'A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become unnecessary'

From the moment Klaus' mouth touched hers, Caroline knew she was a lost cause.

As his soft, warm lips caressed her own, she fell into a deep daze. He began slowly at first; savouring the taste of her against him, before tilting her head, and finally deepening the kiss.

His tongue traced her bottom lip- teasing at first, and then seeking access into her mouth.

Access she readily gave.

Parting her lips, she felt it slide in to meet hers, and she nearly combusted. He was sweeping against her, and she felt like no more than a leaf blowing in the wind- his wind. He was controlling her, and just like that, she was letting him. All she could think of was how he tasted- with those lips of bourbon, she almost felt intoxicated, just by kissing him.

She felt a bout of heat sweep down her spine as his lips moved continued to move sensually against hers.

It was incredible.

She felt his arm wind around her waist, pulling her closer, with his other hand still caressing her cheek. All the while, her hands slid around his shoulders tugging him in- her fingers curled in his dirty blond hair.

It was everything she hoped it would be – sweet, hot, and intimate; it left her aching for more. Her mind was in a Klaus filled haze as he pressed his body hard against hers. She could feel his warmth through his shirt, and her fingers itched to feel his bare skin underneath it; to shower it with kisses.

And just when she thought things couldn't get even more intense, they did. Klaus had much more waiting for her, up his sleeve.

Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted up and set across his lap, as he held her tighter to the hard length of his body. His fingers danced along her spine, as his right hand moved across her midriff, until it came to rest on the side of her torso. His thumb was just below her breast – almost daring her to give into the hunger that arose in her, to let him touch her.

Breaking away from her mouth, he trailed light kisses down her neck - nip, lick, suck. Unable to control herself, Caroline moaned as she threw her head back to let him have better access to her skin; her lids half shut as she was bombarded with sensations. She tightened her hold on his hair, refusing to let him go- wanting him to completely take her over.

His head dipped to kiss her collarbone as the thin strap of her dress slipped off her left shoulder, allowing him pepper it with kisses.

Just as Caroline let out another soft moan, the balcony door burst open, and in spilled a group of absolutely drunk people. Laughing uproariously and talking at the top of their voices, they moved towards a corner, ignoring the couple completely.

But their moment was broken; Caroline jumped back off his lap and onto the cushions, breathing heavily, as she tried to compose herself.

Looking up at Klaus, she took in his tousled hair, heavy-lidded eyes, and swollen pink lips. It pleased her to notice that even he looked a tad out of breath.

"That was a fine way to give in, love," Klaus smiled as he lifted his hand to touch her cheek, his thumb sliding slowly across her sensitive and swollen bottom lip.

He enjoyed the thoroughly kissed look that she sported.

Caroline tried to hide her blush before retorting, "You weren't too shabby yourself."

He leaned in closer, his hand smoothing over her neck and whispered into her ear, "Why don't I continue to show you how 'not shabby' I am?"

Caroline's eyes drifted shut as she leaned in towards him.

All of a sudden, a sharp voice cut through the haze she was in.

"Caroline? May I speak with you?"

Blinking, Caroline looked towards the door way at Gloria, who was standing there with an unreadable expression on her face.

Inwardly groaning, Caroline nodded and stood up quickly. She didn't know how she was going to explain this situation to Gloria. It was obvious from their appearance what had been going on.

She threw a small smile towards Klaus who returned one lazily, as he lounged back on the seat, though she could see that he was a bit miffed at the interruption.

Walking back into the club, she steeled herself before turning to face Gloria, "Gloria I can explain –" She started, but Gloria shook her head, cutting her off immediately.

"We will talk about this later. For now the driver is here. You better go home before it's too late."

Caroline nodded her head, relieved that she didn't have to explain this tonight, because honestly? She had no idea what'd she say.

She walked towards the dressing room and collected her things before heading out.

Although she was feeling a bit guilty for breaking her promise to Gloria, that was nothing compared to the excitement she felt at what had happened between her and Klaus.

