A/N: Greetings my darlings! So, a bit more of a delay than usual and for which I apologize. But this is gonna be a bit longer than typical so it's all in balance. Hope you guys enjoy!

Troggy, oh my dear Troggy, what did I ever do without you? Methinks I see a dancing zebra wearing a glitter thong in your near future for somehow beta-ing from the mountains and daring to revise smut in a coffee shop with dirty old men watching over your shoulder. Te-he.

Episode point of reference: Well, we are going to flashback to the beginning of the episode...just kidding! Alright kiddies (and I say that in jest because PLEASE be over 18), the moment has arrived. Elena sashayed her little booty over to Casa de Salvatore, Stefan took the Pouty Walk O' Shame and now its time for a little drinkin', maybe some firelight, and some bow-chica-bow-wow. Oooh yeah.


EXPLICIT WARNING: We are rated very M in this chapter, including the light use/presence of sex toys. You've been warned. :)


ELENA POV


Our Secret

I watch as Damon shuts the door and I close my eyes, dropping my bags with a defeated huff. It wasn't supposed to happen this way.

I didn't want Stefan to feel like he had to leave, this is his home too. And yeah, it's kind of his fault that I'm here in the first place and I didn't expect to be living with him right after our breakup, but we would have figured it out. We always have before.

My chest squeezes with a sob that I don't let escape. I've completely driven them apart. I've finally become Katherine.

"Damon-" I whisper, my voice sounding as pained as I know my eyes must look.

He's silent as he turns to face me.

"Well?" I lead, gesturing towards the door. "I mean, do we go get him or-"

"Nah," he says flippantly, but his whole body is taut. "Hopefully he'll run off with Blondie and she'll school him in retail therapy 'cause the next time he wears flannel, I swear I'm changing my last name."

"I didn't mean to chase him off," I say, dropping my hands to my side as they curl into fists.

"I don't recall anyone handing him a bill and thanking him for his stay," he scoffs.

"Did you?" I accuse a little harsher than I mean to, and I immediately wish I hadn't said anything.

He leans back an inch that says everything, his eyes full of hurt. For all his flirting with me when I was dating his brother, he still always put Stefan's feelings above his own.

"I'm sorry," I say and shake my head. "It's just-"

"Awkward, Elena," he says with half a smile that doesn't reach his eyes and steps forward into me. "The word is awkward."

His fingertips linger as he gently tucks my hair behind my ear and I lean into his touch, his thumb grazing my cheek and sweeping over the circles under my eyes before he pulls me against him into a hug.

"Long day," he murmurs against my hair and I swear when his breath washes over me, it's like it steals my stress when it floats away.

"Is there such a thing as a short day?" I grumble and his chest shakes a bit as he chuckles.

"In Mystic Falls?"

"Thanks for the silver lining, jerk."

He pulls back and smiles warmly at me, then the corners of his lips unwind into a sexy, exaggerated pout.

"So grumpy…"

"Yeah, well packing blows."

"Blasphemy," he says offended then flares his eyes. "Never underestimate the sexual possibilities of bubble-wrap."

I can't help but smile but it doesn't last. This will only be the first move of many over the coming centuries and the idea is exhausting. He cocks his head to the side, studying me because he must know that I'm imagining endless stacks of cardboard boxes and piles of packing tape, rows upon rows of storage lockers in a desolate warehouse somewhere.

"It go okay?" he asks quietly.

"Yeah, I guess," I shrug.

No reason to dive into details of me sobbing like a baby as I stood in the doorway of Jeremy's room, how I unpacked and repacked my bags three times as I debated whether or not to stay. He doesn't need to hear how when I walked down the stairs I could barely step off the landing because it felt like I was never coming back and I didn't want to go.

"So what do you think, Gilbert," he redirects with a smirk. "Go out for dinner or order delivery?"

"You're not talking human food, are you?"

"Nope," he grins and I roll my eyes at him. "If I wanted to eat something remotely decent in this town, I'd cook. Besides," he says and drops his voice a notch, studying me. "When was the last time you fed?"

