Racing toward the finish line.
Let me issue an apology for misinterpreting reviews that were meant to be constructive. I tend to read into the "tone" of the written review, which is not always the smart way of doing things. As for writing a "dark" Erik, I'm not sure I have the capability. I don't have a dark time in my life that I can draw from...and I draw from personal experience to design and orchestrate my characters. I'll try to design a more "fallen angel" Erik...we'll see how that goes.
Thanks again. Enjoy.
CHAPTER 25
Erik's nerves were causing two reactions; they made him fidget and they made him sick. He was experiencing both at this very moment. It didn't really matter that his logical, intellectual side told him that Christine would never leave him hanging; she was far too sweet-natured. The more dominant side of him, the side that had ruled for far to long and wasn't ready to give up ownership, was busy trying to convince him that no matter how much she seemed to enjoy his company and even engaged in some amazing make-out sessions with him, she was just playing him and this wedding was her final laugh.
However, the moment he rested his eyes upon her ethereal form, Erik banished all doubts and negative thoughts from his mind. She was perfection in human form. A vision of serene femininity draped in a rich cream satiny dress, Erik could not move his eyes from her. Everyone else seemed to fade into the background; the many who had come.
Erik didn't know most of them; some having come from Dallas after hearing that Christine was getting married, some coming just to see Tony Stark, aka Ironman. He had even seen a few business associates from the defense department. Upon seeing them all, Erik had turned to Tony and asked in astonishment how they had found out when the wedding had only been planned yesterday?
Tony had simply shrugged his shoulders and stated without remorse or conviction, "Blogs, U-tube, Facebook, MySpace...you name it. We live in a time when news travels faster than the speed of light – or so it seems."
Erik had accepted those answers with a brief nod of his head and pursed lips, then he'd turned to Tony and pegged him with a fierce stare, "That may be so." Erik agreed, "But frankly, I blame you."
It was true; San Antonio media, L.A. media, Dallas media; it was enough to drive the Old Erik into seclusion for weeks. But the New Erik...? He was just ticked.
"Me? Why do you blame me?" Tony had added, shocked to be accused.
"Look around you Tony, most of these people haven't a clue who I am or who Christine is. That only leaves you. Ever since the San Antonio media found out that I know you, they've been hounding me far more than they ever used to."
Tony had been listening intently, honest he had been. "So, you admit that they had been hounding you before I came into the picture."
Erik's look was one of complete "nothing"; he didn't blink, he didn't twitch – nothing. "Locally, Tony, they had hounded me locally." He finally stressed. He pointed to a little, balding man who carried a large camera. "Look, the L.A. Times is here..." he moved his finger to a tall, lanky man with a bad hairpiece, "The National Inquirer", he moved his finger again, "E.T.", and again, "People...you name it and they have a reporter here....why...?" Erik paused briefly, crossing his arms over his chest, "...because of you, that's why."
"I didn't know they'd be here...it's not my fault." Tony countered, "Besides, they are going to be focused on me, not you two."
That might possibly be true, but Erik wasn't about to admit it, "I just don't want my or Christine's picture plastered all over the morning papers...or tonight's for that matter." Erik growled.
"I'll do damage control." Tony promised with sincerity in his voice, "You just get yourself hitched."
True to his word, Tony had thwarted the media with a personal interview and enough pictures to fill an entire middle section of any nationwide newspaper. He'd even hired a couple of well-dressed, extremely muscled cronies to monitor picture taking during the ceremony.
What a guy.
Erik recalled that he may have been a slight bit abrupt with Tony, but the man certainly lived in the now and didn't really think a great deal about consequences or after affects. He was better in some aspects than others, such as his weapons now...since he'd been victimized by them; but he was still very much a pleasure seeker – no matter what.
Of course, none of that seemed to matter anymore as Christine walked toward him accompanied by Mozart on the violin and cello. She literally left him breathless....and she was giving herself to him. HIM. It hardly seemed to fair to her, allowing her to chain herself to him. But he was far to selfish and deeply in love to let her go.
Christine was equally as stunned by Erik. He looked devastatingly handsome in his tuxedo, he had a slightly arrogant tilt to his mouth that made her legs feel like jello, and his hair was still adorably mused as though he'd just left the bed and hadn't thought to comb it; it was the normal way it fell, but she found it irresistible.
He had donned the eye-patch, which, along with the arrogant smirk and dark, smoldering attractive cut of his features made the man a treasure above all others - at least to her. How had she survived the years she had without him in her life? It was a mystery she intended to spend the remaining years of her life unraveling.
He reached for her and she grasped his hand, feeling his warmth feed into her like a ray of sun. Her stomach was flipping over, doing somersaults of anxiety. His touch felt both natural and unnerving, sending shock-waves of pure electricity shooting through her. She had never reacted to a man the way she reacted to Erik...which she knew to be a good thing.
