Disclaimer: These characters are the creative property of LJ Smith and The CW. No copyright infringement is intended.
He made her feel beautiful. Sexy. One of a kind. Not many people had the ability to make Bonnie feel like she was more than a supporting character in a melodrama. She loved the fact that every time he looked at her, his gaze was sharp and direct. She never really had to guess at the thoughts floating through his mind because he wore them plainly on his face.
And what a face, she thought as she circled around the pole before lifting her legs off the ground to execute the next move she learned. Four months ago if someone told her she'd be tossing herself around a pole for Stefan Salvatore's benefit you could forget about her giving you an aneurysm, she would have extracted your tongue from your mouth. Funny how life throws curveballs and forced you to make lemonade with apples.
But she wouldn't trade this feeling for the world. Not for a million dollars, not in a thousand years, not for anything on this planet.
His grayish blue eyes penetrated Bonnie right down to the marrow of her bones. He made her feel like the consistency of jelly. Completely malleable. And from the leer on his face, Stefan couldn't wait to sample the juicy treasure that lied between her hips.
There were many things he loved about Bonnie. Stefan had stopped lying to himself long ago that he was merely toying with her to keep his boredom at bay. That wasn't the reason. She was life and energy packaged into a small body that was strong, firm, and bendable oh so bendable. She supported his weight, his girth, his mass, could give as good as she got making her his equal in every way.
Whenever they had to separate his skin would literally burn with anticipation of their next time together. She was water and he was a dehydrated man and it was only her cup he wanted to drink from.
How the trajectory changed in their dynamic and when were questions Stefan could pester himself with, but ultimately it wouldn't do him any good. Humans were the ones who were so caught up on labeling and identifying things. Vampires lived in the moment because—if they were careful—had an eternity to live free and hard.
Their emotions quadrupled after they transitioned but when a vampire goes "off line" all ties to their humanity were severed irrevocably. But only on very special occasions could they encounter something with a large enough spark to trigger phantom emotions.
Stefan had identified Bonnie as that spark.
Her skin was spice on his tongue; her blood was the gateway to life and vibrancy. He'd hate to use the analogy of feeding off Bonnie's life force like a leech, but that was the closest equivalent he could come to. Her spirit danced between the capillaries in his veins, whispered his name during the night, chipped the ice away from his heart.
He would literally do anything, kill anything just for her.
How was this aerodynamically possible? Stefan thought as he tilted his head trying to figure out how Bonnie was holding herself steady on the pole when her hands and legs were thrown back like she was flying.
She twisted out of the position and wrapped her legs around the pole and swirled around it before slowly sliding down, landing in a handstand and splitting.
"Woooowwww!" he drawled out the word and slid further down on her bed.
With Usher's "Lil Freak" wafting through the room, Stefan didn't need a gaudy display of smoke and strobe lights to feel the effects of the seductive web Bonnie was weaving around and through the atmosphere. In her eyes he read raw hunger, the thrust of her thighs called to him like a wolf howling through the air searching for its mate. She moved like liquid chocolate.
Bonnie spun around the pole doing suspended pirouettes, and the famous Helicopter move. As she descended down, lying completely flat on her belly, she grabbed the base of the pole, arched her back, and swayed her ass from side to side giving him a lovely view of one of his favorite parts of her.
"Do you like it, Stefan?" Bonnie purred.
He grinned and bobbed his head up and down.
Lying on her back, Bonnie hiked her left leg on the pole making her body into an L shape, with the right she wrapped it around the back of the pole and then lifted herself into a handstand. The move caused her boobs to pop out of bra.
Stefan wiped the drool off his chin.
Bending herself like a pretzel and coming out of the move, Bonnie stood before him with her lacy boy shorts crawling up her tail and her push up bra cutting off her circulation.
"Good because my arms are tired," she stopped dancing.
"What?" he was outraged and clicked the music off with the stereo remote control. "You're stopping?"
"Yes. I think I've shown you enough of everything I've learned in the last three days. I didn't fall off so that means I get to quit early."
Stefan slid to the edge of the bed. "You're being completely serious right now."
Bonnie nodded her head but then strutted her way to Stefan, her obscenely high heels tapping angrily against the hardwood floor.
