Nicole (The Mate Series) Book #1

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Well, shit!” Nicole cursed as a heavy feeling of dread filled her for her friend.

  Chapter 20

  Walking back inside, Nicole spotted Tessa talking with Katrina. Before she could move further into the room, Steve headed her way, while Damon and the rest of the Warriors talked to Mike and the other vampires.

  “They forced me to tell them.” Steve held his hands up before she could even say anything.

  “Uh-huh.” Nicole nodded, not believing that for a second.

  “But, hey, it turned out great.” Steve ignored the fact she didn’t really say anything back to him. “No one died a grisly death. The guys are working shit out as we speak. All in all, I call that a good day.”

  “A good day, huh?” Nicole’s eyes narrowed. “I think a good day would have been for you to have kept your promise and let me and the women explain to our mates what was going on.”

  Steve appeared to think about that for a second. A moment later, he shook his head. “Nope, this way was the best.”

  “You’re lucky, Steve,” Nicole warned as she passed, giving him a shoulder check. “I don’t think you have any idea what eight really pissed off women can do.”

  “And I definitely don’t want to find out.” Steve snorted, hurrying away, a smart move on his part.

  “You ready to leave?” Damon walked up, his face expressionless.

  “Sure.” Nicole glanced up at him, aggravated she couldn’t get a read on him. Was he angry? “Let me thank Mike.”

  Damon nodded, but remained silent.

  “You in trouble?” Pam whispered as she passed.

  “I have no idea,” Nicole whispered back with a cringe. “You?”

  Pam shrugged. Smiling, she took a quick glance at Duncan. “If I am, I won’t be for long.” She gave Nicole a wink.

  Nicole snorted, walking up to Mike. “Thanks for letting us join tonight.”

  “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened.” Mike frowned. “This was not what I expected would happen.”

  Watching him closely, Nicole believed him. “Unfortunately, it’s something as women we’re forced to get used to. It doesn’t mean it’s okay or we won’t challenge people’s shitty attitudes though. But Tessa is fine. I’m fine, and the rest of your guys were great. Don’t sweat it.”

  Seeing Mike’s gaze go past her, she turned to see Quinn. Having finally woken, he now stood in front of Damon. Yeah, this wasn’t good.

  Nicole, with Mike following, headed toward Damon and Quinn.

  “I shouldn’t have said what I said,” Quinn was saying as she walked toward them. “I apologize.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have.” Damon’s voice was deep and growly. “I’m not the one who you need to apologize to.”

  Quinn nodded, then glanced at Nicole. “Nicole, I’m really sorry.” He looked a little sheepish. “I guess I let my—”

  “Chauvinist pig attitude,” Jill supplied as she passed by with Slade, heading out.

  A grin slipped across Nicole’s lips, but she remained silent as she watched Quinn squirm a little bit.

  “Listen, I’m not used to women like you,” Quinn said, a frown creasing his forehead. “So, you know… I just….”

  “Holy crap, dude. Spit it out already.” Steve huffed and rolled his eyes, his arm around Mira.

  Deciding to let Quinn off the hook, Nicole laughed. “It’s okay. And you’re right. You’ve never met women like us, and you best not forget that. Perhaps reconsider how you treat all women in the future.” After a quick nod at Quinn, Nicole reached out and clasped Damon’s hand, ready to get home, shower, and find out just how much trouble she was in.

  Glancing up at Damon as he held the door open for her, his eyes lowered to hers. A wink followed. Her insides swirled with delight at what that wink suggested. If he were angry, he was hiding it very well.

  A short while later, Nicole pulled into their driveway with Damon behind her on his bike. By the time she had collected her bag, he was there opening the door. Silently, they made it to the front door where Damon keyed in their code. Once again, he opened the door for her just as his phone rang.

  “Yeah.” Damon growled the word, his irritation clear.

  Nicole sat her stuff down on the small table inside the door, then headed toward the kitchen to grab a water, giving Damon privacy. Leaning against the counter, she listened to the low hum of Damon’s voice. Warmth spread through her chest at the sound. It felt like home. He felt like home. Not the walls she now stood in, but him.

