It's official, you guys rock! Thank you again for all of the support! So, one thing I forgot to mention last time: has anyone seen anything more adorable than Damon Salvatore dancing to "Whatta Man" while cooking breakfast? If so, please let me know. I admit it, I re-watched that scene more than once. :-) Well, we are at the ball and everyone's favorite couple will be letting telling their friends about their new development. I know a lot of you are wanting answers about the stalker and the mysterious red light. I promise, we will get there but it has to happen in a natural progression. If I had to guess, I'd say this baby will probably wrap up at around 40 chapters but that is just a guess. Happy reading-hope you like it!
Chapter 36: The Lady in Red
I can't take my eyes off of my fiancé. Oh my God, Damon is my fiancé! After I repaired my makeup, something I wasn't at all upset to have to do, Damon escorted me to the car and the two of us left for the ball. Since then, I've been sitting here staring at him while the world rushes by outside the car windows. My giddy smile just grows when he reaches over and laces his fingers through mine while we idle at a stoplight.
"Stop staring. It's creepy," he purrs as he kisses my hand before releasing it to shift gears. I watch as he glides through the gears knowing the muscles of his arm are flexing deliciously beneath the jacket of his tux with each shift. "So what do you have to do when we get there before you can relax for the rest of the evening?"
I grin daftly as I announce, "We're engaged!" A chuckle rises from low in Damon's throat. "You're my fiancé!" A giggle escapes my mouth and I do nothing to dial it back. I can see the lopsided smirk that appears on my fiancé's perfect face. "We're going to get married!"
"I know." Blue eyes penetrate deep into mine as we pull up to valet parking. I melt into his kiss just before the valet pulls open my door and extends his hand to help me from the car. "Thanks, buddy, but if you don't mind I'm going to come around and help the lady from the car. The keys are in the ignition." Damon hops out and comes around the car, grasping my hand and practically lifting me from the car. "So, you never answered, what do you need to take care of first?" he asks as we approach the door of the hotel with my arm tucked protectively in his.
"First? First I have to find Caroline and Jenna and tell them we're engaged!"
Cupping my face in his hands, Damon forces me to take a moment to breathe. "OK, baby, I don't want you to get upset because the wrong crudité is served with the wrong wine so I need you to focus. What do you need to do for the ball before you go announcing to the girls that they get to wear ugly bridesmaid dresses while my girl once again looks more beautiful than should be legal?"
"I just need to check in with Bonnie to make sure that she is following the checklist I gave her. After that, I should be able to just enjoy the evening. And there will be no ugly bridesmaids dresses at our wedding. Everything will be fabulous! I'm a professional after all." I place a feathery kiss on his lips before sashaying off to find Bonnie. I put a little extra sway in my hips before glancing back to wink at my handsome man.
I have a quick conversation with Bonnie and come back to the atrium to find Damon chatting with several of his business associates. As I approach, he excuses himself and we head to the entrance for the ball. "Any sign of the rest of the gang?" I ask as we near the ballroom.
"Gang? Is that like the Scooby Gang?"
"Smartass," I mumble under my breath earning a grin from Damon.
"They all got here just before you got back. I told them we'd meet them at the table," Damon answers.
Each year the ball has a theme. Last year was renaissance, this year it's winter wonderland. The room is filled with soft light and twinkle lights. Lit birch limbs emerge amid icy looking landscapes that are dotted throughout the ballroom. Each table is decorated with tall vases filled with sprays of white flowers while hurricane globes and low-lying bowls are filled with white candles. The entryway to the ballroom is an elegant looking gate complete with elaborate scrollwork. On either side is a large regal looking column each topped with a huge urn filled with bunches of sparkling, white branches. It is entrancingly romantic and breathtakingly beautiful. I have outdone myself this year, if I do say so myself. Keeping with the tradition of balls, each couple is formally announced as they make their entrance.
"Do you have anything particular in mind as far as how you want to tell the gang that we are engaged?" Damon asks, wiggling his eyebrows as he uses my phrase to describe our friends.
"Honestly, I have no clue. I'm still in a bit of shock so I'm fairly certain it won't be anything very eloquent," I laugh.
"Do you trust me?" Damon asks earning a roll of the eyes from me. "Did you just roll your eyes at me, missy?"
"It was a silly question. Of course I trust you."
"Hmm…if we were at home, I'd have some fun with that eye roll," he whispers hotly against my ear causing me to shiver. Just as quickly he steps back and walks up to the man who is getting each person's name as they enter. Turning back to me, "this should get a reaction from Blondie," he chuckles.
