Elena felt her heart skip a beat. Damon's abrupt move and words caught her completely off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.
"W-what are you doing?" she stammered, trying to pull away from him, even though she already felt her body betraying her, responding to his touch.
"You're not being fair," he murmured, leaning in closer until the tips of their noses almost touched.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, pushing him back firmly. Damon stepped back, releasing her. "Look, I already told you—it was a mistake. I wasn't in my right mind when I asked you to marry me, and I've already apologized for it. What more do you want?" she continued, her voice wavering between frustration and something unspoken.
Damon stepped forward again, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her even closer this time. Their bodies collided, and Elena's breath hitched.
"We just got married today, and you're already talking about divorce?" he said, his thumb gently grazing her cheek. "You're mean, Elena."
Her heart raced as he called her by name, his voice making it sound like the most natural thing in the world. The way her name rolled off his lips sent a strange warmth through her, making her heart flutter in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "I already told you, Damon, it was a mistake. I've apologized. What more do you want?"
"What more do I want?"
"Yes!" she snapped, hoping to hide the vulnerability in her voice.
"If you want a divorce, fine," he said, his gaze dark and intense. "But first, like any newlywed couple, I want my wedding night."
"Excuse me?" She stared at him, wide-eyed.
"I want to make love to you. It's my right," he replied in a low, demanding tone.
She chuckled, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "You must be insane if you think I'm going to sleep with you."
"Then I guess I'm insane," he replied with a smirk.
Before she could respond, he pushed her back, pinning her against the wall. Her breath caught as she looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and something deeper.
"W-what are you doing?" she whispered, startled.
"What do you think?" he murmured, his hand cupping her face, his eyes never leaving hers. "Tonight, you're mine, Elena." And without waiting for her response, he crashed his lips onto hers, kissing her as if he had been starved for centuries.
It had been a long time since Elena had felt such intensity, such hunger. She hadn't been with anyone in ages, and she realized, at that moment, how much she missed the feeling. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Damon's neck, kissing him back with the same fervor.
A triumphant smile tugged at the corner of Damon's lips, satisfied that she hadn't pushed him away. After years of watching her from a distance, she was finally his.
"Wait," she gasped, pulling away slightly, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding, and her cheeks were flushed.
Damon softened, his voice tinged with apology. "I'm sorry... I was too—"
Before he could finish, Elena took control, pulling him back to her and pressing her lips to his. She had no time for apologies; all she wanted was him.
Their kiss deepened, each moment more intense than the last, until the shrill sound of a ringtone shattered the silence. Damon's phone was ringing.
"Your phone…" she mumbled between kisses.
Without breaking contact, Damon fumbled into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and tossed it across the room. It landed with a thud on the tiled floor, the ringing cut off.
"Take me to the bed," she whispered breathlessly.
Without a moment's hesitation, Damon scooped her up in his arms, their lips still locked in a heated kiss. "Where's the bedroom?" he managed to ask, unfamiliar with her apartment.
She pulled back just enough to guide him. "This way."
Within moments, they were inside her bedroom. Damon carefully laid her down on the bed, his eyes drinking her in as he began to undress, his gaze never leaving hers.
Elena watched him, anticipation thrumming through her veins. Damon paused, a playful smile spreading across his face as he noticed her watching him.
"Like what you see?" he asked, lifting her hand and running it over his toned chest.
"I do," she replied in a soft, seductive voice, her fingers lingering over the contours of his body.
But suddenly, Damon's expression shifted, and he looked down at her with serious eyes. "Elena…can we not get divorced?"
Once again, Elena was caught off guard. She studied his face, trying to understand the insistence in his voice. Was he doing this because of her brother? Or was there something more?
The mood in the room shifted, and Damon stopped, reaching for his shirt and putting it back on. He sat beside her on the bed, his gaze imploring.
"Can we not divorce?" he asked again, his voice softer this time.
Elena swallowed, unsure of how to respond. His vulnerability, so rarely seen, struck a chord in her.
"I know I'm not the best man in the world," he began, his voice tinged with humility. "But could you give me a chance? When we married today, you agreed to give it six months. All I ask is that you hold on for those six months. Nothing more."
She took a deep, measured breath, letting his words sink in. Six months… Could she really give this marriage a trial?
Just then, his phone began to ring again, snapping her from her thoughts. Damon sighed, stood up, and retrieved the phone from the floor. It was a private number calling. Glancing at Elena, he decided against answering, setting the phone on the bedside table as he returned to her.
"So?" he asked, searching her face for an answer.
Elena studied him, her mind racing. She had made a decision, but she wanted to be sure it was the right one. "Fine. But I have a few conditions."
A look of excitement flickered in Damon's eyes. "Let's hear them."
"First, my family can't know about this arrangement. Second, no more fights with my brother. And third, I don't want your… 'men' around me."
Damon chuckled, gently tapping the tip of her nose. "Consider it all done."
He leaned in, his lips inches from hers, when his phone rang again.
"Just answer it," she sighed.
He stretched out his arm, picked up the phone, and answered with a sharp, "What is it?"
"Boss, there's been an incident," a frantic voice came through.
Damon's face darkened, his posture tense. Elena's heart pounded, sensing that something was very wrong.
"What incident?" Damon demanded.
"There was a shootout at the port…"
"What?! What are you talking about? What shootout? Speak!" he barked, his voice laced with urgency.
The man hesitated, and Damon closed his eyes, bracing himself. "Speak," he ordered, his voice low and steady.
After a pause, the man replied, "Zach is dead."