A/N: M-rated content in this chapter, be advised. Thank you for all your reviews, I'm glad you're as excited as I am about where this story is headed. Read on and keep the reviews coming!
April came quickly. Éponine stayed and Enjolras' apartment became the both of theirs. They fell into a comfortable routine before long; each night sharing the bed, a tangle of limbs beneath the sheets; each day catching sidelong glances and giving sly smiles from across the room while working diligently. There relationship hadn't progressed in any obvious physical ways. The kiss they'd shared was still the only one they'd shared, but an unspoken promise was made the second their lips met. Neither had made a confession of love, but they were happy, comfortable. The tension was building though. Electricity flowed between them with maddening power when they lied wrapped in each other's arms at night. At some point one of them would give in, it was only a matter of time.
It was completely dark outside, but Enjolras, Courfeyrac, and Éponine were still at the café Musain; although Courfeyrac had been asleep with his head on the table for the past hour or so. Éponine was too worn out to be much help to Enjolras anymore, so she preoccupied herself by seeing how much she could mess with Courfeyrac before he woke up. She had just finished balancing a book on the mouth of an empty wine bottle on the side of his face when he turned in his sleep causing everything to come crashing to the floor. Courfeyrac's head jolted up and Éponine was reduced to a giggling mess.
"Geez 'Ponine you nearly gave me heart attack," he muttered tiredly.
"Sorry," she giggled, "You're just such a sound sleeper."
"I'm glad you've had your fun, but apparently I'm not safe sleeping here," he joked, "I'm going to head out."
The three said their goodnights and he headed out the door. Éponine spun around to see Enjolras staring at her with a look in his eyes that could only be described as desire. Apparently a couple weeks of trying to ignore that obvious spark between them had been enough for him. He closed the distance between them in a few sure strides and pulled her into him, their lips crashing together. Éponine's back was pressed to the wall and Enjolras lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist. Her fingers tangled themselves in his thick, golden hair and she pulled him in, pressing as much of their bodies together as physically possible.
The sound of the door opening made them break apart. Enjolras set her down and they immediately flew to opposite sides of the room. Courfeyrac reached the top of the stairs to find the pair looking flushed and disheveled. Enjolras was pulling on his jacket as if preparing to leave, Éponine sat across the room looking thoughtfully at a book.
"I forgot my jacket," Courfeyrac stated pulling said article off the back of a chair and eyeing them suspiciously. "What's going on with the pair of you? You seem awfully close lately. And Combeferre said you were staying at Enjolras', is that true Éponine?"
"You all are reading too much into things," Enjolras stated with a chuckle as if the idea of him and Éponine were laughable.
Courfeyrac looked as if he wanted to argue, but he was overcome with a terrific yawn and decided against it. "If you say so," he muttered leaving the pair alone again.
"Are you ashamed to be with me?" Éponine blurted out.
"What? Of course not. I just think it's easier for them not to know anything for now, just while we are still figuring it out ourselves."
"I suppose you're right."
"C'mon," he murmured holding his hand out to her, "let's go home."
Éponine smiled at his use of the word home and took his hand in her own, interlacing her fingers with his. "So what was that back there?" She asked as they strolled through the moonlit streets of Paris.
"By 'that' I assume you're referring to the kiss?" she could hear the hint of a smile in his voice.
"I think it was a bit more than just a kiss."
"Well I think you are a lot more then just a friend."
Éponine pulled him to a stop. "Enjolras, I love you," she said carefully, gazing into his endless blue eyes, "I've known for weeks and I've been too afraid to say anything because I was worried that you didn't feel that same way and that it would ruin our friendship and our entire relationship really, but I can't take it anymore. I need you to know that I've never felt this way before. I didn't know that feelings this powerful existed; that it was possible to have such intense chemistry. But it's beyond that; it's everything you are and everything that you make me feel capable of. I thought I was tough; I thought I didn't need anyone, but each day it's becoming more and more painfully apparent to me that if I lost you, I would lose myself too because I never want to live in a world where you don't exist."
