Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story. I am reluctantly posting more, for I am hoping to get this published and so do not want it to be totally available in the public domaine. However,please keep letting me know what you think as it gives me the confidence to keep tryingas the rejection letters come through!

For your general information, in this first part of the story, Eric is nineteen (his birthday is in November) and Katherine is eighteen (her birthday is the start of May). I chose Cambridge University as the setting, for Oxford and Cambridge are the top unis in England (similar to Harvard). Anyway please enjoy and let me know what you think.

Oh and this chapter contains quite graphic sex scenes, so please do not read on if you are easily offended.

Thanks. Pips

Chapter Four

"I must be very drunk," Eric reflected to himself as they left the building and walked into the night. The air outside the club had a sweet freshness to it, the heady scent of spring underlying the cleanliness of the middle of the night. The moon shone full and bright, adding its eerie glow to the few remaining streetlights. With heightened awareness, Eric drunk it all in, his senses sharpened. It was only the feeling of Katherine's shoulders beneath his arm that grounded him and brought him back down.

He gently guided her along the semi-lit streets, back to his room and back to what he had planned, or not planned. It had been a hell of a shock he reflected, waking up that morning and finding her next to him. He had asked her to stay in a moment of weakness, lulled by the ease of their conversation and the warmth of companionship. But in the cold light of morning, he realised that he was open and so much more vulnerable by letting her sleep in his bed.

His whole life was ruled by opposing factors, restraint on the one hand, that had been drummed into him by his mother and the desire to posses, create and explore. The force of a lifetime had made him expel Katherine from his room that morning, not knowing how to react to her presence. The desire of a lifetime was making him take her back there tonight.

Jenny had been the one that had made him realise what he needed to do. "Katherine is so mad about you," the words echoed in his brain as if she had joined in their stroll. "She will follow you anywhere." When Eric had asked her to explain this further, confused at her terminology, Jenny had shrugged and smiled, "You know, go anywhere, do anything," was her only elaboration.

Suddenly it was clear to Eric what she was talking about, why Katherine had become cross last night, why she had worn such a sexy little skirt and top to the nightclub. He breathed in a huge lungful of air and looked at his girlfriend who smiled sleepily at him.

"You didn't enjoy tonight, did you?" she said quietly. Eric looked down at her with shock, wondering how she was so perceptive.

"That obvious?"

"Well, to anyone who knows you, yes." She shrugged and smiled.

"Too may people, too hot, too crowded," Eric complained.

"Agreed, but isn't there at least a degree of anonymity about it?" He did not answer her, but bent down, his mask brushing her cheek as he kissed her on the lips.

"Come back to my room?"

"Of course." There was a wealth of understanding in her simple reply.

They continued their journey in silence; each reflecting on the chosen path, knowing that after this there was no turning back. The slamming of his door seemed to signify the start of the event, a play that had no script to it. Katherine laughed a little hollowly, the noise echoing around the room. Eric kicked off his shoes and came to stand in front of her.

"Now what?"

"I'm not quite sure," he admitted. With an innate instinct, he bent and kissed her on the lips, softly at first, but when she moaned quietly and opened her mouth beneath his, he deepened it.

"I don't think we need this," she quietly reached up and pulled off his mask. Her subconscious suddenly aware that Eric no longer challenged the action or even flinched when she removed it. Instead, he immediately took advantage of the opportunity and bending down kissed her deeply again, not even noticing that Katherine still clutched his mask in her hand. His hand moved to her chest, gently reaching under her top to stroke her breasts lightly. She responded to his touch, dropping the mask so it lay face down by her side and lifting her hand to touch his face, rather overwhelmed by his sudden enthusiasm.

His hand travelled round to her back and she felt a fumbling before her bra was released and fell to the floor between them. With this, Eric straightened, lifted her arms and pulled her top off, before kneeling down in front of her. He took the small, hardened nipple into his mouth and lightly sucked. Katherine felt as if she was melting as his hands and mouth became more demanding, sending waves of passion screaming through her body.

