After not writing last weekend, I got a little more done on Third Time's The
Charm:

Part Two

She was glorious, truly glorious, he thought. Cole was seated in a chair next to
the window, his long legs crossed at the ankles, just watching her. Waiting.
He'd convinced her not to call her friends or throw him out. So, now he was just
waiting. And feeling. She didn't suppress or camouflage or even ward her
energies. It was in continuous flux - ebbing and flowing and extending from her
all the time. It was frustrating, aggravating, and enticing him all at the same
time. He was continually struggling to keep his own dark energies from reaching
out to contact hers. He had heard what had happened to demons that weren't too
careful with dark witches before.

Willow was feeling very disturbed. She felt like her skin was too tight, like
she would explode at any moment. She knew that her Dark side was extremely
attracted and aroused by him. But that didn't explain what she was feeling. This
was something she had never felt before. She didn't think she could even
levitate a pencil to save her life. She looked up and met his eyes. She
shuddered without even realizing it. He smiled and she bristled with annoyance…
and something else.

"I'm sorry." Willow jumped at the sound of his voice. "I know this is hard.
Believe it or not it's hard for me, too. I like to be in control of the demon -
not the other way around."

"Forgive me if I don't believe you. You look quite calm and smug, sitting there.
You know so much more about what's happening. I'm not too sure I shouldn't
just…"

"You're wrong. I am in just as much turmoil as you are. The only difference is
that I have an idea of what's behind it. I was raised in a demonic environment.
I know what this is - academically speaking that is. Not from personal
experience. That is as new to me as it is to you."

Academically, he says. That's interesting. "Then explain. Or do you have a book
or text I can read?"

Cole chuckled. Yeah, right. Even if the Attendants had a text, they'd never
relinquish custody of it. "Not exactly. But I was taught things. Everything an
upper level demon might need to know about his breed. When we mate - when we
take a mate, it is primarily a biological - a hormonal - process." He held up
his hand to forestall her interruption as he saw her take a breath to speak. "I
know, I know, you're not a demon - but you are a Dark Witch. As I was saying…"

"But biologically - hormonally - I'm a human being. Magic is learned - it's…"

"NO!" Willow jumped as she saw him jump to his feet and approach her.
Instinctively, she scurried backwards on the bed, reaching forward to hold him
off and--- WHUMP! Cole shook his head with disbelief - and quite a bit of pain
- and looked up at Willow who had gone pale with shock. Oh, well, he thought, it
was going to happen eventually.