I'm going to be doing some promotional stuff for my two releases coming out in May and June. Check out my website for more details coming soon. One of the prizes is a gift card for Borders books and a free copy of one of my two new stories. You have to be over 18 for the book and you have to be a US resident to get the gift card if you win.

Thanks for continuing to follow my stories and for being supportive while I work on my career. It's been great fun to write the Julia and Erik stories. I hope you'll check out my original stories too.

Thanks!

Gabrina

Julia36

For the first time since I'd met Erik, he became the anchor I needed in order to survive. For once he didn't rely on me to steady him. He'd become strong enough, confident enough in himself and in our love that he could offer me what I'd sought from him all these years—a real lover emotionally, not just physically.

He whispered in my ear that he didn't want me to cry, but he made no attempt to shush me. Instead he kissed my temple and the tears on my cheeks and rocked me slowly as though I were a child. His arms protected me, his heartbeat comforted me, and the familiar voice I had fallen in love with allowed me to break down.

Emotion overcame me, drowned me in a way I hadn't expected. I cried for myself and for Erik, for everything I'd wanted and still wanted. As he held me, I thought of what had happened to him in that alley and how close I'd come to losing him.

"I'll hurt you," I squeaked as I struggled to sit up.

"Never," he assured me. "Stay."

"I have housework, I have my daughter and your son, I have—"

"Stay," he said again.

I couldn't argue with him, so I nestled against him and closed my eyes. The world started to fade, yet I managed to tell him that I found his arms to be the most comfortable place in the world.

"I want to fall asleep with you," he said when he apparently thought I'd fallen asleep. "I've always wanted to know what it would feel like to wake up warmed by your body and know I could simply stay by you without fear of being caught."

I didn't know why he feared being caught. I certainly didn't care and had made no attempt to hide him. For goodness sake, I lit a beacon in my window to draw him to me each night I had wanted him to visit.

"And now I will know because of my mistakes. Ironic, isn't it? My foolishness has earned me this place beside you. I wish it were different, Julia, I wish I had stayed at your house and never returned to my own."

More tears spilled down my cheeks. I fell asleep listening to him breathe, savoring the warmth of his body and his masculine scent. I fell asleep knowing he'd be there when I woke because he didn't have a choice. He would be mine because he didn't have the strength to return home. And perhaps, I reminded myself, because he loved me and at last he was ready to stay.

It felt as though he'd returned to me from a long absence, a lover I hadn't seen in many years. Physically he was the same man I'd been with all of these years, but that was the only similarity. It thrilled me to think we would once again sit and talk for hours about music, the articles in the newspaper, our children, our homes, our lives together. As much as I loved him, I couldn't quite imagine our lives intertwining any more than they had—which is to say, I couldn't fathom living in the same home with him for more than week. No matter how close he was now, I feared he'd become distant again later. I had no desire to marry a stranger all over again and suffer as I had in the past. If I were to marry, it would be because I wanted a man in my life, not because it was expected.

We slept soundly in each other's arms, warm and content in the quiet guest room. Lissy and Alexandre must have kept themselves occupied, which I credited to Alex because he was always the one secretly in charge even when he was patient enough to allow Lisette to order him around. If he didn't agree, she had no power, and he seemed to enjoy amusing her.

When we did wake, it was dark and I feared I'd starved the children. My own belly was sick with hunger, and I sat up with a start.

"No, don't," Erik blurted out, his hands grasping me firmly before he fully woke and looked at me as though he were surprised. "What are you doing?"

"Starting supper, finishing laundry, making sure the children haven't killed one another," I said as I began to fix my hair.

"Lay still a moment," he said as he pulled me back into his arms. "A minute more."

How could I resist a minute more? I had no doubt that a minute would turn into five, which would lead to ten and then suddenly I'd be asleep again.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I just gave you half a dozen reasons, Erik."

He looked at me, his pale eyes filled with sadness. It didn't matter what I needed to clean, cook, or tend to during the day. He wanted me here and that was all that mattered—at least to Erik.

"I suppose five more minutes won't hurt," I said. He exhaled hard, as though I'd knocked the air from his lungs.

"Not at all," he murmured.

We fell asleep again, my face beside his. The warmth of him lulled me into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. It had been a long time since I'd rested comfortably. Just when I thought I had forgotten Louis, I'd dream about him. The wind would rattle the windows and I'd think it was him trying to enter the house. Nothing frightened me more than imagining the last few years as merely a dream. I always wondered what would happen if I woke beside Erik. Perhaps then I would know for certain that Louis wouldn't return and hurt us.

"What time is it?" I eventually murmured.

"Almost six," Erik drowsily answered.

I bolted upright and cursed under my breath. Within seconds I had managed to smooth my skirts, fearing Lisette would see me and ask why I appeared so rumpled.

"Stay out of trouble," I said to Erik, who appeared amused by my actions. "No running about, wandering the house, or anything of the sort."

"Am I a prisoner now?" he grumbled.

"You're a patient," I answered.

He didn't look amused. "Don't you have any more books?"

"I told you I sold them all," I answered. "Or most of them. I'll dig through the closet later and find something."

I expected the moment I shut the door he'd be out of bed and rummaging around like a pig in search of truffles.

"Fine," he replied, clearly unhappy with my decision to leave him alone.

"Thank you," I said warmly, feigning complete trust in him.

The hall smelled of fresh bread and meat. I found Lisette at the bottom of the stairs, apparently searching for me.

"There you are," she said. "We've been looking for you."

Alex slid into place beside her and smiled. "Where have you been?"

"With your father," I answered.

"You look as though you just woke," Lissy said. "Did you fall asleep, mummy?"

There was no use in lying to her as I knew one or both of them would ask why I looked like I just woke up if I hadn't been asleep.

"I did, very briefly. Now both of you wash up for lunch…or supper, I suppose."

Lissy frowned. "You must sit down before you collapse," she said, our roles reversed momentarily. She took me by the arm and ushered me into the dining room, explaining that she and Alex had taken the initiative to make supper. Undoubtedly they'd had a bit of help from Meg, as I found a note tucked under the baking pan that it should be washed at once to keep the food from sticking.

"May I ask my father to join us?" Alex asked.

"He's still asleep. Wait until after supper and then you may see him, Alex."

He didn't appear satisfied with my words but he nodded politely and walked with us into the dining room. Together we sat, said grace, and began to enjoy the meal. While Lissy went on chattering about how she wanted to ask her uncle Anthony for some blue candy because it was her favorite color, I caught Alex staring at the empty seat beside me.

"He's perfectly fine," I told him.

Alex looked up suddenly and offered a humorless smile. "I know."

"He'll be happy to see you again, I'm certain."

Alex didn't reply immediately. He played with his food and stared at his glass of water. "If he's feeling up to company," he mumbled.

"You're family, not company," I corrected.

"Does he want to see me?" he asked. "Or is that why I'm not allowed to see him?"

"He's healing, Alex. It has nothing to do with you. Your father needs all the rest he can get."

"Then why do you get to see him?" Lissy asked.

"Because I'm a nurse." I issued her a sharp glance to tell her to stay quiet.

"He won't die now, will he?" Alex asked.

"No, I think he'll be just fine now."

Unless your mother returns, I wanted to say. Then none of us will be fine.