A/N: As usual I don't own Vampire Diaries or I would have Ian Somerhalder giving me private readings of all Damon scenes…
Okay I know I'm posting out of order since I just posted for this fic last, but I think having three ongoing fics is spreading me a little thin. So I'm gonna focus on getting this one written up so I can then get to the other ones. I think we're drawing closer to the end here, just a couple of chapters left before this one wraps up.
Now that he had her eager and willing in his arms, Damon did his best to keep her distracted and in the moment. The open setting forgotten, they came together in the water, caring only for each other as they chased fulfillment in each others arms. When they finally emerged from the water to collapse on the shore, Elena had forgotten to be self conscious, sunning herself at his side while they shared a lazy lunch, talking about nothing and everything.
The sun had slipped from its zenith as Damon carried a sated but very tired Elena back to the little house piggyback, her voice still chattering in his ear. He wasn't sure what she was still talking about, but smiled to himself at the tone of her voice, the feel of her body against his back, the knowledge that she was well and truly his now.
"I'm gonna miss this place." Elena sighed, tossing her duffel bag into the back seat of the sedan.
Damon came up to wrap his arms around her, turning her in his embrace so that he could tuck her head against his shoulder. "I know, me too." He said simply, knowing that their time there together would be forever etched into his memory, no matter what the future would hold for them. "We can stay longer if you want to."
"No, we should probably get a move on like you said, there's no telling when the owners might show up and I'm guessing they'll be less than thrilled to find us squatting here."
"They'll be more pleased than you might think. I left them a little something on the kitchen table." More than a little something, he'd left an envelope with more than enough cash to cover the broken window and any food they'd eaten on their stay. Feeling a little magnanimous, he was definitely grateful for this place that had brought them closer together. Why not share the wealth?
"You did?" Her head came up in surprise. "Just when I think I have you figured out." Elena smiled, reaching up to drop a kiss on his lips.
"Oh I have many layers." Damon smirked. "It might take you two… three hundred years to get to the end of me."
"I already know everything I need to about the most important things." Elena replied earnestly, kissing him once more before letting go of him.
Her words warmed him and he felt a swell of pride go through him at her acceptance. Undeterred by her withdrawal, Damon drew her back to him, hauling her up against his body for another possessive kiss, determined for them to part on his terms. Once he felt like he'd staked his claim suitably he let her go, amused to see the slightly dazed expression on her face. "Let's load em up and get this show on the road." He opened the car door for her, smiling to himself as she climbed in. He'd finally succeeded in rendering her speechless.
*** back from commercial ***
They drove most of the day and well into the evening before stopping in Grand Junction Colorado, and Damon found the nicest hotel he could find, tired of roughing it. Demanding the best room the hotel had to offer; he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed as they got to the room. Hardly the lap of luxury.
Elena for her part was just glad to be able to stretch her legs and find a place that was nice and clean and relatively modern for a change. "This is nice." She smiled, stepping in to look at the bathroom. "Much nicer than those little roadside motels. And they have room service!" She exclaimed happily.
It was cute the way she was easily impressed. Of course she hadn't traveled much; that much was obvious. Still, there was so much more out there just waiting to be discovered and he couldn't wait to be the one to show them to her. "I have an idea… I'm feeling like we need to kick this trip up a notch, really stay someplace in style you know? A real swanky hotel suite, in a hotel that knows the meaning of concierge service."
They were few and far between except for in the major cities. Of course in his day, he'd mostly used the concierge service for meals on wheels when he hadn't felt like venturing out, though he was fairly sure they had just thought he'd wanted a hooker for the night. Either way the girl had gone home with a wad of cash in her pocket and he'd left satisfied… same difference.
"I don't need that kind of luxury, so don't go out of your way on my account." Elena gave a half shrug, sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up the remote to page through the movies on demand.
Damon moved to sit beside her, thinking of better things they could be doing with their time than watching a movie… But he wasn't quite ready to drop the topic just yet. "Maybe I feel the need to spoil you a little bit. There's nothing wrong with being pampered is there? Tell me that doesn't sound like fun? Staying some place with a full service salon, shops to rival those on Rodeo Drive or the Piazza Del Duomo? A Jacuzzi tub big enough for us to swim in? A king sized bed that feels like you're sleeping on a cloud? I'm thinking Las Vegas." Not to mention the gambling. For a vampire of his skills, Las Vegas was where he went when he needed a bundle of cash fast.
