Trying a new thing with this chapter, not sure if I'll continue in both sets of POV or just keep to Eric's. If you have a preference let me know and I'll see what I can do. No lemons this chapter but some very steamy moments. Happy reading! And like always I don't own Divergent or any of the characters, sad but true fact. Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed and is following along. It means a lot to me and I'm glad you're all enjoying the story so far! Elliesmoew, Libra18j, Jessalarhea, Annie0801 and Divergentloverxoxo your comments are much appreciated and I'll try to update as much as I can 3
Eric POV
Carrying a passed out Tris up the stairs leading to his apartment had not be the highlight of his evening as he tried his best not to smack her head into the stair railing or wall. Her body was surprisingly light and he was glad it was so late since he couldn't imagine trying to explain to his neighbors why he was carrying a passed out woman into his apartment since that could get awkward fast. Of course the fact that he was pretty sure most of his neighbors thought he was a drug dealer didn't help. Apparently visible tattoos and piercings just scream criminal. Setting her down on her feet his arm was wrapped around her waist as he tried to unlock his apartment door and keep her standing at the same time. The door finally opened and he picked her up once more before kicking the door closed.
The best thing for Tris to deal with the impending hangover from hell which was surely come in the morning was to get her to drink some water and take some ibuprofen. "Alright Tris I need you to wake up, just for a minute." He said feeling like he was back in college and babysitting his roommate after a bender but this wasn't Tris' fault.
Sitting her down on the couch he moved to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and opened one of the cabinets to find the bottle of ibuprofen he always kept on hand. After a long nights work his body was normally aching a little especially if he spent the first part of the shift moving kegs. Sitting down on the couch he pulled her into his lap and ran the cold bottle of water over her neck watching as gooseflesh played across her skin as she shivered slightly. "Tris…Tris." He said soft at first before his voice took a commanding tone her eyes slowly opening and yet she didn't seem to really be seeing.
"I need you to take these." He said pressing the two pills against her lips but she closed her lips and gave a weak shake of her head. "Tris it's not for debate you're taking the damn pills." There was another small shake of her head. "Tris I'm tired I don't have the patience for this shit."
Putting the pills in his own mouth he leaned down his lips meeting hers and he knew he was taking partial advantage of the situation but he didn't exactly want to shove his hand down her throat to get her to take them. His tongue slide against the seam of her lips and she parted them slightly. Rolling his tongue the pills moved from his mouth to her own leaving a nasty after taste in his since they had begun to dissolve. Pulling away he pressed the bottle of water to her lips and she swallowed a few gulps before he pulled the bottle back. "You're probably going to slap the hell out of me for that in the morning." He muttered to himself as her eyes began to drift closed again.
Lifting her into his arms once more he carried her to the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed before looking at her dress with a frown. That couldn't be comfortable right? He was having a hard time thinking at this point. Opening his dresser he pulled out one of his shirts and sat beside her on the edge of the bed. He pulled the shirt over her head and then began to pull the zipper to her dress down, her back was to him as he pushed the sleeves from her shoulders seeing nothing other than her bare back and trying to keep his eyes off of her since this situation was all sorts of wrong. Pulling her arms through the sleeves of the shirt he pulled the dress the rest of the way off and tucked her under the sheets on his bed.
There was a somewhat stunned expression on his face as she snuggled down into his bed and pulled the pillow close to her. Did she crave his scent? No, she probably just needed to hold onto something. Grabbing a pair of mesh black shorts and a plain white shirt he headed into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Taking a long shower the bathroom was filled with steam by the time he turned the hot water off and stepped out his body red from the heat. Sliding the shorts up his legs he pulled the shirt over his head. He normally didn't sleep in anything other than a pair of briefs if that but now was not the night for that. Opening the bathroom door he looked at Tris sleeping soundly in his bed and he wished that the image wasn't brought about by drugs being slipped into her drink. Turning off the light he laid down on the opposite side of the bed on top of the sheets and closed his eyes falling asleep not long after.
Tris POV
Light was spilling through the window and made her groan, her head was pounding terribly hard and the feeling of nausea building inside of her kept her from moving afraid she might throw up. Groaning she grabbed the pillow and pulled it over her head to block out the sun and sighed content with the pillow's ability to block out the viciousness from the unyielding light. Her brain was still slowly trying to awaken which was not helped by the pain taking over.
The bed shifted and she groaned her arms wrapping around her stomach as if holding it would keep whatever was left in her stomach down. A warm hand smoothed down her back before rubbing circles and the tension drained a degree from her body her stomach seeming to relax as well. Slowly rolling to her side the finger tips brushed across the fabric of her shirt and over her stomach. Pulling the pillow from her face to thank Tobias for being so sweet until her eyes met a pair of steely blues that did not belong to her boyfriend.
