An hour earlier…

"The nerve. The sheer ego and nerve!" Elena sputtered as soon as they entered the house.

"I know!" Lexi exclaimed. "Fucking vampires. They don't seem to evolve. No matter how long they've lived, they still think like the morons of the era they were born in."

"Agh!" Elena exclaimed in aggravation. "I swear, the only reason I haven't kicked Damon in the balls is because he can do amazing things with that cock of his," she snarled. How dare he treat her like some helpless little woman?

"Don't you two think you're kinda overreacting?" Bekah tried to intervene.

"So says the woman who hasn't been reduced to house wife," snapped Elena. "I'd love to see what you'd say if Mason demanded a foot rub and a massage because you were his little woman!"

"I'd cut his balls off," Bekah snarled.

"See?" Lexi exclaimed.

Elena cared for him, deeply, but she wasn't letting any man, vampire, fae or any other species, treat her like she didn't have a brain. He needed to be taught a lesson.

"I think we need to teach our men a lesson," Elena said with a wicked smile.

"What did you have in mind?" Lexi asked.

"Let me guess," Bekah answered for Elena. "Honey wine and Vegas."

"Oh, you know me so well," Elena said with a laugh. At Lexi's inquisitive look, Elena began to explain. "Honey wine is a fae drink that is very powerful. It's like alcohol to the power of ten. And a bit of an aphrodisiac as well," she said with a grin.

"You want to teach Damon a lesson by sleeping with someone else?" Lexi asked, her face a mask of horror.

"Certainly not!" Elena exclaimed. There was no man she wanted in her bed other than the one she loved. "He'll just think I want to," she said with a small snigger.

Lexi's eyebrows rose. "Are you really prepared to hurt Damon like this?" she asked softly. "He'll never trust you again. It will kill him."

Elena looked at her and smiled softly. "Damon doesn't love me, Lexi. He's just using me to scratch an itch. Until he decides he wants Katherine back, though, I will stand by him. I'll be there for him. But I won't let him use me and treat me like dirt," she said.

"You're wrong, Elena. He's not just using you. He may not know it, but he loves you," Lexi said.

"Then what better way to make him realize the depth of his feelings for Elena than to see her with another man," Bekah said with a grin.

"I don't know…" Lexi trailed off.

"Come on, Lexi. He's got his head stuck so far up his ass when it comes to Katherine that he needs a swift kick to the rear to see the truth. What better way is there to realize that you love someone than to think you're on the verge of losing them? Maybe Damon just needs a slight push in the right direction," Bekah said.

"I'm still not sure…" Lexi said.

"For goodness sakes!" Elena exclaimed. "I don't plan on doing anything! I'm just going to drink and at the most dance with another guy," she said with a wicked grin. "Maybe a peck or two won't hurt either." At Lexi's cocked eyebrow she snorted. "You can't tell me you wouldn't love for Nik to go all caveman for you."

"Ugh. You're impossible. But I have to admit, there's just something so hot about a jealous alpha male," she said with a giggle.

"And the post-jealous episode sex is fucking amazing! They want to make sure you get the idea you belong to them. Fucking hell, it's so hot! Let's go now!" Elena said virtually panting at the thought of an angry, jealous Damon having his way with her. She so loved to tempt fate but she was a woman who liked to live dangerously.

"What about the wine?" Bekah asked. "Not all of us have a man on our tail."

"Riiiiight! Like I haven't seen the way you and Mason eye each other up," Elena said with a cocked eyebrow.

"Come on, Lena. All he sees is Nik little sister. That's all I am to him," she said with a small pout. Elena held her hand out and a bottle appeared. She removed the cork and took a long swig, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She handed the bottle to Bekah, who took a healthy swallow herself. Lexi eyed the bottle curiously, shrugged and drank deeply.

"Then, I think it's about time we show him how blind he's been, wouldn't you say?" Elena asked with a wicked smile.

"I agree," Lexi said with a small hiccup, the honey wine already loosening her inhibitions and freeing her tongue.

"I definitely agree," Bekah said with a wide smile. "Now hand over that bottle," she said to Elena who was in the process of taking another gulp of wine.

Ten minutes and one empty bottle of honey wine later, the girls were giggling and planning their revenge.

"I say the Rio," Lexi said with a long sigh, when they were trying to decide exactly where in Sin City they should start the party.

"That sigh doesn't make it sound so good," Bekah pointed out. "And right now I'm really horny from that damn wine so this better be good because if I don't get Mason into bed soon, I'm going to attack you Elena."

"Anytime babe, you know that," Elena said with a wink.

"You two sleep together?" Lexi asked in shock.

"Of course," both women answered at the same time.

"But, uh, what about Damon and you know…" Lexi trailed off.

"I'm sure Damon would love to watch," Bekah said with a giggle.

"Or even join in," Elena said with a wide grin.

Lexi snorted. "You two have sex on the brain."

"And you don't?" they both looked at her stunned.

"Maybe," she said with a grin. They all laughed.

"So, why the Rio?" Elena asked.

"One word," Lexi replied. "Chippendales."

Bekah squealed and Elena just grinned. "Perfect," she purred. "So, ladies, shall we?" she asked, holding out her hands.

"We can't go like this," Bekah said, horrified.

"Mmmm, you're right," Elena replied. She waved a hand, mumbled something and all of them were sporting more appropriate attire. Elena was wearing a pair of leather hot pants and a leather corset over a see-through black shirt with flowing sleeves. Bekah wore a form-fitting dress in dark blue, while Lexi wore denim shorts, knee-high boots and a tank top with an off-the-shoulder shirt on top. "Better?" she asked.

"Perfect," Bekah said and Lexi nodded with a grin. They both grasped Elena's hands and in seconds they appeared in Vegas, in the lobby of the Rio hotel.

"Why here?" Bekah asked.

"You said Chippendales," Elena said with a grin. "Let's get tickets."

At the counter, the woman was staring strangely at Elena. "Three for Chippendales, please," Elena said.

The woman suddenly gasped. "You're Elena Gilbert from Supernatural Storm!" she practically squealed, making Elena cringe.

