I'm sorry about the delay. Unfortunately it is going to take me some time to get the rest of the story out. I just had a baby and I'm struggling with postpartum depression as well as being a new mom of two children! Quite a new experience! I love it though. Please bear with me!
To make up for it, here is a rather long chapter. It's got a little bit of everything in it. I hope you like it :)
Chapter Five
Christine had never felt so relieved to be clean in her whole life. Erik had stopped off at another motel and had let her rest in a sort of comfortable bed for a couple of hours. When she had woken, he had procured clothing for her from somewhere - she didn't even want to know what lengths he took.
All she cared about was that her hair smelled decent, her skin was scrubbed, and her clothes were clean. As always, she was impressed with the thought and care that went into everything Erik bought for her.
He had picked out a pair of nice jeans and a sky blue t-shirt, a pair of socks and of course unmentionables. She would have been embarrassed by the last one but after the last time he had bought her clothes (and had kept her captive for two weeks) it didn't even bother her. She was just glad to have something else to wear.
She braided her wet hair and pulled it to the side, not liking the feeling of it on her skin and not wanting to use a hairdryer. It always made her wavy hair very poofy each time she'd tried it.
She pulled her shoes back on and glanced at herself in the mirror. She felt better and looked better but she couldn't honestly say that she was better. She supposed that's what being on the run for your life would do to you.
When she emerged from the bathroom, she grew nervous upon seeing Erik. He sat straight backed in the chair at the little round table in the motel room, fiddling with some sort of device she didn't recognize. She assumed he probably had all sorts of things on his person that she had no idea about. He was a very mysterious man.
When they were alone together, he wore his regular black full face mask. It was a small comfort, she confessed. She could actually see his eyes when he looked at her and it was easier to guess his expressions. Something the shades and surgical mask hid from her.
When he saw her approach, so swiftly she barely grasped the movement, he put the device in his pocket and was on his feet. His eyes, not hidden from her, assessed her quickly and she felt a little self conscious all of a sudden.
"Do you feel better?" His voice was low and soft, more gentle than he had been recently.
She slid a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Very much so. Thanks for the clothes. I think mine were going to disintegrate before long." It was a half-joke but she couldn't tell if it amused him or not. She cleared her throat when he didn't respond. "So I was wondering…"
"Yes?" He asked immediately and she momentarily paused in surprise.
Her cheeks grew warm and she lowered her gaze. "I don't think my stomach can handle more junk food… do you think we could stop and get like a… real meal from a restaurant or something? I think I saw a Cracker Barrel down the road-"
"Absolutely not." His answer was dejecting and it sort of made her angry. Before she could argue however, he amended his statement. "What I mean is that I can order you something and bring it here."
She frowned and looked up at him. "Erik, we are far away from those people now and we haven't had a single run in with anyone. I don't really want Chinese again or pizza and I highly doubt we will see any of the people in the restaurant again."
Erik hesitated and she looked up at him hopefully. "Are you…" his eyes lowered to the floor, squinting slightly. "Are you suggesting that you'd like to dine with me?"
Christine's heart skipped a beat at his question because she hadn't necessarily meant it like that but she did want to go in, eat a good meal, and feel normal. Just for a little while. Instead of explaining herself, she went with it because she realized it was the only opening she would have. "Yes."
His eyes snapped up to hers intensely and she almost took a step backward. He seemed to search her face, unsure if she was being truthful or not. She was aware that she was manipulating the situation. She felt guilty about it but she supposed she was desperate. Her digestive system was desperate. Her mind… desperate.
He must have found something believable in her eyes because he lowered his gaze and nodded slowly. "A-All right. We… we shall go." His voice sounded weak. Still in disbelief. A little impressed.
She smiled with relief. "Thank you Erik."
He nodded again and turned his back on her. "We should go before it gets too crowded for dinner."
"Okay!" She couldn't help but be enthusiastic about it. Even though it had only been a couple days, she felt far removed from reality already. It would feel great to be among others again.
They checked out of the motel room and climbed back inside the stolen SUV. She had been correct. There had been a Cracker Barrel on their way and she couldn't help but grin with excitement when he pulled into the parking lot, parking at the very back and away from everyone else.
