Chapter 10
Author's note: Thank you for all of the reviews and support you've shown my story. Everyone was surprised about the big werewolf reveal in the last chapter, so I'm happy I wasn't being too obvious with that plot twist. We still have a few more surprises, but in this chapter we'll slow it down a bit and bask in the spicy, sexiness of Klaroline. We're getting close to the end; maybe one or two more chapters after this one!
Warning: Sexy-times smut to make up for last chapter's shameless violence and overall lack of Klaroline.
"Never was known such a hungry bride!
Ne'er saw I lady so full of greed,
Nor maiden drink so deep of mead!
He lifted the veil to kiss the bride,
And the hall's full length he sprang aside:
Why are her eyes so full of ire?
Methinks they are darting sparks of fire!"
— The Lay of Thrym: The Norse King's Bridal
"I brought you a present, my love," Caroline crowed triumphantly as she entered the mansion with Jeremy slung casually across one slim shoulder. She greeted Klaus with a delightfully filthy kiss, and then handed over the unconscious werewolf.
Gripping the boy's neck, he smirked, "I'll store this downstairs with the other ritual ingredients." He flashed away, leaving Caroline to wander into the parlor.
She spied the gleaming piano in the corner and rubbed a finger across the rich walnut surface. The baroque design was elaborately carved to mimic Klaus' sketch all those centuries ago when they were frequent guests of the Medici court. The heavy gilt bases had been a design element he had insisted upon when he commissioned Bartolomeo Cristofori with a naughty gleam in his steel gray eyes as he emphasized the importance of a sturdy design.
They had been drawn to the Florentine court because Prince Ferdinando de' Medici was known as a patron of the arts, music in particular, sponsoring such immortal legends as Handel and Scarlatti in addition to Cristofori. His lively court had been filled with music and intrigue and a rare glimpse of the beauty that humanity can create. Caroline unexpectedly took an interest in the prince's wife, Violante of Bavaria, and found herself pitying the plain girl who foolishly loved spoiled Ferdinando. Caroline observed how the posturing royal would pointedly ignore the poor girl or treat her with the utmost disdain, tearing her down repeatedly until she abruptly left the court and settled in a villa by the sea.
Caroline's pale pink lips curved into a wicked smile as she recalled how Ferdinando had fallen in love with the celebrated vocalist, Victoria Tarquini. Before he could confess his feelings, he mysteriously contracted syphilis, leaving him terribly disfigured and in nearly constant agony for the rest of his life. He also had the misfortune of watching Victoria marry a concertmaster and proceed to have scandalous affairs with many of the musicians Ferdinando had sponsored, including Handel.
"Lost in your memories of the Medici court, my goddess," Klaus whispered in her ear as he flashed to her side.
She smiled, leaning back into his powerful embrace. "Just pondering a gift I gave to a prince we once knew."
He chuckled darkly. "Ah yes, that dullard Ferdinando. I realize you took a liking to his unfortunate wife, but was the syphilitic curse truly necessary," he asked dryly.
Caroline's blue eyes gleamed as she turned her head to kiss his jawline. "When faced with a man's false heart? Always."
"Of course that led to his death without siring any children. And then his younger brother's reign was cut unexpectedly short when he likewise died childless. An entire ruling lineage was extinguished and the great European powers at the time reassigned the territory to France, thus ending its independence," Klaus cheekily added, dimples flashing.
"My mercurial ways are well-known to you, Niklaus." She turned in his arms, resting her chin on his chest as she flicked her blue gaze to his. "Are the children tucked in," she asked with a grin.
Klaus caressed her blonde waves, chuckling. "Yes. In fact, the Gilbert boy began stirring just as I placed him in his cell with the doppelganger and Damon. I suspect they'll keep themselves entertained with their tales of woe. Their little group has experienced two deaths, a triggered werewolf and a betrayal by a supposed family member. It's been an exceptionally busy day — even for them."
Caroline smiled, relaxing into his reassuring warmth. "And I trust that Elijah is protecting the witch until the ritual tomorrow night?"
"Yes, I'm sure by now he's thoroughly impressed her by how well-informed he is about our recent deeds." His gray eyes narrowed as a thought struck him. "And what of our spy?"
She placed both palms against his chest in a soothing gesture. "Nadia will be at the ritual tomorrow night as planned, do not fret, Niklaus."
He pulled her further into his strong body, breathing in her familiar scents of honey and vanilla, finding them equally reassuring and arousing. "I never fret, my goddess, for you are with me," he murmured, covering her soft lips with his own. They sank into each other, their lips working in perfect harmony to ignite the sparks between them. He moved his hands down her body, sliding her blouse off with a whisper of silk. She eagerly shoved down her tight jeans, kicking them off to the side. He cupped her chin, trailing burning kisses down her ivory throat before growling, "Will my goddess tease me? Or will she easily submit?"
Caroline's blue eyes darkened at his sensual words and she answered him with a coy smile. "Niklaus, what a foolish question." She extended one slim leg, straddling the piano bench and lowering her body in an achingly slow manner. Once she rested her curves upon the damask velvet, she undulated her hips slowly, brushing her pelvis against the silver-toned fabric that teased her thighs so sweetly.
