A/N ,Hi I am back with a new chapter.

Confessions and Lies

His hands stained red and black, sweat trickled down his forehead and his marine blue eyes reflected the passion that reverberated through his soul. Music blasted behind him, unaware of his environs he painted what he felt. And he felt Caroline in every fibre of his being. She was on his mind, in his heart and ran beneath his skin inside his veins. It was a hunger, a craving and a paralyzing yearning that clawed at him always gradually taking roots inside him.

Such strong longing and yet love was a term that scared him shit-less. Caroline was his friend's fiance, his mind knew but his heart failed to accept. It was magnetic each time he was close to her, the urge to possess her was all encompassing.

The brush strokes materialized into her, the passion in her eyes, the innocence on her face and the magnificence of her form so potent and crystal.

At lunch a few days ago he had listened to her, had been her pillar of support when she had been disheartened. She hadn't shed much light on her dynamics with her father but had told Klaus that Liv Forbes was her step sister and Tyler's mother had purposely hired her to agitate Caroline.

She had leaned on him for support, unburdened herself to him and he had found that somehow mixed between all these confusing emotions that he felt for her, was his need to protect her. He wanted, no needed to safeguard her against anything that harmed her. He wanted to be there for her in fact he wanted her to need him and him only, self-centered as that maybe.

For a split second the song stopped and he heard a knock. He might have missed it if there hadn't been a pause before the second song started.

Klaus wiped his hands on a towel. Turned off his laptop and exited his studio.

She didn't know why she was standing at his doorstep and now contemplating if it was the right thing to do. Tyler was having the time of his life in New York with his father at some law conference. He had gotten an offer from one of the most prestigious law firms HarperLawson, which his father had helped him secure. He had been very enthusiastic about this position and had decided to abandon his private practice for this opportunity.

Caroline knew his parents were trying to distance him from her and Tyler couldn't see through their plan but she wasn't upset because of their deviousness she was dismayed at Tyler's careless disregard of her, he had made a huge decision without even talking to her and when she had voiced her reservations he had accused her of being selfish and jealous. And to top it of he wasn't even interested in any of the wedding plans.

After spending a fitful night she was now standing at the one place she never had thought she would come to under such duress. For a few minutes she debated going back but then throwing all caution out the window she knocked once, then twice when no one answered, she turned to leave but then the door opened. Klaus's familiar raspy voice greeted her, "Hi."

"Hey. I was just you know in the neighbourhood."

"Yeah?" Klaus was pleasantly surprised to his muse standing at his doorstep. She was wearing a frilly white shirt paired with skinny blue jeans and white pumps. Adorable was the word that came to mind when he saw her.

It was unfair how handsome he was. His signature henley this time an off white one and black jeans with a ropey necklace made him look roguish.

"Would you like to come in?"

Caroline's gaze landed on his hands that were coloured red. "I'm beginning to contemplate if it would be wise or not?"

"Just paint. Nothing serial killer-ish." He moved back a little to let her in.

"Isn't that what a serial killer would say?" She joked. The odd sadness he had glimpsed in her eyes replaced by a mischievous twinkle.

He smiled then promptly declared, "I'd die before I hurt you." The sudden intensity of his words and the passion swirling in his eyes struck her deep, a penetrating stab to her heart. That familiar tension returned, that potent awareness between them surfaced. Still standing at the threshold she felt an invisible tug towards him. He lifted a hand and brushed one loose tendril away from her face. His fingers lightly grazed her soft skin leaving goosebumps in their wake. Reminding herself that it was wrong, she moved back a step and entered his living room.

"I don't know why I'm here." Caroline confessed nervously ringing her hands. She stood in the centre of his living room facing him. He had once told her that his life didn't revolve around her and boy he had been so arrogantly wrong about that, "I feel awful and I..."

"Needed someone?" Klaus asked, it oddly pleased him that she had come to him. Perhaps in some other world she would come to him without restrictions and inhibitions but he knew it was fanciful wishing on his part.

"Sort of. I thought I wanted to talk about it but now I don't feel like it." She closed the distance between them now.

"So we won't talk about it. What do you want to do?" he suggested with a smile.

She just shrugged, a little choked up at how natural it was for her to be with Klaus. The contrary sentiments she felt in his presence constantly surprised and terrified her.

"I am saying this against my better judgement and I know you must have something planned with Bonnie but we can go window shop for your wedding dress." Klaus suggested hoping to left her spirits.

Slightly astonished she chuckled, "Are you sure you won't be bored?"

"I am sure I'll be bored to death. You have no idea how many times my sister has dragged me to one of her shopping sprees under the pretence of business. But for you anything." The last part felt like a promise, the genuinity in his voice was utterly touching.

Suddenly feeling light and comforted she agreed. "Okay let's go." Her excitement evident.

"Oh one last thing if you tell anyone about this," He ran a finger across his neck jokingly saying he'd kill her.

"Now this definitely is serial killer-ish." She remarked and both laughed.

