A/N- Posting pretty late at night here in the UK but I'm going away this weekend and I wanted you guys to have this. I've JUST finished this chapter and given it a very quick proof-read, so I apologise if there are any errors in my haste to get it to you. I will reply to reviews individually as you guys were so complimentary last chapter that you deserve a special comment back.

I'm also hoping that if I prod Strangevip a little, she'll update her story 'Take-Off' which is definitely worth a read if you haven't already.

Anyway, there's only one chapter of this story left, and then the epilogue. I've had such fun writing it. Hope you enjoy xxx


Chapter 14

The air was cold - unusually so for this time of year. The temperature had dipped below zero in New York for the first time the previous day, though it was still dry and crisp and sunny - not a hint of snow in the air. Elena loved this kind of weather. It was perfect for Thanksgiving, when the thought of a walk before turkey made her smile because coming back into the house after being outside in the cold was pure bliss.

She sat on the plane to Virginia, flipping through a magazine that she wasn't really reading; she was too excited to see Jack. Already, he was nearly three months old and according to Jeremy's latest phone call, was starting to hold his own head up. He was not, however, sleeping through the night. Not a problem, Elena had thought when she heard those words; neither was she.

In truth, it was getting slightly easier. She could make it through longer stretches and one night had even had pure, uninterrupted sleep. But it was only once and she'd tried not to get too disappointed when it didn't happen again the following evening. She called Damon sometimes. Only sometimes. Since the evening they spent together back in Mystic Falls, Elena was desperate to find some peace within herself so that she could prove he was a choice and not a necessity to help her. They'd spent plenty of time together at his apartment, watching movies or cooking, but had been careful not to get carried away. They hadn't shared a kiss since the night of Ric and Jenna's wedding. When they next did, Elena wanted it to be a promise from her: that she'd chosen him.

She hadn't heard from Stefan since the day she went with Caroline (and, at the blonde's insistence, Klaus) to her old apartment to get the rest of her things. Caroline's place was now beginning to resemble an aladdin's cave: nothing matched. Still, she had been insistent that Elena put her mugs in the cupboard with the rest of the crockery, and they'd use whatever they pulled out first. She smiled as she remembered the excited squeal Caroline had let out when she discovered their merged households meant there was now a waffle iron. Elena had never used it previously, but it now seemed to be in action every weekend. Something else she'd discovered? Klaus liked to eat waffles with whipped berry butter. The thought made her want to laugh, but the three of them had recently settled into a routine where it was no longer awkward. Elena didn't bother about him seeing her in her pajamas, and he didn't seem to bother if she walked in on Caroline laying her head in his lap. It was comfortable. She was comfortable. And it was the first step.

The plane from New York landed on time and Jeremy was there to pick her up. Bonnie had stayed home with Jack, making sure there was a quick bite to eat for lunch; they'd go out for dinner later.

"It's so cold," Elena said, shivering as she climbed into the car.

"We're going to have a cold winter if this is anything to go by," Jeremy replied. "It's been this temperature here for the last two weeks."

"I hope you're bundling my nephew up so he's nice and warm," she smiled and he laughed.

"Are you kidding? The kid has more snowsuits than a store. Bonnie has the heating turned up so it's about a hundred degrees too."

Elena nodded, satisfied and smiling. The thought of the young family in her old house didn't make her heart ache like it had done a few months ago; Jack having a lot to do with that. But it still hurt that this was their first Thanksgiving without their parents; that it was Bonnie who would be cooking the turkey, not her mom.

They reached the house after a pretty long drive - according to the radio, today had been the busiest for people travelling home for the holidays. Her mind drifted briefly to Damon, who, she'd been surprised to learn, was staying in New York, and not visiting Ric and Jenna in Mystic Falls. He preferred the city during the holidays, he'd said.

Bonnie was on the front porch holding a tightly-bundled Jack in her arms before they'd even stepped out of the car. Elena half-ran towards them, forgetting all about her suitcase as she held her arms out towards the little boy.

"You're so big!" she cried, taking him from Bonnie. She bounced him on her hip, eliciting a smile as he thrust a podgy towards her. Kissing his head, which was buried under a hat and two hoods, Elena grinned. "I'm stealing him. He's too cute."

Jeremy shook his head with a laugh and grabbed her case from the trunk.

