Dragon in the High Castle

by Drop_It_Like_Its_Clop

Rating: mature
Tags: Human, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Porn, Sex, Fetish, Spike, Profanity, Gabby, Slice of Life
Length: 5174

Spike and Gabby spend some much needed time together, but Spike has a reservation

Spike the Dragon and Gabriella Griffon have a strong friendship dating back to her first visit to Ponyville years ago, before Princess Twilight ascended to the throne. With his duties within and without the realm, Spike has precious little time to visit his friends in Ponyville, or elsewhere, which makes the time he does get to spend with them that much more important and special. Every month or so, he books time off from court and heads back to the quaint little town to experience its familiar wonders. Even after his visits around the world, there's no place quite like home, especially not when there's a huge variety of things to see and people to do.

Cover art is taken from The Broken Cog on Derpibooru, spelled as one word and all in lowercase. I had a hard time choosing between which picture of Spike to use, and most of the contenders were from this artist. Go show some appreciation for their work, it's good stuff. Thanks to OmniFox for the suggestion of making a sequel, which inspired this idea, even if it took a full year to come to fruition.

Published 2020-12-30 05:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2020-12-30 05:30:00 UTC

Dungeons and Griffons

Even though it had only been five weeks since he'd last visited Ponyville's grand castle - growing up with Twilight had instilled a strong sense of timekeeping and organisation, and his current career demanded he keep those skills sharp - it felt like a lifetime. Every time he stepped through those doors into the glistening interior, it felt like the first time all over again, familiarity clashing with the awe that never seemed to fade as his eyes took in the grandeur of the majestic structure. They glowed with a warmth that wasn't physical, but he still felt, even with the shade it provided from the midday sun.

Starlight and Sunburst had been there to welcome him, taking advantage of the free day to greet one of the castle's former residents and help him settle in. He'd told them ahead of time about his plan to visit for the weekend, and they'd been more than happy to have him stay in his old home, as well as join him for dinners and lunches while he was there. The three of them always had a lot to talk about, from the state of the School of Friendship to general goings-on in the town, and it provided a means for Spike to keep Twilight updated on the wellbeing of her subjects in addition to being a friendly catchup.

The pleasant surprise was Gabby, who had jumped up as soon as he'd entered and thrown herself at him, wrapping him in a tight hug, squealing in joy. He'd informed her of his plan to come to Ponyville, but hadn't expected her to arrive before him, and seeing her was as much of a joy to him as it was to her, even if she was far more vocal about it than he was. She'd eventually pulled back to help him and the other two take his luggage up to his room, the four of them chatting excitedly as they walked. Starlight and Sunburst had left him at his bedroom, reminding they'd see him at six o'clock for dinner, while Gabby had stayed behind to help him unpack.

Forty minutes later, Gabby was wrapped around him again, her vocalisations just as excited as they'd been when he first walked through the door into the castle.

Her taste was as refreshing to him as that first mouthful of soda on a hot summer day, sitting thickly on his tongue and saturating his tastebuds with the vivid deliciousness that only came from being deprived from a flavour before being suddenly reintroduced to it. Her thighs clamped around his head, refusing to let him leave, soft and plush and absolutely perfect as cushiony rewards to his dexterous swabbing. Every now and then, when he hit a perfect spot, her legs would tighten around his head and pull him in closer, showing him where to place his agile muscle. He obliged her every time, and was rewarded with feminine squeaks and whimpers, her breath hitching as he focused on her pleasure points. She was sour and sweet, soft and firm, meek and needy, enthusiastic and deferent; what wasn't there to love?

Spike truly did enjoy Gabby as more than a fling - they'd been fast friends for around a decade now, after all - but his work was high intensity, and there wasn't much opportunity to blow off steam when he was busy aiding the ruler of the kingdom in managing internal and external affairs. Besides, Gabby was more than willing, and he was one of her closest friends, someone she could trust and unwind with, which wasn't something she could say about many people. They clicked on almost every level; personality, mentality, physical attractiveness. Who would've thought that the boyish teen would've grown into a chiseled man, replete with a defined six pack and a jawline that could cut diamond? Spike himself hadn't really noticed, but Gabby had, and she was really bad at hiding her feelings.