"This morning," I reply proudly and he looks halfway impressed. "Matt came over for breakfast," I admit with a wrinkle of my nose, hating that I just reduced one of my oldest friends and first boyfriend to a meal.

"Remind me to thank Wheaties next time I see him."

"Don't call him that," I wheedle and he just laughs. "He has a name, Damon."

"Sure he does," he nods in a placating voice that is nothing less than him obviously mocking me.

"You're so mean," I mutter, but my tone is teasing as I head into the living room. "Especially considering he's on your side."

"Yeah, sure he is," he chuckles, following me into the room but heading straight towards the drink cart.

I plop onto the couch, crossing my legs and propping my head up on one hand. My elbow settles on the armrest and I'm so thankful that I've spent so much time here that it doesn't feel the least bit awkward. The boarding house has always felt like home.

"If he's on anyone's side, it's yours," he says and I hear the splash of liquid filling crystal.

"Exactly."

I've been watching the lines of his back ripple as he moves the bottles around, and I catch him peeking at me over his shoulder before I hear the second clinking of glass against glass. He turns with a drink in each hand and walks back over to where I'm sitting, and his gait is so relaxed that I can't help but to think about how much he's been through today. Yet, he's still entirely focused on taking care of me. What did I ever do to deserve this man?

"Thanks," I say and take the glass he hands me, taking a deeper sip than I usually do.

It's a little strong and the smell tickles my nose, but when it slides down my throat it's smooth too and a lot better than the stuff I had at the Grill yesterday. The flavor lingers on the back of my tongue and it tastes a little like Damon, heat and spice and fiery, forbidden kisses. I already want more and I realize as he takes his place next to me that no matter how much times passes, some things will always burn and I want them to.

"I was being polite," he says, his eyebrows pinching together in suspicion. "Thought you hated whiskey?"

"My brother wants to kill me."

"Welcome to the club," he smirks and raises his glass to toast me.

I can't contain my smile as our glasses touch affectionately. I admire his spirit but it's just not that simple for me to live with being cast off, made to feel tainted by those who pledged unconditional acceptance. I swallow and wish I could hold onto the burn, to keep drinking until I forget the truth of all the things I'm about to say.

"Jeremy can't live with me," I start, staring at the table but his eyes are calling mine and I turn to face him. "Stefan wants to fix me and Caroline flat out admitted that she doesn't like me this way…"

He doesn't say anything but he doesn't have to. I know he wouldn't lie to me about this, but right now I kind of wish he would. Or at least just look like he doesn't know what I'm talking about or to deny that my friends aren't disappointed in whom I've become. But he just looks sad that I know it.

"I think it's safe to say that I'm not so great at this vampire thing," I finish and look down, ashamed that now more than ever I feel like I don't deserve him.

"You want to know what I think?" he says soft and even, and I sit a little straighter, giving him my absolute undivided attention because I do want to know.

Everyone else has made their opinions perfectly clear about my transition and I know he loves me, but he hasn't ever said anything other than being semi-glad it's done and that human or not it doesn't change how he feels. He showed me how to see myself in the mirror with the face of a predator staring back at me, and he taught me to be the kind of vampire I could live with, but he's never said if I'm the kind of vampire that he approves of. And suddenly, that's all that matters.

"I don't think I've ever seen you more alive," he tells me and I can hardly breathe.

There's no armor, no sarcasm, no walls. He's not trying to tell me what I want to hear because he always gives it to me straight, and he's not holding back because of a judging audience that doesn't understand or approve of our relationship. It's just me and him and the fire and the easy honesty of his words and I will never be able to explain to him just how much they mean to me, how much I needed to hear them.

God, if there was something for me to tell him, to show him how much he matters to me. How much he's always mattered to me even before I could allow anyone, myself included, to know it.

"That dance that they did today," I start and I wonder if he's listening to how fast my heart just started racing. "It kind of reminded me of when-"

"When we danced together?" he finishes with a smile and I'm so struck, so lost in his voice and how the words fall with such reverence that it's all I can do to nod.

