A/N: Haven't really had a lot of reviews yet but I thought I'd go ahead and post this chapter as it ends Erik and Tamara's first night. Now the fun can really begin.
Chapter Thirteen
Night of Seduction
Erik had not planned to greet her in such a personal way but had found himself behind her before he could even formulate the thought to do so. It had taken considerable willpower not to drag her to a place where he could bring about an end he would enjoy greatly but she may not. He must stay with his plan to woo her if he hoped to have any chance of success. Forcing her into acquiescence had not and would not be part of his plan. Whether her elevated pulse rate had been due to fear or his closeness and caresses he had no knowledge to glean an answer. Vehemently he cursed his inexperience in such matters. Youths of fifteen had more knowledge than he did.
Christine had been the first and only woman he had caressed in such a way. She had responded to him positively until the little Pandora had let her curiosity get the better of her by removing his mask. If not for that misjudgment on Christine's part he had always thought they might have consummated their relationship that morning. She had been receptive the night before when he sang to her. If he had not frightened her by letting her see the lifelike replica of her he had made things may have taken a different direction than they had.
He would not dwell on past failures. That was all behind him. Now he had the chance to woo a woman and by God he would do all he could to win her favor. Love he would not expect. The best he could hope for would be luring her into his bed if he could manage to keep her from concentrating on his mask. If it would be his lot to only have one perfect night with a woman he would make it a most memorable one for the both of them.
He lacked practical skills in such matters but throughout his life he had always found answers to most of life's problems in contemplation or reading about what troubled him in books. He had left a mound of books on every aspect of human emotions from poetry to sterile books for teaching the anatomy to doctors sitting on his desk. At the bottom of the pile he had hidden the book which had nearly driven him to seek out a woman for release. Who knew that a nation that practiced such strict religious beliefs would be so forthright about human sexuality to the point of someone writing a book on the subject complete with visual demonstrations and graphic instructions?
Erik had always been aware that the ears were sensual receptors. The eyes could see what pleased them the hands could touch in ways that brought intense pleasure or pain, the nose could pick up on some exotic aroma which stimulated sexual responses in the body. All the body worked together to bring about a man and woman's arousal. Before Erik had relied on his voice to entice Christine but now he knew he must develop other means as well if he wanted to be successful in this endeavor.
When he beckoned her forward to take a seat she willingly came to him. As a gentleman should he held her chair making sure to keep to the shadows. As she had come across to him the sight of her with the light casting her body in silhouette through her gown revealed much for him to feast upon and more for him to imagine. He nearly lost his composure but he retained control. As she sat he could not keep his eyes from taking their fill of her breasts displayed so prominently for his pleasure. If she had planned to drive him to desperation she had done her work well. As she looked shyly over her shoulder he could see no evidence of the siren her attire hinted at.
The stain of a blush on her cheeks did surprise him. He would have thought a woman of her age and situation in life she had long since passed girlish shyness. He had seen many women acting coyly toward men in many different situations over the years. In his opinion the act had been made on behalf of the man who wished to pretend he would take the innocence from someone where innocence had been abandoned long ago.
"Are you comfortable Mademoiselle? Shall I find a wrap for you?" If she said yes he did not know where the hell he would find something. The only thing he had to hand was his cloak lying across the statue of Apollo. That would swallow her whole as well as cover her tempting form.
"Oh no. I am fine. Thank you." Tamara questioned whether the thready voice she heard had come from her. When had she ever sounded so unsure? It had been a long time since she had felt shy around anyone particularly a man. She had made sure to teach herself certain tricks when dealing with men who thought women were beneath them.
She should be angry with him. She should be demanding he either leave her grandmother's property or agree to be cooperative. A man would not be in this vulnerable state. Of course if she were a man she would not be having the reaction to him in such a sensuous manner. Suddenly she found herself wanting to be all womanly. Being able to compete in a man's world did not let one know a man in a social setting if one had a foot in both worlds as Tamara did. Men would speak to her during social gatherings but made certain to steer clear of her once the music began.
She tried to see him more clearly in the darkness but could only make out his dark form. The white mask she could see as it contrasted with all the darkness around him. It did not show up like a beacon but with the reflected light around them she saw the outline of it on his face. She wanted to see him so badly but could think of no way to make a request for more lighting plausible as anything other than a ploy to get a good look at him.
