She was daydreaming.  It wasn’t a good thing.  Normally, day dreaming usually consisted of a rock star, or an actor, or a pleasant face she had passed on the street, that made for a nice little fantasy which involved
wine, chocolates and a good dose of Cordy centered universe.

It always did her good, having those daydreams.  But lately, she had been having daydreams of a different nature, ones that for some reason seemed much more real, and for that exact reason that much scarier.

This no strings attached thing was getting out of hand.  She had barely seen the blond vampire more than twice, and yet each time she had, she had been treated to a wonderfully numbing kiss, a wicked smile, and this odd
fluttering in her heart that told her it wasn't wise to continue this.

Actually, that wasn’t the only thing that told her it wasn’t wise.  Sooner or later, people were going to start suspecting there was more to the eye between her and Spike.  She could feel the tension between them, even though they both did a helluva job pretending to despise each other.

No, this was not good. She had been down this road before, with Xander Harris, and this lust thing was not a wise thing.

She was spending way too much time musing about the peroxide killer, who she KNEW was not human, who was a killer, and on the OTHER side of the forces of evil.

He wasn’t souled. He was evil. Wasn’t he?

Cordelia Chase groaned, forcing her mind to move away from Spike and onto more present matters.

Thankfully,  Angel walked into the room, dropping a newspaper clipping on her desk.

“What’s this?” She asked, looking at him curiously.

“Open call, auditions. Thought it might do you good.” Cordelia gave him a surprised glance, and inspected the paper more carefully.  Sure enough.

“Oh, um.. wow. Thanks, Angel. How… thoughtful.”  Angel smiled, looking quite proud of himself, and Cordelia almost rolled her eyes. She did have to give her boss credit. He WAS trying to be more considerate of her.

He was actually thanking her nowadays, that was just… odd.  Course, she guessed it went both ways.  That pep talk she had given him on the roof had come out of her without thinking, and she found that she truly believed it.

Angel was a good guy, her friend, and it was nice to know he thought the same way.

“Can I cut in on this tender moment or do I need a bloody barf bag?”

Cordelia’s face jerked up, and her heart seemed to stop when she realized who was standing in the doorway.

“Spike.” Angel breathed, his face cautious, and a growl emerging low in his
throat.

Spike, AKA William the Bloody, strode into the office, smiling a devilish grin that only he seemed able to get away with, a thick book hanging from his muscular arms.

Cordelia found herself unable to say a word when he caught her eyes, smiled just a little wider with an unspoken message that she was unsure how to answer.

Thankfully, Angel wasn’t going to let her speak. He planted himself firmly in front of her, and faced the blonde vampire with a glare.

“What are you doing here, Spike.” Angel demanded.

“Relax, mate.” Spike looked almost bored as he tossed the book at him. “Watcher man Giles sent me to give this to you.”

Angel caught the book and stared at it curiously.  “I didn’t ask for this.” He said suspiciously.

Spike shrugged. “Maybe the old Brit thought you needed it. You need all the help you can get out here.”

Angel gave him one long uneasy stare before turning around.  “Fine. You did it. Now get out.” The vampire snapped, looking none to friendly as he walked with the book to his elevator.  “Five minutes, Spike, then I’m kicking you out.”

Spike cocked his head, watching Angel as he went down into his apartment.

“What? Doesn’t he trust me?” He asked, feigning hurt and a pout.

Cordelia rolled her eyes, turning her attention to the file in her hand.  “You could be tied to a table with a stake in your heart, he still wouldn’t trust you.”

Spike shrugged, obviously not caring a whit as he turned back and gave her a twinkling stare.

“What?” She asked, immediately wary when she noticed the look in his eyes.

"Ask me why I'm here." He said, smiling grandly.

"I thought it was to give Angel a book."

"No, love. That was an excuse."

Cordelia Chase rose an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she gave the blonde vampire a once over.  "New clothes?" She asked.

