Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries or any of its characters.

Warning:This chapter is a bit more intense than the others, and this story is not rated M without a reason. Young readers are warned.

Chapter 10

~Don't tear me down for all I need

Make my heart a better place

Give me something I can believe

Don't tear me down

You've opened the door now, don't let it close~

All I Need- Within Temptation

For the second time since she came to Mystic Falls, Elena woke up in Damon's arms. The only difference this time was that she was married to him and was his wife by law.

Initially in the warm glow of sleep, she didn't realise where she was and let out a sigh of contentment as she snuggled closer to the figure that was lying beside her. Elena smiled in her sleep as she felt the hand around her waist tighten and pull her closer. She somehow felt safe and secure…and warm. There wasn't a trace of chill inside the room and she could distantly hear the fire roaring in the fireplace.

"Well, isn't this a nice way to wake up?" A soft, slightly husky voice whispered in her ear. She didn't quite register the meaning and pulled herself closer to the warm figure beside her, intent on catching a little more sleep. She heard a chuckle and her eyes fluttered open. The first sight that greeted her that morning was a pair of vivid blue eyes which were looking down at her with amusement.

"Good morning." Damon whispered as his eyes twinkled merrily.

"Oh!" Elena gasped as she hastily sat up and backed away, pulling the sheets up to her chest. "Damon?" She blinked twice to chase the remnants to sleep from her eyes and saw that he wasn't wearing anything on his torso. He was propped up on one elbow and their hands were almost touching. She slowly pulled her fingers back and curled them into a tight fist.

"You seem surprised." He stated as he ran his fingers through his inky black hair. Slight stubble covered his jaw and she couldn't help it as her eyes trailed down and took the rest of him in.

She noticed things which she hadn't noticed before. On some places on his body, there were faded red marks, as if the skin had been burned. Other places, like his back, had long, deep gashes but they didn't look new. Almost unknowingly, she uncurled her fingers and moved her hand towards a particularly angry red mark on his abdomen, just above the waistline of his trousers. His eyes followed Elena's movement with confusion and when her fingers came in contact with the muscles of his abdomen where the scar was etched, she felt him stiffen up.

"I-I am sorry." Elena stammered as she let her hand fall limply onto the bed. What had she been thinking?

She was startled when Damon took her hand into his own and placed it back on his skin.

"You may." He said, the previous amusement winking out from his eyes. "You are my wife, Elena. You have the right to touch me in any way you want."

A deep red flush crept over her face as he said these words. "No!" she shouted, withdrawing her hand back. He looked bemused as she tried to form a coherent sentence.

"No, what I w-was trying to do was…I was just curious about those scars. Nothing else." She looked away, letting her hair fall over her shoulder to create a curtain between her face and Damon. Her heart was beating faster than usual and she felt really odd sharing a bed with Damon.

"Ah." He drawled. Elena shot a quick glance at his face and saw that his expression was almost unreadable, like a stone. "These are battle scars."

She nodded dumbly while her mind whirred with a thousand images of Damon getting hurt in different ways. She winced and Damon smiled at her knowingly, without a trace of humor.

"Don't think about it." He said quietly as he took her hand into his and traced light circles on the back of it with his thumb. "I don't."

Elena decided to let it go even though she was burning with curiosity. She pulled her hand out of his as soon as her mind acknowledged what was going on.

"What hour is it?" She muttered to herself as she looked out of the window.

"A little after dawn." He replied. Elena hadn't realized that he had been listening and she looked away when she saw that he was staring at her with a somewhat intense look in his eyes. The color of his eyes appeared a bit darker than usual, and his expression was that of...lust? Longing? Desire?

"Damon..?" Elena began. "What happened yesterday?"

"What do you think?" He fell back on the bed and crossed his arms behind his head, a ghost of a smirk playing at his lips.

Elena broke into a cold sweat at his suggestive words. Surely he didn't mean…?

Yesterday had been the night of their consummation and as much as she tried, she couldn't remember Damon coming into the room, much less anything else. All she remembered was waiting for him to show up while she sat on the arm chair beside the fireplace.

