A GIFT FOR MY READERS
I'm absolutely overjoyed with the incredible amount of comments on the last few chapters! Your support means everything to me. I can't wait to share the next chapter with you, which will take us on a beautiful journey through the honeymoon. I apologize for any mix-ups along the way and appreciate your patience.
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Thank you for being such amazing readers!
/ha_joSuMOfg
Darkest Temptations
Chapter Forty: Ask Me No Questions and I'll Tell You No Lies
Caroline Mikaelson
The automatic doors of the mall parted smoothly before us, and we proceeded in a single file, my gaze sweeping across the array of shops. I began mentally cataloging each store, making careful notes of where I planned to visit and what I needed to purchase. It had been over a month since I last spent time with Klaus, and his unexpected announcement left us all in awe. He had decided to treat us with a trip to Hawaii for our honeymoon. The news was astonishing; he had only briefly mentioned the possibility while we were at the store, and although we all secretly wished for a getaway after enduring the challenges of recent weeks, I never imagined he would plan something so extraordinary so soon.
The idea of such a beautiful destination filled my thoughts. I could almost feel the warm sand beneath my feet and hear the gentle sound of the ocean waves. Klaus's surprise was more than just a vacation; it was a gesture of affection that showed how much he cared for us. The spontaneity of his plan added to the excitement, and I couldn't help but smile at the thought of exploring the islands and creating new memories together.
Elena turned to me with wide eyes and a tone of disbelief as she spoke, "Can you believe he arranged it so quickly?" Her question hung in the air, echoing the incredulity we all felt. It seemed almost impossible for someone to organize everything in such a short span of time.
I responded, trying to wrap my mind around the situation, "No, he must have started making the arrangements when he left Mystic Falls." It was the only logical explanation, and even that felt slightly far-fetched. But knowing him, efficiency and swiftness were part of his nature. This level of rapid organization was impressive, to say the least.
April, who was standing to my left, chimed in with a voice that seemed uncharacteristically anxious, "Yeah, it's certainly speedy, right?" Her tone was laced with a hint of nervousness, something not typical for her.
"Hey, what's going on? You okay?" I whispered to her as we all walked together.
"Yeah, fine, I'm just surprised is all. Hawaii, I mean, that's gotta be like crazy romantic, right?" April explained with a sigh that betrayed a mixture of emotions.
"Well, yeah," I paused for a moment, considering what she'd said, "Bet you can't wait, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah," she said with a smile, though I thought I heard her whisper, "No more waiting."
"You sure you're alright?" I asked.
"Never better," she said with a nod.
Bonnie chimed in as we approached a directory sign, "Can someone explain to me what happens now that he's decided this?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, doesn't this change all of the moving-in plans? I thought that came first?" Bonnie asked her tone a little softer than before.
It was nice to have her ask a question with that undertone of judgment lingering behind her words.
I turned to her and replied, "We've had a rough few weeks, including Klaus—well, especially Klaus—and I think it might be nice for us to have a vacation. I mean, don't you like the idea of lying on the beach? I mean, after the last few days at least?"
Bonnie tucked her hair behind her ear. "How does it work, uh, marriage-wise, while you're out of Utah?" she asked, keeping her voice level and low.
"You mean like our schedule?" April asked her softly.
Bonnie looked at April for a moment, holding her gaze before her expression softened further and she nodded in response.
"Klaus sticks with the schedule as it is, but while we're, you know, out in public out there, he, uh, well...he..." April stopped and looked my way.
I looked over to Bonnie. "Since there's no possibility at all of running into anyone from Sandy or from home, we're pretty open out there; if we kiss in public, it's not a big deal," I continued bravely. "Obviously we try to be respectful of each other, not to make anyone uncomfortable."
"Yeah, we get to have some fun." April chimed in with a soft laugh.
I smiled in response but returned my gaze to Bonnie. "Then at the end of our honeymoon, as strange as it is going to sound, we have our wedding ceremony at the end."
"It's true." Elena added with a smile.
"You marry him again at the same time?" Bonnie asked, her face scrunched up in confusion. "In Hawaii?"
"No, Klaus wants us to have our own wedding ceremonies," April explained. "He even pays for our dresses and buys us our engagement rings and wedding bands," April continued as she smiled at Elena and me. "We all put our money together before and bought him a wedding ring that was, well, expensive and matched his taste."
"But then you did the time jump?" Vickie asked.
"Yeah, so it's all lost, which is just the way it is, I guess, but, uh, this is all about starting fresh anyway, so it's Hawaii this time." I said.
