#because my choral director was a truly frightening lady

[lalainajanes]

rival competitive chorus conductor au + "last year i made a bet with you that my students would beat yours in the rankings this year i didn't think you'd actually REMEMBER fuck you won" 😇

Okay, so sadly there is minimal smut here. I WAS TRYING TO KEEP IN MINI. I will do better with the others!

Good Old Fashioned Rivalry

Her phone buzzes on her coffee table and Caroline glares atit resentfully. She’s got a pretty good idea who’s texting her. She’d turneddown Kat’s offer to go out and drown her post-loss sorrows and Bon’s out oftown. Few of her other acquaintances would reach out this time on a Fridayevening.

Ugh, couldn’t he have at least waited a day?Let her lick her wounds in peace? She’d been so sure her programme was awinner, had drilled the kids mercilessly for weeks. It had paid off and they’re performance had been nearly flawless, andso pleased with themselves. To lose by a measly tenth of a point had beenheartbreaking and Caroline was already planning to bring ‘Cheer up, you’reawesome’ cupcakes on Monday and let them go wild at rehearsal, high on sugarand songs from Disney scores.

They deserved a break though apparently she didn’t merit one.

Why had shemade that stupid bet? And why couldn’t the drinks they’d shared afterwards haveworked their magic and made him forget it? If only they’d had a few more.Caroline certainly wished she could forget those minutes she’d spent on his lapin the back of that cab they’d shared. Remembering had proven to be a curseover the last few months.

She’d replayed it in her mind way too often.She told herself she wasn’t disappointed that things had ended prematurely thatnight, before things could get all that interesting or irrevocable. Klaus’ handshad lingered on her thighs, just brushing her panties instead of slippingunderneath, a frustrating tease that had had her panting into his mouth. Thedriver had interrupted them, screeching to a stop and barking out a demand forpayment. It was for the best, Caroline had told herself, as she’d straightenedher skirt and scurried inside with a hasty goodnight tossed over her shoulder. She’dfound herself watching his hands at competitions, instead of doing her job and payingattention to his choir, too often as it was. If they’d gone further? She’dnever be able to keep her composure in his presence and it would be a disaster.

God, he’d be so smug if he knew.

Another text comes through and she groans,letting her head thump back into the couch. She’s not surprised, Klaus isnothing if not persistent. That’s what had gotten her into this mess in thefirst place. She digs her spoon into her pint of ice cream, unearths afortifying chunk of peanut butter cup and reaches for her phone.

Pure Dimpled Evil [8:47 PM]: Does tomorrownight work for you? What time shall I pick you up?

Pure Dimpled Evil [8:51 PM]: Don’ttell me you’re welching, Ms. Forbes. Whatever would the little ones say?

Pure Dimpled Evil [8:52 PM]: Aren’tyou supposed to set an example? Embody the spirit of sportsmanship or some suchnonsense?

Ugh, she was going to need more than ice cream. She totallyshould have stopped and gotten wine. Maybe even gin.

Caroline [8:53 PM]: I’m notgoing to be mentioning any bets to my students. You probably shouldn’t either.It won’t look so good to your fancy helicopter parents that you’re gettingdates through nefarious means, will it?

Pure Dimpled Evil [8:54]:Nefarious? Hardly. You agreed quite readily. So certain you’d be victorious. Idid enjoy the confidence, sweetheart, but you’ve no one to blame for yourpredicament but yourself. Besides, I’ve noted a certain inclination to win atall costs amongst my choir’s parents. I dare say they’d approve of my methods.

That last point, Caroline could grudgingly concede, wasprobably correct. The prep school Klaus taught at charged astronomical tuitionfees and she’d glimpsed more sternness and scrutiny than enjoyment orencouragement from the few parents who bothered to come to competitions. Andokay, fine, she had made the bet willingly. Klaus had goaded but that was noexcuse. He was just an aggravating person in general, delighted in pushing herbuttons. She really should just stop letting him.

