"I probably forgot half of the things I'm going to need," Elena remarks as the driver unloads their luggage from the trunk.
"It's not like they don't have stores in Florida. If you or any of us need something, we can pick it up down there." Caroline lets out a sigh at the weight of her suitcase.
"You got our tickets, right?" Elena looks frantically at Rebecca.
Rebecca shows them to her. "Elena, I know your Dad has pretty much kept you on a leash but we're going to have so much fun, so chill, please?" She replies as they enter the airport and walk toward their airline counter to check in.
"I know. I was almost expecting my Dad to say he'd meet us in Panama Beach City." Elena shudders at the thought.
"Oh, my gosh, can you imagine?" Bonnie laughs as she takes Elena's hand as they get in line.
"It's a nearly five-hour flight." Caroline sighs as she points to the departing and arrival screens.
Elena nervously fidgets with the buttons on her jacket until it is their turn to check in. They check their luggage and head toward security.
"They won't steal anything will they?" Bonnie asks as she watches the man push their purses through the scanner.
"You watch too much television." Rebecca shrugs.
"I watched a clip that showed a TSA guy stealing money out of someone's luggage. It happens," Bonnie counters as she follows her friends through the metal detectors.
After pulling their bags out of the box, they head to their gate and wait for their plane to depart.
The late morning sunlight shines onto Damon's face and he grumbles awake, throwing his arm over his eyes to shield them. He curses himself for leaving the blinds open last night and shifts to his other side.
The sound of the ocean just a few steps away is calling to him- the soft, warm sand already tempting his feet out of bed. As he pads across the carpet, he notices the other guys must already be up.
Damon shrugs and walks to the bathroom to shower.
Walking out of the bathroom with a towel cinched around his waist, he turns when the door flies open and his buddies rush in.
"Damon!" Kai grabs him and drags him over to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. "That's our pigeon,' he points to Elena who's wearing a floppy hat and a cover-up.
"That'll keep the sharks away," Mason chuckles as he walks away from the window.
"Just be thankful she's a loser, this way we'll have all our free time with no worries," Damon smirks as he drops his towel and slips on his boxers and jeans.
"Uh oh..." comes Enzo's voice. "Looks like our ugly duckling has turned into a swan."
Damon throws a tee shirt on and walks over to the window to have a look. His eyes nearly pop out of his head as he takes in her tiny bikini and acres of bare, beautiful skin.
"John Gilbert threw us a curve. How are we going to keep guys away from her?" Mason grumbles.
"What if we invite her to see us play at the Salty Goat? That way we can keep an eye on her," Damon suggests.
"Won't she suspect something?" Enzo contends.
"Why would she?" Damon counters, giving him a lopsided grin. Elena is staying only a few feet from them. He'd love to have her long svelte legs wrapped around his waist as he thrusts into her.
Attempting to shake such thoughts from his mind he pushes himself away from the window. He has to distract himself from such thoughts but what he wouldn't do to push her up against a wall...
After splashing his face with cold water, Damon walks outside to where Elena is spread out on the chaise lounge.
With a smirk on his face, he walks over and sits down in the middle of a chair with his legs between them.
"Hi, I'm Damon Salvatore," he introduces himself.
Elena places her book on her lap and looks up. She stares at him, mouth slightly open as he sits on the chair beside her. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"My band, The Ravens are playing at the Salty Goat. I'd love for you to come with your girlfriends. You don't even need a date."
His eyes glint dangerously and she nearly shudders.
Elena bites her lip, wondering what it is about his eyes. They are the cool blue of a shark and his lips look so kissable. She isn't sure what Damon's playing at exactly, but it terrifies and thrills her. Partly she wants him to toss her on a bed and the other part wishes he would get the hell away from her.
"The Ravens? I've never heard of you," Elena says casually.
"Really? Huh," Damon shrugs and looks up when he catches a glimpse of another girl dressed in an even tinier bikini passing by behind Elena. His eyes follow her every move.
Elena rolls her eyes. "That's very kind of you to invite us but I think I'm just going to stay in my room tonight. I have a very bad headache, it just began," she glares at him while his eyes remain fixed on that woman.
Damon's head snaps back to Elena. "I think you're right. You should stay in your room tonight, maybe the next few nights. You look like you need some rest," he adds and stands up to depart.
Elena scowls as she watches Damon walk away. She glances at her bikini and smiles at her taut belly. If he's going to play this game, she can play right back.
Elena picks up her book and is about to go back into her suite when another handsome man approaches her.
He's wearing a white shirt and board shorts, carrying a glass of iced tea. He walks up to Elena and greets her as he sits down where Damon has been seated.
She looks up from her book and smiles at him.
"Great book," he nods at it. "I'm Liam Davis and you're beautiful."
"Oh," Elena gasps lowly.
"I was wondering, would you like to go out with me tonight?" Liam asks as he leans forward in anticipation.
Elena glances over to where Damon is flirting with that brunette and laying his hands on her.
Liam notices where Elena's attention is. "I may not be a jock but I have a mind; a good mind."
"What's that?" Elena looks up at him.
"Would you go out with me tonight?"
As she glances over at Damon again, Elena's lips curl into a Grinch-like smirk as a plan begins to sketch out details in her mind.
Katherine is flaunting her full breasts while flirting with Damon.
"If I see something I've never seen before, I'll throw a dollar at it," Damon quips as waggles his brows at her.
"I really should be going. I don't want to get burned," she replies as she lowers the strap on her bikini top.
"Don't rush to get dressed on my account," Damon comments looking on as Katherine smiles like a cat. His hand goes around her shoulders to caress her flesh.
"You're adorable with your flirting," Katherine replies in a mocking voice.
"Just like you are adorable...you're obviously attracted to me," Damon contends with a smirk.
Katherine shrugs indifferently.
"Why don't you come to see me play at the Salty Goat tonight?"
"Perhaps? I'll have to ask my date. Bye, Damon." Katherine waves with her hand.
Damon watches with a look of pure mischief as she walks away with an exaggerated swing of her hips.
Thank you, everyone. There are longer chapters in this story. I don't know, after writing for all these years, I have a hard time writing long chapters anymore. I always start writing a story hoping to get 10 chapters and if I get more, it's a win. This one is more than that. :D
Chapter title: Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
A Paler Shade of Death will be updated next.
Have a wonderful day.