Courting the wrong man
When Elena entered the ballroom at the Lockwood estate, she couldn't have been more overwhelmed. It was decorated with huge chandeliers and whine coloured draping that hung in front of massive windows. Sure, she had been at the Lockwood's before, but as a young girl she had never been allowed to enter it.
"Children tend to break things," Carol Lockwood had told her, before ushering her into the playroom.
But now she was allowed to see it and it was a vision. People were waltzing on the dance floor, making her a bit nervous. She was a terrible dancer. Her parents had sent her to dance classes when she was younger, but somehow she had failed to have the right posture. However, dancing was required tonight.
For tonight, Master Mason Lockwood would begin courting her, making it public that he fancied her. They had to be close to each other. They had to dance around this ballroom, showing everyone how happy they were to be in each others proximity. Elena was not pleased by all of this. She was still hoping her father would revoke his decision. But so far, luck was not on her side.
"Don't sulk, Elena! Act like a grown up woman. You have to make a good impression on everyone. Be elegant and graceful," her mother warned her.
Elena plastered a fake smile on her face and entered the room, her gown swishing from side to side. She had decided on a deep red colour for the dress. It had angered her mother because the colour was too daring. She said that women on the streets wore colours like that. But Elena had refused to back down on this. If they wanted her to marry Master Lockwood, they would have to indulge in this little outburst from her.
The gown was tight on her waist, emphasizing her delicate frame. Her breasts were pushed up a bit, but she had covered up that fact by wearing a matching red sash. There were diamonds around her neck and wrist, something her father took pride in. He wanted to show off to the Lockwood's just how rich they were. It would only make Master Lockwood want her more.
As a finishing touch, she had let her hair down and curled it. The long tresses were hanging delicately from her shoulders.
As soon as she had entered the room, Master Lockwood hurried her way. He seemed a little too eager.
"Hello, Miss Elena. So nice to see you again. You look stunning," he flirted with his eyes.
He grasped her hand and kissed it.
"Why, thank you. Lovely to see you too, Master Lockwood," she replied dutifully.
She wanted to kick his shin for trying so hard. She did not and would never like him. He was too slick, money hungry and pompous!
Her suspicions were confirmed as she caught him eyeing her diamonds. O yes, hook line and sinker for her dowry.
"I'm hoping you'll save me a dance for later?" he asked her.
Sure, it sounded like a question. But it wasn't. If she said no, there would be hell to pay. By all parties that were eyeing her now.
"Of course, Master Lockwood. It would be my pleasure."
She almost wanted to roll her eyes at her own sugar sweet voice. But it was necessary. She curtsied as he walked away and almost sighed in relief when he was out of sight.
"Wonderful, Elena. I have taught you well," her mother complimented herself.
Elena smiled her fake smile again.
"May I mingle?" she asked politely.
"Of course, dear. Stay with the right people," her mother warned her.
That, of course, meant talking to the richest ones of Mystic Falls; the people that would get her ahead in life. Elena felt like screaming at the top of her lungs. She seemed to be born into the wrong place at the wrong time. She didn't belong here!
She searched the room with her eyes, trying to find Caroline. She was supposed to be here too, since she was a member of one of the founding families. But Elena could only spot Elizabeth and Bill Forbes, her parents. She walked over to them, praying that Caroline had just gone to the restroom to freshen up. She would not make it through this night without her.
"Master and Mrs. Forbes," she curtsied. "Is Caroline not with you?"
"O hello, Elena. I am deeply sorry. But I'm afraid Caroline has come down with a fever. She couldn't come out tonight," Master Forbes explained.
Elena almost pouted. This night seemed to be getting worse by the second. If Caroline wasn't here, who would make this night at least a little fun?
"I'm sorry to hear that. Would you give her my best? I hope she feels better soon," she quickly said, before scurrying off.
She felt like she had stepped into a lion's den. People would be watching her every move tonight. She couldn't mess up!
Suddenly, she felt tingles running along her spine. She had no idea where it had come from. But her skin seemed to breaking out in goose bumps all over.
