Dawn practically had to run to keep up with Spike.
"Alright, Nibblet?" he called back to her.
"Fine," she huffed. "Are we almost there?"
"Almost. Although I do believe it's closed."
"Closed? Then how are we getting in?" She was clearly perplexed.
"Use your imagination, pet." He slowed and put his hands in his pockets, turning to look at her. "I'm sure you're not as innocent as all that."
She blinked, then, realizing what they were about to do, she stopped. "You mean, we're gonna break in?"
"Well, yeah," he chuckled. "What happened to the Big Bad attitude I saw back there? If you're scared, pet, we can always leave...although coming back during business hours i'nt the smartest thing to do."
Her face became resolute. "No, no...I'm not scared. I just thought..."
He waited, raising one eyebrow and grinning impishly.
"And why can't we come when it's actually open?"
He cocked his head and gave her a fixed stare, his gaze brooking no further questions.
"Come on, Spike," she began walking again, furious that he knew just how to get to her.
He followed behind, his stride graceful. When Dawn paused and turned to look at him, he stared casually at the ground and ran his hand through his hair, purposely avoiding her gaze.
"Uh, Spike?" she murmured quietly.
He raised his eyes slowly, the hint of a smile gracing his lips.
"Where are we going?" she questioned timidly.
"Ah, so you do need me, then? You mean to tell me you don't know where we're going? "
"Well, I, uh.....yeah."
"Yeah?" he questioned, deliberately putting her on the spot again. "What's that mean?"
Yeah...I need you," she knew what he wanted her to say and figured she might as well say it or they would be there all night.
"Need me?" he lowered his voice an octave and stalked towards her, a hungry gleam in his eye. She backed up and found herself against a wall. A vision of a jungle cat cornering its prey flashed through her mind, but as he neared, it was forgotten. She looked up at him, wanting him, waiting for his touch.
He ran his fingers through her coal black hair, trailing his hand down her arm and taking her hand in his. He lifted it to his mouth as he continued to stare into her eyes, then gently placed a fingertip in his mouth.
She swallowed hard, gently placing her other hand on his cool, muscular chest as he toyed with her finger, making sensual motions with his tongue. He let go of her hand and placed his on her hips, lifting her to his body. As her feet left the ground, she placed both her arms round his shoulders, sliding the black leather coat off of him.
* * *
He growled softly and whispered almost inaudibly, "My Dawn...want you." He proceeded to kiss her neck, occasionally nipping at the soft flesh with blunt teeth, causing her to yelp and push herself harder against him, this time not minding the bulge she felt when she ground her hips against his.
He knew if she kept pushing against him like that, he would lose all self control, lose himself to the simmering heat that was building with each touch. How he wanted to show her the power of his cold heat...the power of his darkness. He gasped in, a breath he did not need, and threw his head back, the black sky above him, amber glinting in his eyes.
When she rocked against him like that, he wanted to take her, hard and rough, and to hell with the consequences. She was fragile, a virgin; he couldn't break her trust, losing himself to pleasure, but he was sure she wanted it. She'd enjoy it, but then there'd be regret, not from him, but her, and he couldn't have that...so he lifted her higher, alleviating the pressure in his groin. He pushed her violently into the wall and kissed her again, pleased to see that lifting her had given him better access to other areas. When he saw that she had worn a low cut shirt, he smiled into her skin and delved his tongue between her breasts.
Dawn's eyes shot open, but instead of stopping him, she just ran her hands up his hard muscled arms and wove her fingers into the soft whiteness of his hair, biting her lip to keep from groaning aloud. Their motions became more frantic, the electricity between them crescendoing to a new peak when Spike ceased his fevered caresses, slowing to a reluctant stop and giving a frustrated growl.
"Pet," he gasped into her skin. "We need..your...book."
"Yeah," she murmured breathily. "Should....go.."
He stopped coerceing her with his tongue and paused, breathing hotly into her skin for several seconds. Then he gently lowered her to the ground and shut his eyes, trying to resist the urge to rip off all her clothes and take her sweet innocence right there.
* * *
Dawn leaned back against the wall, panting. When she saw the look on Spike's face, she frowned, worried.
"Spike?" She brushed his arm lightly.
He rested his arm on the wall. "Don't," he said gruffly.
"Did I...do something wrong?" she questioned nervously.
"No," he panted. "Did everything right. Need you."
She grinned, wanting revenge for her earlier embarrassment. "You need me?" She trailed a finger down his chest, teasing in a girlish fashion. "I thought I was the one that needed you. Hmm..." she giggled. "Seems I'm not the only one with needs." The words felt foreign on her tongue. She couldn't believe she was saying things like this to him.
He was leaning back against the wall, her standing in front of him, their former positions reversed. Spike caught her hand and said, "I'm trying to stop for your sake, pet. Unless, of course, you want me to continue..."
In a lightning movement he placed her hand on his crotch so that she could feel him. Dawn gasped, taken aback at such an openly sexual move, then thought to herself, Wow, it feels big... then blushed, embarrassed, and too late, pulled her hand away.
He smirked. "What would the Slayer say if she saw little sis now?" His voice was a low rumble, a sensual purr, and Dawn felt her knees tremble.
