It feels good to be in Mystic Falls, Damon's in a nostalgic mood as he walks the familiar path to Enzo's place. Although sometimes he has nightmares from his time in Afghanistan, he feels like a weight's been lifted since he returned to this place - his hometown. There's so many memories - both good and bad. His parents and family gave him a warm welcome. He's certain his mother has already cooked every one of his favorite meals. That thought alone brings a smile to his face.

Reaching his destination, he raps on the door, the porch light illuminates and then it opens, revealing Enzo with his customary smirk.

"Damon," he blurts out and wraps him in a short hug before stepping back. "I think you gained some muscle mass," Enzo peruses his form.

"War is hard," he responds matter-of-factly.

"I'm sure. Let me grab something, I'll be right out and we'll head to the Grill. Do you want to come in?"

"Nah, I'll wait out here," Damon backs down the couple steps to wait on the sidewalk. Enzo quickly returns with a manila envelope under one arm.

"What's that?"

"Oh, that's just a little welcome home present for you. Let's go," Enzo points to his corvette.

"Nice wheels," Damon admires the vintage vehicle, running his hand on along the yellow hood. "How do you afford this?"

"It was my grandfather's, he willed it to me when he died."

"I'm sorry, but wow," Damon slides in.

"He was old, had a heart attack," Enzo turns on the ignition, revs the engine and drives, the top down and the wind blowing through their hair.

"As I live and breathe," the bartender greets Damon, shaking his hand. "It's been a long time."

"Good to see you too, Vincent. I haven't been home for four years."

"I can't believe it," the bartender shakes his head.

"I got my discharge, now I just need to decide what to do next," Damon nods when Vincent slides a glass in front of him.

"It's on the house, but not for you," he looks at Enzo.

"Thanks Vincent," Damon takes a swallow, sighing at how good it tastes.

"Fine," Enzo throws out a twenty. After Vincent fixes him a whiskey sour, he and Damon retreat to a booth.

"So you gonna tell me what's in that envelope?" Damon swirls the bourbon in his glass, listening to the chinking of the ice cubes.

"Nope, I'm going to let you look for yourself," Enzo slides it over to him.

Damon eyes him curiously then pinches the metal fasteners and pulls out the contents. "What the... a Playboy?"

"Ah ha," Enzo grins at him knowingly.

"Remember that time. Ric went ballistic, he liked Miss April," Damon laughs, remembering when they were kids.

"Yeah, I remember that you squealed on me... Now open it."

"Okay, okay, don't get your panties in a twist... I don't like that shit-eating grin on your face."

Enzo chuckles, and nods at Damon to open the magazine.

And when he does, words leave him. He stares into the familiar brown eyes, exuding sex. The same ones he's seen so many times before. He can't take his eyes from the page or will his mouth to move. He has to say something and he searches his mind but his lips quiver, unable to articulate anything.

"Quite the looker wouldn't you say?" Enzo sees the shock written all over Damon's face, a huge small smile playing on his own lips.

"I can't believe it," Damon finally warbles. "Elena - Miss September?"

"I thought you might be interested," Enzo brings his glass to his lips and takes a swallow.

"She let me get as far as her breasts then cut me off every time and now she's posing nude in Playboy. What the actual fuck?" he continues to stare open mouthed at her centerfold, only now knowing what he missed out on all those years ago.

With a hop in his step, Damon walks into the hospital carrying a huge floral arrangement in shades of blue to honor his new nephew Jameson Giuseppe Salvatore. After getting the room number, he gets in the elevator to take him to the third floor. When he steps out, he continues down the hall, stopping in his tracks when he recognizes the woman stepping over the threshold and out of room 314's door.

"Elena?" he nearly drops the vase when she turns to face him. She's a vision in tight jeans, white t-shirt, her hair in a high ponytail, sunglasses on her head and her ever present heels.

"Damon, oh my God," she quickly closes the distance and gives him a hug.

A blush sears through his cheeks and for a minute he feels like his face is on fire. He suddenly feels awkward and embarrassed. It wouldn't be a problem if he didn't go as red as a beet root and radiate heat like a hot pan. A three course meal could be cooked on his face. There will be no rescue from this embarrassment. It's torture and utter humiliation.

"Rebekah mentioned that you got your honorable discharge?" Elena looks at him strangely.

"Yeah, four years is enough," he's absolutely mortified that she's seeing him like this.

