Chapter 4 - Temptation
Warnings: None…ish. Just some heavy petting and some fluff. :)
A/N: Hello, hello! I am currently working on my other stories but decided to post this chapter before I end up editing it for the billionth time. Let me just say that I love the feedback I've been getting on this fic and would like to point out that this is purely self-indulgent. I think we don't see Bonnie get doted on enough, and this is my way of attempting to fix that! Also, I didn't realize how… challenging it would be to write a fic like that because, on the one hand, I want to be realistic, and on the other, I'm giving in to guilty pleasures. That said, yes, Elijah is very unhinged, but his intentions are pure lmao. He won't be perfect, but I promise he won't randomly become a supervillain. Still, Bonnie is (rightfully) skeptical. While I don't want Bonnie to fall into the "I'd rather die than take your money" trope, I also don't want to be disingenuous and have her just go with the flow. Anyway, let me know how I'm doing, and hopefully, you enjoy this chapter.
The only thing Elijah had been wrong about was when he'd have her back on Monday morning. To her dismay, Bonnie arrived at work two hours late. They cut it dangerously close, leaving Paris at nearly one in the morning. She'd texted Matt to cover her shift, reminding him he owed her. Thankfully, she thought to pack her uniform, changing into them on the plane to head straight to work without stopping at her apartment.
The warm glow from the weekend clung to her skin like the lingering taste of the expensive wines he introduced her to. But reality hit hard and fast. Her morning mainly consisted of unread emails and a slew of unresolved guest complaints, and as her shift dragged on, her annoyance threatened to chip away at the magic. She adjusted her bracelet absentmindedly, the delicate clink of gold against her wrist bringing forth better memories.
Her eyes were on the screen, but her thoughts were on Mr. Mikaelson.
Midway through issuing refunds, Matt popped into her office, his wide grin making Bonnie want to throw her stapler at him. She could feel the mischief radiating off him before he even spoke.
"Don't say a word," she warned, holding up her hand to stop him.
Matt's grin only widened. His gaze dropped to the bracelet on her wrist, and a slow whistle escaped him. "Nice bling, Bon-Bon."
Bonnie's cheeks flamed. She yanked her hand out of sight, shoving it beneath her desk as if hiding it would erase the memory of her magical weekend—or the man who'd fastened it onto her wrist himself.
"What do you want, Matt?" she asked, trying to divert him, her eyes laser-focused on a speck of dust on her computer screen.
Matt dropped into the chair across from her, resting his feet on the corner of her desk like he owned the place. He picked up the squishy stress ball she kept under her monitor, tossing it in the air casually.
"So, are you going to spill?"
"Spill what?"
"Spill the beans about who has you glowing like a damn supernova," he said, reaching out to pinch her cheek.
She rolled her eyes and leaned forward, snatching the stress ball mid-throw and slamming it onto the desk. "There's nothing to spill," she muttered, unconvincing—at best.
Matt smirked knowingly. "You're a terrible liar."
Before she could protest, he stood, hands tucked in his pockets as he approached the door. He lingered at the threshold, leaning lazily against the frame.
"Fine, don't tell me," he said with a shit-eating grin. He leaned on the doorjamb and whispered so that only she could hear. "But, tell Mr. Mikaelson I said, hello."
Bonnie's heart plummeted into her stomach.
The air left her lungs as she scrambled to her feet, grabbed Matt by the lapel of his blazer, and dragged him back inside. She quickly shut the door and yanked the curtain across the window, sealing them off from the rest of the hotel. Matt collapsed back into the chair, looking far too pleased with himself.
"What the hell do you know?" Bonnie demanded, her voice low but sharp. Before he could lie, she added, "Remember, we've known each other our entire lives. I know when you're lying."
Matt's smile never faltered as he leaned back, entirely unbothered with his grin a permanent fixture.
"Everything," he said, the word laced with smug satisfaction.
"Start talking," she demanded.
By the time he was done, her jaw was on the floor.
With her pulse pounding in her ears, she asked, "So you told him I was off this weekend?" She paused. "You—you asked for those days off on purpose?"
Matt gave a proud little nod.
"And you told him where I lived?" Her voice sharpened, a sliver of panic slipping through despite herself. Though she'd surmised Elijah tracked the phone he'd given her—and he all but confirmed—she wanted to be sure no one else in her life was selling her out.
"What? No!" Matt frowned, looking genuinely offended. "Wait, did he show up at your place?"
Bonnie backtracked fast. "Uh, no. He sent me something." She waved vaguely, trying to deflect. No way was she giving Matt more ammunition.
"For the record," Matt said, leaning forward with a playful glint in his eye, "I don't believe you."
Bonnie fought the urge to laugh but managed to keep a straight face, sticking to the plot of the conversation. "What else did you tell him?"
Matt toyed with the hem of his blazer, his grin turning devilish. "He asked me where you banked."
Bonnie's stomach dropped. She thought of the check Elijah had given her—and how she hadn't checked her account in nearly a week.
Completely unlike her.
"You sneaky little shit," she said, smacking him with the nearest object; an abandoned throw pillow left behind by a guest.
Matt ducked and scrambled out of reach, laughing as he dodged another swing. "Love you too, Bon-Bon!"
He bolted out of her office, leaving Bonnie breathless and stunned.
