Onward we go. I am writing more chapters, so posting may be a little slower...but bear with me.

Enjoy.

MAN OF SORROWS

CHAPTER 29

After dinner, Erik and Christine took a leisurely evening boat ride on the river, enjoying the fresh smells on the autumn breeze and the dance of the moonlight on the gentle waves of the water.

It was the most romantic thing that Christine could ever imagine. They sat side by side, with Erik's strong arm draped over her shoulders. He nuzzled her ear and whispered incoherent words in French.

Christine was convinced that he was casting a spell over her; but she was lost in the soft, velvety feel of his breath on her skin, and the familiar, yet intoxicating, scent of his cologne filling her senses.

Erik could not remember a time when a woman had completely consumed him – body and soul. Christine owned every part of him, and there was time – not long ago – when that thought would have terrified him; but now, he wanted her to own him.

"Loraine was my first love…the woman who awakened my heart to the passions that rested within me. She taught me how to be a man."

Erik knew Christine needed to hear this, and he was ready to reveal it.

"Our love happened slowly, over the course of a year. I had battles raging within me; doubting and questioning the calling that had lodged so deeply within me."

Christine lifted her hand to his chest and felt sure, strong beat of his heart through his clothing. She nestled closer and then turned her face up to him.

"I'm glad you found each other, Erik…many never do."

He looked down at her and smiled warmly.

"You mean that, don't you?"

She nodded her head and continued to look at him with adoring eyes.

"She was blessed to have you for the short time she was given…I owe her a great deal."

Erik scoffed lightly and Christine felt him chuckle beneath the surface of her palm.

"I do…she kept you out of he priesthood. If you had become a priest, I never would have met you."

Erik pulled her closer to him and then lowered his lips temptingly close to hers without touching her.

"What I feel for you is so much more intense and electrifying than what Loraine and I had…I have never been as consumed with primal need as I am when I'm around you."

"It's mutual, my love…you must know that." Christine murmured.

Erik moved to her ear and ran his tongue along its sensitive ridge; her moans of delight caused a hardening in his loins that could not be ignored and Erik answered with a moan of his own.

"I love you…so very much."

The kiss that followed was full of all that Erik was releasing; his troubled and lonely childhood, his turbulent and revealing teens, and the betrayal, deceit, and pain of his adult years. All of these tragic experiences washed away in one touch of her lips to his, and in the rhythm of her heartbeat sounding in harmony with his.

His tongue caressed hers with tantalizing surety; long strokes than short strokes – making her insides burn with insistent, lusting desire.

She could not stop her hands from wandering the hard planes of his chest; she felt the muscles covering him through the fine material of his shirt and longed to slide her hands along his bare flesh.

He left her lips to smother her neck with his lips and tongue…she felt like a teen-ager having a hot and heavy make-out session. She mentally begged him to run his hands over her body and discover the curves that longed for his touch…but she knew he would not.

"We better stop, because I want more…." She murmured.

Erik raised his head and stared into her green eyes; he noticed the same burning desire within their depths as he knew burned in his.

"Yes…what are we going to do about this spontaneous, eruptive desire we have for each other?"

He smiled warmly and the moonlight framed his face with a dusky halo.

"Come, my love…let me get you back to the cottage."

It was about 11:30 at night when they arrived back, and Erik immediately started both fireplaces and kissed her good night.

"Sleep well, my angel…tomorrow you get pampered at the spa…and I will join you for lunch at 12:30."

A worried furrow creased her brow, "You're going to leave me?"

Erik smiled sadly; he realized how much his leaving had wounded her. He braised her ivory cheek with his thumb and than ran his long fingers through her auburn tresses. His eyes were soft and apologetic.

"I'll never leave you again, Christine…not unless you ask me to."

Christine smiled, rose on her toes to embrace him, and placed a thankful kiss upon his lips.

"I love you…good night."

♫♫♫

Erik hadn't exaggerated; the spa's facilities were top of the line, and Christine was kept occupied from the time she entered the door until Erik showed up at 12:30.

She had never had a body wrap, a massage, or beauty treatments of any sort. Her skin felt alive and refurbished and Christine knew she glowed on the outside as much as she glowed on the inside.

She was so in love with Erik; and she was certain it showed on her face and everyone who saw her became instantly aware of her love; she would have shouted it from the mountaintops if she could have.

When the receptionist came and told her that Erik was in the front lobby waiting for her; Christine smiled knowingly, examined her image in the mirror, and was pleased with her reflection – a rare gift.

Erik found his heart skipping a beat as Christine walked toward him. She literally glowed from the inside and he was certain he had never seen a woman look more beautiful and desirable.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

He swept his lips across her forehead and took her hand as he spoke.

"Yes I did. I don't think I have ever felt better, thank you."

Erik drank in the smile that covered her features. His eyes would never tire of looking at her; this he knew.

"Are you ready for lunch?"

They spent the rest of the afternoon site-seeing and enjoying the fall foliage. The day was overcast and the breeze was cool, but Christine and Erik barely noticed anything - other than each other.

They walked, hand-in-hand, back to the cottage and no words were spoken. The day had passed quickly and the evening was winding down; but they lingered in each other's arms at the threshold of the door.

"Dance with me." Christine pleaded.

She took his hand and led him into the cottage. The staff at the Inn had started fires in the hearths and the cottage was warm and cozy. The air smelled of apples and cinnamon; and Christine suddenly wished that they never had to leave.

Erik started to speak, but Christine hushed him with a finger to his lips and a glow in her eyes.

She turned to the stereo and put in the soft classical music of Chopin and Mozart. Erik smiled softly at her choice of music and was pleasantly surprised she had chosen it.

He watched with heated eyes as she prowled toward him with feminine sensuality. She stood within centimeters of him; Erik could feel the erotic heat of her body filter through him, fastened his right hand to the small of her back, and then took her hand in his left.

The music animated him and he moved gracefully and sensually with her against him as they danced a sultry waltz.

Her breasts grazed his chest in continuous strokes and Erik could feel the hardened peaks against his flesh as they indented the material of his shirt through her clothing.

His awareness of her desire staggered him, and he longed to explore further; but he knew there were bridges yet to cross and promises yet to make and fulfill – and he intended to start tonight.

His erection pressed against her abdomen with persistent and gentle force, and Christine could do nothing but close her eyes as the knowledge of his reaction to her created a pool of desire inside her womb.

She nuzzled the softness of his neck with her cheek and whispered her lips against his flesh. She felt him shiver slightly in her arms and knew he was as affected by her as she was by him.

She drew her lips to his ear and traced its outline with her tongue, causing a moan of sensual energy to leave Erik. He cuddled against her seeking tongue and allowed her easier access to his earlobe; a move that found his straining erection getting even more straining.

He pulled away from her and drew her lips against his for a mind-blowing kiss that Christine was certain would melt the glue that held the wallpaper to the wall.

They held each other for moments and yet the night slipped away into the first hours of the morning.

Erik and Christine finally collapsed gracefully onto the couch and Erik traced invisible circles on Christine's wrist.

She could see that something troubled him, but hesitated to ask.

"Erik?" She whispered, smiling as he lifted his inimitable eyes to hers.

She looked so captivating in the quiet lighting of the room, and Erik hated to spoil the moment; but there was a step that needed taking – and it could wait no longer.

TBC