a/n: Huge thanks to eunice339 for Beta-ing this chapter, I really appreciate all the help and the time you spent to help edit this chapter for me! Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
This chapter is rated M for mature language and scenes. Bare with me, I cringed hard because I'm not used to writing intimate scenes.
Chapter 13
Seven years ago...
"I don't like coffee."
"You don't like coffee? Who doesn't like coffee?" Tobias asks as he lightly jabs Tris on her side.
"Me."
Tobias rolls his eyes. "Well, okay then. If you don't like coffee, then how do you function in the mornings?"
"With my morning tea. Tea acts as my coffee. I love tea so much. I don't know what I'd do without it," Tris states.
"I can't believe that you don't like coffee."
Tris gives him a look. "It's just so gross and bitter and...gross."
"Obviously you haven't been drinking the right kind. Though I love my coffee black-"
Tris snorts. "Like your soul."
Tobias chooses to ignore her comment, but smiles anyways. "You should try drinking it with milk and sugar."
"I tried, but I still didn't like it."
"This is unbelievable. I've never met anyone who doesn't like coffee."
"Well, now you have. Will you come and cuddle with me now?"
Tris and Tobias were watching The Wolf of Wall Street curled up on his couch before they somehow got onto the conversation of coffee.
He needed a distraction as some of the scenes were sort of getting him a little horny.
Tobias tightens his grip around Tris and covers his eyes using her body during one of the sex scenes. He knows that if he continues watching, he will no longer be able to control his own deep hunger.
"God that's hot." Tris sighs and Tobias' eyes widen. "How come you don't do that to me?"
Tobias takes a quick peek at the screen and he finally loses it as he feels his dick harden at the sight and groans.
"Fuck, Tris," Tobias hisses. Tris grins, and leans against the crook of his neck and begins to leave kisses along it as she stokes him.
"Mmm...I want you to make sweet love to me, Tobias."
"Yeah?" he breathes.
"Yeah."
Tris lifts her arms in the air allowing Tobias to remove her t-shirt. His hands continue their slow descent down to remove her pajama pants as he looks Tris directly in the eye. He then presses his lips above Tris' right breast, leaving a trail of kisses as he moves down her body.
Tris grips tightly onto Tobias' hair due to the intense pleasure he is giving her, even though he has barely touched her yet.
"Tobias," she moans.
Tobias erotically removes her panties with his mouth and tosses them up, causing them to land directly on top of Tris' face. She lets out a little growl that sounds like a baby kitten and throws her underwear aside.
With a little effort, Tris grabs onto Tobias' waist and flips him over so she is on top. He stares at her with lust written on his face and licks his lips. She grabs onto the hem of his shirt and quickly discards it somewhere in the room.
Tris smiles as she feels his hard chest. Her hands teasing and moving down his chest to the belt of his pants. She fumbles with it until Tobias swats her hands away and undoes it himself. She continues to unzip his jeans and pulls them off.
Tobias decides to take control once again and flips their positions. He pins her arms above her head and kisses the tip of her left nipple while using his left hand to massage her right breast. She lets out a breathy moan.
"Oh fuck." Tris' head is pressed into the cushions of the couch as Tobias continues to pleasure her.
"Bedroom. Now." she demands.
Tobias is quick to move. He scoops Tris up into his arms as if she were a feather and throws her gently over his shoulder. She squeals in surprise and laughs as Tobias runs up to his bedroom. He lightly smacks her bum as she continues to giggle loudly.
Tobias throws Tris onto the bed and she smiles up at him while biting her bottom lip as he gives her a cheeky grin. He hovers over her and kisses the tip of her nose and mouth, their tongues begin figuratively dancing with one another as the kiss turns passionate on his bed.
"I want you to make love to me so hard that I won't be able to walk tomorrow." Tris was always the dirty talker and her words continue to spur Tobias on.
He breaks away from the kiss and moves downward to her womanhood. Tobias spreads Tris' legs apart and licks her folds.
Tris grips tightly onto the sheets and buries the back of her head into his pillow. Tobias brings up a finger and runs it up and down her clit adding to the pleasure.
"Oh fuckkkk. Oh my gosh, Tobias. Oh God. Oh shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Yes!" Tris reaches her first climax of the night and it takes a little bit of time to finally calm down.
