Author’s Note: This fic has been in my head for a while now and I never had the chance to actually write it, but in honor of the final Th:M chapter this week I decided it was finally time. This takes place right after chapter 10 when Eris and MC find out that Rye contributed to Ansel’s setup and ultimately Eris’s imprisonment several years ago.
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The house was dark and quiet, eerily vacant as Rye sat alone in the shadows leaning forward on the couch and resting his head in his hands. He was thankful that the rest of the crew had chosen tonight to go out and explore the town, leaving him in peace with his thoughts. Well, most of the crew at least … the other two members, the ones currently consuming his guilt-ridden thoughts, were off together consoling each other. Consoling each other over the biggest mistake he’d made in his entire life.
Looking back, he should have known better than to trust Ansel … he’d always felt there was something off with that weasel of a man. But as a member of their team at the time, a supposed ally, Rye wanted to believe him when he offered to help him get his mother to a safer place. He let his emotions get in the way of his judgement, and now here he was. Rye sighed deeply, rubbing his palms over his short hair as he hung his head. He felt stupid and betrayed, ashamed of his actions … but mostly he felt remorse for hurting the two people he cared most about in this world. The two people that he’d chosen to be his family over the years … and he didn’t even tell them the truth when he had the chance. And the one who had unknowingly stolen his heart had taken the fall for it.
He was startled from his thoughts by a commotion, the departed team members busting through the front door shouting back and forth aggressively. He stood abruptly, prepared to jump in if needed, but they were all too busy to notice him lurking in the darkness. No one paid him any attention standing along the perimeter, observing them as they threw out accusations and excuses. It didn’t take long for the big boss herself to show up, Fallon swiftly interjecting and calmly asking each member for details of the incident. Of course she didn’t come in alone, and Rye’s gaze quickly found the one he was waiting for hovering in the corner.
Eris stood by quietly, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall watching the scene unfold. She looked tired, Rye noticed … her normal playful sarcastic persona tucked away, buried beneath the layers of sadness that he glimpsed in her eyes. She didn’t see him at first, her eyes trained on the group, but as Rye made his way around the room towards her she noticed the movement out of the corner of her eye. She immediately went on the defensive, straightening her shoulders and setting her face in a blank expression as she pretended to watch the chaos.
“Eris …” he whispered in a soft pleading tone. He stood directly in front of her, blocking her view of the scene, uncaring of what anyone would say or think as he lifted an arm to cup her elbow in his palm. She flinched at his touch and immediately shifted away from his grasp. Rye tried to reassure himself that it was for discretion, so no one would suspect their secret relationship they’d kept a secret for this long. The other option pained him too much to even contemplate.
“Eris, please … can we talk?” He tried again, but she continued to avoid his stare.
Squeezing past him, Eris mumbled a breathy retort as she tried to make her escape. “I’ll be fine, Rye.” He could hear the bitterness in her tone, knowing very well that she was far from fine. He trailed behind her out of the living room, the rest of the group so engaged in their heated dialogue that they never even noticed they were missing two key members.
Rye followed quietly behind her, watching her petite figure walk rigidly down the hall towards the staircase leading towards the lower level. He could see the tension visible in her neck and shoulders, her muscles clenched beneath the straps of her white tank top. She cut a sharp corner into the sunroom overlooking the pool and headed straight towards the wet bar. “Can’t take a hint, can you? I was trying to find somewhere I could be alone.” She didn’t even lift her head to acknowledge him as she poured a generous serving of Stoli into an empty glass. Bringing the crystal to her lips and swallowing about a third of the glass, she set it back down to refill it before finally turning her body towards him.
Rye felt her dark eyes boring into his own, the fiery anger evident in her gaze. He cleared his throat, opening his mouth in an attempt to reason with her. “Just give me a chance. Let me explain-“
“You don’t need to explain!” Eris spat out, interrupting him mid sentence. “I understand why you did it, I know about your mom. I know you wouldn’t have done it to hurt us.” She took a long draw of her drink, exhaling slowly as she dropped her eyes and set her glass down. Running a finger along the rim of her drink and avoiding his stare, her next words came out in a shaky whisper. “What I don’t know is why you didn’t tell me?” As the last words slipped from her tongue she met his gaze, her eyes shining in the dim light with unshed tears.
