Hello again!
This chapter is going to be a bit… bittersweet? I guess? Some plot is going to show up at the end, so the first half is some very gratuitous smut. In a shower.
You're welcome.
Chapter Twenty-One: Knock
Marian was right.
Klaus groaned into the crook of his arm as he rested on the couch, his legs stretched out before him and his spine bent in an impossible way. He hadn't moved from that spot in a few days, outside of eating and sleeping, although admittedly he didn't do much of either as of late.
Most likely for the best, Maya had been incredibly busy since Klaus's heart to heart with Marian. He hadn't seen her since that day, leaving him to determine what he was to do about his mental turmoil.
He knew what he had to do of course. As he'd said, Marian was right. He needed to tell her the truth.
Maya would understand. He wasn't giving the young farmer nearly enough credit- she may be angry, but she would be willing to talk about it. Still, it made Klaus sick to his stomach to think that their first argument would be his fault, and only about two weeks into the relationship.
But that didn't matter. He had to come clean, and he would. He thought.
Now that Maya was on her way over, Klaus's bravery was wavering. He considered breaking open a bottle of wine to help calm his nerves, but thought better of it. He didn't need to sedate himself to speak to his girlfriend about something important.
The knock at his door simultaneously excited and scared him as he rose to let Maya in.
She virtually sprang into the room, dropping her bag and throwing her arms around Klaus's shoulders. Her enthusiasm always charmed him, and despite himself he broke into a genuine smile.
"I've missed you," Maya told him, capturing his lips in a kiss that nearly stole his breath.
"I missed you too, and I'm actually very glad you're here," Klaus admitted, separating himself from the demanding kiss with great difficulty. "There's something I was hoping to talk to you about."
"Does it have to be right away?" Maya purred, pulling playfully on his collar. "I really should get this dirt off before it dries out my skin."
She batted her eyelashes at him, causing a delicious twist of arousal to form in Klaus's stomach. He knew if he told her it was important, she would immediately drop the seduction and invite him to speak, but he was a selfish man. If he told her the truth, and she decided to leave, he'd like to at least have one last memory to add to his reservoir.
"We can talk after," He assured her, following her towards the bathroom.
"Wait!" She exclaimed, shoving lightly on his chest. Her small hands were hardly enough to stop him, but Klaus complied with a chuckle anyway. "You can come in in a minute, I need to set something up first."
Klaus watched in amusement as she disappeared behind the dark wooden door.
Maya never failed to make him smile. Only moments ago he'd been trapped in the darkest depths of his memories and now he was grinning like an idiot, eagerly anticipating what she had planned for him.
He prayed that when he did talk to her, and he would, she wouldn't take this happiness away from him. His old heart would probably stop instantly if she did. Klaus pushed the negative thoughts away as he heard Maya shuffling around in the bathroom, followed by the unlocking of the door.
"Okay, you can come in now!"
The sight that met him on the other side of the door was nothing short of typical Maya style. She'd lit candles, only two but they were enough to light the room, and she'd donned a flowing silk robe that fell to her thighs.
She's beautiful, the thought hit him again with a sharp intake of breath as Maya winked and dropped her robe to the floor, the soft pink fabric pooling at her feet.
"Are you just going to stare?" She asked, reaching for his wrist. He let her take it, pulling him towards her as she stepped backwards into his shower.
"I would gladly stare at you for the rest of my life," He whispered sincerely, cupping her cheek with his free hand. She blinked up at him, a blush colouring her skin, and he couldn't resist the overwhelming urge to pull her into a kiss.
Maya's hands found his hair, wrapping her fingers in his black locks as he dominated her mouth, his own hands sliding down her wet skin. She was so smooth, so soft, and her body fit so perfectly against his. Klaus was lost every time she pressed herself into him.
She suckled his tongue as he explored her mouth, whimpering as his fingers gripped her hips. The water was making their skin slippery, and Klaus relished in the feeling of Maya squirming against him.
