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When Naomi stepped into the doorway wearing the blue designer dress I picked out for her, my breath locked in my throat. Stunning was an understatement and I’m sure my face reflected the shock because she grinned and twirled, her eyes sparkling with humor.
“You like?” she asked.
I did my best to pull myself together but my voice still cracked when I said, “Yes.”
With each mini-catwalk display of hers, I found myself getting hornier and hornier and I could tell by the way she flipped her hair and flaunted her body in the form fitting clothing that she knew the effect she was having on me.
I glanced around and made sure none of the sales people were within range and slipped into the dressing room. When the dressing room door swung opened, I pushed her back inside, latching the door and planting a hungry kiss. My hands traveled over the silky fabric of the tank top and yoga pants she had donned.
“You are the hottest thing this side of Eden,” I whispered when she pushed me away.
“Damian, this is the women’s dressing room,” she whispered, the crease between her eyes along with the stern expression conveying her disdain.
“I don’t care, you look delectable.” I licked my lips and leaned in to kiss her again.
Her palm planted on my chest, holding me far enough away to thwart my attempt. “Buying me shit doesn’t give you the right to do anything you please,” she said.
The admonishment hit home and I stepped back, my libido in check and aggravation replacing the heat burning inside me. Putting my palms up, I took another step. “Sorry, you just...I just...” Frustration at not being able to articulate swelled. “Shit, Naomi, do you have any idea just how fucking hot you are?”
“So you think I’m hot, big deal, Mark thought I was hot, too. Look where that got me,” she snapped, her voice turning feral. “And it doesn’t give you the right to come in here and pin me to the wall. That may have been fine and dandy when you were human, but it doesn’t work that way these days. You do not own me.”
I stared at her and a new thought formed, one I hadn’t considered. Maybe she didn’t feel the same electricity I did.
“So...you’re not feeling the same connection. I get it,” I said and reached for the door.
“Damian?” Her exasperated voice stopped me.
“What?”
“It has only been one day...” she whispered. “Give it a rest.”
The desperation in her eyes clinched it and I nodded, sneaking out of the dressing room and running smack into a sales clerk at the entrance.
“Excuse me, sir, but you can’t be in here,” the platinum blonde said, her hands on her hips and her lips pursed in reprimand.
“I’m sorry but my friend needed a hand with her zipper,” I said just as Naomi stepped from the dressing room with her arms full of the clothing. “We’ll take everything she has,” I added, nodding in Naomi’s direction.
Naomi traded an awkward smile with me and handed over the pile to the beaming sales clerk.
I slipped my wallet from the inside of my coat and handed the clerk a credit card. Naomi snickered and turned away but I caught the dimples before her hair covered her smirk. I shrugged at the sales woman and offered up my best smile, the one I reserved for charming the pants off unsuspecting women and it worked wonders. She immediately focused just on me, almost salivating as she rang up the purchase.
Once the transaction was completed, the slip signed and the card back in my wallet, I gave her a nod and took the bags, leading Naomi out of the store with a sideways glance.
“What’s your problem?” I asked.
“A vamp with a credit card. It just struck me funny.”
“I’m not a thief.” My voice carried a measure of defensiveness and I snapped my mouth closed and tossed the bags into the trunk, slamming it shut.
“Lighten up, dude,” she said when I got into the driver’s seat and I turned on her.
“Part of surviving is blending in.”
“Oh yeah, turning into a giant hawk certainly constitutes blending in.” She rolled her eyes.
“Keep pushing and I’ll bend you right over my knee.”
She burst out laughing. “I’d like to see you try,” she said and crossed her arms.
I didn’t take kindly to anyone laughing at me and put the car in gear, tearing out of the garage in frustration. I couldn’t recall a woman ever getting under my skin the way Naomi did and I slid my glance in her direction. The chemistry between us was certainly volatile and I didn’t know whether it would ignite or explode.
“Aren’t you supposed to be teaching me how to survive?” she asked after a few minutes of strained silence.
I refocused on the road ahead of me and sighed. “Yes. I need to teach you to hunt, otherwise tomorrow will be more of a challenge than today was and I’m not sure I can function after another night of offering myself up as an alternative whenever you get hungry.” I met her gaze. “Unless your intention is to kill me.”