"What did you do?" I ask.
"I just told him who we are," he says with false innocence as we step up to the top of the grand staircase that leads down into the ballroom.
"Presenting Mr. Damon Salvatore and his fiancé Miss Elena Gilbert," the man's voice booms over the sound system as we descend the steps. I grin from ear to ear at the audible gasp that comes from our table as both Caroline and Jenna's heads snap to look at us as we approach. I hear Damon murmur, "So much better than a simple flashing of the ring." He laughs as my two best friends pounce on me.
"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me this morning?" Caroline asks as she engulfs me in a hug.
"I didn't tell you because he had not asked yet. He proposed just before we left for the ball!" I grin.
"And you!" Caroline smacks Damon in the shoulder. "Don't you know you're supposed to warn me about these things?"
"So sorry, Blondie, I didn't realize I needed your permission," Damon deadpans.
"Congratulations, mate," Klaus says as he claps Damon on the back. Ric follows, giving Damon a man hug.
"Ric, if you knew about this and didn't tell me, you are cut off for the next month!" exclaims Jenna, Ric's bugged eyes earning a laugh from the group.
"Relax, Jenna, he didn't know," says Damon. "Believe it or not, I actually did this all on my own," he adds as he pulls me into an embrace, placing a kiss on my forehead.
"Well let me see the ring!" exclaims Jenna as she grasps my left hand. "You did this all by yourself? Damn, dude, you did good!" Jenna cracks me up. When she is around Damon, she turns into one of the guys.
"Thanks, Jen," Damon grins.
"Damon, it really is exquisite," breathes Caroline. She's right, it is. The ring is platinum with an old European cut diamond. The center diamond is accented with filigree open metal work set with single cut diamonds. "I've never seen anything like it."
"That's because I had it custom made. Mom gave me her mother's engagement ring. The diamond was perfect but the band was completely worn out so Mom told me I could have the stone put into a new ring if I wanted. So, I sat down with a jeweler I know and designed the ring. It's one of a kind, just like my girl," he adds softly, looking intensely into my eyes.
"Oh, Damon, it's perfect and it means even more knowing the story behind it," I whisper back, kissing him sweetly. "But when did you have time to do all of that?"
"I got the ring from mom shortly after you agreed to start seeing me again. I met with the jeweler the next week," he gives me one of his cocky smiles.
"How did you know you were going to propose to me at that point?"
"Lena, I knew that I was going to propose to you when I took you to the lacrosse field to watch the meteor shower. I just needed to wait until the time was right." Tears are brimming in my eyes.
"Alright, time to have a seat and get ready for dinner before all this lovey dovey mess makes me nauseous!" Ric exclaims. "Congratulations, buddy. You too, Elena."
The night was going perfectly. Dinner was delicious, the auction went off without a hitch even if Damon did get a bit carried away bidding on a trip to the Braves spring training camp declaring it the perfect Bachelor Party trip. Bonnie has followed my instructions to a tee and I have only had to step away a couple of times and those were only to dissuade my nerves as to whether things were going as smoothly behind the scenes as they were in the ballroom. The only bump in the road had been when Tyler's entrance was announced. Damon instantly tensed but calmed almost instantly when I wrapped my left hand around his wrist. He looked down at my sparkling ring and relaxed.
The party was moving into the portion of the night reserved for dedications. For a donation, partygoers can request a song and dedicate it to the person of their choice. It was always entertaining as each person tried to outdo the other in the outrageousness of song choice and dedication. Damon and I had been on the dance floor for quite a while. We laughed heartily when Caroline dedicated "Sexual Healing" to Klaus. As we danced to the song, Damon seductively whispered in my ear just how sexy he thought it was that I was "naked under my dress" and glad that he was the only one who knew it. We both laughed even harder when they read out Damon's dedication to Ric and Jenna of "All the Single Ladies" challenging them to join the land of the committed. Of course, I had beamed when Damon dedicated "The Way You Look Tonight" to me. As the last notes of the song floated away, the voice of the MC comes over the system.
"Elena Gilbert, you are one popular lady! We have another dedication for you. It reads, Elena, you know that you will always be mine. Hope you liked the roses." I gasp as "The Lady in Red" starts to play.
"Damon, did he just say…"
"Ric, Klaus, keep an eye on her. I'll be right back. I'm going to find out who did it and I'm going to kill the motherfucker," Damon growls as he leaves me with our friends and rushes up to the master of ceremonies. His anger is palpable as he heads back our way. "The dedication was typed and put in an envelope with cash. One of the wait staff gave it to the MC. It's another dead end. Shit!" Damon wraps his arms protectively around me. Our friends are gathered around us as Damon holds me. I can see both Ric and Klaus's eyes darting around the room looking for anyone who appears suspicious.
