Chapter 16

Elena

"Stefan, please," Elena murmured, pushing him away from her. She knew he meant well, but this was just a bit too much. Besides, she was with Damon now, and it wouldn't be fair if she went around cuddling with her ex-boyfriend, who also happened to be his brother.

Elena turned her head just in time to see a very familiar car zooming out of sight. Her heart sank as she recognized the vehicle. It was Damon's. Beside her, Stefan was also staring at the car.

"Did you hug me because you knew Damon was there?" Elena whirled around and demanded, her eyes flashing with anger.

"No, of course not," Stefan shook his head, "Elena, I swear. I wouldn't do that."

Elena looked at him long and hard. When did he get so distant? Why did it take a lot for her to believe him? She shook her head, "Whatever, Stefan. I need to find Damon and explain to him before he assumes the worst." She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back.

"Elena," He said. His eyes were pleading, "…I love you."

Elena's eyes softened, "…I know. I'm sorry."

"I thought the two of us together meant…"

"I know." Elena repeated quickly, cutting off whatever he had to say, "I'm really sorry about everything, Stefan, but…it's over now. I had a great time being with you, really, I did, but I think that in a way…everything that happened was just so I could be with Damon."

Stefan lowered his eyes to hide the sadness, "Yeah, okay. I understand." He gave her a strained smile and walked away.

Elena sighed as she watched Stefan drag his feet. She'd always known that he would take the news badly, but he was making this so much harder. She grabbed her car keys and dialed Damon's number as she got into her car, but all she got was his voicemail. She stepped on the gas pedal, trying to make home as soon as possible. She was actually planning for the four of them, Jeremy, Jenna, Damon and herself to have dinner together so she could tell Jeremy and Jenna that they were together. She didn't want everyone not to know about their relationship, and she certainly didn't want Damon to think she didn't want to be seen with him.

From: Elena

Want to tell Jenna and Jeremy about us over dinner?

She texted him while waiting for a red light. She figured the best way to deal with this was to pretend nothing happened. And as soon as she sees Damon, she will explain to him that the hug between her and Stefan didn't mean anything at all.

After about ten minutes, he replied.

From: Damon

I'll make reservations.

Short and concise. And so formal that Elena frowned at the reply. It didn't sound like Damon. She sighed and put her cell phone away; it seemed like he had indeed seen Stefan hug and kiss her cheek. It must have been weird for him, Stefan being his brother, and her being Katherine's doppelganger and all…

Elena tried not to think about that as she pulled into the driveway. Only yesterday, nothing mattered except being with Damon. Yet a day has passed and all she could think about was how complicated their relationship was.

She opened the door just in time to see Jeremy pulling on his jacket and grabbing his keys.

"Hey, where're you going?" Elena caught his wrist.

"To a party Tyler Lockwood's throwing at his house." Jeremy replied carelessly, "You wanna come?"

"No, um, you can't go," Elena said uneasily.

Jeremy raised his eyebrow, "I can't go?" He repeated in disbelief.

"I was thinking of having dinner together. Some place nice."

"Just the two of us?" Jeremy asked again, now practically gaping at her, "Sis, are you asking me out?"

Elena smacked him on the arm, "No! Jenna, too. You know. You…me…Jenna…and…and my boyfriend." She said elusively.

Jeremy shook his head, "That'd be beyond awkward, Elena. I mean, Stefan's okay and all, but I doubt –"

"It's not Stefan." Elena said quickly, blushing like mad now.

"…Someone new?"

"Yes." Elena answered as nonchalantly as possible. She almost added He's really nice, you'll like him, but stopped herself just in time.

"And he wants to take me and Jenna out for dinner as well?" Jeremy asked again.

"Yes." Elena repeated. She didn't really trust herself to speak more than one word right now.

Jeremy's eyebrow rose so high that it came dangerously close to disappearing into his scalp. "Okay…fine, then." He finally agreed.

Elena

Elena was wearing an emerald dress that would have gone great with the vervain earrings Damon had given her weeks ago. But bad news was when she was combing her hair and looking into the mirror, she found she was wearing only one earring. She had searched the entire house and her car as well, but couldn't find the other one. She felt devastated. The earrings were the only thing Damon had ever given her. She couldn't believe she lost one. Even though she was pretty sure Damon would just buy her another pair when he finds out, she didn't think it would be the same.

