Chapter 9
Spike paid cash for the room. The clerk behind the counter assured him it was clean. Spike had his doubts. In a place like The Lost Souls motel, you could never be sure. The Lost Souls had plenty of human patrons but they catered to the demons. There was even a demon discount, sort of like triple A. He got back into the car and pulled it around to the room in back. Dawn was sound asleep in the front seat and he didn't have the heart to wake her up so he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the room.
Dawn wrapped her arms around Spike's neck almost instinctively. He managed to juggle her and pulling the blankets back without waking her up. The clerk hadn't lied, the room was clean and recently redecorated. Spike wasn't sure he wanted to know why it had been redecorated, best to just pretend it was for style's sake. There was TV that promised cable and a mini fridge. There was only one queen sized bed but the sheets on it were pristine white and fresh smelling. He lay Dawn on the bed and slid her pants off, trying not to notice that her legs went all the way to her neck. He pulled the blankets up to her chin and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
Spike locked all three of the locks on the hotel door and made sure the blackout drapes were pulled all the way shut. He shrugged out of his duster and pulled his shirt off, tossing both into a chair. He toed his boots off and climbed into bed next to Dawn. He could feel the heat radiating off her body but he didn't scoot next to her. Most people and animals found a room temperature body cold at first so they shied away from snuggling. As soon as he'd slid into the bed and pulled the blankets up, Dawn turned on her side and snuggled up next to him, burying her nose in his chest. His arms went around her and he kissed the crown of her head. He lay that way in the dark, wrapped around her body, his lips resting on her head.
"Bloody hell, Niblet, what are you doing to me?" He asked the silent darkness of the room.
*
When he woke up, Dawn was sitting cross legged at the foot of the bed. She was eating a hamburger and watching TV. She smiled at him. "Morning, how's your bullet wounds?" She asked indicating the bandages on his chest.
Spike pulled one white square back and poked at the wound underneath. It was still leaking fluid. He shrugged. "It'll be better after I feed." He picked up the phone and dialed the front desk. It was a small matter to arrange to have blood delivered to the room. The Lost Souls Motel kept a stock of it for their patrons. He stood up and stretched, noticing Dawn's appreciative eyes on his bare, if bandaged, torso.
"Gonna take a shower. Some one knocks on the door, come get me and stay away from the windows." He warned.
"Yes, Daddy," Dawn teased and stuck her tongue out at him.
Spike reached over lightening quick and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her to her feet and crushed her body to his chest, ignoring the pain it caused. His hands tangled in her long hair while his mouth claimed hers. He kissed her until she moaned and arched up against him. He stepped back abruptly and winked at her. "I'm not your Daddy, Dawn. Don't want to be."
He left her standing in stunned silence, her entire body screaming, fire laving her skin and bones. She exhaled loudly and sat down before her knees gave out on her. She lay back frustrated and not quite sure why. Between being used as a key to open a hell dimension, having a sister for a slayer and discovering her super hero powers, she hadn't exactly had a lot of time to date, not that the guys were beating down her door. She'd only kissed a couple of guys, one of them being a vampire who was going to kill her. She smirked to herself. It was good she'd made such strides. I mean big step from vampire who wants to kill you to vampire who wants to-well she wasn't sure what Spike wanted with her. They hadn't really gotten that far. The way he kissed her, well she had seen Skinamax on cable before. She knew what usually followed kisses like that. She was pretty sure she was in love with him, although she only had an inkling as to what love was. She wasn't sure about his feelings though. He shared plenty and he was forever spouting flowery poetry but he never said those words. Besides, hadn't she learned by now, vampires didn't stay, they didn't promise you forever even though they had it to give. It was a never changing theme in her house.
There was a sharp knock on the door. Dawn didn't move from her spot on the bed. She figured it was far enough away from the window. "Spike, door," she yelled.
Spike walked out of the bathroom with a small, white hotel towel hanging low on his hips. He was still steamydamp from the shower. Dawn felt her mouth go dry. Spike was wiry. He was all carved muscle and pale flesh. She'd been living with him for a month and half but this was the first time she'd seen this much of him. He was always very modest. He peeked through the peephole and threw open the door, knowing the overhead awning would keep away the sun's rays. Dawn realized for the first time his modesty wasn't for him, it was for her sake. He appeared to care less that he was greeting the world in little more then a postage stamp. He took the large plastic container of blood from the clerk and shoved a couple of bills into the clerk's hand. He closed the door and set the blood on the nightstand. He glanced up at Dawn and grinned. She was still staring open mouthed at him.
