I know, you're probably going to form a posse and hunt me down after this chapter …they have to get to the hotel first…

I love you peeps…honest I do.

BEYOND THE SHADOWS

CHAPTER 20

Erik never left Christine's side. Nadeesh had booked them the honeymoon suite at the Ritz Hotel in London, and Erik was anxious to be alone with his wife; but they stayed for the meal that Nadeesh had prepared.

Rebekah came up to them and embraced them both, smiling with joy at finally seeing her dreams for her brother come to reality.

"It was the most beautiful marriage ceremony I have ever seen." She admitted, "And it was just thrown together in a matter of hours…amazing!"

"Thank you Rebekah, for all that you did to make it happen." Christine cajoled, "the dress is exquisite – I only hope I get to wear it again for some formal function my husband needs to go to…like the wedding of a former acquaintance."

Erik smirked at her, knowing full well what she was thinking, "You can wear that to Lana's wedding, my love, you will far outshine the bride."

"Do you think she'll mind?" Christine asked, innocently.

Erik chuckled and pulled her to him for a kiss, "Yes, I think she'll mind terribly."

They ate their dinner, laughed and talked as was expected of them, but everyone there knew that the couple was anxious to be on their own.

The helicopter landed and had been decorated with various signs indicating "Just Married" on them. Their luggage for the night had already been loaded onto it, so Erik and Christine boarded and waved as it took off toward London.

"I thought we would never get away." Christine purred as she moved into Erik's embrace.

"If the pilot couldn't see everything we were doing, I'd take you right here and now." Erik murmured.

He lifted her mouth to his and planted several lingering kisses on her lips, chin, and neck; barely skimming his tongue over her scorching flesh in a teasing manner.

He didn't want to get too hot and bothered at this time, he still had an hours flight ahead of him; so he settled for a passionate round of kissing.

Erik cradled her head in his hand as he claimed her mouth, breaking the barrier of her lips with his tongue.

"You taste so good." He purred, as he wrapped his tongue around hers eagerly.

The thrusts were deep and intoxicating, indicative of what he longed to do with another part of his body. She moaned into him, answering every thrust with an equally propelling plunge of her own.

After a couple of heated minutes, Erik had to break the kiss – his body was on fire and he needed to cool down before he went too far in front of the pilot.

"What you do to me is so powerfully stimulating…I can't wait to experience it to its fullest." He whispered into her ear, granting her a sweep of his tongue on its sensitive curve.

Christine smiled at him and gazed through insatiable eyes, "You make me feel the same way…" She moaned, "…and have I told you how delicious you look in that tuxedo?"

Erik grinned, "As a matter of fact, no, my lady – you have not."

"Just resting my eyes on you seduces me."

She heard the words of a song filtering in her head, if she couldn't have him right now, she could have him with her voice…

"Everything you are
Everything you'll be
Touches the current of love
So deep in me
Every sigh in the night
Every tear that you cry
Seduces me" Erik felt the warmth of her body as she pressed against him.

"All that I am
All that I'll be
Means nothing at all
If you can't be with me
Your most innocent kiss
Or your sweetest caress..
Seduces me"

She looked deep into this luscious green eyes and hoped he could read the thoughts in her mind.

"I don't care about tomorrow
I've given up on yesterday
Here and now is all that matters
Right here with you is where I'll stay

Everything in this world
Every voice in the night
Every little thing of beauty
Comes shining thru in your eyes
And all that is you becomes part of me too

'Cause all you do seduces me"

He caressed her cheek to cheek and planted a tongue-tipped kiss on the soft curve of her neck.

"And if I should die tomorrow
I'd go down with a smile on my face
I thank God I've ever known you
I fall down on my knees
For all the love we've made

Every sigh in the night
Every tear that you cry
Seduces me seduces me
All that you do... Seduces me"

Erik caressed her cheek and gently planted a kiss on her upturned mouth.

"Do you know how much it turns me on when you sing to me?" He murmured into her ear.

Christine pulled back from him and grinned, "Probably not as much as it turns me on when you sing for me."

"Really?" He grinned, with a seductive glint in his eyes.

His deep baritone timbre filled the full of the helicopter, rising about the whoop of the propeller and souring into the heavens.

"I like the feel of your name on my lips

And I like the sound of your sweet gentle kiss

The way that your fingers run through my hair

And how your scent lingers even when your not there"

He placed his index finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to his, causing them both to experience a warm thrill up their spines.

