A cold wind cut through the street, picking up a few leaves and pieces of paper, swirling them across the sidewalk. The sun had gone down and in Sunnydale. That meant the streets quickly were becoming abandoned. The streetlights gave off an uncomforting view that left dark shadows everywhere. One lonely figure was coming out into the streets from a shop door.
A short stalky middle-aged man, working late had not been what he was planning. His art gallery had just received a new shipment in and he had to make sure it was all there before he acknowledged the shipment, which had to be done today. But now all he wanted was to be home and safe. He was nervous, his hands shaking as he fumbled with the door. Dropping his keys for the second time, he decided to forget about locking the shop. He grabbed the keys and as he stood he turned to hurry down the street. Only to come face to face with the ridges and fangs of one of Sunnydale's finest. Still dressed in his uniform, this vampire couldn't be much more than a few hours old. Looking for his first kill. The storeowner just stood there for a second, too shocked to move. Before he could get his feet moving, the undead in blue grabbed him by the shoulders and moved to take a bite from his neck.
The man made a pathetic attempt to push away. He was struggling to break free. But the vampire was simply too strong for him. As the teeth sunk into the creamy white flesh, the little man screamed, but as he did the teeth pulled back out and the vampire too started to scream. Suddenly he released his victim and spun around frantically trying to reach his back. Turning around the man can see the rear of his uniform is spreading with flames. They spread quickly and, his attacker burst into a ball of fire, then nothing. When he was released the little man fell to the ground and watched as his attacker burned to dust. What he didn't notice until after crispy had gone out was that there was another person present.
Standing over the pile of smoking dust, one bare hand still outstretched was a girl, tall and slender, dressed in a white cut off T-shirt with Sizzlin written across her breasts and low cut, very tight blue jeans. Her hair was blazing red and down below her shoulders. Her figure was stunning enough to catch the attention of the terrified middle-aged man. Her hand was empty but there was a thin wisp of smoke rising from it like a smoking gun. Over her other shoulder was a backpack that looked to be full. And the hand holding the back pack wore a leather glove. She took a step forward, her boot kicking over the pile of ashes she had just made, pulling a glove on her other hand. She stretched the gloved hand to the man on the ground.
At first he stared at the hand, a little weary at the smoke still coming through the seams of the leather. At his reluctance she smiled and finally spoke " Don't worry as long as you don't play with Fire, you won't get burned." He looked confused, but took her hand. He still hadn't been able to bring his eyes up to meet hers, instead he was till focused on her body.
She pulled him to his feet. Then turned to go. But a weak voice stopped him. "What...What is your name?"
"Katie, Katie Beltane." as she turned her head back. He looked into her eyes. They weren't brown or green or blue. Instead they were burning bright orange-red. He gasped when he saw them. "But most people just call me Fire"
Driving from the construction site to the Magic Box.
Xander's head was hurting. All day he had been worrying about the package Anya had received in the mail. He was worried. Willow seemed confident. And Anya was just too excited about the great deal she got. Xander just didn't feel right about it. And that feeling of dread he had made him hate himself. This was his best friend. And he was afraid to bring her back. Well no. That wasn't right. He wasn't afraid to have her back. He wanted her back more than anything in the world. But this whole thing didn't feel right. He knew he wasn't the expert with these things. That was Willow's department. But he just couldn't talk to her about this. Something was different about her. Ever since.... He couldn't blame her for that. He was different too. Everything was strange.
He pulled the car up in the reserved for employees spot and climbed out. He hoped Anya would be ready to go. But he had doubts. She had been doing another inventory of the store this week and he had little hopes she was finished. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, calling out for his fiancé
"She's not here." A familiar voice called from behind the shelves. Xander made his way around. Tara was sitting at the table with her schoolbooks open.
"Oh hey Tara. Anya not here?"
"She had to run an errand. All she said was something about "Evil Communists" and some supplier downtown." Xander noticed Tara wasn't studying anything they teach at most colleges. The book she had open was big, dusty and non englishy. "She asked me to watch the store while she was gone, but not before I got a stern speech about not using any merchandise and if someone wants to buy anything, only sell them at the listed price. Oh and to push the pickled frog's eyes. Xander would you like to buy some pickled frog's eyes?"
Xander chuckled at her joke "No thanks. Anya tries to bring enough overstock home the way it is. I refuse to let her cook unless I watch everything that goes into the pot."
He pulled a chair out and sat down across from her. "What kinda mojo you working on?"
