Spike woke the next morning to the rich aroma of simmering vegetables. He blindly followed his nose to the kitchen, where he found Del preparing sweetcakes while a thick stew bubbled in the fireplace. He wandered over to it, but determined it was not ready to taste yet. The human flopped down on a bench, watching the dalhari. Del was up to her elbows in a huge bowl of batter, mixing with her hands.

“Could you throw that stuff in?” Del said, tilting her head toward several small bowls of fruits and nuts. Spike blinked, then grabbed up the dishes and upended them into the mixing bowl. The blonde stuck a finger in the batter, grabbing up a glob to taste. “Hey! None of that!” Del chided.

Spike smirked as he stuck the coated finger in his mouth. “Try and stop me.” He watched as Del calmly scraped batter off her hands. She submerged them in a bucket of icy water, then wiped dry. His eyes widened comically when she turned back to him.

Oh-oh. The dalhari had a cold, hard expression on her face. “Ok.” Spike stood, backing toward the door. He should’ve remembered not to pick on Del like that—she would rise to the bait in a heartbeat.

Del quickly stepped right, blocking Spike from leaving. Then she pounced, pushing the human back onto the bench behind him. The dalhari kept him from moving by simply sitting on him. Spike finally stopped struggling and looked sheepishly at Del. “Sorry?” Del just stared. “Really sorry, won’t happen again ever, promise on my heart, please don’t hurt me?” The longer apology had no effect either.

Spike began to get worried. He didn’t think that batter-tasting was taboo around here, but stranger things had happened. The human opened his mouth to try a third time to extricate himself when Del leaned forward.

Del caught Spike’s mouth just as he was about to speak. She sealed their lips together, pushing gently. Spike froze in shock. The dalhari leaned further into the kiss, pressing them together more fully. She ran her tongue gently along Spike’s lower lip, catching the faintest taste of sweetcake batter there. She heard the low moan that the caress pulled from the human and repeated it, hoping to elicit more of the sound.

The repeated touch broke Spike out of his stupor. He began to return the kiss, opening his mouth and bringing his own tongue into play. Soon they were tasting each other’s mouths, licking teeth and nipping at lips. He savored Del’s spicy taste, a reflection of her scent. The dalhari showed no hesitation in doing the same, running her tongue across the roof of Spike’s mouth, making him shiver.

Somehow Spike managed to remember to breathe through his nose. Later, he wouldn’t be able to figure out why—the last time he’d kissed anyone, he hadn’t needed to breathe at all. The blonde tilted his head, deepening the kiss. They were fairly devouring each other, most assuredly bruising their lips.

Eventually Del leaned back, breaking the kiss. Neither one said anything for several minutes, stunned by what had happened. Del had figured on simply shocking Spike into silence, then jumping up, smugly leaving him on the bench wondering what had happened. Spike didn’t know what to think; he’d never figured that Del would fulfill one of his many fantasies…much less so well.

Spike finally opened his eyes, only to see that Del’s were still closed. He took in her ruffled appearance, a wide grin stretching across his face. The blonde now knew what color blue-green people blushed. The skin on Del’s cheeks was noticeably darker, shading her cheekbones. Her lips were now swollen and considerably bluer than usual. She looked adorable like that, soft and blushing, breathing quickly through parted lips. He wanted to pull her close and kiss her senseless. Why not? Spike wrapped his arms around her torso, pulling a surprisingly unresisting Del back to him. He caught her mouth roughly, initiating a more erotic kiss than before.

Del melted against Spike. The things he was doing with his mouth were mind-numbing. She surrendered to the sensation, letting the human do what he wanted. Her capitulation was not missed by the blonde; he brought her even closer to him, feeling each other’s bodies clearly between two thick layers of fabric. His assault on her mouth continued unabated, wrenching soft, high cries from the dalhari.

Spike pulled back, resting his head on the wall. Both he and Del were drawing in deep draughts of air, woozy from the lack of it. He half expected the dalhari to retreat, running from such contact as she had before.

