"Now, what shall we talk about?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest, a wicked smirk forming on my face...
"Um, uh, Dr. Salvatore. How are you?" she asks, a beautiful shade of rosy pink coloring her cheeks.
"Oh no, you're not going to sidetrack me. Now, Miss Gilbert, why don't you tell me why you're here?"
"I didn't do anything wrong. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to leave."
"Nuh uh, you're not getting out of here that easily."
"You have no right to detain me. You can't keep me here against my will."
Crossing my arms over my chest, I give her a tease with my eye thing.
"If you don't let me pass, I'll scream for security."
Unable to contain myself, I start to laugh before blurting out, "George? He's a friend of mine. Who do you think he's going to believe?"
When she stands up to try to skirt her way around me, I take ahold of her arms but not too tightly. I don't want to hurt her.
"Let me go, Dr. Salvatore."
"Calm down would you? I only want to know why you and Marilyn Monroe are sneaking into my class and I especially want to know the reason for the cloak and dagger disguises?"
"Her name is Rebekah."
I chuckle when she looks around, a blend of strength, anger and nervousness is reflected in her endless doe eyes. Although I'd like nothing more than to get lost in their depths, I have to turn away. They're almost hypnotizing in their intensity.
"Seems like your friend and my brother have disappeared," I point out, taunting her.
When I see Lexi in my peripheral vision, sitting back, legs laying on the desktop, enjoying the hell out of this, I can't help but roll my eyes. Taking my attention away from Elena for a moment, I quickly turn to glance at Lex, smiling when she gives me a wink. Wasting no time in taking advantage of my momentary distraction, Elena knees me hard in the groin, sending me sprawling to the floor. Writhing in pain, I cup my crotch, watching helplessly as she raises a triumphant eyebrow at me before hurrying out of the room.
Groaning, I curl up in a ball, hoping the pain will pass quickly. When I hear Lexi's gut-busting laughter, I raise my eyes and scowl at her. Finally she gets up from her perch and walks over to me, offering her hand. I grab on and with her help, I stand up, still bent over at the waist.
"Lord, I wasn't expecting that."
"Yeah, neither was I. You have to admit she's sharp. I think I'm going to like that girl," she adds, still laughing.
"Whose side are you on anyway?"
"Oh don't be so melodramatic. This isn't a war. Now sit while I go to get some ice."
Shaking my head, I sit down in one of the chairs, still cupping my manhood. When I hear the door open, I look up to see Stefan walking in with a big goofy smile plastered on his face.
"Steffie get lucky?"
"I did get lucky. Rebekah agreed to go out with me Friday night."
"Really? How would you like to take your brother along? I'd like to get to know Thelma and Louise a little bit better."
"What's with that?" he asks, looking at where my hand is still strategically placed.
"The dark haired one, Elena, kneed me in the groin."
Immediately he starts roaring too, nearly keeling over with laughter.
"It's nice to know that my pain is such a source of amusement for both you and Lex," I utter, giving him the evil eye.
"Lighten up, Damon. I'm sure she didn't do any permanent damage?" he blurts out, still awash with laughter.
"That remains to be seen," I snap, giving him another dirty look. When the door opens, I look up, relaxing when I see Lexi come back with an ice bag in her hands. After pressing it to my groin, she takes a seat beside me.
"Did I hear you ask Stef if you could tag along on his date?"
Shaking her head, she pats the top of my thigh.
"Not actually going on his date with him, maybe just eavesdropping."
Turning to face me, she teases, "Are you sure you want to butt heads with Miss Gilbert again?"
She's barely able to finish the sentence before bursting out in raucous laughter once more.
"I'm going to remember this day the next time one of you is humiliated."
"Come on, Damon, chill." Lexi snorts.
"My insides hurt," I groan.
Reaching up, she presses her palm to my forehead when she notices me perspiring.
"You still have a fever. Let's get you home."
Nodding my agreement, I stand up while holding the ice bag firmly against my junk. Walking like I just got off of a horse, I roll my eyes when I hear the two of them follow behind me, still cackling at my expense...
"Keep yucking it up, but just so you, payback is a bitch," I mutter, not bothering to turn around to look at them.
"Lex, do you want to go with me to the bar tonight?"
"Admit it, all you want to do is spy on Stefan."
"I'm hoping that if I can talk to blondie for a few minutes, maybe I could understand Elena a little better. That night was...," I add, my mouth slightly agape.
"Ah Damon, do you have a crush on her?"
"Maybe a little," I mumble, holding up my thumb and index finger before continuing.
"I just wish I knew why she did what she did."
"Did I tell you that Stefan and I went to see her at the bookstore? Someone actually asked her a question about your character. No, she didn't say your name but she did say that there was no malicious intent in the way that she wrote you."
