vampire diaries the return midnight | Page 6

someday. In fact, I might accidentally teach her now.

As if she could hear him, Elena shut her eyes. She let her head fall back and suddenly Damon found himself half-supporting her weight. She was surrendering all thought of herself, showing him that despite everything she still trusted him, still�

�still loved him.

Damon himself didn�t know what he was going to do as he bent toward her. He was starving. It tore at him like a wolf�s claws, the hunger. It made him feel dazed and dizzy and out of control. Half a thousand years had left him believing that the only thing that would relieve the starvation was the crimson fountain of a cut artery. Some dark voice that might have come from the Infernal Court itself whispered that he could do what some vampires did, ripping a throat like a werewolf. Warm flesh might ease the starvation of a human. What would he do, so close to Elena�s lips, so close to her bleeding throat?

Two tears slipped from under the dark lashes and slid a little way down her face before dropping into golden hair. Damon found himself tasting one before he could think.

Still a maiden. Well, that was to be expected; Stefan was too weak to stand yet. But on top of the cynical thought came an image, and just a few words: a spirit as pure as driven snow.

He suddenly knew a different hunger, a different thirst. The only place to ease this need was close by. Desperately, urgently, he sought and found Elena�s lips. And then he found himself losing all control. What he needed most was here, and

Elena might tremble, but she didn�t push him away.

This close, he was bathed in an aura as golden as the hair he was touching gently at the ends. He was pleased himself when she shivered in pleasure, and he realized that he could sense her thoughts. She was a strong projector, and his telepathy was the only Power left to him. He had no idea why he still had it, but he did. And right now he wanted to tune into Elena.

The wench! She wasn�t thinking at all! Elena had been offering her throat, truly surrendering herself, abandoning all thought but that she wanted to aid him, that his wishes were hers. And now she was too deeply enmeshed in the kiss to even make plans�which was extraordinary for her.

She�s in love with you, the tiny part of him that could still think said.
She�s never said so! She�s in love with Stefan! something visceral answered. She doesn�t have to say it. She�s showing it. Don�t pretend you haven�t seen it
before!

But Stefan�!

Is she thinking about Stefan in the slightest right now? She opened her arms to the wolf-hunger in you. This is no one-day stand, no quick meal, not even a steady donor. This is Elena herself.

Then I�ve taken advantage of her. If she�s in love, she can�t protect herself. She�s still a child. I have to do something.

The kisses had now gotten to the point that even the tiny voice of reason was fading. Elena had lost her ability to stand. He was either going to have to put her down somewhere, or give her a chance to back out.

Elena! Elena! Damn it, I know you can hear me. Answer! Damon?�faintly. Oh, Damon, now do you understand�? Too well, my princess. I Influenced you, so I should know. You�? No, you�re lying!
Why should I lie? For some reason my telepathy is as strong as ever. I still

want what I want. But you might want to think a minute, maiden. I don�t need to drink your blood. I�m human and right now I�m ravenous. But not for that mess of bloody hamburger you brought me.

Elena broke away from him. Damon let her go.
�I think you�re lying,� she said, meeting his eyes directly, her mouth kiss-swollen. Damon locked the sight of her inside the boulder full of secrets he dragged
around with him. He gave her his best opaque ebony stare. �Why should I lie?� he
repeated. �I just thought you deserved a chance to make your own choice. Or have
you already decided to abandon little brother while he�s out of commission?�

Elena�s hand flashed up, but then she dropped it. �You used Influence on me,� she said bitterly. �I�m not myself. I would never abandon Stefan�especially when he needs me.�

There it was, the essential fire at her core, and the fiery golden truth. Now he could sit and let bitterness gnaw at him, while this pure spirit followed her conscience.

He was thinking this, already feeling the loss of her dazzling light receding when he realized