Full Summary: AH / AU

Damon Salvatore is from a rich and successful family and heir to the throne of a multi-million dollar corporation in New York; Elena is a broke college student applying for a scholarship in Journalism. After a chance encounter at a bar, the two strangers ended up having drunk and passionate sex that changed their lives forever.

Elena, after discovering that she was pregnant and kicked out of her own home, turns to the devastatingly handsome Damon and turns his world upside down when they were forced to marry to salvage his high-profile family's reputation. The terms of the marriage are: They divorce after one year, the baby will remain in Damon's custody, and Elena will eventually get a huge cash settlement to secure her own future.

This story is a journey of their marriage where they agreed to keep their relationship strictly platonic, but Damon had other plans. What they didn't count on was falling in love with each other along the way, despite them fighting their growing feelings and obstacles surrounding them at every corner.

Basically, the inspiration for this story came when I read a synopsis on the back cover of a book called "Separate Beds" by Lavryle Spencer (hope I got the name right). I didn't read the book, so I didn't know the contents, and so I started writing this story roughly based on the general idea of the book, at least the start of it anyway.

So, yes, I didn't mean to steal any similar plots from the book, because except for a couple of details, my story is not copied from that book in any way. I already have a plot in my mind, and rest assured that it will be very different from the book of the same name. The plot, the dialogues are all mine and since we're being totally honest here, the characters are loosely based on the Vampire Diaries series, too. But then I'm sure you already knew that! I don't own the characters, blah blah blah.

Hope you'll give it a chance as most people who reviewed have enjoyed it.

Lots of Angst, Romance, Humor, Drama, etc.

Chapter 1: At First Sight

Elena's POV

As soon as I heard the words, my whole world crashed around me. Everything that I held dear in my life, everything that I ever knew...was a lie. Why would they do this to me? What did I do to deserve this? Why him, the person that I hated most out of everyone in the world?

Tears spilled out of my eyes as I stared in shock into my aunt's troubled ones.

"I'm so sorry, Elena. We didn't want you to find out this way," Jenna's lower lips quivered in a struggle to control her emotions, her eyes filling with sympathy for me.

"We? Does Jeremy know?" I demanded to know, feeling my anger rising to a boil, not caring who witnessed it in the room full of strangers.

Jenna averted her eyes from mine and hesitated before finally giving me the truth. "Yes, he knows, but your mother didn't want us to tell you."

I almost scoffed at that. "Oh, so she'd rather I hear it from a bunch of lawyers in lousy suits instead?" I bit out, glaring at the affronted people who automatically looked down at their attires at my insult. "Or did they hope that I wouldn't have to find out at all?"

"No!" Jenna denied, her eyes meeting mine as she begged me to understand. "I mean, I'm sure your parents would have told you the truth eventually," she said, her voice uncertain.

"Right, because they didn't find a right moment in all of my eighteen years living with them!" I rolled my eyes at my aunt in exasperation.

I decided then that I had enough with the meeting. "I have to get out of here, I just can't do this right now," I muttered before grabbing my purse from the chair beside me and stormed out of the office, leaving four people behind who gaped at my sudden departure.

I ran as fast as my legs in heels could carry me, stumbling a little as I pushed the double doors open until I escaped the suffocating building. I walked around blindly for the next hour, not caring where I was headed to. As usual, the traffic was bustling with queuing cars and impatient honks; just your typical Friday end-of-workday evening. My feet were aching and I cursed at the sight of my four-inched heels that I opted to wear with my formal clothes for the lawyer's meeting today. It would be a total nightmare getting a cab home at this hour, and frankly, I wasn't ready to see any of my family members yet. At times like these, I really missed my best friend Bonnie who was staying with her father in North Carolina.

I need a drink, I thought to myself as I ducked into a boutique hotel and made my way into their restroom, not meeting anyone's eyes as I walked past the front desk. I needed to make myself look more presentable or at least old enough to be served alcohol in a bar without raising any alarm.

I sighed deeply as I caught my reflection in the mirror. In two short weeks, my life had crumbled into pieces starting from the time I found out that my parents had died in a car accident. I studied the image in the mirror with critical eyes; my long brunette hair caught at the nape with a scrunchy and my heart-shaped face looked pretty much the same except for the hollowed cheeks from a fortnight of not eating proper meals. My wide brown eyes no longer held the spark of life that I used to have. In other words, the girl who was staring right back at me looked like an empty shell of the former cheerleader, a popular girl who was crowned Prom Queen just a few months ago before I started college.

