Hmm would you look at that, an update AND rating change. That's right, folks. You asked, I delivered. We're heading into M-rated territory. ;) Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything TVD/TO related, sadly.

Chapter 19

"So it's true that one cannot simply walk into the throne room uninvited and unannounced? Why ever not?" Caroline mused aloud after she had practiced and succeeded in casting a cloaking spell on one of the books she had brought from the library, while safely hidden away in Bonnie's quarters.

It had been a week since the calamitous events surrounding the wedding. Katherine had decided to take some time away from the castle and stay with Elena, promising to keep an eye on Stefan as well. With Katherine gone for the time being, and with her newfound resolve to convince Klaus into allowing her a seat on the Council, Caroline had been spending much of her time with Bonnie. The Originals' witch knew practically everything that went on in the castle, and was turning out to be a wonderful help in deciding how best to approach the situation. They had settled on Caroline at least attempting to ask Klaus personally, but Bonnie had advised that they come up with a second plan just to be safe. After all, Klaus was incredibly stubborn, and she had told Caroline that there was a very good chance he would refuse her.

Still, it was worth a try.

"Well, for one thing, it ensures that there is not an angry mob of perturbed citizens pounding on the gates of the castle every single day, demanding that the king hear their complaints and deal out justice," Bonnie replied. "And it does ensure that people are allowed audiences according to the gravity of the matter, and to make it a more orderly system. But I would be lying if I said that it has nothing to do with giving a dose of fear into people, either. Disruption of royal proceedings, particularly to Elijah, is not taken lightly; nor is defying an order of the king, no matter how small it may be."

Caroline hummed, taking it into consideration. "Perhaps the Council has this law in place simply to control the circumstances and place who they see and when they see them under their own terms, and not anyone else's."

Bonnie's lips quirked up slightly. "Perhaps."

"But what about you? Surely you are allowed in?"

"Only if I am summoned."

"What about me, then?"

Bonnie pursed her lips. "Truly…I don't precisely know. You are the queen, but not on the Council either, not yet, that is. I do not believe Klaus or the others would outright kill you over it…but then again—"

Bonnie stopped short, looking suddenly uncomfortable with her line of thought.

Caroline knew exactly what she had been thinking of. Tatia.

How quick Klaus had been to be rid of her for her defiance of his wishes.

The knowledge was not encouraging.

But Caroline could not—would not—think of that. It was in the past, and despite the darkness surrounding him, she felt somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind that he would not harm her.

They had turned a corner, that night, when she had so quietly implored him to stay with her. She had woken to the feel of his warm, strong body pressed against hers, her head resting on his solid chest. She had lifted her head, her heart in her throat, catching a glimpse of his face, the lines of care softened in repose, before he had stirred, his arm around her waist tightening for the briefest moment. He started a bit, confusion furrowing his brow before his stormy gaze settled on her face peering up at him.

The early morning light pouring through the window was nothing in comparison to his beaming smile. It had felt so right to be there with him, waking by his side—so much so that the next night, she asked him to stay with her again, blushing as she made up some excuse that she feared she would have nightmares about Sophie and the wolves.

And every night since then, though they had not yet consummated their marriage vows, he slept beside her, his body beside her exuding warm comfort and quiet strength.

"You needn't worry, Bonnie," Caroline reassured her friend as much as she reassured herself. "I can take care of myself. And Klaus—he may be angry at first, but I believe he will understand. Eventually."

Bonnie sighed. "For your sake, I hope you are right."

Caroline's opportunity to speak to Klaus came much sooner than she would have thought. She had awoken one morning, and instead of feeling the warmth of his body next to her, she had found a note on the bedside table.

She carefully nudged open the crimson wax seal.

It was a lovely sketch of two horses prancing in a meadow, and a small note written in his elegant script at the bottom.

Stian and Eira grow restless. Fancy a ride?

Her mood lightened at the wonderful idea. She loved her horse, Eira, as soon as Klaus had introduced her to the beautiful creature. She had visited the horse a few times, and Klaus had stayed true to his word to teach her how to ride. Slowly but surely, Caroline was improving in the art, but they had yet to take both their mounts out together as of yet.

She felt a small thrill of anxiety. She knew this was it—the perfect chance to ask Klaus about joining the Council, the first step down the arduous path of righting the past wrongs done to her people.

