Elena couldn't breathe. Her heart was beating like a panicked hummingbird's. With shaky fingers, she clung to Damon's broad, powerful shoulders as he kissed her like a man starving for affection. Maybe he was. Or maybe he was feeling that earlier rush of adrenaline fade after their harrowing experience at the motel. Did he crave the heat and touch of another person as she did?

Something had changed in him. Something she had said or done had flipped an invisible switch. Elena was finally seeing the passionate, dominant man that had always been hinted at but never revealed. She had given him the permission he needed, and now he was totally in control. She didn't think she wanted it any other way. Not tonight. Not her first time.

Her first time.

Surrendering to the stab of Damon's tongue, Elena whimpered softly and clawed at his bare back. A deep growling sound rumbled from his throat, and he picked her up off the counter. While their tongues danced, he guided her legs around his waist before settling his big, strong hands on her bottom. Holding her close, he walked towards the bedroom.

This was really happening.

Elena panted against his mouth and nipped at his lip. He repaid her for that little bite with a swat that left her ass stinging. She clenched her thighs, squeezing his waist and drawing another groan from him. He murmured something before unceremoniously dumping her on the bed.

"Damon!" Elena squealed with surprise and excitement as she bounced on the mattress.

Damon threw back his head and laughed as she pushed up on her palms and waited to see what would happen next. He walked around the bed and turned on the nearest lamp, illuminating the room in a warm glow of light. Able to see her fully, he raked his gaze along her form and then dropped the towel wrapped around his waist.

Elena swallowed hard when she saw his cock. It was every bit as thick and long as she had expected, maybe even more. As if tired of watching her study him, Damon crooked a finger and gestured for her to crawl towards the edge of the bed. She knew what he wanted even before he asked, but she wasn't sure she could satisfy him. The mechanics of giving head were easy enough, but she hadn't every actually done it.

When she reached the edge of the bed, she waited to see what would happen next. Should she tell him? Would he want to know that they were sailing into actual virgin waters here? Worried that he might stomp on the brakes, she decided to keep the status of her V Card a secret for now. She didn't want this night to stop. She wanted this. She wanted it with him.

Fake it. She could hear Bonnie's voice in her head as she considered her next move. Just fake it.

Emboldened by desire and curiosity, Elena shamelessly grasped his shaft. Damon growled and pressed into her hand, wordlessly urging her to stroke him. So she did. She slid her hand from the blunt tip all the way down to the base of him before gliding it back down again. Hot. Hard. Soft. Steel. She explored him with her fingertips.

Touching him like this, Elena had a better feel for his length and girth. A quiver of panic stabbed her stomach. There was no way around it. This was going to hurt. Even if she was one of those lucky girls who had a relatively easy first time, putting something this big inside her was going to an experience she would never forget.

But right now she was more interested in seeing how he would react when she licked him…

Leaning forward, Elena grasped the base of his shaft and swiped her wet tongue along his penis. Staring up at him, she sucked the tip between her lips. Damon gazed down at her, his blue-grey eyes smouldering, and his breath coming in sharp pants. She might not have the skills of his former mistresses, but he clearly enjoyed what she was doing. Her confidence growing, she used her tongue to paint his shaft and then tried to suck him a little deeper this time.

Damon let loose a loud groan of approval. "Open your mouth a little wider, baby." Elena relaxed her jaw, and he sighed. "Darling. Yes. Like that."

He gathered her hair in one of his hands, drawing it to the back of her head, and gently thrust into her open and willing mouth. She tensed up, suddenly afraid he would take things too fast or too hard, but he was careful as always, reminding her yet again why he owned her trust. He wasn't going to hurt her. He wasn't trying to debase or degrade her or force her to do anything she didn't want or like.

Damon took his time enjoying her mouth. His cock glided across her tongue with slow, measured thrusts. He caressed her face with his free hand and continued to hold her hair with the other. Every now and then, he slid a little deeper, almost as if to test her, and each time she swallowed every inch he offered. Something about pleasing him, about making him groan and pant, invigorated and excited her. She liked knowing that she could make him feel like this.

"Look at me," Damon ordered in a strained voice. Elena glanced up at him. Lips stretched wide around his cock, she locked into his lascivious gaze. He pushed deeper into her mouth, so far back that she felt her throat start to tighten. A momentary quiver of panic rattled her core, but she shoved it down. He won't hurt you. Relax. Feel. Enjoy.

