Chapter 7

"Alright, Elena. I think it's only fair that you have a turn," Damon smiled coyly.

"Elaborate, please," Elena said, rolling her eyes. She knew she was in so much trouble.

"I got to romp around in your head for a bit; now you can romp around in mine," Damon winked.

"I don't know, Damon…" Elena started.

"Start slow. You can do this. Just imagine kissing me." He shrugged and did his signature half smile. "It's just research."

Elena took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to prepare herself. What could she possibly fantasize that would remotely impress Damon. His sexual prowess far superseded her own, and not just in number of partners. He probably knew how to do things to her that she literally couldn't even imagine. The thought sent chills down her spine. She tried to push the insecurity to the back of her mind and think rationally. What could she do?

"Elena. I'm waiting," Damon sing-songed.

Elena groaned. Not only was this whole exercise making her feel insecure, but it was also making her feel very vulnerable. If she imagined kissing Damon right now, it may be just a fantasy to him, but it would be real to her. She'd be showing him what she really wanted with every touch, taste, and sigh. If she did this, there was no going back.

She looked over at Damon, assessed him, took in his ice-blue eyes and mussed black hair. She allowed her feelings for him to wash over her. She let in the attraction, yes, but also the love. In her mind, she imagined walking toward him and placing her hands on his chest. She wanted to feel his sturdiness, to know in her fingers and in her bones that this was the man that protected her with all he had. She imagined running her hands up to his hair, running her fingers through it. She imagined it would feel like fine silk. It would feel exotic, intoxicating. Finally, she imagined pulling his head toward hers and…

"Good. That's good," Damon was saying. "Keep going."

Elena was vaguely aware of Damon moving across the room. Her eyes were unfocused and she was finding it harder to breathe properly.

In her head, she pulled Damon's lips to hers and chastely kissed them. She rubbed her thumbs on his jaw bone as she deepened the kiss, parting his lips with her tongue, tasting him, wanting him closer. She explored his mouth with her tongue and bit lightly on his lower lip. She imagined him pulling away to kiss behind her ear and down her jaw line.

"Ok, Elena, I'm down the stairs. I'm still seeing the vision. Try shutting your door, but don't stop," Damon yelled up from the foyer.

Elena was so engrossed in her fantasy that she barely heard. Her skin was on fire. She was tingling all over. She was imagining him kissing her neck. The kissing was gentle but insistent, and it deepened with each passing moment. Then he began nibbling with blunted teeth right on her pulse point. Elena's heart raced.

Elena shut her door as she imagined Damon's face begin to shift. In her fantasy, he looked up at her with questioning eyes, unsure eyes. Elena nodded. She wanted this. She was so curious about this moment, what it would feel like and what it would mean. She'd imagined it before, but only ever with Damon. It never crossed her mind to think of being intimate in this way with Stefan, not before when he only ever drank from animal blood. And after? Well, after, if she was honest, she hadn't fantasized about Stefan at all.

Caroline had told her once what Damon had done to her when he'd first gotten to town. When he'd been an altogether awful excuse for a decent person. She hadn't gone into too much detail, really, but Caroline had told her enough. She had told Elena about how, when they had sex, Damon would bite her. At the time, Elena thought it was sick, but now…

She imagined him extending his fangs, bending her head gently down, and rubbing a finger down her neckline, slowly. Seductively. Then he bent down and pierced her soft flesh with his sharp teeth. Elena's whole body convulsed with pleasure. She nearly came with the sensation of it all. As she imagined Damon sucking and nibbling at her neck, she had to sink to her knees on the floor. It was all too overwhelming.

Damon burst back into the room, breaking her reverie.

"Are you ok? What happened?" He said, suspiciously looking around the room. Seeming satisfied that nothing was amiss, he looked back at Elena. "I called your name like three times. Once you shut the door, the fantasy ended. You were right."

"That's great," Elena managed, flustered. When had she shut the door? Did he realize what she had just fantasized about? She hadn't even meant to go there. It had just happened. What would he think if he knew?

Noticing her change in mood, Damon said, "Why don't we take a break from our science experiment. Watch a move?"

"Sure," Elena said, grateful. "I don't think I could go back to sleep now anyway." With that, Damon reached out his hand to help Elena up off the floor.

A half hour later, Elena was snuggled into the crook of Damon's arm, eating popcorn and watching Die Hard, when her phone buzzed.

Damon raised his eyes questioningly.

"Caroline," Elena said. "She says she made it home safely. She wants to know if we want details now or tomorrow?"

"Now. Call her," Damon said. "I'll make some tea. Do you want some?" Damon's eyes flashed and Elena felt a jolt in her abdomen.

"Sure. Chamomile," Elena managed in a normal voice. "Thank you," she added as she smiled and headed up the stairs to call Caroline.

"Oh my God, Elena," Caroline moaned into the phone.

"What's wrong, Car," Elena laughed. She could tell this was going to be good.

"Can Stefan hear me?" she asked worriedly.

"No, um, he isn't here," Elena answered, not sure what all she should tell Caroline.

