His lips are hot, moist and delectable and holy fuck, they feel so good as they slide against hers. Using his hands, he tilts her head and deepens it even more. Just as she's about to lose herself in the ecstasy of having his mouth on hers, she tries to push him away, her protest dying when he captures her lips again in another mind boggling kiss. One of his dogs brushing against the backs of her legs snaps her out of it as the image of Rebekah flashes in front of her eyes. Without even realizing what she's doing, she reels back and slaps him.. hard. Still feeling the tingles, she touches her lips wispily with her fingertips. When he takes a step forward, she takes a step backward, raising her palm which stops him in his tracks.
"Elena?"
"No," she blurts out, shaking her head back and forth. "You don't get to kiss me, not after..."
"Not after what, Elena?"
"You know very well what!"
"No, I don't. Please enlighten me?" he asks, completely confused about what she's talking about. Raising his hands in the surrender posture, he ever so slowly moves forward. Remembering now that she mentioned Rebekah, he shakes his back and forth before continuing, "Elena, if this is about Rebekah, I didn't sleep with her."
"I don't believe you."
"Look, I don't know where you got this idea but it's not true. I wouldn't hurt you like that..." Hoping that maybe he can save their relationship, he takes a deep shuddering breath without ever taking his eyes from hers. With his heart nearly visible on his sleeve, he says so it soft and with so much intensity that his voice nearly cracks, "I love you, Elena."
"I got the idea from Rebekah. And you did hurt me like that. You used my paternity against me," she snaps, turning away when she feels tears start to prick at her eyes. After taking a couple of deep breaths, she regains her composure, realizing only now what he just said to her. Closing her eyes for a moment, she slowly turns to face him again. "You love me?"
"Yes, Elena, I'm totally and completely and irrevocably in love with you," he proclaims, his voice emotional but so firm in its conviction that she can feel her heart begin to pound wildly against her rib cage.
Before she has a chance to speak, Damon adds, "I don't know why Rebekah would lead you to believe that we slept together but you have my word that it didn't happen. As far as your dad is concerned, you're right, what I did was very wrong. I don't know what was going on in my head. Stefan told me that you had a quote, hero complex, unquote," he says while making the gesture with his fingers. With his eyes intently on hers, he continues when she gives him a nod.
"And then you pushed Brady out of the way... and I know all of us would've done the same, I know that but this irrational fear seized every cell in my body. I was so afraid of losing you that I couldn't think straight. For that moment, I couldn't differentiate between being your lover and being your boss, it all blended together and... and.. I've never been so scared in my life as I was at the idea of losing you," he finishes, raking his hand through his hair. "You have no idea how truly sorry I am. Because of my foolishness, I singlehandedly destroyed something really great between us. I just hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
"Why didn't you ask me? Why did you go over my head? How can we have any kind of a relationship without trust? It's one of the cornerstones of a healthy one, Damon."
"I do trust you and I promise I'll never betray you again if you choose to entrust me with your heart again." Sitting down, he stares at her for a moment before dropping his face into his hands, scrubbing it harshly. Feeling the couch dip, he turns his head to meet her eyes. "I love you, Elena. And if there was something, anything I could do to take away the pain I've caused you, I'll do it."
Feeling her throat tighten, Elena has to take a breath before summoning the ability to speak. "I'm speechless in all honesty. I don't know why Rebekah would infer that the two of you were sleeping together if it wasn't true?"
"I can't answer that, Elena but you have to believe me when I tell you that it didn't happen. That night when she took me home, I was so drunk I wouldn't have been able to get it up anyway," he says, looking away in embarrassment. "I woke up on her couch."
"I think you need to talk to her."
"I will but do you think that you can you ever forgive me?"
"You hurt me badly. But what kind of a person would it make me if I was incapable of forgiveness? I love you too, Damon," Elena says softly, her throat thick with emotion. Without wasting another second, Elena takes matters into her own hands, crashing her mouth to his. Moaning with lust and desire, Damon ghosts his fingertips along the top of her jeans, making her body burn hot. Spurred on by the intensity of his touch, she climbs onto his lap without breaking their connection. Savoring the sweetness of his mouth and the hard warmth of his body, Elena rubs herself against him slowly, igniting every inch of her skin with a feverish desire.
