“Elena, please.” Damon regarded her as if she was an obstacle, something standing in the way of what he really wanted. His hand gripped the door to maintain some semblance of control.

“No, Damon.” She brushed past him. Her husky voice trembled with a trace of hurt and determination. Once she reached the middle of the foyer, she started in with her demands. “What did you do to Jeremy and Bonnie?”

He remained at the door, leaving it wide open as he turned to face her. In this moment, she reminded him so much of Katherine. The flashing brown eyes and the quivering bottom lip were all distinctive traits of his first real love. It pained him to think how easily the elder vampire deceived him. Looking at Elena now, he flashed back to the tug of war he and Stefan had engaged in—first over Katherine and later her doppelganger. So much time wasted over bullshit. Over women who delighted in the torment they caused the brothers. Oh, Elena played the distressed damsel to the hilt, but Damon knew better.

“Well?” She cocked her head to the side. Her hands settled on her hips as a symbol of supreme indignation.

A month ago, this obvious display of jealousy would have been the balm to soothe the pain of his unrequited love. But since that love, which had really only been infatuation, no longer existed, her green-eyed demon only brought annoyance. Especially when he had serious business with a real emerald-eyed beauty.

“What have you heard?” he asked. Irritation hardened his voice. From her startled look, it probably did things to his face, too.

“Well…” she started, beginning to lose some of her bravado. “I…um…was talking to Jeremy—”

“Ah,” Damon murmured, “Jeremy. Go on. What did your little brother say?”

“Nothing really…it’s just that.” She frowned. “Damon, stop being so evasive! I saw the way you looked at her at the 60s Dance. I know…well…I know what I saw.”

“You saw two people dancing, Elena.”

“It’s how you danced. I know you were working out that plan to trick Klaus, but…you danced with her,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Wow.” He couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Careful. Someone would think you’re jealous.”

“Of Bonnie?”

Damon cocked an eyebrow. The urge to lash out came on strong and sudden. Somehow, he held it in. For once, he mastered restraint.

“Yes. Bonnie,” he said each word with care and force. “Of course, Bonnie. I shouldn’t have to tell you how amazing she is.”

“I know… I didn’t mean.” Multiple shades of red colored her face. Then she turned on him. “She’s my best friend! I know that she’s beautiful and strong.”

“She’s much more than that. Your brother is damn lucky she even considered him.” Damon bit down the sting of jealousy that cut through him at that thought. “Look, going over the merits of Miss Bennett and her witchy abilities would be fascinating if I didn’t have a million things to do.”

He went to her, took her arm, and guided her to the door.

“But you didn’t answer my question.”

Without a crack of humor or hint of a smile, he looked down into her glassy brown eyes and said, “No, I didn’t.”

He pushed her out the door and followed, leaving her in a blur as he raced to his ride and kicked dust in its wake.

-%&%&%&-

Bonnie slid into Caroline’s silver Dodge Caliber with a smile of gratitude. After the heart-to-heart with her dad, she needed some space to sort things out. Knowing that he knew took a huge load off. She could go to him now and know that he would listen. Years of dismissing her abilities were swept away in an afternoon, but that didn’t mean she didn’t need down time. When he picked up his legal pad and headed back to his home office, she jumped at the chance to get out.

“Thanks for picking me up.” She dropped her purse on the floor next to her feet and strapped on the seatbelt.

“You call. I come.” Caroline glanced at her, slight frown wrinkling her brow. “That’s how it works.”

The blonde vamp did a crazy U-turn to put them in the direction of the Forbes homestead. Unease prickled from her in jerky movements and the loud clicking of her tongue. After five minutes, Bonnie’d had enough.

“What?” she asked. “Did Matt call you?”

“I wish,” Caroline muttered under her breath. “No, he didn’t. Should he?”

Bonnie shook her head. The memory of feeling completely shattered and having Matt rescue her on the side of the road was not one she wanted to divulge to her best friend. Being strong gave her confidence and she needed that more than ever right now.

The ride continued in silence. The occasional sucking of teeth came from Caroline. Bonnie noted how her friend’s slender hands gripped the steering wheel. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think Care was pissed. At the thought, she gave Caroline a full onceover. Her friend’s jaw was clenched and a disapproving line replaced her usual smile.

“Okay, what gives?” she asked.

