Chapter 21

The dim light slowly drifted its way through the glass panels as the heavy patting of rain outside pulled Elena out of her dreamy state. She so relaxed having had one of the most amazing, emotional and exhausting nights of her life. She felt incredible.

She could feel arms wrapped around her and the sound of steady breathing behind her. This was the first time she'd had ever woken up next to someone like this in such an intimate way. It felt so right. Waking up to someone's gentle touches on her skin just made her feel completely and utterly at peace with everything. But it wasn't just anyone she was waking up with. She was waking up with Damon Salvatore.

She moved slightly, feeling his morning erection against her backside.

Elena heard him mumble something incoherent and then move closer to her as his hand gently closed over her breast. She let out a shaky breath at the memories that flooded back to her; the way he and played with her was enough to make her nipples pucker under his palm. She couldn't hold back the moan that escaped her as he pulled her closer, his fingers grazing over the peak. She shifted again, this time hearing a throaty growl come from Damon as his shaft pressed firm against her.

She heard Damon stir in his sleep and she relaxed in his hold as his arms encircled her tighter, as if you to make sure she was really there. He groaned in approval at having her so close, squeezing her tight, but gently, like a teddy bear.

His hands started to travel up to the top of her neck, all the way to the bottom of her back. It sent shivers up Elena's spine, a small moan rising through her mouth. His muscular arm that was draped over her chest pulled her so that his chin resting on her shoulder as he placed warm kisses in her hair. He placed a kiss on her newly exposed shoulder blade, reaching around to cup her breasts again as he showered her neck and back with affection.

"Morning." She whispered, not wanting to shatter the calm atmosphere with her big mouth.

"Hmm…good morning to you, too, my Elena." Damon grabbed a piece of her hair and started to twist it around his fingers.

Slowly, he turned her over so she was facing him on her back. They stared at each other for a long moment as he brought his hand out to her cheek, before he leaned in and kissed her. It was the sweetest and softest touch, but her body reacted.

"What's that face for?" She murmured, studying his features intently.

Damon knew exactly what she meant, referring to the stupid, lopsided smile that he held and the way his eyes drooped seductively. He could even feel his cheeks burning slightly, both embarrassed that he was blushing in the first place and just being near her.

"I'm happy." He whispered, smiling.

He pulled a few strands of hair away from her neck before lowering his body on top of hers, his hips resting on hers. Then he leaned down and nibbled behind her ear, suckling a little and making her let out a half giggle, half moan under him. Elena's hands went to his hair, lightly scraping her nails over his scalped, making him whimper.

Damon pulled his face back up, placing kisses on her cheeks and the tip of her nose. He brushed his hands down her body to her hips, his fingers drawing patterns over his skin gently, all the while holding her gaze. He followed the trail of his hand, lifting his chest off of hers to expose her breast to him. He sucked on the flesh of her collar bone briefly, fisting his hands into her hair and groaning.

Damon gazed down at her, his expression unreadable as he gently cupped her right breast.

"You fit in my hands perfectly." He murmured, blowing a little and scraping his thumb over the elongated peak.

He took one of her nipples and started to roll it between his thumb and index. Elena didn't think the pleasure could get any more intense until Damon closed his mouth around her other peak. She gasped as he flicked his tongue over and over, clamping down a little with his blunt teeth, sending a jolt of electricity through her body.

Every nerve in body Elena's body was on fire, sending burning pleasure straight to her core at how responsive she was to his touch.

"Damon…" Elena begged husky, feeling the now familiar feeling forming in the pit of her stomach. "Please…"

A deep chuckle escaped him, causing his body to rumble deliciously against her still-tingling body. He brought his face back up, resting his forehead on top of hers. He could feel the way his body throbbed with desire and need. He was so hard now that he had to shift to give himself more room, pressing himself on to her stomach.

Elena gazed up at him for a moment, her hands gliding up and down the sides of his body as their breathing calmed. She wound her slender arms around his perfect shoulders and kissed him, opening her mouth straight away so that he knew she was his. She rubbed her tongue along his and Damon's self-control went out the window as they battled for dominance. Her lips were soft, and pliant underneath his. Elena bit his bottom lip before soothing it with a softer kiss.

