I Belong With You - NC17 - Caroline/Elijah - Part Six [2/2]
Title: I belong with you, you belong with me (You're my sweetheart)
Category: The Vampire Diaries
Genre: Romance/Angst/Drama
Ship: Caroline/Elijah
Chapter Rating: NC-17/Explicit
Overall Rating: NC-17/Explicit
Word Count: 8,446
Summary: [AU, set in 1492] Elijah has spent five centuries at Niklaus' side, doing everything in his power to help his brother find the doppelgänger. But when his chance to find happiness is found dancing in the forest, he has to decide whether love or loyalty will be his companion for eternity.
[Return to: First Half.]
Elijah reached for her, taking her hands and drawing her close. "Do you trust me?"
She stared up at him and swallowed tightly, the faint taste of blood still warm on her tongue. "I do."
He pressed his forehead to hers. "I will teach you control. If you want never to kill, then I will teach you, but you must trust me, you must do as I say in this matter."
"I will." She nodded. "I do not want to kill. I just… I-The hunger, it feels so… heavy."
He raised her hands up and he ducked his mouth to them, sucking the tips of her fingers between his lips. "And you will be fed."
She watched him and felt his tongue as it swirled around her fingers, lapping up every drop of blood that lingered. When her fingers were cleaned, he found her mouth and he sucked the blood from her lips, her tongue, and he licked it from her chin.
A new hunger replaced the old one and Caroline did not pause as they stumbled back toward the bed. He deftly removed her dress, ridding her of the fabric that was stained with her own dried blood and the warm, wet blood of the girl she had just drunk from. She reached for his tunic, dragging it up his body, wanting to feel his skin. However, she had not anticipated that her movements would be faster, stronger, than ever before, and the fabric ripped in her hands.
She blinked in surprise and held her hands up apologetically. "I cannot control this new-found strength," she worried. "What if I hurt you?"
Elijah merely smiled at her, shaking his head. He pulled his tunic free and tossed the ruined fabric away from him. "I am not so breakable," he assured her, with some arrogance. To assert this, he tore her underclothes from her with both hands, letting them fall to the floor in tatters before he lifted her by her hips and laid her back on the bed. Raising a brow, he told her, "And neither are you."
Caroline was only mildly surprised at the surge of lust she felt at seeing his show of power. She was well aware that Elijah was much stronger than any regular man. He had always been gentle with her though. His hands touched her like she was glass, like she was as delicate as lace, and he feared he might tarnish her somehow. Those moments when they were together in their clearing, when he held her tighter, plunging into her warmth depths, his body tensed with pleasure, she could see that thin thread of control tenuously keeping him at bay. A shiver of awareness went through her as she realized that he would not need to hold back now. Certainly, he was still stronger than her, but he would not have to hold back as much as he had.
Elijah had already shown her pleasure like she had never known; she wondered if there were lengths they hadn't yet reached. If there was any more that he could show her. As she watched him from where she lay on the bed, she bit her lip, enjoying the touch of his fingers as they circled her ankles, her feet braced at the edge of the bed. He traced his way up the backs of her legs, drawing soothing circles firmly across her skin. She felt a swooping sensation in her belly, of need and want and promise that all would be known soon enough.
He tapped the backs of her knees before he parted them, spreading her open for him. She swallowed thickly, watching his eyes darken with hunger, not for blood but for her. He always looked upon her with such reverence, such awe, at her skin, her body, even simple things like her smile. Love for him warmed her from the inside out.
And then he licked his lips and that heat settled low in her belly and spread along her thighs. She let out a heavy breath, her chest heaving, and clenched her hands on the blanket beneath her, feeling the fabric twist in her fingers, threads stretched under the pressure she applied, just short of snapping and tearing. She tried to calm down, to understand her body's reaction, but it was far more overwhelming than it had been before. Every emotion, every feeling, was heightened. She felt simultaneously weightless and heavy.
Elijah's hands ran down the insides of her thighs and all she knew was him. Her mind seemed to stop, to stutter, and then focus entirely on the touch of his fingertips as they spread out and slid to the tops of legs, following them until they reached her hips. His hands held her firmly, his fingers flexed, and he dragged her body down the bed a few inches closer to him.
He was ravenous; she could see it plainly in his face. His fear for her, his sadness that she might have been lost, was mixing with his desperate lust. His hair was loose, tangled, and it made him appear wild, unlike the controlled man he often was. She had seen him free, unburdened, honestly happy, and now she was seeing another side of him. She wondered what had happened during the time that she had been gone. How long had it been since Niklaus had killed her and what did Elijah do in that time? If he sincerely thought her dead, then did Niklaus convince him so? Did he make his own brother believe that he has lost the woman he loved just to spite him?
She wanted to ask these questions, to understand, but Elijah kissed her knee. Her stomach twisted into tight knots as she watched his lips, so smooth against her skin, press delicate kisses down her leg. As he went, he lowered himself to his knees, and she realized where he intended to go. Her thighs shook and she swallowed thickly as his eyes met hers, dark and promising. His hands spread her thighs further apart while his head ducked down, his tongue pressing flat against her and licking the length of her slit in a slow drag before flicking against her clit. He chuckled as she let out a strangled moan, her back arching as the spike of pleasure crashed through her. It was stronger than it had been before, the ecstasy coursing through her lit her up in small bursts, burning hot and deep.