“I can’t pretend that I don’t know,” her friend replied.

Bonnie frowned. “Know what?”

“You didn’t listen to me!”

“I’m listening now. It’s kinda hard not to with the screeching and the yelling.”

Caroline pulled to the curb outside her house. Neither girl moved. Then Caroline cut the engine and shifted to give Bonnie her full attention.

“I can smell Damon all over you.”

The statement stunned Bonnie. She’d taken a shower after her talk with her dad. Scrubbing vigorously to erase the knowledge that she and the dark haired vampire had had sex. Trying her best to figure out how it happened and if he’d been honest about her instigating it.

“No response,” Caroline said quietly. “Nothing other than your heart pounding. I don’t get it, Bonnie, and I know it’s none of my business, but… It’s not a light scent.”

“What are you asking me?”

Caroline shrugged. “Nothing, I guess. It’s just that Damon is…”

“I know all about Damon,” Bonnie said, suddenly defensive. “I know who he is and yes, you can smell him on me, but it’s not what you think.”

“I don’t smell Jeremy at all.”

“What am I? Your sniffing post!” She grabbed her bag and slammed out of the car. “Stop it!”

Caroline was out of the driver’s seat and in Bonnie’s face before the witch could blink. “You’re my best friend. If you were about to jump off a cliff, I’d stop you. I’d never stand back and watch you hurt yourself.”

“I know you mean well and I appreciate it. I really do, but I can’t talk about this.”

“You can tell me anything.”

Bonnie took her hand. “I wish I could.”

“You don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders, you know. Yes, I went ballistic about Damon, but it’s only because I know what he can do because he did it to me. I love you too much to see him hurt you like that.”

Bonnie nodded. “I know you do.”

She released Caroline’s hands and pulled her car keys from her bag. Her knuckles brushed against the heavy, worn grimoire that promised answers. At least she hoped.

“I have to take care of something, but maybe we can hang out later.”

Caroline nodded. “Okay and if you decide to talk, I’ll listen. I won’t judge.”

They smiled at the last part. Caroline would be hard-pressed not to judge, but Bonnie understood it came from a good place. Besides, she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that Damon’s dark side was twisted. And yeah, it was a little fascinating, too.

“I gotta go.” Bonnie gave her friend a quick hug before jogging to her Prius and burning rubber out of there. If nothing else, Caroline’s observations only fueled her desire to get to the bottom of everything concerning Damon. The faster she could get to the witches’ burial house, the better.

-%&%&%&-

Cleaning the stockroom busted Jeremy’s ass and he was happy to have the diversion. The end of his shift left him worn out and ready for a shower. When he stepped into the Gilbert house, relief swept through him at its emptiness. No Alaric and most importantly no Elena.

With the shower on full blast, he closed his eyes and let the hot water pour over him. Throughout the day, Bonnie was never far from his thoughts. Matt’s interrogation bothered him. He didn’t like the images it invoked. She shouldn’t have been wandering on the side of the road. Where the fuck was Damon?

Jeremy grunted, remembering the possessive gleam in the vampire’s glacial eyes when Bonnie ran into his arms. The bastard had hugged her to him as if he had every right to. Jeremy wasn’t sure which memory bothered him the most—Bonnie telling him that they had been a mistake or the look of triumph in Damon’s eyes when she clung to him.

“Fucking asshole,” Jeremy muttered turning off the shower.

He grabbed a towel and stepped out into a thick fog of steam. As he toweled off, he finally released the block he’d been holding back. The warnings from his personal ghosts came on him in full. He hated to admit that either of his deceased exes could be right about his current love. And he did love her. The twinkle in her eyes when she laughed. Her lopsided grin. Her intensity when working a spell. And her fierce independence made him only want to protect her all the more.

Shit. He couldn’t stand this. This pain he felt over her dismissal of their relationship. How could he honor that when it hurt so badly and he still loved her so much? Sure, she had hesitated about them getting together, but once she had admitted that it wasn’t all one-sided, things had been great between them. Better than great. They fit together. Some would argue that at sixteen, he was a little young at believing she was The One, but truthfully, he couldn’t imagine loving anyone as much as he loved Bonnie Bennett.

He couldn’t give up on them that easily. Damn Vicky and Anna’s bullshit. He knew that what he felt for Bonnie was too strong for them to end so swiftly. She’d saved his life in more ways than one. Bowing down to Damon when the sonuvabitch obviously crazed Elena was a punk move. And Jeremy Gilbert was no punk.

