Chapter 11

As he predicted, Elle was healing fast. The only reason he didn't feel panic at this was her not seeming like she was in any hurry to leave. She hadn't even mentioned going to the city again. The routine that they had set resumed after Johanna's visit with a few alterations with the suggestions that were made on that visit.

Along with a crib for Brenden, different things that would be needed for taking care of a baby, clothes for all of them for the colder weather and day to day wear, fresh foods, and medicine; Johanna had included something to help Elle get around. It was what she called a walking stick that had an area that could be used as an armrest for her to lean against if she needed it.

Eric made her promise not to try and use it outside of the cabin without him and Elle had wiggled a promise that he would take her out of the cabin for short stretches so she could start to get her strength back. He knew if he didn't make that promise she was just going to do it on her own.

Brendan would still be staying with Paisley and her family for a little bit longer, per Johanna's suggestion. The elder Amity had barely stepped into the cabin when she determined that the two former Dauntless had developed the relationship that they had been teetering on for so long. She also knew that with Elle still recovering and them being so new to any kind of relationship, they would need time together. She suggested they wait a few weeks before she would bring Brendan to them. That way Elle would be fully up to strength by then.

Eric was still be going to visit Brendan after breakfast and returning for lunch. It got to the point that Elle was able to make it to the kitchen and prepare lunch for them. As long as she had the crutch and the stool Eric had recovered from the shed and brought in for her.

When Evan had arrived along with Johanna he had taken a look at Elle and her injuries then given them an herbal paste that would help with the healing as well as muscle aches. He suggested some exercises and stretches as a kind of therapy. Eric had made him show him them first before Elle so he could decide for himself if he wanted her to do them. He couldn't find anything wrong with them so every other day they did them together after lunch.

Between that and the fact that it seemed like neither could keep their hands off each other, they often found themselves back in the springs to ease sore muscles and just relax.

Despite the sense of contentment he felt coming from Elle, he still felt as if he was just waiting for something or someone to come along and take her away. He had discussed this with Johanna on the first visit to Amity when he was seeing Brendan. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or not when she agreed with him. Her agreeing with him and wanting to find a way to stop her from feeling like she needed to take up some task again, saw Johanna agreeing to some of the things he had requested to look into.

The first was getting a message to George and Amar. This made Eric nervous but he knew it needed to be done. She had lost family and so much more that it was only right for her to be able to reunite with the family that had been forced to leave before everything went to hell. It made him nervous because he wondered if they would come and then she would want to go off with them. Leaving him and Brendan behind. There was no scenario where he saw being remotely okay with or even allowing that to happen.

Eric had always been a planner and to make any further decisions he needed more information. There was only one way to get that and it would be to investigate. The first steps to that had been made but it would be a while before he could do more. Until then he promised himself to stop trying to obsess about what might be and concentrate on what is right now.

Something that was easy for him to do in times like now. He had just gotten back to the cabin after his visit to his nephew. His normal load of supplies on his back in the bag and woven basket. He could hear humming coming from behind the door as he got closer.

He stopped and listened with a smile on his lips. Elle was in the kitchen area from the sound of it. There was the sound of a dishes being moved around as well as the scraping of wood on stone. She was using her stick to move around.

Eric pushed the door open as quietly as he could so he wouldn't disturb the scene he was walking in on. He was grateful he did because it took his breath away.

Elle stood with her back to him at the kitchen counter. The beginnings of lunch laid out on the wooden surface. The walking stick was propped against it as she worked on whatever ingredient she was preparing. She was still humming as she swayed ever so slightly.

A tantalizing movement of her hips that was only made more enticing by the dress she was wearing. Amity were known for their flowing clothes and this fit that bill. It was slightly different in that it wasn't as long, only going to about her knees. It gathered around her breasts a little tighter before it flared out. There were buttons all down the front, breaking up the simple faded red and cream floral design. It certainly wasn't revealing, only skin being revealed by the sleeves stopped just over the shoulder, legs and simple scooped neckline that showed her beautiful skin off.

In another life he would have turned up his nose in disgust at someone wearing that. Even in that former life, he didn't think he would ever be disgusted by Elle wearing it. With her black hair hanging freely so that it reached to just below her shoulders and her feet bare; she was a siren luring him in.

He surrendered completely.

The bag and basket were deposited to the ground as he moved and spun her around to face him.

