Ch. 10

Elena and Damon arrived at the Lake House in mid after noon feeling apprehensive about the weekend with their own agendas. Damon tipped the taxi driver who had given them a ride from the airport, and had taken his and Elena's bags in his hands. He stood before her walking towards the Lake House and all Elena could think about was how odd this all seemed. She had always envisioned herself going here with Stefan and now here she stood ready for a weekend with Damon. This was all happening so fast, and whatever Damon had in mind she wasn't ready for more at the moment.

The dream she had had about them had thrown her. Never in her life had she anticipated feeling this way about Damon. His very presence seemed to ignite something in her she had never felt before. It was foreign and exciting, and Elena was completely terrified. As they entered the house Elena took in the view. The home was completely breath taking with classic wooden features and luxurious embellishments. Pricy white furniture illuminated the living area complete with a fireplace and a white rug. There were flowers on almost every surface, and a rich perfume filled the air. She smelled gardenias, her favorite flower, and wondered if it was Damon's doing or simply the florist wanting to bring in the scent. Her favorite part of the home was the floor to ceiling windows that framed the living area, and dinning room so the inhabitants could look out onto the lake without ever having to leave the house.

"Is it always like this?" Elena asked as Damon came up beside her.

"I wouldn't know I haven't been here in ages." He declared.

"How can you have a house like this and never come here?"

"I don't know, I guess its because…I've never had anyone to share it with." He said.

Elena saw the look on Damon's face and her thrill vanished in an instant. He turned away from her, lost in thought, his gaze penetrating the window, and his arms coming up to cross over his chest. He had left their bags by the front door, and Elena was surprised to discover his somber demeanor. She realized she had never seen Damon look this way, tragically beautiful and venerable. His blue eyes matching the sky, and his dark raven hair falling in front of his face. Elena found she could almost make out a trace of the boy he once was in childhood. Taking advantage of the moment Elena bent down to retrieve her camera bag and discretely take it out. Before he could stop her she snapped a photo of him standing in front of the window lost in thought.

Hearing the sound of the camera Damon came out of his thoughts and turned to look at her. Her breath caught at his penetrating gaze and she nearly melted into a puddle on the floor when he smiled at her.

"Taking some pictures already are we?" he said strolling toward her.

"Well that is the reason I'm here is it not?" Elena said with a smirk clicking another picture of him.

"Not me the house, please." Damon said gesturing around him.

"You're in the house, it humanizes it." She said, stepping around him to click a few more shots, as he followed her around the house. "I don't like having pictures of me taken. I come off looking depressed." He stated as they reached the back door to the deck. She lowered her camera at that and looked at him seriously.

"Are you depressed?" she inquired. He seemed to be at the moment, which startled her. As kids Damon had always had a carefree nature, but as they'd grown he become cold and distant. She hadn't known how to act around him, and the feeling was quickly returning.

"Maybe that's not exactly the right word." He said going over to the window to look out once more towards the lake.

"What is the right word?" she questioned waiting impatiently for his response. She soon found she was waiting for him to say something about wasting his time, but instead he responded with,

"I don't know, lonely I guess."

Elena caught herself almost smiling at that notion. She'd never thought of Damon as lonely before. He always seemed to gain what he needed to fill that void. She'd heard about the countless women he'd exploited throughout their teenage years, and she'd known he'd seemed distracted, but never lonely. The idea surprised her.

"You think that's funny?" he added looking at her.

She shrugged, not knowing what to say to him.

"No I suppose it is a ridiculous idea. Damon Salvatore is lonely. Doesn't quite roll off the tongue like it's supposed to. Come on lets go get some pictures outside." He said turning the knob on the back door and leading her out onto the deck. The sun was just over the water, and the sight was spectacular. Elena raised her camera up to see what the best angle would be to shoot for. She understood that Damon's mother was selling the place and she wanted to give the house its best selling point.

"Do you want a view from the place?" she said looking across the water.

"Uh sure." He said, clearly only focused on her.

"Which one?" she said with a cocky smile. The lake circled around the house, and she wanted to be sure to get the best one.

"All of them." He stated.

"More isn't always better Damon, sometimes its just more. Pick one." She said unwrapping her camera around her self and handing him the camera. He reached for it nervously.

"Uh…I don't know about this."

"Come on, just have a look. Find the best one."

"Ok…" he said raising the camera to his eye and looking through it. He circled around the lake, until the lens landed on Elena looking out across the water. She felt him take the shot, and blushed. Now they had both taken pictures of each other.

"What kind of girl, goes away with a man she barely knows?" he said softly, almost to himself.

"Everytime I take a picture I'm surprised." She said reaching out and grabbing the camera back from Damon. He handed it over instantly and purposefully grazed her hand as he listened to her.

"It's like finding yourself in the middle of a story, like you just did. 'What kind of girl, goes away with a man she barely knows?' I think I've been taking pictures all my life long before I ever had a camera." She said, and looking up at Damon. She noticed his breath catch at her words, and watched as he took a step towards her. Reaching out he took the camera from her hands and gently placed it on the railing.

"Elena, are you happy being here with me?" he asked tentatively.

"Well yes, its just all happened so fast."

"Then lets take our time. There's no rush, really." He said licking his lips and looking at hers. She felt her knees go weak with desire.

"Ok, we'll take our time." She said leaning in, her lips grazing his softly. She took pleasure in hearing him sigh into the kiss as if he had been waiting for her to do it all day.

Pulling back she brought her hand up to stroke the hair off of his face. His eyes, which had been looking into hers, closed with pleasure as she stroked his hair.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Elena asked feeling a strange pull towards him that she'd never felt before.

"We can have some lunch and you probably want to get a look around the town while you're here," he said, his eyes turning bright. "There's a great little restaurant we can go to, and I can show you around."

"Sure, sounds great." She said taking a step back and heading towards the house. Once they were inside she went to grab her bag. She wanted to change and get into something more fitting for their date.

"I'll just be a minute." She told him, stepping up the stairs with a wide smile.

Damon watched her go as he heard the phone ring by the kitchen. Reaching over the island he answered it, and found it was his mother.

"Hello mother, calling to see if I've succeeded in this little endeavor?" He asked

"No Damon, I know you'll do your best to distract her. I just want to know how you're doing."

"Well so far I think I'm more affected than she is. I damn near cried twice. I'm out of my league here. Are women always this much work?" he asked. He'd never really had a serious relationship that had lasted more than the span of a week. He was running out of how to keep her interested.

"Go out, have some drinks and do some dancing. You should take her bike riding and maybe you can catch some fish while you're there."

At that moment Damon looked up to see Elena descending the stairs in some cut off capris and a fitted long sleeved striped shirt. The material didn't do much to hide her figure and Damon forgot who he was speaking to.

"Sure thing, I'll call you later." He said hanging up the phone and walking to Elena.

"Ready beautiful?" he asked extending his arm for her to take it.

"Ready." She said, letting out a sigh and walking with Damon outside.

"How do you feel about riding the bikes down?"

"I'd love to, I haven't done that since Paris." She said with excitement.

Damon had to stop himself from pulling her to him and kissing her. She looked so happy and was so easy going around him that he knew if he were to act on his intentions now they would never make it anywhere other than the bedroom.

"Perfect, then follow me." He said confidently taking pleasure in every moment he had next to Elena Gilbert.

***AUTHORS NOTE********

Ok well I chose to keep it T for now…I'm thinking I like the idea of them taking their time, but there will be some more heated scenes coming incase I have some readers that are wanting to know. Please keep reading and reviewing I really do enjoy your comments! Thanks again!