I took a deep breath and shook out my hair from the tight pony-tail and let it cascade down in waves around my shoulders and back. I ran a comb hurriedly through the loose curls until they tamed somewhat and then I twisted them up in a loose chignon and secured it with a large pin that I carried around in my purse, pulling a few loose strands around my ears to soften the effect. Then, I reapplied my makeup, brushing a darker shade of eye shadow and sweeping black eyeliner across my lids, finishing with a nude shade of lipstick.

I stepped back and surveyed my appearance in satisfaction; I should be able to pass for a twenty-one year old now, at least. I took off my coat and tugged the vee neckline of my grey dress lower, revealing a deeper cleavage as I adjusted my bra. The hemlines of the skirt fell just slightly above my knees, the high side slits made walking much easier in the tight dress.

Squaring my shoulders, I collected my belongings and made my way out of the hotel and out on the street, with no clue at all where to head next. I was almost limping with pain by the time I managed to find a low-key bar named Sigi's at a corner of the street and gratefully sank down onto the only empty bar stool in the place. I closed my eyes and moaned out loud as I slipped my heels off my stockinged feet, massaging my aching ankles. My brief moment of comfort was short lived though, my eyes flying open when I heard a low chuckle beside me and I could feel my entire body stiffening in shock when I met the most incredible pair of blue eyes I had ever seen.

He was beautiful.

Damon's POV

I gritted my jaw in a fury when I walked into the apartment I shared with my fiancée, Katherine Pierce, and caught her in bed with my arch-rival, Mason Lockwood. The Lockwoods and the Salvatores had been feuding since our grandfathers' younger days in school. My grandfather and his were once best friends, but it all turned sour when they both fell in love with the same girl who manipulated and used them to win her affections, resulting in a declaration of war between the families until now. Business-wise, they were also our biggest and deadliest competitor.

Hearing the bedroom door flung open, Katherine gasped and hastily pulled away from her lover who scrambled to cover himself with the bed sheet.

"Damon! You-you weren't supposed to be home until later," she said by way of explanation for being caught red-handed, pulling the sheet up to cover her bared breasts, the ones her 'lover' had his head buried in moments earlier.

"Oh, I'm sorry, how inconsiderate of me!" I bit out furiously, amazed at the gall of this woman I was about to marry. "I should have called first and gave you two a heads-up before I walk into my own home. Maybe I should wait out in the hall and let you finish fucking each other!" I said sarcastically, planting my feet down firmly to indicate that I was doing no such thing.

For the first time since I'd known her, Katherine actually managed to look flustered as she tried to grasp at straws to explain her predicament. "Damon, it-it's not what it looks like, I can explain!" she said lamely.

Excuse me, but I had to roll my eyes at that pathetic attempt. "Oh yeah? Because it looked like you were cheating on your fiancée in his own home and his own bed from where I'm standing! But sure, please enlighten me as to what you both were doing naked in each other's arms just a minute ago?" I asked, throwing a dirty look over at the smirking man still lounging on my bed until he finally got the hint.

"Yeah, Kat, I gotta go. I'll see yo- myself out," Mason hastily corrected himself when he caught Kat's annoyed expression, and quickly collected his clothes strewn across the floor and walked out of the room.

When the bedroom door closed behind him, I returned my attention to the lying, cheating whore still naked in my bed. "Mason came over to offer me a job in his company, and one thing led to another, and we ended up-" she started saying before I interrupted her with an incredulous look.

"He offered you a job? You, a socialite who has never worked a day in her life, living out of her rich daddy's pocket, and someday soon, mine, were offered a job at one of the biggest corporation in New York? And what I just walked in on, was that part of the interview process? Because hey, if it is, I wouldn't mind personally handling interview sessions for clerks and assistants for my office," I said sarcastically, unable to believe the amount of crap spewing out of her mouth.

"Yes, Damon, I admit it! I got bored, and I slept with the first person who gave me any attention, because you're so busy working all the time! I'm sick and tired of being at home like a fucking housewife, and just waiting for you to come home late at night to have dinner with me!" she shouted at me defensively, her own eyes now blazing with anger.