In theory, it should be easy. They would enjoy themselves for the day, and when his mood was at its best she would simply ask him. All there was to it, really.

As she put on her riding attire, however, she allowed herself a brief shake in confidence. Talking to Klaus about it was the easy part.

The hard part, however...Klaus would either react badly or, well, badly.

She could only hope that Klaus would listen to her.

"That's it, love, easy does it…now slow her to a trot…there you go. We'll make a horse-mistress out of you yet."

"We? If my sore legs are any indication, I'm doing all the work," Caroline complained, but her self-satisfied smile escaped her despite her petulance. She did so love riding, and although a free spirit, Eira proved to be patient and receptive to her commands.

Slowing their mounts to a stop, Klaus leaped gracefully off of the saddle, reaching out for Caroline's hand to assist her down.

He smirked wickedly at her words. "What I wouldn't give to hear you say those words from the comfort of my bed."

"You are absolutely incorrigible!"

"Quite so…and yet you enjoy my company nonetheless."

Caroline remained quiet, but couldn't bring herself to disagree. After all, he wasn't lying. Somehow, some way, they had fallen into this friendship.

Caroline supposed that foiling nefarious plots of rogue witches and vengeful werewolves together and surviving tended to have that effect, and that there were some experiences in life that made relationships stronger than ever.

Deep down, however, she knew that perhaps friendship was too weak a word to describe them.

And she found that that fact was less and less frightening every moment she spent in his company.

Silently, they saw to their horses' needs, settling them back into their stalls, Caroline sneaking Eira a bit of sugar as a reward for the day's exertions. The horse whinnied happily back at her.

"Thank you, for the lovely outing," Caroline said.

"Of course, Caroline."

He returned her smile, his face content, eyes sparkling at her. Caroline knew she should speak now. She might not get a better chance for a few days, and time was of the essence. Otherwise the weight of anxiety would only settle that much harder on her heart.

But the words would not come.

Instead, she tucked her arm in his, and they threaded their way back up to the castle.

It took her the entire walk back from the stable to Klaus's chambers, where he had invited her for a drink of champagne, to regain her confidence.

"May I ask something of you?"

He smiled as he took a sip from his goblet. "Anything for you, love."

"Will you promise to act rationally after I ask it?"

This roused his suspicions. He cocked his head at her warily, stroking his chin. "It depends. What is it that you are asking of me, exactly?"

"It's just…what I mean to say is that—that—" She rubbed her temples, furious at her inability to voice her request.

She started when she felt his finger bringing her wrists away from her face. He tilted her chin up to meet his gaze.

"Caroline," he told her, with an edge of concern, "You know I'd never hurt you. Surely you know that. Whatever you it is you want, name it."

She took a fortifying gulp of the alcohol, savoring its warm burn down her throat before she finally spoke.

"What I want, more than anything is…is for you to allow me to join the Council."

Klaus immediately snapped up to look at her. He was clearly taken entirely off-guard by her answer.

Caroline hastened to explain. "Please, hear me out before you make a decision."

"No. I forbid it and that is final."

To underscore his point, he immediately turned his back on her and took two steps towards the door—before it flew shut with a resounding crack. He tugged on the handle before spinning to face her again, unamused at her little magical interference.

"You're not going anywhere until we discuss this to my satisfaction," she stated firmly.

He growled angrily. "Caroline, it is not your place to partake in the duties of the Council—"

"Then what is the point of my being here?" Caroline cried out. "Why do you need a queen if all I am here for is to stand next to you and look beautiful? Why am I not allowed any say in the rule of this city? I have lived here for my entire life. It is my home as much as yours, and I would do anything in my power to protect its people and ensure its prosperity. Why can you not see that I want to help?"

"Sweetheart, it's too dangerous—"

"That is rich coming from you," she interrupted hotly. "You are much more of a danger to my life than any of the vampires or werewolves out there. Or have you forgotten that you are the alpha male Original hybrid?"

"I would never hurt you—"

"But you are hurting me, right at this moment! You are dismissing my proposition without even giving it due consideration!"

"I have already considered it, and my answer has not changed."

Caroline groaned, furious. He was entirely too stubborn for his own good.

Perhaps another approach.

"Listen to me, Klaus," she said in a softer tone. "I just want a chance to prove myself. I know you think it's dangerous, but you can't keep me away from the world forever. Besides, you and all of your family are on the Council, not counting Marcel and Damon. Do you honestly believe that something terrible could happen to me with you there?"