Tobias climbs back over her and gives her the biggest smile. Tris presses Tobias' body close to her own and grabs his throbbing manhood. She aligns it with her womanhood while Tobias sinks down into her. Tris presses her nails into his shoulder blades from the sensation.
"Oh my God."
"You feel so warm and wet for me, baby," Tobias moans into her ear. He continues to thrust into her at a steely and rhythmic pace until she tells him to increase his speed.
Tobias has always let Tris take the most control in bed. He never wants her to feel uncomfortable or pressured into doing anything she doesn't want. So when it comes to how much and how hard she wants it, Tobias lets her set the pace to how she desires.
Tris comes to her orgasm first and then Tobias comes right after (no pun intended...actually, it was intended). He collapses while still buried inside her and grips her waist, rolling them so they are both lying on their sides.
Tris whimpers slightly when he slips out, but then sighs contently nonetheless. She snuggles close to him and stares deeply into his eyes while he does the same with her. There is a sparkling glint to Tobias within the moments of their post love making.
Tris brings her hand up to caress the growing stubble on his cheek.
"You're amazing," he says after their long moment of silence.
She grins as his eyes start to flutter closed. "I love you," she whispers as the top of her head makes contact with his sweaty chest.
"I love you too, my darling. Sleep tight."
Present Day...
"Oh my gosh, I don't know what to wear. Do I wear a dress or should I keep it just casual? I haven't been on a date in a year!" Tris exclaims as she leans back in her leather chair.
"You need to stop worrying, mein Liebe."
"Ugh, I can't." Tris says as she groans and buries her face in her arms.
The German stares at Tris as she starts talking and thinking to herself.
"Volker?"
"Yes?"
"So, should I arrive early or late?" she asks.
"Definitely late, you need to keep him waiting. Wait, who is this man again?"
"Four?" Tris says it as more of a question as she lets the answer sink in.
"You mean the hot-shot, cheating bastard?"
"Yes?"
"Oh, schatz. Sometimes I worry about you."
"Well, I don't know. Isn't there a saying, like, 'if you try, then you'll know.'"
"Sweetheart, I think it's supposed to be 'if you never try, then you'll never know.'"
Tris tilts her head and squints. "Is it really?"
"Yes, darling, it is."
"Oh." Tris' shoulders slump a little. "But Volker! I need your help. How late should I arrive?"
"Like, five to ten minutes." Volker so badly wants to say to go half an hour late, just to make Four wait. "Leave the boy anxious."
Tris nods a little. "Okay. What should I wear? Casual or super casual?"
"Casual. But not like I-don't-care casual, mi amor."
"Since when do you speak Spanish?" Tris stops and looks at Volker with a small smile. They're passing a balloon back and forth to each other's desk as a source of entertainment.
"My boyfriend is trying to teach me, but we never get anything done."
Tris narrows her eyes at her friend. "And why's that?"
For the first time...ever, Volker's face turns a deep shade of red earning a knowing look from Tris.
"I don't even want to know anymore." Tris slams the balloon and it hits Volker in the face.
"Beatrice, what are you doing?" Tris turns around and sees her boss.
"Nothing." Tris flashes her teeth, but doesn't smile. "And you know I hate it when you call me that."
"I know. That's why I call you that. If you wanted to play with that balloon you should have asked me first." Tris visibly gulps as she stares wide-eyed at her boss. "Because I would have loved to join!"
Tris grabs the nearest object and throws it at Edgar. "I don't understand how you can run this multi-billion dollar company and you are basically still a child."
"I don't run it all, honey. Well, I run this little Sony division here in Chicago while my boss – our boss – runs the real deal in Japan. But I was just kidding about the balloon. Though I love you and all, you really have to start working."
"But I have nothing to do! I already finished all the projects you gave me this week." Tris sinks down into her leather chair.
"Honey, I gave you several huge projects. Those should take weeks to do, and plus, they aren't due until, well, for another three weeks."
Tris opens her bag and hands her boss the completed projects. "Well, you should know how efficient I am by now. And I think that you should give me a raise."
Edgar looks at Tris. "Nice try, sweetheart."
"Fine then, I'm leaving."
"What? You can't leave. You're not even past your hours yet," her boss looks bewildered.
"Remember last week when I told you that I'm going to leave early on Friday?" Tris looks at her boss expectantly.
Edgar has a blank look on his face. "I don't, actually."
One week earlier...
"Edgar I'm leaving early on Friday," Tris states as she's opening her boss's door without knocking.
