A/N: This chapter gets a full M rating, just to warn you. Anyway, thank you all for reviewing. I really love getting reviews. LOL.

Anna Kate- To answer your question, I really don't know. LOL. I just took the parts of the song that I liked and put them together. I know, I'm stupid. LOL. Anyway, thanks for reviewing. Keep reading. : )

Chapter 19

"I lit my pain on fire, and watched it all burn down

Now I'm dancing in the ashes and there's no one else around

I'm burning in the heavens, and I'm drowning in the hell

My soul's in a coma, and none of my friends can tell

I'm reaching out of getting nothing; this is just a story of a broken soul."

-Papa Roach, "Take Me"

As Julianna went to the kitchen to make lunch, Erik was left with the two children, Lewis and Adora. At first, he didn't know what he was doing at all, but in time he realized that children aren't that hard to manage. Even just the short time spent with Lewis and Adora made Erik wish he had his own children.

If things went as planned, he would soon be married to Christine, but he just couldn't envision her as a mother. Not yet, anyway. She was still too much of a child herself. Besides, he didn't even know if she would want to have his children. Deep in his mind, he doubted she would. But still, he could hope.

Erik found that gaining the trust and admiration of the children wasn't that difficult. Adora was younger, and she instantly gave Erik her trust. With time, she came to absolutely adore the man who gave her piggyback rides around the room, played dolls with her, and braided her hair, with some expert guidance from Adora herself, of course.

Lewis, on the other hand, was a completely different story. He was older and less trusting of the strange man with the mask. But Erik did eventually succeed in gaining his trust. He saw Lewis eyeing a couple of Julianna's pirate swords arranged on the mantelpiece, and asked him if he knew how to swordfight. Of course, Lewis said no, so Erik offered to teach him the basic techniques, just so he could get a handle on it. Erik could always teach him the more advanced steps later when he became skilled enough at the basic ones.

Erik had never used pirate swords before, but they were very similar to the one's he was familiar with. He decided they would do. So, he immediately started to teach Lewis how to swordfight, and was greatly relieved to find that Lewis was a bright young man and a quick learner, the perfect apprentice.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Julianna was starting to worry about how Erik was doing with the children, so she decided to check up on him. When she walked in the room, the first thing she saw was Erik's sword clashing against Lewis's.

Julianna freaked out, with good reason, of course. What was Erik doing sword fighting a ten-year-old child anyway? "Erik!" she shrieked. "What the hell are you doing?" Julianna immediately regretted her cursing, but couldn't exactly take it back. She was sorry though. Erik could tell.

Erik walked over to Julianna, with Lewis by his side. "Teaching the boy to swordfight, my dear," he said calmly, patting Lewis on the shoulder.

"But he's only ten years old!" Julianna reasoned. Inwardly, she smiled, forgetting all of her anger. She had no idea Erik was so good with children. God, he's so adorable, she thought. He's going to make a good father someday. How could she be mad at him? He was just so damn sexy!

Erik could see in her eyes that she wasn't angry anymore, and he was relieved. He wouldn't be able to take it if she was mad at him. "Don't worry," he insisted, kissing her lips lovingly. "We're being careful. Besides, I learned to swordfight when I was much younger than Lewis."

"Okay," Julianna replied, absentmindedly. Erik's kiss had distracted her, affected her judgment. How does he do that? she wondered. One little kiss and I'm off to La La Land. It's a crime, damn it. How can a man be so incredibly perfect? She shook her head and turned to leave, mumbling something like, "Be careful."

Once Julianna left the room, Erik went back to teaching Lewis sword fighting techniques, while Adora watched with an unbreakable attentiveness. She was very interested in the sword fighting skills that her brother was learning, though she was too young to actually participate, herself.

In twenty minutes or so, everyone met in the dining room for a wonderful, exotic lunch, which they all enjoyed immensely. When they were done eating, William and Elaine asked if they could take Lewis and Adora on a walk along Julianna – and Erik's – property. Julianna eagerly agreed to their suggestion, glad to have some time alone with Erik.

The very second William, Elaine, and the children were out the door, Julianna grabbed Erik's arm and dragged him into the living room. She gently pushed him down onto the sofa, and then sat down close beside him, resting her head on his shoulder, exhausted. He put his arm around her, and pulled her small form against his body.

"What's wrong, Julianna?" he asked, caringly. He'd never seen her so distraught before. She'd always been so calm and relaxed, never stressed out like this. He knew something definitely had to be bothering her. And he was going to do what ever he could to make her feel better. He just hoped that he hadn't done something to upset her. That would break his very heart.

"I don't know," she said, burying her face in his warm chest. "It's strange… I feel… different. I don't know if it's good or bad."

He ran his fingers through her hair. "Is it because of our guests, my love?" he asked. He was thinking of asking her if it was because of him, but then he decided against it. She would have told him if he'd done something. He would never do anything intentionally to displease her. Never.

"I don't know," she said, suddenly very interested in Erik's leg. Perfect leg, she accused, putting her hand on it tenderly. "I don't think so," she added, stroking his thigh gently.

