There have been a couple of questions about Christine's costume at the ball. I mentioned in chapter 18 that she would be dressed as Aminta.

There is a little bit of a description in this chapter of Christine's costume…as it comes off. It would be easier to picture the costumes from the movie during Don Juan Triumphant – that is what they resemble for both Erik and Christine.

IThings get a little heated in this chapter; just remember, they are newlyweds.

BEYOND THE SHADOWS

CHAPTER 23

"So…." Meg inquired; putting into words what was on everyone's mind. "…how was it?"

Erik and Christine had not expected anyone to be up when they got home, but the only one in blissful slumber was Sachin.

"We danced the Tango and the Mamba and so many other types of Latin dances…I had no idea Erik was such a great dancer." Christine stated.

"Erik can do anything he puts his mind to; he has proven that so many times." Rachel admitted.

Rebekah noticed the looks that Erik and Christine kept sharing and knew they had other things on their minds besides reminiscing about the evening's events.

"I am sure that you two are exhausted…I just have one thing to tell you Erik, before you go to bed." Rebekah smiled.

Erik's eyes lit up, knowing that his sister knew exactly what he had on his mind.

"What would that be?" He teased.

"I'm going to have another baby."

Erik's smile spread across his face and tears filled his eyes. He loved Sachin very much and knew the boy was rather lonely on this island. The servants were older and had no children; he had to go to the mainland to stay with friends if he wanted someone to play with.

Erik went to his sister and embraced her tenderly. "Congratulations, Rebekah…I know you have wanted this for some time." He turned his attention to Nadeesh and shook his hand, "Congrats my friend, I hope you have the little girl you have been wanting."

"Soon, my brother, we will be heralding the birth of the heir to your name and fortune." Nadeesh confirmed.

Erik did not say anything to that. He had mentioned children to Christine, but the more he thought about it, he was concerned about the madness of his father being inherited, and not just caused by drug abuse. What if his seed was tainted with the insanity his father suffered?

Christine noticed the hesitancy in Erik's response; she wasn't sure why he didn't seem thrilled about having children…they had discussed this.

"Good night everyone…get some rest." Erik announced, as he took Christine's hand and led her up to their room. He was only interested in one thing at this point.

They were barely inside the door and he pushed her against the wall and claimed her mouth in a deep, demanding kiss. He began untying the belt of her sheer, wrap-around skirt, but found it most troublesome and left it.

As much as he loved the frilly, cotton, low-cut peasant blouse, he skillfully undid the buttons, pushed it off her shoulders, and threw it on the chair in the corner.

His mouth had yet to leave hers and Christine was amorously returning the kiss as he skimmed his thumbs over the rigid points of her breasts. She moaned loudly and wound her leg around his thigh, pushing him closer to her.

She removed the vest, pulled the shirt from his pants, and ran her hands over the vast expanse of his heated chest. The shirt had no buttons, so she tore from his mouth and quickly threw the shirt over his head and discarded it.

Their mouths devoured each other again, and Erik took her hands and pinned them above her head in a gentle but firm grip as his other hand pushed her bra up, exposing her creamy, aching flesh.

He gave her tongue one last lashing and then moved to suckle her breast into his mouth. On the way down, he licked every inch of her, tasting a tangy hint of her cologne on her neck and shoulders. Her arms were still above her head and Erik swept his tongue lavishly up the inside curve of her arm, knowing it to be an erogenous zone for women.

Christine's eyes flew open as his warm, adoring tongue lapped over her sensitive, soft skin. He was giving her body attention in areas she never knew desired it.

Erik turned her around and pushed her breasts and stomach against the wall as he moved her hair to one side and ran his tongue over the tip of her ear, down the side of her neck, and then lathed it over the ultra-sensitive nape of her neck, just above her spine.

Christine's breathing was deep and her heart rate was fast as her desire increased with every play of his tongue.

His hands moved around and kneaded her breasts, but then moved down her tummy as his tongue moved down her back, following the trail of her spine.

He stopped in the curve of her back, just above her buttocks, and teasingly fluttered his tongue across that sensitive spot.

He moved downward; paying close attention to her inner thighs and then the back of her knees.

Christine felt as though she was about to collapse from the pleasure. She never knew that certain areas on her body were super sensitive to touch, especially a touch of his tongue.

"Turn around, my love…I'm going to go down on you right here, against the wall." Erik purred into her ear.

Christine trembled at his promise and turned on shaky legs. He towered over her, seeming every inch the dark, mysterious, phantom he was said to be. He crushed her mouth with a heated kiss and then moved down her body languidly until he came to her moist core.

Erik breathed in the heady scent of her arousal and smiled as she lifted her leg over his shoulder, opening her sex to his probing mouth.

He slid along her inner thigh, leaving a hot, wet trial as he made his way to her dripping core. When he rested his mouth against her clit, Christine almost collapsed against him. His long, deft fingers opened her up and he drank in every bit of her; loving how she bucked against his mouth.

