Author's note: This is a sequel to Beer and pizza from Chapter 105: Part 9 - Klaroline Valentine's Day Bingo. As a former prince of hell, Klaus had been trying to adjust to this insipid planet. Fortunately, there was a perky blonde human willing to help the foreigner. She just didn't realize how foreign...
Warning: Klaroline sexytimes!
"Hell is empty and all the devils are here."
― William Shakespeare, The Tempest
He used to drink brimstone scorched with the blood of furies. But now, Klaus had been reduced to slaking his thirst upon this caramel macchiato he had discovered at the temple of the gods Star and Bucks. He lamented that emptying a bottle of this spiced juice from the kingdom of Tabasco into his cup only marginally improved the flavor. He was a prince of hell and adjusting to this world after Mikael cast him out had been an arduous task.
The soft singing coming from the kitchen suddenly made him smile — it was Caroline who had helped him. She was equal parts sunshine and wrath, a worthy human whom he intended to keep. He just needed to learn the appropriate courting rituals of her species. Klaus confidently pushed open the swinging double doors, pleased his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his forearms. Caroline seemed quite fond of studying his musculature, if her rosy blush was any indication.
"Klaus," she squeaked, hastily pushing away her talking device.
He smirked at her embarrassment at having been caught worshipping something she called social media feed when she was supposed to be preparing the day's special. His tone was curious as he asked, "These influencers among your people, the ones you follow; they are being praised and fattened before you sacrifice them to your gods, yes?"
Caroline rolled her eyes, apparently used to his strange ways by now. She often called him sarcastic asshat and he'd come to understand this was a term of endearment. "Of course. Instagram and Twitter are sacrificial altars where the masses gather to perform their sacred chanting and secret rituals."
He nodded in understanding. It was just as he suspected. Learning these earth rituals wasn't as difficult as his siblings often bemoaned. Her sweet smile made his breath catch, and that curious fluttering occurred in his chest again. (He'd once researched the troubling symptoms online and determined that it wasn't a fatal defect of his temporarily mortal body.) "Would you like to go on a picnic with me," he blurted out, inwardly wincing at his ham-fisted approach. What happened to his well-worn speech he'd been practicing?
Caroline abruptly stopped stretching the pizza dough, a faint blush staining her cheeks. "Oh! Um, I don't think that's such a good idea...I mean, you're underneath me. No! Wait! I mean I'm on top of...no, that's not what I meant." She grimaced, her lovely face a brilliant shade of crimson as she hastily clarified, "There's an imbalance of power and I don't want to take advantage. You're my employee and it wouldn't be appropriate."
"Where I'm from, the anticipation of a power struggle is quite the aphrodisiac, love." Klaus leaned in close enough to appreciate once more how the mundane odors of basil and tomatoes became intoxicating aromas wafting from her glorious skin. "In fact, it's encouraged." Despite the slight twitch of her lips, it was clear from her frown that she wasn't completely captivated by his charm — yet.
"Your stories always make your country sound scary," she mumbled awkwardly, "can you tell me something nice about where you grew up?"
Nice. Hell dimensions were the antithesis of nice. Inky black pits of despair, a well of pain in which the damned perpetually drown. Demons writhing in ecstasy along the walls of ragged, bloody flesh. "Our sun," he told her in a tone of surprise as the memory appeared unexpectedly, "it always turned copper-red when my siblings and I swam in the Great River." It was the one place they could escape from Mikael's wrath. In the churning waters, their wounds would heal; their fears would disappear. "I suppose you would say our home was a...hell. But there in the river, it never seemed as such."
Caroline was quiet as she considered his words. "I didn't mean to pry — you're very private about your past and I respect that. But I'm glad you felt comfortable telling me." She gave him another one of those smiles that caused such a peculiar reaction in his chest. She returned to plaiting the dough, creating a complicated pizza ring that had become their most popular special. He admired the artistry found within her nimble fingers. His future queen will make a fine weaver for the tapestry of cursed souls.
