E, C and B's plane crashed. D&E stranded on an island; E escapes to get to J. E meets A reunites with D, bond and meet K. D&E spend the night in a motel to keep away from A.

Chapter 26: Embarrassed, Flustered and Submissive

As Elena stood under the warm water of the shower and felt it trickle down her body, each muscle unclenched, throwing her into a kind of heaven. It was definitely one of those tiring days. As exhausted as she was, she did keep an ear out for a particular dark-haired man with a special talent for lurking. Elena felt weak. Trying to track a vampire using your amateur human powers wasn't as easy as it sounded. Her feelings of despair, regret and hopelessness coupled with her physical inability to function made her want to stay in the shower forever. Atleast in that way, Damon wouldn't get to her. As long as his patience and concern for Elena's dignity lasted anyway.

Elena was the definition of confused about Damon. He made her happy and safe when she needed it, but more than anything he loved to push her buttons. She felt such extreme emotions. She'd never admit it to his face but when she didn't want to slap him across the face, she wanted to roll around the bed with him. Naked. Fucking.

Pushing her dirty thoughts to the back of her mind, Elena glanced at the door, wondering if anyone was outside the door in the single motel bedroom. She didn't know how far he'd push (she had a good idea, but it was Damon) and what he'd do. Calming her nerves, she assured herself that she was alone to free her body of tension.

If she was being honest with herself, Elena was frightened of Damon's uncanny ability to use his… charms to addle her head and impair her judgment.

She needed to stay rational. She needed to sort her feelings into either the 'love' or 'sexual partners' category.

How can I, Elena Gilbert, nerd extraordinaire with absolutely no experience or interest in relationships; have that level of chemistry with a vampire for god's sake? He says he likes me. I know it was a big deal for him to tell me about it. One wrong move, one second of pushing too much... could send him running for the hills. It is scary.

Twisting the tap shut, she stepped out of the shower. She breathed. Glancing straight ahead, she realized - with a sinking feeling - that something was missing. What with all the pushing away she was doing to Damon, Elena had forgotten her clothes.

With her luck, Damon was probably right outside the room, waiting for her to come out and beg for them.

Wrapping a towel tightly around herself, and another one around her head, she paced in the bathroom. No sounds from outside. Silence, except for the ringing inside her head. Why do I worry about it so much? He said he cared about me. I know I love him. We even slept together so there's nothing new he's going to see. Why do I care so much now?

Maybe I'm a giant prude who's shy and awkward when she's naked without lust addling her mind.

After about a minute, she slowly opened the door and looked through the crack. Only her head and a sliver of her skin above the white towel was visible out the door.

There was Damon. Shirtless, drinking wine. He was lost in deep thought while gazing at the starless night.

'Damon?'

He ignored her.

'Damon! I don't have any clothes to wear. Could you please get me some?'

Eyebrows raised, he turned to face her, his movement almost whip-like. Then Damon visibly froze. Elena wondered why, before she noted with increasing alarm that his gaze was fixed on her breast. Eyes darting to her body, she realized her towel had dropped and he had a nice view of the curve of her breast. She subtly raised her towel to cover herself up. Whatever he saw, it was clearly very much a turn-on. This was not good news for Elena, who wanted to be more immune to him.

His Adam's apple moved as he swallowed the sight of her.

'You do have no clothes to wear.' He paused thoughtfully.

Elena smiled and nodded, hoping he'd move soon. He didn't move.

She realized he was playing games.

'Come on Damon, I'm serious,' she said. 'Do you know if there are any spare clothes in the motel?'

He let his gaze roam over her body before putting his glass down. 'I do know that there are spare clothes in the motel. I just have no intention of providing you anything that covers that gorgeous body.'

'Damon!' she blushed, furiously. No one had ever said things like that to her.

He groaned resignedly. 'I hate it when you Damon me. I'll go get something for you.'

'Thanks.'

He better come back with proper clothes and not some sleazy underwear or I'm going to kick his butt.