"Whatever sweet-cheeks, you do you!" Edgar is filling out some paperwork and responds without even listening to what Tris has said to him.
Present Day...
"I seriously don't remember what you said to me."
Tris shares a look with Volker. "Well, no surprise there. One of these days, I'm going to go into your office and tell you that I'm going to Hawaii and have the company pay for my trip. And do you know what you'll probably do? Agree. Because you never listen! Ugh, men. How does your wife survive with you? If I were her, I'd go insane."
"I'm not that bad, am I?" Tris and Volker share another look.
"You're pretty tolerable, most times at least." To the outside world, Edgar is known to be an intimidating, high-powered CEO that runs Sony USA. But to most of his employees, he is just a regular, albeit goofy, thirty-five year old man.
"Anyways," Tris says looking at her watch, "I should get going."
"Where are you going? Don't you have work to do?"
"Like I said, Mr. Edgar Gustin, I've already finished my work."
"She has a date to get to," Volker teases his friend.
"Shut up, Koch. It's not a date. He's just taking me out to coffee."
"Yeah, and when your ex asks you out to coffee, that means he wants you back."
Edgar gives Tris a look. "Ex?"
Tris grabs her purse and jacket. "I'm leaving. I'll see you guys tomorrow, if I'm even coming back here ever again."
There's a pile of clothes forming on Tris' bed as she tries to figure out what she wants to wear for this coffee 'gathering'. It's not a date – as she so clearly repeats in her head over and over again.
It's January in Chicago and quite the crazy weather. Yesterday it had snowed for a bit and there is still some leftover snow on the ground. There is also some sunlight outside, but it is still quite chilly.
Tris hears a loud banging on the door and rolls her eyes. It's probably Christina.
"Yo, girl! Open the door!" Tris drops the top that she is holding and makes her way to the front door. Tris' eyes immediately settle onto Christina's left hand and a huge smile makes its way up to her face.
"He asked you?"
It takes a few seconds for Christina to understand what she's talking about.
"Yes! Yes! He did! Oh, it was so magical. After dinner, he took me out on a walk...cliché, I know. But then he got down on one knee and asked. Wait...how did you know? Oh my God, Tris! Were you in on this, too? Ahh...I should have known. But, yeah. I'm officially engaged to Will."
Tris jumps in excitement and hugs her best friend. "I'm so happy for you." Her expression falters for a split second as she thinks of Robert. "Really, I am. Let me see the ring." Tris takes Christina's hand and inspects the ring. It's very simple, even though Christina is the opposite of the simple type, but it fits her nonetheless. It's a little silver band with a diamond on the top, like every other engagement ring.
After Tris inspects the ring, Christina is quick to change the topic. "Now it's your turn. You have a date and we need to help you find an outfit."
"It's not a date," Tris protests.
"You can keep saying that, hon, but it won't change the fact that it's still a date."
Christina looks through the messy pile of clothes lying on Tris' bed.
"I don't understand what's so hard about this. It's like I get dressed every day, but I can't figure out what to wear for this simple gathering."
Christina gives Tris an amused look. "So you're calling it a 'gathering' now? Well, first you had a hard time because it's a date, and for us girls, we naturally have a hard time figuring out what to wear on dates. And two, this isn't just a regular date. You're going on a date with your ex-boyfriend slash fiancé. Oh here." Christina throws a pair of light blue jeans at Tris, which ends up hitting her straight on the face.
"Not too fancy," Tris tells Christina.
"I know, I know. Don't worry, my friend, I got you." She tosses Tris a knitted sweater. "I think that would look cute on you. Oh, and pair it with this cute purse and boots."
"You sure I'm not going to freeze in this outfit?"
"I'm sure. The least that can happen is you get cold and Four gives you his jacket. Now get changed." Tris changes her clothes in front of her friend because, one, Christina has seen her in a bra and panties before, and two, she quite frankly does not give a crap.
"I don't even like coffee."
"Well, you get to see Four, so I don't know why you're complaining. Now man up, or woman up, and just go. I'm leaving now. I have my yoga class soon, ta-ta!"
Tris rolls her eyes and puts on her shoes. "Bye."
The entire car ride to the coffee shop where Tobias asked her to meet him is filled with agony and dread. She dreads going because she does not know what to say or how to approach him in a kind manner. Tris doesn't even know if it's a good idea in the first place. How do you make conversation with the man who broke your heart?
