Thanks for all your kind words of encouragement about "Second-Hand Hearts", it is coming along great.

Enjoy this chapter…some long awaited content….

CHAPTER 22

After, what seemed like, hours of silence; Erik turned to walk away, a look of sheer agony crossing his face. She hadn't responded at all…complete disgust at the thought of him courting her.

"Forget that I even asked." Erik mumbled as he headed back.

Karlie was surprised that he would even bother to ask her, surely he knew by her actions that she was as interested in him as he was in her; but she got her answer when his eyes grew pained and cold, and he turned to walk away, after telling her to forget he even asked.

She quickly regained her composure and spoke loud enough for his retreating figure to hear, but soft enough to capture his attention.

"Erik…please don't walk away." Karlie watched as his tall, graceful figure halted. "I'm sorry that I didn't answer you, I was surprised…no man has ever asked for permission to court me before."

Erik had not turned around to look at her; he just stood rigidly with his back to her.

"Where I come from, it is the proper thing to do…or so I have been told." Erik stated, quietly.

Karlie walked over to him and put her hand in his and felt him stiffen at her touch. "Don't do that Erik…I did not mean to make you doubt my intentions."

"You do not need to explain your actions to me…you did exactly what I expected you to do." Erik's face held no emotions as he spoke. "Will you consider just being my friend?" he said, his stomach knotting and his heart wrenching, "I could learn to live without the physical contact, if you…"

Karlie put her fingers to his mouth to quiet him, "Erik, please let me say what I should have said when you first asked me…" she looked into his compelling eyes and felt her own tearing up, "…yes, you may court me, date me, take me out, call me yours…whatever you want to do…as long as I can be with you."

Erik did not move or say a word, he stared into her eyes; trying to read her earnestness as he looked into their deep, blue depths. Something was there, but he wasn't sure what.

"Don't pity me, Karlie." Erik said, dropping his eyes. "I will not tolerate that…from you…or anyone else."

Karlie felt anger spurring her forward, anger at him for doubting her intentions and thinking she felt nothing for him but pity.

"Don't you dare stand there and think that all the touching and tender kisses that I gave you meant nothing to me." Karlie stood as close to Erik as she could get, without touching him. "I don't play games Erik, not when my heart is involved…" she reached up and pulled on his shirtfront, causing him to come down to her level, "…and where you are concerned…my heart is definitely involved."

She had had enough talking and reasoning things out with him; it was time to let her body do the talking. She curved her hand around to the back of his head and pulled his lips to hers. She left no room for him to doubt the depth of her feelings for him.

At first, Erik did not respond, but Karlie nibbled on his bottom lip and soothed the area with the warm surface of her tongue. A low, surrendering moan started in Erik's chest. He felt completely powerless against her feminine wiles.

Karlie's demanded his surrender as she delicately caressed his soft lips with her tongue's eager probing. She felt him tentatively open to her and she moaned into his mouth as she overtook his self-doubts with her seductive pursuit.

She wrapped her tongue protectively around his and instructed him in the art that was a kiss. Erik responded with a masculine growl deep in his chest as he mastered the French kiss as easily as he mastered everything in his life.

He ended the kiss and pulled away slightly, looking deep into her eyes; his own were pools of liquid emerald, smoldering with desire. There was not a soul in the park, so Erik took advantage of the solitude and lifted her into his arms. Without saying a word, he moved back into the park and toward the lake situated in the middle of the vast area.

Erik held her securely, yet gently to him as he approached the giant Weeping Willow tree which grazed beside the bank of the lake. Its branches extended to the ground and were as thick as a blanket hanging down from the clothesline.

He placed on her feet and moved the branches aside, indicating for her to enter the sanctuary within. She did not hesitate as she moved through the opening with Erik following her in and letting the branches fall back in their place.

Erik moved toward her slowly, with desire raging in eyes. His voice was low and sexy as he cradled her face in hands and moved his forehead to rest against hers.

"Teach me Karlie; teach me to be the man I want to be for you." He said as he eased her to the ground, taking his coat off and placing it under her head as a pillow.