Elena turned to face him, a hint of amusement on her features. "You have an Elvis fetish I don't know about?" She quipped.
"On come on, Sin City? You seriously don't see the appeal?" He smirked back.
"I am not going to strip clubs with you." Her hand came up, index finger extended accusingly.
"Why would I need strip clubs when I have the real thing right here with me?" Damon grinned, plucking the remote from her hand; he tossed it carelessly aside as he drew her down onto the bed, partially covering her body with his.
"Yeah well… don't you forget it." Elena insisted. "If we're gonna be together, then no more seducing waitresses… or strippers or showgirls or anything like that, you get me?
So she had been jealous back at that little diner! Damon's heart swelled at the display of possessiveness from her. "I get you." He replied earnestly, leaning down to kiss her softly. "Does that mean you're offering yourself as a replacement?"
"For you to seduce?" Elena gave him a lopsided smile.
"Among other things." He nibbled at her neck, tongue laving over her pulse once… twice. "It can be done, though I'd probably have to supplement with animal blood or the random trucker every now and then."
"Vampire monogamy?" She raised a single brow.
"Well… yeah I guess, if you want to put it that way." Damon replied, surprised that she was even considering such a thing.
"I'm not sure whether to be flattered or squeamish about the offer." She answered honestly. "I mean, the idea of keeping something so intimate between just the two of us does have an appeal, I admit. But I'd also like to keep on living; wouldn't it be kind of a drain on me if you're constantly feeding on me?"
"I wouldn't have to take much at a time as long as it was fairly regular. There are supplements you can take so you don't get too anemic. Are you really considering this? I don't want you to feel like you have to offer yourself to sustain me. I can get blood without having to seduce women." He studied her face carefully.
"Do you think we can make it work?" She looked up at him.
God he loved her… "I'm willing to try if you are." Damon smoothed the glossy, dark locks back from her forehead. "I'm willing to forswear the taste of any other woman's blood. As long as you promise to tell me if you start to feel tired or listless. I won't have you hurt because of me."
Elena smiled up at him, reaching up to touch his face lovingly. "And I swear not to let any other man taste me, blood or otherwise. As long as you promise to always be honest with me about this. Tell me if it becomes a problem for you one way or the other before it gets out of hand."
"I will always tell you the truth Elena." He pledged with absolute conviction. He might not always tell her the whole truth, but the words he spoke were never out and out lies. "And the truth is… I am feeling a bit peckish at the moment." Damon grinned wolfishly, leaning down to nip playfully at her collarbone.
Giggles and laughter were exchanged as their clothing was shed; slowly taking the time to explore each others curves and hollows. Elena discovered a spot near his hipbone that drove him insane and quivering with anticipation when she kissed him there. Damon found that she was particularly sensitive to kisses just behind her ear, especially when he grazed his teeth along the tender skin there.
They meshed well; Elena eager to learn and Damon even more eager to show her the benefits of years of experience. Gradually the playful touches were replaced with more urgency as their bodies clamored for that sweet release that only joining together would satisfy. They moved together, already learning how to find that rhythm that would pitch them into the abyss together.
But this time, as Elena felt the pleasure building so sharply it was difficult to remember to take a breath; she drew his head to her throat, urging him to taste her. "Please…" She gasped, unable to articulate more in that moment.
Not needing to be told twice, Damon sank his fangs into her tender skin, groaning with the rapture against her flesh as he took her in every way.
Elena arched up beneath him, unable to think, move, speak, breathe… all she could do was feel the incredible bliss that shot through her in that instant. It went on and on until pinpricks of light began to swim in her vision and she thought she might pass out from sheer pleasure. Her body remembered to breathe then and she drew in a ragged breath.
Damon felt it the instant she found her release, utterly consumed with her essence that filled him body and soul. He tumbled after her into sweet oblivion, barely managing to stop drinking; her blood was even more intoxicating than he remembered. But her heart was still beating strongly, and as he looked down into her beloved face she seemed no worse for wear. In fact, she seemed even lovelier if that was possible, her face still flushed with pleasure that he'd given her. Laying a tender kiss to her lips, Damon rolled onto his back, collapsing against the bed for fear of crushing her.
"That was…" Elena gasped, still trying to catch her breath.
