Raksha's body was inflamed. Her pulse raced, sweat beaded at her brow, her whole body tingled. It had been a long time since he touched her like that... It had been a long time since anyone had touched her like that.

At the same time Raksha's mind protested Spike's *attentions*. < No! I hate him! He's evil! I hate his kind! Why do I feel like this? >

Unfortunately for Spike, Raksha's mind ruled her, not her desires. She pushed herself away from him. She stood there and stared at him for a few moments, trying to control her conflicting emotions.

Then Raksha did what Spike expected her to; she slapped him across his previously abused cheek.

"Have you lost your fucking mind?" she spat. "What the fuck did you do that for?"

"No. I haven't lost my mind. I did it because I couldn't help myself," he answered calmly.

"Because *you* couldn't help *yourself*?! Shit! Why the hell not?"

"Because, in case you haven't noticed, you are quite beautiful, luv. And I happen to be incredibly horny."

"I guess being in a wheelchair does that to ya," Raksha retorted. "One, two, three..." Raksha counted until she reached ten. By the time she had finished, she had calmed down considerably. She started walking towards their destination again and Spike, of course, followed.

"It does. But if it makes you feel better, I'm sorry. I apologize," Spike said, trying to make sure he didn't upset her again.

"The almighty Spike apologizing? Let me record this momentous occasion in one of those books the Watchers have about you."

"Ha, ha. Aren't you the funny one."

"All right. You're a man. I can understand your thinking with what's below the belt instead of your head," Raksha said, sounding like she was contemplating on whether to forgive him. "Apology excepted. But next time you feel the urge, go find Drusilla."

"If I had tried to do that to Dru right now, she probably would have cut off my favorite appendage."

"Tsk, tsk. Lovers spat, huh?"

"Not quite. I told her that I wasn't *hers* anymore."

"Why?"

"I got tired of her foolin' around with Angelus and still claimin' me at the same time."

"Congratulations. I didn't think that ya had it in ya."

They had reached the park. Raksha found a bench and they sat down.

"So how did she respond?" Raksha asked.

Spike looked at her and found a caring expression on her face; she truly cared.

"Like she had done nothing wrong. Like she didn't know what she was doin' to me," Spike answered, with a mixture of anger and sadness.

"She probably know what she did. But then again, with her, it's quite possible that she justified it in her own mind. She probably didn't mean to hurt you." Raksha said, trying to console him. She knew it had to hurt him to give up Drusilla.

"I know your trying to make my feel better, but let's not talk about it. Okay?" Spike asked. He really did not want to talk about it anymore.

"Fine. So what did you want to talk about anyway?" Raksha asked, letting the prior subject drop.

"I want you to help me," Spike told her.

"Why should I help you? Give me one good reason," Raksha requested. She didn't think that he had one.

"Because you like me. Hell! You're probably still in love with me," Spike answered.

"What an ego!" Raksha laughed. "I like you true. But I never loved you. Not like you wanted me to, at least. I'm incapable of truly loving someone. You never did understand that."

"I don't think I'll ever understand you," Spike stated, truthfully.

Then Spike decided it was time to turn on the charm. "Please? Come on, luv. What I ask for will be beneficial to you too, ducks. Or if that's not enough, I can make it worth it. Please say yes? Pet?" His face had one of those puppy dog expressions, that Raksha couldn't resist.

"*Really*? Fine then. Tell me what you want and I'll consider it. But any deal will be made on *my* terms only. If you can agree to that, we can talk about it."

"Sure. Anything you want," Spike agreed, willing to do anything.

"So what do you want?" Raksha asked. She was curious to find out what the bad boy Spike needed her for.

"Wait," Spike told her.

"What's wrong?" Raksha tensed expecting something to happen.

"It just occurred to me that anyone can hear us here or have heard us. And what about Dru's visions?" Spike asked. He was concerned that they would find out his plans before he put them into effect.

"Don't worry about it. If anyone was here I would have sensed them. And I'll take care of Drusilla's physic senses - numb them a little. So what do you want?" Raksha asked yet again.

"Are you sure its okay?" When Raksha nodded, Spike continued, "I want you to help me get rid of Angelus and Dru."

"WHAT?!! You want me to what?!" Raksha exclaimed. She was truly shocked, which didn't happen very often.

"I need you to help me get rid of Angelus and Dru," Spike told her again.

"Ooookkaaayyyy. But -- Why?" Raksha asked, flustered.

