Though preparing for the cause had seem to be so easy, Elena didn't know how nerve-wracking it would be to be at the party. She hadn't realised how big of a deal it was until Kol upon hearing of the gala bought her a very embellished blue gown to wear. The second realisation hit her when they reached the venue of the gala which was hardly a few blocks away from the Hilton hotel she had been at.

The building was tall and glorious with the amount of stairs that lead to it's entrance, the columns situated on the foundation reminded her of town council but this was massive compared to that.

"Wow." She couldn't stop herself from being impressed.

She heard Kol chuckle as he lead her up the stairs, holding her hand, while she took care of not tripping over her gown with the other.

"That's exactly what I thought when I saw you in this dress."

She was starting to get flustered by his constant praise.

"Thanks. I should be thanking you for buying me this, it seems very expensive."

"The pleasure was all mine. Besides, i couldn't expect a high-school senior to know the protocol of this gala." He said as they passed the final step. He helped take off her coat at the entrance, that left her shoulders and back bare while the front being entirely covered with the most beautiful fabric, the intricate details of the jewels used to design the front of the dress were something she'd only seen in runway shows. Though slightly uncomfortable, she felt beautiful.

He put his arm around her, Elena took a deep breath, trying to accept the warmth of his embrace as they went inside.

If she thought finding Damon at that convention had been hard, this was impossible.

The room seemed never-ending in its length and width. The decorated staircases, chandeliers and golden lights, Its as if everyone in New York had showed up.

"I can't do that." She thought in context of finding the object of her affection. However, she might have said it out loud because Kol asked her, "Do what? Dance?"

Elena's lips parted realising she had said it and not thought it, "Yeah. I am slightly insecure of my skills of ballroom dancing."

He shook his head with a laugh, "You're adorable. Don't worry. I'll dance with you but now that I am here I'd actually have to meet with a few people. Come on, I'll introduce you."

Elena felt awful for taking advantage of Kol like this who had been nothing but kind and generous towards her, especially now that he gifted this dress to her.

The least she could do was behave well socially as he introduced her to his partners and colleagues.

After a while of Kol socialising in the gala, he turned his attentions to her. She seemed constantly distracted as if looking for something. Though he liked that she tried to get acquainted with most the people he knew and didn't just stand like an arm candy.

He admired that a girl her age could behave so maturely.

"You're bored." He observed.

Elena seemed to be caught off guard and defensively said, "No. No- This is fun. I like it."

"But you don't love it." He rolled his eyes, "You know I'd rather take you some place nice. We can leave early?"

"No." She immediately refused but then felt guilty for being so blunt, "I mean now that we are here, I want to meet people and besides this is your life so- I'd like to know it."

He leaned lower, his mouth now near her temple and his arm still locked around her "You want to know me?"

Elena held back the slight repulsion she felt at his closeness, she didn't mind it with Damon but Kol's invasion of her personal space just seemed wrong to her.

"I uh-" her words died when she heard Andie. "Mr. Williams. I've been looking all over for you."

Unknowingly she tensed up, and both their heads turned back. Just like Elena had anticipated, There he was with Andie. Dressed in a black suit looking like velvet sin. She hated the way her heart raced every time she saw those ocean blue eyes, his chiselled jaw that was sculpted by some higher power, hair that seemed to be darker than the night in contrast with flawless pale skin.

Although she knew she wasn't making a very good impression herself as she was wrapped by Kol.

His blue eyes had hardened at the view.

"What a coincidence, I've been looking all over for you!" Kol's voice was enthusiastic, though the blush hadn't left his cheeks.

"Elena, this girl right here is why I don't have a hundred panic attacks everyday. She's my assistant. Andie Starr." He introduced.

That seemed to be brand new information to both of them because Damon looked as surprised.

"Oh- oh yes I know her. She's Damon's friend." Andie gestured to her date who seemed confused by the whole interaction but right in time gathered his composure.

"We aren't friends. I know her from my town."

Elena pursed her lips at his bitter tone and looked away, Kol shook hands with him, "Nice to see you again."

"Likewise." He managed to feign a polite tone. "Though I am surprised because Andie told me she works for Zelman group."

"That's my grandfather." He explained. Then after a single moment of silence, Kol looked back at Elena, "So Elena, if you really want to know me- Andie is the only one who can tell you. At this point I am Frankenstein's monster and she controls me."

