Chapter X: Beautiful Beastliness

Christine raised her eyes to Erik's and let the long, drawn out pause overtake them for a moment. She hated it, but one look in his eyes and she felt absolutely lost, as if she was being swept up in a torrential storm of desire and frustration so acute they both felt as if any moment they would snap. Despite all the anger she possessed at that moment, she still found herself unbelievably attracted to him.

But Erik let go of her arm and turned away, giving her his side as he ran his hands through his hair and breathed a sigh of the same frustration. She knew he felt the same way.

"You should go…"

Christine looked up in shock and wondered if she had heard correctly. "What did you say?"

"Go. I…I can't deal with this anymore. Just…leave."

"But Erik, what about our decision to…?"

"JUST GO!" he yelled in response, his eyes blazing desperately as if was about to do something completely rash any minute.

Frightened by the violence of his request, Christine did as he said and gathered her stuff together quickly, fearfully watching him every moment. By the time she was finished she cautiously waited, wondering if he was going to stop her. But when he turned away she walked out of the room without a word.

She still felt as if any minute he would come barreling after her, but every step she made took her closer to the exit of the chateau and before she knew it she was in stables saddling her horse and still he had not come after her. She looked up at the beautiful, lonely castle as she waited in front of the gates. She knew right now she should have been happy to finally be free of the dictatorial tyrant that Erik was, but she found herself rethinking leaving. Was this what she really wanted? Did she really hate Erik the way she professed to? Was she more angry at him for catching her earlier because it had invaded her privacy or because she was embarrassed of the truth?

And yet, she knew she couldn't stay. Redirecting the horse towards the gates she told herself she was doing the right thing. She had to leave, before she did something leaving even would not fix.

Erik could not help himself from slamming his fist in the wall when he finally knew Christine had left. God, what had happened to him? He had let her go? Why? Because of his conscience? Because he knew that if he spent one more minute with her he'd never be able to stop himself from ripping her clothes off? God, he had never met a woman who exasperated him so much. Whether she was cursing him or writhing on the bed under the caress of his hand she drove him insane. He felt as if he was going to explode any minute when he was around her; he felt so untamed and reckless. All he could see in his mind was the image of her face as he had brought her pleasure that night all those days ago. He'd never felt more powerful, more right, more strong, or more good. And the anticipation of all that he knew would come was making him weak. He wanted her more than he wanted anything in this life, even more than…

He looked at himself in the gilded mirror that hung in front of him. He didn't deserve such a treasure as Christine, a man like him. She was so pure, so innocent, despite her fiery spirit. He knew making love to her would be equivalent to a religious experience and a man like him did not deserve that kind of prize.

Suddenly he shook his head to rid the thoughts running through his head. Was he insane? He had never felt this way about a woman before. Why should he care at all? His duty was to marry and produce children, not worry about how some virgin made out. He shouldn't care at all. And yet… He had never felt so strongly about any woman like this before. And he knew he probably wouldn't again either.

Christine had been riding for about fifteen minutes when she stopped suddenly to catch her breath and have a moment to relax. She was far enough away that she didn't need to worry about Erik coming after her but still not far enough to stop and rest. The horse was still restless under her and confused as to why she had stopped so suddenly and so soon. Christine, however, did not even know the truth for that. She was confused. A moment ago she had been perfectly ready to leave and prepare to never see Erik again. And then…

Despite the warning in her heart she looked back. Of course she couldn't see the chateau or Erik, but even the knowledge that it was all just behind her made her pause. What was she going back to? Yes, she would be back with her family, with her father, but after the glow of reunion wore off what would happen then? She would go back to working the small farm so they could have something to eat everyday and then maybe in a year or two would meet some young farm boy from the nearby village whom everyone would encourage her to marry. She would marry and become a mother and work with her family and be a loyal, diligent wife. But would she ever feel about that boy the way she felt about Erik? Would she ever yearn for his touch or go mad at the look of lust in his eyes? Would anyone else make her feel as desperate or as incensed or aching? Yes, Erik drove her crazy, but wasn't that what drew her toward him? Didn't she love the way he drove her crazy?

Christine felt herself turning the horse then and kicked its side, spurring the horse into a fierce gallop that took it back towards the castle, back towards Erik.