Just as they were on the point of losing all control there was a loud knock on the door. Eric sighed and stood up, claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss, the moment broken by the interruption. The rally of knocks landed again, more insistent, determined not to be ignored. "Let them in," Katherine said with a sigh, reaching for her discarded top. At the next pounding, Eric walked over to the door and unlocking it, opened it a crack, allowing a rather drunk Rob to put his head around.

"You decent?" Eric knowing what he meant bent down and retrieving his mask; tied it on. Rob pushed the door opened and came into the room with Jenny, also letting in a blast of cool air from the rest of the building, disturbing the comforting stuffiness. Katherine shivered as the draft reached her, goosebumps rising on her arms as she felt her passion cool with their visitors. Eric noticing it went and wrapped his arms around her, imparting some warmth in his embrace.

"When did you guys go?" Jenny asked, gazing at Katherine in a knowing way.

"About half an hour ago," Katherine tried to communicate their need to be left alone. "We felt hot and tired."

"Yeah, same," Jenny observed Katherine's rumpled clothes and tousled hair, her eyes falling to the bra that lay in an untidy heap behind her legs before darting up to meet Eric's watchful gaze. She gave a slight smile. "Come on Rob," she said tactfully, "Let's go." Grabbing his hand, she started to drag him from the room, realising her friends wanted to be alone.

"Hey mate," Rob waylaid her, turning to Eric. "Can I borrow some supplies?" Eric nodded, indicating, his top desk drawer with a wave of his hand, only the slight downturn of his mouth portraying how he felt about his friends actions. Rob swiftly went into it and pulling out a handful of condoms, stuffed them into his pocket. "Thanks, I owe you!" Grabbing Jenny's hand he led her from the room, letting the door slam behind him.

Eric pulled the mask off and turned to resume the activities that he had been enjoying before they had been interrupted, but Katherine held him off, placing a restraining hand on his chest.

"Eric, why do you have so many?" she asked nervously.

"So many what?" he asked before realising what she was talking about. "Oh, Rob gave them to me and it looks like he has just taken half of them back. I promise, I've never had a need for them before."

"You mean you're a …," she left the word unsaid, dangling in the air, amazement and curiosity in her voice, but not saying it, not wanting to label him.

"Yes," he replied simply. "Do you really think anyone would want to…" he too trailed off, with a gesture towards his face.

"But," Katherine stuttered unable to digest the information she had just been told. "You don't act like a virgin."

"I didn't realise that virgins acted in a particular way," his hand reached down and he lightly started stroking his fingers over her arm. He circled her wrist with his fingers and lifted it, dropping a kiss in her palm. "You'll just have to teach me, won't you?"

"So pardon me for asking," Katherine muttered as his hand continued its upward assent on her body, never losing its gentle incessant rhythm. "How the hell did you get so good at kissing? I don't think it falls under the list of talents you were born with."

"There have been a couple of girls," Eric's voice was gruff to hide his shame, and he bent his head in embarrassment. "There are people out there who find the mask a turn on, the mystery of it all. I took advantage of the situation. You can teach yourself a lot."

"Nothing wrong with that," Katherine whispered as they closed the gap between them and Eric buried his face in her neck, kissing her so thoroughly that her legs turned to jelly. He guided her over to her bed, where he once again discarded her top and skirt, before he knelt down and removed her shoes. Katherine nervously sat down on the edge of the mattress, clad only in her tights and knickers, unsure of what he was doing.

"I think it's your turn?" she joked, desperately trying to hide her nervousness and fighting the effort to cross her arms over her breasts and hide them. "Here I am wearing hardly anything and you've still got all your clothes on."

"Don't you want to admire them a bit more," Eric bartered for time, feeling just as uneasy and hoping to delay the final moment, his confidence having deserted him. "They are supposedly fashionable and free of holes!"

