The feuding between the Salvators and the Gilberts causes Elena to learn the secret of her birth. In her hurt and anger, she searches out Damon. The perfect man to rebel against her family with.
AU, no vampires, 1860s time period with the Salvatores and Gilberts (Elena's family) existing at the same time.
Damon believed he was way past giving a rat's ass over what his father said about him. That was until the Gilberts came over for dinner, and his father told Grayson's gorgeous daughter what a disappointment Damon was. To make matters worse, he spent the whole night praising Stefan.
Originally he thought the ending of the feud between the two families would be a good thing. Of course, his crap luck meant his father could tell more people what a disappointment he was—even the stunning Elena.
That night he stayed in the mansion as his father and Stephen, the golden boy, walked all four Gilberts to their carriage to wish them goodnight. He didn't see the point in putting himself forward when his father was sure to have destroyed any goodwill they could have had for him.
Surprisingly the peace that had been obtained was holding between the families for a time. They were by no means warm to each other, but they were cordial, and that was a vast improvement from what it had been.
That led Guseppie Salvatore, to the incorrect assumption that he could further his place in the founding families by connecting his son Stephan in marriage to Elena. She was generally beloved by everyone in town, and that made him greedy to obtain her as a daughter-in-law.
He had been furious when Grayson announced that he'd never engage her to a second son. Giuseppe hated Damon so much that it never even dawned on him to propose a union between her and his firstborn. In the end, though, even if he had thought of it, he would have rejected the idea. Damon was never his heir in his mind.
Eight months was as long as the truce lasted between the two families. Once Guseppie insisted she marry Stephan since he would become the Salvatore heir, Grayson was disgusted with him.
Grayson did not attempt to hide how disgusting he thought it was to pass over your oldest son in favor of the second. He saw it as a firm birthright, especially since he, too, was the oldest son. Giuseppe took Grayson's words as a rejection of Stephen and his superior mind. He felt the comment personally, and it deeply offended him.
Elena's mind wasn't occupied with the feuding that had recommenced. She focused solely on what she had overheard and how it affected her life. To her dark amusement, she remembered her mother instructing her never to eavesdrop on a conversation, and those that did, deserved what they heard.
She was definitely wishing she had listened to her mother's admonishment. Sadly, she thought about how that wasn't quite true. Miranda wasn't her mother, after all. She was the bastard daughter of her mean uncle John.
She sat alone in her room as she thought about everything. There had been rumors that her uncle John slept around for as long as she could remember; the servants were constantly talking about him as well as others in society. Today hadn't been the first time by a long-shot that she had listened into conversations she shouldn't have.
Elena just never imagined that she would end up being the by-blow of her promiscuous uncle. It horrified her to think that she could have other half-siblings out there that her parents hadn't decided to raise.
Furry built up inside of her. Her birth father, John, hadn't ever shown an interest in anything she did. Before, she shrugged it off. After all, she believed she was his niece and not the heir to the family. But now, this meant he was ignoring his flesh and blood. A girl he helped bring into this world.
And everyone was lying to her about it.
Heartbreakingly, Jeremy had been in the room when the discussion had happened. He knew she was his cousin by blood, and he never told her. Elena had always thought they were close, and now his apparent betrayal devastated her.
She never considered the possibility that he didn't tell her because, to him, she was his sister in every way that mattered. All she saw was the lie of omission.
The worst part in her mind was she didn't know what to do. Even at her angriest, she could admit they treated her like their own daughter. But that just felt like a way to perpetuate the lie at the moment.
Anger took over, and she wanted to lash out and hurt them in some way to make them feel how betrayed she felt.
Stephan popped into her mind, but she quickly tossed out the idea. Yes, Grayson didn't want her to marry him, but neither did she. It was why she was listening in the first place, hoping she wouldn't be forced to wed him.
Sure, he was cute, but that was as deep as it went. She suspected without his father's influence, he could have been a great man, but that wasn't to happen. He was too much like Gueseppie, or at least tried to please him too much for her liking. It ruined any interest she could have had in him.
Her mind flashed to Damon and his dark, brooding good looks. She hadn't missed his anger over his father's comments when she was there or how dangerous that his simmering anger made him look.
Thinking about it now, it excited her and comforted her at the same time. They both knew betrayal, even though it was very different, in types, for both of them. The excitement for her came from how much she wanted to find out if he would help her rebel.
