Her once true love defects to Dauntless, abandoning her.
Penelope finds herself lonesome two years later. She has everything she could ask for, but nothing is fulfilling. That's until she comes across Charlie again. Old feelings are lost but somethi...
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ERIC tensed again, suddenly pushing my hands off him. He turned around, and my feet remained rooted to the spot, leaving me pressed up against him. His fingertips merely brushed a strand of hair back then he proceeded to tuck it behind my ear. I looked up, scared of what he would say, or do.
"How?" he finally asked.
I opened my mouth to explain but I didn't know what to say. Stark said he saw the way I acted around Eric. He didn't need me to verbally admit how much Eric terrified me. But right then, in that moment, it was different. Eric was showing no sign of hostility, and fear hadn't been invoked within me. Yet.
"He just. .knows, Eric. I—I didn't say anything to anyone." I gripped the front of his shirt. "I promise."
Eric sighed, looking sympathetic. His always hard-looking eyes softened.
"He won't tell anyone. . .I know he won't," I continued, but Eric didn't look too sure.
"What makes you believe that?"
"Stark cares about me. I just know he wouldn't do anything that would threaten—threaten this, us."
Eric chuckled, but it sounded too sinister. His eyes darkened, if that was possible. They stared into my own, intently, finally invoking fear.
"Do you think that I don't care about you? Is that what you're fucking insinuating?!" he bellowed, making me cringe.
I recoiled away from him, keeping as much distance between us as possible. My breathing started growing ragged and I lost any safety I thought I had.
"I—I never said that, Eric," I breathed.
I kept backing away from him, until my back met the wall. Within seconds, Eric strode over to me, his hands on either side of my head. I was caged in, with no idea of what he would do.
"Why do you keep lying me?"
"Eric, I'm not—"
"You're fucking lying to me and to yourself, Penelope! I don't—" he stopped abruptly, slamming one of his fists next to my head.
I flinched, placing my hands over his chest. There needed to be space between us, but I also needed to calm him. I didn't know why the sudden need but I found it necessary.
"Eric, don't, please," I murmured, running my hands up, placing them along his jaw.
He suddenly gripped my waist, pressing himself up against me. I groaned softly at the pressure but didn't push him away. That would've only enraged him even more, which I was hoping to avoid.
"Oh, Penelope. ." Eric leaned down, kissing near my ear lobe. "We can't have others finding out the truth."
I closed my eyes, moving my hands over his broad shoulders.
