My heart screamed in panic when I woke up and Damon wasn't there. As always, my brain immediately feared the worst. His phone was still on the night stand yet there was no trace that he had even been there at all. What if something got to him? I leapt out of bed, struggling with the sheets that had tangled themselves around my body, almost falling in the process. I realized at that moment I had no idea where my phone was so I grabbed Damon's and scrolled, looking for Stefan's number. He answered on the second ring, speaking before I could let him know it was me.

"I'm still working on it, so I hope you didn't say anything to her."

My body froze.

"It's Alyssa," I squeaked.

Stefan's voice changed in an instant.

"What's the matter? Why are you on Damon's phone?"

"I don't know… just woke up and he's not here and I don't know where he went and with Katherine and me…I have no idea!" I exclaimed in one long, fast breath.

"And she's also neurotic," Damon's voice said from behind me, nearly making me fling the phone across the room. How long had he been behind me?

In my complete shock and fury, he grabbed his phone from me.

"Hey, sorry, brother….no, I went to the store downstairs and Crazy Pants over here woke up before I got back." He grinned at me and I glared in response. "Yeah, I'll be bringing her back in one piece as soon as I can."

He hung up and it took all my strength not to throw a pillow at him for making me worry after all that's happened. Damon, in his infuriating way, started laughing.

"It's not funny!" I hissed.

"I just went downstairs, baby. I got you some orange juice and another shirt to change into because I figured you would want to shower before we left. I didn't think you would be up. But your face is priceless."

"You could have at least left a note! I thought that maybe Katherine got to you or something!"

That really sent him rolling, which made my eyes burn. When did I become such an emotional wreck?

"Come here, silly girl," he said, hugging me. "Katherine isn't strong enough to hurt me so you never have to worry about that. You never have to worry about me, period. You are totally safe."

I sank into him in relief. He kissed the top of my head and let me go.

"Are we leaving soon?" I asked.

"As soon as you eat and shower," he answered, kicking his shoes off and putting the bag on the bed.

"Thanks for getting me all this…" my voice trailed when I saw a pack of underwear at the bottom.

My cheeks heated up instantaneously.

"Sorry, they only came in packs." He chuckled. "Ah, there's my little blush queen."

I grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it. He laughed and yanked it away from me.

"Not a smart move, there." He said. "Starting a pillow fight with a vampire…you'll lose."

I grinned; I loved Damon's playful side. He stepped forward and I leapt back, giggling. I went to the other side of the bed. I quickly got another pillow and used it as a shield.

"Like that's gonna protect you," he teased.

He whooshed in front of me, seized the pillow, threw it across the room and pushed me onto the bed. Straddling my hips, he smiled menacingly at me.

"I wonder if you're ticklish," he said slowly.

My eyes widened and I giggled before I could stop it.

"There's my answer." He laughed and in on swift move, had my body completely pinned with my arms over my head.

His fingers gently stroked my sides and I immediately started squirming and laughing. I had always been super ticklish, subject to plenty of my fair share of tickle tortures from my siblings growing up. He moved from my sides, to stomach to armpits so fast I was losing my breath already.

"Sto-oop," I cried in between laughs and screams. He paid no attention to me as he rolled up my shirt and licked his lips.

I knew what was coming and exclaimed, "Damon, don't you dare!"

He blew a huge raspberry on my stomach, completely immobilizing me in giggles. He planted a few soft, tickle filled kisses on my stomach before releasing my arms. He jumped off me and pulled me up.

"I think I've tortured you enough for now. You hungry?" He asked.

I nodded fervently.

"I'll order us some breakfast. Why don't you go shower?"

"Do I smell bad or something?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"No, baby, but you did spend last night beaten and tied up. Figured it would relax those tight muscles of yours."

"I can think of other ways they can be relaxed," I said, trying my very best to sound sexy even though I probably looked like a mess.

Damon smirked at me and came closer, pushing my hair from my face. He kissed my forehead then my lips, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close. God, it felt so nice to wake up with him being there beside me. I had never felt that way before about anyone and yet it felt natural.

"I have a few ideas of my own," he whispered into my ear.

My heart beat quickened and suddenly the word sex entered my brain.

"Oh?" I asked, my voice making a slight quiver.

"Uh huh," he said, kissing me again. "It involves," neck kiss, "you," other side neck kiss, "me," cheek kiss, "and that jacuzzi tub."

I pulled out of his grip.

"Damon, you can't be serious. We just met! I can't just get naked with you!"

"Would you calm your teenage hormones for five seconds?!" He asked incredulously. "You clearly didn't look in the whole bag."

I looked at him curiously and he motioned at the bag on the edge of the bed. At the very bottom were a black two pieced bathing suit and a blue set of swim trunks.

"Wait so let me get this straight?" I began. "You want me to get into a bathing suit and sit in a tub with you?"

"Well, Jesus, when you put it like that…yes, I do."

My brain started spinning. Of course I wanted nothing more than to be in a bathtub with him…where he would lather soap all over my body and I could feel his skin…get a grip! The logical side of me was screaming to wait. Then again, what really was logical about all this?

"You are overthinking it," he sing-songed. "I can read you like a book."

I rolled my eyes. Why could I never mask what I was feeling to anyone?

"Don't you think it's too soon?" I squeaked.

"What I think is that you need to stop worrying so much about standards and time limits and start doing what you want to do." He said.

