Chapter 76
“Good evening, I’m here to pick up Drusilla,” Wesley explained to the brunette that answered the door.
“You must be Wes,” said Faith brazenly giving him a once over. “How’s it hanging?”
“How’s….what?” asked Wes.
“Come on in. Drusilla will be out in a minute. She needs to be back by 11:00 PM or she needs to call and let me know she’s staying out overnight,” Faith explained as Drusilla walked into the room.
Wesley’s breath caught in his throat. She was wearing a long red skirt and a matching top. There was just the slightest gap between the bottom of her blouse and the top of her skirt. Her pale, perfect skin peeked through. It beckoned to him. Wesley walked over to her and placed his hand gently on her back, feeling the heat of her bare skin on his palm. “Are you ready, Dru?”
“Yes,” all set, she said and allowed him to usher her out the door. “Where are we going?”
“I thought perhaps we could have a picnic?” suggested Wes, tentatively.
“Sounds lovely,” said Drusilla as she climbed into the car and fastened her seatbelt. “At the beach?”
“No, I have another spot all picked out,” he told her.
The drive didn’t take long. Wesley pulled into the park and drove along the narrow road until he reached the parking lot closest to the lake. “How did you find this spot?” asked Dru.
“The manager of the hotel recommended it,” answered Wes. “Fancy a walk or are you ready to eat?”
“It’ll be dark soon,” said Drusilla looking up at the sky. “If we take a walk it might be too dark to enjoy the picnic.”
“I brought candles,” Wes explained, “so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“What if we get lost?” asked Drusilla looking around at the wooded landscape surrounding the lake.
“We won’t get lost. There are paths. Trust me?” asked Wesley holding out his hand. “Please? It’ll be lovely.”
Drusilla slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lead her onto the walking path that started at the edge of the parking lot. “Tell me something about yourself, Wes,” requested Dru, nervously.
“My favorite color is blue,” said Wesley without hesitation. “Your turn.”
“I sometimes see and hear things that others don’t,” said Drusilla.
“What, you mean like, hallucinations?” asked Wesley, trying to mask his shock and nervousness.
“Visions,” corrected Drusilla.
“The difference being?” he asked.
“Hallucinations aren’t real,” said Dru.
“I’m not sure I believe in such a thing,” replied Wes, honestly.
“That’s okay, you will,” said Drusilla. “I think, perhaps we should call Faith now, otherwise we are likely to forget.”
“I-I wasn’t planning on you…What I mean to say is…” sputtered Wes, self-consciously. Drusilla suddenly stopped walking.
“What is it?” asked Wesley as Drusilla took a step backwards.
“She’s up ahead,” said Drusilla, softly, tears forming in her eyes. “I knew this was the place.”
“Who?” asked Wesley, confused.
“The little girl. She’s all broken and bloodied. But she still smells like sunscreen. Her favorite color was pink. She loved mint chocolate chip ice cream. And…and she dreamed of being a princess. But, there will be no fairy tale ending for her. Her mummy is frantic with worry,” finished Drusilla, as she started to pace back and forth. “Up around that bend,” she said, pointing just ahead, “on the right. Don’t go near the body. You’ll disturb evidence.”
Wesley slowly backed away from Drusilla heading up the path. He was afraid to take his eyes off of her. She was trembling like a leaf in the warm California evening. Her coloring was almost ashen, as if she were in shock and she seemed terribly agitated. As he rounded the corner he looked, along the right shoulder of the path and saw nothing, Wes quickly returned to Drusilla. She was still frantically pacing, “singing truck…white…makes no sense -” she was murmuring to herself.
“Drusilla, calm down. There… there was nothing,” said Wes as he placed his hands on her shoulders, attempting to steady and comfort her.
“What?” she asked her voice sounding distant as her legs began to buckle beneath her.
Wesley caught her in his arms just before her eyes rolled up and she fainted. He eased himself to the ground and was cradling Drusilla in his arms as she came to. “She’s behind the rock,” whispered Drusilla.
Wesley turned his head slowly to look at the path ahead. Daylight was fading fast. Indeed, there had been a large boulder, just off the path up ahead. “Can you stand?” asked Wesley, wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into.
“Yes,” said Drusilla. “I don’t want to see her again,” she begged, tears streaming down her face.
“Wait here,” said Welsey as he once again walked away to look up ahead.
Within a few seconds Drusilla heard the unmistakable sounds of someone retching. Wesley returned to Drusilla. He, too, seemed tremulous, pale.
“My God!” he said. “You…you saw her?”
Drusilla nodded, solemnly.
“And, you saw what happened to her?” he asked.
Again, Drusilla nodded.
“And, you see and hear things like that all the time?” asked Wesley.
“Things like that and other things,” clarified Drusilla.
“Do you know who did it?” asked Wesley.
“Not yet,” she responded, “it’s all jumbled. But I’m getting bits and pieces, flashes of images and snippets of sound. And, the begging and the screams, the horrible, terrible screams.”
“Lord, how do you keep from going mad, luv?” asked Wesley as he wrapped his arms around her and softly stroked her hair.
“I’m not sure I do,” murmured Dru as she grabbed onto Wesley’s shirt, fisting the material in both hands. “Sometimes I think I am mad,” she whispered, fervently.
