A/N: The next chapter is finally here! I am so sorry for the delay in uploading, I've felt really bad about this but honestly I tried and couldn't get it out any sooner. Life is just too chaotic right now. I also didn't get the chance to reply to all of your amazing feedback, but I promise I will today or tomorrow. I am so thankful for the support! This one isn't the longest, but I really wanted to get something out there. I hope to have the next one out soon. I hope you've all had a lovely christmas/happy holidays! Thank you for being so patient, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'd like to wish you all a very happy New Year!

Also please be advised: MATURE CONTENT (If you're not comfortable with smut, don't read please)

Chapter 10

"Get comfortable. I need to head into the kitchen" Damon said, after retrieving Elena's blazer and placing it on the hanger.

"You're cooking for me?" She asked pleasantly surprised.

"Why, are you doubting my cooking skills?" He arched his brow.

"Well, I know there's some Italian heritage involved, but I don't know how much I can rely on it." She giggled. "Men like you don't usually cook, that's all."

"Men like me? Baby, I assure you I'm one of a kind. My cooking will knock your socks off."

"Mm, we'll see about that. And are we having something for dessert?" Elena asked as she started to wander around his living space.

"I hope so." He said, licking his lips teasingly.

She instantly blushed at the innuendo but didn't bother addressing it. Damon had already dived into the kitchen, so she didn't hesitate in taking a closer look at the surroundings - or his kingdom, as she liked to think. This was the second time that she'd been in his apartment, but it's fair to say that most of that time had failed to register in her memory. The place was simple and sleek - the colour palette was largely limited to white, black and grey. The little details gave it a character, adding a little spice and originality. Coming to think of it, it resembled Damon's personality to a T - it was nothing short of perfection, with some dark edges on the outside and a glimpse of mystery.

Elena gently picked up the only photograph in her sight. The photograph entailed a lovely green garden filled with exquisite flowers and a large white tent shielding the buffet tablet. In the center stood Damon clad in a suit with a genuine grin on his face - like he didn't mind being at the party. He was standing next to a handsome guy who shared the same sharp features: sharp jaw and a pointed nose, but his complexion was warmer, and he had musky blonde hair - she pegged him for his younger brother.

What jumped out the most was the similarity between Damon and his father; they both shared the sharply defined jaw and the same shade of blue eyes. A beautiful and elegant woman stood proudly next to them - the warmth beamed from her smile, her dark brown hair was neatly pinned up in a bun and she wore a cream elegant dress. Clearly, good looks were a part of their genes.

Elena smiled to herself before placing the picture frame back in its place. They looked like a typical happy family - and it was impossible not to be jealous of the love the that they seemed to share, especially when you lacked an emotional bond as such. She turned her attention to the open balcony door in front of her, as the wide gap allowed a cool breeze to sweep into the apartment. Embracing the invitation, she stepped outside.

The view was breath-taking. The apartment was located on the 23rd floor, which allowed for a soaring glimpse of the city and all its skyscrapers; flashing lights, sound of beeping horns echoing from the busy streets. Yet the scene was far from chaotic, in fact it welcomed a sense of peace and distance from all that was going on in the world.

"There you are."

Elena felt Damon standing right behind her, their bodies almost touching - she could feel his warm breath on her neck. Slowly, she turned to face him and noticed the glass in his hand, as he gestured at her to take it.

"You look just like your father." She remarked with a smile, referring to the photograph.

"So, they say." Damon handed her the drink and moved to stand beside her. "And did you see that broody guy with the hero hair? That would be Stefan, my brother." He pointed out with a low chuckle.

Elena laughed, remembering how she used to bicker with Jeremy and say silly things like that. "He's cute. Caroline would like him."

"Mm, keeping the better brother for yourself, smart." He smirked in response.

"I'm refusing to stroke your ego any more than you already do." She shook her head, taming down a smile.

"Coming from you that's a whole other level of flattery though." He coaxed with that staple smirk of his. "I like it when you do that."

"What, call you out for the size of your ego?"

He laughed showing off his pearly white teeth.

"That too. Not many people call me out on my bullshit." He admitted with a shrug of shoulders. "I like it when you blush. For that brief moment I get to see all the emotions that you try so hard to hide."

She startled, suddenly feeling exposed. "You think that I'm not being real with you?"

"No" He uttered, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I think that you're a really strong, independent woman who's been strong for too long. It's hard for you to let someone take care of you, to think that you can actually let your guard down."

Elena wanted to argue with him, but surely that would be pointless - considering how right he was. She bit her lip nervously, not knowing what to say. Normally there would have been a snappy comment or a burst of laughter to show him how ridiculous he was being.

"Damon-"

"I don't expect you to admit it, Elena." He leaned his forehead against hers, lowering his voice to almost a whisper. "But that will change with time, I'll make sure of that."

"What if I'm a lost cause?" She murmured, her defenseless gaze fixed on him.

