Damon closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the closed bedroom door. All that separated him from Elena, from the woman that had turned him inside out and left him craving the one thing he could never have, were two thin slabs of wood. Two simple, unlocked doors kept him from the woman he wanted more than anything in the whole wide world.

Leaving her alone in that bathroom had taken every ounce of his self-control. If it had been any other night, he would have stripped her bare and pulled her into a shower with him. He would have lathered up his palms and glided them over her supple curves and then carried her to bed. The very idea of learning every secret, ticklish place on her body with a swipe of his tongue left him lightheaded and aching.

But not tonight.

Tonight Elena had been through so much. She needed space to decompress. She needed to cleanse away the horror she had experienced. His only goal tonight was to make sure that Elena felt safe and secure. Whatever the cost, he would give that to her.

Damon pushed off the door and made his way to the office where he opened the safe hidden in the credenza and removed an envelope of cash. He tucked it into his back pocket, closed and locked the safe and left the office. Back in the kitchen, he washed his hands and treated the scrapes on his knuckles from that bastard's teeth. As he rubbed in the ointment, he thought of all the ways his actions tonight might play out. Marko wasn't stupid. He would try to leverage his threat against Elena to make a deal.

But Kai? Kai was the real problem. Newly anointed as the cartel's top man in Mystic Falls, he had a taste for power and the added pressure to prove his worth as a boss. He wanted respect, and if it got out that a tiny little thing like Elena had knocked him out while his entire crew of thugs and enforcers stood outside? He was going to be a laughingstock.

Damon placed both palms on the counter and leaned hard against it, dropping his head and closing his eyes as he tried to work out the angles. There was something else about Kai that was even more dangerous. He wanted Elena. He wanted her in the most primal way a man could want a woman.

She is mine. She belongs to me, he reminded himself.

Shaking his head, Damon let loose a dark laugh. Elena didn't belong to him. She wasn't his. She didn't belong to any man. She was her own person, independent and strong and ready to fight the world to find her own success.

But as much as he admired that tenacity, Damon knew better than anyone that it made her vulnerable. She was alone in this world. She had no one to back her up and give her support when she needed it most.

I could be that support. I could have her back. I could be the man who—

"Damon?"

The sound of Elena's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She stood just inside the living area and clutched her dirty clothes to her chest in a neatly tied bundle. His jacket was draped across her shoulders and her shoes dangled from her fingers. The long damp strands of her dark brown hair had been combed back and left to air dry, but it was the sight of her in just his shirt that drove the air out of his lungs and made his blood run even hotter.

"Damon, your phone is ringing." Still standing there, Elena tilted her head to the side. "Are you going to answer it?"

He patted his pocket and felt the vibrating, chirping block hidden away there. He quickly answered it. "Hello?"

"We have a problem." His father Giuseppe didn't sound happy. "I need to see you. Now."

Damon casted a brief glance in her direction. He couldn't leave her here alone, not right now and not even for his old boss. "I can't get away from here."

Giuseppe sighed. "I will come to you."

"I'm at the other place."

"Yeah. I figured." He paused. "Do you need anything?"

"Maid service would be nice." He thought of the evidence that needed to be destroyed. The services of a cleaner would come in handy right now.

"Our maid is out on sick leave, but I will put in a call with the company."

The line went dead, and Damon pocketed his phone. Getting into an argument with his father was the last thing he wanted to do tonight, but it was better to just get the ass chewing over with, pay whatever fee the mafia family demanded and move forward.

"Is everything okay?"

Elena's anxious expression spurred him into action. He walked around the long kitchen island separating them and took the bundle of clothing and shoes from her arms. When they were out of the way on the counter, he placed his hands on her shoulders. She had asked him for honesty, and he was going to give it to her.

"My father is coming over. Do I need to tell you what that means?"

Her eyes widened, and her lower lip actually wobbled. On the verge of tears, she asked, "Is he going to kill me?"