“You’re not mad,” said Wesley, emphatically lifting her head up so that he could look into her eyes. “You’re very special, Drusilla.”
“I don’t feel special. I feel…cursed,” she said, looking up at him. “And, completely knackered. He’s watching another, Wes. If they don’t catch him soon he’s going to take her too.”
Wesley pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. After hanging up he promptly dialed Faith, “Faith? It’s Wesley. I brought Drusilla out to the lake for a walk and a picnic. We…we stumbled across a little girl’s body, in the woods. I just called the police. I imagine we’re going to be a long while with them and Drusilla seems pretty shaken. No, I’m taking care of her. But, she won’t be back by eleven.”
Drusilla heard the sirens as the police cars enter the park and sped en route to the parking lot where they had parked. She began to walk back up the path towards Wesley’s car as she heard Wes say, “Yes, I’ll make sure she’s with me and safe. I’ll call you with an update as soon as I can. You have my cell number.”
Wesley ran the twenty feet up the path to catch up with Drusilla. As they walked off the pathway three police cruisers pulled into the parking lot, lights flashing in the darkness. The sun had set and the flashing blue and red lights cast an eerie glow. “I’m Officer Gunn,” said the tall, handsome black officer that stepped out of the first vehicle. “Were you the one that called 911?”
“Yes,” said Wesley, extending his hand. “Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, at your service.”
“You’re British?” asked the officer.
“Yes, just arrived a couple weeks ago,” offered Wesley.
“You’re here on vacation?” asked Gunn.
“No, business,” responded Wesley.
“You’re wife looks like she might be in slight shock. Perhaps she should wait here while you take us back?” suggested Gunn.
“No,” said Wesley as he placed an arm protectively around Drusilla. “I promised Drusilla that I would stay by her side.”
“Suit yourself,” said Gunn as he pulled a large flashlight out of his utility belt and motioned for the other officers to follow.
“Charles,” called Drusilla, softly, right before they reached the bend. “May we speak to you in private, for a moment?”
Officer Gunn froze, then turned and walked over to the couple, waving the other officers ahead a bit. “Have we met before?” he asked.
“No,” said Dru.
“How did you know my first name?” asked Gunn, suspiciously.
“The same way that I know you grew up poor and ran with a gang. That you’re going to law school now and that you desperately want to ask that girl out that sits in front of you during your Wednesday night class. You should, by the way, ask her out I mean. She’s going to be the love of your life Charles-” Drusilla trailed off.
Officer Gunn stepped back as if he had been burned and looked anxiously over his shoulder. He ran his hand over his short-cropped hair and then whispered, “How? Why?”
“Because I want you to believe me when I say that if you don’t catch the man that did this…he’s going to do it again. He’s going to do it again tomorrow. You don’t have much time. He…he drives a white truck that…that sings…” finished Drusilla.
“You mean an ice cream truck?” asked Gunn.
“Yes!” said Drusilla, relief washing over her. “That must be it. Her favorite was mint chocolate chip,” added Drusilla as another tear rolled down her cheek. “Please find him, Charles. He won’t stop until you do.”
“We’ll find him Mrs. Pryce,” said Gunn with confidence as he resumed walking. “She’s gonna say yes? If I ask her out I mean?”
“Definitely,” said Drusilla.
“Huh,” said officer Gunn. “Imagine that.”
“She’s just around the bend, on the right, behind the large boulder. You can’t see her from the path,” explained Wes. “You’ll have to walk around the boulder.”
“How did you find her?” asked Gunn.
“I just knew,” said Drusilla.
“Or, I could have been walking a bit into the forest to catch a closer at a…” started Wes.
“Rabbit?” suggested Gunn.
“Very good! Yes! Quite good! Rabbit it is then!” said Wes, enthusiastically.
It was nearly midnight by the time that officer Gunn had dismissed Wesley and Drusilla. “I didn’t think to ask earlier, do you want to call Spike?” asked Wesley as they drove out of the park.
“No, I don’t want to bother him. He and Buffy are enjoying a night away. Anyways, there’s nothing he can do,” said Drusilla.
“Does he know?” asked Wesley.
“The truth is that I’ve learned not to speak of it,” said Drusilla.
“Why tell me?” Wesley asked as they were stopped at a traffic light.
“Because I don’t want to hide things from you,” said Drusilla directly. “Course, we don’t always get what we want…” she added, sadness creeping into her voice as she leaned her head against the cool glass of the passenger’s window and started to drift off to sleep. “Take me home with you, Wes?” were the last words that drifted from her lips before exhaustion simply overtook her.
Drusilla had a vague impression of being lifted up, carried, safe in his arms. “Can I rest now?” she thought.
“Heaven,” Wes heard Dru whisper as he laid her down upon his bed.
He sat next to her and gently brushed her hair away from her face. Her eyes fluttered open and she reached for his hand, pressing it up against the side of her face and nuzzling into it. “You fell asleep in the car,” he said.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” said Drusilla.
“Can I get you anything? We never did eat. I could call room service,” offered Wes.
“Nothing,” said Dru. “What I most want is sleep. Promise you’ll stay with me?”
“I’m just going to take a quick shower. I’ll only be five minutes,” he assured her.
