Chapter 18
Kazana has lived factionless her entire life, having been found by the rebels who strive to live without the faction system she becomes their new secret weapon. The plan is clear, choose dauntless, pass initiation, infiltrate the system, but what can she do when a certain leader sees through her façade? AU No War, One year after Tris' initiation.
A/N: This chapter gives few answers in regards to RPTS and her memories but it does delve well into Eric and Kazana's dynamic. Rated M.
Now I know this is cheeky of me, but if there are aspiring artists reading this then I would love love love for someone to draw something from the story, a character, a scene, I would do so myself but I can't draw to save my life! Message me if you're interested :) Otherwise enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Divergent but S.A.W is mine...and the blood is coming. (Thank you Lucien for that line, it's perfect.)
"How about 'Scholarly Male seeks generative intellectual!'"
"Basic, try 'Lonely Astronomer in search for her lucky star.'"
"It doesn't say that."
Eric's gaze snapped up to fix her with a sardonic smirk. Balling the slip of paper up in his fist, he threw it directly at Kazana's head.
"On the contrary Little Bat, it most certainly does."
Mounting exhaustion slowed her reflexes as the crumpled wad smacked in to her temple; she fixed him with a withering glare before observing the sheet's contents.
"Huh what do you know, it does. Ah! No, okay, we have a winner…'Explorative Element longs to secure a Compound, Procreative tendencies not required.'"
"The high-brow way of saying he bats for the other team," Eric drawled amusedly. The two lay in languid comfort on their respective sides of the sofa.
A loaded silence had befallen the two as she'd stood frozen by the book case with Max's note in her hands.
Had Kaz kept her mouth shut about the investigation and continued to live a life in which the encrypted message did not plague her thoughts, sleep would have come as an easy ally.
But the note did exist, and she had seen it. Even in a state of severe fatigue, her brain refused to shut off and Eric had provided her with a perfectly good distraction.
It was an odd situation indeed that the two lounged so carelessly opposite each other in complete amiability.
However, even in the most dark and surreal of situations; it was impossible not to find humour in the desperation of the Erudite Dating Profiles.
"I still can't believe you managed to get hold of these…I still can't believe they exist!"
He reclined back with one leg propped up on the cushions, arms crossed behind his head showcasing the tense outline of sinewy muscle. Were she not so lethargic right then, the sight would have put her in a bit of an awkward situation, because never had the Dauntless Leader looked quite so appealing as when he abandoned his rigidity and simply…relaxed.
"You should start believing it because," he quirked an eyebrow at the open file in his hands.
"'Marsha' who is in the 'Orthopaedic Sciences Profession' is pretty serious about finding her ideal man."
"Oh, Marsha," Kazana grinned despite herself and snatched the paper away.
Reciting the words in a dull, monotone voice,
"I need a man who can want me for my looks and charm, not just my astute brain. Minimum of 160 IQ, does not have to be well endowed-"
She gaped at the words before her but was unable to resist a sly smile.
"Looks like there's hope for you yet Eric."
The man in question glared coldly but even the steely intensity of his stare could not stop her loud chortles.
"I think it's time you get some sleep," he muttered and rose up to leave.
But not before a solid arm held her against the sofa as he came down to murmur a low hiss in her ear.
"And I don't think last night should have left you in any doubt of my size, perhaps you just need another demonstration."
He was gone before she could even form a reply, or address her involuntary shiver of desire.
The path on which she stood led to irresistible warmth, a tangible heat that was not visible to the eye but in its thermal embrace there existed a faint glow.
Reaching out a tentative hand, her arm dipped, as though delving in to rich sunlight, in to the magnetic pull of the heated atmosphere.
Kazana longed to immerse herself completely in the delectable sensation, but an icy gust of wind blew teasingly at her exposed neck and arms, willing her to turn away.
There before her stood a young girl. Dark eyes gazed up at her with open vulnerability; they spoke of true pain, no one so innocent should possess such a look. Her hair, black as simmering coals had been cut ragged with a sharp blade, leaving odd uneven strands to frame her ivory skin.
She was overcome with the fierce need to protect this girl, to save the child she once was. A tall figure emerged from the shadows; a dark bandage hid one eye from view as he reached out to clasp the small girl's hand in his own.
They watched each other for a moment, a shared look of trust and companionship, before turning their fixed gazes on to Kazana and the stubborn chill grew ever more ardent from their direction.