"Dearly beloved,"
They both turned at the same time, neither of them having been aware of the minister standing there. He was a kind, compassionate looking man with warm, brown eyes and an easy smile. He wasn't much older than Erik, but his manner was very fatherly.
"I haven't had the pleasure of knowing these two people, but I have spent the last hour or so talking to their friends and co-workers, those who know them best, and have determined that despite what life has given them, they have found each other. Through the chaos and the constant barrage of white noise that seems so dominant in today's world, two hurting and lonely souls have heard each other.
"Where I come from and in my line of work, I consider that a miracle."
There was a hushed sigh in the crowd, a heavenly aura that provided a sense of peace. The rays of the sun shone like radiant arcs through the trees that surrounded them and it was the sacred place that Christine had so wanted it to be....for God was there; she felt Him.
"God never intended for man to be alone, so He designed a help mate; a partner if you prefer, to help balance life and its many trials." He paused, smiling at Erik and Christine and then fanning that smile out to the crowd. "What an awesome concept that is, if you dwell on it. God, the Maker of the universe, the Creator of all, took the time to create for us – men – a woman...beautiful, soft, intelligent..." he winked at Christine and then smiled at Erik, "...and blind to our faults."
Pinning Erik with a sincere gaze, his voice became very reverent, "He saw you, Erik, your pain, your desire, your needs, and created Christine....isn't that an awesome thought?"
And it was.
"What is so amazing about this couple..." the young minister stressed, "...is that Christine was the one who asked Erik to marry her." He winked at her again, "And I find that both amusing and fascinating. He obviously said yes, or we wouldn't be here today."
Everyone laughed at that remark.
"Adding to that, she only asked him yesterday."
Again he was feeding into the crowd and giving them the sense of urgency that Erik and Christine had felt in only waiting a day to get married.
"Each couple is unique in their story, each has lives that will go on after this day is long over." He shifted on his feet and focused on only Erik and Christine. "Fulfill God's desire and live your life for Him; in joy and in strife, in good times and bad, through sickness and in health, in times of poverty as in times of wealth – for better or for worse – forsaking all others."
He rested his gaze on Erik.
"Erik Dominik Miklos, from this day forward you are to take Christine Helena Drummond as your wife. You are to love her unconditionally; see to her needs; spiritual, physical, and mental. You are to be there for her even in life's toughest times. You are to be a father to her children and her life mate for as long as you live, until death parts you. Do you accept this calling?"
Even though his eyes were misted over with tears, Erik heard every word and his heart swelled.
"I do." His voice was strong and proud.
Opening his hand, the minister handed Erik the ring he had chosen for Christine, and Erik – with a slight tremor in his hands – placed it on her finger.
The minister nodded and turned his attention to Christine.
"Christine Helena Drummond, from this day forward, you are to take Erik Dominik Miklos as your husband. You are called to support him in life's endeavors; to lift him up out of the muck that life can create and be to him a haven of rest; to make a home filled with love, joy, and God's divine presence; to be a mother to his children and his life mate for as long as you live, until death parts you. Do you accept this calling?"
Could she even speak? Christine wasn't sure. But looking at Erik and seeing the love he had for her etched in every nuance of his face and beaming forth in his inimitable eyes, she found the words in a quiet, cracked tone.
"I do."
The minister handed Christine the ring she'd picked out for Erik and she turned to him eagerly. He again lifted trembling hands and watched with amazement as she slipped it on his finger.
Still enjoying the feel of the ring on his finger, Erik took her other hand, placed a kiss upon her knuckles, and then the melodious strands of a song began playing. As soon as Erik began singing, her tears began to fall...
"I wanted to write you a song
A song you could sing forever
And I wanted to rhyme
And to bend phrase and time
Into something clever
But you deserve something better
"If I could make all the mountains spell your name
And all the old streetcars dance in the rain
And promise to hold you for all my days
It wouldn't be enough
To show you my love
"I wanted to write you a verse
Of all of the things that I love in you
Of your beautiful smile
And the truth in your eyes
And the way you always knew
That you deserved someone better
"If I could make all the mountains spell your name
And all the old streetcars dance in the rain
And promise to hold you for all my days
It wouldn't be enough
To show you my love
"And when I'm ugly
I know you love me
And you know all of me
And I wouldn't wish that on anyone
"If I could make all the mountains spell your name
And all the old streetcars dance in the rain
And promise to hold you for all my days
It wouldn't be enough
To show you my love"
"To Show You My Love". Words and music by Mike Schmid; recorded by Mike Schmid on the album "The High Cost of Living; A Love Story"
All she could do was wrap him her love; fold her arms around him and hold him for eternity.
"If there is anyone present who knows of any lawful reason why this couple should not be allowed to wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."
No one dared speak. Not only would they suffer the wrath of Erik, Tony would surely reign down his own style of punishment, not to mention "Guido" and "Bruno" - the cronies he'd hired; as well as Thax. With all that muscle, no one dared speak.
