Stefan swallows roughly, forcing himself not to shy away from her touch. He silently weighs his options in his head, knowing fully if he moves the next piece on this game board, there's not a person who won't be cross with him for it and hurt by it, nor anyone who will understand what he's doing. They're too behind to get it. If he doesn't move, that could potentially piss Katherine off to the point where she'd shun him and look for entertainment and attention elsewhere. He's going to hate himself for this later, but he can't risk losing the trust he's gained (or thinks he's gained), that connection to information that may prove vital in saving Elena's life should the hamsters ever bring one of the Originals or, God forbid, Klaus himself here.

"Then," he says, craning his head down towards hers. "And then, I--"

And then he does it. He kisses her.

Damon is going to kill him if Elena doesn't get to him first. Stefan tells himself that protecting them from Katherine is worth how upset they're going to be with him.