"Very," Katherine agreed quietly and then before her courage left her she stood up and grabbed his top, pulling it up, so that he was forced to take it off. "And your trousers," she nodded towards them and with a small wry smile, he undid his belt and pushed them down to his ankles, where with a small kick he shucked his socks and trousers off into an untidy pile. Katherine found herself catching her breath as he stood up. There was not a spare inch of flesh on a body that rippled with muscles.

She ran her finger over the lean tight stomach. "You don't get this all from running," she commented.

"I work out," he shrugged. "It gives me focus."

"It gives you much more then that," Katherine whispered, trailing a lip against his chest and giggling at Eric's intake of breath. She copied his earlier movements and brushed the palm of her hand against his nipple, causing him to breathe deeply at the sensation. Half wanting her to stop and at the same time wishing her to continue he bent his head and claimed her lips in a kiss, pressing her body against his, letting her know how much he desired her as his hands went to her waist and pushed her tights down past her hips. With a giggle that changed to a scream, she over balanced and with her legs bonded together by her hosiery, fell onto the bed, taking Eric with her so that he landed on top.

"Oof," he grunted at the impact, before realising the advantage of his position. "You have such beautiful eyes," he said, brushing a lock of hair out of her face and drinking in her large brown eyes that seemed to be fathomless in the dim light.

"Do I?" she whispered back, looking deeply into his piercing blue ones that were fixed on her face. Fringed by long dark lashes and a bright blue in colour they provided the same extent of contrast to his face, as his body did. With a slow movement, she lifted her head and kissed him on the lips, closing her eyes to deeper enjoy the sensation.

"God you are so beautiful," Eric said kissing her. "You are utterly exquisite, please stay that way." She draped her hands around his neck, feeling the hard sinewy muscles in his back and shoulders as he bent to kiss her. His hands raced over her body and she responded, doing the same, glorying in every firm muscle. She emitted a low groan that caused Eric to respond with a quiet laugh.

"Not yet," he whispered in her ear enjoying the sensation too much, but carrying on a delicious torment on every inch of her skin, kissing and caressing, his tongue running over her naked body, down onto her navel and lower near to her knickers, before the coolness of the air and the touch of his flesh on hers; told her that they had been removed along with her tights.

"Now," she whispered, pushing her hips against his and was aware as the heat of his body left hers. She heard Eric fumbling around and tearing open the condom packet, but as the moments ticked by and he did not return, she sat up and saw him gazing with a certain disbelief at the object in his hand. Without words, she took it from him and gently touched him. He gasped and closed his eyes and she continued, lightly trailing her fingers up and down and grasping it firmly.

Taking advantage of the moment, she leant down and kissed the firm skin before gently rolling the condom on. Leaning back on the bed she guided him between her legs before being aware of the sensation and comforting pain shooting through her body, as he entered her.

He lay completely still, fully within her, hardly daring to breathe, only aware of the amazing feeling as she gripped him with her muscles. Very gently he moved, the emotion overwhelming him as nothing had ever done before. He was barely aware of what he was doing and let instinct and Katherine's movements guide him as he drove repeatedly into her body, wanting her to feel as he did. He was vaguely aware of her arching her back and crying out beneath him, before he came into her with a cry and slumped down on top of her chest.

Katherine floated back down to reality. Never before had she made love with such enthusiasm and passion, had someone totally give themselves to her. She looked at the man lying on her chest. The disfigured side of his face was buried against her skin and the cheek that she could see was wet with sweat and possibly tears, although she could not tell. Unable to do much else, she lifted her hand and gently stroked his hair as the final tremors left him. A few moments later, he moved his head and looked at her.

"Katherine," was all that he said, although the word held so much meaning. It was thanks, it was praise, and it was a prayer as he gently slid out of her. He looked between his legs aghast at the sight of the condom hanging limply off and grabbing a tissue deposited it in the bin, before once again lying down next to her. "I…" he trailed off, for once words totally deserting him, unable to even begin to classify the emotions he had experienced and what he was now feeling. He gazed at her and she looked back at him, aware that what had taken place was more then just sex, more then just animal instinct. A bond had been formed that transcended all boundaries and previous attachments. With the sharing of their bodies they had signed an unwritten pact of commitment and in the ensuing silence they both considered their sacrifice.

