A/N : So a new update. I know I took forever to update but hopefully i'll get the next one up sooner.
I had a bit of a trouble writing this one.
Please pardon the mistakes because no beta.
I hope you all like it. Please review if you did.
CHAPTER 2 :
"What are we doing here?" Caroline surveyed the lingerie store with unease as Klaus sauntered through the aisles confidently. "I merely wanted to know if my green dress was fine for my date tonight?"
"And one look at it told me you needed a makeover from your hair to your underwear." he remarked as he picked up a shocking pink push up bra and put it against her chest as if measuring for her size.
Blushing she pushed his hands away offended by his frankness. Then belatedly realized his comment about her hair. "What's wrong with my hair?"
"Nothing. It's a glorious imitation of a sparrow's nest." he remarked hoping to see that fascinating flash of anger in her eyes that he had come to enjoy. Angry Caroline with a telltale flush in her cheeks was his favorite Caroline.
"Uh. It is not. My hair are fine."
"Fine for a geek who sits in front of a computer all day typing. Not for the femme fatale who has a date with that so called saint Lorenzo." he couldn't prevent that bite in his voice.
"He is a doctor. But you're right he may as well be a saint. He works with underprivileged children." she made an adorable expression which said that she was touched by Enzo's generosity. It irked him.
"Awww. I don't care." he replied, "All I am here for is to make you look fuckably gorgeous so all he can think about is getting inside one of your orifices tonight."
"You are …."
"Disgusting? Love you really need to learn some new words to insult me." Klaus pulled her along with him as he continued to shove some very scandalous pieces of lingerie in her arms. After walking a few Then she stopped facing him.
"I don't understand why all of this is necessary." she remarked as she lifted one lacy bra like it was a dead cockroach then continued, " And I was going to say why are you like this? Did someone drop you as a baby? Did you get jilted the same day you wanted to propose to her?" Caroline snarked with a haughty smile. He wanted to kiss that sassy smile of her lovely face. Resisting the urge to nuzzle her pouty lips, he purposely pulled her closer, "You got me. She broke my heart and now I jerk off imagining mousy blondes in lace and silk." as he said it he had a flash of what Caroline would look like wearing one of those sexy lingerie pieces and he almost groaned. Her scent was intoxicating, flirting with his senses.
She blushed again. He wanted to unwrap her and see how deep and low did that blush ran.
A little puzzled by his thoughts for her he pulled back.
"Now go try this on."
Klaus's proximity had left her breathless. Her tummy tingled with a host of butterflies playing hoopla inside it. It was always like this, whenever he was close, she would feel electrified.
She gulped and carrying the lingerie headed for the changing room.
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"These are fine." she stated carrying four pieces of lingerie and putting the rest of them back.
When Klaus just lifted a brow and stared at her she gave out a long sigh and confessed, "Fine. You were right. These looked sexy."
"I'm afraid I'll have to see to believe it."
"You're such a pervert." she rolled her eyes and smothered her laugh.
"I'm so proud of you, Love. You learnt a new word."
"I hate you." she muttered.
Klaus knew she was kidding but hearing her say it hurt him a little nonetheless. Caroline Forbes had become the highlight of his day. Since they had met two weeks he had spent most his days in her company and he looked forward to meeting her everyday.
"Now for the dresses." Klaus ushered her towards the clothes section.
After selecting a few tightly fitting dresses with low necklines they exited the mall.
"What now?" she asked.
"Now we get rid of this hornets nest."
She gave him a blank stare and then muttered a few obscenities behind his back as she followed him.
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"Wow my hair is longer." Caroline remarked weighing her hair and running her fingers through them.
"That's what extensions do, love."
"Must you be so insufferable."
"Must you state the obvious."
"Ughh." she sighed.
She was sitting in a chair in the salon. A few other customers were getting their hair done too.
A woman with caramel coloured skin and gorgeous curly hair showed up. She kissed Klaus on the cheek and greeted him. A kiss on the cheek is just an innocent gesture, Caroline soothed herself when she felt a prickle of jealousy.
"Hi. Babe."
"Hey Genevieve. Anna did the hair and they look fantastic now. I wanted you to do her make up."
"Sure. Anything for you." The Genevieve woman purred, and squeezed Klaus's bicep.
