Runaway Gilbert

Chapter 17

I woke up to unfamiliar softness under me surrounded by warmth, a drastic change from the sofa I was expecting. After a few moments of enjoying the warmth I peeled my eyes open to reveal a blurry Klaus sat at the side of my bed, for a moment I was confused till I was able to focus and finally saw the easel that was set up in front of him.

"Morning." I muttered in greeting

"Morning," Klaus greeted back with a dazzling smile, though I could tell he was only really half focused on me. "Don't move."

"Wasn't planning on it. I'm so comfy right now." I moaned blissfully while I leaned back into the pillows fluffy pillows. "How long have you been awake for?"

"Not long," Klaus admitted, his paintbrush moving preciously over the paper. "You looked too beautiful. It would be a crime not to capture it." I smiled over at him fully aware that my cheeks were coated in a faint pink.

"I'm starting to think that you have a thing for seeing me flustered," I implied. "I didn't know you painted." I changed the subject quickly before he had time to comment, he hummed.

"For as long as I can remember I painted, I even have one of my paintings in the Hermitage museum." Klaus proudly stated looking between the painting and me.

"Really?" I questioned in disbelief. "I'd love to go see it sometime."

"I'll take you some time." Klaus continued to swipe at the painting, while I just watched intensely eager to see what was happening. After a little while longer he stopped, examining his work for a moment before a toothy grin spread across his face.

"Are you finished?" I questioned excitedly.

"Close your eyes." Klaus demanded, I did as I was told letting my eyes slip closed once again. I heard shuffling before the bed dipped beside me, soon hands were on me helping me to sit up. A pressure was placed gently in my lap after a few seconds."Open them." The hairs on the back of my neck came to life as I heard the rough whisper, yet I did as I was told and looked down at the sketchbook. Painted into the very middle of the page was me layed out asleep with the sun shining over my face. It looked like a photo, the only thing giving it away was the rough strokes around the edge of the sheets. "If you don't li-"

"I love it." I cut him off clutching the sketchbook tightly as I looked down in awe, I turned pressing a kiss to his cheek in the speer of the moment. "You're so talented." I exclaimed leaning in to press another quick peck to his cheek before my common sense caught up with me and the embarrassment kicked in, I cuddled into his side. Burying my face into his shoulder to hide my flushed face. Underneath me I felt his shoulders shake with a breathy chuckle before he leaned down to press a kiss to the top of my head.

"I'm glad you like it darling, hopefully I'll be painting many more." Klaus said, voice barely above a whisper.

"Hopefully." I spoke up, voice muffled by his shoulder.

"How do you feel about shopping today?"

~

After the suggestion we ended up in an expensive boutique, the kind that I could usually never afford to step foot in, never mind get clothes from. I knew that I wouldn't be doing any actual spending considering the moment that we had walked in Klaus had compelled everyone out leaving only one shop assistant that was to do whatever either of us asked. The shutters were pulled down blocking us from the world's view. Currently, I stood in front of the mirror inspecting some of the many clothes that I had picked out from amongst the variety of expensive clothes available. I pulled at the loose fitting silk button up shirt trying to straighten out the material, I straightened out the cuffs before deciding that it was good enough and heading out to meet Klaus. The original was lounging in one of the chairs available outside of the changing rooms, his phone in hand and the shop assistant standing beside him. As soon as I came out his attention was torn away from his phone as he pocketed it quickly to stand up.

"What do you think?" I questioned moving to the full length mirror on one wall, the entire time I felt his eyes on me following my every movement as he circled me for a moment, inspecting the outfit under a scrutinizing gaze.

"Get him the same shirt in red." Klaus barked the order out to the shop assistant after a few moments of circling, the shop assistant quickly scuttered off to fulfil the order.

"Not liking the navy?" I asked, making eye contact with him through the mirror. Klaus shook his head, stepping up behind me and reaching his arms around to fix the color. I flushed at the feeling of his chest pressing into my back.

"Oh no you would look absolutely gorgeous in any color," Klaus defended, dark green eyes connecting with my own through the mirror. "But I have a feeling you'll look divine in red, it's your color." I couldn't seem to find the right words to say as they became trapped in my throat, I was left staring dumbly at him through the mirror with a bright red face and completely lost. Luckily, the shop assistant unknowingly came to my saviour as he came walking over with the red shirt draped over his arms. I pulled myself away from the original snatching up the shirt as I darted back into the changing room. The embarrassment that I felt was quickly overpowered by annoyance as I heard the familiar deep smug chuckle of Klaus.

"Mikaelson if I hear another laugh out of you I'll stake you." I threatened, through the thin curtain. Yet it only encouraged more laughter.

"Sorry love." Klaus called halfheartedly from the otherside.

"Yeah you will be." I retorted. It took a few moments to fiddle with the buttons on the shirt stripping off the old navy blue shirt in favor of the new red shirt. As I looked in the mirror for a moment I realised that he was right, the deep red complimented my tanned skin and the low cut of the shirt exposed my collar bone. I hummed in appreciation before stepping out once again.

"You were right red is my color."

"Told you," Klaus smugly spoke up, coming to stand by my side once again with his arms crossed. "You should learn to trust me."

"I'll keep it in mind."

"Anything else you want or is it time to move on?" Klaus asked, unfolding his arms to gesture to the many bags that had accumulated themselves by the cash register.

"I didn't realise I'd picked out that much," I announced in shock, looking over the full bags that were stacked high. "Maybe we should just skip the other stores and go for dinner or something, I saw an old bookstore around the corner we could try there?"

"Love, you have nothing you need all of this and deserve more," Klaus reassured me softly, reminding me of the situation that I was in. "So you're going to let me take you to the other stores, then I'll take you for lunch and then we can go to your bookstore." He stepped forward wrapping his arms around me to hold me close, the same he did when we first met for the first time. Just like before warmth spread through my body at the close contact, I leaned into his chest resting my head against his shoulder.

"Bossy." I muttered into his shoulder.

"I prefer 'in control'." Klaus corrected, I hummed moving to wrap my arms around his neck pulling us closer.

"Then can you go be 'in control' and compel some people to carry our bags?" I bribed, Klaus hummed pressing a quick kiss to my temple before he pulled away completely to turn towards the shop assistant.

"Pack up anything he wants." Klaus ordered. "Give me a few moments." He announced before quickly turning on his heel to head out of the store. I watched as he strutted out with his usual aura of confidence leaving only me and the shop assistant behind, with nothing else to do but wait. I turned my attention to the mirror once more admiring the new outfit. I fiddled with the expensive gold watch that Klaus had picked out as well as soon as we came in.

"I could get used to this." I muttered.