This chapter contains smutty situations and some profanity. All warnings apply.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

-TVD_TVD-TVD_TVD_TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD_TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-

I felt like I was spontaneously combusting. The heat was unbearable. The slow tendrils of pleasure crept up and over my skin until I cried out in longing. Damon's fingers massaged my skin as we moved against each other, hip to hip, lips to lips. His fingers had crept up under my shirt until he unhooked my bra in one movement. He shoved me against the wall, a painting clattering against the surface. His body was strong, vibrating with need as he held me to him. A gasp, a moan, a plea and I urged him onward. I'd never wanted a man like this before.

His eyes were closed in pure agony as if he was seeking absolution within my embrace. His fingers clutched needily at me and I found him down in my arms, his lips fusing to my neck. I groaned he lifted me, easing my legs around his hips. I hissed when I felt his prominent erection against me which pressed intimately against the one spot I needed him most. An ache was growing, pulsing inside me and I knew what I wanted more than anything.

I felt wetness on my neck and my eyes shot open. Tears? My fingers tangled into his hair as I held him. He made a sound low in his throat before carrying me to his bedroom door. His hand left my hips to reach into his pocket as he fumbled with one key. The silver key was on one chain, long enough to wear as a necklace. He thrust the key into the lock as he thrust himself against me. I moaned loudly as a distinctive click resounded from the lock.

He panted against my neck as he fumbled with the door knob. I couldn't help but turn to look at his room. I hadn't been invited into his rooms over the past few weeks as he seemingly found my bed more comfortable. He kissed my neck softly as I glanced around the room, still in his embrace.

It was light and airy as he swept me towards the large, dominating four poster bed. This was a room for love-making. Dark woods and luxurious sheets called to passion while the windows allowed moonlight to cascade through the room. Pillows rose on the bed to cushion any position any pair of lovers could wish. I froze when my eyes fell on the only adornment on the walls. One canvas and only one hung directly across from the bed.

He allowed me to slip to the floor in front of him as I wandered towards the painting. My fingers reached up before I turned to look back at him. He nodded in permission as my fingers traced the lines of paint. In the bottom corner there was a signature and I traced the "D.S" lovingly. Below was a date, small and barely noticeable. I gasped at the date and turned to face him.

"I...is this..." I stuttered. His eyes met mine, blazing in answer. He stared at me intently as he moved towards me, holding me in an unshakeable look. His fingers came up to grasp my chin tightly as he nodded quickly. I tried to turn to look back at the painting but he stopped me.

"Do you want to know the title?" he asked softly. I blinked at his question as he moved against me. I could still feel his erection against my hip as he kissed my temple softly. My eyes drifted shut as the picture became ingrained in my mind. A woman in a meadow, sunkissed and olive-skinned, held a ball of fire in her hands.

"I...I don't understand," I replied softly.

"Living Flame is the title," he whispered. "You...make me burn." His words were hushed as he kissed me softly. This time his eyes remained open as his fingers reached for the hem of my shirt. He lifted until he had to pull back from me, lifting it over my head until I was standing there in my bra, before his painting of me.

"I remember the first night when I came into your room, your breasts bare and ready for me," he whispered huskily. "I've dreamt of them since wishing you would quiver when I touched you. I have to have you, understand?"

"I'll never understand Damon," I replied honestly. "Why me?" He looked genuinely surprised by my question as he reached up to remove the bra hanging loosely from my arms. His hands reached up to cup my breasts. I cried out when his warm hands finally closed over me softly. He was so gentle as he held me, no words leaving his lips as he considered how to answer.

"You are everything I wanted when I thought I'd found it," he whispered. "Strength, honor, beauty, persistent, warmth..." he replied softly. "I know it's soon, too soon for many people but I want this with you."

"Damon," I murmured as his fingers slid to the button of my jeans. The sound of the zipper rang through the silence as he pressed the fabric down. My jeans fell to the floor with a thud and I stood before him in cotton underwear and nothing else. His palms rested on my hips as he stared at me. His blue eyes were alive with desire as he tugged me against him.

"I believe I said naked," he whispered as he pushed my underwear down, over my hips. The cotton slid down my thighs, my knees, my ankles until it rested in the same pile as my jeans. He grasped me quickly, hauling me up into his arms as he carried me towards the bed. I wrapped my arms around him in silence as he moved. The silk was decadent as he slid me to the bed, pulling back to stare down at me.