"Please look away for a moment," he murmured after turning the car off and as she had become accustomed, turned her whole body in the opposite direction away from him to give him privacy as he took his mask off and slid his publicly acceptable disguise back on. "Let's get this over with."
She grinned and hopped out of the car. For once, she had to slow her pace for him. He seemed to be either reluctant or nervous. Surprisingly, he got to the door before her and she almost ran into his shoulder as he pulled it open for her.
She ducked her head meekly and gave him a sheepish smile. "Thanks."
He nodded silently at her and she wished she could see his eyes. Was he unhappy? Probably was. A twinge of guilt overtook her but she pushed it down for the promise of mashed potatoes with gravy and homemade rolls. He led her through the gift shop at the front of the building and toward the actual restaurant where they were met by a hostess.
The woman smiled at Christine first. "Hello! How can I-" When her eyes met the tall, imposing figure of Erik with his sunglasses and mask, she faltered. Erik stared down at her as if daring her to say something. Christine bit her lip and the lady tried to recompose herself and cleared her throat, giving Christine a weak smile. "Um, a table for two?"
Christine mustered up an award winning smile for effect. "Please! And away from other customers if you can. My… friend isn't feeling the best but we wanted to go out for my birthday." She was impressed with herself for coming up with such a lie on the spot. What was happening to her?
The hostess relaxed marginally and grabbed a couple menus. "Oh! Not a problem. Follow me!"
Erik was staring at her when Christine glanced up at him and she gave him a small smile before following the lady. The mashed potatoes better be worth it, she wisecracked to herself.
Once settled in a booth in the far corner, the hostess smiled nervously between them and told them their waiter will be with them shortly. Christine immediately grabbed her menu and scoured it for a good sounding meal. She felt his eyes on her but she didn't want to lose her nerve. "My father and I used to come to Cracker Barrel all the time when we traveled. Did you know that you can rent audio books and return them to other locations? It's pretty cool."
"Your hands are shaking."
She stopped what she was doing and looked down at her hands. "Oh," she mumbled. "I… am just excited to eat something other than crackers and chips."
"I apologize Christine. This can't be easy on you."
She chanced a look up at him over the menu and found him looking down uncomfortably at the table. His gloved hands lay folded in front of him. She shook her head slightly. "It's fine. What's one more adventure, right?" She was lying. This was hard on her but it was going easier on them than she had expected so she was relieved. She was relaxed. A little.
It was the first time she was truly out in public with him. It was a bit jarring and made her jittery.
He didn't respond to her attempt at bypassing the severity of the situation. She looked down at the menu again and found what she wanted to eat.
The waiter was also taken aback by Erik's appearance, however she had a suspicion he had been warned. "What can I get you guys?"
Christine smiled politely. "Um, the chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy and some corn."
"And to drink?"
"Just water please. Oh, and a coffee." She hadn't had coffee in days and she was suddenly craving it.
"You got it." He turned to Erik. "And you sir?"
"Nothing for me please." Typical. She didn't think he'd eaten or drank anything for days. If he had, it had been when she was sleeping. Don't even get her started on when he slept. He apparently didn't have to.
The waiter looked uncertain. "Are you sure?"
Erik turned his attention to the waiter, somehow scorning him without revealing his features. "Positive."
The waiter fidgeted under the gaze and nodded to himself, glancing at Christine with a weary smile. "All right. I'll be back with your water and coffee."
She smiled. "Thank you."
He ran off quicker than she thought him capable of. She almost snickered. She looked over at Erik who was looking out the window. He seemed terribly uncomfortable. His posture was rigid and his fingers tapped along his other hand. She was slightly amused that his rhythm was that of a metronome.
"H-Have you been composing recently?" She wondered aloud and his finger paused, then he turned back to her. She felt her cheeks redden because she hadn't really shown an interest in what he'd done until then. "You know, before you had to come save me and all that," she joked, attempting to lighten the load.
