Damon (The Protectors Series) Book #1

by Teresa Gabelman

  “What the hell are you doing?” Damon sighed shaking his head.

  “Listen vamp, this is my first time taking some blood, okay, so chill out.” Nicole shot back. A frightening thought crossed her mind. “Where did this blood come from?”

  “What does it matter?” Damon walked toward her. “You need to drink it Nicole.”

  Shaking her head she tried to hand it back to him. “Thanks, but no.” She felt another pang of what she now knew was hunger, but ignored it. “Maybe later.”

  “Nicole, you are going to drink it so stop messing around or I will put you back into a coma until you are well fed and your body is adjusted.” Damon growled.

  Knowing he wasn't kidding, since he didn't seem to have a freaking sense of humor at the moment, Nicole brought the cup to her lips. Closing her eyes she pinched her nose with her other hand and took a sip.

  Damon smiled at her antics of pinching her nose. “What the hell are you doing now?”

  “It's what I did when I was little and had to take medicine that tasted yucky.” Nicole wiped her mouth with the back of her hand with a grimace. “Ugh...it’s cold.”

  “If you wouldn't have taken forever to drink, it would have been warm.” Damon rolled his eyes, but damn she was cute. Her little fangs peeking out from her upper lip was sexy as hell. “Finish.” he ordered.

  Nicole gave him an evil look then tipped the cup all the way back and downed it, nose pinched closed. Handing him the cup she wiped her mouth again shaking her head. “That was.....” Eyes popping open in horror she grabbed her stomach, looking around she saw a garbage can across the room and ran for it. Just as she made it her body heaved, spewing the blood back out of her body. Damon was there holding her forehead as her body rid every drop of blood she had just drank.

  “Easy darlin.” Damon eased her back so she could sit down then went to get her a wet cloth. When he came back Nicole had her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking. He knelt down beside her. “Hey, what's this?” He tilted her face up with both hands catching the tears with his thumb.

  “I can't do this Damon.” Nicole hiccupped as more tears fell. God, she hated crying. “Some vampire I'll make. I can't even stomach what I need to live on. The only thing I can really live on.” She jerked away from him and stood on shaky legs.

  “Did I just hear you say you couldn't do something?” Damon teased, trying to get her back on track. An emotional, slash hungry new vampire was a ticking time bomb.

  “Yeah, you did.” Nicole frowned, then wiped her eyes looking in the mirror at her blood streaked face. Even knowing vampires cried blood the sight of it running down her pale face caused her to fold into herself and slide to the floor. “Oh God, you should have just let me die.”

  Damon reached down picking her up into his arms before sitting on the bed. He cradled her close. “I couldn't.”

  Nicole sniffed peeking up at him. “Why Damon? I know how you felt about changing me.”

  “I couldn't lose you Nicole. There was no thought to it.” Damon held her tight then hooked a finger under her chin lifting her face closer to his. “And while we are on the subject if you ever, and I mean ever, do something like you did by hurting yourself I will blister that cute little ass. You got it?”

  “Well, I couldn't lose you either so I did what I had to do.” Nicole argued her point then decided to take a chance....again. “I love you Damon.”

  Damon closed his eyes tightly and when they opened they were brimming. “And I love you, my little vamp.” He bent to kiss her, but she pulled away.

  “Really?” She looked shocked yet hopeful.

  “As you know, I am not a man of many words so when I do say something I mean it.” Damon growled. “Now if you will agree I think it’s time I make you my mate. I think you can take your blood from me if you agree to become my mate.”

  Happiness like she had never known zinged through her body. She straddled him more than willingly to take his blood if it would mean they would be together forever. Her love for this vampire so great. Suddenly a horrible thought crashed into her mind. She pushed him away. “Oh my God, Pam!” Nicole struggled to get away. In all of this she had forgotten about Pam.

  “Is fine and will be fine.” Damon growled grabbing for Nicole. “You know I fell in love with you the first time I watched you put others before your needs. I have never seen anything like it. But now it's just pissing me off.”

  “She's really okay.” Nicole leaned a little closer.

  “Yes, she really is.” Damon sighed, reaching up kissing her neck as he ran his fangs along the side of her neck. His hands were doing some roaming of their own. “If you really want to see her we can go and take care of us later.” He finished that statement with his tongue demanding entrance into her soft mouth.

  Nicole was so lost in the kiss she kept following as he pulled away. Nicole pushed him back down. She would call Pam first thing in the morning. Hell, they might not ever make it out of this room. Now that she had him she didn't want to share.

  A loud knocking broke their silence. “Damon, everything okay?” Jared's voice came through the door loud and strong.

  “I am going to kill him.” Damon groaned. “We are not leaving this room until you are my mate.”

  Nicole giggled at the pained expression on Damon's face when Jared knocked again. Then both Nicole and Damon looked toward the door shouting, “Go away!” Damon added, “Don't come back!”

  Jared laughed from the other side of the door. “Glad to have ya back Nicole.” Jared called out. “If you need anything...anything at all just let me know. My blood is yours if you need it. Glad to have ya in the vamp family babe.”

  Damon sat up grabbing the lamp off the table next to the bed and threw it. Nicole watched in horror as it splintered into a million pieces. “Go the fuck away Jared.” Damon roared glaring at the door. “And if you ever offer my mate your blood again I will kill you slowly.”

  “Well hell, congrats.” Jared hollered back, a smile in his voice. “It's about time cause I was about ready to steal her away from your slow dumb ass.” Jared footsteps stomped away from the door.

  “I am really going to kill him.” Damon rubbed his eyes laying back on the bed.

  Nicole laughed and kissed his cheek. “No one can steal me away from you ever. So let's make this official before someone else comes by.”

  Damon growled as he pulled her under him. “Thank you.” He peered down into her eyes.

  “For what?” Nicole was confused.

  “For loving me.” Damon looked slightly embarrassed at his own words.

  “You're welcome vamp.” Nicole smiled, nuzzling his neck. “Oh, and you owe another dollar to the jar.”