The words were definitely not what Buffy wanted to hear the first thing after she woke up in the morning. She blinked groggily, still twinned intimately with Spike’s body and tried to make sense of the fact that Angel sat to the side of the bed.

“Huh?” she wondered eloquently.

“All this.” He gestured as best he could with the magical chains weighing his wrists down. “It’s all the fantasy. Everything you think you feel, you want, you enjoy. None of it’s real.”

Her eyes narrowed at him, and she pointedly turned away, burying her face in the smooth muscles of Spike’s chest.

“Oh, you think you love him,” Angel went on, “but it’s not really love. You have to know that. You felt real love when you were a human; you know what it is. And a demon can’t feel anything like that.”

“You’re wrong,” she muttered sullenly. “I love him more than I ever loved you.”

Momentary hurt flashed on Angel’s face before he reminded himself that this wasn’t really Buffy. “He’s your sire,” he corrected. “Your demon’s forcing you to submit to him. It’s drawn to him. But you – the real you – don’t feel a thing for him. It’s all just an illusion, a farce.” A pause. “And he certainly doesn’t love you back.”

“Stop it!” she snapped angrily, yellow eyes blazing.

He managed a rueful laugh. “You honestly think he cares about you?” he retorted coldly. “You’re been reduced to a cheap sex-slave, his personal servant. And if something happens to you, he’ll just find himself another bedmate without a second thought.”

“I’m his childe!” Buffy hissed vehemently.

“Right.” Angel gave her an incredulous look. “You know that feeling inside you where you think that making him happy will make you happy? It’s just a control mechanism. Brainwashing to make you do whatever he wants. That’s what being a childe means.”

Buffy snapped at that, and one clawed hand lashed out to leave five sharp slashes across his cheek. 

Angel was unperturbed by her rage. “You think I’m scared of you? You’re nothing to a vampire as old as I am. Or even to one as old as Spike. You’re just a passing fancy, and all that freedom you think you’ve won yourself doesn’t mean a thing. You’re even more of a slave now, and you’ll most likely end up dead within a year anyway.”

The growl sounding in Buffy’s chest grew in intensity before abruptly trailing off. She tilted her head to one side of study him for a second before a giggle escaped her mouth. “You’re jealous,” she finally accused in delight.

“Of Spike?” Angel scoffed. “Hardly.”

“You are,” she teased in a jokingly flirtatious way that seemed downright sinister to him now. “Spike took away your poor, innocent Buffy.” She mock-pouted. “No more little martyr for you to worship on a pedestal.” She giggled. “And now you have to learn that your precious girl wasn’t as holier-than-thou as you thought. Truth is…” She leaned in with a nasty smile. “When Spike turned me, I wanted it. I wanted him even when I was a human, a slayer.” Her smile widened when she saw that she’d struck a nerve. “Guess I had this kink about vampires, and Spike wasn’t so chicken as to run out on me.”

“And look where it got you,” Angel grumbled sullenly, almost to himself.

“In the arms of a man I really love,” she agreed. “One who understands me and doesn’t judge me…”

“You’ve known him all of two months,” Angel rolled his eyes.

“And that’s all it took for me to know,” she countered. “We just…” she snapped her fingers in his face, “…clicked right away. He knows things about me I would never have shared with you, not in a million years.”

“You’re not Buffy,” Angel insisted firmly.

“Oh, but I am,” she retorted. “Everything important that made me Buffy is still here, just unshackled for the first time.” She studied him for a moment. “And, deep down, you know that, don’t you? And that’s why it’s killing you…” She slid down Spike’s body and flicked out her tongue to swirl it around the softened cock she found there. Wicked smiling eyes looked up at Angel as Spike hardened against her mouth. “…That your Buffy is doing this willingly, and she loves it…”

Angel’s eyes clouded over with pain at that, and he looked away.

Buffy paid him no heed, however. She had more important matters to attend to. Spike was now firm and rising against her cheek. She watched him, almost mesmerized by his beauty, licking and sucking occasionally until he was fully erect.

