Intentions
Their voices blended together that night, telling stories of each other's lives, for hours. The moon passed over them and now neared the western horizon. Light blue streaks leaked through the midnight sky and the morning was greeted by cheerful birds – birds who apparently didn't realize there wasn't much to be happy about on the Hellmouth.
Although surprisingly, the birds managed to reflect Dawn's happiness – something she did not expect to feel in the end days. As long as she avoided asking James about his personal past, he was very open to sharing all of his vampire secrets with her. He discussed their vampire rules, leaders, and strengths and weaknesses in depth – which she found surprising. James and his kind were like nothing she had ever heard about, and all she could think was to start researching through Giles' books when she got home.
Home.
Dawn glanced away from James as he talked about how much he hated techno music in European clubs – apparently it really hurt sensitive vampire ears like hell – and looked towards her house. A new day was starting and she knew that she needed to get home soon before anyone got worried. But the idea of leaving James produced a hollow feeling in her stomach that both worried and confused her. After all, he wasa vampire.
'Yeah, and so was Angel,' a stubborn mental voice reminded her.
Okay, ewww, no. James was not like Angel. For one, he totally wasn't broody. Actually, he laughed a lot. The corners of his eyes would crease slightly and a hint of white teeth would gleam past his full lips, and every time she saw it her stomach would flip at the sight.
Horrified as to where her mind was going, Dawn gave a resolute shake of her head. Geez, apparently four or five hours with James and she's embracing the darker side of her Summers heritage. Hecate help her!
"You are off in your own world again, Watermelon," James remarked with an indulgent smile.
Dawn smiled, embarrassed. Honestly, she normally didn't act like this. Or, well, actually she did sometimes but usually her friends were so engrossed in hearing the sound of their voice (Janice!) that they never noticed her mental wanderings. Damn James and his sharp vampire senses.
James glanced from her to the eastern horizon, where the sun was yet to rise above the row of houses in their eye-line but the sky was brightening in shades of orange and pink. "Sometimes I have the feeling that you are not of this world." His voice was soft and carried with it something deeper, as if a part of his truly believed she was not what she appeared.
Laughing nervously, Dawn shook her head, hoping his vampire senses couldn't see 'Key' type things. "Wha-what? Me? Heh, is this just another lame pick-up line and your way of saying I am out of this world?"
Chuckling lowly, James gave her a discerning look. "Please. I do have standards, you know. I won't say just anything. In fact," he added with a bright smile, "I believe that I have been the perfect gentleman tonight. Aren't you proud?"
Legs still folded on the porch swing, Dawn sat sideways and leaned back, her palms resting on the armrest. "Wow, you went several hours without making a move. Yes, you deserve an award, a certificate of some kind," she remarked in a dry tone.
"An award would be nice." His voice was low and her body reacted sharply to his suggestive tone.
Realizing that she couldn't trust herself, not in this moment, Dawn jumped to her feet. After all, she had to get home and get a researchin' and definitely notmake out with a vampire – even if earlier tonight he did offer to help fight Caleb the next time the slayers went after the demon-infused man.
"Uh, okay, well, it's getting late – er, early – and I better get home. Demon-y fighting time, you see," she stammered nervously, toying with a strand of her hair. Not for the first time tonight, Dawn felt underdressed in her pajamas of a red spaghetti-strap tank and short shorts.
James got to his feet smoothly and took her hand in his. His skin was cool against hers, but it was not an unwelcome feeling. On the contrary, his touch made her breath catch in her throat.
"Must you leave so soon?" James inquired softly as his thumb ran over her cheek.
Dawn swallowed heavily. "James, what do you want from me?" She spoke honestly, not even realizing what she was saying until it was halfway said. It was just, he said all the perfect things and if she had learned one thing from Buffy's relationships, it was that all men were bad, somehow. Either they turned evil after sex, used you for sex, cheated on you with blood-drinking whores, or tried to rape you; no man was safe.
Especially a vampire.
Red eyes peered curiously at her. "You are serious."
Dawn's head inclined downwards in an imperceptible nod.
James was silent. Looking up at him, she saw that his face was suddenly taut and his eyes were misted over, as if he were struggling to think deeply on something. Finally he spoke in a very quiet tone that carried no traces of his usual humor. "I thought I knew, but now I'm not so sure anymore."
Pressing her lips together, Dawn tried to determine what that meant. "Is…that a good thing?"
A smile slid over James face. "For you, yes."
His smile weakened her and she placed the palms of her hands on his bare chest. "Okay then."
James just laughed and pulled her by the waist, closer to him. "And just what do you want from me, Watermelon? Is my chastity safe with you?"
"Ah…" Dawn looked away, laughing slightly. "Somehow I'm guessing that a vampire isn't exactly chaste."
"Why, that's rather discriminatory, don't you think?" James sniffed, his smile evidence of his amusement. "That's vampire-ism."
"Right," Dawn drawled with a skeptical look. "Right, because you look so innocent, James."
He smirked and began playing with the hem of her tank top again. "Ah, so perhaps I am not quite chaste, anymore. And you?"
"And me what?" Dawn asked with wide eyes, knowing what he meant but too embarrassed to answer.
James' head tilted to the side. "Have you ever been with a man, Dawn? Or a woman?" he added with an impish smile.
She wet her lips, unsure of what to say. Finally, she just decided to be honest. Besides, if the First won, it wasn't exactly like she had a lot of time in this world, right?
"No," Dawn answered. A teasing smiled played along her lips. "Not yet, anyway."
James' eyes brightened, black blending to red. He pulled her body flush against his; Dawn felt every muscle of his body, the cool skin of his bare stomach, and the hardness of his response to her words. Gently, as if she were made of porcelain – and to one of his strength, she may as well have been – he cupped her cheek and lightly brushed his lips against hers. Dawn whimpered, sparks flaring in her chest and echoing along every nerve cell in her body. Wrapping her arm around him, Dawn tried to press herself as tight as possible against him, and deepened the kiss.
Neither of them noticed a pair of red eyes watching in the shadows of a nearby tree.
A/N:
FYI, there will be some FR-21action in the next chapter. I'm debating on details. I know some people don't like that, others do, and others just don't care either way. If you have an opinion, do holler in a review :) Gracias!