Damon didn't understand why he was staring at Elena as he walked, what he thought was alone, deep in the woods. He paused and bowed to her. "Pardon. I didn't mean to come upon you alone. I will remove myself and head back home."
He just watched her as she stood there, apparently nervous. He usually prided himself on being able to read people, especially women, but her thoughts were completely hidden from him right now.
Elena tried to pull herself together. She was alone in the woods with a man she found intensely attractive. Every bit of her upbringing told her she should leave, and that this was wrong. She forced herself to remember that was the point of all this. Bad behavior was her ultimate goal.
Finally, she said, "You're apologizing for being on your own property? I'm the one trespassing."
"And you're still a woman. I'm apologizing for being alone with you. You can be assured I won't tell anyone what happened. It was a mistake, after all."
"No. It wasn't," she replied evenly.
"I can assure you-"
Elena cut him off. "I can assure you I am here on purpose. You've done nothing wrong."
"Elena, I don't understand," he said, taking a step back. "Our fathers are feuding, and we shouldn't be alone together anyway."
Elena chanced to take two steps towards him. "Our fathers aren't feuding, Damon." She didn't address his second statement.
Looking at her in complete confusion, he stepped closer to her without noticing. "Yes, they are. Your father refused a betrothal between you and my father's favorite son."
She shook her head and said, "No. My uncle did."
"But John's not in town. And anyway, I didn't think Greyson would ever take his brother's advice on anything, even if he was. Did I miss that he's here?"
"No, all the shop girls are safe. He's not around to con them out of their virtue."
Damon felt an overwhelming desire to hold Elena and comfort her. She previously had her thoughts concealed completely, but now her heartbreak was evident. Something was very, very wrong, and it was breaking her heart.
He dared to take another step toward her and placed a warm hand on her arm. He tried not to focus on how soft and delicate her skin was. "Elena, I don't understand, but I want to. You're hurting."
She nodded as tears welled in her eyes. "Greyson isn't my father. John is. I just found out."
"What? Your mom and John…." he trailed off when he saw her shaking her head.
"Mom…. Miranda faked being pregnant. I'm the natural daughter of John and some woman called Isobell. When she gave birth, they pretended that I was Miranda and Grayson's daughter hiding that I'm a bastard." She pulled away from Damon's hand abruptly. Suddenly she felt dirty. "You shouldn't even want to be around me. I'm…"
"-Stop," he interrupted. He then walked toward her and put his hand on her arm again. "So what? Both our fathers are monsters." He wanted to use a stronger word, but he wouldn't in front of Elena.
"But you're not… Like me," she said sadly.
"Liked? Wanted? Yeah, you're right. I'm not like you."
"Legitimate!" She screamed out in intense internal pain.
"For you, everyone who knows about your birth will keep it quiet. And as for me, my father tells everyone he hates me. We are different, see?" She looked into his warm eyes that held kindness for the first time. The regular hurt and obstinance they usually showed were gone. Elena didn't dare question his implied promise to keep her secret.
Looking down at her feet, Elena frowned. "But I know. My whole life, I've been lied to, and now I know."
With the hand that held her arm, Damon caressed her with his thumb. "And you're loved."
He was startled when she surged forward and pressed herself to him. Her head rested on his chest along with the palms of both her hands. His snide side took over. It always did when he was afraid of being happy. He had become self-destructive over the years. "Now I know I'm not supposed to be with you like this. It would be hard to maintain your perfect image if we were caught together."
The speed at which she pulled away from him left him reeling. She was ten steps from him, facing the other direction before he fully registered that she had moved. Her fists were balled at her sides when he heard her say, "Thank you for not telling anyone about John." He still hadn't made that promise, but she was sure it was true nonetheless. "I won't imposition you anymore. I apologize for my improper behavior."
He was left staring at his feet as she walked away.
He shook his head to clear the desire running through him. Having her warm body pressed to his was a dream come true. Once he did, he ran after Elena. Whatever his non-gentlemanly desires were for her, she was hurting. He caught up to her, grabbed her arm, and spun her around. The beautiful look of shock on her face overrode his brain. At least, that was what he told himself, and he pulled her into his arms.
Looking down into her big innocent brown eyes, he said, "I'm not supposed to be with you like this, Elena. It would hurt your reputation if we got caught." He ran the fingertips of one hand down her spine.
Her eyes shifted, and there was a mischievousness he now saw in them. It was so sexy. Damon shifted her in his arms a bit, pressing her more to one side. As he did that, he pulled his waist from her a bit. He didn't think she would know what an erection felt like, but he didn't want to startle her with it, either.
