A/N: I almost got this chapter posted last night. But the mid-season finale of TO left me not knowing what to think and I had to recover a little. =)

WARNING: This chapter is a little racy. I tried to stay T/PG13 but may have exceeded it a little. Anyway, for those of you who are not fans of racy stuff, I won't judge you for skimming.

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The house was quiet as I made my way down the stairs. I paused at the bottom of the stairs, remembering the night he'd stopped me when I'd worn the blue lingerie I'd found in the same armoire. I just hoped he liked the sexy peach gown I was wearing as much. After finding the living room empty and checking the kitchen and dining room, I decided that the library would be my best option.

There was a roaring blaze in the library's fireplace and he sat facing it, his back to the doorway. It was surprising how cool the house became at night, even in this sultry city in summer. I could see the mostly empty glass of bourbon he held on the arm of the chair. Just as I thought, he was brooding. It wasn't surprising. How many nights in a thousand years had he spent just like this? Wounded and alone. True, much it had probably been because of his own actions but still…

I held my breath as I stepped into the room, knowing how volatile he could be and risking his temper. But was it so wrong to want to comfort him?

"Go back to bed, love." His voice was low and rough, maybe from the alcohol or fatigue.

"When are you coming to bed?" I asked, sounding more like a child than the sultry woman I'd planned to be once I got here.

His sigh was so quiet I almost missed it. When he didn't say anything, I walked to the high back of the chair he sat in, my hands clutching its sides as I peeked around it to see him.

"I mean, you did go to all the trouble to have my stuff moved into your room," I teased him cautiously.

Klaus angled his head to look up at me, his blue eyes were a storm of dark emotion as he studied me.

Because I couldn't seem to help it, I reached out to smooth my hand against his cheek, enjoying the way his stubble brushed at my skin. Sliding my hand up, I let my fingers slide into the dark blond locks of his hair. His eyes slid closed, the press of his lips relaxing as he leaned into my touch.

"Staying here all by yourself, brooding, isn't going to make anything better," I told him, keeping my voice low. "Come to bed. At least get some rest. I promise not to make you watch Say Yes to the Dress again."

His sensual lips curved up into a smile, teasing me with those dimples. Turning his head, he pressed a kiss to the inside of my wrist.

When his eyes opened, his gaze moved over what he could see of me anyway. He could see my arm was bare, maybe the lacy strap of the gown at my shoulder. Tilting his head, I could tell he was trying to see more of me.

"Come here, love." Gently easing my hand from his head, he grasped it tightly in his own and used it to pull me around the chair. I enjoyed the way his eyes rounded in surprise as I let him pull me before him so I was in full view. Those blue eyes smoldered as his gaze moved down my body slowly and back up.

I bit my lip, feeling nervous, wanting him to like what he saw. It wasn't like I'd ever dressed up like this and just offered myself to someone. I was used to the back seats of cars, the couch and my bed back home. It was always rushed before my Mom came home or someone pulled up in their car. I'd never actually been seduced. I'd never tried to seduce someone. Much less someone who had been around as long as he had. I stood there waiting for him to say anything, hoping he didn't find me lacking.

Still holding my hand, he pulled me closer to him, between his open legs. I was trembling as he looked up into my face with eyes that held so many emotions it made me pause. Wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer, he lowered his head, pressing it to my chest. His gesture was asking for comfort and I slid both my hands into his hair, running my fingers through the thick, silky strands. We stayed like that for some time and my body slowly relaxed.

His fists clenched handfuls of my gown at my back and I felt his nose edge along my chest just under my breasts. He inhaled, breathing me in, and the nerves started to come back not knowing what to expect.

I took a step back as he rose from the chair. He didn't let go, his gaze still moving over me with an intensity that had me melting there. Had anyone ever looked at me with such longing? Gently his hand slid up to my shoulder, his thumb rubbing small circles there and I felt the impact of that simple touch all the way down to my toes.

