There are many things Rose likes about Damon. For instance, she likes his beauty and the near-absolute power he can wield. She likes how he looks at her when he thinks she isn't paying attention—all adoration and raw hunger. She likes the idea of them passing through time ageless together, of being each other's safeguard against a descent into madness and loss—of caring too much for anyone.

Most of all, she likes how well he knows her. How Damon can see through her deceptions and artfully toy with her Rose still likes to play coy, as if she hadn't already asked Damon a thousand times over for orgasms or offered...