Silence between the two of them lingered as heavy footsteps paced back and forth until they stopped. She could just picture Damon hunched over his desk with a contorted face. "Thank you Alaric." Damon spoke through his teeth.
"I should mention that although there are others who participate in my extracurricular activities," Alaric began slow showing sensitivity to the topic. Her heart was pounding so loud in her chest she swore Damon would sense her rapidly flowing blood not far. "We aren't as strong and quick as your species is. I want you to know there is a good chance she will show up in Mystic Falls. She will show up here…"
"You don't think I know that?!" Damon barked. "You don't think I don't know the reason she is lingering around the outskirts of Mystic Falls? She is always up to something, whatever that may be."
"And Elena?" Alaric said her name smoothly. She held her breath again at the mention of her name and she found herself shaking. "She has to…"
"She knows about her." He spat.
"Does she know Katherine…" Alaric returned an equal amount of frustration as he slammed his drink down on the table. Elena's shaking turned to boiling hatred. This was about Katherine. She wasn't far from here and she was back for Damon. Why? What did that bitch want from him? Didn't she already take enough from him?
"Thank you Alaric." Damon yelled in a voice that was too obvious. He was aware she was in proximity. He knew she was right outside the door and whatever Alaric was about to share was not for her precious ears to hear.
The shuffling of feet came closer to her and she knew there was no use in trying to hide. The slouched and scruffy appearance that was Alaric stopped as he saw Elena standing outside the door. At first he looked stunned then it dwindled. His eyes looked down as if he was thinking about something and then he walked away. He didn't say a word to her. She wished she were seeing him under happier circumstances considering they were planning a surprise party for Damon, but she knew it wasn't the time or place to bring it up.
A dark figure stood next to her and she would have jumped on any other occasion, but not this one. She knew Damon was standing next to her as she watched Alaric leave. He was distraught and her warm welcome home from a long first day at work was nowhere to be found.
"You were suppose to call me when you were done with Caroline." He stated.
Elena knew she was here on impulse going against his wishes, but she didn't care at the moment that her small indiscretion was causing him displeasure. He was the one that should be put on the spot. He hadn't been entirely truthful with her.
"Katherine's alive?!" She said holding herself together not looking at him. The tension in the hallway grew thicker.
"She was never dead." He replied sharply and she bit her tongue knowing she felt the fireworks inside of her ready to explode.
"But…" Her words were at a loss and she realized there was never mention of Katherine's death. As she recalled the conversation in his office as he released the overloading amount of information to her about his past, she realized Damon never confirmed that she was dead. He simply had stated he never came in contact with her after he had turned. She was finding this hard to believe after over a hundred years that he didn't come in contact with her at least once. She felt the right to know.
Throwing her hair over her shoulder she marched pass him and strutted into this study. He turned around and stood in the doorway as she tried to find the courage to confront him. "Katherine's back. Why don't you want to see her? Aren't you at least bit curious to see what she is up to?" Elena asked finally turning to face him.
Damon's arms were crossed and his face was smashed together.
"Because I don't care for her." He barked. "Because she is a manipulative, psychotic bitch, Elena. The woman put me through hell and back and has left me on a path of destruction so excuse me if I don't want to see her."
"Tell me the truth." Elena straightened her back and inhaled a deep breath. "Was that the last time you saw her? When you were human?"
"No." Damon stated plainly and Elena felt a knot in her stomach form. "I haven't been entirely honest with you I guess. The last time I saw Katherine was a few years ago."
Her jaw dropped and she felt the anger rising up.
"She came back…for Stefan." He explained. "At first I was…jealous, but then I realized there was no point. I couldn't let those old emotions flood back. I couldn't let her use me like she had before. She tried to seduce her way back, but I wouldn't let her. I was honest with you Elena when I said I cut all ties. I saw Katherine, but I haven't said one word to the bitch."
Her anger was subsiding. She could see Damon was not pleasant with the topic of conversation being about Katherine. She knew he despised the woman and struggled every day because of what she turned him in to. Elena felt embarrassed about her outburst knowing she was transforming into the jealous girlfriend when she wasn't even technically his girlfriend in the first place.
"So what is she doing so close to Mystic Falls again then?" Elena asked in a shy voice and relaxing her body.
"I don't know." Damon said shaking his head and releasing the tension from his body too. "Alaric is making sure she stays clear."
"And what if she doesn't?" She sighed.
Damon walked toward her so he was staring down into her eyes. She felt his energy and she wanted to reach out and touch him. However, he was like a fragile piece in a museum. You could look, but you couldn't touch most of the time. He was so moody that she feared if she did make contact with him in any sort of way he would retreat.
"She won't, but if she does I won't let her anywhere near you." His voice was soft with a hint of hostility. "I couldn't imagine if…"
She couldn't resist any longer and Elena cupped his face. His eyes went wild, as he looked confused. "You won't lose me, not to her. I wouldn't let it happen. Anyways, you better keep her away from me because I might stake the bitch myself for everything she has done."
