Author's note: This chapter has some hot content in it, so you've been warned. Don't read it if it's not your thing. For the rest of you, enjoy!

– Leesainthesky

Ch 38 Gentleman Rogue

Morning had come, and with it came time for our departure back to France.

I'd entertained a niggling thought most of the morning. Ever since Erik professed his love for me, he'd suddenly become less salacious.

Erik and I were in the bedchamber packing our belongings. He was meticulously folding his garments into a small suitcase when I finally summoned the courage to voice my concern.

I sat down on the bed, rested my hands in my lap, and began to fiddle with the lace trim on my dress, "Erik, I need to ask you something."

He turned his head toward me, "Yes, what is it you wish to know, Gabrielle?"

"Has your opinion of me changed recently?

"Changed? How so, darling?"

"I've been wondering…you haven't been your usual amorous self. Are you having second thoughts?"

"Second thoughts about what?"

"Well…about us. It seems as though you're not as interested in me as you once were in, you know, in a physical way."

Erik buckled the straps on his luggage and walked over to me. He reached out a gloved finger to stroke my cheek.

"Lost interest you say, hardly. I've come upon the realization that by constantly indulging my voracious desires on you, I disrespect your feminine sensibilities."

"You're saying you think that I think that you're using me for sexual gratification?"

"Make no mistake, Mademoiselle, your loving touch thrills me beyond my wildest imagination. You must admit, we do spend an inordinate amount of time playing love games. It is not my wish for you to believe sexual release is all I require of you, Gabrielle."

"Erik, you are nothing if now a considerate gentleman; at least you have been with me. Its true many men from the 21st century profess their love to a woman so they can get at her goodies, so to speak. I would wager that men have been trying that ploy since the beginning of time, but not you, Erik. It's not in your nature to be untrue."

Could this be—a man who put my feelings before his need for physical gratification?

He encircled me within his arms, his eyes brilliant with fire, "I do love you, Gabrielle and I would be a liar if I did not admit to wanting your goodies. I so enjoy your attentions. Please be assured that my desire for you has not waned, I want you every moment of my day."

"And I for you—please don't pull away from me; I want to satisfy you in all the ways denied you for so many years."

He eyed me silently and cracked a devilish smile, "My sweet, if I do not presume too much, then you may do with me what you wish.

"Then you wouldn't feel as If I were using you merely for carnal gratification if I were, say, to seduce you?"

"Not in the least, Mademoiselle."

"When do we leave for the train station?"

"Approximately one and one quarter of an hour."

I rose from to embrace Erik, "Hum, I wonder what sort of mischief we can get into between now and then. Would you be game to find out Monsieur?" I leaned into him and made strategic contact with his hips. I gave his cravat a tug so we were eye to eye.

"But Gabrielle, we've dressed for the day. Do you really wish to undress and redress all over again?"

"Without a doubt," I purred, breaking the embrace.

Erik smirked and stood still, allowing me to remove the coast, cravat, waist coat and shirt. Once I pulled his shirt from his trousers, I skimmed my hands over Erik's chest. He was well muscled with a just enough dark hair to be sexy.

I grazed his small, hard nipples lightly. He drew a sharp breath and closed his eyes, "Enough torturing you sexy wench. Off with those clothes now or I shall rip them from your body!"

"Well alright now, Monsieur DuPuis," I was out of my traveling clothes faster than you could say Paris Hilton.

I reached down to pick up the discarded cravat and looped it around Erik's neck, tugging on the ends of it in an attempt to pull Erik into the bed.

We fell into each other, kissing and writhing around on the bed. Erik's body felt so warm, so right.

"Gabrielle, mon chéri, mon amour," Erik murmured into my hair, then rolled me on top of him. His erection pressed against my hips through the lightweight trousers. I loved the sensation of his sex being so close to mine. Lordy, how I wanted him.

"Erik, I want to make love to you. Please let me," I begged while bestowing a trail of kisses up his neck to his earlobe.

Erik moved his head back to look into my eyes, "Gabrielle, however much I long to, we should wait a while longer to unite our bodies as one. It is imperative that we're absolutely certain as to where this love affair is going. You were terribly hurt by that Tony fellow. It is not my intent to mishandle you in the same horrible manner."

Erik was right in his decision; however much I didn't want to wait, I respected his reasoning.

"Erik, I doubt you would do such at thing, you're very different. That man was a self indulgent narcissist. But you have done so much to demonstrate your consideration of me. I don't fear your fidelity or your intent."

"Never fret about my intentions towards you, Gabrielle. I am nothing if not loyal to a fault."

I sat up and struck a demure pose; not an easy task when you're stark naked. "You must think me a loose woman huh, I mean for wanting you in that way?"