Andie giggled jokingly slapping his arm, "Mr. Williams, don't oversell me."

"Andie, I am just giving you credit."

They both talked but Elena could hardly hear a thing because she was too busy looking at Damon, who was staring back, shooting daggers at the hand that was around her waist.

"We were just headed to the dance floor." Andie said looping her arm around Damon's, who despite Elena's hurt doe eyes, didn't seem to object to the other woman's touch.

"As were we." Elena added quickly, looking back at Kol and blinking her heavy lashes as she smiled to get him to agree.

Like a moth to flame, Kol followed her as they went to the dance floor. She kept her eyes on him, as Kol pulled her closer, gently moving her around the room with his expert moves, "You dance as if you teach it." She noticed and giggled, making sure she laughed loud enough for him to hear. "I've been taught, plus I've been a cotillion date more times than I can count."

"Oh wow." Though she wasn't fascinated at all, her eyes were locked on Damon's who was talking to Andie as they danced under the chandelier.

Elena moved in the direction with Kol so she could at least hear or see better. Just when they were behind them, and Kol twirled her, she ended up in Damon's arms, she looked back to see that now Andie was dancing with Kol.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, not wasting a second in playing this game, "What do you think? I was abandoned in this huge city so I got myself an invite to a party. "

"By the funniest guy in the world because you can't stop laughing at his jokes." He hissed bitterly.

She shook her head in disbelief, "I am sorry, Mr. Guy from my town who doesn't know or care that I exist. Did I offend you?"

"God, you're so petty." He snarled, "You have some nerve to be doing all this after the other night."

"I am not doing anything. I am tired of this, Damon. I am here for you." She put her hands on his chest. "I had no other way than Kol and you wouldn't see me. I didn't sign up for that."

"And I didn't sign up to feel like I want to tear that guy you're with into shreds. But here we are." He spat.

The song ended and they had to step back.

"So why don't you love birds join us our table?" Andie's words brought her out of her glaring contest with him and she grew uncomfortable by the term used for her and Kol. He however blushed further while Damon was also turning a red colour but it seemed like molten lava red reflecting his internal fire.

"Yeah sure." Kol said.

...

...

Kol joined Andie and him on the table but Elena wasn't with them. Damon had spent the last few days to arrange so many meetings to meet as many investors as he could. He had overdone it, just to push her out of his head for one second. Hell, he was busy doing just that when she showed up looking like a goddess, proving to him that he was powerless in any attempt of forgetting her.

How was she affecting him like this?

It was the first time in his life that his heart ached at the sight of someone like that.

But he always gave in, he was tired of being the only one to push. She needed to do it this time.

"Um where's- Elena?" Andie asked and he was grateful to god that she asked.

"She's in the powder room." Kol said as the server poured him some champagne.

Now Damon felt restless, if she was anywhere without Kol it seemed like the perfect time to remind her- that she wanted to know him, not Kol, she had wanted him, not Kol at all.

"Excuse me, I have to make a call." Damon got up, taking out his phone as he walked away from the table, in quest of finding her.

...

...

She had no idea why she was hiding in here, it was as if all the bravery had escaped her and what was left was an insecure, unsure carcass who didn't know her place out there. She had been acting the part all night but just seeing Andie on his arm ruined it for her. Still salvaging whatever was left, she touched up her lipstick in the mirror when the door to the large bathroom opened. Elena saw Damon in the mirror and turned around to see him locking the door.

"Damon."

Seeing her seemed to somehow calm and infuriate him.

As if a thirsty man finally found water but wasn't allowed to have it.

"I didn't see that dress in your luggage."

"You went through my luggage?" she tried to sound offended.

"Oh you mean the bag you left scattered in the Delaware hotel room which I packed for you?" he bit out.

So he packed her bag? Well who else could have done it when she was asleep that night, not fairies.

"Oh. Huh- Well Kol gave it to me for the gala."

He seemed unnerved by the name alone. "Why are you here? What do you want to prove?" Damon stalked towards her. "Nothing, Damon. Please I know you're upset but-"

He flinched, "I am not upset Elena, I am hurt."

It took a lot to finally admit that.

"I make one mistake and poof your gone, not even staying for an explanation." He said through gritted teeth, holding her arms, pulling her to him roughly.