"I'm tired of them. They're excess baggage, that's just going to get me killed. Let's face it. Neither of them are playing with full stacks. I need to get rid of them."

"And you don't want to fight Dru," Raksha stated, knowingly.

"No I don't. I still care for her, she's been my mistress for years. But I can't be her slave - *her toy* - anymore. I need you to help me."

"I see. Meet me at the school library tomorrow - an half an hour after sunset. We'll work out the details there. I'm not agreeing, but I'm considering."

"Um... That's another thing, luv. I have nowhere to stay." Spike hoped she would invite him to stay with her.

"Fine." Raksha sighed. "You can stay with me."

Raksha got up and started walking towards the part of town that catered to tourists. She had a room there. When Spike didn't follow, she stopped.

"Why don't you just tell me where it's at? I'll catch up." Spike asked. His whole body was begging him for blood.

"Why can't you just come now?" Raksha asked. Then it dawned on her. "You haven't fed."

"That's it, luv."

Raksha sighed, yet again. "Here." She brushed aside her hair and offered Spike her neck. "Don't kill anyone. You can feed from me tonight."

"I can't. You'll need your strength," Spike protested.

"Having you take a little of my blood is not gonna kill me," Raksha told him. "Besides my blood is much stronger than a humans. It will help you get strong again."

"Fine." Spike looked around. "Let's go back to your place first."

"Okay. Follow me," Raksha told him.

As they walked Raksha contemplated what happened and Spike's behavior. < I wonder why he's so jumpy. Nothing's going to happen. And why the hell am I offering him my blood? To save a life, you idiot. Yep that's what I do. And this thing about Angelus and Drusilla. Why am I helping him? Too late now to back out. Well, at least I've gained another ally. Of course its not like I need any, but they're nice to have around. >

They finally reached Raksha's room at one of the nicer motels in Sunnydale. Raksha opened the door and then invited Spike in. She put down her things.

"Well come on," Raksha beckoned. "Let's get it over with."

Spike sat down in a chair and crooked his finger, motioning her to come to him. She walked over and stood in front of him. He reached out and pulled her into his lap. She tried to get off but he held her still.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Spike asked. He needed her to be strong, not weak, to defeat his enemies. And then, of course, there was other things that he'd like to do with her that she needed to be healthy for.

"Yes. I'm positive. Even if you drain all of my blood, I'll be okay. Not could you do it already. I don't like the position that I'm in." Raksha told him.

"I noticed, luv," Spike said, dryly. "But all that wigglin' you've been doin' is just makin' my condition worst."

"What condition? Oh yes. You're *cough* over active, since you've been deprived, sex drive. Spike I've got two word for you: cold shower."

"You used to be very good at curing my condition, if I remember correctly. And very willing to do so."

"I'm repulsed at the thought that we -- ugh. Let's finish this after you've fed."

Spike leaned towards her and swept her hair away from her neck. He gently put his lips to her throat and bit her. He gently sucked her blood.

Raksha had never felt anything like it. It was completely unique from anything that had ever happened to her before. Erotic and arousing, yet strange and uncomfortable. < Now I know why vampires supposedly bite each other in bed. >

Spike reluctantly pulled away after taking a couple pints. "Are you okay, pet?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit shaky," Raksha answered. Her body was trembling.

"The magnificent demon hunter knocked off her pins. It must be a first," Spike teased.

"I like to see you after you donate a couple of pints," Raksha retorted.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Spike asked again.

"Yes. I'm so *touched* that *you* care," Raksha answered, frustrated that he kept asking.

"I need you, remember? And with the way your blood tastes, I might just keep you around," Spike told her.

"Food of the gods - Ambrosia, huh?" Raksha asked.

"Something like that. Very powerful; sweet," Spike responded.

Silence fell thickly between them. Raksha got off his lap. She walked over to the only bed in the room and laid down.

"Well, at least it was a learning experience," Raksha said, sighing, breaking the silence.

"And what did you learn?" Spike asked.

"Why vampires like biting each other so much," Raksha answered truthfully.

"So that's what made you all lose your cool," Spike, the 'observant one', stated.

Raksha didn't answer. She just laid on the bed and wouldn't look at him.

Spike got up and walked over to the side of the bed she was facing. She tried to roll over but he wouldn't let her. He pushed her back to make room for himself and then gently laid down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. And this time she didn't stop him...