Chapter Eleven: A Wonderful Evenings Conclusion
Christine knew that if she and Erik had been in a movie, he would be the 'perfect guy' she had never believed in, this would be the 'perfect moment', and she would be the girl that finally got the guy. Her eyes were tightly shut and the feel of his lips was...Heaven. She had no other word to describe it. He had gently leaned forward and suddenly his smooth, perfect lips were against hers. Christine could feel his hands in her hair, holding her head in place. The touch of his lips was soft and innocent, simply brushing against her own, as if tempting her to want more.
She appreciated the fact that he was not being too aggressive, and he was taking his time. He had to know that she was not ready for anything drastic and it showed in his kiss. When he pulled away he rained a few gentle kisses on her cheeks and chin, before leaning his forehead against hers, breathing in deeply. Christine's eyes roamed over his masked face, liking this close intimacy with him. It didn't seemed rushed or anxious, and she felt comfortable. A feeling she had wanted for a very long time.
"How is it your still single?" she murmured softly in awe. Erik chuckled, but didn't answer, his eyes locking with hers as their foreheads remained together. For some reason his look caused her heart to begin to race. Unconciously it seemed her arms found their way around his neck, her hands idly playing with the collar of his shirt...he seemed so close...so warm.
Erik groaned aggreeably when Christine leaned forward and kissed him, putting more passion into the gesture than he anticipated so soon. He hugged her close, deciding to let her set the pace and lead him as far as she was willing to go. Like he had said before, he wanted her to trust herself with him. Their kiss lasted several long, wonderful moments, before Christine pulled away. Erik had never realized how much will power he had until he managed to hold himself back from leaning forward and capturing her mouth once again.
Christine's soft, pleased smile was well worth the constraint he had shown.
"Can I ask you another question?" he wondered quietly. Christine smiled and nodded. His arms were still wrapped around her and he pressed a gentle kiss to the lobe of her ear.
"Stay with me tonight..."
His whisper caused pleasant shivers to run up and down her spine, and she pressed her face against his chest.
"I just want to hold you, darling, I promise..."
If he had been any other man she might not have believed any of the words he said, believing that he only wanted to get her into his bed immediately. But Erik was a gentleman, and she trusted him more than she would admit to. If he said he was just going to hold her, he meant it. But still she could not surrender so easily.
"In the living room, on the couch?" she asked. Erik grinned.
"You read my mind...perhaps even a movie?"
"Only if it is your choice...I think I am not going to pick a movie for awhile, after that clown incident," she said, shuddering. Erik chuckled.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Christine studied herself in the bathroom mirror, wondering where the flush on her cheeks came from. She wore one of Erik's polo shirts, the bottom of the shirt landing just below her knees. Having her legs bare had seemed a little too much so she had asked for a pair of his boxer shorts. Christine had been unable to help the laughter that burst forth when he had produced a pair of black shorts with bright red hearts adorning them. Erik had actually blushed and Christine had thought the look was absolutely adorable. Wearing them now, along with his shirt, she felt almost as if they had spent a wild night of lovemaking and when they woke up, she had thrown on some of his clothes. With the blush staining her cheeks, it was even more believable.
She had wanted to look around the house some more, but almost everything was covered, for he was a long way away from being finished with the house. The only room that was completely done was his own room, and the only thing she remembered was the black silk sheets on his massive bed. Erik's bathroom, the one she stood in now, was white and immaculate and decorated with a few shades of black, something she liked. Everything felt far too comfortable to her, almost as if she belonged there.
"Get a grip, Christine," she muttered to herself. Folding her dress and setting her other items on Erik's bed, she made her way back downstairs. He was popping the movie had had chosen into the player and she ran her eyes over him for a moment in amuesment. He was still wearing his black trousers and crisp white shirt, but several buttons had been undone and he wasn't wearing any shoes.
"Is that what you go to sleep in?"
He turned to look at her and she saw him swallow. She loved the way he made her feel so beautiful even with a simple look. It took him several moments before he managed to smile and answer.
"No...I sleep in the nude, I thought I would spare you."
Christine felt the blush that already stained her cheeks deepen, and she looked away from him. She wished he had not told her that. Now she had a picture in her mind that would be rather hard to get rid of.
"The movie is ready to go," he said, grinning at the look his comment had caused. She cleared her throat.
"What movie did you pick?"
"It is a surprise," he answered. She smiled and went over to the couch, settling herself onto it. Erik dimmed the lights before coming over to the couch. Instead of sitting down like one would expect he simply stood in front of her, looking at a loss as to what he was supposed to do.
