I do not own TVD or TO. I also did not intend for this chapter to go the way it did, but really so much happened that first night.

Here is the smut warning for three different couples.

Exhaustion.

Exhaustion clung to her limbs.

It weighed down her limbs. It burned through her throat. It caused her feet to drag over the smooth stone.

It was also the best feeling in the world.

Lexa rolled onto her back and gasped. She drew in greedy mouthfuls of air that caused her breasts to rise and fall. Her heated skin glowed in the light from the fire and the candles.

Her eyes closed. She could sense the eyes turning away. Her breathing leveled out slowly. Her eyes fluttered open when she felt something cool and wet between her legs.

"Was that painful, darling?" Kol gently ran the damp cloth over her centre. There was a light pink stain on the material.

"A little," she gasped.

He brushed over that sensitive bundle of nerves and her teeth tugged on her lower lip. Kol removed the cloth and suppressed a smirk when she moaned.

"I…" Lexa clamped her hand over her mouth. A fresh flush stained her cheeks when she caught the amused twinkle in his eyes.

"Were you enjoying that, love?" Kol propped himself up on his elbow after dropping the cloth on the stand by the bed.

She mumbled the same response she had given Caroline earlier in the day. "Women aren't supposed to enjoy it."

"What was that, Lexa?" Kol lifted her hand from her mouth. "I couldn't quite make it out."

"I said: women are not meant to enjoy that," she swallowed. Her eyes drifted shut when he cupped her cheek. The truth of the matter was that she had been starting to enjoy it, but what did that say about her? Had the hunters been right when they were hurling insults at her? Only whores took pleasure in the act. Wasn't that what everyone had always told her? Wasn't that what the tutors and nuns had said?

"What do they teach you in Sicily?" Kol stroked her cheekbone with his thumb. He bent to brush his lips over her brow. "Tell me something, Lexa."

She nodded and lifted her gaze to his.

"Is it only when I'm hovering over you that you're uncomfortable?" His fingers ghosted down her slim arm. "Would you be alright on your back otherwise?"

"I think so," she frowned. It had been the sensation of being trapped that had caused her to freeze. Her head tilted on the pillow. She couldn't quite understand the change in topic. "Why?"

"Because if you do not take enjoyment from our marriage bed," Kol lifted her chin and nipped the smooth column of her throat, "then I have not done my duty as your husband."

Lexa gasped. He left a blazing trail down her chest to her breasts. Much like before she could feel heat pooling in her abdomen. Her fingers carded through his hair when he bit her nipple and soothed it with his tongue. She had to force herself to relax when he switched to her other breast; his body was beside her, not on top. Bending her knee she exhaled; she could still move.

"Are you alright?" Kol paused when her nails scraped his scalp. He would have been lying if he said he had not enjoyed the sensation, but he had a feeling she had not intended that.

She nodded and flexed her fingers before realizing he couldn't see her face. "Y-yes," she stuttered.

"Tell me if you're not," he lifted his head to meet her hooded gaze. When she nodded he shifted on the bed.

Lexa's eyes narrowed when he laid between her legs and gently grasped her thighs. Caroline's perfume placement suddenly made sense when he began to pepper open mouthed kisses over her thighs.

She propped herself on her elbows and watched him make his way slowly to her centre. A strange sense of anticipation made her abdomen quiver.

"What are you… oh…" her eyes widened when his tongue circled that bundle of nerves. A pressure began to coil in her stomach when he flicked it with his tongue. Her breathy moans filled the room and her eyes drifted shut.

"Do you know what that's called?" Kol pulled back. A smile turned up the corners of his mouth when her hips rose off the bed in search of friction.

He slid a finger through her folds before easing into her slick heat.

"No," her tongue darted out to wet her lip.

Kol swirled his tongue again. He delighted in her moan. "That would be your clit, darling. Tell me which you prefer: my tongue or fingers?"

"O-on my 'clit'," she tested the word on her tongue, "or inside?" Her muscles clamped down on his thick finger.

