Clare's POV
Her fingers quickly reached for the ties of the robe not quite pulling it closed to view knowing full well that Eli's eyes were watching intently from the whirlpool. The husky growl that emerged from his parted lips answered any questions that were lingering about how her body was. She heard the voice call again and answered as loudly as she could before turning to look back at Eli.
"Now who's playing with Fire?". He muttered eying the skin along her upper thigh with interest.
Fuck, this is insanity.
He could only gape at the pale, yet luminous skin that stood before him so different from the girl he viewed naked so long ago. One hand slid down towards her stomach, lightly brushing against the still wet skin as he could only groan before she closed the robe firmly and disappeared out of his view. Her footfalls quickly took her back into the open area of the patio in full view of the bank of windows seeing the two people standing close to each other talking quietly, waiting for someone to show up. She quickly cursed under her breath realizing who stood there.
Since they hadn't noticed her there she quickly picked up the clothing scattered around, settling them on a chair. She heard the rustling behind her and waited for Eli to emerge from the hideout.
The universe was against her, she was sure of it.
"I don't think they are here for me..". Clare quipped in an odd voice causing Eli to look up from the task before him with a sigh. She didn't even have to see his face to know the state he was in already. "Go on, let me pick up the clothing and maybe by then you won't be so peckish.". She soothed with a frown, not wanting to even step foot into the room until they were gone.
"Oh no, that is not how this is going to go down Edwards. If you aren't in there after five minutes just be prepared to be tied to the bed for the rest of the evening. You know as well as I do that this isn't a jest.". He uttered towards her with no trace of joking in his voice, which would have normally made her be cheeky, but this time it was somewhat serious. Maybe she's listen, but maybe she wouldn't.
…...
She took six minutes.
Fuck.
It was apparent that he had been watching the clock the moment she decided to step into the suite's antechamber. His emerald eyes glittered with unsaid words towards her before he looked back at the visitors with a sigh on his lips causing her to shiver and press against the door frame with a little frown. Her eyes glanced up to watch everyone in the room with a silent liquidity that was so unlike her normal countenance.
"So, why the sudden need to come here tonight even after I told you all that we would have a discussion tomorrow evening?".
Clare glanced between the four who stood in the room now, three of them in what could be defined as a classic defensive pose, arms crossed frowns upon their faces.
"Normally I would have want to agree with you Eli, but she's not in a good way. I'm quite worried about her, and while You may be upset I know you would worry as well if something was to happen to her, most especially now,". Fiona worriedly quipped glancing at the silent woman by her side glancing down at the marble floors.
Clare glanced at Adam with a worried look seeing how crestfallen he appeared, and then she understood that he brought them to the room. Perhaps not knowing that she would still be here but to speak to Eli, so she started to quietly move towards the main bedroom of the suite not wanting to interrupt. A cough captured her attention and found him shaking his head at her actions.
"Is everything okay?". Clare asked suddenly towards Imogen who continued to stare at the floor disinterestedly. She moves forward to stand next to the two women ignoring the men in the room for a moment as her hands clasp both of theirs in support, frowning as she notices the tears in both of their eyes.
"Please sit, and tell us all what is wrong. Never mind them, tell me what is going on?". Clare glanced up at Eli and Adam with a frown feeling the tension that was coming off of them in waves.
"This was part of the reason we were going to throw the party tomorrow night, mind you only three knew of this specific reason, but as it is we decided it was time to start a family. It was a tough go there for almost a year but we found out three weeks ago that it was successful..". Fiona trailed off glancing at Imogen with a concerned look, patting the others hand in a loving gesture.
"This stress isn't good I can imagine,". Clare confessed with a small smile seeing Fiona nod in agreement. "The baby is okay, right?".
"Yes, so far but I'm just worried that all of this is going to be a determent and I thought that maybe if we just sat down now and talked it over, or at least let Eli have his say that her stress level could go down. It's important for a woman carrying to not have any undue stress upon the fetus after all. As I've said that she's accepted she's done wrong and if that means You'd rather not speak to her, or me again then...". Fiona stopped when Clare shook her head gently.
"No, it's not good for a woman who's pregnant to have any undue stress upon any part of their body,". Clare said gently glancing at Imogen with a soft, almost inaudible sigh. "This is something I have history with, I must confess".
Clare could heard Eli's grown of disapproval from behind but shook her head stopping any words that would come from him. Grasping Imogen's hand gently into hers and squeezed tenderly. The other woman finally looked up into her eyes, the look on her face almost-heartbroken and in that she knew that she could truly forgive.
"I must confess something to you that no one but myself and Eli, although recently didn't know, but after I came back from New York... Well, to the chaos of my family emergency and it sort of preoccupied me and that can make you forget things but in the midst of it all I realized I was pregnant...". Clare glanced down at her hands hearing everyone but Eli began to gasp at her confession. She glanced up with a sad smile on her lips.