As she lay panting, his lips and tongue devoured her, suckling her folds, his teeth faintly grazing sensitive, wet flesh. She bucked against him each time he passed across her clit, both loving and loathing that fleeting touch. His hand found her stomach and braced her, keeping her from moving too sharply. His free hand slid low beneath his chin and first one and then a second finger dipped inside her, thrusting slow and deep. She reached for him, burying a hand in his dark hair, her nails scraping the back of his neck. He teased her, his actions encouraged by her scratching and pulling of his hair.
"Elijah," she breathed, her toes curling. "Please. Please…"
He rose, drawing his mouth from her, his wet lips curled in a deliciously satisfied smile. She let out a whine of disapproval; she had been so close… But her complaints stopped as she watched him rid himself of the rest of his clothes, standing gloriously naked before her. She pushed up to her elbows, wanting to reach for him, to wrap her legs around his waist, press her face against his firm chest, and curl her fingers around his long, thick shaft, but he stayed her.
He first pressed a kiss to her lips, licking into her mouth, flicking her teeth, and then pulled away before she could reciprocate. His head ducked, lips finding the pebbled nipple of her breast, his hair dragging against her skin, tickling her. And his fingers, long and deft as they were, resumed their position inside her, his thumb cleverly rubbing circles over her clit. Her climax was upon her quickly, starting between the tense spread of her thighs and reaching up to where his teeth and tongue teased her breasts. She shook beneath him, her bones fairly rattling inside her from the feel of it all, her throat vibrating as she cried his name.
And then his lips were upon hers, hard and needy, as if he was searching for something in each kiss that passed between them. She understood as she wrapped her arms around him, as she felt him shaking; his formidable frame, the picture of strength, was trembling atop hers. It confused her, at first, the contrasting knowledge that he was one of the strongest men she had ever known and could, if necessary, kill any who oppose him, and yet, in that moment, he was vulnerable.
He buried a hand in her hair, tangling it around his fingers, and then cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. He kissed down to her chin and nuzzled his face against her before burying it at her neck, panting against her skin. He wanted only for her to remind him that it was true, she was indeed alive and with him. He found her mouth once more and hugged her to him, squeezing tightly, drawing her closer even as there was nothing, not a hair's breath, separating them.
His forehead pressed to hers, his eyes squeezed shut, and she saw the pain there in the wrinkle of his brow, the tense set of his jaw, the clenching of his teeth. She could see the overwhelming uncertainty of what her possible death had caused him and she realized that the possibility had torn him apart. Elijah, whom she had unwittingly thought of as invincible, had a very real weakness, and it was her. A tear slipped from her eyes as she understood that this love between them, as much as forever had just been a word before, was truly a reality. Not because they were vampires, not because they could truly live forever, but because of the depth of their feelings.
"Elijah…" She cupped his face, stroking her thumbs over the arch of his cheeks. "I am with you."
He nodded jerkily, but still would not open his eyes.
She stroked her fingers through his hair soothingly, curling them around his ears and kneading his neck. "Will you dance with me?" she whispered.
He paused, his hands releasing their tight hold on her, and a trembling breath left him. Finally, he opened his eyes to look at her, searching her face, her gaze, with tearful brown eyes. In an instant, his expression hardened; it became fiercer than she had ever seen it. "I will not lose you. Not for anything, not to anyone."
She tipped her chin up and kissed him softly, just a sweet press of her lips. "You will always have me."
His body relaxed slowly, resting against hers, hard and heavy but familiar and welcomed. She slid her knees high and wrapped her legs around him, enjoying the feel of him cradled in her hips.
They came together easily, and it was not as hurried as it had begun. He sunk inside of her gently, kissing his way up her neck, suckling at her skin. Their hands found each other, fingers twined, arms arched over her head. Elijah showed his adoration with his mouth as it reached for every available plane of her body, tasting and kissing it all. From the tips of her fingers to the tops of her shoulders, the hollows of her neck to the valley of her breasts. He laid her on her stomach and pressed into her from behind, holding her hands on the bed as he smoothed his lips down her neck, biting and sucking his way across her back.
She released his hands to grip the blanket tightly as his hips sped up. He rubbed his hands over her hips, squeezing as she clenched around the length of his cock. His fingers roamed higher, stroking everywhere they reached until finally he was cupping her breasts, his thumbs circling her nipples. And just as she was on the edge of climaxing, she felt it, his sharp teeth sunk into her shoulder. She cried out, squeezing tightly, and felt pleasure crash over her, shattering her into sharp fragments only to bring them all back together. Her entire body tightened with resplendent ecstasy before it released, flowing through her from head to toe. She went limp with it, her every nerve buzzing, and she smiled dizzily at the way her body seemed to hum.
When she could breathe again, her body beginning to calm down, she could feel him licking the healing bite on her shoulder affectionately, lapping at the blood and nuzzling her skin.
"Is it… always that intense?" she panted. "It wasn't quite like that before, when I was… human."
"For me, it is always intense with you…" He delicately brushed her hair off her back and kissed his way up her neck. "But yes, you will feel things more as a vampire. Pleasure and pain. Some will pass quickly, others will linger."
He turned to lay on his side, drawing her with him, her back against his chest, and she shivered as she felt him still hard inside her. He filled her so completely that she could still feel ribbons of her orgasm ricocheting as they moved.
"Are you sensitive?" he asked, dragging his fingers up her front, lightly tracing circles over her stomach.
She wrapped her hand around his forearm. "I feel everything… I feel you everywhere."
His hand rose up her body and curled around a breast, kneading her firmly. She fluttered around the length of him, her hips arching back against him. He teased the peak, circling his way closer and closer to the center. She bit her lip as she whimpered his name pleadingly.
"My sweet, insatiable love," he murmured at her ear, his lips brushing the shell.