Leaning back against the car seat, she raised her fingers to her lips, as she cast her mind back to the kiss. She smiled as she relived that moment. If there was one thing she was sure about, it was her feelings that she knew were growing from. She could not push them aside.

That kiss cemented whatever it was she thought she knew.

xxxxxx

Klaus entered his study, walking straight to the liquor cabinet and pouring out two fingers of scotch into a crystal tumbler.

He moved to the armchair in front of the roaring fireplace and settled in. Taking a sip he looked at the figure that was seated in the armchair next to him.

"I heard that you met Caroline tonight."

Daniel looked up from the girl who he was currently feeding from and gazed at Klaus, blood dripping from his fangs.

"I did," the man answered, with a smirk. "She is quite a dancer, not to mention a spitfire."

"And pray tell, what motivated you to meet her?" Klaus asked, his voice ringing with displeasure.

If there was one thing Klaus hated, it was other people began poking their noses into his business. As close as he was to Daniel, he did not like the fact that he spoke to Caroline.

He didn't enjoy that at all.

"Well, I wanted to meet the girl that has won your mind over for the past week," Daniel said plainly, as he dropped the unconscious girl he was holding onto the floor. "I wanted to see if she was worth the distraction."

"I am not distracted!" Klaus growled, his eyes darkening at the implication.

Daniel shook his head in argument.

"That's not what I've seen lately, Klaus. She's been on your mind, a lot." He smirked before continuing, "I just wanted to see what was so great about a mere human girl that had you- 'The Great Original Vampire' after her."

And with that, Klaus saw red.

He lunged out of his chair and grabbed Daniel by the throat, slamming him, hard, into the wall. He leaned in, veins appearing on his cheeks, as his fangs elongated. His fingers gripped the man's neck even tighter.

"It will do you well to remember just who you are talking to," Klaus noted, in a dark voice. "You may be my oldest companion, but that doesn't mean that I will tolerate your insolence."

Daniel stared fanatically as he studied his angry eyes.

"Klaus, relax! It seems like this human is already influencing your behaviour."

Klaus huffed before he let him go; taking a step back, and shaking his head immediately.

Caroline influence him? Never.

"No one influences my behaviour. You, of all people, know that. That girl is nothing but a bit of entertainment for the time being. Just something to blow steam off until we break the curse, Daniel. She'll never be a thing more."

"That's good to know. I wouldn't want a simple human to spoil our plans," Daniel replied as he straightened his jacket, with a short sigh. "Anyway, I have a message for you from the alpha."

Klaus whipped about and barked, "Why did you wait so long to tell me his message?"

"We were discussing other topics," Daniel continued hurriedly when he saw Klaus' growing impatience, "But now we are not. So... the news is that apparently the doppelganger, accompanied by the alpha's brother, will be arriving into town by the end of the week."

Klaus grinned immediately, and suddenly felt back at ease by the information, as it floated into his ears.

"That's definitely good news," he said, sitting back down in the armchair he had vacated. "In two weeks, the full moon will be upon us. We will be able to do the ritual then. We are so close to our goal."

Moving closer to Klaus, Daniel enquired, "What are we to do with the alpha and Claude?"

A sinister smile adorned Klaus' face-one that would have sent any normal person screaming in the opposite direction.

"Oh, don't worry. I have use for them, until the end. They will play an important part in my plans," he said, and Daniel smirked. "Go on, and make sure the location where the ritual is to be held is ready. Nothing should go wrong with this, especially since we are so close to the end."

"Of course," Daniel nodded. "What will you be doing in the meantime?"

"I will have to visit our precious witch and ensure she has everything required."

They spent the next half an hour going over the details of the ritual, before Daniel took his leave.

Klaus stared at the fireplace thinking, not about the ritual but about a certain blonde singer.

