Warmth. Nothing but pure warmth, delicious and soft, enveloping him. Sleep made a gradual and lazy exit. One moment it would somber away and his senses brought him a body molded against his. A shirt, bunched softly in his hand. A tickle on his face, and faintly, lavender shampoo. The next moment sleep would return and he was drowning. So thick and heavy that he could not raise his head. Images of her.
Christine shifted in Erik's arms, slowly turning to face him. Her movement finally cast sleep away for good. He opened his eyes to find her staring at him with a sleepy smile, mere inches away.
"Good morning," she whispered.
"Good morning."
The masked side of his face was buried in the pillow. He imagined he must almost look normal to her at the moment. Christine slowly reached up and stroked his messed hair back.
"Does your head hurt?"
"Yes. Does yours?"
"Yes."
They laughed, quiet and muffled. Christine shook her head with a sigh. "I can't believe we got ourselves in such a mess."
"At least it was a fun mess," he offered.
"Hmm, true." The hand stroking his hair came to rest on the side of his face. She ran her thumb down his lips, watching his face with a smile. "My little baby tiger…"
An instant blush spread through his cheeks. He turned the rest of his face into the pillow to hide his grin. His heart was a puddle and he had no idea how to cope with feeling so defenseless.
Her smile grew and she scooted closer to kiss behind his ear. "Aww don't be shy little tiger, won't you kiss me good morning?"
She felt his shoulders shake with laughter. The next second Erik turned and pounced on her, pushing her back against the sheets. He nuzzled her neck with a snarl. Christine giggled and squirmed, the vibration making her ticklish. Erik raised his head, looking into her eyes for a moment before kissing her deeply. What a lovely way to start the morning. He could not imagine how he had lived his whole life without this.
Her hands slipped into his messy hair again to ruin it even further. She had always loved his haircut, the way he kept it neatly trimmed around his ears and a little longer on top, giving her fingers something to explore.
After a moment Erik drug his mouth up her jaw until he reached her ear. "Careful what you wish for darling," he purred in a tone that made her insides turn to jelly. "Tigers bite."
Christine eked out a shaky sigh. His voice was like velvet even when he spoke normally. But now, thick with sleep and seduction, it set her entire body aflame.
Erik heard her sigh and felt her tremble beneath him. He paused for a moment and tilted his head curiously, lips still touching her ear.
He was reasonably certain of only a few things when it came to Christine. She liked him. As shocking as it was, he couldn't deny that she liked him. She enjoyed kissing him, and sometimes touching him. But he had never considered it possible that he could affect her in the same way she affected him. More often than not he was at her mercy. All it took was a touch from her deft fingers and his knees were weak, heart racing. He desired her so desperately it ached, and he had assumed that feeling was one sided. While she may enjoy him to an extent, he never fathomed that she could feel the same burning that he did.
Yet the reaction he had felt just now, whispered otherwise.
Slowly, hesitantly, he nibbled her ear. Fingers gripped his hair tighter. An experimental bite on her neck, teeth scraping softly. Her back arched against him. His mouth found her ear once again and he gave another growl from deep in his chest. Her body went limp. Confidence, foreign but welcome, coursed through him.
"Hmm. You like when your tiger growls for you…" It was half question, half observation.
Christine nodded with another shaky sigh. Erik buried his face in her neck. "He likes it when you make sounds for him too…"
Christine was helpless against the war waging in her mind. She didn't know where this side of Erik had come from, and she didn't care. She loved it. The notion of slowness was teetering dangerously on the edge of abandonment. Erik would, without a doubt, stop the moment she gave the word. Yet the word was heavy in her throat, likely due to the way he was biting it. She tried to remember her reasons for the stipulation in the first place. She…felt bad for lying, right? Rules were being broken and fathers being betrayed and maybe if they kept things kosher until coming clean it would ease her troubled conscience…but wasn't the damage already done? Would her father even care? Would she even share that bit of information? Her love life was none of his business after all…
Erik's mouth found the space just above her collarbone and explored with tongue and teeth.
