After a restless night spent tossing and turning thinking only about blowing his chance to kiss her, Damon looks at the clock for the umpteenth time. Although it's only five thirty, he throws his legs over the side of the bed and sits upright. Dropping his face into his hands, he scrubs the sleep out of his eyes. Finally on his feet, he stumbles into the bathroom to throw some cold water on his face. Looking at himself in the mirror, he has no compunction to shave so he turns on the shower knob and pulls a towel out of the bathroom closet. Setting it down on the counter, he pulls the shower curtain aside and steps in. Although just the thought of kissing her sends his libido into the stratosphere, somehow he manages to keep his hands away from there.
And despite his best efforts, he can't help but imagine how good it would've felt to touch her lips with his. He wants her so bad that he can almost taste the honeyed nectar as he buries his face in her tender flesh. As much as it pains him, he shakes off the thought. With a shiver, Damon finishes washing up. After stepping out and drying off, he hangs the towel on the bar and then steps into his room, completely naked. Glancing at the clock again, he quickly slips on a clean pair of boxers and jeans, a lightweight Henley before sitting down to put his boots on. Trotting down the stairs he runs to the kitchen to make himself a strong pot of coffee. After filling his travel mug, he grabs his car keys, locks his door and jumps into his car, disappearing down the road in a cloud of dust.
The moment Damon sets foot in the station, the alert siren goes off. Running to the locker room, he joins his crew and quickly grabs his gear. After they pull on their suits, gear, parachutes and helmets, they board the plane. Moments later Marcel has them taxing down the runway and in the next moment, they're airborne. From the air, they receive their jump commands to ensure equipment is properly rigged and that static lines are correctly attached from parachutes to the plane. A static line is the equivalent of a ripcord. There are a couple of seconds' worth of slack, and once a jumper exits the aircraft, the static line pulls the parachute from its pack. If a parachute doesn't deploy, jumpers also wear a reserve chute that can be manually activated.
Their spotter, Mikael is also on the plane, keeping a keen eye out for the fire and making the decision as to when and where they'll make their exits. Once Mikael chooses the spot, streamers are thrown from the plane to reveal wind speed and direction. When they're given the signal, they exit the aircraft in tight body positions. They go airborne around 1500 feet, and hurtle toward the Earth. Chutes deploy and when the ground gets close, they assume the position. Feet and knees are kept together, legs slightly bent as they get close to touchdown. They are trained to hit the ground in a kind of roll that's called a parachute landing fall. In the space of about a second, jumpers touch the ground with the balls of their feet, rolling in the direction of the landing, absorbing gravity with the calf, thigh, hips, and the side of the back.
Once on the ground, jumpers shed their jump gear and jump suits, link up, and secure their gear, which was airdropped in separate containers. Once the supply boxes are safely dropped, they briefly regroup before they head toward the fire. The general strategy is to first build a line from the fire's point of origin, using a landmark such as a road or stream, if available, or to dredge a line themselves, if necessary. A line keeps the fire from circling back. From the origin, and working toward the head of the beast, they flank the fire, suppressing it by cutting down fuel sources. After much hard work, they eventually extinguish the head. This is grueling labor, involving handsaws and mountainous wilderness and giant towering pillars of smoke and fire.
Fortunately this blaze was relatively easy to contain. Once they finish mopping up, Damon notices Elena and Kol sitting on a downed tree trunk laughing about something. Closing the distance, his throat tightens when he sees the abrasion on her cheek bone. "Are you okay, Elena?"
"I'm fine. I slipped. It's just a scrape and no I'm not going to a medic for a little scrape." Raising his arms in the surrender, he shakes his head then walks off to check on the rest of his crew. Rebekah is proving to be a very adept and yet fearless smokejumper. Dropping beside her on the grass, he asks her how she's doing.
"The adrenaline rush I get from this job is unreal. I live for it, Damon. That said, I need you to be honest with me. If you ever think that I'm being careless or not respecting the beast, I need you to tell me."
"In all honesty, Rebekah, I feel the same rush of adrenaline. It's visceral and I can't explain it. I will tell you because when we lose respect for the monster, that's when tragedies occur. I've had injuries on my watch but never any fatalities. I want to keep it that way."
"Me too, Damon. Me too," she adds, taking a big pull from a bottle of water. Taking one himself, Damon gets up to check on Slater and Brady. When Brady gets up, Damon notices a very pronounced limp.
"Brady, what happened?"
"I stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle."
