The mirror has a patina of age over the bronze frame, likewise the surface of the glass is splotched black in places. Damon stands and stares at himself, or at least the distorted image that's reflecting back at him.
It shows him the young man the world sees. Somehow it doesn't seem right though, he's more than a pretty face. Inside he's fireworks and frustrations, ambition and fear.
Looking deeper, all he sees is her image. There is a warmth her brown hair brings to her features, a simple frame for that smile and those eyes. His pulse pounds whenever he looks or even thinks about her. He runs a finger over the frame, feeling its cool ridges and grooves and the light layer of dust that clings to it.
Every detail of that kiss is etched into his brain. Without realizing it, his fingertips are brushing over his lips remembering the softness of hers as how perfectly they felt molded into his.
He can't help but wonder what's on her mind when she looks or thinks about him. Sighing, he turns out the light and climbs into bed.
Elena's lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Mischa is laying by her feet and Zeus is on the floor beside her. Stretching out her arm left arm, she finds the sheets empty... She wishes she could be laying in his arms after a long night of lovemaking.
The mere thought of Damon sends a tingle shooting into her fingers and toes, much like it does when she's nervous or anxious but instead, a warm feeling passes through her like an ocean wave.
She savors the memory of how his mouth felt against hers. Their lips fit perfectly - moving against each other, feeling each other as if they were made to touch.
When Mischa stretches, poking her claws in Elena's skin, she jumps, breaking her reverie.
"Mischa," she sits up and ruffles her fur. Laying back down, she shifts in bed and closes her eyes, the prevailing thought on her mind is what the hell is she going to do?
Damon doesn't recognize the car that's sitting in Elena's driveway when he arrives at the farm for work. Shrugging, he parks his own and walks up to the door, pushing the doorbell when he reaches it. He smiles when Zeus's bark echoes inside the house.
"Can I help you?" a middle-aged woman is standing there when it opens.
"I work here, I just came to ask Ms. Gilbert what she wants me to do today," he can't help but feel uneasy the way she's scrutinizing him.
"Damon!" Elena appears and although she feels butterflies in her belly, she tries to keep a straight face, especially in front of Aaron's mom.
Damon feels his heart start to race but he tries to keep a neutral look on his face.
"This is my mother in law, Ashley Whitmore, and this is Damon," she looks at the older woman. "Vincent convinced me that I needed a little help around here."
"Are you able to do the job? Farms jobs can be back-breaking, heavy lifting, they require a lot of work to maintain," she has a dour look on her face.
"He's doing a great job. Now if you'll excuse me for a minute, Ashley, I'm going to tell him what needs to be done today."
"Sure," the woman rakes her eyes over Damon once more then backs out of the door and disappears when Elena pulls it closed.
"If you could start cleaning out the stalls, I'll be out when I can," she rolls her eyes when she uses her thumb to gesture to the house behind her.
Somehow, he manages to keep a straight face.
"I don't know if Vincent is going to show up and abscond with you again or not? Did you finish building Bonnie's bookshelves?"
"Not quite but he told me I should go home."
"Alright then, I'll come help as soon as I can get away from Aaron's mother," Elena lowers her voice conspiratorially. "She doesn't like me very much since I kept the Gilbert name when I married her son."
Unconsciously Damon's staring at her mouth, her lips bringing back last evening in a split second.
"Damon!? she touches him gently, her heart beats so strong she almost thinks her chest will burst.
"Sorry. Um...I better get to work," he looks at her for a long second then backs down off the porch and hurries to the barn to start his day.
Elena's just arriving home when Damon's leaving. They wave at each other as she passes him. When she stops, she watches till his taillights disappear. In a way she's relieved that Ashley insisted she accompany her to the cemetery to do some grave upkeep for Aaron.
As she was going to say goodbye, Aaron III, her father-in-law showed up and insisted she come home with them for supper.
His dad has always been easier to chat with than his mom, still she felt uncomfortable. They've always been rather overbearing as if they didn't approve of their son marrying her seventeen-year-old self.
She's sitting in their living room, staring at the TV while her fingertips graze her lips.
"Elena? You okay?" he sits down beside her, handing her a glass of ice tea with a lemon slice split on the rim.
"You shouldn't have, Aaron. I need to get home to feed the animals."
"Don't you have a hired hand now? Ashley mentioned your young man," he takes a swallow from his tall glass.
"He's not my young man. He's Giuseppe Salvatore's son," Elena stands up.
"Good family," he remarks, sets his glass down then gets up to walk her to the door.
"He's nice and he's proving himself to be very capable, Vincent likes him too. So please don't give me any grief about it," she says over her shoulder as she approaches her car.
Why is she oversensitive about Damon? She knows exactly why; she feels guilty.
Opening the door, she looks back at Aaron. "Goodnight."
"Drive safely," he goes back inside as soon as she backs out of his driveway.
Damon's relaxing, spread out in the oversized tub. The hot, soapy bath water soothes his tired and sore muscles after a long day of hauling shit and cleaning Elena's barn. After supper, he watched a little TV with Stefan then took some Advil, and after saying goodnight to his parents, crawled in the tub to soak.
Damon missed seeing Elena today, being able to work side by side with her. He thinks or at least he hopes that she was busy with her in-laws rather than trying to avoid him.
The animal stalls looked pretty good when he finished for the day, and he hopes she approves of his work when he gets to her place in the morning.
Laying his head back, he closes his eyes and when his thoughts drift to her perfect mouth; how magnificent it would feel to have her lips wrap around his...he dips his hand beneath the blanket of bubbles.
His hand is suddenly tight on her waist, holding her firmly in place. And then, her lips are on his, and he doesn't have time to process anything because her tongue dipping into his mouth is out of this world.
His hands roam her stomach, her sides, the small of her back, and she utters a moan into his mouth. Damon tugs her closer still, and she lets out a guttural groan, a sound that sends fire flaming through his veins with every pound of his heart.
As her mouth moves with his, he knows with absolute certainty that this is the best kiss he has ever experienced. As her tongue dances languidly with his, he holds on tighter and she just keeps kissing him.
What Damon remembers as her name escapes his lips is that neither one of them broke the kiss.
Thank you all. You're the best.
Chapter title: 'How Much I Feel' by Ambrosia.
Trying to work on a one-shot to post in the future. A couple of my favorites are 'The Pirate's Bride' and 'Painted on My Heart'.
Take It On The Run will update next.
Have a terrific day and weekend.