"You know I know what I said about Las Vegas before, but," April shook her head, "I can't imagine not getting married there."
"I know it's weird, right?" I asked her with a smile. "I thought so too."
I looked across from us and saw the Dior store sign, which meant I knew exactly where I was heading first, right across to buy that beautiful pink dress in their window display.
"I really need some socks." April said as we all began to walk again.
"Wait, Caroline, that's Dior. What are you doing?" Bonnie laughed as we approached the doors.
"What? I like their stuff."
"It's a thousand dollars for a dress, Caroline." Bonnie acknowledged.
I froze in my tracks. I knew she wasn't judging me; she just didn't understand because she hadn't been here. I was more comfortable spending Klaus's money these days than I had been in the beginning, but Bonnie didn't know any of that. In her mind I was the girl who saved up for a great pair of jeans. I'd never been poor; I just didn't get everything handed to me back home. Since Klaus had entered my life, things had gotten easier for me and I had slowly come to accept his luxury lifestyle which meant I always had his money if I needed it. He never wanted me to deny myself a hot dress, especially never lingerie; he always wanted me to have the best, even if that was designer and a thousand bucks a shot.
"Like that should stop you." Vickie said to me despite Bonnie's stare.
I looked at her over my shoulder and nodded as she came up to stand by my side and, unknown to the others, gently moved me forward with her shoulder behind my back, giving me that little physical push I needed to get over myself. Vickie had a bad attitude at times, but in that moment she saved me from myself, and for that I was grateful.
We continued on, ignoring Bonnie's stare as we crossed the threshold and stepped into the store.
I immediately distanced myself from the others; I wanted a little time on my own to shop in peace, especially right now when we were first getting started. I'd been so sure I needed a more mature look when we first moved to Utah; there was nothing wrong with some modest clothes here and there, but at the same time, I wanted my honeymoon with my husband, and I wanted to look and feel sexy for him and for myself. Thankfully the store was big enough so none of us were crossing paths. I took the opportunity to try on everything I might like; the assistant helping me took everything I wanted and kept it behind the desk, ready to go, which meant I wasn't carrying a thing around the store. No one else was seeing what I was buying for Utah or for our honeymoon.
I'd bought a sleek black dress with a daring neckline, which I couldn't wait for Klaus to see me wearing. I wasn't sure how long we were going to be on vacation, but I hoped at least one of my days with him would include us having dinner together, if I could get us out of the bedroom, that was. I was looking at a pair of black pumps when April came to my side, glancing at me before studying the display.
"Everything okay?" I asked again. "You've been acting a little strange since Klaus dropped us off."
She looked up at me. "I'm fine," she said with a nod. "Just thinking about all the stuff I need to buy."
I nodded before checking the time on my new phone. "Klaus should be here in a few hours; he's probably going to have to shop as well. We have plenty of time."
"Do we?" April asked but walked away before I could respond.
She seemed so dazed, like the news of the honeymoon had really flung her through a loop. I found my gaze shifting across the store over to Vickie, who was holding onto a really cute black bralette that had the Christian Dior J'Adior signature across the white straps in a black bold font. If she hadn't been looking to buy it, I would have bought it myself. That's when it hit me, the potential idea that Klaus and Vickie might go further while we were there; no wonder April was worried. I mean, when you think about it, April was like the new wife; she knew Klaus had a history with Elena and me when we all got married, which meant Vickie and Bonnie probably felt like a threat to her now. Poor April, she must have been going out of her mind worrying that her time with Klaus wouldn't be as special when they were alone.
How horrible it must have felt for her to be worried over the idea of her own honeymoon.
April Mikaelson
I paced back and forth in the food court. I'd told the others I needed something to drink, which was true; my throat had been so dry since Klaus announced his plans to whisk us off to Hawaii. I'd told him that maybe if he wanted, we could finally take things further this time in our relationship; he'd been waiting for almost a year, and he'd been so patient. But I didn't expect these honeymoon plans so quickly; I thought I'd have another week at least. I needed to prepare myself for my first time; I mean, he was going to have expectations, and I needed it to be perfect, and I was always the one who screwed things up.
I needed to find a way to make it special for him; if I just let it happen, then it wasn't going to be any good. I mean, we'd done that thing he likes to do with me on my days, but we'd never gone further than that. I'd never had sex before; I'd never even let a guy's hand below my sweater, well, until Klaus, of course. I didn't want him to think I was some kind of, you know, I had been really sheltered about that type of thing, and now it felt like my head was spinning at the idea. Did I have to do research? I mean, I'd never even thought about how to give oral sex; what if I was no good at that side of it? What if I had a gag reflex? Oh my god, what if sex hurt? I mean some level of pain, sure, I could handle, but what if I bled everywhere? Would Klaus still want me? Would it ruin everything?
