A/N: Again, it's the weekend, so you get a quicker update! Don't expect this to last long, though. I have two jobs, and one is work from home. Anyhow, I am overwhelmed by the numbers of faves and follows! Thank you! Thanks also to my kind reviewers. Now you favers and followers have a directive: REVIEW! Doesn't have to be elaborate. Just a couple of words really do encourage me.

As always, if you have a plot bunny, send it to me! I'm listening! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own or operate The Vampire Diaries.

Chapter 3: One Choice

It was absolutely dark, or at least, so that she couldn't do much more than feel Damon's hands on her body, hear his voice in her ear, smell his cologne, taste his tongue in her mouth – but she could always see those eyes; the light always seemed to strike them, turning them silver in the dark. And she could feel his mouth on her neck, feel him licking the skin there, and whispering to her that he very much wanted to taste her blood, and then she would feel his fangs, grazing her skin, then piercing it...

And she woke up. All three times, the dream was accompanied by an intense climax.

Elena ate her Cheerios the next morning, wondering if dreams were wish-fulfillment, brain information dumps, predictions for the future, all three or none of the above. Whatever they were, the ones she had the night before were some to remember. They were hot, and more than enough to make her wonder what actually being with Damon would be like. She could curse herself for a fool, but she'd only had one serious relationship since college, and it hadn't ended well. Mason had stolen her debit card number, cleaned out her bank account and headed for parts unknown. There was a warrant out for him, but she really didn't care if they found him or not, as long as he was out of her life. Since then, she and Caroline had been working to build their business, and guys just hadn't been in the picture.

She was a little groggy. Waking up three times in one night, sweating and shaking would do that to you, she supposed. It was a yoga pants and T-shirt kind of day. She wasn't even going to do any writing. Sunday was a day of rest. She grabbed one of the books she bought at the used bookstore the day before, sat down with a cup of coffee and started to read.

When Elena was about 100 pages into the book, her phone rang and she answered it without looking at the screen. "Hello?"

"Good morning, Elena," came Damon's sexy voice. Elena could actually feel her hormones start humming.

"Morning, Damon. How are you?" she said. She wanted a day alone with a book, but she'd take a short break for him.

"Fine. What are you doing?"

"Reading one of the books I bought yesterday. I've got some down time today, and I wanted to spend it reading. I don't get to do that nearly as often as I'd like to."

"I won't keep you too long, then. I just wanted to ask if I could see you again."

Elena grinned at the phone. "Yeah. That'd be great."

"Good. Oh, almost forgot. Dream about me last night?" And he sounded like he knew she had.

"You kept me up all night," she said before she realized the words were out of her mouth and she nearly smacked herself for saying it.

His chuckle sent heat through her body and fire right to her toes. "Take a couple of nights off, then. Just don't forget about me."

"Oh, I won't," she assured him. How could you forget him?

"Have a good day, Elena. I'll be talking to you."

"All right, Damon. 'Bye." She clicked off the call and expelled a long breath. Wow. She wasn't sure what it was about that man – vampire – whatever the heck he was. He was seven kinds of hot, that's for sure, and there was definitely an undercurrent of danger there. She really didn't think he would hurt her, but he was more than capable of hurting someone else, and that was an uncomfortable feeling.

She had been back to her book for a little while when Caroline called. "All right, young lady. What happened? I have to know!"

Elena laughed. "Nothing, really. I went to his place, we talked, then we went downtown and prowled around, had dinner, listened to a band in the park and he brought me home! That's it!

"There's more than what you're telling me. I can hear it in your voice. Did he put some moves on you?"

"He kissed me, but it wasn't like I stopped him."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What do you mean 'and what'? Remember, I met that man. He looks like the kind who could make you paint yourself blue and run naked through downtown. Did the kiss live up to expectations?"

"Whose?" Elena knew she was messing with her friend, but it was so much fun to keep her on the line.

"Mine! Yours! Now would you kindly spill your guts about it?"

"Caroline, you sound like you did in college. But, since you insist, it was very, very hot."

"O.K. Two 'verys' means there was tongue. Does he slobber? I can't deal with slobber."

"No, no slobber." Elena couldn't imagine Damon slobbering during a kiss. That would be so far beneath his dignity. "It was just right."

"He doesn't have thin lips like some guys do," Caroline said.

"No, they're not," Elena agreed, remembering how his lips felt on hers, and how they felt in her dreams. Oh, those dreams...

"Elena! Earth to Elena!" Caroline was calling.