As it turned out, she was his perfect sort; trim but shapely, her body padded where it counted, with a thickness to her thighs, booty, and tummy that offered an irresistable softness. She'd been shy at showing off her assets at first, coyly covering her breasts when they'd started their casual relationship, but he'd assured her that they suited her, genuinely appreciating the moderate size on her slim form. She wasn't stacked like Pinkie Pie, and she didn't have a flawless hourglass figure like Rarity or Fluttershy, and she wasn't toned like Applejack, but she had her own beauty. It worked perfectly on her, and he never was able to stop eyeing her up after that, imagining the minute amount of roundness underneath her clothes, the jiggling and wobbling of her skin. She remained uncertain, but after he'd forcefully moved her hands out of the way so he could mash his face into her cleavage at one point, she'd come to realise that he truly did admire her body.

"I-I didn't k-know this is wh-what being e-eaten by a dragon would b-be liiiiikkeee," she spoke, her words forced through breaths and squeaks. "I th-thought I'd be saved by n-n-now..."

And she was a kinky slut.

Gabby's drive had surprised Spike when it had first emerged. Apparently she'd never had the opportunity to be as sexually expressive before, and when she realised that he didn't see the flaws in her that she saw in herself, and after he'd kissed every square inch of her, complimenting her after every smooch, she came out of her shell. He may have been lustful, but his thirst was easily quenched after a round or three. Hers was persistent, and her need seemed to grow with every meeting they had. She'd be the one to suggest ways to experiment, and she rarely seemed to be disappointed. She'd loved being tied up, she'd loved tying him up, she'd loved fooling around in the orchard at Sweet Apple Acres, she'd loved sneaking into the schoolhouse at night and fooling around on the teacher's desk, and she'd loved pretending to be a student seeking a better grade from her oh-so-handsome teacher.

"No one is coming to save you," he told her, adding gravel to his tone and nipping at her inner leg. He bit again, just hard enough to leave teeth marks on her squishy thigh. "I'm keeping you here forever. And I'm gonna do so much more than just gobble you all up." He bared his teeth, playing up his predatory facade. She attempted to feign terror, the excited smile she tried to hide tugging at her lips and betraying her true feelings.

"Wh...what are you going to do?" she stammered, gulping. Spike didn't answer, instead skukling towards her, eyes locked on hers, his verdant green meeting her beaming turquoise. He kept low, crawling threateningly towards the trapped girl, his abs brushing against her smooth belly, pulling a soft sigh from her. "You're not going to...kiss me, are you? Not after you've spent so long eating my kitty...that would be so dirty." Even her tone couldn't disguise her wanton desire, and Spike leaned in with as much restraint as he could muster.

The whimper against his mouth as they locked lips was sublime, a contented groan that stroked his ego and sent a throb towards his member. He made sure to ensnare her deeply, pushing his tongue into her mouth and forcing her to taste herself, leaving her no option but to drink in her flavour just as he had. A hand briefly brushed at his neck before pulling back, the girl remembering that she was supposed to be an unwilling captive to the man. Their tongues danced for minutes, their lips breaking apart for the briefest of moments to realign and mash back together, and it was only when she'd cleaned the taste of herself from him that Spike pulled back, giving her time to breathe.

"What was that for?" she asked, forgetting to look disgusted. "That wasn't about eating me...what else are you planning to do?" Her eyes flicked downwards for a second, then back up, hinting to him what she wanted. He raised himself up, sitting back on his calves and flopping his erection onto her pelvis, leaving it in plain sight for her to ogle. Gabby gasped as she looked down, the weight of his staff on her unmistakable, greeted by the drooling cumslit of his flushed head, pre dribbling down onto her belly. The man grinned as she gazed at his length, the drop of his excitement flowing easily over the gentle slope of her peachy midriff. "Wh...but...are...?"

"Are?" he pressed, anticipation building in him as she spoke. The woman switched her attention from his veiny prick to his expectant face, a knowing grin plastered across his expression. She swallowed nervously.

"Are...are you going t-to...claim me?" His grin widened, and she shrunk back a little. "B-but if you do that...if you mate with me...I could get pregnant!"

The phrase made Spike wince, and his smug smirk faltered. His arousal died down, his dick losing some of its turgidity. Silence fell over them, and the air thickened a little.

"Mister dragon"?

He tried to answer, clearing his throat a little, but found he lacked words to give her. The woman blinked at him several times, and then frowned.

"Spike, what's wrong?"

He deflated a little as she broke character, slumping back and resting his weight on his lower legs. "Nothing."