I reached into my bag and collected the new phone Klaus had given me before we left for the store that morning. After figuring out my new password, I stepped forward to the counter. The lady behind it smiling brightly like it was the first day of summer.
"What can I get you, hun?" she asked.
"Hello?" Klaus answered.
"What if I'm terrible at sex?" I asked, not even thinking for a second that I was staring at this poor girl while I asked that question.
"What's wrong?" Klaus asked.
"I mean it, Klaus, what if I'm awful at it and you never want to do it with me again? How embarrassing would that be?" I asked.
"April."
"Klaus, I can't breathe," I gasped. "I mean it; I could be terrible, and then I'll just be that one that you never sleep with. Oh my god, I'll be that wife."
"Baby—"
"And I've made you wait for almost a year; that's sick, right? I mean, it's like I've dangled a donut in front of someone coming out of Slimming World."
"April-"
"And you'll remember how bad it was every time you got into bed with me, and I didn't even get us a mattress." I said sinking over the counter like it was a big pillow.
"April."
I sighed. "Yeah, still here. Still hopeless." I said, wanting to sink into the floor beneath everyone's shoes.
"Are you okay?" Klaus asked with a soft laugh.
I lifted my head just enough to see the girl who had attempted to serve me now situated at another till, glancing over her shoulder at me, smiling like someone at gunpoint determined to play nice.
"No," I said flatly.
"Why are you worrying about this?" he asked.
"Because I'm nervous, I'm freaking out. I have been freaking out since you announced our honeymoon."
"But why?" he asked.
"Because you've been waiting for so long, and what if I'm no good? I've never done it before."
"April, it's okay."
"It's not okay; it's never going to be okay," I groaned before peeking around me and whispering into the line, "I don't even know about you know, who gets what; I mean, I blush when I buy tampons; I can't even imagine buying...you know."
"Baby, it's going to be fine; you're worrying too much." Klaus said softly.
"It's going to be a disaster; I'm not prepared," I groaned before covering my head with my arm. "I'm a terrible wife."
Klaus sighed. "You're just hungry," he said.
I smiled. "Well, yeah, that too, but I mean it: What if I suck?" I said, then slammed my palm across my lips. "I mean, uh, what if I, you know, can't... do that either?"
"April, it's going to be fine." He laughed.
"How do you know that?"
"Because it was always meant to be me," Klaus said, and I began to open my eyes slightly. "And you don't have to worry about expectations; you know why, so say it."
I smiled slightly. "I know you will take care of me."
"Exactly."
Elena Mikaelson
Everything was moving so quickly, I found myself completely off guard by the vacation Klaus had planned. My mind was reeling as I tried to process what he had told us. I was still trying to come to terms with my life in Utah, and now everything was being turned on its head. I remembered our honeymoon; it's when Klaus and I started to feel something for one another. We'd had our first kiss on our honeymoon, and he kept it a secret like I'd asked him to. Now we had done the time jump, and he wasn't waiting around this time, and I understood why; Caroline would be starting college, hopefully, I believe in the next month if I remember rightly, and hopefully April would be restarting her job at the hair salon. I doubted I'd even see Klaus much during the daytime after the vacation; even on the days that were mine, he was going to be busy. He was always so busy, and I admired that, but at the same time, we'd just spent an entire month apart, and I needed him right now.
But the idea that he might want the honeymoon for his own physical needs wasn't something I could rule out. He wasn't just married to me; he'd been having sex with Caroline way before me, and he was probably sleeping with April. There was not a chance he had gone near Vickie. I knew him, and he wouldn't do that. But as for Bonnie, her delicate nature, she was so similar to the way I was when we moved to Utah that it frightened me a little. The idea that Klaus and she could have a slip-up like a drunken night, even if it was a mistake, hurt me more than I should allow it to. How could I be so convinced I was going to be more open-minded and yet, within a space of a few hours, I have the same pangs of uncertainty about my marriage?
I didn't feel like I had to prove anything to anyone, but if this honeymoon was a true honeymoon, then I had to just embrace the uncertainty and make sure that Klaus and I were always on the same page when we got back. I couldn't let myself be worried about something I had no control over. I was going on vacation with my husband, and I was going to be affectionate with him even if it did bother Bonnie. I never got to be near him in a public setting unless we were on vacation together; we had every right to seize this opportunity as a plural husband and wife. I couldn't let fear rule my life and my decisions.