"Come on, " Bonnie said, shivering a little. She might have bundled up Jack, but hadn't bothered with a coat for herself. "I made chicken soup for lunch."

X

They spent the day chatting and drinking hot chocolates and mulled cider, playing with Jack and then tidying up when he'd settled for his nap, watching the leaves sweep in gusts of amber and russet outside and just enjoying being with each other.

When evening came, Bonnie bathed Jack - with help from Elena - dressed him in the cutest Thanksgiving-themed sleepsuit Elena had ever seen and set him on his playmat while they got ready themselves. Jeremy and Bonnie didn't go out often, Elena knew; money was tight and they'd made the decision that Bonnie would stay home with Jack rather than go to work. Their mom had done it and even as a kid, she'd appreciated being able to come back after school to a home-cooked dinner, and having someone who was always around to help with homework.

"So where are we going?" Elena asked.

"La Cucina."

"Is it new?"

Both Jeremy and Bonnie frowned at her, "Actually, it's been open a couple months. Didn't Stefan tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"I know you guys broke up but I thought he would have mentioned it before. His parents have opened up a new Italian restaurant in town," Jeremy said. "It's supposed to be really good but I suppose I should have thought about it more. You said that you're okay with each other - you just drifted apart though right?"

Elena cleared her throat, "Right."

"I can cancel the reservation if you want?"

"No, Jer," she replied. "Honestly, it's fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Elena," Bonnie said softly when Jeremy was out of earshot. "I should have thought - I'm really sorry. Just, with Jack and everything, it didn't even-"

"- Bonnie," she cut in, placing a hand on her sister-in-law's arm. "Seriously, it's fine."

Elena smiled and Bonnie nodded. Jack gurgled away and she took in a deep breath. She had to start being fine. And Stefan's parents were good people.

"You ready?" Jeremy asked, carrying Jack's car seat in one hand, and trying (and failing) to put his coat on with the other.

"Yep," they answered in unison.

"Let's go then."

X

The restaurant was beautiful. Stefan's parents had converted an old disused building towards the centre of town. It had exposed bricks, fairy lights and soft lighting, a relaxed family atmosphere and a long bar at the edge of the room. It was homely.

They sat at a table towards the back corner of the room, much to Bonnie's relief. It was the first time they'd brought Jack to a restaurant, and while he was content in his car seat, she was clearly on edge at each little noise.

"Bonnie, relax." Jeremy told her, leaning over to offer a kiss against her temple. "He's fine."

"I know, I just don't want to ruin everyone's evening."

"You're ruining yours right now," he told her gently. "If he starts, I'll take him out."

Elena looked at her brother and his wife; they looked so genuinely in love - happy and tired and completely devoted to each other. It wasn't the same look she'd witnessed between Ric and Jenna, but it meant the same thing. She'd seen that look before somewhere though...she just couldn't place where.

"Would you like some drinks?" a waitress asked, appearing at their table with a small notepad.

"Just a water for me," Bonnie replied.

Jeremy shook his head. "You girls share some wine. I'll drive."

After a weak protest from his wife, Jeremy ordered them a bottle of pinot grigio and a coke for himself.

The waitress brought their drinks pretty quickly and Elena excused herself after a few minutes to visit the bathroom. On her return, she bumped into someone, accidentally knocking his bottle of Peroni so that it frothed and spilled a little over the top.

"I'm so sorry!" she gushed, tilting her head to look upwards. And then, she couldn't breathe. "Stefan…"

"Elena, what're you...I didn't realise you were here," he said. "In Smithfield."

She couldn't swallow. Wasn't even sure if she could see straight. "Thanksgiving." She finally managed. And then, across the room, she saw Bonnie lean in to her brother, laying a kiss against his lips. She wanted to find love like that. And it wasn't going to be with Stefan. She had to start fighting for it. "You didn't tell me about this place."

He shrugged, no menace in his eyes. "I guess they got it sorted when we...when you weren't at the apartment."

"They've done a really great job."

"I'll tell them you said so," he replied. Was it really going to be this easy?

"Stefan! The food's here," a female voice called from behind them. Elena turned to see Lexi Branson, a girl who'd been in their year at school. "Oh, Elena!" she exclaimed, a little confused. "How are you?"

