Sorry guys, for some reason I was getting the emails from anonymous reviewers but they weren't showing up on the board. Doh! Want to beat my 1k review score from The New Battle hahaha. Anyway, I think I changed the setting.
Here ye go!
Chapter 3 BF
Stefan stood at the bar and rubbed his eyes. He'd have a coffee – no he couldn't because they put vervain in the coffee. Damn it. He sighed and rubbed his eyes again. Why was he so damn tired again? He'd felt great a few hours ago. A tall muscular guy with blonde hair came up next to him at the bar and smiled at him as he sighed.
"I hear the whisky is good." The guy said and Stefan smiled at him politely before he caught that faint whiff Damon had spoken about.
"Yeah. It is." He smiled again and tried to stay calm and collected.
He blocked his thoughts from Damon so he could suss the situation out himself first.
"You ok man? You look like you need a meal and a bed for the night. You here for the convention too?" The guy asked and Stefan turned to him in surprise.
The guy was looking at him quite intensely. Was that a pick-up line? It seemed like one.
"Uh, no I live here. You're here for the family tree thing?"
The guy gave a chuckle and shuffled closer to him, his body heat making Stefan's body shiver a little. Werewolves were always so hot in temperature.
"Yeah, thought it'd be cool. Not too many hotels though. Could use a place to crash tonight."
Now that was definitely a hint. Stefan blinked in surprise and the guy gently brushed his naked arm against Stefan's as he leant towards the bar tender and pointed to a single malt whisky on the shelf. Stefan looked at him, unsure whether to feel embarrassed or pleased that the guy was showing signs of interest.
"So, you live here. So you know the best places to eat?"
"Uh…"
"Any recommendations?" The guy licked his lips and looked towards Stefan's mouth.
Stefan felt his face flush and he looked away as he tried to focus on why he was still standing at this bar.
"There's a good place…uh…" Stefan gave a small chuckle of shyness and the guy placed a hand on his shoulder and chuckled too.
"Maybe I could see you there later? You could show me around? I'll buy."
The scent of the guy was getting stronger and Stefan felt his heart begin to beat faster. He turned to look at the guy's face and saw desire there. This guy was a wolf, but yet he wanted him? Couldn't he smell that he was a vampire? Or maybe this was a trick so he could bite him? Then again, there would be no full moon for weeks. The longer Stefan looked at him, the more confident the guy became and he smiled, showing perfect teeth and blew a breath at him as he chuckled that smelled delicious, like cherry cake.
Stefan opened his mouth to kindly refuse the offer, his mouth watering slightly, when he felt Damon behind him. The spell seemed to break and the guy moved back from him in surprise. Damon hooked an arm around Stefan's waist possessively and gave the guy a look of challenge. The guy put his hands up defensively and gave a small chuckle of apology.
"Sorry, I thought he was single." The guy got his drink and moved away as Damon fumed, barely managing to keep his vampire face concealed.
Stefan put his head in his hands and Damon gave a small growl only he could hear and kissed the back of his neck.
Home now.
We were just talking.
Mine!
Stefan looked at him and Damon softened when he saw how tired he was. He couldn't deal with angry, jealous Damon right now. He needed the softer one and he channelled as much, almost making a small sound of need. Damon caught his lips for a quick kiss to quieten him and guided him towards the door. They walked outside to the car and Damon opened his door for him. He sat down inside and replayed that whole experience. That guy had been hitting on him and he was a werewolf. Had the world turned upside down?
"What's with Stefan?" Tyler asked as Damon and Stefan both left without saying goodbye.
"It's the one year itch." Caroline chuckled joking.
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"Well, like I said Ms Gerard, the Mayor only told me about the convention a few days ago and we aren't a big town. We don't have lots of motels."
Charisma Gerard, the hot-shot looking, smartly dressed professor huffed and tapped her foot impatiently at Liz as she listened.
"How many people are you expecting to this event?" Liz bit her tongue and gave a professional smile.
Who was this city big wig coming into her town and demanding accommodation all of a sudden? This whole thing was odd from beginning to end.
"I don't know. I have maybe thirty professors and colleagues and I believe there are some other followers of the research too. They may come in groups."
