A/N: I typically write weird or sci-fi stuff, but this will be 'normal' and a romance. Damon will be a vampire, and Elena a human who are dealing with a strange degree of attraction as they get to know one another. Wanted to create angst for a bit. Is he good or bad, Elena will wonder. She has no idea of the vampire world just yet. Probably a one shot unless there is interest. I used diff characters because I am tired of Caroline and Katherine and even Stefan. I will take this one as it goes.

Title: Game On

Music; it was all around, blaring its loudness into her ears. Elena closed her eyes and embraced the sounds. Tomorrow may hurt being this close to the bass, but for now, it was just too easy to get lost in it. The way the beat thrummed its weary tune against her skin was like a silken lovers hands. It simply made her forget the consequences of tomorrow, something she desperately needed. It had been too long, too long indeed, since she'd let loose. She felt it nearly swallow her whole, and embraced the sensations that danced along her skin. Yes, this felt right, she thought absently.

Rose, a friend, smiled over at Elena who swayed to the music. The room was crowded; bodies melded as they danced. It was as if they were a swarm rather than individuals. "I admire your ability to just let go, Elena."

"You're too self-conscious about yourself." A smile pried its way across her lips as her eyes slit open. In an almost drunken stupor, Elena gave a sneaky smile to Rose. "Well, I've got nothing to lose. I'll never see these people here again. In that way, sure as hell it's easy."

Rose raised her beer in Elena's direction and they laughed. "Cheers to that!"

Rose, as Elena had come to know her, was a free spirited recluse if there ever was one. She was a living walking contradiction. One moment she was caught up in Elena's zest for life, and in another she was aloof or distant. Sometimes, it was if she were in another time or place.

Thirst suddenly consumed her thoughts jarring Elena from her fun, "hey." She grabbed Rose's arm, "I'm a bit thirsty. I'll be back in a bit."

"Alrighty," Rose yelled across the increasing volume. She finished her beer and handed it off. "Toss this please? OH! Text me if you need me." She eyed the man behind her and swiftly met Elena's glance in a knowing smile. Yum, she mouthed.

"Wild!" Elena hollered her friend's way. She turned to leave, and five minutes later broke free of the mass of bodies on the dance floor. She tossed the empty bottle that reeked of Bud Light into the trash and fixed her hair up into a tight bun. Ah, air. Man, the crowd is out tonight. "Phew," She waved a hand over the sweat that had lightly beaded on her forehead. Spotting an opening at the bar, she headed in for the small hole. Before she could finish her attempt, she managed to bump into a man that had backed up suddenly.

"Sorry!" She clumsily fumbled. A bit of liquor slid along her arm before slapping onto the floor. "Dammit." She bent over to wipe the partials of bourbon from her legs. A mass of brown hair covered her face as her make-shift bun came loose. She noted the shoes of the man before her-nice shoes. They were expensive. Oh damn, her mind muttered.

Quickly rising with a fake smile, Elena was ready to pretend she was drunk and innocent. Sometimes men would forgive stupidity if they thought a girl was drunk. Or worse yet, easy. That little lie faded the moment she saw the man in front of her.

The man turned then, as she shook herself of the potent smell, eyes bright with irritation. When they met hers, they widened fractionally; more at the ends than the entire eye. His mouth parted slightly as he inhaled, and Elena found her eyes drawn to the most beautiful mouth she'd ever seen.

Time stopped for her as she stood there like an idiot. "Oh, um…" Man, I can't think! Say something…

Shaking herself into awareness, she managed to pry her eyes from his mouth. Only he was staring down at hers. Licking her lips subconsciously, she cleared her throat in an attempt to get back on track. God, she wondered dreamily. Taking him in as she was, she noted he was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. Hell he could be a God, but then…he probably has that complex good looking men have.

Odd as it was, Elena found herself as intrigued with him as he was of her. He could pull off beautiful and still maintained an air of masculinity. Stomach rolling with uneasiness, she wondered about him. It was like time was slowing…again. "I think I DID drink too much. " While a woman, her need for men had never left her reeling as she was right now.

"I that so….?" His voice was smooth, fine-tuned, and direct. Thought he spoke, his eyes were still on her mouth.

She caught the faintest hint of an Italian accent beneath the surface. Then he looked at her. When he did that, Elena felt naked beneath his scrutinized stare. It was like he could see right through her. Into the core of her in a way no man had ever really seen her. Absently, she crossed her arms as both the stirrings of fear and excitement blossomed to life. With so many emotions, Elena felt the odd desire to run. He smiled at her then and started to dab himself of his spilled Bourbon.

Oh, he's a ladies man. Look at that shirt... Her eyes were drawn to his hands that inspired images to form in her head.

Feeling her heart shrink down a notch, Elena found it easier to focus when she thought of him as a taker. Invisible walls came between them and the stranger blinked at her like he'd tasted something new. She felt her brow twitch with the same quickness as it had earlier. Many foreign men found American girls easy. Add that with his looks and that intense stare he was giving her again, and Elena felt a bit of sadness. This always happened to her when she felt desire. Then came a strong line of excuses. For once, I wish I could just give in.

The stranger seemed perplexed then. "Are you ok?"

Stereotyping wasn't her usual thing, but then again neither were men. On most days everyone got a free chance. Today, however, this man gave her enough pauses to be cautious. She was free spirited, moved from place to place, and did what she wanted when she wanted. He was searching for a name, but she wasn't one to give it. It was like something unspoken about him gave her enough unplaced apprehension right down to her bones. "Yes," she shook herself again. 'I'm so sorry I was an opening and I ran for it."

Looking past him, Elena waved her twenty at the bartender and said, "Here, another round for the man here."