Although he told Daniel that she was nothing but entertainment, his heart thought otherwise. Today, when they stood at the balcony, he felt a pull towards her. Even as they chatted about her and what she found important, he had wanted to know more about her thoughts and views. In fact, he was serious when he impulsively offered to show her the world.

What was happening to him? Why was he feeling this?

And then the kiss happened.

This whole thing had started off as a game for him – toying with the beautiful singer, just for gratification, because he knew that he could make her fall for him-but somewhere between asking her to dance and getting put down by her, it became real for him.

Klaus straightened abruptly. He felt something for her. Something more than affection, and he couldn't truly fathom why.

No one-not even Daniel- could not find out about this. Having any sort of feelings like this is a weakness.

But the kiss was something out of this world, if he were willing to admit to it.

In his lifetime as a vampire, he had kissed many women – queens, princesses, peasants, heiresses, dancers, etc. But this kiss was something different altogether.

He had never felt like this before. Ever.

It was all he could do to not take her on the spot and show her what he felt for her. Her soft lips pressed against his lips, her pliant body responding to his every touch was almost too much for him to take. Hearing the blood rushing in her veins and her heart beat quicken excited him. To know that she was not immune to him as she liked to portray was quite a stimulating thought.

He admired her courage to take the bull by the horns and admit that she felt something to him. He could hear the reluctance in her voice, but she did it anyway.

He was so used to people playing games with him; an ulterior motive behind every move, leaving, nothing genuine or true. He was the master of games, in fact, and it was always a title that he so proudly claimed. Always one move ahead of everyone, it was like a carefully crafted game of chess- he always won. He always remained in the throws of shadows and deceit.

But today, she took him by surprise with her honesty. No hidden move or ulterior motive; just plain simple truth. It has been a long time since anyone had been like that around him.

He might just have to re-evaluate what he wants to do with her.

xxxxxx

Caroline was in such high spirits at rehearsals the next day, that even some of the other singers commented on her unusually cheerful demeanour.

Normally, she was a pretty happy girl, but never quite like this. Today she seemed almost hyper and eager to do things. Nothing seemed to faze her.

Of course, it was all due to a certain man. Caroline could not stop re-living that kiss; the feel of his full lips, the heat of his hard body against her, or even better, the softness of his curly hair underneath her fingertips. She blushed when she thought of how far the kiss had almost gone.

She knew that she wouldn't have been able to stop herself if they weren't interrupted.

"Caroline, you're up!" she heard, and the sharp words immediately snapped her out of her personal thoughts.

The thoughts that couldn't help but float to him, each and every chance that she got.

Jumping up, she made her way to the stage. She had spoken to the band earlier and told them what song she was going to sing, and though it was a pretty rash decision, she decided to run with it anyway.

Caroline had a very strong knack for expressing herself through her music, and it was never something that she would apologize for. The song she wanted to do reminded her of a Klaus. And rationality aside, she decided to sing it the next night.

Unknown to her knowledge, as she rehearsed her song, the man who she was thinking about was just backstage, deep in conversation with Gloria.

"Why is the spell not ready yet?" Klaus bit out as he glared at Gloria, trying to trap down the urge to yell, as he did not want to be heard by wandering ears.

Gloria shot him an annoyed look, and folded her arms.

"I have to get several elements of the spell ready in time for the full moon. You can't just show up and expect everything to be ready at a moment's notice."

"Tell me, what particular use are you to me, then, if you seem to have nothing ready?" Klaus threatened menacingly as he moved closer towards her.

Gloria stared into his eyes unflinching.

"Klaus, there is no one else who knows how to do this spell, but me. You kill me, you lose the only witch who can help you. Can you just imagine how much longer you will have to wait to get someone else with the relevant experience ready to break the curse, for you?"

Klaus glared her at before letting out a curse and turning it around, "Make sure that everything is ready for the full moon. Or else I wouldn't care about how much longer I will have to wait."

He was frustrated, but he whether he liked it or not, he needed her. She would be his very last hope for a very long time.