She sank back into her chair, rubbing her temples as the events of the past few minutes settled in. Somehow, Matt had become a willing accomplice in Elijah's pursuit of her—and she didn't know how she felt about that.
But one thing was certain: Elijah Mikaelson played the long game. And Matt, it seemed, was happily complicit in the scheme.
Bonnie exhaled slowly, brushing her fingers over the bracelet again as if the cool metal might tether her to reality. She stared at the computer screen, her unread emails blurring together.
For the first time in a long while, she had no idea what came next.
.xXx.
Bonnie finally logged into her banking app, and the sight on the screen knocked the breath from her lungs. The obscene amount glaring back at her blurred her vision: one hundred thousand dollars. She stared, blinked, and refreshed the page just to be sure. She then checked her alerts to see that conveniently, she never bothered to activate the 'branch deposits' functionality (because truthfully, most of her transactions were digital).
An exorbitant amount of fear overwhelmed her for reasons she couldn't rightfully explain, prompting her to act. Her fingers shook as she grabbed the phone Elijah had given her and dialed his number.
"Yes, my love?" His velvet voice poured over the line and she swooned, nearly forgetting why she had called.
She blinked out of her stupor. "Are you out of your damn mind?!"
There was a brief pause before Elijah's low chuckle sounded, and she could hear him switching to speakerphone. Probably to save his ear from another outburst. "Generally speaking, perhaps. But to which of my offenses are you referring to this time?"
"You know exactly what I'm referring to!" she snapped. "What the hell am I supposed to do with all this money?"
There was a beat of silence, and she knew—just knew—he was grinning on the other end.
"Spend it. Donate it, perhaps. Better yet, withdraw it and sleep on top of it naked. Your choice," he quipped.
Bonnie groaned, pressing her fingers to her temples. She could practically see him lounging somewhere, infuriatingly calm, his smirk spreading wide.
"Elijah." Her voice carried that exasperated edge, the one he secretly loved.
He closed his eyes and bit into his lips to remain focused.
"Bonnie." His tone was light, teasing, and entirely unbothered.
"You're going to get me audited!" She protested, panic lacing her voice.
He laughed softly, his composure unruffled. "I'll ensure your finances aren't affected. If anyone contacts you, let me know. I'll handle it." The ease in his voice made her heart race, though she wasn't sure if it was from comfort or fear.
She sighed heavily, rubbing her temples again. "I thought you'd send something crazy like ten grand but a hundred thousand, Elijah? Be fucking for real!" The more she thought about it, the more her anxiety spiked.
"Such a potty mouth," he tsked with a small smirk. "As I recall, I instructed you to add a comma, didn't I?" He reminded, sounding entirely too pleased with himself.
Bonnie groaned again. "I can't believe you," she murmured.
"I had to make amends for hurting you," he said, his voice softening. And just like that, her stomach flipped.
"Not like this, you didn't." Her voice was calmer now, the shock and panic easing by the minute.
"True," he admitted. "But I wanted to." The conviction in his words made her chest tighten. "There's more where that came from," he continued, his voice dropping slightly. "So get used to it."
Bonnie nearly fainted as her head began to spin with all the possibilities. "The only way I'll 'get used to it' is if you help me put it to good use," she demanded.
His chuckle was rich and full of warmth. "With pleasure, Your Highness," he teased. His voice lowered, "And because you're taking it so well," he said, pausing deliberately. "I'll teach you—rather than do it for you," he promised.
Left breathless from the innuendo, Bonnie closed her eyes as she tried to calm her racing heart.
He knew exactly what the fuck he was doing.
She chuckled and decided for her benefit not to follow him down that sinful path. "Good," she muttered. "That's what I want," she said, vaguely hinting at another concurrent conversation.
Elijah smirked. "As you command it." His words dripped with playful amusement. Bonnie couldn't resist rolling her eyes.
"Where are you right now?" she asked, shifting gears to distract herself from the emotional flurry building inside her.
"Back in Paris, tying up loose ends." His voice had that effortless calm, as if hopping between countries was as mundane as running errands. The sheer ease with which he navigated the world made her dizzy. "Would you like me to return?" he asked smoothly as if the thought of being away from her was already a problem he intended to solve.
The butterflies in the pit of her stomach churned like fake snow in a snow globe.
"I was just curious," she said, sounding unaffected. Elijah didn't buy it.
"Your voice goes up a pitch when you're not forthcoming." Another thing he noticed. Bonnie bit her lip and stifled a grin.
"It's okay to admit you miss me," he said, the intimacy in his words making her heart flutter.
Still, she rolled her eyes. "I just saw you," she pointed out, trying to gain control of the narrative.
"As did I. And yet, I miss you too," he said, effortlessly.
Bonnie melted into the couch cushions, clutching a throw pillow against her chest. Elijah chuckled, almost as if he could see her.
"I do miss you," she confessed, shocking herself and him at how easily she gave in. She heard the soft, satisfied exhale on the other end of the line and smiled.
"Suddenly, I regret leaving your side," he murmured.
"Make it up to me later," she teased, suddenly emboldened.
"You know I will," he promised.
Bonnie's mind began to whirl, calculating time zones and flight durations. "So, it's almost midnight there," she began.
"It is," he confirmed. She ignored the amusement in his tone.
"You'd have to leave by morning then," she said matter-of-factly.
"And why's that?" He asked with a smile.