"If you get bored, find a hobby, not jump into bed with my enemy in my own home!" I countered furiously. At that point, I wasn't entirely certain if I was more angry that Katherine cheated on me or that it was with Mason. I suspected the latter, to be honest. "As for being a housewife, that cannot be further than the truth. You don't cook, you don't clean, and you don't do anything besides spend money! When I work as hard as I do to give you the lifestyle that you're used to, the least you could do is appreciate it. At least I'm not running around cheating on you with 'the first person who gave me any attention'. Is this what I should expect from you when we get married? Because I sure as hell didn't sign up for this," I yelled, fully intending to call off our entire relationship right then and there.

Apparently, my ranting didn't bode well with her because the next thing I knew, she was getting out of bed without bothering to cover herself at all. I found it interesting however, that the sight of her nakedness that used to turn me into a lust-filled man in an instant didn't do the same this time around. All I felt when I looked at her now was disgust. Huh.

"Well, I didn't sign up for this either when I accepted your proposal! I didn't know that by being engaged to you, I'd be stuck at home being your living doll, ready to cater to your every whim whenever you decide to come home from work! And this was not a normal occurrence, in case you were wondering. Mason came over today, and I was lonely and upset, so I gave in to his advances! I'm a woman and I have needs, too. Since you're too busy for me, I went and got myself a distraction! Fine, I cheated on you once with Mason, but you cheated on me every single day with your work, you selfish bastard!" her chest heaved from anger as she stared accusingly at me.

Typical Katherine; she was really talented at turning the blame around at other people when she was clearly in the wrong. I almost felt guilty for leaving her alone so much, until I remembered what a manipulative bitch she was. Almost. "Yeah, that's the same!, " I said, rolling my eyes at her with her flimsy excuse. "Whatever, Katherine, you convince yourself that I'm in the wrong when you tell your father that we're over," I said softly as I turned around and left the apartment, unable to stand the sight of her any longer. I made my way down to the lobby, intending to bury myself in my work at the office, but then I bumped into the Security Manager of my building.

"Hey, Anthony!" I greeted with a smile that did not reach my eyes.

"Mr. Salvatore, what a delightful surprise to see you back so early! I trust the meeting went well with Mr. Lockwood?" he asked in surprise as I stiffened in surprise.

Well, that was certainly unexpected. Obviously, Katherine's 'extra-curricular activities' weren't limited to just this one time, the little lying bitch! "Mr. Lockwood? You know him?"

"Of course! He and Ms. Pierce have meetings upstairs every week for the past one year, I think. I hear them talking about mergers and land acquisitions whenever they walk by my office to the elevators. He must be very good friends with you and Ms. Pierce, yes?" he said with a smile, oblivious of the huge bomb he just dropped on me.

"Oh, the very best!" I retorted angrily as I abruptly stalked out to my car park, leaving the man staring after me with his jaw gaping open at my rudeness. Screw work, I needed a drink...and a place to crash for the night. I pulled out my phone and dialed Ric's number.

"Hey, wanna go get drunk now?" I asked when he answered the call.

"What? On a Friday evening? Don't you have to work late?" Ric asked, appropriately surprised because I had never left the office earlier than him on a Friday before.

"Nope, didn't feel like it tonight. Come on, Ric, take a break from work with me. I promised I won't tell my father," I said teasingly, knowing how scared he was at the mention of my father. In fact, I hadn't met anyone who wasn't afraid of Giuseppe Salvatore, except for my mother, that was. "What do you say we go to that little bar at the corner from your place in ten minutes?"

A low chuckle came over the phone. "Damon Salvatore, are you asking me out on a date? Finally realized that you need some Ricky-loving, do ya? I'm flattered, but I don't know if I find you attractive enough," he teased.

"If I get you drunk enough, you would find even a lamp post good enough to flirt with! Anyway, you are so not my type. I like them with breasts, and long legs and preferably no adam's apple on their throats, so thanks but no thanks. Besides, you'd make one ugly-assed girl! So drinks, ten minutes?"

"Already on my way from the office," he said and true enough, I heard the roar of his engine over the phone next.

"I'll see you real soon, sweetheart!" I said gaily before I hung up the phone. Then I scrolled down my list of contacts and typed a text message to my ex-fiancee:

Get the hell out of my apartment by Sunday. I'll be at Ric's till then.

I pressed send and immediately felt a huge load lifted off my shoulders. Funny, I didn't realize that my ex-fiancee was so heavy! Then, I started my car and drove over to Sigi's, a small little bar at the corner from Ric's apartment, for when I got too drunk to drive later on, which I no doubt will.