The question made it obvious that she'd been spending time with Stefan. Elena wasn't sure what he'd have told her, but then, did it really matter?

"I'm good," she answered honestly. "Really good."

Stefan's eyes met hers and she didn't feel guilt. He didn't look like he did either. There was something else written across his face, a different expression: acceptance.

"How are you?" she remembered to ask.

"I'm good too." Her answering smile was genuine.

"I should get back to my table," she said. "It was nice to see you Lexi."

The blonde nodded, and just as she stepped away, Elena gave Stefan the smallest of smiles. He returned it before turning his attention to Lexi, the rest of their group and his food.

"Did I just see you talking to Stefan?" Bonnie asked as Elena reached their table.

"Yeah, he's here with Lexi Branson and some others."

"Lexi from school?"

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asked.

Elena took a large sip of wine as she thought about the answer. What if Stefan did to Lexi what he'd done to her? But then, what if he didn't? And was it her worry to have? "Yes," she answered with a smile. "Really."

X

Thanksgiving day itself came and passed with a blur. Elena had helped Bonnie with the food, though there seemed to be an awful lot for just the three of them. It didn't matter though, Jeremy had said, because he liked turkey and stuffing sandwiches. Which was a good job; it looked like he'd be eating them for weeks.

Jack obviously didn't understand all the fuss, but to Elena's delight, had been dressed in the turkey costume Bonnie's mom had bought. He looked ridiculous. But ridiculously cute and Elena had made sure to get several photos of him dressed like that. The one she got Jeremy to take with her holding him was already the screensaver on her phone and Caroline had text upon receiving a picture message to say it was the cutest damn thing she'd ever seen.

One other event had occurred during the previous night: she'd slept. The whole night. Not even Jack's 3am cry for a bottle had disturbed her.

"My parents are coming for Christmas dinner," Bonnie had told her just before Jeremy had driven her to the airport. "And you're more than welcome too."

She'd thanked her and made her promise that as soon as it was appropriate to dress Jack in Christmas-themed outfits, she would send pictures.

"He's going to kill you both when he's eighteen you know," Jeremy had said. "And I'm going to make it clear to him that I had no part in this."

X

Her plane was delayed by an hour. Snow had arrived in New York unseasonably early, and in clearing the runway, the schedule of departures and arrivals had become backlogged. She couldn't wait to see the city dressed in a blanket of white. Perhaps she and Caroline would go ice skating outside the Rockefeller Centre - she'd always wanted to do that. The hour's delay on the runway meant that she had plenty of time to think. The realisation that the entire time in Smithfield, she'd felt safe dawned on her as she'd checked in her baggage. Even after she'd run into Stefan at the restaurant.

"You been visiting family?"

Elena turned to look at the man sitting next to her who'd asked the question. He was undeniably gorgeous: sandy blonde hair cropped close to his head; bright blue eyes; tanned skin; a handsome face with the smiliest lopsided grin she'd ever seen. And yet, the one thing that crossed her mind, after she'd realised how good-looking he was, was that he wasn't Damon. It was in that exact moment that she realised she wanted him. Wanted to choose him. Wanted to be the one who got to kiss him and go home after work to him and make love to him. Make love. Was that what it was? And if it was, so what? She didn't want to wait any more; waste any more time.

"Um…" she realised she'd forgotten to answer. "Yeah - my brother, his wife and their son."

"Heading back to work?"

"In a couple days," she replied. "How about you?"

"I'm back at work tomorrow and I can't wait," he told her. "Thanksgiving isn't my favourite holiday."

Elena found herself not caring about his answer. She wanted the plane to take off. She wanted to get to Damon. Her fingers itching, she couldn't stand it any longer and grabbed her phone from her purse.

"You alright?" the man asked.

"I'll be right back."

Luckily, the toilet was unoccupied and and Elena searched for Damon's number in her contacts list. He picked up on the second ring.

"Elena, are you okay?"

"I'm thankful for you," she gabbled, frowning. That wasn't what she'd meant to start with. "At Thanksgiving, you're supposed to say what you're thankful for. And I'm thankful for you. You made me feel safe when nobody and nowhere else did, and not because you were trying to. And you're good and kind and patient and I'm so annoyed that this plane is delayed because I was going to tell you this in person, but I can't wait."

