I meant to have this chapter ready two days ago but RL got in the way! Also, I lied about it only being two parts, seeing as I've already written this second one and I still haven't included everything I wanted :-\ I can't believe I thought I could fit everything in a one-shot o_O There will be a third part and hopefully this time it won't take me a week to get it done!
The following is fluff-heavy with a dash of sexiness... you've been warned! ;) Enjoy & happy readings!
PART II: CITY OF WATER
Venice was the epitome of grandeur and beauty. The canals ran all across the city, who's landmarks and structures were built entirely over water. Caroline's eyes wandered all over the place, unable to focus on one specific thing, her mouth slightly parted in awe as she studied the astounding architecture. She felt like she was in a Shakespearean play, surrounded by the sounds and smells of the Old World. Klaus watched her in silence, relishing in her elation. She stood under one of the arches of the Rialto Bridge, watching the water move below her feet. A gondola carrying a couple floated by, she could hear them expressing their content and whispering loving things to each other. Honeymooner, she thought, as she inadvertently smiled at the sight of their evident joy.
"Would you like to take a tour of the city, love?" She turned around to see Klaus standing a few feet behind her with a few shopping bags in hand, he was leaning against one of the bridge's posts.
Kol had gone straight home after arriving at the airport, especially after Klaus suggested she should buy a few changes of clothes before getting home. She had fun going from one boutique to another, trying on fashionable attires and shoes, but she didn't want to over do it as to not annoy him.
"Well..." She began.
"Come on, let's go." He said, taking a hold of her hand before she could give him a full response.
They walked a few blocks away from the main street and found a gondolier who didn't seem to be busy. He wore the traditional black pants, striped shirt, and straw hat. Klaus greeted him in Italian and chatted with him for a little while, as Caroline looked on, trying to figure out what he was saying. She was impressed by how effortlessly he expressed himself. After a few minutes, he climbed on the gondola and extended his hand to her, helping her on board. Once again, she found herself consumed by the excitement she felt in her chest and the way her stomach seemed to do flips whenever he touched her or looked at her with such intensity.
They sat down on the surprisingly comfortable red cushioned seats. Caroline turned her head, watching the gondolier start to paddle through the water and at the same time begin to carry a tune. They floated on the back canals of the city, it was quiet, as night began to descend upon them. The amber colored lights reflected off the surface of the water as the sky slowly went from blue to a dark purple with swirls of pink. If the city was beautiful during the day, at night time it looked like something out of a dream. There was no denying Venice was a place for lovers; it was the perfect setting for romance. Klaus leaned in closer, talking about the architecture and the landmarks. Caroline smiled and nodded in between oooohs and aaaahs. She had only been there one day and was already enamored with Italy. The gondolier began speaking, and Caroline huffed in frustration, wishing she knew a tiny bit of Italian to understand what he was saying. Learning new languages was definitely going on her priorities list. Klaus smiled wide before replying.
"What did he say?" She asked, narrowing her eyes with curiosity.
"He says it's tradition to kiss every time we pass under a bridge." He stated, tilting his head slightly, that intense gaze on her eyes again.
Caroline began feeling short of breath as she noticed the bridge approaching them in the distance. She swallowed hard as her insides made her feel like she was in a roller coaster ride.
"Oh." She smiled nervously as she turned to look the other direction, shutting her eyes for a second.
"Don't worry, love. Only couples do it, it's believed to make their love last forever." He said, staring at the passing buildings.
The bridge became increasingly larger as they floated closer to it. Caroline inhaled deeply, shifting her eyes to look at Klaus without turning her head. The sky was now completely black, with the exception of the big white moon that glimmered above them. Shades of orange and gold adorned the side of the buildings as the gondola became covered by the darkness being cast over the water by the bridge. Caroline turned her body slightly and without thinking it twice, grabbed a hold of Klaus' face and lightly brushed her lips against his. Once, twice, three times, she nipped at his upper lip before releasing him. He looked at her, surprised and speechless.
"Why break tradition? Right?" She said as calmly as possible, even though her insides were ablaze.
Klaus smiled and nodded, looking into her eyes and then at her soft pink lips. It wasn't long before they came across another bridge, to which Caroline laughed, looking at him suspiciously.
"Did you specifically ask for the route with the most bridges or something?" She teased, as she swiped her hair from her eyes.
"I had nothing to do with it. I swear." He replied earnestly.
She kissed him, not because they were in love but because if there was ever going to be something remotely close to that between them, she didn't want to curse it. Caroline had never been superstitious but why take the chance of dooming eternal love? They both knew very well they weren't a couple. They had never been close to being in a relationship in the first place; things had always been a mess between them. Her feelings had always been foggy and she had denied any sort of attraction towards him over and over, never allowing herself to even consider him a possible suitor. She would've never thought that his words would eventually ring true. Now she was here, in one of the most romantic cities in the world, sitting in a gondola with a singing gondolier guiding them through narrow canals and kissing him under bridges.