He was, then, very pleasantly surprised when Del simply buried her face in his neck and wrapped her arms around him. She snuggled in closer, until she was like a second skin around him. Spike felt a warm, wet tongue run along the base of his neck, soft lips following it. He shuddered and groaned as Del lazily tasted his skin, licking away the faint salt she found there. Spike ran his hands up and down Del’s back, feeling strong, ropy muscles just below the deceptively smooth surface.

Del had, for lack of a better word, given up to her desires. She’d wanted this, with Spike, from shortly after they’d met. The dalhari was sure there were reasons, good reasons, why this was a bad idea, but at the moment, she couldn’t think of any of them. It just felt so good, pressed against the human, letting him hold her instead of being the one doing the holding.

“Del…” Spike groaned as the dalhari nipped lightly at the skin behind his ear. She was driving him crazy. He shifted back, trying to relieve the pressure on his erection, which was quickly becoming painful. Del followed him back, pressing down on his lap. His hips jerked up involuntarily, rubbing him against the heat pressed onto him. Spike felt Del gasp against his neck, then push back down, creating a maddening friction on his straining flesh. Nimble blue fingers came up to run through his hair and tease his shoulders, caressing lightly.

“Del,” The human repeated more firmly, trying to get her attention. She sat back, capturing Spike’s gaze. Human eyes turned an impossibly clear blue by arousal met strange dalhari eyes, the normally changeable grey iris almost black. Spike tried to find the ability to speak. “Do you want this?” He finally managed to say.

The single word response he got made Spike very glad Del had begun teaching him dalhari. “Right, then.” He tightened his grip on her body, and then swung a leg over the bench to stand. Del locked her ankles together around his waist, spiraling her tail around one of his legs for good measure. With a minimum of fumbling, Spike managed to maneuver them into Del’s chamber, despite the dalhari’s attempts to consume his mouth along the way.

Spike spared a thought for the wings that graced Del’s back, unsure if laying on them would be painful. Del made the decision for him, twisting to throw them off balance and tumbling them on the bed, pulling Spike on top of her. They immediately began tugging at each other’s clothes, trying to uncover what they’d been lusting after. Finally, Spike captured roving hands in his and pressed himself along Del’s body, stilling her.

“Shh…” he whispered, undulating against her. She relaxed, flowing into the full body caress. Spike released her arms, running his hands softly over her body, cupping soft, round breasts through her nightshift. Del reached up to touch him in return, stroking down his sides, pressing gently on his back.

They continued at this more leisurely pace, exploring each other’s bodies with less haste but more passion. Spike wanted to make love to Del, not fuck her. That he could get from one of the whores in town. Del was something to be savored, and that took time.

Spike leaned back on his knees, reaching down to run his hands up Del’s legs. He marveled at the smooth, hot skin. Unable to resist, he shifted around so that his mouth could join those roving hands. The human studied his lover with striking intensity.

He could see a tracery of veins just under the surface, dark shadows under pale blue skin. Spike tugged the fabric covering her up as his tongue traced a path from ankle to knee, tasting the sharp, spicy sweat that was just beginning to rise there. Del writhed, throwing her head back in a silent scream. Spike looked up, grinning when he saw hands clenched violently in the blankets.

Del pushed herself up on her knees, dislodging Spike from his task. She reached over, pulling him to her for another kiss. Spike freed his hands, drawing up the single layer that kept him from her. Del stopped him, reaching back behind her neck. The blonde’s brow knitted in confusion until he saw her pulling on laces at the top of the garment. The dalhari version of a nightgown was made to accommodate wings, and it was easier to remove the other way. Spike quickly figured out the alternate configuration and tugged on the long, billowing sleeves.

