A/N: Just to let you know, this chapter is rated M for graphic sexual scenes. Anyway, yeah, I was up til like 4 in the morning last night writing this, so you better enjoy it. LOL. Have fun reading. : ) Oh, and please review.

Chapter 21

"I'd like to run away from you

But if I were to leave you, I would die

I'd like to break the chains you put around me

And yet I'll never try; I'd rather be alone

But then I know my life would be so empty

As soon as you were gone."

-Céline Dion feat. Luciano Pavarotti, "I Hate You Then I Love You"

The second Julianna got to the kitchen, she began preparing a luxurious dinner for her guests. She'd always enjoyed cooking; it gave her some time to think. And right then, she was thinking about Elaine and her cruel words about Erik. Did Elaine honestly think I would marry a man just for his money? Julianna wondered. Julianna had never cared that much about money. Her whole life she'd had everything she ever wanted and more, but she didn't really need it. She had no use for money. She could survive perfectly well without it. Still, Elaine thinks I would marry Erik for his money, she thought. Well, I'm just going to have to show her how much I love Erik then. She laughed quietly. This is going to be fun.

Julianna turned around to carry a pot of water to the stove, and was surprised to find Elaine standing there. Julianna was so surprised, in fact, that she accidentally dropped the pot, spilling water all over the floor. Julianna glared at Elaine, angrily. How the hell did she manage to sneak up on me? How did I not sense her there? Julianna wondered.

"I'm sorry," Elaine said, grabbing a nearby towel to clean up the mess. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Julianna grabbed the towel from Elaine and began to wipe up the spilled water. "You did not scare me," Julianna said, through clenched teeth. "You merely surprised me."

"Well, I'm sorry I surprised you then," Elaine said, trying not to let her irritation show. She definitely did not want to be on Julianna bad side. "Look Julianna, I came in here to apologize for what I said earlier. It was wrong of me … and I know it's not true. I know how much you love Erik … and how much he loves you. It's easy to see. I really am sorry. Do you think we could maybe start over … with our friendship? I really do want to be your friend."

Julianna looked up at Elaine, no longer angry. That was the most heartfelt apology Julianna had ever heard. Did she say it was easy to see how much I love Erik … and how much he loves me? I guess I'm a better actor than I thought. Funny, though, why do I get the feeling that I'm not acting? I know I have feelings for Erik … but love? I don't know. It's been so long since I've loved anyone. Perhaps, I've forgotten what it feels like.

Elaine eagerly helped Julianna clean up the rest of the spilled water. "Julianna," Elaine asked, finally. "Will you forgive me?"

"Elaine, what you said was cruel and hardly forgivable…" Julianna started. "But if we just forget that it ever happened, then, yes, I'll try my best to forgive you."

"Consider it forgotten then," Elaine said, giving Julianna a friendly hug. "I was also wondering … could I help you make dinner?"

Julianna smiled. "Of course, you can, if you want." Julianna respected Elaine even more just then. The woman was willing to work, to help out. Another sign that she wasn't another one of those spoiled, arrogant, rich girls. And that was definitely a good thing.

So Julianna and Elaine worked side by side for the next hour or so, preparing a magnificent meal. Once it was ready, everyone came to the dining room, and gobbled down the delicious banquet. By the time they were done eating and chatting, it was quite late, nearly eleven o'clock. William and Elaine eagerly headed off to bed, stopping on their way only to tuck in Lewis and Adora, leaving Erik and Julianna alone.

Julianna walked up behind Erik and hugged him gently. She grinned, realizing that since they were 'married,' they would get to sleep in the same bed again. "Come, Erik," she said. "Let's go upstairs. We get my bedroom tonight."

"Lead the way," he said, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. She gladly took his hand and led him up to her huge bedroom. Once they were there, they sat down on a beautiful Egyptian chaise, so they could talk, as Julianna promised him earlier.

"Guess what, Erik?" Julianna asked, excitedly.

"What?" he prodded, perplexed by her sudden enthusiasm.