"Uhm, no, sorry. You've got me confused," she said, not too happy about having everyone in the immediate area realizing who she was.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the woman apologized but didn't look convinced.

"Okay," Elena said, turning to her friends. "We've got an hour before they open the doors. What do you want to do?"

"Booze!" both Lexi and Bekah said.

Elena laughed. "Then let's get started ladies," she said with a grin.

An hour later, they were handing their tickets to the doorman, who grinned down at them. The guy was huge, Elena thought as she bent her head back to smile at him.

"Are you in the show?" she purred.

"No, ma'am, I just let pretty ladies like yourself in," he said.

"Oooh, I like him," Bekah purred.

"You like everyone," Lexi said with a chuckle. "But I have to admit that chocolate skin looks absolutely delectable," she agreed after eyeing the doorman.

"I would have really liked to see you in the show," Bekah said with a flirty smile. The doorman was close to choking, his tongue practically hanging out at all the attention he was receiving from the three women.

Elena put her hand behind her back and a few hundred dollar bills appeared in her hand. She pressed them into the doorman's hand and winked at him. "Put that towards the engagement ring and tell your lady she's a very luck girl," she said with a small wink. The man looked in his hand and back at her, his mouth agape.

"But why…? How…?" he stammered, stunned.

"She's special," Bekah said with a conspiratorial wink. "Now, we're going in for a drink, so move your ass Lena."

"Yes ma'am," she said with a salute. "She's such a slave driver," she said to the doorman over her shoulder, rolling her eyes. The man laughed.

"You are something else. Thank you. I hope you have an awesome time ladies and you come visit us again soon," he said with a grin.

Bekah popped her head back out. "Too bad you're taken or I would have been back like a shot," she said, smiling and then disappeared inside the bar again.

They finally made it inside and waited at the bar to be served. There were at least another thirty women waiting to be served, so they knew a little patience was in order.

Moments later, the bartender stood in front of them, asking them what they wanted to drink. "Three neat single malts, please," Elena said with a small smile.

"Any particular brand?" the bartender asked.

"18 year old Glenlivet, if you have it," Elena said.

"Ah, a lady with discerning tastes. Right away ma'am," he said as he turned away to pour their drinks. The other bartender rushed over to him and whispered something in his ear. The guy turned to throw them a curious glance and whispered something back to his friend.

He returned with their drinks and smile at them. Elena handed him a hundred dollar bill. He cleared his throat. "Ladies, I'm sorry to bother you but my friend and I have a bet. He's certain you're Elena Gilbert from Supernatural Storm and I told him he's crazy because Ms. Gilbert would never put in an appearance anywhere without an army of bodyguards," he said.

Elena was just about to deny the claim that she was who they thought she was when Bekah elbowed her in the ribs, silencing her for a moment. "I'm sorry, sweet cheeks, but you are going to be losing that bet," she said with a grin.

The man gasped and his friend was practically jumping up and down. "Can I have an autograph? Please?" he begged and Elena rolled her eyes at Bekah.

"I'm going to kill you," she hissed at her friend but she held her hands out for the pen and paper.

"Hey, remember, uber hot guys in there and I'd really like some male attention right about now," she hissed back.

"And you would have gotten it without having to use my name," Elena snapped back.

"Yeah, but it wouldn't be as much fun," Bekah snickered.

"She has a point," Lexi giggled in agreement.

"Great, I'm out with the lazy man-eating twins," Elena grumbled as she handed the man back the signed piece of paper.

An hour and a half later, the girls returned to the bar to enjoy another drink. The show had just finished and they were all giddy with excitement.

"God, I'm horny," Lexi exclaimed.

"Me too," Elena said with a chuckle. "It's the honey wine."

"Yeah, and the hot male flesh on show helped to fan the flames," Bekah snorted.

"They were hot," Elena agreed. "But Damon's still hotter," she declared as she took another gulp of her scotch.

"Sap," Bekah huffed. Elena just shrugged and laughed.

"Yeah, but I get hot sex all the time," she snorted.

"Bitch," Bekah replied good-naturedly. "So, why did you offer to sing for them after the show if you don't like them, then?"

"As a courtesy, dweeb. They performed for us. And very well I might add. It only seemed right to return the favor when they could enjoy it, not while they're working," Elena replied with a small shrug. "And I thought you wanted attention. What better way to get it?"

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Bekah cooed as she leaned in and kissed Elena on the lips.

"Can we join in?" they heard a man ask. The girls turned to see two of the men from the show grinning at them.

"Maybe," Bekah purred. "Depends how nice you are."

"We can be very, very nice," they said with a grin. Just then another man with long blond hair approached.

"Would you two shut up? I'm sorry Ms. Gilbert," he said.

"Please, call me Elena. And it's not a problem. It's all in good fun," she said with a grin.

"I'm Kevin," he replied. "So, was that offer to sing for us real? We all love your music and would be honored to hear you sing live."

"I never say anything I don't mean."

"Well, there's a club upstairs, and I'm sure they'll have everything you need."

"Perfect," Elena said with a grin. Going to a club was exactly what they had in mind anyway. This way, they'd be killing two birds with one stone.

"I'll get everything organized then and we'll meet upstairs," he said with a small smile.

"You're going to sing for us?" one of the two guys who had approached the earlier asked. He had short brown hair, hazel eyes and was built like a line-backer. The other one had black hair and blue eyes, reminding Elena of Damon.

"I am," she said with a smile.

"Fucking hell! Wait till the guys hear that Elena Gilbert is going to be singing for us!" he exclaimed. Elena laughed.

"See you upstairs boys," she said with a wave.

"Man, she is so fucking hot!" she heard them say behind her. "They all are!"

"Lena, you totally rock!" Bekah squealed in excitement.

"Come on, woman. I have a show to put on," Elena said, rolling her eyes and pulling the other two behind her.

A short time later, they were sipping scotch and dancing to the booming music in the club. They had only had a few moments on their own before a bunch of guys, who all looked quite familiar from earlier, surrounded them, grinning.