He seemed reluctant to share his thoughts and he waited until the waiter dropped off her water and coffee then scurried off before answering her. "No. I haven't." She felt his eyes on her as she stirred in sugar and creamer. She paused briefly at the surprising news. That had practically been all he'd done when she spent the two weeks with him. At least when he hadn't been trying too hard to get her to love him.
"Why?" She thought she met his gaze but couldn't be sure because of the sunglasses.
His finger began tapping again. She took a drink of her coffee and cringed, then grabbed another sugar. "I tried many times but the inspiration seems to have left me."
Christine swallowed thickly, wondering if she had anything to do with that. She didn't respond. After trying her coffee again and still not happy with it, she grabbed another sugar but his hand shot out and stopped her - his long gloved fingers easily wrapping around her small hand. The sugar packet fell sloppily to the bowl.
"Are you trying to ruin your voice?" He asked her stiffly. She snapped her eyes up to his face, seeing his eyes slightly through the shades as he leaned over.
"I- I don't sing anymore," she defended weakly, shocked by his touch and how it sent tingles up her arm.
His grip loosened slightly but he did not let go. "You may not now but you could in your future and it kills me to watch you throw everything I have ever given you away because of this white cavity inducing sand."
Christine swallowed guiltily. So he was upset she wasn't singing again. He hadn't been so clear before. Slowly and gradually, he released her hand and sat back in his seat. His fingers flexed and then sat both of his hands in his lap. She removed her hand from the sugar bowl and stared down at the coffee mug before her. Her throat felt tight and her heart hurt.
"You're right," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes. It was time for him to hear the truth. "I did throw away everything you gave me." She watched the swirl of the cream dance without really noticing. "When you let me go… something died inside of me. At first, I thought it was just because I was traumatized. My best friend and teacher had turned out to be someone else entirely and I was thrown into a nightmare." She wasn't aware of how uncomfortable he was with the conversation. "I didn't know how to cope. I didn't know how to feel. Anything. Raoul tried to help and I faked it for him, but it just didn't work out. It was like my life stopped having meaning. I couldn't sing anymore. The music had just died. I didn't even want to listen to music anymore because when I did - I… it hurt. It hurt like nothing I'd ever felt before. It was suffocating. I tried to move on. I got my own apartment. A new job. A new major. One I'm not even good at…" she laughed humorlessly and bitterly. "I tried to be okay after you, but I couldn't. I just…" she trailed off, unable to continue without breaking down in the restaurant.
Erik didn't respond and if he was planning on it, he was prevented from doing so because the waiter appeared suddenly with her food.
She tried to smile at him gratefully, but she could tell it was wobbly and her eyes were wet. Erik's eyes burned into her face and she avoided them like the plague.
"Looks delish! Hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you need anything else!" The waiter's overly forced enthusiasm was out of place at the mournful table before him.
When all he received was silence, the waiter awkwardly left them and Christine took a deep breath. She was starving and the food looked amazing. She uneasily grabbed her fork.
"I knew right away there was something wrong," Erik told her suddenly, his voice soft but horribly regretful. She glanced up at him in surprise. "When I saw you without… him, and you were just as sad as you were when I met you, I just knew. What I didn't know was that it was me that had affected you on that level." He looked down and she could imagine he was struggling. She wished she could see his face. "I will not blame you for never forgiving me for what I put you through, but I want you to know that I am deeply sorry on a soul level. I took advantage of you. Manipulated you. Lied to you. And betrayed you. I was selfish, Christine. I was blinded by a fantasy that I thought you could fulfill. I had put you on a pedestal so high and was convinced only you could live up to it. I hurt you inconceivably and I wouldn't be surprised if you'd rather me be dead as you had once thought." His head turned back up and she stared at him numbly in stunned silence. "I apologize that I am once again putting you through this. I never wanted this for you. Especially you. If I could change anything, it would be that you had ever met me. All I have ever done is cause you harm and now it has almost had you killed. It might as well be by my own hand."
Christine didn't know what to say to any of what he'd told her. She had never expected such an apology from him. The self loathing, the regret, and the pain he felt from causing her pain in all the ways he had was evident in his voice. In every word he spoke. Her heart clenched painfully and she felt a tear escape her eye. Then another. And another. She dropped her fork and put her face in her hands, trying to stop her heart from breaking. To stop from healing. To just stop.