What had once been a pleasant warmth tickling the flesh of her back had now become an uncomfortable scolding sizzle, she cringed away from the source of heat. Inclining her head once more to observe the pale figures who stared back in eerie silence.
Kaz dropped to one knee so as to be eye level with the young girl, a mirror image, she held out her own palm, beckoning silently, willing her to follow.
But the girl simply tightened her hold on the boy with the sallow blue skin and drab tawny hair, his one eye narrowed in distrust. Wide, fearful eyes darted away and Kazana twisted herself around to follow the little one's gaze.
A wall of flames towered above her, a vicious, burning blaze which licked her pale flesh and breathed a hot sigh on to her skin. The incessant inferno howled in muted laughter, it called to her, a hissed dare, come to me.
"I can't leave her," she uttered softly, and the words were lost to the tormented wind which swirled in a crimson haze, scorching embers dusted the air yet two bodies remained untouched. Now blackened silhouettes who watched on, frozen against the glacial backdrop.
It was both haunting and mystifying, and to Kazana, far beyond her reach.
Four's stare was disapproving when she bolted upright from her chair, a strangled cry still caught in her throat as dark pleading eyes continued to sear through her consciousness.
"In the Final Test you'll be expected to face yours fears. You can't keep lingering like this."
"You say that as though I have a choice."
"There's always a choice," he snapped and stepped back to dissemble the machine.
Four eventually sighed. Looking back to her with a repentant grimace.
"At least you've made some progress, the memories aren't returning."
"For now. That doesn't meant my final simulation is safe."
She didn't want to question his every word; it would be a joy to accept his positive outlook.
But now was not the time for blissful ignorance.
"Well we have 3 days to figure it out. I'd hit the books if I were you."
Kaz narrowed her eyes.
"Where would I…" Ah.
"You know."
He gave a terse nod. His expression betrayed a sincere concern which did not settle the doubts spawning within her.
"Be careful Kazana. He's not a man you want to get on the wrong side of."
As if she didn't already know.
Military Operations made up a small sub-division of the Dauntless' armoury, a seedy cave which resided deep within shadowed tunnels. Therein lay section after section of weapons all ranging from considerably harmless to potentially catastrophic.
Though lights remained functional, little surface area was illuminated under their dim glow and so it was with a lit torch that Kaz made her to way to the furthest part of the cavern.
It was an industrial mess, an Erudite's wet dream as a smattering of wires and shrapnel lay haphazardly across the corner tables. Empty cartridges and exhausted fuses littered the floor on which Christina was strewn, two uncovered legs, smudged with excess oil, protruded from the underside of a monstrous vehicle.
Kazana's flickering shadow covered a large breadth of the cemented floor and wall, as though blessed with a sixth sense, Christina called out to her from beneath the tank.
"5 secs Kaz, yeah?"
She used those stolen moments to observe the huge structure with unguarded fascination.
Dwarfing her in size, the wheels alone cut off at her neck and ascended in to a metallic black base. It appeared to be constructed from an assortment of materials, some of which were riddled with bullet holes and astoundingly, a small scale crater.
Jets protruded from the tail of the vehicle and flared up in to stacked barrels that would undoubtedly round off a manifold of ammunition if required.
It was visually stunning and equally terrifying. Sporting her trademark smile, Christina wheeled herself out from the bottom and brushed off damp thighs.
"Quite a sight isn't it, took m-WOAH! Fuck, put that thing out now!"
Kaz's brow furrowed as she glanced down at the flaming torch in her hand, but complied as a dirty rag was retrieved from the floor and draped on the fire, killing it instantly. The older girl's alarmed stance relaxed as she released a breathy sigh.
"No open flames in here man, we have enough explosives lining these walls to destroy an army. Once made the mistake myself, my eyebrows didn't grow back for weeks!"
"Right, sorry. It just looked like white clay to me."
Christina's grin turned wicked as she strolled over to the steel shelves.
"This here's C4, less than a pound of this and we could be blown right out of here, bones and all."
Kazana picked up a solid block, weighing it in her hands as pale fingers moulded in to the soft material.
"Why's it squishy?"
"You can change its shape that way, makes it easier to control the explosions."
"Sweet."
"Right?"
Kaz couldn't hide a wide smile as she replaced the block and began exploring.
"So what exactly do you do here anyway?"
"Weapon construction, I guess you could call it military research," Christina shrugged.
"Isn't that Erudite's job?"
The older girl looked perturbed as she snorted.