Even if it was kinda fun.

Caroline [8:59 PM]: Sunday.Brunch.

Pure Dimpled Evil [9:00 PM]: Now, nowI specified a proper date. Brunch does not qualify.

Caroline [9:00 PM]: Brunchdates are a thing!

Pure Dimpled Evil [9:01 PM]: I’m surethey’re not. Brunch is for old married couples. Dinner. Somewhere with lowlighting and good drinks.

Caroline [9:02 PM]: Planningon getting me drunk enough to find you charming? Better bring your credit card.

Pure Dimpled Evil [9:03 PM]: Ouch, love.I’d be offended if you weren’t lying.

Her jaw drops, and she sets her ice cream aside. A quickglance tells her it’s becoming a melty mess, her conversation with Klaus havingdistracted her from eating.

Caroline [9:05 PM]: Excuseyou, I am not.

Pure Dimpled Evil [9:05 PM]: You’venever have made the bet if you weren’t willing to go out with me, Caroline. Youtried your hardest to win because you loathe losing but I’d wager you’re notall that disappointed in the outcome, are you?

Caroline [9:06 PM]: Nope,sorry. I actually just really wanted to win.

Pure Dimpled Evil [9:07 PM]: Alright,then I suppose I misconstrued things. Best of luck next time. Until we meetagain, Caroline.

Wait, what? She stares at her phone for several long seconds,baffled by his abrupt shift to formality. She expects more, for those threelittle dots that mean Klaus us tapping out some longer reply to pop up on herscreen. But there’s nothing and Caroline finds herself making a call.

He picks up on the third ring, sounding guarded, “Hello?”

“’Until we meet again?’” she spits out incredulously. “Couldyou be any more dramatic?”

“Likely, if I put the effort in. Would you perhaps like tooffer some tips?”

Caroline ignores the mild dig, “What does that even mean?”

Klaus reply is measured, maddeningly patient, “It means thatI imagine we’ll not see each other until our paths cross again at the nextmeet. I believe it’s next month though the precise date escapes me.”

“What about…”

“I’ve no need to coercea woman into dating me, love.”

She makes a noise, one that doesn’t even come close to being aword at all, pulls her phone away from her ear to stare at it. Was he callingher bluff here?

So annoying.

“Come over,” she finds herself blurting out.

“Caroline…”

She hadn’t exactly meant to say it but now that it’s outthere she has no desire to take it back. “Do you remember where my apartmentis?”

“Yes, but…”

Caroline cuts him off, “You’re right, okay? And I’m probablyliterally never going to say that again so enjoy it this one time.”

His tone warms up considerably and Caroline’s reasonably surehe’s smiling, “Is that a yes to dinner?”

“Tomorrow. At 7,” Caroline agrees.

“Perhaps I’ll not need to pick you up, hmm? I’ll see you intwenty minutes.”

He hangs up before she can say anything else and Carolinefinds herself blinking down at her phone, smiling in a way that would be super embarrassingif there were any witnesses present. She lets it drop to the cushion and that’swhen she realizes that she is so not dressed appropriately.

Her leggings and faded Whitmore sweatshirt left her decently coveredbut that was kind of the problem. A late evening visit from a guy you’d beenhaving serious dirty thoughts about called for clothes of the inappropriate variety.

Crap. She’s got to hurry.

Klaus buzzes eighteen minutes later – and while generallyCaroline is a big believer in punctuality this one time she could have used acouple extra minutes to prepare. Her apartment is only tidy-ish (she’d plannedto rectify that tomorrow) with a pile of grading strewn over the coffee table,a small buildup of dishes in the kitchen, and a mountain of laundry that’swaited to be folded on the loveseat. 

Naturally, she shoves Klaus against the door as soon as he’sinside, running her palms up over the thin fabric that covers his torso and tuggingoff his jacket.

What? It’s the perfect distraction.

