Thank you for bearing with me while I finished this chapter. I posted chapter two less than 48 hours after chapter one (I think?), so it's possible you didn't get a notification or see it on tumblr. I just wanted to flag that in case anyone walked into the sex scene from her in deep denial and got confused ;) Thanks to Morgan for beta work.


She moaned into Klaus's mouth when he pressed her against her front door, his hands wandering down her sides to settle on her hips, fingers hooking into the belt loops of her jeans to pull her closer. Caroline could hear the driver of the tow truck wolf whistle as he drove away, and she pulled back with a grimace. She felt her expression soften when she saw the way Klaus was looking at her. His eyes were soft, a small smile curling his lips. Even in the low light of the porch lamp she could see that his cheeks were flushed, his pupils blown out. "All right, love?"

"Yeah," she gasped out, the gross tow truck driver forgotten the second Klaus's lips and teeth touched the exposed part of her neck at her answer, her head clunking against her front door. She let out a soft whimper when his hand brushed along her ribcage in his haste to pull her flush against him, hissing in a breath.

"Sorry, sweetheart," he said hurriedly, taking a step back. "Forgot."

"It's fine," she said, her breathing ragged, heart still racing in her chest. "Here, I'll just... Let me unlock the door."

"I'll be more gentle," he assured her, his hand ghosting along her spine as she fumbled with the key, her skin lighting up at the light touch.

"What if I don't want gentle?" she asked, flashing a smirk over her shoulder as she finally got the door open. He reached to mold his palms to her hips, huffing when she playfully batted his hand away. They stumbled through the door as soon as it opened, Caroline's bag falling to the floor with a loud smack of leather against hardwood. She sucked in a sharp breath when he turned her around to pull her flush against him, her palms landing flat on his chest. She tipped her head back to let him press his mouth to hers, mapping the lean muscles with her fingertips, kissing him frantically. Klaus kept his hands to uninjured areas, his thumbs stroking the curve of her hipbone and the small of her back before wandering down to cup her ass, squeezing it lightly to make her moan. It took all she had to pull away instead of letting him lift her up and wrapping her legs around his waist.

Now that they were inside in the light, she was suddenly aware that her clothes were soaked through. Her white top was dripping water down her arms, the transparent fabric exposing the outline of her bra. It was one of her older ones, the nude lace fraying at the edges. Klaus didn't even seem to notice, his eyes fixed on her face as he fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

His skin was still damp from the rain as well, and when he shifted his weight from one foot to the other she realized that his jeans couldn't be comfortable. "You should take off your clothes. You're dripping all over my floor," she said, her gaze not faltering when he stared her down with a raised eyebrow.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were just-"

"Obviously I'm trying to get you naked," she cut him off impatiently, already reaching for his belt to help, faltering when he grabbed her hands, squeezing them in his. "Unless you don't want-" she started before he interrupted her with a fierce kiss, his teeth nipping at her lips, making her moan and melt into him.

His voice was gruff and low when he pulled back "Oh, I do want, sweetheart. Trust me. But not here. Bed."

"Fine," she said, shrugging, reaching to pull her top off and let it fall to the floor before bending to unbuckle her wedge sandals. "But get your wet clothes off first."

"As the lady wishes."

By the time she stood to wriggle her jeans off he was fully nude, unashamedly watching her as she bent over to peel the fabric away. "You're beautiful, Caroline. Truly."

There was something in his tone that made the pretty compliment seem like more, somehow, but she wasn't about to inspect that too much. Sure, Klaus made her feel...things, but she doubted he felt the same. He'd basically been blatantly checking her out for months now, had definitely been waiting for a chance to get her out of his system before he left for his probably-incoming fellowship and high-flying New York life.

Plus, something told her that Klaus knew what he was doing, possibly more than the boys she'd hung out with at Whitmore, and she was happy to enjoy the ride while it lasted.

"You're not so bad yourself," she said, laughing when he grabbed her hands to tug her forward, bringing them chest to chest and capturing her lips with his again, his hard cock pressing insistently against the inside of her thigh. They stumbled a few feet before Caroline broke away, still slightly breathless, and pulled him towards her bedroom. "I'm on the pill," she said, her voice breathless. "But I have condoms in the bathroom if you haven't been tested."