Drusilla nodded, then rolled over and again closed her eyes.
True to his word, Wesley emerged from the shower five minutes later. He quickly dried off and donned a t-shirt, then pulled a pair of sweatpants over his boxers. When he opened the door to the bathroom he noticed that the room was completely dark. Wesley shut off the bathroom light and walked quietly over to the chair, planning to get some rest.
“You’re not going to sleep there,” said Drusilla, quietly.
“Was going to, yes,” Wesley responded.
“Please, come lay with me,” she said. He heard the rustle of bedding and the creaking of the mattress.
Wesley hesitated for a moment. Then he climbed into bed alongside the lithe brunette. Drusilla sidled up against him, draping one arm across his stomach; her hand resting over his heart. “I can feel your heart racing,” she said. “Don’t worry, Wes. All will be well. Sleep.”
Wesley rolled onto his side and Drusilla spooned up behind him, molding her body to his. “Is this the end of our date?”
Asked Drusilla.
“I believe so,” said Wes, smiling to himself.
“Faith said that I should make sure to say that I had a nice time,” said Dru, yawning.
Wesley chucked, rolled back onto his back and snaked his arm around Dru, pulling her in close to him. For the first time he realized that she had removed her top so that she wore only her bra. He imagined that the skirt was gone, too. But he was hesitant to check and couldn’t readily tell. He found himself wishing that he hadn’t put on sweats. He assumed he would be sleeping in the chair, without covers. Now he was warm and…and he just wanted to feel her bare legs gliding over his. “You frighten me a bit, Dru,” he admitted.
“I know,” she said.
“How does it work, Drusilla,” he asked her. “Do you, know what people are thinking?”
“No. Well, sometimes. I don’t know how it works,” she responded. “I don’t seem to be able to control it or predict it. Sometimes I can influence the outcome, change a path, but not always. My mum said my seeing things was an affront to the Lord, that only he's supposed to see anything before it happens. But I don't mean to, Wes, I swear! I swear! I try to be pure in his sight. I don't want to be an evil thing. After the Crawford’s I promised William that I would never…” Drusilla trailed off. Wes could tell that she was silently crying as her body shook against his and he felt the moisture of her tears as they fell on his chest and soaked through the cotton of his t-shirt.
“Spike told me why you were in the institution. What happened with the Crawford’s, Dru?” he asked her.
“They were going to die,” she choked out. “There was going to be a horrible car accident. Spike was to be there too, only he was thrown clear. He was to have broken only his legs, but he was going to have to lie there and see it all. The car on fire, Mrs. Crawford, trapped in the back seat, unable to climb forward because she was injured, Mr. Crawford refusing to leave her or save himself. They were going to burn to death in that car. They were nice people. I wanted it to be peaceful for them. They deserved that. I was so young and stupid. There are so many things that I could have done differently.”
“Have you ever explained that to Spike or the doctors?” Wesley asked.
“I tried, once, to explain to Spike. As soon as I mentioned the Crawford’s he began to cry. He told me he couldn’t seem to think of them without crying, so I stopped. He was in so much pain and he was struggling so much not… not to hate me. The doctor’s wouldn’t accept what I said. Of course, it does sound crazy. I know that now. Finally, I told them that I was afraid they were going to start treating me like my parent’s had. They accepted that. They seemed quite pleased by it, actually,” finished Drusilla.
“Your parent’s?” asked Wes.
“I’m afraid I still think they deserved it, they probably deserved worse. Please don’t ask me why. Just know that they were killing me, Wesley. As it is, I’ve barely escaped. Until a month or so ago I was convinced that they had managed to steal my life, but leave by body. That I would live out the rest of my days in some hospital, wondering the corridors and painting scenes of a world I would never see. But now I’m here, with you,” she concluded as she stretched against him like a cat.
“Had you seen me? Before?” asked Wes hesitantly.
“No,” she responded, smiling, leaning up on one elbow. “Isn’t that deliciously normal? I mean I found your van that first day you were here, but I hadn’t seen you.”
Wesley brought his hand up and caressed the side of her face. “But you see me now?”
“No, silly. It’s way too dark in here. I can’t see a bloody thing. Wes?” she asked.
“Yes?” he responded.
“You can undress. I can feel that you’re burning up. I promise to control my sexual impulses,” said Drusilla.
“Who says its you I’m worried about?” asked Wes.
“I’m not a virgin, you know. I have had sex,” she revealed as he slipped from the bed to remove his t-shirt and sweatpants. When he returned he wore only his boxers.
“I don’t want to just have sex with you, Drusilla. You deserve so much more than that. Probably deserve much more than me,” he said as he rolled onto his side and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close so that he could curve his body around hers.
“Someday, soon, you’re going to make love to me Wesley Wyndam-Pryce,” she said softly.
“You see that, do you?” he asked smiling, as he kissed the back of her head.
“No,” she said as she pushed her bottom back into his rapidly growing erection, “I feel this. You won’t be able to resist my sinister charms forever.”
“Don’t want to resist forever, Dru,” he admitted. “I just want to do this right, give things time to grow between us a bit. You’re so young and so vulnerable. Not to mention that you have a brother that will kill me if I screw this up. Hey, what’s your favorite flower?”