Pulling back slightly, Damon pants heavily against her cheek. Maneuvering herself gracefully, Elena presses herself against him even harder, grinding slowly and with purpose. "I want you so bad, Elena," he mumbles against her skin. Nodding, Elena tugs on his bottom lip with her teeth before using her tongue to soothe the sting. Bucking up against her, a jolt of electricity surges through him. The feel of his hardness between her legs leaves Elena feeling damn needy herself. When she gives him a nod, he lifts her into his arms and carries her up the spiral staircase and into his bedroom. As soon as he sets her down, they tear each others clothes off, throwing them haphazardly around the room. In the next second, Damon's lips are burning a trail across her jaw and down her throat and finally encircling one of her nipples, suckling on it till she is writhing beneath him. Elena finds herself mesmerized when he looks at her, his eyes blazing with intense heat and desire.
Panting herself, she pulls him down for another kiss, her mind wondering if it's possible for two people to join as one. When she's with Damon like this, that's exactly how it feels, like there was no space between them, none at all Curling two fingers inside, Damon begins to pump her tauntingly eliciting a loud gasp from her. Seeing his scorching gaze burning hot as the sun, Elena finds herself suddenly shivering under the weight of it all. All the while keeping his eyes on hers, Damon wants to imprint every nuance, every moan that escapes her mouth in the ever growing heat that enflames her cheeks. Staring, he's mesmerized by her heavy lidded eyes and when she pulls her lower lip between her teeth, he finds himself falling even more deeply in love with her. In the next moment, Damon is kissing the tender skin along her jaw and down her throat, across her shoulders, pausing only when he reaches the tops of her bosom. "God, I love you," Damon murmurs, nuzzling the curve of her breast as she tangles her fingers through his hair. "You smell so sweet and warm, it's you, Elena, it's you." Swiping his tongue across her nipple, she gasps again, her body shakes with unrivaled pleasure, even more so when he lowers his mouth, tracing his tongue across her belly.
His mouth is even hotter as he drops down and runs it along the crease where her legs meet her hips, scorching her when he trails it spectacularly over the wet warmth building between her legs. It takes everything in her not to scream out loud. Biting her lip, she clenches her eyes shut and fists the sheets between her fingers. Flashes of light blaze behind her closed eyelids like a lightning bolt in a summer storm. Although it feels like she could pass out under his delicious torture, instead she comes in a dizzying, mind numbing rush that leaves her chest heaving and her breaths coming in spurts. Although her arms feel useless, she reaches for Damon, wanting to feel the weight of him on top of her again. Instead, Damon turns her gently over onto her stomach. Using his talented tongue, he blazes a hot trail down the curve of her spine and over her ass, marking ever inch of her skin.
He tugs on her hips, helping her up to her knees. Resting her weight on her forearms, she feels a thrill erupting in her body. Hearing the tearing of the foil wrapper, she closes her eyes, moaning at what's to come. It seems like hours but she knows it's only seconds till she feels his hands on her hips. When he pulls her back against him, she feels the long steely length of him just before he slides into her body, leaving her once more to wonder if two people can become one. Feeling him shiver against her, she shakes herself as her scorching hot blood hums through her veins. Needing her so much in this moment, Damon starts to move his hips, circling them in a delicious but maddeningly slow pace that makes her push back against him with a desperate need. Because she wants more now and never wants it to end, she feels almost crazed as her body reacts to even the wispiest of his touches. Wanting to savor every moment, Damon refuses to rush. Draping himself over her, he presses his chest across her back so their damp yet feverish skin slides together. Already delirious with pleasure she moans at the way he presses forward again and again. Eagerly participating, she jerks backwards to meet his every forward thrust. The feeling of him inside her is hot and hard and full. It's almost like he's torturing her. Although delicious, it's torture nonetheless as he tries to gauge how much she can take, each thrust harder than the last.
Suddenly stopping, Elena whines low in her throat. Soothing her with nonsense, he eases her onto her back once more. Staring down at her, he brushes her hair off of her forehead and lowers his lips to hers. Letting go, he whispers against her mouth that he wants to see her face. Nodding incoherently, Elena arches her back and digs her fingernails into his strong shoulders when he pushes into her pliant body once more. Bending her knees, she cradles his hips and pants with need. Gazing down, Damon studies her face. The love she sees reflecting back at her is nearly her undoing. She fights to keep her eyes open as she holds his body to hers and hangs on for dear life. In the subdued lighting of his bedroom, Damon is unspeakably gorgeous the way his muscles strain as he tries to maintain some semblance of control. Wanting her to come, he drops a hand between them, massaging her clit with the precise amount of pressure. Snapping her eyes shut, Elena's body bows and in the next millisecond.. the hot greedy waves of her orgasm pound through her like a tornado, sending her spiraling headfirst into the sweetest ecstasy she's ever felt.
