Fan Fiction ❯ Kiss Me Hard ❯ Decisions ( Chapter 14 )

The room was cold.
Nicole opened her eyes and looked around.
She had fallen asleep.
'How could I be that exhausted?' she thought to herself quietly as she sat up.
She was in Darius' bed--His bed.
Nicole looked down at herself quickly, and let out a sigh when she found her clothing was still on. Whether that was in relief or disappointment...Who knew.
"Don't worry." A voice spoke up from beside her.
"I didn't take advantage of you while you slept. I behaved as best one could."
Nicole smiled and looked over at Darius, whom propped himself up on his elbows, watching her with a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Damn." She said with a mock-sigh, swinging her legs off the side of the bed.
"I hate good boys."
"We could change that." Darius mumbled quietly as he quickly threw out an arm and grabbed her by the shoulder, yanking her back down to his level.
He grinned as she blushed, looking up at him.
"...On second thought," She managed to whisper once she got a hold of herself.
"Behaving would be good." She nodded and sat up once more, raising a hand and running it through her hair.
The rose Darius gave her sat on the table next to the bed. She looked over to it and smiled a little.
Darius quirked an eyebrow, and followed her gaze, before looking back to her.
"You...never said anything back..." He said in a soft voice, sitting up as well, and moving across the bed so he was sitting behind her.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and rested his chin on the top of her head.
Nicole fell silent, before averting her gaze to the ground.
Did she love him?
She didn't know. She felt confident that she did--But...Could they actually be together?
Sure. She had some vampire blood in her--But it was nothing. The only thing it did, was give her slightly elongated canines and a pale complexion.
It didn't affect how long she would live...Darius...She would be in and out of his house as fast as a key is in and out of it's lock.
Brief...and short lived.
"I--"
"Hey, love birds." A voice echoed through the room, cutting her off.
Nicole sighed inwardly in relief.
It was Scott.
Scott watched them for a moment from the top of the stairs to Darius' room.
"It's time for you guys to join us."

Cassia let out a small yawn as she looked about her.
It had been a short while since she entered the room where Vincent slept. It must've been a few hours by now, she thought silently to herself as she casted her gaze to her lap, where Vincent had laid his head to rest.
He was exhausted. And in pain. His body still didn't heal completely.
Slowly, she ran her hands through his dark hair, smiling contently. Who would've thought this is where she would end up? After years of working with Slayers. After years of killing vampires...Who could've known.
She certainly didn't. She also didn't think she would be with the father of the man she fell in love with so long ago.
“”Oh Vincent.” She mused as she played with his hair absently, “How the hell do you do it?”
“I'm just that good.”
She blinked, and looked down to him, blushing lightly.
Vincent opened his eyes and turned his head to look up at her, grinning.
“It was obvious you wanted a change. The second I met you...I knew it.”
Cassia frowned slightly.
“Is that the only reason you got close to me?”
“Part of it. I also knew you were close to Joseph.”
Cassia stopped her fingers from running through his hair and looked away, biting her lip.
“No attachments...” She muttered. She felt her heart sink as she closed her eyes.
“Wrong.” He whispered.
She looked back down to him. He was watching her with intent eyes.
“At first, there wasn't supposed to be any attachments. I had intentions of using you. Getting closer to Joseph. But...”
Cassia held her breath. But when nothing followed, she bit her lip, “But?” She whispered.
“I grew attached...” He smiled weakly and lifted a hand, placing it on her cheek gently and using his thumb to caress her cheek.
Cassia smiled weakly, lifting a hand and pressing it to his, holding his gently against her cheek.
She closed her eyes, and suddenly Vincent let out a chuckle.
“I'm surprised it doesn't bother you.”“What doesn't?”
“That I'm probably 3 years older then you...and that you dated my son.”
Cassia blushed and opened her eyes with a nervous laugh.
“Whats the point of being so judgmental towards a vampire? Vampires don't die. They live forever. Theres really no point in caring about your age.” She nodded confidently, and Vincent laughed again.
“Cute.” He whispered softly, locking his gaze with her's.
For a moment, both fell silent, before Vincent gently cupped his hand against her cheek, and pulled her face down a little. He leaned up. His lips hovered over her's. She could feel his breath, the warmth of his lips—Suddenly, he let out a small gasp and fell back down—And the moment was lost.
Cassia blinked, opening her eyes quickly as she watched Vincent wince.
“Are you okay?” She whispered quickly, looking him over, trying to figure out whats wrong.
“Yeah.” He muttered, biting his lip hard.
“Sorry, side hurt a little.” He looked up at her again, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
She frowned, thinking over what he said about the bullets.
“It's gonna be gross, isn't it.” She whispered, biting her lip.
Vincent grinned, “Nah. I'll call Cerebus up soon to remove them. You've got nothing to worry about.”Cassia nodded, and looked back down to Vincent for a moment, before, without a moment's hesitation, she leaned down and pressed her lips against his, kissing him gently.
Vincent hesitated at first, a little taken aback by her forwardness, but after a moment, he closed his eyes and slid his hand to the back of her neck, pulling her head down closer to him, returning her kiss.

