Through Rivalry Comes Love

Chapter 41

Something prickly woke Elena up the next morning and as soon as she opened her eyes, she realized it was the stubble on Stefan's chin that he hadn't bothered to shave in a few days. She studied his face for a few moments, trying to decide if she liked this stubble or whether she liked the clean-shaven man she had known for a few months now.

Then her heart sank a little. She really had only known him for a few months, yet she felt feelings stronger for him than she had for any other guy she had dated.

And here they were, curled up on her hospital bed on Christmas, with an uncertain future. She sighed. It was just after one in the afternoon. They had slept for a long time, and Damon and Bonnie would probably be there with dinner in an hour or so.

"Stefan?" she whispered. She traced his lips with her finger, remembering the kiss they had shared the night before.

Stefan's eyes opened and he blinked a few times to help himself wake up. "What's wrong?" he asked.

She shook her head quickly. "Nothing" she assured him. "Bonnie and Damon will be here with dinner" she reminded.

Stefan blinked again as he looked over her at the clock. They really had slept for a while. Stefan settled his head back down into her pillow and stared into her eyes. "I should probably run home and change" he told her.

"And shave?" she asked, smiling as she again focused on his stubble.

It made Stefan smile. "You don't like my stubble?" he asked, running his hand over his face.

"Well, it gives you more of a rugged look" she said, blushing slightly when she thought about how they could role play that.

Stefan's eyes showed his excitement as his hand moved onto her hip. "How are you, umm ... feeling?" he asked, hinting at why he wanted to know. He slowly leaned over and placed warm kisses against her neck, moving closer to her.

Her skin felt like it was on fire, probably because he hadn't touched her like that in quite some time. She wrapped her arms around his neck, inviting him closer. "Can we really do this in here?" she asked, closing her eyes and trying really hard not to make a sound when he sucked against her skin.

"If you want to" he said quietly. He sure as hell did.

Elena sighed. "I want to. I want you so much Stefan" she said, holding onto him tightly like she couldn't get enough of him.

He stopped kissing her neck and immediately began kissing her lips, moving closer to her still and being careful not to bump into her injured leg. "Let's go into the bathroom" he whispered against her ear, not wanting to take any chances that someone would walk in on them.

"Okay" she smiled. Stefan got out of bed first and was helping Elena out. As soon as her feet touched the floor, her hospital room door opened and in walked Jeremy. Well, that ended that. "Fuck" she said, surprising not only Jeremy and Stefan, but herself as well. It was disappointing though to have mentally prepared yourself to have sex with Stefan only for you to realize it wasn't going to happen right then.

"Am I interrupting?" Jeremy asked.

"No" Stefan answered, letting go of Elena. Jeremy hadn't interrupted. He had ruined Stefan's chance at sex with Elena, but after all, Jeremy was the concerned brother checking up on his sister, so Stefan really had no right to be mad at him. But he was irritated as hell.

"What's up Jer?" Elena asked, forcing a smile to cover up her disappointment.

"Nothing" he shrugged, coming in and taking a seat. He flipped open a magazine. "Jenna and Alaric are picking up things for dinner so I thought I would come and hang out with you guys" he told them.