"Let's start with your clit," he murmured.

Lexa shivered when his breath fanned over her. "To-tongue," she rasped. "I liked when you were l-l-licking me." Mortification might have set in if he had not immediately returned to his task. His tongue swept over her clit with varying degrees of pressure while his finger crooked upwards to massage her walls.

Kol parted her lips with his hand and began pushing in a second finger.

"N-no," she jerked. A whimper tore from her throat. What had previously been enjoyable turned painful. "Th-that's too… too much." She lifted her head to meet his eyes. "Just one, please."

"Of course," Kol murmured. His tongue dipped through her wet folds, thrust inside, and circled her clit. He closed his lips over the bundle of nerves and sucked while pushing one finger inside and crooking it up again. He increased the pace of his massage when she threaded her fingers through his hair and wrapped one leg around his neck.

Lexa quivered. Her hand stroked through his hair as the coil tightened further. She could feel her thighs begin to tremble on either side of his head. She was approaching something; he was pushing her body to the very edge.

"Please," her voice came out in a breathy sigh. Lexa wasn't sure what she was asking for, but she knew he had the ability to give it to her. "Please… please… oh… oh… yes… yes…"

Her head fell back against the bed. The coil that had been forming in her core released spreading waves of fire through her limbs. From the corner of her eye she was aware of the fire flickering in the hearth.

Lexa shivered when he moved to lay beside her again and draped a sheet over her trembling body. "Should I feel guilty for enjoying that?" It was difficult to care when her limbs were so weightless; she couldn't even bring herself to care about the last pair of eyes watching them.

"No," he chuckled and wiped the remnants of her orgasm from his chin. He stroked back her hair and kissed her cheek before settling beside her.

"What about you?" Her gaze dropped to his arousal where it stood tall and tented the sheets.

"I'm fine," he hissed when her slim fingers traced the hard line of his cock over the sheet.

"That seems painful," she chewed her lip. Her fingers slipped beneath the sheet to close around him. She gasped when he captured her lips in a hard kiss that warmed her skin again. She meant to bite her own lip, but when he pulled back she caught his and drew a groan.

"Bloody hell," he murmured. What his wife lacked in experience she was more than making up for in enthusiasm; her soft lips pressed kisses to his jaw and neck.

Lexa slowed her teasing when she remembered what had happened when he'd tried to insert a second finger. She knew she wouldn't be able to take him again so soon, but she didn't want to leave him unsatisfied after he had made her feel so good either. She blushed when she remembered what Caroline had said about mouths.

Kol felt his eyes widen when she made her way down his chest.

She had snuck in after the majority of the onlookers had departed. Nobody had seen her lurking in the shadows. She had pressed her face as close to the screen as possible and felt arousal pool between her thighs while she watched the princess slowly ride him. The image was distorted through the screen, so all she could see were silhouettes unless she relaxed her eyes enough to peer through the thin slits, but that was exhausting.

She had thought she was alone until familiar arms had closed around her waist and lifted her skirt. Juices were dripping onto the floor when he'd pressed her to bend forward as Kol had positioned himself between Lexa's legs.

Kat braced her hands on the low stone wall and tucked her chin into her chest. The cold air circling her body was in stark contrast to the heat between her legs. She bit down on the monogramed lace handkerchief he had shoved in her mouth to stifle her moans.

Tiny squeaks died in her throat with each thrust of his hard shaft into her hot wet sheath. The soft whispers reached her through the screen above her head.

She wasn't sure whether his eyes were on her or the scene playing out on the other side of the wall.

His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her arse when the princess finished her descent down her new husband's chest.

Kat recognized the groan of a man having his cock sucked, and the grunt of one reaching completion. She sighed when he spilled inside her quivering core; she had been so close. His seed dribbled from her grasping cunt and slid down her thighs.