Chasing his own release, Damon keeps moving. Unable to stop himself, he groans the hottest, sexiest sound she's ever heard. When he stiffens his arms, the rapture finally overtakes him too, his grunts become a whimper, almost like it pains him to feel this good. "Fuck, I love you so much," he pants against her cheek. Rendered utterly boneless, Damon collapses on top of her. She smiles when she feels his heart pounding against hers as he tries to catch his breath. She strokes his hair, pressing kisses to his sweat dampened strands. Although she knows that he'll soon roll off of her, she also knows it's only in the physical because emotionally they're a single heart beating together as one.
Laying in his arms, Elena runs her finger over the long curved scar on his back. When he jumps slightly, he wakes up. Smiling down at her, he pulls her impossibly closer and drops a kiss to the crown of her head. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he says, his eyes meeting hers.
"What happened to you? The scar I mean.."
"That's a reminder of the second worst day in my life," he replies cryptically.
"The second worst? What's the worst?"
"The day I lost you," Damon adds, his eyes glistening with the barest hint of moisture.
"Damon!?" Pressing her palm against his cheek, she pulls his lips to her mouth to reassure him that she's right here. "Tell me."
"We were working a fire, Brady, me, Ric and some others. The wind shifted and then we were surrounded by it on nearly all sides. By the grace of God or whomever you believe in, a hole opened up for us to escape through. Just as we thought we were home free as they say, lightning struck a huge tree sending it crashing down on us. I pushed Ric out of the way but I literally was impaled by a thick branch of wood. It almost went through my chest, front to back. It barely missed my heart but it did go through my lung. If there hadn't been a medi-chopper close by, I'd be laying six feet beneath a marble stone right now. I was in intensive care in an induced coma for nearly six weeks. The scar here," he adds, pointing to the barely there scar in the hollow of his throat, "was where I was trached."
Too stunned to speak, she throws her arms around his neck and burrows impossibly deeper into him. Holding on for dear life, her body starts to shake at the same time he feels moisture on his chest. "I could have lost you before I even got to know you," Elena cries, her body shaking.
"Don't cry sweetheart. I'm here and I'm never going to leave you again. And before I close my eyes tonight, Elena, I want you to know how much I love you and how sorry I am that I hurt you so viscerally."
"It's over and done with just don't let it happen again, okay?"
Nodding vigorously, he smiles when he sees her yawn, Damon brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. Lowering his lips to hers, he kisses her with so much heat and intensity that it makes her toes curl. "You're tired. Let's go to sleep now," he whispers, closing his own eyes. Mere moments later, they're both soundly sleeping as they lay snuggled in each other's arms.
As soon as Marcel guides the plane to a complete stop, the weary crew drag themselves out of the plane. Trudging their heavy packs, they walk nearly single file into their base at Fort Wainwright. As soon as they get to the locker room, Damon helps Elena, lifting her pack so she can slide her arms out. After setting it down, he drops his shoulders, letting his fall off of his back too. Dirty, sweaty and tired, he drops onto the seat next to Elena. Looking up, he nods when Rebekah walks in followed by Kol, Brady and Tyler. In October, they'll be done for this year and Damon will be glad. This summer has been grueling for them both physically and emotionally. Leaning back against the locker, Damon closes his eyes, letting his fatigue consume him for a few minutes.
When they hear a familiar voice, his eyes snap open. As soon as he sees Will, he jumps to his feet and pulls his friend into a one armed hug. "Will, it's so good to see you. How are you?"
"I'm good. I'll be as good as new by the time next season rolls around, that is if I still have a place on the team?" he adds, raising an eyebrow at his boss.
"Of course, you'll always have a place here, buddy," he starts to say but is interrupted when Brady, Kol, Tyler and Elena take turns giving him hugs. After introducing him to Rebekah, Damon follows him out of the locker room to talk to Ric. As soon as the men step into their shower, Elena sits down beside Rebekah. When their eyes meet, Elena takes her hand and gives it a squeeze.
"Do you want to tell me why you made me believe that you and Damon were sleeping together?"
