END OF INNOCENCE (16/?)
 

Xander followed Willow, not sure where she was leading him but knowing in his
heart he would follow her anywhere. She paused, turning to face him. Her lips
curled into a smile as she leaned forward, brushing her lips against his.
"Are you sure?"
 

"I can handle it," he said, not as brave as he was trying to act. It had been
two days since he had joined her and Spike in their lovemaking. Two days of
haunted dreams and aching. He wanted to feel their coolness against him,
wanted them to want him in their lives. Since her turning, she had made no
attempts to turn him. She had not even mentioned it to him since that first
night. He was beginning to think that she didn't want him with her for
eternity. He was scared to death that he was going to lose her.
 

Willow smiled, seeing the courage in his eyes. "So pretty," she said, moving
her fingers along his cheek. "You're mine, pretty boy."
 

"I'm yours," he whispered, moving his face against her palm.
 

"Such darkness in your eyes," she said softly, almost hypnotizing him with
her voice. "Untapped desires. Do you even know who you are, darling boy?"
 

"No," he said softly. "Will you show me?"
 

She nodded, "I shall be your teacher, pretty pet. When you know who you are,
who you truly are, then you shall be mine forever."
 

He smiled, "Forever? I like that."
 

"Have you seen her lately?" Willow asked, knowing that Xander had heard from
Buffy several times since Giles had left for England.
 

"Not in the past few days," he said. "Why?"
 

"Just curious," Willow answered with a smile. "Do you care for her still?"
 

"No," he said truthfully. "Whatever I felt for her died when she turned on
you, on all of us. She's not who she used to be. Riley changed her."
 

Willow laughed softly, hearing the hatred in which he spoke the other boy's
name. "No, she changed herself. He helped, of course. And he will suffer for
that. Is suffering for that."
 

Xander looked at her closely when he heard her words, "Is?"
 

Willow smiled, "Well, Forrest was just no fun so I had to find a new Soldier
boy to play with."
 

"You have Riley?" Xander asked, a slow smile crossing his face. "And have you
broken him yet?"
 

"Many, many times," Willow said with a chuckle. "He's so weak. It's rather
pathetic in a way. Cries and begs for mercy."
 

"Can I...can I see?" Xander asked.
 

"Dear boy," she smiled, "where do you think I'm taking you?"
 

She kissed him roughly, her teeth biting his lip as she sucked gently on the
small drops of blood. She pulled away, licking his lip and catching his eyes,
"Again I will ask, are you sure?"
 

"Yeah, I'm sure," he said, a dark gleam entering his eyes as he took her hand
and followed her through the street.

next