the smal stimulation caused them to sharpen, nicking his lip. Now they were aching pleasantly. Al in response to a single word: dinner.
Elena threw him a teasing glance over her shoulder and giggled. She was one of those lucky females with a beautiful laugh. But this was a clearly mischievous giggle, straight from her wicked, scheming childhood. It made Stefan want to tickle her to hear more; it made him want to laugh with her; it made him want to grab her and demand to know the joke.
Instead he said, "What's up, love?"
"Someone has sharp teeth,"she responded innocently, and giggled again. He lost himself in admiration for a second and also suddenly lost hold of her hand. Laughing like a musical cascade of white water over rock, she ran up the stairs ahead of him, both to tease and to show him what good shape she was in, he thought. If she had stumbled, or faltered, she knew he would decide that her donation of blood was harming her.
So far it didn't seem to be damaging any of his friends, or he would have insisted on a rest for that person. But even Bonnie, as delicate as a dragonfly, hadn't seemed to be the worse for it.
Elena raced up the stairs knowing that Stefan was smiling behind her, and there was no shadow of mistrust in his mind.
She didn't deserve it, but that only made her more anxious to please him.
"Have you had your dinner?"Stefan asked as they reached his room.
"Long ago; roast beef - cooked."She smiled.
"What did Damon say when he final y realized it was you and looked at the food you'd brought?"
Elena made herself giggle again. It was al right to have tears in her eyes; her burns and cuts hurt and the episode with Damon justified any amount of weeping.
"He cal ed it bloody hamburger. It was steak tartar. But, Stefan, I don't want to talk about him now."
"No, of course you don't, love."Stefan was immediately contrite. And he was trying so hard not to seem eager to feed - but he couldn't even control his canines.
And Elena was in no mood to dal y either. She perched on the bed, careful y unwinding the bandage Mrs. Flowers had just wound on it. Stefan suddenly looked troubled.
Love - He stopped abruptly.
What? Elena finished with the bandage, studying Stefan's face.
Well - shall I take it out of your arm instead? You're already in pain and I don't want to fool with Mrs. Flowers's anti-tetanus treatment.
There's still plenty of room around it, Elena said cheerful y.
But a bite on top of those cuts...He stopped again.
Elena looked at him. She knew her Stefan. There was something he wanted to say. Tell me, she pressed him.
Stefan final y met her eyes directly, and then put his mouth close to her ear. "I can heal the cuts,"he whispered. "But - it would mean opening them again so they can bleed. That wil hurt."
"And it might poison you!"Elena said sharply. "Don't you see? Mrs. Flowers put heaven knows what on them - "
She could feel his laughter, which sent warm tingles down her spine. "You can't kil a vampire so easily,"he said. "We only die if you stake us through the heart. But I don't want to hurt you - even to help you. I could Influence you not to feel anything - "
Once again, Elena cut him off. "No! No, I don't mind if it hurts.
As long as you get as much blood as you need."
Stefan respected Elena enough to know that he shouldn't ask the same question twice. And he could hardly restrain himself any longer. He watched her lie down and then stretched out beside her, bending to get to the green-stained cuts. He licked gently, at first rather tentatively, at the wounds, and then ran a satiny tongue over them. He had no idea how the process worked or what chemicals he was stroking over Elena's injuries. It was as automatic as breathing was to humans. But after a minute, he chuckled softly.
What? What? Elena demanded, smiling herself as his breath tickled.
Your blood's laced with lemon balm, Stefan replied.
Grand mama's healing recipe has lemon balm and alcohol in it! Lemon balm wine!
Is that good or bad? Elena asked uncertainly.
It's fine - for a change. But I still like your blood straight the best. Does it hurt too much?
Elena could feel herself flush. Damon had healed her cheek this way, back in the Dark Dimension, when Elena had, with