"Did it happen then?" She asked him firmly, although she felt weaker than a glass on the inside. She inconspicuously flexed her legs and looked for signs of pain and soreness. She had heard many stories about the…act, and none of them had been very pleasant.

"It's not a pleasurable act for a woman, Elena." Bonnie had whispered to her on an occasion when they had stayed up late, just talking.Elena still remembered this conversation as if it had happened only yesterday.

"How do you know that?" Elena asked her, feeling a bit queasy. "You haven't even…"

"I heard the girls from the kitchens talking about it today." She replied quietly. Elena noticed that Bonnie's cheeks were tinged with pink.

"I want to know more." Elena pressed her, wanting to know more about this act of love. If she had to do it with Stefan one day, she wanted to prepare herself first.

"I am not sure how it works but…when a man enters a woman; it's supposed to hurt a lot. There is even some blood involved." She shuddered.

Blood...there has to be blood. Elena subtly scanned the bed sheets for signs of red but found none. Damon burst out laughing as he noticed her behavior and rolled over the bed. He stood up in one fluid motion and came towards her side of the bed.

"Oh Elena, you are so innocent. So pure. You have no idea what it is like, do you?" He placed his slender fingered hands on both sides of her head and made her look up. She squirmed when Damon's sculpted abdomen came into view at her eye level and she looked up quickly and focused her gaze on his face instead.

"So nothing happened last night?" She asked him faintly, her voice giving out in the end.

He shook his head "Nothing at all. You were fast asleep by the time I came here-" he stopped as a look of bemusement came over his face and he knelt beside Elena. "Was that a ruse to avoid our union?"

"What? No!" her face grew warm. "Of course not."

"Glad to see you are so enthusiastic about the consummation of this marriage." He winked at her.

"Damon." She said, dragging out his name in exasperation.

"At least you grew over the whole "My Lord" thing." He rolled his eyes as he let go of Elena's face and went towards the stone basin which was full of water. He splashed some on his face and dried it off with a clean cloth which was hanging over the changing screen.

Her eyes grew wide as his hands went over the clasps of his trousers and she looked away just in time as she heard the light cotton material hit the floor.

"What are you doing?" Elena cried out as she covered her eyes with her hands.

"Haven't you seen a man naked before?" He chuckled but then stopped, "No, it would be better if you haven't." He muttered darkly. She still didn't dare to open her eyes and kept them tightly shut.

"I would rather you get dressed." She said to him, her voice sounding muffled from behind her hands. "Please."

"What is there to hide when one is as well…endowed as I am?" She could hear the hint of laughter in his voice as he said that and she tried very hard not to let her mind imagine what he was saying. She groaned when her mind flooded with unwanted images.

"Am I supposed to cover my ears as well now?" She snapped at him.

"Oh alright, I'll get dressed, only if you help me wash though."

"W-what?" Her eyes shot open reflexively. Thankfully, he was behind the changing screen and she heaved a sigh of relief but it only lasted for a second.

"Well, would you?" He called out impatiently.

"I …" Her teeth sank into her lower lip. What was she supposed to do?

"Come on Elena, its cold. I can't stand here half dressed waiting for you all day long." He urged her on.

She closed my eyes once, took a deep breath and got up from the bed, reluctantly letting the bed sheet slide down from her body. She was wearing a light cotton night gown and it didn't help much in covering up all that she wanted to cover. She tightened up a few loose laces and started making her way over to Damon with slow steps, unsteady steps.

"Take your time, we have the whole day." He called out sarcastically. She quickened her pace and inhaled sharply when she stepped behind the screen. Thankfully Damon had an ankle length sheet wrapped loosely around his waist but still, he took her breath away for a moment. His back was facing Elena and she could clearly see the battle scars crisscrossing each other on his broad, muscular back.

He smirked at her over his shoulder and handed her a dry wash cloth. Elena dunked it into the basin beside her and found that the water was already warm.

