Happy Reading!
"So you're the one my sister's been hiding from me," Klaus said making the blonde in front snooping through his book collection turn around to face him. She looked up with a blush and a sheepish smile on her lips at being caught his sister was right to hide her for whatever reason, she was an enticing creature.
"It would seem so, I'm Caroline and I'm guessing by the dimples you're Klaus." Her eyes narrowed as she lowered her head and her voice, "I'm supposed to be avoiding you." she says removing her right hand from the shelf behind her to extend her hand he shook it a moment later.
"That ought to be difficult, in my house, in my private study and in my personal space." Klaus replied huskily smirking as she continued avoiding looking in his eyes. "Where is my sister?" he asked casually stepping in closer to her until she backed up against the shelf that lined the wall with books.
"Rebekah, um that's a good question. I stopped following her around in the middle of the tour to look at you. Uh your collection, it's impressive." Caroline said trying to step around him and his remarkable body making the mistake of looking up into his eyes as she answered him.
He felt caught in her stare in the way her eyebrows moved up at the sight of his face, a small smile played on his own knowing he was affecting her the way she was him. Who was this stimulating woman making him feel like she was reaching into his body and ripping everything apart? He felt almost giddy.
She felt light-headed yet even as she wanted to look away and make her escape she couldn't, something about this man wouldn't let her. "I can't breathe," she finally murmured embarrassed at the first words from her mouth no matter how claustrophobic she was she shouldn't have said that. "I mean, I have to go," Caroline clarified quickly breaking eye contact with him all at once trying to shift from the place he had put them in.
She grazed his side a mistake she wouldn't make again as it felt like with timber met a spark as the study door swung open. "Oh Caroline you had better not still be in here I just saw my brother's car in the drive," Bekah cut off spotting them as they quickly put some distance between one another.
"Nik, not her." she cried stepping forward and grabbing Caroline by the arm taking her out of the room. Caroline meekly smiled at him as she whizzed by him her dress catching air at the rate Rebekah had her walking. He waved at her a smirk on his lips as he leaned against his desk listening to the door slam shut courtesy of his baby sister.
"Rebekah relax he was just saying 'Hi'! Not taking me against the book shelf," Caroline huffed pulling her arm out of her best friends grasp as they made it into the backyard where the early stages of Rebekah's engagement party were on display.
"That's just it Caroline, he was sinking his claws in you. I love my brother, truly but you and him. It would be" Rebekah tells her friend frowning when Caroline flinched at her words. "He's just on a different path, he's just –Ugh I'm not explain it right." Rebekah groans frustrated with her loss of words.
"I get Rebekah, It's your day, we were just saying "Hi' and now we can go on living our lives ignoring each other." Caroline replies hurt but adamant about avoiding all men as she vowed earlier that month and so far so good too bad Klaus had to walk into his office right then and wreck her plans.
"It's just that Tyler just left you three months ago, you're still fragile even if you should have dumped him six months ago." Rebekah says returning to her ice queen glory making Caroline roll her eyes knowing better than to look offended. Rebekah just wants everyone to find the perfect person like she did with Matt.
"How about we stop talking about me and focus on you. Which is what today is about," Caroline guaranteed her holding her friends' shoulders. "Alright then?" After they agree Rebekah's tantrum is forgotten and they discuss the night's events with more detail probably driving Rebekah's wedding planner mad.
Throughout the process Caroline feels like she's being watched and she knows by whom, looking up into the second floor window. There he is not even bothering to hide behind the white curtains she smiles despite herself up at him he smiles back making her face heat up. "I'm just gonna go get ready since you seem to have everything in order here," Caroline says hugging Rebekah who agrees.
She makes her way up the stairs passing the now ajar door to his study careful not to look inside directly she discreetly uses her peripherals disappointed when she notices the room is empty. She shrugs walking the rest of the hall to her temporary room opening the door.
Caroline begins to hum her favorite tune under her breath removing the clip in her hair undoing her half up do flipping her hair slightly. She looks up her eyes widening in surprise. Klaus is in her room.
"I hope you don't mind, I invited myself into your room." Klaus practically purrs his voice thick as he begins to stand up from her bed walking over to her as she leaned against her door.
"It's your house after all." Caroline murmurs her breath quickening with each step he took towards her, "Is there something you need from me?" she asks him her hands clenching her skirt.