"Ladies, may we?" one of them asked.

"Please," Bekah purred with a small wink. Elena threw her head back and laughed. Suddenly, the music stopped and there was silence for a moment in the club until the crowd started to boo.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down. We have an awesome surprise for you and we'll think you'll forgive us for the change in music. Tonight, we have a very special guest in the house and she's agreed to sing a few songs for us. So, please, put your hands together for Elena Gilbert from Supernatural Storm!" the announcer exclaimed.

Everyone in the club started cheering and clapping as Elena made her way to where the announcer stood. He handed her the mike apologetically. "I'm sorry, but we don't have a stage," he said.

"No worries," she replied easily. "I can sing without one, you know," she winked.

He laughed. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I'm sure everyone here would love to be able to see you as well."

Elena nodded as she looked around. Her eyes fell on the bar on the other side of the room and she winked at the man acting as MC. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," she said into the mike. "Unfortunately, I'm a tad short, which might make it hard for some to see what I'm doing. Now, I don't think I'm all that fascinating to look at but our gracious MC has assured me that you all want to watch me, though I have no idea why."

The crowd laughed but exclamations of "we want to see you!" "Elena, don't hide!" and "let us see you!" rang out.

"I guess he was right. Well then, I'm thinking that the bar is perfectly appropriate," she said with a grin. "Now, if you would be kind enough to clear a path for me to the bar that would be lovely." And the crowd parted like the Red Sea in front of her. She eyed the bar, judging distance and height, hoping the honey wine hadn't completely screwed with her coordination. She broke out into a gentle run, did a one-handed summersault and vaulted up so she landed on her feet, on the bar.

The crowd cheered and clapped. "Not bad if I say so myself," she said with a grin. "So, I'll be doing a couple of songs tonight, specially dedicated to my friends from the Chippendales." Loud cheers went up and the men in question slipped through the crowd until they were standing in front of her, with Bekah and Lexi between them.

"Any special requests boys?" she asked.

"I Get Off!" the guy with the black hair and blue eyes shouted and the others nodded and clapped.

"I Get Off it is," she said. "DJ, play that funky music," she said with a grin.

Meanwhile, in the lobby…

"Where the hell are they?" Damon growled. "We've been searching for hours and no sign of them." He was so fucking pissed he was bordering on homicidal. Where the fuck was Elena? How could she possibly disappear like this? Jer had assured them she was in the building, but it was a huge fucking building.

"How am I supposed to know? It's not like I'm a bloodhound," Klaus snapped.

"I swear, I'm putting a lojack in that woman's ass," Damon grumbled.

Mason and Stefan just grinned at the two of them. Suddenly, Stefan perked up a little.

"Shut up, you two," he said to Klaus and Damon who were still arguing. "Shut the hell up!" he roared when they took no notice of him. When they finally quieted, he listened intently.

"I think she's upstairs," Stefan said.

"How'd you know?" Damon questioned him.

"Cuz she's singing," Stefan said with a small shrug.

Moments later, Damon was striding purposefully into Voodoo, the club at the top of the Rio, his eyes searching for Elena. The sight that greeted his eyes caused an instant shift, his fangs dropping, his blood red eyes promising retribution to the fucking asshole who dared touch his woman!

Klaus elbowed him in the ribs, hard. "We're in public, you dick," he hissed. Damon came back to himself and his features returned to normal.

"I'm going to kill him," Damon snarled. And then he was going to wrap her in a sheet because she was showing off way too much in those fucking shorts that had given him the hard-on of all hard-ons.

Elena was standing on the bar with a dark haired guy, singing. And she was actually singing to the fucktard!

I can't feel my senses

I just feel the cold

All colors seem to fade away

I can't reach my soul

I would stop running, if I knew there was a chance

It tears me apart to sacrifice it all but I'm forced to let go

She sounded damn amazing but he didn't know how much longer he could take it. When the idiot wrapped his arms around her midriff, pulling her back against him, Damon had had enough.

"I'm going to fucking kill him," he snarled and stalked towards the bar, the other men close on his heels. They pushed through the crowd, growling at anyone who wouldn't move out of their way.

Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do?

Can't tell the reasons I did it for you

When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you

You say that I'm frozen but what can I do?

When they reached the bar, Damon heard two loud snarls accompany his own. He glanced over to Klaus who had grabbed hold of Lexi and was snarling at some guys who looked too disgustingly good to be allowed to live. Mason was imitating Klaus' actions with Bekah. Now, he just had to rip this asshole away from his woman and then teach them both a lesson.

I can feel your sorrow

You won't forgive me,

but I know you'll be all right

It tears me apart that you will never know but I have to let go

Just then Elena looked down and noticed him, her eyes widening. Her lips curled in a sultry smile and she winked at him. She fucking winked at him while some piece of shit was holding her! He jumped onto the bar in one smooth move and stalked up to the guy.

"Hey, man, get the…" the idiot was trying to hiss at him. The fucker had a death wish.

"Get your hands off my woman before I rip your arms out of your sockets and beat you with the bloody stumps," Damon growled, flashing a bit of fang to make sure the idiot got the message. Apparently, he did because his hands came away from Elena instantly and he backed up until he fell off the edge of the bar. Damon looked at him in satisfaction. The only reason he wasn't dead was because Elena's body had been stiff as a board.

He slipped behind Elena, who was still singing and pulled her against him and was pleased to feel her soften, her body molding to his.

Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do?

Can't tell the reasons I did it for you

When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you

You say that I'm frozen but what can I do?

"Are you trying to get someone killed?" he whispered in her ear. She didn't react as she continued to sing.

Everything will slip away

Shattered pieces will remain

When memories fade into emptiness

Only time will tell its tale

If it all has been in vain

I can't feel my senses

I just feel the cold

Frozen...

But what can I do?

Frozen...

Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do?

Can't tell the reasons I did it for you

When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you

You say that I'm frozen, frozen...

Once the song was over, Damon let her go as she bowed to the crowd who was delirious.

