A/N: Thank you all for your glowing reviews! Kisses and Hugs all around (not from me, from Erik). I have enabled Anonymous reviews so if you had previously tried, the option is now available. Enjoy this one.

Ch. 16 – Sweet Seduction

The days passed by quickly. Christine had insisted that Erik and Charles resume their previous routine of taking the afternoon meal together as they had before Erik's identity had been revealed to her. She begged not to be included, allowing the two a chance to forge a bond between them. It seemed to be working as Charles would come back to the cabin, once again full of stories of Erik's antics and accomplishments. She was overjoyed to be allowed to see Erik's fondness for the boy each day when he would bring him back to her. He seemed to take pride in the things that Charles was working on with him. They were currently building a mechanical creature of some sort. It resembled a crab, but Charles insisted that it was a scorpion.

In the evenings, Erik would join them for dinner. Once Charles had fallen asleep, he would secret Christine topside to share the night sky and a kiss. He was determined to court her the correct way this time around, and try his hand at what he believed to be the act of behaving like a gentleman. Many evenings the darker side of his being would rear its head, his blood boiling for her once again, and she would respond in turn, quite willing to be seduced. It was at that point that Erik would deposit her back to the cabin and they would both face the rest of the night battling the feelings that they had stirred up.

A week after her attack, she felt that she was completely on the mend. The danger of her wounds reopening had passed and she requested that she and Charles return to their old cabin so that Erik could have his work areas back. Stone and a few of the other men moved her belongings and the cot back to the smaller cabin. After Stone dismissed his fellow crewmen, he turned to Christine and said, "Everything seems to be back in its place."

"Thank you, Stone. I have missed your companionship. You were so kind to me when I didn't know Erik captained the ship. Now that he and I are…spending time together, I barely get two words with you."

"Aye Christine, I have missed you and Charlie too. But the Captain is needing this time with you, he's spent too much of his life alone. Besides, he's a lot less stern these days. I like to see him smile."

"You are a good friend to him, Stone. I'm sure he hasn't always been the easiest man to get along with. Thank you for caring for him all these years," she said and then hugged Stone.

His face grew hot with embarrassment and he set her away from himself after a few seconds. "Is there anything else, I can get for you, Christine?"

"Yes, in fact there is. Now that I have healed sufficiently, would you prepare a tub for me when Charles takes his time with Erik? I would love a long soak."

"Of course, ma'am. I'll be back in a few hours with the water."

Looking around she realized that the men that had cleaned the cabin had not left so much as a drop of blood anywhere. She was sure that as Erik had taken his temporary residence here, he had made certain that she would not find any trace of that horrible night. He would not want her reminded of the last time she had been here.

She spent the morning getting the cabin into some semblance of order, unpacking their clothing and putting away their items. The hours passed by quickly. Before she knew it Charles was up on deck and Stone had filled the tub with water that had been warmed on the stoves. She removed her clothing and donned her silk robe. Moving to the mirror, she pinned her hair on top of her head, leaving a few stray strands to touch her shoulders. She removed her jasmine oil from the trunk and sprinkled a few drops into the water. Satisfied that she was ready to enter the tub, she removed the robe and draped it overtop of the oriental screen that still stood in the corner.

The tub had been placed in the center of the room, which was the only area large enough to accommodate its size. She had no fear of interruption and thus stepped into the hot water. Sinking into its fragrant warmth, she felt her muscles and her mind relax. The steam and the vapors of jasmine mingled together to dizzy her senses and she found herself feeling sluggish and drowsy. Closing her eyes, she relaxed her head against the rim of the tub and allowed the sensations to work their magic on her.

Suddenly, she was jerked awake as the door swung open and she saw her son run into the room. Apparently he was on the hunt for some item that he had forgotten. In the open doorway was Erik. He took one look at her compromising position, and entered the room, heading for the corner. Without a word, he lifted the oriental screen and placed it in front of the tub, shielding himself from her. Shock had begun to recede and she found her voice, "Charles, darling, what are you looking for?"

"I forgot my drawing pad. I need to show Captain Erik something," he said frantically, rummaging through the drawers and trunks.

"Sweet, I think that it may have been left in the other cabin when we moved."

Charles looked up, considered this information and dashed out the door. Christine was left alone with Erik. She could see the outline of his form through the screen. She saw the silhouette move to close the door and she felt the thrill of anticipation coursing through her body.

Knowing that Charles would return in just a moment's time, she considered what to do faced with their present situation. The tension in the room was electric and she felt sure that the water in the tub would begin to boil at any instant due to the heat she felt spreading from her stomach to her extremities.