I want so much to tell him that I remember every step, how I can still feel his hands supporting me and how thankful I am that he was there to lead me. How in his gentleness I knew he was so much more than everything he claimed to be, and how for a minute I felt myself give in to the knowledge that I never wanted the music to end.

"I wanted to dance with you today," I say instead.

Everyday…

His eyes flash to my lips, watching the word I didn't say but hearing it all the same. He looks away and there's something a little satisfied in the turn of his head, setting his drink on the table and then taking mine, placing it distinctly next to his.

I have no choice but to admire his every move as he stands and faces me with a confident finesse that I will never be able to match, and all I can think is how strong he looks. There's resilience in the perfect line from his shoulder to his feet, the broadness of his chest and the hint of muscles highlighted by the cut of his shirt.

I've always been a little intimidated by him but tonight I'm just not. Underneath his power there is such a grace of ease. He's relaxed, exuding acceptance and compassion with the steady rhythm of his heart and deep, even breaths that remind me of the precious hours we spend together asleep in my bed.

He straightens and extends his hand, and it's a question that he's asked me so many times but I've always said no. I wasn't ready to love him, to be loved by him, but he's smiling as he waits because today I finally did the right thing.

We are each other's now.

I place my hand in his and as his fingers wrap around mine, all the stress and worry of the day just slips because I know I'm safe. He leads me to the fireplace and I follow without hesitation, and I'm sure I must be blushing because I can't stop thinking how he's so much more romantic than I ever thought. I don't know how I ever missed it.

It's the way he's careful with me, guiding me into him but still waiting for me to respond, watching with wonder as my fingers find his. It's the hand on the small of my back, pressing firmly to support me though his thumb brushes over my spine with tenderness.

He looks at me and we're so much closer than I realized, his breath mixing with mine and I really want him to kiss me…

But he straightens so he's even taller than before and with a single step, we're dancing.

It's not the squared lunge of the waltz or even the playfulness of the Sixties Decade Dance. It feels more like the quiet sway we shared in his shower. The slow revolve of comfort, the knowledge that you don't have to be faultless or inhibited. The only thing that matters is the person standing opposite you and that you're close enough to lean on them. So that's what we do, we lean and share; my hand on his shoulder and his on my back, our fingers joined together and temples lightly touching and it's absolutely perfect.

We make a full turn and when we're back to the beginning he looks at me and smiles, his hand sliding to my hip and spinning me out. It's so silly but I can't help but blush it's so sweet, my heart fluttering as I pause. I swing back into him and I don't know if it's more me or Damon, but it doesn't matter and I don't care. Our lips meet and it's everything I could ever want and more.

It's the flawless balance of need and relief, soft and passionate and slow and intense. Its eyes sealed shut in trust and hands pulling us tighter, one long hello and I love you and you're my everything.

And then it's just more. I need more.

His mouth recaptures mine as his head tilts to the right because he always leans that way and I love that I know this. My arm is around his neck and my fingertips tracing his jaw, his hands lifting me into him.

His fingers find mine and guide my arm around his neck because he knows, he always knows, and he must feel the same because he's kissing me roughly and crushing me against him and nothing feels as good as he does.

I push against his chest and everything blurs. His back hits a wall and there's something in my way, so I kick it and push and the crash doesn't matter because all I hear is his racing heart and gasping breaths and I want him.

It's lips and hands everywhere at once and I'm pressed up against him, he's drawing me into him, but all I can think is that he's still dressed. My hands fist his shirt and I pull, ripping it apart to reveal him and he's so sexy I can't believe he's mine.

He's let me have control this whole time, but I'm ready to let him take me and he does. We move and my back hits something hard.

The heat of the fire next to us is nothing compared to what's really burning.


DAMON POV


I have Elena pressed up against the wall beside the fireplace, my mouth ravaging hers and her leg hiked around my waist. I'm stroking the back of her thigh and rocking my hips into her and there's no fucking way I'm gonna be able to get us to the bedroom.