"Elena…"

"I feel safe on my own now, most of the time. And I can sleep through the night - sometimes. But I want to sleep in your arms because I want to feel you, not because I need you to protect me. And I want to kiss you, not because I want to thank you for anything, but because you taste of bourbon and spice. I don't even like bourbon," she continued. "But I like it on you."

He didn't say anything for a while, but she could hear him breathing. "How long is your plane delayed?"

"An hour."

"I'll be there when you land," he said. Gasped. Breathed. She wasn't sure what that tone of voice was, but it wasn't one she'd heard him use before.

"Okay," she replied softly, a smile turning up the corners of her mouth. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. So much."

"I'll see you soon."

"And Elena?" he called down the line just before her finger hit the red button. "I'm thankful for you too."

X

She couldn't get through airport security fast enough. She could see the carousel revolving the baggage from her flight but nobody seemed in much of a hurry to check anything. Finally, after queuing for what felt like hours, Elena finally made it through to baggage reclaim. Only a blue suitcase now separated her from Damon and she tapped her foot impatiently.

"I thought I hated the holidays," the man from the plane laughed, standing beside her. "But I've never seen anyone so eager to get through the airport before."

Elena forced a smile. "You don't know the half of it."

Just then, she spied the chute dropping her case onto the conveyor.

"Which one's yours?" the man asked, noticing the change in her body language.

"The dark blue one with the yellow tag," she replied. "Thanks."

He grabbed it for her and set it down. "Have fun back at work."

"You too," she called, walking towards the exit.

He was there as soon as she rounded the corner: black jeans, black t-shirt, black leather jacket, black boots. He looked gorgeous. And he was smiling. At her. For her. It took her a moment to realise she had no idea what she was going to do or say to him but it didn't matter because he was coming forward towards her with that smile and those eyes and then he was picking her up - just a fraction - off the ground so that he could hold her close and capture her lips with his. He tasted exactly like she remembered: bourbon and spice. Damon's lips were still on hers when he set her back down, sucking and devouring as though he needed it just to exist.

It was Elena who drew away first, and only because she'd run out of air - not because she wanted to.

"Hi," she breathed, smiling as he pulled back to look at her, his hands moving to tangle in her hair at the base of her neck.

"Hi." She couldn't help herself, pressing her lips to his again before he had chance to say anything else. She felt him smile against her mouth and took the opportunity to bite down a little on his bottom lip, pulling a low growl from somewhere in the back of his throat. It was her turn to smile this time, continuing to kiss him until he ran out of air. He looked almost dazed when their lips separated.

"Let's go," he spoke gravelly, holding his hand out for her case. She didn't allow him to take it though, shaking her head.

"I've got it."

During their drive, Elena told Damon about Jack and the turkey outfit, the food she'd helped cook and eat, the ease of the ache when she saw how happy Jeremy and Bonnie were in that little house she grew up in, but she saved the best news until last: the sense of peace she'd found after seeing Stefan.

"So he was just there?" Damon asked, gripping the gearshift a little too tightly for Elena's liking.

"With a girl we knew at school but there was something different about him, Damon; he seemed lighter. His eyes were different - happy. It's hard to explain but it felt...I don't know, I think it felt like he'd accepted everything was over."

He said nothing, but stared straight ahead at the road, his jaw muscles clenched beneath his skin.

"How did you spend the last few days" she asked. "Eat too much turkey? Drink too much cider?"

He returned her gaze with softer eyes this time and Elena smiled. "Actually, I've been in the office. It's easier to get stuff done when there's nobody around."

"But you had turkey and cider, right?"

He shrugged, "There didn't seem much point."

The rest of the journey was spent in companionable silence as Elena stared out of the window, amazed at the sight of the city covered in white. It was taking longer than usual to get back; the ploughs working tirelessly to keep the roads as clear as possible, but the flakes were coming down faster with each passing half hour.

"If this weather keeps up, we might get snowed in," she said, sighing at the sheer beauty of it. Everything looked prettier in the snow.

"Where shall I drop you off?" he asked, causing her to whip around quickly.

"I...I thought we'd be going to your place?" she replied. "Unless you're busy or you don't-"

" - Elena," he said gently, resting his hand on her knee. It burned through her jeans in the best way. "I just didn't want to assume."