"I don't know what to say," Eric whispered in some distress. "I don't understand how I feel."

"You don't need to say anything. I know what you mean. It's as if you want to unzip someone and climb inside, so that you can be this close forever."

"Yes," Eric attempted a wan smile. "I know what music could describe this."

"Do you?" He nodded. "Put it on for me then," she whispered. He rose from the bed and with unerring instinct, his hand found the CD he was looking for. A few moments later the melodic cords filled the room. They promised hope, love and a passion never seen before and as Katherine drifted off lying in Eric's arms, she knew that he was right. This was the start of something indescribable.

He turned to her as the dawn touched the sky and demanded of her again. She responded, sleepiness adding heaviness to her limbs and so their lovemaking held a slow-drugged peace. Having earlier satisfied the lust of their bodies, they took time to explore each other, lazily discovering each other in detail, drawing the blueprint that only a lover can carry with them. Kissing and caressing, they barely opened their eyes, not allowing wakefulness to carry them into a new day, but maintained the dream quality of their coupling.

"Is it always like this?" Eric whispered.

"Like offering yourself up body and soul?" Katherine knew the meaning to his simple question. She felt rather then saw his nod. "No, not at all. Sex can be the most meaningless and selfish act there is. Making love and having sex are very different things, even if the actions are similar."

"Let's never do that then." Eric stated with firmness.

"What?"

"Have sex, instead of making love. Katherine smiled but it was touched with sadness.

"That would be wonderful," she agreed cautiously, knowing how difficult it would be to fulfil such a promise. Eric, with the enthusiasm that only first love can have, believed in its power totally and trusted its strength with an alarming simplicity. Katherine though had been burnt, and was wary of making such a commitment. She opened her eyes fully and looked at Eric, his face bleached of colour in the new light of the day. It held such a look of promise, trust and love that Katherine found she pushed aside her fears and kissing him in response to his idea, cuddled up to him, drifting once again to sleep.

It seemed that she had only closed her eyes before the demanding noise of an alarm clock rent the silence. She struggled with a tangle of limbs and sheets before grabbing the offending item and turning it off.

With a sigh, she settled back into the bed attempting to sleep once more, when she realised that unlike yesterday she was not alone. Eric still lay next to her, fast asleep, his head thrown back on the pillow and encircled by one arm, the other firmly draped across her body. She twisted herself slightly, trying to free herself from its hold without waking the owner. With success, she raised herself on one elbow and gazed at the sleeping figure of her boyfriend. He seemed at peace, unlike the previous night, his breathing even and regular. The duvet cover was pushed down so that he was bare to his hips, displaying the flat stomach and the small line of hair that ran from his belly button to his pelvis.

Her gaze rested unwaveringly on his face as she studied it deeply. The scarred cheek was a large weld, that was raised and red and dominated that side of his face, contrasting sharply with the seemingly clear half. On closer inspection, something that Katherine had never really had the chance to do; she saw that his clear cheek was crossed with tiny thin lines, scars of early welds that must have been removed. It was apparent that one must have pushed up past the edge of his eye, across the corner of his eyebrow and dipped low down on to his neck. Except for a thicker scar that creased into the line around his mouth however, they were almost invisible. Katherine reflected on the operations that must have taken place to remove what must have been substantial haemangioma. She had quietly read up on the subject, trying to understand what the concern was and why Eric seemed to suffer as he did. In doing so, she began to realise that he was quite unique to have such permanent evidence of this affliction.

With a wave of love, she leant over and kissed him on the lips, taking advantage of his repose. He stirred under her touch and moaned lightly, his eyelids fluttering open and fixing on hers in a sleepy half-focused stare. As he woke, a smile creased the corners of his mouth and he lay beneath her gaze.

"Morning sleeping beauty," she joked.

"What's the time?" His voice was a dry croak.

