A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews as always!

This chapter is mostly all fluff, so enjoy it. There is probably a metaphorical tornado coming up in a couple chapters that'll kind of destroy everything so... sorry ;)

Enjoy!


The next couple of days Damon had to work at the club, and then he went to LA for a couple of days to shoot an ad for shoe wear for men. He was pretty excited about it, since it was going to be shot outside, and he got a little more freedom with it. When he got back, he had to work at the club.

Thankfully, I was busy with my book, but I was already getting sick of not seeing him. He was good about calling me every night and texting me throughout the day, but it wasn't the same. Maybe when I was back to teaching it wouldn't feel so long in between.

I was making dinner while my favorite reality junk TV plaid in the background. "Ugh," I growled as my dull can opener failed to open a can of tuna. I grabbed the top of the tin lid and tried pulling it back.

That was a bad mistake.

My hand slipped and jabbed down on the rigid lid, slicing into my finger. The pain was instant but the sight of a lid halfway through the base of my thumb was worse. I didn't do well with blood, especially my own. "Fuck!" I yelled. I pulled out the lid quickly and found a kitchen towel. I wrapped my thumb as tightly as I could, before pulling my phone out of my pocket.

I called Caroline and Bonnie, and neither of them answered. My parents were up at the lake house, which was too far away. I tried Jeremy next, and he also failed to answer his phone. I wanted to call Damon, but I knew he was still bartending for another 4 hours, and there wasn't anything he could do about it.

My stomach got queasy as I thought about trying to drive myself to the ER to get stitches. I tried to focus on the task at hand as I searched for my purse and keys.

I called Damon and left him a voicemail. He was supposed to come over after work, but I had no idea how long I'd be gone. Sometimes the waiting room took hours before getting to actually see a doctor.

I got in my car, taking a deep breath. Thank goodness it was my left hand, or this would be a lot more complicated. I started my car, shifted gears and slowly backed out of my driveway. I pressed my injured hand against my thigh, hoping the pressure might help control the bleeding.

I could feel my thumb throbbing, as the shock started to wear off, and the pain was kicking in.

My phone started to ring through the blue tooth on my car. I felt guilty as I seen Damon's name flash across the screen on my car.

I pressed the button to accept his call, before shifting gears to drive forward. "Hello?" I answered.

"Where are you?" he sounded concerned.

"I'm driving."

"Driving yourself?" He said baffled.

"I had no other option, nobody is answering their phone, and my parents are too far away."

"Well, I'm leaving work now," he huffed. "Stay home I'll be there in a minute."

"Damon don't leave work. I'll be fine," I promised.

"I already left," he answered. "And don't be ridiculous. Isn't that what boyfriends are for?"

I couldn't help but smile at his choice of words, "boyfriend?"

"Like how I slipped that in there," I could hear the teasing tone in his voice.

I giggled, as I took a U turn, heading back to my house.

"I'll be there soon," he promised before hanging up the phone.

I waited in my car, in the driveway. I rewrapped the kitchen towel around my injured thumb. I blurred out my eyes, so I didn't have to look at it. I could tell it was still bleeding from the warmth that trickled down my hand.

I kept taking deep breaths trying not to think about blood.

Suddenly Damon pulled into my driveway like he was in a grand theft auto movie about ready to jack my car. He barreled out of his car and came to my door.

He guided me out of the car, "are you ok?"

"I'm fine," I assured him, as he helped me into the passenger seat of his car.

He shut my door before walking back over to the drivers' side. "How mad is your work for leaving?" I asked.

"They'll get over it," he shrugged as he pulled out of my driveway.

"I feel bad," I sighed. "I just wanted you to know I might not be home when you got off, I didn't mean for you to leave work."

"Elena," he rolled his eyes. "You're being ridiculous. Of course, I would leave, even if you begged me not to."

"What if you get fired?" I worried.

He snorted, "That would never happen. They like me too much," he said in a cocky tone. "And even if they did, I have plenty of money and gigs lined up to cover me for the next 6 months at the very least. Plus, there are tons of bartending jobs out there if I really needed it."

I gnawed on my bottom lip still feeling bad that he left work, to come help me.

"Elena," he looked over at me. "You are more important."

"I'm not dying," I rolled my eyes at him.

"Yeah, but you were going to drive yourself," he growled looking back at the road. "Do you know how dangerous that it?"

"I think your being dramatic," I snorted.

"You're down to one drivable hand, and you're as pale as a ghost," he pointed out. "I think you were one tragedy away from being roadkill."

I shook my head, as he continued speeding down the highway.

