Sex101
Chapter Two
'Darn Anya and her not-at-all-helpful advice!'
Willow sat at her computer, trying as hard as she could to check all the demon databases for the Baddie-of-the-Week. Giles had called a meeting and as much as she would like to sit in her room and mope, she couldn't. She had to help Buffy, so here she was, glaring at her computer.
She'd been mortified when she first walked into Giles' apartment and saw Spike warming up some blood in the kitchen. It took her a while to remember that he hadn't heard her conversation with Anya yesterday, couldn't know the things she thought in her head or the dreams she'd had in her sleep.
She was not looking at Spike. She looked at everything she could to make it seem like she wasn't avoiding anyone in particular, but she was not looking at Spike. Unfortunately, it wasn't helping to keep her mind off all the things Anya had said. She wasn't over Oz yet, she didn't need a sex buddy - didn't need… but… well, maybe someone to help her with the sex parts of a relationship would be a good idea. But she didn't need Spike. She could read a book! Which book though… and she'd die before she'd walk into a bookstore and buy a book about sex.
That thought was the only thing that got her through the evening. That and very carefully not looking at Spike. Except when she did. She'd see him move out of the corner of her eye and she couldn't help but turn in that direction - if only for a split second.
And he seemed to be more antsy than usual, causing her to look in his direction more often than she'd like. All of this looking and not looking didn't stop her from feeling exposed.
He knew she was looking, she was sure of it. Just as sure as she knew that Spike was very pointedly not looking at her. She wondered what was up with that. He didn't know - he couldn't know. And she just kept telling herself that.
* * *
Spike didn't know what brought him here tonight. He'd never get her to look at him here - in front of her friends. But as the night wore on he realized that she was looking at him. Looking at him through hooded eyes that were making things happen in his stomach. And lower.
Why was this chit getting to him? Damn Demon girl and her fucked up bets.
Willow was a tasty morsel, no doubt. But she was the best friend of the slayer. In order to get his wish, he'd have to get her alone, away from curious eyes. He'd also have to get her to be willing to have sex with him - 'but not soddin' intercourse, thank you so much for that, Demon Girl' - Just looking at her and remembering the way she smelled when she was afraid was making him hard in his jeans.
Would she smell just as good when consumed by passion?
He had to be careful. If the Slayer got wind of this there'd be no way he'd live through the fight. Still, after taking another glimpse at Willow, he decided she just might be worth it.
* * * * * *
The Bronze was packed, more crowded than usual, and the gang had a hard time finding a seat. Finally, Buffy, Riley, Anya, Xander and Willow all found themselves jammed together around a small table, wondering whether they should wait for a waitress or go up to the bar and get their drinks themselves.
It wasn't long before the two couples both got up to dance and Willow was left all alone - as usual. She wondered, not for the first time, whether they always invited her along because they liked her company or because they needed someone to hold the table for them while they all got up and danced. Even when Oz was around, he was usually up on stage or away at a gig and she'd been left to her own devices then as well.
Her mind went back to Oz once again, wondering why she wasn't enough for him, wondering what she'd done wrong. Weren't teenage boys supposed to be horny all the time? What was she doing so wrong that he wanted to cuddle more than make love? Why couldn't he have taught her the things she needed to know?
Her resolve hardened. She was going to do this. She wanted to be able to please Oz when he came back - and he was going to come back, she was sure of it. He wouldn't just leave for forever, would he? No, he was going to get his wolfie self under control. And when he did, he'd be back and she'd be ready for him.
As much as she hated to admit it, Spike really was the perfect choice for a sex teacher. He had to know quite a bit about it, if the length of his relationship with Drusilla was any indication. And because there was no chance of him ever falling for her - or she for him - he'd fade back into the woodwork when Oz reappeared. And she'd be free as a bird, ready to accept Oz when he came back and begged her to forgive him for running away without any notice.
Her mind went to that place again - the place where she almost hated Oz for leaving her that way. The place that said she'd never take him back because of how badly he'd treated her. She worked hard at bringing her mind back from that place - she'd had a lot of practice doing this, for her brain went there far too often lately.
It took a while but she did it.
She was grumpy when they got back but no one even seemed to notice. They were all lost in their own happiness, chatting away about the music and the people and what kind of song they'd like to dance to next. Riley always opted for slow songs - mainly, Willow thought, because he wasn't a very good dancer and slow songs required no real talent or coordination.
* * *
Spike walked in and saw her right away, sitting all alone at a table, eyes glued to the dance floor and two of the couples on it. So they left her to hold the table for them again. When was that girl going to get clued in that she was just a fifth-wheel table watcher?