"Oh? Sorry. I'm just not quite awake yet. I've been reading this morning. I just got back to it after Damon called." Once again this morning, words popped out before she could censor them.

"Damon's already called you today?" Caroline was about to wig out.

"Yeah, to thank me for a nice day yesterday, and he wants to see me again."

Elena could hear the wheels turning in her friend's head. "Wow. And what did you tell him?"

"That he could. He's interesting."

Caroline sighed. "As your friend with only your best interests at heart, I have to say he's hot and I can't blame you for going out with him, but please be careful. There's something about him. He's trouble, and you don't need another cash stealing boyfriend."

"Damon has plenty of money, believe me. But I will be careful, I promise. Now can I please get back to my book? You know I don't have many days when I can just read. We can meet late this afternoon at Bonnie's, all right? She always saves us a couple of scones on Sundays."

"All right, see you then. Enjoy your book."

"I intend to." She ended the call and resumed reading, shaking her head when the two little hoodlums in the neighborhood drag raced up and down the street. As she always did, she called the police and reported it. Fifteen minutes later, all was quiet. If it would only last.

That evening, the drag racing started again, but it stopped abruptly. Elena went to the front window, but saw nothing on the street. She wasn't sure what happened, but at least the noise stopped. She didn't see the shadow in the trees, watching her, and she certainly didn't see the shadow drag the kids out of their cars, take them into the trees and leave them terrified, weak from blood loss and shaking in the cool of the night. The shadow wiped its mouth with a handkerchief and whispered, "Be glad I'm not in the mood to kill tonight." Damon didn't want Elena frightened by the report of murders in her neighborhood. And who knows? They might even decide to go on the straight and narrow, although he doubted it. They had the same weaselly look all lifelong punks had. They'd probably end up dead from a drive-by shooting, eventually. As long as it didn't happen in Elena's neighborhood, he didn't care.

Damon approached Elena's house, and heard the tell-tale beep-beeps that signaled she was arming the security alarm in her house. He nodded approvingly, although no alarms could keep him out, once he'd been invited in. Still, didn't want any uninvited humans sneaking in. The area seemed pretty safe, overall, however. Elena's house was cozy, he thought, as he slipped around the yard, looking it over. She had a nice front porch with a swing.

Damon went around the house and stopped by her bedroom window. She had curtains, so he couldn't see in, but he could hear her step out of the shower, and the soft sounds of her changing clothes, drawers opening and closing. He imagined what she would be wearing and he sighed silently. Something about this woman called to him. He had rarely experienced such an instant attraction. It wasn't just her beauty – and she was beautiful – but she had a charisma that he imagined would attract any man. He growled in his chest at the thought of her being in the arms of any other man. Her body was meant for his. There was no doubt in his mind on that score, anyway.

He knew that being with him would inevitably taint her, and he didn't want to do that, but he still wanted something – whatever she would give him. He'd worry about the rest later. And she had dreamed about him. That bit of compulsion wouldn't have worked if she hadn't wanted to do it to start with. But she was going into sleep now. He wanted her to sleep well, certainly, but it was still early and it couldn't hurt for him to slip into her mind, just to remind her that he was still interested.

She was having one of those dreams. She was late for work, couldn't find her cell to call in, couldn't get her car started, and suddenly, the scene changed to her office, and she was running around, talking to people on the phone, dealing with clients – naked. Only no one else noticed, as is almost always the case in those dreams. Damon wondered why humans had those dreams. He'd had them, himself. So, he sat at her desk and gazed at her. She finally turned to see him and dropped everything she was carrying. "Hi Elena," he said, a diabolical grin on his face.

"Damon! What are you doing here? And I'm... Oh, my God!" she screeched and frantically grabbed a raincoat from the coat rack and covered herself.

He laughed. "Don't get decent on my account. In fact, I'll join you" and then, he was naked too, and had her in his arms. "What are you doing in a dream like this anyway? Let's go somewhere quiet," and they were in some generic hotel room. "Doesn't look like much," he said, "But that doesn't really matter." He kissed her, and she was kissing him back, hanging on to him for dear life and he could feel she was waking up. "It's just a dream, sweet girl. I'll see you later this week, though." And he kissed her again, and was sitting outside her window once more. He stood, smiling, and wondered if her body was as beautiful as he saw it in her dream. He went back to his car and headed home.

Elena was awake and wondering what happened to her dream. Damon Salvatore was taking up entirely too much space in her head. She turned over and slept, this time without dreaming.

