Hello readers, are you still there? A thousand apologies for being so late with an update. No good excuse really, just that life got crazy busy crazy fast. I hope you like the new chapter, things are going to start getting a little (more) dramatic from here ;)

"It's kind of corny," Elena dismissed bashfully as she came down the stairs with a wrapped present in her hands. "I didn't know it was your birthday so it was going to be a celebration present for changing the format of the store."

Damon was reclined on the sofa flipping through a new issue of National Geographic that had been sitting on the coffee table. Miss Moppet happily sat on the cushion next to him pawing at the pages lackadaisically as he turned them. He chuckled softly and scratched behind her ears.

Damon was amused at Elena's sudden shyness, and smirked at the scarlet glow that flamed her cheeks. Those little things were all his now. Her blushing, her shy smiles, and the way her shoulders shook when she giggled to herself. The revelation touched something deep within him he thought had long since withered away and it took every ounce of willpower he had not to scoop her up and kiss her senseless.

"I don't know if you'll like it," she mumbled handing him the tidily wrapped package before pulling it back against her chest out of his reach. "Let me go shopping actually, for something better."

"Elena," he cooed. "I'm sure it's perfect."

"Ok," she sighed and handed him the package a second time and sat on the edge of the sofa next to him. "If you don't like it, just tell me, it won't hurt my feelings."

Elena's eyes were fixed to Damon's face as he carefully unwrapped the package. She wanted to see his every reaction. She hoped she hadn't crossed the line with her particularly intimate gift; the last thing she wanted was to scare him off so early in their budding relationship. A flurry of emotions flitted over his face when he peeled the last layer of tissue paper off of the worn Where the Wild Things Are cover; they flew by so fast Elena couldn't register them and that alone made her feel uncomfortable.

"How did you…?" he trailed off as he opened the book. He ran his fingers over the faded inscription on the front end paper: Behind every great man is a great imagination and a library of great books. May this be the first of many. Happy birthday son. ~Dad. Below his father's heartfelt message was a young Damon's childish scrawl spelling out his full name, Damon August Salvatore, complete with a backwards R.

"I found it in one of the crates at the store," Elena offered shyly, hoping that whatever was going through his head was good. "I had the binding re-sewn and the spine redone, but I didn't touch anything else."

"This is, just…" he trailed off again. He smiled when he saw three red splotches on one of the pages—popsicle drippings from the summer her tried to teach Stefan how to read. Stefan hovered over his big brother's shoulder trying to copy the words but just ended up making a mess. "This is incredible, Elena."

"So it's not stupid?" she asked, incredibly relieved that she hadn't overstepped any unspoken boundaries.

"Not at all," Damon smiled a genuine smile and flipped another page. "This is perfect," he added as he held out his arm in invitation to her. His eyes never left the book in his lap until she cuddled up next to him.

"I'm glad you like it," she yawned and leaned deeper into him.

"I really do."

"Happy birthday," Elena cooed and looked up at Damon expectantly, hoping he would kiss her. Instead he put his book on the coffee table and wrapped both arms around her to hold her even more closely. She settled her head on his chest and enjoyed their quiet moment. She'd never been all that affectionate with Matt. Both of them had been so busy that they rarely found time for just enjoying each others' company but when they did it was usually more friendly than romantic. Never before had she felt so secure and so precious as she did when she was in Damon's arms and she hoped the feeling wouldn't go away anytime soon.

"What's that from?" Elena asked thoughtfully as she cradled his palm in her hands and stroked the scar she had discovered earlier.

"Nothing," he said more defensively than he meant to. Elena immediately dropped his hand and blinked away the tears she could feel spring up in her eyes. He was putting his wall back up and shutting her out again. He must have felt the shift in her mood because he took her hand back into his own and kissed her knuckles before clearing his throat. "It's just not something I'm really proud of. Stefan had just gotten his driver's license and wanted to borrow my car to take this girl, Lexi, out on a date. He'd been pining over her for months so I figured it wouldn't hurt his chances. He swore up and down he'd take good care of it. He backed into the mailbox on the way out of the driveway and dented the fender. I lost my temper and ran Stef down pretty hard about being the world's worst little brother and punched the wall in the garage. Four stitched and six weeks in a cast later, I have that to remind me what a jerk brother I am."

"You're not a jerk," Elena smiled and snuggled closer to his side. She didn't like hearing that he had gotten hurt, but she was glad he shared the story with her.

"Oh yes I am," he said squeezing her tightly and nibbling her neck to lighten the mood. "I'm the bad brother."

"Stop it. That tickles!" Elena giggled wildly and tried to squirm out of his grasp. "Ahh, Damon! Stop!"

"Make me," he smirked and pinched her sides for good measure. Without warning she tunneled her fingers into his hair and pulled his lips violently against hers. His hands started a slow path up her sides and he paused to caress his thumbs over her breasts.

"Bedroom," she panted, knowing that they were about two minutes away from tearing each others' clothes off and she hadn't gotten drapes for her front windows yet. He stood from the couch and pulled her up with him, bending his knees slightly to pick her up. She readily took the hint and wrapped her legs around his waist. As carefully as he could he made his way around the couch and towards the stairs to her bedroom.