I looked at the floor, torn. I didn't want him to be mad at me or think my hesitation was because I didn't want to be with him.

"Hey," he said softly, lifting my chin. "I'm a vampire; I've got nothing but time. No pressure."

"No…I want to." I said.

"You're sure?"

I nodded. "I haven't wanted anything so badly in a really long time."

He smiled. "Well, okay then; I'll get the tub ready. You change out here."

"Okay but you better not peek; I'm serious."

He raised his hands. "Wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart."

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. I couldn't believe that in a matter of seconds, I would be so close to Damon Salvatore….just a day after my near-death/murder experience. Just a day after I told him I loved him; I wondered if I was dreaming all of this and that I would soon wake up in my bed, still waiting for Damon to call me back. I looked at myself in the mirror by the TV in the bathing suit. It fit pretty well, considering Damon went out and got it without so much as even asking my size. I sucked in my stomach extra hard to make sure I looked as skinny as possible and I wrapped my long hair in a bun.

"Are you ready, baby?" He called out.

My heart started to pulsate.

"I can hear your heart pounding," he teased. "Stop overthinking."

Damn vampires and their damn supersonic damn hearing! I let out a low growl.

"Heard that too!" He said. "I'll come get you and throw you in the water!"

I rolled my eyes and went into the bathroom. The sight of a shirtless Damon took my breath away; all his muscles were perfectly sculpted and defined; like he was created out of marble. His hair was slightly damp from the steam and I fought the urge to run clean out of there. I had never felt such strong feelings of lust and honestly, they were kinda scary. I wanted to literally jump on him and make out, ripping off his sexy swim shorts. Only Damon could look good in those things. He smiled at me and took my hand, pulling me close. He kissed me lightly on the lips and whispered, "You are so beautiful." I could feel myself starting to melt into a puddle.

"Go feel the water and tell me if it's too hot." He said.

Oh, that water is certainly not the only thing that could be too hot! As I walked closer to the tub, I could smell the faint scent of lilac and realized the tub had bubbles. I dipped two fingers in and said, "It's perfect."

He smiled playfully and jumped in, splashing me with water. I just stood there, leaning against the tub as it froze my bare flesh.

"You gonna come in or are you just gonna stare at me?" He asked, breaking me out of my trance.

"Oh, yeah," I stammered, thrusting my leg over one side.

"Be careful; it's slippery," he warned but it was too late.

My foot hardly touched the bottom when I felt myself being propelled into the air. Two steely, wet arms clasped around me before my I went completely under.

"Never in my life have I ever met someone who is as clumsy as you," he chuckled in my ear, pulling me close so my back was against his chest.

His wet skin felt odd against mine and I kept twitching before he wrapped his arms around me, holding me there. The jets suddenly erupted, leaving us in a cascade of pressure-filled bubbles.

"Relax," he whispered. "You're fine."

I let in a big breath, allowing myself to sink back into him and let my muscles ease out of their rigid position. He cupped soapy water in his hands and poured it down my back; the scent overtaking my nostrils. Suddenly I felt his face nuzzled against my neck, kissing me softly and gently, teasing and tasting me. His callused hands pressed into my shoulders, rubbing them in firm circles. I groaned and closed my eyes.

"Feel good, baby?" He murmured, kissing my cheek and rubbing my temples.

I nodded and turned to kiss him. His blue eyes penetrated mine and I don't know what came over me but I was suddenly straddling his lap. He smiled in surprise.

"Hello, there," he said, muffled by my kisses.

I smiled and leaned in to kiss his neck but quickly leaned backwards. I had never done anything like this before and I had no idea what I was doing.

"It's ok, honey, you're doing fine." He said, taking my hand. "Better than fine, actually You're perfect."

I kissed his lips and his hands snaked out from the water and gripped either side of my face. He trailed kisses down my neck.

"Turn around again," he said. "I want to rub your back. You need it."

I did as he said, earning a chuckle.

"No argument this time," he muttered. "Wow."

"Don't get used to it." I teased, turning around to stick my tongue out at him.

"Hey, what did I tell you sticking that thing out. " He scolded.

I laughed and he rubbed my shoulders again. I had never felt so comfortable in my life; until Stefan's voice came back into my head. What did he mean that he hoped Damon didn't say anything? Say what?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Damon asked.

"I'm not thinking anything."

He scoffed. "Liar."

"Damon?" I began.

"Alyssa," he parroted. "You only say my name like that when you have a big question so just spill it."

"Do you think my life will ever be normal again? I don't mean knowing vampires and stuff; I mean about being the key. And Elena being a dopple-whatever you said earlier. That has to mean something right? I just have a really bad feeling about what that witch said. We were adopted but how come our parents adopted two girls both so important to the vampire world. It makes me think they knew something. If it wasn't for Jeremy, I would probably be dead."

"Shhhhh," he said. "I know it's a lot to take on."

"I wonder what happened to my birth mom."

His hands tightened for a brief second around my shoulders.

"All I know is that whatever happens, I will protect you. I will never leave you; no matter who comes at you." His hands released me and he got out of the tub.

"We better go soon. Stefan will have my ass if I don't get you home and out of this city before dark."

I furrowed my brows. He sure was acting funny. He knew something; I was sure of it. And I couldn't help but notice that he said no matter who came at me instead of what.