A/N: Thank you so much for your kind words! I love hearing from my readers, it keeps me motivated to keep going. I hope you like this next chapter!

I couldn't believe this. I was in New York City with Damon.

Apparently, Damon's name was catching wind quickly and he got an offer to do a shoot, out in NYC. It wasn't really his style, but he wanted to take every offer he could get to get his name out there. It was going to be a in studio shoot with a lingerie company.

I had to contain the jealousy that boiled inside me as I thought about Damon photographing models in next to nothing. But when he asked me to come along and be his assistant for the day, it calmed me down.

This would be his first time doing a shoot with a team. He had to work with a creative director, makeup artists, hair stylists, wardrobe stylists, and many other big people with big opinions. He just really needed me for support, unsure of how this was going to go.

Since I was off for the summer and had nowhere to be, I agreed to go with him. Plus a few days alone with him might bring a little clarity to this relationship of ours. Was it purely platonic? Was it just lust? Was it a friendship? Or were there deeper feelings…

He seemed levelheaded on the flight there, and even as we got to our hotel. But as soon as we headed for the shoot, he got quiet, which I took as nerves.

I helped him set up as he was bombarded meeting several people. They were all intimidating and snooty. Right from the time we walked in, everyone was stressed. The creative director was arguing with another woman about the set up for the shoot. One of the hairstylists was struggling to get one of the model's hair to hold a curl. And the one over seeing everything was pacing on the phone upset about something.

Damon was doing some test shots, adjusting his camera and the lighting. I stood by waiting to see if he needed anything else from me when the boss guy came up to Damon pissed off. "One of the models is sick," he practically spat.

"Ok…" Damon seemed confused by the problem. "Can we just do it with the three we have?"

"Oliver August want's four girls," he shook his head. "My job will be on the line if I don't get another model here fast."

"Should we postpone it for tomorrow?" He asked. "When she feels better."

"I have a deadline," He looked at Damon like he was stupid. "Besides one of the other models has to get on a plane tonight. She has a runway show in Milan tomorrow."

The scary boss man turned to his assistant, "Call around now. We need a model here as soon as possible. And make sure it's a good one." His assistant scrambled off, pulling out her phone.

The guy's eyes settled on me and I nearly cringed from his intimidating stare. "Who's this?" He asked Damon.

"My assistant," Damon turned to me giving me an apologetic look. "Elena."

The guy walked up to me looking me up and down like I was a sculpture at a museum. Deciding if he liked it or not. He rested his hand under his chin and made a sound between a sigh and hum. "Stand up straight," he ordered me.

I immediately obeyed worried he was going to throw me out.

"Is she the girl from the fragrance ad you did?" He asked Damon, his eyes still studying me.

"Yes," Damon looked at me unsure.

"She'll do," he yelled out for his assistant who came running back to him. "I want her in makeup and hair pronto. Tell wardrobe they have to come size her too."

My eyes shot open in horror. "Wait, what?" I sounded meek and scared.

"You got the job," he sounded like I should be thankful.

"I'm not a model," I laughed nervously.

"Are you saying no?" His looked furious.

My eyes snapped to Damon. I didn't want to let him down. He worked so hard to get to where he was at. I couldn't be the reason it stopped. "I'll do it."

"Good," the man gave a tight-lipped smile before answering his incessant phone.

Damon walked up to me, "you don't have to do this."

"No, it's fine," I could feel my palms getting sweaty. "I just know I won't be any good. And lingerie? I don't have the body for that!" I started to panic.

"Elena relax," he grabbed my hands. "If that's seriously what your worried about, you need a serious reality check. You'll look great."

"I'm not a model," I looked into his eyes. "It'll be so obvious when I'm next to those girls."

"You did great the first time," he squeezed my hands[h1] . "Just pretend it's just you and me again…ok?"

I took a deep breath, not feeling much better. "Ok," I said anyway.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked again.

"You owe me a fancy dinner," I looked at him.

He chuckled, "Elena, I will give you whatever you want for doing this."

I was whisked away to be measured, plucked, groomed, and beautified. They put about 20 pounds worth of extensions in my already long hair and curled it. My hair looked like a Victoria secret angel. They did a soft make up look that made my skin look flawless. They added individual lashes to my eyes, making them look so real yet voluminous. They moisturized my entire body, and made sure I was completely hairless…

Wardrobe put me in cheeky lacy baby blue underwear. "Perfect," she mumbled to herself, as I turned around, for her to look. "You're good to go."

