, reaching for Xander once again. Xander came to him, molding that lovely, warm body to his. "And you can tell the Slayer that."

"X-xander," Angel gasped, unable to stand up. "He's...not..."

Xander stared down at Angel, unable to rouse the slightest bit of sympathy for the vampire. "He's what?" Xander asked. "Bad for me? No, that would be anyone who tries to get between us." Angel had made a grave mistake, coming after Spike, and now he was paying. Actually, Xander found it very amusing to see Angel in such bad shape. When Spike dropped one hand down to palm Xander's crotch, he just thrust forward slightly and smirked.

"Told you, he's mine," The blonde vampire said, grinning. Spike unzipped Xander's jeans, sliding his hands around Xander's hips, framing the hard, blood-flushed cock between pale fingers. Xander reached up to urge Spike's hands on, knowing that the picture they presented Angel was insanely erotic. Panting, trembling human, eerily staring vampire.

Spike abruptly released Xander, reaching into his duster for some lube. Xander gasped as the cold stuff hit his skin. He spread his legs apart, leaning back on Spike as the vampire returned to him. "Spiiiiike," Xander moaned when the vampire slowed down, deliberately torturing his lover with still fingers.

"More?" Spike asked, watching Angel's anguished face. He knew that what they were doing was tearing up Angel. Yeah, it was really getting to his Sire. He just knew the souled pouf wanted to stand up and rip his head off, but it would take at least an hour for the older vampire to recover from his injuries.

Xander choked back a scream as Spike thrust inside him. Every movement by the vampire sent shockwaves of pleasure up his spine, weakening his knees until Spike's hands and cock were the only things holding him up. This... performance, if it could be called that, was certainly the most oddly erotic thing he'd ever done. They were fucking not five feet from an incapacitated vampire, in the men's room of a rather large airport. Every time his gaze caught those wounded, yellow eyes, Xander's excitement raised a notch. He was fucking. In front of Angel. It didn't get any wilder than this, no.

Spike rode Xander hard and fast claiming, owning his boy with every killing thrust. By the time Xander finished screaming out his climax, there would be no doubt in his blasted Sire's mind who this lovely creature belonged to. Xander was *his*, not the Slayer's.

"Spike!" Xander cried, body convulsing in ecstasy. Spike held on tightly, snarling as his own shattering orgasm claimed him. Even as pleasure threatened to drive him to his knees, Spike kept his eyes on Angel. As Xander whimpered and collapsed around him, Spike saw understanding in Angel's eyes. His Sire didn't like it, didn't approve, and would probably try to stop him in the future. However, Angel now understood that Xander belonged with Spike.

"Thirty-seven?" Xander asked muzzily. "Er... don't we have a plane to catch?"

"That we do, luv," Spike murmured, giving them both a once-over with a paper towel. "Should be boarding right about now."

*****
Part 38:

"Wow, first class is really nice," Xander whispered. He was looking at everything, poking the seat cushions, and generally acting like a kid in a candy store. Spike simply accepted a whisky from the flight attendant and let Xander have the window seat.

"I thought you said there were peanuts."

Spike motioned for the flight attendant. She brought a bowl of peanuts for Xander. He shoved them in Xander's hands and threw back the rest of his drink. "Peanuts, luv."

Xander gobbled the snack and craned over the seat back to watch the other passengers. Spike just sighed and let Xander play. He knew the boy would soon tire of the plane; it only held so many new and different things.

Spike sat back in his seat and tried not to dwell on all the things that could go wrong. He wouldn't wonder if he'd wake up dust one night because Buffy had tracked them down. Angel wouldn't call airport security, having recovered suddenly. Willow wouldn't cast some huge spell and turn him into a vampiric toad. A chipped vampiric toad who couldn't suck the blood out of flies.

No, he wasn't going to think about those things. In that way lay madness, and Spike didn't need any more insanity in his unlife. He knew that one day, Xander would want to face his friends again. Spike understood, even if he didn't agree with the idea. But that was far in the future, and thus not something Spike was going to worry about.

Xander raptly watched the flight attendant as she ran through all the safety procedures. Spike wrapped his hands around the armrests and dug his nails into the plastic, waiting for the telltale jolt of the airplane being pushed back from the gate. Once the plane was moving away from the terminal, and Angel, he could let go. After they were in the air, maybe he'd start to relax. Maybe.

