A/N: I thought my weekend updates were becoming predictable, so I decided to shake things up with a mid-week update.

Picking up right where we left off last chapter.

Chapter 9

When Elena walked out the door, Damon headed for the shower. As he stood under the hot spray, he called himself every kind of idiot. He'd said once; 'let's sleep together once, Elena, it'll get everything out of our systems.' He'd thought it was a great idea at the time, mostly because the idea of not having her had been messing with his head for the past month. Now he saw his reasoning as the desperate logic of the insanely stupid and chronically deluded. Yeah, he was a real goddamn genius.

'Once' had lasted for five minutes with them in the same room together. The very first time she'd touched him, after they'd had sex, he'd dragged her back to bed to have his way with her a second time. Now every cry, every whimper, and every sound she'd made, when he'd been inside her, was replaying over and over in his head. He turned off the hot water tap, letting the water run cold. Everything about her had turned him on; the way she felt in his arms, the way she tasted like the syrup from those sunrises, and the way she looked shocked, but so darn happy, after she climaxed.

How was it possible she'd been without a lover for so long? She was stunning; a perfect ten. She'd obviously let herself get way too hung up on her ex-fiancé. Matt had moved on though, and now she needed to do the same. She seemed to want to. Would she continue to look for a relationship now? Of course she would, it's what she wanted. He tried not to think about her climbing into bed with some other guy, but couldn't quite manage to push the idea from his head, and now he desperately needed a drink.

After he'd stood under the freezing cold spray for some time, he stepped out, wrapped a towel around his waist and walked back into the room. Her perfume still lingered in the air. He walked to the fridge in the room, and decided he couldn't get drunk enough on any one drink there. He deliberated on returning to the bar again, before deciding to just drink everything in the mini-bar, including two bottles of wine, and samples of every type of alcohol one could buy. When he finally tried to go to sleep, he was distracted by the smell of her in his bed. The next time he had one of his 'bright' ideas he would just shoot himself in the head instead; it would cause him less trouble.

Elena waited in the lobby the next morning, coffee in hand. After less than two hours of sleep last night, she needed the over-sized coffee in her hand, and the two she'd consumed before it, to help keep her eyes open. She blamed the large amount of caffeine for making her so fidgety, and not the fact that she was waiting to see Damon. Sleeping with her client had been a mistake of monumental proportions. Now she would have to spend the next four weeks in his company trying not to remember how it felt to be touched by him. It meant she would have to try and ignore the state of arousal she'd woken up in. It seemed like her body wanted more, more, more of what it had last night. It hadn't taken very long at all, for their once to become twice. If she hadn't been able to say no to him right after they'd just had sex, there was a good chance she wouldn't be able to hold out until the end of the tour.

By ten past seven, she was becoming anxious. She had allowed some time for delays on the way to his TV interview this morning, but that window of time was passing quickly. She stalled for as long as she could, but at seven-fifteen, she knew she would have to go up there. She reluctantly stepped inside the lift and took the elevator to Damon's floor. When she was outside his room, she hesitated for a moment before knocking softly on his door. After she heard some shuffling inside, he opened the door. Her mouth went dry as she took in his freshly showered appearance. At least he was up, even if he wasn't fully dressed. He didn't say a word to her as she walked past him.

"You were meant to meet me fifteen minutes ago," she said to him, when she was a safe distance away from him.

"I overslept,' he told her gruffly, buttoning his shirt up.

She looked towards the bed, before she could stop herself. The image of the two of them in it, just hours ago, made the dull ache she'd had since waking become a full fledged throb of anticipation. She looked away quickly, but Damon had already seen her looking that way, and when her eyes met his, she blushed profusely. His eyes were radiating enough warmth now to melt a glacier. Damn it, why had she come up here?

"You need to be downstairs in five minutes," she told him in strangled voice, before she walked out of his room.

She leaned against the wall outside his room for a minute or two. Forget the next four weeks; Elena didn't know how she was going to get through today. She walked to the elevator and was still waiting for it, when he joined her. When the lift finally arrived, they stepped in at the same time but stood on opposite sides of the carriage. It was by far the most awkward and uncomfortable moment of her life, and Elena realized she would have to deal with this head on. She was an adult. She'd chosen to do this, and now she had to deal with the consequences. She could not go through another four weeks of this. She would acknowledge last night and then they could move on.

