Chapter 27

"You're so cold; keep your hand in mine

Wise men wonder while strong men die

If you find your family, don't you cry

In this land of make-believe, dead and dry

You're so cold, but you feel alive

Lay your hands on me one last time"

-Breaking Benjamin, "So Cold"

Within a few minutes, Erik and Julianna reached the large gate that marked the entrance to her property. Erik hadn't ever seen the huge gate before. The way they arrived at her house before was from the side, not from the road. He silently admired the exotic and ancient, iron gate. It had green and red ivy climbing up the sides, entwining with the metal, and it had two elegant oil lamps, one on each side, that provided a minimal amount of light. It even had the words 'La Vivion' engraved at the top in elaborate Victorian script.

Julianna slipped off of Duke and walked to the gate. She pulled on its tarnished brass handles, and it creaked open slowly. Seeing just the old, run down gate, Erik never would have guessed that it was the gate that led to the most beautiful house in Paris. He wondered why she kept her house looking so nice, yet neglected this once grand entrance gate. Probably to keep strangers away, he decided. Then again, the name La Vivion kept enough people away … at least those that knew of the famous pirate, known for his ruthlessness and brutality.

Julianna motioned for Erik to go ahead and direct the horses through the gate. He kicked Duke gently and proceeded on through … leading Stormy behind. Once he was all the way through, he stopped, allowing Julianna time to close the gate.

Julianna realized that her and Erik couldn't ride up to the house on the same horse… because of William, Elaine, and the children. They had to remain at least slightly civilized in the presence of their guests. She walked over to Stormy and patted his neck nervously. She was still a little frightened of the horse … but if Erik could do it, so could she. She knew her fear of Stormy was unreasonable, and she needed to overcome it. She decided to attempt to ride the horse the rest of the way back to the house.

She looked up at Erik, sitting gracefully atop the majestic white stallion, and was about to ask him to untie Stormy from Duke's saddle, but then she noticed that he was still wearing his hood, and she couldn't help but say something. She patted his thigh gently. "Erik, you can take that hood off," she said. "It's just you and me now."

He smiled and removed his hood. "Not exactly, my love," he said, reaching down to ruffle her hair playfully. "Did you forget about our guests?"

"Of course not," she said, quickly fixing her hair. "I only meant that there's no chance of meeting anyone else past this point." She undid the knot that tied Stormy to Duke's saddle, taking hold of the reins timidly.

Erik looked at her surprised. "Are you going to ride Stormy?" he asked, shocked. "I thought you said you couldn't ever stay on his back for longer than a few seconds…"

"I know, I know," she said. "But I've got to face my fear sooner or later."

"Are you sure?" he asked, worriedly. "I don't want you to get hurt. Your fractured ribs are just starting to heal properly," he added, remembering their little adventure in the forest that day she rescued him from the prison. He still blamed himself for her getting hurt. He should have shot that bastard before he had the chance to injure Julianna.

"Yes, I'm sure, Erik," she said, running her thumb over her still sore ribs. Surprisingly, they were healing faster than she'd expected … even with all the strain she'd been putting on them lately.

She slipped her foot into the stirrup, and gracefully swung her body on top of the horse, holding her breath and expecting the worst. Stormy whinnied and reared up, and Julianna clenched her legs against his sides to keep from falling off. Stormy danced around in circles and bucked wildly trying to rid himself of the woman on his back. But Julianna held on for her dear life, unwilling to fall off.

Then suddenly, he stopped and stood still, calm and docile as ever. Slowly Julianna opened her eyes to see what had caused this change. I should have known, she thought, seeing Erik tightly grasping Stormy's bridle. "How do you do that?" she asked, looking at him enviously.

"Do what?" he asked, trying to sound innocent. He didn't want to make her feel bad. He really didn't know how he was able to control Stormy, and he didn't know why the horse didn't like Julianna.

"Control this animal," she said, still clinging to Stormy's neck. He whipped his tail at her and snorted.

Erik laughed. "I think he heard you," he said, smiling. Julianna frowned and clenched her jaw. Erik realized that he was starting to get on her nerves. He nervously wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and looked at her apologetically. He didn't want her to be mad at him. "Ah… I'm sorry…" he said.

Julianna immediately forgot her irritation at him, and gazed at him lovingly. He looked at her expectantly, hoping she would forgive him. She caressed his cheek tenderly and then bent down to press her lips softly against his. When they broke apart, he didn't need for her to say that she forgave him. He could see that in her eyes … all the love and forgiveness.

He smiled. "We should hurry," he said. "It's nearly dawn." He frowned. "I'm worried about little Adora…"

"She will be fine," Julianna said, as Erik helped her off of Stormy's back. She quickly climbed up on Duke and Erik got on Stormy. She found it creepy, almost unnatural that Erik could control Stormy so well. Julianna smiled devilishly at Erik. "I'll race you back," she said, Duke prancing around Stormy arrogantly.