“Daisies, I think. They’re so cheerful. Do you like daisies? Hm. I plant them but they always die. Everything I put in the ground withers and dies. I’ve never had luck growing things, Wesley,” she admitted, sadly.
“Yeah? Well, your luck is about to change,” whispered Wesley right before he kissed Drusilla’s shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
“Yeah,” thought Drusilla, “but only if I can make Parker go away. Otherwise, it will all be ruined. Ruined for me and Wesley and for Buffy and Spike.”
“Wes?” she asked softly. “Do you think that…sometimes…it’s okay to do the wrong thing? If it’s for the right reasons?”
There was no response. Drusilla listened for a moment in the darkness and heard only the sounds of his steady breathing.
“Good!” she whispered as sleep began to overtake her too. “Glad you have no objections!”
-----------------------------------------------------
Chapter 77
Drusilla picked the box up off the cart that was addressed to Parker. There was no return address. “Oh well,” she said, “if it’s the wrong one I’ll just tape it back up.” Drusilla walked over to Parker’s desk and after picking up a tissue, opened it and pulled out a pair of scissors. She used the scissors to open the box, then slipped them into the deep pocket of the pink lab-coat that volunteers wore to distinguish themselves from the rest of the employees. Before she could remove the packing and check the content she heard it, two short knocks, followed by a long. Drusilla moved quickly over to the door and opened it.
“What’s with the funny knock?” asked Drusilla.
Andrew, Jonathon, and Warren quickly slipped in. They were all dressed in black pants and black t-shirts. “Remember? That’s the secret knock, two shorts, followed by a long,” Andrew reminded her. “Everything set?” he asked nervously.
“Yes,” said Drusilla, rolling her eyes. “You know it’s still daylight out, right?” she asked taking in their all black clothing.
“Yeah,” said Jonathon, but it makes us feel more stealthy.
“Why are we doing this again?” asked Warren.
“Because Dru needs our help,” said Andrew emphatically.
“And she is the one responsible for that awesome grade and the fact that
Professor Stevens entered our commercial in the state-wide competition,” added Jonathon.
“Today the state-wide, tomorrow Project Greenlight. I so want to meet Ben Affleck,” said Andrew dreamily.
“Here, Warren,” said Drusilla, handing him the box. “This should make you happy, a brand new toy. If you’re very good you can keep it when we’re through. There should be installation instructions inside. Start studying them. You probably won’t find it as exciting as the little project you’ve been working on that you hide under your bed…Project April isn’t it?”
Warren broke off eye contact and immediately began to rummage through the box.
“What’s Project April?” asked Andrew.
“Nothing,” said Warren, obviously embarrassed.
“Although, on second thought, I’m sure you could find many interesting uses for this when we’re finished with it,” added Drusilla.
Warren pulled out the instruction booklet that he found just below the first layer of packing materials and after reading the first few pages looked up at Dru and smiled. “Really? I can keep it?”
“Absolutely! But you can only use if for good,” she said, with a wink.
“What is it?” asked Andrew attempting to read over Warren’s shoulder.
“A hidden camera. It’s concealed in this fire alarm dome. See? It’ll give a 360-degree view of a room and transmit the feed live to either a closed circuit or over the Internet. This must have cost a fortune,” said Warren as he turned the page, studying the specs in detail. “When are we going to do it?”
“You’re going to install it tomorrow in someone’s bedroom, and set it up to transmit,” explained Drusilla.
“What do I get to do?” asked Jonathon, now obviously getting into the spirit of things.
“You’re going to start embellishing a history for a hard-drive. We want it to look like there’s been months of searches and time spent on various Internet sites. Sites of questionable nature,” said Drusilla.
“You mean, porn?” asked Andrew hesitantly.
“Reading, videos, toys, you name it. Oh, and some sites where they would sell equipment such as that hidden camera,” added Dru.
“Is the Internet access password protected?” asked Jonathon.
“Not here,” said Drusilla as she nodded towards the computer on the desk. “I used that computer and his credit card to purchase the camera, and I want to keep it looking that way. I don’t know is his home computer is password protected, you’ll have to check that out when we get there.”
“What you’re suggesting isn’t something I can do in a couple hours,” said Jonathon. “We’re talking a lot of work here. And, I’m not sure that I’m comfortable with this.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask what my job is,” moaned Andrew.
“You’re going to be editing the video and sound feed to pull out what you think are the choice pieces of tape. There’s no sense in everyone see all of it,” explained Drusilla.
“Ok, Dru. What’s the story?” asked Warren sitting on the sofa alongside Jonathon and Andrew.
“Have you boys ever seen ‘The Sting’?” asked Drusilla. “You see? I’ve been struggling with how to solve this mess and, well I saw the movie earlier this week and everything just started falling into place.”
“You know what I thought was always totally unbelievable about that movie?” asked Andrew.
“What?” responded Jonathon.
“That girl from the diner. I mean here’s Redford, totally, hot and we’re supposed to believe that he’d sleep with her?” explained Andrew.
“Now, Demi Moore is believable. Did you see Indecent Proposal?” asked Jonathon.
