Chapter 6:
Elain was trying to shake everything that happened off, quite literally. She was doing her morning job around the on campus quad, Taylor Swift blaring through her ear buds. She thought it would make her feel better but she couldn't quite shake the guilt. She knew she had nothing to be guilty about, Nesta told her that much, but somehow she couldn't help but feel like she had deceived Lucien.
As she entered her apartment, fresh sweat dripping from her brow she found her sister almost covered completely in paint. "Hey there,"
"Hey, how was your run?" Feyre said, her hair now streaked with shades of blue and pink.
"Brutal," Elain sighed plopping herself down on the couch so she could stare at the painting Feyre had conjured. "Its my own fault, it's karma from my week long food binge. You know I stress eat during exams, Botany really kicked my butt."
"You should just major in studio arts." Feyre said, her paintbrush stroking a star over a large mountain.
Elain gave her sister her strongest death glare, "We can't all be artistic geniuses Feyre!"
"Thanks," she said passing her sister a small smile, "I hope my work ends up in galleries someday not in a storage facility."
"As if, I wouldn't let that happen." Nesta said entering the living room from her room.
"It's nice to know I'll have two people attend my art galas."
"So," Nesta said, "What are our plans tonight?"
"I'm all yours tonight," Feyre smiled, "Tam has a project to work on with his friend Ianthe."
"Yes!" Nesta exclaimed, "Lets go out, just the three of us. Maybe we could try that new Thai place we've seen."
"I want to go back to Illyria," Elain suddenly said.
Nesta and Feyre exchanged looks before hesitantly looking at Elain. She knew Nesta had filled Feyre in on all the other details from the previous night by how she bit her lip. Elain was still stinging with embarrassment.
"You want to go back?" Feyre said, "Are you sure?"
Elain looked back at Nesta who was giving her a glare that was silencing reminding her that she didn't owe him anything. But Elain didn't want him to think that she was just like every other girl who walked into Illyria and heard the rumors about Rhys. That's what stung the most, that he thought she was special, different. And now he didn't think there was anything special about her anymore.
As she nodded Nesta was the first to speak, "Then we'll go. What are you going to wear?"
"Something hot," Feyre said hopping up, elain wanted to laugh at that. Her sister's utter eagerness to play dress up with her. "We'll make him regret that he ever pushed our Elain away."
"He didn't push me, I ran."
"I think the problem was that his ego was boosted, you thought he was his brother." Feyre said.
Nesta chortled, "Ok yeah, but so what? She pursued him to increase her sexual prowess, what guy isn't up for a nostrings attached hookup?"
Elain sat down at her vanity as Feyre began running a brush through her hair. Nesta immediately went to her closet. And suddenly Feyre felt like completely changing the mood. "You know Elain… The world won't end if you and Graysen don't end up together."
"I want Graysen, I always have." The stability, the perfection it was all that she ever wanted.
"What you want isn't always what you need."
"You sound like a fortune cookie," Elain snorted.
"I just don't get it, why Graysen?"
"Why Tamlin?" Elain retorted. She wished she could have taken the words back as soon as she saw how stiff Feyre had gotten.
"Tam and I have been dating since high school." Was all she said, and neither Elain nor Nesta decided to press further. What did they know about relationships? None of them had really dated. "Now hurry up and change," Nesta handed Elain her outfit, "We're gonna break some hearts tonight."
Elain just hoped it wouldn't be hers.
Illyria was its usual packed watering hole for a weekend night. A flood of guys and girls stood around the bar, a group of frat guys playing a game of pool, and girls trying to score with the steamy bartenders.
"What's your plan?" Nesta asked.
Elain took a deep breath, her knuckles stark white, "No point in delaying it. Just walk right up to him, better get this shit over with."
"Wow," Nesta looked taken aback, "That's pretty direct, not exactly you."
"She's right," Feyre shrugged, "no point in delaying it,"
Pursing her lips Elain gathered all of the strength and confidence she could muster, "I can handle this from here guys," Each of her sisters patted her back gently and then went to go find an open booth.
