Thank you for the reviews and encouragement. I am writing the chapters as I go now...as I have posted all the pre-written chapters that I had. I hope to keep up, but bare with me if I fall behind.
SHOW ME THE WAY TO LOVE
CHAPTER 21 - A Meeting of the Minds
Erik could not remember having ever had such a horrible headache. No matter how much effort he put into trying to sleep, he could not manage it. It probably did not help matters that his mind kept creating images of her in his arms and the wonderful way her soft, tall body had felt leaning against his hard frame.
What was he getting himself into? Could he actually trust her with his heart? There was some defense mechanism in his soul that kept him from fully yielding to her, and he had no idea why. Mind you, he was like any other man and definitely enjoyed the attention she was giving him, but could he keep his heart out of it?
Hours passed as he tossed and turned. He had sent Christine out of his room long ago, not feeling completely comfortable with her so near. Although she was a nurse, he had never relied on anyone else to be there for him, so he tended to turn inward when pain overwhelmed him.
Sometimes at night, he could still hear his mother's acidic tone accusing him of willingly causing his father's demise. She had done the best she could have, Erik determined, considering the circumstances; he was not sure a lesser woman would have even given a child like him a roof over his head. He had been a constant reminder to Victoria of her husband's infidelity.
Having given up on getting any more sleep, Erik rose early and dressed quickly. He did not really feel much better than when he had gone to bed the night before, but he had something he very much wanted to do before he allowed the pain to bring him down again.
It was time for a change; and Erik knew a way to make that happen. He had given it much thought through the night – brilliancy seemed to strike him most during the hours after midnight.
Wesley greeted him at the foot of the stairs, prepared to give his master whatever was needed to start his day out right. Erik gave him a strained smile; trying to disguise the pain that still bothered him.
"Wesley, I need a ride over to the Browning's home; I wish to discuss something with John and I will bring Gage home with me."
"Of course; would you be leaving now, or later this morning?" He asked.
Erik sat down at the table and immediately smelled the fresh pancakes that Anne had placed before him. He was famished, his headache having rid him of his appetite last night.
"Around ten o'clock…that should leave me plenty of time."
He pulled a bite of the delectable, fluffy cakes into his mouth and savored the flavor; he had forgotten how good they tasted.
Two hours later, he was knocking on the Browning's door. It was a rare thing for Erik to leave his manor, let alone visit with other people; he almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
It only took a few moments for John to answer the door, and he greeted Erik with an enthusiastic voice.
"Erik, what a surprise…did you miss Gage so much that you needed to come and get him early?"
Erik chuckled as he was ushered into the house by a leading hand upon his elbow.
"I need to talk to you about something and possibly use your expertise as a detective." Erik stated, taking a seat in the chair that was offered him. "I am prepared to pay you whatever you ask."
Despite the honor of a man with Erik's reputation and intelligence asking him for help, John noted the warning in Erik's voice. John could see the strain etched on his face and the years of dealing with whatever it was that was bothering him; it had been a long and hard battle so far.
"What can I do for you…you sound as though whatever it is has been a burden to you for some time?"
"For the past few years I have been at the mercy of a blackmail ploy orchestrated by my ex-wife and her lover. They are using an incident that never happened – at least not in the way they say it did – to get money out of me every month and allow me to keep Gage.
"They claim to have a witness that can attest to my actions on the night in question and at least one other person that will testify in agreement to this."
Erik lifted tortured eyes heavenward, praying that there was something John could do.
"If their story gets out, I could very well lose Gage forever…my reputation and good name do not matter compared to the reality of losing him."
John's interest was piqued, as well as his professional curiosity. He needed the work, and it seemed like a task he was very capable of handling.
"Tell me what happened that night, than we will put together some answers that will allow me to get this taken care of for you."
Erik sat back in this chair and absently rubbed his smooth chin. He briefly closed his eyes, than recited the events of that night ten years ago.
FLASHBACK
10 years ago, New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball, London, England
"Mason, I am going to sit this one out and go have a drink in the lounge if I can find it…tell Lucy for me, will you?"
"Sure Erik…but do not be long, the young debutants are about to make their entrance."
Mason juggled his brows in a comical show of interest.
"They are just children, Mason…how can you even consider courting one of them?" Erik said, disgust covering his face.
Mason scoffed loudly and briskly swatted his friend on the arm. "They may be children by your standards, my prudish friend; but they are fair game in my eyes; you should try it."
Erik just could not understand the fascination most of his shipmates had with the young girls; to him, it bordered on repulsive.
"There is nothing like plucking the ripeness out of them before papa marries them off to some boring, horse-faced aristocrat."
Despite his unease with the subject, Erik laughed.