"Thanks ladies and gentlemen. And thanks for a great show, boys," she said with a grin. "Give it up for the Chippendales." Women screamed in delight and clapped, while the men just grumbled.

Damon jumped off the bar and grabbed Elena by the waist, pulling her off the bar and putting her down. As soon as her feet touched the floor, he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the bathroom. He pushed her inside and locked the door behind them, knowing they were alone because of the lack of heartbeats.

"What the fuck was that, Elena?" he growled at her, his ice blue eyes flashing angrily.

"What was what?" she snapped, annoyed at being manhandled but also secretly aroused by it.

"The fucking disappearing act, the rubbing up against some fucking asshole, the…"

"What the hell is your problem? I was having a bit of fun," she snarled, interrupting him.

"With another fucking guy? Did you want me to rip his arms off for touching you? Is that what you want? You want me to go feral and kill every-fucking-one here?" he snarled back as he started to close the distance between them.

Elena was breathing hard and started to back up. Fuck, he's so hot when he's angry. "Why would you care? It's not like we made any commitment to each other," she said with a shrug. She really liked living on the edge, she thought as her back hit the wall and he caged her in.

"What?" he snarled in her face. "Why would I care? No fucking commitment? So, you just want to go and fuck some other asshole because I haven't married you yet?"

"Oh please. I'm fae, we don't do marriage!" she snapped. "And I can fuck who I like! Maybe I'm just tired of your cock and need something fresh!"

Damon's eyes narrowed. "Tired of my cock? Is that so?" he thundered.

"Yeah, it fucking is!" she snarled at him. "So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find someone else to play with." She shoved him, throwing him almost clear across the room, yanked the door open and stomped out of the bathroom.

Damon was seething, ready to kill anyone who even looked at him funny. She actually dropped him! So, he had only been a good fuck after all. Fucking typical. He was such a jackass to think they had something special. Katherine had been right after all. No one would ever love him.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Then he noticed a scent he had been too angry to sense earlier. His lips curled into a rather sinister smile. She wanted him. She had been aroused when they had been arguing but he had been too far gone to nice.

He wrenched the door open and stalked out of the bathroom, looking for her. She hadn't made it far.

A moment later, Damon pounced on her, pushing her up against the wall, pressing his erection against her ass. "Is this the cock you're tired of?"

"Yes," Elena answered, her voice husky. The smell of her arousal became even stronger and Damon groaned.

"What a lying little bitch you are," he snarled into her ear, making Elena shiver all over again. Yeah, she was lying. So fucking what! She was pissed at him, at herself, at everything. She was angry because she knew this was a mistake. She shouldn't want more from him. She should just let him be. It was only supposed to be about the sex. When the hell had she allowed herself to break her own rules and fall for him? And why was she so fucking selfish all of a sudden that she needed to know she meant more to him? Because at least you'll have the memories to keep you going, a soft voice whispered in her mind, which she chose to ignore.

"Think what you like," she replied with a snort. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to dance." She turned and began to push past him when he grabbed her hands and slammed her against the wall a little harder this time. When her back made contact with the wall, it actually cracked.

"You aren't fucking going in there," Damon hissed, a very vivid memory of what Elena and Bekah could do together on the dance floor. The thought of them finding someone else to take his place, the thought of Elena's fangs in another guy's neck, of her hand around another guy's cock woke something primal and feral inside him. It wasn't like the fury or jealousy he had felt before. No, this was magnified by at least a thousand. He knew that he was close to snapping and if she didn't want a fucking massacre on her hands then she'd better get them out of there.

"Get us out of here, now!" he hissed at her, blind rage choking him.

"Fuck off," Elena snapped. "I want to dance. I'm here for fun, not to babysit you!"

"Elena, listen to me and shut up. Get us the fuck out of here or I'm going to start ripping people's throats out," he snarled, gritting his teeth and trying to get control of himself.

Elena looked at him and realized something was wrong. He looked almost blinded by rage and fury, his nostrils flaring, fangs out and bared, veins spidering out and retreating around his eyes as if he was trying to control the change but couldn't. So, she grabbed his hand and ported them back to the Salvatore boarding house, right into the living room. No way was she going near his bedroom.

She let go of his arm and turned to hiss at him. "What the fuck is wrong with you Damon?"

"Nothing is wrong with me," he snarled back at her.

"Oh, really? Then why did I suddenly have to get you out of there because you wanted to kill everyone?"

"Because of you and your sudden desire to fucking dance," he snapped. Elena blinked at him in surprise.

"You're telling me that you wanted to kill people because I wanted to dance? Are you fucking INSANE?" she shouted at him, letting go of him like she'd been burned.

"I know how you fucking dance and if you think you're sinking your fangs into another guy or shoving your hand down his pants," he said, lips curled back in a snarl, hands fisting, teeth gritting, "you are damned delusional!"

Elena screeched in annoyance. "You think I do that with just anyone? You know what? Why the hell am I standing her arguing with you? I could be in Vegas, having a grand time. So, you know what? Fuck you and good night," but before Elena could port out of there, Damon had latched onto her hand. Now, she couldn't leave without him. She hissed her displeasure at him. He pulled her hard until she stumbled into him, body pressed against his from top to bottom.

"You even fucking look at another guy and I'll rip his intestines out, strangle him with them and drain every last drop of blood in his body," he snarled at her. He bent over slightly, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

"Why do you care who I'm with, Damon?" Elena asked, goading him, pushing him, needing to hear that he at least cared about her more than just a good fuck.

"Why the hell do you think woman?"

"I don't know. I need you to tell me," she hissed at him.

"Because you're fucking mine and I'm never letting you go," he growled into her ear, making her shudder. It was the first time in her life that Elena was actually turned on by the possessive tone. If any other guy had tried what Damon was doing, he'd have been a soprano by now. But with Damon, it was a turn-on.

Elena looked up at him. Would she ever be able to tell him just how much she loved him? She shrugged imperceptibly. Maybe, some day. Who knew? His eyes flicked over her face and his lips came crashing down onto hers, his tongue demanding entry. She gave in with a soft moan, tangling her hands in his shirt, pulling him closer to her.

