Darkest Temptations
Chapter Seventeen: Beyond Control
Klaus Mikaelson
Arriving in Utah that morning, the sky showcased a stunning array of colors. Caroline, Elena, and April felt drained after the events of the past twenty-four hours. Unbeknownst to them, I remained alert and strategizing my next steps following our close call with Tyler and Damon in Nevada. We had not come this far to jeopardize our progress just as things were beginning to shift for each of us. I won't allow a high school athlete and a disappointing man to control my happiness. I will ensure our history remains in the past and that no obstacles will come between us in the future. Nothing could stop me from embracing my new life as a polygamist. Now that these women had pledged their loyalty to me exclusively, I was committed to doing everything necessary to protect their shared dream of a happy future. Things were about to take a different turn. I intended to establish myself as the protector and husband of all three of my wives, as I should have done from the beginning.
Heading back home in the early morning, we discovered ourselves on a deserted road surrounded by sand and orange mountains. Stopping for gas, I splashed cold water on my face. When I got back to the car, I found April standing outside, leaning against the door with her hair gently swaying in the morning breeze. As I approached her, she kept her eyes locked on mine. She appeared absolutely gorgeous in her white tank top, jean cut shorts, and cowgirl boots. I stood still before her, captivated by the way her hair moved in the light wind, a gentle smile on her lips. As I moved closer to kiss her, she held me tight and our lips touched. April's kisses always carried a unique bubblegum flavor, keeping me curious about what taste would follow. This amazing girl had the most charming personality I had ever come across. Even though we had only known each other for a short time, she was already making a significant impression on me. As our kiss ended, my lips moved down her neck as my hand gently explored her shoulder, slowly taking off her shirt and bra strap to plant a soft kiss on her skin.
As I continued on my journey, I realized that every marriage would have its own distinct characteristics. There have been many exciting developments since our arrival, with some moving faster than expected and others progressing slowly. I would never push Elena or April into something they weren't prepared for. I witnessed my father's strong grip on my mother's neck many times when she tried to resist. My relationships with my wives were built on enduring hardships and unwavering devotion to each other, prepared to face any challenges that may arise. Yet, I couldn't help but notice the increasing allure I experienced for each of my wives as time passed. I harbored desires for each of them that they were not prepared to handle, both physically and emotionally. However, each of them had a captivating charm that filled me with excitement every day. Watching Caroline fix her lipstick always sparked thoughts of what could happen if I took a chance. Elena enjoyed teasing me with her choice of clothing, like tight jeans that emphasized her figure. April frequently glanced at me with a look that seemed to suggest she wanted me to defend her innocence, which was all I longed for.
Upon returning to the house, we found all the girls fast asleep. It felt oddly harsh to disturb their slumber. Silence lingered between us as the girls made their way to the car and then off to bed. I turned around and kissed Caroline, who had just arrived and walked up the driveway to her house. I utilized the mirrors to ensure the street was clear before April walked out and crossed to her house in the middle. After Elena left for our house, I started unloading the luggage. I teamed up with Caroline to move each case to the right house by crossing through the backyards. Once I completed this task, I quickly headed back to my house with Elena, entering through the kitchen patio doors and locking them behind me since it was still early in the morning.
Today was filled with tasks that promised a positive beginning.
Caroline Mikaelson
"Okay, so next week, the schedule is April, followed by me, then Elena, and so forth." I said as I read aloud the schedule for the upcoming week.
"We should plan for the Christmas week," Elena reminded me, prompting me to quickly jot it down.
"What is there to figure out?" April inquired while jotting down notes in her own notepad.
"So no one has a double night on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," Elena explained.
It was already noon when any of us finally emerged from bed. I got up and went straight to the shower after sleeping with my makeup and hairspray still on. I couldn't start my first day back in Utah without taking a shower. I tidied up the house before inviting Elena and April over for a meeting. I was delighted when they both arrived with their own notebooks and diaries, showing no sign of the discomfort they had during our first wives meeting, as April liked to call it.
"Alright, next up: grocery shopping." I said and crossed it off my list.
"I also had a few thoughts on that." Elena suddenly said, catching me by surprise.
"You did?" I inquired, attempting to conceal my surprise.
"I did. I think we are responsible for maintaining our own homes. On those special Sundays when we share meals together, we can shop for each other if necessary. For instance, if one of us is busy, we can all contribute something to the table."
"Like we all make something?" I inquired
"It's really not a big deal."
"You don't cook, and neither does April."
"I can bring a salad," April stated while jotting down her notes.
I shifted my focus back to Elena, who glanced up from her paperwork to meet my gaze.
"Actually I'm going to ask Klaus for money for cooking classes."
She's going to ask him for additional money? Why not use the money he's giving each of us per month?
"Wouldn't it be more practical to use your own money?"
Elena shifted her focus from me, jotting something down before casually mentioning, "Honestly, I already asked him."
"Next topic." April tucked her hair behind her ear, attempting to conceal her discomfort with confrontation.
I cleared my throat before continuing "Klaus spoke to me before we went on vacation, he's buying for a new air conditioning system for your house." I said to April.
"But it's a new house." Elena was quick to point out.
"I know but he said he wanted a new system." I said before searching through my notes, I made sure to provide April with the information about the work that Klaus had given me.
"He is right though, it's hot." April said.
At that moment, I noticed Elena sneak a peek at my wedding ring. Klaus didn't reveal our rings until he was placing them on our fingers, which ended up being perfect. He had made excellent choices for all of us. It was clear to us that he hadn't just chosen the priciest rings, but had carefully selected ones that matched our personalities as individuals and as future wives. I quite liked how my ring was simple compared to Elena and April's. Klaus grasped my desire to embrace life with a fresh sophistication and sincere gentleness. I aimed to distance myself from my past self as much as I could. April's ring had extra diamonds, but Elena's wedding ring was the most expensive. I wasn't certain if she was aware of it, but I had definitely observed the quality of the diamond Klaus had chosen for her.
It seems that during their vacation, they had a deep and honest conversation, which might have been awkward, but they managed to work through it and decided to make more effort in the future. I felt let down and somewhat embarrassed by Klaus's request for a kiss as a sign of her commitment to their ceremony. After sharing this information, he couldn't even make eye contact with me. He kissed her so harshly, leaving a trace of her lipstick on his lips. I wasn't certain about their future interactions, but I thought they would continue to kiss daily, as Klaus had started doing with each of us. But I think they now had a mutual agreement about boundaries that should not be crossed. It was disappointing because during our vacation, it seemed like they were both making an extra effort to build a connection.