In the office the next morning, she wasn't at all surprised to have the florist come in about ten with a gorgeous fall flower arrangement. He must have money, or he couldn't pay a florist the kind of money it took to drive 60 miles from Rome so he could sign the card personally. She wasn't sure what to think about all this, but it beat hell out of Mason's courting, which was to go to his place while she watched a movie and he drank beer and groped her.

It was Caroline's late day – they took turns coming in early – and she saw the flowers. "Holy crap! He's one persistent little creeper, isn't he? Good taste in flowers, though."

"And a wealthy one. He signed these cards himself. In Rome."

"No kidding? Jeez. He's some kind of man."

Elena grinned. "That's for sure. Still, give these to Liz and have her to take them to the residents. They just loved those flowers the other week. Anything to brighten their days."

"She'll love these. So what's on the agenda this week?"

"We're kind of slow the next several days, unless we get a late booking. But that gives you a chance to get the books straight, and I can clean up the contacts lists and send out thank yous for the past month. We need a little down time. The past three weeks have been insane!"

She heard nothing further from Damon until Thursday of that week. She got a text. "Have you forgotten me? Haven't heard from you."

She rolled her eyes and returned the text, "The flowers were gorgeous. Thank you."

"You're welcome," came the reply. About two minutes later, her phone rang. When she answered, he said, "Let me cook dinner for you tomorrow night."

"OK," she answered. "What time?"

"Six. I'll pick you up from your office."

"I can meet you."

"No, I'll pick you up," he said. "We may be kind of late. I don't want you on the road too late. Of course, if you bring your toothbrush, we won't have to worry about that."

Didn't have to draw Elena Gilbert a picture – nosirree. "Damon, that's getting a little ahead of ourselves, don't you think?" She was profoundly thankful Caroline was checking out a venue and was out of the office.

"Not really. You're the one who jumped to conclusions, Miss Gilbert. My house has more than one bedroom."

No, he hadn't overtly suggested anything. He had just implied it all over the place, that's all. "You're diabolical," she said.

"Oh, come on. That's a minor league insult. You can do better than that."

"Give me time," Elena shot back, and Damon laughed out loud.

"Can't wait. So, dinner?"

"I already said yes."

"Great. See you at six." He ended the call.

Elena looked at her phone. Normally, she wasn't such a pushover for any guy. Ever. Caroline was going to freak.

She did. "He said what? And you said what? Ohmigod, Elena. I cannot believe this!"

"Care, I'm an adult woman, really. Damon's OK. He still doesn't know where I live, so that's cool."

"Bet he does. He's a sneaky thing. I can tell."

"Cut him a little slack, Caroline. He hasn't done anything to me!"

"Yet. Yet. Don't give him the chance, all right?" She shook her finger at her friend.

Elena sighed. "I won't. Like I told you: I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"O.K. But just be careful. Please."

"I will. I promise." Elena knew if Caroline knew what she did about Damon, she'd have already called the police – on Elena, for mental problems. Damon was right about that much: none of her friends would believe her and they'd think she was crazy in the bargain.

Caroline wouldn't let it go the next day, either. Every second, she was reminding Elena to be careful, to watch Damon and not let him do something to her. It was so irritating, that Elena was glad to meet him downstairs, just to get away from Caroline's constant stream of advice.

Damon was lounging against the side of the Camaro, smiling at the women who passed by and giving the stink-eye to any unsavory characters who got too close to the car. He saw Elena and could feel a smile starting. She looked great. She had on dark slacks and a rose-colored top that complimented her eyes and hair. "Hi there," he said.

"Hey," she replied. "Thanks for meeting me."

"The pleasure is all mine." He opened the door. "Your chariot, m'lady." She grinned and got in the car.

As they pulled away from the curb, Damon said, "I noticed you're carrying some kind of tote bag thing. Is a toothbrush in there?"

Elena blushed. "Well, yes, but only because it's 60 miles to Rome and you might not want to drive back tonight. Just in case."

"I understand," he said, but she could see his smirk in the streetlights.

"Honestly, Caroline was about to drive me nuts, so I'm glad to be here. She's got a huge streak of mother hen and I was getting the benefit of all of it."

"About me, I'm guessing."

"Yeah. She says you're trouble."

"Wise woman. I am trouble. No question. But I give you my word that you're safe with me. I'd never hurt you, or force you to do anything you don't want to do." And that was the truth. He could make her want to do all kinds of things, but he'd rather she did them of her own free will. He caught her hand and brought it to his lips briefly before releasing it.

