Chapter 21

"...sworn off women?" How dare he say that?!

Nadir's words had played endlessly in Lizzie's mind.

Blind fury alone drove Lizzie to the laundry room. Angry tears stung her eyes as her feet carried her.

She peered in through the window, but her eyes met nothing but cool darkness. Undaunted, she turned the doorknob and entered the dusky room. The telltale whirring noise of the washing machine filled her ears.

"Erik!" she called out uncertainly, her vision still not adjusted to the dark. She waited for a response but there was none, and still the whirring continued. Hastily, her hand fumbled along the wall until it reached the light switch, and quickly flipped it on.

The fluorescent light flickered as it encompassed the small room, and Lizzie's gaze quickly fixed on the tall figure she'd been in search of. Clothed in his long, black overcoat his back was toward her as he faced the bulletin board, his long arms were leaning on the folding table, and his head was tilted downward.

Awestruck for a moment by his remarkable height and powerful presence, Lizzie remembered her anger. Standing in full defense mode, she braced her hands on her hips; her eyes were narrow slits as she called his name again.

Erik straightened as she spoke again.

"So you've sworn off women," she bit out in an icy accusation.

He turned to her then, a look of surprise on his face.

"Does that mean just me, Erik, my mother, or all women you can't hypnotize in general?!"

His sad gaze fell to the hard vinyl floor. He hated to see her angry with him, and even as she stood there, her arms now folded securely in place across her chest, Erik was sure that he couldn't just give up seeing this woman, or give up wanting her. As he met her cold gaze, Erik would've given anything to find just a glimmer of the warm tenderness in her chocolate brown eyes, or to feel the tempting softness of her body embracing him.

"Lizzie," he began softly, "I'm sor…"

I'm sorry…To Lizzie, those words were like fingernails screeching on a blackboard. She flew at him then like a vicious lioness. She wanted to pound on his chest with her fists for inflicting this cruel attraction on her and haunting her dreams. She wanted to scratch out those incredible blue eyes so they couldn't see straight into her soul, and fill her with endless longings.

Her eyes met his furiously and the words came out in an angry hiss. "Shut up!" Pure adrenaline surged through her, and her pulse raced as she stood before the alarmed masked man. Tightly, her hands gripped his collar as she contemplated choking the life out of him, but of their own accord her lips fastened on to the softness of his.

She couldn't help it. Those brilliant blue eyes had melted her resolve with their sadness, and his sensual lips called out to her without ever saying a word. And before she knew it, her lips had been drawn to his like a magnet. Her eyes had closed, heightening her other senses; to hear the low sensual moan that escaped him, to smell the irresistible masculine scent of his cologne, to feel the erotic promise of his lips, to taste the heated bliss of his tongue. Enticing tingles played about her body, and the power of his electrifying response set Lizzie on fire. Strong and unyielding, she pressed herself up against him, her chest rising and falling against the heavy weight of his coat, pushing him against the edge of the folding table.

Erik was unsure if he was dreaming as he met the angry demand of her lips. The heady lavender scent of her hair filled his nostrils, and he felt intoxicated by the insistent softness of her mouth. His eyes closed as he reveled in her closeness, enraptured by the delightful teasing of her tongue. His hands strayed to hers, releasing their deathly grip on his collar, and entwined his fingers with hers. At any other moment the passionate weight of her against him would have been welcome, but as the edge of the narrow folding table dug painfully into his back, Erik twisted their joined bodies around so that Lizzie was now backed up against the next dryer.

Lizzie gasped as his tall, virile frame powerfully pressed against hers. It was thrilling, and her senses reeled at the innumerable wondrous sensations that possessed her. More passionate than in her dreams, this kiss was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. For the first time in her twenty-nine years she felt alive, and empowered. No longer content to be the one always waiting, Lizzie decided she was in charge of her life now, in charge of her heart, in charge of her body. Unabashedly, she pulled her hands from his, setting them possessively around his neck, and using her weight she twisted their bodies so that his back was up against the dryer. Her heart pounded excitedly, and as his tongue continued to probe and meet hers in an eager caress, her fingers ran playfully through his thick black hair.

His hands had fallen to her back, his fingers leaving goose bumps with every massaging, gripping motion. One hand strayed to the silkiness of her hair, and she could feel the desertion of his lips. As she struggled to catch her breath, Erik trailed her neckline with feverish baby kisses.

"Lizzie," he growled, his voice laced with need.

Her body pressed tighter up against his, and her fingers dug into the long overcoat, battling the hated mass of fabric that lay between Erik and herself. She wanted to be near him, to touch him, to feel him against her.

He could barely think as the blood rushed tremulously through his body. Grabbing her by the waist, he turned their joined bodies once again so that this time her back met with the whirring of the washing machine. His eyes stared in disbelief at the angel in his arms. Her eyes were closed, her lips were slightly swollen from his kisses, and a charming flush of pink had spread to her cheeks. The angst of the last few days, and weeks of boundless attraction and flirtation had led to this. He thought he might have to pinch himself to make himself believe he was not dreaming, but, as it turned out, that didn't prove to be necessary. As Erik lowered his lips to meet hers once again, an agitated pounding on the window effectively jarred them from their embrace.

The two looked up in alarm to meet the disapproving gaze of Lizzie's mother, and the very approving gaze of Erik's friend.

"Get a room!" Nell shouted half-seriously, bringing Erik and Lizzie's awareness back to the very public well-lit laundry room.

Nadir gave a very good-natured thumbs-up to his friend, as Nell shouted an impatient reminder to Lizzie that Frankie would be coming home soon.

Flushed and embarrassed, Lizzie stared in horror as her mother and Nadir walked away, realizing that if they had seen them, then possibly anyone else in the building may have seen them too. As Lizzie turned back to Erik, a little shyly now that they were not engaged in a burst of passion, her eyes fell to his handsome face. His expression was equally humbled, his blue eyes vulnerable, and a sheepish smile curved at Lizzie's lips…

A rich chuckle overcame him as he took Lizzie into his arms once again, enjoying her warmth, and the musical sound of her laughter. It wasn't long, however, before his deep blue eyes pierced her chocolate brown ones, and they found themselves magnetically pulled into another kiss.

Lizzie pulled away hastily, and before she began to voice her protest, Erik raised a graceful hand, and with his two fingers he snapped…

And the light went out.