He gently shook his head disapprovingly. "Not having everything figured out doesn't make you a lost cause."

Elena watched the warmth and understanding beam from his eyes. He meant every word and saw right through all the barriers - which didn't surprise her anymore. That was Damon in all his glory. To him Elena was an open book, a complicated one, full of uncertainties - yet somehow, he couldn't put it down. Soon enough, it became a favorite novel of his - and he saw beauty in the unknown.

Their lips brushed in whisper of a kiss, barely touching but full of unspoken feelings. Their eyes tightly shut, the tips of their noses touching - and nothing ever felt better. He placed a chaste kiss on her pouty lips before they slowly pulled away from each other.

Elena leaned over the balcony with the drink in one hand and turned her head to gaze at the sky full of stars, enjoying the warm breath of wind stroking her bare shoulders.

"You never really talk about your brother."

"Stefan's not all that interesting to talk about." Damon snickered. "We don't see each other often, he lives in Chicago - I'm here. But he's a decent brother, so I can't really complain." He eased into the conversation, slipping closely next to her body and looking out into the distance.

Elena smiled warmly, thinking back to how much she missed the simple family dynamic. "That's like Jeremy. I barely ever see him anymore, but when I do it's like we're still the kids that we once were. Apart from now he has a kid of his own. And that still freaks me out sometimes." She shook her head, a small laugh escaping from under her breath.

"So why move to New York, far from your whole family?" He questioned warily.

She gulped down some of her wine, before sighing and piecing the words together. "Jeremy is one thing. My parents are a completely different story. So, when I got the opportunity to go to an amazing college far away from home, I didn't hesitate in taking it. My mom's hard to please - and let's just say that my recent choices have been a huge disappointment for her."

"Being one of the best lawyers in the city is a disappointment?"

"They've always been proud of that. But leaving Elijah - who my mom absolutely adored and literally dreamed of having as a son in law, well let's just say that it was hard pill for her to swallow." She snickered, the frustration in her voice evident.

"He was perfect in many ways, great job, good family, the perfect gentleman. Obviously, it was all too good to be true, and she resented me for the fact that it didn't work out."

"Well, she sounds like a blast." He mused, contemplating at how much he already disliked the woman - simply for being the cause of Elena's sorrow. "I'm guessing you don't see much of her?"

"Nope. Honestly, as little as possible. Emma's birthday party will be the first time in a while. So, I may have gotten you into a bit of a pickle, huh." A lazy smile stretched over her lips, as she avoided diving too deep into the uncomfortable conversation. It felt too easy to tell him everything, yet it was too dangerous to step into that territory.

"I'll have a blast proving her what an amazing woman you are." He contradicted, with a genuine smile and that sparkle hidden somewhere in the deep blue ocean of his eyes.

"Mm, that would be right before you prove to me that you're one hell of a cook." She angled her head to pass him a sly smile.

"And on that note Miss Gilbert you are no longer getting your dessert tonight."

Damon groaned inwardly, she wasn't helping her case by standing there all pouty and lustful, with those doe eyes drilling into him. Having his way with her before dinner was even out of the oven would certainly fail to paint him in the right light, but fuck was he a saint or what?

"Haven't you heard that all good things come to those who wait?" He countered teasingly.

"Perhaps patience isn't my strongest virtue."

She licked over her lips and smiled, before bypassing him slowly and going back inside.

"Mm tiramisu, my favorite!" Elena exclaimed happily, as she stood next to the counter and observed Damon taking out the tray from the fridge with two glass bowls on top of it.

The kitchen cloth was casually thrown over his shoulder, his black pants hang a little loose and she couldn't help it but drown in the comfort of this moment. It was intimate, yet so casual - just two people having dinner and enjoying a nice evening together. But she'd never seen anyone look at her the way he did: with so much warmth and affection, and here he was cooking for her, making her feel special... A moment far too perfect to be brushed off as casual.

"Are you trying to ply me with alcohol?" Elena looked at him suspiciously, before bursting into giggles. She swiftly hopped onto the kitchen counter and comfortably placed her hands in her lap.

"Clearly those few glasses of wine failed to get the job done." He remarked with a chuckle, placing the tray down and looking up to meet her intrigued gaze.

"Don't get discouraged too soon." She leaned in and pecked him on the tip of his nose, like it a natural act between them.

"Must say I like your enthusiasm." He admitted with a confident grin. "Ladies first." He placed the bowl in front of Elena and rested his elbows on the surface.

She took the spoon and eagerly dug into the dessert. The taste of chocolate, cream and coffee swirled in her mouth as she closed her eyes and released an appreciative moan of pleasure.

"This is seriously good Damon! You're just the whole package, aren't you?" She giggled, although her words didn't lack the truth in them.

"Can't say I didn't warn you." A lazy smirk curved his lips, as he walked over to stand in between her legs and placed his hands on either side of Elena.

"I'm not exactly complaining." She murmured and loosely snaked her arms around his neck.

