Okay you guys, the last chapter got more reviews than I expected, and I appreciated all of them. But they were definitely mixed, so I thought I would address what seemed to be common theme among them. Yes, Damon was acting a bit out of character. But you must realize that Elena had just turned! He didn't need to scare her off, especially when she was basically giving up all she knew for a life with him. Too much too fast would make any girl run for the hills!

But as you can see in this one, which is probably a month or so after the last chapter, time has passed. And there was definite building of tension between the two. So if you just hold on for the ride, I promise it will be all worthwhile ;)

I thought I was a fool for no one
but oh, baby I'm a fool for you.

-Supermassive Black Hole, Muse

The hours were ticking away, and Elena could barely sit still. She was restless, itching to get out of the house. But unfortunately, without a ring like the one both Salvatore's always wore, she couldn't leave in the day. So she was stuck inside, with Damon god knows where.

She'd taken up residence in a bedroom just down the hall from his, and at the moment she was pacing the floor, no doubt wearing a hole into the rug. Which wouldn't exactly surprise her. Could I wear a hole in the rug by just walking across it? I can snap a tree in half if I'd like...

"Hmm," she mused aloud. Something she'd have to ask Damon later. She'd already broken the shower curtain rod earlier (by accident) and having to call Damon in to fix it for her, as she stood awkwardly by in a towel, had been humiliating to say the least. She could still recall the way his eyes raked over her body, and how his comments had suddenly had double meanings to all of them.

Which should not have surprised her by now. But that didn't stop her from blushing then, and even blushing a bit now. She'd ate hours ago, and she was suddenly feeling like she could eat again. Which wasn't a good thing, since she was fairly certain they were running low on the plastic bags in the fridge.

So she continued to pace, and fret, trying to control the urge to jump out the window, which would only be suicide for her.

Then her steps halted immediately when she heard the distinct sound of rhythmic beating. A heart beat. She could tell that's what it was, because then when she listened, she noticed the sound of blood flowing, rushing through the veins of a human.

Her eyes grew dark, and she knew that the veins beneath them had emerged. Her fangs protruded.

It would take no time at all to kill whoever was downstairs, knocking on the front door. Seconds to be in front of them, a second to rip into their throat...

NO! I will not kill an innocent person. I can't. I won't be able to stop myself.

And she knew that the last thought was completely true. So she simply walked over to her four-poster bed, and gripped the headboard with all she had in her. She gripped it so hard that her fingertips had already made impressions. The thirst nearly over-whelmed her, it was running through her like lightning.

Elena didn't even notice the sound of voices, followed by the opening and closing of the door. She was holding onto the headboard as if it were for dear life. But not for her own, but for whoever had had the misfortune of knocking on the Salvatore Boarding House that day.

She was rocking back and forth, gritting her teeth, bringing blood to spring up in her mouth. Her dead heart didn't beat anymore; but somehow she still had blood flowing through her. She heard cracking then, and the wood began to fall apart in her hands. The roaring in her ears drowned out all other noises, and with the cracking of the wood, she felt her resolve cracking too.

The human heart was beating not far from the front door- they'd only been walking away for a few seconds. She could just stand at the door, and beckon whoever it was inside. They would listen to her; her voice would give them no choice. So easy. So simple.

Then she sprang from the bed, and was down the stairs in a blur, already turning the knob when another sound caught her off guard.

"Ahem," came a strong male voice behind her. "Going out?" he asked in a voice full of sarcasm.

She whirled, and he took notice of her eyes and teeth, before stepping towards her, his face unreadable, but that damn smirk still in place. "You do know the sun's still out?"

Elena coughed, trying to compose herself. She felt guilty, but she couldn't help but count every step the human took away from the door. When she finally heard a truck start up and pull away, she breathed out. Then she felt her eyes go back to normal, and her fangs were gone again.

Damon simply stood there with a bemused expression, looking all the while like someone who'd caught a child with their hand in the cookie jar.

She wasn't sure what to say, so she just decided to avoid his gaze. "Where the hell have you been? I nearly killed that person!"

He stepped closer, and he cocked his head to the side. "Oh, so you missed me? Well, if you wanted me so badly, I suppose I could make it up to you." The words were full of lust, and she looked into his eyes again, not quite sure if she liked what she saw there. His eyes held amusement, but most of all- a promise. A promise of passion.

Which unnerved her. That he could take the most unserious of moments, and suddenly remind her of the rope they were balancing on. They would eventually have to fall one way or the other.

"Don't be stupid. I'm hungry!" she growled out.

His eyes never wavered from the emotions that he was basically shooting out to her. "For what?" The question was loaded, and she just shook her head.

