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| RED HOT |
| by Mazzy |
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| PART III |
9:15 am. Buffy noted the clock that hung on the workout room�s wall. Yep, Giles was officially late. Normally she didn�t have a problem with lateness herself. She�d only just arrived five minutes before, but Giles? Giles was nothing but Mr. Punctual. Maybe she was expecting too much of him? After all, the previous night�s workout was pretty grueling. Nah, it�s Giles! Buffy thought. They had both agreed just a few weeks ago to a more rigorous training schedule. Buffy learned that she had to be stronger, sharper, and more attentive to her slayer duties. She was determined to be the best slayer she could be AND the best student she could be AND the best girlfriend she could be to Riley. Surely she could handle it all, right? Many girls were able to juggle that many balls at once and not drop them. Well, none of those other girls were slayers, but even Willow was able to manage school, a social life and Scooby duties, though she didn�t think Willow was literally handling many balls lately. Buffy giggled at her unintentional double entendre. Five minutes of thinking�still no Giles. Buffy had had enough warming up and was about ready to hit something. Ah! Mr. Punchy bag will do well. Five minutes of grunts and groans later, she finally heard some shuffling out front. Slayer sense became alert, but she knew it had to be Giles. No vamps would be coming around at this ungodly hour, but then her small nose crinkled up at the scent of something burning. �Giles?� she heard in a very distinctive English accent as she rolled her eyes up heavenward. The clomping footsteps of the psuedo-baddie came closer to the workout room and Buffy stilled the punching bag as Spike entered the room. He wore his usual so-called black fashion statement and a smoking blanket over his head, which he promptly threw down on the floor. �Hey!� Buffy grumbled, �You just don�t throw things around like that.� The vamp looked up and his face grew into a warm, mischievous smile as he eyed the Slayer up and down. �Well, well, well, aren�t we up nice and early for a little poke and punch.� He eyed her tight little body rippling in a gray tank top and black sweats, and he licked his lips at the sight. �Poking? There�s no poking going on here,� Buffy suddenly flushed as the blonde one cocked an eyebrow. �Ooh! Spike, what do you want? �Cause I�m in a hitting mood and would benefit from knocking around some real undead flesh.� Spike entered the room and looked around at the Slayer�s new training ground. �Quite a nice little set up Pop got for you here. Where�s the old man at anyways this morning?� Buffy took her fighting stance again and jabbed at the bag with extra oomph. �Why should I tell you?� She oomphed again. Spike read right through her. �You don�t know either, do you?� He approached the bag and held it steady for her while she continued to punch�even harder now. �Very good pet,� his voice full of condescension, �You�re getting to be quite the little street fighter.� She threw down her gloves, approached the vamp, grabbed him by the neck and threw him against the brick wall. �Spike, I don�t have time for any of your little games, so unless there�s a major apocalypse happening at the moment, I suggest you leave.� Then she added as she loosened her grip, �And also, you�re distracting me.� She stepped away from the so-called man and moved to the center of the room to begin some tai chi exercises. �Well, nice to know my status has just been bumped up from annoying to distracting. Before long I just might be irresistible to you.� The vamp straightened himself up and grinned at her. She gave him an incredibly annoyed look that told him she wasn�t amused. �Okay love, I�ll get out of your way then, but riddle me this: A certain vampire goes by a certain Watcher�s house late at night to inform him of some underground doings, but said Watcher isn�t home. Said watcher DOESN�T come home, nor does he show up at his store for his second day of business.� Spike headed toward the front of the room, grabbed his blanket and gazed at her. �Funny thing, in�t it?� He slipped out of the door frame and disappeared Buffy stopped still as concern grew deep in her puzzled face. �Spike wait!� But it was too late; he was gone. �Great, now I�m gonna be stuck worrying all day.