Three Bourbons and a beer later, Ric strolled in and sat on one of the empty stools beside me.

"Woah, going a little fast, don't you think? The night is still young, so what's the hurry?" his eyes narrowed on the empty glasses lined up in a row in front of me, concern etched on his features. This was why I loved him, my best friend who could always sense when I was unhappy or just in the mood to drown myself in alcohol.

"I'm celebrating. Here, join me, why don't you?" I asked, signaling the bartender for a repeat of my previous order.

"Celebrating? What, we got the land?" he asked, his brows raised in question before grabbing a glass of Bourbon set down in front of him.

I shook my head in answer to his question. "No, we lost it to the Lockwoods, surprise, surprise! I'm actually celebrating my bachelorhood. Here's a toast, to my being single again, and let every woman in New York rejoice!" I announced gaily before tossing two glasses down the hatch in quick succession.

I could hear Ric groaning beside me. "I'm guessing you and Katherine had a fight again?" he said casually, as if this happened every other day, which coming to think about it, it kinda did.

"We had a fight, a break-up, a moving out thing, the works," I shrugged my shoulders and downed a drink again, feeling the burn deep in my belly. Good.

"Wow, moving out? That serious? So what did she do now? Overspend on shoes again? Insulted mommy dearest? Burned your toasts? What?" Ric asked in genuine surprise, his gaze studying me in renewed interest.

"Worse. She slept with Mason Lockwood...in my bed. I'm thinking it has gone on for some time too, according to my Security Manager. So, I told her to move out by Sunday, break the news to her father that we're over and now I'm a free man getting drunk with my buddy. And I did all that within half an hour! Aren't I efficient? So what did you do in half an hour today, hmm?" I asked, starting to feel a little buzzed.

Ric's face screwed up as he considered my question. "I picked a booger outta my nose," he finally said after some time. "Hands down, you win! And Mason Lockwood? That's low, even for her! So, I'm guessing you need a place to crash until Sunday?" he guessed as he held out his house keys to me, no questions asked.

I officially love this man beside me. "Thanks, buddy, I appreciate it."

Ric nodded as acknowledgement to my gratitude. "Hey, you'll have the whole place to yourself this weekend as I'll be at Mer's. So, feel free to pick up some girls and get some warm-blooded loving after being in that frigid bitch's acidic cooter!" he comment with a look of disdain. I knew that he hated Katherine from the get-go, but I didn't know that he hated that particular part of her, too!

"Aww, you are such a best friend! Thanks for noticing my ex-fiancee's cooter. Hey, I know you didn't get along with her much-" I paused when Ric snorted loudly.

"Didn't get along much? I hated her! I couldn't stand the sight of her! I've always wanted to slap you on the head and ask you what you were doing with a bitch like that. She was all sorts of wrong for you, and I can finally do a little happy dance now that you're not marrying her anymore. Wait, you are broken up for good, right? You're not gonna change your mind and go back to her, are ya?" his brows raised as he studied me closely, hoping that I wouldn't disappoint him.

"Eww, no! Besides, it was my father who loved her and wanted us to get married, because of her father's connections. I didn't really love her; it was more like we were sexually compatible more than anything. She's a little hellcat between the sheets," I paused, noticing Ric's blanch at that remark, "our sexual chemistry was off the charts, but out of bed... I really didn't want to even stand around her. She has the personality of a doorknob, and the intelligence of a welcome mat. That woman has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, other than social grace and beauty. Like I said, if she weren't her father's daughter, I wouldn't have bothered. Most of our businesses, especially the foreign investors, were her father's doing. We wouldn't be where we are today if it weren't for his influence."

Ric nodded, before concluding, "So, your father pimped you out? Dude, that's disturbing, but I'm glad you dug your way outta that one. Now, we need to find you a distraction, someone to warm your bed so that Katherine won't worm her way back into it. Now, where can we find a gorgeous young lady who is unable to resist your charms and devilish good looks?" he murmured thoughtfully, as if it was such a difficult task. I smiled at his expression, just as someone sank down onto the bar stool next to me and sighed gratefully.

I turned to look just as the woman took off her heels and bent down to massage both of her ankles covered in black stockings as she let out a low moan.

I couldn't help myself but to chuckle at her relieved expression but found myself stunned when she tilted her head up and stared into my eyes with her wide doe-eyes.

She was exquisite.

