Chapter 9
Setting his glass on the end table, Damon gently took both of Olivia's hands in his, staring into her apprehensive amber eyes. "First of all, you and Simone are not a burden. I invited you to stay here because I know how uncomfortable hotels are and figured our accommodations would suit you better. Second, did you know this used to be a boarding house where members of the Salvatore Family used to stay?" When Olivia shook her head mutely, Damon continued. "Our deceased nephew used to allow visitors to stay here free of charge because he didn't feel it necessary to take money from people that needed a place to rest."
What Olivia didn't know was Damon had been the one who killed Zach and he didn't regret doing it. The little idiot had actually teamed up with Stefan, when Damon first came back into town three years ago, and dosed him with vervain. Stefan had been the one to do it because Zach was a measly human who supplied the vervain. Damon ended up being starved for three straight days in the mansion's basement cellar because he'd wreaked havoc in the small town of Mystic Falls.
Stefan's plan was to let him mummify –that's what happened to a vampire who didn't feed on some sort of blood for an extended period of time- and lock him in the family crypt deep in the middle of the woods for fifty years. However, Stefan's plan was foiled because Damon had been seeing Elena Gilbert's beautiful friend, Caroline Forbes, and summoned her to the mansion while everyone was away. He used what little power he had left to compel her to open the cellar door, but Zach tried stopping her.
Even weakened, Damon was far stronger than Zach and shoved open the door he tried keeping closed, snapping his own distant nephew's neck for his interference. After that, Damon was far more cautious around his little brother and didn't underestimate him as much, vowing if that ever happened again he would drive a stake through Stefan's heart. Damon admitted he was a dick back then and still was, but had mellowed out a lot since he decided to make Mystic Falls his permanent home with his little brother.
Olivia knew what it was like to lose a loved one and began fingering the cross necklace her mother gave her, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm sorry for your loss." She whispered, not trusting her voice at the moment. "How long ago was it?"
"Three years." Damon honestly felt nothing with Zach's death, but if it helped him keep Olivia under this roof, he would play the sympathetic card. "I honestly wouldn't feel right taking your money to stay here, Olivia, because of Zach's death."
"So…I'm not the first person you've housed here?" When Damon shook his head, Olivia lowered her eyes and clasped her fingers together, taking a deep breath. "You honestly wouldn't mind if we stayed here for free? It shouldn't be more than a few more days." Doing this would push Olivia to do what she came to Mystic Falls to do since it was clear Damon wouldn't take her money.
Running his thumbs lightly over the back of her hands, Damon smiled charmingly and shook his head. "The pleasure would be all mine, Olivia." He idly wondered if she preferred to be called something else, recalling Simone's nickname 'Livi' and thought that sounded too childish.
"What about your brother?" Olivia didn't feel it was right staying here without both brothers consenting.
"He's already told you he doesn't mind. I'll talk to him if it makes you feel better, but it's not a problem. Trust me."
Damon noticed the sadness had filled her eyes when he mentioned Zach, wondering what that was about. Every time she became sad, he noted she grabbed the necklace laced with vervain, the only thing stopping him from delving into her mind. It unnerved Damon because he was dying to know what she was thinking at that moment, especially when the sadness only intensified.
"What has you so sad, Liva?" Damon decided that's what he would call her from now on, watching as her brows knitted together, the smile on his face never faltering.
"Liva?" She echoed, sounding a little amused and Damon knew instantly nobody had ever called her by that before.
"As beautiful as your full name is," Damon scooted closer and moved his hands to lightly wrap around her wrists, not wanting her running out on him. "I find Liva is a little easier to roll off the tongue, don't you?"
This man was incredibly dangerous in an enchanting way, Olivia silently observed, and couldn't believe how much his touch affected her. Olivia wasn't a virgin by any means and had her fill of men sexually, but no man had EVER affected her like this. This wasn't her first rodeo, so why did Olivia feel torn in two when it came to this beautiful man?