Closing her eyes she decided that this had to be a dream since there was no way she was really waking up in bed with Eric. Her eyelids fell and she tried to even out her breathing but as she opened her eyes again he was still there and she was not at her place. The shirt she was wearing was also definitely not hers and that thought caused her to pull the sheets in tighter as she looked away. Panic began to set in as she tried to recall the events of the night. Heat building in the pit of her stomach as her eyes looked at his. What had she done?
"Tris look at me." She heard him say but she wasn't sure she was ready for that, to face him, "Tris look at me so I can explain." Her eyes found Eric's once again and this time she took in more than his face seeing that he was wearing a shirt, she continued looking down just to be sure and saw a pair of shorts. Though he seemed to be more dressed than she was.
"What happened and why is last night all foggy for me?" She asked since if anything happened between herself and Eric that was something she wanted to remember. From the first time she had stopped into the bar he worked at and laid eyes on him there was a strange attraction. They both would aim jabs at one another taunting and teasing and it had just become part of her routine every week.
Eric POV
When Tris shifted in bed he slowly opened his eyes blinking away sleep before rolling over to look towards her but he couldn't see her since there was a pillow over her face. He could tell she was fighting a raging hangover as she groaned softly and wrapped her arms around her stomach. Eric's hands trialed over her back rubbing circles hoping that would help a little as she rolled over towards him, his fingers brushing her side before ending on her stomach and he didn't stop right away continuing to rubbing circles over her stomach.
The pillow was removed from her face and she gave a soft smile before her eyes widened slightly her face turning pale and for a moment he thought she might vomit on him. Her eyes closed as she seemed to trying to think her way through the situation, the night and he could see her starting to shut down. The sheets were pulled tighter around her and he didn't blame her. "Tris look at me." But she refused and he sighed, well you know what they say about good deeds he thought to himself. "Tris look at me to I can explain." Light eyes moved to his once more before she trailed them over his body seeming to take in his clothes and the fact he wasn't even under the sheets with her no matter how much he's like to be.
As she asked what happened last night he had to fight the playful smirk and barbs he just naturally wanted to throw her way. This was Tris though and she didn't deserve that after a night like the one before. "How about this? You take a shower get cleaned up, you can go through my clothes or wear your dress for last night, I'll make breakfast and may you might start to remember a little by then. I'm not exactly conversation you have when half as sleep." Stretching he sat up in bed and ran a hand through his messy hair with was curling at the ends. Though he had voiced it as a question the plan wasn't up for debate. "Though I'm taking the bathroom first."
Getting up he left her on the bed and he moved to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Relieving himself he was glad she seemed to have missed the tent in his shorts which was just a natural morning reaction. Flushing he washed his hands and brushed his teeth before splashing water on his face. As he stepped out of the bathroom she was still laying under the covers as he left the room closing the door behind her.
Reaching the kitchen he looked through his fridge and pantry since he didn't keep a whole lot of food around for the most part. Looking at the clock he groaned realizing why he was so tired since they'd only made it back to his place about four hours ago. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he decided on chocolate chip pancakes and bacon since he had everything to make both. Alright so really he had pancake mix, chocolate chips and a few slices of bacon left but he wasn't running a damn Ihop here.
Tris POV
After Eric closed the bedroom door behind him she finally chanced uncurling from the safety of the sheets as she inhaled deeply a small smile pulled at her lips at the all-male scent that tickled her nose. It seemed to calm the nervousness which was coursing through her as she tried to think of the night before. There was a vague memory of slapping Tobias and Eric decking him in the jaw. Though when she had first woken up she had assumed that was just part of a dream.
Pulling herself from the bed her feet hit the tile floor which was created to look like real wood and it pulled it off well. Moving to the bathroom she checked her appearance in the mirror, her eye liner and mascara were smeared around her eyes giving her the appearance of a raccoon it was a wonder Eric didn't just kick her out frighten of the way she looked. Rolling her eyes a sharp twinge of pain went through her head, like Eric was really frightened of anything.
After assessing her appearance she decided that a shower was probably a good idea and began opening the drawers of his dresser. Eric was a large man, over six feet tall for sure and wide like a mac truck and it was doubtful anything he had could fit her. Grabbing a pair of basketball shorts that had a lace to tie them inside she grabbed one of his plain black shirts and headed into the bathroom. Turning on the water as hot as it would go she stripped the shirt and her panties from her body dropping them to the floor before stepping in.