She too frowned, "Don't you think I was hurt? When I told you that this is important to me and stupidly took the whole day to look good, i waited two hours for you. Why couldn't I be your priority for just that day?"

"You were my fucking priority. I was late for a reason." He seethed

"Give me a break."

"You don't believe me?" he asked a brow raised. When she didn't say anything, he shook his head, his hold on her arms loosening, "Oh you know what? I know your problem. Your issue is that you are so used to being the damn role model student, the perfect daughter, the one who puts up with everyone, whose life is filled with people who disappoint her, who gives everything and gets nothing. When a person makes a damn mistake, you start counting them to define that person."

"Don't psychoanalyse me." She pushed him.

"Its true isn't it? Jeremy is basically your toddler, Carol Lockwood uses you more than her assistant because Glenda just can't get it done like Elena." He hissed, "But my feelings will not be added on your to do list, I won't allow it."

"So i am doing this on purpose?" she shouted.

"You wouldn't be doing all this if you trusted me or us."

She groaned, unable to contain it, "Argh! Fine. I don't trust us, and I don't trust you. You know who I trusted the last time? Matt. And look where that's got me. How am I suppose to trust you when you can't even bother to show up on time, or when I scream at you to leave me alone- you disappear for weeks and show up on my door to take me on a road trip.

Its all or nothing with you, Damon. So yes I don't trust you." She finished, now fuming as well.

"If we don't have trust, we don't have anything." He gestured to the space between them, "Nothing."

His eyes were boring into hers as he cruelly told her that. She blinked, "If we don't have anything then maybe I should go back to town."

"Maybe you should." He fired back, coldly crushing any hopes she might have had. Though she didn't breakdown no matter how bad the words hurt.

"God- this was such a mistake." She muttered as she zipped her bag, still looking at him, "I wish I never showed up here or even decided to leave town with you." She shouted the last words at him. He remained unmoving, though his fists were clenching and unclenching at his sides. She made no move to leave, still looking at the man she was so mad at right now.

Within a flash, he had pushed her up against the back wall, possessed her mouth like he owned it. She was paralysed from the passionate kiss but slowly got a hold of herself, wrapping her arms around his neck and rising up on her tip-toes to kiss him back.

His lips, his taste felt like missing piece of a puzzle. She moaned when his tongue rolled over hers, pulling her flesh against him, his hand was taking her dress off her body, roughly as if his life depended on it.

When his mouth broke away from hers, she whined but in the next moment, his kisses continued down her neck making her gasp, "Oh Damon." She cupped his face and crashed her lips against him as her hands reached to free him of his clothes. She unzipped him, sneaking her hand in and stroking his length. The velvety texture and the stiff feel of it was driving her insane, she wanted him inside her. It didn't help that her neck and shoulders were the site of his sloppy kisses now, " This is so wrong." She whispered tilting her head back to give his mouth access to her collarbones, her breasts pressed up against his hard chest, he licked up her neck to chin and captured her mouth in a passionate kiss.

Their tongues were aggressive yet in sync with each other, the dance was so natural to them.

Elena felt relieved when her dress loosened around her waist, signalling that he had unzipped the back, the front of the dress fell forward due to the absence of fabric in the back, and he parted from her lips just to cup her soft and perky breasts, his firm and large hands felt familiar on her, so rough yet so- personal.

"Your hands, I love them. Keep them on me." She pleaded leaning in to kiss his neck, she took off his coat with some difficulty, "I miss them, I miss this."

"Finally, we agree." He whispered back reaching under the skirt of her dress with his one hand, she hissed as he took off her panties, putting them in his pocket. Before he'd sit down on his knees to taste her, she stopped him, "No, Damon. I don't want that, i want you." She slightly squeezed his cock while she stroked it up and down.

He was more than glad to deliver that, "Wrap your legs around me." He picked her up against the wall and as instructed she wrapped her legs around him. Their eyes met and for just a moment, it seemed as if all anger was gone, leaving them behind with their hearts that were racing for each other. "You drive me nuts baby, absolutely-"

He drove in, a loud gasp escaped her mouth and he grunted, "Crazy."

Her mouth fell open and strangled cries left it when he began moving her up and down his cock, she clutched at his hair, "Yes. Ah- Oh."

