"Alls I'm saying is… if you want to turn this into a real money machine- the key is in advertising! Advertise, advertise, advertise! Word of mouth isn't gonna cut it when we end up killing half our clientel, Angel."

"We don't *kill* half of our-"

"Angel. Yes. We do. Sooner or later, we always end up… look, it's part of the demon-killing business. However… Gunn and Wes and I can help do the foot work if we opened up our client base a bit. That's all I'm saying."

I *love* listening to her go! She's really getting to him.

Good.

"Spike, would you help me out here?" he asks as he hops up on the counter next to me.

"I have no opinion, Mate," I tell him. I'm not crazy enough to get in the middle of *this*.

Plus, it's funny as fuck to watch her go! (So few have the skills to annoy him half as much as I do.)

God damn him!

"Cordy- I just don't think it's a good idea, considering what we do do."

"Whatever! Fine!" She throws her hands up in the air and that'll be the last I hear about *that*.

For another 24 hours. Or less. She thinks we should expand our business. If it were up to her, she'd probably have us incorporated and selling stock by Christmas!

"Thanks!" I say sarcastically, hitting him upside the head.

"HEY!" he growls.

"Oh, shut up and kiss me." I lean over and I *love* how his lips feel against mine.

Okay. Sigh. I'll forgive Angel the hitting, just this once.

I pull away, reluctantly, and sigh. "You should be wearing green, Liam."

"Why?"

"Because it is the day of your people, dumb ass! Ya know, potatoes, Leprechauns and beer?!"

"There's more to Irish people than that, Spike!"

"Name me *one* thing!" I challenge.

"We've got *huge* cocks," he answers, "And *you* should *know*!"

I'll give him that, however, "I was unaware that was an Irish trait, Mate. I thought it was just something inherited."

"Don't bring my parents into this!" I say with a sigh. I *missed* this! This Spike-banter. War of words, or wits… battles that he always wins because he's *relentless* and I give in too quickly.

"Why? You *know* there's some little piece 'a you broodin' right *now* about slaughtering them. Admit it!" he says as he hops off the counter.

"Fine. Whatever you say, Spike."

"Okay, then. Why didncha just agree in the first place?! Potatoes, Leprechauns and beer!"

See what I mean? Relentless.

Ha bloody ha! Gocha!

I grin at him. "I win, you lose."

"Whatever. Did anyone call while we were out?"

"Yeah- your sense of humor; it's in Cleveland."

Oops, that got him. He dives after me but I jump up behind the couch, which doesn't stop him from leaping over the couch. Shit. I turn quickly and leap up. I grab a hold of the banister of the second floor and pull myself up.

"You're not gonna get away from me, Spike!" he growls as he chases me down the hall.

"ALREADY BLOODY DID, YA PONCE!" I scream at him as I make for the window at the end of the hall. I've been using that window as an escape quite regularly. Nice that it leads to a dark alley below with sewer access.

Fuck. NO!

I leap forward in one last attempt to catch him before he jumps out the window and I tackle him to the floor, quickly grabbing his arms and pinning them above his head.

He's belly down, with me straddling his hips and I rub my cock against him.

"Whacha gonna do *now*, Will? You got no place to go."

"Maybe I didn't *wanna* be someplace else," he whispers. Dammit.

He flips himself over quickly and grins, "I win *again*," before pulling my head down to him and attacking my lips. I feel his legs wrapping around my hips, thrusting against mine, as his tongue assaults my mouth.

Fuck, he's been *so*… *Spike* lately, ever since Valentine's Day. It's been practically the same as that first year, when things were really good. He's been playful and fun and cuddly. I can't help but sigh into his mouth.

He was really cuddly last night. He curled up next to me in bed while I was reading and fell asleep with his head on my thigh and one arm *around* my thigh. It was amazing.

I hit him. That makes him mad.

"What? I'm not interesting enough for you?"

"Sorry," he apologizes and tries to kiss me. I turn my head away. "Spike-"

"If I'm not interesting enough for you, maybe I'll go find someone who *is* interested."

He growls and throws my arms above my head, holding my wrists down. "Oh, I'm interested," he states, menacingly staring at my throat, "Suddenly *very* interested." He leans down and I have to swallow as I feel his teeth *so* close to my flesh. "If it weren't the middle of the day, I'd fuck you right here."