He dressed quickly and was putting on his Nikes when they appeared. Just poof the two dead vampires were in his room. Anna regarded him with disapproving eyes while Vicky smirked. Returning their stare, Jeremy wondered if there was a priest he could call to exorcise them.

“Well, we tried to warn you,” Anna said, her voice dripping with saccharine sympathy.

Vicky dropped onto the bed beside him. “She couldn’t resist the hotness of Damon Salvatore. The uptight ones are always the ones you have to watch out for. A closet freak hiding inside little Miss Perfect.”

“Shut up, Vicky,” he bit out. Jeremy moved from the bed and headed to his dresser for his wallet and keys.

“Vicky, don’t,” Anna piped in. “He’s hurting.”

“Yeah, and like you care so much,” Vicky countered.

“I do. Jeremy doesn’t deserve this.” Anna moved quickly to block his exit. “I’m so sorry she hurt you.”

Jeremy frowned down at her. “Don’t, okay? Just stop it.”

“Vicky’s right about one thing. Bonnie is not the girl you think she is—”

“Shut up, Anna!”

Vicky’s sudden outburst startled Jeremy. He looked over his shoulder to see the bloodlust in her eyes. If she had been alive, he would have been scared.

“I haven’t said anything!” Anna retorted.

Jeremy’s gaze went back and forth between the two ghosts. “Said what?”

“Nothing, Jer,” Vicky said. “Just that Bonnie’s a skank and you deserve better.”

“Go to hell,” he said in clipped tone.

“Oh my Go—you still love her,” Anna said, hurt flickering across her face. “She betrayed you and you love her anyway.”

“What do you know about it?”

“Enough,” Anna said.

The way she said it tugged at Jeremy’s instincts. They knew more than they were telling him. He didn’t get why they kept popping up, but if they could explain Bonnie’s actions, he wanted answers.

“Tell me!”

“I’d never hurt you like this,” Anna said. “She’ll never love you the way I do.”

Before he could question them more, they vanished.

“Son of a bitch,” he said under his breath.

Now more than ever, he had to get to Bonnie.

-%&%&%&-

Mystic Falls, 1864

“Thank you. It was kind of you to come for me.”

Damon’s senses took in everything. The delicious aroma of Emily’s honeysuckle scent went through him. Her copper eyes grew bright with emotion. The rapid pounding of her heart echoed loudly, creating a cadence that rivaled the army’s marching band. When he held her in his arms, he’d felt the vibrancy of life pulsing through her veins. While helping her had been his first instinct, other baser instincts were demanding his compliance. But the trust in her eyes presented an impossible conflict. Dammit.

“You shouldn’t have come here alone,” he said. “Where is your brother?”

“We decided it would be safer to separate,” she said.

“Why would you risk coming here? They will come for you next. If Gilbert had found you…”

She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. The lowlife deserters had ripped her blouse. Hints of creamy, smooth toffee skin peeked at him through the tattered fabric. Damon stripped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Again, his instincts begged him to do more. Her carotid artery hummed sensually at her neck, promising to fulfill him if he only took a bite.

Bit by bit, the familiar pang vibrated at his gums. The tiny veins pulsed around his eyes. He turned his back, but not fast enough. The repulsion on her face would stay with him for a very long time. He heard her footsteps back away. Her movement sounded soft, but unhurried. Once he got control of himself, he turned around and discovered that she had taken cover in the far stall. Curiosity got the better of him. In a blur, he was kneeling beside her, his gaze fastened on the bound book in her hands.

“What is that?”

Emily clutched it to her chest. Even though he sensed no fear of him from her, she was fiercely protective of her book. That only piqued his interest all the more.

“I could just take it,” he murmured.

“You could,” she replied.

“What makes you think I won’t?”

A brief frown marred her smooth features. “I have no doubts about what you’re capable of.”

She was right, Damon thought, for he was capable of many things. After sucking Stefan’s offering dry, he began to feel more animal than man. Finding Emily in Gilbert’s barn hadn’t occurred by happenstance. He had tracked her. The signature scent of honeysuckles lingered in her wake. It led him straight to her. The desire to taste her blood and be consumed by her feminine virtues created a vicious battle within him.

