The next day I woke up and as I stretched on bed I realized I had an arm holding me. I looked over my shoulder and found Damon still peacefully asleep. I carefully slipped out of bed, and went to the bathroom to take a shower. As I stood under the water the events of the past night spun in my head and since I had promised myself I wouldn't over think anything, I had to force myself not to keep thinking about what we had done.

I put on cut-off red shorts, a white shirt with sleeves rolled up and black leather flat sandals. Damon was still asleep so I decided to get breakfast. I found a diner close by and got us breakfast. Although it wasn't sunny, and there was a chilly breeze, it was a nice day and Beaufort was a nice, beautiful town. When I came back, Damon was getting out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped low on his hips. He smirked as I blushed and I put the paper bag with food in the table while setting down the coffee.

"I got eggs, bacon, toast and pancakes… and chocolate muffins." I said.

"Hm… I see something really… yummy, right here." He said coming behind me and wrapping his arms around me.

"Yummy? Really?" I laughed turning around and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Tasty?" He asked with a smirk.

"What am I going to do with you?" I said rolling my eyes.

"I can think of a few things," he said and kissed me.

He finally pulled away from me minutes later, and we sat to eat. We agreed on get to Jacksonville that night so I could spend three complete days there before we had to head back to Mystic Falls. Damon put on black jeans, black shirt and grabbed his leather jacket.

"You will look like a lunatic in those clothes in sunny Florida," I said as we gathered our bags. "You need new colours."

"Black makes me look good."

"All black makes you look like going to a funeral," I retorted.

"Well, I'm not changing my clothes for you," he rolled his eyes at me as we walked out of the room.

"Fine. I won't wear anything you bought me then."

He frowned at me and the shrugged nonchalantly.

"Fine," he answered.

"Great," I said.

"Whatever."

We stayed in silence on the elevator and then Damon went to check-out while I took my bags to the car. While waiting for Damon, I got my phone to check for any missed calls or messages. Jake had called twice the previous night and there was a call from Bonnie. I called her back, and told her I was going to visit my mom. She was freaking out that I was alone with Damon but I told her I would be fine. Damon finally came out of the hotel, and we got in the car while I asked Bonnie about my dad.

"He is alright, Bella. Still a little shocked, but he will be fine." She told me.

"Okay. Thanks, Bonnie." I sighed.

"You're welcome. Be careful"

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

I turned off my phone and put it in my pocket. Jake would probably keep calling until I answered and I didn't know what to tell him. He probably had tried to contact Charlie, and would want to know why we didn't answer. I would think of something later, when I was back home, with a compelled Charlie and wouldn't have to worry about Jake finding out I was hiding things.

Damon took my mind from my problems with Jake and Charlie by turning up the radio and starting to sing along Britney Spears. I laughed and changed the radio station. He put his hand on my knee and this time his fingers tapped my skin rhythmically. We barely talked during the day, we mostly stayed in silence enjoying in the music and the fresh air. Damon drove top speed and we only stopped in Savannah for lunch. By sunset we were in Jacksonville and I was bouncing on my seat as we searched for my mother's place.

I had never been here, and Damon had to get a map of the city to find the right address. The weather was warmer here, and soothing. It was much alike Phoenix, but Jacksonville was nicer because of the beach. Damon parked in front of a white house, close to the beach, with yellow fence. Only my mother wouldn't have a yellow house with white fence but a white house with yellow fence. I got out of the car, and as we closed the doors I saw my mother's face through the window. She disappeared and in a moment she was running out the front door to me.

"Bella!" She said excitedly.

"Mom," I said as she hugged me tight. "I wanted to visit, I hope that's okay."

"Oh, honey, of course its okay. This is your home too, you're welcome anytime," she said and hugged me tighter before letting me go. "How is Charlie and Mystic Falls? Running away from there already?" She said jokingly.

"Charlie is good, working a lot to catch up on things… And Mystic Falls is good, really welcoming," I said.

"That small town was really nice when I visited," she said smiling.

"You went there?" I asked surprised.

"Of course. After your father proposed you great-grandmother insisted we should go there visit her. I would have loved to stay there, but the woman was… I don't know, maybe it was the age," she shrugged.

"What?" I asked frowning.