Right now, Elena was having a hard time staying in her seat. Aunt Jenna had driven them to a very nice restaurant out of town according to the address Damon texted her. The 8:00 reservation was under the name Gilbert, so they were led in immediately. Except it's 8:15 now and still no Damon.

It was quite cool in here, but Elena could feel beads of sweat on her forehead. The waiter had asked them (nicely) whether they would like to order three times already, and each time Elena had refused politely, saying that they were waiting for one more person. Her table with Jeremy and Jenna looked out of place and awkward in this elegant place due to the fact that there were nothing but a few glasses of water on it.

"Where is this mystery guy?" Jeremy asked for the thousandth time.

Elena checked the clock on the wall. 8:23p.m. "I don't know," She admitted, "He's never been late before. Let me just…call him." She wanted to call Damon so badly that she nearly tripped over herself when she got up from her seat.

However, all she got was still his voicemail. She texted him again, asking him where the hell he was, but no reply. Elena was getting very anxious now. It would be a disaster if Damon stood her up. He wouldn't though, would he? He wouldn't think the worst of her after that scene with Stefan, would he? He trusted her. He always did. There was no reason to stop now.

Elena took a few deep breaths to calm herself down before putting on a fake smile and going back to her table, "He'll be just a few minutes." She said, desperately hoping it was true.

"Elena, it's been half an hour." Jenna said gently, "Maybe he isn't showing up."

Elena's face reddened, "No, I'm sure he's –"

"Sorry I'm late." Said a voice behind her, almost making her jump out of her seat.

"Damon?" Jeremy demanded in a strangled voice, "You're the boyfriend?"

"The boyfriend," Damon repeated, sliding in his seat next to Elena while planting a kiss on the top of her head, "I like that." He smirked.

"Elena…" Jenna started, "You're dating Damon?"

So many emotions ran through her that she needed a minute to compose her reply. She was so relieved that Damon had shown up that she didn't really pay much attention to Jeremy and Jenna's reactions.

"Um…yeah." Elena said with a genuine smile this time.

"She found me irresistible." Damon said with a wink.

The looks on Jeremy and Jenna's faces were priceless. They both looked like they had just witnessed a murder. Elena thought they were over-reacting a bit.

The waiter came over again, this time with the right timing, so Elena picked up her menu (which she had been reading for the fourth time) to order.

"Mr. Salvatore," The waiter said before she could even open her mouth. She looked at Damon in disbelief. Why is it that every time they went out for dinner, the waiters all knew him?

"Serve what I ordered on the phone, please." Damon replied without missing a beat.

The waiter nodded and retreated. Seconds later, appetizers were served. While Jeremy and Jenna were busying their self with the food and trying their best to overlook the fact that Damon was the mystery boyfriend, Elena used this opportunity to nudge Damon under the table with her knee.

"Where were you?" She whispered, barely moving her lips.

"Traffic," He whispered back simply and turned back to his food.

Elena's heart sank. Even though Damon was acting normal, his reply indicated that something was wrong. And she had a pretty good idea what that "something" was her encounter with Stefan.

When main courses were served, Jenna warmed considerably towards Damon because he had ordered her the smoked salmon, one of her favorite dishes.

"How'd you know I prefer fish?" Jenna asked incredulously as Damon poured her some wine.

"You told me once. At The Grill. You probably don't even remember." Damon said politely.

"You're right. I don't." Jenna said, looking at Damon with a whole new perspective now, "I can't believe you remembered."

Damon grinned back and Jenna returned the smile.

One down. Elena thought silently as her eyes traveled over to Jeremy. He was picking his food, glaring at Damon. She kicked him lightly under the table, and his eyes traced momentarily to her before returning to Damon. He looked so angry that she wondered why Damon hadn't noticed.

Nevertheless, dinner went by smoothly. Jeremy barely said a word to all of them, but Jenna was laughing and joking like her old self in no time. At the end of the meal, she even said Damon had changed.

