Chapter 10 – Aftermath
Buffy stepped
out of her bath and reached for the large fluffy towel that had been left for
her. The long soak had given time for her mind to slow down. She almost felt
relaxed and just needed to snuggle between her mates so she’d know that
everything was going to be all right again. She quickly dried off and slipped
into boxer shorts and tank top before heading downstairs to find them.
Following
the sounds coming from the ballroom, Buffy padded down the hall, stopping in
the doorway when she saw her two vampires wrestling. Both had changed into workout
pants sans shirts before taking to the mats and they were beautiful. At first
there didn’t seem to be any give as they grappled but she soon observed the
caresses that intervened in between the holds. Neither of them seemed to notice
her as she slipped into the room to watch. Sitting with her arms wrapped around
her knees she tried to be invisible so they wouldn’t stop.
Angel
seemed to have the upper hand as he flung Spike off of him. But the blonde
didn’t give as he laughed and rolled to his feet. They circled each other, feinting
the other, searching for an opening; Spike found the opportunity he was looking
for and launched himself at his mate. They landed in a pile as Spike tried to
pin Angel but he wrapped his legs around the blonde and lust clouded blue eyes
as he lost his hold. Buffy giggled at the devious maneuver and they both turned
to look at her.
“Come
play,” Angel said. She shook her head. “You’re a warrior so let’s see what you
can do.”
It had been
a long time since she had sparred with either of them. Deciding it might help
work out her aggressions she moved to join them.
“Two
against one that’s not fair,” Buffy said, as they circled her. Spike leaned
into kiss her and she relaxed. Which they were evidently banking on as Angel
knocked her feet out from under her and she landed on her ass.
“Thought
you were a Vampire Slayer,” Angel taunted. “You’d have been dead by now.”
Tears
clouded her eyes as she looked up into the two faces that she loved. They were
acting like they didn’t care about everything that was going on with her. Their
laughter pissed her off as she jumped to her feet. All she had wanted was to be
made love to and they wanted to play. Fuck them. She started to leave but an
arm circled her waist and she struggled to get free.
“Let go of
me,” Buffy shouted. “I don’t want to play.”
She kicked
out at Angel and he smiled at her as he caught her feet. Stepping between them,
he hands slid to the back of her knees and she watched wide eyed as he came
closer to her. The erection that had diverted Spike was rubbed between her legs
now. Her pulse raced with uncertainty and a lone tear slid down her face. She
whimpered when Angel’s cool tongue obliterated it from her cheek.
“Can’t
handle it, Baby?”
Anger and
frustration were blinding her to everything else and she head-butted Angel
forcing him to stagger back and as her legs came free, she flipped over Spike’s
shoulder. Instinct took over and she kicked the blonde in the back causing him
to fall against Angel. They landed in a heap. This time she laughed but there
was no mirth in it.
“Feeling a
little dusty, boys?”
For a
moment they stared up at her as she slipped into a fighting stance. Angel came
at her first and she sidestepped as he tried to take her down but his
distraction gave Spike an edge. His touches were playful and she held him off
easily so that his chip wouldn’t activate. Angel wasn’t holding back. He came
at her again. Spike was forced to step away unable to keep up with their
aggressiveness.
The
laughter dancing in his eyes forced Buffy to the edge. She enjoyed the sound of
her fist connecting to his chin and the blood that dripped from his lip, his
tongue darting out to taste it. Her eyes never moved from him as she waited for
him to make a move. Sweat dripped into her eye and she impatiently wiped it
away. The only sound was the squeaking of the plastic beneath their feet and
her labored breath. Her body hummed under the exertion. She didn’t fear Angel.
She knew that if it was forced she could take him out. It was the hurt that he
seemed to enjoy inflicting on her that was bothering her.
“What’s the
matter, little girl? Did you really think that hurt?”
“Why are
you doing this?”
“Because I
can,” Angel said, his lips twisted in a grin that only hinted at the potential evil
beneath the surface. “Do you give?”
“Never.”
The next
thing she knew she was on the floor with Angel on top of her. His goading had sidetracked her. They
wrestled as she tried to get out from under his bulk. Frustrated, she started
to cry as she relented to him. Her tears came in huge gulping sobs as
everything she had been holding back was released. Strong arms wrapped around
her and they pulled her on top of Angel. He stroked her hair as she cried. Even through her tears she felt Spike sit
beside them. His mere presence offered comfort.
“I hate
you,” Buffy croaked. “How could you be so cruel?’
“Because
you needed to release your emotions so you can think clearly.”
“What by
hurting me more?”
Buffy
pushed off of him and ran. Everything hurt as she bounded up the stairs and
pulled clothes on. She couldn’t be around him. A part of her understood why he
had done it but a part of her was enraged. He had no right to manipulate her
emotions and decide what she needed.
“Buffy,”
Spike said, standing in her door. “Where are you going?”
“Away from
him. Away from here.”
“Don’t go.
He was only trying to help you.”
“I don’t
need that kind of help.”
She shoved
some stakes in her waistband, grabbed her jacket and swept past her mate. Angel
was standing in the living room waiting for her but she ignored him as she
slammed the door behind her. She only got halfway down the driveway by the time
he caught up to her.
“Stop and
talk to me.”
“Why? So,
you can tell me what a child I am? That your way is the only way.”
“I made a
mistake, Buffy, okay, but I knew you were closing down. I thought if you could
let it out that it would help.”
“It isn’t
your place to decide what I need.”
“I know,”
Angel said, stepping closer to her.
Part of her
told her to run and part of her told her to accept his apology. This was the
second time she had a niggling feeling of something wrong with her relationship
with Angel since the soul had been anchored. The first time had been when he
was talking to Spike about their fight. Her instincts told her something wasn’t
right but at the moment not a lot was going right. His hands stroked her arms
as he pulled her against him. She didn’t fight him as arms encircled her and
she burrowed against him.
