AN: Part 2 to "I love you, actually" (chapter 16).
This one is even more cheesy than part 1 so I hope you're still in Christmas mood to read it :) Also, a little nsfw, at least partially.
The boiled frog metaphor I used here is most definitely scientifically inaccurate, under no circumstances try it out. Also, I have no idea how long it takes for wood to decompose (probably less than 1000 years) but for the sake of this drabble, let's skip over this issue, please?
Happy New Year to all of you!
One year later...
(Christmas Day)
Caroline was lying on the bed, observing the darkening sky as the evening set upon New Orleans. She groaned, realizing that the evening of tossing on the bed and mulling over things didn't really help her with the emotional conundrum she'd found herself in.
Staring helplessly at the sky, Caroline thought back to all that had come to pass since a year ago when Klaus had showed up at her apartment, Love Actually style.
That cup of hot chocolate she had invited him to turned into a dinner.
A dinner turned into going to the movies together.
A series of those movie dates (well, Klaus called them "dates", Caroline only glared at him in response) evolved into an extended tour of New Orleans, courtesy of the Original Hybrid.
Before Caroline even had the chance to notice, Klaus had embedded himself into her life so deeply, she couldn't imagine not seeing him or talking to him for an extended period of time.
Over the following year, she started to spend more and more time with him, much to Rebekah's chargin, who never failed to complain about how Nik had stolen her best friend from her.
Those damn Mikaelsons were quite a possessive bunch.
The problem was that, with Klaus' Christmas confession, the pressure was off and Caroline let herself feel comfortable in his presence and gradually, she let her guard down.
It was like that saying about boiling a frog - however scientifically inaccurate it was.
If you put a frog in a pot of boiling water, it would feel the heat instantly and jump out.
If you put it in cold water and gradually heated it to the point of boiling, it wouldn't notice the danger and boil to death.
She let Klaus, that adorable dimples and his constant but subtle attention sneak up on her. She was that poor boiled frog.
Terrible yet accurate metaphor.
And now here she was, staying as a guest in the compound, helping Rebekah with preparations for New Year's ball her friend had decided to throw on a whim, and spending the holidays with the Original family.
As if living in his close proximity wasn't hard enough on its own, Caroline was strategically accommodated in the bedroom opposite of Klaus' (no doubt on his insistence) and had spent most of her time at night trying not to imagine him sleeping naked in his bed just across the hall, the only night wear being the necklaces around his neck.
That she would pull on to press him against her body, the hard planes of his chest brushing against her hard sensitive nipples, his tongue…
Stop.
Bad Caroline.
Those kind of thoughts about Klaus weren't particularly unfamiliar to Caroline, although she had done her best to keep them dormant since her arrival at New Orleans. Nevertheless, ever since her slip-up at this year's Halloween party, it was getting harder and harder for her not to indulge in the fantasies of Klaus ravishing her the way only he could.
(Halloween)
The blood and alcohol were pumping in her veins, the dim lights and the low magnetic tune of trip-hop music in the underground club only adding to the liberating atmosphere.
They had gone out with intention of partying their way through New Orleans and ended up in the vampire club that was owned by Kol - the latest venture he amused himself with.
Earlier in the night Caroline had scoffed upon seeing Klaus in his usual jeans-henley-necklaces combination but now, after the parade of bizarre costumes some of the club attendees were sporting, she had to admit it was the best look on him. Besides, she hadn't worn anything extravagant either, simply posing as a she-devil in her red mini-dress with alluring cut-outs on the waist and a headband with horns (that she had lost some time ago). However, if the lustful looks Klaus was throwing her all night were any indication, she had made the right choice.
Caroline swayed her hips to the beat, tilting back her head and exposing her cleavage even more, getting lost in the music. She was well aware she was taunting him, she could feel Klaus' heated gaze focused on her as he moved beside her. Whether it was the carefree atmosphere of the club or the effects of the unnaturally long dry-spell, she grew reckless, enjoying the way she kept them both on edge.
She gasped as Klaus spun her around, his chest pressed to her back, his rough hands resting on her waist. Her muscles tightened and the arousal coiled in her abdomen in response, his hot breath brushing against her ear from time to time. They moved together in perfect rhythm, their bodies rubbing against each other, craving for more delicious friction. One of his hands dived under her dress through the cut-out, resting on the bare skin of her stomach, making her shudder. Caroline sighed and bucked her hips, grinding against his erection.
Growling into her neck, Klaus dipped his hand lower, stroking her hipbone and then skimming along the line of her barely-there thong. She arched her back in anticipation, any inhibitions long gone, the relative darkness on the dancefloor providing illusion of privacy. To be completely honest, the fact that they were out here, where everyone could see what he was doing to her, was turning Caroline on.
Sh them to see.