When his gaze locked with mine, I couldn't take it anymore. When I was nervous, I talked. Always had.

"So I take you like the gown?" I tried for my normal teasing tone but fell a little short.

"Mmmm." His other arm slid around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. "I do, love, but I'd prefer that you didn't wander about the house like this. Particularly with Kol here."

Kol. I shook my head, not wanting him to get the wrong idea about Kol's behavior with me earlier.

"About that," I started. "I –"

With a finger against my lips, he stopped me before caressing my lower lip. "Sweetheart, Kol has never enjoyed anything so much as getting a rise out of me. You'll learn to deal with him in your own way and if he ever conducts himself inappropriately with you, I will tear his liver out."

So that's what that reference meant.

"That being said, he doesn't need any encouragement. So you'll only dress like this in our room, for me."

Was it wrong of me for loving how he said our room?

His hand skimmed along my jaw as his gaze locked with mine. "Caroline, are you certain this is what you want? To be with me?"

My laugh had a nervous edge. "After everything, you're giving me an out?"

That brought out the smile I loved, those dimples. But his expression became serious again.

"I just want you to realize that I love you. In all the years I've roamed this earth, in all my dealings with a myriad of others, no one has ever moved me as you do. No one else has made me feel that I had to earn them, that I had to be the one deemed worthy. No one else has ever carried the beautiful light inside that you do. It makes me want…"

Pulling me even closer, his lips so close to mine, his hand slid into my hair.

"This is your last chance, Caroline. Because if you give yourself to me, I'll never let you go," he whispered. "I can't promise you that I'll always be the man you want me to be. But I can promise that for you, I will try."

His words seared into my being and the weight of them hit me. This wasn't a new boyfriend, a latest lover. Klaus was more serious in that moment than I'd ever known him to be. Elijah had known it would come to this and I had him to thank because he'd made me consider his brother's expectations before this moment. He'd made me consider what I felt carefully and I had. I knew what my heart wanted, had maybe wanted before he'd ever brought me to New Orleans.

Still, it was like jumping off a cliff as I wrapped my arms around his chest.

"I love you, Klaus," I told, looking his squarely in the eye. "I—"

His lips on mine cut me off, my answer accepted and my breath stolen as he dazzled me with a kiss full of fire and want. Every hard contour of his body pressed into mine and when he deepened the kiss, his tongue coaxing mine to play, I felt my knees weakening and desire rushing through my veins like a river in flood. No one had ever kissed me as he did, no one had ever made me feel so possessed, so beautiful. My heart clenched in my chest. I wanted to be his, even as I was just a tiny bit afraid.

Klaus pulled away to look into my face, a ghost of a smirk playing about his lips to see me struggling to breathe. Easily he swept me into his arms, carrying me as if I were his bride and used his vamp speed until we were at the door of the room we now shared.

Easily he opened the door, closing the door with his foot. He carried me to the huge bed I'd slept in a few nights with him. With amazing care, he placed me on it before pulling off his jacket with some urgency. On my knees on the bed, I grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it off a second later. His hands slid into my hair and unable to help it, I pulled him closer so I could trail kisses over his chest, loving the way his muscles bunched under my hands, the way his skin felt against my lips. How he smelled, tasted…

His growl was soft when he pulled my mouth up to his, kissing me until was I was breathless as he climbed onto the bed with me, hauling me up to its center. The cool beads of his necklace dropped onto my chest before his lips dropped to mine, the solid warmth of his body pressing me into his bed. His hands were sliding all over my body with infinite softness one moment, his nails grazing my skin with a hint of rough the next. My own hands ran wildly over him, over the taught muscles of his arms and back. Down to satisfy the craving I'd always had to grab his ass and see if it felt as fabulous as I'd always imagined - and it was.

My hands were captured and caged above my head one beat later. "Sorry, love, but I've waited too long for this to have you hurrying things along."

I pouted at him. "I want to touch you too," I managed in between breaths.