Sliding out from behind her, he turned her onto her back once more and knelt between her legs, drawing one up around his waist while his hands continued their dedicated exploration of her body, from the flare of her hips to the tops of her shoulders and every soft inch of her in between. She could feel him against her thigh and she wiggled her hips, wanting more. As he continued to deny her, she reached for one of his hands and brought it to her mouth. It took her a moment, but the scent of her own blood still wetting her skin allowed her to lengthen her teeth as she had before, to feed, though the pain was far duller this time. She pricked the end of one of his fingers and watched the blood bead for a moment before she used his finger to draw on her skin, creating small swirling symbols. She looked up at him, appreciating the way his jaw flexed, his eyes flashing as he watched his blood spread over her pale skin. Veins appeared beneath his eyes and his hunger made him look darker, dangerous, like the man who had saved her, tearing the hearts from her enemies as they sought to ruin her in the forest.
But Elijah, even hungry, would never harm her. His wound healed quickly but he only tucked his finger between her lips for her to prick again. She tasted him, warm on her tongue, and let him linger, let his taste set in. It was not like the girl earlier, different somehow. His blood was richer, heavier than the servant's had been. She loved it. He let some of it trail over her lips before he resumed drawing on her skin, writing symbols she could not understand but that he seemed to, each one seeming more important than the last, like an ancient language of some kind. He did not lick up the blood trails immediately, instead he sat back on his haunches and surveyed his work with a keen, content eye.
"Language has changed so much since I was human. Many would look back on our writing and call it crude, but I see familiarity there. I see home..." He pointed to the jagged writing across her ribs. "Here, this is my name."
She looked down at herself, pushing up to rest on her elbows, and reached for it, careful not to smudge it. It felt, for a moment, like a stamp, as if he were making it clear that she was his.
"And this, here…" He trailed his fingers over the writing that arched over her stomach, "this was the symbol we used for 'wife.'"
She smiled then, a flood of warmth in her chest. "Do vampires get married, Elijah?"
"We can, of course. Most, I believe, simply call one another husband and wife. Some ceremonies seem unnecessary when you are no longer human, when certain religions or deities no longer hold true."
"I would like to marry… I had always planned to have a beautiful wedding. I imagined it many times, though I had never known what my husband would look like then."
"If you want a wedding, I will give you one. The grandest wedding to ever be thrown if that is your wish."
She smiled, and teased, "You spoil me, kind sir. If you are not careful, it will set a precedent."
He laughed, a deep chuckle that made her shiver.
"I have promised you the world, if you will remember." He leaned over her, his hands pressing into the mattress on either side of her chest. He ducked his head to hers, his hair falling, brushing her cheeks, as he bent for a kiss, sucking her bottom lip before he nipped it just hard enough to break her skin, a sliver of blood forming. He licked it up with the tip of his tongue before he moved down her body. He kissed the writing that crested her left breast and traced it with his tongue. "This is 'life,' and this…" He moved to her other breast and licked the blood from it. "This one means 'love.'" He dragged his mouth down the valley of breasts. "And this… is 'eternity.'"
Caroline buried a hand at the nape of his neck, her fingers wrapped in his hair, urging him on as he licked up every spare drop of blood, his tongue doing wonderful things to her skin, his sharp teeth grazing but not quite biting. He kissed his way down her stomach and, when he rose, he licked his lips, his chin wet with her blood. He bit his own lip, letting it bleed freely, and then he bent to kiss her. She tasted the mixture of it, his and her blood, warm and intoxicating, his tongue stroking against hers. She could feel her teeth as they lengthened, this time without the pain. She could feel hunger stirring inside of her, mixing quickly with her desire.
His hands ran down her sides, sliding beneath her hips to lift her to him. She let out a breathless cry against his lips as he thrust inside of her, hard and quick. His palms slid low, cupping her bottom, kneading either cheek before they moved to the underside of her thighs and lifted them, spreading them far apart. She arched her back, her chest pressed tight to his, and a strangled moan escaped her as he moved so deeply, filled her so completely, every inward thrust rubbing against something inside of her that sent exceedingly pleasurable waves through her, rocking her whole frame. Her hands found his shoulders and slid down to his chest, her nails digging in, scoring his skin.
She could feel herself, so very close to euphoria, but his hips were slowing, stirring, and she shook her head. He was teasing her again, drawing it out. Without thinking, she leaned up abruptly and, suddenly, found herself on top, Elijah beneath her, his hands pinned to the bed as hers wrapped around his wrists. Her eyes widened in shock, but he was neither discouraged nor angry that she had taken control. Instead he rolled his hips, pressing up into her, encouraging her to move, to take her pleasure. Her mouth fell open on an appreciative sigh and she rose to her knees.
She had done this before with him, as a human, but she had not forcibly turned him over, she had not the strength then. It felt good, it felt empowering, to not be weak, to not be silly or breakable. After her father, constantly telling her that she was just a silly girl, after Niklaus and his terrible words and actions, it meant everything to her that she could be strong, she could be powerful.
From her perch on Elijah's lap, she let her hands roam from his stomach to his chest, tracing the hard lines and tensed muscles. She found a pace she enjoyed, moving her hips whichever way she felt, searching for that flash of fire that made everything inside of her sing. She bent to kiss his skin, licking him as he had her, lightly biting his nipples and following the lines that defined him with her teeth and tongue, tracing the ridges of his abdomen. She dragged her nails down his sides and rubbed her thumbs over his hipbones as she started moving faster, finding the angle she liked best.