"It will be ready." Gloria replied simply, as she turned to the grimoire on the table. "Oh, and one more thing, Klaus?"

"Yes?" he asked, whipped his head around, his patience with the witch thinning.

"What are your intentions considering Caroline?"

Completely turning to face her, Klaus didn't let the surprise he felt at her question show, as he slowly stalked up to her. His bones were radiating, but he wouldn't let her know that. He'd rather be staked.

"What is that to you, love?" he asked coyly, and Gloria's stance immediately became firm. "Are you worried?"

Narrowing her eyes, Gloria glared at him, with no sense of amusement on her face.

"She is an innocent human being, who should not be mixed up in this world. You know that. So, what are you doing?"

Klaus smirked at her before speaking again.

"Your affection for the girl is endearing, it is. But suffice to say that it is none of your business what I plan to do with Caroline."

Gloria took a step forward and all of a sudden a piercing pain in his head took over. Dropping to his knees, Klaus let out a cry of pain as the pressure increased, and began to cripple him.

"You hurt one hair on her head, and I will ensure that you suffer."

Pushing through the pain, Klaus flashed to stand in front of her, and his hand gripped around her neck, squeezing it as tightly as he could. The pain left him as Gloria gasped for air.

"You should be thankful that I require you for the ritual, otherwise your carcass would be lying on the floor with your heart beating in my hand," Klaus said softly, as his eyes blackened and his fangs peeked out.

He roughly left her go and she bent over gasping for air, holding onto the table for support.

Brushing his hands against his pants, he continued pleasantly as if nothing had occurred.

"Just to ensure you that you hold up your end of the deal, I will let you know that I have no intention of killing her. But if you do not come through with the spell to advocate me, trust me when I say your least concern will be if she is living or dead."

With that, Klaus stormed out of the room, moving towards the entrance of the club. He stood at the bottom of the front steps, fuming as he awaited his car to be brought to the front by the valet.

He may have had a soft spot, but he was not soft. The quicker everyone realized that he was not to be angered, the better.

"Klaus?" he heard, and the erratic tapping of his foot stopped, as he bit his lip softly.

Turning around, his annoyance immediately dissipated as he took in the beautiful sight of Caroline in a yellow sundress standing behind him.

Her hair shone brilliantly in the sun, and a smile played on her lips as she waited for him to acknowledge her.

"Caroline," he responded, striding forward and reaching for her hand to place a kiss on the inside of her wrist. He heard her gasp at his forwardness and smiled a bit. After last night, she should expect that from him. "You are a sight for sore eyes this lovely morning."

"What are you doing here?" she blushed, snatching her hand from his grip.

"I had some business to take care with Gloria. And you?"

"Just finished a rehearsal," Caroline replied as she looked up at him.

He looked so wicked in the morning light. Is it possible for one to get even better looking overnight?

"Why don't I drop you home?" Klaus asked as he gestured to his car that had come to a stop in front of them.

Caroline's mouth dropped open, in a bit of surprise, as she looked at the car, and then back at him. This was probably another one of those bad ideas-it definitely was, actually-as she watched his lips form into a gentle smirk, and she immediately became enamoured by his perfect eyes.

Her veins were exploding with anticipation, as her head was shouting with disapproval.

She shouldn't do this- she barely knew him.

But Caroline's favourite past time was testing out the unknown. And as of last night, he was it.

Klaus was the unknown.

"Sure," Caroline smiled at him as she rounded the car, and waited for him to open the door as she slipped in.

Once Klaus was in his own seat, he steered the car onto the main road as Caroline looked out of the window. She didn't know what one says to the person the day after they had passionately kissed. So she settled for staring out of the window, looking at the passing scenery.

"Oh I have to tell you where I live," she realized, and he shook his head.

"I know where you live," Klaus said sounding amused. "I did send you flowers last week."

"Oh..yeah.." Caroline bit her lip as she took in his profile.