He looked down, shrugged, and smiled again, coming forward.  "Ask me why I'm here."

She eyed the blonde with a bemused grin at the excited smile.  "Should I be worried?"

"You will be if you don't ask me." He murmured, sliding his arms around her. "Or you can guess."

Cordelia felt her heart beat accelerate, the musk that he wore pervading her nose and filling her with wishy washy thoughts that made her slightly woozy.   Her eyes darted around the office, making sure that no unexpected visitors might pop in before looking back into his eyes and grinning.  "Uh..." She breathed unsteadily when she felt his cold lips on her neck and felt herself shudder, pulling away.  "Something tells me you think you've found another similarity." She commented flippantly, shrugging haphazardly as she sat down at her desk and pulled out a folder, inspecting it's contents.

Unfazed, Spike followed her, grinning a saucy school boy grin as he sidled next to her, planting himself on the corner of the desk.

"You were always a smart vix." He said, cupping her chin gently and tipping her mouth up to meet his.  She was frozen, anticipating the contact before suddenly pulling back, causing the chair to slide back on it's rollers,
sliding her into wall.

"Oomph." She grunted, wiping at her hair nervously as she looked at the vampire, who looked very pleased with himself at causing the lapse in her concentration.

Impotent dork.  What was wrong with her?  She squinted her eyes, feeling them narrow and smiled in satisfaction.  Aha. So he thought he was winning? In his dreams.

Or... maybe kind of in hers.

"No way." She said, one hand out as she crossed her legs, keeping them folded as she gave him a glare. "Not until I find out what it is."

He gave her a surprised look.  "What?"

"You heard me, peroxide. I get to decide. So what is this huge similarity that entitles you to liberties I have yet to give you?"

His shoulders slumped, glaring at her in a frustrated way that made her smile widen.  He pouted, leaning against the desk as he stared at her. "I'm a good guy now." He announced.

Her eyebrow rose, her expression not changing. "Somehow I find that hard to believe."

"I am." He insisted, his British voice drawling as he came forward again, leaning over her, one hand on each armrest as he stared into her eyes.  "I
fight evil now. And so do you. Now that vix, is a similarity."

“Wait.” She said, one hand on his lips as they tried to descend again.  He
groaned, leaning back against the desk to glare at her.

“Don’t tell me you don’t want it cause I know you do.”

She snorted. “Oh yeah, Spike now THAT’s the way to get me in the sack. Just
charm my socks off with your poetic words.“

His face lit up for a second. “A sack? I get a sack? Is that an invitation?”

Her answer was a glare.  Sighing, she pushed him aside. “Pig.”

He grinned.  “What’s with the cold shoulder, love?”

She turned, crossing her arms as she studied him. “Spike, honestly. You came  all the way down here just to get a smooch out of me?”

He shrugged.  “Not like I have anything else to do.”

“Does Buffy know you’re here?”

“She’s not my bloody keeper.”

“Does Xander know you’re here?”

“I can’t live with that prick anymore. He’s a bloody slob.”

“And I supposed you’re just the perfect roommate.” Was her droll response.

“Oh, I suppose you’re the bloody model of etiquette.” He replied.  “Cordelia  Chase, spoiled rich brat, somehow I doubt cleaning is your forte.”

At that she smirked, a proud smirk that made him study her carefully. He had meant it as an insult, and yet, somehow, she had taken it as a compliment.  Women.

“I don’t need to. I have the perfect roommate. His name is Dennis.”

“Dennis? Who the bloody hell is Dennis?”

“My roommate.”

Spike was quiet for a moment.  A deep, rotten feeling was in the pit of his stomach and he didn’t like it, not at all. His mouth remained pursed for a minute and then he spoke up. “See that’s where I have the problem.”

“Oh?”

“Oh.” He confirmed.  “You have a male roommate? He better bloody well keep to his bloody room.”

