Perfect Match

Chapter 10

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"Stefan."

"Hmm?"

"Are you awake?"

The only reply Elena got was a soft chuckle. She sleepily turned her head to glance over at him, grinning softly at the breathtaking sight. Stefan's green eyes looked like an endless spring pond as the Californian sunrise shone through them, making her smile. His chestnut hair, usually gelled up or back was resting carelessly on his forehead. His clothes, damp from the previous rainfall, were wrinkled, not that he really cared.

Elena decided that she liked seeing him this way. "You look happy," she noted after a comfortable silence.

Stefan grinned widely, an expression that made her heart do crazy things. "I am," was all that he said. And it was all he needed to say, because she knew exactly why.

They hadn't slept at all last night; the entire evening and morning had been replete with kisses, longing looks, and few words. After all, in the euphoric state both of them were thrown into, simple sentences would have been extremely hard to form. It didn't matter though; their lips spoke their own language, whispering things that could never be explained any other way.

Gently and gradually, Elena slid her hand down until her fingers finally entwined with his. A perfect fit. She laughed, turning on her side to face him, and he instantly turned in her direction.

"What now?" Elena asked hesitantly. His eyes locked with hers as he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.

"You're mine," he answered pleasantly, giving her that warm grin that always managed to make her stomach flutter. "And I'm yours."

Elena bit her bottom lip timidly, simply smiling in return. "Promise?"

"Promise."

XXXX

Stefan walked through the hallway of the house, a careless, happy look plastered on his face. He couldn't wipe away his smile and he definitely didn't want to. He was running on pretty much no sleep, but that was okay. He probably couldn't have slept even if he wanted to.

"Someone looks happy," he heard from behind. Startled, Stefan turned and jumped, only to be met with Katherine's seductive gaze. "Hi."

Instantly, he rolled his eyes. Mood shattered. "What do you want Katherine?"

"You," she smirked. "But that's beside the point." Her eyes shamelessly raked over his body and she seductively took a step closer. Instantly, he was overwhelmed with the alluring scent of cinnamon and chocolate, but didn't move closer like she'd been hoping.

"I'm not really in the mood for your games, Katherine," he snapped.

She laughed. "Why not? They're so easy, Stefan. No rules..." Her catlike grin grew even wider as she teasingly trailed her fingers up his chest. He slapped her hand away, but her grin remained confident, unfazed. "And if I remember correctly, you loved them last time."

He glared coldly. "Go away, Katherine. I don't need you screwing anything else up."

She huffed. "Don't act like that, Stef. You were crazy about me. Don't you remember that night last September... when we left the Lockwood party early... so that we could-"

"I call that a mistake." He still refused to give the reaction she was hoping for, and interrupted her before she could finish. "That was over a year ago. Anything I felt for you has completely diminished and faded to hatred."

"Is there a problem?" Jem's deep voice interrupted Katherine and Stefan's intense stare-down. His light, sandy brown hair fell in his eyes, and Janie, who was always at his side, sensually brushed it away as they approached them.