She realized we weren't alone and turned to Damon with a curious smile.

"Hello," she said.

"Hello, Mrs. Dwyer." Damon said smoothly and extended his hand. "I'm Damon Salvatore, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, Damon." She said smiling at me.

"He's a friend that volunteered to come with me," I said shrugging.

"Hm uh," she said arching an eyebrow at us. "Alright, let's get you settled and make dinner. Phil is at practice but will arrive soon."

Damon got our bags, against my protests. Renée thought he was a gentleman carrying things for me, but I knew he was just putting on an act for her. If she only knew the asshole he could be… Well, maybe she would still like him. Renée looked like the type who fell for bad boys.

We hesitated by the front door and after Renée ushered us in, Damon walked in with a grin. Great, another house he had access to now. Unfortunately, when Renée bought the house she really didn't think about guests in case I lived there, because there was only one extra room. Damon said he would sleep in the couch if needed.

And as I frowned at him with suspicion, his innocent smile, told me the truth. He would sneak in the room when everyone was asleep. My mother had decorated the room exactly like the room I had in Phoenix. The walls were red, and there was childhood photos hanging. There was even a poster of bands. My queen size bed had a green comforter and blue pillowcases.

"I was going to send you those by the end of the week," Renée said pointing to the boxes marked 'clothes'.

"Thanks, mom. We'll take them," I said smiling at her.

"Well, I'll let you get settled while I search for menus… Won't risk ruining dinner with guests."

"Well, I could cook," Damon said with a smile. "How about Italian?"

"You cook Italian?" Renée asked dazzled.

"Where do you think the Salvatore name comes from, mia bella Renée?" Damon said with a flirting grin.

I narrowed my eyes at him as Renée blushed and giggled. He was calling her what he called me last night. And for God's sake, why was she blushing and giggling? She was married. He winked at me as he offered her his arm, and she linked her arm with his.

"You're Italian?" She asked as he led her out.

"My family is, I was born in America… But, I did visit Italy. You should go sometime; I think you would enjoy it…"

I rolled my eyes and turned back to my luggage. If only he was this nice all the time… No, then he wouldn't be Damon, and it wouldn't be so fun.

After a nice dinner with my mom, Phil and Damon, eating Damon's delicious pasta and drinking wine, we all sat in the living room. Renée was insisting on hearing what I thought of Mystic Falls, and after I gave her my edited version of my friendship with Bonnie, Matt and even Elena and Stefan, she still wasn't satisfied.

"So, Stefan is your younger brother?" She asked Damon.

"Yes, almost three years younger." Damon said.

"So, if he's eighteen and in high school, you are…"

"Twenty-one, and not in college. I take care of the family business in Mystic Falls,"

"Oh."

Earlier, while making dinner, Damon had made sure to show her we weren't just friends. It was the looks, the winks, the smirks, the kisses on the cheek and the bumps as we moved around on the kitchen. While Renée didn't have admittance about our status, she was sure we were together. I could see the wheels turning in her head. She had met my father when he was a year older than her and soon he wanted to get married. She probably thought Damon would want to marry and start a family with me in the next year. And if there was something she wouldn't approve for sure was young marriage.

"Anyway…" I said changing the subjects and I saw Phil hiding his smile behind the rim of his glass. "What were you saying about great-grandma earlier?"

"Oh, it was nothing, sweetie." Renée shrugged while pouring more wine for herself. "It's just… during my visit to Mystic Falls with your father, the woman seemed a little out of her mind... It was probably the age."

"What do you mean?" I asked frowning.

"Well… I caught her saying something about witches and vampires to Charlie. When I asked them about it later, he seemed embarrassed and tried to stop her, but she started telling me stories about witches," she waved off as if it was nothing. I exchanged a look with Damon who acted calm but seemed really interested. Mom frowned. "In fact there was a woman that passed by and fought with Charlie, saying he shouldn't be treating your great-grandma like a lunatic… Elizabeth?"

"Liz Forbes?" Damon asked.

"I think she was Liz, but I don't think it was Forbes." Mom said shrugging again. "Anyway, it seemed to me that the town was full of lunatics,"

"Witches and vampires?" Phil said amusedly. "What else? Fairies, werewolves and ghosts?"

