LONGEST. CHAPTER. EVER.
This probably should have been two, but I'm impatient.
There's a trigger warning on this one; if you can't work out what it's for you're definitely too young for this chapter. Actually pretty much this whole story. Please don't lose your innocence because of me I'll feel bad.
I AM NERVOUS ABOUT THIS ONE. Please don't hate me if it sucks.
Disclaimer: I don't own Les Mis, or any of the songs quoted.
Éponine had not fully appreciated how short and tight this dress was until she had to walk up to the microphone in it, and her nerves started to kick in. Musichetta's voice rang in her ears: 'start off with a bit of a safe one, lull him into a false sense of security… then take it up a notch'.
She'd been thinking back to her inn days (not something she did often), remembering the songs that used to get the creepy old blokes buying beer like it was going out of style. There were a few, but one song that stood out. She knew he liked it because Grantaire was forever playing this band, and Enjolras didn't complain about him playing them like he complained about say, Courfeyrac's music. And it would at least get her into the swing of it.
Stepping up to the microphone, she said "hi everyone, I'm Éponine, and I'm going to be singing a few songs for you tonight. This first one is by the Black Keys, a band I really like… join in with the da's if you know it…"
The intro started, and she swayed her head in time with the beat, smiling as she started to sing
I must admit
I can't explain
Any of these thoughts racing
Through my brain
It's true
Baby I'm howlin' for you
It was just sexy enough to get her in the swing of things, without being too much, she decided. Plus it was a great song.
There's something wrong
With this plot
The actors here
Have not got
A clue
Baby I'm howlin' for you
The table of burly guys by the window absolutely loved it, singing and dancing along. When the da's kicked in, they were going mad for it. She couldn't help but laugh at them and join in, shaking her hips and bopping her head in time with the beat.
Dadada DA da
Dadada da da
Dadada DA da
As it turned out, they kept her entertained enough for the rest of the song that she didn't get a chance to look over and gauge his reaction. So when she'd finished the final 'da' chorus a couple of minutes later, she turned her gaze to the table in the corner.
Then she saw him. She saw the t-shirt, and the jeans, and GOD she saw the hair, and the neck and… wow.
Fuck it. At this rate, she'd be the one to break anyway.
"Ladies and gents, I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a bit sexy tonight. Anybody else?" A small laugh and a cheer rang out at her question, most notably from Les Amis and the blokes by the window, but by far Éponine's favourite cheer was the loud "WOO!" from Cosette that made Bossuet nearly fall out of his seat. She almost burst out laughing; Marius looked so proud and he shock on the faces of the other Amis – Courfeyrac in particular - was absolutely priceless. Not so sweet and innocent after all… I LOVE it!
"This one goes out to all you sexy people out there" she announced with a wink towards Musichetta, who was grinning mischievously from ear to ear.
The chords kicked in, strong and loud. Head down towards the microphone, she looked over at him through her eyelashes. He met her gaze with a stifled rueful smile and the subtlest of head shakes. She grinned and raised an eyebrow as she started to sing.
We've been here too long tryin' to get along
Pretendin' that you're oh, so shy
She widened her eyes mockingly on those last three words, tilting her head sarcastically from side to side.
I'm a natural ma'am doin' all I can
She pulled her bun out, slowly, extending her arm right above her head as her wavy curls tumbled around her shoulders.
My temperature is runnin' high
Removing the microphone from the stand, Éponine decided it was time for a little audience interaction.
Cry at night no one in sight
She sashayed her way between the tables towards the guys by the window
An' we got so much to share
Reaching the first guy, she raised an eyebrow and pulled him up from his by his tie as his friends whooped and clapped. He moved closer, playing along, and she let him get aaaalmost close enough to touch her then she spun him around and pushed him away, leaving her free to steal his seat. A chorus of "Ohhhhh!"s rose up from the guy's friends.
Talking's fine if you got the time
Sitting sideways on the seat with one leg hooked over the other, she leant slowly back so she was horizontal, the ends of her hair just brushing the floor.