Stefan stretched his legs a little wider to make room for Bonnie to stand between them. As soon as she was in grabbing distance, he ran his hands along her thighs, over the swell of her backside, and settling on her hips. He kissed her navel. Dipping his head just half an inch lover Stefan caught the waistband of her panties between his teeth, and pulled backwards while staring up at her.
Bonnie propped her high heel on his thigh, purposely digging the pointy heel into his flesh.
"Ow," Stefan mumbled with her underwear still caught between his teeth.
"You're far too spoiled, Stefan. I have to do something to change the balance."
He let go of her underwear and smirked as it slapped her skin making her jump. Bonnie frowned at him.
"Yes and what exactly do you have in mind?"
Bonnie thought for a moment and then threw herself at Stefan, wrapping her arms around his neck as he deliberately fell backwards on the bed. His hands automatically reached for her bra clasp as their mouths fused together. But Bonnie reached behind her to stop his hands. He stared at her quizzically.
"It's your turn," she whispered against his lips.
"My turn to do what?"
Bonnie awkwardly looked over her shoulder at the pole. Stefan caught her drift and laughed humorlessly.
"You can't be serious."
"Deadly."
"Bonnie…," his tone reproachful.
"Stefan," she repeated just as dryly. "I've done everything you've asked of me. You order me to come on command and I do so, you tell me to push my friends away and I have—to a certain degree. I'm wearing your ring. So when you look at everything, what's so difficult about doing this one little thing for me?" she batted her eyelashes at him.
Stefan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. She was right. Bonnie had complied with all his demands and wishes with little to no complaint. The least he could do was embarrass the heck out of himself by attempting his very first pole dance.
Well, you only live once and you've cheated death enough so get over yourself, Salvatore and make the little lady happy, was the pep talk he gave himself.
"Okay fine. But if I see this up on YouTube, you and I are going to have a serious talk, woman."
Bonnie laughed and traded places with Stefan. Reaching for the stereo remote, Bonnie began to play track number 5 of her favorite songs.
Stefan glared at her as "How Low" by Ludacris began playing. Bonnie indicated with her hands that now was the time for Stefan to bust a move.
He reached for the button on his fly and popped it open and then pushed his jeans down a little until the top of his butt was exposed. Bonnie crossed her legs at the ankles, grabbed a pillow so she could prop her elbows on it, and began to nibble on a corner of her lips.
Surprisingly Stefan was able to pop his booty like a girl from the deep South and was keeping time with the music. He chanced a few daring flips and spins around the pole but didn't go over the top with it.
She giggled when Luda rapped "…the top of your booty jiggling out your jeans, baby pull your pants up!" and Stefan did just that.
He climbed on the bed on all fours, reaching for her leg. Pulling Bonnie towards him until she lied flat on the bed, he slipped one stiletto off followed by the other and kissed the arch of her left foot.
Stefan tugged the pillow away and aligned himself against her body. His talented fingers brushed the tops of her breasts and skimmed her neck, before they traced her bottom lip.
"Cause I like that French vanilla and the caramel, but when it comes to chocolate I know that very well..." Stefan winked at her.
Bonnie chuckled.
"I love to see you smile," he said.
"You make me smile."
He pecked her chin before resting his head over her heart. This allowed Bonnie to run her fingers through his hair and across his back. Not every moment between them had to end or begin with sex. They could just hold each other and revel in the comfortable silence that followed afterwards. It was early morning and her duties and responsibilities could be put off for a few more hours if it meant she could be with this Stefan while the rest of the world was quiet.
When this all began some month and a half ago, Bonnie never pictured herself in this moment. The sex had been overwhelming, piping hot, and kept her yearning for the next encounter, but now she was craving the nice quite moments between them because it proved her theory that bits and pieces of the old Stefan was still around.
"Do you really have to go with your girls to get ready for the formal?" he pouted.
Bonnie kissed his forehead. "I do. I promised them I'd be there and you know how I am about my promises."
"And tell me again why Matt Donovan is your date?"
"Because we," she waved her fingers between them, "haven't come out as a couple yet. Besides Matt and I had agreed to go together months ago."
"I don't like it."
"Tough."
"Well, that doesn't give us much time."
"Unfortunately, no."
They eyed one another before grinning and tearing the covers off the bed.