He gasped. Good God, what heavenly torture was she inflicting upon his leg?

"And you don't have to do that," she insisted, "when our guests aren't here."

"Don't have to do what?" he asked, breathlessly, as she continued to massage his leg. God, he didn't know how much more of this he could take. It was really starting to turn him on.

"Call me 'your love'," she replied, adjusting her hand to massage the inside of his thigh.

"Oh my God," he gasped, not hearing a word she said. He moaned loudly, as she slowly moved her hand father up his leg. He closed his eyes. She was so close; so close he could feel the warmth of her hand very near to his hard, throbbing length.

Suddenly, she stopped, realizing she was getting much too caught up in her fascination with his perfect leg, and she could easily see that he was getting way too aroused. "Sorry," she mumbled, removing her hand from his thigh.

He took her hand and pressed it back against his thigh roughly. "Don't…" he breathed. "Don't stop…"

Julianna was hesitant to continue, even though she truly wanted to. The passion in his voice was compelling. But she couldn't hurt him again by telling him 'no' if it went too far. She promised herself she would never let that happen again. It hurt both of them too much. "No, Erik," she said, removing her hand.

He didn't say a word, didn't hardly breathe. He just sat there, looking like a beautiful, forsaken angel, abandoned in his time of need. Julianna kissed his neck lovingly. "I'm so sorry…" she whispered.

Still he didn't move, didn't respond… almost like he hadn't even felt her gentle kiss. She noticed he had a saddening faraway look in his eyes. "Why do you do this to me?" he whispered, voice full of passion.

She thought about repeating her apology to him or telling him that he knew they couldn't … but she knew very well that wouldn't do any good. She couldn't stand to see him like this. It hurt her to the very core. She hesitantly put her hand on his rock hard length, unsure of what exactly she was going to do. She knew what she wanted to do…

He gasped and closed his eyes in pleasure as she stroked him forcefully. Her head was still pressed against his chest, so she could hear his increasing heartbeat and feel his ragged breathing. She knew there was no stopping now. She couldn't have anyway. Seeing him in so much pleasure made her feel… She didn't know exactly what, but it was good.

Erik moaned and gripped the sofa so hard that his knuckles turned white from lack of circulation. He gasped again as she worked her hands down into the front of his pants, and let another moan escape his lips as her small hands tightly gripped his pulsating erection. "Oh, God!" he cried, not knowing such pleasure was possible. Seeing him wild with pleasure encouraged Julianna to continue pumping her hands along his throbbing length, grasping him tightly. In what seemed like only seconds later, he cried out one last time as he came, releasing his seed into his pants.

Julianna removed her hands from his pants hastily, desperately trying to come up with some excuse for what she just did, so she wouldn't feel so much guilt or regret. She looked up at Erik's handsome face, noticing his eyes were still closed. She gently caressed his cheek, getting a great amount of pleasure just from giving him the pleasure and release he sought after.

His beautiful, blue eyes fluttered open and gazed lovingly into Julianna's. Julianna smiled. "Better?" she asked, kissing his lips tenderly.

He opened his mouth to reply, but he just couldn't seem to find the words. He finally settled on nodding his head. Julianna smiled and held his hand, their fingers entwining, as they'd done many times before. It was almost an instinctive action now.

Erik brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. "Thank… you," he managed to choke out.

Julianna felt her heart melt instantly. She pulled Erik's heavenly body into her arms, and rubbed his back gently. She wanted him so much… needed him. Her need for him was almost overwhelming; he was irresistible. But, of course, she couldn't have him. He could have her, but she could never have him. Life is so cruel, she decided.

"Erik," she said, suddenly worried. "Don't tell Christine."

"I won't," he said, kissing her cheek.

"Thank you," she said, distantly. "Our guests will be returning soon."

"Oh," he said, uninterestedly. He really couldn't care less about their guests. He was going to enjoy his moment as much as he possibly could. "Perhaps we should get cleaned up then, hmm?" he said, suddenly taking in what she said.

"Yeah," she said, separating her body from his. "Probably. I really feel like taking a bath, since I haven't had one yet today."

"Me, too," Erik agreed.

Oh, God, Julianna thought. More impure thoughts. She imagined just how extremely nice it would be to take a bath with him. Their two naked bodies and a tub full of warm water. That would be fun … very fun, she thought, mischievously.

He seemed to know what she was thinking, because he was looking at her curiously. Did he want to take a bath with her? she wondered. Dear, Lord, she couldn't even look at him without imagining him without his clothes. Dark, sexy Erik. What was he doing to her?

"Well… um…" she mumbled. "I'm going to take a bath. I'll meet you down here when I'm done." Then she got up and walked out of the room quickly, not even waiting for his response.

Erik closed his eyes and leaned back. He could hardly believe what just happened to him. Julianna had touched him, pleasured him in ways no one ever had before. He liked what she did, but it left him with a longing for something more. He sighed, opened his eyes, and headed upstairs to take a bath … alone.