DARK SIDE OF THE GLASS
CHAPTER 47
She quietly watched him from the shadows of the room – this remarkable man who owned her heart and soul.
In the weeks that she had known him, Lavanya had come to realize that Erik was a very simple man….he appeared complex and intricate…but deep inside, he was simple.
All that he had required to make his life complete; to be the man he had always known he could be – was her love – given without pretext or hidden motives. After their initial faux pas…they had found each other and fallen in love - quickly.
He stood so still, silhouetted against the midnight blue of the sky, the silver sprinkles of the stars, and the glowing halo of the crescent shaped moon.
Something led him to turn his head and he marveled at the vision before him. Dressed in nothing more than a sheer gown that seemed only to enhance the perfection of her body, Erik knew that she had him completely under her control.
His body jumped to attention, as the moonlight danced over her sienna-colored skin, and flirted with the bronzed highlights in her hair.
"Sit back against the lounge chair, my love…you need your rest."
Erik cocked his head and dropped his half-lidded eyes, "There are only certain parts of me that require rest…other parts..." his smile was deliciously wicked, "…not so much."
She pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth and than raked her eyes over his semi-reclined form. He had stretched out on the lounger with his shirt open to the waist, and the glorious waves of black hair that surrounded his features were perfectly askew.
She sauntered over to him and slowly eased the hem of the gown up her legs, reveling in the heated, hungry trail of his gaze as he watched.
The gown skimmed over her hips and her hands caressed the soft insides of her exposed thighs…Erik's breathing sped up, his mouth watered in anticipation, and he gulped down the burgeoning swell of desire that spread over him.
Her fingers barely touched the heated flesh of her sex…spreading across it with a touch that Erik was certain was as soft as the petals of a rose. While her fingers on the one hand continued to gently massage her throbbing labia, her other hand stroked and kneaded her aching breast.
Somehow, without his being aware of it, she had raised one leg and placed her foot upon the arm of lounger in which he sat. His hands captured her slender ankle and he ran his tongue over the scented flesh of her foot; whispering his fingers up the back of her calf.
Her eyes closed in anticipation of his next move; aching for his fingers to take the place of hers…but he seemed content to watch her through half-lidded, passion-filled eyes.
His hot, moist tongue trailed over her knee and his lips finally touched the sensitive inside of her thigh…causing a pleasurable shiver to pass through her; she half whimpered, half moaned his name and frantically turned her erect nipple between her thumb and forefinger.
His hand wrapped around her thigh and grasped her backside, pulling her closer to him. His other hand found his engorged hardness and stroked it through the material of his pants.
She watched him stroke himself and felt her passion build even more, realizing how erotic and decadent it was to watch him do such a thing to himself; she found she wanted to see more.
"I need to taste you."
His words made her knees go week and she melted into his mouth. Energy shot through her as he playfully fluttered his tongue along the outside of her sex, giving her a feel of things to come.
"Open for me…my beautiful flower…use your fingers."
He urged her to participate by baring her inner nectar to his waiting tongue and lips; which she eagerly did…wanting him to consume her.
He feasted on her delicate flesh…laving his tongue over her with such sweet, torturous artistry that she was aware of each shooting bolt of pleasure that hardened the thrusting buds of her breasts to the point of agonizing, delectable torment.
He found her swollen nub and encased it between his beautiful lips, sucking gently on it to give her the most pleasure. Involuntary spasms bucked her hips against his mouth as her first climax of the evening sheathed her within its powerful grip.
She did not even try to hide her whimpers of pleasure…caring not if anyone heard her. As her body recovered, she noticed he had freed his enormous hard-on from his pants and was surging against his own hand in anticipation of his own climax.
She touched her hand to his and slowed his strokes, capturing his attention with her heated gaze.
Not a word was spoken as she dropped her gown back down to the floor, leaned over his lean, powerful hips and began tugging at his pants. He silently raised his backside and she pulled his pants down, careful to avoid touching his throbbing member as she did so.
Their eyes locked as he moved his legs to each side of the lounger, his feet planted firmly on the floor. She prowled up the lounger and began at the inside of his knees, skirting her tongue over his scorching flesh on her way up his body. She nipped and nibbled at him, making him moan softly and coil his fingers through her hair.
She found the tight, engorged sacks at the base of his erection and gently took them in her hand, amazed at how soft the skin was, but how tight they felt. The smell of him was intoxicating - male – virile, virulent, vibrant.
She ran her tongue over the soft surface of each sack and then coyly encased one and then the other in her mouth. Erik's head went from side to side as he quivered beneath her skilled mouth and hands.
Finally, she teased the underside of his erect flesh with the tip of her tongue, and his body arched toward her, begging for more.
The gleaming tip was red as fury and swollen to capacity, she moved her lips over the peak and tasted his heady elixir; she watched him watching her; allowing his dark, luminous eyes to linger between open and closed as she took him into her mouth; slowly, rapturously, and omnivorously.
His hands locked in her hair and he gently urged her to take him completely into her warm haven and siphon his seed from his body in this most exquisite manner.
She laved her tongue around his shaft and stroked his hardness in even, continuous rhythm until she felt his body tightening for release. She eased back and gently applied pressure to the taut sacks, cutting off the flow of his seed.
He moaned in protest, but eagerly returned the open-mouthed, heated kiss that she planted on his lips; undulating tongues and sensual, deep-throated moans filled the night air as she eased her gown up over her hips and gently impaled her weeping sex upon his raging hardness.
His hands immediately clasped onto her hips, diving further into her with every lift of his body. She moved closer to him, grinding into him as he wrapped her legs around his body and locked them behind him.
