AN: Thank you so much for keeping with me this far, I love each and every one of your reviews! Without further ado...

Damon

I stormed on to the dance floor with my new friend, trying to remember her name. It started with a M I think. Mary? Maddie? Missy? Missy, that was it!

I grabbed her hand roughly and pushed through the happy couples towards Elena. She was really close to that tool, and he had his hands on her waist. On her waist! There was barely any room between their bodies, and I wanted to punch him for being so handsy with my girl.

She was smiling and looking up at him adoringly, like he was the fucking sun or something. And he was smiling right back, letting his eyes wander over her body.

I was beyond pissed, he had no right to hold her. He had no right to even look at her! I grabbed Missy by her waist and ground her into me. Mistaking it for arousal and passion, the girl pushed into me, her hands resting on my biceps. She ran her fingers through my hair, obviously trying to get my attention, to get me to take her home. I had hoped that meaningless sex would take my mind off of Elena, like it did for other things. But her hands felt wrong, and her body fit all weird. She was too forward, and her body was doing nothing pleasurable to mine.

Elena and the tool were a few meters away from us, and I could see them dancing the way that we should be dancing, tightly pressed together and my hands all over her body.

And in a split second, the atmosphere changed. Elena looked over and her eyes connected with mine. There was fire between us, electricity. I wanted to go to her, to drop the slut in my arms and whisk her away. And I was about to.

But then, her brown eyes broke from mine and moved to the blonde who was running her hands inside my dress suit, which was completely inappropriate for the current setting. Elena's eyes turned harsh at the sight of Missy, and she moved a little closer to the tool in response, her hand edging from his shoulder to his neck. She gave me a challenging stare, daring me to pull the girl closer. I was never one to refuse a challenge.

Elena

Who is this fucking slut that has her hands all over my man? I want to march over there and rip out her hair, and then get in Damon's arms where I belong. Honestly, I was a little disappointed that he was talking to someone else when we came here together.

I came out of the back room and saw him at the bar with the slut, talking and looking up and down her body. The pangs of jealousy hit me instantly. Who was I kidding? He might have wanted to come here with me, but he didn't want me. I sighed a little, mentally preparing myself for watching him go home with another girl, when someone bumped into my back.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am," a voice spoke from behind me.

I turned around; looking at my dress to make sure nothing had spilled on it. "It's totally okay, don't…"

I looked up into a very familiar face. The man gave me a questioning look before a broad smile broke out on his face. "Elena?"

"Liam? What are you doing here?"

He chuckled a little at my amazement. "You booked my restaurant to cater, remember? I was asked to oversee everything."

Damn it, he's right. I'd totally forgotten. He looked handsome, not as good as Damon, but still pretty good. I gave him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. It must have slipped my mind. What can I do to repay you?"

He smiled. "I think I can think of something. Miss Elena, would you dance with me?"

I laughed and took his hand, letting him lead me on to the dance floor. At least I could have some fun with a friend while my heart is being ripped in two across the room.

Liam placed a hand on my back and pulled me into a waltz. We kept up polite conversation, and I almost forgot about Damon for a moment. This is what I was supposed to have, a nice boy who would treat me right. But when Liam's hand touched mine, there was no sparks, and when his body accidently brushed mine, my heart rate didn't speed up.

Suddenly, Damon crashed through the crowd dragging the slut with him. He sidled up alongside Liam and me and pulled her tight to his body. Her hands were running everywhere, and jealousy flared up in the pit of my stomach. I should be touching him! He'd known the girl for five minutes, and her hands were already exploring places I'd only dreamed of caressing.

I was busy examining the little space between the slut and the love of my life when my eyes caught Damon's. His eyes were icy, and the connection he created between us sparked with energy.

I looked back over at the girl that was running her hands over his shirt, and pushing her lower body into his. The jealousy over took me again, but this time, I stood up to it. If Damon was going to leave me alone, and dance with someone else, then I could at least try to have a good time. I pressed myself a little closer to Liam, letting him hold me a little tighter. He might not be Damon, but every girl deserves a good dance every once in a while.