He stirred from his sleep in response, and she crawled seductively up his body, greeted him the instant his eyes fluttered open with a tender kiss to the lips. He smiled slowly in response, breathing deep of the perfume of her hair.

“My slayer…” he purred, arms slipping around her waist.

“I love you,” she whispered passionately in his ear.

The seeming desperation in her words and actions wasn’t lost on him, and he fixed Angel with a dark, suspicious look before turning his attention back to his girl. “Love you so much, Buffy,” he assured her with equal fervor, rolling them over so that she was beneath him…and also so that her view of Angel was blocked and he could look triumphantly into his grandsire’s eyes.

She whimpered as his hands explored her reverently. Whatever heaven was like, it couldn’t possibly be anywhere near this good. Her hands found the firm cheeks of his ass, and she squeezed them gently the way he liked, urging him on.

“So beautiful,” he murmured softly against the flesh of her breast right before he engulfed it, “so perfect…”

Her feet rubbed sensuously against his muscular shins, and her hands pushed him against her waiting sex more frantically. Head thrown back in complete ecstasy, she whimpered his name like a prayer until even words themselves failed her, and she could do nothing but moan.

“Gonna make love to you,” he promised huskily, lips leaving her breasts to trail up her throat. His hands began kneading the pliant flesh his mouth that just abandoned. “Gonna show you how much you mean to me…”

“Please…” she whimpered, pulling him down to her now, legs trying to find purchase around his waist.

“Don’t hafta beg,” he assured her, throwing Angel a victorious glance. “Gonna make my Golden Goddess feel so good…” One hand caught behind her knee then, spreading her further for him as he took his position at her opening. He gently nuzzled her face, encouraging her to look directly into his eyes as he entered her.

Blue met hazel for one moment, before both widened at each slow thrust of his cock within her. Inch by agonizing inch he pushed deeper until she thought she couldn’t possibly go any farther. And then, with one final push, he was fully inside, and the both gasped in blissful completion.

“Love you,” he whispered against her lips before claiming them.

“Love you, love you, love you, love you, love you…” Little echoes of those words slipped from their lips between soft kisses to the point where neither knew who was saying them anymore. Their bodies rocked slowly, each letting their steady breaths control the pace of their lovemaking. Neither needed to breathe, of course, but even Buffy had learned on her first night of unlife that it enhanced the sexual experience.

Angel, completely forgotten as sire and childe wrapped themselves in each other, found that he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the spectacle on the bed. His continued mantra of ‘It’s not really Buffy’ was falling short for the first time as he watched the obvious love between the two vampires during their mating.

However, Angel wasn’t the only spectator. On the other side of the bed, Drusilla slowly rose, a look of wide-eyed awe on her face as she watched her childer consummate their love for each other. She saw Angel chained to the ground on the far side of the bed and gave him a little wink.

“So beautiful, aren’t they?” she cooed dreamily, fingers following the strong lines of Spike’s back as he moved within Buffy. But she always kept a good inch above his actual flesh, teasing herself with illusion of stroking that hard masculine body before her.

Angel merely grunted sullenly.

“Even more beautiful together,” she continued, unperturbed by her audience’s unresponsiveness. A faraway look entered her eyes, and a wistful sigh escaped her lips. “I’ve never been able to watch him like this, you know,” she informed Angel, who was still doing his best not to listen – both to her words and to the whispers of devotion passed between the blond pair. “No mirrors to watch him as he made love to me…” Her hand came to rest gently on the small of Spike’s back for the first time, and if he noticed her presence he showed no sign. “We tried videotaping, but it’s not the same as live. And I’ve watched him fuck many a pretty thing but…” an awed whisper entered her voice, “never seen how beautiful he is making love…”

Disgusted by them all, Angel turned pointedly away at that. What he really hated, though, was the part of himself that was turned on by watching Spike take Buffy. He forced the emotions down, insisting that he was no longer that monster that had started this twisted vampire line in the first place.

Oblivious to all that was happening around them, Buffy and Spike slowly reached their completion, mouths and sexes fussed as the waves of pleasure slowly rose higher, riding the crest together in ecstasy before they crashed back downward, bodies clinging tightly together.

