A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you are absolutely amazing =D!

And of course, a special thank you to my wonderful anonymous reviewers Balack88 and vanilla :D!

vanilla: i have to say that i totally agree with you... it is a pity waytoointoerik took all her stories down, they were in a word, superb... i feel very flattered that you like this story so much, but i could no way be compared to waytoointoerik ;)... thank you so much for your support :), i feel really grateful...
Now, i can promise nothing about writing more E/C when this is done... to be totally honest i have a couple of ideas in my mind, but when lessons at the university start it will be quite difficult to write a story at the same time and moreover to update often, but i can say that i will definitely try to :)...

SO, LET'S TURN UP THE HEAT ;)...

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN PotO nor the main plot of the story.

Judging by the cover

Chapter 9: Tension

"No way! Forget it! I am not going to sleep in the same room with you!" Christine was trembling the whole time Erik was pulling her in the mansion's corridors till they reached his room.

"We hadn't agreed in anything like that!"

"We had agreed that you would play the role of my fiancée." Erik reminded her "And that means you have to do everything in order to be convincing."

"If you think that I will sleep with you... I don't... I've never..." Christine protested and fell silent. She felt utterly defeated and refused to turn her gaze on the big, tempting bed that made her panic. The problem with the room was the drop which made the glass overflow. She was sweating; she felt exhausted and so terrified... her eyes were full of tears.

Fortunately, Erik didn't seem to pay attention. "I'll take a shower." He announced laconically. "If you want my advice, do the same thing. It will help you relax. After that, we will discuss calmly what we have to do."

Christine stared him in shock. He hadn't just told her to have a shower with him... had he?

He, like being able to read her thoughts, rushed to explain what he meant "You can use the bathroom first." He offered.

The relief that she felt at the beginning turned immediately to anger.

"I don't want to have a shower at all!" she burst out "What I want is to return to my home! To use my bathroom! And sleep in my bed, ALONE! I want to get rid of you and this lunatic farce. I want to..." she stopped abruptly and felt the rage suffocating her "Who gave you the right to make your aunt and cousin believe that you and I are... that we are..."

Erik watched her struggling with words and decided to help "That we are...lovers? What else should they think? I am a man, Christine, and you are to become my wife. If this was true, do you think we could endure being away from each other's hands? From each other's body?"

"Of course, Mr Destler! But wait! Do you mean that you would try me to see if I suit you?" she asked, the indignation clear in her voice "But, oh! I forgot! You believe it is your right to use other people and to not put limits to your urges..." she stopped after observing the dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Only a woman like you would make such comments." He said with disdain "You! Someone, who does not care about others' needs and feelings... someone who cares only about money. I inform you..."

"You said..." Christine protested with passion but Erik didn't allow her to continue.

"What I said, or at least, what I was trying to say is that, if I truly loved you, I couldn't bear to keep you and myself from the pleasure of our love. I wouldn't want to leave you from my arms not only for a second, let alone a whole night."

While listening to him, Christine suddenly started trembling. Perhaps because his words had touched her very soul making her eyes fill with tears and her heart started beating fast... She opened her mouth to tell him that she had changed her mind and she would leave him, no matter how hard he would blackmail her. And then, she realised that he wasn't the one responsible for her panic and fear...

What she feared the most was herself and the emotions which flooded her heart. It wasn't possible to feel that irresistible desire for Erik. Besides, he wasn't her type! She hated the way he judged her... she hated everything about him...

"I can't..." she tried to explain, however, Erik waved his hand making her stop.

Then someone knocked the door. It was an old, short man who had brought their luggage and saluted Erik warmly exchanging some short phrases with him.

After the man had left, Erik turned to Christine. "He is happy that I found a wife." He announced "He said that now the only thing we have to do is having children." Watching her blush from head to toe he didn't continue "I'll go take a shower." He changed the topic and vanished behind a door.

...

"If only I had the courage to leave this place..." the girl thought.