"Followers - students? From Whitmore?"
"No, just followers of the research. They have their own interests in tracing their genealogy. They've been following my blog."
"Ok." Liz frowned. "Well, there are a few of the Founding Families who've been known to be courteous hosts at functions. Perhaps we can have a town meeting and see what we can do about accommodation."
"Excellent." Charisma stood up and shook Liz's hand. "I knew I could count on you Sherriff."
She turned and left Liz's office as Liz shook her head and lifted her phone. She walked down the marble hallway of the office, catching the attention of the male officers as she moved. Today was the first day of the beginning and even she was being affected by her spell. She just needed to make sure that all of her players were in the right places before the conference began.
She exited the building, passing a muscular female who stank of wolf. Right away she could identify it, so it wouldn't be long before everything would begin. The young woman stared at her as if she recognised her and she reached out and brushed her shoulder as she passed, sending a small wave of energy into the girl. She smiled to herself and continued on to her car, looking around at the werewolf as she pulled out of the drive. The girl's face was flushed and she was holding herself.
Excellent.
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"He's all over you! Why did you let him touch you?" Damon growled angrily and practically tore Stefan's jacket off, the second they entered the Boarding House.
"Damon, come on…" Stefan sighed, but he knew he was in for a fight.
"Seriously, when were you going to move away? He looked like he was going to kiss you! And you just sat there staring at him!" Damon got louder and angrier the more he ranted and Stefan looked at him as Damon's veins came out and he began to shake.
"Damon, calm down." He said gently and Damon growled again.
"Did you want him? Is that it?" He moved closer and for the first time, Stefan took a step back in fear, frowning.
Fear.
Damon instantly softened and stepped back, looking at him apologetically.
Love, Little Blood Machine.
"You wanted to hurt me." Stefan frowned, shaking his head. "I could feel it."
"No, I…"
I could see it!
Damon huffed upset and hung his head. It was true. For a moment there, he'd wanted to grab Stefan by his throat and bite him hard to hurt him. He wanted to state his claim and remind Stefan who his mate was. He shook his head and his eyes filled with tears as he became disgusted at himself. He made a sound of confusion and pain and Stefan pulled him into his arms.
"I love you." Stefan whispered.
Mine, my Damon.
Mine.
Stefan nodded and cupped Damon's face as they kissed, but Damon pulled back grunting.
"You stink." He complained.
"He was a wolf. I could smell it the same from you yesterday."
Damon growled again, but this time with no aggression directed toward Stefan.
"He wanted to sleep with you." Damon grunted, his veins coming forth.
"He just wanted a date. Hey, I'm taken." Stefan nuzzled him. "He didn't know."
"You're defending him now?" Damon was getting worked up again. "Stefan no one should even look at you when I'm around. You are mine."
"You know what, if you're going to be like this I can't be bothered." Stefan threw up his hands and walked away. "I'm too tired for fucking hormones right now."
"Stefan!" Damon cried in surprise, back to his soft self again and Stefan paused on the stairs and looked at him. "I'm sorry."
"Grow up." Stefan sighed and Damon clenched his jaw. "I'm sleeping in my old room tonight until you calm down."
"Stefan come on!" Damon headed up after him but Stefan kept moving, walking past Damon's room.
Damon paused looking towards his room, 'their' room and groaned in distress. Stefan was going to sleep alone, that meant he would still smell of the other guy all night. The thought of it was unbelievably disturbing and he whined. Stefan huffed from his room, the door open as he sat down on the end of the bed he hadn't slept in, in months and looked towards him.
"Good night Damon." He said and lay down, closing his eyes as Damon stared at him in horror and regret.
Please Little Blood Machine…
Sleeping Damon.
Let me lick you, please.
Stefan was tempted by the idea. He loved being loved in that intimate way and he warmed as he smiled and was just about to sit up and beckon him when he realised why he wanted to scent him.
"You're unbelievable." He sighed.
"You practically tore my clothes off yesterday when you smelled me. How is this fair?" Damon walked into his room and Stefan sat up angrily.