Nicole and Darius emerged into the bar.
Everyone had pulled a table to the middle of the room—and everyone was crowded around it.
Darius blinked, gently moving past Nicole and up to the table.
“What're you guys doing?”
“Joseph -is- going to come after us.” Sarah spoke up.
“We need a plan.”
Darius quirked an eyebrow, “How about we just set up a watch for now. I mean, christ. Dad almost killed the guy. I'm sure he's probably in intensive care at this point.”
Scott laughed and stretched.
“Darius.” He began, “It's better to be safe then sorry. If they come here, and we're not prepared, they'll kill everyone.”
Everyone nodded, and Darius sighed, pulling up a chair to the table.
“Alright. Fine. What did you guys have in mind?”

Nicole stood by the bar, watching the group.
She bit her lip. She was so out of place here. This wasn't her element. Before she met Darius. She lived a normal life. She bartended at the local pub. Hung out with her friends on the weekends. And spent a lot of her days with her now ex boyfriend, Mark.
She rubbed her hands together, and looked about her.
She shouldn't be here. She really shouldn't.
'Ugh.' She thought softly, 'Whats wrong with me? I belong here now...he invited me into his home. I can't go back home. It's not safe--'
“Nicole?”
She snapped out of her thoughts to the sound of Darius calling her name.
She blinked, and smiled weakly.
“Are you alright?” Darius asked, turning to look at her for a moment. His eyes glimmered in the dim lightly. They were...concerned.
She smiled.
“I'm good.” She nodded confidently.
Darius smiled a little, and turned back around.

“I have a simple solution.” He continued, “How about we have firearms on hand. And when they come—we open fire--”
“Or. We could move.” Scott shrugged, “This place is old anyways. We need somewhere new.”
“We can go to my place?”

Everyone turned to Nicole.
Nicole blushed. She didn't mean to say that outloud.
“Err...” She stuttered, “It's just a thought. I mean, I have enough room...I think. I have a few bedrooms, and a couch. And a kitchen...And a t.v...And no one knows where I live...I mean, how can they storm an apartment building?”
Darius smirked, “Your apartment isn't that big, Nic--”
“I-I know.” She smiled weakly, then lowered her gaze a little.
Darius frowned, and excused himself from the group for a moment. He approached her slowly, and once reaching her, reached out and grasped her elbows gently.
“Whats up?”
“I...I miss home.” She whispered weakly, “I miss my life...It was so much easier then this.”
Darius blinked. Did he say something wrong?“Why're you suddenly saying this?” He whispered.
Nicole looked up quickly, taking note of the hurt in his voice.
“Was it...Was it because I told you I lov--”
“No!” She quickly cut him off, reaching out with her own hands to grasp his arms.
“No, no, no. Thats not it. I just miss my apartment. And..This is...a little hard for me. I'm not like you guys. I've never been involved in things like this before—I'm not like you..”
Silence fell between them. Darius was confused, that was obvious.
Nicole smiled softly, and hugged him.“Lets go to my apartment...” She whispered softly.
After a long moment, Darius nodded, and turned his head as he wrapped his arms around her gently.
“We're going to her apartment. We'll pack up dad, and we'll leave tonight. It'll be temporary, but it'll give us time.” He called to the group gathered around the table.
It took a moment, but eventually everyone agreed.
“It was better then being stuck somewhere that the slayers knew of.” Scott said in reasoning to Darius' decision.
“Cassia undoubtedly told them where we are. And Nicole is right. It'll be harder to storm an apartment building. Remember. They don't want to involve the public—They are the 'good guys'.”
Sarah smirked standing up and crossing her arms.

“Or thats what they want to believe.”