The bartender took the money and made the drink handing it off to Damon. He turned as if surprised and looked over to the glass. When he was distracted, Elena made it a point to disappear. She was not bait, nor a girl who got caught up with strangers. Rose was going to give her shit about it. Well, not if you don't tell her, Elena.

Being sneaky was kind of fun as it rolled its thrill down her spine. She welcomed the change of pace, like most things, and sighed relieved. It's not like the man had done anything to set of her inner alarms, but he had this charisma, this draw that was so intense, even breathing became a chore.

Once a safe distance away she saw him at the bar. Though looking casual, his eyes searched the crowd looking for her. And how she knew that was beyond her. Heart racing, Elena managed to find a seat and watch him. He may have been sipping curiously and looking around with abandoned, but Elena felt her stomach coil once more. It was the way he did it.

Her phone buzzed, and she reached for her purse before digging it out. Rose was leaving with the guy she'd been dancing with. Well, good for you Rose. She smiled once more and thought about Rose. This was big for her.

This girl, while being so strange, was extremely smart and that drew Elena in like a moth to a flame. She only seemed to veer out during the evening which was not that uncommon in college. They'd clicked almost instantly, partying down the town and working on midterms. This had been the first time Elena had set foot in a place for more than 6 months at a time. And she was glad. That yearning to move and uproot had grown bigger though as the time went on. Rose and she often talked about Elena's inability to stay in one place. There were times she wondered if her fascination with Rose's stories kept her here.

With a raised eye brow she said to herself, "never thought I'd see the day…" She grinned once more and texted back 'good luck' before burying the phone in her purse. When she zipped it closed and looked up, those eyes were nearly penetrating through the room separating them. Unable to breath then, Elena gasped. He was staring intently at her. How had he found her across the masses of people?

Suddenly, it was too hot in here and she ducked down looking for an exit. Her heart hammered against her chest like it moved to the beat of unseen fear. She looked around to see if it could possibly be anyone else. He made her feel weak and scared all at once. Men may look, but they never stared-not like that. Again she got mixed feeling about it and decided it was best if she just left. The way he was looking...it was like he could have eaten her...like he hungered for her. No one had ever given her that look before.

As her head slowly came back to look on the stranger once more, she noticed he was gone. Deciding now was a good time to leave, she turned and rose so abruptly that her front smacked against yet another person. Her purse fell from her hands in the same instant a hand reached up and grabbed it before it fell to the floor.

Mid air. Elena's mouth formed a small O and remained opened with surprise. He'd caught it!

She reached out automatically for it when her hand brushed against the strangers. An electrical charge burned its way up her arm startling her gaze upward. Two blue orbs stared back. She took a step back and he followed.

"Are you always so clumsy ma'am?" A rich smile beamed through his face showing a row of nice white teeth.

Her eyes fell to those lips once more, "No not normally." He invaded her space.

Damon tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes a small degree. "Hi," he spoke finally.

Her eyes lifted again to his, and they were pools of endless blue. God I could lose myself in them…

And then it seemed to happen. The world around them faded away, and she could feel a wall at her back suddenly. Unable to tear her eyes from his, Elena felt her blood run hot. The need to f...STOP IT ELENA. Do not go there-he's a stranger. She knew desire when she saw it, and he was definitely feeling that. "You feel it?" He said with a degree of surprise. She couldn't respond, yet her chest heaved with breath answering for her. His lovely hand raised and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she watched the movement with her eyes. His fingers lingered across her skin as a rush of air escaped her mouth.

I can't breathe...again she tried to breathe in . His eyes fell to her chest watching, adoring, needing. It was then, as she shivered beneath his touch, traced down the side of her cheek in a sweet gesture. "What is your name?" His fingers continued the lightest of touches, trailing down across her neck, and raising a few hairs.

Seemingly unreserved, her mouth said, "Elena." Wait, what?

His smile broadened then, and a warm feeling seemed to engulf him. He reached out another finger. Her eyes watched it out of the corner of her sight. His scent invaded her head. When she didn't object he asked her, "Are you here with a man?" His hand lightly caressed between her breasts without touching them. Next, they slid down to her belly. Lower...lower...he made a series of small circles.

"No. Just a friend. She's gone through." Wait…why am I…saying these things? His touch had her burning with desire, lust, and even a need she'd never felt. Though he touched her, parts of her body ached to be sought.

Ladies man, Elena. Ladies man...Though she tried to focus, the cloud of want was graying out her ability to think.

His eyes dropped to her lips this time. That finger touched her hair, and Elena felt the familiar buzz from his earlier contact. "Your hair smells good." His head dipped in then and a finger wrapped a strand of her brown hair around itself. His eyes never left hers. Chest shaking, and nerves on edge, Elena gasped when his head was within inches of her own. He turned that head slowly, moving in the rest of the way when she hadn't pulled away.

"Elena." Her name glided of his vocals like fine wine. A sharp heated began to flood her core as she tried to breath. She was sure he could hear the uneven breaths and feel her shivering in place. Sure enough he released her hair and his palms rubbed her arms to warm them.

Oh just touch me…his hands were within inches of…his hands slowed some. It was like he'd heard her.

Their mouths were barely touching; their eyes were locked in the most intimate of embraces without touch. "Elena." His breath was warm and sweet with the after taste of bourbon.

"Yes?" Her brows formed a small V.

He looked up at it as if memorized. "Then his eyes landed back on hers, followed by the motion of his head. She breathed in his exhale, sighed and pressed back against the wall. The coolness steadied her against that intense stare.

His head bowed down and his lips brushed lightly against hers just as his fingers found her center.