An hour later saw Teddy in a silky black cardigan, with a bandeau and leather leggings underneath. She and Amy were similar in size, so it was all about mixing and matching. Amy had also lent her a pair of heeled booties and had done her hair and makeup. Mathias' jaw dropped when she walked back into the room. Teddy's long hair had been wildly curled, with smoky shadow and gold liner that illuminated her green eyes. Her lashes were longer than usual and her sharp cheekbones were highlighted with something shimmery. There was a pretty plum color on her lips and the piercings in her ear sparkled under the light.
"Damn." Was all Mathias could say.
"It's not too much, is it?"
"It's exactly what you need." Zoe stated. "Now, let's go make Eric cry for yelling at you." Mathias could have sworn that he saw a flicker of pink make its way up Teddy's neck.
An hour after they'd arrived, the group was well drunk. Teddy was even tapping her foot to the beat as she sipped her brightly colored drink. Zoe was dancing with her boyfriend and Mathias was chatting up a girl. Amy was keeping an eye out for someone Teddy could canoodle with. And it didn't take long before Amy had found a decent guy for the younger girl to dance with. She had donned a new persona all in the name of research. Tonight, she would not be taken by surprise.
But Eric didn't seem to follow her agenda. Unbeknownst to Teddy, he'd shown up to the Pit half an hour before she had. He'd watched with a steely gaze as she entered with the other candidates. He'd swallowed hard at her made up appearance, jaw clenching at her displayed skin. He could tell her attitude was different tonight, it wasn't just the remaining peace serum or the alcohol she'd already consumed, it wasn't even the new look one of her friends had given her. Her eyes scanned the area, as though conducting some type of experiment.
And after an hour of drinking and searching, it seemed she was finally ready to test out some sort of hypothesis. Eric watched her for a while longer, seeing just how far she was going to go with this boy. He towered above her, as most males did here in Dauntless. He was a bit scrawny and Eric almost felt bad for him.
Almost
He knew Teddy was still inexperienced in this way of life, she'd only been at Dauntless for roughly seven months now. But tonight, it seemed she'd come fully prepared for what this faction had to offer. She looked brave as her hips swayed to the beat and Eric felt his mouth run dry as her displayed abs swiveled with each movement, his hands itching to run through her thick curls.
When their eyes met, he smirked when hers widened at his presence. But then he saw the determination set in and her jaw clenched before she relaxed further into her dance partner, her eyes never straying from his. Eric lifted a brow and gave her a little smile that told her he was humoring her and her little game for now. He could be patient, he would let his candidate have her fun and then he'd remind her who was in charge.
His patience ended when she pulled the boy closer to her level and he began kissing her neck; that pale skin where the bruises had finally just vanished and Eric knew her skin was softest. The boy's large hands grasped Teddy's narrow waist and Eric had had enough. In one swift movement, he was off the barstool and it seemed that people were clearing a pathway for him. It was with ease that Eric's bulking arm swiftly careened the boy away from Teddy, pressing him against the wall with his forearm.
"Eric!" God, even when she was angry, her voice seemed to soothe him.
"I suggest if you'd like to keep your favorite appendage, you'll stay away from my girl." He hissed so lowly that only the boy could hear him. "Is that understood?" He nodded quickly and Eric released him, sending him running out of the Pit. He turned around just in time to see Teddy's fist coming his way. He wasn't quick enough to stop her and if it had been someone else's face she was smashing in, he might have been proud.
Teddy rushed out of the Pit as soon as her fist met Eric's nose. It seemed that once again, everyone was staring at her and she had no desire to be there anymore. All she had wanted was a distraction from the flutter of thoughts that the program was giving her. Or rather, the whiplash that Eric was giving her. One minute, he was tender, if a bit gruff, the next, earnestly listening to her ramble about something, then he was yelling at her and making an example of her, then he was staring at her in such a way that sent an ache between her thighs and she didn't know how much longer she could take it. She was being pulled in every direction but the one she wanted…and she didn't even know if that's what he wanted.
"Oh, no, you don't, princess." Without warning, Eric had caught up to her and yanked her into an alcove. She gasped at the grasp he had around her bare midriff, but it was quickly replaced with a smirk at the blood pouring from his nose. "Don't get your hopes up, it's not broken." He snarled, wiping it away on his sleeve.
"I can change that." She made to get into position, but he grabbed her wrists and held her down. "Let me go," she scrambled to get out of his grasp but he held firm.
"Not until you get it through your thick head." There he was, doing that thing again, speaking with that low rumble in his chest that set Teddy's skin alight with gooseflesh, with his nose grazing her neck with his barely-there stubble itching her sensitive skin. He knew exactly what he was doing to her and it made her want to hit him even more. He was so close to her, her chest grazing his with her deep breaths. The scent of him doused her senses, he smelled of smoke and cologne and something else that made her slightly dizzy. "They don't get to touch you."
"And why not?" His heavy breathing was warm on her skin.
"Because you're not theirs." Teddy swallowed heavily at that. "You don't belong to them." And it was like a light bulb went off in her head.
"And just who do I belong to?" She tried to keep her breathing steady. She knew what his reply would be, she just wondered if he'd actually say it, if he'd admit it to her. His hands had left her wrists and were now back at her waist, his thumbs grazing at the sensitive skin just underneath her bandeau. He exhaled sharply through her nose at her question, as if he didn't want to answer. "You know, I'm beginning to think you're all bark and no bite." Her tone was hard and snarky and she was rewarded with a firm bite at the juncture where her neck met her shoulder. She gasped loudly and when Eric began sucking on the stinging skin, her hand immediately went to grasp his hair. The ball of his tongue piercing sent shivers down her spine.
"How's that for no bite?" He growled after a few moments. He seemed pleased with himself and Teddy knew there'd be a mark. "Now they better fucking know that you're mine." His admission sent shivers down her spine. "You belong to me."
"And if I say no?" She hated how breathy her voice sounded. And Eric met her gaze when she said that, eyes dark and hungry and angry.
"Don't." He warned her, about to bite the other side of her neck. She quickly stopped him, grasping his sharp jaw in one hand and bringing him back to face her. He seemed surprised by her actions.
"And if I say no?" Teddy knew that Eric was used to getting what he wanted. His motivation and drive had been incredibly attractive to her, even during initiation. And her primal instincts couldn't deny that he was handsome, even with his formidable persona and cruel demeanor. She also admired him in the natural way she would a teacher, she was learning a lot under his tutelage, which made sure she was never bored. But when it came to this, this physical aspect, she wasn't going to give in to him simply for research, or because she was horny, or even because she expected some type of loving relationship. She wanted him because somehow…he knew exactly who she was. And she saw him. And despite the whiplash he gave her, somehow, she could finally relax around him, because when he looked at her, there was no hiding. And it was the most liberating thing she'd ever experienced.
"If you say no, then I walk away." He promised. "And you'll never have to see me outside the program." He seemed sincere and Teddy could feel her heart beating wildly.
"And if I say yes?" He glanced down at her mouth then back up to her wide gaze.
"Then I'm going to have a hard time not taking you right here." His face was so close to hers, all she had to do was lean up and meet his lips. But her eyelids fluttered shut as his forehead rested against hers, their noses barely touching. Teddy found her hands cradling his jaw and his hands tightened around her waist.
"Well, then you'd better get me to bed quick." He easily picked her up and wrapped her legs around him.
"Princess, there'll be nothing quick about this."
Your reviews always make my day! :) Don't be afraid to tell me what you think! Thank you, my dears!