Elena closed the door and waited in the bathroom. One minute passed... thirty more seconds... two minutes. Elena was certain that Damon had left the motel. He'd probably left to Aaron's place to get me clothes.

She decided to dry off until he returned. She stepped out in the bedroom, closed the curtains on the window with one hand, another wrapped firmly around her towel. She closed the door to the room but didn't lock it. Then unwrapping the towel, she faced away from the door and began to dry her skin. After she was completely done, she rewrapped the towel and loosened the one around her head.

As she swept her hair to the left, she felt a light kiss on her right shoulder.

Oh my god.

It was her turn to whip around to look at him. He was mere inches from her face. Elena slowly took a step back into the safety zone, which was a good meter away from him. He stepped forward. She stumbled back. Stumbled was indeed the right word because Damon's gaze was reminiscent of a panther in the night. Slow, calculated, promising.

Her legs hit the edge of the bed.

Cleverly veering off from his intended destination, she spun left to avoid him. She wasn't fast enough. Damon cornered her against the wall.

Elena didn't want to give him what he very obviously wanted. She let him kiss her neck and hold her hands above their heads, pressed up against the wall. She let him take her breath away. She let herself feel his hands wherever they touched her skin. She didn't let him kiss her on the mouth, turning away when he tried. That clearly frustrated Damon. He wasn't adamant to get her naked, however. Elena wondered if it was to build anticipation or because he was simply playing around. Letting him kiss her would end her resistance and ruin everything. She didn't want to be more attached to Damon than she already was, it was far too dangerous by then. That's what her brain said, anyway. Her body and heart had a completely different agenda altogether. Holding her hands above their heads, Damon moved further south. He kissed his way down until he reached the swell of her breasts, above the hem of the white towel. Elena inhaled sharply and waited.

Don't you dare.

He pulled both her hands into one of his, the free hand yanking the towel off her body.

'DAMON!' she yelled in shock.

'You keep resisting me Elena. I don't know why but it's working. I'm just going to have to take what I want from now on. It's better this way anyways.'

Oh good Lord.

He had her towel in his hand and held it slightly out of reach. Looking down at herself, Elena wrapped her hands around her breasts, feeling the sides of her forehead heat up. Cheeks burned red. That had to be one of the most anxiety-enducing moments of her entire life. She'd been put in a situation that required quick and smart decisions for the gazillionth time that week. And just like all those times, Elena had absolutely no idea what to do next.

Quietly, she stretched her hand out for the towel, hoping that politeness would work.

Damon walked across the room.

Fine.

Elena scoffed. The nerve of him.

Guess they were going to do this the hard way.

She spotted new clothes sitting on the edge of her bed. Knowing that she'd never get her hands on them before Damon flashes over to her side and snatches them away, Elena scrapped that strategy.

Then, she remembered the one thing that always seemed to work against him. Elena turned red as she came to the realization that she was going to do it again. Damon was watching her, a teasing smile etched across his face.

Smiling up at him, she sauntered over, swaying her hips as seductively as she could. Damon's face cleared. Pure awe was etched onto his face, Elena was surprised that it wasn't hungry lust. He always seemed to relish whenever she went all sex-on-legs on him. He however had a fair amount of apprehension in his eyes. Elena didn't care. It was all about distracting him to get the towel back and getting away as soon as she did.

When Elena got close enough, she grabbed his face and lunged forward to kiss him.

Immediately, a hand curled around the back of her head and yanked her head backwards. Elena let out a yelp. Damon looked her straight in the eye, his gaze so intense, her eyes watered reflexively. Their breaths were mingling and Elena thought she was going to faint. The side of his sardonic smile lifted a millimetre. Her eyes flickered from his misty-blue eyes to his full pale pink lips. She cursed her plan for failing so spectacularly. She also cursed at how everything was suddenly more intense then, thanks to her exposed and hypersensitive skin.

