Chapter 5

Fluttering her eyelashes Katherine slowly opened her eyelids, looking over at the clock she realised it was 6 am, just a little later than she would have liked. Looking over she assumed Damon's lying presence; instead she was surprised to see the space empty. Wandering around she searched where he was already; lifting herself up she walked into the kitchen welcoming the smell of waffles in the air. There stood Damon already showered and dressed for the day, much more casually today with fitted black shirt, sleeves rolled just after the elbows and paired with deep blue denims.

Damon's gaze went up to see Katherine all curious with her hair tousled all over, but yet making her undeniably sexy. "Has anyone ever told you that you look so sexy in the mornings." She laughed at his flirtatious comment, "my first boyfriend did." She played along.

Damon faked an 'ouch' with a gesture that it was a stake to his heart, "well he was clearly an unlucky bastard."

She smirked back, "he was but because I dumped him not the other way round."

Damon saw her sit on the high stool directly in front of him; he finally saw the sassy side to her, and the one she had hidden for three years. He knew men fell for Katherine left, right and centre, but she was always so adamant on Stefan that she never perused anything serious with anyone else. That was their eternal flaw, they both were attractive enough to get anyone they wanted except the one person they desired; for a long time it was Stefan for her and even longer for him it was Katherine.

"Eat up and I'll finish the last of the packing, the cab's going to be here by 8." She nodded her head and took the plate he handed her.

Packed and dressed Katherine was waiting downstairs in the foyer with Damon, they had enough clothes for 3 weeks most but clothing wasn't really an issue when you're a designer. Reaching the airport they checked in their luggage in, and waited at the first class lounge. Damon noticed that Katherine was slightly nervous though he didn't understand why. He put his hand on her trembling one that clutched onto their passports and boarding passes. He was a little worried for sure.

"You ok Katherine?" Waiting patiently for her to say something.

She nodded her head trying to assure him, but failed miserably.

"Seriously is something up, talk to me?"

Katherine raised her eyes once again sighing, "I've just never done this Damon, I've hardly mentioned you to my team in Paris and now you're going with me. I don't know what they'll think of this, not that it should matter but I feel like things are now drastically going to change. Hell even I don't know what I'm doing to be honest."

Her hands still trembled, Damon instantly rubbed them to sooth her from more worry. "Look I get that this is a change and even you don't know how this will turn out, but think about it Katherine, what we've been doing so far has been the wrong way of going about all of this. We needed to change our ways if things are to improve. You can't expect us to do what we were doing, people need to see that things are different, and who cares what anybody says! As long as you and me know the truth, and our intentions are clear then I say we shouldn't worry about anything but ourselves."

She wasn't entirely convinced because she couldn't process most of it, "Damon don't get me wrong I want to put in all the effort for this relationship but its going to take so long for me to digest what we were and what we want. You're not entirely wrong with what you did but I don't know if I can forget that you spent last year in Sage's bed. I didn't have the right to dictate your life back then, but I still feel really hurt." She dropped tears onto his knuckles; he raised his thumb to wipe them away.

"I promise you Katherine Salvatore that I will do everything in my power to change that pain you feel. I fucked up big time Katherine, and you didn't deserve that and neither did I. Sage was mistake made during a very desperate time, I also know this isn't the last time she will come up between us but u need to know that I am only committed to you." His eyes boring into hers, hands gripping hers as tightly as he could without hurting her, he wanted her trust and he knew earning it was long journey ahead.

They both heard the last call for their flight and headed to the board. Damon held onto Katherine's hand as they walked across to their designated seats. He was almost afraid to let go. Seating himself and her, he lifted Katherine's hands up and lightly kissed the knuckles, the feathery touch was enough for Katherine to realise that this man clearly had a much stronger effect than she ever could have imagined.

She then simply watched him and as he gazed right back at her, a romantic silence surrounded them and then she realised that look. That's the way he looked at her that morning where she woke up naked in his arms. It still shocked her that after three years of a dreaded marriage they had raw and lustful sex that night followed by this serene form of making love. She couldn't wrap her head around that night even now. To see how much her body ached by his touch that night would have been an understatement. Three years was surprisingly enough to 're-virginise' anyone, she just couldn't stand the idea of sex after her miscarriage. It just angered her and made her upset if anyone would even try to discuss his or her sex life in front of her. She quite frankly didn't care and neither had the urge, it died with her unborn child. That part of her was very much dead until Damon had his way with her that night. She wouldn't lie to herself but he was indeed harsher and quite forceful on her, but by no means un-consensual. She imagined that this was it, the end point of their marriage and so the least she could offer was this. It was a regressive thought no doubt but ending the fake marriage like this seemed poetic. Maybe that's why he felt the urge next morning to make it up to her as well; he knew he had pushed her to her extremes that night, something that was not at all gentlemanly towards a woman he supposedly loved. Had they had a normal relationship then he would have felt completely relaxed about what happened that night. She had to admit though that he was a far more skilled a lover than she had imagined or ever been with before, but that was something she wouldn't dare share with him.

"What are you thinking now?" Breaking their silence.

"Just that you don't give up, ever." She looked down towards her lap.

He followed her movement with his eyes, "If I did, I see no one fighting for us."

They both saw hope just as much as they experienced pain, it was that weird combination. The flight took off on time and then Katherine wandered how many times had Damon even been to Paris before.

"How many time have to been to Paris?" she asked.

"It's my second time actually, during college did the whole backpacking across Europe thing, but since then just became too busy. Though for work I did go London a few times but that's about it."

She smiled knowing that it felt good that he finally took some time off; her work at least never entrapped her like Damon's did. That was sad.

"You deserved a break desperately."

He smiled at her concern, "I don't see a better way of spending it."

Just then the air steward came towards them, she was by all means tall thin and beautiful but the way she was batting her eyelashes flirtatiously annoyed Katherine. She politely asked, "Is there anything I can get you sir and ma'am?"

Her thick French accent only added to her mythic personality, Katherine simply asked for water while Damon took the opportunity, "a bottle of your finest red wine with two glasses, beautiful."

Katherine almost bulged her eyes out, was he flirting with her already?

The air steward clearly blushing, "I'll bring it right up sir."

She left not leaving a very amused Katherine.

"You could be a little subtle you know?" Her eyebrows raised high and arced.

He was smirking, "what already jealous?"

She poked him in the chest, "not funny."

He couldn't help but laugh, "You know what Damon, now I'm actually afraid to take you with me. Do you know how many beautiful models that I work with, even if you're not gawking at them they would surely love to strip you off."

He laughed harder at her annoyance. "So tell me, what worries you more that I will go after them or they will come for me."

"Oh I'm sure you would love it if they came after you wouldn't you? Seriously Damon these women survive on water and sex, you'd be meat walking into a cage of hungry animals."

This time she was laughing at that analogy, "I'm not so sure if that's a compliment anymore Katherine?"

She smirked, " It wasn't Damon."

Their wine was brought over and he immediately uncorked the bottle, poring it adequately into the two glasses.

Before sipping Damon nudged her to wait, "we should toast to a new beginning."

She smiled, "a new beginning it is." Raising her glass she clicked it with his to hear that 'ting', then taking a sip.

I know it's been forever but I would love to know what you think about this story and I promise to upload faster!

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