For a few moments, she believed she had convinced him. She waited with baited breath while he mulled it over. She could practically hear his intelligent mind running the possibility through every possible scenario.

But all her hopes were dashed to pieces when he raised his head, his face stern with resolve, but with the smallest hint of sympathy emanating from his eyes. "I'm sorry, Caroline. But I won't allow you to do this. It's for the best."

She put a few feet of distance between them. "Best for everyone, or best for you?" she replied coolly.

Before he could reply, she had already turned her back on him.

Klaus threw a vase at the door where it shattered, his fury seething. Every time he seemed to make progress with Caroline, something happened to slide them right back to where they had started.

What a confounded mess.

"Niklaus, forgive me, but after the many years we have shared together on this earth, do you still believe you can fool me with all your bluster?" Elijah smiled knowingly. "Come, brother. Clearly something is bothering you, and I am willing to bet that it has do with Caroline." He cocked his head. "Am I correct in my assumption?"

Groaning, Klaus slumped into his chair, resigned. Damn Elijah and his uncanny perceptiveness.

He dragged a hand down his face. "She wants to join the Council. As a fully-fledged member."

Elijah's face remained impassive, his only reaction a mild creasing of his brow. "And you agreed?"

"No...or at least, that is what I told her. You can only imagine how thrilled she was at that answer."

If Klaus had not known better, Elijah's answering chuckle could have been mistaken for a polite cough. "And what reasons did she give for this interest?"

"She wishes to act as a representative of the witches and even the humans. She made a point of referencing the fact that neither of those factions have any to support them on the Council, and has made it abundantly clear that she finds that unacceptable."

"Well, one cannot argue that Caroline is unjust or unprincipled."

"Are you actually considering this ridiculous idea?"

Elijah shrugged. "Not at all, Niklaus. I personally tend to agree with you in that admitting Caroline to the Council would make her more vulnerable and in the public eye—more than she needs to be, at least. But that does not mean that I don't find her reasons admirable, even noble." He sighed. "The young have such idealism, and optimism…something that we have lost, I think, over the centuries."

Klaus knew that wistful look, the distant, faraway gaze that overtook his brother's face when he talked of their long-lost humanity. He hated that look. "Ah, reminiscing about the virtues of humanity once again, I see."

"You think me a fool, brother, and so I may be—but I am not the one you should be worried about."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you know, Niklaus?" Elijah smiled. "It's you. You, who for all your scorn for love and friendship, have found all that and more in a small wisp of a girl, whom you have come to care for above any creature you've ever met, family aside. I must admit, when you revealed her powers to us, I had my doubts as to whether it would be safe to keep her here. After all, if she was not a threat as a human, she most certainly is as a witch. You of all people should know that."

"I do," Klaus agreed, somewhat begrudgingly. It was true. He had not forgotten what Caroline was capable of, of the possibility of her turning against him.

Still, he waved his hand, prompting Elijah to continue, for once interested in what Elijah had to say on the subject.

"Now…not only do I think she should stay here, but I believe she may prove to be a very…rational influence on you, which can bring about good results," Elijah finished, a wry smile on his face. "And before you contradict me with your usual sentiments of love and compassion and goodness being forms of weakness, let me say my last word on the subject. You might believe that love makes men powerless and frail…vulnerable."

He clapped Klaus on the back as he moved past him toward the door. "But on the contrary, brother—Caroline, and your caring for her are not a weakness. They are the greatest strength."

Caroline felt the persistent fluttering of anxiety with each step she took forward.

This was the moment. She would walk in there, as the queen of Mystic Falls, and take what was hers: a share in the ruling of the city that had been a home to her for her whole life.

Well, at the moment she had only gotten as far as thrusting open the door to the throne room and taking enough carefully measured steps into the hall that she would be noticed.

She could almost feel the tension grow exponentially as many pairs of eyes focused their attention on her form. A shiver raced down her back the precise instant Klaus's gaze found her.

Not for the first time did she wish that Stefan was here to give her his silent but strong support.

A deafening silence descended on the crowd of courtiers and peasants as she moved to stand before the Council, her deep curtsey gracefully elegant, but head held high, belying the merest hint of stubborn challenge.