Ric's gaze slid back and forth to Damon and the mystery woman as their eyes locked on each other, momentarily unaware of their surroundings. He almost laughed out loud as he thought about what he said just before she appeared on the seat beside Damon.

Gorgeous young lady who was unable to resist Damon's charm? Check!

Ten million dollars in a briefcase?... No such luck. Dammit!

"Hey man, maybe you should buy a drink for the lady as she certainly looks like she needs it," Ric said softly, gently breaking their intense gazing.

Damon shook his head to clear his mind as he processed what Ric said even as her face blushed furiously, ducking her head down in embarrassment. "Yes, of course. I apologize for staring. You just look...so familiar," Damon finished lamely while Ric sniggered beside him."So, what's your poison?" he asked the lady beside him.

"W-what? Poison?" she repeated in a voice so sweet and angelic, it should be illegal.

"Yes, your poison? As in what would you like to drink?" he clarified as he signalled the bartender over.

The woman seemed uncertain for a moment, as if she felt guilt for drinking this early. "Ummmm, that-that's fine, I don't really know what I want yet," she sounded confused, even to herself.

Damon shrugged off her uncertainty, intending to decide for her if she couldn't do it herself. "Alright, so a Cosmopolitan for the lovely lady with the tired feet, and two more Bourbon shots for the macho men sitting beside her," he said to the bartender who was busy ogling the brunette beside him. For some reason, Damon wanted to hit him...hard.

She looked up again and smiled hesitantly, grateful that she wasn't carded by the bartender who obviously thought she looked old enough to be of drinking age. Was it still illegal if she didn't order the drink herself, but merely drinking it? She could feign that she didn't know that a Cosmopolitan contained alcohol if the police were to ask.

Ric kept on grinning gleefully as Damon's eyes strayed repeatedly to her face, looking away quickly when her eyes slid to his, and vice versa. Finally, unwilling to stay on to see Damon being awestruck any longer, Ric stood up and announced, "Alrighty, this particular macho man needs to take off and go spend a romantic evening with his girlfriend. So, ahem, remember what we just talked about," he wriggled his brows conspiratorially at Damon who rolled his eyes, but silently thanked his friend for making himself scarce.

When the drinks appeared in front of them, Elena immediately reached out for hers and took a long swig, swallowing heroically before she choked and coughed loudly from the amount of alcohol. Damon grinned in amusement as he slapped her on the back gently while she recovered.

"Umm, thanks, just forgot that I probably shouldn't drink on an empty stomach," she explained, still coughing a little at the burning sensation that went from her throat to the pit of her stomach.

"Ah yes, that wouldn't be wise," Damon agreed before he added, "Hey, wanna hear a joke?"

"Sure," she replied in curiosity, turning her full attention to the man beside her. He was extremely well-dressed, probably in sales and marketing, or maybe even an actor or a model, judging by his dashing good looks. He had slightly wavy dark hair, and a slender physique, evidently quite well-built is his broad shoulders were any indication. But what drew her eyes were a pair of mesmerizing eyes in a shade of blue so unique that she wanted to stare into them for hours just so that she could find a name for them.

Oblivious to her inner monologue, Damon went on with his joke. "Two strangers walk into a bar. One of them hadn't eaten, the other one is starving. What do you think they should do next?" he asked, his unnamed blue eyes twinkling with mischief as he waited for her answer.

"Ummm, they should eat something?" she guessed, unable to find anything funny with that question. He must be one of those guys with a weird sense of humor. Too bad!

"I'd love to eat with you, I thought you'd never ask!" he smirked confidently and stood up, extending his arm to her as he waited for her response. She let out a girlish giggle when she realized what he said, her faith in his humor renewed as she slipped her arm through his. Oh well, what was a few hours of distraction with a handsome charming man when her entire world was in utter chaos? In the grand scheme of things, the night could have gone a lot worse!

He waited patiently while she slipped her dainty feet back into her high heels and led the way to a table for two at a corner. She winced slightly in her uncomfortable shoes, hobbling the last few steps to the chair before she sank down gratefully on it as he pushed her chair inward and took a seat directly opposite her.

"You have to break those in slowly before you attempt to walk in them. Death by high heels is at an all-time high these days, right before heart attack and stroke," he quipped half seriously. He never quite understood why women seemed to be okay with tormenting themselves day in and day out with those uncomfortable heels, but seeing this woman's long legs on those heels almost made up for it.