"Those nerds wouldn't know what to do with a gun if you paid them."
Riddled with curiosity, Kazana's eyes darted back once more to the momentous truck sitting centre in the cave.
"What's t-"
A high pitched beep sounded from Christina's wrist, she groaned and began to shrug on a pair of heavyweight pants.
"Oh man, forgot about patrol tonight. Ethan's off sick and I gotta prep the guards."
She paused as the material met mid-thigh,
"Hey think you could help me out? It won't take too long."
Kazana nodded and the two made their way back through the tunnel, swerving in to a side cavern which looked to be in full commission as various members buzzed around with familiar ear pieces and intricate watches on their wrists.
"This here's communications," Christina explained. "It basically covers every form of contact, from the guards on the fence to the patrol teams downtown."
She began to hook various wires off the walls and loop them around her biceps, Kazana hesitantly followed suit and soon the two were heading out to the mouth of the tunnel. Dark silhouettes stood patient and statuesque in the smouldering light.
Christina unravelled the cables, coming to stand behind the first soldier who waited with arms stretched out. Kazana watched carefully as she laced the wire through incisions in the jacket and weaved up past his neck to clip on to a miniature ear piece.
Tentatively she began to mimic the movements on a second row of guards; wavering shadows cast their faces in to darkness. Hastening with time she had almost finished her duties when a snide voice called over his shoulder.
"Little lower whilst you're there honey."
The other soldiers snorted with derisive laughter, wolf whistles echoed off the walls and an angry blush began to burn its way up her neck when a stark shot sounded and the guard in question howled with pain. Kaz jumped back as he hopped up and down frantically, clutching a bleeding boot in both hands.
"Try that again and it'll be your head."
She froze at the deep baritone in his growled voice, slowly lifting her gaze to meet Eric's own scowling one.
"Yes sir," the guard gasped, limping away for medical attention.
In vain Kazana tried to stop her hands from trembling as he took a step forward so that she was looking directly at his solid shoulders. Her throat felt painfully dry as she swallowed heavily and began to weave the wire shakily through his jacket.
Soft breaths tickled the hairs on her neck and she felt a static energy thrum right through to her fingertips with each tentative touch. She reached up to tuck away a thick sweeping of dark hair, only aware of the open vulnerability it presented as his voice was low and dangerous in her ear.
"I don't think you were given permission to start working yet initiate."
"I wasn't aware your consent was required…sir."
"My consent is always required where you're concerned."
Her fingers froze on the hot pulse of his neck, furious at his claim and yet aware of a hidden meaning in the words. And this scared her more than anything.
"For now," she breathed, looking up once more to see his grey eyes studying her face.
"Hmm," his large hand came to enclose her wrist, a warm thumb swept slowly over her pulse before he pulled it away and fastened the device himself.
His confident gaze did not reflect the nervous gait of her own movements when it scanned her once more before he moved away and signalled with one hand for the soldiers to follow him.
They did so obediently and soon the sound of marching boots subdued into nothing, leaving a very conflicted young woman in their wake.
"About the size of a pearl, the Hypothalamus contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions."
Cocooned in mountainous blankets, Kazana had tucked herself away in the alcove of Eric's bookshelf. It had proven absurdly easy to locate a book on biological functions of the brain and though she questioned his need for it, she did not disparage it, there was a great deal to learn.
"Stress hormones cause several changes in the body, including an increase inheartrate andblood pressure. These are released when our 'Fight or Flight Response' is triggered."
It seemed Four had been on to something, where the serum was designed to target fears, what had instead been activated was her need to escape. Regurgitating the substance had been one form of fighting back…but that didn't explain why it was happening to her.
"You are after all my greatest success."
If she had a predominant disposition to flee, then it most certainly was triggered when those words continued to echo in her mind. It had been Max's body but it hadn't been his voice.
That voice. She knew that voice.
And it made her blood curdle.
She flinched when a beep interrupted the silence, and almost jumped out of her skin when the door was flung open and slammed in to the wall. Peeking out from beneath protective sheets, Kazana watched as Eric stormed in to his bedroom with a face of thunder and shut the door behind him so hard it tremored on the hinges.
It had happened so fast she barely had time to register the crimson spots along the floor creating a bloodied trail in to his domain. He was injured.
Kaz remained frozen in indecision as a vicious shadow moved about heavily in the room across, she would have to be a fool to disturb him in a state of such fury.