"Chicken are ya?" I challenge. "Not manly enough to risk getting caught? Or are ya 'fraid that they'll see how little your cock is?" Oh yeah- *never* insult his dick. I've learned *that* much in a hundred years.

He sinks his fangs into my throat and draws just enough to make me whimper, before he violently flips me over. Fuck. It's gonna be like *this*?

I hear his zipper and I'm taken back. I used to lay in bed *waiting* (fuck, *PRAYING*) to hear him open the door. I would get *so* hard upon hearing his trousers drop to the floor.

He yelps when I tear the back of his jeans apart. He's got such a great ass. I smack it before opening my mouth and dribbling his blood on him. And then I'm thrusting my way inside him, straddling him in the middle of the hallway, where Cordy could find us any second. Fuck, what am I doing?

But now it's too late and I *realize* too late that this is *exactly* what Spike wanted and he's won. *AGAIN*. But now I'm too horny to care.

HA HA HA! I WIN! I mentally shout in glee! He *knows* I've won. I can feel it the second the realization hits him. Yeah- who's the better vamp *now*, eh, Sire?!

Shit- he's sawing in and out of me and I can only rub against the floor and hope the friction alone helps my aching cock, since I doubt he's gonna go out of his way to let me come. Not after insulting him the ways I did today.

I can feel his fangs grazing the back of my neck as he holds my wrists down. I'm flat against the bloody floor like a fuckin' fuck doll. "Angelus!" I growl but I know he's got me exactly where he wants me. I often wonder if it's not *he* who is the *real* winner.

My boy is *such* a *good* *fuck*.

"Squeeze me, Boy," I growl. "Squeeze me good."

I am *so* ready to come and when he uses those fuckin' superhuman muscles, experienced from years of my tutelage, I growl and explode inside him.

Told ya he wasn't gonna let me come.

He relaxes on top of me and I'm still squirming against the rug trying to get off. "Angel!" I whine. "Please?" I whisper.

And I start to feel his hand creep around my body when I hear, "EEEWW!" from behind us. Damn cunt! And they *wonder* what our problem with women is!

~*~*~*~*~

"So *where* is it again, Peaches?" I ask. I mean… where the fuck is it?

<"She said it should be down that alley, but-">

The ominous sound of growling above my head tells me I found it and it pounces on me and SHIT. The phone flies from my hand and I scream "FOUND IT!" So he's not too worried and I guess it's time to kick some arse.

I listen to the fight and I can just *imagine* him there, pulling out the small sword that will kill the thing. Spike is *very* good with swords too. He's good with a lot of stuff.

"Angel?"

"What, Cordy?"

"Can you look at this for me?"

I look up at her and- "It's… you look beautiful."

"Really?"

"Yes." I hang up the phone and walk over to her. "So is this it? Or a choice?"

"Spike voted for this one. Is he right?"

"It's *perfect*, Cordy and- if you… need money- I know you and Gunn don't have much, but-"

"Thanks, Angel," she says and gives me a big hug. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to know, Cordy. We're family." And that's true. Ya know- of everyone? You'd think it'd be Buffy or something, but it's not. It's Cordelia who is closest, besides Spike. I would have never thought it'd be that way- but… somewhere, wherever she is, I think my sister would approve of Cordy's place in my life. I think, I have to believe, that wherever she is, Kathy forgives me for what I did to her.

~*~*~*~*~

HA BLOODY HA!

*No* one is *me* when it comes to violence. I don't bloody care who 'Angelus' things he is. *I* am the bloody master of gore, thank you very much. But the demon is squashed. It was hard too, but I dropped him and now- fuck. I'm hungry.

Gotta head back to the hotel.

I hear we're supposed to be helping Legs pick out some invitations of some kind tonight. Whatever. I'd never admit it, but it's okay- helpin' her pick out all this shit. She thinks Peaches and I are just perfect for doin' this shit with, 'cause we're "gay".

But I-

What the hell- I turn my head toward the faint scent of blood and I lick my lips as it fills my lungs. Lots of blood, too.

Across the street and down the alley a bit, I watch the door open again and a small whiff of blood hits my nostrils again. Human blood. My feet just carry me to the door and I knock.