She would have to check what squeezing someone's bicep while leaning one's stunning body into the other person was an innocent gesture too. Innocent gesture my ass, if that woman had leaned any further then her boobs would have greeted Klaus too, Caroline was super miffed now.
Then Genevieve started applying a bulk of goop on Caroline's face. After several minutes she asked Caroline to open her eyes and then Genevieve excused herself to attend another customer.
It was unbelievable what a few makeup products were capable of accomplishing. Caroline had transformed from the proverbial duckling to a swan. She couldn't prevent the smile that lit up her face.
Looking at Klaus through the mirror she asked, "How do I look?"
Klaus felt deprived of oxygen. She looked magnificent. His baser urges that usually hummed beneath his skin in her presence were now thrashing like an ocean. He wanted to pull a caveman on her, carry her on his back and do dirty nasty things to her that might shock her sensibilities.
Those painted lips alone made him want to groan. Lust was clogging his other senses. Angry Caroline had nothing on sexy Caroline. Sexy Caroline was definitely his favorite. When she asked the question again he smothered his lust with difficulty and in a scratchy voice replied, "What does it matter what I think? You are dressed up for Saint Lorenzo." Klaus had never understood jealousy before this and he realized he didn't like it at all.
Her happy smile dimmed at his answer and a spurt of guilt coursed through him.
Caroline did not get why his reply saddened her. As a kid she had always worked hard in school and thrived on getting a pat on her back from her teachers. Perhaps that is why she was seeking his approval because he was guiding her through this.
With a fake smile she stated, "You're right. Shall we leave?"
Klaus kept staring at her with a scowl on his face. She called out his name again.
"Klaus?"
"Yeah." he had been day dreaming about her again. Where he slowly and meticulously divulging her from her clothes. Kissing his way down her sumptious body. He scowled when she asked him something and he didn't know what she had said.
"I asked should we leave?"
"Yes. Yes .We should."
"The bill?" she asked getting up and facing him. Damn she smelled like wild flowers.
"I took care of it."
"Klaus it's really nice of you. But please tell me what I owe you."
"Caroline we can discuss this back at my apartment. Lets leave." this time he avoided touching her. He knew if he touched her at this moment he would surely end up shocking the hell out of her.
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"Okay. Your physical metamorphosis is complete. Now we need to focus on your flirting skills." Klaus remarked as he sat on the sofa in his living room.
"I can flirt." Caroline was seated on the sofa opposite to him.
"Of course and I can have sex on a trapeze."
"Knowing you I think it might be true. But I can flirt I'm telling you."
"Fine show me."
"You want me to flirt with you?"
"Yes."
"Okay." then keeping her gaze fixed on him ,she slowly got up. Her languid movements cat-like. She approached him and sat in front of him. Flipping her hair back, she loomed over him and ran one painted nail down his chest causing heat to follow. He gulped trying with all his might to control himself. Leaning to his ear she murmured, "Admit it I'm turning you on."
He babbled something incoherent. Her smile turned victorious, she looked like a seductress. He grasped her neck, brought her closer to his mouth. Mesmerised by the intensity of his lake blue eyes she let him pull her close. Her breasts now touching the hard planes of his chest, it was titillating.
The door bell rang, bringing them back to reality. He pulled away when he would have kissed her.
"Fine you're good at flirting." he grumbled his thoughts turning choleric and despondent realizing she would be using her "flirting skill" on that ugly do-gooder. Jealousy was becoming a frequent emotion.
"Klaus?" she called out and twisted back to look at her. "I think I should leave."
He nodded and went to answer the door bell while Caroline began gathering her shopping bags.
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The date with Enzo went well. She had kept Klaus's " five sacred points that would leave the guy begging for more " as he had called it, in mind.
1 Never disagree with a guy if he thinks he is telling you some profound shit.
2 Laugh at his jokes, like you've never heard anything more funny in your entire life.
At this when she had asked him how could she laugh if it weren't funny.
"How do you tolerate someone you don't like?" he had asked in return.
"I've normally never had to until a few weeks ago…"
"You decided to slide down the trash chute for fun." he quipped and she gave out a small chuckle.
"See you're already learning."
3 Dress extra provocatively. ( Which means cleavage)
4 Praise him if he is telling you about his accomplishments, even if he thinks changing a tire is like building the Eiffel tower.