"Spike," she pleaded. "We- we should go."
"If you insist, luv, if you insist." As he passed, he rubbed against her once more and led the way down the dark alley.
* * *
They came to a dark dilapidated building. Coming closer, Dawn saw a small sign on the door announcing the hours and days it was open. It was written in untidy scrawl.
Sure enough, it was closed. "This is it?"
Spike glanced into the dark window and replied, "Well, yeah. What were you expecting, the bloody Boston Public?"
"Huh? Well, no, but-"
She was cut off as Spike's fist crashed through the glass window, shattering it into a million pieces. He reached in and opened the door.
They walked in, it was pitch black and suddenly Dawn couldn't even make out Spike's lurid hair. "Spike," she whispered, trying not to let the fear creep into her voice. "Spike, I can't see a thing!"
She felt a hand grab hers and felt reassured. "Come on," his voice drifted out of the darkness and she felt a tug on her arm. She followed blindly, praying she wouldn't fall, eternally grateful for Spike's vampiric sight. Suddenly he stopped and said, "Stairs. Need some help, luv?"
"Help would be good," Dawn replied, her voice shaky.
She felt his hand on the back of her upper thigh, and he lifted her easily with the one arm, scooping her to him. She braced herself for the bumpiness of stairs, but shrieked when instead she felt them soar weightless for a moment, then hit the ground with a thud. She didn't get hurt, for Spike had landed on his feet.
"W-what happened?!"
"Jumped the railing..."
"Why?"
"Faster."
Their voices rang out loudly in the quiet of the room; and feeling like someone was listening, Dawn grew quiet, contenting herself with smacking Spike on the arm.
He set her down, and Dawn couldn't help the tremor of relief she felt, the circumstances not changing the way she reacted being pressed so close to him. Spike grabbed her hand once more, this time, lacing his fingers with hers. Dawn felt a pleasant warmth flood through her and she felt tingles all over.
Several steps later, he stopped and released her hand. Dawn tentatively reached forward and felt her fingertips rake some musty old volumes.
"Is this it?" she questioned.
"Yeah," he answered distractedly. "Bloody hell."
"What?"
"M' lighter's gone."
"Oh," Dawn paused. "I, uh, have it. You left it when you were...in my room." She dug in her pocket and handed it to him. He accepted it, their fingertips brushing as she handed it over. After a moment, he said, "Well, It's best if I give you this, then."
Her fist closed around a thin chain and she gasped. "My necklace! You had it? I thought it was lost!"
"Well, I took it. Y' didn't seem to appreciate it much the first time, so I thought you might fancy it a bit more if I returned it."
"The first time?" She paused, confused. "You mean it was from you?"
She couldn't see him, but was sure that if she'd been able to, he would've been smiling. "Well, why didn't you say something, Spike? I loved it so much and I..." she trailed off, then, on impulse, stretched up and kissed his cheek. Abruptly, he turned his head and caught her full on the lips.
Surprised, she stumbled back, but he caught her and shoved her up against the bookshelves. He explored her mouth violently with his tongue, a fierce, bruising kiss, and Dawn felt her knees give way once again. She slumped back against the shelves as he continued to kiss her. After a minute, she summoned all her willpower and broke away.
"Spike...the book."
"We're here, alone in the dark, and you can't think of anything better you'd like to do with me than read?"
She sighed. "Actually, I can think of a lot, but this is important to me."
"Alright, then." He lifted his lighter, flicked it on, and used it to sift through the many volumes.
"I thought vampires could see in the dark..."
"We can, but most of us don't spend our time reading."
"Oh."
"So, what exactly is it we're looking for?"
"Well, a kind of history book, I guess, it would probably be written in the same language as my spell books...kind of squiggly and curved?"
"Ah..."
After more than half an hour of searching, Spike's lighter began to flicker...they had searched at least 200 books and all had been fruitless...
Both Spike and Dawn sighed in exasperation as the night wore on....Spike seemed on the verge of giving up, but the fierce loyalty he possessed wouldn't let him disappoint her.
"Spike," Dawn complained. "There are at least 2,000 books here...we're never gonna find anything!!"
"Nibblet, how 'bout this one?" His face flickered in the candlelight, making him look eerily handsome as he pulled down a volume that looked particularly ancient.
Dawn took the volume from him and opened it cautiously. Flipping past the first couple blank pages, she read the first few lines, her breath catching in her throat. We are the keepers of the key. It has been entrusted to us to guard and protect. We alone know its history and the extent of its power. Here is the tale...
It was in the same language as all her spell books. This was it. This was what she was looking for. It had to be.
"Dawn?" Spike looked at her curiously. Her face was pale and drawn, her eyes were wide...she could've been dead herself.
"Spike, I- I think this is it," she choked out. Then, tucking it under her arm, she stood. "I think this will explain things...my power. Let's go."
He stood, looking at her doubtfully, and clicked out his lighter. He grabbed her hand, led her up the stairs, and together, they walked out into the night.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hey all my lovely reviewers!! I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get up. I hope it wasn't a disappointment. I'll really try to get the next one up sooner, but I've been really busy. Please review!! Thanks!!!