"Ah, Your Majesty," Damon broke the silence with his lazy drawl. "What brings you here to the hearings? I assume the king has invited you in?" He glanced sideways at Klaus for confirmation.

Caroline's gaze also flicked to the Original Hybrid. To her complete satisfaction, he seemed frozen, staring her down with his usual mask of indifference, but it was his eyes that gave him away. Those twin blue depths burned through her, the expression in them equal parts furious and intrigued.

His siblings were a different matter entirely. Elijah and Rebekah looked scandalized at her sudden appearance, while Kol glanced between his brother and Caroline, a slight frown marring his usually cheeky face.

She could hear the shuffle of booted feet and the clink of metal, a few of the castle guards coming up behind her, looking to the king for the word to seize her.

Focusing her attention back to Damon, she shook her head and gave a light laugh. "No, no, His Majesty did not invite me," she explained, eliciting a round of whispers and gasps from the onlookers. "I'm afraid it must have slipped his mind."

And there it was—her gauntlet was thrown, issuing her challenge to him. Would he give in to her, allowing her to stay in spite of the law? Or would he humiliate her in front of the people, all for the sake of his pride and his need to be in control?

As she looked at him, his face seemed to harden, so infinitesimally that one might hardly notice.

But Caroline did. And for one terrifying moment, she feared he might turn violent.

But as quickly as the moment came, it was gone, and she watched closely as his features melted into an arrogant smirk. Slowly, he rose to his feet, lifting one hard out to her, beckoning her forward.

She fought back a gasp of relief.

He would not fight her. At least, not today, and in public no less.

Her face lighting up in a genuine beam, she moved forward and took the empty place on his right that belonged to Finn, giving his hand a slight squeeze of gratitude when she placed her hand in his.

And she could not help but grin in victory seeing the faces of the rest of the Council: Damon looking rather impressed, Kol shooting her a hearty wink, Elijah's eyebrows raised to high heaven in relief, Rebekah huffing indignantly but smirking into her goblet, and Marcel with a look of blatant disbelief on his charming face.

The low undertones of the gossiping crowd had grown louder, and Damon clapped his hands, calling for order once again. The murmurs dwindled down to hushed whispers, the guards slinked back to their positions, and the proceedings continued once more.

A good half hour flew by, in which Caroline listened intently to each case, many of them territorial disputes between vampires, from two vampires laying claim to a single human that they fed from, or bickering over where one vampire's feeding territory ended and the other began. Despite her dislike of the concept of feeding off of humans, intellectually Caroline knew they needed blood to survive, and she couldn't helped but be interested in—and even in some rare instances, sympathetic to—the everyday lives and problems of the people whom she now called her own. To her surprise, a good deal of the vampires apparently didn't kill humans when feeding, at least not all the time. Many of them would explain that they would heal a human afterwards, compel their memories and allow them to walk free, if only so they could feed from them later on.

Caroline would be lying if this alternate way of vampiric feeding did not put a different perspective on her view of the species as a whole.

She wasn't sure if she should be disturbed by this new feeling of understanding or not.

"Thirsty, sweetheart?"

She glanced over to see Klaus offering her a glass, never taking his eyes off of her.

There was no mistaking the scent of the dark red liquid.

She swallowed nervously.

She was about to politely decline, when she detected the smallest shake of his head. As if he were trying to tell her something.

All at once, she understood. He wanted everyone present to see her feed, to drink the blood that was the life sources of vampires, and keep the illusion of her true heritage intact. No one would think twice about her identity if she acted the part well.

Her mother's necklace that still cloaked her humanity felt heavy around her neck.

Slowly, she brought the glass to her lips, the scarlet liquid swishing at the movement.

Keeping her eyes locked with his, she drained it in one gulp, silently cursing the bitter taste as it slid down her throat.

His eyes turned dark as he watched her drink, a dangerous mixture of lust, pride, and anger.

A dribble of blood that escaped dripped down her chin, and she felt a bolt of hot desire rip through her when he caught the viscous drops with his finger and brought them to his mouth, sucking them off.

Caroline shivered, and unconsciously licked her lips.

She heard Kol chuckle, breaking the cloud of desire that had descended upon the two of them.

"If you two are quite finished," Kol chastisted them mockingly. "Or perhaps you should consider retiring to a room to really finish—"

He hissed angrily as Elijah wordlessly turned to him, unsheathed the small dagger at his belt, and shoved it into his side.

