A/N: Sorry it took so long. With school and jobs and family I had no time. But I'm back. The chapters are a little short but I have to tease you guys. Gotta leave you wanting more!

Chapter Ten:

The Beginning

Geoffrey put on his gloves as Christine stood next to him expectantly. She stood still and patient and waited as he awkwardly mounted the horse and she then handed the horse's reins to him. He uttered no thank you and simply adjusted his helmet and armor which fit so snugly on his pudgy frame. He merely tried to sit up straight and pretend to be as noble as his title was. He looked ridiculous.

The crowd of knights, castle servants and peasants seeing him off were deathly silent as they all watched their lord prepare for his journey. Secretly, every single one of them was happy that he was leaving and would be gone for some time. Everyone hated him.

But Christine and the others put on a god show as obedient servants. They smiled and waited and showed concern. They genuinely did care that he was leaving. It had been the best news all year that he was going.

No one, however, was as happy as Christine. She was dying for her husband to finally leave and be rid of him for a few months. Her only worry was that her excitement over that would show.

"I will write upon my arrival at the fort," Geoffrey stated strictly to his wife without even bothering to look at her.

"Yes, my lord."

"You will watch over the holding while I am gone."

"Of course, my lord."

He finally looked down at her.

"Good-bye, wife."

"Good-bye, my lord. Have a safe and fruitful journey."

With a brusque nod and a gesture to his soldiers he was off. Christine and the people of the holding watched happily as the parade of riders rode off, leaving only a cloud of dust behind them. For a short while Christine and the others could breathe freely.

Christine took a deep breath. Yes, that did feel good. No constraints, no husband to worry her or boss her around. She was free to live how she would like for now at the castle. Geoffrey could not bother her now. It was just her.

Suddenly Christine remembered what Geoffrey's leaving really meant. She searched the departing crowd for Erik, but she couldn't find him. There was no sign or trace of him, which was just as well, she figured. She didn't need to be thinking about him or them right now. For many days now she had been forced to avoid him and keep a distance until Geoffrey was supposed to leave. But now that Geoffrey had left she had no idea what to do.

Geoffrey's departure meant she and Erik could finally be together. They could make love and take comfort in one another's arms with no real threat. The only problem was, though, that Christine didn't know how to go about doing this sort of thing. She wasn't naturally sneaky or secretive or deceptive. She did not know where to go or what to do. Erik was the experienced one, the teacher. She was merely his student.

She saw one of Erik's fellow soldiers at that moment then and decided to ask him if he knew where Erik was so she could try to find him. The young soldier only had a guess of Erik's whereabouts and suggested going to the hot springs.

Although wary, Christine decided to go looking there. She walked out far past the soldiers' barracks and the training grounds and followed the path that led to the private hot springs where soldiers were allowed to rest. Ad sure enough, she could see the back of Erik's head in the lightly wooded are as he reclined back in the rounded spring of hot water.

She walked quietly and slowly, allowing herself a small step for each rapid heartbeat. She felt unsure and nervous as she circled around the tub and came to face Erik, but his stunned reaction soothed her. He was just as unsure as she was, she thought.

"Christine," he said, looking up at her.

Christine allowed her gaze to rove over the exposed parts of his naked body as he watched her. The water was murky but she could see the strong muscles of his hard, well-defined, massive chest and sinewy arms.

"Geoffrey's left," she whispered.

His gaze was hot and hungry as he looked into her eyes. And as she began to undress and he understood her intent, his gaze became more heated. He watched her like a ravenous lion as she slowly removed each part of her gown and underclothes. His breath caught at the sight of such feminine beauty: the soft curves, the small waist, the porcelain skin. She was perfect; formed like a goddess.

Their eyes stayed on each other's as she entered the water and leisurely swam toward him, her breasts enticing him and driving him mad. Her full lips were pouted in desire and her eyes were heavy with desire and she neared him and their bodies touched.

He groaned at the feel of her thighs touching his and helped situate her on his lap. Her arms came around his neck and her mouth teasingly hovered above his and they looked intently into one another's eyes. She could feel the pulsating result of his hard, large erection and felt a tremor unlike any other sweep through her. This was different. Erik was everything Geoffrey was not and she wasn't afraid.

"I've waited for this for so long," Erik whispered huskily, his hands softly rubbing her hips and bottom.

"As have I," She whispered back.

"I want this to be perfect for you," he said.

"Oh, it will be,"

"But not here, Christine. Maybe someday, but for our first time I want to make love to you in your bed next to a roaring fire." He kissed her neck. "I want to make love to you all night long and then have you fallen asleep in my arms. I want to give you everything he took from you."

Christine felt tears fall from her eyes at his words as he continued to kiss her neck and nibble on her ears. How had she ever come across such a perfect man?

She leaned back from him and smiled.

"Is that what you want?"

He pulled her down for a hot, open-mouthed kiss that left her breathless.

"What do you want?"

She sighed. "You. I don't care when or where or how. I just want you."

He smiled and kissed her again, making her feel as if she was on fire. Dear God, how this man drove her to the brink of insanity. It felt so good.

Pulling her closer into his arms, he held her closer and kissed her madly as he tried to get them out of the water.

"Are you ready to finally feel like a woman?"