Chapter 27

As I stand outside the bedroom door I recall the events of the past week. If someone were to have told me that this would happen I would not have believed them for a moment but here I stand, my wife waiting for me just on the other side of the threshold. This is the moment I have dreamed of my entire life. So, what am I waiting for? I remember the words Nadir spoke before escorting me to the alter and also my resolve to let what ever happens happen.

Taking a final calming breath I step into the doorway and cross the threshold to my sweet Marie.

"Now, my dear, where were we?" I ask as I return to where Marie is now sitting on the bed.

"If I recall correctly we were right here," Marie says as she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down onto the bed with her once more. Our lips meet in a sweet, gentle kiss filled with unspoken promises. In that kiss I find the reassurance and courage I need to banish my fears and insecurities.

After a few moments, I pull away just enough to gaze down at her lovely face. "I love you so very much, Marie. You are the most important thing in the world to me," I breathe softly as I admire the beauty of the woman lying beside me in her white wedding gown.

"I love you more than anything, Erik. I always have and always will. I promise you that," she says before placing her hands on my face and gently guiding my lips to hers once more.

This kiss is much more passionate than the previous one as she parts her lips, inviting me to deepen the kiss. I do this without hesitation and we soon find ourselves breathless yet yearning for more.

As we continue to kiss, I caress Marie's back as she does the same to mine. I enjoy the sensations her touch is sparking within me and I cannot help but wonder if my touch is doing the same to her. However, this thought is quickly dashed from my mind when she takes my hand and guides it between our bodies, placing it on her breast.

"Relax, Erik," she whispers as my breath catches and I jerk my head up to look questioningly in her eyes. "I am your wife now and there are no longer any restraints between us giving into our wants and needs."

"Marie, you know that I have never been in this situation before," I say pleadingly, hoping she understands my hesitation.

"I know, Erik, and I understand your concern. But, you do not need to concern yourself with propriety; simply follow your instincts. You do not need to be afraid to look at and touch any part of me. I, myself, plan on exploring every part of your body before the sun rises," she says with a very sincere look on her face.

"You do?" I question, shocked by her words.

"Yes. Now, I do believe we are a bit overdressed," she says slyly as she gets out of bed and pulls me to my feet in front of her before she begins to unbutton my shirt and place butterfly soft kisses to my bare chest.

"I do believe you are correct, my dear," I say as all thoughts of objecting desert me, having been replaced by the intense sensations that send my blood coursing through my body caused by her touch.

As she continues to unbutton my shirt I reach around her to find the fasteners on her dress. My hands are shaking slightly but I manage to get them unfastened. She shrugs out of her wedding gown and I am left speechless as the dress pools on the floor at her feet, revealing that she is wearing nothing underneath. That must be what her and Meg were up to earlier, I think wryly as I take in the sight of my beautiful bride standing naked before me.

"You are so beautiful, Marie," I say on a whisper of breath as I continue to look at her lovingly.

"Thank you, Erik," she says before kissing me briefly, as she pushes my shirt down my arms and allows it to drop on the floor next to her dress.

I silently pull her into my embrace as I lower my lips to hers, kissing her passionately. Her skin is so soft beneath my hands as I caress her back and sides. She feels so good pressed against my bare chest. I never knew that the simple contact of bare skin against bare skin could provoke such wonderful sensations.

My next surprise comes when she reaches between our bodies and begins to unfasten my pants. She then proceeds to kiss me from head to toe as she lowers my pants and encourages me to step out of them, discarding them on the pile of clothing that has accumulated at the side of the bed. As she rises to her feet she once again trails kisses along the way until she finds my mouth once more. I do not think she left a single centimeter of my bared skin untouched by her soft lips. It is all I can do to keep from making her mine completely where we stand.

Without a word I take her hand and guide her to lie down on the bed. I hesitate only a moment before lying beside her once more, taking her into my arms and kissing her soft lips. All thoughts of her rejecting me are banished from my mind as the sensations of her bare skin against my own overpower my senses. Her hands begin to move upon my body as we continue to kiss and only then do I allow myself to do the same to her.

"Please make love to me, Erik. Make me yours completely," Marie says softly in my ear as I kiss her neck. She then rolls onto her back, pulling me to lie on top of her.

"Are you certain that this is what you truly want, Marie?" I question, knowing that we are about to pass the point of no return for I am very close to losing the ability to stop if she were to ask me to do so.

"Yes, I am quite certain. In fact, I have never been more certain of anything in my entire life. I have dreamed of this night for a very long time. It is what I want and I am not about to change my mind now. I love you, Erik." With that said she pulls my lips down to hers in the most passionate kiss we have shared thus far as she opens herself to me, inviting me to join us together as one.