"So I can see you when I get off work," she mused, her voice soft and suggestive.
Elijah chuckled. "And what makes you think I'm not already arranging it?" Her heart swelled at the thought. A week ago, she would have resisted the pull of this connection—this intoxicating feeling that Elijah stirred in her. But now she was different—a woman infatuated. She felt herself slipping, inch by inch, into the pull of something far more profound than she anticipated, and it excited her.
Having control made her feel secure. But relinquishing it was becoming dangerously addictive.
"I'll be there with bells on," he promised.
And he did not disappoint.
.xXx.
"So, Matt confessed," Bonnie said suddenly, cutting through the comfortable silence between them. It had been on her mind all week to bring up Matt's revelation, but their time together had been fleeting and spontaneous. Now with Elijah finally taking a rare break from his whirlwind schedule and lounging comfortably on her bed, she figured there was no better moment to confront him.
She couldn't help but smile at the memory of him waiting outside her door earlier, looking almost comically out of place in the narrow hallway. That image quickly became one of her favorites—Elijah, the polished billionaire, leaning casually against the wall, waiting just for her.
If only the past version of herself knew how far they'd come.
Now, they were sprawled on her bed, a movie playing softly in the background with neither of them paying it any attention. When she shifted to sit up, Elijah instantly missed the warmth of her body against his side. She grabbed the popcorn bowl from between them and cradled it in her lap, angling herself toward him.
His slow, knowing smile told her everything she needed to know.
"Start talking," she demanded, slowly feeding a popcorn piece into her mouth. His gaze darkened, his eyes flickering to her lips before meeting hers again. She was toying with him, and they both knew it.
He rolled onto his elbow, his grin deepening. "What exactly do you want to know?"
"Everything," she said, her voice low and playful. "When this started. How long you've been plotting."
His eyes narrowed with amusement as she sucked the salt off her fingertip, knowing exactly what effect she was having on him.
He arched a brow. "Plotting sounds a bit brash."
"It fits," she teased, tossing a piece of popcorn at him. He caught it effortlessly between his teeth, making her laugh.
"Let's see, what month is it," he pondered, biding his time.
She tossed another piece at him, this time missing. "August," she offered, not letting him off the hook easily.
"Which means my last visit was a month ago, so about April," he said, his eyes landing on hers. Bonnie waited for him to elaborate, her eyes widening once she caught on to what he was insinuating.
Bonnie's smile faltered, her brows knitting in confusion. "Wait—April?" she repeated, shaking her head. "No way."
He nodded, his expression smug. "Yes, way."
She stared at him, trying to piece together the timeline. "But, if I've been on your radar since April, why didn't you say anything?"
His hand found hers, gently adjusting the costume rings on her fingers as if he were already imagining replacing them with something more permanent. "It's hard to pinpoint when it began," he murmured. "You've been on my mind since I met you, Bonnie. Even more so in recent months. But had I pursued you earlier, things would have probably ended catastrophically."
Her heart fluttered at the casual way he said it as if admitting he'd been thinking of her for months was no big deal. "So what made you finally come out of hiding?" she asked, half-joking, half-serious.
"Hiding," he asked, incredulous. "It was you hiding from me," he countered, his grin widening.
"I was not hiding from you, Elijah," she doubled down with a laugh.
"If I had to hazard a guess, it was last December. I spent the holidays here, do you remember?" he began, laying down the foundations to prove her wrong.
Bonnie stilled. She knew exactly what he was about to bring up, and the thought made her nervous and giddy. "I remember," she whispered, waiting to hear his account of what she thought was all in her mind.
"The look you gave me when I checked in," he began softly, his eyes locked on hers. "You were helping another guest, but when you saw me, you paused—" He reached out to pinch her cheek affectionately. "A habit of yours, by the way."
Her shoulders shook as she giggled from having been caught staring at him.
"It wasn't just a look. It was concern. Empathy." He said, smiling at the memory. "And for whatever reason, that one moment stuck with me. It hit me here." He tapped his chest gently, a rare glimpse of vulnerability slipping through.
Bonnie's throat tightened. She remembered that moment vividly—how she'd looked at him, feeling inexplicably drawn to the quiet sadness she'd seen in his eyes. How she empathized with him spending the holidays alone, a feeling she'd experienced a time or two.
"Then I found your usual note card with everything I requested. But this note…" He trailed off, his smile stretching at the memory. "This one was different. Personal, I'd like to believe."
Bonnie smirked, remembering the card she'd written late at night after rewatching Casablanca for the hundredth time.
"I'd just watched Casablanca," she confessed with a coy smile.
Elijah chuckled, already knowing. "I caught the reference," he said, reciting the words she'd written as if they were etched into his memory. "Of all the hotels in all the towns in all the world, it is my sincerest pleasure to have you walk into mine. Merry Christmas, Mr. Mikaelson."
Bonnie buried her face in her hands as her cheeks burned. "Oh God," she groaned. Suddenly, the irony of quoting the most iconic film about unrequited love dawned on her.
Elijah's laughter rumbled through the room as he gently pried her hands away from her face. "I wondered if you did that on purpose," he grinned.
"I was trying to be witty," she admitted with a laugh, mortified. She wanted to curl up and die.
"And you succeeded," he murmured, pulling her closer until her head rested against his chest. His hand stroked lazily through her hair as they both sank into the memory.
