by Mays, Nikki
"Keys," I say while sticking out my hand once we reach her door.
"For what?"
"To open the door," I say.
"I can open my own door, Damon. Been doing it all by myself for years now." She says sassily
"I want to check everything out," I say getting irritated.
"Check out what? What are you looking for, the boogeyman? Everything is fine. You just saw that people can't get in here." She says with a ton of attitude.
"Don't make me ask again."
"You didn't ask the first time you gigantic jackass!" She yells at me. And I'm done. I snatch the keys out of her hand and unlock the door all while ignoring whatever the hell she's saying. Nothing good could come from me listening to what she's saying right now.
I proceed to ignore her angry mumbles as I walk through her place. I've only been here once before. Okay, I'm lying. I've been here plenty. I've only been inside once before.
Her place really is a good representation of her. When you walk in the front, there is an open doorway to your right that leads to a small galley type kitchen with all new appliances. It's painted a pale blue. The one window has a curtain that is of course covered in cherries. If you go straight from the front, that will lead you into the living room. It's an open floor plan that is connected to the dining area. You can go in one big circle, front, living room, dining room, kitchen and back to the front.
The living room has a big sectional suede couch, a large T.V in front of it on the wall and a fireplace next to s sliding glass door on the other side of the room. Past that is her small dining room with a dark oak table that seats six and a matching cabinet.
Walking from the front, if you go left and up two steps you come to a bathroom/laundry area on your right and a guest bedroom straight ahead. Going left is the hall that leads to the master bath and then a little further in her bedroom. Walking into her room, her walk-in closet is to the left and her king-sized bed in ahead. Her room as a tiny corner that holds her dresser. She also has a set of French doors that lead to a small balcony. Her room is painted in a muted yellow. Her comforter is a mix of blue and grey. It has stitching on it that looks like flowers. All in all, it's very feminine and exactly her.
Walking back into the living room after matching sure that everything is all clear, I see her sitting on her couch. She has her shoes off and feet curled under her. She's leaning on her arm and looks to be about two seconds away from passing out.
"All clear," I say and just get a tiny snort in return. She doesn't even bother lifting her head. "Come on, off to bed with you. You're going to be feeling like shit tomorrow Doll." I say as I pick her up and carry her down the hall to her room. She must really be half passed out already since I barely get a mumble of complaint. If only she could be this compliant all the time.
I pull down her covers before placing her in her bed. I consider changing her but realize that I don't have that kind of self-control. Hell, it's taking all of my willpower to not climb into bed with her and stay the night. But I know damn well that she would freak out in the morning and any sliver of progress that I've made will be gone. Plus, chicks say that those stretchy pants are comfortable all the time, so I figure that she should be okay until morning.
I cover her up and kiss her on the top of her head. She sighs and snuggles deeper into her bed. I need to get out here now before I do something stupid. I take one last look at the woman who fills my every thought before I shut off the light and walk back to her front door. I walk out and lock the deadbolt with a key that Marc gave me. Knowing him, he made a copy without her knowledge just so he could screw with her stuck and piss her off. He really likes to torment the girls way too much. But I'm not going to complain if it works out in my favor.
I get to my truck and realize that I'm still too pissed off about what she said to go home and sleep. Looks like I'll be getting a late night work out in. I think I've put on an extra twenty pounds of muscle in the past two years thanks to the frustrating little blonde baker. But I guess it beats plotting the murder of some moron who made my woman doubt herself. Although, I'm pretty good at multi-tasking.
Michelle
OMG! I think that I'm dying! My head is pounding and my mouth feels like the Sahara desert. I've definitely caught the swine flu. I'm laying in bed thanking all that is holy for my darkening curtains. I bought them specifically for the summertime. Owning a bakery means that I have to get up at the crack of dear god no and have to go to bed before senior citizens most days. It's probably the only thing that I've ever disliked about owning my own bakery. But thanks to hiring another baker besides Brianna, I've been able to come in later. It really has done me a world of good to have some sort of a normal workday.
