Chapter 13: Coffee and Company

[Gia’s POV]

“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, there is a man on our patio,” my son Dante was yelling. Feeling my sore head as my mind was becoming more conscious after a wicked deep sleep. I was trying with all my willpower to wake up when my eyelids got blasted with bright light. “Mommy, did you hear me? Wake up, this is an emergency,” Dante yelled with urgency as he lightly shook my head with his hands cupping my face.

“I am up honey. I just need a minute or two to sit up. I will go investigate in a few minutes. Just hangout in here and play with your stuffed animals while I heads downstairs,” I said while trying to get my body upright. Feeling incredibly sore all over made it more difficult to rise and shine. It is way too early in the morning to have to deal with some weirdo on my patio, I haven’t even had coffee yet.

I grabbed my taser and cell phone, went to the bathroom to use the restroom and to splash cold water on my face. Then, I proceeded quietly down the stairs. Our patio is off the dining room, of which the stairs are not visible from. Instead of heading to the sliding glass door, I decided to check out the strange man from my front door.

Slowly and quietly, I open the front door and screen door, and step out to peek around to the patio. Sure enough, there is a man with his head blanketed in the hood of his sweatshirt, fast asleep in a sitting position on one of my patio chairs, what the hell!

With my taser on the ready, I slowly approach him, and when I get within arm’s reach, I shook his shoulder. He starts to move, bringing his hood down over his head revealing himself to be Damen. “It wasn’t a dream,” I say with a gasp. “Good morning to you too,” Damen says with a light chuckle. “What are you doing here, on my patio? Did you sleep here last night,” I inquire with a slight bit of shock and confusion.

“Yes, my beautiful kitten, I did sleep here last night,” he stated with a yawn. “Why didn’t you just sleep inside,” I questioned. “I didn’t want to freak you or your son out,” he said, which in thinking about it he has a good point. “Would you like to come in for coffee,” I ask while turning my taser off. “I would love that, Kitten.

Were you really going to tase me,” he asked with a look of humor on his face. “Not you, but had you not been you. I mean, um, a woman must protect herself and her family,” I replied with a bit of awkwardness while feeling butterflies dance in my belly.

“I think that is hot! You have every right to protect yourself and your son. You should be careful though who you invite into your home,” he said while standing up and looking as sexy as ever and making me feel a bit aroused again.

Damen held the front door open for me as we proceeded into my home. Just as I turned to close the door and lock it, three more incredibly hot and muscular men came up to my door. “Damen,” I said with urgency. “They are part of my detail and can wait outside if that makes you more comfortable,” he casually stated. “Your detail? Why do you have bodyguards,” I asked with even more questions surging to the front of my mind.

“I will explain everything to you, but first would you like some breakfast,” he asked as he walked over to the refrigerator. “Mommy is it safe,” my son yelled from the top floor. I must be incredibly stupid right now. I have a man, whom I only just met last night, in my home, with three other men hanging outside my front door, and my son is upstairs. “We won’t hurt either of you.

One of my duties is to protect you and your son. Also, you don’t have much food. I will have Stefan run to the store quick,” Damen casually said as he motioned for me to join him at the dining room table. “Who is Stefan,” I asked with more bewilderment. “Stefan is a guard that Sam has assigned to protect you and your son. The three men outside the front door are also guards assigned to protect the two of you. Please sit and I will make us coffee,” he clarified.

“I am even more confused right now. Why do we need protection,” I ask. “Mommy,” shouted Dante again. “Yes, honey you can come downstairs,” I replied knowing that the suspense was driving him bonkers. He rushed down the stairs, and when he got to the bottom, he looked over towards the dining room, gazed at Damen and asked, “who are you?”

“Hi Dante, I am Damen a friend of your mommy’s, at least I think that is the case,” he said while looking at Dante with endearment in his eyes. “Why were you sleeping on the patio,” Dante asked. “I did not want to leave you and your mommy alone, I guess,” he said.

“Also, Stefan just arrived with some groceries, may he come in,” Damen looked at me and questioned with a pleading look on his expression. “Yes, and the other three may as well join us too,” I said with defeat.

I walked over to the door, and let the four large men in. They each had bags of groceries in their arms, and smiled warmly to me with a slight bow as they made their way to the kitchen. Dante had a look of astonishment on his little face and followed them to the kitchen while asking them tons of questions. They were so patient with him and asked him if he wanted to help with making breakfast, which had him practically jumping out of his skin with excitement.

“Introductions,” Damen commanded to them. “Gia and Dante, this is Jace,” as he pointed to the man with spiky blue hair and a tattoo of angel wings on his forearm. This burly man here is Jackson,” pointing to the man who had huge muscles, a well-trimmed beard, and dark brown hair.

The pale guy there is Stefan,” who gave Damen a look of surprise. He does have pale skin, also very well sculpted muscles, dark eyes, and black hair that was a bit longer on top and shaved shorter on the back and sides.

“Lastly, this funny fellow here is Alex,” he motioned to the shortest of the four men, who had curly blonde locks that came to his ears, a scar on his left cheek, and a warm smile.

“It is nice to meet you all,” Dante proclaimed while dumping some gluten free pancake batter into a large mixing bowl. “Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you all,” I said with slight suspicion in my mind.

“Kitten let’s sit and I will tell you more about us and why you need protection,” Damen said softly to me. Jace placed two cups of coffee and some creamer on the table. Damen and I sat down, and he began telling me about their world.