"You may." She answered trying to flush away her current trance.
Damon leaned in as they made their out to the dance floor. "No need for worries. It will cause you far too many wrinkles upon that delicate forehead of yours."
"Your friend doesn't seem to like me very much." She quickly replied and rested her hand on his shoulder. Damon placed his hand on her hip and the orchestra started out softly. A man took the stage and he began to sing smoothly with the music. It was Dean Martin's "You Belong To Me", a perfect melody to kick off the evening.
"Alaric just isn't use to seeing me happy is all," He informed her as they swayed to the music.
"I make you happy?" She asked feeling pleased with herself all of a sudden.
"Very, Miss Gilbert." Damon crookedly smiled. "Amongst other things."
Elena bowed her head feeling the blood rush to her cheeks. He did know how to make her feel appreciated.
"What did you mean by your comment before of how you met Alaric?" She shyly asked wanting to know the full story.
Damon licked his lips and sighed. "He is a hunter and a good one. I'm sure you can guess what type of hunter judging by why he might have wanted me dead."
A vampire hunter? Elena was shocked once again about another truth that she had been so blind to see before. There was so much she didn't know and all she wanted was to know more. She wanted to know everything. No more being left in the dark.
"Well, why didn't he finish the job?" She probed further.
"You do like to ask a lot of questions." He laughed softly. "I convinced him not to and no I didn't compel him. I told you I like control and I made a deal with him. I showed him all the good I've brought about this community with my company and surrounding areas. If he killed me it would be a scandal. We agreed that myself and my brother were the only of our kind to inhabit this area and any who decided to try to mess that up would be terminated."
"Oh." Elena simply replied. "Well, I'm glad you're here."
"As am I. Now, Miss Gilbert if you wouldn't mind I would like to dance. You do far too much talking." He lowered his voice and let his hand slip down a bit below her hip. She felt her body jolt with electricity and she locked her lips together. Damon was giving her his 'I want to fuck the shit out of you' stare and all she could think of now was rushing off somewhere to get the job done. However, she knew it wasn't going to happen here no matter how much they both wanted too.
The music continued and the sound of the trumpet over powered the entire orchestra. It was beautiful and she loved how she was able to share this moment with him. He was a remarkable dancer, which was no surprise. Damon had plenty of surprises up his sleeve. This one was no exception.
As the song came to an end, Damon leaned in and kissed her cheek with a peck of his lips. He whispered into her ear, "You do look ravishing Miss Gilbert. You look even more ravishing without this dress on either."
He knew how to make her squirm. Her hand that was pressed up against his chest wanted to grip his shirt and rip it off. He did look breath taking in his tuxedo all groomed to perfection. This was becoming unbearable.
Another song hummed through the room and this time without lyrics. It was another tune she recognized as "You Made Me Love You" and she knew Damon was still in the mood to dance just so he had an excuse to be close to her and probably press his growing erection up against her as well. However, two familiar faces, Stefan and Caroline who were also on the dance floor, interrupted them.
"Hello, Elena. Damon." Stefan greeted them.
"Brother. Caroline." Damon responded.
"You look beautiful, Caroline." Elena gasped. She was wearing a blue ball gown that made her skin glow. Her hair was pulled back up into a curly bun.
"Thank you." She smiled and clutched on to Stefan's arm.
"I was wondering if I could steal Elena away for a dance?" Stefan asked looking intensely at Damon. Stone faced and slightly agitated by his request he looked to her warily. "I'm sure you don't mind Damon. I promise I'll give her back."
Tension hovered over the two of them and even Caroline noticed it. She looked angry at his request as well. She didn't want to dance with Stefan and she knew Caroline definitely didn't want to dance with Damon either, but neither of them had a say in this situation.
"Sure, why not." Damon agreed. "She's yours. Caroline, may I have this dance?"
"Fine." She rolled her eyes and took his hand.
Stefan turned on his heel and took her hand. He placed his hand on her hip just like Damon had and she jerked forward as he lead them in the dance. What was he up to? If this was another one of his pleas to try to convince her that he was good he could save it. She wasn't going to listen. All she wanted was to get this dance over with and find her way back to Damon.
"It's strange to see my brother with someone." He casually spoke as they moved from side to side.
She had nothing to say to him.
"I mean, he has had his flings in the past." Stefan said continuing to make it even more uncomfortable. "But there is something about you that he just seems to be drawn to. Don't get me wrong you are beautiful, but I don't think that's what has my brother hooked."
"And what does then?" Elena asked in a snarky tone finally giving into his taunting.
"I think you remind him of his ex." He told her.
Suddenly, Elena looked over at Damon with a sideways glance. He was talking to Caroline, who did not seem interested in the least. She knew he could be listening in on their conversation since she learned vampires have the ability to pick up anyone's conversation within a certain radius if they so pleased to. However, this was her chance to learn more about him, even if it wasn't directly from the source. Stefan seemed willing to give up information about his brother, so why not play along?
