Hi guys! Your reviews for this story have been amazing and I'm so appreciative of them all!
The next two chapters are based on these two songs:
Breathe - Taylor Swift and Last Kiss - Taylor Swift
Caroline was watching Klaus with a small grin on her face. They were at his apartment, she was finishing her homework on one end of the couch while he was intensely grading essays on the other. The crinkle in his forehead and serious expression on his face amused her. She liked seeing him like this in his element of work, seeming like just as much of a perfectionist as she was. Lately they've been doing this a lot, doing work, relaxing or just talking together. Their relationship has progressed to the point where they've realized they can enjoy each other's company outside of sex. Not that sex was far off either of their minds especially since Caroline couldn't help chewing on her pencil, fantasizing about going down on him while he was working.
It was definitely his glasses causing this effect.
"You're staring." He said still looking down at his work.
"I'm admiring." She teased taking the pencil out her mouth.
Klaus just smirked as he moved on to another essay. Caroline bit her lip, placing her notebook and textbook on the coffee table before crawling towards him on the couch. He was so invested in whatever paper he was currently on, he didn't even notice she moved from her spot until he felt her breath on his ear.
"Don't you have homework to do, Miss Forbes?"
"Mhmm but I finished all of it." She grinned before leaving a kiss on a sensitive spot on the back of his ear.
Klaus felt a shiver go down his spine, trying to bite down a moan as she continued kissing and sucking his flesh. "Caroline...love I really need to get these papers done."
"You've been working hard for the past 2 hours. You deserve to take a break and relax." She suggested moving her body closer to his.
"Can't, I'm just on time grading these."
"We won't care if you're late returning our papers, we'll actually be grateful. Plus, I can make it worth your while." Her soft voice full of desire made Klaus melt. She was too damn sexy for her own good but as much as he wanted to cave, he knew he shouldn't.
"As tempting as you are, and you very much are," He sighed making Caroline cockily grin. "I have to get this done, sorry love."
Caroline huffed in annoyance but she wasn't the type to give up so easily.
She took the essay and folder off his lap and red pen out his hand setting it to the side, making room for herself effortlessly straddling him. After undoing his pants, she removed his reading glasses from his face, placing them on the coffee table before she began slowly rolling her hips into his.
"Caroline...I can't." He groaned in protest even though his hands resting on her hips was sending a different message.
She hummed, kissing and biting a spot on his neck while still rocking against him at a torturous pace. "Give me ten minutes." She whispered in his ear, her wet tongue sending him chills when it hit the shell of his ear. Klaus was struggling with his priorities knowing he could use a break but also needed to finish grading no matter how amazing Caroline felt on him.
-And she definitely felt amazing.
"I'm so wet for you, I know you can feel it even through my clothes. You can feel how badly I want you and I can feel how badly you want me." She bit the flesh on his neck lightly enticing a moan from him. She placed her hands by both sides of his head on the couch as she grounded her hips harder down onto him making them both gasp in pleasure.
"Fuck." Klaus grunted making Caroline smirk to herself before her mouth took over his instantly. The kiss as frantic as their bodies, both in desperation to reach some kind of release. Even with their lower bodies covered with clothes they both could almost taste the sweet friction forming, it would be a let down to stop now.
He trapped her bottom lip between his teeth lightly, licking over it to soothe the pain then shoving his tongue in her mouth delightfully. Caroline moaned at the intrusion also at the tight grip he had on her hips, guiding her movements and grounding down rougher. Klaus kissed down her jaw to neck then stayed on the top of her breasts for awhile, hypnotized by the cleavage popping out of her tank top.
"God, you are so sexy." He muttered against her skin making her move her hips faster. The friction was unbelievably intense Caroline felt she might pass out. She harshly bit her lip, wrapping her arms around his neck to keep him close as possible. Klaus decorated her chest with his kisses and tongue making her throw her head back.