He watched her sip her drink and remembered all the things Anya had said the other night. About the wolf leaving her - about her needing someone new - about Spike being the perfect vamp for the job. Her mouth on that straw made his mind wonder about all kinds of things. She had a good mouth, that was for sure. She had good everything. What had that stupid wolf been thinking, leaving a girl like that alone on the Hellmouth? Just ripe for something nasty to take a bite.
He smiled, remembering the night he'd tried to get a bite of her. She'd smelled like ripe plums in the summertime. He'd been devastated that he couldn't taste her then. Not just because he'd lost his bite, but because he'd wanted her so badly the ache was physical.
Maybe, after all this time, he could finally do something to ease the pain.
The others had sat down once again so he waited until the Slayer and the Whelp were back up and dancing with their significant others before he sauntered up to the table and sat down.
"Sweet little Red, sitting all alone. Don'tcha ever get tired of them leaving ya by yerself like this? They're just using you, can't you see that?"
Even though he mirrored her own thoughts, she defended her friends.
"You don't know anything about it, Spike. I'm just…they wanted me to dance with them but I'm just not up for it right now," she lied. She knew she wasn't a very good liar but she hoped he bought it.
No such luck.
"You're not fooling me, pet, but if you want to go on trying to make me believe that, I won't stop you."
Spike sat down in the empty chair next to her. As the waitress passed, he ordered another drink for himself and a refill of the cherry Coke that Willow was drinking.
"Don't fancy a dance fer yerself?"
"Huh?" Willow had been looking anywhere but at Spike and didn't hear his question at first.
"Not some nice bloke here you fancy a dance with?"
Willow blushed slightly, hoping Spike wouldn't notice but he did. "No," was all she could say.
"Pretty bird like you shouldn't be sitting here in the dark by her lonesome."
Willow blushed again and knew she couldn't hide it this time. Was Spike flirting with her?
No, he couldn't be.
"Content to just sit here and let life pass you by then?"
"Life isn't passing me by, it's just…" Willow wanted to protest but she knew Spike was right. She was just sitting here holding the table while everyone else had a good time.
"C'mon," he said, touching her arm. "Come dance with me."
She pulled her arm away. The conversation with Anya came flooding back and she felt as if Spike could read her mind. "No, Spike!" She started, but she saw his hurt expression and lost her aggression.
"It's just - I'm not ready. To - to dance with anyone yet. Not yet, okay?"
Spike shrugged and grabbed his drink. "Your loss." He strode away, obviously hurt, back to the bar.
Willow thoughtfully watched him go.
He didn't seem to hate her. There was always an underlying feeling of resentfulness when Spike was in the room with the Scoobies but that feeling hadn't been present just now. He really seemed to want her company. He really seemed to have wanted to be with her, even for just a dance.
Maybe there was more to Spike than just their enemy. Maybe he really did want - or need - a friend. Maybe she could befriend him and then maybe he wouldn't be averse to teaching her a thing or two about sex.
But how to ask him?
She could offer to pay him - or would that be prostitution? How about just a trade? She'd trade him blood and cigarettes if he just taught her a couple of things about…about how to keep Oz happy if he ever did return to her. And they wouldn't have to actually do the things, he could just…show her - without the getting all groiny.
That sounded fair. But would Spike laugh in her face? Would he tell Buffy or the others?
She let those thoughts sit in her brain until a few minutes later when Buffy and Riley got up to dance again. Anya said she had to go to the ladies room and Willow offered to go with her.
"Why do girls go to the bathroom in packs?" Xander asked, bemused. "What are you doing in there that takes two people?"
"We're having girl sex; come on, Willow," Anya quipped and Xander turned bright red.
Once they were safely ensconced in the privacy of the rest room, Anya turned to Willow. "I saw you talking to Spike."
"Yeah, he um, asked me to dance, but I told him no. He seemed a little hurt when I turned him down."
"That's because he likes you, I told you that."
"No, he doesn't. I think he's lonely though."
Anya didn't answer.
"Look, I think he might be willing to - What if I offered to trade him blood for sex lessons? Do you think he'd go for it?"
"Your blood?" Anya didn't seem overly concerned as she asked this question - it was only polite curiosity.
"No! Bagged blood - pig blood. I could buy it for him at the butcher. Or maybe some of the stuff Willie thinks Buffy doesn't know about. That would be human and he'd really like that. I don't think Spike can afford that. I could offer to pay for it if he would teach me about… you know."
"Spike'll do it for free, Willow."
"But this is better. A fair trade, don't you think?"
Anya just smiled. "It sounds like a good plan to me."