Damon (The Protectors Series) Book #1 (11 page)

Nicole laughed, sliding her hands from her face. “No you don't.”

He chuckled. “Go ahead and try.” he urged, then threw a wicked grin her way. “I'll try to get in and

you just think of yourself naked and....”

“Stop it.” She smacked his arm shaking her head. Closing her eyes, she concentrated. She loved dogs

and always wanted a puppy, but was never able to get one.

“Very good.” Jared said after a few minutes. “All I can see are a bunch of puppies. Keep working on it

around me and I'll keep testing you.”

They pulled in her parking lot and spotted Damon leaning against his bike waiting. Jared pulled up

behind the bike leaving the car running. “Aren't you coming in?”

“Nope. You two need to talk.” Jared nodded toward Damon. “Give him a chance, Nicole. As much as

he can piss me off he's one of the good guys and I think you both need alone time.”

Nicole watched Damon walk to her side of the car and then took his hand when he offered to help her

out. “Thanks Jared...for everything.”

“Anytime honey, anytime.” Jared pulled away, leaving them alone in the parking lot.

Nerves fluttered in her stomach. “Hey.” was the only thing that popped into her head to say.

Staring down, he gave her that sexy crooked grin. “Hey.” Grabbing her hand he led her toward her

apartment.

Once they were inside, Nicole didn't know what to do or say. Her apartment felt overcrowded with

him in it, making it hard for her to breathe. Putting her small bag on the counter, she headed to the

fridge and grabbed two beers. Handing one to Damon, she cleared her tight throat, but didn't know

what to say, so she twisted her cap off taking a huge gulp.

“Thanks.” He followed suit and downed half the bottle. Then he said something that totally blew her

mind. “So how have you been?”

“How have I been?” She repeated, eyes widening. Finding out she was a target of killers, having a

mind blowing kiss from him, seeing him with one of the most beautiful women Nicole had ever seen a

day after the mind blowing kiss, dressing for him and him alone tonight and being totally ignored until

the end of the night; then topping all that off accusing her of wanting Jared and now he wanted to

know how she had been. “Peachy. Just freakin peachy, Damon.” Nicole snorted shaking her head in

disbelief.

Damon finished his beer in one more long swallow and set the bottle down. “Listen Nicole...”

Shaking her head, she set her bottle down next to his, hers unfinished. She needed to keep her head

around him. No way did she need to get drunk. “No, you listen Damon. I'm not going to be that

woman.”

Looking slightly puzzled, Damon asked, “What woman?”

“I am not competing with that woman.” Nicole reached up, unpinning her hair, missing the flare of

heat blazing in Damon's golden eyes as she massaged her aching scalp. “As if I could even begin to

compete with a woman like that.”

Damon was ready to explode in frustration. “I have no idea what you're talking about, Nicole.”

“The woman, Damon.” Nicole huffed, already tired of the conversation. “The woman at the gym you

were with. I don't break up relationships and I couldn't imagine you wanting to end a relationship with

someone like her. I didn't mean to kiss you that night. I guess it was all the excitement that happened. I

had no idea you were attached. You don't need to apologize for the kiss, it was my fault. It was no big

deal.” God, she was rambling. Realizing that fact, she sucked her lips between her teeth hoping that

would help shut her big mouth.

Damon was shocked to say the least. Girlfriend, apologize, and the kiss not being a big fucking deal.

He shook his head as if to clear it of her constant blabbing. He took a step closer to her. “First of all I

was not going to apologize for kissing you, second of all I don't have a girlfriend and thirdly if it

wasn't a big deal then I obviously didn't do it right.” He face was inches from hers, practically nose to

nose.

“Oh...” Good one Nicole, she told herself. “Well, ah, I just wanted to let you know that you're off the

hook. I'm not some chick who thinks a kiss is a proposal or something and I didn't want to make

waves with your girlfriend.”

“I told you I didn't have a girlfriend.” Damon put both hands on the wall he had slowly backed her up

against, caging her in with his massive arms. “If I had a girlfriend, I would not have kissed you.”

God he smelled so good, Nicole thought, taking a deep breath. She could hardly think straight with

him so close. “I just assumed the woman was your girlfriend, at least it looked that way.” Okay, she

had to get away from him, but dammit, she kept leaning closer. “So, as I said, I didn't want to cause

problems, so I'm sorry. She is really beautiful and you guys look great together. Kind of like Ken and

Barbie great.” Okay, she was rambling again.

Understanding flashed in his eyes and that sexy grin spread across his face. She was jealous. “She's a

donor.” Damon chuckled. “Not my girlfriend.”

“A donor?” Nicole wondered if she really wanted to know what the knock out red head donated.

Damon leaned back and rubbed his hand down his face. “I'm a vampire Nicole. I need blood. She is a

paid donor, hired by the council.”

“Are you kidding me?” Nicole was amazed. “You mean I could apply for a job as a blood donor?”

Okay, his blood just shot up a few degrees as did his cock at the thought of tasting her blood. Shaking

his head, he changed the subject fast. “Are you and Jared involved?”

“No.” Nicole stared up into his eyes.

“You and red aren't involved?”

“No.” Damon answered her right back point blank without blinking.

“Then why have you been acting like you don't want to have anything to do with me? I mean, after we

kissed you would hardly look at me.” She really tried to keep the hurt out of her voice. She failed. It

had hurt...a lot.

“Truth?” When she nodded, he pushed his body closer leaning his head down, his lips mere inches

from her ear. Goose bumps pimpled her skin. “Because I have never wanted anyone the way I want

you. I can't promise you anything, Nicole. Just tonight. I can just promise you tonight.”

