Well, after this chapter, I need to get busy writing. I love making my readers happy - I hope this chapter does that.

I had a reviewer ask how I get the little music notes between my scenes - they are out of the "special characters" choices I have in my Word program. I thought they were cute.

Anyway, enjoy my lovelies.

MAN OF SORROWS

CHAPTER 27

Christine was in awe of the facilities. They were so modern and equipped perfectly; of course, she had nothing to compare them to, but she assumed they were the best.

Erik guided Christine through the lobby with his hand gently gripping her elbow. The sensitive skin on the underneath of her arm was hot where his fingers touched and Christine almost sighed with joy.

They approached the front desk and Erik took charge.

"Hello, I'm Erik Argeneau. I have reserved the Loon Cottage."

The attendant found the records and handed him the keys.

"Thank you for choosing our facilities, Mr. Argeneau, I do hope you enjoy your stay..." his eyes drifted to Christine, "…and you also, miss Daughtry."

Erik nodded and turned to Christine.

"I have made us reservations for dinner at 6:30." He glanced at the watch on his wrist. "I'll be at your door at 6:20."

They followed the bellhop out the door and watched as he loaded the luggage into Erik's car, then followed a resort car to the location of their cottage.

The cottage was beautiful and Christine had never seen such wonderful accommodations; not that she had much experience. The cottage had a panoramic view of the river and the marina and had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two wood-burning fireplaces.

She casually walked the premises, admiring every foot of the wonderfully quaint cottage. She looked across the river and noticed the blanket of fall colors beginning to coat the trees and she smiled at the warmth of it.

Erik came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders; she leaned against his familiar, muscled chest and closed her eyes.

Her slight sigh did not escape Erik's ears as he nuzzled her hair and gently massaged her neck.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

His whispered tone only soothed her more and she smiled in contentedness.

"Erik, no one has ever done anything like this for me…I've never taken the time to do it for myself, either."

He turned her in his arms and smiled down at her, "I meant it when I said that I love you...I would do anything for you."

She weaved her hand around his neck and teased the hair that played on his collar. Her eyes were luminous and full of unspoken declarations.

"What do you see in my eyes, Erik?" She whispered.

He looked into her very soul and knew that she loved him, too. He lifted his fingers to brush them across her soft cheek.

"I see something that I find so hard to believe, but want more than anything in the world…your love."

He raised his other hand and framed her face; her lips parted with excruciating sensuality; offering the one thing he could get from no other.

Therefore, he took; needing – just as she did – to feel the combustible energy they shared when they touched eyes or flesh; needing – just as she did – to know that they were soul mates – designed for each other.

He felt her arms slide around him, securing his waist as she pulled herself upwards to meet his lips more forcefully. He tasted her lips and her tongue, drawing from her sweet promise, and wanting to believe – with all that he was – that it was his.

One hand moved from her face to the small of her back, gently pressing her curves to his hard body. The kiss became hot and drugging – pulling them both into a steaming tango of passion.

Erik tangled her demanding tongue with his and heard the moans coming from deep within her. He fought the churning desire raging through him and reluctantly ended the kiss.

Christine's quiet protest as he lifted his mouth from hers made the incessant hunger ache even more – burrowing in his belly, pulling at his loins, and wrapping around his heart.

She broke the passion-filled air with the soft yearning of her voice, "Erik…your kiss renders me completely helpless…I've never had anything affect me so."

He managed to smile as he closed his eyes to her searching ones. He knew the fire that burned within him was quite evident in the pools of his eyes.

"Come…we must unpack and get ready for tonight." He purred.

Erik insisted on unloading her luggage himself, and carrying it into her room. He stopped on his way out and pulled her into his embrace.

A soft touch of his lips against her forehead should not have pushed her pulse to racing, but it did. She looked up and quickly placed her lips against his, bringing a smile to his lips.

"I am going to start a fire and get ready for dinner. I'll knock on your door at 6:20." He murmured against her ear.

He stole another kiss and disappeared as he closed her bedroom door.

♫♫♫

Christine looked around her bedroom and could not believe the plush beauty of it. The bed was queen size and topped with a soft, down comforter and beautiful bed coverings.

