A/N- Hello, yes- my updates are taking a slight while, life is hectic at the moment and my muse less than helpful.
"Alright you can have a taste but you mustn't tell your mistress"
Katerina bit her lip to stop herself from laughing as she hovered in the hallway outside the kitchen.
Ever since Elijah had rescued Lilith the two of them had grown quite close. He fed her delicacies and bought her expensive toys, she curled up on his lap whenever he read and had stopped trying to trip him on the stairs or suffocate him while he was sleeping.
She heard Lilith's tongue lapping up the liquid offered to her before sneezing and emitting a distasteful yowl,
"Too much cinnamon then?" Elijah asked as he tossed the spoon into the sink and scratched the kitten behind the ears,
"Or not enough salmon for your liking?"
"Tell me you aren't putting fish in mulled wine" Katerina begged as she came around the corner and leaned against the doorjamb, crossing her arms,
"Poison I could forgive, but not fish"
He looks up from the kitchen counter where he is standing over the pot and smiles,
"No poison and no fish I'm afraid," he ladles some into a mug and walks over, offering it to her,
"Just red wine, nutmeg and cinnamon"
She takes the mug and sips the wine, humming with delight at the sweet taste,
"Delicious" she commends him, enjoying the warmth in her stomach. She hands it back to him and he turns around and sips from the same place her lips had touched.
She blushes at that light flirtation and breaks eye contact, moving past him under the pretext of scratching Lilith's ears.
Since Katerina had promised to return to New Orleans with Elijah, they had begun floundering romantically which was her fault. Elijah remained chivalrous as always, never pushing her for more intimacy than she was comfortable with and never showing even the slightest impatience, but she…
She couldn't bring herself to cross the Rubicon and have sex with him, she enjoyed him flirting with her and their days together but when night fell, she was always racing back to her room alone her body humming with desire but her heart terrified.
It wasn't that she didn't want to have sex with him. She remembered all too well how wonderful they'd been together, how adventurous and exciting but for some reason, the thought of undressing and showing him her naked body, being vulnerable…She kills that train of thought as her kitten purrs under her hand,
"You do remember that Lilith is my familiar and I can see through her eyes?" she points out to make conversation and he shrugs with playful nonchalance,
"For now," he teases, leaning against the counter and sipping on the wine
"But I'm only a diamond collar away from winning her loyalty"
"Lilith already has a collar" she retorts as she ladles herself a fresh mug, despite the fact that it's barely lunchtime.
Then again, when you're immortal with no day job and are essentially snowed in, day drinking is one of the only viable activities.
"I know, but I don't"
She laughs and nearly chokes on the wine, the image of the noble, proper Elijah with a diamond bdsm collar around his neck and quite possibly a leash has her pressing her hand to her mouth and gasping for air.
When she can get herself together- and the idea of Elijah as her submissive no longer has her simultaneously giggling and planning- they stand just outside the kitchen door, enjoying the serenity of the snow covered enclosed herb garden. Sipping quietly on their drinks as Lilith pounced around in the deep snow, Katerina allowed herself to imagine what the tail end of winter would be like in New Orleans. Certainly it would be warmer, with a lot more social activities and the endless stream of people coming in and out of the Bourbon St Manor.
Although their life wouldn't be one endless parade of parties, luncheons and masquerades- Katerina knew that there would be many more quiet moments like this one, for as much fun as they had rushing from one pleasure to the next, their relationship thrived when it was the two of them basking in the joy of their togetherness.
"Let's go skiing" she suggested spontaneously and Elijah tilted his head to her in consideration,
"Right now?" he questions and she shrugs,
"Why not? There's a clear run on the hill, we have equipment here somewhere and it'll be the last chance we'll have for a while"
"You've been drinking my darling" he points out, gesturing to the wine in her hand and she snorts,
"I may be human and barely ninety pounds but I can hold my liquor and one mug of wine isn't enough to put me over the limit"
He relents and goes off in search of the equipment, carrying the skis as they climbed the hill and bending down to help her put them on so she wouldn't have to kneel in the snow. She looks out over the hill behind the castle, enjoying the sharp chill in the air, the snow in her hair and the wondrous panorama of the forests and the town below.
"Perhaps I should have brought us some jumpsuits" he mutters as he slides the clasps over and she shrugs,
"People went skiing in Bulgaria without snow proof outfits until the early nineties" she says, shifting to make sure she had her footing,
"That's because they were under a communist regime" he argues, handing her the poles and eyeing the relatively small, easy hill with a cautious eye,
"Do be careful my darling"
She doesn't hear his entreaty because she's pushed off and racing down the hill, enjoying the speed and the thrill, it comes to an end all too quickly and she realises that perhaps there was some sense in Elijah wanting to wear the appropriate gear. The bottom of her jeans are soaked and the knees are splattered with bits of snow, yet she's sweating and wondrously breathless.