Never having sat at a table with a man alone she felt at a loss what to say or do. In any other situation she would have known exactly what to say to turn the conversation where she wished it to go. With his presence in close proximity she felt frightened but also a return of her curiosity as to whether he looked as handsome as some reported him to be. Even with descriptions of his deformed face the rest of what everyone saw spoke of a formidable persona. Even Meg and Antoinette had admitted to being under his spell for a short time until Christine Daaé had torn his mask from his face.
If only his speaking voice could bring such tremors from deep within her if she heard him sing likely she would end up a puddle at his feet. This would not do at all. If he knew of her weakness he would take advantage of her. With the whole of the opera house depending on her she needed to keep a steady head.
Erik had planned for this evening carefully. Conversation would not be heading into the area of discussion of the opera house at least not as in how he and Tamara were going to come to some bargain or other for his cooperation. This evening would be dedicated to romance. In an effort to make this evening something Tamara had never experienced before Erik had taken pains to perfect an invention he had been toying with that came about because of an invention by someone else.
This had been something he had been working on in his spare time just before he had lost his head over Christine. Working diligently he had finished the apparatus and had tested it to make sure it would serve his purpose. It had taken much trial and error testing with many failures littering his floor but at last he had successfully made music he could have play with no musician being present. Of course he had wanted it to be his own music she would be hearing. After much soul searching and debate with himself he had made a cylinder which played his composition Music of the Night. He did feel a twinge of guilt that he had not created something especially for her but time being short he chose the composition he thought would sound romantic while he danced with her, assuming he did not frighten her to the point she would not let him touch her again.
Erik did not feel nervous as he thought he might. Where all this newfound confidence came from he didn't know or care, he only hoped it continued. If anyone had told him he would be seated across from a woman about to share a meal he would have taken them for an escaped lunatic or practical joker.
"So Monsieur…Monsieur…" Tamara paused hoping for him to inform her of either his first or last name. She would not call him Opera Ghost or Phantom with him sitting across from her bearing no resemblance to either ghost or phantom. If she let her imagination go she could imagine him as Don Juan or someone equally alluring to women. Mystery and danger did appeal to most women when assigned to some man.
"Erik. You may call me Erik."
Softly he heard her say his name for the first time. Coming from her lips it sounded almost as if his name felt pleasant on her tongue. Never would he had imagined just his name could sound like a lover's word of passion.
"And you," she hesitated to say his name out loud in fear that it meant more than a proper address for him. Softly speaking while looking at him shyly from beneath her lowered lids she said, "You may call me Tamara if you would like." She felt a little mean spirited for having denied him calling her Tamara before.
Erik could not stem the flow of triumphant blood rushing through him as she gave permission for him to address her so personally. A slap across his face would be no less than he expected after having practically groped her when he first touched her.
In his mind he had justified that close contact as necessary to assure himself she had no weapons. At best it was a weak ploy he used to allow himself to have her pressed close to him. Only actual sexual gratification he felt could compare to the feel and smell of her. She intoxicated his senses. Only Christine had ever made him feel this sort of bliss by a mere touch.
"Tamara, such a beautiful name, for an exquisite woman. I apologize if I seem too forward but as I am sure you understand I have not been given the opportunity to mingle among the masses in social situations. My manners may lack savoir-faire."
His humility sounded sincere. Given how he had lived perhaps she could overlook certain indiscretions. If she were honest with herself she had not minded his close proximity as much as she should have. The manly smell of him had made her slightly dizzy, not in a disagreeable fashion either.
"No apology is necessary. I…I was not offended." Why she would boldly admit to welcoming his touch caused her a moment of discomfort. Knowing how vulnerable she was at the moment she could not let her senses be lulled by his charm or sympathy for his plight. She must shore up her defenses before he had her eating out of his hand like a tame lapdog.
When he stood suddenly she jumped in surprise. Hoping he would not take notice just how unsure she felt, Tamara busied herself with rearranging her cutlery. She fidgeted with her wine glass. Vaguely she wondered how he would manage to bring food up here and keep it warmed until served.
Jumping once more as she felt his hand on her shoulder, it was only then she realized some exquisite tune had begun to play. She glanced around looking for a musician playing a violin but could see no one. When she felt him squeeze her shoulder she looked upward. A very long way up. He had not been so tall earlier, at least she had not thought so. Of course then he had been leaning down to…had he really nuzzled her neck even if only with a slight touching of his lips to her skin? Why had she not taken him to task for such a liberty?
"Tamara, may I have the honor of this dance?" Erik went to stand at her side waiting for her acceptance or denial. Holding his breath he thought for a moment he might asphyxiate himself before he received her answer.