"It's not 'nothing'," she scoffed. "I've said something wrong, haven't I?" She sat up, resting a hand on the bed behind her to steady herself. "What did I do? You need to tell me so I don't do it again." He shrugged and gestured non-committally, and Gabby heaved herself up, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Spike, please. You helped me get over my insecurities, and you do so much for me. Let me return the favour." She lifted his head to look at her, cupping his chin in a hand. "Please?"

"It's stupid," he muttered.

"It's cock-blocked me," she reminded him, earning a chuckle from the man. "What is it?"

"When you said you could get pregnant," he revealed. "It's not exactly something I want to think about." He expected her to laugh, to tell him that sex was inextricably linked to pregnancy, but she moved her hands to his cheeks and smiled.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes," she repeated. "Okay. You don't want me to say that. I won't say that, or bring it up."

"But...really?"

"Yes," she stressed. "It's clearly a sticking point for you."

"But you said it because you liked it, right?"

"Well, yeah, but I'm not going to do it if it's a turn-off for you. This is about both of us having fun, not just me. Besides, you've already indulged me so much already, this one little thing isn't gonna ruin anything."

Spike smiled at her, kissing her forehead softly, and she leaned in, wrapping her arms around his broad chest to cuddle him. He accepted the hug, pulling her close, resting his chin on her shoulder. A minute passed by in easy silence, taking comfort in one another.

"Did I ruin it?" Gabby asked.

"Hm?"

"Did I turn you off?"

Spike paused, considering her question. "Not entirely. I'm still up for it, but...if we...I..." He pulled back, his thoughts playing across his face. "I can play along with your kink. You're on birth control, right?"

"Two types," she confirmed. "And I get a test every time we play. Didn't I tell you this before?"

"Yeah, you did. I just needed to hear it."

"Why? Are you okay?" She frowned, cupping his cheek again.

"Yeah, I am. No-"

"Please don't just go along with it if you're uncomfortable," Gabby pleaded. "Talk to me. What's eating you?" She tilted her head. "Don't you trust me?"

"No! I mean, yes! I do trust you, it's nothing to do with trust." He ran his hand through his thick, messy hair, huffing at having worried her. "It's me. I'm wary about it because, I can't not be." Seeing her confusion, Spike sighed. "What's my name?"

"Spike?"

"My full name."

"Spike the Dragon?"

"Why do you think that is?"

"Because...you're dragon?"

"I'm named after a people," he iterated. "I don't have a proper surname. I don't have a family name, or a clan name, or anything to show my lineage. I have a couple of titles now, but growing up, I never had that. I just had the Dragon tacked onto my name, since birth, just to highlight I was different. Spike is the only thing I can say is mine, and even that was given to me by Twilight. I'm named as best as they could manage, because the only thing they truly knew about me when they found me was that I was dragon, and that dragons had names like 'Spike' or 'Scales' or 'Smoke'. I'm a patchwork."

"You're not a patchwork," Gabby asserted, sounding offended on his behalf.

"I felt like it," he told her. "I was given a name that sounded appropriate, had an ethnic group latched onto my name to describe who I was, and raised by an entirely different culture. I had an identity crisis for a lot of my life, before I even met you, and I didn't manage to resolve it until I left Ponyville. All I wanted was to know my place, to properly belong somewhere, and I had friends and a family who embraced me and did everything they could to make me feel loved. I had an amazing childhood. Can you imagine what it's like to be genuinely abandoned?" He clenched his jaw, and shook his head. "I'm responsible for taking care of an entire kingdom, and I don't have a plan for a family yet. I can't be the cause of some kid's misery because I made some careless mistake. I won't."

"You're right, you won't," the woman promised him. "Unless you're magically virile beyond any semblance of belief, I'm not getting pregnant. You won't be saddled with a child you can't handle. You won't be causing any misery or making any mistake. I promise you." She punctuated the pledge with a soft kiss to his lips.

"I know," he sighed, sounding relieved. "I just needed to hear it. I said it was stupid." He retorted to her kiss with one of his own, short and sweet. She replied, and before he knew it, they were locked together again, their touches careful and sweet, but growing swifter with every dart forwards, every brush of their lips over one another.

"You sound like you'd be such a responsible father," Gabby groaned, nibbling on his bottom lip. "I'm so turned on right now."

"You want my kids, huh?"

"Fuck yes."

The husky confession drew a chuckle from the man, and a sheepish giggle from Gabby. He kissed her more forcefully, her muffled whine sending a surge of lust towards his groin. He lay her on her back again, falling atop her, and moved to kiss at her face, pecking across her cheeks, planting one on her nose, and nibbling along her neck.