"I just saw you on your way up and wanted to offer my assistance on anything you might need during your stay here." he said his hands in his pockets his nerves practically shot. Klaus knew he was taking a big chance being in her room especially if she ran and told his sister.
"Thank you. Really but I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself," she retorted confused on whether he was using an innuendo or not. She could be so clueless at the worst times. "If you'll excuse me I have to change."
"Before that though, can you do something for me," he asks taking one hand out and rubbing his chin as if in thought. She nods for him to continue and he smiles, "Hold still for me." Klaus begins pulling her into his arms before she can protest then he kisses her.
Caroline's eyes shoot open as his lips touch hers gently savoring even but the kiss is over before she has time to respond. She moves to the side her hand holding the vanity for support her eyes locked with his searching ones.
He steps back, "Hmm just as I thought." Klaus opens the door walking out without an explanation over why he has just done that. His lips burn at the thought of doing it again as he shuts her door though among other places no less.
Caroline stands up straight looking at her reflection, "Did that just happen?" she wonders to herself her fingers touching her lips hesitantly. It was all so fast it might have just been in her head if his lingering scent didn't fill her room.
She sighed discontentedly at the predicament he's just put her in. She cannot tell Rebekah about this and she has no one else to tell. "I'm in trouble," she realizes but she's not sure with who Klaus or his sister. She walks over to her bed tossing herself on top of it she smiled so hard her face hurt.
"You should keep away from her, don't want to get too congenial in front of Rebekah," Elijah warns handing him a glass as Klaus enters the living hall.
He takes his drink smirking, "I don't know what you mean brother," Elijah rolls his eyes a new habit he's picked up from his girlfriend. "Caroline is just a guest, she'll be gone next week."
"How did you know I was speaking of her then?" Elijah interjects ever the all-knowing making Klaus chuckle darkly. "Rebekah will not have you ruining her friendship over some fling Niklaus."
"I was just offering my help Elijah." Klaus replies annoyed "Why does everyone assume the worst of my intentions?" he asks even though he knows.
"Because you can't help yourself," Kol answers entering the room from the foyer where he's just come through, "Now where is the lovely girl? Oh yes and Rebekah." Elijah shakes his younger brother's hand smiling.
"Caroline is upstairs not to be bothered," Elijah tells him while Kol gets a pat on the back from Klaus in greeting. "Klaus however wants to ignore the rules his sister has set in place. Rebekah is out back."
"You see Elijah this is why you and I never got along, you play by the rules." Kol replies walking towards the stairs, "Caroline!" he shouts up laughing.
Klaus takes a step forward to stop him from making an ass of himself before Elijah places a hand on his chest stopping him he groans, "Kol take another step and I'll tear out your liver." Klaus advises him menacingly.
Kol freezes, "I see my big brother has dibs, no matter. I see a pretty brunette coming our way, Bonnie Darling how have you been?" Kol asks faking genuine interest. Bonnie being used to it rolls her eyes at him walking in the other direction after her.
Elijah now knows more than ever he is right this Klaus is different, he's never done that before for a woman he's just met. "Niklaus, this girl is not for you," Elijah pressed on pursing his lips.
"I don't want to hear it, there is nothing going on between Caroline and I, additionally I am in a very fulfilling relationship with work which I should be finishing instead of being here." Klaus rebuked walking past his older brother whom he respected more than any man in the world. But sometimes he just didn't know when to not but in.
"She wouldn't want a man with baggage, so all of you can just stop already." Klaus silences them just as Rebekah walks into the room he points at her, "Especially you, one email, text or phone call was enough." Rebekah pouts literally pouts like a child denied dessert after eating their veggies.
Klaus continues, "There was no need to go over this for months, if you didn't want her staying here you should have spent this money better." He gestures to the backyard covered in flowers and chairs. "Besides you all know I don't want another woman in my life."
"I just don't want either of you playing games or any of us walking into a room and spending the rest of our lives fighting off a disturbing image." Rebekah interrupts him, "Plus she is one of my closest friends, I don't want to lose her." Growing up Bekah used her attitude to hide the fact that her brothers always scared away someone she might actually get along with.
