A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I last updated! I've been in a slump and busy with doctors appointments, trying to figure out what's wrong with my ankle. Hope you enjoy this chapter, and I'll be sure to get the next chapter up soon!
I wake up the next morning to the smell of bacon frying, and Damon cursing loudly. Stretching, I rub my eyes free of sleep and look around. I was on Damon's couch, covered up. I must have fallen asleep outside last night on the back deck talking to him. I get to my feet, padding out into the kitchen, smiling when Damon turns around, 2 plates of bacon, eggs, and toast in hand. He sits both plates down at the bar, coming over to me and kissing me softly. I kiss Damon back, smiling.
"Good morning, Elena. I hope the couch wasn't too uncomfortable last night. I don't have the guest room made up yet, and I barely made it to my own room." Damon tells me, gong to the fridge and opening it. "What would you like to drink?"
I take a seat at the bar. "Water, please. And the couch was fine. I don't even remember falling asleep last night."
Damon takes two bottles of water from the fridge and hands one to me as he takes a seat across from me at the bar, taking a bite of his eggs. I open my bottle of water and take a sip before tucking into my own eggs.
"We both fell asleep on the back deck in a lounge chair. I'm not sure what time I woke up and carried you inside." Damon takes a drink of water, smiling. "Your phone is on the charger on the counter here in the kitchen, and you're welcome to a shower if you brought a change of clothes."
I grin. "Thanks, I did." I reply, taking a bite of bacon. "Breakfast is delicious, by the way. You are an amazing cook."
Damon blushes lightly. "Th-thanks. I picked it up from my mother, she's amazing in the kitchen." Damon tells me, smiling. "I can't wait to introduce you to her sometime, I'm sure you'll get along with her great."
"If she's as sweet as you and Stefan are, I'm sure I will." I answer, taking another drink of water as I finish my breakfast. "So, what did you have planned for today?"
Damon finishes his breakfast, and I gather the plates, taking them to the sink and washing them. Damon grins.
"I would have gotten the dishes, and I was thinking of going out to the mall. I need to buy some new clothes for work, and get a new suit for the fund-raising event this coming Saturday." Damon answers, drying the dishes and putting them away in the cabinet.
"Would you mind if I came along? I need work clothes, and I want to get a digital camera. I lost my other one the night my ex... Well, you know." I say quietly, looking away from Damon as I rinse the sink down.
Damon comes over and wraps his arms around me, kissing my cheek as he holds me close.
"I do. I would love it if you came along." Damon replies, nuzzling my cheek with his. I giggle.
"Also, I was wondering, if you would be my plus one for the fund-raising event, that is, unless you want to go with someone else."
I grin, turning to face Damon as I wrap my arms loosely around his neck. "Damon, who else would I go to the event with?" I ask Damon, who tries, and fails, not to grin. "Of course I'll be your plus one." I kiss Damon, smiling.
Damon kisses me back, giving me a playful half smile-half smirk. "Very true."
I giggle, kissing Damon's nose. "Give me ten minutes to shower and do my hair, and we can leave."
Damon nods, releasing me. I grab my bottle of water and finish it, laughing as Damon smacks my behind when I go to leave the kitchen. I grab my phone and beach bag from the living room and head upstairs to Damon's huge bathroom. Ten minutes and a warm shower later, I come downstairs in a pair of white shorts and maroon flowy tank top, hair brushed out and left down to dry. Damon is sitting on the couch, dressed in a pair of dark blue jean shorts, black muscle shirt, and a pair of skate sneakers, his hair brushed but still unruly. I grab my credit card and ID from my wallet, sticking them both in the front pocket of my shorts as I fish my flip-flops from my beach bag, sliding them on. Damon and I then walk hand in hand out to his car, getting in and driving to the mall. Damon and I take our time browsing the mall, going into all the shops and checking things out. We must have been at the mall for hours, because when we leave; each of us carrying numerous bags, the sun is just starting set. We stop for dinner at a small bistro, then head back to Damon's house. Damon helps me put all of my things in my car before we take everything he bought into the house. Damon had insisted on paying for my dress for the upcoming event for work, and even some of my work clothes, against my begging him not to. He just kissed me and grinned at my protests, and I couldn't help but give in. Once we got all of Damon's things into the house, I helped him put everything away, the two of us sharing a glass of wine on the back deck when we finished.
