A/N: These two have been through so much but one thing that has never waned is their sexual chemistry, even when they weren't physical. Here again we see them in an intimate setting as Enjolras continues to share his experiences with Eponine. On this day as well they make their way back to New York and the sexual exploration soon makes way for their nervous departure from their seclusion, back into the real world.
As to the sexual content of this chapter; the Enjolras I have in my mind has been both focused on his goals and has never really found someone that can shift it, but also repressed his sexuality because of the way his father introduced him to it. And for Eponine, having this part of her become more free is also part of her therapy and self-discovery. I think the way her family made her feel about a woman's body also led her to repress normal sexual feelings. So for both of them, this is another dimension - exploring a physical relationship within the safety of a loving relationship.
This is a slightly shorter chapter but the next one will be longer. As always, constructive criticism and reviews welcome :-)
Warning: Hold tight, this is a particularly spicy lemon – in keeping with the context above. But younger readers might be advised to skip this chapter.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters from Les Miserables, but I do like to take them out for a spin once in a while to play. I've played with timelines from both the story by the marvellous Victor Hugo, and the actual accounts of the Occupy movement. Be kind, it's about reader enjoyment after all. Thanks for reading!
Songs listened to:
'Empire State of Mind (solo) ' by Alicia Keys.
Chapter 37
Ooooh, New York!
Ooooh, New York!
Grew up in a town that is famous as a place of movie scenes
Noise is always loud, there are sirens all around and the streets are mean
If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say
Seeing my face in lights or my name in marquees found down on Broadway
Even if it ain't all it seems, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby I'm from New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!
On the avenue, there ain't never a curfew, ladies work so hard
Such a melting pot, on the corner selling rock, preachers pray to God
Hail a gypsy cab, takes me down from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge
Some will sleep tonight with a hunger for more than an empty fridge
I'ma make it by any means, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby I'm from New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!
One hand in the air for the big city
Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty
No place in the world that can compare
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
In New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!
- 'Empire State of Mind', Alicia Keys
They'd made love twice in the past several hours, almost as if for the first time. Now Enjolras was awake again, thinking about how we wanted to touch her, admiring the curve of her spine as she slept naked next to him. He traced a finger down her skin, along the outline of her back, before making his way up to her shoulder where he made a trail from the top down to her delicate hand, taking it in his own before kissing her shoulder.
"Again?" she asked sleepily, rolling over towards him. He's so different in bed, she thought. Or is he? The intensity and passion weren't far removed from his focus out of it. In here though there was no to and fro, she found herself enjoying the surrender to him. He was a fiery, experimental and giving lover.
"Mmm". He touched a finger lightly to her lower lip before dipping his head and kissing her. His hand continued on its journey, one finger lazily trailing down her neck. When he arrived at her breasts, he circled lightly around, fascinated with her increasing arousal. He rolled the nipple between his fingers, eliciting a low moan from Eponine.
He looked up to her, his eyes heavy. "Feel good?"
"Yes".
"And this?" As he spoke he leaned down, taking her breast in his mouth, sucking and licking until she moaned again. She went to turn to him to reciprocate and he gently pushed her on to her back.
"Just enjoy it", he said as he moved another pillow under her head and propping himself up on his elbow as he laid next to her. Enjolras placed a finger in his mouth, wetting it before circling her other nipple; the dampness and cool air combined with his touch making it erect instantly.
Trailing his hand down her belly, he lingered just below, drawing lazy circles on her soft skin. Eponine had stopped breathing in anticipation. "I just want to make you feel good", he said, taking her mouth in his, kissing her deeply. At the same time his other hand started massaging her, parting her legs. He put one finger in softly before moving it in and out of her at an excruciatingly slow pace. "Oh", she moaned into his mouth. With his thumb he massaged the bud in slow circles at the same time. He was enjoying watching what he did to her and giving her pleasure, and made no move to increase his rhythm.
"I love you", he said, listening to her breathing increasing. Taking her hand and putting it in her mouth, he then placed it on top of his as he continued massaging her. Then he moved his hand away, so she was touching herself. "Don't stop Eponine", he said. Eponine had never done anything like this before, but rather than being embarrassed it turned her on even more as they both concentrated on her pleasure.
Enjolras removed his fingers from her, and then laid back for a moment to watch her. She moved her fingers in a slow, circular motion, locking eyes with him as she pleasured herself. "Don't go any faster 'Ponine. Do you have any idea how good that looks?" He began sliding down her body until he could almost feel her fingers against his face. He put his tongue against them so she was being stimulated by both, and she started to breathe faster which only made him harder.
"Enj", she whispered.
"I know you like this Eponine" he said as she moaned and lay her head back on the pillow, continuing to touch herself. He licked in the same place, sucking her fingers as she continued. Eponine was finding it hard to control herself now, and had begun rotating her hips.
Enjolras kicked what remained of the blankets off the end of the bed, and placed himself between her legs. He looked up at her, teasing her by not going any further. She pulled on his hair but he did not budge.
"What do you want me to do "Ponine? Tell me". She was too far gone to even think about being shy.
"Taste me".
And when he finally he let his mouth do what she wanted, the sensation threatened to overpower her. She needed him. Now. "Come up here", she said pleadingly.