He slides to an enviously elegant stop beside her and takes in her messy appearance with a stern but loving look.
"Again?" she suggested, already trying to kick off her ski so he can carry them back up for her and she can tell that it's on the tip of his tongue to deny her but she gives him a full-watt smile and knows that he'd never refuse her, not when they're this happy after so long.
Yet when they do reach the top of the hill, Katerina panting from the exertion, Elijah does grip her knee with his hand to hold her firmly in place while he kneels in the snow and slips her foot back into the ski so that she can't push off before he's ensured her safety.
"Be careful" he instructs, slapping a hand on her stomach to hold her in place,
"Darling, you might not be drunk but you're hardly sober and definitely human…"
"Witch" she corrects him, "I'm an evil witch remember? The familiar, the idolatry of the gods…"
"I keep telling you that Dior and Louboutin do not count as gods" he argues crossly, annoyed with her cavalier attitude for her own safety,
"And even the most skilled witch can't heal herself of a broken neck so I am asking you to please…"
His hand is firm against her stomach, she can feel his fingers and palm through her cardigan and the remembered pleasure of him holding her is combining with the mulled wine to make her even more light headed.
She squirms and his hand snaps back instantly, as if he'd entirely forgot their new boundaries regarding intimacy and she can see him swallow back any further entreaties for safety measures before she pushes herself forward and is once again flying down the hill.
The trees blur into a swirl of brown, green and white, the snow is an endless field of white and the wind is biting on her ears, neck and hands.
She loves every minute of it.
Except this time, her left ski catches on something and she loses her balance, she wrenches her leg and reacting instinctively, falls backward and rams her fists into the snow to hinder her descent. This happens in a matter of seconds, not even a half a minute and her vision spins so she flops onto her back and breathes deeply, closing her eyes so the world will stop wheeling around her.
"Darling? Ekaterina?"
Elijah sends a flurry of snow flying as he flashes to her side and his hands hover over her, searching frantically for any sign of injury,
"Tell me you're not hurt" he begs and she deigns to open an eye,
"Well…I have a neck injury from a little while back" she jokes with dark humour,
He glowers and huffs, "That is not funny!"
She smirks, "No, neither is the fact that we've both got snow down our shirts"
It takes him a moment to catch on but her fist is already sliding past his collar and opening to release the lump of ice onto his chest. He growls in annoyance but scoops her up so that she's resting her body on his, protecting her from the snowy ground. Her laughter trails off as her legs press against his and she props herself up with an elbow on his chest, gazing into his deep, kind eyes.
Before she could stop herself she leant down and kissed him sensuously, their lips parting and tongues rubbing against each other leisurely, a lock of her wet hair ruins the moment by falling across the bridge of his nose and he grunts with surprise but as she ends the kiss and pulls back, he reaches up and tucks the lock back behind her ear.
The touch seems fragile and new, tender and sweet and she finds herself wondering if this is how it would have been like to kiss him back in 1492.
He's watching her now, his expression patient and loving, she knows that if she moves away now that he shan't hold it against her or protest but offer her his hand and walk her home chivalrously.
Yet, she isn't as afraid of intimacy as she has been since their reunion, for now, she's living in the moment.
So she ducks her head and kisses his jaw, the stubble tickling her lips,
"Hi" she whispers suddenly shy.
"Hello" he murmurs back, reaching up and teasing his lips against hers with the ghost of a kiss she had long since considered one of his signature moves.
It always left her wanting more and that hasn't changed, she chases him and cups his cheek as her tongue darts in his mouth, their bodies move together and she realises that there is few layers of clothing between them.
"Are you cold?" she asks softly, trying to keep a straight face, he shakes his head despite the fact that he's lying on the ground so that she doesn't have to,
"Not at all"
"Oh, how about now?"
Elijah chuckles as the handful of snow shoots under his shirt and lands on his stomach,
"This is really my fault for trusting you around such easily accessible muck" he sighs as his arms wrap around her waist and shoulders, holding her against his chest as she throws him a flirtatious smile,
"You should know me better"
He rolls his eyes and his hands twitch, "And you should know that the ice hole where I go fishing is not even a mile from here"
Her eyes go wide and she tries to scramble off him but he's flashing to his feet and has her in his arms, carrying her bridal style as he strode through the forest. She struggles but his hold is tight, even as his thumbs caress her through her shirt and jeans.