Brianna and Tara are my two bakers/assistants. They both do the early shift every other day so that it doesn't burn them out. It's really been a dream come true. I kind of wish that I had listened to my parents years ago about getting more help. Will I ever admit that to them? Obviously not, I'd never heard the end of it. But I will gladly admit to myself that they might have been right. I'm just lounging here in my soft bed wondering if I can actually die from the swine flu because it sure does feel that way right now when images of last night start to play in my head.
I can't believe that I said all of the stuff that Gerry used to say to me. Let's face it, we all have that one ex who was sent to us straight from hell. Gerry is my own personal demon. If I could go back in time, I would make sure that twenty-two-year-old me never made the mistake of going out with that asshole. I hate to curse but the asshole is really the only word that best describes him.
I was young and dumb and unfortunately, he was gorgeous and charming I wish that I had known better. I dated that weasel for two years. My first clue and last clue that he was bad news should've been the fact that everyone hated him, even Mellie. That right there should've been like a gigantic neon sign to stay away. She gives everyone a chance. I mean she even felt bad and considered befriending her damn stalker before she knew who she was! But she hated Gerry with a passion. Maybe he was right and I really am stupid.
It has taken me a really long time to get past everything that he said and did! I have worked so hard to get past the horribleness that was that time in my life. I still can't believe how weak I was and how long I stayed with him. Really, I want to go back and knock some sense into myself, as well as some self-worth. You never realize how easy it truly is to hit rock bottom. Or how gut-wrenching it is to try to crawl your way back up. But I did it and I'm not going back! Even if remembering what I said to Damon makes me want to crawl under a rock, in Guam.
Grrr. I get out of bed and realize that I'm still in my clothes from yesterday. And the rest comes back to me. Dam freaking put me to bed! Just when I think that I can't be any more humiliated, it just keeps getting worse and worse. Did I yell at him and call him a gigantic jackass? Well, after last night I'm sure that he will never want anything to do with my craziness. I should feel better about that. I mean who just goes along with some crazy, albeit sexy, man who calls you his without any conversation. I should be totally happy about this, instead of feeling like the bottom of my stomach has just dropped out. That's just the wine not meshing well this morning. I'm really great at lying to myself.
I walk into my bathroom and wince at my reflection. Raccoons have nothing on my eyes and my hair looks like a bunch of birds have set up shop. It's times like this, that makes me so happy that I live alone. I do my morning routine and half ass trying to make myself look presentable because I'm dying, and walk into my living room. It's at this very moment that I wish lightning would strike me dead. Why? Because the man that has starred in every single one of my dreams for the past two-years is sitting on my couch having a cup of coffee.
"Morning," Damon says in a raspy voice without looking up from his phone.
"Ummm.". I can't even form words.
"I made a pot of coffee. I figured after last night you would need it. Also, brought you a toaste
d bagel with cream cheese." He says still not looking at me. I'm rooted to the floor. I can't seem to make my legs work no matter how much I want to flee. This has got to be a dream or considering my reflection this morning, a nightmare.
"What are you doing here? How did you get in?" I ask still unable to move. At least I'm forming coherent sentences, so that's a start. He looks up at my question and I can see his lips twitch. Yeah, I know, I look like the bride of Frankenstein right now. Mercifully he doesn't comment on my haggard appearance, though I can tell that he's dying too.
"Saw you type in your code last night. Used it to get in this morning." He answers.
"Right, but why are you here and not at, oh I don't know your own place?" I ask still utterly confused.
"Decided that we should spend the day together." He says while looking at his phone again.
"You decided that we should spend the day together?" I parrot.
"Yeah, and I figured that if I got here before you woke up, that you wouldn't be able to avoid me. You gonna keep repeating everything I'm tellin' you?" I wonder how many years in prison I would get for murdering a cop?