A fool she was indeed, edging slowly in to the kitchen to search for a needle and thread. Kazana was unable to stop a smirk as she peered in to an oak drawer and saw a pair of glasses tucked in to the back corner. He hid those well.
Medical appliances had not been easy to find, either he hadn't much use for them or simply refused to accept help, opting instead to stalk around his room in a stubborn rage.
She jumped from one foot to the other in front of his door, twisting at the bag in her hands with painful force.
With a heavy exhale, Kazana rapped three firm knocks on the door and felt a weight drop on to her stomach as it was thrown open. Eric stood before her with a snarl that bore his need to rip into something or someone, and in his hands lay the dark fabric of his shirt, damp and mottled with blood.
His glare slowly turned to dark amusement as she tried, and boy did she try, to drag her eyes away from the massed planes of his chest and shoulders. Kaz knew her face had to be burning up, because the heat was searing as her gaze roved over arms which looked like they'd been carved from smooth marble and lowered then to firm abdominal muscles.
An angry wound covered the breadth of his muscular core, a heavy sever which could only have been done with a sharp blade. She winced to think how it must have felt, but his expression betrayed no pain.
Ashen eyes darting down to the fabric in her hands, he looked back to her with a quirked brow.
"Come to fix me up?"
"Urm…," she ripped her gaze away and tried to focus on the door's arch. "I thought you might need help."
He moved in to her eye line, forcing her to meet his wicked smirk.
"And how did you intend to help?"
"Well, that looks like it'll get infected if not treated and you need stitches."
"I could just do that myself."
Kazana clenched her jaw and made to step away.
"If that's what you want then-"
Eric grasped her suddenly by the waist and dragged her in to the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
"I never said that," he murmured, grey eyes alight with mirth as she glanced around like an alarmed deer. "Where would you like me?"
"Uh, on the bed is probably best."
He arched an eyebrow and nodded slowly, revelling in the blushing scowl that suffused on her face.
Eric moved back and sat on the edge of the mattress, before using his upper body to slide slowly to the headboard. He leaned against it and waited as she shuffled to kneel beside him, her body hummed with awareness as his intense stare remained fixed on her all the while.
Kazana worked in efficient silence, perturbed that as the needle pierced his skin, weaving slowly through firm flesh, his face stayed entirely passive.
"You've done this before."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Necessity," she paused, "my old life bore hazards too."
"Falling out of too many trees," he teased.
Her mouth lifted in a faint smile.
"Something like that."
Warm skin was pulled taut over tensed muscle as she leaned down to snap the thread with her teeth. For one insane moment, she wondered how his skin would taste, if it would be infused with that same earthy aroma she had come to relish.
"What happened?"
"I was caught off guard, patrolling one of the northern warehouses. I didn't get a good look at his face."
"And here I thought you were indestructible," she smiled.
"Is that a backhand compliment?"
Kaz shrugged, tying the thread in to an intricate knot.
"I'm sure I'm not the only one under that impression," and then, "you're rather scary."
His knuckles brushed up her back in a loosened fist, "Do I scare you?"
She placed the equipment back in its bag and looked up to have dark eyes sear in to her own.
"Yes."
The hand paused, a firm pressure on her waist.
"Good."
His palm enclosed her torso, a heated sensation that instilled a craving within her. She wanted to consume his warmth. Skin to skin, it was a necessity, a must, and the intoxicating scent of smoked oak surrounded the air and she inhaled deeply, closing her eyes to truly become lost to the feeling.
Then the hand was pulling her in, a magnetic force and she followed so willingly, so desperate to feel hot lips against her own, to taste the delicious scent on his tongue. An ecstatic moan was caught in her throat when open mouthed kisses were peppered along her jaw, her throat and it burned a sizzling, sensual burn.
"I need to taste-"
But then his lips were on hers, swallowing her words and their tongues entwined in a searing kiss that deepened with every second yet it wasn't enough and she wanted to feel it all, feel the pressure of his body weight down on her own and pushing in to her, rough and hot and hard and controlling and-
There was smoke. Not the delectable scent that clouded her desires so but real, thick smoke and she was breathing it in.
Frantically, Kazana tried to pull away from his firm embrace but solid arms kept her in place and the kiss became an exchange, a passing of fiery, toxic air that scorched her throat.
Pale, white skin blackened with charred burns as his grip seared in to her flesh and soon she was choking, suffocating at his will.
"Stop," she cried breathlessly in to his mouth but now the air was permeated with the asphyxiating mist.