The rest of them smirked, inducing yet another round of whispered conversation from their audience.

"Settle down, settle down now!" Damon called out sternly, though his grin never left his face. "Will the next in line come forward and state his business with the Council."

A handsome young man, with a proud countenance, clearly a vampire, stepped forward, dragging behind him an older man with thin and haggard features.

It took Caroline one brief perusal of him, from his ill-fitting garments to his guarded expression to his upright bearing, to know what he was: a warlock.

This could not be good.

"Members of the Council," the vampire addressed them, "you are most noble and generous of heart to lend your ear to my grievances-"

"Oh, get on with it," Rebekah interrupted in a bored tone. "What do you want?"

The vampire looked quite put out at her interruption of his obsequious little speech, but recovered quickly. "Justice, Your highness," he replied smoothly. "This charlatan promised me a spell of my choosing in return for a loaf of bread. He has yet to deliver on his oath, despite my generous allowance of one month's time to complete the spell. I ask only for a suitable punishment to fit the crime."

"Such a breach of good faith certainly calls for admonition," Elijah mused, nodding his head slowly.

"Perhaps a week in the dungeons is in order?" Kol chimed in, tossing Elijah's knife back to his elder brother, his wound already healed. "What do you think, Marcellus?"

Marcel laughed. "I was thinking a week in the stocks down in the city. After all, it's hard to resist a free meal."

Kol clapped him on the back, chuckling at his friend's jest. Even Rebekah couldn't keep from snorting.

Caroline, for her part, could not believe what she was hearing. She knew that her new family were no saints, but she could sit no longer without voicing her thoughts.

"Just a moment," she interrupted, forcing her voice to be polite. "Haven't you all forgotten something?"

The rest of them exchanged confused looks. "I'm not quite sure what you mean, Caroline, love," Klaus replied, although from his innocent tone Caroline wasn't all that convinced.

She took a deep breath and continued patiently, "You've forgotten that there are two sides to every coin." She motioned to the warlock. "You there. Explain your side of the story, if you would be so kind."

"Now is that really necessary, Your majesty?" Marcel spoke up lazily.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, it is," she retorted.

Marcel gaped at her, before snapping his mouth shut in a thin line. Damon snickered.

Caroline could see the grateful look the warlock gave her at the chance to speak. "If I might, Your Majesty, he is omitting a portion of the truth. The spell he requested is complex, and although I have many of the ingredients, it will not work properly unless it is performed under the light of a blue moon. Unfortunately, the next occurrence of that event is not until a year from now. Once I explained this to him, however, he would not listen to reason, and took my son from me as a hostage."

The warlock's voice had shook then, his eyes glimmering with unshed tears, and Caroline's heart ached for him, for how worried he must be for his child, who had most likely been tortured and abused.

"You speak the truth?" Klaus asked mildly, watching the warlock intently.

"He lies!" the vampire hissed, shoving the man so hard that he fell to the floor with a painful thud. "Can you not see he is playing to your sympathies, to manipulate his way out of his just reward?"

Caroline seethed at the vampire arrogance. She leaned forward, glaring. "We shall see about just rewards in a moment. Perhaps you would do well to remember that false accusations are punishable by imprisonment."

The vampire face paled slightly at her words. Satisfied, Caroline turned to Klaus, who was watching her with an unreadable expression on his face.

After a moment, he nodded at her unspoken question, seeming to know exactly what she was thinking.

"Damon, take them away and compel the truth out of them," he said calmly. "Do not forget to check for vervain. Release the truthful one and imprison the perjurer in the dungeons for a month."

Between the vampire's enraged shriek and the warlock's thankful bow, Caroline couldn't stop the victorious smile spreading all over her face.

The Council ended the day's work late in the afternoon, the guards hustling the citizens from the castle with a promise that their business would be taken care of the next day.

Klaus could not have been more happy to leave the throne room, and scarcely had the hall emptied before he strode purposefully right up to his fiery little wife, who was conversing with Rebekah about having a family dinner sometime in the next few days.

"If Kol wasn't so keen on wreaking havoc on the city most evenings, it would be easy," Rebekah huffed. "Perhaps we could snap his neck before he set foot outside the walls—"

"Rebekah, I need to speak to Caroline, now," Klaus cut in, coming up behind Caroline laying a firm hand on the blonde witch's shoulder.