"What? Why? Are you ok? Are you alone? I can come stay on your couch again," Caroline offered.

No, no. It's ok. I'll explain it to you later. Damon's here. He's downstairs. I don't know if he can hear you, but I doubt it." Elena told Caroline.

"Ok, good. I'm glad you're safe. But now that we've established that, I need your help!" Caroline moaned again.

"Car, what is it?" Elena asked, curiosity peaking.

"It's Klaus. He keeps getting under my skin. I mean, I know he is Satan's spawn. And I hate him. I really hate him. But he's so charming, and so sexy. I just want to rip his clothes off. It's just lust. I'm sure of it. Elena, am I awful?"

Elena laughed. "No, Caroline, you are not awful. Klaus is most definitely awful, but not you. You know what this means, though, don't you?"
"What?" Caroline groaned again.

"You can't judge me for my feelings for Damon anymore," Elena quipped.

"Ugh. You're right," Caroline sighed. "Thanks for listening, Elena. I really am sorry I've given you such a hard time about Damon. I don't have much to report about tonight otherwise. Klaus didn't give much away. He told me Stefan and Damon are like flies to him, annoying and pesky but not at all threatening. He is more worried that because of them, you will end up turning, ruining any chance he has to sire a hybrid army now or for generations to come. "

Elena took it all in, then asked, "Did he say anything about Bonnie's spell?"

"Not really. He just asked if Stefan, Elena, and Damon were enjoying each other's company these days. I suspect he'll try to goad Stefan a little before this is all over."

"Probably," Elena confirmed not wanting to go any further down that road with Caroline. Instead she asked, "What did Rebekah want with Matt?"

"Matt?" Caroline questioned, concern peppering her voice. "I don't know. I didn't see Rebekah or Matt. Is he with her?"

"Hmm. He told Damon that he was going over to Klaus's at Rebekah's invitation. Maybe they decided to do something else instead? I'll call him in the morning to check in."

"Sounds good, Elena. I'm going to bed," Caroline said. Then she added, "Speaking of goading. I hope you have some very sweet dreams." And with that, Caroline hung up.

Matt parked his truck in the drive and texted Rebekah that he was out front. She didn't respond. He shrugged, got out of the car, and padded to the door. Before knocking, he picked up his phone and tried calling Rebekah one last time. He could hear her phone ringing inside, but no one answered. Matt took one step back from the door, unsure. He was starting to have a bad feeling about this.

Just when Matt had decided to bag it and head home, the door opened. He turned around to find Klaus smiling and leaning casually against the door jamb.

"The red blooded human male has arrived. Good. We have been expecting you," Klaus said as he opened the front door wide and ushered Matt inside.

As Matt crossed the threshold, he saw Rebekah lying on the floor, cell phone in hand, daggered through the heart. He stopped short, but Klaus was right there.

"Oh, Bekah. Don't mind her. She has always been so rude when it comes to company. No manners whatsoever. I have a thing or two to teach her about being a generous host. Do come in and stay a while," Klaus said shutting the door and tugging Matt into the room.

"Where's Caroline?" Matt asked, seething.

"Caroline and I had a lovely evening, and I walked her to her doorstep like the gentleman I am. She is safe and cozy in bed by now, I expect," Klaus smiled.

"What do you want with me?" Matt demanded angrily.

"I'm so glad you asked," Klaus's eyes glinted. "Follow me."

Matt didn't know what else to do. He knew Klaus was all powerful and cunning, always thinking two steps ahead. If he didn't do what Klaus asked, he was liable to end up dead, so he did the only thing he could do. He followed Klaus into the house.

Elena bee bopped down the stairs, repositioned herself on the couch, and gratefully accepted a steaming mug of chamomile tea from Damon. She was suddenly in a good mood. Caroline was safe, and for the moment, so was she. She was doing the most normal thing a teenager could do – watching a movie with the boy she liked.

As Damon settled back in beside her, Elena noticed the movie was paused on a shot of Alan Rickman making a maniacal face. Elena laughed.

"What's so funny?" Damon asked.

"Nothing. It's just this actor, trying to look all menacing. He's got nothing on you. I think if the whole Savior of Mystic Falls thing doesn't pan out, you could have a second career training Hollywood actors in the art of villainy."

"That's right. I'm a badass and don't you forget it." Damon joked. He smiled at Elena then asked, "So Caroline is ok…"

Elena nodded.

"And Stefan and I are flies?" Damon finished, letting Elena know that he'd heard every word of their conversation.

"Apparently," Elena smiled. "Badass flies, though, obviously."

Damon laughed and reached over to tuck her hair back behind her ear. Elena shivered at his touch, all mirth leaving her face. "Elena?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

"What happened upstairs?" he asked seriously.

Elena panicked. "What do you mean?" she asked, playing dumb and taking a sip from her tea so she could break eye contact with Damon.

"You know what I mean. The fantasy. I could see it." He leaned toward her. "I was kissing you here." He lightly touched her lips. "And here." He touched behind her ear. "And here." He swept his finger down her jaw line. "And here." He placed his hand on her shoulder and rubbed his thumb over her neck. "And then, for me at least, the visions stopped. So what happened next? Because when I got back upstairs, you seemed pretty shaken up."