"Elena…" Damon struggled to speak the rest of what he wanted to say. She held on to her name knowing there was something he was about to share and then it was gone. His wicked smile flashed and he was no longer the raged and worried Damon, he became sexy and alluring.
Her hands fell from his face knowing he was attempting to sway the conversation by seducing her. However, Elena saw past his poor attempt. He was dodging an important conversation and as much as she held her tongue she wanted to scream at him. For someone so against his ex-girlfriend and disgusted by her actions, he sure knew how to emulate them through his own.
"You know you are very sexy when you get all worked up." He hissed and ran his hand down her arm. "Miss Gilbert, you're tempting me."
She pulled away from him. She wasn't in the mood to be playful.
"Not now Damon." She muttered under her breath.
He licked his lips still watching her and she felt his eyes fall up on her neck. Elena gulped loudly knowing that look. He was hungry and she knew he hadn't fed in a while. The thought of blood made her feel queasy and it also reminder of why he needed it in the first place, Katherine. Her mind drifted as he stared at her with lusting eyes trying to fight his urge to lung at her. She wondered what it would be like to meet human Damon, if he were alive today. Would he be as controlling and twisted as he was now? Or would be kind and gentle still beating himself up because he wasn't living up to the expectations of others? She knew his battle with his father was part of the reason he strived to be better than the best, but she also knew Katherine had also changed him too. He was confident and in control of his nature. She assumed he wasn't always. Damon had grown into the monster he had become, but despite his curse he was still very vulnerable. The only confidence he owned was within him. When it came to the outside world, to relationships he caved.
"Why don't we talk about something else?" She took her turn changing the subject.
His eyes were still full of hunger. "Fine." He stated and rolled up his sleeves of his dress shirt.
"So…" Elena began carefu
lly knowing what she was going to ask and waiting another eruption. "What do you want for you birthday?"
Damon spun around looking like someone had slapped him. He glanced away for a second and then sat down on the edge of his desk. "That son of a bitch. You talked to Alaric."
"He may have mentioned it." She mumbled. "You didn't mention he worked there either."
"What can I say it's a small world after all." Damon smirked.
"Seriously, what do you want for you birthday?" Elena pleaded.
"I don't need anything." He growled. "I don't even celebrate my birthday. What's the point? I'm 167 years old. Birthdays don't really have meaning after you're dead."
He was so…miserable. The pathetic attitude and outlook he had on himself was sad. It was like he had given up enjoying the little things in life. The excitement for his surprise birthday was sounding like a bad idea. He was going to hate it. He was going to be upset with her.
"Ugh," She uttered becoming frustrated. "Why can't you just be excited for your birthday? Why can't you just expect things for the way they are? Just be…normal for once."
The words let her before she could stop herself. She looked to him and she knew she had hit him again with an invisible force. Damon stood up hovering over her and grabbed her arms.
"I'm not normal Elena." His voice was defined and strong. "I never will be normal, so if that's what you are looking for then…"
"Go? You want me to go?!" Elena was hysterical. Was he trying to get rid of her? "Damon, I'm not leaving you!"
"Then stop trying to make everything right! You have all these expectations of me," he said shouting at her. "I don't want to live up to anyone's expectations."
He let her go and she stumbled. He was really angry and she knew she had brought this on. She had pushed him too far tonight with her questioning and determination to get what she wanted. Damon was fragile and she had left another crack in him. He was trying so hard to keep it together for her, to make sure that Katherine stayed away for her sake and his. He had better things to worry about than a silly birthday. And then it clicked. The reason for him being so uptight and bitter was become he was starving.
Elena peeled away the bracelet that covered her wound and walked toward him. She held up her wrist and he pushed it away. "No!" He fought her.
"You need it Damon!" She insisted urging for him to take her wrist.
The wrinkles formed around his eyes and they turned red. He was breathing heavy as he looked away from her, but she knew he wouldn't be able to fight the urge much longer. From what she knew he wasn't feeding on anything or anyone else but her. He had to be on edge from not having his daily dosage.
Damon slowly turned to her wrist. The two punctured marks on her wrist were scabbing over and as he stared at them he bit down hard. Elena gasped knowing the pain all too well. He gripped her hand and her arm to hold him steady as he drank from her. The pain washed away and she stumbled back into the desk as he tasted her warm blood. Once he was in a rhythm of drinking she felt the overpowering sensation. It was erotic as she felt herself pulsing and with hooded eyes. His tongue danced around her wrist as he licked up every last drop and removed himself from her damaged wrist. The image of him was a bit blurry, but she knew he was aroused and she felt his hands pushing up her dress. His lips were upon her neck furiously. The moisture between her legs was dripping.