She first tried on a beaded strapless mermaid dress in ivory. She came out from behind the curtain and Klaus lost all thought. His stunned expression delighted her. She looked ravishing.

"So?" she turned around a full circle and he saw the dress was backless.

"You look ravishing." He commented.

"But I don't think. This is the one." She remarked scrunching her nose, running a hand down the front of her dress.

When Klaus continued staring at her she rolled her eyes. "You're no help. Wait I have another one." Without waiting for him to respond she disappeared behind the curtain.

He wasn't the sentimental one, was not even an advocate for the whole institution of marriage and till death do us part, but it was something else when he saw her in a wedding dress.

She tried five more dresses and each time he thought she looked magnificent but she wasn't satisfied. One of the seamstresses then joined them. Caroline was behind the curtain trying another one.

"Sir are you here alone?" the seamstress asked. Before either could reply Caroline exited wearing a white satin trumpet dress with snug see through sleeves. The neckline was sweetheart with silver beads and sequins etched on it. If she had looked magnificent before she now looked ethereal. A fist squeezed around his heart, it felt as if it was just him and her. He knew he would come up short if he said something.

Caroline knew this was her dress. Klaus's speechlessness and the desire in his eyes ricocheted inside her. In a trance both stood rooted at their places.

"You look beautiful Mam. Oh wait isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride in the wedding dress before the wedding?" the seamstress remarked pulling them out of the trance.

"Oh he's not the groom."

"I'm not the groom." Both said in unison feeling sheepish.

"Oh I'm sorry. So are you buying the dress?"

"Ah not right now. But will you hold off the dress for me till tomorrow please?"

"Sure mam."

They sat across each other in a restaurant slash bar. Klaus had ordered a martini and Caroline a gin and tonic.

"So how's business going?" Caroline asked as the bar tender served their drinks.

"Fine for now. It's almost been two months and sometimes I still feel that I don't know what I am doing? It's surprisingly hard."

"Really I thought that's what you did, buying dying companies and reconstructing them??" She swirled her drink before taking a sip.

Klaus leaned forward now, "Yes, more or less but I think I didn't mention what I did." He stated realizing she might have looked him up.

"I was merely curious. Tyler mentioned you'd come back on business. So I just..."

"I get it." He smirked then downed his drink. His annoying smirk was infectious, Caroline found herself smiling too. Klaus ordered another drink. They were still talking when a slender brunette wearing a neon pink slip dress interrupted them.

"Nik!" she ecstatically called out and gave Klaus a giant bear hug. She continued hugging him for at least three minutes before she eventually loosened her hold and when she finally decided to let go she planted a firm kiss on Klaus's mouth, Caroline noted on a pang of jealousy.

Klaus awkwardly patted her arm, feeling as if he needed to explain the situation. "Genevieve, this is Caroline Forbes. Caroline, Genevieve." He introduced them. Genevieve noticed the hangdog expression on Klaus's face and assumed that Caroline was his girlfriend.

"Oh I am sorry Caroline I didn't know you'd made an honest man out Niklaus casanova Mikaelson." Genevieve announced, her mannerisms animated which on anyone else might have looked weird but she looked stunning. "How did you do it? I mean he is one hell of a man whore."

"Gen! Caroline is just a friend." Klaus interrupted her hoping to shut her up.

"I am sorry. I think I'll put my gorgeous feet in my mouth and leave." Then Genevieve sashyed away.

Caroline was still analysing the sudden burst of jealousy she had felt when Klaus began explaining himself, "Uhh that was a long time ago and Genevieve was a really good friend."

"You don't owe me any explanation." Her voice was sombre almost sad. He couldn't decipher what was going on inside her head, but he was desperate to know. It was imperative for him to know.

"No I..." he started again and she got up and exited the bar. It was raining outside. Drops of rain pelted her skin but it felt soothing. Klaus was right behind her. He spun her around. "Caroline wait..."

The anguish he saw in her eyes mirrored the torment of his heart. Silence etched between them, rain pouring on them, his hand on her arm burned her. He slided her closer and brushed a wet lock of her away from her face. The tension between them taut as a string as brought her closer. She couldn't pull away, his eyes mesmerising and his touch titillating.

The urge to kiss her blinded him to everything else. Klaus's one hand slid around her waist and the other caressed her cheek with his thumb tenderly grazing her lip. Her breathing hitched and her heartbeat scrambled. Just as he lowered his mouth Caroline pulled away. She turned to walk away but he grabbed her close. He could see the same unrequited passion in her eyes.

"Say it. Say it once. Please." He begged as he touch his forehead to hers.

"There's nothing to say. Don't confuse this." She jerked away.

"You and I both know it. I know you feel it too. It's not just me. This fire , this passion it's not just an illusion. I am going crazy, you make me unhinged." His words so desperate and so sincere. She couldn't move. Her eyes filled, tears fell. He caught one tear on his finger, it knifed his heart.

She shook her head and with two small words left him bleeding, "I can't."

Caroline then ran away and didn't look back.

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