Christine started to hold in her whimper, remembered what he said a few moments ago, and let it out. No, it most certainly was not her father's business…
A memory from the previous night sprang to her mind out of nowhere, sharp and vivid. Her eyes flew wide open and she gave a horrified gasp.
Erik jerked away from her like she was made of burning coals. He scooted back, face full of panic.
"I'm sorry!" He gasped, terrified that he had done something wrong. Confidence was gone, replaced instantly by familiar insecurity. "What is it? I'm sorry."
Christine sat up and reached out for him. "No, no Erik-"
"I wasn't trying to make you- I was just- I'm sorry, I thought- I didn't mean-"
"Erik!" She snapped, taking his face in her hands. "You didn't do anything wrong darling, I promise. It wasn't you."
His shoulders relaxed but his eyes still spoke of anxiety. "Then…then what's wrong?"
She sighed and let her hands drop. "I just remembered something. We called James at 1 am to drive us home last night."
"Oh…"
Christine covered her face and flopped back down against the pillows. "I can't believe I did that! Poor James! Why didn't I just call an Uber?"
"Well…you were drunk," he offered with a shrug.
"Exactly. God, I think we tried to make out in his car too."
"Yes. Yes we did."
She let out a miserable groan and turned on her side. "This is so embarrassing. I'm going to have to call and apologize to him."
"Probably."
Christine removed her hands from her eyes and shot him an accusatory glance. "And so are you."
"What!?" Erik sputtered. "Why do I have to apologize?"
"For yelling at him." She stated firmly.
Erik huffed and looked away. "Fine. But let's do it later. He's probably either still asleep or still angry."
Christine agreed, happy to put the unpleasant task off for a little longer. She pushed the blankets off and draped her legs over the side of the bed, reaching her arms up in a stretch.
"Your sheets are very soft," she remarked through a yawn.
"They're silk," Erik replied absently, watching the way his shirt was drawn up around her thighs.
"Hmm. Fancy." She stroked the dark red bedding before turning to look at him. "Can I use your shower? I'm sure I smell like booze and a shady bar."
He chuckled. "You smell fine. But yes, yes you may."
He slipped off the other side of the bed and rose with a stretch. Now it was Christine's turn to gawk as she watched his back muscles flex. Then she noticed that those muscles were rippling beneath a web of white scars. Her fingertips flew to her mouth in a silent gasp. She had been surprised at the numerous marks that dotted his chest and abdomen. But this was much, much worse. The lashes were long and wide, some stretching the entire length of his back.
She had no information which should have given her this knowledge, but she knew without a doubt, those marks were the product of a whip.
What sort of life had her poor Erik led?
"Are you coming?"
He was at the door to the bathroom, staring back at her quizzically.
"Oh! Yes!" She said quickly, suddenly feeling guilty.
His bathroom was very nice, and surprisingly clean given the disorganization she had noticed in his bedroom. The tile and countertop was black, the walls a light gray. There was no mirror above the sink, which she thought was odd. She opened her mouth to ask why, then closed it as she looked at the covered side of his face. Of course. That was likely why.
"Towels and rags are in there," he said as he pointed to a cabinet above the toilet. "I have shampoo and everything…you might smell like a man but I guess that's better than booze."
He gave her a teasing smile. Christine rolled her eyes and stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. "Thank you."
He smiled down at her softly. "Would you like breakfast?"
"That sounds lovely."
"I have pancakes or…pancakes."
Christine laughed. "I love pancakes."
He stole another kiss. "Excellent."
She watched as he turned to leave, shutting the door softly behind him.
Erik hummed to himself as he flipped his fifth pancake of the morning. A bottle of syrup, jar of peanut butter, and two plates sat on his small dining table. Ayesha stood on the counter next to the stove, meowing indignantly.
"I know, I know," Erik responded in an exasperated tone. She had been pestering him the moment he walked out of the bedroom. "I already apologized for not feeding you last night. There's extra in your bowl right now if you'd only go look."
Another meow.
"Well if you're going to be that way then it's your own fault. You're going to have to get off the counter though, Christine would probably find it gross that I let you be so close to the food."