They began slowing down until they reached a small little dock next to one of the most amazing buildings she had seen so far. Klaus got off first, once again, taking a hold of her hand and carefully helping her out of the gondola.
"Buona sera!" The gondolier said, flashing a smile at Caroline as he lightly tipped his hat. Klaus replied with the same phrase and she smiled wide, reciprocating it.
She looked up at the building in front of them in awe of its splendor. It was perfectly symmetrical and was beautifully decorated with tall columns and semi-circular arches, squared glass windows ran across in rows; it looked like a palace fit for a king.
"Welcome home..." Klaus said vibrantly, walking up the steps towards the door.
"Seriously?" She asked, her eyes as wide as the moon.
"Don't get too used to it, we'll be moving soon. I can't imagine Rebekah being too pleased to find out about you." He replied.
"Oh yes, how could I forget about your lovely sister, such a delight!" Caroline said sarcastically.
Klaus smiled, opening the door to the mansion. The marble floor was neatly polished and embellished with a gorgeous mahogany and caramel design. Her heels clinked against it as she walked, her eyes wandered about, admiring the paintings and artwork on the walls. Large crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, giving the room a glamorous luminous atmosphere. She took small steps until she reached the living room, and turned back to look at Klaus who was still a few steps behind her. She was beaming at the sight of the elegant decor and chestnut furniture. She stepped on the plush maroon carpet, noticing a fireplace on the far end.
Caroline walked around silently into another section of the home. Large shelves, with rows and rows of books filled the walls and in the corner there was a small seating area; it looked relaxing and perfect for getting lost in the pages of a book. Two large windows gave a clear view of the canal outside.
As she reached the next room, with Klaus close behind, the sound of the TV grew louder and louder. She peeked in slowly, to find Kol sprawled across the couch, his hands locked behind his head and his feet crossed, over one of the cushions.
"Welcome!" He chimed, as he came to a seated position.
"This must be the man cave." Caroline noted, smiling as she looked around the room.
It was definitely the fun area of the home. It was more spacious than the other two rooms and not only did it have a large entertainment system with surround sound but also a full bar and a pool table. She could tell Kol liked spending a lot of time here.
"Rebekah called, said she wouldn't be home until tomorrow. How did we get stuck with such a floozy for a sister?" He asked his brother, with a smirk on his face. Klaus only shook his head and crinkled his forehead.
"What about Elijah?"
"He's around, I'm sure he'll be back later tonight." He replied, turning his attention back to the television.
"Let me show you to your room." Klaus told Caroline, as he lightly placed his hand on her arm.
They walked towards the staircase, which split into two different directions at the top. She held on to the wooden railing when she got to last step, waiting for him to tell her where to go next.
"You're room's to the right." He said with a smile, "Don't worry, Rebekah's room is on the complete opposite end." Caroline grinned as she continued to the right.
There was a long hallway, they passed four different doors before they reached her bedroom. She opened the door and smiled as she stepped foot inside. The four-post bed was large enough to fit six people and was covered in a thick deep purple and gold comforter with a mountain of pillows at the head. The curtains were of the same color and the furniture was made of a deep chocolate wood. She walked towards the window and parted the curtains, releasing a loud sigh as she took in the beauty of the city in front of her eyes.
"It's perfect." She said, her expression displaying the joy she was feeling inside.
"I'm glad you like it. I should probably leave you to rest now. Good night, Caroline." He said, placing the shopping bags on her bed.
"Good night and thank you." She replied as she watched him walk out of the room. He hadn't closed the door completely when a thought came to her mind.
"Wait!" She exclaimed, as he peered his head back inside, "Where's your room?" She asked shyly, "You know, just in case I need anything." She explained as she stood in front of the door.
He smiled and pointed down the hall, "Second door."
She nodded, closing the door slowly as she watched him make his way down the hall.
Caroline rummaged through the shopping bags, the next morning, trying to figure out what to wear for the day. The weather seemed nice and warm, so she decided on a pair of khaki shorts and a white sleeveless blouse. Her slender fingers ran through her hair as she twirled the strands to make her waves more pronounced. She sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection, her skin was as youthful as it had been many years ago. The rosy appearance of her cheeks hadn't changed at all and not a single line marked her face. The pools of blue in her eyes remained intact even after all the crying and suffering she'd experienced throughout the years. Caroline knew she would forever look this way, never having to worry about growing old, becoming wrinkly, or developing weird age spots. Being a vampire wasn't entirely a curse but also a blessing, she smiled to herself as she finished getting ready.