Cordelia looked slightly taken aback, and instantaneously, Spike saw her features harden in an icy spectacle that he had come to recognize as the precessor to a cutting remark.  “As I recall, this was a no strings thing.”

“And it better remain that bloody way. But I can’t very well have a fling if you’re taken, can I?”

She looked confused.  “Okay, something about that argument isn’t registering.”

“Wasn’t supposed to.” He murmured, coming closer.  “Now do I get my bloody kiss or not?”

“Not until you prove it.” She said, crossing her arms.  At Spike’s face, her mouth twitched, threatening  to turn into a full on smile.

She had learned the rules of this … whatever this was, from her last two encounters with the dead vampire.  Never, ever, give in until the last possible second, it made the reward of allowing him to kiss her that much
sweeter, and hotter, and besides,it was just plain fun making the once bad ass vampire sweat just a little.

Sides, wasn’t like he could do much to her if she did torture him to death.

“You want me to prove it?”

“Mmhmm.” She smiled, a dazzling grin that caught his gaze and directed it towards her mouth.

They had a small staring contest, the stand off clear.  Damn vixen. Spike sighed a needless breath and felt a low growl.  She was supposed to want to kiss him dammit.  The world would bloody turn to a crisp before he would
admit to wanting her more than she wanted him.

And yet the air seemed to get hotter, and he seemed to find himself noticing little things that he had never noticed before.

There was gold flecks in her eyes, and she had a small birth mark on her cheek.  There were freckles, tiny ones on her nose.

She wasn’t wearing earrings today.

Imperfections.  She was riddled with imperfections.

And he had never wanted her more.

He forced his form passive, and finally just let a tick flicker across his jaw, once, his gaze cold and icy.  “Fine.” He said, moving past her.

She looked surprised. “What are you doing?”

“Going to beat up Angel. He’s a demon, I can kill him.”  Was his methodical answer, striding quickly to the elevator cage.

Cordelia’s eyes widened, and seeing how serious he was, scrambled after him.   “You won’t’ be proving jack if you pick a fight with Angel, you dolt!” She said, grabbing onto his hand.

He stared at her, his features blank, “What the bloody hell do you mean?”

“Angel is a good guy! You can’t prove it by fighting HIM!! That’ll make you the bad guy again!”

His mouth opened to retort, but he seemed to catch her understanding, because he immediately shut it before saying anything.

He seemed to think for a minute and then looked at her beseechingly.  “Well do you know any place where there are demon’s lurking about?”

The earnest expression brought a sweet and bemused smile to her lips. “Tons.” She remarked.    He nodded, taking her hand and leading her to the door.

“Let’s go kick some demon as-“ He was cut off when she suddenly stiffened, crying out in pain.

Whirling, Spike’s eyes widened as she sank to the floor, holding her head in what appeared to be intense agony.

“Cor?”  He whispered, feeling slightly panicked as he gathered her into his arms, staring at her with a wild fear that seemed to come from nowhere.  “Cordelia? Love, what is it?”

She was leaning against his chest, holding on to him tightly, her fingers buried in his black T-shirt as she tried to recover.

“Oh, God.” She whispered.

She was okay.  Oh, bloody hell.  Suddenly furious, he grabbed her shoulders.   “Don’t you dare do that to me again!” He roared.  “What the bloody hell was that?” He asked, his eyes marred in confusion.

Cordelia groaned, slightly, one dainty hand to her head as she concentrated on breathing, before opening her eyes.

Pulling away from Spike’s strong hold, she stumbled quickly to the stairs, just as Angel ran up them.

“Cordelia, what is it? I heard you-“ He grabbed her shoulders and stared at Spike. “Did he-”

“No, paranoid guy, not him. A vision.”

Angel immediately forgot all about the blonde vampire as his features took on a concerned, brooding look. “A case?”

Cordelia numbly shook her head. “No…. lots of demons…. –“

Spike, who previously had only looked slightly bored, pricked up. “Did you say demons?”

