CHAPTER FIVE:

The silence was deafening. She swore she could hear her heartbeat.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Heavy against her chest. What was he thinking?

Those brown eyes had flickered with something for a moment…just a brief moment…and then it was back to their emptiness.

“Spike…”

BEEP!!

They both jumped at the loud sound, each turning to face the guilty culprit. Her dinner was ready. And by the way, why was he back so early?

“So you are going to be a babysitter.” A statement, not a question.

She watched as he pushed himself off the wall. He shrugged out of his black trench coat and hung it carefully into the closet. Picking up his dropped briefcase and laptop, he made his way into the kitchen.

She followed quietly behind. ~ What are you thinking?! Tell me before I go crazy!! ~

“So…”She began tentatively.

He reached for a beer in the fridge and opened the can carelessly. She watched the fizz and foam float to the top of the aluminum can. She watched as the drink was raised to those amazing lips, as they licked and then caressed the sweet coolness of the golden liquid.

She wished she were the can.

She folded her arms and leaned against the doorway, watching him.

// I love you, Spike. Don’t you love me anymore? //

He watched her over the rim of the can, his eyes taking in the long legs beneath the terry robe. He wanted to touch her. Needed to touch her. His ordeal with that blonde-haired woman had sent his hormones into overdrive and he had barely kept his mind on work today.

// You have a wife, don’t you Mr. Spiegel? //

// Hai. //

// She must be so proud of you.. I know if I were your wife, I would be. //

// Sure you would. //

// Am I boring you…Spike? I can call you Spike, right? //

// No…Mr. Spiegel is fine. //

And now this.

~ Stop staring at me like that! ~

He finished it in record time, crushing the empty can in a clenched fist and dunking it…

// Nothing but net! //

…into the trashcan. He eyed the plate of noodles in the microwave. He remembered he hadn’t gotten himself dinner yet.

“Spike…”

// Talk to me!! //

“Are you planning to eat that?” He asked calmly.

“Yes…you did say you weren’t going to be home for dinner. So I…”

He nodded in dismissal and made his way towards their bedroom. He had to get past her. He raised an eyebrow and waited for her to move. God! She smelt like wild roses and damn if his pants weren’t getting too tight.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” She finally blurted out in frustration.

He tore his eyes away from their intense scrutiny on the wall behind her, to gaze into those green eyes that always made him feel weak.

“Faye…you never picked up the phone today.”

“Wha…”

“I called you twice and you never picked up the phone. Where were you?”

She wanted to scream. That was not the point! He was always skipping the point!

“That is not the issue, Spike.” She spat out softly, her eyes narrowing in growing irritation. “Stop trying to skip the issue.”

“As far as I can see, there is no issue to skip.” The green-haired man said quietly. He yawned and stretched aching muscles. “Look, I have had a long day and I would like to go to sleep now…what the hell are you doing?”

She noticed it. She leaned forward and brought her hands…which were now trembling…towards the pale lock upon his shoulder. If she hadn’t been so close, she would not have noticed it. But she had and she lifted the golden strand in mute fascination.

Blonde.

“What did you call me for, Spike?”

Her voice was as cold as ice. Her features now set in stone. “Did you call me to discuss your current girlfriend?!”

“What the fuck are you talking about?!”

She shoved the hair towards his face and leaned in to him again. This time she closed her eyes and sniffed him.

// A softer scent…with a hint of wild orchid…I think you will like It, Mrs. Spiegel. //

She hadn’t. She hated the smell of wild orchid. She wore jasmine. Miss. New Girlfriend obviously liked wild orchid.

“Who is she, Spike?”

Her mate frowned in irritation and pushed her, none too gently, aside. He was tired. “Her name is Julia and I had lunch with her. There! Are you happy now?!”

SMACK!!

The sound echoed loudly across the deadly silence. The only sounds, now, were those of heavy breathing.

Anger. Hurt. Pain.

“You bastard.” She whispered coldly. “You lousy, two-timing bastard.”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you.” He replied, his voice as hard as steel. “I needed you today and you weren’t there.”

She admired her handiwork on his face.

// Serves him right! //

“So you go and search for the next available bitch to fuck, right, dearest husband?! How convenient! I bet there are a whole bunch of women in that office ready to jump into your pants and give you a blowjob, right? Well go ahead!! See if I care!! Screw the entire female population for all I care! I am going to get myself a job as a goddamn babysitter!! And you know what? I will enjoy it! With or without your support!!”

And spinning on her heels, she tried to make her way towards the guest bedroom, but strong hands grabbed her arms and spun her back around.

“Leave me alone, you good for nothing creep!!” She was hysterical now, the tears of frustration and hurt spilling out of her eyes. She struggled within his arms. He was trying to calm her down. She didn’t need his pity. He had cheated on her and …

~ Oh, God…it hurts so much… ~

She rained blows against his chest and face, her tears falling even faster as he made no attempts to stop her. She ended up sobbing hopelessly against his chest, fisting handfuls of his white shirt and not really caring about the mess she was creating.

“Why…oh, why, Spike?” Her plea was muffled against his clothes, and the smooth rhythm of his calming strokes against her hair lulled her frazzled mind into submission.

He lifted her and cradled her tired body against his…like a baby. She didn’t protest. She needed him.

She felt the soft cushion of the cotton sheets against her back, as Spike had carefully placed her on their bed. Green eyes searched saddened brown ones before them.

She raised her hands to caress his face. She felt she ought to memorize it somehow.

// I cannot afford to lose you, Spike. //

“Spike…I…”

A strong finger placed itself against her lips silencing her. “Go to sleep, Faye. You have a long day tomorrow, remember?”

~ But what about us?! What about…her? ~

“Where are you going?” She asked, albeit worriedly, as he picked up some extra pillows and a blanket.

He spun away from the door to pin her with an intense look that sent chills of unwanted desire.

“I don’t think I should be with you tonight. Things aren’t…aren’t going so well.”

She hated herself for doing this.

// I need him. //

She came up on all fours atop the bed…like a cat… and slowly peeled off the robe. Her eyes darkening with want.

“Spike…” She whispered huskily, smirking inwardly at the flash of lust that had come unto his visage.

~ So you still want me as well. ~

She reached for him.

“Come to me, Spike.”

And he did.