They laughed and I let out a mirthless chuckle. We changed subjects and soon mom and Phil went to sleep. I cleaned up the glasses and bottles, and found Damon sprawled on the couch and flipping through the channels, searching for something to watch.

"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight." I said.

"Goodnight," he said not looking away from the TV.

I rolled my eyes at him and turned to the stairs. When I reached my room, I opened the door to find Damon lying on the bed in only his underwear. I was surprised by his speed, although I shouldn't. But… that was fast.

"I think that wasn't a proper goodnight," he smirked.

"Damon, my mom is in the room next door." I said.

"So? She's probably asleep."

I changed into my pyjamas and slipped under the covers.

"What? No fun while in Jacksonville?" He asked pouting.

"No," I laughed.

"Then I should have planned this out better," he frowned.

I kissed him and rested my head in his shoulder.

"Goodnight, Damon."

"Goodnight, mia bella."

The next morning I woke up but Damon wasn't in bed with me. I turned and found him looking through a dusty box by my closet. I frowned at him and sat up.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What's this?" He asked not taking his eyes from something inside the box, out of my sight.

I eyed the stuff he left in the floor, jewellery, books, small boxes, and vials.

"Why are you snooping into my stuff, Damon?" I asked with a groan and lay back down.

"What is this?" He asked again.

"Ahn…" I looked at everything and the box he was rummaging through. "Stuff my grandmother left for me. It's just old stuff. I don't know why I kept it. I think because it was the only thing I had from her," I shrugged with a sigh.

He sat on the bed and I sat up. He had in his lap one of the books grandma Swan had left for me. It looked really old, and tethered. The cover was made of leather and the pages of parchment, but I didn't know what there was inside because it had a lock and I didn't have the key.

"Do you have the key?" He asked eyeing the lock.

"No… Why are you looking at this stuff?" I asked frowning.

"This stuff… nothing. I don't know," he said and shrugged. "Just caught my attention."

"Well, can you put it all back in place; clean this mess when you're finished with your curiosity?" I asked yawning. "I'm going to see if my mom's up."

I went to the bathroom, took a shower, and put on an orange dipped-hem skirt, teal wrap shirt and brown flat sandals. When I got out, Damon was still putting away stuff, sometimes pausing to look at them. He smiled at me and beckoned me closer. I arched an eyebrow as I walked to him and he stood up, held me by the hips and pulled my body close to his.

"Got tired of playing with that old stuff and remembered of me?" I asked amusedly.

"Well, you shouldn't say that, you will get old to me soon," he said with a smirk.

"Oh, yeah?" I asked tugging hard on his hair.

"Yeah… ouch!" He hissed and glared at me. "Careful. Did you forget with whom you're playing with?"

"I am not scared of you," I said honestly.

"Really?" He asked, his face changing.

I just nodded with a smile. His face changed back to normal and he kissed me.

"That's why it might take longer for you to get old to me," he said against my lips.

I smiled and kissed him. Soon we were interrupted.

"Bella… Oh."

We broke apart and mom was standing at the door, looking embarrassed and guilty.

"Mom," I said loosening my hold on Damon. "Hi."

"Good morning," Damon said smirking.

"Good morning, kids. I got breakfast," she said smiling. "Come down when you're… done."

I blushed at my mother's choice of word and I could feel Damon fighting his laughter.

"We will, mom, thanks." I said.

She closed the doors and Damon and I looked at each other before laughing.

I was enjoying my mom's backyard that faced the beach. I was wearing a dark red bikini that Damon had packed since the bikinis I had left in Phoenix were too small and old. Damon was inside, taking a phone call, and mom was sitting beside me in a lounging chair trying to take information about me.

"How did you meet him?" mom asked.

"After a party, Stefan, Elena, Bonnie and I went to the Salvatores' house… Damon was there." I lied.

"He is really handsome,"

"Mom," I groaned.

"Maybe not as much as Edward…"

"Mom." I warned.

"But still… And here I was thinking you would date Jacob. He was so cute, but maybe this is better, he only had a teenager crush on you… And then you would be tied to Forks forever."

"Mom, please!"

"Okay, sorry." she said.

"Thanks,"

"Did you two…?"