Drusilla watched them collapse, spent, with a wistful expression and continued to pet Spike’s back as she would a cat. “So beautiful together,” she repeated in a whisper so soft it could almost have been mistaken for an echo of her previous words. “If only I had an eternity to watch you together…”

Spike’s muscles tensed and then relaxed against her fingertips, and she knew he’d finally realized her presence. “’Morning, pet,” he commented before returning to where Buffy was still in a blissful, post-orgasmic haze and slowly kissing her back to reality.

She smiled and murmured contentedly, watching him with lazy satisfaction as he finally slipped from her body and sat up. “You make me feel so good,” she informed him, reaching for his hand.

He watched, fascinated, as their fingers twined together. Such a delicate creature, yet so much power hidden within her. He couldn’t wait to fully explore her, discover every dark and sweet secret buried deep inside…

His musings were disturbed by a soft nuzzle to his shoulder. He looked in surprise to see that Drusilla was curled up against him. A momentary grin crossed his features that his sire was awake and apparently feeling rather well this morning. However, as her lips traveled up his shoulder and neck, for the first time ever he hesitated with her. It just didn’t seem right to turn so quickly away from Buffy after the power of what they’d just experienced…

Buffy saw the moment’s hesitation, and it sent a giddy little thrill down her spine. And she felt so contented and loved at that moment that she just smiled softly and guided their join hands over to where Drusilla’s hand rested on his hipbone.

He flashed her a surprised smile before taking his sire into his arms and greeting her with a toe-curling kiss. Buffy watched them embrace, Spike still between her spread thighs and his re-hardening cock slick with their combined cum. Such a perfect body and…well, not all hers. But half hers.

“Maybe you think you love him,” Angel’s voice intruded one last time, “but I bet you didn’t see her as part of the picture.”

Buffy’s smile flickered for one second, and she shot him an angry look.

“He’ll never stop loving her, you know,” Angel continued to prod his captors.

“Never stop lovin’ either of them,” Spike cut in angrily.

Dru’s eyes narrowed at her souled sire as well. “Naughty, tricky boy is trying to drive a wedge between us,” she tisked. “Foolish Angel, never did understand…”

Buffy rose and curled up against Spike’s other side, taking comfort in his strength and the devotion of his words. “He thinks he can win me back to his side, save his own hide,” she insisted.

Spike’s scarred eyebrow rose. “You’ve got one day left, mate,” he said tersely. “You need better entertainment, ‘ll be happy to provide you…” The dim light glinted off his teeth.

“Ooh! Let me!” Drusilla clapped merrily. “Let me have him aaall alone, to myself,” she drawled contentedly.

Spike frowned at that, and Buffy’s curiosity rose. “Not sure that’s such a good idea, luv,” he countered.

Drusilla’s lower lip jutted out in a pout. “A special treat for daddy’s sick princess?” she pleaded.

“Yeah, William,” Angel taunted. “Leave us alone. Not afraid you can’t trust your mate, are you?”

Spike’s jaw ticked with rage. “Not worried in the slightest, you ponce,” he countered with more confidence than he actually felt. “He’s all yours, pet.” With a purr, he leaned in for one last kiss, but Dru was already playing with her new toy, razor-sharp nails twined in Angel’s hair, slicing into his scalp as she yanked back hard.

“Bad, bad daddy,” she scolded.

Buffy watched the anxious look on Spike’s face and, with a soft smile, handed him his jeans. They exchanged a look, then, and Buffy realized for the first time that he knew exactly what she was going through. It had never occurred to her before that she wasn’t the only one who had difficulties sharing her sire’s attentions. A wave of tenderness passed over her as she dressed, and suddenly she knew she loved him even more.

“Let’s go meet our newest family member,” she urged, pulling him still only partially clothed along with her. “Dru knows what she’s doing.”

The dark-haired vampiress grinned in agreement with that.

