Elena didn't really know how to act when Damon said good-bye to his friend, Enzo, and followed her back to her house. Aaron and Wes followed them too. Only she could get into these situations.

"Is the house clean?" she asked Caroline in a panic. She couldn't have people over, especially Damon, if the house wasn't spotless.

"The house is always clean," Caroline replied drolly, and then looked over at Elena. "So, let me get this straight. Your boss, who is a mega babe, is coming to our house to cock-block you from Aaron?"

"I don't know what this is," Elena groaned, closing her eyes and laying her head back. "Damon is my boss, sort of, but we kind of became friends recently. I don't know what his deal is."

"Oh, I do," Caroline said, pulling into their driveway. "He wants you."

Elena frowned. "No, he doesn't."

"Then he doesn't want Aaron to have you." Caroline paused for dramatic effect. "Because he wants you but he is fighting it."

"Maybe he just feels sorry for me because I was on the most boring date of my life," Elena grumbled, turning to look at her friend. "And trust me, I have been on some bad ones. You know this, I have told you about all of them in excruciating detail."

When they got out of the car, Elena rushed inside to make sure the place was Damon-worthy; Caroline stood outside while their cars pulled up, being a nice host. Damon's car was probably worth more than their house, which they were renting and didn't even own.

When the house passed her inspection, Elena walked to the door just as Damon entered.

"You are really here," she blurted, giggling a little nervously. "In my house."

"Yes, I am." He smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "You know, you don't live that far from me."

"I don't?"

"No, I'm just about ten minutes away."

"Damon, what are you doing here?" she whispered to him. "If this is about Aaron, he is only going to stay for a drink, then leave. You don't have to worry about me."

"Maybe I just want to spend some time with you," he said, squeezing her shoulder. He moved ahead of her and made himself comfy on the couch, just as Caroline, Wes and Aaron walked in. Aaron didn't look happy—and with good reason, Elena guessed.

"Can I get you a drink?" Elena asked Damon, who looked completely relaxed.

"No, I'm good, thanks," he replied, turning on the TV and clearly making himself at home.

Elena looked to Caroline, needing her to make the situation less awkward. Caroline was the type of person anyone could get on with, because she was friendly, easy to talk to and not shy. She told the men to sit down, joined them, before officially introducing everyone. "Aaron and Wes, this is Damon, by the way. Damon, Aaron and Wes."

The men murmured their hellos.

Elena mumbled something and headed into the kitchen, grabbing herself a bottle of water, then returning to the disaster that was her night. There was a spare spot next to Damon and another next to Aaron, and it might make her a total bitch, but she took the one next to Damon.

"What are we watching?" she asked Damon, cracking open her bottle of water and taking a sip. "Are you sure no one wants a drink or anything? I can bring out some snacks if anyone is hungry."

Elena could at least try to be a good host; the last thing she wanted to do was come off as rude when really she was just an introvert who would rather not be in this situation right now. She was not drunk enough to be happy and social, and Damon was here. And he was the real reason why she had agreed to the date with Aaron, because she was on 'mission don't think about Damon,' which she had obviously failed.

Wes and Caroline wanted more alcohol, so Caroline brought out some wine and beer, and they all sat there watching some movie that Damon had picked, one that seemed way too serious for a drinks/date night. Elena's arm brushed his. She felt the warmth of his skin and wanted nothing more than to melt into him, but she didn't. Instead, she sat there a little stiffly, smelling his spicy cologne and wishing that for one night she could pretend that she didn't work with him, so she could just bring him back to her room and let him have his way with her. Once Aaron went home, of course.

Oh, right. Aaron.

She had completely forgotten about Aaron.

She glanced over at him to see his eyes on her, not the TV. Caroline and Wes, who were cuddled together and completely oblivious to anything else going on, started whispering to each other. If they left her alone with Damon and Aaron, she would have to commit murder. Surely, Aaron would take the hint and leave though, right? He couldn't plan to stay here all night, giving her and Damon dirty looks. She did feel bad, but not all dates worked out well.

You win some, and you lose some. That was what Elena believed.

Aaron couldn't expect her to act how Caroline was around Wes, because there was just no chemistry there whatsoever. Besides, no man could compete with Damon, as much as it pained her to admit. He was too…whatever he was. Just…everything. Everything a woman like her could possibly want in a man.

Damon casually wrapped his arm around her, and she finally got to bury her head in his chest. Elena knew she was being rude right now, but she hoped her actions would make Aaron leave. He wouldn't take the hint, and she felt like if she should have just been a honest asshole from the start, instead of nice, she wouldn't be in this situation right now. She stopped thinking about all the reasons that this was inappropriate and decided to enjoy the moment, closing her eyes, not caring about the movie. She made a soft moaning noise against his chest, and she knew Damon heard it, because his arm tightened around her.

