A/N Thanks to my phenomenal betas, Mandy the O and Musique et Amour for all of their assistance.
Christine woke with a start. Trying not to lean too heavily on Erik, she rose upon her arms and found herself staring into his eyes and immediately felt a blush flood her face. She averted her eyes, not wanting to see his smirk.
He flipped her suddenly beneath him and wide-eyed, her gaze swung back to him. "Look at me," he said as his hands began their languid exploration of her body. "Look at me and know who does this to you."
Mesmerized, she lay quietly in his arms, feeling herself dissolve into him. As his mouth lowered to hers, he repeated his demand and she watched his eyes as he tasted her mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed as he deepened the kiss.
Weightless bliss turned into blazing need, however, as he lifted his head and plunged his fingers deep into her. She could not raise her arms to embrace him, but clawed instead at the couch as he thrust his fingers again and again. And then stopped.
"Erik!" she screamed in disbelief. "OhmyGod Erik, don't stop ... please don't stop."
"Look at me," he murmured. "I want to see you as you come. I want you to know ... to never forget ... the man who does this to you."
Sobbing, she was willing to promise him anything just as long as he would bring her to completion. Smirking, he thrust his fingers a final time and rocking her hips, she spiraled out of control.
Driven by his own need, he entered her as soon as she stopped rocking against his hand. She was certain she had lost her mind as wave after wave hit her. Finding his release, he rode out the storm with her.
He told himself to get up, to leave her be, but he could not find the strength to leave her; she was sobbing, shuddering still, and he wrapped her in his arms, gentling her. Kissing her softly, he eased her way back to reality and steeled himself for her rejection.
Although Christine hated the need he stoked in her, she could not deny his tenderness. Sighing softly, she relaxed in his arms, then pressed a kiss to his head. He gazed at her with wonder, unable to find any of the revulsion she usually showed after they made love. Perhaps she is realizing how futile it is to resist, he mused to himself. It was with regret that she told him she had to leave; had to go home and shower and get ready for the new day at work.
Later that day, Christine invited Meghan to lunch with her. Eschewing the popular lunch spots, they went to a quiet crab shack on one of the tidal creeks that they had been eager to try.
Seated in a quiet corner, she confided in the other woman. Short of mentioning their intimacy, Christine told Meghan nearly everything else about her relationship with Erik, including the singing lessons.
She recruited her fellow intern with a lie – she claimed she was intimidated by him, afraid to be alone with him. Meghan was sworn to secrecy, of course, and Christine knew she could be trusted. After all, Meghan's future was also in Erik's hands.
So, that afternoon after work, Christine was accompanied by Meghan when she reported to Erik's office. He raised a brow quizzically at Christine when he saw Meghan, but Christine merely said that the other young woman was also interested in music. After a long moment, he nodded once. "Let us begin, then."
When the lesson ended, the women said good night and left his office together. Meghan decided to join the other interns at their favorite bar, but Christine was tired and wanted only to return to the intern's house on the Battery.
Erik watched from his window as the two women went their separate ways. He debated about following Christine home, if only to confront her about bringing Meghan along, but decided against it. It would be too risky; any one of the interns or housekeeping staff could see him, and he didn't want to risk harming Christine's reputation.
Evening after evening, Christine and Meghan went to Erik's office for Christine's singing lessons. Even Meghan could tell that Christine's voice was improving. Christine and Erik seemed lost in the music, not even aware that Meghan was there. Little did she know ... neither one could completely forget her presence.
The deadline for the site plans was quickly approaching, and tensions were running high. Even the highest-ranking architects were nervous; the stakes were high, and RS&A needed to obtain the necessary approvals so that building could being on Charles Towne Village.
Other than surreptitiously keeping an eye on Christine, Erik did not concern himself with the day-to-day activities of the firm. Although he did not want to examine his motivation too closely, he was pleased with the progress of the opera he had begun while at the resort. Although he knew full well that this opera would join the others he had written: musical masterpieces that the world would never hear.
Christine did not have voice lessons over the weekend, and by Friday night, she was relieved to be able to go directly home from work and collapse. Meghan and the other interns invited her to go out with them, but Christine wanted nothing more than a hot bubble bath, her comfortable bed, and blessed silence.
An ice storm was predicted for late Saturday night, and Christine joined other Charlestonians at the hardware store early that morning to purchase emergency candles, matches, flashlights, batteries, and a couple of cases of bottled water. The RS&A maintenance staff came by the house on the Battery to inspect the fireplaces; if Charleston lost power, as it was apt to do, the interns could use the fireplaces for heat.
Meghan joined Christine for lunch at The Cougar's Den before going to the library to find a couple of books to read if they lost power. The library was abuzz with patrons speculating about the weather, and Christine found herself eager to get home. She listened with half an ear to Meghan's complaints about being cooped up in the house.
"Really, Meghan, you sound like we are going to be stuck in a hut somewhere!" she finally exclaimed.
"Well, it is going to be awful. We are going to be prisoners in that house."
"Some prison! We will be safe, relatively warm, and in our own beds! We have enough food and water, and besides ... the temperatures are supposed to rise well above freezing tomorrow night. By Monday morning, you won't even know we've had a storm."
"Well, isn't that just wonderful. To hell with the weekend, at least we can go back to work on Monday morning."