"Pass?" The man says as he opens the small window on the door.

"Yeah, pass, Mate."

"Pass?" He repeats. Oh- right- I flash my fangs and the door opens.

BLOODY HELL! The glorious stentch of air dripping with blood hits my senses and I can *feel* the blood in the air- on my skin. Shit, I'm so hungry. My fangs are practically bursting out of my mouth, ready to sink into my tongue and suck myself dry.

Shit. I scan the room. So many humans- so much blood. Vampires drawing on their necks, wrists, arms, breasts… the scent of sex is almost as strong as the blood and I'm drunk on the whole thing.

"Hello," a young woman says sensually, as her fingers caress the base of my neck. "Haven't seen *you* in here before," she says and I glance at her neck. Virgin there, but her arms have… a few scars. Fledges that couldn't do it right.

"No, I haven't."

"Ooo," she says. "Love the accent. So- you new?"

"No," I reply and touch her lower back. "How 'bout a drink, Luv?" I ask, guiding her to the bar.

"Wouldn't say no," she says suggestively.

Ohshit. She smells so blood warm and fresh and pure. Clean blood and- she's right here, beautiful neck showing, blood pumping through her veins.

We order a couple shots of vodka and we down them and before I know it, she's pulled my mouth to her neck and I kiss her, lick her skin and taste the purity underneath.

"Ya know," she whispers, "I've never- no one has ever…"

"I *know*, Luv. Such a beautiful neck it is too. No fledge deserves to be the first."

"So you're not- I thought so, but- how old are you?" She asks as she clutches my waist.

"Old enough to be your great grandfather," I whisper against her flesh and kiss her softly. "Old enough to know how precious this beautiful neck is," I whisper before biting her softly with my human teeth. She cries out and I *swear* she almost came.

"Do you- should we… go someplace? Private? Upstairs?"

"Yeah," I nod. Fuck, I need this, need her blood. There is *nothing* more precious than her blood right now.

We get upstairs to an empty room and I close and lock the door. "What's your name, Pet?" I ask, laving her neck with my tongue as my arm snakes around her waist. God- my fangs need this. Too much blood and they need to sink into hot flesh and feel the rush of life passing over them, flowing into my mouth- shit.

"Sarah," she answers and the tips of my fangs scrap her neck and- "WAIT!" She says quickly, and pushes me away. A wave of fear crowds my senses. "Wait."

"Relax, Pet," I say, not advancing on her. Angel's right. I *do* care. I care because *he* does, because there's a part of me that does. Whatever. I just do. And I need this too bad to fuck it up. "Not gonna hurt you."

"I just- how much do you- want, because I only have-"

"No money, Luv. Just the blood."

"What?" She's confused. *I'm* confused too, but not because of that, just because I *should* be ripping her entrails out and decorating Dru's body with 'em. "You don't- everyone else-"

"I just want the blood, Luv."

"You're- *different* from the others. Why?"

"Long story."

She nods. "Okay. I just-" she glances at her arms. "The last couple-"

"No scars," I assure her. "No pain."

She nods and steps toward me again and tries to kiss me, but I move my mouth to her neck and kiss her. I scrap the tips of my fangs down her neck, testing for the fleshiest part, where the blood flows beneath. I don't wanna tear her muscles up. I press her against a wall and she's got her hands around me and I smell the sex coming off her in gallons.

And then, I slip my fangs into her skin and the first drop of my blood hits my lip and it flows into my mouth and she screams and I smell her orgasm- *taste* her orgasm in the blood as I take it into my body in greedy gulps and growl as I do.

~*~*~*~*~

Where is he? He should have been back by now, but it's possible he ran into more trouble I guess.

~*~*~*~*~

My belly is full and I lave the wound languidly for several minutes until I can feel it closing over.

I pull away, still holding her up. I may have taken just a bit too much. "Sarah, Luv?"

"Uh huh?"

"How you feel?"

"Bit dizzy, but- good. That was-" I release her a bit, but she starts to fall and I catch her.

"I'm afraid I took a bit too much, Pet. You just- tasted so good. Can I see you home?"

"First- you don't want money and then you back off and- now you're gonna… walk me home?"

"You're in no condition to be by yourself and it's my fault, so yes- someone needs to see you home."