"Let me help you. You shouldn't be walking on it. Letting Brady wrap an arm around his shoulder, Damon wraps one of his arms around friend's middle. Looking around, he sighs visibly when he sees that she's safe. With the fire out, Damon and Brady start to walk back to where Marcel is waiting to fly them back to Fort Wainwright. Once Brady is safely in the plane, Damon goes back to help pick up their gear as well as double checking to make Elena is on the plane. As soon as everyone is on board, Marcel starts the plane, taking off into the wild blue yonder that is the last frontier.
As the next week wears on, Damon can't help but notice that Elena has been avoiding him. When they were called to a second fire this week and with three men down, Brady, Will and Stefan, Ric goes with them, digging trenches and felling trees alongside Damon. Missing being able to talk to her, Damon glances at her every so often to make sure she's safe. When their eyes meet, she quickly turns away, focusing on the tasks at hand. After everything is done, they get back in the plane, he doesn't miss how she sits as far away from him as possible. Deciding that he's going to speak to her when they get back, he settles into his seat and closes his eyes, waking only when he feels the plane touch down on the runway.
Piling into the locker room with everyone else, he pulls his tee shirt over his head, drops his pants and after a quick glance towards her, he disappears into the shower stall. Mesmerized herself by his finely chiseled body, Elena quickly turns away when he chances a glimpse at her. That man can be so maddening. Although she admires his skill and dedication to their profession, there are times she wants to throttle him. But more often than not, she wants him to throttle her for she is almost certain his bedroom skills leave nothing to the imagination. Not wanting to face him, she decides to shower at home instead. Grabbing her things, she's just about to leave the building when she hears his voice.
"Elena?" Damon starts to say, stopping in his tracks when Ric grabs him by the arm. Since Ric provides her the opportunity for the perfect getaway, Elena seizes on it, disappearing out of the door. Jumping into her car, she guns the engine and is long gone in mere moments. Dropping his chin to his chest in frustration, he shakes his head before looking up at Ric again. "It couldn't have waited? I wanted to talk to her."
"No, it couldn't. Now let's go into my office."
"Fine," he mumbles, following him into his office. Taking a seat, Damon raises his eyebrow when Ric pulls a bottle of bourbon out of his desk drawer along with a couple of Styrofoam cups. Pouring a little in each cup, he hands one to Damon and then takes a drink himself, savoring the woody taste as it goes down his throat. Taking a pull himself, Damon enjoys the burn because it matches his mood right now. Setting the glass down, he presses his palms flat on Ric's desktop. "What did you need to talk to me about?"
"You should know that Stefan turned in his resignation. Liz is going to give him a shot with the fire department. I don't know if this is something he wants or if he's doing this because Elena works for the fire department in the off season."
"I never thought of that but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt for now, Ric."
"I agree. But there's always a chance that he may cause trouble for her? I hope you and your dad will keep an eye on him."
"Don't even go there, Ric. Not now, not today," Damon adds. Deflating visibly, he finishes his drink. "I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow." When Ric nods, Damon leaves his office, stops at the water cooler to pour himself a drink. As soon as he gets in his car, he drops his forehead against the steering wheel wishing only that he could tell her how he feels.
As soon as she steps in the house, Caroline hands her the phone. "It's your mother. She's calling incessantly again. How long are you going to let them treat you like the proverbial redheaded step child?"
For whatever reason, Caroline's barb lights a fire under her. Taking the phone, Elena drops her bag on the floor then sits down at the kitchen table. Closing her eyes for a moment, she steels her spine and answers the phone. Elena rolls her eyes, replying "Hello mother."
"Where have you been? I've been calling all day."
"I have this thing... perhaps you've heard of it... it's called a job."
"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady. We're having a picnic in the park Sunday for your father. He's going to be giving a speech. As a Gilbert, I expect you to be there."
"I'm sorry, mom. I just can't make it this weekend. I have an event that I have to attend for work. My smoke jumping team has a booth at the Midnight Sun Festival. I'm scheduled to help."
"Well get out of it. What's more important?"
"Mother, I'm going to ignore that you said that. My career is very important to me.
"I'll call your superior tomorrow and see if I can get you off. Goodbye, Elena."
Gawping like a fish, Elena just stares at the phone. Wanting nothing more than to smash the phone, somehow she holds onto it long it enough to put it back in its dock. Opening the refrigerator, she pulls out a Seagram's cooler, drinking nearly half of it in a single gulp. Sitting back down, she runs her fingers through her hair, wondering how in the hell she's going to get out of this clusterfuck.
"What did she want this time?"
