Disclaimer: All rights go to L.J. Smith and the CW.
I am so, so sorry for the incredibly long wait! I kind of lost my muse for a while and then I've been searching for a Beta. I know you all are probably pissed, but I promise I'm back and going to be updating regularly. Thank-you all for reviewing, following and those of you who favourite this story. It really means a lot.
Elena
It feels as if my heart is about to beat right out of my chest. My muscles are tense and it feels as if my every nerve is on fire. I'm acutely aware of Damon sitting not an arm length away from me. His body relaxed as his left arm grips the steering wheel, and his right hand grips the gear shift.
The impulse to reach out and put my hand on his is overwhelming. I grip the sides of the seat to keep that urge from manifesting. Matt, think about Matt. I keep repeating that phrase in my head as I stare intently out the window, waiting for him to actually start the car and take off.
The clearing of his throat makes me finally look at him. His baby blue's smouldering at me from the driver seat. instantly I'm caught up in his eyes and the emotions displayed within them.
"What's your address?" He asks, his velvety voice caressing my ears. "2104 Maple Street." I say, quietly diverting my eyes from his. I fidget nervously in my seat, the tension in the car almost palpable. I stare straight ahead out the wind shield, trying my best to come off as relaxed.
A minute goes by and still he doesn't make a move to start the car. I look at him out of the corner of my eye, his body now rigid. "Put your seat belt on now." I whip my head to the side, staring at him with wide eyes. His voice is arctic cold as he spits the words out, his eyes staring at with a blank expression.
"Excuse me?" I say, bristling at his tone of voice. What the hell? He could have just asked me politely. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. Who does he think he is? Where does he come off being able to talk to me like that? He blinks his eyes a couple of times, straightening up from where he was slightly leaning towards me. He takes a deep breath and leans back against the head rest.
"Sorry." He whispers closing his eye while griping the steering wheel with both hands. Okay what the hell is going on? "I just-" He doesn't finish his sentence, his face scrunching up as if he's in pain.
"Bad memory is all." He doesn't explain any further. His eyes open and I stop breathing. His eyes are so full of pain, it makes my heart hurt. His eyes bore down onto me as if he's staring right into my soul. I shudder as I realize how much I overreacted.
"No I'm sorry, I should have put it on when I got in." I say, trying my best to make the situation a little less awkward. Although I'm still a little peeved at him for his tone in demanding me to put my seat belt on, I should have done it anyway.
I mean it was just a couple of hours ago when I got into the accident. Speaking of, I feel the start of a painful throbbing start at my temple. I click the seat belt in and lean my head against the cold glass window. I can still feel his eyes on me, making my skin tingle. It doesn't take long though, for him to start-up the car and pull out of the parking lot.
I continue to stare out the window into the dark night. The tension is as thick as ever in the car as the silence weighs down on us. "So... I see they lent you a brush." His voice is the first to penetrate the silence. There's not really much to go on by that so I just hum in confirmation, keeping silent.
I've never felt more awkward in my entire life. I'm alone in a car with a guy who I only meet a couple of hours ago and him being a Greek God doesn't help. I can't help my teenage insecurities from manifesting. I wish I could look at myself in the mirror. I tried to get my hair as straight as possible in the hospital, but I wasn't really paying attention. I was so worried about my mom that my appearance never crossed my mind.
"Let me guess, he's a jock." I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. I turn in my seat, so half of my back is resting against the car door.
"Huh?" I vocalize my confusion. What the heck is he talking about? I ignore the painful throb in my head as I stare at his profile. "Your boy toy." His voice is teasing and I roll my eyes as a smirk graces his features.
"He's not my boy toy, he's my boyfriend." I say, glaring at him. Does he really think I'm like that? Catching a movement I look down at his hands which are tightening on the steering wheel, his knuckled turning white from his death grip.
"Whatever, so I'm guessing he's a jock." It doesn't come out as a question, so much as a statement. I narrow my eyes at him in suspicion. "How did you know that?" I ask, because frankly this is all coming out of left field. He takes his eyes off the road and looks over at me for a second, giving me that insufferable smirk.
"Oh come on Elena, you're like the epitome of a cliché." I gape at him, how dare he! He doesn't know me at all, so he doesn't have the right to judge my character. I am anything, but a cliché. "I am not!" I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Okay and if I'm right...What do I get?" He lowers his voice, the words coming out in a sexy purr. My heart stutters as his blue eyes darkened by-dare I say it?- lust find mine. "A kiss." I state, raising my lips into a smug grin. I take great pleasure in watching his eyes widen and his eyebrows raise to the point where they're almost touching his hair-line.
"Okay-"
"Now if you lose then I get to ask you as many questions as I want and you have to answer them truthfully." I cut him off before he could finish his false explanation of my apparent "clichéd" life. I definitely feel smug about winning this bet. I'm going to learn more about my mysterious stranger.
"Fine, just get those lips puckered and ready." Rolling my eyes, I relax back against the window and stare at his handsome profile. He really is a sight for sore eyes. Damn, he's probably a beast in bed. My eyes widen and heat rises to my cheeks. Oh gosh I shouldn't be thinking about him like that. I feel a spike of desire shoot through me as he licks his lips, my mind instantly going erotic thoughts of what that tongue could do...specifically to me.