"I'm still not sure why you're going to all this trouble, Damon. Just because you saw me on that silly TV segment?"

"When I saw you, I knew I wanted to get to know you better. And here we are. Do you like pork chops?"

"Yeah."

"Good, because that's what's on the menu. I think you'll like it. I hope so, anyway."

"I'm sure whatever you fix will be fine."

Damon was an accomplished cook and dinner was pork chops with an Asian pear sauce, basmati rice and a salad. He had sliced apples and pears, toasted walnuts and cheese with the salad, and wine for the salad and the pork chops.

"Damon, this is like eating at a five-star restaurant! Really! This is great."

He smiled proudly. "Well, dessert comes from the bakery. I'm not much of a baker."

"Well, this is fantastic. I can cook, but nothing I cook looks or tastes like this!"

"I'll cook for you any time, Elena. All you have to do is ask."

"That's sweet of you, Damon."

He raised his eyebrows suggestively, but said, "Let's take dessert into the den, why don't we? I just got 'To Catch a Thief' on Blu-Ray. Want to watch it?"

"Sure. I love Alfred Hitchcock movies."

"Great." Damon served Elena coffee and tiramisu and started the movie.

During the picnic scene, Elena sighed. "Oh, gosh. Grace Kelly was just so beautiful. Her clothes in this movie are wonderful. No wonder Prince Rainier went nuts over her."

"You believe in fairytale romances?" Damon asked.

She looked at him and his eyes were gleaming. "Sometimes. I write books about it, anyway. There has to be a little belief there. If the author doesn't believe, the readers won't, either."

"Interesting rationale," he said and they turned back to the movie. When it ended, Elena stretched.

"It's midnight and even though it's been a less-crazy week, I'm about ready to turn into a pumpkin. Do you feel like driving me back?"

"I could, and I don't mind, but why not just stay here? I told you I've got plenty of room. I'd like to have you here. The house gets lonely occasionally."

Oh, he was slick and manipulated her expertly, and she knew it was happening. Maybe she had just been too lonely for too long, herself. "All right. I'll be honest: it goes against all my better judgment, but I'll stay."

His smile was genuine, and not wicked. "O.K." He gestured upstairs and followed Elena up. "Try this room. I think you'll like it."

She turned on the light in the bedroom. It was very pretty. The walls were cream with palest mint accents, a Jenny Lind bed and a thick rug on the hardwood floor. "This is such a pretty room! You have good taste."

"My decorator does. One room in the house needs to look like a vampire doesn't live in it," he said with a grin.

"Oh, so your coffin is in the other room?" She was teasing and after he narrowed his eyes at her, he chuckled, too.

"I don't sleep in a coffin, Miss Smarty Pants. I sleep in a bed," and here he did grin wickedly. "A nice, comfy, big bed. Lots of room." And just like that, the air crackled with electricity.

"To hold that ego, I'm sure," Elena retorted and grinned back at him. Where she got that brave, she didn't know, but Damon's eyes widened when she said it. Somehow, she knew she'd nudged the predator inside, just a little.

"Now you'll just have to pay for that crack, Missy," he said, and as he had before, put one hand on the back of her neck. The other went to the small of her back and he moved to kiss her – but he didn't – not on the lips, anyway. He brushed his lips against her forehead, down one cheek, across the bridge of her nose and down the other cheek, to her chin, down her throat and back up, then to her jawline and earlobe, barely touching her the whole time, and holding her so she couldn't do anything but allow it. By the time he got to her lips, she was panting with anticipation, but then, he didn't give her a full-on kiss. He nibbled her lips, and then swept his tongue across her lower lip. She tried to kiss him and he kept backing his face away, then he would swoop in for a brief peck on the lips, until she was nearly frantic, wanting him to kiss her.

At long last, Damon took her mouth completely, his hands going to her hair and holding her in place while he kissed her until she was weak from needing air. He kissed her neck, then, and her mouth again. He broke the kiss then, and looked into her brown eyes, a little glassy with passion. She looked into Damon's eyes, which were even bluer, if possible.

"So. You've got a choice to make, sweetheart. You take door number one, and you sleep alone. Take door number two?" He indicated the room behind him, and paused. "And you don't. I'll respect your decision, either way, and I'll still respect you in the morning." He grinned at her wide eyes. "So what's it going to be, Miss Gilbert? You choose."

Oh yes, an EVIL cliffhanger! Door no. 1 or door no. 2? Which will it be? What do you think she'll do? Reviews do help me, by the way... Just sayin'.