" Honey, I'm home! " Spike dropped his bag on the floor, along with the black duster and looked around for Willow. " Your English Teddy is back, Red, and he brought you a present. The poof sends his best, as do all his little goody goodies. " His baby blues scanned the crypt in search of the woman he loved, finding nothing but furniture. Furrowing a brow, he glanced toward the floor, where the door to his ' bedroom' lay shut. Smiling, he went to open it.

" I know you're down here, pet, " he mused, making his way down the ladder. " I can here your heartbeat..smell your luciousness...and your Chanel. What are you up to, Luv? "

He stepped off the last rung, turned around and was met with a vision from his dreams. He swallowed hard, as he took in the sight before him.

Willow was stretched out across the bed, her slim body dripping in black lace, leather thigh high boots hugging her long legs. Her green eyes were highlighted by a trace of dark eyeliner and her lips were ruby red and begging to be kissed. He felt his jeans tighten to a most uncomfortable fit and opened his mouth to speak. He wasn't given the chance.

" You're late. " He was taken back by the tone of her voice, which carried a hardness that was new to him. Sure, she had been strict before when they ' played '. He smiled, mentally reliving a few of their games. However, never had he heard her like this. He liked it.

His eyes nearly removed themselves from his head as he got a better look at her. The black, lace gown hung just above her leather clad thigh, dipping low at the swell of cleavage below her throat. Her nails were polished blood red and in her hand, she held a small, wooden paddle. Suddenly, Spike felt extremely overdressed.

" You've been gone for two days, " she stated, swaying towards him. " Two, long, lonely days. Then, you show up late. " She was now eye to eye with him. " I don't believe that I deserve to be lonely, do you? "

Willow stepped around him, so his back was to her, and smiled. This was so going to be fun!

Leaning in, she brushed her lips over his ear. " You have been a very bad boy, Spike. " She slowly licked his lobe.

" Yes, I have been, " he breathed, closing his eyes. " Very, very bad..the baddest...bad, Spike. "

She teased him a few seconds more, then pulled away, much to his dismay. Trying to hide her own joy at their new play, she slipped into her game face, hiding her smile behind a stern, serious facade.

" This must be properly seen to, " she said, sliding a hand down to his bum. " I will not tolerate such behavior. " He groaned low in his throat as she squeezed. " You do understand, don't you? " Her words flooded him and he nodded with ghusto.

Suddenly, he felt a small sting on his backside and yelped. How had she managed that? Of her many wonderful attributes, physical strength wasn't high on the list. Sure, she could open a jar, but swing hard enough to make him yelp? Something was up. Maybe the Slayer had been helping her work out. He reminded himself to thank her, if that was the case.

" That's Mistress Red, " Willow cooly noted, taking a handful of his blonde hair in her free hand and gently tugging.

Willow allowed her smile a brief appearance, then continued. Walking back around, she moved her green eyes to his jeans.

" It appears that you are even more of a bad boy than I thought, " she mused, trailing a finger over the bulge between his legs. He moaned lowly and she looked at him. " I was going to get rid of these, but now I'm not so sure. Perhaps it would be worse punishment to make you leave them on. "

Spike closed his eyes as she pondered, teasing him while she did. This was killing him, in the best way. What had happened while he was in L.A.?

" Hmm, I believe I will start with them on. If you're a good boy, I may allow you to take them

He took an unneeded breath. If this went on much longer, they just might remove themselves.

Spike did as he was told, placing himself across her lacey lap when instructed. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and swam in her scents. A mixture of leather and Chanel no.5, combined with pure Willow, in control and definately enjoying it. It was enough to make his cool, undead body burn.

" Yes, Mistress Red, " he softly replied, the anticipation of what was about to happen, consuming him.

Willow smiled, then began. With each smack, Spike's husky voice filled the air, his body pressing into Willow's with a throbbing ache. She reminded herself to keep it together. She had a plan and she was going to stick to it.

It wasn't easy. Her own body was more than ready to stop with the games and move on to the lovin'.

Spike stood up, as best he could, ignoring the twinge of his bum as he quickly lost the jeans. He then looked at her, waiting for instructions. It took everything she had to not jump him then and there, as she drank in the sight of him. Those jeans so did not do him justice.

He did and she examined his backside. She didn't want to hurt him. They didn't play that way. There was a fine line between playfulness and pain, and it was one they had agreed not to cross. She felt a bit guilty using magic for the extra jolt on the paddle, but knew that Spike, being a vampire, would not be hurt. She just wanted to make him sting a little.

He gladly returned to his former posistion, causing Willow to let out a tiny yelp of her own as he pressed snuggly against her. Smiling, Spike closed his eyes and breathed her in.

It took a moment for Willow to regain her focus and once she did, she tossed the paddle aside and ran her hand over his smooth, slightly red skin.

( To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It's..it's not done because people deserve it. It's done because they need it. - I Only Have Eyes For You )