"Elena." His nostrils flared, and his breaths were heavy and fast now. "You look so beautiful like this." He retreated ever so slowly, dragging his cock out of her mouth until just the tip remained. Elena tightened her lips around him, refusing to let him go just yet. He groaned and then said on a harsh breath, "Suck. Darling. Harder. More."

Elena gave Damon what he wanted until it was too much. He drew back with a sharp intake, pulling free from her mouth and panting for air. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he hauled her upright until she was kneeling. He claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss. She spread her hands along his smooth skin and finally gripped his shoulders, hanging on for dear life.

"Elena," he murmured in between kisses. He grasped the oversized hoodie and her nightgown and dragged them up and over her head. He tossed them over his shoulder, leaving her clad in only a plain pair of cotton undies. Whatever embarrassment she might have felt at being so sorely underdressed for the occasion, she quickly lost when she noticed the way he looked at her. That hungry, needy gaze left her trembling inside.

"Look at you." His muscular chest heaved with each breath as he gazed at her nearly naked body. He smiled, his mouth curving slowly as one of his hands reached for her. He traced a line from the dip of her lower neck to the valley between her breasts. His finger travelled to her left nipple, and Elena inhaled a shuddery breath as he circled her flesh, causing it to pucker and throb.

Damon put a knee on the bed and cupped the back of her neck. Holding her at the nape, he titled her head back and skimmed his lips along the curve of her throat. Elena clutched at him, gripping his incredible biceps as he kissed and nibbled his way down her neck to her breasts. When he latched onto her nipple, she experienced a piercing jolt of delight that left her clitoris throbbing almost painfully.

Damon must have known what he was doing to her because his other hand slid down until he gripped the back of her thigh. He forced her thighs apart and pushed his leg between them. The sudden friction of his muscular thigh against the most sensitive part of her was too much. She tried to pull away, but he held her right there, silently daring her to move.

But Elena couldn't. She was too embarrassed to rub against him in the way she wanted most. This was happening so fast, and she was quickly realizing that she was way out of her depth here.

Damon's mouth moved to her other breast. He suckled and grazed his teeth over her while kneading her bottom in his big hands. When Damon pushed her back on the bed, she pressed her knees together to assuage the pulsing ache between her thighs. He grinned knowingly, his sexy smile making her stomach do wild flips.

Crawling towards her, Damon gripped the waistband of her panties and tugged them down her hips. Elena lifted her bottom to help him, and with one good jerk, he swished them down her legs. Completely naked now, she leaned back on her elbows and waited to see what he would do next. He sat back on his heels and idly stroked his shaft. Seeing his hand moving over his cock was a shock to her. He was so comfortable in his skin and seemed wholly unfazed by touching himself like that in front of her.

"Open your legs, Elena."

Elena gulped and did as instructed, slowly widening her thighs so he could see her.

He swore under his breath. "Use your fingers. Show me everything, Elena."

Fingers trembling, Elena reached between her legs and parted the lips of her sex. Slick with arousal, she glistened down there. Her clitoris throbbed, and she couldn't help herself. She circled the aching bud with the tip of her finger, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't nearly enough.

Growling, Damon abandoned his cock and moved towards her. Dipping his head, he kissed the top of her left foot before skimming his lips up her calf towards her knee. He repeated the same kissing manoeuvre on her right leg and then peppered light kisses along her thigh up to her hip. His mouth danced across her lower belly, hesitating at her navel where he placed a noisy kiss that made her laugh, and then continued its trek down the curve of her hip and thigh to her left knee.

His mouth shifted course when he reached her knee. He dragged his tongue along her inner thigh. Lightheaded, she inhaled quick, shuddery breaths as his tongue moved closer and closer to that spot where she was throbbing and aching. She gasped when he swiped the length of her slit. He did it twice more before dotting a kiss right on top of her clitoris.

The heady sensation he evoked left Elena clutching at the covers and desperate for air. She wanted him to use his mouth on her even more, but she wasn't brave enough to ask. This was all too new, and she wasn't sure what to do or how to do it.