"Mom!" I snapped.

"Fine! I won't say another word." She surrendered.

Damon walked out of the house, and he looked too smug in only shorts. Black, of course.

"I'll make us some drinks," Renée said standing up.

"Renée, are you aware your daughter is underage?" Damon asked teasingly.

"Well, I am sure that if she's dating of age she has drunk before. And one drink won't kill her," Renée said and smiled at me. "Bella was always obedient, never rebellious. Maybe she needs to break some rules sometimes."

I smiled at her and she went inside the house. I expected Damon to sit on the chair she had been, but he raised my legs and sat down on my chair, my thighs on his lap. He rubbed my thighs and smirked at me.

"I really like you in this," he said and traced the bikini bottom with his fingertip.

"I'm sure you do." I grinned.

"Come take a walk with me while your mom is inside?" He said.

I nodded and we walked to the sand and away from the house. The water merely brushed against my feet before it retreated. Damon kept an arm around my waist and when we almost out of sight from the house he stopped.

"Stefan called," he said.

"And? Is something wrong?" I asked frowning.

"Yes and no." He said. "Nothing we can do…"

"What is it?"

"Alaric and Jeremy tried to help with Mason Lockwood, he is with Katherine,"

"Oh," was all I could say.

"Alaric found a legend about the moonstone Mason wants, it seals the sun and the moon curse. Ever heard of it?" he asked.

"No," I said.

He narrowed his eyes at me. As if I was lying to him. My frown deepened and I crossed my arms. His hand on my hip tightened but not enough to hurt.

"The curse makes vampires vulnerable to the sun and werewolves to the moon," he arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't know anything about it?"

Werewolves. Jake didn't tell me anything about a curse. He said they didn't need full moon. And they didn't. I saw them phase in front of me, in daylight.

"I…" I stammered and Damon glared at me.

"You knew they were werewolves, didn't you!" He hissed.

"Mason? No!" I said and he continued to glare at me. "Damon, I swear I didn't!"

"Then who?"

"Ahn…"

"Bella, tell me now, or I swear, I'll go back in that house…"

"Ok!" I blurted before he could say anything else. Would he hurt my mother? Phil? Compel them? "Ahn, Jake and a few of the boys of his tribe are able to transform into wolves, that's how they protect me from Victoria!"

"You have a pack of werewolves as guard dogs and didn't think it was important to tell me?" He growled.

"No. They are on the other side of the country, and they don't know about you or Stefan and Caroline."

"What do you know about the curse?" He said and narrowed his eyes again. "Are you trying to get the moonstone so they can break the curse?"

"What? No! Damon, stop. Listen to what you were saying. I don't know anything about a curse or the moonstone. Jake and the pack don't transform on full moon. In fact they could transform at will, any time they wanted. They transform in daylight. They have nothing to do with Mason and this curse you're talking about!"

He let go of me and paced. I watched him with a frown. Why didn't he trust me? Did he honestly think I was using him to get the damn moonstone? What kind of person he thought I was?

Katherine. He thought I was her. Or like her.

"I am not her, Damon." I said angrily. "I am not using you, I am not deceiving you. I don't want anything from you. I kept the pack a secret because they asked me to, and I owe them that. I owe them my life…" He frowned at me and I blinked away the tears. "I am not Katherine, I will not use you as means to an end."

He eyed me for a couple minutes before he reached for me and pulled me to him. He kissed me softly and held me tight, as my arms continued crossed on my body.

"I'm sorry, Bella... I didn't mean to accuse you," he said.

I nodded once and let my arms wrap around him. He kissed me again and this time I responded. When we pulled back I remembered he had said something about Jeremy.

"You said Jeremy tried to help?" I said.

"Yes… He knew Tyler had the moonstone and would get it for us, but Tyler gave it to Mason." He said.

"What are we going to do?"

"Stefan and I will get the information from Mason when I get back, in three days."

"Okay," I sighed.

We turned to walk back to the house. I could see my mom sitting in a lounging chair.

"So, I have been thinking lately. Why can't you compel me?" I asked. "Katherine and Stefan were able to at the Carnival. Are they stronger?"