"I love it when you talk to me. Telling me how much you love my body or you want to do to it while I whither in your arms...fuck." She lowly cursed under her breath after he hit a particular spot. Klaus's eyes darkened, he's never heard her curse before but something about it was a major turn on for him. She kissed him deeper, feeling herself so close reaching a satisfying end but she needed him to be there with her.
Her hip movements sped up gradually still dominating the kiss with just as much passion. One of the main things Caroline loved most about being with Klaus was how sexy and powerful he made her feel. Every kiss, every decision was led by her and he whole heartedly allowed it.
Klaus teased the hem of her tank top up slightly, loving the feel of her skin under his touch. She moaned at the coolness of his hands soothing her heated back.
He attempted lifting the clothing item off her completely until someone barged into the door.
"Nik! Bloody hell put that away!"
Eyes widened in fear and shock Klaus immediately lifted Caroline off of him practically throwing her next to him on the couch. The blonde looked at him in confusion then drifted her eyes to the other blonde woman standing by the front door. She was gorgeous, accent, plumped pink lips, long golden curls and a killer body...
-How the hell did she know Klaus?
"I see knocking isn't your strong suit." He muttered doing up his pants.
"Neither is celibacy yours." The woman spat back with a grin.
Klaus rolled his eyes. "I gave you that key for emergencies only. And what the bloody hell are you doing here?"
"Now is that anyway to greet your little sister?"
-Sister?
"Yes, sister." Caroline's face turned crimson not realizing she asked that out loud. "So you can drop that look of paranoia off your face. He's not cheating on you, at least I don't think."
Caroline straightened out her clothes and hair as she sat up on the couch eyeing Klaus. He gave her a 'sorry' look before grabbing his sister's arm leading them to the kitchen.
"Rebekah what are you doing here?"
"What are you doing? Playing house with this young girl? I thought you moved here for a job not to babysit."
"You barge into my home unannounced might I add and feel you have the right to insult my company?"
Rebekah sighed. "Fine, I'm sorry okay? I didn't know you were even seeing anyone."
He wiped his hand over his face frustratingly. "It's complicated."
"Everything's complicated with you, Nik."
"Umm, I think I'm gonna go." Caroline announced with her bag and textbook in hand walking towards the door.
"Oh don't leave on my account." Rebekah teased. Klaus glared at her before going after Caroline who was already halfway out the building.
"Caroline!" He called after her before she could exit through the doors. She turned around to face him slowly before he led her out of the doorway to an abandoned corner in the lobby. "I am so sorry, love I had no idea she was even in town."
"It's okay."
"No it's not."
She nervously bit her lip looking at the ground. "So what are you going to tell her, about me? She already caught us in a compromising position, not an easy cover up."
Klaus sighed. "Rebekah and I have a different relationship than I do with the rest of my siblings, if I tell her about is she'll definitely yell and shame me but she won't tell anyone. Would you be okay with me telling her?"
Caroline couldn't deny her paranoia. The less people that knew about their relationship the better but she should've known they couldn't hide forever. Klaus knows his sister better than she did, if he says she's trustworthy then she'll believe it too.
"If it's okay with you." She answered.
He nodded lifting her chin up. "Hey." Caroline wanted to dive and swim in his blue ocean eyes as he looked at her thoughtfully. He always wanted her input, as if everyone including himself's opinions were invalid except for her's. Klaus listened to her and made sure she was okay before making any decisions, he put her first in every situation...she began feeling something in the pit of her stomach. The feeling was similar to when she first admitted how she felt about him but stronger.
Caroline was too scared to label it so she just leaned in to quickly kiss him, the lingering taste of his lips made her stomach flip.
He pulled back kissing her forehead. "I'll call you."
She nodded with a grin kissing him one last time before walking from the corner and out the door.
When Klaus made his way back up to his apartment, Rebekah was already raiding his liquor cabinet.
"A little early to be drinking don't you think?" He commented closing his door.