Slowly but surely Elain approached the bar. She stood patiently, nervously anticipating his reaction as she watched him pour a pitcher, his back to her. She watched the dark fabric of his t-shirt go taut and loose at the movement of his muscles. When he turned around his eyes found hers, he stilled but only for a moment his hazel eyes adjusting to her image. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Elain swallowed and licked her lips, not exactly enjoying the publication of this conversation, "I wanted to see you," was all she could think of saying.
He ran a hand through his thick red hair, "Funny, because the last time you were here you ran off like I was on fire." He turned and handed off the pitcher to some other girl and collected the change. The girl looked Elain up and down like she was gum stuck on the bottom of her shoe.
"That wasn't exactly a conversation," Elain quipped as he returned to stand in front of her. He tilted his head in confusion, "It was more like an interrogation."
"Call it whatever you want, I know exactly who you are now Nice Girl," whatever smile that was singed on the edge of his mouth frustrated her.
"You don't know me," she said sounding more hurt that she actually was.
"I think I do," he said his eyebrows furrowing, "Spoiled college girl who didn't like what she was hearing so she ran away."
Ok, so he was calling her a coward. Fine. But she was not spoiled, far from it. But a small cruel voice whispered in her earr; but isn't that what you do? Run away, at least that's what you've been doing since dad ran off. Her eyes burned from the mirage of cruel thoughts. She sucked in a breath, her knuckles returning to a normal color, "I came here to apologize."
Well. That seemed to have gotten his attention. He stared at her for a long moment, his arms crossed to ward off any customers or fellow employees. "I'm listening."
She twisted her fingers around the edge of the bar. "I had heard the rumors about your brother. I didn't have much of a description other than the fact that he was the bartender here… and I just assumed it was you on the first night. After you helped me with my car a few nights before I wanted it to be you." She looked up at him, his expression unchanged, "I wanted it to be you so bad."
Shaking off her confession, she ran a hand through her hair, "It was dumb, so incredibly stupid… I came here looking for…" her heart was hammering, she couldn't say it. It was too mortifying to say in such a public place.
He readjusted his arms, re-crossing them as if he was waiting for her to finish.
"I-" her words caught in her throat, no she had to continue. This is what she came here to do. "There's this guy I've like for a long time and I'm not exactly… experienced per say. So I thought that if I gained some it would help get him to notice me. Mor said I needed to learn from someone who knew what they were doing, that's how Rhys came into the conversation."
His face revealed nothing even though her confession sounded just as bad as she thought it would. He was like some stone-faced emissary staring down at the enemies messenger. And then he spoke, "So you came here looking for a fuck buddy?"
Elain felt her cheeks burn bright red, especially when one of the other bartenders twirled toward them, "Sweet," he smiled a catlike grin.
"What! N-n-no!" Elain exclaimed.
Lucien shoved the bartender away, "Shut the hell up Cass." The other bartender let out a howl of laughter as he walked to another customer.
She took another deep breath, there she had done it. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."
Turning around, she instantly caught an image of Feyre and Nesta sitting at a booth. Their friend Tarquin was making eyes as Feyre talked to him. She just wanted to go home, the embarrassment that nestled in her stomach hadn't disappeared like she hoped. Hopefully by the next day she wouldn't feel it at all.
Then Feyre spotted her and started waving. Her sister's eyes filled with questions, she obviously didn't notice or care about the man working so hard for her attention. As Elain began to explain what happened with Lucien, Nesta's eyes shifted over her shoulder her eyes growing bigger.
Elain turned around just as Lucien reached her, his hand coiling around her own. She opened her mouth and closed it, how had she become so speechless? His strong fingers wrapped so tightly against hers, his eyes scanning her face made her squirm.
Without a word, he turned, pulling her alongside him.
"Where are we going?" she shouted. He didn't respond but she knew he could hear her regardless of the loud noises that filled Illyria. Lucien didn't even glance behind him but his fingers shifted around hers even tighter.
Then a horrible thought seized her, "Are you kicking me out?" He worked there, his brother owned the whole bar for heavens sake. He could do whatever he wanted to her. They reached the counter, the bartender from before (Cassian? She couldn't remember his name) was standing over a small girl sitting on top of a barrel. Her silver eyes met Lucien's.