"I am used to looking after myself, Elena." He said after she shot him a questioning look. "Life outside of this castle taught me that."

"Then I am sure that you are quite capable of washing yourself." She muttered under her breath.

"Oh, I am." He replied. Elena waited for him to elaborate but when he didn't, she cleared her throat uncomfortably as she got his meaning.

Oh, I am…but I want you to do it anyway.

She wrung the cloth to expel any extra water and gently rubbed it over his left shoulder. His muscles flexed under her touch and she felt him inhale deeply. She bit her lower lip hard as she moved downward, her fingers gently trailing over a particularly angry red mark. It didn't look new as it had a faded quality about it. She almost drew blood from her lip when she felt him sigh deeply. It sounded more like a muffled moan and the sound pierced right through her soul.

She continued washing him, her hands growing more confident by the second.

"Turn around." She whispered reluctantly when she was done with his back. She didn't meet his eyes as she soaked the cloth back in the warm water and brought it to his chest. As her hand swept over it, his hand suddenly shot up and held hers in place, directly over where his heart was situated. It was beating a little faster than usual and Elena's head snapped up to meet Damon's eyes.

"See what you do to me." He murmured as he continued to hold Elena's hand in his own.

"I…" She couldn't form a coherent thought, let alone a sentence. His midnight hair waved their way down to his forehead and ended pointing out in every direction. His lashes were colored darker than the night itself. She saved the last bit for the end…his eyes. His beautiful…beautiful eyes. Was it even possible for such a color to exist?

He gently took her hand from his chest and placed it over her own, with his hand still on top of hers. He closed his eyes as a small smile graced his lips. Elena's stomach flipped, like she had missed a step while going down the stairs.

All of a sudden, his eyes snapped open and he stepped back. The smile had all but vanished from his face and he turned around and walked away from Elena, the satin sheets still clinging loosely around his waist.

"Damon?" She managed to call out, stumped by his attitude. What was wrong with him?

"I'll leave you alone so that you can get dressed. Be ready for our reception downstairs." He replied in a clipped tone. His voice lacked the previous warmth and now he sounded…cold. More Formal.

Wait...reception? Damon hadn't said anything about a reception before.

"Damon!"

"What?" He peeked over the screen, looking annoyed.

"You forgot your clothes, My Lord." Elena said, trying to keep a straight face.

"Clothes...right." He had the dignity to look sheepish as he collected them from his cupboard and exited the room without a further glance back.

x~x~x~x~x

Focus. Damon needed to focus. This was Elena...not…not her.

He banged his fist on Alaric's door, "Oi! You better not be with a whore in your bed this time!"

"What do you want?" Came his muffled reply from inside. Damon rolled his eyes as he hammered onto his door again.

"Damon…what?" Alaric opened the door partially. From what Damon saw, he was not wearing any garment. He pushed inside and Alaric stumbled back, looking exasperated as he adjusted his trousers around his waist to protect his modesty and ran a hand over his face.

"Where is she?" Damon inspected the room. He bent down and looked under the table, under the bed and threw the curtains apart but found no trace of a woman.

"I am alone, for god's sake! Can't a man hope to catch a good night's sleep?" Alaric grumbled at Damon. "And how do my private affairs concern you anyway?"

"They don't. It's just annoying. Get a proper woman or just give up your man hood. Surviving on these cheap whores..." Damon shuddered to emphasize his point.

"Alright, alright! Was there something else you wanted apart from giving me a lecture on maintaining the sanctity of my manhood? If not then get out of here." He said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I needed to talk."

"About what?"

"You know what." Damon snapped at him as he threw himself down on a chair. "Maybe I made a mistake…"

"Now now now." Alaric held up his hands, looking slightly alarmed, "Don't even think about it. You have already caused a whole lot of trouble as it is."

"I wouldn't hurt her, Alaric. Whenever I look at her…it's like…I don't know. She is the spitting image of my past!" Damon pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. "It's like fate is playing a cruel jest on me."

"And since when do you believe in fate?" Alaric raised his eyebrows as he poured his distressed friend a glass of mead. "Damon Salvatore builds his own destiny. Remember?"