Seizing her courage, she said, "Would you hand me my robe, Erik?"

She watched as the shadow of the man's arm reached up, and slowly her silken garment disappeared to the other side of the barrier. She was mesmerized by its motion. Then she saw him step around the divider, slowly approaching her. His eyes focused on her face with unbridled desire. Before she knew it, he had stepped behind her and she heard her robe heap to the floor. His hands were on either side of her face below her jawline and began to make a path down her neck. She thought she would die from the exquisite pleasure that she was experiencing as his hands continued their descent to graze her collarbone. His touch was light, barely a whisper, but it left a trail of heat wherever his fingers made contact with her skin. As they began to move even lower still, she let out a moan, barely audible, but still loud enough to cause him to stiffen as a jolt of passion moved through him. His fingers skimmed the water's surface and she closed her eyes, willing him to continue his exploration. But he ceased his movement and withdrew his hands from her body. Determinedly he moved away from her and stepped back behind the screen just as the door reopened and Charles entered.

"I found it! Come on," he said, beckoning Erik to follow him.

Christine felt the water chill instantly as the pair left the room. Her stomach was in knots and her body was aching for his touch to return to her. Frustrated, she finished cleansing and stood in the tub, allowing the water to cascade down her body. She bent and reached for her robe, which had been left on the floor behind where she had lain. As she retrieved the cool silk, she noticed underneath where the robe had resided, another paper flower, this one resembling an orchid. She exited the tub and lifted the token to her face to examine it. The flower had been dipped in purple ink and scented with a strong, sensual fragrance. Would this man never cease to amaze her with his endless assault on her heart?

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Erik was frustrated from the encounter in Christine's cabin. He didn't know how much more of this torture that he could take. After all, he was just a man of flesh and blood. But he wanted her to have that which she had expressed to him during their first meeting. He wanted her to choose him of her free will and she had certainly been heading in that direction ever since her attack. The looks she gave him conveyed her affection for him; the kisses that she responded to and at times initiated conveyed her desire for him. He had begun to dare to believe that she was indeed willingly choosing to love him, and so far, it had been much sweeter, just as she had predicted.

He had decided that he was confident enough to ask her for her hand. He wanted her as his wife, once and for all. They were approximately still a little over a week from shore. Once they landed, he hoped that they would seek out the first reverend or justice of the peace or priest that would marry them. Whatever she desired, however she desired, they would wed and then settle in his home. He would take Charles as his own son. Knowing what it was like to grow up without the guidance of a father, he did not want the boy to have to live without a man in his life. Despite the fact that he wore Raoul's appearance, he was a part of Christine, and Erik's feelings toward Charles had been clear since the child had been sick; he loved him.

At the thought of being a father, a feeling of warmth and joy spread through him. He looked up at the one that he would be his son and regarded him with pride. Charles was currently attempting to figure out why their mechanical scorpion would not walk. Only a few of its many legs would move when it was wound, and Charles was patiently checking all of the small cogs that were inside the toy. He looked up at Erik as he said, "Charles."

"Yes, sir."

Under the boy's innocent gaze, he lost his nerve to express his feelings. He had never had anyone, let alone a parent tell him that he was loved. He assumed that with time, it would become something that he would be able to do. He hoped so.

"I believe that if you adjust the tightness of the spring mechanism, it may loosen up the legs." As he watched Charles complete the task, he was delighted to see the excitement spread through the boy's features as the scorpion did indeed walk across the desk. Charles jumped up and ran to Erik and hugged him around his legs. "We did it!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, we did", Erik said and then added the word, "son." He was surprised how naturally it had seemed to call him that. He had rather enjoyed it. Charles didn't seem to notice or if he did, he didn't realize the implication of Erik's using the moniker. He released the man's legs and returned to his scorpion, winding it and watching it walk over and over.

Erik had come to two key decisions at that moment. First, that he would devote himself to preparing the ship for docking, thus avoiding any chance for he and Christine to give in to their apparent lack of restraint when it came to physical desires. Second, that on the last evening of the voyage, he would speak with her regarding their past and their future. There were things that he felt he needed to say to her and there were things that he was curious to know before they could be completely free to be husband and wife. Once the air was cleared he would propose his intentions regarding their marriage and his wish to adopt Charles as his own son.

The negative thoughts sprang to his mind instantly out of habit. It's too much to hope for. Domestic bliss cannot belong to me. He staunched them by turning his attentions back to the five-year-old and his toy. But I can feel it right now, as I look at him. And as he looks at me. It can be mine. He felt the affirmation run through him and for the first time in his life, felt true hope.