She leaned over the window sill, watching the city come to life with people. Her mind drifted off to that night when she left Mystic Falls. The whole chain of events that followed were based on her decision to stick by Tyler's side. She didn't know better, she was mentally too young and naive to realize that things wouldn't always be sunshine and rainbows between them. Caroline still couldn't believe she let herself get wrapped up in a lifestyle that only made her miserable. Where did all her strength and independence go? She could've made it on her own but instead allowed herself to be manipulated into thinking she was worthless and deserved what she was getting. She took a deep breath and pushed herself away from the window, refusing to let herself become consumed with melancholy.
The hall was quiet, her footsteps inaudible over the carpet. She passed Klaus' bedroom, eyeing it for a second before continuing downstairs. She turned the corner towards the dining room area and stopped when she heard Rebekah's voice resonating from the room.
"Tell me what it is, Kol!" She sounded a bit annoyed and Caroline could tell her brother had been messing with her for probably quite a while now.
"Why? It's not my surprise to spoil! Wait for Nik to get here, he'll tell you." Kol replied, his voice accompanied by the sound of a fork coming in contact with a plate.
Caroline stood there, motionless, not knowing if she should walk in or wait for Klaus to get there. Apparently he wasn't home and frankly she was a bit afraid of how Rebekah would react to her presence. She heard the sound of heavy footsteps entering the room.
"Do you two do anything else besides argue all the time?" Caroline recognized the voice belonging to Elijah.
A few seconds later another pair of footsteps made its presence known.
"Nik! Kol said you have a surprise for me. What is it?" Rebekah asked with a tone of excitement.
There was silence that caused Caroline to cease her breathing, afraid to be overheard. After a few seconds she began taking small steps towards the dining room, freezing as she reached the doorway. She figured Rebekah would find out eventually, might as well get it over with. She stepped under the doorway, taking note of the blonde sitting on the table. The clank of her fork hitting the plate as she dropped it, was the only audible sound.
"What is she doing here?" Rebekah stood up, looking at Klaus with eyes like daggers.
An obvious smirk appeared on Kol's face as he placed his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his hands. Caroline raised an eyebrow at him, all he needed was a bowl of popcorn to enhance his viewing experience.
"Rebekah, that's no way to treat a guest." Klaus said sternly.
"But this is my house too Nik! You can't just bring anyone here without asking first!" The blonde was definitely not happy, she stood up, placing her hands on the table as she looked at Caroline with narrowed eyes.
"So did you like the surprise?" Kol asked, looking over at his sister.
"Shut up, Kol!" Rebekah fumed, throwing her napkin at his face.
Elijah stood in the background, quietly observing everything without interrupting. He always seemed to be the pacifist of the family, not to say he couldn't be as ruthless as the rest of them. However, there was a kindness to him and a good-hearted nature that Caroline couldn't deny. It was no wonder Elena had vouched for him so many times before. He noticed she was looking in his direction and acknowledged her with a slight nod, his lips faintly curving up to form a smile. She smiled back at him, before turning her attention back to the sibling confrontation taking place over the dining table.
"We'll only be here a few days until I finish making arrangements to move into the new house." Klaus explained, trying to calm his sister down.
"This is ridiculous, she wanders back into your life after all these years and you immediately forget about your family." She muttered as she walked out of the dining room, knocking over her chair in the process.
Caroline let out a loud sigh. "Well, that actually went a lot better than I expected." She said calmly, "I really thought she'd try to kick me out. Literally."
Kol went back to eating his breakfast and Klaus looked at her warmly, "How did you sleep?"
"Wonderful! Thank you." She replied, still feeling a bit awkward about the whole situation.
"Rebekah can be childish at times but I'm fairly certain your presence will help." Elijah finally spoke, taking a few steps towards her. "She'll soon realize the benefits of having another woman around. I have a feeling that deep down she might even long for that kind of interaction."
"Very deep down..." Caroline said under her breath.
"Well, it was very nice seeing you again Caroline, but I must get going now. There are things that require my attention." Elijah smiled, excusing himself.
"Going on another one of your little expeditions? Still pining over the one who got away, I see." Klaus shot a look of disapproval at his brother. "Katerina still has you wrapped around his finger after all these years."
"You're the last person who should be lecturing me about unrequited love, Niklaus." Elijah replied, shifting his gaze between his brother and Caroline.
"Ok... this conversation has officially become a snoozefest." Kol announced, leaving the table, "I'm gonna go find myself something more entertaining to do." He walked out of the dining room. Elijah once again excused himself, leaving them alone.
Caroline took a seat on the table pondering over the conversation. Klaus' eyes were fixated on her as he remained standing, his arm leaning over one of the chair's backrest. Unrequited love was one way to put it, although things weren't quite the way they used to be between her and Klaus now.
"I want to show you something." He said, breaking the silence that had taken over.
Caroline followed him, as he guided her up the stairs and into one of the rooms that was in the same hallway as hers. They opened the door to his studio, pieces of artwork were scattered all over the place along with drawings and every piece of utensil imaginable, necessary to create a masterpiece. She stopped to admire his work.
"This way." He said, calling her over.