She cast him an indignant look over her shoulder and wiggled her exposed derriere. She huffed and slid her fingers inside to finish herself off when he tucked himself back into his trousers and started to refasten his laces. She smirked when he wrapped her hair around his fist and pulled her back against his chest; her skirt, which had been hiked around her waist fell back so that only her front, where she was fingering herself, was exposed.

He shoved her forward into the wall. With her cheek pressed against the screen he turned her head and ripped the cloth from between her lips. He swallowed her wanton moans and felt her orgasm shudder down her spine.

"Did you enjoy that, my love?" He breathed against her ear.

"Yes," Kat sighed. She dutifully opened her mouth when he pressed her wet fingers to her lips. Her tongue quickly cleaned the mixture of his seed and her cream from her hand. "I have to go and clean up," she whispered. Heat pooled in her stomach when he tightened his hold and ran his tongue over her ear.

"Not yet," he commanded. His hands tugged the laces free again; watching her finger herself had aroused him again. "First you'll clean me up."

Kat gasped when he spun her in his arms and pushed her onto her knees. His head fell back when she drew him into her mouth.

Adelaide ran her fingers over the edge of her apron and paced the bed chamber. She had been gone less than twenty minutes, and yet somehow Lady Elena had disappeared. She considered informing a guard, but that would most certainly lead to rumors the poor woman did not deserve. She could only hope that Elena returned before her sister.

"You know," Nik's breath fanned over her throat, "we have a bed for such activities."

"Too far," Caroline grinned. Her hands made quick work of his laces before pulling him flush against her body. Her laugh turned to a moan when he lifted her and stepped between her thighs.

"Why are there so many layers?" He huffed and tugged on the fabric.

"It's winter, Nik," she tugged until her skirts fell on either side of her thighs, "do you expect me to walk around in a shift?"

"It would be easier for when you're in such a mood," he smirked and drew her lower lip into his mouth.

"Easy is boring," Caroline licked the shell of his ear. "This is far more fun."

"Whatever you say, love," Nik chuckled and slid into her with a smooth thrust of his hips.

Elena slipped through the halls as quiet as a mouse. Her muscles ached again, but she felt a certain amount of accomplishment. She'd be able to protect herself somewhat if anyone came after her again.

She rolled back her shoulders and rounded a corner towards the apartments. Her eyes widened when she saw the couple pressed against the wall in the middle of her path. She quickly darted backwards and pushed herself against the wall of the adjoining corridor.

Elena pressed her lips into a line and slapped her hand over her mouth to stifle her loud breathing. She closed her eyes and tried to drown out the breathy moans and deep groans that floated towards her on the still air.

She jumped when she felt a hand land on her shoulder. Her fingers instinctively closed over the hilt of the sword.

Elena blinked when a large hand covered hers and held the sword in place. She looked up into a pair of inquisitive brown eyes.

"What are you doing?" Elijah cocked one eyebrow and tilted his head. "I gave you a good head start you should be back in your chamber by now."

"My path has been blocked," Elena whispered. She nodded around the corner. "What are you doing?" She squeaked when he peered around.

Elijah weighed his options. He could interrupt them with a smart remark, but that would likely embarrass Caroline immensely. Especially when he noted just how high her skirts had been hiked. The other option was probably the better choice. It had the added benefit of not having to answer the question of his presence in the corridor.

He stepped back and met Elena's wide doe eyes. A crease had appeared in her smooth brow. Without thinking he placed a hand on her elbow and steered her back towards the far wall.

Elena's mouth popped open when he pushed aside a panel. She stared in shock as he picked up a candle from a nearby table and motioned her to follow him inside. She chewed the corner of her lip as her eyes darted from him to the path she knew before she slipped behind the panel.

Rough stone walls surrounded her. If it wasn't for the wood of the panel she had come through she would have thought she was surrounded by rock. She tipped her head back and watched the candlelight flicker over the hollows in his cheeks.

"Are you going to kill me and hide me in the walls?" She arched a brow and followed him through the dark passage.

