Damon (The Protectors #1)(8)
Pulling her hand quickly away she flushed. “Thank you.” Nicole lowered her eyes feeling shy. What the hell, she didn't have a shy bone in her body, but she had never had anyone, especially a fine piece of male, stand up for her like that. “But like I said, he isn't worth it so don't worry about him. His words can't hurt me.”
“You are not a very good liar, Nicole Callahan.” He had seen the hurt flash in her eyes briefly at the bastard's words and it had sent him over the edge. Luckily Jared and Duncan had been here or he probably would have killed the son of a bitch. Something about this small human brought out every protective instinct he possessed.
Chad walked up with Mitch closely behind him. “Sorry Nicole.” Chad spat throwing her a glare oozing with hate. Ignoring Damon's sneer, he roughly grabbed his bag before slamming out the door.
Damon started to follow him. Nicole knew she had to stop him from killing Chad. “You owe me a dollar vamp.”
Caught by surprise Damon stopped to look down at her. “What?”
“You told Jared to shut the f-up.” Nicole gave him a mock frown. “So you owe me a dollar.”
Jared burst out laughing, the mood in the room turning much lighter. “She got you bro.” Jared chuckled.
Damon finally smiled, but his eyes remained black as midnight. “You can't forgive me for one slip.”
“Nope.” Nicole picked up her bag. “Sorry vamp. I'll give ya until tomorrow to pay up.”
“Ruthless....” Pam smirked shaking her head.
Seeing Mitch scowling at her, Nicole threw her hands in the air. “It wasn't me this time. I have witnesses.” She didn't wait for a response. “I'm heading out. See you tomorrow.” Waving to Pam she hurried out the door Chad just slammed through.
“Sorry about that guys. I'll talk to them both and make sure that doesn't happen again.” Mitch cursed, his hair sticking up from running his hand through it repeatedly. “I don't know what the hell is going on between those two, but they can't be in the same room without something happening.”
Nicole headed to her car, feeling tears burning the back of her eyes, but held them back. Blindly she searched for her keys. “I don't know why I lock this piece of crap.” She mumbled to herself tossing her gym bag on the hood rummaging through until she found them. Grabbing her bag, she unlocked her door throwing her bag in harder than necessary. Falling in behind the wheel with a huff she turned the key and with a puff of smoke from the tailpipe it started.
Eyes hidden in the dark moonless night followed her as she zipped out of the parking lot. The dark figure lifted his head slowly sniffing the air. “Mmm, sweet.” A sinister smile shaped the man's lips, as the smile spread sharp fangs gleamed. “Perfect.”
Chapter 3
Nicole and Pam met up at Club Zero. It was Friday night and they both needed to drown in a beer or two. It was unwind time.
“How's it going with you and Kenny?” Nicole asked over the thumping music. Club Zero was packed for a Friday night. They sat toward the back away from the dance floor where the crowd merged into one solid mass of bumping and grinding bodies. It was quieter in the back; well at least they didn't have to yell to hear each other. Not even the bathroom stalls were quiet at the dance club.
“Okay I guess.” Pam shrugged, then her pink coated lips spread into a grin. “He doesn't like the fact that we're working with vampires. He threw a fit when he found out. I told him that it was safer for us in the long run since we're dealing with a lot of weird stuff now, but he still freaked. Can you imagine what he will do once he sees the guys we're working with?”
Nicole nodded in agreement, tipping her beer. She knew Pam had the hots for Jared. Damn, who wouldn’t? The three vampires they were working with looked like they belonged on a magazine cover or romance novel. Kind of sucked hanging around with dudes who had better looking hair than yours. “Yeah, well, he needs to get over it. I mean it's not like we are going to jump their bones and have mad sex while on the job.”
“Ha! Speak for yourself.” Pam snorted. “Damon is the hottest thing on two legs and you damn well know it.”
Nicole shrugged, glancing out over the dance floor as if the conversation bored her to tears. “He's okay I guess. Probably knows how hot he is and plays it to his full advantage on poor unsuspecting females.”
“You are such a liar, Nicole.” Pam shook her head. “I see you sneaking looks at him during workouts.”
“Shut up Pam.” Nicole chuckled at her friend. “I do not sneak looks at him. I'm probably trying to slack and just making sure I'm not getting busted.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.” Pam rolled her eyes. “Come on. I need to work this soreness out and I love this song.” Pam emptied her beer in one gulp then grabbed Nicole before she could say no.
Damon and Jared walked into the smoke filled club; music blaring, bodies smashed together and the smells of sweat and sex hung heavy in the air, making their highly sensitive sense of smell go into overdrive.
“Do you want to split up?” Jared grinned with a wink at the little red head who rubbed her barely clothed body against his as she brushed past him. Licking her lush red painted lips with invitation, she moved slowly away, her hips swaying seductively. “Or do you want me to follow that red head and see exactly what she can do with those lips?”