"And I like the way your eyes dance when you laugh

And how you enjoy your two hour bath

And how you convinced me to dance in the rain

With everyone watching like we were insane"

Erik's smile was priceless; in his eyes Christine saw the promise of a life without restraints. He had dropped his barriers for her and would dance in the rain if she asked him to.


"But I love the way you love me

Strong and wild

Slow and easy

Heart and soul

So completely

I love the way you love me"

Christine leaned into him and nuzzled his forehead with hers, placed a tender kiss on his marred cheek, and smiled as he continued.

"I like it when I sing old Jerry Lee

And you roll your eyes when I'm slightly off key

And I like the innocent way that you cry

At sappy old movies you've seen hundreds of times"

Christine giggled and wiped away the tears as they trailed down her porcelain cheeks. They had sat and watched "Bambi" one night when Sachin was able to choose the movie. She had cried all through the movie, even though she had seen it many times.


"But I love the way you love me

Strong and wild

Slow and easy

Heart and soul

So completely

I love the way you love me"

Erik pulled her to him and wrapped her in his strong, protective embrace. Christine heard the reassuring beat of his heart and the lulling caress of his voice and her eyes closed in wonderment.

"And I could list a million things

I love to like about you

But they all come down to one reason

I could never live without you"


"But I love the way you love me

Strong and wild

Slow and easy

Heart and soul

So completely

I love the way you love me"

Erik kissed her forehead and lifted her eyes to his for the final phrase.

"Oh baby I love the way you love me."

"You should have been the one to record that song, Erik…it was so beautiful." She crooned.

Erik chuckled, pleased that she had enjoyed it.

"Sometimes, it's the simple words that say the most." He reflected. "My music tastes are varied, I love the artistry involved in just about every form that exists."

Christine understood completely, she felt the same way.

There was a few seconds of silence and then Erik turned to her with a serious, but tender look on his face.

"Thank you, Christine…thank you for showing me what love really is and for not giving up on me." He stated, "You have saved me in more ways than you will ever know."

Christine smiled tenderly and lifted her face for a kiss.

"I told you that you were worth waiting for." She reminded him.

He smiled back at her and stated, "I don't want to hinder your career in any way…it would be a great loss to the world of journalism if you removed your unique talent." He assured her, "I will support you in whatever endeavor's you choose to pursue."

Christine had been unwilling to bring up this subject, fearing that he would be upset if she continued to work, but there had obviously been no need for concern.

"Actually, I have considered this, and I want to reroute my interests." She watched as Erik's perfectly sculptured brow rose with interest, "I think I am going to write a novel or two, romantic fluff based on our story…then, I want to start a college fund in your name for students of architecture and music who come from less than perfect backgrounds."

Erik was stunned. She had given this a great deal of consideration and seemed eager to get started. He admired her even more than he had before.

"That sounds like a great plan…I will help you in whatever way I can." He assured her, again.

She saw a distant, almost unrecognizable, shred of doubt enter his eyes, she had a feeling she knew the reason. She lifted his green orbs to her blue ones, "Of course, I want to do that while raising our children."

Erik immediately smiled; she had sensed the he had of hearing her say she wanted children with him. She lifted her hand to caress his marred cheek.

"How many children do you want to have?" She inquired.

"Two." He replied quickly, "Two little girls that look just like their mother."

Christine giggled, "I want two, also, but I want two little boys that look just like their father."

"What a horrible fate to wish upon any child." Erik muttered, with a smirk.

"Erik James, you are a very handsome man…and you seem to forget that your scars are not hereditary." She reprimanded.

He smiled, knowing she was right about the scars, "I wonder what I would have looked like if that bullet had not mutilated my face?"

"It's easy to see that, my love…just take the left side of your face and superimpose it onto the right side…" She envisioned it in her mind, "…but it doesn't matter, you're extremely handsome just the way you are."

"There must be something redeeming about me if I managed to capture your attention." He teased, still curious about his looks; he had never given it much thought before, thinking no woman would give him a second glance.

She laughed at his teasing tone, "I will spend the rest of my life helping you to see all the beauty you possess."

Erik glanced out the window and saw the Ritz landing pad just a few hundred feet away. At last, they were here. He indicated for her to come to the window and look out.

"We have arrived, my bride." He whispered, sending a thrill up her spine.

Song #1 – "Seduces Me", written by D. Hill and J. Sheard, performed by Celine Dion

Song #2 – "I Love the Way You Love Me", written by Victoria Shaw and Chuck Cannon, performed by John Michael Montgomery

TBC