Damon continued kissing his way up her body, across her stomach and along her ribcage and didn't stop until he reached her neck. She could feel his cock rubbing against her belly. Arching into him, she lifted her hips and rocked into him. Damon groaned and grabbed her wrists in one big hand. He dragged them above her head, pinning them to a pillow, and shoved her legs apart with his knee.

Suddenly his captive, Elena experienced the most delightful thrill. Damon buried his face in her neck and nipped at her sensitive throat. His other hand rode the outline of her body, sliding down her ribcage to her hip before gliding between her thighs. He cupped her pussy and pressed his lips to her ear. "Do you know how long I have wanted to touch you like this?"

She licked her lips and shook her head.

"Do you know many nights I fucked my own hand while thinking about you?" His fingers traced and then parted her labia. Elena whimpered when he found her swollen nub and started to strum it ever so slowly. His hand touching her so intimately felt nothing like her own hand, and she didn't want him to stop.

"Feel how wet you are?" His fingers slid down even lower and dipped into her. There was no resistance as he carefully probed. One finger slid inside her, curling just a little. His thumb rubbed side to side over her clitoris. It felt so good. Her toes curled against the duvet, and she lifted her hips, desperate for more. She was getting close. So close…

"You are ready for my cock, aren't you?"

Overwhelmed by sensation and unable to speak, Elena nodded. Damon grinned that sexy grin of his that made her stomach wobble. Burning up for him, she widened her thighs in a silent plea for him to keep going. She wanted this. She wanted him. Right now. Inside her.

He reached down and wrapped a hand around his shaft. Dragging the fat head of his cock through her folds, he teased her with the promise of what was to come. Pulsing with desire, she moaned and surged against him, wanting to feel his shaft on her clitoris again. "Please! Damon!"

Without a moment's warning, Damon thrust forward, slamming into her and sheathing himself right to the hilt. Hissing, Elena recoiled with the shock of the sharp pain that gripped her.

Too hard.

Too fast.

Too deep.

Too much.

"Elena?" Frozen above her, Damon stared down at her with a panicked expression.

No, no, no, she thought. Don't stop now!

"Please," Elena panted. "Don't." She tried to catch her breath. "Stop."

x x x

The moment he surged forward, Damon had recognized something was different. The unexpected resistance had registered a second too late, but the hiss of pain was impossible to ignore.

A virgin!

A virgin?

Of course.

It all made sense now. The mixed signals? Her shyness? He should have seen it. He should have been paying more attention.

Like right now, he thought, glancing at her pained expression.

I'm hurting her. The taut muscles in her face and neck told him everything. She was in agony right now. He had been so desperate to finally have her that he had rammed into her without warning.

Feeling like the worst asshole in the world, he replayed her pained words. "Please! Don't! Stop!"

I swore I would never hurt her, but I did.

Desperate to make this right, Damon started to withdraw from the unbelievably tight sheath now gripping him, but Elena frowned up at him. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she shook her head. "Please don't stop," she practically begged. "I want this with you."

The tension in his chest eased. He had misunderstood that part at least, but there was no mistaking the signs of pain on her beautiful face. Letting go of her wrists, he caressed her cheek. "I'm hurting you, Elena."

Elena shook her head. "I don't care." She slid her hands along his arms until they rested on his shoulders. "I have wanted this just as long as you have."

He believed her. She spoke with sincerity. There was no denying their mutual attraction or desire, but it shouldn't have happened like this.

Ashamed of how selfish he had been, Damon leaned down and captured her mouth with loving, tender kisses. She deserved better than this, to be rushed and used so roughly. If he had known—if she had told him that she had no experience with men—he would have taken his time with her.

Watching her face, he slid forward only an inch or so and then retreated. She winced, and he froze again. Was this the right thing to do? Should he stop altogether? Should he keep going? He didn't know much about virgins. In fact, he had always gone out of his way to avoid them. There was too much responsibility involved. If he messed this up tonight, Elena would be cheated of a wonderful experience.

So don't mess it up. Go easy. Trust her to tell you what she needs, Damon reminded himself.

"Should I keep going? Do you want to stop and try again later?"

"It is not that bad." She placed her hand against his cheek in a reassuring gesture. "I promise, Damon. It doesn't hurt. It is just…different." Her eyes closed for a moment and a smile flitted across her face. "A very good different."