"What? God no!" Damon hauled her into his arms and crushed her tight to his chest. Dipping his head, he touched his cheek to the unbruised side of her face. The mere mention of his father had scared her so much she was shaking. "I told you, Elena. No one is going to hurt you."

Elena tried to pull back so he let her. It wasn't until that moment that he realized she had grabbed hold of him in her fear. She still gripped his shirt on either side of his hips as she gazed up at him with watery eyes. "But he used to be a mob boss."

"Yes, he was." There was no point in denying what she knew. "But he is my father," he emphasized. "My father belonged to the mafia family. Way back. If the mafia family can't provide the coverage we need, there are other men who will for the right price."

Elena slowly released her hold on him but she didn't attempt to step out of his loose embrace. "What if the price is too high?"

Didn't she understand? Leaning down, Damon kissed the top of her head. He allowed his lips to linger there for a moment longer than necessary. "There is no price too high, not for you."

"Damon," she breathed his name, and his control wavered. Maybe one little kiss wouldn't hurt…

A knock at the door startled them both out of that unexpected moment of romantic tension.

"It is probably just Carlos," he murmured. "The concierge."

"Oh. Um." Elena glanced around nervously. "I will go hide in the bedroom."

Before Damon could ask her why she thought she needed to hide, she was already scampering away like a little rabbit. It occurred to him as he tucked away the bloody clothes in a cabinet and headed for the door that she might be embarrassed to be caught wearing only his shirt. Her sense of modesty amused him.

A quick peek through the peephole confirmed his suspicions. As he let Carlos inside, Damon felt uncomfortably prepared for an ambush or a fight. I need to start carrying a piece again, he thought.

After the groceries were stowed on the counter, he walked Carlos back to the door and handed him the envelope of cash. "No one comes up to the eleventh floor without my approval. I want it locked down. Understand?"

Carlos slipped the envelope inside his suit jacket. "As you wish, Mr Salvatore."

Owning every unit on the floor and keeping them all empty save for this one had its perks. Chief among them the fact that Carlos and his friend in the maintenance department could shut down elevator access to the floor. It wasn't a perfect solution for keeping Elena safe but it was the best option he had right now.

"I'm expecting a visitor soon. He will come through the trade entrance. Make sure he gets up as quickly as possible and without being seen."

"Done." Carlos left the apartment, and Damon locked the door behind him.

When he made it back to the kitchen, he found Elena putting away the groceries. It was a domestic vision that rattled him. For a moment, he could almost believe they were like any other couple. There she was with her wet hair, wearing his shirt and putting away groceries as if this were something they did every night. It was such a simple thing to witness, but hell. It made him want something simple and normal and real.

"Do you want some coffee? I could make you something to eat," Elena offered.

"Sit." Damon pointed to one of the tall leather barstools on the other side of the island. "You fed me once. Now I will make you something to eat." He caught her disbelieving smile as she slid onto a seat. "What?"

"I just never figured you for the cooking type."

"And how do you think I feed myself?"

"Takeout? Restaurants?"

He had to give her that one. "All right. Most days, yes. But I do know how to cook eggs. You will see."

Before he started on their eggs and toast, he poured a glass of orange juice for her. "Drink this."

Elena dutifully sipped the cold liquid. When she licked her upper lip, he had to avert his eyes and suppress a needful groan. Did she have any idea how damned alluring she was? If she did, she played the game superbly and better than any woman he had ever known. But he sincerely doubted that was the case.

Damon had just finished plating their scrambled eggs and toast when a knock interrupted his work. He thrust a fork into her hand. "Eat."

Elena accepted the fork but her scared gaze darted toward the doorway. While he understood her fear of Giuseppe, it was misplaced. His father was a hard man, ruthless when necessary and not afraid to get his hands dirty, but he never hurt women. In some ways, he was the dark champion of the innocent.

Damon smiled encouragingly and gently pushed her hand toward the plate. "Eat."