“That was so not believable. I mean, really, which one would you rather sleep with Woody Harrelson or Robert Redford. Let’s just leave the entire money thing out of the equation for now,” asked Andrew.
“I’m pretending to be a woman, right?” Jonathon clarified, uncomfortable.
“Sure! Whatever,” answered Andrew waving his hand carelessly in the air.
“Am I married to Woody, like Demi was in the movie?” asked Jonathon.
“Could we please get back on topic here?” begged Warren.
“Thanks. This is Parker Abrams,” said Drusilla holding up a framed photograph of Parker accepting some kind of award that had been sitting on his desk. “He is the one.”
“The one what?” asked Warren.
“The one we need to make go away,” said Drusilla slowly.
“Go away?” asked Andrew, nervously. “You know that we, ah, don’t want to, like, hurt anyone.”
“Oh, I don’t expect you to hurt anyone. You boys are the technical support of the operation. I’ve got someone else in mind for the muscle, should that become necessary,” explained Drusilla and right on cue came another knock on the door.
Drusilla walked over to the door, placed her hand on the door-handle and turned to face them. “Are we ready for the game to begin?” asked Dru as she casually dragged her right index finger across the side of her nose.
One by one Jonathon, Andrew, and Warren repeated the gesture. Drusilla took in a deep breath, opened the door, stepped aside and said, “Hello, Diggs. Come on in. We’re just about to review the timeline.”
---------------------------------------------------
Chapter 78
“Thanks for the ride back to the hotel,” said Wesley.
“No problem,” answered William as he pulled onto the interstate.
“And thanks for letting me intrude on your dinner,” Wesley added.
“Well, you are starting to feel a bit like family,” said William glancing over at Wes, who he suddenly realized seemed uncomfortable. “Is something wrong?”
“Wrong? No!” said Wes, a little too quickly. William raised an eyebrow and glared at him. “It’s just that, well, there’s something that I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“Well, are you gonna make me guess?” asked William as he turned the radio on and searched for a station to listen to.
“Um, no. You see, I know she’s quite young. But, I’ve been getting to know her a bit and, well, I’d like to get to know her better and, well, what I’m trying to say is-” Wesley trailed off, losing confidence.
“So!” said William, slapping Wes on the knee. “Some lucky bird caught your eye and you’re hesitant to make a move? I’m not sure that I’m the best one for giving dating advice. Now, I could introduce you to my friend Xander, he’s a player. Not a girl he can’t get to shag him when he puts his mind to it, I’m sure he could give you all sorts of advise.”
“No! That’s not…I’m not…Spike, it’s Drusilla,” said Wes, hesitantly.
“What about Drusilla,” responded William.
“She’s the girl that I’m interested in,” answered Wesley.
William’s jaw tightened and he looked straight ahead at the road, saying nothing. Endless seconds went by. “Does she know?” he asked.
“Is there much Drusilla doesn’t know?” mumbled Wesley.
William turned and glared at him. “I mean, have you told her? Do you intend to tell her? Or…what do you intend to do, exactly?”
“I’d like to get to know her better, date, see where it leads,” said Wes, nervously.
“I don’t want her hurt,” said William, pointedly, as he pulled off the interstate. “If you hurt her-”
“You’ll kill me. I know,” finished Wes.
William smiled and turned to look at him as they stopped for a stoplight, “Only after hours and hours of brutal torture,” added William.
“Yes, well, glad that we were able to reach an understanding,” said Wes as he rubbed his hands on the legs of his pants.
The light turned green and William proceeded to drive, “Some risk you’re taking, mate,” teased William.
Wesley nodded solemnly, “I know, but I’ve got to try. Don’t I? Otherwise I’ll always wonder.”
William pulled into the driveway at the hotel, turned off the car engine and popped the trunk so that Wes could retrieve his bag. “Do you want to stop and pick up Dru for dinner tonight? We’ll eat at Buffy’s around 7:00 PM?”
“It would be my pleasure,” said Wes smiling.
“Oh!” said William, throwing his head back, “She’s got you, but good, hasn’t she?”
Wes climbed out of the car, walked around to grab his bag from the trunk and proceeded over to the driver’s side of the car. “Thanks again for the lift. See you at seven.”
“You do know that my sister is…complicated. I mean, you know her history, right? It’s not going to be easy, Wes,” warned William.
“Nothing worth having comes easy, Spike. You and I both know that. I’m willing to pay the price because, well, I think we could be great together,” finished Wesley.
William nodded, resolutely. Then he put the car back in gear, waved at Wesley, and drove home to Buffy.
Twenty minutes later he walked into her place, tossed his keys on the entry table and called out, “Honey! I’m home!”
“That didn’t take long! Thought you were going to the grocery store to get something for dinner?” said Buffy walking out of the bedroom, fresh from a shower, dressed in her silk robe.
“Do you know what Wes just told me? Guess! No, you’ll never guess, not-” started William.
“That he’s in love with Drusilla?” interrupted Buffy.
“He did NOT use the love word!” said William, emphatically. “And, how did you know? Were you not going to say anything to me?”
“I didn’t know. I had suspicions. Due to all of the calls during the past week,” said Buffy.
“What calls?” asked William.