The image nearly took his breath away, as if someone had punched him in the gut and knocked the air from his lungs. This strong woman, fierce and brave and unselfish in ways he would never be worthy of, was on the verge of tears … and it was all his fault. “I wanted to tell you the truth, so many times …”
The fire reappeared, her eyes burning into him as she wiped the moisture away before it ever had a chance to fall. “Really? But what, you didn’t have the chance?” She took long determined strides across the room, placing her hands on her hips as her petite frame stopped within inches of his. “How about before you sweet-talked me back into your bed again? Or one of those many nights after you fucked me, maybe? It would have been entertaining for you to explain how many different ways you’ve actually fucked me over the years.” Her eyes burned into his, her nostrils flared as she breathed heavily with frustration.
Rye raised his hands to cup her upper arms, desperately seeking any way to comfort her. “It wasn’t like that, you know that’s not-“
“Don’t you fucking touch me!” Eris recoiled at his touch, jumping backwards in disgust. She released a screaming growl, shaking out her arms as she began pacing down the length of the room. Suddenly she stopped, twirling in place to face him head on, her face knitted in a fierce scowl. “I sacrificed myself. I went to jail for you. And you didn’t even have the decency to tell me that you were the one who sent me there.”
“I know …” How could be even respond to that? He dropped his head, unable meet her gaze as the shame crippled him. “I wanted to, I had it all planned out …”
“Why Rye …” She was closer now, only a few feet away, her voice trembling as the tears welled up in her eyes. This time she didn’t try to fight them, she allowed them to spill over her lids and stream down her cheeks. Rye resisted the urge to reach out and pull her close, to wipe the tears away and kiss the damp skin left behind. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked again, her words coming out in a choked sob.
Rye stood up straight, focused on her face as he finally allowed his confession to come tumbling out. “I was going to tell you when you came back. I had it all planned out … but when you came to me that first night you showed me all the things I would lose when I told you the truth. You reminded me how much I needed you in my life. And every day since then, I felt myself falling further and further … until I was so far gone that I couldn’t go back.”
“So you’re saying you were afraid you’d lose your fuck buddy. I’m sure you could have found another-“
“I’m saying I fell in love with you, Eris.” Rye interjected, his tone firm and direct. “You have to know that this was never just about the sex. Not for me, at least.”
Eris blinked once, twice, her eyes wide in disbelief until she shook her head to shake off any hint of emotion trying creep in. Then her eyes narrowed, all the hurt and anger bubbling to the surface. “Don’t do that Rye! Don’t play dirty and throw out heartfelt confessions to try to smooth this over. That isn’t going to work!” She shifted away, turning her head to the side to hide the tears that threatened to fall again.
“I’m not playing a game here, Eris. It’s the truth.” Rye’s voice was low, pleading and honest as he allowed all the guilt and emotions to spill from him after months, no, years of holding them inside. He lifted his hand, tucking his finger under her chin ever-so-gently to tilt her eyes up towards him. “I’m in love with you. I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I understand if you never forgive me for the things that I’ve done, for the things that I never said until it was too late …” he rubbed his thumb lightly across her jaw, catching a single tear against the pad of his thumb as it rolled down her cheek, “but you need to know. I’m so sorry, for everything.”
Eris remained frozen in place as her eyes flickered between his, a million thoughts swirling through her head, an ache forming in her chest. She released a soft exhale, the air slowly streaming past her lips until she finally spoke the words she kept repeating to herself over and over. “I hate you.”
Rye swallowed hard, taking a step away and dropping his eyes to the ground at his feet. “I understand. And I don’t blame you.”
Eris took a step forward, closing the newfound space between them. “No, Rye. I really hate you.” Her voice was a soft growl, a rumbling noise emitted from the back of her throat through clenched teeth.
Rye glanced up at her, her face poised in a snarl and her cheeks wet with tears again. Rye felt the sting in his own eyes, unable to hold back any longer as he watched her begin to unravel before him. “I’m so sorry.”
Eris slammed her fist into his chest, catching him by surprise for a moment until he felt the second blow, and then the third. “I hate you!” She roared, her voice nearly a yell, only muffled by the tightness in her throat as she sobbed between hits. Rye raised his arms to brace himself, trying to grasp her tiny flailing wrists in his palms. “I hate you! I hate you!”