Elena took a small bite. Satisfied that she was going to get some food into her stomach, he left the kitchen and answered the door. Instead of his customary bespoke suit, Giuseppe wore jeans and a black hoodie that obscured most of his face, but those leather boots gave him away. Damon stepped aside and gestured for his father to enter.

Once inside, Giuseppe lowered his hood. His green-eyed glare warned Damon to tread carefully. "Care to explain what the hell was going on?"

To say his father was unhappy was an understatement. Giuseppe had tried so hard to create a new, clean life for himself. Dragging him out of bed and entangling him in this mess? Nightmare.

"If I could have avoided this—"

"You are not a street soldier anymore," Giuseppe hissed. "If you want to make a move, you clear this shit with me first." His father stepped forward and invaded his personal space. "I have tried so damn hard to create a new life for us, Damon."

Guilt soured Damon's stomach as he considered the impossible position he had put Giuseppe in tonight. "Dad—"

"Where is she?" Giuseppe turned his back and started toward the kitchen. "What is this one's name? Treasure? Satin? Dynasty?"

It was a mean barb that hit its mark. His preference for dancing girls was part of the underworld legend. "Her name is Elena. She cleans my office. Part-time," Damon clarified. "She is an entrepreneur with a college degree."

Giuseppe stopped and turned. His discerning gaze made Damon uncomfortable. The man had a gift for seeing right through people. What was he seeing now?

As if trying to figure out a puzzle, Giuseppe asked, "Are you serious about her? Because if you are, I need to know now."

"I'm serious about her." Whether or not Elena was serious about him remained to be seen.

"You should have told me about this woman when things got serious. I should have been made aware of her connections so I had a complete picture of our family's underworld ties." Giuseppe exhaled a long breath. "You won't get out of this cheaply, not after you put three of Marko's men in the hospital."

"I know," Damon gravely answered. "I know."

Giuseppe nodded. "So long as you know…"

Damon trailed Giuseppe into the kitchen where Elena anxiously stabbed her fork into the small mound of scrambled eggs left on her plate. Half of her toast had been eaten and her glass of juice was empty. Glad that she had gotten something in her belly, he flashed her a reassuring smile.

Without a word of introduction, Giuseppe walked right up to Elena and carefully clasped her chin. He gently turned her face left and then right before tilting her head back to get a better look at the fingertip bruises on her neck. The marks had really blossomed now and provided a clear picture of what had happened to her earlier in the night.

The tic in Giuseppe's jaw eased the tension in Damon's chest. He trusted his father to be fair with Elena, but after seeing her battered face, his father would make sure she was protected. Even it meant dealing with the mafia family again.

Giuseppe gave Elena's shoulder a squeeze and then stepped back. Her grip on the fork loosened, and she visibly relaxed. Hoping to set her at ease, Damon traded her empty glass of juice for the full, untouched glass sitting next to his plate. She took the juice with a thankful smile and sipped it.

"Elena, this is my father, Giuseppe Salvatore."

Elena wrapped both hands around the glass. "Hello."

"You don't need to be afraid of me, Elena. So long as you are honest with me," Giuseppe added as he slid onto the closest barstool. "I don't tolerate lying."

"I understand," she said softly.

"Good." He tapped the countertop with tattooed fingers. "Do you know why I am here?"

Damon made Giuseppe a cup of tea while Elena cooperated with this mini-interrogation. It kept his hands busy, and his stress levels in check while he waited to see how this would play out.

"You are here because my sister and her boyfriend did something really stupid, and now we are all in trouble." She swallowed nervously. "You are here because Kai tried to rape me and I nearly killed him with a paperweight."

That last piece of information caused Giuseppe's eyes to widen. His father's irritated glare landed on Damon. "What the hell is this?"

Surprised his father hadn't heard that piece of information yet, Damon said, "I thought you must have known."

"No, I didn't. I thought the damage to her face was caused by Marko's men."

"No, it was Kai."

"That little prick," Giuseppe swore nastily. He turned his attention back to Elena. "Tell me what happened with Kai."

