Damon (The Protectors #1)(43)

“Do you know that if you were to mate with a vampire it's for life and you would need their blood?” Jared watched her closely, a secret smile playing across his lips.

“I heard something like that, but that's just with vampires.” Nicole replied. She wanted to ask more, but didn't want to look too pathetic by wanting to know more about human and vampire relationships. “I mean a vampire and human can't be mated.”

“Nope.” Jared tried not to chuckle. He loved messing with this woman.

“Nope what?” Nicole frowned. “Nope I'm right they can't or nope I'm wrong they can?”

“I can see right through you Nicole.” Jared laughed shaking his head. “Nope you're wrong. We can mate with humans. It totally depends on our responses. Some call it magic if you believe in that sort of thing.”

“Well, I didn't believe in you guys, so magic doesn't seem so far fetched now does it.” Nicole grinned.

“I don't know what it is really and I have lived this life for hundreds of years. I do know when you find your mate it is like nothing you've ever felt. If we mate with a human our blood is their substance to keep them young and alive. If a human's vampire mate dies the human dies, unless she takes to another vampire.”

“Why not just turn the human?” Nicole wondered aloud.

“Not all humans live through the change so most vampires don't chance losing their mates.” Jared leaned back to the table shuffling through files.

“Have you ever found a mate?” Nicole asked curious.

Jared stopped in mid shuffle his eyes flashing straight to hers. “No, I haven't.” Jared replied. “Hopefully, before my time ends, I will have found that perfect someone. I've seen it with others and it is intense once they're mated. It's a love that nothing or no one can ever come between.”

Nicole sat in thought wondering what that would feel like to be loved like that by another person, vampire or human. She had never felt love in any fashion or form, but she knew her feelings were strong for a certain vampire and that scared the crap out of her. What if Damon found his mate? How would she cope with that? Feeling her stomach clench at the thought Nicole stood up wanting to change the subject. “Do you think you could take a break and take me home?” Nicole hated being a burden in any sense.

“What, you playin' hooky the rest of the day?” Jared joked, but seeing her face he turned serious.

“What is it Nicole?” Jared stood, walking toward her.

“I've been placed on a mandatory leave of absence. It seems I'm too dangerous to have around.” Nicole shrugged her shoulder hating the fact she was starting to feel sorry for herself and damn, didn't that rub her the wrong way.

“Ahhh...I'm sorry.” Jared placed a large hand on her shoulder. “Things just aren't going your way are they?”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “As Mitch would say, my life has turned into a real shit storm.” Nicole grabbed her bag.

Damon pulled up on his bike as they were heading to Jared's car. “What's wrong?” Damon demanded watching Nicole closely. “I told you I would be back for you.”

“I've been put on mandatory leave of absence.” Nicole frowned, hating repeating the news over again.

Nodding, Damon didn't question it, which she fell a little more in love with him for. She really didn't want to talk about it. “Come on.” Damon replied making room on the bike. She swung her backpack on her back and climbed on.

Jared smiled with a wink at Nicole. Grabbing the helmet tied to the back of Damon's bike Jared placed it on her head, buckled it under her chin then tapped the top of it. “Cargo is ready to go.” Jared chuckled at Nicole's scowl.

Nicole wrapped her arms around Damon's waist pressing her face against his strong back. God, she loved the bike. She felt so free every time they rode it, like flying. Every time she ask him to go faster he would refuse saying he wouldn't risk getting her hurt which was sweet, but aggravating. Taking the old road next to the river Nicole watched the passing scenery trying to forget the last forty-eight hours of her messed up life. Wrapping her arms tighter around Damon's waist she decided to ask one more time. “Please go faster Damon.” She called out over the roar of the wind.

This time Damon shifted and they were flying down the road, the scenery passing so fast she couldn't make it out anymore. Smiling, she let everything go at that moment except for the feeling of the bike under her and the vampire in front of her.

Chapter 13

Damon opened the door to her apartment and did the 'all clear' thing as usual making her wait just inside the door. She dropped her backpack on the floor and waited to get that homey feeling she always got when coming home to her tiny apartment, but it didn't come and she was afraid it never would. Damon flashed back to her side in a second after checking every corner of her place.

“It's safe.” Damon glanced down at her intently.

Nicole nodded, walking further into her apartment glancing to the table, which had been empty since the break-in, out of habit. This time something was sitting on it. Curious Nicole took a few steps and stopped, her hand flying to her mouth. Walking quickly to the large bowl she looked down seeing two turtles lazily laying on rocks sunning under the lamp Damon had placed over them. Tears filled her eyes blurring the small turtles.