"I'm going to go put on my clothes, unless you're enjoying the view." Spike said.
Dawn blushed furiously. "I-uhm-I-uhm-"
Spike chuckled. "Don't worry, Niblet. I'll go put some clothes on." He disappeared into the bathroom and came out with his trademark black jeans. He opened the container of blood and vamped out. He drank deeply from the container and Dawn watched in amazement as his bullet wounds begin to heal a little almost before her eyes.
"Wow, you make slayer healing look like, I don't know, regular healing." Dawn said.
Spike chuckled. "The blood helps, a lot. The better quality of blood, the better the healing, if I were still on human blood, these'd be gone already."
Dawn nodded. "Slayer blood is the best blood of all, isn't it? I remember, or I guess the monks remembered, when Buffy let Angel bite her, because he was dying of that poison."
Spike nodded and finished off his blood.
"You know, Angel does have a hotel. I'm sure he'd let us stay there." Dawn mentioned.
Spike snorted. "Yah, like I'm just goin to walk up to my bloody ponce of a Sire and say got a room. First all, he'd stake me for being with you. He doesn't ask as many questions as Big Sis. Secondly if our gun happy friends know anything about you and me that's exactly where they'll look for us."
"I guess. So what we hide out for a while or what?" Dawn asked.
"Don't know yet, Niblet. I promise, I'm not goin to let them get to you." He ran a hand over her hair and Dawn leaned into him. She felt safe with him. She knew no one else in the world would understand that but it didn't matter. She understood it inside. Her entire being knew she was safe with Spike. Dawn stood up and stretched. She grinned. She could almost feel Spike's eyes raking her over. He coughed.
"Put your shoes on, Niblet. Still got that little klepto streak in you?" Spike asked.
Dawn looked up at him suspiciously. "I guess so."
"Good, we're going to go nab a few things." Spike said.
*
Dawn glanced around and slipped a black eye liner in the waistband of her pants. She'd discovered the extra slayer speed made it easier to shoplift. The only way the cameras caught it was if they slowed it down. Spike walked up behind her and put his hand on the small of her back. "Goin cross the street, Niblet, be right back." Dawn nodded.
She stood in front of the aisle of hair coloring. Maybe if she changed her hair just a little bit it would throw her pursuers off. She glanced around and wondered how she was going to hide a box of hair color though. She had already stuffed a variety of makeup in the low waist black pants she wore and her red baby doll tee didn't leave any room for stuffing anything. Spike slipped up behind her, quiet as a mouse and draped a black leather coat over her shoulders.
"Saw it in the window, thought you'd look good in it." He said with a grin.
Dawn beamed up at him. She twirled around. "So, do I?"
Spike was speechless for a moment. She was stunner. There was no doubt about it. The guy just down the aisle thought so too. Spike glared at him. He moved to the next aisle. "You're gorgeous, Niblet."
She bit her bottom lip and grinned. Gorgeous, he called her gorgeous.
"If you're thinking 'bout dying the hair, anything but blond." Spike said.
Dawn wrinkled her nose. "I was thinking black."
Spike cocked his head and looked Dawn up and down. With those eyes, that magnolia white skin and pouty red lips, she'd be a raven haired goddess. "I like it." He reached out and grabbed a box of black hair color. He tucked it in the inside pocket of his duster, the one not filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste and shampoo. He held out his hand. "Alright, let's go get you all dolled up."
Dawn entwined her fingers with his and they walked out of the drugstore. One of the clerks stepped forward to stop them. Spike looked at him and let his vamp face flash just enough that the guy wasn't sure that he saw what he saw, but he didn't want to find out. He swallowed thickly and stepped back behind the register. Spike laughed.