Damon

I grabbed Missy and started to caress her neck, and in turn, Elena moved her hands to the man's chest. She was getting even closer to him, and there was only a thin layer of fabric between their bare skins. From where I was, I could see the tool's look of surprise, but he recovered quickly, moving one hand dangerously low on her back. She gave him an almost seductive smile, and I could feel my pants growing tighter with the image of her looking at me. The girl in my arms smiled, feeling pleased with herself, thinking she was the reason for my excitement. Her hands traveled down to the waistband of my pants and I was completely disgusted. If anything, her body helped me calm down, but she didn't know that.

Elena saw Missy's movements and immediately retaliated, pressing her lower body even closer to his. The look on his face became almost carnal with desire, and his hands traced her hipbones. And then he did the unthinkable. He took Elena's chin and pulled her in for a kiss.

No way in hell was this fucking tool going to kiss my girl!

I dropped the whore in my arms and ran over to Elena, breaking her out of his embrace. Grabbing her by the wrist, I pulled her out of the ballroom and into the lobby, leaving very confused dance partners in our wake.

Elena rushed along behind me as I stormed through the crowd. "Damon! What the hell are you doing?"

"We're going upstairs."

I couldn't even think straight, images of her with another man were haunting my memory. It was something I never wanted to see again. And her skin was so warm and soft under mine. Realizing that my grip was a little tight, I eased up and moved to hold her hand. I pulled her up the grand staircase near the entrance, moving towards the elevators. Booking a room was something that I always did at these type of events. It was good to have somewhere to crash, with a girl, or alone. And today, I might have been hoping to take Elena up there honestly. I wanted her more than I've wanted any other woman, and I wouldn't be able to call myself a man if I didn't want to ravage her.

But things were different with Elena, she wasn't just some whore to take one night and leave in the morning. I wanted her for more than that.

Elena's hand became pliant in mine, and I couldn't help but feel all sappy and mushy inside. I've never really held hands with a woman before, and I have to admit that I liked it. Her warm palm clasped mine as I pulled her into an elevator, quickly pushing the button designated for the 12th floor.

As the doors closed, Elena and I stood in silence. I wanted to tell her everything, that I loved her, that I wanted her, that I hated seeing anyone else touching her, that I was in love with her. But I was too scared. Telling her would mess everything up. She would run away from me and our whole friendship would be ruined; I would lose my family.

Elena

Damon was holding my hand. Damon was holding my hand!

His hands were warm in mine, and my stomach was erupting with butterflies. But of course he had to ruin it. Damon tugged his hand out of my grasp, and I immediately felt lost.

The elevator doors dinged open, and Damon placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me down a lavish hallway.

"Damon? Where are we going now?"

He fumbled with something in his pants pocket. "My hotel room."

His hotel room? "Wait, you have a room here?"

"Where else would you suggest I take my women?"

Ouch. So I'm just a 'woman' now. Great. Upon seeing my facial expression, his eyes softened. "That's not what I meant, Lena. I usually book a room when I go to these type of events. It's a perfect place to go if I need to get away, or if I'm enjoying…female company."

Damon stopped at a door and whisked it open, ushering me through the threshold. The interior is beautiful, filled with white, and a large bathroom is situated off to the side. The biggest bed I've ever seen sits in the middle, it looks so comfortable, and I wouldn't mind using it for sleep, or something else…

He closed the door behind us and motions to a seating area. I take a seat in an armchair, arranging my dress around me. Damon sits opposite, his black suit setting off his beautiful body against the white fabric.

The room is nice and everything, but why were we up here? "Damon…"

He interrupted me. "Hold on. Let me think for a minute."

I waited with my hands in my lap, and watched Damon. He had his face in his hands, which let me study the curves of his body freely. He looked gorgeous, like he always did. Finally, Damon lifted his head, letting me my favorite part of him, the blue in his eyes.

He hesitated before speaking. "Do you know what I want Elena?"

No I don't, but I wish I did. I didn't really know what to say, but thankfully, Damon continued before I had to answer. "I want to change."

There was something interesting. "You do?"

He looked up at me, and his eyes conveyed his uneasiness. "I do. I don't want to live like this anymore."

