The Distance Between Us | Eric Coulter

twelve

    Rory

I'm awake before most of the other initiates the next morning as usual.

Despite having slept on the uncomfortable floor for most of the night, I didn't feel particularly achy this morning, just deliciously sore in all the right places.

Humming a cheerful tune under my breath, I skipped into the Pit, feeling a certain leader's burning gaze on me the moment I step foot into the space.

Ignoring him completely, I take up a spot where we normally gather with my hands tucked behind my back.

Footsteps approach me before I see a pair of worn-out boots stop before me- the same pair of boots I remember seeing as I was bent and fucked over the desk of the person that's wearing it and I squirm a little at the memory.

"Feeling fucking peachy today, are we?" Eric grits out and I hum in agreement, not meeting his eyes.

I hear a low growl before warm fingers shoot out to grip me on the chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"You think I'm just going to let you off after the stunt you pulled yesterday?" He demands, "Trust me when I say I look forward to punishing you."

"Whatever do you mean?" I flutter my lashes dramatically at him, feigning ignorance.

I was chalking what happened yesterday to a temporary lapse in judgement, but I can't deny that the chemistry- or whatever it was- between us is almost combustible. So much so that it made me feel as if I was losing control of myself. Hence, why I left the way I did; to remind myself that I still had control of the situation as long as I'm willing to take it.

Eric narrows his eyes at me and then takes another step toward me, bringing us so close to one another that our chests were brushing against each other's and I had to crane my neck to meet his eyes.

I force my breathing to stay even, swallowing the gasp that's threatening to leave my throat before it has the chance to escape.

Raising my chin, I glare up at the man who used to be my best friend.

"Do you have boundary issues?" I quip, "Because you seem to have issues respecting mine."

He leans down even further until his lips are hovering over mine, "You didn't seem to have any problems with it when you were coming on my dick."

I glared at him, glancing over my shoulder to make sure none of the other initiates have showed up yet or that none of the other Dauntless members who were hanging around could hear him.

"Keep your voice down," I hiss.

Eric has the cheek to look offended by my request, "What? Are you fucking ashamed of being me?" I can't quite tell if he's serious or not. Considering the annoyed look on his face, I'd say he was and I smirk.

"Just being considerate, that's all." I cock a brow at him, "I mean, with you being a leader and all, I thought you'd appreciate it."

He narrows his eyes at me, looking like he can't quite decide if I was being serious this time.

Oh, how the tables have turned. I was quite enjoying this if I'm being honest.

Eric leans forward until his lips brushes against the shell of my ear and growls, "See, the problem is that I'm not fucking done with too yet."

His fingers curl around my hips in an almost bruising grip and this time, he does draw a gasp out of me as he presses me against him.

The corner of his lips quick up smugly at my reaction and I scowl, shoving him back.

Eric remains unmoving, as if he were a wall made, only out of muscle instead of bricks, and his hands shoot out to grip my wrist.

Images of yesterday and how the same large hands held them captive over my head flash through my mind and my breath hitches in my throat.

Laughter rings out from the hallway behind us, signalling the arrival of the other initiates. Eric reluctantly releases me at the sound of their fast-approaching footsteps and takes a step back from me.

"This isn't over, Rory." He tells me, "Far from it."

I smile sarcastically at him, "I look forward to seeing what else you've got, dickwad."

I could've sworn I saw a flash of a smile before he turns his back on me, returning to his position at the front as my fellow initiates fell in line behind me.

"Today, we'll be focusing on hand-to-hand combat," Four states once everyone has quietened down, "Specially; grappling. So, pair up and we can get started. Since, there's an odd number of you, one of you will be paired with me. Who's it going to be?"

When no one volunteers, Four raises a brow at me. "Rory?"

I could feel Eric's burning gaze boring a hole into my skull. Without even sparing a glance at him, I already knew that he was seething.

The thought made me smile even wider. "I'd love to," I agree, fluttering my lashes dramatically at Four.

Knowing my motives, Four simply rolls his eyes at me before proceeding to give a quick demonstration of some moves we could use.

At the end of it, he dismisses everyone into their pairs so we could start practising.

Four approaches me, but Eric quickly cuts him off before he could even reach me.

"I've got it," He tells Four, who peers over Eric's shoulder at me as if to ask if I was okay with this.

I shrug before waving him off, "I don't mind."

"I'm fucking glad you don't, Aurora. But I wasn't giving you a fucking choice." He seizes me by my elbow dragging me away from the group, "You're with me whether you like it or not."

"Where are we going?" I ask.

An unsettlingly smug smile stretches across Eric's face, "I told you it wasn't over, didn't I?"