Once they arrived back at the crypt, Dawn began to flip eagerly through the book, scanning the pages for pictures. After examining the sparsely scattered illustrations, she curled up on his couch to read.
She stayed that way for several hours, exclaiming aloud when she came to something that was particularly interesting. She read hungrily, rapture and revelation evident on her face...
* * *
Spike sat watching her, a bemused smile on his face. For once, violence and sex were not the first and foremost thoughts on his mind, and he was happy to sit and ponder the new object of his desires. She was so stunning, so mature for her age, yet the girlish excitement emanating from her was contagious, and as he studied her, he wore a contented smile, something which was rare for him.
* * *
After several hours, Dawn broke the peaceful silence and said, "Spike?" then hesitated, breathing deeply in the awkward silence. Her eyes flickered to his face where his gaze bored into her. God, those eyes...
Snapping her head, she realized he was waiting for her to say something and that she was just staring at him. She cleared her throat and grinned sheepishly. "I just...uh...thanks. For helping me." Oh, god, how lame does that sound? She paused again, then continued, trying to explain, "I was just...so lost. And you, you were there. No one else was." She smiled admiringly at him, her feelings evident in her eyes. "Thank you, Spike."
* * *
He emitted a low growl, unable to restrain his desire. The way she smiled at him, her feelings for him...her intense ethereal beauty..face shadowed in candlelight, framed in ebony locks; her intense, crystalline eyes...
He cleared his throat and murmured in a hoarse voice, " 'welcome, pet."
He winced, berating his voice for giving the nature of his thoughts away; aware that if she knew what he wanted, she might leave. Despite their recent encounters, she was still innocent. More innocent than she appeared. His inner demon wanted to take that innocence, rip it away and make her his, but he knew it wasn't time...yet.
Pushing away his thoughts of lust, he moved over to her and took her hand in his. He stared into her eyes, glittering emerald jewels, and entwined his fingers with hers. Then he pulled her close. So close that he could feel her breath coming in tiny gasps.
He placed his other hand on her waist, stroking her side with his thumb. Then he moved to brush her hair aside and ran his hand around to the back of her neck. He tilted her head, then gripped her shoulder and ducked his head as if to bite her.
* * *
She gasped, threw her head back, and winced, waiting for the sharp piercing sting of fangs that did not come. Instead, he licked the length of her neck from collarbone to jaw; such an erotic gesture that her entire being spasmed under his touch. Blowing on the moist expanse of skin he had created, sending a shiver down her spine, he whispered a promise so faint it could have been imagined, "I'll always be here when you need me, Dawn." He nipped on her ear. "Always..."
He ran his tongue around the inside, then planted little moist kisses along her jaw until he reached her mouth. When he brushed her lips with his, she tentatively kissed him back. Instead of invading her mouth with savage force, as she had come to expect, to look forward to, he just pulled back and stared into her eyes.
She wanted to feel his lips against hers, a carnal craving so deep it couldn't be denied, but what would he think if she...? Hell, this is Spike. We all know he has a one track mind... a smile flitted across her features as she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his, unsure of how he would react. She could tell he was surprised by her forwardness, but was equally sure that he liked it. She was even more certain when he took over, turning her nervous, inexperienced kisses into breathtaking passion while using his body to press her back onto the sofa.
He entangled his hand in her thick raven mane and Dawn gripped his hips harder than usual, surprised at what her unsure demonstration had provoked. He mistook her surprise for excitement and his kisses quickly escalated, becoming more dominant; though Dawn couldn't honestly say she minded.
She ran her hands up under his coat, puling him closer as he nipped, sucked, licked...kissing her lips till they were red and swollen and she pulled back gasping. He stared down at her, rolling his tongue under his teeth, cocky arrogance shining in his eyes. But as he stared at her they changed, still filled with lust, but giving her a glimpse of something more...
