Upon exiting the plane, Elena feels giddy with excitement. She wants to run, to shout, to tell everyone that she's in love. Her mind is like a butterfly, every fiber of her being is vibrating with anticipation. Adrenaline is coursing through her veins. Her hands tremble and her eyes are wide. 'This is what a cat must feel like waiting to pounce on a mouse,' she laughs at herself.

There's an explosion in her brain... the good sort... the type that carries more possibilities than she can be conscious of... but there are hundreds of ideas there in that buzz of electricity... she can feel it. It's the calling card of adventure, of paths awaiting her feet. Whatever is ahead will be a great challenge, and there can be tears, but it's her adventure to take and so she smiles as his image appears in her mind.

With only her carry on bag, she doesn't need to make a stop at the baggage carousel. While in flight, she texted Damon her arrival time, he said he'd be there to meet her. When she turns to look around for him, Damon steps from the shadows, stealing her breath and the heat from her skin.

Before she can draw in the air her body needs she melts into his form. She feels his firm torso and the heart that beats within. His hands fold around her back, drawing her in closer. Her body shakes, happy tears fill her eyes at just being in his arms.

Damon pulls his head back and wipes the tears with a calloused finger, even this roughness brings more relief than her heart can hold. He's devouring her with his eyes, running his hand through her hair, as if he can't quite believe she's not part of an almost forgotten dream. When he kisses her it's sweet, gentle, and it tastes of her tears.

She wants to speak but all she can do is croak, "I love you."

"I love you too," his mouth paints a soft smile before folding her in his arms again.

"Look there, one is poking its head out," Elena points to the prairie dog, then opens her flyer and reads to him. Their 'towns' can cover as much as 1,000 acres of prairie land. They consist of a series of connected underground burrows. It's subdivided into "wards" and they're further subdivided into "coteries." A coterie consists of one adult male, up to four females, and offspring up to two years of age," she pauses to smile at a couple of tiny ones.

"Prairie dogs within a ward greet each other with bared teeth, which is a kind of a "kiss" and a form of recognition."

"Isn't that sweet," Damon puckers his lips teasingly.

"Shut up," she smacks him playfully before continuing. "They feed on grass and herbs during the cool hours of the day. During this time, they also greet and groom each other. A "sentry" prairie dog always sits at the opening to a burrow keeping watch. A bark is sounded as a warning for all to dive into their burrows until the "all clear" signal is given."

"They seem to be really social animals," Damon rubs his arm where she smacked him.

"Oh stop it, I didn't hit you hard," she rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, you weren't on the receiving end," he arches an eyebrow.

"Fine," she leans over to kiss the spot. "All better now?"

"Much, but it hurts here too," he presses the pad of his index finger to his eyelid. Amused, she kisses it too.

"And here," he lightly pats his lower lip.

Elena laughs and leans forward. Her kiss is brief, just a peck really and still it obliterates every thought in his mind. A kiss like this is a beginning, a promise of much more to come...

Elena loves riding the bike. She hasn't been on one in so long, she forgot how much she enjoys it. Damon's beside her, they've ridden the bike path through the park and then they stopped to watch a kids baseball game for a few innings. Afterwards they stopped at a Starbucks to get a refresher before taking off again.

The wind is fresh, the sky is overcast and threatening storms but the fragrance is cleaner than newly washed laundry. In a few minutes their bikes are moving down the trail like they have motors, their legs moving up and down almost without effort over the flat ground. Ahead is the river and the bridge that arches so perfectly it must have been constructed with more math than she wants to think about right now.

As they head over it, they lean forward on the pedals, pushing down with their body weight. Then they coast to the loose shingle on the other side and bear left along the bank. Somewhere people are in offices, stressed, somewhere babies are being born but she has no power over any of that. She can enjoy the day and her time with Damon and let these moments sink into her memory to treasure forever.

The boom rolls across the valley, announcing the start of what the brooding cloud layer has promised since dawn. They begin to sprawl across the sky, billowing in from the west. The air grows heavy and the humidity presses down, suffocating. The scent of rain is dark and heady. A stillness falls over the atmosphere, and in the silence comes a low crackle of thunder and the pattering of tiny raindrops. For a moment, everything stops. Even the wind holds its breath. A streak of hot silver splits the sky, and the downpour begins.

Thunder comes like the prelude to a great song, impetuous rumbling permeating the air every bit as much as the sudden rain. At first it's a crack, violent to the ears, but after comes a rolling sound that dissipates into the surrounding hills.