"I need to touch you," Damon whispered, moving his head down her body.

She could feel a growing heat between her legs and tried not to moan when he brought his face down the centre of her neck and into her cleavage. His hands stroked the smooth, satin skin of her belly as he felt it quiver under his touch. He trailed kisses down her torso, heading south as his tongue dipped into her navel. His fingers traced her thighs and her legs fell open for him, and he could feel her trembling as his index finger ran over her lightly.

Damon rubbed circles over her sensitive bundle of nerves, slowly at first, then with increasing speed and pressure, before slowing down again.

"You feel amazing," Damon said to her. "So wet."

"Damon…I…" Elena whimpered, eyes fluttering closed.

He pulled away, locking his gaze with hers. Had he gone too far? Did she not want him anymore?

"No, please…please don't stop." She begged, thrusting her hips to meet his hand.

Damon breathed a sigh of relief, his fingers resting by her entrance. He kissed her passionately as he pushed them inside of her and Elena let out a high pitched moan. Curling his fingers inside of her, he was able to find her sweet spot again by the way she bucked and by the way she called out his name. He palmed her clit, and Elena cried out again, but the sound came out muffled with Damon's mouth on hers.

Damon smirked against her mouth as she pulled his hair and he continued to rub Elena, inside and out. Her breathing grew even more erratic and she gripped the bed sheets around her so tightly that they were digging into her palms. Damon could sense that she was close to an orgasm; however, he removed his hand from her, hovering himself so that he could look into her stunning eyes.

"I want you to be on top this time," He rasped, running his teeth along her jaw to her ear, before he rolled them around, positioning Elena so that she was now straddling his hips.

She gazed down at him, admiring the beauty of his figure, the glimmer of wonder in his eyes. She towered over him; his eyes devoured her, her breasts hanging above him, her hair falling around them. Elena leant down over him, pressing their forms together, their chests touching, their lips meeting as his hands found her hips.

Elena ravaged Damon's mouth with hers, their tongues dancing together as if they had been attuned to it for years. She gasped when she felt is shaft against her thigh, not knowing what to do or how to respond to it. Damon understood, and reached into the bedside table draw, pulling out another condom, sitting up slightly to roll it over his length.

"What do I do?" She whispered softly.

"Just follow your instincts."

She swallowed thickly, but understood, knowing exactly what she wanted.

"Elena…" Damon whispered softly as she slid her hand down his chest, running her fingers over his abs and enjoying the way that his muscles flexed under her touch.

Elena ran her fingers teasingly past his nipples, his eyes closing in pleasure before leaning forward and enclose one with her lips, biting softly on the tip until his hands came down to squeeze her waist, hard. She wanted to torture him in the same way he had with her and so rotated her hips in circular motions, rubbing her wetness against his erection, making him moan out loud.

"Elena…" Damon warned in a low moan. "Don't tease me…I don't think I will be able to control myself."

She gave him a wicked grin, placing a quick kiss on his mouth with a firm grip on his shaft, as she positioned herself above him. She slowly started to sink on to him, her back arching and getting out a groan. Damon's mouth hung open at the sensation, his eyes focused on her as she went.

Elena thrust again, moving up and down on him, throwing her head back as she savoured the feeling of Damon being inside of her again. He was now deeper than before in this new position, but she loved it, having a feeling of control that she was bring the man beneath her to a quivering mess.

She panted and swirled her hips in multiply directions, each time sending another wave crashing over her as the intensity built. Needing to find a more stimulating position, Elena swept her body down and captured Damon's mouth with her own. She started to whimper at the new sensation as one of his hands clasped her back and the other reached around to cup her backside.

He whispered her name and buried his perfectly shaped jaw into her neck. He loved hearing her whine and he loved the feeling of her being on top, giving him a better chance of exploring her body. She was perfect in every way, and he started to wonder how he'd gotten so lucky as too ended up with this beauty.

