N: Wow, you guy are amazing! Your support means a lot to me, thank you so much! I know the sexual tension's killing us all, but that will only make it hotter when they finally get to it. I hope you guys will like this chapter too – some fluffiness in it. Enjoy!

Thank you Valerie (2serendipity) you're a really amazing beta!

Bubbles

Day one

When Damon returned to his room, the large chamber was empty, the bed was perfectly made– you couldn't even tell someone had been sleeping in it. He also noticed that both his and her clothes had been taken out of their suitcases and carefully arranged in the closet.

He slowly made his way towards her half of the closet and brushed his hand over a silky Roberto Cavalli dress in primary red, enjoying the smoothness of the material against his flesh.

He changed into something more 'formal' for dinner and was reading an old newspaper when she stepped out of the bathroom. His eyes peeked over the top of the paper, and he was grateful that it was covering his mouth because he was sure his jaw had dropped in his lap. She looked absolutely breathtaking in an ivory chiffon strapless dress. The pale color of the clothing made her olive skin look astonishing; her legs went on forever and he couldn't help but think she looked like a goddess.

Elena smiled seductively when she saw his eyes pop out of his head. She knew it was just a matter of time before he stopped this nonsense and claimed her. It was no accident that she'd chosen this dress; she knew how it molded itself around her body, emphasising every one of her perfect curves; she knew it was short enough to make her legs look like they would never end, but long enough to keep it tasteful, and she most certainly knew what the color would be doing in contrast with her skin.

Damon folded the paper and placed it by the edge of the short, round table on his right. He stood up and Elena thought that for a man who wasn't all that tall, he looked pretty intimidating; there was something about him that made him look dangerous…with his so, sodark hair and electric blue-gray eyes…his beauty was definitely inhuman.

Slowly, like an oversized cat, he walked towards Elena, who was playing the role of the cornered mouse – and she definitely felt like one too.

"Are you ready?" he asked and for a second Elena thought he was asking her if she was ready to be devoured by him. That wasn't even the worst part; the worst part was that she was ready.

"Yes," she answered, her voice sounding calm and collected, even if in reality she was anything but.

She made her way towards the door and Damon followed her. They'd almost reached it, Elena's hand on its way towards the handle, when he spoke.

"I'm not," he said and Elena let her hand drop against her body, ready to turn and face him. But before she could do so, he caught her arm, making her face him. He pulled her body against his, her back firmly against the door, making her his prisoner.

He buried his face into the silky waves of her hair to nuzzle her neck. Her perfume, combined with the sweet vanilla scent of her skin and the juicy smell of peaches of her hair was driving him crazy, making him impossibly hard.

Elena could feel his soft, warm breath against her throat and she bit her bottom lip to keep in a needy moan. She pushed her hips forward to meet his, and shamelessly brushed her pubic bone against his hardness; the gesture made him growl in her ear and press his body against hers, crushing her between himself and the wooden door.

His left hand went under her knee to wrap her gazelle-like leg around his hips, while his right hand flew from her tiny waist to her neck to finally cup her face. Their eyes locked and Elena could swear she'd drown in his ocean blues. When his lips finally captured hers, Elena felt like she had just been swallowed by a tornado. She had never been kissed in such a bold way before; there was no asking permission or timidity. He fearlessly possessed her mouth like she belonged to him since the beginning of time. His hand slid underneath her dress to grab her perfectly rounded ass and he squeezed it slightly, making Elena moan in his mouth. He took advantage and pushed his playful tongue inside to stroke hers.

His tongue knew no shame or restraint; it went in and out, stroking her own tongue and exploring the deepest corners of her warm mouth. His fingers were not gentle or slow; they tangled in her curls, pulling mercilessly to change the position of her head and get a better access to her mouth. There was some slight pain, but the passion blinding her masked any trace of pain.

Her hands curled around his neck, pulling him even closer, kissing him back with the same wildness. There was something sinful and erotic about it that called out to her darkest desire. Her core was all hot and soaked, throbbing with need, a need she'd never felt before.

As his fingers dug into her skin and slid from her ass to her thigh, she let a low growl slip from her throat.

"Now I'm ready," he said, pulling away from her like she had some sort of fatal disease that was highly contagious.

Damon smiled cockily at the sight of her. She looked flushed... all aroused and bothered, breathing heavily – her breasts were going up and down in a mesmerizing rhythm – her lips slightly sore, but Damon thought she'd never looked more beautiful. He'd just lost control; she looked good, she smelled divine, even her voice turned him on. He opened the door and they made their way towards the huge living-room. Stefan, Caroline and Giuseppe were already seated.

From the corner of his eyes, Damon saw Stefan inspecting Elena from head to toe, and Caroline pinched him under the table; the grimace on his brother's face made Damon press his lips together to keep in a laugh. He pulled the chair out for her, because his mother had just entered the room and he knew Donatella had high expectations concerning how her two sons should treat their women.

His father started a conversation about his wish to build a small hotel in Mystic Falls and Elena gave him some legal advice that left Damon impressed. She even suggested a few architects that used to work with her father.

"It depends on what you have in mind," she said, taking a small sip of her water. Damon was impressed that she was actually eating; most women that looked like her were having low fat yoghurt for breakfast, salad for supper and biscuits with zero-fat cheese for dinner. "Do you want to go for something humble and cozy, or do you like something more luxurious?" she asked, appearing genuinely interested.

"I was actually thinking about doing both," Giuseppe answered.

And so the conversation went on until everyone was full and they started clearing the table. Both Elena and Caroline helped Donatella in the kitchen.

"Everything was amazingly good. Did you make the cheesecake yourself?" Elena asked.

"Well ye, dear."