"Elaine apologized for what she said," Julianna said, putting her chin on his shoulder, so she could whisper. "She said it was easy to see how much we love each other."

"Did she now?" he said, smiling.

"Yeah, she was practically begging me to forgive her," Julianna said.

"Did you?" he asked, pulling her into his arms gently.

"Yeah, eventually. I think I scared her quite a bit with my anger. I don't think she'll say anything like that ever again," Julianna said. "Besides, I needed the friend. She makes three for me."

"You only have three friends?" he questioned, kissing her neck tenderly. "Elaine is one, I guess. Which other two people hold the honor and privilege of having you as a friend?"

Julianna smiled. He always had a way of making her feel better when she was miserable. "You and Christine," she replied, caressing his cheek. God, he was so incredibly handsome. She couldn't help but stare at his beautiful face.

"That's all? Surely you have more friends that just me, Christine, and Elaine," he said, running his long, elegant fingers through her soft hair.

"No, I don't," she said, solemnly. "All of my old friends are either dead or hate me. And I don't have any family living, except my mother, but I couldn't care less about her. I hope she burns in hell." Erik saw a tear slide down her cheek, and he quickly wiped it away. The look of concern on his face was more than Julianna could bear. She buried her face in his chest and let her tears fall freely. "Erik, I'm so alone…" she sobbed.

"No you're not," he said, rubbing her back lovingly. "You have me."

After a few minutes of crying, she pulled herself away from him, and dried her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said.

"It's alright," he said, tenderly. "I know what it feels like to be lonely. I've been that way most of my life. Well, pretty much all of my life… until I met you."

"Let's not talk about that anymore," she said, trying to smile. "It's too depressing." She rubbed his arm affectionately. "So how do like being married?" she asked, inquisitively.

"I like it," he said, kissing her lips passionately.

"Good," she said, kissing him back with just as much fervor. God, she loved it when he kissed her. He was so good at it. He could make her feel like she was in a dream… a very good dream.

"You know," he said, kissing her neck wildly. "Since I'm married to you now, that gives me certain husbandly rights," he grinned, gripping her hips, seductively.

"Erik, you know we shouldn't," she said. "But… if you ever choose to exercise those husbandly rights of yours… I would be completely willing."

"Good to know," he said, pressing his mouth to hers again. "Why don't you change into something sexy for me?" he asked, nodding his head towards her closet.

"My pleasure," Julianna said, walking to the closet to pick out a sexy charmeuse to sleep in for Erik. She knew she was asking for a disaster, but she didn't care. She looked at her extensive collection of glamorous long nightdresses, and shorter chemises and charmeuses. She had so many; she didn't know how she could pick one. Maybe I could model them for Erik, she thought. And let him pick which one he likes best.

She looked at Erik with big doe eyes that she knew he couldn't resist. "I can't decide which one to wear," she said, grinning at him playfully. "Maybe I can model them for you and then you can pick your favorite."

He raised his eyebrow at her. "Sounds like fun," he said, suggestively.

"Come here," she said. "Pick out five that you like and then I'll try each one on for you."

So, without hesitation, Erik went over to Julianna's huge closet and picked five of the sexiest of the charmeuses, three black ones, a deep red one, and a rose colored one. Julianna accepted them graciously, and then went behind her dressing screen to change.

She decided to model a beautiful, black satin charmeuse first. It had a very low cut neckline, exposing Julianna's full breasts, and it was very short, barely covering her bottom. And it fit very tightly, hugging her every curve like a satiny second skin, giving hardly any purpose to the thin spaghetti straps that were to keep it from falling off her body. She knew Erik would like this one. It was one of her favorites.

Julianna dramatically walked out from behind the screen, swinging her hips, seductively. She turned slowly, allowing Erik to see her at every angle. His eyes opened wide in surprise. This was definitely the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. She looked amazing… like a goddess.