She approached him, noticing there was another staircase hiding behind a large bookcase. They swiftly walked up what seemed like three flights of stairs until they came to a door that opened up to the roof of the building. Caroline walked out, taking a note of the giant swimming pool and the lounge chairs along each side. She could see the whole city from there, it made her feel liberated and peaceful.
"Feel free to come up here any time you want. Make the most of it while we're still here," he began, "I promise you'll love the new house as much, if not more than this one." He said, with a smile.
His eyes exuded an electrifying gaze, Caroline could practically feel them on her. They were the most captivating shade of blue, and always seemed to display a hint of dolefulness. There was no denying that he was handsome, she quite enjoyed the scruff on his face, and the way his lips trembled when he was in deep thought. Little butterflies formed in her stomach as she thought of the taste and feel of his mouth on hers.
Klaus always treated her with respect, never wanting to do anything without her consent. They had kissed the night before and ever since then he hadn't brought it up or tried to do it again. She was pretty convinced that he wouldn't take such actions unless she took the initiative. I guess this was the way it was going to be. He saved her, which meant the ball was now in her court, apparently.
"When are we leaving?" She asked, studying the scenery.
"Everything should be ready by the beginning of next week." He replied, "You'll have to deal with Rebekah for a little while longer, love."
She smiled at the word. The thought of dealing with his sister for a few days wasn't even something that bothered her. She knew when to remain civilized and take the high road.
They spent the rest of the day sight-seeing; Klaus took her to one of the city's most famous art museums. She was truly impressed by his knowledge and ability to critique the various paintings in the exhibit. Caroline could tell he was really passionate about art, it was obvious in the way he articulated his words. There were times when she found herself distracted by his facial expressions, making his words sound muffled. The embarrassment of getting caught more than once made her realize she had to pay more attention to what he was saying and less to the reactions he arose in her.
They returned home later that evening to an empty home. After a few glasses of wine and small chat by the fireplace, they both decided to call it a night. Caroline parted ways to her bedroom and slipped under the warm covers, thinking back to the day's events with smile on her face.
There she was again, a large crowd of men salivating, looking at her like she was the main course. Caroline felt ashamed and filthy just watching them. They laughed and whispered into each other's ears, pointing at her as they pulled money out of their wallets.
"It's just you and me now, Caroline." Tyler's voice echoed around her. "I'm all you have left."
A strong sense of overpowering despair took over her as she tried to scream, her throat closing up on her, preventing any sound from coming out. She looked down at the shiny floor of the stage, her face reflected back at her with tears streaming down her face.
Caroline woke up in a night sweat, out of breath and with her heart pounding so hard it was threatening to leap right out of her chest.
"You're fine, love. It was only a dream." Klaus was sitting right beside her and she instinctively wrapped her arms around him without hesitation. His hand gently stroked her hair as he held her close to his chest. "I heard you screaming, thought that maybe you were in some sort of trouble."
"It felt so real." She stammered, still holding on to him.
"Whatever it was, just remember you're safe here, sweetheart." He said warmly.
It wasn't until she was fully calm that she noticed he was shirtless, wearing only a pair of flannel pants. Caroline felt the firmness of his chest pressed up against the side of her face and his strong defined arms wrapped around her. Her breathing became uneasy again, this time for completely different reasons. She slowly distanced herself from him as she rested her head back on the pillow.
"Stay until I fall asleep?" She asked timidly, curling up on her side.
Klaus leaned back against the headboard, straightening his legs over the bed. "Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want."
Caroline closed her eyes, attempting to fall back asleep but his scent clouded her thoughts. She couldn't find the will to doze off, knowing he was there, sitting on her bed half naked. After a few minutes, she moved around a bit, becoming even more restless as her efforts to fall asleep continuously failed.
"What's wrong love? Having trouble falling asleep?" He whispered as he slid down onto the pillow next to her. He came to rest on his side, only a few inches from Caroline's face. "If the memories are too much... I can make you forget." He spoke quietly, his sweet warm breath caressing her face.
"No." She replied softly, "I need to remember. It's the only way I can come out of this stronger." They stared at each other in silence as he nodded, understanding her decision.
"Klaus..." she murmured.
"Hmmm?" He replied, watching her intently.
"Whatever I want?" Caroline asked, causing him to furrow his eyebrows in confusion. "You said you'd do whatever I wanted."
"Oh, yeah. Why? Is there something you need me to do?" He asked, starting to lift himself up.
"No." She replied, placing her hand on his arm and pulling him back onto the pillow. "But I do know what I want..." She purred.