The transition to vampire made it easy to turn off his humanity and to delight in hunter tracking prey. But when his gaze connected with her knowing, copper eyes, the switch to hunter faltered. There was a pull toward her that surprised him. Since meeting Katherine, no other woman had come close to capturing his attention. Until now. Yes, he hurt deeply at the knowledge of his beloved’s capture and demise, but the more he inhaled Emily’s presence, a new yearning came to life. He didn’t understand how he wanted Emily while he still grieved deeply for Katherine.

Still clutching the book, she stood. “Thank you again—”

“Where are you going?” He grabbed her arm as she moved to leave.

“You’re right. I can’t stay here.”

The warmth of her flesh was so inviting. Even through the heavy gabardine fabric of his jacket sleeve, he could feel her. The fragile bones of her slender arm engaged his hunger again. The torture of wanting to sink into her quivering flesh and becoming one with it almost undid him. With great reluctance, he released his hold.

“I have something for you,” she said. Emily reached into her pocket and pulled out two rings. “I meant to leave them for you, but I… One is for you and the other is for your brother. Katherine asked me to make them.”

Damon hesitated. A gift? From Katherine?

“Please,” Emily said. “Take them. They will protect you from the sun.”

“Why?” He didn’t know why he needed her answer, but the reason had to be more than a request from Katherine. Especially now. With Katherine gone, she’d never know that her final request had not been honored. Emily didn’t have to do this. Another favor for them and Damon didn’t understand why.

“You saved me and you didn’t have to,” she said. “I know how easy it would have been for you to let them…and then for you to… To do what comes naturally to you, but you didn’t. This is my thank you.”

With the words of gratitude hanging in the air between them, she moved again to leave. Damon slipped the ring on and pocketed Stefan’s. Katherine had taught him the tricks about feeding and assimilating, but there was so much more. He sensed that Emily could help with the rest.

“Emily, wait.”

It seemed that if he just thought it, his body moved, blocking her exit from the barn.

“I cannot stay here.”

“No, you can’t,” he agreed. “Come with me. I know where you will be safe.”

-%&%&%&-

Mystic Falls, Present Day Ever since Bonnie parted ways with Caroline, a niggling sensation skirted her insides. Whispers tickled her eardrums, but the words were unclear. Tiny goosebumps pricked her flesh. Unease settled deep in the pit of her stomach with fear not too far behind it. When she reached the burial house, she hugged the grimoire to her chest and ran inside.

Candles from the nights she and Jeremy hid out there still bordered the upstairs room. A quick spell had lights flickering all around her. She dropped to her knees on the blanket where they had snuggled together. The grimoire lay open before her. Strengthened by her father’s confidence and unnerved by the sensation that she wasn’t alone, Bonnie flipped through the pages, hoping that her instincts would lead her to the right words that would bring her grandmother back.

“Per vox intus vos quod vox intus mihi, sino suus per. Unlock obex quod iunctum nos quondam iterum.” (By the power within you and the power within me, allow her through. Unlock the barriers and unite us once again.)

She repeated the words over and over again. Desperation coursed through her. And only silence answered her pleas. The witches’ anger had not abated. Bringing Jeremy back to life infuriated them. Her cry for his life had upset the balance of nature and having it granted had cut her ties to her ancestors.

Anguish ripped her confidence into shreds. Defeated, Bonnie wept.

“Bonnie?”

The voice calling her name sounded distant. But the arms that suddenly enveloped her were too strong, too solid to be mistaken for anything except reality.

“Ssh, Bonnie,” he cooed against her ear. “Don’t cry.”

In time, the tears subsided. The shaking stopped. Then she allowed herself to face her rescuer. A pair of warm brown eyes stared back at her.

“Jeremy…how did you find me?”

He shrugged as he settled on the blanket beside her. “A hunch? What are you doing here?”

“I needed their help.” She reached out to close the grimoire. “But it was a waste of time. They’re not happy with me right now. What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you. I needed to find out if it’s true.”

“What’s true?”

“That you’d rather be with Damon than me.”

Oh, boy.

“What happened at the lake house?”

He frowned. “You broke up with me.”

Her jaw dropped. Why didn’t she remember? What was wrong with her?

“Say something,” he said quietly.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” she admitted. “I came here to talk to Grams, but…it’s not working. I can’t reach her. They won’t let me!”