“Yeah, Spike,” Angel sent out one last barb, “we both know I’m in good hands…”

Spike scowled, and Buffy yanked on his wrist, pulling him away from what was fast becoming one of the most painful experiences of his unlife. Yes, a little distraction was just what he needed…

“Pretty, pretty boy…”

Xander eyed Spike warily, his nude body still curled safely against Cordelia’s. The other male vampire was still naked from the waist up, and he had his head cocked to one side interestedly as his eyes ran up and down Xander’s body. Xander’s demon reveled in having such a powerful male so obviously pleased with his appearance; the human voice, still just a hint of a whisper in this first day of unlife, was trying desperately to remind him that he wasn’t gay and he really shouldn’t be turned on when Spike…oh…

The peroxide blond vampire’s lips were hard and insistent, and Xander was so overcome by sensation that he couldn’t even think to resist. His lips parted hungrily at Spike’s caress, and Spike’s tongue thrust hard into his mouth in response, claiming, possessing, stroking Xander to an ecstasy he had thought impossible from a mere kiss.

He clung on to Spike tightly, feeling a hard, flat, marbled chest rubbing erotically against his own, struggling instinctively to get their groins into alignment and…

“Not right yet, mate,” Spike pulled away with a little chuckle, lips turning to trace down Xander’s throat. He studiously avoided Cordelia’s mark – just a bit of respect for the new sire and a reassurance that he didn’t plan on stealing her boy from her – before nuzzling himself into Xander’s bare shoulder.

Xander whimpered when he finally pulled away, but instantly Cordelia’s hands were on him again, reminding him who he belonged to.

“Very pretty boy,” Spike concluded, moving to sit back against the wall beside Buffy. He flashed her a rakish grin when he saw the lust-filled glaze in her eyes. “Imaginin’ being the meat in that sandwich, are we, luv?” he teased lightly.

Her arms slid easily over his shoulders as she settled comfortably in his lap. “Who wouldn’t?” she countered with a seductive little smile.

He laughed at that. “My ravenous little slayer,” he purred affectionately.

Cordelia, perfectly content with her Xander, urged him to lie back down on the bed beside her. “We doing anything today?” she yawned.

“You’re not,” Spike informed her. “Was looking for Red, actually.”

“She ran off last night,” Cordelia provided vaguely, nuzzling her head into Xander’s chest.

Spike sighed and bit Buffy lightly on the shoulder. “Up, kitten,” he said apologetically. “Still have work to do for tomorrow night.”

Buffy pouted internally. Was he really so caught up in Drusilla’s cure that they didn’t have time for a quickie? Apparently so, as she soon found herself on her feet and following Spike out into the audience chamber.

He paused at the doorway for a second, though. “Watch that boy of yours,” he advised Cordelia. “Pretty, responsive creature like that’s bound to attract some unwanted attention. My scent on ‘im should help a bit, but…” he trailed off pointedly.

Cordelia nodded in understanding, her hand coming to rest possessively on Xander’s thigh as she pulled him against her. “I promise to take good care of my handsome childe,” she whispered into his ear. “They’ll never get their hands on you.” A pause as she considered him. “Even if you do dress like a blind clown half the time,” she added, nose scrunching up.

“Hey!” Xander protested defensively.

Buffy giggled against Spike’s shoulder, and they left the brunette couple alone to sort out this familiar squabble. The sun had just fully set, so the audience chamber was nearly empty. Only a couple of females and one very delicate young male had enough competition for their favors that they could afford to sit back and wait while food was brought to them. Together with the four guards Spike had set up on the off chance that Angel should escape, they made up the current clan habitation.

“Willow already go out?” Spike demanded of one of these guards.

A shake of his head. “The redhead, right? Haven’t seen her.”

Spike frowned at this. “She come back last night?”

The guard shrugged.

“Great lookout, you are…” Spike muttered under his breath before heading back to the maze of bedrooms that lay to the rear of the building.

“Th-There were strange noises coming from Derek’s old room last night.” The nervous injection was courtesy of the pretty young male.