"Stop!"
But her lungs were now filled to the brim with acidic oxygen and her throat burned at the mastery of her scalding libido.
It was killing her.
Kaz refused to open her eyes.
Because to open her eyes was to meet Four's gaze and she just wasn't ready for that.
Having Four witness that particular fear should have been a simulation itself.
She cracked open one eye ever so slightly but shuddered and squeezed it shut again.
"Any ideas how I should tackle that particular fear?"
"Urm…," he his breath was stuttered and when she finally deigned to look at him, Four's face was tinged with a faint blush that eased her relief.
"I think perhaps you should punch him in the face and be done with it."
Kazana laughed shakily, reaching up to wipe at her dampened brow.
The fear had been an odd continuation of the previous night, disturbing alterations had been made in her simulation such as the lusted embrace and suffocation but it had felt oddly real.
In actuality, their night had ended when she pulled away from his light touch and fled the room without so much as a word.
"How long can someone stay in a simulation?" she asked.
"Until their heart rate lo-"
"No I know, I mean," she struggled, "I mean how long could someone potentially stay in one? Considering the dose you're giving me."
Four contemplated the question for some time, lost in thought as he disposed of the empty vial.
"Well it's all in your mind, the serum just taps in to a particular part…I suppose in that case you could stay in a simulation indefinitely."
It had been at Vesper's insistence that Kaz found herself once again in The Pit, there was to be a commemoration of sorts that evening in Max's honour and though the Dauntless despised formalities, certain decorum was required.
Sophie was nowhere to be found which was highly unusual and yet she gave it little thought when perusing the dark clothing that adorned rack after rack.
"How about this one?"
Kaz glanced up to find Vesper grinning malevolently, her eyes fell to the scrap of material in her hand and she immediately pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"How about no?"
"It's cute."
"It's see-through."
"I prefer the word 'mesh'."
"I prefer the word no."
Her electric eyes narrowed in challenge, "Just try it on."
A myriad of complaints fell silent on her tongue as the material was thrust in to her hands and Vesper sashayed away with her own collection.
Clouded glass made up a thick barrier between the fitting area and the tattoo parlour, though excited voices still managed to penetrate through.
Grumbling to herself at the injustice, Kaz ripped the curtain closed and was half through squeezing in to the dress when she caught on to a hushed conversation.
"Yeah dude I'm telling you one shot! One eyed fucker was out like a light."
"Shit, we've been after that one for ages! Bastard shot me in the leg last year."
"Nah it was incredible, Eric was furious though."
"The fuck? Why? He should be giving you a fucking medal!"
"Dunno, told us to hold our fire but he was gonna get away any second, I just did what any of us would do!"
It didn't take long for her to clock on to their meaning, she currently stood two feet away from the murderer of her best friend, with little more than glass to separate them. Peeling off the dress, Kazana shoved on her clothes and tore from the room with rippling speed. Vesper's voice called out after her sharply.
"Hey! What about the dress?!"
"Get it! I'll give you the points later!" Kaz appeased the girl and flung herself through the open door and in to the parlour. Her eyes landed immediately on two boys, they couldn't have been a year or two older than herself, she slid behind a tall panel and continued to listen, trying to discern one from the other.
"These things better fucking work; it's taken me ages to save for it."
"I hear the pads are better than the pen actually, doesn't fade as much."
"Yeah we'll see…where the fuck is Tori? Been standing around forever," they ascended further in to The Pit in search for the older woman and Kaz noted immediately that the guard in search for more tattoos was the very one she wanted.
Sliding out from her hiding place, Kazana sidled along the panels and came to a stop where countless patterns and black square pads covered the table.
It took no time at all for her gaze to alight on his chosen design.
Far too easy.
She began to prise the two surfaces away from each other; the pad contained a transparent strip of paper. She rolled her eyes as 'Be Brave' was written in fiery calligraphy across the centre. Kazana stuffed the sheet in her trousers and retrieved a dark pen and blank paper to begin her design. Voices further down began to increase in volume and she knew there was little time to waste.
Replacing the pad on the table which now contained her renewed image, she fled the tattoo parlour and grimaced. Vesper stood before her with a Cheshire grin and a slip of netted material between her fingertips.
"Oh no."
"Oh, yes."
It seemed, when a Dauntless Leader died, the celebration was not so much a party as a banquet.
