Chapter 14

For the second time Damon awoke in the night, his nose pressed into dark, messy hair, his body trapped in a tangled embrace. He'd let go of her hand during the night, but his arm was still securely circled around Elena's waist, his head nestled in the crook of her neck. Even though the French windows had been open all night, he felt comfortably warm against her, basking in her natural heat, breathing in her spicy scent. This, he could definitely get used to. It felt so right to wake this way, to smile, to touch and feel her, to be…happy. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd felt so perfectly complete.

He took hold of the blanket and carefully pulled it up further, trapping the warmth they were radiating underneath it. Elena stirred lazily in response, her legs pulling closer to his body, her back grazing his chest. He smiled warmly, smoothing the wrinkles from the blanket with a long sweep of his hand, squeezing her softly on the way, if only to reassure himself that she was really there. This all seemed so unreal. Making love to Elena Gilbert had been unreal. The night had passed in a blur− a hot, sweaty, sensual blur−and yet, he remembered every second of it.

The way her simmering eyes had pierced his, so intensely, so full of emotion.

The way her burning fingers had stroked every single part of him.

The way her lips had felt, pressed against his skin.

But most of all, he remembered what she'd whispered to him right before she'd finally drifted to sleep in his arms.

I love you.

Even after all those hours buried inside of her, all those hours kissing her damp skin, he still couldn't believe it.

Elena Gilbert loved him. She actually loved him. Him! It made him believe that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for him yet.

He'd just nuzzled deeper into her tangled hair when a soft breeze blew in, bringing with it a scent that made Damon sigh. The sun was coming. The night was almost over and with that knowledge came an unexpected sense of sadness. He didn't want this night to end. He wanted to stay in that room, with her, forever, shutting out the rest of the world, shutting out the danger that was coming their way. He was perfectly happy right there, with her in his arms. He didn't need anything else.

He would never need anything else.

But she would. She was human. She had certain needs he himself hadn't had to deal with for a very long time, needs he had to fulfill...and one of those needs was food. When was the last time she'd eaten? She'd been passed out for two days after Klaus and she hadn't had time to eat yesterday. They'd been…busy. If he wanted this to work, which he wanted desperately, he had to take care of her.

Carefully, Damon shifted, slowly removing his arm from underneath her. She didn't wake, but she did roll onto her back, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep. Smiling, he propped himself up on his elbow, gazing down at her, taking in the way her lips parted as she breathed and how her beautiful brunette locks were spread out on the pillow underneath her. She was so mesmerizing and thanks to her new position, the sheet was now barely covering her chest. He couldn't stop himself from lightly tracing the swell of her breasts with his forefinger, basking in the feel of her perfect, alabaster skin. At once, his mind flooded with memories. Last night had been more than anything he could've ever imagined. They'd finally passed out around 4 am, after multiple rounds of fucking, and somewhere in the back of his mind he had known she needed to rest after the ordeal she'd been through, but he just hadn't been able to put her down. Every time he'd thought he couldn't take anymore, he would look at her and see her bite that fucking lip and he would get hard all over again. She felt so damn good, so wet and hot and the way she would moan in his ear and drag her fingernails across his back and shoulders…. Even thinking about it now made him want to wake her up and make her scream out his name again.

The curtains made a loud flapping noise when the breeze became more violent and for a moment it seemed like she would wake up...but it didn't and he was surprised to find that instead of disappointment, he felt relief. See, in that moment, that split second when he'd believed she would wake, he'd suddenly been overtaken by fear, a fear that had been born out of one fleeting thought:

What if she regrets last night?

He was well aware of the fact that she hadn't protested his actions in the moment-at all-but that didn't mean she wouldn't regret her actions now. After all, she'd had a history of doing things and then wishing she hadn't. Like kissing him, for example. She'd liked that in the moment, too, only to deny him afterwards. He knew they probably should've talked about all of that-about their past and what had happened with Klaus-before he'd ravaged her to make sure that what she was feeling was there to stay and not just a reaction to her near-death experience, but the truth was, as soon as she'd said she loved him, as soon as he'd realized she'd felt the same way he did from the start, he'd been a goner. It had felt like he had waited ages to hear her say those three little words and once she had, he just hadn't been able to control himself anymore. After all, in his very core, he was still a predatory animal..an animal that had yearned for her every waking hour...an animal that still yearned for her.

No, he scolded himself, forcing his body to get up from the bed. This isn't just about you. You have to take care of her.

