Beautifully Damaged

by Gina Sevani

"I'm not your dude, now apologize."

  "What, man? I didn't do anything." He threw his hands up in defense. He looked from Damon to his friends who hadn't abandoned him yet and back toward Damon. The guy started sweating, he was scared. I could see it clear as day, but he didn't want to get punked out in front of his buddies.

  "Bullshit. First you grabbed her, and then you decided to make another very bad decision and touch her ass."

  He just shrugged like it was no big deal. "What's it to you anyway?"

  Damon leaned over the table with a look to kill. "What did you just say to me?"

  "Fine, I'm sorry," he muttered under his breath.

  "Not to me, tell her."

  The guy looked directly at me with the meanest look he could possibly manage. No doubt he was embarrassed in front of his friends. A flash of something went across his features, and I was afraid the words out of his mouth were not going to be the exact apology Damon wanted to hear.

  Damon curled his right hand into a fist under the table. Apparently he was good at reading people as well.

  "I'm sorry you're a ho with a fantastic—"

  Everything happened so fast and before he could even finish what he was saying, Damon had kicked his chair out from under him, jumped up and kicked the guy's knee in so he automatically dropped to the ground. In a flash Damon was on top, pounding his face. He dropped blow after blow and all I saw was blood. I screamed for him to stop, but he didn't acknowledge me.

  Big Joe and the bouncer ran up and pulled Damon off, holding on to him so he couldn't move. The friends of the guy just sat back, shocked and silent.

  Finally one of them spoke. "Dumbass knew not to go against Damon, such an idiot." Two of them took another pull from their drinks and stood. "Sorry, Damon, he's got a death wish man." Shaking their heads, they filed out, leaving their bloodied friend on the floor.

  Damon was still trying to get loose. "If you ever touch what's mine again, talk to her or even look her way again I swear to you, you won't see the light of another fucking day!" Unable to shake the bouncer's grip, Damon managed a kick to the asshole customer's face, which caused his head to jerk back then flop to the floor; he was knocked out.

  I couldn't believe what just happened. My first thought was I needed to make sure Damon was okay; my second was that he was all kinds of dangerous. I knew he'd been defending me, and I hated that he might get in trouble over it. My third was that he had a really short temper when it came to me.

  I wasn't sure how I felt about any of it but my adrenaline was pumping and my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest at any moment. I followed behind Big Joe as he pushed Damon toward the kitchen, leaving the bouncer to deal with the drunk on the floor.

  I didn't know what to do. Damon looked beyond pissed, and I seriously thought if anyone else was touching him, he would freak. For some reason he didn't with Big Joe. Damon paced back and forth. The cooks and a few other employees took that as their cue and cleared out. One of them called smoke break to the other. I saw Damon flexing his hand, and it was swelling rapidly. It dripped blood, I quickly grabbed the closet rag I found and filled it with ice.

  "Damon, it's been a long time since I've seen you that way," Big Joe said.

  What the hell did that mean? Damon never responded. He continued pacing, his muscular chest rising up high with every breath he took. Every time he came close to relaxing his hands, he'd fist them again right away. I went to hand him the ice and Big Joe moved quickly in front of me.

  "Ariel, why don't you go back out until he calms down."

  Something flickered in Damon's eyes, and it was like he hadn't known I was in the room with him. His breathing changed and he was on me fast, wrapping his arms around me.

  "Ariel, are you okay? You could've been hurt. Please tell me you're okay baby," he said before I could even answer him.

  "I'm fine, Damon, he's just a dumb guy but you're not fine. That was crazy."

  He nodded and looked over my shoulder to Big Joe.

  "Can I talk to her alone? I promise I'm calm, and I'll pay for any damage."

  Big Joe hesitated, took a deep breath, his gaze flickering between me and Damon. He seemed hesitant to leave us alone.

  "We can talk later but right now she's my first priority. I need to make sure she's okay."

  A proud smile spread across Big Joe's face, and he nodded. "No you won't pay for damages. I expected you to defend her. Keep in mind those other guys could have easily joined in, Damon. Be a little more cautious next time. You know their type — watch your back."