Caroline closed the gap between them, her lips latching hungrily onto his. She kissed him with such fervor that it even surprised her. A warm feeling invaded the pit of her stomach as a jolt of excitement spread throughout her body. She didn't know how it was possible for him to taste even better than the first time, but he did. She ran her hand over his bare back as she granted his tongue access to her mouth. Klaus had been dying to kiss her this way, with unfettered passion. He slid lower on the bed, his fingers pulled the strap of her night gown off her shoulder as he placed soft kisses over it. His lips traced a path along her collarbone and chest before settling on her neck. His hand glided over her side, carefully taking in her figure, before gently kneaded the back of her leg. He continued his trajectory higher up her thigh, her leg laced over his hip as his hand slid underneath her gown. He could feel and hear how heavy she was breathing as he ran his tongued over her neck. A tiny moan escaped Caroline's lips when she felt his other hand wrap around her breast. Her moment of bliss was disrupted by his abrupt decision to pull away from her.
"I'm sorry love, I don't want to take advantage of the situation." He said, rubbing his hand over his face. "You had a rough night and it's probably better if we both get some rest." He concluded, sliding off the bed and coming to his feet.
Caroline didn't say anything. She was still reeling from the many emotions she was experiencing. She simply nodded with a disappointed look on her face. Klaus walked away and she couldn't help noticing he'd also gotten a bit excited during their little exchange. She smiled to herself, proud of her accomplishment.
"You're really testing my patience, Nik." Rebekah snapped back, standing with her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at both Klaus and Caroline who were sitting on the couch.
"She needs a new wardrobe. I'm sure you'd be of better assistance than me." Klaus simpered.
Rebekah looked at Caroline with one eyebrow raised, "You've never been to a runway show before, have you?" She asked in a condescending tone.
"Nope." Caroline replied, "Look Rebekah, I know we've never seen eye-to-eye but if it makes you feel any better, this will be the only time you'll have to do this for me. You won't have to see me after this weekend." She concluded.
"Come on, do it for me?" Klaus asked with a pleading look.
"Fine." She conceded, examining her nails with a childish pout on her face. Caroline and Klaus both smiled at each other.
The car ride to Milan was almost three hours. The first couple being painfully silent and awkward. Caroline looked out the window, admiring the scenery rushing past them. She'd only ever watched a runway show when they featured it on entertainment news, so she was definitely thrilled to see the latest fashion trends in person. She moved her leg around anxiously, hoping to pass a sign announcing their close proximity to the city.
"Do you have to go to the bathroom or something?" Rebekah asked, giving her restless leg a quick glance.
Caroline stopped. "No, I'm just excited." She replied, smiling at the blonde in the driver seat.
Rebekah looked over at her, pursing her lips before relenting a faint smile. "I always have to come alone to these things," she paused, "my brothers hate it. I brought Kol once and all he was interested in was getting to know the models." Caroline laughed, not at all surprised.
"Yeah, well, guys do tend to not be very fond of shopping in general." She said sympathetically.
The car once again became smothered in silence as Caroline returned her gaze to the window and Rebekah focused on the road ahead. After a few minutes of driving the Original broke the stillness once again.
"Kol told me you were working as a waitress at a nightclub." There was a tone to her voice that made Caroline feel like she wanted to know more.
"Actually..." She paused for a moment, trying to decide if telling Rebekah the truth was a good idea or the worst mistake she could make.
"What? Isn't that how Nik found you?" She asked with curiosity.
"It was at a club, if you will, but mainly for males. And I wasn't working as a waitress." She looked away, taking another long pause. "I took quite the downfall after leaving Mystic Falls." Caroline muttered in pauses, feeling a bit ashamed by her confession.
"You were a dancer?" Rebekah asked, astonished by her revelation. "Why?" She probed further.
"Because... I made stupid decisions, that's why." She replied.
Caroline spent the rest of the trip talking about everything that had happened. She shared the horrors of having to put up with crude and vulgar men, something only Rebekah as a woman, could grasp. She was surprisingly understanding and Caroline got the sense that she was even displaying signs of empathy. It felt good to be able to speak to someone without having to worry about them trying to seek revenge on her behalf. She appreciated Klaus' concern but sometimes it felt like she had to downplay things in order to avoid him getting angry. After a while the topic shifted into something lighter. They even shared a few laughs, remembering the feuds they had, neither of them actually finding a good enough reason for them in the first place.
"Why are you trusting me with this?" Rebekah questioned her motives.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't have many people to talk to anymore." Caroline said.
"I know what you mean." She replied, realizing that they had more things in common than not.
The two blondes sat in the front row, usually reserved for celebrities and fashion icons. They watched as the models strode down the catwalk, they were all so thin, sulking at every step, stopping only briefly to pose for the cameras.
Rebekah leaned over and whispered. "I forgot to mention, Nik said to make sure you pick an evening dress. Didn't say why."
Caroline raised her eyebrows inquisitively and nodded. She smiled to herself, wondering what kind of plans Klaus had in store for her.
They saw everything from Dolce & Gabbana to Versace and Gucci. Caroline fell in love with many of the outfits, especially a gorgeous emerald evening dress, she was sure Klaus would love as well. As Rebekah explained, the advantage of being a vampire was that they didn't have to wait months to get the clothes they liked, it was as simple as compelling a few people to get what they wanted the same day.
