stillrose | There’s Always a Sneer in Vegas (40/?)

Title:There’s Always a Sneer in Vegas (40/?)
Fandom: BTVS; Spike/Xander
Warnings: Slash, AU, Post Apocalyptic, violence, non-con, slavery, tentacles,
Rating:NC-17
Summary: It’s been seven years since Angelus killed Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Seven years after Angelus opened a portal to hell on Earth. Humans are food, slaves or on the run. There’s hope only in small band of resistance fighters. However, that’s a hope Xander Harris no longer has. It’s been six months since he was taken in a raid. At first Xander thought he was lucky the demons didn’t know who he was; but then that was before he became property to an Azora demon.

As always: Feedback makes my heart go pitter-patter.

UNBETAED

OK...chap 41 should be up sometime this weekend. Sorry for the LOOONG delay. :) Moving back into the action. Also...look for the pretties at the end. I won TWO awards at the Big Bad Awards.

Previous parts here.

***********************
“Go ta sleep, pet. I’ll be here when you wake.”

Promise? Xander thought sleepily as he fought to keep his eyes open. He found he needed to know Spike would be there with him when he woke.

“Promise, pet,” Spike said and Xander’s eyes drifted shut. His breathing quickly deepened and sleep claimed him.

“Ya really know how to bollocks up a plan, Xander Harris,” Spike tenderly whispered as he brushed another kiss across the tip of Xander’s nose. Xander snuggled sleepily against Spike. The master vampire lay down next to his pet and held him in his arms.

There was no use denying it any longer. He was deeply and dangerously in love with his pet.

I love ya, Xander, Spike thought, and that could, has complicated things.

********************************************************************************
Something was tickling Spike’s nose. He growled lightly and turned his face to the side trying to snuggle closer to the warm sweet body next to him. Again, something soft brushed against his nose. Spike swatted at it with his hand and the tickle disappeared. He snorted comfortably and drifted back closer to sleep.

A sharp pain pierced the side of his nose.

“BLOODY HELL!” the vampire rose and sat up as a kitten snatched back its paw. Then it pounced backward and swatted at Spike’s toes. “OI!”

Huh…wha…, Xander mumbled silently as he sat up.

“Get this beast off me!” Spike shouted as the kitten wrapped itself around Spike’s foot and made a “kill.” Spike vamped out and hissed at the kitten. The kitten lifted its head, flattened its ears and hissed back.

Xander snapped his fingers furiously. Spike looked at Xander. Xander shook his head.

“He’s tryin’ to eat my toes!”

Xander leaned forward and scooped up the kitten in his arms who then immediately settled and began to purr. Xander frowned at Spike and started scratching behind Ante’s ears. Spike frowned at the kitten. The kitten narrowed its eyes at Spike.

The bedroom door flew open and a startled Clem stumbled forward.

“M..Master Spike!” he squeaked. “I..Oh..I didn’t know you were!”

“Obviously,” Spike sneered as he shifted back to his human face and then slid out of the bed. Ante began to purr. “You let that dangerous beast in my bedroom every morning?”

“B..beast?” Clem asked and looked around the room confusedly. Xander silently laughed and continued to pet Ante. Clem’s eyes focused on the human and kitten still in bed. He flushed. “An..Ante’s not a beast, M..Master Spike. He’s a kitte….YOU’RE NAKED!”

Clem gulped and turned his back quickly. He began to shake. Spike rolled his eyes and grabbed a robe.

“Course I’m naked. Got woke from a pleasant post-Pet-shaggin’ sleep by a demon beast from the ninth ward of Asloth’s hell!” Spike said as he pulled on his robe.

Gee…so much for privacy! Xander thought and blushed.

“I…just…well Ante always wakes Xander,” Clem said, “I’m mean when I’m here to take him to the pool.”

Spike looked at Xander. The kitten was purring with its eyes half closed. Its ears were cocked forward.

“Think Xan will need a shower this morning before ya head out,” Spike said.

“Yes, Master Spike,” Clem nodded and then quickly made to leave.

“OI! Take the creature with you!”

Clem turned around and quickly walked to the bed. Xander smiled at him and handed Ante over. Clem nervously returned the smile and carried Ante out of the room and shut the door behind him. Spike turned around and looked at Xander. Xander blushed.

“Don’t be goin’ all shy on me now,” Spike said as he approached the bed.

Shy? Shy would be a more bright pink color…this? This is a more “Omighod what have I done” color of pink. Much darker, Xander thought and looked at Spike. Spike sat on the bed and smiled at Xander.

