Chapter Four

Her laugh was clear in the night.  The moon cast silver threads in the auburn hair, as it hung wild about her shoulders.  "They're not all gone are they?"  She spun, animating the wild curls, to search the cemetery around them. "You didn't see any get away did you?"  Her voice was almost hopeful. 

Spike wasn't sure why he had followed her.  He didn't know why she 'd been wondering through a Sunnydale graveyard alone.  He wasn't even sure if it was her safety that had been the driving force behind his presence here.  When he had caught her spoor near him, he had felt drawn to it. It was so familiar, human but . . . more . . . like Buffy's, only spicy.  Face it you're just bored, mate.  You haven't had a good . . . well, a shag since Harm left.  And she smells so good.

"No, love.  I think we got them all."  He brought his thumb up and wiped green goo from his brow. "Latitia, why are you out here in a graveyard at night all by yourself?"  He stepped closer as he spoke whether to impress upon her the sense of dange, or to be closer to her vitality he didn't know.

"The Slayer was supposed to be here."  She grinned at him. "Thanks for the big rescue, Spike.  You've got great timing," scanning the corpses around them, "and prowess.  You didn't even show your face."  Her brown eyes flashed gold in the moonlight, as she winked at him. 

Forcing himself to look away, he scanned the destruction and had to admit he was also disappointed that there had been so few.  Keeners aren't particularly strong, but you could usually count on them for numbers.  He looked and sighed.  Buffy would probably want this cleared up. But, she wasn't here and he was way to jacked to worry about it.  Besides, Keener demons decompose fast, two days and there would not be but goo left.  Of course, it's going to really smell. 

Her laugh echoed again, something in it sent a little shiver down his spine.  He studied her.  She wasn't the least bit put out by being in the middle of ten odd demon carcasses.  She had not seemed phased by the dreadful racket of their battled cry either.  The pale golden body shone where the cropped black sweater didn't cover.  Her black pants highlighted the round hemispheres of her ass and her muscular thighs.  The only decoration was a thick gold rope chain around her neck.  His eyes followed the twinkle to where it disappeared in the décolletage of her sweater. 

It was hard to believe this was the same slick suited woman that had been so hard and cool headed in their previous meetings.  It's like she had let some of her wildness escape.  A life that only a short time ago, he would have happily sucked away.  I think I would've turned her.  Why waste such wildness?  And with Harm gone . . . 

"Wow!  That was fun.  It's been a long time, since I've been in a good brawl."  She reached over and drew him into short passionate kiss. "Thanks again.  Lets go to the Bronze.  I need a drink and maybe dance this off.  God!  It's been awhile."  He took a half a step back, momentarily shocked by her hot lips.  Make that shag.  She grabbed his hand and started to pull him, then stopped.  Her eyes sparkled, as she reached up and pulled his head down to pick stuff off it.  She smoothed down his hair, "That's better."

He watched her in fascination as she exposed bits of her pale skin in search for demon goo on herself.  She turned away lifting her top a bit exposing more of her muscular back to him. "Anything?"

He stared at her flesh for a second licking his lips.  He reached out a finger and felt the warm soft surface, then flicked away a small scrap of demon.  This is Buffy's fault . . . No, it was Dru's fault.  If she hadn't left me, I wouldn't be standing here all hot for a mortal.  Thank the Seven Hells, I didn't have any mates left to see me come to this.

"Anymore."  She spun slowly around as if she knew he was enjoying the view.  He shook his head and allowed himself to be lead away by that warm hand.
 

The place shook with the beat of the music as she bought them some beer.  She felt so jazzed up she wasn't sure she could get the bottles back to the table.  Which they had thanks to their dishevelled appearance and Spike's predatory snarl.  She had laughed at the previous occupants quickly retreating backs saying that was one of the reasons she had always enjoyed taking vamps out to bars.  She had laughed harder at his expression. 

She paused on her approach back to the table to admire him.  Like the first night she had watched him here in the Bronze, he seemed to bend reality with his presence.  She couldn't understand how everyone in the room wasn't standing with her just looking at him.  Of course, this was crazy Sunnydale.  They're probably so in denial that they wouldn't notice the Hellmouth opening in the middle of the dance floor.  She handed him his beer before perching on the stool next to him. 

The bar was really rocking.  The dance floor was cheek to jowl with writhing sweaty bodies and pulsating rhythm.  Spike didn't seem like the dancing type.  So, she had have to go solo on the dance floor.  She was never bothered by that, especially on such a packed crowd.  She kind of hoped that Buffy and her friends wouldn't show.  That whatever had detained them from the cemetery they were supposed to be in would keep them busy a little while longer.  Any attention Spike gave her would be lost once the Slayer came into the room.  Ah, speak of the devil.  There they are now.  Well, at least I won't have to dance alone.  Maybe I'll deploy my secret weapon later.  She reached up a hand to wave them over. It wouldn't do to be rude.  Buffy, Anya and two others waded to the table.

"Spike, what are you doing here?"  Were the dark haired boy's first words of greeting.

"He's here because he just saved my ass out at Under Palms.  I'm giving him liquid thanks."  She patted the firm shoulder beside her.