"Christine…" he murmured, the word caressing over her and warming her all at the same time, making her remember. Remember how she felt about him before everything had happened. How much he had meant to her. How the feeling of his love had washed over her. How his music felt. How it infiltrated her every sense. How when she was with him, it was as if the rest of the world fell away. How no one could make her feel the way he could. How his lips had felt against hers.
And most importantly, how it had felt when she had thought he had died.
She was silently sobbing now, attempting not to just break down and wail in the restaurant, alarming other people. She was thankful for the corner booth. The fact that they were away from everyone else.
"Oh, sweetheart." She shuddered at the endearment she hadn't heard in so long. Suddenly, he was at her side, sitting next to her on the booth. She glanced through her fingers, tears drenching them, and saw that he was very close to her now. "What can I do? Please tell me what I can do." He was desperate. Pleading with her. Whether it was because she was crying in the restaurant or crying in general, she wasn't sure, but she felt guilty for making him feel that way.
Which in turn made her feel worse.
"H-Hug me?" She hiccuped softly, staring up at him through wide eyes, refusing to remove her hands from her face in fear of showing everyone just how distraught she was. Perhaps coming to a restaurant had been a mistake.
Erik looked completely taken aback, if his rigid posture and fumbling hands said anything. His eyes behind the shades widened and she heard the small wet sound of him wetting his lips nervously. "A-Are you certain? That is what you want from me?"
She couldn't speak again without crying and so she just nodded. She leaned in before he moved and before she knew it, she was laying her hands covered face up against the top of his chest, feeling the hard bony chest under his soft turtleneck. She let herself fall into him, even though his arms did not immediately wrap around her. She heard his heart beating. She felt the rise and fall of his breathing. He was alive and he was there with her. How long had she wanted this? How long had she wished things were different between them? How she had hated him for doing this to her.
But now she needed his comfort. She removed her hands slowly from her face and pressed her nose into his breastbone. He shuddered underneath her and finally wrapped his arms around her. His jacket enveloped her, warming her even though his body temperature had never been warm to begin with. The pressure of his arm around her back and his hand at the back of her hair was enough that she couldn't hold it back any longer. She cried. And cried.
For her. For him. For the situations that had led them to this moment. Everything. She wrapped her arms around his middle, under the jacket, and nuzzled her face against him.
He murmured in her ear, his fingers threading in her hair, holding her to him. She barely heard him, completely lost to her emotions, but she could make out things like "I'm sorry" and "please" followed by "sh" sounds and a faint hum.
Eventually, she was able to control herself and as the sobs subsided, she began to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable with her display of vulnerability. She hadn't cried like this even when she had left Raoul.
Slowly, she lifted her face away from his chest, opening her eyes to see a large wet mark where she had released all her tears onto the fabric of his shirt. His fingers fell from her hair and fell to her shoulder. His other one loosened on her back and their eyes met.
"I'm sorry," she weakly spoke, her voice strained from crying.
"You have nothing to apologize for," he replied, sounding still quite remorseful. His normal velvet timbre was not as smooth as it normally was.
She leaned back from him, realizing how close they were and remembered where they were exactly. His hands removed themselves from her person and she looked away in embarrassment. She couldn't believe she had broken down like that. How mortifying.
Aware his job was apparently over and that she was composed enough, Erik got up and sat back down on his side of the table. He watched her warily wipe at her eyes with a napkin and she took a shuddery breath before grabbing her iced water and taking a rather large gulp from it.
"How's everything going folks?" The waiter's timing could have been better. He must have noticed she hadn't tried it yet because his ever present smile wavered and he looked at her in confusion. "Oh. Is… something wrong with it?"
Christine eyed her untouched food and swallowed a lump in her throat. "No, no it's okay. I…"
"Please let her eat, young man," Erik interjected coldly and both Christine and the waiter looked at him in shock. The waiter seemed unsure of what to do so he just jabbed a thumb behind him.
"I'll just… come back!" He disappeared as quickly as he came.
Christine picked up her fork again, intent on eating her food. "You didn't have to be rude," she gently scolded him but she gave him a waned smile regardless.