"If they say you can't purchase a specific item, just do your thing. It works every time." The blonde explained as Caroline looked around at the various outfits. "And if you need any help, just ask." She offered.
A few sessions of compulsion later, which Caroline was sure would result in the firing of a few employees, they both walked out with their hands full of shopping bags. It was already late in the evening and neither of them had eaten anything the whole day. Rebekah spotted a young handsome man, standing all alone next to a statue in the plaza. She smirked devilishly as she walked in his direction and Caroline knew exactly what she was intending to do.
"I'll wait here." She said, taking a seat on a bench.
"Caroline, you're a vampire." She lowered her voice. "Look at it as a lion eating a zebra, except we're not actually going to kill him. That's just how the food chain works, you can't fight it."
Caroline looked at her unconvinced. She'd never liked the idea of just using humans for blood supply, even if it was necessary for them to survive. There were other ways of getting their hands on blood that didn't require sinking their fangs into anyone's neck.
"Ok, well then just think of me as a vegetarian of sorts. Or think of this way, I like eating my burger without having to kill the cow." She explained with a smirk on her face.
"You're so odd." Rebekah replied, placing her bags on the bench. "I'll be back shortly." She said, walking away towards her unsuspecting victim.
They arrived home close to midnight and Caroline ran directly to the fridge, scavenging for food.
"Eat all the food you want but it won't do much for your hunger." Rebekah said, watching her pull out a container with leftover pasta.
"It'll help." Caroline replied, throwing it into the microwave.
Klaus walked into the kitchen, noticing they both had their share of shopping bags. "I'm glad to see my sister brought you back in one piece." He said to Caroline, glancing over at Rebekah with narrowed eyes.
"Well I knew I'd have to suffer your wrath otherwise." His sister replied with pursed lips. "I'm going to bed, it's been an exhausting day." She said, walking out of the kitchen. A few seconds later she peered her head back inside, "she's not so bad." She simply stated before finally leaving.
Klaus turned around, giving her a complacent look. "Did she really just say that about you?" Caroline nodded with a smile, her mouth full of food.
He chuckled, finding her gesture endearing. "I have something for you." He said, asking her to follow.
He walked her into the entertainment room and pointed to a small fridge behind the bar. Caroline widened her eyes as she pulled on the handle. It was filled with a large supply of blood bags and she grabbed one, holding it up against her face.
"Thank you so much!" She exclaimed, eagerly ripping a hole on the top.
"I can't say it was an easy feat to get a hold of so many but Kol helped." He said with a smile.
"Well I greatly appreciate it and I'll be sure to thank Kol when I see him." She said, sipping on the fluid.
After getting her fill and telling Klaus all about her trip to Milan, they both walked up the stairs and headed towards their rooms.
"Look, about last night..." She began.
"Don't worry about it, love. You were feeling vulnerable, I understand." He contended.
"No. I mean yes, but that's not why I kissed you." Caroline remarked with a sullen expression. He raised his eyebrows, waiting for her to continue. "I... feel..." her voice trailed off, as she stumbled over her words, "You make me feel certain things that I haven't felt in a very long time." She admitted.
Klaus didn't know how to respond. He was thrilled with the idea of her having feelings for him but at the same time he was afraid she was confusing her gratitude for something else.
"Look I'm completely capable of recognizing my own feelings. I'm not, by any means, confusing things." She said, almost as if she had read his mind.
He smiled at her, trusting her words. "Ok, let me take you out on a real date then and if you still feel the same after that, then we can talk." He countered.
A grin split across her face. "Deal!"
"I have tickets for the theater tomorrow. I was already planning on taking you, but we'll do things a bit differently now." He smirked. "Good night, love."
"Good night," she replied quietly, placing a lingering kiss at the corner of his mouth, before retiring to her room.
"Where are you going, all dressed up?" Kol teased, as he gave his brother a once-over.
"I'm taking Caroline to the theater." He replied, as he took a seat on the couch by the stairs.
"Have you two seriously not done it already?" He asked shocked. "You practically undress each other with your eyes whenever you're in close proximity."
"Not everyone's like you, Kol. Some people like to get to know each other before jumping into bed."
They heard the front door shut closed as Rebekah strolled in casually. "What?" She asked, eyeing her brothers with suspicion.
"Nothing, just giving Nik some pointers. He has a date tonight." Kol announced.
"Oh, going out with Caroline, I presume. You two really have to stop with this charade. You can practically cut the tension between you with a knife." She said. Kol raised his hands up, in a victory stance.
"What did I say?" He leaned into his brother, invading his personal space. Klaus rolled his eyes, ignoring them both.
"Anyway, I just came back to change. I have somewhere to be tonight." Rebekah said with a smirk as she ran up to her room.
