Alex Pov
Saturday arrived, and after her family left for the barbecue at Jay's house, Alex made her way to Klaus's house to continue working on the project.
As she approached his door, it swung open, and Alex froze. Standing before her was Klaus, shirtless, wearing only a pair of gray joggers that hung low on his hips. His toned abs and defined muscles were impossible to ignore, and before she could stop herself, her eyes shamelessly lingered on his torso.
Her face turned bright red in an instant.
Klaus smirked, clearly amused. "Dunphy, if you keep staring like that, I might start thinking you came here for something other than the project."
Alex snapped out of it, quickly looking away. "W-What? No! I—I was just… surprised!" she stammered, cursing herself for sounding so flustered.
Klaus chuckled and stepped aside, motioning for her to come in. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. Come in. I'll grab a shirt."
As she hurried inside, she muttered under her breath, "Great. Just great. Now I look like an idiot."
From the hallway, Klaus called out, "Make yourself comfortable. There's coffee in the kitchen—unless you need a minute to recover from the view?"
Alex groaned, covering her burning face with her hands. This was going to be a long morning.
After a few moments, Klaus returned to the living room, now wearing a plain black t-shirt that only seemed to emphasize the muscles she'd just been ogling. He tossed her a playful grin as he sat down across from her.
"So, how's the project going?" he asked, clearly unaffected by the awkwardness lingering between them.
Alex cleared her throat, still feeling a little flustered. "Uh, yeah. The project. It's going well. We're almost done with the model, right?" She gestured to the almost-finished brain model on the table between them. "We just need to finalize the nerve pathways."
"Right," Klaus said, leaning back and folding his arms behind his head. "You've got everything under control, I'm sure."
Alex nodded, trying to ignore the fact that his easygoing demeanor was making her feel both more at ease and more... distracted. "I think so. Just need to finish up the coloring and add some details, and we should be good."
Klaus tilted his head, eyeing her with a mischievous smirk. "Sounds like you've got everything figured out. But, you know, if you ever need help, I could always lend a hand."
Alex didn't miss the playfulness in his tone. "I'm good," she replied quickly, still not quite looking him in the eye. "Thanks, though."
"Fair enough," Klaus said, standing up and heading toward the kitchen. "I'll get us some coffee. You're probably going to need it after all that hard work."
Alex sighed and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. It was just Klaus. Just her neighbor. There was no need to make this more complicated than it was. Yet, she couldn't help but feel something—something she wasn't sure how to name.
A few moments later, Klaus returned with two cups of coffee and a slight glint in his eye. "You should bring the paint," Alex suggested, trying to get back to the task at hand.
Klaus smirked. "I have a better idea. Let's go to my room to paint it. Everything's already set up in there. Plus, I've got a little gift for you up there."
Alex raised an eyebrow, both curious and a little cautious. "A gift? What kind of gift?"
Klaus's grin widened. "You'll see," he teased. "Come on, I promise it won't bite."
Without waiting for a response, Klaus started leading the way toward the stairs, leaving Alex to wonder just what he had planned.
As they entered Klaus's room, Alex was immediately taken aback by the sheer number of sketches and paintings adorning the walls. The room felt like an art gallery, each piece displaying a different style, emotion, and mastery. But one painting in particular caught her attention and left her momentarily speechless.
"Wait," she murmured, her eyes widening. "Is that... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix? It looks like the real one. Did you paint it?"
Klaus turned with a small smile, clearly proud of the work. "Yeah, I painted it. Took me about three days to finish, but it's not the best I've done. Still, it's one of my favorites."
Alex walked closer, admiring the painting's bold strokes and vibrant colors. The way Klaus had captured the spirit of freedom and revolution was almost mesmerizing.
Before she could say anything more, Klaus moved toward a stack of canvases leaning against the wall. He rummaged through them for a moment before pulling one free. "Here," he said, handing it to her with a slight smirk. "This is my gift to you. And honestly, it's the most beautiful painting I've ever done."
Alex looked at him, still unsure of what he meant. But as she looked at the canvas, her breath caught in her throat.
The painting was of her.
She was portrayed in a way that seemed almost divine. Dressed in a flowing chiton, her hair framed her face in gentle waves, and she stood in a regal pose, embodying the grace of a Greek goddess. The light in the painting made her skin glow, as if she were part of the painting's very essence. The colors and details were so vivid that it seemed like she could step right out of the canvas and into the room.
For a moment, Alex was completely stunned. "Is this... is this really me?" she asked, her voice soft with disbelief. She glanced up at Klaus, her heart pounding a little faster than usual.
