The next morning I woke up in Damon's bed and it took a while for my slightly disorientated, groggy brain to work out where I was. I opened my eyes against the harsh daylight and was greeted by an amazing view.

Damon lay on his back, one arm was thrown above his head making the muscle bulge out. His dark hair fell in total disarray over his brow and his face was completely calm and neutral, no smirk, no arrogant demeanor, just Damon. The sheets rode low on his torso, his bare chest free for my perverted viewing. I eyed the dark scattering of hairs leading in a trail from his navel down under the bed sheets and felt myself quickly recalling memories of the night before, I felt my body heating up. I guess it's true what they say, the more you get the more you want. After celibacy my body wanted to make up for lost time. I could already feel myself becoming insatiable.

Against my will my fingers reached out and softly traced the contours of his abdomen, sleepily memorising the curves.

"Morning," he purred huskily, his voice roughened from sleep. His eyes were barely opened, the long lashes keeping them concealed.

"Morning," I mumbled, distracted by the feel of his body. Now I'd started to touch him I couldn't bring myself to stop. My wanton hands had a mind of their own and tiptoed under the covers to touch him elsewhere.

"Someone's awake," he groaned, stretching out his body slightly and bringing his arm to rest under the crook of my neck, I lifted for him and moved my body in closer to his.

"Not everyone," I commented referring to the still sleeping appendage in my hand.

He smiled widely, his eyes creasing as he looked down at me. "Give him a minute."

He was right, it didn't take long for him to grow hard in my teasing hand. I lazily stroked him, slowly picking up a rhythm as his breaths grew heavier.

His hands reached out and felt their own way down around me, slipping down to see how awake my own body was. Fingers found my wetness and languidly rubbed over me as goosebumps erupted over my skin. My ministrations on him faltered as he touched me, unable to focus on anything other than the sensations he gave.

I pushed up and away from him, moving one leg over his hips and aligning our bodies before I slowly joined us inch by aching inch. I looked down at him, sunlight rested over his body and showed his flushed skin. His eyes looked up at me, so hooded that they were almost closed. Damon's hands gripped my hips harshly as I started moving atop him, splaying my hands on his chest I set the pace and took full control. It seemed that sex had turned me into a morning person, my energy rising as pleasurable shivers rippled throughout my entire body.

I moved like that for a while, eyes squeezed shut and lost in the moment. Damon's strong hands gripped me tightly and helped me keep the rhythm when the sensations built to the brink and we both fell over it together.

He had invited me to spend the rest of the day in his bed but due to the fact I had no spare clothes or a toothbrush I insisted that I should go. So, Saturday morning in last night's dress and stilettos I took my first walk of shame home. Oddly, it didn't feel shameful at all.


Sleepovers and booty calls became a common occurrence after that. With every passing encounter I could feel my inhibitions slowly slipping away and the confident sexual temptress within coming out. I felt myself walking a little taller, smiling a little more and caring a little less what people might think of me.

Damon was changing too, at least towards me. It was almost impossible to imagine him as the distant, closed-off man in a suit that I used to be scared of, now he was close and mostly unclothed around me. Although he was still a closed book, in all the time we spent together we never spoke about anything personal or intimate, which was fine by me. Damon was a welcome distraction from my feelings and I worried what I would do to distract myself when this whirlwind was inevitably over.

Caroline hadn't forgotten about my departure from her party and Stefan's exaggerated news about my love life. I'd been forced into going out for drinks the following Friday night by Caroline and Bonnie and I was dreading the inevitable interrogation that was to come. We'd gone to The Grill and it was busy, there was a live band playing in the corner of the room and we'd managed to grab a table in the centre while others around stood at the bar. Caroline didn't pretend to watch the music for long before she dived straight in with her questioning.

"So, Elena, tell me all about your boyfriend."

"I already told you, Caroline, I don't have a boyfriend." I sighed, already wishing the conversation was over.

"Ok, sorry. I get it, you haven't had 'the talk' yet."

I small laugh escaped me at the idea that Damon could ever possibly have that conversation. I couldn't imagine that the eternal bachelor could ever be tied down to just one woman.

"So, where did you meet?" She asked me.

"Err..." I mumbled taking a sip of wine to bide my time. "I don't really want to say."

"What, why not?" She pouted, furrowing her brow.

"Because Stefan is my boss and you're obviously going to run off and tell him everything."