“I must have walked in on Wesley at least a half-dozen times when he was talking to Drusilla on the phone. It’s not like he tried to hide it. How is it that you can be so observant about absolutely everything and missed this?” challenged Buffy.
“Well, I..I guess I-” William stopped and scratched the back of his head. “Yeah! How is that?”
“You didn’t want to?” asked Buffy.
William sat down on the sofa, looking defeated. “I don’t want her to get hurt. Relationships often end badly. I’m not sure she can tolerate that.”
“But, they can also bring joy,” said Buffy kneeling before him, “and love,” she added placing her right hand over his heart, “and life,” she finished taking his right hand in her left and placing it over her stomach. “Dru deserves a chance at those things. I think that she and Wesley could be great together.”
William gathered Buffy into his arms and pulled her onto his lap. “How did you get to be so smart?” he asked.
“You’ve been making me watch that stupid “Nova” show with you!” she said pouting.
“Not me!” he replied. “It’s the Bit! He likes to watch it. It’s not my fault that your forced to come along when he wants to watch a show with his ‘Da? Now is it?”
“You expect me to fall for that!” said Buffy, incredulously.
“No,” shaking his head as he leaned her back gently onto the sofa and moved in to kiss her, “I expect you to fall for this.”
Two and a half hours later William walked in with stuff to make hamburgers, pre-made potato salad, and a bag full of fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. “How are we going to explain not having the homemade spaghetti with Bolognese sauce that you promised your sister?” asked Buffy as she started emptying the grocery bag.
“We tell her that we got distracted by a two-hour shag fest and that I didn’t have enough time to both curb your insatiable appetite and cook a gourmet dinner,” suggested William.
Buffy gasped, “You better not!” she said, wagging a cucumber at him.
William pulled the cucumber out of her hand and set it on the counter, just as the doorbell rang. “Don’t threaten me with the cucumber, pet. Besides, we both know that the cucumber is just a symbol of that residual, pent up, sexual tension. You just haven’t had enough of me, yet. Have you?” he said grabbing her around the waist and kissing her on the neck. The doorbell rang again.
“Is that all you think about?” asked Buffy, laughing.
“No, sometimes I think about how I haven’t had enough of you!” he said, playfully biting her neck.
“Ow! Door! Now!” yelped Buffy, pushing him away.
Dinner was relaxed and easy. William grilled burgers while they sat on the back deck and caught up with one another. The evening was lovely and in no time at all the sun had set, leaving the deck shrouded in darkness. “I should maybe get some candles-” observed Buffy.
“Actually,” said Wes, “I think we should call it a night. Thanks for dinner! I really appreciate the invitation.”
“Our pleasure, said Buffy,” smiling as she stood up and started to follow Wes over towards the door.
“Drusilla? Would you like me to take you home?” asked Wesley, realizing that Drusilla had not followed.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” said Drusilla looking at William.
Buffy and Wesley went into the kitchen, picking up on Drusilla’s desire for a bit of privacy.
“What?” said William, defensively.
“It’s going to be alright, my Spike. I promise,” she assured him.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” he explained.
“I know. I don’t want any of us to get hurt. Sometimes sacrifices must be made…for the greater good. You know that. Buffy is an amazing woman. Just think how different both our lives would be right now if you had never taken that one job. I mean, before her you didn’t even really have a life. Did you? I know that I didn’t. She’s been our salvation. I’m not about to let him ruin this, you can rest assured of that,” finished Drusilla as she leaned over and kissed her brother on the cheek.
“What are you talking about, Dru,” asked William, slightly alarmed. “I don’t want you to do anything rash. I don’t want you to hurt anyone.”
“No, luv,” assured Drusilla. “But I must stop him.”
“Who?” asked William.
“The one who’s been watching and planning. I know that you can take care of yourself, William. But the child is innocent. He thinks that it’s what’s holding you and Buffy together. He’s wrong, of course, but he’s not thinking clearly. He’s stubborn and arrogant and obsessed,” she said.
“It’s Parker. Isn’t it?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“I’m not going to tell you,” said Drusilla. “I want you to stay out of it. You have everything to lose and I have nothing. Let me do this for you Spike!”
“Drusilla, you have no idea how bad people can be, pet. You do have something to lose, you have your entire life ahead of you,” said William, softly as he caressed her cheek.
“No. Unless I do this? We’ll have nothing,” she said gazing into his eyes intently. “We’re family. We take care of each other. It’ll be alright, you’ll see,” she said as she kissed him softly on his lips.
Drusilla stood and began to walk towards the kitchen. “Dru?” he called.
“Yes?” she said turning around.
“Be careful and don’t…I don’t want to see you put away again,” he whispered.
“No,” said Drusilla. “No worries, Princess will be good!” she said as she tossed her hair over her shoulder and waved goodnight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 79
William stood in the shower, letting the hot water run over his tense and tired shoulders. Buffy was to return to work tomorrow and he wasn’t sure if Parker would be there. He assumed he wouldn’t be ready to return to work yet, but he wasn’t certain, and that left him uneasy. He would need to find out when he dropped her off. He was grateful that Lorraine had agreed to let Buffy work just the two 10-hour days on Saturday and Sunday. It allowed Buffy to continue with the work she loved, and for the two of them to travel back and forth between Sunnydale and Napa.