5 Fake an orgasm ( ie if she had to) and always always always tell him that he was the best sex of her life.
" So fake bonding, fake laugh, fake praise, fake orgasm and dressing up with half of my boobs out my clothes, that's all it takes." she had asked Klaus. He had feigned contemplating for a few minutes then had said, "Yep pretty much."
"So you are saying men are stupid and only want sex." Caroline argued.
"Essentially men only want sex. It's women who try to complicate it with emotions. Like why would I care if it was the anniversary of the castration of our cat."
"I disagree."
"Of course you do."
"Not all men are same."
"Trust me all men want only one thing. And your saint Lorenzo would also only want that."
But Enzo had turned out to be different. Even though she had invited him for a nightcap he had just kissed her and asked her on another date.
Enzo was sweet and kind. They had many differences like he was a dog person and she preferred cats. He loved caviar and she vomited at the sight of it. And she hadn't liked the way he had tried to feed her.
However he hadn't grappled at the opportunity of sex even though she had hinted which had told her he was different from what Klaus had declared all men were like.
That night she had dreamt about Enzo and his noble stead coming to her rescue as usual. But this time Klaus hadn't laughed at her in fact he had helped her with her dress. It wasn't a surprise that she had seen Klaus help her because he was actually doing that plus she had begun to view him in a different light. He acted all crass and annoyed but she knew he considered her a friend.
Where Caroline's dreams were a mirror of her own feelings Klaus's nightmares were a shadow of the gravest mistake of his past. The horrifying memories dogged him, pained him but there was no escaping them or even try to elude them because he knew he deserved every second of pain he suffered.
Awaken by another tormenting nightmare Klaus got up and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. His throat was parched. Drinking half a gallon of water and spilling some over his head to clear away the panic he felt he rested his head against the door of his refrigerator.
His eyes landed on the white lilies placed on his kitchen counter and his lips curved in a fond smile. "Everyone needs some flowers even ill-mannered boorish clods like you. I saw them and was reminded of this empty vase in your kitchen so I brought them." Caroline had cheerily said when she had come over a few days ago.
He had given a noncommittal grunt then but now he moved closer and flicked a petal. White colour was for peace but he also felt hope. Somehow Caroline's pretty white flowers had eased his turbulent feelings.
Giving another flick he thought about her cute smile and went back to bed. Gratefully the nightmares had left him alone for the rest of the night.
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Two months. It had been two months when Caroline and himself had come to an agreement over mutually benefiting each other.
During this time she had penetrated herself in his life like a injection filled with a painkiller penetrates one's skin. The injection itself being annoying but the pain which it washed away made it worth it. Great now he was using medical metaphors for her presence in his life. The stroke of his brush reflected his disturbed mood. She was on yet another date with Enzo the righteous doctor.
He grunted impatiently when his door bell rang. He wasn't done with the portrait. Whoever it was would have to sod off. The bell rang again thrice. On a muttered oath he exited his gallery and stormed off to yank open his door.
Caroline was standing on the other end. The moment he opened the door she squealed and launched herself in his arms.
He had just a few seconds to savor her softness before she pulled away. Excitedly she chippered, "Enzo invited me for a romantic weekend getaway. Thank you so much." Then she started doing a weird jumpy dance all the while saying, "I'm going for a weekend. I'm going for a weekend." then she hugged him again.
Klaus laughed, she was looking super adorable. Adorable Caroline looked even prettier than sexy Caroline.
Then as if suddenly remembering something. She stopped and taking out an envelope from her business coat she remarked, "Oops sorry I forgot. I picked up your mail."
Klaus took it from her and the address on the envelope gave rise to dread, dejection and anger.
Furious he tore it open and read it.
Caroline saw the instant change in his demeanor. His handsome laugh now replaced by anger and grief. He seemed upset and aggravated.
"Is everything okay?" Caroline laid her hand on his arm.
He shrugged it off and answered in an edgy tone, "Dandy." then sighed once and continued, "Whatever you came for I can't deal with it right now."
He moved forward compelling her to step back out of the door. She extended her hand and held his. "Klaus is everything okay? You know you can share it with me. We are friends."
He was agitated, sad and irritated. And his usual response to negative emotions was to avoid any human contact or interaction until he felt better. He had conditioned himself that way, because getting close to people meant you would have to feel the pain that followed when you lost them.