He'd never imagined that he'd be here, with her, doing this. He'd never imagined that he would have the pleasure of entertaining this goddess of a woman in his house, in his shower, as water cascaded down on them. Their romance, while building for many months, had knocked the wind out of him with its sudden consummation- he'd been overwhelmed and forgotten how impossible things were supposed to be.
Klaus's erection pressed against Maya's center, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from him. Maya rubbed herself over it, moaning at the pleasurable friction it provided. What the hell had he wanted to talk to her about again?
Maya had been craving this for days now. She'd been so busy and exhausted all the time that most nights she fell asleep on Klaus's couch as they watched movies, or he walked her home when she began to yawn. After a slow day yesterday, she was feeling refreshed and she needed some long overdue attention.
Maya slid her hand down his chest and stomach, her fingers finding his throbbing erection, toying with it as he kissed her. Klaus groaned- her playing was torturing him, but he absolutely loved it. He pushed against her hand, whining as she stroked him.
"I love you," Maya gasped; Klaus moved his lips to her neck, sucking and biting the taut skin there until he was sure he'd left a mark. He'd never felt this possessive before- he wanted the entire world to know who she belonged to.
"I love you too," He growled, bucking his hips into Maya's eager hands.
He was so wonderfully sexy when he was desperate. Maya slid her palms back up his body, pulling him into her for a messy kiss, and gave him a gentle push. Klaus stepped away from her as she knew he would- always respectful even when it pained him- and she took in the full image of his wet, naked body.
"Mm," Maya hummed, running her hands over him once again. His muscles were deceptively firm and defined, a fact that she loved to brag about to Iris. "You know, you're always so good to me when we do this. I'd love it if you'd let me return the favour."
Before Klaus could question her, Maya slipped to her knees.
"You don't have to do this, love." Klaus breathed, though his erection throbbed, betraying how aroused he was. He was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and the sight of Maya, wet and kneeling before him, was doing nothing to fix that.
"I know I don't," Maya assured him, delicately exploring his manhood with her lips and finger tips. Klaus groaned; he could already feel his knees beginning to shake. "But I really want to."
With a wink, Maya stretched her lips over the head.
Klaus sucked in his breath. Maya's mouth was wet, warm, and tight around his erection, her hot tongue swirling as she tasted him. She allowed him to catch his breath for only a moment, slowly pulling him deeper into her throat and moaning as she did so.
I don't deserve this, Klaus thought desperately, his fingers knotting tightly in Maya's wet hair. The guiltier aspects of his mind were struggling to push through, but they were quickly being drowned in pleasure. The shower rained down around them, getting in his mouth and eyes but he hardly cared. All of his attention was on the wonderfully sexy woman kneeling before him.
Maya's head began to bob, pulling him into her mouth and releasing him again. She loved the feeling of fullness she got from having him in her mouth, but more than that she loved the sounds that were coming from Klaus.
Maya shifted, taking more of him into her mouth as she began to suck. Klaus groaned, wondering if there was anything this woman couldn't do, as she worked her lips around him and pressure began to build in his stomach.
"I hope you're decent, or at least hidden!"
Maya and Klaus nearly choked on the steady stream of water, struggling to hide their coughing from the unmistakeable sound of Marian entering Klaus's bathroom.
"I'm sorry to bother you, dear," Marian sighed. Klaus followed his footsteps to the vanity, his heart pounding painfully in his chest all the while. Maya had completely frozen before him, her eyes wide with shock and panic.
"Theo and I are fighting again," Marian explained, toying with something near the sink. It sounded like Klaus's aftershave. "And I really need someone to talk to. Do you always shower by candlelight?"
Klaus could hear the confusion in Marian's voice. It seemed that, in his annoyance, Marian hadn't noticed the second set of clothes on the bathroom floor.
"I sometimes do it to destress," Klaus shrugged at Maya, who was looking at him with a bewildered expression. "It helps when I'm overworked. Aromatherapy, and all that."
Marian seemed to believe the quick explanation, as he fell into an elaborate recounting of how he and Theo had fallen out.