"Your place." Her voice was clear. "If that's okay?"

Damon leant across to give her the quickest of kisses against the side of her head. "I want to lay on that couch with you, drinking that mulled cider you keep talking about with a really crappy movie in the background," he replied. "If that's okay?" His eyebrow was raised in that cocky expression he wore so well and she grinned.

"Okay."

But first, they'd need ingredients. And she wasn't about to let him go through the holiday period without having had at least some turkey, either.

X

They entered his apartment building after stopping at a 7/11 on route. As it turned out though, it hadn't exactly been the best place in the city to score Thanksgiving meal ingredients. Elena had called Caroline to let her know she'd landed, but that she was at Damon's. Her friend was still in Connecticut and had seemed to have had a hard time being away from Klaus, who was holding down the fort at the hospital with a couple of the other med students. She was, however, due back the following day and Elena promised she'd make enough pumpkin pie for there to be a slice waiting after she landed.

Damon shrugged his jacket off after closing the door behind her and set her suitcase in the small cupboard usually reserved for the vacuum and random assortment of tools he kept incase any unexpected d.i.y moments arose. She stood, her arms dangling, feeling like she should sit or fill the kettle or make a joke. Something.

"I'm not sure what to do," Elena told him truthfully.

"What do you want to do?"

She looked up, a little hesitantly. "I want to kiss you."

"That's good," he said, walking towards her. "Because I want to kiss you too."

His lips were pressing against hers before she'd had chance to brace herself, and she felt her back bump lightly against the couch. His hands rested on her hips, pulling her towards him so that she could feel the heat of his body through the cotton of his t-shirt. She reached both arms up so they could link behind his neck, her fingers dancing along the skin there as she fought the urge to sink her body back against the furniture, her legs starting to feel unsteady. As if sensing her predicament, Damon pulled away slightly, pushing the strands of messy chocolate hair away from her face and behind her ears.

"I like kissing you." Her voice was raspy. She liked the sound of it.

"You have no idea how much I like kissing you."

Actually, Elena figured, if he felt anything like the way she did, she knew exactly what it would be doing to him. A small yawn escaped her mouth and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. An 'oops' gesture.

"Am I boring you?" Damon's voice was light and good-humoured, his eyes sparkling.

"Never." She might as well continue being honest. It had only served her well so far.

"You want a drink?" he asked, as if reminding himself they hadn't come to his apartment to just do...that. "There's coffee or wine…"

"I thought you wanted mulled cider?"

"You're tired; we can make it tomorrow."

"I yawned once," she returned, somewhat indignant. "It was a boring flight. Besides, I'm cooking for you."

"You're what?"

"You missed your Thanksgiving dinner," Elena shrugged, making her way to the kitchen to make a start. "So I'm going to make you some. A scaled down version though - obviously."

She watched him look at her and all of a sudden, realised where she'd seen that look Jeremy gave Bonnie: it was in Damon's eyes. Perhaps she should have felt panicked. But she didn't. She felt giddy.

"I'll give you a hand."

"No," Reaching on her tiptoes to offer him a soft kiss, Elena smiled. "You've done so much for me. Now I'm making you dinner. "Go watch a movie, or the snow."

She watched as he drank her in, then rolled her eyes. "Find something to do, Damon."

He cocked an eyebrow at her and she laughed.

"Mulling cider isn't making dinner, right?"

"I suppose not."

"Then pass me those cinnamon sticks and the rest of the stuff. You just put it all in the pan and heat it right?"

"You're telling me that the man who's good at everything isn't sure how to make the ultimate fall drink?" she goaded, pouring pumpkin filling into a ready-made pastry case. 7/11 really did cater for convenience.

"You know," Damon raised an eyebrow at her again, making his way towards her with a half-smirk. "I think you're teasing me."

She selected her words carefully. "Hardly, baby."

His answering grin was enough to make her want to throw down the pumpkin and kiss him again. Later, she figured. First, he deserved dinner.

X

Considering dinner was bought from a 7/11, it had been a resounding success. So it wasn't exactly a traditional Thanksgiving meal; it still tasted damn good. And now, Elena was curled under a blanket, cradling a mug of warmed mulled cider while she and Damon watched the snow from the couch. Intermittently, he sipped at her lips and every single time, she couldn't help but smile. He tasted damn good too.