"No, I'm not!" She sat back in slight offence. I raised my eyebrow at her in disbelief and she looked to Bonnie for back-up. Bonnie simply raised her brow too.

"Ok, fine," she surrendered, throwing her hands up. "So, if you don't want Stefan to know then it must be someone from your office then?" She tapped her fingers together proudly at her top-notch detective skills.

"No," I replied unconvincingly.

"Clearly it is, Elena. You're only ever at work or at home, so unless it's your landlord..."

"Ok, fine. It's someone from work!" I surrendered. Our landlord was a middle-aged, overweight hairy man who always wore wife-beater vests and shorts. The thought made me feel nauseous and I needed to change the subject.

"Ah-ha!" she shouted, jumping in her seat. "Now we're getting somewhere. So, who is it?"

I could feel myself sweating under her interrogation, I felt like I was on trial for murder or something. My hands were clammy and I wiped them nervously on my jeans.

"Come on, Care, she'll say when it gets more serious, right, Elena?" Bonnie said throwing me an out.

"No, I won't say, because it's not going to get more serious." I knew Bonnie was trying to help, but I needed to nip this in the bud.

"Why not?" Caroline asked.

"Because it's not like that. He's not like that."

"Would you want things to get more serious?" Bonnie asked eying me curiously.

"Of course not," I told her. She looked at me with an expression that said she didn't believe me but didn't say anything else.

"Well, that's a bummer," Caroline complained after a moment of silence. We all laughed at the statement which broke the tension a little.

"What I want to know is why are we focusing on me," I said. "What about Bonnie's new boyfriend?" She'd still told me nothing about the mystery guy she'd been seeing, despite me spilling everything about Damon to her.

"I told you that I'll let you meet him when I'm ready," Bonnie said coyly.

"Yeah, don't force her!" Caroline chastised me.

"What!?" I squeaked feeling victimised. "You've been grilling me about who I'm seeing!"

"Well, if you won't tell then Bonnie shouldn't have to either." Caroline said. The difference was that I had a reason not to tell Caroline about Damon, but Bonnie didn't. I wanted to say more but decided to hold my tongue instead.

It was Caroline's round, she made it to and from the bar prettily easily despite the business of the place. The crowds parted like she was Moses as she made her way back to us and placed the fresh glass of wine down in front of me.

"I love your dress, Caroline," I complimented, admiring the way the floaty material fell around her legs.

"Thank you," she said smoothing out the silky floral fabric with her hands. "I'm thinking of wearing it to Stefan's cousin's wedding in a couple of weeks." I suddenly liked the dress a little less.

"How are things going with Stefan?" I asked out of obligation, hoping she'd be candid.

"Amazing," she gushed, smiling broadly. "I've never been in a relationship like this before. He's so attentive and genuine and obviously super-hot, and the sex is insane!"

I cleared my throat a little and shifted uncomfortably in my seat, shooting a look at Bonnie.

"Sorry," Caroline said catching onto my awkwardness. "I know you probably don't want to hear about your boss's sex life."

I attempted a tight-lipped smile. "It's fine," I told her, "just a little weird."

"I get it, I mean, you have to see him every day," she replied. "Honestly, I don't know how you ever get done any work in that place. I wouldn't be able to concentrate, I'd just be constantly drooling over all the guys."

Bonnie laughed into her drink, making a few droplets splutter out on to the table. "Oh, I'm sure she does a bit of drooling from time to time."

"Oh yeah," Caroline leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "You must drool over your new work boyfriend."

"Come on, Elena, give us a ranking of the hot guys you work with," Bonnie said.

"There's no point," I brushed off. "You only know Stefan and Damon."

"So, who do you think is hotter, Stefan or Damon?" Bonnie asked bluntly.

"I can't answer that," I evaded. "It's Caroline's boyfriend."

"But I want to know your answer."

"Yeah, I want to know too!" Caroline joined in enthusiastically.

"I don't know," I shrugged non-committedly. The truth was I really didn't know who I thought was better looking. Force of habit made me assume it was Stefan, he was classically handsome and always well put together and he was such a good person on the inside that as soon as you knew him his good looks only intensified. But Damon was rougher around the edges, constantly looking like he'd just rolled out of bed and woke up looking flawless. He had the aloof bad boy persona down to perfection and if number of sexual partners was any factor he'd win by a million miles.