It was almost as if there was an angel on one shoulder and a devil on her other, both of them battling with each other. The angel of course told her to run as far away from him as possible and not to stay in the mansion, while the devil told the angel to shut the hell up, reminding her of what Damon had done for both Olivia and Simone. Olivia was so confused, not knowing the right thing to do, but then Simone's voice suddenly entered her mind, her words from their earlier conversation piercing through her like a sharp knife.
Let's just stay for a few more days. I'm sure Damon wouldn't mind, especially since he wants you.
You need a distraction and he could be the perfect one, Livi, someone to take your frustrations out on. He's smart, sweet and sexy. Why not just go there and throw caution to the wind?
The angel and devil instantly faded because Simone overpowered both of them, easing Olivia's mind a little. "I don't mind it." She finally found her voice, turning and slipped one of her wrists out of his grasp to grab her wine, draining the rest of it.
"More?" Damon asked, taking his free hand to grab the bottle, already pouring her a third glass. "I take it you like it?"
"It's delicious." Olivia said, blushing a little when he smirked and knew the next words that popped out of her mouth were due to the alcohol. "Are you trying to get me drunk so you can seduce me, Mr. Salvatore?"
Damon grinned, seeing the amusement dancing in her beautiful fire lit eyes and shrugged. "Maybe." He winked, pouring more bourbon in his own glass and leaned his head forward a little until their lips hovered over each other's. "Are you seducible, Liva?"
Bravery over, Olivia pulled her gaze away from him to look around the library, chewing her bottom lip. "This place really is incredible and I know that's a weak word to use, but it's all my fuzzy brain can come up with right now." She was rambling and stood up from the couch, feeling Damon release her easily enough, but with great reluctance. "I've always been interested in history and find places like this fascinating."
"Why's that?" Damon was intrigued by her random talking, rising as well to stand right behind her, the scent of mangos once again invading his senses.
Olivia could feel him behind her, the heat of the fire not helping how fast her body temperature skyrocketed with Damon being this close. "Because of the classic and elegance this mansion holds." She didn't feel right calling it a house because that's not what they were standing in. "The style and architecture, you don't see it anywhere these days, though it's been beautifully preserved."
Damon smirked, reaching up to brush away the beautiful soft auburn tresses from her shoulder and neck, exposing her succulent skin. "You never answered my question, Liva." He wasn't letting it drop, not when he had her completely alone, vulnerable and willing, her eyes telling him everything he needed to know. "And that's not very well-mannered of you."
Her pulse instantaneously sped up when his hot breath puffed against her ear, his voice dropping an octave. She knew what question he was referring to, but Olivia didn't want to tread on dangerous ground, which is where they were headed. If Olivia did this, if she gave in and let the desire consume her, there would be no turning back. Olivia didn't know Damon Salvatore from a hole in the ground and yet she wanted him.
"Your silence is speaking volumes." Damon pointed out, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulled her back to press against his chest, nuzzling her ear. "But I won't go any further with this until I hear the simple three lettered word from your lips."
"Before I answer, I need you to answer one question." Olivia slowly turned around, her chest now pressed against his, looking up into his darkened blue eyes. "Are you looking for a relationship or just someone to have a fling with?"
Damon chuckled, running a finger down her cheek and could tell she wasn't joking with him. "Don't over analyze it, Olivia." He said honestly, his arm still encircling her waist, so she couldn't escape him easily this time. "Let me put it this way: I never rule anything out and have no expectations. Whatever happens, happens. I'm not psychic, I can't predict the future. All I'm concerned with is the here and now, in this room, with you in my arms."
His words completely melted her because they were so authentic and blunt, Olivia knew he wasn't lying to her. "I asked you that because…I'm not sticking around town long, Damon." She lowered her eyes from his, taking a deep breath. "So whatever happens between us is going to be short lived and I didn't want to lead you on or something like that."
