A/N: Here comes the second chapter – my fave morning-after thing. It gives some "hope" for continuation I suppose, and I do have several ideas, but I'm still not sure where this story is going – so if you have any ideas that don't require M rating (I'm not good at writing smut :D), please, tell me – via reviews or PM. I generally try to PM every reviewer, but these days it's crazy at uni and with the Internet (sorry!), so I'll express my gratitude here:
Thank you, ItWasYouAlwaysYou, LilleMy4444, Karolina94, helenamtavares, peygan, sandy salvator and JustJane, for your reviews. Another special thanks goes to Last Maradeur of Five and Brynndabella for detailed reviews :)
Of course, many thanks to those who reviewed my other stories + those who added my stories to faves or story alert. It's so inspiring!
My most special 'danke schön' goes to Stef ! You know how much it means to me that you read my stories, and moreover give detailed reviews.
Waking up took her uncharacteristically long.
The first thing that prompted her she wasn't sleeping anymore was the sense of touch. She felt the warmth beneath her hand and cheek disappear, and understood Damon had gone somewhere. Then she heard whooshing sounds that also ceased and returned in a minute. Another moment and she felt denim brushing against her knee as he returned to the bed, now semi-dressed. Elena didn't want to get up and face whatever challenges of the day yet. She resumed her previous position on Damon's shoulder, pretending to be deeply asleep. She felt him kiss her hair and murmur softly against it:
"I know you're awake"
Elena sighed and pushed away the thought of feeling embarrassed. He definitely remembered how she'd appeared the previous night, she could as well indulge in staying with him a little longer now.
"How do you know?" she answered in a whisper, without opening her eyes or shifting.
"The rhythm of your heartbeat and breathing" he said, caressing her arm. "For example, now they're both speeding up"
That made up Elena's mind and she sat up immediately, avoiding with surprising grace any undesirable ('really?' she thought) awkward touches. He got out of the bed with a sigh and came up to his wardrobe.
"I grabbed your bag from the car… Hope you don't mind?" Damon asked, pointing at it, for some reason with the trademark smirk on his face. Of course he would know that she'd already started always taking clothes and toiletry in her car just in case.
Elena was feeling too good to bicker about his jokes.
"Thanks"
"No problem" his smirk transformed into a slight smile as he put on one of his numerous black shirts and started buttoning it up. "I'll go to the kitchen and make breakfast. What would you like?"
Elena lifted an eyebrow.
"You're making me breakfast now?"
She was trying to make him feel confused – may he get a taste of his own medicine, she thought. Damon seemed to remain unimpressed
"Why not? I could also iron your dress and make you a sandwich for lunch break. And tell me at what hour your classes finish. I'll pick you up from school. I also think I haven't talked to your teachers for quite a while…"
Elena rolled her eyes but chuckled. Trust Damon to find hilarity even in her school life.
"No time for breakfast, sorry" she said catching regret in her voice. "I don't have time for it if I don't wanna be late"
"Okay, but will you at least have a drink with me? Coffee, I mean just coffee" he said before she had a chance to refuse.
"Coffee would be great" she said, smiling. "I thought you'd already had coffee today"
Now she was able to surprise him.
"How do you know?"
Elena had to restrain not to bite her bottom lip as she usually did.
"You were warm" she answered, dropped her gaze for a moment, and then walked to the bathroom.
She showered as thoroughly as she could, smelling Damon's scent on her own skin. Elena didn't mind it at all, but she reminded herself that she had some other supernatural beings apart from him around daily and they would probably get suspicious. And she couldn't even blame them.
Clean, fresh and dressed, Elena walked downstairs to the parlor. A mug was already waiting for her on the table, latte with sugar and vanilla, just how she liked it. Damon was sitting on the couch and holding a mug of black coffee, clearly not bothered by its heat. She sat beside him and started her latte, glad that it wasn't as hot as his.
"About what you said yesterday…"
Elena had hoped all this time he wouldn't bring up the topic. She'd also known the hope would be in vain.
"Yeah?"
"You said you wanted to feel like home… I understand why. I just didn't realize you'd grown so attached to… this house"
"It's not about the house, Damon"
They both knew it and Elena could see that he needed not a correction but a confirmation of what he really thought.
"I'm glad you came"
It was something Elena thought she'd never get used to about him. The way he could be completely open with her about his feelings… and the way she could feel very natural sitting with him on the couch and discussing her sleepover.
"So am I" she replied, refusing to mar this perfect moment of honesty with sneaking. She finished her coffee and stood up, taking her bag. "Bye, Damon"
She knew perfectly well that she just liked saying his name. She liked how it felt to pronounce it over and over.
"Elena?"
She stopped at the door and turned around, facing him with an uncertain smile.
"Will you come again tonight?"
His voice didn't have a single trace of laughter anymore – it was serious, caring… tempting in a way. She thought he sounded hopeful – and it must have been exactly what they both felt at the moment.
"Do you want me to?" she asked quietly, knowing he'd hear anyway. The smile had disappeared, affected by the tension in the atmosphere. Not the sort of tension one wanted to escape from.
"Yes" he exhaled, and that sound nearly made Elena drop her bag and run back to where he was waiting – always waiting – for her. Instead, she took a shaky breath and answered:
"I will"
She closed the front door, fighting the unexpectedly strong need to come back. Sighing, Elena tossed her bag into the car and got inside to start the longest school day in her life.
A/N again: if you're reading this, it means you've read the second chapter – thank you! Liked it? Improvements needed? Just want to tell me 'hi'? :D You know what to do with the blue button below ;)