Erik grinned. "You're on, Angel," he said, playfully. "You actually think you can outdo me?" he asked, returning her devilish smile. "You'll be eating my dust."

"We'll see…" she said, blowing him a quick kiss and giving Duke a sharp kick in the sides. She pulled off to the lead, galloping frantically, but Erik was quick to catch up to her. Julianna looked over at him galloping by her side and winked at him sexily, hoping to catch him off guard. She knew he could possibly beat her, and she wasn't about to let him. He winked back at her playfully, as they continued to race side by side.

They each urged their horse to go faster, but they just couldn't seem to get ahead of the other, no matter how hard they tried. It was uncanny how evenly matched they were. Soon they came to realize that neither was going to win their little competition, but they continued to gallop swiftly up the road, just enjoying the thrill of the race, until they approached the stables.

They slowly pulled their horses to a halt, both breathing hard from the exhilaration of the contest. Erik slid off of Stormy gracefully, and then pulled Julianna off of Duke into his arms. She kissed his neck tenderly, tasting his salty sweat. "That was…" she began, taking in Erik's heavenly scent.

"Invigorating," he said, finishing her sentence for her. She smiled lovingly and he held her tightly. "Tu es tellement belle…" he said softly.

She looked up at him, unable to communicate her love for him in words. Just saying 'I love you' wouldn't even come close to expressing how much she really loved him. "You are so beautiful," she said, kissing him gently.

They quickly unsaddled the horses, brushed them, and turned them loose in a large field to graze. Erik grabbed his cape full of clothes and they headed inside where they found William anxiously waiting at the door for them. "How is she doing?" Julianna asked, worriedly.

"About the same," William said. "Elaine is up there with her now." He looked at Erik and Julianna curiously. "I saw you two coming up the road… Were you racing?"

Julianna coughed, trying not to look guilty, and then looked over at Erik. He forced a smile and nodded his head. "We were…" he said, slightly embarrassed. William looked at Julianna, and she nodded her head in confirmation.

William smiled widely. "It's good that you still find time to have fun," he said quietly. "You're very lucky. Elaine doesn't like doing many of the entertaining things that I enjoy. She's a terrific wife, but still … sometimes I miss some of the things I did before we were married."

Julianna and Erik looked at each other knowingly. At that moment, they each made a tacit agreement to never let anything get in the way of all the fun that they had together. They had no intention of ending up like William and Elaine. But Julianna secretly knew that as long as she and Erik were together, nothing could hinder their happiness and love. She realized that they were a new couple and that could change, but she liked to think that it never would. She loved him so much, she didn't see how she could ever not love him.

"Shall I take Adora's medicine up to her then?" Julianna asked, not knowing what else to say.

William nodded, and followed Julianna and Erik up the stairs to the children's bedroom. Elaine jumped in surprise as the three of them entered the room, and then she looked extremely relieved. "You have the medicine?" she asked, anxiously.

Julianna nodded and walked over to Adora, who was still conscious even though it was nearly morning. Julianna felt her still feverish forehead and looked for any sign of changes. A change could mean that the illness had evolved into something else… something completely different. But there were no changes, so Julianna gently sat Adora up so she could take the medicine. She poured the brownish colored liquid into a tablespoon and quickly popped it into Adora's mouth, pinching her nose so she would be sure to swallow the foul-tasting medicine. Julianna hadn't had much experience in treating children, but she was a skilled doctor. She improvised, letting her instincts tell her what to do.

Julianna looked at Elaine and handed her the small bottle of medicine. "Give her another tablespoonful in six hours if her condition hasn't improved. Though I doubt that will be necessary. She should be completely cured by then."

Elaine nodded her head respectfully. "Thank you, Julianna," she said, smiling. "You and Erik should get some sleep. You've been up all night."

"As have you," Julianna said. "Go to bed. Adora will be fine."

Elaine nodded and headed to bed, dragging William behind her. Julianna grabbed Erik as Elaine had William, and dragged him to their room. When they got there, they closed the door behind them and then sat on the edge of the bed together. "Are you tired, Erik?" she asked, putting her arms around his waist.

"No, not really," he said. "Are you?"

"Not really," she replied. "So what do you want to do?" she asked, massaging his thigh, seductively.

"I think you know…" he said, pulling her on top of him and kissing her passionately. She moaned into his mouth, feeling his erection throbbing beneath her. Then she felt the all too common wetness between her legs whenever she was around her sexy Erik.