"It's never too early to drink when you catch your brother practically having sex with a teenage girl." She responded before standing up from the cabinet with a bottle of Brandy in her hand placing it on the counter. "So are you going to tell me about her or do I have to force it out of you?"
"Bekah." He warned.
"A teenager, really Nik? You couldn't find anyone your age, I mean I understand this town is small but c'mon!"
Klaus sighed needing a few shots of the alcoholic drink himself right now.
"How'd you two even meet? Is she one of your students?" She took his silence as a yes and her face turned sour. "Not only are you screwing a teenage student but she's also a student at our brother's school, lovely."
"Rebekah you can't-"
"Don't worry I won't tell anybody, it doesn't make it right though and doesn't mean I condone this."
He sighed in relief walking to the cupboard taking two glasses out. Out of all his siblings he was closest to Rebekah even though she was the youngest, they had a strong bond. Since childhood he was always there for her and vice versa, he trusted her enough to tell her about Caroline; that should say it all.
"Playing with her emotions isn't okay either, you're better than that Nik."
"It's not like that." He said pouring the liquid into both glasses.
"Oh really? So you're not toying with this girl's heart?" She asked taking a sip of her drink.
"I'm not." He said sternly, feeling more than offended that someone would think he was playing with Caroline. He's never been more honest with anyone.
Rebekah raised an eyebrow curiously.
"I don't know how it happened...it started off as a just a sexual relationship and somewhere along the road-"
"She caught feelings." She claimed.
"Actually I did."
She looked at him stunned.
"Caroline is not like any teenager, hell she's nothing like any woman I've ever been with. She's determined, bold and driven, she knows what she wants and takes it. She's incredibly smart and beautiful...my gods she's beautiful." He drifted off taking a sip of his drink, catching himself getting lost in just the thought of her.
"Wow, you're really taken by her aren't you? I've never heard you talk about anyone like this, yet again you've never really did the girlfriend thing before."
"She's different." Klaus claimed taking a seat in one of the kitchen chairs. "I genuinely care about her, this isn't just some scandalous fling."
Rebekah sighed sitting down in the chair next to him. "I can clearly see that but exactly how long do you plan to keep this up?"
"Why so worried about my love life, sister?"
She scoffed. "I'm definitely not but I am worried about you and you dating one of your students is a bit worrisome don't you think?"
He playfully rolled his eyes continuing to drink.
She had a small grin tugging on her lips. "Alright, I can't hold it in any longer. I'm not just in town because I wanted to see you. I may have ran into Marcel while in New York a few days ago and he gave me this to give to you." She pulled a piece of paper out her bag. "There's a new art gallery opening next year and he may have put in a good word for you and showed the owners some of your work and...they want you to be a apart of their team!"
Klaus stared at her with wide eyes mixed with excitement and shock, he couldn't truly process what she just said.
"Nik, did you hear me? They not only want you apart of their team, they will dedicate a whole hall to just your work for each new showing!"
He blinked a few times before responding. "I just...I can't believe it." His hysterical laugh soft and low.
"I know! So now you can thank Elijah but quit this joke of a job and move back to New York and do what you love." She beamed not realizing Klaus's happy expression drop. Working at a gallery again, moving back to New York and getting the opportunity to showcase his own work is everything he's wanted since moving here.
But Caroline.
It didn't seem to click in his mind initially that accepting this job meant he had to leave Caroline. Just the thought alone was unsettling. How was he supposed to tell her about this? After making it apparent how much he cares about her how can he say he might have to leave her behind?
"Nik." Rebekah interrupted his thoughts. "You're honestly questioning this?"
Klaus deeply sighed. "Of course I'm appreciative of this."
"This once in a lifetime opportunity." She added.
"But I can't just leave..."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Why the hell not?"
He licked his lips avoiding his sister's gaze then it dawned on her. "Caroline? You're contemplating giving up all you've worked and waited for so you can play house with a kid?!"
"Watch it." He sternly warned.