Softly, he got up, retrieved his boxers and jeans before sneaking out of the room. Quietly, he closed the bedroom door behind, dressing in the living room. Good thing he'd chosen a fancy hotel and not some motel by the side of the highway. He wouldn't have been able to move around without waking her up in a cramp room.

Sitting down beside the phone, he flipped through the hotel menu. After being on the road with Elena, he had a pretty good idea of what her breakfast-preferences were, but something about this morning made him second guess everything. After all, he'd never been with her after such a physically intense night. Suddenly, he wondered if she would want eggs and bacon to refuel or maybe something lighter like fruit? And would she want tea or coffee? Why didn't he know this? Why could he suddenly not remember ever seeing her drink in the morning? And why did it feel like, if he got this wrong, she would storm out the door and walk out of his life?

In the end, he decided to overdo it and pretty much ordered everything on the menu before slipping into the bathroom and taking a long, hot shower. It soothed his body, but it did nothing for his mind. If anything, it made it worse. Why in the fuck was he so nervous? He hadn't felt this insecure in ages. Then again, he hadn't had to deal with a morning-after in ages, either. He usually left before the girl woke up or compelled the bimbo to forget him, but he couldn't-he wouldn't-do anything of the sort with Elena. And that's when it hit him. That's when he realized why he was so anxious. For the first time in a very long time, Damon was in the vulnerable position of getting hurt. No, not hurt. Crushed. Annihilated. If she woke up and decided nothing had changed, if she broke his heart again…

He was pulled from his sickening internal debate by a knock on the door.

Breakfast.

He tipped the bellhop and rolled the cart inside. As he cast a quick glance over his purchases, he realized he'd gone beyond overboard, but if there was ever a time to do so, Damon figured it was now.

"Something smells good"

Holy. Mother. Of. Fuck.

Elena stood in the doorway of the bedroom leaning against the frame in his white shirt from last night.

In nothing but his white shirt.

Her hair had that just fucked look and her legs looked just as slim and mouthwatering as they always did.

He could feel his dick already harden and she hadn't even done anything yet. He realized he needed to cool down, though. It was time to talk, not fuck.

"Yeah, I uhm, I-I ordered you some breakfast."

Fuck am I actually stuttering?

She smiled brightly and tiptoed over to the cart, grabbing a croissant before plopping herself down in one of the seats, making her shirt rise higher up her thighs. So far, no sign of regret. He could feel hope welling up in his chest, but he wouldn't be completely reassured until he'd actually heard her say it. Fuck, he wanted to hear her say it.

Realizing his eyes had lingered on her legs, he tore his gaze away from her, but Christ, he could even smell her from where he stood. She smelled like vanilla and Elena and, what was worse, him. His scent was all over her and the animal inside roared possessively at that.

Talk, not fuck.

He made that his own, personal mantra, but she wasn't making it easy on him. The way she kept plucking tiny piece of that croissant, slipping them inside her mouth…

"I didn't know what you liked," he said, his voice deceptively low. "So, I ordered everything"

"We've been having breakfast together since the day we met, give or take a few mornings. You know what I like."

He couldn't help but notice the innuendo there. His lips twitched into a smirk before he could stop himself and when she noticed, she did something that made his heart-and other parts of him-swell. She smirked right back.

When she got up to fix herself a plate of food, Damon removed himself from the cart, sitting down instead. If he wanted to talk to her, he was going to have to keep a safe distance from the woman who was acting nothing like him. While he had been on edge since he'd woken up, she seemed relaxed, like they'd been waking up together forever.

She sat back down in the chair next to him again, her plate filled with goodies. He remembered then that she'd always had a good appetite. And he loved that about her. No salad and water for Elena, thank God. He loved her perfectly shaped curves.

So much.

His mind flashed back to the night before as he'd held her gorgeous hips in his hands while he drove into her…

Talk, not fuck!

Biting his tongue in frustration, he reached down and adjusted himself before she noticed his hunger for her. Luckily she was too focused on her own type of hunger, working her way through a bowl of fresh berries.

"Elena," he grated out, not quite succeeding in hiding his lust. "I think we need to talk about what happened last night."

She stops mid-chew, putting her cup of tea and plate down, looking at him with a frown on her face. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Well, everything. Don't you? What did it mean to you?"

She smiled and he knew why. He sounded exactly like the desperate floozies he'd slept with, begging for him to tell them it had meant something, that it had been special...but it had never been. Not until tonight. Had it meant nothing to her now? Was this some karmic-payback? He'd always laughed at those girl he didn't want. Was he now being laughed at by the one girl he did want?