"Like what Damon? You have an amazing life."

"But I don't Elena. I don't. I don't have what I want."

I waited for him to elaborate, to tell me what he wanted, but he stayed silent. We'd had conversations like this before, but only when he was drunk. From his mannerisms, I could tell that he was sober, and therefore, I was a little confused about where this was going, but I was willing to let him take his time. It's not like I had a date to get back to or anything.

He still wasn't speaking, and his head was in his hands again.

"What do you want, Damon?" I asked softly.

"I know what I don't want. I don't want to sleep with a different woman every night. I don't want to be afraid of my father. I don't want to be alone."

My heart broke at his tone, and I leapt off of the chair and knelt in front of him. "You're not alone Damon. You have me."

He looked up sharply. "But I don't have you do I?"

A beat passed. What?

He continued. "I kind of have something to tell you."

Oh God. Damon grabbed my hand and pulled me to sit next to him. He smiled a little wistfully at me, and spoke again. "I like holding your hand."

I had no words. What was he saying?

"I shouldn't feel this way, but I do. I shouldn't want to touch you. I shouldn't want to hold you. I shouldn't want to kiss you. But I do!"

What? Is he saying what I think he's saying? My heart is racing, and I'm itching to touch him. Is he…?

"I'm in love with you, and I don't know what to do about it! I want to be with you and I can't, because I know that you don't feel the same way and…"

Wait. Rewind for a second. 'I'm in love with you.' Did Damon Salvatore just tell me that he was in love with me? I must have heard him wrong. "Damon, what are you saying?"

He jumped off of the couch and moved to a nearby dresser, resting his hands on the surface and hanging his head. "I can't believe I feel this way when it's obvious that you'll never love me back! I think about you all the time! I want to be with you, I want to live forever with you. Why do I always want what I can't have!" He smashed his hands into the wood, and hung his head silently.

Damon Salvatore is in love with me? Damon Salvatore is in love with me! Oh my god! I've been waiting for this moment for so long, but now that it's here, I don't know what to do. I want to run over to him and tell him that he's wrong, that I'm completely in love with him, that I will love him forever, that I want to be with him. But my body is glued to the couch, it won't let me move.

I manage to croak out a weak "Damon." It's the only thing I can force out of my mouth.

His face falls and he moves to the door. "I need a drink," he mutters.

My head is screaming at my body to stop him, to not let him leave.

"Damon!" I yell more forcefully and he stops in his tracks, leaning his head against the wood. "Look at me." He doesn't move. "Please."

Slowly, he turns around; I can see him steeling himself.

I've been waiting for this moment all my life. "Damon, I love you!"

He looks at me incredulously. "What?"

"I love you! I love you! I love you! God, Damon I've just been waiting for you to love me back!"

I have a huge smile on my face, and he rushes back towards me, grabbing me by the waist. A little moan escapes my throat at the contact of his hands. "Say it again," he demands.

"Damon, I love you!"

"Do you mean it?" He's been hurt and lied to so many times, I can tell that he's hesitant to believe me.

I reach up and cradle his face with my hands. "Damon, I've been in love with you since I was thirteen. You're it for me; there's never been anybody else."

His face lights up and he presses his forehead into mine. "You're it for me too, Lena. I've been looking for something that I had all along."

Damon's body moves a fraction closer to mine. Fire spreads through my veins, and I can't remember ever feeling so alive. Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.

I move my hands from his face to slide along the inside of his suit coat. He grumbles in response and pushes his chest flush against mine. This moment is perfect. I'd never thought that I could have him, and now I do. If I could stay here forever, I would.

"Marry me."

I jump back a little bit. "What?"

He looks a little ashamed. "Sorry, I just…"

"Yes, just not right now."

"Really?"

"You've got me forever."

He smiled and pulled me even tighter against him. My heart was beating furiously out of my chest, and one of his hands came up to hold the nape of my neck.

And then he kissed me.

AN: AH! So what did you think! Don't worry, the next chapter will be much more interesting, if you know what I mean... ;)

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Song: A Drop In The Ocean - Ron Pope