Hi eveyone! I really want to say two things - first I'm so sorry this chapter has been so long coming. The world got in my way.
The second thing I want to say is THANK YOU!
To everyone who has read, favorited and reviewed this story, seriously, thank you so much! I'm so happy your enjoying it and that you want to read more. I promise to try my very best not to take nearly as long with the next chapter. Means the world to me to get a little notification saying the story has been favorited or reviewed. The reviews especially are a huge motivation.
You guys rock! Hope you like Chapter 9. Gonna start work on Chapter 10 tomorrow. :)
Elena sat down on the thick, satin blanket that covered the massive bed and ran her hand across the cool, smooth material, marveling at the room around her. One thought came to her mind; Damon was definitely paying for this hotel. Stefan and Caroline were doing very well financially, but they could never afford something so incredibly luxurious.
The floors were marble, with thick, plush rugs placed around the room, warming it up both figuratively and literally. The walls were polished mahogany and home to pieces of art that cost more than her salary for three years. There was a large round wrought iron table and four, spindle-legged chairs that sat around it. In the northern most corner sat two green velvet upholstered chairs with a table between them. The chairs had wide seats and were so comfortable looking that Elena wanted to immediately cuddle up with a book and spend a rainy afternoon eating chocolates and not moving.
There were two tall, wide windows with window seats that allowed a person a perfectly unobstructed view of the beautiful hotel gardens. Because it was Christmas time, the evergreen trees in the garden were decorated with red bows, cranberries and popcorn. It was cheery and beautiful. Her suite did indeed have a private entrance that connected to these gardens and she couldn't wait to wander through them on a sunny winter day.
She also had a beautiful, private bathroom complete with a built in bathtub that looked large enough to swim in. Damon had told her that the staff was available to her day and night and that they would make her whatever meals she requested, she need only ask.
Elena was trying very hard not to succumb immediately and agree to Damon's offer. She knew she shouldn't be so easily corrupted by wealth and luxury, but she wasn't hypocritical enough to pretend that this kind of extravagance wasn't enticing.
There was a discreet knock at the door and Elena went to answer it. When she opened the door a young woman in a maid's uniform stood on the other side. Behind her a stood a very short man in an elegant suit.
Before Elena could ask who they were, the gentleman pushed his way in followed by numerous beautiful women dressed in stunning gowns. Elena was somewhat taken aback by the opulence and beauty entering her hotel suite.
The man walked briskly up to her, standing very close. "My name is Mr. Lowen. I have the premiere dress salon in New York. Mr. Salvatore has hired me to outfit you completely. Today we will measure you and get your opinion on some of these styles. Within two days we will have an entire wardrobe for you. You will love it."
Mr. Lowen had a high pitched voice with a southern drawl to it that Elena found quite charming. She merely nodded, slightly dazed and Mr. Lowen led her over to the window seat while they looked over the many gowns modeled by the women.
At first Elena was shy to give her opinion, simply telling Mr. Lowen that she yes, she liked this dress and that shoe. But he eventually managed to cajole actual opinions out of her. Yes, she loved that deep blue color, no she didn't like the puffed sleeve. She liked shoes that were simple in design, but made from the finest materials.
Before she knew it two hours had passed and Mr. Lowen was saying good bye and kissing her on both cheeks. He promised to return in two days to personally deliver her new wardrobe.
Her guests left in a flurry of activity, and the silence and calm that followed felt soothing. Elena decided to continue the decadence and began to draw herself a bath. The water was warm as it poured into the large tub. There were so many different oils and soaps on the shelf beside the tub that Elena took quite a while deciding which to use. She finally settled on a lavender scented oil and a soap with a light rose scent. She poured some of the oil into the water before turning off the taps and climbing in.
A groan left her lips as the warm water surrounded her muscles, the gentle lavender scent of the oil made Elena worry for a moment that she would fall asleep in the tub.
Then she heard the door leading from the gardens open, and Damon's voice call out. "Elena?" She was suddenly wide awake, her body pulsing.
He came into the doorway of the bathroom and stopped. He slowly leaned himself against the doorway and allowed a sly smile to spread across his face.
"Enjoying the facilities, I see?"
Elena nodded, shy for a moment. But then she reminded herself that she was practicing boldness and trying out audacity and she leaned back in the tub.
