XXVIII.

Erik turned over on his back as he thought about his relationship with Malika. He knew he was being distant with her, but it was for her own good. She was not ready to have sex with him, even if she thought she was. He was terribly afraid that he could hurt her and that would make her withdraw from him. "I love you Erik. Why can't you see it?" She murmured in her sleep as she thrashed about.

He gently kissed the top of her head. "Shh cherie. I love you." He whispered in her ear. This seemed to calm her down. She had been having terrible fits in bed ever since she had had their children. He hated keeping his lust in check, for he wanted her so much, but he had to do so. She needed at least a month's worth of rest before she could have sex again.

However, he could see the toll it was taking on her not to be intimate with him. He sighed softly, he had said he would not go with her to church, but he decided he would. He wanted to show her he cared and loved her. For now though, he wanted only to watch her sleep soundly.

xxxx

Erik felt a sense of uncomfortableness overcome him as he entered Notre Dame. He noted the beautiful architecture and interior of the church. "Father." Malika said, interrupting his thoughts. He watched as a priest came walking up to him. He felt his uncomfortableness increase. "My husband has come to confess his sins."

"Very well. Shall we?" The priest asked as he indicated to a set of confessionals.

Erik nodded then followed the priest to the confessionals. Malika watched as Erik disappeared behind the curtain. She then made her way to a pew in the front, made the sign of the cross, then sat on the pew. She felt a wave of relief overcome her. He had done this for her and she was so happy.

"I am surprised to see you here and so soon." A familiar voice interrupted her happiness.

Malika turned her head to find Alexandre blocking her from exiting the pew. "I do not wish to talk with you."

"Has your husband sent you here again?"

"My husband happens to be here and he will be quite angry if you don't leave me alone." Malika responded then ignored him as she turned to a page in the bible she carried with her. He sat beside her, causing her to have to scoot further along the bench. "Go bother someone else."

"I must say, you are so hostile." He commented.

"I cannot help to be hostile with one who tried to take liberties with me."

"I hardly took any liberties with you. All I did was pull you into a confessional."

"Where you could have easily done what you wanted."

"You mistake my character madame."

"Oh no monsieur. I do not. You are trying to seduce me from my husband. I have three children. They need me to remain faithful to their father and I intend to do so."

"You are right about one thing madame. I could have easily done what I wanted. In fact, I considered it, however, I did not." He bent over and whispered in her ear, "You should know that I am rather stubborn and I do not give up."

Malika shivered involuntarily, "Leave me alone monsieur. I will not cheat on my husband so you may satisfy your sick pleasure."

He gripped her thigh tightly. Malika bit back a scream as his fingers lingered too close to her inner thighs. She grasped his hand and tried to shove his hand away, however, his fingers kept a tight grip on her. "Sooner or later, madame, you will come to me." He then released her thigh, stood up, and gave a bow to her then left.

Malika felt her blood boil. How dare he take such liberties with her! She could not believe how rude he had been! "Who was that cherie? Mind telling me?" Erik's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Malika gulped loudly. Erik had not known that she was going to Notre Dame during her pregnancy. "Finished confessing Erik?" She questioned innocently.

"Oh yes. I feel quite relieved, however, I feel that you have confessing to do to me." He then pulled her from the pew and glared angrily at her. He pulled her down the aisle and out into the streets where their carriage awaited. Malika felt a nervousness come over her as he pushed her into the carriage then climbed in to sit across from her. "Do tell me who that was and why he happened to be sitting in the same pew as you were."

"He was a friend that I met."

"You were too friendly in my opinion." He responded. "I wonder if you are keeping a secret from me."

"No. I am not."

"You are not telling me the entire truth. What have you been doing with this man? How long have you been meeting him?" He questioned her.

"We met when I was still pregnant."

"So you came to Notre Dame when you were pregnant? Without my knowing or my permission!"

"I was sad. It was after you had cheated on me."

"And I told you I was sorry!"

"And I forgave you!"

"What a hypocrite you are."

"What do you mean?"

"You have done exactly the same thing I did."

"No I haven't! I would never hurt you like that!"

"Oh? I saw you. He was quite close to you. Did he spread your legs while you were pregnant?"

"No! How dare you! I have done nothing of the sorts. I would never let someone seduce me like that."

He growled angrily as she glared at him, "I think that you have. I cannot believe that my wife would go to another man."

"I did not go to another man! In fact if you want to know, I came here last week and he tried to rape me. In fact he was trying to seduce me today, but I refused, because I love you! I love you so much. I could not bear not being with you."

"You lied to me."

"You jealous bastard! I am telling the truth!"

"You are forbidden from going back to that church!"

"Fine."

"And you are to never see that man again."

"That is no problem! Because I never wanted to in the first place."

He was silent for a few minutes before he finally asked, "Was it good my wife?"

"Was what good?" Malika questioned back.

"The sex."

Malika gritted her teeth then shouted, "I didn't have sex! Why are you thinking that I did!"

"You are protesting so vehemently that you must have."

"Erik. I didn't have sex. Please believe me." She begged him.

"You lied about going to the church. How can I believe your word now?"

"How can I believe that you do not have a mistress?" She snapped at him.

He was silent for a few moments, "I made a mistake. I apologized."

"I made a mistake too, but every time I cried out for you, you would shrink away from me as if I was some terrible thing. I made a mistake to lie to you and I made a mistake in trusting that man. I hope you can forgive me." She responded then realized she had left her bible. "Oh my God, I left my bible Erik."

"I'll get you another one." Erik said as he looked out of the carriage.

"Thank you." She responded quietly.

Erik sighed loudly, "Malika, you have become different. You didn't want to start going to church until before our children were born and all the sudden this man appears. What was I supposed to expect?"

"And how do you think I felt when I saw that woman suc...pleasuring you in a way that only I am allowed to?"

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Do you actually think I would allow another man to seduce me into cheating on you?" She paused, "I love you. I love you so much that I cry because you are cold to me. You seem to have a wall and I do not want this wall between us."

"I love you cherie. There is nothing to change that."

"I suppose I have been pushing myself onto you lately. I must seem like an absolute wanton. I just want the intimacy that we had before. It seems like there is none there anymore."

"You can't have sex for a while. Even if you say you are ready...you are not." She frowned and looked down at her feet. "Don't feel ashamed cherie. I love you and I know you want to be intimate like before. I intend on the night in which you are able to have sex again to take you over and over again."

She beamed at him. "I will be happy then." She paused, "Our children are beautiful no?"

"Indeed. Most beautiful. Their mother is beautiful as well."

She blushed. "I love you Erik."

"I am almost finished with the Vicomte's manor."

"How long do you think it will take to finish?"

"Two more months. The foundation will be finished then and I will be released from the contract." Erik replied.

"I wish that you could finish sooner. I don't want you to go out anymore."

He laughed softly then said, "Neither do I, however, I will have to until it is finished."

Malika moved to sit next beside him. She felt his arm wrap around her waist and pull her tightly against him. "I love you cherie. Never feel like I do not."

"Promise me that we won't keep any more secrets from each other."

"No more secrets." Erik agreed.

xxxx

"Her resolution is too strong. It was a good idea, but she will never cheat on her husband." Alexandre said to Raoul as he looked out into the garden.

"There are other ways."

"What ways?"

"Do not worry. I will find a way." Raoul responded. "The foundation will be done in two months and we need to find a way to break them up without causing harm to her."

"I do not know what we can do."

"Like I said, I will figure something out. It is a matter of time before we break them up." Raoul commented.

Author's Note: I would like to thank everyone for their reviews. I appreciate it so much. I hope everyone likes this chapter.