"Open your bloody eyes, brother! You two can never truly be together you know that, right? Hiding out in your flat all day and having secret rendezvouses is not a real relationship. You'll never be able to have that with her, you had to have known this had an expiration date attached to it."
Deep down Klaus knew his sister had a point, a very valid one but he didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to face the fact that he had to choose between his dream career and his dream girl.
She sighed leaning back in her chair. "I know you care about her but is she really worth giving up everything you've worked for? Caroline's still young with a lot to look forward to in life. Her life hasn't even begun yet. She doesn't necessarily know what she wants right now but I'm sure running off to New York just to be with her teacher now boyfriend isn't one of them."
He looked at her thoughtfully.
"If you both care about each other as much as you claim you do, would you really want to hold each other back?" Rebekah sympathetically asked.
Klaus leaned back silent. He was so caught up in just being with Caroline he didn't take into account the possibility of them being torn apart. Their relationship was far from simple and obstacles were inevitable but being states apart...would she want long distance? Even if she did how much longer before life happened again and ruined it? Klaus had a lot to think about before confronting Caroline about this and he had no idea where to start.
3 days later...
"Your sister thinks I'm a slut." Caroline claimed earning a foul expression from Klaus.
"Don't say that and no she doesn't." He confirmed taking Parmesan cheese out his refrigerator.
She scoffed. "She caught us midway sex then finds out we're having a teacher/student affair. She hates me."
"Rebekah doesn't hate you, not even the slightest. She handled it better than I thought she would actually." He commented.
Caroline sighed to herself on the couch, flipping through one of Klaus's endless stacks of business and art magazines. They were incredibly boring to read but she tried occupying herself while he was in the kitchen. He decided to make his best baked Ziti for her for dinner. He's never cooked for her before. It was probably his most romantic gesture thus far in their relationship. She glanced up at him from where she was sitting, not being able to fight the smile on her face as she watched him cook. That same weird feeling in her stomach was back, she felt it all the time now whenever she was with him, it was odd.
Odd but good.
"How's the food coming along?" She asked putting the magazine down and standing up.
He just grinned.
Caroline walked over to the kitchen area standing on the opposite side of the island. "Looks amazing and I'm starving." She pouted.
"It will be done soon enough but I can't work properly with distractions in front of me." He hinted.
"Am I distracting you? Because I take full responsibility for that." She smirked making Klaus blush.
"Sweetheart, you are by far the best and worst distraction I've ever had." He complimented.
"Damn you for knowing how much I love compliments." She sassed making Klaus smile in victory at her tone as she playfully rolled her eyes walking back over to the couch. She flopped on the cushion deciding to look through the stack of magazines again until a piece of paper underneath caught her eye. It was in bold black letters and had Klaus's name on it which instantly grasped her attention. She pulled it out from under to get a better look.
A small gasp escaped her lips as she began reading it.
She tried wrapping her head around what she just read, anxiously biting her lip shifting her eyes over to the gorgeous man cooking in the kitchen. A faint and brief smile was all Caroline could give before looking away, reading over the letter again before slowly going back towards the kitchen.
"Couldn't stay away for even a minute hm?" Klaus joked. She didn't respond which alarmed him causing him to finally look up at her. The joyful mood replaced with awkwardness when he saw the letter she was holding.
He sighed. "Caroline..."
"New York, huh? You got a job offer in New York? When were you going to tell me?" She shakily asked.
Klaus sighed again. "I know how this sounds but I really was looking for the right time to talk to you about this."
He closed the oven before walking around to her. Grabbing her hand, he led them to the table area taking a seat in the chairs next to each other.
"Rebekah informed me about a new gallery opening. A friend of mine submitted some of my work and they want me to work for them. And they offered me the benefit of being able to showcase my own work." He explained.
Caroline beamed with delight at the news bringing him in for a tight hug. "Seriously? Klaus that's amazing! Why didn't you just tell me?"
"You know why, Caroline." He said somberly into her hair before pulling away.