His thoughts drifted, briefly to his father, who he anticipated would be calling tomorrow to again try to persuade him to get married in the Westminster Cathedral. He had already explained that he and Buffy were planning on a small, intimate wedding in her local church, but his father was nothing if not persistent.
He then thought remembered that he needed to get Buffy to sign the loan documents and overnight them to the bank so that they could have everything in place in time for the closing of their new home. William leaned forward, placing his hands against the back wall of the shower to stretch out his back.
Next he thought of Drusilla and he found himself hoping that she was right. That everything would be alright, and that they would all get their happy ending. William noticed that the water was starting to feel cool. He had managed to drain the hot water heater. He shut the shower off, wrapped a towel around his waste and shook the excess water out of his hair before emerging from the shower “Note to self,” he said as he opened the bathroom door, “Buy one of those tankless hot water heaters for the house. Endless supply of hot water, what more could a man need.” He had no sooner finished the thought than he started to take in his surroundings.
Buffy had unmade the bed and rolled the bedding all of the way down. The room was aglow in candlelight and there was the briefest hint of soft, sultry jazz playing in the background. She was lying there on her stomach, looking up at him, nude against the black silk sheets. In her hands she held up a bottle of massage oil. “Do you mind?” she said, holding the bottle out towards him.
“Mind?” he asked as he reached out for the bottle.
“Yeah. I’m feeling, all, tense. Right…Oh, pick a place,” said Buffy smiling suggestively.
William pulled the towel off of himself and threw it onto the chaise. He walked over to the door that led to the outside deck and opened it as well as the windows so that they could enjoy the soft evening breeze. He climbed onto the bed and straddled Buffy from behind taking position at the tops of her thighs. He poured a generous amount of the orange-ginger massage oil into the palms of his hands, and then rubbed them together, to warm the oil.
He started with her shoulders. He placed his hands, gently of the muscles mid-way between the curve of her shoulder and her neck. Applying a firm, even pressure he began to knead the muscles, gently pulling them towards him. “Mmmm,” she moaned.
“How’s the pressure?” he asked.
“Good,” said Buffy absently.
“Would you like it harder? I can go deeper,” suggested William, as he increased the pressure gradually. “You tell me when it’s just right.”
“Oh! Right…yeah…like that,” she moaned.
William smiled as he worked across her shoulders to her neck. He used his thumbs and the tips of his fingers to ease away her tension. “Aww,” she groaned as he removed his hands from her body.
“Just getting more oil, luv,” he assured her as he poured more into the palm of his hand. After rubbing his hands together for a few moments he picked up working on the muscles across and down her upper back. Using his thumbs first, then the heel of his hand he patiently worked loose the knot that had taken root in her shoulder blade. Her upper back glistened from the oil and the smell was exotic. William could feel his arousal growing. He leaned over her, his chest against her bare back, and he whispered in her ear, huskily, “I want you.”
Buffy smiled, “Oh, I’ve heard about guys like you. I bet you say that to all your customers.”
William leaned up slightly and grinned, playing along, “Oh no, Miss Summers’, I swear! I’ve never done anything like this before! In point of fact, you’re my very first customer. Please! Let me continue, don’t send me away.”
“You must promise to be good-” said Buffy.
“Oh, I’ll be good, baby.” William assured her sitting back up and taking a minute to stroke his now fully engorged erection. “I’ll be very, very good.”
He added a bit more oil to his hands and then with both hands, he cupped her right shoulder and lifting it gently, stretched the muscles in front. He proceeded to work down the length of her slender arm, taking his time, thoroughly kneading the muscle groups in both the front and back. As he reached her hand he pulled slightly on each finger, stretching them, and then he finished by using his thumbs to massage her palms. When he was through he placed her now flaccid arm, gently down at her side.
“My left arm is feeling left out,” whispered Buffy.
“Demanding chit,” said William as he started on her second arm, “I’m getting to it.”
“Now, now,” scolded Buffy. “An attitude like that just might affect your tip, Mr.”
“Sorry, Ma’am,” he said as he finished her arm and returned to her upper back.
“Anyone ever tell you that you have great hands?” asked Buffy.
“Well, there was this one girl-” started William.
“I don’t want to hear about any other girls,” said Buffy, abruptly.
“Other girls?” said William, recovering quickly. “How could I possibly think of anyone else when I’m with you Miss Summers’?”
“What are you thinking?” asked Buffy, coyly.
William added more oil and began to work on her mid-back. He worked from the center with this thumbs and fingertips and pushed upward. The cords of muscles along either side of her mid-spine were tense. As he leaned into it, applying additional pressure a low moan escaped Buffy’s lips. “Too much?” asked William.
“Just right,” she responded.
William moved down the length of her back, and across her hips to the area just above her ass. After spending time working on that area he warmed more oil in his hands and rubbed a generous about directly on her firm globes.
“So,” Buffy persisted, “what are you thinking?”
“I’m just trying to stay focused Miss Summers’,” said William. “I want to do a good job. I hope I’m pleasing you?”
William began to work the muscles of Buffy’s upper thighs with his thumbs. After a minute he began to use his fingers and with a long firm strokes worked each side starting from her lower back, then moving over the globes of her ass, across the backs of her thigh and finishing as he worked the muscles of her inner thigh.