"D-Damon…" Elena stuttered through a grunt, running her teeth along his jaw and latching on to his bottom lip.

"Yes, sweetheart?" He breathed, trying to remain calm.

She gulped. "I-I…I need…m-more…"

Damon smirked against her, knowing what Elena wanted. Wasting no more time, he launched himself forward into a sitting position, not breaking contact at all. Elena screamed out with pleasure as the new position caused him to fill her to the hilt creating a whole new level of intense. Elena threw her arms around his back, kissing him passionately while she rode him fiercely, gaining speed.

She could already feel the beginning of yet another wave coming, her choppy breaths a clear indication of her oncoming orgasm. Damon helped to guide her hips, his nails pressing in to her flesh to try and control her. His other hand had gathered her hair in a tight hold, angling her head as he dominated her mouth. He couldn't help the way his hips started to buck against her when she gripped his hair as well, pulling him back so she could take control again.

"Harder," She begged him, her voice low and breathy.

"Fuck!" Damon hissed, knowing he wouldn't – couldn't – last any longer.

As if he wasn't in control of himself anymore, he gripped one of her thighs tightly and he began to thrust his hips up firmly and more aggressive as Elena threw her head back. Her breasts came to the fore front of his vision and buried his face in her chest. Damon gritted his teeth, pushing harder into her as he felt her legs tighten their grip on him, giving one final thrust before they fell apart.

Elena shrieked as her body convulsed. Colours started to explode behind her eyes as she sunk her nails in to Damon's shoulder blades. Damon let out a short, masculine grunt as he bit her shoulder, trying not to lose it completely. Her inner muscles spasmed around him as he erupted inside her, his arms wrapped like vice around her body. He gave a few more deep thrusts, both their bodies shaking violently as they came down from their high.

Having no upper body strength left, Damon collapsed back on the bed, pulling Elena down with him so that she was sprawled on top of his chest with him still joined to her in the most intimate way. Neither moved; neither wanted to as he guided his hands up and down her spine, calming her down in a way only he could do. Elena breathed deeply, smiling at how content she was at last.

Their naked bodies were slicked over with sweat and the air was cool against their skin, only their breathing and pattering of the rain filling the room. After a long moment, Damon shifted, rolling Elena on to her back as he eased out of her to discarded the condom, before resting his head on the rise and fall of her abdomen. She tangled her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp and making him practically purr.

He was silent as he lay there, but he moved his head higher on her torso, listening intently. At first she was confused, but then Elena came to the conclusion that he was listening to the sound of her heart beating. Elena smiled, wondering if they could just lay there and not worry about what faced them beyond the front door.

After a few minutes Damon pushed himself up onto his elbows and captured her gaze, pressing a little kiss to her swollen lips.

"Hmm…" He purred against her. "How you feeling?"

"Absolutely, incredibly." She whispered.

Damon leaned down to her neck, running the tip of his nose along her throbbing vein. "You smell good…" He mused, seductively, in her ear.

He brushed his lips against her neck and heard her take in a quick breath as he kissed the skin over her carotid artery. In his kiss, he could feel her pulse quicken as she moved her head to the side, granting him more access. To calm her down a little, he made a trail of kisses moving away from her artery to her jaw bone and then nipped at her ear.

"Actually…you smell amazing!"

Elena let out a half scoff, half giggle as she shoved at Damon's shoulders. He pulled back, smirking at her as he cheeks turned a bright pink.

"I smell horrible, Damon, let's be honest,"

"I have to disagree with you there," He said, titling his head to the side.

"Really?" She raised an eye brow at him. "I stink of sex…a-and sweat…and…you!"

"Huh? Sex, sweat and Salvatore? That doesn't sound that bad at all." He grinned.

Elena groaned playfully, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at his face, which he caught effortlessly, dropping it to the floor. He started to play with her bottom lip, rolling his thumb across it and pulling it down before reaching over to move some of the hair from her eyes.

"Can you get off me, I'd like a shower." Elena asked sweetly.

Damon smirked and leant down so his lips were pressed to her ear. He nipped at the earlobe, blowing warm air around it and making her shiver.

