Hey guys, so this idea came to me a couple of hours ago and I am not even sure how, but here is the result. Hopefully, it isn't a disappointment!

His Enigma

Summary: On a visit to the Middle East, the Duke of Hallendale finds himself mesmerized by the sensual sway of the woman in red's hips and realizes that he wants her for himself- there is one problem, however… She happens to be a sheikh's daughter...

Enjoy :D

Middle East, 1819

The Duke of Hallendale lay down on the divan besides the sheikh and looked down at the tube that the older man was handing over just as he reached for a juicy grape.

"Hookah," the sheikh clarified and the Brit nodded as he took it in hand and took a blow.

"Thank you for having me." Niklaus Mikaelson said as he smirked at the hookah that he has heard of before, but never had the pleasure of trying.

"You are most welcome," the sheikh nodded. "But we have some business to discuss, don't we?"

"Yes," he replied. "As a matter of fact we do and I have the proposal right here." Klaus clarified as he showed him a file with a smirk on his lips.

"I shall look over it after the show that my girls put on for us." He told him and with a motion of his hands, a gentle melody came from the orchestra and he urged Klaus to look to the front.

One by one, half a dozen girls came out wearing costumes in every color and the Brit leaned back, his attention officially captured by the beautiful women.

As the women began to sway to the music, his eyes landed on the one that stood in the front. Everybody else behind her seemed to follow her directions and be found himself mesmerized as her hips swayed to and fro in perfect accord. The red of her costume clung to her every curve and he felt his mouth beginning to water.

"Who is that?" Klaus wondered, wanting a personal meeting with the beauty with smoky blue eyes and kohl around her eyes.

"I've no idea," the sheikh confirmed, "but I shall introduce you if you wish. After all, my girls are yours." He smiled, looking at him like a proud son.

The women continued dancing and as the notes came to an end, Klaus stood up just as the beauty in the front was shuffling away from the remaining girls hastily.

"Shall I have my men bring her here or do you wish to capture her yourself?" The sheikh wondered, his eyes on the girl who was walking away without so much as a bow- he'd have to deal with her later, he though, but for now he would allow the Duke to take his pleasure with her.

"I shall capture her myself," he answered, sounding ready for a challenge.

"Well wishes, my friend. She'll show you a good night- my girls are experts after all." He chuckled and Klaus smiled politely back, but couldn't help but feel just a little disgusted. Though back in London, it wasn't news if a married man held a mistress or two, the sheikh had a whole harem of them, however, and it seemed like he wasn't the kindest of men...

When his eyes met her own, the blonde thought that she would take a misstep, but thankfully all of the women were her friends though it didn't make much sense… After all, her father was the sheikh that took his pleasure with them. The man that sat beside him captured her attention and it didn't seem like he was going to let it go any time soon.

Watching as he leaned towards her father, she tried to read his lips to no avail. However, the blonde knew that he was watching her with an intensity that she felt in her bone marrow.

His stormy blue-gray eyes remained on her person and his dirty blonde hair looked impeccable yet mischievous. It wasn't everyday she saw a man in her country with hair as light as hers. Actually, he was the first she saw, she realized.

As the music came to an end, she shuffled away because she knew that if her father saw her face, he would not be pleased. After all, she was his little girl and he was overprotective of her and kept her away from friends and foe whenever he could.

As soon as she was in the gardens, she took a turn and sat down on the marble bench. Removing the covering from her face, she shook her blonde hair and it spilled down her back.

Taking in some deep breaths, she shut her eyes and reveled in the warm wind on her face.

Just as she was beginning to relax, she heard a twig snap and her eyes shot open. As she was reaching for her covering, the man in the dapper evening clothes came into view and their gazes locked.

"You're beautiful," he said, approaching her carefully and with awe.

"You must not look, my lord." She chided as she covered her hair and mouth.

"My apologies," he murmured before he gave her the privacy she needed, deciding not to tell her that she should have addressed him as your grace.

"Done," she told him.

Sitting down beside her, he gave her a genuine smile and she bit down on her bottom lip.

"Who are you?" He asked. "The way you danced out there was truly mesmerizing."

"I'm afraid I cannot say, my lord. Please, you must allow me to go before we are seen here by my- the sheikh." She corrected.

"The sheikh does not mind… He has given me permission to enjoy you for the evening, love.

Will you?"

"Excuse me," she quickly said, jumping up from her seat on the bench.

Just as she was going to walk away from him, he stopped her with his silken and foreign voice.

"I'll shan't leave without having you for an evening, my dear. I shall remain for the next day and then I will return to England… If you please me, and I have no doubt that you will, I will take you without a doubt.."

"Take me with you?" She asked, stopping in her tracks. "To England?" The blonde added, feeling somewhat of an interest. After all, a life away from her home would allow her to experience the world in a way which her father would never allow her.

"Yes," he nodded. "I find that I am in need of a new mistress- I'd be honored if you accepted my offer… I shall care for you, of course." He reassured as her eyes widened in surprise.

When she didn't say anything, he pulled at his cravat and kept her gaze captive. It wasn't everyday that a woman declined the offer of a man who was one of the most powerful men in England, after all.

"Mistress?" The blonde mimicked, her eyes widening in disbelief. Did the man truly think that she would agree, though there was a part of her that wanted too...

It didn't matter that he knew not of her being the sheikh's daughter, but nonetheless a man did not ask a woman to become his mistress without much thought.

"I am going to have to decline, my lord." She told him, turning on her heel and walking away from him with her head held high.

"You are a part of the sheikh's harem, pet… I don't understand why you do not wish to experience something else- with somebody a lot more virile and young." He added as an afterthought. "And I can show you what the world has to offer- London first and then perhaps some other place you would fancy visiting."