And what a grand banquet it was, every table lay adorned with rich, mouth-watering foods which conjoined together to create a sumptuous aroma. Members remained standing as Kazana entered the hall in a state of cool apprehension and discomfort.
At the time, Kaz had thought it a marvellous idea to return to the dormitories as Vesper had begged she fall victim to a thorough makeover. Naturally, she had no desire to undertake such abuse but her only other option was to risk Eric seeing the ensemble, and that she would avoid at all costs.
Hence why she entered now, fingers itching to tug at the soft black mesh which covered her arms but left bare shoulders and led down in to a form fitting bodice before flaring out in to a leather skirt. She had drawn the line at the vivid shade of red being waved dangerously close to her lips, but Kazana should have realized that where there was a line, Vesper would destroy it in a moments.
"Absolutely not! It's bad enough that you're painting my face!"
"For the last time it's called make-up you illiterate savage, and this red would go so beautifully with your skin tone…"
She descended the stairs, trailing hesitantly behind the remaining initiates but was stopped by a merry voice on the elevated balcony.
"Kaz! Weston! Our two highest ranking initiates," Tori called out merrily from the furthest seat.
Wes reddened at the given name, but it seemed the Dauntless Leader was far too inebriated to care as she gestured to two seats on either side of the table.
Cringing anticipation became consummate dread as Kaz looked to the last seat, on one side sat the gaunt, scarred form of Sloane who roved over her figure with open appreciation. On the other, Eric sat in contemplative silence, slate gaze fixed straight ahead as he circled the rim of his glass in smooth motions.
She could at least relieve in the fact his attentions detracted from her completely.
And this in no way, burdened her with an absurd sense of disappointment.
Needless to say, a palpable tension existed between the two the moment she was seated, given the options however it took her no time to shift closer to the Dauntless Leader, achingly aware of the minimal contact it created.
Tris looked over at her with an apologetic smile before engaging Tori in conversation. It was then that she felt a light brush against her knee, the faintest of touches, but it sent jolts of electricity up her spine.
Kazana snapped her gaze to Eric but saw he was now engaged in a riveting discussion, she gasped as his thumb slid sensually along the same place, running smooth strokes along her flesh.
"There she is!"
The exclamation drew the attention of all present but the two guards only had eyes for Kaz who paled visibly at their approach.
"You better watch your back you cunt," the first sneered and she felt the gentle caress tighten on her leg.
"Why would she have to do that, Davis?" Eric questioned softly, his penetrating gaze fixed on the men before them.
"Sh-She fucked with my tattoo!"
"How?"
"Go on, show 'em Davis," his friend prompted, though the man in question looked entirely discomforted by the idea.
"Well I, I mean I don't really wanna-"
Eric glared at them coldly, evident in his expression that they were wasting his time.
The first soldier turned hesitantly and lifted his vest; there in bold black colours was the words 'I LOVE' followed by a huge Amity Symbol that covered the entirety of his back.
Wes snorted with laughter, and soon the rest of the party joined him in uncontrollable snickers as the guard spun back around with a furious expression.
Eric simply smirked at the display and Kazana had to fight a breathy moan as his palm trailed softly up to trace sensuous patterns along her inner thigh.
"Do you have any evidence to back up these accusations?"
"N-no… but we saw-"
"I don't care what you saw, if you have no proof then you are wasting my time."
The two soldiers gaped at one another for a moment, before stalking away with a hateful glance in her direction.
"Oh, and Davis?" Eric called out clearly. They spun eagerly to hear the remainder of his words.
"Ten days kitchen duty for displaying Amity Propaganda."
Never had footfall sounded quite so thunderous as when they retreated down the stairs in a fit of rage.
As the table broke out once again in to a jarring cacophony of voices, the heated palm at her thigh dragged slowly upwards in a firm stroke and it took every iota of her control not to react. It was only when she focused completely on the untouched drink before her that she felt his hot breath against her ear.
"Bad girl."
Deft fingers moved past the dark material of her skirt, Kaz grasped his wrist with both hands in a desperate attempt to regain her composure but when his roughened palm squeezed at the flesh of her inner thigh all control fled completely and she became once more that day a victim to her hungry impulses.
"So Kaz, tell me, how are you faring in your simulations so far? You only have one day left!" Tori beamed and suddenly all alighted on her, unfortunately the ministrations of the man beside her had rendered her speechless
"I urm…I ah well," she clenched her thighs together in order to alleviate the sensation but he pursued relentlessly, a husky gasp caught in her throat as warm fingers brushed over her bud through the thin fabric of her knickers.