"You know I am with Lucy…so why do you push?"
Mason rolled his eyes and did a mock impression of Lucy's signature curtsy; arms flared out behind him like wings and his head bowed low, almost uncomfortably, toward his lap.
"Oh yes, how could I forget the cold, sobering woman that is your Lucy?
Erik immediately set out to defend her – having no idea why. What Mason said was the truth; there was something unhinged within her – something malevolent. Her tongue was vile and wicked when hurling insults at people – not caring who they were. She had been this way since Andrew's death…and Erik could not bring himself to hate her - even though she treated him with nothing less than contempt.
Her beauty was unmatched – that was the one redeeming quality she possessed and the sole reason for her popularity. His mother had latched onto her coldness like a parasite – she must have recognized her own kind.
His mother's words of a few months ago still rang like bells in his ears, "You will marry Lucy Templeton, and I will hear no more about it. Her family is one of the most respected in all of London – you should feel lucky that they are even willing to take you after my Andrew's untimely demise – you are not worthy to walk in his footsteps."
Lucky was not an emotion he felt when contemplating marriage to Lucy; but it was his duty as the only remaining heir. His dear father was dead; leaving behind his mother whose single purpose in life seemed to be driving Erik into his own personal hell and the estate into debt.
"I cannot believe you are going to marry her." Mason stated with a sour note in his voice.
"It is my duty to my family name." Erik retorted.
Mason pulled away from his friend to sweep another young woman into his arms for a dance.
"I am so glad I do not suffer from the same sickness you do, my friend; the innate need to be unbearably honorable."
Erik walked away shaking his head. Mason had a reputation for being a rake – a status Erik did not want. It seemed so many of the young men entering the Royal Navy had such a problem.
He made his way down the large, fully carpeted, deep crimson hallway to the room at the end; assuring himself that it was the lounge. He needed a drink -something in which he seldom indulged - to settle his nerves; his conversation with Mason had disturbed him…on many levels.
The room was large and dark, the only real source of light being the sparking fire that danced in the large fireplace in the center of the far wall. The bar was nowhere to be found, and Erik began to feel as though he had the wrong room. He did not care; instead, he planted himself in the soft, plush divan and stared into the fire.
His thoughts drifted back to Lucy; there was as much passion in her as there was a cold piece of meat; his mother certainly knew what she was doing. His life had been forfeit since Andrew had died; he would never be worth her love or affection. Perhaps by marrying Lucy and producing an heir, he would at last earn his place in his mother's ice-chiseled heart.
The sole purpose behind the union was the producing an heir. Erik silently scoffed - what a joke…Lucy barely let him kiss her. She was as responsive as a dead fish in his arms and he doubted that marrying her was going to make things any better.
In the glowing light of the fire, Erik threw back the memories and depressing thoughts. He intended to wait out the party here; he had no desire to go back…there was no party left in him.
The large door opened with an eerie creek, and Erik could not see the person that entered. They remained against the wall, shrouded in the shadows, not saying a word.
"May I help you?"
The figure moved with stealth elegance and soft confidence – and the curves were definitely female. He could not discern what she was wearing from the soft velvet black of the room, but her walk was distinctly female – prowling, hungry female.
"I am sorry young lady, but you must be in the wrong room."
His inquiring words received no response…but she continued to move slowly toward him – moving like a she-cat in search of her next victim. He could not see her face, but the closer she came to him, he could see the outline of her body – whatever she wore hugged her curves like a glove and he felt his body swell in response.
He bit back a verbal curse; berating his lack of control. What was wrong with him; Lucy never affected him this way? In fact, she left him shivering and empty inside, her eyes reflecting the bone-chilling contents of her soul.
Her face was still a mystery – as was her name – but somehow, revealing either of those things would strip the magic from the moment. He could not remember seeing such a woman in the crowd that had gathered for the ball, so he thought her an unwelcome attendee or part of the staff.
The unknown woman stood directly in front of him and he could not resist the need to touch the glimmering glow of her skin. He lifted his hand to her cheek and marveled when she leaned into his touch as though she had been waiting for it all her life.
She was fire in his hands…hot and ready to melt the cold from his heart. Erik marveled at her response to his touch – a response he longed to counter with more caresses.
He had removed his dinner jacket and cravat, and all that remained was his vest and shirt. She splayed her hands across the hard surface of his chest – quickly dispensing the vest with efficiency; pushing it from his broad shoulders. He stood before her – hard and panting – eager for whatever she had in mind.
She touched him through the expensive material of the shirt, sending a shiver of desire through him that he had never felt before. Her long, deft fingers found his taut nipples and circled them with a finesse that should have shocked or repulsed him, but did not. He hissed in his breath while pulling her closer to him.
