Disclaimer: Not my characters, obviously. Just playing in their world for a while.
Thanks so much for the reviews, faves, and follows! Glad you're liking it. :)
Ready for dinner with the Mikaelsons, a surprising revelation for the gang, and some overdue sexytimes for DE? Read on!
Thank you to the guest reviewer who pointed out that this story doesn't show up under a Damon/Elena search. I think it's because I've marked it as a crossover, so it isn't listed with the main TVD stories. Glad you found it!
Chapter Two
In between bites of filet mignon, served rare, and sips of Cabernet Sauvignon laced with blood, Klaus filled them in on his meeting with Esther. From his seat at the head of the table, he stabbed a piece of steak with his fork and pointed the utensil, meat and all, in Elena's direction.
"Imagine my surprise when I discovered my dead mother loitering on my doorstep. At first, I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me, but then she revealed how she'd been given another chance to put an end to her monstrous family, and it was all thanks to you, Elena." He brought the fork to his mouth, deliberately flashing his teeth as he pulled the meat from the tines. "I'm sure you can understand how much of an inconvenience her unwelcome return is for me and mine."
Elena, who had been rearranging the food on her plate rather than eating it, dropped her fork with a noisy clang. "If she's such a problem, why don't you just get rid of her yourself?" she gritted out between clenched teeth.
Klaus leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head like the lord of the manor he was. "That seems a sensible solution, doesn't it? It's a bit too easy though. You of all people should know that I'm a firm believer in letting whoever made the mess be the one who cleans it up."
"Of course. The invincible hybrid can't get his hands dirty," Damon muttered, swallowing the last of his wine.
"Don't sound so put out, Damon. Your girlfriend has plenty of resources at her beck and call." Klaus gestured around the table, indicating Jeremy, Bonnie, and Alaric. "Former hunter, witch, Original vampire." His eyes landed on Damon again, and he sneered. "Cannon fodder."
Damon gripped his steak knife, weighing the pros and cons of hurling it at the fucker. Sure, it wouldn't do much damage, but it'd be a fun way to liven up the mundane gathering. Bonnie must've picked up on the waves of aggression rolling off him because she glanced at the knife and shook her head. Don't, she mouthed.
Alaric chose that moment to jump into the conversation, and Bonnie gave him a grateful smile. "I'm assuming Esther has a lair somewhere. Any ideas where that might be?" he asked.
"I'm afraid not," Klaus said with a shrug. "However, the witches of the Quarter are quite fond of the mausoleums in Lafayette Cemetery. She's likely holding court there."
"I can do a locator spell," Bonnie suggested. "For the best results, I'll have to use your blood to track her."
"That won't be a problem," Elijah chimed in. "If Niklaus doesn't cooperate, you may use mine."
A door slammed upstairs, drawing the group's attention to the balcony where Hayley appeared a second later. "I'm going out," she said to Klaus and Elijah, her gaze skipping around the table. "Didn't know we had company. Hey," she greeted the out-of-towners.
A chorus of heys and a few nods were returned. Elijah removed his napkin from his lap and carefully folded it, placing it beside his plate. "Hayley," he began, "are you sure that's wise?"
She jogged down the stairs, heading toward the front entrance. "What are they gonna do, bite me?" she scoffed.
Elijah pushed away from the table, his chair scraping on the floor. He stood and called after Hayley, but the only sound was the creak of the gate, announcing her exit. "If you'll excuse me," Elijah murmured, disappearing from sight as he trailed after her.
"Don't mind Hayley. She's not herself at the moment," Klaus offered as an explanation for her vanishing act. "Well, that was a civil meal, was it not?" he asked. "I'm impressed, Damon. Elena must have you on a tight leash."
Bonnie, Alaric, and Jeremy held their breath as they waited for Damon's reaction. Elena's hand settled on his thigh, and he covered it with his own in reassurance. "Whatever, man," he said, ignoring the remark. "We've got work to do, so I think we're done here." He got up and tossed his napkin on his plate. "The sooner we deal with Mommy Dearest, the sooner we can leave your ass in our rearview."
Klaus smirked while he poured himself more wine, raising his glass to them as they trudged up the staircase. "Pleasant dreams."
###
The group reconvened in Elena and Damon's room, sitting on the floor in a loose circle. Bonnie was in the center with her eyes shut in concentration, and as they watched, flames sparked to life on the candles scattered about on the dresser, bookcase, and bedside tables.
"So, how do we do this?" Damon asked, breaking the silence.
"Take my hands," Bonnie instructed. "All of you." She waited while they complied, Alaric and Jeremy grasping one of her hands, and Damon and Elena taking the other. "Now, close your eyes."
When they had done so, Bonnie began to chant softly, her voice no louder than a whisper. Damon didn't see anything but the backs of his eyelids until a current of magic raced up his arm, making the tiny hairs there stand on end. Gasps sounded from Elena, Jeremy, and Alaric, telling him they'd felt the same thing. Before he could utter a word, a vision exploded in his mind, suspending all other thoughts.
Klaus was lying on his back on the bedroom floor, his chest heaving as he dragged in ragged breaths. Another tremor wracked his body, and he grunted in pain, nails digging into the hardwood. "Elijah," he rasped. "How much longer must I bear this?"