Angel and Cordelia both ignored him. “You can go… take care of them, right?”

“Of course, I can.” He said, rubbing at her shoulders in a comforting way that made Spike’s eyes narrow. What the bloody hell was this? There was touching? Angel was touching his…. Well, not his.  But there was touching?

“Where is it?” Angel asked.

Cordelia looked confused, her face searching for an answer, and she groaned. “I don’t know. I mean… I know the area, but… I’d have to see it. I have to come with you.”

Angel didn’t look happy about the thought, and come to think of it, neither did Spike, but the dark haired vampire just nodded. “Okay, but you’re staying in the car.”

“Oh, SO not complaining.” Cordelia murmured, shaking her head as she kept a weathered hand on her head.

Spike waited for both of them to pass him before following.

Angel stopped, causing the smaller vampire to bump into his back.

“Hey! Watch you’re bloody feet, clumsy!” Spike retorted, rubbing at his nose.

"What do you think you're doing?" Angel asked, glaring at the vampire with a none too friendly look.

Spike merely shrugged.  "I'm helping."

"I can manage."

"I'm still coming along."

"No you're not." Angel hissed.  Cordelia rolled her eyes, stepping forward.

"Angel, maybe-"

"Stay out of this, Cordelia." He growled.  "You." He motioned to Spike. "Leave now. Impotent or not, I don't trust you."

"I'm not going to bloody kill her mate, I'm going to help you."

"Why?"

Spike grinned, a wicked grin that made Cordelia shiver.  He noticed the movement, his blue eyes roaming to hers and twinkling.  "I'm playing the part."

Cordelia felt a smile caress her features and quickly stifled it before Angel could see it.  Instead she ran a hand through her dark locks and looked at Angel with a frustrated glare. “Angel. You need him. There were a
lot, and if he can fight the bad guys-“

“He can’t.”

“I can TOO.” Spike roared, his demon face flickering on and off for half a second before shrugging. “I can fight demons,  mate.”

Cordelia gave Angel a “you see” look.  The pair had a mild staring contest, and Angel finally rolled his eyes.  “Fine. Whatever. But if he even gets in my way once-”

“I give you full permission to stake him.” She agreed.

“Hey.” He retorted, slightly offended.  “At least talk about me like I’m bloody here.”

Cordelia patted his shoulder as she walked past him, winking as she followed Angel out the door.

Spike could do no more than shake his head in confusion and follow her out.

Damn vixen.

~*~*~*~

Okay, so he could still kick ass.

Cordelia Chase wrapped her arms around herself as she watched the two vampires, in full vamp face fighting off the other demons with a supernatural strength that always made her slack jawed in amazement.

The promise to stay in the car had been forgotten when her curiosity to see Spike prove himself had won over.

And boy, was it worth it.

She remembered Spike from his bad ass days.  He had filled her with fear, the sheer horror at his animal, at his evil, at the delight he took in killing was something that always shook her.

She had never understood it, until she had begun to work for Angel.

These men were beasts, she realized. They needed the violence, craved it to stay sane, souled or not.  And they enjoyed it.

They must have made a formidable team, back in Angel’s bad ass days. Both were vicious and cruel when they were fighting, and Cordelia was glad that they were now both working for the home team, however unwillingly.

Still… the idea that she was locking lips with vamp killer guy, and was actually liking it… actually wanted more.

It scared her… made her wonder if she had deeper psychological issues than she would want to admit.

She leaned against the doorframe, the only human in a den of animals, in a predicament she knew should have scared her half to death.

Yet she felt oddly protected.

At least she did, until a demon spotted her and came barreling straight for her.

Angel saw it first, and screamed a warning, running towards her.

Cordelia barely had time to open her mouth to scream before a whiz of blonde hair and black jeans stood in front of her, body in front, protecting her from the demon.

Spike growled, his demon eyes glowing with rage as he launched himself at the demon, his claws outstretched, made good use of them as he kicked the monster and used his claws to rip his throat out.

