holiday2

She slid around him and scooted underneath the shower spray. Spike picked up the shampoo bottle, poured a good amount into his hand and rubbed it into Buffy's muddy, straggly hair. As her kneaded her hair, she tipped her head back slightly. He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on her neck. He could feel the humming in her throat as she moaned underneath his mouth. He backed away from her, turning her around and soaping her back as she rinsed her hair. She rubbed her ass back into his crotch, trying to rub against him. He just moved back farther and kept soaping her up. Soon, she was clean again. She turned off the water and turned to him. Her tangled hair fell over her shoulders, covering her breasts. Buffy reached up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly. He began to sway slightly, rejoicing in the feeling of her in his arms. He kissed her gently on the forehead and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and wrapped one around his waist.

"Time to talk now," she said, opening the door.

"Shut the door," he whispered. "The niblet -"

"Don't worry," Buffy said. "She's at Tara's."

Spike smiled happily. He swept her up and carried her down the hall to their room and laid her gently on the bed. He brought her a cotton nightgown from the drawer and watched her slip it on. He pulled on his black terry robe and lay beside her. He rolled onto his side and watched her watching him. Buffy gently traced the outline of his cheekbone, his jaw and then outlined his lips. That was when he saw it. She was wearing the ring.

"Picking through a bloke's pockets while he's bathing?� said Spike. �Some criminal element must be corrupting you." His lips smiled, but his eyes were deep and deadly serious. "So, love, do you want me to ask you the question or do you just want to keep the pretty ring?"

"You already asked me, remember? The whole "make me the happiest man on earth" thing?" said Buffy coyly.

Spike's eyebrows flew up into his hairline. "I thought you forgot all about that!� he laughed. �You certainly acted like you did!"

"I didn't forget," said Buffy softly. "Just couldn't deal." She looked down at the ring on her hand. "This is so beautiful, Spike. Of course, I did like the skull ring. Still have it in my jewelry box."

"Baby, this really isn't quite the way I pictured doing this,� said Spike. �I wanted it to be special, to really mean something. My fantasy didn't really include beaning you in the head with the damn thing. I had this all planned out." He sighed loudly as he rolled over and rested his head on her chest. She cuddled him close and held his hand as they stared at the ceiling.

"How did this work, when you planned it in your mind?" asked Buffy.

"Well, it involved roses, and champagne. My true love decked out in a pretty peignoir I picked up. Me looking all Hugh Hefner in my silk pajamas. A bit more romance. Significantly less mud," he said wryly. She laughed, a sweet chime that made Spike laugh as well.

"You went and bought lingerie!" exclaimed Buffy in disbelief.

"I went to Victoria's Secret with Anya. It was a horror show of truly spectacular proportions. You don't want to know half the things I learned about her and monkey boy," said Spike, shuddering.

"That is the sweetest thing,� says Buffy earnestly. �You really are one for making the grand sacrifice for me, aren't you?"

He rolled onto her and stared straight into her eyes. "There isn't one damn thing in this world or any other that I wouldn't do for you, pet." He grabbed her head and kissed her gently, his tongue lapping at the sides of her warm mouth. Heat arose between the two of them. The desire to have and hold flared up in them both. Spike tossed his robe onto the floor, and then pulled up the hem of her nightgown.

Buffy shivered and pushed him away. "Wait, wait. This is just all wrong." He stiffened, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "I sent Dawn away so that we could start over. Make some nice Kodak memories, without the mud and the panic. Not to just shag and shag some more," said Buffy.

Spike leaned forward and bit her lower lip. He grabbed her hips and rocked his pelvis against hers. She bucked up and they both moaned. "But I like to shag and shag - and shag some more. You know you want it, honey," he purred in his sexiest voice, tweaking one of her nipples as he spoke.

Buffy got her intent Slayer look about her and pushed him off. He rolled onto his back and sighed. "This is where the fun train stops. We are going to do this thing right and we're going to do it now," Buffy said crisply

Spike rolled his eyes. "It's an engagement, sweetheart, not a military maneuver."

The icy gaze that she sent his way had him up and scrambling in a second. "Bossy Buffy in the house,� sighed Spike. �Right then. I'll take it from the top." He reached out his hand and she gently placed her ring in his palm.

Buffy took the pink and white striped bag and pulled out several packages wrapped in tissue paper. She opened them, discovering a white satin peignoir set, a garter belt, and white silk stockings. She shook the bag and tissues out, but that was it. No bra. No undies. She smiled as she stripped off her nightgown and put on the lingerie.

She descended the staircase. The living room was dark with burning tapers placed all around the room. It smelled of the roses that overwhelmed a small vase on a side table.