"Well, it certainly didn't come across that way. She's such a conundrum to me. I mean that night she was bold and sexy and other times she seems shy and inhibited. There's got to be a story there," I add, taking a deep slog of my coffee.
"Probably?"
"Well do you want to come with me?"
"Can Lee come too? I broke our date when you were sick. I promised I'd make it up to him."
"You really like him?"
"Eh, he's okay for now. We have fun."
"I don't care if he comes along. I don't even know if Elena will be there but if not, but I'm going to try to get two minutes alone with her friend."
"Fine. But if Stefan gets mad, you don't get to blame me."
"No worries. I'm going to run upstairs to shower and change."
I take long enough to wash up my coffee cup and set it in the drain board before walking out of the kitchen and up to my room.
Once we get to the bar, I hold the door open for Lexi, extending my hand for her to walk in ahead of me. Lee was going to come along but his daughter from a previous marriage had some crisis that he had to attend to. Lexi didn't really seem too broken up about it. When I see Ric's unmistakable backside, she and I walk up to the bar, taking a seat with Lexi between the two of us.
"Hey buddy."
Looking up, he nods to acknowledge us but doesn't say much.
"What crawled up your ass?
"Nothing. I just don't want you messing around with Jenna's niece."
"Listen Ric. It's none of your damn business. I will say this once more since clearly you can't get it through that thick skull of yours. She came onto me, not the other way around. If you don't believe me, why don't you ask her?"
Swallowing back my tumbler of bourbon, I turn and look around for Stefan. I smirk when I see the two of them sitting beside each other in a booth. Feeling an elbow poking in my side I turn my head to see Lexi staring at me.
"Let them alone. He's having fun."
Dropping my chin to my chest, I turn around and order another drink for myself and for Lexi. After staring down Ric, I take a swallow.
"Alright Damon. I'm sorry but you have to be careful around Elena. She's been through a lot," he adds cryptically.
"You keep warning me away from her, telling me she's different. What do you mean by that?"
"Just forget I said anything," he says, turning his eyes away from me. Lexi and I share a look, making me wonder why Ric keeps feeling the need to tell me to keep my distance from her.
"What aren't you telling me, Ric?"
"I caught hell from Jenna because you took Elena for a spin. Now will you just drop it?"
"I took her for a spin? If you're going to keep railing at me, you need to get your facts straight."
Just as I'm about to raise more cane with him, an old Glenn Miller song, 'In the Mood' starts to play, lighting my own disposition. I jump off of my seat, pulling Lexi onto the dance floor with me. Wanting to learn how to do swing dancing herself, she made me take lessons shortly after we started dating. It's fun. We twirl around on the dance floor garnering an audience as we cut loose and just have fun. Once the tune finishes, a round of applause breaks out. Pretending to doff my imaginary hat, I bow down with a chuckle.
"That was fun," Lexi giggles, linking her arm with mine as we go back to the bar. Ric must've left because he's nowhere to be seen. Shrugging my shoulders, I buy us both another drink. As I lift it to my lips, I hear her voice. Turning around on my stool, I watch as she sits down with Stefan and her blonde friend. When I turn around to set my drink down on the bar top, I'm surprised to see Lee standing beside Lexi.
"I thought you couldn't come tonight?"
"The situation wasn't as dire as her mother made it out to be. All Luna wanted was to ask me if I could take her to the father - daughter dance at her school a week from tonight. She wants me to buy her a dress. Do you think you could come with us to help her pick one out?" he asks Lexi.
"I think that can be arranged," she says. When Lee leans in and whispers something in her ear, I see her nod approvingly.
"I'm going to go. I'll see you at home tomorrow."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," I warn her playfully.
Shaking her head slightly, she leans over to press a kiss to my cheek then leaves hand in hand with Lee. Seeing as how I'm alone now, I get up and walk over to her table, sliding in beside her.
"Hello Elena."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm having a drink. Can I get you anything?" She looks at blondie almost as if seeking reassurance before looking at me again.
"Well if it isn't Damien Swain," Rebekah blurts out, giggling. Elena covers her mouth trying to hold in a laugh.
"It's Damon."
"Sure," she busts out, still cackling like Cruella De Vil. Ignoring Rebekah, I again ask Elena what she'd like to drink. Finally able to control her own giggles, she tells me that she likes Bloody Mary's.
"I'll be right back. Don't leave, I want to talk to you." Once I get her drink and myself a bottle of water because I don't want to be drunk, I walk back over to the booth. Not seeing Stefan, I look around and spot the two of them slow dancing. Smiling at my little brother, I slide Elena her drink and then sit down beside her again.
"You're not drinking?" she asks, tipping hers to her mouth.
"I've had a few already."
"How are the jewels?" she asks, unable to hold in a snort.
"They're good, no thanks to you."
"Sorry about that."