"Did it occur to you that I might have plans?" I ask snottily. I know that I'm being a brat but my complete embarrassment from last night has me wanting him to get as far away from me as possible. If being rude and pissing him off works, well then so be it.
"No"
"No?" I say dumbfounded. He looks up at me with an irritated look. Right, because I'm the one being obtuse and annoying this morning.
"Here you go again. And no, I figured that even if you did, I would just go along with you." He says with a casual shrug.
"What if I had a doctor's appointment. Would you come with me to my gynecologist appointment as well?" OMG mouth shut up! Why the hell is my brain not filtering me? Just when I think last night was embarrassing. So glad that I can show myself up in the light of day while sober. I'll take that lightning strike any minute now, please.
"It's Sunday. No doctor's office is open on Sunday. But if you want to play doctor, I'm all for that." He says with a salacious smirk before going back to whatever he's doing on his phone. I can feel myself flush bright red.
"No!" I squeak out before hightailing it to the kitchen. His dark chuckle follows me. I can't believe he just said that! I am not going to survive the whole day with him. I need to find a way to get rid of him as soon as possible. I can barely keep myself together when I see him at the shop. I know that I'll cave and finally give into him if we're alone all day together.
"So what would you like to do today?" He asks from right behind me. I jump and end up spilling the coffee I was pouring all over the counter.
"Damon! How many times have I told you to stop sneaking up on me? You need to put a damn bell around your neck!" I say while trying to take a step away from him. My kitchen is small and feels even smaller with this huge wall of broodiness standing here. He just smirks at me while shrugging.
"Not my fault that you don't pay enough attention. I purposely walked harder this time." He says with a serious face but that wicked gleam in his eye says he enjoyed watching me jump.
"Whatever. And we're not doing anything today. You're going home so that I can lay on the couch and die in peace." I say while picking up my coffee cup and walking to the couch to do just that. I look up and he smirking at me again. "What are you smirking at?"
"Interesting cup." He says. I look down to see what cup I've picked and snort when I see which one it is. It's the cup that Mellie gave me last Christmas. It's a white up with black lettering. It has a picture of a fist and says "Punch today in the Dick". I have to admit, it's probably one of my favorite mugs, if not my favorite.
"Mellie." Is all I say and he just nods his head in acknowledgment.
"Okay then, we'll spend the day here watching movies and talking," Damon says as he sits down next to me, way too close for comfort. He might as well as be sitting on top of me. Why when I gave up and no longer want to be anywhere near him does he decide it's a great time to start this "us" nonsense.
Okay, so I never really gave up hope. A girl has her secret dreams. You know, like being able to get whatever you want and always be a perfect weight. We all know that's never going to happen, but it's a nice dream. Same thing here.
"What is it with you wanting to "talk" so much lately? How is it that you went from being a weird mime to mister talkative?" I ask exasperated. I wonder if it's too early for tequila. I feel like that's where this day is taking me already.
"According to everyone else, you need to have a decent amount of communicating in a relationship." He drawls.
"I've had plenty of relationships that didn't involve talking," I say with a smirk. The deep growl I hear from him is extremely satisfying. Hmmm, someone doesn't like it when we bring up sleeping with other people. Guess he won't be mentioning how he doesn't have to get a woman drunk to sleep with them again. I chuckle to myself. I can actually hear him grinding his jaw.
"We'll be having a relationship that involves talking." He says firmly.
"So, no sex then. Got it." I say before taking a sip of my coffee to hide my smile. He looks shell-shocked for a moment but I can see him recovering...damn.
He leans in close to whisper in my ear. "Doll, I can guarantee you, that there will be a lot of sex." His breath in my ear makes me shiver as much as his words. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging to just talk to me. I'll also make sure that you never remember any of those other relationships." He says that last word on a hiss. "I plan to ruin you for any other man. But it doesn't matter anyway because I damn well will make sure that I'm the last man that's ever inside you. And better yet, you'll want me to be." He finishes that whopper off by nuzzling my neck before sitting back looking smug.