He looked down at his hands. His fingers toyed with the gaudy Gilbert ring that protected him from supernatural death, but couldn’t save him from Liz Forbes’ bullet. Bonnie watched him. She could tell he was thinking, trying to make a decision. He glanced up and their gazes locked. In that moment, she felt everything he’d never said.

“Maybe I can help.”

“How?”

A short, humorless laugh erupted from his throat. “It’s crazy and I haven’t said anything because it’s so fucking out there. At first, I thought I was dreaming.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“Ghosts,” he said. “I can see them. Not all the time, but enough that I know it’s not a dream.”

“Jeremy, I don’t understand.”

“Vicky and Anna,” he said. “I see them. They talk to me. They tell me things.”

Her mouth parted, but words failed to come. He nodded.

“I know, right? I’m a fucking ghost whisperer. It’s nuts.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I get that,” he said. A frown creased his brow, making him look older than his sixteen years. “I get that something weird is happening. It’s been happening for awhile…”

“The thing with Damon,” she said quickly. “I don’t remember him coming to the lake house and I don’t remember leaving with him.”

“It all happened. You came with me and you left with him.”

“He told me some of it,” she said. “It’s hard to believe. I don’t understand why I don’t remember.”

“Well, maybe we can move past this.” Jeremy took her hand.

His touch promised comfort, but Bonnie couldn’t take that from him without telling him everything. And to be honest, she wasn’t strong enough, yet. She wanted her Grams.

“Can you talk to Grams?”

“I don’t know how it works,” he admitted. “I can try.” He grabbed her other hand and they sat, facing each other. “I had a connection to Vicky and Anna, and you have one to your grandmother. Just hold onto me. Maybe I can do this.”

Bonnie squeezed his hands tight. His eyes closed. A mask of concentration hardened his features. As the seconds ticked away, she became frightened. What if this hurt him? Or worse, what if something dark and evil attached itself to him? She couldn’t let that happen.

“Jer, stop—”

“She’s here.” He opened his eyes and looked over Bonnie’s shoulder. “She’s smiling at you.”

“Grams?”

I’m here, baby.

Jeremy stared at Bonnie. “Can you hear her?”

She shook her head. “I…what is she saying? Grams? Grams, help me!”

Oh, my sweet little girl. I’m trying, but I’m not strong enough on my own. The others won’t help, and she’s stronger. Her magic is not like ours.

“Whose magic?” Jeremy asked.

That’s all I can say. I can’t stay long. Tell her to be strong and to fight.

“You can’t go!” he yelled. “Tell us what to do!”

I…I am not strong enough.

“Grams?” Bonnie thought she heard her, but she couldn’t be sure. “Grams, talk to me!”

I love you, baby. I’ll always love you and I’m trying. You keep trying, too.

“Grams? Grams, I love you, too!”

“She’s gone, Bonnie,” he said. “I’m sorry but she just went away.”

“What did she tell you?”

“She said someone’s magic is stronger than hers. Your grandmother is trying to help, but she’s not strong enough.”

“Who?” Bonnie stood and began to pace.

He rose to his full height, standing still in the middle of the room. “I don’t know.”

“Jeremy, you said it’s been happening for awhile. What did you mean?”

“You forgetting things and being a little out of it. I don’t know. You’re not always yourself.”

Her movements ceased. His words… “What did you say?” she asked him.

“You’re not always you,” he answered. “You remember that time I found you in front of Sofia’s Boutique? I brought you back to my place and you didn’t remember it. And there have been other times. Lots of times come to think of it.”

She frowned. “When did it start?”

“I don’t know. So much has happened lately.”

“Come on, Jeremy. Think! Please, I need to know.”

He went to her. His hands closed over her shoulders as he pulled her to him. “I know. I’m trying.”

“Was it before Klaus took over Alaric’s body or after?” Bonnie asked.

“It’s been since that.”

“Do you think…”

He released his hold on her to look down into her eyes. “What are you thinking?”

“I think that’s what Grams was talking about. Someone’s using magic on me. Using it to control me.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.” She moved from him and picked up her grimoire. The witches had made it very clear that she was on her own so there was no point in hanging around their sacred space. She mumbled a spell that extinguished the candlelight. Jeremy came to her and took her hand. Together, they left the old, dilapidated house.