"Damon," I whispered as I tried to pull him towards me. He refused, stepping out of my embrace. He watched me softly as his eyes trailed over my body, making me feel like some great treasure. I'd never felt beautiful, attractive sure, but never beautiful. He made me feel like perfection with one look, one touch. With one finger, he slid it down my body from my forehead, down over my breasts circling each nipple teasingly, until he rested it on my belly button.

He paused for a second as his eyes darted to mine, asking permission. I nodded slowly until his fingers slid down over my hip. His eyes held mine as he parted my thighs gently, easing them apart until I was nearly spread-eagled. The same finger moved to the top of my sex with a soft, gentle caress. His eyes locked to mine and I panted as the single digit slid lower to rub against my inflamed desires.

My hips arched slightly as he watched me through hooded eyes. His finger teased for only a moment before moving a little lower, slipping against me effortlessly. I gasped when he slid inside for a second but before I could get used to the slight feeling of fullness, he pulled back from me with a smile.

My heart pounded as his fingers dipped lower still until the same one could trail over my ankle and toes. He lifted the finger to his lips and kissed it chastely. Never before had I felt so needy or aroused. He could make me burn with such small touches and I wasn't sure whether to run or beg for more. He slid away from me and I pushed myself up on my elbows. He moved surely around the room until he lifted a drawing pad and a small case. He smiled at me as he drug a stool towards the bed.

"Ah ah," he chastised, "Did I say you could move?"

"I..." I stumbled over my thoughts. Something struck me as I slid back against the pillows, looking over at him. I was out of my fucking league.

-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-

"So...can I move yet?" I asked after an hour of lying in the position he'd arranged me. I rested among the pillows like I was seeking a man's touch. My breasts were arched upwards and my legs sprawled over pillows in a welcoming fashion. He kept me at the brink of excitement throughout the past hour and a half.

Every time I felt relaxed his fingers would unerringly delve against me or inside me. His fingers stroked gently, waiting until I was at the peak of frustration before retreating to continue his work. He would smile knowingly when I groaned, offering to restrain me if I couldn't hold my position. When I laughed he went to his closet for four silk ties. For a while he draped them over my heated skin, dragging them across my puckered nipples and trembling thighs.

"Hmm?" He asked as he glanced up at me once more. He smirked gently as he slid his sketch pad to the night table and lifted a small brush from his art kit. It looked new and soft as he held it before me. His eyes blazed as he brushed one of my nipples with the bristles. I cried out at the sensation, soft yet teasing.

"Damon!" I cried as he drug it down between my parted thighs. The sensation was indescribable as he ran it up and down as my thighs fell further apart. My lips parted in a mirror of my body. He slid to the bed beside me wrapping one arm around my shoulders while the other continued to play.

"When we do make love," he began huskily, "I won't have the control to capture the moment but here with you now, looking at me like this, I can't help but want to capture every movement you make." His lips were close to mine and our breath mingled deliciously. I could smell the bourbon he'd sipped between the second and third drawings. The brush dropped from his fingers as they slid where the brush had been.

I felt his bare chest as he slid over me until he was nestled against me. My fingers rose to stroke his chest gently and I watched in pleasure as his lips parted. I giggled as he smiled at me, leaning closer to kiss me passionately. His tongue slipped between my lips as his fingers slid inside me, stroking with intent.

I couldn't close my eyes as we kissed and for a moment I understood what he meant. I was on fire and I felt like crying from the sheer agony of the feeling. Was this love? Was this feeling what he meant? He kissed my shoulders and I stared off at the painting of the "Living Flame" as I strove for that ending he was driving me towards. In the moonlight the painting came alive and the fire seemed real in her hands.

I gasped once, pressing my hips upwards as I tumbled over the edge, sobbing his name. He tugged me into his arms and I rained kisses on his chest as he whispered sweet words against my hair. I was a sweaty mess, driven to the brink of need and then release. He was a living flame, not me. He burned me and I knew it would never be enough. I could never have enough of him.

I pushed him to the bed and slid over him, sinking down over his jeans as he stared up at me. Still half-clothed, I reached down to touch his belt buckle. He smiled up at me and I giggled playfully. It was strange to be in bed, naked and satisfied while he was still half-dressed and clearly in need.

I leaned down to kiss him softly when his phone rang loudly. We both turned to stare at the phone and clock respectively. It was four in the morning. He groaned and reached over for it before answering the call.

"Ric you better be fucking dying because I am in the middle of something important," he growled as his fingers trailed down my body. His fingers stilled between my thighs as he swore into the phone. "When? Is she okay?"

"Damon?" I asked when he sat up suddenly. He slid me to the bed beside him as he reached for his discarded shirt. I stared at him as he continued making plans, disappearing into his closet. He came out with a bag and sat there stunned as he handed me the bag. I reached in and pulled out a pair of black jeans and one of his shirts. I didn't want to think about the jeans and their previous owner.