Erik had just finished off an entire bottle of wine and was walking up the staircase to his chambers when he heard the entry doors close. Confused, he turned and was struck in awe when he heard the sound of quick footsteps running towards his direction. "Erik!" the voice cried, looking for him. He thought his heart might have stopped then. That was Christine's voice. But nothing would have prepared him for the sight of her finally at the bottom of the staircase, her hair free and wild, her face flushed with exertion. She looked up at him with her big eyes full of confusion and turmoil and desire and he felt his chest constrict. She had come back?

"I told you to leave," he said harsher than he had wanted, but he was surprised he had even been able to speak.

It was a moment before she responded. "I did. And then…"

He waited with baited breath.

"I realized I couldn't."

He sighed. "Christine…"

She walked up the staircase toward him and looked him in the eyes with a heat and need that rivaled his own.

"I'm not sure what I want."

He should have told her what she wanted was a normal existence with a good man and a chance at a real, normal life, but he realized then he had never really been a good man and was not about to become one. Not with Christine.

He grabbed her then, locking her in a tight embrace that stole her breath and made her eyes go wide with alarm. But he could not form a cohesive thought once he brought his mouth down to hers and felt the immediate and instinctive press of her lips against his, her tongue tangled with his, her pelvis thrust upon his. All he wanted was her, and by God, he was going to take her.

Lifting her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing, he strode quickly to his chamber.

"I'm so nervous," she whispered shyly as he brought her down to the floor and began undressing her. He had never felt so rushed in his life.

"Don't be," he responded breathlessly, kissing her wherever he revealed sweet, baby-soft skin. "I'll be gentle."

She knew that was supposed to reassure her, but she had seen Erik, all of him, and found it hard for a man so big and strong to be gentle enough for her.

"What if…? I mean, I won't know what to do, Erik," she tried to explain as he unwrapped her cloak and began unlacing her gown, falling to his knees as he unraveled the dress from her body. She could feel the hot, spicy feel of his breath on her bare stomach and legs and could feel the hot hardness of his hands as he caressed them up down her torso and kissed the bones at her hips.

"Don't worry, Christine," he whispered between kisses. "I know what I'm doing."

His rakish grin reassured her a little bit and before she knew it he had completely lifted off her dress and revealed her entire nude body to him. She shivered still, nervous and afraid of the unknown as he lovingly stroked the sensitive curves of her body. He slid his hands up her hips and circled her breasts, which splayed out in front of him like a feast. He lightly rubbed his fingertips over the tight, pink nipples as he nuzzled his face between them. She whimpered from the erotic intimacy that he was bestowing and the arousal he creating in her. His lips were so dangerously near…

Near the nipples which he then stroked with his tongue. First it was just laps, light and delicate caresses that sent shivers trickling down her spine like rain, and then he took one mound fully into his mouth and suckled. The rough groan that emitted from his chest made her delirious and she found herself arching closer to him, lifting so he could take more of her breast, take her deeper in his mouth. She held his head and dug her fingers in his hair as he suckled on each breast, stroking them as he paid so much attention with his mouth and tongue. It was insanity, Christine thought, although conscious thought was quickly leaving her. She had never felt more aroused in her life and wanted to just bask in his devotion forever it was so sweet.

She whimpered in protest when he left her breasts but he merely smiled as if he knew something she didn't and commanded gently, "Lie down on the bed."

Obediently she did as she was told and lied back, unsure of what was to come. But then Erik began removing his own clothes, stitch by stitch, slowly.

Her mouth practically watered at such masculine perfection as he revealed ever chiseled, every muscular inch of him- the broad, muscled shoulders, the perfectly sculpted, tight stomach, the full and hard chest, the lithe, athletic legs. And then he was completely nude, exposing the most basic and primal part of himself. Except this time it was much bigger and much more intimidating since the last time she had seen it. His cock was huge, bursting and throbbing with the desire for her and she knew instinctively there was no way he was going to fit… If he expected to put that thing…

But Erik looked as confident and calm as always and only came closer, before he was finally standing right in front of her. He brought her to sit up and stroked her long, chestnut curls, feeling the heavy weight in his hands as he stared down at the sweet, innocent temptress who looked so frightened. He knew she wanted this as much as him but he also knew how afraid and unsure she was. After all, she was a virgin, and he would be her first… and only.

He scooted her close so her legs wrapped around her spread legs and her face was level with his chest. Her eyes looked up at him in wonder and he held her face gently.

"I've never felt this way about anyone," she admitted in a small voice, making her seem almost like a child.

He grinned ironically. "Neither have I."

