MAN OF SORROWS
CHAPTER 33
"And now, ladies and gentlemen…please stand, gentlemen - remove your hats, and everyone face the flag at the front of the field; our national anthem will be sung tonight by a member of our faculty, Miss Christine Daughtry."
Erik held his breath as she approached the platform. When her voice filled the air, he could have sworn it was an angel singing. The sound was pure and untainted – touching the very core of him, as well as everyone within earshot.
Although it was a very difficult song to sing, Christine handled it wonderfully and with just the right amount of conviction and emotion – laced with a healthy dose of patriotism.
The thundering applause indicated that everyone had enjoyed her rendition and Erik felt a swell of pride within his heart for her. She really was an excellent singer.
He stood with the faculty, having the wonderful advantage of being Christine's "boyfriend". It appeared that he was quite the talk among them; the man who had captured Christine's heart thoroughly and quickly.
He smiled and remained cordial, waiting for Christine to arrive and save him; which she did, thankfully, not a minute or two later.
"How did I sound?"
Erik hugged her and then stared down into her warm eyes.
"I thought I had died and gone to heaven, and the most beautiful angel in God's choir was singing to me…you were marvelous."
He kissed her lightly, not wanting to make a scene.
They sat, side-by-side, and Christine explained the game as it was played out before them. She enjoyed being able to share her limited knowledge of the sport with a man…and he didn't seem to care whether she knew everything or not…he hung on every word.
Unfortunately, in Erik's mind anyway, they were surrounded by Christine's co-workers and many of the staff of the high school for which she worked…they couldn't sneak away and do any of that make-out session Erik had been thinking about all night.
Thankfully, the game was over by 10:00 and Erik was eager to continue the rest of the evening.
"Let's go to your classroom for a few minutes, I want to look at your students artwork some more, I didn't get much of a chance the other day."
Christine was more than up to that task and they walked the short distance to her classroom. She flicked on the lights and headed toward the canvases that were on display.
Erik was not far behind her, but didn't seem in any hurry to reach her side.
Christine reached the first canvas and stood there with a puzzled look on her face.
Melody had painted a lovely spring scene, but had ruined it by putting the word "will" in the middle of it.
"That's odd."
Erik meandered over to where she stood and assessed the painting with an artist's eye.
"I like it."
Christine moved on and noticed a wonderful picture of a rolling countryside in the mountains; but Steven had painted the word, "you" directly down the middle of the picture.
"What are they doing?"
Christine was baffled and mumbled under her breath as she moved on to the next picture. It was simple and beautiful, with the word, "Christine" as the central focal point.
All she could do at this point, was shake her head…these were not the pictures that had been on these canvases earlier today…what had happened?
The next one was Luke's and Christine was almost afraid to look at it; but she did. The colors were beautiful, a kaleidoscope of beauty with one word in the middle of it all…"marry".
She hadn't really pieced it all together yet, when all her students walked through the door, along with several of her co-workers, and Meg, Rafe, Julius, and Evie.
The students whose pictures were on display walked forward and picked up their respective canvases and held them up…in order.
They stood before her and Christine noticed the order of the words,
"Christine will you marry…"
She spun around and noticed Erik on his knees in front of her.
"….me."
Christine fell to her knees in front of him…hardly believing what was happening. The tears rolled down her face as Erik produced a ring from behind his back, nestled in a bed of black silk. It was a single, solitary, 3-carat, diamond ring in white gold.
"Christine, will you marry me?"
This time, Erik said all the words and Christine, unable to speak a word, shook her head most, affirming to him that she would marry him, and watched as Erik placed the ring on her finger; then, he picked her up in his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips.
"I love you, Christine Daughtry, and I will spend the rest of my life showing you just how much you mean to me."
"Congratulations, Ms. Daughtry…I'm so happy for you." Luke stated, as Erik carried her past him.
Erik paused a moment and looked at the young man in a fatherly fashion.