“A touch of the ‘mornin’ after’ then, eh?”

Xander shrugged. Not real experienced here, Xander thought, not sure what to do. Most of my “morning afters” were spent back in the vault staring at the same four white padded walls.

“Well, how ‘bout a shower then? We’re both a bit ripe.”

I think I can handle that, Xander thought as he nodded and smiled.

Spike smiled in return then reached out his hand. Xander took it and Spike led them off to the bathroom.

***

The shower was relaxing. Xander almost snorted at that realization. Who would have thought I'd ever find a shower "relaxing" again, he thought, let alone when I'm doing it with a naked Spike?

Xander slyly looked to the left. Spike was busy soaping himself with a hearty lather and whistling. Xander bit back a smile.

“Soap, pet?” Spike said when he caught Xander peeking. Xander nodded.

“Don’t drop it,” Spike said with a leer as he handed the bar over. Xander rolled his eyes and blushed. Spike laughed and began to let water sluice over his body washing away the thick fragrant lather.

Xander swallowed and focused on lathering his own body. He tried not to think about how good Spike looked or remember how good he felt.

“Mmm…something smells good,” Spike teased as Xander’s hormones refused to be dormant.

At this rate we just might as well dye me a permanent “red,” Xander thought as he flushed again.

“Need a hand?” Spike asked as he stepped closer to his pet. Xander shook his head and backed up a step.

“Ya sure?” Spike purred. Xander’s cocked twitched and he bit his lips. No, he wasn’t sure. Spike took another step forward pinning Xander up against the wall without laying a finger on him. Xander’s breathing grew ragged.

Spike put his hand on Xander’s shoulder then slid it seductively down his arm until it wrapped around Xander’s hand still clenching the soap. Spike sniffed the air and then grinned. Xander’s stomach bottomed out and his dick went hard.

Fingers entwined and suddenly the soap was out of Xander’s hand and in Spike’s. Xander leaned his head back against the shower wall baring his throat. Yes, he thought.

Spike chuckled as he tenderly kissed and nibbled at Xander’s neck while he soaped and primed Xander’s cock. A guy could learn to really like showers, Xander thought briefly before all ability to think was masterfully short-circuited.

***
When Xander and Spike finally made it to the main room of the suite both Lorne and Clem were waiting for them. Xander went almost as red as Clem. Ante was busy trying to get under the lid covering a meal tray. Xander clapped his hands and Ante gave him a “who me?” look before jumping away.

“M..Master Spike…I..well I wasn’t sure I should wait or not so I called Lorne and…”

“I thought Xander would need a good breakfast,” Lorne said interrupting Clem.

Great! Xander thought. Does every demon in this town have to know when Spike and are..or have been bumping…ug…well their not really ugly..but…when we’ve been ‘shaggin’’?

“Good idea,” Spike said and pointed to the pillow by his chair. Xander trotted over and sat down. Spike watched him go and felt the urge to drag him back to the bedroom.

To hell with Angelus…Vegas and everyone else, Spike thought. Just want one day with ‘im where it’s all nice and cozy like this.

Spike sighed and sat down. He was used to not getting what he wanted, last night and this morning notwithstanding. He uncovered the tray then picked it up and sat it down before Xander.

“Be a luv and feed yerself this morning, eh pet?”

Xander looked at Spike and smiled. Thank you, he thought and nodded. Spike looked back at Clem and Lorne.

“Any emergencies?”

“Not yet, Master Spike. But it’s only a matter of time if we don’t get him a litter box up here,” Clem said seriously.

Xander nearly choked on his eggs and hid his laughter behind a napkin.

“I meant with the casino!” Spike growled.

“Oh,” Clem shrugged and scooped up Ante who was stalking Xander’s breakfast tray again.

“None, lem..Master Spike,” Lorne said. “Unless you want to count the game tomorrow night.”

Spike shook his head. “Not an emergency. That’s a plan.”

Lorne sighed. “Well the plan is on schedule. Vr’xkl’s people will be here tonight to go over everything and to negotiate what spell casters they’ll be using for magic detection.”

Spike nodded. “We’ve worked out everything on our end?”

Lorne looked at Clem then Spike.

“Everything’s ready,” the green demon said.

“What stakes do we have to put up?”

“There’s the standard ….wealth and property. I’ve also put out the rumor that you are looking for a lieutenant.”

“What?” Spike growled.

“That’s definitely worth gambling for, lem...Master Spike,” Lorne said.

