Ch.14

Elena awoke the next morning with the most absurd urge to talk to Stefan. She'd spent so many days with Damon, and yet her heart still wondered if she had written Stefan off too soon. If she hadn't given him the chance he deserved. Although rationally she knew he was engaged she still remembered the way they had danced, and how he had looked into her eyes. She remembered feeling longing and security and she foolishly wished for that again.

After her fight with Damon she had thought that would be it. That he would simply write her off, but then they had returned home and he had seemed concerned for her. It was unsettling to say the least. She suddenly wished he could have acted in normal Damon fashion and made the decision for her, but he'd made it that much harder. They were both good and honorable men, and she Elena Gilbert was now faced with a choice.

She couldn't make it alone, and she knew that. She needed to see Stefan again.

She got up and got dressed putting on a white camise with cutoff shoulders for a sleeveless look, and a long dark skirt. Reaching into her closet she pulled out some every day black pumps and headed out. Her hair in long bouncing tresses along her shoulders stopped her by the door. She glanced into the hallway mirror and pinned her hair up in a half bun, then left the apartment. She had yet to see her father this morning, but she decided not to give it another thought. He was probably doing his job, and she didn't want to bother him with her worries again.

Reaching the main doors of the mansion her thoughts plagued her. What would she say to Stefan? Would she confess that she had kissed Damon, and that he had told her he loved her? Or would she simply keep it to herself?

Reaching the top of the stairs by Stefan's bedroom door her worries were stilled by an unwelcome sight. A hired nursemaid was camped outside of his door. She wore an old school dress nurse uniform and held a hefty book, which Elena guessed, was used to keep herself occupied.

"Hello, is Stefan awake?" Elena stated timidly walking toward the bedroom door.

"I'm afraid he's still asleep." The nursemaid groaned. She seemed more interested in her book than the fact that Elena was standing right before her.

"Is that normal?" she inquired. Stefan had been asleep for what seemed the better half of he weekend.

"When you're taking what he's taking it is." She replied bluntly.

"Oh, well when he wakes up can you tell him Elena stopped by?"

"Honey, I could tell him that Cindy Crawford was here, but I don't think it would matter." She said, her dark lips pursing into a straight line while her hand went up on her hip.

"Oh, well I'll be back later to check on him. Can you tell him?" she said forcefully. Finally the nurse nodded curtly with a huff and went back to her reading.

Elena descended the staircase with disappointment. She was yet again blocked from seeing Stefan, but one thing was for sure it did give her another chance to set things straight with Damon.

She had to tell him the truth: that they were just friends, and nothing more.

Although a small part of her had begun to wonder if there was something beginning to fight that simple truth. They were friends, but could there still be the possibility of something stronger?

Glancing at the grandfather clock in the hallway Elena decided the best way to figure out her emotions was to confront them. After all she did have photographs to get to him, and seeing him again wouldn't be the worst thing she could do.

Damon sighed as he let the feeing of the warm water of the shower rush over his tense body. He'd awoken this morning to jack hammering on Mystic Ave. and his head still thudded with pain. He'd spent the better half of the night on the couch in his office until he remembered the built in apartment suite his father had built for him a year ago. Up until today he'd never used it, and never thought he would. The idea of never leaving the office had perplexed him. On the one hand he could always be one step ahead, while on the other his social life would dwindle. Given that he hadn't had much of the latter the past couple years he suddenly wondered why he had never taken advantage of the old man's hospitality.

The suite was conveniently located to the right of where his desk sat. A hidden door, that masqueraded, as a wall would lead him into a small apartment area, which held a plush chair, and a full King Sized bed with matching end tables. A television set sat atop a well-furnished dresser drawer set, and to the left resided a luxurious bathroom complete with a shower and tub set. At the moment he was taking advantage of the shower, as much as he had the plush bed the night before. Letting the stress of the weekend seep out of him he did his best to fight the thoughts that plagued him. Images of Elena in his arms, their lips dancing in the firelight; his whispered words that had cut like a knife.

"I love you, Elena."

God how he almost wished he could take them back now. Somehow he knew she didn't feel the same. How could she with saint Stefan stealing her heart?

It was then, in the abyss of his despair that he heard the intercom ring out, "A Miss Elena Gilbert to see you sir." Form his secretary. Rose was a good employee but her timing was somehow always lacking.

Damon quickly stumbled out of the shower and pulled on a plush white towel to throw over his naked lower half. Not having time to dress he rushed into the office half naked to a shocked but pleased Elena.

Damon's wet hair fell in front of his eyes, as he clutched the towel closer to his midsection.

"Oh um…sorry." Elena said flustered, as she turned to look around towards the opposing direction.

"I didn't realize…I thought you were ready for company." She let out.

Damon smiled, knowing he'd made her all hot and bothered had gotten him a bit more excited than he had anticipated.

"Well I'm sure you weren't aware of the apartment I have in my office. Come, follow me I can't very well stand here in the middle of my office commando now can I?" he said with a smirk.

Slowly Elena turned and followed him back behind the wall. Damon smiled as he heard her let out a sigh of admiration. The room was stunning if he said so himself. He rather liked the ambiance it gave off, and having Elena in the room was only an improvement.

"So this is where you stayed the night." Elena squeaked, shutting the door behind her.

"Well I very well couldn't have stayed with my mother after what happened. I hope you can forgive me Elena." He said, her voice coming off his lips like honey.

"I…do." She said, as her gaze got lost in taking in his wet physique.

"You should take a picture. I hear they last longer." Damon said, toying with her.

Elena blushed at being caught staring at him.