He drove into her relentlessly as if she was unbreakable, not keeping anything back and the harder he was trying to fuck her out of his system for good, every time he would thrust forward, it would get better and she'd move her hips against him keeping that torturing friction, urging him on, he was unable to get enough.

Why was she so important to him? Why did she have to be perfect? He wanted her body and her soul.

Her sounds of pleasure when he was taking her so roughly made him want to do this forever, so she would never stop. "Missed this? The way I fuck your delicious tight pussy."

She loved it when he talked dirty, though she was far from admitting it but her response to it always told him she liked it.

"I missed you squeezing my cock like that- baby. Fuck." When she moved her hips again, he hissed, "move just like that baby. God, you're so fucking sexy."

"Oh. I am so close. Ah, uh, uh" she screamed as he paced up, pushing her over the edge. Shouting his name, she came. She had just rested her head on this shoulder when she felt his deep and hard thrusts. "Damon, oh god."

When he climaxed, he too was panting for breath, yet his mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss laced with intangible possession.

...

...

"Elena, we've missed you at the table." Andie chuckled when Elena joined them, Damon had left a few minutes before her and now was having dinner with the two of the them at the table.

"Oh yeah. There were a lot of people there." She sat down next to Kol, avoiding his blue gaze that followed her every move.

Damon was impressed at how quick she had managed to put herself together, her make-up looked untouched, her hair was back in place, not the tousled mess he left, but then there was a tiny little crease in the skirt of her dress, evidence of how it was bunched up for the fifteen minutes in the bathroom while he took her as if she was his.

"So Elena, we were actually talking about how there is this concert tomorrow that we can all go to." Andie suggested.

Damon interrupted, "I won't be able to. I am going to California tonight."

Both the women were surprised at his statement, "You didn't tell me that?" Andie turned her head to him, "Why are you going to California?"

"I have a thing there." He caught Elena's surprised face as if he had betrayed her by deciding to leave.

"So you're leaving tonight? You should have told me. Can I come with to the airport?" She asked holding his hand.

"Yeah sure." When he looked over at Elena, she was looking down at her food, running a fork in it but he hadn't seen her take a bite.

"Um Kol- uh can we leave? I want to leave. You were right this place is a bit too- boring." She suddenly spoke up.

"Yeah, sure darling. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am fine. Thank you." She smiled at him as he got up from the chair and held her bag for her as she did too. "Okay guys, enjoy your night. Andie, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sure Mr. Williams." She shook his hand and Damon watched Elena look at him with those doe sad eyes of hers before being taken away by Kol.

...

...

She was in Kol's car, he was giving her the tour while she was thinking of how everything was falling apart. How could she have intended to fix things with him and then fought like that?

"You see how great we are? Don't you feel it like I do?" he had whispered against her lips, that still brushed against his as they fought for breath.

"Damon, if you knew how I feel-" her hand stroked his jaw.

He chuckled humourlessly, "I know. I know, You don't trust me, that I am impulsive and irresponsible. That I screw up and will continue to screw up and hurt you."

"Damon."

"It's true, isn't it? That's why you want to leave. Somehow I am worse than a town of people who is calling you cruel names."

"No. No." She shook her head, he continued, "I was late that night because we were suppose to meet again. I wanted to ask you out so yes I already had reservations but then at the last moment I thought how great it would be to picnic by the Hudson. Watch the stars. Kiss you for the first time, do it right because I cared. But screw that, I am not capable of being anything more than I've been all my life."

He pulled away from her, looking at her from head to toe as he zipped himself up, "So yeah go back to Mystic Falls."

She swallowed thick as she watched him walk away. Looking more wounded than he had the other night.

"Elena? What's up with you?" Kol asked reaching over from his seat to touch her arm, she flinched a bit "Nothing, Uh I just want to go back to my hotel. I have a headache."

"You should have told me." He sounded so concerned as if they had known each other forever.

"Its fine. Don't worry about me. I need to sleep it off." She licked her lips. But she wasn't going to sleep it off.

How could she let Damon believe she didn't trust him, when she loved him. She couldn't let him think she didn't for another second.

When the car stopped at the hotel she gathered the skirt of her dress and turned to Kol, "Thank you so much. I had a great time."

"Will I see you again?" he asked leaning closer to Elena but she didn't even peck his cheek this time, "You're great, Kol. You're perfect but I don't think we can be anything other than friends. I am- I am in love with someone else. It's complicated but- he's the one I love."

