You are my weakness, Eric had said.

"You are mine." Issy whispered and as his arms tightened around her, she knew he understood what she meant.

After Hugo had made her another coffee and sat as far away as he could from her, Issy left the guys to get changed into something clean. Issy kissed Eric goodbye, ignoring the whoops and wolf whistles from the idiots she calls brothers.

Once Issy got back into her own flat, she began to strip out of her patrol uniform on the way to her bathroom. With the shower warming up behind her, Issy inspected herself in the long mirror on the back of her door. She bit her lip at the sight she saw.

Like Issy had thought, the middle of her thighs were bruised in the shape of Eric's hands. Twisting around a little, Issy noticed that his hand prints almost covered the whole circumference of the thighs. The dude had large hands, Issy was well aware, but damn… Her eyes travelled up her own body to see light bruising along her back. The cavern wall probably was the best thing to be held against but it made Issy think about how bad her back would have been if Eric did fuck her against it. Issy shook her head after a moment, trying to get rid of the image and the aching need that had begun to build within her. Her eyes found her shoulders next and in disbelief, she leaned closer to the mirror. There, right in the nook of her neck, is a very clear mark of Eric's teeth. If he bit any harder, Issy's sure he'd have taken a chomp out of her. She blew out a breath. That wasn't fair and Issy has plans to do the same to him. Finally, scattered across her neck and underside of her jaw was a lot of love bites that she'll have no chance of hiding.

Not that Issy wanted to hide them. On the contrary, if Issy didn't have Captain training to get to, she'd have fished out a short skirt and vest to show it. Alas, she had work to be doing today and so did Eric because, let's be honest, Issy wouldn't get very far if Eric did see her in that outfit – easy access and all…

With a puff of breath, Issy stepped under the shower and closed her eyes. Instantly the sight of Eric in his own shower evades her mind and her eyes snap open. "Damn him!" Issy half yells. She quickly washes herself, trying not to imagine Eric in her shower – with or without her in it… Issy failed miserably.

Stepping out and wrapping a towel around her, Issy grumbled all the way to her bedroom and she was still grumbling Eric's name into hell when she was dressed in leggings and a top that fell off her shoulders slightly. As she said, Issy wasn't going to hide Eric's marks as some of them were impossible to do so. His teeth mark and the love bites were bright against her skin and she knew that they'll be the first thing anybody sees.

Issy pulled on her running trainers before walking into her living room. she stopped in her tacks when she saw her patrol jacket on the table. She had left that at Eric's. Awesome. Issy hopes it was her brothers and not Eric.

Issy sighed as she collected her keys and her phone before walking out of her flat.

xXx

When Issy got to the usual table Issy slumped in front of Luke and Sam. Not surprisingly, their gazes was immediately caught on the marks. Issy withheld a groan. Everyone she had passed had literally stop, stared and pointed. She had been so annoyed that she snapped at a group and told them to mind their own business. Dauntless members are called a lot of things… Hellions, adrenaline junkies, hooligans. Motherfucking gossips can be added to that list.

She waited for the comment that sparkled in her friends eyes and were sitting on the tips of their tongues.

"Have fun after Manic?" Sam asked innocently and Luke laughed.

Issy glared at them. "I get the feeling you already know."

"I can see it actually."

Luke laughed again. "So how are Dauntless' lethal lovers?"

Issy rolled her eyes as Sam grinned at Luke. "Lethal lovers. That has a nice ring to it."

"I know. I thought it was great."

"I hope you didn't hurt yourself while thinking." Issy commented but was ignored when the cafeteria doors opened behind her.

Luke and Sam's eyes widened and they flickered to Issy. Issy closed her eyes, knowing who had just walked in. She could imagine the smug ass look on the fucker's face.

"You really did a number on him too." Luke inhaled.

"An eye for an eye." Issy says as she pours some water from the jug on the table.

"Then why doesn't Eric have a mark of the entire layout of your teeth?"

Issy snorted into her cup. "I'm working on that."

"Incoming." Sam said as he started scooping bacon onto her plate.

Warmth radiates on her left side as Eric sits down next to her. Issy quickly glances at him and then does a double take. Instead of his usual uniform of the compulsory jacket, he wore a vest and a sleeveless jacket instead. His muscular arms were on full display, as was the marks on his neck with light bruising along his jaw, and when Eric turned his head Issy noticed her nails had drawn blood and marked the back of his neck too. When Eric turns back to her, he grins this smug grin and Issy elbows him in the ribs.

When the table sits in silence for a while, Luke nudges Sam and they get up. "Well, um, we gotta go. See you guys."

Issy eats her bacon silently, aware of masses of eyes that glance in their direction. "You got patrols today?" Issy asks as Eric begins to plate himself some food onto his plate.

"Nah office work today." Eric glances at her neck. "Are you starting training today?"

"Yep, eleven start."

"Are you excited?"