They're not far from where Damon's staying so they quickly pedal home. They dump their bikes and secure them on the rack. He reaches out for her, stopping her from going inside. He cradles her cheeks as the rain runs down their faces to where their lips meet, each of them tasting the cold drops. Instead of detracting from the intensity of the moment it brings them to new heights. Damon pushes his lips in more firmly and the wave that runs through her is intoxicating, making her head swim as she pulls back to take in his ruggedly handsome face.

Then they are all push and pull, clawing at each other with a sort of animalistic need, like they won't be close enough until they are one. Damon's hands slide down the backs of her thighs and lift her to him, not breaking their kiss once. Elena immediately wraps her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders. He starts to walk as the rain continues to soak them. Not that she cares. Her lips are too busy tasting every inch of skin within reach. His neck, chest, the hollow of his throat. Her hands fist into his shirt, holding onto him as if he's trying to get away.

Damon shifts her weight a bit and she hears the sound of a door first opening, then closing. Her back comes in contact with a wall and she unwraps her legs from around Damon's waist. His arousal rocks right into her core as her feet touch the floor. Her teeth sink into his bottom lip as pleasure rockets through her. When Damon tears his lips from hers, he's breathing just as heavily as she is. He slides his palms over her shirt, cupping her breasts in his hands.

"I love you," she tells him without hesitation.

"I love you, too," he replies huskily and then his lips are on hers again.

His hands fist the hem of her tank top and he wastes no time pulling it off, nearly ripping it in two in his haste to get to bare skin. His appreciative gaze is addicting. His lips capture hers again and the passion between them could surely set the house on fire. Before she knows it, her bra is somewhere across the room.

"Make me yours, Damon," she moans while his lips blaze a path from her jaw to her ear.

"Mine," he growls possessively. His voice sounds strangled, like he's holding onto his control by a thread. She wants to drive him as crazy for her as she is for him.

She pushes his shirt up his chest, letting her hands glide over his damp skin. He quickly loses patience, bends his arms to pull it off by the back of the neck and tosses it behind him. Her eyes rake over the newly exposed expanse of skin.

"I missed this," she practically purrs as she scrapes her fingernails down his chest. A shudder runs through his body and his breath catches as he falls forward against the wall, his forearms bracing himself on either side of her head. His breath is warm on her skin and goosebumps erupt when he drags his lips up her neck to suckle the spot right behind her ear.

"Damon," she whimpers as her trembling fingers pop open the button on his jeans and lower the zipper. The sound of it echoes in her ears and only makes her want him more. She slides her hand into his pants - pushes them down over his hips and wraps her hand around him. He's hot and heavy as she strokes his rigid flesh. Damon doesn't let that continue though, next thing she knows, he's pinning her wrists to the wall on either side of her head.

"I can't wait any longer."

He leans in close, so close that her bare breasts graze his chest with every one of her panting breaths. Both of their lips are parted. For a while they just stand there, staring into the other's eyes and breathing each other in. She closes the scant distance between their lips and Damon responds immediately.

He drops to his knees in front of her as he pulls off her boots and socks, letting them fall unceremoniously to the ground. He wastes no time in going for the button and zipper of her shorts. Elena holds onto his shoulders as he pulls them down her long svelte legs along with her panties, lifting one foot then the other so he can slip them off. She closes her eyes at the erotic picture of Damon kneeling before her.

His hands trail up the backs of her legs as he rises to his feet, lifting her thighs and letting her lock her ankles behind his back while he positions himself. His arms wrap around her waist, holding her flush against his chest and in one graceful push, he's inside.

Elena cries out and digs her nails into his shoulders to hold on while he sets a punishing rhythm. His grunts fill the room as he drives into her again and again. She can feel the tension building quickly, it's been so long since she's had him and never like this.

"I'm not going to last," he growls in her ear, his movements becoming more chaotic as he chases his release. His hands drop to her ass and his fingers sink into her flesh. When he changes the angle and hits her sweet spot, she's launched into the stratosphere in a blaze of white light and pops of color. She cries out his name as her body squeezes him and she can feel him pulse deep within her. Elena opens her eyes to see his head thrown back and his lips parted as he joins her in a sweet oblivion. Never has she seen anything more gorgeous and it makes her want more - every last piece of him.

Damon drops his head to the crook of her neck as they both float down from their simultaneous release. He slowly pulls out of her and she misses him the moment he's gone. Her legs flop toward the ground and if it wasn't for his arms around her, she'd be a boneless heap on the floor.

Damon's head slowly comes up and his blue eyes are bright and so full of love. "You're so beautiful," he whispers like he can't possibly say it enough. Like he's making up for all those months they spent apart. He bends down and sweeps her into his arms, cradling her against his chest.