Erik shrugged lightly. "He didn't have to interrupt your meal."
Christine chuckled softly and took a bite of her food, it not as warm as it probably once had been but tasting just as good. It brought her back to her childhood. She glanced up at him after a few bites. "Are you sure you don't want anything? I don't think you've eaten or drunk anything since we've been on the road."
"I'll eat later," he dismissed easily. "Just enjoy your meal. We will need to be leaving soon."
She did as he said, not needing to be told twice. Not only was she still feeling a bit embarrassed by her earlier outburst but she was also unsure of what to say to him now that everything had been laid before them.
He let her eat in silence, both watchful of her and also the window. She wondered if he was keeping an eye out for them in case of any mafia guys. She didn't think any would show up this far across the country. They had to be far enough away by now, right?
Once she was finished eating as much as she could, she drank most of her water, completely forgetting the coffee. She felt dehydrated after crying so much. The water was extremely refreshing.
The waiter returned and shocked her with a plate of chocolate cake. "Heard it's your birthday! The cakes on us." He didn't stick around this time but slid the check on the table before leaving.
"It appears your lie has landed you a free dessert," Erik said with amusement, as he took the check and pulled out cash from his wallet.
Christine smiled at him and eyed the cake. "It looks delicious but I don't think I'll be able to eat it. I'm so full."
"We will bring it with us then," he suggested. "That and a to-go coffee for the road."
Christine watched him with both surprise and fondness as he flagged down the waiter and asked for a box and a new coffee for her. Would he ever stop being so thoughtful? She didn't think he could. This world had been horribly cruel to him and he just didn't deserve it. Yes, he had done horrible things and she'd never forget them or what he was capable of. However, he had a huge heart and he proved it time and time again with her.
As they walked out of the building, him holding her box with cake, and her holding her warm to go coffee, she turned to him suddenly. "When you're free from all this mess… you should compose again." Her words seemed to surprise him and he glanced at her. Her cheeks turned a little red. "You're music… it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard and it'd be a shame to give up on it. Perhaps after all of this is over you could find a job. Like music production or something."
Erik chuckled wryly. "You are very kind to think it'd be possible for me to have a normal job like everyone else." His words made her face flush further. "You mustn't forget that even though we have dined together this afternoon in a public setting, no person would be willing to hire someone like me."
Christine frowned at his pessimism. "That can't be true."
"Do you think I didn't try? That when I was younger I did not attempt to live like everyone else? It is not my own decision to live under the ground, Christine. I was driven there."
Her frown deepened as her heart once again broke for him. She just didn't understand that for a world that claimed to be accepting, they were very much not. Even her own father was unable to keep a steady job, when he tried, that was. No one wanted to hire a man in dreadlocks and a tie dye shirt, with his guitar strapped to his back.
"I'm sorry Erik," she said sympathetically as they neared the car. "I didn't mean to presume."
He moved forward in order to reach her car door, obviously intending to open it. Something she almost smiled at had it not been interrupted by a gunshot.
In a flash, before she even could turn to see who had done it or process what it was, Erik had his arms around her and was practically carrying her in the opposite direction.
Another shot.
"Dammit," Erik gritted out and somehow he wedged her between the restaurant and a dollar store. He briefly held her arms, staring her in the face. "Don't move. Do you understand?"
She could only nod, too terrified to do anything else. He took a step back and took a pistol from under his jacket from behind, more than likely it had been tucked in his waistband. She watched in horror when he left her there. She knew that pistol. She tried not to let the sight of it again get to her or remind her of it being pressed to Raoul's head.
She then heard what she assumed was a gunfight. Her eyes screwed shut and she threw her hands over her ears, vaguely realizing that both of them had dropped the cake and coffee in the debacle.
God she hoped he was okay. What would she do without him now? Not only that but could admit freely to herself that she didn't want him to die. She had only just got him back and she was sure things had begun to change between them -
She chanced a look around the wall and saw a harrowing scene of Erik firing shot after shot towards other masked men while somehow being missed with the offending fires. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest and she squeezed her fingers along her hairline, feeling frightened and helpless.
