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.
“I know it's not Ren and Stimpy, but....”
Nicole threw herself at him not letting him finish practically crawling up his body holding on tight, her face buried in his neck breathing in his scent.
He chuckled. “Ah...you're welcome?” He held her just as tight before gripping her hair gently in his fist pulling her head back to look into her intense watery eyes.
“No one has ever done anything like that for me before.” Her voice was raspy with emotion, cracking at the end. “Thank you so much.” Since her legs were wrapped around his waist, his arm tucked around her holding her to him, she took both hands cupping his face lightly kissing his full lips.
Damon would get her a f*cking zoo full of animals if this was how she thanked him, but his protective instincts hit full force and he eased away from her kiss and damn, wasn't that the hardest thing he'd ever done. Once with her was no way enough, but it was too dangerous right now to lose himself in the sweet body so temptingly wrapped around his. Slowly he eased her down his body. “What are you going to name them?”
Embarrassed heat colored her cheeks as he sat her away from him. “Sorry, I didn't mean to jump you.” She turned away. “Just wanted to thank you.”
Damon grabbed her before she could move away. “Honey, you can thank me any time.” He leaned down kissing her lightly on the lips. “But my main concern right now is keeping you alive and having you wrapped around me like that....well, let's just say protecting isn't what I want to be doing to you.” He flashed her some fang with the sexy grin he tossed her way.
Nodding with a smile Nicole glanced again at the turtles and knew without a doubt she had fallen in love with his man. “You hungry?”
His eyes roamed down her body slowly then back up his eyes darker than before. “Starved.”
Her hand rubbed her stomach while it did that funny floppy feeling it always did around Damon. “We have locks on the door you know.” Nicole walked over sliding the dead bolt with a loud click. “And didn't Sid put a sensor thingy around the windows and stuff?”
Damon's lips curved as he nodded slowly watching her under lowered lashes.
“I've had a really hard day with having to leave my job and I really need a friend right now. Don't you have special senses like Spider-man's spidey senses to know if the bad guys are coming?” Nicole was having fun watching Damon's eyes turn dark and hot as he watched her. God, to have a little power over a man like this was mind blowing. “That's kind of a turn-on you know. He could probably do all kinds of things to Mary Jane and still know if the bad guys were coming so he could protect her.”
“Spider-man's a p-ssy.” Damon growled, pinning her to the wall. His body caging her in, his head bowed next to her ear. “You're playing with fire human.”
“I like fire vamp.” Nicole's husky reply brushed across his chest.
Tipping her face up with his finger under her chin he smiled down at her. “As much as I would love to take you against this wall I'm not going to.” His smile grew and he chuckled at her moan. “Listen and listen good little human. It's too dangerous and not worth the risk. I am here to protect you.”
“Are you serious?” Nicole frowned. “Here I am offering myself and you're turning me down. What was all that 'I'm starved' and looking at me like I was your favorite dessert?”
“I'm not turning anything down...just taking a rain check.” He leaned down to kiss her, but his lips landed on her ear when she turned her head.
“I don't give rain checks.” Her pride huffed as she tried to walk away. “And I don't like to be teased.” Especially when she wanted him so damn bad.
He grabbed her arm pulling her back against the wall. “I wasn't teasing you.” His eyes roamed down her body. “I love looking at you.”
Nicole rolled her eyes with a snort, then decided she could tease a little herself. “I guess I'll go take a nice long hot bath.” Heat flared in his eyes and her belly tickled. He let her go, stepping back. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge since you're starved.” She tossed over her shoulder.
Walking slowly into her room she smiled. Ha.....suck on that vamp. Grabbing her shortest shorts and a cut off tank she headed to the bathroom. Running the hot water she stripped out of her clothes making sure the door was cracked open just a tiny bit. Yeah, she was evil and proud of it. The way he was looking at her earlier had made her want him so badly and then he turned all big and bad protector on her. Yeah, well, two could play the tease game so she made sure she walked back and forth in front of the cracked door as many times as she could...naked.
“Hey, could you put me a beer glass in the freezer to frost it up.” she called out and grinned when he grunted his answer. Stepping into the hot bubbly water, Nicole gripped both sides slowly easing into it making sure she moaned her pleasure loudly as the water crept over her body. “Ahhhhh God.....this feels sooo good.” Her husky voice echoed in the small bathroom flowing out into the rest of the apartment. At the sound of a glass hitting the kitchen floor Nicole slapped her hand across her mouth giggling. She had never been one to play games or act the 'hoe' as Pam would call it, but this was certainly entertaining. Never had she considered herself a desirable woman. Men certainly hadn't been knocking down her door. The way Damon looked at her sometimes made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world and it was a very nice feeling. “You okay?” She called out hoping she sounded concerned. A loud bang followed by footsteps heading toward the bathroom sent her sitting straight up.