Buffy involuntarily began to part her legs slightly, giving him better access. On each stroke he moved closer and closer to the one spot that Buffy wanted rubbed more than any other. “You’re getting close to pleasing me, William,” she whispered.
William slipped an oil-drench digit between her folds. She was already slick with her own juices. “Oh, yes!” moaned Buffy, as she instinctively lifted her hips off the bed, craving more contact, more friction.
William pulled back just a bit and used his knee to coax her legs apart. “Don’t move,” he whispered, as he brushed the head of his cock up against her waiting center. Buffy gasped and started to lift her hips off the bed, “No, no, no, you naughty girl,” said William as he placed his hand on her lower back and pushed her down. “You’re supposed to just lie still and enjoy yourself, let me do all the work.”
Buffy bit her lower lip and tried desperately to concentrate on not moving. William entered her ever so slowly initially penetrating just an inch or so deep. “Is that what you need?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
William backed off a half-inch, the slight friction causing Buffy level of arousal to increase even further. William took a steadying breath and move in another inch. She was wetter now, even more ready for him. “Is that better?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, her voice breathless.
“But you’d like more?” he asked her as he backed off another half-inch.
“Yes!” she moaned. “More!”
William moved in another inch waited a moment, tilted his hips upwards, stretching her pleasurably, then backed off a bit again.
“Like that?” he asked.
“Yes! No! I need more of you! Please!” begged Buffy struggling to lie still.
“How much more of me?” asked William, as he leaned over and took one of her earlobes between his teeth and bit down playfully and pulled out just a bit.
“Stop teasing me!” Buffy accused as she focused her concentration and squeezed the muscles of her vaginal wall as he moved to slip a bit further inside.
William’s eyes rolled up and his mouth fell open, a small gasp escaping, “What? What are you doing? You feel so…oh!”
“You like?” asked Buffy, clearly enjoying the effect that she was having on him.
“God, Yes!” said William as he continued the pattern of pulling out slightly and pushing back in just a bit more. “You’re so wet, so tight,” he said as he worked his way in deeper and deeper with each stroke.
Buffy’s breathing was getting raspy as was William’s as they did their best to concentrate on pleasuring one another. She continued to time her contractions to coincide with his penetrations. “Buffy, luv, how?” he asked almost on the verge of loosing control.
Buffy smiled, “Thank Whistler, prescribed exercises for pregnant women,” she said making an extra effort on the last thrust for emphasis.
William growled and in one, swift motion wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her up onto her knees. Buffy was a bit stunned as she felt him burry himself to the hilt and bite down, on her shoulder. She yelped in surprise as the forcefulness of his thrusts propelled her forward a bit, throwing her momentarily off balance. He regained control long enough to coax first one of her arms, then the other to hold onto the top of the wooden footboard of the bed. “Hold on, luv,” he instructed. “You tell me if it’s too much. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Never,” said Buffy.
“Oh, God! Buffy, I love you. You are…all…I want,” cried out William as he came.
Buffy sunk slowly onto her stomach. William moved off of her and rolled her over so that he could search her face. “Are you okay,” he asked, hesitantly.
Buffy smiled, “More than okay, Mr., I shudder to think the kind of tip I’m gonna have to come up with for that!”
William caressed her face and leaned down to kiss her face, her eyes, her cheeks, her nose, her jaw-line, and finally her lips. “That ma’am, was my pleasure,” said William as he rolled onto his back, shook his head slightly in an effort to clear it and shouted one, loud, “Whooo!”
Buffy giggled, “Did I just make the big tough guy go ‘whooo’?”
“No!” he said, indignantly. “I was the one doing all of the work. You just laid there. That means I get the credit for the ‘whooo’.”
“What? Are you kidding? Take that back!” said Buffy as she moved in to tickle him.”
Parker stood on the other side of Buffy’s fence. The neighbors to the back of her were obviously out of town. Several days worth of newspapers were piled up on their front porch. It had taken him only a couple minutes to create a hole in the fence with his hand drill. He could see some through the slats in the fence alone, but this was much better. Or, perhaps worse, depending on one’s perspective. There he was, fucking her. And, there she was, taking it, like his whore. What, on earth was he doing to her? Whatever it was, it had to end. That was clear. Parker stumbled slightly and leaned, heavily on the fence. Perhaps Drusilla had been right, he should have stayed in. He was tired and felt weak, only he couldn’t quite bear to take his eyes off of them. “I’ll find a way,” he whispered as he saw William get up from the bed and turn off the bedroom light.
Parker lost his advantage as the lovers and their room became cloaked in darkness. Then, he saw William standing, naked, in the doorway to the back deck. His flawless, alabaster skin covered in a light sheen of sweat, bathed in the moonlight. William stretched his neck first in one direction, then the other. He next tilted his head up, slightly, towards the sky and inhaled deeply. Then, as he brought his head back down, his eyes settled on the specific area of the fence that sheltered Parker. Parker held his breath, startled. He was afraid to move, afraid to breath. William stood still as a minute, then three past.
“Come to bed?” called Buffy. “I can’t seem to sleep without you any more.”
“Yes, luv,” said William, as he stepped back inside, and locked the door.