Damon took care of the check after they finished and offered to drive them home, but Jeremy walked out the door without a word to any of them. Jenna followed him hurriedly, leaving Elena and Damon to stand in the parking lot awkwardly. They watched as Jenna tried to persuade Jeremy. In the end, Jeremy climbed into Jenna's car reluctantly. Jenna gave them a shrug and climbed in as well.

"I guess it's just us, then." Elena said uncertainly.

Damon said nothing and ushered her into his car.

"Damon…" Elena said as she closed the car door, "What you saw between me and Stefan…"

Damon turned around to look at her, "It's fine."

"No." Elena said, "No, it's not. I don't want you to pretend you're okay with it."

"I'm not," Damon replied, "But I trust you."

Elena looked up in surprise. Out of everything she thought Damon would say, she never thought he would wave this matter aside with a simple, "I trust you."

"Damon…" She whispered, "Stefan hugged me because he was happy for me. For us. Not because we were getting back together. The kiss was a bit too much though." Elena touched her cheek self-consciously, as if feeling Stefan's lips on them.

Seeing Elena's fingers on her cheek, Damon understood. Stefan hadn't kissed her on the lips like he thought. It was on the cheek. Elena didn't even have to tell him that, because he knew. He knew from her gesture, yet he couldn't explain how. He felt like a huge weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

"I wasn't late because of the traffic," He admitted, "I was driving around aimlessly because I didn't know what to think. I thought Stefan kissed you. On the mouth. It looked like it."

Elena's eyes widened in surprise, "He didn't, Damon, I swear he didn't."

"I know." Damon said reassuringly, "But I didn't know that a few hours ago. So I drove past your house, your school…Then I went to the woods. You know, the place where…"

"I know." Elena whispered.

"Well, I was sitting in my car, thinking about you, and I realized that after all we've been through, it would be just stupid not to trust you, to even let myself think for a second you'd betray me. As soon as that thought entered my mind, I drove back to the restaurant."

Elena smiled and slid her hand on top of his on the steering wheel. Damon grasped her hand tightly and continued speaking, "Ugh, enough of that corny crap. Did I leave a good impression or what?" He asked arrogantly, the corner of mouth twitching up into a smirk.

Elena laughed lightly, "Aunt Jenna practically welcomed you into family. You were brilliant."

"I know, right?" He asked back haughtily, making Elena roll her eyes.

Damon drove her over to the Boarding House instead of her house and opened her door for her. Elena smiled and wrapped her arms around Damon's neck, pressing a gentle kiss on his lips. "Thank you for a lovely evening." She said huskily.

Damon kissed her back hungrily with way more passion than Elena was ready for. She was almost knocked off her feet as his lips moved expertly against hers, tugging playfully on her lower lip.

"Damon…" Elena whispered, "Is Stefan – ?"

"He's not here." Damon murmured and hugged her close to him, feeling her warmth and wanting more of her against him.

Elena didn't even care that they were outside at the moment. She inched her head to kiss him again, this time with all the force she could muster.

"Oooh, rough." Damon smirked, "My kind of woman." He picked her up bridal style and raced into the house with abnormal speed.

Elena felt wind swishing around her face, and the next second, she was thrown onto the master bed in Damon's bedroom. She had never been here before, and she was curious as hell, so she looked around the room as Damon climbed on top of her.

"Look later, sex now." Damon grunted, poking her in the waist and making her squeal with laughter.

Elena stopped laughing abruptly as Damon took off his shirt. His body was so perfect in every single way. There wasn't an ounce of fat anywhere, and his smirk only made him sexier. Slowly, Damon lifted her dress above her head, kissing her bare skin along the way. Elena obliged happily, shivering under his gentle kisses.

Soon she was laying in her bra and underwear under him, her body full of anticipation. Damon was awed by her beauty. Damn, she was so beautiful. So beautiful that breath-taking wasn't a strong enough word to describe her. He wanted her so much that he felt himself ache.

Damon slowly unhooked her bra and removed it, revealing her smooth, rounded breasts. He kissed both of them lightly, playing with her nipples with his tongue, causing Elena to arch up against him. She was breathing heavily now with her lips parted.

Damon took his time making his way down her belly, leaving wet kisses along the way. Elena was writhing beneath him. She wanted to urge him on, but she also enjoyed the slow torment. It was a feeling she'd never had before.

