Damian's Sacrifice #1

New, for Monday's Mini, the start of the serial I promised.  Damian's Sacrifice.   These are side characters from the Guardian Order book series I'm currently working on.  My goal is to post the continuing story on Mondays.  Hopefully I'll see you back here for more.

P.S.  You'll get to see Atrox again in my first book, Brutal Embrace.  I am slightly in love with him already.

“I’m telling you, Damian.  That chick has been watching you all night.  She’d be a sure thing.”  Atrox grinned, tilting his head in the direction of the human barbie doll seated a few tables away.

“And with her looks, she’s probably been a sure thing for half the guys in this place.  She’s just not my type, Ax.”  Damian took a long drag on his beer, hoping the guy would drop the subject all together.

His eyes swept over the human female, who was once again staring.  She was attractive, at least in the manufactured sense.  She could have just walked off the pages of a Playboy magazine – blonde hair, large breasts, enough make-up to make KISS envious, clothes clinging to her curves for dear life.  Although the tongues of every other man in the bar were all but hanging out, that carefully constructed look didn’t do anything for him.  He preferred a natural beauty.

“No one is ever your type, man.  I’m surprised you’ve even fucked before.”  Atrox shook his head.  “Well, if you’re gonna pass, I’ll be her Prince Charming tonight.  You know how human females are with us.  Something about our Arcturian blood drives them crazy.  We’re irresistible.  Right, Corrix?”  Their eyes shifted to the other male, who was returning from the bar with two women draped over his arms.

“Hell yeah it is.  Ladies, I’d like you to meet my two good friends here.  Damian and Ax.  Guys, Rachel and Teresa.”

If Damian didn’t know better, he’d have sworn he could see a sparkle in Corrix’s green eyes.  That male was even worse than Atrox when it came to his libido.  It wasn’t unusual for him to do two girls at once.

Just then, Hungry Eyes Barbie strolled over to their table, sensing she was about to miss out on her opportunity to get laid.  Her hips swayed in an exaggerated motion as she walked, her eyes locked on to his like heat-seeking missiles.

“Hi, I’m Amanda.”  She reached her hand out to Damian, the corner of her mouth lifting.

He stood and took her hand lightly in his own, digging deep to produce a smile he didn’t feel.  “Nice to meet you.”  His eyes skidded away.  He’d just wanted to hang out and have a drink or two.  Not wind up in bed with another meaningless human, especially a man-eater like this one.  How was he going to get out of this?

“Aren’t you going to offer to buy me a drink, er—you didn’t even tell me your name.”  She was wearing an over-practiced mask of innocence, trying hard—and failing—to appear like the girl next door.  Now he really wasn’t interested.  Those kinds of theatrics drove him nuts, and not in the ‘crazy about you’ kind of way.  It pissed him off.

“I’m sorry, Amanda.  I was just leaving, but I’m sure someone else here will get you that drink.”  Damian dragged his chair away from the table, inviting her to take his seat.  As he met Atrox’s disapproving stare, he shook his head.  Let it go.  He just wanted to call it a night.

He sighed when Ax nodded once and shifted his attention to the woman.  “My friend has no manners, Amanda.  I, however, know how to treat a beautiful woman.  I’m Ax.”  He flashed a sly grin and brushed a soft kiss on her knuckles.  “What can I get you to drink?”  Ah yes.  It appeared Ax had some theatrics of his own.  Whatever.  Damian was grateful for the distraction and hurried to the door while he had the chance to escape.

Why were the guys were always pushing women at him?  It wasn’t like he couldn’t get them on his own.  There was some truth to what Ax had said earlier about being irresistible.  Arcturians emitted some kind of pheromone or something that seemed to be pleasing to females, especially humans.  His mother had even told him, when she’d finally explained why he was different from everyone else, that his father had a powerful draw she couldn’t resist.

He wished she hadn’t waited until she was dying to tell him that his father wasn’t human.  But when he’d hit puberty, he’d begun developing certain Arcturian characteristics and she couldn’t avoid the truth any longer.  He had often wondered though, if she hadn’t gotten sick, would she have located his father’s family—

A small frame collided with his, ripping him from his thoughts.  The female lost her footing as she stumbled back from the impact, and his arm darted out around her waist to steady her.  He didn’t let go as he stared down into a pair of gorgeous pale blue eyes.

“Are you all right?”  His voice came out deeper than usual, husky and thick with arousal.  What the hell?

She remained silent, gazing back at him, eyes wide.  He quickly scanned her body for injuries, afraid he’d accidentally hurt her in his grip.  It was then he realized he was still holding her.  In a dipped position.  Like they were ballroom dancing or some shit.  No wonder she didn’t say a word.  She was probably scared out of her mind.

He cleared his throat, easing her to an upright position, and dropped his hold on her.  Letting go was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, but he forced his arms to his side. 

As he took in the sight before him, his pulse quickened, heart thumping.  What is wrong with me?

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Oh no, I’m fine.  I’m the one that’s sorry.  I spilled my drink all over you.”

He looked down the front of his shirt, eyeing the stain that trailed all the way to the waist of his jeans.  Damn, he hadn’t even noticed he’d gotten wet.

“Don’t worry about it.  That’s what washing machines are for.”  He paused, looking her over again.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m good.  Really.”  Her blush was adorable.

He was in trouble.  Her long red hair.  Her delicate features.  Her freckles.  Those captivating blue eyes.  Almost irresistible.  Who was he kidding?  He was already lost to her.  His gaze slid to her now empty glass.

“It would seem you’re all out.  How about I buy you another drink?  I’m Damian, by the way.”  His eyes shot to hers, hoping like hell she would accept his invitation.  The hesitation he saw there sank his heart like the Titanic.

“That is really nice of you to offer, but I’m kinda meeting someone here.”  She bit her lip, looking away.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.  Don’t worry about it.  Have a great evening, okay.”  The gruffness in his voice made him cringe, and he headed outside.

What was the matter with him?  He wanted to pound the guy she was meeting into the ground.  Or worse... go back inside and beg her for a date.  Oh yeah, that’s real manly.  Groveling for the pleasure of her company.  The redhead had gotten under his skin in two seconds flat.

But she wasn’t interested in him.  She hadn’t even told him her name.  She was meeting some other guy.  A human.  Like her.  It was for the best he didn’t buy her that drink.  He was only half human, living in Arcturian society.  He was destined to be a Guardian.  There was no way it could work out between them.  His parents were proof of that.  Besides, he didn’t want a human mate.

As he headed for his motorcycle, the door to the bar burst open.  He turned as someone called his name.  The female voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Damian, wait!  Please.”  His redhead was heading right for him.

He walked toward her.  Why was she running?  Someone better not have hurt her.  He would kill the fucker.

When she reached him, she was out of breath, legs wobbly.  His hands shot out to hers, drawing her closer.  So close, he could hear the pounding of her heart.

“What’s the matter?”  He searched the parking lot for any signs of danger before meeting her gaze.

“I was hoping... you might want to, um, get a cup of coffee with me?”  There was that blush again.  The corner of his mouth lifted.  She wasn’t in trouble.

His redhead did like him after all.

“Well, that depends.”  A deep frown replaced her sweet smile as he paused.  “Are you ever gonna tell me your name?”  The laugh that escaped her lips was so worth it.

“Cara.”  Her blue eyes twinkled in the street light, melting his heart.

He guided her through the parking lot to his bike, grabbing his helmet from the handlebars and tossing it to her.

 “Have you ever ridden a motorcycle before, Cara?”

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