“Bloody hell.” Spike swore, staring in awe. The creature kneeling in front of him was stunning. He reached out a trembling hand, feathering it along a delicate collarbone. She was an irresistible combination of dips and curves, deceptively smooth. She didn’t have the willowy, skinny build that was so popular among humans in his dimension; rather she was slender and muscular. Petite, rounded breasts tipped with dark bluish peaks caught his eye, and his exploring fingers soon followed.

The dalhari arched into Spike’s hand, her nipples pebbling at the contact. The human’s tentative caresses were the most erotic thing Del had ever experienced. Unwilling, though, to simply lie passively, she reached up, drawing off Spike’s shift.

Spike found himself blushing; it confused him slightly because as a vampire he had had no shyness concerning his body. The open admiration Del showed for him just made the blush deepen, though. A shaky moan escaped him as the dalhari drifted her hands over his arms, pulling him to her.

The blonde bent his head slightly, capturing Del’s mouth in a deep, slow kiss. Their hands wandered, searching for sensitive spots here and there. Spike busied himself loosening the braids that kept Del’s long hair back, tangling his fingers in the heavy, smooth tresses. The dalhari mapped out each ridge along Spike’s spine, memorizing the ones that made him gasp.

Spike let his hands fall from Del’s scalp, running them down from her shoulders to the sides of her wings, which were slightly flared. He ran his fingers along the base of those wings, where he’d once massaged sore muscles, rubbing lightly along the skin-covered bone-and-muscle appendages. He was rewarded with a howl as Del arched against his hands, seeking further contact.

“Sensitive?” Spike asked playfully. Del rubbed against him, pulling him closer to her. She bent her head to his neck, sucking on the skin over his collarbone. Spike snarled and let his hands fall further down, to the base of her spine. He felt where the bones curved outward to form the base of her tail and repeated the gentle circular motions he’d used earlier. This area was quite sensitive as well, if the sounds coming from the dalhari were any indication. Spike imagined running his tongue down her back, listening to her scream in pleasure. He almost screamed himself at the thought of it.

Sharp fingernails raking down his back told Spike that whatever he’d just done was worth repeating. He left one hand to stroke Del’s lower back in soothing circles, while raising the other to her head. He tilted her head back, sealing their lips together again.

Del pressed hard against Spike, using her considerable strength to hold him there. She twisted slightly, grinning at the moans her movements caused. She broke the kiss, bending her head to his chest and capturing a small, rosy nipple. Spike gasped, holding her head closer to him as the hand on her back moved with increasing purpose.

The dalhari brought one hand between them low, stroking Spike’s hip. She softly ran her hand along his erection, feeling the clear fluids escaping it. The human bucked into her hand, jerking under the gentle assault. Before long he was close to the edge, so Spike reached down, stilling her hand.

Spike pushed Del back, leaning her onto the blankets behind her, mindful of her wings. She pulled him with her, both relishing continued contact. Spike lowered his head to one dark nipple, drawing it up with his lips before suckling. Del arched her back, choking on a scream. He nursed gently, swirling an agile tongue around the tip, eventually moving to the other peak, repeating the process until she drug him up for another kiss.

Del thrust her hips up against Spike, arousal driving her insane. She had denied herself physical contact for far too long; drawing this out was too much. She cried out plaintively when Spike reached down, gingerly fondling her molten core.

The human touched her carefully, not wanting to hurt her. He gently rubbed the pad of his thumb against her swollen clit, pushing it back as she screamed. Spike then pushed his index finger into her opening, his eyes sliding shut at the feel of hot juices laving his skin. She was tight and oh, so very hot, clenching around him, rising to meet his shallow thrusts.

“Spike…” Del moaned, pleading. Spike heard the want and need in her voice and moved quickly, positioning his aching shaft between her legs. He caught her gaze as he pushed forward, feeling her wrap her legs around him as he stretched her entrance.

Del inhaled sharply at the pinching feeling of being opened. She willed her body to relax, then rose up to meet his thrust. They both moaned as Spike slid home, seating himself fully inside her. His head dropped next to hers, his breath falling next to her ear.