She looked back up at him, studying the gorgeous angle of his cheekbones, his crystal blue eyes, his pouty lower lip, and, for the first time, wondered how anyone could be so gorgeous. It wasn't as if she'd never noticed his sex appeal before..far from it, but she'd never actually stopped to question it. She wanted him so much...
"Spike," she breathed, her lips quivering from his earlier assault on them. But he didn't let her finish, her voice having broken the spell they were under, provoking a new frenzy of delight.
This time, he treated her neck to the pleasure of his tongue, teasing her mercilessly, until once again she moaned his name, running her fingers through his platinum hair. She placed a slight pressure on his shoulders, unknowingly urging him downwards; for once giving into sensation and not letting her thoughts govern her actions.
* * *
When the vamp felt this, he let up on her neck and grinned. This chit was going to get more than she had asked for...
Spike worked his way downward, nuzzling her through her clothing as he went. Once he reached the sliver of flesh exposed by the gap between her jeans and t-shirt, he widened it by nudging and pulling her shirt up with his teeth. With her top riding up around her midriff, Dawn tensed, gripping the edges of the sofa cushion in a thrilling anticipation.
Spike placed a slow openmouthed kiss at her naval; then, once she had shown her appreciation by wrapping one of her legs around his back and gasping loudly, he flattened his tongue and licked from the top of her jeans to right under her bra, eliciting yet another gasp, this one even louder in volume, accompanied by a pleasured squeak. Her faint kittenish sounds turned him on even more than her hands running through his hair, clearly in an effort to have more of him.
"Like that, do you?" he purred throatily. Her response was to hook her other leg around him, pulling him to her as tightly as she could with her miniscule strength.
He glanced up at her to see her responding to his touch, all the while never ceasing his halfhearted licks and kisses on her lower abdomen. When he saw her head thrown back, eyes wide in innocent revelation as she bit down on her lower lip, he smiled against her skin, gave one last lick, and with a wicked gleam in his eye, moved downward.
* * *
When she felt a tug on her jeans, she looked down to see him pulling on the clasp with his teeth. How can he...? But it was clearly no problem for the skilled vampire, who just as quickly tugged down the zipper using only his mouth.
Dawn felt a twinge of nervousness twist through her stomach, not sure she really wanted this to continue. Well, of course she did, but she wasn't sure it was right. She shifted beneath him uneasily.
Hell, she thought, looking down at his prone form. Does it really matter? Most girls would kill to have a sexy vampire about to...oh, god, is he really about to do that?
It sure seemed like it, judging by the way he had slipped to the floor, and was pulling her around so she was sitting up on the couch, her legs spread wide in front of him. Alarmed, she sat up further, clamping her legs shut, feeling self-conscious at the way he was staring between her thighs the way one might stare at an ice-cream sundae.
"Uh, uh, uh, pet," he tsked, grabbing her legs and pulling her towards him once again. "Why don't you just be a good girl and-" he ran his hand up her jean clad thigh, spreading her legs apart once again, "-we can get rid of these. I assure you, I don't like to disappoint a lady..."
Her breath caught at the seductive lilt in his voice, and she stopped writhing, feeling her last bit of resolve give way. He must have seen it in her face, for he said, "There's a good girl," and hooked his thumbs through her belt loops. For a second, he glanced up at her, and when he smirked, his delicious lips curved wickedly, she couldn't think...only wanted to feel. Just as he was beginning to inch her jeans down, he heard a voice demand, "What the hell are you doing to my sister?"
He looked up and around Dawn to see a certain blonde Slayer standing in his doorway. If his heart were beating, it would've stopped.
Bloody hell.....
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yeah, I know this chapter took fairly long to get up, but I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks to loner-elf, Claire Starling, Scarlet Angel16, Bad Boy Lover, MyStIcSaIyAn45, Bobby, WashoopiCandi, DevilishGurl0222, Green-Eyed Goddess, and all my other reviewers. Special thanks to Rainy Day Parade and Chelle86 who are good at giving me ideas when I'm stuck. Thanx every1!!