Facade by Kim Carmichael Page B

out much, I didn’t know it was my job to sit on stage waiting for you to return.” He jutted his jaw out. “Please forgive me, next time I will stay at the door in breathless anticipation of your imminent return.”
    “I asked you to go with me.” She shook her head.
    “I think we both knew I was going to decline that invitation.” He wasn’t at her beck and call and she knew his limitations.
    She looked up at him, staying true to his rules and not mentioning his mask.
    “I’m not exactly the type you take on normal errands.” Yes, he pushed her. He wanted her to say it--realize any feelings she had for him were bogus, brought out of the fact they lived in this gilded cage where the prying eyes of the public didn’t matter. Once she figured it out, got her dream, she would be gone.
    She gnashed her teeth together. “You’re a bastard.”
    “Because it’s the truth?” He casually shoved his hands in his pockets.
    “No.” She stepped right up to him. “Because it’s stupid, and it’s a lie. Don’t make your problems mine.”
    At her strength, her words, he rushed to her and took her by the shoulders. “Where did you go? You seemed to be gone forever.”
    Instead of flinching, she stared into his eyes. “I wanted to check my messages, I wanted to buy some things to make us dinner, and I wanted to fill out this.” She reached into her pocket and held up a card.
    A quick scan of the document revealed a change of address card. “Fill it out.”
    Her chest heaved with her breaths. “Why?”
    “Because I want you to.” When did this get real?
    “Then I want you to hear me.” She swallowed. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’m proud to be with you.”
    Somewhere back in the sane regions of his mind he knew he couldn’t or shouldn’t be in love with her. However, time, his injury, his life took their toll on him, and this Erik, the Erik that was now him, knew he was desperately in love with her, the kind of love that could crush them both. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
    “For the first time I know exactly what I want,” she whispered.
    Beyond his control, he pulled her in, pulled her tight against him and lowered his face to hers. Lord, she fit perfectly in the contours of his body, as if she belonged there. “I don’t think you do.”
    “Yes, I do.” Her breath caressed his lips.
    His body reacted accordingly. He had to have her, needed to kiss her, wanted to be with her. All he had to do was take what he was sick of denying himself. The second he kissed her that would be it, he would never be able to let her go.
    She didn’t know what she was asking for, and he didn’t know what to do. He had to save them both. “We have an audition in two days.” At his own words, he did the hardest thing he ever did and let go.
     

Chapter Nine
    “Come here, let me fix something.” Erik motioned for her.
    Christine did the only thing she could and headed straight for the man who was determined to make her insane. Every time he looked in her direction, talked to her, dare she say even touch her, she was quite sure she was going to explode with either frustration or desire—she wasn’t sure which one was stronger.
    He tilted his head, reached forward, and adjusted her necklace. “Now you are perfection.”
    Well, if she was perfection, why wouldn’t kiss her? Instead, he chose to torture her. “Are you sure I’m not overdressed?” In a floor length black, body-conscious dress, with a long string of pearls around her neck and her hair done up in a copious amount of curls, she felt more like she was going to see a performance in a great theatre rather than give a performance at a trendy Hollywood theatre.
    “Of course you’re overdressed.” Hand on his chin, he took slow steps around her. “And you are magnificent, a stand out in every way, no one will ever forget seeing you or hearing you.”
    “Erik.” Her heart beat so furiously she was sure it would throw off