"Great advice, I should have met you sooner so that you could have warned me. These should come with health hazards warning labels or something," she said and rolled her eyes. He couldn't resist smiling at her quip.

Once they've ordered their meal and settled down comfortably with each other, they started talking about mundane and totally routine things like why women wore high heels when men didn't.

"I think it's because men are already so tall, or at least taller than most women, so why add on to the height which makes kissing even more difficult? Besides, it'll be like we're walking on tip toes all the time and who wants to watch men prancing around like ballerinas?" he mused.

"No, you're wrong, I think men don't wear them because they can't balance themselves properly, so they'll probably end up twisting their ankles and falling to the ground anyway. Perhaps that was where the expression 'Men fall at our feet' comes from," she told him smugly.

As they slowly finished their dinner, their continued laughter increased in frequency and later, conversations quickly turned to more personal ones as their level of alcohol also increased.

"Oh my God, that's awful!" she exclaimed in horror when he told her of how he found out his ex cheated on him. "She sounds like a horrible person! And you were standing there calmly listening to her lame excuses while her lover was still naked on the bed? Man, I give you major props for having the patience not to just clobber him to death right there and then. I know I would have!" she said in disgust.

"Yeah, in hindsight, maybe I should have done that today, but mostly I was just glad that it's over-"

"Today?" Elena interrupted with shock written across her features. "You just found out today? You broke off your engagement today? Oh man, are we a pair of losers," she giggled hysterically as she drained the last of her drink. "We're like totally meant to meet each other."

"Why? Did you just dump someone too?" he asked, grinning at her happy smile, loving how relaxed she looked. He signaled the waiter to top up their drinks.

The intoxicating young woman seated opposite him shook her head and laughed. "No, I wish! I just found out that I was adopted today! Can you imagine that? A grown-up like me, being told that my parents were not my real parents! And do you know what the funniest thing was?" she paused dramatically as if waiting for the right moment to tell the punchline of a joke.

"What?"

Elena leaned forward in her seat, looking as if she was about to reveal a national secret. "Apparently, my real father is actually my uncle whom I've always hated since young, and I've never actually met my real mother before! So, my brother is actually my cousin! And my aunt, who was my mother's sister, is actually my real father's sister-in-law! How confusing is that? We're like the most twisted version of an American family ever," she finished as she snorted in a very unladylike manner.

Damon chuckled with her, feeling totally at ease in her enchanting company when she could make even the saddest and serious matter he'd ever heard of to seem funny and dramatic.

"So what did your..err...ex-parents said once you found out?" he asked, enjoying himself immensely despite the sad nature of their conversation.

"Nothing! They didn't say anything, because they're dead," she announced drunkenly, her tone a complete opposite of one he'd expected to sound when talking about the death of a loved one. "They were killed in a car accident two weeks ago. Their lawyers told me about the adoption, can you believe that? I found out that I was adopted and broke the same time that I was told that my real father is now in charge of the finances. That means that I will never see my inheritance ever again. How's that for a bad day? I bet that finding your fiancee in bed with your arch-rival doesn't look half as bad now, does it?" she asked as she gulped down the entire glass of Cosmo again, looking as if she'd been doing it for years.

Damon stopped to stare at her for a moment, his eyes drawn to her glistening lips and her half-lidded eyes. He had to admire her spirit, to be able to still laugh at her situation when others would have panicked or cried. "I concede defeat. You're absolutely right, your day was the worst, for now and for all eternity. It should go into the wall of fame or shame, depending on how you look at it and whether you're a glass half empty or half full kinda person."

"Well, my glass is definitely empty now," she slurred as she overturned the glass and not even a single drop dripped down from it.

'Well, that I can fix. Hey you nice man, please refill our glasses, pronto!" he ordered the waiter who looked worriedly at their flushed cheeks.

"Err, right away Mr. Salvatore," the waiter rushed back to the bar to replenish the drinks and brought it back to the table.

"Why, Mr. Salvatore, are you trying to get me drunk? Because I think it's working. Although this is only like my...umm...seventh glass of girlish drink. I need a man's drink!" Elena declared suddenly, eyeing his shot of Bourbon as if it was beckoning to her. "Here, I'll drink yours and you'll drink mine, deal?" she asked, belatedly realizing that they never introduced themselves or told each other their names. Perhaps that would be best; no messy relationship stuff to deal with if the impromptu date didn't end well.