Maya blinked up at Klaus, realising she was holding her breath. Marian chatted away aimlessly about the trouble he was having with his boyfriend, while Klaus tried to simultaneously humour and console him, and also get him to leave as quickly as possible. The whole situation was comical, now that she'd surpassed the initial surprise anyway, and as Klaus shot her another apologetic glance, Maya got a wicked idea.
While Klaus was distracted, she pulled his erection back into her mouth.
Klaus gasped audibly, both from shock and pleasure, but Marian didn't seem to notice. He was on a rant now about the mishap that had been their last anniversary.
'What are you doing?' Klaus mouthed frantically, his hands in her hair again. His intent was to push her away, but Maya began lapping at him with her tongue and he instead pulled her closer.
You little minx, he thought, bracing himself against the wall. Marian was still droning, but Klaus was finding it difficult to concentrate. Maya had picked up exactly where she left off, if a little bit slower, and he quickly felt himself beginning to unravel.
I have to be quiet. If Marian were to hear anything at all and figure out what was happening, the whole town would know in a matter of hours. Klaus couldn't do that to Maya, though if her persistence was any indication then she didn't care how loud he was.
Klaus was continuously taken off guard by how sexy Maya could be. This was a stunt he'd pull as a teenager, not as an old man. But Maya had a tendency to say to hell with that, and do whatever she pleased. In this moment, Klaus was glad she did.
His heart slammed against his chest as Maya sucked, his orgasm fast approaching as pressure built in his abdomen.
"Can you believe him?" Marian whined, tearing Klaus away from the moment only briefly.
"It's quite the sticky situation you're in, it seems." Klaus managed to comment, his voice strained. Marian was still so lost in his turmoil that he didn't notice, and continued his rant with no more provocation.
"I need something to drink." He announced suddenly, cutting off his own tirade. Klaus heard the unmistakeable sound of his heels on the bathroom tile. "I'll wait for you in the living room so you can get dressed. This feels like a wine day."
"I'll meet you out there," Klaus ground out, struggling to wait until he heard the bathroom door shut and then he couldn't hold back any longer. With a great shudder and groan of pleasure he came, unloading himself into Maya's mouth.
Her eyes widened in momentary surprise, and then she moaned around his twitching cock, greedily swallowing until he was finished.
Maya released him from her mouth with a slight 'pop', licking her lips free of his seed. She wasn't a huge fan of swallowing, but for Klaus she would gladly do it. "Do you feel any bet-?"
She was cut off with a yelp as Klaus lifted her, pressing her back into the shower wall. Maya instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips, barely able to catch her breath as he assaulted her mouth with dominating kisses.
Klaus's fingers dug into her thighs, holding her in place as he slipped his shaft in between her folds, rubbing the length of it against her quivering lips. Maya whimpered, tugging desperately on his damp hair.
"I have to entertain Marian for a while," Klaus whispered, his voice low in his throat. "You'd better not have clothes on when I get back."
His words sent a shock of electricity through Maya. He stole another heated kiss from her, and then stepped out of the running water to dry off and dress.
.
When Klaus emerged from the bathroom, kicking Maya's boots out of sight in the process, Marian was seated on his couch with a half-finished glass of merlot nestled between his thighs.
"I really am sorry to interrupt," Marian insisted, moving over so Klaus could take a seat. "But you know how ridiculous I get when I'm upset. I nearly scrapped my bath product line on the spot."
Klaus nodded, knowing just how easily Marian tended to overreact. He was used to catering to his friend's outbursts, but not quite so much when there was a very wet, very naked, very aroused woman in his bathroom.
He of course didn't voice this to Marian, who picked up exactly where he'd left off earlier.
It was difficult to sit still- Klaus wanted nothing more than to get back to Maya, but if he tried to get Marian to leave without a solid explanation, the doctor would certainly get suspicious. He would have to wait until Marian calmed down before he could do the same, and the sudden beeping of his cell phone on the coffee table did nothing for his nerves.
Klaus instinctively glanced at the phone, he mostly used it for clients, after all, but felt his heart skip a beat when he saw the name.
Maya flashed across the screen.
Klaus wanted to ignore it, but the message flashed again, this time with the words 'Image file Attachment 1' glaring at him from the coffee table.