"Whether you meant to do it or not," he continued, "you left an impression," he confessed, remembering how big his smile had gotten when he read it. It had been a trying day, and her note lifted his mood when nothing else could. "All I could think was that you'd likened our little unspoken relationship to that scene." He smiled down at her. "And from that moment on, I couldn't get you out of my head."
Bonnie bit her lip, trying to suppress the butterflies that had taken flight. She'd written the note without thinking, yet it seemed her subconscious mind had been at work all along, sending signals even she hadn't fully understood.
"That was one of many Paris clues I picked up on," Elijah murmured, referencing the film's central love affair in Paris and Bonnie's not-so-subtle obsession with the city. "Since then, I began watching you more closely—the way your eyes lingered when you thought I wasn't looking, the way you actively avoided me, for your sake, not mine," he pointed out, earning a playful slap to his chest. He caught her hand and kissed her fingers, tracing his lips over the sharp tips of her acrylics.
His gaze darkened, struggling to focus as a wicked thought flickered across his mind—thoughts of those same nails digging into his back, marking him.
"I believe you stayed through New Year's, didn't you?" Bonnie pointed. Her soft voice pulled him back to the present—away from the edge of distraction.
"I did. And each time I thought I'd corner you—to press you about the note, you managed to slip through my fingers." He tapped her nose, earning a beautiful smile that tightened his chest.
"If you wanted to corner me, you would have," she pointed out.
"I liked the chase," he confessed. "And whether you knew it or not, I started closing in on you," he further admitted.
A shiver ran down Bonnie's spine at his words, making her shift closer to him.
"So, what happened in April?" He chuckled at the easy way she always managed to deflect, attempting to keep him from burrowing beneath her skin. It was cute—feeble—but cute.
"I happened to be passing through while you were dealing with a challenging guest," he said, his expression thoughtful. "It was the first time I saw another side of you—something sharper, more assertive. Your interactions with me were always polite, warm even—but in that moment…" He trailed off as if savoring the memory. "That fire in you changed the way I saw you."
Bonnie's stomach flipped, and she resisted the urge to look away.
"You see, with my status, people naturally submit to me for whatever reason they see fit," he continued. "They usually view me as a meal ticket. I rarely encounter someone who's genuinely authentic." His gaze softened. "But I saw it in you—and it was like breathing fresh air for the first time."
Nestled against Elijah's side, (the popcorn bowl long forgotten on the nightstand) Bonnie let herself savor the weight of his confession. Her chest swelled at the quiet reverence in his tone. There was something profoundly intimate about being seen so clearly by him, and it terrified her just as much as it thrilled her.
"Focus," he whispered, a teasing smirk curling his lips when he noticed her drifting off into her thoughts.
She smiled sheepishly. "I'm listening," she promised.
"As I was saying," he drawled, giving her an endearing look to ensure she was, indeed, listening, "I saw how efficient you were at standing your ground and realized you weren't someone who'd easily submit to bullshit," he paused, recalling the way she verbally reduced the man to a weak little simp. With a lick of his lips, he smirked. "That fire got my gears turning," he said with a grin.
Bonnie chuckled, rolling her eyes. "He was trying to scam us," she said, recalling the guest he spoke of. And while she had no time to focus on Elijah, she remembered seeing him from afar. "I didn't realize you saw that. I assumed you had other things to worry about," she said, confirming that she was always aware of his presence near her.
"Nope," he said, wrapping his arm tighter around her neck. He leaned in to kiss her earlobe, and Bonnie softly moaned in response. "Just you," he murmured into her ear.
"Continue the story, Sir," she said softly, causing his loins to stir. He maintained his hold on her but continued as she commanded.
"You don't submit easily, Bonnie," he murmured. "Yet, in my presence, you became an entirely different woman." Watching her squirm whenever his gaze lingered on her for too long was thrilling, and he enjoyed every minute. "I liked how you looked at me with unguarded curiosity," he confessed. He liked how curious she was about Elijah, the man, and not what he could offer or do for her.
Even if she hadn't consciously realized it, she'd offered him the gift of her submission—a gesture requiring profound vulnerability. It was now his duty to deem himself worthy, fully aware that the trust she extended so freely could be withdrawn just as swiftly.
"You were aware of me in a way that wasn't conscious, at least not entirely." His voice dipped lower, more intimate. "But, I had to be careful with you. Even though your body naturally responded to me, your mind was a different engine. If I'd approached you head-on, you would've run."
Her pulse quickened as his words settled over her heavily. He'd been watching her far more closely than she ever realized, and the keenly astute way he paid attention made her feel putty in his hands.
"With you, it's all about knowing when and where to apply pressure," he continued, his gaze heavy-lidded. "I started orchestrating ways to interact with you that seemed coincidental. But you were slicker than I expected."
Bonnie grinned, pleased with herself. "You underestimated me," she teased.
He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "A little. But that only strengthened my determination." He brushed a curl away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "After a few failed attempts, I removed the gloves. My visits became more frequent—partially to see you, but also to gather information."
She tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "What kind of information?"
Elijah's smile was sly. "I noticed you were more open with Matt than anyone else at the hotel. So, naturally, I went to him."
"Both of you need your asses kicked," she mumbled.
"To be fair," Elijah said, chuckling, "I had to be upfront with him about my intentions. And even then, he was reluctant—a tough nut to crack, unlike your doorman." He laughed when she nudged him before his expression softened. "He told me you deserved to be happy. That was all I needed to hear."
Bonnie's heart squeezed at the thought. She and Matt had known each other their entire lives, and knowing that he'd subtly endorsed Elijah meant more than she could put into words.
"I also learned your schedule," Elijah continued—his tone lightening again. "I started timing my arrivals perfectly—just before the end of your shift. Too early, I'd have to deal with your colleagues. Too late, and I'd miss you entirely."
"Wow. What a dick," Bonnie teased, grinning from ear to ear, her heart fluttering at the thought of the lengths Elijah had gone to court her. It was more effort than she was used to, and while she struggled with the initial discomfort of being under his scope, she couldn't help but feel flattered.
"You have no idea," Elijah murmured back, his voice low with mischief. The tip of his nose brushed the curve of her neck, sending shivers along her spine. He pressed a kiss against her collarbone, inhaling the soft fragrance that clung to her skin—the very scent he'd curated for her.
She shifted slightly, ignoring the sudden heat warming her core.
"I always joked about your terrible timing. Now I know it was on purpose." She laughed, shaking her head at the thought.
He brushed his thumb thumb along her jawline. "It worked, didn't it?"
Bonnie met his gaze, the air thickening with unspoken tension, and for a moment, the world outside their little bubble ceased to exist.
"It worked," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Before the moment could intensify, she shifted her gaze to the television they'd long forgotten about. "Focus," she warned this time, though her voice wavered.
Elijah adjusted their position, cradling her in his arms as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Her legs draped over his lap while her head rested on his bicep, the weight of his arm grounding her. His hand traced slow, deliberate lines down her thighs, each touch making her heart beat faster.
He closed his eyes, momentarily lost in her, before picking up where he left off. "Matt shared how strict you were when following rules, but I'd surmised the same. Paris was already in the works, but getting you to warm up to me was a task. The Crystal Gardens ball was the perfect Trojan horse, so I worked on the provisions you saw in Paris while I bided my time. Of course, everything hinged on whether you'd give me the time of day, so I had to take a gamble." He looked down at her. "And you were worth the risk." He leaned in to kiss her forehead, reducing her to mush.
He'd chosen to catch Bonnie off guard with the invite to the ball for two reasons. Her martyrdom and her propensity to overthink things. She couldn't bear not helping someone in need if she had the means, yet if he asked too far in advance, she'd talk herself out of it.
"After the ball, I met with Matt to orchestrate your weekend off," he revealed. "The rest was all me."
Bonnie tilted her head, realization dawning. "So Matt's whole weekend switcheroo… that was all planned?"
Elijah's smile was his answer. "I told him how to do it: request the weekend I needed and call out on your days off. We knew you'd take the bait."
A startled laugh broke free from her chest.
"Well played," she complimented. "Both of you." She bit her lip, laughing at how she failed to notice any of it. "Though, this is a step away from being completely diabolical. I'd be in serious trouble if you weren't using your powers for good."
Elijah's smile widened. "I had a mission, and that mission was you." Her heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed.
"The gifts," Elijah continued, his hand idly stroking her thigh, "were my way of softening you up. But things went sideways the night I hung up on you."
Bonnie gave him a pointed look. "I was so damn mad at you." Elijah stifled his grin.
"Matt did warn me not to get on your bad side. When you stopped responding, I was halfway to Los Angeles, but realized I had a small window to fix things."
Bonnie's jaw dropped. "Wait a minute," she shifted to get a good view of his face. "You were halfway there?" His eyes narrowed as the slightest shade of red tinted his cheeks. It was brief, but she caught it. She squealed, "Are you blushing?"
"About an hour from landing," he admitted. "And I don't know what you're referring to," he denied, earning a laugh from her.
"Liar! Also, an hour from landing is more than halfway—that's a four-hour flight!" She exclaimed, laughing as the absurdity hit her. Her laughter was infectious, making him chuckle at his own expense.
"You had to work the next morning and I didn't want to interfere with your sleep," he explained, his tone genuine.
"It's sweet of you to think of me while invading my privacy," she cooed, teasingly. Elijah smiled and met her puckered lips when she leaned in for a kiss. "Although, you could have waited until the next time you saw me," she offered.
"I wasn't willing to risk it," he said, his tone more serious now. "And remember, I had a mission to get you to Paris," he added with a smirk before kissing her lips again.
"Right, the love bombing," she teased.
Elijah chuckled, not the least bit offended. "I can see how it might come across that way. Though love bombing implies that I don't intend to adhere to the standards I've set, which is not my goal."
"I suppose you're right," Bonnie agreed.
Elijah's gaze settled absently on the TV screen, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Bonnie admired him while enjoying the comfortable silence among them. "Do you feel I have ulterior motives?" His voice was soft and concerned, and she felt her head spin at how efficiently he got to the root of every issue. Though she made jokes about his pursuit of her, it was nice to know that he had no fears about addressing her concerns, even if she hadn't firmly stated them.
He was seriously doing a number on her.
She took a moment to reflect before answering. "No," she answered truthfully. "You seem genuinely interested."
"But…" he urged.
"But, a girl can never really know." She said with a heavy sigh. Elijah watched as the weight of heartache and past disappointments overshadowed the happiness she felt moments prior.
"Hey," he whispered, tilting her chin so she met his gaze. The urge to scrub her mind of everything that pained her overwhelmed him. He placed a kiss on her forehead where the tension was the thickest. "I know you may not have much to go on as far as I'm concerned, but do I strike you as someone who'd go to such great lengths for a mild infatuation?"
She shook her head jerkily. "You are a bit hard to read, though," she confessed quietly.
His gaze softened, "True, but not always—I was made into this," he shared, allowing vulnerability to seep through the cracks. "I'll work on it. For you."
Before she could respond, Elijah leaned in, peppering soft kisses along her jawline. "And in the meantime," he murmured against her skin, "I need you to get out of here," he paused to kiss her temple before moving down to her neck. "And focus on this." He kissed the spot just above her heart, where her pulse raced wildly beneath his lips.
Bonnie's breath hitched, each kiss leaving her more breathless than the last. Her eyes fluttered shut as a delicious shiver ran through her. Elijah's lips lingered on her chest, and when he finally pulled away, his darkened eyes locked onto hers, filled with a hunger that made her putty in his hands.
"This," Elijah whispered, pressing his hand flat over her heart, "is all I'm after."
Their lips met, and Bonnie's mind sparked with fireworks, reminiscent of the night of their first kiss. His tongue skillfully massaged hers, and a soft moan escaped her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as his kiss deepened, each flick of his tongue igniting a fire inside her. She caressed the side of his face as he leaned into her, pushing until she lay flat beneath him. When he pulled back, she sucked gently on his bottom lip, groaning when he returned the favor with a slow, deliberate bite.
Elijah's lips trailed down to her neck, finding his favorite spot, and without hesitation, he latched on. The intensity of his mouth, sucking and teasing, sent her body into overdrive. Before her mind could go into police mode about potential hickeys, his tongue circled the sensitive skin, and every thought scattered into nothing.
Her back arched beneath him as pleasure spread through her, like electricity rushing through her veins. His hands slid beneath her, holding her still as he latched on where her neck and shoulders met. The sensation was blinding, and she moaned as she writhed in pleasure. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and she shuddered as his tongue teased and kneaded the spot relentlessly.
When he finally came up for air, she was seeing stars. He kissed her swollen lips and reached out to press his thumb into the spot he'd just bruised. She gasped and rolled away from him to allow her body a chance to recuperate.
"Elijah!" The way she called out his name felt orgasmic.
His chuckle rumbled against her skin as he pulled her closer. "I didn't give you permission to leave," he teased, his voice a dark promise.
Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, and she wondered if she would ever form a coherent thought around him again. She could still feel his mouth on her neck, a feeling forever burned into her memory. The moment she relaxed, his mouth was on hers again, kissing and sucking on her tongue with an intensity that left her delirious.
Using his weight, he pinned her hands to her chest, locking her in place. Before she could process what he was planning, his mouth returned to her neck, this time with precision. A whimper escaped her as his lips trailed down her clavicle, each kiss pillow-soft, teasing her with what was to come.
She braced herself as his mouth found the other side of her neck, lingering at her pulse point, feeling it race beneath his lips. His cool hands slipped beneath the hem of her tank top, massaging her sides with a touch that made her see stars. He then began sucking on her neck with the same intensity as before.
Her toes curled as she fought desperately to roll from under him, but he had her trapped. Elijah increased the suction on her neck, the pressure mounting in perfect sync with the circles of his tongue. Her eyes drooped as she felt an intensity in the pit of her belly that begged to be released.
"Elijah…" she whimpered, desperate.
Just when she was sure she'd see heaven, Elijah came up for air, and so did she. He pulled back and watched her struggle as she fought to catch her breath. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her body still trembling beneath him. His eyes darkened as he drank her in—the way her hair fanned out beneath her, the way her lips parted as she gasped for air, the glow of her skin kissed by pleasure.
She was intoxicating, and he longed to experience her afterglow.
"You are emphatically stunning," he whispered, brushing his thumb along her cheek.
Bonnie gave him a dazed, crooked grin, still riding the high of his touch. She felt like a hot mess—the polar opposite of stunning—but she was the prettiest mess he'd ever seen.
For a moment, she foolishly thought he might show mercy. But Elijah had no such intentions. He returned to the delicate skin of her neck, kissing the spot he had marked, soothing it before pulling back.
"Still with me?" he murmured, his voice a low rasp against her ear.
"No," she sassed weakly, her voice breathless. "I'm far away…" She said truthfully. She felt like she'd exited Earth's stratosphere, and all he did was kiss her. She whimpered as her first coherent thought entered her mind: What more could he do to her?
Elijah answered the question when he pressed his thumb into the soft crook of her neck, right where her pulse pounded the hardest—where the first hickey was already forming. The pleasure that followed was explosive, sending a sharp cry from her lips as her body gave in completely. Heat pooled between her legs, her thighs tightening instinctively around his hips—begging for a release in any capacity.
"Elijah," she gasped, her voice hoarse as she whimpered. "Please…"
Deciding she'd had enough for one evening, he released her from his hold, satisfied with the effect he'd had on her.
Elijah leaned back, his gaze lingering over her flushed skin. He marveled at how effortlessly she surrendered, how beautiful she looked unraveling in his arms.
Gently, he kissed her lips, then brushed his lips against her ear, savoring her little moan as he whispered, "Go clean yourself up."