"Don't you dare" she shrieks as they approach the cut hole in the river,
"Your hair is absolutely filthy my darling" he jokes as he shifts his hold on her,
"Not to worry, a quick rinse should do the trick"
He bends down over the hole and she squeals playfully, her hair just dangling over the icy water as she clutches his shirt with both hands,
"Mercy" she begs as he crouches, and Elijah pretends to consider before slowly stretching himself up and juggling her so that she's propped up his arms.
"For a kiss" he demands and she complies, lifting her head letting him plunder her mouth passionately.
She can feel his hand curled under her arm and reaches up, linking their fingers together before drawing it down to her breast. He seems surprised but quickly cups and squeezes the globe as she releases him only to reach down and pull her shirt out of the way and tug her bra down. She gasps into his mouth when the cold air lands on her breast and the nipple hardens in protest but Elijah's hand quickly covers it massaging the skin as his thumb flicks over her nipple.
Suddenly he breaks the kiss and she pouts but in a fluid motion he tosses her up and catches her around the waist, holding her upright so she can wrap her legs around him and lock her arms around his neck. She stares into his eyes and sees the familiar sight of lustful passion, they kiss again and his hand returns to her breast, playing with his again before he replaces it with his hot mouth and she bites her lip with a breathy moan.
His hands shift from her waist to her back and then down under the band of her jeans and panties to cup her arse and press her more firmly against his trousers where she is definitely not feeling a role of quarters.
There's a flash and suddenly she's pressed up against a tree, the leaves above rustling with the impact and snow cascading down onto their heads as the bark presses into her back while Elijah continues to hold her tightly against his front.
She breaks the kiss for air and gasps when he slides a knee between her thighs to prop her up while she reaches down and unbuttons his trousers so she can slip her hand in and stroke his hardening length.
"Oh…you're hands are freezing" he groans, his body alternating between arousal and shock from the cold, Katerina blushes guiltily,
"Is it killing the mood?" she asks and he quickly shakes his head,
"Embarrassingly enough, not in the slightest" he glances down,
"I'd have thought I would have more restraint than that"
She laughs, "Well I'm warming up at least you should try it"
She takes his free hand and guides it to the front of her jeans but he's frowning,
"Your skin should not be that pale" he notes and presses the back of his hand to her forehead,
"Darling your body temperature is far too low, we should go inside"
She grumbles in protest and gives his penis a squeeze, causing his eyes to roll back in his head before he removes her hand and hoists her back up so that her legs are around his waist and she has to hold onto his shoulders for support. She pouts and wriggles in his embrace, causing his knees to shake.
"Where is that damn castle?" he demands irritably, looking around wildly as Katerina nibbles and licks his ear,
"Elijah" she moaned, "I want you to fuck me"
He growled and bucked his hips between her legs, "And I don't want you to get frostbite so I'm taking you inside"
"But I want you to take me here" she protests, running her lips over his jawline,
"Right here in the snow like an animal"
She bites his bottom lip and finds herself momentarily back against the tree being furiously kissed while his hands fondle her breasts before he forces himself back,
"You are not getting a cold or chilblains simply for momentary pleasure" he determines,
"I am going to carry you inside, over the threshold of the bridal chamber and make love to you in your bed"
Katerina tilted her head in confusion, "Momentary pleasure?!"
He shrugged, "It's less vulgar than suggesting hours upon hours of sexual activity"
"And I can't convince you to spend even a tiny portion of that time in the forest so we can alleviate some of this tension?" she suggested seductively and for a second thinks she has won the argument when she sees his eyes flicker to the branches above their heads and try to figure out how much snow and water could possibly fall on them,
"No" he tosses her into the air and she shrieks his name as he catches her back into his arms,
"I won't be taking you in the woods like we're drunken peasants…"
"We have been drinking and we were both born peasants" she argues even though she loops her arms about his neck, and doesn't fight him,
"Except now we have a castle and several other properties, not to mention almost obscene wealth and claim titles of royalty in the supernatural world" he retorts, smiling triumphantly as he finally comes within sight of the castle,
"And people with that many bedrooms available to them do not fornicate in the woods when the temperature is below zero degrees"
She scoffs and rolls her eyes, "You are so boring!"
He smirks as he lingers on the steps of the front entrance, "I'm sure I'll convince you otherwise, perhaps when I'm thrusting between your thighs and you're begging me for more"
She bit her lip and waited until they had crossed the threshold of their home before speaking, "Confident aren't you?" she teased.
"Do I have any reason not to be?" he queried as they climbed the stairs, him ascending as gracefully as possible so that he wouldn't jolt her,
"None at all" she assured him, pressing a kiss to his arm as he came to a stop outside her bedroom door. Elijah's tongue darted out and wet his lips nervously, his breath warm on her face and his body hard against hers.