"And you came back unscathed," she scans him from head to toe.

"Physically yes," he doesn't elaborate.

"It's good to see you, Damon but I have to run, Jenna's expecting me," she skirts around him and starts to walk away.

She almost reaches the stairwell when Damon runs after her, "Elena wait."

"Is there something else?" she drops her phone into her Tory Burch mini-Everly crossbody bag.

"Maybe I have no right to ask after everything but I would love to catch up with you. Maybe we can have lunch or something?"

Elena looks at him as if she can see through him before finally meeting his eyes. Reaching up, she brushes a piece of hair off his forehead, something she's done a hundred times before. "Sure, I have to work tomorrow... I can call you. Do you still have the same number?"

"Yeah, actually I do."

"Okay, I really need to run," she smiles and ducks into the stairwell, leaving Damon staring at the spot she was just standing.

"What's that?" Elena stops the woman who's about to brush some shadow on her eyelids.

"That's my new palette. It's going to be released in a couple of months. Do you like it?" she hands it to Elena and starts to sweep the color on.

"I do, it's gorgeous," she admires the shimmering neutrals such as ochre and peach, also the pretty gold, crimson and violet colors.

"You can have that one but keep it to yourself, it's part of my fall line," the artist gestures zipping her lips, "Now, put it down so I can finish your makeup."

"Sure," she leans back and allows the artist to work her magic. When Katherine finishes putting the eyelashes on, Elena gets up, slips into an Elie Saab dress then gets in front of the camera. The photographer snaps away as she poses for the magazine cover.

"Oh Rebekah, he's precious," Elena bounces baby Jameson on her lap on her shoulder while her friend folds baby clothes.

"He keeps us awake and Stefan tries to help but with me nursing, it's not like he can feed him."

"His turn will come, I suspect," Elena laughs and cradles Jameson in her arms when his eyes start to drift shut. "Did I tell you that I saw Damon?"

"Really, and you didn't say anything till now?" her friend gets up, takes the baby and puts him into his cradle before returning with a mug of coffee for each of them.

"There's nothing to tell really. You were still in the hospital, we ran into each other when I was leaving. We talked for a few minutes, he asked if we could get together."

"Are you going out with him or not?"

"I told him I'd call but I haven't yet. It wasn't me who walked out on him, he broke up with me, remember?"

"That was a long time ago, Elena. He didn't want to hurt you, he was afraid he wouldn't come home."

"Since when are you his special pleader?"

"Elena," Rebekah sighs, "you know I'm not but he is my brother in law, we talk."

"I'm sorry and that's what he told me too, but I can't shake the nagging feeling it was because I wouldn't have sex with him. I got mad and left in a huff."

"I'm sure he understood that you were hurt. At least give him a chance, listen to what he has to say."

Elena nods, and pulls her phone out of her bag. She finds the familiar icon, a picture she took of him in high school, presses the phone image and waits for him to pick up.

"Hello."

"Hi Damon, it's Elena..."

Damon's sitting at the bar sipping on a soft drink while he waits for Elena to arrive. He's a bit nervous, for all he knows, she might be in a relationship with someone although he hopes that's not the case. With the benefit of hindsight, he realizes that he should've included her in the decision to end the relationship. Would she have waited for him, he'd like to think so but he was wrong to take that choice away from her. Even though he fucked up badly - he knows that now, in his heart of hearts, he still believes that he did it for the right reasons.

Picking up his glass, he finishes what's left and suddenly feels a hand on his shoulder. Snapping his head, a smile forms when he sees her. She's stunning as always in a sexy midi-length, button down, navy and white polka dot dress, strappy sandals and her hair is in a messy braid that drapes over one shoulder.

Damon jumps to his feet, "Elena, hi. You look... amazing."

"You seem to have faired pretty well yourself," she returns the compliment.

"Should we get a booth so we can talk?"

"Sure," she nods and follows him, taking a seat in the one that offers a little privacy.

Moments later Vicky approaches to take their drink orders, returning shortly with her bloody Mary and Damon's bourbon. He takes a swallow, in his mind, he's trying to think of how to bring up her magazine without making her feel embarrassed or awkward.

"So how have you been, Rebekah tells me that you're famous now. What's that like?"

"There's good and bad, like in every profession. As it stands now, I'm very happy with my career. Whether that will always be the case, time will tell. What about you?" she plops the olive from her drink into her mouth.

