Two hours had gone by

Three missed calls from Stefan

Five texts from Stefan

Two texts from one of her best friends Caroline Forbes

They never went noticed though by Elena Gilbert because she was too immersed in this man seated before her. Damon, in just two hours she had learned that he lives in New York is originally from Mystic Falls, but put it behind him sadly she was yet to know why. Damon had also given her a half behind the scenes look about his family and from the way he flinched at the mention of his father it was easy to tell that they didn't see eye to eye.

The drink that had first been placed in front of her now replaced by shot glasses and she couldn't help the triumphant smile that displayed on her lips noticing Damon's displeased pout because she had beat him yet again "I thought you were suppose to impress me" she taunts causing her grin to widen even more.

"I thought you weren't much of a drinker" he retorts as he wipes his lips.

"I'm not" she answers as she sets the now empty shot glass upside down onto the counter.

"So then unhinging your jaw like a snake is a talent" he asks raising his brow.

"One of my many hidden talents" she supplies with a sly smirk.

The smirk alone causing Damon to lick his lips wondering if there's a double meaning in there somewhere or if it's just his dirty mind playing him "well now I'm curious to know what other talents you posses."

"Stick around and I'm sure you'll find out."

Elena didn't miss the hint of lust that for a small fraction of a second mirrored in his ocean blues, and she tried to play it off, but even she wasn't oblivious to the clear attraction happening between them. Tomorrow she would blame the alcohol and the crappy day, and it's not like she had done anything wrong. Maybe there has been hints of flirting and simple touches and they were innocent, he'd reach out and lightly run the tip of his finger along her arm, move in closer which would brush his shoulder against her and every so often if she said something he found funny or was amused by he'd place his hand on her thigh and then like a gentleman remove it. There was nothing to be worried about; it was all innocent so why do I still feel his lingering touch?

Reaching over he sets his hand to rest atop hers "consider me stuck then."

That smirk should be illegal; bad enough he's got the bedroom eyes going for him, but that smirk alone should come with a warning label Elena's gaze dropping to his hand set on hers, and she finds herself fighting off the urge to grasp on, but the sane part of her is able to draw her hand back "so" clearing her throat as she places her hands on her lap "you still haven't told me why you're here." Good, change of subject was good, and needed. "I mean I can't imagine why you'd want to leave the big apple of all places to come here."

Trying to ignore the disappointment that courses through him as he watches her slowly pull her hand back, but not once does his expression crack. The mere mention of why he's here causing him to scoff "because I'm taking on the role of big brother and doing my brotherly duties of supporting my younger brother."

"Okay" furrowing her brows in confusion "and what exactly does that entail?"

"My idiot of a brother is getting ready to pop the question to his soul-mate" rolling his eyes at how ridiculous the statement sounds "his true love" he says with a chuckle.

"Isn't that a good thing I mean your brother must really be in love" noting how sour his expression becomes at 'soul-mate' "you don't believe in soul-mates?"

"Young love is a joke kid's these days are foolish into believing love will last with their high school sweet hearts, they think everything after that will be all rainbows and puppy dogs."

Sarcasm dripping in his tone "so then you'll judge me when I tell you that I'm still with my high-school sweetheart" there she had said it. No part during their conversation had they gotten on the subject of significant others, but now it was out there.

"Not judge per-se more so at this point in time that optimistic and hopeful head of yours already has your life with him mapped out, and that's your mistake right there, because there's a hell of a lot more in this world and yet you and so many others trap themselves with the traditional high-school young love, cliché crap fest of a fairy tale."

"Ouch" surprised that Damon hadn't even reacted to her confessing she was in a relationship he didn't even flinch angry at herself for actually being disappointed by his response. "I'm not saying what I have with him is perfect, and I'm also not blind. I know there will be hurdles we will have to face along the way. So because he is my first love you think my relationship with him is doomed to fail?"

"Yup" he simply states, popping the p to give it an added emphasis.

"So pretty much you think any relationship with your young love is doomed to end, why?"

Damon's fingers coiling around the glass, lifting it to his lips "I'm a fatalist" he smoothly states, giving her a wink and then taking a short swig.

Observing him for a moment before she connects the dots "you've been burned before" she states in a matter of fact tone, and she doesn't miss the way he clenches his jaw.

"We aren't going down that road" he half growls causing him to pause for a moment "too long a tale to tell" he states setting his glass down.

"Fair enough so other than your fatalist views" giving him a knowing smile "why else aren't you happy for your brother?"

"My brother and I aren't what you consider close. You won't be seeing our relationship on Hallmark or Lifetime anytime soon" he comments. "I was more so forced to be here, this is just a pit stop. I have a buddy or rather my brother from another mother" chuckling in amusement "that is a professor at Whitmore he has a place on campus, but he's at the moment being a lucky bastard spending the night with his girlfriend so he's letting me crash at his place. Tomorrow morning I'll be on the road again and toasting my brother and his beloved on their epic engagement" rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"So then he's popping the question tonight?"

"No "shaking his head "he's doing it tomorrow."

"Then what if your brother's girl says no" she can't help but ask.

"She won't."

"How do you know?"

"My brother always gets what he wants, and what he wants more than anything is her. The universe has this habit of kissing his ass."

Bitterness clear in his tone "and what about you, how does the universe treat you?'

Not able to stop the snicker from slipping past his lips "our relationship is complicated it seems to relish in knocking me down any chance it gets. I'm pretty sure it gets off on my pain. I haven't gotten what I wanted in a very long time."

Elena could tell with his comment he was trying to dismiss it with a smooth and sarcastic retort, but even she wasn't fooled and could tell that this got to him. So far tonight it had been Damon establishing the touches, and she couldn't explain it, but it was as if her hand suddenly became on autopilot as it placed itself reassuringly on Damon's hand. "Maybe that will change, maybe it will give you a break."

Damon's gaze immediately falling to were her hand was resting before flicking his cobalt hues gazing intently at her "trust me it's not possible."

Releasing a soft sigh at his stubborn nature "be more optimistic" she chides "tell me the first thing that comes to mind that you want."

First thing that comes to mind the answer was simple and right on the tip of his tongue, but he feared the second he'd say it she'd withdraw from him completely. She's still here, there's something here and fight it off as much as she wants she feels it too…just rip off the band-aid.

"You."

You

The word alone causing Elena to suck in a shaky breath, because she barely even knew this man and yet that single word alone was enough to cause her entire heart to beat out of her chest. The way he had delivered it with such intensity practically making it sound as if he had been waiting for someone like her for forever, as cheesy as that sounded. How could one word alone make Elena feel so much? The question in itself scaring her, because she knew now was the time for her to bolt, because if she stayed any longer she'd give him exactly what he wanted. "Damon" she begins, but the sane and logical part of her finally showing as she quickly retracts her hand back "I'm sorry I have to go" and without another word she's hastily grabbing her purse, sliding off her stool, fleeing towards the exit and not bothering to look back even as Damon calls her name.

Foolish on his part as he watched Elena high tail it out of the bar. She had been in such a rush to leave she didn't even pay her tab that's how desperate she had been to get away from him. A defeated sigh slipping past his lips, reaching into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet and throwing more than enough cash down to cover both of them. "Another point for you" he half growls as he casts his gaze up towards the universe wondering if it's laughing at the joke that he is.

Of course a beautiful, intelligent and funny woman like Elena wouldn't be interested in him it's because she has a boyfriend you idiot replaying how she had hightailed it out of there so fast. The more he thought about it the more he wondered why she couldn't just remind him that she was happily taken because she's not as happy as she seems he reasons knowing now that the real reason she had took off wasn't because she wasn't interested in him, but because she was terrified of what would happen if she stayed longer.

It had taken seconds for him to connect the dots, and less than seconds as he dashed out of the bar hot on her tail. Exiting the bar and entering the cool night he scans around the area, heading towards the parking lot and seeing if he can spot her. Maybe tonight the universe was half on his side as he sees her standing by her blue metallic ford escape trying to open her door, but seeming too distracted to get the key in. Refusing to not walk away and play the what if game he strides towards her "need some help?"