He seems to have no complaints, burying his hands in her hairas soon as his hands are free from his sleeves and slanting his mouth overhers. There’s nothing tentative in his kiss and Caroline’s lips part on a sigh,meeting his eagerness with her own.

He tastes minty, like he’d stopped to brush his teeth beforecoming over and Caroline finds herself smiling. Klaus pulls back slightly,resting his forehead against hers. “What?”

She bites down on her lower lip in an attempt to stifleherself. “Nothing. Hi. Thanks for coming over.”

His laugh is soft and his lips brush hers again. “Thanks forinviting me over.” He pulls back when she tries to deepen the contact, suckingin a harsh breath when her hands slip under his shirt. He goes very still andshe takes the opportunity to explore the tense muscle under her palms thoroughly. He swallows harshly, soundsa little strained, “We don’t have to…”

She stills, stepping back slightly. A quick glance down showsthat, according to the bulge in his jeans, Klaus’ body is very much on board. Still,that didn’t necessarily meananything. “Do you not want to?”

He moves quickly, flipping their positions, hitching her legaround his hip. She’d changed into a dress, a floaty little summer thing, andhis eyes widen slightly as his hand slides up her thigh, curling around herhip. Her bare hip. “I definitely wantto,” he rasps.

“Good,” Caroline breathes, tightening her leg and tilting herhips so he grinds against her. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

Klaus needs no further encouragement, his head dipping so hislips slide over her shoulder, nudging the strap of her dress aside. His hand onher hip encourages her to keep moving and she obliges, resting more of herweight against the door. His stubble scrapes over her skin, following the pathof her falling dress, and Caroline fights a shiver. His free hand tugs when thefabric catches on the peak of her nipple and then his mouth is there, hot andwet and greedy.

She works her other arm out herself so her dress pools at herwaist, sliding her hand into his hair when he moves to switch to the neglectedbreast. She doesn’t let him though her body’s screaming for more, yanking hismouth back to his and pushing away from the door. They kiss frantically, handsroaming over heated skin and Klaus lets her walk him backwards, helps her tosshis shirt aside and takes the opportunity to shove her dress off her hips. “Bedroom,”Caroline manages, ripping her mouth from his to suck in a lungful of air. “Andtake off your pants.”

Their hands tangle around his belt buckle, clumsy andshaking. She finds herself muffling a laugh in his shoulder even as she getshis zipper down and her hand inside. He shudders when she wraps her fingersaround him and the accompanying strangled grunt of her name is intenselysatisfying. She pulls back to watch his face, to enjoy his darkening eyes andslack lips as she learns how he likes to be touched.

They stumble into her bed and go down in an ungraceful heap.Klaus manages to pin her hands, presses them into the mattress next to herhead. He attempts to look stern though it’s less than successful, flushed as heis, his hair ruffled from her hands. “I have been thinking about this for fartoo long to come on your hands the first time.”

She attempts a matching seriousness, “So what you’re sayingis that handjobs are cool the second time?”

He pushes off from her, standing so he can strip out of therest of her clothes. “Sorry, but no. I’ve plans for the second time as well.”

She props herself up on her elbows, doesn’t even attempt tomake it look like she’s doing anything but ogling him. It’s only fair, shethinks, with the way his eyes are glued to her. “And when exactly do I get myturn?”

Klaus grins, his hands hooking under her knees and pullingher closer to the edge of the bed. “Perhaps another bet’s in order, hmm? Sincethe last one worked out so well.”

She’s not exactly going to argue, not when he’s dropping tohis knees, pressing his lips to her inner thigh. She’s about to question himabout terms of said bet (and mock him mercilessly if it was anything aboutgetting her to scream his name) but Klaus’ thumb slips over her folds gently, partingher and pressing deeper until it’s slickened with her arousal. She’d be embarrassedby how wet she was if she hadn’t just had her hand around his cock. She moanswhen he finds her clit, drawing slow circles that have her thighs twitching.

Clearly Klaus was adept at distraction techniques. She’d haveto remember that.