Grabbing the bottle of shampoo she lathered it in her hands before scrubbing at her scalp and hair her nails massaging her scalp and one of the many things which was a part of Eric's scent washed over her. Tilting her head back the hot water rinsed away the suds and since it was a two-in-one shampoo she started grabbed the bottle of old spice body wash and opened the lid taking in a deep whiff before pouring some into her hands and moving it all over her body. The scent seemed to trigger a string of memories. The imagine of sitting at the bar talking to Eric, teasing and taunting him before taking to the dance floor him following shortly after even though he swore he didn't dance. Oh did he dance and the heat flowing over her body had nothing to do with the nearly scalding water. Two guys had offered her shots and she had taken them since she saw the bartender pour them and then…It all got really hazy from there.
Turning off the water she grabbed the only towel set out and the moment she started to pat her face dry she knew it was Eric and breathed in deeply. The part of the night that stood out most to her was she had broken it off with Tobias which meant it was ok to enjoy the scent and presence of another man. Wrapping herself in the towel she stayed that way for a few minutes as the scent of bacon made its way under the door like a beacon calling her to the kitchen.
Pulling on the shorts and shirt Tris brushed out her long dirty blond hair before loosely braiding it over her shoulder. The only thing that held it together was the fact that the wet strands stuck since she had nothing to tie it back with. Leaving the bathroom she padded into the kitchen to see Eric working over two skillets, flipping pancakes in one and frying up bacon in the other. "It smells good." She said as she sat on one of the bar stools that was set up at the kitchen counter. Thankfully the nausea had begun to subside or she probably would had thrown up all over his floor at this point.
Eric shot a smirk over his shoulder at her and as her eyes fell on his lip she felt heat rise up her neck a foggy memory of him saying her name and kissing her, something moving into her mouth before something cold moved down her throat. That had to be a dream right? "So you still owe me an explination."
Eric POV
The bar wasn't the only place he'd worked in the service industry and he could cook though it wasn't something he did very often since it seemed like a lot of work and clean up for so little. Right now Tris needed to eat though and so did he, early mornings without food lead to the hangries and he didn't want to allow his anger to take over and say the wrong thing. Moving from the stove he turned off the heat shortly after his bedroom door had been opened and grabbed two plates. Plating the pancakes and bacon he grabbed flatware and placed them down at the kitchen bar.
His eyes slowly trailed over the way she looked in his clothes. They were so lose and big on her and yet he couldn't stop the little smirk that pulled on his lips because it was still kind of hot. Grabbing the butter and syrup from the fridge he placed them on the bar. "Coffee, milk, water or juice?" He asked as he glanced over his shoulder at her with the door to the fridge still open awaiting a response.
"Coffee." Came her reply as he shut the door and grabbed two coffee mugs from the cabinet. Moving to the coffee pot he filled them both and took the stool next to her as he grabbed his plate and started to eat ignoring her question at first. After swallowing a mouthful of pancake he grabbed the mug of coffee and took a few deep gulps downing half the mug before putting it back down.
Absentmindedly chewing on a piece of bacon he turned his stool to look at her his knees brushing against hers. "You came in with your insecure boyfriend who can't keep his damn mouth shut. He said something that pissed you off, you took him to the side to talk, you slapped him and came back to the bar. He grabbed you, I punched him. You started drinking pretty heavy, you got me to dance, that's something never to be repeated so if you've forgotten that it sucks for you." His tone was somewhat cold as he went over the facts of last night.
"I got back to the bar and you had taken two drugged shots, two guys tried to take you out of the bar." His eyes turned a stormy color as his teeth grinded together. "The cops should have come and got them, I brought you back here to sleep it off." A unsure expression crossed his face, "Tried to get you to take some pain meds and water and you refused so I had to…improvise." His ears turned a slightly redish color, "Put a shirt on you and pulled off your dress and tucked you in. That's it." He said his attention returning to his plate of food as he grabbed his coffee holding the mug tighter than necessary wary of what her reaction might be as he gulped down the rest of it.
Tris POV
As Eric spoke it all kind of seemed familiar but not as if it had happened but more of a dream he somehow knew about. There was little to no emotion in his words as he spoke while she picked at her pancakes and bacon. Though the food was good she found it hard to eat as she worried over what Eric might say came from the night before. For some reason the idea of Eric decking Tobias caused her to smile around a bit of pancake, she didn't peg Eric for the protective type, just the brooding, angry type but it seemed she judged him wrong.
As he pretty much told her if she couldn't remember the dancing then it was her lose because it was a fluke she couldn't help but laugh. It was like memories were trying to resurface but they weren't her own and it was such a strange feeling. Every muscle in Eric's body seemed to tense as he continued on with the story and as he spoke she understood why. She had the vague memory of her eyelids and body growing heavy and then everything after that was unclear.
