Elena's heart begins to pound when the sound of the door knocker alerts her to his arrival. She takes a moment to spritz a little perfume on before forcing herself to walk slowly to the door, hoping he won't pick up on her nervousness. Pulling it open, she smiles at the sight of him. Dark wash jeans, boots, v neck tee and his customary leather jacket.
"Hello Elena," he gives her a roguish grin that masks the anxiety he feels inside.
"Come in," she steps aside, allowing him to cross the threshold. Leading him to the living room, she offers him a drink. "I have whiskey, bourbon, vodka, wine. I'm not a huge drinker but it's nice to have on hand for guests."
"Bourbon's good," he takes off his jacket, hangs it on her coat rack then sits down on the couch.
She watches him for a moment before filling two tumblers. He has tousled dark brown hair, which is thick and lustrous. His eyes are a mesmerizing deep ocean blue, flecks of silvery light performing ballets throughout. His face is strong and defined, his features molded from the finest marble. His perfect lips are ripe for the kissing. Shaking herself out of it, she hands the drink to him before taking a seat next to him.
"Thank you," he takes a healthy swallow, sets his glass down on the end table then shifts to face her. "I see no sense in beating around the bush."
"Okay," she takes a swallow from her glass.
"First, I want to apologize for just disappearing. You deserved better from me. It just seemed like every time I wanted to talk to you or touch you, your brother-in-law would make an appearance," a wistful look appears in his eyes. "That day in my office, Elena, I wanted to tell you that I love you, I'm in love with you. Falling for you was like entering a house and finally realizing I'm home. When you smile at me I feel invisible hands wrapping around me making me feel safe. When your eyes are locked on mine, it's like I can see galaxies instead of just pupils."
Elena didn't expect the conversation to turn so quick to the topic she's been wondering about for months. Her breath hitches and she takes a few shaky ones in an attempt to find her composure. She traces his lower lip lightly with the tip of her finger. It pouts slightly, and she has the urge to bite it, to kiss it, to wrap them up in a quilt and listen to their gentle breathing, watching the cotton ripple. like skipping stones and sharing crooked smiles. She gazes so intently at the divot on his upper one, as if it could map out ancient seas and tell her everything she doesn't know.
He kisses her fingertip then links their fingers together. "Nothing's changed but I have to be completely honest with you, the reason I accepted the Lubbock job was because I didn't want to see you with him," he pauses, unable to read her face.
"Damon, there's nothing between Nik and me. I told him months ago that there couldn't be anything romantic between us."
"You did?"
"Yes, I did. That was even before the night we spent together."
"I'm sorry, so - so sorry. It's just that every time I see you two together, he seems pretty possessive, his hands were always on... you don't seem to mind." His eyes drop - at the moment, he feels like the biggest fool who's ever walked the face of the earth. Why did he think the better option was staying away from here?
"You mean we wasted all these months because of a false assumption?" she looks at him sardonically.
"I'm an idiot," he gives her a crooked smile.
"Yes, you are but you're not entirely to blame. I should have told Nik to back off a little. I think he's being over protective because he believes that's what Katherine would want," she pauses to take a breath. "I want you to know that, I love you too."
Unable to look or speak, he leans closer and then his mouth is on hers. She doesn't have time to protest, not that she wants to, because his tongue dips inside as his hands find purchase on her hips. The kiss is searing, burning a trail from her mouth all the way down to the tips of her toes. Her hands grip onto each of his broad shoulders and when she digs her nails in, he groans, sending a tidal wave of heat crashing through her veins.
And when they part, their chests are heaving, Damon stares at her for what seems like hours but it's really only seconds. "I fell for you instantly and because I love you, I have to be completely honest with you."
"You're scaring me," she scooches over, giving herself a little space.
"There's no one else if that's what your thinking. I want this, I want us," he waves his index finger back and forth between them. "I'm a law officer, Elena. It's a hard life for the people we love. Surely you remember those five Dallas police officers* that were ambushed and murdered a couple years ago?"
"Yes, I remember," she swallows past the lump in her throat.
"I love you and I want to build a life with you more than anything in the world but you need to know what you're signing up for."
"I love you too, Damon. And yeah, I can't deny that it scares me to think that I could say goodbye to you some morning and that would turn out to be our last one," a haunted look fills her eyes.
Damon pulls her against his chest and wraps his arms around her. He can feel her heart pounding against his chest. "I want you to take some time, maybe a lot of time to really think about what being with me means. If you can't, I won't hate you, Elena, I could never," he brushes his lips across her forehead.