Her hands leave the place where they've been buried in my hair and tug again at my ripped shirt, hurriedly stripping it off my shoulders and down my arms before she tosses it aside. Her tongue is deep in my mouth, kissing me greedily and flooding me with the taste of the bourbon I gave her and a sweetness that I'll never be able to identify as anything except that which is undeniably her.

She reaches between us to undo my belt. Somewhere in my mind there's a voice telling me to slow down, not to rush this but I ignore it. After the memorial I expected to have to wait years before it was our time, but it's here sooner than I expected and every time we've come close today the universe conspired to remind me that I'm not supposed to have her. But she said she's mine and I need her, so I keep my hands still as she unclasps the buckle, ripping it from my pants with a hiss and throwing it on the other side of the room.

She bites my lip and I pull back before I can help it, and with a wicked smile on her face and her hands on my chest I know that's exactly what she wanted. She shoves with just enough force to push me back a foot, and then she's stalking forward and dropping to her knees. She already has my pants undone and halfway down before I realize what my sweet, fabulously corrupted ex-cheerleader is about to do. And I would never ask her to do this, but I'm not going to stop her either.

My groan is loud and harsh as she takes me all the way into her mouth, and if Klaus wanted to kill me tomorrow I could die fucking happy. Except there's no way I am ever going to be able to get enough of this. Elena's perfect lips are wrapped around my cock, her tongue massaging and tasting me and this can't possibly be happening...

Her hands finish pulling off my pants, and then they're sliding back up my legs and gripping my ass, pulling me deeper into her.

I hit the back of her throat and I panic for a moment, but I forget about what when I feel her moan and swallow as she takes me deeper.

"Fuck, Elena-" I cut off as she drags her tongue up the length of my dick and twirls it around my head, smiling and looking up at me. Fucking hell, if that isn't the sexiest thing I've ever seen in my whole damn life.

My hands are still dangling restlessly by my sides because she's so sweet and so young and though she's playing a little dirty, I don't want to pressure her. For all that we've done, we've never done this. I swear it's like she can read my mind though because she takes one of my hands and lays it on her hair, giving me permission to relax and enjoy her without fear or any need of restraint.

I fucking love this girl.

I close my eyes and focus on all the sensations she's submerging me in; the softness of her hair, the heat of her breath and the rough wetness of her tongue. Damn, she feels so good and if I'm not careful she's going to get a little more than she bargained for.

"Elena, shit-" I cut off as she does something purely evil with her tongue that makes my dick twitch and my head swell. Where the fuck did she learn to do this? Never mind, I don't want to know.

"Baby, you've gotta stop," I breathe and she does that thing again, tearing a noise that's pure instinct from my throat and my hands weave deeper into her hair.

She moans a little and it feels like disappointment which only pushes me further, a tightness coiling at the base of my spine and my head is so sensitive I can feel the ridges of her taste buds rubbing against me. I blow out a breath, trying and utterly failing to get my shit together. I know that as incredible as it would feel to finish in her mouth, I honestly would much rather spend the rest of the night buried between her legs.

She pulls away as soon as I start to feel heat pushing through my length and I must be the biggest idiot on the face of the planet for stopping her. She stares at my dick hungrily, flashing her eyes up to me for only a second before she takes me in her mouth again like she can't possibly help herself.

"Christ, Elena…" I mumble as my eyes roll back into my head, and it's starting again…

"Hmm," she moans then pulls away. "Okay, okay. Sorry," she smiles at me and stands.

"What the fuck was that?" I grin as I pick her up, wrapping her legs around my waist to carry her and forgetting why we're moving at all when she starts nibbling my earlobe.

"That was me," she whispers, leaning back to look in my eyes. "Sucking your cock."

I moan at her words 'cause holy shit, like that's not going to be on constant repeat in my mind for the rest of eternity.

"Elena," I say, practically growling her name while desperately trying to remember where the stairs are. "You cannot talk to me like that and expect to get away with it."

Her giggle is interrupted by a vibration on her hip that threatens to take me down to my knees.