"Am I the only one not doing anything this evening? I really need to get myself a lady friend." Kol grunted. His eyes suddenly shot up to the top of the stairs as he whistled in a flattering manner.
Klaus stood up, noticing Caroline walking down towards him. She was dressed in the short halter top emerald dress she had purchased in Milan. It was fitted to a T and was flattering to her body shape; she had curves in all the right places. He stared at her in awe, her hair was parted at the side, falling in waves over her bare shoulders. The color of the dress made her eyes stand out even more and they seemed to sparkle along with her sultry pink lips. Caroline smiled as she finally reached him.
"You look stunning." He muttered, not taking his eyes off of her for one second.
"Thank you." She grinned.
Kol cleared his throat, "You look very beautiful, Caroline. Hope you two have fun this evening." He wiggled his eyebrows.
Caroline shook her head, blushing at his comment. "Thank you, Kol. And also, thank you for helping Klaus out with the blood bags. That was very sweet of you." She said warmly.
"Well, I did most of the work." Klaus chimed in, feeling a bit neglected. Caroline found it adorable that he was acting a little jealous.
"It was very thoughtful of you." She said to him with a smile.
"Ok, that's definitely my queue." Kol announced, heading up the stairs. "Have fun!" He reiterated before disappearing down the hall.
It had been an amazing evening. The theatre, the stroll around the square, and the romantic candlelit dinner had left Caroline feeling like she was on cloud nine. She couldn't believe how sweet and charming Klaus truly was. It was almost impossible to believe he could be capable of wreaking havoc, what with those cute dimples and lovable smile of his.
She couldn't remember the last time she had been treated like this. He couldn't seem to stop looking at her, of course she couldn't deny the stunning dress she was wearing might have helped. It was those coy glances they gave each other that made the tension between them so much stronger. They shared smirks, as if they were both trying to conceal a big secret.
They had both drank plenty of wine. Any other person would have passed out after consuming that much but they barely felt its effects. They arrived at the house past midnight. A very dim light in one of the bedrooms alerted them that tonight, they weren't alone. He slipped the key in and unlocked the door, allowing her to walk in first. Caroline slipped off her heels and walked barefoot over the marble floor, carefully going up the stairs as to not disturb whoever was home. They both stopped when they got to Klaus' door.
"Thank you for a wonderful night. It was one of the best ones I've ever had." Caroline said in a low voice.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was definitely one of the best I've had as well." He replied.
"Yeah..." She said, giving him a coquettish look.
They both stood there in silence, sharing glances and smiling awkwardly. One minute they were ready to part ways, the next Caroline had her legs wrapped around his hips like a koala climbing a tree. Klaus supported her weight by placing his hands under her rear, digging his fingers to gently massage her curves. Their lips were busy, lost in each other's taste. They crashed into his door, causing a loud thump to resonate through the hall. Klaus grabbed on to the door handle with one hand, still kissing her fiercely. The door swung open as he stumbled inside, slamming the door shut behind them.
They fell on the bed, his body crashing on top of her as their lips continued to wrap around each other. Caroline's hands hurriedly undid his shirt and pants. And Klaus worked on getting the dress off her body, accidentally tearing its side in the process. Their naked bodies pressed against each other, the friction causing the heat in Caroline's center to intensify and Klaus' hardness to grow. She could feel the moisture building up between her legs as his length rubbed up against her.
They were both aching to be closer as their desire raged on without restrain. Klaus filled her up completely and Caroline couldn't help moaning and whimpering as he felt him move inside her. His hands latched on to her breasts, grazing the nipples with his thumbs. They were both enveloped in a frenzy of pleasure and emotions. Their bodies moved in slow and rapid intervals, providing each other with mutual satisfaction. Caroline found herself in a state of euphoria as she climaxed multiple times throughout. Klaus had been waiting to have her like this for so long that it didn't take him long to finish. But even after that, they couldn't seem to get enough and continued reveling in each other for hours, never tiring.
Klaus buried his face in her chest as he thrust into her relentlessly, finally emptying himself inside of her one last time. After they were both fulfilled, he teasingly nipped at her breasts, causing her to laugh and squirm underneath him. He laughed, placing a kiss on her lips as he slowly slipped out of her.
He woke up to his fair haired beauty lying next to him. She was on her stomach, resting peacefully. The sheets only covered the bottom half of her naked body. Her bare back and hips were clearly visible, and he gently ran his finger over her skin, enjoying its softness. He kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"Good morning." She spoke softly, opening her eyes slowly.
"Good morning, love." He replied.
Caroline hoisted herself up, covering her naked body with the sheets as she gave him a flirtatious smile. She stood up, wrapped up in the covers, pulling them off the bed as she walked towards the bathroom.
"Where are you going? Come back over here..." He said, his offering becoming even more tempting when she noticed that she had left him completely naked on the bed.