Issy shrugs slightly. "I am, I'm just –"

When Issy doesn't carry on, Eric stops eating and swings one leg over the bench so that he can face her. He frowns and pulls her closer. Issy doesn't stop him and she moves until she's in between his legs. "What is it?" Eric brushes her hair away from her eyes.

Issy ducks her head and leans it against his chest. "I just think that everyone has an idea about me that's been based on the biased exaggerations of others and because of that I've been given a promotion." His arms wrap around her and pull her impossibly closer.

"You're scared that you won't live up to them?" Issy nods, not wanting to face him. "Have you finished eating?" Issy's neck snaps up at the sudden subject change and slightly perplexed she nods. Eric stands up and holds out his hand. "Come with me?"

"Okay."

Issy takes his hand and allows him to pull her from the cafeteria. On the way to wherever, Eric laces their hands and smiles down at her. Soon enough Eric guides her into the alcove by the Chasm. He walks towards the back before sitting down and dragging Issy down onto his lap.

"People need to mind their own fucking business." Eric says as an explanation and Issy laughs.

"I agree."

Eric runs his fingers through her hair. "I don't think people have made opinions on you from biased exaggerations Issy. Sure, maybe at first when you were in initiation. People didn't know you then but you've made an impression on this faction."

"But I wouldn't have made an impression if I didn't have golden eyes or strange hair."

Eric shifts. "I disagree. You appearance doesn't change who you are."

"So you would have still been interested in me if I had brown hair and green eyes?" The question flew out of her mouth before she could stop it but she didn't take it back.

"Yes." Eric answered quicker then she expected. His hand lifts her chin up and Issy looks at him. She's shocked to see the vulnerable and somewhat insecure look on his face. His hand moves to the back of her neck and grips her hair. "Yes." He says again and a determined expression takes over his face. "I love your hair but if it means that much to you then dye it. Dye it brown or blonde or whatever. Wear contacts of you want. I just want you to be happy."

Issy holds his jacket and tugs it lightly. "I am happy. I –"

Eric pulls back. "You don't think I'm happy." Issy doesn't answer him but she drops her gaze. "If anything I don't deserve you." Issy squints up at him in disbelief as tears start to collect in her eyes. Eric shakes his head, screwing his eyes shut. "You don't hear people talking Issy. They – they all think you can do better. They talk about it when they think I'm not listening but I still hear it. I still hear that members say that I'm not worth your time, that I should cut ties and let you do what you want. They – I'm controlling you apparently, that I'm not –"

Issy silences him the only way she can think of. Her mouth covers his and pulls his head closer. Issy tries to convey all of her feelings, her want, her hunger and her desperation for the man in front of her. It takes a moment before Eric responds. Eric crushes her closer and Issy moves to straddle his lap. His hand tightens in her hair, wrapping strands through his fingers. His other hand moves down to grip her thigh and Issy jumps away in surprise.

"What?" Eric says, out of breath. "What is it?"

Issy blushes deeply and clears her throat. "Um, you uh, when you held me against the wall you kinda bruised me."

Eric's face shifts from worry to confusion and then finally the smuggest, proudest look settles on his face. He flashes his teeth at her in the widest grin she's seen. Eric untangles the hand from her hair and gently lays his hands exactly where they were last night. "You mean, right here?"

"Yes." Issy didn't think it was possible but his grinned widened. Issy frowned at him and placed her head on his shoulder. And then she remembered… Issy began to nuzzle his neck and she tried to keep the smirk off her face when Eric relaxed. Her lips traced his skin and when Eric released a sigh, Issy bit down on his shoulder. Eric gasped sharply, his hands dug into her thighs and from her pain, she bit down harder. Issy let go when she tasted something coopery. She licked his shoulder clean and pulled back with a satisfied smirk, watching the blood seep from the pinprick holes dotted around where her teeth had been. "Now we're even."

Eric's mouth was open. His dark eyes stared at her like he didn't know her at all. Then he pulled her into a hard kiss and Issy responded –

Something starts screaming. Its persistent enough that it pulls them apart. Issy growls and turns her alarm off. "Fucking thing!" She sighs and leans back with a pout. "I have to go to work."

"I know."

"And so do you."

"I know."

Her pout deepens. "You're not helping me here." He grins and Issy raises her hand. "I swear if you –"

"I know."

"Eric!"

He stands up suddenly and she nearly falls off his lap if Eric hadn't grabbed her and pulled her up with him. "Fine." He straightens out her clothes and runs his fingers threw her hair to try and straighten it. His gaze drops and he simply smirks at her lips which are bound to be swollen as fuck. Eric walks her to the main path of the Chasm. "Go," He bends down and places a swift peck to her lips. "I'll see you for lunch."

"Okie." Issy smiles up at him. She bounces on her tiptoes and kisses her bite mark. When she pulls away, Eric is biting his lip and she grins. "See you at lunch."

He murmurs it back as Issy begins to walk away and add a small sway to her hips, knowing that Eric is watching her go. When he growls, Issy laughs and begins to jog towards the garage.