"Clean bill of health," he promised, letting her pull him down onto the bed and beginning to kiss down the side of her neck to her collarbone. "But you should be on top, love. So as not to disturb your injury."

Well, she wasn't going to argue with that.

"Get on your back, then," she said, sitting up on her knees and reaching down to take him in her hand, meeting his eyes briefly and waiting for his nod before she began to stroke him, shifting forward and grinning when she saw his eyes drag up and down her torso, his hands finding her hips to steady her. She lined him up with her entrance, her eyes closing as she sunk down onto him, her head falling back.

She moaned when she felt his hands begin to knead her breasts as she rolled her hips, him meeting her movements to find an easy rhythm that felt natural despite it being the first time they'd really allowed themselves to touch each other. She shivered when his palm dragged down her stomach before his finger found her clit, rubbing it in tight circles that made her whimper.

"Look at me, sweetheart," he demanded, smirking when she did, his dimples cutting into his cheeks. "You're so lovely, all flushed and wanting."

Biting back a grin, she reached to press her palms on his chest to balance herself as she continued to move with him, the throb at the apex of her thighs growing more insistent as he built her up with his fingers and his cock. "God, you're good at this," she murmured without thinking about it, her head sinking to hang between her elbows as she rode him, his thumb still making insistent circles around her clit.

She didn't have to look up to see his smug smirk. "I'm quite good at everything I put my mind to, I think. And right now, that's making you come apart for me."

She scoffed, but it just made him smirk wider, the twist of it mischievous, and she wasn't surprised when he reached around to pinch the flesh of her ass gently, the jolt of pan making her clench around him.

"Rude," she scolded, the word breathy and not nearly chiding enough, and he chuckled quietly.

"You don't like it?" he asked, the low, tempting tone sending a shiver down her spine at the promise of it.

"I don't...not like it," she allowed, moaning when he pinched her clit gently between his fingers, her breathing beginning to grow ragged. "Fuck, that feels amazing."

"Good." His eyes were glued to her as he seemed to note all of her reactions, the way that she shivered when he stroked the curve of her hip, how a light tug of her hair made her moan softly as much as she tried to restrain it.

She couldn't help but want to learn more about him in turn. As she watched the flutter of his lashes when she raked her nails down his chest, she vaguely wondered whether she'd be able to get him out of her system in just one go.

Every time he brushed his fingers against her skin, all she could think about was how she craved more of it. More of him. If she wasn't careful, she could easily convince herself that just one night with him wasn't enough.

"You close?" she breathed, feeling her high approaching as he began to rub her clit a bit more insistently, his cock hitting just the right spot within her with every thrust.

He nodded, eyes still fixed on her face, his other hand cupping one of the cheeks of her ass, his nails digging in for just a moment to make her moan. "Like that, love?"

"Yeah," she managed to say, nodding frantically. "Do it again."

He did, grinning smugly as she fell apart around him, her fingers curling into the lean muscles of his chest. He came moments later with a soft groan.

His hands immediately found her hips when she rolled off of him. As she settled onto her back, he slung his arm around her waist just shy of her injury, his index finger tracing nonsense patterns on the soft skin of her abdomen. "Good, love?"

She hummed an affirmative, not quite up to forming a coherent sentence (and kind of wanting to avoid the inevitable smugness if she admitted that he'd kind of rocked her world, just a little).

They laid there for a few minutes, just basking in the afterglow. Her body was melting into him like her curves were made to fit perfectly against the angles of his body. She couldn't help but moan his name softly when he began to press light kisses to the back of her neck and her ears, his hand beginning to trail down to the apex of her thighs.

"Klaus," she murmured softly, smiling at his noise of discontent when she began to disentangle herself from his arms. "I'm just going to put your clothes over my shower door to dry," she said, grinning when he held fast to her hips, pulling her flush against his front.

"It can wait," he said between soft kisses to her neck.

"They need to be dry so you can go home in the morning," she said, her teeth sinking into her lower lip when his face blanked for a moment before a smile grew back, though it was less genuine than it was before.

"And if I tried to tempt you to stay in bed with me the whole day?"