It took about 10 minutes to get to the hospital. The waiting room was insane like I predicted. They at least properly wrapped my hand up while I waited to see a doctor so they could stitch up my thumb. Damon did his best to distract me from what was about to happen once we got a room. I also had a fear of needles. I was not looking forward to being numbed up and sewed up.

Once we got a room, Damon laid down next to me in the bed.

"How do you feel?" He asked looking down at me, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Trying not to think about it," I looked up at him.

A female doctor walked in, "Sorry to interrupt," she smiled dubiously. "I'm going to numb you up and let that sit before I stitch you up."

"Ok," I felt like my mouth went dry.

She sat down on a stool, as she put on a pair of rubber gloves. She carefully unwrapped the bandage. "I'm just going to pour some saline in the cut to clean it out quick, ok?" She prompted me.

I just nodded, feeling my stomach turn.

I felt a burning sensation in my deep cut as she poured the saline in my cut. I tensed trying not to pull my hand away.

Damon kept my head towards him, "You're doing good," he assured me.

She grabbed the syringe with the numbing solution, and I felt a painful pinch near my wound. "Is this your husband?" She tried distracting me.

"Boyfriend," Damon answered for me, smiling down at me giving me a wink.

She continued poking around with the needle, making sure to numb the entire area. "I'm going to let the sit for a while before I come stitch you up. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Thanks," I breathed. I was thankful it was halfway over. Hopefully once it was numb it wouldn't be as bad.

"I didn't realize you had such a queasy stomach," he chuckled, as the doctor left us alone.

"Just if it's my own blood," I mumbled. "or needles… I hate needles."

"Are you feeling,ok?" He asked, as he gently rubbed my hip bone.

"I will when it's all over," I promised.

"I've never seen you so pale," he observed. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes," I nodded. "Although I'm glad you keep pointing out that I look like crap."

"You don't look like crap," he rolled his eyes. "Far from it," he rubbed my cheek with his thumb. "I'm just worried about you."

"Again… I'm not dying," I smiled up at him. "I'm getting stitches."

"Well, I'm just prepared for you to faint when you stand up," he kissed the tip of my nose.

"Wouldn't be the first time I fainted in your arms," I reminded him of the time at the bar.

"Oh yeah," he smiled at the memory. "That was the first time I got to hold you. You may have been unconscious… but still."

I giggled. "I remember waking up and realizing I was laying on you. And I remember feeling like this should be weird. But it wasn't."

"The whole time you were unconscious, I was having an argument with myself in my head," he told me. "I told myself it was wrong to think of you that way. You were my brother's wife."

"Do you think…" I started, and then realized how wrong it was to say them out loud.

"Do I think if Stefan and I would have been on good terms, and you and I had met sooner… we would still feel this way?" He finished for me.

I nodded, "When Stefan was alive."

"I wouldn't be able to control how I felt about you," he stroked my cheek. "But I'd like to think I was a decent enough human being to not act on it."

"It's probably best we didn't know each other," I agreed.

He kissed my lips, "I'm crazy about you," he whispered.

He continued kissing me until the doctor came back.


Damon and I fell into a steady rhythm. He'd work at the club, or have to travel quick for a photo shoot, and I would work on my book, which was good. I was getting it done quickly which was my goal to have it done being edited before school started back up for me.

We spent every waking free moment we had together, and it always went fast. I looked forward to every text, phone call, and video call when we were apart.

Every moment spent together was filled with adventure, sex, and laughter. We went on multiple dates. He took multiple pictures of me, sometimes I hated it. I wasn't always made up to have my picture taken. Sometimes I was all sweaty from hiking, or half asleep in his bed. But most of the time I liked it. He made me feel special and wanted. He once told me he only took pictures of things that interested him, and he took a lot of pictures of me.

Sex was a drug for me. I never experienced something like this before. I was so turned on all the time when I was around him. I often wished our dates to end quickly so we could go back to one of our places and spend the rest of the evening in bed. I tried to control myself, but he brought out my deepest desires. I found myself doing things I had never done before. I'd send him nude photos when he was gone and have phone sex with him over FaceTime. The craziest part was that it was mostly me wanting to push the envelope. Damon was always willing and never complained about anything I suggested. In fact, I'm sure he's a lot more experienced when it comes to being kinky. But I think he enjoyed letting me navigate the waters without his influence.

I was scared to death. I trusted him in many ways. I trusted him with my body, and with any nude photos he had of me. I trusted he would never expose me to the world. But I always had this flickering doubt that things would end abruptly, and he'd pull the plug on this fairytale I was living. I feared some model would seduce him and he'd realize what he was missing out on, being stuck here with me.