"Because I didn't just nearly hurt you to prove a point!"
"I wouldn't have hurt you." Damon swallowed.
"Yes you would have. Get out."
"Stefan, the smell…it makes me feel…" Damon grunted trying to explain and Stefan jumped out of bed and moved past him into the shower, stomping as he went.
He jumped in and turned his back to him as he scrubbed himself. Damon watched from the doorway, miserable and unhappy. Stefan scrubbed till his skin was pink and he was satisfied the scent of the wolf was gone. He turned around out of the shower and wrapped himself in a towel, walking past him again and climbing into bed still wet.
"There you go." He turned his back away from him and Damon sighed unhappily. "Goodnight."
Damon closed the door behind him and went back to their room as he fought tears of rage and sadness. Stefan's little fort had deflated in their absence and now he was thankful that he hadn't tidied it away. He climbed inside and wept silently at his own stupid brain for being so jealous and hostile. He'd always been possessive but he'd never had the urge to hurt the one he loved before. Never. Stefan had been right too. He would have, just to show Stefan he was owned. What the hell was that?
He clenched his eyes closed and inhaled deeply, smelling Stefan's scent around him. It comforted him a little and he eventually slept, his dreams full of wolves and Stefan leaving him. They'd had their full slice of problems throughout this relationship. They'd fallen in love because they'd been trapped together and starving, forcing a mating bond that neither of them had even known existed. Then they'd struggled to adapt to the restrictions that came with both their bond and their own relationship as brothers and hunters. Then they'd been kidnapped, experimented on, nearly killed because of it, broke up when they fought about mating again, then they'd re-mated and almost killed each other in the process. That day had been exactly one year ago yesterday, when he'd locked Stefan in the cellar and they'd agreed to mate. The process had began that day so they were counting it as an anniversary, rather than the later part where they had emerged and still taken a few days to be able to separate their animal and human brains.
Once they'd gotten through that, Stefan had been murdered and then Damon's soul had been split in two with the help of one of Bonnies' spells, to bring Stefan back so that now they shared a soul. It came in useful until he'd been bitten by Tyler Lockwood by accident during a shift and Stefan had had to go with Klaus to be his little puppet in exchange for a cure for him. That had been their hardest time, despite how crazy everything else had been. Stefan had had his humanity forcibly turned off and he'd beaten and tortured Damon without mercy. It had almost killed them both again to be so divided and that's when Elena had stepped in and made her insane agreement to swap her blood for their lives so she could bring them home and get them to join their soul back together again.
What a mess and hardly the romantic future they had envisioned when they'd left the Boarding House after they had first mated and set off to begin a new life together. No, nothing would ever be that easy for them. It had taken months of them fighting and making up and fighting again until they got over what had happened with Klaus. Stefan's behaviour had been so cruel and had dug so deep into Damon that it took a long time for him to trust him again.
He awoke filled with adrenaline and replayed the first month of having Stefan back with him after Klaus. It had nearly torn them apart for good. Things had been so difficult for them, re-adjusting to life again after everything that had happened to them. Klaus was a presence forever in their minds and in their lives now that Elena was keeping up her end of the deal and sending him her blood each week.
They both hated it, hated what it did to her. She hadn't thought her promise through that day when she'd saved their lives. One blood bag a week was a lot for someone to give away willingly. She was young and therefore her body could handle blood loss, but weekly? Even her small body couldn't quite replenish it that easily and she had gone from being a vibrant teenager to being a little slower, thinner and more lethargic than her school friends and peers.
It affected Stefan the most. He felt responsible for it all and it was agonising for him to watch her fade in the prime of her life. Still, what could they do about it? They had her on as many vitamins as was responsible and it had been the cause of many heated arguments.
Months previous:
"Just say it Damon!" Stefan had spat during the middle of yet another fierce argument over what they should do about Elena's predicament.
"What?" Damon sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"This is my fault!"
For god's sake, not this argument again Stefan.
"Say it out loud, I know you're thinking it remember." Stefan sneered and Damon exhaled.
Little blood machine…
"Don't 'little blood machine' me Damon, I know you want to punish me for this."
