The Winning Hand

Chapter 6 - Relatives and Showgirls

When Buffy walked into the main suite the next morning she had a
moment of blind panic. The message light on her phone was blinking.
She stared at it for a moment, wondering whether Angel had finally
found her. Had her name leaked out after all? She wanted to call Will
and ask him; whether or not her name had made the papers, whether
he'd come down and offer his support. But she knew that after last
night he wouldn't want those questions, at least not from her.

She sighed heavily, making her way to the blinking phone.
Swallowing, she lifted the receiver and punched the buttons that
would allow her to listen to the voicemail. Her relies sos so immense
when the voice that came through the speaker was not Angel's, that
she almost missed the entire message. As it was she caught only the me, me, Xander Harris, and a contact phone number. Dumbly, she
replayed the message and found that this was the lawyer in Los
Angeles that Will had mentioned. She made a mental note to call him
back as soon as she'd gotten dressed for the day.

***

Spike stood outside Buffy's door for the third time in as many days.
He silently cursed himself for his own stupidity. What was he doing
here again? He'd convinced himself that he had to let her know that
he'd been in contact with Xander and that he'd be calling her soon to
make the arrangements for her ID and such. But in his own mind he
knew that to be just another excuse.

He railed at his own inability to stay away from the chit. At first sight
he'd assumed that she was a harmless child, but now he knew better.
Or at least his body did. She was dangerous. Lethal in fact. And she
didn't even know it. Which only made her that much more attractive.
And arousing. What was he doing here again?

A smooth hand came up to rub along the underside of his jaw before
reaching out to knock quietly on the door. It was a small concession
on his part. He would not ring the bell. But if she happened to be in
the main room she would hear the knock. And if she didn't then he
could turn around and pretend that he hadn't needed to be here. After
all she was a smart bird. If she received a call from Xander, she'd
know what it was regarding and could deal with it all just fine on her
own.

Before he could retreat back to the elevator Buffy's door swung
quietly open. She stood there, silent in khaki shorts and a pink halter
top. Her hair was done up in a pony tail and she looked all of sixteen
years old, the small splash of makeup she wore doing nothing but
add to her immature looks. And yet, his body responded almost on
autopilot. His heartbeat quickened and his skin warmed.

"Good afternoon Buffy." He greeted her. She still had not moved
away from the door, barring his entrance to her suite.

"Mr. Giles. What can I do for you?" Buffy forced a cool response,
when her body was heated beyond measure. Just seeing him
reminded her of his hungry kisses from the night before. She willed
herself not to tow toward his hard body, though she wanted nothing
more at the moment then to feel him against her.

"May I come in luv?" He raised an eyebrow in inquiry.

"Of course. It is your hotel after all." She stepped aside to allow him
entry.

He could feel the frost coming off her in waves. It was just as well, he
told himself. There could never be anything between them. She didn't
belong here, in the land of bright lights and 24 hour sin.

"I wanted to let you know that I got a hold of my friend, Xander Harris.
He was that lawyer I told you about. He should be calling you
sometime today." He tried to keep the conversation on business, not
allowing their eyes to meet, or his gaze to wander over her body the
way it demanded of him.

"You're a little late Mr. Giles. We've already spoken. Thank you for
your referral, I would have had to pick from the phone book
otherwise." She kept her words polite; the only way she knew to
distract herself from his presence. "He seems very competent."

Spike's frown ma his his face. He didn't like the way she kept using
his surname. "He is. He's one of the best, and completely
trustworthy."

"Yes, I knew you wouldn't have recommended him otherwise." She
stepped over to the coffee service she had ordered earlier. She felt
the pot for warmth, as she sat down on the couch. "Would you like
some coffee Mr. Giles?" She poured herself a cup as she spoke.

He snapped. What did she expect from him? "Bloody hell woman! I
didn't come here for coffee! And I sure as hell didn't come here to
have you spout "pleases" and "thank yous" - and Will!! My name is
Will! Bloody use it will you?!"

Buffy blinked owlishly up at him. Finally she spoke letting the words
leave her lips in a soft whisper, "I'm sorry - Will." She turned her face
away from his intense stare. "I was under the impression that you
wanted to keep our relationship on a business level. I was only trying
to accommodate you." Though her words were softly spoken, he
could hear the underlying anger that laced her voice.

She stood abruptly, facing him once more, her own face a mask of
angry indignation. "I'm sorry if I'm too stupid or naïve to understand
what you had implied last night. I'm afraid you may have to spell it out
for me." Her breath was coming in harsh gasps now.

"You're not stupid Buffy."

"Just naïve then." She tilted her chin up in defiance. "I may be from a
small town in Kansas, and maybe I've never been icasicasino or fancy
revolving restaurants - but that doesn't give you the right to look down
your nose at me!"

She strode toward the door throwing it open for him. "I told you last
night, and I'll tell you again. You don't have to worry about me." Her
voice was solid and steady, her green eyes sparking with anger. "I
know you don't want me here. I know I've been taking up a lot of your
time. You won't have to put up with me much longer. I told you, asoon oon as I get the rest of my money I'll move to another hotel."

"No."

"No?"