"What about a top?" I pointed to my bare chest that was thankfully covered by all the fake hair.

"It's just underwear," she looked at me like that was no big deal.

"What?" My voice squeaked. "I thought this was a lingerie line?"

"This is just an underwear launch," she grabbed a robe off the wall. "He doesn't want anything to distract from the product he's selling."

"Yeah, cause my nipples won't be a distraction or anything," I flushed.

"Relax," she waved me off. "Those will be covered by the hair, and the posing. They can't print that in a magazine," she reminded me. "Well... not that kind of a magazine anyway."

I couldn't do this… I couldn't pose topless in front of a room full of strangers.

She handed me the robe, "You can wear this until it's time to shoot."

I put the robe on and hesitantly walked out to the shoot. I needed to talk to the boss guy.

"Good, she's ready," everyone looked at me, anxious to start. And suddenly I swallowed my words. I couldn't let down everyone after I agreed to do it.

The other three models dropped their robes and walked onto the set. I looked at Damon, to see if he was shocked. Did he know this was going to be so… exposing?

He was talking to the creative director turned away from the models.

I took a deep breath before removing my robe. I hesitantly walked over by the other stunningly gorgeous models, feeling inferior. I made sure my hair was covering everything up top. Two of them, paid me no attention and the other, gave me a half smile. It wasn't overly friendly, but it was at least acknowledging.

"Ok," the creative director spoke loudly. "Let's get started." He started shouting out commands to everyone in the room.

Damon's eyes looked over at the models, before they fell on me. His expression was unreadable as he stared at me.

"Blue!" The creative director shouted loudly. I snapped my attention to him as I realized he was talking to me. Blue? Oh right. He must be referring to the color of my underwear. "Stay on the end and get closer." He gestured for us to scrunch closer.

"Alright," he seemed satisfied. "Let's start shooting."

The models immediately shifted their weight, molding into casual poses that looked so natural. Their face doing that eye smile thing, while their lips held zero tension.

I awkwardly moved my body trying to mimic them, while making it my own, and not completely copying them. I could hear the click of the camera and the flash. He was going fast, and the models were moving quickly, constantly changing their positions.

It was like a dance; every click and they were switching positions at the same time. It was a dance, and I couldn't find the rhythm.

"You're stiff blue," the creative director sounded bored and disappointed.

I tried relaxing but I could still feel the tension in every limb.

"No," he shook his head as I tried my best to look natural.

More clicks. More flashes.

"Ok, just stop," he held his hands up.

Damon turned to the director and I could hear him speaking quietly. The models seemed annoyed as they whispered to each other. I tried not to cry. I felt completely humiliated. I knew this was a bad idea.

After they exchanged words for a minute Damon set his camera on the table by the monitors. He walked over to me, standing close. "Breathe," he spoke calmly. "You can do this. Just pretend it's you and me."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

"Just pretend were in the woods again. Do exactly what you did there," his thumb brushed my chin, as he looked at me like he believed in me. "You look beautiful by the way."

He stepped away and went to grab his camera. As he picked it up, he looked at me, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Let's try this again," the creative director sounded less than optimistic.

Click. Flash. Click. Flash. Him. Me. The woods. Him and me. Me and him.

My body was moving, and I wasn't even thinking anymore. I made subtle changes every click and every flash. I had no idea if it was looking good, but I was calm. I just kept my eyes on him. He was my focal point, and I was solely focused on him.

"Blue!" The creative director broke me from my trance.

I looked at him, suddenly nervous. "Move," he pointed to a spot. I hesitantly walked to the center. He ordered the other models to shift.

Click. Flash. Click. Flash.

"Those eyes," I heard the creative director whisper to the boss guy as they sat side by side staring at the monitor. "That's exactly what Mr. August wanted."

The boss guy nodded in agreement. "The innocence."

Were they talking about me?

"Yes!" he pointed a finger at Damon. "Stop."

He pointed at the monitor so Damon could look. "That's it."

Damon smiled as he looked at the picture. He peered over the monitor to look at me, giving me a wink.

"We still need individuals of the models when we finish with the group," he said out loud. "For the website. When they order."

The other three models took their individuals first since they all had places to be. Everyone else was packing up to leave for the day. It was just the creative director, the boss guy, and Damon and I left.

"Do you care taking hers by yourself?" The director asked. "We are going to run and grab something to eat. It's been a long day."