Timidly she placed her hand in his not knowing why she let this charade continue. They should be discussing business and not cavorting around the rooftop as if they were…were, well were lovers. All thoughts left her once he drew her against his hard upper body. This was not appropriate. Women and men did not dance this closely together, did they? She felt lightheaded.
His scent and power enshrouded her fogging her mind in a sensual haze. Every thing became centered on the sensations flooding her. Wanting to look up but resisting the urge, Tamara allowed him to keep her firmly pressed against his chest. Even couples who had known one another did not dance in such a familiar way, again the thought crossed her mind hazily.
All of this she knew, but still she let him lead her where he would. When she felt his chest beginning to vibrate as he first hummed then began to sing words his voice invaded her as if it had manifested itself into something physical.
Erik had not meant to sing. The music had lured him as it always would. On the spot he had to rewrite the words he had sung for Christine. He felt guilt once more for using something he had written expressly for Christine's benefit. To use it to lure another woman under his spell seemed disloyal. Staunchly he reminded himself Christine now slept in the bed of her husband. She had not kept herself chaste all this time waiting for him to return as he himself had waited for her.
When the music stopped Erik led Tamara over to the ledge so they could look out over Paris. At night every light in every window made something mundane in the daytime, spectacular by night. He could not resist coming up behind her once more placing his hands on her shoulders. If she struggled he could stay her if he wished but she showed no sign of objecting, indeed he felt certain she had leaned back into him.
"Oh Erik it is spectacular. I have never in my life seen anything so beautiful that did not come from the sky. How lucky you are to have this view every night." Tamara only realized the folly of her words when she felt him stiffen. Having to spend his life in the opera house could not have been easy nor something he would normally have wished to do. A magnificent view did not make a fair trade for being able to walk about freely during the day.
"I am sorry. What a thoughtless thing for me to say. Please. Please forgive me. I meant no offense." Tamara waited with baited breath for his reply. She did not know it meant so much for him to accept her apology until she heard him speak and felt her muscles let go the tight grip she had been holding herself under his hands.
"It is not easy for those who have such wondrous things before them every night if they wish it to understand what I would not give to change places with them or to even join them for a walk in the pard. For me it has always been a stolen moment here and there. I took nothing for granted and only lost sight of how much this place meant to me when…well when something…someone began to mean more to me."
"Once again I am sorry for having raised an issue which may have caused you some discomfort. That had not been my intention." He stepped further away from her without speaking. Gesturing with his hand he indicated she should be reseated.
The moment of closeness seemed to have vanished as if it never had been. They returned to the table where Erik served them both aromatic dishes from several chaffing dishes he had set up on a table in a very dark corner. As she looked around she found that despite the glow of a half moon most of the area had darkened corners or at least dark shadows cast from the statues and gargoyles decorating the ledge around the perimeter of the roof.
She shivered as it came to mind this would be the perfect place to murder someone or set the scene for a seduction. If she should scream no one would hear her. Letting her imagination get the better of her she also speculated the sounds of lovers shouting out in an intimate moment would not be heard by anyone either.
Being of an innocent nature yet a woman of headstrong ideas of where women should stand in society had her wicked mind traveling the pathway to forbidden thoughts. Nervously she shifted in her seat as if afraid he might read her mind and then know just what wickedness had overtaken her.
As the evening progressed Erik spoke of several of his older compositions he would like to see performed. Mention had been made of several operas in the creative process at the present time. Every compliment he gave for the way things were headed took away Tamara's need to discuss the reason for this meeting.
She found herself not caring what they discussed as long as he kept speaking. When he would gesture with his hands to make a point she found herself fascinated by his movements. He had the hands of a musician, the voice of a seductive lover and thrown in for good measure God had given him so much musical talent everyone had declared his opera one of the finest presentations they had seen in ages.
What this man could have done under the right sort of guidance could have been astronomical in the world of the arts, never mind everything else he had invented. He told her about a few things when she asked him about how he had been able to get the music to play without an instrument or musician being present.
He only called an end to the evening when she yawned quite vulgarly. She tried to quickly cover her gaping mouth but he had seen and suggested they end the evening. She hadn't accomplished anything she had set out to do. They had discussed his creativity but not in connection with coming to work for the opera house.
When she would have gone back the way she came he stayed her hand from opening the door. Without a word he offered her his hand and like a trusting child she placed her much smaller hand in his. All she could see clearly of him was their joined hands. Somehow he had doused many of the lanterns and candles without her being aware. Letting him led her Tamara found herself blindly following where he led. She heard a swishing sound then he pulled her into the bottom of the statue. When they did not hit solid granite curiosity about this man urged her to find out more about him.
