Damon (The Protectors #1)(49)
Nicole rolled her eyes then turned to walk away. “Yeah, well hurry the hell up. I want to get back to work.” Well, that was a train wreck. “And I didn't ask for you to do anything for me.”
“I can't mate with you Nicole.” Damon replied his voice hard and firm.
Nicole stopped, but didn't turn around. Closing her eyes tightly she held as much hurt back as she could. “And you are reminding me of this again because....?”
“I miss you.” His answer was low, but loud enough for her to hear.
Turning around she took a step closer her head tilted slightly. “You miss me?”
He straightened from the bike taking a step closer. “Yeah, I do.”
No, Nicole screamed inside her head. Don't do it girl. “Well...I miss you too.” She whispered. “But I can't be with someone who cannot be honest with me and trust me to share certain things. I know you won't take my blood or mate with me or turn me. What I don't know is why. And I can't live with that. You know all about my life, but I know nothing of yours. I want to know everything about the man I love, be able to share everything with him good or bad and well, I can't compromise on that. I'm just not made that way.”
Damon was silent long enough that Nicole almost turned to leave, but he cleared his throat. “The first moment I saw you walk into the gym I had an overwhelming need to protect you. Nothing else but protecting you matters and I will go to any extremes to achieve it.” Damon's eyes turned dark. “You were my total focus and I couldn't stop thinking about you. We react that way when we find our mate.”
Nicole's eyes widened, but she kept silent not wanting him to stop.
“If I take your blood Nicole you would be my mate.” He took a step forward.
“And why is that a bad thing Damon?” Nicole could not understand.
“Because I killed the last human who was to be my mate.” His eyes never left hers. “I never had the feelings for her that I have for you, but I still wanted to be mated with her and was determined to do so.”
Nicole frowned, embarrassed by the fact she was jealous of a dead woman. “How did you kill her Damon?”
“I was a young vampire then and didn't have control. She offered her blood to me and once I started I went into a frenzy and couldn't stop. The next thing I knew I was holding her as her eyes stared up at me in horror.” Damon finally looked away from her. “Her last breath whispered my name.”
“My God.” Nicole walked up to him wrapping him in her arms. “I'm so sorry Damon.”
Damon held her close for a moment before gently holding her away. “I cannot live through that again Nicole and with you the draw is strong, so much stronger. I would rather die a thousand deaths than to ever hurt you.” Damon tipped her chin up so he looked deep into her eyes. “I just wanted to let you know that this has nothing to do with you. It's all me and I wish things could be different because if there was any woman I would be honored to be mated to it would be you Nicole.”
Nicole locked her knees so she wouldn't melt to the parking lot. Was it possible for a heart to break twice so soon? A tear leaked its way out rolling slowly down her check and stopped by his rough thumb before it could drip from her chin. “But it could be different.” She voiced her hope out loud.
Shaking his head sadly he took a step back. “It's not a chance I'm willing to take.” When he saw her start to talk again he put a finger to her lips. “Ever.”
Nicole bit her lip to stop from begging him. Lifting her hand up touching his cheek. “If you ever change your mind you know where I am.” Then she lifted up on her tiptoes and whispered close to his ear. “I have confidence that you would never hurt me....ever.” She turned away, her heart in her throat.
Chapter 15
Pam didn't question anything as they quietly rode back to Nicole's apartment and Nicole was thankful. Her mind kept replaying Damon's words over and over again. She had never heard him talk so much at one time and that he opened up to her surprised her even more. Given time she knew she could change his mind to take a chance on them. If he truly felt so strongly toward her, she had no doubt.
“Wasn't Damon on his bike?” Pam asked, her voice laced with concern, her eyes peeled on the rear view mirror. It was dark out and suddenly bright lights filled the car as Nicole turned to look out the back window.
“That's not Damon.” Nicole screamed before the car rammed into them. The seatbelt saved Nicole from hitting the dashboard.
Pam fought to control the car as they were rammed again. “Oh God, hold on!” The car swerved dangerously out of control. The next hit sent them off the road down an embankment. Pam tried to get back on the road but it was no use, the car hit something sending them flipping twice before slamming upside down against a tree.
Nicole opened her eyes slowly to find herself hanging upside down. The reality hit her foggy brain as soon as the pain did. “Pam!” Nicole called out as she struggled with her seatbelt. No answer sent her struggling harder, but it was stuck. Using her hand she pushed up off the roof of the car lessening her body weight and the other hand frantically tried to unclasp the seatbelt. “Pam, please answer me.”
Getting light headed Nicole spotted her purse and reached for it hoping to find something sharp to cut herself out. Something wet dribbled down her face into her hair. She knew she was hurt, but she had to get to Pam. “Dammit.” Spots started dancing in front of her eyes as her stomach pitched with a sickening lurch. Not able to reach her purse her body fell slack. She would try again in a minute. Trying to look around she got a glimpse of Pam hanging, her face turned away, but she saw blood, lots of blood. “Oh God....Pam!” Nicole screamed.