Elena cleared her throat. "I went to the Arena to find my sister, to warn her after those awful men trashed my car. When I got there, Kai was waiting. He took me into an office, and he tried to…" Still traumatized, she lowered her gaze. "He wanted me to pay for my life and for my sister's life with my body. He hurt me…so I hurt him." She ran her thumbs up and down the glass. "And then I ran."

Giuseppe placed a cautious hand on her arm. Elena's gaze flicked to his face. "You were defending yourself. Whatever happened in that room, whatever you did to get out of there, it was the right thing. Do not ever apologize for protecting yourself. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Taking back his hand, Giuseppe said, "Considering I haven't heard this story yet, it is clear Kai wants it quiet. I'm sure he will put a spin on it. Whatever story hits the streets will be one that makes him into a hero or a martyr. If your name isn't mentioned, then keep your mouth shut about your involvement, Elena. If he can save face, it may save your life."

"Duly noted," she whispered.

"Now tell me about this identify theft scam your sister and that street slinger were running."

"What?" Elena couldn't fake that confused expression. "What identify theft scam?"

"Why do you think Marko and his men want your sister?"

"I don't know. I just sort of assumed this was another one of her dumb counterfeit scams. You know, like purses and DVDs. She and Mason got into a scrape earlier this year when they were selling that stuff in someone else's territory."

"This isn't about territory. It is not about counterfeit goods. It is about your sister and Mason stealing financial information so they can sell it on the black market."

Damon placed the cup of tea in front of Giuseppe and offered him milk and sugar. Elena seemed to be trying to wrap her head around this new revelation.

"Look, I love my sister, and she is everything to me, but she is not smart enough to run a scam like that. Okay? She is not detail-oriented. She never follows through on anything. She can barely work her freaking iPhone! There is no way she did this."

Giuseppe stirred his tea. "Mason outsourced the tech side. All your sister had to do was plug in a little flash drive and hit a couple of keys. She used her access to all those offices she cleaned to infect as many networks as possible. The information they compiled? It is worth millions and millions of dollars on the black market. Word on the street is that they have a buyer ready and waiting."

Damon filed away that piece of information. There weren't many buyers with that kind of cash on hand. He needed to nail down the buyer and fast.

"Your sister and Mason have some information in their possession that is extremely sensitive. Marko wants it back. He is not going to stop until he gets it." Giuseppe put down his spoon. "Do you understand what that means, Elena?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Marko and the mafia family reached a compromise on this matter. The terms were all worked out very neatly, and I raised no objection because I had no reason to interfere in business that didn't concern me. Had I known that you belonged to Damon, I would have made sure you were protected from this." He gestured to her bruises. "Now that I understand the situation more clearly, I will make sure that you can walk the streets of Mystic Falls safely."

When Giuseppe levelled a serious stare in his direction, Damon didn't have to ask what his father was thinking. Damon was already cataloguing the assets he controlled. There wasn't a damn thing he owned that he wouldn't gladly give away to ensure Elena would reach old age.

"Mr Salvatore?" Elena asked in a soft voice.

"Yes?"

"What is going to happen to my sister?"

Giuseppe took a slow sip of his tea, lowered his cup and met her tearful gaze with that cold, distant stare he had perfected. "You will find it easier to move on with your life if you learn to stop asking questions that have answers you don't want to hear."

Elena's lip trembled pitifully, and she blinked rapidly. She couldn't manage an answer, only a shaky nod.

Damon hated his father for being so callous with her. Aching for Elena as she realized that her sister was marked for death, he crossed the small distance between them and stood behind her. He placed a hand on her hip and another on her shoulder. He needed her to know that she wasn't alone. Whatever happened, he would help her through this.

"Do you know where your sister is? Where she would hide?" Giuseppe might have felt some compassion for Elena but he wasn't going to let it get in the way of business. "The sooner this matter is cleared up, the better for everyone."

