The time to stop passed, Stefan indulges, using touch - his mouth, his hands, his hips - instead of words to show her just how much he loves her. He doesn't think of Katherine for a second, completely lost in Elena and the familiar contours of her body and the feel of it against his own. Knowing well that they don't have the luxory of being able to lay in bed enjoying one another all day as they would both like, Stefan makes quick work of making love to her; not so quick as to not give them the opportunity to savor each moment, but enough not to make their absences noticeable.

When it's done and over with, he lays on his back with Elena in his arms, dropping a chaste kiss to her forehead. "I love you," he says. Stefan knows he should get up, find his clothes, but the desire to not get out of bed overpowers the need to do so. For the moment.