Chapter 15:
Michelle left early, so Mari was in charge of closing up the bar. She was looking forward to the weekend, since she had no work and could try and visit her brother. She hadnt seen him in awhile. Freya had promised to accompany her so her father couldnt lay a hand on her. For that, Mari was eternally grateful to Freya.
As she was counting the money in the register, the door swung open. As if on instinct, she put the money back in the drawer, all in one pile, then pushed it closed so it would lock. When she lifted her gaze and met Marcel's, she knew the money was safe. But perhaps she was not
"Marcel," she swallowed nervously, leaning back against the counter. "What are you doing here?" He smiled at her, a soft, genuine sort of smile that made her relax a little. He sat down on the stool directly across from her.
"Ive been thinking about you," he said after a moment. Mari looked around, wondering if maybe there was anyone that would hear if she screamed. Her blood was off limits to him, not that he ever tried to take it. "Don't look so scared. Im not here to cause problems."
"Then what are you here for exactly?" She questioned, hugging her upper body tightly, like her arms were a shield. It was a nervous habit she had not been able to break since it began in high school. Marcel took a deep breath.
"I know it's highly unlikely after everything, but... I was wondering if I could take you out. Maybe for dinner one night." He lifted his eyes to her, and the angry, malicious gleam she saw in them upon their first meeting was gone.
"Why?"
"Why? Why would a man ask out a beautiful woman that seems to have a great personality?" His rhetorical question and compliment made her blush, and that seemed to please him. "I undersgand if you want to say no. I did threaten you before."
"If I say yes... It's just one dinner?"
"If you want it to be. Or if you want more..." He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. Mari thought for a moment, wondering if she should play it safe and turn him down. Truthfully, she knew that if he wished her harm, he would go ahead and attack her right then. There was no point in wining and dining her just to kill her later.
"I pick the place. And tell Freya where I am."
"Better safe than sorry. I understand," he chuckled, leaning forward on his elbows to get a little closer to her. So... is that a yes? Maybe tomorrow evening?"
"I guess... I can do just dinner." She might regret her decision later, but it had been so long since she'd been asked on a date. Just the smile of excitement on his expression was enough to make her feel like maybe, just maybe, he was actually interested in getting to know her. Maybe he would be interested in just Mari, for who she was.
"Great. Ill meet you here at eight." He shot her a flirty wink, then disappeared out of the door. She followed behind him, locking it quickly before inhaling deeply, questioning her life decisions, and returning to finish closing up the register.
After finishing everything up inside, Mari slung her purse over her shoulder and left out of the back door. As soon as she stepped into the alley behind the bar, her back hit the brick wall behind her. In a panic, she raised her hand to defend herself and possibly strike her attacker. However, a hand wrapped around her wrist and pinned it to the wall above her head.
She was just about to cry out for help when she finally got a good look at her "attacker" through the dark. Her eyebrows furrowed, but the panic fluttered away from her heaving chest. Her head leaned back against the bricks.
"You scared me," she sighed in relief, her eyes closing momentarily before reopening and focusing on Klaus' intense gaze. "What's wrong?" She tugged at her wrist in hopes of freeing it, but Klaus held her in place. "Klaus?"
"I overheard you make your weekend plans. With the enemy, I believe." His tone was severe, which brought back a little of the panic she had just gotten away from. Her free hand pushed on his chest, but he didnt budge.
"Klaus, it's just a dinner."
"He could be using you, Mari. It would be foolish of you to join him even for 'just a dinner.'" It bothered her a little that he had heard their entire conversation, and he was now throwing her own words back at her. "He isn't interested in a real date."
"How do you know that?" She frowned at him. Was it so hard for Klaus to think that someone wanted more than just her blood? More than just a toy to play with? "He might be interested in only a date. With me."
"Why are you interested in a date with him?" Klaus scoffed at her. "You don't now Marcellus like I do." There was a scowl on his face. Mari tugged, much harder, at her wrist, and he released it this time. She slid out from his grasp, turning her back to him.
"Its the first time a man has asked me on a date in years," she answered honestly. "Maybe I just want to feel like, for once, someone is genuinely interested in me. Not just because I resemble their dead loved one, but because I'm me. Just me. I want someone to be happy with just that." She wanted to walk away, but Klaus wouldnt let her. She knew he wouldnt.
It came as no surprised when he grabbed her wrist again to halt her, practically spinning her around so he could look her in the eye.
"Do you think that there is no one else but Marcel that's interested in you for who you are? If you truly believe that, you're a bigger fool than I thought." His tone was harsh, and his piercing gaze tore through her very soul. She couldnt stop the stray tears that slid down her cheeks.
"Klaus, let go of me."
"Will you run off to your new lover? How long before you crawl into bed with him? Does a simple compliment really entice you so?" Her hand reacted before she could stop it. She struck Klaus, her palm connecting with his cheek, then retreating immediately to cover her mouth in shock. It was an idiotic thing to do. If he was pissed before, she was certain she just infuriated him.
