As a few blossoms of lavender fell onto the table, Rarity caught Spike eyeing her again. Not that she minded, of course. After all, Spike did love this little black dress on her. Still, she suspected that wasn’t what was on his mind.

“I knew Twilight would eventually get to you. You’ve spent too much time with her,” Spike said with a grin after downing the last of his rum.

Rarity couldn’t quite hide the blush as she quickly put away the spellbook she thought she’d hidden under the table lip. She fluttered her eyelashes at her dear Spike and smiled. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve been studying that spellbook for weeks, Rares,” Spike pointed at her purse with his glass and chuckled. “Twilight finally got you obsessed with books.”

“Says the handsome young drake who used to be her assistant,” Rarity said, leaning forward over the table and deepening her smile. He always liked it when she did that, as it rested her rather impressive chest upon the wood and gave him a lovely view. “You should be more obsessed than I, dear Spikey Wikey.”

“That’s cheating!” Spike complained as he adjusted the collar of his stylish long-sleeved gray sweater. His gaze darted between her breasts and her eyes.

“What is?” Rarity asked, the very picture of innocence as she flipped her brilliant purple mane. She made sure to catch the rays of the setting sun just right, of course. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, my love.”

“Oh no, you’re not getting away that easily.”

It seemed Spike wouldn’t be so easily swayed tonight. Rarity hid her smile and tried to pout.

Once again, Rarity found herself reminded of the much younger drake that carried a torch for her for years. It seemed like yesterday he’d been half of his current height and barely able to speak a few words in her presence without blushing. Really, it was no wonder he’d almost passed out when she’d propositioned him for date on his twenty-second birthday.

Never once in the last six months had she regretted that decision. Especially now.

“Getting away from what?” Rarity asked, keeping her voice coy and teasing.

“Are you really trying to distract me with your breasts again, Rares?” Spike raised an eyebrow. While he still seemed confident, his eyes kept wandering back and forth quite a bit. Each moment made his hair fringe wobble just a little. Not that she didn’t enjoy the attention. Especially considering what she’d just been skimming again.

“Well, obviously,” Rarity replied as she batted her eyelashes at him. “Is it working?”

“Not even slightly.”

Her horn lit up with light blue magic. “Shall I check you over to see if you’re telling the truth, darling?”

Spike finally blushed as she called his bluff. “That’s… not necessary…”

“You’re sure?” She focused and teased him just a bit along his thighs. The polished hardwood around them glowed with reflected magic. “I’d be more than happy to.”

He started squirming, getting redder by the second. “No, really… ahh… okay, you win! Have mercy, jeez!”

Rarity burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the quiet streets and into the nearly-empty restaurant. “I knew you’d see things my way.”

Spike shook his head, trying to look grumpy and failing miserably. “Why don’t you at least tell me about the book? Just a few details. I promise not to pry.”

And just as she had cheated, he used his own form of cheating. Rarity could never resist that damnable earnestness of his.

“Oh, all right.”

It was Rarity’s turn to blush just a fraction. She pushed around the remains of her half of the chocolate cake on her plate. “It’s… well, it’s called ‘Fashion of the Ancient Unicorns.’ And… well, I don’t think Twilight realized really what she gave me.”

“Why’s that?” He finished off his cake in one bite.

Rarity squirmed, trying not to think of that one spell. “It’s more spellbook than fashion book. Though, I admit, it’s sparked a great many new ideas. In point of fact, only a few days ago…” This sounded a little absurd even to her ears, but it was the only way to keep the surprise. “I showed a new client some of the concepts, I immediately received a commission that should net me a substantial profit.”

“That’s great, babe,” Spike grinned at her, nodding. “I’m happy for you.”

Rarity sighed. She never seemed to be able to stop herself from smiling whenever he was around these days. Ever since Spike had gotten his own condo in Ponyville, he’d grown up so much. But in some ways, he was still the same supportive little dragon she’d always known.

Rarity had honestly been surprised to find he still cared for her.

At first, she’d gone out with him to assuage her guilt for being such a tease for so many years. Their second date had been a result of his intimate knowledge of likes and dislikes. He’d always been the perfect gentledrake, better than any mare or stallion she’d been before. By the fourth date, the guilt had vanished.

It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that she realized she may very well have started to fall for the handsome young drake. And in celebration of that revelation… she had made a few decisions.

“Yes, well, so am I! Happy, of course!” Rarity replied, yanking herself out of her head. She mentally rehearsing the ‘enchantment’ she’d learned from the book. “Still, I find myself in a bind. I need a model. And none of the girls have been able to find time in their schedules for me!”

“Really?” Spike frowned, scratching his chin. “I was sure that Fluttershy had Doctor Flora looking over the Sanctuary this week…”

“Perhaps, but it’s so last minute.” She settled a little more onto the table, giving Spike an even better view. “That’s the problem you see. There’s only one that can really help me.”

“Who’s that?” Spike asked as he wiped his mouth with a napkin and leaned forward. “Roseluck? Lyra?”

“Actually, I had hoped you might be willing to be my model.”

“Me?” Spike repeated, suddenly stock still and staring at her.

“Yes, you, my dear drake,” Rarity repeated with a smile she prayed hid her nervousness.

“Rarity, if you haven’t noticed, I’m a guy.” Spike chuckled and gestured at his short, though impressive physique. “I don’t usually have the proper dimensions for your ensembles.”

“You’ve done plenty of outfits for me before,” Rarity scolded him as he saw the minor flaw in her plan. Still, it was one she could fix. “And that’s what I have in mind. The spell simply would adjust you a little to fit the dimensions I’m looking for.”

“What’s wrong with my dimensions?” Spike demanded with another huff.

Rarity giggled, lit up her horn and stroked one of his ‘dimensions’ in a very intimate way. He stiffened—in more ways than one. “Absolutely nothing. And I look forward to when I get to measure every one of your dimensions firsthand.”

“Rarity, I said I was okay with taking it slow…” he hedged, despite the flush that rose up his green and purple scales.

And while Rarity had said that at first, the more time she spent with her young drake, the more she wanted to speed up the timetable.

“Please, Spike. You’re the only one who can do this for me.”

She brought out her largest set of puppy-dog eyes.

“Okay, now that’s real cheating…” Spike protested, but she could see his resolve weakening.

“I’ll let you lick whipped cream off me again,” Rarity said idly.

“Done!” Spike cried, then narrowed his eyes. “You’re still a cheater.”

“But a cheater you love.”

“Well, obviously.”

Rarity grinned at him, then waved down the waiter. “Check please!”

Author's Note

Rarity totes as something fun in mind for Spikey Wikey~!

Lemme know by PM if you see any errors so I can fix 'em! <3