Two hours later…
Carrying her phone, purse, a box of gooey treats, and a carrier holding three frappuccinos, Bonnie frantically juggled her keys trying to reach her car remote.
"Need some help?"
Bonnie spun around at the sound of the familiar voice and eyed Jeremy as he casually strolled over to her. From the bemused smile on his face it kind of threw her for a loop that he actually looked happy to see her.
"I think I got it," Bonnie said.
Jeremy reached for the items anyway and tugged them out of her hands. Bonnie relented and allowed him to act like a gentleman.
She wasn't sure what to say to him considering this was their first time speaking since she broke up with him. Talk about awkward.
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"No sweat," his tone relaxed and laid back.
Bonnie's eyebrows jumped.
"So how've you been?" Jeremy asked as they began the trek to her car.
"I've been fine. What about you?"
"Modulating."
Bonnie giggled ruefully. "Modulating? Have you been studying for the SAT?"
"A little. Listen, Bonnie…I was wondering if sometime this week we could get together and have lunch or something?"
Getting lunch in Jeremy's mind would be a stepping stone that could potentially lead to quiet dinners alone. He knew of a few cases were couples resolved their issues and got back together. This was only accomplished after spending real, quality time together.
Jeremy realized, perhaps too late, that there had been too much interference in his relationship with Bonnie. Their time together was spent searching through a plethora of grimories looking for a way to defeat Klaus and keep Elena alive. Those were not the parameters for setting up an intimate relationship.
If given a second chance, he'd prove to Bonnie everyday that she was his number one priority and he'd do everything in his power to love her.
She just had to give him a chance.
Apprehension along with annoyance flashed through Bonnie. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, but she would if she had to. Her eyes darted around the area to make sure Stefan was nowhere in sight. She certainly didn't want him charging over with steam blowing from his nostrils because Jeremy was talking to her.
"Jer…I don't think that's such a good idea."
He stopped walking forcing Bonnie to stop with him. He glared down at her. "It's just lunch, Bonnie. I mean, I get it we aren't together so does that mean we can't be friends either?"
"Yeah, we can be friends…just not the type of friends who have lunch together…alone."
Jeremy sighed. He felt his plan crumbling, but he couldn't give up. "Okay, if we can't ever share a meal together, what about hanging out at The Grill? We can play darts or pool."
Yeah, that's how their relationship began. Bonnie wasn't trying to take a trip down memory lane.
"Jer..."
He didn't like that tone. "Are you seeing someone else? Is that the reason you're treating me like a leper? You can tell me. I'm a big boy, Bonnie. I can handle it."
Bonnie shifted her weight on her feet. She made a conscience decision to stop lying to him and to everybody else. She could admit to seeing someone else, didn't mean she had to divulge any names.
She hesitantly brought her eyes to meet his. Bonnie could already spot the small flicker of hope that Jeremy was hanging on to by a thread that she hadn't moved on so easily.
"I…am," whooshed out of her. "I'm sorry, Jeremy. It just kind of happened and it's still new and I have no idea where it might go."
He nodded his head and then handed her back her things. "Well, thanks for telling me." He walked off before Bonnie could give a rebuttal.
Bonnie felt her heart give an uncomfortable lurch before she commanded her feet to keep moving to her car.
Once she reached her car she heard another familiar voice. "You look like you could use some help, Judgey," but he made no move to offer his assistance.
"Damon," Bonnie breathed annoyingly and managed to open her car door and carefully place the drink carrier on the passenger seat.
The vampire in question jumped down from the hood of his Ferrari and approached her. Something shiny on her right hand caught his attention briefly. His eyebrows drew together but he didn't say anything to Bonnie, merely flicked his eyes back to her face. Irritation was written plainly on it.
"About to head over to Caroline's to get ready for the Lockwood party?"
"Yeah. I'm guessing I'll see you there."
"As head of the Council of course I have to be in attendance. I gotta keep the Mayor wound tight so she doesn't act on the fantasies she has about me."
Bonnie rolled her eyes and tapped her fingers on the hood of her car. That's when she became consciously aware of her ring and tried her best to conceal it from Damon, but figured he probably saw it already.
"Is the Gilbert boy giving you problems? I can always break his neck for you," he smirked.
"That won't be necessary and Jeremy… I can handle."