As soon as they reached her room she dropped her legs from his waist and pushed him onto the bed. She started on the buttons of his shirt at a painfully slow pace and swatted his hands away every time he reached for her.

"Mm-mm," she shook her head and pushed his hands away again. "Be a good boy and do as you're told." His brain was so ramped up that he could only muster a growl in response. She continued from his shirt to his belt and the zipper of his jeans. She smiled to herself when she found that he was boxer-free.

"You're downright salacious Mr. Salvatore," she scolded as she wrapped her hand around him and squeezed gently. His satisfied moan was all the encouragement she needed to drop to her knees and take him in her mouth.

"Goddamn Elena," he groaned and fell back against the pillow. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched the duvet in his fists. He could feel the telltale tightening in the pit of his stomach and knew he had to stop her soon if he had any plans for continuing their romp. He propped himself up on his elbows to watch her. Her gaze burned so hotly with lust and passion that he nearly lost it. "Fuck no, stop. I'm…" he managed hoarsely between breaths, kicking himself for asking her to stop her sweet torture. She pulled her mouth off of him and climbed slowly up his torso, kissing the lines of his abdomen and chest. "You're killing me, Elena."

"And I thought you were enjoying yourself," she pouted her lips theatrically before curling the corners into a sultry smirk. "I know I was."

"Minx," he growled and rolled over onto her. Without even an intimation of patience, he tore at her dress, ripping one of the lacy straps.

"I like this dress," she whined.

"We'll go shopping tomorrow," he dismissed and shucked his jeans onto the floor, desperate to feel her skin against his. "But right now I need you."

He thrust into her harshly, filling her completely with one swift motion. She cried out his name and arched her back against his chest. He was nearly overcome by the intensity of it all and dropped his forehead to the curve of her shoulder. This was the feeling he couldn't get out of his head since the day they hid from the rain in the backseat of his car; it was the feeling of belonging and being whole again, of being alive for the first time in years, of loving, and being loved in return. Nothing before had every felt so right to him, not even being with Rose.

"Please move," she begged and rocked her hips against his. "Please, Damon."

"You do dangerous things to my ego when you say my name like that," he smirked as he set a slow rhythm with his hips. He was bound and determined to stretch this out as long as possible and make her beg him to let her climax. His plan was short-circuited as soon as he could feel her walls flutter around his length.

"God Damon," she moaned. "Don't stop, please don't stop." He knew she was close but he was closer and he didn't want to finish before her. He snaked a hand between their bodies to rub over her swollen bud. She whimpered softly and dug her nails into his biceps. With one more swipe of his thumb her body was wracked the most intense orgasm she'd ever experienced. Had it not been for the clear recognition of Damon shouting her name as he found his own peak, she would have sworn that she had blacked out.

He collapsed unceremoniously on the mattress besides her and she used her last bit of energy to roll on her side to face him.

"Wow," she commented sleepily.

"Happy birthday to me," he smirked and walked his fingers down her spine to flatten his hand over the curve of her bottom.

They lay together long enough to regain some energy and catch their breath. Damon was the first to move when he slid from the bed to grab his rumpled clothes off of the floor.

"You can stay," Elena offered but noticed him shift uncomfortably as he pulled his jeans back on. "Or not, either way is fine with me. I just figured you wouldn't want to drive back this late."

"It's not far," he shrugged. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," she answered, trying not to sound too disappointed. She sat up to get dressed so she could walk him to the front door without flashing the entire neighborhood.

"You don't have to get up," he said, thinking he was being considerate, and brushed a quick kiss to her lips. "Sweet dreams."

"Goodnight," she said with a forced smile. She waited until she heard the front door close and flopped back against her pillows. She felt four little paws land on the bed and make their way up to the now-empty pillow next to her head.

"I know, Mops," Elena said to her cat. "Men."

It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep. Somewhere in the middle of a dream about winning a Pulitzer she awoke to her covers being pulled off. She faintly registered a dark silhouette against the moonlight coming through her bedroom window.

"It's just me," the shadow said in Damon's distinctive voice.

"I thought you left," Elena mumbled and rubbed her eyes.

"I came back. I didn't have a key and what kind of guy would I be if I let my girlfriend sleep all by herself in an unlocked house?"

"You came back?" She was to confused in her sleepy twilight to catch his use of the girlfriend title, but she was still somehow glad at his recognition of their relationship.

"Obviously sleepy head," he laughed. "Now are you going to move over or am I sleeping on the floor?"

She wiggled over to give him enough space. As soon as he climbed into bed his arms were around her.

"I'm glad you came back," she mumbled, already half asleep.

"Me too," he answered knowing she wouldn't hear him. "Me too."

A/N: He came back! Yay :) It can't be that easy though right? Nope... not for D/E anyways. For those of you who are following my other story, All You Are to Me, I am planning to have a new chapter for that one as well sometime this week so stay tuned. Feed the comment beast :)

~XOXO Anna