"Yeah, that's fine," Damon nodded.

"I'll have it programmed to my phone in case there is something I need changed I'll call you," the two guys started standing up. "just have her do the same poses as the other girls."

"Ok," Damon nodded.

"Good job blue," the director pointed at me before leaving us to wrap up.

Damon quickly shot the four images the director wanted. It was so much easier working alone with him. There was no added pressure or intimidating eyes glaring into my soul.

"Ugh, my feet," Damon groaned as he collapsed on a nearby couch.

I giggled, before hearing my phone ring.

I walked over to my stuff digging out my phone from my purse. "Hello?" I answered the unknown number.

"Is this Elena Gilbert?" The woman asked.

"Yes, this is her."

"I'm Fiona Carlson calling from The Carlson Publishing House," she said.

I froze not expecting to ever get a call from a publisher.

"I'm an editor here at Carlson, and I was wondering if you'd be able to meet soon," she continued.

"Of course!" My voice sounded shaky. "When?"

"How soon can you be in New York?" She asked.

"I'm actually here now," I could feel my heart beating out of my chest.

"Oh perfect," she sounded surprised. "I'll have my assistant call you back later today. She will set you up with a day and time."

"Ok," I squeaked.

"I look forward to meeting you."

"You too," I smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she said. "I'll see you soon."

"Sounds good."

"Bye," she said before hanging up.

I set my phone down, and turned towards Damon.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"That was a book editor," I whispered. "She wants to meet with me."

"That's awesome!" Damon stood up walking towards me.

"I'm going to be a published author," My smile grew wider.

"I knew you could do it," he stood in front of me.

I threw my arms around him. I felt like I was on cloud nine. I never thought this day would come, yet here I was. My dreams were coming true.

Damon twisted me in his arms so that I was pressed against his back. I was beginning to think this was his favorite way to hold me. He pulled out his phone and turned the screen towards us. His camera was pulled up, and he was about to take a picture.

"Damon!" I protested. "You can totally tell I'm not wearing anything on top!"

My hair was still covering my chest, but you could see bare skin all the way the center of my body. His hand was pressed against my stomach.

"Relax, I'm not going to post it on Instagram," he snorted. "It'll be for my eyes only."

I could not help but smile at the sound of that. He wanted a picture of us, that only he would see. I flushed, unable to help the smile that crossed my face, and he quickly snapped a picture of the two of us.

"Yes, I got it." He looked at the picture. "That adorable little blushing of yours."

My face burned as his hand grabbed mine pulling me to the couch.

"Sit," he ordered.

I sat down looking up at him confused.

"I want another one of you," he smiled mischievously. "The sun is gorgeous behind you."

I was stiff unsure of what to do. I was still not used to this whole picture taking thing. I never met someone who desired to take pictures of me before… especially so many.

"My eyes only," he reminded me.

I felt a surge of confidence. He made me feel strong… empowered. Around him I felt beautiful, and sexy. I felt like the only girl in the room when we were in a room full of people. I had a crazy idea, and I had no idea how he'd react.

"I will kill you if this gets out," I warned, as I shifted my position.

He smirked at my threat.

I moved to my knees and sat back on my heels. I took a deep breathe praying that I wasn't being foolish. I brushed my hair back over my shoulders, so it cascaded down my back. I was completely exposed to him, and I felt so thrilled. It felt dangerous… risky. I could feel my nipples harden at the excitement.

Damon's smirk fell as he stared at me. I could see the jaw muscles tense in his jaw.

My chin was pointed down as I flashed my eyes to his, looking through my long lashes. My lips slightly parted, as we intently stared at each other. It was the most intense, intimate moment I had ever experienced in my life.

He was kneeled down in front of me, as he raised his phone and snapped the picture.

He tucked his phone in his pocket, as he kept his gaze fixed on mine. We were both utterly silent.

I was so lost in the moment, that I almost didn't hear the voices, until Damon quickly stood up. He grabbed my hair and threw it back over my exposed breasts. The door opened and the creative director walked in with the boss guy. "We were almost all the way there, when I realized I forgot my wallet," the director explained making a silly face. He walked over to the computer monitors and grabbed a black tri-fold wallet, he smiled before leaving.

"I'm going to get dressed," I looked at him as I got off the couch.

"Good idea," he looked flustered.

A/N: What'd you think? Next chapter was fun to write ;) Stay tuned.