She gave him a look. "The only reason you're staying over tonight is that you literally can't go home. Friends with benefits don't cuddle."

"Is that what we are?" he teased, his eyebrows raised. "Friends?"

"I mean, yeah. Aren't we?"

He shrugged, that wicked smirk twisting his lips again, though something about it rang false to her. "I suppose if that's what they're calling it these days."

"Oh, do you call it something different in New York?" she asked, letting him pull her more fully on top of him, his hands wandering to grip the backs of her thighs. "Do you have big city words simple country folk like me wouldn't understand?"

"You're far from simple, Caroline," he said, the words seeming a bit too serious for the playful jab she'd sent. "I do apologize for what I've said about Mystic Falls and the people here. I'd appreciate it if you'd allow me to start over, hmm?"

She bit her lip, an idea hatching in her mind for what totally wouldn't be a date, but could be a fun outing.

"Then maybe you want to participate in a small town tradition that's coming up?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Do tell."

"A sort of scavenger hunt relay race hybrid. It's at a picnic they have every year when summer ends and the school year starts for the kids. Do you want to be my partner?"

He grinned, his dimples out in full. "I'd like nothing more."

"Great!" she said, returning his smile. "Hope you're up to the challenge."

XXX

[Caroline][1:24am]: We're home safe

[Bonnie][1:25am]: We, huh?

[Caroline][1:26am]: yeah so i just hypothetically had sex with klaus

[Bonnie][1:28am]: Mazel tov

[Bonnie][1:29am]: When's the wedding?

[Bonnie][1:29am]: And why is this hypothetical?

[Caroline][1:32am]: Because this hypothetical sex is very casual

[Caroline][1:33am]: on the "down low" etc

[Bonnie][1:33am]: Of course.

[Caroline][1:34am]: Very not serious

[Caroline][1:34am]: because he's the worst

[Bonnie][1:35am]: But the hypothetical arms, Caroline!

[Caroline][1:36am]: i can casually like his good arms bonnie

[Bonnie][1:37am]: Yeah, okay.

[Caroline][1:38am]: He agreed to be my partner for the picnic btw

[Bonnie][1:39am]: Ah. A date.

[Caroline][1:41am]: Not a date, Bon

[Bonnie][1:42am]: Ah. Two people who are having sex doing an activity together involving lots of touching and a picnic.

[Caroline][1:43am]: The picnic is a competitive activity!

[Caroline][1:43am]: I want to win this year, Bon

[Caroline][1:44am]: and he wants to learn more about mystic falls traditions

[Caroline][1:44am]: it's not a date

[Bonnie][1:46am]: Yes, you've made that clear.

[Bonnie][1:47am]: I'll see you at your competitive team activity that's totally not a date.

[Caroline][1:48am]: Can't wait!

[Bonnie][1:49am]: Yeah, I bet you can't.

XXX

"So it's a relay race, then," Klaus said slowly, clearly still struggling to process Caroline's directions.

"Sort of! We run over to that station where we put together a wheelbarrow, and then you'll push me in the wheelbarrow to the barn over there, where we'll blow up beach balls. We'll then take those beach balls to the water dunk station. You'll go sit on the chair at the top and I'll keep throwing the balls at the target until I hit it and you fall in the water, at which point we win. Sound good?"

"Why do I have to be the one in the dunk tank?"

"Because I spent time on my hair and makeup today?" she offered with her best winning smile, her hands clasped in front of her.

His returning smirk was wicked. "I think you just want to see me get soaked with my shirt off."

"I've already seen that," she reminded him, glancing around before moving closer to nip his ear lightly. "And if you ever want to re-enact that, we're going to win. Got it?"

"I'll do my best, love. However, I must confess that I don't know much about wheelbarrow construction."

"Was that not a significant part of your New York lifestyle?" she teased.

"I'm afraid not."

"Well, now you'll learn," she said, bumping him with her shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do great. You think you're good at everything, so it's time to prove that."

He snorted. "I hardly said I was good at everything."

"Everything you put your mind to," she reminded him, scanning the rest of the picnic-goers to scope out the competition. "And hopefully you'll put your mind to kicking ass."