"It is…going very well. I am very confident as to," she gritted her teeth as he teased the line of her underwear and dipped in slightly to stroke at her wet core.
"As, as urm as to the outcome of my initiation," she finished desperately, glancing over to see Eric watching her with unveiled mirth, though his eyes were dark with excitement.
Kazana clasped her fingers tightly to her mouth as two long fingers slid in to her wetness and pumped in slow rhythmic movements. She ground her hips in to his hand, aching to reach the glorious release which began to build in her.
The erotic display went unnoticed by the other members who continued to converse in pleasant ignorance.
Her body vibrated with the familiar sensation that crept up through her stomach spread to her fingertips, lusty anticipation and she was so close, so very close-
"You're not to come until I tell you to," he murmured in to her hair.
Eric pulled his hand away at a torturous pace and quirked a brow at the shock on her face, she'd been so ready, and the dissatisfied ache was unbearable.
Then he was gone, excusing himself from the festivities to attend to other matters.
The wait was insufferable; every part of her thrummed with pulsing need and not the deafening voices or the bustling crowd could quell it.
"I'm sorry to cut this meal short, but I'm afraid there are other activities in place for tonight that we must continue on with," Tori sighed.
She moved with absolute haste through the crowded hallways, adrenaline coursed through her veins and if Kaz were to be entirely honest, she had pressed her hand on the door pad in expectance of a sudden embrace, a passionate kiss and rough encounters.
Such however, was not the case. If not for the dim light omitting from his bedroom, she might have though the quarters deserted. He emerged, an intimidating figure half cast in shadows and carrying a glass of swirling amber liquid.
Eric sunk on to the sofa beside the fire, and finally regarded her with darkened eyes. His fingers lightly covered his mouth as he leaned against the cushions in a relaxed style but there was intensity in his posture, a readiness that reminded Kazana strongly of a predator, watching, waiting, for the opportune moment.
Her body felt alive with static energy as his steely gaze drank in every detail, he took his time to look, to observe, before speaking in a low voice.
"Your shoes, remove them."
Despite her change in attire, the training boots remained a constant as Kaz reached down with shaky fingers to fumble with the clasps and slip them off.
"The dress."
She reached round to the laces and pulled harshly at them before his growled baritone stopped her.
"Slower."
Kazana inhaled a shaky breath, a hot blush seared up her neck and pinked her cheeks but there was something in his voice, in the command and the absolute dominance that he displayed which called to her, demanded her submission.
Reaching around once more, she held his gaze and tugged a single lace gently, his expression betrayed no emotion but the eyes, they burned in to her flesh.
"I wanted to fuck you in that dress."
A jolt of desire ran hot through her core, ignited by the inflection in his words.
"But that'll have to wait."
One more tug and the dark material pooled to her feet leaving her in plain nude stockings and black underwear, his grey eyes slid over her exposed form carefully.
"Bra," he demanded.
She fumbled with the clasp for a few moments before that too joined the dress and her breasts were exposed, nipples hardened and sensitive as a cool gust swept over her.
Kazana's breaths fell in light pants and though she had never felt more vulnerable, there was a certain empowerment in the way his attentions stayed fixed on her, waiting with heated anticipation for her next movement. She teased the skin of her stomach and thighs, running her fingers down to hesitate at the sheer material.
"Leave them."
It was then that she saw his pupils illuminated in the soft distant glow, dilated like dark gems and the vein pulsing in his wrist as he clenched the hand by his mouth.
"Underwear, off."
Swallowing heavily, Kaz hooked her thumbs in the dark fabric, aware that his hawk eyes were fixated on the movement.
She allowed him to see her avid want as she held his gaze and slid the material down her thighs, stepping out of them to sweep the clothes behind with her foot.
"Come here."
Her steps were soft and deliberate as she approached him and she could sense his impatience and revelled in it.
Eric did not move bar the hand which came down to rest on the sofa's arm as she leaned down placed two hands on his firm shoulders. She squeezed the solid muscle there and slid down so her knees fell on either side of his lap.
Kazana did not sink down straight away; she hovered over him, long black hair swept over both their bodies as she waited with bated breath for his next instruction.
His eyes roamed down the milky expanse of her neck, rose coloured nipples and the muscles in her stomach which tensed as he placed a warm hand on her waist and pulled her down, he cupped her chin with his left hand and turned it slightly to run his nose against her jaw.