"Oh." He seemed slightly surprised by this revelation, "I guess good luck with that then. I had a nice time tonight."

She nodded with a smile, "Me too." She gave a quick hug and jumped out of the car, to run back inside the hotel, what if he had left? Without knowing that she couldn't imagine being with someone other than him.

That she was ready to be spontaneous and give up all control to be with him.

"Hi, uh is Mr. Salvatore back yet? I need to see him." She asked the receptionist at the desk, who enviously eyed her expensive dress.

"Hmm he checked out forty minutes ago."

"Wait really?"

"Yes."

Elena ran a hand through her hair, wanting to somehow turn back time to that moment in the bathroom, and tell him that it wasn't true.

Should she go to the airport now? But what airport?

Elena took out her phone, calling Damon, but like she predicted, it went straight to voice mail.

She stepped back outside the hotel having half a mind to call a taxi and gave the airport idea a try anyway but when the voicemail beep rang for the fourth time, Elena sighed, taking in fresh cold air outside, keeping herself together, even though she had never felt more defeated and broken down.

"Damon, please don't go. You are right, okay? I sabotaged us with my little patience and whatever cynicism had came to the surface due to some past insecurities but I do believe in us, in you. Yeah I blamed it on you because I got scared of it. Every time anything is slightly good, we get hit by a storm and this time it was me."

She clutched her phone, leaning against a wall, "I want nothing more than- being with you. We don't have to start over, I like our story the way it is- I just don't want this to be the end. I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. My heart's not been mine for a long time now, it only beats for you. I am sure you've heard and understood it, since you always have known me better than me. So come back, give us a chance. Don't let me go back."

she took a deep breath, and put her phone back in her purse. When she turned around to go back inside, her heart stopped, seeing him. Standing there near the entrance, his coat was on his arm, two luggage bags stood behind him as he watched her with a small smirk on his lips.

Elena let out a sigh in relief, and threw her purse back, running the distance to him, she jumped into his arms that immediately accommodated her, as her lips crashed against his. Her kiss was lethal yet sweet, as if they had met after years of parting, her legs had wrapped tightly around him as she grabbed his face deepening the kiss, their tongues that met after mere hours were in desperate seek of more. His hands stroked her hair as she moaned into the kiss, the need for air made her pull back for a second, "Damon, you're here. Oh my god, i thought I pushed you away, I thought I lost you." She kissed him hard on his lips before pulling back.

"God, tell me this is real, tell me you're mine." He asked.

"I am yours, I've wanted to be yours for so long." She smiled brightly, "You aren't going anywhere right?"

He laughed, "Not without you. I've checked us out so we can go to California."

"Me? You checked us both out?" she slapped his chest, "You scared me! Jerk!"

"Shhh." He hungrily kissed her mouth, as she slowly got back on her feet, not objecting to his new way of making her shut up.

...

...

She thought they'd be staying at his place which he had told her about but instead, he arranged for them in a hotel near the beach. She hadnt even agreed to coming because she was busy making out with him, at the airport, on the plane. They hadn't stopped the PDA on the way over and despite him yawning when they got to the hotel, he had wanted to 'christen the room' but she put a stop to it and made him take a nap with her.

She was sleeping in his arms, feeling like a human teddy bear. She hadnt even known how precious he was to her until now, as she watched him, look so harmless, so innocent- no trace of anger or smugness. Though she loved those just as much.

She couldn't resist planting a kiss on his chest as she laced her fingers with his. He lightly squeezed her hand back, "You're up." He whispered, eyes still closed.

"Yeah." She kissed the spot on his chest again, "Its okay baby, just sleep." She said brushing her lips against the back of his hand, softly leaving kisses.

He liked the term of endearment and though he should have tended to the jetlag, he would rather do to her what he had been doing to her in his dreams. "Mm no way." His eyes opened, Elena giggled when he suddenly rolled them over getting on top of her, "I am much more interested in being up now that you're lying next to me."

She couldn't agree more, her hands traced up and down his chest.

His eyes grew darker as he dipped his head to get closer to her, "Or under me."

Her back arched a bit as he trailed a line of wet kisses down the thin material of her lingerie. Her skin felt on fire under his mouth, she loved it when he would suck on a certain spot to make her go crazy, when he kissed every inch of her as if he was familiar with every part of her.