He had not shaved that morning so his stubble stood out making him look darker, almost wicked. She wanted to reach over and touch it, caress the roughness of it against his soft skin.

She was completely taken by him, until a thought struck her.

"Wait a minute... How did you know where I live?"

Klaus looked at her exasperatedly, "I told you, I sent you –"

"How did you know where I live to send me flowers?" she asked boldly, with her arms over her chest.

He smiled, "I have my ways."

"If you were anyone else I would have been utterly worried by it." Caroline said as she sat back in her seat, staring straight ahead.

He laughed, "Then I am thankful I am no one else."

"You know," Caroline continued thoughtfully, "You didn't answer me question last night – why are you showering me with your attention? It just... it doesn't make any sense."

Klaus gave her a teasing smile, "Maybe I fancy you."

Caroline looked incredulously at him, "What?"

She seemed to apparently be having a hard time hearing things. Did he actually say he may fancies her?

Get a hold of yourself Caroline, he said maybe. He was hardly being seriously.

"Would that be so hard to believe, love? Especially after what happened last night?" Klaus smirked as his eyes twinkled wickedly at her, his gaze dropping to her parted lips.

Caroline blushed, "Focus on the road, Klaus!"

Laughing, he sent her a wink before turning towards the front again.

They had just neared her neighbourhood when Caroline realised she was supposed to be at 'tennis classes'; the lie she told her parents.

"Klaus, just drop me off here."

He sent her a funny look, "But your house is around the corner."

"Klaus!" she looked at him seriously as she repeated her request. "Just drop me off here. My... parents do not know that I sing at Gloria's. They think I am off at tennis practice. If my mother sees me arriving with you, I would not be able to explain it."

The car rolled to a stop by the curb.

Klaus turned to look at her, "Why do you do it then? If you know they don't like it?"

Caroline smiled softly, as she shrugged gently, with a sigh.

"It's like I told you before – singing is the only time I am myself. It's my dream and I will do anything to make my dream come true."

Klaus bit his lip softly, but he didn't respond to it, as he leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers. She let out a gentle gasp his hand held her neck in place. Caroline tilted her head and kissed him back eagerly. Once again an unknown feeling engulfed her, urging her to let go and give into to him.

Why did that keep happening? Why did kissing him feel so easy? She barely knew him but here she was laying her heart out for him. She seemed to have absolutely no control over herself when it came to him.

Pulling back, he smiled at her, and she tried her best to breathe evenly, though her heart was racing. His hand caressed her cheek softly.

"I have wanted to do that the entire car ride."

Caroline laughed, as she looked down, and then back into his eyes.

"You aren't the only one," she said as she blushed and opened the car door. "Thank you for the lift, Klaus."

He sat back, smirking and watched her walk away; disappearing quickly, as she turned around the corner. Their entire conversation played in his mind as he drove straight home. She was more than just a face to him now. She had dreams and hopes and like him she would do anything to achieve them.

Well, maybe not exactly what he would do. She was different. And he liked that about her.

He frowned at that thought. Maybe he should heed Daniel's advice. Caroline seems to be on his mind more often than not. He couldn't afford to be distracted until the curse was broken.

When Klaus arrived home, he strode straight to the library and poured himself a glass of bourbon. In his opinion, it was never too early for a glass. Besides- wasn't he better off drinking alcohol as opposed to innocent, little humans anyway?

When he finished pouring, he raised the glass to his lips, but he suddenly stopped.

His ears pricked, his nose flared, as his senses caught wind of something- or someone- within his immediate presence.

A thousand years alive as a vampire, he knew when he wasn't alone. He wondered if his silly visitor knew just what they had gotten themselves. He turned around and bared his teeth at the intruder, only to stop, as his eyes widened in shock.

"Hello Nik."

Uh Oh! Who is this mysterious visitor? Any guesses ppl? ;)

THEY FINALLY KISSED! OMG! Now if those ppl didn't just interrupt them! =P

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