#chronicles chapter

Eloise giggled and then sighed.

“No, she would probably agree with you,” She said. “Then, throw something at your head.”

“Sounds about right,” Bruce rubbed his hand over Eloise’s back. She glanced up at him.

“I’m glad you two are getting along.”

“Were you worried we’d butt heads?” He smiled.

“Not really,” She shrugged. “But you never know how friends and boyfriends are going to mix.”

Bruce’s grin widened.

“Like the way you say boyfriend.”

“Oh?” Eloise wrapped a strand of his hair around her finger.

“Mmhhmm,” Bruce hummed and leaned in to kiss her.

“Seriously. Going to vomit all over this deck.”

“You’re a buzz kill,” Eloise groaned.

Clara grinned and handed her her drink.

“Yup.”

“Clara, you’re a fan of the band,” Bruce began.

“She was only mildly hysterical when I said you were coming over,” Eloise interrupted, laughing.

“Oh, shut up!” Clara covered her hands with her face.

“So, you know Steve, right?” Bruce continued, though he was battling a grin while Eloise and Clara exchanged a look.

“Well, yeah, I know of him, of course,” Clara nodded.

“You think he’s attractive?” Bruce pressed.

Eloise snickered while Clara peeled the label off her hard cider.

“He’s alright,” Clara shrugged.

“By alright, she means drool worthy,” Eloise flashed her friend a smile.

“I don’t think you want to head down that road with your boyfriend sitting right there,” Clara pointed her beer at Bruce.

“You’re probably right,” Eloise nodded.

“I expect to hear more about that later,” Bruce said, nuzzling her briefly.

“He’s kind of hard to get a read on in any interview you read,” Clara shrugged, content to ignore the couple’s whispered words.

“Ahh, yeah,” Bruce agreed. “He is a good guy though.”

Clara stopped fidgeting and raised an eyebrow.

“And you’re telling me this because?”

Bruce moved to shrug, but didn’t want to disturb Eloise who had moved to rest her head on his shoulder.

“Just curious. Eloise mentioned you weren’t seeing anyone,” He said. “And I think someone like you could only benefit Steve.”

“Oh, really?” Clara rest her head in her hand.  

“Sure! You seem nice enough and Steve isn’t picky.”

“Bruce!” Eloise gasped while Clara burst out laughing.

“I didn’t mean it like that!” Bruce held his hands up. “I swear I didn’t.”

“I know,” Clara shook her head, giggling all the while.

“I think this is the last of these,” Bruce set his beer on the floor of the deck as his cheeks continued to darken.

“I’d be willing to meet him,” Clara smiled, easing some of Bruce’s embarrassment.

Eloise took the hint and climbed into Bruce’s lap, her knee slipping between his legs as she sat on his thigh. Her mouth never parting from his, her hand wound its way into Bruce’s hair. She found the hair tie, and gently slipped it out as Bruce smiled against her lips. Eloise tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling lightly and making him groan beneath her.

Bruce’s thumbs dug into her hipbones as Eloise’s tongue swept into his mouth. The kiss turned hot and wet and Bruce shifted restlessly beneath her. Eloise moaned as his thigh jerked between her legs, pressing against her center. Even as Bruce relaxed beneath her, Eloise’s hips chased after the sweet pressure, grinding down into his thigh.

“That feel good?” Bruce’s words were rushed as they broke apart.

Eloise nodded frantically, toes curling already.

The delight in her answer was obvious in Bruce’s face as he reached a hand up to brush his thumb lightly over her bottom lip.

“Pretty girl,” He murmured.

Eloise shivered and Bruce’s hands drifted back down to her waist. Eyes trained on Eloise’s face, he guided her hips to press her core into the taut muscles of his thigh again.

“Oh!” Eloise’s hands fell to Bruce’s shoulders as the friction of his jeans created a pleasant warmth between her legs.

“Bruce,” She moaned. “More, please.”

Bruce flexed his thigh beneath Eloise. Her breath hitched at the sensation as he raised his leg to meet each rub of her hips.

“Bruce, if you keep doing that, I’m going to-” Eloise couldn’t finish her sentence, the building pleasure working a moan out of her throat.

“Good,” Bruce breathed, his hands tightening on her hips. “I want you to.”

Eloise let her face drop to his neck, eyes closed as she breathed in the smell of sweat and Bruce’s soap. He kept her rhythm steady as she cried out, pressing her face harder into his shoulder as her fingers dug into his shirt.

She was swept over so suddenly that there was no warning or bracing for impact. There was only the swell of pleasure that crested over and over as she gasped Bruce’s name. Her body went limp in his arms, but Bruce found quickly that he loved holding her like this. Soft and sleepy, still shivering with ecstasy.

“I’ve got you,” He murmured softly, his lips pressing gently to Eloise’s temple. He felt her answering smile against his throat.

“I know you do,” She whispered, relaxing her hands against his chest. “I know you do.”  

____

Thanks for reading!

Eloise looked at her over the back of the couch.