Meow.
"I do, I care what she thinks."
Meow!
"Well you should. She'll be around more, and I'd like for you two to get along."
Meoow.
"I do not."
Meow!
"No, I don't. I love her differently. Trust me you wouldn't want me to love you the same way I love her."
He realized with a start that he was freely admitting to his cat, what he had yet to tell the woman in question. The fact that he was speaking to the cat was not odd, however. That was a regular occurrence.
"But don't tell her I told you that. Promise?"
Ayesha hopped off the counter without another word.
"That's not very reassuring."
Before Ayesha could respond, the sound of a key jiggling in a lock came from the front door. Erik's head snapped up, heart dropping. There was only one other person on earth that had a key to his apartment.
"Morning sunshine!" Came Nadir's cheery voice, followed by the sound of the door closing. A few foot steps and he stood in the kitchen doorway.
Erik was frozen, spatula under a half raw pancake. Nadir took in the scene before him with a bemused smile.
"Well well, what's gotten into you? Shirtless in the kitchen making breakfast. That's proper husband material right there." He stepped forward and grabbed one of the pancakes from the small stack Erik had amassed.
"Hey!" Erik snapped. "That's not for you!"
"What, you really need five pancakes?" Nadir mumbled through a mouthful.
"Yes."
"You'll get fat. I'm saving you." He waved the now half eaten cake in his friend's face. Erik rolled his eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
Nadir took another bite before responding. "It's Saturday. Thought you'd want to sit around, play music and roll your eyes at my suggestions, start drinking way earlier than normal people do. You know, the usual."
Erik slipped the last pancake onto the stack and cleared his throat. "Well, actually…today's not really a good day."
His brows knitted together. "What on earth do you mean? What else do you have to do?"
Erik shrugged. "I just…I don't feel up to it. Maybe next weekend."
Nadir slowly set his pancake down, eyes narrowed. "But you feel up to cooking a whole breakfast? Which, in my fifteen plus years of knowing you, I have never once seen you do?"
He scowled. "That's right."
The two men stood, glaring at each other. Erik was worried Nadir was going to argue further, and he had no idea what other excuse to to use. But thankfully, after a few moments his friend only shrugged.
"Fine. Be like that."
He turned and stepped toward the door. Erik breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm using your bathroom before I go though," Nadir called.
Pure, unbridled, panic.
"No!" Erik shot into the living room like a bullet. Nadir was already in the hallway. "Don't!"
He turned with a fresh scowl. "What now!?"
"You…you know I don't like you in my room!" Fortunately, that was true.
Nadir rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll use your guest bathroom. Since I'm so unwelcome here. Even though it's probably dusty considering you never have guests."
Erik just huffed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair, deciding the quicker Nadir did what he wanted, the quicker he'd get out.
"Fine. Just hurry up."
Nadir gave a sarcastic half bow. "Thank you for your graciousness."
Erik sneered and headed back toward the kitchen.
Half a turn, and Nadir was in front of the bedroom door. He took one step, happened to glance at the ground, and stopped dead.
Erik has halfway across the living room when he was startled by a loud, long, "OOOHHHHHH!"
He rushed back to the hall to find Nadir facing him, grinning from ear to ear, with a black bra dangling off of one finger.
The questions of how and why that was in the hallway, came secondary to one thought: Oh hell.
"IIII see," Nadir chimed happily, swinging the bra on his finger. "You haven't finished cleaning up the evidence."
Erik was stiff and dumb.
"That's why you're rushing me out of here," He gave a sharp laugh. "I bet that's why you're making so much breakfast too, worked up an appetite last night didn't you?"
He stepped forward and punched Erik's shoulder playfully. "I was getting worried about you!You've turned down a couple opportunities lately, I was starting to think you were sick or something!"
"I…" Erik stumbled, unsure what to say. He didn't like the idea of Nadir assuming he'd had a random hookup. Yet he couldn't tell him the truth either. "Can you just get out of here already?"