"I didn't tell you the whole truth about what I was doing while you were in Smithfield," he said suddenly, leaning forward to place his mug on the glass coffee table. "And why I stayed here instead of in Mystic Falls."

Elena adjusted her position, sitting up slightly as he turned to face her. "You weren't at work?"

"I was," Damon replied. "But I also went to see Katherine."

"You...why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to worry."

"Damon -"

"Did you call me every time you couldn't sleep?" he asked, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear before gently freeing her bottom lip from between her teeth. She hadn't even realised she'd been biting it.

"I didn't want to…" she trailed off, realised what she'd been about to end with. She hadn't wanted to worry him. Or disturb him either.

He raised a brow knowingly. "Exactly."

"But I wish you'd told me."

Damon took her right hand in his, tracing his thumb along each finger so that the whole of her hand was tingling by the time he'd finished. "That's making me sleepy," she said, stilling his hand with hers. "And I want to listen to your story. How was she?"

"She's doing much better, actually. The guy who helped her escape the second time - Kai - has been transferred to a different hospital in Albany. And Katherine's now in a more secure unit with better help. She looks so much better - not that I'd trust her if she was out, but I had to make sure of where she was."

"You think she'd break out again?"

He shook his head and Elena let out a breath, as if her lungs had simply been waiting for his answer to that question. "I've had a lot of nightmares about her, Elena."

She gave him a small, sad smile. "I know. I've seen the evidence on your skin."

She watched as his hand drifted to the place where the latest mark still sat, just under his t-shirt. "But I've never told anyone what they were really about."

"Then tell me."

"I feel guilty. Felt guilty. Not sure if I still do. I sacrificed her freedom for my safety."

"But she was a danger Damon! To you, herself, anyone I guess who might have been in her way."

"Which is what prompted the visit," he continued, taking her hand once more, only he didn't trace patterns on it this time. Instead, he locked their fingers together to bring her hand to his lips, pressing them against the soft skin. "I needed to be sure she couldn't get out again, because as much as I don't want to be shot a third time," the joking tone of his voice didn't match his expression as he looked at her. "I think I would die if she hurt someone I loved to punish me. And she's Katherine. If she found out how I feel about you, and she wanted to punish me, I couldn't live with that. Her freedom - especially while she's sick - isn't worth a hair on your head."

Elena wasn't sure how to respond. There were so many things he'd admitted in the last few minutes that she didn't know where to start.

"You really think she'd come after me?" Her voice was a whisper.

"Can you see why I didn't tell you?" His eyes and voice were soft, calm. But from the way his hand was holding hers, fingers pressing into her skin as if she might be pulled from him at any minute, Elena could tell he was anything but. "It was the last thing you needed to hear."

"Damon, I -"

"- Now you know. And I don't want you to live a life where you're scared of what's going to happen to you or me. You don't deserve that. So if this isn't for you, then -"

" - You're kidding, right?" It was her turn to cut in. "You just told me that she's not going to be able to get out. I feel safe here. With you. And you telling me this isn't going to change that Damon. And you know what, if it did? I'd still want to be here because I like sleeping with you. And not just because I find it difficult on my own but because you're warm. You smell nice. You breathe against my neck and it makes it tingle. And you do this thing with your hands where it feels like my skin is on fire. And it's absolutely am-"

He swallowed the remainder of her word, sealing his mouth over hers with such force that she had to brace herself against him. Elena didn't pull away. Using the muscles of her stomach, she pulled herself back towards him, hands snaking up behind his neck so that she could twist the strands of his raven hair to pull that sounds from the back of his throat she loved hearing. Moving her arms, she held on to his shoulders, using the force as leverage to lift one knee over his legs so that she was straddling him, resting her centre against his. Through the whole movement, they didn't stop kissing.

As Elena tilted her head slightly, Damon began a descent of kisses, starting at her lips and heading languidly towards her collarbone. Elena took her bottom lip between her teeth to stifle a moan, and as if sensing her, he brushed it with his thumb, prising the soft skin from its temporary prison.

"You have nothing," he breathed between tiny, wet nibbles of her neck. "To be quiet for."

She grabbed the neck of his t-shirt, pulling him towards her to either shut him up so he could keep kissing her, or just so that she could feel him against more of her - at this point, she wasn't even sure.