"Isn't it obvious, Elena? You two love each other so much. That kind of love doesn't come around everyday.. and you, you were on the verge of throwing it away, I couldn't let that happen without at least trying to help. I know what Damon did was wrong but the poor guy was miserable as were you. I hope you can forgive me for lying."
"Of course I forgive you. But I'd like to smack you for making me pea green with envy as Scarlett O'Hara would say," Elena laughs, leaning against the blonde.
"Come on, Elena, let's get cleaned up. I'd like to go spend a little more time with Matt and a frosty mug of tap beer."
"You like Matt?"
"Yeah," she says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Laughing, Elena gets up, pulling Rebekah along with her. Grabbing some towels, Elena tosses one to her and then follows her into the shower.
"Elena are you sure you want to do this?" Damon asks when she parks her car. Without saying a word, she crawls out. Following her out, he turns his head to look at what she's staring at. A whole cadre of the town's people are gathered around a portable BBQ. Elena's father is wearing an apron and a chef's hat, laughing as he talks to one of his constituents. Taking the grill fork from him, Emily starts to turn the burgers and hotdogs. When Emily raises her head, her eyes meet Elena's. Waving, Elena smiles, extends her arm to Damon who links their fingers before they walk over to join her family.
"Elena?" Isobel says, looking a little surprised to see her daughter and especially to see the man Elena brought with her.
"Hello mother, you remember Damon?"
"Yes, Mr. Salvatore. It's nice to see you," Isobel says, forcing a smile on her face while her eyes drift to Elena's.
"Come with me, dear. I'd like to have a few words with you," she says, motioning for Elena to follow her. Nodding, Elena starts to do so all the while keeping Damon's hand firmly linked with hers.
"I'm surprised you're here," Isobel mentions.
"I can leave if you want me too?"
"No, Elena, despite what you believe you are my daughter and are part of this family."
"You've always had a funny way of showing it."
For a second, Elena swears she can see remorse wash over her mother's face but it's quickly replaced with a stoic expression. "You said you found Grayson's parents?"
"Yes, Damon and I are going to fly to Montana to see them in November. And Yes, I plan on keeping in touch with them." Feeling Damon's eyes on her, she ask the million dollar question, "But why did you keep them from knowing me?"
"Elena, it's complicated and today is not the day. Once your father's campaign is over, we'll sit down but now can you just play the part?"
"So when you were gone, you went to meet your grandparents?" Damon asks, linking their fingers together.
Feeling bolstered by his strength, She nods at him and then turns her attention back to her mother. "I shouldn't have to play a part in my own family mother," Elena offers, her voice cracking slightly. Bolstered by a squeeze of Damon's hand, she clears her throat and continues, "I will not allow you to treat me like a living and breathing Cinderella anymore. I'm a good, strong person and I deserve both your love and respect. If you can't give that to me then I won't be around anymore. You'll always be my mother but I won't subject myself to such abuse anymore. I put up with it for far too long to maintain peace in the family but I won't anymore," she says, her voice kind but firm in its conviction. After sharing a quick glance with Damon, she turns back to Isobel.
"I understand, Elena. I'm just going to go back to your father. Have some food and enjoy yourselves. And look, Jeremy is here now," Isobel says, pointing at her son as he jogs over towards Damon and Elena. Pulling her into his arms, Jeremy gives his big sister a hug and a kiss on the head. Taller than her now, she smiles against his chest.
"It's good to see you, Jer."
"You too. You've been AWOL for awhile."
"I have. This guy might have something to do with that," Elena laughs happily when Damon wraps an arm around her shoulders while shaking Jeremy's hand with the other.
"You better be good to my sister or you'll have me to answer to," Jer warns him albeit with a smirk.
"I learned my lesson the hard way," Damon offers, his eyes meeting Elena's.
"Care to explain?"
"Not really but I can promise it won't happen again."
"Good. Come on, let's get something to eat, I'm starved."
"Me too, Jer," Elena says. With Damon's arm around her and Jeremy taking her other side, the three of them join the rest of her family and for the first time in a long time, Elena feels content and happy. After spending the evening with her family, the townspeople and fending off Katherine, Damon takes the keys from her to drive back to her place. Backing out, he pulls onto the highway. Linking their fingers on the center counsel, he starts to speak, "Tell me about your visit."