"Not my spell. This is Willow's resurrection spell." As she spoke her face grew a worried shade of gray.
"You look like your not as gung-ho as Willow is with this."
"Oh no. I'm all with the Go Willow here. And I really want Buffy back. Its just...." Tara looks down at the book her face growing even more apprehensive.
"What is it?" Xander gets the feeling she is really having some difficulty with this deal. And that relieves him in that he isn't the only one feeling this way, but at the same time it verifies his fear that much more.
"I'm worried. This is some seriously powerful magic. And its not that I don't trust her, but..." She didn't know how to finish the thought in words but looking up she found Xander's big brown eyes and could see he understood exactly what she was feeling.
Her lip began to quiver, and Xander moved a couple seats closer and took her hand in his. "I'm worried too. Something is very scary about this, but I don't understand it enough to explain it. But my spidey sense is going bonkers here."
"I just think she's in over her head. This spell has been used in the past. But it takes more than just an understanding of the spell and components to cast it. This spell takes a part of the caster. I don't know how big a part. Or what exactly it takes. But this isn't something just anyone can do. This passage I'm reading, it talks of a shroud of dark, and a deep sacrifice."
"Woah, Sacrifice. No one told me anything about a sacrifice. We aren't talking about virgins or goats are we?" Xander was a little taken aback.
"No, I don't think they mean physical sacrifice. From what I can make out they mean something more intangible. Something from the inside......"
They both hear the door bell jangle and stop. "Sweetie is that you?" Xander calls out.
A strange feminine voice comes from near the front door. "I don't know Darling, is it?"
Both Tara and Xander stand up together and move around the shelf. Both see her at the same time. Red hair and knockout body.
Under his breathe "Oh My Lord. Now that's a..."
"Hot Mamma" Tara finishes his thought.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything." Her eyes fall to Tara's hand still in Xander's.
They both quickly pull their hands back.
"No!" they both chime together. "We were just ah...talking" Xander manages to say.
Both are quite embarrassed, but neither knows why. They are also both getting a little hot under the collar.
Tugging at her collar. "Is there anything we can get for you? Are you looking for some pickled frogs eyes."
"As tempting as that sounds, no thanks. What I'm looking for is a guy named Warren. Do you know him?"
"Oh no. Not again." Xander slaps his forehead. "Please don't tell me your another sex bot. We have enough of them floating around." Whispering to Tara "I knew she was too good looking to be true"
A very amused smile came across the new girls face. "Sex bot? I've never been called that. Sex machine maybe, but not a bot. Maybe its too bad I didn't interrupt something. Sounds like you guys have some interesting adventures around here. But no, I was told that he might be of use to me."
Xander was struggling hard to concentrate on what she was saying. "Um ah...Warren, yeah he um....He's not been around lately. I guess I would say talk to Spike on that. He's the last one I know of to see Warren." Turning to Tara. "Unless you.... He hasn't been around the campus lately has he?"
Tara's eyes are firmly focused on the tight shirt the red head is barely wearing.
"Tara?"
The red head began to smirk.
"Huh? Who? Warren? Oh no haven't seen Warren. I wouldn't want to see Warren..." Her mind is very obviously not on the question but rather on the tight package before her wrapped in very little clothing."
Ignoring Tara's ogling the girl redirected her attention back to Xander. "Well my name is Katie. You said something about a...Spike? Any way for me to get a hold of him?"
Xander too was losing control of his faculties, his mouth had gone dry and the heat under his collar was becoming oppressive. "Ah yeah, the best way ....um....would be for you to...come here. He could... um we could tell him..." He was having a hard time even breathing.
Katie smiled. "I'll come tomorrow, say around 3 PM. If you could have him here, great. Or if you can find out more."
She stood there waiting for them to respond. Neither of them could even bring their eyes to meet hers.
"Ok, you two sweethearts. Just nod if you understand"
Both managed shaky nods.
And in a moment she was out the door. Xander swallowed hard, while Tara fell back against the counter. Bother were panting like marathon runners. Xander ran his hand across his forehead and found he was sweating.
"Why..." His voice was very throaty. He tried to clear it out. "Why is it so hot in here all of a sudden.
"I don't know, but I feel like." gulp "I'm getting all hot and both...." She stopped quickly when she realized who she was talking to.
Xander looked at her and just nodded. "Yeah me too."
They both just froze staring into each other's eyes. Neither saying anything. The temperature in the room was still rising. They panting was the only sound in the shop.
RIIIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGG. The phone was right next to them.