Her kissed her then, gently and smoothly coaxing her mouth to respond to his with his patient tongue and loving lips as he led her down the bed, crawling above her, minding the weight he posed.

Finally she was underneath him, kissing him passionately in return as he held his body above hers and began to caress her entire body. He wanted to explore every part this time, not waste a single minute or single touch. They had all the time in the world and he was going to make sure she never, ever regretted this.

Trailing his hand down her body, he came back to the sweet feminine core, the center of her desire that pulsed so hotly for him. He could just imagine what it would be like to finally slide into that delicious heat, but held himself back, knowing he was growing more and more aroused every minute, if that was even possible. He played with the moist outer lips that were already wet with desire and gently stroked the inner ones, feeling her body hold him so wantonly. God, she was tight and he knew if just stroking her with his hand was going to make him come, being inside her would be like pure heaven.

She sighed as he began to stroke her deeper and penetrate her further with his patient but insistent fingers. Her legs were already beginning to move and grow restless and he knew it wouldn't be long at all before she was ready for him, not just his hand.

"You're already wet for me," he whispered hotly. "Oh God, I'm going to make you scream with pleasure."

She moaned and arched up, begging him to stroke deeper, getting more and more aroused by the attention he was doting on her. He cupped her mound and positioned himself right above her, watching with incredible anticipation as he cock loomed closer to her womanhood.

Her eyes were drooping from the effect of her near orgasm and he knew she was ready.

"It will hurt at first, Christine," he assured her, using all the strength he had not to plunge.

"Oh, I don't care," she moaned. "Please. Please, give me what I need. I'm so…hot."

He would've smiled if he wasn't so aroused but took a deep breath and gave her a long, deep kiss as he moved his cock between her out-spread legs. He rubbed himself against her pulsing mound and flinched with restraint when she gave a little cry. Relax, he told himself. Just relax and take her slowly. So he did. Inch by burning inch, he entered her, slowly penetrating her and growing closer to the point where he would he would be buried deep within her. She squirmed a little and her face was beginning to constrain with discomfort but he kissed her again and whispered, "Do you trust me, Christine?"

"Yes," she moaned.

With that he thrust deep, deep within her, so deep he felt as if he was part of her. But she felt tremendous pain and moved against him in rebellion, frightened and discomfited by the pain he had inflicted on her. He was so big it was as if he had torn her apart!

"Oh, God, Christine, you feel incredible," he breathed harshly, holding her gently to him.

"It hurts," she cried, trying to get away from him.

"Only for a minute," he promised with another kiss. "We'll go slow. Here. Just focus on my mouth. The pain will go away, I promise."

Despite the discomfort, she obeyed and focused on his deep kiss which mimicked what his lower body was doing to her. At first it did hurt and she did feel the splitting pain. But as he moved slowly within her, drawing in and out, milking her with soft tenderness, she could feel the pain dissipate and in its place pleasure swiftly came through. She had never felt anything so powerful, so raw, so incredible. His body was perfect as he stroked her, bringing her pelvis off of the bed as he thrust deeper and deeper.

She began to moan, louder and louder with the mounting pleasure that was oversweeping her. Erik's breath was right by her ear, erotically panting as he brought their bodies closer and closer together, making her writhe and buck like a heathen. And it was heathen. Erik's thrusts grew deeper, longer, harder, faster, and their bodies moved rhythmically together at a more rapid pace as both of their orgasms loomed closer.

Erik gripped the headboard above him, holding his weight and thrusting like an animal, as Christine wrapped all her limbs mercilessly around him. Their bodies were so close it felt as if they were meant to be one forever.

And then the peak came. As their thrusting and humping grew deeper and harder, they moaned wildly and Christine felt an amazing, cataclysmic wave of pleasure begin to overtake her. Higher and higher, it grew so powerful that she felt her body grip Erik's cock within her and heard herself scream an unleashed cry of ecstasy. And he was right after. Gripping her tight, Erik felt his ass cheeks clench as his orgasm overtook him. Throwing his head back with a powerful roar he thrust wildly until he it finally shook him to the core and his seed burst forth into her like a storm. He had to stop himself from collapsing on top of her, utterly spent.

He rolled to the side next to her breathing harshly, overwhelmed by what had just happened.

"That was…amazing," Christine purred as she nuzzled her face in his chest. He could feel the wetness of tears and smiled in satisfaction. He had achieved his goal and experienced the most incredible sex in his entire life.

But he did not expect what she said next.

"I'll leave for my family in the morning."