"Mmm, that feels good," she mutters and attacks my lips, slipping her tongue inside my bottom lip and across my teeth.

I set her down roughly on the nearest table I can find, knocking a lamp or a vase or something over in the process. I spare a glance at the floor and yep, it was a priceless antique clock but who the fuck cares? All I can think about is the treasure chest of shit in my closet that is ready to go with fully charged batteries and her name on every piece.

"Damon," she pants into my mouth and I know I won't care how many times she screams that she hates me over the coming eternity, just as long as she never stops saying my name like that. "Aren't we going upstairs?"

"Phone," I tell her, moving down to her neck and my hands further up her thighs, under her adorable little polka dot dress.

"Huh?"

"Give me your phone."

She shifts as she reaches into her pocket, pulling out the make shift vibrator and wiggling it at me, displaying an unread text message from Bonnie.

"This what you want?" she smirks.

I reach for it and she pulls it away, holding it above her head where she thinks it's out of reach because she somehow forgot that my arms are longer. I could have it in a second, but if she wants to play I'm all for it.

"Come and get it," she challenges with a jut of her chin.

"You think you're gonna win?" I purr at her, sliding my hand up her arm and stopping at her wrist.

"Yep."

"How about…" I pause, kissing her deeply until her arm is slackening. "You come, and I get it."

I move my free hand between us to tease her clit through her wet panties, and she's so turned on and sensitive that she climaxes before I can even slip inside her. I get my first scream as her body spasms, forgetting her ploy to hold her phone and it drops right into my waiting palm.

Yep, I got it all right.

I pull away from her center and wait until she opens her hazy eyes, wiggling the phone back at her in triumph.

"That was cheating," she mumbles breathlessly as I turn it off and stick it in a drawer.

"Your idea, not mine," I chuckle.

"I always have the best ideas." She smiles at me, looking a little drunk and I can't help but laugh.

"Is there any special significance to this outfit I should know about?" I ask, removing the oversized belt she has around her waist and pulling off her ankle boots.

"Such as?"

"Gift, etc..."

"Nope, just a dress," she shakes her head at me, still a little dazed. "I do like it though."

"Me too," I say and kiss her softly. "Say goodbye to your dress, Elena."

"'Goodbye to your dress, Elena'."

"Smart ass," I snicker, gathering her skirt in each of my hands and ripping the whole thing right up the front from seam to glorious seam. Ta-da.

"Oh honey, you shouldn't have," I smile, my eyes flaring and heart beginning to race as I survey the luxurious black bra-and-panty set she's wearing.

She wore something similar earlier today, but this is different, the lace more intricate and the satin softer. And the thong she was showing off this afternoon was undoubtedly fantastic, but there's something about the bikini cut where I know just the bottom of her ass is peeking out and that shit drives me insane.

"You like?" She blushes, looking more than pleased at my reaction.

"Hell-fucking-yeah I like. I bought it, didn't I?" I grin proudly and run my hands from her hips up her sides, stopping just under her breasts. My thumbs brush over her nipples and she arches back to give me the best view, slipping her arms free from the sleeves of her ruined dress and letting it fall away.

"What possessed you to go on the world's most depraved shopping spree, by the way?" she laughs as her fingers braid themselves in my hair, holding me to her as I begin tasting the skin over heart.

"For perfect little moments like this," I answer and dip my tongue under the top of one cup, savoring her hardened nipple with a groan. "Please tell me you packed the rest of it in one of those little bags you brought."

"You mean the red strappy ones that cover practically nothing? Or the blue boy-shorts?" She lays a finger over her lips and glances at the ceiling like she's thinking, then with a flare of her eyes she moves her wicked little finger so it's just under my chin and I'm completely captivated. "The purple and black garters with the corset that matches?"

"You did, didn't you?" I beam.

She shrugs innocently, then blushes and nods.

"Fucking love you," I growl and pull her mouth back to mine, lifting her up from the table and making my way to the front door.