"So," she started, "this is awkward."

"Awkward doesn't begin to describe this," he said harshly.

Her head snapped around to look at him when she heard the tone of his voice. She gasped when she realized he was motioning to where his arousal was straining tightly against his jeans. "Don't look so shocked," he growled.

"You said once would get things out of our systems."

"I was an idiot."

"You're not supposed to still want me."

How could she possibly be so naïve, Damon wondered?

"We're standing in the same elevator, where just hours ago we were kissing, and I was touching you, and you're surprised I want you again?"

Her face turned a brilliant shade of red, but he didn't miss the way her eyes darkened. Her gaze wandered down to his crotch again, and when her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip, he grew harder.

"You're as affected by this as I am," he said to her, "and the way you look at me doesn't help."

He thought she was going to deny it for a moment, but instead she started to pace in front of him.

"Sleeping together once won't complicate things, you said. It will just ease the tension, you said."

He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop in front of him.

"I know what I said. Do you think I like feeling this way? Do you think I like this constant game of trying to resist you, of trying to ignore how much I want you? I don't do this, Elena. I don't resist; I don't hold back, I don't do anything but take what I want."

Elena looked at him; felt the waves of frustration and resentment rolling off him. He didn't want to want her; he had been fighting this every step of the way, just like she had. He had a life, he had a girlfriend; he mixed in circles she never would, and did things she'd probably never dream of, and she really wasn't his type. He wanted casual, she wanted permanent. He was reckless, she planned everything. He was wild, she was driven. They were as different as chalk and cheese, but for some reason there was something between them that neither of them seemed able to control.

She didn't know why he was holding back with her, or why he'd decided to resist her, but she did know she was grateful to him for trying so hard. Despite what he thought about himself, he was a good guy; at least when it came to her. She didn't think he'd appreciate her telling him that right now.

When the elevator opened up into the lobby, Damon walked behind her to the car was waiting to take them to the studio. They both slid into the back seat and when the car stated moving, she turned to him.

"We shouldn't sleep together again," she told him, in a hushed voice. "Katherine could find out. What are we going to do?"

Damon wondered why she insisted on asking him that question. He was doubtful she would like his answer, and he wasn't even sure he had one at this point. He'd never come up against anything like this before, and it was stronger than he was. He still didn't understand why he wanted to protect her. He just knew that he didn't like it when she was upset, that he didn't like the idea of hurting her. Those feelings were useless to him; they just made this far more complicated.

"I'm fresh out of ideas, Elena."

"I say we just keep trying to ignore it."

"Yup, that worked for us last time."

Elena ignored his eye roll and shake of his head. It might work – if she didn't have to see him every day for the next four weeks.

"What do you suggest then?" she asked him.

He didn't say anything, but she guessed right away what he was thinking.

"You can't be serious. I think we can both see what happens after we give in to it."

"Nothing else has worked," he said to her simply.

"You think once more is going to help?"

"Not once more, no."

"Then…you want to make it a regular thing?"

Damon tried not to groan out loud at the idea of having her in his bed regularly. The thought of having her when he wanted her, had all of his blood rushing south again.

"I think we should let this thing burn itself out," he said hoarsely.

Elena looked away, unable to take the heat in his gaze anymore. She looked out the window, and tried to contemplate sensibly the idea of having a casual sex relationship with her client. When she felt ready, she looked back at him.

"What about Katherine?"

"What about her?"

"You're in a relationship with her."

"It's an open relationship."

"But she'll find out about us and then…"

"How?"

Elena stared at him blankly for a moment.

"How will she find out about us?" he asked her again.

"I don't know, but these things always come out."

He looked at her sceptically.

"A woman lost her job two weeks ago because she was sleeping with her client, Damon. It's too dangerous. It was a huge risk to sleep with you once."

"Twice," he corrected huskily.

She flushed again, as she remembered their second heated mating. She wondered if she could take something to control the blushing, otherwise she might be walking around with pink cheeks for the whole tour.

"It wouldn't work."

"Why not?"

"It would be distracting."

"And this isn't distracting at all."

"You're not thinking clearly."

"And you're making excuses," he told her.