"I hadn't realized it till it was almost too late to help, the stress of my grandmother lying in a bed dying didn't help and I just thought I was feeling run down, but about a week after she passed I lost the baby. Granted, the stress from not hearing from Eli and then her passing shut my body down. Had I known that I didn't hear from him not because of anything I did, well anyway I had to hide that from everyone. The doctor told me the stress didn't help but it wasn't why.. why... why I lost it.".
Clare looked over to the two females and watched their faces fall in sympathy but she shook her head again at them.
"Please, don't cry. I leaned long ago that sometimes there are other plans for everyone, and I suppose it wasn't the right time for me to be a mother. You, however Imogen, must not let the stresses get to you. I forgive you, and I'm sure that Eli will too. You are one of his good friends, and therefor must in time allow his anger to cool. Your child is the most important right now, more so, if this is a high risk one.". Clare said gently, still rubbing the other woman's hand. Imogen began to nod, but the only sounds that came from her were quiet sobbing.
"I didn't realize just how much.. Hurt that I did, and then I've been eaten up with guilt for years over it. More in the years since I realized how much I love Fi, but thank you for forgiving me. I know we never were friends, and I did do things to you in high school that were horrible.".
"No worse than I was on myself back then, believe me when I say that there were things I had to work on. Can't say that I don't look back and cringe at what I did... Jake, taking on the hockey team. I can't claim to ever be the saint people called me.". Clare said sardonically, a slight smirk forms along her lips. Imogen's soft laugh bring a full smile to her lips.
The three women smiled at each other, quite content in that they cleared up a little of the drama within themselves. Imogen leaned over to quickly hug Clare, which brought a gasp to the other woman's lips. It wasn't that she didn't want her to touch her, but it was unexpected but not unwanted. The coughs from the men however became unwanted as they looked up to see four sets of eyes wide and unblinking.
"Honestly don't know what you want me to say now that the saint has cleared you.". Eli said sarcastically drawing a frown from Clare whom looked up at him with wide eyes. "May I speak frankly?".
When no one bothered to respond, perhaps from fear that he would strike out at them for responding he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck lightly. His eyes usually bright were full of the dark that surrounded the suites bank of windows. This wasn't unusual for someone whom clearly loved to write dark and foreboding stories and made a damn good deal at it. He swore lightly and strode forward to kneel next to Clare.
"When I was first told of this I had a lot of blame inside me for you Imo, but as the saint here has said there was a lot going on then that no one could have dreamed would happen. I can't blame you for the miscarriage, as it stands that it would have maybe happened regardless of everything. I can however blame you for electing to go ahead with something so vile as to cause me, and Clare pain. It was foolish and had no good outcome. We didn't end up together, nor did anyone find happiness till now. Am I mad? Fuck, yes I am. I will be for some time, but I won't blame you, nor cause you any undue stress because I fear Fiona would set a hit man on me. I'd like to keep myself alive and all.". Eli reached out to take one of Imogens hands in his, squeezing it lightly.
Clare glanced up to watch Adam's expression as Eli began to speak and smiles, seeing the fierce loyalty that was held in his eyes. Somehow through it all, the years that is, Adam kept only Eli's best interests at heart.
"Adam?". She called out gently watching him snap out of the reverie that he seemed to be within. When he smiled at her, she motioned for him to come and sit. "Are you okay?".
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Sorry for bringing them up here but they insisted after the ball was over. Fiona can be pushy when she needs be. I tried to explain to them that you, well Eli, because I wasn't sure what was going on with you two. Eli had given me a key to bring up somethings, and well..". He began to fidget as she laughed, shaking her head.
"Adam, Shut up. You're babbling, and it's okay." Eli commented towards his friend, watching as Adam drifted towards one of the overstuffed chairs and settled down comfortably for once.
…...
Once the group started really conversing it really helped to clear up a lot of the hurt and anger that seemed to stem from every sin that was cast upon them. Clare quietly moved across the room quickly settling in next to Adam, her arms pulling him in for a hug. He was never one to not take comfort where it was given and hugged her back with a smile.
"Why didn't you tell me?". Adam whispered in her ear as she pulled away.
"Do you remember when I called up to ask you why he wasn't responding to anything? Yes, well that would be the answer. As for why I didn't share the news, it was still new and I wasn't even sure what I was going to do.". She answered quietly back at him. "I still don't know what I would have done if... if".
Adam nodded in understanding at her words, not even knowing what he would have done himself in that time. There was guilt that rose to the surface after how everyone deterred Clare from getting a hold of Eli in the days and months after, but not knowing the truth caused them to try to help Eli.
