Damon pushed Elena up against the wall in the elevator. He pressed his hard body against hers, his face inches from hers.
"If you're trying to kill me..." Damon said in a husky tone "You're succeeding. What was all that before?"
Elena shivered against him, she licked her bottom lip. "Kiss me." She begged
Damon surrendered instantly; he clashed his mouth onto hers and kissed her into oblivion.
"It was pay back." Elena gasped as she pulled away to calm herself.
"For what? For Caroline?" Damon asked falling back against the mirrored wall.
"Yes." Elena said "I don't like secrets."
"What if it's a good secret?" Damon asked
Elena tilted her head "Just tell me. Please!"
Damon hesitated "No."
Elena sighed loudly and Damon laughed "Patience my love." He grinned pulling her into him this time. "What is it they say? All good things come to those who wait?"
He began kissing down her jaw and Elena gripped his belt.
The lift came to a sudden halt and they just about managed to break apart when a handsome man stepped in. He cleared his throat and said "As you were." With a humorous laugh
Damon laughed too and Elena looked mortified and the man pressed the ground floor button.
"Sorry, Man." Damon said
"Forget it." The man said with a genuine smile, his eyes twinkling "I'm just jealous."
"So you should be. I'm a lucky guy." Damon said lifting Elena's hand and pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist.
"I'm Alaric… Alaric Saltzman." He said extending his hand.
"Alaric?" Damon said taking his hand and shaking it
"Yeah, I hate my parents. Let's not even mention middle names." Alaric smiled
Damon and Elena smiled
"I'm Damon, this is Elena."
"Nice to meet you." Alaric smiled sincerely "Are you new to the building?"
"Yes." Damon nodded "We've just signed our papers actually."
"Awesome." Alaric said "We're sort of neighbours then. I'm on the twenty first floor."
"We're at the top." Elena said trying not to sound embarrassed
"The old PH? Nice!" Alaric said
Damon laughed as the doors opened again.
"Well you should come up sometime." Damon said "for a beer."
"Yeah." Alaric said "That would be pretty great. I'll look for your name on the buzzer when you move in."
"Great." Elena smiled "I'm glad to find we have nice neighbours."
"Alright, well I'll let you get on…" Alaric smiled "Oh hey, wait, what's your last name so I can find your name on the buzzer."
"Oh yeah." Damon said "It's Salvatore."
"You're shitting me!" Alaric said loudly
Damon looked quickly at Elena and then back in surprise
"Damon Salvatore?" Alaric said again
Damon nodded
"Man, I have literally read all of your books." Alaric said with a huge smile
"Oh that's great." Elena enthused
"Yeah man, thanks." Damon said running a hand through his hair "I really appreciate that."
"Please tell me if I'm too forward- and I mean that- but would you want to grab a coffee?"
Damon looked at Elena
"I have to get back to work but you feel free. You need to take some time out from writing." Elena said happily
"Are you sure?" Damon said
"I'm sure!" Elena laughed "Go have fun."
Damon kissed her swiftly "You are the best."
"Alright!" Alaric said happily
"How about something a bit stronger?" Damon offered
"I know somewhere." Alaric smiled "It was great meeting you Elena." Alaric smiled
"You too, Alaric." Elena said "Oh and Damon, about before- you were right…good things do come to those who wait."
Damon blinked. She was driving him wild again. He flushed "You should probably ignore that."
"Oh you dog." Alaric teased. "No wonder she's in the family way."
Half an hour later Damon was sitting across table from Alaric in a basement bar. It was poorly lit with candles stuck into empty bottles and armchairs instead of stools. Damon loved it. It was quite and felt exclusive.
"Do you have any idea how many books are in the rest of the series?" Alaric asked yet another book related question
"Yeah, I have an idea." Damon said "Hey, you're not a journalist are you?"
"No." Alaric grinned "I'm a history teacher."
"That's cool." Damon said
"It's really not." Alaric said as he drained his tumbler of burbon
"I think it is. I loved history. I got straight A's in history." Damon confessed
"Why am I not surprised?" Alaric grinned as the bar man came over to top up their drinks
Damon resisted the temptation to stick out his tongue. He really liked Alaric, he felt like he'd known him for years. He had friends, lots of them, Elena and Caroline were his best friends but he didn't really have that extra special male friend. Matt was the closest he had but that was more obligation.
"So." Damon said changing the subject. "Are you single, married, other."
"Other." Alaric said
"Care to share?" Damon asked taking another swig
"Sharing is caring after all." Alaric noted "So, I'm single and mingling. There is someone but it's not exclusive."
Damon nodded "That was me for my whole life until Elena finally realised she loved me back."
Alaric cradled his drink "really? How long did you wait for her?"
"About ten years." Damon admitted with a smile. He rubbed his eyes and sighed "It's just hit me how mad that sounds- how mad it is. I have no idea what I would have done if she hadn't loved me back the way I needed."
"I'm actually jealous." Alaric said slumping down into his seat "I'm bored of dating, I'm bored of one nights, I miss being in a relationship."
"Don't give up, man." Damon said seriously "You have no idea how close I was to giving up on her, on us. I convinced myself she'd never want me."
"But she did." Alaric said "What's it feel like?"
Damon didn't even hesitate. "It's the best feeling ever. I just want to be with her every minute. I want to take care of her. I want her to be with me for every achievement I earn."
"She loves you." Alaric said "I could see it radiating off her."
Damon smiled "I can't wait to meet our baby either."
Alaric smiled. "My ex, Klaus, wanted a baby; we actually considered it at one point."
Damon blinked but then quickly got over his shock. So Alaric was gay, who cared. He was a really nice person.
"What went wrong?" Damon asked unable to help himself
"His career really took off." Alaric said straightening up "last I heard he was back in London doing a commission piece for Elton John."
"Wow. That's insane." Damon said "I'm sorry."
"Thanks," Alaric said "I miss him. We never fell out or anything but distance is a killer."
"Do you ever think you should contact him?" Damon asked
"No." Alaric shook his head "No, he's happy with his art, his craft. I'd never take that away from him. I guess I'll just have to try and find someone new."
A/N Thank you, each of you, for your lovely comments and reviews, so happy xx Dr. B