"Oh no," Elijah shook his head, "if I was going to kill you I wouldn't leave your body here. Someone would stumble on you eventually."

Elena suppressed her smile, but amusement still leaked through her tone. "What is this?" She nodded to the walls.

"Tunnels," he paused at a fork, "they run through the castle." His eyes darted down each path.

"Are you lost?" Elena followed his gaze.

"No," he shook his head and smirked, "I know precisely where I am."

"Do you know where you're going?"

"That's not what you asked," Elijah watched her over his shoulder when he finally chose a tunnel.

"What is it with men and never admitting when they're lost?" She crossed her arms and smirked.

"I cannot believe you would accuse me of being lost," he gasped and spun on his heel.

"You've led us into a labyrinth," Elena pointed to the many branching tunnels.

"That one leads to the stables," Elijah nodded to a dark tunnel. A draft blew in and sent a shiver down her spine. "Where is your chamber located?"

"Three down from your sister's," Elena drew her cloak around her body.

"In that case it should be right over here," Elijah ran his hand along the walls.

Elena tiptoed passed three more tunnels before he came to a stop. The stone cut off abruptly to reveal a strip of wood that was just large enough that he would have been able to slip through. Elena watched him run his hands over the edges of the wood until she heard a tiny click. The next thing she knew the wood was being pushed aside to reveal her empty bed chamber.

"No wonder I'm always cold," Elena stepped through and peered back through the opening in her wall where Elijah was now leaning. She ran her fingers over the smooth edges of the hidden door.

"At least you know there is another way out," he watched her bright eyes.

"I also know that there is a tunnel leading to my room," Elena deadpanned, "and apparently other people know about it."

"There are very few people who use the tunnels, Elena." Elijah straightened up. "As you said they are a labyrinth. Most have found openings, but are two afraid to venture through. You could easily get lost back here."

"You seem to know your way around," Elena tilted her head. Her fingers toyed with the locking mechanism when she found it.

"I used to play in them as a child," Elijah smiled. "Mother hated it. She caught me exiting the tunnels once and made me swear to never go back in."

"You obviously didn't listen," Elena teased.

"I was a child," he grinned. "Would you have listened to your parents when you were a child?" His eyes fell to the sword at her waist.

"I suppose not." Elena felt her lips starting to lift into a smile. She schooled her features back into a smooth mask. "Where exactly does that tunnel let out? The one that goes to the stables?"

"About twenty feet from them," Elijah cleared his throat, "I'd offer to show you, but I'm certain your sister will return any moment."

Elena glanced over her shoulder to the empty bed. "I'm not so sure about that," she muttered under her breath.

"I'm sorry?" Elijah leaned closer.

"Perhaps tomorrow," Elena turned back around to face him. "It would be nice to have a clear path in and out of the castle."

"Are you sure?" Elijah stepped a little closer and ducked so his head avoided the door. "You could easily get lost back here."

"I'll mark the path," Elena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her breath caught in her throat when she looked up and saw how close he was. She was alone in her room with a man.

"Very well," he nodded and reached for her hand. "Good night, Elena."

His lips brushed over her knuckle. Elena exhaled slowly as tiny shocks traveled up her arm. "Good night Elijah." She watched him disappear into the dark. "Don't get lost." Her call was answered with a deep rumbling laugh.

The hidden door blended seamlessly into the wall. Elena had a second to marvel over that fact when a throat cleared delicately behind her.

"My lady?"

Elena spun on her heel and came face to face with Adelaide. Her barely audible voice was no more than a breath of air in the room. Her round eyes darted from Elena to the wall behind her.

"Adelaide," Elena swallowed. The soft smile that had started fell from her lips. How long had she been there? What had she seen? "What are you doing in here?"

"I brought back the tea," Adelaide blinked. "It's cold now, but the herbs will still soothe your throat." She hastened to the table and lifted the cool mug.

"You're not going to ask?" Elena sipped the soothing liquid. It eased the burn in her throat.