When we made our way into the next boutique, I kept my head held high as I approached the lingerie section where Vickie was standing nearby, studying a black sword belt bra with a rather interesting price tag. I kept it together well as I reached out and selected a white corset with lace trim that would show my breasts in the most alluring way; the best thing was it was a size smaller than what I usually wore, and I knew it would make my breasts pop right out of the top. To my surprise, I didn't sense any unease from Vickie; I didn't see her glance my way, nor did she so much as clear her throat; she didn't seem to mind me being here. I wasn't sure if that was good or bad, but at the moment I couldn't help but feel slightly relieved.
Next I found a sheer white baby doll with a white satin ribbon; I wanted to pick up a few white pieces, so I felt more bridal this time around. Besides, I had one of Klaus's credit cards with me; he didn't want me to look at price tags, and so I didn't. He always liked when I wore G-strings, so I bought more than a few, in different materials and colors, some for the honeymoon and some for when I had my nights with him back home. As for bras, I had always enjoyed wearing white lace for him, but this time around I felt more adventurous, and I was ready to take my confidence to the next level, and I knew exactly how to do that: I was going to buy a sexy red teddy with a matching G-string and a set of red lace open-cup bra and thong. I had never worn such a daring lingerie piece before, but I wanted Klaus to be completely overwhelmed by my choice of nightwear when we were alone on our honeymoon.
Inside my pocket I felt my phone begin to vibrate; I quickly pulled it out and saw that Klaus was calling me. I glanced in Vickie's direction right at the same moment I saw her choosing the Victoria Secret Pink Iconic Stripe Satin Robe. The sight of this put me at ease until I looked down at what she had hooked over her arm; there were a number of satin babydolls, but at the top of them all was a black cutout lace unlined bodysuit (A/N: If you all want me to post links of inspired looks, then let me know in the comments). She was going to wear that in front of him? Whether it was on vacation or back at their own house, I'd always know now that she had that.
I made my way out of the lingerie section, placing what I'd collected this far down onto the leather plush seats in the shoes section before I accepted Klaus's call.
"Hi," I said softly.
"How is everything going?" Klaus asked me.
"Good," I said with a smile. "I think we're all getting what we need." I continued as I watched Vickie make her way to the checkout counter with Bonnie.
Did Bonnie buy lingerie too? She wore sports bras; she never went beyond a t-shirt bra back home. God, this was none of my business; I had to cut it out. Whatever she was buying for herself was her business, and I was being a freak.
"I, I've been thinking about you." I confessed in a soft whisper.
"Good." He said smugly.
"I liked what happened in New York; you were a little rougher; it was unexpected."
"Well, you didn't mind, did you?" He asked.
"No, I liked it," I whispered. "It was really good. I just wanted to know that, you know, you were satisfied."
"Elena," Klaus said, "You're my wife; I'm going to be satisfied."
I smiled, feeling my cheeks blush. "Well, I'm not the only one, so I just thought I should let you know that I really liked, uh, you know, being handled like that." I said, still blushing.
"Really?" Klaus asked.
I nodded despite knowing he couldn't see me. "Yes, it made me feel so good; I, I wouldn't mind if—"
I turned around where I stood, finding a seemingly frozen April with her eyes shut tight and her lips tucked out of sight. She must have been here trying on shoes when I arrived and just now stood up. I didn't realize I'd been talking so loudly; she'd heard everything.
"Um, I have to go," I said quickly into the phone. "I'll see you soon." I said before hanging up.
"I am so sorry," April said as she slowly opened her eyes. "I was just, I was looking for some shoes and—"
"No, it's fine." I said, trying to be casual about it.
"No, it's not. I did try to tell you, but these shoes are laced together, so I couldn't move without making noise, and I thought it was better to stay there until you finished your conversation." April explained.
"It's okay, April," I said, tucking my hair back. "But, uh, you won't tell anyone about this, will you? I mean not that—
"No, of course not. I mean, it's your business and no one else's. I wasn't trying to listen; I was just standing here, and," April stopped finally after switching out her shoes, "I'll just be anywhere else," she said, hurrying away.
I sighed to myself; I'd just screwed up big time.
