Chapter 6

"Oh, my God!"

She clapped one hand to her mouth and stared at him through horror stricken eyes.

"You...who...what are you?"

His lips peeled back from his fangs and she shrank back another step or two. Caught against the wall, splayed there as surely as if he'd been chained, Damon watched her and focused only on her. He couldn't allow her to panic.

He needed her.

A part of him was sorry to see that look in her eyes. A part of him had enjoyed being treated as an ordinary man. Yet, he didn't have time for her fear. He had only moments before the encroaching sun found him in the narrow patch of shade he stood in.

Staring directly into her eyes, he used the full force of his legendary power to direct her to do exactly as he ordered.

"Close the curtains"

He said, his voice tight against the pain still lancing through him. His fangs retracted slightly, reacting to the agony sweeping through him. Hissing in a breath, he swallowed back the pain.

"No"

She spit back unphased. Damon glared at her with all his might. He couldn't smell any vervain in her or on her but the deep intelligent eyes stared back defiantly. He decided to turn on the charm

"Please"

He gave her his best puppy dog eyes. Bella let out a long breath and glared at him. Her rational brain was trying to put words to what she had just seen. He wasn't a vampire because he was hurt in the sun and he wasn't a shifter. He seemed pretty ticked off right now but he hadn't exploded in any shape or form. Yeah if the La Push boys wanted to keep their secrets, secrets they'd have to learn to keep their voice down!

Biting her bottom lip she decided against her better judgment to do as he asked. She still had the mace in her bag in case the toothy, burning Damon decided to attack her and she'd leave enough sunlight to protect herself.

"Fine. But no funny business"

She ordered him and moved across the room to close the soft curtains of the five out of the six large windows. Damon watched her walk and stumble as she closed the curtains quickly. There was something graceful in her walk even if she caught her foot in everything in the room including the air. He let a wry chuckle as she closed the curtain closest to him first but left one open and kept her dark eyes locked on him as she stood under the blinding sun watching him defiantly.

If he could read her thoughts he was sure they'd scream

"You want to eat me big guy? Come and get me"

Well he would but his skin was buzzing, his hair was smoking, and he finally understood how smores must feel. Okay, maybe he liked the defiance too...

Then Bella surprised him once again. She came around the furniture guided by the deep knowledge of the house and standing still in the safety of light she gave him a hard look.

"You lied to me."

He hadn't expected that to be the first thing she said to him.

"I didn't lie."

"You let me believe you were a man. But you're not."

"No."

"You're…"

Bella broke off, unable to say the word her mind kept screaming.

"A vampire,"

He finished for her.

"No, you're not"

"Yes. I am"

He insisted. So did she

"No, you are not. I've met vampires buddy and trust me. You're not one"

She glared at him sure in her words even if her eyes were wide with barely concealed pain.

"I think I know better"

He spat annoyed with her. The seriousness in his light eyes forced Bella to admit that maybe, just maybe he was telling the truth. After all who was she to judge that she knew better?

"That... can't... be"

Bella fought against the well lidded box of memories and a bout of wild panic clutching at her heart.

Her eyes knew what they'd seen, what she still saw but... she knew vampire before and he looked nothing like... like the Cullens. Vampires are gorgeous, deathly pale, with dark circles under their golden or red eyes that sparkle.

Well, a part of herself that sounded suspiciously like Renee said, he had the gorgeous part down pat and who doesn't like a good bite or two? With a sudden flush on her cheeks she looked down away from the probing eyes telling her head to shut up.

"You're lying"

She repeated firmly.

"Am I?"

Damon lifted both hands and she saw the burns marking his skin. Brain whirling, she remembered the same scorch marks she'd seen on his skin earlier, when she'd found him lying in the dawn.

Sunlight. But...

"No way"

She said, fingers tightening on the loose fabric of her top. Damon suddenly annoyed, blew out a breath, scraped one hand through his thick hair and slowly stalked the room.

"Believe me or don't. That's your business."

He sounded tired. And she could understand that. Nearly going up in flames was bound to take a toll. Even from across this distance, she saw the scorched, burned flesh on the backs of his hands and on his face. He had to be in terrible pain, but he showed no sign of it.

"You don't look like any of the vampires I've met"

'Not if you've met the sparkly disco balls in Italy'

He thought as he looked around the room.

"If you are one, and I'm not saying you are, why didn't you bite me before?"

He gave her a long, thoughtful stare.

"Thought about it."

His gaze lowered to the base of her neck.

"Still thinking about it."

Her stomach turned over and fear quickened within only to dissipate a moment later. He'd had ample opportunity to kill her, but he hadn't. Instead, he'd warned her off. Tried to make her leave him alone. And right now, he was trying to scare her into backing away. Just like E- he did.

"You're lying again."

She shook her head.

"If you'd thought about biting me, you would have."

She said matter of factly. James had wanted to bite her and he had. The unique scar on her wrist was proof of that

"No"

He said with a smile that curled her toes.

"I'm not lying. I wanted to drink you."