Summary: Spike is Buffy's swimming coach. He has been hateful to her since day one, a fact that hurts her because she is in love with him. Little does she know that his behaviour only serves to hide his own feelings. Tragic circumstances bring them closer together.
The hotel dining room was beautifully extravagant; the tables were covered in fine white linen and shining cutlery, an abundance of exotic flowers and chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Buffy’s suspicions of how Spike had managed to get funding for such lavish accommodation hadn’t been appeased when she’d questioned him earlier, only to have him uncharacteristically stutter and change the subject. She wondered if maybe he’d contributed some finances himself – but why? She knew he was a generous person but it seemed a bit too much to pay for the whole team’s lodging.
Sitting round the large table that they were eating dinner at, Buffy caught Spike’s eye and smiled coyly at him. He smirked slowly back with a knowing look in his eye so that she blushed and glanced down at her plate. She could hear his chuckle from all the way down the other end.
Harmony’s unstoppable voice suddenly rang out over the various conversations taking place. “So guys, where does everyone want to go out after dinner, huh? If curfew is midnight we only have about five hours.”
Cordelia, a stunning brunette, spoke up. “I used to live in LA people and although most of us are underage I know a place that we can get into.” She looked disdainfully around the table. “Although you guys will have to at least put on a shirt, and the girls need dresses or really nice skirts and tops. It’s a classy place.”
Harmony squealed. “Great! Maybe there’ll be really nice, rich guys there! Let’s go straight after dinner.”
Spike spoke up. “Listen up here guys. I know you’re all adults and I respect each one of you, but I’m still responsible for you, okay? So everyone goes to the same place and you all come back to the hotel together please. I don’t mind if some of you stay in your rooms, but the rest of you look out for eachother.”
Everyone nodded their agreement and gradually started to make their way up to the rooms to get changed. Buffy waited until they were the only two left and slid up a few seats towards him.
“Do you want to go out with your chums, pet?”
Buffy shook her head. “Nuh uh. I want to stay with you.”
He smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that kitten. I have a surprise for you. Well, a couple of surprises actually.”
“Ooooh! Tell me!”
“Nope. But I’ll give you a hint. One of them involves dancing.”
She looked at him dubiously. “Are we going to a club? I’m underage.”
He shook his head, stroking her palm with his fingers. “I’m taking you dancing right here, darling. They have a ballroom with an orchestra.”
Buffy’s eyebrows rose. “In the hotel? They have a ballroom here?”
He nodded. Buffy pulled her palm out of his hands and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Right Spike. I want you to tell me now. Did the Sunnydale Swimming Committee really pay for us to stay in this hotel? ’Cos somehow I’m doubting it right now.”
Spike managed to look sheepish. “Does it matter if they didn’t?”
Buffy grabbed his hand and clutched it to her heart. “I just want to know. Did you pay for this yourself?”
Spike immediately got a stubborn look on his face. “So what if I did? I wasn’t going to spend the night with my girl in a room the size of a matchbox next to a bathroom that a cockroach could barely fit in. And obviously you and I couldn’t just go to a different hotel than everybody else, so, uh…I just brought everyone here.”
A bright smile lit up Buffy’s face. “You did this for me? For us?”
“Of course I did. I’m not in the habit of putting people up in five-star hotels just out of the goodness of my own heart, much as I’d like to be.”
Buffy suddenly looked stricken. “Oh Spike! I didn’t think. This must be costing you an absolute fortune! You really shouldn’t have.”
“Buffy, don’t worry about me. I’m not just some poor swimming coach, okay? I’m quite comfortable and this really isn’t a problem so please don’t let it ruin our night.”
She nodded in assent and smiled at him, then suddenly frowned. “A ballroom! I don’t have any nice dresses with me!”
“And that, my sweet princess, is where the second surprise comes in. If you’ll follow me please.” Buffy giggled when he held out his arm for her to hook her elbow through and led her to the elevator. They separated on reaching the fourth floor just in case any swimmers were still milling around.
“I’d better go tell Harmony I’m not coming, and once she’s gone I’ll come to your room okay?”
“Okay sweetling. See you then.”
***
Spending twenty minutes helping Harmony pick out an outfit from her three pink suitcases was more than enough to drive Buffy crazy. Of course she was simultaneously trying to convince Harmony that she was too tired to go out herself in the face of relentless protests, so that by the time the ditzy blonde actually left their room Buffy was forced to lie quietly on her bed for several minutes before she could bring herself to get up.
When Spike opened the door moments later, she was incredibly glad that she had. He looked the most delicious she’d ever seen him – shiny black shoes, a black suit, dark blue shirt and silky tie. She looked down at her sweater and jeans miserably, but remembered what he’d said earlier and accepted the invitation into his suite.
“Buffy, I want you to go into the bedroom ’cos there’s something on the bed for you.”
She nodded and started to walk towards it, but was stopped by his voice.
“Pet, I don’t want to hear any protests, okay? I don’t want you to feel bad or guilty, because I like doing things for you. I love you, after all.”