Klaus reminded himself to be patient; he still needed to seize the hellfire throne from Mikael. He imagined his siblings were amassing their armies to fight at his side. Soon, the war would begin. Caroline's sweet voice interrupted his thoughts as she asked, "What was the weather like? Could you guys swim year-round?"
Fuck. He couldn't recall which of this ridiculous planet's insignificant countries he'd told her was his homeland. "Yes. A southern country. Very warm." He still felt the sting of his intended queen's rejection, and busied himself looking for the cleaning solution for the beer lines. Demons would tear off a horn to give to him as a sign of affection. Furies would drag his favorites from the pit and inflict their wrath in the hopes of gaining his favor. But this stubborn mortal wouldn't go on a simple picnic with him.
The unmistakable tension was broken once Caroline finished placing the pizza rings in the oven. She seemed to be silently observing him as he continued cleaning the spigots. Was she...vexed? Hungry? Sleepy? Mortal emotions were very difficult to discern.
Her voice was hesitant as she asked, "You're just...cleaning now? You're not going to pressure me into a date...or anything?"
Klaus frowned, pausing in his vigorous scrubbing with the brush Caroline insisted be used only for the right-facing spigots (he'd already encountered her mighty wrath by using the brush for left-facing spigots). "What sort of scoundrels do you normally permit to court you, love?" Rending of flesh, grinding of bones, skinning one's victims in long, curling strips — even an amusing spot of murder were all permissible in an orderly society such as his — but one always treated a lady with the utmost respect. "You declined my invitation, so I assumed the matter was closed." For now.
"Oh, well, that's...um...good." She looked down, fidgeting a bit as she shyly confessed, "I've never been on a picnic."
That strange movement in his chest had returned. "It would be a first for me as well. Perhaps we could experience it together?" He smirked, ensuring his dimples were on display as Caroline seemed to find that feature especially pleasing. "I would gladly sign whatever oaths you'd deem appropriate regarding this intriguing struggle for power you've mentioned." He inwardly sighed. Were all species' courting rituals on this wretched planet so overly complicated and fraught with emotion?
Caroline bit her lip, thinking very hard. Finally, she shook her head, letting out a small giggle. "I'd like to go with you. No oaths required."
In his turbulent youth when this bland little planet was nothing more than primordial sludge, Klaus had been a celebrated hunter. With only his fangs and claws he slayed giants of the abyss and the leviathan of the Great River. And yet he'd been paralyzed with indecision gazing upon the vastness of the yogurt aisle at the food purchasing market. A key ingredient of this salad of the chicken had been yogurt from the Greek Kingdom. Why did Caroline's species require such a wide variety of yogurt? Mortals had very complicated nutritional needs. Fortunately, judging from the pleased noises she made as she consumed the salad of the chicken, his cooking had been successful.
He leaned back on the blanket, his gaze roaming over the tall grasses and gnarled old oaks that shaded their secluded area. Perhaps some places on this malodorous planet were tolerable. Even pleasant, he admitted to himself, eyeing the way the sunlight glinted in Caroline's golden waves.
"I still can't believe you forgot the sugar," she giggled, holding her glass of lemonade.
He grimaced, his throat remaining scratchy from the botched drink. The container clearly indicated it housed juice of the lemon. How was he to know the beverage required additional components? "It strains credulity that a beverage would require more attention than the charcuterie platter." Munching thoughtfully, he added, "This aerosolized cheese may be the greatest invention this planet has to offer."
"Spray cheese is a superior seduction technique," Caroline quipped, licking a stray bit from her thumb.
She couldn't possibly know the tempting picture she made. Minx, he thought fondly, lightly tracing circles on her open palm. She let out a delighted laugh as several ducks she'd fed birdseed earlier had waddled over to shamelessly beg for more. Caroline scattered another handful of seeds, making adorable quacking sounds at the feathered opportunists. The hellhounds will be completely enamored with her, Klaus realized. He already could imagine how his future queen would enchant the great lumbering beasts until they were nothing more than spoiled lapdogs.