"Easy, brother. The full moon is nearly past its apex," Elijah offered in a quiet, comforting tone. The words seemed to be coming from Damon's mouth, and he realized he was experiencing one of Elijah's memories.
Damon/Elijah knelt down next to Klaus's writhing form and placed a hand on his shoulder. "The wolves will pay for this," Klaus seethed. "I'll kill every traitor among them. The witches as well. I won't stop until they've all been sent back to their bloody ancestors."
"As soon as we've located the last of the moonlight rings, you will get your wish," Elijah said, the promise of retribution clear in his voice.
Klaus gritted his teeth against another wave of agony. "I long for that day, more than you can ever know."
The vision abruptly faded, leaving Damon staring at Jeremy's stunned expression and Bonnie's knowing one. "Well," he managed, "that explains some things."
###
Damon's teeth snagged his bottom lip as he tried to keep his groan at bay. Elena was doing her damnedest to coerce all sorts of noises out of him. She hovered above him, her hair tickling his sensitive skin as she kissed a path from his chest to his belly. Her tongue flicked at his nipple, teasing it into a hard nub. Closing her lips around it, she sucked and nipped while she skimmed her fingers up his side. They found his other nipple, pinching and rolling it between her thumb and forefinger until a low growl rumbled in his throat.
"Are you deliberately trying to drive me insane?" he rasped. "I played well with the other kiddies today."
"I know," she purred. She slid further down his body, sitting astride his legs. Her gaze landed on the bulge in the front of his jeans where his cock was trying to punch its way out to greet her. Leaning down, she captured the zipper with her teeth and pulled, her mouth curling into a seductive smile when his cock sprang free. She paused only long enough to yank his jeans the rest of the way off and toss them on the floor.
Resuming her position, she gripped him lightly and gave him a few lazy strokes. Locking her eyes on his—deep brown boring into icy blue—she pressed a kiss to the head. Her lips parted, and she took him in her mouth, her tongue massaging the underside of his cock. He watched, entranced, as inch after inch of his hard length disappeared inside her warm, wet, wonderfully talented mouth. He knotted one hand in the sheets, and the other found its way into her hair, gently tugging on the silky strands.
"Elena." Her name was a prayer, a plea for more. "Hope you don't mind . . . everyone in the French Quarter . . . knowing what's happening in here," Damon ground out, his breath stolen by the sheer amount of pleasure coursing through him.
She hummed in satisfaction, pulling back until his cock slipped from her mouth. "Bonnie did us a favor. Well, she said it was mostly for her, Jeremy, and Alaric's benefit, but still." She glanced at him from beneath the dark fringe of her lashes. "She put a muting spell on our room, so you're welcome to make as much noise as you'd like."
"I like the sound of that, no pun intended," he said, breaking into a lascivious grin, "but who says I'll be the one making all the racket?"
"Just a hunch." She stood and quickly removed the rest of the clothing Damon hadn't already torn off her, which amounted to her unhooked bra, a pair of shorts with a missing button, and her lacy thong. Kneeling on the bed, she straddled his hips, the tip of his erection nudging her slick folds. She guided him inside, slowly sinking all the way down until their bodies were flush with each other.
Elena clenched her muscles, giving his cock an experimental squeeze. "Fuck," Damon snarled, his fingers digging into her hips. She planted her hands on his chest for support and lifted herself up before letting him fill her once more. His eyes were glued to the spot where they were joined, and he groaned at the feel of her tight sheath surrounding him. She rode him with a slow, steady rhythm, her soft moans mingling with his harsh panting and occasional curses.
A generous lover, Damon was accustomed to making sure Elena reached her climax first, but it seemed she had other plans this time. Increasing the pace, she leaned forward to nip his throat with a sharp fang. "'Lena," he gasped, "I'm gonna—"
"Mmmhmm," she murmured. "Come for me, Damon." She ground her hips against his, changing the angle just slightly so she could take him even deeper.
He loved her and her unselfish desires, but he wasn't going to make her wait. "Only if you join me," he insisted. His thumb settled on her clit, and he rubbed her hard little nub in time with the rise and fall of her hips. Her rhythm faltered, her nails biting into his arm. "That's it, baby. Let yourself go."
Elena's head fell back, her high, keening cry filling his ears. Her inner walls tightened around him, and he felt the telltale pressure at the base of his spine. He thrust deep one final time, his cock jerking with the force of his release. Damon shouted her name, and Elena whimpered as his orgasm sent aftershocks rippling through her. She collapsed onto his chest, her uneven breaths hot against his sweat-dampened skin.
Damon's fingers tunneled into the hair at the nape of her neck, alternately stroking and massaging while she stretched and tried to fight back a yawn. She gazed at him through her tousled locks, pressing a kiss directly over his heart. "Feeling better now?" she asked.
"Much. I can deal with Klaus's bullshit if I know the reward is getting to lose myself in you every night," he said with a wink.
She crawled closer until she could brush her lips over his. "That's funny," she whispered against his mouth. "I was just thinking the same thing."
"Great minds . . ." He cupped her cheek and kissed her back, turning the gesture from playful to the starting bell for round two. As he rolled them over so Elena was sprawled out beneath him, he assembled a mental to-do list:
1. Fix the Esther problem.
2. Don't get killed by Klaus.
3. Return to the lake house.
4. Take Elena to bed.
5. Never leave.