My friends had been begging to officially meet Damon and I couldn't think of a better or easier way than our annual beach day. Since we were fifteen years old Bonnie, Caroline, Matt, Tyler, and me would go to this lake an hour south of us and spend the whole day there. Stefan started tagging along once we started dating, and now Jeremy did too. At first it was an excuse to get away and get drunk when we were underage, but now we just enjoyed all being together. It didn't happen very often now that we were older and busier.

"How is he in bed?" Caroline interrupted my thoughts.

Bonnie smacked Caroline in the arm, "that can't be the first question you ask her!"

I giggled at how ridiculously nosey Caroline could be. I sat on my towel soaking in the hot sun. "He's amazing," I smiled mischievously.

"Elena!" Bonnie exclaimed.

"What?" I tilted my head down so I could peer at her over my sunglasses.

"I can't believe you're encouraging Caroline's crude and invasive questions," Bonnie was stunned.

"It's not going to stop her from asking if I don't," I pointed out.

"She has a point," Caroline sat up on her knees all interested. "I want details."

"No," I snorted. "That crosses a line."

I looked around suddenly feeling like I was being watched. When I turned my head, Damon was in the distance, camera pointed at me, so I flashed him the middle finger.

I could see him chuckle before he started walking towards me.

"Please don't freak him out," I mumbled to my friends, before standing up to meet him halfway.

I was wearing a black cover up, and some sunglasses. He was in swim shorts and a t-shirt.

"I apologize in advance for my friends," I moved my sunglasses to the top of my head so I could get a better look at him. "One of them is incredibly invasive, and the other will silently judge you until she decides if she likes you or not."

"Can't wait," he wiggled his eyebrows.

"The boys are playing football," I pointed to Matt, Tyler and Jeremy. "Well… they're drinking beer and tossing a football back and forth. I don't really understand the fun in that."

"I didn't realize you had guy friends," his face had a flash of jealousy.

"Well Jeremy," I pointed to the floppy haired brunette, "is my brother." I pointed at Tyler, "Tyler has been nothing but a friend since I was 8. I actually hated him for a long time, he has some rage issues and what not. But he's a good friend."

"And the blonde," he asked.

"That's Matt," I tried sounding nonchalant.

"And?" He pointed out.

"He's… an ex," I finished. I know it was probably really strange to still hang out with your ex, but it was so different. Even Stefan knew there was nothing to worry about with Matt.

"An ex?" Damon's face was unreadable.

"From high school," I looped my arms around his neck. "There is absolutely nothing to worry about with him and me. We dated for like two years back when we were 16."

"You never told me about Matt," he tried sounding unbothered, but I could hear the distaste in his voice.

"Are you really jealous of Matt right now?" I raised an eyebrow. "Because I don't say a word when your off on your little trips taking pictures of supermodels."

"Touché," he smirked. He looped his hands around my waist. "How do I know he's not waiting in the wings for you to come running back."

"He's not," I rolled my eyes. "Besides," I whispered in his ear, "You're way better in bed." I pulled away giggling.

He grabbed my wrist, "You had sex with him?"

My smile dropped. Great… I should've kept my mouth shut. "Damon…" I groaned looking at him. "This was like 10 years ago."

"I'm sorry," he shook his head. "I just really don't like the thought of anyone seeing you like that," he brushed the stray hair from my face. "You know… my eyes only and all."

"And how many girls of your past have seen you naked?" I lifted my chin at him.

Damon looked down at my hand, "how's your thumb?" His smile was apparent he was trying to shift the tone.

"Better," I watched as he examined it in his hands. "Now are you done being a jealous boyfriend?"

"Yes," his eyes flickered to mine apologetically.

"Good," I clasped his hand in mine and dragged him over to my friends.

Caroline and Bonnie were patiently laying on their towels when I brought Damon over, "Guys this is Damon," I gave them a pointed look. "Damon, this is Bonnie and Caroline."

"It's nice to meet you," he bent down to shake both of their hands as they sat up.

"Same," they both echoed each other.

"Do you want a beer?" Bonnie offered Damon.

"Sure," he smiled, as Bonnie dug through her cooler, before tossing a beer at him. "Thanks."

Damon and I sat down on my towel. He kicked off his shoes and removed his sunglasses to the top of his head.

"So, Elena has been pretty tight lipped about you," Caroline jumped in headfirst. "How did you two go from friends to…" Her sentence fell as she wasn't sure how to label us.

"I told you," I mouthed to Damon.