Vickie Mikaelson
We'd been out at this rather small mall for almost two hours. I'd gotten everything I needed, essentials-wise, for the vacation. I wasn't going to be able to make up a new wardrobe for myself in one day. I had bought a few things to wear around the house, but other than that, everything I was carrying around was exclusively for Hawaii. We had split up, as a few of us weren't interested in going shop to shop; we wanted to use the time so we could at least sleep tonight. Klaus hadn't told us when we were taking off, but given that we assumed it would be around a fourteen-hour flight from Sandy, we didn't want to be wrecked in the morning. There was so much I had to do when we got back, including waxing my legs. I'd stopped by a nail tech place on the first floor, and they'd given me an amazing manicure and pedicure. For my nails, I'd picked an amazing almond shape nail, a bit longer than my usual, with a soft pink, almost beige coating so it went with whatever I had on, and for my pedicure, I'd gone for French tips with some bling on the big toes for some sparkle.
I was looking over some gold peep-toe stilettos when I felt a presence behind me. I lifted my head to look up over my shoulder and found Klaus standing behind me. When his eyes met mine, I immediately heard April's voice.
"I just don't know how people can walk in these things." She said, causing Klaus to turn his attention away from me.
I quickly settled the stiletto back down onto the display shelf and moved away from him. I wasn't going to be given the 'We shouldn't have told that' lecture in the middle of a shoe store, no matter how amazing it was. I glanced over my shoulder and watched as April stood on her toes and kissed Klaus's cheek. They looked like such a happy couple; everyone who saw them probably assumed they'd been together a long time; they even looked right standing together. I didn't know why he'd gotten that close to me. I suppose it could have been about just about anything, but I didn't want to talk about what had happened. The truth was, hours later, I was starting to doubt that we should have done what we did. But I still wanted more of it; it was wrong, and I couldn't fight against my urges for him. I wanted him to touch me again; I wanted to feel his lips against my skin, but at the same time I also wanted to be feel good about it, and right now this stabbing feeling in the pit of my gut felt an awful lot like guilt. I'd spent all day surrounded by everyone; I was always alone back home. I guess that's why I partied so hard, so when I blacked out, when I woke up, there would be another party to hit up or school to get to and nothing else.
While they were all gone, I had been alone a lot of the time; I didn't go out and make a fool of myself and hadn't even bought so much as a bottle of wine. Whenever I'd thought about it, I imagined what they'd think of me, and the idea of that always made me return it to the shelf. Klaus hadn't been around while they were gone, only a handful of times when it was my only night with him, which I realized much later. Besides that he only stopped by my house when he was dropping off my blood supply for the week, Caroline had spoken to me about where the rest of it was stored, in one of the chest freezers in her house's basement. Klaus always kept my fridge stocked with it, like he just assumed I was still bloodthirsty; half the time, I wondered if he had the same fears about Elena, who was a much newer vampire than I was. The truth was I had my hunger under control despite whatever he believed about me or any of the others. I hadn't drunk, taken a pill, or gone beyond one bag of blood a week since I crossed into Utah. But it seemed I was the only one who noticed I was keeping things together.
Hours in the presence of Caroline, Elena, and April had caught me off my guard; every time I found my mind drifting back to me wrapping my mouth around his dick, I felt this stabbing sensation that grew stronger by the second, especially now when he was around again. He'd shown up about an hour ago, gone around some stores, and picked up some suits, no doubt tailored and designer. He did in one hour what had taken us almost three. He was carrying more bags than April, bags that he took from her because he didn't want her to struggle. I wasn't sure if anyone else noticed, but he'd been really attentive to her; maybe if Bonnie saw this side of him, she might calm down a bit about her decision.
I made my way up to another shoe display, smirking at the sight of a pair of Chanel peep-toe wedge heels. They were gold with a black band across the heel, and the platform was covered in black silk. They were gorgeous.
"Oh my god." I mouthed as I picked one up and studied it; these would have been perfect for a night out in Hawaii.
"What do you think?" Klaus suddenly asked, appearing behind me without a sound.
My body immediately stiffened as I turned to face him. "What?" I asked, trying to act casual as I glanced around him, but there was no sign of April anywhere.
"The heels, what do you think?" he asked.
I looked at the shoes in my hand before returning them to the shelf. "They're nice," I said, then added, "I mean, who doesn't go nuts for Chanel?"
Klaus smiled softly before he reached for them.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm getting them for you; I'm sure they'll look lovely on you."
I shook my head as he took a box from the shelf. "No, it's fine; I was just looking; besides, I have all my stuff for the trip."
I took off once more before he could give the speech about how buying them for me would help me keep my mouth shut, no pun intended. He thought I was going to tell them I'd given him a blowjob, but I wasn't, and I didn't need a reminder with a blackmail gift.
That's the reason I cancelled my breast implants consultation.
I didn't want to be a problem for him to live with.