"Erik?"
"We have a dilemma, Christine," he said, unable to hide his small smirk. She grinned back at him.
"What is that?"
He shrugged innocently.
"Well, you see, the other side of the couch is empty, I could sit there...but it would be much too far away from you...then I could sit next to you, but I would wish to put my arm around you, and of course I wouldn't want to impose..."
"You wouldn't want to impose, would you?" she said, containing her laugh. Erik shook his head like a lost puppy. He looked for all the world like he had a real problem and was looking to her for help. Christine made the decision for him, holding her arms out to him. His smirk could have made any woman melt!
"I had hoped that would be your answer!"
He almost tripped on his own feet in his haste to get to her. Christine was giggling as he snuggled up against her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close, burying his face in her hair for a minute, acting for all the world like an excited puppy. When he began to tickle her she found it hard to breath. Christine tried to curl herself up into a fetal position, but Erik was too close and had her cornered from his surprise attack.
"Erik! Stop!"
"What do I get if I stop?"
"Nothing!"
"Wrong answer, sweetheart!"
His hands tortured her and tears began to run from Christine's eyes in her mirth. She would get him back for this sneak attack, she thought briefly, trying to fend him off. Her sides began to hurt from so much laughing and she did the only thing she could think of to make him stop.
Erik groaned when her mouth crashed onto his, stilling his hands on her. He knew she did this to distract him, and by God it was working.
He was just beginning to get into it when she pulled away, smiling.
"I'll get you back for that, Erik...now, the movie?"
He breathed deeply through his nose, trying to calm down his raging body and nodded. Christine became comfortable once more as Erik pressed play. He sat down beside her once more and held her close. He liked the delighted chuckle he heard from her when she came to find out that the movie was Titanic.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack sighed and turned off the television, making his way into his bedroom. The clock read 12:55 in the evening and he knew it would be a long time before he was able to fall asleep. He had gone over to Christine's knowing that she would be with Erik, but kind of wanting to see if it was truly possible. He had found out it was all too possible when he called her house almost an hour prior and she still was not home. Which he knew meant she had spent the night with her masked man.
In many ways he was happy for his friend, for he knew that she had to be lonely, for he knew loneliness all too well. But he just wished that it had been with another man besides Erik. Christine deserved so much better than that man. He knew his opinion of the masked man was probably biased because he had yet to take a liking to him, but he did not want to see Christine become close to him only to have the city boy dump her once he got what he wanted from her. Christine did not deserve that.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Christine smiled as she looked down at Erik. He was sleeping the length of the couch, a few more of the buttons on his shirt having managed to come undone. His clothes were wrinkled and she thought he looked really cute with his mouth slightly open as he slept. The night before they had finished Titanic and Christine had needed a few boxes of kleenex. Erik had teased her and she had hit him on the arm. They still had not been that sleepy so had turned the television on, Christine deciding on a soap opera channel. Erik had fallen asleep almost immediately and before she knew it she had fallen asleep beside him.
That morning she had woken up around the time she did every morning, her body used to such an hour. Her face had been pressed against his chest, his scent filling her senses. His arm had been wrapped around her waist, holding her close and molding her body to his. For a few minutes she had not moved, liking all too much the feel of him against her.
But she knew she had to get to work, and she had to stop by her house to feed and take out the animals, so she had made her way upstairs to find her things. Now, looking at him sleeping there all alone, Christine didn't want to just leave him. What would he think when he woke up? She had dug around the room until she had found a notepad with some paper, scribbling him a little note before she left.
Erik,
Thank you for such a lovely evening.
It meant a lot to me.
Always yours,
Christine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Good morning Mrs. Landress!"
"Why, you seem to be fairly beeming this morning, Chrissy!" the old woman exclaimed. Christine blushed and looked away. Mrs. Landress did not push her, only smiled knowingly and found herself a seat, enjoying her breakfast.
"Good morning, Jack," Christine said, smiling warmly as her friend came into the bakery. She noticed immediately that something was wrong with him, and she felt herself beginning to worry. He went behind the counter and grabbed himself a cookie and a cup of coffee before going to sit down, not saying a word to her. Frowning, Christine wiped her hands on her apron and went over to him, sitting down across from him.
"Jack?"
He sipped his coffee, not saying anything. Christine leaned forward and gently laid her hand over his.
"What is wrong?"
Mrs. Landress was peering over at them from her own seat, wondering what was going on between the cowboy and Chrissy. Jack finally spoke.
"Christine, I think we need to talk."