"Speaking of, I have those photo's you asked for." She said, switching into business mode. Regardless of him being half naked or not Damon knew she was here for a purpose, and seeing him like this he knew wasn't something on her to do list.

He chose to make sure she didn't forget it. Leaning across her he effectively trapped her against the wall. His arms locked over her as her eyes traveled up slowly to his own.

"Damon, what are you doing."

"Just checking." He said, noting her rapid breath and lustful gaze.

"Checking for what?"
"Just making sure I didn't imagine the last few days, or the way you kissed me. Must be hard…"

"Stop it Damon. You know why I came." She said haughtily. Something told him she wasn't in the mood to be messed with so he stood back stating,

"Yes, go over and have a seat on the bed, I'll just go grab a robe." He said heading back into the bathroom.

He emerged a moment later in a long black terry-cloth robe that tied in the center. Elena was sitting on the bed seemingly pleased to be able to look him in the eye again.

"Well then, lets see them." He said, reaching across the bed and grabbing for her outstretched hand. He stilled as he felt the electricity flow between her fingers and his. He almost groaned at the idea of her touching other parts of his anatomy.

"This place is amazing." She said breathlessly as he looked through the images she'd handed him. He'd soon realized they were pictures of Paris instead of the house.

"Its that place where I do the real work, in the real world. You know instead of living." He grumbled flipping through the photos.

"You were listening." She said astounded.

"I always listen Elena. By the way, this is a view of the house I've never seen before." He said sarcastically. It was indeed an image of the great Notre Dame cathedral. Coming closer Elena looked and discovered what he was looking at.

"You said you wanted it to look bigger." She said teasingly and laughed, "Sorry," reaching into her purse she pulled out another set of prints. Damon began rifling through them as she made her way over to the chair across from him and sat down.

"You have to admit it is beautiful."

"I probably would…if you'd let me." He chided.

"I found myself in Paris…" she said drifting off while gazing down at her prints.

"You were missing?" he asked.

"Yes." She said simply looking into his eyes with certainty.

"I once was lost and now I'm found." He said, reciting an old proverb.

"You're making fun." She said, a smile touching the sides of her mouth.

"It's my turn." He said as he turned over another photo.

Surprisingly the photo was of him, looking out at the lake.

"You're very photogenic." She commented coming up around to the side of him.

"That's because I'm handsome." He stated, shooting her an icy blue stare.

"No that's not it." She said slyly.

"Oh its not huh?" he said as he put down the pictures and grabbed her around the waist, tickling her. Elena squealed with laughter and suddenly fell on the bed, succumbing to his hands. Before he knew it, Damon was on top of her as she writhed beneath him, laughing and smiling up at him. Realization of the moment and its possibilities hung in the air as he stilled and bent forward to crash her lips to his.

Elena moaned, feeling him on top of her as his lips molded to hers. He couldn't think. His mind was racing, and he was feeling everything she gave him in her kiss. Passion, lust, and dare he think it love. It was enough to drive him wild. Her hips began moving against his as her hands drifted up to grasp his wet hair.

It was enough and he couldn't take this anymore.

He wanted her.

Elena's body was on fire. The feeling of Damon's body a top hers was enough to drive her into frenzy. His lips were forceful and soft against hers as he slid his hand underneath her long black skirt. Her hips betraying her as they moved up and down against the firm feeling of his thigh between her legs.

Coming up for air, she felt his lips finally leave hers and bend below to suckle her smooth neck. Her mind raced as her hormones seethed. She wanted him, but was it enough?

Stilling she pushed him away carefully and sat up on the mattress. Her hair in waves around her and her clothes askew. She glanced up to see Damon breathing heavy with a look of confusion on his face.

"Damon, I can't…we can't." she said simply. She couldn't admit it but she didn't feel right. She felt like she was using him and she knew he deserved better than that. He deserved her heart.

"Its ok…I lost control. It won't happen again." He said and stood briskly, dismissing her. "Go back into the office. I'll change and then we can continue our conversation." Elena obliged, slowly getting to her feet and fixing her appearance. She walked back through the hidden door and went to find a seat on a leather sofa in the office. Damon seemed to be taking his own sweet time getting ready. What seemed like hours past before she saw him emerge in a grey tailored suit. His black tie offset his blue eyes, and his black shoes. Elena struggled to remember once again why she had pushed him away. His charisma alone dazzled her. She'd never known a man to enter a room and command its presence the way he did.

"Can I get you anything Elena?" he asked simply as if the past hour hadn't happened. Instead he appeared to be deflecting and went to help himself to a drink at the bar.

"Brie, wine, French fries…movie tickets?" he said as she giggled in the seat behind him.

"Movie tickets?" she asked. It seemed absurd to her that he would want to take her anywhere after the way she treated him. He astounded her.

"Well I thought about what you said, you know living. I want to see what this French life is about. You know the good life, knowing when to quit, seems intriguing to me somehow." He stated, moving across the room and sipping his bourbon when Elena got an idea.

"You know that is a good idea." She said standing and grabbing his hand. She was going to take Damon out tonight and she wasn't accepting no for an answer.

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

Readers thank you so very much for being patient for me. I have been through a long week-had to take bereavement leave from work. So needless to say very emotional and hard weekend. However, I am fully capable of continuing this lovely story. Writing is and will always be my passion so don't worry about me quitting on you. This story will have an amazing ending I promise.

I am very excited about where this story is taking me. When I began it I didn't quite know how much physical moments I wanted her and Damon to have. I like a slow build, but then I thought…its damon and elena…they've never been able to keep their hands off of each other for long. So…with that in mind this fic might be headed towards a more mature light. I know I have the green light from most of you so I'm not worried.

Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Next chapter focuses on a dinner date… ;)

read/review!