Damon (The Protectors #1)(18)

Damon lost all control at the sound of her name on the bastard’s lips. Jamming his hand around his throat, he snarled. “Who put the hit out?”

Jamison struggled against the hold, but Damon's hand and the chains kept him in place. “Fuck you, warrior.” He wheezed. “Go ahead and kill me. It won't stop until she's dead. Someone will replace me. Better me screwing her than someone else. I would at least make sure she enjoyed it before I kill her.”

Damon didn't hesitate. He snapped the bastards head off with his bare hands. “Wrong answer.”

Duncan, Phillip and Jared burst into the room. “Holy shit, Damon.” Jared skid to a stop as Jamison's bald head bounced past his shitkickers.

“What the hell did you do that for?” Duncan demanded.

“It's the best way to kill a vampire.” Damon answered with a dead calm he didn't feel. “And he had to die.”

All three turned and watched Damon stroll out the door not looking back. “Remind me of this the next time I piss him off.” Jared glanced back at the headless vamp. “Have you ever seen anyone snap someone's head off like that?”

“No.” Both Duncan and Phillip answered in unison, eyeing the head under Jared's foot.

One of Jamison's hands twitched. “Okay, now that is creepy.” Jared shivered then kicked Jamison's head under the chair his body still occupied. “And I have seen some creepy shit.”

Chapter 6

Nicole was nervous as she headed inside the warehouse. She hoped her sleepless night didn't show on her face. This would be the first time she had seen Damon since their kiss and she really didn't know what to think. Confidence, where men were concerned, was not a strong point for her. Buddies she could do, but once it crossed the buddy line she was doomed. Yep, this was not going to be fun. Her stomach fluttered so bad she thought she was going to throw up. Wow, she was such a wuss. She needed to grow a pair and stop freaking out. It was just a kiss...get a grip. Slapping her hand against the door, she pushed her way in.

“Hey.” Pam smiled, seeing Nicole walk in the door.

“Why didn't you wake me before you left this morning?” Nicole set her bag down and followed Pam out onto the mat. “I would have made us some of my famous chocolate chip pancakes.”

“You were sleeping so good I didn't want to wake you.” She rubbed her flat stomach. “And I'm getting a little pudgy.”

“Ha! There isn't an ounce of fat on you.” Nicole snorted. “Witch.”

Pam laughed, then nudged her. “I haven't seen Romeo, so stop straining them eyeballs.”

“What? I was just seeing if Mitch was here yet.” She lied. They sat on the mat, facing each other, stretching and talking. “Did you buy your dress yet for the charity dance?”

“No. I figured we could go together sometime this week?” Pam was lounging more than stretching.

“Bet my dress from last year still fits.” Nicole bent one knee and stretched over the other leg.

“Ohhh no you don't!” Pam shook her head. “Over my dead body will you wear a repeat dress, especially accepting an award.”

“Ugh, I forgot about that.” Wrinkling her nose she frowned. “I don't need an award. This is my job. If I didn't have to pay bills, I would do it for free.”

“Yeah, well speak for yourself, Mother Teresa.” Pam chuckled. She never knew anyone so devoted to their job.

Nicole laughed. Getting up, she turned and the laughter stuck in her throat. Walking out of the back was Damon with the most beautiful woman she had ever seen fixing his shirt collar. It was like staring at a car wreck, she couldn't look away. His eyes lifted from the woman and looked straight at her. Nicole knew then and there she was in deep trouble. The fluttering in her stomach fell quiet, replaced with a hard knot.

“I'm so sorry, Nicole.” Pam whispered.

Nicole looked away from Damon with a shrug, turning to Pam with a smile, trying to keep it together. “It was just a kiss. No big deal.” She didn't know who she was trying to convince, herself or Pam.

“Come on; let's go beat the crap out of Jared.” Pam grabbed her arm, throwing a dark look over her shoulder at Damon, who was still staring at Nicole.

The workout was pretty laid back. They worked mostly on cardio and a few easy self-defense techniques. Damon stayed away from Nicole and helped everyone but her and Pam. Nicole had watched the woman leave and knew she fell short. Way short. The woman was a ten and a half, while Nicole put herself around a five on the hotness scale, if that. The sad part was if she had to pick a woman Damon would be with, it was that woman, not someone like her. Wow, what a total self-confidence killer. Seeing Damon walking off the mat where Mitch was waving her over, she sighed and headed that way.

“We need to talk to you.” Mitch frowned, not looking happy at all, which wasn't much of a stretch.

For a second Nicole thought, what the hell, it was just a kiss, but then realized Damon wouldn't have blabbed about that. Obviously it was not as memorable to him as it was her. God, get over it already....it was just a freakin kiss. So what if it about set her panties on fire.

“Nicole?” Mitch snapped his fingers in front of her face.

“Huh?” Nicole jerked her head toward Mitch, not wanting to even glance at Damon, who she knew stood next to Mitch. “What?”