"S-Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Red if you feel uncomfortable?"

"Yeah." His tongue dragged over her collarbone. "Promise me again?"

"I can't get pregnant. Pinkie promise."

"Okay." With a steadying breath, he raised himself just high enough to gaze down at her, his eyes lidded. "You make it sound like you don't want to be a mother. Pretty thing like you, not wanting to bear strong, healthy children?"

"Yes. I mean, no. I mean...um...." She swallowed, her face a convincing shade of confused fluster. "I-I'm not ready to have children yet. I-I need to meet the right man."

"What exactly do you think this 'right man' would be, hm? Someone strong? Masculine? Protective? Handsome?" He casually tensed his arm, allowing his bicep to bulge out a little more. Her eyes darted to his muscle, unable to stop herself. "Where could you find any man like that in your village? In all the years you lived there, did you see any man who matched those qualities? Where were they when I snatched you away? Where are they now, when you need them most?"

Intercepting her attempt to answer, Spike descended to her chest, grabbing hold of one of her breasts and massaging it, while his lips sought out her nipple. Toying with her, he flicked his tongue over her perky bud, biting softly, applying pressure until she gasped, and then pulling back. Whatever words she had faded away as he suckled and nipped, kneading her titflesh until he'd had his fill.

"I'm the strongest man you'll ever meet," he vowed, grinning cockily at her. "I'm the only one who will ever be able to protect you. I'm the only one you'll ever need." He pulled back, giving her a view of his defined pecs, his toned body open for her viewing pleasure, where every shadow indicated a ridge or a groove or some segment of raw masculinity. "Who better to put a baby in you?" He reached down, dipping his hips to guide himself into her passage.

"B-but-"

"No." He didn't give her the chance to protest. She was his mate. His. He was going to claim her, and she was going to thank him for it. As he moved forwards, he met his target, almost immediately slipping inside. "You're already so wet, and yet you want me to believe you don't want this?"

"It's not my fault!" she protested.

"And why not?"

"Because you're so forceful, and aggressive, and...and..."

"And everything you want in a mate?" he finished. "Exactly. Now say please."

"What?"

"Say please," he repeated. "Don't make me tell you a third time, girl." He glared, baring his teeth at her. She swallowed.

"P-please?"

"Please what?"

"Please...p-please give me your gift."

Spike kept his eyeroll to himself, shifting his hips forward and gliding effortlessly into Gabby's waiting depths. She gasped as his tool entered her, his girth brushing against her walls in a ceaseless procession, until she was forced to shut her eyes to deal with the exponential buzz. The man smirked as she broke eye contact, taking advantage of her parted lips to kiss her, shoving his tongue into her mouth and wandering, feeling her react sluggishly to his intrusion, fencing with her while she clenched around his dick, squeezing rhythmically.

"So thick," she groaned when he pulled back, her voice a whisper. "You're so big, mister dragon."

Spike growled hotly in her ear - partly to fight his urge to chuckle after thinking All the better to pork you with, dear - and closed his teeth on her earlobe, tugging demandingly. His fingers brushed up her neck, curling his fingers outwards to gently rake her skin.

"More," Gabby whinged, softly enough that he only picked it up because his ear was so close to her mouth.

"What was that?" he asked, nibbling at her shoulder. "Did you just ask for me to do more?" He suckled on her neck, drawing a squeak from her, and chuckled. "As if you could pretend you wanted anything less. Your wish is my command, my mate."

The slight gyrations, simple and slow in their repetitive rotation, were still enough to hasten her breathing, and her arms wound around his torso to clutch at him needily in response. Her interior was too drenched to allow her any grip on his length, her walls unable to do more than carress him encouragingly, urging him to give her more. He maintained his pace, content to keep her in that constant state of yearning, her body and her voice lauding his directed, deliberate motions. It was a wonderful equilibrium for her, especially, and it gave Spike the chance to focus on her needs before his own took over.

The man wasn't a lightweight, but the lack of time to unwind while he was on duty left him pent up from a month's stresses, and Gabby was enthusiastic and a perfect compliment to his desires. He knew he couldn't outlast her just by rutting away, and so every action was focused on heightening her satisfaction and nudging her closer to her climax; the graze of his teeth against her neck, the animalistic growls he uttered in her ear, the exhalations over her skin where he'd nibbled. She responded exactly as he hoped, whimpering and cooing and digging her fingers into his back, her legs tightening around his waist imploringly.