Of course she knew.
She wished she never found the letter. That they should be sitting down eating dinner together before eating dessert off each other instead of sitting down with sorrow eyes and bleak auras. There was always a thought in the back of Caroline's head where she just knew more and more obstacles were coming their way. She just decided ignorance was bliss, until it wasn't.
"It's a great opportunity." She said softly.
"It is."
"When does it open?"
"The gallery opens in February but with all the prep work it could take awhile to get ready on top of my personal prep." He confirmed.
She nodded pressing her lips together tightly not wanting to ask her next question.
"When are you leaving?" No matter how hard she tried to keep her emotions at bay, her voice still shaky and on edge. Klaus definitely taking note of her behavior, caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. The sweet gesture made her smile, just his warm touch alone soothed her frantic mind.
"I haven't accepted the offer yet. Of course I wanted to discuss this with you before I made any kind of decision. But if I were to leave, it would have to be next month."
Caroline's eyes widened. She thought maybe they would have a couple of months but they barely have a couple of weeks. Him not being here clenched her heart excruciatingly and the urge to ask him to stay was strong. She appreciated that he actually saw them as partners, equals. As in real relationships decisions are to be consulted with each other. But as nice as that was and as much as this was going to hurt in the long run...the decision was a no brainier.
"Take it."
Klaus looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.
"Take the job."
"Caro-"
"This is an amazing opportunity and one you have been waiting for." She interrupted taking his hand in her's. "I love when you talk to me about your art and your days working in a gallery or even watching you paint. It's beautiful how passionate you are about this and not many people get the chance to do what they love for a living. And I know how much you miss New York and have always looked forward to moving back."
"Until you, Caroline. Meeting you and being with you has changed a lot for me."
Caroline could feel her chest tightening and eyes welling up as he continued talking. She bit her lip attempting to stifle any sound, not trusting anything to come out her mouth right now.
"You've sparked feelings in me that I didn't even know we're there. You're intimidatingly bold and blunt but those happen to be just two of your many great qualities." He complimented making her faintly smile. "You're beautiful, strong and full of light...I've never met anyone like you before and I never thought I would. How did I get so lucky?" He concluded tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"When I lost my job and moved here to work as a high school teacher I thought it was the worst thing that could have happened to me. Until this stubborn blonde girl waltzed in late to my class the very first day. She challenged me immensely and I had to keep her 15 minutes after which she then nagged me about using a red pen for highlighting." Caroline couldn't help but giggle at the memory of them meeting for the first time. "Then she intrigued me, with her wit and mind then that next day told me to take a chance and kissed me. Everything about it felt right, that's when I knew maybe this wasn't such a bad thing after all. Sometimes things happen for a reason."
He cut Caroline's heart like a knife with each word. She allowed one small teardrop to fall down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away.
-Why did he have to make this so hard?
She sniffled. "Trust me, all I wanted was a good lay and you were really hot." They both laughed. "I didn't expect any of this, to develop feelings and have an actual relationship with you. Being with you has been amazing and I won't forget it."
He lowered his brows wondering why she was speaking in past tense.
She gulped. "But you should go to New York, Klaus."
"You want me to leave?"
"Of course not! But I'm not selfish enough to beg you to stay, I would never do that you!" She exclaimed. "I don't want you looking back on this day and regretting it. Regretting what could've been and what you could've had. And if you decide to stay you'll end up resenting me in the end anyways and all of this would've been for nothing. If you stay, it better not be for me because I won't accept it."
Klaus deeply sighed running his hand over his face anxiously.
-She just had to be the mature one in this situation.
He knew both Caroline and Rebekah had fair arguments regarding this subject. Leaving Caroline was definitely not what we wanted but leaving Whitmore was, unfortunately it was a one package deal. New York was his home but now Caroline felt like home too. How was he supposed to tell the beautiful girl staring at him that he doesn't know when or if he'll see her again?