She was lonely unable to trust other women with her brothers after Tatia, Haley and so many other conquests and friendships torn apart. It was only until a few years ago when she moved out on her own that things really started going her way in the friendship department.
It all happened when she knocked on her neighbor's door finding Matt, and Stefan on the other side holding a water gun. Caroline shot him from behind but he ducked and wet Rebekah instead they were friends once she finished yelling at them. Matt ran towards her with a towel in hand lucky too considering she was now marrying him and best friends with the other two.
Elijah reprimands Klaus from behind him placing a hand on his shoulder squeezing lightly Klaus giving him a side glance, "I mean it. You have a habit of treating woman like a finished art work tossing them to the side when you want to start something new."
He watched as Klaus stepped away in silence. "Unless you plan on hanging her like a portrait an idealizing her from afar which isn't a better option," Kol adds to his brothers comment in a moment of seriousness.
The siblings all look at him stunned into silence at his words he shrugs at them half-heartedly knowing better than most the heart ache Klaus went through with his relationship leading him to act almost as promiscuous as him.
"Just stay away from her unless you want to actually be with her," Rebekah spoke caving to the fact that if anything happened this weekend she would have no control over it. "Your art won't keep you warm at night forever anyways Niklaus," she said walking out of the room leaving the conversation.
Rebekah appeared on Caroline's right in the middle of a dull discussion she had found herself in with one of the groomsmen. Caroline happy she was being saved looked up excusing herself from the man, "What's up Bekah?" the blonde beamed enthusiastically at having something to do.
"I need to talk to you about my brother, come with me please." Rebekah asks her seriously catching the glint in her best friend's eye at the mention of Klaus. "I want to unban you from talking to my brother," she explains when they pull over by the drink station Matt had manned as the party got later.
Caroline's mouth dropped, "Why?" she asked the only word coming into her brain at the moment. After months of her ranting about her favorite brother Nik, Caroline couldn't understand her friend's change of heart not that it didn't give her a thrill. "I mean what lead you to this decision?"
After months of telling her she was too sore from what's happened even today, that's why she's sworn of men. Gone man vegan, and now her best friend made it seem as though it was okay with a nice chat every now and again.
"Not anything in particular," Rebekah responded evasively examining her perfect manicure. Caroline doesn't want Rebekah upset when she hears this but she goes for it anyway.
"We already kissed," Caroline blurts out her hands clutching her friends so she doesn't freak out and hit her. "Well, he kissed me but I enjoyed it for like a second. Then he left so I could get dressed."
"I'll kill him, my best friend and my favorite brother," Rebekah hisses her hands squeezing her friends as she process this information denial etched on her face. Then suddenly she smiles widely, "That means the both of you have a date to my wedding and the dance I was planning on doing now has enough people."
"Just like that then? Problem solved?" Caroline yelped looking around to make sure he hasn't heard them she drags Rebekah into a more remote corner spotting him watching her by the back door. Her friend nods happily like it was already a confirmed deal making her nervous, "What if I don't want to?"
"But you will! You must for my wedding," Rebekah proclaims pleadingly, "The wedding. The wedding Caroline," she repeats watching her friend cave at the thought of a perfectly coordinated event. Caroline's body slumped knowing she was already defeated yet again by her inability to let things fall to chaos making her Rebekah feel pretty triumphant.
"Your brother still has to agree," she reasoned with her best friend trying not to sound nervous and excited all at once, "And he didn't seem all that impressed by earlier events involving me," Caroline sighed slightly annoyed about his comment after he kissed her. What the hell did he mean by that?
"You like her more than you're letting on," Katherine remarks catching where his eyes linger after Elijah leaves along with Kol taking his girlfriend's things upstairs after having been caught up on recent events by the other Mikaelson men while he drank she grinned. "Don't even try to deny it, I know that look."
"She's perfect for you. Caroline already loves your art," he gives her a bewildered look. "Rebekah took her to your studio last week where we met." Katherine clarifies grabbing a seared salmon appetizer off of a passing tray.
"Plus Rebekah's the biggest critic and she's friends with her, you've got the family vote." Kat finishes her drink taking his and sipping, "So what's stopping you?"
Kol stops in for a moment dropping his black blazer on a chair before taking a brunette down to the wooden dance floor. "The fact that he loves her," his brother mocks him with a baby voice narrowly missing the napkin thrown at his head. He winks at them as he wraps the girl's arms around him swaying dramatically with the girl who only rolls her eyes laughing at him.