His mouth eased from hers only to take the throbbing peak of her breast into his mouth. He circled her areola with his tongue and then pulled the nipple further into his mouth…bolting her against him even more. His hands gripped her backside, pushing her against him with his strong, powerful arms.
Her head flung back as she felt her orgasm whirling through her…she stiffness and tingling in her breasts increased ten-fold, and her toes curled as it consumed her…she felt him meeting her as his strokes became longer and deeper and his breathing followed.
He burst into her with gale force, driving his seed into her womb firmly; he growled with fierce strength as she rode the winds with him until they both came down off the clouds – slowly returning to planet earth.
"I love you, Erik Lacroix…do not ever forget that."
He encased her face between his large hands and kissed her tenderly.
"How could I…for your love for me is partnered with my love for you."
Sometime later that hour, they found their way to the bed and slept soundly…both of them secure in their love of each other and waiting on what the future held.
♥♠♣♦
A week passed; Christine and Raoul dropped by, on several occasions, with the baby, the princes tried to dissuade Erik from contacting his half-sister and nephew, Sumukhi was in a family way, Erik recovered, Tarrah and Phillip became formally engaged, and Erik and Anya made love as often as they could.
It was Saturday morning, and Erik had just learned about Sumukhi's pregnancy. A raw place in his heart where the loss of D'Ombre was still painful began to heal at the prospect of having a young foal running around that carried his bloodline.
"It will be next April before the baby is born…horses carry for thirteen months." Erik had assured her earlier that morning.
They had been busy packing their bags, preparing for the long journey to Valencia, Spain. Erik had recovered to almost pre-Yves condition, and the doctor released him for travel - the doctor being Lavanya.
"I hate pulling you into this, Anya…these are issues you should not have to deal with."
Erik had thought a great deal about it, and really was not too keen on allowing the Russian aristocracy to have any access to Lavanya, at all; Erik had overheard the princes on several occasions discussing the fact that she was not of noble blood and her heritage was barbaric.
Yesterday, Erik had finally had enough…
"Excuse me."
Erik approached them boldly and without care.
"For the past couple of weeks, you have done nothing but belittle my wife…" his eyes were narrowed and the tone of his voice was sharp and carried a dangerous edge, "…as far as I am concerned, she has more noble blood in her than any of you. She is my wife, the woman I love, and I will not tolerate any more degrading remarks, condescending stares, or whispered insults…is that understood?"
The older of the princes, by not nearly the most imposing, took it upon himself to speak for the rest of them.
"Lord Demidov, she is simply not an appropriate wife for…"
Erik was seething at the insolence of the mousy man.
"It seems you have made the mistake of thinking that I care what you – or anyone else - think." Erik snapped. "She is witty, smart, kind, generous, beautiful, and talented…far more than any of the 'noble' women I have encountered in my lifetime."
The little man began to speak again, but Erik silenced him with a firm clench to his lips and dark, dangerous stare.
"Do not question her character again – in any way – or you will find that I am still very much the Phantom."
They had all inclined their heads, indicating to him that they would do as he asked. This morning, they had given him the tickets to Valencia – one for him and one for Lavanya; and they officially apologized to her.
Anya was all smiles as she watched Sumukhi, knowing that a foal nestled inside her. She could not understand the tears that surfaced, but she welcomed them just the same. Her emotions had been on overload this past week; and before that, her nerves, so she surmised that she had a right to be overly sensitive.
Erik walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck with his lips and hugging her to him.
"It is time to go, my love…the train will not wait for us."
They turned toward the house, hand in hand, and Erik saw the stable girl, Sonya, headed toward them. She had been doing a fantastic job at keeping the stables clean and the surrounding area, and Erik had rewarded her with a horse of her own.
The smile never left her face as she approached, giving them an awkward curtsy.
"How is your mother, Sonya?" Erik asked.
Her eyes lit up and she looked as though she was about to cry.
"Monsieur Lacroix, thanks to you, she is getting the medicine she needs and her health has improved greatly over the past week."
Erik laughed and squatted down in front of the girl so that she would have to look down at him, immediately putting her at ease.
"It is one thing to get the medicine and an altogether different thing to take it…I would say her improved health is more due to you coaxing her into taking her medicine and less from my providing it."
She smiled coyly and dropped her eyes, an action that Lavanya realized was the epitome of a girl with a crush; but of course, Erik had no idea.
"Lady Lacroix and I will be gone for a few days. I am leaving you in charge of Sumukhi. She is foaling, so you will have to make sure she has plenty of clean water and food, and do not forget to brush her in the evenings."
She smiled and nodded, assuring him that she would do her best.
Erik moved away, but thought of one final thing before leaving.
"Sonya, your mother tells me that you have never learned to read and write."
She shook her head, surprised that this wonderful man had actually carried on a conversation with her mother.
"Upon my return, we shall remedy that; either I will teach you myself, or I will hire a tutor for you. Either way, you will get an education."
She cried at that point; large, silver tears of joy – and Lavanya could not have been more proud of her husband.
"Monsieur Lacroix….do you think you could teach me to sing?"
Erik looked bewildered for a moment and then smiled; honored that she would think to ask.
"I can teach you to use the gift of singing to the best of your abilities, but I cannot teach you to sing…that is a divine gift…something you are born with."
She frowned slightly, but his next words lit her spirit.
"When I return, we shall see what needs to be done….every young girl should have the same opportunities available to her that a young boy does."
With that promise still hanging in the air and Sonya's smile forever sketched on his mind, Erik took the arm of his wife and headed for the manor…it was time to go.
TBC