"Yes...yes. Elena will come as well," he said softly. He slid the phone in his pocket and pulled me to him. The mattress was soft beneath my knees as he kissed me softly. He was apologetic as he reached for the shirt and tugged it over my naked body. His hands rested on my hips gently as he seemed to wrestle with something.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Isobel...she hadn't come home when Ric went looking for her. He thought maybe she was with one of her...lovers," Damon replied.

"She wasn't?" I asked. He shook his head as he left to retrieve my underwear. He helped me to my feet as I slid into the cotton panties, tugging the black jeans up over my hips. They were a little tight but they'd do in an emergency.

"No. He found her by the garage," he began. "She's been beaten and...raped."

"What?" I screeched as I stared up at him in horror. "Do they know who?"

"No but Ric suspects," he replied softly. "She'll be okay physically but she's still unconscious. Ric is beside himself and I promised to go. Will you go with me?"

"Of course," I replied. I moved towards my pile of clothes and retrieved my phone, wallet and keys and turned to find him holding a pair of sandals. I slipped into them quickly and we hurried into the hallway. He locked the door quickly and then wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"Thank you for coming," he whispered softly. I closed my eyes for a second and nodded. He kissed me quickly and then we were off.

-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD_TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD_TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-

She looked terrible. Damon and Ric were arguing with the doctor about a variety of things while I watched over Isobel. She was bruised and deathly pale and she was limp. I took the seat near her bed and watched her quietly. I detested hospitals and I was at a lost. What should I do exactly? Should I hold her hand or talk to her? Should I attempt to read her chart? Should I go find Damon?

"Kat?" Isobel croaked. I turned to face her again and she stared up at me as best she could. "Kat, you need to get out of here."

"Isobel, I'm not...I..." I said softly. I tried to head for the door but her hand shot out and grasped my arm tightly.

"Kat you need to go," she repeated. "He'll kill you. I thought he had..."

"Isobel lay down!" I commanded as she tried to sit up. I watched her groan as she slumped back to the bed. She still had a death grip on my wrist and I cried out when she tugged it closer.

"Kat, Klaus will kill you," she cried. "You have to tell Damon. Damon will know what to do. He always knows what to do." She groaned again as she closed her eyes. They shot open again, fearful. "Don't go anywhere alone. Promise me!"

"Isobel I'm not Katherine," I said. "Please, let me get a doctor."

"Promise Me!" she demanded. "He wants you for himself. He...told me when he...he wants you Kat...I mean Le...na." When I realized she was saying my name I tried to get her to say more but she'd fallen unconscious again. Her hand slipped from my wrist and I massaged the sore skin.

"Hello, Miss Gilbert," a doctor said as he entered the room with Damon and Ric. He moved to look at the chart before he moved to look at the various monitors.

"Hello Doctor..."

"Bennett," Damon supplied. I turned in surprise to stare at the man. I could see the resemblance between him and Bonnie and I smiled a little. I kind of missed her candor.

"Bennett," I finished. "Isobel woke up. She thought I was Katherine."

"Katherine," Ric asked softly as he moved to sit by Isobel's bedside. "What did she say?"

"She told me Klaus had or wanted...I don't know exactly," I replied. Damon's eyes narrowed at my obvious lie and he moved towards me. He grasped my chin and lifted until my neck was extended.

"What the hell is this?" He roared. I couldn't move my head as his fingers slid down my neck. "Dr. Bennett, she has bruises on her neck. Would you look at them for me?" I attempted to pull back but he held me tightly and while his hands were gentle I recoiled from his anger.

Dr. Bennett moved in front of me quickly and tilted my head back as Damon had done. His fingers were cold and I hissed from the chill. Damon moved to the other side of Isobel's bed, pacing back and forth as Dr. Bennett examined my neck.

"These are choke marks," he said softly. "Who did this to you Miss Gilbert?"

"I'd rather not say," I replied when Damon glared at me. Dr. Bennett let my chin go and I turned away from the people in the room. Damon slid behind me within moments as Dr. Bennett started talking to Ric about Isobel's condition and future steps.

"Why didn't you tell me, he hurt you?" Damon whispered furiously. I shook my head slightly as his arms slid around my waist. "How could you keep this from me?"

"You're too protective," I replied. "I can't do my job when you keep me on a short leash."

"No more," he said softly. "You don't do this alone any more Elena. Klaus is dangerous and you see what he did to Isobel. What if it was you?"

