AN 1: So you all see that little warning for adult content? From here on out, the chapters definitely contain material that toes the M rating line. Anyways, it's fairly obvious where it begins, so if you want to skip it... It's easy to do so.

Previously on Taste: "... We're heading to Las Vegas."

March 25, 1492

"Lord Elijah, where are we going?" Katerina laughed as she stumbled along in the dusky light. When Lord Elijah had said he had a surprise for her that evening, she had been expecting something simple, like a sweet, or a pretty card with her name decorated upon it. She had not expected to be blindfolded and led to somewhere that felt very far away from the castle. She did not fear the Lord Elijah—unlike she did his brother, the Lord Niklaus, no matter how charming the man was—which was very strange for her, considering she had merely been staying with the family for a week. She had not yet met their sister, the Lady Rebekah, but she was supposed to be arriving within a few days to meet her. It would be lovely to be the companion of a grand lady… Lord Elijah even seemed to think she and his sister might become friends one day, like they already had.

"Patience, Katerina." She could hear the laughter in his voice, even if she could not see his smile. "We are nearly there."

"I am not a very patient woman, milord." She said, cracking a smirk.

"My dear, I am well aware of that."

"Are you insinuating something?" Katerina asked as they came to a stop. Lord Elijah let go of her hand and walked behind her, nearly improperly close, making her heart jump in her chest.

"Not at all, Katerina." He said as he untied her blindfold. "Now, enjoy your surprise."

The piece of cloth was taken away, and now visible was one of the most beautiful views of the countryside Katerina had seen. The hills were painted in shades of orange and purple in the twilight, and the clearing where they were standing was surrounded by flowering trees. The breeze was light and perfect, and it was a moment she felt she would always remember. "It's lovely!" She smiled. "How did you know of this place? I have never seen one like it."

"I often take walks to clear my head, and one morn I stumbled across this clearing." He shrugged as they walked forwards a bit. "It is very beautiful, no?"

"It is, and a very lovely surprise. Thank you very much." Katerina said. "You are a very good friend to me, my lord, and I greatly appreciate it." She could barely meet his eyes for the look in them held something she had not seen before—something she was desperately drawn to.

"You are unlike any woman of my acquaintance, Katerina. It would be impossible to not be your friend." He said sincerely.

Katerina was finding the words to reply, when all of a sudden the breeze picked up, whipping her hair and gown. The blossoms were whisked off of the trees surrounding them, flying about her like a shower of petals. Katerina laughed and twirled around, holding out her hand to Lord Elijah. "Come dance, milord!" She giggled.

And he did, leading her in a dance amongst the flowers.

-0-0-0-0-0-

December 31, 2010

"How is it that it's been a good fifty years since you've been to Vegas?" Katherine eyed Elijah over her shoulder by way of the vanity mirror as she applied lipstick. They had spent the last two days hunting down Jean-Pierre Lamar—who had turned out to be rather helpful despite his penchant for cheap liquor and gambling—and had a box full of information about Silas to show for their trouble. Said box had been shipped back to the London house ahead of them; one could never go wrong with personal couriers after all, and they did tend to be more reliable than international mail services. Even though the information was already sent back, it was New Year's Eve, and Katherine and Elijah had chosen to take a day or two and enjoy the festivities.

"I merely have not had the time to make my way over to this part of the country." Elijah shrugged, adjusting his tie before slipping on his suit jacket.

Katherine rolled her eyes and tucked away her lipstick, before slipping on her heels. "You've missed out. If anything, Sin City has just gotten better with every decade."

"Sin City?" Something about the way Elijah said those words—his eyes trailing down the open back of her dress—sent a shiver down Katherine's spine. "So that's what they're calling it now."

"It's what they've been calling it." Katherine said. "Though, you have no excuse for not making it over this way and indulging in a weekend of reckless hedonism. I know all about your house in Napa Valley." She smirked when he raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't give me that look. I kept tabs on you too. You could really serve to lighten up, by the way. Stuffiness does not become your age."

"You sound like my brother." Elijah attempted not to laugh. Katerina really was very amusing.

"Kol, I hope. I do not know if I could bear being more like Klaus." She sighed dramatically before rising off of the bench in front of the vanity. "Shall we go down now?"

Elijah nodded and rose, offering her his arm. "You were correct about staying for the festivities; I believe it will be enjoyable to cease our searching for a day or two."

"You should know by now that I am always right." Katherine laughed.

"Then we are presented with a problem."

"And what would that be?"

"I am never wrong, Katerina." Elijah gave her a smile of smug satisfaction. "And since one of us must be, well..."

"You are much less amusing than you think you are." She huffed, only causing Elijah to chuckle as they entered the casino doors.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Many hours later, both Elijah and Katherine had had more than their fill of drinks, for the alcohol kept wearing away by the minute thanks to their vampiric tolerance. They had also spent multiple hours engaging in the various activities the casino had to offer—as Katherine was apparently a whiz at poker they spent some time there, for compelling the win was simply not any fun—before moving to the rooftop, where a party awaited them.

Elijah had not been able to keep his eyes off of Katerina all evening—he had a predisposition for red, which she very well knew, and her dress was sinfully entrancing upon her form—and something about the freedom of Las Vegas had liberated him from the constraints of their past. His thoughts were racing through his mind uncensored, and the possibility of letting the woman he had been chasing for over half his lifetime simply go back to her own bedroom at the end of the night (or far worse, to another's bed) was near unbearable. She had been teasing him all evening—for someone well-versed in the art of subtlety, she was excessively blatant—and his mind was nearly made up. He wanted, and dare he say he would?, have Katerina Petrova in his bed that night; may magic itself damn him if he did not keep her there for eternity.

When it had become time to actually ring in the New Year, Katherine and Elijah were on the rooftop of their hotel with a cache of other partygoers, champagne glasses filled. The countdown soon began, and then seconds later everyone was toasting and drinking under a shower of confetti and fireworks. Quicker than the eye could see, Katherine handed their champagne glasses off to the nearest waiter. "I am going to kiss you now." She said, a smirk painted across her red lips. "I do hope that is alright."

Elijah responded by grasping her waist and pulling her into him, before soundly kissing her in the way he had wanted to for decades. He felt her respond just as eagerly, their mouths molding together in a way that felt entirely familiar, and yet was not. She felt like fire and emotion, elegant and graceful, yet entirely dangerous.

Moments later they were zipping through the crowd at hyper-speed, damning the consequences. Neither could particularly care at that precise moment if they were outing the entire vampire nation to the world, as their thoughts were more along the lines of 'Clothes off'. By the time they made it to the elevator, mere kissing was not enough to relieve five hundred years' worth of unresolved sexual tension, and Katherine found herself pressed against the wall, one leg twining around his legs in an effort for more contact, her beaded dress around her waist, as hands wandered and explored for the first time. They barely managed to keep everything semi-appropriate on the short walk to their double room, though to anyone they passed, what had gone on between them was very obvious. However, once they were alone, all bets were off.

Katherine turned and took control, shoving Elijah against the door as she kissed him, fumbling with his tie after she slid his jacket off his shoulders. "I appreciate the waistcoat," She breathed as he placed feather-light kisses down her jawline. "But right now it's in the way."

"Your dress is irritating." He countered, unhappy with the high neckline as he pulled pins out of her hair.

"Don't," Katherine winced when she heard fabric shredding and beads and sequins popping everywhere. "Rip it."

"Oops." Elijah took to her pulse-point, entirely unapologetic, winding a hand in her tousled hair, exposing her neck further.

"You're buying me a new one." She shoved him back briefly before kicking off her heels, which were the only things left to take off, considering her panties were probably on the floor of the elevator. He continued to undress in the process, unashamedly enjoying the sight in front of him. "I mean it. That was Jovani."

"Katerina," Elijah smirked, picking her up, her legs going around his waist. "I'll buy you three if you just stop talking." He kissed her as he did so, and she happily complied, running her hands through his hair as he walked them towards one of the bedrooms in their suite, teasing him as she nipped at his neck with her blunt human teeth. She could smell his blood—his ancient, rich, lifeblood—pulsing just underneath the skin. All it would take was one bite… "If you wish, you may do so." He said, placing her on the bed, hovering over her, counteracting their usual height difference.

Katherine pulled back from her teasing at Elijah's words, searching his face. Bloodsharing was…intimate between vampires. It was not like feeding on a human; in something like this, you could feel the other person's soul when engaging in the act. It was an act of trust… Not to mention it was exceedingly pleasurable for both parties—especially during sex. Normally bloodsharing made her wary, but there was something in Elijah's eyes, and his face, and his overall being that called out to her in a way no one had before. She flipped them over and leaned down, whispering in Elijah's ear, "And you as well", before extending her fangs, and biting down.

It was an unspoken agreement, said through kisses and caresses and unimaginable pleasure: time was standing still, that night. All the morning held was uncertainties, for outside their room, they had reputations and lives; messy, messy lives. But through the night, all through the night, they could be—just be—Katherine and Elijah, with no past holding them back. Perhaps in the morning, things would be fine. Perhaps they could work it out. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. But, if all they got was one night—if they were relegated to a flirtatious acquaintance full of pursuing, heartbreak, and despair for another five hundred years—then they would keep forward through the night.

AN 2: So... How did you all like it? *does a happy dance* I must confess that I'm not fantastic at sex scenes, but this was the first one I've done without any outside help whatsoever, and I'm pretty proud of it. What's not to love about your OTP finally getting some, am I right?

Anyways, this chapter turned out a bit shorter than I wanted, but I originally had a morning-after scene in there that I cut because it really wasn't working with the story. Next chapter we're back in London, and a favorite character of mine appears! Some of you will already know who-it's spoiled in A Tree Called Life-and it's turned out to be a really fun chapter.

Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing!

-Abi