Double update day. Don't miss reading chapter 11.
Elena grits her teeth at the twitch of his fingers – the thumb of his left hand skirting against his right, constantly fidgeting. As if she needed anymore confirmation that Damon Salvatore is inescapable...and now he's stumbling down the sidewalk in front of her.
She moves to open her car door and gestures with her hand for him to get in.
"Are you really going to do this? I don't even have shoes on!" he tries to reason with her.
"Well maybe you should have thought of that before you took off on me again?" she glares at him for several seconds before shutting his door and climbing in the driver's side.
Firing the engine, she pulls onto the road and coasts through traffic, her hands gripping the wheel tightly. As she approaches the police station, she makes a quick right turn a block from the public safety building and continues till they reach a city park where she pulls into a spot.
Killing the engine, she sits motionless for a few moments, holding her breath and taking in the sight of him. His tousled, raven hair is damp with humidity on its ends, dripping beads of sweat onto his neck and soaking the back collar of his t-shirt. Eyes drifting lower, she notices the way the light gray cotton stretches taut across thicker arms. At the sleeve's rim, she catches a peek of ink from his raven tattoo and a his back is broader than she remembers... His dark-washed jeans are the same as is the tense set of his shoulders.
"Not that I'm complaining but what are you doing?" he looks at her, his head tilted to the side and his forehead furrowed.
Letting anger steel her resolve, Elena takes a shaky breath before shoving the car door open with her foot. Stepping out, she slams it shut and walks over to one of the benches.
Perplexed, Damon follows her - albeit gingerly - not wanting to step on anything with his still bare feet.
"Damon," she says, grimacing at the way her voice cracks on his name. "This is your last chance, either you're straight with me or I'm turning you in. It's your choice to make..."
He looks at her for a moment before turning to his back to her. She notices the way his shoulders hitch and hears his sharp intake of breath. He tilts his head slightly, stretches his neck, and she knows his jaw is clenched just as tightly as his fingers that are curled into fists.
"What has you so rattled?" Elena moves in front of him so he has no choice but to meet her stare.
"I didn't run away from you, I was kidnapped okay?" he admits reluctantly.
"Kidnapped? You expect me to believe that?" her mouth sets in a hard line.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I was blindfolded and taken to 'The Mystic Princess'. Mason Lockwood threatened you, Elena and that's why I didn't tell you. I know things went south for us and like you, I don't want anything to happen to either of us."
"They went south because you never talk to me. You always brush off my concerns as if they're meaningless. We have to be able to talk to each other, Damon. No relationship can survive without communication." Elena reveals for more than she wanted to.
"Are you saying we're still in a relationship?" Damon's strong arms encircle her shoulders and tug her into his warm, familiar body. One that her own instantly recognizes as comfort and safety.
Arms that she's missed more than anything in the world.
"No, that's not what I said..." her body language a start contrast to the defiance in her voice.
"Shh, I've got you," Damon whispers into her ear, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back. "Just breathe, Elena, just breathe," he says softly before nuzzling his nose in her hair and dropping a tender kiss on the crown of her head.
Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, Elena clutches his t-shirt with her fists and buries her face in his chest, inhaling his familiar scent.
"I'm such an idiot, I always fall into your trap," she frees herself from his embrace.
"I'm telling you the truth, I swear to God. How else would I know about the yacht? And another thing, I heard Dahlia's voice...or at least I think it was hers."
"Why would she be with Mason?"
"That's what we have to find out. We should do a little digging on that yacht. For all we know, that's where they're keeping Ric."
"I know I'm going to regret this..." she starts to walk back towards the car when seconds later, Damon reaches for her. His arms tense protectively, pulling her closer and tucking her head beneath his chin.
"Thank you," he whispers then lets go and follows her back to the vehicle.
As the car's engine purrs to the highway, Elena relishes the roaring wind that tousles her dark hair and whistles in her ears. Watching the road, she can see the approaching storm. The clouds are gray, ominous and threatening. Rain clouds are nothing like the fluffy puffs of cotton that they were when they pull out of the Clearwater city limits.
Driving closer into the squall, soon streaks of pure white crackle against a blanket of gray. Jagged bolts fill the sky with undying flashes of radiance. If Elena wasn't driving in it, she would love to be laying in her pitch dark bedroom with the curtains open to watch the light show.
Just as she passes a harbor exit sign, rain begins to fall so hard that the wipers are unable to keep up with the deluge. She slows down because any bump in the road is a hydroplaning hazard, the breaks won't do any good if they're not in contact with the road.
The downpour lets up enough for her to safely brake to make a right turn off the interstate. The storm moves in an easterly direction. As she drives, the rain is still falling steadily. Looking west, clouds are beginning to break up, letting through bright streaks of sunlight, falling as shafts against an otherwise gray sky.
"It's a good thing we picked up your shoes," she remarks as she enters the harbor area.
"What you don't like to tiptoe in the rain?" he winks at her.
Reflexively she rolls her eyes. Finding a spot, she parks the car. They will have to wait for a break in the downpour before going into the harbor office. Her eyes drift to his form. He's leaning back in the seat, his eyes watching the storm...