"I can handle myself Damon," I replied. "Why are you so mad at me?"

"I'm mad at you because I love you," he replied softly.

"Maybe...maybe that's the problem?" I said softly. He stiffened.

"I'm in the way aren't I?" He asked softly. He moved to step away from me but I spun in his arms and wrapped my arms around him tightly. He looked past me as I tangled my fingers in his hair and tugged him down for a kiss.

"I've never felt this way before," I murmured. "I don't know how to be with someone like this. I...I'll try."

"You'll try?" He asked. I nodded and he smiled boyishly. He kissed me then, softly but full of love.

"Okay so if you two are done necking or whatever, could we focus on my unconscious wife?" Ric asked. We turned to him embarrassed and Damon quickly moved to clasp a hand on Ric's shoulder. I stood awkwardly at the bottom of the bed and watched as Ric broke down over his wife's sleeping body. Damon leaned down and hugged his uncle, consoling him as much as possible.

I couldn't help but wonder throughout all of this if maybe, just maybe this was what Giuseppe wanted to happen? Had he brought me here to...?

-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-

The days passed as Isobel began her slow recovery. Klaus and Elijah had seemingly disappeared from town but the Sheriff had been working non-stop to find them. Isobel didn't remember her bedside confessions or her actual attack. Ric was pleased when she seemed apologetic about things and begged him to stay. Oddly enough she was only comfortable when Ric was with her and she went home begging her husband to forgive her for some of her transgressions.

He'd smiled at her and then swept her into his arms before disappearing into the Manor. We hadn't followed but Damon assured me much later they'd been intimate for the first time in a very long time. We, however, had not found ourselves any closer to mind-blowing sex. It was disappointing to say the least.

Damon refused to leave my side for the most part but I'd taken to sneaking out when he was in the shower. Usually I got back inside the Manor before he noticed but occasionally he found me sneaking back in. Today he'd finally let me out while he worked or something. I was relishing the freedom since he'd only asked me to call him in a few hours.

I knew I didn't need to really ask permission to leave but something about his demeanor made me want to humor him for the time being. He was incredibly happy when I played along with his craziness. We hadn't been back to his room either and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. While I loved him in my bed, I sometimes longed for the intimacy we experienced in his.

Either way I couldn't help but continue thinking about the case. Isobel had been sure of Klaus's involvement in Katherine's death but when pressed she denied that knowledge. She claimed to not remember our conversation in the nail salon but I figured I would understand eventually. I moved towards investigating Giuseppe's final days and the connections between the two deaths. One thing became clear and I realized I needed to visit a small shop in town.

The bell dinged over the door as I swept into the small shop. The smell of jasmine erupted around me and I sighed at the familiar smell. There was something about this place that relaxed me immediately. Bonnie looked up from behind the counter and smiled.

"I was expecting you Elena," she said softly. Her voice seemed melodic and I found myself entranced. She was bewitching in a way. She gestured me towards the back room again and when we entered it, I found the table set for two. She poured a cup of tea quickly and I took up my old spot.

"Were you?" I finally asked as she sipped her own cup of tea. She smiled again and handed me a slip of paper. I glanced down at it for a moment and smiled. It was a picture of Damon when he was younger. I traced his features for a second before my eyes darted up to meet hers.

"He's very happy," she said knowingly. "He's quite in love with you."

"I...he says that too," I replied. She smiled in response.

"You don't believe him," she said factually. "Giuseppe thought he might."

"Giuseppe?" I asked.

"Oh he spoke of you after that trip to New York State. He was convinced you needed to come here and...fix things," Bonnie said softly. She smiled as she stirred her tea. "Have you considered the case anymore?"

"Yes, in fact, I know my next move," I replied.

"And that would be?" she asked.

"I need to find Jenna Sommers. Do you know where I can find her?"

-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-TVD-

So off to meet Jenna huh? I know this was a more Delena-centric chapter but the bedroom scene just came to me suddenly. Isobel's attack will come up again later as we delve into some more connections. Also, a Halloween bash is on the horizon.

I always disliked the scene in "Dangerous Liaisons" this year when Damon confesses his love and she kind of blows him off/regrets it. I figured we'd give them a proper ending with those lines. I hope you all approve.

I'm still working on review replies and TBL ch 14 (CAN YOU BELIVE THAT?) so please bear with me.

Please leave me some feedback because I love it so. Side note: I'm in the market for a TBL banner. Please contact me if interested. I write one-shots as payment. Details are at my blog!

Follow me at tsukikomew (dot) blogspot (dot) com

Trustelenagilbert (dot) blogspot (dot) com