AN: Sorry for going MIA, I was away from home, my computer and FF. For those that are frustrated and thinking Elena is acting selfishly, all i can say, without giving the plot away, is that there are bigger matters at hand. So give the girl a chance and, hopefully, by the end of this chapter you will understand her motives.

I am going to skip having a quote or song lyrics for this chapter because quite frankly I do not have the time to research them at this moment. I thought about waiting to release the chapter until I had time to look for them but I think you guys don't deserve to be kept waiting. So here it is, enjoy! xoxo


She felt the air move like a palpable tension enveloping her as Damon's body practically pressed against her back. Elena turned around slowly, steadying her nerves and trying to ignore how he was not only purposely invading her personal space but also clearly expecting her to recoil. When Elena didn't he reached for her face with determination, his eyes blazing into hers and lazily ran his thumb over her lower lip. To Elena's credit, even if she gasped and trembled at the intimate gesture, she didn't back away even an inch. Damon smirk graced his face, it was obvious he still wasn't convinced and it showed on his searching eyes and furrowed brown. As if to prove a point, Elena nipped at the underside of Damon's digit with her blunt teeth. It was a sign of acceptance, a silent promise of a future he could scarcely believe possible. The gesture and its implications sent fire through Damon's veins, a raging inferno that took hold of his heart and threatened to burn it to cinders. The shock however was greater and it made Damon stay still as Elena's mouth daringly engulfed his thumb and started to suck it suggestively.

An involuntary low growl escaped Damon's throat, his eyes rolling back in his skull, as Elena's luscious lips and tongue caressed his digit. In a desperate gesture of lust he freed his thumb to bring her face to his and capture her lips into his with bruising force. It was a meeting of desire, of lust and unfulfilled possibilities. Plundering her mouth hungrily, Damon lips were on a quest to make up for all the moments he wished he had kissed her before. Elena's body surrendered, melting into his possessive embrace, already letting out little whimpers, her hands clawing at Damon's back, trying to connect to him in as many places as possible, her mouth assaulting his with equal violence and abandon.

Just as fast as it happened it was over with. Damon suddenly moving himself away from her to stand by Stefan's side. Elena let out a wail at the loss. A curious look was on both of their faces as they studied her with intent, crossing their arms in mirror gestures. Elena had never seen that expression in Stefan's face, it was a mix of amusement and desire with a pinch of surprise and a sprinkling of confusion. She eyed the brothers somewhat wearily, still slightly panting from her brief interlude with Damon and dying to get more, so much more...

"I believe the lady is serious about this brother"- Damon said matter of fact keeping his appraising eyes on Elena.

"I would say she is." – Stefan answered with an unreadable expression not able to deny the arousal he could smell in the air.

"You did this to prove a point?" – Elena growled –"You are an *ass* Damon Salvatore."- she bellowed.

"Tsk,tsk Elena."- Damon shook a disapproving finger at her –"I needed to know if you were for real. After all, as you pointed out we have been played before." – he said with his signature smirk.

"You…you…jerk!"- Elena huffed –"I am not a car you take for a test drive."

He sped over to her and towered over her menacingly.

"That wasn't a test drive Elena."- he growled and moved back to stand next to Stefan in the same heartbeat.

"Plus,"- he wiggled his brows -"I needed Steffy here to see how he could handle seeing me with you."- Damon quipped suggestively.

Elena now turned to look at Stefan, her mouth opening and shutting comically a couple of time before she decided that Damon was right, it was a necessary trial. Her former boyfriend/epic love seemed eerily unfazed by what he witnessed. Elena didn't know whether to be glad or bothered by that.

"Now that we have the information we need, Stefan and I are going to sit and... consider your …offer." –Damon turned around and put a hand on Stefan's shoulder –"Right brother?"

"Right."- Stefan replied absentmindedly letting Damon pull him away.

"We will call you when we have an answer Elena." – Damon said over his shoulder.

Elena stood there rooted to the spot, perplexed and looking at them leave thinking that in her stupidity she had lost them, both of them. Emotions were bubbling up her insides and she didn't know which one was going to overwhelm her next.

Almost imperceptibly Damon turned around and his eyes met Elena and he winked and smirked at her. She answered with a winning smile, hope and love blooming in her chest - ok, and a lot of lust too. Above all else, it was clear that Damon had understood her game, understood the importance of not breaking any hearts, of keeping the brotherly bond intact and bringing her into the fold.

"This could work."- she said smiling to herself, feeling suddenly giddy and ghosting her fingers over her lips where his had been...


AN: I hope you guys like it! Please, now that you read, review :) xoxo