  Big Joe pointed to me. "And trust me when I say that she's completely fine. She's tougher than any chick I know. Hell, some guys too."

  Damon just raised his eyebrows in confusion, or doubt maybe, I wasn't positive. Big Joe made his way out of the kitchen.

  "Maybe next time take it outside to help with the damages though." He laughed, so did Damon briefly, and I thought there was nothing to laugh about.

  Before he made it completely out the door, he turned around.

  "Ariel, I see that you learned something, I'm proud of you girl."

  We were alone, and the silence was killing me.

  "Thank you, Damon… for what you did back there." I grabbed his arm and made him follow me to the sink so I could wash his cuts. "But please promise me you won't ever put yourself in harm's way again."

  His knuckles already looked terrible. His hand had turned a shade of purple and was swelling fast. Luckily the bleeding had pretty much stopped.

  "I can't promise you that, Angel," he whispered.

  It was the first time anyone had called me Angel since my father had passed away, and as good as it sounded on his lips, my heart raced and the room began spinning around me.

  "Shit, babe. Ariel?"

  Please no, not here and not in front of him. I haven't had an attack in at least a year. Damon picked me up and sat me on the counter. All the blood drained from my head. I was aware of everything but my head was extremely fuzzy. He caressed my back up and down all while whispering for me to breathe.

  Damon threw the rag on the counter and reached for the ice cubes that had fallen out. He placed one in each of my hand and closed my palms.

  "Deep breaths, baby. You feel the ice in your hand?"

  I heard him but my vision was a little off. After a few seconds, I felt how cold my hands were. My focus was on the ice and Damon, and soon the dizziness passed.

  "You back with me, Juliet?"

  "What was that ice trick?"

  "My mom used to have terrible panic attacks. That always helped her."

  "I'm sorry."

  "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one that should be apologizing."

  "I'm supposed to be taking care of you, Romeo," I whispered.

  He smiled. "You scared me just then, I think I aged ten years." He laid his forehead against mine.

  "You scare me all the time."

  Damon shifted back a little and stared at me, deep into my eyes like I was the only person in the world. "Ariel, I really am sorry you saw that side of me, but I couldn't take his hands being on you. I don't care who it was. If anyone touches you like that again, the end result will be the same. No one, and I mean no one, will disrespect you like that, especially in front of me. I won't allow it."

  There was no point in arguing with him. He meant everything he said and I didn't have a single doubt he would follow through with his threat.

  "Have you taken defense classes? Ms. Bad Ass!"

  "Yeah, some." I blushed.

  "You could have taken him." He winked.

  "Doubtful… so you're my protector now?"

  "I want to be your everything, Ariel."

  I sucked in a breath, our eyes locked. He kissed me softly and slowly.

  "This is way too fast."

  "No, sweetheart, this is slow." He smiled into the kiss.

  I pushed against his chest gently so I could look into his eyes. He needed to hear me. I pointed i
n between us. "This will end in disaster."

  Damon bowed his head and stepped back from me. He leaned against one of the islands. He was clearly upset but I was just being honest. I gathered the few pieces of ice that were left and handed it to him; he winced as he laid it on his hand.

  "You won't be able to play with that hand."

  "It's not that bad, don't worry about me," he snapped.

  Damon had a wall of his own, and I could sense it beginning to build. His demeanor had changed.

  And I was the one to blame. Upsetting him had never been my intention. I was just scared of him — everything he brought to the surface. I wanted to explain more in detail, so he would understand. The problem was I didn't know how. Damon was no longer looking at me. He just stared off in space. All of a sudden it was like a light bulb went off, and he was cheesing from ear to ear.

  "Care to elaborate what just happened there?"

  "You know, I might not be able to use this hand actually, so I guess that means you'll have to play for me. I doubt it'll be healed in two days before our next performance."

  Jackass.

  I narrowed my eyes and stared at him. "What are you playing at, Damon? I already told you I'm not sure what I want to do yet. Actually, I told you I'm not singing with you. I can't emphasize that enough."