At first neither acknowledge the sound, they just held the eye contact. Then Xander reached for the phone, Tara did too. Their hands came together. It was like an electrical shock. But they didn't pull away. They stopped moving. The phone continued to ring. Their fingers intertwined, knocking the phone from the base. Neither cared. They came together. Xander's hands went to her waist, hers fell on his chest. Their lips met. They each poured all the heat they were feeling into the fire of the kiss.
Tara's fingers began to work the buttons of Xander's shirt. Her lips never left his, but her tongue did find its way into his mouth. Willingly he welcomed it. Frustration overcame her and she gave up on the buttons, pushing him back against the counter, she tore his shirt open. Immediately latching onto his bare chest, kissing and licking his smooth skin, tracing her tongue around his nipples.
While she worked over his bare chest, Xander tugged her blouse from the waistband of her skirt and with a quick motion pulled it over her head. She raised her arms long enough to free herself from the sleeves, then reached around and undid her bra, freeing her full wonderfully rounded breasts. Xander took them in hand, caressing them. Then sliding his hands back around her pulling her to him. Flesh against flesh. Both were kissing and tasting, not able to fill the need that simply kept building inside.
Xander was still leaning back against the counter. Tara stepped back and with a quick motion of her hand she dropped her long skirt to the floor. Xander tugged at his fly, opening his jeans and pushed them down to his ankles. But that was all the longer they could manage to have their bodies apart. Twisting in their position, Tara's back was now pressed against the counter. Xander reached down and rolled her panties off her hips, at the same time she tugged his tented boxers so that they fell down with his jeans. As they came down, his manhood sprang free.
When they again pulled back together, his cock was pressed hard into her hip. Between kisses Tara reached down, taking hold of him, feeling the length of him. At the same time, Xander's hands were kneading and stroking her breasts, feeling the hardened nipples beneath his fingers. Tara pulled her lips from his long enough to utter one breathless word. "Up!"
Xander understood. He reached down and took hold of her by the hips and lifted her up so she was sitting on the countertop. Then in a frantic struggle he kicked and tugged to get his legs out of his own pants, while she turned to lie lengthways on the smooth wooden top. Xander was able to escape the jumble of denim and then leapt up onto the counter to join her. Tara was laying all they way back her knees in the air. Xander moved his hands and knees and so that his face was inches from hers, again they renewed their passionate kiss.
Tara's hands started at his neck, she slid them down along his chest, over his abs. All the while they were deep in their kiss. Her hands reached his thighs then his cock. She took his hardened member in both hands and began to guide him to her entrance. Xander felt her fingers around him then, moved his hips to accommodate. The touch of her warm folds just barely against his sensitive head made him thrust involuntarily. She was so hot and wet. Xander moaned into her mouth. Then lifting his head he looked her in the eyes.
Biting her lower lip she gave a slight nod, and he slid into her. It was her turn to moan both from pain and pleasure. She was unaccustomed to his size, and it took a moment for her to adjust. Xander withdrew and again thrust back in. He continued to repeat, and she worked her hips along with his. By now they were both moaning in unison. He had wrapped his arms underneath her shoulders to grip her more firmly. Her legs were crossed behind his back. Her hands clutched his shoulders. And they were moving almost as one.
Their voices were keening and resonating together. The counter, beneath them, was creaking. Sweat was beading on both their brows. Between their bodies was an air of dense heat and moisture. The aroma of musk filled the room. With every thrust their voices grew louder. Xander could feel the changes insider her. She was beginning to tighten around him. And then her moans became screams. He could hold no longer. She began to spasm around him. He let go, giving out his own shout.
Both lay there motionless. The only sound was the heavy panting. Xander's forehead was resting on hers. Both had their eyes closed. He was still inside of her. Then Xander opened his eyes, and seemed to see her for the first time. She too looked into his brown eyes. And a startling realization began to dawn.
And then the sound that made them both leap with panic. The bell of the front door jangled. And though neither could quite see who it was, they both heard a loud gasp. Still entangled in one another they tried to disentangle, but with flailing arms and kicking feet instead they only managed to tumble behind it, knocking books and papers anything else in the way to the floor with them. They landed with a thud and a loud, "Ow!!!"
Tara was now on top, Xander laying on his back. She pushed up, he reached back and began to rub the back of his head. Both were looking at each other in total confusion as well as embarrassment. They did managed to separate their limbs and both immediately became very self-conscious. Both were still on the floor. Neither had thought yet of who was now standing in the front door.