When they reached her car, his grip on her hand tightened. She tugged free. “I have to go.”

“Where does this leave us?” he asked. “Obviously that wasn’t you who broke up with me.”

“Jer, there’s more and right now, it’d be better if we weren’t together.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“I’m not in control and I’ll only hurt you—”

“This is about Damon and how you or whoever ran off with him.” Jeremy sighed. “I’m not mad at you anymore. I know it wasn’t you. We can move past it.”

“Jeremy—”

“Bonnie, please,” he murmured, cupping her face. “I love you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Was it only days ago that she would have given anything to hear him say those words aloud? How could it be that now they only caused her agony?

Agony because she didn’t know how she felt about him anymore. And agony because her feelings for Damon had become somewhat complicated. She didn’t view him as the asshole, sociopathic, murderous vampire who needed to be brought down. The tenderness he showed her…it melted her. He touched her like she was the most precious thing in the world and she knew he wasn’t faking it. There was no way she could continue on with Jeremy when parts of her craved Damon.

She backed away from him and scrambled into her car. The stunned look on his face almost broke her heart. She reached out through the open window for his hand. He gave it to her.

“Please understand that I can’t right now. I just can’t.”

-%&%&%&-

Damon hit all of Bonnie’s usual hangouts. Her home. Her Gram’s. Caroline’s. He even trekked out to the witches’ burial house. Her scent lingered there more so than any of the other places and to his disappointment, so did Gilbert’s. After that, the trail went cold.

Back in his car, he went deep, far deeper than he usually allowed himself. This thing with Bonnie was sudden and intense. If he wasn’t careful, he’d go the obsessive route. Considering how that usually worked for him, he had to change things up.

Then there was the whole love triangle bullshit.

For once he wanted a woman who wanted him. All of him. Not torn between two lovers. Not conflicted about her feelings. And for damn sure not willingly playing him and someone else. When he thought about how he let Katherine turned him into her boytoy while doing the same with his brother, he wanted to go back in time and kick his own ass. He could not ever be that pussy whipped again. Ever. After over a century of thriving on unrequited love, he’d reached an age where having a woman all his own was a necessity.

So he told himself. Yet even though he knew Bonnie had been with Jeremy probably just a few hours ago, if she came to him, he’d take her.

Pussy whipped sonuvabitch.

“So stupid,” he muttered as he crossed Wickery Bridge, heading home to the boardinghouse.

Fuck, he should be looking for his brother and not a delectable little witch who had run away from him. Just an hour ago, Alaric had texted that he might have a lead on Stefan and by extension Klaus. The Ripper had touched down in Biloxi, Mississippi. Damon had a house that somehow Hurricane Katrina avoided when she touched down there. It would be nothing for him to take a quick trip to the Gulf and investigate.

He pulled out his cell phone as he turned into his driveway. The call to Alaric never happened. A pretty little blue Prius was parked near his front door. And that only meant one thing. His witch had returned.

If he had to breathe, he would have forgotten how to do it. Somehow, he managed to park and stroll casually inside the boardinghouse when all he wanted to do was run. As he crossed the threshold, the delicious scent of freshness of nature of all that was good in the world hit him full force. Oh, yeah, Bonnie had come back to him. Damon collected his eagerness and stuffed it in a box deep inside himself and went to her.

She stood before the fireplace with her back to him. Upon his entrance, she stiffened and turned around.

“This is a surprise,” he said.

“I know,” she said. “It is to me, too.”

Using his superhuman speed, he was before her in a blink. Not a trace of Jeremy Gilbert lingered on her. Emerald eyes glared back at him. Damon didn’t know whether to be worried or relieved.

“Are you still in denial?”

She shook her head. Long silky strands caressed her cheeks. Confusion glittered in her precious gems. Then she squared her shoulders. The fierceness that often had him on his knees dropped down over her. Just watching her mesmerized him. There were so many different facets to this beautiful, powerful young woman. He wouldn’t mind getting to know each one.

“I found out something today.”

He folded his arms across his chest and waited.

“Something has possessed me,” she continued, “and whatever it is wants me with you.”

“Come again?”

“You heard me,” she snapped. “You have to tell me everything that’s happened between us.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Everything?”

Her swagger weakened. She swallowed hard. “Yeah,” she said, her voice cracking a little.

Damon smirked. This was going to be one helluva night.

355