She turned back to hide behind the wall and sank down to crouch against it. Lord, please let him be okay. In the distance she heard sirens. Oh no. Someone must have called 911.
As if hearing her prayers, the gun shots stopped and she lifted her head, hoping it was not what she feared - that he was dead. That she was alone again in the world.
But then he appeared around the corner, seemingly unharmed, and she could have sobbed in relief. "Oh god," she blurted out and shakily got to her feet.
"We need to leave," he said forcefully and took her by the hand, before pulling her down further between the buildings and behind them.
"What about the car?" She asked him, hurrying to keep up with his long legged pace and the fact that he was tugging her along.
"We will find something else. We need to hurry. The authorities will be here and we cannot be caught." He tugged her through the patch of trees behind the buildings and she tried not to trip over loose foliage but it was proving difficult because he was so quick. "Damn!" He suddenly grounded out and before she knew it, she was thrown up against a tree and he was covering her with his whole body.
Heart racing even faster for reasons unrelated to the police chase, she looked up into his face and could see the air move the surgical mask as he breathed harshly, mimicking the way they both brushed against each other as their chests moved.
"What is it-" A gloved finger found her lips and she immediately stilled. He was looking away from her and didn't seem to be paying attention to her gaze on him. Or the way she suddenly felt every part of him that was touching her. It was a horrible time but she couldn't help but think of their kiss a year ago and of the way he held her just minutes ago in the restaurant.
He finally turned his head back to her, his finger falling from her lips and holding her in place by the arm. The other was leaning against the tree for support. Their eyes locked and she felt her heart stop beating momentarily. Something shifted in that moment and she didn't know how to process it. He must have realized how close they were as well because she could hear his breathing turn more jagged and his eyes behind the shades widened substantially.
"Is it safe now?" She breathed out, eyes never leaving him.
"Yes," he murmured back, his voice the lowest she'd ever heard it, warming her shaking body all over again.
She took in his appearance, or the lack thereof, and couldn't take it anymore. Breath leaving her lips in heavy gushes, she lifted her hands.
He visibly flinched when her fingers brushed the sides of his glasses. Thankfully though, he didn't pull away from her. He didn't stop her. And so she felt encouraged enough to slide them upwards over his head and set them on top of what she knew was his wig. He must have lost his hat in the parking lot. She didn't notice until now.
His eyes beheld her intensely: questioning, searching, stunned into frozen fear - of what? Her? Yet, he still let her eyes roam over the top of his face she could see.
It was just as sunken in as she knew it would be. But she didn't focus on that. Her eyes met his and she smiled softly. "I had never seen this color gold before I saw your eyes for the first time," she whispered and he winced, unable to hide his reaction to her words without a disguise. She shook her head slightly. "It was a compliment."
He held still, eyes staring back into hers with an unreadable emotion. Her heart pounded in her ears as she slid her hands down to his cheeks, covered by the surgical mask. His hand tightened on her arm, almost enough to hurt but she didn't point it out. She could feel his body shaking. She knew what she was doing was difficult for him and she also knew that he'd stop her if he wanted her to.
Slowly, cautiously, giving him ample opportunity to halt her actions, she slid the mask down over his deformed features, revealing the absence of his nose and his thin, pale lips. She left the mask on his chin and let her eyes fall to his parted mouth. Oh, how she remembered what it felt like to press hers against them - it had come back to her many times over in dreams. Each time had left her hot and wanting more. Wondering what it would be like for more.
Before she could stop herself with logic, she used a hand at the base of his wig along his neck to pull him gently down to her, as she stood on her toes to reach his mouth.
She vaguely saw his eyes widen substantially before she shut hers, pressing against his lips firmly. Just as before, when she had kissed him for the first time, he froze under her mouth and did not respond. His hand felt bruising on her arm but she was determined. She tried to get him to kiss her back but he did not relent.
She slightly pulled back, eyes opening, their mouths still touching and found his eyes still staring at her in shock. She was desperate for the feeling of him, wanting to let herself go, to let him feel how she felt even when she didn't fully understand it and had no words. Something like this… maybe it didn't need words.