Nicole inhaled his scent deeply and with his body so close and his confession spoken so softly she

decided she would take what he could give. Deep inside, she knew that wasn't going to be enough for

her and it would be her heartbreaking in the end, but she had never depended on more than the

present from anyone before, so why should it be different with him. Making a decision she knew

would change her life, she lifted her hand and ran a finger across his full lips. “I want tonight with

you, Damon.”

With a sexy moan he dropped his fingers to the front of her dress and gently brushed against her

breasts, cupping the soft mounds in his hand. He took his time, exploring each breast slowly, first one

and then the other, massaging with intimate authority. "You are so beautiful."

Nicole's head fell back, and she moaned softly. He pushed the straps of her dress off of her shoulders

and drew in a sharp breath as the gentle curves of her skin were exposed to his hungry gaze. "Damon.”

Her voice came out husky and slow, like that of a temptress, surprising even to her own ears. She

didn't know where the sound had come from, but his response was instantaneous...his thick erection

rising, pressing against her stomach. He made no effort to conceal his arousal, grinding his hips in a

slow circle, pressing firmly against her.

Wasting no time at all, he pushed the straps further down her shoulders; the gown fell to her waist,

caught by the swell of her hips, both her shoulders and breasts exposed. He groaned when her nipples

came out of the silk, bending his head to blow hot air over the erect peaks, gently circling one then the

other with his tongue. “I have been dying to know what you taste like.”

Nicole arched into him, reveling in the sensations. She couldn't help herself...and she didn't want to.

Her breasts felt incredibly heavy, the tips beginning to tingle, the mounds beginning to ache. She

moaned when he tugged at a nipple with his teeth, flicked the sensitive bud with his tongue, and then

took the entire tip vigorously into his mouth. The sensual heat engulfed her like a fire as his hands

cupped, his fingers massaged, and his mouth sucked hotly. She clutched a fistful of beautiful blue-

black hair, bringing him even closer. His mouth was creating an inferno between her legs, jolts of

electricity sizzling through her body and cresting at the apex between her thighs. He was turning her

core to liquid fire as he feasted on her breasts.

Moving down her body his tongue burned a path to her belly button dipping in and out before

traveling just above where the dress stopped. Hooking his thumbs in the material it took every amount

of self-control he had not to rip it from her body, from his prize. He stood back up his lips inches from

hers. “Are you sure about this because once this dress comes off...” he glanced down at her bared

breast his golden eyes almost black now. “I won't be able to stop.”

Placing both of her hands on his face she brought his gaze to her. “I'm sure.” Her husky whisper was

all it took. He took her mouth in a kiss that was tender, yet commanding, claiming her with each

sensual swipe of his tongue.

When he pulled back, there was something in his gaze, something stark and primitive and wild being

unleashed; a fierce hunger...for her and that alone set her blood on fire. Never had a man looked at her

with such intensity. God, this was such a mistake because with a certainty that scared her, no other

man would ever compare to Damon...no moment would ever live up to this one, but even as it was the

biggest mistake of her life it was going to be the best, mind blowing mistake she'd ever make.

Pressing his hard sex shamelessly against her she felt the gentle scraping of his fangs against her neck,

the soft graze of two sharp edges moving lightly over her throat. He nibbled once, bit at her skin, and

then he quickly pulled away...even as she relaxed into him. She found herself kissing the hollow of his

throat, her hands reaching down to unbutton his shirt eager to feel skin to skin. He shrugged out of his

shirt, exposing a rock-hard chest with astonishing definition, and as her eyes dropped lower, her

breath caught in her throat, he had a sinfully gorgeous six-pack...row after row of flawless abdominal

muscles rippling beneath smooth skin on a hairless, flat stomach.

Again he held her gaze for a fraction of a second...although it felt like an eternity. When he next took

her mouth with his she could taste the increasing intensity of his need. His shaft jerked against her

stomach. His hands reached down, pushing the dress from her hips, sending it to the floor as he

cupped her bottom pulling her tightly against him. Nicole melted into his hard frame, lifting her leg to

wrap it around his powerful thigh. She offered up her body. She strained and arched into him wanting

more, needing more. She rubbed the uncomfortable heat between her legs over his hamstring as he

stroked and explored her body. He kissed her with far more demand, while nipping at her bottom lip

and swirling his tongue around hers. He tasted every part of her mouth with a growing, insistent

hunger. With one hand still grasping her waist, he reached down to remove his pants, freeing his rigid

length. Nicole caught her breath at the sight of his enormous arousal, now standing at full attention. He

was pressed painfully against her belly, his sex, positively magnificent...smooth as silk yet hard as

steel...an erotic promise of ecstasy just waiting to be thrust into her welcoming body.

She gasped as he ripped the pair of thin silk panties off her. “I'll buy you a new pair.” He growled,

causing her sex to throb with rising need.

He inserted a finger then, deep into her hot, wet sheath, and began to gently knead the tight, soft folds,

drawing liquid heat from her. “God, you're so wet.” A soft moan escaped her lips as she felt him insert

a second finger, and then a third: stretching her, caressing her, stabbing deep in an erotic effort to push

her over the edge and get her ready for him. Nicole couldn't stand it any longer. She fractured into a

thousand pieces, her body trembling in violent waves of pleasure as the powerful orgasm shook her.

She cried out, fisting her hands in his hair, tears streaming down her face at the power of her release.

She felt completely exposed...vulnerable...entirely open to his command. “You are beautiful.”

He lifted her as if she weighed nothing, taking her to her room, and laid her gently on the bed. He

grasped her thighs with his strong, firm hands and knelt between her legs, gently easing them apart.

And then he took the length of his rigid, sex into his hand and pressed the head against her core. His

erection felt enormous against her entrance—so much so that Nicole wondered if she would be able to