What's this? A double update day? If you have not just read about sexually frustrated college Elena admitting to herself that she's falling in love with Damon, go back a chapter. If you've already read Chapter 8, then, I hope you enjoy Chapter 9.

Chapter 9: Explosion

Now

It was Saturday morning and I was meeting Damon at Starbuck's. He had offered to pick me up but I didn't want to release my control of an escape plan. Earlier in the week, he had called sounding desperate. His nephew's birthday was coming up and he had no idea what to buy him. Like his uncle, the boy liked books so I had agreed to meet Damon for coffee and help him pick out a birthday present. Children were involved, surely this would be safe.

"Thanks for agreeing to help me out. I adore my nieces and nephew so I'd hate to get a bad present." We had ordered our coffee and were settling down on one of the couches in the coffee shop. "This reminds me of when we used to go to Jackson's Java in college. I wonder if it's still there."

"It is. Last year Caroline and I met some of our sorority sisters there for coffee before we went to see the new Greek row that they've built on campus."

"We should go to Jackson's some time. It would be fun to take a walk down memory lane."

"Memory Lane? Umm, yeah, I hear that it's under construction and there's a big 'Road Closed' sign blocking the entrance." He looked pained. It was time to change the subject. "How do you like being in one place instead of travelling?"

"I'm much happier here. Travelling was fun. I got to see parts of the world that I would have never seen otherwise but it's hard not having any roots. I'm not a kid anymore, Elena. I need to be settled and my travelling needs to be for fun. Did I tell you that I bought a house?"

"You said that you wanted to have the wine dinner at your home but didn't say if you owned or were renting. Did you just recently move in?"

"Yeah, I've been back in town long enough to find a house, move in and get settled at work. It's been a busy few months."

"Where is your house? Is it in the city?"

"It is. It's a beautiful old craftsman on the outside but totally renovated on the inside. I was thrilled with the way the remodel was done. The designer managed to provide all of the comforts of new construction and still kept the integrity of an older home. It's actually just a few blocks from your office." He knew where my office was located. He'd been a busy little camper.

"That sounds nice." Of course it sounded nice. The description sounded exactly like the dream home I had once talked about when I thought we had a future.

"I can't wait for you to see it. You know, when we do my wine dinner. Um, we should probably head out to the bookstore." Was it my imagination or did he suddenly seem nervous? I couldn't help but smile. Considering how uncomfortable I had been ever since he dropped back into my life, I thought it was about time that he suffered a little too.

When we reached the bookstore, he followed me in the door, stopped and looked expectantly at me. "OK, put that BA in English to use and work some magic. Isn't it about time that you used degree?"

"What? You said you wanted my advice. You never mentioned that you needed me to actually pick out the present." He looked at me impishly and raised both palms in surrender. "This should be interesting," I said with a roll of my eyes. "How old is your nephew?"

"He's turning ten."

"At least you know that much," I teased. "Let's go to the children's section. You said that he likes to read but do you know what kind of books he enjoys?"

"Yeah, he has been all about those Harry Potter books. Has anything new come out in that series?" He looked so proud of himself that I almost regretted laughing in his face. Almost. "What's so funny?"

"As much as you love books, you really are oblivious when it comes to children's literature aren't you? Oh, Damon, my clueless friend, the Harry Potter series ended several years ago. And, yes, I was among the millions that stood in line to get my copy of the last book at midnight when it was released."

He was smiling broadly. "You just called me your friend."

"Well, don't get carried away. Remember that the word clueless was in the same sentence. Anyway, if he likes Harry Potter then the kid and I would get along."

"Because you're a loser who stands in line at midnight for a children's book?"

"Have fun finding a present." I faked turning to walk away.

"I'm sorry! You're not a loser…well, you're a loser but in a very cute, adorable way." I started to walk away. "OK! I take it back. Please, please, please help me!"

"Fine. Like I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, he sounds like we have the same taste; therefore, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest another series that I like. Come over here." After spending another hour perusing the shelves in the rest of the bookstore, we were heading to the checkout counter. Damon had liked the books that I had suggested and had decided to buy the whole series for his nephew. "So, you mentioned before that you also have nieces. How many are there?"

"My brother and his wife have two girls and a boy. They're great kids. That's one reason why I wanted to be back in the area. I wanted to be around them more." We were in the back of the line and looking at the displays that they have there to tempt you into making an impulse buy. "Elena, look. It's Shakespeare's sonnets. You loved these. Do you have a copy? I'd love to get this for you for helping me out today."

Suddenly, in my mind I was back in his apartment curled up on the couch listening to him read to me. I couldn't do this. "That's sweet Damon but I've really got to go. I hope your nephew likes his books." I practically ran from the store. Glancing back as I got to the door, I saw Damon staring at me looking hurt and stunned. I had seen that same look on his face only one other time and that was the night I said goodbye.

~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~

Then

"How are things going with you two?" Caroline and I were at the mall.

"Depends on which 'you two' you are referring to. If you mean Rebecca and me, it couldn't be worse. Actually, I stand corrected. It could be worse because I suppose she could run into the room, hike her leg like a dog and mark Damon as her territory." Caroline almost fell over laughing.

"I wasn't talking about Rebecca but, oh, Elena, I am so sorry! Should we try to encourage her to move in with some of the younger sisters?"

"No, she's just embarrassing herself. He thinks she's ridiculous. She' already signed an agreement to take over the lease at the end of May anyway. She's swiftly becoming a pain in my rear but it's nothing I can't handle."