As meteors dash across the dark expanse, Elena's eyes are fixed on the sky above. A crack of thunder is a precursor just before a few drops of rain hit their foreheads.
Within moments, the deluge starts, saturating her hair. Damon's is just as sopped as he tips his head to the sky. She feels the first pangs of arousal as she stares at his beautiful face.
"Come on, time to abandon ship," his voice interrupts her reverie.
The rain has them soaking wet, and yet Elena simply wants to enjoy the moment.
"No, no, no. Wait!" She lifts her head up, "Just give it a second, it'll clear up."
As if to say otherwise, the rain continues to pelt down on them. Her eyes meet Damon's and she smiles as wide as she ever has. As the torrential downpour continues, he moves to kiss her. Gently at first before his lips become more insistent.
She nudges closer till their bodies are flush against each other. When they separate, she ghosts her fingers over his lips. The rain's tricking town her face, beading on her eyelashes.
As the meteors continue to streak across the sky and she suddenly blurts out, "Promise me this is forever?"
"I promise," he leans in and covers her mouth with his.
"Elena?" she feels a gentle pressure on her hand and turns her head to meet his blue eyes. "It's barely sprinkling now..."
"Okay," she pulls the keys out of the ignition, drops them in her bag and gets out of the car. After locking the doors, she allows Damon to take her hand as they run to the office before the heavens open up again.
The marina is one of the largest and oldest yacht harbors along the west coast of Florida, encompassing many acres of water and can berth hundreds of boats. There is a launch ramp, fuel dock, facilities for smaller boat sailing and launch sites for windsurfing and paddle craft. There are also sailing schools, non-profit sailing cooperatives, and the yacht club.
Damon and Elena don't linger, they hurry down the dock towards the harbormaster's office. A gift shop comes into view and she pauses to look at the window. There's beads, sea shells and other nautically themed trinkets.
"Elena?" Damon gives her hand a squeeze.
She nods and follows, letting him lead her, she's always liked holding hands with him.
Continuing on, they come to a rental shop. Diving and scuba gear as well as fashionable swimwear are on display in the large windows. Finally they reach their destination, Damon pushes the door open for Elena.
"This way," he casts a glance over his shoulder before following her inside.
"Can I help you?" a lady at the reception desk looks at them from above her spectacles.
"Yes," Damon starts, "we're hoping to glean some information about the ships that dock here. I'm doing a story about the history of the Harbor Marina."
"And you are?"
"Danielle Anderson," she extends her arm to shake Damon's hand.
"Well," she blushes under his scrutiny. "We have many yachts and boats here. There are shops, places to eat, scenery to enjoy. And of course there are boats to charter and some of the yachts are available to rent."
"I caught the name of one," he starts, 'The Mystic Princess', it's a beautiful ship..."
"Absolutely, I personally have never been on it. And actually I don't know who owns that yacht, it's all very mysterious..." her words trail off when a man appears.
"I'm Tobias Fell, I run this office. How can I help you?"
"We were just wondering about that boat over there," Damon points to it through the window.
"That information is private, the owner of the yacht wishes to remain anonymous."
"Are you saying I couldn't go home, dig through records on the internet and find a bill of sale?" Damon asks, his eyes searching for Elena's over the man's shoulder.
"That's what I'm telling you, now if there's nothing else, I have business to attend to," he goes back into his office with a quick snap of the door.
Elena can see the gears moving in Damon's mind. He reaches for her hand, thanks the receptionist and they vacate the office.
"That was strange," she admits as they walk down the wooden path to view the scenery. They gaze upon the ocean sparkling a few yards beyond them. The water shimmers under the mid day sun. Various shrubs dot the landscape. To the right stood a grove of palm trees accompanied by a scattering of flowering shrubs.
Damon again takes Elena's hand and leads her toward the ocean. They stop when the sand gives way to some rocks that lie along the coast line. The rough, dark outcrop makes walking difficult. Crashing waves send up a mist of ocean spray.
Elena takes a deep breath of the salty air and gazes upon the water. "It's beautiful here."
"It absolutely is," Damon eyes lock with hers. They have a thousand hues of blue and a small touch of hazel radiating in softly swooping arcs.
Then he's leaning forward a little, and she does too. Their faces are only inches apart then the space between them closes and their mouths meet. Damon lets out a shaky exhale through his nose the second they join, and it's so full of desire that she can almost feel it scorch her skin.
His mouth moves over hers and everything in her responds at once. First, it's hot and needy.
Then it's the tease of tongues.
She whimpers.
He growls.
When it's done, they stand for a long while in the sand, enjoying the view and each other. Waves crash onto the shore and spill over the rocks. The soothing sound of the waves ease away the day's tensions. Damon tightens his arms around her waist and she leans the back of her head against his chest.
She would stay this way forever if they could. Suddenly, a huge wave sends a sheet of water and mist high into the air. Droplets splash down on them and they both laugh.
"Time to go," Damon's voice has turned husky and his eyes are dark and warm. He takes Elena's hand and leads her reluctantly back to her car...
Heart emojis all around. Thank you.
Spent the last two days at the courthouse. My sons' case is in the jury's hands. Keep your fingers crossed.
Chapter title: 'Rhythm of the Rain' by The Cascades.
Have a wonderful weekend.