Thank you guys so much for all the reviews! I am trying to get these chapters out as quickly as I can, I swear!
But I'm in my last semester of school and they are giving us multiple tests each week so I'm using most of my free time to study! :P
Sorry for all of the waiting! But hopefully this will help make up for it! :)
"Where are you taking me?" Elena asked as she reached for the hands that were covering her eyes and tried to pry the fingers away.
"Ah. Ah. Ah," Damon chided, "No peeking. We're almost there."
She sighed with a joking frustration, and dropped her hands back to her side.
"I could incapacitate you if I wanted to," she reminded him, "So why don't you just tell me where we are going."
"Patience, my love," he chuckled, still leading her forward, "And know that the surprise will be worth it."
"I hate surprises," she muttered, "They usually end in someone dying."
Another laugh, "Don't you trust me? I am your husband, after all."
She shivered at the word.
The marriage ceremony ended before the sun had set, but she imagined it would take many cycles for her to ever get used to being someone's bride.
She was saved from having to answer because a moment later, Damon halted her and she felt him move to her side.
"There's a portal here," he warned her, "Be careful of your step when you pass through it."
She nodded, still wishing he would give her back her sight, but after he'd gone through all the trouble of whisking her away from their wedding to spring this surprise on her, it seemed only fair to play along; however begrudgingly.
Feeling her way through the portal, with Damon's palms still against her eyes, she felt the passing vortex of energy engulf her body, until her feet were solidly on the other side, her toes sinking through the...sand?
Was that sand?
"Damon…" she frowned, more confused than concerned now as the sound of gentle waves reached her ears, "Are we still in the Underworld?"
He had first covered her eyes when they stepped off the ferryman's boat in Hades, so she wasn't sure what the point of leaving the domain would be, but she could not recall any part of the Underworld that had sand, or water that smelled like an ocean shore.
By way of answer, Damon's hands fell away, and she opened her eyes.
The sight before her was breathtaking, as well as extremely familiar.
Poseidon's Sea, stretching out eternally before them, the horizon swallowed by the clear night sky that was a glittering black curtain with thousands of stars shining down.
White sand spread from the edge of the lapping waves all the way to the place where they stood, cool and soft beneath her feet.
Elena's mouth fell open, "It looks exactly the same."
"Because it is," Damon whispered into her ear, his arms enclosing around her waist, "I made certain of it."
She turned around, her brows furrowing, "You mean that we-"
"Are still in the Underworld," he smiled, "Yes. That is my meaning."
He motioned to the water, " I had a few alterations made to one of the caverns, so we could enjoy ourselves while still in the protection of the realm."
"A few alterations," she repeated, a slow smile forming on her lips as she turned, "That is what you call the reformation of Poseidon's Shore?"
She kicked a little sand, watching as it scattered a few inches.
Damon was still smiling, "I seem to recall you enjoying the night we spend on that particular beach."
The night they had kissed for the first time and professed their love for one another on the damp sands.
Still in awe, she glanced back to the water, the gentle sway of the dark waves, "Is it real?"
Damon chuckled, stepping into place behind her once more, "Why don't we go find out?"
"Now?"
She felt his fingers brush the dress tie at the nape of her neck, working the fabric loose, "Now is as good a time as any."
The gown dropped from her body as the ties came undone, and she barely gave it a second thought as she turned in Damon's arms, her fingers flying to the cloak's bindings on his chest.
They worked together, undressing him, until they were both unhindered and Damon took her hand, pulling her across the sand, to the sea.
"I can not believe this," she sighed as they waded out, the water growing deeper and deeper, "If I did not know your power, I would surmise that we were actually under the real sky."
Damon grabbed her waist, pulling her to him, "That was the idea...Are you pleased?"
She smiled, looking around in wonderment once more, "Yes. Very."
His returning smirk had her heart skipping a beat in her chest, and without thought, she leaned down and kissed him.
Damon's arms wrapped around her, their bodies molding together in the water, and her legs found their way around his hips.
He held her as they kissed, neither hurried nor drawing it out; each simply enjoying the feel of the other.
"Thank you," she told him when they finally pulled away, and the back of Damon's knuckles brushed against her cheek.
"There is more that I would give you," he told her, all amusement gone from his expression now, "And nothing that I would deny you. Whatever you desire, my love, you need only speak it and it is yours."
His words were a warm rush of contentment, sealing her certainty that she had made the right choice.
"Whatever I wish?"
"Anything within my power," he promised, "You are Queen, now. I would have you want for nothing."
But in that moment, all Elena wanted was him.
The feel of his body against hers, the devotion of his words...it was twisting inside of her stomach with a growing heat that only he could satisfy.