"It's not my place, my lady," Adelaide held her hands behind her back. "I won't tell anyone, ma'am… if that's what concerns you."

"Tell anyone?" Elena glanced down to find the edges of her cloak still drawn tight over her body. Her sword and clothes were concealed from Adelaide's gaze.

"I understand," she busied herself tidying Kat's things, "you had a scare and wanted the comfort of your lover. I won't tell ma'am. He didn't see me, either. I was behind the chaise."

"Adelaide," Elena went white, "he's not my… we're not…"

"My lady," Adelaide mistook her stammering for an admission, "Your secrets are safe with me. Many women take a lover before their marriage."

Elena swallowed the lump in her throat. "He's not my lover Adelaide," she turned scarlet, "I got lost and he showed me the way back. That's why he was in the tunnel." It wasn't a complete lie.

"That's it?" Adelaide blinked when Elena nodded. She didn't believe it for a second; she had managed to catch the soft look in his eyes. She had heard the way he'd said Elena's name: as soft as a lover's caress. "My mistake," she dropped into a curtsy, "I did not mean to insult you."

"You offered to keep a secret that could easily ruin me," Elena forced a smile. "You're very loyal aren't you?"

"To those who have earned it," Adelaide nodded.

"Thank you for the tea," Elena murmured, "and for earlier." She couldn't think of a single servant in Bulgaria who would not have started whispering immediately. That was what had gotten her sent to Norway; a servant had 'seen' Kat with a man. Of course, the more time Elena spent in Norway the more she came to believe the rumor.

"Good morning," Kol's arm tightened slightly around her waist. He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder and smoothed her hair back from her face.

"Good morning," Lexa rolled onto her back. She blinked lazily and stretched. She felt his eyes fall to her chest when her back arched off of the bed. A blush stained her cheeks when she saw that the sheet had slipped.

"How do you feel?" Kol's fingers replaced the fabric before ghosting over a dark shadow beneath her jaw.

Lexa tilted her head and considered the question. "Better," she squeezed her thighs together. "I don't feel as sore anymore. It won't hurt like that every time will it?"

"From what I understand it gets better," Kol smiled. "You might get a more satisfactory answer from Caroline though."

"That would prove to be mortifying," Lexa murmured against his cheek when he kissed the corner of her mouth.

"Best learn from experience then," Kol teased the shell of her ear.

A soft laugh bubbled in Lexa's throat. It died away when the door opened to admit the queen and several servants holding fresh linens. She tightened her hold on the sheet when she sat up.

Kol chuckled as Lexa was pulled from the bed. He tilted his head when he noticed the smooth residue on his thumb a few shades paler than his skin.

Her silent feet made quick work of the sun-soaked corridor. Torches were being lit to ward off the darkness of night, but for now the evening sun bathed the stone floors in a waning light.

"Adelaide."

Her soft brown braid slipped over her shoulder as she turned around. She balked when she saw the prince approaching her.

"Your highness," she dropped into a curtsy. "How may I be of assistance?"

Elijah shifted the slim box in his hands. "I wanted to thank you," his voice dropped as courtiers slid past them.

"Sire?" She gnashed her teeth.

"For what you did last night," he clarified. "Many in your position would not have done that. And you know what this palace is like; rumors spread like wildfire."

"Right," recognition dawned on her face. Lady Elena must have told him I was there, or about the corridor. "I only did what was expected of me." She cast her eyes downwards.

"Regardless," Elijah waved off her dismissal, "thank you all the same. Now I wonder if you might do something more for me?"

"Of course," she nodded. Her eyes widened as the slim box was placed in her hands.

"Would you deliver this please," Elijah whispered, "discreetly to Lady Petrova?"

Adelaide nodded and slid the box into a pocket in her apron. "Right away."

Yeah, she caught a glimpse of his face as she rounded a corner, they're not lovers.

In case that was not clear Adelaide's last thought was definitely sarcastic. ;)

Drop a review and let me know your thoughts.