You all are absolutely amazing. Thanks to all of you for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following this. You'll be happy to know that this chapter is longer than the previous two.
Caroline was waiting in Klaus' art studio when she heard the door open and the sound of his footsteps across the marble in the grand foyer. Entering the house earlier, she'd been overcome with memories of the night she danced here with Klaus. It's the reason she'd searched out the studio, the one room in the house she was most familiar with, the place where he had offered to take her away to Rome and other exotic places. She'd been a little awed by his worldliness that night, though not enough to let him get away with bullying Tyler and threatening her friends. As she looked around now, taking in the masculine warmth of the room with Klaus' paintings scattered throughout, she was at a loss as to how she got here.
When she'd left her house, she had been intent on…she wasn't sure. She'd been so angry, had seen red when she'd realized Klaus had slept with that wolf slut that she really didn't think about what she was doing. She'd just run. When she'd arrived and saw Hayley, there was no doubt in her mind that the girl needed a lesson on who was the Alpha regardless of the fact she wasn't a werewolf. That bitch had shown up in Mystic Falls with malicious intent, sacrificing twelve hybrids and laying the ground work for Tyler's banishment and life on the run. Caroline should have killed her.
Klaus entered the room, his shirt once again impeccable and his hair finger combed. The bite mark she'd seen in the photo had obviously healed itself. He made is way over to the bar, uncorking the decanter, then grabbing two glasses. Catching her eye, he motioned towards the scotch, silently asking permission to pour a finger or two for her.
Caroline considered declining, but realized she may need the fortification before this, whatever it was, was over. She nodded and he filled the glass for her.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening?" He asked politely, as if they were getting ready to enjoy an after dinner drink as opposed to it being two in the morning. He walked to where she stood near his easel and handed her the drink.
"Do you really need to ask?" Caroline asked sharply, taking the drink from him while doing her best not to touch his hand. Noticing her avoidance, he raised an eyebrow at her, a habit of his that was beginning to infuriate her.
For a moment he said nothing as he moved some sketches around absentmindedly. Feeling her eyes on him, he looked over at her.
"Ah, yes. Hayley. I must say, I'm quite impressed with how quickly news spreads. Why it was just a few weeks ago that Elena traded brothers and I didn't hear of it for at least 36 hours."
Caroline glared at him over her glass as she tasted the scotch. "Ha ha, you're a laugh a minute," she said sarcastically. Pulling her phone out, she opened the text message, clicked on the photo and handed him the phone.
He blanched at seeing himself so vulnerable. It was a rare occasion for him to be caught unawares, yet Hayley had done so, taking a photo of him while he slept. He considered it lucky that he was incapable of being killed because she could have just as easily put a stake through his heart. Pulling himself together, he handed the phone back to her.
"It's a lovely picture-"
"Stop it, just stop!" Without realizing it, Caroline had moved into his space, his cologne tickling her nose. "This isn't funny, how could you sleep with her?"
"Why do you care?" He countered, "Last I heard, you hated me for running young Tyler off. I tried to kill you not a week ago, why would it matter to you who I enjoy in my bed?"
"You enjoyed her?" Caroline asked incredulously. "Have you forgotten that she was responsible for your hybrids turning on you?" Caroline threw back at him, avoiding the question of why she would care who he took to bed.
"No, that would be Tyler who was responsible for that action, hence me 'running him off'." Klaus answered back, anger in his voice.
"Tomato, To-mah-to. You know damn well she provoked Tyler into breaking the sire bonds," Caroline finished her drink and headed to the bar for a refill. She noticed that Klaus hadn't touched his. "Why is she even in town? I would think you'd have killed her instead of fucking her."
Klaus, who had had turned back to his sketches as she walked away, twisted back to look at her, eyes flashing gold. She stood her ground, glaring back at him.
"Be careful Caroline, rough language is quite unbecoming of you," he said, a dangerous tone to his voice. "My dealings with Hayley are none of your business. You and I are not in a relationship and regardless of my feelings for you, they're not reciprocated and I have needs. If you are not intending to meet them, I will find a willing partner."
"Seriously?" Caroline moved back to his side, ignoring his growing anger, "So you go and find the one person you know responsible for breaking my heart?"
"Is that right? Funny, I thought I was the one who broke your heart when I refused to show Tyler enough mercy to keep him in Mystic Falls. While we're asking questions," he said pointedly, "why is it you didn't leave with Tyler? Why are you here Caroline?" Klaus asked her, stepping into her space, his face inches from hers.
"Don't turn this on me Klaus! You are the one who said that everything you've done you've done for me, but five minutes later you're in bed with someone you know, you KNOW, I hate." Caroline's voice cracked, "How could you?"
Klaus moved his hand towards Caroline, grasping her chin firmly, while tipping it up, forcing her to look at him. "Why are you here?" he asked softly, searching her eyes.
Those same soft, blue eyes filled with tears, "I don't know," she admitted. Taking a breath, she continued, "This day, it's been horrible. Elena's turned off her switch; she dropped me on my head, tried to bite my mom, and then tried to stake me. To make it worse, Tyler, Ty-"she broke off with a sob, shaking her head and pulling away from him.
"Caroline, sweetheart," he whispered while attempting to pull her back to him.
She shrugged him off, "No, you don't get to comfort me!" She turned and headed for the door, but he caught up with her quickly, grabbing both her arms.
"Who then, Caroline, who gets to comfort you? Matt?" Klaus snorted at the thought of the blond football player. "He's not enough for you! Stefan? He'll never stop pining away for Elena and you'll never be able to deal with his need to play the martyr," Klaus' voice had risen, but he took a breath, eyes closing briefly. "None of these small-town boys will ever be enough for you."
Caroline attempted to pull away, but Klaus had a firm grip on her arms.
"And you'll be enough, Klaus? Will you meet my needs?" She taunted him, throwing back the words he'd used earlier.
"You know the answer to that," he said softly. For a moment neither of them moved, their heavy breathing the only sound in the room. He searched her eyes, whether to look for permission or rejection she didn't know, but before she could move away, his lips were on hers, his hands moving to the sides of her face, holding her gently.
He felt wonderful. Caroline had spent many a night, thinking those dirty thoughts Elena had accused her of, wondering what his lips would feel like on hers. Now, those same lips were moving over hers gently, one of his hands moving down her cheek to her chin, pulling gently on it until her mouth opened, his tongue seeking hers. Caroline had been kissed before and she'd been kissed by someone who loved her, but this kiss, this kiss belonged to a man, not a boy. She was lost as he drew her into him, deepening the kiss. One of them moaned as her arms moved of their own accord, finding their way up and around his neck. Giving into the passion he was drawing out of her, she ran her hands up into his hair, grasping the strands forcefully, attempting to take control of the kiss. He backed them into the door, his hands leaving her face to move down her body. He grasped her hips, but not before his hands had swept over her the sides of her breasts, sending shockwaves up her spine, short circuiting her brain. As Klaus pulled her hips up against him, letting her know without words exactly how much he wanted her, Caroline forgot everything, the whole world coming down to just the two of them.
What you just read was the first kiss I've ever written. I can't decide it was hot or ridiculous. You be the judge! There should be just one more chapter of this...but you never know!