CHAP 9:
Bless him. Elijah gave me some space. Apparently deciding that he'd caused enough disruption for now. Removing my bowl from in front of me he went and loaded the dish washer. I sat for a bit not knowing what to do. I had planned on some toast with banana. But now, I didn't know wether I'd lost my appetite. Or didn't feel up to functioning through my clouded mind. I couldn't describe it, but he had this way of getting under your skin. I was stronger than this, yet this total stranger who I'd known not even two days ways getting to me. It had to be this connection. As stupid as it sounded. It was such a lame cop out. Casting my eyes away from Elijah moving about the kitchen, I noticed that the sun was casting rays through the wall of glass I'd tried to break. Alluring yellow was spread across the tiles. Getting up off the stool I walked over to sit against the window on the floor. Instantly I felt the warmth, and smiled gently. It was enough that I wouldn't need to be close to Elijah in need of the blanket. I'd be damned if he could control the weather. Leaning my shoulder and head against the glass I positioned both my legs so they were folded to the side. It seemed the most modest position, though I knew it would get uncomfortable after a while.
I didn't know how long I sat there. Just gazing out at the vast lawn. The view itself could easily have rubbed in the fact that I wasn't getting out. After a few hundred metres of lawn densely grown trees began. If it was possible for me to get out of here, the trees would slow me down. Elijah would catch up to me. I didn't know how far the dense vegetation might continue for either. Except for the break in trees that could be seen from the bedroom, the view was very similar all around the house. Presumably, the break in trees was a driveway. It was a beautiful day outside and I found myself so caught up in it. When Elijah kneeled down next to me I couldn't help but jump.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's okay." I replied vaguely. He placed a plate of toast covered with mashed banana and a glass of juice down on the tiles in front of me. Before standing again and moving to sit on the lounge. I didn't really look properly at what he'd brought me. Just gazed at it, not really seeing. After about five minutes I took a piece of toast and bit into it. Banana had to be one of my favourite foods. As I savoured the mouthful it was obvious that he'd made the banana toast exactly as I liked it. "Thanks." I said. A late response, but it was obvious when he looked at me that Elijah knew what he was being thanked for.
"You're most welcome."
"No one but Jenna and Jer know I don't just pile cut up banana on my toast. And I don't even think they pay enough attention to make it themselves. How do you know?" I enquired. He'd mashed, added the right amount of sugar and vanilla essence, and there was the tiniest hint of honey as well. It was almost impressive that he'd known exactly how I liked it. If it wasn't so weird.
"I've been in your house at Mystic Falls a few times before I introduced myself. And yes. During those visits it could be said that I stalked you."
"That's not creepy at all." I stated as a contradiction. Elijah chuckled. "The last time I made this was-" I began recalling.
"Two weeks ago at about one in the morning." I just looked at him for a moment before realising he was right.
"Yeah." I said reservedly. "So you were there?" He nodded. "How come I didn't notice you?"
"I'm a vampire?" He said said barefaced. I gave him a look that said his simple answer wasn't good enough. "I'm sure you've noticed I'm rather silent. It comes in handy when moving around undetected. My speed also allows me to be somewhere one moment, then another location the next."
"Good to know you can't be invisible also." His expression matched with the twinkle in his eyes told me he found the notion humerus. "I didn't think you could. But it did cross my mind."
"Generally speaking. If you keep in mind that a vampire's body was previously human, you'll have a good understanding of what is and isn't possible."
"Generally speaking?"
Some vampires have certain abilities. Like being able to sense the thoughts of others. Or being able to control humans so completely with compulsion, that they can take up host in their bodies. The latter does leave their vampire bodies vulnerable. But we're not particularly "
"Do you have either of those? Abilities." I waited impatiently for him to answer. Dreading it. I hoped he couldn't read thoughts.
"No." I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lucked out in that department." I commented.
"Perhaps. But my age is indicative of great strength. One of the strongest vampires in fact. And I value that over any tricks." He emphasised the word tricks bitterly. And I got the impression that he valued his own merit over the tricks other vampires might possess. The fact that he was one of the strongest vampires made me feel safe. But also disheartened me further for any attempts to escape.