He chuckled before cracking open his beer and taking a sip. "That's kind of hard to pinpoint an exact moment," he looked at me for help.

"Yeah," I agreed. I don't know that there was a defining moment. I think it happened so gradually and naturally.

"Did you guy like kiss first? Or did you talk about your feelings… Or did you just jump right into bed"-

"Caroline!" Bonnie snapped her head at Caroline.

I smacked my hand into my forehead. I knew I couldn't trust she'd embarrass me for more than two seconds.

Damon chuckled, he seemed unbothered by her lack of personal boundaries. "I thought you would have had all this girl talk by now," he teased me.

"I've tried," Caroline said exacerbated. "She's so private lately."

"I wonder why?" Bonnie snorted at Caroline. "You told the entire school when Jeremy and I had sex."

I grimaced, thinking about my best friend and brother. It was not an image I wanted to picture.

"That was a long time ago," Caroline scoffed. "We're not in high school anymore."

Bonnie rolled her eyes but smiled, turning her attention to Damon. "So, you're a photographer? I've seen the pictures you took of Elena. They're really good."

"Thanks," he smiled. "Yeah, I'm trying to be one anyway. I have to work another job in the meantime."

"It sounds like it's starting to take off though," Bonnie smiled warmly. "Elena tells us, you've had quite a few opportunities out in New York and LA."

"Yeah, it's been nice," he nodded. "Hopefully it'll keep going that way."

"Can you at least tell me what drew you to Elena?" Caroline interrupted. "I'm sorry… I'm just a hopeless romantic, and my love life is a complete dud right now, so I want to live vicariously through my best friend."

Damon chuckled, before looking at me. Last time we talked about what we liked about each other, we ended up naked on my living room floor. He gave me a knowing smile as I flushed thinking about the memory. "Well, there is a lot that drew me towards her, but the first thing was her sass."

Caroline giggled, "What? Elena sassy?"

"Must just be me," he shrugged. "But she slapped me the first time I had a conversation with her."

Bonnie and Caroline both looked at me in shock. It was kind of out of character for me, but I was packing up my life days after my husband's funeral. And Damon was hitting on me. "He was hitting on me days after the funeral," I defended myself.

"I wasn't hitting on you," he glared playfully. "I just told you, you were my type. I wasn't trying to insinuate anything else."

"You also told me to pull the stick out of my ass," I reminded him. "it might help you get laid," I mimicked in his voice.

He was silent for a minute before he cracked a smile, "Ok that was me being a dick."

"Exactly," I patted the top of his thigh. "You deserved the slap."

"So how in the hell did it go from that to this?" Caroline looked so lost.

"He was secretly sweet," I teased Damon. "Taking my drunk ass home from the bar and tucking me into bed. Helping me unpack my house, after everyone left…"

"Shh," he placed his finger against my lips. "I have a reputation I want to uphold."

I pushed his hand away playfully, "you're a softy on the inside."

Damon sat his beer in the sand, and quickly threw his t-shirt over his head. "Oh yeah?" He looked at me with that mischievous look in his eyes. He stood up picking me up off the towel, and throwing me over his shoulder.

I yelped as my friends gasped, probably at the sight of my boyfriends chiseled body. "Don't you dare!"

"I'll be back ladies," Damon ignored me.

"Damon!" I screamed kicking my legs.

Damon started heading for the water, at a rapid pace. "Don't get my dress wet!"

He set me down in ankle deep water. He took the bottom of my dress and pulled it over my head before tossing it in the sand. He grabbed my waist before I could bolt for it, and he tugged me into deeper water.

The water was refreshing, it was a scorching hot day. I had planned on going in the water at some point today, but I was more of an ease into the water type of girl, not a jump all in kind of girl.

After my head came back up to the surface, I gasped for air, and looked around for Damon. When I spotted his smug face, I lunged forward. "You are an ass!" I meant to duck him under water, but instead I wrapped my legs around him and kissed his lips in a hard kiss.

"I told you I had a reputation to uphold," he smirked.

"You're lucky you're hot," I grabbed the back of his hair and pulled aggressively so that his head was forced to tilt upwards. "Otherwise, I'd drown you." I kissed the base of his throat sweetly, despite my meaningless threat.

He chuckled, his throat vibrating from his low laughter.

"Speaking of hot," he groaned, squeezing my waist. "I think it might kill me to spend all day with you in this bikini, and not be able to have my way with you."

I smiled, "Maybe we can sneak away later," I whispered. "My back seat is pretty spacious."

"Don't tempt me, naughty girl," he smiled devilishly.


A/N: Let me know what you thought! See you next week :)