“So hot.” He whispered, trying to remain still until Del was accustomed to his presence within her. “Gods, Del…so tight.” He felt her internal muscles clench and relax around him, coaxing him into moving. Spike pulled out, then slowly returned, savoring the tug of flesh against his.

The dalhari arced to meet him, using her legs to draw him deeper into her. Spike set a fast pace, always careful not to hurt his lover. Soon they were rising close to the peak, urging each other on with each twist of their hips.

Del turned her head and reached up, capturing Spike’s face and mouth. He parted his lips as Del consumed him, sucking on his tongue in a rhythm suggestive of their coupling. Spike braced his hands on her hips, dragging her up to meet each quick thrust. He could feel his balls tighten as his climax became imminent. The human reached between them, stroking Del’s tightly stretched flesh where they were joined. She released his mouth to howl as he felt her muscles spasm. He watched her pleasure wash over her and was unable to stop his own as he bucked against her, spilling his scalding seed deep inside her body.

Spike let her go, catching himself in time to withdraw carefully and fall on the bed beside her. He reached behind him, drawing a blanket over their cooling bodies. Del turned on her side, watching Spike’s face as he covered them. Her mind was still spinning from their coupling; she’d never experienced anything like it, never had a partner put so much effort into her pleasure. She just hoped he wouldn’t regret it, or leave now that he’d gotten what he so obviously wanted.

Spike watched Del study his face. He could feel postcoital sleepiness numb his brain, so he grabbed Del, pulling her against him. Wrapping her in his arms so she couldn’t disappear, he settled himself back for a little rest.

“Del?” Spike said, knowing that something should probably be said at this point.

“Mmm?” Del responded, muffled by Spike’s chest.

“Y’ok?”

Del smiled against his skin. “Mmm hmm. Sleepy.”

Spike laughed. “Wore you out, did I now?” He grinned. “You wore me out too.” He tilted his head down and leaned back slightly so he could see her face. She was delightfully flushed. He bent slightly, pressing a soft, easy kiss on her lips. Del returned it, and then snuggled back into his arms.

•••

Spike rolled over onto his back, stretching sore muscles. He smiled, remembering just how they got sore. Looking around, his smile fell when he realized that he was alone. At some point while he was sleeping, Del had left the bed. Left him.

The human levered himself out of bed, searching for and finding his clothes. Once dressed, he left the room, wondering if he should hope to find Del. If she was regretting the morning’s activities, perhaps solitude was best.

Del looked up from the fireplace when she heard Spike enter the kitchen. She wished she could’ve stayed in bed, but they’d left food partially prepared in the kitchen. The dalhari smiled up at the human, noticing that he looked unhappy. “Hungry?” She gestured to the stew she was finishing. “The sweetcakes are done as well.”

Spike nodded, relieved. He’d completely forgotten about them leaving half-finished batter on the workbench and stew in the fire. He prepared bowls of food for both of them as Del set the last rack of sweetcakes to cool in the storage room. Spike sat back on a bench, leaning on the wall, and waited for Del to return.

“Not bad,” Spike said, finishing off his lunch. “Needs something, though. Maybe salt.” Del nodded her head.

“You’re right. Bland.” Spike choked at the comment.

“Right.” He pushed his dish away and drank a mugful of water, washing down the last remnants of the incendiary food.

Del stood, stacking the dishes in a pail of water for soaking. She then curled up in Spike’s lap, resting her head on his shoulder. Spike’s arms came up automatically to hold her there, even as surprise twisted his face. Del had seemed ok when he found her, but he hadn’t really expected her to be affectionate. He turned his head, pressing a kiss on her temple.

“I need a nap,” Del murmured, obviously sleepy. Spike grinned. Sleep he could do.

“Right. Here?” Del shook her head, and then stood. The dalhari looked hopefully at Spike, who followed her back to bed. The last thing Spike saw before drifting back to sleep was a soft half-smile on Del’s face as the woman in his arms succumbed to exhaustion.