� *~*~*~*~*~*~*~* He wasn�t sure where he was. It was dark�that was for certain, yet he smelled that smell, strawberries� He realized he was on some sort of cushion. Wait it was a bed with satin sheets? The last thing he remembered was laughing with Shannon and drinking way too much tequila. He should�ve known better, tequila had never been his drink of choice, but something had made him abandon reason. It was her, he was sure�her youthfulness, her exuberance. It made him feel carefree�without a single worry. Across the room was a door and when it was opened, light poured into the room from a hallway. He was in a bedroom indeed, one that was completely unrecognizable, yet the person who opened the door was familiar. She wore silk pajamas, the kind that were child-like, yet sexy. She looked at him, and he could see her smile as she strolled over to the window and threw open the curtains, letting in even more light. �Good morning sunshine,� she spoke softly as she sauntered over to him and gave him a light kiss on the forehead. �Did you sleep well?� �Shannon,� he spoke somewhat embarrassed, �Yes, good morning, I believe I am well-rested, but where am I? What happened?� She moved herself over to a nearby love seat and lounged lazily on it. She laughed a bit at his nervousness. �That was quite a night wasn�t it?� She giggled again. �Well, you do remember, don�t you?� His face showed no sign of recognition and she felt slightly disappointed. �You, me, some enchiladas, some margaritas and maybe a few too many drinks of tequila?� �Tequila. Right. I do have some bit of a recollection about that.� He leaned himself up and felt the instant headache that accompanied his movement. He moved his hand to his throbbing temple and sighed. �Perhaps you could tell me what followed the drinking.� �And the laughter! Don�t forget the laughter,� She stood up from the seat and approached the bed. She sat on the edge of the mattress and took his hands in hers. She looked deeply in his eyes. �Don�t worry Rupert. Nothing happened.� He still looked a bit baffled. �You had a little too much too drink. I thought it wasn�t wise for you to drive home, yet you were too drunk to tell me where you live, so I thought I�d bring you here. To sleep, that�s all!� �Here? Where is here?� He tried to put the pieces together in his head. What she said seemed to make sense and it began to feel familiar. She looked around the room. �Don�t you like this place?� It was actually quite luxurious with the cream colored satin sheets, and the red velvet curtains, perfectly matched to the charming love seat and the antique wood dresser. �I�m house-sitting for a friend. That�s really what brought me to Sunnydale.� Understanding grew on his face. �You know, I told you last night, but maybe you forget. I did grow up in this town. I haven�t been here in years. Not since�� She stood up from the bed and began to walk away. �Not since what?� he asked. He noticed his glasses on the nearby nightstand and put them on. It was then he realized that he was dressed in his briefs and little else. He felt it wise to stay �under wraps� for the time being, still a bit fuzzy on the previous evening�s encounter. She turned back at him and smiled to herself about his modesty. �It doesn�t really matter.� She advanced toward him again. �Rupert, I know the night ended a little strangely, but it was really a lovely evening, even if you don�t remember the details.� She smiled assuredly before continuing. �It�s only just 9:30, do you want some breakfast?� �9:30? Good Lord!� He sprang from the bed, carrying half the sheets with him. �Buffy�s waiting for me and I have the shop to open.� He tried to shuffle the woman out of the room. �Shannon, I do appreciate your watching out for me, and I�m sure if I could remember all the details I would tell you I had a lovely time as well, but I really do have to be going. If you would be so kind as to call a cab for me.� She stood at the doorway, and he glanced around the room to see if his clothes were about. He saw them neatly folded on the dresser and sighed to himself with relief. His tone grew serious. �I hope I didn�t give you the wrong impression. I do find you rather beguiling and I hope we can have a more proper evening soon.� �Tonight?� her eyes asked in earnest as she snatched the bait quickly. Giles tried to be as polite as possible in trying to give her and himself a grateful exit, while consciously appearing not to seem too hasty. �Yes, fine, why don�t you drop by the shop tonight, say about 7.� �After Buffy�s training is over?� She confirmed for him. �Yes, indeed. See you anon.� The door was shut and he turned to gather his things. It was several minutes before he realized that she had openly acknowledged his responsibility with the Slayer. He knew he should be troubled by her knowing about it, but a part of him was just too curious too care. |