"Hmm." Looking back out the window I slowly ate the banana toast and drank the juice. Have you got a phone? Because I haven't seen a landline." I asked without looking at him.
"Is there any particular reason you need to know?"
"Well." I hesitated and Elijah turned his head towards me, giving me his full attention. "I would like to talk to Jenna or Jeremy. The fact that I'm not where I should be might be worrying them. With good reason."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that Elena."
"Why not? It's not like I can tell them where I am."
"True. However, there is a risk that they have been compelled to do more than just forget you. If you were to ring and have even the most general and vague conversation. Everything you say might be relayed by them to their compellor. There's no telling wether anything you say might lead them to you. I did lightly compell them to not notice you're absence. So, while I know it hurts." He paused. "They won't be worrying about you."
"Great." I said, unable to keep the anger from my voice.
"I can lift that compulsion at a future date." He assured me while unfurling a paper and settled in to reading it. I didn't think much of it initially, but when I looked back over at him a thought occurred to me. Standing I went and placed the glass and plate in the sink. Walking back across the room I looked over Elijah's shoulder and searched for the date of the paper. It was today's.
"How'd you get the paper?" I asked.
"I bought it."
"But how did you get your purchase inside the house."
"Oh." He said in mock understanding as if he didn't know what I was referring to up until now.
"Yes, oh." I could sense him smiling at the paper in front of me. "Don't smile about this. Tell me how you got it inside." I demanded. Some of my anger at not being able to talk to Jenna and Jeremy, mixed with the supposed absence of doors.
"I can't do that Elena."
"You can. You're perfectly capable of it. You just don't want to."
"True." I made a noise in frustration and walked away. I wanted to rip the paper from him and tear it to bits. The urge to turn back and do so was extremely appealing. If I can't talk to those I love, be warm and comfortable. Why should he get to do anything that he wants to. Because he's a vampire isn't a good enough reason. Walking into the bedroom I threw the towel that had been wrapped around my hair to the carpeted floor, went into the walk-in-robe and grabbed a jacket and put it on. Stuff him. I shouldn't have to be cold, then have to be near him, while he's comfortable and gets his comforts like a paper and god knows what else. When I walked back out of the robe Elijah was standing just inside the bedroom door. Leaning against the frame. A slight smirk played across his lips as he saw me in the jacket. He hadn't moved by the time I reached the door and I stood in front of him, my expression serious.
"What do you want?"
"I just came in to see that you weren't in the bed without me."
"Because that would be tragic." I said sarcastically. "Move, please."
"You're not conforming to the requirements I communicated to you yesterday." I just stared him down. Or I would have if he didn't always look at me so intensely. "You have five minutes to disrobe yourself of the jacket." He outlined as he stepped aside for me to pass.
"You wish." I walked back out to the open living area and turned the tv on. Remaining standing while flicking through the channels. Elijah had followed me out and resumed reading through the paper. As the minutes ticked by I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
"Elena. You're still not conducting yourself as I have indicated." He said still looking at his paper.
"I believe I should be allowed some sort of comfort. If you are allowed to read a daily paper which you've somehow got into the house." I announced stubbornly.
"Is that so?" He turned his head and cocked it on an angle while fixing me with a challenging look.
"Yes." I said blankly.
"Hmm. You have thirty seconds. Or I will remove the jacket for you."
"You're not serious." I stated, as if it were true.
'Well, you'll know soon enough wont you?" I ignored the playful threat in his voice and continued to stand. Adamant that I was keeping the jacket. I had a feeling, due to the quality, that he wouldn't want to damage it. So I would stop him from accessing the buttons or pulling it off me if he did try to remove it. As the thirty second mark drew closer I glanced at him on and off. My final glance was met with his interested stare at me. I don't know what it was in his eyes. But I moved. Quickly. Back down the hallway to the bedroom. Before I stepped in I looked back and Elijah had only just strided casually into the hallway. I had thought he'd just use his vampire speed. I shut the door, and quick thinking made me grab the key on the draws and lock the door.