"Out of all the treasure I have, you're definitely the piece that I can see myself spending the most time admiring," he commented, huskily breathing the words to her. "Ingots and precious rocks have nothing on how beautiful you are, and you're certainly more valuable to me than any of those." His words were followed with a playful tug on her ear, and then a flurry of kisses up her cheek until he was gazing down at her. "You're my most precious catch, and I'm not letting you leave my sight for a second."

"Not even if I want to leave?" The woman's voice was low and strained, her speech pushed out past whimpers and whines.

"You don't." It wasn't a question, it was a statement, and the hue of her already-flushed face darkened as he spoke words she knew to be true but couldn't afford to admit. "You're going to be my mate forever, and you're going to love it."

"N-no..."

"Yes."

"O-okay."

Her words became simpler, reducing in length and complexity. Her utterances became monosyllabic, her brain struggling to string together enough congruent thoughts to formulate a sentence, nevermind manage to say it. Her body moved to supplement his actions, her waist curling to give him easier access to her depths, her hips undulating to grind their crotches together. Her facade was faltering, her pretense of unwilling submission exposed by the honest instincts of her body. The man savoured for a moment the knowledge of how much she craved him, letting the rich, resonant satisfaction fill him, before he moved in for his grand finale.

"I wonder what colour," he mused, speaking the words casually as though airing a passing thought. When she looked up at him curiously, her head swaying in time with their rocking, he stared her down, possessive affection exuding from his visage. "I wonder what colour eyes our children will have. Green would be ideal, but turqouise...that might suit them better. It might be perfect." He leaned in closer, drinking in her needy whimpers as his words sunk in. "After all, turquoise suits you perfectly. Gorgeous eyes on a gorgeous woman. My woman."

Her clasp around him tightened; her arms squeezed, her legs pincered, her womanhood clamped, but her desire pulled at him the most. Her yearning was so strong he could feel it as though it were a physical presence.

"Y-your w-woman," she repeated, the giddy lilt singing through in her words even with the breathiness fogging her tone. "M-my man. Our f-family." Her eyes sought out his, her gaze piercing and pleading with a surprising strength. "Breed me."

Spike was starting to get close anyway, and her need added coal to his furnace. Holding her gaze, he sped up, rolling his loins into hers in crashes and claps that reverberated through them both. As he swelled, the man could feel her constricting around him, their bodies tumbling towards the precipice together. The pressure rose, the sloshing pleasure swirling between his balls and his base, threatening to spill over at any second.

"Here it comes," he growled, gritting his teeth as his body tensed, from his shoulders to his calves. "Take my seed!"

"Yes!" she cheered, her heels pushing into his back commandingly, refusing to let him retreat so much as an inch. "Breed me! Breed me! Breed-"

The guttural, victorious bellow left Spike's throat as he blew his load into the willing woman beneath him, arching himself upwards to press his tip as close to her cervix as possible, sheathed wholly in her velvety tunnel. The familiar electric rush coursed through him, pushing air from his lungs and sending sharp pulses through his body, his synapses glowing hotly.

The scalding splash inside her set Gabby off, and she wailed in broken, sporadic squeals as she joined Spike in climax. Her canal did its best to milk the pulsating rod inside her, clutching at the firmness demandingly as it spewed shots of life-giving goodness into her asking womb.

They writhed and trembled together, their voices intertwining in a chaotic acapella, slowly coming down from the intense weightlessness. Twitches still ran through them as their gasps eased, Spike resting his weight on Gabby to reduce the stretch on his back. As the rattling, frazzling effects wore off, they became aware of things they'd missed during their passion; the sweat on their bodies, the pounding of each others' hearts, the heaviness of their breathing.

Each one was a proud box on a checklist.

"I'm gonna guess you liked that?" Spike asked, a half smirk tugging his mouth.

"Soooo much," Gabby giggled, squeezing his torso in a hug. "It was amazing! You were everything I wanted from a handsome kidnapping dragon."

"Good." He lifted his head up to look down at her properly. "I don't want to ruin the moment, but I really feel like I need to say...if you do get pregnant-"

"I won't," the woman told him, cupping his cheeks. "I won't get pregnant, and I wouldn't have done this with you if I'd had even the slightest doubt about it."