"Blood, Damon," she just answered tiredly.

He chuckled, then pulled a cooler that she had noticed before from behind him. "Oh, that. Well, here's a lovely donation from the local blood bank." He turned and headed to the kitchen, not sparing a glance behind him. He knew that she would follow.

And follow she did.

He set it down on the counter, and turned toward her, sweeping his arms around the spacious room. "How would you like it?"

She groaned, but said, "Microwave. And must everything you say sound so... sexual?"

She regretted the choice of word when he grinned wolfishly then, and chimed out, "Now, why would you bring that into this conversation? I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. And if you wanted something, Elena, all you had to do was ask."

That stupid smirk was beginning to grate on her nerves, but she loved it just the same.

And then the microwave dinged, and she rushed around him to get to it.

"Patience!" he chided her, but he didn't stop her from getting the bag out, and then supplying her with a mug. She barely waited to pour the blood in before she was gulping it down. Her veins popped out, her eyes darkened, and her fangs extended. Again.

"You were a hungry child, weren't you?" he teased, looking at her with his intense gaze.

She finished the cup then, and she didn't bother to wipe the blood from her lips. "Hungry, yes. Child? No. I am not a child."

He only looked her, expression mostly unreadable, besides the way the corners of his lips twitched, like he wanted to smile. He kept serious though, when he whispered, "Yes. I know."

Elena wasn't sure what he was thinking about. But she certainly liked the way he was looking at her then. Admiration definitely shone in his features; but this time, it wasn't just physical admiration. It was genuine, appreciative, and she was glad to be with him then.

"Where have you been?" she managed.

"Well, I was busy acquiring a gift for you, actually." And then he pulled out a small, velvet-covered box.

Is that...?

"A ring?" she asked, her voice catching.

He simply pushed it across the counter top to her, his eyes gaging her reaction carefully.

She cleared her throat then, and opened the box carefully, not daring to believe.

But then... it wasn't what she'd expected. It was set in a simple silver band, with a swirling pattern around the stone. The stone was what surprised her. It was a lapis lazuli gem.

Of course it had been stupid for me to think it was... She could barely think the thought.

"Oh," she ground out.

His eyes danced then, and he actually laughed. "What? Were you expecting... something else?" He got up from the stool across from her, and came to stand right beside her. He leant down, until his mouth was right beside her ear.

She recalled that day by the stream, when everything had been less... heavy. This dance between them had always been there; but lately, with her being stuck in the house all day, it'd become more pronounced.

Hot breaths touched her ear, almost caressing. Then he spoke, and the words made her shiver.

"Not quite yet, love. We still have so much to learn about each other."

And then he leant even closer, and inhaled the scent of her hair. His nose brushed her cheekbone as he pulled away, and she couldn't begin to explain to herself why it made her want to jump his bones.

Obviously, she had to shiver again; and obviously, he had to point it out.

"Imagine what I could make you do when I was intentionally hoping to have you react?" His voice was dripping with sex, and it sounded husky to her own ears.

She couldn't let him control her this way! So Elena turned, catching him off guard, and looked directly in his eyes.

Their faces were mere inches apart when she whispered just as huskily, "Imagine," she licked the remaining blood from her lips slowly, "what I could make you do... without trying."

His eyes were intense, and lust pooled in them deeply. But just as he began to lean forward, his eyes locking on her lips, she swiveled the chair back around, facing the counter.

She chimed out in a perfectly innocent voice, all of the earlier moments affects gone, "Thanks for the ring!" and she slipped it on her right ring finger.

The unmistakable groan, followed by a growl, made her want to laugh, but she had no time.

He had pulled her around, and her mouth was agape at the sudden turn.

His face was close to hers again, and she prepared herself for whatever attack he had planned. I will hold strong against him, she told herself. I won't give him the satisfaction of any reaction.

But then his lips were a breath away from hers, almost touching, and she closed her eyes uncontrollably. The electricity between them was monumental. She felt certain that if he touched her she would burst into flames. She longed to close the gap between their mouthes.

He whispers then, "Trust me when I say you would be trying. Hard."

Then he pulls away (damn him, making her lose!) and he grins in utter triumph.

"We'll just have to see how much... some other time," he remarks flippantly.

And she knew he was right. This dance of theirs, the tightrope she always felt they were balancing on, would eventually end. And that whatever was happening between them... that would be inevitable.

Elena was a complete and utter fool for Damon Salvatore.

She wasn't sure she was entirely comfortable with the idea.

Oh, now my dears- you know the drill.

Review if this made you smile. Or frown. I hope it was the former!

:D