Latching one arm around his, Caroline nuzzled her neck to his head and then, with her other hand, grabbed his through the material of her dress and guided it towards her throbbing core. Klaus' fingertips danced teasingly against the lace of her thong, the way it scratched her sensitive skin there making her mad.
"Klaus…" she whimpered, too far gone to feel embarrassed by her pleading tone. "I need you."
"As you wish, love," he whispered back in a husky voice, his sinful tongue gliding along her exposed neck.
Clutching her muscles in anticipation, Caroline moaned when Klaus' hand roamed under her panties, his fingertips circling her clit.
"I love how wet you are for me, Caroline. So wanton and desperate for release, for all those people to see that it's me making you feel this way. Only me," he purred the words in her ear, his breathing ragged, letting her know he was affected just as much as she was.
"Only you," she repeated and he pinched her clit at her reassurance, Caroline crying out as the sudden jolt of pleasure surged through her body, the sound drowned out in the loud music and noises around them. Suddenly, she felt his fangs slightly pinching her neck, setting her body on fire. Tipping her head to the side, she encouraged Klaus to go ahead. The exhilarating feeling of her skin breaking under his fangs drew another moan from her lips. There was a sting to his bite, the burn of poison he injected to her bloodstream, now flowing through her veins like a part of her. Reaching for his hand that was still resting under her thong, Caroline clutched it in hers and led it to her mouth, whimpering at the loss for a moment.
She could smell her arousal on his fingers as she brought them between her lips, sucking off her juices and revelling in the taste. Klaus hummed against her neck in response, delicate sound reverberating across her skin as he drank her in oh-so-slowly and strengthened his grip on her body.
Feeling her own fangs emerging, the veins under her eyes revealing the monster underneath, Caroline pressed his wrist to her lips and bit. The warm sweet liquid with a slight metallic taste flooded her eager mouth. It was glorious, the way the blood flowed between them, binding them together. His lean taut body embracing hers, the tension in his muscles releasing for a moment, his arousal that she could feel as her own.
The electricity was humming in the air between them, the world around them grew silent, people vanished. When they had their fill of each other, Caroline spun in his arms and kissed him with all she got, devouring his lips with her own, hungry ones. Hooking her leg around his hips, she ground onto his hard cock, rubbing her pelvis against his as her tongue delved into his mouth. She felt Klaus' moan on her lips, his hands diving under her dress and gripping her ass.
Groaning, she leaned back and looked at his face, the heated gaze and darkened eyes promising her all kinds of pleasure. Caroline smiled and Klaus did as well.
The night was only beginning.
Groaning into the pillow in frustration, Caroline scolded herself for thinking back to that night. It would do nothing good.
She had categorized it as a lapse of judgement, never to be spoken of again and Klaus mostly complied, apart from a few lewd comments made simply in an effort to rile her up - as he very much enjoyed doing so.
Even a few days before, as they had been decorating the Christmas Tree (yes, Caroline was capable of convincing the Original siblings to "demean themselves to such an ordinary task", especially while in her Holiday Spirit Mode), Klaus would tease her with the fleeting touches of his hands. As he leaned over her while hanging the decorations on higher branches, she did her best not to sigh at his alluring scent enveloping her. The most trying moment came when he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up so that she could put the star on the top of the tree. Caroline held in a moan, the images of their dance flashing in her mind, the feel of his rough hands against her sensitive skin reminding her of all the things he could do to her body.
Of all the things he had done.
Before things got out of hand, she made her escape and headed to the kitchen.
(A few days before Christmas Day)
Rushing into the kitchen, set on getting a blood bag and calming down, Caroline stumbled as she spotted Kol.
It's not that she had something against Klaus' pesky younger brother, she had become accustomed to him over time and they had even been partners in crime on more than one ventures in and out of town. Right now, though, she needed to be alone.
No such luck, apparently, as Kol decided to talk.
"Need a break from my less attractive brother, darling? He's known to be overbearing sometimes. Or all the time," he quipped with the ever-present mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"You're one to talk," she bit back while getting the blood bag from the fridge.
"Then again, since you've started dating, Nik has calmed down remarkably, at least when it comes to dagger threats. I guess I've got to show you my gratitude somehow, what do you say?" Kol continued as if he hadn't heard her, quirking his eyebrows suggestively.
Caroline almost choked on the blood she was drinking, "Ew, not even if you were the last man in the world! And your brother and I are not dating."
Rolling his eyes very Caroline-like, Kol replied, "Oh, believe me, darling, you're dating. You may not be shagging, which is why Nik's been so grumpy as of late but you're definitely dating."
"I...we…" Instead of answering, as she could find no remark witty enough to make Kol loose the topic, Caroline just busied herself with gulping down the rest of blood.
"Seriously though, I swear I've never seen Nik so smitten. And don't even get me started on his Christmas gift for you…" he trailed off, obviously trying to pick her interest. Succeeding at it, damn him.