His hand pushed her body closer to him and she felt the hard outline of his erection on her leg. It wasn't long before he was unzipping his pants and she was losing her underwear. Her hands gripped the edge of the desk as he pushed himself into her not teasing or enjoying the moment. Damon was ready to go. The desk bounced as they moved together and she linked her arm around his neck. She whined and moaned as the feeling of him inside her made her rise in excitement. He moved faster letting out his own groans and he took her wrist again into his mouth again. Elena felt her body giving into him even more. The fine line of passing out was getting close, but it wasn't just from the loss of blood. It was the sex that was doing her in. She felt herself tighten around him and her mouth hung open as she quivered and exploded into oblivion. Inside her all sorts of vibrations were going off and she fell backwards knowing all to well it had been too much. It was amazing sex, but it was intense.
As Elena felt herself getting a grip on reality, she found herself lying on the couch with Damon's arms around her. Her eyes flutter to see his two blue eyes staring down at her. "That's how I wanted to greet you tonight after work, not like what happened earlier. I'm sorry about all of that." He brushed her hair with his hand.
"I'm sorry too." She whispered.
"You need to rest. I may have over indulged myself in you tonight." Damon confessed. "Let me take you to bed."
"Your room?" Elena asked reaching for his hand and grabbed it. He stayed silent for a moment looking at their hands intertwine. She was taking a chance requesting him for her to stay in his room again, but it was risk she was willing to take. This side of Damon was the one she loved the most.
He sighed. "Yes. My room. Oddly enough, I slept better with you next to me Miss Gilbert."
The flashback of him cuddling and holding her the night before was still fresh in her mind. He wasn't going to admit to his actions, but she knew he was aware of what he did. His acceptance to her sleeping in his room for a second time wasn't because he was being generous. It was because he needed her just like she needed him.
Chapter 40: Not So Birthday Surprise
Song: A Fool's Dance by Phillip Phillips
Elena hunched over her desk combed her fingers through her hair. Today was the day.
The surprise party for Damon was all set into place and all that was left for her to do was get him a gift. She had contemplated over and over again what to get him and every time she came up blank. What do you get a man who has everything? Gift giving was never her forte.
"Miss Gilbert." The husky, accented voice startled her and she jumped sitting up straight. Her boss, Mr. Mikaelsen was hovering behind her looking quite pleased. His hands were in his pockets and he leaned up against her cubicle wall. "Do you have the draft I requested for today?"
"Um," Elena gulped and clicked through a few documents on her computer. She had been so distracted this morning that she had barely looked over her work at all. "Not yet. Sorry. I'll get right on that."
She spun around in her chair and began to type frivolously. His eyes were still upon her and she slowly looked over her shoulder at him. "Send it to my e-mail in about an hour. I'll be expecting it then." He stated and she nodded feeling the pressure of a deadline.
"And Miss Gilbert," Mr. Mikaelsen added. "May I remind you that your e-mails are strictly for professional use."
Her heart dropped into her stomach. The e-mails! The ones she had been sending Damon the other day must have come to his attention before Damon had the chance to rid of them from the server. She felt sick knowing her boss was aware of her relationship with him and she wondered if this would be a strike against her. As she recalled he didn't seem to be a big fan of Damon in the first place. But then something else concerned her. Damon was capable of assessing a situation fast and the e-mails between them were gone instantly after their phone conversation that day. How did Mr. Mikaelsen know about them unless he was checking up on her work activity? A shiver crawled down her spine and she literally felt as if she was going to be sick.
"The draft Miss Gilbert." He crookedly smiled and nodded his head. His departure was a timely one as she poked her head around the wall of her cubicle to make sure he was out of sight before she dashed to the bathroom.
No one thankfully was inside the bathroom as she clutched the counter and heaved over the sink. The physical feeling of being sick was subsiding, but she still felt consumed by uneasiness. She turned the cold water and cupped the icy liquid into her palms splashing it on her face. The cool sensation calmed her and she took in a few deep breaths before feeling like she could fully function again.
&nbs
p; Wiping her face of any make up stains, she left the bathroom. The sound of a squeaking cart from around the corner indicated Alaric was in for his daily duties. She passed him carefully as he handed someone a coffee and a manila envelope.
"Elena?" He said with hesitation in his voice.
"Alaric." She responded giving him a strange look.
Caution surrounded him as he moved slowly and his eyes locked on her. It was like he was waiting for her to do something drastic. She cocked her head to the side and brushed her hair off her face. He had to be drunk; it was the only way to explain his bizarre behavior.
"So," Elena sang and sat down at her desk knowing she needed to get to work. "The plan is still set right? You pick him up from dinner or make him think you are and actually bring him to my place."
"Right." Alaric stood up straight and seemed to relax. "Let's hope it plays out like you planned."
Fifty Shades Of Dark - Damon Salvatore Page 30