Maybe he'd understand the message despite this.
Hopeful, she gazed back at him, her mouth brushing his as she murmured against them, making him shudder uncontrollably against her. "Kiss me, Erik."
For a split second, she thought he was going to pull away, to stop this and prevent her from finding out this side of him that she had only briefly experienced - but then he shocked her by removing his hand from her arm and gently sliding his long , trembling fingers along her neck and giving her goosebumps from the sensitive area. She held still, feeling him move even closer to her if it was at all possible and then, after briefly hesitating, his thin mouth was on hers.
It was nothing like she'd ever imagined. Nothing like she had experienced with him thus far. Something seemed to have broken in him and he smashed their mouths together, making her gasp, their teeth clicking almost painfully. But she could feel him, the passion, the desire and she clutched him tightly. Her other arm wound around him and held him close. When she finally got out of her stupor, she kissed him back with just as much enthusiasm.
He made a small noise in the back of his throat and it sent fire rushing through her. His mouth gentled and they tasted each other for the first time, both groaning when it happened. Christine imagined he felt similarly but she felt like she had been starved until that moment.
Like she had been waiting her whole life for it and she gave herself over completely. Over to him. No longer did she think about what had happened before. What he had done. What she had done. What was currently happening. Or how they had almost died that day. Or how she was still fearful of many things.
At that moment, it was just them. And she didn't want it to stop.
His long, lithe body pressed her against the tree, his fingers tangling in the hairline under her braid that was quickly becoming loose and messy, but she did not care or notice. She grabbed his jacket and clutched onto him, begging him not to leave her. To never, ever leave her. To keep kissing her like this for an eternity.
His arm that braced him against the tree had moved to her waist, holding her intimately, long fingers gracing the skin where her shirt rose up slightly from her jeans' waistband. The rough bark from the tree scratched at her delicate skin, but she ignored it and held him harder.
Unfortunately, he pulled away from her mouth yet not from her body, and they both gulped for air, oxygen escaping them. Her eyes slid open and caught his beautiful golden ones staring back at her with such a hooded look of longing that she was momentarily still lost in the moment. Not wanting to come back down from the cloud he'd put her on.
He swallowed and his jaw worked differently, the tongue that had been in her mouth previously coming out to lick at his flushed lips. She felt almost drunk. Her mind was blank and hazy. But it wasn't enough. She wanted him to do it again.
His hand caressed her hair, her cheek, his fingers grazing her skin like he couldn't get enough of touching her. Like he didn't want to. But he eventually did. And he took her heart with him as he completely left her body, putting a foot between them.
She suddenly felt cold. Empty. Like she had lost something.
"We need to find another mode of transportation," he told her, voice odd and she blinked, trying to get her mind to catch up with the situation.
"O-Oh, um right. Yeah, okay." She fixed her shirt clumsily and slid her hair back behind her ear. She'd have to fix her braid at some point when they found another car. For now, she just focused on working her body to move.
She couldn't read his features and she tried anyway, but it was for naught as he slid the mask up and put the shades back on, hiding his whole face from her again. He was silent, avoiding what had just happened between them and she didn't know if she preferred that or if she wanted him to confront her about it. About why.
She didn't even know what she'd say if he did.
For now, they both put it behind them and she followed him through the trees silently, mind working in different directions.
They ended up back at the motel of all places and she noticed that there was hardly anyone there. Not one car and she stared dejectedly at the empty parking lot.
"This will have to do, for now," he told her and she looked over at him in surprise, watching him head over to the only motor vehicle in their vicinity. Her jaw dropped, hesitant to follow him over to it.
"A motorcycle?" She asked in disbelief, coming up beside him as he crouched down and began doing something to it.
"Yes," he said roughly. He reached up and grabbed one of the two helmets hanging on the handles, then handed it over to her without looking at her. "Put this on."
She took the helmet and stared down at it in numb shock. She'd never been on a motorcycle before and to be honest, it made her really anxious, especially with how old the thing looked. She turned her gaze back over to him. "Do you know how to drive it?" She asked wearily.
"Of course." His answer was indignant, as if he disapproved of her suspicion of him. He finally stood up, wiping his gloved hands on his pants, and then shrugged his jacket off.