She swallowed thick when he kissed around her damp lace boy shorts, "You're so wet, angel. You want me, don't you?"

"Yes." She easily gave in, "I've been thinking about it since the airport drive."

"Yeah? You should have told me I would have stopped the car on the way If I knew you wanted me this bad." He teased, hooking his finger in her panties, sliding them down.

She arched up to help him with it, "I always want you baby." She propped up on one elbow, circling the other one around his neck to pull him to her mouth. Her tongue swirled against his as he took off her panties.

This time when they pulled back, he pulled her flimsy shirt up her body and tossed it back, dipping in to kiss down to her aching nipples as he cupped her breasts and sucked a nipple into his mouth, she ached for more, wanting him deep inside her in the most primal and rawest way he could manage.

She threw her head back, letting out soft cries of his name, as he wrapped her leg around himself, the fabric of his boxers separating his hard shaft from her soft and warm core. "Come on, Damon. What are you waiting for? Take me. Just like you did last night. Don't hold back." She reached to take his boxers off, he kissed up her neck, and pressed his lips against hers for a moment, making her lie down on her back, and taking off his boxers. The sight of his impressive length just made her hold her breath. She instinctively widened her thighs, feeling herself getting wetter in anticipation. "Come on. I need you. Don't make me beg." Her voice got hoarser somehow.

"Oh I would definitely enjoy that but my priority list currently has only one thing on it and that is fucking you into the next week." He said lifting her legs and wrapping them around himself as he plunged forward, immediately rocking in and out at a desperate pace.

She cursed at the way he filled her ao deliciously, her walls swallowed him to restrain him in her forever but he thrust in and out raising tidal waves of pleasure in her, she was crying out his name, marking him with her nails, saying a bunch of words she didn't even know meant anything.

"God, that's so hard." She screamed in ecstasy, "Right there, baby I need you right there."

"Holy shit, Lena- fuck! You're perfect. Extremely fucking perfect." He said between thrusts, "See how I fit you? How this feels." He said hitting that spot which drove her crazy, she cried his name, her toes curled as tears of pleasure filled her eyes.

They went on and on, he'd go fast, then slow down and go deep to make it last longer.

"Yeah baby, this is mine. Only I can fuck you like this. Come on baby, come for me, all over my cock." He grunted pacing up and holding the headboard. His movements were frantic but she loved every seocnd of the rough sex, and scratched his back as he pounded into her.

Her head hit the back of the headboard with every thurst and she loved it, the friction was getting bigger than her body, though she hated the thought of it ending, Elena couldn't stop it any longer and exploded, shouting his name in vain as she was pushed over the edge by his relentless pace. Though she clenched him for all he had, making him follow her with a growl.

He panted once he let himself lie on top of her.

"Wow! Just wow." He whispered against her neck.

"That was-"

"Amazing? Mind-blowing, an awakening?" He asked. She slapped his back, "It was good. Way to toot your own horn."

"Well the occasion called for it." He lifted up a bit and kissed her, "But really, You're the best I've ever had."

"Damon." She laughed, "You don't have to say that to make me feel better, its-"

"No, no seriously. Its you. Its never been this way. You know they say all that crap about people mixing sex and feelings- well I believe it now. Because that was phenomenal."

She blushed under his gaze, moving up to steal a kiss from his lips, "Feelings- what are those feelings?"

"You know, those pesky feelings. Not being able to stop thinking about you. Sleeping or awake, you're all I see in a room full of people. Feel this." He held her hand and brought it to his chest, she could sense the vibration rippling through the skin of her fingers, "You own it, its yours." He pulled her hand up to his mouth, she watched with rapt attention as he kissed her palm, "It beats for you, it longs for you, it hurts just for you."

Her eyes grew wider, as if waiting him to say it. He had said so much, could he just say he loved her so she could say it back?

But he didn't.

"Damon." she whispered. But was it wise to say something like that just one day into the relationship.

Then again, they weren't a typical couple.

"Hmmm?"

"I- I am in-"

Her own voice shouted in her head 'Just say it Elena, say the words, you've said it a bunch of times in your head'

While the voice in opposition spoke up too, 'Yeah right, say you love him one day into the relationship, might as well just change your middle name to scorned"

"I am insanely hungry." She chickened out at the last moment. Damon looked confused by her sudden change of mood but they didn't order any late dinner on the plane and neither did they order room service."

