AN: Thank you to those who have read and enjoyed the first chapter. I hope to live up to your expectations.
Christine paused just feet away from the door to the address she had been handed. Her hand shook and the paper vibrated within it. "I can't…" she whispered to herself, heartbeat pulsing in her ears. She turned on her heel to go, but something stopped her.
Music, beautiful, deep, sensual melodies trickled into her ear. She could hear a piano, clearly old and decrepit yet producing such intoxicating sounds. Her face lifted toward it as her throat ached to sing. Had it been six months since she'd stepped onto a stage? Been in a rehearsal? Received his lessons? Without being asked, her feet drew toward the door. Her heart began to beat in time with the melodies from inside, and in ¾ time she knocked on the door.
The music ceased and Christine's eyes flew open. What was she doing? She should go! She spun once more, but the door creaked open and a hand landed on hers.
"Christine?" it asked. That dark, thick voice she'd known anywhere. It was him.
"Erik?" she returned, eyes turning to look at him, but shrouded in the darkness she saw only the frame.
His other hand reached out and touched her face. "You look so beautiful."
"How can you see me? It's blind dark. The moon has hidden tonight." Her eyes searched the sky, hoping to see a sign. Why was she here?
"I know every curve of your face. I don't need to see you to know your beauty." Her face bared a blush he could not see, but he could feel the heat in her cheeks. "You came…"
"I thought you were dead…" her voice sounded a little colder, but not hurtful. It was not as though she truly wished it, only that she had truly believed it.
"You should have known better. If a broken heart could not, then nothing could kill me." His hand brushed over the cool metal and stone upon her finger.
"Yes, I am to be Christine Daae no more…"
"You will always be Christine Daae. He can take many things away from you, but never that…" His voice held bitterness beyond her being wretched from him.
"He loves me." She responded matter-of-factly.
"So do I!" Erik screamed, and almost as if the words had wounded him, he fell back into the blackness of the room, releasing her hand and face.
"Erik?" She reached out for him, but he shied away. "Please…" The door clicked shut behind her as she reached out for his hand once more. "I've…missed you…" her fingertips ran along the edge of the mask on his face and gently pulled it away, lightly falling to the ground.
His hand flew up to his face to cover up, but neither could see in the darkness. And neither cared in that moment.
Christine drew herself up, closer and closer to him and gently pressed her lips into his own. His heart raced, pumped the lust and love and adrenaline throughout his body. He gripped her waist tight and pulled her into him.
She wove her fingers through his hair and clasped his head, drawing them deeper into one another, wholly fixated in the moment.
His fingers began to dance with the laces of her bodice, daring himself to untie them, but something held him back. He could not defile her. He could not force her into anything. He wanted her. He ached for her, but he would not let himself. She was too perfect, and he was…
He stopped, releasing her, and she gasped for breath for a moment. "Erik…"
"Christine, you're engaged to be married….to someone else….someone more worthy than I could ever be…" The words dug into her, pierced her soul.
"But he's not who I'm thinking of now. He's not who I've thought of when I go to bed at night. He's not on my lips when I wake in the morning…"
His eyes caught hers, the slightest flicker of brightness, the slightest spark in the night.
"He's not who haunts my dreams…" She reached out to him once more, running her hand along his side then pulling out a corner of his tucked shirt. She ran her hand down the other side, repeating the same motion. She ran her hands underneath, feeling his warm flesh against her hands. "He's not you."
It wasn't the confession he'd always hoped for, but it was enough. His hands pulled loose the first ring, then another and another until the bodice fell away, leaving her undergarments exposed. He reached out and caressed her silk-covered chest, sliding his hand down the curve of her hip. She smiled and pressed her head into his chest. He still smelled like the opera house, like her past, like the time she loved.
He kissed the top of her head, breathing her in as well, and they stood a moment, just drinking it all in. Then the flame ignited once more and his lips captured hers, starting the rapture all over. Her hands tugged at his trousers, his at her skirts, and tore the clothing from their bodies. The tongues twisted and mingled, teeth biting lips, tearing at the flesh with a feverish need. His arms scooped her up to him, backing them into the other room, where a small bed lay against the wall. He gently placed her down on it, putting himself on top of her.
He wanted to ask her if she was sure, but scared she'd change her mind, he kept his lips pressed to hers. He throbbed wanting to be inside of her, and he could tell she felt the same, nipples perked rubbing against his chest, hands groping at parts of a man she'd never even seen. She pulled him in closer, almost into her, and he came up for air.
"Christine?" he panted.
"Make love to me." She whispered.
"You're sure?" he didn't want to keep asking, but he would never forgive himself hurting her.
"Erik, make love to me." She gently said again, bringing him down to her once more. He pushed himself inside of her, feeling her wince underneath him. He was hurting her. He knew he was.
He pulled back, then entered once more. She tensed again.
"Are you alright?" She nodded, trying to kiss him to reassure him. It was painful, extremely, but still a hot need ran through her to feel what it must feel like past the pain. He cupped her buttocks in his hands, bringing her pelvis to his as he came in and out, in and out. She began to understand, loosen, and feel more than just pain.
A hot wave of blood gushed, and yet he kept on. Little moans began to come from her, driving him wild. "Oh Erik!" she screamed out, back arching, lips pursing and panting. He felt himself close, but pressed on, praying for her release before his. The two gasped together, melding into one, moaning, panting, nails tearing into flesh, and then, collapse.
He wanted to get off of her so as not to crush her completely but utter exastion crept in so suddenly. They breathed in unison, gasping. She kissed his face, the side not smooth and normal. She nuzzled her nose to his and smiled.
He rolled beside her, still grasping her waist. She laid her head on his shoulder, and the two drifted to sleep peacefully in one anothers' arms.