His hand settled on her belly and moved up, fingers spread out, pausing at her heaving chest a moment as she panted, her head thrown back, long hair trailing and swaying with each move she made. And then her eyes squeezed shut as she felt it, a flood that knew no end. Her mouth fell open on a silent scream as it consumed her, like flames licking across her. She squeezed around him, quaking from the inside out, and felt as he pressed himself deeper inside her, his hands gripping her hips almost painfully tight as he moved hard and quick to find his climax.
Boneless, she fell forward. He caught her easily and turned them onto their sides to face one another, her head falling softly to a feather pillow. As she tried to catch her breath, he brushed her hair from her face, stroking his fingers through her long, tangled curls.
She smiled up at him sweetly. "This is the first time we have made love in a bed," she told him.
He pressed a kiss to her lips and then another. "I regret that we did not know its comfort sooner."
She shook her head, covering his hand as it laid against her cheek. "I treasure every moment in our clearing."
His lips curled faintly at the corners and he pulled her in closer, drawing her head to his chest. They lay in silence for a few moments, wrapped in each other, her fingers lightly running up and down his side, from his chest to his hip, while his were busy combing through her hair.
"Am I to expect you will always distract me from my hunger in such a way?" she queried, her voice teasing.
"It would be my pleasure," he answered, smiling.
"Then I look forward to your lessons in control."
He chuckled under his breath, kissing her forehead.
"It will not be easy, will it?"
"Being a vampire, or learning control?"
"Either… Both."
He sighed. "In the beginning, it will take time, but eventually, it will become natural to you… You will make a fine vampire, Caroline."
She hummed, nodding thoughtfully. "I hope so."
It did not take long for Elijah to succumb to sleep, but Caroline stayed awake, resting comfortably against him, their arms and legs tangled. She raised her head to look at him, and could see the exhaustion plain on his face, not just from their lovemaking but from the turmoil of the night; her heart ached for it. His brother had killed her. Yes, he had fed her his blood to change her, but he had killed her all the same. What must Elijah have felt in that moment? Anger? Hatred? Betrayal?
She stroked her fingers through his hair before she let them trace the angles of his face reverently, watching as he leaned into her touch, even deep in his slumber. Niklaus had been selfish this night; he had hurt her and Elijah for his own ends. Perhaps to prove to her that she was disposable, or to show Elijah that he was the stronger of the two. Whatever his reasons, Caroline knew one thing… He had hurt Elijah, his flesh and blood, and while fear of Niklaus still lived inside her, it did not change the fact that if she ever had the chance, she would kill him for what he did.
It was a terrifying thought for Caroline, as she had always believed that she could not hurt a soul. Just this night, she had feared being the cause of an innocent girl's death. But a part of her wanted nothing more than to do to Niklaus as he had done to her. To show him that while he was willing to kill her to keep his brother for himself, she was willing to kill him to keep Elijah safe from harm. Of course, it was a silly notion, as she knew that she would never be as strong as Niklaus, and the opportunity would likely never come, but the seeds were planted. Niklaus had wasted his chance to gain her confidence and one day, she knew, he would regret that. Until that day came, however, she would comfort herself with the fact that he may have taken much from her, but she still had Elijah. And she would not let him go, not for anything or anyone.
Resting her head against him once more, she closed her eyes, and willed the morning to bring with it a better beginning.
Given all that had happened, Caroline slept far more soundly than she anticipated. She expected nightmares of her death, her parents' murders, perhaps a mocking Niklaus to draw on her fear. But with Elijah wrapped around her, she found a dreamless peace like she had not known before. At home, sleep often had to contend with the noise of the many animals her neighbors kept and her father waking early to join Stephen for hunting. Here, the only sounds that filled the chamber were of the crackling fire and Elijah's even breathing, both of which soothed her.
She had only woken once, startled when Elijah shifted in his sleep, drawing her to him and squeezing so tightly it nearly hurt. Were it not for her body's new-found strength, she was fairly certain his grip would have pained her greatly. Instead, she sleepily stroked the fingers he pressed over her stomach, rubbing back and forth gently until he relaxed, letting out a soft sigh as he buried his face in her hair. Only when she was certain that he was calm did she return to her slumber, smiling faintly as she drifted away.
Come morning, her smile faded, however, as she found the bed otherwise empty. It took her a moment to realize that Elijah was still in the room; he merely stood by the door, closing it on whomever had decided to interrupt their sleep.
"'Lijah?" she murmured tiredly, her eyes fluttering to half-mast.
"It is Niklaus…" His lips pursed in a frown. "He has summoned us to join him in this morning's meal."
Caroline's eyes opened widely, suddenly no longer tired.
The devil had called upon them and they would answer.
[Next: Part VII.]
Author's Note: Whew! I'm really happy to finally be posting this! I got a surge of inspiration after I watched The Originals pilot episode, which I still think is kind of funny since Caroline wasn't even in the episode and it mostly centered on Klaus (not to mention it gave me unexpected Klaroline feels), but thems is the breaks. So! Here you have it, the latest chapters of one of my favorite stories I've written. You all have Shannon to thank for the coherency of this chapter, because there were a few times I lost my flow and didn't transition well. She's a peach! Also, a shout out to Mel for making all of the beautiful art that goes along with this story.
I'm writing the next chapter now and ironing out the finer details, so I hope to update again soon. I'd like to get back to my once a week schedule of updating this story until it's finished. I hope you enjoyed this installment, it's one of my favorites, and I'd love to get some feedback on what you like and where you think it's headed, so please leave a review before you go! They are the lifeblood of all writers and they certainly encourage me to write more and often.
