Spike sat beside his weary Daywalker, rubbing small circles on her back. He wished he could just take her away from the whole mess. But he knew this girl. Knew her well in such a short time. She wasn't the sort who would run off just because a few loose canons were thrown her way. She was the kind of girl who met them head-on and did her damndest to dissect them into dust.

"Bella," he said softly, getting her attention. She smiled up at him and set her glass on the coffee table. "Let me run you a hot shower, help you relax a bit, Kitten?"

That would be a start, she thought. She watched as he made his was down the hall and didn't get up from the sofa until she heard the water start running in the bathroom. She disappeared into her bedroom and sat on her bed to inch off her boots. She felt as if she was moving through honey. Not even the thud of each boot hitting her bedroom floor could snap her out of her reverie. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there when Spike tapped on the door.

"It's open," she told him, implicitly inviting him into her bedroom. He looked at her, still fully dressed, save for the boots.

"Baby?" he asked quietly. She looked up at him and tried to force a smile, but it only resulted in making her look even more fragile. He went to her and knelt at her feet, wrapping his arms around her waist as he rested his head in her lap. They stayed like that for a few long moments, sitting in silence.

"Water's going to run cold, Love," he told her, looking into her eyes as he knelt between her thighs.

"Yeah, I know." Her voice was barely a whisper.

He knew it was a bold move even as his fingers found the hem of her red top appropriately emblazoned with the word "Temptress." He slid his hands over the soft skin of her belly, gently spanning her waist with his hands. His eyes were locked on hers as his fingers hooked onto the material and he lifted it from her body. He moved to just under the soft curve of her breast and stopped, his eyes asking her for permission to continue. Instead, she took the fabric in her own hands and pulled the shirt up over her head letting it fall behind her on the bed. He could feel his jeans tighten around his crotch as he took in the sight of Bella's silky, gold skin. Her hands moved to where his rested atop her thighs. His gaze dropped to her breasts, bound by the wispy red lace of her bra. She was beautiful. Bloody perfect. He watched as her hands moved to her belt buckle. She began fumbling with it, her fingers trembling just a bit, but not wanting to stop.

"Let me, Love," he said, taking the buckle into his own hands and deftly undoing it. He unbuttoned her jeans and then slid his hands under her ass to motion for her to stand so that he could continue undressing her. She watched as he slowly unzipped the jeans. Her eyes were wide with wonder as he slid the denim down her legs, helping her lift each foot out of them. He pulled the white cotton socks from her small feet and then looked up at her standing only in her bra and matching red lace thong. He still could not believe that she was just for him. He had never had anyone who was only his.

He ran his hands over her toned calves, his touch whisper-soft as he trailed up her thighs. He rose up, hands skimming her hips, her waist, and finally settling on the firm globes of her ass. He could feel her relaxing under his touch. She reached up and cradled his face in the palm of her hand and he felt her toe up so that she could reach his lips with hers. Her kiss was soft, tender, and her body began to meld into his. He could feel her nipples pebbling against his chest through the thin material of her bra. He reached up with one hand and unclasped it. He froze when she gasped into his mouth, worrying that he was moving to quickly for her. Instead of shying away, she stepped back and let the garmet fall to the floor. She watched his eyes change from sky blue to smoky midnight when she hooked her thumbs into her panties and slid them down her legs. She stood before him, completely exposed, yet she felt more confident than she ever had in her whole unlife. She loved the way his eyes drank in her body. He made her feel like a goddess.

He stepped toward her and without warning, his lips crashed down on hers. She let out a soft moan and he took the opportunity to slide his tongue into the wet cavern. Spike could smell her arousal building, but refused to rush anything with her. He pulled away reluctantly and told her to get in the shower before the water cooled completely. She stared up at him, mouth still open, and nodded through her daze. She started toward the door and then stopped to look back at him. He tried to read the puzzlement on her face, hoping that she wasn't angry that he had stopped. Her eyes skimmed over his body and came to rest on his crotch.

"Haven't you ever heard the saying 'less is more?'" she suddenly asked.

He cocked his head to the side, unsure of what she meant. Was it the size of--

"Less clothes, Spike," she told him. "More fun."

He nodded dumbly as his hands came to rest on his belt buckle.

She stopped in the doorway and grinned.

"Meet me in the shower."