"I don't know where she is. Really," Elena insisted. "We had one short phone conversation earlier tonight. Kai said Katherine and Mason had run off and disappeared."

Giuseppe drained the last of his tea. "When your sister contacts you, I need to know about it. You will tell Damon, and he will take care of it."

Elena agreed sadly. "Okay."

Giuseppe stood up and carried his empty cup and spoon to the sink. "A few days hiding out here is your best option."

Damon patted her hip before following his father to the door.

"You are going to need someone to sit on her while you are at work." Giuseppe stated the obvious. "I have the perfect man."

"I bet you do," Damon grumbled. "Which soldier? Danny? Wes?"

"Enzo."

"I don't know him."

"He is a new guy, according to the family. The family is transferring in some new blood. Loyal blood," he added. "The family needs to grow but I need men with experience. He is a good enforcer. He has done bodyguard work. I trust him."

Because his father trusted him, Damon was expected to do the same. "I will give him a try, but if he makes Elena uncomfortable…"

"You can throw him back to me," Giuseppe promised.

"Fine."

"He will be up in a few minutes. I brought him with me."

Damon frowned. "I see."

"And he is going to need a salary."

Damon snorted roughly. "Why do I get the feeling you had this planned even before this mess with Elena happened?"

"Because I did and the family did," Giuseppe answered honestly. "Our companies are clean. We have plenty of job openings for a man like Enzo. Just give him a job title and put him on your payroll."

"It is not that easy, and you know it. I hate it when the family does this. We have worked hard to keep the businesses legit."

"And you have those legit businesses because the family gave us the first dealership," Giuseppe reminded him.

"I haven't forgotten."

Giuseppe glanced away and grimaced. "I know I sound terrible when I say shit like that."

"I screwed things up first."

Giuseppe made a throaty humming sound before running his fingers through his hair as if exasperated with himself. "You are my son. You gave years to the family, and you helped the family take the city one street at a time. You bled for the family. Everything you have built for our Salvatore family so far? You earned that through hard work, and it is bullshit for me to simply assume you will do what I tell you, even when it puts your legitimate holdings at risk."

"I am grateful for every opportunity you gave me. I'm your son and I won't let you down." Accepting Giuseppe's apology, he decided, "I will hire Enzo because I need him."

"Thank you. Now, listen, I will inform the family and set up a meeting with Marko. It shouldn't be too difficult to iron out your issues with him. He will want payments for the soldiers you have put out of commission." Giuseppe glanced back towards the kitchen. "What is the story between Elena and Kai?"

"He has wanted her for a long time, but she doesn't want him."

"Were they involved?"

"From what I know of their history, she has done everything possible to stay away from him. She is not like her sister. She doesn't have a taste for the gangster life."

"Smart girl." Giuseppe unlocked the door. "I will be in touch soon. Whatever evidence you have can be dropped off at the new warehouse. Wes is waiting for you. He will ride escort for any other business you need to handle tonight."

"I have to go by Elena's place to get some things she needs."

"Where does she live?"

"In one of Spider's parks."

Giuseppe's eyes widened fractionally. Was his father trying to work out why Elena was still living on her own? It wasn't Damon's usual arrangement with the women in his life. He wasn't like his father where his parents had never shared a bed or were alone until the night after they were married.

It was too old-fashioned for Damon's tastes, but he understood why it had to be that way for his parents. Lillian Salvatore was known for her religious devotion and her conservative values, and because of her relationship with Giuseppe, she would have been held to a higher standard. Giuseppe simply couldn't have a wife with a complicated history of lovers. His position within the family wouldn't allow it.

The thought of lovers and histories unsettled Damon. Had Elena known true love? Was there a man out there somewhere who still owned her heart? Was he competing for her affection against ghosts he could never best? As beautiful and interesting and intelligent as she was, Elena must have had no problem attracting good men. Better men than me, he thought crossly.

"I will talk to Spider and square things. We were friends back when I handled all the gun runs. I assume our friendship still stands."

"I think it does."