  “I have to go.” Damon frowned as he entered the kitchen, his eyes intently watching her.

  “Work?” Nicole pouted, disappointment clenching her stomach.

  Damon’s eyebrow cocked. “What else would take me from you?”

  Nicole shrugged her shoulder, turning away from him and setting her water on the counter. “If you’re angry with me….” She let that hang out there, not finishing.

  She knew he moved, felt his closeness as his hand brushed her hair away from her neck. He placed a kiss against her skin, his fangs teasing its softness. “I’m angry?”

  Shivering, Nicole sighed. “Are you?”

  “That you didn’t tell me about tonight? A little.” Damon pulled her up against him, his large hand splaying across her stomach. “But I understand. At least, I’m trying to understand.”

  Moaning as his hand moved down her stomach cupping her intimately through her tight workout pants, she moved her hips. “Thank you.” She moaned again as his fingers moved faster. How could something through clothing feel so damn good? “Mmm, I thought you had to go to work?”

  Damon’s other hand found her breast as his other continued to work his magic with fingers that were bringing her close to the edge without touching her skin. From behind her, his mouth continued to tease her neck, and his fangs broke the delicate skin. He began to feed on her as she climaxed. Her body went slack, but she didn’t need to worry about falling. Damon held her against him until he was finished.

  Turning in his arms, she took his mouth with hers. Their kiss was fierce as she climbed up his body thirsting for not only his blood, but the man was wickedly strong. Lifting her mouth from his, she bared her fangs, sinking them into his neck probably a little harder than necessary, which was clearly indicated by his hiss. He actually slapped her ass, then rubbed her against his hardness as she drank from him.

  Once she had taken her fill, Damon slowly lowered her. “I have to go.”

  “What?” She gasped, her body raging for him and not just his fingers this time. She wanted him deep inside her.

  Damon’s deep sexy chuckle only made the situation worse as her pussy throbbed. “Be naked when I get home,” he ordered, pulling her in for another kiss.

  When he pulled away, she grabbed his cock through his jeans. “I can make that go away real quick.”

  His hand clasped hers, pressing it against him harder before he pulled her away. “I don’t do quick, Nicole.” His eyes zeroed in on her as they ran up and down her body. “I will always want to savor every single inch of you.”

  Frustration made her shake, but her eyes also did some roaming of their own. “Riding may be a little difficult.”

  Damon reached down and adjusted himself. “I’ll make do.” He gave her a wink. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “You don’t play fair.” She pouted his way, but grinned.

  “Fair is leaving you partially satisfied for the moment, but waiting for me to come back to finish the job.” Damon smirked knowingly, and reached out and touched her cheek. “I love you.”

  “I love you.” Nicole stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. “Please be careful and… hurry.”

  With a deep laugh, Damon turned and walked away. Stopping short of the door but not turning to face her, he said, “I’m proud of you, Nicole.”

  Nicole couldn’t form words, too surprised by his praise. Before she could even get to the point of saying something, anything, he was gone. Staring at the empty space
where he had just been, Nicole bit her lip. She was so sick of crying, but damn, that man was full of surprises that melted her. Sucking it up, she sniffed. A slow grin slipped across her lips and her body pulsed with anticipation as she ran to their bedroom to plan a night he wouldn’t soon forget. She would find the perfect way to show her appreciation to Damon.

  Chapter 21

  Nicole sat in her office trying to focus, but her mind kept returning to when Damon finally came home in the earlier hours of the morning. She’d practically attacked him before he made it into the house. A knock on her door brought her abruptly out of her dirty thoughts about Damon and his clever tongue.

  “Yeah,” she said absently as Nicole glanced up from the file she had been looking at, but not really seeing. Heat spread through her when her gaze fell on Damon. He stood in the doorway with a knowing smirk on his full lips as if he knew exactly what she had been thinking. “Oh, hey,” she croaked. She cleared her throat. “What are you doing here?”