"But which one would you want to give you orgasms and strip teases?" Bonnie ruthlessly teased. I wouldn't have told her that if I'd known she'd use it against me. Caroline gave her a questioning look at the specific statement. "Theoretically of course," she added at our reactions. Bonnie was getting drunk and I was starting to feel like I'd need to get her home before her tongue became any looser.

"Both are good looking," I said at last, "but I guess...Damon is sexier."

"Whoo!" Bonnie cheered at my answer, pumping her fist in the air.

"Fine, I'll allow it," Caroline laughed at Bonnie's response. "Damon is gorgeous. Seriously, if I was single and he wasn't Stefan's brother..." she fanned herself with her hand.

"Oh, come on, you can't take all of Elena's guys." Bonnie teased.

"Says you, Bonnie," Caroline answered.

"What are you talking about?" Bonnie asked her, laughing a little awkwardly.

"Err, nothing," Caroline brushed off quickly. "Besides, it's not like I'm actually going to look at other guys like that when I'm in love with Stefan."

The glass at my lips froze and I lowered it back to the table with a slightly shaky hand.

"You're in love with him?" I stuttered. Every emotion possible was running through me, happiness for my friend, jealousy, betrayal, sadness, guilt.

She blushed and tried to hold back her euphoric grin. "Yeah."

"Have you told him that?" Bonnie asked looking just as shocked as me.

She nodded, tucking a loose golden curl back behind her ear. "And he told me too."

Bonnie and I looked at each other, she'd know exactly what I was thinking. Deep down I'd always know that they were serious but up until now it was easier to pretend that it was just a short-lived fling that would soon run out of steam.

"Don't look at each other like that," Caroline interrupted our silent conversation. "I know it hasn't been long but when you know you know, right?"

"I mean, it's soon," Bonnie confirmed, "but I'm really happy for you," she smiled at Caroline and squeezed her hand before looking to me for encouragement.

"Yeah," I agreed clearing the lump in my throat. "That's amazing, Care." I wanted to believe myself, but I'm not sure I did.

We left Caroline a little while later and Bonnie linked her arm extra tight with mine as we walked home.


On Thursday evening and I'd gone to Damon's place straight from work. He told me that he would cook me dinner but we'd ended up working up an appetite first.

I sat on the tall stool at the edge of his kitchen island, wrapped in his black shirt from the day in an attempt to seem provocative. I watched with avid curiosity as he moved around the room, comfortably preparing our meal. He wore his glasses, the grey sweat pants and absolutely nothing else. The sight might me feel giddy, I swung my legs happily as I studied his recipe.

"So, my cousin is getting married next weekend," he said out of the blue. Focusing intently on cutting the mushrooms in front of him. I paused, waiting for him to elaborate but he didn't.

"Oh yeah?" I questioned.

"To be honest, I don't really want to go. But it's a big family thing so I can't exactly not go."

I raised my brow in question at the seemingly pointless story.

"And it's going to be really fucking boring and I thought that maybe if you were there then it would be less boring," he cleared his throat. "Because I get to take a plus one and I wasn't going to take anybody, but then I thought you might want to go with me?" He paused his chopping and looked up at me expectantly. I didn't say anything, I didn't know what to say.

"You don't have to," he started to back track at my lack of response. "You can totally not go, I mean-"

"Okay," I interrupted his babbling. It was a strange thing to see, Damon nervously jabbering. He usually always knew exactly what to say.

"Okay?" He looked up at me hesitantly.

"Okay," I confirmed. "I'll go to your cousin's really boring wedding with you."

"Okay," He smiled in relief, a weight visibly dropping from him. "Thanks."

He continued with his meal prep, adding the vegetables to the pan and tossing them around as they sizzled in the oil.

"I'm surprised you want to be seen with me outside of your apartment though," I told his back. "Am I not your dirty little secret?"

"I thought it was more the other way around," he turned to look at me over his shoulder. "You're the one who doesn't want anyone to know that we're sleeping together."

"Yeah, cause it's not appropriate," I confirmed. "I'm sleeping with the boss."

"Oh please, what are they going to do? Complain to the boss?" he laughed at his own joke.

"It's different for you, people will just think you're a stud who's getting laid," I explained. "For me, I just look like another one of your love-struck groupies who's probably trying to sleep her way up the company."

"Or maybe that's just what you would think?" he countered.

"It's what everyone would think," I told him.

"Well, no one has to know," he sighed. "It's not like anyone from work will be at the wedding," he spooned some sauce out of the pan and tasted it, adding more salt to the mixture. "Well, except for Stefan."