"Later," he whispered as his lips blazed a trail to my ear, the sensitive hollow beneath it. "Keep them there or I'll tie you to my bed."

Klaus pulled back to see my reaction to that and I must have looked properly shocked – I'd never done anything like that – because he grinned at me, his eyes still darkened with desire. Klaus enjoyed control in every aspect of his life I realized in that moment. But considering the way I was coming apart, and he'd just started, I was far from complaining.

"I'd rather not do that the first time," he whispered.

The sound I made was meant to be a scoff but came out more as a small choking sound. He chuckled darkly as his lips returned to mine, devastating me with kisses that set my nerve endings on fire. Slowly, his hands slid down my arms, down my sides. One hand was yanking at the hem of my gown, pulling it up, the other tugging at the lacy strap off one shoulder.

"You're so beautiful, Caroline," he whispered, blowing across the skin of my shoulder he'd just revealed before teasing that flesh with hot, open-mouthed kisses.

I trembled beneath him, struggling with the effort to keep my hands where he wanted them. Trying not to cry out as he ravaged me with swirls of his tongue, nips of his human teeth as he pulled the gown over my head, leaving me bare beneath him save for the white lace-trimmed panties I wore. Dipping his head, he brushed a kiss just above my navel, then kissed his way up between my breasts, up the column of my neck, up to my lips which he claimed in a scorching kiss that was full of promise.

His gaze met mine, his blue eyes smoldering. "Is something wrong, love?" he teased. "You're very … quiet."

I rolled my eyes at that. "We're not alone in the house," I pointed out. "And most of the other residents have supernatural hearing."

Klaus laughed, delighted at that admission, while I stared at him in confusion.

"I did more than have your things moved to this room while you were gone," he explained, grinding the lower part of his hard, heated body against me until I parted my legs for him. "I had Elijah's witch spell this room. It's soundproof. It's quite a useful spell given our current circumstances."

"You've thought of everything," I whispered as he continue to explore me, gently, roughly.

"I've thought about making love to you for a long time, Caroline," he admitted, lifting his head to gaze at me. The desire, the love there in his eyes took my breath away. "I'm not going to allow anything to compromise this experience. I want you to remember every moment of it. I want to burn it into my mind for the rest of my existence."

When he hauled one of my legs over his hip, he drew a gasp from me at the pressure he was exerting against me. His mouth continued to ravage me until I was a quivering, moaning mess.

"Now that's the spirit," he whispered, the elation he felt obvious in the wicked grin he wore. "Cry out, moan, scream…"

"There's going to be screaming?" I teased even as I was feeling like I was going to burst into flames any second.

"Most certainly, love," he whispered against my lips. "You'll be screaming my name. Soon."

It was promise that he kept several times…

The next morning, my eyes squinted open. Bright sunlight filtered through the curtains to burn shapes on the floor by the bed. I had no idea what time it was. I just knew I was alone at the moment. I was sprawled on my stomach in the middle of the bed, and all I wanted to do was roll onto my back to see what time it was. It took some effort, every inch of my body was deliciously sore. And I'd thought I was pretty well versed on sex. Right. After spending the night in Klaus' bed, I realized just how little I knew.

I'd loved every minute of it. I was exhausted. It took forever for me to roll onto my back, clutching the sheet to my chest, I was most definitely naked, as I went. It was three in the afternoon. I groaned, knowing that Rebekah and Kol had to be getting a kick out of the situation.

Then I remembered the witches, I hoped Klaus hadn't had a flap with Clarice because honestly, she could probably give him a hard time. But Elijah would intervene. I felt like Kol would look after them. With the witch family, he displayed protective instincts that honestly surprised me. Then I remembered the hybrid attack, Elijah looking for Hayley.