Klaus groaned at the erotic display before him, his cock twitching as she dragged her thumbs across the lace cups of her bra, circling her rosy nipples until they pressed insistently against the fabric. Noting his rapt attention, she dipped her hands inside, freeing her breasts and squeezing them softly as his breath hitched. She unclasped her bra, rubbing the lace against her belly before allowing it to drop to the floor. She threw back her head, making her blonde waves dance as she continued to rock against the bench.
Unable to resist her seductive moves, he moved in front of her, removing his dark henley and unzipping his jeans to pull out his rigid length. She placed her fingers on top of his, curling them around his cock and stroking his flesh to match the sensual rhythm of her hips. Together, they squeezed down his aching erection, delighting them both with how it twitched in pleasure.
She licked her lips, causing his steel gray eyes to flare golden as she bent forward to capture his dripping cock in her mouth. He grunted in satisfaction as she flicked her tongue across his smooth flesh, capturing his salty essence. She increased the pressure, sucking him into a sweet oblivion while feeling his stomach muscles clench under her palm. He came with a roar, calling out her name as she lapped at his arousal, unwilling to spill a single drop.
Klaus quickly brought her to her feet, kissing her passionately while savoring his flavor upon her devilish red tongue. Spinning her around, he bent her over the piano and took a moment to appreciate the sight of his flawless goddess presenting herself to him wearing nothing but a creamy lace thong. He hummed in delight as she wiggled her hips impatiently in his direction, pushing out her sexy little rump in his direction. He draped his lean torso over her smooth back, rubbing his hands up and down her sides as she shivered under his featherlight strokes.
When he trailed his fingers to the lacey sides of her thong, plucking at them like an instrument, he smirked at the small groan of anticipation she emitted. "How shall I tease you, my goddess? After all, turnabout is fair play." He slowly slid a finger down her cleft, dipping in just enough to pull strategically at the tiny string of fabric between her pert cheeks. He maneuvered the fabric just so, causing it to rub delightfully against her swollen clit.
"Devour me, Niklaus," Caroline gasped at the sinful friction he caused her with his insistent tugging.
"I serve at the pleasure of my goddess," Klaus rumbled, sinking to his knees behind her. He ripped apart her panties, flinging the fabric behind him as he fell upon her with teeth and tongue, indulging in the heady flavors of her arousal. He ran his tongue down her cleft, taking his time thoroughly exploring her clenched ring of muscles. She spread her legs wider, whining in frustration when he circled his tongue deliciously close to her dripping core before pulling back to seek out her inner thighs and soft curves instead.
His cock was standing at attention once more, but he resisted the urge to sink into her just yet. He needed to bring her pleasure before taking his. He chuckled at her impatience and finally gave into her wish, angling his mouth to apply the firm suction she craved against her trembling center. He plunged his tongue through her slick folds, moaning at the unique taste that only he could pull from her aching body. Feeling her body tighten under his skillful tongue, he licked and nibbled at her swollen flesh until she found her release, coating his tongue and lips with her desire.
Caroline tossed her sun-kissed mane behind her, glancing over a bare shoulder to regard him with a hint of flames in her gaze. "No more teasing," she commanded, licking her lips at the sight of her lover on his knees behind her.
Klaus rose to his feet once more, pushing his jeans down his legs with a smirk as he held her sapphire gaze. Taking his thick length in his fist, he stroked it as he settled between her legs. He rubbed the leaking tip lightly across her quivering rump, tracing her damp cleft with his teasing touch. She thrust her ivory flesh into him, grinding her sensual curves in a desperate attempt to meld their explosive heat. Moaning at the sight of his goddess splayed out and aching with need, he smoothly slid into her core, causing her to gasp out in pleasure. He took his time moving within her, savoring the pull of her muscles as she tried to draw him to her.
As she clenched around him, crying out his name, he increased his tempo, allowing the thrusts to become desperate and wild as he sought his release. He bellowed his completion, collapsing against her damp back as he sought to catch his breath. They remained there together, curled around each other as they enjoyed a rare moment of peace, an inexplicable softness that defied the logic of such hard creatures.
The next evening, Klaus and Caroline walked into a clearing where the land had been stained centuries ago with the blood of an especially violent massacre during the Revolutionary War. British soldiers had slaughtered most of the small town in an attempt to locate colonial militiamen that they believed the townspeople had been hiding. Caroline knelt down to touch the cold earth, digging her claws into the soil and allowing the loose dirt to scatter in the light breeze. She could feel the soured bones buried in mass graves borne of haste and indifference. The full moon's celestial pull and the energy of this scarred land would serve as the perfect conduits for the ritual.
"Shall we commence, my goddess," Klaus asked, gently pulling her to her feet.
Smiling widely, she nodded, golden curls swirling around her shoulders. She carefully marked the sacred circles for the individual sacrifices, directing Klaus to place the unconscious bodies within the center of each. Snapping her fingers, flames snaked along the perimeter of each circle, greedily invading the darkness.
With the initial crackle of the flames, Damon, Elena and Jeremy snapped awake, leaping to their feet and crying out in alarm as they realized they were trapped in the circles. Their protests quieted when they looked more closely at the ritual site and noticed a fourth circle, encased in flames as their own, but strangely empty.
Swallowing hard, Elena said shakily, "I thought the ritual called for only three sacrifices? Who is the fourth sacrifice?"
Klaus and Caroline traded coy smiles as they heard the rest of their guests arrive.