"Amren's in charge." Lucien said.
"Are you kidding me man?" Cassian whined.
The dark haired girl looked over the man that towered her, "If we left you in charge the bar would be in complete shambles."
Cassian rolling his eyes was the last thing Elain saw before Lucien pulled her into the back house of the restaurant. They bypassed an office and squeezed through the kitchen. He finally stopped in front of a pantry door, pulling a key out he unlocked the door. A stairway stretched above them as Lucien pulled her and the door closed behind him.
Her heart raced as she stared up at the steps inside the mystery pantry. He pulled her up, his warm fingers still wrapped around hers. The stairs led to a wide-open studio apartment. It was simply decorated with a bookcase and a few photos cluttering the walls. Her eyes darted toward the bed in the far corner, what was she even doing here?
He finally let go of her hand and sat down on the couch in the middle of the apartment, he began unlacing his shoes. "You live here?" was all she managed to ask, not 'what the hell am I doing up here?'
"Yeah," great, another monosyllable was just what she wanted.
"Just you?"
He shot her a look as his boots thudded on the floor, "I own the place."
Elain's eyes widened, "I thought Rhys owned the place."
"We both do. Technically five people own this bar, Cassian and Amren who you just met and our friend Azriel too."
"Oh," Elain nodded. She didn't know why but that suddenly changed everything. She buried her hands in her pockets and waited for him to say something else, anything at all.
He stood back up in one fluid motion. He moved like a swift fox and she was a small doe eyed creature he was hungry enough to eat. His eyes…. Glowed as they fixated on her. Lucien stopped before her, leaving only inches apart.
The air left her lungs and she couldn't find the strength to draw it back in. Her eyes shifted from his to his chest. That was a mistake. Because now all she could think about how lean and muscular his chest was. And then his hands were on her face, forcing her eyes to look back up at him. His palms on her cheeks, his fingers threaded in her hair, like he had locked himself in place and threw away the key. She saw a flash of his russet eyes and then his lips descended on hers.
His mouth pressed hard against hers, she gasped as she felt his tongue graze her bottom lip. Taking full advantage of that he filled her mouth with his taste, allowing him to leave no part of her mouth unfilled. She leaned forward, melting into him as her hands gripped the sides of his shoulders. Sensation overwhelmed her as she became completely boneless.
Elain broke for air, "Wait, please." Her eyes dashed to the stairs and then to the window as she contemplated her escape methods.
"What?" he panted tugging her slightly closer to him. His voice was steady, strong, but his hands still cradled her face.
She fought desperately against those dark cravings that Mor had warned her about. Ignoring his eyes, she scanned over the apartment again until her eyes lingered on the bed. And it stayed on the bed.
He must have read the anxiety in her eyes as he flexed his hands on her face. Her gaze flew back to his as he leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips again. "Don't worry," he whispered in her ear, "I don't do virgins."
And then he was kissing her again, just as hard and hot as before. His teeth catching her bottom lip, his hands diving through her hair.
Only two thoughts crossed Elain's mind.
Was it really that obvious that she was a virgin?
And why would he bother with her if there was no sex in it for him?
Well all of that quickly evaporated as the kiss continued. They kissed for a long time, his tongue exploring her mouth until she mustered enough confidence to retaliate. When her tongue touched the tip of his he let out an approving growl and gripped her hair harder. In one move, he lifted her off of the ground and carried her across the room. Her arm coiled around his shoulders until he set her back on the ground.
His own grip loosened and then disappeared.
She bit back a moan of disappointment as he sat down on the edge of his bed. The russet colored eyes gazing at her own, deciding to act Elain stepped forward. Lucien shook his head as she positioned her body between his legs. "Take off your clothes." He said.
"Excuse me?" she said some foreign noise threatening to spill from her throat.
He angled his face to one side, smirking at her, "You said you wanted to learn foreplay. Isn't that why you came here looking for my brother?"
Her face heated at the reminder.
"Well, you got me," he sighed as if he was somehow second best. And for that, Elain felt her heart begin to break for him.