"Stefan will you just chill you're damn boots! I'm tired of arguing!" Damon yelled and Stefan pushed their connection and tried to feel Damon's thoughts.
Damon clamped up immediately and shut him out, folding his arms angrily.
Get out!
Stefan deflated and sighed tiredly, taking a seat across from him and staring at the fire.
"Just because you can be in my head, doesn't mean you should without my permission Stefan. Thank gods I've learned the blocking trick thanks to you." Damon said pointedly and Stefan frowned in grief.
Yes, Damon had learned how to block him. He'd learned because he'd had to. When Stefan had hurt him, violated him, tried to…
Stefan shook his head as tears filled his eyes. They'd made a vow to start over and move past everything that had happened when Klaus had turned Stefan's humanity forcibly off, but words were much easier than actions and they'd been going around in circles for months now. Stefan lay his head back into the armchair as pain filled him. He just wanted Damon back properly. He missed the connection they'd had when they shielded nothing from each other. Everything had been so open.
Damon gripped the arms of his chair as he felt Stefan's pain and misery and he rose and went to him, kissing his mouth softly and embracing him.
We have to stop fighting little blood machine.
I can't undo the past. When will you forgive me?
Damon pulled back and stroked Stefan's face. He shook his head. He was just as lost as Stefan was. He desperately wanted to forget everything and move on with their lives but Elena was a constant reminder and leaving Mystic Falls was not an option for them. After everything she'd done for them, they'd vowed to always protect her and those she loved. So where did that leave them?
Love.
Stefan channelled as he searched Damon's eyes and Damon smiled.
"I love you too." He said and gave Stefan a peck on the mouth before standing up and stretching tiredly. "I'm hitting the hay."
Stefan watched him leave, heading towards the inevitable room up on the first floor that Stefan hated. He hated it because it was Damon's sanctuary now and he wasn't invited. Yes, they'd been sleeping separately for a month now. It was agonising and Stefan couldn't stand it but Damon had put up an almighty fight about needing his own space and Stefan couldn't win out on that one.
Intimacy was a big part of their nature and their bodies needed to connect physically. Damon knew that and he still wanted to, but it came on his terms now and they only slept together a couple of times a month now, when their bodies forced them too. The scenting was few and far in between too now as well. Everything they were had been diluted.
Stefan got to his feet shakily, dreading sleeping alone tonight. He dragged his feet up the staircase and paused before Damon's door, contemplating asking for some company tonight. He needed it so badly.
I'm tired little blood machine.
Stefan frowned and swallowed his disappointment.
Please, I need you Damon.
Stefan sent him his heartbreak, his desperation and he heard Damon groan inside the room and get out of bed. Stefan's longing for him was too much for Damon to ignore and Stefan brightened a little when Damon opened the door and looked at him grumpily.
Stefan sent him images of their scenting as a request. He knew better than to ask for sex and Damon gave a tight smile.
"Come in." Damon opened the door.
Clearly Damon's body needed the closeness too otherwise he would have made some excuse and left him to retire to his own bed like usual.
They climbed into the huge bed together and rolled in towards each other. Stefan leaned into him and sighed. Sometimes it was hard to smell the roses unless he was right beside Damon's naked skin these days, so he buried his nose into Damon's neck and sighed when he detected the scent. Damon kissed his shoulder and wrapped his limbs around him soothingly.
Love.
I do, little blood machine.
Stefan kissed Damon's throat and bit down to taste the oranges. The blood wasn't quite as sweet as it used to be and Stefan knew why. He clung to Damon as he wept silent tears down his skin and Damon exhaled and began to scent him as his chest squeezed.
We just need time Stefan. I just need time.
I can't bear being apart from you, please let me sleep here tonight.
Stefan clutched him tight as he continued to drink and he felt Damon tense a little at the prospect.
Please!
He begged and Damon nodded against his head and stroked his back. Stefan relaxed and licked the residue of blood at Damon's neck, beginning to scent him. He wanted to take his time and make Damon enjoy it. He needed this so badly. He needed Damon to accept him, forgive him and forget all of the horrible things he'd suffered at the hands of humanity-free Stefan. Damon still had the odd nightmare about it and it crushed Stefan every time.