Caroline simply shrugged him off, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "I'll be ready in a minute, Klaus."

Well, that won't do, sweetheart.

Quick as a wink, his patience gone, he picked her up and flashed her to his chambers, dropping her onto his bed rather unceremoniously.

"Seriously? You couldn't even wait for one minute to talk to me?" she complained, brushing her hair away from her face and standing up.

"I don't know, love; you couldn't wait one whole day before you blatantly disobeyed me; and actions speak much, much louder than talking ever could."

He had her pinned to the wall before she could reply, his body pressing her back and his hands on either side of her head. "What on earth did you think you were doing, coming in unannounced and forcing my hand? I was well within my rights to punish you right then and there for such insolence!"

"I won't apologize for what I did," Caroline argued back, struggling against his hold, breathing hard. "I am a member of this family now, something you seemed quite happy with you may recall!"

"And as a member of my family, I am responsible for your protection! Did I not explain to you that it is dangerous for you? You are mortal, Caroline. Your days on this earth are numbered. Do you realize how easy it would have been for one of my siblings or one of the guards to have snapped your pretty little neck right then and there for your defiance of the law?"

He shook her slightly, a crazed, frantic energy emanating from him.

"As if you care if I live or die! You are only upset because you cannot control me, like you did with Tatia! Tell me, Your Majesty, are you going to kill me for bending one of your precious rules?" She taunted, throwing caution to the wind.

"Of course I care!" he roared, "By the gods, Caroline, can you not see that?"

Caroline stilled, taken aback by his outburst. "Then show me," she offered quietly. "Show me that you are capable of compromising with me, and allowing me to live my life and make my own choices."

He paused, contemplating her words. "Compromise," he repeated at last, his voice a low rumble, like thunder. "And why would I want to do that?"

"Because we are equals, and partners, you and I; and if not for that reason, then…then because I know that you're in love with me. And love is putting someone else's needs before your own."

He stared at her, his undead heart beating more rapidly each moment that passed.

Love is a vampire's greatest weakness. We do not feel and we do not care.

He had lived so long by that creed. So many years of razing cities to the ground, massacring entire villages, thrusting daggers through the hearts of his brothers and sister when they made choices he disliked or caused him too much trouble. Years spent running from Mikael, never staying too long in one place, taking no time to form any lasting attachments, lest his father discover them and use it against him.

But Mikael was gone. His siblings had remained loyal to him, and Caroline…

Caroline had brought the light back into the darkness of his heart, causing it to beat again.

He brought his hands up to cup her cheeks, caressing her face with his thumbs. She closed her eyes at his touch. Aching to be closer to her, he moved his face closer, until their noses touched, moving his arms to her waist and holding her close.

She opened her eyes, looking up at him through her lashes, pleading with him.

Feeling as though she had pierced his soul with that one look, he made his decision.

"What would you have me do, then, Caroline?" he asked quietly, a whisper against her lips.

"Just as I asked before."

"And what will you give me in return?" He nearly laughed at her bewildered expression. "I believe this is all part of a compromise, love, as both parties must cede something for it to be fair."

She nodded in agreement, suddenly looking unsure of herself. She dropped his gaze and shifted slightly, attempting to pull back from him and failing as her head hit the wall behind her.

"Well?" he coaxed gently.

"If you promise me a seat on the Council, I will be honest with you about what I want."

She looked up at him with a level gaze, the barest hint of a smile pulling up the corners of her mouth.

"And what is it that you want, Caroline?"

"You." She breathed the word with a reckless abandon, pressing into him. "Klaus, I want you. As a wife wants her husband."

His heart stopped, clenching inside him painfully. She wanted him-of her own will. He hardly dared believe it. Surely it was too good to be true.

"And are you certain of that?" he asked her softly, afraid to push her too much, lest she change her mind. He would be damned if Caroline left him now.

She nodded. "Yes," she confirmed, with such sincerity that his gut twisted with this new feeling, of acceptance and being wanted by another.

"As you wish, my love—I accept your terms."

"Good," she whispered, and then she was kissing him, with such sweet passion, that he could barely recall why they had argued in the first place. What did it matter, when the taste of her lips brought a whole new reality—of her fingers threading through his curls, her eyes bright with desire and bliss when she pulled away for breath.