My hand hits the wood a moment before her back, but we still crash harder than I meant to and she gasps and giggles. I flip the lock and deadbolt and she glances at the sound, looking back at me more than a little amused.

"Did you really just lock the door?"

"Damn straight I did."

"Good," she smiles and her hand slips between us, her fingers wrapping around my cock and rubbing my head against the fabric hiding her clit.

"Elena," I moan, "I am never going to get you upstairs if you don't stop that."

"So fuck me here," she pants and my dick jumps in her hand, pressing harder into her and she trembles.

Door it is.

"Hold on to me, sweetheart," I tell her and work one arm under her thigh so she's resting on my forearm.

"Some fight you're putting up," she grins as her arms wind tighter around my neck.

I pull her panties aside with my free hand and slide two fingers against her, her eyes rolling back and head resting against the door.

"What my girl wants, she gets."

I quickly stroke myself with her silken want before hooking my arm under her, sliding against her freely.

"What she wants," she breathes, her half-hooded eyes meeting my gaze. "Is you, inside her. Now."

I kiss her once, soft and devoted before drawing back so I have her eyes again.

I slam into her, burying myself as far as I can and hitting home on the first try. She shouts and clenches, warmth coating my cock as she climaxes over me.

"God, I missed you," I rush out as she settles, relishing her dazed smile.

"I missed you too," she whispers and presses her mouth to mine.

I stroke into her gently, relearning what it is to be in nirvana. I lose myself in how tight she is, molded around me perfectly and locking me into her with every lingering throb of pleasure.

I make love to her with my whole body, using all the power I can find by rolling my back and hips, digging my heels into the floor so I'm as close to her as I can possibly get. And still she pulls me closer; her ankles are locked behind me and her hands woven through my hair, her teeth scraping the skin on my neck.

"Bite me," I beg, thrusting deeper and grinding her harder into the door.

"I can't," she pants but I feel her fangs prick me.

"You can," I whisper and the stroke of her tongue over the tiny punctures already has me dangerously close to release. "Please, Elena…"

She sinks them into my vein and I can't stop it before I explode up into her. I growl and push up onto my toes so I can get it as deep inside of her as I possibly can. She clenches and takes it all, blood and love and passion and all that I have to give.

I want her to have it all.

I feel her fangs slide out of my skin but I can't find my voice to protest. I take a breath and try to think past the steady and loud ticking of my heartbeat echoing through my head.

There's something cool against my forehead. It must be the door. I find my arms and I'm somehow still holding her up, but with me leaning against her she's supporting me more than I am her. She shivers and my cock twitches. I realize I'm still inside her.

God, I never want to move.

Her lips touch my temple and it's so tender that right now I would vow to do anything she wants. I don't care how ridiculous or embarrassing or overly sentimental and romantic it is. All she has to do is ask.

"Damon…" she quietly teases, a smile in her voice and twirling the hair at the base of my neck.

Maybe she can read my mind.

"Hmm…"

"We gonna stay here all night?"

I nod.

She laughs.

And it feels incredible, damn near making my knees buckle at the same time as I start to harden inside her.

"Gimme a minute," I whisper because I really don't think I can speak any louder right now.

"Like you even need one," she purrs and I rock my hips once because she's right, I'm already solid as steel and she feels so damn good I can't resist.

She gasps and I tighten my grip on her, thrusting once more. I'm so stupidly addicted to her and I don't even care.

"Bed…"

"Too far," I grumble.

"Don't get me wrong, doors are great," she manages to get out between moans at my increasingly faster strokes. "Beds are better."

"Hmm."

"Damon…"

"Fine," I mutter, carefully unwinding us and lowering her feet to the floor. I dip my head and kiss her, and her little hands drift from my neck to my chest.

My tongue is playing with hers and I don't know how she did it, but all I know is one second she's in front of me and the next I'm hitting the door and the handle rearranging my spine. My eyes pop open at the discomfort but I forget it all when I see her backing away from me, smiling coyly and beckoning me to follow with a sexy little twist of her finger.