Damon shook his head and then instantly regretted it when he felt the alcohol level reaching his already fuzzy brain, "I'm not drinking a sissy drink like yours! I'm too much of a man to do that, and hey!" he scolded when she suddenly swooped in and took his glass of bourbon from under his nose, swallowing the liquid in one gulp.

He chuckled at her expression when she stuck her tongue out and shivered violently at the taste. "Oooh, that's nasty! How do you even stomach the stuff, anyway? It tastes like...floor detergent!" she complained, her face wrinkling with disgust.

"How would you know what floor detergent tastes like? Have you ever tried it?" he asked in mock alarm.

"Hmm," she pretended to think for a moment, her lips pursed up in deep thought. "I don't think so, I can't remember now, I'm so buzzed. Hey, quick question; is the room spinning or am I twirling around in circles? Because if I am, then I'd look really silly."

Damon let out a loud laugh when he saw the way her eyes slid from left to right as if the room was indeed spinning around. "Yes, you kinda do, but fear not! I won't let you look silly alone; I will twirl with you!" with that declaration, he stood up on unsteady feet and dropped some dollar notes on the table, pulling her out of the chair and then heading to the crowded dance floor without waiting for her to pull on her shoes.

"Hey, I left my legs at the table, how am I gonna twirl with my bare-shoes?" she exclaimed somewhat drunkenly.

"I guess you're just gonna have to stand on mine," he murmured in a low voice as he lifted her close to him and felt her small legs on his shoes, his hand wrapped tightly around her waist and taking most of her weight. Even though he was drunk, her sudden proximity jolted him enough to make him aware of his physical reactions to her. They were practically joined from chest to toe, with her head thrown back as she stared into his eyes with half-closed lids. Her arms were holding onto his broad shoulders for dear life, as he spinned her around quickly, making them both dizzy from the movement. She closed her eyes and moaned out as she rested her forehead against his to stop herself from fainting.

Just then, the song 'Fire' came on and their bodies started to sway in time with the slow and sexy beats as Des'ree and Babyface's voice came over the speakers. Her breath started getting heavier as she listened to the lyrics and felt his thundering heartbeats against her own pounding chest. Then, she let out a shocked gasp when she felt his soft lips on hers, just when the song completed the first verse with the phrase, "Cause when we kiss, ooh, FIRE."

And oh, was that song spot on. They felt electricity crackling around them as their lips joined together, her head lifted up slightly to press even closer to his. His right hand tightened around her waist, lifting her even higher, as his left hand curled around her neck to tilt her head to the side, deepening the kiss. His tongue swiped across her lips tentatively at first and then grew bolder when she arched her back to push her chest closer against his. She allowed him to part her lips and when she did, the kiss exploded like fireworks on the fourth of July, his tongue delving in to taste her fully, both of them moaning out loud at the contact. Luckily, the music was loud enough to hide their verbal release. Her own tongue darted against his, battling each other for the right to bring more pleasure to the other. His mouth opened wider against hers as he drew her tongue into his warm cavern, welcoming her soft and gentle thrusts.

As the song approached the bridge, he finally allowed their lips to part so that they could draw in deep breaths, but he was, by no means, done with her. He inhaled deeply near her right ear, her delicious perfume and honeyed scent making his head swim with thoughts of having her very essence wrapped around him. With a deep growl, he caught her earlobe between his teeth and nibbled gently, making her groan out at the exquisite torture again. Then he buried his lips at the sensitive spot just at the curve of her neck below her ear and kissed the skin softly, teasingly until he felt her shiver against him. He couldn't take it anymore; his arousal was bursting through his zipper at any moment, and then he whispered huskily into her ear, "I want you."

She lifted shaky hands to his face and pulled back slightly to look into his mesmerizing blue eyes as she hesitated and then said three little words that made him weak in the knees.

"Then take me."

Hi, I'm back with my new story! I must say, I'm incredibly happy with the response I got for my first ever TVD-based fanfiction 'When Love and Hate Collides' with all the friendly reviews and encouraging words. So, like I announced there, I'm starting a new AH/AU story about my favourite on-screen couple - Delena. For some reason, I couldn't get this story line out of my head while I was writing the other story, so I decided to just write it down and run with it. I hope you like this first long chapter (over 6,000 words!) to the story, mainly it being an introduction to their characters.

I already have an idea of how this story will go in my twisted little head, so I hope it's different than others.

Oh yes, before I forget:

Like it, love it, hate it, please review for the heck of it!