Damon (The Protectors #1)(20)

Feeling more tired than she ever had in her life, she turned to look at him, laying her head on the steering wheel. “I can't afford to take off work Damon. Who will pay my bills? Who will feed my turtles?” She just stared at him, as if she could find the answers in his eyes. “I don't have anyone and I'm not going to live with strangers.” That was all her life had consisted of growing up. No, she wouldn't put herself in that position again.

Damon rubbed his eyes and sighed. “This is your life we're talking about.”

“You're right. It is my life and this isn't your problem, Damon.” Nicole started her car with a rattle and puff of smoke. “Now please shut my door so I can go home and go to bed.” She wanted to add, so he could go back to his girlfriend, but didn't. She wasn't in high school anymore. She really didn't know what she felt for this man and she was afraid to find out. A broken heart was definitely something she didn't need right now.

“Dammit Nicole, get out of the car before I pull you out.” Damon stepped back and that was the break she needed. Slamming into gear she lifted her foot off the brake and took off, her door slamming shut from the force of the car speeding off.

“Pull me out, my ass.” Nicole snorted then glanced in her rear view mirror thinking to see him standing in her dust, but to her horror he was running right up behind her leaping into the air before landing on the top of her car with a loud boom. Screaming, she let go of the steering wheel, her hands flying to her face covering her eyes she slammed the brakes. “Are you freakin crazy?!” she screamed, afraid to look to see him splattered all over the hood of her car.

Jumping down, Damon threw open her door almost yanking it off the hinges. “Get out.”

Turning her head, she peeked through her fingers, hoping to find him in one piece and not a bloody mess. Seeing him standing in her door unhurt pissed her off to a roaring level ten. He had just scared the crap out of her. Jumping out, she punched him as hard as she could in the stomach feeling a wicked satisfaction when she heard him grunt. “What were you thinking? I could have killed you!”

“I'm a vampire, remember?” He stated with a sloppy grin, rubbing his stomach. That had actually hurt a little.

“That doesn't mean I couldn't have run over you.” She slapped him in the chest. Twice. Hard. Shaking her hurting hand, she glared at him. “You scared the crap out of me.”

“You think that's scary?” He leaned in her face with a glare, then grabbed her hand and rubbed it gently. “That's nothing compared to what could be coming after you.”

“I'm....” She cleared her throat, looking at his large hands rubbing hers. Just that small touch made her skin crawl in a good wicked way. Okay, Nicole, get a grip. Lifting her eyes to his, she pulled her hand away. “I'm not leaving my home and job. I'll be careful.”

Damon nodded, turned away and reached in her car taking the keys out of the ignition. “You have to be the most hard headed, stubborn human I have ever met and believe me I have met a lot of them.” Grabbing her elbow, he headed back to the warehouse.

“Hey...” Nicole straightened her legs trying to stop, but she slid right along behind him in the gravel. “What are you doing? Give me my keys dammit!”

“Stop or you're going to hurt yourself.” Damon slowed, but still pulled her along. When she didn't start walking, but kept skidding along the graveled parking lot, he stooped, hitting her in the stomach with his shoulder, lifting her off the ground.

“Put me the f*ck down!” Nicole grunted as her soft stomach bounced on his shoulder.

He whacked her butt. “Watch your mouth.”

Sucking in her breath Nicole snarled. “You did not just spank me.”

“I'll do it again if you don't watch your language.” His grin was downright wicked and secretly he hoped she did so he could have a reason to put his hand back on that nice rounded ass.

Knowing he would, she bit her bottom lip to keep her mouth shut. As she bounced up and down her eyes fell on his rear end that was temptingly in her face. It would serve him right if she took a bite. God, it was so tempting.

“Don't even think about it.” Damon warned, as he opened the door to the warehouse, then set her down. Nicole swayed as the blood rushed to her head. “I bite back.”

“You're pushing it buddy.” She poked his chest with each word.

“And you owe a dollar to the jar.” Damon reminded her with a smirk.

Nicole shot him a nasty glare. She hardly ever said the f-word, but he had her so twisted she didn't know what she was doing anymore.

Mitch, Duncan and Jared stood staring at them with grins on their faces. “I told you he could change her mind.” Jared grinned. “He has a way with women.”

“I didn't change my mind.” Nicole hissed, glaring at Damon. “And he doesn't have a way with me. I am so not like those women who probably fall at his feet and do his every command.” Okay....where did that come from?

Jared snorted, trying to hide his grin behind his hand when Damon glared at him. “Shut the hell up, Jared.”

Damon turned to Duncan. “As you heard, the human has decided to play Russian roulette with her life, so we need to have someone with her twenty-four-seven until this gets taken care of.”