Klaus recognizes her from earlier Miss Bennett, Kat waves a hand in his face drawing his attention once again. Klaus smirks at the thought of her loving his work as he snatches back his drink watching his brother make a fool of himself he asks for refills on both of their glasses, "It seems my brother's let you in on the secret, I'll share one too. I've kissed her and by the way what I felt made me think I should avoid her."
"Why's that? Bad breath? Or a pair of damn good lips?" she asks amused as she sips her new drink laughing at the look on his face. He's got it bad. "I'm gonna go with intense which is why you're hiding in the corner instead of being the smooth stud you pretended you were when we met."
"I'll have you know that you're not my type," Klaus says finishing off his drink and placing it down on the table behind them as they stand. The day coming to a close soon he loosens his tie letting out a few buttons and taking off his blazer.
"I'll drink to that," Elijah remarks clicking his glass with Katherine, "Cheers," they say in unison making Klaus smile at their familiarity. He wants that with someone one day. His eyes widen when the words enter his mind his eyes setting on Caroline outside smiling at him from the doorway.
"Wanna know something funny? I think I'm more nervous with him not around than when he is." Caroline admits to Rebekah almost guiltily. "But I don't think he likes me all that much. Is he always so closed off?" his sister shakes her head making Caroline bite her lip.
"Because of what he said after he kissed you?" Rebekah waves that off, "Are you mad? He's practically in love with you already!" her best friend assures her making Caroline more uncertain not just on his front but her own. What if it didn't work out? What if it did? Did she want a relationship or a friendship?
"I'll take care of it, as usual I have to do everything," Caroline rolls her eyes as Bekah speaks she turns her back before she realizes what her words entail.
Her hands wrap around one of Rebekah's arms pulling her back forcefully holding her in place. "No! He can't know about any of this," she complains waving her hands in the air.
"Just ask if he wants to be in the dance and have me as his partner. Nothing and I repeat nothing else will be said." Caroline asserts frazzled by her friend's intrusion on her love life going back and forth on it.
Hours ago Rebekah thought Caroline wasn't strong enough for another relationship and now she was handing her over to her older brother. She groans knowing Bekah was going to do what made Bekah most happy but she had to try, "Nothing else," she makes Rebekah say with her.
As Rebekah slips into the crowd spinning in the middle of the dance floor looking back at her to wink and Caroline huffed knowing she's going to tell him everything she quickly looks around for a place to hide. She looks to her right spotting the water behind the white fence she looks for an exit that way.
"Nik, I need a word about this weekend," Rebekah affirms diplomatically interrupting his drinks with Kol and Elijah. She takes his filled glass leaving him to follow with one the waiter brought by for Kol making his younger brother whine when he takes it off the tray.
"What is it with everyone stealing my drinks tonight," he rejoinders bothered as he stops short in front of her waving at Matt as she kisses his cheek. Rebekah smiles happily at her brother as her fiancé leaves them to have a private moment."Well?"
"I just wanted to tell you that Caroline's your dance partner in the couples dance at my wedding reception so you should brush up on your skills tonight." Rebekah returned as if bored with their conversation already.
"Why the sudden change?" Klaus asks curious why his sister was forcing Caroline on him after what happened that afternoon. Why did people keep telling him to go to the beautiful blonde and now it was for him to dance with her. Not that he was complaining because he really wanted to hold her again.
"Because the damage has already been done, you kissed her. Now you both can move forward," Rebekah drops the bomb on him her eyes dancing with laughter at his shell-shocked face. She waits for him to react which takes him a moment almost as if he thinks she should have killed him by now.
"She's told you then," he asks sincerely once the wheels in his head begin to turn again interested in what both Caroline and his sister had to say about it he looks around finding her by their old tree house. "What would you have me do?"
"First apologize for being an ass and making her doubt herself. Which is the main reason I asked you to avoid her in the first place." his sister stresses. "Caroline's last boyfriend left her nearly destroyed. I didn't want you two meeting until I was sure you both could handle being with other people."
"You of all people know why I am the way I am Bekah," Klaus insists his hand waving in the air like he's about to conduct an orchestra. "I don't want another woman to come into my life and disappear again when it doesn't work out."