And here I was, struggling to get out of bed. So not like me…

I almost didn't see the drawing on the bed next to me as I decided to get up, get a shower. I picked it up, smiling. Klaus had drawn me naked after I'd fallen asleep – did he not need to sleep? – but as he liked everything, it was incredibly tasteful. I was curled on my side on the bed, facing him. The sheet came up enough to cover my hip, my hands were tucked under my chin as a child might do. The outline of my breast was revealed but it wasn't lurid. As he had before, he'd drawn me as more beautiful than I thought I was.

As usual, there was a note on the back in his elegant handwriting.

I have a meeting to attend at one so I'm sorry I had to leave for a while. I won't be disappointed to find you still in my bed when I return. Love, Klaus

I couldn't help but smile as I propped my drawing against the lamp on the bedside table. I knew I'd want to put that safely away after I showered but I loved it nonetheless. I decided I needed a nice scrapbook for the drawing, the one of me with the horse, more if they were to come. I wouldn't be averse to a collection. It wasn't out of vanity. I knew I'd treasure anything he drew for me, just as I had the first drawing I'd never been able to part with.

I hadn't quite made it out of the enormous bed, I was working on it, when the door opened and my new lover walked in, grinning like the Cheshire cat. He was dressed as always, looking as if he hadn't been through the wild, sex-filled night I had. He carried a mug, warm blood, and my entire being focused on it. I needed it.

There was something about his expression as he walked over to the bed, sitting on the side of it as I struggled pathetically. I stared up into his face and then I realized what that difference was. I'd never seen it in his expression before. He looked happy.

"How is my beautiful girl this afternoon?" he asked, waiting until I sat up with the sheets tucked around me. Carefully he handed me the mug, flashing me those dimples as he watched me savor the blood, putting it away quickly.

I released a happy sigh.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" he asked, concern dimming his smile only slightly.

"It's three in the afternoon and I just woke up and I have yet to climb out of bed," I explained to him as if it weren't obvious. "It's a little early to tell… if I'm okay."

Now he was chuckling at me. "Well, you're doing wonders for my ego, love. But…"

I downed the rest of the blood. He gently took the mug, placing on the bedside table when I was finished.

"But?" I had to ask.

"I have to remember that you're a baby vampire, don't I?" Lifting a hand to the side of my face, he caressed my cheek lightly. "I'm going to have to take very good care of you."

I liked the idea of being taken care of. My teen girl heart melted a little at that.

"Still, what man doesn't like to come home to find his love still in his bed, disheveled and disoriented…"

He was trying to yank away my sheet and I was struggling to keep it, laughing at him.

"Looking thoroughly –"

"Don't say it!" I cut him off.

He was laughing now, using the sheet to pull me to him. Gently he pulled me onto his lap, his hand skimming along my jaw and keeping my eyes on him.

"Did you love last night as much as I did?" he asked with gentle eyes.

I nodded. I just wondered how I was ever going to keep up.

"I love my drawing too," I whispered, pressing my lips to his. "I was thinking I'd like to get a scrapbook or a portfolio to keep both of my drawings in."

I could tell from the warmth in his eyes that he loved that idea. I hoped maybe it meant he would add to the collection I decided I really wanted now.

"We'll make a point of getting one for you," he said. "But first, let's get you in the shower."

He laughed at what I was sure was a wide-eyed expression of alarm.

"You are so not getting in there with me," I told him.

Klaus made a pouty face at me and I laughed, seeing he was teasing me.

"Another time then," he said, smirking. "I'll just help you get there.

"It's your fault I need the help." I play complained. "I've lost an entire day."

"You haven't missed a lot, love," he told me, still smiling. "Except for Kol who has waited patiently all day for you to emerge from this room. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a few dozen innuendos all ready for you."

I dropped my head, burying my face in his shoulder. "I knew it. Damn it."

Klaus laughed, picking me up, sheets and all, and headed for the bathroom.

"I assure you, sweetheart, he grows on you in time," he explained. "And if not, remember he credits you with his return."

"Very funny," I told him as he carried me into the bathroom.