*
Four hours later, newly raven headed and clad in a pair of black leather pants Spike had stolen along with the jacket and a pair of black leather pants for himself, Dawn danced on a crowded dance floor. Spike sat at a table near the edge of the dance floor and drank a beer and watched her. When she caught glimpses of herself in the smoky mirrors she didn't recognize herself. She had heavy black eye makeup and pitch black hair. It made her skin look almost as pale as Spike's. She'd tried red lipstick with the whole look and she just looked entirely to Goth. She made her way back to the table, hot and sweaty; she grabbed Spike's beer from him and took a swig. He just grinned at her. She made a face.
"How can you drink that crap?" She asked.
He laughed. "Vamp taste buds for one. Humans say it's an acquired taste."
"Not one I want to acquire." She said. "Get me something that tastes good?" She asked, her voice all pouty petulant.
He nodded and got up, making his way to the bar. He returned with something fruity looking and frozen. Dawn took a long sip of it and smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Brain freeze" she moaned.
"Careful, Bit, don't want you so knackered I have to carry you outta here." Spike said.
"Kay, Spike, did you kill the guy you took the clothes from?" She asked gesturing down at her pants.
He chuckled. "Nah just scared him a little. He might call the cops; tell them a monster stole some things. They'll think he was getting pissed on the job. Could raise the Big Pouf's radar though. Don't think he goes in much for robbery though." Spike said taking another swig of beer.
After several drinks, Dawn pulled Spike out on the dance floor. She swayed against him, clinging to him like a second skin. He didn't mind. It tended to deter the looks she was getting from the other men in the club. There were a few persistant ones, a flash of vamp face generally had them looking the other way. Dawn stumbled and collapsed against him in a fit of giggles. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning most of her weight on him.
"Bloody hell," Dawn giggled. "Am I knackered?" She asked.
Spike swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the loud, crowded club. He didn't answer until they were out in the relative calm of the street. "That you are, my Luv."
Dawn bit her bottom lip. "Am I?" She asked. They both knew she wasn't talking about being drunk anymore. She looked up at Spike for a moment, her blue eyes questioning his, searching for something there. She buried her face in the crook of his neck before she could find it, afraid of what it would be.
"You are." He whispered softly and set her down gently in the car. He got in on the other side and she lay down with her head in his lap. In the near dawn hours of the day traffic was still light. It wouldn't be in a half an hour. Spike pulled the car into the parking lot behind the motel. Dawn got out on her side and nearly toppled over. Spike was there to catch her. She just giggled and wound her arms around his neck. "You're always there to catch me," She whispered into his neck. She pressed her lips to his collar bone. He groaned and tightened his grip on her waist. He had just shut the door behind them when she nipped the curve where shoulder meets neck with her blunt little teeth. He growled.
"Dawn, you've got no idea what you're messing with." He said.
"So show me, "She said in a pouty seductive voice. No one needed to show the girl how to give fuck me eyes, she had those down pat.
He dumped her on the bed and turned his back to her. He took several deep breaths. He argued internally with himself. Most of him screamed takeherdoitfuckhernow . It was good that wasn't the part in control. "Dawn, not like this. When it happens you will be sober." He said. His words were tight and controlled until he heard her sniffle. He came undone. He pulled her into his lap and stroked her hair. He whispered poetry into her ears and made quiet shushing noises until the tears stopped. He turned her face up to his and carefully wiped away the tears with his thumbs. He kissed her lips softly, tenderly and then pulled back to look into her huge blue eyes.
"I thought-I mean I thought you-I thought you wanted me." Dawn said her voice dropping to a mere whisper. If not for his vampiric hearing he might have missed it.
"I've never wanted anything more, Dawn." He said his voice a husky whisper.
She looked up at him, confused. "Then why?"
He caressed her face with his hand. "Luv, you're drunk. Neither one of us really wants your first time to be with you anything less the clear headed."
She wrinkled her nose. "No, Janice told me it was better if I was drunk the first time. She said it hurt."
"A little bit, but I promise if we do decide to make love, you won't remember the pain, Niblet." Spike said. He took her hand in his and kissed the palm. "Now come on, let's get you to bed." He pulled the blankets back and Dawn slipped under them. She slid her pants off from under the blankets, suddenly very self conscious. Spike slipped in bed next to her and held her snug against him. The sun had been up many hours and Dawn asleep for a long time, when he dipped his head and kissed the nape of her neck, whispering "I love you, Niblet."
