Sunlight streamed through the sheer white curtains of Elena's bedroom the next morning, hitting her face. Reflexively, she rolled over away from the light, coming in contact with something solid. For a moment she frowned in confusion, but then she smiled.

Damon.

She opened her eyes and grinned when she realized that he had fallen asleep with her last night. His arms were wrapped around her protectively, his black John Varvatos button down shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was rumpled in a way that made her giggle. As soon as she made a noise, she noticed the smile faintly pulling at his lips. Obviously he was awake, and pretending not to be.

"Good morning, Mr. Salvatore." She said, grinning as she rolled over so that her stomach was resting on top of his.

He didn't respond; he simply buried his face deeper in her pillow.

She grinned. "Your shirt is wrinkled."

Still no response from him. She grinned; two could play at that game.

She sighed theatrically. "I guess I'll just have to go get a shower, all alone…"

She shifted away from him, a bit surprised when his arms didn't hold her back in protest, and started to slide off the bed. She gasped and burst into a fit of giggles when Damon grabbed her hand and with a speed only a vampire could manage had her pinned beneath him on the bed, his eyes glimmering mischievously. "Are you inviting me to take a shower with you, Miss Gilbert?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows at her.

She grinned. "I thought that might wake you up."

He pouted, looking disappointed. "Darn; I thought you were serious…"

She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling. "Thank you for staying with me last night. It was very sweet of you to come."

He shrugged and grinned. "My efforts were rewarded rather nicely. I got some much desired," he nuzzled playfully at her neck, "Elena time."

She giggled, and sighed when he began placing kisses along her throat and up to her temple, continuously kissing the tender skin beneath her ear. Her eyes fluttered shut in contentment. "Damon…" she whispered and he chuckled.

He moved down and kissed her lips softly, leaning his forehead against hers and smiling when he pulled away. "I forgot to say good morning."

She smiled up at him. "I'm not going to complain; that was just as pleasant of a wakeup call."

He grinned. "Now, about that shower…"

She playfully smacked his arm. "I was joking. I do need to take a shower, but you're just going to have to calm your hormones enough to let me do it alone."

He rolled onto his back, allowing her to stand up and walk across the room to her dresser. Grinning at the familiar scene, Damon grabbed her teddy bear and began to absentmindedly toy with it as he watched her. "I'm 147 years old, Elena; my hormones are completely in check. Yours, however, are a completely different story."

She raised an eyebrow as she pulled out a white blouse and pair of blue jeans from her dresser. "Just what is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, really." He said, standing up and walking over to stand beside her, opening her top drawer and grinning as he pulled out a lacy pair or red underwear. "I just thought you should know that I can help you… put them to good use." He said, winking as pulled back on the elastic band and sent the panties flying across the room.

Elena rolled her eyes. "For a 147 year old vampire, your maturity level certainly doesn't show it."

He grinned when she started for the door and beat her to it, blocking her exit. "That wasn't a no, Miss Gilbert."

"No, it wasn't." she said, and ducked under his arm and out the door, leaving him slightly dazed behind her.

VvvvV

Elena stepped out of the shower and wrapped a thick, white towel around herself, grabbing for her hairbrush on the bathroom counter. She was brushing out her wet hair when the scent wafted into her nose. She grinned; Damon was making breakfast. If there was one thing that Damon Salvatore was good at that tromped the rest, it was his cooking skills. The man could make chilli that would make the people at the Lockwood parties completely forget about Mrs. Fell's secret recipe, not to mention he could bake a chocolate cake that was the pure definition of bliss. Right now, if her nose was correct, he was making waffles that were to die for; cinnamon and honey mixed into the batter and cooked to perfection only Damon seemed capable of. Pair that up with the best syrup and butter money could buy, courtesy of him for occasions such as this, and you had a true Mystic Falls delicacy.

Quickly dressing and drying her wet hair, she put on her makeup and rushed downstairs and into the kitchen, beaming when the scent hit her full on. "Mm…" she muttered as she walked in.

Damon was standing at the oven, finishing up when she entered. He flipped the waffles onto her plate and shut the oven off, grinning as he finished adding the butter and syrup. "Cinnamon-honey waffles; your favorite."

He placed the plate on the table and wrapped his arms around her waist before she could set down, drawing her close to him. "Don't I get a little thank you?" he asked, pouting and she grinned standing on her tip-toes to kiss his lips. "Mm…" she muttered against his lips, smiling when she pulled away. "You tested them, didn't you?"

He grinned. "How did you guess?"

"You taste like cinnamon and honey."

He laughed and pulled out her chair for her and she sat down, digging into her waffle.

Damon walked across the kitchen and glanced out the window at the sunny summer morning, grinning at the idea that was already forming in his head. "Do you have plans for today?" he asked her.

She laughed with no humor. "And who would I have plans with? You're the only person in town who I spend any time with."

She jumped, but then smiled when Sollievo pounced into her lap, purring as he nuzzled against her stomach, mewing. "Other than you, Sollievo." She assured him, scratching his ears. "Oh; Damon?"

"Mm?" he asked as he was finishing up putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

"Would you mind feeding him?" she asked, and the fluffy little kitten instinctively jumped down at the mention of food, prancing over and rubbing up against Damon's leg.

"Actually, I can't stay." He said, bending down and scratching the kitten's ears.

"Oh." Elena said, seeming disappointed. Damon grinned. "Don't worry," he assured her, "I'll be back this afternoon; we have plans, remember?"

Elena smiled softly when he bent down and kissed her forehead. "Okay. What time?"

Damon grinned as he started for the door. "I'll surprise you."

She frowned. "Well, what are we doing?" she called after him as he opened the door.

"I'll surprise you!" I called again before shutting the door behind him.

Elena sighed, slumping in her seat. "Looks like it's just you and me again for a while, little guy." Elena said when Sollievo walked back over to brush up against her leg.

"Come on; let's get you some breakfast, too…"