  “He brought me.” Vanessa peeked around Damon’s broad shoulders.

  “Come on in.” Nicole pointed to one of the seats and waited until Vanessa sat, but Damon remained leaning against the doorframe, crossing his arms in his usual pose. “How you doing?”

  “I’m good, but I need a job, and Damon said you may have something here I can do,” Vanessa replied, hope clinging to every word.

  “Pike is going to be training with us,” Damon added. “So I thought maybe you could use more help.”

  “We can always use help, but how old are you? You have to be at least eighteen to internship, and unfortunately, unless I can pull some strings, that doesn’t pay.” Nicole frowned, not liking the fact she may not be able to help Vanessa. “With all the new rules with qualifications, you have to be at least twenty-one to be an official employee.”

  “Well, that shouldn’t be a problem since I’m twenty-one, soon to be twenty-two.” Vanessa grinned at Nicole’s open-mouthed gape. “I know I look way younger. I think that’s why Rosenstein grabbed me. Pike said that I had an uncanny resemblance to Carly.”

  “Okay, then you’re hired.” Nicole gave her a nod, but the smile didn’t quite make it to her face. The mention of Carly, not that she needed reminding, proved just how badly they needed help. Nicole was actually one of the many in social services who fought for government change on the policy of caseworker qualifications. Nicole dug through her pile of papers next to her desk and pulled out a packet, then picked up a pen and handed it to Vanessa. “Take this and go across the hall. Fill it out and bring it back to me. I’ll have Ben or Pam go over everything with you since I have visits to do today, but they can get you started while they put a rush through the necessary checks.”

  Vanessa took the paperwork and stood. “Thank you so much.”

  “No, thank you.” This time Nicole did smile. “We need all the help we can get.”

  Damon stepped out of the way as Vanessa left her office. Once alone, he stepped inside and closed the door. This time, instead of leaning, he sat. “How many visits do you have today?”

  “Four, but if I can swing five, I will,” Nicole replied with a sigh. “Three scheduled and two not. I’m going to take Tessa with me. Jared was such a dick last night, and I know she was upset. This will take her mind off it.”

  “Just be careful and watch your back.” Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t say anything else, though he looked like he wanted to.

  “Always,” Nicole replied, wondering if maybe Damon knew what Jared’s problem was. “Do you know why Jared is being such an ass with Tessa?”

  “Jared’s always an ass,” Damon mumbled, then stood. “I don’t get involved in others’ business and neither should you, Nicole. Jared’s story is his to tell. Not mine.”

  “Ah-ha!” She pointed at him. “So you do know something.”

  “Nicole,” Damon warned before leaning over the desk, holding the back of her neck and bringing her close for a kiss. “Watch yourself today.”

  Before he could turn and disappear, she stopped him. “Do you think what happened with Rosenstein was a demon?” Fear pitched her voice unnaturally; it was hard to hide. Vampires didn’t scare her. Shifters didn’t either, but demons were a whole different story.

  “There is no evidence other than what Pike heard to suggest there is,” Damon replied after a slight hesitation. “And if we believe that is a possibility, we will deal with it.”

  Remembering what she learned from Kira and Mira, she frowned. “Do you not fear anything?”

  “A man who doesn’t fear something is a fool.” Damon’s eyes searched her face.

  “Kira and Mira said one thing that can defeat a vampire is a demon.” Nicole’s voice shook slightly. That whole conversation still bothered her. “Is that your fear?”

  “They’re wrong,” Damon replied without pause. “There are a lot of things that can defeat a vampire, stupidity being at the top of the list. I’m not stupid, and I have a lot to live for, so to speak.”

  Nicole grinned at his rare humor. With a cock of her head, curiosity pushed forth. “You never said what you fear.”

  He put both hands on her desk and leaned toward her. He was so close she could feel his breath on her face. “Losing you,” he growled, then gave her one last kiss. “That is my only fear.”

  “I love you,” she whispered against his lips, and he repeated her words back to her.

  “I’ll see you soon.” Damon pulled away, then headed toward the door. He glanced at her over his shoulder but didn’t say anything. He just gave her a long stare before disappearing.

  For some strange reason, she wanted to call him back, but she didn’t. Instead, with a deep sigh, she grabbed her bag and files before walking out the door. Heading down the hallway, she stopped to make copies, then headed toward Mitch’s office.

  “Hey, I’m taking Tessa out on some visits.” She handed him the copies. “Ben and Pam are here to help. I have another girl, Vanessa, starting and will let Pam know.”

  Mitch looked over the papers, and glanced up at her. “Make sure you stick to these visits,” he ordered in his gruff boss tone.

  “I know my job, Mitch,” Nicole grumbled, adding an eye roll for good measure. “One day you will realize that.”

  “Did I say you didn’t know your damn job?” Mitch glared at her.

  “Ah, yeah, you kinda did,” Nicole answered, but he ignored her and continued with his rant.

  “But you always seem to get yourself in some kind of shit that fucks up my day.” Mitch finally ended with a huff.

  Nicole stared at Mitch for a few minutes with her head tilted.

  “What?” he all but spat. He was close to losing his shit.

  “You really need to chill out,” Nicole said, her voice full of worry. Well, honestly, her worry was pretty fake because she knew Mitch was a health nut. “Getting upset and all red-faced isn’t good for a guy your age.”

  “I hate you,” Mitch sneered, then acted like he was going to throw his stapler at her.

  “No, you don’t.” Nicole dodged the fake throw, not trusting him whatsoever. He’d been known to throw stuff at people before.

  “Oh, but I do,” Mitch called after her, wanting to get the last word, but no way in hell would she let that happen.

  “No, you don’t!” she hollered back as she disappeared down the hallway. Turning the corner, she grinned. It would break her heart if she really thought Mitch hated her, but damn, she loved giving him shit. Stopping at the office where Tessa was working, she peeked in. “You want to get out of that office and do some visits with me?”

  Tessa looked up from the computer and sighed. “Absolutely!”

  Nicole waited while Tessa collected her stuff, and followed her to where Pam and Ben were working with Katrina and Angelina. “Hey, Pam. Vanessa is up in the conference room filling out an employment form. Can you get up there and see if she’s finished, see if you can fast-track the necessary checks, then get her started
by explaining the ropes and stuff?”

  “Great!” Pam smiled excitedly. “We’re going to start kicking ass with all this help.”

  “I know.” Excitement fluttered through her at the thought of making real change. “We’re heading out for some visits. We’ll be back in a bit. Mitch has my information.”

  “Okay, be careful,” Pam said as she headed to Vanessa in the conference room.

  “Ben, you good?” Nicole glanced at him as he gave her a thumbs-up. “Katrina? Angelina? You guys okay?”

  “We’re good.” Katrina smiled over a stack of files.

  Angelina, quiet as usual, gave her a nod.

  “Awesome,” Nicole said, and turned toward Tessa. “Guess we’re ready.”

  Once they were on their way to their first scheduled visit, Nicole debated on whether to say anything about Jared to Tessa, who momentarily seemed fine. Maybe they had talked it out and were okay now. She doubted it, but maybe Damon was right. She should mind her own business unless Tessa brought it up.

  “Okay, our first few visits will hopefully be uneventful,” Nicole said as she clicked on her blinker and waited for a clearing to turn. “It’s usually easy to pick up on things that don’t seem right. If you have any questions for the foster family, go ahead and ask. I always ask for the foster child to show me their room alone. That gives them time to let me know if something is wrong. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t, but usually, I know if something is amiss.”

  Tessa nodded and glanced over at Nicole. “You really love this job, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I do.” Nicole didn’t hesitate to answer. “I know this is only your second day, but what do you think? Is this something you might like to do?”

  “I’m used to being with people, so the office work is a little hard for me,” Tessa replied honestly.

  Nicole snorted in agreement. “Believe me, I know exactly what you mean. I hate office work. I would be out in the field all the time if I could, but office work comes with it.”