"Not until you're done". He stopped talking and thrust his tongue deep inside her, making her hips buck. She was already at the point of no return and within seconds she felt the delicious building sensation reach its climax. When her release came she pulled him away from her and up her body, taking holding of him and placing him just outside her entrance. "Fuck me", she whispered in his ear.
The shock of hearing Eponine say the words made him groan and he gladly thrust into her. He was so turned on by their previous explorations that he had to hold himself back, lest it be over too quickly. He made love to her slowly, with long strokes until both of them were perspiring despite the cool air in the room. She wrapped her legs around his back and lifted her hips, making Enjolras moan out loud. He grabbed her hands as he reached his peak, before shuddering into her arms as his release came.
She kissed his forehead as he lay on her, exhausted. Wiping the tendrils away from his face, she smiled contentedly.
"I feel you grinning", he said, trying to gain back his breath.
"I'm happy".
He looked up to her. "I'm happy too".
"Did I crack the marble statue?" she asked, only half-jokingly.
"No, you made him more. This side of me is only for you".
She touched his face tenderly at his words.
"I love you Enj".
"I love you too Ponine".
They lay together quietly. She would have happily let him stay that way all night. But he shifted his weight so he was beside her, rolling on to his back exhausted.
"Want to go again?" he asked. She looked over to find him smiling at her.
She laughed at him. "I'm barely going to be able to walk as it is – and not from the horse ride".
"Come over here", he said, indicating his chest.
She moved over, cuddling up to him and put her head down so she could feel his heartbeat. In a few minutes the closeness had sent both of them off to a dreamless sleep.
After a late shower and an even later breakfast, Eponine was standing on the deck of the cottage, taking in the spectacular scenery one last time, trying to commit it to memory. Picking out an outfit for the ride home, she'd chosen a pair of bootleg jeans, and a black turtleneck sweater. Despite the original offer by Combeferre and the protestations of Jameson, she'd refused to take advantage of the clothing offered, choosing only what she needed to get home.
She could hear the sound of Enjolras' footsteps in the gravel driveway as he checked the car, and packed some water for the journey home. He'd changed back into his jeans, jacket and t-shirt combo that he'd arrived in, though he'd bought the v-neck sweater that Eponine had liked so much on him at dinner.
It was getting on to one p.m. and her stomach was grumbling but they'd both decided to have lunch back in New York at their favourite café. It felt as if they been away for a week rather than just over two days but the break had been a good one and much needed. They both felt as if they were ready to move forward with whatever challenges came their way on their return to the city.
"Ready to go?" said Enjolras behind her. He walked outside to the deck, taking in one last look for himself, breathing in the fresh mountain air, before pulling her close to him. "We may not always have Paris, but we'll always have Mohonk", he said wryly.
"But Mohonk sounds so much more romantic", she replied, laughing.
"It was".
"Yes, it was. Thank you for bringing me here Enj. I feel like I'm on my way to finally owning my life".
"Are you really ready to go back? We can stay another day or two, if you need to". He had turned to her, examining her face as she thought over this question.
"No, I'm ready. Ready to start again anyhow, come what may".
"Come what may", he repeated, taking her hand as they left the deck and made their way through the house to the car.
"Do you need to drop the key off?"
"No, I called ahead. They said to leave the key on the kitchen bench."
"I guess that's it then". She walked around the passenger side of the car.
"Maybe we'll come back here again one day", Enjolras said to her as he started the car.
"Maybe".
It was always surreal to Eponine how fast the journey home from somewhere was as opposed to the length of time it took to get there. Before she knew it, they were at the turn-off from the I-87 back into New York, the city's fable skyline silhouetted against the late afternoon sun.
"Do the guys know we're due in this afternoon?" She asked Enjolras as he made the turn.
"I sent them a group text from the cottage. They're all aware. I did ask that they hold off getting in touch until tomorrow unless they had an emergency. Which means Marius or Joly will probably call tonight", he said ruefully.
"Are you going to have a talk with Marius about that night at dinner?" she asked.
"I will. There's not much to say though. He was drunk. I got offended. It will be fine. He's a big boy Eponine. We'll sort it out".
"I know. I don't want to be the Yoko Ono of Les Amis, that's all".
"No chance of that", he said patting her leg." It was just a misunderstanding. He knows we have to get on with it. Our little lives and arguments need to be put aside for the movement".
"Do you meet with Valjean tomorrow then?"
"Tomorrow afternoon. It will be a group meeting. We'll address the movement, but we also need to go over again the CNN interview".
"Are you nervous? I'd be petrified".
"No", he said, merging into the exit lane for the Harlem River Drive. "I'm used to speaking to large groups, so in comparing the two, this will easier. It will just be myself, Valjean and Anderson Cooper".
She smiled gently at him. There was the Enjolras she knew and loved - fire in his words and commitment. She turned her head to look out the window. They were getting closer to the Village now, and the hustle and bustle of the city made Eponine feel welcome. Despite loving the time away, she felt the city calling to her now. It was here she'd disappeared to so many years ago, and New York had been her salvation. When they'd first departed from the cottage she was concerned the return might fill her with apprehension, but now, having had the chance to think about and map out what lay ahead, she was instead eager to just get on with living her life.
She turned as they passed The Musain. A wave of bittersweet memories washed over her. If things went well her time there would be coming to an end. That's the great thing about New York, she thought. Tomorrow is always another chance to carve out a new beginning.