"Yeah it was…" Damon agreed wholeheartedly, still recovering himself.
"Something so good should be illegal." Elena murmured, rolling to snuggle up against him.
"I'm pretty sure it is." Damon smirked. "I think it's considered assault."
A laugh left her lips at that. "Well you can assault me like that any time." She smiled against his chest.
"I'll remember that." He smiled, arm going around her automatically to draw her closer.
*** back from commercial break ***
In the end he'd driven them on to Las Vegas after all, strip clubs or no. Damon utterly refused to let her back behind the wheel again after the accident that had nearly cost him her life. Though in looking back now, he could see that it had really brought them much closer together. Still, he wasn't willing to risk her safety in that respect now and took the driving over as his sole responsibility.
After chafing a little at the restriction, Elena accepted the edict well enough. It was more comfortable to ride as a passenger anyway. Let his back get sore if he wanted to be pig headed about it…
The drive went smoothly enough, the dark sedan eating up the miles and Damon's endurance and reflexes allowing them to travel much farther than to be expected in a typical car trip.
Soon they were bathed in the lights of the Vegas strip, and Elena sat upright again, eagerly taking in the sights. "Where are we gonna stay?" She asked, trying in vain to see everything at once.
"Caesar's Palace. I like to keep things old school." He replied with a faint smile. It was where he always stayed when he came to Las Vegas.
"It's… wow…" Elena's eyes doubled in size as he brought them up to the front of the hotel, she'd never seen anything like it outside of a movie. "How expensive is this?"
"Money is no object." Damon waved off her concern, parking the car and moving around to get her door for her. "Trust me, by the time we leave here we'll have a lot more money in our pockets than when we got here." He assured her.
"You're that good at gambling?" She asked skeptically, allowing him to help her out of the car.
"I'd say it's more of a skill than a game of chance where I'm concerned." He dropped a wink, accepting the valet's ticket and leading her into the lobby.
"That's cheating." She pointed out.
"That depends on how you look at it." He answered evasively. "Just hold your judgment until you see how it's done." Refusing to speak more of it until they were settled, Damon breezed through the checkout process, securing one of their Senator's Suites.
Elena glanced over at the receipt he signed, her eyes bugging out as she caught sight of the total, but she kept her mouth shut until they stepped into the elevator. "Damon, that's over twenty six hundred dollars a night!" She exclaimed the moment the door slid shut.
Damon chuckled in response, pressing the elevator button for the correct floor. "I told you not to worry about it. I wanted to spoil you, remember? I want you to remember this trip for a long, long time."
"I'll remember it plenty if we wind up in jail for not being able to pay for the room…" She muttered.
"It'll never happen, trust me." He laughed, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I'll take care of everything."
"That's what worries me." Elena mumbled, giving him a wan smile as the elevator reached their destination.
Damon led them to their suite, decorated to impress, the set of rooms was larger than some people's entire houses. For a while he simply followed her around, smiling over every little exclamation she gave at amenities discovered, glad that she seemed to lose her hesitation over the money spent once she saw the suite itself.
"This place is amazing." She declared finally, falling into a club chair. "We won't ever have to leave the room, this place has everything."
"While I might not ordinarily disagree with you there, I do insist that we go out tonight and see at least some of the sights. For a vampire, a city that never sleeps is like the best kind of adult playground and I wanted to show you some of my favorite haunts."
"I'd like that." Elena smiled, catching onto his enthusiasm for the idea. "But first I want to take a shower, wash away some of the dust of the road if that's okay."
"Take your time, in fact, why don't you take a swim in the tub? There should be some bubble bath in there, just relax and have a drink, the night is young." Damon smiled back, dropping a kiss to the top of her head and steering her towards the bathroom. The longer she took the better; it would give him plenty of time to put some things in motion.
"You don't mind?" Elena asked, surprised that he didn't mind her leaving him to his own devices for a while when he seemed so gung ho about exploring the city.
"Not at all, I could use the time after that long drive myself." Which was true, just not to rest, as the statement implied.
"Okay then, I think I will take a nice hot soak." She disappeared into the bathroom with a final smile.
As soon as he heard the water turn on, Damon slipped down to the lobby which was like a small city unto itself. He figured he had at least an hour to get everything done. Child's play…
A/N: Vegas Baby! More fun to come soon.
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