He snatched the device, startling Marian mid-sentence.
"Sorry," Klaus apologized sheepishly, trying to hide his blush. "I have a particularly persistent client. Please continue, I'm paying attention."
Marian nodded in understanding, wasting no time in resuming his complaints.
Klaus tapped on the picture, nerves and excitement bubbling in his stomach. It took a moment to load, and when it did he nearly kicked Marian out on the spot. Maya had sent him a picture.
It was captioned 'Getting a little lonely in here…' and was an image of Maya, pressing her breasts together, staring longingly into the camera. Her cheeks were red, her eyes heavy-lidded, and her lips parted just so. The steam from the shower blurred the image slightly, but it only served to make her look more sensual. Klaus fidgeted uncomfortably.
"I mean, does nothing I do mean anything to him?" Marian was shifting from sorrowful to angry, the second last stage in his usual fights with Theo. Klaus nodded sympathetically, starting as his phone buzzed again.
Maya. Image file Attachment 1.
His mouth dry, Klaus opened the text. This one was captioned 'You'd better hurry…' and pictured Maya sporting only Klaus's cravat, his boxers held between her teeth. Had he forgotten to put them on? He shifted on the couch. Surely enough, he'd left his underwear in the bathroom in his haste to get Marian to leave. In the image, Maya was positioned so that he could outline the smooth curve of her body as she leaned against the wall, leftover water still dripping down her pale skin. Klaus felt himself getting hard again.
"I'll just have to tell him all of this," Marian slapped his hands on his knees in determination, and Klaus thought he was finally going to be free, when all of a sudden his shoulders slouched again. "But how in the world am I going to even start?"
Another buzz. Maya. Image file Attachment 1.
"Your client is quite the pest," Marian noted, startling Klaus. He pressed the phone into his chest to hide the screen from view.
"Yes, this one is a bit needy," Klaus agreed, trying to hide his smirk. "It seems I'm the only one who can fulfil those needs."
Marian, oblivious to Klaus's clever wordplay, shook his head.
Once Marian began talking again, Klaus risked a peek at the latest picture. It was captioned 'If you don't get in here soon, I may have to take matters into my own hands…' and as his eyes scanned the screen, he knew he had to get Marian out. Maya lay on the floor, her hair fanned around her head like a halo, her right hand sliding down the length of her body to a destination he couldn't quite see, but from the look on her face he had a fairly decent guess. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth, her head tilted back in ecstasy, her eyes squeezed shut against the pleasure. Klaus felt heat pool in his stomach.
"Well I can see you have a lot of work to do," Marian sighed, pushing himself up from the couch. Klaus waited until Marian was almost to the door before following him, in case his friend caught sight of the large bulge in his pants. "Thanks for listening, dear. I'm sorry for interrupting your day off."
"Think nothing of it," Klaus assured him. He felt guilty for not giving Marian his full attention, but he would have to make up for it later. At the moment, a certain young farmer was at the top of his priority list. "I hope everything works out for you."
Marian shrugged, and set off for his house.
Klaus made sure to lock the door behind him, pushing over the bolt for extra security. He quickly tapped a message to Maya.
'You'd better not have clothes on…'
Pocketing his phone, Klaus made it exactly three paces from the door when another knock sounded.
Klaus groaned. What had Marian forgotten? He pulled out his phone again to let Maya know that he was going to be just a few more minutes and was met with a playful 'Can I keep the cravat?'. He smirked, told her that yes, he'd prefer it if she did, and pulled the bolt.
"Marian, I understand you're distraught, but you really should be talking to Theo about all of this and not me-"
Klaus froze, nearly choking on his words. It wasn't Marian.
"Howdy, Boss. Long time no see."
Klaus felt the colour drain from his face. He hadn't experienced this feeling of dread in many years, and he hadn't missed it. All at once he wanted to scream, to run, to disappear altogether, but he could do none of the above. Faced with the two men on his doorstep, Klaus could only stare.
Two men. Both were younger than Klaus, but only by a few years. He hadn't seen them in a long time, but it was impossible not to know them.