But I ain't got the time to spare, yeah
She slowly, deliberately rose up back to vertical, her back arched, before spinning in the chair to face the guy again.
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
She raised an eyebrow at him, swishing her hair to the side.
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
She leaned forward towards him.
Do you wanna touch me there, where?
He stepped towards her, hand out, grinning with a cheeky eyebrow raised.
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
She grabbed it and pulled herself up, spinning under his arm before strutting away.
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
She turned back around and winked at him with a grin before continuing on her way through the tables. As she moved past one, a random woman stood up to join in.
Do you wanna touch me there?
She and the woman put one hand on each other's waists, grinning at each other
Where?
The woman's other hand joined on Éponine's other hip (Éponine still had her microphone)
There?
They moved their hands down to each other's butts
yeah?!
The woman pulled Éponine in so that their bodies pressed together. Éponine threw her head back and laughed.
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
The whole place was joining in, this was hilarious.
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
She smiled her thanks at the woman before moving over to Les Amis' table. Reaching Combeferre first, she ran her free hand over his shoulders and down his chest. As she did she glanced at Enjolras, who looked completely shell-shocked; simultaneously ecstatic and furious.
Every girl an' boy needs a little joy
All you do is sit an' stare
She moved to stand in front of his chair, separating his legs with hers. Your turn, she thought mischievously. Swaying her hips, she dropped slowly down in front of him so she was on her knees.
Beggin' on my knees baby, won't you please?
Leaning up so her face was just in front of his chest, Éponine tangled her fingers in his curls, pulling softly. She felt him tense and grinned.
Run your fingers through my hair
Popping back up, and untangling her fingers, she moved around the table. She got to Grantaire first, holding onto the back of his chair and swaying down to the floor then back up again.
My, my, my whiskey and rye
Don't it make you feel so fine
Courfeyrac winked at her with his cheeky grin and she ruffled his curls. She had more entertaining fish to fry.
Right or wrong don't it turn you on?
Marius didn't know she was behind him until her fingers were dancing along his collarbone, heading for his chest; he physically jumped about a foot off his seat in shock. Éponine stifled her laugh but Courfeyrac couldn't; he looked as though he might bust a gut laughing, with tears of mirth forming in his eyes.
Can't you see we're wastin' time, yeah?
She moved along to Cosette, running her hand up the blonde's side. To Éponine's surprise, she joined in, leaning back and wrapping her arms silkily around Éponine's neck with a cheeky smile.
Do you wanna touch? (Yeah)
Do you wanna touch? (Yeah)
Do you wanna touch me there, where?
For the next couple of choruses, Éponine worked her way around the remaining Amis: she stole Joly's glasses and wore them on the end of her nose; Bossuet stood up and tried to slut-drop, but only succeeded in falling flat on his arse; Bahorel pulled her into his lap and she leant back against him, one arm hooked back around his neck.
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
Do you wanna touch me there, where, there, yeah?
She was back at Enjolras, and while her conscience told her he'd been through enough, frankly, she was having too much fun by now to stop. For good measure she ran a finger slowly along his jawline as she passed; her teasing eyes locked with his stormy ones.
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
She made her way back to the stage, through the tables. She'd never seen such an enthusiastic audience, only a couple of tables were sitting awkwardly.
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
Do you wanna touch me there?
Do you wanna touch?
(Yeah)
Do you wanna touch me there, there, yeah?
Replacing the microphone in the stand, she sang the last lines.
My, my, my do you wanna touch me there?
Touch you, touch me touch, everybody
You touch me, you know where, there
Oh yeah, oh, yeah
"Thank you everybody!" she said, but she could barely hear herself over the cheer. Laughing, she bowed – carefully, so she didn't flash the entire place – and continued "there was going to be one more, but I think I've got you all suitably wound up for one evening; I'm back on Friday if you enjoyed yourselves! Thank you!"
She dashed for the staff door, running through to the back to grab her shoes and leather jacket. Her standard shout through of "I'm off home, Chetta" got no response, so as she pulled her second shoe on, she leaned her head round to the bar area. Musichetta was dealing with a packed bar and barely found time to turn to Éponine, and shout "GO GET 'EM TIGER"; there was barely a guy in the place who hadn't got up for a drink. Still got it she thought to herself, laughing quietly as she left the building through the staff entrance.
