She touches my cheek and the pads of her fingers glide softly over my chilled skin. Her hand is warm and I cannot think of anything except that I never want her to stop touching me in that way. I'm immobile and all I can do is stand there, completely frozen and utterly speechless. My lips are slightly parted and the breath I draw is fire in my lungs.
The night is cold and she's very close to me – so close, in fact, our bodies are nearly touching. Her thumb brushes my bottom lip and my breath hitches. Now I've completely stopped breathing. I want to reach up and pull her hand away but I can't.
"It's okay; it's going to be okay," she murmurs softly. She moves her hand back up to my cheek and rests it there. "You risk your life for me every day. You protect me every day. Yet the only way I've returned the favour is with malice and rejection. Not anymore. Today, and the days following today, I will protect you and I will use every ounce of strength I have to make sure you do not get hurt again."
She's searching my eyes, expecting to find something in their cold depths, and I think she does, because her gaze softens. She stands on her tiptoes and leans forward, chastely kissing the corner of my mouth...and heat explodes behind my eyes as I finally exhale in a shuddering breath.
"Do you trust me?" she murmurs against my mouth.
The word rushes out. "Yes," I whisper, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.
"Then turn me..." - Elena's lips brush over mine, so softly - "...so I can protect you, Damon." She presses herself against me and I lower my mouth to her exposed neck. I graze my teeth over the skin softly and then pull away and hold her at a distance.
"I can't."
Her eyes shine with unshed tears.
"Because I love you." My voice is unrecognizable.
She holds my gaze and sears me with those eyes. "I know." She seems to contemplate her words for a moment, and then adds softly, "And I will keep it safe."
Fin
Hope you enjoyed that! Please let me know what you think - and enjoy tonight's episode!