I take a measured step towards her, letting my eyes linger on the bra and underwear she somehow still has on.

"You are wearing entirely too many clothes, Gilbert."

"Oh yeah?" she grins and turns around, peeking at me over her shoulder. "And exactly what do you plan to do about it?"

I lunge for her and she shrieks and giggles, blurring up the staircase with me hot on her heels. I could catch her in an instant but I let her reach my room first. I cross over the doorway and she's standing next to my bed, her back to me. Perfect.

I'm within inches of her when she turns and grabs my wrist, using my own momentum to fling me onto the bed. I know my face has to be full of surprise because I didn't teach her that and it's one of my favorite moves to use when I fight. Girl is nothing short of amazing.

"Gotcha," she smiles and then she's on top of me, straddling my waist and kissing me hungrily.

Her lips trail down to my jaw and my neck, and I hope she bites me again but she doesn't. Instead, she seems like she wants to trace every inch of my skin with her tongue and God, I want her to. She lingers in one spot, then rushes to another and can't seem to decide what or where she wants me more and I love it all.

She scrapes me with her teeth and sooths me with her lips and I know I'm gasping, begging her for more. I can't find words but my body reaches for her, even as my hands are gripping the pillow above me. No one has ever touched me like she does.

She comes back to my lips and rocks against me, satin stroking my cock and reminding me she's still wearing those damn panties. I growl and roll us, keeping us firmly on the bed this time. I nip at her lips and work my way down her chest, her back arching up into me as I kiss a heated trail over her stomach and hips.

I pull at the fabric with my teeth and let it snap back in place.

"This shit's gotta go," I smirk and sit up, sliding them down her legs as she strips off her bra.

"Surprised they lasted this long," she grins. "You're getting sloppy in your old age."

"Oh you're in serious trouble now," I growl and surge up over her, nipping at her neck as she giggles and squirms, though her hand in my hair is holding me to her rather than pushing away.

I draw her leg up around my waist, and she's so wonderfully wet I slip inside her easily. We both groan at the connection and as she kisses me I swear we are never getting dressed again.

She bites at my lips and I get an idea. I really don't know how she's going to respond to this, but I guess there's only one way to find out and I do know she's a lot kinkier than she even wants to admit.

"Stay here," I whisper against her mouth, and she moans her disapproval.

"What are you doing?"

"Baby, you reap what you sow."

She pouts as I roll off the bed and head into the closet. "If you get to scamper off and get a cowboy hat there's no reason I can't do that same," I grin and open the package. "Sorta."

"Sorta?" she laughs.

"Yep," I say and head back towards the bed, mystery item safely concealed in my hand. "Close your eyes."

"Why?" she asks, smiling though she narrows her eyes at me in suspicion.

"I played by your rules…" I offer as I sit next to her.

"Fine," she grumbles and does as I asked.

I take her hand in mine and lay the plastic ring in her palm. Her head cocks with a grin and I'm sure based on the size she thinks it's a condom, except she knows we don't need them and it's hollow in the center. She closes her hand over it and drags a fingertip over the bulge at the top.

"Damon?" she asks with a smile, her eyes still closed.

I unfurl her fingers and lay my hand flat over hers so it's pressed between us, then turn it on.

"OhmyGod!" she bursts out when it starts to vibrate, her eyes popping open in shock and her whole body flushing crimson.

I flare my eyes and laugh, turning it off and taking it from her.

"Is that a…"

"A what?" I smirk and she blushes deeper. "It's just a little enhancer, Elena," I say quietly, smiling gently and tucking her hair behind her ear. "We don't have to use it if you don't want to. But you'll like it, trust me."

She considers me for a moment and bites her bottom lip, like she wants to say yes but doesn't want me to hear her say it.

"I do," she finally whispers. "Trust you."

"Then I'm gonna take that as a yes," I say and lean forward to kiss her.

Her mouth is soft and a little timid, and that's absolutely okay. I can tell she's nervous from the thundering of her heart and the last thing I want to do is push her, which is why I showed her what it was before just putting it on.