Coming here had been a bad idea. Instead she should have gone with the original plan and that consisted of driving back to Mystic Falls and crying in her perfect and understanding boyfriend's arms, but instead she had ended up here, meeting a stranger and for those few split seconds thinking of what it would be like in his arms.

This wasn't who she was, because everyone knew her to be the good girl, the moral one, the selfless one and the one who could do no wrong, and yet tonight she found that girl nowhere to be seen.

The sound of his voice from behind her causing her entire body to still "Damon" she half whispers finding the courage to turn around and face him "you shouldn't be here."

With the way that Elena was hesitant to meet his gaze he took it as the proof he needed. "That's not true, deep down beneath that good girl and honorable exterior you wanted me here." Cautiously he takes a step forward so that they are practically standing chest to chest "you wanted me to follow you, because deep down you want me."

Damon had been bold she had been aware of that trait the moment he had eased into the conversation making his opinion known, but she hadn't predicted he'd go past that. A look of disbelief and shock at his statement "ex-ecuse me?"

"I get to you" ignoring the hint of repulsion on her face because of his smug comment "we just met less than an hour ago and the connection was instant. In that short time you found yourself drawn to me just like you do now. You were thinking about me even when you tried not to think about me, because it explains why you hadn't left yet. The way you hightailed it out of the bar I should have seen the back of your head and heard the screech of your tires, and yet you're still here, and so am I, because the feeling is more than mutual." Taking the tip of his finger and tracing it along her lower lip "I want you too."

A simple, innocent and behind it all inviting touch leaving her absolutely breathless "D-Damon" it had been meant to come out as a warning, but instead it had sounded like she was begging him, and for what she didn't know "we…you have to stop…this is wrong."

The way she had said his name he knew it had meant to come off as her pushing him away, but instead it sounded almost like a plead. Damon could only imagine what it would sound like as he teased the tip of his cock against her entrance. The thought alone causing a flood of images to run through his mind especially ones that consisted of her legs locked around his waist as he drove relentlessly into her. "Why" he questions "why is it so wrong that two people form an instant connection, are drawn towards each other and want to act on it…what makes that so wrong" he says arching his brow.

Damon was too close to comfort and her hands immediately balled into fists, keeping them rested by her side so she wouldn't act on temptation. "I'm with someone" why had that sounded like something she regretted?

Taking the pad of his thumb he begins to caress her cheek "are you married?"

Fighting off the desire to lean more into his inviting touch "no."

"Are you engaged?"

Shaking her head "no."

"Then stop" moving both hands so that he can now frame her face "stop thinking, stop analyzing, stop making a pros and cons list and stop sitting on that pedestal of perfection that everyone has put you on." Both thumbs ghosting along her cheek "for once in your life Elena"

Damon hardly even knew her, and yet he seemed to read her better than anyone else, even Stefan. Elena knew deep down she had her flaws, she was human like everyone else, but everyone else didn't treat her like that including Stefan. Here was Damon practically reading her like a book, and it scared her. It made her want to run again, and yet she remained glued to her spot.

"Just stop"

Stop, stop what? She couldn't stop, because if she stopped then she'd shed the image of the girl everyone including herself assumed her to be. If she stopped she'd be treading on dangerous waters, and she couldn't help but have the fear of drowning.

"Act"

Elena's brows pulling up in confusion at his suggestion.

"Do the first thing that comes to mind" he explains to her as his gaze lowers to her lips and then finds its way back to meeting her conflicted hazel orbs.

The first thing that came to mind was a hazardous thought, but the more she continued to drown in those ocean hues the more she found herself wanting to let go.

"Do what you want Elena."

All her life Elena had been the selfless girl, putting others happiness before herself. All her life she had remained trapped in the role of the girl next door that could do no wrong, and all her life she had chosen the right path.

Tonight she would choose to take a different path.

Tonight she would choose to be selfish.

Tonight she would choose to be free.

Without sparing another thought she does exactly what he tells her to do, she acts. Arms thrown around his neck, yanking him down as she fuses their lips together.

Tonight she would lose herself in him.