QUIET HOUSES.
Despite the horrendous weather conditions, Versailles managed to shine through in all its glory. The green gardens, perfectly kept, the massive, but still delicate and beautiful building; all was in its proper place. It was just as Elena had left it, only now it seemed even more charming because she had the pleasure of seeing it with Damon on her arm. Rain poured down in such strength that it was impossible to see through, yet the faces of both lovers were graced with a heartwarming smile. They even enjoyed the rain and thunder, and lighting because it reminded them of home. When they finally reached the inside of the palace, they were soaking wet, but Elena just smiled and laughed. After acquiring the tickets they went for a tour of the rooms and what rooms they were! Whilst Damon quietly observed the elegance and glamor of these habitations, Elena was nearly comatose from joy. It had really been her most deepest wish to come back to Versailles and now that she was here, she decided she was not going to hold back. Elena went over to Damon and clung to his arm, giving him a kiss on the cheek. It was an utter pleasure for Damon to see her so cheerful and joyous. He put his finger to her lips and then to his. Elena beamed.
While they had been inside, the rain had calmed down and now the gardens were covered in a mysterious and inviting fog that stretched far beyond the borders of the grounds. The couple now decided to go for a stroll and soon enough were lost in the fog, out of sight from the rest of the tourists. They walked silently; Elena rested her head upon Damon's shoulder, Damon looked forwards and never back, keeping a slight smile on his lips. The grounds were an endless labyrinth that evoked many emotions in the minds and hearts of those who passed through them, especially on a day like this. At one turn, next to the perfectly shaped hornbeam hedge, Elena stopped them. It was as if she had to do something. Only then did she realize that she simply did not want that moment to pass them by unnoticed. Elena embraced Damon, her head pressed tightly against his chest. His heartbeat was racing and Elena was sure that hers was as well. Her eyes looked upwards and found his and in a moment their lips collided in a passionate and ever-loving kiss. They explored the wondrous Versailles and all its surroundings. Took pictures that some might call silly, but they wanted to preserve as a reminder of a wonderful memory. Truth be told; on this day they felt more like a couple than they had ever felt. When it was time to leave this palace, which they so wanted to stay in for a bit more, Elena convinced Damon that they needed to go to a restaurant before leaving this place for good.
During their afternoon meal the sun came out; bright, radiant, casting light upon everything and anything. Damon couldn't help himself and took photographs of Elena in the café. After all she did look so lovely in the afternoon sun. They held hands across the table and sipped their Dom Pérignon champagne. It was a day well spent and Damon's reward, all though he himself wanted to visit Versailles as much as Elena did, was the loving gaze that Elena directed at him all throughout the day and the drive back to Paris.
The time of the school holiday had come. Nearly everybody stayed where they were, because most of the students at the school had family in Paris. Elena however did not and she longed to be away from Paris for just a while, so that she would not get tired of walking the same streets and eating in the same cafes after such a short time spent in this superb city. To grant Elena her wish, Damon once again being secretive arranged for them a farmhouse in Millemont; for a week, with a breathtakingly beautiful forest nearby and also close to a village with markets. This time Damon had successfully talked Elena into being agreeable about this, by saying that it was what he really wanted for this holiday. Bags packed and a goodbye said to Damon's apartment, they were well on their way to Millemont. Only 40 or so minutes from Paris this little place was absolute heaven for a couple looking to keep their privacy. As soon as they arrived in the village Elena knew it was going to be the perfect place for their getaway. The neat and delicate gardens, houses all showed the French elegance and quest for beauty. Everything looked positively radiant, but when they drove up to their house Elena thought to herself that this house was far beyond anything they had previously seen in the village. It was a beautifully restored farmhouse; stone exterior, surrounded by a garden and trees, a very large back yard. Truly a place where one can breathe in fresh air and admire the simple beauty of nature.
Leaving the car behind Elena practically ran to the house and opening the white wood door entered their house. It was gorgeous; living room had a fire place, piano, everything one could need, the kitchen was no less impressive. Elena dragged Damon outside to the back yard and they rested in the armchairs, viewing the endless grassy field and clear and beautiful sky. Elena rested her head against the back of the chair and could feel herself become peaceful and calm. Nothing except the grasshoppers making a sound, Damon enjoyed the silence they were able to take in. Elena looked almost asleep, but she still held his hand tightly in hers, Damon sighed in pleasure and looked far off into the distance. The surroundings inspired him and in a moment he knew what he wanted to do. Damon went to the car and took their bags inside. Taking the duvet, he went outside to Elena and covered her with it, whilst he left and drove the car to the nearest village market.