His kiss was brutal, bruising and punishing and it drove her out of her mind as he used his tongue, his hands, his entire body to dominate her. Damon was angry. She had forced him into saying something he wasn't yet willing to admit to himself let alone say out loud.

He was doing his best to keep his beast under control, but it wasn't having any of it. He wrenched himself away from her, jumping practically to the other side of the room, in an effort to hide this side of himself from her. He didn't want her to see the monster and watch as her features twisted in disgust. His back turned to her, he was taking deep breaths as he tried to reign in the monster, his jaw clenched, his hands fisting by his sides, his shoulders hunched.

"What the hell Damon?" Elena snapped in annoyance. She was damned horny and she wanted him desperately. "What are you doing all the way over there?"

When Damon refused to respond, Elena started to get even more annoyed. She started to stalk over towards him only to pause when he snarled. "Elena, don't. Give me a minute."

She just huffed and drew closer. One of these days he'd have to understand that he couldn't frighten her. She only hoped she had enough time to beat it into his head that she liked this dark and dangerous side of him. "Don't you want me anymore?" she asked, a taunting edge to her words. "If I'm boring you, I can always leave…"

"Elena…" he snapped her name with a warning growl.

Elena took no notice and continued to bait him, wanting him to lose control, to take her like he really meant it. She had the sudden urge to test her mate, to see if he was worthy of her, to have him dominate her and prove he could stand beside her. Where the hell are these thoughts coming from?

Regardless of the alarm bells going off in her head, telling her she was getting in too deep, she still pressed on. "It's okay. I don't mind. I'm sure one of those cute humans from the Chippendales wouldn't mind taking care of my … needs."

Damon felt his humanity drain out of him as the vampire took full control, jealousy, rage and lust beating at him until he had no choice but to let go. He whirled on her, surprising her so she jumped back. But the stupid woman didn't realize what she was doing because she just grinned wickedly at him. "Those boys are really hot, don't you think?" she continued to prod and Damon roared in anger, so loud the house shook with his rage.

"Mine!" was all he was capable of growling as he rushed her and threw her over his shoulder. When she didn't struggle, his beast mollified a little but not enough for him to get it under control. The urge to punish, to brand, to fuck and to erase any other man from her thoughts was the only thing driving him at the moment.

He threw open the door to the basement and stalked down the dark steps and into the Salvatore dungeon. He threw her down on the makeshift bed. "Don't move!" he growled at her. Elena just grinned and jumped to her feet, moving as fast he did and was almost out the door before he grabbed her with another roar of anger. He grabbed hold of her tightly and in moments had her shackled to the wall, certain the chains would hold. She isn't fucking going anywhere!

Elena's breathing was labored and she was so turned on she was certain she was about to spontaneously combust. Who knew he had it in him? This dark, dominant side that he clearly had tried to hide from her. She reveled in it, wanting more of his beast, more of him… just more!

Damon stood back and growled again, running purely on instinct. He took a sniff of the air and roared in anger again. He could smell another male on her and it was driving his bloodlust into a frenzy, making him want to kill. He drew his fist back and let it fly, his demon reveling in the crack of brick and the smell of his own blood as his hand lodged itself almost to his wrist in the wall next to Elena's head.

Elena nearly passed out with need. His display of strength made something insider her purr with pride and with desire. Her pussy was creaming and throbbing with need. The need to have Damon's cock buried so deep inside her, slamming into her hard and fast, showing her he was a real alpha male. She whimpered in need but Damon just snarled at her, which only served to inflame her even more. One more snarl, and she would come, she just knew it. Damn, she had let the beast loose and she had never been happier in her life.

Damon pulled his hand free, his desire to kill abating for the moment. He looked down at her and growled again, his bloody hand coming up to hook in the corset she wore, tearing it off her. In moments, her offending clothing that not only revealed too much to other males' eyes but was also covered in another male's scent, had been thrown out the door and Elena stood naked before him.

He studied every inch of her, running his face and neck along her skin. He then sniffed every inch of her to make sure she carried no one's scent but his and her own. A pleased rumble came from his chest when the beast could no longer sense another's mark on her.

"Are you going to punish me Damon?" he heard her ask softly. His eyes flew up and locked with her gaze and the sultry look she gave him almost brought his beast to its knees.

"Yes," he snarled. "I'm going to teach you that this," he continued as he cupped her mound roughly, drawing a pleased moan from Elena, who was desperate for any form of contact, "and this," as his fingers tweaked her nipple harshly, "and every last bit of you is mine. No one else gets to fucking touch you and if you ever do that again I'm going to fucking lock you up in here for eternity."

Elena was panting at his rough treatment of her and his possessiveness was making her head spin. Her own beast, which she kept tightly leashed and had never revealed to anyone, was purring in satisfaction. Perfect mate. Strong. Worthy. So good! It repeated in her head and she agreed completely.

Damon grabbed hold of her, turning her around roughly so that her back was to him, her arms crossed as the long chains held her securely. "I'm going to brand every inch of you," he growled in her ear and Elena shivered as his hands clamped on to her ass, hoping he meant what she thought he did. She pushed her ass backwards, rubbing it against him.

"Yes, please," she whimpered. Damon's wicked laugh made her skin tingle and her weeping pussy contract, desperate for some form of stimulation. He was going to kill her with need!

"But first, I'm going to spank that ass so you remember exactly what happens when you step out of line," he hissed at her and Elena felt her knees go weak. She shivered with need and a little apprehension, the slight twinge of fear only exciting her even more.

He grabbed her hips with one hand, while the other planted itself on her back, pushing her forward so that she was bent over, her ass sticking out. He used his foot to widen her stance and Elena took a deep breath, curling her hands around the chains, holding on for dear life.

The first slap was on her left cheek, the loud crack thundering through the room. The initial pain made Elena gasp but when the second slap landed in the same place, the heat and pain began to mingle together and turn into pleasure, as she had known it would. She arched her back and pushed her ass out further.

"You like that, don't you?"

