Prologue

"So, how does it feel to be Mrs. Salvatore?" Caroline gushed into Elena's ear.

Elena turned her head into her best friend's direction and smiled. It was true; she was a married woman now. The day could not have been more perfect. She caught her husband staring at her from across the room and held his gaze for a second.

"It feels amazing, Care. It's the crowning of our relationship. I could not be happier," Elena said.

Caroline swooned next to her.

"People are calling you the dream couple, you know that, right? Do you realise how lucky you are?"

Elena took a sip of her champagne and nodded.

"That I do."

She had met Stefan Salvatore two years ago. Caroline had introduced them, actually. They had hit it off and started dating shortly after. A few months ago, Stefan had proposed. It was everything Elena had always wanted. She had always dreamed of finding a handsome husband; living the white picket fence life. She was getting all that now.

"I want what you have," Caroline pouted.

Elena started to laugh.

"The right man will come along for you. You just have to wait."

"You know, I heard that Stefan has a brother and that he is supposed to be here tonight. Do you know who he is?" Caroline inquired.

Elena shook her head.

Yes, she knew that Stefan had an older brother and that he was crazy about him. But she had never laid eyes on him. Apparently, he had taken over their father's business when he had died, setting up shop in their Rome establishment. Stefan had told her he had lived there for four years now, but that he was ready to come back to the States. The Rome establishment was doing well, so he would now take on the challenge of making the Mystic Falls establishment even more profitable.

Yes, the Salvatore family was filthy rich. But Elena didn't care about that and neither did Stefan. He had refused to work at their business. Instead, he became an artist, selling his pictures in galleries. He was doing quite well for himself.

"I'll just bet that Damon Salvatore is just as hot as Stefan is. Maybe even hotter. If I lay eyes on him tonight, he is going to be mine," Caroline vowed to Elena.

Elena chuckled.

Caroline Forbes; ever the incorrigible man eater.

"Happy hunting, then," she winked at her friend.

"What are you two girls gossiping about?" Stefan suddenly asked, standing right behind them.

Elena turned his way and kissed his cheek.

"About your brother, actually. Is he here yet?" she asked her husband.

Stefan shrugged and took a look around.

"I didn't see him yet. He's supposed to come," he sort of sulked.

Elena felt bad for him. He obviously loved his big brother dearly. If Damon didn't show up tonight.. Well, she would hate to think what that would do to him.

"I'm sure he'll be here shortly," she tried to reassure her husband.

Stefan gave a tight smile.

"We'll see. Did I mention how much I love you in that dress?"

Elena looked down at her white wedding gown. She had to admit it looked good on her. It had a tight bodice, emphasising her bosom. The dress flowed around the legs.

"Did I mention what I'm wearing underneath said dress?" Elena flirted.

Stefan's eyes bugged out, but before he had a chance to reply, a deep voice interrupted them.

"Please do tell. Now I'm curious."

Elena wanted to scold the stranger. He was highly inappropriate! But suddenly Stefan's eyes lit up and he wrapped his arms around the man.

"Damon! You made it!" he said excitedly.

Elena couldn't quite make out Damon's face. He was standing with his back towards her, hugging his brother close to him. But she was glad he had held his promise to Stefan.

"Of course I came, baby bro. I wouldn't miss your wedding party. So who's the poor girl marrying into our family?" she heard Damon joke.

He had a really deep, rumbling voice. It was almost…sexy. Just his voice screamed ladies man to her. She was sure he was the kind of man that went through women like he went through underwear. Not that she was thinking about his underwear..

"Elena, may I introduce my brother Damon. Damon, this is my wife Elena."

Stefan grinned from ear to ear as he stepped back to allow them to meet.

As soon as Damon Salvatore was in her line of vision, her breathing stopped. She could feel her heart beginning to flutter in her chest and her belly clench violently with pure, unadulterated lust. All sound seemed to fade around her as she took in this… god.

He had jet black hair and the most piercing blue eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that seemed to look right through her. He was taking her in, looking over her form with appreciation. It made Elena squirm.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Elena," his husky voice said.

Holy shit! Did her legs just buckle? It was a good thing Stefan had wrapped an arm around her, holding her upright.

Her voice seemed to be lost, though, as Mr. Damon Sexy Salvatore gently took her hand in his and softly brushed his lips across her knuckles.

She could feel her blood pumping through her like hot lava, filling up her cheeks and making her blush like a high school kid. She realised she still hadn't said anything. She needed to speak, otherwise Stefan and Damon would think her to be rude.

She cleared her throat.

"The pleasure is all mine, Damon," she managed to get out.

Damon smiled at her and released her hand, before giving his brother a playful wink.

"Nice little lady you got here, bro. A real looker."

Stefan grinned back at him.

"I know. I got myself a catch here."

Damon's eyes landed on her again, smirking at her. He was making her uncomfortable!

"Would you mind terribly if I took that hot wife of yours for a spin on the dance floor? We need to get better acquainted," Damon proposed to his brother, without taking his eyes off of her.

Stefan shrugged.

"Be my guest."

Elena began to shake her head. She didn't want him to touch her. It was a very, very bad idea.

"No.. I.. I want to stay here with my husband if you don't mind. We still need to catch up with some people."

Damon raised an eyebrow at her refusal.

"Come on. One dance, Elena. I'll have you back by Stefan's side in 3 minutes tops," he persisted.