Nathaniel: shorter, stocky. He had blond hair stained with ugly brown strands, shorter than the near ponytail he'd had in his youth. Brown eyes. The whites had turned the colour of curdled milk, spidery veins creeping towards his irises. His teeth were yellow from years of smoking, his skin papery and dotted with impurities. He hadn't taken care of himself, not in terms of personal hygiene, but his clothes were presentable. He wore a thick work shirt, blue and buttoned, tucked loosely into a pair of kaki pants. The pants were speckled with dirt, but otherwise they appeared to be well maintained.
Everett: average height, lanky. His dark brown hair was just as thick as it had been years ago, groomed into a flowing curl on top of his head. He had a thick beard to match his hair, pale blue eyes shining out from beneath bushy eyebrows. He was tan, though not from the sun. His clothes were reflective of a higher end lifestyle- he wore dark, expensive looking jeans and a pale pink button up that he covered with a fitted suit jacket. Twirling a cigar nervously in his left hand, his eyes wavered from Nathaniel to Klaus, even after all these years unwilling to make a move before his partner.
"Well, this is certainly a surprise."
Klaus dug deep into his gut, pulling free the streetwise characteristics that he'd buried there. He donned a smile, a genuine showing of teeth and pleasantness, but maintained a cautionary glint in his eyes. It was a talent he'd perfected many years ago- intimidation through the guise of manners.
"What brings you gentlemen to Oak Tree Town?" Crossed arms, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe. Aloof, but a firm display of 'you are not welcome here'.
Nathaniel showed his teeth as well, slipping his hands into his pockets in a gesture of submission.
"We were in the neighbourhood," He drawled, tripping over his w's. Nathaniel had had a lisp when he was a child, and he'd never fully shaken it. "Heard someone mention your name. I didn't know this was where you settled, Boss."
"I haven't gone by that title in a long time," Klaus quirked his lips. It wasn't an invitation for Nathaniel to stop and call him by his first name. "But yes, I settled here. Years ago, in fact."
"You don't say," Nathaniel shuffled his feet, scuffing Klaus's front step with the heel of his boot and leaving a dark streak of mud. "Seems you've done well for yourself, what with the nice house and-" He pulled his hand from his pocket, gesturing broadly to Klaus's clothes. "-the fancy dress. What are you? A prince?"
He burst into a fit of forced cackles, maintaining uncomfortable eye contact with Klaus all the while. Klaus never showed any discomfort, squaring his shoulders and smiling politely.
"Come a long way from the days when we were friends, hmm."
Klaus dipped his chin, saying nothing.
"Oh, come on Boss," Nathaniel clapped a hand on Klaus's shoulder, feeling the rigidity and having to resist the urge to recoil. Klaus couldn't scare him away, not this time. "Lighten up a little, eh?"
"What do you want, Nathaniel?"
Klaus's voice dropped the guise. His smile disappeared, shrugging out of Nathaniel's grip with grace. Pulling himself up to his full height, he met the shorter man's gaze with a cold, calculating stare that earned him his old reputation.
Nathaniel's smile didn't waver. He dropped his palm from Klaus's shoulder as it was made clear the contact wasn't met with welcome.
"Just… visiting an old friend." He smirked, his eyes darting to the floor and then back to Klaus's face. "And his woman, it seems."
Klaus's heart skipped.
He wouldn't give Nathaniel the satisfaction of seeing him panic, in any small way, but he simply had to see what had given away Maya's presence. She wasn't here, not in any visible way, at least. So, what-
Her boots.
Klaus had kicked them out of Marian's sight, but not out of view of the door. Nathaniel was observant, he always had been, so of course he noticed. Damn.
"I never thought I'd see the day you'd settle," Nathaniel grinned wickedly, glancing at Everett who, until this point, had been awkwardly kicking the ground. "Not after the string of women I've seen you get through."
Klaus bit his tongue, ignoring the bait. He didn't know exactly what Nathaniel and Everett were up to, but he wasn't going to play into it. He took a step backwards into his house, a move that was far more submissive than he would've liked, but he was done with this back and forth.