"Hello Elena," a voice behind her drawled.
And now the tiny hairs at the back of her neck stood up. She knew that voice! She would recognise it anywhere.
She slowly turned around to look into the cobalt eyes of the man that had plagued her dreams at night and had haunted her during the days. A man that had brought forth orgasm after orgasm, while being in her virginal bed with her parents only a few feet away. She hated the effect he had on her. She could feel her heart pounding, her palms sweating and her stomach clenching in desire.
He looked as dashing as ever in his incredible black suit.
She quickly composed herself and pushed her chin forward arrogantly.
"Master Salvatore," she curtsied.
He chuckled at her polite tone.
"You know very well that my name is Damon. In fact, you screamed it out loudly a few nights ago."
He deliberately brushed his hand against her arm, making her falter.
"Don't be so crass! We are in public. You cannot behave this way!" she chastised him.
He leaned a bit closer to her, overwhelming her with his presence.
"So you're telling me that if we weren't in public, I could have my wicked way with you?" he winked at her.
Elena ignored him. She kept staring at the dance floor, pretending not to be affected by anything that came out of that mouth of his.
"What are you doing here anyway? This is a Founder's Ball. An event for Founding Families," she threw at him.
Damon laid a hand across his heart.
"Ouch! Are you saying I'm not welcome? I am, actually. I am a member of a Founding Family," he revealed.
Elena frowned and turned to look at him.
"What? But... You're dead," she stated the obvious.
Damon rolled his eyes at her.
"Sure. If you want to talk technicalities. But I AM a Salvatore. We founded this town just as much as the Gilbert's did, sweetheart," he told her.
Elena shook her head at him.
"There's got to be a master plan here. A vampire wouldn't act as a human if he didn't have a reason. You love being rebellious. You don't want to be a part of human life anymore. Why are you here, Damon? Why do you pretend to be my father's associate? Why do you keep chasing me?" she blurted out.
The corner of Damon's mouth quirked. But he never answered her question. Instead, he stared out across the dance floor.
Elena eyed him with interest. She wanted to know more about him.
Master Lockwood walked up to her in that moment, clearing of his throat. Elena sighed in disappointment and turned to look at him.
"How about that dance, Miss Elena?"
He held out his hand for her to take, which she accepted. She had to. Without looking back at Damon, she let herself be lead around the dance floor. Master Lockwood was good, she would give him that. But her heart wasn't in it.
She looked around the room to see everyone watching them with a smile on their faces. People knew now what Mason Lockwood's intentions were. She could spot her parents grinning like idiots in a corner of the room, priding themselves with this union.
"I am happy that you have agreed to this courtship, Miss Elena," Master Lockwood interrupted her thoughts.
Elena looked up at him.
"Well, it is in the best interest of our families, Master Lockwood."
He nodded.
"I am glad you see it that way," he answered her, indicating that her money was exactly the whole reason why he was doing this.
Elena sighed.
She would be trapped for the rest of her life. From now on it would be an endless parade of dinner parties and cotillions. She would always have to behave like the demure wife.
But his hands on her felt all wrong. It didn't set her on fire. It disgusted her with how clammy they were; one touching her lower back, the other holding her right hand tightly as they danced. Elena began to wonder what sex with him would be like. Would he touch her like Damon had? Would he bring her to orgasm?
Just the thought of it made her shudder and her eyes drifted to search for those familiar blue eyes. When she found them, her heart caught in her throat at how intensely they were staring at her. He was watching her every move.
His gaze seemed to have darkened, as if he didn't like what was he was seeing. But that was ridiculous, of course! Damon could probably care less about her impending marriage. He just wanted her body and her blood.
Their eyes remained locked as she danced with Master Lockwood. She couldn't explain it; it was like his eyes pulled her in. It was like he was making love to her with them. Elena could almost feel his touch and she felt herself becoming hot.
What was she doing here? She was in the arms of her future betrothed and yet she was longing for another man; a man that was actually a monster, a notorious killer!
