Thank you for over 200 reviews! This is a first for me! I am so pleased with the response to this story, and I must admit, I have enjoyed writing an Erik/Christine…because I can make Christine the way I want her to be.
I am not sure how much more of this story is left; I'm not sure how much I want to delve into their lives together…I don't believe in a great deal of drama for my Erik, I want him to live a normal life with ups and downs, but that does not make for interesting reading.
There are several chapters left, at least…just letting you know.
THE DAWN THROUGH THE NIGHT
CHAPTER 23
Erik could not help the joyous smile that covered his face. He inadvertently had given Christine a gift she had never thought to have. She had always been fascinated with ancient Greek history, but had never even considered the possibility of going to Greece.
"Oh Erik! Thank you so much." She hugged his neck, repeatedly, and Erik had no choice but to wrap his arms around her and hug her back.
After releasing her, he stood up from the bench, retrieved his shirt, and turned to Nancy. He was heading towards her when Christine rushed past him and grasped the older woman's shoulders in a half-hug.
"Erik is taking me to Greece on our honeymoon!" She could not keep the glee out of her voice or the grin off her face.
Nancy showed the same enthusiasm, "Greece…I have always wanted to go there…so exotic and romantic." Nancy winked at Christine in a way that only she could see.
Erik placed his hand in the small of Christine's back, feeling suddenly as though he had a right to put it there. He bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.
She turned her smiling face toward him as he spoke, "I'm going to go find Grace and try and explain why she can't come with us." He explained, and headed out the door.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Christine asked.
Erik smiled; taking Christine's breath away. "No, you chat with Nancy."
He walked out and Christine and Nancy continued to chat about the wonderful experience Greece was going to be.
He knocked on Grace's door as he entered, making her aware of his presence. She ran to him as she finished her evening reading. He pulled her up into his arms and carried her over to her bed.
"Papa, next time we play chess, I am going to win!" She exclaimed, referencing their earlier challenge. Erik did not go any easier on her than anyone, and it showed; at the age of eight, she was a formidable opponent…to everyone except Erik.
"I have no doubt that you will."
Her sulking eyes lifted up to his and she wrapped her face in mock sadness, "Do I have to go to bed…can't I stay up longer?" she wriggled her arms around his neck and placed tickly little kisses on his face, "Please, Papa…pretty please."
Erik chuckled at her insistence, "I do have something I need to talk to you about."
She unwound from his neck and sat beside him on the bed, intently looking into his eyes.
"Christine and I have been married for four months now, and I never did give her a proper honeymoon…" he looked into her eyes and saw that she was fully engrossed in what he was saying, "…I am going to take her to Greece for a couple of weeks."
Grace smiled and clapped her hands, "Greece!" Her eyes lit up with a keen intelligence far beyond her years, "Imagine the history and the art…"
She stopped for a minute and looked into her father's controlled eyes, "I know I'm not going, Papa…honeymoons are for grown-ups."
Erik chuckled, he had never hidden anything from her; and in the process, had made her a force to be reckoned with. She rivaled any male, twice her age, in all the major academic subjects; and far surpassed most of the students he had seen in her mastery of the arts.
"I just wanted you to hear it from me, ma joli." Erik cooed.
She smiled and he felt his heart melt even more as she wrapped him further around her finger, "When do you leave?"
Erik reached his hand up and pulled several strands of wayward raven hair out of her eyes. "In three days we will catch the train for Bari, Italy and then the boat from there to Igoumenitsa, Greece."
She shook her head, knowing the places he spoke of, "How long will you be gone?"
"Travel time and all, about three weeks."
Her face suddenly lit up with a new excitement, "Can Grandmamma and Aunt Brigitte come and stay with me while you're gone?"
"Of course, they'll be over tomorrow, we'll ask then." He smiled down at her.
The moved over onto his lap and hugged him, "I love you papa."
He hugged her back; suddenly realizing he had what could only be defined as joy in his heart. He pointed his face towards heaven and silently addressed the eyes he knew were watching him, "I feel your knowing smile Desiree, and I hear your 'I told you so' in my head."
He closed his eyes as he held his daughter and could have sworn her heard Desiree's lilting laughter dancing on the air.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Is she alright with it?" Christine asked, as Erik descended the stairs toward her.
Every movement he made was regal and elegant, watching him was like watching a fine piece of art come alive.
"I am going to ask my mother and Brigitte to come and stay at the estate while we are gone…they will both be here tomorrow, I'll ask then."
He tentatively reached out and took her hand, holding its warmth in his own. He gently beckoned her to follow him as he silently headed toward the library.
He led her through the library, through his office area, and behind a hidden door. She had not known this room existed. It contained an easel, pottery wheel, a large work table covered with various unfinished sculptures and carvings, and all the paint brushes, charcoal, paints, wax…whatever an artist could want, to make his creativity come to life.
In the corner of the room was a chaise lounge, piled high with pillows and various colored pieces of material.
She walked around the room, lovingly surveying the artistic outlets of the man she was blessed to call her husband.
"I spend hours in here…times when the household thinks I'm in my office perusing paperwork." Erik stated, dreamily.
Christine looked at him in complete awe, "I knew you had so many skills, but I never knew you were so…gifted."
She looked at the works of his hands and shivered, knowing what those hands would soon be doing to her. He was an expert at everything he did; lovemaking would be no different.
She could hardly wait for him to yield to his feral side, throw his inhibitions to the wind, and claim her in wild abandonment.
Pride shown in Erik's eyes, a pride she had never seen before. He may not be happy with the way he looked, but he took pride in the abilities he possessed.
Christine went to his side and took his arm in a loving embrace, "Thank you, Erik…for sharing this sanctuary with me."
He smiled down at her and led her out, "We leave in three days…tomorrow, I want you to take whomever you wish, and go into town…buy dresses, hats, shoes…whatever you need for our trip to Greece."
Christine grinned at the prospect…she had not been shopping, really shopping, for months. Erik had bought her some gowns when she first started working for him…beautiful gowns, but she had worn them so much, they were looking tattered.
They reached the top of the stairs and Erik went to let go of Christine's hand and head to his room. She would not let go, and wrapped her other hand around his to prevent him from pulling away.
"I will not sleep alone…again." She said doggedly; her eyes daring him to refute her.
He saw the warning behind her chocolate eyes, and continued toward his room with her hand still in his. He knew she was wearing down his defenses with every kiss and touch; he was also intelligent enough to know that she desired him; as hard as that was for him to accept, he was tired of doubting it and living with the hate he felt for himself.
For too many years he had lived under a blanket of darkness; hating his face, hating his body, hating just about everything about himself. He was tired of being sulky, depressed, lonely, and bitter.
Christine offered him a chance at some form of happiness, though it was not the love that he longed for. She cared for him and desired him; that would have to be enough for him.
He loved her more and more as every day passed and swore to himself he would never cease to let her know that; in deed now, and in words - just as soon as he mustered enough courage to allow them to leave his mouth.
He looked down into her expectant eyes, eased his body closer to her, and caressed the soft skin of her cheek with the length of his long, masculine fingers.
It was time for a change…
"Share my room, Christine…" Erik lifted her chin and planted a kiss on her moist lips, "…and my bed."