He grinned. "And what do I get in return for my ardent participation?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" She looked at him through thick lashes, reaching to hook her fingers through his front belt loop and tug slightly, her smirk turning wicked when he swallowed audibly. She leaned forward. "How about we go home to your place afterward to shower and you'll get my mouth exactly where you want it. Sound good?"

He hummed, smirking. "A bargain I can get behind, I suppose."

"You suppose?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

He bent to press a light kiss to her lips, his hand settling on her waist and squeezing lightly. "A bargain I'm delighted by," he murmured, pulling back to look at her with such intensity that she felt like her feet were rooted to the grass beneath her. She couldn't help but let a big grin stretch across her face, and she grabbed his hand in hers, trying to push out of her mind the little voice pointing out how relationshippy that moment was.

She tugged him in the direction of the starting line and they lingered there as everyone else lined up, Caroline checking her phone obsessively to track the starting time. When the referee finally shot the gun in the air, the whole group took off in the direction of the dismantled wheelbarrows. There were five, one for each team of two, and Caroline fell to her knees by the pieces, waiting for Klaus to sit beside her before pulling them towards her.

"Doesn't it come with directions?" Klaus asked, looking a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of parts in front of them as well as the toolbox they came with.

"No. It 100% does not. Luckily for you, I totally know how to put it together."

Klaus watched as Caroline slotted the parts together methodically, handing her tools when she asked, and when she brushed a piece of hair out of her face and caught his eye, she felt her cheeks heat at the way he was looking at her, feeling like her heart had skipped a beat. "What?"

"Nothing, love," he said, reaching to pick up the screwdriver she'd asked for and passing it to her, a soft smile on his face. "Close to done, then?"

"Just about," she said, reaching to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear and bending over the pieces again, slotting the wheel onto the spoke and twisting it to tighten the seal. She leaned back and inspected her work again. It would suck if the wheelbarrow fell apart while she was inside it. She clambered in, looking at Klaus expectantly when he'd taken the appropriate position at the handles. "We're going to the barn over there," she said, pointing at the small barn on the other side of the field.

They were the first ones done by about thirty seconds, and she shrieked as he began to push her very quickly, her hands reaching to grip the sides of the wheelbarrow as he ran. She could hear Stefan and Elena behind them, and she was thankful that Klaus at least seemed to understand that they needed to preserve their lead.

When they crossed the line marking the end of the station, she hopped out on wobbly legs, reaching for his arm to steady herself before they went into the barn.

"That was good," she said as she dragged him to the closest station, grinning when she saw that he was slightly out of breath. "Don't run much?"

"Not while pushing farm equipment," he pointed out. "More treadmills. That sort of thing. And not since I've moved here."

"Ah, fancy gym machines," she said, sending him a smile so that he'd know she was teasing and grabbing the nearest deflated ball.

She made deliberate eye contact with him as she licked her lips before wrapping them around the mouthpiece of the ball, blowing to begin inflating it. His lips twitched, though he followed her lead, blowing up his own. After a few breaths she pulled back to take a few deep inhales, her thumb pressed over the hole in the ball to keep the air from escaping.

"Tired, love?"

"A little," she admitted. "Luckily, all I have to do is throw the ball at the target after this."

"I'm honestly a bit surprised. I'm fully aware that you have extensive lung capacity-"

"Oh my god. Just blow," Caroline interrupted, shooting him a pointed glare when his dimples just cut further into his cheeks.

They finished before Stefan and Elena thankfully, and she was gracious enough to let them power walk to the dunk tank instead of full on sprinting. He handed her his phone, keys, and wallet before taking off his shirt and athletic shorts to reveal swim trunks and climbing up the ladder to sit on the little platform, looking at the water below him in distaste. "Don't worry, it's full of chlorine!" Caroline half-shouted. "No diseases. Probably."

"Let's just get this over with, sweetheart."

It took her a few tries, but she managed to land a toss before Elena, and she wouldn't deny that she felt a little bit smug watching Klaus fall into the water.

"And we have a winner!" the referee yelled, jogging over and grabbing her hand to hoist it in the air. "Caroline and Klaus! Go ahead and go to the table over there to get your prizes."

