Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! And to show my gratitude, here is the next chapter! This chapter flowed so easily and it's my favorite chapter so far.
PS: There is an "adult content" warning for this chapter. It's NOT smut. I don't write it, nor will I ever. But it goes farther than I've ever taken a fic before. I'm pretty proud and I feel like its tasteful without being smutty. You'll have to let me know how you guys felt about it cause I'm nervous putting it out there.
June 2006
She woke up with a groan. She didn't quite understand why her body felt like it had been drained of energy. Then the images of the night before came rushing back to her. Damon catching Matt attacking her lips with his. She remembered the look of hurt that was in his eyes and that sent the tears rushing right back.
She pushed herself out of bed and wiped her tears, determined to go sort everything out with Damon and then everything would be better. She was sure of it. She hoped that's the way it would be.
She got ready quickly, making sure she looked fresh faced and put together. She was out of the apartment in such a rush that she didn't realize it was raining until she was out on the sidewalk without an umbrella.
She muttered curses as she continued her brisk walk to Damon's loft. She was saying a silent prayer of thanks that she and Damon both had the day off. She crossed the familiar streets to his place. She was completely soaked by the time she arrived at his building. She contemplated going home to change and taking a taxi back, but she knew she'd lose all the courage she built up on the walk over.
She took the elevator to his floor and steadied herself at his door before she raised a hand to knock gently on his door.
She heard him moving around and then the door opened to reveal a miserable looking Damon. Before she had the chance to say anything, he already started closing the door.
She moved quickly, pushing against the door and successfully held it open.
"Damon, stop," she said in a strong voice, much stronger than she felt, "We need to talk about this."
"I have nothing to say to you," he said dismissively, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Good, so you can listen 'cause I have plenty to say to you," she said.
"What you saw was an absolute pig putting his hands on me and kissing me without my permission. I would never go back to Matt, ever. He did horrible things to me and more than that, I have you," she explained to him, desperately trying to get him to believe her.
"I know what I saw, Elena," he said quietly, it was clear he was close to caving in.
"You think you know, but you have to trust me," she said passionately, taking a step closer to him.
"Why should I trust you?" He asked in a hurt voice.
"Because I'm in love with you, Damon," she finally burst out. There was complete silence as she watched a myriad of emotions run across his face. Confusion, shock, acceptance, hope, and finally, she saw love.
"You do?" He asked finally, a look of wonder gracing his features.
"Yeah, I do," she smiled at him.
"I love you, too," he whispered as he took her hand and pulled her into his loft. He shut the door and pressed her back against it before placing his lips against hers. She felt like she was drowning in him and she couldn't get enough. Her hands were everywhere at once, enjoying the feel of his muscles beneath his v-neck shirt, exploring the soft hairs at the nape of his neck, and gliding down the strong planes of his back.
His hands cradled her face before diving into her wet hair. He let them float down her neck and across her shoulders before settling on her hips and pulling her closer. Her hands toyed with the hem of his shirt before breaking away from him to push it up over his head. His skin felt like fire on her cold hands. She loved the way his muscles flexed and relaxed under her touch.
His hands expertly worked the buttons of her wet blouse and soon he slid it off her shoulders. He pulled back a few moments to just take in her olive skin. Usually she would squirm under such a gaze, but his was so full of love and wonder that she found herself relaxing even further.
And then the world ignited. She pulled him into her and crashed her lips to his. There were no more careful and slow movements. Everything changed to hurried and lustful. Soon most of their clothes had been discarded in the entryway. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried them into his large bedroom. She loved the feel of his skin against hers and she whimpered at the loss of contact when he laid her on the bed.
He smiled at her and covered her body with his once there was nothing left between them but skin. They fit together like two long lost puzzle pieces and her eyes filled with tears at the perfection of that moment. The look of love in his eyes was enough to take her breath away. Even the way he said her name like it was a prayer sent shivers down her spine.
She truly did love this man. Everything about him she loved, even the things that made her angry or got under her skin. She wouldn't have him any other way and the look of joy on his face told her that he felt the same.
Her thighs cradled his hips in the most intimate of connections long after their cries quieted and their breathing evened out. She loved the feel of his weight pressing her into his mattress. He was loving the way she looked so loved with her hair spread out over his pillow.
His hands softly traced the soft hills and valleys of her face, while her hands traced aimless patters across his back. No words were spoken save for gentle whispers of their love for one another.
Present Day
She felt his gaze before she even fully woke up.
"You're staring," she grumbled.
"So?" He said and she could hear the smirk in his voice.
"It's creepy," she complained, rolling away from the warmth of his chest.
He was faster than she was and before she could think straight, he had her underneath him, pressing her into the mattress.
"Good morning," he mumbled into the crook of her neck. He pressed himself into her, showing her how good he thought this morning was.
"Well now it's good," she giggled sleepily.
He kissed his way up her neck and across her cheek to finally land on her lips. He forgot how much he loved how she felt in the morning. Her skin felt softer and her raspy morning voice drove him crazy in the best ways.
He kissed her with all the energy he could muster, never wanting to leave their little bubble. He wanted to push reality off as long as possible, so when she started to fidget in anticipation beneath him, he was happy to oblige.
