Author's Note: Here we are! Chapter 8 already! lol I couldn't stop writing. WARNING!: M rated content in the first half of this chapter, so if you are not comfortable reading it - don't. Again, hope you'll review and tell me what you though. Thanks!

-Jennifer

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Chapter 8. That our Passions may Fuse and Merge

Erik felt his heart stop the moment Christine's lips reached his. Thoughts raced through his mind, but he didn't have time to think. But his whole body, heart, and mind screamed for him to kiss back, as he felt a familiar surge of passion run through him. His hands went to her back, and he pulled her close, smelling her sweet fragrance. God, she would be his undoing.

Christine felt Erik's tongue slip inside her mouth, tasting her. Exhilaration rushed through her body, and she deepened the kiss. She felt his hands go her waist, running up and down her side. The other hand rested on her hip, and she moved her hand to his chest.

In one swoop, Erik lifted her up into his arms, not breaking the kiss. She shivered in his powerful grip, letting out a sigh of pleasure.

Soon, she was set down on the swan bed, on top of the deep red covers. Erik pulled away from her and laid her down, and before climbing atop her, he stared at her for a moment. She was still wet from the rainwater, but somehow it only made her more beautiful. More pure. As Erik got on top of her and met her eager lips again, he felt a twinge of guilt. She was innocent. Pure. A virgin. Could he – the despicable monster he was – deflower her like this?

He felt her hand rise up to his chest and she began to unbutton his shirt.

He moved from her lips, and trailed down her cheek to her neck, just stopping at the top of her cleavage before coming back up to her lips.

Christine allowed a moan to come from her throat. She threw Erik's shirt to the floor, not caring where it landed. She felt Erik begin to untie the laces of her dress, his kisses now trailing along her jaw line, her collarbone. He could make her feel so… beautiful. As if she were a woman, instead of a girl soon to be nineteen.

Moments later, all that was covering the Christine was her corset and underskirt, and Erik only his trousers. At this point, Erik had pulled away and dropped to the side, just next to Christine on the bed.

"Christine…" He panted slowly, his index finger tracing her bare collarbone. "I don't think… I mean, I don't know if we should…"

Christine looked up at him, "I just… it will hurt, won't it?"

Erik kissed her forehead, "Not if it doesn't happen."

"Erik – "

"Christine, please. In one month you will be only nineteen years old. Christine… I am twenty-eight years of age. I am ten years your elder."

"Only ten."

Erik closed his eyes, rolling onto his back, "God, Christine I love you so much." He turned his head to look into her eyes, "But I cannot do this to you. I cannot force you. I cannot… invade you. Poison you. I am a beast, Christine. A monster. I can't – I just can't do that to you."

Christine propped herself up on her elbows, she ran her hand along Erik's muscled arm, "But I love you. I see you for who you are - " Her hands slid across his hands, caressing his face until she reached the smooth surface of his mask, " – I love you for who you are." Her fingers slid beneath the edge of it, and she slowly tore it away. Revealing all of the marred burned skin on the right side of his face. She leaned forward, putting most of her weight on him, and kissed his face, just below his eye, were the inflicted cut was. "You are… my Angel." And in the very moment, Christine realized… It was true. She wanted him. She needed him. She loved him.

"Christine… you have to realize… if you say yes tonight, there is no going back."

Her eyes shimmered with light, "I know."

Erik closed his eyes, soaking in all of his emotions. Could he do this? He wanted her so badly, but did he want it like this? But still, she wanted him, didn't she?

Before he could respond, Christine's lips came crashing to his. Her kiss was so forceful, so passionate, it caught him off-guard. But soon he restored his thoughts, and wrapped his arms around her. In minutes, her corset was gone.

Soon it was only they. No clothes. No boundaries. Erik breathed deeply, closing his eyes. He suddenly felt guilty once more. He couldn't do this… but he couldn't go back now. Now, he had seen her. Felt her. It would be impossible to stop now. God, how he loved her. How he had longed for her. And now, when she was here, begging for him, he was frightened of it. But no. He needed to do this.

He needed her.

Erik kissed her neck, then moved downward. His hand ran over her breasts, and he felt Christine shudder beneath him. His hand moved down, to that secret place. God, Christine was so wet. She wanted him.

He brought his mouth to her nipple, sucking on it, tasting her.

"Erik…" He heard her moan.

He took her wrist and kissed it.

And then… he took the tops of her knees, and parted them, parting her thighs. His eyes closed shut and he took a deep breath. And in a moment, he thrust into her.

Christine cried out, a scream of pain. Tears fell down her cheeks in floods. Oh, God. It hurt… he hurt. She felt thick liquid fall from between her thighs, and she knew immediately it was blood. Another cry of pain.

She kept hearing Erik whisper in her ear, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry, my Angel."

And then finally – finally – he pushed out of her, panting hard and dropping to her side. Christine just stared up at the marble ceiling, trying desperately to catch her breath. Her whole body ached, and her hands moved down and she caught some blood in her arms. "Oh, God." She whispered, tears staining her cheeks.

Erik brushed a strand of her hair out of her face, and kissed at her tears. Again, he pressed her forehead to his. "I'm sorry, Christine. I'm so sorry."

Christine pulled him in a soft, slow kiss. When she pulled away, she smiled a small smile, but wince a bit for the aching pain. "Don't be, my darling. I love you."

Erik closed his eyes, a stray tear falling down his face, "I love you too."

/

When Christine's eyes opened, Erik was out of bed. She slipped out of bed and turned the corner, seeing – as she expected – Erik at his piano. "Good morning." She called.

Erik turned around, facing her. "Good morning, my Angel. Did you sleep well?"

"Perfectly," She said as she made her way to him. When she reached him she gave him a quick kiss. She tilted her head to the side, "Are they to renovate the opera?"

"Yes, I believe so." Erik replied shortly, his fingers dancing across the keys of the organ, playing a melody.

"That is lovely," Christine said softly.

Erik smiled, keeping his eyes on the keys, "I am writing it for you. I only need to write lyrics. What do you think it should be called?" He played the melody for a bit, so that Christine could hear it clearly.

Christine thought for a moment, then she looked at him and smiled. "It should be a duet."

"A duet?"

"Yes."

Erik flashed a smile, "Yes. Yes, it could be a lovely duet. And a title?"

Christine didn't reply at first, but then she smiled. "Somewhere."