But I did want him to want me. For me.
Caroline Mikaelson
When we arrived back at the houses, Klaus smoothly maneuvered into my driveway and activated the garage door, guiding the Rolls Royce into our now empty garage. I sighed at the thought of unpacking all the boxes and redecorating my house for the third time. It wasn't exactly a thrilling prospect, but it was necessary. At that moment, all I really wanted was to escape the confines of the car. We had bought so much that there wasn't enough room in the trunk for everything. The interior was a jumble of shopping bags, making it impossible to see the floor or even the handbrake. I glanced back at Bonnie, who was peering over her shoulder through the back window, watching as the garage door closed behind us. She seemed a little more relaxed now. She was becoming acquainted with the measures we took to ensure our privacy, especially since polygamy was not permissible.
"So when does the flight leave?" I asked from the passenger seat, trying to distract myself from the claustrophobic mess surrounding us.
Klaus smirked, "The only flight that accommodates all of us in first class leaves at four tomorrow morning."
"Are you kidding me?" Elena groaned from the back seat, clearly not thrilled with the early hour.
"Klaus, I'm going to be exhausted," I added, echoing Elena's sentiment.
"You can sleep on the plane," Klaus replied nonchalantly.
"Yeah, right," I muttered under my breath, "This is all your fault, April."
"My fault?" April responded defensively.
"We waited for nearly an hour for you to decide on that ice cream," I reminded her.
"You wanted it too," April pointed out, trying to shift some of the blame.
"But I'm not the one who had to try every flavor before settling on pistachio," I countered.
"It's classic," April said as we began to extricate ourselves from the car.
"Yeah, just like her taste in men," Vickie teased, injecting some humor into the situation.
Klaus exchanged a look with her from across the top of the car, but to my surprise, she just shrugged and joined me as we headed toward the kitchen door. We all stepped inside, carefully navigating around the shrink wrapped furniture and appliance boxes that cluttered the counters and floor space.
"So, when do you need us ready to leave?" I asked as Klaus emerged from the garage, his arms laden with bags, which he deposited on the kitchen island.
"I think it would be best if we leave for the airport at two," Klaus suggested. "That gives us plenty of time to check in and get through security."
"Fine, that should work," I said, mentally calculating the logistics.
Klaus gathered his own bags and suit carriers, then made his way over to me. "I'll come over before that. My luggage is upstairs in our room," he said, leaning in to kiss my cheek.
"Okay," I nodded, feeling the warmth of his affection as he kissed me softly on the lips twice.
"I better get packing. I think I forgot sunblock, though," April announced as she moved past us.
"Hey," Klaus said softly, causing her to pause and turn back to him. She leaned up onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek before hurrying away.
Klaus then turned to Elena. "Do you want me to walk you over? You have a few bags."
"No, it's fine. I've got them," she replied with a soft smile.
I watched Elena leave and noticed Klaus watching her too. It seemed she had plans to see him later. He always made a point to kiss her goodnight, even if they were at odds.
"I'll see you over there," Vickie said, not looking in Klaus's direction as she carried her things out the door and headed across the backyards.
Sensing Bonnie's gaze upon us, I cleared my throat and turned my attention elsewhere. I caught a glimpse of Klaus in the reflection of the glass cabinet, standing behind Bonnie with his hand gently resting on her back.
"I'll see you later," he said, kissing her cheek.
"Okay," she replied, nodding her head slowly before he kissed her once more on the cheek and left.
I waited until I heard the patio door close before turning back to face Bonnie. "He says good morning and goodnight to us the same way, every day. It's his way of showing we're an important part of his life."
"I actually have a bit of a headache. If it's okay, I just want to go to sleep now," Bonnie said.
"Of course," I nodded, understanding her need for rest.
Bonnie walked away, and I began to carry my shopping bags upstairs. Klaus must have spent time at my place while we were at the mall. He'd moved the mattress to the spot I preferred, his luggage was already on his side of the closet, and he'd unpacked the towels so our bathroom was ready for use.
"I love that man," I found myself whispering quietly, feeling grateful for his thoughtfulness and care.
After the best shower of my life, I changed into a simple pair of white shorts and a black cami top before I began repacking my largest case with everything I'd bought today, somehow managing to get all my heels in without screaming, even though it was almost impossible. When I finally zipped it closed, I sat down on the bed and leaned back against the pillows. My bedroom door opened, and then, catching me off guard, I looked up from the mattress, which was more or less looking up from the bedroom floor. Klaus stood in a pair of black jeans and a black v-neck top, staring down at me, probably not expecting me to find him laid out like a buffet.
