Note: I do not own TVD or any of its affiliates.

Any sort of feedback makes my day! To answer the guest question, I'm currently doing work study in Siberia, so I'm definitely missing the comforts of the USA. I'm glad you guys liked the addiction twist, it was foreshadowed earlier in chapter 15. Of course Kol never considered the fact he could be prone to it too. Anyway, let me know what you think of this chapter!

"Are you two seriously wagering on this?" – Charlotte Davidson

[Theory of a Deadman – Outta My Head]

"How does that even work?" Charlotte blanched after taking a sip of a water bottle from the fridge. The idea of Kol being addicted to her blood just surreal, in a creepy and terrifying sort of way. The last thing she wanted after the other day was for him to be craving for more.

He was up on his feet by this point, pacing in agitation in the kitchen.

"Simple, really," Rebekah answered for her. She looked like the Cheshire cat with how much she was enjoying this whole situation. "If Kol was addicted to your blood," She began to explain.

"Which I am not," He stubbornly denied, throwing a glare towards his sister.

"Oh, he is," She smirked at him before looking back to Charlotte. "Then he'll do just about anything to get a taste of your blood. It's quite a powerful position to be in, really."

"Bekah…" Kol growled warningly at her.

"Yeah… I don't really like the sound of that," Charlotte shook her head. Sure, if he was just an average college boy, she could certainly manipulate his attention to a way she found flattering, but this was different. He was an already unstable Original. She didn't really like the thought that he could just get fed up, snap her neck and feed off of her anyway.

"It doesn't matter," Kol protested, trying to look at Charlotte in a reassuring manner. "Because I'm not addicted to your blood."

"Prove it," Rebekah interjected, leaning on the counter with her elbows.

Kol glanced towards her incredulously.

"Try a little taste of her blood now," Rebekah held up two fingers to emphasis her point. "Prove that it doesn't bother you." If he really wasn't addicted, it shouldn't affect him at all.

"No," Kol snapped out. He didn't have to waste his time with this.

"Are you insane?" This time Charlotte had to speak out, being blunt.

"Arguably," Rebekah shrugged, but persisted. "Come on now, just one little taste to prove it. If I'm wrong, I won't mention the word addiction again. If I'm right, then Charlotte can thank me later," She smirked.

Kol's eyes narrowed on Rebekah and Charlotte could swear she almost heard him growling.

"No way!" Charlotte protested even louder. "Were you not there the other night?" She gestured towards Kol. "He killed me – temporarily, but still," She corrected herself.

"Oh relax," Rebekah huffed out. "I'm here this time. If he gets carried away, I'll pull him off of you… and hold him down while you kick his ass," She grinned at her brother maliciously.

He turned to face his sister, folding his arms over his chest thoughtfully.

"And what's in it for me when I prove that you're wrong?" Kol challenged, raising his chin at Bekah.

The blond pursued her lips together a moment to think about it. Charlotte just watched them with her jaw slightly open. "How about the St. Petersburg estate?" She threw out as a suggestion.

Charlotte couldn't believe it. "Are you two seriously wagering on this?" She realized.

"Yes," They snapped out in unison without actually looking at her.

"Gardens and dock access included?" Kol nodded back to Rebekah. It had been a couple of centuries since he had access to that particular property. He would fancying giving it a visit and not allowing Rebekah to use it for a couple of decades as payback.

Rebekah wrinkled her nose briefly before giving in, "Fine." The way the two spoke made Charlotte think they made bets like this all the time.

"Hmm… Done," Kol decided so quickly it almost gave Charlotte whiplash. He looked to her expectantly next.

"What?" Charlotte gasped. "No," She shook her head stubbornly, folding her arms over her chest.

"Come on, darling," Kol tried to coax her this time. "It's just a quick prick, you might even enjoy it," He smirked.

Charlotte gaped at him before she recovered. She pointed an accusing finger at him, "You're sick in the head." She then pointed at Rebekah, "And you're evil." The blonde just smiled a little broader.

Kol just gave an unoffended shrug. He's been called worse things.

"It'll be over quickly," Kol assured her. "And then we can spend the rest of the day ridiculing Rebekah for coming up with this stupid idea," He suggested cheekily.

Charlotte sighed, still shaking her head in disbelief. Neither one of the siblings looked like they were going to relent and she was essentially cornered in the kitchen. She sighed out reluctantly.

"Fine," She gave in, hoping it would be as quick and painless as he suggested. She dropped one arm from her chest to hold out her wrist in his direction. She would never let Rebekah live this down for putting her through this.

He wrinkled his nose slightly at the gesture. "It would be less painful at the neck," He chose to be picky.

"No thanks," Charlotte hissed out with a cold glare. "I don't exactly have the best experiences with the neck."

"Then all the more reason it should be there," Kol countered smoothly with a surprisingly serious expression. He almost looked concerned.

Rebekah stood up straighter with renewed interest at the fact the two were apparently going to go through with it.

Charlotte eased up into a casual frown, studying Kol. Was this what Rebekah meant by he would do anything for a taste? Or did he actually seemed concerned by the fact she had been traumatized in that way? She was sure if he really wanted to give a good experience with that.