Spike paid cash for the room. The clerk behind the counter assured him it was clean. Spike had his doubts. In a place like The Lost Souls motel, you could never be sure. The Lost Souls had plenty of human patrons but they catered to the demons. There was even a demon discount, sort of like triple A. He got back into the car and pulled it around to the room in back. Dawn was sound asleep in the front seat and he didn't have the heart to wake her up so he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the room.
Dawn wrapped her arms around Spike's neck almost instinctively. He managed to juggle her and pulling the blankets back without waking her up. The clerk hadn't lied, the room was clean and recently redecorated. Spike wasn't sure he wanted to know why it had been redecorated, best to just pretend it was for style's sake. There was TV that promised cable and a mini fridge. There was only one queen sized bed but the sheets on it were pristine white and fresh smelling. He lay Dawn on the bed and slid her pants off, trying not to notice that her legs went all the way to her neck. He pulled the blankets up to her chin and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
Spike locked all three of the locks on the hotel door and made sure the blackout drapes were pulled all the way shut. He shrugged out of his duster and pulled his shirt off, tossing both into a chair. He toed his boots off and climbed into bed next to Dawn. He could feel the heat radiating off her body but he didn't scoot next to her. Most people and animals found a room temperature body cold at first so they shied away from snuggling. As soon as he'd slid into the bed and pulled the blankets up, Dawn turned on her side and snuggled up next to him, burying her nose in his chest. His arms went around her and he kissed the crown of her head. He lay that way in the dark, wrapped around her body, his lips resting on her head.
"Bloody hell, Niblet, what are you doing to me?" He asked the silent darkness of the room.
*
When he woke up, Dawn was sitting cross legged at the foot of the bed. She was eating a hamburger and watching TV. She smiled at him. "Morning, how's your bullet wounds?" She asked indicating the bandages on his chest.
Spike pulled one white square back and poked at the wound underneath. It was still leaking fluid. He shrugged. "It'll be better after I feed." He picked up the phone and dialed the front desk. It was a small matter to arrange to have blood delivered to the room. The Lost Souls Motel kept a stock of it for their patrons. He stood up and stretched, noticing Dawn's appreciative eyes on his bare, if bandaged, torso.
"Gonna take a shower. Some one knocks on the door, come get me and stay away from the windows." He warned.
"Yes, Daddy," Dawn teased and stuck her tongue out at him.
Spike reached over lightening quick and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her to her feet and crushed her body to his chest, ignoring the pain it caused. His hands tangled in her long hair while his mouth claimed hers. He kissed her until she moaned and arched up against him. He stepped back abruptly and winked at her. "I'm not your Daddy, Dawn. Don't want to be."
He left her standing in stunned silence, her entire body screaming, fire laving her skin and bones. She exhaled loudly and sat down before her knees gave out on her. She lay back frustrated and not quite sure why. Between being used as a key to open a hell dimension, having a sister for a slayer and discovering her super hero powers, she hadn't exactly had a lot of time to date, not that the guys were beating down her door. She'd only kissed a couple of guys, one of them being a vampire who was going to kill her. She smirked to herself. It was good she'd made such strides. I mean big step from vampire who wants to kill you to vampire who wants to-well she wasn't sure what Spike wanted with her. They hadn't really gotten that far. The way he kissed her, well she had seen Skinamax on cable before. She knew what usually followed kisses like that. She was pretty sure she was in love with him, although she only had an inkling as to what love was. She wasn't sure about his feelings though. He shared plenty and he was forever spouting flowery poetry but he never said those words. Besides, hadn't she learned by now, vampires didn't stay, they didn't promise you forever even though they had it to give. It was a never changing theme in her house.
There was a sharp knock on the door. Dawn didn't move from her spot on the bed. She figured it was far enough away from the window. "Spike, door," she yelled.
Spike walked out of the bathroom with a small, white hotel towel hanging low on his hips. He was still steamydamp from the shower. Dawn felt her mouth go dry. Spike was wiry. He was all carved muscle and pale flesh. She'd been living with him for a month and half but this was the first time she'd seen this much of him. He was always very modest. He peeked through the peephole and threw open the door, knowing the overhead awning would keep away the sun's rays. Dawn realized for the first time his modesty wasn't for him, it was for her sake. He appeared to care less that he was greeting the world in little more then a postage stamp. He took the large plastic container of blood from the clerk and shoved a couple of bills into the clerk's hand. He closed the door and set the blood on the nightstand. He glanced up at Dawn and grinned. She was still staring open mouthed at him.
