Chapter 11 Klaus
KLAUS
“Vanilla is just so… Klaus.” Rosalie smiled at me.
I laughed and shook my head. We were at The Falcon House, and she was a sassy little thing. “You’re a handful, aren’t you?”
“Looks like yours are empty.” She nodded to my hands.
All night, she’d been driving me mad. I kept fighting this surge of unfamiliar feelings inside me, but I couldn’t any longer. I knew Sylar told me that this was someone I needed to follow through on. It baffled me, but I was grateful it was her.
I reached out and ran my knuckles along her delicate jaw before I gripped her chin tightly. Her lips parted as she stared up at me, daring me to just have a little taste…
“I know you think I’m one thing, but I assure you, I’m not,” I murmured. She leaned into my touch a little, which only made my heartbeat race.
“Wow. Get a little alcohol in you, and you start telling the truth,” she said thickly.
“You’re maddening,” I replied softly, letting my gaze trail over her pretty face. Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol.
“Do you like it?” she asked.
“I find it intriguing,” I murmured, continuing to drink her in. Fuck, the way she smelled. So sweet. Something forbidden, but damn, if I didn’t want to claim her.
The feeling was becoming overwhelming. I leaned in a little closer to her as she wiggled her hot little ass in her seat. Her body brushed against mine, sending a torrent of electricity through me.
“How old are you?” she asked.
I smirked at the question. “I’m forty-one.”
“Not too old.”
I laughed at that. Carefully, I took one of her red curls and tucked it behind her ear. She moved closer, her eyelids heavy.
She was a breath away. I could claim her here and now, but I needed answers. I wasn’t the sort of man who stole women from their men.
“What happened between you and Alessandro?” I asked softly.
She stiffened and looked away from me, her lips turning down into a deep frown. The sparks faded as her mood shifted.
“Nothing.”
“Lies,” I said. “What do I have to do to you to get you to tell me?”
She nibbled her bottom lip for a moment before answering.
“What do you want to do?”
My breath caught. The sparks were back. She was flirting with me. I could definitely play that game.
“Don’t tempt a sinner, little hummingbird,” I murmured, leaning in. “I’m not a boy. I’m a man, and I know ways to make you scream.”
“You’re drunk,” she rasped, her voice shaking.
I couldn’t deny that air had shifted and things might be progressing to a place I’d only been dreaming of.
“A little,” I admitted.
“Won’t you get into trouble for drinking on the job?”
“It’s part of the job description.” I twirled one of her curls around my finger, enjoying how soft it felt. “Besides, I’m done for the night.”
“So this is fun Klaus?” She reached out and ran her hand down my black button-down. Her fingers brushed against my chest through the open buttons I’d left.
She was doing something to me.
I let her curl go and took her hand in mine, forcing her to look at me.
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” I husked out, fighting with myself to be a good man. She’d just lost the love of her life. She was hurting. Confused. Too damn sweet for a man like me, yet…
“I’m not playing,” she replied softly, her green eyes fixed on mine.
As much as I wanted to taste her lips, I held myself back and brushed my lips across her knuckles instead.
“Do you believe in fate?” she asked.
“I believe we control it. That we create it,” I answered, keeping her hand in mine.
I rubbed my thumb in gentle circles on her hand as I stared into her pretty eyes, completely lost and mesmerized.
It was unlike me to react this way to anyone.
Even my own wife, I’d never been this way with.
It terrified me, but I couldn’t be bothered to focus on it. She was my focus.
“Do you believe I’m supposed to be here with you right now?”
“I believe whatever you choose is fate. Do you want to be here with me right now?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then fate is doing its job, no?” My heart picked up at her answer.
She nodded, her lips parted.
“Do you believe in magic?” I asked, deciding to go for it.
“I think so.” She nodded.
I released her hand with a smile before I ran my knuckles along her jaw again. I loved touching her soft skin and watching her tremble for me. I let my hand slide to her hair, where I raked my fingers through her soft curls, fascinated by how they felt.
She closed her eyes for me, allowing me to take a rose from behind her head in a vase that was on the shelf.
She opened her eyes as I held the rose out to her. It wasn’t magic, just good timing, but I could perform magic if she wanted it.
“How?” Her eyes widened as she stared at me.
“Magic.” I smiled.
She took the flower from me and inhaled deeply.
“I love roses,” she said, giving me a bashful smile.
“I assumed.” I smiled back, my heart still thrumming along excitedly.
“Mr. Seeley?” A man stopped at our booth. I ground my teeth at the interruption.