Ignoring him, Nadir inspected the bra a little closer, finding the tag. "Hmm, 34C…not bad."
"Nadir!" Erik snatched the garment from his hand. "Get out!"
He opened the bedroom door and tossed it onto his bed. The action took barely two seconds. However, it was just long enough for Nadir to hear the sound of running water. When Erik turned back around, his chin was nearly to the floor.
"She's still here? She's in your shower!?"
"No…" It was a weak, almost comical denial.
"Wait wait wait…" Nadir slowly raised his hands, taking a few steps back. "You're making breakfast…she's still here…she's in your shower…" The already stupidly huge grin on his face somehow got even bigger. "Awww, my little Erik didn't have a hookup. He has a girlfriend! A whole girlfriend!"
Blood was racing to his ears and cheeks and he was powerless to stop it. "Will you get out Nadir!?"
"You have to let me meet her!"
"No."
"Oh come on!"
Erik began pushing him toward the front door. "Out."
"At least tell me her name!"
"No."
"Hair color!?"
Erik continued shoving him through the living room. "Out!"
"Wait wait I bet I can guess. Brunettes have always been your type, she's brunette right?" Nadir stepped backwards as Erik pushed his chest, only half fighting. "Is she hot? She's hot right?"
"Of course. Out!"
Erik opened the door and pushed Nadir into the hall. "Learn to knock or I'm taking your key."
"You can't hide her for-"
The last part of Nadir's sentence was lost to the slamming door. Erik slid the chain lock into place to keep him out for good.
Breakfast was ready and Erik was surprisingly proud of himself. He hadn't actually cooked anything in a long time, preferring the ease of cold sandwiches or take out. But his pancakes were light, fluffy and perfectly sized. The table he sat at alone each evening was set for two, and the steps that took him to his bedroom door held a spring.
The water was no longer running so he knew Christine would be out of the shower. He raised his knuckles to tap on the door, then stopped at the sound of her voice inside.
"You'll never guess where I am right now," she was saying, voice hushed but laced with excitement. There was a brief pause. She was on the phone. "Nope…I'm at Erik's."
There was a squeal, muffled but unmistakable, on the other end of the line. Meg.
"I know I know!"
He could could make out the presence of Meg's voice, but not her words. He felt only slightly guilty for eaves dropping. They were talking about him, after all.
"No, we didn't…..No! I swear," she was laughing nervously. "I just slept in his bed, and he held me….ugh, I know!….No you're right, I hate it. I'm gonna tell dad soon I think. I just have to figure out what I'm going to say."
Those words filled him with a distinct and potent heat.
She laughed. "Yes, of course he does. Well ok, he's a little messy. But clean.…Amazing of course," her voice held a twinge of pride and he wasn't sure what it was for.
Then her tone changed slightly with her next words. "No, not yet…. I'm not going to….Because, Meg," she sounded frustrated now, "He's obviously sensitive about it,"
His heart clenched. Always this. Always.
"And I don't want to break his trust. I'm sure he's had plenty of people do that already.…Well, no….But he doesn't have to! I can tell by the way he acts….Of course I am, but I'm not going to pressure him….I'm sure he will eventually….I don't know, and it doesn't matter….No, it doesn't….Look, it would have to be like,"
His ears perked up.
"I don't know, a swastika tattoo or something. That, I'd leave him for. But Nadir said it was a medical condition so I highly doubt that's it."
Erik almost chuckled. Almost.
"Alright….Yes, alright…." she laughed, "I know, I know, but I don't think I have to worry about that with him…"
Worry about what?
"Well look I should go, Erik's making breakfast.…Yeah, he is….I know!….Exactly, I can only imagine how he'll treat me once we do…"
Her voice grew closer to the door. Erik turned on his heel and stepped quickly to the other end of the hall. He turned the corner just as he heard the door open. Then he waited a split second before turning around and heading back into the hallway, casual as ever. Christine was just hanging up her phone. She had put her own jeans back on, but still wore his shirt.
"There you are," he said brightly. "I was worried you'd drowned."