He could see the sparkle of her eyes in the dim lighting – they were only a fraction from his and he knew she was close…so very close. He could not make out their color, but he knew he would be lost in their depths if he allowed himself to be.
"You cannot be Lucy…you are too tall…" he murmured, feeling the desirous pull of her wiles. He touched her then; ran his hands up the swell of her hips and rested them in the distinct impression of her waist, "…and you have womanly curves that she does not."
She held him to her with the silky cords of her arms and nuzzled the lobe of his ear with her cheek; he did not remember moving, but somehow she had him backed against the appliquéd wall – completely cast under her spell.
She fit so perfectly against him, all legs and the long neck of a swan. Her skin was like silk against the rough surface of his hand and he found himself entranced with every aspect of her that he could decipher.
It did not take long for him to realize that she wore breeches…a fact he found arousing, for some bizarre reason. His hands found the stimulating curve of her waist against the graceful swell of her hips, and he pulled her harder against his straining body.
He could have sworn he heard her purr as he grasped the generous scope of her backside and forced it more thoroughly against his hardened, erect body.
"Who are you…" Erik moaned, "…and why are you doing this to me?"
A soft, humming, evocative sound filled his ears and he realized she had chuckled at his words. The beauty of it had his already burgeoning erection throbbing more insistently against the constraining barrier of his pants.
"I am whoever you wish me to be." She whispered back, her voice as much a mystery as the rest of her.
She continued to nuzzle his ear, but she became bolder in her actions. Her sweet, honeyed tongue tasted him and she felt him bolt beneath her. His deep, resonating moan made her own body react in ways she had only heard about in the dark alley behind where she worked. She did not care that she was probably acting brazen – she had never had any thoughts of being a lady. If being a lady meant acting and whining like her mother – she wanted no part of it.
This was Erik in her arms – a man she had desired for months – ever since she had seen him with Lucy; he was the only man she would ever love.
Lucy.
The very name hardened her heart; she was a wicked, conniving woman with no purpose in life; except to make others miserable.
"Erik…" he had heard her – his name was a prayer upon her lips, "…kiss me."
She dared to whisper, giving him no hint within her voice that would allow him to know who she was. She feathered kisses along his jaw and down the sensuous bend of his neck before drawing her tongue along the ridge of his full, inviting lips.
He swallowed, barely containing the animal that threatened to take advantage of every enticing thing she offered. Was she innocently pursuing him or was she a seductress with honed skills on getting a man to do her bidding? The pull of her lips and tongue was too much and Erik dipped his head to meet her persuasive, tempting mouth.
The searing touch of her lips to his was far more disturbing than he would have imagined. He was lost within her sinewy, sensual web and he could not fathom ever wanting to be free of it.
The kiss rocked his world – leaving him unbalanced and wanting more – wanting all that she could give him. Her tongue snaked around his and he answered her call, wrapping his around hers with a skill he did not remember possessing until this moment.
He fanned his fingers through the heavy fall of her hair; he could not see it, but its silken tresses caressed him as sensuously as her tongue did. His hand held her head as he insisted she open more to him; he plunged into her hot mouth, devouring her taste and possessing her completely.
She knew there would never be another…but she could not have him; he would never forget her – of that she would be certain. She answered his bidding tongue with a fervent passion she had held within her, even at her young age she knew more about life than most people did who were far older than she was. More than that, she knew this man – she had studied him for months.
She gave him everything she had in that kiss…knowing he would feel it gently pour into him. How she longed to give him all of her if it would bind him to her for eternity, but he belonged to another and he was above her on every level…it could not be.
"Who are you?" he breathed again, as they surfaced for air.
"Just kiss me again." She whispered…
END FLASHBACK
"I kissed her again, but then she just disappeared while I was still reeling from her seductive actions…I never saw her again."
John considered all the details Erik had given him, and knew he could get to the bottom of the whole thing.
"Where is this Mason now…do you know?"
"His family's estate is several miles from here; he left military service to marry and has taken over the family shipping business."
John stood up and placed a sure hand upon Erik's shoulder, "I will take care of this for you…no problem. All I ask of you is for your backing as I try to start my own private investigator practice."
Erik nodded and sketched a genuine smile, "Of course, you will have all that you need and I would very much like to be involved when I can be."
John chuckled and agreed, "I can always use a man of your intelligence to help me sort through evidence and draw conclusions."
They shook hands and John immediately began drawing up a list of things he needed to do and people he needed to see.
"Were there any other key figures that night…anyone you can think of that would have a reason to hate you or want to see you fail?"
Erik wrinkled his brow in thought, but then shook his head. "There were many there from the university and I had graduated top in my class…but I never heard anything from any of them."
At least it was a start.
TBC