“Eris … Eris stop … Stop!” Rye finally gripped one wrist and then the other, holding her arms tightly against his chest as she fought and struggled against his strength. He held her firmly in place, the tears falling freely down his face as he felt her pushing and pulling and fighting … until she stilled. Just for a moment, he tilted his head down to meet her gaze, her eyes glistening as she peered up at him with a vulnerability he had never seen before.
In an instant she tugged him flush against her, surging forward on her tiptoes to press her lips against his in a demanding kiss. Rye startled at first, but his body responded instinctively as she slipped her tongue into his mouth to massage his own. With a low groan he released her from his grasp, his hands dropping to grip her waist as she looped her arms around his neck. Her head fell back as his lips trailed down her neck, nipping and sucking the tender flesh at the base and making her moan at the sensation. “I hate you. I hate you.” She repeated the phrase over and over, trying to convince her mind of the truth as her body betrayed her.
Rye gripped the hem of her tank, tugging it down in one swift movement and dipping his head to take her pink bud between his lips. He alternated licking and tugging it, the mixture of pleasure and pain stoking the heat within her belly. She curled her fingers around the crown of his head, arching her back into him as she repeated those three little words again. “I hate you. I hate you.”
Rye unfastened the laces of her black jeans, sliding them down over her curves and pulling them from her legs as he continued to roll her nipple in his mouth. He dropped his hand to find the dampness soaking through the thin cotton of her panties, emitting a rumbling growl as he stroked her through the fabric. He allowed his mouth to travel lower, kissing the bare flesh across her belly as he hooked his thumbs around the garment and tugged them down her legs. Eris squirmed against his fingers, her body buzzing with a torturous tension and desperate for release. “I hate you.” She moaned again, a low seductive purr. “I hate you.”
As soon as she was bare she pulled him to stand upright, her mouth meeting his in a fervent kiss as her hands worked the fly of his pants. Quickly freeing his erection, she stroked him in her palm, rolling her thumb across the tip and spreading the bead of moisture around the head. With a primal grunt, Rye gripped her by the thighs and lifted her, then slammed her against the wall with a loud thud.
”Unh!” Eris moaned at the impact into his mouth, her hand sliding between their bodies and gripping him in her hand. “I hate you.” She muttered as she guided him to line up at her entrance. “Unh fuck!” She cried out as he slid his entire length inside of her, filling the many voids inside of her in so many delicious ways.
Rye rocked his hips against her at a unrelenting rhythm, pouring all of his frustrations and regrets into the forceful movements as if it would muffle the guilt he felt inside. “I hate you. I h-hate you.” Eris choked out her words as the pleasure and pain overtook her, the pressure building and the emotions rising until the dam broke and it all came rushing out at once. “I love you!” She sobbed as her orgasm hit her, tears streaming down her face as the three little words echoed in the air. Infused with a newfound vigor, Rye’s thrusts became harder and more erratic until he finally burst, his cock twitching repeatedly as he emptied himself inside of her.
The two remained pressed together as their breathing steadied and Rye gently set her down, both afraid to separate for what came next. Eventually Eris pushed him away, his smell and the touch of his hands clouding her judgement as she tried to process what had just happened. Rye’s eyes flickered over her features … the tiny freckles dotting her cheeks that were only visible up close, her dark lashes damp and beaded with residual tears, the slow inhale and exhale of air as her breathing whistled through the tiny gap between her full rosy lips. He allowed himself to stare without reservations, to memorize every minute detail of this beautiful woman … before he lost his chance.
Squeezing her way around his broad frame, Eris retrieved her clothing from the floor where he had discarded them. Rye watched silently as she dressed, keeping her back to him as she stood upright. He observed as she ran her hand across her forehead, massaging her temples and running her fingers through her short platinum hair. When she finally turned to meet his stare, her face was blank and emotionless. No sign of anger, no residue of tears, no hint of affection.
“This doesn’t change anything.” She said sternly, no sign of emotion in her steely gaze.
Rye nodded. There were no words left to be said.
“The others will wonder where we’ve gone. I’ll go first, you follow in a few minutes.” The instructions came out smoothly, a routine exchange between professionals. Nothing more. With one final glance at her clothing and a deep breath, Eris was gone without a second glance to her former lover.
Rye waited patiently for three minutes before he followed, just as he was told. At this point his obedience was the only apology left to be had.
END