Elena wrapped her arms around Damon. She looked up with as much confidence as she could fake, and she said, "Then let's not get caught."
Her bravado entertained him. He was sure she was just playing at being bold at a game between men and women that she didn't understand in her innocence.
He admitted to himself he was a bit of an asshole and would take advantage, to a point, of her innocence. He would touch and tease her a bit, but he refused to ruin her. He found he didn't want to hurt her. He just wanted to give her a thrill and the idea that she shouldn't be so trusting around men.
Damon grabbed her ass with his right hand and squeezed. "I don't plan on getting caught. I can be very discreet."
Her boldness in response surprised him. She smiled and pressed her body harder up against him. He hoped she couldn't feel his cock against her thigh. She whispered, "That's what I'm counting on."
There was a buzzing sound in Damon's ear that he was sure was the sound of his brain short-circuiting. He had to know what was going on, so he asked, "Elena, what the hell?!" That was not how he wanted that to come out.
Elena pulled away from him abruptly again. "You must despise me now. Sorry. I'll leave and stay away from you. I'm…. Please forget that I threw myself at you." Damon laughed in response, much to her heartache.
Before she knew any more than that, she was embarrassed and ashamed, he had her pressed bodily against an enormous tree nearby. His thigh was pressed between her legs, and she wanted to combust with pleasure. "You're trying to throw yourself at me?"
"I literally threw myself into your arms," she replied, blushing.
"Sorry, but a beautiful woman like you has to be more obvious, or a man's going to think it's all wishful thinking." He trapped her more against the tree with his hips. "I was trying to behave –innocent Elena. But you got me thinking right now. What if you'd actually let me kiss you? How could I live with myself if I passed that up?"
He didn't wait for a verbal response. The fact that she didn't try to get away was enough encouragement for him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to her soft, warm lips, kissing her on the mouth. Quickly it wasn't enough for him. He encouraged her to open her mouth, and he then plundered her, making love to her with his tongue. Her moans and sighs of pleasure drove him wild. The sounds she made pushed him to prolong the passionate kiss.
When he finally did pull back, he looked dazed down at her until he saw how pleased she seemed to have been to have been kissed. His look changed to downright cocky at that point. "Elena, you tempt me to kiss you again."
"Good." She didn't need to say more, and he was kissing her desperately again.
Sometime later, he still had her pressed to the tree, her warm body making him feel hot all over. "Elena. What game are we playing here?"
He watched confusion and then hurt filter through her eyes. They then clouded up with impending tears. "Game? I don't understand," she barely managed to get out.
"Am I wrong? You're a beautiful woman that the whole town adores. I'm the unwanted son of the least-liked man in the founding families. I'm not on your level, not really."
She bit her lip, unknowingly stirring up his desire even more, and said, "I don't play games. Or I don't think I do. I'm tired of so much right now. I don't want to force myself to be perfect anymore. Not in a fake family. My real identity would damn me in this town."
"So this is your rebellion against being 'perfect' Elena. You're using me?" His tone didn't hold any hurt. After all, he wasn't against being used by Elena. She was his big secret and why his father's words that night hurt so much. He'd been devoted to her for years. She could use him all she wanted to, and he realized he'd probably thank her in the end and beg for more.
Elena didn't know the truth behind his question. "You must despise me if you think that's true." She blinked back tears. "I don't mean to use you. I just wanted…."
He cupped her cheek. "I could never despise you. Whatever you want from me, it's yours. Willingly."
Not knowing what to say other than to lead with honesty, she said, "You've always been dark and brooding. I find that exciting." She blushed and dared to look him in the eyes. "I've been drawn to you for a long time, and when I wanted…." She didn't dare finish that sentence, so she trailed off. She did then take a chance and added, "I came looking for you." Much to his total shock.
"Wait, you're here on purpose?"
She gave him a wry smile, "I'm on your property. Why else would I be here?"
"I thought you were cutting through on your way to somewhere else."
"Where? What's in the direction I was walking?"
She noticed his eyes darken, and he moved forward so their lips were almost touching. "You came looking for me?"
"Yes."
His lips ghosted hers as he then said, "Do you know what trouble this can get you in? Your reputation….. And then putting yourself completely at my mercy. Not a good idea." His meaning was clear and dripped from his seductive tone. She had said she found him exciting, and he was trying to bring her a thrill.