"Ten! Didn't you hear the alarm clock? It would wake the dead."

A frown puckered his face. "Oh, I was dreaming that I was trying to pick up a ringing telephone and it wouldn't stop." He closed his eyes again, as if he were once more falling asleep.

"And you didn't go for a jog," Katherine baited him.

"Had enough exercise already," came his mumbled reply as he blindly reached down and pulled the duvet cover up over both of them.

"And we have a lecture at eleven."

"Plenty of time."

"Good," Katherine reached down between his legs with a smile and grabbed hold of his partially erect penis.

"Whaat?" he opened his eyes again, before he realised what she was doing and closed them again. "Kat, the idea is lovely, but I don't think I could move if you paid me."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," she gave a wicked chuckle and continued her ministrations. Eric gasped as she moved her mouth down to follow her hand.

"Omigod," his intake of breath made Katherine laugh, the vibrations causing him to swallow his breath in amazement. "Don't stop Kat, please whatever you do, don't stop," he begged as her actions became more insistent. "Oh god, I don't think I can control myself." With these words, Katherine finished abruptly, smiling down at him.

"What are you doing? Why? What?" His panic did not allow Eric to ask any true questions, but to simply demand what had happened to the most amazing sensation his body had ever felt. He was aware of Katherine rolling a condom on and a detached part of his mind offered a blessing up to Rob for providing the items in question, for he would never have even thought of it. Just as he believed he had calmed down, his girlfriend raised herself to her knees and straddled him, deliberately and slowly lowering herself onto his hard body.

"God," he groaned as he felt her move, unable to formulate a more detailed response. "Oh God," he repeated as she continued to move. He was aware of the sensation building and growing within him and before he knew it, he came into her with a cry that tore through his body.

Katherine watched him as he came back down to earth. He just lay there, once again not moving, as if he were trying to imprint the whole sensation on his brain. The moments of silence seemed to last forever, before Eric opened first one eye and then the other.

"Kat," was all he uttered.

"Yes."

"I think I have died and gone to heaven," he sighed and shifted beneath her, so that she moved off him.

"Oh dear. That bad?"

"And worse," he agreed with a wan smile. "Don't suppose you could wake me up like that every day?"

"No, don't think I would have the energy," she cuddled up to his side, resting her chin on his chest as his arm curled round her body, drawing her close. "How are you feeling?"

"Totally and utterly drained," he admitted, leaning his head back on the pillow. "I feel as if I have run a marathon. But also curiously at peace." He raised his head and looked down into her face. "I love you Kat. I don't know when or how or why, but I love you." His voice was quiet and determined and she knew better then to interrupt. "I loved you from the first moment I saw you, but now, we know each other, I really, really love you." He held her gaze solidly, unblinking, waiting for her response.

"I, I.." she stuttered, unsure how to respond to such a clear and dedicated confession. "Ditto," she finally said, searching for the words and failing. This tore a low laugh from Eric who realised that she was unable to express herself.

"This is the point in an opera where they break into song about how much they love each other," Eric mused. "Not sure which one would suit us best."

"Oh sing me something," Katherine cried, aware that he possessed the talent, but that he kept it hidden.

"In my weakened state!"

"I'll give you weak," she threatened lightly.

"Okay," he leant back against the pillows and shifted his had to her hair, stroking it lightly. "Let me see, what about this?" Very softly he started to sing. "'O soave fanciulla,…O dolce viso di mite circonfuso alba lunar in te, vivo ravviso il sogno ch'io vorrei sempre sognar!" Katherine did not recognise it, or understand the words, but the beauty of the music and his voice captured her, leaving her spellbound as she listened to him.

"What was that about?"

"Oh beautiful maiden… Oh, how sweet your face looks, it's beauty softly kissed by the gentle moonlight," he translated for her bending over and kissing her on the lips. "In you, sweet maiden, I see the dreams of love I have dreamt about forever. Such sweet love invades my soul. I feel such joy and love so tender. Our kisses tremble with love." He trailed his kiss down her neck, before pausing and looking up. "And he has only met her five minutes before! What's the time?"