"Oh- Yeah. I am sorry, I totally forgot." Hey

gave her a quick kiss before turning away, Elena sighed watching him get on the phone, "What do you want to eat?"

"Anything." She said resting her head on his back and wrapping her arms around him. "Eggs?"

"No"

"Ice cream and oatmeal?" he asked looking over his shoulder.

"Yeah." She chuckled kissing the spot between the blades of his back.

Damon rubbed her soft hands that were looped around him, a smile on his lips the whole time he ordered.

For the first time he looked forward to being with someone. Against his cynical outlook on relationships, he was turning into a sap for this girl. He would bring the world at her feet, she'd never think of leaving his side.

Once he ordered, he put the phone down, just enjoying her warm cheek against his skin. He adored her to no end. "Hey, after breakfast do you want to go to the beach?"

"Yeah." Her voice was almost sleepy.

"You tired?"

"No. I am okay. I am gonna go take a shower." She reluctantly let him go and covered herself with a blanket as she hopped off the bed, he watched her amused, "I've seen you naked you know?" he lightly smacked her ass, she pushed his hand off herself, "None of that."

"Fine but at least let me be in there." He said gesturing to the bathroom.

"You wanna use it first?" she asked, seeming extremely naive to him all of a sudden, he pushed his tongue against his cheek, "Mmm no, I meant if we could be in there together, naked. Under the shower."

Her cheeks turned red at the image, "You mean-" he stood up watching her intently, "Yup."

She bit her lip looking down at his hard body, stare lingering for a second too long. "Okay."

He held her hand and led her to the bathroom. Damon was the one who turned the shower on, she unwrapped the sheet around her, feeling a bit scrutinised under his ocean blue gaze.

Would he notice the flaws she saw in herself. But he didn't, instead he pulled her to himself under the water, kissed her till she felt dizzy. His hands ran all over her body, memorising every inch of her skin. She didn't object when he pushed her up against the shower wall, wrapped her legs around him and slid home again.

Elena didn't seem to mind his insatiable need for her. The aggressive exhibit of his possessiveness was well received. The desire pooling in her eyes, her parted lips, her sighs and cries were all symptoms of her new addiction.

When they were done and dressed, she was still blushing from the memory while she waited for him at breakfast and Damon was taking a call.

He came back a bit too excited. "Guess who managed to get a major group to invest?"

Her face brightened up at the news, "Really?"

"Yup the Peirce group from New York. God- do you know what this means?" he asked sitting on the seat next to her, holding her hand and slightly tugging. She got the hint and got up to sit on his thigh, "Hmm that you're going to be able to launch?"

"Not just that. By the end of this year, if everything goes according to plan, I'll have my own company."

"How's that?" she asked as took a spoonful from her ice cream.

"Well I am doing this product for Elijah but I've made a few good contacts here. And maybe after the money we make I can start my company."

"And what is that?"

"Well, its the same thing my grandfather did, I want to build hotels and homes, work in real estate. My mom, before she married Giuseppe was working for my Grandpa too. So I guess it's a family thing."

He played it cool but she could see how important it was to him. Well he did have good taste because the hotels they had stayed in so far were something out of a dream.

He added, "I haven't told you this but my house in Calabasas was the last house my Grandpa did before he died, and I helped on it. I was fifteen then."

"Really? That's- fascinating. Can I see it too?"

"Yeah. Well right now my Grandma lives on the property but sure, we can go." He kissed her cheek, for some reason happy that she was so interested in his life.

He was looking unblinkingly at her, completely mesmerised by her, she huffed, taking a spoonful of ice cream and shoving it into his mouth, "Here."

He chuckled.

...

...

"I don't know what happened!" she told Bonnie over the phone. "I panicked, I've tried like three more times and each time I end up saying something like I am insanely hungry, I am in a geography club. Ten minutes ago I told him, I am in-terested in aquatic life."

"He's gonna think you're crazy." Bonnie laughed.

"I don't blame him." She looked in the distance to see Damon lying on their blanket, a book on top of his face.

"Look you need to chill, enjoy the relationship, Damon isn't going anywhere. Besides, he's never been in a relationship. He might freak out about it moving too fast." She huffed.

"That's what I thought." She ran her fingers through her hair, "Its just that sometimes I don't even know the things that I say." She licked her lips, "What about home? How is everyone doing?"