She must've seen the worry in his eyes, because suddenly, her face turned serious as she leaned forward grasping his hand in hers, making his skin sizzle with desire, with anticipation.

"Damon," she sang sweetly. "I don't regret anything."

"You don't?"

Her lips twitched as she leaned back again, crossing her legs. He had to push back a growl as his shirt rose even higher up her body...

Just a little bit more...

"I know why you would think otherwise," she said. "The past would have you believe that I change my mind about my feelings all the time, but see, I actually don't. I never once changed my mind about how I feel about you. When you kissed me for the first time, I didn't want it to end and when you told me you loved me, I wanted to scream I felt the same. The only reason I didn't do any of that is because I thought I was protecting us both from future hurt. I thought that if I pushed you away, if I kept pretending, we couldn't be used against each other, we couldn't hurt each other. And then, this last thing with Klaus happened and it became clear to me that no matter how hard I try, I can't make you stop loving me... just like I can't make myself stop loving you. We are each other's Achilles heel and last night was me, finally accepting that, finally giving in...and having the best night of my life in the process."

Elena looked at him for some sort of response, but he was once again flabbergasted, just like the night before, when she'd confessed she'd loved him. He didn't know how many more confessions like this he could take before his mind broke from the shock of it all. Could he really be this blessed? Was this really happening? Had he actually slept with the love of his life and was she now sitting there, basically telling him he was the love of her life as well? This was all just…too good to be true. And yet, she was there, watching him, waiting...as he remained mute.

"Wait," she said, her smile dropping. "Do you regret it?"

Do I regret it? Do I regret spending the most amazing night making love to the most beautiful woman?

"No I don't regret it."

Her shoulders sagged with relief. Had she actually been worried he would say something else?

"I'm sensing a but in there somewhere," she said, her eyes still doubtful.

There was a but. A but he hadn't even realized was there until that very moment. A but that had probably been the real reason he'd been so nervous.

Don't, his mind screamed. Don't do this. Don't suggest what you're about to suggest. She will jump at it. She will leave you.

I have to give her the option.

No, you don't.

Yes, I do.

Why?

Because, I love her.

"Damon?" she whispered, her voice now riddled with fear. "Please, talk to me. You're starting to freak me out."

"Do you remember when we first met?"

Her face relaxed a little, a reminiscent smile playing on her lips. "Every second."

Don't. Do. This.

"After we were attacked, when you woke up in my house, I made you a promise."

"To keep me safe until Klaus was gone. I remember, but Damon, I'm part of the reason your plan with Klaus is ruined, so if this is about some misplaced feeling of guilt−"

"I could still keep that promise."

"I know that," she whispered, smiling warmly. "I know you'll protect me."

He tore his eyes away from her trusting gaze, focusing on a random stack of pancakes as he blurted out what he had to blurt out. "There's a coven in Romania. They owe me a favor. I could take you there, I could take away every memory you have of me, off everything you've been through since you've met me. I could even create a whole new past for you, without pain, without loss. I could create a new family for you and these witches could erase every trace of you, put a spell on you that will make you undetectable, unrecognizable to anyone looking for you. Klaus−" he swallowed hard. "−Me. This is your chance to have a happy, long, mortal life. You'll never have to worry about werewolves, hybrids…or vampires again. You can be a normal human. I can keep my promise. I can keep you safe. You just let me know and−"

All words left him when she suddenly climbed onto his lap, straddling him, her eyes soft on his as she cradled his face.

"Salvatore," she whispered. "Shut up."

Was she actually throwing his words from the night before back in his face? Didn't she understand that this was serious. She had to know she had an alternative.

"Staying with me will mean danger, Elena. it will mean being on the run for God knows how long. I can't guarantee we'll take Klaus down anytime soon and−"

She leaned down, gently kissing the corner of his lips.

"There are no more Safe Houses. I can't think of any other way than Romania to make absolutely sure−"

She kissed the other corner of his lips.

"Love, I'm serious."

Elena sighed, leaning back, putting her weight on his crotch. His aching crotch.

Talk, not fuck.

"Okay, you want serious?" She said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Here's serious: if you ever suggest erasing you from my memory again, I will castrate you."

He felt his lips pulling up, even though he wanted to remain stoic. This was serious.

"Damon," she said, her voice softer as her hands ran down his bare chest. "I know you think you're trying to do the right thing and deep down, I even appreciate it, but there's no way in hell I will ever agree to a life without you."