Thank you for reading!
- Lee | Fina
Category: The Vampire Diaries
Genre: Romance/Angst/Drama
Ship: Caroline/Elijah
Chapter Rating: NC-17/Explicit
Overall Rating: NC-17/Explicit
Word Count: 8,446
Summary: [AU, set in 1492] Elijah has spent five centuries at Niklaus' side, doing everything in his power to help his brother find the doppelgänger. But when his chance to find happiness is found dancing in the forest, he has to decide whether love or loyalty will be his companion for eternity.
[Return to: First Half.]
Elijah reached for her, taking her hands and drawing her close. "Do you trust me?"
She stared up at him and swallowed tightly, the faint taste of blood still warm on her tongue. "I do."
He pressed his forehead to hers. "I will teach you control. If you want never to kill, then I will teach you, but you must trust me, you must do as I say in this matter."
"I will." She nodded. "I do not want to kill. I just… I-The hunger, it feels so… heavy."
He raised her hands up and he ducked his mouth to them, sucking the tips of her fingers between his lips. "And you will be fed."
She watched him and felt his tongue as it swirled around her fingers, lapping up every drop of blood that lingered. When her fingers were cleaned, he found her mouth and he sucked the blood from her lips, her tongue, and he licked it from her chin.
A new hunger replaced the old one and Caroline did not pause as they stumbled back toward the bed. He deftly removed her dress, ridding her of the fabric that was stained with her own dried blood and the warm, wet blood of the girl she had just drunk from. She reached for his tunic, dragging it up his body, wanting to feel his skin. However, she had not anticipated that her movements would be faster, stronger, than ever before, and the fabric ripped in her hands.
She blinked in surprise and held her hands up apologetically. "I cannot control this new-found strength," she worried. "What if I hurt you?"
Elijah merely smiled at her, shaking his head. He pulled his tunic free and tossed the ruined fabric away from him. "I am not so breakable," he assured her, with some arrogance. To assert this, he tore her underclothes from her with both hands, letting them fall to the floor in tatters before he lifted her by her hips and laid her back on the bed. Raising a brow, he told her, "And neither are you."
Caroline was only mildly surprised at the surge of lust she felt at seeing his show of power. She was well aware that Elijah was much stronger than any regular man. He had always been gentle with her though. His hands touched her like she was glass, like she was as delicate as lace, and he feared he might tarnish her somehow. Those moments when they were together in their clearing, when he held her tighter, plunging into her warmth depths, his body tensed with pleasure, she could see that thin thread of control tenuously keeping him at bay. A shiver of awareness went through her as she realized that he would not need to hold back now. Certainly, he was still stronger than her, but he would not have to hold back as much as he had.
Elijah had already shown her pleasure like she had never known; she wondered if there were lengths they hadn't yet reached. If there was any more that he could show her. As she watched him from where she lay on the bed, she bit her lip, enjoying the touch of his fingers as they circled her ankles, her feet braced at the edge of the bed. He traced his way up the backs of her legs, drawing soothing circles firmly across her skin. She felt a swooping sensation in her belly, of need and want and promise that all would be known soon enough.
He tapped the backs of her knees before he parted them, spreading her open for him. She swallowed thickly, watching his eyes darken with hunger, not for blood but for her. He always looked upon her with such reverence, such awe, at her skin, her body, even simple things like her smile. Love for him warmed her from the inside out.
And then he licked his lips and that heat settled low in her belly and spread along her thighs. She let out a heavy breath, her chest heaving, and clenched her hands on the blanket beneath her, feeling the fabric twist in her fingers, threads stretched under the pressure she applied, just short of snapping and tearing. She tried to calm down, to understand her body's reaction, but it was far more overwhelming than it had been before. Every emotion, every feeling, was heightened. She felt simultaneously weightless and heavy.
Elijah's hands ran down the insides of her thighs and all she knew was him. Her mind seemed to stop, to stutter, and then focus entirely on the touch of his fingertips as they spread out and slid to the tops of legs, following them until they reached her hips. His hands held her firmly, his fingers flexed, and he dragged her body down the bed a few inches closer to him.
He was ravenous; she could see it plainly in his face. His fear for her, his sadness that she might have been lost, was mixing with his desperate lust. His hair was loose, tangled, and it made him appear wild, unlike the controlled man he often was. She had seen him free, unburdened, honestly happy, and now she was seeing another side of him. She wondered what had happened during the time that she had been gone. How long had it been since Niklaus had killed her and what did Elijah do in that time? If he sincerely thought her dead, then did Niklaus convince him so? Did he make his own brother believe that he has lost the woman he loved just to spite him?
She wanted to ask these questions, to understand, but Elijah kissed her knee. Her stomach twisted into tight knots as she watched his lips, so smooth against her skin, press delicate kisses down her leg. As he went, he lowered himself to his knees, and she realized where he intended to go. Her thighs shook and she swallowed thickly as his eyes met hers, dark and promising. His hands spread her thighs further apart while his head ducked down, his tongue pressing flat against her and licking the length of her slit in a slow drag before flicking against her clit. He chuckled as she let out a strangled moan, her back arching as the spike of pleasure crashed through her. It was stronger than it had been before, the ecstasy coursing through her lit her up in small bursts, burning hot and deep.
As she lay panting, his lips and tongue devoured her, suckling her folds, his teeth faintly grazing sensitive, wet flesh. She bucked against him each time he passed across her clit, both loving and loathing that fleeting touch. His hand found her stomach and braced her, keeping her from moving too sharply. His free hand slid low beneath his chin and first one and then a second finger dipped inside her, thrusting slow and deep. She reached for him, burying a hand in his dark hair, her nails scraping the back of his neck. He teased her, his actions encouraged by her scratching and pulling of his hair.
