A/N: Readers, the chapter title is referring to you. Enjoy…

Ch. 23 – Savor Each Sensation

He contemplated just getting under the blankets and moving against her naked form, but found the idea way too appealing. He would not stand much of a chance against such conditions. His hand lay on her back, between her shoulders and began to make its way down underneath the covers. He was intoxicated by the feel of the skin on her back and stopped his descent at the small of her back for fear of going any further without her consent.

Lucky for him, her eyes flew open at the moment that his hand stopped. She did not look appalled by his touch or his boldness. On the contrary she looked as though she had been waiting for him to come to her. Before he could react, she rolled on top of him and began to slowly torture his lips and his neck with her mouth. Christine was fully in control of the moment, which inflamed Erik's passion beyond its limits. He knew this was in her, had known since the night of Don Juan when she hadn't shied away from his provocative words, but embraced them. Before this proceeded, however, he had to know. He had to hear the words from her.

He grabbed the back of her head and roughly tugged on her hair to get her to stop assaulting the side of his neck with her tongue and teeth, and look at him. "Don't you think we should wait until we are man and wife?" he asked in a raspy voice.

"I am your wife. Body, soul and heart. I belong to you." She took his mouth in a hungry kiss and moved her body against his seductively. Her hands ran over his arms, shoulders and up into his hair. Erik was not content to be the submissive one for long, however. Her words had incensed him, driven him to be drunk on the love that she was expressing in her actions and her declarations.

He rolled her over on her back and assumed the dominant position. His weight was not crushing her but pressing her into the mattress in the most pleasant way she could imagine. When he let up, she felt disappointment for a second before she realized that he was intending to remove the coverings from her body. A hot flush crept up to her cheeks and she almost laughed. A moment ago she was acting the temptress and now she was as shy as a virgin to be revealed to him. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as his hand gripped the blanket a foot from the edge. Slowly he pulled, revealing a tiny bit more skin each second. The sensation was erotic as the material of the blanket skimmed lightly across her breasts. His eyes feasted on the swell that had just come into view followed thereafter with the rosy peaks. He lowered his mouth to one, tasting its sweetness, then the other. He peppered her chest with kisses, eliciting satisfied gasps from her, all the while continuing to lower the blanket which was now passing her navel.

His mouth descended along the path that was being revealed, settling to kiss her stomach then her hips. His hands reached up for her breasts, not wanting them to become cold from neglect. He had left the blanket lying under her belly for now. He covered her body with his once again to kiss her lips and to enjoy the feel of her naked breasts against his bare chest. She was aware of his hard erection against her pelvis and felt a desire greater than she had ever felt before. She knew this was it, the final threshold. The moment she had been anticipating for so long.

Grabbing hold of her hands, he lifted them up above her head. He ran his fingers down her arms and her sides, plunging under the blanket to cup her backside and lift her against him. She moaned in pleasure, which incited him further. He pulled one hand out from under her and ran it slowly up her inner thigh. When he reached the juncture of her legs he sought out her core and brought her to climax swiftly. She screamed out his name, arching her back and pressing herself more fully against his hand. His eyes never left her face as he delighted in the look of abandon and desire that he was giving to her.

When she had ridden out the orgasm, she looked at him with eyes heavy from passion. Hooking her arms around his head, she brought him down to her for another kiss. Once he was engrossed in the tangling of their mouths and tongues, she ran her hand down the length of his chest until she reached the waistband of his trousers. She slid her fingers under the edge of the fabric and rejoiced in the feel of his stomach muscles clenching under her palm. Her other hand came to assist and deftly, she undid the buttons. She boldly found her way inside the opening in his pants and wrapped her fingers around his length. He lost all sense of reserve and let out a sound of pure ecstasy as her caresses threatened to take him to the height of passion.

Feeling decidedly encouraged, she slid his trousers off his body and rolled on top of him to luxuriate in the sensation of their unclad bodies pressed together. She sat up and Erik grasped her hips on either side of her. He lifted her body and paused as he was about to finally make them one. "You are mine and I am yours Christine. Never again will we be apart. We are a family now!"

"Yes, Erik. Please..." With her plea he was undone and he pulled her down on top of himself. They moved together with the beautiful harmony that, until now, only their voices had achieved. He clasped her hands in his as she rocked against him. Before long she felt another release coming. Her movements were becoming more frenzied and he knew she was close. Only then did he let go and together they crested on a wave of pure pleasure.

He pulled her down to him once the feeling had dulled to a beautiful aftershock. They kissed, pouring out all their love and passion into each other. "I love you," she repeated over and over, confirming the fact that he would never grow tired of hearing her say it. When the kiss ended, she buried her head into the nape of his neck and breathed in the scent of him before succumbing to a deep sleep. He continued to stroke her long after she had fallen asleep. He couldn't believe that she was his after all these years. They would be married that very day, he decided. There would be no more waiting.

When he finally allowed himself to relax and drift off, his last thought was of the sensation of her breath against his skin and how much happiness such a small thing could bring a man who had slept alone almost every night of his life for over forty years.

