You may have previously seen this series on Tumblr - if that's the case and you don't want to re-read, skip right ahead to Ch3, which has never been published before. This series of drabbles contains very mature/explicit/adult content. Please don't read if you have strict moral qualms about cheating.

WHAT ABOUT THEM

It's just dinner, she told herself.

"You know," Stefan started, squeezing her hand a little, "Damon said this wouldn't go well."

She could feel Klaus' eyes on her, but she concentrated on the meal that had just been set in front of her.

Of course Stefan had enthusiastically agreed when Klaus suggested they stay at his mansion while they were on vacation in New Orleans. It had been Stefan's idea to come here, after all; Stefan's continued assurance that Klaus would be fine with them together.

She still didn't entirely believe it, but the blonde sitting diagonally across from her was doing a good job of convincing her.

They'd both moved on.

"Yes, well," Klaus said, smiling a little, "Damon has very little sense of decorum. We're more than capable of civility. Aren't we, love?"

Every word he said seemed to have a double meaning attached to it when he shot a look at her, and she resolved not to meet his eyes anymore.

She didn't even pay attention to the conversation anymore, ignoring Stefan's worried gaze, until her head popped up as Klaus said something.

"Yes, Cami is very talented with her tongue."

The human blushed and Caroline's nails fisted in her palms, almost drawing blood when Klaus met her eyes and smirked smugly.

"Who's up for a walk around the Quarter after dinner?"

"This is stupid."

"Are you that afraid to be alone with me?" he asked smugly.

She'd gone out into the hallway to wait while Stefan finished dressing. Either Klaus had had the same idea or he was just stalking her, because he'd joined her less than a minute later.

"Stefan and Cami are gonna be there, remember? You should, you're the one who invited us all on the stupid walk."

"Why is it stupid, precisely, Caroline?" She was ready with a response but he cut her off: "Is it because you came here for the sights and to rub your relationship in my face and neither is going all that well for you?"

She scoffed. "I know this is gonna be next to impossible for you to believe, Klaus, but not every decision everyone makes is about you. And sometimes you have stupid ideas – and this is one of them."

His jaw clenched, his smugness gone in record time even for him.

"You should be careful how you speak to me."

"Oh, please. What are you gonna do? Make more innuendos about your slice of bread girlfriend?"

He stepped closer, into her breathing space, and she was fuming so much she forgot to retreat.

"That sounds a bit like jealousy, sweetheart."

"Delusional men hear whatever they want to hear."

"Admit you're scared to be alone with me."

"We're alone right now. And as I said before, we aren't gonna be alone during this walk."

He smiled. "That's where you're wrong, Caroline." They both heard Stefan exit his room, not that far away, but they kept each other's eyes. "There could be a thousand people in a room, and we'd still be all alone."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, Stefan, I'm fine."

"I know he gets to you."

"Well, you wanted to come here, so…"

"See? Irritated."

She gritted her teeth and stopped walking, hoping the hybrid and human up ahead wouldn't stop too.

"I'm irritated by these questions. And yeah, I'm pretty irritated that when I told you I didn't wanna come here, you said I could handle it. And now he's getting under my skin, just like I knew he would, and all you're doing is telling me I'm irritated."

He stared at her for a moment before letting out a long breath.

"We should go back."

"Yeah. We should."

"To the house, I meant. I still know you can do this, Caroline."

"Oh my god."

"I think we just need to talk about why you're letting him get under your skin."

Because that's what he does, she wanted to say. Because that's what we're like, she couldn't say. Because that's what I want, she didn't dare allow herself to think.

"There's a play."

Klaus had been talking to Stefan while she was in the shower and he was now informing her about yet another social event for the evening.

"A play?"

"Yeah, something Klaus set up. It's in the grand hall thing. Don't worry, there's going to be a lot more people."

"I don't know, Stefan, I'm not in the mood."

"And it might put you in the mood," he cajoled, laying his hands on her hips.

She stared at him for a few moments. She'd been kind of a bitch to him since they'd gotten here. She could do this for him.

"Ok. I'll try and watch at least half of it."

What she didn't say was that maybe if she let him win on this one, he'd let them leave New Orleans tomorrow.

She scoffed for about the millionth time in the past hour.

She'd directed every single one at the play, but really she'd just been keeping really close peripheral vision on Klaus and Cami. They were quite a few seats down but that unfortunately hadn't stopped her from seeing Klaus putting his arm around the human and whispering things into her ear that made her laugh.

"That's it, I've had enough."

Stefan frowned. She could tell he was interested in the play. It was about scorned lovers or something.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. The acting is awful," she said off the top of her head.

She hadn't paid the play near enough attention to judge the actors.

"Ok, we can go to bed."

"No, you stay. I'm just gonna go."

Before he could protest, she stood and instantly sped out of the hall.

Immediately she was grateful. The sound had carried in the great hall, reverberating off every massive wall, but the rest of the house was completely silent.

With a sigh she began to wander, realising with each passing minute that she was probably getting hopelessly lost.

"Oh, thank god," she muttered when she spotted the dining room.

She entered it then looked around with a frown. Had this been the same one they'd eaten dinner in earlier? This house was massive, she wouldn't be surprised if there was more than one dining room.

And did she even know the way to the room from here?

"Personally, I didn't find the acting that dreadful."

Closing her eyes, she let out a breath.

"Why can't you ever just leave me alone?"

"Honestly? I have no idea."

That made her turn to face the hybrid.

"Well, that's flattering."

There was a small smile on his lips and he laid down the tumbler of scotch he'd been holding.

"Tell me why here."

She rolled her eyes. "Stefan picked."

"And you put up your strongest defence – and yet, you're still here?"