"Then kiss me," she whispered, holding his gaze, "And all current desires will be fulfilled."
Damon smiled a little at her words, before once more capturing her mouth with his own.
The next few moments felt like a dream, as they waded through the waves, toward the shore, their lips never separating.
How familiar this was, as they rolled in the shallow water, onto the wet sand of the shore, their bodies finding all the right curves to align with, until Damon was where she wanted him most, pushing into her with ease.
Elena's nails scored into his back as he thrusted forward, filling her completely.
Gods, she loved the feel of him inside of her.
The water splashed around them as he moved above her, and her toes curled into the sand as she coiled with pleasure.
"Damon...by the gods…" she breathed, building to a new high as her vision got lost in the blanket of stars above them.
A heaven in hell.
Her orgasm overcame her quickly, spasming through her in delicious waves that matched each stroke of Damon's thrusts, his lips finding hers and drowning out the moan that left her throat.
His tongue was warm as it pushed its way past her teeth, dipping in to brush against her own, and the taste of him made her wild.
The sheer absolution and power of this god above her, and he was bound to her entirely.
Through love, loyalty, and contract, he was hers as much as she was his.
Every part of him.
Elena bit down on Damon's lip when he moved to pull away, as the hands that were gripping his side moved to his shoulders, pushing him over.
Damon rolled easily, letting her take the lead as her thighs parted over his hips and she straddled him, taking his still hardened sex as deep within her as she could, throwing her head back as she stretched around his length once more.
Gods, how had she ever been satisfied with anything less than him?
Damon's lips parted as he stared up at her through hooded eyes, the blue of his irises peeking out through the slits.
He groaned as she began to move, his hands shooting to her waist, his stare reverent.
But tonight, she did not want to be worshiped.
Tonight, she wanted to explore the depth of their power, without restraint, without worry of injury or fear of being too much.
Damon could handle anything she could give him, and in return, she was strong enough to embrace his true nature.
The son of Hades and hellfire.
The only one that could match the turmoil of chaos that ran through her own veins.
Her speed increased until she was riding him without mercy, their bodies slamming together with each surge of her hips, his hands squeezing so tightly into her waist that she was almost certain there would be bruises left behind.
The thought made her core drip even more, her juices slickening the place they were joined, until the friction and heat started swirling in her abdomen once more, teasing a climax.
"Fuck," Damon hissed as his finger dug into her skin.
She was delighted to feel heat spurring from his palms, control of his power lost as he was overcome with his own pleasure.
In the years that stretched out before them, she planned on getting very acquainted with having his scorch marks cover her body.
Damon's eyes finally closed, as his face strained; his head falling back on the wet sand.
He was close to falling apart, and she wanted to watch the undoing happen.
Each contraction of his muscle sent pleasure through her own body, but she forced herself to hold off; fighting back the edge, in favor of Damon toppling over his.
However, he did not.
She could feel the resistance of his hips, as he denied himself an orgasm, giving her time to reach hers.
One of his hands left her waist, moving to her clit to rub against the sensitive flesh, and she almost lost control.
"Damon," she hissed, his name jumbling as her focus faltered, "Don't."
"Want you. to..come," he grit out through clenched teeth, and the rough growl of his words almost granted that wish for him.
But she was stubborn.
"No," Elena gasped, pulling his hand away from her core and pinning it down, "It is my turn to watch you."
Damon managed to shake his head, even as she tightened herself on him.
"Your pleasure first."
Damn. He was good.
"We have eons for that," she reminded him breathlessly, "Tonight, I would have your pleasure."
He hardened further inside of her at the words, and she smiled, "Besides, if luck is with you, your seed will take hold and give you that heir you so desperately bargained for."
Damon's eyes flashed to hers, the blue fire in his gaze hot enough to spur into her very soul, and suddenly, his hips were rising off the ground to meet hers, his grip returning to her waist, spearing her body onto his with hard lurches.
The desperation that fueled him was all it took to drive her back to that edge, his hungry stare a match for her own as he reached his own limit and crashed with his orgasm.
Elena felt him cum inside of her, and the warmth of his seed coating her as he thrusted a final few times was enough to spark her own finish.
She convulsed slowly around him, every aspect of her physical sense heightened in its wake.
Calloused hands stroking the curve of her hips; the water licking at her heels; the grains of wet sand giving way beneath her knees, and Damon softening inside of her.
She rolled off of her lover, falling next to him in the shallow water, and laughed.
"Damn."
Damon's chuckle joined her own, "I am going to assume that the marriage is well consummated after that."
