But I never meant to hurt you,
I know it's time that I learn to
Treat the people I love like I wanna be loved

Jessie J – Nobody's Perfect

Chapter 60

Sinful Desires

"Well… It has been a while," Klaus stated after a moment of silence. "You look very nice."

"Are you serious?" I managed to say, I was still trying to clear my head. I had planned this moment for so many times, but now I couldn't remember anything I was supposed to say. Looking for him and suddenly finding him were obviously two very different things.

"Yes," he replied. "And I must say that you're quite hard to find."

"Right back at you," I muttered. "How did you…"

"How did I find you?" He paused and smiled. "Well, as I said, it wasn't easy, but you did leave me a trail to follow. I found it after I realized that you were looking for me."

"I didn't leave you any trail."

He grinned.

"Perhaps not intentionally, but it seems that you have become sloppy, sweetheart."

I crossed my arms and glared at him, I finally started to think clearly again.

"Did you kill Rebekah?" I asked harshly.

"No," he replied, his expression didn't change. "I didn't."

I was so relieved that for a moment I wanted to burst into tears, I had no idea what I would have done if he would have answered differently.

"Where is she?"

"She's safe," Klaus replied.

"And papa?"

"Also safe."

"Where are they?"

"I told you, they're safe."

"Klaus," I snarled warningly. "Take me to them or…"

"Enough," he suddenly snapped and grabbed my arms. "I won't take orders from anyone, Eva. Not even from you, so I suggest you reconsider your tone."

"My tone?" I repeated angrily. "You made papa and Kol to believe that Rebekah is gone and you want me to reconsider my tone?"

For a brief moment I thought that I saw guilt in his eyes, but it was gone in a second.

"That was…complicated," he muttered.

"How?" I snapped and shoved his chest. "How was it complicated? You made papa grief for her for all these years…"

"She was going to leave and take you with her!" Klaus suddenly shouted. "Do you honestly think that I would have just allowed that?"

My eyes widened.

"What?"

Klaus pressed his lips together, clearly trying to calm himself.

"Rebekah told me that she wanted to leave with Stefan and you. I admit that things got…out of hand after that, I let my anger to cloud my judgment. The thought of losing you… I wasn't going to let anyone take you from me, so I…" He paused and sighed. "I'm not proud of what I did and I swear I would have told Elijah the truth if he wouldn't have left." He paused again and clenched his fists. "He took you from me, kept you hidden."

"Klaus," I said firmly and touched his arm. "He's my father; he was trying to protect me."

I had known that all long, although I was angry at papa for treating me like a little child. It had probably been his way to cope with his grief.

"He had no right to take you," Klaus hissed. "He knew how much you mean to me. You are mine, Eva."

I sighed and moved closer to him.

"You know I love you, Klaus, but I need you to understand that I'm an independent woman, I don't belong to anyone."

The corners of his mouth were twitching when he looked at me. I glared at him threateningly.

"I'm warning you, I'll punch you if you laugh."

"Oh, I'm not laughing, believe me. I just…"

I didn't protest when he scooped me up and wrapped his arms tightly around me.

"I've missed you so much," he murmured and snuggled his face in my hair. "My Eva…"

I knew that I should have been much angrier at him after everything that had happened, but I couldn't deny that I had missed him too. It was actually very annoying how both he and Kol could do this; make me ignore all the crappy things so easily. Apparently being held like this was all it took. How pathetic was that? Yes, I loved them, but was this honestly normal? But then again, had it ever been normal?

"Klaus?"

"Hmm?"

"You know."

"Yes, I suppose I do," he sighed. "I'll take you to them tomorrow."

I didn't argue, I simply nodded.

"Thank you."

"Sure."

I sighed and allowed my body to relax against his chest; I couldn't deny that this felt nice.

"I heard that congratulations are in order," I muttered after a moment of silence. "You broke the curse."

"Yes, I did."

"How does it feel? Is it everything you imagined?"

He didn't say anything, I felt his body tensing.

"What's wrong?" I asked and pulled away.

"Nothing," he murmured, he wasn't looking at me. "I just… I'm sorry."

"For what?"

He bit his bottom lip.

"I… It doesn't feel right that I got what I wanted and you…"

My eyes widened when I understood what he was trying to say.

"I might be petty sometimes, but not so petty that I couldn't be happy for other people, especially you."

"No, no, that's not what I meant." He paused and touched my cheek. "I haven't stopped looking and I know you would have deserved this more than I did."

"Oh please," I huffed. "You only want me to have an adult's body so you could get to second base. Well, you can forget it, buddy, I'm still a lady."

He chuckled when I stuck my tongue out.

"Now, I want to know everything. How does it feel?"

I really didn't need to ask, I could see the answer in his eyes.

"Amazing, I feel…whole."

"That's wonderful," I said sincerely and touched his shoulder. "You know I'm happy for you."

"Thank you, love," he replied and kissed my forehead. "The only problem is that for some reason I haven't managed to turn any werewolves, but that's really not important right now. I'm happy that I found you."

"Uh huh. So, are you going to offer me a ride or what?"

He was definitely amused when he started the car.

"Of course. Where to, my lady?"

"To a hotel," I replied. "I need a shower and some clean clothes."

"Well, in that case you're in luck. I have some of your clothes with me."

"What?"

"I went to your house in California after I left from Mystic Falls. I was trying to find you."

"You…went to my room?" I muttered.

"Yes, but I didn't touch any of your private things. I only grabbed some of your clothes with me in case you would need them. And your book."

I frowned.

"What book?"

He cleared his throat.

"What was the title again…? Oh yes, Sinful Desires."

I would have definitely blushed, if that would have been physically possible.

"Shut up."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were going to."

"No, I wasn't. It's a good book; I actually read it myself…"

"Shut up," I huffed and slapped his arm. "You didn't read it."

"I did, it was very good."

I snorted and rolled my eyes.

"Ha ha, laugh all you want, but I'm a woman and I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoy a little romance for every now and then."

"Of course, who wouldn't?"

I waited for him to add something, but he didn't.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Oh come on, I'm sure you're dying to make some kind of joke."

"Why would I joke about this?" he asked innocently.

"Just shut up."

We were both quiet for a while; I looked outside and tried to get over my embarrassment. At least no one else had seen the book. Right?

"Is Stefan still with you?" I muttered.

"Yes, he's waiting at the hotel."

I swallowed.

"Did you…did you show that book to him?"

"No, why would I have done that?"

I shrugged.

"Because it's funny."

Klaus was quiet for a brief moment before replying.

"I don't consider your feelings in any way funny, Eva. I know I haven't always acted like a gentleman, but I would never intentionally humiliate you."

I turned slowly to look at him and smiled.

"Well, well, someone has become a big old softie."

"Shut up," he huffed and turned the radio on.

I giggled and rubbed my cheek against his arm.

"I love you too, softie."

He snorted, but I could tell that he was suppressing a smile. Neither of us said anything before we arrived at a very nice looking hotel. He opened the car door for me like a gentleman and offered me his hand. We walked inside and I noticed Stefan sitting in a hotel bar.

"Eva," he greeted me, I could tell that he remembered me now.

"Hi, daddy," I replied innocently.

He looked uncomfortable to say the least, especially when Klaus sent him a brief scowl.

"What are you doing here?" Klaus asked.

"You have a guest," Stefan replied tensely. "He's waiting in your room."

Klaus' eyes narrowed.

"What? Who?"

"Your brother."