Éponine could hardly bring herself to look at Enjolras as he studiously read through his book in the chair across from her. Each time she did she saw his eyes flickering back down the page. He might look diligent in reading the book, but he was secretly watching her.
Had she made such a terrible mistake? Had she taken Grantaire's offer, like an offer from the devil? Had she ruined some young rebel's concentration? He was not young. He and Grantaire were two of the older "boys" in the band of rebels. Older than she was by at least five years, perhaps closer to ten. But if age were judge by experience, Éponine was by far his elder.
"I should go, now." Éponine said hesitantly, though she didn't move from her seat.
"Éponine, please don't go."
"Well, I shouldn't stay."
Enjolras shook his head, letting out a heavy breath. "Is this normal?"
"What?"
"The fluster of it all?"
"Oh." Éponine's eyes widened, smirking a little. "For me, no. I don't feel like I need to delve in to details of my occupation, but this is not normal for me at all."
"Good."
"Good?" She laughed, "It's just, there's never been beating around the bush. It's always cut straight to the chase." Which is exactly what I wish this could be. Not, this silly, infuriating cat and mouse game we're playing. If this wasn't how it was going to be, I wouldn't feel guilty.
"Ah," Enjolras tilted his head to the side, "I can see though, now, why those boys are always enamored with some beautiful girl."
"Find yourself one of those girls. Find yourself a good, honest, sweet girl. One that will mature your temperament. One that is like you."
"You are like. In some ways."
"Perhaps in the art of being stubborn." Éponine retorted, sinking back into the seat. "But I am neither pure nor innocent. And both are you. Both should be something you search for in a girl."
"Who are you to tell me what is good for me? Am I not the best judge of that?" Enjolras stiffened, his hands balling into fists. "I am fully aware of what I want. And everything in me is telling me that I want you."
"Who in their right mind would like to be with a woman used by a good portion of the wealthy Parisian society? Unless you're paying for it."
"I want to show you that there are good people in the world." Enjolras rose from his chair, moving across the room to stand before her. "I feel like a foolish school boy."
Sternly Éponine rose to her feet, not expecting to be so breathtakingly close to his face. "You're acting like one." With every intention those words were meant to be said bitterly, but instead fell from her lips like compliment.
"Éponine." Enjolras took a hold of her wrists, looking down at the petite woman before him. He didn't know what foolishness was propelling him into this. He had never desired to be with a woman, the way that he did now. Not just any woman, either, he wanted to be with her. Though she were a dirty, malnourished, whore there was something about her brown, doe, eyes that were darkened by the ache of a bitter life, that drew him in.
"Monseuir." Éponine whispered, turning her head away so she would not have to look up into his dark, desire flooded eyes. She could feel the desire and yearning pouring off of his skin. The tension between them was achingly delicious and left her skin tingly. But she couldn't bear to look up into the eyes that she was deceiving. Sure, she wanted to be with him in this way – money or not – but just knowing that whatever they did had a price floating above it, was enough to make her want to run and never stop. He wanted to show her that she didn't have to be with someone for money, that she could do it out of care and adoration, but instead someone had "secretly" paid for him to screw her.
Enjolras cupped her cheek, turning her chin so that she faced him once again. "If I am overstepping some boundary."
Éponine melted at his words, rising on her toes and pressing her lips to his. Boundaries? When had anyone thought that she, of all people, had boundaries? He was asking if he had overstepped a boundary by being sweet and gentle and kind to her. It was her undoing.
"Not here." Éponine gasped, pulling away from him.
Not anywhere! Her conscience screamed at her, begging her to leave now. Leave before anyone got hurt. Before she hurt Enjolras.
Before she hurt herself.
If she wanted to be with someone because she cared for them, she wanted to be with them without a payoff. Even if the man she was with wasn't the one paying her. She didn't want to feel obligated to sleep with them.
But Enjolras was everything she wanted. Everything she secretly yearned for. Everything she ached for.
"You can come to my garret," Enjolras replied, kissing her once more. He felt like a young pup, ready and raring to finally ease the pent up desires he felt.
"No. No. No." Éponine pushed away from him. "I can't Enjolras. I just can't. I can't hurt you. I care for you and I can't bear to think of hurting you this way."
"No is hurting me alot more than yes." Enjolras chuckled, catching her arm as slipped past.
Éponine was so tempted to tell him, to let him know what Grantaire had done. It would be simple. It would keep him from continuing this and stop it before anyone got hurt.
"Grantaire-" Before Éponine could finish the door to the café swung open. Enjolras dropped her arm, stepping far enough away from her to make it look less awkward.
"My, my. What have I walked in on?" Grantaire beamed with joy as he watched Enjolras striding across the room, hand to his lips pensively. He shot a smirk towards Éponine as she wilted back into her chair.
"Nothing."
"I was merely telling Éponine that if she is to learn how to read she needs to stop this silly sitting around. She's quite moody today, I am afraid. I don't have time to put up with her moods today."
"I am sorry." Éponine whispered, apologizing for more than just "moodiness", she was apologizing for not going along with what their bodies were desiring. What her body was still humming for. His taste clung to her lips, swollen and puckered from his fierce kisses.
"And you were not, perhaps kissing her?" Grantaire smirked, crossing his arms and glancing between the two. "You both have that breathless kiss me look."
Éponine looked away as Enjolras spoke, "I would not make any advances on the likes of her, Grantaire. You should know me. She is a sweet girl but," Enjolras' voice quivered as he continued, "She is nothing more than a friend."
Grantaire laughed, "Sometimes friends kiss friends, Enjolras. Don't be so naïve."
"I really need to go." Éponine said as she flew to her feet and headed towards the door. "I'll see you both tomorrow."
"Éponine-" Enjolras started, but she was long gone and he couldn't say what he wanted to say with Grantaire standing there.
"Now, my friend, what was it really all about?
"What are you talking about?" Enjolras gritted, kicking the leg of his arm chair. "Everywhere you go, your drunken cockiness causes trouble."
"You were kissing her!" Grantaire howled with joy. "This is great! This is juicy."
"I did not kiss her." Enjolras snapped, "I was talking with her. Excuse me if your form of kissing is talking." His lips tingled with the thought of her lips against his, her body curved against his. The very thought set his blood boiling. Enjolras loosened his cravat. "Just let your wild fantasies die, Grantaire."
"Perhaps I won't, as long as your mind is playing its fantasies of Éponine. This could be fun to watch."
"Dammit Grantaire, leave it alone. You do not understand."
"Oh yes I do." Grantaire grinned, "But you're right, I need to let you alone to be with your books since you ran away the only real female that's shown interest in you for as long as I've known you. She's apparently not afraid of a statue of a man."
A/N: You want to know about meeting Ramin, here we go. If you'd like to question me further about Ramin, PM me. Basically the story is this.
I went to London July 4th. So the saga is this. We were meant to see Les Mis July 7th and Love Never Dies on the 8th. However we found out on Thursday the 7th that Alfie Boe was not in that evening's performance and that Ramin had switched from a Friday show to a Thursday show. So frantically my mom went and bought my friend and I new LND tickets and went and sold our Les Mis tickets at the returns queue(which we discovered was a big thing there the day before). So we saw LND that night and then on Friday we tried to sell off our LND tickets which was impossible, so we saw it again. Meeting Ramin was probably the single most happiest moment of my life to date. Mainly because I've been wanting to meet him since last July when I was first introduced to Love Never Dies. That and meeting David Tennant that trip were amazing. 3 I love them both so much!