"Thank you for the offer, but as I said- I am going to have to decline."

"Decline? Does the sheikh truly do it for you, then? Is he the only man you've ever been with?"

Her face was as red as a tomato, she reckoned because she didn't want to speak to the cad about her father's, ick, she thought as a disgusting shiver ran down her spine.

"Good night," she simply said before she walked away from him, leaving him standing there looking after her with his jaw dropped slightly.

That night, the blonde lay in her bed and stared up at the ceiling with her hand resting on her belly. Though she was exhausted, she found that she was unable to fall asleep. After all, the man's offer ran through her mind repeatedly and she found herself wanting to take him up on that offer of pleasure- she would never go with him to England, however… It simply would not work and she would never upset her father in such a way.

But a night of pleasure held such an appeal for her… After all, she has never even been kissed and she knew that she was to be betrothed to a man that she despised with every fiber of her being…

"Oh," she said aloud, putting her face in her hands in surrender.

Could she accept his offer for a night of pleasure? And if she did, it wasn't like he would remain in her home… That way, he would never even find out that she was the sheikh's daughter and there would be at least one memory that she would be able to think about when her future husband came to her bed.

A shiver ran down her spine as she thought about the man that was twice her age with rotting teeth and greasy black hair that was beginning to recede. Though, she loved her father, Caroline felt a sense of betrayal. After all, he was willing to marry her off to him simply because he was one of the richest men in all of the Middle East.

"Dear god, what shall I do?" She said aloud, the confusion evident in her voice.

Shutting her eyes, she thought about her mother who has been ignored by her father for the past decade or so. Her mother did not deserve such ill treatment and she found herself getting up off her bed and tying her robe around her chemise-clad body.

Sneaking down the hall, she entered her mother's room and sighed in relief when she spotted her sitting in her favorite chair by the window with one of her favorite books.

"Mama," she said, approaching the woman with beautiful black hair that was now threaded with gray.

Her brown eyes shot over to her bright blue ones and she motioned for her to come closer.

When Caroline was beside her, she sat down on her lap like she used to as a child and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"What plagues you, my sweet?" The older woman wondered, the worry evident in her voice.

"Mama, were you ever happy with papa?" She asked, deciding to be straightforward.

"I- I wouldn't say I was happy overly much, but I was grateful to him- I still am."

"You are? Why?" She wondered, genuinely curious.

"Your father may not be the best of men and he isn't known for his fidelity, but he treated me well- now in days, he simply ignores me, but I have grown used to it."

"Did you ever wish to have another life? One far away from these pressing responsibilities?"

"There were times, yes, but when I was younger I went on an adventure. During this adventure, I learned many things and I hold those memories with me everyday."

"You went on an adventure? What adventure?" Caroline questioned, finding herself wanting to know more.

"I'll tell you one day, but today is not that day, my sweet. My advice to you is to do as you please- and I know about those little escapades of yours."

"Escapades?" Caroline asked, her voice cracking. "What escapades?"

"Those women are good people, my love. They simply chose the life that they needed to survive and I don't hate them for that, I actually respect them and am happy to know that you have some fun… Your father truly is overprotective of you- it's getting annoying, as a matter of fact." She laughed aloud and Caroline hugged her tightly.

"I love you, mama. So much," she reassured.

"I love you too, now go and do what you want with that handsome man."

"Handsome man?" She asked, confused for a minute there.

"I was looking out into the garden when I saw two figures- you and the man from England. I applaud you for sending him away, but with your betrothal quickly approaching with that man your father has chosen, I want you to live a little."

"Meaning?"

"If you wish to kiss him, then kiss him. If you want to do more, do more. It's up to you and though I know that I should be telling you that your virtue is important and should be only for your husband, I want you to know the pleasures of life."

"What are you saying?"

"When I was younger, I was in love with a man who wasn't your father. I wanted to have a night with him, but something held me back- a sense of duty. Look at me now, I have no pleasurable memories to look back on while I lay in bed alone, but you can. I know that you do not love the Englishman, but he can give you memories that you can treasure- I know that you find him attractive."

"I do," she confessed with a little sigh as his image invaded her thoughts- his dimpled smile, his stubble…

"So, think simply of tonight, my sweet. Do something for yourself- don't turn out like I did- full of regrets."

"You're right," Caroline agreed before she got off of her mother's lap and gave her one more kiss.

With that thought in mind, she bid her mother good night and looked from right to left before she made her way in the direction of the guest bed chambers.

Once in that wing of the palace, the light coming from underneath the first room on the left gave her pause.

The Englishman was on the other side and if she was strong enough, she would take her mother's advice.

With that thought in mind, she took a couple of steps forwards and raised her hand to knock.

Before she knew it, she was staring at the man's beautiful lean chest and swallowed the lump that was beginning to form in her throat.

"Have you thought about my offer?" He asked her, his voice taking on a sensual tone.

"Yes," she hiccuped. "Show me just how- how virile you are." She said, looking down as the blush appeared on her cheeks.

"With pleasure," he smirked as he took ahold of her hand and pulled her gently inside before shutting them in.

There you have it!

Just a few notes:

1. The first two chapters will take place in the Middle East

2. The future chapters will take place in England as well as in the Middle East and it will be some time forward

3. There will be some chapters with no Klaroline interaction considering they'll be on different continents

4. There may be a reason or two why they will meet again, and I am assuming you guys figured out one of them or two (huh, I'm surprised then, hehe)

5. Also, I wasn't sure if Hookah has been around long, but according to my data found, it dates back to Turkey and the Middle East in the 17th century

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~Hana :p

PS:

I promise that I am working on my in-progress fanfics- I just finished with finals and will be writing for the next two weeks until my new semester starts (frequently that is).