"Now, with the power vested in me by God and the state of Nevada, I present to you, Mr. Erik Miklos and his bride, Christine Miklos. What God has joined, let no one put asunder."
They turned and faced the crowd, unable to focus through the haze that filled their eyes.
"You may kiss your bride."
Erik wasted no time, he longed to taste her on his tongue; longed to touch her tangibly with his hands so that his mind would register that she was actually his.
There was no need for branding. Not now. Not here. His body instantly reacted to the thought of branding her as his...soon. But now, he gently touched her lips and caressed the outer softness of them with his tongue before pulling back and smiling at her. It was all new; the world and its secrets. He had reasons now; reasons to live his life to the fullest.
۞۞۞
Tony, as was his nature, enjoyed the attention his presence warranted. He posed for pictures after the wedding and even signed a few autographs. Erik was thankful for the distraction, since it kept the media off of him. Christine just seemed happy to be at his side, which amazed him; and probably would for the rest of his life.
Although seeing the guys from the defense department was a great thing, and Erik had a wonderful time introducing Christine to them and seeing the appreciative looks they had for her, all Erik really wanted to do was get Christine alone. Not that he was particularly anxious to prove his ineptness in the sex department, but he wasn't fond of a lot of people and their staring eyes.
It was coming up on 9:00 at night and Erik was pretty certain Christine was getting hungry because he was. He had realized over the course of the last week, that Christine had somehow renewed his appetite. He'd never really been attached to food – thinking of it more as a means to an end rather than a necessity – but Christine has insisted on barging into his life and interrupting his well orchestrated schedule...not that he minded.
He spotted Peyton and Paige; they were enjoying being the center of attention along side Uncle Tony. Arrangements had been made and they would be staying with Della for the next few days here in L.A. She and Francois had decided to hang around for a while before heading back to Texas. They would be in good hands and Erik could relax and enjoy his new wife for a few days before having to face important questions such as where they would live.
Protectively and possessively winding his arm around Christine's shoulders, Erik nuzzled the top of her head and placed a kiss there. Did all women smell this good? Did they carry this natural sweetness in them that drove a man to distraction? Being a musician gave him a rather interesting insight to such things...he was pretty certain they did for men would do just about anything to possess the woman they longed for....anything. Songs had been written expressing man's desire for women and history itself was full of men who'd practically lost their sanity over a woman.
They had to have something that caused such behavior....because...the only other explanation was that men were incorrigible and incurable, testosterone driven, one-track minded libertines...that just couldn't be it. Accepting that it was just God's divine plan, he decided to just be thankful.
Erik knew that Tony would understand their leaving; he had used his influence to get a catered reception in one of the hotel's many banquet rooms. They result had been elegant and tasteful, something Erik and Christine were very pleased with. Just about everyone had stayed for the reception, but they had requested that the media not be allowed, and they hadn't been. It was a welcome change.
As he leaned against her, Erik could feel Christine lean against him; her delectable curves brushing against him provocatively, even though she probably didn't mean for it to seem that way. Erik couldn't stifle the low thunder of his throaty growl when her hip feathered across the straining front of his pants, causing his eyes to close in sweet agony as he inhaled her scent once again.
This was a whole different kind of torture; far more effective than any he'd undergone to this point. She could lay countries to ruin with just a touch or a glance, he was sure of it; for she had conquered his heart without so much as uttering a word. The story of Helen of Troy seemed to be a fine work of non-fiction as far as Erik was concerned; the face that could launch a thousand ships...indeed. A woman's beauty was a thing of legends, of sonnets and poetry. Erik would forever marvel that the most beautiful of them all loved him....HIM...it was unfathomable.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She whispered into his ear as he nuzzled her neck.
His rumbling purr vibrated down her spine and he swept his tongue sensuously over her sensitive skin. His teeth softly worked the area he'd licked, causing Christine to melt languorously against him even more.
"Don't make me wait any longer." She finally murmured. "I need you now."
Erik's head shot up, his eyes roaming the room to find Tony. He didn't have to look far as the man was headed toward them with a twinkle in his eyes.
"You two need to get out of here; I've seen porn with less touching." He teased. "Get going." Erik and Christine started to walk away, but Tony caught Erik's arm, "Would you like me to send up a video camera?"
Erik narrowed his gaze and was about to sound off a retort when Christine gently eased him toward her and pulled him to the door.
Bringing her into his embrace once again, he felt ten fee tall. "Remind me to kill him later."
"Oh no, my love, you're going to have lots of things to do...and Tony won't be one of them."
Unfortunately there were others in the elevator, or Erik would have pinned Christine against the wall and started the foreplay early; but he stood eagerly ready in the corner with Christine by his side – watching the numbers pass as the elevator went up.
Despite his physical hunger, there was another hunger raging through him that took control. Food was just going to have to wait.
TBC