Damon skimmed his lips along her jaw. He couldn't get enough of her soft skin. His hand moved along her neck and across her collarbone before slipping down to her breast. He marvelled at her silky skin and the dark puckered flesh of her nipple. Unable to help himself, he suckled her gently. Almost instantly, he felt her pussy clamping down on his cock. His breath escaped his lungs on a rushed exhalation as he revelled in that wild sensation. He did it again, suckling harder this time and even biting down just a bit.

"Damon!" Elena rocked against him. Her pussy fluttered around his dick, and he thought he might die in that moment. Heart racing, mouth dry, he kissed her again, tasting her sweet mouth and wishing they could stay like this forever.

More relaxed, Elena lifted her legs and hooked them at the small of his back, crossing her ankles and anchoring herself to him. The shift in angle felt amazing for him. By the look of wonder reflected in her eyes, it felt pretty damn good for her too. He couldn't believe how wet she was now. He was able to thrust without even the slightest bit of drag.

Shifting his weight to one knee, Damon trailed his fingertips from her hairline to her lips. He outlined her mouth and then pressed his fingers to her pout. "Lick."

Always a good girl, she followed his order and flicked her tongue over his skin. He kissed the tip of her nose and then lowered his now slick fingers to the place where their bodies met. He framed her clit between them and rubbed slowly while thrusting into her. He didn't go very deep or very hard. He took his time, moving with leisurely strokes and kissing her over and over again.

He wasn't sure if she would be able to come like his. He had always heard that it wasn't very good for women the first few times. Not wanting her to associate pain or disappointment with him, Damon was determined to try to help her find pleasure with him.

But, damn, it was hard to hold back. Everything about this coupling was different. He had never been this excited in his life, not even his first time. Beneath him, Elena started to move. Her body was tense now but for a different reason. She gripped his shoulder and hip, her short nails digging into his skin. She was so damn tight and wet and hot and—crap!

Damn.

Damn.

He suddenly realized why this felt better than it ever had. In their rush to bed, he had broken his only sex rule. He never had sex without a condom. Until now. He had always been careful, fearing an unwanted pregnancy or disease.

Pull out. A small and very responsible voice in the back of his head urged caution, but then Elena gripped the back of his neck and dragged him down for a kiss that made his damn toes curl. His self-control imploded in that moment.

Damon felt that familiar buzzing sensation building at the base of his spine. Too fast. Too soon. But he couldn't stop it. Not when ELena started rocking her hips to meet his measured thrusts. Pressing her forehead to his, she whispered his name again and again. "Damon. ."

Hearing her breathing his name like that broke him. Thrusting deep, he came so damn hard his vision started to dim. His entire body trembled with the aftershocks as wave after wave of incredible pleasure gripped him. Elena's thighs tightened around his waist, almost as if she were determined to hold him prisoner. Desperate to eke out the last few moments of incredible sensation, he rolled his hips, thrusting shallow and fast until ever last drop of cum had been milked out of him.

Falling forward, Damon tried to catch his breath as he drowned in a wave of guilt. Silently berating himself for ruining her first experience with a man, he stayed fully sheathed in her slick heat. She combed her fingers through his hair and kissed his cheek and jaw. He didn't deserve her sweet gestures, not after failing her in this.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice muffled by her throat. Embarrassment gripped him. For a man renowned for his sexual prowess, he had just made a complete fool of himself by coming so fast. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" Elena sounded confused as she stroked his back.

Lifting his head, Damon gazed down into her beautiful face. Didn't she understand that he had just cheated her of something special? "I should have had more control. I hurt you—and then I finished first."

Elena pressed her lips to his in a lingering kiss. "You didn't hurt me, and I don't care that you finished first." Smiling tenderly, she brushed her fingertips along his jawline. "We will figure out the timing eventually."

In awe of her, Damon nuzzled into her and noisily kissed his cheek. Very carefully, he withdrew from her body and rolled onto his side. He slipped one arm under her body and embraced her from behind, dragging her back against him. He grasped her knee and pulled her leg up and over his, opening her thighs and giving him the right amount of access. Cupping her hot mound, he nibbled her earlobe and said, "Tell me what feels good."

"Everything you do to me feels good," Elena said breathlessly. "Like that," she whispered when Damon rubbed his finger around her clit in a lazy circle. "Especially that."