"Elena...," I begin. Clutching my water bottle tightly, I continue, "I really enjoyed our night together aside from waking up naked and alone, that is."
Trying to gauge her reaction, I take a breath and turn to face her again.
"But I really have to know, why did you make me out to look like such an imbecilic moron in your book?"
"Damon, Dr. Salvatore, look, I think you're exaggerating a little bit. Damien Swain certainly isn't either an imbecile or a moron. Did you even read the book or did you just pick out parts of it?"
"Well, no, I didn't read the whole book. I just read parts of it."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't judge an entire book by a few sentences or a few paragraphs. And I'm sorry you took it that way but I assure you that it was never my intention for it to be cruel. I would never do that to anyone. It was meant to be a fun portrayal. I wanted my hero as it were to be an aloof, womanizing yet intrepid archeologist."
"You know if you had just been honest with me from the beginning, we could've avoided this little spat," I point out, raising an eyebrow.
"You're right. I'm sorry. And I enjoyed that night too, a lot actually."
She stares into my eyes for a second or two before dropping them to focus on her hands that are clasped tightly on her drink. Feeling my luck about to change, I lean and whisper in her ear.
"Do you want to get out of here?"
When she leans forward, a curtain of her hair forms a barrier between us. After a few seconds pass, she pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. I can see that she's trying hard but she can't hide the smile that's on her face.
"Where do you want to go?"
"My place, your place? Wherever you prefer?"
"I need to tell Bekah that I'm leaving."
"You find her. I'm going to go to pay my tab. I'll meet you right back here in a few minutes."
She shakes her head approvingly. Before I stand up, I cautiously reach up and cradle her cheeks with my palms, pulling her lips to mine. When I feel her tongue running along the seam of my lips, I open up and let her tongue in to play with mine. Using my hands I tilt her head so I can deepen the kiss. Needing air I finally pull away, my chest heaving with desire.
"Hurry."
Smiling, I take her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles then I get up, practically leaping to the bar. After paying my tab, I look around, finally seeing her whispering to her friend and pointing at me. I walk over to the three of them. Pulling Stefan aside, I tell him that I'm taking her home with me. He lets me know that he intends to go home with Rebekah. I give his shoulder a squeeze, cautioning him not to do anything that I wouldn't do and to use protection if he goes there. He reminds me that he's not a kid anymore. Taking a breath, I pause for a moment before raising my eyes to his again.
"Stefan, you're my little brother and I'll always worry about you."
"I know, Damon. I appreciate it more than you know." After giving me a one armed hug, he walks back over to the blonde, taking her hand again. Smiling myself, I step beside Elena, wrapping an arm over her shoulders.
Leaning in so my lips caress the shell of her ear, I whisper, "Are you ready to go?"
"I am."
Nodding, I keep my arm on her body because I don't want to let go. I love the pops and crackles and shivers I feel whenever we touch. Once outside, I let her go, taking her hand instead. Feeling almost giddy inside, the two of us walk hand in hand down the sidewalk. Although I want another night with this woman, a part of me doesn't know if I can trust her. Is she being honest with me when she said she didn't mean to make me look like a damn fool in her book? If she's as good a writer as rumor has it, she should've realized how foolish she portrayed me.
Starting to have second thoughts, I take a deep breath to try to tamper down the anger that is starting to brew around the edges. Subtly, I take a deep breath when I realize how mad I still am at her for disappearing after the greatest sex of my life. Giving her hand a tighter squeeze, I force a smile on my face when we reach my car. Once she gets in, I push the door closed. Sliding in behind the wheel, I quickly ignite the engine and pull onto the road, my thoughts, both good and bad, consumed by the woman beside me.
Thank you so much, Eva. Love you lots and lots and lots.
Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. I appreciate the follows and favorites too. I especially want to thank those of you who took the time to write a review for me. They really are so important.
Damon and Lexi are extremely tight in this story. Although they share some flirty banter and innuendo, there is no sex between them in this story. In an earlier chapter, Damon mentioned that they hadn't gone there in quite some time.
Chapter title: 'Here I Go Again' by White Snake
'Angels Fall' and 'Tears in Heaven' are still in progress. Would love to have you look at them as well.
Although a part of me wants to step back from fan fiction, I do enjoy writing DE stories. Eva and I are hard at work on 'Nothing Left to Fear'. We have 10 chapters complete. After that, if I want to write more, we're considering doing a continuation of 'Halo'. It's the first story I ever wrote, a one shot consisting of just a little more than 1000 words. But it's my most successful one-shot with 40 reviews.
I actually had a flamer accusing me of not being an actual 'DE supporter'. I've been accused of many things but never that! There's no need for personal invective or vitriol. If you don't like my writing, that's fine. The solution is simple, don't read.
Reviews are love.
And as always, please stay safe and have a wonderful weekend. Until next time.