"Um" Katherine twisted herself around and looked at the clock reposing on the bedside table. "Ten forty-five," she told him triumphantly.

"Oh shit," he sat bolt upright in bed, ignoring the fact that Katherine fell off his chest. "We have a lecture in fifteen minutes!"

"How can you think about work now, I have no energy left what so ever. I know that I'm not up to an hour of formulae, however much you persuade me."

"You'll flunk this year!"

"No, you can help me pass. Please go and take notes for me," she begged. "It will make more sense that way anyway." With a smile Eric acquiesced and seeking a final kiss from her he got up out of bed, surprised at how weak he felt. Seeking his clothes from the night before, he hurriedly got dressed.

"Mask, mask, mask," he chanted, turning around in the middle of the room and searching for the hidden object.

"Over by the door." He grabbed the offending item and tied it on before bending over and giving Katherine a lingering kiss.

"Be here when I get back," he commanded and she gave him a mock salute in reply as he disappeared through the door.

The silence seemed to echo around the space, which had changed with Eric's absence. Alone it was just another bedroom, like all those in the block. With him in it, it was their haven and retreat.

She stared at the unprepossessing view out of the window, enjoying the languid feeling in her limbs and the utter indulgence of lying in bed in the middle of the day, before her growling stomach forced her to seek sustenance. Putting on Eric's dressing gown, which swamped her, she opened the cupboard and found the tea bags. Filling the kettle, she switched it on and getting the milk and bread from the windowsill sat at the desk waiting for her breakfast.

Smiling to herself about Eric's reaction to condoms she curiously opened the top desk drawer to see how many Rob had given him. With a laugh, she pulled out the box of twenty, wondering to herself if Rob had deliberately bought them with the intention of pinching them back or if he had fixed ideas about Eric's libido. The sound of her toast popping distracted her from her musings and she put the half-empty box back into position. Her attention was caught however, by the sight of a thick sheet of parchment that had been shoved in on top of the contents of the drawer, contrasting with the prevailing neatness. She recognised it as the letter, which had seemed to cause Eric distress the other morning and wondered what it said.

Leaving her breakfast to go cold, she hesitantly picked up the piece of paper, desperately wanting to read it, but also realising that she was snooping. Her fingers shook as she unfolded it and stared at the contents. The writing was a brief black scrawl on the thick parchment, and it did not take Katherine long to read the note.

"Eric, I hear from Anne-Marie that you are due at the specialists on the 22nd March. I will meet you there, as I need to speak with Mr. Bartholomew about your continuing treatment. Please be on time as I am very busy that day. I would prefer if, in future you would inform me before making your appointments. I can, as usual be reached at the house. Momma."

Katherine stared at the note and read it again, wondering if she had missed some context in the passage. It was so brief, so formal, not the sort of correspondence that one would expect between mother and child, yet the name suggested a closeness that was not echoed in the words. It lacked any sort of emotion: anger or love. Disgusted by what her role as a meddler had revealed she went to put the letter back in the drawer, only to notice that it had been hiding another pile; neatly held together with an elastic band.

The handwriting on the envelopes did not match the bold arrogant scrawl of Eric's mother writing and Katherine looking for comfort about Eric's life, found herself pulling the top most out and reading it.

"My dearest Eric,

I am sitting on the sofa with Tarragon curled up on my lap taking advantage of a sunbeam that is shining through the window and on to your painting. Yes! I have finally had it framed.

Of course you may bring Katherine down with you on the 22nd. I cannot wait to meet her, from what you say she sounds lovely.

I thought you would like to see the ROH brochure that came in the post today. I notice that Eugene Onegin is playing. Would you like me to get you tickets or do you not think that that is the best introduction to opera for Katherine?

I must say if you will let me, that when you do finally take her, pluck up the courage I know that you have and sit somewhere else other then the very back. The music alone might be enough for you, but I am sure she would like to see the stage as well!"