A surprised look appeared on her face before she burst out in giggles. She let the sheets fall off her body and slowly walked back to him, climbing on the bed and giving in to his request.
It wasn't until late in the afternoon that they managed to step foot downstairs. After having exhausted themselves by taking pleasure in each other, both in bed and in the shower, they figured it was time for them to eat and start packing. Klaus had finalized the deal on the new house and they would be moving there the next day.
Caroline made her way to the bar and opened the fridge, pulling out a cold bag of blood. She looked over at Klaus and tossed him one. He gave her an appreciative gesture, although he preferred his blood warm and straight from the source. Caroline knew that as well and even though she was willing to turn a blind eye if the situation presented itself, she also knew he wouldn't turn down a request as petty as drinking from a blood bag.
They sat on the couch like two kids drinking their Capri Suns, when Rebekah and Kol walked in. The siblings grew silent, only giving each other devilish smirks. Caroline had a feeling their previous encounters hadn't gone unnoticed but she had no idea to what extent. They both walked over to the pool table, prepping it to start playing. Caroline and Klaus continued working on their blood bags.
"Bekah, did I ever tell you about the time I spent at the Stanley Hotel?" Kol asked as he was getting ready to break.
"Isn't that where they filmed that scary movie with Jack Nicholson?" She asked casually, watching his brother hit two striped balls into the pockets.
"The Shining, yeah. I couldn't sleep at all the first night I was there." He said, hitting the cue ball.
Rebekah laughed, "Oh shut up Kol! Since when are you afraid of anything?"
Klaus was already long finished with his blood bag and Caroline was just sucking out the last drops. They looked over at the siblings, wondering where this whole conversation was going, it was definitely odd.
"I'm not. But I had the unfortunate luck of getting a room next to the most rowdy couple!" He looked over at Klaus and then at Caroline, "Have you guys ever tried to sleep while a couple is having sex?" He asked.
Rebekah continued playing, a smug look on her face. "I think we've all been there at least once." She said, after taking her shot. "Don't you guys agree?"
Caroline and Klaus both knew what was going on now. She felt embarrassed that they'd actually heard their exchange. They thought they were being quiet, but I guess that word didn't really exist in the vampire world.
"So this couple, just keeps going and going! I mean, it's continuous! 'aaah yeaaah'... 'ooooh it feels so good, please don't stop!'... it was crazy." Kol said enthusiastically.
Caroline actually found his attempts to imitate their voices quite funny. Klaus stood up, giving his brother a dirty look as the siblings both put down their cues.
"Go on, tell us more about your little story, see how long your tongue stays in your mouth." He said hoarsely, pressing his chest against his brother's. Rebekah stood still, that mischievous look still on display.
"They're just messing with us. There's no reason to start a fight over something like this." Caroline said, walking over to them.
"Well at least she has a sense of humor. Maybe she'll teach you a thing or two, Nik." Kol replied with a smile.
"You two are so childish." He said, shifting his eyes between him and Rebekah.
"And you're such a grump! I think Caroline should take you back upstairs because apparently you didn't get enough." She remarked, widening her eyes when she saw her brother threatening to go after her.
Rebekah ran out of there, her laugh echoing throughout the house. Caroline laughed too; it was amusing to see them bickering like children in a playground. Kol raised up his hands, admitting that he was giving up and walked out of the room just as fast.
"You find this entertaining?" He asked the pretty blonde as she composed herself.
"Yes!" Caroline replied, "I don't think I've ever seen you three act more like siblings before. I'm an only child but I can imagine there would've been the same amount of teasing and fooling around at my house." She admitted. "What's the point of having siblings if you can't poke fun at them every once in a while?" Klaus smiled, realizing she was probably right.
Caroline packed the few belongings she had and then helped Klaus with his things. The new house would have furniture and the necessary appliances but there were items they couldn't leave behind, amongst them was Klaus' collection of paintings. She couldn't imagine how the new house could be any better than the one they lived in now but was very anxious to see it for herself. She would miss looking out her window every morning and not seeing the canals but they weren't moving too far away and she knew they'd visit often.
Klaus' siblings were fun and all but if the previous night's events proved anything, it was that they needed their privacy. Caroline felt like Rebekah and her had made it past a hurdle, thanks to that trip they had taken to Milan, and she was positive that they'd be able to have a closer relationships as time went on.
"Ready for tomorrow, sweetheart?" Klaus asked as he watched tape shut one of the boxes.
"I've never been more ready." She replied with a smile.
Klaus is whipped isn't he? Ugh, I can't help it you guys... he turns into a puppy every time he's around her and I love it so much! And I apologize for only having Elijah in it for like .2 seconds :-\
If you wanna talk Klaroline and squee over that super hot hallway scene (still not over it) or mourn Klaus' desiccation (he'll be back, don't worry...) join me on Tumblr (reedusstew)!
Last but not least: Reviews are very much appreciated! Thank you. xoxo.