  "Yeah, well, what's a guy gonna do? I mean I defended your honor. Don't you think you could at least play the guitar for me? Just a few songs anyway, I'll make it a short night."

  "You've got to be shitting me!"

  He smirked. "It's not that bad. I mean, I'm the one who could have gotten his ass kicked, all I'm asking you to do is sit there looking beautiful playing the guitar. Simple."

  "I seriously doubt you could have gotten your ass kicked." He did have a point though, even if it sucked. "Ya know, this whole jackassedness doesn't suit you."

  He winked. "You know you like it." And then he broke into a smile.

  "I gotta get back to work."

  "I don't think you should continue your shift."

  "I'll be fine."

  Big Joe walked in, apparently having heard part of our conversation.

  "Absolutely not, take the rest of the night off."

  I agreed because there was less than an hour until closing, and I was completely exhausted after the emotions of the day. I was done arguing, all tapped out.

  He pointed to Damon. "Make sure she gets home safe. Those guys are gone but you never know."

  Damon typed something on his phone. "Already on it."

  I swore those two were working on my last nerve, talking like I wasn't right there beside them. It was seriously rude.

  "Are ya'll telepathic?" They both just laughed. Big Joe and Damon seemed to be a lot closer than I thought.

  "What the hell, guys? I'm right here and I can get home by myself just fine."

  "Are you going to be able to play Saturday night?" Big Joe asked, and ignored me.

  "Yeah, pretty sure we have that figured out, don't we, Ariel?" Damon placed his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in close.

  I glared at them both but aimed it more toward Damon. "You're evil!"

  I shrugged his arm from around me even though I was right where I wanted to be. I left the asshats alone and went to grab my purse as fast as my human legs would carry me.

  "I'm out." I yelled through the kitchen door. Big Joe smiled and walked past me. He had a goofy smile for someone always so serious.

  "Hold up, Speedy Gonzales."

  "What, Damon?" My hands automatically went to my hips. I couldn't help it. I needed sleep. When I was tired or pissy, the feisty part of me always wanted to show up. It had been a long day, a long night, and I was past ready to get home. I watched his eyes take in my frame and they lingered around my hips. He licked his lips, and I wondered if he was actually aware of doing it. Damon made me feel desirable, and not once had anyone ever made me feel that way. I suddenly had thoughts other than rushing home to bed alone.

  "You're sexy." He had no shame in his game, at all.

  "I'm not."

  Damon rolled his eyes at my comment.

  "Want me to drive you home?"

  "No, that's sweet but we'll have a mess with the cars, and I need to get back here tomorrow."

  "I could just pick you up. It's not that big of a deal."

  "How about if it makes you feel better, you can just follow me home?"

  He nodded. "I'll send you our playlist for the weekend."

  "You really going to make me do this?"

  "Yes… yes I am."

  "Big Joe might not let me. I'll need to find someone to cover my shift for a few hours."

  "Leave him up to me."

  "I'm way too tired to argue with you right now, but this isn't over."

  "Lead the way pretty girl."

  I headed out the front entrance because it was closer to the truck. I got several curious looks, like some were actually concerned with everything that went down. The other nasty looks came from the bimbos who probably thought I was taking their spotlight for the night. I wanted to say something, and after the night we had I felt like I'd better just leave it alone for now, but they had better cut that shit out.

  "I'll walk you to your car and then head back to mine. I'm following you all the way home and then making sure you get inside okay."

  "Oh, you already know I live with my grandmother and you're not coming in, she'll wake up, and it's too late."

  He pretended to pout. "No bedroom make-out sessions?"

  "No, sorry, I have someone coming over, my time is already occupied."

  Damon — hot-as-hell, smooth-talking Damon — tripped. He actually forgot how to place one foot in front of the other. Somehow, he played it off well.

  The more I tried to hold back my laughter, the worse it got.

  "You think that's funny?"

  "I do, actually!" I covered my mouth with both my hands to try to keep my laughter somewhat contained.