"Apparently they're throwing a picnic for John to give a speech. And of course, as a member of the Gilbert family, I'm duty bound to be there."
"Why is this any different than anything else they pull?"
"The festival is this weekend. We have a booth set up for the kids, you know to show people what we do and raise funds for new uniforms and gear. It's important Caroline. Surely Brady mentioned it?"
"Speaking of Brady. I don't know why my mother dislikes him so intently. Could you talk to her?"
"Caroline?! Don't I have enough on my plate without that too?"
"Brady is a good guy, Elena. I wish I knew why she feels the way she does."
"Brady was a womanizer before he started dating you. You'll have to get confirmation from him but I think he dated one of the women that used to work with her. If my memory is correct, I think she packed up and left after they broke up."
"What? Did he knock her up or something?"
"I think you'd know if Brady had a kid, Caroline, don't you?"
"I suppose but I'm going to ask him anyway," she muses, raising her eyes to Elena. "I'd go over there but he told me that he needs sleep. What is it with you people? You're always so tired."
"Caroline, our job is very grueling and stressful and requires a lot of mental and physical exertion. Let him get some sleep and on that note, I'm going to do that myself," she says, finishing off her cooler. After tossing the empty bottle in the recycle bin, she goes to her room. Running a nice hot bath, she crawls in the water and lays her head back, drifting off to sleep beneath the cover of the bubbles.
Having tried to sleep for awhile, Damon finds it's a lost cause. Needing to speak to her as much as he needs his next breath, he tries calling her but it repeatedly goes to voice mail. Frustrated, he throws on some cologne, messes with his hair a little, grabs his keys and runs out of the door. In such a hurry to reach her, he doesn't realize that he has a lead foot until he sees the flashing lights of a patrol car coming up behind him. Rolling his eyes at his own stupidity, Damon pulls over to the side of the road. As luck would have it, his friend, Tyler Lockwood is the one who walks up to the car.
"You in a hurry tonight, Damon?"
"A bit. Listen Ty, I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention to the speed limit.
"I need your license and registration." Staring at him for a moment, Damon leans over to open his glove box. After handing Tyler his driver's registration, he reaches into his back pocket to pull his wallet out to shove him his driver's license. Taking it in hand, Tyler walks back to his squad car to call it in. Minutes seems like hours before he finally ambles back to Damon. As soon as Damon signs the warning ticket, he gives him back his things.
"Thanks Ty. It won't happen again, at least not for awhile," Damon laughs albeit a little uneasily.
"Make sure of it," he says, before waving him off and walking back to his car. While Damon is putting his license back in his wallet, Tyler waves as he drives away. Shaking his head, Damon turns on the engine, this time he doesn't go above the speed limit. Finally reaching her house, he parks on the curb then runs to the front door, knocking on it till the porch light comes on. Damon is practically star struck when she comes to the door. Even with her sleep tousled hair and wearing a big old bathrobe, she still looks sexy as hell. Her bedroom eyes nearly take him out at the knees.
"Damon? What are you doing here?"
"Can I come in?"
Although her nerves are alight, she is damn curious to know why he's here so she steps aside, gesturing for him to come inside. Since Caroline left to go to Brady's house despite Elena's admonition, they have the house to themselves.
"Elena.. I."
"Why are you here, Damon? It's midnight."
"You've been avoiding me. Why?"
"Why do you think?"
"I don't know what you're doing to me, Elena. I don't know up from down, left from right, it's all a blur. I think about you night and day. I don't know what to do."
"Well, you should have thought of that the other night. I have feelings too, Damon. Do you know how it felt when you rejected me?"
"Damn it, Elena. You don't know what you're talking about."
"Are you even listening to yourself?" she snaps and in the next second, she is in his arms and he is kissing her fiercely and with so much passion that it feels like her body is going to combust. His tongue immediately dips into the warmth of her mouth, their first kiss is full of pent up passion and desire. He hears her moan as she presses her body flush against his. With her breasts pressed against his chest, she frantically runs her hands up and down his back. Without breaking the kiss he lifts her up onto the counter and parts her legs, needing to get as close to her as humanly possible. Using his hands, he roams her body, brushing against the sides of her bosom, causing chill bumps to erupt on every square inch of her skin.
Pulling apart, they just stare at each other for what seems like an eternity. Wanting him, needing him, she reaches out for him, pulling his face down and capturing his lips with a slow and deep yet bone melting kiss. With his hand, he loosens the cinch on her robe so he can have access to her soft skin. She melts into him when he starts to trail kisses down her neck, to that spot behind her ear and finally he takes one of her already taut nipples into the molten heat of his mouth. Between the suckling and the flicking with his tongue, she's a writhing, squirming mess in no time at all. As soon as he lets go with a wet sounding plop, he captures the other, giving her more of the same.