Elena awoke to the sound of shattering glass. Her eyes opened up to dark clouds and trees bending in the wind. Damon's voice came into her ears suddenly; it was as if he was speaking to himself. Folding the duvet carefully and carrying it inside, Elena discovered that Damon was carrying bags of produce and on the floor rested a shattered wine bottle. Damon stopped in his tracks when he saw Elena. The surprise he was expressing was hilarious and Elena couldn't help but laugh. Finally, she managed to stop and decided to clean up the pieces of glass. The wine smelt intoxicating, unfortunately it was ruined. Elena cleaned everything up and decided to unpack the groceries. In the bags she discovered lots of chocolate, champagne and every possible kind of berry; strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, gooseberry and black currant. There was also a lot of meat. And when Elena came upon the charcoal it was clear that Damon was planning to cook on the grill. When he came back with more groceries, he was greeted by a happy Elena, who immediately clung to his neck and gave him a kiss. Damon no longer cared about the goods and quickly placed them on the table so he was able to respond to Elena's embrace. Their cheeks touching before were now coming apart as their lips were moving closer, attracting even to the others. Elena softly placed her lips upon his and for a brief moment neither of them dared move. They were locked in a kiss that needed to last forever, but when Damon finally plucked up the courage and moved, taking Elena's waist with his arms, so did she, sliding her hands through his dark, black hair. Damon stopped. He opened his eyes and looked into Elena's, their foreheads touching; he held her face in his hands.
"I think we should start cooking, before the sun goes down," He nearly whispered, not wanting to be too abrupt. Elena smiled, but it pierced through him, not a genuine smile. But as they began setting the table and burning the charcoal, everything returned to normal again. The previous tension that had filled the air around them had been because since the night at the cottage, or villa rather, they had not been intimate with each other. Now, being here alone in this empty house in the peace and quiet of the countryside they were bound to enjoy each others company all the time, which in turn might lead to them making love once again. This was all going through Elena's mind as she added more of the dark charcoal to the grill.
The sun was setting and as the pleasant aroma of food filled the yard and house Elena began to feel famished. They took a glass of champagne outside and instead of sitting in the chairs, Elena convinced Damon to sit on the grass. The glasses set down; the lovers lay in the grass, looking upwards at the purple and creamy sky. The grass was moist and refreshed them pleasantly. It was all like in a dream; the house, the man, Elena couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. What Damon was offering her was his life, security, compassion, understanding, comfort – everything, but Elena couldn't comprehend how she was ever going to express her gratitude to him. They finally had their meal and it was as better than anything they had had in a restaurant. They sat in the garden and could feel the air become chilly and the sky turn blue, now only the candles keeping them in the light and warmth. Damon leaned close to Elena's ear and gently kissed her neck, whispering something that was just between them. Elena placed her hand upon his and lightly twirled her fingers around his, while Damon still kept kissing her. Elena suddenly got up and blew out the candles, leaving them in absolute darkness.
Taking Damon's hand, she led him inside, where he placed his hands around her waist and she hers around his neck. Damon moved close to her, so close they were only millimeters apart and leaned in proximity to her lips. Elena's anticipation for a kiss had grown to impossible levels and she bit her lip, right then Damon kissed her. The kiss was so lustful and so hungry that Elena couldn't help but beg for air, which she wished she didn't need at that particular moment. There was something so passionate about the moments they came close to each other or the times they kissed. It was as if they were completely different people in a completely different relationship. Romance; that was the basis of their relationship and at times when they shared something intimate, it was gone. Nothing but raw lust and passion and greed was left in their minds and bodies and all they could do was give in. Damon stroked Elena's hair, but he then tightened his grip on her all together and they somehow came to be in one of the bedrooms. They had lit candles all around the house, whilst they were still cooking dinner and now they served as the only light and also created an intimate atmosphere.