"Make me." She couldn't see his face, but Elena could imagine the sarcastic and cocky look plastered on it.

Elena let out a huff, before using every ounce of her strength to flip them, holding his arms above his head and locking her legs over his body. She knew he could break the hold in a matter of seconds, but she thought he seemed to enjoy someone else taking control for once.

She leant forward, a few centimetres away from his mouth, teasing him the same way he had her. He tried to reach his head up and kiss her, but she pulled her face away just in time.

"Please." Damon pouted slight, his eyes lightening up.

The innocents and childlike attitude he had in that moment made Elena melt inside. He was very sweet when he wanted to be. She came back down to his level again, breathing in his scent and positioning herself just like she had before, kissing his cheek softly, feeling the light stubble rub on her skin.

"I have to go to Atlanta today." Damon sighed against her. "And I want you to come with me."

Elena pulled back with a confused expression. She knew that even after their amazing evening and now morning, that there was still a bigger picture beyond that. It was time to come back down to reality and face the real world but, at least this time, Elena knew that she would have Damon by her side. Their secret, selfish, five minutes were up…for now.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Damon said, rolling to the side of the bed and reaching down for his discarded jeans from the night before.

Elena sat up and shifted off of his lap, watching as he searched through the pockets. He looked away from her and to something in his hands. She didn't get to glimpse at it before it was already dangling in front of her face. She stared at it, the very image of it sending her heart in to an overload.

Her necklace.

"I found it for you, and thought you might want it back." He said, eyeing the object up himself before meeting her gaze.

He reached over her head, bringing the chain around her neck. She felt the coolness of the pendant as he fiddled for a moment, clipping the necklace back into place.

For once in her life, she was genuinely happy.

After a long and well deserved morning, Damon finally decided to shift and get ready for the long trip back to Atlanta. It had been a while since he had been there, but Rose had confirmed that there had been a growing number of criminal activities around the outskirts of the main town. He knew that was where he would find the hunters, and that would be where he would start looking for the person working against him.

As much as Damon didn't want Elena to be involved in any of this, he didn't feel he had a choice. After the passion and emotion of that last few hours, he didn't think he'd ever be able to let her go again, let alone leave her behind unprotected. No, he wouldn't put her at risk again, he refused.

"Are you ready?" Damon implored, grabbing his car keys and phone of the table.

"Yes" She answered, stepping out of the bathroom to stand before him in only her underwear, not even attempting to cover up with the towel.

Damon couldn't help but feel that much happy at seeing Elena walk around his room and get ready. It was such a normal, everyday thing to do and he was enjoying every minute of it. She grabbed one of his shirts from his clothes bag, tying it around her body in such a way that it became a dress. He was truly mesmerised, just watching her as she slipped on a pair of converses and spare jacket that she found in the wardrobe.

"You're staring…" Elena smiled brightly as her sing-song tone broke him out of his thoughts.

"Well…you look stunning, as always." Damon walked over to her, a smirk formed on his face as he cupped her cheek in his hand before trailing his fingers down her neck, lingering on her clavicle.

"Do you have spare toothbrush?" She said as he twirled a piece of her hair between his fingers.

"Top draw in the dresser," He replied.

He smirked when she got to the draw, a sharp gasp escaping her when she found what was inside.

Damon would never forget the look on her face as she opened the draw to discover now only a toothbrush, but his underwear. She raised his brows and she dangled a pair of boxers at him. They had always had a special kind of understanding and it was just something about teasing her that was so normal.

Elena rolled her eyes as Damon finished packing a bag full of things they may need, including food for the long trip. She finally reappeared, flashing him a smile.

"Bag?" Damon asked as they reached they made their way towards the door and Elena picked her bag up.

"I got it!" She beamed, still marching ahead of him.

Just as she grabbed her bag, Damon stopped a scarf hanging from it and quickly bent down to get it, having at least another excuse to touch her.

"Scarf," Damon said as he swiftly draped the scarf over her head and Elena turned around just in time for him to pull her closer.