Xander saw that Spike was uneasy, but he couldn't stop being excited. The very nice flight attendant had located a pair of wings for him, which he now had on his shirt. That was how he knew that Spike wasn't ok--the vampire would've said something about the cheap plastic toy had he been his normal self.

Spike stared at the floor while they taxied to the runway. They were just about to take off when he felt a warm hand cover one of his own. He glanced over to see Xander, smiling happily. He nodded briefly before turning back to his study of the carpeting.

Xander felt his stomach lurch as the plane began to speed down the runway. Watching the ground disappear was fascinating, but he spared a glance at Spike, who was already looking better. By the time the young man tore his gaze away from the window, Spike was back to his old self.

"So, how's flying?" Spike asked Xander as he shifted around to face the boy.

Xander grinned. "This is *so* neat! When do they start serving food?"

Spike laughed and shook his head. Only Xander would actually look forward to airline food. The vampire had a few pints of blood stashed in some insulated drink bottles in their carryon luggage, so he'd be fine. Xander, though... well, at least they were in first class.

Within half an hour, though, Xander was bored. The airline magazine was boring and full of advertisements. All the soda and peanuts in the world didn't cover up the fact that airplanes smelled odd. And worst off all, he'd seen all the in-flight movies.

Spike knew the moment Xander realized that there wasn't much fun to be had with the standard airline fare. The vampire didn't blame the boy for his boredom; if he hadn't come prepared for such an eventuality, he too would be gnawing at the door seals, preferring to test his luck at 30,000 feet to staying inside the blasted thing. As soon as their flight attendant made her next pass by and headed for the coach cabin, Spike made his move.

"Wha--" Xander began, only to find himself muzzled by Spike's hand. The vampire dragged his human forward and into one of the tiny bathrooms, locking the door behind them. "So *that's* where the bathroom is," He said as soon as Spike released him. "I was beginning to wonder about that."

Spike backed Xander into the far wall, not a very difficult thing to do considering the cubicle's size. He silenced Xander's prattle with his mouth, even as those slender hands began to work on the boy's jeans.

Xander very, very briefly considered protesting this encounter. He nipped that idea in the bud, however. There were three hundred people just outside the door, all of whom could try to walk in at any moment. Besides, he wanted his first airplane trip to be a memorable one.

Spike rucked Xander's jeans down to his ankles. The young man turned around, kicking one shoe off and pulling his leg out of the fabric. Spike reached for a few squirts of the lotion the airline put in the bathroom, never taking his eyes from the sight of Xander, spread out in front of him over the head.

Xander muffled his shrieks with one forearm as Spike sank two fingers into him. His knees wobbled, hitting the toilet's base as Spike scissored his fingers apart, rubbing against his prostate.

Spike wrapped one arm around Xander's waist, positioning his cock at the boy's entrance with the other hand. He reveled in the ragged shudders of Xander's body as he impaled his lovely arse, stretching that tight hole. The plane rocked gently, making Xander tense up.

"Easy," Spike murmured. "Just a bit of turbulence." He thrust gently, starting a soothing, rocking motion. Every slide into Xander's body took away some of his worries. Each agonizing retreat drove off a few more fears. Xander, too, began to relax, pushing back on Spike's cock to encourage the vampire to pick up the pace.

Xander's mind was spinning wildly. The brief turbulence had sent his nerves into orbit and even though he wasn't frightened anymore, he was still high from the adrenalin rush. That tingling, heart-racing euphoria was only amplifying the sensation of Spike's cock splitting him open. The young man worked himself on that shaft, suddenly wanting very much to feel Spike come in side him.

Spike let himself go, shoving his cock into Xander with cruel force. He wrapped one hand around Xander's erection, pumping in time to his thrusts. The boy shuddered and stiffened, hot seed spilling out into Spike's hand as he tightened around Spike's straining flesh. The vampire buried his face in Xander's neck as he came, a low growl vibrating between them.

"So, thirty-eight was in an airplane lavatory," Xander said, smacking Spike's ass as he got dressed. "There is something extremely clich�d about having sex in an airplane."

Spike just smirked. /Just wait until we get to the transatlantic part of our little trip, pet./

*****