Feasting on him as part of their lovemaking slowly began to seem less morbid and more natural. It was a side of her she had no need to fear anymore. Damon had been right, and despite any reservations Elena previously had, she wanted to accept herself more than anything. That meant taking all the good and bad of being one of the undead, and she could do that now. She understood that she wasn't different, she was simply more herself, and Damon loved her either way.
He had always treated her in an unconditional manner. She was never anything less than Elena to him, not even when he was angry with her and found ways to spite her. At the end of the day, he would still risk his neck for her and she would stop at nothing to do the same for him. They were volatile in that way, she knew, and it would likely get them both killed someday; but, Elena didn't fear that.
Especially not when she still had his blood sliding gloriously down her throat and filling her in ways simple sex could not accomplish. So caught up in the way that felt, she had no chance to prevent him from turning the tables on her. With peels of laughter, she felt her back hit the mattress and off went her underwear. The yelp she gave at the sensation sounded nothing short of pleased.
Elena opened her mouth to say something, but the sight of him there between her legs made her voice catch in her throat. Holding herself up on one arm, Elena reached out to brush her fingers across his cheek. This was it for her, Elena didn't want to have to make anymore choices. So certain of how she felt about him, no one else could compare. Not even Stefan.
"Damon--" She hesitated, a little bit of worry for killing the mood with what she had to say arising. Remembering who she was talking to, however, instantly reassured her. The one person she could tell anything to without fear of judgment was Damon. "I don't.. regret the way things happened before I.. became a vampire, but.. you should know, I wanted to be with you then. And.. if I can be grateful for anything out of the sire bond, it's that it gave me the confidence to let myself accept that I love you, that I have for a long time, and that's not ever going to change."