He took the opportunity to kiss her forehead before trailing down her cheek to her ear, taking the lobe in his mouth and biting down gently, pleased with her answering moan. "I have waited for this night, Caroline," he rasped in her ear, "The night where I will worship every inch of you, my beautiful blonde goddess, ravishing you until the only truth you can speak is my name."

She moaned once more, cupping his cheeks and pressing her lips to his. Klaus growled, deepening the kiss, his tongue running along her lips until she parted them, thrusting into her mouth, tasting her. He would never get enough of her, her lavender scent enveloping him and driving him to near madness.

Eventually, he pulled away, urging her to turn around. His nimble fingers made quick work of the laces at the back of her dress, and he pulled the fabric until it fell with a whisper of silk at her feet, leaving her in nothing but her chemise. Placing a kiss to her bare shoulder, he turned her back around to face him, holding her in his arms again, reveling in the feeling.

"Klaus…"

He shushed her, kissing her lips swiftly, before he picked her up, one arm behind her back and one under her knees. Depositing her gently on the bed, he stood before her, taking in the sight of her sprawled out on the silken sheets of his bed.

Caroline looked every inch the temptress, her nipples straining against the thin cotton of her chemise, her lovely blonde curls mussed, her lips parted and swollen with his kisses, hot desire burning in her gaze.

He would never forget this moment. Perhaps he would even commit it to canvas...

Klaus discarded his tunic and kicked off his boots before he crawled, onto the bed, hovering over her, molding his hard body to her soft curves, kiss her with a fierce possessiveness.

She was his, and his alone, and he meant to brand her with his touch.

Caroline whimpered when he kissed her neck, marking her with light nips and then soothing her skin with his tongue before he moved to her collarbone, his stubble scraping pleasantly against her.

She pushed him back, until they were both sitting upright. He caught a brief flash of uncertainty in her eyes before she pulled her chemise off, leaving her bare before him.

He drew in a sharp breath.

She was magnificent.

Blushing furiously at her brazenness, Caroline brought her arms up to cover her breasts, but Klaus caught her wrists, opening her up to his gaze. "That blush is a lovely color," he murmured. Lowering his head, he took one dusky pink nipple into his mouth, caressing it with his tongue.

Caroline's breath caught in her throat and she writhed against him, lost in the sensation of his lips on her body, flaring to life under his touch, her hands wrapped around his neck as she urged him closer.

His free hand skimmed down her body, reveling in her soft skin, until he reached the soft curls between her legs.

Gods, but she was wet for him, the scent of her arousal nearly robbing him of his faculties.

Urging her to lie back down, he covered her with his body once more, stroking her entrance lightly with one finger, whispering in her ear. "So wet for me, Caroline, and only from my touch?" He sucked gently on her pulse point, smirking against her neck when she gave a breathy little gasp. "I want to taste you, my love."

In response, Caroline leaned her neck to the side, exposed her throat. "Yes," she breathed, her nails digging into his shoulders.

He chuckled quietly. "Not there, sweetheart," he clarified, and swiftly left a trail of wet kisses and licks down her body until he reached her entrance.

"Spread your legs," he ordered. Caroline obeyed, sitting up on her elbows and watching his movements intently, her breathing harsh.

He pressed a kiss to the inside of each thigh, causing her to shudder, before he pleasured her with a fleeting kiss.

"Klaus, please…" she whispered, and then he brought her fully against his mouth, sliding his tongue against her clit before thrusting it inside her.

He took his time exploring her, marveling at her exquisite taste and the soft mewling noises she was making, her hands fisted in the sheets. He inserted a finger into her, pleasuring her slowly, his name falling from his lips like a prayer.

She was so close now, a few more thrusts should do it—

He stopped, and she half-sat up at the loss, her mouth opening to protest, but he cut her off with a deep kiss. "When you come for me the first time, Caroline…I will be inside you."

Her blue eyes darkened with lust, and she took him by surprise when she rolled them over, pinning him to the bed, frantically undoing his trousers and shoving them down his legs and casting them aside.

It was his turn to groan as she looked at his naked body, his arousal for her evident. She leaned over him, taking him in her hand and pumping him slowly. He hissed in pleasure, his head falling backward, her soft delicate hands moving just right…

"Gods, Caroline…"

She increased her pace, never taking her eyes off of his face, clearly determined to give him the same pleasure he had just given her.

He allowed her a few more moments of control before he could bear it no longer.