"Elijah," she breathed, her toes curling. "Please. Please…"
He rose, drawing his mouth from her, his wet lips curled in a deliciously satisfied smile. She let out a whine of disapproval; she had been so close… But her complaints stopped as she watched him rid himself of the rest of his clothes, standing gloriously naked before her. She pushed up to her elbows, wanting to reach for him, to wrap her legs around his waist, press her face against his firm chest, and curl her fingers around his long, thick shaft, but he stayed her.
He first pressed a kiss to her lips, licking into her mouth, flicking her teeth, and then pulled away before she could reciprocate. His head ducked, lips finding the pebbled nipple of her breast, his hair dragging against her skin, tickling her. And his fingers, long and deft as they were, resumed their position inside her, his thumb cleverly rubbing circles over her clit. Her climax was upon her quickly, starting between the tense spread of her thighs and reaching up to where his teeth and tongue teased her breasts. She shook beneath him, her bones fairly rattling inside her from the feel of it all, her throat vibrating as she cried his name.
And then his lips were upon hers, hard and needy, as if he was searching for something in each kiss that passed between them. She understood as she wrapped her arms around him, as she felt him shaking; his formidable frame, the picture of strength, was trembling atop hers. It confused her, at first, the contrasting knowledge that he was one of the strongest men she had ever known and could, if necessary, kill any who oppose him, and yet, in that moment, he was vulnerable.
He buried a hand in her hair, tangling it around his fingers, and then cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. He kissed down to her chin and nuzzled his face against her before burying it at her neck, panting against her skin. He wanted only for her to remind him that it was true, she was indeed alive and with him. He found her mouth once more and hugged her to him, squeezing tightly, drawing her closer even as there was nothing, not a hair's breath, separating them.
His forehead pressed to hers, his eyes squeezed shut, and she saw the pain there in the wrinkle of his brow, the tense set of his jaw, the clenching of his teeth. She could see the overwhelming uncertainty of what her possible death had caused him and she realized that the possibility had torn him apart. Elijah, whom she had unwittingly thought of as invincible, had a very real weakness, and it was her. A tear slipped from her eyes as she understood that this love between them, as much as forever had just been a word before, was truly a reality. Not because they were vampires, not because they could truly live forever, but because of the depth of their feelings.
"Elijah…" She cupped his face, stroking her thumbs over the arch of his cheeks. "I am with you."
He nodded jerkily, but still would not open his eyes.
She stroked her fingers through his hair soothingly, curling them around his ears and kneading his neck. "Will you dance with me?" she whispered.
He paused, his hands releasing their tight hold on her, and a trembling breath left him. Finally, he opened his eyes to look at her, searching her face, her gaze, with tearful brown eyes. In an instant, his expression hardened; it became fiercer than she had ever seen it. "I will not lose you. Not for anything, not to anyone."
She tipped her chin up and kissed him softly, just a sweet press of her lips. "You will always have me."
His body relaxed slowly, resting against hers, hard and heavy but familiar and welcomed. She slid her knees high and wrapped her legs around him, enjoying the feel of him cradled in her hips.
They came together easily, and it was not as hurried as it had begun. He sunk inside of her gently, kissing his way up her neck, suckling at her skin. Their hands found each other, fingers twined, arms arched over her head. Elijah showed his adoration with his mouth as it reached for every available plane of her body, tasting and kissing it all. From the tips of her fingers to the tops of her shoulders, the hollows of her neck to the valley of her breasts. He laid her on her stomach and pressed into her from behind, holding her hands on the bed as he smoothed his lips down her neck, biting and sucking his way across her back.
She released his hands to grip the blanket tightly as his hips sped up. He rubbed his hands over her hips, squeezing as she clenched around the length of his cock. His fingers roamed higher, stroking everywhere they reached until finally he was cupping her breasts, his thumbs circling her nipples. And just as she was on the edge of climaxing, she felt it, his sharp teeth sunk into her shoulder. She cried out, squeezing tightly, and felt pleasure crash over her, shattering her into sharp fragments only to bring them all back together. Her entire body tightened with resplendent ecstasy before it released, flowing through her from head to toe. She went limp with it, her every nerve buzzing, and she smiled dizzily at the way her body seemed to hum.
When she could breathe again, her body beginning to calm down, she could feel him licking the healing bite on her shoulder affectionately, lapping at the blood and nuzzling her skin.
"Is it… always that intense?" she panted. "It wasn't quite like that before, when I was… human."
"For me, it is always intense with you…" He delicately brushed her hair off her back and kissed his way up her neck. "But yes, you will feel things more as a vampire. Pleasure and pain. Some will pass quickly, others will linger."
He turned to lay on his side, drawing her with him, her back against his chest, and she shivered as she felt him still hard inside her. He filled her so completely that she could still feel ribbons of her orgasm ricocheting as they moved.
"Are you sensitive?" he asked, dragging his fingers up her front, lightly tracing circles over her stomach.
She wrapped her hand around his forearm. "I feel everything… I feel you everywhere."
His hand rose up her body and curled around a breast, kneading her firmly. She fluttered around the length of him, her hips arching back against him. He teased the peak, circling his way closer and closer to the center. She bit her lip as she whimpered his name pleadingly.
"My sweet, insatiable love," he murmured at her ear, his lips brushing the shell.