Katerina felt pleasantly liquid inside, she swears she can feel the blood pumping through her veins, from her heart outwards, her vagina is hot and tingling with desire while her panties are damp with arousal.
She's eager with anticipation but for a moment, standing at the threshold, she almost wishes she was a virgin again, that they both were so they could have a night of innocence as they discovered the world together.
Yet, she has the man she loves who respects her above anything in the world, who for her was willing to play the knight in shining armour and give her everything she could possibly want.
He glances into her eyes for final confirmation before pushing open the door and stepping inside.
Elijah carries her over to the bed and sets her on her feet beside it, his hands hovering at her arms until he is certain that she is steady before cupping her face and drawing her in for a kiss.
Somehow, the change of scenery, from a frolic in the woods to love making in the bedroom altered everything. Their bodies are still craving one another but it's less frenzied and sweeter.
He breaks the kiss with a self-depreciatory smile, "I swear that I am not a cad, but your clothes are soaking wet and likely cold my darling"
She giggles, "So are yours my lord, should we remove them?"
He rolls his eyes with a sigh, "I don't know why I even pretend to be chivalrous" he exclaims as he kneels out of habit and begins unzipping her boots,
"When I'm not even in your room a full five minutes and already undressing you"
She shrugs and pulls off her shirt and jeans with effort, the wet material sticking to her skin,
"Another thirty seconds and I'd have been the one suggesting it"
Elijah toes off his own shoes and then pauses when he sees her in her lingerie, admiring her before quickly stripping down to his boxers.
"Come" he takes her hand, kissing her wrist and leading her to the bed, sliding them both between the sheets and lying her on her back, he props himself over her body and kisses her neck as he reaches behind her to unclasp her bra. She moans in approval and bucks her hips against his, his silk boxers in no way hiding his erection.
His lips trail down from her neck to her chest and down her stomach, disappearing under the covers as he hooks his fingers into her panties and draws them down to her feet.
Gentle fingers delve between her thighs and slip inside her vagina, stroking and curling as she whimpers and murmurs his name.
"Elijah" she gasps as he splays a hand across her stomach to hold her down, "Oh I've missed this"
She comes with a moan, her feet pushing into the mattress as he slides back into view and takes her hands, holding them either side of her head as he links their fingers,
"Now" she begs with kiss swollen lips and he grins,
"As you wish"
He enters her slowly, as tenderly as possible, it's been months for the both of them and he's clearly worried about hurting her, even as her body stretches to accept him and…
Oh.
Wow.
Katerina forgot it felt this good.
"More" she demands, gripping his hands tighter, "Elijah…more"
He groans and she sees his eyes flash with blood and the black veins dance around his skin, the scent, the touch and the sight are as overwhelming for him as well. The desire to set a hard, fast pace is clear in his expression
"No" he forces through clenched teeth, "Not for our first time"
He releases her hand quickly and grabs the bedpost, his grip causing the wood to splinter and crack and through her fluttering eyelids Katerina checks the canopy above their heads and tries to figure out if there's anything up there life-threatening.
The bedpost is in imminent danger of a hard round with Elijah but he loves her with the utmost tenderness and she wraps an arm around his shoulder, kissing his lips and skin and losing herself in the pleasure as he thrusts between her thighs.
"You're not boring" she whispers as her orgasm approaches, building up slowly like a tidal wave and he laughs as he sends her over the edge and follows closely behind, finishing inside her in long spurts. He lays down beside her and she lays her head on his chest.
"If the canopy starts to come down, don't let it kill me" she jests,
"Yes…sorry about that" he apologises half-heartedly, eyeing the ruined post and the sagging material above them
"It was the only thing close to hand that I could restrain myself with"
She shrugs, "You know you don't have to restrain yourself with me right? You've never hurt me during sex before and you never will"
He runs his tongue over his teeth, "Your faith in me is noted my darling"
She sees his eyes flickering about the bedchamber and suddenly realises why it was so important for him to treat her so carefully, so gently during their love-making.
Because this chamber could have easily been replaced with his bedchamber from England all those centuries past and this could have easily been their first coupling.
She wonders if the castle in England is still standing.
She rolls onto her side and wait until he turns to face her before gathering her hair off her neck,
"I trust you my love," she promises, "With my life"
He strokes her neck but doesn't bite, "Later" he promises, "During round five or six"
She quirks an eyebrow excitedly, "Five or six?"
He grinned and with one quick move, the sheets are flying off the bed and falling to the floor,
"Remember when I promised hours upon hours of sex?"
A/N- The next chapter has Klaus, Caroline and our couple attending Carnevale in Venice