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16. Simple Joys of Marriage

Something soft was tickling my shoulder and I knew perfectly well what it was. With a moan, I rolled over, not quite yet ready to leave the peace I had found.

"Come on Meg, you have to get up. It's almost noon."

Reluctantly I opened my eyes. Immediately I was met by Erik's loving gaze. I smiled softly, so grateful to have him. It was just one of those times when I wondered why the world seemed to frown upon him. His thick black hair, tousled from last night, hung lazily over his face and fell into his eyes, making him look younger. His sky blue eyes reflected the candlelight and shined with the purest happiness I had ever seen. Even the ravaged side of his face had softened into a gentle look. He was beautiful.

"I don't ever want to leave this bed. Please Erik, just a little longer?" I looked at him pleadingly.

His eyes softened and he sighed in defeat. "Why do you always make it so hard for me to deny you?"

Erik slid back under the covers, taking me into his arms and ran his fingers through my hair. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, unable to get close enough to him. I always wanted to get closer and closer to Erik. It seemed as though the more I got, the more I wanted. I could never get enough of him and I wanted it to stay that way. I rested my head on Erik's chest, lazily tracing his scars and letting the steady beat of his heart lure me back to sleep. It seemed as though I had just closed my eyes when Erik woke me.

"Meg, we really do need to get up."

"Huh? What time is it?"

"One o'clock in the afternoon."

I light blush rose to my cheeks. I had not realized that we had been in here that long. Though I wanted to stay here forever, a rumble from my stomach reminded me that I still needed to eat something.

"I guess we should at least get something to eat," I sighed. We reluctantly climbed out of bed and I grabbed a night gown to throw on. I turned around for a moment. Erik had already put on some pants and was about to put on a robe. The sight of his bare upper body caused lust to surge through me and I could feel all of the desires from last night returning. I stared hungrily with wide eyes, always unable to get enough of him. Erik caught my gaze and raised his brow, a smirk playing on his face. Heat rose to my cheeks now that I had been caught. In a heartbeat, Erik pulled me to him, crushing his lips to my own as I willingly gave in, causing heat to rise from my lower belly, a heat I was very familiar with now. To my disappointment, he broke away.

"Let's eat first."

I looked at him with my mouth wide open, still in shock. How was he supposed to expect me to just eat now that he began to stimulate my deepest, wickedest desires. But, the faster we ate, the sooner they would be satisfied.

Since we had passed breakfast a while ago, Erik and I had a leisurely lunch. For a moment, all was silent and I twirled my spoon around in the remaining broth from my soup, allowing my thoughts to drift. My mind wandered to last night, recalling fiery kisses, heated skin, ultimate pleasure, and our sweat-glazed bodies entwining together. I could not help but smile. It had been different from all of those other times that I chose not to remember, so wonderfully different.

"What are you smiling about?" Erik asked.

My gaze instantly focused on him, combining flashes of last night with the face before me. My cheeks began to feel significantly warmer. "I'm sure you could probably guess," I said, getting up to clear the table.

"I'm sure that I know what it is too," he replied slyly, instantly drawing me into a kiss that sent my head reeling. I grasped onto the robe, pulling him closer. Erik effortlessly swooped me into his arms and carefully laid me down on the bed. The clothes were easily torn away and again I found myself defenseless before him and all of his seductive power. With painstaking slowness, Erik thouroughly explored my body with his lips and hands, taking his time to savor every detail, not leaving an inch of skin untouched,and torturing me with pleasure that was almost painful. In an instant I pulled him down and rolled over so that I could give him a taste of his own medicine. I made Erik lay down as I began to torture him in the same manner he had done to me; ghosting my lips over his rough cheek, moving to his throat and chest, leaving passionate kisses on every patch of skin that I hit and tasting his heartbeat beneath my lips. My hands eventually wandered down to his arousal as I pressed myself against him and watched as he fought to remain steady, but not for long. With a cry, Erik again pinned me under him and slowly joined us together. Slowly and gently, the tender rocking began and the pleasure and warmth that I desired began to spread itself throughout my body. It remained slow and steady and we savored every bit of each other, taking our time to truly become one. When our bodies had reached their fill, Erik collapsed to my side and drew me against him and basked in the peace of the aftermath.

Erik and I had already been married for one month and I found that I was thouroughly enjoying my status as a married woman. I had never felt so content or happy in my life. Spending nights indulging in pleasure and then waking up to my beloved husband were moments that I cherished dearly. But lately, married life had lost a bit of its glamour.

It was the third morning in a row that I had been sick and I had just vomited into a chamber pot for the third time this morning. I collapsed onto the sofa, groaning as I felt my stomach do flips. I felt like I wanted to die. With a sigh, Erik came over and handed me a cup of tea before taking me into his arms and gently massaging my stomach. I felt back against him, exhasted from vomiting.

"Meg, are you sure you don't want tosee a doctor? This is the third morning that you've been sick and I'm worried about you."

I felt my stomach give another lurch and I clasped my hand to my mouth and thankfully it died down. "I don't think I'm sick Erik, but something that might calm my stomach would be really helpful right now."

"What do you mean you're not sick? You've been throwing up constantly."

I had to admit, even though Erik was a genius when it came to everything else, he was clueless when it came to this matter.

"Erik, what I mean is... we're going to have a baby." My stomach flipped again and spilled it's contents into the pot. Make that the fourth time this morning.

"What?"

"Well it was bound to happen sooner or later," I replied, taking a sip of juice to try to wash out the horrible taste. "Erik please speak to me."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes. I've had all of the symptoms. You're not mad, are you?"

"No. Actually... this is amazing!" he said, pulling me to him and kissing my forhead. But when he drew back, there was an uneasy look in his eyes that worried me.

"Erik, what's wrong? I thought you were happy."

"I am, it's just... there are some things that I do not want to pass down, especially this," he said gravely while covering his scarred cheek.

"Erik..."

"I don't want a child to inherit this. And even if it did not, it would fear it's father," he whispered, turning away.

My heart sunk as he looked away. There were so many times when I wish the world was more understanding and now was one of them. A man should be able to be happy to learn that they will soon have an heir, not have to worry that about passing down something that brought them scorn just because the world is unforgiving. I turned Erik's cheek back towards me, looking at him honestly.

"Erik, listen to me. I love you, all of you. If we have a child that has the same mark, how could I possibly detest it if it looks like someone that I love so dearly. Our baby will not have to know the cruelties that you did, nor does it have to learn how to hate. You have nothing to fear."

The clouds of uncertainity vanished from his eyes. "You really mean that?"

"With all of my heart."

A small but genuine smile appeared on his face as he rested his hand over my abdomen. "Then you have just made me one of the luckiest men alive."

I wrapped my arms around him, happy to have found peace again. Suddenly my stomach flipped again andquickly scurried for the chamber pot before vomiting. Ugh, would this ever end?

"I'll go to the apothecary and get you something to take care of that," Erik said.

Half an hour later, Erik returned with a small vile that would help relieve my restless stomach and finally all was well.

I'm sorry that this one was a little shorter and a little slowerthan last time, but the next few chapters should be a little longer. Also, for anyone who likes a bit of a darker plot, Meg's life is about to take a rather unpleasant turn in the next chapter as one of her worst experiences comes back into play.

Please review!