Spike grabbed a large bowl of popcorn and a soda, placing them on the coffee table in front of the sofa. The apartment was dark except for the glowing blue screen on the television and darkness was something Spike had grown used to in the years since he’d been turned.
Making himself comfortable, he took off his duster and boots, along with his black t-shirt, moving them off to the side. Grabbing a few buttered kernels, he took his seat in the corner of the couch, arm resting on the back cushions.
“Come on, Red!” Chit was taking forever; she had turned off the shower ages ago. It had taken a world of convincing to let her shower alone, too. If it wasn’t for her offer to let him roam around the watcher’s house freely for the night, he would have been more than happy to have stayed chained in the tub, admiring how the warm water trickled down that soft porcelain skin of hers, her delicate hands slowly gliding down from her crimson hair and over her pert breasts…
He inwardly groaned when the sound of the door opening shook him from his sinful thoughts. It’s been far too long since he’d been around a woman. And Willow was very attractive, but she was a sodding Scooby. He had to squash those thoughts immediately or else risk a dusting. Still, his eyes followed her as she went to sit beside him. The oversized flannel night clothes she adorned didn’t do much for him aside from wanting to see what she was hiding underneath.
“’Bout bloody time.”
“Sorry, long day.”
He raised a brow, finally noticing the dark circles under her eyes. She was exhausted and trying like hell to hide it. Probably the only one out of the bunch pulling all nighters to help with the latest big nasty and trying to keep up with her life along with it. She deserved a break now and then, just like the rest of them.
Great, he felt sorry for her now.
“It’s alright. So, what movie were you plannin’ on watchin’?” Of course, he invited himself to watch it with her and judging from her expression, she was a bit surprised by that. “What?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head, giving him a quick once over, one she tried to do discretely. And it might have worked, if it weren’t for the blush that colored her cheeks when she caught sight of his well toned chest and abs. Smirking proudly, he reached over her, grabbing the remote off cushions beside her.
“Not like there’s much else to do and company’s not bad, may as well enjoy it while I can, yeah?” She nodded, tucking some damp hair behind her ear as he pressed play. A song and dance number started after the intro to the movie, he looked at her again, arching a brow. “A musical, luv?”
“Yeah, it’s a classic,” she said, locking eyes with him. “I mean who doesn’t love a love story set around a killer plant from outer space that’s out to destroy the world and have people sing about it?” The grin she had made him chuckle. She was damn adorable, he’d give her that.
It wasn’t his taste, but then again, not many movies were these days. At least it wasn’t that awful Anne Rice flick. He shuddered. That one he would have seriously protested.
Not long after the movie started, Spike caught her quietly singing along. In truth, he was paying more attention to her than the movie, his gaze affixed on her mouth. For some reason or another, he found himself wondering what it’d be like to hold her, to feel her warmth against his skin.
Bringing his arm down from off the back of the couch, he placed it behind her neck, resting his hand on her shoulder. Turning her head to look at his hand, then at his face, she just stared at him for a minute. What was going on inside that head of hers, he wondered. Feeling the wetness of her hair as she laid her head against his shoulder and shifted her body closer, he knew.
Just like him, she wanted to feel close to someone. Even if that meant just one minute of being held by someone she was supposed to be enemies with. He adjusted to fit more securely around her, moving his fingers lightly along her upper arm.
The steady beating of her heart and the evenness of her breath told him she was asleep shortly after she leaned against him. Smiling fondly, he rested his lips on top of her head, enjoying the moment. Not daring to move her in case it stirred her, he closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of her shampoo, putting it to memory. Knowing that a chance like this most likely wouldn’t happen again, he was going to relish in it. To remember each beat of her heart, each soft sigh that fell from those rosy lips of hers before she awoke, and then they’d once again go on pretending that neither of them longed to have exactly what they’re sharing tonight.
Then again, who knew, maybe they’d share another night like this… or possibly more. At least, he hoped that they would.
The End.