The air seemed much cooler and had the feel of dampness about it. Everything had been completely enveloped in darkness as soon as the panel closed behind them. Feeling like a frightened schoolgirl Tamara desperately clasped her free hand around his arm as she stepped closer to the warm security of his strong frame. Never had Tamara ever admitted it to anyone but total darkness had always been a weakness. If a candle had not been left burning she would raise the dead with her screams in her younger days. As she got older she would merely pull the covers completely over her head. What protection that had been had not mattered. She felt safer with every part of her hidden from whatever lurked in the dark.
Erik had been surprised to feel her all but climbing inside of him. Feeling the slight tremors coming from her he concluded darkness did not lend her comfort as it did for him.
"I am sorry Tamara to have overlooked lighting the torches. I rarely do as I know every crack in the floors and walls. I promise I will let nothing happen to you."
Strangely she believed him. Gradually she felt herself relaxing enough to begin to take notice of things about him she had not taken note of earlier. His arm felt very muscular beneath her hand. Her fingers could not reach around his upper arm. The side of him pressing against her own much softer flesh felt very solid. If appearance and the heady fragrance coming from his person were any indication he adhered to a practice of being well groomed. One might not expect that from someone who lived below any normal level of society.
Knowing she should have taken charge of the conversation during the evening she could not bring herself to regret not doing so now. With every step they took her heartbeat rose in tempo. Questions flitted across her mind as well as different scenarios as to how this little trek might end. She had no idea whether he would be taking her to her room or deeper into the tunnels beneath the opera house. Further speculating had her wondering what he might do to her if he did take her below to his home. What would be his intentions?
Fear should be her top most emotion but she could not honestly say she felt any fright. When his arm slid around her back dislodging her hands from their firm grip she did not feel any sort of objection coming to mind. The sensation of his strong arm wrapped around her felt oddly right in this darkness.
Having walked for some few minutes in silence they arrived at a place that looked slightly lighter. She could see a lighted square in the stone wall. Coming to a stop she felt him moving beside her. He must have touched some mechanism because shortly thereafter the place that had been dimly lit became transparent giving a clear view of her room.
Momentarily stunned to be looking into her room from the opposite side of the wall she could only look on taking in the ramifications of this new revelation. When he looked in on her he had been able to see her quite clearly. Once more the opportunity to upbraid him for his behavior passed without comment.
Dear Lord! The number of times she had gone to bed with nothing between his eyes and her flesh but a few bits of cloth should have brought anger to the fore. Had her covers slipped during the night on any occasion he might have been watching her? Instead of anger as had been her reaction when first she knew of his observation position, now she felt another sort of emotion, something less acrimonious and more curious to know exactly what his reaction had been when he saw her. Something compelled her to question him.
Just when she thought she had marshaled her thoughts into order and would have began her interrogation he shocked her once again when he drew her closer to him. They looked into one another's eyes both searching for something. She could feel herself being drawn deeper into his eyes. She felt a weightlessness invading her.
Dropping her eyes to his lips shamefully she felt an urge to reach upward to meet his lips with her own. When his head began to descend her breath caught. Slowly his head came down to her. Helpless to do anything but wait Tamara felt a rush of expectancy fill her as his lips finally hovered only a mere breath from her own. Closing her eyes she anticipated the feel of his lips upon her own.
Moments passed by before she felt the warm pressure of his lips not upon her own but on her forehead. They stayed pressed to her flesh longer than a mere friendly salutation but did not have the same affect as his lips would have if they had touched her own. Confusion clouded her mind as she felt disappointment. Should she not be glad he had not taken such liberties with her on such short acquaintance? Why then did she not feel relief? Before she could gather herself enough to address him a swishing sound filled the silence then he gently guided her through the opening she had not been aware had been revealed.
"Good-night Tamara. Sleep well." With that the mirror slid back into place. Snapping out of her trance she stepped forward trying to find a way to reopen the mirror. Finding nothing she stared into the glass only seeing her face looking dreamy-eyed as a young girl after her first kiss.
Well she had certainly not accomplished a single thing on her agenda. Dreading what her grandmother would make of this Tamara began to ready herself for bed. Remembering how clearly he could see into her room she went behind the dressing screen where she donned a gown for sleeping.
Before she reached to turn the light off she looked directly at the mirror and said softly, "Good-night Erik. Sleep well."