Damn.

What were they doing now?

They were skating on thin ice right now. Elena knew it, and she knew that he did too.

She couldn't believe Damon was here, in her house, and she was in his arms. Like they were a couple. Like she was more than just his work colleague. What the hell was she doing? So much for not thinking about it. She kept her eyes closed, and eventually she fell half-asleep.

Aaron left.

Caroline and Wes headed back to her room.

And she and Damon stayed here, cuddled together on the couch, wrapped around each other. She lifted her head and looked at him. His eyes were closed, but they opened when he felt her moving. Without a word, she slid off him and offered him her hand.

He took it.

Elena led him through the dark hall, into her room. He took off his shoes— she had slid hers off earlier—and they both slipped underneath the sheets. She usually slept without a bra, but she didn't dare take it off. She didn't dare to move at all, except to lay her head on his chest once more.

Damon kissed her forehead, and she stopped breathing.

Then, even though all she wanted to do was jump him, to kiss him, to feel him everywhere, to have him pound into her, she listened to her head over her body.

And she went to sleep.

And Damon, he did the same.

x x x

When Elena woke up, Damon was already awake.

She lifted her head and looked at his face. She still couldn't believe they spent the night in her bed, cuddling. How did this even happen? What should she do now? She had never thought she would be in this situation, but here she was. Should she be offended that he didn't make a move on her last night, or grateful? She really didn't know.

She was glad she wouldn't have to sit at work, thinking about how she spent one night with him, but they did still cuddle all night, which was, in a way, even more complicated than a one-night stand. They didn't have sex, but they still wanted to be here, with each other. That reeked of something more confusing than a case of out of control lust. She noticed him staring at the wall, brows furrowing in concentration.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" she asked him, her husky morning voice making an appearance.

Damon looked down at her, his lip twitching. "Just trying to remember the last time I slept next to a woman without having sex with her."

"Charming," Elena muttered, closing her eyes again. What should she do now? Should she say, 'Thanks for the cuddle session, bye, I will see you at work tomorrow'? That didn't sound right. Right. Coffee. She would offer him some coffee. "I'm going to make some coffee. Do you want some?"

"Yes, please," he rumbled, but pulled her back into bed when she tried and moved. "Stop overthinking, Elena. Nothing happened."

She knew that nothing happened—she was there—but still, it was not like it was normal to do what they did. Who just had casual sleepovers with their boss? She was probably the first.

Damon ran his hand through her hair, almost roughly, but it felt good. He massaged her scalp a little, and then let her go.

"The bathroom is through that door," she told him, pointing. "Let me know if I can get you anything." She paused, committing his 'I just woke up' look to memory, before she rose from the bed. "I will go make the coffee now."

Elena headed into the kitchen, wondering if Wes also stayed the night. Damon came in just as the coffee was ready; she handed him his and sat down on one of the stools by the breakfast table.

"Any plans for today?" she asked, inwardly cringing when she realised it sounded like she was asking if he wanted to do something.

"It is my niece's second birthday," he replied, bringing the mug to his lips. "Why? Want to come? We can cuddle there too. I'm sure my brother won't mind."

Elena almost spit out her coffee, then threw him a dirty look and groaned. "I personally think it is too soon to joke about."

He grinned. "You are overreacting."

"You are under-reacting."

"Well then, we even each other out," Damon said, sitting down next to her. "We didn't have sex, Elena, and trust me, I don't think you understand just how much willpower that took on my behalf."

"I'm going to pretend none of this happened," she said out loud, staring into her coffee. "Tomorrow is a new day. A new day not to do crazy thing like this."

"Are you always so dramatic?" he asked, his expression softening as he looked at her.

"Yes."

"If you are going to act like this, we may as well just have sex," he stated matter-of-factly, taking a drink then putting his mug down. He turned to her and pushed her hair back behind her ear. "You are beautiful in the morning."

"No one is beautiful in the morning," she responded, feeling a little dazed as he stared into her eyes.

"You are," he said softly, then stood and kissed her forehead. "I better get going. I will see you at work tomorrow."

"Bye," she murmured, watching him as he walked out.

She sat by herself, finishing her coffee, contemplating her life right now. The bottom line was that they didn't have sex, so maybe Damon was right. Why stress over something that she couldn't go back and change? Elena thought what was haunting her the most was that she didn't want to change it.

Damon Salvatore cuddled like a champ.

Thank you so much for the support and kind words. I can't tell you how glad am I to know that you gguys/gals like this story:) i promise i will try my very best to bring out the chemistry between Damon and Elena!