She bit at the inside of her cheek.

She couldn't lie any longer. He knew her too well. Nobody made her do anything she didn't want to do – not anymore. He knew that as well as she did.

"Maybe I wanted to know what you were up to." She folded her arms. "I guess now I know."

"There's much more of the Quarter to see."

She narrowed her eyes. "I was talking about Cami."

His smirk was sly. "I know."

She sized him up for a few seconds then gasped, realising.

"You were trying to make me jealous."

"No," he shook his head, still smirking, "but I was enjoying watching you attempt not to be."

Her cheeks coloured but for once it was because she was furious with him. It was good, it felt familiar. She needed to be mad at him. Anger was a shield.

"You found somebody else to fuck, Klaus. Congratulations. But stop expecting me to care."

With that she attempted to move past him – she was so over this – but he immediately moved into her way.

She gritted her teeth.

"Move."

Finally his smirk had disappeared and he somehow looked even more annoyed than her.

"Do you think I enjoy watching him touch you?"

"I think you have no say over who touches me."

"Which is why he still has hands. But that does not mean I am anywhere near being alright with it."

Reluctantly she met his eyes then instantly regretted it.

Because, just like that, he had her. She couldn't look away and she couldn't let anything but the truth fall from her lips.

"It kinda felt like you didn't care."

"Because that's easier," he admitted, his breath hot along her collarbone.

"Easier than what?" she asked, her voice a whisper.

He looked at her like she should know the answer but she shook her head infinitesimally and he leaned into her ear.

Her eyes dropped shut as he spoke, his voice husky.

"Easier than admitting I need you more than I know how to deal with."

She let his incredible aroma wash over her with the heat of his proximity all mixed into the fact that this was Klaus.

She could have him again if she wanted to.

"Klaus, I can't do this."

She meant to move away but he put his hand on her hip. Exactly where Stefan had placed his earlier, but god it burned a million times hotter.

Involuntarily, a hot audible breath left her lips and she felt Klaus' mouth brush past her ear. She shivered.

"I can't not do this."

She was aching. She could barely breathe.

"Don't do this to me, please."

"Oh, Caroline, there are far too many things I want to do to you. That's the problem."

She could barely stand anymore. The fact that they still hadn't kissed or really touched was insane. She felt as if she were two orgasms in already.

"Klaus," she whimpered, her body moving closer of its own accord.

He pulled her in, pressing her right up against his body and she let out an embarrassingly loud moan. Her chest was pressed up against his but there were too many clothes in between, she needed her nipples rubbing over his hard chest.

"I need you," she admitted, so glad she couldn't look at him anymore.

God, she felt so ashamed. But she did need him. She'd never needed anything in the world as much as she needed him right then.

"Fuck, Caroline," he breathed, pushing her hips closer to his so she could feel how hard he was.

Biting back a whimper, she swallowed.

"What about them?"

"What about them?" he countered, his voice rough.

Her hands slid down over his Henley then up and under it, feeling his skin. She'd never felt so out of breath in her entire life.

This wasn't her. She wasn't a cheater.

But her dripping underwear said otherwise and she knew she literally wouldn't be able to get herself out of this room. The only way through was forward.

"If you fuck me," she found herself saying, "I need you to really fuck me."

She needed to get him out of her system. If the only way to do that was to get him inside her, then she needed it hot and fast.

He drew back and finally she met his burning eyes again.

Then she took in his smirking lips.

"If?"

"We haven't done anything yet, it's not too late to go back," she breathed shallowly.

"And why would we do that when we have everything we both want right here?"

He walked two fingers onto her chest and with a single movement ripped her shirt open. She gasped as his eyes lowered to her black and white bra.

"When all we've wanted all night was this? I told you," he smiled slowly, "no matter what, we're always alone."

Her chest was heaving so hard she was scared she might pass out. Instead, in a show of bravery, she stepped back a little then undid the rest of the buttons on her shirt before pulling down the zipper on her skirt.

He watched closely as she discarded both items.

"Those are your terms, then?"

"Yeah," she nodded, breathless from just the way he was looking at her.

He was right, they were always alone. Whenever he looked at her, they were alone. Whenever he looked at her, they were right back here.

She hooked her thumbs around the lace of her panties then drew them down slowly before kicking them away. He swallowed as he stared at her unabashedly. His gaze rose to meet hers.

She sat down on the table and spread her legs.

She remembered having him inside her. Maybe if she didn't, this wouldn't have gone this way. Doubtful, but possible.

What wasn't possible was knowing exactly what his tongue and cock felt like inside her; knowing the kind of earth-shattering orgasms he'd given her, and her turning it down.

"Here's mine," he started, beginning to strip too as he kept a close eye on her.

"Seriously?" she interrupted. "We need terms?"

"I need one," he nodded, pulling down his boxer briefs and stepping towards her. "For however long this goes on, he doesn't touch you."

Her gaze dropped to his erect cock and she found herself nodding before the words even fully registered in her mind.

Then they did and she met his eyes.

"Same for you."

He smiled, slow and dangerous, and she felt a shiver down her back that reminded her she should not be doing this.

This was wrong. And he was all wrong for her – Stefan was her perfect match. But the thing was, right now she really had a taste for the wrong.

So she only parted her knees further as he pulled her into his arms and lay on top of her, tangling his hand in her hair.

She sucked in a deep breath at just feeling his hot flesh against hers.

"Then we have a deal."

"I'm leaving tomorrow," she said, with the last bit of her sanity.

He smirked.

"No, you're not."

She was about to protest when he pushed right into her, filling her, and her words devolved to a hiss as her eyes closed and she savoured the delicious pain.

"Klaus, kiss me," she moaned.

He did.