Wickedly, Damon kissed and teased her inner thigh. He could feel Elena tense and gave her a few seconds to relax. When her breathing slowed a little, he pushed her underwear, the last barrier between them, away.

Without giving her time to accommodate this time, Damon ran his tongue across her clit. She was very, very wet.

A noise that sounded like a combination of a gasp and a shriek escaped Elena's throat as Damon's tongue worked wonders on her. She never knew she could feel this way. She felt so alive. She felt like she was burning.

"Is there…" Elena gasped, unable to make out a cohesive sentence at this point, "…anything you're…not…good at?" She asked.

Damon chuckled, "Sexually?" He licked her lips and received a load moan from her, "No."

Elena wanted to roll her eyes at his arrogance, but she didn't have the energy to. She could hardly control her body. She didn't know what Damon was doing down there, but it felt wonderful. She was already close, and it had only been a few minutes.

But all of a sudden, Damon stopped.

"Damon," Elena breathed, "Please don't stop…"

But Damon looked like he was listening intently to something. A second later, he climbed off of her as fast as he could and picked up his shirt from the floor. Instead of putting it on, though, he threw it at her.

Elena caught the shirt that smelled like him in bewilderment, "Damon?" She asked. She couldn't understand what went wrong. One minute, they were fooling around in bed, the next; Damon was racing around the room, gathering their clothes.

"Put it on," Damon said quietly, "Shit, I can't find your dress. Stefan's here."

"Stefan's here?" Elena demanded as she pulled on Damon's shirt over her head. What was wrong with Stefan? Why did he always have such bad timing? "Should I leave?"

"Of course not," Damon replied, surprised at her remark, "And you can't anyway. He can smell you. He must have something to tell us if he's willing to interrupt."

A few seconds later, Elena heard footsteps on the stairs. Damon climbed back into bed and threw the covers over them. He randomly picked up a book from the nightstand and shoved it into her lap so she didn't look so conspicuous while he himself closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Elena opened the book to and pretended to read. It was The Catcher in the Rye. She was a little surprised that Damon read at all, but this seemed like the kind of book he would like anyway. With her heart pounding in her chest, she began to read silently to herself.

I felt so damn happy all of a sudden, the way old Phoebe kept going around and around. I was damn near bawling, I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth. I don't know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice, the way she kept going around and around, in her blue coat and all. God, I wish you could've been there.

Elena stopped abruptly as she heard the footsteps stop right in front of Damon's room. A second later, Stefan knocked.

"Damon?" He asked through the door, "…Elena?" His voice sounded funny when he said her name.

Damon opened his blue eyes and wiggled his eyebrows at her, almost making her giggle. As soon as she said "Come in", Damon closed those beautiful eyes and feigned sleep again.

Stefan walked in looking embarrassed, though he was somewhat relieved to find Damon asleep. It was easier to talk to Elena. But the fact that she was wearing his shirt made Stefan's stomach turn over. He wasn't sure he was strong enough to accept that they were sleeping together now.

"I didn't want to interrupt…" Stefan murmured, "But…Rose is gone. I thought I should tell you immediately."

"She's gone? Gone where? Is she okay?"

Stefan smiled sadly at Elena's consideration. Rose wasn't exactly "best buds" with Elena, yet here she was, worrying about Rose.

"She says she is," Stefan replied, "She said not to look for her. The werewolf bite is…changing her. I can't explain it. She didn't want us to see her like that, so she took off."

Elena yelped.

Stefan looked at her curiously and saw her face redden. "Are you ok?"

"Mm-hm." Elena choked out through closed lips. Damn Damon! His fingers had crept up her thigh and he was now playing with her under the blankets. Elena stole a glance at Damon. He still looked innocently asleep.

"So, anyway," Stefan was saying, "It'd be pretty dangerous to leave her alone now. I don't know. When Damon wakes up, I have to discuss this with him."

"Sure," Elena squeaked as Damon's thumb tapped her clit mercilessly. She was starting to sweat now, and she willed for her eyes to focus on Stefan. She tried squeezing her legs together to keep Damon from moving his fingers but he was too strong.