"Alright, just get it over with," Charlotte finally gave up. She dropped her arms, placing her hands behind her against the edge of the counter. She swallowed thickly and looked up at him as he stepped forward to her. His height and broad shoulders blocked out her vision of Rebekah behind him.

He smirked faintly, but otherwise he was surprisingly quiet in a determined way. His eyes darted over her features, seeing just how tense she was on top of everything. Carefully, he reached up to brush her hair out of her eyes and some away from the right side of her neck. She watched every movement suspiciously and vividly.

"It really does help if you relax," He suggested, knowing it was more painful everything was tense.

"When has saying that ever actually worked?" Charlotte retorted in a softer tone.

Kol just grinned faintly at her wit. "Touche," He murmured. In that case, he would have to just go slowly. He moved to place her hands on her hips, his eyes dropping and making his actions apparently. Charlotte tightened her grip on the counter a little.

She wasn't sure if the anticipation was worse than the actual actions.

He kept his eyes on hers when he began to lean into her neck, as long as they could before they closed. Charlotte's shoulders scrunched up reflexively when she felt the first brush against her neck. The flashes of him coming after her last time came to the surface. He noticed her reaction immediately and held still.

His lips were touching her neck, right at her pulse point, but they didn't move. And he waited.

Charlotte had her eyes squeezed shut and she counted them out in her head. There were five slow exhales from him and he still didn't move. That was when she began to ease up a bit. She let out a slow deep breath and opened her eyes slowly. She had been expecting it to be quick, like a shot from the doctor, but now she wasn't sure.

His lips moved along her neck, placing light butterfly kisses in a circle around her pulse point. The sensation drew a shiver. Charlotte tilted her head to the side before she thought of it, giving him more access. The butterfly kisses turned into moist open mouth ones. Charlotte felt the heat in the kitchen grow warmer from the proximity of his body and intimate attention to her flesh.

His hands eased off of the counter and moved to mirror his against his waist. Her breath gave a hitch the first time she felt his teeth scrap against her skin, but it didn't break. It was as if he was testing the waters. His teeth dragged several times along her skin, followed by his tongue. The moments dragged by and Charlotte almost forgot that he was going to bite her. Her eyes eased shut, but relaxed this time.

Her skin felt hot, moist and the sensations were too hard to discern which was from his teeth, lips or tongue. It wasn't until she felt a sharp prick did she realize his fangs were out. It was quick and they withdrew immediately before his lips closed over the wound. Open air never hit the puncture marks. Charlotte tensed just a bit, expecting it to hurt more than the sting.

But it never came, instead she felt his tongue lap over the marks with a gentle sucking. It wasn't the hurried gulping that she experienced in the alley. His hands also began to move distractingly up and down along her sides, as far down as her thighs and bold enough up to brush under her bust. Her hands moved to his shoulder blades as he leant more against her body.

One hand moved down to her rear, cupping the cheek. Charlotte opened her mouth to say something, but he then gave it a firm squeeze. The action caused a tingling sensation to shoot up through her spine and her to roll on her toes up against him with a sharp gasp. He sucked a little firmer against her neck at the reaction and let out a groan. Charlotte wasn't sure if Rebekah heard it, but she certainly heard and felt it. A pleasurable guttural sound from his chest.

"Kol," Charlotte murmured, actually more like whimpered, when she began to notice this was more than just a sip. The whimper sounded more pathetic and husky than she had intended.

"Kol," She repeated when she didn't get a response from him. One hand reached up into the locks of his hair, giving a little tug.

He let out a faint grunt, almost nodding against her neck. His lips began to easy up, losing the suctioning, allowing the wound to heal itself. He didn't just pull away though. He lingered to lap up every trace of blood on her skin, slowly and delicately while he held her by the hips. A few fingers toyed under the hem of her tank top against her skin.

When he finally leant away, Charlotte let out a shaky exhale. He didn't go far. His forehead brushed briefly against hers and her hands slid down to his forearms. She opened her eyes, searching out his, refusing to bring any attention to the not so subtle throbbing she felt against her hip through the thin material of their clothing. His mouth was parted, flushed and swollen. His breathing was a little heavier than normal.

"I don't think you're going to St. Petersburg any time soon…" Charlotte broke the silence in a low whisper.

At first she thought she heard him mutter a low swear. He shook his head, agreeing with her, "No. I won't be…" His voice was heavy with resignation.

"Told you so," Rebekah's smug voice interrupted them.

Charlotte jumped slightly. She had nearly forgotten the blonde was there. Kol stood up straight abruptly and stepped back from Charlotte, almost like she had shocked her. He looked away from her, averting his gaze.

Before she could get another word in edge wise, he practically bolted from the room. He didn't even spare a glance up towards his sister, never mind a remark about her so called victory. Charlotte only barely caught his backside before he went upstairs. He didn't want his sister to see and taunt him about just how worked up he had gotten.

A moment later, his bedroom door slammed loudly, leaving a flustered Charlotte and triumphant Rebekah in the kitchen.