"Your shoulders are tense. You need to learn how to relax, baby." Her voice sounded playful, although it was colored by worry. She worried about me, my beautiful princess, she always did, no matter how many times I told her not to. She couldn't help it, it was who she was.
She stood behind me and the soft touch of her hands sent shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes and leaned my head backward, resting it against her stomach. I could almost hear her smile as she let her fingertips run my skin, hesitating near the corners of my mouth, until I gave up and smiled, too.
"That's better," she murmured. "You have such an amazing smile, Stefan, why don't you show it more often?"
"Because life never gave me much reason to," I sighed.
She laughed and it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. "Silly boy. I'm here, isn't that enough?"
"Right now it is." I reached for her with one hand, resting it on her hip, touching her bare skin with my index finger. My touch made her shiver and my smile widened. I liked knowing what I could do to her, how I could make her feel with just one simple touch. It was only fair, since it was all she needed to give me goose bumps.
Her hands ran through my hair, turning it into a mess, although I never really bothered to fix it anyway. It was my hero hair, as she liked to call it. It always looked like I had just rescued someone from a burning building. She teased me with it, but I knew she liked it. It was a part of me, it suited me and she couldn't keep her hands off of it every time we were alone. I sighed and closed my eyes.
She responded immediately, bending over, pressing her lips against my ear. "What is it, baby?" she asked, her voice low, almost seductive.
"It's nothing," I answered, a little bit hoarse now.
She laughed again and pulled away, but I didn't let her. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer, but gently, so she could free herself from my grip if she wanted to. With us, it had always been about inviting, asking, offering, never about strength or force. She didn't protest, though, she was in my lap now and she straddled me, pressing her forehead against mine. "Are you sure, baby?"
"Yes," I murmured. "I'm sure. Won't you kiss me now?"
"Oh, I don't know. Have you been good?"
"Tease," I groaned, crashing my lips on her now, hungrily looking for what I knew she wanted to give me.
She gave in, grasping my hair with one hand, the other one on my chest, her fingertips touching my neck, stroking it.
After what seemed like forever, I pulled away, gasping for air. My heart was pounding, the blood was rushing through my veins. The fact that I was a vampire meant nothing, not with Elena Gilbert in my lap, kissing me, touching me, making me relive all the passionate moments we ever shared, making me dream about what we'd do next.
She smiled at me. "I like how I still take your breath away."
"I like that, too," I grinned.
She leaned in to kiss me again, when a voice snapped us out of the moment. "Stefan? Who are you talking to?"
I blinked and looked up. Caroline was in the doorway, a puzzled look on her face. I closed my eyes for a second and then I shook my head. "No one," I said softly, getting up from my chair. I walked toward her, forcing a smile on my face, a smile I knew wouldn't reach my eyes. Elena wouldn't be happy about that, but Elena wasn't here.