He can come and find me she thought with a grin.
Honestly, it took a second or two for Enjolras to even be able to move. When he finally could, he turned his head to look at Combeferre, who took one look at his shell-shocked face and burst out laughing, before saying something quietly, which Enjolras couldn't hear over the din at the bar.
"What?!" he yelled.
"I don't want to shout it" Combeferre shouted, before pulling out his phone.
A second later, Enjolras' phone buzzed in his pocket.
99% sure Joly will be at Chetta's, I'll sleep at his tonight. Gav's there too. Good luck my man.
Enjolras felt himself blush, before he caught Ferre's eye with an embarrassed grin. Then he left the Musain like someone was chasing him.
Barely 10 minutes later, he was opening the door to the flat. As he closed the door hurriedly behind him, he spotted her; she was stood in the kitchen eating Ben and Jerry's out of the carton, still wearing the dress, but with one of his shirts (a pale blue button down) as well. Not for the first time that evening, he debated running over and taking her there and then, but pride and a touch of good old embarrassment stopped him. Instead, he played it as cool as he could, dropping his keys in the bowl and (he hoped) casually saying "nice set tonight."
She finished her spoonful of Phish Food, and then replied with a lopsided smile "thanks. Hoped you'd like it."
DID I EVER… "Yeah, it was ok" he replied, walking into the kitchen. "Something wasn't quite right though."
She put the ice cream down on the bench and raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Yeah. Could've been better." Literally the only way that could have been better is if you were 100% naked and nobody else had been there.
"Well, maybe that's because I didn't get to finish" she replied, her voice low and throaty, like it always was after she'd been singing. "There was one more song."
"What was it?"
"Well first of all, I thought it would be Do I Wanna Know? – the Arctic Monkeys, you know?"
Memories of her birthday flashed through his head and he replied a little too quickly "YES I know that one."
"But then I settled on a different song." Éponine said.
"You did?"
"Yeah. I could play it for you if you want?"
"I'd love you to" he replied. She turned away to use the iPod speaker on top of the fridge. A few of her curls were trapped under the collar of his shirt. Jesus, Enjolras… deep breaths.
The song started; another electric guitar introduction, but a much more subtle, slower, sexier one. She turned around, staring at him with wide, searching eyes. "It's by Walk the Moon" she almost whispered.
You grip your hands around my throat
You strip the buttons off my coat
She looked briefly down at her bare feet, and then took a step towards him, so that they were an arm's length apart. Her eyes locked back on his, and they were burning bright like a bonfire.
I choose the methods I do best
Thump, thump, the thumping in your chest
Éponine couldn't tear her eyes away from Enjolras'; so dark they were almost midnight blue, and filled to the brim with desire and emotion.
When you are close to me I shiver
When you are close to me I shiver
The beat of the song increased with the chorus, and she felt her heart rate rise.
When you are close to me I shiver
When you are close to me I shiver
He suddenly stepped towards her, reaching his right hand up to hold her cheek, he ducked his head and crushed his lips against hers.
You leave these marks up on my neck
And it's still there... I know but I still check
She leaned up into him, the now familiar fire igniting in her belly as their lips moved with each other; their mouths opened simultaneously, tongues dancing together as their breathing got hotter and faster.
Thump, thump, the thumping in my chest
As I lose the feeling in my fingertips
Her hands were fisted balls in his t-shirt, pulling him closer, desperate for more body contact. He guided her firmly backwards, pressing her against the kitchen bench.
Thump, thump, the thumping in my chest
As I lose the feeling in my fingertips
His hands were everywhere and she was breathless, leaning her head back and breathing as deeply as she could for air as he kissed her neck
When you are close to me I shiver
When you are close to me I shiver
He worked his way down the side of her neck, then reached his hands up and pushed his shirt off her shoulders, pulling it down her arms so it was off. Her heart almost stopped when he whispered huskily in her ear "God, I love it when you wear my clothes."