An ache had begun between her thighs. Or...not really begun as such, because the more she felt it grow, the more she realised that feeling had been there a while, just biding its time in the background and waiting for the fire to ignite. It grew into more of a throbbing so that she had to grind against Damon's jeans just to try and quench it.

"Elena." His voice was a sort of half-strangled moan that she wanted to hear again. And so she repeated her action, rocking against him while grazing his chest with her fingertips, ghosting over both nipples so that she could feel the bulge in his jeans grow harder beneath her. "Elena." She smiled this time, the tortured pitch warming her from the top of her head to her toes. "You can't keep doing that and -" He gasped, eyes closed as he leaned his head back against the couch while she repeated her motion for a third time. "Expect me not to…"

"Not to what?" she breathed, returning her lips to his. She just didn't seem to be able to get close enough.

"Take you in -"

Elena just couldn't help herself, stealing another kiss while his eyes were narrow slits of almost pure-black. "Into the bedroom."

"Then do it."

She tried to kiss him again, but the pad of his thumb on her lips stopped her. Opening her eyes, she found Damon looking at her carefully. She knew why: he was trying to decide whether or not she meant it.

"I mean it," she whispered softly.

"You sure?"

She was more sure about wanting him to have all of her than she'd been about pretty much anything lately. And it didn't scare her like it maybe should have. It was exciting. "I want you to take me in there," she nodded towards the door, bringing her lips as close to his as his thumb allowed. "And keep me feeling like this until morning."

He took either side of her face in his hands and kissed her forehead gently. "You're something else you know that?"

She didn't have to answer though. With one hand snaking round her back so that he could hold her to him securely, he used the other to push up from the couch, her legs automatically locking around his waist as he walked them both towards the bedroom. As soon as he'd shut the door behind him using his back, Elena brought her lips to kiss his jawline, flicking the bottom of his ear with her tongue.

The way he laid her down on his bed changed things. Back on the couch, his kisses had been urgent, filled with the tension they'd clearly shared for a while that had now finally exploded. But the way he placed her - so carefully as he made sure to sweep the waterfall of mahogany hair away from her face - with her head on the pillows that smelled so overwhelmingly of that delicious spicy musk that was everything Damon, made her heart constrict. His eyes were open and soft and warm, cerulean pools that she could lose herself in if she wasn't careful, as he stroked her skin and in that moment Elena knew he was about to make love to her. That was what was in his eyes: love.

His fingers began at the single toggle on her cardigan. He looped it deftly through the hole so that she could shrug it off, freeing her arms so that he could run his fingertips over her skin. It burned in his wake and he soothed it with a series of kisses, his lips massaging the areas where red and purple marks formed patches on the olive canvas. Next, his fingers moved to the hem of her tank top, lifting it slightly to reveal a patch of skin at the bottom of her stomach and across her hips. He'd barely tugged the material up an inch when Elena pulled him back towards her, taking his lips in hers so that she could taste the cinnamon from earlier. Somehow, he managed to work the cotton upwards so that it was bunched beneath her breasts, pulling back slightly as she arched her back for him to pull it over her head. His eyes didn't leave hers as she reached behind her, unclasping the deep plum-purple lace bra to reveal her naked chest.

"I can always stop," he choked out, tracing the line of her breast. "You only have to tell me."

She shook her head, no, because she wasn't sure she wanted him to stop ever. At that, Damon's fingers rose up the curve towards her nipple, circling it in a tortuous motion that had her making a noise at the back of her throat she'd never heard herself make before. He smiled into her mouth and she felt almost dizzy with the overload of touches he was placing upon her skin. With his hands on either side of her body, he laid her back down on the mattress and kissed his way from the valley between her breasts to her bellybutton and down until the waistband of her jeans prevented him from travelling further. Elena reached for the button but he caught her hands easily in his and brought them to his lips, kissing each one softly before lacing his fingers through them and resettling them above her head. Almost uncomfortable with the way he was lavishing his attention on her body, she managed to breathe out a throaty, "Damon?"

He kissed her once, twice, a third time before looking up with a smile so innocent that it stole her words. "Yes?"

"I...I want to…" her chest was heaving. "Feel your skin," her hands stroked his chest, snaking under the cotton of his t-shirt. "On mine. Now."