  "That would be twice I could have gotten hurt tonight because of you."

  I couldn't tell if he was really upset or not because it was so dark outside, but his tone sounded hurt. I immediately felt bad.

  "I'm sorry."

  "SUCKER!"

  Damon picked me up, threw me over his shoulder like I weighed next to nothing.

  "Put me down! You can't walk straight by yourself. I don't want to be injured when you fall on your face."

  I got my ass slapped for that comment.

  "OUCH! That actually hurt." I reached around to rub the spot, but he smacked my hand away, and massaged the sting away.

  "Such a baby, it did not."

  I tried to wiggle against him but his grip just tightened.

  "If you keep wiggling your ass in my face we might have some serious problems, Juliet."

  I put a halt to any sudden movements and placed my hands in his back pockets because, really, where else could I put them? Maybe, just maybe, I wanted to feel his ass as he walked.

  "Ariel…" he growled. I would never get tired of him saying my name. Especially like that.

  "I'm pretty sure Romeo never ever talked to Juliet that way."

  "Yeah… Maybe that was their problem. Keys?"

  "I can unlock my own truck."

  Damon placed his mouth on my hip and bit gently through my jeans.

  "Keys, woman."

  I thought about not obeying him again, just so I could feel another one of his punishments. Damon unlocked my truck and slowly, oh so very slow slid me down the front of his body, where I felt all of him. It was a slow, sweet torture that I loved.

  Can I call a replay on that?

  I hated to admit it but a slight moan escaped from my lips. My body leaned into his like it had a mind of its own. His lips lingered on the corner of my mouth before he kissed me quickly. It was nowhere near long enough.

  "Drive safe."

  The drive home took me less than ten minutes but felt like forever, I guess because I had someone follow
ing me. I pulled in the driveway and so did Damon.

  Crap.

  His car was loud; people could probably hear it coming from a mile down the road. I hoped it didn't wake Grams. I walked up to the driver side window.

  Damon turned the radio down and smiled up at me.

  "Thanks for tonight, I know it sucked. How's your hand?"

  "It's hurts like a bitch. You could always kiss my boo-boo."

  "Has that actually worked on a girl before?"

  He just shook his head as he smiled. "Tonight wasn't all horrible if I remember correctly."

  Heat invaded my face at the remembrance of our break room activities. "Yeah, I guess so. I'm not usually like that."

  "I know that, Ariel."

  "It's late, I should probably go in."

  He nodded.

  "I'll see you soon, Damon." I leaned in so I could kiss his cheek, but he was too fast. He turned his head so his lips were toward me and I landed there instead.

  I wasn't complaining. Not one bit.

  Those lips would be the death of me.

  I HEADED INSIDE AND took the quickest shower possible. I was so glad Grams was asleep and not aware of the guy who'd been in the driveway. Not that I wasn't old enough, but I just didn't feel like explaining anything or playing twenty questions. She would have called the preacher to book our church wedding next Saturday. I notice Grams had been sleeping a lot more than usual, so I made a mental note to check and see when her next doctor appointment was. My phone beeped because of low battery and I almost broke my neck as I tried to plug my charger into the wall. Clumsiness was a real problem. A few moments passed by and my text notification went off.

  ROMEO: Goodnight, beautiful.

  It was a small, simple text but enough to put a huge smile on my face. I hated to not respond, so I kept it simple.

  JULIET: U2.

  I rested peacefully, a full eight hours. I couldn't remember the last time I slept that well. It was amazing how much better a person could feel with a good night's rest. I thought Damon had something to do with it. He seemed to settle me. I started dozing back off and I woke up to my phone beeping annoyingly.

  Damon had sent me his playlist. I was kind of irritated and a little excited at the same time. The good part was that I got to spend more time with him, even under the circumstances of him pulling the guilt card. It was just three songs he wanted me to play. Everything else, he said, he and his band would work out. Damon asked if I wanted to meet them at Dalton's in two hours for a quick practice. It would be before they opened up for lunch. I was familiar with the songs, but I still agreed to the practice.