Matt! Think of Matt!
Yes that's a good one Elena. Think of the guy who you're ready to break up with because there's no...spark. I look away from my interlaced hands on my lap and back up at Damon. Oh my it's suddenly really hot in here. I wonder if he would care if I roll down the window?
"Now let's see if I get this right." He looks me over, assessing me and it takes everything in my not to turn as red as a tomato. "You're a goodie two shoes who doesn't get in to any trouble, you get A's in school and you're a part of cheer leading. Your boyfriend is probably one of those meat head football playing jocks and you're miss popular at school." I don't know if I should feel shock or anger at his totally accurate, yet inaccurate analysis of my life. He made it sound...almost insulting. It's as if I'm just another vain high school kid.
"Well you're wrong." I state, giving him the stank eye.
"Oh am I now?" His voice is teasing as he raising his left eyebrow. "Yes you are." I don't want him to think I'm like those stereotypical air head cheerleaders who are self-centred, vain and self-absorbed. I can see it in his eyes that, that's what he thinks of me and for some reason I don't want him to.
"I'm not a cheerleader, I get B's and the occasional A in school. Oh and I'm not a goodie two shoes, I do have fun and party." I hold back the "so ha!" that I really want to say at the end, but I don't want to seem immature. "So he is a jock! See I knew it." I watch as Damon's face lights up and again he glances over at me with a small smile, no smirk whatsoever. I smile a beaming smile because I still won-even though he was right about Matt- and look back out the wind shield. I see my house come into view.
The trickle of disappointment is not as surprising as I thought it would be. As we pull up to the curb in front of my house, he shuts off the car. We sit there in silence. I wonder if he wants me to get out or not. He probably does. Sighing I unbuckle my seatbelt and reach for the handle, but his hand on my arm stops me.
A shot of electricity goes through my body at the contact. "Elena..." He whispers, trailing off as his beautiful eyes zero in on my lips. An unexpected wave of lust crashes over me, as I watch his eyes darken.
He pulls away like I shocked him, leaving me in a daze for a second. He clears his throat loudly while unbuckling his seat belt. "I'll walk you up." His voice is gruff and he wastes no time getting out of the car. I inhale deeply, trying to calm down my raging hormones.
Before I could get out of the car, Damon has the passenger door open for me. I give him a small smile and take his outstretched hand. He pulls me out of the car and closes it behind me. I glance down at the ground as we walk up the pathway to the porch steps and tuck my hair behind my ear.
"Thank-you for bringing me home." I say as we walk up the steps.
"Any time." He replies, his hand slightly brushing mine as we walk the rest of the way up the steps. We both stop walking simultaneously and turn to look at each other. I look down at the porch, as the events from today crash over me unexpectedly. I suddenly feel extremely tired, my bed calling me from inside.
Gosh Jeremy is going to be devastated that mom and dad are in the hospital. He's going to want to go see them. If it wasn't for Damon we would all be dead. I feel a shudder rip through me at just the thought.
Damon's soft hand grips my chin and lifts my head up to meet his eyes. "You going to be okay?" He asks, gazing down into my eyes. I wonder if he could see how grateful I am for him saving us...me. All I can do is stare into his eyes, trapped in there hold over me.
I feel my heart start to pound against my ribcage as his head moves slowly towards mine. I feel frozen in place, my eyes darting between his eyes and mouth...transfixed. He's taking his time, looking into my eyes probably waiting for me to pull away.
I don't think I can.
I can't explain it, but there's just something about him. It doesn't make sense since he's a stranger, but I feel safe with him.
I let out an inaudible sigh as his hands come up to caress my cheeks, then cupping my neck in his soft big hands. I close my eyes in anticipation, my body involuntarily leaning up to meet his lips in a searing kiss. My heart skips a beat at the contact, his mouth pressing firmly against mine. It isn't what I would expect from him, with his bad boy persona. This kiss is tender, full of passion. It's not rough and bruising, it's dare I say it...romantic.
His lips are so soft against my own. I've never felt this way before when someone kissed me. It feels as if the whole worlds has fallen away and there is only Damon and I left. I push my lips harder against his, wanting to feel more of everything...more of him. The smell of leather, bourbon and cologne fill my nostrils and makes me light-headed.
I moan while flicking my tongue out to run along his bottom lip, demanding access into his mouth. My heart is beating like a hummingbirds wing, pounding against my ribcage as I try to get more from him. I let out a whimper at the sudden loss of his lips. Oh gosh I hope he didn't hear that. "Goodnight Elena." I hear his gruff voice whisper and then he's gone. I hear his footsteps walking down the steps, but I can't find the will to move.
I'm completely frozen in place, looking at the spot he just vacated while my hands still hover in the air where they were holding on to his not five seconds ago. I hear the faint rumble of his Camaro starting up and pulling away from the house, leaving me standing on my front porch stunned.
My lips still tingling from his kiss.
A/N: Okay so that is it. I want to say again how sorry I am for the long wait. I'm still looking for a Beta, but I'm not going to put this story off just cause I can't find one. I hope you all liked this chapter. Well I guess that's it. Drop off a review telling me what you thought of the chapter and again sorry for the long wait!