Spike nodded a grunt of approval at this information, and he and Buffy promptly headed in that direction. The scent of blood as they approached – some of it unmistakably Willow’s – confirmed that they were on the right track.

Buffy left his side, then, walking along the other wall of the hallway, senses alert to any possible danger.

Spike walked a bit more confidently, although still warily. Something about this didn’t smell right. His hand came to rest on the doorknob to the room, and he gestured for Buffy to stay back. Slowly, the door opened with a creak…

And, almost instantly, a vampire – one of the ones that had attacked Willow, Buffy recognized – burst through the open door, wide-eyed in panic.

Spike was so surprised by the sudden assault that the minion managed to slip past him, but Buffy’s foot hooked against his ankle as he ran past, and the vamp was sent sprawling to the floor. Buffy and Spike surrounded his prostrate form and noticed for the first time that he was covered with cuts and bruises.

“S-She’s crazy!” he gasped, looking up to them for help. “We tried to break her, but she just kept coming back at us, and we couldn’t get out, and…she never gets tired! Always watching and waiting a-and striking every time we let our guard down for a second, and…”

Spike cut his tirade off with a powerful hand to the vamp’s neck. “You talkin’ about Willow?” he demanded.

A nervous nod in response.

“You touched her against her will?”

Eyes flitted about in evasion of the question.

“Did you?” Spike hissed angrily.

“She started it!” the vamp whined out in a childlike voice. “Trapped the three of us in there together. What did she think would—?”

The grip Spike had on his throat tightened. “She knew perfectly well that no one touches her without my permission,” he countered in a deceptively calm voice. “Did you know that?”

The vamp vigorously shook his head.

“Well, you do now.” Spike gave him a wicked smile and, then, with superhuman strength, he ripped the vamp’s head clean from his shoulders. The startled minion’s face gaped in horror for a second, before his body and head crumbled to dust.

“He was mine.” The pout came from the door, turning Buffy and Spike’s attention back in that direction.

“Jeez, Wills, what happened to you?” Buffy breathed in shock.

Willow’s clothes hung off of her body in ripped strands of fabric. Blood and bruises covered her body, but also her lips and hands. She’d given just as she’d gotten, then. Her hair and eyes were wild. And, even though she smelled of multiple violations, a wicked grin curved her lips, indicating all too well that she considered this to be a victory.

Spike, equally shocked by her feral appearance, peered into the room behind her and spotted the telltale ashes of the third captive of the room. “A bit of a risk, takin’ two at once,” he commented casually.

Mad delight curved Willow’s lips. “They were weak. Fools who thought only of their pleasure and not of their lives.” She yawned and stretched before straightening out her hair. “In the end, they weren’t strong enough to finish me off. And they paid for their weakness.”

Willow’s eyes landed on Buffy’s for an instant, and the former slayer recoiled when she once again felt the voice in her head. “Just try and top that,” Willow’s mind even seemed to gloat. “Not a man who has touched me against my will still lives…”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed in response. Just when she’d gotten the first of her revenge. She should’ve known Willow wouldn’t let the odds stay even for long.

Spike seemed a bit stunned by this turn of events, and he eyed Willow warily. “Need your help with the spell for tomorrow,” he informed her, his orders still as confident as ever despite her recent display.

She smiled at that. “How is mommy today?” she asked excitedly. “May I see her?” She sidled up against Spike and purred affectionately.

He relaxed to her presence, but a flash of anger yellowed his eyes at the memory of where Drusilla was and who she was with. “Mommy’s busy right now,” he said apologetically, one arm slipping around her waist to guide her back to the library. “But when she’s done with Angelus, ‘m sure she’ll wanna see you…”

Willow squealed and squeezed his butt affectionately with one hand.

Buffy watched them go, once again the odd vamp out, and had the sudden urge to rip Willow’s throat out then and there.

“Nasty, nasty thoughts,” a voice teased in her head. “And see how fickle daddy’s affections are? You’d be oh-so-much-better off with me.”

Not even knowing how she did it, Buffy’s mind snapped closed, blocking Willow’s teasing and leaving her alone with only her own doubts…