Instead of retaliating with more harsh words or any kind of physical action, Mari was stunned, frozen, when Klaus took her small face in his hands and pushed his lips roughly against hers. Mari stayed still, eyes fluttering closed as she took in the new sensation. It was rough, but driven by a furious passion she couldn't deny.
"Klaus," she breathed his name, pulling back a little. Instead of letting her go, he used the opportunity to deepen the kiss, invading her mouth with his tongue that danced elegantly with hers. Mari wanted to stop herself from kissing him back, but it was impossible. She'd thought about this moment for too long to deny herself the experience.
She let out a gasp as she was suddenly up against the wall again, this time her chest pressed into the brick, and Klaus pressed into her back. She turned her head to try and look at him, but as soon as she did, she felt the sharp prick of his fangs entering the skin of her soft throat.
Her hands balled into fists against the bricks as he drank from her, his tongue lapping at the thin skin as her blood drained into his mouth. One of his hands was bracing itself against the wall in front of them, while the other was wrapped around her, his fingers sliding up underneath her shirt to flatten his hand against her stomach.
"K-Klaus," she panted. "Klaus, wait, I-" Her voice broke off into a groan as he bit a little harder, pushed into her a little more. She feel him against her back, against her bottom. One knee had bent forward, between her legs, resting against the bricks. The hand on her stomach slid down to the band of her jeans, and his fingers found their way to the button.
One of her hands flew down instantly to grab his. She wanted to protest aloud, but no words formed on her lips. Klaus grabbed her hand in his, lifting it away to pin it with his other. His hand that was now free once again, immediately moved down to her button, expertly popping it loose and forcing apart her zipper. His movements were rough and hungry. Mari could tell it was something he'd been craving, and the pleasure of fresh blood sliding over his tongue only amplified his lust.
(Warning: Light Smut)
Mari knew, in every fiber of her being, that she should have told him to stop, that she should have pulled away or stopped his somehow. She knew it, but she didnt act upon it. Her body took control of her head, her body which had been starved of attention and affection for so long. While she knew it was wrong for so many reasons, she let his hand slide down further, under the hem of her underwear, to that forbidden place she'd tried to keep hidden from him and Kol both.
Mari's chest heaved with a deep breath as his fingers dipped down low. One of them slid as deep into her as it could reach. She closed her eyes tightly and leaned her head forward against the brick, bracing herself for what was to come. It had been an awful long time, and her body was struggling to adjust to the intrusion.
While his invading finger held firm, Klaus used his thumb to massage her most sensitive spot just above. Her legs wobbled with pleasure, and her breathing quickened. She wanted to stay quiet, since they were in the alley behind the bar. The street was just around the corner, where she could hear people walking.
However, when he slid in another finger, she let out a loud moan. The hand that Klaus had against the wall moved down to cup over her mouth. His lips left her neck, moving up close to her ear.
"Shh, pet," he whispered to het seductively. "We must be quiet." Keeping his hand over her mouth, he leaned forward to begin working his fingers, sliding them in and out of her in a rapid rhythm, all the while his thumb still rubbing above it. Mari's hands practically clung to the brick as her legs threatened to give out, though she knew he wouldnt let her fall.
Her eyes opened momentarily as a fang gently scraped across her ear lobe. He was teasing her, toying with her, and Mari had finally let him. This would only open doors for Klaus, giving him something to taunt her with, something to remind her of when she tried to lie and say she didnt want him like that. Now they both could no longer deny that Mari, though she tried to abstain, craved the touch of a man.
"Think about this," he purred in her ear, "while you're on your date. Remember how I made you feel." His fingers curled inside of her, causing her to let out a cry of pleasure, though it was muffled by his hand. He rubbed faster, pumped his fingers harder, until her body could no longer take it.
Her body jerked with the sudden explosion of pleasure, the waves rippling through her and causing her to squeeze her legs shut. Klaus held his fingers there for a bit longer, keeping them buried in her so he could feel her constrict and tighten as she rode out her orgasm. Once she started to settle, and her cries and moans turned to soft, quiet pants. He lifted his hand away, zipping her jeans and pushing together the button.
"There now, love," he sighed, stepping back from her. Mari stayed with her hands and head against the wall for a moment, trying to catch her breath and steady her heartbeat. "Shall I walk you home, Mari, dear?" She could practically hear the smirk on his face. She finally turned, standing still for a moment, her legs pushed tightly together. Klaus offered his hand to her.
She took it, despite not having anymore words for him in that moment. He lifted her hand to rest it on his lower arms as he walked her, like a gentleman, back to the compound. During the entire walk, she kept her head low and stayed quiet. Klaus would have been concerned but he could see the blush on her cheeks with each passing streetlight.
He walked her up the steps, stopping outside of her room. She walked through the door, turning to look up at him for the first time since they kissed outside the bar. He grinned that devilish, handsome grin, flashing though intimidating but arousing fangs.
"Goodnight, Mari."
"Goodnight." She closed the door quickly, leaning back against it. She brought her hands up to her face. What was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to forget that kiss? Or those deliciously mischievous fingers of his? Oh, the trouble she had let herself get into. What would she say to Kol? He didnt exactly mean nothing to her. She'd craved his touch before. Maybe even still did.
What the hell was wrong with her?