Sliding out from behind her, he turned her onto her back once more and knelt between her legs, drawing one up around his waist while his hands continued their dedicated exploration of her body, from the flare of her hips to the tops of her shoulders and every soft inch of her in between. She could feel him against her thigh and she wiggled her hips, wanting more. As he continued to deny her, she reached for one of his hands and brought it to her mouth. It took her a moment, but the scent of her own blood still wetting her skin allowed her to lengthen her teeth as she had before, to feed, though the pain was far duller this time. She pricked the end of one of his fingers and watched the blood bead for a moment before she used his finger to draw on her skin, creating small swirling symbols. She looked up at him, appreciating the way his jaw flexed, his eyes flashing as he watched his blood spread over her pale skin. Veins appeared beneath his eyes and his hunger made him look darker, dangerous, like the man who had saved her, tearing the hearts from her enemies as they sought to ruin her in the forest.
But Elijah, even hungry, would never harm her. His wound healed quickly but he only tucked his finger between her lips for her to prick again. She tasted him, warm on her tongue, and let him linger, let his taste set in. It was not like the girl earlier, different somehow. His blood was richer, heavier than the servant's had been. She loved it. He let some of it trail over her lips before he resumed drawing on her skin, writing symbols she could not understand but that he seemed to, each one seeming more important than the last, like an ancient language of some kind. He did not lick up the blood trails immediately, instead he sat back on his haunches and surveyed his work with a keen, content eye.
"Language has changed so much since I was human. Many would look back on our writing and call it crude, but I see familiarity there. I see home..." He pointed to the jagged writing across her ribs. "Here, this is my name."
She looked down at herself, pushing up to rest on her elbows, and reached for it, careful not to smudge it. It felt, for a moment, like a stamp, as if he were making it clear that she was his.
"And this, here…" He trailed his fingers over the writing that arched over her stomach, "this was the symbol we used for 'wife.'"
She smiled then, a flood of warmth in her chest. "Do vampires get married, Elijah?"
"We can, of course. Most, I believe, simply call one another husband and wife. Some ceremonies seem unnecessary when you are no longer human, when certain religions or deities no longer hold true."
"I would like to marry… I had always planned to have a beautiful wedding. I imagined it many times, though I had never known what my husband would look like then."
"If you want a wedding, I will give you one. The grandest wedding to ever be thrown if that is your wish."
She smiled, and teased, "You spoil me, kind sir. If you are not careful, it will set a precedent."
He laughed, a deep chuckle that made her shiver.
"I have promised you the world, if you will remember." He leaned over her, his hands pressing into the mattress on either side of her chest. He ducked his head to hers, his hair falling, brushing her cheeks, as he bent for a kiss, sucking her bottom lip before he nipped it just hard enough to break her skin, a sliver of blood forming. He licked it up with the tip of his tongue before he moved down her body. He kissed the writing that crested her left breast and traced it with his tongue. "This is 'life,' and this…" He moved to her other breast and licked the blood from it. "This one means 'love.'" He dragged his mouth down the valley of breasts. "And this… is 'eternity.'"
Caroline buried a hand at the nape of his neck, her fingers wrapped in his hair, urging him on as he licked up every spare drop of blood, his tongue doing wonderful things to her skin, his sharp teeth grazing but not quite biting. He kissed his way down her stomach and, when he rose, he licked his lips, his chin wet with her blood. He bit his own lip, letting it bleed freely, and then he bent to kiss her. She tasted the mixture of it, his and her blood, warm and intoxicating, his tongue stroking against hers. She could feel her teeth as they lengthened, this time without the pain. She could feel hunger stirring inside of her, mixing quickly with her desire.
His hands ran down her sides, sliding beneath her hips to lift her to him. She let out a breathless cry against his lips as he thrust inside of her, hard and quick. His palms slid low, cupping her bottom, kneading either cheek before they moved to the underside of her thighs and lifted them, spreading them far apart. She arched her back, her chest pressed tight to his, and a strangled moan escaped her as he moved so deeply, filled her so completely, every inward thrust rubbing against something inside of her that sent exceedingly pleasurable waves through her, rocking her whole frame. Her hands found his shoulders and slid down to his chest, her nails digging in, scoring his skin.
She could feel herself, so very close to euphoria, but his hips were slowing, stirring, and she shook her head. He was teasing her again, drawing it out. Without thinking, she leaned up abruptly and, suddenly, found herself on top, Elijah beneath her, his hands pinned to the bed as hers wrapped around his wrists. Her eyes widened in shock, but he was neither discouraged nor angry that she had taken control. Instead he rolled his hips, pressing up into her, encouraging her to move, to take her pleasure. Her mouth fell open on an appreciative sigh and she rose to her knees.
She had done this before with him, as a human, but she had not forcibly turned him over, she had not the strength then. It felt good, it felt empowering, to not be weak, to not be silly or breakable. After her father, constantly telling her that she was just a silly girl, after Niklaus and his terrible words and actions, it meant everything to her that she could be strong, she could be powerful.
From her perch on Elijah's lap, she let her hands roam from his stomach to his chest, tracing the hard lines and tensed muscles. She found a pace she enjoyed, moving her hips whichever way she felt, searching for that flash of fire that made everything inside of her sing. She bent to kiss his skin, licking him as he had her, lightly biting his nipples and following the lines that defined him with her teeth and tongue, tracing the ridges of his abdomen. She dragged her nails down his sides and rubbed her thumbs over his hipbones as she started moving faster, finding the angle she liked best.