He suckled on the tense nub and heard her cry out at the pleasure that shot through her. He lathed his tongue across its erect surface and knew Christine was moments away from her orgasm.

He sucked and lathed, sucked and lathed until she whelped with her release and then he swiftly plunged his rock-hard cock into her, causing her to cry out even louder as his movements made her orgasm more intense.

He pounded into her as she wrapped her legs around his waist, burying him even deeper inside her.

His hands were supporting her on her backside as he moved her up and down on his slick, huge staff. She flung her head back and smiled as he bucked violently into her.

Erik stopped long enough to move them to the bed and then he rode her hard and fast, forcing her legs up over his shoulders; making his pounding deeper and more fulfilling for both of them.

His arms wrapped around her thighs as he glided in an out of her, causing her to cry out with every plunge. He could feel her muscles contracting around him and he knew she was close to coming again.

She screamed, as quietly as she could, as she reached her climax bringing Erik with her. He moaned in his release as he poured into her, not slowing until he had milked the last spray of his seed into her waiting womb.

Christine wrapped her arms around his neck and moved him down for a hungry, yet satisfied kiss.

"I don't know how you came to be such a fantastic lover…but don't ever stop doing that to me." She instructed as she cuddled against him for the night.

"Not even when I'm old and gray?" Erik asked with a grin.

She smiled sleepily and nuzzled her face against his chest. "Especially not when you're old and gray."

They slept tangled up together, neither one of them stirring until the birds started singing the next morning.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next day, Erik and Christine went shopping. He wanted to buy her a new wardrobe and all the necessities she would need to do her writing and plan her charity work.

He thought of everything she could possibly need and then some. He bought her a dress to wear to Lana's wedding, both of them feeling that it would be beneath them for her to wear white at the wedding, even if it was more of a cream color.

She chose a very elegant triacetate pink dress, with an off the shoulder corset mock silhouette, accented with beautiful mettalic beads and embroidery. Erik had purchased the most beauiful set of pink pearls to wear with it.

She was hanging the dress up in her closet, she hung it next to the suit that Erik intended to wear. She loved it; it wasshell colored to match her dress; it had a guru neckline, matching vest and silky pleated pants to match. He would look stunning.

"The room that is next to the music room – I think we will designate that as your office." Erik suggested.

Christine loved that room. The sun showed through the windows so beautifully every morning. It was light and friendly, just the way Christine liked it to be.

"That is perfect." Christine agreed with a hug to his neck. She had been holding off on asking her next question; she didn't really know why. "Erik, Cheshire is an indoor cat, is that going to be problem?"

Erik hugged her to him and cradled her cheek in his hand, "Christine, this is your home now. Whatever you need, I will do my best to make it happen for you." Erik assured her, "Cheshire is welcome to stay in the house…it will be nice to have a pet."

They had purchased an entire computer unit, complete with laser printer, copier, scanner and the most advanced Dell computer on the market.

"The sales rep said that we are going to need to replace the computer every two years, just to keep in current." Erik stated, as he read every page of instructions.

Christine found it so endearing how domestic he was becoming. He catered to her every need, even before she voiced it; he was truly her knight in shining armor.

"Have you decided when you are going to start writing on your books?" Erik asked.

They were relaxing in the living room, watching television and eating popcorn. Rebekah and Nadeesh had gone out on a date, Rachel and Meg had gone into Glasgow earlier in the day and would catch a ride back on the helicopter; Erik and Christine were babysitting Sachin. Erik had put him to bed about forty minutes ago, and they had decided to watch some television.

"After we get back from New York and get settled, I think I may start then…I already have the ideas forming in my head." Christine told him.

Erik was on the couch with one long leg stretched out over the cushions and the other on the floor. Christine sat between his legs and leaned against his chest.

"Erik, when Nadeesh mentioned our having a baby last night, you seemed to get very distant…" Christine stressed, "…I thought you wanted children."

Erik looked at her and smiled rather sadly, "I do want children…but I am not sure how much of my father is carried in my genes."

Christine was rather amused by his concern, but kept her face stern and straight, "Erik, you're not your father…you have become far more that he ever aspired to be."

"His madness mocks me, every time I look in a mirror." He responded.

Christine leaned her head on his shoulder and rubbed his arm, "His madness was as a result of drugs Erik…a combination of all that he injected and ingested into his body." She assured him. "You have none of that in you."

Erik trusted her words, knowing that she spoke the truth. He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arm around her, "So, do you want to make babies right away…or wait?" He asked with a grin on his face.

Christine reached up and caressed his face, adoring his paradoxical beauty, "I'm not doing anything to prevent it from happening." She grinned, "There is a Higher Power in charge of such things."

"True." He agreed with a thoughtful smile.

They were on the couch laughing at the movie they were watching when they heard the helicopter landing in the back. Everyone was home.

TBC