Elena could only nod as another slap landed. Suddenly, Damon's hand was probing between her folds, pinching her clit hard and she screamed. "Fuck, you're soaking," he murmured.

"More, please," Elena gasped out. He drew back and landed another slap on her other cheek, much to Elena's delight. His cool hand smoothed over her hot flesh, making her tremble.

"So pretty and pink," he said softly as he stared at his handiwork. He liked seeing the imprint of his palm on her flesh, declaring her his. "And all mine," he snarled at her as he landed another slap, this time making sure to catch her pussy as well.

"Fuck, I'm coming!" Elena screamed as an orgasm slammed through her body unexpectedly. Damon dropped to his knees and buried his face between her widespread thighs, his teeth latching on to her hard little clit.

Elena screamed again as Damon began to work her clit with his teeth and his tongue, burying three fingers inside her sopping wet pussy, driving her orgasm higher and higher until she thought she'd go insane with the pleasure. He drove into her harder and faster, finding her sweet spot as he sucked and nipped at her clit. She couldn't take it anymore! It was too much, she was going to pass out! There was no way she could possibly feel so much! Her brain was close to exploding, her fangs had lengthened of their own accord and her hands were squeezing the chains so hard she had squashed the metal as if it were nothing more than a tin can.

When Damon finally pulled back, her entire body was quivering and she could barely stand. He leaned over her and snarled as he cupped her mound again, a little gentler this time. "Who does this belong to?" he growled into her ear, leaning over her so his now naked chest lay flush against her back. She trembled at the touch and wondered how the hell it was possible to want him again, mere seconds after the most monumental orgasm she had ever experienced.

"Who does this belong to, you little bitch?" he snarled again, squeezing tighter when she didn't reply right away.

"You. Only you," she breathed out, meaning every word.

"Good," he snapped as he tore his jeans off, his cock weeping precum, wanting to get inside her with a desperation that drove him to insanity. He wanted to cover every inch of her in himself. "Now, I'm going to fuck your ass. I've had your pussy so now I'm going to make sure your ass is mine as well," he ground out.

"Please," she whimpered, wanting him everywhere. Needing him to conquer her, body and soul.

"Please what?" he asked.

Elena pushed her ass back against him, whimpering when he teased her with his cock, just lightly rubbing it between the folds of her pussy. "Please," she moaned again.

Damon gritted his teeth, trying not to slam into her, wanting to prolong the moment, to show her who was in charge. But she was making it so fucking hard! Her smell, her whimpers, the way she rubbed against him made him want to give her what she wanted but the beast snarled inside him, telling him he had to exert dominance this time, to prove his worth as her mate. And the beast was in control, which was why Damon didn't question his impulses or instincts. Yet his cock hurt with need, wanting to feel her slick muscles clamp down on him, needing to feel the exquisite torture of being inside her.

"Please what?" he snarled again. "Tell me what you want, Elena."

Elena growled in annoyance this time but gave in, too desperate to care she was about to beg. Hell, she'd already been begging but now she'd make fucking sure to break Damon's rigid control and make him fuck her until they both exploded. "I want you to take my ass, Damon," she growled. "I want you to take that big cock of yours and fuck me in the ass until you spill inside me and make me yours in every way possible," she finished, panting.

Damon lost it. He fisted a hand in her hair and pulled her against him as he slammed into her pussy, much to Elena's surprise. "You're fucking mine," he snarled. "And don't you fucking forget it." He said as he slammed into her again and again. Elena was screaming and writhing as every cell in her body exploded with sensation. Damon's grip on her was the only thing holding her upright but she didn't care. What he was doing to her was beyond words.

He pulled out of her and Elena whimpered at the loss. He pushed her forward and slid his cock up slightly, resting it against her puckered rosette. She moaned in desperation, needing him inside her. He started to push gently, breaching the tight ring of muscles and Elena groaned, sinking her fingers into the bricks of the wall her hands rested against. She tried to push back against him, to take him inside her hard and fast but Damon wouldn't play along. As she pushed back, he pulled back and she screeched in frustration.

"Damon!"

"We're doing this my way," Damon snarled. When she settled down with a soft mewl, he resumed pushing inside her. It was driving him insane to go so slow, even though his instincts were screaming at him to ram himself inside her, to claim her, a tiny part of him held him back, not wanting to hurt her. So, he continued to push slowly until he was fully lodged inside her, her muscles squeezing his shaft so tightly his eyes almost rolled into the back of his head.

He pulled out slowly, making her feel every inch of his cock and Elena whimpered. Then, he pushed back in, just as slowly, his hands trembling on her hips at the exquisite sensations. "Fuck, you feel so good. You're so tight," he growled.

Elena was going to kill him. If he didn't move and take her already she was going to literally tear him apart. The slight sting of pain of him breaching her back passage mixed with pleasure as nerve endings she'd never used before lit up, making her tremble with agony because she was desperate for more.

She looked at him over her shoulder, her eyes flashing in fury, her own fangs out and menacing. "What did you expect?" she snapped. "You're my first."

Her first? How the hell? "You're lying," he snarled.

"Are you a complete moron? Why would I lie about something like that? Now get on with it because I need more," she finished breathlessly.

Damon didn't think he could possibly feel even more possessive of her but he did. There was one part of her that was his alone. A part no other had claimed. He had never thought something like that would matter so much but it made him want to roar with victory.

He drove back into her, trying even harder to go slowly, now knowing it was her first time but she wouldn't have it. She pushed back against him. "Elena," he hissed, "stop it! I only have so much control and I don't want to hurt you."

Elena looked at him again, love for him swelling her heart until she thought it would explode. Even with his beast in control, he still was mindful of her and wanted to take care of her. Unfortunately, at that moment, it wasn't what she needed. What she needed was hard and fast!

"If you won't do it, I'll find someone who will," she snapped at him.

Damon knew what she was doing. His beast knew what she was doing. But logic fled at the mention of another giving her this and he roared angrily, griping her hips tightly as he pulled back and slammed back into her. "Is this what you want?" he snarled angrily.