She went to let out a protest, but he cut her off as he pressed his lips to hers. Elena didn't relist him and relaxed as she rested her hands on his forearms, humming contently against his lips. Damon felt her soft lips curl into a smile and he pulled back a bit and then placed another small peck on her irresistible lips. She let out a satisfied sigh and stepped closer to him in a small embrace. He breathed in the scent of her shampoo as he wrapped and arm around her waist ready to lead her to the car.

The rain wasn't as heavy as this morning, more misty and foggy now. Damon grabbed their two bags in one hand, leading them out to the front of the house where his car was and set the bags into the trunk. Elena quickly opened the passenger and plonked herself in the seat.

But as soon as she breathed, she felt a warm, happy feeling rise through her body. This car smelt like him. His scent was everywhere and she couldn't get enough of it. It was musky with a hint of ripe fruit and oak, then coated in the irresistible smell of his cologne. It was beautiful, just like him…

Elena quickly snapped out of it as the man himself settled in the car, his trade mark smirk playing on his lips. She gasped as his arm suddenly extended in front of her, slightly brushing against her chest, her body reacting immediately. She sat frozen as he grabbed her seat belt tightly in his hand and slowly pulled it around her, fastening it securely before placing a kiss on her cheek.

She exhaled sharply once he'd moved back, settling the car in gear and taking off down the narrow road ahead.

"So, why exactly are we going to Atlanta?" Elena questioned, leaning to the side so that she had a better look at his face.

"Business, mostly. I got a tip off that the men who tried to kill me back at the manor operate there, so I'm going to check it out."

"Oh…" Elena sighed leaning back in her seat. "What about Klaus?"

"Rose texted me this morning. Caroline's with him now and he seems to be holding steady. In fact, he even tried to leave the hospital, claiming he was fine and needed to get back on the job." Damon chuckled slightly. "He always was a stubborn guy."

Elena smiled, but it soon faded. "So what happened now?"

"What do you mean?" Damon raised his eye brow.

"I mean, what happens now between…us?"

Damon chewed his bottom lip, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than usual as he went over the question in his head. Things had suddenly gotten very complicated very quickly and he didn't know how to deal with that. All his planning and preparation over the last few months had deteriorated, and now he was left wondering what path he was going to go down next.

"Honestly, I don't have a clue anymore. It's up to you, Elena," He spoke softly. "I'm not going to stand in your way anymore. If you want to leave, I won't stop you. You're not a prisoner here any longer. But, if you choice to stay now, I don't think I will ever be able to let you go again."

She paused, considering his words. "What about my Uncle?"

Damon stiffened. "He is still a thorn in my side, unfortunately."

Elena understood and sank back into her seat. She knew that Damon wouldn't have changed his mind on what he planned to do with her Uncle and, in all honestly, she didn't really care. Yes, the man was family, but after everything he'd done to destroy so many lives, she didn't think he deserved mercy. Yet, at the same time, Elena had one more person she had to think about; Jeremy. She felt guilty roll over her at the thought of her little brother and what he must be going through. His life was already bad enough and Elena promised herself that she would do everything within her power to make sure her brother never got involved in any of this.

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay in an update, but I had to take sometime to focus on my other story as well, but I'm back now!

This chapter was a little hard to write for me. I didn't just want to start the chapter off with them going to Atlanta and so decided upon on the morning sex instead. This was to show that, both characters, actually have some deep rotted emotions for each other and that they don't see last night as just a one night stand. Plus I wanted to try my hand at writing another scene like that and I do prefer this one to the first one that I wrote ;) Anyway, their will be a lot more story development next chapter, but I felt I needed to take a step back and look at the emotional development that has been made as well.

Thanks so much for the reviews for the last chapter and I really hope that you like this one as much as you did the last! An update should be up in the next week. Please let me know what you thought and thanks for the support so far at the half way point in this story. Was this chapter too much or just right? Let me know!

Next chapter: Damon finds exactly what he is looking for in Atalanta, which leads Elena to have the shock of her life, something that she never would have expected. Stay tuned ;)