“Why? This obviously has a happy ending,” She laughed.

“I still need ice cream,” Clara’s response was muffled as her head was in the freezer. “But keep going!”

Eloise sighed and let her head fall back.

“He’s perfect.”

“Perfect, perfect?”

“I’m terrified he might be,” Eloise mumbled.

“Wow,” Clara shook her head and settled back on the couch. She turned to look at Eloise. “So, did you suck his dick?”

“Clara!”

“What?” Clara ducked as Eloise threw a pillow at her. “You said he was perfect. That’s totally a valid question.”

“Yeah, but it was our first date!” Eloise huffed. “We just made out in his car.”

“Oooo,” Clara waggled her eyebrows and spooned another bite of ice cream into her mouth.

“He was so sweet,” Eloise sighed. “And a gentleman.”

“Those are the big two,” Clara nodded. “How about smart and funny?”

“Ugh,” Eloise groaned. “Check and check. In startling amounts. He’s insanely smart.”

“Wow,” Clara said. “Must be damn near a rocket scientist for you to say that.”

Eloise rolled her eyes, but smiled at Clara’s comment. Then, she groaned again.

“Worse. He likes planes!”

“Sounds like a dork.”

“Oh, he is. Massively.”  

There was a moment of silence as the two women sat in thought.

“You are so in trouble.”

“Indeed.”

____________________________________

The Boys

“You’re late.”

It was the first words out of Steve’s mouth when Bruce walked into the control room, but it did nothing to dampen Bruce’s mood. He ruffled Steve’s hair even as Steve slapped his hand away.

“How’d it go?” Nicko clapped his hand on Bruce’s back as he walked by the drummer.

Bruce’s mouth stretched into an impossibly wide grin.

“Amazing.”

Adrian looked up from his guitar.

“How can you sound so lovesick in just three syllablles?” He asked.

Bruce shrugged and fell into a chair. He spun it in a slow circle, looking up at the ceiling. He could still smell the scent of Eloise’s shampoo if he closed his eyes. Feel the brush of her soft lips against his. Her hand on his chest sliding down-

“Earth to Bruce!” Steve waved his hand in front of Bruce’s face.

“Yeah, yeah,” Bruce stopped his spinning.

“We’re trying to have a band meeting here,” Steve gestured to the room.

“You need to get laid, Steve,” Bruce crossed his arms over his chest.

“Fuck off,” Steve bristled.

“Or even just a date!” Bruce was unbothered by Steve’s murderous glare as he rest his elbows on his knees, face bright with amusement. “You just need to relax. Have a good time.”

“I can have a beer and relax when we get done with this meeting,” Steve nearly growled, making it clear that the conversation was over.

Bruce half-listened to the rest of the conversations around him, but was mostly thinking about his date with Eloise and the curve of her mouth when she laughed.  

Adrian nudged him as Steve quieted and conversations began to break out among the band members.

“This was the girl from the bookstore?”

“Yeah,” Bruce nodded and his foot began tapping on the floor. “Eloise.”

“Ahh,” Adrian hummed. “Things clicked?”

“They really did,” Bruce blew out a breath. “The conversation, the touching. It was perfect.”

“Good,” Adrian said.

Now having found a willing listener, Bruce turned to look at Adrian.

“We closed the restaurant, Adrian. We talked until the waiters hated us and they started locking the doors. So we talked in the car and we still didn’t run out of things to say,” Bruce said, voice filled with awe.

“That’s never happened before,” He finished, grinning ear to ear.

___

“I would like that,” She whispered.

Bruce’s eyes widened and warmed, and then he was leaning in closer. The first touch of his lips was just a hint of a kiss. Incredibly gentle and tender. The whisper of more as both their hearts began to race, blood thrumming hotly in their veins.

It was Eloise who brought her hand up to Bruce’s cheek and urged him closer, wanting more.  His tongue swept into her mouth, warm and wet, and Eloise sighed.

“I should’ve taken that mint at the restaurant,” Bruce mumbled.

Eloise giggled and brushed her nose against his.

“You’re just fine,” She said, just before she kissed him again. His laughter shook them both, but it only added to the moment and filled with Elosie with unexpected joy.

Bruce brought his hand to her shoulder, palm sliding over her skin until it rest against the side of her neck. His touch was startlingly hot against hers and it made her shudder.

“Good night, Eloise,” Bruce murmured, mouth knocking into Eloise’s.

“What?” Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Saying it now, because if we keep doing this, I won’t want to say it all,” His voice was light, almost hiding the thread of need in it.

“Say it again in a few more minutes,” Eloise grinned and nipped at his lip gently. “I’m not ready to hear it yet.”

“Eloise,” Bruce’s laugh was very nearly a groan.

But he was just as eager as she was when her mouth pressed to his. She kissed him thoroughly as her hand ran down his chest. Her fingers brushed low over his stomach and Bruce moaned softly.

“Eloise,” He repeated, this time his voice much breathier.