Their eyes fixated on each other's, waiting for the other to make the first move. Nothing could be said to make this better or easier, goodbyes were funny like that.
"I guess trying long distance is out the question." He slightly joked with a smirk.
She gave him a weak grin shaking her head in silence.
He understandably nodded. It was about time he started being realistic about this situation and the reality was that...he had to let her go.
"I don't want to hurt you or be like those other people in your past who abandoned you."
"You're not hurting me by doing what you love nor abandoning me. No one has ever had my best interest at heart more." She grinned still holding his hands in her's. "I'm going to be just fine staying in this boring town for a few more months trying not to be envious of your glamorous New York lifestyle."
Klaus chuckled. "I assure you love, paying double the amount I pay for this place for a shoe box sized studio and getting splashed with coffee every morning by a rushing lady and her dog is not something I would consider glamorous."
She smirked. "Mhm, but the moment you see a tall sexy supermodel walking down the street you'll forget all about me." She joked causing his playful expression to slowly drop.
He cuffed one side of her face smoothly rubbing her cheek with his thumb. Caroline by habit sighed into the warm feel, feeling the lump in her throat of knowing she may never have his touch again.
"I could never forget you, Caroline Forbes not even if I tried..." His blue eyes bore into hers intimately as his sentence drifted off. The unreadable glare in his eye looked like he wanted to say something but didn't know how and as of lately, Caroline knew that look all too well since she had seen it on herself.
-This wasn't happening. Not now.
Before he could speak again she pressed her lips against his tenderly with so much passion it was beginning to overwhelm them both. Her fingertips grazed over his stubbled cheek affectionately. Klaus probed his tongue in her mouth when she moaned, slowly deepening the intimate kiss, them both never wanting this moment to end. Caroline was the first to detach, she couldn't allow herself to get lost in him right now.
She smiled before standing up from the couch.
"I completely forgot my mom said she's going to be home tonight. She's ordering takeout but it's the thought that counts, right?" She claimed.
Klaus looked at her in disbelief. He wanted her here having dinner like they planned and spending every moment he could with her for the time being. But he could tell her emotions were hanging by a thread as is, last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable.
He pressed his lips together into a grin rising from the couch. "That's great, love I'm glad. Don't worry I'll save some ziti for you, I'll make sure Rebekah doesn't touch it."
Caroline giggled that adorable laugh that turned him into mush whenever he heard it.
"Thanks, maybe bring it to me for lunch sometime." She winked.
He playfully rolled his eyes smirking as he followed her to the door.
"We still have a few weeks you know? I don't know about you but I want to take advantage of of it." Klaus commented with a smirk.
Caroline turned towards him. "Same." She simply replied.
Klaus nodded leaning his face down to her's trapping her lips with his. The kiss was so brief he barely felt her lips reciprocating onto his.
"I'll see you tomorrow in class." She flashed her signature Caroline Forbes smile before making her way down the stairs through the lobby exiting the building.
Getting out of that apartment and away from Klaus as soon as possible was all that was on Caroline's mind at the moment. She could feel the pressure in her chest that was soaking in her every emotion since finding that god forsaken letter. The gallons of tears she kept bottled up finally released when arrived to her car. Caroline couldn't stop the tears from falling or the sadness from taking over. Her hands tightly gripping the steering wheel as she sat in her car crying her eyes out. She tried not to show this in front of Klaus, he would've definitely altered his decision if he saw how much him leaving affected her.
She couldn't do that to him.
His happiness meant a great deal to her and without a doubt she knew she was apart of that but so was New York, so was his career. Asking him to stay knowing there's a big part of him that wants to leave would be selfish. She'd never forgive him if he did that to her.
Caroline realized what that feeling was. The odd sensation that dominated her body whenever she was with Klaus or even saw him. She didn't want to label it because she was scared, everything about Klaus and how she felt about him terrified her.
She loved him...and that's why she had to let him go.
Love is a bittersweet thing sometimes isn't it?
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