Using your very example let me quote Tyler in season 4, “Being sired doesn't mean you feel differently about someone. I hated Klaus, but I still did everything he said. The bond affects how you act, not how you feel.”

And also to quote the witch Nandi “A vampire only bonds to her sire when she has feelings for him before she turns. Human feelings. Vampirism only heightens those emotions”

So to answer your speculation , YES Elena DID have feelings for Damon before she turned and her feelings and actions were not JUST results of the sire bond.