He caressed her cheek, her skin so soft he wanted to touch more of it. All of it.

"I love you," she continued, leaning into his touch. "You are my safe place. I never feel like I'm in danger or my life's messed up when I'm with you and I will never, ever give you up or let you give me up. Not even if it's for my own good. So, could we just agree, right here and now, that those days are over? Could we just agree that we're stronger together and that any scenario in which we're torn apart is a bad,−" she pulled his hair, making him growl with want. "−bad idea?"

Fuck, he loved it when she pulled on his hair like that. Finally letting go for the first time that morning, Damon slid his hands all the way down her back until he reached her perfect, round behind. When he slipped his hands underneath her shirt, he could feel she wasn't wearing any panties. He almost came in his pants at that discovery. Slowly, he started kneading her cheeks, making her squirm in his lap, her eyes fluttering shut.

"I'll take that as a yes," was the last thing she moaned before his mouth crashed into hers.

As his left hand relentlessly kneaded, his other hand came around to her sex, making her cry out.

"Jesus baby," he rumbled. "You're so wet for me already."

He yanked her closer to his chest, spreading her legs further as he ripped open her shirt. Her breath hitched as he started circling her nipples with his mouth, his tongue mimicking the movements his fingers were making between her wet folds.

"Take me to bed," she moaned, clutching his hair tighter. "Please."

Like she had to beg.

His cock throbbing, he lifted her up, carrying her back into the bedroom.

He was pushing her into the soft mattress within seconds, settling between her legs, but Elena had other plans. Before he could stop her−not that he would've−she'd pushed him onto his back, straddling him again. He'd mainly been the dominant one last night, but Elena clearly had that side to her as well. She was taking charge and it was the single hottest thing he'd ever experienced in his life.

Crashing her lips back to his, she unbuckled his jeans and slipped her hand inside. When she found his throbbing erection and started to slowly stroke up and down, up and down, he fisted the sheets, closing his eyes in ecstasy.

God, this woman would be the end of him.

She leaned down, her hand stroking harder, faster as she bit his ear lobe making him groan like the feral animal that he was.

He had to fuck her.

Now.

Growling, he grabbed her waist and lifted her up enough to push his jeans past his knees. There was no time to take them off completely. This would have to do.

And she agreed.

He'd barely laid back down or she was sliding down his length, inch by inch until he'd sheathed her to the hilt.

"God," she moaned, her nails digging into his chest. "That feels so good."

He could only growl in agreement, holding on to her hips as she rode him relentlessly. This was the most animalistic he'd ever seen her and she felt like fucking silk. She bucked into him up and down, back and forth over and over again, circling her hips, grinding down on him fast and then slow, making him damn near explode.

"Shit sweetness, I'm gonna come," he groaned. "Slow down baby. Not yet."

His pleas fell on deaf ears as she leaned back, balancing her weight on his knees, bouncing up and down so fast and hard it made his head spin. Somewhere in the midst of his lust, he found the strength to switch positions, forcing her underneath him, spreading her legs open further with his, never once breaking contact.

"Damon, please," she moaned, desperate. "Don't stop"

"Stop?" He pushed in deeper, making her arch up from the bed. "Never."

Curling his arms underneath her, he held her tightly against him, making it so he could feel every single one of her muscles react as he pounded into her over and over and over.

"Yes, right there, Damon!" she screamed as he felt her walls starting to tighten. "God, right there!"

"Are you coming for me, baby?" he roared, staring into her wanton eyes. "That's it, Love. Come all over me."

She nodded once, biting her lip, hard before her pussy gripped him tightly and she screamed out. Hearing his name leave that beautiful mouth of hers as she came send him over the edge, too. Growling, he buried his face in her neck as his orgasm racked his body, wave after wave after wave. He could feel Elena stroking his hair and kissing his cheek softly as he rode out his climax and somehow, those little gestures made him feel even better than he'd already felt. How did she do that?

Once his breathing returned to normal he rolled off of her, giving her the space to catch her breath. They both laid there panting and heaving, staring at the ceiling. After a long minute, he turned to look at her and she must've felt his eyes on her because she immediately turned her head in his direction.

"So I take it there will be no more Romania-talk?" She grinned playfully and he grinned right back.

"Romania? What is this Romania you speak off?"

She laughed as he pulled her back to him, ready for round two.

I know I always say the same thing, but please REVIEW! Let me know what you think! Tips on how to improve my smut are always welcome+Your reviews really do keep me writing! After all, I write for YOU!

Thanks!

Xxx LustAndLove