Bonnie groaned in frustration, giving him the middle finger before shoving him off her. Elijah's laugh pulled at the pit of her belly as he watched her disappear into her bathroom.
"In due time, Miss Bennett," he muttered with a promise before getting up and heading to her kitchen, suddenly hungry for more than just her.
.xXx.
"Did you have fun in the shower? Elijah asked as they strolled through the aisles of Whole Foods.
His plan to cook for her quickly derailed after he discovered that most of the items in her refrigerator were either expired or spoiled. It was a common joke amongst herself and her sisters that she never had food in the house, but she was never 'ashamed' of it—until now.
Bonnie's cheeks flushed hot as she recalled the sinful time she had with the shower wand.
"I had a blast," she admitted with a small giggle.
Elijah chuckled, pulling her closer and pressing a kiss to her cheek. His arm slid around her neck, keeping her in place as he whispered into her ear, "Did you use your fingers?"
"Maybe," she teased. She definitely used her fingers. Bonnie glanced at him with a deviant smirk before adding, "Two, actually," she said, biting her lip.
His exhale tickled her neck, and she felt the slow, deliberate nuzzle of his lips against the spot he had kissed raw earlier.
"Good girl," he whispered. The timbre of his voice rumbled deep in his chest and resonated throughout her entire body.
The words sent a wave of heat surging through her core, and Bonnie nearly came on the spot. Flustered, she pushed away from him, desperate to reclaim some semblance of composure.
"Jesus," she murmured with a shiver. "I need almond milk," she squeaked as she scurried away from him. Elijah laughed softly, following behind her with an amused expression. He simultaneously felt like a predator trailing his prey and a lost puppy.
As she placed the milk in the cart, she noticed a familiar figure retreating from a distance. Her spine straightened as she stared into space but snapped out of it when the person came back into view. Instinctively, she grabbed Elijah's arm and led him in the opposite direction.
Noticing a shift in her demeanor, he studied her, watching as she moved with a sense of urgency that wasn't present earlier. "What's got you in a tizzy," he asked, glancing around for a perceived threat.
"I saw someone from the hotel," she informed. Unperturbed, he relaxed.
"Trivial," he dismissed, not at all concerned with being seen in public with her.
"Not trivial," she shot back. "It's my boss—Jenna."
His brows lifted slightly in interest. "And that's a problem because…?"
"Hello?! We're not supposed to be here—together," she hissed, "Jenna is close with HR, and she's also one of your biggest fans."
Elijah smirked, clearly entertained. He draped his arm back around her shoulders, pulling her snugly against his side. "Would you like to leave?" His thumb brushed along her bottom lip, effectively coaxing her out of her thoughts.
Her stomach grumbled loudly in response, and Elijah gave her a knowing look. "I can hear your hunger from here," he teased.
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, let's go." Bonnie finally relented. "I think we have everything." She sighed, sneaking another glance toward Jenna, who was now perusing the produce section, blissfully unaware of their presence.
"Never mind her, come," he said softly, giving her an encouraging squeeze. Something in his tone helped her to relax and the two of them made their way to the checkout aisle.
The grocery attendant—Andie—was bubbly in a way that helped Bonnie forget about almost being spotted. Andie greeted them warmly and promptly began collecting their items from the conveyor belt.
"So who's cooking tonight," Andie asked as they scanned the items Bonnie and Elijah selected. Amused by their delightful demeanor, Elijah responded.
"That would be me," he offered. Bonnie watched as he and Andie went back and forth, realizing she'd never seen him engage in such normal activities before. It felt surreal—just a man in a grocery store, casually chatting with a stranger. His polished, enigmatic persona melted away, leaving behind someone open—human. It was endearing.
She smiled softly, captivated by the ease with which he shed his usual formality. In that moment, Elijah felt more accessible, more real. Her chest stirred as she felt herself fall deeper into—whatever this was.
"Lucky," Andie said with a wink in Bonnie's direction. "This one's a keeper for sure."
Bonnie's cheeks flushed, and she ducked her head, too giddy to respond. Elijah pulled out cash to pay for the groceries, sliding a few crisp bills toward Andie. "Keep the change," he offered, and from the look in Andie's eyes, it was more than they'd expected.
Andie waved, their smile even brighter than before. "You two have an awesome night! Enjoy your dinner!"
Elijah took the bags in one hand and intertwined the fingers of his other hand with Bonnie's, guiding her toward the exit.
"Will do," he called back with a small grin.
Bonnie walked beside him, her heart light and her mind surprisingly at ease. Whatever nerves Jenna's presence had stirred were now gone, replaced by the warmth of Elijah's touch and the soothing rhythm of his calm energy. She glanced up at him, watching as he carried their bags with effortless grace, and felt a quiet ease settle deep within her chest.
For the first time in a long while, Bonnie felt completely and utterly safe.
And maybe she was beginning to trust that feeling.
.xXx.
Once they returned to Bonnie's apartment, Elijah immediately went to work in the kitchen, steering her toward the island when she offered to help.
"I feel useless," she admitted, folding her arms as she sat on the stool.
Before their grocery store run, Elijah had placed a wire whisk in the freezer. He instructed her to use the frozen wire whisk on the hickeys he'd left on her neck—a trick that, much to her surprise worked. It made her wonder how often he'd used it before on other women, a thought that unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
"And why is that," he asked as he drained the shrimp he'd peeled and deveined. She watched him dice the shallots with precision, impressed by his skills. He didn't strike her as domestic but, yet again, he'd proven her wrong.