Pressing the softest of kisses against her lips, Damon pulled the t-shirt over his head, allowing her to undo the belt buckle on his jeans. His own hands made quick work of freeing the button of hers and he pulled gently, slowly revealing inches and inches of unmarked olive skin. She was quivering by the time he removed his own jeans, throwing them somewhere on the floor which was a dot-to-dot of discarded clothing.

His lips then began a devastatingly slow ascent from her left ankle to the top of the inside of her thigh, just not...there...and then jumped across to the right side, working from the top down to the bottom.

"Please, Damon," she asked, desperate for his hands to remove her panties. He smiled again and edged the lace to the side with his thumb, sweeping the other across her clit so that she shuddered and moaned. "God." He did it again and Elena could feel herself tightening already. Her eyes were closed and she didn't see his lips make their way to press a kiss against her folds, the shock of it sending her body arching almost violently off the bed.

"Careful baby," he said softly, using his left hand to keep her stomach closer to the mattress.

She knew she was soaking and poised for release. He'd only have to curl a finger inside of her and she knew that would be it. But this wasn't her first time, it was their first time together, and Elena wanted to share the moment with him.

"Stop," she whispered as she saw Damon's hand turn at an angle.

His eyes snapped open, scanning her face for any sign he'd gone too far.

"Damon," she said gently, placing a hand on his arm. "I want you."

"You've got me -"

"Inside of me. Now."

"Elena…" He seemed hesitant.

"I need it, Damon." she continued, "Please?"

"You sure?"

She nodded, and with that, he leaned over to the bedside table, pulling a condom from the top drawer. He turned away to put it on and by the time he was poised at her entrance, Elena was trembling again - with anticipation. Slowly, he pushed himself inside of her, stopping after the first couple of inches. She was tight - she knew - and he was giving her time to adjust. She nodded in confirmation and he pushed further, sinking into her folds as if they were a velvet cocoon. It was Elena who pushed forwards to take the final inch of him, letting out a soft moan as he stretched her deliciously to the point that she felt so full, she wasn't sure she could move. But as he leaned forward to offer his lips to hers, she felt pressure build. And then he moved. And that was it. She was sure she didn't want to feel anything other than this for as long as she lived.

He was gentle and tender as he moved, but his hands were everywhere, cocooning her body in safety, in fire, in an all-consuming desperation for him to move faster and harder and more and more until all there was in her existence was him. Just as she felt the first sparks of orgasm, Damon stilled, pulling her body with him as he sat up on his knees, sinking her down on his cock so that he was deeper and her breasts against his chest gave her the friction she didn't even know she needed. In this position she could reach his lips more easily, and Elena tugged at the bottom one with her teeth, pulling a groan from him as he lifted her hips up and back down, the muscles in his arms tensing and flexing with each movement. It wasn't long again - a few thrusts - before those sparks were back - bigger and more powerful this time - and Damon seemed to read the expression on her face before she could find the words to tell him. He swiped a thumb across her clit and it tore her apart, her inner walls spasming and clenching until she felt his own release join hers. She collapsed against his chest, covered in a film of sweat but unable to stop grinning against his skin - skin that still smelled and tasted of musk and spice. He was heaven.

It took a good few minutes for either of them to recover but once Damon did, he moved so that he was lying on the mattress and she was curled on top of him, still a little breathless.

"God," he said, brushing the hair from her face. Her eyelids swept down each time his thumb brushed across her forehead and it was only then that she realised how tired she was.

"I know."

"It's never...I haven't ever…"

"Me either," Elena replied, understanding exactly what he'd been trying to say. It had never felt like that before.

When they'd recovered enough to draw back the covers and slip inside, Damon removed the condom and quickly took it to the bathroom, washing his hands before he joined her.

"I love seeing you in my bed," he whispered against her skin, wrapping an arm against her as he pulled her against his chest. She weaved a leg between his and rubbed her hands up and down his side a few times, resting one beneath her pillow and the other on his chest.

"I love being in your bed," she answered tiredly with a yawn. "Best way to sleep."

He touched his lips to her temple and rested them there with a content sigh. "Goodnight, Elena."

Her fingers flexed against his chest, but her steady breathing told him everything he needed to know: she felt safe. And she was asleep.