"Well, what do you think?" she asked, walking closer to the spot where he was standing. The look on his face said it all. She saw the passion, the longing in his eyes. She could almost see his mouth watering just at the sight of her. God, he's sexy, she thought, stepping closer to him until they were inches apart.

He took his graceful hands and timidly placed them on her sides, slowly sliding them down the smooth satin until they resting on her hips. He gently pulled her hips against his own, allowing her to feel his arousal. She moaned, and he pressed his hips into hers harder.

He kissed her neck passionately, still holding her against his arousal so forcefully that they would probably both have bruises. He brought his violent kisses lower and lower until he was sucking on the delicate swell of her breast. "Erik…" she moaned, voice full of need.

Suddenly, he ceased his torture of her breast, breathing hard. "Try on the next one for me," he said, huskily.

"Wha…?" she said, not wanting him to stop. Then she realized what he was asking for. She could hardly move move, hardly breathe. How could she possibly get up and change into another charmeuse? "But…but…" she pleaded. "Don't stop…"

"Don't worry," he whispered. "I'll be right here waiting for you." He kissed her lips tenderly. "Go," he said, giving her a little push.

She clumsily ran to the changing screen, quickly replaced the black charmeuse with the blood red one, and ran back out to Erik. He grinned, eagerly. This one was much like the previous one, except it laced down the back, leaving her back exposed to his intoxicating, gentle touch.

She closed her eyes in pleasure as his warm hands caressed every inch of her delicate back. When he was done, he brought his hands around to caress her breasts, running his thumb across her hardened nipple. "Oh, God," she cried, grabbing his face, and crushing her mouth against his hungrily, practically forcing her tongue into his mouth.

Erik allowed her to kiss him for a few moments, and then he pulled his mouth away from hers. "Go change into the next one," he demanded.

Julianna looked up at him, begging him with her eyes not to stop. "Damn you, Erik," she said, gripping his hips tightly. "I won't."

"Fine," he breathed, putting his mouth on hers again, lightly flicking his tongue along her lips. He wanted to take things slow and not rush into it, even though his need for her was urgent and demanding. He just hoped she wouldn't deny him again. The way she was begging for him gave him hope that she wasn't going to.

When his tongue sought access, she opened her mouth willingly, and they kissed passionately, exploring each other's mouths for what seemed like an eternity. Then Erik broke the kiss, letting his lips trace her jaw. He kissed up to her ear, breathing a warm breath into it, and then nibbled on her earlobe.

"Mmmm…Erik…" she breathed. "So good…" she moaned, as he covered her neck with urgent kisses. Erik quickly turned her around and painfully slowly unlaced her charmeuse, finally allowing it to slip from her shoulders, leaving her only in her thin panties.

"Oh, God…" he breathed, voice husky with need, letting his eyes caress every curve of her perfect body. She really was beautiful. He kissed her mouth fiercely, then buried his face in her neck, and she moaned as he sucked hard on the tender flesh. Breathing hard, he backed off and noticed the red mark he'd made on her neck. He took a deep breath, trying desperately to maintain control.

Julianna took that opportunity to practically rip his shirt off of his body. She pressed her mouth into his chest, hungrily, kissing every inch of his flesh that she could. He moaned as she took his nipple into her mouth and sucked hard.

He pulled her up to his mouth again, and kissed her feverishly. He let his hand caress the side of her body, feeling the fullness of her tender breast, the dip of her tiny waist, the curve of her wide hips, and the smooth skin of her thigh. She shivered under his gentle, yet ravenous touch. He pulled his lips from her mouth and bent over to suck on the swell of her breast, while his hand caressed her other breast tenderly.

Julianna cried out as he took her erect nipple into his mouth and sucked without restraint. She felt a familiar wetness between her legs. It was almost unbearable how much she wanted him. God, he was good at this. He brought his face up to hers, and gazed lovingly at her, his eyes glowing with a hidden fire.