They finally made it out of her room an hour later, showered and dressed. He made her breakfast and they spent the morning just enjoying each other. Neither one of them wanted to face the reality of their fragile relationship, so they both avoided that topic altogether.
A few minutes after he pulled away there was a knock on her door that she recognized immediately. She answered the door to see a worried looking Bonnie on the other side.
"I hope you know what you are doing," she said as she pushed past Elena and into the house.
"You saw him leave?" Elena asked as she closed the door and turned to face her friend.
"Yep in all his 'Walk of Shame' glory," Bonnie said sarcastically, "I live across the street, remember? I see all."
"I know, Bonnie," Elena sighed, "So purge, tell me what you're thinking."
"I just don't want to see you get hurt again," Bonnie said seriously as they walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
"I know, I don't either, but Giuseppe died. Therefore, the root of the whole problem is gone," Elena explained.
"I know that, but do you even know what's going on in his life? Have you talked about that?" Bonnie asked laying a comforting hand on her arm.
"Well… no," Elena admitted.
"What if he's dating someone, engaged, married? What then?" Bonnie asked.
"He'd tell me if that was the case," Elena said defensively, snapping her arm away from Bonnie's touch.
"I'm sorry, 'Lena. I didn't mean to come across accusatory, but I just don't want to see you get hurt," Bonnie said in a much softer voice.
"I know, Bon, but it was leaving him that hurt me, not being with him," Elena explained.
"You're right, I just wanted to be sure everything was ok," Bonnie said, patting her friend's hand.
"It's more than ok," Elena smiled.
She was surprised at how touching the funeral was. She sat alone in the back row, just sneaking in as it started. Damon didn't invite her personally, but she wanted to be there for him if he needed her.
Giuseppe's business partners spoke great things about him and his company and Stefan gave a lovely eulogy. She forgot how much she missed him until she saw him get up and speak. She made a mental note to speak to him before he left town.
The ceremony was short and everyone swarmed Damon and Stefan to offer their condolences. She decided to slip behind him and wait until the crowd died down so she could have more time with him.
As the crowd waned, she made her way over to him. As she approached, she caught part of his conversation with the man in front of him
"Damon, I'm so sorry about your father. I worked with him on many occasions. He was a great business man," the older gentleman told Damon.
As she was about to approach him, a tall slender woman walked up to him.
"Oh, Mr. Watkins, this is my fiancée, Katherine," he introduced the woman as he wrapped an arm around her waist and her heart stopped.
Bonnie was right. She had no idea about his life. He was engaged.
"What?" She whispered to herself, but it caught Damon's attention and he turned around to see a shocked Elena.
Her eyes met his and she saw the confusion register on his face and then, the worst of all, regret.
"Elena," he said, taking a step toward her.
"No," she said shaking her head, blinking rapidly to prevent the tears from falling. Without another word she walked straight out of the church and drove straight home.
Her world felt like it had been blown into a million pieces. He was engaged. He cheated on his fiancée with her. He never told her, yet he had come back for more time and time again. She was so stupid to think he'd want her back after all these years. She was stupid to think he hadn't moved on with his life.
She had so easily let him back into her life, into her bed, without so much as a question to what he'd been up to.
She went immediately to her kitchen and poured herself a tall glass of wine. She couldn't handle this alone. She sat at her counter long after the tears had passed and the alcohol numbed her restless mind. She stared straight ahead with unseeing eyes; she didn't know how long she'd sat there.
The sound of someone banging down her front door floated into her ears, but took a few seconds to register with her that someone was at her door. She got up slowly, not sure how the alcohol was going to affect her. She made her way to the door and threw it open without checking who it was.
Damon stood there with sad eyes and his hair looked like he had ran his hands through it several times.
"What are you doing here," she asked tiredly.
"We need to talk," he said frantically.
"There's nothing to talk about. You are engaged, you have a fiancée and you cheated on her," she said harshly and she saw him flinch at her words.
"Elena, I can't control anything around you. All rational thoughts disappear when I'm with you," he tried desperately to explain, "I'm just still so desperately in love with you and I've tried to ignore it for all these years, but seeing you just reminded me that I never gave up on you."
The tears that were welled up in her eyes, we freely falling down her cheeks at his words.
"So you're calling off your engagement?" Elena asked in a small hopeful voice. His face told her the answer before he opened his mouth.
"I can't, Elena. This is the last thing my father asked of me, I can't go back on my word now just because he died," he explained sadly.
"That's all I needed to know," she said before slamming the door in his face. She listened to him mutter curses through the door. She pressed her back against the door, sliding to the ground before erupting into tears once again.
Dun dun DUN! Damon's engaged. Some of you guessed right and some of you guessed almost right. This is the main story arc I was wanting to get to and I'm excited for the rest of the story and how they deal with their lives after seeing each other again and getting a glimpse of what their lives could hold with each other. I know Bonnie and Stefan seem like Downer Debbies, but they have good reason. Things didn't end well for both Damon and Elena so naturally they are skeptical and trying to look out for the people they care about.
This chapter makes me nervous to post so I'd really love your feedback and let me know how felt about it.