"How so?" She tilted her head and felt herself relaxing.
"You're both beautiful and endearing. You know how to push his buttons enough to keep him coming back time after time." Stefan fully enjoyed enlightening her of Damon's past. "However, you're not as mean as she was."
"Mean?" Elena raised her eyebrow.
He smiled. "Her name was Katherine. She was sexy and witty, but very cruel in some sense."
"Sounds like Damon wasn't the only one who had a thing for this Katherine." She boldly stated watching Stefan for his reaction. He clenched his jaw and looked down. "So, what happened to her?"
"She died." Stefan said fast.
"I'm sorry." Elena apologized. He seemed to hurt Stefan to say this.
"It's alright. It's in the past now." He switched his emotion back to his dark self. "It's just, I know you like him Elena, I just don't know if he ever got over her fully. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Is that why you said he would hurt me before? Is it because he isn't over his ex-girlfriend?" She asked realizing maybe Stefan was trying to warn her earlier.
As she attempted to get more information out of him, Caroline came stomping over and put her hands on Stefan immediately. "Sorry, Elena, but I'm stealing him back." She dragged him away and Elena looked to Stefan for something, anything. He shrugged his shoulders and she stood confused with her mouth gaped open.
Twirling around, she was startled to find Damon standing there with his head cocked to the side. He half smiled and stared at her with his dreamy blue eyes. She had no idea if he knew of the conversation she just had with his brother and as much as she wanted to confront him about it, she couldn't find the courage to do it. Instead, she pretended like nothing happened and gazed back at him.
"I have something to show you." He said. "Come with me."
Chapter 33: The Gala Pt. III
Lifting the hem of her dress off the marble tiled floor, Elena reluctantly followed Damon through the crowd of people and out through the glass doors that led to a stone patio. The sound of the jazz band was still lingering softly in the cool night air as her heels clicked on the stones. A few head nods were exchanged between Damon and some upper class gentleman, who were d
rinking their dark liquors and puffing on cigars. He grabbed her hand and the satin gloves slipped through his fingers interlocking. She had no idea where Damon was taking her, but they were no longer on a solid surface. Her heels sunk into the grass as he led her further away from the party.
Up above the stars twinkled in the clear dark sky. She had never seen the sky so clear before and the constellations were more defined than ever. Nearly tripping as she gazed up, she caught herself and Damon finally stopped in his tracks and unlinked their hands.
His facial features were soft and relaxed, a sight that was rare to see. The moon made his face pale, but glowing. His blue eyes shined as he stared out ahead of him and he glanced her way with an admiring expression.
"Why are we out here?" She asked shivering from the chill in the air.
"Because I wanted a moment away with you from every thing, to enjoy this beautiful night with a striking beauty like yourself." He confessed. "I didn't know how fascinating you would be to others, Miss Gilbert."
Nerves bundled inside of her knowing he was disturbed by his brother's attempt to steal her away. Still unsure of how aware he was to their private conversation she kept it under wraps until the time was right. She did not want to open a book of the past if it meant it would ruin a moment like this. The night was beautiful and as she looked ahead she saw a quiet pond resting in the middle of the property. Lines of trees surrounded the pond and the reflection of moon upon it was so clear.
"I hope my brother didn't scare you off." Damon stated in a monotone voice.
Elena rubbed her bare skin with her glove and bit her lip. She grew anxious not being able to know if he had been listening in or not. If he had she wanted to admit to it, but if he hadn't she didn't want to stir the pot. Instead of dwelling on their enlightening conversation, she raised her chin and smiled at him. "No."
"Good." He replied with a weak smile.
Both their eyes returned to the lonely pond a few feet in front of them and remained silent. No noise, no interruptions, nothing could steal away this blissful moment. She now understood why Damon had dragged her out here. As she connected with the moment, Damon stepped in front of her and held the back of her neck. Lust filled his eyes and she falling into his trance.
"Elena Gilbert, what are you doing to me?" He asked rhetorically.
The way he looked at her still made her wonder why me? Why was she the one that made Damon Salvatore fall weakly to his knees whenever she was in his presence? His sense of control and his hard ass temper faded instantly when he let his walls down around her. The thought drove her crazy. Did Katherine do the same thing to him, when they were together? She couldn't think of that right now. It was inappropriate, but it was almost impossible to not be curious of her if Stefan claimed they had so much in common.
"Elena?" Damon's deep voice brought her back to reality.
"I'm here." She spoke quickly.
"What did my brother say to you?" He asked becoming serious.
"Nothing." Elena lied. She thought quickly on her feet. "He was trying to reason with me again that he won't hurt Caroline and that he's sorry for what he did."