She gasped in surprise but that was immediately silenced by Eric's mouth finding hers. You would think she was being mistaken for lunch with the way he devoured her. His chest rumbling with pleasure as his hands moved over her until he had her ass cupped in his large hands. The truth was he was always hungry for her. He found himself having to hold back for the both of them at times or they might never leave the bed.

Maybe it was the combination of being gone from her even for those few hours, his conversation with Johanna and the progress of plans, and coming home to find her looking like his own vision of a goddess...knowing she was his. Whatever it was he wasn't willing to wait another second to drink her in.

He lifted her up until she was forced to wrap her legs around him along with her arms. He turned on his heel as his fingers dug into her flesh to bring her closer to him. Eric was sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and nipping at it when her ass hit the kitchen table.

She was mentally spinning with how quick everything happened. One minute she had just gotten started with preparing a simple lunch for them of a salad and leftover cold chicken. Her pain levels and soreness were fairly good so that and anticipating Eric coming home had her in a good mood. She felt light in spirit, something she can't remember feeling in a very long time. That translated to her humming songs as she worked. The next thing she knows is she is being swept up into his arms and her body set to fire by his touch and kisses.

He pulled away and some semblance of sanity started to return but she knew it was going to fade fast. His touch seemed to inflame her past any point of rationality. She would start out with a plan and focus and it all ended up being stripped away by pure need and want.

Her ass being put down on the kitchen table had broken that haze for her and she gasped when he broke free for the moment.

"Eric…." Elle started shaking her head slowly causing Eric to frown and look at her.

She had never said no to him or this. In fact he had to be the one to try and say no or restrain himself for them.

"We can't…I mean not here...it's the table…" Elle said as an adorable blush started to color her skin.

Eric grinned as he let his hands slide along her legs, opening them while at the same time pushing the fabric of her dress up further. He looked between her legs at the creamy fleshy being revealed before looking back up to her.

He pulled her further to the edge of the table while leaning in and kissing her. He had figured out the best way to get what he wanted was to take her mind off of everything by kissing her. That always ran the risk he would lose track of himself as well. It generally worked and this time he was lucky that it was paying off.

Eric reached up while still kissing her deeply and guided her panties off her before he pulled back and dropped to a knee.

Her entire face and body flushed red as he tossed her panties aside and was staring at her now bare mound. "Eric what are you doing?"

His darkened eyes were mesmerizing as he looked back up to her with a smirk. "Tables are for eating...right?"

Elle let out a gasp and clawed at the edge of the table trying to keep herself upright as soon as she felt the first touch of his tongue against her. She almost died of embarrassment when he made this sort of smacking sound and then groaned and dived back in for more.

They hadn't done anything like this with each other yet. She had meant to on him but somehow that plan always went out the window and instead found him buried deep in her. Not that she would complain about that.

Her breathing was coming in gasps and her body arched or tried to but he had a solid hold on her.

"Eric." She cried out in ecstasy as he continued to lick and suck on her.

He was experimenting with different things he had heard the guys in his old security unit going on about girls they were with and what drove them crazy. He smiled against her and thought that they certainly hadn't been bullshitting. Elle was bucking and moaning. Nothing she was saying was really discernible but it all let him know what he was doing right.

Her sounds were fascinating and arousing to him. They were almost completely different then the ones she made when she was under him in the bed. Even when he changed up how he moved they weren't this high pitched or frantic.

"Can't…" Elle had whimpered out and Eric had pulled back to look at her worriedly. Elle's head snapped to look at him and she almost screamed out. "Why are you stopping?"

A deep chuckle came out from him and she was scowling at him. She had been so close. So damn close. "You sounded like you were in pain, baby."

"Oh goddamn, please don't stop." She whimpered again and her hands ran through his hair. She wanted to pull him back to her but thought that was a rather rude thing for her to do...so she didn't.

Eric lost the smile and felt arousal flood him as he looked up at her. "Tell me what you want, Elle." He commanded her.

She swallowed and let out a shaky breath as if trying to calm herself down but he didn't want that. He wanted her wild and unrestrained. He wanted her showing and telling him how much she wanted...needed...him.

So he began slow teasing of his lips, tongue and teeth on her inner thighs while his fingers of one hand brushed and hovered over her. He could feel how wet and hot she was and bit his lip to hold in his groan.

"You know what I want." She mewled as the heat of his hand came so near to her entrance but wasn't enough to give her any kind of relief.