She had her own bathroom and a wonderful closet. Erik had started a fire in her room and then had proceeded to his own. It was a wonderful dream and Christine was going to enjoy every minute of it.

She hung up her clothes and marveled at the modern design of the cottage; it was really quite charming.

She took a luxurious bath in scented water and then styled her hair.

Meg had insisted on buying her an amazing semi-formal cocktail dress; something that Christine would have never considered.

She donned the tea-length dress made of ivory chiffon with an acetate lining. The bodice was empire-cut with a front overlay. It had a halter neckline, front sash, an asymmetrical hemline, and a matching scarf.

Christine stood there in front of the mirror and hardly recognized her own reflection. She removed her glasses and inserted the contact lenses she had received upon her last visit to the eye doctor.

Erik had been implemental in her switch to contacts because she knew he loved her eyes; so, she had made an appointment while he had been gone and had rid herself of her glasses.

Christine chuckled upon remembering the afternoon that she had bought the dress. Meg and Evie had both been with her as she fretted over the amount of cleavage the halter neckline was showing. Evie had assured her it was definitely on the right side of decent.

She applied a light dusting of raisin eye shadow, accented in green; raisin eyeliner, and forest green mascara; her eyes stood out from her face and she considered them her best feature.

She dabbed some of Victoria's Secret's Rapture on her neck, behind her ears, in her cleavage, and on her wrists; she finished and looked at the clock.

She had heard Erik moving about, and assumed he was already prepared for the evening. Her pulses were erratic as she thought about the dazzling kiss they had shared earlier; he was an amazing kisser and she knew he would be amazing at other things as well.

Her thoughts caused a vivid blush in her cheeks and she smiled knowingly at her reflection in the mirror.

I love this man and I want to spend the rest of my life proving it to him.

♫♫♫

His knuckles tapped the door lightly, and Christine wasn't even sure she had heard the knock…but she took the chance and opened her bedroom door.

Breathtaking; that was the only way to describe how he looked; he wore a charcoal grey suit with a burgundy shirt and tie. He had black Oxford shoes on, and a black cashmere, knee-length coat to ward off the cool air. He had replaced the white half-mask with a black half-mask, and Christine had to steady herself to keep from losing her footing.

"Erik, you look…" She sighed and then exhaled a long, appreciative breath through her lips, "…incredible."

He cocked his head sideways, looking as though he didn't believe anything she was saying; and then grinned.

His eyes fell to her mouth and Christine licked her lips, involuntarily. A moment passed between them and Christine felt the sexual charge in the air.

He wrapped his fingers around her hand and brought it to his warm lips; sweeping their surface and taking in her scent.

"With the way you look, I'm not sure I want to share you with the other men that will undoubtedly be dining this evening."

He slowly ran his eyes up her form and could feel the pressure building in his loins; she was absolutely stunning.

"You share me with no one…I'm all yours."

Her eyes danced and Erik ran the pads of his thumb over her cheekbones and the curve of her brows.

"You're wearing contacts." He crooned.

Christine nodded and smiled, as she saw the joy in his eyes from this simple gesture.

"For you, Erik…always for you."

He smiled broadly and handed her a package he had hidden behind his back.

"For you."

Christine wasn't sure how to react, other than with pure happiness.

She took the back from him and placed it on the bed as she opened it. When the contents were revealed, Christine could not believe the beauty that was before her.

"Erik…you shouldn't have." She murmured, while pulling the coat out of the box.

"Meg told me you didn't have a nice evening coat, and that you wouldn't buy yourself one…that's where I come in."

She looked at him with tears pooling in her eyes and huge, dazzling smile on her face.

He pulled the coat entirely out of the box and held it up for her to put on. She turned her back to him and slipped her arms into it.

"It's so soft." She whispered with admiration in her voice.

Erik pulled her against his chest, moved the auburn tresses that whispered on her neck, and placed a kiss upon the very back of her neck.

"It's herringbone wool-and-cashmere…but it's not as soft as your skin…." He kissed her again, and then turned her towards him, "…you look stunning."

The coat was a slim-line silhouette with three closures at the top, stopping at her waist. It made her appear taller than her medium height and she felt chic and beautiful with it wrapped around her.

He extended his arm and winked at her with a subtle undertone of sensual orneriness.

"Shall we."

And he led her to dinner.

TBC