I halted, my heart skipping a beat at the realisation. Damon turned to look at me and clearly saw the horror on my face.

"Oh, come on, it's fine," he brushed off. "It's not like he can fire you."

"But... He'll know," I muttered anxiously. Stefan would actually know that I'd been sleeping with his brother. The private little world we'd been living in wouldn't be so private anymore. I knew deep down that I shouldn't care, he was in love with Caroline anyway, what did it matter?

"I'll deal with Stefan," he said handing over a steaming bowl of freshly cooked pasta and taking a seat next to me as we started to eat. The food was amazing and I tried to focus all my efforts on enjoying it, but my Stefan siren was still blaring full volume in my mind.


The regular visits to Damon's place and the sudden increase in my social life was starting to take its toll. I yawned widely as I entered the office on Monday, blinking back the heavy feeling in my eyelids and downing the extra strong coffee in my travel cup.

I slept-walked to April's desk, waking up slightly when I saw Matt stood leaning on the polished wood waiting for April to finish her phone call. Noticing me, he smiled sweetly and greeted me good morning as we stood together waiting for April.

I hadn't spoken to Matt much since the vodka launch, I was still worried he'd thought more of our date than I did and decided distance was the most effective way of showing that I wasn't interested. I wasn't sure why I didn't want to date Matt, looking at him he was tall and athletically built, neat blonde hair and baby blue eyes, he dressed well and always seemed like a gentleman. Plus, he wasn't a Salvatore. Really, I should have been all over him, looks like my heart only wants men that it knows are no good for me.

"So, how's everything going?" He asked after a few moments of silence. "I feel like I haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah, good. Everything's just the same with me," I lied. "How about you?"

"I'm good," he replied. "Damon's just driving me mad as usual," he chuckled and rolled his eyes jokingly.

"Yeah," I laughed back. I felt like a backstabber agreeing with him, until I remembered how Damon had made me feel the week I'd worked for him. It seemed impossible that I could have such different opinions on one person.

"Morning!" April chirped merrily, finally hung up on her phone call. She sorted through her mail stacks and handed each of us the correct items.

"Thank you, My Lady," Matt said putting on a posh accent. April threw her head back laughing in response and a blush broke out across her cheeks. It seemed like an inside joke which meant the two of them had clearly spent some time together, and judging by her flirty reaction it didn't seem platonic. I made a mental note to email her about it later.

I thought it seemed that Matt was pretty dedicated to dating someone from the office, but I stopped my judgmental train of thought when realised it was way too hypocritical.

We left April to head into the offices whilst Matt still smiled to himself at the recent encounter.

"I'm having a bit of trouble syncing the finances app into the CRM system," Matt told me, breaking our silence. "Would you be able to take a look at it for me? Only if you have time, of course."

"Sure," I agreed with a small smile, "I'll come by when I can." It would probably be a good idea to build bridges and make a friendship with Matt. He waved goodbye as we made our way to opposite ends of the floor.


My afternoon had been quiet so I'd taken the time to go and help Matt go over how to work the company's systems. I'd asked him about April and he told me that they'd hung out a few times, I decided that they would make a cute couple.

A few hours later I was back at my desk, struggling to plan out Stefan's schedule without my overly annotated and crammed full planner. It held all of my notes, Stefan's schedules and all the system passwords, I was pretty much useless without it. I'd turned my desk upside down looking for it and was chewing worriedly on my thumb nail when I saw Damon approaching.

"Hey," he greeted with a nod, making his way to my desk he stood towering over me. "You left this in my office," he laid down my planner on my desk.

"Oh, thank god!" I grabbed my life-line and held it to my chest in relief. I must've left it when I'd gone to help Matt.

"I also brought you this," he drawled, pulling his arm from behind his back to reveal a big chocolate muffin. "Marketing had a gift basket so I stole it for you."

"How romantic of you," I smiled admiring my present. I took a big bite and tasted the sugary sponge.

"Good?" he asked.

I moaned in response, nodding my head. His eyes darkened slightly at my reaction.

"Are you ready for the weekend?"

"Yeah, I think so. As ready as I can be anyway," He replied.

I heard the door to my left open and saw Stefan walking towards where Damon stood over my desk. My palms immediately started sweating at the inevitably awkward situation we were about to be in.

"So, do you want to stay at my place the night before or should I just pick you up in the morning?" Damon continued.

"What are you two talking about?" Stefan asked suspiciously as he approached.