Christine burst out laughing at this. "I love the weekends as much as you do, Meghan. I'm trying to look on the bright side. At least we won't be trapped in the house for long."
Leaving the library, Christine bumped into a woman on her way in. She began to apologize, then realized with a start that she recognized her.
Meghan spoke first. "Wow ... aren't you the psychic who read our cards on Halloween? At The Cougar's Den?"
Embarrassed, Christine corrected Meghan. "She couldn't possibly remember us, Meghan! That was months ago, and I'm sure we weren't the only people whose cards she read that night."
"Oh, but I do remember you!" exclaimed the psychic. "Christine, correct? You were supposed to contact me for a follow-up reading."
Blushing, Christine muttered something about being terribly busy.
"But of course you're busy," sympathized the psychic. "If you're free this afternoon, perhaps we can take care of that reading today."
Christine bit her lip in consternation. "Why is it so important to you that I have another reading? You offered it, free of charge, so it's not like you're losing money because I didn't follow through."
"This is not about the money. You were very upset by my reading, and I saw ... well, I was intrigued by what I saw and I'd like to do a second reading. You would be doing me a favor, actually."
Christine raised a brow quizzically. "Surely you don't think I'm going to give a testimonial on your behalf!" she exclaimed.
The psychic's laughter rang out. "Oh no, my dear, never that. I am very discreet ... no one will ever know that you consulted me."
Christine stiffened. "I have not consulted you. I have ... played along, as a favor to a friend."
"Very well. As a favor, then, please ... I would like to meet with you this afternoon. At The Cougar's Den again. We can have tea, and then we will visit."
"Oh, come on, Christine! You have to be at least slightly curious. I'm dying to find out what she sees in store for you."
Looking from one woman to the other, Christine finally nodded her head. "All right," she said. "I'll meet you at The Cougar's Den at ..." she glanced at her watch. "... 4:00, then."
The psychic agreed, and they parted ways.
"Well, Meghan, might as well finish this day off. Want to go shopping?"
"You know, this weekend is turning out better than I could have hoped for!" Ignoring her friend's snort of disbelief, Meghan chattered happily.
Being early January, many of the shops on King Street were featuring resort wear. Christine and Meghan browsed through the racks, each deep in thought. Meghan was the first to break the silence.
"Isn't it wonderful that the interns are given a long summer vacation? What are your plans for the summer, Christine?"
"I'll probably return to the Mayan Riviera. They always need summer help. The pay isn't bad, the work isn't too demanding, and the setting is gorgeous. What are you going to be doing?"
"I haven't made up my mind yet. My mother would like me to move back home, but I really don't want to. I've had much too much fun being out on my own to go back to my mom's house and her rules."
Out on her own? thought Christine. She has every need provided for her; a good job, a guaranteed paycheck, a nice place to live, free of charge. She has no idea what it means to be out on her own ... Christine flushed guiltily at her thoughts. Be kind! It's not her fault that she has a mother and a home to go to. She was relieved that Meghan was too busy browsing the winter clearance racks to notice her sudden silence.
Soon it was time to meet the psychic. Christine didn't know which was worse; spending the afternoon shopping, or the impending appointment.
Neither woman was surprised to see the psychic was already at the corner booth when they went to meet her.
The server followed them, and after the women were settled, they placed their order for tea and cake.
The psychic reached her hands out to Christine. Christine looked at her dubiously before extending her hands out, also. "I don't tell my clients my real name," she said softly. "But you ... you're different, somehow. So, please, call me Jacqueline."
Christine nodded mutely, a little surprised that the psychic offered this information. I figured she'd want me to call her something really unoriginal, like ... Madame Rose, she thought sarcastically.
"I can do any number of readings. We can consult the Tarot or ... I can simply tell you what I see." At Christine's look of obvious disbelief, she continued in the same quiet voice. "I am not bragging. My predictions are 95 accurate, 100 honest."
"Why only 95 accurate?"
"That is due to free will. I can tell you what I see happening, based on current energies and intent. However, human nature being what it is ... if your intention changes, the future will change, also."
"Really!" exclaimed Christine. "I don't see how my intention affects anything! Other than, if I intend to keep my job, I'd better show up at work and complete my assignments." ... and continue my voice lessons, came the unbidden thought. Christine felt the hated blush warming her face.
Jacqueline merely smiled. "Ah, here is our tea and cakes," releasing Christine's hands, she waited for the server to leave before continuing.
"Christine, I see a wondrous future for you. Now, before you allow your skepticism full reign, I must tell you. No, I do not see a wondrous future for every one of my clients. Some of them, well, some of them have simply dreadful futures. They have made, and continue to make, poor decisions and unwise choices, and their future reflects that.
"You, on the other hand, consistently make good choices. Yes," her smile deepened, "yes, I see a wondrous future for you."
"Can you be any more specific than that?" asked Christine dryly. "After all, it is easy to claim 95 accuracy when your predictions are purposely vague."
Jacqueline did not acknowledge the thinly-veiled insult. Instead, she asked, "Are you certain you want details? I can tell you many, many specific things about you future. The question is not what I see. The question is, what do you want to know?"
Christine shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Raising her cup, she sipped her tea. The silence stretched as Christine considered the question.