She looked up with a smile. "Sorry, I was on the phone with Meg."
"Oh?" Surprise was perfectly feigned. "How's she?"
"She's fine." Small arms wrapped around his waist. "I was just telling her what a lovely night we had."
"Lovely, hm?" He cocked his head with a smile.
"Mhmm." She rested her head on his chest. Erik ran his fingers through her still damp hair. After a night in his bed and using his soap, she smelled like him. His brain couldn't decide if it was hot or weird. "I hope you don't mind if I use this a little longer," she wiggled her shoulders to gesture to his shirt. "I think I spilled something on mine last night."
"Of course not," he mumbled, placing a kiss atop her head.
"Oh, and…uhh…" She laughed nervously. "Thanks for finding my bra. I think I woke up with it on last night and decided it was uncomfortable and threw it out the door."
Erik chuckled and she could feel the vibration in his chest. "Well actually, you have Nadir to thank."
Christine pulled away and frowned. "Nadir? What?"
"Yup. He stopped by this morning and found it in the hall."
Her face instantly dropped, hands flying to her mouth in horror. "Oh my god! Does he know it's mine!?"
"No, there's no way for him to. Unless of course he's seen your bra before and can put two and two together."
Hands left his waist to punch his chest, none too gently.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" Erik laughed and raised his arms in defense as she went in for a second strike. Christine attempted to hide her smile beneath a scowl.
"So what does he think?"
"That I have a secret girlfriend."
"Ah. So the truth."
"Yup."
Her sigh sounded closer to a growl.
"Don't worry about it." Erik tried to sound reassuring. He slipped past her and into his bedroom. He reappeared a few seconds later, tugging a shirt over his head. Christine frowned. "He'll just pester me about it to no end. Until we decide to come clean, that is."
"Which I think should be soon, by the way." She accepted his hand as he led her to the kitchen.
"I agree."
The way he stroked her hand was telling, but she didn't acknowledge it. Instead she gushed over the little breakfast he had laid out.
"You are absolutely too sweet!"
He pulled her chair out for her as she said this, further confirming her words. Then took his place across from her with a baffled scoff.
"It's only breakfast. And not a very elaborate one, at that."
"I know." She grabbed the syrup bottle and poured it generously. "It's just nice is all. I've never had a guy cook for me before."
The knife spreading peanut butter over his pancake stilled. For a split second every atom was paralyzed, eyes fixed blankly on his plate. He supposed he had known, in the back of his mind, that she had been with other men before. She was twenty five after all.
But hearing it undeniably confirmed, bringing the thought of her with someone else to the front of his mind, made him angry. Not at her, but at anyone, real or hypothetical, who had the audacity to touch her. Within the split second this rage overtook his mind, two thoughts came with it. One, he realized he felt a powerful and all-consuming sense of possessiveness over Christine. The mere idea of her with someone else was physically unnerving. And two, he could never let her know he felt this way. If it did not scare her, it would certainly make her angry.
This profound set of realizations was complete before Christine had time to notice the brief lapse in his demeanor. When she looked at him, the only thing she saw was a pair of pancakes being desecrated. "Peanut butter?"
Erik raised his visible brow. "Peanut butter."
"I can't believe I let you kiss me with that mouth."
"You don't like peanut butter?"
"Not on pancakes!"
"Have you ever tried it?"
"I don't have too. I know what they both taste like, and I know I won't like them together."
He barked out a laugh. "That doesn't make sense. Things taste different when they're together, you can't always just imagine what it'll taste like."
"Yes I can."
"No you can't."
Ayesha hopped on the table, interrupting their dead end debate. Christine's face lit up.
"Well hello! You must be Ayesha." She reached out to pet her, but the temperamental siamese dodged her hand, turning to Erik instead.
"You're not supposed to be on the table," Erik chided.
Ayesha meowed and he knew she'd be calling him a liar if she could. Anytime he ate, or sat at the table for any reason, her place was exactly where she was, right in front of him. Occasionally being fed scraps from his plate. But Nadir had often remarked it was gross to allow animals on the table, and he had no reason to think Christine felt any different. While he would substitute Nadir for Ayesha any day, he was not quite so eager to losing Christine's presence.