Eric growled against her skin before he took some between his teeth and put a little more pressure as he nipped it. After he released it he looked up at her and began to drag his tongue over the spot. He saw it click the second before she reacted. That click of desire and frustration. A determination that she was going to get what she wanted.

His dick throbbed painfully against the fabric of his jeans as she gave her own hummed growl and reached for his hair again. Her fingers threaded for it and he thought that at first she was going to pull him to her to resume what he had been doing.

Elle instead pulled him until he got the hint she wanted him to come up. He provided the momentum and strength but she led him where she wanted. She moved to kiss him feverishly and moaned when she got the taste of herself on his lips.

He didn't want to pull away when she stopped the kiss, but he once again let her direct him. Their eyes were burning into each other and she was panting. "I want you to make me come with your mouth and then I want you to take me with your cock."

"Fuck." Eric growled and then jerked her back up in his arms, hauling his ass to the bedroom as fast as he could carry them.

He practically dove face first into her as soon as her back hit the bed. He shoved her dress up and out of the way with a snarl at it daring to get in his way. His first long, firm drag of his tongue between her folds was slow. Each one after picked up in pace that moved along with the finger he had worked into her channel.

Elle was writhing on the bed, her toes curling and her hands still in his hair. She had no control over the fact that her thighs seemed to lock around him but since it held him right where she wanted him, she wouldn't have cared anyways if it did register for her.

Eric pulled his face away enough to breathe then dove back in knowing she was so close. He felt it in the way her body was vibrating and her moans had become almost silent now. He licked and sucked her clit in a long pull and she exploded for him. A moan tearing from her chest as she shook and her nails dug into his scalp.

When she released him from the hold her thighs had on him he pushed off the bed and stripped hurriedly. Almost falling in the process of trying to get his boots and pants off at the same time. Elle moved up to help him and smiling as well as panting, they managed to both get undressed.

She had a taste for taking control and wanted more so she took it. She pushed him down on the bed to his back and then moved towards him. She wanted to repay the favor but as much as he was willing to let her guide things, he needed to be inside her too bad.

"Elle, I need you now baby." He groaned out and pulled her away when he saw where she was aiming her kisses to. "Get on top of me." Came the strained demand as he grabbed her hips and helped to lift her.

She bit her lip and let her legs go to either side of his pelvis until she was on her knees and hovering over him. With a nod from Eric she took him in her hand and smirked slightly when he hunched up and groaned at the feel of her hand closing around him. Instead of guiding him into her immediately she stroked him and felt herself get even wetter at the way he moved his hips while his eyes burned with need. He was begging her but wouldn't say the words.

Remembering his torture of her earlier she smiled wickedly and let the very tip of his cock brush against her. "Tell me what you want, Eric?" She purred, arching an eyebrow up.

Eric's hands whipped out and gripped her hips, making her teasing movements stop until the head of his cock was pressing just inside of her. The burning need for her….not just to be buried in her...but to be with her, came over him and filled his eyes with intensity.

She gasped as she looked at him stricken by his look, feral almost. "Eric?"

"What I want….is you. All of you...only you…" As he was speaking in a low grinding voice, he was pushing his hips up so that he was slowly filling and stretching her watching her eyes widen and her mouth go slack. "Now." He growled out and thrust hard the last few inches inside of her.

"Oh shit." Elle cried out as her head fell back in pleasure at this new feeling. Eric filled her like he never had before, reaching somewhere deep inside of her.

Her eyes were closed and her head still back as she adjusted to all of that. Eric slid his hands up until he could pull her forward and her breasts were against his chest. Then he moved his hands to her hair and moved her mouth to his.

The kiss was both gentle and possessive as he delved deep. When he pulled back he ran a hand down her back to her hip.

"What I want...is you to show me how much you want me, Brielle." He whispered to her in a plea that was also tinged with uncertainty.

Her hips began to move slowly in a small rocking motion as she remained close and they exchanged kisses. She picked up the pace with her hips as well as their kiss. His hips began to move up into her and he held her against his chest when he worried it might be too much for her. She clung to him and would bite or suck on his neck, ear, or shoulders. When her climax broke she shuddered against him and cried out his name.

"Need you so much, Eric." She mumbled almost incoherently against his neck as her pleasure still rode her.

Her words set him over the edge and he jerked his hips twice more before he released with a groan. His arms wrapped around her back and he held her close to him while they both came down from their climaxes.

Elle smiled against his skin and let out a sigh along with a moan when the hunched over position became uncomfortable.