"I know" she replied huskily.
When you are close to me I shiver
When you are close to me I shiver
She leaned up so her mouth was right by his ear, and she whispered "I love it when you don't wear any clothes"
Owly, you're dear to me
Please check your clothing at the door
Enjolras laughed a little, looking down at her with a grin that matched hers. "Well I'd hate to disappoint" he said.
And who you're supposed to be
You always leave me wanting more
He moved his hands around to her butt, giving her a boost so she could hop up onto the bench; her dress rode up around her hips as she opened her legs so he could get closer.
Owly, you're dear to me
Shall we get intimate again?
Éponine teased at the hem of his t-shirt; her fingers lightly brushing the soft, smooth skin underneath before grabbing it and pulling it up. He raised his arms so she could remove it, and she dropped it onto the ground beside his shirt.
Owly, you're dear to me
Shall we get intimate again?
He kissed her again as she stroked her hands across his smooth, toned chest (I'll never get over this chest I swear to God…). A hand either side of her waist, he slowly pushed the dress up her sides, stroking her skin as he did; she raised her arms and he pushed it off completely, letting it fall to the floor. His hands explored the newly exposed skin as he spoke into her mouth "unbelievable dress by the way."
Shall we get intimate again?
I think so, I think so
"Thanks" she replied "It was –"she cut herself off to laugh quietly; Enjolras was staring nonplussed at her black lace backless bra. "Having trouble there?"
Shall we get intimate again?
Owly, you're dear to me
"Why are there no fastenings?!"
When you are close to me I shiver
When you are close to me I shiver, shiver
"It's backless, here" she removed it to show him, laughing at the impressed look on his face.
When you are close to me I shiver
When you are close to me I shiver, shiver
"It will always be a mystery to me how you do these things" he said, only half joking.
She laughed again, and kissed him on the nose. "You're an idiot. Bedroom?"
When you are close to me I shiver
When you are close to me I shiver, shiver
"Bedroom" he agreed, so she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. His hands on her back for support, he carried her into his room, eyes locked together.
She kissed him hard as he opened the door to his room; so hard his knees felt weak and for a second he panicked he might drop her. He didn't, thank God, and stepped into the room, placing her gently on bed as he hastily removed his shoes and socks. She shuffled back up the bed and bit her lip as he finished, and that did it. He almost dived forward, all his weight on his elbows as he leaned over her and kissed her hard on the mouth; her fingers tangled in his hair and a low growl escaped his throat, making Éponine smile into his mouth. He kissed his way down her neck, along her collarbone, down to her breasts. He paused his journey there to give them a bit of attention – he'd neglected them a bit so far, he felt – before continuing down her stomach, his hands removing her panties as he did, so that when he got there, there was nothing in his way. He kissed her right between her legs, sucking lightly as his tongue explored, and she melted; her back arched and she gasped out "fuck!" her breathing almost a pant. He fought hard to concentrate as she grabbed handfuls of his hair, almost scratching his scalp with her fingers, pulling him in closer as she breathed out "yes, fuck, yes! Jesus… Enjolras!"
The sound of his name falling off her breathless lips put something of a time constraint on things. He pulled his head back, mumbling "why am I still wearing pants?!"
After a speedy but complicated manoeuvre, he was no longer wearing pants.
He fumbled in his bedside drawer for a condom, putting it on with Éponine's help; then he positioned himself above her, weight on his extended arm to avoid crushing her, his eyes locked on hers. He stayed there for a second, just looking at her; even sweaty and red-cheeked, she was radiant, her hair spread out behind her on the pillow and her eyes blazing an inferno.
"You're sure about this?" he checked.
She smiled, and her eyes filled with tears. For a horrible second he thought she was going to say no, but then she whispered "nobody's ever asked me that before." His heart twisted in outrage, but before he could speak, she grinned and said "and for that, you get to fuck me into next Tuesday."
So he did.
I leave the last part to your imagination, but suffice to say the neighbours knew their names by the morning.
Feedback is massively appreciated. On this one more than ever.