And yet, she wanted him again. She wanted that feeling; that intense orgasm she knew only he could give.
Damon continued his erotic stare. She could see in his eyes that he knew exactly what he was doing to her. She was sticky between her thighs again, just from a single look. This had to stop!
She pulled herself away from Master Lockwood.
"Are you all right, Miss Elena?" he asked her confused.
Elena nodded.
"Yes, I'm just a little hot. I have to get some air," she explained.
"Shall I escort you?" Master Lockwood offered.
No! Not when she was this aroused!
"That's quite all right. I'll be fine. I will just step outside for a minute."
She practically rushed off the dance floor and quickly made her way towards one of the restrooms this enormous house had. She closed the door behind her and wandered over towards the faucet, turning it on and splashing some cool water on her face.
Her eyes landed on the mirror in front of her and she stared at her reflection. A red hue was covering her skin, betraying her arousal. Her pupils were dilated and her lips were slightly parted to take in deep, calming breaths.
"Get a hold of yourself, Elena! Tonight is about your courtship to Master Lockwood, not about getting hot and bothered with Damon again!" she snapped at herself.
She closed her eyes for a moment, clearing her head. When she was ready to open them again, cobalt eyes stared back at her in the mirror, making her jump.
"Damon! You can't creep up on me like that! How can you be so stealthy? I didn't even hear the door opening," Elena scolded him.
Damon just smirked at her, keeping their eyes locked in the mirror.
"So that's your future husband out there? He's kind of a sap, isn't he?" Damon avoided her questions.
Elena sighed.
"He is not what I would have chosen, either. But he is a good catch and it will help both of our families. You can't be in here, Damon. This night is supposed to be about letting people know Master Lockwood's intentions towards me. If anyone catches me in here with you.." she trailed off.
Damon leaned into her to press his lips to the shell of her ear, making her shiver.
"We wouldn't want that, now would we?" he drawled.
She felt him place his hand on her hip, causing a fire to shoot through her body. He began to place tiny kisses to the side of her face, leaving her breathless. His fingers began walking up and down her thigh.
"Damon, stop..," she weakly protested.
He never listened. Instead, he captured her gaze in the mirror, staring at her intensely, while palming a breast through her dress. He stroked across her nipple, all the while his eyes never leaving hers.
"Keep your eyes on me," he instructed her.
Elena wondered just what he was up to. But then she felt the hand that had currently been on her hip, slide down towards the inside of her thigh. He began to stroke the soft flesh there, drawing circles.
"Open your legs," he told her.
Elena bit her lip, trying to stop her body from giving in.
"Damon, not here!" she repeated her earlier protest.
"Open your legs, Elena."
Damon stared her down in the mirror and finally Elena complied, allowing his hand further access on her inner thigh.
Damon immediately let his hand slide up towards her sex, his knuckles brushing teasingly against it through her dress. His other hand was still on her breast, massaging it.
Elena let her head fall back against his shoulder, her eyelids drooping in pleasure. But Damon scolded her immediately.
"Keep those beautiful eyes open."
Elena found that to be very difficult, but at the same time highly arousing. She watched both of their faces as he continued to rub against her folds with his hand. He stood close behind her, pressing his hardness into her soft rear.
"What would your suitor think about your hellion side, huh? Could he ever touch you like this?" Damon whispered into her ear.
He pressed the heel of his palm firmly into her clit, making her cry out.
Elena began to roll her hips, although she wasn't sure in which direction she wanted to go. His hands were doing marvellous things to her front, while his erection was deliciously pressing into her backside. She decided on alternating between rolling her hips into his hand and swaying her bottom against his hardness from side to side.
He groaned a little, looking hotly into her eyes in the mirror. She had never thought about doing something like this in front of a mirror. To watch oneself was.. stimulating.
Damon began to rub more firmly, making her quickly climb towards completion. She watched her face flush in the mirror. Her cheeks were positively flaming now and she was panting. Damon, on the other hand, seemed cool and poised. It was puzzling to Elena. Here he was, thrusting his length into her bottom and he was so collected.