"No. I told you that wasn't what I meant. You're always welcome here
at the Crypt." He tried to cajole her, stepping close and resting a cool
hand on the arm holding the door for him. She stiffened at his touch,
and he felt a twisting in his gut. Slowly he pulled her hand away from
the door, letting it click shut beside them. His hand came up to cup
her cheek and force her gaze to meet his.

Buffy was still breathing in harsh gasps. Will's proximity was doing
nothing to help with the matter. She could feel the warmth spreading
with each intimate touch.

"I'm sorry." He stated softly, his head now tilted down toward her, only
inches away. "I let that drunken bastard get to me, and I took it out on
you. I said a lot of things I don't much remember and doubt I even
really meant." He leant down to brush his lips softly against hers.

Buffy's heart was pounding in her chest. How could he be so mean
and hateful one minute and sweet and caring the next? He didn't
mean what he said? She shook her head slightly. Did he mean to
walk away from her last night? Before she could voice the question
out loud, his lips were on hers once again.

What was he doing? Hadn't he just vowed to stay away from her?
Spike's mind reeled. The smell of vanilla and jasmine permeated his
senses. His fingers came up to card through her hair, impatiently
loosening the tie that bound it back. He let the silky strands caress his
palm. His other hand traced its way up her side, finding the curve of
her hip and resting there for a brief moment.

As he forced the kiss deeper his hand moved up, making its way
underneath her halter to caress the smooth skin of her stomach. At
her hitched breath, Spike's hand moved even further until it was only
a breath away from the sweet swell of her breast.

Aching for his touch, Buffy bowed her back giving him even more
access. And when his hand came up to wrap itself around her bare
breast, she sighed and let the warmth spread until she thought she'd
caught fire.

Before he knew it, Spike had Buffy pinned against the door. His lips
had left hers to travel down her throat, stopping to lave at the small
indentation at the base. He lifted her shirt and bent forward to take
one dusky nipple into his mouth. Already hard and pebbled, he
brushed his rough tongue over the sensitized flesh causing Buffy to
moan and dig her hands into the back of his head.

Buffy was in a daze. She'd never felt anything like this before. Any
caresses she'd had with Angel had been nothing compared to the hot
fiery passion that took over her senses whenever Will entered a room.
When he pulled away from her she mewled in protest. It took her a
moment to realize that he'd spoken. It took even longer for her to
notice the shrill ring of the telephone. When she did, she realized that
thw muw murmur of words coming from Will were curses.

Quickly she snapped up the receiver, "Hello?"

"And who's this now?" The voice had a definite British accent, the
tone demanding. Buffy didn't even think about refusing.

"Buffy Summers."

"Buffy Summers, eh? Pretty name. Are you a pretty girl?" The man
asked without preamble.

"Uhm...well...I..." Buffy wasn't sure how to answer that. "Who is this?"

"Thomas Giles, I've been told my grandson is paying you a call."
Buffy gulped. Thomas Giles? Will was related to THE Thomas Giles?
He was like the second richest man in the country.

"Uhm..Yes Mr. Giles, he's here. Would you like to speak to him?"

"In a minute lass. So you won the jackpot. Are you married?" Buffy's
mind was too befuddled to wonder at the questions he was asking. "Yes"Yes. No. No sir. I'm not married." Buffy was surprised when the
phone was jerked out of her hand by a cursing Will.

"Would you like to check her pedigree grandda?"

"Well, Will! Good to hear your voice. Your secretary transferred me.
Of course I wouldn't have to be transferred all over bloody Vegas if
you'd just call your grandmum every once in a whiShe She misses
you."

Spike smiled. It was an old ploy and one he was well immune to by
now. "Now grandda, I just called you and grandmum last week."

"A week's a lifetime to people our age Will, you know that!" Thomas
answered quickly. "Besides a visit's better than a phone call any day."
He hinted.

"I was just up there a month ago for Alan's wedding." Alan was a
cousin on his mother's side.

"Does that mean you can't come visit again? Is there a certain time
period you have to wait before letting your grandmum fuss over you?
Or are you too busy with the new lucky winner to worry about your old
grandparents?"

Spike sighed. "You know I'm always too busy chasing the showgirls
around town." He teased.

"Ha!" His grandda guffawed. "You always were a cheeky one."

"I'll call grandmum this week, I promise. Once things are settled down
again." Spike placated.

"See that you do boy. See that you do." Then the old man hung up,
leaving a bemused Spike on the other line.

"So you're related to Thomas Giles?" Buffy asked quietly. She had
been standing at the window gazing down at the city while he spoke
with his grandfather. She couldn't help but listen to his end of the
conversation, and it had her twisted in knots. Showgirls?

"Yes. His bark's worse than his bite." Will offered with a grin.

"Well, you're probably very busy. I don't want to keep you." Buffy once
more stepped up to her door, swinging it open for him.

Spike stood for a moment studying her face. Had he upset her by
giving in to his urges earlier? Her face was cold and unreadable.
"Yes. I should probably get going." It was probably best if he gave her
some time. But before stepping out his hand rested briefly on hers,
his thumb running lazily over her knuckles. "See you later then luv?"

Buffy only nodded mutely, before shutting the door behind him.