"Thank you for stopping by," He said, maintaining steady eye contact and a firm tone. Nathaniel and Everett accepted the act, stepping away from the doorway and into the street.
"Any time, Boss." Nathaniel whistled, turning in the direction of the Trade Depot.
When he was sure they were leaving, and not planning on doubling back when he went inside, Klaus swung the door shut with a quick snap and shoved the lock over.
What the hell was going on?
He hadn't seen or heard from Nathaniel and Everett for many years- not nearly long enough it seemed. Now, out of nowhere, they show up on his doorstep bringing with them a torrent of implications that Klaus couldn't even begin to sort through.
He fell back onto the couch, his head swimming and his neck in the worst pain it'd been in since he injured it lifting crates of stock one particularly busy Summer.
Cruel irony. That must be what this was. Klaus had focused so hard on burying a side of him that he never wanted anyone else to see, and now that he was faced with explaining himself he was thrown back into the thick before he had a chance.
Klaus felt sick. His stomach churned and frothed, threatening to spill. Now he really did need a drink.
"I know good things come to those who wait, but I think this is getting a bit ridiculous, don't you?"
Klaus started at the voice coming from his bathroom doorway where Maya stood, arms folded over her chest and regarding him with an amused smirk. Immediately he felt guilt and realisation wash over him in waves.
"Maya, I'm so sorry," He apologised profusely, his pale cheeks turning pink. "I didn't mean to keep you waiting, I just-"
"You forgot," Maya shrugged, fighting laughter. She was dressed now, her damp hair pulled away from her neck in a messy ponytail. "It's ok, I was just teasing. I thought something might've happened so I came out to see if you were ok."
'Something' was an understatement, to be sure.
Maya rounded the couch, getting her first real look at Klaus's expression, and immediately she dropped her smile and donned a worried frown.
"Are you alright?" She asked, coming to sit next to him on the couch. She pressed her palm against his forehead and cheeks, her frown deepening as she did so.
"Klaus, you're all clammy." Maya straightened, looking for a cloth she could run under the sink. "Are you feeling ok? You look really sick. Should I get Marian to come back-"
"No!" Klaus exclaimed suddenly, catching her wrist as she began to flutter about his house. Maya looked like she wanted to argue. "I'm fine love, really. I think I'm just coming down with a cold, that's all."
"Would you like me to make you some soup?" Maya offered, running her fingers soothingly through his hair. Klaus closed his eyes, relaxing under her touch. "Or tea? Just tell me what I can do, ok?"
Klaus fell silent. He wanted to tell her that all he needed was her presence, that all he wanted was to feel her curled up next to him as he sorted through his thoughts. Or better yet, as he forgot that anything else in the world existed outside of the two of them.
"I think I'm just going to get some rest, actually." He said instead, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry to invite you over and then ask you to leave so soon, but I'd rather you not catch this if you can avoid it."
"I don't mind," Maya insisted, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I have an excellent immune system. Besides, I really don't want to leave you alone like this."
"I'll be fine," Klaus assured he. He hated doing this to her- the last thing he wanted her to do was leave, but one thought continued to assault his mind. What if Nathaniel and Everett came back?
Seeing Maya's boots was one thing, but seeing her? Seeing her face? Identifying her as someone they could seek out without Klaus? He couldn't allow it. He simply couldn't.
"Go home, Maya." Klaus gripped her hands, hoping to comfort her into believing that he wasn't trying to be callous or rude. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, alright?"
Maya hesitated. Something was nagging at the back of her mind, screaming at her that something was wrong, but if Klaus wouldn't tell her then there wasn't much else she could do. Gathering her bag and her sweater, she began to leave.
"If you need anything, please call me," She told him, nuzzling the side of his head gently with her nose. "I don't care what time it is, anything you need I'll be right there."
"I love you."
Maya paused with her hand on the doorknob. Something about the way he said it made her uneasy, but again she couldn't put her finger on it. With a steadying breath, she stepped outside.
"I love you too, feel better."
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