He leaned her forward a little more, so his length came in contact with her womanhood. Elena hissed as she felt the now familiar friction of them pushing and rubbing together.
"O God!" she moaned.
Damon chuckled.
"Call me Damon. God is so redundant."
Elena glared at him in the mirror.
"Aren't you cocky?"
Damon winked at her.
"Very much."
To get his point across, he thrust up hard, almost making her fall forward against the sink. He didn't give her time to recover however. His finger worked her into a fever pitch and Elena couldn't hold his gaze anymore. She hooked her arm behind his neck and pulled him down, kissing him hard.
She swept her tongue into his mouth, not caring about her wanton actions. She rolled her hips against him hard, while his fingers finished things for her. She went over the edge with a long, guttural groan, feeling the moisture between her legs surge forward.
"Did that feel good?" Damon smirked.
Elena turned around to look at him.
"You didn't bite me," she pointed out in confusion.
Every single time he had come to her for this, he always bit her. Why not this time?
Damon's face revealed nothing.
"I don't have to bite you in order to get what I want from you, Elena. Remember what I said, women aren't just for food. They are for pleasure."
Elena nodded. Yes, she knew that. He only wanted her for her body and for food. She wondered what he would do to her if he ever grew tired of this. If he had taken all that he wanted from her, would he end her? He still hadn't been very clear on that. Which was why she was an incredible fool for allowing him this close to her. But she was unable to stay away.
"You should go. Your suitor must be wondering where you are," he told her.
Elena glanced at the door, before looking back at him, noticing the still present bulge in his dress pants.
"You're not.. I mean, you're not finished," she blushed at her own words.
Damon smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Go on. Close the door behind you."
Elena's eyes widened when she understood what he meant by 'taking care of it.' She turned a deep shade of crimson, whirled around and almost stumbled out of the room, her heart racing in her chest.
This man really would be the death of her one day! She was curious about it, though. What would it be like if she touched him? He always touched her. What would it be like to see what he looked like behind those pants? Would she dare to use her mouth on him, like Caroline had said she had done to Master Donovan?
Her stomach clenched in lust at the thought.
She straightened her shoulders and went back to the party.
"Where were you, Elena?" her mother wanted to know as soon as she stepped back into the ballroom. "You left your suitor in the middle of the dance floor! That is not appropriate!"
Elena looked down, knowing exactly how inappropriate she had been.
"I'm sorry, mother. I wasn't feeling well. I just stepped outside for a second," she explained herself.
Her mother's face immediately changed from chagrin to worry.
"O, sweetheart. I'm sorry. Are you okay now?" she asked her.
Elena nodded.
"I'm fine."
Elena spent the rest of the night behaving properly again. She introduced herself to the right people, interacted with Master Mason and made everyone believe that she was happy to be courted by him. Every now and then her eyes would land on Damon, who had returned to the ball room. She caught him watching her sometimes. She didn't exactly know what to make of it.
When the party was coming to a close, a commotion could be heard outside. Before she knew what was happening, someone came yelling into the room, screaming: "Fire!"
People became panicked, rushed towards the windows and saw what was burning. Elena saw it too. A small wooden shed out in the Lockwood gardens had caught fire, causing smoke to billow up into the air. Most men immediately began to help get water towards the shed to put out the fire.
Elena caught her father sneaking out into the hallway with Carol Lockwood, being very secretive. So Elena went after them, trying to eavesdrop on what exactly was going on here.
"That shed holds my only vervain, Grayson! How could this happen? Nobody knows that we were trying to grow that herb again. No one except the council! This can't be an accident. A vampire has to have set it on fire!" Mrs. Lockwood panicked.
Elena felt herself become stressed as well. Her father and Mrs. Lockwood knew about vampires…
A/N: So this was a little more plot than the last chapter ;) I hope you all like where I'm going with this. The courtship has started, but Damon and Elena still can't stay away from each other. If you want Elena's thoughts on touching Damon to come true next chapter, please leave me a review and feed my muse!
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