Secluded

Bedtime

Secluded Chapter 9

Eric POV

I follow the water drips that fall down Tris' legs as she is turned around getting some clothes. The towel rises just below the curve of her ass as she bends down to the second drawer and was mesmerized by her soft tanned skin. As she rises I quickly shut my eyes just in case so I won't be caught like some creep stalking her. I hear the door close and I let out the breath I have been holding for who knows how long. I relax on my back and look up to the ceiling. I hear the door of the bathroom open and then see the bedroom open and there is Tris standing in nothing but a big t shirt and her underwear.

"Oh I thought you were asleep, I'm sorry" she whispered into the dark.

"Its fine" I say closing my eyes.

I turn to lay on my side so that I can hide my face from her, afraid my face will reveal every thought in my head right now. I feel her crawl into bed and under the quilt were lying under. Once she is settled I hear her breathing steady so I assume she has fallen asleep already.

Moments later she whispers "Thank you. For today. It meant a lot".

I smile and finally say "No problem. You seemed like you needed to get away from here awhile".

I hear the bed move and then her say "What's the real reason why you are here, Eric?"

I lay there not wanting to reveal anything but also shocked that she would ask that.

"You already know why. My time out, remember?" I say.

"Yeah, but there's gotta be a reason why you are so heated all the time. It's not normal to yell at second years at dinner and throw a tantrum in front of them. You're much older than them. And you seem like the kind of kind that demands respect yet you act like that." She says.

I don't even know what to say to her. My inner battle to let her in is struggling and I've pushed women away for years because I didn't want them in.

"You don't have to answer. I just hope you find whatever you need here. And that it helps you focus on whatever you need. And also, you can tell me anything. Whatever happens here, stays here. It's nobody's business to know. But um, well, goodnight." She whispers.

I lay back on my back contemplating a response.

I turn my head and my eyes meet hers instantly.

"I didn't tell you everything about me. I didn't want you to know because it's still a raw wound for me. And it still hurts to talk about." I say.

She sits there waiting patiently and puts her hands under her cheek between her and the pillow.

"I was engaged a few years ago. To someone in Erudite while I was Dauntless. Part of my job is visiting Erudite quite a lot and I met her my third year as a dauntless. Long story short.... She was sleeping with a lot of other guys. After that I became bitter and shunned all relationships after that. It was a mistake trusting her. I don't even think she wanted to be engaged. She thought it was all a joke when I asked her..." I bitterly laughed at the thought of when I proposed.

"Oh my gosh. Eric." She says stunned.

"It was a shocker... finding her with another man in her room. With another leader who is probably three times older then her. And she didn't deny anything either once she was caught. " I say.

"Eric. I'm so sorry that happened to you. You don't deserve that." She says.

"I don't deserve anything, Tris." I say.

"What? How can you say that? You deserve love. Your parents would want you to find love. For someone to take care of you" she says.

"You don't know what they would want for me, Tris" I snap.