Klaus's smile softened, his eyes filled with something deeper than just playful mischief. "Yeah. It's you. I wanted to capture your strength, your beauty—something more than just the usual 'portrait.'"
Alex didn't know how to respond. She was touched, overwhelmed by the way Klaus had seen her. Not just as Alex, but as someone... elevated. It felt surreal.
"Wow," she whispered. "This is... incredible."
Klaus shrugged lightly, trying to downplay the compliment. "I'm glad you like it. It's the least I could do after making you work on this project with me."
Alex, still caught in the wonder of the painting, finally managed a smile. "Thank you, Klaus. This is... it's amazing."
He nodded, his usual confident air back in place. "You're welcome, Dunphy. Now, let's get back to work before we forget why we're really here." He winked playfully, but Alex couldn't quite shake the feeling that there was more to this moment than she was ready to acknowledge.
After some hours ,she went back to change for the barbecue.
Alex took one last glance at herself in the mirror, adjusting the hem of her black skirt and smoothing down the fabric of her cream crop top. She wasn't sure why, but today she felt different—like she wanted to step out of her usual comfort zone. The outfit felt bold, yet simple, and she couldn't deny how good it made her feel.
She headed out the door and toward the driveway, where she saw Klaus leaning against his Harley, looking effortlessly cool as always. His cream-colored trousers hugged his frame perfectly, and his black shirt, tucked slightly at the waistband, with his dark leather jacket . To top it off, he had left two buttons of his shirt open, giving him that laid-back yet undeniably attractive aura that Alex found hard to ignore.
When Klaus noticed her, his eyes locked onto hers immediately. His gaze softened for a moment before a smirk curled at the corner of his lips. There was no hiding the appreciation in his eyes as he looked her up and down, taking in her appearance. Alex felt a small flush rise to her cheeks at the way he was staring.
"Damn, Dunphy," Klaus said, his voice carrying that usual edge of humor mixed with something else, something warmer. "You're looking... stunning."
Alex couldn't help but smile, a little pleased with his reaction. She hadn't expected him to look at her quite like that. "Thanks," she replied, feeling a flutter in her chest. "I guess I'm not just about brains after all."
Klaus straightened up from his lean against the bike, his eyes still not leaving hers. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice dropping just a little. "You're definitely more than just your brains."
There was something in his tone—an undertone of admiration that made Alex feel... different. She shifted slightly, unsure how to process the sudden intensity in his gaze, but at the same time, it felt good.
"Ready to go?" Klaus asked, his playful demeanor back in full swing as he grabbed a helmet. His eyes twinkled, and Alex was left feeling like she had stepped into a new kind of moment with him.
"Yeah, let's go," she said, a small, confident smile playing on her lips. "Lead the way, Klaus."
As Klaus handed Alex the helmet, his fingers brushing lightly against hers, he helped her hop onto the motorcycle with a surprising amount of care. Once she was settled, he looked over his shoulder and gave her a teasing grin. "You should grab my waist," he said, his tone low but laced with playfulness and sincerity. "I wouldn't want such a ravishing, breathtaking, and exquisite woman like you to fall due to the speed."
Alex couldn't help but blush at his words, the compliment catching her off guard. Her cheeks flushed, and she smirked, trying to play it cool despite the fluttering in her chest.
With a confident motion, she placed her hands around his waist, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his shirt, feeling the warmth of his body through the thin material. She inhaled deeply, the scent of his cologne mixing with the fresh air. It was strangely intoxicating, and she herself relaxed despite the nervous energy bubbling up inside of her.
Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned in a little closer, her lips brushing against his ear, her voice a seductive whisper. "Don't worry," she whispered, her breath hot against his skin, "it might be my first time, but I don't mind getting rough a little."
Klaus's breath hitched slightly at the boldness of her words,and he gulped, momentarily distracted by the closeness. Alex couldn't help but notice how tense he was,though a small,amused smirk tugged at his lips.
A beat of silence passed before he turned the key in the ignition, the roar of the Harley Davidson Sportster vibrating through the air. He revved the engine, trying to shake off the effect her words had on him.
"Hold on tight," Klaus muttered, his voice a little rougher than usual as he kicked the bike into gear. The Harley roared to life, and within seconds, they were speeding down the street, the wind whipping around them, taking them further into the night.
Alex held onto him, a thrill rushing through her as the world blurred around them. Klaus didn't just drive fast—he drove like he was part of the road itself, each turn fluid and controlled.
As they sped through the streets,all she could focus on was the feeling of Klaus beneath her hands.