Wow. I have not written on this story in such a long time. I apologize to those readers who stuck with me, thank you for your reviews and please continue being patient with me.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and the folks at Mutant Enemy Inc. But the plot is mine. I am interested in being distributed on any fan fic sites, but PLEASE ask me first.

All plot ideas are welcome and appreciated.

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Spike's internal clock woke him up a little before sunrise. He felt a heart thudding gently against his own chest, and looked down in a moment of confusion. Dawn lay next to him; her arms sprawled across his body.

He grinned to himself. Her eyelids fluttered, and she took a slow and deep intake of breath as she stretched her arms and legs. He knew that she was still asleep because her breathing had not changed, nor had her heartbeat. He waited patiently for her to wake up, knowing he still had a good while before the sunlight became a danger factor. Without warning, Dawn stretched over him again and groaned as she did. Her fingers raked against his chest, and he couldn't help but tense in surprise. Spike gave a little moan, gently pushing her warm, exploring hands away from him.

He sat up, and Dawn's eyes opened at the sudden movement. "Hey," she murmured sleepily. "I was having such a good dream." Her eyebrows furrowed, "but I don't remember it."

Spike's face was a little paler than usual, if that was possible. The hot trails her small fingers had left on his cold skin stung in a pleasant way, and he found himself missing the warmth of her body next to his. "You don't remember anything?" He studied her face.

Dawn blushed deeply. "Well," she started, looking up at him. "I remember some things."

His lips tingled. The way she was looking at him...

"Yeah?" He shouldn't be engaging in this, he knew it. He would never say that the night before was an accident. His intentions were innocent at the time. Dawn needed to be shown love, and he had done an impulsive demonstration for her.

She was young, inexperienced. She had fumbled, virgin hands trying to decide what part of him to touch. He'd been surprised, more unprepared by their sparking passion than she. He knew he should have stopped, could feel his innocent intentions snapping and twisting inside of him as she had pulled his mouth closer to hers.

She'd invited him in. Open mouthed, and open hearted. It had felt so good to be let in that he had pushed too far. He had never meant to take it past that first simple peck on the corner of her full lips, but the look in her eyes when he had pulled away was enough to lure him back in.

"What kind of things do you remember?" Damn it, this was ridiculous. His voice was husky and he could feel the blood rushing in his blue veins. He told himself that he only was curious for her sake. He didn't want her to feel awkward around him, or to misconstrue his feelings towards her.

He loved his Bit, but had shown her in a way that had opened up a whole new can of worms.

She blushed, and ducked away under the pressure of his gaze. "I remember kissing you." she finally whispered, shyly. Her body language told him that she was nervous, maybe even a little ashamed at her own abandon.

Spike took her chin and turned her face towards him. "I kissed you, Niblet. Why the embarrassment?"

Her blushed deepened. "I don't think you really... I kept wanting to touch you. I couldn't stop. I was burning for you to touch me back, but you didn't. I had no control, I'm sorry. I have no idea what happened." Her words came out in a string of panic. Her face was hot in his hand, her apprehension clear.

"You seem to be under the soddin' impression that I wasn't an equal partner in what happened." His voice was low, and all thoughts of holding back with her had disappeared. Hearing her tell him honestly of her first pangs of passion had excited something in him he hadn't realized was being suppressed.

"-but," she interrupted, "You weren't going half crazy to touch me." He looked at her face, his eyes darkening.

"Dawn," he started, trying to get his reacting body under control. "What you felt was lust. If I had wanted you to stop, or didn't fully appreciate your attentions," he smirked at her, "I would have put you to a bloody halt, not just stopped your wandering hands.'

Her cheeks were still flushed, her mouth slightly open. Her breath caught in her throat as their eyes met. "Why did you stop them?" she asked boldly, her voice dripping with a passion that surprised them both.

Why had he stopped her? There wasn't any question in his mind now that her hands on his flesh would have felt wonderful.

"Lust," he began, "is a powerful thing. It can hold you in its grip until you tremble and bloody break, but when its purpose is served... things aren't always left intact." As he spoke, he subconsciously brought his face down closer to hers. "The fact that you felt passion is nothing to be ashamed of. I stopped you because after a few hundred years of practice, I can control my own better." He could hear her heartbeat thudding away powerfully. "But I can tell you, Niblet... that the passion you described is no different from what I felt, I just had to control my..." his cold breath lingered on her neck, and he nipped her ear lobe playfully, "...urges. Didn't want to scare you."

But she was scared, he knew she was. But under the fear was excitement, and curiosity. Her hand was in his hair before she knew she was doing it. He pulled back to look at her face. "But you did feel it?" She asked him, tentatively. "I thought you were just... I don't know. Do me a favor, or something. Make me feel better."

He chuckled. "It seemed to have soddin' worked like a charm.

She glared at him.

Spike sighed. "Yeah, Dawn. I felt it." This conversation was getting more and more uncomfortable. He really did not want to deal with this right now. Dawn was his, but he wanted no confusion over what that entailed. She was young and innocent, and he loved that about her. He loved her all the more for her inexperienced fumbling, and that scared him.

He was not going to take advantage of her.

Dawn smiled at him, her eyes a little watery. "We better get inside," she said. "Mr. Sun will be wanting to fry you in a minute."

Spike shook a fist in the general direction of the sky, "Sod off!" he said, "Can't you see I'm having a very deep conversation right now?"

Dawn laughed and stood up, and he followed suit. "Fold the blankets, I'll go start breakfast."

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review, or no mas.

PLEASE. I apologize for lameness.