#delenabooksendgame

[homeoftherising]

[homeoftherising]

I don’t belong anywhere, Damon pointed out, suddenly sounding sad. You know I’ll always be with you.

Shadow souls

[homeoftherising]

[homeoftherising]

"I suppose it would be absurd for me to ask you to dance with me," Damon said.

...And now suddenly Damon was vulnerable? Yet he didn't imagine she would dance with him?

Damon was an expert, and not just at the precision of the steps. He danced the waltz as if it were still riotous and indecent. He had a firm lead, which of course Elena's human strength could not break. But he could interpret little signals of her own, about what she wanted and he obliged her, as if they were ice dancing, as if at any moment they might twirl and leap.

Elena's stomach was slowly melting and taking her other internal organs with it.

The waltz was over all too soon and Elena wanted to push the Replay button and do it from the beginning again. There was a moment just when the music stopped where she and Damon were looking at each other, with equal exaltation and yearning, and--

And then Damon bowed over her hand. "There is more to the waltz than just moving your feet," he said, not looking up at her. "There is a swaying grace that can be put into the movements, a leaping flame of joy and oneness--with the music, with a partner. Those are not matters of expertise. Thank you very much for the pleasure."