Damon grunted in response as he accepted the glass from him and took a deep draught. Sweet.

"Look at it this way, Damon. Maybe you are getting another chance to…make it right." He placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

"Now now, don't make use of my vulnerability, Alaric." Damon shrugged his hand off as he grinned at his companion. "I am a married man now."

Alaric swore loudly as he got the meaning of his words. "You're impossible. I have no interest in men, Damon. Such a thing is punishable by death. You shouldn't make jests about it."

"Right, so get dressed. Time to attend my reception." Damon got up and slammed the empty bronze glass on the table, feeling energized. "You have two minutes, Saltzman."

"Did I ever mention that you are the reincarnation of Satan?"

"Why, I have been called worse! And oh-" Damon paused at the door frame, "Next time, find a better hiding place for your whores." He threw a meaningful glance towards the changing screen and walked out to the sound of Alaric cursing behind him.

x~x~x~x~x

"Right, so…I have monitored all the arrangements myself and I hope that they please you and your new wife." Caroline said stiffly, her eyes fixed on a point above his head. "The flowers are white tulips according to your preference and I specially looked over the preparation of the meals. Everything is in order."

"Why, thank you." Damon inclined his head in her direction as a gesture of appreciation. He had specifically asked Caroline to look over the reception arrangements in order to pacify her a bit but it didn't seem to be helping much. "Is it just me or do you sound like you are about to murder me in cold blood?"

"No I think I agree with you to some extent." She gave her brother a false smile, which contained not even the slightest bit of sincerity. "Boiled alive or beheading? You choose."

"Shh! If Saint Stefan hears that, he will get ideas of his own." Damon smirked and Caroline shot him a cold glare. He cut her off just as she opened her mouth to retaliate.

"Look Caroline, I am not going to explain my actions to you over and over again. Or to anyone, for that matter." Damon crossed my hands behind his back. "So it would be better if you limit the quantity of your questions."

"Fine. As you wish." She nodded curtly as she turned around to leave. Damon stepped forward and took hold of her wrist.

"Aww Care, don't be like that. Did you really miss me all these years or was it just the bickering?" He asked her as he turned her around to face himself.

"I missed my brother, Damon but I don't know who you are anymore." With that, she wrenched her hand out his grasp and left without sparing him another glance. Her words pierced through him like an arrow. A really sharp, pointed, venom coated arrow.

"Huh, so many saints…how will the Satan survive?" He muttered to himself as he appraised the grand hall. Every available surface was covered in freshly cut white tulips. The huge dining table against the wall, which held to capacity to seat a hundred people, was draped with an embroidered white cloth and the golden and silver plates and utensils were gleaming in the light cast by a thousand candles and lanterns. Caroline had indeed, done an extraordinary job in such a short amount of time. Her gesture touched him even though her words stated otherwise.

Guests were beginning to stream in through the double doors. His Father and Mother descended down the grand stairway, their faces not betraying any kind of emotion. They were better actors than Damon gave them credit for. They greeted the guests and servants with smiles and servants scuttled through the crowd, carrying various delicacies and drinks on silver platters.

For this occasion, Damon had combed his hair back over his forehead to appear somewhat decent. It had been quite a task but he had managed it somehow. He was donned all in black and his sword was strapped at his waist, as was the custom.

"She's here!" He heard a group of ladies beside him pointed behind him. Damon turned around and saw Elena gliding down the stairway with her handmaidens trailing behind her, holding the train of her long royal blue gown. For the second time in two days, she took Damon's breath away.

Her long hair fell in perfect waves till her waist and the neckline of her body hugging royal blue gown was a bit deeper than her other garments but still decent enough for a gathering. Even among all the candles and lanterns, she was the most luminous being present.

"You took your time." Damon said teasingly as he took one of her gloved hand and kissed it on the back. He was pleased when she inclined her head and curtsied to him and the onlookers sighed and awed. Few women had manners as impeccable as those of Elena.