"Let's go to bed," he says as he kisses her cheek and starts to move. Her arms remain around his neck and she begins to kiss every inch of bare flesh she can get her lips on. By the time he turns down the covers and lays her down, her need for him begins rising again. As Damon kicks off his boots and nearly rips off his socks, she sits up to finish what she started. She runs her hands over his stomach and dips them into his jeans to run them over his very fine ass. She lets them trail down the back of his thighs, taking his jeans with them. He shucks them the rest of the way off and she leans back to shamelessly admire him. Her eyes rakes over his strong shoulders, the corded muscles of his chest and abs and...his impressive length.

Elena looks up to find those blue eyes gazing at her. He dips his head and kisses her slowly, pouring all of his love into his kiss. It's intoxicating. He kneels between her legs as his lips blaze a path across her jaw and down her neck. She turns her head and moans at the sensation of his mouth on her skin. He nips and sucks his way across her collarbone and down her chest. Air hisses through her teeth when he takes one of her nipples into his mouth, cupping and kneading the other with his strong hand, reducing her to needy whimpers. He moves his mouth to her other breast until her body is bowing off the bed.

Elena opens her eyes to see his mass of black hair and feel his lips moving down her belly. He settles between her thighs and looks up as his tongue darts out and laves her tender flesh.

"Dear God," she cries as the pleasure rockets through her. Her eyes snap shut while his mouth and tongue do the most wonderful things. In no time, he has her thrashing on the bed with her fingers fisting in his hair as she tries to find her release. It remains elusive however because Damon knows just when to back off.

When he has her teetering on the edge of oblivion again, he pulls away completely. She actually growls at him. His only response is a throaty chuckle before covering her body with his. His erection is hot against her thigh.

"Damon," she whispers. He pulls back to look her in the eyes.

Letting out a shaky breath, he positions himself and when he rocks forward, she holds her breath, waiting for that moment when he completes them. But instead, he teases her, sliding himself across her slippery skin. She groans in frustration and flexes her fingers into his back, digging her nails in.

"Damon," she grumbles into his shoulder.

"I've got you," he replies right before he rolls them over, settling her on top.

Elena lowers herself slowly, letting herself adjust and when he's fully seated inside of her, she gasps at fire burning in his blue eyes.

"God, you're perfect," he groans from deep in his throat. She runs her hands over his chest before tangling her fingers with his, holding them next to his head on the mattress. She leans down and kisses him softly and then starts to move. Everything about this moment is perfect. Elena's eyes never once leave Damon's. Their parted lips brush with every roll of her hips.

Elena sits up, arching her back and crying out in pleasure. Damon follows, sitting up, wrapping his arms around her and pressing his lips to hers. The change in position is heady and she moans into his mouth, giving him the opportunity to slip his warm tongue past her teeth. She holds onto his shoulders, practically clawing at his flesh as he thrusts up. Her breath catches with every one, and her only focus is the feeling building inside.

"I'm close," Elena grips his shoulders even harder.

Damon moves his hands to her hips and rolls her beneath him. He braces his elbows on either side of her head and she wraps her legs around his waist as he starts to thrust again. His hips move like pistons, back and forth, soon becoming more erratic as his own release nears. One of his hands slides down her body, his fingertips caress that bundle of nerves again and again in perfect time with his thrusts.

His hair is damp, his eyes are squeezed shut, and his mouth is parted. She's fascinated watching his expressions, seeing what she does to him. With this image, her orgasm washes over her, a pleasure so intense that it's almost painful. Elena can feel her inner walls squeezing him. He drives into her one last time before he growls her name with his head thrown back.

He lets out a shaky breath before he collapses on top of her. She loves the feel of his weight pressing her into his mattress and she wraps herself around him, refusing to let him roll off of her. It takes several minutes, but their breathing finally evens out and Damon pushes himself up onto his elbows to look down at her. His fingers brush her damp hair off her face and then he cups her cheek in his warm palm, running his thumb over her bottom lip while her fingers dance up and down his sweat slicked back.

"I love you," he feels the need to declare it again. His adoring gaze makes her heart clench with unbridled happiness.

"I love you, too," Elena affirms without hesitation.

He smiles before giving her a chaste kiss and rolling off of her. She pouts dramatically - she still wants to cuddle - but it vanishes when he tugs down the covers, settles her between the sheets and pulls her to him. He lies on his side and she snuggles up to his chest, wrapping one arm around his waist as he throws one of his legs over hers. They are totally intertwined and for the first time in a very long while, she sleeps soundly.

Chapter title: 'Kiss You All Over' by Exile.

I posted the conclusion of 'Home Sweet Home' Tuesday.

The amazing Florencia7 started a "Homeland" story called "Warning Shots" if any of you are interested in that fandom.

Thank you all, so much. Take care and we'll see you next for the final chapter.