Her words and actions are the only encouragement I need to continue. Her body is warm and willing beneath mine, begging me to unite us together, however, I have been waiting much too long for this moment and refuse to be rushed. I loosen her grip on my neck as I place soft, tantalizing kisses along the column of her neck and across her shoulder before retracing my path to grace the other side with the same treatment. From there I move my lips lower to her breasts as I taste the sweetness of her skin and feel her body's reaction to my touch in such sensitive areas. She moans my name as I continue to caress her sides and hips as my lips continue to familiarize themselves with every inch of her flesh which is bared for me and me alone.

Satisfied that I have done a thorough job of exploring her lovely breasts I once again begin to leave a trail of kisses as my mouth moves lower. I feel her stomach quiver as my lips graze the sensitive skin of her abdomen. I then move lower, spreading kisses down her legs to her toes and back up to her inner thighs, alternating from one leg to the other the whole time.

"Erik," she moans as my lips trace a fiery trail towards her womanhood. I can feel the heat of her passion.

"Please, Erik, I need you," she moans louder as she reaches for me.

"All in due time, my love," I say as I continue to worship her body. It takes all of my self control and restraint to not simply give in to her pleading, but, I wish to cherish this precious gift she is offering me and refuse to rush this.

After a few more minutes of tender exploration I move above her once more, claiming her lips with my own. She places her hands on my hips, guiding me towards her center and I cannot delay our union any longer.

I enter her gently with painstaking slowness, afraid of causing her pain if I move too swiftly. I soon find that our union is blocked by some form of resistance. Over the years I have read several books concerning this and I know what must be done to overcome it.

"Please forgive me, Marie," I beg softly against her neck as I prepare to apply pressure to the unseen barrier, knowing what I am about to do will cause her pain.

She lets out a soft cry as the barrier dissolves. I hold perfectly still, waiting for her pain to subside.

"Forgive me," I plead once more as I try to kiss away the pain. I had wished to spare her this discomfort after everything else she has been through.

"It is alright, Erik," she says softly as she caresses my face. "I know you did not wish to hurt me but the pain was necessary and it has passed now."

"Are you certain?" I question, studying her face for any lingering signs of pain.

"I am," she states simply as she begins to move against me. "Now, please, make love to me, Erik."

We both gasp with pleasure as I feel her surround me with her warmth as I slowly move into her further. The feeling is exquisite.

As we make love I find it is like composing music. It has a rhythm all its own. It begins slowly and innocently as we ourselves are discovering this new song that only the two of us can create. The rhythm gradually builds in strength and power in the same way our bodies are moving together as we explore our passion and love for each other, our voices creating the music of the night as we exchange words of love. The rhythm finally reaches a climax and we collapse into each other's arms panting; our bodies spent and sated from our powerful release we have just shared together.

I pull the blankets over us as Marie settles beside me, snuggling close.

"Thank you, Erik," Marie says softly as she smiles at me sleepily.

"And what is it you are thanking me for?" I question, unsure of what it is she is speaking of.

"I am thanking you for many things," she replies slyly.

"And what, pray tell, might those be?" I ask.

"Thank you for making me the happiest woman on the face of the earth. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for showing me how beautiful such things shared between the sheets can be. Thank you for making me a woman. Thank you for making my dreams come true. Thank you for saving my life... repeatedly. Thank you for being you." She pauses a moment to place a kiss to my lips. "Thank you for everything you have done for Charles and myself. Need I continue?"

"No, Marie, it is I who should be thanking you for all that you have done and shown to me," I reply sincerely before lowering my lips to hers in a tender, gentle kiss.

I pull Marie even closer into my embrace as our simple kiss becomes more passionate and I feel my body aching for her once more.

"Will you never cease to amaze me, Erik?" Marie questions as she pulls away from me slightly, moving her hand between our bodies as she feels my need for her.

I gasp at the sudden contact, unable to utter a word. She smiles slyly at me before releasing her hold on me.

"It is my turn," she says softly with a glint of passion in her eyes prior to pushing me onto my back and placing her soft lips on the bare flesh of my chest.

Her lips and hands caress my skin as they trail a path down my body in much the same manner my own had done to hers earlier. Her touch is exquisite as she worships every centimeter of my body. She then loves me with her sweet mouth until I feel that I will burst with the pleasures she is provoking with her gentle touch.

"Please stop this sweet torment," I beg of her as I feel myself on the brink of losing control of my senses.

Deciding she has tortured me enough, she slowly kisses her way back up my body, settling at my lips. She then surprises me further by straddling my hips, lowering herself onto me with painstaking slowness. We proceed to make sweet music once again until we collapse into each others arms where we drift to sleep whispering words of love to each other.

The rest of the night is spent in much the same manner as we compose the music of the night in each others embrace.