Thank you very much for the feedback. Of course, I am going to continue the story. This is beta'd by CreepingMuse again, because she's that awesome.
"Get out."
She gasps and keeps her mouth open, like she's trying to say something but can't.
"What?" she finally manages to say.
"I think you heard me the first time, Elena. Get. The fuck. Out."
She takes a deep breath, which means she's gonna try to pretend I didn't hurt her. Futile. I know I did.
"Damon, listen... That's not what it was like."
"Is that what you told him?" I ask in my best bored voice.
She's momentarily distracted, trying to figure out what I mean.
"What?"
"At the decade dance. Right after you rubbed yourself all over me like a cat in heat and nearly let me fuck you against a pillar in a motel hallway, is that what you told him? 'That's not what it sounds like'?"
She gasps.
"Damon, you don't mean-"
"I refuse to be part of your ménage à trois. Been there, done that, got the fucking T-shirt. Enough. I'm done."
"There's no-"
"You're wasting your time, Elena," I say. "Go home. I'm sure your soul mate is still there."
"What so- Listen to me for God's sake!" she yells. "Stefan was being an ass. He was trying to get to you. Clearly, it worked. But you're not even giving me a chance!"
"Don't you think I've given you enough chances?" I get up and move closer to her, my body tense, eyes narrowed. I know everything about me screams danger, and her instincts tell her the same. She shivers, but stubbornly refuses to flee or even to back away. Her self-control is actually pretty impressive. "What can I say? Trusting you worked out well. There are only so many times I can let you screw with my head, Elena. So, do both of us a favor and let me get out of it now, before you it-will-always-be-Stefan me again."
"No, Damon, you're not listening," she interrupts and tries to grab my shoulders, but I'm faster, so I grab her hands before she touches me and make her lower them – firmly, but not enough to hurt her. Her hands will be fine, at least. "It's not always going to be Stefan. It's not going to be Stefan, ever. God, it's not about him at all! I'm not in love with him. I'm in love with you."
She's pleading with me in her best voice, the one she knows affects me most, eyes tearful, lips trembling. Fuck if this girl isn't the most dangerous creature that I've met in my entire too-long life. I can't be with her if after all this time and everything we've been through, she still can't decide.
I give her a chance. One chance to tell the truth.
"Did you 'lose yourself in the moment,'" I indicate little brother's words with air quotes, "and almost kiss Stefan?"
She's closing her eyes, one hand raised defensively, and I know the answer before she even says anything.
"That's not how it happened. I wasn't-"
I take a step back and inhale deeply, hands balled up into fists, nails biting into my palms. She looks at me, and I don't think I've ever seen her this terrified.
"That's the problem, Elena. You can't even deny it."
I think I see her a tear escape and roll down her cheek before I blur out of the room, followed by her voice begging me to come back.