"Aww, but she just wants to be included," Christine argued sympathetically. He looked at her in surprise. "Although she doesn't seem too interested in me," she added with a laugh. She clicked her tongue softly and tried to pet her again. Ayesha slipped out of reach, leaning up to brush her head against Erik's chin. Christine smiled knowingly. "Ahh I see, marking your territory?"
Erik chuckled and gently nudged Ayesha away, to which she appeared very offended.
"I just want to share," Christine offered. She reached out and placed her hand over Erik's. "I promise I won't steal him from you."
Unsatisfied, Ayesha nosed at their hands, wedging between them. Christine's mouth dropped in disbelief.
"My goodness, I think she's really serious!"
Erik scooped his cat up and placed her back on the floor. "Well, she'll just have to get used to it." Ayesha gave a single indignant meow and scampered away. Erik had no doubt he would be paying for this later in the form of a shredded piece of furniture.
"Now I feel bad."
"Don't. She's impossible to please."
"You don't think we can be friends?"
"As long as you're receiving attention that she feels should belong to her, no."
As he spoke, and while Christine was distracted by listening to him, he reached over and smeared a dollop of peanut butter on the corner of her pancake.
"Hey!" She smacked his hand. "Now you've ruined my breakfast!"
"Just try it."
"No."
He rolled his eyes with a smile. "How many ridiculous things have you made me try? Cotton candy. Gummy bears. Snow cones. I could go on."
"I only made you try things cause I was trying to flirt with you."
He pushed away an embarrassed grin. "Still. It's my turn. Try it."
With exaggerated effort, Christine lifted her fork and cut off the corner with peanut butter. She shoved it unceremoniously in her mouth, staring him straight in the eye as she chewed.
"Well?"
"It's gross."
"Is not!" His hand smacked the table. "You're just saying that cause you don't want to admit I'm right."
"I would never do such a thing. I really don't like it."
Blue eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Don't believe me?" She rose from her seat and walked around the table. Erik watched with a confused but welcoming smile as she placed herself in his lap. Nimble fingers tilted his chin up. "Allow me to share…"
The warmth of her mouth was familiar by now, and no less exhilarating. She explored, slow and eager, the tint of peanut butter unmistakable but not the least bit unpleasant. He felt certain his cold and thin lips were undeserving of her soft, succulent ones. If she thought so she didn't let on. She still smelled of his shampoo and he suddenly felt a little self conscience, as he hadn't showered yet.
She soothed his unspoken worries by taking his bottom lip between her teeth, rolling it gently. What had started as an innocent little tease took a slight turn as Erik groaned. Softly, his hips moved of their own accord, pushing against her as the hands on her waist pulled her down. A cut off gasp caused her to drop his lip. He snatched hers without missing a beat.
Christine melted into him. This sudden shift was surprising but welcome. She had planned on being the one to tease him, melting him down into the adorable mess she loved to play with. Instead he had managed to snatch every ounce of power away with a few strokes. She surrendered it gladly.
Erik groaned again, this time softly echoed by Christine as his tongue soothed the lip his teeth had just assaulted. His was partly out of frustration, however. The way she was sitting on him, angled to the side, made it impossible to draw her closer. He wished she would straddle him. Like she had last night, when he had felt every inch of her body molded against his. He wondered if she would oppose, should he grab her thigh and tug her legs around him…
One hand slowly and gradually took up the task. Tightening around her leg, pulling softly. Christine was quick on the uptake and finished the action for him. His hips moved again without his permission. Hers responded eagerly, grinding against him. Were it not for the chair against his back he would have tipped over, boneless.
Her phone rang. Erik could have thrown it across the room.
Christine pried her mouth from him and retrieved the offensive device from her back pocket. Erik continued to hold her close and kissed at her neck.
"Tell Meg you're busy," he moaned.
She laughed and held her phone up to see who had interrupted. "It's my dad…"
Erik growled, reluctant but resigned.