"I can- manage," she states.

"Okay. Then stand," I say and step away from her and her knees buckle after a second and she almost falls to the floor before I've swept her up. "Where do you live?"

~*~*~*~*~

"So here's the second one, but I'm not too sure about it, what do you think, Angel?"

"Why *exactly* are you asking *me*?" I ask, staring at the five invitation choices. "Can't you ask your-"

"Don't even *think* about pointin' the finger at *me*, Man," Gunn replies and turns back to the television.

And can I ask one thing? WHERE THE HELL IS SPIKE?! He was supposed to be feeling the torture WITH me!

Okay… one more quick check of the scents and… I think bursting into that bar all vamped and growly helped cover me in fear more than anything. I just- had to get her sex scent off me a bit.

Not that I did anything wrong, because I didn't.

And luckily though- the whole blood/bond/sharing thing doesn't exchange memory or anything we don't really *want* shared. It's funny how it works- how every day we get stronger and better at controlling it.

Time to go home.

OH! It's SPIKE! He's-

I growl menacingly. "Cordy, Gunn- *leave*," I growl.

"Angel- the invita-"

"LEAVE!" I bellow.

He just walks over to the sink and gets himself a glass of water as they pack up and as soon as they're gone, I slam him against the sink and push his face down against the ceramic. "*What* did you do?!" I growl.

"GET OFF ME YOU PONCE!" He yells.

"*Who*, Spike?" I growl.

"Angel- I-"

I grab him by the scruff of the neck and throw him across the room. "I can *smell* it under your skin, Spike. Don't fuckin' *lie* to me. WHO?!" I growl.

"Nobody- just some jerk-"

I yank him up by the collar, or at least I try, but he blocks that one and pushes me away. "Don't fuckin' treat me like some *child*, *Angelus*. You're not my bloody *keeper*!"

"You can't cross the line, Spike, you can't-"

"Maybe it's *your* bloody line, but it was *never* mine!"

Fuckin' ponce thinks he can impose his *soul* on me…

"It was some fuckin' guy tryin' ta rape this girl- I fuckin' *stopped* it. You should bloody *thank* me."

I inhale his scent a bit deeper- fear… some sex… and that blood- *human* blood. His clothes *wreak* of it. But *not* of death. Just blood.

"Just don't *kill* anyone," I order.

"Wasn't *planning* on it, *Mate*," he says, slamming the door to our bedroom as he goes.

I sigh. Shit. I don't want him to be *mad*. I just-

I follow him into our room and hear him in the bathroom with the shower going. "Spike-" I say, walking in. "I just- you can't *kill* people. I can't…"

"I didn't!" He swears. "Just scared 'em is all."

"But- you go around drinking- feeding and- you could go too far once and-"

"Would it matter?" He asks. "If I'm feeding off muderous scum? What the bleedin' hell is the difference?"

Good question, I guess.

"Just- be careful," I state.

"Always am, Mate," he says, throwing the shower curtain back. "Care to join me?" He leers.

"Yeah- I could do that."

He gets his clothes off quickly and I yank his mouth to mine as he steps in and I slam him against the wall kissing him. Shit- feeding got me horny.

A few minutes of kissing him silly has him hard and ready and *me* thrusting against his hips and FUCK. I love this man's mouth. Sire's mouth. Sire tongue… all good in my book.

"Turn 'round, Pansy Arse," I order.

"Ex*cuse* me?" He growls.

"Gonna fuck you, Angelus. Now turn around." I grab his hips because I don't have time for this and I spin him around and pin him to the wall. The spray hits my back as I slice into my wrist with my fangs and I slam my cock into him and bite his neck all at once- tearing at his flesh.

"SPIKE!" he growls.

Yeah- I just need this- quick shag and get it outta my system.

Fuck. I can't think. I just feel the pounding of his cock in me and shit- I'm *so* glad I can admit *now* how good this fuckin' feels. I couldn't before- but…

And his hand wraps around my cock and I thrust into his wet grasp helplessly and *shit*.

I growl as I explode inside him and he comes in my hands and fuck. I've just- this new energy inside me- from the feed.

"What brought *that* on?" He asks.

I smile. "Just love you," I say. He doesn't need to know the rest.