"Then ask her to dance while you're at it explain your comment because she's confused and it's not my place to say you want to marry her already." Rebekah feels her brother's hand in hers squeeze tightly at her joking making her wince until he lets go.
"I do not, you know I don't have time for stuff like this," Klaus insists growing flustered with every moment his sister is present quickly letting her hand go. "I'm not good with feelings, I'm grumpy all the time and I don't want that to affect her or what she thinks of me."
"But that's the best part! You two can be friends and see what grows from there, but as far as I can tell she wants more than a friendship with you after what you did." Rebekah tells him almost disgusted by the thought of his brother being desirable to other women.
"I love you," Klaus unexpectedly says kissing his baby sister on the cheek over her brilliant observation. He looks around the nearly crowded backyard as the party started to get going but he couldn't find her anywhere.
He moved away from his little sister to go find Caroline but he felt her hand wrap around his wrist he gave her a side look. "She's by the lake," his sister informs him his hand sliding into her she squeezes reassuringly before letting go Klaus waves her off before leaving.
He has no idea what just happened he just knows he'll figure it out when he sees her.
Klaus stops at the end of the yard by the bar taking to glasses of champagne for them both he then maneuvered his way through the gate separating the yard from the waterfront.
Her powder blue party dress was a sight from behind as he walked down the small hill her back facing him still unaware. "Caroline," he said drawing her attention to him making her spin around looking away from the water leaning against the railing of the dock.
She tilted her head smiling at him, his breath caught in his throat at the sight, he was so confused but he masked it with a small smile and a point of his glass to her.
She waved him over a look of skepticism crossing her features as he drew nearer he stepped on the dock pausing for a moment. She really was a sight to behold waiting for him to come to her he felt a little intimidated his palms beginning to sweat he swallowed a nervous gulp and stepped forward.
The drinks nearly slipped from his hands she came over taking it from his hands before he could drop either one her hands clasping one of the glasses. It was like his blood came alive by the look on her face she had felt it too her eyes make him tremble with delight.
Caroline felt her hand burn as she took the glass from him it felt unfamiliar but she smiled intrigued by this man she stuttered out, "I don't know what Rebekah's told you." just as he started to say something as well.
He spoke over her at the same time his hand coming to rest on her warm shoulder, "I think we should ignore Bekah and just start over." Klaus laughs as she does his thumb running across her skin making her stop he doesn't realize it's him that has made her do so.
He looks around confusing her, it was only them out here the first time they had been alone in hours her mind raced. She froze after all these people left she would be here in a practically empty house alone with Klaus until morning. A lot could happen in that time, "We should start over," she agrees.
He nods his dimples appearing when he smiles he extends his hand to her once more, "I'm Niklaus Mikaelson, older brother." His eyes shot through her waiting for her to respond to him her hand coming out with a confidence that didn't match her eyes.
"Caroline Forbes, Maid of Honor." she gives him a dazzling smile or at least she hopes so as she sips her drink mirroring is action their hands still clasped together.
The music begins again and she feels him tug on her she moves forward and he spins her. Klaus catches her in his embrace pulling her closer than necessary his mouth lingering by her ear she takes a moment as he overwhelms her.
Caroline's hands are on his arms glass in one hand and her feet close to his unmoving as they began to sway. "I've decided to take a chance on what could happen," he whispers into her ear sending tingling sensations throughout her body. "On what could go right."
Caroline pulled back her eyes looking into his the late afternoon across the water doing wonders for him. "About earlier," she started before she was cut off his lips gliding across hers his eyes searching hers for a response.
Her lips quirk on one side as she places her glass next to his on the railing he mistakes her moving away for rejection but she pulls him back. "You never let me kiss you back," she protested as one of her hands gripped the loose buttons of his collar the other pulling on his tie to bring him closer almost playing with him.
Caroline felt his panting cover her eyelids before tilting her head to kiss by his Adam's apple then up his jaw towards his lips ever so slowly. Klaus knew she was winding him up deliberately his pulse raced in excitement that she was in control of whether or not they kissed.
The anticipation was too much but he let her have this having already taken from her lips twice before he shut his eyes just as she touched his lips.
AN: Thank you Busterl0ve!
Just wanted to try something else for a second, hope you enjoy! :))