To Be Or Not To Be » Stefan Salvatore

Chapter 4 - A Mother's Secrets

Skye woke to soft sheets and the golden light spilling through the blinds. Her mind hovered between dreams and reality, clinging to the warmth of the covers before she finally let her blue eyes meet the morning sun.

She shifted, turning over—only to find herself face-to-face with Damon.

Her breath hitched. Cobalt eyes widened. She froze.

Don't move. Don't wake him. Maybe this wasn't real.

But then the dull throb in her head made itself known, and with it, flashes of the night before came rushing back—

Kol and Rebekah nearly killing Matt. Bourbon burning her throat. Damon beside her, pouring another drink. Then his place. His hands. Their clothes on the floor.

Gods.

Skye swallowed hard, staring down at her bare body beneath the sheets. She let out a groan, yanking the covers over her face. What had she done? She was never this reckless. Never had meaningless sex with a guy she had just met.

Her family was going to kill her.

A buzz from Damon's bedside table yanked her out of her spiraling thoughts. Instinctively, she squeezed her eyes shut, feigning sleep.

Next to her, Damon stirred. The bed dipped as he leaned against the mattress, reaching for the phone.

"What?" His voice was rough with sleep.

Skye focused, listening. She knew eavesdropping was bad, but curiosity won over morality.

"Hey."

Elena.

Skye barely resisted the urge to groan. Of course, this had to happen. Because clearly, she hadn't learned her lesson about getting tangled up in Elena's orbit.

"I—I called you like ten times last night," Elena continued, her voice edged with frustration. "We need to talk."

Skye's stomach twisted.

Damon shifted, and she knew—knew—he was looking at her now.

"Sorry," he said, voice void of emotion. "I've been busy."

Heat crept up Skye's neck. Her fingers curled into the sheets, willing away the blush threatening to betray her.

"If you're mad at me, Damon, you need to get over it."

The words landed like a slap.

Skye rolled onto her side, her back to Damon, pretending not to hear. But she understood now. The drinking, the bitterness, the self-destruction.

Elena.

Damon didn't respond, just ended the call with a sharp press of a button.

The silence stretched between them. Then the bed shifted again.

When Skye finally turned, Damon was already watching her.

Just act normal.

She forced an awkward smile.

"Morning, sunshine."

That made her roll her eyes as she sat up, dragging the sheet with her as she stood. The silky fabric wrapped around her, but it left Damon very exposed.

A single brow lifted, amusement dancing in his cobalt gaze.

Skye's face burned. Her eyes darted anywhere but him until she spotted his pants on the floor. In a blur, she snatched them up and tossed them his way.

"Put on some clothes." She stared determinedly at the wall behind him.

Damon caught the pants, but instead of putting them on, he stepped closer—too close. His breath ghosted over her ear. "You sure about that?"