Damon (The Protectors #1)(25)

“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 f*cking 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.