"I'm going to go put on my clothes, unless you're enjoying the view." Spike said.
Dawn blushed furiously. "I-uhm-I-uhm-"
Spike chuckled. "Don't worry, Niblet. I'll go put some clothes on." He disappeared into the bathroom and came out with his trademark black jeans. He opened the container of blood and vamped out. He drank deeply from the container and Dawn watched in amazement as his bullet wounds begin to heal a little almost before her eyes.
"Wow, you make slayer healing look like, I don't know, regular healing." Dawn said.
Spike chuckled. "The blood helps, a lot. The better quality of blood, the better the healing, if I were still on human blood, these'd be gone already."
Dawn nodded. "Slayer blood is the best blood of all, isn't it? I remember, or I guess the monks remembered, when Buffy let Angel bite her, because he was dying of that poison."
Spike nodded and finished off his blood.
"You know, Angel does have a hotel. I'm sure he'd let us stay there." Dawn mentioned.
Spike snorted. "Yah, like I'm just goin to walk up to my bloody ponce of a Sire and say got a room. First all, he'd stake me for being with you. He doesn't ask as many questions as Big Sis. Secondly if our gun happy friends know anything about you and me that's exactly where they'll look for us."
"I guess. So what we hide out for a while or what?" Dawn asked.
"Don't know yet, Niblet. I promise, I'm not goin to let them get to you." He ran a hand over her hair and Dawn leaned into him. She felt safe with him. She knew no one else in the world would understand that but it didn't matter. She understood it inside. Her entire being knew she was safe with Spike. Dawn stood up and stretched. She grinned. She could almost feel Spike's eyes raking her over. He coughed.
"Put your shoes on, Niblet. Still got that little klepto streak in you?" Spike asked.
Dawn looked up at him suspiciously. "I guess so."
"Good, we're going to go nab a few things." Spike said.
*
Dawn glanced around and slipped a black eye liner in the waistband of her pants. She'd discovered the extra slayer speed made it easier to shoplift. The only way the cameras caught it was if they slowed it down. Spike walked up behind her and put his hand on the small of her back. "Goin cross the street, Niblet, be right back." Dawn nodded.
She stood in front of the aisle of hair coloring. Maybe if she changed her hair just a little bit it would throw her pursuers off. She glanced around and wondered how she was going to hide a box of hair color though. She had already stuffed a variety of makeup in the low waist black pants she wore and her red baby doll tee didn't leave any room for stuffing anything. Spike slipped up behind her, quiet as a mouse and draped a black leather coat over her shoulders.
"Saw it in the window, thought you'd look good in it." He said with a grin.
Dawn beamed up at him. She twirled around. "So, do I?"
Spike was speechless for a moment. She was stunner. There was no doubt about it. The guy just down the aisle thought so too. Spike glared at him. He moved to the next aisle. "You're gorgeous, Niblet."
She bit her bottom lip and grinned. Gorgeous, he called her gorgeous.
"If you're thinking 'bout dying the hair, anything but blond." Spike said.
Dawn wrinkled her nose. "I was thinking black."
Spike cocked his head and looked Dawn up and down. With those eyes, that magnolia white skin and pouty red lips, she'd be a raven haired goddess. "I like it." He reached out and grabbed a box of black hair color. He tucked it in the inside pocket of his duster, the one not filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste and shampoo. He held out his hand. "Alright, let's go get you all dolled up."
Dawn entwined her fingers with his and they walked out of the drugstore. One of the clerks stepped forward to stop them. Spike looked at him and let his vamp face flash just enough that the guy wasn't sure that he saw what he saw, but he didn't want to find out. He swallowed thickly and stepped back behind the register. Spike laughed.