"Everything is fine."

"People aren't talking about it anymore?" Elena frowned.

She heard Bonnie hiss, "Urgh, that? No- everyone is still pretty much being an asshole about that. Your dad visited the Donovan household a lot. Oh and Matt had a black eye after that."

"What? Dad punched Matt?" she gasped.

"Yup and real good." Bonnie laughed, "God I wish I could run that son of a bitch over with my dad's Porsche."

"Bonnie! Its not worth it. I don't care about him but I don't want to cause more drama. Besides no matter what he did, I am happy now with Damon." She looked over her shoulder again to see Damon was gone. Narrowing her eyes she looked around the beach, searching for him.

A gasp escaped her when she crashed into his chest, he was smirking down at her. She rolled her eyes listening to Bonnie, "Yeah but it would still make me happy to see that creep squished like a bug. Whatever, I hate that we won't be able to do that summer list."

Damon took the phone from her, "Hey Bon Bon, miss you lots! Now go get a boyfriend and stop bothering Elena and I." He hung up.

She gasped at the action, "Damon!"

"You've been talking to her for forty-eight minutes." He said keeping her phone in the pocket of his beach shorts. "And I've been waiting for you to finish. I even read your book."

She rolled her eyes as she walked to their spot with him, once he sat down, he pulled her to his lap, planting kisses on her shoulder. Elena bit her lip, "You know the pause is over, so- can you tell me what Elijah said? Bonnie said everyone back in town is still talking about it. Dad punched Matt."

"Hm I kind of like your dad, because funny thing is that the next time I see that dickweed, he's gonna get his ass kicked." His grip on her waist tightened a bit.

"Don't be 'that' guy." She shook her head. "No, Elena, I get to be that guy, okay? That motherfucker had it coming when he recorded is, hell he had it coming for a while."

"You know what? I am really happy today and I rather we talk about something else." She said cupping his face, almost forcing her wish on him.

"Fine. Look Elijah was mad at me. Not you. But I told him that it wasn't his business and that we're together." Damon stroked her hair, running his fingers through it.

She sighed, not liking the sudden silence between them, "Did you ever have a girlfriend before me?"

He laughed at her sudden question "A girlfriend? No, actually." He looked up as if he suddenly realised, "Wow. You're my first girlfriend."

"You did call Rebekah your girlfriend."

"That was to annoy you." He scrunched up his nose, "No, jeez I guess you took my relationship virginity. You're quite the veteran in that area."

"Yeah, sure I am." She laughed, "Since I've dated David the exchange student in 4th grade for two days and Matt the cheater creep with the camera."

"Don't forget Gemlin-45. The ET bad boy." He mocked.

Elena smacked his chest, "Shut up."

"I certainly will not. You serial dater!" He feigned a gasp, Elena straddled him, hitting his chest, he laughed at her attempts.

"Okay." She giggled when he gave her a soft kiss, "When is your birthday?"

"Mm it's November 19. Why? You're thinking of getting me a present? Hint, Hint- we stay in bed all day. I'll teach you amazing ways to use that flexibility."

She feigned a glare as he tugged at the strips of her red bikini top, "Not here. Not in public. Its bad enough that we have a tape on the internet." her voice sounded serious of a sudden.

"Okay, you need to stop obsessing over the tape, baby." He cupped her face, "It changed my life. I feel barred from Mystic Falls."

"Screw Mystic Falls. Hey- trust me okay? I'll always protect you, if any lowlife in that town or anywhere in the world even tried to hurt a hair on your head, there'll be hell to pay. They'd have to deal with me." He stroked her cheek, she nodded but he could tell he hadn't convinced her.

She seemed hopeless about her future in that small town.

A town she loved.

And if she loved it meant he had to at least like it.

'Because he wanted to keep her for a long time. She was his one true love after all.' He thought with a grin, forming a plan to cheer her up.

...

...

A/N: so that's it! I just had the toughest week due to my semester exams and was up every night so I doubted if I was gonna be able to write a chapter but here it is. Now be good and review! These chapters take sooooo mang hours but i really want to make it fun so i write it, even if the reviews get sooo low and disappointing sometimes. (I'll fix the mistakes asap)

Next Chapter: more DE couple life, meeting the famous Grandma, and back to mystic falls for