"Yes!" she screamed, arching her back and pushing back into him as he continued to ram his cock into her ass. The sensations were unbelievable, a dark pleasure that threatened to engulf her and make her lose any semblance of herself.

"You ever let anyone touch you ever again and I will rip them apart," he hissed at her. The thought of another male touching her made him insane with fury. The idea that another would feel the exquisite torture of being inside her, that another would see her pleasure as she writhed beneath him, that another would hear her please for more drove him crazy.

"Never," she breathed out.

"You belong to me," he snarled. His hand burrowed between her thighs and pinched her clit while he bent over, sinking his fangs into her shoulder to keep her still, marking her as his.

"Oh God! Fuck, Damon!" Elena screamed as every cell exploded into a supernova inside her. Her mind shut down as her vision darkened, her body trembling with the onslaught of sensations assaulting her. She had never felt anything like it and when she felt Damon's seed shoot inside her she screamed again as it somehow raised the intensity of her own climax. She was going to die! She couldn't take it anymore!

Damon roared as the tight clamp of her muscles dragged his orgasm from him, no matter how much he had wanted to hold on longer. His balls drew up tight and his vision exploded in a myriad of fireworks as pain and pleasure mingled into the most savage release he had ever experienced, his seed shooting out of his cock so hard and fast he was afraid his shaft would literally explode.

When he came to, he pulled back gently, his cock sliding out of her. He looked down at a trembling Elena and his eyes widened in horror.

"Oh my God, what have I done?" he whimpered as he fell to his knees behind her. Elena's back was covered in blood, from where he had bitten her. Her ass sported his palm prints and her hips were sporting bruises where his fingers had dug in. Her wrists were bloody where she had pulled against the restraints. "I'm so sorry Elena," he cried out. He had fucking raped her! He was a monster, just like Katherine had said!

"What the hell are you talking about?" Elena asked, as she looked at him. Was he mad? She had just had the most intense sex of her life and he was apologizing?

"I raped you. I'm a monster," he hissed as he backed up. She looked at him and realized he wasn't seeing her anymore, his eyes wide, his jaw clenched in despair.

"Damon!" she snapped at him but he was oblivious to anything except his belief he had truly become a monster. "Damon, look at me!" she shouted and his gaze flew to her. "You did not hurt me," she said slowly.

"God, Elena," he moaned, running a hand through his hair. "What have I done?" Damon felt as if he was going out of his mind. He knew he should free Elena but after what he'd done to her, he knew she wouldn't be able to bear his touch. And to be honest, he didn't trust himself near her. What if he snapped again and hurt her even worse.

"Nothing I didn't enjoy," she said calmly, trying to get him to see reason.

"No, no, how could you have enjoyed that?" he asked, hating himself for allowing his dark desires to take control of him. "Look at you. I almost ripped you apart," he ground out. "Katherine was right. I don't deserve to be loved. Hell, I don't deserve to live after what I did to you," he spat out.

Elena had had it. This was ridiculous. He was completely ruining her post-orgasmic bliss and it was seriously pissing her off. She should be cuddled in his arms right now, enjoying the afterglow. But no, he had to go all stupid on her. Fine! She'd show him!

"Damon Salvatore, you are a moron of epic proportions!" she snapped at him as her skin began to glow. In seconds, she was standing before him nary a mark on her and then her spikes snapped out of her forearms, slicing through the manacles. The metal made a loud clank as the manacles and chains dropped to the floor, along with Damon's jaw. When her wings exploded out of her back, stretching out to their full span, Damon gasped and jumped back involuntarily.

Elena snarled at him and his gaze flew to her face, his eyes widening at the blackness of her eyes and those fangs that he had never actually seen properly. She stood proudly before him.

"Look at me, Damon," she growled as she bent over, making Damon's mouth go dry at the sight of her. She picked up a chain in each hand and walked towards him, pulling them out of the wall with seemingly no effort. She just walked and those damn chains came out of the wall like a hot knife through butter. Damon just gaped. "Now do you get it?" she asked. "You didn't do anything to me I didn't want, except for ruining what could have been a perfectly wonderful post-orgasmic cuddle with your stupidity," she snapped.

Damon had the sudden urge to back up and hide in the corner at the glare on her face. She was pissed! At him! Not good, he decided. At the same time, though, the sensation of complete and utter freedom engulfed him. He hadn't hurt her! And she had actually liked it!

"Yes I liked it, you moron!" she snapped as she continued to advance on him. "In fact, it was fucking amazing! Don't you get that I love every side of you, including your darkness? Hell, that's what makes you practically irresistible, you cretin!"

Damon's mouth was practically hanging open. Did she just say what he thought she said? No, he must be hearing things. "What did you just say?" he breathed.

"I said it was amazing! Are you deaf as well as stupid now?"

"Not that. You said you loved me," he said softly.

Elena stopped walking. She hadn't. Had she? Oh crap! She was in deep shit! Her and her big mouth when she was angry! "No I didn't," she denied.

"Yes you did," Damon insisted.

"Did not!" she snapped back.

Damon felt his lips curl into an involuntary smirk, suddenly feeling a hundred feet tall. "You love me!" he exclaimed as he rushed at her and picked her up, twirling her around with a moronic grin on his face.

Elena's legs came up automatically to wrap around his waist and her wings wound around him. She couldn't help it. His joy was infectious and she threw her head back and laughed.

He slowed to a standstill and looked up into her eyes. "You love me?" he questioned softly and the uncertainty and vulnerability on his face melted Elena's heart.

And in the warm cocoon her wings formed around them, hidden from the harsh realities of their lives, Elena gave in. "Yes," she whispered as she looked into those sparkling blue eyes, her fingertips brushing back a lock of his silky raven hair.

"Say it," he demanded.

Elena smiled sadly, knowing that for her it was the beginning of the end. By saying the words aloud, she was handing him her heart and she knew she'd never see it again. But he was worth it. She wanted Damon to see that he could be loved, that he wasn't the monster he thought himself and that he deserved much more than life had given him. She would hurt later and for the rest of eternity but he would never know. She'd make sure of it. And he was worth all the pain and more. This one moment in time was worth it. "I love you with all my heart and soul, Damon Salvatore. You are the love of my life," she finished as she softly kissed him on the lips.