"I'm sorry, it could be important."
'It's alright."
She moved to climb off of him. Erik's grip on her hips tightened, holding her down.
"I think you can talk from here."
Something new raced through Christine's blood at his commanding tone. His confidence was growing with every kiss and touch. Each advance had her feeling even more attracted to him, which she hadn't thought possible.
After clearing her throat to dispel lingering thoughts, she answered the phone. "Hey dad!"
Erik's mouth did not leave her neck.
"Hey hun. What are you up to?"
A hum against her skin. She steadied her breathing. "Nothing much. How about you?"
"Oh you know just lounging around. I didn't get much chance to talk to you yesterday, I was wondering if you had any thoughts on what to do for this year's anniversary party?"
"Anything is fine. I chose last year, you can choose this year if you want."
He laughed. "Now who are you and what have you done with Christine? You always want to be in charge of the anniversary party."
"I know, but I just think it's fair to give you a turn for once."
"Hmm…well I do have some ideas…"
"Great! I'm sure they're awesome, how about-"
"Are you busy?"
She barely contained her sigh. "No, no I'm not busy…"
Erik bit her. Hard. The gasp escaped her lips before she could even think.
"Christine! Are you ok?"
"Yes dad I'm fine." She bared her teeth and pinched the closet flesh she could reach, which happened to be his left thigh. He squirmed, then gave a little hum to tell her he enjoyed it. "I just stubbed my toe is all."
"Oooh, I hate when that happens. Maybe put some ice on it."
"For sure. So your idea for the party?"
"Oh yes. What would you think about doing something nicer, a little formal? I love our casual parties, but maybe it would be nice to have something a little more…I don't know, serious? It doesn't have to be black tie or anything, maybe semi-formal?"
"That's great, I love it."
"It is five years after all, that's sort of an important milestone don't you think?"
"Absolutely."
"Great! I'll call some caterers today. I didn't realize how quickly it's coming up, we only have a few weeks. We've both been so distracted lately."
Erik sucked the skin just above her neckline.
"Ya…distracted."
"Who would you like for the caterer? I liked Alphonso's last year. But not everyone likes Italian. Maybe something more basic, but still nice, you know?"
"You know dad-" Christine struggled as Erik's cool hands slipped beneath her shirt. "My toe is actually hurting pretty bad. I might just sit and hold ice on it for a bit. Is it ok if I call you later?"
"Oh sure sure, of course darling. You take it easy. Call me if you need anything ok?"
"Sure thing. Love you dad."
"Love you too."
Christine slammed her phone down on the table. "You BEAST!"
Erik laughed as she beat against his shoulders. The smile in her voice and softness of her blows told him she didn't mean it.
"I can't believe you! You're terrible!"
"Mmmm…" His fingertips snaked around her back and slid up her spine. "That I am."
A shiver wracked her body. At first she leaned into him and he was delighted.
Then he heard a quiet sigh. It was not the one of pleasure he had grown to know and love. This one spoke of discontent. He pulled away to look her in the eye. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
She was a terrible liar. Erik eyed her with a frown. "Tell me."
She squirmed under his gaze and relented. "It's just my dad it all. I feel terrible for lying to him. I just know that when it finally comes out, he's going to be less upset about us breaking the rules, and more upset that I didn't…I don't know, come to him as a daughter, you know? Tell him I was seeing someone. He's always tried to be there for me, I could come to him about anything…" her eyes were growing distant and sad. "And I just know how he is. He's going to feel like I couldn't trust him. He'll feel like a bad father."
Erik's eyes grew soft. The hand on her back slipped away and returned to the shirt between them, rubbing up and down gently. "I'm sorry. I'm sure I…wasn't helping." It had seemed like a fun idea at the time.
Christine laughed and poked his chest. "Not exactly." She grabbed his face and kissed him once. "But I'm not complaining."
They decided to stave off her worsening guilt by finishing breakfast instead. Erik watched with smug satisfaction when Christine snatched the peanut butter and spread some over the rest of her pancake. She shot a look that warned him against uttering a single word.