She hadn't seen him without it the whole trip and she couldn't stop herself from staring unabashedly at the way his thin torso was hugged nicely by the material of his shirt. "Here. Wear this. It'll keep you protected from the wind." She took the jacket with the other hand, holding both items in a loss of what to do. He seemed to realize this and sighed heavily. "Christine, we must go. The authorities are right over there and anyone could see us taking this, do you understand?"
She bit the inside of her cheek and tried to stick the helmet on her head with one hand, but failed. He probably rolled his eyes but she couldn't see that and so she was surprised when he approached her, grabbing the helmet from her hand.
She stared up at him as he gently but swiftly put it on her head, hiding her face from him and the rest of the world. He shook his head slightly, his voice amused when he spoke again. "What shall I do with you, hm?"
Christine blushed but she let a small smile grace her features that he wasn't able to see.
He then helped her into his jacket and she was sure it was a comical sight as it was like a tent on her body. It dropped past her knees and her hands were inside the sleeves. She pushed them up as best as she could and let him button the front for her. She felt like a child almost, with him fussing over her but for some reason it made her happy.
Satisfied with his work, he then grabbed the other helmet. He paused and then turned around away from her. She knew what he was doing and was saddened that he still didn't want to show his face to her even after their kiss against the tree. But she didn't comment and let him have his modesty.
He stuffed the mask and the shades into his pockets and put the helmet onto his head. Afterward, he crouched down again and did something, making the motorcycle roar to life. She jumped, startled by the sound of it and he spun around to face her. "We need to go, now."
She realized the urgency now they had made such a noise and he climbed on first, before helping her on behind him. She felt unsteady and unsure of herself, while also freaked out beyond belief that they'd be caught.
"Hold on to me tightly," he told her while simultaneously grabbing one of her hands and pulling it around him. She wrapped her arms around his middle, folding her hands over themselves. "Don't let go." She swallowed thickly and as soon as he kicked off, putting them into motion, she shut her eyes tightly and pressed her cheek against his back, tightening her hold on him.
She felt the vibration of the motorcycle through both of them, the sound was deafening, and the wind blew around her. She was grateful for the protection and she half hoped Erik was okay without any.
Eventually, she slowly opened her eyes to chance a look at what they were doing and she was amazed to see just how fast they were going. He really did know what he was doing and she was impressed. He zoomed down the road with efficiency, smoothly, and easily. She did not remove her cheek from his back, feeling as if she moved even a little she'd fall off.
"Are you alright back there?" He loudly asked her over the wind and motor and she winced at the nerve wracking feeling she was experiencing.
"Yeah!" She yelled back, although she wasn't sure if she believed herself. If she didn't move, maybe she would be.
He laughed, a sound that she felt more than heard. She smiled slightly at it. She wanted him to laugh more. She didn't think they'd be able to do so freely for a while at least. She frowned, remembering the restaurant. "How did they find us?"
"They must have been tailing us for a while. More than likely the stolen SUV set them off. I could have used my personal vehicle to get us to Washington, but there hadn't been time. We will have to be even more cautious from now on, as I should have foreseen them using invisibility as a hunting tactic."
"Is that how you learned? From them?" she asked, unable to stop her curiosity even as they spiraled down the highway away from the town they'd been in.
"No," he said uncomfortably, then paused as if thinking. "It was I that taught them. Or at least the ones before them. It is probably a trained tactic now by their superiors."
Christine didn't know what to say about that now. She peered around them, wondering if there were more out there right now, knowing what they were doing, where they were going. She pressed her face into him a little more, fearful of the shadows for different reasons than she had previously.
"Do not be afraid, Christine." He must have sensed her fear. "I will never let them get that close again."
She wasn't sure if she could believe him. They had let their guard down and they had almost died. The stolen motorcycle would probably tip them off again. "Do they know about your safe house?"
"No. I can promise you that."
She nodded against him, feeling slightly comforted by that. She hoped they could get there quickly. She closed her eyes, trying to zone out from her surroundings, hoping that the next day went by quickly. Without any interruptions.