The bathroom door banged open with Damon's massive frame filling the doorway glaring at her, his eyes dark as they roamed over her sudsy body. Grabbing the bottom of his shirt he pulled it over his head showing his sculptured body rippling as he threw his shirt behind him. Pulling first one gun out of the waistline of his jeans and then one out of the holster strapped to his ankle above his shitkickers, he placed one on the bathroom sink and the other on the toilet seat next to the tub never once taking his eyes off her. Kicking of his boots he unsnapped his jeans and jerked them off showing that he was commando which was sexy as hell. He growled as Nicole's eyes focused on his arousal, something she didn't get to focus on the first time they were together. Her tongue snaked out licking her bottom lip wondering what he would taste like.
“I have never wanted anything the way I want you.” He growled as he stalked closer. “If we die tonight it will be all on your head human.”
Nicole pulled herself up to kneel, making room for him. “Yeah, but what a way to go.” She sighed as he stepped into the warm water with her. As he sat he gripped her waist lifting her to straddle him. “What was that loud bang?”
Taking his eyes off her breast he grinned up at her. “I put your bookcase in front of the door so I could have time to get my pants on if someone decided to plow through it.”
Nicole's eyes widened before she giggled. “How sweet.” She wiggled, getting more comfortable, feeling more female than she ever had in her life when he groaned his head falling back against the tub. Taking full advantage, she leaned into him kissing his jaw working her way to his neck. “I love the way you taste.” She murmured against his skin as she licked her way down his neck to his chest taking a quick lick of his nipple. When he moaned, she went back and teased it with small bites before sucking it fully between her lips rubbing the pointy tip with her tongue.
Moaning deep Damon sat up leaning her back against his knees that were bent behind her since he was way too tall to stretch out fully in her tub. “My turn.” He grabbed her hair forcing her head to lie back over his knees. Usually she hated having her hair pulled, but this was different and the dominance of it turned her on....wow, who knew she'd like being dominated. His large hands gripped her breasts pushing them together as his eyes devoured them.
“Not fair.” Nicole's voice cracked with need. “I wasn't done tasting you.”
As his head lowered to her breast, still pushed together by his large strong hands, he blew against one puckered nipple then the other. “Honey, if you tasted anymore of me our bath time would be cut way to short.” His tongue snaked out flicking across one nipple then the other.
Nicole moved, slowly rubbing friction against his hard cock that was nestled in the curve of her ass. As he feasted on her breast, his hands moved down her body to still her hips. This time she growled with frustration. Reaching around she grabbed his hair pulling him away sliding back onto her knees and before he knew what she was doing she reached under the water gripping him before she slammed onto him sheathing him in his tight warmth.
“Ahhh....damn!” He yelled out, his fangs growing longer overlapping his lower lip. Leaning in she licked one cutting her tongue in the process of riding him hard. He grabbed the back of her head bringing their mouths together in a teeth crashing, tongue grinding duel and then stopped cold. “No!” His voice boomed in the tiny bathroom.
Too far gone with emotion Nicole didn't see the change in his eyes or feel the stillness of his body, she just kept loving him toward satisfaction. Trying to lean into him to taste more she realized he was not pulling her toward him, but holding her back....pushing her back. “What's wrong?” she whispered trying once again to lean toward him. “Damon?” His face had turned to stone and his eyes were a mixture of lust and something else she'd never seen before.
Looking away, he lifted her off of him as he stood jumping out of the tub. Grabbing a towel he dried off quickly and pulled his jeans back on. “Are you still bleeding?” He ask not looking at her.
“Ah no.” She replied confused. “It was just a little nick from your fang. Do you sharpen them babies?” She tried to tease as she got out of the tub grabbing the towel he threw on the floor wrapping it around her now chilled body.
“Get dressed.” He demanded before storming out of the bathroom slamming the bathroom door shut behind him.
Staring at the door Nicole felt her stomach flip, but for different reasons than before. This time it wasn't a good feeling. What the hell was that all about? Wasn't he a freakin vampire who loved blood? Or maybe it was her blood he didn't want and dammit, that hurt more than it should and pissed her off which was a little demented.
Wrapping the towel tighter around her, she opened the door and walked out. “What is the problem Damon?” Nicole walked in the middle of her living room noticing he was on the phone. She waited until he hung up. Standing there with her hands on her hips she glared at him repeating her question.
“I need to go out for a while.” He grabbed his bag shoving things into it, not meeting her eyes. “Jared is coming over to stay until I finish.”
She walked closer putting her hand on his shoulder and died a little inside when he flinched. “What did I do?” Nicole ask hating the pitiful voice that squeaked out of her mouth.
“Nothing Nicole.” He zipped his bag standing up straight not looking into her eyes. “You did nothing.”
