Savior | Klaus Mikaelson

Chapter 21

They almost forgot Stefan and Rebekah were waiting for them.

Maddy didn't want it to end. That would mean accepting how impulsive she'd been and reflecting on how that might impact her relationship with Klaus. What if this was all he wanted? To sleep with her? And she'd caved sooner than expected?

She could feel the way he was holding her. It was no longer a rough and firm grip. It was gentle, and his fingers moved to caress her skin. He was still kissing her, and instead of the ferocious way that he had tried to devour her mouth before, now he was being rather tender. Sweet, even.

"We should go," she murmured, catching her breath. "They're going to wonder where we are."

"They don't matter," said Klaus, nibbling on her jaw. "I wish to remain here with you."

"What about your mission to make hybrids?"

"Gloria needed time. We're giving her plenty of it. When we return, she'll find that bloody necklace to contact the Original witch."

"Your mother," whispered Maddy. "Right?"

"Yes. Let's not discuss her, love. I'd like to continue worshipping your body."

"As nice as that sounds, Nik, I think we really ought to get back."

"One question first." He brushed his hand over her cheek, looking into her eyes, but not attempting to compel her. "Where do we stand? You stated that you wished to get to know me again. And yet..."

"I do still want to get to know you," she said, smoothing her palm over his curls. "At least this way the initial tension is gone. This could be the talking or dating phase. Before we decide to be partners. I feel a lot for you. Love, I'm not sure, I think there is some that lingers but I need a chance to rebuild it before I can say it outright. I care for you, I do. And of course I desire you."

He chuckled against her skin as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. He seemed pleased with this. "Very well, then. I suppose we can 'date' until the inevitable moment where we decide it will be more."

Maddy tugged a bit at his hair. "It's an easier choice because we already know so much about each other's past, which is the most important thing in setting up where we've come from. Were we just meeting, it would take far longer. There is more to learn, and because we're different it might be strange, but not as strange as it might be if we'd only just crossed paths for the first time. I remember loving you before. I know I can love you again when I'm ready."

She pursed her lips when she heard him grumble appreciatively, still grinding his hips against hers as if trying to start another round. "Nik, I have a serious question."

"What is it, love?"

"Why me? Why do you want more with me? You've known so many people in your life. Surely there was someone more special than me."

"There wasn't," he said, pulling his head up to look at her. "I have had two great loves in my lifetime. The first is someone I despise. Who I never wish to see again. The second was... and will be again... you."

"But I'm just a regular young vampire. I don't see anything special in that. Surely you've had that sort of romance with others."

"Perhaps I've painted others and slept with them but none were a nagging sensation in the back of my head. None forced me to question it all and none stirred deeper emotions. You did. I found it obnoxious at first. I was not in the best mindset when we met. I wished to have you only a few days, for fun. Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months. You were in every waking thought. You were persistent, wishing to be more, breaking away the barriers I placed for others to keep from caring and letting in someone that could be used against me. I feared attachment and you kept at it without running when I pushed back. I showed you the darkest parts of myself in the hopes that you would leave, in order to keep you safe. And you returned and treated each flaw like a gift I'd been bestowed. Challenged every hateful thought I had about myself. Forced me to look in the mirror and see a different man. Reconnected me with emotions I wished to abandon because god forbid I care about someone again just to lose them the way I did..."