"Apologies, My Lord." She offered formally.

"Shall we?" Damon offered her his arm and he led her off towards the center of the hall as the crowd parted to make way for them. He scanned the faces of the people present and noticed that he recognized some of them. Vaguely.

"Damon." Alaric came up to us and nodded in his direction, "My lady." He bowed to Elena.

"Ser Alaric, I am pleased to see you here." Elena nodded at him. "Um, Damon..?"

"Yes Elena?" Damon looked down at her and smiled, waiting for her question.

"Where are my Father and Mother? I can't see them anywhere…not even Jeremy." She said distractedly as she scanned the crowd.

Alaric cleared his throat,"I am afraid that they left two days ago, My Lady."

"What?" She asked him sharply. Lord Grayson and Lady Miranda had left? "Is it true?"

His silence gave them the answer they needed.

"I…" Elena laughed nervously "I wasn't expecting that. No."

"Life will spring unexpected things at you at every turn. The quicker you learn that, the better." Damon said as he put my hands around her waist and pulled her closer as a gesture of comfort. She stiffened up at the contact but didn't pull away.

"Don't I know that?" Elena replied a bit scathingly and Damon winced at the poor choice of his words.

Soon after that, a stream of guests started coming up to them to offer their congratulations. Elena was soft spoken and polite as usual and while Damon couldn't say the same for himself, I maintained a dignified silence, giving a nod and a handshake once in a while.

"You could be a bit more responsive, you know." Alaric muttered beside him while his eyes darted around the hall.

"Dull." Damon replied back in a bored voice. "I am going for a quick drink." And with that, he took Elena's hand and pulled her along with him to the table where drinks were being served.

"Are you thirsty?" Damon asked her. He grinned when she shook her head.

"Ah I see. Saving your thirst for later tonight, aren't you?"

She went red as soon as the words were out of his mouth and he chuckled. "I love it when you do that. It reminds me of the power that I have over you." He brought up his hand and gently traced a finger down her cheek. It felt soft and warm.

"Don't overestimate yourself." She replied as she swatted his hand away.

"He does that, doesn't he?" A deep, accented voice called out from behind them. Damon stiffened up instantly and hoped that his mind was playing tricks on him. He turned around and cursed mentally when he saw that none other than Niklaus Mikaelson standing behind me with Caroline at his arm.

"Oh, I know you." Damon said, maintaining an air of casual indifference although his insides were quivering in anger. He took a sip from his goblet of wine. "You are the one who begged me not to kill you at the tournament all those years ago."

"Damon!" Elena hissed at him but he didn't pay attention to her and kept his eyes fixed on Niklaus.

Niklaus Mikaelson was the heir to the throne of the Sunlands down south. His family was one of the most influential ones in the whole realm but that didn't stop Damon from putting him down.

"Well, that's not how I was expecting to start a conversation…"

"See what I told you about expecting the unexpected, Elena?" Damon smirked down at his wife, who looked mildly embarrassed at his behavior. Beside Klaus, Caroline looked downright infuriated.

"Dear brother, I would like to introduce you and Elena to my fiancé, Niklaus Mikaelson." She said coldly while tightening her grasp on Klaus's arm. What? Fiance?

"Really?" Damon rounded up on Caroline, "How come was I not aware of this?"

"You would have been, had you paid more attention to other things except for yourself." She snapped at him, her eyes narrowed into slits.

"So." Klaus cleared his throat, obviously intent on avoiding any sort of confrontation. "I assume this is your wife?"

"A pleasure to meet you, Ser Niklaus."

"The pleasure is mine, my Lady Salvatore. Please call me Klaus." He inclined his head and kissed Elena's hand, letting his lips linger on her hand for more than a few seconds. While it was common courtesy, this simple act still made Damon's blood boil.

"So if you're done…?" He interjected as he pulled Elena closer to his side, intent on getting her away from Klaus.

"We'll be meeting quite frequently from now on, since I am betrothed to your lovely sister, Ser Damon." Klaus said. He had a southern accent from the Sunlands and there was a strange quality about the mannerisms of this man which made Damon uncomfortable around him.