"You don't have to explain it now Clare, at least not to me. I should apologize to you.". His head rested on her shoulder as she began to laugh lightly, patting him gently.
"I don't need apologizes from you ever, Adam. You did what you had to do, and that was to help him. I do have to ask,". She glanced up seeing Eli and the girls busy speaking to not pay attention and nodded to herself, "Did you ever believe that I would send an email to breaking up with someone?".
He glanced at her with a thoughtful frown, shaking his head quickly, "No, but then when no one could get a hold of you it did cause some concern. We all did what we could to help him. He did get through it with us, and other things.". Her brows arched at his last statement, but she chose to not ask fearing she knew some of the answers.
Clare snuggled up close to Adam with a soft sigh watching the other three speak to each other. She had wanted to ask Adam about certain things she read in Eli's books, knowing that he would be evasive and those around him may not be closed to speaking about it.
Fiona glanced their way with a smile while helping Imogen up from the couch. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she made her way to the two of them and sighed with a little smile.
"I just wanted to thank you both. It's not much when someone says sorry without the words behind it. Believe me when I say that I am sorry this all happened, and knowing Imo as well as I do.. Well, she's sorry as well. I hope that we can overcome it all and come out as friends. It means a lot of us that we are, friends that is. I need to get her home so she can eat, relax and sleep. She's not done either of those things in the last few days, I'm afraid.". Fiona stated with a smile, blowing them both kisses as Imogen walked up beside her with a small smile. Adam pressed a kiss to Clare's forehead and stood to join them as they said their goodbyes and quickly left the suite as quietly as they arrived.
…...
Eli's POV
He turned as soon as the click could be heard from the door closing behind the three who came to talk to the both of them. Eli counted to ten and turned to glance at Clare whom was laying against the couch with her eyes closed in a relaxed state. Images came unbidden to his mind featuring her in his bed, tied up and thrashing against the bindings. He threatened it, and yet while he wanted so much to have it come true, things like that may scare her away. It wasn't as if he was going to do a fifty shades on her, oh no, he wasn't that ridiculous nor was that his style. One of the professors told the class that they couldn't rightly put words to paper if they didn't have a small measure of what was being discussed, so therefor he took classes to understand certain matters that he was attracted to.
His eyes ran the breadth of her frame trying to memorize what he could see which wasn't hidden by the plush robe. Emerald eyes flickered up towards her face to see if she was even aware he was so close to her, but she was lost in her own thoughts as it seemed. Quickly his hands grasped her waist pulling her up and over his shoulder before she would respond he moved towards the bedroom in long strides. Her squeals filled the chamber's walls to no avail.
"You may want to not scream so loud Edwards, hate to have someone come interrupt us again. Be a good girl and quiet down, it's not like I'm going to hurt you. However, I do believe I said five minutes and you sauntered in at six. Math may not have been my most beloved subject, but I can add quite well. Remember what I said to you?". His words were dark, and filled with promise allowing her the time to think about her next action. When she was silent she felt him drop her on the bed, one finger was pointed at her. Clare blinked but kept quiet, body stilled as her eyes raised to look at his face.
"I remember well, but I do declare that I hadn't believed you for one second to be so, cruel.". Her voice trembled slightly, white teeth nibbling on the full bottom lip as her breath begins to hitch.
"Cruel, no. Never that, but I asked something of you and you chose to not listen. Tsk, Tsk. Would I do what I threatened, absolutely. Will It hurt you? Probably not, don't be that foolish to think that I would want to ever hurt you. Will I do it?". He challenged intently leaning down to grasp one of her ankles pulling her back closer to him.
"Will You do what?". She challenged back, eyes slightly narrowed in thought watching the fingers along her leg intently.
His growl was the only response that echoed against the walls of the suite, causing her to whimper in protest as he pulled he farther down the bed flipping her over in the process tangling the rob against her upper thighs. Before she could protest his hands pulled the fabric up towards her waist revealing her bottom to his eyes and hands.
"I'll do this...". He growled again bringing his hand down to her ass sharply, causing her to bounce off the bed. "and this...". He whispered darkly repeating the gesture twice more before he stopped and looked at the pale flesh now lightly pink from contact. When he didn't hear anything from her he moved back slightly waiting for her reaction. The blood within him surged hotly, the ache beginning to strain against the robe.
The moment she glanced back at him with the eyes of someone whom wasn't afraid of what just occurred, but seemed to be provoking with the mere glance. Auburn tresses brushed down against the curve of her cheeks obscuring her view from his gaze temporarily. The rustle of the sheet against her flesh captured his attention again, bringing him out of the haze he entered moments ago.
"Again..". She breathed in a hushed voice.
Fuck
