This part I had tried to add to my first chapter but had difficutly. I had written this story a while ago and it's kind of setup after Elena tried to turn herself in to Elijah in The Sacrifice. I've rated it "M" for some content in the later chapters. It's a one-shot, which I seem to have a lot of and I apologize but my pervy little brain seems to have one good idea and then another pops up. I'm sure some of you know how that goes, lol. And with a hottie like Damon, it's easy to get carried away with smutty little ideas ;P Well, I hope you all enjoy and any reviews given are always appreciated ;)

Season for Vampires

Chapter 2

"Damon! What are you doing? This is not part of the deal. I told you to protect her, not eat her." They heard Elijah say behind them.

Damon drew his head back and stepped away from her. Elena remained up against the wall, her hands splayed out behind her as though she were trying to claw her way out of the wall behind her.

Elijah came to stand between them and took Elena's hand gently pulling her away from the wall.

"Have you no control?" he coolly asked Damon.

Damon didn't answer. Instead he composed himself and went to pour himself a drink.

"I'm okay. Damon would never hurt me," Elena said in response for Damon.

"You're far more sure of that than he was. He surely behaved like a newly turned vampire with no control," Elijah said to her as he calmly watched Damon pace with his bourbon.

Elena glanced over to Damon who met her gaze briefly but looked away quickly.

"You let your feelings for her consume you, Damon," he told him.

"Ah, you see, therein lies my tragedy, Elijah. She doesn't love me back," Damon said and took a deep sip of his bourbon.

Elena froze in shock upon hearing his roundabout admission of love. Somehow it almost seemed like déjà vu; like she could've sworn she actually heard him tell her he loved her but it must've been a dream. Or was it? She looked over at him and briefly he met her eyes but quickly looked away.

Elijah said nothing but noticed the building, unresolved sexual tension between them. He went over to Damon and said low enough for only him to hear, "Your desire for her is too strong for you to consummate it without harming her. I suggest you feed to cool off. That bourbon will only burn your fire brighter. Go."

Damon blinked, surprised by Elijah's calm suggestion but nodded stiffly and left the room.

"What did you say to him?" Elena asked feeling concerned for Damon. She went to follow after Damon but Elijah stopped her.

"I told him to clear his head. He's not himself. I suggest you let him be," he told her.

"Damon wouldn't hurt me," she said.

"Not intentionally. You underestimate the gravity of his feelings for you. Vampires love intensely, hate intensely and we're very possessive," he told her.

"Possessive? Who would he be possessive of? He and I aren't dating," she asked, clearly confused.

"You mean to tell me that you hadn't noticed that Damon feels very intensely for you?" Elijah asked calmly.

"What? No, I never thought…," she began.

"It's obvious that you feel the same, else you would not be here," he told her. She went to deny it, but he stopped her. "No, do not deny it. I see it otherwise."

Elena went to try and deny it again but was given a stern look from Elijah and that stopped her dead in her tracks.

"But what of Stefan? I love him," she told him.

He raised a brow and said coolly. "Are you trying to convince me of that or yourself?" His words echoing Damon's earlier. Was she really trying to convince herself that she still loved Stefan and trying to deny her budding feelings for Damon?

"I do. I…," she began but was cut off by Elijah.

"Why do you suppose I had made sure specifically that Damon was the one to protect you? It was because of his obvious affection for you and your strong connection to him. You say it's one-sided but I feel not for long. This is why I picked him to be your champion. He'd willingly die for you, you realize?"

Damon overheard the tail end of their conversation on his way back from the basement for blood. He had had his fill but his need was still strong. He couldn't believe that Elijah had just told Elena the depth of his feelings for her.

Elena was stunned. Damon? In love with her? How did she never notice? Sure, he always flirted with her, but she never thought there was more to it than harmless flirting. She didn't know what to say so she remained silent.

Damon came back in the room and headed to his glass of bourbon. He kept his gaze from her but he knew her eyes were on him.

Elijah came up to Damon placing a hand on his shoulder and leaned in to say, "Try not to do anything rash and don't let your emotions rule you." Then he left the two of them alone.

Damon turned to look at her then saw her standing there still in obvious shock.

"Damon, I…," she began.

"Elena, please, for the love of God, don't say anymore," he pleaded. "Please, just go."

She swallowed hard and tentatively took a step towards him. He backed up and left her in vampire speed leaving her alone. She heard his bedroom door slam upstairs. 'Stupid!' she thought. 'How could I have been so blind?'