Grabbing her arms, he brought her back up to him, kissing her senseless and flipping her onto her back, pressing her into the sheets once more. He was ablaze by the heated friction of their naked bodies, skin sliding against skin. Her soft breasts pressed so tantalizing against his solid chest, and her hands were everywhere, touching every inch of him she could reach.

"Klaus…I need you," she moaned softly.

In response, he settled himself between her thighs, hooking one leg around his waist, his length teasing her entrance.

"Look at me, Caroline," he commanded, holding her fiery gaze as he entered her in one smooth thrust of his hips.

Caroline's back arched, her head tipped back, biting her lower lip to keep from crying out at the unfamiliar sensation.

She knew he was holding back, allowing her time to adjust to his size, his body shaking with suppressed power and passion just waiting to be unleashed. He stretched her, pushing forward ever so gently; and soon the twinge of discomfort faded away into bliss as he filled her to the hilt.

He began to move, never taking his gaze from her face as he pulled all the way out and then thrust forward again, this time more powerfully.

Caroline wrapped her legs around him, urging him in deeper, her hips rising to meet him thrust for thrust.

She cried out in ecstasy when his hand began to rub her clit once more, her nails raking down his back in response.

He sped up his pace, his lips lingering on her neck, whispering sweet nothings in her ear; and just as she reached the brink of ecstasy, he plundered her mouth with his sensual tongue, claiming her and sending her over the edge of utter bliss. A few more frantic thrusts, and he joined her, growling out her name in abandon as he came. Her body was tingling with the incredible sensation of their lovemaking-she had never felt so overwhelmingly whole before.

Minutes passed, and neither of them said a word,calming their breath and racing hearts, until Klaus rolled onto his side and pulled her into his side, kissing her cheek softly and running his fingers through her curls. She snuggled into him, resting her hand over his heart, caressing his chest with her fingers, and gave him a tired but brilliant smile.

He returned it, but she could see the faintest stirrings of doubt in his eyes.

"Caroline?"

"Yes?"

He sighed, moving his hand up to cover her won that still traced patterns on his chest, and suddenly, she knew what he was going to say. The guilt was clear on his face, that he believed that they had taken this step too soon, that they had rushed into this...

He opened his mouth to speak, but she hushed him, pressing her finger to his lips.

"No," she said firmly. "Don't you dare tell me that this was a mistake, or that I-we-were not ready." She kissed him, parting their lips and lazily tangling her tongue with his. "I know myself, Klaus, and although it took time for me to realize it...I fancy you too." She looked up at her lashes, blushing as his grip on her tightened. "And I want be with you."

She knew that what she felt for him was not quite love. Not yet, at least. She cared for him, of course, and enjoyed their friendship. But love...somehow, without him voicing it, she knew instinctively that there was no going back once she pledged him her love. And eternity, even with someone you care about, is still a long time, and the idea still frightens her.

And from his piercing, thoughtful expression studying her, she knew he understood that, that she still needed time for that particular emotion to fully bloom.

Still, her little speech cannot stop the wicked smirk from spreading across his face, clearly triumphant that she had confessed that she enjoyed him. He pinned her back to the bed, burying his face in her neck and breathing in her scent. "Well then," he murmured, nipping at her neck before kissing her lips, sucking gently on her lower lip, "I suppose you shall just have to convince me of just how much you fancy me, then, love. After all, I'm a suspicious man."

"Hmm," she agreed, wrapping her legs around his waist and flipping them over before straddling him, "I believe that can be arranged."

She hovered over him, rubbing her already slick entrance over his hard length, making him growl, until she took him inside her, the muffled cries of fevered bliss falling once more from their lips.

The sound of their breathless sighs filled the air, with the slapping of skin against skin, as they gave themselves over once more to that ancient, passionate embrace, the sheets tangling and twisting, the light outside the window growing pale and dim as the late afternoon sun faded into the blue evening twilight.

Please review! This chapter was so difficult for me to write (I blame the fact that the shows are getting more awful by the episode and it's killing my muse) and I still feel really anxious about how everything went down. Hopefully it made sense and didn't suck, and I really hope you liked it! Also, as of this chapter this fic has over 300 reviews and about 400 follows! I can't even believe it, you guys are seriously amazing and thank you so much for reading! :) Until next time! P.S. Caroline's horse's name, Eira, means mercy, just fyi!