Grinning I took a few moments to savour the moment. This had worked out great. I would be warm and could sleep in the bed all day. The only thing missing was food. But keeping away from Elijah for even a day would make me somewhat happy. My impulsive decision made me feel so proud. I hadn't even thought about what I'd do if Elijah was serious about taking off the jacket. Elijah tried the handle and found out what I'd done.
"Elena. Open the door sweetheart." Came his deep calm voice slightly muffled through the door.
"Nope."
"Please?"
"No."
"Well, you may want to stand back then." Yeah, right. He was worried about the stool earlier, why would he damage a door? There was a sharp crack and the hinges broke from where they attached to the door frame. Rendering the locked tongue within the door handle's mechanism useless, as it slipped out of the cavity in the other side of the door frame. Elijah pushed the door inwards and it tipped towards me. Shocked I tried to move out of the way. But between dodging the towel I'd thrown on the floor and the door, I tripped and fell onto the carpet. Not completely. I wasn't totally hopeless. But I was down on all fours, when Elijah's hand swiftly grabbed my ankle. Involuntarily yelping at his grasp I tried to twist and yank my ankle from him. Despite my struggling I was soon on my back with Elijah pinning me to the floor.
"Get off!" I yelled. He sat astride me with his knees either side of my hips. His lower legs were bent backwards so that his shins pinned my upper legs to the floor with his feet curling around my inner thighs. The closeness of him in our current positions was extremely awkward. And yet at the back of my mind it was electrifying as well. I'd always found strength and masculinity a huge turn on. I wasn't into hard-core dominance and submission. But I wasn't adverse to letting male partners take the reins. I'd only had one boyfriend, Matt. And while it never became serious enough to take our relationship further. My fantasy was that he'd take charge. With Elijah's and my intimacy still fresh in my mind, not to mention his physical appeal. I had to admit, our current position wasn't all bad. What am I thinking? I beat my fists against his chest repeatedly. Knowing it was likely that they would bruise. His chest just wouldn't yield to any amount of the frustration I took out on him.
"As soon as I've removed the jacket my love." I stopped beating my fists against his chest and braced my arms with my palms against his chest instead. Making sure he remained sitting as opposed to leaning down on me.
"Please. Just let me wear the jacket." I fixed him with a pleading look. Which made me feel like a fool.
"Not an option, I'm afraid."
"Bastard." I spat. He brought his hands up to the buttons on the jacket. I tried to slap his hands away. But his hands weren't swayed. Twisting my upper body to the side I tried to keep the buttons away from him by levelling the front of the jacket with the floor. He countered my movement by moulding his front against much of my back and bringing his arms around my sides to undo the buttons, as if he was wearing the jacket. I quickly twisted in his arms so that I was facing up at him again. The movement bringing my face awfully close to his. After a moments thought, I wrapped my arms around his waist and held myself against Elijah's torso. Trying desperately to ignore the toned muscles of his back. Turning my head to face away from him I pressed it against his left shoulder. It was unconventional. But it trapped the buttons between us. Elijah stilled.
"Shut up." I said instantly. It was rude. But I knew he'd have some comment about this. "Please. Just leave the jacket alone." I asked reasonably.
"As long as you keep this up I'll easily oblige." He chuckled. The sound so close to my ear blended with the movements of his chest and soothed me.
"I won't be keeping this up forever. This is just until you become reasonable and let me wear the jacket."
"You will be hugging me indefinitely then. Because I won't be allowing it."
"Why do you have to be so difficult?" Elijah laughed.
"I could ask you the same question. However. You have every reason to be." I knew I still wasn't going to get to keep the jacket. By hugging Elijah to me the purpose of wearing it was defeat. There was no point going to any length to keep warm if I still had to be so close to him. I released my grip on him and lay back against the floor.