Christine moved to the nearest window and let her eyes wonder to the beautiful garden.

"Erik can't be thinking that I will stay in the same room with him, let alone sleep in the same bed with him..."

"The bathroom is free." She froze after hearing his voice behind her. Suddenly she felt the scent of cleanness and soap reaching her nostrils.

"I'll bring you something light to eat before resting." Erik said.

"I thought we would have separated rooms" Christine stated and turned to him not being able to control her panic anymore. "Otherwise I would have never accepted your offer. If I had imagined... But no! Don't you dare touch me!" she raised her voice as a warning.

Terrified, she turned around and ran to the door, knowing that if he touched her then... But Erik reached her, catching her arms tightly... He shook her violently...

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" he strictly questioned "What exactly are you supposed to fear? This? A woman like you?"

Christine's breath was uneven while watching his mouth approaching dangerously hers. He was wearing only a bathrobe and at her effort to push him away, she felt the pads of her hands touch his naked flesh. It was warm and wet, and his chest sculpted with a silky cover of soft black hair in the middle.

Horrified she pushed him away more violently, but after some time she realised that she was actually caressing his chest.

Erik felt her wondering hands and without thinking he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately, making her legs bend and her heart stop. Immediately, his kiss turned softer and coaxing...

Then he pulled slightly away breaking the kiss. "Stop pretending that you are inexperienced... innocent..." Christine heard him say on her lips.

His tongue made her lips open and boldly slipped inside her mouth; while one of his hands was bringing her closer. He stepped back till his back reached the door and letting his hands roam her body, he grabbed her hips and pressed them on his.

Christine felt a fire burning her body... a sensual wave that turned her body into a tame doll in his experienced hands...

When she felt his fingers fondling her breast and his thumb caressing ever so softly her nipple, she stiffened and a moan of pleasure left her mouth.

She could feel how hard he was and this, on the one hand frightened her and on the other hand aroused her girlish imagination. Finally, she surrendered to her desire, let her body relax and hesitantly opened her mouth to taste the sweetness of his kiss caressing shyly his tongue with hers.

Erik lost his mind and without warning he lifted her body, wrapped her legs around his hips, turned and crushed her on the door.

"Yes," Erik growled, his body on fire. His lips and teeth gently nipped her neck and throat making Christine moan.

"Oh god!" Erik roared… he was in pain and began grinding his erection against Christine's covered core.

"Oooh!" Christine gasped as she felt Erik's straining hardness grind against her center.

"Erik? Are you inside? It's me Carlotta. I want... I have to talk to you."

Christine froze at her place and tried to pull away unwrapping her legs around Erik. But he didn't seem to mind as he continued his feast on her soft flesh and his teasing with his hips.

"Erik!" the woman shouted and opened the door.

Erik didn't rush to pull away. He kissed his way back to Christine's irresponsive lips and gave her one last peck before turning to his cousin.

"Not now, Carlotta! You are interrupting us!" he spitted while holding a blushing Christine in is arms.

"So, she is with you!" she shouted "Why isn't she in her room?"

"But she is..." he replied calmly "Because my room is also hers... my bed, her bed, and I... belong to her in body and soul."

"Your grandfather will never allow this wedding!" Carlotta hissed like a snake, although Erik had already closed the door.

"Let me go, Erik." Christine pleaded without daring to meet his gaze. She was ashamed of the way she had responded to his touch... she had actually encouraged him to move on...

Erik hesitated "Let's talk rationally, Christine." He offered "I know I asked you to play the role of my fiancée, but I didn't ask you to act like an innocent little girl..." he paused abruptly, finding it difficult not to believe in his 'crazy' suspicions, which started forming in his head as he observed her pale face and terrified look.

The way she trembled when he held her in his arms, when he kissed her and touched her, made him believe he was the first one who made her feel this way... Erik shook his head in his effort to stop those thoughts.

"I will not sleep with you!" Christine repeated stubbornly "I won't..."

A/N: so, how was it? just let me know ;)...