Oh, ewww. Cordelia closed her eyes against the site, opened them to see both vampires staring at her, both in game face, both looking extremely pissed off.

“What the bloody hell were you thinking!” Roared the British one.

“Cordelia! I told you to stay in the car!” Hissed her boss, and with that he grabbed her and pulled her out of the warehouse.

Twenty minutes later, Cordelia felt as big as a newt.

Angel had lectured her for what seemed an eternity, and finally she had to cut him off, going off on a very humbling apologetic speech that made her cringe as she heard herself.

Spike wasn’t being much help either.

The blonde vampire merely glared at her, like she was the stupidest chit in the world, and she had to admit, she kind of agreed with the guy.

Angel was so ticked off at her, “thoughtless, stupid, and totally irresponsible act” that he stormed out of the office, apparently to calm down.

Spike merely watched, leaning against the chair as he gave Cordelia a cold stare.

“That was stupid.” He remarked flatly.

She glared at him.  “Don’t YOU start in on me.” She snapped.

“Well it was.”

“You’ve done stupider.”

“Name one.”

She huffed, her arms crossed and her stance defensive, but her usually defensive retort wouldn’t come.

She couldn’t think of one damn thing.

“Oh… shut up.” Was her lame reply.

Spike smiled, a lazy, seductive smile that indicated he knew he had her.  “I saved you, you know.”

“Angel would have saved me if you hadn’t. Don’t get all big headed.”

“But I did.”

“Doesn’t matter if you did or not.” She replied hotly.

“But I did.”

She didn’t answer.  Spike looked smug, and at that moment, she would have given anything to smack that smug grin off of him.

Instead she gave him an icy glare.

It didn’t faze him. He merely smiled, a I-know-I’m-right smirk, before sliding off the chair, and looking at her. "Well?" He asked.

"So you fight demons now. Doesn’t mean you're good."

"And you have visions. Doesn't make you any less of a bitch."

Her eyes widened, but something in his tone, in the way he said it made her realize he wasn't insulting her.  In his own Spikeish way, the asshole was actually giving her a compliment.

Oh, God. What was the matter with her? She actually found this dead guy
charming.

And hot.

He was coming forward, slowly, so slowly it seemed almost imperceptible, and yet she seemed to feel every step, could feel her nerves standing on edge, waiting in breathless anticipation for what she knew was inevitable.

Her chest rose and fell, deep heaving breaths, her eyes sparkling with desire, looking at the lips and the sexy grin, and the cute scar on his eyebrow.

She suddenly wanted to taste them all.

He stopped, a few feet away, his body visibly tense, but his eyes twinkling playfully.  "I have to go back to Sunnydale. Whole bloody crew is probably out ready to stake me."

She smiled, an inviting, wicked grin. "Then you better make this one last."

He looked at her, his eyes twinkling. “Is that a dare?”

“You know exactly what it is. You’ve got five minutes, dead boy.”

He grinned, a grin that she charmingly returned, and immediately found himself engulfed in a heated kiss.

For once, Cordelia found she didn’t restrict herself, didn’t try and fight the desire that threatened to overwhelm her. She was the aggressor, her lips furiously attacking his, pulling and nipping with a ferociousness that she
found, to her delight, Spike appreciated, if the low, primeval growl in his throat was any indication.

His arms slid around her, began to roam, more possessive than they had been before, claiming her in a way that seemed much more than a fling.

She didn’t heed the warning in her mind, instead closing her eyes and kissing him deeper, inviting him in further, allowing the beast to dominate the little strength she had against him.

It was a savage kiss she reciprocated, one of pent up emotion and something more than lust, something she was quite sure she would never allow herself to admit, not even in her own thoughts.

The admission of that would have been damning, it would be the end of her, and she knew it.