"If you'd like my humble opinion I'm glad you dumped his ass. He wasn't right for you."
Bonnie snorted and climbed inside her car. "You are the king of subtlety, Damon. And you know how I strive to live up to your expectations."
He learned down so he could make eye contact with her. "As your financier I have to look out for your best interests in every area, Bonnie. The boy had to go. Don't beat yourself up about it."
She slammed her door causing Damon to jump out of the way. "I'm running late, Damon."
He took a large step backwards and held out his hands in surrender. "See you later, toots, and save me a dance."
Back tires spinning against the asphalt, Bonnie shot out of Mystic Grill parking lot.
I am a sexy beast, Stefan thought as he knotted his tie. He resisted just barely winking at himself. But he wouldn't be afraid to admit that he could be the next James Bond in the tailored Italian cut suit he "borrowed" for the Lockwood formal.
While his brother was distracted making goo-goo eyes at his reflection, Damon leaned against the threshold with a tumbler filled with whiskey.
From Damon's perspective Stefan appeared chipper, almost giddy like the class nerd taking the Prom Queen out on a date. As of late, when he actually paid attention to Stefan he recognized subtle changes in him. Stefan would start chuckling for no apparent reason. He'd often look reflective, and he had completely stopped brooding.
It was more than a product of being high on blood, Damon was sure of it.
"You gonna say something or are you just that enamored of my beauty?" Stefan questioned as he slid his hands down his suit jacket to flatten out any wrinkles.
Damon snorted before pushing away from the door to stand behind his brother. "Who's your date tonight?"
"I'll find one when I get to the Lockwoods."
Right, Damon thought and mentally shook his head. Sitting the tumbler down, he swung Stefan around until he faced him and then properly rearranged his bow tie.
"I'm sure I don't have to warn you to use protection?" Damon joked to which Stefan stared at him drolly.
They were brothers, shared blood and DNA, but they were polar opposites from each other. Physically they looked nothing alike. Damon was an exact replica of their father, which is the reason he was sure Giuseppe hated him, whereas Stefan had their mother's eyes and hair color. In the grand scheme of things Damon should have been the one paving the way, setting the example for his precocious brother, but Damon's disdain for following rules, going with tradition made him a horrible candidate for an older brother.
He could see that now in retrospect.
Back when they were first turned, and Stefan's addiction was at its peak, Damon hadn't been a big enough influence to get Stefan to see the error of his ways. He had no choice but to leave, abandon him because Stefan was on a destructive path that would lead straight to their deaths. Damon had immortality in the bank and he wasn't about to forfeit it due to his brother's refusal to blend in.
Stefan hadn't changed and he was ten times worse now.
Despite what he's seen of Stefan as of late and what he knew of his brother and his patterns, there was one key thing that was throwing him off.
And Damon had every intention of getting to the bottom of it.
"Stefan can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"Did you give Bonnie our mother's ring?"
Stefan maintained his poker face but he turned away from Damon to pick up the handkerchief which he stuffed in the upper left pocket of his suit jacket.
"And if I did?" he replied flippantly.
Damon folded his arms and rocked on his heels. "I'd have to ask why. Are you planning on turning her?"
"No," Stefan looked at his brother through the reflection in the mirror.
"Why did you give it to her? And I'm assuming you did unless she stole it, but then she'd have to know where it was to begin with. So that leads me to believe something is going on between you and the witch. And you know what happens when I become doggedly curious about something, Stefan. So go ahead and put an old man like me out of my misery and just tell me. Are you and Bonnie sneaking around?"
Stefan spun around and stood toe-to-toe with Damon, his face stern but then it smoothed out. "Yeah," he sighed. "I don't have the energy to pussyfoot around. Bonnie and I have decided to take our friendship to the next level. I guess you can start calling us Stefonnie," he chuckled.
The only outward indication Damon gave that he was flabbergasted were his lifted brows. Several things wanted to jump off the tip of his tongue, but Damon discarded them all. Give yourself a moment to process this. He stared hard at Stefan; nope he wasn't lying about this.
He was involved with Bonnie. Bonnie Bennett. Vampire hating Bonnie Bennett. And he hadn't compelled her since witches can't be compelled so Bonnie was with Stefan of her own freewill.