"The thought of losing you has crossed my mind..." she sniffs, trying to keep her tears from falling.
"That's good, that's what I want. So listen, I'm going to go, I have to get up early to drive back to Lubbock," he releases his hold on her and swallows down the rest of his bourbon. They both stand, Damon pulls his jacket off the rack and slips it on.
"I don't want you to go," she reaches for his hand and squeezes his fingers.
"Neither do I, beautiful but I have to..." his voice trails off.
The next thing she knows, he slams his lips to hers, nearly punching all the air from her lungs. She barely has a moment to react before he presses his tongue to the seam of her lips and, at her grant of access, delves inside her mouth. Her arms reach up and tangle around his thick, strong neck. She pulls away and arches up into his broad chest, moaning at the contact of his body heat against her own, before returning her mouth to his. She can feel the slight burn of his bourbon as it seeps down her throat with every push of his tongue against hers.
Several moments pass before he finds the wherewithal to step back. "I need to go. Please think about what I said," he gives her a wistful look, then walks through the door and out of her life... at least for now.
Elena watches him drive away then pushes the door closed, sliding down it as her eyes begin to mist over. As much as she knows he's right, it's for the best that she considers everything he talked about, it still hurt to see him go. She sits on the floor for a long time before she gets up, turns out the lights and retreats to her bedroom where she curls up in her bed, knowing with absolute certainly that sleep will prove elusive on this night.
"Well, if you want my opinion, I think you should forget about him. There's tons of guys you work with who are dying to go out with you," Caroline swats a fly at it buzzes around her face.
Elena's walking on beach alongside her friend, her eyes moving from sand to stone, from rock pools to breaking waves. In the warm summer sunshine she breathes in the briny aroma. The new rays of the day bring a frisson of energy to her finger tips. She watches the seagulls swoop in and around the sand as they bring their high pitched squawks to a percussion of pebbles to the shoreline. It's a beautiful day, one for dreaming of what ifs.
"Caroline, I love you but this decision is mine. I think it was really unselfish and considerate of him to ask me to think about all the consequences of being with a law officer."
"I suppose, and you know I'll support you no matter what, I just don't know why you'd put yourself in that position?"
"Just stop, okay?" Elena stoops over, picks up a stone and skips it across the water. "I'm going to head home, I promised Nik that I'd watch the twins for a couple hours. He's taking Camille to a movie."
"So they're hitting it off?"
"Yes, I think it's great, she really cares for Noah and Nadia, they love her too plus there's the added benefit of Nik not hovering and invading my space so much."
"Yeah, I was wondering what was up with that," Caroline glances at her.
"I think he felt it was his duty to Katherine but he and I had a few words so..."
"I'm glad you did otherwise I may have had to," Care elbows her playfully. "Do you have to go, I thought you told me his parents are visiting?"
"Yep, they are but he wants them to be able to go out too. I'll call you later," Elena gives her best friend a hug and then jogs off towards the parking lot.
As sand slides from the bucket, Elena watches. For that tiny moment the waves hush and the birds hold their chattering. She feels as if the beach is a photograph and she's eternal within it. She dreams of the inner life of his castle, the one formed at her touch. Music bounces from within,beautiful notes grow into dancing, bringing the people to movement. She sees a million sunrises and the starry nights that follow, each as crisp and perfect as the last. And then the moment blossoms into a fresh one.
The corner of the castle crumbles as if it were a raisin cake in the hand of a hungry child. Elena laughs as Noah and Nadia pile their buckets of sand onto it. Now the sandcastle has character. She breathes in the seaside air. Soon she is creating a story, one of bravery and love, one of strong open hearts, telling it to her niece and nephew as they dip their little toes in the warm, golden sand.
Elena ran with Caroline at the beach this morning. The home Nik and Katherine were to move into is now complete, it's a seaside home with a private beach. After the kids wore themselves out, she took them inside and put them down for a nap before making herself a cup of tea. She's sitting at the kitchen table staring into nothingness as her thoughts shift to Damon.
"Elena?"
She looks up to see Nik's mother Esther. "Do you mind if I join you?"
"No, help yourself. There's some other teas in the cupboard if you don't like that kind," she points at the box on the counter.
Esther nods, "I checked on the kids before I came downstairs, they're sound asleep."
"Thanks, I was going to go up in a little bit too," Elena takes sip of her tea just as the older woman sits down. Her mind drifts to Damon yet again...