"Well, I've decided to go to school to become a veteran's counselor. It'll take some time, I need a Master's Degree but I have nothing but time. I saw some horrible things over there...," he drops his eyes for a moment when Kai's forever stare pops into his mind. "I want to help the guys that are having a hard time readjusting to civilian life, way too many of my brothers are committing suicide and if I can help in some way..."

"Damon, that's great. How about you, are you okay?" she reaches over and lays her hand on his forearm.

"I'm doing better than a lot of guys I think... but I have nightmares sometimes."

"If you ever want to talk, you can call me," she offers and he can see the sincerity in her eyes.

"Thanks, that means a lot..., " his voice trails off when he hears Enzo's voice.

"Damon, Elena," he slides in the booth beside Elena and takes a big gulp from his beer tankard.

"Enzo," she considers him then her eyes drift to Damon.

"You don't have a date tonight?" Damon tries to subtly signal him to get lost.

"Nope," he shakes his head. "So Elena, what's the Playboy Mansion like? I've always wondered. Beautiful centerfold by the way," he winks at her then smirks at Damon.

His words don't bother her, she's not embarrassed but the look on Damon's face tells her that he's seen it too and that infuriates her. "So that's what this is about?" Elena waves her fingers between the two of them. "You think now that I posed nude, my morals have changed?" she stands up, glaring at the two men.

Damon feels heat rising to his cheeks and prays it isn't noticeable. "No, no, that's not it at all," he glowers at Enzo, shaking his head back and forth.

"You broke up with me because I wouldn't sleep with you and now suddenly you're interested again? I can't believe you," she gives him a disgusted look and marches out of the bar in a huff.

"You son of a bitch, " Damon grabs Enzo's lapels, his lips tightening in fury.

"Woah," he pulls away from his best friend. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean any harm, I swear."

"I'm sorry too," he blurts out, loosens his grip and runs after Elena, leaving Enzo behind to pick up the tab.

Two weeks pass and Damon's tried repeatedly to get in touch with Elena. She's either blocking his calls or just ignoring him altogether. Desperate to set the record straight, he finds himself standing at his brother's doorstep, waiting for Rebekah to let him in.

"Damon, hi. What are you doing here?" she asks, holding Jameson in one arm.

"I need your help, can I come in?"

"You need my help?" she steps back to let him step over the threshold. After pushing the door shut, Rebekah leads him to the kitchen. "Take him and I'll make a pot of coffee," Damon extends his arms and takes his nephew, cradling him against his chest.

"He's growing already. You did good Bek," he smiles when the baby wraps his tiny fist around his finger.

"I think so," she slides a cup of coffee in front of him, sits down herself then takes a swallow. "What kind of help do you need?"

"It's Elena. She thinks I broke up with her because of the sex thing, sure I wanted it but that wasn't the reason..."

"I thought you two were supposed to have a date?"

"We did but Enzo showed up and mentioned the Playboy centerfold... she jumped to conclusions and took off before I could even attempt to explain," he looks down when he feels Jameson suckling on the pad of his thumb.

"Would you turn away for a moment?" Rebekah takes the baby, opens her shirt, lets him latch on to her breast then drapes a receiving blanket over her shoulder, covering herself. "Personally I don't care, it's nothing you haven't seen before but you know your brother...," she rolls her eyes, "you can look now and tell me the rest."

"She thought I only asked her because of Miss September and to try to get her to go to bed with me," he slumps in his chair.

"Was she right?" her eyes bore into his.

"No, no. Nothing could be further from the truth. I still love her Rebekah and I was hoping it isn't too late for us."

"She's had a couple boyfriends while you were gone, nothing serious really... she's not with anyone right now. Have you tried to talk to her?"

"She's ignoring me," he takes the last swallow of his coffee.

"If you want my advice, go after her. She'll be in New York tomorrow for a runway show, she always stays at the Plaza Hotel, you know the one from "Home Alone 2?"

"What are the odds of me finding her, probably hundreds or maybe thousands go through that place every day?" he rests his chin in his hands in frustration.

"I guess you'll have to hang out in the lobby and hope for the best."

Damon's eyes raise, and the corners of his mouth lift. Jumping to his feet, he gives Rebekah a big kiss on the cheek and dashes out of the door, yelling "thank you" as he hops in his car and drives away.