For some odd reason, that didn't set well with Damon and he didn't understand why. "Do you mind me asking why?" His voice was soft and low, not wanting to scare her away when it seemed like she might open up to him. "I know we haven't known each other long, Liva, but you can talk to me. I'm a good listener, or so I'm told."
"I can't." She whispered, turning around with his arm still holding her in place and willed the sudden onslaught of tears to stay in her eyes, looking up to stare in the fire. "I just have some questions that this town might be able to answer. Simone and I won't be here more than a few days and then we'll be heading back to our home where we belong."
"What makes you think you don't belong here?" Damon questioned, resting his chin on her shoulder and could see a single tear slide down her cheek, the pain radiating off of her in waves. "Did someone hurt you?" If they had, Damon would personally see to it that he ripped their heart out and shoved it down their throat.
Olivia shook her head, reaching up to finger her necklace again and gripped it, hating that she was ruining this moment between them. "No it's nothing like that." She whispered, sniffling and leaned back against his chest, all of her resolve weakening when his hand splayed against her stomach, burning through the thin material.
"Are you in some kind of danger?" Damon pressed, trying to rack his brain and had noticed she touched the necklace again, eyes narrowed. "You said someone very special gave that to you." When Olivia nodded, Damon finally had some kind of clue on where the pain might've stemmed from and slowly bunched the material of her camisole in his fingers. "Who was it?"
"My mother." Olivia had no idea why she was divulging this information to a complete stranger, figuring it couldn't hurt to talk to someone else about her parents' death besides Simone. "I've had it since I was sixteen."
Interesting, now they were getting somewhere as Damon began stroking her soft skin and smirked when goose bumps formed beneath his touch, enjoying the effect he was having on her. "Why do you always become sad whenever she's mentioned?" Then it hit him like a ton of bricks, the realization crashing over him and Damon buried his nose in her hair. "She's dead."
Olivia nodded solemnly, wishing they hadn't gotten on this subject because all it did was upset her. "Yes."
Turning around, Olivia suddenly cupped Damon's face in her hands and brought his lips down on hers, needing a distraction. She said the word he wanted to hear and didn't care about the consequences of what was about to happen between them. There was an aching need deep inside her that Olivia couldn't ignore, softly moaning when he returned the kiss, everything about him lighting her on fire.
Damon definitely didn't expect this, but he wasn't complaining and growled, lifting her up, her legs instantly wrapping around his waist. His strength just turned Olivia on further, burying her fingers in his soft messy black hair and pressed against him as close as she could get. Backtracking back to the couch, Damon fell back with her straddled on his lap and watched as she pulled back, running the pad of his thumb across her swollen lips. They tasted better than he could imagine and the feeling was more than mutual for Olivia, her entire body flushed from head to toe.
Reaching down, Olivia peeled away her camisole and tossed it behind her before going right back to devouring his lips with hers. Damon had to be careful because she was human, so he had to take his time or he would surely hurt her. Being a vampire, he had enhanced speed and strength that could break any human in half, especially a petite little thing like Olivia. Damon already felt protective of this strange woman he knew barely twenty four hours and that was baffling.
All rational thoughts flew out the window when Olivia proceeded to trace his lips with the tip of her tongue, nibbling on his lower lip and that emanated another deep growl. Those molten gold eyes were piercing him, completely spellbinding and Damon gripped the back of her head, slamming his lips against hers once more. Olivia didn't mind the intensity, welcoming it with open arms as opposed to the constant heartache and pain she felt from her parents' untimely death.
When Damon's tongue swiped across her lips begging for access, Olivia granted it to him without hesitation and clung to him as their tongues touched for the first time. It was explosive; Olivia had never been kissed this thoroughly and passionately in her entire life. By now, Damon should've been tearing her clothes off and pounding her relentlessly, but apparently he enjoyed taking his time, which was a nice change.
For the next several hours, all they did was stay in the library kissing and exploring with hands and mouths, neither in a rush to jump right into sex.