"Is something troubling you, dear?"
"Am I that obvious?" she gets up to refill her glass.
"A little yes. Do you want to tell me about it?"
Elena smiles and figures why not, she'll give her an unbiased opinion. "One of the men that helped solve Katherine's case is a Texas Ranger. He loves and wants to be with me but he also told me that I need to give it a lot of thought. Being a policeman or a law officer is dangerous, he wants me to go into it with my eyes open."
"Do you love him?"
"I do, but I can't deny I am a little scared."
"Oh sweetheart," Esther squeezes her hand. "Let me tell you something. My first husband, Ansel was a police officer."
"I had no idea you were married before."
"I don't talk about him much. He died in the line of duty and he did take a piece of my heart with him. Niklaus is his son, he was only 10 months old when his father died. Elijah is Mikael's son. I won't go into all our family dynamics but when we married, I adopted Elijah and he adopted Niklaus. I love Elijah as if he came from my body and Mikael adores Niklaus," Esther takes swallow from her mug.
"The reason I'm telling you this is - even if someone had a crystal ball and had shown me that I would lose Ansel, I wouldn't change a thing. He taught me the meaning of love and selflessness. I'm not telling you what to do, Elena, I would never do that and neither should anyone else. It's your life and you have to make the decision that's right for you no matter what that choice may be."
"You've given me a lot to consider, Esther. Thank you for entrusting me with your story."
"You're welcome. You certainly don't have to stay around here on a Friday evening if you have plans. Mikael and I are here to watch the youngsters."
"Thank you again," Elena gets up and puts her cup in the sink.
"Elena, just remember there is no wrong answer. Whichever path you follow will be the right one for you." Esther adds, an understanding look on her face.
"Goodbye," Elena picks up her bag off the counter then leaves through kitchen door, her mind buzzing with possibilities and everything Esther revealed.
Rather than going straight home, Elena drives down towards the water, taking scenic Harborside Drive to chill for a bit and to get her myriad of thoughts into some kind of order. Before heading for home, she turns onto Moody Avenue, stopping at 'The Wine Next Door' to buy a nice bottle to take home.
After having a bite to eat, she sets the mood in her bathroom. She lights some candles, puts a CD of soft music in her player and with a generous glassful of Stella Rosa Imperiale Russo Lux, she drops her robe, climbs into her tub and slides down into the bubbles. The bath gel she used is iridescent so the bubbles are rainbow colored as she ducks down under the water, rising up with her hair and face covered in them. Taking the stem of her glass, she takes a good swallow then leans back and closes her eyes.
Music fills the small space, like the waves filling holes in beach sand. As it reaches a crescendo, she imagines sharing quiet moments like these with him. Moonlight walks along the beach, riding the Ferris Wheel on the pier, sailing, picnics and even collecting sand dollars that wash onto the shore. She knows all of it is a possibility with Damon. Suddenly her eyes snap open, she's known the answer all along.
She loves him.
He never leaves her mind, he's always there; emotionally if not physically. It's just incomprehensible. His eyes are stunning. They remind her of a fragile piece of blue china, the lightest shade of teal, the sea floor in which she could be swimming in right this second.
This feeling is so strange; it stretches throughout her whole body. It's overwhelming, yet makes her feel complete. It has no bounds nor lengths nor depths - it's absolute. It feels as though her heart is dancing around inside her chest and a hole, she was never aware of before has been filled.
It's him, it's Damon.
Jumping out of the tub, she quickly dries off, throws her hair into a bun and runs to her bedroom where her phone is sitting on her bedside stand. She feels giddy and silly but she can't help it. Pickng it up, she pushes his icon, biting her bottom lip while waiting for him to answer.
"Hope your day's going better than mine."
"It is now that I hear your voice," she smiles.
"Same. As much as I want to talk to you all night, I'm on my way to the station."
"Before you go... something happened today. I came to a realization about you...about us. It's the most real thing that I have ever felt in my entire life. I love you, Damon. I love you."
"Listen carefully. Get in your car, right now. Come to me."
"I'll be there sooner than you think," she hangs up the phone. Dressing quickly, she throws some clothes in a bag, grabs her purse and after locking her home, she drives to the airport to catch a flight to Lubbock.
*On July 7, 2016, a man ambushed and fired upon a group of police officers in Dallas, Texas, killing five and injuring nine others.
Chapter title: 'New York' by Snow Patrol.
Our DE version of Sweet Home Alabama - updated Tuesday.
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