Stefan was still talking, but Elena couldn't hear a word. All she could feel were Damon's fingers on her, stroking her lightly and slowly, then suddenly gathering speed. She gasped lightly as she felt herself getting wetter and wetter. She wondered if Stefan would notice, but at that moment, she didn't care. Stefan droned on, yet she couldn't hear a word. He seemed to be speaking to her from a place far, far away.

Elena glimpsed at Damon again. He was still pretending to be asleep, and doing a good job of it too. His eyelids fluttered though, indicating that he was indeed awake. And she could swear there was a tiny smirk on his face as he continued to move his fingers, this time plunging his index finger into her.

Elena gasped.

Stefan stopped talking and looked at her curiously, "I'm going hunting now, but tell Damon I need to talk to him when he wakes up," He said.

Elena nodded, not trusting herself with words.

Stefan nodded back too and turned away to leave, "Bye, then."

"Bye," Elena said in a quivering voice.

Stefan closed the door gently. As soon as Damon was sure Stefan was out of earshot, he threw the covers off and jumped at Elena, almost looking like he was tackling her. Elena shrieked as they rolled over on the bed together.

"I can't believe you!" She pushed him on the shoulders, but he didn't even budge.

Damon smirked playfully, "What? It's not like you didn't enjoy it."

She said no more and kissed him forcefully on the lips. He kissed back immediately and within seconds, they were naked in bed. Damon rolled on top of her and stared into her eyes while positioning himself near her entrance. He had dreamed of this too many times, waited too long, and yet, now, here she was, lying beautifully naked beneath him, breathing heavily and staring at him through lusted eyes.

He bent his head to kiss her again. He could never get enough of that. She was like a drug he had to take, and if he didn't, he'd die. Well, metaphorically speaking, of course, since he was already dead.

"I love you." He said seriously. He couldn't remember the last time he sounded this serious. He didn't know what came over him. All he knew was he had to say it to her. Now.

Elena blinked and looked at him. "I love you too." She said, letting a smile break over her beautiful face.

Damon waited no more and pushed himself into her. They both groaned at the friction and the feeling of them finally together.

Elena's arms moved upwards to curl around his neck. She couldn't believe how perfect they were for each other. It was like they fitted together like two pieces of puzzles. She sighed happily as he started to thrust into her.

For a while, neither of them said anything. Elena kept her eyes open so she could see Damon, and he didn't look away the whole time. His hands went to fondle her breasts and she moaned in reply. Countless times, they kissed and broke away, then kissed again as though they couldn't stop.

When Elena screamed his name and went into spasms uncontrollably under him, Damon collapsed on top of her as well. They were both gasping. Damon closed his eyes as his breathing slowed to normal. It would take Elena a little more time, he knew. Completely sated, Damon gathered her into his arms and hugged her tightly to his bare chest. He loved her so much. And he was so grateful for the fake spell that he felt like picking Bonnie up and spinning her in a circle the next time he saw her. He was with Elena. Nothing else mattered.

Elena's breathing evened as she buried her head in Damon's chest. She'd never felt anything like it. It was never like this with Stefan. She was so happy that she felt like she would explode.

She raised her head and looked at him. He smiled back silently, as if knowing exactly what she was thinking. His smile seemed to say that he felt the same way. Elena hugged him back.

Suddenly, Damon turned over a little to retrieve something from the pocked of his jacket, which was thrown over the bed. Smirking, he opened his hand in front of Elena to reveal the tiny object.

Elena gasped at the lost vervain earring resting peacefully on his palm, "How'd you –?"

"Guess what I found in the woods?" He taunted in a sing-song voice.

Elena smiled and took it from his warm hand. She put it on and tucked her hair behind her ears to reveal both earrings. Damon stroked her hair lovingly and kissed her forehead.

Right now, it felt like forever.

.

.

.

I updated as soon as I finished my tests (which was today)! I did okay in Math and stuff, but I was completely HOPELESS in Politics! :(

Anyway, I will be posting the LAST CHAPTER in a few days. Warning: The ending will be short, simple but sweet.

Oh, since I don't want to stop writing, I guess I'll be posting the LAST CHAPTER of Under Your Spell with the FIRST CHAPTER of a new story I am writing. (Still Delena)

It's called Worlds of You, so please look out for it!

Also, please review and let me know what you're thinking! :P