Not quite believing that she's real and here and right in front of him, he pauses pulling back for a moment to be sure that she wants him as much as he wants her. Seeing her eyes darken with desire, he pushes her robe off of her shoulders, revealing her milky skin to him. His eyes immediately go to her tattoo. Using his mouth, he runs sloppy kisses along her collar bone, painting the orchid with his tongue. Wanting to brand her as his, he bites softly but firmly, then soothes the burn with the tip of tongue.
"Yes, I want you to make love to me," Elena whispers, her voice already thick and seductive sounding. Finding himself almost hypnotized by the power of her gaze, he gently runs his knuckles down her cheek, nearly melting himself when her eyes darken even more. Placing a lingering kiss to her swan like neck, Damon feathers the back of his fingers down her arm, enjoying the feel of goose bumps that form in its wake. Swallowing thickly he places both hands on her sides, gently raising them to caress her utterly perfect breasts with his palms, teasing her pert nipples. Feeling her shudder at his touch, he uses his mouth to graze along her jaw line before recapturing her lips. Lowering her hands to the snap of his jeans, she hastily frees him, using her feet to push them down and out of the way. Smiling against his lips as he sighs in relief, no longer confined by the denim prison. Scooting her body closer to him, she presses herself against his considerable girth.
"I've wanted you for so long," he groans as she rocks herself against him.
"Me too," she whimpers. "I want to feel you."
Lowering his mouth to her breasts once again, he lavishes first one and then the other with kisses and suckling noises, doing wickedly wonderful things to her insides. Unable to take anymore she cups his face and brings his mouth to her parted and already kiss swollen lips. She nips his bottom lip, pulling between her teeth till their kiss becomes frenzied and wild. Reaching down, she starts to stroke him, feeling a sense of empowerment when he hardens and pulsates at her touch. Wanting only to feel him buried deep inside of her, she lifts herself up long enough to get rid of her panties. Taking him in hand again, she rubs the head up and down her heated flesh, paying special attention to her already engorged bundle of nerves.
"I'm going to come, Elena. I want to be inside of you when I come."
"Condom?"
Nodding, he steps back, bending over to pick up his jeans. Pulling one out of his wallet, he hands it to her then tosses his jeans out of the way. Tearing the packet with her teeth, she rolls it on him with precision. Once it's in place, he pulls her mouth to his again, tilting her face to deepen the kiss. Panting she pulls away, wraps her hand around his considerable length and positions him right where she wants him. When their eyes meet, he slides inside, nearly melting at the exquisiteness of her glorious body. Damon moves in and out of her furiously. What strikes him the most is the feeling of being complete and at home in her body.
"More, Damon," she groans, participating fully in their lovemaking.
Feeling her lean back and arch her hips, Damon instinctively knows that she wants and needs more. Even though he's never been with her before, he senses that she's close by the way her breaths come out in gasps and gape in her mouth as he continues to push into her. Feeling the heat in his belly begin to expand and burn even hotter, he captures her lips in a long, slow and deep smoldering kiss. In a daze of complete euphoria, he drives deeper within her until he hears her cry out his name. Within a matter of seconds he feels her body tighten as she drops over the edge taking him along with her.
Collapsing over her, he rests his forehead in the space between her breasts. Feeling her heart beating wildly in her chest, he sighs blissfully when she threads her fingers through his sweat dampened hair. When he can feel his legs again, she wraps hers around his middle. Picking her up, he looks at her like she's the most precious thing in the world. So lost in each other, she doesn't even realize they're moving till he asks her which room is hers. "There," she points, laying her face on his shoulder. Stepping inside, he backs up against it to close it then walks over to the bed. Pulling back the covers he lays her down gently. Kneeling beside her on the floor, he takes her lips in a heady kiss.
"I want more," she breathes, smiling against his lips. Unable to deny her anything, he crawls into the bed with her. Damon spends the rest of the night making all her fantasies come true along with a few of his own.
Thank you, Eva. Love you so much. And a huge thanks to all of you as well. Your reviews and support mean the world to both Eva and I.
Chapter title: 'Crazy on You' by Tony Harnell.
"I Can't Escape Myself' is still in progress. Watch for my upcoming 2016 DE holiday story. It's called 'Same Old Lang Syne'.
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Be safe and have a wonderful day and thank you all again. We'll see you next time.