Elusive Memories

Chapter 39

They walked hand in hand through the beach, soaking in the first rays of the sun and enjoying it very much. Even though Erik was reluctant to get up early on a Saturday morning, now he seemed completely at peace and was even enjoying it.

It was her first visit to her grandfather’s place after what happened and she was enjoying it very much. She jumped at the chance when Erik told her that he too will be there if she wanted, she didn't waste any time. It was rejuvenating after a long, dark time in her life to feel alive once again.

She looked up at Erik and found him watching her with a smile and she returned it. He caught her around her waist and brought her close to his body to place a toe curling kiss on her lips.

“You look happy today Mr. Winters.”

“It’s because I am happy.”

“Why?”

“Let me guess…..I got a happy woman by my side who makes me feel so.”

She gave him her beautiful smile and heard him sighing.

“You know what? I think you are hopelessly in love with her.”

“And you realize it only now?”

“I…I. Oh please stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Erik, stop teasing me please. You are making me nervous.”

He didn't say anything after that and they walked for a few minutes. When she felt like she couldn’t bear the tension in the air anymore she turned towards him.

“Erik, I didn't mean it like that. I..I was.. I don’t know…. You have already done a lot for me. I want you in my life so much that I feel afraid of it. Getting attached to a person like this....I didn’t expect it, but now I can’t think about a life without you in it.”

“Why are you so afraid of it Emily?”

She stopped walking and turned so that she was standing in front of him. She looked up at his face, into his eyes, trying to make him understand what was going through her mind when she said what she was about to say.

“I don’t know anything about you. I know that talking about your past makes you uncomfortable, but I need to know the person to whom I am giving my heart and my love. I want to know what made you the person you are now. Once Luke told me that your past is not a good one and that you need me in your life to drag you out of it. I wouldn’t have asked you all this if you haven’t said all those things while I was in hospital. I know that you did it to make me talk, but I also know that most of it was true. No one will say such things if they are not serious about a person Erik. Hearing it made me want to live again so that I will get a second chance to spend some time with you, to tell you that I too feel the same about you and more.”

Erik took her face in his palms and kissed her forehead. He leaned into her so that their foreheads were touching and their breaths mingled, as if trying to get some strength from her. She raised her hands and hugged him, offering her support and comfort. Because she couldn’t resist doing it, she rubbed her palms on his back, feeling his strength and muscles.

He broke the connection and sat down on the sand. She kept standing there, not knowing what to say or how to react. He turned his body towards her and raised his palm. She put hers in his big one and let him pull her down near him. As if he was not satisfied, he put his strong arm around her, easily picked her up and placed her in front of him. She relaxed her back into his chest and felt him surrounding her as if she was in a cocoon created by him. His arms came around her middle, hugging her tightly to him. She sat there enjoying the warmth his body provided and feeling how much he needed her.