Enjolras took her blushing face in his hands. Her words freed him and he looked at her with undying love in his eyes. "Éponine you have set my soul on fire. I never thought I would ever find a woman I loved as much as my beliefs. I considered myself married to this country, but you have made this blind man see the light. You are beyond perfect for me; you're everything I never knew I needed until now. It's taken every ounce of strength I have not to grab you and kiss you and touch you the way I've been dreaming about for months. I love you, Éponine. Of course you would be the one brave enough to say it first." He smiled widely at her. "You are incredible and it pains me that you don't see yourself as such because I think the absolute world of you."
He leaned forward and planted his lips firmly on hers, cementing his words with action. Éponine rose to her tiptoes, prolonging the kiss as Enjolras straightened. All of the passion they'd been suppressing was coming to life. His hands moved to her hips, pulling them against him, her hands went up to cup his face. After several moments, Enjolras pulled back. "I think we should continue this at home," he whispered slightly out of breath, his voice husky and filled with lust. Éponine just nodded and began pulling him down the street, eager to have him all to herself.
Enjolras struggled to put the key in the lock with Éponine clinging to him, placing kisses up and down his throat. He finally succeeded in turning the key and threw the door open, ushering her inside, and slamming it hastily behind them. He swept her up into his arms and carried her down the hallway to the bedroom. He set her gently on the bed and they stared at each other for a moment, panting and buzzing with nervous energy. It was Éponine who moved first. She stood and with sure hands began removing her dress. The fabric fell to the floor at her feet.
Enjolras took her in, wide eyes tracing her figure from her petite feet, up her slender legs and curved hips, to her tiny waist, small breasts, and delicate collarbones. Her body was so dainty and perfect. Her skin was marked with scars and bruises, but somehow they only added to her allure. He met her expectant gaze and slid off his jacket. He unbuttoned his shirt, watching Éponine as she watched him, and tossed it aside. He then undid his trousers and let them fall to the ground, stepping out of them before finally sliding off his underwear. He really did look statuesque, like he'd been sculpted out of marble. His long limbs were toned; not lanky like a boy's, but strong like a man's –there was nothing childlike about his appearance. His skin was smooth and unmarked. He managed to seem graceful even in stillness.
They both moved towards each other, meeting in the middle and falling back onto the bed. Their lips came together feverishly, their hands exploring each other for the first time. Enjolras kissed roughly across Éponine's collarbones and down to her chest, teasing her with his tongue and light nips to her skin. Small sighs and moans escaped her mouth and she pulled Enjolras' face back up to her own. She was lying on her back, knees bent with her feet on the bed. Enjolras' body was on top of her, between her legs.
"Are you sure you want to do this Éponine?" he asked, pulling away from the kiss to look earnestly in her eyes. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"I want this more than anything," she murmured, amazed that even in the heat of the moment he was still so controlled and concerned for her. "I swear."
His lips pulled up slightly at the corners and he eagerly pressed them against hers. He aligned his hips with hers and their bodies melted into one. Rhythmically moving together, Enjolras let out a guttural moan that made chills go up Éponine's spine. Her hands were moving across his muscled back –he was perfect. Her lips moved down his neck and across his shoulder, causing him to make more sounds of pleasure that drove her wild. He picked up his pace and Éponine gasped blissfully.
"Enjolras," she whimpered, her back arching off the bed and wrapping her legs around his back. His hands were grasping at her waist and she reached up to knot her fingers in his hair, their foreheads pressed together. Each thrust had them both moaning as their passion reached its peak. Their hips met one last time and Éponine's body tensed, her eyes closed tightly and her chest heaving. Enjolras grunted, his whole body trembling. He rolled off of her and she put her head on his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat.
"I'm not sure what I expected, but that exceeded any preconceived notion I ever could have had," Éponine whispered.
Enjolras chuckled, looking down at her. "I didn't think I could feel more for you than I already did, but it seems physical love is a powerful thing."
"You're sort of extraordinary," Éponine sighed, "How can you be such an expert at something you've never done before."
"I don't think it has anything to do with me," he said simply, "That experience would not have been nearly the same had I been with somebody else. It's us together that made it extraordinary."
Éponine climbed on top of him and placed a hand on either side of his face, planting a firm kiss square on his lips. "I love you, Enjolras."
"I love you, Éponine."
A/N: This is the longest chapter yet and it was challenging to perfect, but I really enjoyed writing it because I'm hardcore in my shipping of these two. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please review!