"I'm inclined to agree," she giggled, as he tapped at her, urging her closer.
She rolled into his embrace, using his arm as a pillow as they both stared up at the faux night sky.
"You're amazing," he murmured after a moment, turning his head to look at her.
Elena smiled, "Just making sure that I hold up my end of the bargain. Wouldn't want to give you an excuse to take my soul again."
Damon smirked, "And that's all this was? Part of the contract?"
She shrugged teasingly, "Maybe...or maybe I just like the feel of you inside of me. Either way, we are both getting what we want, right?"
Damon's smile was a grin now, "Oh, my love, you haven't seen anything yet."
Her brow arched as he began pulling away, until he was standing and pulled her with him.
"We will bathe in the sea," he told her, "Then I will show you what other benefits you will reap from our marriage bed."
His eyes held no signal of a bluff, and anticipation gripped in her chest.
"You're going to do everything in your power to assure that I enjoy being married to you, aren't you?" she accused with a smirk of her own.
Damon merely winked, and began to lead her out to deeper waters.
Aphrodite stood at the edge of the marble flooring in her chambers, leaning against one of the pillars, looking out into the fading night with a letter gripped in her palm.
Hermes had delivered it to her hours ago, with the seal of Apollo stamped onto it's enclosement.
She had not been prepared for the message inside, despite the warning she had been given, and had immediately summoned the only person with whom she hoped could understand her emotions.
He appeared now, as subtle as ever with each echoing thud of his steps, his presence a tangible change in the room.
"Aphrodite," he called, and slowly, she turned to face him.
Ares stood as he always did, tall and menacing with careful eyes and a thick muscled body.
Her heart fluttered at the sight, and she wondered if there was ever going to be a day that it wouldn't.
"She went through with it," she told him, lifting the letter, "Elena's married him."
Ares cursed, "Officialized?"
"By Persephone herself," Aphrodite said stiffly, "Or so Apollo learned from his daughter."
"She was in attendance?" he questioned, moving through the room.
Aphrodite nodded, "Apparently."
Ares shook his head, "Then it's happened. Elena is Queen."
"You must be proud," she shot coldly, crossing her arms.
Ares narrowed his eyes at her, "My intent was her protection-"
"Your intent was paying off your debt to Damon for getting rid of Hades for you," she cut him off, "Do not pretend anything else."
"This is why you've called me here, then?" he snarled, "To throw around accusations? Because it was your halfling that drove Elena to the Underworld in the first place."
"And your contract that gave her to Damon," she clipped back, then sighed, "But no...that is not why I've asked you to come."
He crossed his arms, waiting for her reasoning.
"There have been rumors," she explained, "About Elena taking control of your domain. I was wondering the truth of them."
Ares exhaled deeply, then moved to sit on the edge of the large bed.
"It is truth...though my hand has been forced."
"How so?" she asked, taking a few steps closer to him.
"She came to me," Ares admitted, " Elena did. Threatened to have Damon send me through the veil if I did not surrender the domain."
Aphrodite's brow arched, "But...surely he would not dare…"
"He would for her," Ares bit, "And Elena knew it. She recognized what I could not...I suppose she has your blood to thank for that."
Aphrodite scoffed, sitting next to him, "He loves her, then. Truly?"
"If she is anything like you, I'm sure he is quite twisted around every one of her fingers," Ares shook his head, "But a love to that default creates a weakness to be exploited. One I plan to take advantage of."
Aphrodite frowned, "What is your meaning?"
Ares smiled coldly, "Elena thinks she knows War, but I will prove her wrong. And in doing so, I will force Damon into creating a new contract; one that will nullify me from any repercussions of his power."
She had known the god long enough to know the intentions behind his meaning now...and to know that there was no line he would not cross to have his way.
"Ares, if you harm her-"
"She will be fine," he insisted, "I will spill no more blood than what is needed to make Damon...agreeable."
"He'll kill you for this."
"Not if he wants to keep her safe."
"And if your bluff is called," she accused, standing, "Are you willing to gamble with your daughter's life? Willing to do as you tell him you will and kill her?"
The moonlight reflected in his eyes as Ares looked up at her, "Killing her would be of no use. He is King of the Dead. Killing her would give her back to him. No, my threat will be far worse. Eternal separation. I will take her from him; keep her alive and locked away until he complies."
"And you would do that to Elena?" Aphrodite trembled, "Your own blooded daughter? You would subject her to this fate?"
Ares stood slowly, towering as anger rolled through his body.
"This is war," he said sharply, "And Elena is the one who sounded the battle drums."
Aaaaanyway...lol
Let me know what you thought :)
I'll try to get the next chapter out soon!