His eyebrows were in straight line across his face. Tiny lines of wrinkles formed on his forehead and he looked like he was thinking hard about something. If he did know the real conversation, he would also know she was lying to him. Elena prayed he would believe her even though it wasn't the truth.
"I'm just having a hard time believing him after everything." She continued to drag out her invented story.
Damon pushed out his lower jaw and glanced over her shoulder. His eyes flew back on to her and she caught her breath as he glared at her. "He won't hurt her. He knows his place."
Trying to hide her sudden relief, Elena convinced herself not to worry about his ex-girlfriend for the time being. If he wasn't going to bring it up, then she didn't need to either. However, there was no use in trying to forget about it. She knew well enough it was a part of his life that had molded him into the man he was today and it bothered her.
"No more serious brother talk, okay?" She asked cupping his face with both her hands. Something wicked came to mind. "You have me all to yourself Mr. Salvatore. The night is still young and I know enjoying the view out here isn't the only reason you brought me out here."
"Miss Gilbert," His tone was husky and seductive. The Damon she knew had returned. He grabbed her wrists and withdrew them from his face. He held on to them tight. "You know I would take you right here and now if I could, but there is one little thing standing in the way."
Elena rolled her eyes and stepped closer to him. Screw the contract…again. He hadn't followed his own rule before why did he have to oblige by it now? She knew he was aching below and suppressing that feeling would only make things worse.
"Hasn't stopped you before." She whispered.
"You are very tempting indeed." Damon whispered back. "Follow me."
Letting go of one of her wrists, he led her again into the night. He was walking fast and she could barely keep up. Hushed whispers of his name passed her lips as he pulled her further and further into the woods. The party behind them had vanished and only the sounds of tiny insects roaming the night echoed. The trees were tall and completely blocked them from anyone's view. A small patch of grass was illuminated by the full moon above. Damon halted in his tracks and spun around to face her. His eyes were full of lust.
"This will be quick." He said already undoing the button on his pants and pulling his zipper down.
Her heart pumped faster and adrenaline flowed through her. She looked down to the thick grass below and wondered if she should lie down. Instead, Damon moved her in one swift motion using his super human powers and she was up against a rather large tree. It supported her back as Damon quickly pushed his mouth upon hers and ravished in her letting himself get carried away. His wet lips traveled up and down and even brushed against the sweet, sensitive spots on her neck. The fear never diminished knowing Damon was tempted every time he found himself kissing her soft skin around her neck. Her blood was radiating as he kept her wanting more and letting the excitement build. However, this time he was careful. He never stayed too long kissing in one spot. He was determined and only one thing was one his mind.
"Lift up your dress." Damon requested of her as his greedy hands weighed down on her hips and pushed his groin into hers. Elena hiked up her dress feeling the heavy material inch up. His hand found her smooth leg and traveled up. He cupped her bottom and gave it a tight squeeze. "This is mine tonight."
"Stop playing Mr. Salvatore." She gasped.
"I'll play with you all I want." He growled scooping her left leg up and curled it around his waist. Yanking down his pants, she felt him and her whole body constricted. Damon pushed his body against her as he dug deeper and letting her feel every ounce of him.
Damon gripped her hip and smiled crookedly. "You are perfection. You are mine."
Her chest heaved as he moved back as he said it and slammed hard into her. "Hold on tight."
As Damon and Elena re-entered the lively atmosphere of the party, people glanced their way. She feared they knew what they had done in the woods, but Damon had assured her that her appearance was flawless. No one would ever in his words, "Know that you've been fucked so hard, but me." Her cheeks grew warm from the thought and she could easily blame her blushing from the cool air outside.
The band had struck up another familiar tune and the dance floor became sultry and seductive. Peggy Lee's 'Fever' was an ominous hit and a fitting song for the night. Elena snuck a glance at Damon and couldn't help but feel confident and glowing for the first time all night. She was the girl on his arm and no one else. She would be the girl that everyone would talk about tomorrow and finally it wasn't bothering her anymore.
"Miss Gilbert, I believe you owe me another dance." Damon spoke firmly and tilted his head down.
"Okay." She agreed and he led her out to the middle.
The other couples dan
cing moved towards the edge of the dance floor and watched them. Suddenly the spot light was on them. Damon took her hand and spun her around and caught her with her chest pushed up against his. Those devilish blue eyes peered down for a moment noticing her pushed up cleavage and smiled. He then began to sway them back and forth to the bass of the song. He was a fine dancer and knew how to take control, as if that wasn't problem for him.
"Every one is staring." Elena gritted through her teeth as people gawked and sipped their expensive champagne.
"You give them something to admire. You are strikingly beautiful." He murmured. "And now they all know you are mine too."
Fifty Shades Of Dark - Damon Salvatore Page 22