They broke apart slowly and Julianna gazed at Erik, taking in his every detail … his tall, muscular yet thin body; his black wig combed back so that it looked almost as if it could be his real hair; and the fine, well-made features that form his handsome face. She stared into his beautiful, startlingly vibrant and expressive eyes, which seemed to reveal the soul of this very private man. His eyes gave him a presence so compelling that he was nearly irresistible.

She looked at his mask, not knowing how humanity could be so cruel to someone so amazing. Did they not see the intelligent, sensitive, gentle, understanding… not to mention, handsome man that Erik truly was? Were they so blinded by one slight deformity? She silently made a vow that she was never going to let anyone hurt him ever again. Never.

She tenderly kissed his eager mouth, and he reached up to caress her full breast through the fabric of her shirt. She gently pulled his graceful hands away. "My turn tonight, Erik," she said, stroking his face. She slipped her fingers under the edge of his mask, pulling it from his face, along with his wig.

He looked up at her curiously, searching for any sign of fear or disgust, but he saw none. He never did from her. She pushed him down onto the soft mattress and straddled him between her legs. He moaned as she pushed her hips against his, grinding herself against him. She quickly removed her shirt, exposing her ample breasts to him. He couldn't resist pressing his mouth to her breast, sucking hard on her erect nipple. She gasped in pleasure and reluctantly pushed him away.

"Erik…" she reprimanded, voice husky with need. "Am I going to have to tie you up?"

He grinned at her playfully. "Probably," he said.

She smiled and helped him out of his shirt, tossing it to the floor. "D'accord," she said, kissing his chest. "But just remember… you asked for it." She found some rope and tied his wrists to the bedposts, laughing evilly. She decided she was going to torture and torment him until he begged for her, until he cried for her.

Julianna slowly removed her pants then her panties, and then she climbed back on top of him, completely naked. She pressed her lips to his for a long, slow, and sensuous kiss, while slowly moving her hands up his strong arms. She felt his muscles tighten as he strained against the ropes that kept him from touching her.

She slowly ended their passionate kiss and began pressing light kisses to every inch of his face. She kissed the corner of his mouth, his chin, his jaw line, and then his cheek, his eyelid, and his eyebrow. She felt his chest rising and falling heavily with his urgent need for her. She massaged his well-muscled chest as she continued to kiss his face. Then she moved down to his neck, sucking hard on the delicate flesh. Erik moaned in pleasure, and she kissed up to his ear. "I love you, Erik," she whispered, lips brushing his ear slightly.

"I love you, Julianna," he said, voice rough with need. She slid her body down so she could kiss his chest. He gasped as she ran her tongue over his nipple, and then took it into her mouth, nibbling gently. He quivered in pleasure, and pulled harder against the ropes that restrained his arms. His wrists were rubbed raw from tugging at the ropes, but he didn't even notice.

Julianna moved down to the end of the bed and started slowly unlacing his boots. "Damn…" he said, huskily. "Can you please hurry up?"

"Certainly," she said, pulling off his boots and then his pants, freeing his hard length from the confinement of his pants. Then she did something he never would have expected. She took his throbbing erection into her warm, wet mouth. He groaned as she teased him with her tongue. Julianna felt her own throbbing inside, and she drew him into her mouth as far as she could. He cried out in pleasure, and she moved her tongue harder and faster along his length, sucking hard.

He felt the suction and the moist warmth of her mouth moving up and down and he very nearly lost his mind to the pleasure. After a while, she rose and moved her leg over to straddle him. She lowered herself down, guiding his pulsating erection into her own throbbing passage. She moved up and down rhythmically, and he raised his hips to meet her at every stroke.

Then somehow he managed to break the ropes that restricted his arms, and he rolled on top of her, plunging in again and again. She cried out for him, which encouraged him to penetrate her harder and faster, giving in to the intense pleasure.

Soon they came together, shaking and crying out with joyous release. Erik collapsed on top of her exhausted, cheek resting on her soft breast. Eventually he rolled onto the bed beside her, pulling her small form into his arms. "God, don't ever tie me up again…" he said, sleepily. "I hated not being able to touch you."

She smiled. "Don't worry, I won't," she said softly. "I like it when you touch me." She kissed his cheek lovingly. "You did enjoy it though, right?" she asked.

"Yes," he said tenderly. "I enjoyed it."

"Good," she said pulling the sweat-soaked sheets over top of them. "'Night, my love," she said, yawning tiredly.

"Goodnight," he whispered, yawning. And just as the sun was starting to rise, they fell asleep in each other arms, dreaming sweets dreams of love and happiness. Not that they needed to dream it. They already had all the love and happiness they could ever wish for … with each other.

Well, there's Chapter 27. I hope you enjoyed it. It took me a long time to write. : ) Anyway, please review. Thanks.