Damon sitting in The Plaza's lobby for the second day now. He has yet to see Elena, she might have gotten past him when he used the bathroom or stepped outside for some fresh air. The hotel is a little beyond his means so she may have come in when he left for the day too. Sighing, he gets up and walks to the concierge desk to leave her another message.

The morning had broken like the sweet melody of a blackbird, full of promise, freshness and newness to come. Now it sits like a cold cup of coffee waiting to be drained away. Frustrated, he nods at the man behind the desk, walks out of the building, wandering around the street for a few minutes as he decides what to do.

On the spur of the moment, he hails a taxi to take him to the Central Park Zoo. It's something to do and he's certain the animals will lighten his mood.

Damon first walks to the polar bear enclosure. They've always been his favorite animal, other than his childhood pet dog, Murphy. The mama bear is a model of patience with her cubs as they play. They tumble over her as if she were a playground, enjoying both the warmth of the sunlight and their mother. And this is how they pass the day, in blissful serenity, with the sound of water and birds, far away from the clocks that tick and the cars that scurry.

Next he approaches the giraffe paddock. The animal leans its long neck toward its mother, resting its head against her. Their fur is a rich chestnut painted on golden cream. He watches them entranced. Their legs are so stretched but strong at the same time.

From there he heads to the big cats, stopping first to see the lions. With golden paws crossed before his snout and shaggy brown mane, the lion's rib cage expands and falls with the rhythm of one in deep sleep, yet he is quite conscious and alert. He is simply stunning, its sleek, golden fur laid over his elegant frame and lean muscle. His nose is broad and eyes are a soft yellow-brown, large and dark rimmed. Out of nowhere he yawns revealing a flash of pink and the sight of his long teeth and tongue.

The next paddock over is a cheetah. Its a slender, sleek and graceful predator, and the fastest land animal. Cheetahs are majestic creatures, both beautiful, and mysterious. Adorable cubs are playing around her, snapping at each others' tails. Their mother just sits back and watches, tail flicking every now and then.

Damon blows out a breath and by sheer happenstance looks to his left and there she is. "Elena," he can't stop himself and hurries over to her before she can vanish again.

"What are you doing here?" the shocked look on her face soon morphs into suspicion.

"I need to set things straight, at least hear me out and then if you want me to stay away I will. Please, Elena?"

She stares at him a moment then looks away, as if to decide whether or not she wants to listen. "Fine, let's go find someplace to sit down," she gestures with her hand towards a bench with a big willow tree overhanging above it. As soon as they sit down, she shifts to face him.

"You're right, I did see your Playboy spread but I swear I didn't ask you out to meet up for a quick romp. Look into your heart, Elena, you know that I'm not that kind of person."

"What did you expect?" she emphasizes the words.

"I don't blame you for thinking the worst, maybe if I was in your shoes, I would have too but that wasn't my intent. I wanted to apologize for leaving the way I did. I shouldn't have ended things between us without talking it over with you. I was afraid I'd die over there, I know my thoughts were misdirected but I wanted to spare you that."

"Do you think that would have stopped me from grieving if you had died?"

"No, I guess not...," he looks down at his hands that are gripping the edge of the bench.

"Why are you here, Damon?"

"I love you, Elena. I never stopped and I was hoping it's not too late for us. I'll understand if it is, I mean, I did this to myself... I'll wait till we're married, I'll do whatever you want..."

"You love me?" she extends an arm and uses her fingers to raise his chin to look at her.

"Yes, more than anything. I slept with your picture under my pillow, it was always in my pocket when we went out on our missions. I was a marine sniper, they - the enemy -put a price on my head because of it."

"I'm glad you survived," she pauses a moment to lighten the mood before adding, "Was that a backdoor proposal?" she smiles, her face beaming as she stares at him.

"I guess it was, I'll marry you right now, this very minute or I'll wait however long you want, all I know is that I'm empty without you in my life."

"Kiss me," she commands hotly.

Damon grins, that devilish one that steals the breath from her lungs. When he scoots closer, she entwines her arms around his neck.

"You sure?" He runs a hand back up her side, his fingers just barely grazing the underside of her breast. She braces herself against the thrill of his touch, remembering how the mere brush of his fingertips has always set her blood on fire.

"Absolutely she breathes. Damon lowers his chin so his lips can sink down on hers as his hands land on her waist. She can feel the fire of his fingertips skimming the top of her shorts, making her burn with desire. His tongue flicks against hers just before a child's happy scream pulls them apart.