Clem nodded.

“You still here?” Spike asked.

“Well I have to take Xander to the pool,” Clem said straightening up a little. Lorne smiled and Xander winked at the floppy eared demon.

“Hmph,” Spike snorted then studied Clem for a moment. “Right. Xander’s not going ta the pool today or tomorrow. Want ta keep him close ‘til after the game. But I think I can still use ya.”

“Yes, Master Spike?” Clem asked.

“Go out and mingle with the demon on the street. Prowl around the back allies and other fun places. Find out what the word on the low is. I want to know what they’re gabbing about in the pubs.”

“Yes, Master Spike!” Clem said as he tried to salute while forgetting he had Ante in his hand. The kitten squirmed, mewed and dropped to the floor. It raced under Spike’s chair and then swatted at the vampire’s ankles.

“CLEM!” Spike roared as he leaped up out of the chair and away from the kitten. Xander snorted orange juice and Lorne turned some shade of chartreuse while trying to suppress his laughter.

Clem dropped down to his knees to dig Ante out from under the chair. Spike glared at everyone.

“I’ll be in my office!” he growled. “Lorne, bring Xander down when he’s done…and make sure that creature GOES with Clem!”

Spike stormed out of the suite. Lorne and Xander laughed in his wake while Clem petted and soothed a contentedly purring Ante.

***
So far the toss off in the shower and the kitten attack on Spike had been the highlight of Xander’s day. He rolled on his back and stared up at the ceiling of Spike’s office and sighed. He was bored. He almost missed the pool. He definitely missed the reading the comic books with Clem. Oh sure, he wasn’t supposed to be reading them. Clem read them aloud and Xander was supposed to only look at the pictures, but really, they were comic books! How could he not read them?

Xander rolled back on to his stomach and turned his head. Spike was playing some weird form of solitaire with a deck of cards. He’d been doing it for hours. First the vampire would shuffle the cards while staring at them carefully. Then he’d deal two hands. One face up in front of him and the other face down in front of him.

He’d study the hands and look at the remaining undealt cards. Carefully he’d draw one card after another and lay them face down in front of him. Then he’d look at the hands mutter or smile then start all over again with another shuffle.

Is this how you practice playing poker? Xander wondered and sighed again. This time Spike looked up from the cards and stared at him.

“Bored, pet?” Spike asked.

Xander nodded.

“I’m not going to lose ya,” Spike said firmly. Xander nodded again.

I know, Master Excitement, Xander thought. Spike smiled and tapped his lap. Xander made an exaggerated sigh but scampered off the couch and quickly climbed up into Spike’s lap.

Blue eyes and Brown eyes locked. For a moment the demonic world, the game and all the roles fell away until there was only Spike and Xander left. Their mouths met in a mutual greeting and acknowledgement of want and need. Lips and tongues danced and Xander was far from bored. Laughter rumbled through Spike and they broke the kiss.

“Ya behave like that tomorrow and I’m liable to have ta barter the whole city to keep ya!”

Xander smiled and shrugged. Spike laughed again and ran a thumb over Xander’s bottom lip. He fell silent and studied Xander for a moment.

“Ya really going ta be ok, pet?” Spike asked softly.

Xander studied Spike right back. Sure! You betcha! Xander wanted to think but couldn’t. The truth was he was scared and nervous. He didn’t want to see Vr’kxl again. He didn’t want to even think about the possibility of going back to being a bottle; so he hadn’t been.

Xander squirmed.

“Pet?” Spike asked a bit more forcefully.

What? Xander thought and shrugged while turning up the palms of both his hands. What can I say? Nothing about what you are doing tomorrow makes me comfortable, but I know you aren’t going to change your mind about it.

“Xander,” Spike said. “I promise…Vr’kxl’s never gonna touch you again. Yer mine now, yeah?”

Yeah, Xander thought and nodded.

A knock stopped Spike from reassuring Xander further. Spike looked at the door.

“Yeah?”

Clem opened the door partway and peered his head around.

“Master Spike?” he asked.

“Wot?”

Clem slipped all the way inside the room and shut the door behind him. He looked around Spike’s office and then waved at Spike. Xander waved back.

“Clem?” Spike asked. “You found out something?”

Clem nodded. “Word is Vr’kxl’s has just come back from a trip.”

“A trip?” Spike asked.

Clem nodded. “Seems he traveled to a place called…um…let me think…oh it’s on the tip of my tongue. Give me a moment.”