Damon hadn't removed his hand from her shoulder, and Elena found it hard to concentrate. He was so close. "Damon, I don't know if you want me to tell you what happened? I don't know how you would react. I don't want to upset you."

Damon snorted. "Elena, we're talking about an erotic fantasy involving you and me. I can't think of anything – short of you staking me in the middle of passionate sex, maybe – that might upset me. So what was it?"

"Damon…." Elena hedged.

"Were we doing it in the butt? Were there sex toys? BDSM?" Damon quipped, trying to lighten the mood. Then his eyes went wide. "A threesome? Please tell me you didn't imagine me and Ste – "

"Damon stop!" Elena cried. "No, none of that. Stop. Please."

Damon waited, eyes boring into her.

"Ok, fine. I imagined…," Elena hesitated, still unsure of what to expect at her admission. "I imagined that you bit me."

Damon blanched. "Elena, I would never – "

"No, Damon. You weren't trying to hurt me," she reassured. "It wasn't like that. It was like, well, it was intoxicating and overwhelming. It felt good. I wanted you to." Elena noticed Damon's face. He was upset. She'd been right about that. But there was another emotion she couldn't put her finger on. "Can it really feel like that?" she asked when he didn't say anything.

Damon shifted away from her and sighed. "I don't know, Elena. I've heard things. I know there are people who like being bitten, but they're usually whack jobs or they're compelled to like it. I know vampires sometimes blood share, and it's considered an act of intimacy. But for a human…" he trailed off.

"I can show you how it felt. I'll recreate the fantasy," Elena suggested.

"No!" Damon stood and walked across the room, running his hand through his hair.

Elena's face fell. It felt like he'd taken a knife to her gut.

Seeing her face, Damon came back to her. He took her tea mug and placed it on the coffee table then returned his hands to her face. He padded her cheek bones with his thumbs before sighing in frustration and standing again.

"Damon, just tell me what you're thinking. You're scaring me," Elena managed.

He shook his head, refusing to talk.

"Damon, do you remember the night you rescued me from the hospital after Klaus took me? The night you weren't there. The night Stefan bit me," Elena asked.

Damon nodded. Eyes distant. "I promised I'd never leave you again."

"Yes, that night. I came-to briefly in the hospital. You were holding the tubing to my IV. It was dripping with my blood and you were staring at it…"

"Are you asking me if I was tempted? Because the answer's yes. Of course I was. It smelled amazing, Elena. But I would never violate you like that. I'm in control of the blood lust. I'm not Stefan," He said this last part pointedly, emphasizing the fact that he had never hurt her, while his brother had.

"But you have thought about it though?" she asked, ignoring the Stefan comment. Elena felt so exposed. This was exactly what she'd been afraid of. Letting him in. Letting him see how she felt. Being rejected.

"Elena, you have to know that I think about it all the time. I think about it almost as much as I think about making love to you. In fact, in my fantasies, we're usually making love when I…" Damon trailed off, unable to say the words.

"It's not like you to be tongue tied, Damon," Elena smiled, starting to feel a little better knowing at least her fantasy had not disgusted him. "If you've thought about it, too, then what's the problem?"

"The problem is, Elena," he began as he came and sat in front of her on the coffee table, "I want that moment to be real. The first time you give yourself to me completely, I want it to be one hundred percent, flesh and blood real. These visions have already robbed us of so many firsts – I mean, not that I'm complaining too much – but some experiences are more sacred, you know?"

Elena nodded. Flesh and blood. In Damon's case, that wasn't just an expression. He wanted her. And not just body and soul, but body, blood, and soul. And she wanted to give that to him.

Elena grabbed Damon by the hand and stood, ready to lead him up the stairs and end the spell, ready to be his once and for all. But before she could speak, he placed a finger in front of her lips and gently shushed her. She looked at him questioningly.

"Elena," he whispered, "I want it to be real, but I also don't want it to be rushed. I don't want it to be because we're ridding ourselves of a spell. I don't want there to be loose ends when it comes to my brother. I don't want you to have any regrets." A single tear rolled down his cheek as he kissed her forehead.

A memory nagged at the back of Elena's head but she couldn't quite grasp it. She felt defeated. She wanted to protest, to tell him she would talk to Stefan later, that she wouldn't regret it, that it wasn't rushed. In fact, it had been a long time coming. But she could tell that he wasn't going to budge. So instead she said, "I'll talk to Stefan tomorrow."

Damon just nodded and said, "Come on. I'll tuck you in. It's been a long night." And he led her up the stairs.

A/N: First, I'm sorry it's taken me a bit longer to update. I've been sick. You asked for a longer chapter, so I tried to comply. I wanted it to be longer, but I also wanted to get something out to you guys. I promise the next chapter will contain smut galore. And we'll get some answers soon. What's Klaus up to? What's Stefan going to do? Eek! I'm excited. Stay tuned and keep the reviews coming!