As soon as she catches her breath, she runs her thumb along his cheek. "And are you sure? You don't know anything about my life now except...," she breaks off, certain he understands what she's alluding to.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life," he affirms. And then his lips are on hers once again, kissing her with reckless abandon, covering her mouth with his in the same searing movement that she's always felt, alighting every nerve ending in her body. Her hands unintentionally linger on his neck, wispily playing with his hair on the back of it.

Damon tugs her closer, almost pulling her onto his lap and lets out a guttural groan of his own, a sound that sends fire flaming through her veins.

Then suddenly, he cradles her face in his hands, and his tongue dips into her mouth to meet hers, deepening the union of their mouths.

He kisses her like she is everything. And for a moment, as his lips keep her breathing with him and his tongue dances languidly with hers, she knows he's telling the truth, he loves her and she's never stopped loving him...

A few weeks later:

Having been apart for over four years, they didn't want to wait any longer so they had a small wedding in their hometown, surrounded only by their friends and family.

As soon as they step out of the church as man and wife, the bridesmaids rush forward, and began struggling for the traditional tossing of the bouquet. Elena heaves it over her shoulders, it bursts apart among them like a bomb of colored fragrance, Rebekah snatches the flowers, winking at her best friend knowing that she aimed it at her.

Elena laughs and slides into the limo followed by Damon. As soon as they reach their hotel suite, he reaches for her, lifting her up to carry her over the threshold. She wraps herself around him, how perfectly they seem to fit together. She kisses him, her heart pounding against his, and forever, the rest of her life, suddenly seems like not nearly enough time. Beside the bed, he lowers her to the floor, the friction between them as she slides down his body leaves them both breathless and flushed. He traces the edge of her bustier with his fingertips, the gentleness of his touch is a maddening tease.

"I love this, he tells her, "but please tell me there aren't like a hundred of those little hooks in the back"

"No, there's a zipper," she winks.

He waists no time tugging it down. The lace and silk Marchesa frock falls to the carpet silently and he watches with obvious pleasure. "Like magic," he purrs.

He bends, sliding his tongue slowly along the curve of her breast, and she clutches at his shoulders. He eases her back against the bed, and she feels almost dizzy and focuses on the absolute love and desire she sees shining in his eyes.

Damon smiles, brushing the hair from her face. He presses his lips to her bare shoulder and she closes her eyes, stretching against the pillows, as he begins a leisurely exploration of her upper body with his lips. She remembers that in the beginning, she always had the urge to tell him to just shut up and kiss her. What hasn't changed, she realizes, as he swirls his tongue along the underside of her breast. He's sinfully good at knowing exactly how she wants to be touched.

Elena runs her fingers through his thick hair, knowing he loves the feel of her nails on his scalp. When he starts to kiss his way down her stomach, slow and unhurried, her hips surge impatiently up towards him.

Not wanting to rush, Damon takes his time with her garters now, unsnapping them easily and rolling off her stockings in a slow, methodical manner. He was so worried earlier about buttons and hooks, but the truth is that he's always seemed exceptionally skillful at getting her out of... well at least some of her clothes.

Today they seem to fall off without much prompting whenever he looks at her the right way. Still, he takes his time with her panties, tugging them down inch by agonizing inch, watching her the entire time, his lips curving in a sly smile.

"I thought you were in a hurry," she pants, squirming against the bed.

"Did I not tell you that I wanted to be thorough?" He pulls the lace down another half inch, and she laughs, the anticipation is intoxicating.

"You're just being a tease," she pouts. "I've been waiting years for this moment, damn it."

She's so adorable.

Shifting up against the pillow, she kicks her underwear off herself, not caring where it falls and rises to her knees.

At the foot of the bed, Damon, still fully clothed eyes her with amusement. "I'm being a tease?" he asks, feigning innocence.

Elena scoots over, pulls him upward, and wastes no time in going to work on the buttons of his shirt buttons.

"Yes, you."

He cups her breast then, rubbing his thumb against her nipple so faintly that she can barely feel it. It's enough to remind her how good it will feel when he really touches her.

"I would never," he defends himself, smirking all the while.

"I'd be careful if I were you." She flings his shirt to the floor carelessly. "Like I told you earlier with the whole cake thing - whatever you dish out, expect to have it returned to you in spades."

