AN: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the lovely reviews! I have been trying to reply to them but sadly sometimes O fall behind and other times I never get there. But I am very very appreciative of the feedback.
Truthfully, I have been having a hard time writing at the moment because, honestly, I am a bit disenchanted with TVD... I am hoping it wont be the case when the new season starts, but it is really killing my muse at the moment. However, this story is so dear to me and I don't want to disappoint you guys, so I wrote this chapter as a peace offering. It is by no means the end, but it is a probable pause. Meaning that unless I get really inspired, there are probably not going to be any updates until mid July. But I promise this story will be completed eventually. xoxo
They say the devil's water - it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while
The Killers - When You Were Young
"You are no fun Elena..." – Damon teased –"Wake up sleepy head."
His voice was a weak attempt at sounding nonchalant but his body's tension betrayed him. Elena had fainted more than 40 minutes ago and every second of waiting had been pure torture for the vampire. Damon relished on the proximity of their skins, on being able to pet and caress the beautiful girl in his arms. He nuzzled into her neck, bringing her tighter into his arms, losing himself into her silky brown tresses. It was heaven to be this close, it was hell to have her this unresponsive.
Elena stirred a little in Damon's arms. Small frown lines crinkling her nose and forehead and making him smile adoringly. No one could bring out the sweet side of Damon like Elena. The girl made the otherwise murderous vampire as harmless as a puppy just by breathing.
Elena opened her eyes groggily and was met by Damon's face etched with concern and love. She felt the way he held her tenderly, protectively, and a small smile formed in her lips. She reached her hand up to cradle his cheek and Damon closed his eyes as he leaned into her. Elena let her thumb caress his cool skin and she could practically see the tension ebb away from his body. It had always surprised her that someone that had lived so long and was almost indestructible could always get so tense whenever her fragile human life was in danger. But Elena had always known that for Damon she was it and that when you love as much as he did, one's heart no longer lives in you, it lives in and with the person you love. Damon's heart, therefore Damon's life, immortal or not, was dangerously teetered to hers, the fragile little human with no self preservation. Elena tensed thinking of the responsibility of it… of being the keeper of Damon's volatile heart. She wasn't afraid of it, ok, maybe a little. What Elena was was mortified at how badly she had treated the gift Damon had given her. Damon, feeling her tense up opened his eyes and cocked his head to look at her. Elena smiled at him, a new emotion he could not quite name in her eyes as she ran her thumb over his lips. Damon bent down and Elena's breath caught, but instead of the kiss she anticipated, Damon simply placed his forehead against hers.
"Hey you" – he breathed.
"Hey…"
"You had be worried sick Elena…"
"Sorry?"
"How are you feeling?"
Elena blushed a little.
"Hungry?"
Damon chuckled and Elena wondered if he could read her mind blushing further. Well, she hadn't lied, not really. She was hungry, for food… but also... hungry for him.
Elena squealed as she felt herself being carried at vampire speed out of the room and into the kitchen. Damon placed her carefully on the kitchen counter with a sweet peck to her cheek and started dashing between the hob, the fridge and the pantry in a constant blur making Elena dizzy. In what seemed like seconds she had a glass of refreshingly cold orange juice in her hand, delivered with another sweet kiss before Damon was off again. She drank the orange liquid greedily as the smell of freshly brewed coffee started to fill the air. Damon having prepared something to the side with an dangerous fast blade, started to toil over the hob. His beautiful back was turned towards Elena and she drank her fill of his hard muscles, his pert bottom, his well sculpted arms, his powerful neck…
"See something you like?" – Damon was starring at her over his shoulder with his signature smirk.
He was teasing her like he always did, their banter a comfortable battling ground and he fully expected the blush that crept up her cheeks. What took him by surprise was her reply.
"If I said yes, how much trouble would I be in?" – She looked at him coyly.
Damon chuckled and shook his head delighted.
"No trouble until you finished eating." – he replied placing a mouth watering plate of eggs Benedictine, hash browns and fruits in front of her. Elena couldn't help but gape at the feast.
"Damon…" – she eyed him with wonder –"This looks fantastic!"
"It tastes even better." – he purred in her ear making her stomach do a somersault –"Tuck in. I'm going to grab my breakfast and will be back in a minute."
Elena nodded and turned her full attention to her food.
"And, Elena?" – Damon called out front the kitchen door
"Uh?"
"Once the food is over, you will be in heaps of trouble." – he smiled devilishly and wriggled his eyebrows at her before disappearing.
Elena swallowed dry looking at the spot he had vacated. The butterflies in her stomach doing acrobatic swoops and her mind reeling at the possibilities. She was torn between devouring the food in one go and savouring it, unable to remember if she had ever wanted to get into trouble so fricking fast in her life.
Hope you guys like it and that it was good enough to tie you up until I come back with more. R & R xoxo
