Damon (The Protectors #1)(53)
“Nicole...” Damon pressed harder.
“Please Damon.” Her voice cracked, growing weaker by the second. Knotting his shirt tightly around her wrist he picked her up in his arms cradling her head softly. “Promise me something.” She finally said after licking her dry lips.
“Anything darlin.” Damon's voice also cracked with emotion.
“I like when you call me that.” Nicole gave him a small grin, her eyes closing. Clearing her throat she leaned closer to him. “Promise me you won't give up until you've caught whoever is behind Crimson Rush. Take care of the kids for me.”
Damon stayed silent as he rocked her back and forth kissing her forehead. He felt Jared at his back and knew Chad had been taken care of. He wondered if Jared had kept him alive so they could get names from him, but his only concern right now lay in his arms dying and he knew time was running out. He had never met anyone like her ever. Instead of begging to be changed so she could live she wanted a promise from him to take care of others. He knew she wouldn't ask for herself because it wasn't in her to do so and also she knew his feelings on it and respected them. “I promise darlin.” He whispered lowering her to ground gently. “I promise.” But Nicole was beyond hearing.
Chapter 17
Nicole didn't know how long she had fought her way out of the darkness and pain that had devoured her mind and body, if this was the way to heaven then a lot of people were gonna be so disappointed cause it sure wasn't fun or peaceful. Her heavy eyes fluttered open to slits. Afraid to open them fully she moved her eyeballs only to see darkness. Wasn't there suppose to be a bright light to greet her. At least the pain was gone. Feeling a little more brave because of that fact she opened her eyes more and was shocked to find she was in a room obviously laying on a soft bed. Nicole sat straight up looking down at her wrist which was free of any scar. My God, how long had she been out or was she really dead and this really was heaven.
Whipping the covers back she jumped out of bed amazed at how great she felt. “Hello?” She called out, her voice strong and deep. Okay...she was starting to freak a little. God she was thirsty. Licking her lips she felt a prick of pain on her tongue. “Ouch.” Reaching up she touched her lip, bringing her hand back she saw blood and her stomach clinched tight with hunger.
Eyes wide she ran to a mirror hanging on the wall between two windows and bared her teeth. Short fangs hung slightly lower than her other teeth, sharp and pointy. Slapping her hand across her mouth she turned away from the mirror. “Oh. My. God.” She murmured behind her hand. “He did it.” Turning back around she removed her hand slowly baring her teeth again. So many emotions sent her body into overdrive she felt ill.
After flashing her fangs this way and that, trying them on for size so to speak, Nicole walked back to the edge of the bed and plopped down, stunned. She was a vampire, a freaking vamp and she had no clue how to feel about that. A little scared.....yeah. A little freaked....hell yeah. What did this mean? Where was Damon and where was she, whose room was she in? As if summoned by her questions and thoughts the door opened and in walked Damon looking handsome and strong. She wanted to run to him, but his expression stopped her.
“What are you doing out of bed?” Damon demanded, his eyes running down her body back to her face.
“Why?” She whispered, ignoring his question with one of her own.
Damon was silent for a long minute staring at her so intently that Nicole shifted nervously on the bed. “I had no choice.” He finally moved, setting the tray down on a dresser.
Okay, so that wasn't the answer she wanted. “Yeah, you did.” Her chin lifted in a stubborn tilt. “You could have let me die.”
A frown spread across his wide mouth. “You need to feed.”
Okay, that took her back and made her pale. “Feed?” Nicole hadn't thought about that. “Blood?”
His frown turned up a bit. “Yes...blood. You have been out for three weeks. I actually expected you to be out longer.”
“Holy crap!” Nicole shot up from the bed. “Three weeks. My turtles. My rent is due. Oh my God. I have to get out of here.” When she started to head toward a bundle of clean clothes laying on a chair in the corner of the room pain clenched her stomach tight causing her to bend over. “Ouch.” Nicole's panicked eyes flew to Damon's.
“You need to slow down Nicole.” Damon was next to her in a flash. “You're still weak and you need to feed.”
“Ugh...will you stop calling it that.” Nicole cringed. “It makes me sound like an animal or something, no offense.”
Damon actually chuckled. “None taken.” He led her back to the bed. “Your body has been through one hell of a change and will take time to adjust. We have kept you in a semi-coma after the change so your body could get use to the blood and you wouldn't suffer as much.”
Sitting down slowly, she wrapped her arms around her stomach dreading the next pain. “But I feel great except for this.”
“You will feel great. No aches, colds, headaches or disease, but when hunger hits it is ten times worse than human hunger and the only thing that can satisfy it is blood.”
“Yummy.” Nicole rolled her eyes with a grimace.
Damon looked away from her. “Are you sorry I changed you?”
Shocked, Nicole realized he was nervous about her reaction to being a vampire. “I won't lie, it freaks me out a bit and yeah, I'm a little scared, but I'm still here. You saved me Damon and for that I'm grateful.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, you'll help me won't you?”