She's a hell of a lot of fun but she's still young and fairly inexperienced, although we're working on that. I honestly don't know what kind of shenanigans she's gotten up to in the past based on what she pulled downstairs, but to my knowledge there's only been two admitted to the holy land.

But she's always been more open, more trusting with me and I know her. She likes the rush, the danger, and though there's nothing really dangerous about this, I'm sure it feels that way to her.

I'm still sitting beside her, kissing her slowly and letting her ease into the idea but she's getting a little impatient and pulling me closer. It's the only sign I need. I slip it on, sliding it down my shaft so it's comfortably seated at the base of my length but I keep it turned off, moving so I'm laying over her and settling between her legs.

I stroke the back of her thigh, guiding her to wrap it around my waist and she does, but giggles quietly.

"Our secret," I tell her and she nods.

I enter her gently and she arches up into me, gasping as it grazes against her clit. I stroke into her again, deeper, her nails beginning to dig into my back to draw me further in.

"Ready?" I breathe against her ear, and she gives me another little nod.

I pull out and reach down to turn it on, my eyes rolling back as it sends tingles raging through my oversensitive cock. I push my swollen head into her and she moans my name, and I'm totally screwed because she's gonna lose it and I'm never going to last like this.

I rock all the way into her and as soon as it touches her she shudders and jerks, melting over me and squeezing me tighter. I don't give her time to settle, I can't. I need more and I know she does too so I drive harder, deeper. She meets me for every thrust, clinging to me and kissing my shoulder, my arm, anything she can reach.

"Come here," I tell her and sit back, pulling her up so she's straddled over me.

She sinks down onto me and immediately I feel my orgasm starting, burning up my spine and aching to be set free. My hands anchor her to me as she rolls her hips, grinding against me with all she has and biting at my lips while I thrust up into her.

I wrench her down harder and her head falls back as she shouts, climaxing fiercely and I have no choice but to join her. It's everything at once as reality fades away. Hands pulling and bodies shaking, gasps and moans and screams and us.

Her hands cradle my face, her mouth re-finding mine and as my knuckles brush her jaw it's the apex of every secret, the mirror of every moment. It's a complicated history and all the memories yet to come.

I roll us so she's under me and I push again and I'm lost.

I don't know what happens, but everything just slips away.

All that's left is trust and life and hard and soft and skin. Just skin…

I grab her hand and her fingers slip through mine, securing me to everything and nothing. My arm winds under her back, pulling her up into me and I drive harder but I don't know how, and she is everything, everything...

I have no name, no purpose other than harder, deeper, more.

"Elena, I don't know what's happening," I hear my lips say between gasps and moans.

I've never felt this vulnerable and I'm afraid. It's so much, too much, and out of control and I need more.

"You're safe," she whispers. "You're inside me and you're safe. I'll never let anyone hurt you."

More.

Again.

"Elena."

I can't protect her. I don't know anything, feel anything else other than inside her

"Just feel me, I've got you," she promises. "You're safe, baby, you're safe. Just let go," she tells me and I do.

My soul knows her truth and I propel forward in a move I don't understand and can't control. I lose my body, existence, time, and I think I'm shouting…

It leaves me and takes all I am, filling her with the force of love and desire and relief and life.

She is gravity and blood and light and my soul and I need her, need her, need her. So I give it all to her to keep safe where it's protected from me.

She is all I know.

Her skin and warmth and heart and love her, forever, because she'll keep me safe.

It's the biggest secret we will ever share.


A/N: Okay guys, hope you enjoyed that because I did. We have ONE MORE chapter to go to round things off and send the couple on their merry way before I stop time and shut the doors on them (lol) because FUCK THE SIRE BOND. *clears throat* Yeah. Anyway, in case anyone was wondering, yeah, Damon totally just wore a vibrating cock ring. Feel free to check out your local kink store or order online because they are super fun.

On a more serious note, thank you all so much for the love and support and following. You really end up pouring your life and soul into these stories as an author and to be so well received, it just means everything to me. Love you all!

-Goldnox