"Don't judge me; I'm tired." I said.
He smirked down at me before kneeling down, positioning himself between my legs before scooting me down until I was flat on the bed and my feet were resting on the floor. He lifted my legs by the ankles and began massaging my feet, making me moan softly at the feel of his hands working my muscles.
"How was your day?" he asked me as his hands moved higher up my leg.
"Good, I've got most of my stuff packed. What about you? This is probably going to be your only chance to explain the sudden mmmm honemoon." I said, biting my lip as he massaged my thighs.
"I missed you today," Klaus said, his hands gentle upon my skin. "A lot."
"You're not getting any; get that look out of your eye."
Klaus chuckled, "What look?"
"That look, you know the one where you think you're gonna get some," I said with a smile, "But you're not because I'm tired and because I'm not about to do something on Vickie's night that—"
Klaus began to kiss my knee, sliding his lips further up my thigh.
"No, no, no, no," I said firmly, but he continued and brought myself up onto my elbows. "What do you want?"
"If I'm not making that obvious."
"You're after something," I said, pressing my knees together and bringing my feet up to his thighs, balancing myself, "and it's not a kiss of any kind."
Klaus looked away from me as his hands traced my knees. "There's something I have to tell you, something that I did," he said.
I tried not to immediately react, but too often in my life I'd had to face bad news, and so it was sheer impulse at this point, tragically.
"Okay, is it something epic or something, you know, light and fluffy?" I asked, knowing the answer; I could see it already plastered across his face.
Klaus took a deep breath before meeting my gaze. "I spoke with Elijah—"
"You spoke with Elijah?" I said, leaning myself up a little higher on my elbows.
"Yes, I've got a few ideas in mind for our future."
"You and me, or all of us?"
"All of us, and I've decided I would like to bring him into that plan as president of my future enterprises."
"President?"
"I need someone around who I can trust whenever I'm not there as the Owner and CEO, a solid foundation that allows me to continue on with other matters." He paused, his hands gently clasping around my ankles. "In the future, I know I'll be needed more and," Klaus looked away as he said, "And not for you."
That was probably the sweetest way for him to admit that in his future he was slowly accepting the possibility of being a father and not just of my children but those of the other wives too.
"He knows about what happened?"
Klaus shook his head. "I have to speak with him some more," he continued with a shrug. "Build bridges I suppose you could call it, we haven't had the easiest of sibling relationships."
"But, uh, one day you want to tell him about us?"
Klaus nodded. "It's better he learns from me; besides, if anything were to happen with the shield, if anything ever happened to us, he's the one I'd want you all to go to until I got us safe again."
"Well, Klaus, that goes without saying. I mean, I know we never discussed this, but I knew that's where you'd want us to go."
"So I wanted to let you know that it is going to happen. I don't plan to meet with him or discuss all of us until construction is well on the way, but this is what is happening."
I nodded. "Are you telling everyone or—"
"I'm telling you." Klaus said, keeping his eyes fixed on mine.
And once again, Klaus and I had a secret.
Klaus Mikaelson
"I'll set an alarm," April said in between our kisses. "I won't sleep in."
I'd left Caroline's place when I saw April in our kitchen wearing nothing but one of my t-shirts and a pair of surprisingly teasing white panties.
"You've been wearing those panties all day, haven't you?" I asked as she began to pull my t-shirt up over her ass. "Those sexy panties you know drive me crazy."
"They're from Walmart; how can they be...that?" She asked with a smile on her lips as I moved my hands down to her ass, cupping it tightly in my grip.
"Hands up, mister, it's not my night; come on, be a gentleman," April giggled.
I lifted my hands up over her hips before bringing my lips to hers. She was always on her tiptoes whenever we kissed; she always felt so thin; I had to work on that with her. I didn't believe she was starving herself, not for a second, but I knew she needed to eat on the nights I wasn't with her, and she couldn't keep surviving on crackers and cereal. We were going to be together for a long time, and I didn't want her to be unwell; besides, she'd need her strength over the next few days. I had no intention of taking my hands off her; I was going to hold her and kiss her for as long as I could because I'd missed her so hard I could barely stand it. I had hoped that surviving that time without me was what she needed to feel stronger within herself, but I believed now it had the opposite effect; I didn't think she was sleeping right again, and I didn't know how to fix it yet. But I would, because I'd told her she could depend on me, and now I had to prove it every single day for the rest of my life.
"Do you want me to order you anything?" I asked as she guided me with all her might towards the patio door; it was the equivalent of a newborn puppy attempting to budge Everest slightly to the right, but I played along.