"But I am," she said, breathing hard. "I'm completely at your mercy."
"You're sure?" he forced himself to ask.
"Yes," she promised.
He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent and the smell of the woods around them. He then dared to rock his hard cock against her core. The mewling noise she made pleased him. "What if I am tempted to take this all too far? You're my greatest weakness."
Elena wasn't sure what she was feeling, but she knew she wanted a lot more of whatever it was. And him saying she was his greatest weakness melted her heart.
Pressing herself to him, she, embarrassed, whispered, "I want to give myself to you –completely."
"Do you even know what that means?" he asked, desperate and yearning for her.
"N-no. Not completely, but I trust you."
"Why?" he asked, completely thrown off by her statement.
"Am I wrong?" She asked instead of answering. "I've known you my whole life, and I've never known you to lie to me."
"Our families have been feuding for decades. You were born into it. We didn't talk much."
"True," she admitted. "But what I said still stands."
He almost laughed at her. He wondered if her hormones were screaming just as loudly as his were. Sure, she didn't know what she was saying, but something was prompting her to find out.
"I worry you'll regret me," he admitted. By now, he expected rejection from those around him.
She blushed again. "Or are you worried I'll trap you?"
Damon moved and tenderly kissed her neck. It sprouted all kinds of feelings inside of her for the first time, which brought her pleasure. "Trap? No, that's not the word I'd use. If you let me have your body, it's you who will be trapped. I won't let you go."
"Can you k-kiss me again on the neck? It's exciting."
Her innocent honesty excited him, and he kissed her all along her neck, making her moan. "Keep moaning," he prompted. "I love hearing that from you." She blushed but didn't hold back her sounds of pleasure.
Damon progressed to nibbling at her neck. Her vocalizing her pleasure helped encourage him to continue. He nibbled her ear and whispered, "I want all of you, Elena."
And he did. He wanted her body, but most of all, her heart. He decided it was time to push for more. It dawned on him he wanted to trap her, and he would. He'd make love to her and convince her she had to marry him afterward. He would just have to explain how he broke her maidenhead, and that would stop her from marrying anyone else. He knew he'd do anything to have her and keep her sweet moans all to himself.
He rocked his cock against her core again, hoping it would work her up even half as much as it did him. "My father fired our gamekeeper."
"I know. My father hired him."
"You're missing the point," he pressed. "His cottage is empty. Would you be willing to meet me there tonight? You did say you wanted to throw yourself at me."
"Can you show me how to get there?" she asked without hesitation.
"Meet me at the big tree at the edge of your property tonight at ten. I'll lead you there since it would be hard to find in the dark."
At three minutes past ten that evening, Damon was leading Elena by the hand through the dark toward the former gamekeeper's cottage. He'd made the bed the best he could and tried to make it feel comfortable for her before he led her there. It was a warm night, so the lack of fire wasn't a problem, which was good because he didn't want the smoke to give them away.
By the time he got her to the cottage, he was nervous. What if she had just come to tell him she didn't want to give her body over to him anymore? He looked at her, and his fear died immediately.
Elena was impatient after waiting for what felt like forever to her. As soon as she got in the cottage, she began to take off her dress. She saw the moment Damon noticed what she was doing, and the look of excitement in his eyes thrilled her. He began stripping too.
"Do you even know what you're asking for?" he asked saucily. He then wiggled his eyebrows at her.
She smirked, "I have walked in on my maid with… Well, several different men. She enjoys it when we have visitors."
He laughed, "Your father would fire her if he knew."
"Actually, my father is one of the men she likes to have sex with. I've never walked in on that. But I know what you mean. Yes, my uncle Greyson would fire her if he knew how many men she slept with. Especially since it's how I snuck out tonight."
"Do I want to know who?"
"Benjamin Lockwood."
"Gross."
She then finished pulling off her clothes. "Let's not think about that right now."
Damon stopped undressing, and his pants hung unbuttoned on his hips. "Wow. Even more beautiful than I imagined."
She rolled her eyes. "Sweet, but not needed. I'm already going to give you my virginity."
"Hey, you are beautiful. And if you think you're only giving me your virginity, you're going to be furious at me soon. I'm taking more than just your body. I'm going to tell your uncle quietly that I've had you and that I will take you as my wife. And if that doesn't work, I'm going to steal you away and marry you."
"Why?"
"I can't stand the idea of anyone else marrying you. You were right earlier today. Despite the feud, we do know each other. You've always been sweet to me, and I've fallen in love, and I want to possess you. I could never live with the idea of another man seeing you like this. I will make you mine in every way."