Damon was ignoring the thought that he should run away from this, and fast. He'd tried to ignore it already, and it hadn't worked. Suggesting any kind of relationship with her was dangerous, he knew that. He'd lost interest in every woman he'd ever had an ongoing relationship with, but it would be different with her. She made him feel different. Even a bout of casual sex with this woman could consume him, but what was he to do? Nothing else was working. His best hope of dealing with this was to fly to the other side of the world, but he suspected that even if he did, he wouldn't forget the beautiful brunette he'd had in his arms last night. His next best option for dealing with this was getting her back into his bed and trying to get this thing out of their systems once and for all; no matter how long it took.

"We just have to keep trying to ignore it, Damon," she said finally.

"It won't work."

"You're not even going to give it a chance are you?"

They studied each other in silence for a moment, their eyes locked the entire time.

"We'll try it your way," Damon said to her, and he literally heard her sigh with relief. "But when it fails; and it will fail, Elena, we do it my way."

"And your way is…?"

"We go back to bed together, until this thing is out of our systems for good."

Elena was thankful that Damon couldn't hear the way her pulse was hammering at the thought of what he was proposing.

"I…can agree to that, but I need to know you're going to give my way a fair try first."

"Only if you give my way a fair try when it fails," he said with a smirk.

"That's fair," Elena agreed.

At that moment they pulled up at the studio. Damon smiled to himself as he stepped out of the car. She'd never even bothered to deny it would be his way in the end.

Friday morning, Damon had a TV interview for a local network show in Cleveland. As usual, Damon was completely charming and witty. The two hosts Alexis and Marc were entertaining and also quite knowledgeable on the subject of Damon's books. Alexis seemed very well versed with every aspect of Damon's work, and she seemed to be quite the fan. Elena tried not to frown at the way the woman giggled at everything Damon said. In fact Alexis didn't take her eyes off Damon for the entire interview.

Damon was the last guest of the day, and after the show wrapped up, Damon and Alexis stood talking on the side of the set. Elena was waiting for him so they could ride back to the hotel together, but he didn't seem overly concerned about keeping her waiting right now.

During the last three days, Damon had made plenty of innuendos, invaded her space frequently and taken every opportunity to touch her. She knew he was waiting for her resolve to crumble, but Elena was determined to try it her way for as long as possible. It wasn't easy. Every day she fought the urge to say yes to him; every time he touched her, she was aroused instantly, and he knew it.

She tried to catch his attention now, but he refused to look at her, instead focusing completely on Alexis. Giving up for the moment, she decided to help herself to more coffee before trying again. She was in the middle of making coffee when Marc walked up to her.

"Elena, right?"

She looked sideways at him, to find him smiling. The first thing she noticed was his perfect straight white teeth.

"Right," she said, returning his smile.

"I hear you're on tour for the next few weeks."

"Yes, that's right."

"I suppose you don't get much time for R and R, on tour."

She had her coffee now, and they stood to the side while she drank it.

"It's not too bad. My nights are usually free."

He looked surprised for a moment, "You and Damon…"

It took a moment to understand what he was implying.

"No," Elena said. "We're not together."

It was at that exact moment that Damon looked up from where he was standing and looked at her. If she didn't know any better, she'd swear he'd heard her. His eyes glazed over she had the distinct impression that he was angry with her. It was a ridiculous notion since he was chatting up the other co-host. She looked back at Marc, who was smiling at her again. He had sandy brown hair, and she supposed some people might find him attractive. With his large toothy grin, though, he reminded Elena of a shark.

"So that leaves you all alone on a Saturday night, and in need of a tour guide."

Elena was well aware that Damon's eyes hadn't left her; she could literally feel them boring into her as she continued her conversation with Marc.

"You know, there's this great place named Cha-Chi's that's perfect for dinner and dancing on a Saturday night. What do you say you let me take you out for the evening? It'll be fun."

"What will be fun?" Alexis asked, as she and Damon joined them.

"I was just telling Elena about Cha-Chi's. I thought I could show her around a bit. Seems like a waste for such a beautiful woman to be alone on a Saturday night."

She couldn't look at Damon; she was too embarrassed by the entire situation unfolding in front of her. It felt wrong to be asked out by another man in front of him, considering she had, after all, just slept with him nights ago. She was about to say no to Marc when Alexis started speaking.