“Um, okay. I’ll try. Its just that, well, you do so much for me and I can’t really do anything in return.”
Spike walked over to her and picked up her hands. “Buffy, I’m going to sound like a complete poofter right now and I’m regretting it already, but its true. You loving me is more than I could ever ask for. It’s the best thing in the world anyone could ever do for me, and I’m just glad that I can show you in any way I can how grateful I am that you love me as I love you.”
Buffy leaned into his touch. “That was beautiful…you big poofter.” She giggled as she bounded off towards the bedroom, shutting the door behind her as his growl echoed in her ears.
Reaching the big bed in the centre of the room Buffy stopped. Jesus. No wonder he told her not to protest, lying on the bed was the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen. And shoes. How the hell did he know all her sizes? Hmmm. Apparently her boyfriend had been doing a little sleuthing. She gently skimmed her hand along the material of the dress. It was definitely silk, a deep burgundy colour. From the looks of the length it would reach all the way down to her feet. From what she could see, the top was two thick bits of material that came up over her breasts, tying behind her neck.
Buffy suddenly noticed a little shopping bag next to it and peeked inside. Wow. She pulled out a bra and thong, both incredibly dainty and made out of delicate black lace trimmed with light pink silk. This guy had expensive taste. She noticed a card in the bag and pulled it out, laughing at what he had written. It said:
Buffy,
The dress is for you. These are for me. Please don’t wear them if you don’t want to. All my love,
Spike
Not wear them? As if! Its not every day a girl was given lingerie that cost more than most peoples’ monthly salaries. She quickly slipped out of her clothes and pulled on the bra and thong. Looking at herself in the mirror, Buffy was amazed. She looked like an absolute sex kitten. She ran her hands over her body, feeling sophisticated and sexy. Now. Time for the dress.
The dress was perfection. It melted over her curves and with the black open-toed stilettos in place it was the perfect length. No lines could be seen of her lingerie underneath and she swayed on her feet, staring at her reflection, not believing that she could look like this. Hmmm. Hair was a problem. Luckily she’d put on a bit of make-up before dinner so she just pulled her hair completely off her face into a twist at the back of her head. Yep. So ready for a ballroom. She quietly made her way out into the living room.
Spike was standing over at the bar, drinking a whiskey. He turned around when he heard the door handle click and abruptly spat his mouthful out all over the ground. Buffy giggled and mentally applauded her efforts.
“Buffy. Oh my God, Buffy. You look amazing.”
“Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself.”
Spike strode up to her and leant down to nuzzle her neck, nipping at her earlobe. He groaned into her ear, “Buffy, I’m going to be the absolute envy of every single man down there tonight. Just looking at you makes me want to ravage you on the spot. God, I have to force myself not to, sweetheart. You’re truly the most divine thing I’ve ever seen. Quickly, lets get out of here before I take you on the floor.”
By the time Buffy had regained enough of her senses to be able to tell him to go ahead, he already had her in the lift on the way to the ground floor. They exited the elevator and she followed him obediently towards two large doors that were opened by a man in a tuxedo as they approached.
Buffy looked around the large room in awe. Could something so huge still be called just a room? There was a spacious dance floor in the middle that was polished until it shined. It was surrounded on all sides by small tables where stylishly dressed men and women sat, sipping champagne and listening to the orchestra that was playing. There were only about ten couples actually dancing. The whole place looked magical.
Buffy looked back at Spike and smiled as he gently squeezed her hand and raised it to his lips.
“After you, sweetheart.” She nodded and headed over to an empty table, sitting down while Spike motioned for the waiter to bring them two sparkling glasses. Several minutes of sipping their champagne and glancing around the room later, Spike spoke.
“Kitten? Would you like to dance with me?”
Buffy looked slight embarrassed. “Spike, God, I’d love to. But I just don’t know how to dance like that.” She tilted her head towards a couple making their way expertly round the dance floor in a waltz.
Spike chuckled. “Believe me when I say you don’t have to do that, ’cos I can’t either. You just follow my feet alight? It’ll be fine.”
Buffy nodded slowly and followed him out onto the dance floor, wrapping her hands around Spike’s neck at his request as he held onto her waist. They swayed together, slowly dancing around the floor in a large circle as they looked into eachothers eyes. The orchestra was playing the most beautiful music Buffy had ever heard, and every so often Spike would tilt his head down to softly kiss her on the lips. Eventually Buffy rested her head on his chest as he held her closer to him, aware of the many eyes following them around the floor. Spike knew just how lucky he was; just as he’d told her there were many men staring at him enviously.
What could have been several hours later for all they knew, Spike leaned down to Buffy’s ear and whispered, “Are you ready to go back to the room, darling?”
Buffy had been lulled into a languid state by the champagne and slow dancing. “Mmm hmmm,” she murmured, looking up into his eyes. “I want to make love with you Spike.”
He stared back at her intensely for a few seconds before abruptly regaining his senses and leading them out of the ballroom quickly.