"Good. That will be useful. There is one more thing."

"What?"

"I want the balance of Wes' debt to you wiped. I have already informed the family."

"Done." With a sigh, Damon said, "Dad, this wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this."

Giuseppe actually grinned. "You? Me? Two gangs who want to take us out? It is like old times, huh?"

"Yeah," Damon replied with a wry smile. "Except this time we are too old for this shit and have too much on the line to lose."

Giuseppe's gaze softened. "Sometimes too much to lose gives us a better reason to fight." He angled his head toward the kitchen. "I like her. She reminds me of your mother."

Damon figured that was the highest compliment his father could pay.

"She is a good choice. She suits you." Giuseppe whacked his back with a series of hard claps. "But, son, get her the hell out of this apartment. This is the place you have sex with your strippers. Your future wife shouldn't have stepped foot in this apartment."

The comment was a stark reminder that his father was one of those old-school gangsters who still had very black and white ideas. There were women you had sex with, and there were women you married. Period. Full stop. The two pools were never supposed to overlap.

Giuseppe opened the door and stepped into the hall. He adjusted his hood to make sure his face was covered. Damon waited until his father disappeared from view to step back into the apartment and lock the door.

When he returned to the kitchen, he found Elena slumped forward, her shoulders rounded with defeat, as she sobbed helplessly. The heartbroken weeping cut him deeply. Moved by the sadness engulfing her, he quickly ate up the floor with long strides.

Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her off the chair and onto the counter. He tucked her wet cheek against his shirt and combed his fingers through her damp hair. She clung to his shoulders and sobbed.

"It is okay." Kissing the top of her head, Damon closed his eyes. He wasn't sure what she needed or how to help her. Nothing he could say would make any of this easier. "Elena, it is all right. It is okay."

"It is not okay. God, I'm so sorry," Elena cried. "I'm so sorry for getting you in trouble and dragging you into this. I shouldn't have—"

"Hush," he whispered gently. "Don't apologize to me about this. We are fine."

Elena exhaled a shuddery breath and burrowed in closer. The move sent his heartbeat into overdrive. She needed love and comfort tonight. It would be so easy to seduce her but he refused to take the choice from her. Elena's life was unravelling, and right now, she needed to have control over the most important decisions.

The apartment phone rang. With an irritated sigh, Damon kissed Elena's temple and left her on the counter so he could answer it. "Yes?"

"Sir, there is a man in the lobby who says he is one of your guests. His name is Enzo."

"Send him up, Carlos."

"Yes, sir."

The call finished, Damon turned back to find Elena sitting there with her hands clamped between her knees. He plucked a napkin from a drawer and used it to dab away the shiny streaks on her face. "No more crying tonight."

Elena sniffled and nodded meekly. "All right."

He placed the napkin on the counter and then cupped the back of her head, tangling his fingers in her hair. With every intimate touch she allowed, his craving for her increased in potency. Much more of this and he was going to spontaneously combust.

"A friend of mine is going to watch you while I go take care of some things."

"A friend?"

"His name is Enzo. He is trusted and safe, but I know you have been through hell tonight so I will make sure he gives you some space." Wanting her to feel comfortable, Damon picked up his bag and dug through it until he found the red hooded sweatshirt. "Here. Put this on. This is big enough and it will reach your knees."

"Thank you." Elena lifted her arms and let him glide it into place over her head. He reached into the open neck and pulled free her hair. The floral scent of the shampoo from the toiletry basket wafted from her hair, and it momentarily confused him. She was supposed to smell of beaches and sunshine, not generic flowers.

A knock at the door announced Enzo's arrival. The man he let into the apartment looked like a street brawler with his stocky build. He had the coldest grey eyes Damon had ever seen. There were no tattoos on his fingers or hands.

"Damon Salvatore," Enzo greeted respectfully.

Damon shook the street soldier's hand but didn't let go immediately. He held tight and tugged the man off-balance. "My father vouches for you, but I don't know you. So here is the deal. If I come back here and Elena is upset or you have done anything that makes her uncomfortable, I start breaking fingers. When I'm done with fingers, I move to bigger bones. Understand?"