She had a sinking feeling she knew what was up. She stepped into his line of vision forcing him to look at her. “Damon, I am going to ask one more time what is wrong. I am not going to beg, but I know something just happened and it’s only fair for you to tell me.”
His head turned toward her, but his eyes were slower to make it to her and when they did she gasp. They were blacker than she had ever seen them and rimmed with fiery red. “It's not you Nicole. I just have to leave for a bit.”
“You need to feed.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “My blood did this to you?”
He nodded. “It's fine Nicole. I just waited too long.”
Reaching up she touched his cheek. “Then feed from me.”
He stepped away from her as if her touch burned him. “No.” His eyes shifted everywhere but back to her.
“Why not? I don't understand. I have blood...you need blood. You've helped me so much let me help you.” Nicole took a step toward him and he stepped back which was starting to piss her off a tad. “You act like you don't want me anywhere near you.”
“I'm not taking your blood Nicole.” Damon hissed, taking another step back. “So just let it go.”
“Why are you acting like this?” Nicole frowned.
“Like what?” He shifted glancing at his phone.
Okay, she wasn't an idiot and she could take a hint, like how he was shifting around wanting to get away from her. Yeah, been there done that. Well, she wasn't going to make it easy on him. Hell with that. “Like an a*shole.” She shot back. “Is my blood not good enough for you?”
“You don't know what you're talking about Nicole.” He hissed, glaring at her this time instead of his phone.
“Then why don't you explain it to me. Do I even have a shot with you or am I the wrong species?” She snapped, closing the gap and poking him in the chest. “What is it vamp; I'm good enough to f*ck, but not good enough to suck? What, my blood isn't good enough for you?”
He was silent, except for the grinding of his jaw.
His silence was enough answer for her. Even though her heart was trashed she still had her pride that saw her through the worse moments in her life and by God it would get her through this. “You know Damon, I know all about vamps taking the blood of humans and the bloodlust, blah, blah, blah and I don't take it lightly, but you are a warrior and I trust you never to hurt me, but that isn't it, is it? You are afraid to be mated to a human. I know you can be mated to one because Jared told me.”
“Jared's an idiot, but you're right, I don't want to be mated to anyone and I will never turn you.” Damon replied. “I shouldn't have let this go as far as it has.”
“What, playing with the little human?” Nicole snorted. Walking toward the bookshelf he had placed in front of her door she tried to push it out of the way, but it wouldn't budge. “Dammit....” She felt tears close and prayed to God they didn't spill over before she could get him out of the apartment.
“I wasn't playing with you.” Damon marched over, moving her out of the way. She pulled her arm away from his grip with a snap. With ease, he picked up the book case with books and all moving it back to where it was. He turned to look at her and for a brief moment sorrow filled his eyes, but then was gone in a flash.
“Just go Damon.” Nicole wished to God she had put her clothes on. She felt stupid standing in a towel trying to be all serious.
“You're the one with the friends with benefits idea.” He snapped, then frowned shaking his head. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean that.”
Wow, that was harsh and hurt like hell. With a sad smile she cocked her head. “You meant it and you're right. I was wrong. I want more....you don't, obviously.” Sighing deeply, her heart breaking more than she ever imagined, she actually laughed with a bitter edge. “You know, I thought it would be easier the older I got.” She grabbed his bag handing it to him as she edged him toward the door.
“What?” Damon looked confused.
“Loving someone and having it thrown back in my face.” Shaking her head before he could speak she started closing the door. “I can't just have a one sided thing Damon. You have your reasons for wanting to stay distant and I understand, even though you won't talk to me about it, but I understand. The friends with benefits was because I wanted you so bad and hoped that you could find a way to love me.”
Damon stuck his foot between the door and the frame before she could shut it. “You love me?”
“Yeah Damon.” Being honest was the only way she was going to know how he felt and she was sick of the back and forth stuff. Either he would stay and work things out or he would walk away. It was in his court now, but the not knowing was going to end now. “I think it's obvious to everyone but you. I have never offered anyone else my blood, which by the way freaks me out, but yeah, I would give every ounce of blood I have in my body for you. If that's not love than I don't know what is.”
They both stood still as stone, him in the hall and her holding so tightly to the door she was surprised the wood didn't splinter, staring at each other. As the minutes went by so did Nicole's control. Finally, he moved his hand up to rub it down his face as if frustrated. “I don't know what to say.”
“Well, that pretty much says it all.” Nicole moved quickly before he could see the pain she was trying so hard to hide. “Goodbye Damon.” The sound of the door snapping closed and the lock clicking, echoing through the room hit her hard. Slapping a hand over her mouth knowing Damon's keen hearing she rushed to her bedroom closing the door quickly before grabbing a pillow to cover her face. Never had she felt this type of devastation. Not once had her love being turned down felt this way. Curling up she laid down and cried into her pillow praying she was strong enough to survive the pain this time, truly terrified she wasn't.