"You really think that I'm just going to go along with this? That I just accept that you think that I'm YOURS." I sputter. I mean, sure I plan on it and let's get real, I'd be stupid not to. A man who can make your panties combust with just words is talented for sure. Obviously, I'm more than happy to go along with that. Who wouldn't? Why am I not jumping his heavenly muscled bones right now? Right, right, right....stupid pride.
"I know that you're MINE." He says looking me dead in the eye. His face is so serious that I'm almost scared to hear what he has to say next...almost. "You've been mine from the start Doll. You've been mine for the last two years that I've been practically stalking you." I raise my eyebrows in confusion at that but he just ignores me. "You were mine when I scared away losers who shouldn't even be breathing the same air as you away." Say what?
I'm sitting here with my mouth opening and closing like I'm a damn puppy. I don't even know where to begin. How can the sweetest thing that anyone has ever said to me come from that same person that didn't talk to me for two years? Although, wait a minute!
"Okay, so we obviously do have a lot to talk about." He smirks at me and goes to answer but it's my turn to ignore him. "What do you mean by stalking me and scaring people away?" I'm about to wait for his answer when my brain clicks. That son of a biscuit! "Are you the reason that EVERY guy that I have gone out with lately has pretended that I don't exist or just straight up ran from me?" OMG, it makes perfect sense now! At least he has the sense to look sheepish while rubbing his neck.
"Maybe." He answers not looking at me.
"Maybe." I parrot.
"Possibly." He says.
"This is a yes or no type of question Damon," I say with fury in my voice. This jackrabbit! I've been wondering what the hell was wrong with me when all this time it's been a stalkerish broody mute!
"I may have had a few conversations with a few who really weren't good enough." He says still looking anywhere but at me. Guessing he's at least smart enough to realize that I'm pissed.
"How many is "a few"?" I ask even though I'm pretty sure I know the psychotic answer.
"Possibly all of them." He replies looking very wary. Yeah, you should be wary.
"And you thoug
ht that getting rid of any competition would be the best way to go about starting a meaningful relationship? That making me question if I was so completely undesirable to the opposite sex was a good thing. Hmmm? Please explain this idiotic, pathetic and utterly disrespectful behavior!" I finish that last part on a shout. I can see remorse in his eyes. I'm sure he wasn't trying to make me feel bad about myself. I know that he would never intentionally make me second guess myself. But he can shove his remorse up his ass right now! I am fuming!
"Well, see the thing is, that I never really planned on there actually being a relationship between us." He says and is smart enough to move away from a little.
"So you didn't want me, but you didn't want anyone else to have me either? Am I getting the just of it Damon?" I say in a deceptively low voice. I am actually shaking with anger. I haven't been this angry since I left my ex and that was more with myself than anything else.
"It wasn't like that." He says but he can't even meet my eyes. We both know that it's exactly how it was. I wonder if Marc and Mellie would help me hid his body? That's what friends are for right? Although it sucks since he's the person I would originally think to call when needing to dump a body.
"Okay, maybe a bit in the beginning. But after a while, the thought of you with anyone else felt like I was being ripped apart. I know I don't deserve you. You're an angel to my demon. You're light, where I'm darkness. I never wanted to drag you down to my level. I told myself to stay away from you and anything regarding your life. But I just couldn't stay away. I've never wanted anything the way that I want you. I know that you're pissed but I just couldn't help myself. You're the only thing that I've ever truly wanted for myself." He says looking grim. He's hunched over with his arms on his legs and fingers intertwined.
"Why would you say that about yourself?" I ask genuinely intrigued. Sure, he's just proven himself to be an enormous ass, but deep down he's a great man. Just watching the way he is with MJ will tell you that, so I'm a little confused by his self-depreciation.