"Cha-chi's is great," Alexis told her. "You'll love it. You know, we should all go. I'm sure Damon would love to see something other than the four walls of his hotel room for the next few weeks. What do you think, Damon?"

Elena looked up to meet Damon's eyes. She was startled by how intensely he was glaring at her.

"Sounds like fun," he said, with a smile so tight Elena wondered why his face wasn't cracking. Had they just agreed to go on a double date together, as other people's dates?

"Marc you can get us a table there, can't you? It's always packed, but Marc is a regular there," Alexis explained to them.

"I'm sure he is," Damon muttered. Elena looked at Marc, but he evidently hadn't heard Damon. She glared at her client. There was no need to be rude, no matter what the circumstances were.

"Elena, are you ready to leave?" Damon asked her silkily.

She'd been ready ages ago and now that Damon looked capable of murder she didn't want to walk out the door with him. Discussing their double date, however, wasn't any more appealing.

"Yes, I'm ready."

With that, they said their goodbyes, and finalized details for Saturday night, before they left. As soon as they were outside, Damon let fly.

"Are you out of your mind?" he asked her.

Elena didn't know what she'd done to deserve his anger. She certainly didn't appreciate him addressing her like she was a child. She had been about to tell him she didn't want to date Marc at all, but she didn't want to justify herself to him, especially when he was being such an ass.

"It's just dinner and dancing," she told him, mentally patting herself on the back for staying so calm and reasonable.

"Just dinner and dancing," he repeated. "A man like Marc doesn't just want dinner and a dance, Elena. He wants to wine you, dine you, and then f…"

"That's enough," Elena told him quickly, her own temper flaring now. "Don't be disgusting. You don't know that."

"Oh, but I do. That's the type of man who preys on innocents. He won't take no for an answer."

"Neither will you, judging by your behavior these past few days."

"I'm not going to force myself on you."

"And he will? Despite what you think, he may just want my company for the night."

"Don't be so god damn naïve."

"I don't need you to protect me."

"Your actions say otherwise."

"I didn't ask you to, and I don't want you there."

"Tough. You need me there. Besides, I wouldn't want to miss the look on your face when you realize I'm right."

"So this is just a joke to you?"

"Yes, Elena. I find hilarity in the lengths I need to go to, to save you from jumping into bed with dangerous men!"

"You didn't stop me from jumping into bed with you!"

She was literally shaking with rage as she got into the car. Neither of them said a word on the drive back to the hotel. Once they arrived at the hotel, she stepped inside the lift and pressed the number for her floor. Damon stepped in beside her, and pressed the number for his floor. She wanted to scream and throw her high heeled shoe at him for being such an ass. The fact that he was her client, however, had the professional in her demanding she play nicely, and since she couldn't say anything nice right now, she kept her mouth shut.

Damon glanced sideways at his publicist. She looked thoroughly pissed at him right now. It was fair to say she made him crazy. The moment he'd seen her talking to Marc, he'd been so overcome with jealousy, he couldn't think straight. He hadn't lied to her about Marc. The guy wouldn't be content with just dinner and a dance, but she had no clue. Now he had to spend his Saturday night babysitting her on some date instead of bedding her.

When the elevator stopped at her floor, Elena stepped out of the lift, before turning around and holding the doors open.

"Your interview with the journalist from the paper is at one pm tomorrow," she told him. "Don't be late."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Elena," he said lazily.

She was even more beautiful when she was mad at him. He wanted to reach for her, pull her back into the lift, and kiss her until she gave into what was between them.

"Goodbye, Damon," she said coolly.

He watched her walk away. He'd promised to do it her way for a time. Okay, so he'd flirted with her a little, but he'd been reasonable, especially when a repeat of Monday night was all he could think about almost every waking moment. She should have caved by now, but she was being stubborn. Waiting for her to come round to his way of thinking was killing him. Even Katherine's attempt at phone sex last night had done nothing for him; he'd had to get her off the line quickly when he'd been close to saying Elena's name instead of hers.

Tomorrow, he decided, the gloves were coming off. If Elena thought he would just stand by and let another man date her and dance with her, she was mistaken. He was now choosing not to fight this thing between them anymore. Elena was about to meet the real Damon Salvatore, and he could be one very bad boy.

A/N: The idea of this double date had been playing around in my head for a while, and I wanted to explore it. I hope you're still enjoying the story. Thanks for reading, and please review.