And there, in the warm cocoon of her wings, Damon felt as if he had been reborn. This amazing and exquisite woman loved him! A creature of beauty and light, of legend, a woman who was strong, brave and fierce loved him! He fell to his knees, still holding on tightly to her as he began to tremble, looking at her in awe. He would never let her go. Without her, he would be nothing. She brought light and laughter into his life and she accepted him for who he really was.

"Yes, Damon. I love all of you and I never want you to change," she whispered softly. "Promise me that, please. Promise me you will never change," she whispered to him, a tear rolling down her cheek. He leaned in and kissed the tear away.

"I promise," he whispered. "Thank you." Fuck, what a stupid thing to say! Tell her you love her, dickwad, his beast insisted. And he wanted to, so badly. But he simple couldn't get the words out. He knew he was a coward but the last woman he had told he loved had scorned him and laughed in his face, even though she had also professed to love him. So, he couldn't get the words out and he had the foreboding feeling he would soon come to regret his cowardice.

Elena's heart sank a little but she kept the smile plastered on her face. He didn't love her in return but it didn't matter. She hoped her love could at least make a small difference in his life. She hoped he would finally understand his own worth. "Shh," she said, placing a finger on his lips. "You don't need to say anything."

Suddenly, she stiffened in his arms and Damon looked at her questioningly. "I have to go," she said, her voice turning cold and menacing.

"What is it?" he asked, tightening his arms around her.

"The rift alarm has gone off and everyone else is still in Vegas," she said quickly. "I need to go now!"

"I'm coming with you," Damon declared. There was no way he'd let her go on her own. She'd get herself killed and that's the one thing that would never happen while he still lived.

"No, you aren't Damon," Elena said.

"Yes, I am. We've had this discussion before. You take me with you and we fight together, or I follow you anyway and it'll be that much harder for both of us," he growled, suddenly irritated that she didn't trust him.

Elena sighed, knowing he was right. It didn't help that she was alone. She had to grudgingly admit she could use the help, especially since she didn't know how many would be coming through this time.

She got to her feet, swiping a hand through the air and suddenly, they were both dressed in their armor, fully armed and ready to fight. "I lock in the shadow demon first, so he can't escape into inhabited areas. Then, we handle the slime balls and I'll take care of the demon last. I need you to keep those disgusting things off me while I bind the shadow demon," she said, going into full battle-mode.

"Got it," Damon said, drawing his swords. After their previous experience with the creatures, he knew guns would be practically ineffectual and he couldn't risk giving them another go when it was just him and Elena up against who knew how many of the Zerg.

Elena grabbed him by the forearm and the dungeon shimmered and shifted, morphing into the clearing where the rift was located. They had arrived just in time as four Zerg and a shadow demon came through the shimmering blue Veil that was the fabric between realms.

Elena didn't hesitate. She stepped forward immediately, raising her hands to cast the spell that would bind the shadow demon. Damon took up position to her right and glared at the slime balls, who were currently eyeing them. When the first one rushed Elena, trying to stop her, Damon was in front of it, slicing into it, letting all the fury come through. How dare this piece of shit attack his woman? His beast snarled, desperate to rip the throat out of the disgusting creature. By time he was finished, he had sliced the thing up into tiny bits.

Damon turned back to look at Elena, who had already drawn her own swords and was charging between two of the slime balls. She gripped her swords backwards, so they ran up her forearms, allowing her to get a good swing at the two creatures that were rushing her. She pumped her legs faster until she was nothing more than a blur. She sliced outwards, on either side, just as she ran between the slime balls, catching both of them in the gut. They screamed in pain but wouldn't give up. They turned and tried to charge her again but at that moment, Damon came sailing through the air, cutting the head off one of the creatures as he flew past. The head fell with a dull thud to the floor as black slime sprayed from the severed neck and the body fell to the floor.

Elena rushed towards the remaining creature and lodged her swords in its gut, slicing upwards so that whatever it had that passed for organs spilled out of its body as its scream rent the air. She took a step back and surveyed the scene. Other than the shadow demon that was spitting and cursing at her, all the creatures lay in a dismembered mess on the soft grass. Elena closed her eyes and held her hands out, allowing the fire to pass through her body and engulf all the body parts of the dead Zerg. She wanted to make sure they stayed down.

Her eyes sought out Damon, who stood tall, grinning and practically vibrating with excitement. She winked at him with a smile. "Thanks cowboy," she said with a grin. "Now, let me take care of this one and then we can get some rest."

She turned to the shadow demon, who was now squealing in outrage. Elena spoke softly and her swords started to glow as she ran at the shadow demon. Once she reached it, she crossed her swords at its neck. She didn't hesitate for a moment. She simply sliced its head off and watched dispassionately as it disintegrated in front of her.

Damon sauntered up to her and pulled her tight against him, kissing her on the lips soundly. "Nice," he said with a grin.

"I can say the same thing of you," she replied with a matching smile. "I have to admit, we make a good team."

"Now that I have to agree with. We make a damn good team," he replied with a cocky smirk.

"You know, nothing gets my blood going more than a good fight. And I just love you in leather. So, how about we go home and I show you exactly how creative I can be with a set of chains?" she purred.

Even with the carnage around them, Damon felt all the blood rush south to his cock, which stood to attention. He groaned. "Woman, you are going to kill me. Let's go, now! Before I spontaneously combust," he said with a grin as he grabbed hold of her hand.

Elena smiled at him and ported them out of there. Neither of them noticed the lone figure standing in the shadows.

Once the couple had disappeared, the figure chuckled. "You were always too soft for your own good, Elena," a voice sounded in the clearing. "And now you've handed me the one thing that will bring you down. You always were a foolish child." The figure laughed, a cold and menacing sound. "Soon, we shall take our rightful place as rulers of mortal men and there will be no one to stand in our way!"