"Good, cause no refunds are accepted." He gave a low chuckle and hungrily pressed his mouth onto hers.

Elena's lips devoured his ardently - there was no shyness, as their tongues gracefully danced together in a heated manner. Damon slid his hands down her body and grasped onto her hips, as she wrapped her lean legs around his waist in response. He carefully lifted her up, his hands cupped her firm butt and gave it a little squeeze, as he slowly walked them over to his bedroom. He slammed her body against the wall, with one hand securely placed on the small of her back, as her petite frame slid down from his waist and her feet landed on the soft white rug.

Damon's leg slid between hers, as he secured his hands on her hips and pulled her closer towards his chest. She traced her tongue along his bottom lip, asking for permission to enter, as he parted his lips and allowed her mouth to reclaim his all over again. She began rubbing herself against Damon's thigh, as her hands slowly crept up his chest and reached the collar of his shirt and she began to unbutton it. These movement were bold, no trace of uncertainty in sight, as this was the one thing she felt confident in - she knew how to give pleasure and satisfaction, and there was no one else she wanted to give it to but Damon. She slowly pushed the material off his shoulders and dropped the shirt to the floor, allowing her eyes to roam all over his bare chest and the well-defined muscles.

Damon reclaimed her lips, firmly placing one hand on her waist and letting the other hand travel further up her dress, trying to locate the bar clasp. To his surprise his fingertips didn't find the velvet of her deliciously smooth skin, instead it was the sheer material of lace covering her abdominal muscles. A low growl escaped his lips, as he sneaked his thumb under the garment and teased the small peak of her hardened nipple by giving it a light tug. Elena's subtle moans were muffled by Damon's fierce kisses, the heat was pooling from her core as the need to feel him inside her grew stronger.

She felt his lips detach from hers, as his tongue began to trace soft kisses down her jaw and down to the sweet soft spot on her neck - where Damon's lips lingered a little longer, sucking and licking it at simultaneously. The moans elicited from Elena only encouraged him to keep going, as he finally reached her collar bone and lifted his hooded gaze to look up at her. Damon gently reached for the zip on the back of her dress, whilst the other hand was scooped up in her chocolate curls - he noticed her perfectly full lips swollen from his kisses and her eyes almost the shade of black, darkened with lust. Elena briefly nodded, giving him a reassuring look - this is what she wanted, and he was willing to take anything that she would offer him. He tugged at the zipper and it made its way down - effortlessly and slowly, as they maintained eye contact. Feeling bold, she tugged at the bottom of her dress as it became loose and swiftly fell to the ball of her feet, leaving her stranded in the carefully chosen lingerie.

Damon stood amazed, admiring the contrast of the black lace against her skin and taking in the soft curves of her body, knowing that this time he could have a taste of her. Taking control of the situation, Elena pushed Damon towards the bed as he stumbled back onto it, resting on his elbows. She leaned over him and reached for the belt buckle, releasing him of it in one swift movement and then undoing the button at the front of his jeans. Damon gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her down onto the bed only to flip them over, as she writhed beneath him - perfectly laid out on his black sheets. The remaining articles of clothing were slowly being discarded somewhere around the bedroom, as they took the time to explore their bodies.

Damon placed hot kisses all over her body, knowing that he'd never felt skin so soft and dwelling in the most beautiful and sweet scent of Elena, clouding all his senses. She shivered as his tongue swirls around her belly button and her muscles tensed, as his mouth lingered just above her aching core. He gently buried his finger in between the wet folds and dragged it against her aching flesh. She moaned at the sensation of his repeated strokes and started grinding against his hand which sent a wave of desire down his pants.

He leaned down to capture the perfect nipple in his mouth and began sucking at it, whilst his hand still worked at her core. Suddenly he felt her fingertips cradle his chin, as she pulled his face down into a fierce kiss, and before he could even realize, she'd managed to flip them over again. She threw one leg over his waist and successfully straddled him, her pussy glistening with want, begging to be claimed.

"Condoms are in the top drawer." He whispered huskily, devouring the sight of her on top of him - her breasts perfectly round and firm, the toned abs flexing as she reached towards the nightstand.

His hands had a mind of their own, as they wandered all over body - caressing her shoulders, the waistline and finally settling on her hips as his fingers dug into her skin. She confidently reached for his fully erect cock resting proudly against his stomach and rolled it down his shaft. Damon guided her grinding pelvis to the right position, and she leaned down one last time to kiss him, before she slowly slid down onto his cock. It filled her perfectly to the hilt, stretching her inner walls and creating a sense of satiation that they'd both never felt before.

She rolled her hips and threw her hair back, moans and gasps escaped her lips one by one, as her speed never faltered - Damon used his hips to thrust upwards and hit her g-spot every time. His fingers dug into her butt cheeks, as she began to unravel on top of him - her inner walls convulsed and flooded his cock with the sweet nectar, pulling him along with her.