"No," he snorted. "Well, Katherine maybe, because she's older. But Stefan is just as old as me, and he drinks from bunnies, no way is he stronger than me."

"Then why?"

"I thought of that… Maybe it's because you were unaware they could compel you, your mind was vulnerable. When you met me, you were aware and shielded your mind."

"But I wasn't unaware Edward could read minds and he never could read mine," I said.

Damon shrugged and we had reached the house, so we sat in the lounging chair close to Renée and talked about things normal people do. As if we were.

I frowned at Damon when I saw the familiar old box in the car as we loaded the bags with clothes. He pretended he didn't see, turning to thank my mom for her hospitality. I couldn't say anything about the box with my mom around, so I just turned to say goodbye. Damon shook hands with Phil and went to wait by the car as I hugged my mom.

"I will miss you," she said holding me tightly.

"I'll miss you too, mom. Thanks for letting us stay." I said.

"Come back any time, okay?" She said and pulled back with a grin. "Damon is always welcome here too. He is really great for you, Bella. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," I said awkwardly.

"Tell Charlie I said hi."

I nodded and gave Phil a quick hug before turning to Damon. I walked to him and he opened the car's door for me. I waved at my mom and Phil as Damon drove away, and let myself relax in a way I hadn't for the past three days. I didn't have to pretend anymore, it was just Damon and I. After the whole moonstone and werewolves' disagreement with Damon on day one, we didn't have any more trouble during our stay.

Except for the fact mom caught Damon sneaking in and out of my room at night, and although she didn't complain, she wasn't very discreet on her opinion as she gave us smirks and knowing grins in the mornings. She had asked me if Charlie had met Damon and I told her that they were even friends, and that they worked together a couple times.

When she asked if Charlie approved of our relationship, I decided to tell her he didn't know. So, she made Phil take the task of giving Damon the 'hurt my little girl' speech, although according to Damon, Phil was much more awkward than intimidating and apologized for intruding.

Then there were the dinners out, since mom couldn't cook, and since to her that time was a little vacation for me, I shouldn't be cooking. Damon took us to fancy restaurants. Mom was thrilled, of course. On the second dinner I was forced to wear jeans in the restaurant since the night before, at another restaurant Damon took advantage of the tablecloth, and the fact that I was wearing one of the dresses he had chosen. I had choked on my drink, and dropped my silverware when I felt his hand on the inside of my thigh, beneath the skirt of the damn dress. I had banned him from my room that night, but of course, he had sneaked in, and I succumbed to his charms.

I was coming back to Mystic Falls with a more tanned skin, and a complex friends with benefits relationship.

"Why did you bring that box, Damon?" I asked as he drove away from my mother's neighbourhood.

"I just thought it was interesting, it will be a fun pastime." He shrugged.

"Stop lying. Why is my grandma's stuff of any interest to you?"

He sighed and I knew he wouldn't lie, but wouldn't tell me everything either.

"I know some of that stuff… They are somewhat familiar to me. I just want to get a closer look."

"You could have asked me." I said.

He just shrugged again and I sighed at his silence on the subject. When I had caught him looking at my grandma's stuff, I just thought he had been snooping in on things. But if what grandma left me was of any interest to him, and he had told me, I wouldn't mind sharing what I knew of it with him, and would have given it to him.

"My grandma left all that stuff to me on her will, just stating it would be of guidance to me when I was confused. I was thirteen and didn't understand. I still don't. But I kept it." I told him.

"She said it would be of guidance?" He asked keeping his eyes on the road.

"To my granddaughter Isabella Marie Swan. This will be of guidance and need at some point of your life when things are confusing. Trust your instincts, and respect what you have." I said. "Those were the words on the note."

"Hm, interesting."

"Do you know anything about any of that stuff?" I asked.

"No… I saw something familiar but that's it."

I nodded and turned up the radio. My hand rested on his thigh as he drove and I tapped my fingers rhythmically against the jeans, leaning back on the seat and relaxing. It was almost midnight when we were reaching Virginia.

I opened my eyes when I felt the car slow, and arched an eyebrow as Damon parked on the side of a deserted road.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

He turned to me, and with a smirk he kissed me. I pulled back and narrowed my eyes.

"Damon…"

"I just need you," he said huskily.

"We're in the middle of nowhere." I said.