Damon took off his shirt, Elena stood in front of him, suddenly confused. The mere second it took for Damon to take his shirt off and let his hold on her go, was enough for Elena to come back into reality. She suddenly felt awkward and inexperienced. It dawned upon her that it was only the second time she was going to enter into sexual intercourse and now Damon might look to her to actually take control. But once Damon took her in his arms again, Elena forgot the monologue she had created in her mind and let herself be laid down on the silky bed. Damon kissed her, passionately, energetically, excitedly, but at the same time, he slowly moved his hands down to her blouse and still keeping his lips locked onto hers, he untied the large bow at the very top of the shirt and then slowly moved downwards to each button; intentionally opening each one for over a minute, so that both he and Elena had the anticipation build up even more. Her blouse now open, Elena felt comfortable rather than exposed and with her fingers she moved up and down Damon's chest. Their eyes momentarily met and when that moment passed they were both completely unclothed, their bodies now joined; Damon positioning himself above Elena and gently moving to enter her. They both gasped as they entwined completely and as Damon continued his motion, Elena could not hold back the moans of delight that passed through her each second. They were both cold; Damon ran his hand over Elena's body to make her warm, but was met with goose bumps along the way. No heating and freezing November night air overtook them, but as the night went on and they resumed their love making there was no need for blankets. Elena's heart raced every time Damon moved his hand from one place to another. Damon's heart nearly stopped each time Elena approved with a moan or a gasp and her eyes opened up to face his. Nothing was more beautiful than the two of them making love and actually feeling love and embracing it every step of the way. The way Damon caressed Elena's skin, as if it was fragile and breakable, the way Elena moved her hand to Damon's face and stroked his features showed that between them there was not even one single thought that was not connected to love. To them it seemed like a moment, but in the intensity and pleasure of their intimacy they had awaited morning.
Sun pressed through the large French windows with its usual strength and clarity and as Damon kissed Elena he was suddenly blinded by the wonderful light. Elena pushed herself upwards and sitting in Damon's lap, wrapped her arms around him and gave him gentle kisses on his neck.
"Good morning," Damon whispered to her intimately and ran his fingers over her exposed and bare back. Skin smooth as a feather, beautiful as the sun itself and the colour of a light and creamy hazelnut. With one hand he took the silk blanket and wrapped them both in it. Elena looked at him, her eyes slightly closed to block the morning sun, she placed her finger on his lips and this made him smile.
"That's precisely what I wanted to see," Elena said in a quiet voice said. Damon got up and leaving Elena in bed returned after a moment with a bowl of berries. Elena wrapped him in the blanket once again and they ate happily, placing the berry in each others mouths as opposed to in their own. It seemed much closer and practical that way, they thought and it was miraculous how similar or rather identical their thoughts and theories were all the time. Despite the fact that they like the same things in terms of art and literature, they also had the same way of thinking and once when they had noticed it, Damon had said; 'Great minds think alike', which in their case was the utmost of truth. Spending most of the morning in bed was a great way to regain the strength they had both lost since the academic year had begun. After the drama with Katerina, Klaus, their relationship even, they were both slightly exhausted. Not physically, but mentally. Now, that the only thing they had to worry about was where to eat, they couldn't be any happier.
Coming to the consensus that the blueberries were the ones they both liked the most, they also agreed that it was time to get dressed and go outside for a walk, it being such a lovely day. Elena dressed as casually as possible, putting on a simple dress, blue cardigan and putting her hair in a ponytail. Damon, however, could not part with his jeans, but replaced his dark attire with a white shirt and gray jumper. They walked the paths of the nearby forest and admired the tall and still green trees. The ground was covered in colourful leaves and it made the forest more cozy and more pleasant to walk in, feeling the soft ground beneath your feet and seeing the green and full trees around you. In the cold air they could both see their breaths and Elena could feel her heart slow down from the lack of warmth. Moving closer to Damon, he took her in his arms and embraced her, while they still promenaded further into the forest, where the trees were becoming larger and more whole.
Returning to the house they both agreed upon lunch and whilst Elena began to peel the potatoes and season the meat, Damon carried wood to the house and lit the fireplace. The house was now filled with the delightful smell of burning oak, pecan and cherry. Damon prepared the salad and set the table and entertained Elena with his stories while she cooked. Pouring glass after glass of wine, Damon began to feel even mellower, if that was even possible. He looked lovingly at Elena, who was now free, while the food cooked. They came together and embraced, then sitting next to the window looked at the beautiful view that was before them; a green and lush lawn that stretched far beyond their vision and the yellow sun that looked over the entire village. Elena's head rested against Damon's shoulder and he kissed her hair, inhaling its endearing strawberry smell. Food now ready, they sat at the table and laughed, and talked their way through the entire lunch. Feeling perfectly at ease in this old, but stunning farmhouse, they both knew they never wanted to leave.
Note/ I am really hoping that you, my dear readers, liked this chapter, because, I personally am in love with it! Thank you for stopping by and please review!