'Fool me once, shame on you,' he warned warily. 'I'm not some sorority chick. You can't roofie me with sex.'

'Well, sorry for trying,' Elena forcefully ripped his hand off her hair. 'You made me do it. This is what happens when I want to get anything from you. Because apparently you are incapable of manners and niceness. Except rare occasions, I know,' she added before he said anything.

Damon smirked.

'I can't change Elena. It's a take-it-or-leave-it scenario. Change your attack plan. As compelling as you are, I need a little more to let you get your way.'

Elena scoffed. She tried not to get offended but was pleased to know that physical appeal lasted for such a short time with him.

He doesn't want to play nice, huh? He wants me to be embarrassed, flustered and submissive? Yeah, no.

Her eyes were chocolate fire as she pulled herself away from him. He needed to know that he couldn't control her. Elena knew it was a lie, but she didn't want Damon to think she was that pliable. If there was one thing Elena prided on, it was her stubbornness and fight. She did what she wanted.

So, she unwrapped herself from his body, sliding her arms over his, making sure to touch as much as she could before complete non-contact. Then, she walked backwards, threw him a wicked smirk and turned around. Elena proceeded to tie her hair up in a bun while arching her back forward slightly. For some reason, she did not feel the initial drowning feeling of awkwardness. She felt fine. Confident in her nakedness. Something in proving a point to Damon changed her entire personality.

Or maybe it brought something in her that was already there.

Damon on the other hand remained frozen in his spot. The towel was still tightly held in his palm. She saw his eyes on the periphery of her vision move as she moved, but she was too caught up in her little striptease - with no stripping.

He can ogle what he wants. This is the consequence of not playing nice. You see but you can't touch.

Then, walking over to the bed, she noticed his black shirt, next to the clothes that he'd gotten. In a pang of disappointment and pride, Elena realized he'd gotten her the most revealing underwear he could find. Elena didn't know why that brought her joy.

That was a lie. Our minds were in synchrony - he knew what he wanted from me and I, him. It was scary.

She knew she'd get cold once out of the room when the inevitable cold breeze hit her. Elena also knew that grabbing her clothes and making a dash for it, would snap Damon out of whatever carnal mood she put him in. There was only one thing left to do really.

Turning to look him straight in the eye, she leant forward and wrapped her fingers around his black shirt. She held it up to her nose, and without taking her eyes off of Damon, she took a great big whiff. Her hand quivered at how good he smelled and she closed her eyes and moaned. Pushing her arms through the black shirt, she buttoned it up. Satisfyingly, Damon's jaw dropped infinitesimally and his hand flexed on her towel. Elena smirked. She didn't take her eyes off of him for one second. She took special joy in knowing that he couldn't do anything but stand and stare.

Elena was convinced that she'd unlocked something in him she'd regret. He was probably beyond frustrated right then. Elena feared (read: hoped) that he'd want her to his mercy all night. Turned out, she was wrong. Damon had a small pleased smile on his face. Elena didn't think he was smirking at her. To be frank, she didn't know what he was smirking about. His, now her shirt reached just below where her underwear would stop. It covered the essentials. Her long, slender legs on the other hand were in full glory. Flipping her hair over the shirt, she walked out of the bedroom, almost in a catwalk, her hips swinging and a huge smile on her face.

Game over, Damon.

I'm sure you've realized by now: 3x19, 4x08 inspired this chapter so much. I love it when Damon's flustered by Elena. It's just so beautiful.

6x10: SO FREAKING DONE WITH KAI jk I really love his character (best villain since Klaus), but YOU CANT INTERRUPT #delenamistletoekiss Yes, I am as amused as you are that this is a thing. WE ONLY JUST GOT #DelenaRainKiss guys - we're so demanding. Also #Dalaric :D And finally the happiest character on the show (imo) Caroline, is going to be as sad as everyone else. Poor Liz, I hope she gets better :'( *prays frantically to God and Science and Illuminati*

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