Katherine scanned the rest of the letter, which talked of people they knew and events they had attended, hoping to find reassurance after the coldness of his mother's letter. It was in the last few lines.

"My darling boy, please try and take care of yourself. I know how stubborn you can be. I look forward to seeing you both in a couple of weeks. Keep smiling until then. All my love. Annie."

With a sigh, she put the piece of paper down, thankful that there was obviously someone who loved Eric like a son, but confused as another segment of the unusual puzzle of her boyfriend's life was revealed. She picked up a piece of cold toast and set to restoring the letter to its resting place. Emboldened by her find she looked through the other drawers in the desk. It was a veritable magpie's horde, being an assorted collection of sheet music, newspaper articles and drawing pads. Katherine half-heartedly searched through them, pausing at a score with her name scrawled across the top. She studied it for a moment, trying to dredge up the small amount of musical knowledge buried in her brain, wondering what had been composed for her.

At the bottom of the drawer, a set of photographs had been shoved in, their presence hidden by the piles of paper on top, as if they had been purposefully buried. Katherine picked them up and studied them closely, before almost dropping them on the desk in surprise.

Staring back at her was Eric, the scarred side of his face buried in a very fluffy cat, the other side on view, not as clean as his current visage. He was obviously younger and very thin; the eye looking at the camera held a wariness that she had never seen. The date printed on to the side of the photograph was four years ago. Katherine realised this must have been when he first went to stay with his guardian.

The other photos had been taken at the same time, although Eric was clad in his mask. She studied the photographs carefully and saw how pale and awkward he looked, compared to the large muscular person he was now. She realised that he must have come a long way in four years, for the photographs showed a very scared little boy.

The chiming of the clock made her realise that the hour had flown by and if she were not careful, then Eric would discover her prying. She carefully replaced the photographs and shut the drawer, turning her attention to the rest of the room. The CDs that were regimentally lined up above the desk ranged from classical through to pop and rock showing Eric's wide musical taste. Another shelf was piled high with books on many subjects. Katherine looked at them closely, recognising set texts that she had to read, alongside many others. She had walked in on him many times in the past few weeks, and found him sitting on his bed reading, but had never assumed they were anything other then fiction. Once again, she found herself reassessing his abilities.

With a mental shake, she looked around the room, at the messy bed and her clothes in disarray on the floor. She set to work, tidying up and making the bed, so that it was neat for Eric's return. She turned to open the window wide, to let fresh air into the room, and turning back again to pick up her clothes she let out a scream.

Standing calmly in front of her was Eric, a look of amusement in his eyes and a smile dancing on his lips. "Where did you come from?" she gasped, still shocked at the sight of him appearing in the room.

"The corridor."

"I didn't hear you come in. You must have opened the door so silently! You're like a ghost, you just appeared." At her comment, the smile dropped from Eric's lips.

"Well maybe I am a ghost," he said coldly leaving Katherine to gawp at him, unable to guess what had turned his mood sour, hoping that he had not seen her going through his desk.

"Good lecture then?" She decided to stick to safe topics, unsure what she had said that had caused his mood to turn sour.

"As good as can be expected," he replied coolly, his eyes darting around the room. "You didn't have to tidy up you know."

"I've hardly done anything, I've just got out of bed," She wondered if her voice shook with the lie. "I had better get dressed; I need some lunch, starving hungry in fact." She attempted to stay on safe ground and treat his mood swing lightly. "Do you want to join me when you have finished sulking then?"

"What?" Eric seemed to drop his moodiness like a mantle, aware that his girlfriend did not understand the reason behind it. "I'm sorry, you know I'm just a git at times. Yes, yes of course, let's go and find something to eat. I didn't realise that sex was such hard work." He reached out and caught her up in a bone-crunching hug. "You look very sexy in that dressing gown by the way," he commented, kissing her as his hand wandered to the opening. "Very sexy indeed." Katherine let out a stifled laugh as she felt his hand move under the fabric and he dragged her over to the bed; lunch obviously the last thing on his mind.

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