"If you say so, just remember that if you need me to, I can take her." Caroline was the best. I just adored her. We had originally met in class just before she went through Rush. She and I were the only people in the class who didn't think that the professor was next to God. We were smart enough to realize that his pseudo artistic intellectualism was actually nothing more than a carryover of the drug induced haze of his college years. While the other students fawned over his disconnected ramblings, Caroline and I opted to sit in the back and have a running commentary on the idiocy of the others. Amazingly, we both managed to make an A.

"Back to my original question: How are things with you and Damon?"

"We're great except that I am perpetually edgy. He's still making me wait." I had finally broken down and told Caroline about Damon's grand plan to convince me that he was not just trying to get me to have sex. The bad thing was, as much as I didn't want him to want me for only one thing, his little game had made me spend more time thinking about what we weren't doing than what we were.

"I must say, I am amazed. Elena, he really does care about you. He has never been like this with anyone—not with me and not with anyone else. Believe me, I know. I've asked around."

"Caroline, I want to believe that this could be the real thing but I just can't. If I let myself completely fall for him and then he just leaves me, I'll shrivel up and die. You understand that don't you?" I didn't even realize that I had tears welling up in my eyes until I felt one fall down my cheek.

"Elena, it's way too late for that. You've fallen and you've fallen hard. But it's OK. Honey, he's crazy about you. No other guy I know at this school would go to the lengths that he's gone to in order to prove that he wants a real relationship with you. He's not trying to prove that he doesn't want to sleep with you. He's trying to prove that he really wants you—the real you."

"But, why, Caroline? Why would he want to be with me? It's never made any sense to me. Guys don't go for me. You know that. They see me as some substitute for the little sister they never had. Why would one of the hottest guys I've ever seen want me?"

"Well, did you ever stop to think that maybe he sees you for everything that those other idiots don't. He sees the amazing, intelligent, caring and beautiful person that I see. Elena, stop doubting yourself or I'm going to have to beat the crap out of you!" We stood in the dressing room hugging. "Now, let me buy this outfit before they send the cavalry in to check on us."

~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~

As I put my key in the lock I could hear Rebecca's annoying giggle through the door. I braced myself for what I may be walking in on but nothing could've prepared me for what I was about to see. Damon was standing in the living room with the telephone held high above his head while Rebecca bounced around, laughing and trying to reach it wearing the tiniest denim mini skirt I'd ever seen and a bikini top.

"Come on, Bex. What's the magic word?" He laughingly asked just before I slammed the door.

"Oh shit!" squealed Rebecca jumping at the sound.

"Nope, I don't think that's the correct answer," I seethed. "When did you get here, Damon? I thought I was supposed to come to your place. I didn't know you and 'BEX' had plans."

"Oopsy! I better run. See you later, D!" Rebecca giggled as she ran out of the apartment.

I turned to stomp off to my room as Damon caught my arm. "Why are you in such a bad mood?"

"Oh gee, D, I don't know," I replied with as much snark as I could muster.

"Don't be like that. You obviously have something on your mind so why don't you go ahead and say it?"

"Fine! What in the hell did I just walk in on?"

"I got out of lacrosse practice early so I went by my place, hit the shower, got ready and thought I'd surprise you by taking you out instead of just having you come over to my place."

"And what was going on with you and, what was it again, Bex I believe you called her?"

"Nothing! Nothing was going on with us. She was about to go meet up with some of your sorority sisters at the lake for the night and we were just hanging out waiting on you to get home."

"Really? Hanging out? That's what it's called! I guess that makes perfect sense. You were seeing how many times she could jump up and down before her breasts were hanging out! What was going to be your next act? Seeing how far she could bend over before you could see up her skirt? My money is on, 'not too far!'"

"OH GOOD GOD!" He roared. "When are you going to stop thinking that I'm fucking every girl on campus?"

"Aren't you? After all, we're not having sex and a guy like you is going to get it from somewhere. If it's not me you're screwing then who is it?" Oh God. One look at his face was all it took to tell me I had gone too far.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" He breathed. "Who said that to you?"

"Rebecca." I was practically whispering. After the volume at which we had been yelling, it seemed eerily quiet.

"She said that? Baby, I'm not seeing anybody but you. I don't want anybody but you. I wasn't flirting; I was just being a pest to Rebecca. She had been on the phone almost constantly and I kept asking her to keep the line clear in case you tried to call. She wouldn't so I decided to handle it myself albeit in a fairly 12 year old fashion." He pulled me into a hug, cradling me against his chest. "I could throttle her for saying that to you. Anyway, how does she know we aren't having sex?"

"It's pretty obvious," I huffed.

"How is it obvious?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because I'm so grumpy. I mean, I walk in the door and start reaming you out without asking questions. That's not normally me. It is, however, me when I'm a sexually frustrated ball of nerves."

"Sexually frustrated, huh?" The jerk was actually laughing at me.

"Yes! Damon, I am horny all the time and you are doing nothing to help solve the problem!" I whined.

He tilted my head up and pressed his lips to mine. As his tongue slipped into my mouth I could feel his fingers under my shirt slipping up my back. When he pulled me tight against him, I could feel just how much he wanted me.

"Apparently I'm not the only one who's horny." I giggled.

"Wow. Is that your version of talking dirty?" He smirked as he trailed his finger along the top of the band of my shorts.

"Damon, please, I'm going to spontaneously combust. Whatever it is that you're waiting for, I'll do it. I'll get on my knees and beg. Please, just have sex with me!" I begged.

He pulled back and looked me in the eye. "No. I don't want to have sex with you."

I could feel the tears in my eyes. It felt like he had slapped me. I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let me.

"Let go of me. I need to get out of here."

"I don't want to just have sex with you, Lena. I want to make love to you."

~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~

AN: Yes, I ended it there. Mean of me, I know. I guess, like Elena, I too like delayed gratification. Heehee! So, I vow to you a promise of lemony goodness in the next update.