"Unfortunately." He muttered quietly and he was satisfied when Klaus's expression changed.

"I understand that you have some previous estrangements from me. So how about I offer you a truce?" Klaus brought his hand forward, a winning smile playing over his lips.

"I'll consider your offer…Not."

And before any of them could say anything, he turned to Elena. "Would you like to dance with me, my wife?"

"I…would love to." Elena replied carefully. He led her away towards the center of the room and the crowd parted for them to have their first dance as man and wife.

"Is it just me or are you always like that with everyone else?" Elena asked him sourly as he placed his hands over her waist and started spinning around with her in light, coordinated circles.

"Always like that, I am afraid." He said as she placed a hand over his shoulder. "I order you to stay away from that person. Am I clear?"

"You could have stated that a bit more politely…" She narrowed her eyes.

"Am I clear, Elena?" Damon's tone left no room for argument and in the end she conceded by nodding.

Damon noticed that she danced quite well and her movements were in perfect synchronization with his. It was an enchanting experience.

"Damon, I hope you realize that my talking and dancing with you in no way, lessens my loathing for you?" She spoke suddenly, her eyes coming to rest on his own.

"Like I haven't heard that one before." Damon muttered. "And," He said a bit more loudly, "You'll come around with time. They all did."

"I really want to ask you what you mean but I am afraid of the answer." She replied as Damon spun her around in a circle. He smiled when he heard her giggle lightly and clutch him for support.

Soon, it was time to switch dancing partners and Damon danced with Caroline for a while who was stiff and unresponsive in his arms. He took a break from dancing after that and called over a servant who was carrying a platter full of wine and mead.

"Keep it here and leave."

"A-all of it, sire?"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

The servant boy scurried away even before he completed his sentence. Damon nursed a glass of wine in his hands as he observed the people. He was onto his third glass when he felt someone tap on his shoulder.

"Yes?" Damon turned around, his movements a bit tipsy due to the amount of wine he had consumed.

"Remember me, My Lord?" A beautiful, read headed girl…no, woman stood in front of him. She had a deep, honey like voice and Damon instantly recognized her.

"Sage?" He took a step back in surprise. He had met Sage a few years back down south during one of his tournaments.

"At your service, My Lord." She curtsied, giving Damon a good view of her ample bosom. "Would you care for a dance, for old time's sake?"

"Of course." He led her towards the dance floor and they started spinning around to the rhythm of the music.

"It's been what…three years?" She said in a husky voice as she linked her arms around Damon's neck in a very suggestive manner. Sage was a couple of years older than him and had been widowed twice with both of her husbands dying very mysteriously and leaving her a large amount of gold and no children to inherit it.

"Must have been. I didn't count." Damon replied as he swayed around with her. Seeing her brought back many memories to his mind, and some of them were not very pleasant.

"You seem a bit withdrawn, My Lord." She whispered against his neck. In his drunken stupor, Damon just chuckled at her. "And you seem very playful. Since you are at this place, you must know that this is the reception for my marriage?" He asked her sarcastically.

"I do." Her expression dropped but that didn't stop her ,"But just one night wouldn't matter, would it?"

"Sage…"

"Come with me, My Lord." She took Damon's hand and led him behind a pillar which blocked most of the view from the hall. She started unlacing the top of her dress and threw herself at Damon, devouring his mouth.

"Sage…Sage!" Damon pushed her back and adopted his most innocent expression. "I was meaning to say one thing first…" He purred at her.

"Say it, My Lord..." Her bosom heaved heavily as she panted and kept her eyes fixed on Damon's face with a god like devotion.

"Whores don't interest me anymore." He replied smoothly and without sparing her another glance, he brushed past her and went into the hall. Despite everything, his blood was running hot and fast through his veins and with the amount of wine he had drank, he was finding it almost impossible to curb his need for intimacy.