She arrives at the café five minutes after six. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee consumes her senses as she opens the door of the shop. Tobias sits a table in the corner with his fingers tapping nervously on the table as he stares out the window. His other hand grips around a coffee cup, she notices.
She musters enough courage to approach him and when she does, she has to prevent herself from wanting to just turn around and run as far as she can.
"Hi."
Tobias turns away from the window and smiles a little. Part of him expected her to not show up. "Hi."
Tris takes in the image in front of her. He's wearing a dark green sweater and blue jeans. There is a knit beanie on the top of his head that leaves his bangs sticking out. His ears are tucked in under the hat. Tris can't help but find him looking extremely attractive in his current state.
"Um, I got you hot chocolate because I know how much you hate coffee."
She smiles. "Thank you. You actually remembered."
"Of course." She takes the seat in front of him. Tobias then laughs. "Do you remember the time when you threatened to make me a shrine of tea just to prove how much you hate coffee?"
Tris closes her eyes and laughs. "Yeah, that was great. I wasn't lying though. I actually considered going to a craft store the very next day."
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Tobias asks as he stands up.
"Sure." Tris tucks in her chair and follows Tobias out of the café. He holds the door open for her and she thanks him.
Tris doesn't know what to say to him as they walk alongside one another down the road and towards the park.
"I thought you moved away," she finally says after a moment.
"Well, if you consider moving to another apartment complex moving, then yes, I technically moved."
It's a little strange, Tris realizes, how they never ran into each other during those three years, even though they lived relatively close to one another.
She nods her head and continues walking beside him. "Are you still working at Facebook?"
"Yup. I recently got promoted to Head of Launch Readiness and Program Management, Building 8, and the Product Launch Team."
Tris looks at Tobias with a weird expression. "That sounds like a handful. Is it fun?"
"It's a lot of work, I can tell you that. But, I enjoy it a lot, too. I get to meet different people and work with them."
Tris' ears practically perk up like a dog as she hears the soft tingle of an ice cream truck.
"Oh my gosh, ice cream!" Tobias' heart skips a beat when Tris' hand wraps around his wrist to pull him towards the ice cream truck. He can hear his own heartbeat when Tris makes contact with his skin, but the feeling immediately diminishes when she lets go of his arm. He watches her as she orders something from the truck and she looks back at him with an expectant look.
"Huh?"
"I said, do you want something?" she smiles.
"No, I'm good. Thanks."
Tobias reaches for his own wallet to pay, but she smacks his arm hard, dropping the wallet to the ground.
"That isn't necessary, Tobias." Tris hands the man two dollars and receives the treat.
"That hurt," he whines as he rubs the place where Tris hit him.
"Serves you right. I can pay for my own things, thank you very much."
He knows he should feel at least a little hurt by her gesture, though he can't help but smile again.
The tension Tris had felt moments ago disappears and fills with ease. They walk around the park for another hour just talking and making conversation with one another. Tris talked about her current job and how she still works at Sony. The two of them make conversation of anything that happens to pop up in their minds. They talk about jobs, to work friends, sports (though Tris isn't that knowledgable about sports), and to everything in between. The only topic that is not mentioned is their current dating life. They walk back to the coffee shop to where their cars are parked when the sun has completely set.
The two of them walk to Tris' car first. "I hope we can do this again." Tris doesn't know how to respond. Part of her wants to run back into the arms of this man, and the other part of her wants to run away from him for breaking her heart.
"We'll see. But I did have a good time catching up with you."
"Ok, I'll take that as a good thing. Bye, Tris." Tobias leans in a little, but Tris immediately catches on to what he is trying to do so she pulls back a few inches and quickly gets inside her car.
"Bye, Tobias." His arms drop to his side and he tucks his hands into his front pockets. It's then that she feels a little regretful of her actions. Tris closes the door and waves as she drives away, watching him as he remains frozen in place through her rearview mirror.
Just like on the way there, she once again is filled with a little unease. Her heart is saying one thing, but her mind is saying another. She wishes she could confide in someone right now – maybe with Uriah? However, at the moment, Uriah is completely out of the picture. She doesn't know what is going to happen with their friendship.
She pulls up to her garage and bangs her head on the steering wheel, causing the car to honk.
Uriah. Tobias. Robert.
Dead or alive, who knew three men could cause so much confusion in her life?
She only wishes she had an immediate answer to solve all her problems.