Chapter XVII

Elena awoke in a cold sweat. She looked over at the monster beside her. He appeared to be sleeping. She thought for a brief second that she could move without waking him, but at the moment, she was afraid to breathe too heavily. She held her breath for as long as she could, then blew it out softly. Again. Breathe in. Hold it. Breathe out. Again.

"Elena."

She gasped and jumped out of bed. Damon looked at her, obviously amused by her reaction. She couldn't help but notice the way his pale chest and stomach seemed to glow in the sunlight streaming in from the windows.

"I suggest you get back in bed before the slaves see you through the window." He chuckled at her.

She turned her head and realized she was right in front of the window, her naked olive skin there for everyone to see. Therefore, she had a choice; stay there and have all of the slave men look at her or get back in bed with the monster and forced himself upon her.

She looked at his face. The way he looked at her…she wouldn't say he looked sorry, but he looked…innocent. And peaceful. Elena crawled back under the white silk covers with him. Suddenly he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and with impressive force, pulled her against him. He lay back with her on his chest and sighed contently.

Elena felt her body relax, getting less rigid with every stroke of his hand on her bare shoulder. She slowly closed her eyes and relaxed fully under her monster.

"I just do not understand," Jeremy said as she watched his father and Rose set the breakfast table. "Why does she look like Katherine?"

"We are not quite sure yet," Rose answered. "We know that she is descendant of Katerina, we just never knew she was the doppelganger. Now who knows what they might do…Especially since Damon married her."

"Who?" Alaric asked.

"No one you need to worry about, Rick…" She sighed. Yet. She thought silently.

"I have something for you," Damon said after what seemed like hours of deafening silence. "I would have given it to you last night, but I had other things to think about after The Ritual."

Elena looked up at him. He turned and reached in a drawer beside the bed and pulled out a lapis lazuli ring. She looked at it in awe.

"It's beautiful…" She whispered, her eyes widened. (A/N: There is a picture of the ring on my livejournal :) )

He smiled slightly and slid it on the ring finger of her left hand. She then remembered something about this stone…

"Are you going to turn me?" She whispered, frightened.

"Mhmm." He smiled. "But not now."

"Why?"

"Because I have plans for you, Il mio amore umano."

"What does that mean?" She asked, looking up at him.

He smiled warmly, making his beautiful blue eyes sparkle. Then, he said, "I believe it is time for breakfast."

Elena bit her lip.

"For you." He said, chuckling darkly.

"Oh." She released her lip and blushed.

Damon had stood, and she had a clear view of his toned backside.

"Are you coming?"

"Yes..." She said and bit her lip again.

She watched as he pulled on his black shirt, silk black vest, black trousers and black coat.

"Rose," He called.

In the blink of an eye she was there in the doorway. "Yes, Damon?"

Elena still found it odd to see them call him "Damon" rather than "Mister Salvatore." Elena smiled to herself. "Mister Savior." She giggled and Damon and Rose looked curiously at her. She blushed and lowered her head.

"Please assist Elena in getting dressed for the the day. I have her attire layed out in the wardrobe in the guest room."

"Yes, Damon." She said and looked expectantly at Elena.

"She's shy," Damon smiled, amused.

"I can't imagine why," She glared at him, who looked at her inncoently ,as if he didn't know what she was talking about. She turned to Elena. "You may bring the sheet if you like."

Elena nodded and wrapped the silk sheet around her body and followed Miss Rose into the "guest room."

There was a beautiful blood red gown with black lacing for her to wear layed out on the bed with a lace necklace with a red rose stitched to it. (A/N: Picture on my LiveJournal :D)

The whole time, she couldn't stop looking at her ring and smiling, thinking about Damon.

A/N: So what do you think? Do you think Elena will forgive Damon easily? Just think: she thinks ALL men do that. And who do you think "they" are that Rose speaks about? What do you think? What do you think? What do you think?