He rested his left hand on the swell of her ribcage, just beneath the swell of her breasts. His other hand nestled in the softness of her hair as Erik relished the feel of her beside him.

Karlie put her arms around Erik's neck and eased him toward her, letting him know that he was the only man for her. She put her hand to his mask and hesitated, "I want it off, Erik…you do not need to hide from me…ever."

Erik felt himself tremble with pent up desire and now, fear. Why would she want to look upon the hideousness that was his face? So, he voiced that concern, "Why…why would you want to look upon the ugliness that is my face?" he asked while caressing her velvet cheek, tempted to pull away from her warm, inviting embrace.

Karlie smiled up at him, reading the uncertainty in his face, "The right side of your face is as much a part of what makes you so handsome as the left side is…" she stated and watched as he furrowed his brow in doubt at her words. "Don't doubt my words, Erik…"

She settled her fingers on the outer edge of the mask and felt him tremble beneath them; he truly thought she would be repulsed by something so superficial; that thought saddened her, but it also made her more determined.

She pulled it carefully and gently from his sensitive skin and placed it on the ground beside her. Erik looked from her to hide his face and Karlie put her hand to his marred cheek and turned it toward her. His eyes were closed as to avoid seeing the reaction settling in her beautiful eyes.

Karlie placed her lips on the skin of his almost non-existent cheek and tenderly kissed his warm flesh. She caressed every inch of the scars with her lips, whispering calming words of assurance and love as she did so.

Erik held her to him, afraid she would disappear if he let her go. He pulled back from her searching lips and cradled her face in his hand; he could not stop his voice from cracking with emotion as he spoke,

"No one has ever done that before…" he sighed.

Karlie smiled and winked at him, "And there better not be anyone else putting her lips to your delectable body…"

Erik laughed; a low, melodious sound that made Karlie's heart sing. He caressed her mouth with his eyes, admiring the way it beckoned him to enjoy the treasures hidden within.

He lowered his mouth to hers and took her lips in a sweet union. He had no idea if what he was doing was correct, but it felt wonderful – so he continued. He rested his left palm on her cheek and caressed her soft skin as he melded his tongue with hers, making her moan with pleasure.

He sucked her tongue gently into his warm mouth and tasted sweetness like he never knew existed. His head was spinning and his body was aching. He could not allow this to continue or he would claim her body as his own this very instant.

He tried to end the kiss, but Karlie would not have it. She drew him back into her mouth and danced with him, grazing her teeth along the swell of his lower lip and then sucking its fullness into her mouth. Erik had never felt such joy.

He relented to her onslaught and felt his body harden, even more, at her expert seduction. He moaned passionately as she placed tender kisses along the curve of his lower lip and then gave his tongue one last sweep before allowing him to pull back.

Erik tried desperately to gather his wits and speak, but his body was raging and his mind was swimming with desire. He held her close to him and he knew she could feel the evidence of his desire nestled against her abdomen.

"You are feeding a starving man, Karlie…I must be careful or I may go past the point of no return." He said finally, desire still flooding his vocal chords. "This is all new territory to me." He whispered.

Karlie cradled his face in her hands and placed a kiss upon the tip of his nose, "You're mine now, Erik Clairvaux, and I demand that those luscious lips, breathtaking features, and delectable body be available to me every minute of every day….understood?" She said with mirth in her voice.

Erik grinned and pulled himself up onto his feet, stooping under the low hanging branches; he helped Karlie to her feet, and laughed, as she was able to stand straight up and not touch a branch.

"I love how petite you are." He said with a gorgeous smile.

Karlie watched as his face lit up and he looked as young as he was. "Erik, you need to smile continuously, your features soften and you look your age…oh, and did I mention that you are even more handsome when you smile?" she teased with a wink as they walked out from underneath the tree.

Erik just shook his head and took her hand; he pulled her into the crook of his shoulder as they walked, arm-in-arm, back to Demi's house.

Erik could not help thinking that he truly had not started living until tonight, while in the arms of Karlie Bordeaux.

To Be Continued…