Slowly, I dragged my gaze from Rosalie to the man, wanting to pummel him.
“Jeremy,” I said, letting my irritation soak into my voice.
The man visibly shook as he cleared his throat. This little pissant was always shaking. I was surprised he hadn’t pissed himself. Whenever I’d dealt with him, he acted like a fucking chicken shit.
“Mr. Clemons, the owner, sends his regards and wants you to know he is pleased you stopped in. He said all your drinks are free.”
“Tell Mr. Clemons I send my gratitude,” I replied, wanting the little shit to fuck off. “Bring me a sealed bottle of whiskey and two glasses.”
“Of course, sir.” The man scurried off.
Rosalie looked at me with raised eyebrows. I knew she was thinking that I’d not been truthful with her about this place not belonging to us.
“Whenever we enter an establishment like this, people want to please us in the hopes we don’t burn their business down. Or kill everyone inside,” I explained.
“Have you done that before?”
“How do you think we acquire many of these places?” I smirked at her.
“Um, real estate sales?” Her voice was an adorable squeak.
I chuckled. “You’re such a sweet, innocent girl. That’s dangerous in our world. The devils seek the pure. You’re a moving target.”
“So I’ve been told.” She sat back in her seat, looking defeated. I didn’t like that, but what I said was true. She was a target. We’d seen just how much already.
Jeremy came back with the alcohol, and I took it from him without a word. He rushed away, practically tripping over his big feet to get away.
I slid a glass of whiskey to Rosalie and watched as she downed it, pulling a face that made me laugh.
“I would order you something more to your liking, but I do not trust people outside our clubs. Too many enemies,” I said.
“Hence the sealed bottle,” she replied, nodding to the bottle as I poured another.
I winked at her, watching as she drank more slowly. She was quiet for a moment, and I didn’t interrupt the solace, taking the time to really study her.
She was truly a masterpiece. Gorgeous. All that long, silky red hair in sexy curls. Plump red lips. Green eyes that just dragged me in whenever she looked at me.
She terrified me in ways that seemed too good to be true.
“Is there anywhere else we could go? This place is kinda lame.” She looked back at me with wide eyes.
I continued to study her for a moment before I said what I wanted.
“My place.”
“Your place? Do you have better alcohol there?” She blinked at me.
“Infinitely.” My words were soft.
She licked her bottom lip. “What will we do while we’re there?”
“Whatever you want,” I replied, my voice still low.
“Anything I want?” Her cheeks flushed pink. It was a good color for her.
“Within reason.” I tried to keep the smile that was building off my face.
“O-OK. Let’s go.” Her words came out in a soft tremor that the monster in me just ate up.
I stood without hesitation and took her hand, bringing her with me.
“Mr. Seeley,” Jeremy rushed forward, nearly tripping on himself again. “Is there anything wrong? We can offer more alcohol. Perhaps a room in the back for you and your lady—”
I didn’t think. I reacted.
I shot my hand out and wrapped it around Jeremy’s throat and squeezed. His eyes widened as his face turned bright red, his words a choked rasp as he tried to speak. Or breathe. Didn’t matter.
“Does my lady look like the type who fucks in a backroom at a mediocre establishment?” I snarled, squeezing harder.
“S-Sorry,” Jeremy rasped, clawing at my wrist as I allowed him a small amount of air so he could answer me.
I knew what he was insinuating. That Rosalie was some kind of easy run-of-the-mill whore I could fuck and walk away from. I’d fucked one of the waitresses here in a backroom only months before, so I guess that meant he thought it was a regular routine for me.
That was on me for doing it.
“This place is now mine,” I continued, deciding I’d take it and save Matteo the bother of spending the money. Or hell, maybe I’d just keep it. I’d hire a new manager, that was for sure.
“Klaus?” Rosalie’s hands landed on my chest as she got between us. Immediately, all my focus was on her as she stared up at me. I swallowed hard, my breath catching.
Fuck, what was she doing to me?
“Can we maybe not kill people tonight? I-I want to go to your place. We could play Monopoly since you like taking establishments. I-I’ll let you have Park Place.”
Monopoly. My place. With her.
I released the little pissant, who stumbled away from us, clutching his throat, and let my hands fall to Rosalie’s waist. I stared down at her, so much yearning in my damn soul I thought I might actually die from it.
“You’re trouble,” I said softly, trying to shake the feelings and thoughts from my head.
“I’m not the one choking people,” she replied.
“You were slashing tires and threatening to stab a mafia don earlier.” I couldn’t look away from her if I tried.