"I know," Spike muttered, placing his hand over one of hers and caressing her knuckles with a thumb. "But if you do, then I'm gonna be here. I'll be here to raise the child. I'm not leaving you to do it alone." He sighed. "I just needed to say that out loud. I needed to know that you knew."

Gabby's face scrunched in adoration, and her grip around him grew tighter again. "You'd make such a good father," she cooed longingly. Beaming at him, she kissed his cheek. "So responsible. So kind. So...uh...damn."

"What?"

"I might've accidentally gotten turned on again." When Spike laughed, she pulled back to pout at him. "It's not funny, mister."

"It's pretty funny."

"It's your fault."

"Oh no." He kissed her forehead and sat up, withdrawing from her satin delta with a contented sigh. "Anyway."

"Wow," she huffed, biting her lip at the emptiness he'd left her with. She tried pressing her knees together, but it did nothing. "You're mean."

"I was just gonna grab us a drink."

"Rude dragon."

"Thirsty cougar."

"I'm only a couple of years older than you," Gabby reminded him, her pout deepening. "Not exactly a cougar."

"But you are thirsty. Hence the drink."

"No." She glared at him. "I don't need a drink. I need you. Get over here and pound me into the mattress." She turned over onto all fours, presenting her rear to him. Shaking her booty side to side, she gazed huskily over her shoulder. "I'll make it worth your while."

"More worth my while than this?"

"How about this; you breed me again, and after dinner, I'll go down on you while you drink beer and watch a hoofball match."

"What about finishing?"

"You're lucky I'm really horny," she grumbled, glancing down. "And that your dick game is godly. Fine - I'll swallow." Not even a second had passed before she gasped at the demanding hands grabbing her asscheeks, spreading her wide.

"I think we'd better make sure my seed took," Spike announced ostentatiously, leering at the glistening, flushed flesh of Gabby's womanhood, smeared with the sticky remains of his last voyage. Plunging two fingers into her quim, he sought out the rough patch where he'd have the most effect, revelling in the slick squishes and the sticky sloshing of his last deposit.

"I-I don't n-need f-foreplay," Gabby complained, squirming at his expert touch. "I need you to-"

"Shush," he commanded, halting her sentence with a resounding slap to her butt. She yelped, whimpered, and fell silent. "Good girl. Now, you can make noise, but it needs to be appropriate. You know what that entails?"

"Yes."

"Good." His fingers slid from her pocket, slathered in both their juices. "Then get to making it." His hands grabbed her waist, his tip nestled against her lips, and he shoved his hips forward, burying his length in a single rough motion.

She had no trouble making noise. She didn't even need to be told, she just let his actions and her feelings inform her of what to say. His rough, callous hammering, his firm grip on her waist, his hand on her back shoving her shoulders to the bed while he kept her hips raised, his fingers grabbing her ponytail and yanking her hair; her screams and wails and cries and climaxes emanated from his domination, his authoritarian affection.

When he finished again, she was laying flat, his chest pressing against her back, his teeth pinching the skin on the back of her neck. Hot and heavenly, he emptied himself into her, quivering subtley as his muscles squeezed his jizz from his productive jewels. She chirped happily, singing like a songbird for her lover.

"Shower." It wasn't a question, but a mutual realisation.

"Yeah."

He didn't move from atop her, cradling her in his arms and dotting kisses over her reddened skin. She wondered if she had any hickeys. Scratch that - how many she had. She'd find out when she got to a mirror.

"Thank you." He didn't know why he was saying it. He had a hundred reasons to be grateful for her, and none of them stood out at this moment.

"You're welcome." She understood anyway. Of course she did. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He forced himself up. "Come on, cougar. Dinner's in an hour and a half."

"I'm not the one who lusted after a woman twenty years older than me," she chortled, following Spike off the bed, taking his hand as they crossed the bedroom floor. If they'd had more energy, they'd be pinching and pulling at one another, laughing all the way to the shower. For now, though, they just walked, content to be in the same room, their laughter just as joyful.

Maybe he'd bring more luggage with him next time, and invite more friends to help him unpack.

Author's Note

I've been meaning to write this since I saw the comment on Tumble with Rumble, and the core of the story actually took form fairly quickly after that. As always, it's the writing that took the time, and I forced myself to finish it before the year was out. I thought I'd have it done in a day or two, but after a couple of delays, I can proudly say I finished it in one month, unlike most of my other stories. Hope you enjoyed this spiritual sequel, and stay tuned for more.