He should have begun railing—Elena would have done so. He should have threatened him with bodily harm—Caroline would have done so. He should have attempted to stake him—Alaric would have tried.
But all Damon could do was stand before his brother in awe.
Would it be inappropriate to shake his hand in congratulations and then light up a cigar?
"How in the world did you swing that?" finally tumbled from Damon's lips.
Stefan turned back to the mirror to toy with his perfectly styled hair. "I'll tell you about it when you're all grown up."
Damon shook his head. He had never felt particularly proud of Stefan, his little brother had never given him any reason to be, but now with this new revelation it almost brought a tear to his eye. Not only had Stefan done the impossible by making the most judgmental witch of all time fall for him, he just cleared the path to Elena. There would be no more impediments in that department.
But Damon had to be cautious about things. He wasn't a total idiot. He was well aware of the fact Elena still cared and loved Stefan. She just couldn't stand who he was now.
Stefan read his brother like a book and spun back around to face him.
"You breathe a word of this to Elena and the Power Rangers, I promise you bad things will happen to the people you care about."
Damon rolled his eyes and shoved Stefan away from him. "Thankfully that list is very short, little brother. You might be high on blood and feel like you're untouchable because your Klaus' lackey or whatever, but I can still crush you like a jelly bean."
Stefan chuckled and slapped Damon on the arm. "Good to know you haven't gone completely soft, mate," he said in his best British accent. Confidentially strolling to the door, Stefan stopped and pivoted slightly to face Damon again.
"Damon," Stefan called. "Bonnie is mine. Touch her inappropriately or in a manner I don't like and your car won't be the only thing I blow up."
Twirling the strawberry flavored lollipop in her mouth, she examined her choices as they flitted around her, all working up the nerve to ask her for a dance. However, she was waiting for one in particular to strut through the door.
In the meantime she would observe her options.
Across from her was a chocolate Adonis who, according to school gossip recently rejoined the single ranks. He was tall, bald-headed with the deepest brown eyes she had seen in a while. His pearly white teeth winked at her from across the room as he caught her staring unabashedly at him. In reply, Bonnie winked and twirled her lollipop in another rotation before sliding it out of her mouth.
She shifted until her back was completely flat against the wall. Her eyes did another revolution around the room searching for a flare of caramel hair and alabaster skin.
Dancing teens encompassed the entire bottom floor of the Lockwood Mansion. The mayor was throwing another fundraising benefit for some charity Bonnie couldn't remember the name of. Earlier that day, she along with her two close best friends had been enlisted to decorate. Bonnie did her community service with a painted smile on her face, counting down the hours to freedom. Attending these things were routine and a bit boring. She would watch as the same people got drunk, as the same jocks engaged in fist fights, watched as the same guys and dolls hooked up only to talk smack about each other come Monday morning.
But she loved these events because it was as close to being a normal teen she could get. Besides it would look bad on her social record to be absent unless of course she was sick or dying.
Her eyes zoomed to the opposite side of the room and easily spotted Elena walking through the atrium with a very debonair looking Damon Salvatore on her arm. Bonnie studied them. Both of them were raven-haired and even in height, but it didn't look awkward, they almost looked like a perfect fit for one another. It was plain to see from the self-assured smirk on Damon's face he was overjoyed with having the girl he loved on his arm. Part of her wanted to be happy for him, but the other part of was filled with dread.
She knew Elena still held out hope that Stefan would snap back to his old self once Klaus' compulsion was broken.
Where that would leave her and Damon if that is ever achieved was the elephant Bonnie didn't want to address.
Cross that bridge when you get to it, Bonnie thought and continued to enjoy the sugary goodness of her lollipop.
"You're hot. I'm hot. Let's be hot together," suggested a warm voice over her shoulder.
Bonnie plucked the sucker out of her mouth and craned her neck backwards to stare at her visitor.
Stefan stood next to her, gazing into her eyes, a playful smirk teasing his lips.
No matter how much time they spent apart, every opportunity she had to be with him felt as exhilarating as riding on the back of his motorcycle. His presence did more than stir butterflies, it sparked her arousal. This just couldn't be normal, Bonnie thought but found herself unconsciously leaning closer to him until their bodies touched.
"Sounds promising," she said but then remembered where she was and put a modicum of space between them.