"Only if I catch you dallying with another," he narrowed his eyes and spoke in a tone of mock warning.

"Then be assured of my commitment to you and only you, Monsieur. Now then, would you consent to some pre-travel love play?"

"With immense pleasure, my little vixen."

I delivered a kiss to his lips and stretched over to grab a bottle of unpacked body lotion from a pile of toiletries near the end of the bed.

I smiled a Cheshire cat smile and poured out a liberal amount the lotion, giving it time to warm in my hands.

"Come, Erik, off with those trousers," I commanded.

"Indeed, Mademoiselle."

He obliged happily, unbuttoning and slipping off the wool constraints. His glorious sex stood alert, twitching slightly as if sniffing around for something to strike.

I scooted to him on my knees and took him in one lotion covered hand, my eyes never leaving his.

I began a slow horizontal caress up and down his length. Erik closed his eyes and began breathing harder with each stroke of my hand.

I ceased long enough to pump more lotion into my hands.

Flashing a seductive smile, I smeared the fragrant lotion over my body and began massaging it into my breasts.

Mesmerized by the sight of me touching myself, Erik grew harder still and began to stroke himself. I smiled in appreciation and positioned my body over his hips, removed his hand and pressed his hardness between my soft mounds.

The simple act of using my breasts in place of my hands for stimulation thrilled Erik greatly. He moved his body in rhythm to my ministrations.

Low moans rumbled from his throat.

"Do you like what I am doing to you, Erik?"

"Like it? It is so astoundingly erotic, you're causing me to consider what it would feel like to lift you up by your lovely round rump and set you upon my cock."

Even though Erik's bold suggestion surprised me, it sent shivers of delight through me. The moist, tingling sensation between my legs increased considerably.

Erik reached around my back and drew lazy circles on my bottom with his fingers.

"God, you tease me so, Gabrielle," he growled into my mouth.

"That's the idea, Erik, tease you, then please you. Relax and let go for me."

He leaned back into the pile of pillows while I continued to work on him.

"Faster Gabriel, stroke me faster and harder."

I pressed my breasts against him and rubbed furiously against his engorged sex.

"Gabrielle darling," he panted, "beware that unless you stop, I will spill my seed all over you."

"I want you to, sweetheart."

His breath hitched in his throat and with a low, feral cry, Erik spasmed violently. I watched as his release shot forth, covering my breasts and hands with the warm, creamy liquid.

This act of love play had my motor revved up considerably. I rocked hard against Erik's muscular thigh, stimulating myself while he came. He slid a hand between my legs and cupped me lovingly. Two long fingers slid into my wetness and thrust in and out of my wet core, keeping pace with my rocking.

I let go in a blaze of white-hot light. The sensation was so intense; I thought I would pass out from pleasure. "Erik, I love you. I'm yours completely," I confessed breathlessly.

"Mon ange de l'amour." He wrapped his arms around my back and kissed my nape. After we took a few minutes to catch our breath, Erik gently pushed me aside, rose from the bed and strode to the water stand. He wet a cloth and brought it back to the bed.

"Lie back and let me wash you, darling."

With long tender strokes, Erik cleaned me off as best he could and tossed the washcloth into a basket across the room (I was tempted to shout out: three points!).

Erik rolled over and propped himself up on his left arm. A strand of dark brown hair fell across the right side of his face. For a moment, he reminded me of a little boy, all at once innocent and curious.

"Thank you, Gabrielle."

"You're welcome, Erik, but for what?"

"Giving me a chance to be a man; forty five years of my life have transpired without knowing what it is to be loved by a woman. And now you are here, my angel of all that is good, my gift, my Gabrielle."

"Aw Erik," I reached up to sweep his hair back in place. "I don't know how much of a gift I am. I'm a headstrong, quirky ball of confusion to you."

"Any woman has the power to confuse me, Gabrielle. But you are the one who loves me and treats me with respect."

"You're worthy of such, Erik. Hey, we ought to get a move on or else we'll miss our train."

Erik sat up abruptly and checked his pocket watch from the bedside table, "Indeed you are. Dress quickly my dear or we'll be walking to France."

"…and swimming. I don't think I'm up to taking on the waters of the English Channel today."

We dressed, gathered our things, bid Fitzgerald adieu and began the laborious trip back to DuPuis Manor.

- O -

Thanks for reading, for lurking and as always, reviewing. We are not supposed to name reviewers but I am posting initials this time because the reviews for the last chapter were funny and/or helpful. Thanks to pf, pmel, ar, fs, p, sls, botr, mbin, kbe, fl27, you know who you are. Gabrielle's got a big surprise coming up in the next few chapters.

(Thank you, Amy, my beta)