"Damon, I want to go home," I say meekly. "But I really need to stay in case Bonnie needs me."
Caroline steps up and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Go. I can stay."
"Care, I can't ask you to do that!" I say.
"You didn't. I volunteered. I used to help you with your events all the time. I think I can handle this. Besides, what's Ric going to do, fire you?" she chuckles.
"Elena, go." Ric's calming voice says. "We've got this."
~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~
The ride home is quiet. Damon is steaming. When we pull into the garage, he sighs and hangs his head apologetically. "Well, that's not how I saw this evening ending."
"Damon, look at me." When his blue eyes meet my brown ones, I cup his precious face in my hands. "I will not let some asshole ruin this night for us. So we left the ball with a little more excitement than we would have preferred. The evening isn't over. It's not going to be over until my fiancé makes love to me so thoroughly that I pass out in his bed."
"Our bed," his velvety voice corrects.
"Yes, our bed. So, are you up for the job, fiancé of mine?" I ask as I rest my forehead against his.
"Oh I'm definitely up for it, baby," he growls. As soon as we step inside, Damon resets the alarm, grabs a chilled bottle of champagne and two flutes and hands them to me. "Here, I need you to hold these. I have something more important to carry." As soon as I have the bottle and glasses, Damon scoops me up bridal style and carries me to our room. He sets me on our bed and takes the bottle and glasses from me. Expertly popping the cork, he pours champagne into both flutes, handing one to me. "To my beautiful bride to be. If I live a million years, I will never deserve you. Thank you for agreeing to spend your life with me. I love you, baby." He clinks his glass with mine and starts to raise his glass to his lips when I reach out and stop him.
"Wait, it's my turn. To my incredible fiancé, I like that word by the way," I smile. "There is no one that I would rather spend forever with than you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love you more than I ever thought possible. Thank you for making me happier than I could ever imagine." I lean up to him and kiss him gently. "You can drink, now," I whisper.
Once we finish our champagne, Damon takes our glasses and sets them on the dresser. He tosses his jacket and tie on the dresser as well. Catching my hand he pulls me up and stands me before him. Threading his fingers through my hair, he gives me an increasingly passionate kiss. I part my lips granting him entrance. His tongue strokes mine expertly drawing a moan from my throat. His fingertips trail down my back causing me to shiver and breathlessly murmur, "Damon." As he kisses his way down my neck, I feel Damon slip the straps of my dress off of my shoulders so that the dress pools around my ankles leaving me wearing nothing but my red stilettos.
"You are going to be the death of me," Damon breathes, as he looks me over from head to toe and back again. "You have no idea how uncomfortable it is to be wearing tux pants while being perpetually hard because your sexy fiancé is walking around commando."
"Well, you seem to be a bit overdressed for my taste," I say as I unbutton his shirt and slip it off of his shoulders. Dropping to my knees, I unbuckle his belt and unfasten the button and zipper before pushing down his pants and boxer briefs. "There, much better." I look up at him, "I believe you said something about being uncomfortable. How about if I kiss it and make it better?" I place a soft kiss on the tip of his erection before slipping my lips over the head and swirling my tongue around. Damon groans his approval but I want more of a reaction. I trace the tip of my tongue up and down his cock before wrapping my lips around him and sucking. When I start to fondle his balls and increase my suction, Damon wraps his hands in my hair, encouraging me to take more of him in my mouth.
"Fuck, Lena, that feels so good," Damon gasps. I look up at him swallowing around him, taking him down my throat. When I grasp his perfect, tight ass in one hand and his balls in the other, Damon starts thrusting until he finally reaches his climax. I swallow all of it, pulling back and smirking up at him as I lick my lips. "Damn, baby, I do love that sweet mouth of yours," he growls as he backs me up to the bed. "Now it's my turn," he says, pushing me onto my back and hooking my legs over his shoulders. "And if I don't have scratches on my back from the heels of those sexy as hell stilettos, I'm not doing something right." My eyes roll back in my head as he uses his delightful tongue and fingers to drive me crazy. By the time he slips into me, I am an orgasmic heap. And when he flicks my clit while pumping into me, I am sent over the edge once again. It is only when Damon curls me into his chest and whispers over and over how much he loves me that I finally fall blissfully asleep.
AN: When I find a way to clone him, I'll let all of you know. Please take a moment and review and don't forget to click those favorite and follow buttons. I hope all of you have a fabulous week!