“Hmm?” Eloise hummed and kissed his jaw. Her mouth trailed all the way to just below his ear and she could feel him shudder. With a grin, her hand slipped lower and onto his jeans. He was hard and the feeling alone made Eloise’s toes curl.

Before she could properly feel him, his fingers caught around her wrist in a firm but gentle grip. Eloise pulled far enough away so that she could see his face. And so that Bruce could see her raised eyebrow.

“Everything okay?” She asked.

Bruce nodded quickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

“We don’t have to do anything tonight,” He said, his face more serious than Eloise had ever seen it. “Or ever, if it’s not what you want.”

“I want to,” Eloise smiled brightly at him. Just when she thought he couldn’t get any sweeter, he continued to surprise her. And it was only date one. The thought made her stomach somersault.  

“I want you to, too,” Bruce laughed softly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “But I’m in no hurry. We’ve got time.”

“Sure you’re not going to just disappear in a puff smoke when I wake up?” Eloise asked softly, the downturn of her mouth giving away the seriousness of the question.

Bruce took Eloise’s face gently in both of his hands, brushing his thumb over her cheekbone. He pressed his lips to her in an exceptionally soft motion.

“You won’t be able to get rid of me that easy, El.”

___

Eloise jumped from her stool and it went clattering to the floor. She pressed a hand to her chest and looked up at the man, who was quickly turning pink.

“Sorry,” She let out a breath. “I didn’t realize there was someone in here.”

“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” He held out his hands. “Though I should’ve realized you weren’t here by the look on your face.”

Eloise swallowed.

Just as she was about to ask him if she could help him find anything, the hair and the face and the leather jacket clicked. Bruce Dickinson. Iron Maiden. Holy shit.

And the smile on his face, for some reason directed at her, sent a fluttering in her stomach like she'd never felt before. Her knees were fighting to buckle beneath her, but Eloise smiled.

“Was there anything in particular you were looking for?” She asked, fingers tight on the lip of the counter.

“I think I just found it,” Bruce grinned.

Eloise could feel her face begin to warm as she scrambled to find something to say.

“Sorry,” Bruce rest his hands on the counter and shook his head. “That was cheesy.”

“That’s okay, it was cute too.”

Bruce looked back up and his smile widened.

“You think so?”

“Maybe,” Eloise shrugged, finding her rhythm in the conversation.

Bruce laughed and nodded thoughtfully.

“So, you’re on the fence, then?”

“It would seem so.”

“Anything I can do to sway you one way or the other?” Bruce asked.

Eloise paused.

“Tell me about your favorite book.”

The sun had long disappeared into the horizon and the streetlights were bright as they announced the fall of evening. But the silhouetted couple at the counter didn’t notice. In their own world, Bruce and Eloise laughed as they moved through every genre. Historical fiction, romance, nonfiction. Everything was covered as favorite stories and authors were shared.

As Eloise laughed and glanced down, she noticed the time and gasped.

“I was supposed to close the store a half hour ago.”

Both of them laughed and Bruce shook his head.

“I didn’t mean to take up your evening, but I’m glad I did.”

“Me too.”

“Still on the fence?” Bruce smiled, hope heavy in his voice.

Eloise shook her head.

“Not anymore.”

“So, you wouldn’t be opposed to dinner tomorrow night?” Bruce’s brown eyes were warm and light with excitement.

“Sounds perfect,” Eloise grinned. “Maybe we can talk about Rime of the Ancient Mariner?”

“So, you do know who I am!” Bruce laughed and slapped his hand on the counter.

“Yeah, you’re only the lead singer of one of the greatest bands of all time,” Eloise rolled her eyes.

“You think so?” Bruce’s tone was suddenly serious and Eloise’s face softened.

“I do,” She reached a hand out overtop of his. “But we’ll save music for another night.”

Bruce chuckled.

“Good idea,” He nodded, eyes still bright as he looked at Eloise.

The bell on the door jingled and both of them turned to look at the figure striding down the aisle.

“Jesus christ, Eloise. We were supposed to meet for dinner twenty minutes ago!” Clara huffed.

She paused as she took in the pair at the counter, mouth falling a little open.

“Oh.”

“I’ll pick you up here tomorrow, after closing?” Bruce turned back to Eloise.

“Sounds great,” She smiled wide.

Bruce slid his hand from beneath Eloise’s, taking her fingers and raising it to his face. Eloise held her breath as Bruce placed a slow, gentle kiss to the top of her hand. He looked up at her.

“I started cheesy, so I figure I better end that way, too,” He grinned.

“A very nice touch,” Eloise agreed, grateful he couldn’t hear her heart pounding in her chest and fingers flexing as the remaining tingles from the kiss began to fade.

Bruce straightened and winked, before turning around toward the door.

“Hello,” He nodded toward Clara.

“Hi!” Clara raised a hand in a wave and watched as he walked out of the store. Her eyes were wide and voice loud as she turned back to Eloise.

“Eloise! I think that was Bruce fucking Dickinson!”