"Join me?" She asked allowing all her desire to show in her expression as she opened her arms to reveal herself to Damon. She thrilled to see the lust explode behind his crystal blue eyes.
She licked her lips as she watched him strip out of his many layers of clothes. Finally he stepped, naked, into the tub behind her. Some of the water sloshed out of the tub as he pulled her back against him. It felt much nicer to recline against his warm, hard body than to recline against the cold enamel of the tub.
They lay like that for a while, Damon's arms wrapped around her and his chin resting on the top of her head. Eventually though, Damon sat her up and began washing her hair. He poured warm water over her scalp using the porcelain pitcher next to the tub. Then he took the rose-scented soap and lathered her hair before moving down to her neck and shoulders. He bathed all of her, and in spite of the intimacy of his touches, Elena found only comfort there. She felt pampered and spoiled and it made her want to cry inexplicably.
After rinsing her off completely, Damon stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around his waist. He pulled open a closet Elena hadn't even noticed before and removed a plush, cozy dressing gown. He helped Elena out of the tub and rubbed a thick towel briskly over her skin before wrapping her up in the dressing gown. He drained the tub and then led her over to the vanity stool. She sat down and allowed him to towel her hair before he began to run a brush gently through the strands.
All the while, through his ministrations, he talked to her; about his day, about his business, the rivals he was going to war with and the people he hoped to bring in as allies and partners. He told her amusing anecdotes about his employees and Elena learned two new things about him. He was incredibly proud of his work, and he loved the people who worked for him. He talked about their families and knew all about their lives.
As he pulled her hair into a loose braid, Elena couldn't remember the last time she had felt this at peace and content.
Then his clever, long fingered hands found the lavender oil and began a slow, delicious torture.
He pulled her dressing gown off of her shoulders and applied warm, lavender scented pressure to her shoulder blades. Without meaning to, Elena let out a groan that surprised her in its animalistic nature.
Damon seemed completely unsurprised and merely chuckled. He slipped her dressing gown down to her waist and caressed long, strong strokes of oil into her torso and down her arms. Strong fingers spread warmth and moisture into her breasts and Elena felt the now familiar fire shoot into her core, and the tension began to build for real.
Damon stood her up, removing the dressing gown completely. He got down on one knee in front of her and using more oil, ran his hands from her left hip, down her thigh and calf, his fingers brushing a burning heat into her skin before doing the same to her right leg.
Before she could blink, Damon sat himself on the bench and pulled her face down across his lap. For a moment, Elena thought he meant to spank her, and her mind both rebelled and rejoiced at the idea. But soon she felt his fingers running across her bottom, rubbing the oil into the soft fleshy skin there. Every time he ran his hand across a cheek, his fingers got increasing close to the part of her that was dying for his touch.
Finally, as she was about to scream at him to touch her, she felt his slick fingers slip into the folds of her body. Her body was so primed and she was so wet for him, that it took only a few passes of his thumb across the sensitive little button there for her to cry out her release.
But Damon was far from finished with her.
Keeping her over his lap, he spread her legs and pushed first one, then two and three fingers into her body. With ever finger he added, Elena could feel herself stretching in the most pleasant way, loving the friction he caused as he pumped his hand in and out of her. Instinctively she began slamming herself back onto his hand, riding it, desperate to feel him deeper.
He crooked his finger inside her and hit the spot that made Elena immediately explode, screaming out her release and for the first time, not really caring if someone heard. Her audacity and boldness had grown significantly since her first encounter with this incredible man.
Her muscles were completely limp and it was only Damon's arms that were holding her in place and keeping her from rolling off his lap onto the floor.
He flipped her over in his arms and carried her to the massive bed. He pulled back the blankets and nestled her into the warm sheets, running his hands down her torso, soothing her skin and muscles and Elena felt herself falling into unconsciousness.
One thought pulled her sleepy eyes open for a moment. "You didn't get your turn!" She said, guiltily, reaching out a hand that Damon caught as he climbed into the bed beside her and pulled her on top of him.
"Oh, I will, sweetheart, I will. Just sleep now. I have plans for us when you wake up. Many, many plans."
Elena fell asleep and enjoyed hazy dreams filled with white hot heat and languid blue peace.