"Fucking gorgeous," he mused, inhaling her skin's natural scent and brushing his tongue against her pulse, she shivered at the contact and finally lowered down until his rock hard erection was nestled against the crux of her thighs.
Kaz rocked her hips and moaned softly causing the fingers on her waist to dig painfully in to her flesh as the mouth at her neck grew ever more ardent in its attentions.
Eric pulled away though his hands still remained hot and heavy on her skin, holding her firmly against him in a possessive grasp. Her eyes darted down to observe the dark blocks on his neck disappearing behind thick material, she thought back to the night before and how her shy gaze had been unable once again to soak up the full experience.
Kazana tugged at his shirt suddenly causing him to hiss in pain, alarmed, she leaned away with questioning eyes and waited for his approval to continue.
Eric shucked the shirt himself in a matter of moments though her wide eyed stare had caught the wince with which he'd done so. The wound remained a glaring red along his abdomen.
She drank in the sight of his masculine form which radiated such heat and brought forth a primal instinct within her, a need to feel and taste. Black ink covered the expanse of his neck and descended down in to intricate patterns along his forearms.
"Unzip me," his voice was a rough hiss against her chin.
Though her hands shook with the movement, she did not hesitate to follow his orders. Kazana undid his trousers and fumbled for a few longer moments with his pants before his hardened length was released. She bit viciously in to her lip as she gazed down at him and wondered how that had ever fit, even in the throes of their passion, he was monstrous.
The grip on her chin tightened as he forced her eyes to meet his own, black and piercing with a carnal want.
"You're going to ride me now, and you're not going to come until I give you my permission."
"I...I-"
"Is that clear?" he bit harshly along her jawline, she gasped her assent.
"Yes. Yes, yes."
Kaz knelt up and aligned his hard length with her entrance, her core was soaking wet from the longing anticipation and a husky moan caught in her throat as she lowered herself on to him. It was a mixed sensation of immense pleasure and pain, the same aching feeling of being filled completely and with the new angle she sank down until he reached the hilt.
She stayed like that for a few moments, adjusting, savouring before raising her hips and coming down once more. Eric appeared to be breathing singularly out of his nose as he watched her with unadulterated lust; his hands clawed in to her hips and sped up her movements until they had a fast, sensuous rhythm.
Her body tensed up with the building sensation, black eyes glazed with desire and lips damp as she flicked out a tongue to wet them. He recognized the signs, leaning in to whisper hotly in her ear.
"What do you want?"
She felt her eyes roll back in to her head as she tilted her neck and sought to give in to the feeling.
"I want to-fuck! yes, I need, I need to..."
Immediately he stood, instinctively she wrapped her naked thighs around his hips as he lowered her down beside the fireplace. Eric pulled out of her and lifted one leg until it was at his shoulder, he planted teasing nips at her calf, she moaned impatiently as he stayed positioned at her entrance teasingly.
Placing her foot on his shoulder he leaned in until she could feel his powerful breaths on her neck, her entire body felt damp and slick with sweat, grey eyes penetrated her with a gaze that demanded attention.
"Say you're mine"
"You're mine," she smiled breathlessly.
He punished her with a taunting stroke, she gasped and he smirked.
"Tell me you're mine."
But she could not.
It was the ultimate submission, and to say the words, to confirm it, she could not.
Sliding her foot from his shoulder she trailed it down his chest to hook around his waist, allowing the other to follow suit. Kaz dragged him down until he was within her once more, and though he hissed his disapproval, what measure of control he'd had snapped.
"Now," he growled.
With a few last rough, passionate thrusts she felt herself come undone. Eric soon followed suit, releasing a deep guttural moan in to her neck that had her shivering at the animalistic sound.
His weight upon hers was a solid pressure which restricted her airflow and pressed her firmly in to the ground but it was flesh on flesh and their laboured pants fell deliciously in to each other's mouths and it was a moment in which she could forget and focus on the masculine form encasing hers.
But the knowledge of her refusal, her neglect to comply hung heavy in the afterglow.
A slick, warm substance coated her hips, and she looked down to see Eric's wound had reopened. He rolled on to his side and placed two fingers there, they came up marred with a crimson stain.
"I'm bleeding for you," he smirked.
Eric had become to her, a flesh and bones representation of her fears and desires as the simulation had well proven.
But to submit to desire was dangerous and in time it would destroy her.
He would never know that she bled for him too.