Chapter 30: Let In

Elijah turned the brass doorknob, carefully letting the door swing open with ease and Hayley cautiously stepped inside. It felt rather strange being in Elijah's room but it was a pleasant feeling too. She noticed a stack of volumes on his bedside table, tucked with several pieces of parchment and smiled.

The room itself was quite large and quite frankly this did not surprise her. Not only because this house often felt like some sort of king's castle in all, but because she couldn't really picture Elijah being confined in that way, he seemed to enjoy vast spaces and actually thinking about it, so did she.

As Hayley wandered deeper inside she noticed that everything was clean and well-kept, the wooden furniture perfectly polished, the bed made in symmetry. Not many pieces off odd clothing laid lost except a tie or two, a shirt and some cufflinks.

"Maybe he's a little ocd." Hayley mused to herself humoured slightly.

She then involuntary took a deep breath in, closing her eyes in the process. The room smelled so much of him, and him alone; it made her feel like he was hugging her permanently.

Hayley's lips curved in thought.

When she finally opened her eyes, she found Elijah sitting in a large antique chair, his jacket slung over it, his tie loosened. He was watching her, as usual.

"You really ought to change into something dry." He mused disappointedly, as his mouth formed a frown.

Hayley took off her coat and placed it onto the bed, it was so quiet that every sound was magnified, every little rustle, every breath; there was no need for intensified hearing.

She rubbed her shoulders now, feeling a little cold but was warming up by the minute, when suddenly an idea struck her. She walked over to the other side of the room and picked up Elijah's stray shirt and fumbled the fabric between her forefinger and thumb.

Elijah shifted in his seat, guessing her intention but forced himself to remain seated as Hayley slipped into the adjoined bathroom leaving him to suffer the torture of waiting.

When she returned she wore his white garment alone and as much as he tried to hide it, his eyes fixated on her like a hawk.

He was mesmerised by her beauty.

She walked up to him now and he swallowed as she neared him, his heart rate increasing.

"Hayley." He cautioned as she took another step barefoot towards him. Elijah tried to predict her next move but found he was far too distracted.

Hayley smiled inside as she clambered onto his lap so that her face buried into his chest. She murmured into his shirt and Elijah moved so that she was comfortable and then stroked her hair twirling a strand around his finger. His heart was still hammering.

"That is my shirt." He spoke and he knew she was smiling into the fabric.

"Yes." She replied tiredly.

"And you're never getting it back." She added playfully, while shifting so that she was now facing him.

Elijah watched her with awe his eyes glittering like a lovesick puppy but then was completely taken aback as Hayley, with full force, crushed her lips against his, pushing him back into the chair during the process. Elijah groaned unable to fight his own caution, winding his arms around her waist, engulfing her against him and pulling her as close as possible as she skilfully straddled him. His hands then flitted down her back eagerly but then abruptly he finally managed to find the strength to hold her away, so that she now leaned on his palms.

Elijah breathed heavily, while Hayley remained mute sitting on his lap, waiting for him to speak.

"Hayley." Elijah spoke breathlessly but he felt himself being tugged by his tie and his mouth found hers once again. He felt fingers tugging in his hair and his mind and body filled up with a mixture of adrenaline and testosterone raging manically through every blood vessel there was. It was increasing rapidly by the minute now, the ache, the urge, the craving.

"Stop." He panted. "Hayley." He spoke firmly lifting her off of him and onto her feet.

Hayley froze wiping her lips and turning around so she was no longer facing him.

"Gosh, did I just do that?" she asked herself inside nervously almost embarrassed.

Elijah got up from his chair his shirt rumpled, his lips slightly too pink and his heart still racing. He neared her slowly turning her around.

Hayley blushed even though she did not want to, her head lowered to focus onto something less distracting like the floorboards.

Elijah noticed this and her fidgeting toes also. "Hayley." He called to her.

"Elijah." She lifted her head to finally explain but Elijah captured her lips most unexpectedly. This kiss was slow and controlled and Hayley mumbled drunkenly against him. Elijah carefully lifted her of the ground, effortlessly and pulling back the covers placed her onto the mattress before taking a seat at the edge.

The bed suddenly felt like heaven and Hayley realised how tired she actually was as she snuggled into the warmth. She then thought of the wolves in the bayou and jolted awake.

"The bayou." She spoke concerned and if Elijah had not stopped her she would have probably trekked bare foot there herself, this instant.

"They're okay. They're fine Hayley." Elijah reassured her and she finally fell upon his marshmallow of a pillow.

"How do you know?" Hayley yawned.

"Eve texted." He explained.

"She said she'd call tomorrow." He added.

"Eve "texted" you?" Hayley asked, her eyebrows furrowing with confusion and surprise.

Elijah chuckled.

"Why would she not?" he challenged.

Hayley sighed with relief and sleepiness and Elijah was happy to see her finally resting, he got off the bed quietly and was about to leave but Hayley's arm shot out of the covers.

"Stay." She spoke softly and there was no way he could say no.

And so Elijah kicked off his shoes and socks and took a space beside her, she immediately curled up into his side and he smiled deeply.

While Hayley snuggled into a ball, Elijah laid back, supported by the headrest and then thought.

"What's bothering you?" Hayley asked without even looking at him.

"Nothing at all." Elijah replied and thus Hayley raised her eyebrows at him from amongst the covers.

"Fine a couple of things." He admitted.

"For one, what happened that night Hayley? I need to know, my imagination has done enough damage and I have tried with all my might to believe my brother would not harm you but I shall not be at peace until I know the truth." He clarified.

Hayley remained quiet but then eventually sat up hugging her knees.

"Elijah it really doesn't matter." She spoke moving away her fringe.

"He was drunk, he'd been painting." She added pausing to look at him for they both knew what painting meant.

Elijah swallowed and grit his teeth slightly afraid of the answer he was asking for.

"What did he do?" he asked.

Hayley just looked at him.

"Elijah, it was Klaus, he's a psycho and besides, I can take care of myself you know." She added angrily.

"Yes like walking into the torrential hurricanes." Elijah replied sarcastically.

Hayley narrowed her eyes.

"Fine! He kissed me, and there was a bit of shoving. But don't you dare go all territorial and protective! " she warned after her confession.

The sheets then ruffled as she pushed the duvet away in protest.

"Like I just said. I can take care of myself." She spoke adamantly but Elijah wasn't listening, instead his imagination had taken control and anger seemed to be fuelling it, regardless of the fact that on the outside he seemed relatively calm.

"Go to bed." Elijah finally instructed after taking some time to think. He then slipped out of the bed and began walking towards the door.

"Elijah." Hayley called as she sat cross legged but he did not stop.

"Argh. I've come back one night and you're already hiding something and are about to start another brother bash. For god sakes just stop. You said yourself that we should stay out of their way!" she ranted throwing a pillow at him in the process.

It harmlessly bounced off of him and Elijah looked down at where it had hit and then raised his eyebrows towards Hayley,who still somehow managed to keep her face stern.

"That was before I knew what you have told me now." He then spoke to her bluntly.

Hayley sat emotionally drained for a second her hand touching her baby bump and then raising to her forehead.

Elijah noticed her stress and then returned to her side.

"Forgive me." He spoke. "I just."

"I know." Hayley replied still frustrated while throwing another pillow at him.

"I know." She then repeated more sadly and softly and pulled him to her.

"Will you finally sleep now?" she then asked finding herself yawning once again and then waiting for him to answer.

"Like a baby." Elijah answered and finally she smiled.