"It was sincerely the best I've ever tasted."

"Thank you, it's a special recipe I inherited from my mother many years ago," Donatella said proudly.

***we pay the price***

Somehow Elena got stuck doing the dishes and she was alone in the big, old fashioned kitchen. She had just sneezed, making the white foam fly out of the sink, with a tiny bit getting stuck on the tip of her nose. When she heard someone walk into the kitchen, she turned around to see Damon approach her. He had a big grin on his face and she was about to ask him why, but she sneezed again.

"Bless you!" Damon said.

"Thanks, I'm allergic to some detergents," she explained.

"You don't have to do that," he pointed towards the dirty plates.

"It all right; I don't mind. It's just some sneezing, nothing major. Could be the Benzalkonium Chloride**; they still use it in some detergents and even soaps," Elena mumbled quickly as she felt another sneeze coming.

"Or it could be the foam on your nose," Damon said amused. He used his fingers to brush the stubborn bubbles from her nose.

"It happens," said Elena, taking a few bubbles in her hand and blowing them in his direction. It didn't touch his face, but some foam got stuck in his midnight hair. "Let's see how you like it," she continued blowing a new handful towards him. This time a tiny bit stopped just under his nose, making him sneeze as well which made Elena laugh out loud. Soon Damon found himself bent over the sink, looking for more bubbles to take revenge on her, holding his right hand around her middle to keep her in place; Elena was trying to keep the sponge away from him and they were both giggling like two five years olds.

"I thought you were washing the dishes, not yourselves," Donatella said from the doorway. She sounded like a mother rebuking her children, but when Elena turned to look at her, she could clearly see the cheerfulness in her eyes.

Damon mumbled an 'I'm sorry' and got out of the kitchen.

"I haven't seen him smile like that since he was ten," the older woman said, taking the washed plate from Elena's hand to towel-dry it.

"Yeah, I had the feeling that he grew up too fast," Elena murmured. She wasn't sure Donatella would feel comfortable enough to open up to her – practically a stranger – but she wanted to know more about Damon.

"He had no choice, because his father lost himself for a while. Giuseppe wanted a daughter. He always wanted a little girl to look after; uncommon for a man to prefer a daughter over a son, but that's what he wanted. When he found out I was unable to have more children, he started drinking. Damon was ten years old when that happened. Six years later, Damon left home and moved to the big city, and a year after that, my husband's drinking stopped. I guess he realized that his situation was going to leave him without his sons. He had already lost one; he couldn't bear to los Stefan as well."

Elena's mind was working overtime putting all the pieces together. She couldn't believe that Damon had left home at such an early age and made a living for himself in a big city. But Elena couldn't help but feel that there were still some pieces missing.

"What happened on the day he left?" she asked and Donatella looked away.

"They fought…It's not like they hadn't done it before, but this time, when Giuseppe hit Damon, he returned the favour. Damon left that night, and I've only seen him occasionally in downtown LA. We've been meeting regularly, but he refused to come home and see his father. Giuseppe's too ashamed of what he did to talk to Damon, and my boy's too stubborn for his own good," She said, a deep sadness clearly audible in her voice.

"I'm sorry…" was all Elena found to say.

***we pay the price***

"Where are you going?" Elena asked, seeing that Damon was getting ready to go out. He took another look in the big square-shaped mirror before turning to face her.

"Not that that's any of your business, but I'm going out to catch up with some really old friends. My parents probably retired to their room and Stefan and Caroline will be joining me, so you'll have no one to entertain you, I'm afraid. Don't wait up for me, because I'll probably be back late!" he said and just like that, he took off, leaving Elena alone and confused in the middle of the deserted room.

'Boom-boom, boom-boom' she could hear her heart beat in her ears and feel her pulse in her temples. She was mad. No, she was more than mad. She was furious that he'd done that to her. She wouldn't cry, because Elena Gilbert did not cry; she just changed into a black and white negligée and climbed into bed with her favourite book – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – in her hand. She read almost half the book before she decided to try and get some sleep. She took another glance at the big digital clock on the small, round bedside-table – it was already close to midnight.

She twisted and turned a million times, in a million different positions on the big mattress, but she just couldn't sleep. She looked at the clock again, it was already 2:30 am and she was still fully awake and Damon was still 'out' with 'old friends'.

About an hour later, she heard the door open slowly. She heard a strange sound that made her think Damon must've hit something because he hadn't turned on the lights.

"Damn!" she heard him yell. Just about thirty seconds later she heard another sound and this time she knew what he'd bumped into; his own suitcase that was still lying on the floor where he'd left it after he claimed she forgot to take out his cologne. Of course he had found it a few minutes later in the bathroom, but he'd let the suitcase linger in the middle of the room and she refused to collect after him.

"What the fuck is this doing here…what is…dammit!" he mumbled and Elena could tell from his unsteady voice that he'd been drinking. He was trying – and clearly failing – to be quiet.

Just when she was ready to let him know she was awake, she saw his jeans fly across the room and land on a small chair. Something shiny fell from his pocket and Elena was experienced enough to immediately recognize the object as being the – obviously empty – wrapping of a condom. The fact that he preferred to go and have sex with a stranger than be with her, hurt. Elena Gilbert didn't dohurt. It didn't even make sense that she'd feel hurt or rejected; she wasn't actually his girlfriend, so why on earth does it matter to me that hedoesn't want me?

Sleep found her finally at the calming sound of the water pouring as Damon showered.


N: There you go, more sexual tension *evil laugh* hope you enjoyed it anyway. Please do drop a review and let me know!

The next chapter will be slightly more…M-rated then the other, shit gets serious.


**- Chloride that can make certain people alergic, dry hands, some sneezing, nothng big.