Keep Me Close

Scars

Erik POV
"Sierra, do you sing?" I said breaking the silence.

"Yes, but not very often anymore. I always sang for Daniel, he always would say he fell in love with me the first time he heard me sing." She said trailing off, breaking our intense stare. My stomach was in my throat, realizing that was also the first time I had fallen in love with my Christine. "Do you? Lily mentioned you being a composer, but do you sing as well?" She asked, attempting to leave the subject of Daniel which was understandable for me.

"Yes, I do." I said sheepishly. I cannot sing for her, I do not wish for that to be the way she falls in love with me. She must know me before she hears me sing, know of my past. I will not have her fall for me by falling under the trance of my voice.

"Oh, that must be where Lily gets her voice from then." She said taking my hand in hers once more. She leaned into me, her damp hair pressing into my neck, making my body tense at her exhilarating touch.

"I believe she gets it from her mother..." I said inhaling the scent of her clean hair, making my body tingle.

"She was a singer?" Sierra asked, turning to look at me.

"Yes, a Swedish singer. A soprano, I fell in love with her for her voice. I was her voice teacher." I said feeling tears building.

"Oh Erik, thats wonderful. What was her name?" I tensed at her question, fearing this. I needed to trust her though, as she now trusted me. Then I swiftly grabbed her arm and I felt her tense at my touch,

"No please-" I pulled back the sleeve of the robe and saw them. More scars then I thought there would be, ravishing her ivory skin. She leaped from my embrace and sprinted away from me. I heard her softly sobbing,

"Why would you do that? They're so ugly... People think I'm insane because of it. They tell me im a psycho and should be locked up so I don't kill myself. Believe me I've tried, so many times..." She sobbed, I got up and approached her. I grabbed her waist but she flinched and swatted at my touch. My heart hurt seeing her in this state,

"I understand if you don't want me, nobody does when they see them. They think I'm crazy but, when you know it was your fault you lost the dearest person to you, you want nothing else than to feel the pain you deserve." She collapsed to the ground in grief, I caught her before she fell completely and picked her up bridal style, carrying her to the couch. I sat down with her on my lap, she was still sobbing into my neck, gripping the collar of my jacket tightly.

"Shh, your safe. I'm here, nothing with ever harm you. Let my words warm and calm you...." I cooed softly into her ear. "Im right here to guide and to guard you." I pressed a soft kiss to her temple, and her sobs began to quiet.

"Erik, I don't deserve you..." She said softly. I took her cheek in my hand so she could look at me, her eyes all red and puffy from crying.

"No, I have done nothing in my life to deserve you darling. If only I could tell you, but it isn't the time..." I said resting my forehead against her.

"Please, I know I said I would give you time but, you've seen my scars and accepted me.... please show me my love," She said stroking my jaw with her fingers.

"Sierra, you will leave me, I could not let that happen..."

"No, I couldn't and wouldn't. Erik, you have me, honestly and faithfully. I promise you. I want to know everything of you, no matter how ugly or dark. Just hold me close now, that is all I ask of you." I sat there in her embrace, letting myself process what she had just said to me, when she pressed her soft lips to mine, making me feel complete again. She wrapped her arms around my my neck pulling me closer. She began to run her fingers through my hair and dragged one hand to my cheek gently caressing me.