"The drive up to Zach's wedding," Damon said casually.

"Whoa, wait," Stefan cut in. "The two of you are going to the wedding together?" Well, guess that cat was out the bag.

"Yeah," Damon said, shrugging like it was no big deal.

"When did this happen?" I could see Stefan's difficulties processing the news.

"Well, I asked her on Thursday." Damon said mockingly.

"Not what I meant. I mean how long have the two of you been..." Stefan awkwardly motioned his arms between the two of us.

"Not that it's any of your business, but about six weeks now." Damon told him.

"Kind of my business, it is my brother and my assistant." Stefan wiped his hands on his pants and licked his bottom lip as the cogs in his head turned. "So, Damon's the guy you've been seeing?" He accused, turning to face me.

"No," I blurted. They both looked at me in surprise.

"I mean, yes." I backtracked, shaking my head at the mind-boggling conversation we were having. "I mean we haven't really discussed it. We're just..." I motioned my hands around frantically as I tried to think of the right words. What were Damon and I doing?

"Having adult sleepovers," he finished for me.

"Okay, not the words I was looking for, Damon." I sighed.

"But you're taking her to Zach's wedding?" Stefan asked.

"Looks like it."

Stefan shook his head in clear disbelief, I could practically hear the wheels churning in his head. Not that I could blame him. If two months ago I'd been told that I'd be sleeping with Damon Salvatore and be his plus one to a wedding I'd have been in repulsed denial too.

"Well, in that case we can all drive up there together, then." Stefan said at last. My stomach dropped, a confined tin box on wheels with only me, Damon, Stefan and Caroline for two hours, I couldn't think of anything worse. Damon looked at me and we shared a moment of telepathic mutual agreement.

"No, pass. I don't want to do that. We'll just meet you up there," Damon said bluntly. I sighed out my relief, that was a close call.

We were interrupted by the buzzing of Damon's phone. He picked it out of his pocket, answering with the emotionless professional tone I used to associate him with. He rolled his eyes slightly at the person on the other end and nodded a goodbye to us before turning and making his exit, phone clasped firmly against his ear.

Stefan stood unmoving for a moment, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he watched Damon's retreat. He didn't say anything else or look at me again when he stalked back into his office and closed the door.


Stefan hadn't left his office or spoken to me since the encounter with Damon and all my previous concerns about letting him find out about us were brought back to the forefront of my mind. All I was in Stefan's eyes now was another one of Damon's tragic conquests.

It was 5pm and I'd packed up for the day, eager to leave the feeling of judgement echoing out from Stefan's office. I was on my way out when I heard his door creak open and his voice call out after me.

"Elena, can I talk to you for a second?"

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him slowly. He stood in the doorway, sleeves rolled back, tie loosened and his shirt slightly creased. I nodded and made my way into his den with my tail between my legs.

"Take a seat," he told me when I stood hesitantly at the door. I pulled the plush chair out and perched myself carefully at the edge, I didn't plan on being here for very long.

"So, you're dating my brother?" Well, I guess we weren't going to beat around the bush.

"Yeah, I guess so. I mean we're not really dating. This wedding is the first thing we will have been to together." I shrugged uncomfortably.

"I just want you to be careful," he told me. I looked up at him, unsure of how to respond.

"You're not just my assistant, Elena," he continued when I didn't answer. "I'd like to think that we're friends and you're definitely Caroline's friend. I don't want to see you get hurt here."

"I can take care of myself," I mumbled unconvincingly. I'd already been hurt here, but by him, not Damon.

"You say that now," he said, "but Damon doesn't do relationships. He works his way through girls and doesn't bat an eyelid when he drops them and moves along to the next one."

"I know exactly what Damon's like, Stefan. I don't have any expectations here. I promise." It was true, Damon had even told me himself that we were never going to be anything other than sex buddies.

"You're a great assistant, Elena. I don't want to have to lose you when this all ends." He looked genuinely concerned, I didn't know how to take that.

"You won't lose me," I told him. "Look, I appreciate your concern, but seriously, I know what I'm letting myself in for."

"He's just going to use you," he said bluntly.

"And who says that I'm not using him?" I countered. He looked at me with a confused expression and we sat in silence for a moment. I sensed Stefan was about to speak again so I cut in before he could.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I told him getting to my feet. I needed this conversation to be done with. He didn't try to say anything else as I picked myself up, tucked in the chair and left.