"I didn't even know that they were alive. On my father's obituary, they were listed as his survivors but I had no idea where to look. And the world is a small place indeed because Mikael grew up about two blocks from my father and Ric knew him. Mikael got in touch with my grandparents for me and then Nik picked me up in Missoula and took me to them. Mikael said that Nik drives to Butte about every two weeks to check on his grandma so he knew my grandparents too. He introduced me to them. My aunt Natalie flew in to meet me too. And as far as how it was... It was amazing. I have never felt so much a part of a family as I did with them. I felt at home."
"I'm really happy for you, Elena. I'm sure they were overjoyed to meet you too."
"They said they were. Grandma said that mom and I just disappeared after he died. To this day she doesn't know why. They told me that they tried to find me initially but didn't have the means to do an extensive search. I'm just glad I found them," she starts to say but it's interrupted when she covers her mouth to stifle her yawn.
"Someone is tired," he chuckles as he pulls into her driveway. Getting out of the car, he walks around to her side and opens the door for her. Offering his hands, she grabs on and lets him pull her up and into his arms. Encircling her waist, he pulls her flush against him, joining their lips at the same time. When the porch light comes on, Elena shakes her head knowing that Caroline is home.
"Will you stay?"
"If you want me to, yes, I'll stay," he agrees, although he knows he'll either have to text his dad to let the dogs outside in the morning or get up early to go home and do the same. Stepping back, he wraps an arm around her shoulders and then the two of them go into the house, disappearing into her bedroom after telling Caroline goodnight.
"That's not a word," Willow protests when Elena puts the tiles on the Scrabble board to spell Cacique.
"Is so," Elena laughs, "A Cacique is a black-and-red or black-and-yellow oriole of the American tropics."
"It's a bird?"
"Ah ha."
"No fair. No one ever heard of that word."
"That's not true. I did," Elena adds, ruffling her hair.
"It's your turn, Damon."
"That's a hard one to top," he mumbles, looking at his tiles. Snapping his fingers, he spells aliquot using the A on Elena's word.
"What's that one?" Willow asks, quirking her brows adorably at her big brother.
"The word is an integer that is an exact divisor of some quantity."
"You two are no fun. How do you expect a little girl to know words like that?" she pouts.
"Are they not playing fair, Will?" Stefan asks, stepping into the room holding hands with his girlfriend, Lexi.
"No they're not. Will you help me?"
"I will. Elena, Damon, this is Lexi."
"Hi Lexi," Damon says, jumping to his feet to pull out a chair for her beside Elena. Stefan sits to Willow's left while Damon sits back down, his chair seated on the little girl's right side. With Stefan's help and with a little help from her other brother, Willow comes out victorious. Squealing that she won, Mary and Josh come in carrying a platter of sandwiches and a pot full of hot cocoa. Once the game is cleared away, they start eating. When they finish he excuses himself to use the bathroom. As soon as he finishes, he stands in the doorway just to watch his family. Elena is chatting happily with Lexi. Stefan, his dad and Willow are playing cards. Feeling a nudge he turns around, smiling when he sees it's his mother.
"I've never seen either of my boys so happy," she says, her eyes alight.
"I am happy, mom."
"I told you that I had a feeling about you and Elena, even before you were together."
"You did," he says softly, his eyes drifting to hers, blue ones meeting brown. When she gives him a nod, he leans over to press a kiss to her cheek. "Why don't you join them, I'll do the dishes," he offers.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive, mom." Nodding her head, she takes off her apron, hands it to Damon and joins her family. Shaking his head, Damon slips it on and starts to run the dishwater. Looking out of the window and into the darkness, he sees a shooting star. Knowing that his wish has already come true, he says thank you instead. As soon as it disappears, he dips his hands in the soapy water and starts to wash the dishes.
Thank you so much, Eva. Love you dearly sister from another mother.
And thank you all SO very much. I've thoroughly enjoyed this story. And for those of you that aren't reading, ICEM, there was a chapter in it that had Uncle Zach taking Damon to the Missoula Smoke jumping base which is where the idea for this one was born.
Chapter title: 'Don't Let Me Go' by Raign."ICEM" is still in progress. "PR" will be posting very soon and watch for a Valentine's Day one-shot. I've never written one before so I came up with the title and my Plot Goddess and much loved sister, Eva, came up with the plot.
Please remember to review. Have a safe and wonderful evening and happy Wedneday. Off to work, we'll see you all next time.