"I saw you milking that lollipop and of course you know my mind is crazy, filthy, dirty I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you. Can I have a lick?"
Bonnie shivered at the innuendo, but then placed her sucker in Stefan's open mouth. He winked at her, spun the sucker around a few times and then plopped it out of his mouth.
His tongue would taste amazing right now, Bonnie thought.
Stefan reluctantly broke their heated gaze to bring his attention over to Elena and Damon.
"Aww, they look like they should be on top of a wedding cake."
"And us?"
He brought his amazing eyes back to her. "I'd rather eat your cake."
Ooh, baby, ohh baby. Just as Bonnie was about to lean in for a kiss, she heard Caroline approaching them.
"There you are." The blonde stopped and eyed Stefan suspiciously. "We're about to take pictures." She held out an imperious hand towards Bonnie.
She looked at Stefan apologetically very briefly and took Caroline's hand, but Stefan grabbed Bonnie by the shoulder and whispered something in her ear.
The girl blushed to her roots and followed after Caroline on slightly wobbly legs.
Jeremy Gilbert sat off to the side in one of the two living rooms, nursing a mixed drink he was able to siphon from the Lockwood stock. His eyes were blurry and possibly red around the edges, but the alcohol helped take the sting off the fact that his ex had arrived on the arm of Matt Donovan.
He was the first to spot Bonnie who looked positively sinful in the blush Grecian inspired mini dress. Her hair—wavy, makeup—classic and haunting, her whole aura just screamed to be touched by a pair of eager yet worshipful hands. His hands, but she came with Matt Donovan. The two had always been close since they were kids, and Jeremy wondered for a second if he was the guy Bonnie was seeing.
However, his suspicion evaporated as Bonnie and Matt parted ways after being glued to the hip for about an hour after their arrival. Bonnie got lost in the crowd, whereas Matt had gone off with his jock friends.
They never once looked back at one another from across the room. Never once actually danced together despite the fact the DJ was playing all of Bonnie's favorite songs. So he felt a little better that they had arrived as friends and were going to leave in the same condition.
Unfortunately, as Jeremy made his rounds so he wouldn't appear anti-social, the next time he spotted Bonnie she was dancing with Damon.
Even though she was sporting four inch heels she still had to crane her neck up at Damon. He noticed that the vampire's hands were located on respectable places around Bonnie's middle. They were having a very animated conversation because Bonnie was smiling and Damon's eyebrows were doing that weird up and down thing they did whenever he was engaged in conversation with someone.
As he observed them his eyes couldn't help but travel over to Elena. She was speaking with Meredith Sulez and her date for the evening, but every so often her eyes would flick in Damon and Bonnie's direction.
Jeremy snorted derisively and brought his attention back to the couple.
Damon had spun Bonnie around a few times before dipping her. As he righted her, he kissed her cheek very lightly and then bowed before her. They exchanged a few words before parting.
That's when Jeremy came to realize that there were several other guys who had been loitering around waiting a turn to spin Bonnie around on the dance floor. She fanned herself with her hands and a cup filled with the secret juice kind of bloomed out of nowhere in front of her.
Bonnie accepted the proffered drink, took a tentative sip before handing it back to none other than Stefan Salvatore.
Jeremy pushed away from the wall and slowly began to meander his way through the crowd of gyrating bodies so he could hear what they were talking about.
Bonnie had made it no secret she didn't trust vampires as far as she could throw them, her powers notwithstanding she could throw one pretty far. So it felt a little surreal to see her holding court with the town's two most notorious vamps as if they were regular, everyday Joes.
Well it was apparent she had gotten over her bias.
Maybe because she too was supernatural she couldn't help but lean towards those with a supernatural edge as well, Jeremy thought. He had no otherness to speak of, was more of a liability than anything else, and if he were honest with himself he'd admit that if it weren't for his ring, he'd be six feet underground.
Being able to protect your mate from hurt, harm, and/or danger is one of the things that made a man a man. Jeremy honestly couldn't do anything other than yell "Look out" in terms of keeping Bonnie safe. They quite simply weren't on the same level.
Bonnie and Stefan began dancing. Was she fudging crazy? Ripper Stefan was dangerous. He didn't deserve to be around society, but locked up in a dungeon somewhere talking to rats and eating flies.