"You're impossible. Now will you get off?" Admitting defeat and moving my hands up to undo the buttons. I had every intention of undoing them myself. But Elijah used his vampire speed and had the buttons undone in a flash. Slowing down to human speed he parted the jacket and pulled it down beneath my back. I slipped my arms out of it as he did so. The cool air rushing across my skin, mixed with the fact that Elijah was undressing me made this whole situation incredibly sensual. The momentary look of longing on Elijah's face as he bared my skin from the jacket didn't help. Somehow I knew he was connecting this fiasco with undressing me in another context. I don't know wether he noticed me watching his face, but his expression changed to one of concentration. As if undressing someone required it. Amongst the goosebumps on my skin my nipples hardened but I had a feeling it wasn't just from the cold. I decided not to make a big deal of it and hoped Elijah would relate it to the cold air. It wasn't the first time my nipples had been standing out since being here. That was my second complaint about the nighty, apart from the nighty being a nighty. It was the lack of firm material over my nipples. Sure it could have been worse. It wasn't like my breasts were covered in thin stretchy fabric. But any firmness beneath the material seemed too obvious to be seen in. Not by Elijah anyway.
As the jacket moved down my back more, the spare button sewn just under the inside of the collar became caught in my hair. I'd thought it's position odd earlier, and now I loathed it. Elijah leaned down over me and slipped his hands beneath my back to de-tangle the jacket from my hair. I swore Elijah was taking his damn time. As if being pinned beneath him wasn't enough. His hands and forearms behind me made my back arch towards him. Turning my head to the side I knew exactly how this must look.
"You know. You could let me up and de-tangle the jacket from my hair that way." I said impatiently.
"I do know. But this is just as convenient."
"I bet you say that to all the girls." I grumbled.
"No, only you." His honesty wasn't flattering. "There." He conceded. And pulled the jacket completely out from under me and flung it aside. "Now. Are we going to have a repeat of this?" He asked? I couldn't tell if there was some eagerness in his voice or not and I looked at him sceptically.
"Not if I can help it." Because if I repeat it I'll get it completely right next time.
"Good." He said as he surveyed my face again. I guessed sussing out wether I was truly defeat on this aspect of living here or not. I didn't see how it would matter.
"Will you get off?" I said through gritted teeth. Fixing him with a glare.
"Alright, alright." He bore his weight on his knees and lifted his shins and feet from my thighs. While his weight was lifted, he was still hovering astride me and I just wanted him to hurry up and shove off. When he moved off to my right side I shot up and stood, quickly connecting my heel in a stomping motion aimed at his member.
While my aim was off I was happy to hear Elijah grunt as I nimbly stepped away from him heading for the door way.
"Elena." I heard his serious tone behind me before Elijah's restraining arms prevented any more movement. His right arm stretched across the front of my chest, holding my arms by my sides. While his left firmly secured my waist. I tried to struggle but he held me so firmly it was useless. He pulled me backwards and sat on the bed bringing me down with him to sit on his lap. His grip loosened a bit and I recommenced my struggle, but he wouldn't let me go. "Elena. A man can only endure a certain amount of teasing without reward. If I were anyone else and you had no intention of taking this further, then you might want to, cease you're movement." He paused and I froze. "Though I am capable of restraining myself. As I have promised you. Regardless of the friction generated as you move on my lap." Came his gravelly voice at my ear.
"You're disgusting." I distastefully replied.
"No. I'm a gentleman." I had to agree with him there. So far. "Now. I need you to realise that attacking me is not going to get you anywhere. And aiming for areas like you did just now makes it difficult not to take it personally." He said softly.
"You should be taking everything personally. Because this is personal. You, abducted me. Means it's personal."
"Point taken. What I mean is that while I have no objections to you fighting me as it's understandable. I will not tolerate your attacks on my manhood-."
"Are we really having this conversation?" I asked uncomfortably.
"Yes. We are. Or rather, were. I've made my point."
"Then let me go. Again." When he didn't immediately do so I bowed my head and stretched my neck down to bite his right arm. This interested him.
"Are you trying to distract me with the allure of our blood?"
"What? No!"
"Pity." He paused. "Though unsurprising." He breathed.
"Whatever. Just let me go." And he did. Releasing his arms from me. I stood and smartly walked out of the room. Passing the door that was leaning up against the glass wall made me feel so much better about losing the jacket. Turning back to poke my head in the room I sent a broad smile Elijah's way. He looked at me confused. "Good luck locking me in here with you tonight." I said smugly and left.