"Because I'm just sitting here," she pouted. She rolled the cool whisk over her neck absently. The most obvious of the love bites had all but faded. He reached over the counter and swiftly plucked the whisk from her hand when she moved to work on the other.
"Not that one," he said with a smirk. She narrowed her eyes but didn't put up much of a fight, much to his satisfaction.
Discarding the whisk, he went back to his previous task. "You're doing exactly what I want you to do," he said confidently.
She smirked, already having an idea of what he would say. "Which is?"
"Sitting there, being pretty."
Bonnie rolled her eyes again. "Corny," she teased.
"Corny can be good. No pretenses."
"Great marketing," she countered.
"One of my many talents," he shot back.
She watched as he kneaded the dough he made from scratch. "So is cooking, I see," she noted. "What else are you hiding from me, Mr. Mikaelson?"
He shot her a sidelong glance, a grin tugging at his lips. "Surprised?"
"Very. I figured you had a team of personal chefs following you around everywhere."
"Sometimes." He shrugged, making her laugh. There it was—the hint of privilege that slipped occasionally. She wondered if he knew how out of touch he could be. "When you're used to eating a certain way, anything that comes prepackaged tastes like chemicals."
He winked at her with a smirk. "You'll see," he promised.
The way he said it made her heart flutter, though she felt herself withdraw. "Who's to say you won't get bored with me and move on," she voiced, shining light on an insecurity that lurked in the back of her mind. "My income won't allow me to sustain this lifestyle by myself," she said, half serious. While she did well for herself, flying to Paris for less than forty-eight hours far surpassed her means.
Her words hung in the air, and the silence that followed only amplified her unease. Still, she was proud of herself for speaking up, even if it made her feel small. As much as she tried to convince herself to enjoy this while it lasted, she dreaded the day she'd wake up with only memories of their time together.
Elijah worked silently for a moment, rolling the dough into a baguette. He brushed it with olive oil and sprinkled sea salt crystals over the top before sliding it into the oven. After cleaning his hands, he circled the island and stood before her, his gaze steady and intent.
"Look at me," he said with a calm voice that held an undercurrent of authority, making her sit up straight.
Reluctantly, Bonnie turned in her seat to face him, her heart hammering in her chest. His gaze searched hers, soft but relentless, as though he was determined to uncover every hidden doubt and fear she tried to conceal.
"What exactly are you afraid of?"
She exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of his attention pressing down on her. "How much time do you have?" she joked, though the words felt hollow. His mouth curved with the traces of a smile, noticing how often she used humor to hide her true feelings.
"I'm not going anywhere and I don't scare easily," he assured her. "Talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking so I'll know how to address it."
Bonnie hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. "I don't want this to end," she admitted softly. "But I also don't know how I fit into your life—or how you fit into mine—and that scares me."
"I don't see how—" she paused, realizing what she was about to say felt too raw to verbalize. Her voice wavered, and she averted her gaze, only for Elijah's hand to gently tilt her chin back toward him—grounding her.
"How what," he urged softly, knowing what she might say.
"I don't see how you'd want to be with someone like me," she whispered her confession, hating how insecure she sounded. "You could have anybody," she admitted.
"And I have," Elijah said, brushing his thumb along her jawline. "But none of them were you." Her breath hitched as his words settled over her like a warm embrace.
"Would it be easier to accept my advances if I didn't have wealth or status?"
She swallowed hard, shame prickling at her skin. "I don't know," she admitted.
Elijah nodded as if he'd expected that answer. "Our hearts are not concerned with what we have or don't have, Bonnie. It only cares about how we make each other feel. And what I feel when I'm with you…" He trailed off, his gaze locking onto hers. "It's not something I could find in a thousand lifetimes."
Bonnie's chest tightened with emotion, and she blinked rapidly, fighting the sting of tears. Visibly, she relaxed, yet there was more on her mind.
"Say it," he murmured, reading the unspoken thoughts flickering behind her eyes. The room fell silent as she debated her next words. His thumb caressed her cheek, coaxing the words from her.
"Don't you think we're moving too fast? It's only been a few weeks," she confessed, her voice barely audible. The intensity of her feelings overwhelmed her, and she felt like she was being swept away in a current she couldn't control.
Elijah didn't hesitate with his answer. "This has been brewing far longer than a couple of weeks," he said confidently. "At least for me, it has." His gaze never left hers and Bonnie suddenly felt hot. Her heart fluttered as she realized that maybe he'd felt the same way all along. It had always been there between them, simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to ignite, though she always felt it'd been one-sided on her part.
If only she knew…
"I guess you're right," she whispered, finally allowing herself to admit it. Elijah leaned in and kissed her forehead, a soft and deliberate gesture that felt more intimate than anything else. The tension in her chest eased, and she let out a slow breath, savoring the warmth of his presence.
"I know it's crazy," he acknowledged. "I wasn't expecting this either, but here we are." Bonnie smiled softly, the last of her doubts slipping away.
"All I ask," Elijah continued, his voice low and steady, "is that you be reckless with me." The look in his eyes—steady, sincere, and filled with promise—was all the convincing she needed.
With a jerky nod, she gave him her answer. "Okay."
…And reckless they would be.