"Is it working," Klaus asked wryly. At her questioning head tilt, he added, "my seduction technique."
Rolling her eyes, she grumbled, "More than I'd care to admit. I really like you but I'm taking advantage of you since you work for me."
"Then I quit," Klaus replied cheerfully, feeling his chest swell with pride. Caroline fancied him.
"You can't quit. I need you to help me with that school fundraiser we're catering. Plus, we're reorganizing the craft beer kegs according to body and palate."
He let out a low rumble, leaning in to whisper, "I enjoy a woman who takes charge." There. The tip of her tongue brushed along her bottom lip, and he couldn't resist that sweet siren song. He'd intended to deliver a gentle kiss that invited, but instead she devoured.
She gleefully pushed him back on the blanket, letting out a satisfied little purr as his fingers traced along her thighs. He smirked against the curve of her neck as he felt the slickness there. "How long have you been ready for me," he growled lowly, hands sliding down her body with a possessive gleam.
"Since you asked me out," Caroline said with a gasp as he popped open the buttons on her shorts.
His kisses grew hungry, edging closer and closer to her center as she trembled with need. Klaus toyed with the thin string of her thong, rubbing it against her folds with a delicate pressure that made her whimper. The soaked flesh tasted divine on his tongue, and he sucked and licked until they both moaned. Close. Very, very close. Yes. He felt her ecstasy give way, encouraging her to buck against him until she was spent.
"Get up here," Caroline panted unsteadily, making his cock twitch. Such a bossy thing. He lightly straddled her, freeing his aching cock. The moment she pushed up the thin material of her shirt, revealing her bare breasts, Klaus let out a strangled groan. Goddess.
At first, he tried to tease, rubbing his leaking tip along her stiff nipples, but her moans spurred him on, and soon he pushed his cock between those enticing globes, sliding their flesh together. It was the slap of skin. The slickness that followed. Those wicked sensations played with his mind while she squeezed him tight; both reveling in the thrusts that tipped him over the edge. It was immensely satisfying to see how her blue eyes darkened when his seed spilled on her skin. She liked being marked.
That exhilarating thought made him stir once more, and he had her legs spread and seated deep inside with a growl. Yes. "Fuck," Klaus murmured reverently, feeling how her walls begged for his touch. He obliged with a surprisingly delicate stroke of her clit, just enough to build more of that painful-sweet pressure.
"Klaus, please," Caroline begged, bucking her hips and drawing out their pleasurable ride.
He increased his thrusts, those delectable cries of hers making him groan. Like flying. Every day on this cursed planet made him miss his jagged wings, but in this pure moment with Caroline, he felt whole once more. Their rutting was frenzied, a furious passion that left them a tangle of sweaty limbs and ragged breathing.
"Wow," she gasped, resting a palm on his chest. "That was...I mean, it's never been like that for me." She hesitantly asked, "Is it always like that for you?"
Klaus found that he quite enjoyed the warm, delicate weight of her hand. Perhaps she desired to keep him as well? "Of course, sweetheart. Otherwise it's permissible for your lover to pierce you with many pitchforks."
He spent the rest of their afternoon kissing away her irritated expression.
The restaurant was in its usual mid-afternoon lull, and Klaus was nearly finished with Caroline's daily checklist. His future queen would be pleased to see he was ahead of schedule. He was so distracted by thoughts of how she would demonstrate her pleasure, that he didn't notice the room shift until it was too late.
A swirling, howling vortex suddenly opened, and his siblings Kol and Rebekah emerged from the towering flames in full battle armor with their leathery wings unfurled and swords drawn. As the black sludge of hell's eternal despair seeped onto the tile floor, Klaus had only one pressing concern: Caroline would be most displeased — she just mopped.
