Chapter 18

Her heart and gut were telling her to do this, that there couldn't possibly be anything wrong for wanting this. But her mind was yelling at her, her subconscious almost pleading with her not to do this. Caroline shifted her way through the crowd that had gathered from the market into the grill. As she walked she could feel Stefan's eyes following her and questioning her. No one else would pay any attention to them, why should they? People were always wrapped up in their own personal white picket drama to take note of their neighbours.

Caroline made her way over towards the woman's restroom. She opened the door and peaked inside. It was empty, she entered and Stefan followed suit and locked the door behind them. She made her way over towards the counter and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. If she had still been human, her cheeks would have been flushed pink but even now she could see the faintness of a blush on her cheekbones. When she turned her grey eyes away from her own reflection, she saw him standing behind her, looking at her in the mirror like he was trying to figure out what was going on in her head. She shifted uneasily side to side as she gripped the top of the counter.

A year ago she had been in here with Matt. They had made up after a stupid fight. Looking back on it now it seemed dull and pathetic. Yes it was a sweet love, nothing more than that. This was why it was so easy for her to walk away from him when all was said and done between them. Then with Tyler she had pitied him, felt sorry for him and his circumstances, it wasn't until he had kissed her that she had felt anything romantic towards him, she had never felt like this before. It was unpredictable, scary, exhilarating and wrong. However Caroline couldn't deny it, this thing between her and Stefan had awoken something in her that she had always wanted to have.

Caroline turned and faced him. She could see the uncertainty in his eyes but at the same time she could see that he was conflicted as well.

"Caroline ..." He whispered.

Caroline moved forward and placed her hand over his mouth to keep him quiet.

"Don't speak." She whispered back, breathing deeply.

Caroline didn't want to hear his doubts or his concerns. She just needed this moment to be with him. Not as ripper but as Stefan. The man that she had seen over a year ago , the one who got her all excited just at the prospect of dating him. Perhaps it had been idol worshipping then but the feelings had never diminished, they had only gotten stronger. But she had always buried those feelings, hidden them under insecurities and loyalty to her friend. This time however she wasn't going to deny what this was. She was just going to do what her instincts told her to do.

She moved her hand away from his mouth and wrapped her arm around his neck. Her breathing deep and in sync with Stefan's own heavy breathing, green eyes looking into grey eyes, the questions in both their eyes evacuating when they stared at each other. Whether it was right or wrong, they both knew that nothing was going to stop this between them.

Stefan dipped his head and kissed her. He'd wanted to do this for so long; he wanted her and nothing else for these last two days. A mad impetuous hunger over took him and he was powerless to control it. Caroline could feel the roaring in her ears, the fire of lust or love spreading through her veins till they reached her toes.

Stefan felt as if he had to convince her with his lips, to convey how deep his feelings were for her. The taste of her alone drove him crazy, made his whole being quiver with need. Her arms fell down from his neck until they fell on either side of his bicep. Her nails digging into his flesh as small whimpers escaped from her mouth.

Stefan moved his arms on either side of her waist and lifted her onto the edge of the counter. Instinctively her legs wrapped around his waist as he ran his hand through her blonde tresses. He pulled back from the kiss, dragging in lung fills of air as he looked into her feverish face. The question was on his lips but Caroline answered him before he could voice it.

"I'm sure." She answered.

He leaned down and captured her lips again, his fingers toying with the thin straps of her dress as he broke the kiss and placed feather like kisses, along her jaw all the way down to her collarbone like a sensual journey.

Caroline fisted her hand through his hair, pulling with sharp tugs as she whimpered out uncontrollably in pleasure. There last two encounters had been hard, fast for instant gratification. There had never been this slow burn of foreplay. Slowly his hands had descended down to her knee's rubbing the smooth soft skin he found there before inching his way slowly up towards her thighs. His kisses moving down towards the valley of her breasts, never faltering as he did so.

Her hands were beginning to work on the zip of his jeans when all of a sudden they heard the door of the bathroom rattling. Someone was trying to get in. Stefan pulled back and glanced wide eyed towards the door.

Caroline lifted herself off the counter and glanced towards, Stefan who was panting slowly as he looked at her. They quickly righted themselves but Caroline swore that she still looked dishevelled and unkempt. They quietly moved towards the door, guiltily. She could only hope that whoever was on the other side of the door wouldn't think twice about what had happened in a locked bathroom.

When they both reached the bathroom door, Stefan turned to unlock it. Slowly the door proceeded to open. Caroline glanced down at the floor in shame, however when Stefan didn't move Caroline looked up into his face and saw that his face was ash white. Caroline glanced into the door frame. Her stomach dropped.

Elena was standing there.

"Now this is a surprise."

An: Oops seems our duo has been caught in the act. Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter – hopefully next update will happen this Thursday.

Ps: Not nearly enough Steroline in the last Vampire Diaries episode. Although I loved how Stefan stole Caroline for a dance. Those two and their dances...