Damon scanned the crowd for Elena and when he finally spotted her, he almost let out an animalistic roar. She was on the floor, dancing with none other than Stefan. For a second, he felt like unsheathing his sword and having his way but in the end, his rational side-if he had any- won, and he roughly pushed past people to get to them.

When Elena saw him coming, she broke away from Stefan.

"Damon…what...?"

"Upstairs. Now." He grabbed her arm and started dragging her away from Stefan and away from the crowd. He was done for the night.

"Damon! Let go of me this instance! You're hurting me." She cried out from behind him even as he ruthlessly dragged her along. The crowd parted before him and he was able to navigate his way easily enough, even though the wine coursing through his blood was making it difficult for him to maintain his agility. He could hear Stefan shouting behind him but he didn't pay him any attention.

"Be quiet!" He found himself roaring at Elena as she protested from behind him. She instantly fell silent and he led her upstairs and to their bed chambers. The guards posted in front of the doors bowed at them uneasily.

"Get away from here and don't come back till the morning." Damon spat at them.

"But sire-"

He unsheathed his sword and within a second, the guard was pressed up against the wall with his razor sharp sword at his neck.

"WHY DO I ALWAYS FEEL THE NEED TO REPEAT MYSELF IN THIS KINGDOM?" Damon roared at him as he pressed the sword against the exposed skin of his neck.

"Apologies…apologies, My Lord." The guard whimpered for his life while Elena gasped behind him.

"Out!" He shouted and the guards were out of his sight within two blinks.

He took hold of Elena's hand and shoved her inside the bedroom and barred the doors behind himself.

"Damon! What has gotten into you all of a sudden?" She cried out, looking fearful. He didn't reply as he shoved her against the wall and before she could utter another word, he crushed his lips against hers. He kissed her with such urgency that even he was surprised at himself but not enough to halt. His body was driven by a wild, animalistic desire which even he wasn't aware of. Her lips felt warm and moist beneath his own and they tasted delicious. He broke the kiss but his lips never left her skin. He trailed kisses down her neck and collarbone as his hands slid down from her face towards her shoulder as he tried to unlace her dress. Elena was all but a statue beneath him and her face displayed pure shock.

Damon's mind was singularly focused on one task and even though a small voice inside him was yelling at him that what he was doing was wrong on a thousand levels, he couldn't make himself stop. He was too far gone, driven by lust and anger.

"Damon...please…don't." She whimpered but the meaning of her words did not register in his mind.

In his lust, he bit her lower lip as he finally slid the dress off her shoulders and it fell onto the floor in a puddle of molten silk. He picked her slender form up in his arms and led her inside their bed chambers where he roughly threw her on top the bed and hovered on top of her.

"Oh…Katherine…" He whispered the first name that came into his mind. He felt her stiffen up beneath him but he was totally out of his senses to notice her reaction to his words.

She did not protest but she also did not respond to his advances and her hands were resting limply against Damon's chest. He broke away from their kiss and appraised her exposed skin, taking it all in hungrily. Her chest was firmly pressed against his own and he let his hands trail down from her shoulders as he gently caressed the curve of her breast. She whimpered slightly and closed her eyes, as if she didn't want to see him. A single tear escaped her eye and at that moment, the gravity of what Damon had done hit him.

The girl beneath him was Elena, not Katherine.

And he had broken his first promise to her. The promise that he would never hurt her.

So...that was a bit hard to write. Before any feminists jump on me to rip my throat out, I would like to clarify that I am one as well but to keep the story real, I have to write some things like women being considered inferior to men and all that. Please keep in mind that the story is set in the medieval era and we all know how women were treated back then. The Damon in my story is a Prince and has been brought up in a patriarchal setting where men are considered superior to women and even then he respects Elena enough to stop. What he did was under the influence of wine (and anger over a past situation), nothing else.

Damon had promised Elena at the altar that he would never hurt her but he broke his promise and hurt her emotionally as well as physically. Sort of.

The marriage wasn't consummated since Damon had the sense to stop before things got out of hand.

Feedback is always appreciated! I loved the reviews on the previous chapter. Until next time.