But right now he was tempted to hold onto her, hug her close, lose himself in her comforting presence hence he lashed out, "Don't you understand? I said I can't deal with it right now. Just because we have an agreement doesn't mean we are friends. So stop trying to meddle and leave." Then he closed the door in her face.
Caroline fliched twice, once at his harsh words and second at the door slamming. She felt tears spilling but she was too shocked to wipe them away. She just turned and soundlessly headed back to her apartment.
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(The Next Morning)
Klaus was feeling guilty as hell. Not just his usual dose of guilt over his past actions but something different more angsty and vicious, that continued to prick his heart. He knew he had treated her badly. Caroline was just trying to be there for him and he had acted out like an ungrateful asshole. And to top it off he had told her they weren't friends when she had offered her support.
His pushed the bell and then knocked on her door twice. When she didn't answer he had the feeling that perhaps she had seen him through the peephole and was now avoiding him.
Impatient he knocked and rang the bell again.
She opened the door and before he could utter a single word she handed him a paper. A cursory glance told him it was the reference letter she had agreed to give him.
"Caroline.." he said but was interrupted.
"I know I was supposed to give you this a few weeks ago but with my promotion things were a little hectic for me. Thank you for everything you did for me. I really appreciate it." with that she attempted to close the door but he slapped a palm on it.
The formal way she talked to him incensed and hurt him but not more than the way she avoided his gaze.
"Wait. Caroline. I'm sorry.."
"No. You were right we just had an arrangement. I shouldn't have presumed and it was discourteous of me to meddle." Caroline just wanted to shut the door, not for revenge but for her own self-respect because it had hurt her, his careless disregard for their friendship had wounded her. However maybe he was right maybe she had just imagined his affection. She would never learn would she, she continued to give her affections to people who didn't need it, didn't need her.
Things had always been like this with her mother, her high school best friend, her college roommate, her first boyfriend and her first coworker at the magazine, everyone had just never cared enough or reciprocated with the same level of devotion. But Klaus's rejection had hurt her the most. She had cried her eyes out last night and then she had scolded herself for being too sensitive. Any other woman would have just brushed it off and scalped him instead but she had spent an entire restless night crying. And why was she even so grieved over this? Why did Klaus's callousness matter so much to her?
"No look please let me …" she was still not looking at him. He wanted to yell at her to look at her but he couldn't hurt her more.
"Mr Mikaelson. I believe we both held our end of the bargain. Now if you'll excuse me I am getting late." she tried to shut the door again and again he resisted.
"Late for what?"
Another voice interrupted them. "Hey Klaus." Enzo said from behind him, "Would you mind getting out of the way? I need to get to my girlfriend."
Klaus was seething with ire now but despite himself he moved back. He saw Enzo move forward and kiss Caroline and his hands fisted.
"I'll just get my bag." Caroline said and then she disappeared inside.
"What are you doing here?" Enzo asked. Klaus detected a little bite in his voice.
"I came to talk to her about something."
"Really?" Enzo challenged.
"Yeah." Klaus came toe to toe with him, never the one to back down from a challenge.
"It appeared she wasn't interested in talking with you. In fact I think I heard her say whatever arrangement she had with you it's over mate. So I suggest you leave her alone."
"Who are you to tell me that?" Klaus had needed to vent his frustration and Enzo's face all of a sudden felt a preferred choice.
"I am her.."
"Hey. Ready to go?" she asked as she brought out her bag. Between Enzo and Klaus the air felt tense and Caroline picked up on it with ease.
They continued to glare at each other like rivals of a staring contest.
"Enzo?" she called and then he turned and took her bag from her.
He pulled her closer and kissed her with much more enthusiasm than before. Klaus knew that the asshole was doing it for his benefit, marking his fucking territory. He was having a desperate urge to rearrange his face that was at the moment plastered onto Caroline's pretty lips.
He pulled back and smirked in Klaus's direction.
Caroline was oblivious to what had passed between them but she was astute enough to sense that something was definitely off.
She pulled Enzo out of the door, her hand threading through his. Klaus suffered another bout of pain and anger.
She locked her door and then told Klaus, "Uhh. We are leaving for the weekend. Goodbye."
Enzo remarked, "Yeah see you mate."
With that she walked away with Enzo without looking back at him even once and Klaus felt a crushing punch to his gut because it had felt as if she had bid him goodbye forever.
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