*
Four hours later, newly raven headed and clad in a pair of black leather pants Spike had stolen along with the jacket and a pair of black leather pants for himself, Dawn danced on a crowded dance floor. Spike sat at a table near the edge of the dance floor and drank a beer and watched her. When she caught glimpses of herself in the smoky mirrors she didn't recognize herself. She had heavy black eye makeup and pitch black hair. It made her skin look almost as pale as Spike's. She'd tried red lipstick with the whole look and she just looked entirely to Goth. She made her way back to the table, hot and sweaty; she grabbed Spike's beer from him and took a swig. He just grinned at her. She made a face.
"How can you drink that crap?" She asked.
He laughed. "Vamp taste buds for one. Humans say it's an acquired taste."
"Not one I want to acquire." She said. "Get me something that tastes good?" She asked, her voice all pouty petulant.
He nodded and got up, making his way to the bar. He returned with something fruity looking and frozen. Dawn took a long sip of it and smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Brain freeze" she moaned.
"Careful, Bit, don't want you so knackered I have to carry you outta here." Spike said.
"Kay, Spike, did you kill the guy you took the clothes from?" She asked gesturing down at her pants.
He chuckled. "Nah just scared him a little. He might call the cops; tell them a monster stole some things. They'll think he was getting pissed on the job. Could raise the Big Pouf's radar though. Don't think he goes in much for robbery though." Spike said taking another swig of beer.
After several drinks, Dawn pulled Spike out on the dance floor. She swayed against him, clinging to him like a second skin. He didn't mind. It tended to deter the looks she was getting from the other men in the club. There were a few persistant ones, a flash of vamp face generally had them looking the other way. Dawn stumbled and collapsed against him in a fit of giggles. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning most of her weight on him.
"Bloody hell," Dawn giggled. "Am I knackered?" She asked.
Spike swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the loud, crowded club. He didn't answer until they were out in the relative calm of the street. "That you are, my Luv."
Dawn bit her bottom lip. "Am I?" She asked. They both knew she wasn't talking about being drunk anymore. She looked up at Spike for a moment, her blue eyes questioning his, searching for something there. She buried her face in the crook of his neck before she could find it, afraid of what it would be.
"You are." He whispered softly and set her down gently in the car. He got in on the other side and she lay down with her head in his lap. In the near dawn hours of the day traffic was still light. It wouldn't be in a half an hour. Spike pulled the car into the parking lot behind the motel. Dawn got out on her side and nearly toppled over. Spike was there to catch her. She just giggled and wound her arms around his neck. "You're always there to catch me," She whispered into his neck. She pressed her lips to his collar bone. He groaned and tightened his grip on her waist. He had just shut the door behind them when she nipped the curve where shoulder meets neck with her blunt little teeth. He growled.
"Dawn, you've got no idea what you're messing with." He said.
"So show me, "She said in a pouty seductive voice. No one needed to show the girl how to give fuck me eyes, she had those down pat.
He dumped her on the bed and turned his back to her. He took several deep breaths. He argued internally with himself. Most of him screamed takeherdoitfuckhernow . It was good that wasn't the part in control. "Dawn, not like this. When it happens you will be sober." He said. His words were tight and controlled until he heard her sniffle. He came undone. He pulled her into his lap and stroked her hair. He whispered poetry into her ears and made quiet shushing noises until the tears stopped. He turned her face up to his and carefully wiped away the tears with his thumbs. He kissed her lips softly, tenderly and then pulled back to look into her huge blue eyes.
"I thought-I mean I thought you-I thought you wanted me." Dawn said her voice dropping to a mere whisper. If not for his vampiric hearing he might have missed it.
"I've never wanted anything more, Dawn." He said his voice a husky whisper.
She looked up at him, confused. "Then why?"
He caressed her face with his hand. "Luv, you're drunk. Neither one of us really wants your first time to be with you anything less the clear headed."
She wrinkled her nose. "No, Janice told me it was better if I was drunk the first time. She said it hurt."
"A little bit, but I promise if we do decide to make love, you won't remember the pain, Niblet." Spike said. He took her hand in his and kissed the palm. "Now come on, let's get you to bed." He pulled the blankets back and Dawn slipped under them. She slid her pants off from under the blankets, suddenly very self conscious. Spike slipped in bed next to her and held her snug against him. The sun had been up many hours and Dawn asleep for a long time, when he dipped his head and kissed the nape of her neck, whispering "I love you, Niblet."