Damon sighed in comfort as Stefan rolled them over and licked at his throat and neck. The rose scent from his neck intensified and Stefan smiled gratefully. He was meticulous in his cleansing, biting and lapping at every spot of skin on Damon's chest until he moved down to his groin. Damon tensed a little and Stefan stroked his legs in reassurance.
No.
Damon channelled. He didn't want sex and Stefan forced down his disappointment and lay a kiss on his soft manhood before continuing down into Damon's thighs and legs, sucking and licking at the skin until Damon was making sounds of pleasure and contentment. Damon turned over easily and allowed Stefan to continue on his back and neck.
Damon didn't like to be stimulated in his prostate when Stefan was cleansing him in this mood, so Stefan avoided his lower half with his mouth, instead stroking the area comfortingly as he kissed Damon's back. Damon shivered at every kiss and sighed. He loved his back getting attention and Stefan knew it.
It wasn't until Stefan began to lick at the nape of his neck Damon stirred and rolled them over, his pupils widening with desire. Stefan smiled up at him and let Damon bite into his chest drinking. They kept their switches on these days, now that Damon didn't want sex as often. It was just easier that way. Still, as Damon sucked at Stefan's body and enjoyed the possession of him, Stefan's switch struggled and he chewed his lip.
Damon can I?
He asked silently. He wouldn't force himself on Damon ever again but he needed release – any kind. The blood wave was so enticing and he desperately wanted it to consume him. Damon nodded against his skin and he sighed in relief and let his switch go. Damon waited until he could feel Stefan relax and he undressed him properly, opened his legs and bit into Stefan's thigh. Stefan gasped and arched a little as Damon drank.
He closed his eyes and felt what Stefan was feeling – the pleasure, the aching, the desire for Damon to take him. He wanted to be in the mood. He wanted to feel like Stefan did, but it eluded him right now. Every time he thought of joining with Stefan, he feared losing himself again and he had been so lost when Stefan had turned away from him. He'd lost everything and now Elena was losing everything too. It had been too high a price to pay for their survival. They'd been selfish allowing her to make that deal. They should have just let it be over. Instead, she was ailing, Klaus didn't care and he and Stefan were lost in grief and unable to move on. The only person who won was Klaus and Damon had no idea how to fix that.
Stefan panted and climaxed on to his stomach and Damon pulled his mouth away, licking his lips. He loved Stefan so much more than he could allow himself right now. He could see what it was doing to him, pushing him away but he didn't know how not to. Their brief embraces like this made him want to steal Stefan away from here and try and start again but he couldn't leave Elena. They couldn't leave Elena. So, this was how it was right now.
He stroked Stefan's sides as he came down from his high, enjoying the fact that at least Stefan could still have this, when Stefan choked and squeezed his eyes closed.
What's wrong little blood machine?
Damon climbed on top of him and stroked his face as Stefan wept.
Wrong, this is all wrong.
I know.
I don't want this without you. It's empty.
Damon shushed him and embraced him, feeling guilty again. He was damned either way. Stefan held him and kissed his throat and mouth urgently. Damon responded as best he could until Stefan stopped shedding tears.
"I want you back." Stefan whispered and Damon chewed his lip. "How do we fix this?"
"I don't know." Damon sighed unhappily.
"This isn't just about what I did anymore is it? This is about Elena too and him." Stefan probed and Damon nodded.
"He did this to all of us. I can't forget it." Damon admitted and Stefan nodded.
"Then let's kill him." Stefan said tightly and Damon shook his head.
"He's invincible Stefan." Damon reminded him and Stefan exhaled. "I can't let him near you again." Damon added and Stefan's face filled with emotion.
Damon kissed him soothingly and climbed off of him to lie down beside him for the night and Stefan turned towards him.
"Sleep little blood machine. Everything will be better in the morning." Damon closed his eyes and let out a sigh and Stefan watched him as he fell asleep.