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When she opened her eyes to the harsh daylight several hours later, she was still lying across his chest. Slowly she lifted her head so that she could look at this sleeping face. She took in the peaceful visage of her beloved, not seeing any deformity, just her beautiful Erik. Her fingers itched to touch him, but she was not ready for him to wake just yet. Erik will finally be my husband, she thought with a burst of love exploding in her heart. She would be treated to this serenity every morning for the rest of her life. No longer able to wait, she leaned her lips in toward his face and began to slowly kiss the marred side of his face.

As he woke, he could feel her tender, sweet mouth against his ruined flesh and tears formed in the corners of his eyes. He did not feel anything other than pure adoration for Christine at that moment. How far we have come, he mused. The first time that she had dared to see his face he had struck her down and screamed the most vile obscenities at her. He had been enraged that she would dare to reduce him to nothing more than a deformed monster in her eyes. He didn't know why he had reacted that way then. Had he really thought that his face would never be an issue, that she wouldn't see it? He had planned to marry her then, but in truth, it was he that wasn't ready for a commitment to Christine all those years ago. He could never have let go of his insecurities under those circumstances and it would have driven them apart at some point.

Now, he was secure in her love, basking in it. No doubt lingered in his mind that she wanted him and loved him. She was a more exceptional woman than he could ever have imagined, that she had been able to convince him he was worthy of another person's freely offered love. Erik knew he could never live without her again.

"Christine," he whispered. She stopped kissing his face and moved her lips to his for a brief taste. "Please say you'll marry me today."

"I want nothing more in the world Erik," she responded, snuggling against him once again.

"Then we must rise from this bed and make the arrangements. You arrived on horseback?" he asked and when she confirmed that in fact she had, he continued. "I shall ride with you back to Stone's house and you can prepare yourself. I will continue on to Charleston and see to the details and then I shall send a carriage for you all once I have taken care of it."

She was warmed by the notion that he was so competent and able to handle these things. These were further attractive qualities that Erik possessed making him such fine husband material. With her content and cozy thoughts, she inadvertently began to run her hand up and down his bare chest, her mouth nipping at the base of his throat and his shoulder. He growled as he was once again being brought to full arousal. "You will have to stop this, my dear, if we are to ever properly become husband and wife."

She smiled at the effect that she was able to have on him. It made her feel like his equal for the first time. She knew that she should stop, but she found that her desire for him was positively insatiable. Her hand plunged under the blankets and found him. He moved to stop her and she smacked his hand away, giving him a scolding look. "I do hope you don't think less of me Erik, but I am most reluctant to rise from this bed at the moment." He smiled at the look of innocence that she was feigning. Her touches were driving him completely insane as she was boldly exploring his body. "Erik?" she whispered while watching the sensations running over his face. "Please touch me again."

He needed no further prodding, her quiet request was plenty enough. His hands sought out her skin as if magnetized, while his mouth captured hers passionately. Their lovemaking started out frenzied but as it continued, it became slow and sensual. He took his time to bring her to her climax, stroking with his hands, fingers and mouth. She gloried in the tender torment and matched his fervor, touch for touch.

Afterward, Erik dragged her out of the bed and began to assist her in dressing. His hands lingered on her bare flesh as he laced her corset and buttoned her gown. "Are you cold, my darling?" he asked as he felt her shiver. He knew very well that it was he that was causing the reaction in her, but he couldn't help but tease her. She shook her head at him with a mock disapproving look, and then burst out in a fit of giggles. Her heart felt full for the first time in such a long while.

She ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to straighten the wild tangled mess of curls. "Do you have a mirror anywhere in the house, Erik?" she asked, knowing that the sight of her would be a frightening mess.

"There is one in the guestroom next door. I will show you." He led her out of his bedroom and Christine was able, for the first time to take in the beauty of him home. Everywhere she looked she saw touches of elegance. Forgetting about the mirror for the moment, she broke away from Erik and began to examine his choice of décor more closely. "Would you like a tour?" he asked as he stood back and watched with delight, her perusal of his living space.

She nodded yes, and he led her from room to room, showing off the more fine pieces that he had acquired during his many years at sea. She marveled at each causing him to swell with pride. Their final stop was a small sitting room, decorated in pinks and floral patterns. When Christine entered the room she felt a sense of familiarity and looked at Erik questioningly. He turned toward her and took her hand in his. "This room is yours; it was decorated and designed for you. I never truly believed that you would ever occupy it, but I have come to believe in the impossible recently."

She walked into the center of the room and slowly turned in a circle, taking in the sight of the bookshelves lining the walls, the small piano in the corner and the large picture window that overlooked his gardens. When she turned back to him, her face held a mixture of pure joy and gratitude. He was overwhelmed as well, seeing her here, where he had always sat and dreamed of her. Any moment he feared that she would vanish as she had so many times before.

Instead of disappearing, she reached out for him and drew him to her, embracing him with all her might. "Thank you, my darling love. Thank you for never giving up on me."