Elena looked down at herself nervously. "What, I'm not any good… Umm... In bed?"
"I don't think that's possible, but if for some reason you are unsure of your performance, we can practice –a lot."
She gave him a nervous smile. "Easy for you to joke about, but I don't know what I'm doing."
"I'm a man. It's not that hard. Let me have sex with you, and it will be amazing."
"But what if-" her remaining words died on her lips. Damon had grown impatient with her concerns and the fact that he wasn't touching her, so he fixed both. She moaned instead as his fingers slid between her slick folds. He was glad, despite her worry, she was still turned on and wet for him.
"Elena, do you have any idea how much I want you? Touching you like this already is a dream come true." He then flicked her clit, and she shouted in pleasure and in surprise. "And you're gratifyingly responsive. Make all the noise you want to. I find it exciting."
As he stroked between her slick folds, she moaned and grabbed his shoulders to anchor herself to something. The pleasure he brought her was setting her adrift.
Damon circled her clit and asked, "What do you want, Elena?"
"More," she moaned. "I want- ugh! So good!" He had flicked her clit, enjoying the power he had over her with one finger. She made him feel like he wasn't a failure for the first time in his life since his mother died.
"You like that?" he prompted.
"Yes, more. Please."
He shook his head and removed his fingers. Once he did, he licked them as she watched. "You taste so good."
Blushing, she said, "I didn't know about –that."
"Did you like it?" She nodded in response.
Damon was pleased with her honesty. He thought she'd be too embarrassed to admit to enjoying anything about sex. He was glad he was wrong.
He finished stripping and then moved her to lie on top of the bed. Once she was there, he spread her legs and brought his head between them. "Innocent Elena, I'm going to do so many wonderful things to you tonight."
She spread her legs even further and said, "I knew things would embarrass me, but I promised myself not to let it stand in the way. Do anything you want. I'm yours."
"You'll be my wife?" he prompted.
"If you want me, yes. You'll already have my maidenhead." It surprised him that she knew that much about how it all worked. She then added, "It's not like you have to marry me to get it, though."
He lowered his head between her thighs and saw her glistening pussy. "I will take it, so you have to marry me." He kissed her inner thigh. "And I will love every second of this." He then licked her pussy with the flat of his tongue.
Elena almost jumped off the bed. It had felt amazing before when he was fingering her, but now it was ten times better and completely overwhelming. He licked again, and all she could think about was him taking even more from her. She wanted him so badly.
He licked her again and then spread her pussy with his finger holding her open and exposing her clit. He then thumbed her clit as he listened to her pleasure and watched her get even wetter.
"Elana, you're just too perfect. I love looking at your ripe pussy. I can't wait to pluck you and pop your cherry. And…" He paused and licked her exposed cunt. "You taste so sweet."
She reached down and threaded her fingers through his hair and held him to her womanly core. "Take all of me. I'm yours in every way."
"My wife?"
"Yes. Your wife too."
He then made her scream herself silly as he ate her out –leaving her breathless and wrecked when he finally let her rest.
When he moved up and covered her body with his and thrust in, breaking her barrier, she screamed out another orgasm. She was so worked up that one stroke of his thick hard cock completely undid her.
And then he began having sex with her.
"You're so tight," he praised as he thrust into her. He was glad she was so worked up and a virgin. He was afraid he wasn't going to last long. He was glad she didn't know any better.
He lost himself in her body. Making love to her set him off completely. And her sighs and moans launched him over the edge. He believed he had found perfection.
As he neared oblivion, he rutted into her hard, finding she could take everything he gave. He then lost his sense of his surroundings as he neared his climax. All that went through his brain was that he must take her harder and faster.
His orgasm hit, and they were both screaming in pleasure. He pumped her full of his cum, and he grunted in satisfaction. He was a bit surprised over how much it pleased him that she had his seed in her.
They were both panting for breath as Elena clung to Damon. She asked, "Do you still mean it? Do you still want me?"
He chuckled darkly, "Yes. And if I hadn't wanted to keep you before, I would now. I can't live my life without having sex like that again. You're incredible, darling."
"I'm glad that I please you."
He kissed down her jawline and said, "You're going to please me again tonight. I need more of you."
Once his stamina was back, he made love to her again. He couldn't figure out it was even better the second time. However, that excited him for their marriage he was determined to make happen.