Jeremy stopped his pacing, found another wall to hold up and observed them.
Together they moved like a lion and a lioness, a matador and a bull, a snake and the charmer. They played off one another's energy, vibed like two people who had spent a great deal together learning about each other's weaknesses and strengths.
In all the dances, balls, and parties they attended, not once had Jeremy recalled seeing those two dance together.
Stefan only danced with Elena, and when she wasn't around he'd merely stand amongst the crowd.
But not this Stefan.
He circled around Bonnie, wrapped a strand of her long tresses around his finger, drew her closer, so close their hips were grinding against each other. And Bonnie for her part didn't look aggrieved or put out, but rapturous.
He was beginning to feel sick.
She wouldn't? She wouldn't be attracted to Stefan. Not this version of Stefan. The good Stefan with a conscience and soul—yeah could see it, but asshole Stefan and a law abiding Bonnie just didn't mix. And she would never betray Elena in that way.
Yet as he continued to watch them and how intimate they appeared to be with one another, Jeremy felt a flash of memory stab against his brain.
It was something the vampire said to him weeks ago. What was it? They had spoken briefly about defenses and walls, but there was something else Stefan had muttered that confused him. Think, Jeremy, think.
His eyes widened as he watched Stefan push Bonnie's hair to the side to expose her neck. Jeremy took a step away from the wall to go and intervene, but instead of seeing fang, he saw Stefan's puckered lips kiss her below the ear.
She smacked his arm but in a playful manner before pulling away and covertly looking around to make sure no one of great importance saw his stunt.
They did look too comfortable as if this were something they had been doing for weeks. Pretending not to be anything to each other while sneaking away together and doing God knows what!
And that's where he remembered exactly what Stefan said, "…no one will penetrate her walls but me."
A large vein popped out on Jeremy's temple. His ringed hand tightened into a fist causing the silver jewelry to dig into his skin.
The f*cker!
Back across the room…
"Thanks for the dance," Bonnie said and detached her body from Stefan's. She quickly immersed herself in the crowd. Stefan grinned. It was time to start the chase.
Upstairs she lost herself in one of the elegantly furnished bathrooms. Bonnie turned on the sink faucet and stared at her reflection. Blood sharpened the color to her cheeks, the tip of her nose, even the points of her ears were aflame. Stefan did it again, he sat her on fire.
Bonnie snatched a cotton face cloth from the gold dish it was resting on, jabbed it under the rushing water and wiped the back of her piping hot neck.
A beat later there was a knock on the door. She felt his presence bang against the door like it was an invisible force. Shuffling her feet closer to the object that separated them, Bonnie unlocked and opened the bathroom door.
Stefan leaned against the threshold with a telling smirk. Her heart began to pound.
Wordlessly Bonnie stepped backwards to allow Stefan entry.
In her head, Janet Jackson's "Any time Any Place," began to play.
It didn't matter if there was a monsoon going on outside, or if her dad was pulling into the driveway, or if they were in a house full of people, when Stefan gave her that look her panties came off.
Well, they didn't necessarily come off in this incident. He merely pushed them to the side.
Bonnie constantly bit his shoulder to muffle her screams and cries of pleasure, and Stefan naturally growled as he was so found of doing.
Fifteen minutes passed, then twenty, and finally it was forty-five minutes later when they both were sprawled out on the bathroom floor—spent.
The twisting doorknob caught their attention and they quickly hopped to their feet and began fixing clothes and hair.
"Someone's in here! I'm gonna be a while! My stomach hurts!" Bonnie yelled while Stefan zipped up her dress and chuckled. He couldn't resist kissing and then repeatedly biting her neck which irritatingly made heat flare up in her center again. She looked at him crossly through the reflection in the mirror.
"You go first," he whispered against her cheek before kissing it.
Bonnie nodded her head and then swiped her thumb across his lips to wipe off her lipstick.
Bonnie opened the door, peeped her head out and checked down both ends of the hallway. She didn't see anyone so she made her exit.
When Stefan sauntered his way down the stairs a full minute later, flicking his bow tie and feeling ten feet tall, he paused on the next to last step and blinked his eyes.
Bonnie had shunned her shoes to dance on the coffee table rapping along to Nicki Minja. He chuckled. Someone was definitely coming out of her shell.
To be continued…