Yet she seemed unable to stop herself from pulling away, from sliding her fingers across his chiseled features, from marveling at the beauty, and from feeling the feeling of raw satisfaction that came from knowing that for that
moment, this beautiful specimen of a man was hers.

In this moment, he was all hers.  And she didn’t care if he was playing a part, if he was a vampire, or a good guy.

Her eyes stole up to his eyebrow, to the scar that wrinkled in the skin there, and with a tenderness than forced the vampire to still, found herself reaching up and tenderly, pressing her lips against it, cementing the warm embrace with a warm lick.

Spike’s eyes were dark, so dark they seemed almost black as he stared at her in wonder, unsure what to think, what to do or feel after such an intimate gesture.  The emotion in the kiss struck him, and he could do or say
anything.

For once, he was at a complete loss for words.

Her eyes were still riveted on the scar, not seeing his confusion.

“Why is it,” she asked breathlessly, one finger stealing up to slide across the imperfection.  “That scars on men can be so damn sexy, and on woman be so damn ugly?”

Spike’s eyes closed for a second, reveling in the contact before opening his eyes and staring into hers.

He wasn’t smiling, there was a hunger, a desire that was embedded into his face that made smiling out of the question.

There was only hunger, a desire to feed.

He cupped his palms against her cheeks, his throat raspy with emotion that seemed oddly out of place on William the Bloody’s face, and spoke with unerring conviction.  “Nothing on you could ever be ugly.”

He was rewarded with the most delicious brushing of lips against his eyebrow he had ever felt, and when they once again landed on his lips in a moist kiss, Spike was sure that he had died and gone to heaven.

Who knew? Maybe he  had.

~*~*~*~

Angel found Cordelia alone in the office, sitting at the desk, a magazine in hand. He made sure to give her a good glare, one that she had no problem returning.  He crossed her arms, ready to start in on her again, but when
the icy glare did not diminish, thought better of it.

He didn’t have the strength to deal with is office assistant.  Better to  forgo the argument, at least for now.  Later on, he would tell Wesley all about it, and the Watcher could nag her all about it.

Instead he used the little energy he had to get himself a cup of coffee, his voice needlessly gruff when he finally spoke.

“Did he leave?”

“Yep. Gone, back to his own private Sunnyhell.”

Angel leaned against the doorway, his eyes dark and hooded.  “I’m having trouble believing he really is helping Buffy over there.”

“Well, he’s still Spike, I’ll grant that.” Cordelia said flippantly, shrugging. “But this beating up demons makes him a little happy. I mean, he’s no you, but he’s trying.”

Angel studied her carefully, for the first time a look of curiosity in his face.  “You two seem to get along.”

She chuckled. “Hardly.”

Angel didn’t look convinced.  “Cordelia…. Spike is still a vampire. Without a soul. I don’t trust him. I don’t think it’s a good idea to let him be alone with you.”

Her eyes roved to meet his, her face losing it’s smile, her expression suddenly guarded.  “I know that Angel.  There isn’t anything that you have to worry about.”

There was something in the tone Angel didn’t quite like, and he gazed at her carefully. “Then what was he doing when he was alone with you?” He pressed.

She shrugged, her tone careless. "Oh, you know. Doing what he's good at."

"He's actually good at something?"

Cordelia glanced at him, and smiled, once. A small beautiful grin that was incredibly sincere.  "Oh, yeah."

Angel looked curious at the awkward expression.  “And would that be?” He asked suspiciously.

"Being an asshole." She said flippantly, before returning to her magazine. Angel coughed and rolled his eyes, chuckling as he walked back into his office. Okay, so maybe he had overreacted just a tad.  Like Cordelia would
get a crush on Spike.

Sure. Right. Even Cordelia had more sense than that.

Cordelia leaned back in her chair, her eyes taking on a suspiciously dazed look as she fingered the pen in her hands, looking at no place in particularly, yet picturing a surprisingly clear image of a peroxide blonde with a British accent and a sexy smirk.  "Oh,yeah." She breathed.

FIN