"I'm fine, Klaus, really," April replied in a sing-song voice. "But I won't say no if you want to maybe buy me a burger at the airport."
I turned around to meet her smile. "For breakfast?" I asked.
"I'll split it with you, I promise," she said with a cheeky smile.
I reached out and grabbed her hand, bringing it up to my lips. "I'll see you tomorrow, sweetheart."
"You will, now scoot!" she laughed as I stepped out into the backyard.
"You better have more of those panties." I called back as I began to walk away.
"Shhhh!" she giggled as I looked over my shoulder and caught a glimpse of her waving at me with a bright smile on her face.
Elena Mikaelson
"I didn't mmmhhh," I continued kissing Klaus in our kitchen. "I didn't think you were going to make it over tonight."
"I wanted to see you," he replied before kissing me deeply, making me moan against his mouth.
Klaus pinned me against the wall and began kissing down my neck, his hands holding me up by my thighs. I gasped, feeling his teeth scraping along my skin; it felt like an eternity since we were last alone.
My phone began to ring unexpectedly, catching me off guard and making me realize that it was time to say goodbye to him for now. "You've got to go," I said to him, a smile playing on my lips, my breath coming in short gasps. "I'll text you later," I promised.
Klaus nodded in agreement and leaned in to kiss me once more, a gentle assurance before I hurried out of the kitchen, my thoughts still lingering on the moment we shared.
As I entered the living room, I noticed my phone screen glowing brightly on top of one of the many boxes strewn around. I picked up the device, my eyebrows knitting together in curiosity and mild confusion as I saw the words UNKNOWN CALLER flashing on the screen. With a touch of hesitation, I pressed the answer button and raised the phone to my ear, thinking it must be one of the girls.
"Hello?" I said, my voice ringing out into the silence that greeted me on the other end. There was no sound, not even the faintest whisper of a breath. "Hello?" I repeated, my brow furrowing further as the only response was the echo of my own voice in my earpiece.
Then, just as suddenly, I heard a sharp intake of air, a breath that seemed to be drawn in with urgency, before the caller abruptly ended the call. Confused and a little unnerved, I pulled the phone away from my ear, staring at the screen with a mixture of curiosity and unease. Who on earth could that have been? And more importantly, how the hell did they have my new number?
Klaus Mikaelson
When I stepped into my house with Vickie, I made sure to lock the door securely behind me, aware that I wouldn't be leaving again until morning. As I turned to face the window opposite me, which offered a view of the side of Bonnie's house, I couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. The sight triggered a sense of unease within me, but I pushed it aside and moved further into the house. Passing the staircase, I headed towards the garage, only to be taken aback by the fact that the door was unlocked. I distinctly remembered locking it before leaving to pick them up from the mall.
Stepping into the freezing garage, I was greeted by the sight of the only item within it: the large, robust gun safe I had received earlier that day. It was brand new, featuring an impressive weight capacity and both a digital code lock and an external bolt lock for added security. Despite the locked safe, the unlocked door suggested something unsettling.
I ascended the stairs and entered the bedroom, immediately spotting the mattress on the floor where Vickie lay asleep. I half expected her to be awake, perhaps clad in something that would tempt me. Instead, she was sound asleep under a single sheet, wearing an oversized white t-shirt. Her makeup had been washed away, and there was no question that she was in a deep slumber. Any other vampire would have instantly heard the door creak open, but Vickie remained undisturbed.
On a small cardboard box beside her bed, next to her phone, I noticed a small, folded piece of paper. I picked it up and unfolded it, discovering a message written inside:
YOU EVEN HAD ME FOOLED THAT WE WERE SAFE.
The words struck me deeply, and I crumpled the paper in my hand. Vickie must have seen the gun safe and sensed my apprehension. The shield had failed us once before; I couldn't trust it to be our only safeguard anymore. It was now my responsibility to ensure their safety, especially since one of them was human and defenseless.
I had to prioritize what I believed was best for them, but a pressing question lingered in my mind: Could I trust Vickie to guard yet another secret?
A GIFT FOR MY READERS
I'm absolutely overjoyed with the incredible amount of comments on the last few chapters! Your support means everything to me. I can't wait to share the next chapter with you, which will take us on a beautiful journey through the honeymoon. I apologize for any mix-ups along the way and appreciate your patience.
As a token of my gratitude, I have a special gift just for you—a sneak preview trailer of the next chapter! Head over to my YouTube channel right now to check it out.
Thank you for being such amazing readers!
/ha_joSuMOfg