She lingered to wait for Klaus to come out, and she couldn't resist giving him a full once over when he emerged from the dunk tank, his torso still dripping. She glared at Aurora de Martel, who was looking at him like he was her next meal, though she backed off when she saw the look on Caroline's face.

"All right, love?" Klaus asked, clearly biting back a smile.

She tossed her hair, looking away from him and crossing her arms over her chest. Whoops. She hadn't meant for him to see. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You seem a bit miffed at Aurora for some reason. Can't fathom why. She's a lovely girl," he said, his smile all teeth, daring her to disagree.

"Oh, yeah. She's great," Caroline bit out, unable to come up with a compliment to send Aurora's way that didn't sound disingenuous. Why was she even trying, anyway? Klaus could flirt with whoever he wanted. It's not like they were exclusive or anything. They weren't even anything, themselves. They were friends with decidedly excellent benefits, but friends nonetheless.

As she watched Klaus's cheeks dimple at her completely obvious lie, felt the soar of her heart at his chuckle, it hit her that the last thing she wanted to be with him was friends. She'd known she liked him-fancied him, even-but over the last few months, between their bickering and bantering and his pretty promises, she'd somehow fallen hard. Really hard.

Which sucked, because he was going to move back to New York anyway, wasn't he? For the fellowship he wanted and would inevitably get? Her stupid heart could go mushy for him all it wanted, but it's not like it would be worth it to pursue anything, not when he'd just leave.

She accompanied him over to the prize table, holding his clothes under her arm while he toweled off as they walked, and he looked scandalized when he saw the prizes. A fresh-baked pie, a few gift certificates, and dinner with the mayor. "You forced me to fall in a tank of water for pie?"

"And the pleasure of winning!"

He shook his head, still looking a bit surprised, but his expression melted away when he saw her face, a dimpled grin emerging. "Well, I suppose the pleasure of beating Stefan and Elena is a prize in and of itself for you, isn't it?"

"Sure is!" she chirped, unable to suppress the grin that he was relatively non-judgmentally going along with her petty childhood rivalries. It was definitely the smoothest race she'd ever had, and it sucked that he'd be gone the next year. Of course she had to get attached to the one guy in town who wouldn't stand for getting stuck in small-town hell.

XXX

[Caroline][8:04pm]: So um hypothetically speaking

[Caroline][8:04pm]: I have a Klaus problem

[Bonnie][8:10pm]: How new and different

[Caroline][8:11pm]: Bonnie, seriously.

[Bonnie][8:12pm]: Sorry Care. What's up?

[Caroline][8:13pm]: I think I love him.

[Bonnie][8:15pm]: Oh

[Caroline][8:15pm]: Yeah

[Bonnie][8:16pm]: Is that a problem?

[Caroline][8:17pm]: We're ""CASUAL"" so yes

[Caroline][8:17pm]: It is a problem.

[Bonnie][8:18pm]: Are you going to tell him?

[Caroline][8:19pm]: No. Absolutely not

[Bonnie][8:19pm]: Why not?

[Caroline][8:20pm]: Because he doesn't like me back

[Caroline][8:20pm]: Obviously

[Bonnie][8:22pm]: Do you know that?

[Caroline][8:24pm]: I mean he said he "fancied me" but I think that just means he thinks i'm hot

[Caroline][8:24pm]: which like, duh.

[Bonnie][8:25pm]: I think that's a feelings thing too

[Caroline][8:26pm]: well we'll never find out

[Caroline][8:26pm]: I don't want to know

[Caroline][8:27pm]: I mean you said it yourself I have terrible taste in men

[Caroline][8:27pm]: Even if he does like me back it'll be a total disaster

[Bonnie][8:28pm]: You don't know that

[Caroline][8:29pm]: I don't want to find out

[Caroline][8:29pm]: This needs to stay firmly hypothetical

[Bonnie][8:30pm]: Are you sure?

[Caroline][8:32pm]: Yes. 100%


I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Did you have any favorite scenes? Favorite lines? Still enjoying the Baroline friendship? Any predictions? I'm so excited to hear what you guys think of it. I'm loving writing this story, and I'm so glad you guys liked it too.