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He simply grunted. Setting his beer bottle on the table, he placed his arms over hers. She was still behind him, and she leaned her weight forward so she could rest her cheek to his back. Bold move to make with a near-stranger, but hiding her face made her brave.

“Will you tell me why you were so scared tonight?” His question pierced the silence, and she wanted nothing more than to bring back the quiet.

She didn’t want to get into whole sordid story. Didn’t want to reckon with his lowered opinion of her after he learned how naive she’d been. How stupid. She wanted to stay in this moment, when they were nothing more than two consenting adults flirting with each other. “I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings once before. And it… cost me. Guess you could say I’m twice shy now.”

Damon turned in her arms. His large, calloused hands framed her face. “I swear to you, right here and now, nothing and no one will hurt you ever again.”

“Just like that? You make that vow to all the women you meet?”

His quirked the corner of his mouth. “Not all of them, no.”

“You’re handsome when you smile, you know.”

His eyes softened as he held her face, her gaze, and a little bit of her heart, too. “I won’t push you to tell me the whole story, not yet. But I do want you to feel safe.”

Nicole couldn’t help falling a little in love with him in that moment. “I feel safe right now.”

“Good,” he grunted. “Why are you laughing?”

“You just can’t help it, can you?” She imitated his sound, but it came out animalistic.

He failed to suppress his chuckle. His thumbs swiped back and forth across her cheek, leaving pleasant tingles in their wake. He leaned forward and rubbed his nose against hers. Her breaths were quick and shallow now, barely getting enough air to sustain her rapid heartbeat. She clutched his shirt and held on for dear life. His eyes were open, scanning her face. She knew he was searching for any hints of resistance or fear.

Nicole didn’t feel fear, didn’t feel much of anything. She was transcendent, all energy and zero thought. Her blood was singing, and Damon’s presence was her chorus. She lifted to her tiptoes and crashed her lips against his.

For his part, Damon didn’t hesitate. He returned her kiss and amplified it. His tongue chased hers. He tasted of repressed desire and intense longing. His hands lowered to her waist, and he tugged her closer to him. Impossibly closer.

Her hands untucked his flannel and sought his skin. His torso was scorching hot. Nicole had never before craved being burned, but she wanted him to incinerate her now.

Wanted him to burn away her past and her anxieties.

After long minutes kissing that were somehow also too short, Damon pulled back. “Let me take you inside.”

She traced his collarbone with the tip of her finger. When she didn’t say anything right away, he added, “I moved into the empty unit.”

His words doused her with cold reality. “W-what?”

“Bought some supplies today. Moved in while I make repairs. Let me take you upstairs.”

Nicole leaned back, and cold night air rushed between them. It all came crashing back. She moved to Maple Lane Falls to get away from her old life. He was moving into the empty unit because he was her landlord. If they both lived in this duplex, there would be no getting away from him when things ended. What if they didn’t work out, and he took it poorly when she needed it?

“This is a mistake.” Nicole took a step back, covering her face with her hands. “I shouldn’t have… we shouldn’t have… this is a bad idea.”

“Why?” He reached for her, but she took another backward step. He dropped his arms, and the lines on his face returned. “Because I moved in? Is that it?”

“Because I’m broken, Damon. This can’t go anywhere, so we should just end it now before it gets messy.” She turned tail and escaped into her unit, sliding the door so hard it bounced back. She snugged it closed a second time and locked it, focusing on her hands to avoid looking at his face. She knew what she’d see.

When she tugged the curtains closed, she caved to the temptation to peek at him. Her suspicion was confirmed.

He looked devastated.

Chapter Five

His angel was skittish.

Damon forced himself to let her escape into her unit. His instincts screamed at him to chase after her. His arms ached to surround her. Protect her. Keep her warm and safe and his.

When he saw her through the window, terrified, he recognized the blank stare, the blood draining from her face. Her death grip on the steering wheel, and her rigid posture as she sat in her parked car.