AN: Oh my goodness, can this be? It is...it's an UPDATE. I have no real excuse for letting it go so long without updating one of my favorite stories. Writers block was a pain and was delt with, only to be replaced with a homework Nazi for a professor. Any one who's ever taken an 8 week college course that is meant to be done in 16 weeks can understand I'm sure. I hope to have the next chapter up with in the next few days and if not, school's done in about a week and a half or so, that means more time to write.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews and being so patient, lord knows I deserved to be dragged out into the middle of town and flogged! HAHAHAHA. Anyway, please enjoy and as always, let me know what you think!
Sara returned to the house alone while Mme. Giry went to fetch herself some fresh clothing. One of the maids exited the house to help Sara with the packages she cradled in her arms. Sara asked the maid to make some tea and bring it and the laudanum up to her room.
"Just knock and leave it out side the door." Sara told her.
"Will you be able to manage the tray?" The young girl asked.
"Of course." Sara said with a smile. "But if you hear a crash, then please come and check on me."
The two women laughed as they parted ways. Sara climbed the stairs slowly, thinking back on the conversation she had with Mme. Giry. She found herself wondering if she truly did provide the love that Erik had searched for all his life. Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind, she opened the bedroom door. She could hear Erik moving on the bed.
"You're back!" He said his voice filled with the sound of relief.
"Of course I'm back." Sara teased. "Did you think you would be able to get rid of me so easily?"
Sara cried out softly when he grabbed her and pulled her to him. She sighed and cuddled against his cool skin. "I suppose I'll just have to put up with you a little while longer than."
Sara smacked him on the chest lightly. "Oh, very funny."
Erik sighed and pressed his nose to her hair. "I heard you crying last night. I don't know how, but I did."
"I was so afraid." Sara said softly, running her hand through the small patch of hair that was on his chest.
"Why were you afraid?"
"I didn't want to lose you." Sara told him, feeling tears springing in her eyes. "I was terrified."
Erik's hold on her tightened, "I swear to you, I won't go anywhere that you can't follow."
"How can you promise that?" Sara asked pulling her head away from where it had been resting on his shoulder.
"I can promise you any damn thing that I want to." Erik told her stubbornly.
Sara chuckled and laid her head back down to its original resting place. "I heard you too."
"What do you mean?" Erik asked, kissing the top of her head.
"I heard you telling me to sleep." She explained. "That there was nothing else that I could do for you."
Erik laughed softly. "Perhaps that means that are souls are meant to be as one."
"I like that idea." Sara whispered.
The two of them fell silent and as Sara continued to caress his chest Erik found himself soothed by her presence and could feel his strength returning. As her hand moved from his chest to his stomach and back again, he became fully aware of his nudity under the sheets. He also found himself becoming rather aroused by the simple touch.
He knew that what she was doing was meant to soothe them both, but there was an underlying sensuality to the touch. He inhaled sharply as her fingernails scraped one of his nipples, and he fisted the sheet, trying to bite back the moan that threatened to escape his throat.
"Sara you need to stop."
Sara raised her head to ask him why, but some sense deep in her psyche told her not to say anything. Instead, she allowed her tongue to escape from her mouth to moisten her lips. At the sight of the pink flesh darting out Erik felt his restraint crumble. He quickly leaned down and captured her lips with his own.
Sara sighed and brought her hands up to burry her fingers in the soft hair at the base of his neck. His tongue traced her lips expertly and she allowed it the access that it so desperately sought. Soon their tongues were melding together in a dance of dominance.
Sara sighed, wanting Erik more than anything. However, a nagging voice in the back of her head told her she had to stop. She knew that what little strength he had should be directed to healing his body, not directed at her pleasure. She gently pulled away from him and pressed her forehead against his. The kiss had stolen her breath and she felt dizzy from the over whelming pleasure it had brought her.
"You need to get better first." She whispered, not trusting her own voice.
Erik nodded and kissed the tip of her nose. "Will you at least lay with me then?"
Sara could feel the blush flame on her cheeks. She nodded and slid off the bed, crossing the room to her armoire. She felt around for the light material of a dressing gown and pulled it out. She then crossed the room to a chair, where she could lay her clothing down. With each movement, she felt Erik's eyes on her, as if he was committing the sight to memory.
As she moved to drag the chair behind a screen to change, Erik's voice stopped her. "Let me see you."
Sara blushed but complied. They both knew that there was no way that she could refuse him. She slowly slid her dress off and laid it across the back of the chair. Erik's eyes watched as her small hands quickly removed the corset that she had put on in a sloppy fashion when she had rushed to get Mme. Giry. The corset soon joined the dress, only to be followed by the layers of undergarments that women had to wear.
Erik's breath quickened as he stared at her naked form. He knew that she was only standing there so that he could view her. Her hand held the nightgown that she would put on to preserve her modesty and to give them a chance to escape temptation. After what she deemed long enough she slid the nightgown on and walked to the bed.
Erik held the sheets up for her to slide under. Sara lay on her side, facing away from him, a blush still painted on her cheeks. Erik moved closer to her and pulled her body flush against his, tangling his legs with hers. His arms wrapped around her and her arms grasped his. He gently kissed the soft skin behind her ear and rested his head against hers. It did not take either of them long to fall asleep, content on being within each other's arms.
Several hours later, Mme. Giry returned to the home of Sara and Erik. She gave her cloak to one of the maids and silently climbed the stairs. Outside of Sara's door, she found a pot of tea, long turned cold. She opened the door slowly, not wanting to interrupt an intimate moment.
In the fading light of dusk, she was able to make out two figures sleeping. With a smile on her face, the middle-aged woman closed the door quietly. She bent down, picked up the tray of cold tea, and began to make her way down to the kitchen. For now, she would allow Sara to be the medicine that Erik's soul desperately needed to help heal.