Chapter Seventeen: Lover

Elena was shivering by the time that they arrived back at Damon's house. It was bigger and darker that she had imagined. It certainly seemed bigger than when Elena had stolen his horse. "Whoa," he said calming the horse down a little. He glared at Elena as he helped her down and in all honesty, he made her feel like a criminal. Which she kind of was, but still. "I'll put the horses away in the barn. You get inside. I'll start a fire. Try not to get into another accident."

Elena nodded, blushing slightly at the remark as she made her way inside. There was very little furniture inside. She guessed it was because a bachelor like Damon would probably have no use for it since he spend most of his time outside working. There were two rocking chairs, an old rug, and a fireplace. That was it. Was he so lazy that he couldn't even bother to redecorate?

Her clothes were a soaking mess and she could feel herself shivering. She wished that she had dry clothes. But the rain was so bad there was no way that Damon could drop her off at Madam Pearl's.

She tried cleaning herself up and trying to warm herself up but without a fire it was nearly impossible. She was soaking wet. Damon came in and looked at her with concern. He obviously wanted to scold her, but didn't want to do that while she was freezing. He quickly started the fire and Elena relaxed slightly when she felt the warmness of the fire.

Elena cleared her throat and she said wryly. "You wouldn't have any extra women's clothes, would you?"

Damon shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I am a man and most of my workers are men." He paused. "Here let me see if I can find something for you to wear. Most of my pants wouldn't fit you, you're too small. But perhaps one my shirts can become a dress. Not a long dress, but it should be able to cover all of your parts."

Elena blushed, but Damon didn't seem to notice. He told her that she should have a bath and he led her upstairs. Damon had nice, modern conveniences so Elena didn't have to heat up the water in buckets. Warm water just came out from the tub. Elena thought it was magical. Damon said it was just modern pluming.

Damon left her to bathe in private and Elena was grateful for the moment as the warm water made her bones relaxed. She could feel the tears threatening to spill down her eyes. She felt like such an idiot. Damon was right she was a fool for trying to look for Jeremy in the middle of the night with rain pouring everywhere. She could have died and she had been lucky that she hadn't. She got out of the tub and dried herself quickly. Damon had put the clothes near the fire so that they could dry. He had left a couple of his shirts to serve as dresses for her for the time being.

Damon's long white button-down shirt barely covered her long, plump thighs and Elena could feel herself blushing. She felt naked. But Elena remembered that Damon had already seen her naked, after all he had taken her virginity. So, exposing her thighs and legs shouldn't be nothing.

She went downstairs and saw Damon stroking the fire. His blue eyes rested on her thighs for a moment, but he respectively looked away.

"We need to talk." Elena said quietly.

"Yes," Damon said. "We do. What the hell were you doing roaming around by yourself? Do you know how worried Madam Pearl was?"

"I'm sorry, Elena said as she pulled out the crumble note that she had received. "But I just couldn't wait. I received a telegram. It's about Jeremy." She handed him the note. "He's still alive."

"Is that him?" Caroline asked peeking over Katherine's shoulder the next evening at the bar. It was only the two girls currently at the saloon. Elena still hadn't returned from the previous night and Madam Pearl had only told them that she was currently staying with Damon Salvatore, but wouldn't elaborated. They just assumed that Damon had hired her for the day.

Katherine had returned to her job as a whore and Caroline had surprisingly wore a more modest dress and wasn't doing the whoring business tonight. She was also in an unusually good mood. The kind of good mood you have only after a good fucking. Apparently, the sheriff was really good in the sheets.

Katherine cocked an eyebrow and looked in the direction that Caroline was pointing at. She was right there was Elijah drinking a glass of whisky and looking obviously bored. Katherine wondered why he even came since Katherine wasn't paying the slightest attention to him.

"You should talk to him," Caroline encouraged.

Katherine scowled. "Why?"

"Because he likes you," Caroline rolled her blue eyes. "Come on Katherine, he saved your life. You should be grateful."

"I already thanked him in several ways."

"You could at least ask him to dance." Katherine rolled her eyes, but didn't completely disagree. She went towards him. "Hello," she said surprised by how soft her voice sounded.

Elijah seemed surprise as well. "Hello."

"Would like to dance?" she blurted wondering why she was even doing as the blond had asked.

Elijah shook his head. "Not tonight, Katherine. Would you like a drink?"

"I'm not supposed to drink on the job," Katherine admitted. It was one of the few rules that Madam Pearl had given them.

"Alright, tea then." Katherine agreed as she went to the kitchens to order tea. A few minutes later she came back with a pot of tea, sugar, honey, and two cups. Elijah smiled as he stirred the honey. "You're being nice, tonight."

Katherine rolled her eyes. "I'm always nice." She took a sip of her tea. "Have you always lived in Mystic Falls?"

Elijah shook his head. "Klaus and I were born in England, but my parents came here looking for a better life. We been living in Mystic Falls since. It used to be an even smaller town." He smiled at the memory. "It wasn't always easy. My mother lost a child back in London and my father wasn't always the kindest person. Klaus and I stayed because it's our home."

Katherine shook her head slightly. "I couldn't imagine staying in the same place forever. I always wanted to leave San Francisco before I got pregnant that is. I always wanted to travel the world. I can't imagine staying in one place forever."

"There's nothing wrong with staying in one place, Katherine," Elijah said gently. "Family, friends, a home."

"But I don't have that," Katherine blurted out. Madam Pearl came behind her and whispered in her ear.

"Katherine," Madam Pearl whispered gently. "You have customers waiting for you."

Katherine blushed as she nodded, she looked at Elijah who had a sad expression on his face. "I have to go." Elijah nodded sadly as he tilted his cup towards her.

-End of Chapter Seventeen-

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