"You have great potential, young man; Christine tells me you are interested in computer and graphic art design and digital animation."
Luke, unable to verbalize anything, revered the man in front of him. Erik Argeneau was a master artist, in many different forms.
"Yes sir."
Erik smiled and watched the young man lift his shoulders proudly and stand a little straighter under the praise he had given him.
"I'll be seeing more of you in the future."
Erik nodded at the young man and then turned his focus back to Christine.
She smiled with all the love she had for her man and then smiled kindly at Luke.
She wrapped her arms more securely around Erik's neck and leaned into his hard, toned frame.
"I love you, Erik…take me home."
He put her down and shook Julius' hand, as well as Rafe's. The men shared a moment together while Evie and Meg both descended on Christine with hugs and kisses.
"I knew you two were perfect for each other…I knew it the minute I saw you."
Evie hugged her and smiled knowingly.
"Thank you, Evie…for all that you have done."
She winked at him and then at Christine. He moved down the line to Meg and gave her a big hug.
"Thanks for getting this all arranged for me, Meg...everything was perfect...just as I asked you to do it."
She smiled wearily, brushing the hair back from her eyes.
"You're welcome, Erik...thank you for being there for Christine...she's a lucky woman."
He looked down into Christine's bright, misty eyes.
"No, it's I who am the lucky one."
Erik gently grasping Christine's elbow and guided her out of the room. He needed to be alone with her right now, and he knew she felt the same urge.
He called a cab while they walked toward the sidewalk and then pulled Christine into his embrace.
"They'll be here in a minute."
She was so tired, but so enchanted by the smell and essence of him. She never wanted to let go him, but knew that she had to.
"I can't believe you want to marry me." She whispered, nuzzling his chest.
"I can't believe that you want to marry me." Erik echoed.
It seemed like an endless moment as they looked deeply into each other's eyes; his, deep green in the cover of night and hers, almost black.
Slowly, his mouth descended onto hers, seeking and gently demanding her passionate response. Neither of them would remember who opened for the other, but their tongues mated; languidly and longingly – lighting an ember inside them that pressed the limits of their resistance.
Christine gently sucked his tongue into her mouth, just as he was ending the kiss, and a jolt of erotic electricity spirited its way into his loins.
She moved from his tongue to his neck; she skimmed her tongue along the ridge of his jaw and covered him with small nibbles of her teeth.
Erik's breathing was deep and labored as he felt his body spring to life. She was driving him to the brink of insanity with her greedy little mouth and talented tongue.
"Christine…"
The husky, scratchy tone barely registered as his, and Erik finally had to jolt out of the trance in which he found himself.
She adamantly protested as he pulled away from her.
"You…my little seductress…are causing me a great deal of distress."
She noted the outline of his erection through his jeans and blushed profusely; but she also knew that her own body was throbbing in areas she had never known existed…until Erik.
She smiled coyly and chanced another look at his beautiful, masculine form.
"That was just a foretaste of things to come." She whispered.
Erik chuckled deeply, and found himself wanting more.
The cab finally appeared, and Erik opened the door and let Christine sit; then he went to the other side and sat down.
It didn't take but a few seconds after Erik told the driver the address, for Christine to be in his lap with her feet across the seat.
Erik said a silent prayer that she wouldn't squirm too much, or he'd be taking a REALLY cold shower when he got home.
Of course, Christine had other plans.
It wasn't that she intended to squirm, she just wasn't going to make a big effort not to. She nuzzled his neck, knowing that he was super sensitive in that area, and then found his ear.
"When are you going to make an honest woman of me?" She moaned into his ear, than ran her tongue along its outer surface – before plunging inside and making him moan.
Erik closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensations that were pulsing through him.
"It better be soon." He groaned.
"I say we get married on November thirteenth." Christine suggested, still flirting with his ear.
"That's my birthday…."
She pulled back and grinned into his desire-clothed features, "I know."
TBC