I leaned back as he leaned in, and eventually I was basically lying on the seat with him hovering above me. I will not deny, it was exciting. But I was more scared than excited. Not of Damon, but of the situation.

After nights of making out, and me finding release, I knew this was coming. Edward had always been so set on not taking things further, for fear of hurting me,that I never really worried about a moment like this. And now I was here, with Damon, and nervous as hell.

He touched the bare skin my cropped top left, and slipped his fingertips on the waistband of my shorts, pulling me to him. He lowered his hips to meet mine, rubbing against me, making my skin burst into Goosebumps.

"So?" He asked and kissed my neck.

"What if someone sees us?" I said shakily.

I was aware that I never said I didn't want it, that I was just giving him excuses. But it was because I wanted it; I was just too coward to say it.

"We are in the middle of nowhere, as you pointed out… stop creating excuses, Isabella." He said kissing my jaw as he cupped my breast.

Damon made it pretty clear during the time I've met him that what he wanted he usually got it. The exceptions being Katherine and Elena.

"Damon,"

"You want this don't you?" He whispered and nibbled on my jaw. "I want you so much, Bella."

Bella, no.

I gasped as I looked around.

"What?" Damon asked still kissing my neck.

"Nothing," I mumbled.

Bella, don't do this. Edward's voice said in my mind.

I shook my head and met Damon's lips. He kissed me hungrily, passionately, sucking on my bottom lip, and entwining his tongue with mine. When he pulled back I was breathing heavy, and he tugged on my top's hem. I lifted my arms and let him undress me, not slowly, he was in a rush.

Bella, stop!

Damon, focus on Damon.

I pulled his T-shirt off, running my hands through his bare skin as he kissed me hard. We were dry humping like teenagers. I kicked off my green wedge sneakers, and reached for Damon's belt after he had pulled off the shorts down my legs.

He smirked against my collarbone as I fumbled with the buckle. The fact that he was sucking on my nipples was very distracting. My heart was racing, and I wondered if I turned up the radio's volume, if it would make it harder for Damon to pick up on the racing heartbeat. He rubbed me through the wet fabric of my underwear and I moaned loudly. The sound seemed deafening inside the car.

Damon sat up at vampire speed, bringing me to straddle his lap. The way he looked at me made me feel powerful. He made me feel beautiful, sexy. I felt confident when he looked at me like that. I grinded against him, and he groaned as he licked a path up from my right nipple to my neck.

"God, so sexy." He groaned, pulling me down on him hard.

I trailed my fingers down his chest, his abs, following the trail of hair that let to his boxers. I tugged at it, and freed his erection. I gulped and hesitantly ran my fingers up and down, making it twitch and eliciting a moan from Damon. I looked up at him, and he was staring at me with dark blue eyes.

"I don't have any idea of what I'm doing," I admitted.

He grabbed my hand and wrapped around the silky hard skin. He kissed me hard while I pumped him, but apparently it was not enough. He pulled my hand away, and I heard fabric ripping. He had ripped apart my underwear and it was fucking hot. He gripped my hips as I lifted myself a bit from his lap. It was then that the nervousness decided to come back. I tensed, and he reached up and cupped my face.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked softly.

Before I could answer him that I did – after all, I had trusted him with my life many times – he kissed me. This time softly, much more gently than the other kisses of the night. I lowered myself on him, and he held me, our bodies moving slowly. As pleasure built, the inside of the car seemed hotter, smaller, and the gentleness of it all slowly died. Soon we were simply fucking. Damon was bringing sensations from me that I had never felt before. I felt overwhelmed. My body felt like it would explode from it all. My mind was solely on him, on us.

He was the one that could take my mind off of things without even trying to.

And I knew I would be screwed by that fact eventually. Because if this was already complicated, my growing feelings weren't helping.

As I stared at Damon's sweaty face, feeling drops of sweat rolling down my face, after coming down from our highs, I heard it again.

Be careful, Bella. Run!

I ignored Edward's voice as Damon's face changed, his eyes turning red and the veins popping out. I leaned in and kissed him. He kissed me hard, before tilting my head aside and drinking from my neck, gently lying me down on the seat and covering my body with his.

I trusted him completely.