I rest my head on Damon's shoulder, looking out at the dark ocean crashing on to the sand. "It's nights like these that I wish I lived on the beach." I say softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
Damon sighs, wrapping his arm around me. "It's nights like this I wish someone lived with me, so I could share beautiful nights like this with them." Damon replies, then turns suddenly, looking at me.
I look at Damon. "Something wrong?" I ask.
"No, I just had an idea. Not sure if it's a good one, but..." Damon trails off, a blush faintly coloring his cheeks.
"What's your idea, Damon?" I inquire, my stomach beginning to fill with butterflies. "I'm sure it's a good one, all your ideas are good."
Damon takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly and taking my hand. "I was going to suggest, having you move into the house with me. I know we've only known each other just about a week, but I feel something with you, Elena, a feeling I haven't felt before, and I want to explore it, with you." Damon says softly, looking away from me as his blush darkens.
My heart skips a beat in my chest, and I feel my face heat. He asked me to move in with him! I squeeze Damon's hand, using my free hand to turn his face to mine before answering.
"Damon, that is an amazing idea." I tell him, placing a soft kiss on his lips before continuing. "That feeling you're feeling, I've been feeling it too, since our first official date. We may have only known each other a week, but moving in with you would be one of the best things that's happened to me since you offered me the job as you personal assistant."
Damon stares at me a moment before asking, "So, is that a yes?"
I grin. "It's a yes, Damon. A hell yes."
Damon lets out a whoop of joy and picks me up in his arms, standing and spinning us around on the sand. I laugh and wrap my arms around Damon's neck, my heart feeling like it was flying. Damon sets me on the ground and pulls me close, kissing me deeply. I kiss Damon back, holding him close as he lifts me up with a hug.
"Thank you, Elena. You've made this place feel like a home, where before it felt like just a house." Damon says, setting me back on the sand once more, kissing me again.
I grin and kiss Damon back. "It's always been a home, Damon, you just needed someone to share it with besides your brother." I look out at the ocean, then back to Damon. "So, when can I move in?"
"If it wasn't well past two am, I'd say right now. But it's late, so, tomorrow, if you'd like. And, you don't have to stay in my room. You can stay in the guest room if you want. I don't want to push you into anything your not comfortable wi-"
I place a finger to Damon's lips, silencing him. "I want to stay with you, in your room. We can share the bed, because I trust you and know you wont push me to do anything I'm not ready to do."
"I wont push you to do anything, Elena, I promise." Damon promises, fighting off a yawn as he says it, and losing to the yawn.
I yawn as well, my body finally realizing what time it is. Damon walks with me into the house, and after we grab our cell phones and I grab my charger, we walk up the steps to Damon's bedroom. I plug my phone in and set it on the nightstand on the right side of the bed, the opposite of where Damon plugged his phone in. I grab my beach shorts, shaking them free of sand. Damon hands me a shirt, smiling.
"I figured this would be like the one I already gave you, and would be more comfortable then trying to sleep with a bra on."
I smile at Damon's thoughtfulness, taking his shirt. "Thanks, it will be."
Damon grins and I head into the bathroom to change, quickly dressing in Damon's shirt and my beach shorts, braiding my long hair down my back. When I come out, Damon is sitting on the bed in his boxer briefs and a pair of dark blue athletic shorts, his laptop on front of him. I crawl up on to the bed, sitting beside him as I text Caroline about Damon and I's new living arrangements. Damon was looking at the photos of Caroline's mom's summer home, and seeing the pictures of how bad it looked brought memories of that night back into my mind. I sit my phone back on the nightstand, watching as Damon gets off the bed and puts his laptop on his dresser. He opens the balcony doors in his room, letting the cool ocean air flow into the room before crawling into bed once more. He slides under the covers, holding them up for me to get under them. I quickly slide under the covers, and Damon lays them over me, rolling so his front was against my back, his arm draped around me. I turn and face Damon, who kisses me.
"Sweet dreams, Elena." Damon says quietly, kissing me softly before I roll back onto my side, Damon pulling me close once more.
"Sweet dreams, Damon." I whisper, yawning as I snuggle closer to Damon, linking his fingers through mine.
Damon squeezes my hand, and I close my eyes, falling into a fitful, nightmare filled sleep.