Eric spoke of trying to get her to take pain meds and water and her cheeks flushed as blood seemed to flow to his ears turning them red. "You kissed me." She said as a very clear statement not a question and watched as his brows rose high on her forehead as she called him out on his actions. "It's alright how next time I would appreciate it if you kissed me for more than medicinal reasons." She joked feeling the nervousness leaving her stomach the muscles unclenching so she could eat. "Do you min…"
Eric POV
His eyes had never left her as he watched her reaction to everything her told her, it seemed she had some memories of a little of it as she nodded or frowned slightly. What he didn't expect for her to do was blurt out that he had kissed her, "Yeah that happened." He said in a slightly sheepish tone of voice ready for just about anything she might throw at him in regards to that. Just about anything, what he hadn't expected was her comment about kissing her for reasons other than medicinal reason the next time.
His brow rose and a smirk crossed his face, "You want there to be a next time huh?" His voice was full of cockiness as he leaned closer to her a she started to say something. Only a few words fell from her lips before his were on hers his right hand moving up to tangle in her braided hair running his fingers through it and separating it as he pulled her head back with a small jack electing a small moan from her lips as his tongue slide through the opened and caressed hers softly at first before dominating the kiss. She tasted like coffee and chocolate along with a hint of something all her own.
Eric's body started reacting immediately to the kiss as he held his left arm down at his side knowing if he pulled her to him things were going to escalate quickly and he might be an ass but after last night he shouldn't be making things more complicated for her. Pulling away from her lips his pupils were blown as he moved away from her placing the width of the kitchen bar between them. Not like that would be enough to slow him down much if he changed his mind but he could at least pretend to be the good guy just this once.
Tris POV
Eric's lips were on hers before she knew what was happening and heat flowed through her body as it never had with Tobias. Though he had been controlling he didn't have a dominate personality always trying to be sweet and gentle unless he was in public trying to stake a claim on her. Eric wasn't timid or gentle as he took what he wanted and he freely gave it to him.
As he tugged on her hair sharply her mouth feel opened to him his tongue taking advantage and slipping through. Their tongues moved against each other before he took the kiss to a whole other level. It was clear who was in charge and though Tris didn't easily given him control he fought and earned it causing her to moan softly. As he pulled away her eyes flew open catching the way the black of his pupils had begun to overtake the blue-grey of his eyes.
In the blink of an eye he was on the opposite side of the kitchen bar from her. The space was both appreciated and confusing. "You can't just do that you know. Leave me breathless and then put a sea of distance between us." Though in a way she kind of understood. She was glad she had finished eating since food was now the last thing from her mind. "I think you should take me home before I tell you to come back over here and not to stop." She had just broken up with Tobias she shouldn't be falling into bed with someone else but god did she want to but only if it was the man before her.
Eric POV
Tris wasn't helping with his control at all as he gripped the counter top to keep for leaping over it and pinning her against the wall. Just a kiss had caused the sexiest moan to leave her lips and it was just a teasing taste and he wanted more. No, he needed more but right now he needed to keep this space between them. No matter what most thought of him he wasn't the type to take advantage of the current situation.
Running a hand through his hair he gave her a small nodded as his chest rose and fell heavily from the deep breaths he was taking. "Option two sound pretty damn appealing but yeah, grab your things and I'll get you home." Because having her in his home was driving him insane and he was glad his shorts was loose and stretched or he would be very uncomfortable at the moment.
Tossing everything in the sink he waited for Tris to return from his room. His keys were already in his hand and he wasn't going to bother with changing since jeans seemed a painful idea since how much of a turn on just being around her was. Locking up as they left he lead her down to his Jeep and tossed his phone into the cup holder as Tris got in before pulling out of the lot. As she grabbed his phone she started giving him directions.
"What are you doing?" He asked raising a pierced brow as he looked over at her while they sat at a stop light.
"Making sure you have my number. You really sure put a passcode or something on your phone." Glancing over he could see her going through his photos as he started the reach for the phone but then the light turned green and he had to shift gears. Laughter feel from her lips at some of the pictures and he growled at her before he pulled up to her apartment and she tossed his phone where it had been.
Tris unbuckled her seat belt but instead of opening the door she stretched across the seat and grab him by the back of the neck crushing their lips together. A surprised groan lift him as he tangled a hand in her hair. She pulled back with a wicked smirk as she winked at him before leaving the Jeep making a motion for him to call or text. Yeah there wasn't anything that would stop him.
As he started to pull away he watched as Tobias got out of nearby and stalked towards Tris. Putting the Jeep in park he was out of his vehicle in an instant. "You need to leave." Her snarled out catching the anger and violence flickering in Tobias' eyes. Eric's jaw tightened as his expression turned to stone.
"Have her, it's not like she won't be back. The allure of the bad boy always fades away after a few weeks." Eric's hands tightened into fists at his sides as he rolled his neck and tried to keep from the hitting the guy again knowing the asshole was baiting him. Tobias turned away from them and started heading back to his car before looking back, "Oh and Tris, I'll be seeing you really soon."
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