His amused little expression falls instantly, and she can only laugh at the sober, serious look he shoots her. His touch becomes firmer, and he feels every nerve ding in her body sit up and take notice. She's feeling pretty generous herself now, so she rewards him by opening his pants and slipping her hand beneath his boxer briefs, closing it around him, so hot, hard and silky against her fingers, and he throws his head back, eyes slipping shut as he groans.

"Oh, you're right," he moans. "This is so much better than teasing."

She laughs, moving her fist over him a few times before pulling her hand away. He tries to protest but she maneuvers him so he lies back against the pillows and she can finish undressing him. .

"Marriage has made you so agreeable," she jokes.

He smiles, sliding a hand over her hip while she tugs his pants off. "Oh sweetheart, I was always the agreeable one," he winks at her, "and there's the fact that I'm really happy right now."

She glances down at his lap, where his erection juts up bold as ever, and raises a knowing eyebrow. "I can see that."

He laughs, but shakes his head, reaching out to cup her cheek. "Well, yeah," he says. "But that's not what I meant. I meant, you. You make me happy. Knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life with you makes me happier than I ever could have imagined.

She smiles and presses his arms back to his side. "Relax," she murmurs, "let me take care of you."

Pressing a moist trail of kisses across the expanse of his chest and abdomen, her hair tickles across his skin in tantalizing wisps. She nuzzles the delicate juncture of his hips, delighting in his surprised gasp when she dares to trace the line of his groin with her tongue. Elena kisses lower, her mouth only a few, tantalizing inches from his growing erection.

Damon swallows hard as her breath wafts against his fevered flesh in soft, humid puffs of air. He slips his fingers into her hair, bunching them there, gently urging her to move closer.

Elena hesitates a little as she stares at his manhood. She wants to be bold and make her husband scream. Darting out her tongue, she sweeps the head and Damon groans out her name. He nudges against her mouth, piercing the seal of her lips slightly in the uncontrollable need for her to take him inside. Elena licks him again, this time pushing tongue into the groove at the tip, sending fire through his veins.

"Jesus…" Damon gasps in a serrated rush, "Don't stop!"

"Don't stop what?" she teases him, briefly taking the head into her mouth to suck. Damon's body jackknifes.

"Say the words…"

"Take me into your mouth."

He barely finishes saying the words before Elena's mouth is on him again. Damon moans with the sensation of wet heat surrounding and suffusing his length.

"That's it" he groans in encouragement, using his hands to guide her head.

She sucks him deliciously, descending on his turgid length again and again while Damon begins lifting his hips, thrusting into her mouth much the way he wants to thrust into her body.

A bit of pressure just below the head causes him to stiffen, holding Elena's head captive as he surges up and floods her mouth with the creamy wash of his release. Elena releases his softening member in varying degrees, sucking lightly at his highly sensitive flesh as she savors every drop of his orgasm.

"Holy fuck, where did you learn to do that?" Damon grunts in the aftermath.

"You-tube," she teases and moves up to lay beside him with a Cheshire cat like grin on her face.

As soon as he recovers from that mind-bending experience, he scans her body eagerly and she knows that neither of them can wait any longer. She raises up to straddle his thighs, and kisses him once more.

He's hers and they get to do this for the rest of their lives, but she doesn't think she'll ever stop feeling the thrill, the unbelievable rightness of his mouth on hers. His lips skip down her cheek, over her jaw and throat until she's sighing breathlessly. He cups her shoulders then, holding her firmly, and presses kisses across her chest, down over her breasts. Her back arches, her head lolls back, and it's almost as if she's free-falling through the air, like there's nothing keeping her bound to earth.

He eases her upright again, and his hand finds its way between her thighs then, stroking her tender skin, so close to where she wants him to be, and she loses all focus. Her hips move to his rhythm, slow and deep and she sees stars.

Damon smiles and kisses her fiercely. "Are you ready?"

She meets his eyes and nods her head.

He kisses the tip of her nose and allows her to pull him on top. She wants to feel him pressing her to the mattress so she can wrap herself around him. So she pulls him down over her, cradling him between her raised knees and barely takes a heartbeat for him to slowly press the tip inside. She's so wet, still he takes his time, pressing kisses to the corners of her mouth and both eyelids as he slides inside her. She has to grit her teeth against the feel of him, so hot and full, to keep from crying out. Damon doesn't fare as well - he lets out a quiet noise that sounds like a whimper.

