Chapter 3
They stood looking at each other. The sexual tension building in the air between them was so thick and heavy; you could almost cut it with a knife. She felt it too and knew he must as well, but she was too chicken to give in to her urge to kiss him.
He saw her staring at his lips again. It had become a habit of hers lately but became more frequent since Stefan had left with Klaus. She'd even once stared pointedly at his bed. He knew she desired him as much as he desired her but she never gave in to her feelings.
She smiled at him and then turned away. 'Chicken!' she silently admonished herself for not giving in to her temptation. The only time she ever did kiss him was on his "death bed" and she thought she was going to lose him. What a coward she'd become. Maybe Caroline was right when she said she was more fun before her parents died. It seemed that since then she had lost who she was.
He watched as she walked away and out the door. Part of him was screaming that he should go after her, haul her in his arms and soundly kiss her. He also knew that if he did that he might risk repelling her since she had just officially broke up with Stefan and her feelings still raw from it.
Later Elena found herself at the Mystic Grill with Caroline and Bonnie. She had just finished telling what happened with Stefan and her.
"What a major dick he became! He makes Damon look like a saint," Caroline quipped.
"Ouch, Car! Damon isn't that bad! He has his moments when he's an ass, but lately he's been there for me helping me out and helping protect all of us," Elena defended.
Bonnie snorted. "Yeah, but that's only because he's got the major hots for you."
Elena's eyes widened. "Bonnie! I know he likes me, but I doubt he's doing anything with an ulterior motive behind it!"
"Honey, he doesn't like you; he loves you," Bonnie said.
Before Elena could deny it, Caroline interjected, "Oh, come on, Lena! It's sooo obvious he's into you!"
Elena relived the time on his "death bed" when he asked if she knew that he loved her and she said yes. She almost didn't want to believe it, but she couldn't keep denying it either. Nor could she deny she definitely felt something for him that was more than just friendly.
"I know you're attracted to him too, Lena. He's obviously hot. We all know and can see that. We also saw how cozy you two were when you were making chili," Caroline said with a smirk.
"Yeah, talk about hot, hot, HOT!" Bonnie said with a wide grin and then Caroline and she broke into giggles. Elena smiled along with them.
At the bar Damon had been listening to their conversation. It seemed like Vampire Barbie and the witch were clearly aboard "Team Damon." He watched the trio laughing over their burgers and drinks. Elena's smile was radiant. He hadn't seen her smile like that in a long time. Then, as if she could feel his gaze on her, she looked in his direction and locked eyes with him.
"Whatsa matter, Lena?" Caroline asked.
Then Bonnie and Caroline followed her gaze, looked at each other and broke into more peals of laughter. "Oops! I guess he heard us," Bonnie giggled.
"Yup! You can be sure of that. Vampire hearing," Caroline quipped.
Elena broke her eye contact and looked at them. "Uh, guys? Did you know he was there?" She asked, blushing furiously.
"Nope!" They said in unison.
"Anyway, what does it matter? It's clear that you two have the hots for each other and you're single now," Bonnie said.
"Bonnie! Ears!" Elena hissed through her teeth as she gestured towards Damon.
"So? It's not like he can't tell you're into him, Lena," she replied.
"I just broke up with Stefan. It's too soon."
"Um, I hate to point this out, but I think Stefan was lost to you before he made it official, hon," Caroline said with a derisive snort as she reached for some of her fries.
Elena blanched but she had to admit that Caroline was probably right but at the time she was hoping that Stefan would go back to who he was and come back to her. It all seemed so foolish to her now. She could say one thing about Damon over Stefan though; Damon never hid anything about himself t her. He was never anything but upfront and honest, which more can be said about than how Stefan was. Stefan had concealed just about everything from her. Sure, he said it was to protect her, but she'd rather he'd been more upfront. Damon never held back, never sugar-coated anything, even if the truth sometimes hurt.
"You might as well invite him over to join us, Lena. He's looking at us," Bonnie said and openly waved at Damon and beckoned him over.
Elena could feel herself grow embarrassed and wanted nothing more than to sink into the floor and hide. God, her friends were really putting her on the spot.