Present day:
Their bond had vibrated every time they'd struggled with forgiveness. Their bodies were made to fit together and they knew that above all else. Now, months on, they were in a good place again. They were stronger. They'd talked it out, forced themselves to spill their entire hearts and minds and they'd managed to overcome their fears of being together fully again. Now, as Damon lay on his own he felt fear that Stefan might sleep separately for a while again. It had been his choice last time, but Stefan had moved back into their bed months ago as they'd repaired their relationship. It had been what had made this anniversary doubly special and now…
It made sense that something like this should happen now. They were never happy for very long. This time it had been Damon's over-reaction to competition that had frightened and appalled Stefan though, so he couldn't blame anyone else. That wolf hadn't known Stefan was unattached. Only others like them would have been able to smell that he was mated.
When he awoke again later, he whimpered at the absence of Stefan's body with him and he curled into himself. He felt beyond depressed.
Pain, loneliness, regret.
He felt miserable and buried his face in Stefan's pillow.
Pain, shame…
He heard Stefan get out of his room and come along the hall and he whimpered again.
"Damon."
Pain.
Stefan sighed and climbed under the blankets to find him, curling around him and scenting his neck. Damon opened his eyes and looked at him. Stefan still looked peeved but he was the king of empathy and he couldn't take anyone feeling pain.
I just love you so much and he touched you Little Blood Machine. He wanted you.
I'm yours.
I know. I don't know why I was so angry.
You know people look at you like that all of the time?
Damon looked at him in surprise and Stefan nodded and stroked through his hair gently.
People look at you as though they could have sex with you right on the floor in front of me and not care and it drives me mad.
You've never said anything.
Because I don't need to. You're mine.
Stefan tilted his head and Damon reached for him, pulling him into a kiss.
Love, love, love
Love you, my jealous ass.
"Stefan." Damon scented his ear and whispered as Stefan purred. "Can I have you? Please, I want you to smell of me, not of soap."
Stefan chuckled and lay down under him.
"Maybe we should make soap out of your smell."
"No, it's only for you. Everything, just for you." Damon kissed him deeply and caressed him as Stefan sent feelings of forgiveness and love.
Stefan began to wriggle and channel images of their mating sex to him – the fierceness of it, the urgency, the glowing veins…Stefan was getting better at sending images and memories like Damon now and he revelled in the new ability. Damon growled in the back of his throat. Sliding his lips down Stefan's body and squeezing Stefan's thighs as he vamp sped sucking Stefan's erection until Stefan erupted into his mouth shouting and trying to grab for him. He licked his sex satisfied and opened Stefan's legs wide. Stefan tilted compliantly even though he was post coital and spent and Damon entered him slowly and gently. They made love slowly, moving against each other and whispering devotions of love, mixed with channelling as Damon rocked above him and watched his face as he got lost to sensation.
Sex was so wonderful they didn't need the blood wave to heighten it so much anymore. They were so connected now it transcended the need to drink from each other. It was like their bodies were completely one.
Stefan reached his arms up and brought Damon's mouth down to his as they kissed.
Love.
Love love love love…
Damon began to pant as his orgasm approached and Stefan held him, supporting his weight with his body and flexing his hips up to meet his eagerly. Damon grunted at the intensity of his body preparing to fill him, it was so intense these days.
"God I love you Stefan…" He grunted and hung his mouth open as Stefan held his hips and began to slide Damon in and out of himself, halting his movements so that he could take over.
He gyrated vamp speed and massaged Damon's sex with his insides as Damon clutched at him to remain upright as he gasped and moaned. Stefan gave his whole body up to the movement, working Damon's manhood as hard as he could until Damon tensed his whole body and shouted loudly as he filled him. They both panted happily, filled with immense love as they held each other and rubbed their noses together. They folded into each other, breathing in the scent of roses at their necks, feeling drugged and content. Damon lay his face into Stefan's neck relaxing. This was Stefan's favourite part of love making. Of course he couldn't get enough of having Damon inside of him, making him cry in pleasure as his body exploded but the after effects were so palpable. Damon was the sweetest he could be at these moments as he would snuggle and snooze on him and then wake him with scenting afterwards. It was true heaven. He couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere else in the world but wrapped up in Damon's embrace in their bed.
Nothing bad could happen.