Julianna gently removed the mask from his face, and then tugged at his pants, desperately trying to rip them from his body. No suck luck. He quickly grabbed her hands to prevent her from succeeding. "Not yet," he breathed, voice rough with need. Her body throbbed with need, and she crushed herself up against him, taking in his warmth and his scent that made her delirious.

Her body shook with excited chills, as he went back to sucking on her nipple. His long, elegant fingers explored every inch of her body, claiming it as his own. Julianna gasped as he increased the suction, and she pushed herself harder against his warm, wet mouth.

Erik helped her onto the huge, luxurious bed, making sure she was comfortable. Then he brought his mouth back up to hers, kissing her passionately, drawing his tongue into hers with an urgent need. His hands caressed her flat stomach, and then her inner thigh, encouraging her to separate her legs. Erik let his hand slip beneath her panties, feeling her wetness and need.

She cried out for him, wanting desperately for him to put his long, graceful fingers inside of her. "Please…" she begged, as he fought for control, himself. Erik gently slid two fingers into her moist passage and applied pressure up, from inside.

"Erik!" she cried, arching her back at his entry. "Erik…I need you…" He gently removed his fingers from inside of her and tore off her panties with his other hand. Then he kissed her stomach gently, slowly inching down to her throbbing core. When his warm tongue found the top of her narrow slot, she sprang up with a cry, and then lay back moaning.

Erik felt his erection throbbing eagerly and impatiently. He shifted his position to slide down between her legs. Then he spread open her folds, and took a long, loving taste. Julianna was lost to the flood of exquisite sensations coursing through her as his tongue explored every fold, every ridge. Erik found the nodule that was her small but erect center of delight, and moved it firmly and rapidly. She cried out in pleasure, writhing and sobbing with need for him.

Erik quickly discarded his pants and got on his knees on top of her, hesitant to let his hard erection enter her. Julianna grabbed his hips firmly and guided him into her, moaning as he entered her tight passage. He cried out in pleasure, drawing back and plunging into her again and again. She wrapped her legs around him to pull his length deeper into her warm depth. He felt her wondrous, throbbing passage caress his full length, and he moaned in delight.

"Harder…" she begged, raking her fingernails across his back. "Please… harder…" It was more than Erik could bear. He drove in again and again, harder and faster, with unrestrained abandon, giving in to his own need.

They both could feel the tension reaching its peak. He surged into her one last time, as they strained together, crying out for each other, as inexpressible pleasure flooded through them. They came hard together, Erik releasing his seed into her. Then with exquisite release, he collapsed on top of her, breathing hard.

Neither of them wanted to move, for fear of ruining the perfect moment. After a few minutes though, Erik realized he must be crushing her. He wasn't a small man. Thin, yes, but still heavy all the same. He gently rolled onto the bed beside her and closed his eyes. Never had he known such completeness.

"Erik…" Julianna breathed, gently caressing his cheek. "That was … amazing."

"You were amazing," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her bruised and swollen lips gently.

"But, Erik, I didn't do anything," she protested. "You did it all." She smiled. "God, it was so good… you were so good." She couldn't remember ever having a sexual experience that was that passionate, that powerful, not even with the man she once loved. Erik was a generous lover, hardly allowing her to assist him at all. Most men usually make the women do all the work.

"You know," he whispered, holding her to him tightly. "That was my first time."

Julianna's mind screamed. His first time? First time at what? That couldn't possibly have been his first time having sex. He was so good at it. There's no way that could have been his first time. "But…but…" she stammered. "You…how...? Oh my God, Erik! Damn, I thought you were a professional."

He kissed her cheek. "No, I'm definitely not a professional."

"But you knew exactly what to do," she said. "How?"

"I don't know… books mostly, I guess. You know, romance novels," he said. "I guess the rest was just instinct."

"Damn," she said, sleepily. "Men should read more romance novels…"

He laughed and buried his face in her neck. "Goodnight, my love," he whispered, gently pressing his lips to her neck.

"Goodnight, Erik," she replied, melting into his warm naked body. And before they knew it, they were both sleeping peacefully in each other's arms.