Dance With Me

Part One

Leara wrung her hands nervously from where she stood at the top of the staircase in the Lockwood Mansion. As the eldest daughter of her family, she had long promised her mother she would participate in the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant. She had practiced all week with Jeremy after coercing him, but her gut told her he would not be at the bottom waiting for her. Applause sounded as the girl who was in front of her was escorted out to the dance floor by her partner. She took a breath and composed herself. She would go through with this even if she had to do so by herself.

"And now for our last contestant, Miss Leara Gilbert," Mrs. Lockwood announced happily. "She is escorted by the dashing Damon Salvatore."

Her heart started beating faster in her chest when she heard the name of her escort. Damon is here? She began her descent with shaking legs. A blush settled on her cheeks and an unbidden smile came upon her lips. The royal purple evening dress she wore swished softly around her ankles and her black pumps clicked against the marble stairs. She wanted to rush down the stairs to see if he was really standing there but she opted for refined dignity instead. She reminded herself that she would try to win this pageant for her mother and sister.

Damon was indeed standing at the bottom of the staircase when she finally came into the crowd's view. He stood tall in a black tuxedo with his hair slicked back. His blue eyes met hers and never left them. Her smile must have been contagious because he had a small smile instead of his usual smirk. He held out his arm and she grasped his elbow gently.

"Hello, Leara," Damon whispered. "You look gorgeous." She could see the honesty in his eyes. He looked at her with a soft, caring expression.

"Thank you, Damon. Thank you for being here," she said gratefully.

"There's no place I'd rather be, sweetness."

Her heart swelled with happiness. She released his arm when they got to their spot on the dance floor. The world faded away when the music started and the only thing she focused on was Damon. Practicing with Jeremy was completely different than dancing with Damon. She had originally thought the no touching rule was bull but now she knew what Mrs. Lockwood meant.

The sexual tension between them was palpable. Damon's attention never wavered away from her. She knew her heart was beating at an increased rate, and she knew Damon could hear it. Excitement swelled within her gut as they finally got to the part of the dance where they could touch. His hands were cold but against her hot body they felt great. He pulled her in as close as he could.

"I could dance with you forever," he mumbled softly.

A blush flushed across her cheeks. "I wish we could," she whispered. She wished she had a photographic memory so she would never forget how he looked at her. Just for a couple of minutes, she was all he saw.

As they twirled around the dance floor, Leara could just barely see over Damon's shoulder. Elena looked shocked. Jenna and Rick were very obviously displeased. From what she could see of Caroline's face, Leara knew that she was pissed.

"I'm going to get an earful," she said quietly. Damon simply kept smiling.

"You can worry about that later. Just focus on me," he replied. Leara obliged and the rest of the world fell away. His hands on her body and his brilliant blue eyes were the only things keeping her grounded.

The dance ended too soon for either of their liking. He raised her hand up to his lips and gave her knuckles a kiss. Leara smiled wide at the gesture. Her heart swelled with joy. "Thank you, Damon. We should dance more often."

"Oh, I plan to but for right now it's probably better I check on Stefan." He winked at her, but a forlorn expression passed over his features. "I'll see you later, Leara," he said softly before turning and striding from the property.