He starts moving slowly and deliberately. It feels amazing, so deep that she swears she can feel every inch of him burning inside her.

"Damon," she urges breathlessly. "Faster. Please."

She grabs at his hips to coax him on and whatever shred of self-control he's been clinging to snaps and then he's driving in and out of her like his life depends on it. Elena moves with him and soon feels pleasure starting to rise from the tips of curled toes and she forces herself to open her eyes so she can see him, to look at his lovely face, and somehow he manages to open his at the same moment. Their gazes lock and she knows that they're feeling the exact same thing. Bracing herself, Elena fists the sheets and cries out in ecstasy.

Damon holds himself still through the whole thing, trying to wait her out, but she tightens her muscles around him and she hugs him to her as he rides out the final waves.

He rolls off of her, flinging an arm over his face. Neither of them can seem to catch their breath, and when their eyes meet once again, he leans over and brushes a strand of damp hair behind her ear.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm perfect," she beams, her body beautifully flushed in the aftermath.

It takes a minute but he finally drags himself out of bed to grab the bottle of Pierre Jouet. They wordlessly touch their glasses together and the crystal's ping echoes through their suite...

A few years later...

By the time Elena gets home, the sun is just beginning its descent into the western sky. She hurries up the sidewalk that leads to the front door. She's been in New York for the last week for a magazine spread. Although she talked to her husband every morning and before going to bed, she still missed him like crazy.

After setting her things in the foyer, she goes to look for him, finding him in the backyard, cutting wood to prepare them for the winter. The light sheen of sweat glimmers off his bare finely sculpted chest. His muscles bulge with each swing of the ax.

She smiles, watching him as he wields it, raising it high above his head before slamming it down powerfully, easily splitting the log. The sound reverberates and rings loudly in her ears.

A sudden gust of wind lifts her hair off her shoulders and the fall leaves fly from the trees surrounding their property. As if sensing her presence, he looks up, then plants the ax as she moves closer to kiss the lips she's been missing for an entire week.

Her eyes drift to his badass tattoo that starts at the top of his right shoulder and continues down his pectoral muscle. It's an American flag, the artist did a magnificent job for it looks like his skin is splayed open with claw marks and the flag lays in the gaping 'wounds'.

"I love this," she runs her fingertips wispily over it, stoking an inferno inside of him.

"Elena," he groans and regrettably lifts her hand from his skin so he can finish chopping wood.

"You're no fun."

"I'm lots of fun," his eyes drop to her bump. "How was the shoot?"

"It was great, I wore a bikini. Brady said I'm a hot pregnant chick. It's going to be the cover shot."

"I can vouch for that," he peruses her form with hunger in his eyes.

"Did you get your test results back?"

Damon bends over to set another log on the block before turning his head to her again.

"You are now looking at Dr. Salvatore, PhD..."

"Damon, that's amazing," she throws her arms around his neck and kisses him fiercely. She leans forward and presses a kiss to the sculpted curve of his chest, tasting the salt from his sweaty skin.

Damon grazes her cheek with his knuckles, then kisses the tip of her nose. "I have to finish up here but... do have any new fantasies that I can fulfill?" he waggles his brows teasingly.

She shoots him a wicked smile. "I'm sure I can think of a few things." With an enticing wiggle of her hips, she disappears inside the house.

Damon gives her a whistle, picks up the ax and brings it down on the log, splitting it in two. While reaching for another piece of wood, he notices Elena doing a seductive striptease through their bedroom window while tantalizing him with her tongue...

Feeling his jeans tightening, he drops the ax and hurries inside to begin checking fantasies off her list. And maybe even a few of his own.

The End.

Thank you all so much. You're the best - bar none. I say it over and over but it's simply a fact. This was supposed to be a o/s but we decided to split it.

Chapter title: 'So This Is Love' from Walt Disney's Cinderella - she was always my favorite princess growing up.

The Halloween story will post after IIFY concludes. Then we'll probably start posting 'South of Santa Fe': "Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return: Injured and alone, Damon embarks on a harrowing journey to escape his pursuers. Along the way, he meets one badass of a woman who makes him want to stop running."

By the time that concludes it'll be #DEChristmas2019.

I posted a picture of Damon's tattoo on the fb page if you're interested.

Thank you all again. We'll see you next week for the continuation of IIFY. Have a wonderful day and a great rest of your week.