"What is it?" she pried, breaking every single rule she had about the sanctity and secrecy of Christmas gifts.
"Are you sure you want to know, sweet Caroline? After all, once I tell you, your life may change forever…"
"Just tell me, Kol," Caroline bit out, her patience with the youngest Original and his games wearing thin.
"Since you insist so nicely, Caroline...My dear brother is planning on giving you one of his necklaces. What's so special about this one, you may ask. Well, you see, this one is approximately one thousand years old and was given to him by Henrik. It's as close as Nik will ever get to the engagement ring if you ask me," Kol finished cheerfully, clearly enjoying the look of utter shock etched on her face.
"Nobody asked you," she whispered before flashing away as far as possible.
Reaching under her pillow, Caroline's fingers clutched around the velvet box hiding the gift Kol had told her about. She opened it slowly, holding her breath once again just as she had done this morning when seeing it for the first time. The necklace wasn't luxurious by any means, a wooden chip with some runes carved out on the front and a golden chain. The time had left its trace on the carvings, making them less distinct. Caroline couldn't imagine the level of care Klaus must have treated it with that the wood had survived till this day. The significance of this gift hadn't escaped her either and what left her heart even more quivering were the freshly etched words on the back side of the chip.
"Always and forever" in the old Norse as Kol had rushed to inform her, the echo of his whisper haunting her since morning.
Caroline may have told herself she still had reservations about Klaus but the truth was, they had been resolved right in that moment. He hadn't just given her some random piece of jewelry, it was the last remaining token reminding him of Henrik. And the fact he hadn't told her right away what the words meant only strengthened her in conviction that Klaus was indeed set on giving her time. He wanted her to find out the meaning at her own pace - too bad Kol hadn't got the memo.
Then again, Caroline couldn't help but arrive at the conclusion that the youngest Original did her a favour. She had been so set on waiting for the right circumstances and proceeding with caution that she'd missed all signs pointing to one simple fact.
The right time was right now.
They may have had forever ahead of them but what was the point of wasting it if she knew what she wanted here and now ?
With the new-found courage, Caroline sprang to her feet and headed to the en-suite bathroom.
She had a grand gesture to reciprocate and damn her if she wouldn't look her best while doing so.
Dressed only in sweatpants, his back against the headboard, Klaus was trying his best to focus on sketching anything other than a certain blonde vampire's face.
Another goal for the evening: stop thinking about her lack of reaction to his Christmas gift.
He hadn't expected Caroline to rush into his arms and profess her ever-lasting love for him but anything other than a quickly-contained blush and a muttered "thank you" would have sufficed. Instead, she had fled to her contemporary bedroom in their mansion the moment dinner had ended, before he could even talk to her without the incessant bickering of his siblings over their heads.
Just as he started contemplating a trip to her bedroom, a sound of gravel hitting the window diverted his attention. Rising from the bed, his body tensed and in full alert, he took a few careful steps towards the balcony and then relaxed as he saw Caroline, standing in the garden, a vision in a wine red coat and heels. A wave of confusion flooded him, her bedroom was just across from his (he had made sure of that), why would she need to "knock" on his window?
He was about to ask her just that but she shook her head as if to stop him and then she opened her mouth, the sweetest voice filling the silence as she sang.
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you...
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
And I don't care…*
Klaus was listening, shocked to the bones, warmth slowly spreading through his body. Then the next moment, he was leaping down, kissing her and stopping her mid-sentence.
He could hear a small sigh of relief leave her body and feel her lips stretching in a smile under his. Her tongue delved into his mouth, demanding and hungry, their teeth scraping against each other, her fingers tugging onto his hair. Their lips melted together in long languid kisses, Caroline's body fit firmly against his chest, his hands travelling up and down her back in a slow caress.
After a while, Klaus ended the kiss, nipping at her lower lip the last few times before leaning back his head.
"That was certainly a glorious surprise, love, but to what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, a wide grin he couldn't stop spread across his face.
"Well, let's just say I've reconsidered my position from last year and decided that I couldn't let you one-up me in the grand gesture and gift department," Caroline replied, something mischievous glimmering in her eyes.
"Oh, really? I must admit the gesture was splendid indeed but what about my gift, then?"
"So greedy," she muttered jokingly. "Well, it was more of a gift to myself at the time but I'm sure you'll appreciate it anyway," she said while loosening the belt of her coat, the lapels loosening just enough to reveal the peaks of her breasts covered in a taunting black lace. "I thought you could unwrap me upstairs?" Caroline bit her lip and shot him a sultry look from under her lashes as Klaus stared at her enticing figure, having realized she wasn't wearing anything but lingerie under her coat.
Her vibrant laugh cut through the night as he locked her in his embrace and wasted no time flashing them back to his room.
Suffice it to say, it was his favourite gift ever.
* All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey
