Chapter 12 - Burn

Infatuated, yes but love? The thought seemed so simple when it first came to mind, but when history and circumstance finally caught up with Caroline; she realized it wasn't that easy. This was Klaus Mickaelson we're talking about – the greatest contradiction. She couldn't just love him after all that he has done, could she?

Caroline had spent the past half-hour debating over whether or not she actually believed the way she was feeling. After what had happened last night, she somehow drifted off to sleep. As a vampire she didn't need any rest, but everything was too overwhelming that the minute she closed her eyes, she dozed off.

Now, Caroline could feel her cheeks turn red. It was another kind of distraction. She found herself remembering the way he stroked a fire in her and kissed every part of her body like it was sacred. She thought of the way he held her in his arms and the way he looked at her-eyes misted with passion and desire. He called her beautiful as he finally took them both to heaven, and at that moment it was like the world suddenly stopped. She never wanted to come down.

There was no use pretending anymore. She was too bothered to keep still. Caroline rolled onto her side, searching for warmth – for him, but when she found nothing, she instantly opened her eyes and sat up. As she looked across the room, she could see the mess they had made- clothes strewn all over the floor, furniture scattered and a broken mirror. It brought on the distraction all over again

"Ehm"

A cough that came from behind interrupted Caroline's thoughts. She immediately knew who it was.

"Klaus" she whispered, smiling innocently as she turned to face him.

He didn't look as happy to see her. Klaus was seated on a chair next to one side of the bed, pencil in one hand and his sketchpad in the other. Caroline noticed that he had a hard line on his forehead and his jaw was clenched. No, he wasn't happy at all. He might have looked absolutely delectable with his tussled locks and the fact that he was dressed in mere pajama bottoms, but his foul mood broke any passionate haze Caroline had been in earlier. The look on his face was not one of longing or desire as it had been earlier, but of sadness and anger.

Caroline felt crushed by it.

Klaus placed his things on the bed and stood up from where he was seated. He walked over to the fireplace at the far end of the room and turned away from Caroline.

"Are you mad?" she croaked, wrapping the sheet around her body and standing up from the bed. She slowly made her way towards him. Klaus realized her intentions and his head quickly whipped around to face her once more. She was within arms reach from him. "No Caroline, I'm not mad"

His tone begged otherwise. Caroline could feel the pain in his voice – the restraint. She knew he had his reasons, and it would probably come down to the fact that they were enemies, but where was the bad boy Klaus when you needed him? This was overwhelming, even for her – but she didn't regret what happened. No, he had to help him understand that it wasn't a mistake. At least, it wasn't for her.

He lied to her, attempted to take his revenge, almost killed everyone she loved in Mystic Falls, but even after all that, what she really wanted to do at this very moment was climb into his arms and embrace him. She wanted to take him into her light, like the dream, and forget everything else. It was difficult but not impossible – especially after the way he treated her last night, the way he lit a fire within her with his touch. It was magical.

"Caroline" he began, choosing his words carefully. "This was exactly what I was afraid of, and yet I gave into it so easily. I don't know what I was thinking. A thousand years should have taught me as much, but it didn't and I ruined everything."

Caroline bit her lip. She didn't want to cry now, not when she was speaking with a different Klaus, an honest Klaus. Although anyone in their right mind would find it so hard to believe, she couldn't help but linger and cherish the moment – while it lasted.

"No you didn't." She surprised herself with her own words. "Unless…"

Caroline turned her face away from him so he wouldn't see her disappointment and embarrassment.

Klaus still held her head in his hand, and using his thumb, brushed the side of her cheek softly. "Caroline, don't even say it. I don't regret what happened between us. It's not that I do not want you – because I did. I still do. Even when I hated you, like I said before, I still lusted after you. None of this is your fault Love. It's mine. Need I remind you that I tried to kill you and your friends, sired one them and tricked you all the way over here in my attempt to get revenge? I've done too many wretched things—mistakes that aren't easy to forgive and forget. You should just leave."

Caroline frowned. She knew he was right and yet she couldn't wrap her head around it. She hadn't felt this sense of peace in a really long time. It was refreshing.

She was mad at him. That much was true. But she also knew deep down in her heart that she wouldn't be able to stay mad at him forever. Every single nerve ending in her body was drawn to him, like gravity. She tried to hate Klaus. She wished she hated him. But she didn't.

It was amazing to Caroline how Klaus was still so honest. Instead of being afraid of him, it had the opposite effect. She wanted him even more.

Caroline turned her face back to him and forced a smile. She then used her hand to cover his, and slowly pulled it down until she was holding his hand by her side. Then she abruptly let go.

"Don't ruin this. If you want to talk, let's talk. About yesterday, I'm mad at you for lying to me. Even though it was a plan that you didn't wish to happen anymore, it was still your plan to begin with. You still kept me in the dark. And it's true—what you said. There are a number of reasons why I should be angry. I never said I wasn't. But the thing is, and listen when I tell you this because I'm only going to say it once –"

Caroline put both arms around his neck, pulling him close.

"I, Caroline Forbes, am not going anywhere. I meant what I said. What you did was wrong, but I choose to believe that somehow the guilt will punish you enough. If I'm wrong, then you'll have me to answer to. Don't underestimate what I can do. I'm not breakable Klaus. I've been confused for a long time, but I'm not confused now. I'm staying" she proclaimed.

His gaze shifted from pain to longing. "Sweetheart—"

She put a finger to his lips. Caroline sure as hell wasn't done yet. "You don't need to compel me. You have to promise me you never will. I'm not a baby anymore so can everyone stop making decisions for me? If you want me to leave then it's because YOU want me to and not because you think that's what I want. Right now I choose to stay. You promised once to show me the world, and despite all that's happened in the past few days, I can't say I didn't enjoy it. But the part that I liked the most—the reason why I'm staying in the first place – is the part where you were honest with me. That's all any woman can ever ask for and I'm sure it wasn't easy for you. You showed me you, and it's like meeting you for the very first time. I can't help but be curious. I've had the craziest dreams about you. Although most of what you talked about where stuff you shouldn't have done, it is honesty all the same. There's a whole other side of you I choose to believe you have. In fact, this is the world I want to see, the crazy messed-up yet romantic alpha male standing right in front of me."

His eyes widened. Klaus still didn't look convinced.

"I need you," she admitted quietly, praying that he would finally give in.

Immediately, his eyes snapped back into focus. This was a different kind of need and he knew it. He felt it. Caroline's body language showed just how much she wanted him, but at the same time her eyes told a different story. She cared, in spite of everything. She wasn't lying when she said that she needed him. It may be hard to admit, but he needed her too.

Caroline couldn't quite read his expression. She thought he was angry again and this time he would finally walk away from her. That would be the end of it, and a part of her was already crushed at the though. She almost felt her heart crumble to pieces.

But before she could get ahead of herself, he kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her into his warmth – his world. She was wrong about how he felt. Even if Klaus was covered with darkness, she would be his light.

"Oh Caroline Forbes where have you been all my life?" he whispered, smiling.

It wasn't exactly a proclamation of love, but it made Caroline's heart flutter just the same. Indeed, it had been much too long since she's seen him smile. She actually wondered if she'd ever seen it before – a genuine smile from Klaus Mickaelson. But it was worth it. She couldn't help but grin back.

"I—"

Caroline caught herself in the nick of time. She was about to say it. The three words she was debating on earlier didn't seem like a question any longer, but a revelation. She wasn't ready to admit it to herself let alone to Klaus – especially when just hours earlier she was ready to kill him. Could you actually hate someone and love him at the same time? This was definitely more befuddling than anything she had ever experienced before.

"Caroline?" he asked, a worried look plastered on his face.

She wasn't ready to deal with all of this. To avoid interrogation, she kissed him on the lips – hard. He was surprised at first but kissed her back with equal passion.

The second they both stopped to catch their breaths; Klaus took Caroline in his arms and carried her baby style back to the bed. He laid her gently on top with the sheet all messed up and only partially covering her. He stood in front of her and admired the view.

Caroline was intoxicated by his passionate gaze, but felt something poking her from underneath. She grabbed the sketchpad, which was nudged between her and the bed and as soon as she held it up, a piece of paper fell. Klaus grabbed the sketchpad from her and tossed it aside, while Caroline picked up the piece that was now lying on her chest. She held it up so she could see what was written on it and instead found another sketch of her. She couldn't help but smile. It was a sketch of her, lost in slumber—peacefully asleep.

This must have been what Klaus was working on earlier. Even when he was angry with her, he couldn't resist.

Caroline smiled as she handed the sketch back to him. He placed it beside her before he climbed onto the bed himself. He raised himself on all fours because he didn't want to crush her with his weight – not that she was breakable or anything. If he only could, he would stay this close to her as long as possible. This feeling of longing was new to him. For a thousand years, he has trusted no one, but right now with Caroline, things were obviously different.

Klaus never knew what hit him. All that he did know was that he wanted her, now more than ever. The first time was even more passionate than he ever dreamed it could be. He had been with hundreds of other women before, but it couldn't compare. This time he didn't just want her body. As selfish as it was, he wanted it all.

As Klaus brushed back the hair that was falling out of place and gazed into her eyes, he smiled and said "It doesn't compare to the real thing. You're beautiful Caroline Forbes."

Then there were no words. She reached up to kiss him – to take him into her light and Klaus responded with equal passion. With a groan that sounded as if it were ripped from his throat, he reached for her and drowned in her softness. He weaved his hand through her hair and she was lost once more. Every part of her was tingling in response to his touch. Caroline felt like her whole body was on fire.

He kissed her. She kissed him. They were no longer sworn enemies, but lovers. In a matter of seconds, vampires both they are, they were moving against each other skin to skin.

And although neither of them would admit it or maybe they both haven't even realized it yet, this was no longer just two people giving in and trying to make sense of their feelings, playing with the fires of burning passion and lust, but love.