"Perfectly," Enzo assured him. "I'm not here to cause problems. I'm here to work. I'm here to earn my place. You tell me what you want—and it is done. No questions asked."

Thinking of how much Enzo reminded him of his younger days, Damon let go of the street soldier's hand. He had been hungry to prove himself once. Hungry men were loyal men, and Damon knew exactly how to ensure Enzo did what was necessary to keep Elena safe. "If you keep her happy and out of trouble, I will pay you a bonus at the end of each day. Cash," he clarified. "Under the table and off the books."

"Deal." Enzo glanced around the luxurious apartment. "The boss didn't mention what sort of arrangement you have with your…mistress."

"You don't need to worry about the arrangement I have with Elena. You just need to worry about how you will keep her safe when I'm not here."

Enzo held up a hand. "Hey, I'm not trying to get into your business. I just wanted to know if I need to worry about being ambushed by a pissed off wife or another girlfriend."

Wondering what sort of men Enzo had worked for way back, Damon shook his head. "There is no one else. There is only Elena."

"Well that makes this job a hell of a lot easier. I know how to deal with hostile crews and hit squads but wives and girlfriends?" Enzo whistled low. "That shit gets real fast."

Damon could only imagine. He gestured for Enzo to follow him into the apartment. Elena stood next to the kitchen island and warily eyed the new face trailing him. He didn't blame her. She had probably had quite enough of big, harsh and violent men for one night. She had probably had enough of big, harsh and violent men for a lifetime.

"Elena, this is Enzo. He is going to stay here while I take care of some things."

"Hello." She greeted Enzo with a tremulous smile.

Enzo stopped at the other end of the granite slab and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Hi."

Damon grasped Elena's hand and led her into the living area. "Would you like to go to bed or—"

"I can't sleep," she hastily interjected. "I just can't."

"That is all right." Damon rubbed her shoulder and guided her into the corner seat of the large sofa. The stone-coloured cashmere throw artfully draped over the back caught his eye. He tugged it free and tucked it around Elena's legs and lap so she would stay warm.

"Damon," she said in an almost pleading tone while clutching his hand. "Please be careful."

Her fear and concern for his safety detonated a wild burst of emotion in his chest. Bending down, Damon pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. "Don't worry about me. I will be fine." He lowered his mouth until his lips were touching the shell of her ear. "They think we have been involved for a long time, and it is best if you play along with that."

Elena turned towards him, seeking out his gaze with one of understanding. She knew the stakes here. She wouldn't do anything to put either of them at risk. Embracing the role he had foisted upon her, she leaned over and kissed him properly. The shock of her soft, warm lips upon his nearly took him out at the damned knees. It was an innocent kiss, the type he had first tried on a girl when he was eleven or twelve, but this one made is heart race and his lungs ache.

Unable to help himself, Damon brushed loose strands of hair behind her ear and cupped the back of her head, holding her in place a moment longer just so he could enjoy her mouth on his. When he found the strength to break the kiss, it was all he could do to straighten up and walk away from her.

After ducking into the master bedroom to grab the emergency set of clothing he kept stowed there, he gathered up their bloody clothes and stuffed them in his gym bag. Enzo followed him to the door. "She is in good hands."

"See that those good hands of yours stay away from her, yeah?" Damon warned before shutting the door. He waited to hear the lock engage and went straight to the elevator. After punching the button for the parking garage level, he leaned back against the wall of the box and closed his eyes. He lifted his hand to his mouth and traced his lips. He felt like an overeager teenager as he relieved that simple kiss. With one unexpected and wholly innocent move, Elena had shattered him.

When he stepped out into the garage, he inhaled a deep, invigorating lungful of cold air. It was going to be a hell of a long and dangerous night, but he had a damn good reason to get back here as quickly and as safely possible curled up in the corner of his couch.