"Really, Elena. It's okay. I want you to get to know my brother," Stefan encouraged her.

Elena looked back from Damon to Stefan. She had no choice. So she placed her hand in Damon's extended one and let him lead her on the dance floor.

Of course, a slow song had to be played! Damon placed his right hand on her lower back, while his left grabbed hold of her right hand, swaying gently with her to the rhythm. Everywhere he touched, it burned right through her. He was intoxicating.

For some reason she closed her eyes, breathing in his scent. By god, this man was drop dead gorgeous! He didn't look like Stefan at all. When Stefan looked at her he was sweet, protective and warm. When Damon looked at her, he overwhelmed her. He consumed her. She assumed this man was very dangerous. She needed to stay far away from him. But for now, she couldn't.

"I can see why my brother is so smitten with you. You are lovely, Elena," he said next to her ear.

Elena shivered in his arms.

"Thank you. So I hear you're settling back in Mystic Falls permanently?" she tried to make conversation.

Damon nodded.

"Yes. The Mystic Falls Salvatore Enterprises establishment needs to do better. That's why I'm here."

"Will you be going back to Rome?"

She could hear him chuckling at her question.

"Eager to get rid of me, Elena?"

Elena blanched.

"That's not.. I mean.."

My god! Why couldn't she form a decent sentence around this man? He infuriated her with his easy attitude and cunning charm!

"No, Elena. Italy had nothing to offer me anymore. So I'll be staying," he clarified.

She turned back to look at him.

"I'm glad. Stefan misses you. I'm happy he'll get his big brother back," she told him.

Damon smiled at her, before continuing to guide her along the dance floor. Why did this song take so long to finish?

"So what are your plans after the wedding? Big honeymoon?" Damon inquired.

Elena shook her head.

"Stefan has to stay in town. Some of his pictures will be on display at a gallery in a few days."

"Ah, so Stefan is still into that kind of thing? Is it profitable?"

Elena scowled. She should have known this man was all business. He probably wouldn't understand the need to have passion in a career. The only thing he understood was money.

"Yes. We can support ourselves, Damon. Thank you very much!" she snapped at him.

Damon leaned back to look her in the eye. A move Elena was beginning to hate. For some reason, those eyes reeled her in.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, Elena. That wasn't my intention. I'm curious about my baby bro's life here. I didn't mean to offend anyone's job," he sincerely apologised.

That made Elena feel a little better. But her being not quite herself around him spurred her on in keeping him at bay. If she stayed mad at him, she could ignore the other things brewing inside of her.

"Maybe if you had bothered to show your face a little more in the past four years, you would have known yourself how your brother is doing."

Damon chuckled.

"Ouch! Feisty, aren't we. I like you, Elena. You've got fire. And you make Stefan smile, which is something I haven't seen in a while. Welcome in the family."

Before she had time to reply, the song ended. Damon leaned forward, carefully brushing her cheek with his lips.

"Thank you for the dance, Elena," he whispered in her ear.

Elena closed her eyes, willing her heartbeat to return to normal. This man made her feel insanely hot. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

Damn it! She was at her own wedding and this man was making her feel butterflies! This was wrong on so many levels!

Damon pulled back and released her.

Elena bolted.

She ran right off the dance floor and towards the restroom. She pulled the door open and flew towards one of the sinks, placing her palms flat down to try and get a hold of herself.

"What are you doing, Elena?" she asked herself in the mirror.

Her own reflection stared back at her, her face flushed, her breathing shallow and fast…

Caroline came in behind her, taking in her troubled form.

"I saw you run. What's wrong, sweetie?" she asked her.

Elena shook her head, clutching her chest to try and control her breathing.

"I feel like I can't breathe," she explained.

Caroline took hold of her shoulders and looked her in the eye.

"Yes, you can. Breathe in and out. Deep and even breaths. There you go," she instructed Elena, breathing with her.

After a few minutes, her panic died down and she felt better.

"Thank you," she said to her friend.

Caroline chuckled a bit.

"Isn't it a bit late to be getting cold feet? I mean, you are already married," she joked.

Elena smiled with her.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"Well, you will be fine. You love Stefan. Everything will work out for you guys. There really is no need to have an emotional breakdown," Caroline said resolutely.

"You are right."

"So are you ready to get back towards the party?"

Elena nodded at her friend. She needed to get back. Caroline was right. She was going to be fine.

Later that night, Stefan and Elena arrived at the Salvatore boarding house; a place they now called their home.

"Do you want me to carry you over the threshold?" Stefan said playfully.

Elena gave him a tired smile.

"No, thank you. I just want to go to bed. It's been a long day."

Stefan nodded and closed the door behind them, watching her intently.

"You seemed tense around my brother. You don't like him, do you?" he suddenly asked her.

Elena almost jumped at his question. She straightened her shoulders and sighed.

"I don't know. He just rubs me the wrong way. I'm sorry."

Stefan wrapped his arms around her.

"Don't be sorry. I know Damon can be overpowering. But he's my big brother. I will always love him. So I'm hoping you can try to like him. Just a little."

He said it with a light chuckle, but Elena still felt guilty. Here she was, married to one brother while the other one made her feel things she somehow never felt before. It was intense and strong and very different to what she felt for Stefan. She had thought she had known all about love; about soul mates and other halves and fire and passion.

But one look at Damon told her otherwise. She knew nothing. Which was why she was going to stay as far away from him as she possibly could…

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