"You ok?" Eric asked pulling back to look at her in worry.

She nodded against him but he couldn't see her face so he rolled until he could position her on the bed beside him. She gave a disgruntled huff but settled into his side, feeling her muscles loosen in relief.

"Just didn't want to move from that position yet." She grumbled finally.

Eric's chuckle was deep as he kissed her forehead. "Liked being on top, huh?"

Elle blushed but nodded. "It was...different."

"Mmmm...well when you are all healed up…" He looked at her with a grinning leer "...can't wait to see you riding me properly."

Elle reddened and hummed some kind of agreement as she burrowed into his side even further. They sat in the quiet for a few moments just enjoying the quiet and each other until Elle's stomach decided to remind them both that their lunch had been interrupted.

They both laughed and with a kiss, Eric got himself and her up then dressed. When they went back into the kitchen they worked together at the counter. Elle sitting on the stool beside him. He told her about his day and how his nephew is doing.

"So Johanna will be bringing Brendan tomorrow?" Elle asked with hope in her voice. She had been growing more and more impatient to be involved with all of the things Eric was telling her about.

She had tried to fight the feelings of attachment to Brendan in the short time she had him but hadn't been as successful lately. Not with how things had been going with Eric.

He smiled over at her and nodded. "Yep. No more having to leave after breakfast unless I need to go into the market. I figured that when you are up to it we could maybe do that together. Johanna gave me a carrier for us. She showed me how to wrap it around my neck and waist to hold Brendan in place but I am pretty sure I already forgot."

Elle laughed as he went over to the bags and pulled out what looked like a bundle of scarves of some kind. "I don't think I would know how to work that either. We'll just have to get her to show us tomorrow."

"Yeah. That and those cloth diapers. I still can't get the handle on that. I don't remember babies having those in Erudite or Dauntless." Eric was scowling and Elle had to bite her lip at how cute he looked right now.

"Because they didn't, Eric. I don't imagine you came into much contact with babies. Especially in Dauntless."

The image of the old Eric, holding a baby like it was a bomb over the chasm with a scowl of disgust and ordering it to do it's business properly; flashed in her mind and had her doubled over in laughter.

She told him this in gasped and choked laughter while Eric pouted and tossed lettuce at her to get her to stop.

"I wasn't that bad dammit!" He protested but had to admit...it was pretty damn close to something that he might have done.

She knew she hadn't offended him by the twitching of his lips and the way his blue eyes had the slightest of a twinkle in them. She felt, as she often did since waking, something inside her melt and warm at this side of him. It made her want to go to him, wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. She always fought that because it felt so different than kissing while they were about to have sex. It felt so much more of a danger to her.

The urge was too much to resist this time and she found herself sliding off of the stool and moving to him. Her arms slid around his waist and her nose buried in his bare back. She pressed a soft and unsure kiss against the center of his back, just between his shoulder blades.

Eric gave a sigh and turned so that they were chest to chest again. He wrapped his arms around her and held her closer but just stayed like that. This was a step for Elle and he wasn't about to scare her off. He waited and was rewarded with her lifting up on her toes to press her lips against his.

Out of the weeks they had been together and intimate, this was the first kiss they shared that was plainly and simply a kiss. It was affection filled and deep but it wasn't a seeking for more kiss.

When they pulled away from the kiss, Eric still held her close but also held her eyes. He took a breath and a leap as he breathed out the words that could send her screaming in fear away from him. "I need you too, Elle."

Elle's heart stopped and her breath stuttered. His fingers tightened against her and his forehead crinkled but he didn't let her go and he wouldn't look away.

She couldn't reply, didn't know how to. She hadn't realized she said it out loud earlier. It wasn't something she had really been ready to admit to herself much less to Eric. Words uttered couldn't be taken back but did she want to?

She didn't know and she didn't want to hurt him either. So she wrapped her arms around him tighter and laid her head on his chest while closing her eyes. She breathed out in relief when he held her tight and didn't press for anything else. She felt his heart under her cheek and his breath at the top of her head.

In this moment she had everything she had never hoped to have for herself. She wanted to enjoy and embrace it, but something she couldn't even name was holding her back.

She didn't run and that had to be something, Eric thought. Now he just needed the time to show her he meant what he said and that her place was with him. He hoped that the message to her brother took it's time so he could have his.

Until that time he would enjoy this last day of time together before Brendan was added. The door was opened and the next step to take he would leave to Elle, he just hoped it wouldn't be a step back.