"I'm sorry. We ran into a pack downtown on our way over.  This is Willow and Xander."  Titia rose briefly to shake their hands.  "Ah, Titia you know Spike's a vampire?"  Buffy's brows had drawn together as she looked past Titia to the blond vampire beside her.

"I hope so.  I'd be pretty disconcerted if he wasn't."  She stood and took another mouthful of beer. "I'm glad you showed.  I missed you at the Magic Box because of a conference call with Bonn.  So, hopefully we can try again.  Now, I am dying to dance.  Oh, the bar's really slow you should order now."  She caught an approaching waitress. "Drinks are on me."

They ordered.  She paid.  Pulling more money out of her pocket and handed it to Spike.  She put her hand on Spike's shoulder, leaned to his ear and whispered, "Miss me."

"What!  You're giving Evildead a fifty!  You'll never see that again."  She felt Spike tense under her hand at his remark.

"Shut up, little boy," she snapped unreasonably annoyed with his lack of respect and that this powerful being was so affected by it.  Xander jumped back surprised and nearly toppled Anya.

"Let's go," said Buffy, who had been watching the dance floor and missed the exchange.  The five would be dancers fought for their place on the floor.  Within seconds each was in their own little world filled only with the hard beat of the music.

Titia moved to the beat.  Thoughts drifted in through the dance-induced trance.  She had surprised herself this evening.  She usually had to work at being this loose and carefree.  Guess I should escape work more often.  She wasn't fooling herself, she smiled inwardly.  It was the combination of the fight and Spike's mild arousal back in the graveyard.  He wanted her on some level, even though he still thought her human.  She had to beat the tar out of Dillon, to get him to join her organization and then it was, probably the allure due to her leadership, that brought sexual lust out in him.  He had come to except her as a weird hot vampire and the boss.  That and a little help from the medical herb department, he came to her lusty and more trust worthy.  Leave it to the Chinese to have a botanical cure for everything.

She left the floor when the DJ had seen fit to throw in a slow song.  It was 'Here with Me' by Dido.  She reached the table with Buffy and Willow.  Xander and Anya must have remained on the floor.  Trying to keep thinking to a minimum and rely on the urges from within, she drained her beer, then took Spike's hand and gestured to the dance floor.  He got up and allowed himself to be lead. 

Once they won their spot, he encircled her waist with his hands bringing his brow to hers.  He guided them gracefully around their small section of the floor.  His presence made her feel like a schoolgirl, who had finally asked the object of her lust to dance after months of longing.  Her whole body was on fire.  She moved closer so that their bodies touched and felt his chest rise and fall with unneeded breathing.  He didn't pull away.  She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck.  She opened her eyes just to confirm that the world still existed and caught Buffy's amazed stare.  Titia brought her eyes up to her partner's and noticed the beginnings of hunger there.  She matched his gaze.  Lost, it took her a second to realize that the song had come to an end.  They released each other as the beat quickened around them.  He led her off the dance floor.  She had him.  There was no way he could have missed the smell of her invitation.

As they got to the table, Spike nodded to the bar, and made a drink gesture.  She nodded the affirmative, and went to the table alone.

". . .That's what I was saying.  I've never seen him dance before.  But, apparently him and Dru were here when she was in town." Xander was saying.

"It really wigged me out too.  Oh, shh here she comes."  Buffy quickly put on a smile as Titia reached the table. 

This was interesting news.  It showed Spike's attention to her was unique.  She was absurdly happy to hear this wasn't his normal attitude toward mortals.  She excused herself and retreated to the bathroom. 

She checked her hair, teasing it into an even wilder state.  Nothing to be done about the rest of her, accept a little demon enticement.  She drew the chain out from under her sweater and unscrewed the top from the crystal vial that hung there.  After just touching the applicator once to each side of her neck, she put it back under her shirt. She laughed at her wild appearance in the mirror, and danced out of the bathroom.

At the table, Spike sat quietly watching the others in their conversation.  He spied her before the others and handed her a beer.  His nostrils flared as she drew closer to him.  He sat back in the stool exposing the front lip of the seat, so she could perch there between his legs.  He crossed his arms around her waist hooking his thumbs into her front pockets.  She noticed he caught Buffy's eyes, before lowering his head to her neck. "You are evil," Titia whispered, appreciating that this demonstration for Buffy must work on many levels. 

"What is that you've put on?"  His deep voice asked softly.  He took another deep breath.  She felt him shudder against her.

"It's an herbal extract that my herbalist puts together for me.  It has a . . . relaxing effect on vampires.  But, if you don't like it, I'll go wash it off." 

He chuckled into her neck, taking another sniff, not rejecting its effect.

"It won't even give you a hangover."  She took her beer and handed him his, "drink up."

"You two should get a room.  I'm ready to gag over here," said Buffy, as she stuck her tongue out.

"Already have."  Titia sat her empty bottle on the table, then took the neglected one from Spike's hand.  She stood up and noticed the vampire's eyes were slightly dilated.  She smiled, as she guided him out of the bar, not noticing Buffy's mystified stare.