His hand settled on her belly and moved up, fingers spread out, pausing at her heaving chest a moment as she panted, her head thrown back, long hair trailing and swaying with each move she made. And then her eyes squeezed shut as she felt it, a flood that knew no end. Her mouth fell open on a silent scream as it consumed her, like flames licking across her. She squeezed around him, quaking from the inside out, and felt as he pressed himself deeper inside her, his hands gripping her hips almost painfully tight as he moved hard and quick to find his climax.
Boneless, she fell forward. He caught her easily and turned them onto their sides to face one another, her head falling softly to a feather pillow. As she tried to catch her breath, he brushed her hair from her face, stroking his fingers through her long, tangled curls.
She smiled up at him sweetly. "This is the first time we have made love in a bed," she told him.
He pressed a kiss to her lips and then another. "I regret that we did not know its comfort sooner."
She shook her head, covering his hand as it laid against her cheek. "I treasure every moment in our clearing."
His lips curled faintly at the corners and he pulled her in closer, drawing her head to his chest. They lay in silence for a few moments, wrapped in each other, her fingers lightly running up and down his side, from his chest to his hip, while his were busy combing through her hair.
"Am I to expect you will always distract me from my hunger in such a way?" she queried, her voice teasing.
"It would be my pleasure," he answered, smiling.
"Then I look forward to your lessons in control."
He chuckled under his breath, kissing her forehead.
"It will not be easy, will it?"
"Being a vampire, or learning control?"
"Either… Both."
He sighed. "In the beginning, it will take time, but eventually, it will become natural to you… You will make a fine vampire, Caroline."
She hummed, nodding thoughtfully. "I hope so."
It did not take long for Elijah to succumb to sleep, but Caroline stayed awake, resting comfortably against him, their arms and legs tangled. She raised her head to look at him, and could see the exhaustion plain on his face, not just from their lovemaking but from the turmoil of the night; her heart ached for it. His brother had killed her. Yes, he had fed her his blood to change her, but he had killed her all the same. What must Elijah have felt in that moment? Anger? Hatred? Betrayal?
She stroked her fingers through his hair before she let them trace the angles of his face reverently, watching as he leaned into her touch, even deep in his slumber. Niklaus had been selfish this night; he had hurt her and Elijah for his own ends. Perhaps to prove to her that she was disposable, or to show Elijah that he was the stronger of the two. Whatever his reasons, Caroline knew one thing… He had hurt Elijah, his flesh and blood, and while fear of Niklaus still lived inside her, it did not change the fact that if she ever had the chance, she would kill him for what he did.
It was a terrifying thought for Caroline, as she had always believed that she could not hurt a soul. Just this night, she had feared being the cause of an innocent girl's death. But a part of her wanted nothing more than to do to Niklaus as he had done to her. To show him that while he was willing to kill her to keep his brother for himself, she was willing to kill him to keep Elijah safe from harm. Of course, it was a silly notion, as she knew that she would never be as strong as Niklaus, and the opportunity would likely never come, but the seeds were planted. Niklaus had wasted his chance to gain her confidence and one day, she knew, he would regret that. Until that day came, however, she would comfort herself with the fact that he may have taken much from her, but she still had Elijah. And she would not let him go, not for anything or anyone.
Resting her head against him once more, she closed her eyes, and willed the morning to bring with it a better beginning.
Given all that had happened, Caroline slept far more soundly than she anticipated. She expected nightmares of her death, her parents' murders, perhaps a mocking Niklaus to draw on her fear. But with Elijah wrapped around her, she found a dreamless peace like she had not known before. At home, sleep often had to contend with the noise of the many animals her neighbors kept and her father waking early to join Stephen for hunting. Here, the only sounds that filled the chamber were of the crackling fire and Elijah's even breathing, both of which soothed her.
She had only woken once, startled when Elijah shifted in his sleep, drawing her to him and squeezing so tightly it nearly hurt. Were it not for her body's new-found strength, she was fairly certain his grip would have pained her greatly. Instead, she sleepily stroked the fingers he pressed over her stomach, rubbing back and forth gently until he relaxed, letting out a soft sigh as he buried his face in her hair. Only when she was certain that he was calm did she return to her slumber, smiling faintly as she drifted away.
Come morning, her smile faded, however, as she found the bed otherwise empty. It took her a moment to realize that Elijah was still in the room; he merely stood by the door, closing it on whomever had decided to interrupt their sleep.
"'Lijah?" she murmured tiredly, her eyes fluttering to half-mast.
"It is Niklaus…" His lips pursed in a frown. "He has summoned us to join him in this morning's meal."
Caroline's eyes opened widely, suddenly no longer tired.
The devil had called upon them and they would answer.
[Next: Part VII.]
Author's Note: Whew! I'm really happy to finally be posting this! I got a surge of inspiration after I watched The Originals pilot episode, which I still think is kind of funny since Caroline wasn't even in the episode and it mostly centered on Klaus (not to mention it gave me unexpected Klaroline feels), but thems is the breaks. So! Here you have it, the latest chapters of one of my favorite stories I've written. You all have Shannon to thank for the coherency of this chapter, because there were a few times I lost my flow and didn't transition well. She's a peach! Also, a shout out to Mel for making all of the beautiful art that goes along with this story.
I'm writing the next chapter now and ironing out the finer details, so I hope to update again soon. I'd like to get back to my once a week schedule of updating this story until it's finished. I hope you enjoyed this installment, it's one of my favorites, and I'd love to get some feedback on what you like and where you think it's headed, so please leave a review before you go! They are the lifeblood of all writers and they certainly encourage me to write more and often.
Thank you for reading!
- Lee | Fina