"Oooh, don't look now, Lena, but he's coming over," Caroline said with a mischievous grin.
"You guys are just awful!" Elena mumbled covering her face and heard them giggle in response.
"Oh now, I wouldn't say that. I'd say they want to see you happy." She heard Damon quip as he took a seat next to her. She felt his shoulder brush against hers and smelt the spicy, delicious scent of his cologne wafting her way.
"Oooh, a pickle! You don't like pickles either?" Damon asked as he snatched Bonnie's pickle and ate it.
"Hey! I never said that! And I didn't get a chance to," Bonnie said, pouting at him. He laughed at her reaction.
"Oops, my bad," He said. "So, Elena, talking about me, were you?" He mused with a wicked grin.
She looked at him then; her face still flushed. "They were, actually," she said and gave them a look that pleaded with them to change the subject.
Bonnie took the hint and said, "Look! Elena didn't eat her pickle. Eat hers!"
"Oh, I'll eat her pickle alright," Damon said suggestively.
Bonnie and Caroline took his meaning and laughed. Then Damon took Elena's pickle and began licking it sensuously watching her eyes widen from his actions and then popped it in his mouth and ate it.
Elena felt herself grow hotter. Lord! Watching him tongue her pickle that way made her imagine his tongue elsewhere on her body. He was goading her and she knew it. She just wouldn't acknowledge it.
"Is anyone else hot?" Elena interjected suddenly.
They all looked at her and shook their heads. Bonnie and Caroline exchanged a knowing glance and smirked.
"Nope," Damon said, popping the "P" as he said it.
"Well, I am and I need some air. Car, you want to join me? Bonnie?" Elena asked as she stood, pleading with them with her eyes.
"I'll join you, Elena. You don't know what big bad might be lurking about outside and you need a big, strong vamp to help you," Damon smirked as he too stood and took her hand.
He led her outside and noticed how nervous Elena looked. She had skirted away from him a little bit and had her arms wrapped around herself as she paced.
"Is everything okay? What, you're suddenly cold now? You know I will be more than happy to warm you up," he purred as he came to stand directly behind her to say it in her ear.
She stiffened. Dear God! This was torture! He was clearly driving her wild and he knew it. Damn him! She felt his breath on her neck and shivered. His general closeness overwhelmed her, causing her body to react. She felt in between her thighs moisten and silently cursed to herself. Trying to gain control of herself and her raging hormones, she turned towards him and said, "No, I'm fine. Really. Just a little shaken up by what happened this afternoon." Geez, what a cop out her mind screamed.
He raised a brow at that. It was clear he wasn't buying it. He smirked because he knew she was beyond turned on right now, he just had to get her to admit it. "Yeah, sure. I understand," he said. He didn't believe her because he knew she was trying to dismiss her feelings for him. "Come on, Elena. Who are we kidding here?"
"What? What are you talking about, Damon?"
"It's obvious you're attracted to me as much as I am to you. I can see it, I can smell it on you. Why are you trying to hide it? You know you can't hide everything from me. Vampire, remember?" He said, doing his "eye" thing with her.
She rolled her eyes and said with false bravado, "I clearly think your ego is overinflated."
"It's not the only thing overinflated," he said with a wicked grin. She flushed beet red and looked away. "Come on, Elena. You know that you and I have this thing going on between us. Hell, even Bonnie and Vampire Barbie see that. Why can't you?"
Finally she looked directly at him and said, "Because I'm afraid. I'm afraid because what I feel for you is so overwhelming it terrifies and thrills me. I've never felt that way for anyone before. Not even Stefan and part of me feels somewhat guilty for that."
He looked at her, shocked by her admission. He was dumbfounded. She gave him a pointed look and said, "What, no witty comebacks this time, Salvatore?"
Instead of responding, he did the one thing he was dying to do since he met her. He reached forward drawing her firmly in his embrace and brought his mouth on hers. He tilted her back and masterfully conquered her mouth with his own. She felt herself swoon as his lips, teeth and tongue sensuously parried with hers. Her hands found their way into his silken black hair and her body molded against his perfectly.
Then he pulled back, set her upright and said, "How's that for an answer?"