Listening to her moans and hitched breaths for guidance, he played with that pink pearl hidden away between her legs until she started to tremble. Holding her like this, he was able to tease her with kisses and fondle her incredible breasts. He focused his attention on her clitoris, rubbing and stroking, but didn't let his fingers drift any lower. After the way he had just battered her poor body, she was probably aching and sore.

She gripped his thigh and pushed back against him. Her perky little ass brushed against his stiffening cock. He had always been quick to recover but even this was fast for him. With his fingers sliding in her wetness, he grew more excited, his blood heating in his veins and coursing through him with renewed vigour. He wanted nothing more than to bury his dick in her again—but it was too soon.

With a shocked groan, Damon surged against Elena when she reached down between her spread legs to stroke his shaft. Her nimble fingers moved over his solid length, gliding down from the tip to the base. She was growing bolder with him and more curious. He loved it.

But when she cupped his balls, Damon's fingers faltered. He nipped at her earlobe. "What are you doing, Elena?"

"Can we try again?" she asked, her voice tinted with excitement and uncertainty.

He gulped. "Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you again."

"You won't," she assured him. "I know what I want, and I want you. Again."

His dick throbbed, and heat rolled through his belly. "I will be gentle."

Elena looked back at him and smiled. "You always are with me."

The absolute trust reflected in her dark eyes drove him crazy. Someday, Damon wanted to deserve it. He wasn't a good man. He had done some terrible shit in his life, but he had tried to make amends. He had tried to live clean and right. Gazing down at Elena, he wondered if she was his reward for good behaviour.

Instead of pushing her onto her back, he kept her glued to his chest like this. Spooning would keep him from losing control again. Clutching his cock, she guided him into place, and he carefully, slowly, pressed into her. She licked her full lower lip and wiggled her hips until she found just the right angle. "Oh," she breathed out on a long sigh. "Damon."

"Does this feel good?"

"Yes. So good."

Fully sheathed in her wet heat, he didn't move. Instead, he traced a tight circle around her clit with two fingers. She shuddered when his fingertips flicked a certain way so he kept doing that—again and again and again until she panted and squirmed. Their coupling was unhurried and slow. Pushing, thrusting, rocking—he carried her closer and closer to the edge. She squeezed him with rhythmic spasms until finally—finally—she came apart in his arms.

"Damon!" Elena cried out with ecstasy, her entire body undulating with sheer pleasure.

Exquisite. He watched her closely, enjoying the wonder and astonishment brightening her gorgeous face. His own orgasm was close behind, thrumming and building and pulsing with greater intensity. But he clamped down on it, refusing to let go until Elena was satisfied.

She had just come down from her first climax when she shifted away from him and onto her back. Clutching at his arms, she tugged on him in a silent plea for him to climb on top of her again. He wasn't about to deny her anything she desired, especially not tonight.

Sliding into her, Damon was careful not to take her too fast or too hard. He crashed their mouths together while snapping his hips, burying his cock in her. She clawed at his back, leaving burning trails along his skin. Feeling her staccato breaths on his cheek and neck excited him more than anything. He grasped her hand and dragged it down to the place where their bodies were joined.

"Make yourself come again," he all but ordered. Nipping at her bottom lip, he caused her to hiss. "Show me the way you touch yourself when you are alone."

Throwing her head back, Elena cried out as Damon thrust into her with a little more force. She played with her clit, rubbing fast circles around it while rising up to meet his every move. He could tell she was close again by those quick breaths she inhaled and the deep flush racing along her skin. Enthralled by her breasts, he bent his head and latched on to her dark nipple.

She came suddenly, her entire body wracked with the explosion of pure bliss. He didn't stand a chance. He dove off the edge with her and plunged into the same wave of pleasure.

They came down together, kissing, touching, whispering. Elena had the sweetest, softest smile on her beautiful face. She kissed him so tenderly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she started to giggle. "That was amazing," she murmured against his lips. She embraced him in a hug he never wanted to end. "I'm so glad it was you."

In that moment, he knew everything had changed. All his plans for her? They crumbled in a spectacular crash. She could never be just his mistress. Not after this.

No, she was meant for something far greater.

Mine, Damon thought and gathered her close. Always.