“Forgive
me,” Angel whispered in her ear.
Buffy
didn’t want to argue with him. This was what she needed. To be held and
caressed as they whispered that everything would be all right. She nodded
looking up into his eyes. For a moment triumph shone from their depths before
it was quickly shuttered behind concern. She had to have imagined it. This was
her Angel.
~~~~~~~~~
Spike
watched the exchange between his mates from hooded eyes. The match had confused
him as much as Buffy. For Angel to use violence and hurt to drive Buffy to
release her emotions had been a mistake. If his Sire had asked either of them,
he would have been told that she needed what he was giving her now. They passed
him, arm in arm, and he turned to follow them back to the bedroom. Their
relationship had been shifting since the curse had been anchored. Once where
Buffy was the center, holding the two demons together, Spike found himself
keeping the two of them together.
He sighed
and lay on the bed when the two disappeared into the bathroom. What they needed
was time alone without distractions to connect again. It didn’t seem likely
that it would happen anytime soon with the lives they were leading. He listened
as Angel took Buffy in the shower and he could smell the uncertainty from the
girl. Didn’t Angel notice? Did he care? But then murmurings reached him as
Angel talked to her and soothed her wild emotions. Spike closed his eyes as he
waited.
“Spike,”
Buffy whispered. “Are you awake?”
“Yeah,
Pet,” Spike said, sitting up.
Buffy sat
on the side of the bed, towel drying her hair. He took over and ran the towel
along the golden waist length hair. A comb appeared at his side and smiled his
thanks to Angel before untangling her hair. Her head was bowed as he worked and
his knuckled danced along the back of her neck. The scent of wildflowers clung
to her still damp skin teasing at his senses. He could almost imagine them
sitting in a meadow after taking a swim in a nearby river. Shaking his head at
his fanciful musings he concentrated on finishing his task.
“Thank you
for taking care of me,” Buffy whispered.
“I always
will.”
The three
settled into the bed with Buffy curled between them. Angel’s touch was gentle
as he pulled the comforter over them and cuddled closer to Buffy. Spike ran his
hand through the brown locks of the other man knowing that Angel had the best
of intentions toward them both. He was as confused as they were. His palm was
kissed before fingers interlocked with his. Buffy covered their hands with hers
and rested them on her stomach. Sleep evaded them though. Spike wasn’t sure if
it was because of emotions too stretched or words unsaid. Angel had shifted to
his stomach facing away from them, he stared at the ceiling and Buffy tossed
and turned between them. Once it had been so easy for them, curling together as
if one body, content just to be touching as they let sleep take them. Not
tonight.
“I hate the
darkness,” Buffy whispered. “I feel like it’s closing in on me.”
It was Angel
who stood and lit candles to illuminate the room. The flames sent shadows
dancing across the wall giving them something to gaze at as slumber still
eluded them. Spike moved closer to Buffy pulling her half beneath him.
“I don’t
want to cry anymore.”
“Don’t
then,” Spike answered. “There’s nothing certain yet.”
“Nothing
seems right anymore.”
Angel lay
on his side away from them but his fingers stroked her arm. He was reaching out
to her but she ignored him as she stared at the ceiling.
“You have us,
Luv.”
“I know,”
Buffy said her eyes fluttering closed before opening to look at them. “I know
I’m being weak it’s just my mother and Dawn. My family…”
“We’ll do
everything we can,” Angel whispered. “Your family is our family now.”
“Don’t
leave again, Angel,” Buffy pleaded, turning tear filled eyes to him. “I need
you here. I’m so scared that something horrible is going to happen…something
that I can’t fight.”
“You don’t
have to fight alone. We’re here for you.”
It was a
platitude. Angel wouldn’t or couldn’t give her the promise she needed. Spike
knew he would be here if they really needed him but he was making a life in
But she was
pulling away again. Frustrated he turned
to lie on his back and flung an arm over his eyes. She followed him, covering
him, light kisses trailed across his chest. Her touch ignited his ardor and his
hands moved to her hips. A glance to Angel and he knew it was all right. There
was only an answering passion in the brown depths and Spike surrendered to her
demands. Even if she wanted only him, Spike needed the three of them moving as
one.
Rolling
them until she was underneath of him, Spike rained kisses along her torso. She
threw her head back as he suckled her nipple. Her legs parted and he slipped
between them.
“I want you
both,” Spike whispered, slipping inside of her warmth. “May I?”
His
question was directed to her.
“Yes,”
Buffy urged, thrusting her hips to take him deeper into her. “I need you both.”
Angel
kneeled above over them, kissing Spike, his hands running over them both. Spike
wondered if Buffy could take their combined weight. She was tiny even if she
was the Slayer but her willingness was given as her legs rose to slide over
Angel’s hips. He stilled his movement to allow time for his Sire to slide into
him. He groaned as he was filled and Angel stretched out above him, his weight
resting on his hands.
Letting
Angel set the rhythm, Spike waited until his Sire thrust into him. Soon they
were moving as one, Buffy rising to meet him, as he thrust when Angel did. Her
hands and feet moved over them, increasing their passion, as their mutual needs
were met. It had been forever since they had been joined together like this.
She was the first to slide over the edge taking Spike then Angel with her.
They rolled
apart but not very far, staying on both sides of Buffy. Angel pulled her into
his arms and Spike molded himself to her back. They were together again. This
was better as they drifted off to sleep that finally came. Morning was soon
enough to make plans and decisions. Tonight they needed each other too much.
To be continued in Chapter 11 –
Shadows and Light