Spike growled and Xander snapped his fingers. Spike looked at him and Xander shook his head.

“Uhm…Pel…no. Pir…Pill…p..pu…PYLEA!” Clem finally shouted excitedly.

Spike leaned forward suddenly and almost dropped Xander on the floor. Xander grabbed the back of Spike’s neck painfully to keep himself on the vampire’s lap.

“PYLEA! Are you sure?”

Clem nodded. “I remember cuz it made me think of piles..and I had a real bad case of those once. Never thought they….”

“Clem!” Spike interrupted, “Anything else you remember?

“Only they said that Vr’kxl seemed to be real pleased. Apparently he bragged it was a very informative trip and that there was no way he was going to lose this time.

Spike snapped his fingers and pointed at the floor. Xander slid down to his cushion and watched his vampire. Spike picked up the phone.

“Lorne!” he barked. “In my office…NOW!”

A few moments later Lorne entered the room. He didn’t bother knocking. He took one look at Spike and almost wished he had.

“L..Master Spike?”

“Clem here said word is Vr’kxl just got back from a trip to Pylea,” Spike said as he stood up and began to pace.

Lorne turned a swamp green and sat down on the couch. He looked at Spike and then Clem.

“Are you sure?” he whispered.

Clem nodded. “That’s what they are saying. Seems he didn’t want to pay his house staff for the time he was gone so he forced ‘em to take the time off…without pay.”

What…where’s Pylea? Xander thought, And why does the idea of Creepy Crawlie going there wig everyone out?

“Do you think he knows?” Lorne asked Spike.

“I think it’s a given,” Spike said.

“Why not tell…”

“Saving it for leverage if he needs it,” Spike said as he cut Lorne off.

Leverage what? Xander thought anxiously. Damnit! Spike! You promised!

Spike turned and looked at Xander. His pet’s heart rate was up again.

“Xander, this changes nothing. I won’t lose you.”

“It changes everything, Spike!” Lorne said.

Spike hissed and looked at Lorne then at Clem.

“Clem,” Spike said. “Would you excuse us? Go back out. Keep yer ears open. Let me know if you hear anything else.”

“Y..yes, Master Spike,” Clem said as he looked confusedly between Lorne and Spike. Then he began to back out of the room.

“Oh..and Clem,” Spike said. Clem stopped and stiffened.

“Yes?”

“Good work,” Spike said.

Clem smiled, waved and Xander then left. He shut the door behind him.

“You can’t go through with this game, lemon drop!” Lorne said immediately after Clem left.

“I have to,” Spike replied, “and don’t think we’re so close that you’re immune to being reminded of your place!”

Both Lorne and Xander hissed.

“Well…forgive me Master Spike,” Lorne said with and exaggerated bow.

“Dammit green bean! “ Spike snarled. “You slipped in front of Clem!”

“It’s Clem!” Lorne yelled back.

“Yeah…Clem today…and who..what Zorn tomorrow?”

Xander’s eyes went wide and Lorne flared a deep hunter green.

“You know better than that,” Lorne said in a low voice.

Spike sighed and then plopped down his chair behind his desk.

“I need a fag,” he growled.

“You quit smoking,” Lorne quickly reminded him.

Spike growled.

“You know you can’t use me tomorrow,” Lorne said.

Spike nodded.

This is about how Lorne helps Spike cheat, Xander thought remembering the night that started it all. Remembering the night when Spike won him away from the Azora demon. Lorne was helping Spike and now Vr’kxl knows how he did it.

“Then I won’t,” Spike said.

“And you can’t use magic,” Lorne said.

“It’s a card game!” Spike snarled.

“It’s XANDER!” Lorne yelled.

Xander snapped his fingers and looked at Spike. Spike looked at Xander.

“Pet, I’ve been playing poker a long time. I’m not going to lose.”

How many famous gamblers have said that, Spike? Xander wondered.

“You think you can charm Lady Luck like you charm everyone else?” Lorne asked.

Spike grinned and shrugged. “Why not? I’m a charmin’ fellow.”

I’m so gonna end up in the vault again, Xander thought and rolled his eyes.

“Spike…”

“Look,” Spike said, “go ahead and plan for the worst. Come up with a contingency plan…but the game is still on. Tomorrow night Vr’kxl is going to lose more than he bargained for and Zorn gets crossed off my ta do list.”

“Spike…”

“It’s not open for debate, green bean” Spike said as he looked at Xander. Vr’kxl hurt what’s mine. He’s going to lose and he’s going to lose BIG.

TBC…